The work is real!

Hey everyone,

Good week here in Ojai! We've had so many teaching opportunities since it's been so hot… people are kinder and more receptive. Our area is progressing really well! This past week we met with the Dixon family. They are a part member family that we met as we've been going straight through the ward list. Tonya and Michael (the son who is 14 years old) are members and Roman, Tonya's husband is not. Even though Michael was baptized, we would consider him an investigator because he has very little knowledge about the gospel and Christianity in general.. He thought Matthew, Mark, and Luke were the three wise men, so we're trying to make our lessons very simple. Tonya had a miracle occur in her life recently that rekindled their faith and has really softened her heart to allowing us to teach them. She was in a coma for 3-4 months and wasn't supposed to live.. this really changed Roman's perspective and has helped their family realize that the Lord has a plan for them.. We're meeting with them tonight and are planning on having a lesson simply centered on Jesus Christ: his life, his mission, and his atonement.

 

Dee came to church again! We haven't been able to meet with her this past week, because she has been so busy and stressed with finding a job, but she is planning on coming to an FHE tonight at a member’s home. We're also working with a lot of NEW investigators and praying fervently and following the spirit as to where we need to spend our time. We have some investigators who really are not progressing and who have been taught for a while.. so we may need to drop them

 

My love for this work is growing deeper and deeper every day.. I get so excited to go out, to teach, and to testify. I definitely feel myself accelerating and the Lord is really helping me know how I can serve with all of my heart, might, mind and strength and overcome those things that beset me. I finished The Book of Mormon this week and have been inspired by a member in our ward to take a brand new Book of Mormon and start from the beginning with a specific topic in mind. I've been marking "Promised blessings from the Lord" I've received so many new insights already and have been taught so many things by the spirit! It's amazing how you can read the same vs. over and over and receive new light and understanding... I prepared a talk this past week on what helped me decide to serve a mission and what I've learned (how do you fit that into an 8 min talk haha.. well I managed). It was amazing to reflect on who I've become and the experiences I've had.. I am so grateful for all that the Lord has taught me and is still teaching me. Knowing that we have an eternity to assist him in his work and serve the Lord brings me so much peace. I love the gospel… this work is real. Thank you for all your prayers!

Love,

Sister James

Ojai rocks!

Hey guys!

 Ojai rocks. It's the best!

 

We taught Janice the plan of salvation this past week… we brought one of our ward missionaries, sister Stillman and they connected so well. It turns out they have mutual friends and have met briefly before! small world. Janice seems a little hesitant about the commitments with extend, but she is progressing well.

 

We have a new investigator named Dee! It was a miracle.. she just showed up to church and asked, "How do I join?" We got our planners out to schedule an appointment with her.. we are pretty busy tonight and tomorrow, so we asked if we would be able to meet Wednesday.. she said, "Is there any way we can meet before then?!" She is so eager to meet with us and learn about the gospel. We're having a lesson with her tonight :) She is new to Ojai, just recently moved from Maui and went to the church there. We're excited to teach her.

 

 This past week we met with Brother Vanfleet (he is a less-active member). We centered our lesson on a talk given by Elder Scott titled, "Make the exercise of faith your first priority." We talked about daily scripture study and prayer.. he had us pull out his Book of Mormon. It was fully marked, with cross-references and insights in the margins.. it was amazing. He told us he hadn't read in years. He committed to read every day this week and we too committed to feast upon the words of Christ. I feel so blessed to have a specific time set apart in my day to study the scriptures, but I realized during this lesson that  reading them every day is not enough. We must FEAST upon his word and pray fervently that the spirit will teach us what we need to learn. Elder Scott said that daily scripture study is more important than work, school, social media, sports, and even sleep.. We absolutely need that spiritual strength that comes when we read every day.

 

Something I also read in my studies this week was Mormon chapter 9. That is one amazing chapter!  I love vs. 19, "  And if there were miracles wrought then, why has God ceased to be a God of miracles and yet be an unchangeable being? And behold, I say unto you he changeth not; if so he would cease to be God; and he ceaseth not to be God, and IS a God of miracles."

 

His ways don't change. His love is eternal!

Love,

Sister James
4-27-15

Mabel's!
 

Lys

 

 

Just when I think how can it get better...it gets better!

Hello!

Just when I think "life is so good. How can it get better?" ...it gets better. This past week was amazing! I'm so happy to be staying in OJAI with Sister Scoresby :) The work is on fire and we're seeing so many amazing miracles. I know that the Lord is hastening his work here and softening hearts!

Our investigators are doing so well. Shirley is the sweetest and has such a special spirit, and I'm learning a lot of sign language which is fun! Good news, we should be finding out within the next 3 weeks about Dane receiving the priesthood and if he is unable to baptize her then we're going to go forward with the baptism any way because she is so ready and we don't want to delay it any longer. I love them, they are so great.

Our ward put on a talent show and waffle dinner, which was a blast! Four of our investigators were there: M.A, Shirley, Marge, and Janice. They all loved it and were able to interact with the members. Janice is progressing really well… she loves what she is experiencing and learning. Although Marge has made it clear that she will always be a Quaker and isn't interested in joining the church.. (yet haha :) she has been reading a chapter of the Book of Mormon every day! We're trying to help her recognize the spirit that she is feeling and what is drawing her to meeting with us and reading

We've been so busy with service.. so many opportunities! I love it! Cool miracle- we went to help work on repairing a home with some ward members. The lady we were helping was named Louise. We realized that she was an investigator the missionaries have been trying to find, but her address was written down wrong. She's been reading the Book of Mormon EVERY DAY and loves what the missionaries had shared with her…So neat how Heavenly Father does his work.

We are really looking forward to this week.. We found more new investigators this week. There are so many people here SEEKING. We met two new investigators: Ellie and Josh. Ellie is a referral from a member and expressed to us that she feels like something is missing in her life.. We had a quick lesson with her, but the spirit was incredibly strong and she told us that she felt "loved." Nothing is more important than helping people feel the love of God through our words and testimonies. Josh was also a miracle! We were talking to a man outside of his house and Josh walked by... he kept eying us and looked really concerned. As soon as we walked away from the man's home, Josh approached us (which doesn't usually happen) and told us right away, "I want to change my life... can you help me?" We said, "Of course!" We're so excited to meet with them this week.

 Yesterday was the BEST. The whole mission gathered at the Ventura Stake Center. David Archuleta was in LA, so he contacted President Felix to see if he could come and speak/perform for us. Brooke White lives in the mission boundaries, so she also performed and shared her testimony. The meeting was so powerful! Man, they are talented! My favorite was "Come, come ye saints." I couldn't help but feel the spirit. David shared some of his mission experiences and focused on some of his favorite scriptures. He mentioned the importance of following promptings and listening to the still small voice - we don't always see the end results of the fruits of our labors as missionaries, but we can trust in that promise from the lord, "That by small and simple things are great things brought to pass."

He also talked a lot about grace... we are given weakness to learn how to rely on the savior, to learn how to trust in his grace. The lord has promised good to us and we are enough. I'm grateful for the precious gift of the Holy Ghost and for spiritual experiences that are so dear to my heart... Recently, I've been writing down the promptings I receive and recording more of my spiritual impressions and I'm realizing just how involved my heavenly father is in my life... He's in the details, we just need to slow down and recognize it! We are everything to him. Choose to serve him today!

Love,

Sister James

Sister J and Sister S

 

Nothing better!

Family!

 

I can't believe that it's already Monday. This week flew! I feel like I wake up and then before I know it, It's time to plan and go to bed. Time is so precious. Well, amazing things are happening in Ojai! We are seeing miracles every day.. As I mentioned in my last email, we have been working with a lot of less-actives. All three that we visited this past week came out to church and one of them even bore his testimony during fast and testimony meeting. It was amazing. Nothing better :)

 

As I mentioned last week, we invited Janice to take the lessons. She politely declined when we did and we felt impressed not to push. Well, this past week when we went to do service for her, she told us " sisters! Your invitation has been on my mind all week and I have changed my mind. I don't know why I said no in the first place... I love to learn and I want to learn about the church." We had a lesson set up with her neighbor who we are also teaching (Marjorie). Marjorie is the sweetest little thing... she is a Quaker. She's the greatest lady! She referred us to her friend who we have started doing service for, she's reading the book of Mormon and she loves the spirit that we bring. We had a wonderful lesson with the both of them and brought one of our youth out with us. Janice had several questions about the plan of salvation and the temple.. she was soaking it up. After the lesson she said, "This feels good.. this feels right." It's amazing to see how she has been prepared and service has softened her and the spirit other missionaries have brought has helped her reach this point where she's ready to investigate!

 

Another miracle was finding three new investigators! One of them is Shelby. She is sixteen years old and her mother is a former investigator. All of her dad's side of the family are members of the church, so she is pretty familiar. We met her looking for her mom, but as we began to talk to her, she showed a lot of interest. She reminds me of Joseph Smith... she is truly seeking and is experiencing a lot of confusion in her life. She wants purpose. She desires to have a functional family because she hasn't had that herself.. As we taught her the restoration, we could literally see the spirit working in her and she actually got a little emotional. Beth, our other new investigator is in her 90's. She's from Louisiana and said in her cute accent, "My, I just want to adopt you gals!" :) She is so sweet. Her daughter and grandchildren are actually members in Utah. She was raised Baptist, but has read the Book of Mormon and considers it truth. She doesn't quite understand priesthood authority and why that is necessary for baptism, but she wants to continue with the lessons.

 

It's amazing how quickly you can grow to love someone... I love these people that Heavenly Father has placed in our path! I love sharing the gospel...and I know that miracles haven't ceased. I promise that the greatest happiness comes from living

the gospel, doing our best to keep the commandments and serving our brother's and sisters. Every soul is great in the sight of God!

 Love,

Sister James

4-13-2015

Lake Casitas
 

Lunch at lake Casitas