You can reach Elder Winegar directly at jacob.winegar@missionary.org9/26/22
"Ladies and Gentlemen,"
"Thanks for coming to the show!"
If you know this ^ you're a real one.
Low on time as always but I wanted to share with you some most wonderful news! Let's start from the beginning shall we?
On Saturday afternoon was our friend Jim's long anticipated baptismal interview with President Smith. When we arrived at the place of his interview, there he was waiting in his shiny, blue Camero. As we approached his vehicle, out he popped, as jovial as ever. We walked inside and after what felt like a very brief introduction to the Mission President he was whisked away by his interviewer.
And then we waited.
And waited. And waited s'more.
After about an hour and thirty minutes I began to fear Jim had much more to him than we expected. Was he some kind of murderer? A criminal mastermind? Or had we failed him in our teaching? As I neared what must've been the brink of sheer panic, I heard the office door click open and I bolted out of my chair to meet our baptismal candidate.
President Smith's first words were as astonishing as they were joyous. He said to us simply, "Elders, Jim needs to be baptized tomorrow." After shouts of praise and rejoicing on behalf of our beloved friend, President then informed us that Jim had asked him to officiate in the ordinance, and so he would be attending. We responded with initiative, proposing to the group a 7:00 PM service the following day. All parties were in agreement and we split excitedly anticipating what would be a wonderful evening.
As the time drew near, everything fell into place nicely. Speakers, pianists, and presiding authorities all aligned for a smooth service. The spirit that was felt by all who participated matched the significance of the occasion. Most tender to the heart and sweeter to the soul.
As Jim came up out of the water President Smith asked him, "Jim, how do you feel?" Brimming with that light that can only come from Jesus Christ, he replied, "I feel AWESOME!"
The next day Jim sent us a text message that said this, "The only way I can express the way I feel? Is Refreshed!!!! It's AMAZING!!!...Feels like a Ton of Bricks have been lifted from my shoulders."
My dear friends, if you would like to know the deepest desire of my soul it is this: for each one of you to be able to experience the refreshing power of Jesus Christ just as my friend Jim has. And I promise that any one of you can through the ordinances of baptism, the sacrament, or those of the temple.
I testify that it does not matter what you have done or where you have gone or who you have become, you are never beyond where the light of Jesus Christ can reach. You may have heard that, but do you really, truly believe it? I do. I have felt that light in such great abundance that I can never deny it.
Through baptism we are cleansed. All mistakes we have made are forgiven and we receive a new slate. And we can receive a new slate every single day of our lives after that through the sanctification of the Holy Ghost. Few things have changed my life more than feeling new again through God's power and feeling the burdens of my own past lifted. I promise you can feel it too.
Songs
Tieduprightnow–Parcels Cosmic
Sans–Cory Wong
I miss ya.
Elder Winegar
How do you do? Well I hope! The work rolls on slowly and steadily. Rather than spectacular manifestations of miraculous power (which we do see surprisingly often!), this week my joy came from the small victories, the moment to moment miracles. Would it not do us all good to increase our appreciation for the multitude of ways the Lord sustains us every day? Truly, the seemingly small mercies of the Lord are often the most tender.
And so it was for me this week. Many a hasty but profound conversation. My faith grew as I beheld how even brief brushes with restored truth bring light into anyone's life.
My companion and I dug some holes this week as well. It would've been easy to be cross amidst blistered hands, a beating sun, and cement-like digging conditions, but my companion and I somehow still seemed to enjoy ourselves. Serving others selflessly, even when demanding, will never be a regrettable experience.
I also learned a valuable lesson about obedience this week. I counseled for the first time in far too long with my Heavenly Father on how I could better follow and represent His Son. I'm not sure if I was expecting Him to say, "Elder, you've done it! You're perfect! Congratulations!" But in my pride I was certainly not ready for the answer that came. I was directed to the missionary standards, which were lying a little too dusty on my desk. As I read through even the first few pages, to my discomfort, there were many, many ways in which I was falling short. But as I began to work hard to follow the Lord's commands more closely, our mutual trust increased exponentially! As I increased in obedience, I became happier and gained a greater trust that the Lord's commands were for my benefit! And He trusted me with greater responsibility and more opportunities to do His work. I would like to share one of these opportunities with you now.
After what initially seemed like a splendid lesson with Monique and her daughter Ashton, the heart wrenching question was posed, "Mom what is happiness?" A moment of silence. Then this dear mother replied, pained at the potential anguish of her child, "You don't feel happy?" Another pause. Then a definitive, "No."
Amidst this tragic scene, I prayed with my whole heart to know what my God would have me say to this poor family. Immediately, a set of what I thought were unrelated verses entered my mind, 1 John 4:7-9, which describe the divinity of love. As I pondered the significance of these scriptures, the spirit taught me what I shall never forget; joy is love. To love and to be loved. The purer the love the greater the joy. And thus Jesus Christ, who is perfect love incarnate, is the source of perfect joy.
And so, I shared this revelation with Ashton. That to feel joy is to feel loved. I testified that her family loved her. Most of all I testified of the unchanging and truest love that her Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ have for her. My companion then offered her a Priesthood blessing so that she could hear firsthand the loving words that her Heavenly Father would speak to her.
At the conclusion of the ordinance, the home brimmed with a most sweet spirit. Her mother asked gently, "Do you feel better?" Full of tears she nodded in affirmation. Then we parted ways, all involved with greater faith and hope.
I testify now just as I did then, that anyone who is seeking hope, peace, respite, healing, or joy will find it through The Savior, Jesus Christ. His love is sweet above all that is sweet. And He, "commandeth none that they shall not partake."
Jesus Christ is the Light of the world. He offers us a joy that the world cannot give, a joy that cannot be found anywhere else. I plead with all my heart that you come and discover for yourself the joy He so willingly wants to give you.
Now, please enjoy this music 
Thinking About You–Cody Fry
Let Me Love You–Scary Pockets
My heart is full. Love you totally.
Bye,
Elder Winegar
The work rolls on, Elder Winegar
Tuesday, September 20, 2022
Elder Winegar, Weekly Mail time
Tuesday, September 13, 2022
This week was once again rife with meetings and councils but the Lord always manages to squeeze in some tender and merciful moments.
Wednesday, we called our friend Jim who is preparing to be baptized and inquired whether or not he would still like to meet with us that day. Upon receiving an affirmative response and requesting a time, he proposed that we met that very hour. Perhaps with some feelings of exasperation, we accepted his proposition and immediately called a brother of the ward hoping he would join us but to no avail. Radio silence. We left him a text and scurried out the door.
Later, about 20 minutes into our discussion with Jim, this same good brother to our astonishment burst through the door, sat down, and began to administer the gospel via powerful, heartfelt, and inspired testimony as if nothing out of the ordinary had occurred. His words were exactly what Jim needed to hear. The loyalty and dedication of this man to the Lord and His work are deeply inspiring.
A more unsettling experience occurred in our parking lot as we prepared to set off for the day. A woman we had never met approached us with what seemed to be regular missionary small talk. But after some solicitous comments about getting us alone and a reference to how tight my companion's pants were, her true colors began to show. She then asked us some very obscene questions that are slightly amusing in retrospect, but in the moment were very sour.
We then, like Joseph in Egypt, "fled, and got [us] out." My companion and I have concluded that she may have been a prostitute, but the world may never know.
Due to some renovations at the mission office, all the vehicles owned by the mission had to be moved to another location. For a glorious moment I returned to my home behind the wheel of a MiniVan. The immense joy I felt at that time is probably reason for concern more than anything else. My spin in the 2022 Toyota Sienna will not soon be forgotten.
I received a most remarkable phone call on Friday from a dear friend in East Palo Alto, Dencell Sinclair Fox, the OG. Immediately upon answering the phone, Dencell in usual form began to make slightly skewed doctrinal comments about how, I, Jacob Winegar, am the Jacob prophesied of in scripture. I, not knowing what he was talking about in the slightest, opted for the classic vague giggle of emotion. But then he called to my remembrance a Priesthood blessing of healing that my companion and I had given him just prior to my departure from Menlo Park. I told him that I remembered and he explained to me that from that day forward he had never experienced even one of the many debilitating symptoms that he had often battled as a result of a chronic illness. In fact, upon returning to the doctors office for a routine checkup they reported in bewilderment that his body was completely healed from his condition.
He then shared with me his testimony that he knew because of our blessing he had been healed. I joyfully replied with my own witness that by our combined faith, God had healed him with His infinite power. We reflected with great love upon that wonderful miracle that we were able to behold together.
"And who shall say that Jesus Christ did not do many mighty miracles? And there were many mighty miracles wrought by the hands of the apostles"
"And if there were miracles wrought then, why has God ceased to be a God of miracles and yet be an unchangeable Being? And behold, I say unto you he changeth not; if so he would cease to be God; and he ceaseth not to be God, and is a God of miracles."
I testify with Moroni that the God of all the earth has always been and will always be a God of miracles. I testify that our Savior, Jesus Christ, has the power to do the impossible, whatever that may be in our lives. I promise that each of you will experience that remarkable power for yourselves if you will exercise even a particle of faith.
Our Heavenly Father wantsto bless us. He loves us! We are His children. He is more than willing to work wonders on behalf of our happiness. After all, has he not already granted us the greatest miracle of all by sending His Only Begotten Son to make an Atonement for all mankind?
In simple words:"The Lord does not require perfect faith for us to have access to His perfect power. But He does ask us to believe."
Song
Happiness–The 1975
Shucks, I sure do miss you.
Farewell, until we meet again.
Elder Winegar
Weekly Shmee‐mail
Wednesday, September 7, 2022
hello
Welcome! Here you'll find Elder Winegar's experiences and thoughts while serving our Lord, Jesus Christ, in the San Jose California Mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. For Letters 📝 & Packages📦. The Mission Office address is: 1336 Cherry Ave., San Jose, CA 95125
