Week 29: Crazy things in Casa Grande

Familia!

So, this last week has proved to be pretty interesting. A lot of random crazy things have been happening. The first, we had a tumble weed storm...So, as we are on our way to a lesson we get a text from Sister Howes that says, "You can go inside if you need to." We weren't really sure what that meant until we looked behind us. There was a giant black cloud that was heading straight for us. As it got closer the wind picked up and dust started filling the area. I was getting pretty excited. President and Sister Howes usually don't give missionaries an opportunity to stay inside, so I figured that it was going to be pretty intense. Meanwhile, as we were headed to our lesson, we decided that we should park the car and get out to take some pictures. Then, the main part of the storm hit. Wind was going crazy, and it wasn't raining, but it was throwing tumble weeds everywhere. I have never seen so many tumble weeds in my life. There was literally road blocks of tumble weeds. They were jumping fences, flying in the air and clumping together in huge masses, but I guess what can you expect from an Arizona Desert Town.... 

Then, the next day as Elder Waite and I were on our way to our last lesson of the day, we looked up in the sky and saw a plane start dropping these giant balls of fire. We thought we were being bombed.... The plane was right above where our lesson was, and so knowing we were on the Lord's errand, we just figured we would continue going in that direction haha. As we got closer the amount of flaming balls just continued to increase. We stopped at a stop light and the lady next to us looked like she was going to pass out she was so scared. It honestly looked like they were bombs falling from the sky. As we get closer, we see all of the flames go out and then it turns into a flashing light as it slowly gets closer to the ground. So, we just continue forward and finally are able to see what it is. It was a bunch of parachuters with giant flares or something landing in the middle of a kiss concert haha. The things that happen in Casa Grande....

This week has also allowed me to be see not only how aware God is of us, but as well how real and powerful the adversary is. Without fail, every time someone makes the decision to be baptized, challenges and trials come in their lives. I think that one of the hardest things that I have been able to witness in my life is seeing someone who has developed a testimony of the Book of Mormon fall to these trials. It just shows how truly important it is to act on the promptings that we get from the Holy Ghost and never waiver. As I have thought about these things and how hard it is for me to watch these things happen, I thought about how hard it must be for God to see his children have so many witnesses of the truth, and chose to deny it. Time and time again I am reminded how huge of a role our individual agency holds in the plan of happiness that God has created for us. It truly is a plan of happiness, a plan of freedom, because we get to chose our destiny. We get to chose if we are going to live with God and have eternal life, or if we are going to chose the opposite. It just always makes me think if I am using this gift that I have, the gift of agency, in the best way possible; because as we know, the victor of the battle has already been chosen. We are just choosing if we want to be standing on the winning side, or the losing.

I am grateful to be out here to help share with the people here the things that I have come to know to be true. I am grateful for the opportunity that I have to share these eternal truths with them, and I am grateful to come in contact with those that are the elect, who chose to follow God's plan no matter how strong the adversary works against them.

I love you all. Take care.

Oh, also a little food for thought. Eloy, one of the towns I serve in has the most unsolved murder crimes in the nation.... :)

Con Amor,
Elder Jurgensmeier

Week 28: Patience Precedes Miracles

Familia!

So my email is getting sent out a little later today. We went and hiked Picacho Peak this morning and just got back. I will have to get some pictures sent soon, it was a ton of fun.

Everything here in Casa Grande is still going great, it is definitely a different type of missionary work though. I'm still adjusting from Tempe, where there were people everywhere, to here where we hardly see anyone. I'm not going to lie, it has been a little trying at times. I have never spent so much time in a car doing missionary work. Sometimes it takes 30 minutes to get to one of our lessons. Its been a little tough like I have said, but I know that it is still the work of the Lord and we have seen some amazing miracles.

One of the toughest days of my mission was this week, but I saw one of the biggest miracles as well. Days are always tough when you have tons of lessons planned, and they all fall through. This week we had a day with around 6 or 7 pretty solid lessons planned. As we pulled into the yard of our last planned lesson, having all of the previous ones that day cancel, I was just hoping that we would finally be able to teach someone that day. As we got out and walked to the home, the lady came out and said, "Sorry, not today. My husband said no." As we turned around and got back into the car, I decided that we needed to say a prayer. Our three previous lessons that had canceled were all in this trailer park, and so I knew that we had planned to be in this area, at this specific time for a reason. In my prayer I said, "Heavenly Father, we just had our previous three lessons cancel. We know that we planned to be in this area at this time for a reason. Please guide us to someone that is prepared to accept the Gospel. We know that there are people here who are looking for more and so please place them in our path." 

As we got out of the car, we walked past this trailer and a lady was out cleaning up her yard. I asked her if we could help, and she said "No, I'm alright." I said, "Are you sure? We are here and we have some time." She responded, "But your clothes will get dirty." I told her that all would be fine, we had a washing machine and so not to fret. She finally decided that it wouldn't hurt to have a few extra hands around to help, and so we went in and helped her clean her yard up. As we finished, I told her that as missionaries, we not only helped the people but we also taught a message about Christ and how he had restored his true gospel to the earth again. I asked if we could come back another time and she said, "Yes, I would love you to. I have been searching for a church my entire life and I haven't been able to find one that feels right." So, the next day we passed by and taught them about the restoration of the Gospel. After the lesson she said that it all just felt so right, and so we challenged her and her daughter to be baptized on the 23rd of March and they accepted. Last night we went over to their house after church and the daughter held up the Gospel Principles book and said, "This book is amazing. It has answered all of my questions." And then she held up the For the Strength of Youth pamphlet and said, "I read this whole thing today, I love it. Did you know that you weren't supposed to work on Sunday so you could go to church?" It truly is amazing how prayers can be answered. I knew that we were in that area for a specific reason that day, and I knew that God could guide us to some people who were searching for more, and He did. It truly is amazing to be a part of his work on the earth here today.

This week I was also able to learn a lot about my calling as a missionary. Yesterday in our Spanish Branch a lady bore her testimony and she said that when she saw my companion and I (we are both pretty tall) she said that she saw the statures of angels and she testified that how as missionaries we bring the same spirit that angels would bring. Then after, in our English ward we were asked to go into the relief society and teach them a little about missionary work. As we walked in, the Relief Society President asked everyone how they felt, and one of the Lady's said, "I felt the spirit of the lord as they walked in." It made me realize even more how truly great the calling that I hold as a missionary is. As I was set apart as a missionary, it was literal. I was literally set apart from the world to bare the message of the restoration everywhere that I go. Yesterday just made me realize how key it is that I always stay worthy of this calling that I have. I am so thankful to be called as a missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. It truly is the light in a world of darkness, and it is amazing to share it with people on a daily basis.

I love you all. Take care.
Con Amor,
Elder Jurgensmeier

Week 27: The Big House (Casa Grande)

Familia!

So, I'm here in Casa Grande, loving it. Its definitely different than Tempe! It reminds me a lot of Idaho. Tons of open area, tons of dirt roads, tons of farm land, and very few people. It makes things a little bit difficult, but I know that there are still plenty of people here that are searching for the truth. No joke, I think over 50% of the people that live here are over the age of 70... a little different than covering the area surrounding ASU. My companion is Elder Waite. He has been out for one transfer and he is a stud. Training is two transfers long, so I will be doing the second half of his training. I'm stoked for the things that lay ahead.

So, as for the work in Casa Grande, its different. Sometimes it takes about thirty minutes to drive to an area where we will have a couple of lessons. In Tempe, it took a max of like five minutes to cross our entire area, so it has been pretty hard to figure out how to best work this type of area. I have been praying a lot for guidance to know exactly what I needed to do to help Elder Waite and to be able to find all of the people that are searching for the Gospel, and it has been amazing to see how God has guided everything that I have been doing.

We have quite a few investigators that have potential. None really working towards baptism yet, but I know that there will be several on date in the coming weeks. One of which is Mercedes. Mercedes is awesome. Her sister was baptized over a year ago and ever since she has been interested in the church. The missionaries have been stopping by her house for the last couple months and she has really progressed. She has gone from not even believing in God to knowing that the book of Mormon is true. She just has a few issues with some commandments that she feels shouldn't be wrong for her to do. It has been hard as we have tried to testify to her that since she knows the book of Mormon is true, she knows that Joseph Smith was a prophet, and that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the true church again established on the earth, which means that the commandments taught are commandments of God. She just can't seem to connect the whole picture. Yesterday we had a lesson with her and I was stumped. All throughout church I had no idea what we were going to teach her to help her out, to help her progress in the gospel. As we got home before dinner we decided that we would pray and seek guidance from God to know what Mercedes needed to hear. As we prayed tons of things flooded into both of our minds. Its truly amazing how strong the power of prayer is. We were able to go into our lesson with Mercedes knowing exactly what she needed to hear. She still is not completely sure about baptism, but yesterday we got one step farther. She has never prayed with the missionaries before and so I knew that was something she needed to do. She needed to gain a testimony in praying vocally, and so yesterday we were able to get her to saying the closing prayer before we left. She said some key things in her prayer that helped me know exactly where she was. She said "God I know that this is your true church, and I hope to be baptized in it someday." Although it is a struggle now for her to obey all of the commandments, I know that she will gain a testimony of it someday and that she will be baptized in the near future.

This whole situation really got me thinking about my life and the mission. So many times we let our desires get in the way of true happiness, and true happiness comes directly from obeying the commandments. In Mosiah 2:41 we learn that someday we can "dwell with God in a state of never ending happiness." How amazing would that be? But, earlier in the verse we learn that to reach this goal we need to obey all of the commandments. Now in my life, I know that I have made mistakes, I have broken a few of the commandments. However, I know, without a doubt, that there is a way to correct these wrong doings. Later on in Mosiah chapter 3 it talks about the natural man (our worldly desires) is an enemy to God unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord. This whole situation has just really made me realize how key it is to control our desires. We all have them. Some are great desires and we should pursue them, but those that don't comply with the will of God we need to control. However, I know sometimes we slip and fall, but something that we need to know is that the safety line has already been thrown. The Atonement has already been completed, all we have to do is humble ourselves and use it. My testimony of the Atonement has been strengthened so much as I have seen my investigators use it. It is also very painful when they decide not to use it and take all of the weight of the world on their shoulders. There truly is an easier way to this life, and as we turn unto Christ and use his sacrifice for us, we can find it. I just wish that everyone I came in contact with understood that.

Anyway, take care. I love you all and hope that all is well at home.

Con Amor,

Elder Jurgensmeier

Week 26: Tempe no more....

Familia!

So, we got transfer calls last night, looks like my time here in Tempe is done for now. I'm not sure where I am headed, all I know is that I am training, so I guess we will see Wednesday. I'm a little bit nervous to train because I know how huge of an impact trainers have on the first part of a missionary's mission. I was super blessed to have the trainer that I had and then to be living with the elders that I lived with. They have all definitely impacted my mission for the good and I hope that I can just do my part to help this elder out. However, I have learned throughout my whole life that whom the Lord calls He qualifies, and I definitely know that he will be helping me out.

This week was probably one of the best weeks of my mission. I know I keep saying that, but they honestly just keep getting better. This week three of our investigators entered into the waters of baptism. Being able to see people make these sacred covenants really just does make everything worth it. The first person baptized was Brandon. The first time I met Brandon was last Sunday when he bore his testimony in church. I thought that he was a member, but apparently not... Tuesday night we got a text from the bishop saying that Brandon had wanted to be baptized for several years his mother just wouldn't allow it until now. So, Wednesday afternoon we went over to their home and went over the baptismal interview questions (The questions each person is asked before baptism to make sure that the missionaries have taught them all that they need to be taught and then as well to make sure that they have gained a testimony of the key things in the Gospel.) Well, Brandon knew them all, so we told him he as ready for baptism and challenged him to be baptized this last Saturday and he accepted. It is always amazing to be able to meet people who at such a young age are so prepared to accept the Gospel. 

Then, the next two people that were baptized were Eugene and Jamie. Eugene and Jamie have grown to be some of my favorite people that I have met on the mission. They have been investigating the church since 1996, and have known that it is the true church for several years, they just haven't been able to join because of their addiction to smoking. The first time that we met them about six weeks ago Elder Niederhauser and I instantly grew to love them. We could see all the potential that they had, and so we prayed to know what we should do to help them progress in the Gospel. As we prayed, we both felt that February would be the month when they would both finally be able to kick the habit and be baptized. We set a goal for the 16th of February about 5 weeks ago. One of the first times we met them we read Either 12:27 which has grown to be one of my favorite scriptures. In the scripture it talks about how when we turn unto Christ, He will make our weaknesses strengths. I have truly been able to see this with these two. The Atonement truly is our greatest gift in this life. Not only does it help bad men become good, but it helps good men become better. It is the strength that we need when we have no desire to continue on, and it is truly what drove Eugene and Jamie to reach the point where they are at now. Six weeks ago they went from no hope, no desire to continue on, to now they are baptized and able to have a member of the God Head with them as a continual guide. They have gone from no faith, to now having a worth priesthood holder as the head of their home. I truly do love the Gospel. It is truly the way to obtain joy in this life.

Also this week I was able to have an experience that I will cherish forever. For my whole mission I have been praying to be the answer to someone's prayer. I know that I answer people's prayers every single day by the message of the restored gospel that we bring, but I wanted to be able to see a miracle happen through me. This week as we were driving to one of our lessons a thought came to my mind that we needed to stop by Mercy, a recent convert's home and visit her. As we headed to her home we passed the street Don Carlos where Frank (my very first baptism) lives. Once again another name popped into my mind. I knew that we needed to go and visit Frank. As we pulled up to his home, the door opened even before we got to the porch. It was not Frank, but his cousin that he lives with. He invited us in and we sat and talked a little about Frank. As time moved on and we needed to head out to our lesson I asked if there was anything that we could do to help him out. He told us that actually he wanted a blessing. He went on to tell us that this past week his job had been cutting several people. Job security was not looking very good and he said he was scared for the future. He told us that as he got home that morning he fell to his knees asking God to bring by someone that could give him a blessing, that could help him out, and then we showed up. It is amazing how aware God truly is of us. We stumbled upon Frank's cousin by not one, but two changes of plans. God truly is aware of us and as we turn to him in our good times and bad, he will bless us with those things that we need.

I am so thankful for this gospel and for the opportunity that I have to share it. It truly does help bad men become good and good men to become better and I am thankful for the person that it is helping me become. I love you all and hope all is well. Take Care.

Con Amor,
Elder Jurgensmeier

Week 25: Blessings of the Spirit

Familia!
Things have been super good in Tempe, and we have been able to have a lot of success lately. We have been staying very busy, so I cant complain about that.

This week was the valentines party for our Spanish ward. I think I have decided that Spanish people know how to throw the parties. They start out with tons of food, and then tons of dessert, and then they dance it off. So, this last party I decided that I would never know the real Spanish experience until I did all three..... so at the end of the party when everyone was dancing to their Spanish music I got up and went in the middle of them and just started dancing by myself right along with them. Everyone stopped and started cheering and whistling and so I just kept going haha. It was pretty awesome until the sisters yelled at me....apparently its a rule you aren't supposed to dance...Either way though it was way fun and I got a lot of member trust out of it. One of the members came up to me laughing and shook my hand and said "In thirty years I have never seen a missionary dance like you." I owe it all to the Quinceanera (Spanish 15 year old parties, I have no idea how to spell it) that I went to with Edgar a couple weeks before I headed out, I learned all my moves that night....haha

This week has also been one of the most spiritually uplifting weeks in my mission. I was able to be a part of some incredible experiences that I will never forget. The first of which was Zack's Baptism (Marshal and Shannon's Son). We have been working with Marshal and Shannon and their family for the past several months. They all have a really strong desire to be baptized and join the church, they just can't because they still need to get married. They have filed the divorce papers, and Shannon's ex-husband is making things very difficult and so they figure that by the soonest they will be married next February. So, we focused our attention on Zack. I have never seen someone prepared at such a young age. When we taught him about some of the commandments he said, "You know when I was younger I thought about that and didn't think it was right to do, so I studied it out, prayed about it, and God told me that I shouldn't do it, so I didn't." That is just the type of person Zack has grown to be. Whenever he has a question, he brings it before God to know what he should do. It has been a miracle for me to be able to work with him and see him be the example for his family and be baptized when they couldn't. I know that he is going to change many people's lives, including his family.

As well this week we had a few appointments fall through and so we were going through our back up plans to see who we should go by and visit. As we were reading over the names, this man who we had met earlier popped into my mind. Not even thinking I said, "Hey, lets go visit Tattoo Man." Now I call this guy Tattoo man because his entire body, face and all is covered in Tats...and because I didn't know his name.... so we head over to his house and knock on the door. His music was blasting inside his house and so we tried to knock as loud as we could and no one answered. We decided that he wasn't going to come to the door and as we turned around to leave, we saw him coming around the corner to his house. He came up to us and to talk to us and said, "Hey I was just wondering when you two were going to come over." We asked him if we could talk for a bit and so he said sure and let us in his apartment. As soon as we got into the apartment he fell apart. He started telling us how terrible his life was and how everything was falling apart. He told us how at a young age when he had nobody to trust, he decided to trust the streets and got involved in gangs and a life that he is not proud of now. He just kept telling us that he was done, done with it all. He said he was sick of this life and just wanted it to end. His family had left him, His friends had abandoned him, and he didn't see a purpose to be living. As we sat and listened to the things he told us, we both started testifying about Christ. How even when we feel these lows, and feel as if no one knows what we are going through, we are wrong because he does. We testified that because Christ stood alone, we never have to. It was an amazing experience to be able to talk with this man and be able to bring the spirit back into his life so that he could see that light that he was searching for.

Then, later in that same day we went to a new investigator's home. His name is Duane. As we walked up to his trailer his door was wide open and he was sitting on his bed holding his scriptures in his hands waiting for us. Once again as we got inside and started talking, he fell apart. He told us that all day he was debating on whether or not he should take his life. He told us that he had put drugs and alcohol over his family at a time that they really needed him and that he would never be able to forgive himself. He told us that he had torn apart his family, and he just figured that the world would be better without him. Once again we were able to follow the guidance of the spirit and testify of things that he needed to hear. The lesson was super powerful and we were able to put him on date to be baptized on the 23rd of this month.

Now, how amazing is it to have the opportunity to help not one, but two people questioning if they should take their life that day. If we wouldn't have listened to the guidance of the spirit to go and visit Ranay right then, we would have never been able to have that opportune moment to catch him and start a conversation and then who knows what would have happened to him. Then, if we wouldn't have listened to the guidance of the spirit to tell Duane the things that God wanted him to hear, not only would he have maybe taken his life later on, but he wouldn't be preparing for one of the most important steps that he is going to take in his life by being baptized. How blessed am I to be serving in the Tempe Arizona mission. How blessed am I to be able to share the Gospel, the light that the world is searching for, to those who are buried in a deep abyss and can't find a way out. And how blessed are we to be able to have a member of the God Head to guide us in this life to help others. I will forever cherish these two years that I have to serve and the experience and knowledge that lay ahead of me.

I love you all and hope all is well. Take care.

Con Amor,
Elder Jurgensmeier

Pictures from this week!

Week 24: Solid Week

Familia!

So good to hear that everything is all good with dad and the wreck. It is amazing how we truly are protected in this life. God truly does watch out for us and it has been something that I have seen more and more of on my mission.

This last week was one of the most successful weeks that I have ever had on my mission. We were able to have 24 lessons, put three people on date for baptism, and then have a baptism. We truly have been blessed the last couple days. I love being on the Lord's errand.

Yesterday we had a pretty awesome experience. As I have been serving in the ward the past couple months I have gained a lot of really good friends. One of them is named Mark. He is a recent convert of 6 months and we hit it off right away. Yesterday Mark was ordained an Elder in the Melchizedek Priesthood. It was a powerful experience to be a part of. It has been amazing to see people's lives change while being on the mission. I didn't know Mark before he joined the church, but yesterday when I was able to see him receive the power and authority of God to work miracles and bless the lives of others, it truly hit me how powerful of a work I am doing out here. I am here not only to help others come unto Christ, but once they have come unto Christ I am here to help them help those around them. It truly is a blessing being out here.

This week was Lindsey's baptism as well and I was able to learn a lot through it. Her original baptism date was last Saturday, but that day she had a ton of things to do. There was some sort of cheer thing in the morning and then later on in the day she had to figure things out with school and then she had work. Elder Niederhauser and I thought that it would be a good idea to move her baptism back to the 2nd of February and so we did. Later on we found out how big of a mistake that was. As Lindsey was preparing for baptism this extra week, several trials popped up in her life. Several random things came into her life that were really trying her faith. As we met with her and she told us these things it really hit Elder Niederhauser and I how big of a help it would have been if she had the Holy Ghost as a constant companion in her life throughout these trials. The spirit really chastised us letting us know that she was ready the week before, and even though her day was super busy her baptism should have been a priority. It was a mistake that I will never make again. I think sometimes I don't realize how big of a blessing it is to have the Holy Ghost as a constant companion. When we receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, we literally have a member of the God Head with us guiding our lives. If Lindsey had been baptized a week earlier, she would have had this necessary help in her life through this trial. Even though it was a struggle to push through these trials that came, we were able to do it, and her baptism was something that I will never forget. Lindsey asked me if I would baptize her and so it was an amazing opportunity. It was the first chance that I have ever had to baptize someone and joy is really all that can explain it. When Lindsey came up out of the water she had the biggest smile on her face, and I couldn't help but to smile either. As I went back to the changing room thinking about all that had just happened, I just continued to smile. You know, days like those are what the mission is about. Sure it may be hard getting up at 6:30 every morning, and sure it may be hard having days where we don't teach much at all, but when you see someone enter into the waters of baptism, all of those other things fade away. You truly get to see the importance of the work and how amazing it is to be a part of the salvation of someone's soul. The mission truly is changing my life for eternity and it will be something that I will forever be indebted to.

I truly do love this work, and it is something that I will be doing for the rest of my life. I hope you all know how much I love you and I hope all continues to go well.

Con amor,

Elder Jurgensmeier