Oh what to say......

Welp, as you all know this is my last email as a full time missionary. I say that so hopefully I'll believe it too....Yeah I'm still in denial....

This week has been a crazy crazy week!! We taught Marissa (our miracle investigator) this Saturday about missionary work. I asked her if she had thought about serving a full time mission. (She's 21) and she said that she was going to bring that question to church last week. But she said that she was kinda scared to because she feels she already knows the answer. She said she would defiantly take that question this last Sunday! It was so precious because we hadn't even taught her about missionary work yet and she was already thinking about a mission. She is so incredible!!! 

Can I just say that the Lord has blessed me so much. Yesterday, I got to go to a special stake meeting in the Meeker stake. And for those of you who might not remember I served in Craig/Baggs which was in the Meeker stake. I GOT TO SEE PEOPLE FROM THE CRAIG 2ND WARD AND BAGGS BRANCH!!!! Oh i was in heaven. I was just running around hugging all of them. IT WAS THE BEST!!! Then they were reading the names of people who received the Melchizedek priesthood and they read RANCE MOON'S NAME!!! He was one of the investigators I taught who got baptized in May. Oh my gosh it made me cry. That was the sweetest sunday meeting ever. And the most incredible part was Elder Oaks was there...

I forgot to tell you last week, but AN APOSTLE OF THE LORD CAME TO OUR MISSION.  I got to shake Elder Oaks hand in a special meeting we had with him saturday night. I felt the spirit so strong the entire meeting we had with him. I absolutely loved it when he said, "You are not on your mission.....you are on the Lord's mission." That is SO true. I have been feeling that this whole week. But when he said it that's when it clicked for me what I was feeling. I just feel so blessed that I have been able to serve on the Lord's mission. 

Wow, I just can't even express to you how much I love my mission and my lord and savior. I have had very very mixed feelings the past couple days. A couple weeks ago I would just cry because I really really didn't want to leave. But now when I cry it's because I am just so grateful....Word's can't describe how grateful I am for this experience. It has taught me how to be a better mother, wife, and disciple of Christ. It has taught me what is important in life, it has taught me to love and receive revelation through the scriptures. It has given me a strong testimony of our Prophet Joseph Smith and just how true the book of mormon is.  It has taught me how to pray and have a personal relationship with the Lord. I have never loved people so much in my life. It has taught me how to work hard. It has taught me what the sacrament truly means and how to endure the hard times. It has taught me the importance of the priesthood. It has taught me the importance of families, and it has taught me how to be a leader. And most importantly it has taught me how to apply the Atonement in my life and the important role it plays every day. I just want to let all of you know, I love my Savior Jesus Christ. I know he loves me. I have seen his hand every single day of my mission. He has lifted me, carried me, and showed me the way. I have never had a stronger relationship with him and have never loved him more in my entire life than i do now. I want to be his servant for the rest of eternity. I want to show him, by how I live how much I truly truly love him.

This next step is really hard to accept and prepare for, but I know the second I get released it is now the time to apply every thing I have been teaching The Lord's children for the past 18 months. It is now the time to become his servant with out a tag. Your mission is never truly over... I am really nervous, but also really excited. Thank you all for being so supportive and loving. I appreciate all of your prayers in my behalf. I have really felt strengthened by them. I love you all so much. I just love, love love my mission. 

See you soon. 

Love sister JOnes 

Well. We didn't get an email from Kelcey

On Monday aug 11th we did not receive and email. So, we are assuming she went hiking on her pday and don't have time to email. she flies home in less then two weeks. Hopefully we will receive information from her next Monday. I will I back and double check all of her letters for May through aug. It has been a little crazy this summer. Happy trails sister jones. 

6/23/2014. So sick.....,

So this week has been a crazy week full of miracles and sickness....

A sister in the Mt. Sneffles area had to go home for a funeral so we got her companion for a week. Her name is sister hayward. It was such a miracle and blessing that she was with us because on Friday I got super sick and I am still recovering from it. The lady we live with, Sister Armstrong, was also sick so we both stayed home while sister hayward and sister winkelman went out to teach. #inspiredsicknesstiming

I have no idea what is wrong with me but all i have to say is that being sick is the pits!!! I have been bed ridden watching every mormon message/cheesy approved missionary movie ever created....and then some. I think I have the Legacy and Joseph Smith The Prophet of the Restoration movies memorized by now.

But despite my sickness the work of the Lord has pressed on boldly, nobly, and independent. (if you know what that's from 10 mormon points to you!) We had two baptisms this weekend!!! Trevor and Rain came to church even though they just had their baby last week. Louise Witte, a lady who is in her 80's that we have only taught twice was put on date and she told everyone at the ward bbq that they were invited to her baptism. And they elders have found 2 new families to teach that are so prepared!!! It is incredible to see how much the Lord is blessing us. I hope all of you are having a fantastic week and if you feel like/remember me, please send a few prayers my way that i'll stop being sick. I love you all and have the best day ever!!!

Sister Jones

Here is a pic of Kristine's baptism :)

What a week.... June 16th, 2014

Can I just say, that right when i thought I couldn't get any more exhausted...i do...

This week was a really good week though. Trevor and Rain had their Baby!!! Gabriel! He was 10 pounds 2 ounces. Yeah she had to get a c-section. Crazy, I know! Also he was born on friday the 13th on a full moon. Not sure what that means but I feel like he is going to be the craziest/cutest kid on the planet. My favorite part is seeing the huge difference in Trevor and Rain. The gospel means so much more to them now that they have their little bundle of joy. I'm not sure if i told you but they are working towards getting married so they can get baptized!! So exciting!! 

I am really loving my new companion sister winkelman. We get along so well and we are able to teach really good together. We went on this awesome hike this morning and did our personal and companion study out there and she came up with this incredible poem and she said I could share it with all of you. Make sure you have a box of tissues next to you cause it might make you cry like it made me. 

The Tree

Starting from a seed how little I do know

Of what I can become when I finally start to grow. 

I am safe and warm in comfort and as happy as can be.

I finally start to sprout, I am growing in to me.

I am patient and persistent as I push through the tough soil around.

I know it won't be easy but, I will always stand my ground.

Everything is perfect, it is warm and bright with love,

That is till the storm comes from the heavens up above. 

The clouds are slowly crying the tears pour to the earth.

"That's okay" I said, "I'm not worried, I will remember all my worth."

The rain starts pouring harder and that is when they start to blow,

The winds of changing seasons, say it isn't so.

"My roots are not that deep" I said.

What is to come of this raging storm brewing ov'r my head.

I felt like I am drowning, don't know what to do.

I said a prayer to have more faith that I might make it through.

The angry storm had ended and what was left of me?

My trunk was beat and tattered my leaves in disarray. 

What was I to do now I quietly would say. 

In my storm of sorrow where had He gone to?

Was I never meant to make it through the sadness I'd gone through?

As I'm quietly weeping, the Master comes to me.

He sees my broken branches, my sorrow he can see.

"Don't worry little tree, everything will be made right."

"You just have to keep growing and looking into the light."

"I didn't leave you beaten by the storms sent from above."

"I know that you could do it, I did it through my love."

"Your roots have grown deeper than you care to see,"

"All you have to do is trust and put your faith in me."

Many days have past since the Master came my way.

He wasn't ever far though, always close, he promised he would stay.

In my days of growing, storms still beat me down.

But I with my little faith, never could I drown.

When the storms are raging o'vr me and I feel that hope is lost.

I think back to the Master when the winds I'm tossed.

My leaves are lightly swaying.

I am now who I want to be

All because the Master and His faith in me. 

"Don't worry little tree, everything will be made right."

"You just have to keep growing and looking into the light."

"I didn't leave you beaten by the storms sent from above."

"I know that you could do it, I did it through my love."

"Your roots have grown deeper than you care to see,

All you have to do is trust and put your faith in me."

I am a great big tree, I stand proud and tall

It's all because the Savior decided to give it all.

Isn't that so powerful. I bet you cried! Gosh I love how my mission really has taught me how much the Savior loves me and he will get me through anything. I love all of you and I hope you have the best week ever!!!

Sister Jones

Pictures= gabriel and his parents!!

June 9th. So I am getting kicked off in 10 minutes.....

Man i really really don't like these computers at the library. We only get 50 minutes to email. :( I decided to spend this ten minutes to send you pictures :) Hope you enjoy!

Sister Betts and I

1 in the pouring rain

2. not in the pouring rain

 

oh sister betts is in denver now :( but i have sister winkelman and I LOVE HER!!!!!

May 27th. School/Provo/real life.

Ok so Jacy emailed me and told me about the apartment (carriage cove) and it does sound perfect. She told me that the down payment is about 200 dollars and they would like the first and last rent payment so she said it would be a total of about 850 dollars to sign up. (it will be around 3600 for the whole year contract)

She also told me about the two online classes that I'll need and they are 7 credits total. She told me it is 177 per credit. So $1,239 for the classes that I need. 

So it was my understanding that Grandpa said that he would be willing to help me get started. Do you think you could call and ask him today to see if He could maybe help me cover my classes and the apartment. If he says that is ok, could you do me a huge favor and call jacy and tell her that if she could sign me up for that apartment as soon as possible for the year contract that would be perfect. And to sign me up for the classes. 

If he says that is too much, Would you ask him if he would be able to cover the cost of the classes and maybe I'll try to find some family who would let me stay with them for a little bit. Do you think there is any family down in that area that would be willing to let me stay with them for awhile till i get my feet on the ground??

I just have no idea how much is too much for grandpa. The 2,500 to 3000 would probably be the bear minimum that would help me get started. If he would like to help me with getting a with the rest of the rent, that would be super awesome, but if not I understand. If he was ok with helping me with all of rent and the two classes it would be around 4,850. If that's too much I understand. I already feel to spoiled by asking for help with getting down to provo.

So i guess in summary if grandpa says he can help me

4850 would help me pay for my year contract and the classes that i need.

2500 would help me get the deposit to my apartment and classes that I need.  

If both of those are too much then 1239 would help me get the classes I need. 

if none of that works I guess i can sleep on jacy's couch till i get a job in provo hahahaha 

I hope all of this makes sense. Can you let me know next week what he says??

Ok, back to responding to your emails haha Wow, That is so AWESOME how well trent did!!! He is becoming a golfing champion!!! That is also so cool that trevor is doing so good with baseball! I really hope i can watch a game or two when i get back. When does baseball season end?? It sounds like you all are still keeping super super busy! when does school get out for all of you?? Everyone is out of school down here. which is nice because it makes it a little easier to visit people. We had a crazy week this last week. Yesterday we played a zone vs. zone kickball game and we lost by a point! It was so fun and sister betts and I got FRIED!! We found a new trick for sunburns though. The lady we live with told us that you can put shaving cream on it to make it better. 

Well i better get going. but I love you all so much and have the best week ever!!

May 19th. Family!!

So I am getting kicked off of the computer in 3minutes. Sometimes we don't get very much time to email. I just wanted to let you know we had an awesome week!!!So last week our investigatorDale was struggling...well let's just say that struggling was an understatement for this week. We got a call from his fellowshipper and he said that dale told him he wasn't going to church because he was going to his brother's house for a barbecue. We had an appointment with him Sunday evening so we planned on having a little sit down with Dale to discuss how serious he was about getting baptized. We also prayed about who to bring with us because we felt like the fellowshipper he had wasn't really connecting well with him. We felt we should bring our ward mission leader because he is a convert to the church, is single, and use to have the same life style that dale use to live have. So when we dropped by to see him we found out that when dale was at his brother's house he smoked half a pack of cigarettes and got pretty drunk....He was SO upset with himself and he had been beating himself up about it the entire day. He was afraid that we would be too disappointed in him and we wouldn't continue teaching him. It was an absolute miracle that we brought brother Allen because we had no idea that dale had relapsed back into smoking and drinking. Dale was so comforted when brother allen shared his testimony about how he was able to repent and leave that life style behind when he found the gospel. It was so inspired and it helped Dale so much. We are going to do the straight gate with him this week and plan out all the times we are going to visit him and help him reach his goal of baptism.  

So that was a pretty cool miracle that happened this week. I hope all is well and I love you somuch!!!!

love sister jones

May 12th. Family!

Well it was just wonderful seeing your beautiful faces yesterday. Sorry  was such a mess. I don't have anything to report except for IT SNOWED LAST NIGHT!!! Yeah, super dumb. We are going to play zone kickball today so we are in a huge rush to email. I better get going. I just wanted to tell you that I love you sooooooooo much and thanks for being the best family on the planet. 

Love sister jones

I will post May and June when I download her emails into my mailbox.

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July 28th. Hello!!

Sorry this is going to be a short email but I just want to say I DESPIZE you all for reminding me about how much time I have left!! I love you, but thanks alot! Today we went on this hike called the Blue lakes hike. It is a world famous hike and it is SUPER SUPER SUPER awesome!!! I am super out of shape so i kind of died on the way up. But super worth it. We are starting this thing called mountain woman monday, so we are trying to hike as many places in montrose possible. You guys should look it up!!! It sounds like you all had a super fun trip and I'm glad everyone is all home safe and sound. Mom I would have no problem at all taking gma and gpa to the airport. no problemo. Jacy thanks for taking care of school for me. I really appreciate it!! 

I am doing well, just trying to not get to exhausted. But you know, my body seriously is just wearing out. I might just be a slug when I get home. Thanks for all you do. I love you to peices and have a super good day!!

Love sister jONes

Loving life. July 21st.

 I am loving life so much. 

Except we have this annoying tradition in the mission (as you know) that every time there is a meeting, the missionaries who are close to leaving will get called on to bear their testimonies. I didn't think it was annoying until this week I already got called on twice. It is so hard going up there and admitting that my mission will have to end. It is so hard to face all the missionaries, I love so much, and tell them how I really feel about my mission experience. My mission seriously means the world to me and the longer I am out here the more I realize how much I love this gospel, how much I love my life, and how much I love my Savior. This past year and a half I have never felt so close to Him and I have never Loved Him more. Words can not describe how I feel about it. I just want to show, through my life how much I love Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. This gift of going on a mission has really opened my eyes of how I can show him I love him. I want to be with back with Him after this life more than anything else. I want to bring everyone into this realm of Christ's love that we have access to every single day. Words just don't do it justice. I hope all the missionaries and investigators and members that I know and love can see through how I live my life how much I love God. I hope you will be able to see and feel it too when I see you again. I love you soo much. 

Have the best week ever!

Love sister Jones

July 21st. Family!!

Well I've been doing pretty good. How was yellowstone?? I just imagine everyone checking their phones for their emails from their missionaries and you are probablly mad at me because mine is taking so long :) haha Sorry. We went on a hike this afternoon. It was soooo beautiful!!! The bishop that went with us kinda took us on the wrong trail hahah but we still super enjoyed it and had lots of fun. 

Did Trevor have a good bday????? Did he get my package yet??? Well I hope all is well and you are all staying safe and loving life. I am loving life so much. 

Except we have this annoying tradition in the mission that every time there is a meeting, the missionaries who are close to leaving will get called on to bear their testimonies. I didn't think it was annoying until this week I already got called on twice. It is so hard going up there and admitting that my mission will have to end. It is so hard to face all the missionaries, I love so much, and tell them how I really feel about my mission experience. My mission seriously means the world to me and the longer I am out here the more I realize how much I love this gospel, how much I love my life, and how much I love my Savior. This past year and a half I have never felt so close to Him and I have never Loved Him more. Words can not describe how I feel about it. I just want to show, through my life how much I love Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. This gift of going on a mission has really opened my eyes of how I can show him I love him. I want to be with back with Him after this life more than anything else. I want to bring everyone into this realm of Christ's love that we have access to every single day. Words just don't do it justice. I hope all the missionaries and investigators and members that I know and love can see through how I live my life how much I love God. I hope you will be able to see and feel it too when I see you again. I love you soo much. 

Have the best week ever.

Love Sister Jones

July 21st. What a week :)

Things have been going great for us this week! My new companion is Sister Patera!!! She just came from my old area Craig and Baggs!!!!!!!! She is my great great grand daughter in mission lineage haha. I trained sister robinson who trained sister greenly who trained sister knowlton who trained sister patera who trained sister Doman. So I have a great great great granddaughter in the mission field right now haha. Making me feel old!

We get along fantastic. She is from Florida and is the oldest of 3. She is 19 and has been on her mission for 6 months. This is her second area. It was so fun hearing about all the people I use to teach because she knows all of them! She gave me all the details!.  

This week has been a really put our noses to the grind week. We are working on finding some investigators right now. Because we had about one investigator when the transfer started haha. Don't worry this week we found 3 new investigators and about 3 potentials!! One lady that we found that seems pretty promising, her name is Sharon. She was painting cupboards in her garage when we drove by. We stopped and did the survey with her and at first she was being nice. But when we taught her the Restoration, you could just see something stir in her heart. The spirit was definitely working in her. She said the closing prayer and she prayed that she would have an open heart to what we had to say on our return appointment. We are seeing her today so we are pretty excited about that. 

We found her on Saturday and Saturday was a huge miracle day!! We decided to plan in faith and stuck to our plans the entire day.From 1:00pm to 9:00pmwe put in street names of where we were going and we prayed to discern when we were needed in specific areas and then went tracting and oyming. We set a goal of finding 3 new investigators and having 5 other lessons. I don't know why we didn't pray for more investigators because everything that we prayed for that day came true. We taught 5 lessons and found 3 new investigators that day!! The Lord really guided us to where we needed to be! Such a spectacular day!!

I hope everything is all well with you and thank you so much for your love and support!! have the best week ever!!

Love sister jOnes

July 14th. Family!!!

Hey howdy hey!!!

Can I just say that I'm exhausted. This last week has been one of the most stressful weeks of my mission....I'm not gonna lie I'm super glad this transfer is over. A LOT of drama happened. Most of which I can't talk about. But remind me when I get home and I can explain it to you. 

I can not beleive that I'm starting my last transfer. It just seems so surreal! like i said in my last email. i'm super super glad to get a new companion that is assigned to my area. I'm sure the Lord has an exciting plan coming up this transfer. 

Today my district leader made me promise not to stress. It's hard not to. I'm just nervous about Black Canyon. I feel like a lot of investigators are going to get lost in this transition. We have been working like maniacs to get our area ready for tomorrow. We are playing volleyball against the elders today, so I'll just take out all my stress in that game hahaha. Don't worry though I will stop stressing the second I had over those area books and keys to the church tomorrow. 

It sounds like you guys have a really awesome week planned this coming week. Tell trevor I think he is so awesome for making it so far in baseball!! I can't wait to see the pics of Yellowstone! I bet everyone is so grown up!! 

So I think the best thing to do for school next semester is to defer. I have a lot of things to figure out and it will probablly be best for me to do them when I get home. I still plan on living in provo and working at the mtc though.

I hope you guys have a fantastic week! I love you and I will talk to you soon!

Love sister jones

Here's a pic of me and my companions :)

July 14th. Transfer news....and Baptisms!!!!!

This week has been a crazy week

. TREVOR AND RAIN GOT BAPTIZED ON SUNDAY!!!!!!!! We found out on friday last week that Trevor and Rain were going to get married this week (thursday) So we just went ahead and planned for the Baptism on Sunday. It was pretty crazy because we didn't know if Trevor was going to have work off on Sunday until Thursday evening. Luckily we were able to throw it all together in time. I Did forget to get them towels #fail. But considering how many things could have gone wrong I was happy that that was the only problem. Plus they could dry off with other baptismal jumpsuits. haha We even had a really good turn out and the baptism ran super smooth. Heaven knows it was the Lord that made everything fall into place. I was pretty nervous Trevor was going to do a canon ball in the font. (It's seriously something he would do) But the only crazy thing he did was after he got baptized, he came up out of the water and said, "Wow, that was gnarly!" The day before the baptism one of our ward missionaries invited us and trevor and rain to come to dinner with his family. It was a hilarious and awesome dinner. Trevor and Rain were completely themselves and seemed to enjoy their dinner. Trevor came to all 3 hours of church and even had a couple comments in sunday school :). Gosh I just love them more than words can describe! 

So we got Transfer news...........Black Canyon is being whitewashed..........which means they are taking all of us missionaries out and putting new missionaries in. Pretty sure they are just going to put one set in. We aren't sure if it's going to be elders or sisters. It's been madness for the past couple of days. The elders and I made sure to make our area book was perfect. The new missionaries are really lucky. They will have Three, 3 inch binders full of perfect records with all the addresses and phone numbers and summaries of where everyone is at progression wise. And since we are super nice we made a planner for the new missionaries to have. It has all the phone numbers of the auxillaries and quorem leaders, and address of the church and all their set appointments. They should have a really good week this first week considering they have about 30-35 set appointments hahaha. 

 

I can't really explain why we are getting whitewashed until I come home. So you can ask me then haha. but I know that I am still assigned to Cimarron ward. Which I'm super happy about. I love that ward. The members are sooooooooooo awesome at missionary work. They are all-star missionaries. Sister Caisey and sister hayward are both getting transfered. They made a lot of changes this transfer. So much madness....

I'm excited about this next transfer. i have a lot of goals and I can not wait to have an assigned companion again. It's been kinda lonely taking care of my two areas by myself. Sister Caisey and Hayward tried to help but they had their ward to help too. I miss having a companion to share the ward with. 

Well I love you all and I hope you are having the best day ever!!!

Love sister Jones

Here's Trevor and rain pictures! Aw just love them!!

July 7th, FAMILY!!! (Out of order). Sorry!

I'm glad that you got my birthday card! Did you guys get the post cards I sent yet?? I am going to send trevor a book of mormon that I just finished. Hopefully it will get to you soon. I am doing much better since I have been sick. Sister Hayward had to go to grand junction so it is just sister Caisey and I. We are doing really good. It's been crazy covering 3 areas, but has been really fun at the same time. I can't beleive that transfers are already almost here. I was talking to President Murdock the other day and he said, "I sure wish you could stay another transfer Sister Jones." and i said, "Me too President..." He is such a poop for teasing me like that haha. I love him so much though. I hope you guys get to meet President and Sister Murdock some day. They are the best people on the planet! President Murdock gave me permission to send in my video for applying to the MTC. He also said he would give me a good recommendation. Which was sweet of him to say. 

Ok so I think I've decided what I'm going to do. I really feel strongly that I still need to live in provo. But what I think I'll do for school is do online classes full time. (if the online classes full time aren't more expensive than regular classes) The reason why is because I wasn't even really worried about what to do with my future, but one day, a few months ago, I was talking to an Elder and he told me I should live in Provo and work at the MTC. When he said that it was like the spirit hit me on the forehead and testified to me that that was exactly what I needed to do with my life when I get home. I have never felt a spiritual prompting so strong besides the time the spirit told me I needed to go on a mission. Every time I think about it, I just know without a doubt that, that is what the Lord needs me to do. I'm sorry you guys are probably so frustrated with me. I feel terrible that I can't be more of a help with this whole process. I am just seriously eternally in your debt!! I also got a blessing the other day when I was sick and in my blessing he said that there were many people prepared for me to teach when I go home. I'm not sure but I really think that he was taking about the missionaries that I could be teaching in the MTC. Let me know what I can do to make this process less stressful and How I can help??

Thank you so much for letting me know what all of my options were. It really helped me try to make the best decision. I just feel so strongly that I need to be in Provo. Not 100% sure why. 

So Dad are you on vacation for the yellowstone trip?? Are you guys already going to yellowstone? or is this just a different vacation? 

I really hope you can get the Job mom. I think you would be really good at it and plus it would be a blast to work by sister willis hahaha. Thanks so much for letting me buys shoes. My other ones were in peices. I got some really really cute and comfy sandals. So when we were at the ranch last week I accidentally broke my camera.....it got a bunch of dirt in the lense and now it won't turn on...I was wondering if I had enough money to buy a new little camera?? Let me know. I love all of you so much! Thanks for all you do for me! Have the best week ever!!

Love sister Jones

Pictures = me, sister hayward, and sister caisey. 

May 12th 2014. FAMILY

Well it was just wonderful seeing your beautiful faces yesterday. Sorry  was such a mess. I don't have anything to report except for IT SNOWED LAST NIGHT!!! Yeah, super dumb. We are going to play zone kickball today so we are in a huge rush to email. I better get going. I just wanted to tell you that I love you sooooooooo much and thanks for being the best family on the planet. 

Love sister jones

May 5th 2014. To Everyone

Am i trunky?:

 NO!!!! I still feel really focused and I am working super super hard, but some times it just hits me about how much time i have left and I can't stop crying about it. Especially when missionaries i know and love go home it seriously breaks my heart a little more every time that happens. I love my mission more than words can describe. It has changed me completely. I know and love my savior better than i have in my entire life. I feel his presence with me always. I feel him speaking to me every time i read my scriptures. I feel the love he has for the people we teach. I feel his appreciation for me and the work i am doing every night when I report to him what i have done in my nightly prayers. I want to serve him every single day of my life. I know my next mission is to have a family. that scares the dickens out of me but I know so much more how to do that from my mission than anything else in this life. Words can't describe the Love I have for my savior. It is a very sacred relationship i have now with him. I think what scares me about going home is not knowing how to have the same relationship with him when I'm not doing his missionary work 24/7. That scares me more than anything. I just know i'm going to be a wreck and I'm going to have to rely on you guys a lot to teach me how to live real life again with a close relationship with the lord. 

Love sister Jones

April 21st. Seriously one of the craziest weeks of my mission

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April 14th 2014. "We get to hear from our stake president at stake conference." -me "OBAMA?!?"-8 year old little girl

Yes, a little less active did say that this week. BAHAHA I could have died laughing.

This week has been SOOOOO good!! Sister Bett's health has been good enough that we were able to do an entire week of missionary work! I could have cried I was so happy!! We also got to end our week with a wonderful stake confrence!! Oh it was so good! It's really fun in this stake because once a month we get to meet with the stake president. (president Taylor, who is a convert!! and is the same age as my dad hahaha weird) And we talk about the missionaries and the work they are accomplishing and what they need help with. So it's really fun to know the stake president. He is really inspiring and is on fire with his missionary work. He has so many friends and family that he is working on sharing the gospel with!! Gosh, LOVE HIM!!

One super exciting thing that has been going on that i forgot to mention last week was we got a new approach to practice!! It's called the survey approach! Basically we go up to people, introduce ourselves and ask them if they could help us answer a 10 question survey. All the questions relate to the message we share and after they are done with the survey we ask them if we can share that message with them. IT IS INCREDIBLE!! I was super leery about doing it at first. I'm not sure why i didn't think that it would work. But we tried it and HOLY SMOKES IT IS INSPIRED!! We have done 15 surveys. 4 of those people became investigators right away. 6 set up return appointments and only about 5 were completely not interested. Whew we love using this approach. It's actually super fun too! not as awkward as knocking on strangers doors. 

Sorry this email is kinda short but I've got to run. Know that I love you all!! THanks for all the birthday wishes and all the love, support and prayers that you send my way!

THE CHURCH IS TRUE!!!!

lOVE SISTER JONES!!

Picture: yeah....

April 7th 2014. Cornered by a man in a wheelchair, Kirby Vacuum man, and Fiber bars strikes again

Yeah this week has been a pretty crazy one.

So remember how last monday's email was about how crazy the day was...Well this whole week has been like that haha. 

Monday night we drove to Eagle, Tuesday we drove the rest of the way to Frisco for our 5 hour Missionary leadership meeting. Wednesday we had zone conference which went from 8 to 4. Thursday and Friday sister betts died of sickness. Saturday and sunday was conference. LOVED IT! and today we went to grand junction and back for a doctors appointment. Madness and pure happiness all around. I honestly love the meetings we go to they are seriously the best. And even in the midst of all the craziness we saw plenty of miracles :) 

One of which, comes in the form of Dale. Oh Dale. He is so wonderful. We found him by asking him if we could sing to him haha he loved it and he said he would love to be taught by us. The first day we taught him the restoration and he said he has been searching for clarity and it only makes sense that there would be prophets on the earth today. When we taught him the first vision, we asked him what he felt and he said,"Enlightened." When we asked him if he would be baptized he said,"Of coarse!" Oh my gosh he is seriously the most golden investigator I have ever taught. We were really worried we wouldn't be able to teach him when he moved in to a nursing home. (he is in his 40's, we aren't sure why he needs to live in a nursing home.) But we got permission from our zone leaders to teach him. We went to visit him this week to see if he was coming to confrence and we got to meet his lovely roommate Jim......Well lets just say that Jim is a tiny bit of a mr. grumpy pants. We walked in and he was like, "OH, I guess I should just get out of the way since I am such an annoyance." we assured him that he was fine where he was at and that we could leave to a different room to teach dale. He was like, "NO, I'M GETTING OUT OF HERE."  so i moved out of the way so he could wheel himself out the door, but he looked at me and then started rolling towards me......I knew I was in trouble.....I asked him if I could sneek by him and he was like, "NO YOU ARE STAYING HERE." and I was like well I need to go with my friends to a different room and he yelled again."OH NO YOU ARE STAYING HERE."  I tried to go behind him but he wheeled backwards and literally wouldn't let me pass through. I thought my companion was going to pee her pants. Oh gosh it was the most horrifically awkward experiance of my life!!! Luckily, I just jumped over his legs and ran out the door. Whew! We probably will just meet dale in the front room next time....

Next cool story of the week. As you know Sister betts was pretty sick this week. So I had the Mt. Sneffles (yeah i know it is a weird name) sister missionaries come out with me and one stay with sister betts. We didn't get to teach many people but we did find a new investigator so I felt pretty good about our day. But the lord decided to bless us even more with an unplanned person to teach hahah. The Kirby Vacuum man! He was doing a little door to door sales and we let him in. Little did he know that instead of us buying a Kirby he would be leaving with a book of mormon, a restoration pamplet and our card! It was so awesome!! We felt bad cause we kind of got him in trouble for being at our house too long, so we sent him off also with some banana bread that sister betts mom sent us haha. It was awesome!! When he gets baptized he will have the best conversion story EVER!!

OK one last funny story.....So we had a meeting in frisco. (which is 4 hours away from montrose) It was a leadership meeting. Well we drove up the night before to Eagle. Which is about 3 hours away and we stayed the night with some spanish sister missionaries. The lady they lived with was oh so kind to give us some granola bars for the rest of the drive to frisco in the morning. I ate 2....Later I was sitting in the meeting and my stomach started rumbling like never before. It was so loud that the missionaries all sitting at my table looked at me. I looked at my companion and asked if we could go to the bathroom. Yeah....I kinda blew up the bathroom.....every half an hour..... of our 5 hour meeting!!!!!!!!!THE GRANOLA BARS WERE DANG FIBER BARS!!!!!! It was so horrible. I have never had something so tramatic happen to my poor little belly in my entire life! The four hour drive back was just as terrible. Luckily, I only had to stop about every 2 hours and I slept most of the way. Ugh. that was awful!. I really have a testimony that fiber bars are of the devil.

WEll I love the gospel. I love my mission. and I love all of you! I hope you have fabulous week this week!!

Love sister jones

March 31st. Hello Everyone!!

Ok sorry it took us so long to email today. It has been the craziest day ever!!!! Let me just tell you how insane this day has been. 

So we got up at 630 ran around and got ready for the day, went to Walmart and got our groceries and vacuumed our car. 

Then we went home and did our studies 

Then at 10 we dropped off our car to big o tires to get our oil changed and our tires rotated then we had the spanish sister missionaries drop us off at Walmart again so sister betts could get her hair cut/dyed. 

We found out that Walmart wouldn't' be able to dye her hair until 230. So we walked to great clips and found out they don't do hair dying and then we walked to jc penny's to see if they could do it there and their salon was closed. So then we called the Spanish sisters to see if they could pick us back up so we could get our car so sister betts could go to her doctor's appointment....

They didn't answer their phone......neither did 10 other people we called....(it was 11:00 by the way and her appointment was at 11:30) so we did what seemed logical.....we sprinted for 1 mile trying to get back to big o tires in time.....yeah we know we are dumb hahah

Because the Lord is so merciful one of the members in our ward honked their horn at us and we ran frantically to them and asked if they could take us to big o tires. She said of coarse! (it was 11:23 at this point, we were freaking out that we were going to be late to the doctor)

ANOTHER tender mercy from the Lord was when we got to big o we found out that everything was already paid for! #blessings!!!!

So we zoomed to the doctors, made it exactly at 11:30. Whew!

After the doctor's appointment we ran back to walmart to make a hair appointment for 230, and ran to little ceasars to get pizza for our sister's activity we planed for at 1 today. 

WE zoom back home, get all the tie dye stuff ready and clean our house and do our laundry and pack because we have a meeting in frisco tomorrow. (we have to drive to grand junction tonight because frisco is 4 hours away!!!!)

Then all the sisters showed up and we tie dyed shirts and ate pizza and had a great ol time!

Then we kicked everyone out of the house and we ran to walmart to get sister betts hair dyed, which took 2 hours then we landed here in this lovely library and we have an appointment in approximately 10 minutes........#lifeofamissionary!

But I can't complain because I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY!!!! and I love you all. I am having such a fantastic time here in montrose. I just love everyday that I get to serve the Lord!

I hope you all are having a fantastic week! YOu should all bear your testimony to someone this week.....I dare you! it's actually really fun!!

Ok I have got to go! Love you!!!!!!!!!!!

Why are Hispanics so much nicer than white people?? March 23nd 2014

I don't mean to be racist but I went tracking with the Spanish sister missionaries on an exchange and it is a proven fact. Every single Hispanic was SO much nicer than the white people. 

They would invite us in, invite us to take a seat, offer us some juice, listen to our message, turn off the tv, tell their children to be quiet.....The three people we talked to that where white our experience when a little something like;

Standing on their door step we say;

"Hello! We are the missionaries from the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints!" 

and they would respond "Oh yeah! Well we are catholic so YOU HAVE A VERY NICE DAY!" 

Then we would get the door shut in our face.....To bad I love these white people so much or else I would try to switch to Spanish. 

Welp, we had a fabulous week this week. We found 5 new investigators!!! One of them his name is Graham. WE LOVE HIM TO PIECES. I can't believe this kids history and what he has gone through. He has 1 and a half arms. We aren't sure what happened to the half that is missing. We didn't' feel it was appropriate to ask him. He dropped out of high school and got his GED. Use to be in a gang....lives with his aunt and uncle. Can't find a job because of his criminal record. Is going to AA and is trying to turn his life around and he is only 18 years old.....Seriously this kid is a sweet heart. He is trying so hard to get things in order. He was so excited to meet with us and learn more about the gospel. He met us at the library cause his uncle doesn't like the mormons for some reason. He seems super solid. I'm excited to teach him more. 

Another exciting person we have to teach is Jordan. She is the daughter of a super super less active. She is 17 and has never been baptized or exposed to the church. She has a couple of friends that are LDS and she seems super excited to learn more. We also put Crystal on DATE FOR BAPTISM!!! She is a super cool christian lady. She said her and her family have been searching for a church for years. She found one that she likes but when she prayed about it, she felt a distinct answer that she needed to keep searching. That's when we came around. She has been reading the book of mormon and she has 10,000 questions. She also said that she will be coming to church this week!!! With her whole family!!!! WE are so excited!!

We also have some super frustrating people that we are teaching hahah. We have these adorable investigators. Their names are Pat and Ruby. Ruby is Pat's mother. They are in their 60s and 40s. They have been taught by missionaries for about a year. When we last saw them this week we asked them if they knew the book of mormon was true. They said yes...We then asked them if they thought that this was Jesus Christ's church, they said yes....Then we asked them if they would like to be apart of Jesus Christ's Church, they said yes.....THEN we asked them if they would like to be baptized and then they said.....no......GAH! It is so frustrating. They know that this is the truth they know they need to be baptized to join jesus christ's church, But for some reason they are opposed to baptism. They keep telling us they don't want to rush and they need to learn more. But we have taught them every single lesson. We really don't know what else to do. We can't continue to teach them if they don't progress. We NEED A MIRACLE!! So if you want to include them in your prayers it would be much appreciated!! 

Well I better get going! I hope all of you are having a fabulous week!! THE CHURCH IS TRUE!!!

Love Sister Jones

 p.s. here is  picture of our lovely little Kruz. 

March 17th. "Oh NO....I think we lost a child of God...."-Sister Betts

Well, I appoligize for having pretty lame emails the past couple of emails. Life has been so crazy!! I am officially in Montrose with SISTER BETTS!!!! Idk if you remember back from the good ol' MTC days, but sister betts and I started our missions together. (we were in the same district and the same dorm room)  Now we are kicking it in the same bunk bed arrangement we had back in the day hahaha. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT HERE!! I know, i know....I was so bummed about leaving grand junction and EVERYONE told me i would love it here. They were all right. *sigh* i just didn't want to accept it....

So we are living in a nice member's home. Her name is sister Armstrong. She is single and has the cutest most hilarious dog on the planet. His name is Kruz. He blew out his knee this week chasing a ball too enthusiastically and he had to get surgery. Now the poor dog has to wear the cone of shame and has a shaved chicken leg now. Bless his little heart. He doesn't wine too much about it except when he has to wear the cone. hahaha I would too if I were him. 

This week we have mostly been running around like crazy trying to teach and meet everyone in the area. So far I absolutely love everyone. We have a ton! of people to teach. They are all so awesome. We also have been trying to talk to every single person we see. We have had some hilarious experiences because of it. 

My favorite was when we chased andrew down. hahaha he was walking down the street and we pulled over our car, rolled down the window and yelled, "HEY, can we give you our card?!" and he was like, "uhhh, i'm kinda in a hurry. I'm late." Sister Betts yells, "Is it ok if we set up a time to come visit you??" He says "Yeah, meet me at the library tomorrow at noon!" and we were like, "OK!!" then we parted ways. We drove off in one direction and he walked away in another. We opened our planners to write him in and we then realized that we had a zone meeting at that time.......Sister betts was freaking out cause we didn't get his number and he didn't get ours. She said, "WHAT DO WE DO SISTER JONES??!" And i was like lets turn around and go find him. hahaha so for the next 7 minutes we were driving all over trying to find our little friend. This is when sister betts said sadly, "Oh NO.... i think we lost a child of God." We were super sad, and didn't think we would be able to find him. Then out of sheer fate, we spotted him. I couldn't stop laughing when we pulled over the car and sister betts yelled out the window. "HEY, IS IT OK IF WE MEET YOU ON FRIDAY AT NOON?!" and he was like 'YEAH!" haha I think we seriously freaked him out cause he wasn't there friday at noon.....:( but we totally were there and if we see him again he won't get off so easy.

I am just doing so fantastic and I hope everyone else is too. Know that I love you all to pieces and have a HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!!! 

Love sister Jones!!

Picture of sister betts

and sister betts with poor Kruz haha

March 10th. FAMILY

I...am...getting...transferred :( Gosh, it is so weird. I have so many mixed emotions about it. It feels like home here, but I know I am suppose to leave. I'm just really nervous they are going to send me to Denver hahaha. 

Sister Tew is staying here and they are taking both elders out of our ward and putting the AP's in our ward. There are going to be 4 Assistants to the president now. Crazy! I know! I'm kinda sad that I won't be able to serve in the same ward with them again. hahah that would have been fun. I just really know my time here is finished. It's weird, every transfer that I leave an area I always know before it happens. No transfer news has been an enormous shock. It is just accepting that you have to leave is the hard part. I love the people here so much!!! I love the missionaries so much!!!! It is crazy cause 

cause.. cause... Im a Goofball. Crazy huh? 

Uh.....

Oh hey, We went and Hiked this super sick Mountain called Mount Garfield. It was a BLAST! I will probably get married up there on day. would that be too much do you think? Nahhhhhhhhhh

Anywhos... Yea we hiked this mountain and I didn't DIE~! it was a blessing from the Lord. and oh I made a ton of really great friends, one of which is ELder Bob Hewlett just kidding his names Dylan just kidding its Elder. But yea he says he will work at my Art Camp one day but too bad he hasnt signed a Contract.. Maybe he'll never work there... just kidding Im making a contract right now, and Its on the back of a receipt to reserve a computer haha im soo silly. But yea He'll work at my art camp and he'll probably be a janitor or something he doesn't have a lot of skills... poor kid any ways!!! hahaha 

love sister jOnes

Ok, that was elder Hewlett. He decided to write the rest of my email for me. I hope all of you are having the best week ever!! I love you so much. 

Love (the real) sister Jones :)

Here is a picture of Elder Hewlett