Baptism? ABSOLUTELY!

Meet Blake.  Newest member of the Tribe :)

BLAKE IS NOW A NEW MEMBER OF  The Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints!!!! :D

Dear Family & Friends,

First off, before the exciting news that Blake was baptized, I have to mention a few things that happened. 

For some funny reason this whole week was VERY DIFFICULT. 

Every set appointment we had bailed/canceled, ever person we talked to wanted to punch us and every door we knocked on slammed in our face. They must not like the missionaries for some odd reason.

Sister Hannah and I did our best to find new investigators and pray for help and inspiration, finally there was this one day this week that I got so frustrated with the lack of success and the work moving forward that I decided I needed to take m humility pill and fast for help and guidance. So that is definitely what I did. 

Saw these in an antique store, and they seem to fit!

On Friday morning, I woke up and did everything as routinely as possible and then when I came down for studies, my wonderful companion had made me blueberry pancakes, I then told her "no thank you" and went to study. 

After all of our studies she caught on that I was fasting and prayed to help me. We then got picked up to help put mulch down as a service project for a nonmember named Betty. As we were serving her everything went fine, then she decided to repay us through...FOOD. She drove us to one of my favorite places Arby's and while we were driving there I explained that she didn't need to feed me because I was fasting. She was confused because she didn't know why we would do that. We told her that it would be a sacrifice for a day so we could receive desired blessings. She didn't think much of it. So we got to Arby''s and Betty's nephew decided to meet with us as well. She made a slight joke that I was starving myself and wasn't gonna eat at Arby's, he then looked at me and said "What period of time are you fasting for" I said, "Just 24 hours" and then left it at that. While they all sat and I coordinated the people helping with the baptism and then Betty's nephew starts to ask us questions about our missionary lifestyle. As we briefly explained we would drop the conversation and let them think about it. Then Betty perks up and says "Y ou Mormons believe in the Book of Mormon, what makes that important." We then perked up and told them both the purpose of the Book Of Mormon. When we were done Betty's Nephew says "May I get your email address to ask you both more questions?" we agreed and by the end of the lunch hour, he excepted a Book of Mormon, a card with our phone number and the contact information for the church's website! It was such a miracle because he was genuinely interested! 

 Later in the day, I was still fasting and by  four o'clock every single appointment canceled on us and we were left to just tracting. We tract for a few hours and then we were lucky enough to be invited for dinner at a member's home. I was so weary and so tired that I knew Heavenly Father would want me to regain my energy and break my fast. I did and food was so wonderful! Then the next day we had the baptism!

 Baptism day (Sister Jones sang for the program too)

 Following day, Sunday - Confirmation & Aaronic Priesthood

        Blake was baptized and confirmed and we had a VERY wonderful service. When Blake walked into the room after changing from his wet clothing into dry ones, we noticed he was crying. His mother and father (who are nonmembers) were also there and they were crying as well! Than we had the opportunity to watch Blake get confirmed yesterday and receive the Aaronic Priesthood! It was the most amazing experience I could have ever been given the opportunity to watch! Sister Hannah and I reflected on what had happened and both of us felt so honored that we were chosen to be the instruments to help Blake to make covenants with God. I have learned on my mission that getting baptisms is so very important but its not the quantity of baptisms that matter, its the quality; especially if we as missionaries are doing our part to be obedient and follow the spirit than Heavenly Father will lead us to the prepared children and they will become truly converted. It was really hard to leave church yesterday because it is the last official day of us seeing Blake. He has finished school for this year and headed home yesterday after church. It was bitter-sweet but we told him that we expected to see him in a year at the temple and told be there with him when he makes higher covenants with God, he said he would see us there! I cannot express my gratitude to Heavenly Father in the experience we have had helping Blake, I will forever remember it!

(From Sister Hannah's Letter):

We had Zone meeting this week as well.  It is so great to be in the presence of missionaries for a day! I love the Lexington Zone and the Richmond District! Missionaries have such a powerful spirit around them! I never want to leave the strong spirit but I know that others need to feel this spirit as well! Get back out and apply the trainings! 

The only sisters in the Richmond District!

The highlight of this week was Blake's baptism, confirmation and priesthood ordination!!! YES, all three in two days.  The baptism was so special.  We had fabulous speakers, a special musical number and the spirit was undeniable.  Blake's parents were there and you could clearly tell they felt the strong spirit! It was so powerful to see him go into the waters of baptism with Bishop and make those covenants with Heavenly Father! His confirmation was also incredible.  Seeing Blake receive the gift of the Holy Ghost was something I have been waiting for since we met him and knew he would be baptized.  He has been ready for this since March 25, 2015! After sacrament, Blake was given the Aaronic Priesthood.  This was by far the most rewarding part of Blake's conversion.  Not only is he a member of the church now, but he is a worthy priesthood holder.  He is going to bless the lives of so many!! It was such a powerful experience to be in the office while he was ordained a priest.  I am so grateful to my Father in Heaven for giving me the opportunity to teach Blake and be a part of his conversion.  In reality, I did nothing, the spirit did everything.  Blake was and is the golden investigator.  He was prepared and ready to hear the gospel! He is truly going to take off and fly now! We are going to miss him dearly! (He is going home for the summer, darn EKU!) 

 
This last week we also found many new investigators for return appointments because Heavenly Father stretched us through constant tracting and contacting! We now have most of our week booked up with willing and ready people! 

I know that when we do bind the Lord in our righteous and willing actions, that we will see miracles from them! I know this Church is True and that Christ lives and that Joseph Smith was a Prophet of God! I lvoe you all and have a fantabulous week! 

Stay Rad 

Stay Righteous

Love you All!

Sister Jones

(From Sister Hannah):

My JOY is full.  I am eternally grateful for my calling.  I know that I am meant to be here in Kentucky, to be here in Richmond, to find Blake.  I know that there are more people Heavenly Father is preparing for me.  The spirit testifies this to me.  The church is true, the Book of Blue.  It is as simple as that! I know that God lives and loves each of His children individually!

I love y'all so much!!

stay rad

stay righteous

Have the greatest week! 

much love from the GKLM, 

Sister Hannah                ***MORE PICS FROM PDAY SHOPPING FUN)***

Stay JOYFUL!

(sister Hannah reminder:)

*For those who are not familiar with the missionary organization:

1. companionship (two missionaries)

2. District (3-5 companionships)

3. Zone (equivalent to the stakes here! one stake = one zone of missionaries!)

Dear family and friends,
Ha ha, Oh My Goodness!  Your voices have been playing in my head for two weeks now and I was so happy to hear you all! Especially yours and dad's and hearing Syd's laugh and Jaden changing voice made my day! 

 At Christiansen's eating and waiting to call home for Mother's Day!

Brother and Sister Christiansen asked after we came downstairs, what was so funny about everything. I told them that I wasn't sure because it seemed like ya'll laughed at everything I said, "I don't think they ever thought I was that funny when I was home" and then I laughed and they sort of laughed too and then it got all awkward :) But we ate a ton of food after Skyping and got to have MASHED POTATOES! :D I have had real potatoes in soooo long! I miss it so much!

This last week we got to have zone conference with our mission president. They had some trainings but first they did tune-ups. 

They reminded us the rules and also to keep our house clean. Then cute little Sister Brough came up with a huge container of cleaning supplies and said, "Alright, everyone stand up!" We did and she asked us to sit down if we didn't follow through on cleaning those specific things in our apartments. As she continues to list off more things Sister Hannah and I realize that we are the only companionship that has completely followed through on every detail for keeping our house spotless (Almost)! My mom would be proud!! ;) So Sister Brough awarded us with a basket of cleaning supplies! WHOO HOO! My poor companion loves to clean and I don't really like it, but little does she know, she is converting me ;)

(part of Sister Hannah's email:)  We had Zone Conference! It was up in Lexington so we got to visit the BIG CITY!! WOOWOO!! hahahaa, I love traveling up there and being in the presence of a bunch of missionaries! Our Zone is so rad! We have incredible missionaries serving in the Lexington Zone!!  Something cool I learned was that as a companionship, if we are not unified, we can't do anything! the spirit is only here when we are unified! Sister Jones and I were teased the entire day because we are best friends and the other missionaries, I think, were jealous of our unity! LOL, but the assistants to the president picked on us to do companionship unity role-plays! 

-We had a wonderful couple lessons with Blake in members homes.  MEMBER PRESENT LESSONS ARE SO CRUCIAL!! Help out the missionaries where you live! invite them and their investigators in! Investigators need to feel that wonderful spirit! :O) 

    Also a fun thing happened this week, we were biking up this really tall hill in the blazing heat (Mind you: I just recently got a new chain on my bike) and I was standing up while biking so I could get up the hill faster without burning my muscles.

 Then all of a sudden "SNAP!". THere went my chain, I busted it -__- I told Sister Hannah that I needed to shed a little more weight with this being the second time I have busted a chain haha.. no I wont lose weight haha but I have to be more mindful.

     This Thursday we had a really unsuccessful day, we knocked on doors, talked to as many people as we could and constantly got rejected. Than we went to bike early to an appointment through a certain road and saw a moving van! I slowed down and shouted across the street to ask the mover if he wanted help. He was a little hesitant as he said "No, I wouldn't want to make a lady move". 

HOT, HOT, HOT  "This is what close to death looks like" (Sis. Hannah)

Sister Hannah and I kinda looked at each other a little degraded and said that we were missionaries and do this all day every day. So he sat there and thought about it and then desperately said "If you want to" and we hopped off our bikes and parked them on the lawn and proceeded to move stuff out of the house. This Old woman just sat on her chair swing as we walked in and out with her boxes. She happened to have three young men with this moving company and since Sister Hannah and I are bigger girls (Height wise), we were carrying heavy three foot-tall boxes, in skirts, and pros. shoes. :) We were whipping in and out of that house and we were just excited that 1) someone would let us serve them 2) that we could walk in and out of an air conditioned house. 

After about 40 minutes we were still going and we were carrying all sorts of furniture. The movers were so tired that they ended up sitting on the porch drinking some water with sweat cascading down their faces. One of their comments were "Ya'll are makin' us look bad!" . We didn't care but we got most of the van packed and then left them with our card! We were so excited as we biked to another potential's house and he turned out to be an awesome investigator; however we had to give him to the Elder's because he is out of our area :( 

   This whole week has been blazing hot! We haven't even hit the maximum humidity level yet and we have been guzzling water all day long. When we knocked each door, every single person offered us cold bottles of water. I ended up carrying 3 or 4 at a time! 

We got a refferal from a christian couple and they reffered us to quite a few people. We came back the next day to contact one that wasn't originally home. We knocked on the door, told the woman who we were and she invited us right in the AC-infested home :) We then proceeded to tell her that we shared more about temples and that her and her sons could be together forever. We whipped out a card of the Hawaii temple and her eyes lit up as she looked at the temple and said we could come back next week! :D She was so willing and ready that we were sure that she would want to get baptized! Who knows?! 

(part of Sister Hannah's email:)  This week it was HOT in Richmond. So hot and humid to the point that when you walk outside, you just start sweating, for no reason at all.  People keep telling me it only gets worse too.... here we go.  Summer in Kentucky! Here it comes, ready or not! Thankfully, out maintenance man put an AC unit in upstairs as were were walking to the library today.  Praise the good Lord, our room was SO hot the last week.  The only problem I have with the heat here is that it DOESN'T cool down at night! It would be fine in our room if it cooled down at night because we could leave the window open, but it is still 85 degrees when we go to bed!  But the heat rises and our room is just miserable with our one fan. OK, end of the heat rant. I am sure it will be way worse in the summer and I will have to complain some more then.  Not in California anymore, or Idaho for that matter! Dry heat is non-existent here! 

This sign is a good reminder for us to be this, even though its HOT and HUMID

Also Sister Wright took us out the other day to go see less-actives , that we can't bike to. We ended up finding random members that weren't even on our roster! We set times to come back and they were so nice and kind____WE Hope to bring them back to the fold.

I learned a few lessons this week. Mostly about charity. Chairty is the Pure Love of Christ. Which pure can be defined as clean, or unspotted or rather a thorough clean, and Love means devotion or deep affection. So I had to learn this week what it means to have a thorough, unspotted devotion for people. Honestly it has been hard. When people are rude, slam the doors, reject any word that comes from our mouth, I am reminded of what Jeffery R. Holland has said "[We] are standing shoulder to shoulder with the best life this world has ever known", Jesus Christ. I have felt Jesus Christ constantly with me this week as I have done all that I could to love people in their worst states and appearances. I know that because I have been through this trial of my faith that His comfort has been my reward. Charity hasn't stopped though, I have had to learn every day whom to serve and love and that I should do it with the full purpose of my heart.

Us in the library emailing right now

 

Any way this week was good, we are working hard to make this next week Great! Blake's Baptism is on Saturday! :D 

I hope everyone is able to send a tie! Please and Thank You so VERY MUCH!

(Mom:  We collected 6 ties and sent them off Monday for Blake!)

~Stay JOYFUL,

Sister Jones

P.S.  For those wanting more pics on the AWESOME blog Sister Brough, Mission President's wife, keeps up of all the GKLM missionaries, check out this link!  http://gklmbrough.blogspot.com/ 

Post It Notes, Baby Goats, and Broken Bikes

****Questions for our Kizzer****

What time (YOUR TIME) will you be SKYPING us?  (my name for Skype if not look up by phone number is "suesjo19")   Or Google Hangouts (just my email, the.susan.jones@gmail.com)? 

We will be officially skyping from 2:30 to 4:00-Sister Hannah Will probably go first unless the Christiansen's have another device I can use at the same time. Most likely it will be skype but  I will try both to see! I am so excited! Plus I am sending out that package today and since I am sending it early I don't not want you guys to open it until we are officially skypeing! :)

*Are you still looking forward to a baptism next week with Blake?  So excited for you and Sister Hannah!

Yes I am! We had a small speedbump with him this last week, but because of prayers answered he stayed on track and he passed his Baptismal interview!!! WHOOP WHOOP! :)

**What advice for Sister Hooper's class on embracing the gospel and gaining a testimony would you give?**

     Oh man, those are hard questions!!! I have so many scripture stories that I love! 

My top two favorite are the story of queen Esther(In the old testament) and the story of Enos (In the Book Of Mormon). My Favorite scripture has got to be Ether 12:27. Because Heavenly Father gives us our weaknesses not because he wants us to feel bad or feel like bad/imperfect people; but so that he can give us strengths and perfect us in the end.
The advice that I give for embracing the Gospel and gaining a testimony is practice through obedience. Obedience is given such a derogatory term and it is implied as being more of a negative term. I promise you it is completely the opposite! WHY? Because Obedience comes with promised blessings! Heavenly Father WANTS to bless us! All we have to do is Hearken to it (Whatever the 'It' may be), Then Do It! The Lord says "I am bound when ye do what I say, but when ye do not what I say, ye shall have no promise"! Wow! He is held to His promise that he he MUST Bless us if we hold up our end of the bargain! So cool! I know that "Line upon line and precept upon precept, here a little and there a little" God will give you a testimony and help you understand and embrace the Gospel as you do the things He asks! :)

**It looks like its getting warmer in KY, how is the humidity? (how are those mesh garments?)

It is getting warmer, it hasn't struck yet! I am waiting for it too, we have seen more and more skin as the days go by! It will get HOT! The garments good, I am just waiting for the blazing heat to show me what and what not to do in this heat!

**How are you staying busy with EKU about out of school?**

We are trying too! Other than Blake we are not teaching anyone there anymore!

**How is Shania doing?  It doesn't look like she ever updates her family on what is going on, or at least from what I've seen.  I figure your probably in touch with her?

I actually don't know too well how she is doing, I get her emails, but I barely have time to read them and write back. I assume she is doing well and that she is seeing miracles all of the time.I am not really out of touch-same with her family she just forgets to write back!

**Anything else you are looking forward to?**

I cannot wait! this week and next week are going to be weird! plus on may 21 is when a general authority will come to show us how to use IPADS :) I cant wait!

I love you so so so so much! I hope to hear more from you this week is a letter??? BTW I loved the newspaper , ring and cute card and letter you sent! (Mom:  I sent her a copy of the Rigby Star, with my comments on the crime report (My personal fav), and circles around very important Rigby topics :) 

Thanks so much!

~Sister Jones

~Family Letter~

Dear Family & Friends,

     

     Well, where to start off......Oh yeah a lot of bike problems! So, funny story ~ the crank bearings on sister Hannah's bike broke so her pedals were not working. So our kind Elders picked them up and took them to a member's house (who loves to fix bikes) and dropped them off. We started to walk home that night and the Elder's called us twice, asking if we had our bike keys and making sure that we had a key to get inside the house. Confused we said we did and then thought nothing else of it. 

     We get home, plan for the next day, and then Sister Hannah jumps in the shower after we are done. I walk upstairs and see something on my bed and jump back because I'm not sure what it is. 

Then I realize its our bikes, upside down, balanced on our beds. I yell for Sister Hannah and shout that our bikes are on our beds and she looks at me and asks if I have been smoking crack. She gets out and sees what I see then gets back in. I was about to text the Elders when she yells "Sister Jones!" really loudly "IT WAS THE ELDERS!" so once she gets out again. She grabs the phone and starts up a completely lie/joke on how our home was broken into. The Elders then say that our house wasn't messed up at all. We ask how they know that and they say they just assume. Finally the Elders admit that they did put it in our room. They said that they got the key from the maintenance man and walked in our house, carried the bikes up the stairs and places them lightly on our beds, take a few selfies and booked it down the stairs and literally out of the house before we go​t home! We laughed but we were so ticked that they came in our house! So later the next day we got them back and sticky noted their car! Way fun! 

 

Sister Hannah's letter & version:

     We started the week strong though on Monday.  We came home to our bikes ON our beds.  YES.  LITERALLY UPSIDE DOWN on our beds.  The Bennett's fixed them and then called the Elders to come get them without telling us.  The Elders thought it would be funny to tuck them into bed while we weren't home and come home to that.  So we get home late Monday night and then finally get into our room around 10:15.  I had just gotten in the shower and Sister Jones peeps her head in the bathroom and says "our bikes are on our beds." I literally looked at her like she was crazy and responded "did you take a hydrocodone again?" I literally thought she was on drugs.  I get out of the shower- shampoo in hair still- and sure enough, our bikes are ON OUR BEDS.  Thank you for the great laugh elders.  They always know how to make our day just a little bit brighter!  *We had major plans to get them back, but they ended up not showing up to the meeting on Thursday where we had planned for all of it.* The next day though, we were walking to an appointment and they were at Kathy's home so we sticky-noted their car real quick with the scripture Mosiah 4:30 written all over it.  We though we were pretty funny.  Missionary rivalry!

Sister Jones:

      We had an incredible experience on being led by the Lord.For example this week we have had a lot of bike trouble and Sister Hannah's bike particularly has been an issue. As we were biking to our next appointment the strap for Sister Hannah's bike basket ripped and we had to do a make-shift strap with hairbands to hold it up. Then we kept biking and in our path there was a train crossing, so we had to slow down for a measly minute and we kept biking. 

     

     Our appointment was not committed so we prayed with her, and told her anytime that she wanted us to come back, we would. So by this time we had a half hour left, so we decided to find a potential; he wasn't home and neither were his neighbors. We knocked one more door and he said he was not interested and referred us to one of his neighbors. 

     

     Just as we walked around the corner of the trailer we saw a man walking out with a bag of trash. We introduced ourselves and sat there talking with him for around twenty minutes and he told us that he doesn't practice religion because he is not even sure if the bible is true because of how many times it has been translated. We were so excited about this comment that we explained the Book of Mormon and that it literally fills in the holes of the doctrines in the Bible. He was so excited that he stood there pondering and listening to everything we had to say. We shared a verse of scripture and gave him a Book Of Mormon and set up a return appointment for this week! He was so genuinely prepared and ready to listen that we knew that Heavenly Father guided us to the direct spot and point in time when this man would be taking out his trash. It's so humbling to understand and know, but completely amazing! :)

     We had a dinner appointment this week at the Orchards and they have a farm!!! It was so fun because we got to explore a little bit and hold Goats! They had a good old time eating our clothes and jumping against us to get our cardigain sweaters! So funny! Then we ate homemade pizza and then I attacked sister Hannah with a crab arm that I found! :)

    

      

     Later in the week we had a lesson with Blake . We went over the Baptismal interview questions, got through some things he was going through and yesterday he passed his interview! WHOOOO! He is now making his way to baptism! There is a young man in the ward that went around to all of the men in the ward and asked everyone is the could bring a tie to the baptism, Blake can have ties all ready for him as a new member! So I have a question:ANYONE HAVE ANY TIES? ANY GOOD CONDITION ONES THEY WANT TO SEND OUT HERE? We would love to have them! please send them to: 202 A Langford Court Richmond KY 404075! :)

From Sister Hannah's letter:

      On Tuesday we had an INCREDIBLE lesson with Blake, our investigator who will be baptized on May 16th! :) He is just so awesome and golden! We taught him in the Russell's home and he loved the concept of fasting and prayer!! He even agreed to fast on Sunday! The lesson was more of us sitting there and the Russell's teaching everything and bearing sweet testimony! 

     We had district meeting and it was so inspired.  Elder Davidson knows exactly what we all need to become the best we can be! We brought our call letters and shared the experience of opening our calls.  It was so special to remember those sweet moments and feel that powerful spirit again.  I am meant to be in Kentucky. I am meant to find these specific people and I am here for a reason! I find out that reason each and every day I get up! I love it here so much! I really do!! :)

And Sister Jones to end it:

     All in all this week was hard and fun and it paid off and now we are teaching some great people and we know that the Lord has prepared many of them for the receiving of the Gospel of Jesus Christ! :) I hope you all have a wonderful week!

Hearken To IT, Then Do IT!

~Sister Jones