(mom) Thought this might fit the task you are up to this week:
"Heavenly Father knows all about you—your strengths and your weaknesses. He knows perfectly who you are, but He also knows who you can become. And with that knowledge, He has placed you here, now—at the exact place and time in which you can do the most good with the talents and gifts He has given you."
Craig C Christensen of the Presidency of the Seventy- talk entitled "Becoming Children of Light"
(Katelyn) Awe I love this! I miss you so much mom! I have had a stressful, excited crazy weekend of knowing I am becoming a trainer.
Well, where to start!
There has been so much that we did this week that was memorable but here is the major ones!
On Tuesday we got to go paint nails again at the Arch and just volunteer! I love it there so much! The coolest thing is there was a local Christian band playing while we painted nails. There was this one woman that raised her hands up in the air as they sang and she cried a little bit and some said "Praise the Lord!" and yunnno that fun jazz.
It is interesting how people show their devotion to God. I am not one to shout in the air and say "Praise the LORD" but I believe my devotion to God is in the silent whispers of gratitude to Heavenly Father when he helps me or answers my prayers. As it says in the Book of Mormon to "Pray in your Closets" and not let other people see or hear what you are praying for. But I have seen the "Religious excitement" that Joseph Smith declared he saw before the first vision. I feel like I am definitely in the world but not of it!
But anyway we painted nails and talked and one woman I have been talking to since I got here is named Billie Joe Ault and she is only 38 and has severe progressing M.S. and she isn't like everyone else there where they are turning into vegetables but she is alert and kind and is really a mother figure here for me. I was talking to her and asking her what M.S. feels like and she told me it was very painful and exhausting and she said that she wasn't giving up though, that it was no reason for her to quit or feel sorry for herself.
I told her that is exactly how she should be and I explained that that is what we as missionaries come and teach about-about how Christ already suffered the pain and anguish we go through constantly every day and that it doesn't make it any easier by wallowing in self-pity or hiding from what we fear or what makes us sad. We almost deny the atonement by not relying on Christ and the things he had done for us...Her face got red and she got teary-eyed and she didn't say much after that and we kept talking and she pointed out that one of the Christian band members were cute and I pushed her over (forcefully but playful) to talk to him and we did and found out that he was married and she and I laughed about it afterwards and I told her I probably would be leaving and wanted her address and that I would write her- I told her that I loved her and we went home! Really sad to leave her behind but I was grateful to have met her!
On Thursday we went to District meetings and it was our last one with this district! And holy crow it was sad but we all made the best of it! I thought about it and was like "I am not leaving, I am staying here in Olney and with this district" and then we sang "God Be With You Til' We Meet Again" and I teared up not knowing what transfer calls would bring on Saturday but we all said our goodbyes and went back to our areas.
Evansville District
Okay the coolest experience happened on Friday! We were invited to go to the Temple in Louisville on Friday!!!! :DDD We went and saw Rene Sherer's endowment and it was wonderful! It was a refreshing breathe of air that I needed! As we sat there the Sister Missionary who taught and baptized Rene walked into the room and she started crying and sat right behind Rene and as I watched her I thought I hope that someday I can have that experience with one of my investigators and see them make covenants with Heavenly Father as I have done. I just... I felt so warm from that thought and now that will be my goal in the near future to help someone get to the temple whether it is an investigator or less-active member I want to help someone get there.
Sister Hinton, Rene Sherer, Sister Jones
Sister Jones selfie (a family tradition, trying to get as many temples checked off our list!)
Sister Jones & Rene Sherer
We took pictures and than drove to RED ROBIN! YUM! :) It was sooooo yummy and we all sat there eating and taking pictures and at the end all of the branch members that came all pitched in to pay for all of us four missionaries' bill :') we thanked them profusely for that!
We ended up driving 3 and a half hours home and got back around 1;30 in the morning -__- and we turned off the heat for the day and got home in a freezing home and I assumed that Sister Hinton turned the heat back on and we went to bed expecting it would turn back on. And well, needless to say, we had the worst night sleep ever until it was probably 3:30 a.m. and the thought came in my head to turn on the heat! I got up frustrated and mad. I turned it on and went back to bed! Holy crow! We were so tired but still tried to make the effort to work.
We woke up and biked and ran (I biked on Sister Hinton's bike) to the Thaxton's on Saturday morning, and had breakfast, and kid you not once we were done eating, the mission home called and we put it on speaker and President Brough said "We are going around asking what people ate for breakfast this morning!?" (Yeah right.) and then he said, "Sister Jones Will you take on the responsibility of follow-up training in Richmond, KY?" He talked more and I cried right there in front of the Thaxton's and Sister Hinton. I didn't let President Brough hear it. But I accepted and then hung up and I just sat there overwhelmed. Brother and Sister Thaxton tried to comfort me. I am going to miss the and the members of this branch so much. I think I was given the impression of leaving after this last transfer for a while now- I am grateful I was prepared for it in a way but I dread the idea of leaving. I left my garden of Eden back home in Idaho and felt like I was in the lone and dreary wasteland here in Olney and after 4 months I have made it my garden of Eden. And now I am being kicked out into the lone and dreary wasteland! Holy crow, I am so nervous and sad but I believe I truly did make my mark here and I am glad that I did!
Oh well, I am glad for a fresh start! And yeah, President Brough definitely received revelation from God. And Sister Buikas (the gospel principle's teacher) said that I will be in between the Appalachian mountains and the rolling green hills! :) crazy cool! ;)
So now I am going to go Richmond KY! And it is a bike area! Whoo Hoo! We will see how that is because so far I haven't really ridden a bike yet, until Saturday ha ha... But I am going to be a trainer and I am so excited for the opportunity to do it!
On a side note: As her mom, I was working on Saturday morning, when I got a call from Brother and Sister Thaxton. They were calling to inform me of Katelyn just being asked to be a trainer and transfer to Richmond. They were emotional in losing such a great missionary. Katelyn loves this couple so much! They go home to West Valley, Utah in April - and have been a great asset out there in the wilds of Olney. My plug for senior couples: Go and Do --- You Are Needed!
(Mom Insert) I was able to catch Katelyn online as she was emailing me, and she answered a concern she had had about needing a bike for Richmond, this was her response:
(Katelyn) And yes thank you so much! I was worried once I got the call but here is some good news!!! Sister Taylor Airmet (one of the Sister Training leaders) heard from Sister Hinton that I am going to Richmond and are needing a new bike and she said that I could have hers--however she is short and they were not sure if it would fit me . So I am going to save the money in there just in case it is too small and we have to get a different one and if not I will use the money for a helmet and stuff like that! But I have to get a duffle back because I collected a lot of stuff and they cant really be thrown away and I have to send the winter stuff home when you send the spring stuff :)
I pray that you all are healthy, wealthy (not in material possessions) and wise! I pray for you all everyday and hope that you are following the commandments of Heavenly Father! I love you and go out and serve the Lord in your own lives!
Much love, Sister Jones
*****Questions for our Missionary******
I looked at a map the other and saw that you guys are going to be sooooo CLOSE to me when you all go on your trip! You could easily drive past Richmond! ha ha but don't take that temptation!----I wanted to thank you for all that you as a mom and dad and siblings have done for me as a missionary! You always encourage and uplift me and you make sure to support me An wow! I am so grateful that you all have been true to the rules as a family back home and have kept reminders like that away! It helps so much! Thank you mom for helping me be focused and tell dad thank you for me for his words of wisdom in his letters too. Tell Syd thank you for me for her hard work and example she has shown me. Tell Jaden thank you for me for being the man of the house and sending those fun cards with the minion stickers! I have loved them! :) <3 Anyway, before I get too mushy here are the answers to your questions!
Are you going to get everything packed in those suitcases for your transfer?
Yes actually they are already packed and I am sending things home ha ha.....
(I'm betting some will have to be left behind :)
Is Sister Hinton staying in Olney when you leave? Does that mean she will be a senior companion for whoever she gets? (We got a letter from her on Friday that was super cute. She has really come to love and appreciate you - just as your leaving!)
Yes she is staying in Olney but it depends on whether the Sister that is coming has been out longer-if they have they will be senior companion. I will miss her~!
Do you Need Boots?
Maybe- I am gonna see what there is and if there is anything thicker that I can use!
It was amazing mom! I just was so happy that I could go and for a lot of missionaries they don't get to go very often! That temple is sooo small!
No we go to the church building right next to the mission office and have our transfer meeting there. I get to see Sister Clark and also see my MTC friends that will probably be in my district! :DD ( Elder Polson will probably be in my district as well!)
It didn't happen :( church was cancelled because we got 9 inches on Saturday night and like three more on Sunday! But it is all melting now- I am also calling people today to tell them and we have FHE with people so I can't wait for that!
yes some of them! and then we ate Meat-loaf and baked potatoes at the Thaxton's for dinner yesterday! It tasted just like your cooking! I loved it! :)
Nope, I will send you a letter with it as soon as I get there so you don't have to wait until Monday ;)
Everything was but just being around the Thaxton's so much the last couple of days (And the entire mission) and just feeling their love for me and how they will miss me and I will miss them so much!
I have learned so much form my companions and from the people of this branch and my eyes have been opened to the Gospel and the message that I am sharing. I hated Olney at first and didn't like being in such a small town but now I love it and I am going to miss the little quirks and silly things about it. This area is the promised land-within the next few years I believe they baptize hundreds here, the people are ready, it just takes the work of the Lord through missionaries to get it going. I see in my mind coming back to the Branch and watching them build onto their tiny building into a stake building. The Branch president said once that we have enough land of a temple here :) and I know that will happen someday.
What are you excited for to happen in Richmond?
The culture and the opportunity to get 'knee deep' into missionary work!
Also training a missionary will be pretty cool! :)
Me with Fonda & Toshii
Officially signing out on our board in Olney!
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