Sept 21- One Way Streets

My Beloved Family,

So often when I email I have an entire flurry of emotions I don't know
how to put into words. To avoid trying to put my emotions into words I
tell you an awkward story instead. Today I am going to do the same.

We had dinner at a restaurant with some members and we were hurrying
out because we had a lesson. I pulled out of the parking lot and am
driving down the road when I realize that a car's headlights are
driving right toward me. I thought, "Huh, how weird." Then I realized
that Oregon has a BAZILLION one way streets, and I had made the wrong
turn. I hurried and pulled into some random driveway, and then the WML
texted us and said, "wrong way." How mortifying - if you are going to
do something embarrassing it might as well not be when someone you
know is watching.

This week we had zone conference. It was last Tuesday, which feels so
long ago I can't even remember what happened.

Friday I went on exchanges with Sister Sidhu and she took over her
area for the first time. She did amazing :)

So many things happened that I have drawn a blank and can't even think
about it right now... uh oh.

This morning for exercise Sister Doxey and I hiked up a mountain and
watched the Sun illuminate the entire valley. It was a REALLY hard
hike, and we had to slide down the mountain on our bums the way back
down. It was so worth it, however! It made me think of the creation,
and how wonderful that God is. I have been thinking a lot about
"faith" and people asking for signs. I decided God gives us signs
every single day, but when we ask for a sign we are saying, "God, I
want you to give me a sign on MY conditions and in MY own way." We
have to be willing to notice them. This morning, I noticed. God's
grandeur hit me as I watched Grants Pass fill with light - similar to
the light which will feel the earth as people accept the gospel.

Jacob 4:7-9

I LOVE THE GOSPEL.

Sister Jones

 

Sept 14th- WASTE AND WEAR OUT YOUR LIFE

Hello.

Here is a list of things which happened to some of our investigators. 

One went to jail.

One was in the hospital all week after being attacked by someone with a baseball bat. They also stole all his money.

One lost his house, his kids, and his job. 

One got a nasty sinus infection which has affected his hearing.

Wow. Sister Doxey and I are starting to think we are bad luck. Satan works hard to keep people from the truth. (It is the truth you know. This gospel is true.)

However, I feel that my entire mission has accumulated to this transfer, it is a really amazing feeling. SO MANY people are SO CLOSE to entering into the waters of baptism. Everyone is right on the fence - they either need to take the plunge or walk away. (Everyone, that is, who hasn't gone to jail or been attacked)

*Monika is starting to live the Word of Wisdom - one substance at a time. She has printed off seminary and institute manuals from online and has started her own personal study. She studied the entire Plan of Salvation before we even taught it. She despises going to church because she thinks it is stale, but she keeps coming back every week HAHA! She told us she wants EVERYTHING - all the manuals, a quad, everything. She is hungry for the truth. 

*Tyler - He is my age (weird) and we have been teaching him and his wife who is LA. Tyler bore his testimony to us about how he feels peaceful throughout his day when he reads the scripture. Savannah has been reading and for the first time in her life and said, "This is amazing. Instead of people telling me about what is in the scriptures, I am figuring it out myself." Also, Tyler VOLUNTEERED to pray. That was a huge feet, because he seems to have this anti-praying dilemma. The spirit was so strong.

*Sally is a new investigator. She comes from an anti-mormon family, but the other week she attended a mormon funeral. When the bishop got up to talk about what we believe, she said the whole room went dark and he was light. She immediately tracked down a book of mormon, started reading and praying about it, then called us. When she showed up she had all ready read through our pamphlets. GOLDEN PEOPLE! She is an amazing woman.

*Bobby is working on quitting smoking... still. He is still smoking but doesn't know that we know he is still smoking. 

I have contemplated over and over again throughout my mission why God wanted me in Oregon. Oregon is so random - people will often times ask us, "Why in the world did you choose Oregon?" "Well random civilian, I did not choose Oregon. Oregon chose me." I have come to the conclusion that there is no reason that God needed me specifically in Oregon. However, I have needed each and everyone of the people which I have met. God doesn't care where we serve, as long as we are serving. God loves the people here in Oregon just as much as he does anywhere else. I am forever going to be grateful for this wonderful place. I am homesick for it all ready. 

I came across this scripture the other day... 

D & C 123:12-13

12 For there are many yet on the earth among all sects, parties, and denominations, who are blinded by the subtle craftiness of men, whereby they lie in wait to deceive, and who are only kept from the truth because they know not where to find it--

13 Therefore, that we should WASTE AND WEAR OUT our lives in bringing to light all the hidden things of darkness, wherein we know them; and they are truly manifest from heaven--

We need to waste and wear out our lives in the service of God! In bringing light to others! In showing people the way towards truth! New theme for my life: Waste and wear out.

This is an insert from a talk e. Holland gave, speaking of the prophet at the time, Gordon B. Hinckley. "Ninety-one years old and [he] is going all day, every day, everywhere, all the time until he drops! ... His only council to [us apostles], and he's willing to do the same, he says, "look, you know, you don't work hard enough, you don't go far enough, you don't do enough," (here we are all dying), he says, "Look, I don't have sympathy for you. If you die, you die." And clearly that's his theory. I mean, that's his position. He just said, "Look, what use are we then, what do we do at our level, at our time in life, with our calls...what else is there? We will just give and give and give until we are taken." 

THE GOSPEL IS TRUE. 

Love,

Sister Jones

Sent from my iPad

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Sept 7th- Staying in GP

HOLA!

Mom - I am not going to send out my email to everyone anymore, so if there is anyone else who wants it you can forward it to them!

Transfer calls, I am going to be staying in Grants Pass with Sister Doxey. I am excited to stay here in Grants Pass - it is an amazing area with an amazing ward. I know that I always say that, but it is true! Sister Doxey and I are ready to work hard, I am probably going to get six week shafted, so we want to baptize everyone this next transfer. (six week shafted is when they put you in a different area for six weeks before you go home.)

On Tuesday I got to go to the coast, and I drove through Coquille! It was really nostalgic - I wanted to stop and say hi to everyone SO BAD. The transfer van didn't have time to stop though! *Sigh* I love that little place. Tears thought about coming to my eyes!

It was a crazy week because then I taught at ZTM on Friday on "inspired questions." I have realized a lot about asking a question and then listening. If you want to teach someone, it is WAY more effective to ask an inspired question than it is to talk to them. Someone said, "The confident ask questions to help others make a connection. The insecure talk and hope something sticks." I liked that. Listening benefits someone a lot more than talking does. 

MIRACLE: Last transfer Sister Petersen and I made a goal to find four new investigators in a day. We worked hard all day and... nothing. At the very end of the night we saw a family playing games in a house window, so we knocked on the door. They were super nice and let us in, but told us they were not interested at all. We appreciated their kindness and left. Last week, a girl named Sarah called, told us she had been reading the book of mormon, and she wants to get together with us. SHE WAS ONE OF THE PEOPLE IN THAT HOUSE. I guess we never know what kind of impact we can make. God is really good to us. 

We also dropped momma Gandy. She isn't willing to live the commandments which are required of us. So sad. WE KNOW THE GOSPEL IS WORTH IT CHRISTINE. 

Here is my spiritual thought of the week... We have an investigator who is going through a lot, and I have been thinking a lot about the purpose of life. Right now we are preparing our souls to see God again. God, in his loving mercy, molds is into who we need to be. "[I] will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as God is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, it is my people: and they shall say, The Lord is my God." (Zech 13:9) That refining is sometimes a painful and uncomfortable process. Life seems hard, overwhelming, and overbearing at times. We are promised that, "our.. Affliction, WHICH IS BUT FOR A MOMENT, worketh for is a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory." (2 Cor 4:17) Our affliction is a small moment? AND because of our afflictions we can receive an abundance of glory? I realized that if the test was easy, there would be no accomplishment. There would be no tears of joy when we finished all we were sent here to accomplish. A mission brings so much satisfaction because it is so dang hard, and life is no different. We have the Saviors promise in Isaiah 41:12, "Fear not; I will help thee." (look up that scripture..he even promises he will be holding our hand as we go through trials.)

I testify God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost, will always be there to help us. 

Praying for you all!

Love,

Sister Jones

Sent from my iPad

Aug 31st- Hello :)

HELLO!

I know how to say a couple of phrases in Hebrew which Sister Doxey is teaching me... but I don't know how to spell them, or else I would.

Last Monday feels like so long ago, yet at the same time it feels as if the week goes so fast. So much happens in a week. 

Here is a cool miracle: We have been contacting Formers and we met a guy named Fernando, but he goes by Nando. We asked him about his experience with missionaries in the past, and he said that he knows the church is true. He prayed about it and said, "The only way I can describe the feeling is that it felt like someone was in the room with me." How cool is that? God is leading us to the elect. We had a lesson with him yesterday, and he is really great. He has a really rough background, his gauges and tattoos show it, but has a heart of gold. Remember how God looks at a persons heart? Nando has a heart of gold.

We also have been going through our area book and there was a long list of spanish names. Sister Doxey and I have been taking Spanish speaking missionaries with us, and surprisingly a lot of them want to talk with us. We have a new spanish investigator we are going to be speaking this week. How convenient would it be if I could just speak all the languages in the world? Who do I talk to about that? The only phrase that I can really remember from Mandarin in Corvallis is, "I know that the gospel of Jesus Christ is true." It doesn't seem to be a very useful phrase in Grants Pass, but I will keep on praying :) 

We are still working hard to get the people which we are working with baptized. The most solid members have a lot of obstacles to overcome before they get baptized, so I try and remind myself of that! As long as are faithful tools in the Lord's hands, he is the one who will work many miracles. Things are going really well though, and we are going to keep on keepin' on!

Tomorrow for MLC I get to go to Bandon on the Coast. I had district meeting in Bandon every Friday when I was in Coquille. We should be driving right through Coqille, and I am so excited I can hardly contain myself. I get so homesick for that little town! 

I am trying to think of anything else exciting which happened this week... lots of things of course.

Lately I have been consciously focusing on prayer. Our mission is focusing on it a lot, so I have been focusing on it as well.(Sorry if I have all ready told you this.) Every other night Sister doxey takes a shower (TMI) So every other night I say my nightly prayer out loud. I can not even begin to tell you what a difference this has made in my life! At times I feel so overcome with the Spirit that I start crying, and others it is an indescribable peace. It is a holy thing to pray to our Father in heaven, and I know that he listens.

I love you all! I hope the first couple weeks of school are going great!

Love,

Sister Jones 

P.S. I keep having this feeling that at this October's general conference they are going to allow sister missionaries to stay out for two years. We will see what happens :) 

 

Aug 24th- Random Tidbits of the Week

Hello!

Where to even start...Well, I will start out with a text message from
an investigator. You probably won't think this is funny because you
don't know her, but I think it is hilarious. She is working on not
swearing. "Sooper diddle ee doo sisterz! Way to get to me early with
your confirmation on all ends so that if I try to back out I'm the
donkey. Plus jones dropped the integrity bit on me yesterday, so I
must keep that one going for myself, and all that accountability poop.
Well played yet again there sisters, well played. Hope you noticed my
rated g edits." HAHAHAHA. We take it she is showing up for her lesson
tonight.

I ran into a guy who studies hand writing for a living this week. He
analyzed my handwriting and told me that I have a lot of energy and
that my handwriting says that my life is all over the place.
Interesting. I wanted to tell him every missionaries life is all over
the place, but I just gave him a restoration pamphlet instead.

The Gandy's have reset a baptismal date for the end of September.
Monika is working toward the end of September as well. We also had an
investigator set a date for August 29th... 2016. *sigh* we are going
to have to work on that.

Tuesday we went corn harvesting for a service project. That was a lot
of fun. The corn went to the food bank so they can serve it to people
at the homeless shelter.

I had the most life changing exchange this week. Sister Sidhu is from
Texas, but her family is originally from Malasia. She has the most
amazing conversion story, and shared with me how her and her mom are
the only active members in her family, and her father disowned her
when he found out she was going to serve a mission. The whole exchange
we cried together. How amazing is she? So many lives are going to be
touched because of her decision to serve. In the eternities, the
blessings will be endless! We taught a lesson to an investigator
together and ended up reading over the talk, " saving dad" from this
last ensign. The spirit was SO STRONG. It was a very holy and sacred
experience I am going to cherish forever. Can I just thank my family
for their commitment level to the gospel? I admire anyone who makes
correct choices without the righteous influence of their family. I
couldn't do it without mine.

Umm... We had some other awesome lessons, but I can't figure out which
ones to talk about so I will default to telling you about no other
ones. Plus, there is to much background story which goes into them.
Sorry ;)

I have started the Book of Mormon over again this last week, and I
want to finish it by the end of November. As I read over it I realize
how much I have grown to love that inspired book. IT IS TRUE! It has
brought me so much comfort and guidance. It has brought me close to
the Savior than anything else has. In 1 nephi 11: 22-23 it talks about
the love of God being the most joyous of anything we can seek after...
And we can unlock that love as we read from the Book of Mormon!

I love you all! Have a great week!

Sister Jones
P.s. This is the little cottage which I live in. Is it not the cutest
thing you have ever seen? I always feel like a princess.

Aug. 17th- Deep thoughts from Sister Jones

Hello from Grants Pass!

I don't cry, but throughout the week I felt like randomly bursting into tears.THE HOLY GHOST IS REAL.

One instance was when Bobby gave us his last four cigarettes. Four. How easy would it have been to just smoke the last four cigarettes? WHO DOES THAT? I felt the spirit so strong has he demonstrated his sincere desire to follow the Savior, Jesus Christ.

Another instance was when Monika came to church. My favorite smell in the chapel is the smell of smoke. Someone is trying their best to come closer to the Savior. I know that God notices the little things and the efforts which we make. "A saint is a sinner which keeps on trying." Just because you can't smell my sins doesn't mean they aren't there, but the smell of smoke is the definition of a SAINT. 

One day we finished daily planning and I reflected on our day. I thought about how at the beginning of my mission I might have described the day as, "long, hot, and unproductive." That really wasn't what I thought. I felt so humbled to know that I represented the Savior that day in talking to everyone about the gospel. I wouldn't want to be doing anything else than walking around and sharing our unique message to the world. 

The gospel is true! I love a scripture in Alma 15:16 which says, "And it came to pass that Alma and Amulek, Amulek having forsaken all his gold, and silver, and his precious things, which were in the land of Ammonihah, for the word of God, he being rejected by those who were once his friends and also by his father and his kindred;" Amulek gave up EVERYTHING for the gospel. His worldly wealth, the people who he associated with.. WHY?? BECAUSE IT IS TRUE. None of those things come close to comparing with the joy which comes from understanding the atonement!

I love you all!

Sister Jones

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!