Nov 17th- TRANSFER CALLS.

Dear Family,

 

It has been a long and exhausting day, but I made it to Klamath Falls! Klamath has basically the same weather as utah... so it is going to be in the negatives and really really SNOWY. I will have a white christmas at least right? Remember the blubbering mess I was the day before I left on my mission? Well, I was the same blubbering mess last night after saying goodbye to everyone in Coquille. I AM TEARING UP JUST THINKING ABOUT IT. But I am looking forward to new adventures!

 

 

IT WAS THE MOST AMAZING LAST WEEK IN COQUILLE EVER. Which made it even harder to leave! We spoke at church on Sunday, and I basically got up and bawled for ten minutes! A couple people in the ward told me I made them cry as well, so I think they understood what I was saying for the most part. That or they felt so bad I was embarrassing myself ;) But the man who spoke after me talked about how for his job he helps people get in shape. When he wants someone to grow and get in shape the fastest, he makes them work until they physically can't lift weights any longer. When they can't lift the weights any longer he will "spot" them, and they will keep working until he is bearing most of the weight. He compared this analogy to God-he wants us to grow the most. So he gives us a load, we carry it until we CANNOT carry it by ourselves anymore, then instead of taking the load, he helps us to bear it. It was a very inspiring talk which helped me realize that we are suppose to have loads laid on our backs!! 

A lot of AMAZING things happened this week... but I am going to focus on one! We had been doing service with Suzanne. I don't know if I ever told you about her, but a couple weeks ago she started asking us about the BoM. We answered her questions. the next week she asked if she could have one. I guess. The next week she said, "I know you are busy, but could you squeeze me in sometime?" This week we went and taught her one of the most spiritual lessons I have had on my entire mission. We were planning on teaching the Restoration, but the spirit whispered, "plan of salvation." It was exactly what she needed. by the end of the lesson Suzanne, sister jones, sister vance, and the member were all bawling! Her heart has been prepared to receive the gospel! I know I was sent to Coquille to bring the gospel to Suzanne! 

 

I never want to leave an area ever again.. but it is a little bit of a miracle I am going to Klamath. Kersha's long lost brother lives here, and I am going to find him :) sorry I don't have a lot of time, but I had a piece of chocolate cake and a veggie burger for breakfast, and it is time for food :) :) :) 

LOVE YOU ALL. 

Sister Jones

Baptisms, Identity Crisis', and Southern Drawls (2)

LIFE IS FULL OF HILARIOUS MOMENTS.

Hilarious moment of the week #1. Sister Vance and I were driving, and an emo looking man flagged us down. We pulled over and rolled down our window. He had black finger nails, a skull ring, an Indian necklace, long metallic earrings, and a pony tail. He asked if I had a pencil. I gave him a pen, and with that a mormon.org card. He then proceeded to ask, "I want to be baptized. Can I just show up to your church, or do you have a 6 month program or something?" then he said, "I wasn't going to bring this up, but I have a 24 carrot gold shakeil o neal card. (however you spell that, I have no idea.) " As we were driving away he said, "BYE! I AM SO EXCITED TO BE BAPTIZED!" It was a funny experience, but also really humbling. I know that God loves each of us the EXACT some, and none are better in his eyes than another! God doesn't see those "worldly" things, but he sees our hearts!

Hilarious moment #2: While tracting we were talking to a man. I shook his hand and said, "I am Sister Vance. Oh wait, I am Sister Jones." #identitycrisisprobs. Sister Vance had a hard time composing herself after that. 

Hilarious moment #3: A lady told me , "Honey, I could listen to your cute southern drawl all day." (she said it with a southern drawl.) #fromutah #awkotaco

Sister Vance and I had a Halloween party! (Note: an old lady in the
ward gave me that jacket. I by no means wear it in public. It is just
super comfy.)

Rain rain, go away, come again another day! Sister Vance and I want to play :D

 

AWKARD MOMENTS.

This week was stake conference. So, I guess the zone leaders told us not to show up to the Saturday session of conference. Guess who showed up to the Saturday session of conference? Sister Jones and Sister Vance! To all you normal people that probably doesn't sound like a big deal, but as a missionary it is a big deal when you are trying real hard to be exactly obedient! Let me tell you, I HAVE NEVER FELT SO GUILTY FOR SHOWING UP TO STAKE CONFERENCE IN MY LIFE. Life as a missionary... But we had a member ride so we were stuck there until it was over. It was a great session though, and I learned alot! 

Sometimes you either laugh or cry. We decide to just LAUGH! :D 

  

 

MISSIONARY WORK IS FULL OF MIRACLES.

I couldn't list all of the miracles off in a list because there are so many, but I will just talk about my favorites :) We have been working with a Less Active lady. We got out of an appointment and had a missed call from her. We were heading ish towards her house so we decided to just stop by. We found out why God needed us there extremely quickly. She was in the middle of a dire situation and needed help! She prayed for help and guidance, walked outside, and guess who pulled up? The sister missionaries! God puts us exactly where he needs us! She was so surprised at how quickly her prayer was answered! The holy ghost works through us, and so often we don't even know we are receiving promptings until we ACT. 

Miss Maddison! Maddison is an eleven year old girl who has a heart of GOLD. She has a really sticky family situation, but she LOVES CHURCH! She is so cute, because she will say, "I really wish my family believed in Jesus." Whenever we have a lesson with her, she still invites all the little children on the block! We gave her the children's book of mormon reader and she just absolutely adores it. She is like a little sister to me, and I am such a better person for having known her!

This next Monday is transfer day. Sadly, I think my time in Coquille is coming to a close. Coquille is my home away from home here in Oregon, and I love it so much, I don't want to leave!! But the Lord will send me wherever he needs me to go :)

 

Nov. 3

I always try to think of a creative title to my email so people will actually read them. :)

HAPPY HALLOWEEN! 

We had a fantastic Halloween  carving pumpkins at district meeting... and then we took some Halloween treats around to our investigators, which was a good excuse to go and see them all! On our route we pulled into an apartment complex and their were cops EVERYWHERE. Uh Oh.. we know basically everyone in this aparment complex... we were praying it wasn't anyone we knew. It was. We have another investigator in jail. #bummerdeal but I guess things like that happen when you are serving in the meth capitol of Oregon. (No worries mom, all the people are still really nice.) We also had a ward Halloween party that A TON of our people showed up to! 

There are so many miracles and tender mercies which happen in missionary work I never know where to start! It is truly through opposition that you come to understand HOLINESS. 

But I think I had the FUNNIEST lesson I have EVER had on my mission this last week, with a sweet old lady named Linda! Linda has a wild rabbit which just hops around her house. It isn't potty trained either... so you have to be careful where you step. Randomly, throughout the lesson, it will dart acrsoss the living room. She also has a "handicapped" or "disabled" cat. It can't walk in a straight line and is constantly falling over/ tripping over itself... it just hobbles along. She also has a parrot which likes to make comments while you are teaching. Just the situation itself is enough to make you laugh!! Anyway, we were re-teaching her the restoration, and it finally clicked.. Linda said in a really gruff voice, "So YOU are telling ME I have to be baptized mormon?"(linda was baptized Catholic)

INSERT LONG AND AWKWARD PAUSE.... 

Me: "Yes."

Linda, super nonchalantly, "I don't have a problem with that."We then committed her to specifically pray to know the Book of Mormon is true and in her prayer she said, "I already know the book of mormon is true." HAHAHAHA SHE IS THE FUNNIEST PERSON EVER. Sister Vance and I usually leave the lesson laughing hysterically, and Linda is just happy that we are happy :) 

We also have been teaching a little girl, Maddison, who is 11. She LOVES church. Whenever we teach her, she invites all the little kids on the block. So, we end up teaching a heard of little children! Madison will say, "Damion, who is 5, needs to know about God. Can he sit in during our lesson?" What a good little missionary all ready! They are  always super exciting lessons :) All the little kids say their parents are ok with it, but can you truly believe a two year old explained to their mother they are meeting with mormon missionaries? OH WELL :D 

This week Sister Vance felt strongly that there were two new investigators who needed the gospel, so we tracted DOUBLE what we normally tract. Our VERY LAST HOUSE of the week let us inside, and we taught a FAMILY! It was a mom, a dad, and their seven year old son. As I have been studying the Savior's life I have noticed a common theme.. DESPERATION. For example, in the story of Peter walking on water, the disciples rowed until the "fourth watch." The winds were contrary to their rowing, their little boat was being tossed to and fro on the water! It wasn't until the fourth watch, 3-6 in the morning, that the Savior appeared to them. This is often how God is in our life. He allows us to grow. He allows us to stretch. He makes us exert ALL our efforts, until we can't go in more before he steps in and helps us! God is there, he is real, and He wants what is best for us. However, He loves us enough to allow us to FAIL, but He will never allow us to become a FAILURE. It is through trials, tribulations, and exerting our own strength that we grow, and can become the disciples which he wants us to become.

Love you all!

Sister Jones

p.s. the gospel is true. 

Oct. 27-Need strength? FAST

AAAAANNNNDDDD Another week down! :)
Remember how I said the Oregon rain started last week? I lied. It
started THIS week! Everyone keeps telling us this is nothing, but I
don't believe it. Sister Vance and I are constantly laughing
hysterically as we are in the pouring rain with the crazy strong
winds! We think it is hilarious, we must look ridiculous. People keep
saying,"what are you doing outside in this weather?" Well, let me tell
you about this cooool blue book....

Best thing of my week/day/life: Kersha. Last week about half of our
investigators dropped us. Sister Vance and I had been in denial... But
we finally accepted the facts :) however, we had a lesson with Kersha
on Monday and that makes IT ALL WORTH IT! We have started teaching her
son, miles, and her daughter, Mariah. They are adorable kids who love
the missionaries. Mariah always brings her little friends by when we
are there, points at us, then whispers, "look. We have missionaries
who come to our house." However, Kersha's husband (well, hopefully
husband soon... Boyfriend as of 14 years) doesn't want anything to do
with the gospel. He won't even be in the same room as us! Kersha and
her kids came to church, have been reading diligently from the Book of
Mormon, and are getting along well with everyone at church. Sunday we
had the primary program, which was all about families. I couldn't stop
thinking about Kersha, her family, and the blessings which POUR into
our lives as we live e gospel. I know that she will have a forever
family one day, and that God is capable of miracles to soften Tim's
heart.

Wednesday was such a fun day! A lady which we know in the community
called us up and asked us to paint the shop windows for Halloween.
Suzanne is a lady who asked us if she could "borrow" a Book of Mormon
a couple of weeks ago. When she called us up tomato us to do service,
she said, "also, I have been reading the book you gave me. I know that
you are super busy, but could you squeeze me in some afternoon to come
by and answer some of my questions?" I guess... It is such a burden to
our schedule... ;) haha we were super excited! During the service
opportunity Suzanne took a BUNCH of pictures and posted them on
Facebook! I will send them to you!

One of our investigators, Avril, is SUPER dying from cancer. She keeps
saying, "this requires too much energy. Can't I just accept before I
die?" I laugh and tell her heck no! She always is sassing me so I sass
her right back :) poor girl.

This week, my testimony of fasting has grown SO MUCH. I realized that
it talks about fasting all over in the scriptures, but I somehow would
always just skip over that word! Alma and he sons of Mosiah are such
great examples of how we should be living our life...

2 Now these sons of Mosiah were with Alma at the time the angel first
appeared unto him; therefore Alma did rejoice exceedingly to see his
brethren; and what added more to his joy, they were still his brethren
in the Lord; yea, and they had waxed strong in the knowledge of the
truth; for they were men of a sound understanding and they had
searched the scriptures diligently, that they might know the word of
God.

3 But this is not all; they had given themselves to much prayer, and
fasting; therefore they had the spirit of prophecy, and the spirit of
revelation, and when they taught, they taught with power and authority
of God.
Alma 17:2-3

They gave themselves to much prayer AND fasting! In conference it was
said,  "I cannot think of any law, any commandment, which, if kept
faithfully, is easier to keep and which provides greater blessings
than the law of the fast." Sister Vance watched how it strengthened us
AND our investigators this week! The crazy thing is that in order to
go 24 hours, and have a deep and meaningful fast, you have to rely and
Christ in order to make it! We need Christ to help us fulfill EVERY
aspect of our lives.

All things are possible through Christ's atonement :)

Sister Jones

Oct. 20th- Numb Fingers, Dead Squirrels, and Polygamist Colonies

ALOHA!!

This week has been extremely... interesting. But, THE OREGON RAIN HAS OFFICIALLY BEGAN! It is actually a little bit exciting to be trudging through the rain sopping wet. As long as it never gets cold right?? :)

 

 

 There are a plethora of thrift shops in Coquille which are super fun to look through :)

The majority of our lessons fell through this week, which happens sometimes. Let me tell you about all the interesting things which happened still. 

1. I shut my finger in the car door...then I couldn't get it out! TALK ABOUT EMBARRASSING. My finger was huge, cut up, and puffy. It looked like the tip of it was practically squished flat. That was last Thursday, and after all the swelling went down, I am left without feeling in the tip of my pointer finger. It is the weirdest sensation. I asked a nurse in the ward about it.. she said either 1. My finger will regain it's feeling in three months or 2. the feeling will never come back and I will just have to be aware of it when it starts to get cold in the winter and make sure to keep it safe. Kind of a cool mission story one day if you ask me. Sister Vance is probably really annoyed because I can't stop poking her... but it just feels so weird that I can't feel anything!

2. I did something horrifying. I was just driving along.. and a squirrel planted itself RIGHT IN FRONT of our moving car... I screamed and cried after hitting the poor little animal.

3. A member in our ward told us a polygamist colony was camping out by her house. She told us they were super nice and wanted us to go and visit them... so we did :) Sister Vance and I put on our longest skirts and then put in a braid in our hair and went and talked to them (we fit right in.) They were the NICEST people who have devoted their lives to God! One man teaches everyone in India about Jesus Christ! It ended up being kind of weird though because we were trying to convert them and they were trying to convert us... But it was a fun experience. and I got a tour of their gypsy caravan. 

BUT Kersha is still doing fantastic. She is the reason why Sister Vance and I are serving in Coquille :) Also, we hadn't seen Mindy in a couple of weeks (she went to the doctor and found out she has a broken back) but she still showed up at church, despite all of the pain!! We are so proud of both of their progress :) 

MIRACLE..we gave a lady which we do service with a copy of the Book of Mormon because she asked if she could borrow one. She called us and said, "I have been reading through your book. Whenever you have a free afternoon, I have some questions for you." Watch out Suzanne, you are feeling the spirit! :) 

Even though a lot of hard things happened this week, I know that it has pushed me to grow. As we were sitting in sacrament meeting, someone played a BEAUTIFUL melody of "Nearer My God to Thee." There is a line which says, "Nearer, my God, to thee, Nearer to thee! E'en though it be a cross That raiseth me." Tears welled up in my eyes as it hit me.. When we go through hard things, when we are "bearing the crosses of the world," we are growing closer to God and Jesus Christ. We understand a SMALL PART of what Christ must have gone through. President Holland states, "When we are spit at, mocked upon, we are standing soldier to soldier with the greatest life who has ever lived." I testify that the Savior is real, and that we have to walk some of the path which he walked in order to truly understand everything which he went through for us. We can cast our burdens on him and receive strength to, "Bear up our burdens with ease" as he did for the people in Mosiah ch. 24.

The gospel is true! I am so honored to be proclaiming it to the world!

Sister Jones

 

Oct 13- FYI: THE BOOK OF MORMON IS TRUE.

Great story for the week!

We were out tracting and a man we were talking to told us he wasn't
interested and went inside. We heard is son say, "they were really
pretty." "They were, weren't they?" #itsthespirit #awkotaco
#mormonglow

Also, for the first time, Sister Vance and I attempted Facebook
tracting! Super creepy, but I am actually undecided about what form of
missionary work is the most creepy... (Stalking your cyber self or
your real home... Hmmm...) you basically find people within your area
and send them a message. No success yet, but it is to be continued...

President Russell is awesome and had every zone throw Olympics! Here
is our lovely pic to document the moment :) love these people! And
yes, the segregation is real :)

 We had a pretty good week. There is a SUPER prominent lady in Coquille
who we are friends with, (named Pam Smith) and we do a lot of service
with her. She introduces us to EVERYONE in the town as her friends
(she isn't interested in the gospel, but we meet so many people
through her we keep in touch.) We are always out in the community
cleaning up, meeting women on the city council, on and on... A couple
weeks ago we were doing service and one of Pam's friends started
asking me questions about the gospel. We aren't allowed to proselyte
while serving, but if people ask questions we can answer. Anyway, I
answered all of her questions and honestly didn't think anything of
it. This week, we did more service, and her friend told me... "I have
been thinking a lot about what we talked about. For the first time,
Mormonism makes sense. People use to always tell me that you had the
Book of Mormon, then when people started to question, you decided you
also believed in the bible. From what you told me, it sounds like you
were questioning the bible so then you needed the Book of Mormon to
clarify. So anyway I was just wondering, could I borrow one of your
books? I promise I will give it back after I read it." Umm... We only
loan them out for a month, so could you please have it read by then?
;) #godisgood #thisishiswork

Another miracle! Julie is another lady we had been meeting with. Our
lessons with her are always SO SPIRITUAL. She always just cries and
cries! One day she told her mom that she was meeting with us, and her
mom got SO MAD. (granted, Julie is like 50) Her mom told us a lot of
horrible things about us. Last week she called us and told us she
doesn't want to meet with us anymore. She wanted to start going to
church because she remembers the spirit she felt there, but just not
our church. We were devastated, but had a large print Book of Mormon
we wanted to drop off anyway! We went to her house and started talking
about the Book of Mormon and how she felt when she read it. She
explained to us that she felt closer to God while reading the Book of
Mormon, and it helped her a lot in her life. (THAT IS THE SPIRIT) We
got talking some more and we felt impressed that she needed to pray
about the Book of Mormon right then and there. She was apprehensive,
but eventually did anyway. It was the most POWERFUL PRAYER I have ever
heard/felt. Looking into Julie's eyes I understood what "holiness"
means. She was a little taken aback as well! However, she still is
going to attend a different church, then come to our church and make a
final decision. I testify, however, that the power of prayer is real.
We can all continually receive that confirmation that the Book of
Mormon is true.

I love you all!

Sister Jones

P.S. Sorry, I didn't get to send this to everyone because I am sending
it from my lovely iPad. In the states we are spoiled ;)

Oct 6- Have a problem? LISTEN TO THE PROPHET.

HAPPY OCTOBER EVERYBODY!! We got transfer calls and I am staying in Coquille with Sister Vance! WOOT WOOT! Coquille is my home away from home, and I never ever want to leave! 

Kersha is still AWESOME. She alone makes everything worth it! In the past as she has met with missionaries she has had an issue with tithing. This week she responded, "I was thinking about it... and actually tithing isn't that big of a deal." She wants us to make a list of all the things she needs to start working towards in order to be baptized :D She cracks me up! 

 

Tell Aunt Cheryl that banana slugs are definitely real!!!

This week we had a hilarious lesson with a less active. We showed up and the entire house was in upheaval... She was swearing at her kids, and everyone was screaming. I went into "fix the situation" mode and made everyone in the house sit down. Kim instantly started telling me about everything which was going on and I stopped her and said, "Tell me something postive." She replied, "I can't think of anything positive." As she was telling us her stories Sister Vance and I started pointing out positives and yelling, "DING DING! THERE IS A POSITIVE!" We started twisting EVERYTHING into something positive and everyone in the house started laughing at us! By the end of the lesson everyone was on good terms and the spirit was back into the house. It was a really cool experience to watch how drastically people can change once we accept and listen to the Holy Ghost! 

Conference was seriously the best thing ever. Sister Vance and I were SO EXCITED Saturday morning.. you would have thought it was Christmas. Really though, I think that conference on a mission is the same thing as Christmas back home! Sister Vance and I were convinced that President Monson had something SUPER HUGE to tell us since everyone was talking about "listening to the prophet," but I was pleasantly surprised by his message that we all just need to live "Christ-like lives." That is the answer to this crazy turmoil of a life! 

My favorite talk was in the Saturday morning session when they talked about, "Which way do you face?" Our mission president has challenged us to study 10 of the Saviors miracles before December which has been a really amazing experience for me. Something which stuck out to me while I was studying reiterated this point. Throughout Christ's ministry he would always say, "Tell no man" after performing a miracle.  During the height of the Saviors fame, there was a group of people were going to force Jesus to be their king. The Savior ran away into the woods. (Let me confess a sin... if a group of people wanted to make me Queen, I probably wouldn't run away.) Christ wasn't looking at gaining worldly fame, he did EVERYTHING to appease the Father! He never, ever, did ANYTHING to glorify himself. If everything we did was ALWAYS to please God, a lot of the problems in our life would vanish. Are we facing the world, or are we facing God?

I love this gospel! I love being a missionary! I love you all :)

Sister Jones