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

 

Because He lives!

Hi guys!

What an amazing week!! What better way to spend Easter than listening to Christ's apostles and prophets testify of him?!

Our area is really progressing! I focused a lot of my studies on member-missionary work this past week and have been praying a lot with Sister Scoresby on how we can help our members get excited about this work. A lot of them have lived here for +50 years and feel that they have already tried sharing the gospel with every one they know. We're trying to build their confidence and help them recognize what a missionary experience is. We have made a plan to really focus on inactives and part-member families.. so many of our members tell us that there are so many inactives in this ward, but there is no record of it on the ward list in our area book. We went through our ward list this past week with our ward mission leader and he told us who was active. Almost half the names he was unsure of… so we've been going through and visiting. We've already seen miracles! We met sister Dixon.. she is inactive and hasn't had any sort of visits in years. She was open to having us come back and teach the discussions to her family...We're really looking forward to helping these people come back.. I have developed such a testimony of the importance of our purpose in inviting others to come unto Christ. Not just investigators, but members and inactive members... and helping them come back.

Another neat experience was meeting with Brother Van-fleet. He is less-active.. but has such a strong testimony and love for the gospel. He was offended some years ago, but still comes here and there. We had a lesson centered on the atonement and read in Alma 36 about Alma the younger experiencing the enabling power of the atonement.. the spirit was so strong. We all knelt and brother Vanfleet said the closing prayer. He was very emotional and before we could invite him to do anything.. he told us that he would be at church next week. It was powerful!

Dane is doing awesome! He's progressing really well and this has really been strengthening the Hannington's. He has genuine interest and such powerful questions and insights.

We do service for both Janice and Lys every week and we both felt impressed that we needed to invite them to take the lessons.. Janice said that she isn't quite ready at this time, but she is willing to come to church. Service has really helped soften her and she loves the spirit that we bring. Lys told us that she would pray about it.. they are both open to talking about the gospel while we serve them.

Conference was amazing.. I love our dear prophet, president Monson. He is a man of God. It was interesting how both before and after conference, we were meeting so many people who wanted to bash with us and tear down our beliefs. Heavenly Father gave me a lot of opportunities to defend truth and bear testimony.. I was really thinking about elder Bednar's talk about godly fear vs. Mortal fear. The overall message I received from this general conference was that we really have to decide now who's side we are on. The world is changing SO fast and we have to be anxiously engaged. Our testimonies will dwindle if we do not nourish them every single day! The adversary is attacking the family and the apostles and prophets really emphasized the importance of establishing a home of the spirit, of love, and building our foundation on Jesus Christ. All of my questions that I prepared for general conference were answered in some way or another, but one specific answer really hit home. One of my questions was: "How can I overcome my weaknesses through the atonement and know that I'm truly doing my best?" Elder Renlund's words combined with the spirit answered this question of mine so perfectly. He said, "Evaluate, repent, KEEP TRYING." And that we must be patient with others because they are trying too.. Heavenly Father is so patient with us and knows that we are trying! He cares about who we are becoming and our efforts. He loves us!

I am so excited to apply the things that I learned..  I'm so grateful that I have the opportunity as a missionary to share this message of hope with the world.I have never experienced happiness like this! I know that our savior broke the bands of death, both physical and spiritual. I'm learning more and more about him and his love every day. He is so good to us!

Have a good week :) 

Sister James
4-6-2015

 http://www.mormon.org/easter

 

 

Every week just gets better!

Family!

Every week just gets better! COOLEST MIRACLE: Last week when we were doing our p-day shopping in Ventura, I ran into Robert!! I taught him at the very beginning of my mission. He has always had a special spirit about him and was So prepared to hear the gospel, but he has such a different light about him now.. He is preparing to receive the Melchizedek priesthood and his patriarchal blessing. He has a calling and has never been happier! It was priceless.. I loved having that opportunity to see him so happy :)

We had a lesson with our investigator Woody and he brought his friend along, JC. When we walked up, I saw a stack of books and glanced and saw "Joseph Smith" I was thinking.. "OH no" thinking it was anti material, I felt unsettled about it right away.. We later found that his books were earlier writings of the church from Brigham Young and Joseph Smith. Although it was church doctrine, he was taking it completely out of context and trying to bash with us. We testified of what we knew.. Sister Scoresby was so great. She testified with love and boldness of the prophet Joseph Smith and the restoration and cultivated an environment where the spirit could soften his heart! (Or at least try)  I share this experience because we had the women's broadcast right after and it was centered on the important responsibility we have of defending the truth. I felt that the Lord was speaking directly to me, through our inspired leaders. We have found the truth.. we know what is right and we must boldly defend it. The gospel is being attacked.. the family is being attacked and we have the opportunity to stand up for what is right. I loved the women's broadcast.. it was amazing! I was truly reminded of my worth as a daughter of my Heavenly Father.

We met with a less-active family, The Hannington's. We planned on watching the restoration video with them. It was so perfect because their son's friend, Dane, sat in on the lesson. Dane lives with them at this time due to family issues and he has sincere questions about religion and our faith. He hasn't had much of it in his family or life, but has such a good heart.. He had so many questions and we sat back and let the Hannington's testify and teach. It was neat to see the light in their eyes and the strengthening that came to both them and Dane as they testified of the restoration and the Plan of Salvation. We're looking forward to meeting with them this week!

The Mitchell's are still doing great! Shirley really enjoyed the women's broadcast and all she is learning and experiencing. She is more than ready to be baptized! In His timing :)

 

President and Sister Felix came and spoke in the Ojai ward! They are so amazing and inspired.. The focused their talks on preparing for general conference and the importance of taking what we learn and applying it to our lives and remembering the messages. We also watched an Easter video the 3rd hour centered on the atonement.. It was so powerful and I couldn't help but feel the Love of my savior... I know that he died for ME. He knows our challenges, weaknesses, temptations and pains.. he knows how to succor us. His love never fails. I had so many opportunities to be spiritually fed this week and learned so many things.. This work is not easy.. but it was never, ever easy for him. I'm so grateful for the experience I have to Rely on the enabling power of the atonement because I would never be able to do this work on my own.. I'm truly coming to know my savior!

I love you all. Thank you for your prayers!

Sister James

3-30-2015

I love Ojai!

Hey every one!

I love Ojai.. I love being a missionary.. Life couldn't get any better! This place is so great and the work is hastening. Sister Scoresby and I have kept very busy this past week and we have a great week ahead of us.. We have exchanges, interviews AND the Women's broadcast. Then General Conference (Christmas for missionaries) and Easter Sunday.. I can't wait. So many wonderful things ahead! 

We did a lot of member visits this past week and are getting the hang of things here! This ward is great... Most of the members are elderly. They are so wise and sweet.. We had a lot of members come out to our lessons this past week, they have been so willing to serve and help out.

We met with our investigator Mary Alice, ( she goes by M.A.) She is a hoot.. she's the funniest little lady. She's in her 80's and has a color for each day. She wears yellow on Mondays, blue on Tuesdays, orange on Wednesdays.. etc. Gosh I love these people! M.A. came to our relief society birthday dinner and had a blast! She has been investigating for a while now, so she knows a lot of the ladies in the ward. She loves meeting with the missionaries… but won't come to church because it is too early for her. We'll work on that :)

We also met with Ted... he's phenomenal. Unfortunately, he's moving back to Oklahoma this week, but we got his info so that the missionaries can visit him there! Ted is very inspiring, he is a recovering drug addict, and is the perfect example of someone who understands what it means to Change. He's completely changed his life through Jesus Christ and LOVES the Lord. He has so much enthusiasm and he just lights up when he talks about the gospel and the atonement! The thing that is so neat is that he wants to continue to change… he's seeking truth. He's felt the enabling power of the atonement, but has felt that there is more. We taught him the restoration and he was just beaming.. The spirit was working in him and he had so many questions. We felt impressed to talk about baptism by authority and he knew right away that was the key in becoming completely cleansed. He called us the day after we gave him a copy of the Book of Mormon and told us, "Sister's, I can't put this book down.. I know that it is true.".. Ah, it was so powerful. We're bummed that we won't continue to teach him, but I'm so thankful we had the opportunity to meet him and plant that seed.

 

I have so much love for the work of my Savior.. Heavenly Father is so good to me. I'm so grateful for all that he is teaching me and the people that he is placing in my path. I know that if we ask him every day... "Please lead me to someone I can serve and bless today", He will do it. Miracles haven't ceased and our savior lives. I'm so grateful for the opportunity we have to listen to our dear prophet and apostles coming up.. I've been pondering and coming up with questions of my own. I know that they will be answered by the spirit! I invite you all to do the same!
I love you all!

Sister James
3-23-2015

Tree hugger!