Goodbye Louisville, Hello Lexington!

***QUESTIONS FOR OUR MISSIONARY**

What are some things you will miss about Louisville?

I am going to miss the huge progression of the work. I have seen so many miracles because this area is so huge and has so many wonderful people that are prepared! I know other areas will as well but they won't compare to this one! I will miss the hustle and bustle and being close to the mission office and home! I love going across the bridge every Wednesday to our district meeting and being a part of the leadership at MLC. But I do know that like you said I need a change. I just need a new focus and I am excited to leave for that but sad because this is my new family. I love everyone here and this is probably my favorite ward that I have serve in!

What is the strangest service project you have done so far on your mission?

The strangest service project I have ever served.... Hm.... Was probably cleaning a discussing house. That seems like what happens a lot in our mission is we clean people's really gross houses and then the way they look in the end is so priceless!

Have you met Sister Reed before (she's going to be your new companion, right?)

Yep Sister Reed was in my zone last transfer but then got transferred to Lexington! She is awesome!

What did you get out of Stake Conference that was so important to know and remember?

This was the basis of topic for the stake conference on Saturday and Sunday. I learned so much from the explanations that were given! I understood the parallel between our decision making throughout the week and our duty and also privilege of partaking of the bread and water at church. I believe with all of my heart that if we are desiring to progress we must show Heavenly Father that we are wanting and going to do so. We are commanded to continually repent and as the savior said "if thine eye offends thee, pluck it out!" So true! I know that we cannot complete the repentance process unless we quickly repent BEFORE SUNDAY STARTS! Not at the door nor in the service, but in the moment we commit our sin, we must use the atonement and seek forgiveness and change! Then we must partake of the sacrament and show Heavenly Father that we are willing "to take upon us the name of Christ", willing to change, willing to follow Him. I know that God expects us ALL to live a higher law as He has given.

 What are you in need of, my Kizzer?  Are you ready for another Kentucky winter?

And I just got my winter clothes back just in time for transfers. I have a great coat (3 actually) and a few hats and a member just gave me some really good gloves and I still have my new boots from the beginning of this year. I believe I am all set but if there is a possible chance you could send like an electric blanket? I think that would be very helpful, especially if my new area is a bike area and I will coming in super cold each night. Also my pillow is wearing out and only if you are able a new pillow would help. But I can definitely go on without a brand new one! Sending hot chocolate for me would be awesome! :) And that should be it, I really am doing well and I can't tell too much until I get in my new area because here're might be other things and then again there might now be. 

Yes, we were able to text and talk to her AND see a picture of her, during Sacrament yesterday.

Thanks to Jen for being the best member missionary momma to all of Louisville, we may not get to see her anymore in Lexington.

I love you so much mom and yes my heart is racing with how much closer it is getting to flying home, I have four transfers left and it sickens me. I want to come home don't get me wrong! I just know that this last year has been one of the greatest journeys I have ever been given. I hope you all will notice the change in me that has occurred as I have been out when I return home. I know Syd will be able to have the same change. I know she will baptize like crazy and see so many miracles!

Have a great week and please keep me updated throughout the week, I can read emails but I can't reply.

~Love,

Sister Jones

Dear Family & Friends,

This week has been crazy! I can't even explain how great of a week it has been! Sister Elliott passed away this last Monday. She has been sick this last few transfers and no one knows why, they thought it was pneumonia and that is what she was diagnosed with. She went into the hospital and didn't last but four days. They realized she had cancer! She was misdiagnosed!  Lame.....Sister Jensen and I started crying, I will miss her so much, she was someone that I wanted the best for and now she is back in the arms our her Heavenly Father, doing the work He has asked He spirit world.

Doodling Artwork by Kizzer

We were able to make our goals this week and we got members to some awesome lessons! One for example was so cool! So a couple of weeks back Sister Jensen and I contacted this young girl and shared a portion of the Book of Mormon with her. It was one of the most awkward contacts I have ever had (and I have had a lot of those!) and she was like "I think my sister would want to hear this". So she gave us her phone number and address and walked away. We went by last weekend and introduce ourselves to her sister and read out of the Book of Mormon with her. She loved it! Asked for a copy and we returned on Monday with the restoration lesson prepared!  So get this! Earlier that day I was texting her asking if she had read and prayed and she said she did and that she had read probably a third of the Book of Mormon already!

We got there and asked her the same question and she showed us her Book of Mormon and she read all the way to the book of Jacob in three days! What?! We were shocked!  This girl is only 14 years old and she read that much! We asked her to be baptized and she accepted whole heartedly! Oh my goodness our heart was so full and even the member that came with us was astonished and excited!

 I found mini bananas :)

Then we had MLC this week and it was so fun! There were a few elder companionships that were late and hadn't shown up yet and so all of us started getting an idea that we should hide until they come! So we did and oh man our mission president is so cool! We waited until we heard them and they opened the door and we screamed real loud and jumped at them! It was sooooooo fun! Loved it! The meeting was great as well! I learned a lot about making baptisms happen and our priority to stop waiting around waiting for them and start really making them happen! We will baptize 63 in November I know it!

Then we had zone meeting and that was a lot of wonderful things shared with us as well. Elder Langford gave a great training on helping our investigators understand the sacrament and had us role play! He gave a step by step on what to do! It was an answer to our prayers because our investigator Angelee has been struggling with even getting to church! We applied the training and the spirit was so strong when we taught her! We felt so excited! But upon the agency she now possesses she did not attend stake conference. :( We know that every training will always work as you faithfully apply them and if it doesn't work out it is because the person did not use their agency correctly or simply it is not the right timing... I know that this training was inspired and I also know that sacrament is the greatest blessing that we can be given for our own spiritual and eternal progression!

And transfers are in.... I am heading out to old wild rolling hills of Kentucky in Lexington! I am so excited to be going there! I know that God has so much more in store for me to do and someone He has prepared for me to find. I also know that this area is a bike area! Haha being cold never was so exciting as it will be on bikes! Haha well I hope to stay warm!

I am going to miss my wonderful companion. She has become a rock and a best friend to me. I am completely proud of her diligence in keeping the commandments of God and willingness to humble herself when God requires it. She has been someone I could trust in and also be trusted by. She may not believe it but she is loved by me! We got to contact a man Last who we bore testimony to for 45 minutes to an hour and when the fictitious words of this "wise man" gave me unsure feelings of how to answer, I was grateful to my companion that she plainly stated her purpose and our purpose and this man’s purpose. She boldly proclaimed that simply this man should humble himself before the lord and find happiness in reading the Book of Mormon and keeping His commandments! She is incredible! I will be sad to leave her!

Lastly the announcement from D. Todd Christofferson were clear and precise! I know that the revelations for the handbook are true. I know that when God commands we must abide. I know that families are forever. I know they can be as we listen to Gods counsel and follow the commandments (all of them, not just one or two!).

Goodbye Louisville, Hello Lexington!

I love my savior and know He lives and is there every step of the way. I love you all and hope you week is full of miracles!

~ Sister Jones