Staying in Camarillo!

Hello everyone!

 SO, I'm staying here in Camarillo with Sister Angimarau! :) I am SO grateful! The work is really pressing forward.. especially with the ward members. I feel like I have a lot of work to do here in this area and It's not quite finished.. so I'm really glad to be staying! This past week has been great :) Sister Barlow took us down to the temple for Sister Angimarau's birthday. That was really special. (I attached some photos).

The Lucas family is doing so well! We had a lesson on obedience and the Word of Wisdom with Heather and Max this past week.. Heather had mentioned to us the first time we met that she enjoys coffee and asked if she would have to give it up. We thought it may be an issue for her, but she told us that she can definitely give it up and the things she's learning and feeling will make the small sacrifice so, so worth it. She's given up everything else prior to learning about the church.. we talked about the blessings and the difference she has felt in her life. To the world, these commandments seem "restricting,"  But they truly make us free. Heavenly Father gives us these commandments because he loves us.. My testimony grows each time I see the change in my own life or in the lives of others when they choose to live them.

They weren't able to make it to church because Madeline had a cheer competition.. Heather was pretty bummed.. Max was so cute. He kept saying, "Just go mom!" And then when we talked about the Word Of Wisdom, he said "You can give it up!" Haha He's a character. We gave him a Children's Book of Mormon to read - he was thrilled! They are still on track for baptism for Feb. 21st! Heather offered a very sincere kneeling prayer at the end of our lesson.. This family is amazing.

 We also met with the Gomez family and talked about the importance of following the prophet. Sister Gomez is being her.. haha :) but she is trying to keep an open heart and an open mind. We are also doing a lot of less-active work.. Sister Knight had us over for dinner this week and gave the closing prayer. She prayed that she could have the courage and time to "Come back to the gospel... " AH. We were so happy! The spirit is softening her heart more and more.

This past week I was reading in Mosiah chapter 10. Something the spirit taught me was how the difference between the Lamanites and the Nephites affected their success. The Nephites, "did go up in the strength of the Lord to battle", while the Lamanites "knew nothing concerning the Lord or his strength. They depended upon their OWN strength."

It is only in his strength that we can do this work. This is his work and I can only do it in his way and by his power.. that takes trust! I know that the Lord blesses us  as we place our trust in him, rather than relying upon our own strength. I've also really been thinking about the difference between just working hard and working from the heart.. and what it means to work from the heart.. I'm so grateful for the things I am learning and experiencing. I love these people and I love my Savior. He lives.

 Read the Book of Mormon, It will change your life!

 Love you all
Sister James

"Celestial Place!"

Los Angeles temple January 2015

 

The gospel is for everyone!

Hello family!

 It's been a wonderful week- we are seeing miracles every day :)

 This past week we had interviews with President Felix, which I really enjoyed. He is so inspired!!  Sister Felix and he are just amazing. We also had exchanges this past week. I went to Ventura! My goal was to work on following the spirit in asking inspired questions and tailor questions to individuals. It was amazing how The Lord placed so many people in our path, who gave so much feedback.. Most of the people we met asked us questions and it was so much easier to follow the spirit and teach to their needs. The sweet sister's also planned a surprise for me... I SAW TONY! :) He is doing so well.. and it was really special for me to teach him and see that he has grown immensely! He has changed so much through the atonement - There is nothing greater than seeing that change in others :)

Heather is doing Amazing!! Our lesson on the Gospel of Jesus Christ went very well.. she has been praying and reading and feels like this is what she needs. She's so humble and has real intent.. We asked her why she wants to be baptized and she told us that she just wants to feel closer to God and start fresh and put her old life behind her.. she feels like this is what is best for her family. She is such a special person and her family is very prepared! We have committed her to be baptized on February 21st and she is determined to prepare for that date! We're hoping to include Max and Madeline in this next lesson, so that they too can prepare to be baptized as a family. The ward outreach has been amazing! We were talking to her friend, Sister Peterson, who will be moving. Something that really touched me that sister Peterson said was that Heather was the LAST person and the last of her friends she thought would be interested in the gospel.. we talked a bit about how, we must never assume who will and who will not accept the gospel. We have to share with every one and give them the opportunity to accept it. The gospel is for everyone!

We sang in sacrament meeting yesterday, so we invited every one! The Gomez family came this week, which was a blessing because it's been a little while :) and our dear Sister Knight came.. It made my week! She is the less-active that we have been working with and she hasn't been in a looong time, so that was a huge miracle! The meeting was amazing and I hope and pray that she felt the spirit touch her heart and she will have a desire to continue to come!

I'm so grateful for the opportunity I have to serve the Lord and to communicate with him each day. I've never prayed so much in my life.. and I'm so, so grateful for the opportunity I have to ask Heavenly Father for help!  There is so much power in prayer and I could not do this work without his divine aid! I know that there is power in praying for our goals and praying to find those who are elect! It works.. Maybe not in the way we expect, but he gives us what we need. He knows best!

 I love you all!

E koaua te ekaretia (The church is true!!) :)

Sister Angimarau's birthday!

 

 

The Lord is hastening his work!

Hi family!

 hope everyone is doing well! We had a great week here :)

 We had Zone meeting and some changes have been made regarding our standard of excellence. President Felix is really emphasizing the importance of working with members. We will be focusing on having more member presents a week and we won't be recording our declarations.. ( a declaration is when we pass out a card and share a restored truth).. they're basically failed lessons haha. He would rather have us spend time building member trust and working with them, instead of spending time tracting/ street contacting. We're working with bro. Barlow and figuring out new ways we can help the members become excited and involved with the work!

 We had a lesson with Heather in the Peterson's home this week.. The spirit was so powerful.. especially when the member's bore testimony to her. We taught her and Madeline the Plan of Salvation.. and it just completely clicked for her. She told us that it made so much more sense than what she was taught growing up. She told us that if God is really all loving.. then this would be his plan. So cool! She is so prepared.. she's very special and everything seems to be "familiar" to her. She's been praying and keeping her commitments and has already felt a difference in her life. She is praying about baptism for February 14th.. keep them in

 We finally caught Enrique!!!  He didn't show up to church yesterday...but we have an appointment this week. The bishop is going to go by and we are really focusing on strengthening him through the members. The Gomez family is not quite progressing at this point.. Sister Gomez told us she wants time. We are still going by weekly and teaching the lessons. They are such a wonderful family and we'll continue to work with them and pray that she will feel ready to accept the gospel!

 We had a cool experience this week with Eduardo's family! We've been trying to figure out how we can share the gospel with his whole family. He lives with his wife, 2 sons, daughter-in-law and 2 grandchildren. This past week we went over to teach Eduardo the Plan of Salvation.. One of his son's, Edrik was in the room. He started listening and pretty soon he was asking several questions about missionary work, Joseph Smith, and the Book of Mormon. We gave him a copy and invited his family to church. His children go to Sunday school on Sunday's at 11:00 a.m, right when we have church, But he told us that he would be willing to come with his family! We explained how primary works and he seemed to be really interested. We're excited to continue to work with him. Eduardo will be going to the Philippines for a month... he leaves this week, but we will continue the lessons with Edrik!

 The Lord is hastening his work.. I know that we absolutely must strive to align our will with his. He wants nothing more for us to come unto him and to help others come unto him as well.

 I love my savior, I love you all! Thanks for the prayers!! Have a good week :)

 Sister James

Jan 12, 2015

Happy New Year everyone!

Happy new year everyone! :)

 

Here were some things that happened this week:

Heather came to church again this week with both of her children, Madeline (11) and Max (8)! We had our first lesson with her this past week.. She's going through a divorce right now and is really looking for structure in her life and just wants her family to feel closer to God. Her husband has always mocked the idea of religion, so it's been tough for her. She is so pure in heart.. and prepared. We taught her the restoration and the spirit was so strong. We taught her about Joseph Smith and she says, "so he's just a prophet then? That makes sense." It just clicked for her. We invited her to pray and read the Book of Mormon and she said, "I'll do it tonight." And she did!" We're meeting with her in a member's home this week (Her fellowship, the Peterson's) and are planning to invite her to commit to a baptismal date. We teach the restoration over and over.. all day, every day, but this lesson was very special.. it reminded me of the truthfulness of the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

 

I feel extremely blessed to be companions with Sister Angimarau. She is a very special missionary! This past week we had an experience where the spirit left the room of an investigator's home due to contention. I wasn't sure what to do or what to say.. right away, she suggested we sing a hymn. You could feel the spirit again enter the room. I'm grateful she was so in tune. We're looking forward to the temple this week! (It was her birthday, so we get to go). She doesn't have on in her country.. talking about it with her really made me think about how it can be so easy to take the distance of our temples for granted. We are so blessed!

 

We are getting a little worried Enrique. He went to Mexico for Christmas and came back on Dec. 23rd. We've called, sent several texts, and have stopped by a few times.. and we haven't heard from him. Bro. Barlow has also been trying to get in contact with him. He was able to catch him on Saturday afternoon and Enrique said he would be at church, but he didn't show up.  We're praying and keeping the faith that everything is okay and hope that we can get in contact with him this week! We're thinking something may have happened while he was away or that he is nervous about receiving the priesthood and his calling. Please, please keep him in your prayers!

 

I've been studying what it means to "become a consecrated servant of Jesus Christ" and have been thinking a lot about CONVERSION. Every one, read the talk given by Elder Bednar titled, "Converted unto the Lord." .. it's amazing! He talks about the difference between a testimony and conversion and uses the example of the Lamanites, who were "converted and never did fall away." We visited a recent convert in our area and she told us that the sister missionary who played a key role in her conversion, decided to leave the church. Seeing how devastated she was, really made my think about the importance of two things.. 1. Being truly converted (Or striving to get there.)  and 2. Our choices affect not only ourselves, but those whom we love.

 

I have many imperfections and weaknesses, but  I will never be able to deny the miracles I've seen on my mission and the truth.. I know that Our Savior lives and that our heavenly father directs this work. I'm so grateful to be a part of his work!

 

I love you all! Have a good week!

Sister James

Sister James and Sister Angimarau

Sisters on Christmas Eve