Aug 10th- EVERYONE DO DRUGS!

quotes of the week:

"You are the mob. The good mob. If there was a dark mob and a light mob, you would be the light mob." - Monika

"Some Elders told me we should have two baptisms a month. I responded with, "are you on drugs?" then I realized the drug which they were on was FAITH. " - President Russell

EVERYONE DO DRUGS. 

MIRACLES!!

This was a very humbling week. There is nothing more holy than looking into the eyes of someone who is at ROCK bottom, feeling the love God has for them, and understanding that the atonement is the only thing which can help. I feel so honored that God allows me to see these people the way which he does. 

Friday we met with Monika. Normally we meet with her and her "baby daddy," but we just saw Monika. She was reading from her Book of Mormon when we showed up and it was all highlighted. Monika was in a REALLY humble state, which I had never seen before. (The Book of Mormon will do that to a person. SPIRIT BOMB.) She had read Alma 32, and she loved that it talks about being baptized without stubbornness of heart. We had a very spirit lead lesson with her, and she committed to be baptized on September 26th.

Fast Forward: She also committed her to church, and we stopped by Sunday morning and she didn't answer the door. We stopped by later that day, and she opened her door. She had been through a rough situation, (that is an understatement) and what got her through it was the Book of Mormon and prayer. A week ago Monika was angry at God, and had a very hard heart. I can testify of the power of the spirit and of the atonement. 

Also, Bobby Gandy committed to quit smoking. He has cut his smoking in half, which is remarkable considering he used to smoke two packs a day. Tonight we are going by and taking all of his cigarettes. He agreed to give them to us before, but our member told us we weren't allowed to. HAHAHA we aren't going to bring the member. 

Those were our two main highlights of the week. I also went to MLC on Tuesday, and Sister Holliday came down with me. We left our two new missionaries together for the day (which was probably a bad idea, but we were just following orders.) I came back and Sister Doxey gave me a huge hug and said, "MOMMY!" (slang for trainer). The rest of the day she kept randomly hugging me and saying she was so glad I was here. HAHAHAHA I guess they had some stressful experiences, and I don't blame them only having been out for a week. Friday we taught at ZTM and my companion won an elder in a push-up contest. That is pretty legit.

Here is what I have been thinking a lot about this week:

In Isaiah 61:1-3 Christ says, "He hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives.. to comfort all that mourn... to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness." God sent Christ in the world to help those who are broken down and dis-hearted. That is all of us at some point of another. To go along with this scripture, I LOVE this quote.

"He's not waiting for us to be perfect. Perfect people don't need a Savior. He came to save His people in their imperfections. He is the Lord of the living, and the living make mistakes. He's not embarrased by us, angry at us, or shocked. He wants us in our brokeness, in our unhappiness, in our guilt and in our grief." -Chieko Okazaki 

God loves us. We are never out of reach of the healing power of the atonement of Jesus Christ. 

I love you all! 

Sister Jones

P.S. I always feel so scatter brained trying to fit everything which happens in a week into an email. If I ever don't make sense, you can just ask questions!