You Will Impact

Hello everyone! I love you so much and hope you had a wonderful week!

Missions encompass just about every emotion. I'll never forget the first day I left for the mission. Lots of tears, lots of joy, lots of fear, lots of love but also what felt like a broken heart. And it didn't really ever go away...until I allowed it to. I have been taught by the Spirit continually throughout my mission experience about the principle of finding joy through my focus not my circumstances. As I went day by day I would feel such joy sharing what I love so much, the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Then I would feel fear not knowing what to teach someone when the time came. I cried when I missed my family, I cried when I felt the Spirit. I felt broken hearted as doors were slammed in my face. But what followed this bitter feeling of rejection was the forever lasting and infinite love of my Heavenly Father and Savior Jesus Christ. Heavenly Father knows each of us and He knows our desires. He knew that our mortal journey would be far from perfection, so He literally sent His Beloved son Jesus Christ to come to earth and take upon Himself the knowledge and feeling of every trial or pain we would ever go through. Jesus Christ is my brother. He is my best friend. He is my savior and redeemer. He is the literal son of our Heavenly Father. He sent His only perfect son to earth in essence to suffer and experience our every trial with us. Jesus Christ's gospel did not begin in Bethlehem and it did not end with nails in His hands on the cross at Calvary. It is everlasting, infinite, all encompassing. My love for my Savior and Father in Heaven has increased tremendously and will continue to as I look forward with Faith in Jesus Christ. Circumstances which may seem overwhelming, sins that may seen unforgivable, days that may seem more gloomy than ever, choices made that bring deep sorrow, when other people break our hearts...whatever it may be, we must be able to recognize the eternal purpose of these trials, these mortal experiences and opportunities. We cannot determine our joy in life solely based on our circumstances, but by our focus. And IF that focus is on our Savior Jesus Christ and what we can do to become more like Him each and every day then we will be given an eternal joy that no mortal mistake could ever overpower.

Elder Toki just returned home yesterday and Elder Kilembi (my other companion) and I got to take him to the airport for his departure. Elder Toki changed my mission. He changed my life. His simple yet significant testimony was so influential to all that were within distance of his voice. There was nothing he said or did that was more powerful than him simply carrying the Spirit with him every where he went. He magnified his call to be a full-time missionary for his Savior. I will strive in all I do to give my all to the Lord. He has finished his temporary opportunity to serve full time in this eternal work. But will continue to be a missionary wherever he goes.

Your example goes beyond what you can see. In fact most times when seeking to help individuals with personal needs, it takes more than just listening. You must feel for them. You must love them. You will make an impact everywhere you go, make it an empowering one.

Jesus Christ lives. He is the son of our Father in Heaven. They love each and every one of us. They want to see us happy, but sometimes, with opposition in all things, it takes experiencing something that may seem miserable, to in the long run receive an eternal ever lasting joy.

I love you all! Have an amazing week!!

- Elder Newbold

Hearing What Is Not Said

HELLO HELLO!! I LOVE YOU ALL!! It has been so long since I have taken the opportunity to type out an email but I have had the Spirit teach me so much this past week I could not wait another day. I wanted to focus this email on the topic of "Hearing what is not said".

Take a moment to think about what this phrase means to you.

Elder Bednar, an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ that lives today, recently took part in a counsel with teachers and leaders from across the world. Before every question or statement that he gave he prefaced with the invitation to seek to "hear what is not being said". As he went about responding to the spiritually guided questions that were asked by many of the teachers there, it seemed most apparent to me that his goal was not to answer their questions. He in fact stated several times that he is incapable of answering their questions alone, but through the guiding power of the Holy Ghost, Elder Bednar was able to best provide a response that, if hearing what is not said, put the teachers in a position where the Holy Ghost could reveal to them the direction and source that they may go to find the answer for themself. Now this was very profound to me for many reasons. One being that even an Apostle of the Lord was inadequate to provide ALL the answers to every question that comes his way. Second being that the responses he provided allowed all individuals that were listening to act. 

Faith is a principle of ACTION & POWER. Notice the order in which I listed these principles. Elder Bednar, through the power of the Holy Ghost, helped me tremendously to understand that I cannot expect the power to come simply in accordance to my faith alone. I cannot pray for strength to fulfill a task and expect the power to proceed my action taken towards that specific task. The power will not, in most cases, come before we act. However it's the very opposite. We are promised that as we ACT the POWER will come. We see numerous accounts of this in our Holy Scripture. The Holy Bible, The Book of Mormon, The Doctrine & Covenants & The Pearl of Great Price, all provide us with examples where great followers and representatives of the Lord were required to take action before the Lord provided them the strength intended to fulfill what was commanded of them.

Now if I can go back to the first question I asked, What does the phrase, "Hearing what is not said", mean to you? Please keep this question in mind as you continue to study the scriptures and the words of the prophets. Even President Nelson as the Prophet today simply performs the Lord's work as a VESSEL. His worthiness, submissiveness & humility allows him to best teach to others what the Spirit makes known to him.

Mothers, Fathers, Missionaries, Leaders, etc.. should never be the teachers alone, but should be striving to teach in unison with the Holy Ghost, the true teacher. This becomes more apparent to me each and every day.

Words are inadequate for the amount of love I truly have for each of you. I pray about you all. I thank the Lord everyday for the opportunity i have to share my testimony with those I feel so close to. If you are reading this, it is because you've been brought into my life for a reason, I really believe that. You have touched my life deeply and continue to do so as I feel your support and love daily. I hope and pray that the Holy Ghost will continue to teach you as you [Listen & hear what has not been said, but what the Spirit has taught you.] "If all you heard is what was said, you didn't listen. If all you get is what the teacher presents, you missed what matters most." (Elder Bednar)

Heavenly Father loves you! Jesus Christ loves you! I love you!

SMILE SO BIG THIS WEEK!!!

P.O.L.Y (peace out love you)

- Elder Newbold

Faith in JESUS CHRIST makes all the difference

Hello everyone!! I miss you all so much and I have not sent an email out in so long but hopefully you've been able to keep up to date with me through the blog my mom has for me and the videos I've recently sent home. I miss California weather so much! Aha It is -78 degrees here!

It has been such a wonderful week filled with so many wonderful opportunities! It is a New Year! Let's increase our VISION this 2020! Get it?? Haha

I have gained such a greater understanding this week of what it means to have Faith in Jesus Christ. Faith alone is powerless, a Faith directed on Jesus Christ brings forth infinite power. I invite you to ponder Faith vs. Faith in Jesus Christ.

To me, faith in Jesus Christ is not only knowing He lives and walked this earth, but knowing that we can each individually draw upon the powers of Heaven through His Atoning Sacrifice with each and every decision we make. He is there. He does live. He does know you. He does love you. ... but what does that mean to you? Does this increase your desire to know your Savior more? Does knowing this increase your love for those around you? Does knowing this increase your faith or does it increase your faith in Jesus Christ?
It may seem such a small difference between the 2 but I promise you that as you are more aware that your faith must be directed towards Jesus Christ, that you WILL know your Savior more, you WILL know your Savior better. We cannot let the adversary allow us to think we have a blind faith. And I know when we say Faith we hopefully mean faith in Jesus Christ, but my point is that we must make it known. Faith alone does not make all things possible, Faith in Jesus Christ however makes all of the difference.

"He is calling out your name. Through the dark, through the storm because he knows where you belong [...] Give your will to Him, that's when the miracles begin."

I promise you with all of the assurance in my heart that He is reaching out. He is calling out your name. He is right there. So reach out to Him. Call out to Him. See Him standing there.

I love you all and I pray each of you will have the BEST year yet! INCREASE YOUR VISION THIS 2020!!!

- Elder Newbold

[Wonderful human being Johnny!! Love him so much! He got baptized this week and has the strongest testimony of His Savior Jesus Christ!!]

I've never sent pictures! So here's some pretty sweet things in Cape Girardeau!!

So much to be Thankful for

I don't even know where to begin!!

I have not gotten a weekly email out in a while I'm so sorry! So much has happened it's actually insane!

I am absolutely loving the mission. There is truly nowhere I would rather be than here in Missouri serving my Lord & Savior Jesus Christ. I am currently out of St. Louis & into Cape Girardeau! My companion is MICAH GARY BR0WN!!! We are literally best friends & connect way too much with each other! The work has been so fun & so busy since we've been together. We hung out before the mission & we're making so many more mutual connections now that we're serving together!!

Something that has been really pressing on me this week is the divinity of the role that Jesus Christ plays in our mortal experience. We had the privilege of watching the video "The Christ Child." Put together by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. ( It will be open for the public November 24th) This video portrayed the birth of Jesus Christ in such a powerful way. The Spirit filled the room as tears filled the eyes of every missionary. After the video President Bell asked us what we thought. After a couple minutes of complete silence, a sweet sister, Sister Anderson stood up & shared that she couldn't help but feel so much Love for this baby. She shared that that baby is our brother. Hearing this comment with such sentimental emotion brought me so much joy. I remembered right then & there that Jesus Christ came into this world to be our Savior, our Redeemer, Our Beloved Brother. It has brought me so much happiness as I go around the streets of Missouri preaching the Gospel. There is so much more to our message as missionaries, than to share the Book of Mormon with people and invite them to come unto Christ. We are just wanting people to even just know that their Father In Heaven lives. He loves. He sent His only Begotten Son to this world to Atone for us. I want everyone to know & feel that divine relationship we each have with Jesus Christ. "He is not an abstraction. He is the Living Son of a Living God." -Elder Holland

There is nothing our Savior & Brother Jesus Christ cannot relate to. "He has walked the thorny, rock-strung path.." The Atonement of Jesus Christ was not designed to be used by perfect people. It was designed for those who are hurting & struggling so that through Christ they can be strengthened. There is no shame in repentance. Utilize the Atoning Sacrifice of Jesus Christ & utilize it often. For that is simply the purpose He provided to us.

I am so grateful for the trials & hardships in my life. I am grateful for the strength I have received in return of the trials I have been given. I am grateful for the constantly building relationship I have with my Savior Jesus Christ & Our Eternal Father in Heaven.

I love each of you & hope you are all looking forward to Thanksgiving!! There is so much to be thankful for!!

Please email me something you're grateful for!!!

jnewbold@missionary.org

Love you all!! Peace out!!

-- Elder shua

1 year mark

What a divine privilege it is to be given these 2 years to be a Full-time servant for my Savior Jesus Christ. Today I have hit my year mark in my missionary service and I am blown away how fast time goes by.  I have learned tremendous amounts and have had so much growth take place this past year.  I am so beyond grateful for Jesus Christ and His perfect example that I so imperfectly strive to follow.  I am so grateful for the wonderful blessed people I have met here in the Missouri St. Louis mission and I am looking forward to meeting so many more this next year.  I cherish the memories I have made here that have strengthened my testimony and desire to learn more about the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  I know Jesus Christ lives.  He loves. This is His Gospel.  His atoning sacrifice is infinite and eternal. 

The BEST week in the mission

I keep saying it has been the best week of the mission, but it keeps getting better! This truly is "a great work". Watching the departing missionaries was a hit to the heart. It was an instant take back to returning home early. It was just what I needed after recomitting myself.  Then the next day receiving the wonderful new missionaries, I was again reminded of the joy this work brings. I was reminded how fast this time goes. I was reminded how important it is too take serious this sacred calling and divine time of our short lives.
Being in the mission home that night with the new missionaries was a very pivotal point for my mission experience. It was so special to be a part of their welcoming into the field. It was so special to share a meal with them and to help them to feel comfortable in this vulnerable time of their lives.
While I was walking into the kitchen, Sister Bell asked me what I wanted to do after the mission and what I did before the mission. I had a very special moment there with Sister Bell, the Ericksons & the Lisonbees. I told her that I wanted to go into public speaking especially within the church and we talked about how wonderful the opportunity to teach seminary would be. This was such an answer to prayers. I had been pondering recently how I will be able to live the Gospel continually after the mission and I realized that staying involved and consistent application is key. Too often missionaries return home and assume they are on a break from these difficult years when in reality, returning home is the test to see what we will apply. These 2 years are crucial and pivotal to our lives IF we let them be.

I have loved studying the phrase "meek and lowly". It will be the topic of my studies throughout this next week again. My favorite synonym to meek is docile. To be teachable. To be malleable. To allow yourself to learn from those around you. I will strive to live this principle a little bit more and little bit better.

- Elder Newbold

Losing track of the weeks

Today is like actually legit the busiest day ever. I didn't realize us and the assistants cut our pday 2 hours short to get to the airport. (Elder Newbold gets to go to the airport tonight to pick up the new incoming missionaries with the President and the Assitants to the President.) This is such a blessed opportunity. I am so grateful for this Gospel and opportunity I have to be a servant of the Lord. To dedicate 2 years of my life to serving my Savior Jesus Christ with all of my heart, might and strength.
"Therefore if ye have desires to serve God, ye are called to the work." In all things we do, ensure that our hearts desire is of the Lord's will. As the Lord cried in the Garden of Gethsemane, "nevertheless, not my will...thine be done." We need to submit ourselves to the Lord. If we have the desire, the Lord will provide the blessings we need to fulfill our callings.

Read Genesis 22. I invite you to look for the continual surrender and the continual rescue of Abraham and Isaac. I love you so much. I am so grateful for you.