First Baptism!

***Questions for our Missionary!***

**That museum with you pictured with a giraffe -- is that right in Olney?  Is there anything besides squirrels in it?

Its like a cute boutique here in Olney and I havn't been in it yet , so maybe we will go in it today? (maybe I will send home a white squirrel)

**How did the baptism go?**  Please tell me all about it.  I am so excited you get to participate as the part of her conversion**

It was a stress-case beyond compare ( I didn't enjoy it as much as I would have) but I am so glad Carolyn got baptized because she was so ready and we all were ready as well.

**Do you have a CD player?***  We have plans...

yes! but it is being a butt so I am not sure how much it can play in the player but we can steal one from the church or play it in our car :)

***Can you play a video file if sent to your email?  (Jaden wants to make a video on his GoPro and send to you)***

Sure! I would love to see a video :)

***What foods have you tried for the first time on your mission?***

umm...... Persimmons- its a fruit over here that just grow in the woods. Their okay but I like them when they are mashed with sugar and made as persimmon cookies. I haven't ever heard of them but I'm glad I tried something new!

​Hey family and friends! 

Carolyn Elizabeth Fagin is now baptized! And it was an extremely stressful but good experience! Sister Clark and I were worried the entire time about everything. Carolyn had to be dunked twice because she wouldn't bend her knees(do to age) and her dress kept coming up and I guess you could say both of us had our finger nails ground into our skin! But it went great afterwards and Sister Clark and I sang 'Savior redeemer of my soul', which went awesome and then yesterday Carolyn was confirmed a member of The Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and was given the gift of the Holy Ghost! and my heart was so full!

    Its kind of funny once the baptism was over we got to relax for the night and then commotion picked up again the next morning! no rest for missionaries!

   We have been teaching this family, the Ray family, and they have come to every church activity we invite them to in the last few weeks. Last night we felt we needed to go by and visit them and just see how they are doing and what we need to work on with them. We sort of told them about the word of wisdom once and they decided two weeks ago to stop drinking coffee and tea and we didn't commit them to it! however, we know that if we want them to get baptized on a certain date that we must pick up the pace and fully commit them to living the word of wisdom. We told them about it and why it is important for them and Phil(the dad) turns to us and says "Okay I will make you a deal- the next time you come over I have a cabinet full of Whiskey and I want you to help me dump it down the drain" We were so excited and fervently excepted! But Sister Clark didn't stop there, she turned to Nikki (the mom) and asked her if we could have her cigarettes! She kind of was unsure about giving them to us but we encouraged her to pray hen she feels the need to smoke and that Heavenly Father would definitely help her with the rest if she is determined to stop.

     We had an amazing lesson with a Less-Active member-who has been coming to church every Sunday the last three weeks and studying her scriptures like crazy!-and we felt prompted to tell her that she could get her patriarchal blessing and go to the temple. She stared at us like we had just slapped her across the face and then she started to cry and was so happy and asked us what she had to do next to get to the temple! I started to tear up as well!

     Random thought but an amazing one! Mom I went and logged onto your family search account (I remember your password, don't freak haha) and did some family history work since you told me that you found more of your family line and I know exactly where your grandpa, Billy Jo White was born! We literally drive through the town every time we drive to New Albany, Indiana for Zone Conference! The Town is called Loogootee, and I remember passing through the town and thinking "Huh, well that's a weird name for a town, I will remember that!" and lo and behold there the name shows up on the family search website! I asked Sister Clark if President Brough would let us walk around that town for a few hours to see if any of our family lives there and who we are tied to and she said that it probably can be allowed because it could be missionary work! :D :D I am so excited about this!!!!

   Yesterday we went caroling and handed out cookies to some of our investigators and random people in the branch-it was fun but I got tired of singing the first Noel! Then we had dinner at the Sasakado's and gave a lesson to Toshii. He is Buddhist and does not believe in God and also believes that his parents are God's but we had him read out of his Japanese Book Of Mormon and the spirit was sooooo strong. Then we read out of it and it wasn't the same feeling as when he translated it from Japanese to English. We love Toshii and Fonda and Fonda repeatedly tells him over and over that she loves him and wants to be sealed to him for time and all eternity and it really has touched my heart and has made me think of the importance of Eternal marriage and how God has given us the blessing of having eternal family but He has also given us the responsibility to progress to the temple and also after we are sealed- I can tell more and more marriage will be no piece of cake but it will be a piece of treasure for Eternity. I know that this Gospel is the ONLY true Gospel here on the Earth and that it brings peace and eternal joy in everyone's life-If we share the glad message of the Gospel throughout this Christmas Season I know that the feeling of Christmas will increase in our hearts. I love you all and can't wait to here from you throughout this Christmas season.

Love Always,

Sister Jones

Well, this week was crazy! 

We have been traveling back and forth from here (Olney, Illinois) to New Albany, Indiana and we travel through these winding roads through woods and its such a long drive but its so fun! however we went down this last Friday to here a conference with a member of the Seventy who came to talk and his name is Elder Kapichska from Germany! WE learned a lot and enjoy all that he had to tell us- but then we  had to leave early because a Christmas party would be going on back in Olney and since we had investigators going to it we had to race back and because there is an hour time difference between us and New Albany we had to leave like a half hour early to make it on time. Well we kept driving through these winding roads and it has been raining all day long and while driving it rained even harder and we hydroplaned a couple time through these woods! It was so crazy and I am glad Sister Clark was driving but we made it back and had fun time doing a white elephant gift exchange and a lot of other fun games-we were pooped.

 

Update on our Branch:

We have gotten around 4 less active members to come to church and prepare for the Temple, Carolyn is getting baptized this Thursday and on top of that we have been teaching the Wray Family and they have been earnestly trying to be at every branch event and they absolutely love everything that we teach them. We haven't even taught them the Word of Wisdom yet and we told them why we don't eat or drink certain things and at church yesterday they came (It was so cool, they have four kids) and after church they invited us out to eat and sister Clark thought they said to go eat and drink coffee and tea and we told them both that we don't go out on Sundays and she re-explained that we don't drink coffee and tea and they said" We know, we just said that we have gone this whole week without drinking coffee or tea!" We were so excited because we hadn't even committed them to those things yet but they did it on their own! We love the Wray family and made it a goal to teach them to baptism! (we know their next ;) Shhhhhh!) Also our branch was bursting so much by how many people showed up to church , we had to bring in more chairs from other classrooms!

-Also we had district pday! and I got to play volleyball! I was so stoked and we went crazy with it all! We ended up eating little Caesars and cookies and playing the guitar! :)

We took Christmas photos this last week! too fun! but cold!

 

Yesterday was a great day because we were fasting and both of us were exhausted and we wanted to stop and go home and sleep but we kept going because we still had three hours until the Christmas devotional-anyway we knocked on one of our appointment's door-they weren't home (as usual). But I turned around after calling to see if this family was home and my feet took me straight to another door across the apartment complex-they didn't want any and then we knocked on the door right across and they said come on in and we did! they are a young couple living together and they said we were more than welcome to come back after we told them about Eternal marriage! It was so inspired!

Saturday was crazy because we had a service appointment and we had a member with us and they didn't answer the door so the member said lets get something to eat and we said sure and we will teach you a lesson, well we sat there eating and outside the window and old lady accidentally rammed her car into the bumper of a truck in front of her and we were the first ones to run out there and help her-called the cops and the guy was in the restaurant with us and he was nice about everything. Anyway we thought it was inspired to talk to this old lady but she dodged us and we turned to the guy with his daughter that owned the truck and knew we needed to find out where he lives and teach him! It was an inspired meal!

 

Last story of the week (haha crazy week)-Saturday night we had time to kill so we went a certain neighborhood and we made it a goal to do a caroling door approach and we went over this weird part of the neighborhood over some train tracks and up a tall hill and we almost turned around when we kept going to see if there was a house-There was! we prayed and knocked on the door- he welcomed us right in! We came in and this older couple let us sing 'Hark the Herald angels sing' and we prayed with them and made an appointment to go back tonight! :) we are excited because we both knew that we needed to teach them and they were so sweet :)

 

Anyway that's all for now folks! Keep on truck-in'! :)

-Love,

Sister Jones

***Questions for our Missionary***

Dad's been sick??? :( Tell him I will send him a hug and kisses to get better soon! Wow! grandpa getting his knee replaced in the hospital!?!? :( I will pray fervently- And we don't really have a Christmas (snow) looking area here either! I cant believe that your dad's family is all around this area! If there ever were some people I need to convert, its our family! :Tell Sydney she is blossoming! I am just so proud of all that she is doing! 

 

What are the top 3 things you wish you had/that you miss having?

I miss knowing what is going on with the world and I do really miss sleeping in, exercising is doing me really good but I just wish I didn't have to get up so early! My companion is a trooper!

Do you still plan on having a baptism on Dec 13th?  (We are so excited for you!!!!)

YES! Carolyn Fagin is her name and the entire branch and also her family is super looking forward to it!

 

Did you ever talk to that lady again that you gave your Liahona necklace to?

Oh yes she is a new convert of our branch-I felt impressed to give it to her and she told me that she is going to find a REAL gold chain to put it on because she is allergic to the fake stuff.

We heard from the mission office that transfers are coming up, do you (or your companion) know if you'll be transferred?

NOT TRANSFERRED! :) I was so happy-I love it here and we are now the ONLY sisters in our district :/ kinda weird but will be fun!

 

Since it is so humid/air is more moist all the time, do you even need lotion?  How has it affected your hair, if it all?

You don't feel it except on a few fluctuation days when it rises to a chilly 50 degrees and it actually feels nice. My skin is fine with it except sometimes my face breaks out especially with makeup on- but we don't feel it get any colder except on really windy days.

 

What are the top 3 things you've learned to love about your mission so far? (could be spiritual, or it could be about the area/people)

I love personal study, I love teaching people and watching their countenance and decisions change and I love the food here! They are so creative with the food here Ha, Ha- but I like the people as well!

 

-sisterjones ;)

Real Mashed Potatoes

Hey family and friends! This will be short but sweet!

Thanksgiving was so fun! We took all sorts of pictures with the fun turkey day package (thanks to mom and Syd) that was sent to us! Whoo-Hoo! We say thank you! Also we had dinner at two separate houses but most of the day we goofed off and it snowed on thanksgiving! It was kinda fun!

We had tons of meetings this week so we traveled a ton and Sister Clark and I decided we would make ties for the Elders in our districts and ask everyone to take a district Christmas photos! Haha and the ties had bells and ornaments on them and it turned out so great!

We had a trainer/trainee meeting this week in New Albony, Kentucky-a.k.a. (Indiana state border) and we learned so much from it however Sister Clark and I had to drive 3 1/2 hours there and 3 1/2 hours back for this meeting! we are the farthest area from our mission! It crazy!

 

One of our instigators is getting ready for Baptism! I have talked about her before but she is this 72 year old lady named Carolynn Fagin and she has been smoking since she was 16 and she has diabetes! She is the most Faith-Installed person I have ever met, after the last month of knowing her she has already read to Mormon in the Book Of Mormon! Holy tomato we were so excited! She is preparing for baptism of December 13th and she is literally itching to be baptized! I just love her and her example so much! :)

   Yesterday we went to a member's grandma's house out in a small town 15 minutes away and she made REAL MASHED POTATOES!(We had Mashed Potatoes with chicken noodle soup on top!) whooo! You just get fakies here and it is so irritating but the Grandma that served us reminded me of what Grandma Grace's house might have been like-and I felt so much at home! I just wanted to stay there forever!

   Here is something I have learned out here-Don't Be Prideful! This morning I read in Alma 38:2-15 and it talks about Shiblon and the His advice for His son. He makes it clear that if we are humble and do not boast of ourselves that we can teach with clarity and with power from Heavenly Father. I know that this is true and that this Gospel is the pure definition on why we must be humble. Our Savior Jesus Christ only asks that of us so that he might turn us into that person that he wants us to become. Repentance means to change our will and action over to God. I know that I am repenting every day and only hope that I can inspire others to do the same.

Lastly, I got pink-eye :/ we got medicine today and it should be better next week!

Anyway friends and Fam. I love you all and have a great week!

***Questions for Katelyn***

Have you run into any RLDS people in your area?

Haha no but we just run into anti's a few times, its not too bad but all people tell us is they have a religion and are good where they are at!

Where in New Hampshire is your companion from? Is she the oldest child in her family too?  Tell us some more about her please.

Sister Clark is from Keene New Hampshire and she is the third youngest child out of like six kids-she loves to swim and run- her family currently lives in Orem UT-she has been to China and Peru- She is super smart and has about 5 months left on her mission

Did you see anything going on with the whole Ferguson Missouri verdict?

nope. we heard something about someone was shot in Missouri of something but that was it

Have you tried your Yoga mat yet? 

yes every morning! :)

Do you have more "stuff" than your companion?  (Daddy just laughed at your companion giving you the other room to put all of your stuff in!)

yes by far I do! but Sister Clark is a fairly simple person in every way so she just doesn't feel like she needs a whole lot!

Who did you get that letter from, that you mentioned last week?  You never said the person's name - we'd like to help figure it out.

I think it was Hidee's parents?! IDK I just have never met them before but I was grateful that they thought of me.

Wet Weather in GKLM

Hey friends and family! 

I am so excited to report the week that my companion and I have had! We started out the week with an exchange in Mt. Vernon Indiana(I honestly don't know where its at) and I was with a Sister Sperry! She taught be very valuable things and I definitely have changed a tremendous amount in my teaching and confidence!

   Last week I mentioned a woman named Carolyn and she is so sweet! She unfortunately picked up the cigarette again after two weeks of cold turkey-we were disappointed but we realized she is so ready for baptism and the addiction to smoking is the ONLY thing standing in her way. WE love her so so much and we know she will be baptized this month!

   Its raining here! We went from snow to rain in the short blink of an eye! Its so crazy! Last night we went to visit people we have been teaching and did a little bit of contacting and here there are huge tall trees and beautiful Victorian houses and the sky is gray and when it rains here, its silent. There isn't any lightning here and even though it rains like crazy and then floods a bit - its like a purifying night....Anyway before I get too mushy! We have been led to so many people by the spirit this week! We felt prompted to visit this one home of Angie and Robby-we asked to be guided to those in our path and we ended up meeting a woman named Marsha. Marsha is around 53 and she was walking her two dogs and we talked to her about her life and she has MS and takes care of her husband and son and it an amazing Christian lady. She told us she could feel the love coming from us and said for us to keep going and talk to everyone that is in our paths. Even though she didn't except us to come back she was a huge example of what it means to be lead to those and plant a seed. I encourage everyone to just TALK WITH PEOPLE. we have a light of Christ in us and others need that. whether we believe it or not we must act on what we believe . Its so vital!

   We went over for one of our thanksgiving dinners this last Saturday-Fonda Sasakado made us a feast! It was so wonderful and her husband who was one of the highest Japanese commanders told us some interesting stories! They are so awesome!

We got Shania's package on Saturday! it was the wonderful P-day package! She clearly meant to make a point that everything starts with 'P' in the package, but Shania and my family knows that I don't get things that quick and it wasn't until I read her letter that I realized that there was: purple nail polish, pink slippers, pop tarts, pancake mix, peppermints, and other P-stuff! thanks Shania!;)

   This last week I got a letter from someone I am not sure that I know-The letter talked about their family and friends and what they had done this last few months and I didn't recognize any of the names but finally at the end of the letter there was a spiritual experience and it was directed towards me. I need a picture of this person because I have absolutely no idea who it is! Oh well its great to get letter from everyone! It is the highlight of my week!

I love you all and keep believing and praying to Heavenly Father, He wants the best for you all and only asks that you confide and turn to Him!

Love Always,

Sister Jones!

Here and some picture and of less active members and investigators and other fun and silly pictures! :)

***Some Questions for Sister Jones***

Are you using your plaid coat?  Sister Hawes said you could use a better coat.  We haven't seen that one in any of your pictures, are you warm enough?

-Not yet. The snow all melted away and the worst of any winter here wont happen until January, February and march so I am going to hold onto it for a while. I have been using a coat that was left behind but I probably not going to use it anymore because it takes in sooo many smells and the inner lining is unraveling, But I am making do with it all.

Did you buy a new hair dryer, or do I need to get one for you?

NOpe I got on! Whoo! It is such a huge difference!

Are you doing more door to door, knocking, to meet investigators?  Or is it by appointment etc.

It is called contacting-so we may meet people throughout the week and then set appointments with them and with less-active members and members. However-we had zone conference this last week and president Brough came and told us its not called "contacting" anymore its called "talking to people"; it makes sense when he has explained the difference but its weird when we say "Oh lets go do more talking to people today!" haha kinda silly!

Did you get tons of snow this last week?  How is the weather?

No. Its all melted and now its miserable and rainy. But we got to walk around in thick rain last night before heading in for curferw and it is so pretty around here whne it rains!

Do you have other callings in the branch at church besides being just a missionary?  I imagine you guys probably get called on and used quite a bit for helping in all kinds of things.

NOPE! we are so small that basically we go to class with investigators that decide to come to church every single Sunday! Its awesome! and because they are so small here The members are used for practically everything and we use them for member-present lessons more than they have used us. WE are definitely serving this branch!

Are there any elders serving in the area?

No. It is just us and two weeks ago when we were at zone meeting they pointed sister clark and I out for being the only missionaries in our area and how vital it is for us to do it right and how we are all alone.. WE got the jist of it and felt the pressure but I am personally okay with it. I just wish the branch was bigger.

How was your 2 day cross training in Indiana?  Did you learn a lot from a different companion?

It was great! I REALLY needed it! It changed my perspective of my mission and my companion! My trainer for the exchange is a total sweetheart!

Are you always home for dinner at a specific time?  Since your not eating in peoples homes, do you have to eat your dinner at home at 5 pm?

We are eating at all random times at night and we are being fed by members at a fair amount. It all really just depends.

Do you know your neighbors right next to you?  I hope they are watching out for two very pretty sweet girls.

No we don't. they are weird and creepy-just about like everyone around here. You get used to it after a while.

How many bedrooms does your house have?  It looks about the same size as our house, haha.

it has 2! We share one for our beds and then sister Clark willingly gave me the other room-I was grateful because I have so much crap-ha-ha I am surer dad will be happy to hear that! ;)

farewell pics (a bit of a delay :)

On a Cold & 'Breezy' October Sunday, we held Katelyn's farewell.

 Hence the tables and chairs all over the house - it just wasn't going to happen outside.

 Kentucky State map.  Now being kept for Sister Jones on the wall as a reminder.

 Mini cupcakes and a beautiful cake Sydney decorated for us.

 Each topper said 'Goodbye' in various languages - so much fun!

 Created and proudly posted - our Kizzer and the Book of Mormon.

 Sounds a little strange, but a Baked Potato Bar is an awesome party feast.

 Notes for Sister Jones' to open when times get lonely and tough.

 We made real Kentucky Mint Juleps (minus the alcohol of course)

 I can't believe all these tables fit in our living room.  Crowded and cozy.

 Just before the farewell, a last Jones family pic with cousins and all.  We love Kizzer!

It must casual Pday

 Sister Jones sent a copy of the local paper - they made the news!

Hello family and friends!!

This week went by too quick! it honestly has been a harder week because people have cancelled on us left and right! and I was feeling so discouraged because other peoples' agency was bugging my agency! ;) ha-ha so I have kept a few prayers in my heart and forgot myself and got to work!

    So Sister Clark and I decided Saturday to knock on a door and we asked the woman who answered the door if she would pray with us and if we could pray on her behalf for anything she was going through. She had a few drunk friends in the house and left door open while we were praying. One person inside cusses super loud while Sister Clark was praying and the woman (Her name is Angie) says "I'm so sorry" in the middle of the prayer. Sister Clark said "It's alright" and kept praying ha-ha. We set a time to come back and meet her and walked away awkwardly! Well we went back last night to meet her again. We knocked on the door and Sister Clark steps on something and shrieks! I look and see a Possum laying on its side breathing weakly right by my feet! I turned around and saw sister Clark already off the porch and in the yard! HAHA I jumped right off too once the possum twitched! Angie opens the door and we just point at it telling her its there and to be careful. Her boyfriend comes out too and scares it away. The first thing he says to us it "Do I know you?" ironically to me he looked familiar and when we got closer he looks exactly like my best friend TANNER! It was freaking but they invited us in. We all talked and her boyfriend asked us what we believe. we introduced the Book Of Mormon and he said "Is there a copy I can have" We freaked and he said "well you go get it out of your car, I want to read it" !   we kept talking with them and they agreed to read to Book Of Mormon and call us to come back when they have questions!

After we saw them we visited this amazing woman named Renee Sherer-who is a recent convert and hasn't smoked in the last year of her conversion (after fourty years of smoking!). Anyway we were talking to her and just visiting with her and I started playing with my Liahona necklace. And right then and there I felt the prompting to have to give it to her. In my head I said "Wait... NO! Why would I do that?" and for the entire hour I barely listened to them talk as I wrestled with myself and finally I felt the desire to want to give it to her and that she would need it more than I would. I gave it to her and she said "Oh my goodness!-Yunno I was looking at crosses this last week wanting something to show my faith but they didn't feel right and now this?" She hugged me profusely and then kissed me on the cheek when I explained that it was the Liahona! Haha I walked away from that realizing that no matter what the prompting is "JUST DO IT" That it will have sucha great effect on someone even though you will never know the reason for that prompting or how it will help someone.

    We went one Thursday to a referral from one of our investigators. WE asked this woman that answered the door if we could say a prayer with her-she agreed. we asked her what we could pray for and she said a lot of family members have died recently. I prayed for comfort t ofr her and for a peace and safety to be in her home and for her to know that her family is still here and they are watching over her. Once we were done praying she hugged both us with tears streaming down her face. We never truly know who we impact if we are following the spirit!

       Lastly we have been teaching this guy Stephan. and we met him my first night her in Olney. and he doesn't do anything at all with his life, but he has us come over to teach him. Every time we ask him a question his answer is always "I don't know"; and it has been frustrating! Then We felt prompted during our companionship study to talk about prayer with him-this because he will do everything we ask him to do except PRAY(which is so important). The feeling in the room changed when we asked him about his hardest experience and encouraged him to pray. He didn't commit to it or anything but we know that he is making progress. I learned that through this I need to remember that everyone learns at a separate pace and that Stephan and everyone else are still God's children. WE can't give up even when we feel things are not going the way we want them to. I love Olney. It truly has become a home away from home.

   I love you all! Be Safe and stay warm!

 I got doused with mud when backing the car! Sister Clark felt so bad!

What I wear when I am cold and its a lazy P-day!

***We asked Katelyn some Very Important questions, which we were dying to know the answers to:

Do you Have a meal every Sunday, or every week night with the members of the church?

--Not really but they have thing here called "Linger Longer"? because there is a far distance between members and many of them travel so far to come to church every Sunday we have this linger longer and everyone brings food and we had a FEAST yesterday! It was great because there were some foods and casseroles I have NEVER heard of before! also every Thursday a branch mission leader has a dinner for all members and investigators/Less active members at their home! :)

Are you fixing your own lunch?

sometimes! It depends on what we are doing and most of the time lunch is the only consistant one we fix. So we just eat simple things!

Do you feel like your in a safe area of town?

yes. and a little bit no. There are parts of this town that I wouldn'y walk in. But luckily we have a car. My companion is never far away. ever! We enter homes of smokers and drinkers and most of them are just sad soles. There has only been two homes I had concerns entering but the Lord will alert us when something isn't right! :)

How did you hear about needing a bike for your mission?  How soon, with winter coming on, we are thinking you shouldn't need this until after this season.  (I think we will have you get one locally - like from walmart - they will build it etc- rather than send mine.  Let us know.)

Not until after this winter season which may not happen until the end of march(if I don't get transferred by then) and yes there is a place where I can buy a bike and everyone tells us NOT to buy any from walmart because they don't hold up. It will be a waiting game with that because my companion may just sell me hers since she leaves in less than four months to go home.

Are you going to be somewhere specific for Thanksgiving dinner?

yes. I don't want to go to their house but I just have to be positive - they are not a clean home.....we love them though!

Are you staying warm? Do you have enough warm underthings?

yes I am. Maybe for Christmas when it gets worse I may want the long arm and leg garments! just for another layer of warmth!

Do you have enough stamps etc?

I would like more. but they have them here at the post office.

Is the Wal-Mart close enough to you?  Would it help to send a Wal-Mart gift card for purchases?  Or do you go to CVS or Walgreens?  I want to help if I know what to do or what to tell people when they ask.

We have CVS, Wal-Mart, KFC, McDonalds, Taco Bell, and other small town establishments. Haha any gift cards for their would be great!! ;)

Sister Indiana Jones

This week went by so fast!

Where to begin?....we have had tons of cool things happen this week and a lot of silly moments. Every Sunday the Elders from Vinnesence (they are in our district) call us and they sing us a song after getting our numbers for the week. Haha and their mom shipped out a Ukulele and she sends lyrics and notes from new songs like "Sweater Weather" etc.... I don't think they are supposed to be playing them but any it was funny because they sang "rude" and went in their shower to sing it over the phone. Sister Clark immediately got her camera out and video taped it! I was laughing so hard! and then they were like "Sister Jones its your turn!" and I rolled my eyes and said do I have to sing in the shower and they replied with a "YES" ha-ha I sang until I forgot the words and then embarrassingly hung up. Haha our district is so funny!

On Saturday we went over to Fonda and Toshii Sasakado's home for dinner and a lesson and they are the funniest little couple!@ Fonda is a white, American female (she is a Recent Convert) and Toshii is Japanese! They are in their late fifties but are the funniest couple ever! Every time we enter Toshii's home he asks us respectfully to remove our shoes and walk in. He also can't remember names very well so uses terms or famous names to call us until he remembers them-he calls me Indiana Jones :) I was kind of excited about that!-And then he calls my companion Lewis and Clark. and He tells us every time we see him that Jones and Clark are boy names and it doesn't make any sense because we are girls!

We received a referral last week from a new convert mother in our branch and the woman she referred us to is a black woman named Tamika. Well she has such a crazy work and school schedule that we haven't been able to see her. However, we have been meeting with her younger sister named Tara and she is one of the most humbled and hard-working woman I have ever met. She has a lot of sass and takes care of her two sisters' kids while the others are going to school and working. And she had an extremely hard life: She grew up in Chicago and her family has been homeless quite a few times. Her older sister Tamika had Christian and Travis when she was 16 and since Tara was thirteen she has been kind enough to literally take care of Christian and Travis while Tamika has been working and getting an education. We taught her the first lesson while kids were playing with toys and she was so receptive and kind that she liked us to come back and teach her more.

Last night we met with the Hubble family. and Sister Clark and the Sister before me had been teaching them before I got there and we taught them this time with their mom about the Plan of Salvation. The little boy named Mitch who is only seven really wants to be baptized went and whispered to his mom a question. She turned to us and said "He wants to know if my grandpa is in the spirit world right now?" His oldest sister started crying profusely and so did Mitch and we answered them honestly and said "yes". They cried for the knowledge that he is still alive in spirit and that they will see him again. I teared up real bad but felt the spirit so strong because of how they were joyful to know where we go after we die. Their mom said they would like to go to church and be baptized and unfortunately Mitch has to wait until February because be turns 8 then. However, I know that this gospel will give so many people the answers they have been looking for. I know Heavenly Father loves each and every one of us so much that He created a perfect plan to live with Him again. :) Well I could write more to you all but these are the things that matter! I love you all and keep on truckin'!-Love, Sister (Indiana) Jones

Finally in Kentucky (Illinois)

Hey family and friends!!!

My first area is Olney, Illinois! It is a small po-dunk town in the south eastern corner of Illinois! It was kind of a bummer to leave Kentucky because it is so beautiful there! It was exactly like the pictures! However here in Olney ( which is pronounced 'All-knee') it is filled with a lot of cat people, chain smokers, five billion different churches, evil spiders that bite you(but you never run into them), only taco bell and McDonalds, we are lucky enough to have a Wal-Mart, and White Squirrels! and they are like prized possessions and are under protection here!

Anyway we flew into Kentucky and stayed the night at the mission home and had a great chance to interview with the mission president and he decided from that interview who I would be companions with and where I will go! President Brough (Bruff) said I would be with Sister Clark from New Hampshire and I would be here in Illinois! After transfer meeting we all drove to our first area and we drove for three hours to get to where we could be at! Right when we got into a small town that is in our branch named Grayville we visited a man and a woman named Phillip and Carol. He is letting her stay with him (he is super kind) and she has some sort of mental disability (we are not sure which one and we are thinking its schizophrenia!) and we asked them to read to Book Of Mormon! Sister Clark sure knows how to just plop me right into missionary work right off that bat!

Then when we got to our home (not apartment! :D) we put my stuff down and went back outside to go visit more people. Just as we were about to head home around 8 pm we prayed to know which direction we should go in and we were confirmed to go talk to people but then Sister Clark felt that we needed to knock on a certain door and so we did they immediately let us in! And it was one of the coolest experiences ever because they have been prepared so much to hear from us and now (MOM that is who you received the picture from ) and agreed after the first lesson to be baptized on December 20th! WE still have a long ways to go but we were able to get the daughter, Kyla, to come to church and another girl, Sam, to come and a man named Charlie that came too. But there is only one young woman in the entire branch (Only about 45 people in this branch -not a ward) and for them to see two 13 year old girls was such a blessing for this branch and Kyla ended up seeing one of her cousins that go to this branch so she had connections! Plus Kyla and Sam know each other! YAY! :)

I haven't eaten anything weird yet but I am wondering when squirrel will be on the menu because there are some deep-rooted hillbillies in this town!

Anyway the most important thing is that I know I am meant to be here. I can easily visualize the people that can spark a chain reaction for this branch. I love this branch and practically everyone one in it is a convert of about 50 years or less. There two men ages 19 & 22 who as Sister Clark would say " are on their convert honeymoon" because they are so on fire and are so excited about being converted and believe with all of their hearts that they know this Gospel is so true! I want to bring so many people into the gospel and proclaim the truth but Sister Clark is so good at holding the reins and helping me step back and looking at the whole picture. Unfortunately people have their agency so we have a lot of people say to us that they already have a religion. We know that we just want them to listen to what we have to say and we will be on our merry way. Its SO HARD. BUT SO REWARDING! I can't explain it without getting too excited about it! We met a guy while contacting yesterday and he is apart of this weird named church and is a well groomed and straight forward father and is preparing to be a preacher while their main preacher becomes a missionary for their church and the spirit told me all day to bear my testimony-I just didn't know who for and at that moment I knew. I bore my testimony that the Book Of Mormon was true and we explained the purpose and meaning behind it and as we talked you could tell he felt the spirit and he accepted the BOM and we walked away. just like that! I knew right then and there that it would be a changing experience for him and his family and I knew at that moment that someday they would be apart of the Church! :')

Last story I promise!!: Sister Clark and the Sister before me taught this guy named Jeff who is an attorney here in Olney. They made a promise before to trick me into thinking he was Scottish! :/ It worked. He showed up trick-or-treating to our house with a clown-nose on (super awkward-yet really funny) and portraying the best Scottish accent I have ever hear and I knew he was Scottish. Well... we went to a lesson with Brother and Sister Vastbinder and he said to Sister Clark in his Scottish accent "I think we better tell her" She nodded and he talked in a regular voice, to me his story and I turned bright-red and started laughing! He is probably one of the funniest guys I have ever met! and he is studying the B.O.M so hard that he almost is like that scripture in Alma that talks about taking in too much knowledge of the world that it makes you look like a fool-or that your foolish. I am paraphrasing super badly but he is normally a Methodist preacher and so he really fights us to know why the Book Of Mormon says something.

Anyway that's all for now! I love you all and hope that you all are doing well!

Here are some pictures: Of our mission presidents, my new home, a sign from another church across from our house that I totally agree with!, us on the plane, the first KFC restaurant in Kentucky that we saw and a picture of the freeway! and also Sister Clark and I with some cat head bands that her friend sent us for Halloween! :) 

My Mailing Address is:

Sister Jones

804 E. Elm St.

Olney, IL 62450

Temple Day

Her Companion (?) Sister Resendez

 We are almost done with the MTC and it has been a long 9 days! 

This week since I sprained my foot I had the opportunity to go to the MTC doctor and he said that it was a really bruised bone and that I can walk on it from now on and take a lot of Ibuprofen and not worry about too much other than that! So I shouldn't have been worried at all! My district has been so great about making sure that I got what I needed when I was put in a wheelchair! I was so grateful for their kindness and generosity to help me out! Yesterday we went to In-field orientation from8am-5pm and it was crazy how much information we got out of it! But we were told a story at the end by our host and he said he went on a mission to Argentina (SHANIA) and said that right when he got to the field that they went to pray in this grove to basically tell the Lord that they were grateful to be there and tell him that they were ready to do his work. They immediately felt his approval and went on their way. two weeks later they were in sacrament meeting and they heard a knock on the door and a small man asked what the church was all about. He stayed for sacrament, Sunday school and priesthood meeting! They gave him a tour of the building and asked if they could come over and teach him and he said"Sure let me gather my family and friends and we will be ready to hear about it on Wednesday!" So they went over and his home was filled with the man's entire family, friends and neighbors! and they told them as much as they could! our host said he could feel others spirits and family personages in the room and the conversation went so well! They asked the man and his family if they would be baptized! They AGREED! but our host then later had to be transferred:( But out host found out that when they prayed in the grove that day, in the park nearby the man that had knocked on their chapel door was the same man who was cleaning up the park right next to the grove they prayed in and the man was told to walk over to their church building and ask about the Gospel! Crazy!

Today we decided to get some laundry done and we used up all of my detergent because all of it seeped through the bag! I was mad about that but hey less poundage in my luggage I guess! 

Last night we taught our new progressive investigator and we taught her about God last week because she is Buddhist and last night we taught her about the plan of salvation and it was the most amazing moments of my life! I couldn't believe how much the words just fell out of my mouth and came out as though I were God's personal puppet! We walked out of there inviting her to read the part of the Book Of Mormon where Christ visits the Americas and she accepted! She said everything we had said was "So Powerful" -BTW we have no idea whether these investigators are LDS, Non-Member or indifferent! So It went amazing and we follow up with her tomorrow morning!

I have learned so much in here and the one thing that never, ever crossed my mind was that Christ Lives. We were struggling with what we wanted to teach one of our investigators and a side-helping-teacher came over and asked us what was wrong- we explained and he stopped us and had us read Moroni 10:3-7, not 3-5. And at the end of that it proclaims the reason for our gospel and Brother Anderson didn't say it exactly but I felt that Christ Lives and that that is what I need to be testifying!