New Companion & New Tags

**Questions for our Missionary**
*Are you staying healthy and warm? 
We are feeling a little more chilly than last week. I think I will be okay- I may just go buy some vitamins or something! and man that sounds so nasty-Elk meat? did you buy it or did NHS? Maybe it was cheaper? ha ha oh well :) and Sydney is just blossoming- I think if you were to tell me maybe two years ago that she would make this much progress, I wouldn't really believe it! But her heart is humbled and I am pretty sure that her high school outlook and college outlook has changed now that she knows there is a higher purpose and design that everyone else! Cumorah put in her papers???! wow I haven't talked to her in years-I doubt she remembers me ha ha but I she will be a wonderful missionary (I bet she will go foreign!)

*Tell us about Sister Hinton, where is she from?  What she likes to do?  Favorite snacks/candy bar?  Color?

Sister Hinton is from Kaysville, Utah and she likes to Dance and she likes healthy food- and has way too much energy ha ha (ADHD)! I think she likes the color yellow, I am not sure but I think that is her favorite.

*What is the most interesting thing you saw someone do this week?

Haha um well we went by a really bad home this week for one of our investigators and their entire family live in this home and one of our investigators sisters was sitting on the couch nursing her baby with just a bra and sweatpants! Also she was nursing her baby in front of her parents! NO its so gross and it was so awkward that I just looked the other direction! (So that was a bad interesting thing that happened...)

*What is your favorite thing you do on Sunday's?

Church! I just absolutely love the idea of just being able to sit there and not have to teach or preach- I can kinda space for a little while ha ha and if I am not hungry to eat, I use my lunch hour and take a cat nap.

*How is your family for baptism doing -still ready for February?

They are doing...AMAZING! :) we went and did an object lesson this week about baptism for their daughter Alexis to understand and I asked Nikki and Phil What? Why? and How? baptism goes and Phil was like well I could baptize you Alexis and my heart just sprung out of my chest and we were  so excited! :)

*Who/what is the greatest example of being Christian that you saw recently?  Give us the background story.

Definitely Sister Godby-She is a less active woman that we visit and basically she just is lazy and doesn't come to church but we see her all the time and every time we do she has someone over to her home and she is talking with them and just gives them the biggest amounts of love and tries so hard to help those around her and always others her food to people and she is just awesome! I do aspire to have her love for the gospel and others :)

 

 

Okay here is something I desire but you don't have to send me if it is not in the cards! : I really want a new Normal sized set of scriptures! I would still keep my old ones and what not but I want a new nice set that I can use for the rest of my mission and study with specific colors and notes nad really organize my thoughts in them; because I have had mine for so long that I just am frustrated when I try to look for a scripture to read to our investigators and they are either so worn out and marked form all the information that I found or there is a few ripped pages because of a kid that looked at them and accidently ripped them and uhh... I just really want nice new ones that I can take better care of- I mean I did before but I have been marking them since I was in 8th grade and they probably wont last the rest of my mission.

 

Ha ha anyway enough of that venting. I love you mom and I see so many people everyday that either don't have very good moms or there are moms that remind me of you- I have told Sister Clark and Sister Hinton all about our family and the miracles that we have been through. I just am in awe that we are all in the position that we are in today.

I love you more!

-Sister Jones

Its a bright new week and a bright and new companion! Her name is Sister Hinton and she is from Kaysville Utah! and she is totally different from the Sister missionary companion I thought I would get! but She already contributes so much to our companionship!

this last week was crazy busy- we are teaching a man named Chris and his nephew names kaden and we walked in for the lesson and kaden went to his room and changed into a nice shirt and tie just for our lesson! I make a face at him all the time and he always says to me "Hey Sister Jones remember this?" than he makes the face and we both laugh because he barely even can do it! But Kaden and Chris are both almost halfway through first nephi! :) We are so proud of them!

    Yesterday at church we had 71 people show up for church and in Branch council we talked about our goal for this year and we want atleast 80-85 people at church every Sunday! and we were blown away but inspired about how much work we can do!

     On Tuesday night Clark beforehand the transfer, had the idea to have a lesson/conversation with Sister Hawes and Nikki and Phil Ray about smoking! I kid you not they completely said everything that needed to be said for Nikki- She is going to stop smoking at the beginning of febuary and then be cold turkey until baptism and be completely done! Pray for her because she is doing amazing all she needs is more help from Heavenly Father!

   Funny Story the other day: Sister Hinton is a very fun person and we noticed the other day that there was a voicemail that was left of our phone and it happened to be the Vincennes Elders in our District and Elder Kaige is singing a song and so we decided to top that and send them one and then called Saturday during our dinner hour trying to get his companion Elder Larson to sing because Kaige says he can sing but Larson is super shy and then a couple hours later we get a voicemail from Larson and he is singing! Sister Hinton and I were so excited and also it was awkward so we bust out laughing but he we tell him we got evidence that he can sing and that we are making cake for them for this next district meeting!

The most amazing spiritual experience this week: We called Fond and Toshiie (he is back from Japan) to set up a lesson. we felt that it was important to tell her that we wanted to teach him about the word of wisdom and since she was a recent convert and so we asked her to prepare a testimony of how she has seen the blessings from obeying the Word Of Wisdom; she said :"No"! I was kinda confused when I asked her that and she said that "The word of wisdom is the only rule that she abides that that she think the church went wrong on, she still follows it"..... It was awkward so I explained that sometimes we don't understand why we have certain commandments but that God may be testing out agency and how willing we are to follow His commandments. She huffed a little bit and we both politely hung up the phone. Later she calls back and says "Toshiie will give up coffee!" she said it as though she was astonished- I told her that she needed to express more faith in her husband and that he truly is having a change of heart! Then yesterday at church brother Dunahee mentions that Toshiie was asking questions in priesthood meeting and says that "Christianity is simple, isn't it?" and they all said yes. Toshiie is abundantly changing and we know that he truly wants to be baptized but he is telling us his concerns and worries more than he is expressing his knowledge and excitement! The Lord truly loves all of us and when we are submissive to the things that he commands us he blesses us with whatever we stand in need. I know that Heavenly Father is mindful of everyone and will answer out prayers whether we say them out loud, in Japanese or in our hearts. They are answered. I love you all and keep living the Gospel Joyfully (Dieter F. Uchtdorf).!

-Love always, Sister Jonesa

I love the video! I couldn't help but laugh loud here in the library! I am just glad to hear that everything is going good there at home I am missing home but I am trying to be focused and not stressed out. and you and Syd are so awesome! I am so glad that you both are losing weight and feeling so much better about yourself! I feel like mine is fluctuating between gaining muscle and gaining a little bit of weight!

*When are transfers?  Do you think you will get transferred before Sister Clark has to go home?*

We just got the call and I am getting a new companion tomorrow! :( Her name is Sister Hinton and we already know because she is already in our zone and its called an in-zone transfer so we will drop Sister Clark off in Evansville and pick up Sister Hinton and go back and then I lead out the Area! :S and I am freaking out because I am not sure how to do it! but I have to apply 1 Nephi 3:7 into everything because without Heavenly Father I will fail.

*Is Sister Clark coming up to BYUI when she is done with her mission? - That would be awesome to meet her- have her over for dinner*  (BTW: Sister Gray went home this week.  I don't know if you remember her - but she was from Arizona, I didn't even realize she was done!  Her replacement is from New Zealand.)

She most likely wont because she wants to be closer to family down in Utah but she isn't sure yet. But I told her I would give her your address and if she wanted to visit you all that would be fine!

**What are you doing for you #100 Day out on your mission Celebration?  (we will celebrate by putting another sticker on your countdown chart:

Oh a hundred days? hmmm... I don't know probably proselyte or something-not much to do in Olney! haha but I will find something goofy to do!

I got a bike! Our branch mission leader was kind enough to give me his that he has had stored away for 5 years and so I will just have to clean it up and find a helmet and a U lock and hopefully when the weather gets even warmer we can save miles and bike around Olney.

The Ray family is getting so close mom! we probably will have four of them getting baptized on Feb 28th and I am excited because they want to be sealed as a family a year from their bap date and that means I can go back to see them get sealed! I haven't been in the temple in so long and I miss it  a lot ! and you and I will definitely go to the temple and get those 400 names done when I get back! And something interesting as Sister Clark and I have studied about when judgment happens it wont be a judgment based on our actions weaher they out-weigh one another but how righteous our hearts were. Whatever we do on this earth if it was in the direction of serving our God and we earnestly desire to follow Him and His commandments and thereby receive the Ordinances of the Gospel-then we are promised Everlasting life with our Heavenly Parents, Jesus Christ and families. I just am growing more and more each day and even though I get down and its hard to notice sometimes I have to remember the ending outlook on things and that I have done things that matter in the eyes of God. I love you all and pray that you will get school over, with the determination of enduring to the end!

Thank you for being a wonderful mom, I miss you!

-Sister Jones.

Transfers verdict is!!!! I stay and Sister Clark leaves! :( I cant tell you all how much I will miss her! Things she has taught me?: Be genuine. Have common sense. Rely on the Lord. Be clean.

Sister Clark says how there is so much that we have both learned form each other and that it is inspired that the Lord would choose this time to change campanions so that I may not be a clone of everything that she is and can learn other ways to teach and study and preach the gospel! I know she says it however I truly cannot deny that I would love to keep her here and never change companions but we must go on!

This week was good! One of our investigators, His name is Chris, attended church yesterday and it was so cool because the entire Ray family came again and also many people that haven't been at church a couple weeks and holy crow the spirit definitely directed the meetings! Chris and his fiancé broke up- it was sad but we knew right off the bat that it was meant to happen because now he is zooming through the Book of Mormon. We kept talking with him last night and asked him to be baptized and he broke down crying and said "Yes, I will do that". He has been this beacon of light for both Sister Clark and I about how if we desire to be closer to God and we act on that desire that Heavenly FAther will welcome us with open arms and help us to feel the spirit.

   Also yesterday while we were in relief society Nikki Ray (we are teaching) and her 3 month old Daxton is screaming wanting a bottle so I offer to help and she hands me the botlle with water and the formula and asks me to put thre and a half scoops in while the lesson is going on and a lot starts to come out as I use the mentally challenging spoon to scoop it into the bottle and get a lot of our fingers and on her skirt! Her and I bust out laughing! The entire room (when we look up) is staring at us and only a few are truly snickering! We ended up laughing at a bunch of more things as class goes forward!

-Anyway the Ray's are still moving forward and have less than a month and a half left!

That's all for now, I love you all later!

~Sister Jones

The link to Syd's Wisdom teeth out that she was referring to.  If you haven't watched it - you'll laugh out loud!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9oM1xDAYBTY

Katelyn's "new" bike for the road.  The red one.

Questions for our Missionary:

Have you used for new/old wool coat yet?  (we've been watching the weather and it looks like it has been super cold)

/:S haha um. well no. I ended up buying a coat from a nice thrift store here in Olney for $10! its a very nice brand and its long and has a nice specific fabric that doesn't breathe in the winter. I think I am definitely waiting to use the other coat in the middle of February-supposedly the weather will be awful! but I don't believe it yet.

How has your investigator been doing?  The one planning on baptism in February.

The family is doing absolutely amazing! The mom, Nikki, is doing okay but is having trouble with smoking :( we are trying to get to the root of the problem but we are unsure....

How is Bro and Sister Thaxton doing?  Tell them thank you so much for them keeping an eye on you, out there in the wilds of Olney.

They are doing great! we have been going going going lately and I think they are kind of insulted by that because we havnt had the time to see them regularly but I will tell them that!

Have you kept up your visits to your Japanese family?  (I'm sorry, I'm terrible with peoples names).  Let him know we keep that Buddha in our living room next to a picture of you. 

He is back visiting Japan for this next week but we talked with him about baptism-he is not quite understanding everything about it but that is our main focus is his understanding! :)

Do you have any snow?  How are your boots holding up?Nope! just rain rain rain! and they are holding up super well :)

 

That picture you sent last week with your district all in basketball jerseys-- explain that one?  We thought it was all super cute - but where was this at, what meeting was it for?  Looked like fun!

Haha the Elders went to a thrift store down in Evansville and found jerseys for all of us! and then put our last names on the back! they bought them because our Zone is the Evansville zone and they found two white jerseys(for us two sisters) and the exact about of black jerseys for the Elders in our district. 

What is your favorite scripture - at least the one right now?

I really like studying on the "Elect" it doesn't have very many specific scriptures but you all need to look up the definition in the Bible Dictionary because it explains so clearly what happened in the preexistence with our preordains callings and missions nad tells about how we all have opportunites to find the elect or to become elect but it is based on our diligence, integrity and decisions we make! :) I absolutely love it! :)

 

I don't need anything for now! I just might be sending stuff home that may be taking up room-I don't know! we shall see! I love you mom!

^Ha ha!  This makes no sense!

       ​~We have seen so many wonderful things happen this week but mostly we were just really busy with appointments this week! We have acted out the tree of life and we have taught the doughnut lesson of the Atonement and ran around having lessons ready for everyone we have met and have brought so many members with us! I just can't explain how much we have gone crazy with all sorts of lessons we have done! but this last week we were able to bring a 15 year old girl we are teaching to a combined mutual activity where they announced the new mutual theme and then we had a snowball fight! Not really....there is no snow but we used the biggest marshmallows they could find and we divided in teams and we had to get more marshmallows on the other team's side! We were so exhausted that we picked everything up and then played ninja and ate pizza! It was the most youth they have had in the building for ten years! our only active youth was like beaming when he saw how many people showed up! and we were too because now our investigator and her mom are taking the lessons! They are great! You all can look up the video they took and put on Facebook-Mona Hearle for the Young men's and Young women's put up a fun video!

~We went to visit our branch mission leader in the Hospital as well! so after the visit we took a goofy picture and stood there until we got it just right!:)

~last Monday was district Pday! we went and played racket ball with all of our fellow missionaries and also played ultimate Frisbee in the freezing cold! -_- I didn't like it so much because I was way bad at it but Sister Clark really was a BOSS at it and helped our team to win Ha-ha!

  

Cool story: 

The other day we felt like we needed to go see a potential investigator and also to a Less-active member family and at this family we saw we talked with them and the mom, she is in her second marriage for about 10 years now and her currents husband's son from a previous marriage moved in that day that we dropped by. We realized he wasn't a member and directed most of our conversation to him. We told him how life has a way of keeping us bound and how through our Savior we can be made free and find happiness-we noticed his emotion when he heard this (he is only 14) and I felt prompted to ask him if he would be baptized. Ha-ha, so I pointed straight at him because in the middle of this both Sister Clark and I forgot his name (that is SUPER bad on our part) and said "If you found the things we taught to be true and if it made you happy, would you follow the example of Jesus Christ and be Baptized." He looked straight at me and said _"Yes". :D I was so happy because I knew were supposed to be there and now we have an appointment to go back and teach him! Also we gave him a plan of Salvation pamphlet and as he looked at it he sort of smiled :) and we walked out of there know that for a fact Heavenly Father was watching out for this boy.

 I know that through the Atonement of Christ everything that is truly made unfair about this life is made right. Nothing is set in stone when it is our trials. I Love my Savior and I want to obey Him and become as he is and help others become "Elect". I love you all and pray for your safety everyday!

-Sister Jones

Team Evansville

     This week has been such a blur! We were able to enjoy New Year's Eve with the Ray family! They made it a rainbow theme (because of their kiddos) and we ate pizza played games, had a cake decorating contest and also wore crazy colored outfits! Then topped it off with writing our new year's goals on helium balloons and letting them go with sound makers and clappers atmidnight (9PM) and we went home with all sorts of energy. 

 P.S. Brother Ray asked how he and his family can be sealed in the Temple for eternity. Sister Clark and I wanted to cry and we told him that they have to be baptized first and then a year later be endowed and sealed together! :D They have a bap. date for February 28th and Nikki made a goal to quit smoking by Feb. 7th and she has already went from smoking 6 packs/week to 3 packs/week! They are the coolest family ever! I love them and know that they are going to get baptized because they desire it soooo badly! :)

     Last night was an amazing night in the making! Sister Clark felt the need to explain to Toshii the restoration-so she had me draw it all out on a white board and he understood what it meant and then to top it all off we watched the Restoration film in Japanese! Who would have thought that I would go to an American state and find a Japanese man and have to teach him through language barriers?! but even through the video its funny to listen to random Japanese voices and watch American people act. Haha! But all in all the message is still the same and Toshii said at the end of the video- I really understand now (because Toshii wants to know God we think all he wanted to see if he was real and seeing Joseph Smith's experience he believed) and he turned to his wife who is a recent convert and with the most love he said 'Thank you'. I believe that it was a moment that he truly understand all of the things we have been saying to him. And not only that the Lord puts into our paths those that need Him the most and his 55 year old daughter, Kenami,who lives with them, started asking me question while Sister and Fonda(his wife) were preoccupied. I told why we have a god and asked her if she believes God is there even though she hasn't been raised that way. She said 'Yes'. 

     I know that Heavenly Father is mindful of all of His children and that the power from knowing the God loves us softens hearts and strengthens our will to live. Family and friends keep a watch out for those around you. you may not be ordained a missionary but you are a member missionary, and you are expected to share what you know to be true. Please keep an eye out for those that need a hand or who need comfort! I love you all and know that you are all working so hard and living the Gospel righteously.

~QUESTIONS FOR OUR MISSIONARY~

**What did you do on New Years Day?  Was it business as usual?  Any church parties etc.?**

we went to some members and taught lessons and what not-it was definitely business as usual but new years eve was crazy!!! We went to the Ray family's home and they had a new years kid party that they hold for their nieces and nephews while their parents party and get drunk and the Ray's had a rainbow theme and we dressed up and had a crazy silly fun time-we laughed a lot!!! :)

**Do you want/need more of those Christ picture cards to use/pass along?**

yes and will you send some unique ones? we usually decorate our planners and PMG's with them and also pass them out with our number on them so we do pretty much a lot with them! :)

**How is your baptized person (I forgot her name) doing?** 

she moved!!! :( she went to stay with her son in stoy, Illinois and she has to move out of her house basically because she is old. BUT Elder Polson who is my district leader-the one from rigby- is taking care of her because they are assigned right next to Stoy.

**Have people been friendly to you and your companion during this holiday season?** 

Yes and No. People are sneaky and snarky but that's how we all are and I don't care how they treat me because usually it rolls of my shoulders and I know that that is only because I am ordained with the spirit and so I receive comfort continually. I like it a lot :) but all that matters is that I treat them well and they can choose to be nice or not.

**Have you seen a difference in how people act during Christmas - a story you haven't told us as an example would be awesome.**

Actually no. The only difference I have seen is that people were understanding that when we talk about Christ over Christmastime that they see that it makes sense because its Christmas and only at that time is it all about Christ. However, people are very religious around here and some people full heartedly believe in Him and others just praise His name without knowing anything about Him or reading His word. But its some thing that varies.

I really miss you all and time has gone by in a weird fast and slow way! I don't clearly understand how that is possible but I was thinking about syd and when she puts in her papers and I thought what if she was called to this mission??? :) If she was-she would be here this year in December just before Christmas and I could see her for the Annual mission Christmas party! :D and I could see her just before I would leave for home a few months later! I am going to pray fervently for it because I will miss her so much! :)

Anyway, thank you mom for the sacrifices you and daddy are making- I am in awe about how the Lord has given so much just for me to be here and how others have given so much for me to be here. I am eternally grateful because Sister Clark is becoming one of my best friends, she reminds me a lot of Shania and Sydney mixed together. I Love you mom. Hang in there. Keep on trucking :)

-Sister Jones