MIRACLES HAPPEN ON EXCHANGES

hello hello!!!

this week was really great!  Lots of miracles were wrought in this wonderful land of River Valley!

I had my first exchange as a sister training leader, and Sister Wilde came to our area for the day!  It was such a blast.  She has been on the mission for two weeks and she is such a rockstar.  We had a few minutes before our supper appointment, so we knocked a few doors beforehand that were in the neighborhood.  Not too many interested souls, but as we were walking to the supper, a guy came out of the house next door!  So we ran over to talk to him!  His name is Riley, he's 17 and going into grade 12!  We taught him about the Book of Mormon and gave him one and the spirit was SO STRONG!  Sister Wilde bore a such a powerful testimony of it and i just couldn't stop smiling.  :)  We ended up being able to teach him later in the week and it was SO GOOD!  We taught him in his neighbor's home, and the spirit was so real.  He has been reading the Book of Mormon and wants to know how he can get answers to prayers.  It was so fun to teach him.  After the lesson, we asked him how he felt and he said, "at first, i was nervous to come over here, but after we started i just felt so joyful and happy, and the scared feeling left."  THAT'S THE SPIRIT AHHH IT WAS GREAT. 

The second miracle that happened on exchanges was IN. SANE.  :) We were trying to stop by an investigator (who actually wasn't home) so we decided to knock some random doors.  We awkwardly tried to talk to some people who were walking their dogs who were clearly uninterested in talking, but then we knocked on this door.  Antonio answered and was really friendly as we started teaching him about the restored gospel, then this lady (Angela) comes in front of him and goes, "we're not interested," all snooty like and started closing the door, so real quick we just asked if she knows anyone who needs a message of hope, and it was so cool.  We literally saw her countenance change from "get off my porch you filthy animals" to...humble realization..? maybe?  not entirely sure but her countenance changed and she just stops and says, "yeah, i need a message of hope."  we were just like...uhhhhhh okay!  then she looks to Antonio and says, "I TAKE EVERYTHING AS A SIGN!" then to us she says,"I was just comin over here to be all rude to y'all and then you ask me that!" she then went on to tell us how she has been reading this book on how to have a better life and what not, and then we come knockin on her door. GOD'S TIMING IS PERFECT I TELL YOU! so we got her information and everything and set up a lesson to teach her yesterday!  sadly, it fell through, some things came up, but we're planning on teaching her this week!  pray for her please! 

yet another miracle that happened that day, we found a lost sheep family from the Philippines!  We thought a potential lived there, but we had the wrong address.  We talked to Mary, and she was like, "oh yeah, we were mormon back in the philippines, my dad was a bishop!" we were just like WHHAAA??  So we sent the Tagalog elders over and the mom of the family said that she took it as a sign from God that they  need to come back to church.  #miraclesonmiracles

While doing a ton of finding this week, we found like a MILLION potentials for the Tagalog elders!  It was so great.  #moremiracles 

Also something really funny this week, we do service at this retirement center, we just go and visit with them for an hour once a week.  We were playing dominoes with these old guys, and the one, Joe, starts telling us how good these crackers are.  Then he's like, "oh here they are," and he picks up a domino and TRIES TO EAT IT!  it was probably one of the funniest moments of my life.  had to be there....those people are my favorite.

 

also, our investigator, Hergit, is so great.  We stopped by to teach her and she just gets so happy!  she's from India and is Sikh, but also believes in Jesus.  So that's good hahah.  We taught her about the atonement and the need for a Savior, and she loved it.  then she goes into the kitchen and comes out with two massive plates of rice and curry and we just look at each other like..oh no.  (because we were going to our supper appointment after that) but alas, we ate it and it was really yummy! i love indian food!  But she was like, " i hope it's not too spicy," and i said, "no i love spicy!" and she got all excited and comes in with these firey pickle things and we had to eat them and i almost died.  word to the wise: NEVER TELL INDIAN PEOPLE YOU LIKE SPICY.  just don't. 

all in all this week was superb.  I absolutely love the members here in River Valley, their faith is UNREAL.  Every lesson we have with them, they are just so gung-ho about the gospel and about doing missionary work!  this area is so ready for more miracles and these members are going to bring them about. :)  I feel so blessed to be here and to have this opportunity to serve with all my heart, might, mind and strength.  My mind has been very occupied lately with the concept of light.  More specifically, The Light of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
"I give unto you to be the light of this people. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid."

WE can be mirrors of the light of Christ, so that others can see who he really is!  It's our job to reflect the light of Christ so all we come in contact with can see that light and feel our Heavenly Father's love for them. 

i read this talk by Elder Brewerton that I invite all of you to read as well!

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1991/10/light?lang=eng

also i'm really stoked, we get to go to JASPER next week!!!  

anywho, i love this gospel, i love the Lord, i love this beautiful land of Alberta and all the people here. 

Onward, ever onward. 

Sister Jones

river valley week número uno

greetings from the land of River Valley.  It's a great place and we have a car.  I actually miss walking though and talking with so many people like we did downtown.  and let me tell you, I MISS THE GHETTO OF DOWNTOWN SO MUCH IT'S SAD.  River Valley is pretty rich, so these people need some humbling.  Being a sister training leader is really weird, I go on my first exchange as STL today!  I don't really know our area yet seeing as I've been here 6 days, but I'm staying so it'll be an adventure!  Pray for me!  I also get to go on exchanges with the sisters in Drayton Valley, so my life is now complete.  I love those people. 

soooooo leaving Forest Heights was weird.  Saying goodbye was sad, but I'm still in Edmonton, so I'll see everyone again. :) 

Here's a miracle from this week!

We do this really awesome thing called "power hour" with the members.  We pray with them and they pick a place on the map of our area that we'll contact in the next hour.  It takes so much faith, because we literally promise them that we'll see miracles, then we go back after and tell them what happened.  Saturday night we did one!  Started talking to people who weren't interested at all...then we saw this guy a block away so we decided to run to talk to him!  He was surprised, but we told him about the Book of Mormon and a modern day prophet.  He was really intrigued, and we asked him if he ever thought about the concept of having a prophet today on the earth.  He just said,"...well... yeah.  that would make a lot more sense.  Here I'll give you my number so you can come teach me."  WHHHHAAAAA???  so cool.  So we're trying to set up a meeting with him this week.  His name is Akin.  Pray for him!

As I have been continuing on in my 40 day fast, i have felt the spirit SO strong.  The spirit has been so present and so empowering.  I love being here and i love being able to receive that communication from my Heavenly Father many times a day.  I can't even put into words how full my heart is.  

This gospel really is the greatest thing.  I know it's true.  I'm so grateful to be here and I'm so thankful for the example of Jesus Christ.  I'm trying more and more everyday to be more like him and to do what he would do if he were here.  I'll let my favorite primary song speak for me:

I'm trying to be like Jesus;

I'm following in his ways.

I'm trying to love as he did, in all that I do and say.

At times I am tempted to make a wrong choice,

But I try to listen as the still small voice whispers,

"Love one another as Jesus loves you.

Try to show kindness in all that you do.

Be gentle and loving in deed and in thought,

For these are the things Jesus taught."

I'm trying to love my neighbor;

I'm learning to serve my friends.

I watch for the day of gladness when Jesus will come again.

I try to remember the lessons he taught.

Then the Holy Spirit enters into my thoughts, saying:

"Love one another as Jesus loves you.

Try to show kindness in all that you do.

Be gentle and loving in deed and in thought,

For these are the things Jesus taught."

Onward, ever onward.

Sister Jones

Transfers

 sooo i have like zero time to email, we're going to the West Edmonton
Mall today, which is the biggest mall in Canada.  I'm stoked.

we got a call Friday morning from President Manion, and he told me
that he was calling me as a sister training leader.  my first
reaction was, "president, are you sure?" he just laughed and said he
would see me at the new leadership meeting the next day.  Monday we
got calls saying that I'm going to the River Valley Ward with Sister
Howard!  It's on the south west side of the city.

We taught Buja and Dia the restoration and they LOVED it!  we taught
from the book of mormon a lot, and would have Buja read it from her
Hindi one.  She would then explain it to us in English and we all
learned so much.  We showed her the picture of the first vision and
asked what might be happening in the picture, and she goes, "well, i
think he's calling a new prophet!" we were just like...uh yeah.  they
are both so smart.  we invited Buja to be baptized on August 22, and
she looked at her husband and said, can I?  and he said yes!!!  they
want dia to wait a little longer, but MAN it was amazing.  going out
of forest heights with a bang!

Last night, our original plans fell through, so we thought to go see
Wendy, a less active we have been working with who is progressing very
slowly...but she really is coming along.  we had the thought to change
our lesson plan and read with her in the Book of Mormon from Alma 32
about faith and nourishing the seed to help it grow.  the spirit was
SO strong.  and she told us that she was already thinking about that
concept that day and that really was the message she needed to hear.
she was so grateful and man...so was i.  it is the greatest thing to
realize that the spirit really is working through you.  so humbling.

also we totally gave a book of mormon to the ice cream truck lady and
she said she would read it. #preachingbytheway

leaving an area is so bitter sweet.  it's hard because you don't want
to leave these people that you have lost so much sleep over, prayed
ferventlyabout, and worked so diligently to meet their needs for the
past transfers.  But on the other hand, it's so amazing to see all the
Lord has done through you.  So many miracles were wrought in this land
of forest heights!!!  i will never forget this place and it will
forever be holy ground.

anywho, i'm peacin' out to the west edmonton mall.


onward, ever onward.

sister jones


randoms from the week and all my forest heights bff's

O Canada, We Stand on Guard For Thee

OH MAN LIFE IS GOOD AND I LOVE THE GOSPEL

sooooo this week was nuts.  Probably one of the hardest weeks of my mission, but a lot of the time, the harder you try, the harder it gets....so then you just have to try harder and rely on the Savior.  HE IS THE ONLY WAY I'M TELLING YOU. 

It was Canada Day on Wednesday and that was a jolly good day.  :) we didn't end up going to any big events during the day, but we got to visit some people who were alone on Canada Day, and i really feel like that's where we needed to be.  It's so wonderful that God lets us play a part in helping others through this life.  

We got to volunteer at a baseball game and THAT WAS THE BEST THING OF MY LIFE.  Didn't get to see much of the game, but just being there was such a tender mercy from Heavenly Father.  We basically just put wrist bands on people and told them to have a good evening.  We got to know this man pretty well, he was helping us.  And he totally reminded me of dad and that was another tender mercy.  :)  He'll accept the gospel soon enough, he's in contact with the missionaries in his area.  

Saturday started off pretty rough, but MAN DID WE SEE MIRACLES OR WHAT??! (i'll give you a hint...we saw miracles.)  

some sisters from Millwoods found Buja on the bus, and she is in our area!  (which is a miracle in and of itself, probably 80% of the people we find live in different areas) 

ANYWAYS we went over to her place and taught her and her daughter, Dia who is 10!  Their family is from Nepal and they speak Hindi.  Buja made us this traditional tea from their culture and we had to awkwardly decline......hahahhh but all is well.  :) We taught them the Plan of Salvation and the spirit was SO STRONG.  We played "I am a Child of God" for them and Buja just LOVED IT.  I just can't even describe it.  Ah!  They both accepted the invitation to be baptized and it was so killer.  We went back last night after all our plans fell through to bring them the Hindi Book of Mormon so they could start reading, and we met her husband, Dez!  their family is so sweet and SO prepared for this gospel.  As we sat with them i could just see them in white getting sealed for time and all eternity.  :)  AH!  And Buja invited her friends to learn about it all too so we'll be teaching them here real soon!  She's basically already a better missionary than most members....AH i'm seriously so excited for them.  Now all we need is the gift of tongues so we can learn Hindi real quick....:)  

Last night, God also led us to 3 new SOLID POTENTIALS that we'll start teaching!  AH!!!

and yesterday we worked all day pulling weeds for a member...these were the biggest weeds I've ever seen in my life hahahahha it was such a gong show.  aaaand spiders were crawling all over me and no i didn't cry.  

one of my most favorite things about this promised land of Canada is their national anthem, O Canada.  (is it kosher for us to adopt it in the states?...or nah?) The 4th verse is my favorite,

Ruler Supreme, who hearest humble prayer,

Hold our Dominion in thy loving care.

Help us to find, O God, in thee,

A lasting rich reward.

As waiting for the better day,

We ever stand on guard.

God keep our land, glorious and free!  

O Canada, we stand on guard for thee;

O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.  

i am so immensely grateful for the time i have had and still have to serve my Canadian brothers and sisters.  I will EVER STAND ON GUARD for this place and for these people.  because of my mission, i have learned how to sincerely and fully be changed by the atonement of Christ.  The change of heart that i have experienced drives me to share this with all those i see.  What an honor it is to be entrusted with the responsibility to spread the gospel and the knowledge of a Savior, Jesus Christ, to all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people.  THIS IS THE REAL DEAL, I AM TELLING YOU!  My heart has never been so filled with love for the people here, the people at home, and for the Savior and for my Heavenly Father.    I have found that lasting rich reward in this beautiful land.  

Onward, ever onward.  🇨🇦

xoxoxo

Sister Jones

after pulling weeds...#dead

 

 

THE GOSPEL ROCKS

 someone teach me hindi plz asap