I'm Still Alive

25 November 2014

Dear friends and family,

I am sorry I have not written in almost a month. Missionary life is keeping me pretty busy, but that's no excuse to NOT write my beloved family and friends. A lot has happened the past month. I'll just narrow it down to the highlights.

The Golden Investigator. 

I briefly mentioned her in my past e-mail as "the lady that came into church and asked to meet with us" Well... she was baptized last Saturday! She progressed so quickly, she just soaked up all that we taught her. She is absolutely incredible. Two weeks ago she asked us for forgiveness because she was only at the end of Mosiah... after only reading the Book of Mormon for 5 days! We were like, "Uh... you're forgiven?" Haha and then we asked for her forgiveness because we were just barely out of 2 Nephi. The biggest hurdle we thought we would have is the Word of Wisdom because we saw some alcohol and a coffee maker at her house. When we taught it and its importance she drove straight home and got rid of everything. WHAT?! I was reminded of King Lamoni's father in his firm declaration, "I will give up all my sins to know thee." I was moved to tears at how fast she was making this difficult and complete change in her life. She asked me to baptize her and after she came out of the water she was a new person. I have felt Heavenly Father's love at various times in my life, but at the specific time, place, and moment I can distinctly recognize the love He has for each and every one of us.

J. aka "The Truth" 

Two days ago I stood in the circle as he received the priesthood. A week ago he got rid of everything in his house that would remind him of his past transgressions and made restitution with his family and friends. A month ago he cut his dreads and said he would return to church. I wish I could have taken a picture of him before this true change occurred. He looks like a brand new person, like "extreme makeover status". He is a miracle and a reminder to me that God DOES NOT forsake nor forget His children. He has been called as a ward missionary to help in the work of the salvation of souls. He said that if it wasn't for the missionaries he would not come know of the love that was and has always been there for him to just reach out and grasp. We thanked him for his kindness and sincere comment and explained that we are just messengers to remind him of the things he knew from the very start. I've come to know that as I sit in people's homes and teach them the doctrine of Christ, that all I'm really doing is reminding them that there is One who loves them beyond their comprehension and reason. That despite their problems, tribulations, set-backs, and sore trials that there is a way out. That peace and comfort can be a part of their lives. That the healing balm of Gilead is there. Believing is a good start, in fact that is the first principle of the Gospel. Faith is what causes us to have the hope that all will be better, but believing that there is a help and happiness ahead is not enough. We must act. Nothing worth having is ever easy. Salvation does not come at a easy price. I know that at times it can be a deterrent because sometimes we can never see the end of our sorrows and pains, but it is there. "My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment; And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high"

 I beg you my dear friends and family... do not give up. In whatever you are going through, no matter how difficult it is to bear, do not give up. You have within you the power to overcome, to not only be changed but to become. So many people ask God to change their situation, when in reality God gives you the situation so that you can be changed. When your heart is heavy and you've given it all you've got turn it over to Christ, you'll realize that from the very start, as we reminded our brother J, that He was always there. Pray and I promise you as a representative of Jesus Christ that He will heal, comfort, and console your broken heart.

I am learning so much out here. My weaknesses are brought to the surface and there are challenges each and every day for me to overcome, however I am not alone in climbing over these obstacles. I know that I have a loving Heavenly Father that WILL NOT allow me to fail. I know that I have a Savior that has already paid the price and pleads that I will use His Atonement. When we are yoked together nothing is impossible. 

Till next time 

Your eternal brother and fellow missionary,

Elder Jalla

p.s.  All those that have written me, I promise I will reply back! Again, I am using snail-mail to reply because e-mailing time is not enough! :) I love you all your e-mails uplifts my heart and brings joy to this missionary who is being pelted by bananas (I will tell this story some other time)

Elder Jalla & Co. Versus Stetsons

17 November 2014

There was this one time when they decided to try on Stetsons at a store. He sent me pictures. And now it's on the blog. I don't think he'd mind though. Hehe. Enjoy! 

The One With Pictures of Peachwood

10 November 2014

Elder Jalla calls the Peachwood Ward (the ward they're serving) "celestial". They love the people there and it sounds amazing from the way he describes it. 

"Come Unto Him" production put on by Peachwood Ward. 

Elder Jalla Versus The Zoo

They went to the zoo!

The One With All The Selfies

Elder Jalla and Elder Mo'o going crazy on the selfies.

Riding In the Rain

Dear family and friends,

"Days feel like weeks, and weeks feel like days" This phrase is so true. It feels like only yesterday that I entered the field and now we're coming up on transfers. 

Halloween week was fun and a little scary to be completely honest. We have a rule here, which is probably the same for all missions, that on Halloween we have to be in our apartments by 6pm. Unless we're with members. Elder Mo'o and I went out proselyting and we were scared that we would get egged. Thank goodness that we didn't, just the regular rude residents and one group of teenagers that wanted adamantly for us to cross the street and "start something". Haha

It rained during trunk or treat. Fresno has been in a drought for 3 and a half years. It is a quad-stake out here and the stake presidents said that if we all did a quad-stake fast that the Lord will bless this area with rain. Well, i

t did. And rain it did.  

It continued to rain the next morning and Elder Mo'o and I, with just a jacket and our bikes, had appointments and people to see. The work does not stop, and neither will we. As we rode our bikes we constantly encouraged each other by quoting Joseph Smith, "Shall we not go on in so great a cause? Go forward and not backward. Courage, brethren! And on, on to the victory!" I wish we took pictures because we were completely soaked by our second house. No one was home and the houses that had people home either forgot or "can't" see us. So cold and wet we went on. I was pretty convinced that we would get sick. We were soaked from noon till 9pm.

As we rode in the rain we stopped by this young lady, probably mid 20's that was walking in the rain with just a light sweater and a backpack. We explained to her who we are and in seconds she started to cry and asked if we can go over to a pavilion and talk. We taught her the Restoration, she told us a very sad tale of how she got to this point in her life, and we left. Before we did she asked if we had any water because she hadn't eaten or have had water in 2 days. You could tell just from looking at her that she was not only poor in spirit but in genuine need of help. Her face was hallow but her eyes shone of hope that was once there. I knew that she was not faking. My companion and I, however, only had our own tumblers with us. We had no extra water. As I sat on top of my bike the spirit spoke very clearly to me--"Give unto her what little you have" The story of President Monson and his example at the end of his mission touched my memory, as stated in the last conference, President Monson went home with the clothes he had on and even slippers, for he gave all that he had, even his shoes. So I took the water bottle that I really love, bought in the MTC, and planned to carry with me my entire mission, and handed it to her. She was overcome with tears and said, "Seriously? Why would you do this for me?" I replied, "Because if I had more to give I would, but this is the least that I can do. May God bless you and may you find your way."

It's strange because I was really attached to that water bottle. I took it everywhere with me, it was the first thing I bought as a missionary and I planned to come home with it. I couldn't believe how hard it was for me to part with it. But I learned something that day. All that I have out here, does not belong to me. I am a missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and if He will ask of me to give, I will give-- I will do. This does not have to pertain to what I have temporally, but to give of myself for the salvation of the children of men and women requires me to give my everything. That includes my fears, weaknesses, and inadequacies. I literally gave myself over to Heavenly Father in that simple instance. 

I don't know if I will ever see that girl again, but I know what I did was right in the sight of God. I don't know if she will convert to Mormonism, but I hope that I exemplified what a Mormon would do--what the Savior would do. We may not be able to teach her, but we can be her friends. And when all is said and done I can look at her straight in the face and say I gave all that I can because God loves you and he trusted me to show you just how much that rainy day in November.

Mosiah 2:17.

This is a picture of the water bottle he gave away. Before he gave it away, of course. 

Hot cocoa, popcorn, and a movie after 9 hours of riding in the rain.