Week 53 - Holidays are Over

1/12/15

This week, has been great!  It was the last week of holidays here in Spain so now it will be back to normal!  I had a lot of fun stuff happen last week and even have a surprise companion exchange due to the Sisters baptismal interview.  

 

However, my favorite thing about last week is that I was able to study the life of the savior a bit more.  What really hit me was how much faith the people who recieved his miracles had.  I had the thought, "that would be neat if everyone in the world had that faith..." That thought was followed by a question, "Elder Jonson, do you have that faith?"  I was able to confirm to myself that I know that Christ atoned for me and for everyone, and that I know that through him all will be saved.  I was really able to reaffirm my testimony through faithful study. 

 

This last week has been a great opportunity to look at my own testimony and I would invite you all to do the same.  I really find myself refreshed when I get a renewed confirmation of something I already know. I hope you all are doing well and have a great week!

 
Cuidaos! 

Elder Jonson

Photos - Catalan and Basketball

A Picture of the Church Sign in Spanish & Catalan

Investigator named Emmanuel who is going to play

basketball for Bowling Green University

Week 52 - Happy New Year

1/5/15

Hey everybody!  I hope you all had a great New Year, I sure did!!  We got to try out a Spanish tradition on New Years eve.  In Spain for the last twelve seconds before midnight, people eat 12 seeded grapes.  So I gave it a shot, but nobody told me I could chew them so, somehow I managed to get 12 whole grapes into my mouth at the same time.  I have a video, but the email system says its too big to send so it'll have to wait until I get home.  

Aside from New Years, we got to see lots of amazing things.  My favorite thing that I saw this week was a 15 year old recent convert come to church.  Coming to church doesn't sound like that big of a deal, but it was for him.  Franklin, the recent convert, is the only active member of the church in his family.  His immediate family is half LDS and half Evangelist.  He is going through a rough time with his family and the church and he made the long chilly walk to church on Sunday morning without complaint.  He is a great example for me, and I learned that although we face our problems in life we can't give up on what we know brings us happiness, the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  

I hope you are all doing well and have a Happy Reyes (Holiday where kids get more presents from the Three Kings, Jan 6th & 7th in Spain).

Con Amor,

Elder Jonson

Photos - Baptism

Alberto's Baptism

New Year's Breakfast at the Ward Mission Leader's House

(What's up with the Cheetos?)

Week 51 - A White Christmas after all

12/29/14

Well this last week has been great!  I got to celebrate Christmas with several of the members here in Vilafranca and remember what Christ did for us. 

 

Last week we had our investigator Alberto looking to get baptized on Saturday.  We had set up a visit for Tuesday and we went and he failed the visit (wasn't there).  We called him and we could not get in contact with him at all. We called him on Christmas eve and nothing, Christmas all day, nothing.  So we had the Sister Misionaries call him from their phone and he didn't even answer them.  We had given up on a baptism this weekend until at about 11pm when the Sisters called us!  He had called back and so we called him right away!!  He had been away visiting family over by my old area Sabadell and didn't bring his phone charger....We set up a visit for the next day and prayed. 

 

For someone to be baptized, they first have to be interviewed by a missionary leader, in our case our District Leader.  We did a companion exchange for the 24 hours and our district leader and I taught Alberto everything else he needed to know and then the next morning did the baptismal interview.  He passed the interview so fast!  He was honestly so prepared beforehand by the Lord.  At 6 pm on Saturday Alberto was baptized by the Bishop in Vilafranca and the next day (Sunday) he recieved the Gift of the Holy Ghost and the Aaronic Priesthood.  It was definitely one of the best Christmas gifts I've ever received!!  Crazy week but it all ended in white!! 

 

The Lord really works miracles when we have enough faith.  I hope you all have a fantastic week! And Happy New Year!!

 

Elder Jonson

Picture - Zone Conference

 

Here is a picture of Tikal's Zone during a Zone Conference

He is in the back on the right.