Familia!
What a week in Phoenix! Finally a little bit of rain. The other night we rolled down the windows because it felt so fresh outside and then we checked the temperature.... 89.... You know its hot when 89 feels refreshing haha.
This week was a pretty busy week. Once again tons of things going on. I really don't think there has been a normal day of this transfer. It always seems like we have something crazy going on. Its good to be busy though, especially when you are able to be busy helping others. It truly is what brings me joy. I'm thankful for the opportunities that I have every single day to serve. We have a lot of things that we are starting up in this area. We just had a meeting with our Bishop yesterday discussing a few of the ideas that we have to help our ward. Our ward is a super special case. We have six full time missionaries serving in our ward, so there is a lot of work that can be done.
I truly learned a ton from the time that I was able to spend in Coolidge. I was able to see the missionary efforts go from missionaries working on one project and members working on another to us combining our efforts and all working towards the Work of Salvation as the brethren call it. It truly was and is amazing to see the changes that have happened in that area.
I know that here in Phoenix as we combine all of our efforts together we will see so many miracles. A couple of days ago Elder Cassiano and I were heading towards a lesson when we saw a few people outside doing yard work. We headed over to their home and asked them if we could help. We started talk about the Gospel and how it blesses families when out of the corner of my eye I saw an older lady walking by on the sidewalk. As I turned and looked at her I felt the most distinct impression, "Talk to her." As I sat there debating, I figured it would be rude to leave the conversation we were in and strike up another, so I figured I would stay. As we continued talking, once again the impression came into my mind, "Talk to her." I sat there reasoning for what seemed like a while, and before I knew it she was nearly a block away, so once again I decided not to go. As our conversation finished up we headed back out to the sidewalk just as I saw this lady turn the corner on another street. Once again the impression came, "Talk to her." I told Elder Cassiano that we needed to catch up to that lady and talk to her, and he replied, "I know." Since she was several blocks away, still moving, and it was night time, we figured it probably wouldn't be too affective for two 20 year old guys to take off running after an old lady, so we headed back to the car and started driving in her direction.
When we rounded the corner we couldn't see her. After driving around for a while we finally spotted her again. We parked the car about 100 feet in front of her and started walking back towards her (No worries, we didn't look like creeps. We planned it out perfectly and it went reeaal smooth haha) As our paths crossed, we started up a conversation. Turns out her Nephew is a member in Mesa and she has been going to church with him off and on for the past couple of years. She had no idea that there was a church just down the road from her home. We talked to her for a little bit longer and testified of how the Gospel could bless her life. We have an appointment set up with her tonight, so I am excited to see how everything goes. I have such a strong testimony of the Holy Ghost. He plays such a huge role in our lives. I know that his promptings are real, they are powerful, but they are also subtle. I am so thankful that three times I was given the prompting to talk to this lady. I know so many times we don't get that lucky. I am thankful for the presence of the Holy Ghost in my life. It is such a huge gift to have his guidance as a constant companion. I love this work and am so thankful to be out here.
As well, Michael Padron just got his children back. They are all getting baptized the 7th of September. It is going to be an awesome experience for their family. I'm so thankful for the opportunity that I had to get to be a part of their lives.
Hope all is well. Love you all!
Con Amor,
Elder Jurgensmeier
Monday, August 26, 2013
Tuesday, August 20, 2013
Week 52: Family Prayer
Familia!
Super Awesome week here in Phoenix, So many blessings. The people here are amazing, a little different sometimes, but amazing. This week we were able to spend a lot of time with Elder Cardon, it definitely helped me a lot. Sometimes in life I feel like we complicate things a lot more than necessary. Its amazing to me how simple the Gospel of Jesus Christ is, and yet it can answer each and every one of our questions.
It was awesome to hear about some of the successes that are happening in Coolidge. A couple of days ago Emilio, an investigator that I had worked with the entire time I was in Coolidge, was baptized. He is an amazing young man and it is going to be a huge blessing for his family to have someone in their home that holds the priesthood.
As well this week Estephany was baptized here in Phoenix. After she was baptized she asked if she could take some time to bear her testimony. Not much was said, but what was said was powerful. It is amazing to see her understanding of the Gospel, and how God has helped her come to this understanding throughout her life. She mentioned how she has waited so long for this day to come, but she knows that it is just the beginning. She sees the vision, the bigger picture in life. Her goal was not baptism, but it is returning to live with God and her loved ones for the eternities. What miracles come from this simple vision. I think some of my favorite memories from the mission are sitting in peoples homes teaching of simple truths.
This week we had one of my favorite lessons so far. Towards the beginning of the week we had a lesson with the Baca Family. It was our first lesson with them, and so going in to the lesson we had planned to teach the Restoration. As we got into the lesson, the spirit guided us down a different path. Adrian, the Father, has struggled with prayer for the majority of his life. He told us that for the last several years, he hasn't even had the desire to pray. As we taught the simple truths and doctrines of prayer for the next thirty minutes the spirit entered the room. As we were closing up the lesson, we invited the family to all kneel down and for Adrian to offer the closing prayer. As he knelt down he couldn't utter the words. We sat there for about a minute as he told us he couldn't. I then asked if it would be ok if I offered a prayer, Elder Cassiano offered a prayer, and then he could say one after us. We both said our prayers, praying that Adrian would feel comfortable with praying and that he would feel of the spirit as he did. As we finished our prayers, he still couldn't utter the words to start. As we waited for a few more seconds, his son started praying. As his son closed his prayer, Adrian finally started. Through his simple, heart felt prayer, the spirit flooded into the room. As he finished his prayer we stayed kneeling for the next couple minutes talking about what we were all feeling, the spirit.
I am so thankful for prayer. We truly can speak with our Father. He loves us and wants to hear from us and as we speak to him, miracles happen. I love you all and hope all is going well! Take Care!
Con Amor,
Elder Jurgensmeier
Super Awesome week here in Phoenix, So many blessings. The people here are amazing, a little different sometimes, but amazing. This week we were able to spend a lot of time with Elder Cardon, it definitely helped me a lot. Sometimes in life I feel like we complicate things a lot more than necessary. Its amazing to me how simple the Gospel of Jesus Christ is, and yet it can answer each and every one of our questions.
It was awesome to hear about some of the successes that are happening in Coolidge. A couple of days ago Emilio, an investigator that I had worked with the entire time I was in Coolidge, was baptized. He is an amazing young man and it is going to be a huge blessing for his family to have someone in their home that holds the priesthood.
As well this week Estephany was baptized here in Phoenix. After she was baptized she asked if she could take some time to bear her testimony. Not much was said, but what was said was powerful. It is amazing to see her understanding of the Gospel, and how God has helped her come to this understanding throughout her life. She mentioned how she has waited so long for this day to come, but she knows that it is just the beginning. She sees the vision, the bigger picture in life. Her goal was not baptism, but it is returning to live with God and her loved ones for the eternities. What miracles come from this simple vision. I think some of my favorite memories from the mission are sitting in peoples homes teaching of simple truths.
This week we had one of my favorite lessons so far. Towards the beginning of the week we had a lesson with the Baca Family. It was our first lesson with them, and so going in to the lesson we had planned to teach the Restoration. As we got into the lesson, the spirit guided us down a different path. Adrian, the Father, has struggled with prayer for the majority of his life. He told us that for the last several years, he hasn't even had the desire to pray. As we taught the simple truths and doctrines of prayer for the next thirty minutes the spirit entered the room. As we were closing up the lesson, we invited the family to all kneel down and for Adrian to offer the closing prayer. As he knelt down he couldn't utter the words. We sat there for about a minute as he told us he couldn't. I then asked if it would be ok if I offered a prayer, Elder Cassiano offered a prayer, and then he could say one after us. We both said our prayers, praying that Adrian would feel comfortable with praying and that he would feel of the spirit as he did. As we finished our prayers, he still couldn't utter the words to start. As we waited for a few more seconds, his son started praying. As his son closed his prayer, Adrian finally started. Through his simple, heart felt prayer, the spirit flooded into the room. As he finished his prayer we stayed kneeling for the next couple minutes talking about what we were all feeling, the spirit.
I am so thankful for prayer. We truly can speak with our Father. He loves us and wants to hear from us and as we speak to him, miracles happen. I love you all and hope all is going well! Take Care!
Con Amor,
Elder Jurgensmeier
Tuesday, August 13, 2013
Week 51: Just another week in PHOENIX
Familia!
Nothing ever gets boring here in Phoenix, there are things to see and experience every day.... this week as we were walking down the street we hear something whiz past our heads and nail the tree in front of us, followed by a few others...getting shot at by BB guns... never gets old :)
This week was full of a lot of Administrative things, tons of traveling and time going back and forth between meetings. Either way though, there have been so many miracles all around us. This week, Elder Cardon from the 70 is doing a mission tour and we have the opportunity of spending a lot of time with him. It is going to be a great experience to hear of his testimony and experiences with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
There have truly been miracle after miracle in our area. This week we are having the baptism of Estephany, an investigator that we just picked up last week. It has been amazing to hear her testimony as we have had lessons with her. She has been around the church for a little bit of her life, but most of her learning and understanding has been through her own efforts, and then confirmed to her by the Spirit. When we taught the Word of Wisdom, she pretty much taught it to us. She had never really been taught it before, she just has always believed that her body is a temple and didn't want to do any harm to it. She said, " This is the body that my spirit dwells in, and after this life when I am resurrected I will be reunited with this same body. I need to take care of it, because it is what I am going to have for the eternities." It is amazing how prepared she is. As stated in John, the spirit truly will teach us ALL things, and it has been amazing to see this in Estephany's life.
As well, Monday we were able to have a lesson with the Rodriguez Family. Hermana Rodriguez and her son have been members for some years, but her husband and her other son have never really had the desire. For some time, missionaries had passed by and taught them, but there were still concerns that they needed resolved. This last Monday Elder Cassiano and I really felt like we needed to talk about eternal families and the blessings that come from being sealed as a family in the holy temples. It was also a great lesson for me to be reminded about the plan of salvation. As we taught, Grandpa Jurgensmeier kept coming to mind. I was really able to testify to this family about the comfort that comes from the sealing powers. Sometimes in this life we get caught up in the hows and in the whys of things. However, the most important thing we can do is to see things in the eternal perspective. Sure, this family was comfortable with what they had now, sure things seemed ideal, but this life is not just a time for things to be ideal. This life is a precious time, a time when we have a chance to prepare for the eternities, and depending on what we make of it, determines the result. As they saw things from an eternal perspective, they knew the importance of acting now. It will be great to see them enter into the waters of baptism and in a year be sealed as an eternal family.
I love this work. I am so thankful to be able to share the joys of the Gospel every single day with those around me. I know that it is a work that we can all participate in, and truly nothing brings more happiness. I love you all, take care!
Con Amor,
Elder Jurgensmeier
Nothing ever gets boring here in Phoenix, there are things to see and experience every day.... this week as we were walking down the street we hear something whiz past our heads and nail the tree in front of us, followed by a few others...getting shot at by BB guns... never gets old :)
This week was full of a lot of Administrative things, tons of traveling and time going back and forth between meetings. Either way though, there have been so many miracles all around us. This week, Elder Cardon from the 70 is doing a mission tour and we have the opportunity of spending a lot of time with him. It is going to be a great experience to hear of his testimony and experiences with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
There have truly been miracle after miracle in our area. This week we are having the baptism of Estephany, an investigator that we just picked up last week. It has been amazing to hear her testimony as we have had lessons with her. She has been around the church for a little bit of her life, but most of her learning and understanding has been through her own efforts, and then confirmed to her by the Spirit. When we taught the Word of Wisdom, she pretty much taught it to us. She had never really been taught it before, she just has always believed that her body is a temple and didn't want to do any harm to it. She said, " This is the body that my spirit dwells in, and after this life when I am resurrected I will be reunited with this same body. I need to take care of it, because it is what I am going to have for the eternities." It is amazing how prepared she is. As stated in John, the spirit truly will teach us ALL things, and it has been amazing to see this in Estephany's life.
As well, Monday we were able to have a lesson with the Rodriguez Family. Hermana Rodriguez and her son have been members for some years, but her husband and her other son have never really had the desire. For some time, missionaries had passed by and taught them, but there were still concerns that they needed resolved. This last Monday Elder Cassiano and I really felt like we needed to talk about eternal families and the blessings that come from being sealed as a family in the holy temples. It was also a great lesson for me to be reminded about the plan of salvation. As we taught, Grandpa Jurgensmeier kept coming to mind. I was really able to testify to this family about the comfort that comes from the sealing powers. Sometimes in this life we get caught up in the hows and in the whys of things. However, the most important thing we can do is to see things in the eternal perspective. Sure, this family was comfortable with what they had now, sure things seemed ideal, but this life is not just a time for things to be ideal. This life is a precious time, a time when we have a chance to prepare for the eternities, and depending on what we make of it, determines the result. As they saw things from an eternal perspective, they knew the importance of acting now. It will be great to see them enter into the waters of baptism and in a year be sealed as an eternal family.
I love this work. I am so thankful to be able to share the joys of the Gospel every single day with those around me. I know that it is a work that we can all participate in, and truly nothing brings more happiness. I love you all, take care!
Con Amor,
Elder Jurgensmeier
Monday, August 5, 2013
Week 50: Phoenix it is!
Familia!
So my predictions were right, I'm here in Phoenix and stoked to get to work. My companion is Elder Cassiano he is from Guatemala. We had a Mission Leader Council about a month ago after the boundaries were changed for the Tempe Mission and so it was the first time that the Phoenix zones had been to any of our meetings. Before we left I told Elder Cassiano that we were going to be companions next transfer...I think I'm pretty good at predicting things haha.
Honestly though, it was super tough to leave behind Coolidge and the Casa Grande Zone. That place meant a lot to me. I know that I was meant to serve in that area. I was able to see so many miracles, and will forever be changed for the time that I spent in Coolidge. However, just as I knew I was supposed to be in Coolidge, I know without a doubt in my mind that I'm exactly where I need to be right now.
Phoenix is awesome. Throughout my whole mission so far, I have always covered at least one English ward. Here in Phoenix, we are dedicated to just one Spanish ward. At first, I'm not going to lie, it was very difficult. Especially in Coolidge, nearly 100% of our work was in English, and so I wasn't able to improve much on my Spanish. Coming here to Phoenix where we spend all of our time speaking Spanish was pretty difficult at first. I found myself tongue tied often and struggling to say what I needed to say. I found myself praying often for help from the Lord and just as always, help was right around the corner. In the past couple of days I have felt very guided in the things that I say. I think that is one of my favorite things about being called to serve in the Spanish Language. By no means am I fluent in the language, in fact far from it, but through the help of our Lord, I always seem to know what to say. I truly do know that this is his work and he will always lead and guide us.
In the past couple of days we have had quite a few tender mercies. One night as we were walking down the street we started talking to a couple people hanging outside their home. After talking for a while, one of them said, "We really aren't too interested, but my wife is a member, you should visit her tomorrow." So that we did. As we got to Estephany's home we knocked on the door she opened it and said come in even before we could introduce ourselves. As we went in and started talking to her we found out that she wasn't even a member. For the majority of her life, Estephany has wanted to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day saints, but she has never been at a time in her life where she could settle down and get things figured out. As a youth she would go to church all of the time with her aunt, and after she moved to Phoenix and got somethings figured out she called her aunt and said, "I want to be a member. Can you call the missionaries and ask them to come over and teach me?" Her aunt responded, "You can't do that. They have to knock on your door before they can teach you."...... some members..... haha.
Estephany told us that many times she had looked out the window watching missionaries go from house to house, but they never seemed to knock on her door. Her next question was, "So what do I need to do to get baptized?" Pretty good question if I do say so myself haha. So, we sat down with her and discussed a few things. She is now preparing to be baptized on the 17th of August. This little miracle is just one of many that I know will happen in this area. I know without a doubt in my mind that there are tons of people who are looking for the restored gospel. I have seen it time and time again on my mission. The Gospel truly is a guide for us to fulfill our deepest desires, to return and live with Father again in a state of never ending happiness. I'm thankful to be guided as a representative of our Savior Jesus Christ to find these people who are truly searching.
It was tough to hear that Grandpa J passed away, but I know that he is in a better place. How grateful I am for the Plan of Salvation. I am so grateful that we have a prophet on the earth today that can reveal these things to us so that we don't have to question what happens after this life. I know that not only is Grandpa happy, but I know that Grandma is shedding tears of joy to once again be reunited with her eternal best friend. I love and pray for you all. Take Care!
Con Amor,
Elder Jurgensmeier
So my predictions were right, I'm here in Phoenix and stoked to get to work. My companion is Elder Cassiano he is from Guatemala. We had a Mission Leader Council about a month ago after the boundaries were changed for the Tempe Mission and so it was the first time that the Phoenix zones had been to any of our meetings. Before we left I told Elder Cassiano that we were going to be companions next transfer...I think I'm pretty good at predicting things haha.
Honestly though, it was super tough to leave behind Coolidge and the Casa Grande Zone. That place meant a lot to me. I know that I was meant to serve in that area. I was able to see so many miracles, and will forever be changed for the time that I spent in Coolidge. However, just as I knew I was supposed to be in Coolidge, I know without a doubt in my mind that I'm exactly where I need to be right now.
Phoenix is awesome. Throughout my whole mission so far, I have always covered at least one English ward. Here in Phoenix, we are dedicated to just one Spanish ward. At first, I'm not going to lie, it was very difficult. Especially in Coolidge, nearly 100% of our work was in English, and so I wasn't able to improve much on my Spanish. Coming here to Phoenix where we spend all of our time speaking Spanish was pretty difficult at first. I found myself tongue tied often and struggling to say what I needed to say. I found myself praying often for help from the Lord and just as always, help was right around the corner. In the past couple of days I have felt very guided in the things that I say. I think that is one of my favorite things about being called to serve in the Spanish Language. By no means am I fluent in the language, in fact far from it, but through the help of our Lord, I always seem to know what to say. I truly do know that this is his work and he will always lead and guide us.
In the past couple of days we have had quite a few tender mercies. One night as we were walking down the street we started talking to a couple people hanging outside their home. After talking for a while, one of them said, "We really aren't too interested, but my wife is a member, you should visit her tomorrow." So that we did. As we got to Estephany's home we knocked on the door she opened it and said come in even before we could introduce ourselves. As we went in and started talking to her we found out that she wasn't even a member. For the majority of her life, Estephany has wanted to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day saints, but she has never been at a time in her life where she could settle down and get things figured out. As a youth she would go to church all of the time with her aunt, and after she moved to Phoenix and got somethings figured out she called her aunt and said, "I want to be a member. Can you call the missionaries and ask them to come over and teach me?" Her aunt responded, "You can't do that. They have to knock on your door before they can teach you."...... some members..... haha.
Estephany told us that many times she had looked out the window watching missionaries go from house to house, but they never seemed to knock on her door. Her next question was, "So what do I need to do to get baptized?" Pretty good question if I do say so myself haha. So, we sat down with her and discussed a few things. She is now preparing to be baptized on the 17th of August. This little miracle is just one of many that I know will happen in this area. I know without a doubt in my mind that there are tons of people who are looking for the restored gospel. I have seen it time and time again on my mission. The Gospel truly is a guide for us to fulfill our deepest desires, to return and live with Father again in a state of never ending happiness. I'm thankful to be guided as a representative of our Savior Jesus Christ to find these people who are truly searching.
It was tough to hear that Grandpa J passed away, but I know that he is in a better place. How grateful I am for the Plan of Salvation. I am so grateful that we have a prophet on the earth today that can reveal these things to us so that we don't have to question what happens after this life. I know that not only is Grandpa happy, but I know that Grandma is shedding tears of joy to once again be reunited with her eternal best friend. I love and pray for you all. Take Care!
Con Amor,
Elder Jurgensmeier
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