Week 92: Go JAS!

On Friday night, we did a little noche de hogar with the JAS (YSA) in the branch. There's like 3 active JAS here in Gijón. For the message,we had them teach us the Plan of Salvation. We pretended to be friends of theirs who have never heard about the gospel. Two of the JAS, Fernando and Irene, taught us the lesson and it went really well! It was really cool to reflect on how it went. Fernando and Irene are both returned missionaries. They served in France and Argentina. Which made me realize two things: 1) They know the plan of salvation very
well and 2) they're two of the very very few JAS in this whole country who have served missions. Which means they're probably two of the most powerful tools in Spain for helping the JAS here be introduced to the gospel. There are about 500 active JAS in all of Spain. Some JAS here don't realize how blessed they are to have the knowledge of the plan of salvation. I'm sure there are thousands of young adults out here looking for a purpose. They "are only kept from the truth because they know not where to find it--" (D&C 123:12). JAS have lots of friends, and those friends are also JAS! And those JAS are the future leaders of the church. It was a really cool experience to watch Fernando and Irene teach us. It made me think about how blessed I am to have been raised in an area where the church is big. I'm really grateful for the examples that Irene and Fernando are. We challenged them to share the plan of salvation with their friends, because it's pretty likely that these two are the only way their friends will be able to hear the gospel while in their youth. They seemed to have felt very motivated and proud to be young members of the church. It was such a cool noche de hogar and I think it was a great lesson for all of us.

There's an 81-year-old recent convert here named Enrique. He's a champ. He got baptized last year after meeting the missionaries on a bus. He just got the Melchizedek priesthood last week at stake conference. He helps us out with lessons like every other day. He's such an awesome old Spaniard. He's so willing to serve and help out. He gave a blessing for the first time this week and it went so well! He was so grateful to be able to do it. It was really cool listening to him as he's guided by the spirit. He's a great example to the people in the ward. An old Spaniard investigating the church is almost unheard of, so it's really cool to hear his testimony and his conversion. He always shares with us that it's never too late to follow Christ. An 81 year old can be just as faithful as any other member. Youth isn't required to follow the gospel. He's such a great guy! I love hearing his testimony.

Anyway, I hope everyone had a great Mother's Day yesterday! Shout out to all the moms out there for being the superheroes of the world. Missionaries wouldn't be missionaries if it weren't for you!

Have an awesome week!

Elder Hendrix