Hello from TACOMA!

Hello! Time just keeps flying by! So not too much to update on and nothing to profound to share. I'm going to keep this short because another sister needs to use the computer.

 

Anyway I am absolutely loving Chambers Creek! It is amazing! We get to see some very interesting things. This past week we did various different thing all the way from the usual street contacting and my favorite knocking on doors to scrubbing a bathroom for an older gentle that we suspect hadn't been cleaned in 15 years (this is according to the information he gave us). we met some really cool people and I've gotten to learn a whole lot about focusing in on the spirit.

 

I love my mission. I love every second the Lord has blessed me with. I restarted the Book of Mormon and Preach My Gospel again with the quest to find instruction on how to become a better missionary and more effective tool in God's hand. I've only gotten through the introductions to both because well for one I started it today and for two they are SO GOOD! Have you all ever read the introduction to the Book of Mormon? Not the one that's a full page long. The original one that Joseph Smith translated. If you haven't or even if you have read it. Before doing so pray that God will open your mind so that you can receive revelation and insight. It is amazing! Read the two paragraph intro written before Moroni hid the plates and then read the page long one including Joseph Smith. After doing so share your insights with me. (I'll know who really reads my emails by who replies.... 0.o  you're going to be busted... haha)

 

Anyway I've include a before picture of the bathtub and an after of the bathtub and toilet. The toilet was too gross to get a picture of. Also the lighting makes the before picture look cleaner than it was. What was brown was actually black... Don't worry we had gloves on and used a LOT of bleach. 

Well now that I'll have effectively grossed you out I'll write you next week! Love youl

​

Well its too big so I'll send the afters in another email...

Mothers Day and Transfer Calls!

This week was a good week. Nice and busy. We found a new investigator, met lots of interesting people (including a guy who is traveling the west coast, from Oregon up through Washington and then through California to the New Mexico boarder, this summer on foot) and had a lot of fun.

I thoroughly enjoyed videoing home. It was great to see my families beautiful faces and to hear how things are going. Something I learned from videoing home is that our loving Heavenly Father works in ways that our minds can't even process to make things happen the way they are supposed to. Its really wonderful to know He is in control. It provides comfort because I also know I am definitely not in control. Our lives are impacted and can change in an instant because of someone else's choice and thinking of it that way its a little scary but knowing that God is far more powerful than anything else and that He is in control helps me to be able to view others behavior with a different perspective. I think from now on I'm just going to think of it as God is using them to shave off another layer to polish me up and make me into the divine daughter of His that I was born as.

I have really been enjoying my time as a missionary and got taught the lesson of not trying to predict God's plan. This week we were waiting for transfer calls yet again and I wasn't sure what would happen but I suspected I would be staying in Kitsap for another adventurous transfer with Sister Liao. I also knew there was a chance I would be transferred. I figured if I left I'd go somewhere in the southern half of the mission. Saturday came and transfer calls arrived to inform me I was in deed leaving the wonderful Kitsea and would be transferring to the exact area I was certain I would never serve. Tomorrow I begin another adventure in Chambers Creek which is just outside Tacoma and is also pretty much the middle of the mission. Very surprising! I still haven't fully wrapped my head around the fact that I am leaving another area but I am grateful for the time I have had here.

Well I'm nearly out of time as always sorry this is a short non-exciting one! But know that I have a testimony of the truthfulness of the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that families are a gift given to us by a loving Heavenly Father and I am eternally grateful for mine. I love you all! I'll email you from Tacoma next week!

I'm including a ton of pictures!

Love,

Coincidence is spelled G O D

Well this week was a crazy one and I'm low on time so this'll be short. (Shocker)

This week we used the back ups or our back ups backups! (Its ok if that doesn't make sense) Everything seemed to go 130% differently than Sister Liao and I had planned. We literally didn't meet a single person knocking doors that was open to hearing the message we invite people to discover. We had everything from unanswered doors, slammed doors, people standing on the other side of glass doors just shaking their head no at us, to a guy who yelled for us to save ourselves some walking and go away. While street contacting people completely ignored us. A little old man even shuffled across a two lane road with his walked to avoid us (that was really actually quite funny).

I think a few months ago this would have frustrated me but this week I found it pushing me harder. We saw the Lord's hand leading us and saw His plan unfolding as a planned lesson finally happened on Saturday in which we gained a testimony of this being the LORD's work and it will go exactly how He wants is to help those of His children who have been prepared to receive His full word. It was so amazing as we met with James and saw how God had prepared him in every way including 3 hours of church (he went even longer as a child). We taught him the first lesson and he showed his faith as he eagerly accepted every invitation we gave to him (including baptism!). He joined us for church Sunday. Imagine our reaction when he walked in wearing a white shirt and tie. He looked like he'd been a member all his life! After sacrament it took us nearly 15 minutes to get him out of the chapel as members swarmed around him excited to great and welcome him (a missionary's dream response!) It was so amazing most the member just noticed he was new didn't realize he wasn't a member and rushed to meet "the new family member". They were astounded to discover he wasn't a member and pleased when he told them all he felt like he'd always been coming to church and would definitely be back next week. It was so wonderful! God knows each of His children and gives them everything needed to receive His gospel.

It was a great end to a great week! Everyday is full of miracles! That's what I learned this week as I came to appreciate the smallest thing such as a kind word from a stranger or a passing smile. Remember people those things count!

In my morning studies I'm rereading the Book of Mormon from an investigator stand point writing a short summary of the contents within each verse. I'm in 1 Nephi 4. Its amazing as I try to study from an investigators perspective I gain better skills and abilities that enable me to teach more clearly but I still gain deeper insight.

1 Nephi 3

 31 And after the angel had departed, Laman and Lemuel again began to murmur, saying: How is it possible that the Lordwill deliver Laban into our hands? Behold, he is a mighty man, and he can command fifty, yea, even he can slay fifty; thenwhy not us?

- What was it that caused Laman and Lemuel to still doubt despite the fact that they literally had JUST seen an angel?

   This is something I found myself wondering as my mind gained the insight of the utmost necessity of us each having our own personal conversion. SEEING IS NOT BELIEVING. If it was faith wouldn't exist. Laman and Lemuel hadn't asked God to know the truth and as a result they never understood.

Well my time is up! I pray you may all remain SAFE and see the miracles of God in your lives in every second.

Love and prayers always,

 -- 

Sister Jones

The TOEFL and the Atonement

Well another week has flown by yet again! Today begins week 5 of transfer 7! So weird!

This weeks big highlight was Friday and Saturday's mayhem. We had the shortest exchange ever this past Friday that lasted from 11am to 8:30pm (normally they're 24 hours). I remained in Kitsap Lake and had Sister Bishop join me. We talked about lots of random things but I think the thing that stood out most of all was people and our purpose as missionaries (and as members of Christ's true church).

We talked a lot about how missionary work can't simply involve "finding, teaching, and baptizing" people who have yet to come to the truth. We are trying to build up God's kingdom and that includes strengthening those who have already made the covenants to follow God's path. It was a really good really inspiring conversation that left me with a renewed and strengthened love for what it truly means to be a missionary.

The reason our exchange was so short was because Sister Liao went and took the TOEFL test (Test of English as a Foreign Language) in order to attend college in the States. I spent the day in Tacoma with my former MTC companion. It was fun but I missed Kitsap and was happy to return. That night was filled with miracles as we found two new investigators who seem really open and ready for the blessings of the gospel and we also found an older gentleman who is a member but hasn't been in a long time that is now someone the members are reaching out to.

The gospel is a beautiful thing which has been organized by a loving God to give support to all His children no matter what stage of life they're in. In both the good and bad times our loving Heavenly Father is there for us.

The Atonement continues to be a focus of mine. In Matthew 26 we can read our Savior's experience in the Garden of Gethsemane as He suffered for OUR sins and mistakes and grief and pains.

 36 ¶Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.

 37 And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy.
 38 Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.
 39 And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.
 40 And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?
 41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
 42 He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.
 43 And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy.
 44 And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.

Even the Savior asked for His trials to be removed and then He continued by saying that regardless of that He would do the Father's will as He set the example for how we should each face our personal trials.

In Luke 22 we learn an important principle about the Atonement.

 39 ¶And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him.
 40 And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation.
 41 And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed,
 42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.
 43 And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.
 44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

Our Savior wasn't left alone in the garden but He alone paid the price for our sins.

John 15

 13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

Our Savior paid the price for us because He loves us more than we are capable or can understand. He is perfect. Our Heavenly Father hasn't asked us to be perfect but He has asked that we try. He has asked that we learn each time we make a mistake. Christ has already paid the price for our mistakes.

Helaman 5

 10 And remember also the words which Amulek spake unto Zeezrom, in the city of Ammonihah; for he said unto him that the Lord surely should come to redeem his people, but that he should not come to redeem them in their sins, but to redeem them from their sins.

This life is our Garden of Gethsemane where we will experience all sorts of joy and pain, but just like Christ our Loving Father doesn't leave us alone. He sent His Son to pay the price and all He asks is that we learn and grow and improve to become a better person.

I've gotten some complaints that I don't ever tell how I'm doing in my emails home so I'll try to include that. I am doing so well that words can't explain. I have felt the redeeming power and the strengthening power as I have been in the WA-TAC. My mission has helped me to change and see life in a different light. I am so grateful for the growth as I have been able to gain a portion of an idea of just how miraculous this Gospel is. I can't begin to express my gratitude for this time to serve or for the unconditional love given us by our loving Heavenly Father as He restored (brought back) His TRUE complete gospel by the smallest and simplest means. Words can't begin to describe how wonderful I am doing because of this time to serve and this knowledge I have gained.

Earlier this week my companion and I were accused of having "blind faith" and in response I can say without a doubt that my faith is the furthest from being blind that it ever has been in my life. As a child and teenager and even a year and a half ago my faith was blind but I have seen the evidence of God's hand in my life and the lives of those who have received the fullness of the gospel into their lives. I have felt the confirmation as I've witnessed countless miracles. I haven't had an angel come to me or seen a blind man healed or anything massive in that manner but by the small and simple things I have had God bring into my life a light that has removed any chance that I could be blindly following.

Alma 37

 6 Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise.

I've said it countless times and I will say it again. I know that my Redeemer live. He is our brother, He is our Savior, He is Jesus Christ the Son of the living God who is our literal Father. I say that without a doubt. I know Jesus Christ restored HIS church to the Earth through simple means of a 14 year old boy who had faith beyond anyone else in that time. I know that the church is ran exactly as it was in biblical times with a living prophet today who was called by God and given the authority to act in His name for the salvation of His children. With that knowledge I have faith in everything else and will bear witness of my Savior with every breath I have until the end.

I hope you all may feel the atonement in your life strengthening you in the times you need it. Until next week I leave my testimony with you in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.