LA CANADA, MY NEW COMPANION, FUN TIMES FOR EVERYONE!

This week was a fun week for everyone.  We have been having some fun times here with my new companion Elder Mendoza.  We are doing everything we can to get the work going.  We talk, we preach, and teach like Missionaries do.

My new area is super small,  and we have like 16 bishops here in 20 years.  So we are going to see what happens here.  I love the Area.  The people are cool and we have a lot of people to teach.  We just need to augment the number. 

I am in Zona La Villa, or in the Ville Zone.  So I am in the Ville from Harrisonville!!   lololol

Scripture of the Week: 

James 1:5-6

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.  

But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering.  For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

This Scripture changed the World.  Let it Change you.  Ask God.  Trust in his judgements and He Will guide you to the right.

1. Servicio with Jose Luis and Esperanza

2. Noche de Hogar 

-- 

Elder Jonathan Thomas Tracy

   Misión Santa Cruz Bolivia

               2014-2016

WEEK 54: TRANSFERS, NEW COMPANION, RETURN TO SANTA CRUZ

Dear Friends and Family, 

This week has been a week of Miracles, and we have been able to do a lot of things. 

The only bad thing is that I got transferred from Tarija and I'm back here in Santa Cruz.  

My new companion is Elder Mendoza, he is from Ecuador and he is pretty cool. I have only known him for like three hours,  but I already love him. I hope that we can have some cool adventures here in Santa Cruz. 

We flew in from Tarija today at like 8:30 am and we got into Santa Cruz at like 10 am.  I said goodbye to some of my good friends like Elder Rosales, Elder Rojas, and Elder Ruiz.  I have left behind  lot of good memories in Tarija.  I hope that one day I will be able to go back!  :)

In my area, every Thursday, there is a huge market called La Cumavi, where every single missionary goes to buy cheap stuff like ties for 30 cents, shirts and shoes brand new for around seven dollars.  I'm super excited to see what is going to happen here.  The area is really small,  but I know that we are going to be baptizing like crazy!!

Scripture of the Week: 
Matthew 5: 14-16

Ye are the light of the world.  A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.  Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.  

Darkness can only exist in places where there is no light.  If there is light, there cannot be darkness.  The light in infinitely more powerful than the Darkness.  

Let it Shine!

1.  Airport in Santa Cruz

2. Elder Mendoza and I

3.  Saying Bye to Elder Rosales

4.  Saying bye to Elder Rojas

-- 

Elder Jonathan Thomas Tracy

            La Cañada Ward                                                   

    Misión Santa Cruz Bolivia

                 2014-2016

WEEK 53: ONE YEAR IN THE MISSION FIELD, GOING TO THE WATERFALL, COMPANION EXCHANGES

Hey everybody. 

How are we all going? 

I have been in Bolivia for over a YEAR now.  I haven't eaten American candies or spoken English for a year now!  How cool is that!

We had to go do some migration papers.  

So I'm a legal Bolivian now.  I can come back anytime before April 22, 2017. HOW COOL IS THAT.  So I'm going to want to come back before 2017.  Anyone want to come with me? :)

We went to a cool waterfall today.  It was called Caiomata. 

So we went and I took a bunch of pictures for everyone!  We had to climb up a Mountain to get there.  And I lead everyone to get up to the actual falls.  There was a super huge drop off part where if someone slipped, they would have died.  But no one died and we are all okay.  We all made jokes because there was a huge pipeline that brought Mountain water to the people.  And I said to everyone, "Hold on to the Rod" and it was funny!

We had a companionship exchange with Elder Molina, one Elder from Guatemala.  He is super cool and has a lot of potential to be a leader in the Mission!!

And we had a BAD week in terms of lessons.  So I would really appreciate some prayers.  We are getting through some hard times.  BUT with your help, I know we can do it!!

Scripture of the Week: 

Mormon 9: 36-37

And behold, these things which we have desired concerning our brethren, yea, even their restoration to the knowledge of Christ, are according to the prayers of all the saints who have dwelt in the land.

And may the Lord Jesus Christ grant that their prayers may be answered according to their faith; and may God the Father remember the covenant which he hath made with the house of Israel; and may he bless them forever, through faith on the name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

1. Elder Molina and ME.

2. Elder Jones ( He was born on my Birthday, same year) We       have exactly the same age!!!

3. Elder Rosales. (Jonathan's companion)

4.  Elder Wilson and Elder Halik (The new Guys)

5. Waterfall

6. Waterfall

7.  La Zona Guadalquivir

8. ME hanging onto rocks

9. Elder Rojas and Me

-- 

Elder Jonathan Thomas Tracy

  Misión Santa Cruz Bolivia

              2014-2016

WEEK 52: BAPTISMS, FAMILY HOME EVENING!

Hey everyone!!! 

How are you all doing?   I'm doing fantastic.  This last week was THE BEST because one of our investigators was baptized. But we will go day from day to day.

Monday: 

We met up with Daniel to go visit our convert Carlos Pizzani. We talked about repentance and how its a strain until the Savior helps us!  Then we played a game where you mark on people's face with a marker when you guess what they are thinking.  That is going to be the first picture.

Tuesday: 

Boring!

Wednesday-Friday: 

Drunk guys chased us, dogs barked, and we taught like three lessons everyday like normal.

I had an interview with President Willard. We talked a lot about leadership qualities.  So I'm feeling a lot better on how to be able to lead my converts to the right!

Saturday: 

BAPTISM

The First Counselor in the Bishopric baptized him.  HE was baptized only one time without messing up the words. I only have pictures to share.  I can't describe my joy.

Scripture of the Week: 

1 Nephi 3:7

And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father:  I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.

1.   Fernando Navarez and Daniel

2.   Elder Tracy, Daniel and Elder Rosales

3.   Family Home Evening

Elder Jonathan Thomas Tracy

   Misión Santa Cruz Bolivia

               2014-2016

WEEK 51: WATER FIGHTS, FIRE, AND PERFECT PARKING

Hey everyone. 

This is Elder Tracy with the weekly update from Misón Santa Puej, or Santa Cruz.

We have a baptism for this week. Daniel Chacon has his interview with President Willard, and he will be baptized in this next week. He is reading the Book of Mormon everyday. When he isn't working, he reads. He is up to like Mosiah right now. He is going faster than I am right now.

We have been teaching our Pensionista. Her name is Ana de Viaña. Her husband is a less active member. We invited her to be baptized in a lesson we had.  And she said that she wants someone she knows to baptize her.  That's when her Husband, Andy, stands up and says "I am going to baptize her". That lesson was the most powerful that I have had in my whole mission. I know that The Lord smiles on every single one of his missionaries!

And we threw water on our members that don't read their Books of Mormon. We filled buckets up with Water. and they were soaked. It was pretty fun!!!

Scripture of the Week. 

Alma 12:31-33

Wherefore, he gave commandments unto men, they having first transgressed the first commandments as to things which were temporal, and becoming as gods, knowing good from evil, placing themselves in a state to act, or being placed in a state to act according to their wills and pleasures, whether to do evil or to do good --

There fore God gave unto them commandments, after having made known unto them the plan of redemption, that they should not do evil, the penalty thereof being a second death, which was an everlasting death as to things pertaining unto righteousness; for on such the plan of redemption could have no power, for the works of justice could not be destroyed, 

according to the supreme goodness of God. 

But God did call on men, in the name of his Son, (this being the plan of redemption which was laid) saying:  If ye will repent, and harden not your hearts, then will I have mercy upon you, through mine Only Begotten Son.

1. Giant Fire

2. This is perfect Parking. It is amazing.

3. Perfect Parking again.

4. Throwing Water on Carlos, Paula, and Mosiah.

5. Me about a Month ago

Elder Jonathan Thomas Tracy

   Misión Santa Cruz Bolivia

               2014-2016

WEEK 50: TIES, RESCUES and COMPANIONSHIP EXCHANGES

Hey everyone! 

This is Elder Tracy here with the everything that's new here in Tarija, Bolivia. Everything is going great.  We are just now
getting out of Winter, and we are going to be getting into the Spring Time where the flowers, and birds, and EVERYTHING will be beautiful!!

We went on companionship exchanges Tuesday with Elder Rojas, and Elder that was in my First Zone, Zona Plan 3000. We went to his area which is called Tabladita.  I got to go back to the Familia Chipana, they are the BEST Cooks I have met in Bolivia.  We talked about how their ward is,
and how they are doing.  And they made us HOME MADE ICE CREAM.  It was the Celestial Kingdom in every spoonful. mmmmhhhmmm.

We went around with Elder Rojas, and we talked to a lot of people, and I relax cats now by popping their necks.  It is interesting.  We finished up with the Transfer and went to talk to Daniel.  He asked us some penetrating questions about Why the Missionaries before never talked to him.  He says he wants to serve a Mission. But he is 23 years old, and he says that it is going to be hard for him to leave.  But I
know that he is going to try to get out there.  He is the coolest guy ever.

We have been our having our Ward Conference activities this last week.  On Monday there was a Family Home Evening. Tuesday was Dessert Night, Wednesday Family Night, Thursday was Sports Night, and Friday was a Talent Show!!! We have been having a lot of fun. And the Ward has
been inviting a lot of people. We haven't seen any progress yet, but we will see!

And Elder Wilson, my white friend, gave me a cool Llama Tie from Lima, Peru. So that was top of my Week.


Scripture of the Week:
Alma 5:45-48


And this is not all. Do ye not suppose that I know of these things myself? Behold, I testify unto you that I do know that these things whereof I have spoken are true. And how do ye suppose that I know of their surety?

Behold, I say unto you they are made known unto me by the Holy Spirit of God. Behold, I have fasted and prayed many days that I might know these things of myself.  And now I do know of myself that they are true; for the Lord God hath made them manifest unto me by his Holy Spirit; and this is the spirit of revelation which is in me.

And moreover, I say unto you that it has thus been revealed unto me, that the words which have been spoken by our fathers are true, even so according to the spirit of prophecy which is in me, which is also by the manifestation of the Spirit of God.

I say unto you, that I know of myself that whatsoever I shall say unto you, concerning that which is to come, is true; and I say unto you, that I know that Jesus Christ shall come, yea, the Son, the Only Begotten of the Father, full of grace, and mercy, and truth. And behold, it is he that cometh to take away the sins of the world, yea, the sins of every man who steadfastly believeth on his name.

Here are the Descriptions for the Pictures:

1. Elder Rojas and I with the Celestial Ice Cream

2. Alvaro and Marlene Chipana, the Pensionistas for the Tabladita Ward

3.View from the Area of Elder Rojas, Barrio Alto Senac

4. Elder Rojas

5. Half of the Sick Llama Tie

6. Llama Tie






















ELDER JONATHAN TRACY