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 ;)