Mayhem and Area 70's

Well folks another week has gone by! This week was an odd one!

Tuesday we saw a way great miracle as we witnessed our loving Father as He helped us see the signs of hearts softening. we had a lesson with a young recent convert and it was so great to watch the spirit in action as our entire lesson plan was changed to focus on her father who finally decided to sit in on a lesson and to see how the precious words of the Book of Mormon helped introduce him to the spirit. My favorite part was at the end of our lesson when he looked to the stars and said, "I'm feeling enlightened" with a slight hint of shock and fear in his voice and then he ran inside. Haha! The truth WILL not be denied! Whether he comes around now or in 20 years I know the gospel will continue to bless him always. (sorry I'm always short on time so I have no time for details just testimony)

Wednesday Elder Skoubye {skohbee} (our district leader) asked me to give a 15 minute training on the role of the Book of Mormon in Conversion and as I began it I found myself discovering my own conversion that has come so solidly on my mission and know its because of my studying the Book of Mormon. I restarted the Book of Mormon back in April and have been making slow progress to the point I may potentially finish it before the end of my mission. Let me just share with you some of my favorite discoveries as I read Jacob through to Mosiah this past week. My two favorite studies were Jacob 5 and Enos but I only have time for one so I'm going to share Jacob. As for Enos read it and really think about what it means to have desire and the pattern of increasing faith. :)

Here's my take away from Jacob 5. I've always found it just about as confusing as Isaiah but I made a world altering discovery this week. Its the most simple thing in the Book of Mormon. All leading up to Jacob, Nephi rants and raves about how wonderful simplicity and plainess are and then we read Jacob 5 and feel the necessity to dive deep. Its so silly! If we quit trying to complicate things the message is right on the surface. The entire chapter is an outline of how the Lord has and will work throughout the generations. The rises and falls, the success and failures of God's children. And the whole point of it is simple. Heavenly Father just wants us to know He will never give up on us and will do all in His power to keep the covenants He's made with His children from the very beginning in tact.  "And the Lord said: Yea, I will spare it a little longer, for it grieveth me that I should lose the trees of my vineyard." Jacob 5:51 try reading it now with that on your mind. Its amazing!

Anyway hopefully this makes sense cause I have no more time to write but know that I'm well and happier than I could ever imagine!

Love always and forever!
-- 

Sister Jones

Ps Read the Book of Mormon! Its amazing!

I've Killed my Companion

I never know where to start with these things... every week it just gets harder. Well here's my attempt. Let me start with last Monday. After a quick session of emailing we went to the beach again! It was a blast. A little cooler than the last time we went but it was still great. Good way to spend the last Monday of one really amazing transfer.

Tuesday was transfer meeting. Probably the longest one yet. Probably also the most inspiring one yet. There were some really amazing things said. Emphasis on love being our motive behind this work was shared by many departing missionaries. Here are some other quotes that were really great:
"Its the simple things along the way that matter the most" (I must say that's really the truth) "...how great reason have we torejoice; for could we have supposed when we started from the land of Zarahemla that God would have granted unto us suchgreat blessings?" - Alma 26:1 ( there truly is nothing more that is a greater cause to rejoice than this work. You meet the most amazing people see the miracles of God and your family just continues to grow as you build eternal friendships)

"Greenie Faith is love" (as my mum and trainer both taught me, green things grow so as long as we are trying to always love everyone around us we'll grow. This applies to more than just mission life)

"The hardest part of any trial is your lack of faith and confidence in the Savior." (So true! The purpose of this life isn't to suffer! Its to experience joy, "Adam fell that men might be and men are that they might have joy" If we're struggling all we have to do is turn more towards our LOVING Heavenly Father)

"Trust is a two way thing" (I'd never thought of it that way before but it really is. We have to trust in God in all that we do because He's placed His trust in us. If we don't believe we can do something we just have to trust in Him that He knows we can do it until we discover the capability within ourselves)

Anyway there's just a few of my take aways from Tuesday. Love, eternal friendships, and more love. :)

Sister Bigley is great. She is 20 years old and is about to hit her year mark on her mission! She is from the Dallas-Fort Worth area of Texas so she's got the Texas southern accent. She has a real love for the Lord's work and its going to be a great transfer!

I'm working on reading the Book of Mormon in a testimony building way and its been amazing. Every verse has testified more and more to me of the truthfulness of this gospel. Christ's church truly has been restored.

So this week the work was really slow. I felt this week was a reinforcement of a lesson I've been taught countless times in the past 13 months. I feel the message was very clear "This work is not your work. Its mine." This knowledge gives me strength. This work isn't ours but how great is it that we get to be a part of it and witness miracles. This week hardly anyone was even slightly open and yet in a way I feel refreshed and renewed in the knowledge that I'm totally useless without God. ("Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God,for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we willpraise his name forever." Alma 26:12) Despite the fact that hardly anyone talked to us during knocking we still were able to see God work through us. This really is His work. This week I got to witness how God is such a great dad and knows exactly what each of His children need. Even if they've already been baptized. This work is the work of Salvation and we're all a part of it. Every single one of us. Whether we are surrounded by members of the church or our other brothers and sisters theyALL stand in need. They all struggle at times and feel weak. I know I've felt that way plenty of times and I'm certain each of you have as well. So my challenge for you this week is to look around you. TRULY look and see who is in need and then reach out. We are where we are because there is someone who needs us. They need our experiences and insights. It is my personal belief that while the trials and experiences we have help us become the child our Father wants us to be they really aren't there for us at all. God's work is selfless. Its taken me a long time to realize this but I'm finally catching on. Nothing is given to us for us to hoard and keep to ourselves.

"15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." Matthew 5

Just like you can't turn on a light without other people seeing that light we can't go through life and not share this gift. We can't hide the greatest joy of all and keep it to ourselves. We HAVE to share it. That's where the real joy comes from.

I just want to leave you with my testimony of the perfect plan our Father has for us. He is such a good Dad. He knows exactly where we need to be to be blessed and to bless others. He knows exactly who we need and who needs us. I know this because I've seen it in my life and if you don't see it in yours pray to have your eyes opened because it is right there. I love you all dearly and leave this with you in our Savior's name, Jesus Christ. Amen.

I have literally 2 minutes

Sorry this week is just going to be a synopsis of the weeks events. 

Tuesday we went to the temple with a recent convert as she got to stand proxy for her Great great grandma! It was so cool! I forgot my camera so I'll send pictures next week. :) She's the cutest thing!

Wednesday was Sister Brewster's final transfer meeting...

Thursday night we drove to OLY 4th! 

Friday I spent in my birth place (first mission area) and got to see my family (some of them) while Sister Brewster and Sister Julien went to the departing missionaries' temple trip. It was great. 

Saturday we returned to Elma and resumed as normal. 

Sunday was really sad as everyone was saying goodbye to Brew. 

It was a week full of finals. Weird. Tomorrow she goes to Tacoma and Wednesday she'll be back in Arizona.

Well I'm out of time but know I love you and till next week, CPR! Church, pray, read!