"...it shall be given unto you."

alright peeps, buckle up and keep your arms and legs inside the vehicle at all times. I've got a lot to tell you about answered prayers.  such a stellar week.  HERE WE GO!

 FIONAH!!! We found her last week when i had a distinct thought to go contact at the west edmonton mall bus station.  She was the first person we talked to and she accepted a book of mormon and wanted to meet.  We had a split, so I went with a member (return missionary from this mission, Sister Cardona:):):)) and the mandarin elders to teach her the first lesson, and it was PRIME.  the best lesson i've had with an investigator in such a long time.  She asked such good questions and felt the spirit so strongly.  after she prayed, we paused and asked her how she felt, she said, "honestly, i feel this weight just lift off of my shoulders." it was amazing.  I then told her that when we found her that day, I had a distinct impression of where we needed to go and everything. Then she told us an amazing story.  back when her parents were in China, they already had 2 kids, which wasn't okay.  But then her mom got pregnant with her.  everyone told her to abort the baby, and she was really conflicted.  She then ran into two missionaries (not sure if they were lds but it's pretty cool) on a bus, they told her that God would watch over her and everything would be okay, and they gave her a book. (not sure if it was the BofM, but still cool).  Fionah has never really believe in God at all,  but about a month ago, her mom told her that she should go to church to thank God for the life he gave her.  She wasn't sure why, so she asked, and her mom told her this story.  Since then, Fionah has been trying to figure out how to find God and feel forgiven and basically give her life to him.  She said that she prayed to him and said, "if you want me to come to you, I need you to send someone to me so show me where to go."  Then we showed up at the bus stop. (ANSWERED PRAYER) We also had a lesson with her this morning and taught the Plan of Salvation and she prayed again and she's just GOLDEN.  She accepted a baptismal date of February 13th!  My last Saturday here!!! I just love this girl.  

JOHN!!!  We had a lesson with him after church and it was PRIME. This whole week, I have been praying so earnestly that his desire for baptism will increase. The first thing he asked us was, "What's the process i need to go through to be baptized?" And it just so happens (by revelation) that we were going to go over the baptismal interview questions with him so he could see where he's at with everything.  He was surprised.  After going through the questions, he said that he felt like he just needed to move forward in faith, and commit! (ANSWERED PRAYER) We're planning on moving his date sooner this week! :) We're just trying to help him recognize the answers he has already received.  

We got to do a Hot Chocolate stand on the U of A campus at the institute!  It was so much fun, people think we're kind of crazy running all over the place and giving people free hot chocolate, but it opens a lot of doors for people to talk to us.  We found so many chinese people for the mandarin elders to teach.  

We did lots of LRT contacting, and I got to give a Book of Mormon to this amazing Filipino girl named Patricia.  She was so grateful and I'm so excited to get teaching her more! My favourite thing about being a missionary is when you can feel the spirit testify through you and touch someone's heart.  It's priceless.  

Friday, before going into our supper appointment (which we have been getting a fair amount of for YSA) we decided to knock a few doors.  We had about 20 minutes, and I prayed that we would find someone that we could teach a lesson to.  Second door we knocked on turned out to be a lost sheep that had been praying to know how to get to church!!! (ANSWERED PRAYER!!!) Annnnd we got to teach her a lesson hahah. :) (answered prayer...again:))

We had a lesson with a less-active, Sara, that the missionaries have been working with for AGES and she never keeps any commitments.  As we were studying for her, we felt like we needed to actually hold her to her commitments, and if she didn't keep them, we wouldn't move onto what we had planned to teach.  We went over, and before going into the lesson, we prayed that she would have the desire to actually read the Book of Mormon.  We went in and what do ya know she didn't keep any commitments, so we decided to read the talk with her that the sisters committed her to read forever ago.  Halfway through the talk, we asked her what she thought and felt so far, she just said, "welll...honestly i feel tempted to just put this talk down and go dive into the Book of Mormon right now!" (ANSWERED PRAYER) we were just like OKAY SOUNDS GOOD!  So yeah she went and read. :) so cool!  

okay and now for one of the craziest/coolest/most miraculous happenings ever this week...

We got to go to the CES devotional with a returning less active, Danika!  it was AMAZING.  MAN I LOVED IT SO MUCH!!!  okay first i'll tell you about Danika.  So, the Lamoureux's (ward mission leader in river valley) have a granddaughter (danika).  She's 22, and has been extremely anti to the church and God and everything for quite a while.  A few months ago, we stopped by the lamoureux's and she was there, so we kind of hung out with her a bit, didn't try to share anything because it would push her away, but it was all around a good visit.  Later on, she came with them to the ward christmas party!  The night I said goodbye to the Lamoureux's, Danika's parents were there.  I met them and we talked and I really wanted to reach out to Danika now that I'm in YSA.  They said it probably wouldn't work.  last week, we got a call back from the lamoureux's saying that Danika wanted to come to church.  WHHHHHAT????  So we got it all lined up and she came (her family came with her to ysa) and it was AMAZING.  oh my word.  She's a completely new person.  She drove us to the fireside as well and i asked her what made her decide to come back.  She told us this really long story that's hers to share but all i can say is...she is a legit modern day alma the younger.  no joke. at all.  She said that even two weeks ago, if you asked her if she would come to church she would have been against it.  But she went to her cousin's wedding (which was at the temple) and since she couldn't go in, she went inside the church right next door to use the washroom.  She heard a voice tell her that this is where she needs to be.  a literal voice! (ANSWER TO SO MANY PRAYERS)  and now she's thinking about a mission and everything and she has been studying for hours everyday.  i honestly can hardly believe this complete 180 turn in less than one week. when she walked into the church, she just gave me the biggest hug.  i cannot even describe the happiness I feel as i witness this miracle!!! Her countenance radiates the light of Christ!  so happy. so happy.  she's amazing.  totally alma the younger.  (if you're unfamiliar with his story, read Mosiah 27 and Alma 36 in the Book of Mormon) 

there's more but i'm sick of looking at a computer screen....haha

"20 And whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name,which is right, believing that ye shall receive, behold it shall be given unto you." [3 Nephi 18:20]

I'm just so amazed at the tender mercies and miracles that I have witnessed just this week.  God IS real and I know that he DOES answer prayers. If you feel you aren't getting answers to your prayers, take a step back and ask God if that's what he needs you to ask for.  Align your will with his!   If His will is our will, when we pray, he WILL grant unto us all that we ask!  I'm so grateful for a loving father that knows what I, as well as all those around me, need.  i just love life.  I love the gospel.  I love the mission and the change that the atonement has wrought in my life and in the lives of those I have come to love more than I thought possible. 

Onward, ever onward.

Sister Jones

Sister Cardona RM status :)

"Get a grip....." -President Manion

Greetings from the valley full of rainbows and young single adults.  This week actually felt very long. Not being a sister training leader slows things down a bit, but we have been fairly busy with contacting and teaching.  Being in a tripan is a bit crazy, I kind of feel like I have two little sidekicks when we walk around (probably because I'm assertive and kind of loud and sister Lee and sister Lefler are pretty chill and quiet) so it has been an adventure. I'm trying not to talk so much.

YSA is....good? It's good. It's really fun to interact with people my age! Sacrament meeting was dead quiet hahahah. But we had two investigators at church! John and Rebecca. John has been taught mostly everything, His girlfriend is a member and he's on date for baptism in May.  He's doing pretty well, we had a lesson with him after church and he really opened up with what he's struggling with, so we now know how to help him make the decision, he's so close!!!

Rebecca is a member of another church but said she would be baptized here if it was true!  She liked church, but will be gone this week for a retreat activity for her other church.

We got asked to teach the gospel principles class like 5 seconds before it started...that was fun. The lesson was on the word of wisdom. Haha. Thank goodness for the manual and the Holy Ghost.

I'm grateful that I'm in this area because guess what we get......BUS PASSES FOR THE LRT!!!!!!!
As you all know, Bus/LRT contacting is my favourite thing in the universe.  We spend quite a bit of time contacting there and we have been able to talk to so many amazing people. I talked to this super great Chinese girl named Ivy, and she is so excited to learn more!!!

The first day I was here, we decided to do some contacting at the west Edmonton mall. Bad idea.  Haha...with two people, it's no big deal, but with three of us, it just seemed like a mob..and yeah it didn't work out as I had hoped. So we went to the bus station there which was actually PERFECT. The first people we talked to were Fionah (and her parents who didn't speak English.)When we asked if Fionah had heard of the Book of Mormom, she said that her friend tried to give her one, but that she didn't know where she put it. We asked if we could give her another, and she just jumped up and down and said, "YES YES YES PLEASE!!!" She was so stoked it was amazing. She was going to come to church with us, but didn't feel good. But we're meeting with her on Thursday!  I'm so excited, she's so great.

I have started the weird "MY PLAN" thing for missionaries to complete in their last transfer (where you set goals for real life and stuff)...and it's kind of weird. I may or may not have had a bit of a
melt down and asked president if I could extend...but all he said was "the lord called you to serve for 18 months and I don't have authority to make it longer...get a grip and get going with your my plan." So here I am trying to get a grip and just face it...hahahah oh man....it has just FLOWN by.

A big tender mercy, I know some people in this Ward from my past areas!!! One of them being a less active who used to live in forest heights and I just love her and her family so much. We got to see her
on Sunday, she's struggling a lot, but man I am just so glad I am here and can try my best to help.

Okay so my Book of Mormon reading this week has been PHENOMENAL and so full of the spirit. I just...can't get enough of that book!!! It's so true!!! I am in the book of Ether reading the story of the brother of Jared. That guy and his faith just AMAZE me. (Go read it right now if you haven't in a while...Ether 2-4) I have learned so much about how the Lord can guide us and give us answers to our questions. I just want the spirit to work through me to bless others 24/7. As I was reading I just had the question, how do I have experiences like the brother of Jared? Then i kept reading and found these verses, "...they shall repent of their iniquity, and become clean before the Lord. 7 And in that day that they shall exercise faith in me, saith the Lord, even as the brother of Jared did, that they may become sanctified in me, then will I manifest unto them the things which the brother of Jared saw, even to the unfolding unto them all my revelations, saith Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of the heavens and of the earth, and all things that in them are."  I also thought of this verse which is a recitation for our mission, Alma 26:22 "22 Yea, he that repenteth and exerciseth faith, and bringeth forth good works, and prayeth continually without ceasing--unto such it is given to know the mysteries of God; yea, unto such it shall be given to reveal things which never have been revealed; yea, and it shall be given unto such to bring thousands of souls to repentance, even as it has been given unto us to bring these our brethren to repentance." I am just so happy to be a missionary right now, my heart is FILLED TO THE BRIM. I love this work and I love my Savior so much. I hope that
each of you know that you have a Savior, Jesus Christ who has already paid the price for you to have peace and happiness here in this crazy world. I love you all!!!

Onward, ever onward.

Sister Jones

Off to the valley of rainbows...

well, my friends, transfer calls came and I'm sad to say that my time in River Valley is coming to an end.  I'll be going to Rainbow Valley YSA for my last 6 weeks!  with not only one...but TWO new companions!  Sister Lefler and Sister Lee.  they have both  been out just a few transfers, so it'll be an adventure! I'm excited to see what I can learn from them.  And I'll try my best to convert the young single adult population of Edmonton and try not to be awkward...

Ethiopian Christmas lunch

LOTS OF BLESSINS THIS WEEK 

Christmas was great!  We got to have an Ethiopian lunch (which made my tummy angry) with Solo (our landlord) and his mom and sister!!!  They're all Pentecostal and super amazing, and we got to teach a little about the Godhead with them as well as eternal families.  :) they're such good Christian people.  I love them so much.  Solo also invited us the next day to come to his get together with his bible study group!  They all came over to the house and we ate with them and then had a bible study.  I just prayed my little heart out the whole time that we could share restored truth with them without taking over their class, and Solo would randomly call on us to share our thoughts, so we got to share verses from the Book of Mormon and it was really neat.  Sometimes you really feel the spirit speak through you, and this was one of those times.  It was all really spiritual until the end (when they started repenting out loud and speaking in tongues...) but afterwards, I felt I needed to say more, so I piped up and said something along the lines of "Okay everyone, we want you to know that we can help you come closer to Jesus Christ through reading the Bible and the Book of Mormon, so if you want to learn we would love to teach you." then Solo was like, "wait sistahs wait i have to ask my pastor.".......hahah it was awkward.  But yeah it was good, because a couple people came up afterwards and wanted our card.  One guy took it all sneakily from Sister McKeon's hands.  :) so that was our pentecostal experience. 

We also got to go to Dawuta's for boxing day and eat some DELICIOUS Nigerian food.  She's the best.  

Here's a cool story, we were driving in this neighbourhood, and this guy drove his truck into the driveway and we wanted to talk to him so we pulled over real quick and went to say hello.  we went and he was like, "yeah yeah i know you, you were waving a sign at me from your car the other day." we were like WHAT NO WAY.  He wasn't interested in the least, but it was just really neat that Heavenly Father made our paths cross TWICE.  (also it just strengthened my testimony of proselyting while still in the car... #carsignsforlyfe ) 

We got to go sing at this disabled people home with the Lamoureux's and the Elders on Christmas eve!  it was so much fun.  Sister lamoureux plays the guitar and sings while Brother Lamoureux plays his harmonica. :) It's so great.  i love them.  also the spirit was so strong while doing service on Christmas eve, really just doing what Christ would do.  

yesterday, we were going around so i could say goodbye to people, and we (quite literally) ran into MAGGIE!!!!!!!! She had just returned from Calgary and left her phone while she was away so she couldn't receive our calls or anything.  so she's back on the radar and hopefully will come to church again this week. :) 

We taught Victoria part of the Plan of Salvation and she's now on date for February 13th!!! :) She's so smart and just loves the gospel.  It's amazing.  We asked her what the purpose of life is and she said something along the lines of... "well, each person comes here and can add a little sparkle to the world."  true dat.  

Picture of Maxim from Rwanda!!!

okay for my last little blessin to share with you this week, a couple weeks ago I received a friend request on facebook from a guy named Maxim from Rwanda.  Whenever we receive friend requests from people we don't know, we just message them about the church and what not and try to get them in contact with missionaries in their area.  I sent him the christmas video and then kept chatting with him over the course of a couple weeks, and he went to church this week and is now meeting with the missionaries there!!! :)  It was just such a cool miracle to see.  He said, "  i get there adress and i wos visited them and i got there branch near me at kagugu so thank you for helping me to follow the way of jesus christ and i am planing to stay praying there and you will get more informations about us." then he sent a picture of him and one of the elders. That was just so exciting. God is good, my friends.

I started this little program they have for missionaries in their last 6 weeks called "My Plan" where you basically make goals and plans for when you return home..it didn't go very well today probably because i had a bad attitude about it and resented it the whole time..I just don't want to leave this beautiful place and these amazing people. I have LOVED the mission thus far and serving the Lord with all I have has been an experience of a lifetime. I'm gonna make these last 6 weeks count, I've still got a lot of fight left in me for this work. :)

"Behold, the field is white already to harvest; therefore,whoso desireth to reap let him 

thrust in his sickle with his might, and reap while the day lasts, that he may treasure up for his soul everlasting salvation in the kingdom of God." [D&C  14:3] 

Onward, ever onward. 

Sister Jones 

"Dan Jones-ing" it on top of a massive snow pile

The District 3

Our Moses staff we found in our apartment

Saying bye to sister Quesada

Saying bye to Jody and my favourite kids

Unto YOU a Saviour is born

MERRY CHRISTMAS PEEPS 

it's Christmas and it's cold and there's a spirit in the air like none other!  

we have had 3 exchanges in the past 8 days so i feel like I got hit by a train or something, ha so exhausted, but sometimes that's good because you're just deliriously happy!  Sister McKeon and I have been laughing like crazy and we have had a great week.  I'll just update you on the funny/crazy/miraculous events of the week...

-Grandma Vera (eternigator who is basically a member) had us and some ladies from church over for a Christmas lunch. She's the SWEETEST lady on the planet and is the best cook.  We had some wicked Ukrainian food and she made us these really unique stockings.  They're all sparkly and stuff.  She's so cute.  I just love those ladies.  

-We had our Christmas Conference and it was just so much fun and full of the spirit and so much power.  The Manions are incredible.  Our district is having this competition to do the most service/creative finding around Christmas time, and one elder decided that the first one to get a selfie with "P Manny" at Christmas conference wins.  Sister McKeon and I totally won.  Mom and dad, you didn't raise a loser.  

Our selfie with "P Manny". He told us that it was actually an "ussie"

 I love that guy 

-It was FREEEEZING and blizzarding outside and we saw this African lady named Shatha shoveling her walk, so we jumped out of the car to help her.  She was really happy we did and then asked if we were tea drinkers...we said no, but that we could drink herbal tea, so she invited us in.  We went in and she made us this ginger tea (totally wasn't herbal......hahah but we didn't know that til after..) accidentally broke the word of wisdom.  oops.  But we did get to show her the Savior Is Born video and she LOVED it and said we could come back later on.  :) :) 

-Maggie is still MIA..pray that we can contact her somehow.  

-I just got a really big laugh out of the 12 days of social on christmas.mormon.org...the one by studio C.  i died.  it's so funny.  go watch it.  

-We had exchanges with the YSA sisters yesterday and it was really fun.  I was with Sister Torsak and we went to the West Edmonton Mall to contact people.  We came up with a three question Christmas survey that would get people talking about the real meaning of Christmas, and we gave out a ton of cards! So much fun.  There were so many people there it was insane...don't go there Christmas week....especially dad.  you'd just get freaked out by all the people.  But as we were walking, I said hello to this guy next to us..but he didn't hear.  So I waved bigger and said hello louder and he looked over and started talking with us.  He's from Ghana and his name is Charles. :) I love Ghanaians!!! We talked about general things like Jesus for a bit, then we asked if he heard of the Book of Mormon.  He stopped and said, "wait right here for 10 minutes. I"ll be back.  don't leave.  I"ll be back." then he books it away from us...so we waited.  We thought maybe he got freaked out and ran away, but we prayed he would come back and he did!  He said, "okay let's go sit down I want to hear this word of God you're telling me about." YES YES YES YES YES we went to the food court and taught him the restoration and he loved it.  He was like, "this is the real thing. I love this. I love it." and it turns out that he was given a book of mormon back when he was in Ghana!!!  He's coming to church this week, doesn't live in our area, but we're STOKED!!!!!!!!  so prepared.  I told him he was elect. He said, "not many people listen to you...but I know you have the word of God."  so boss. :) :)   

-okay one more miracle.  background: i read this talk called "repent of our selfishness" and it's really good.  basically gave me a big rebuking...but in it he says that before we do something, we should ask ourselves, "whose needs am i really trying to meet?" so this has been running through my mind a lot since I read it.  Sunday, before our supper appointment we were trying by this less active who never answers us.....and we were about to get back in the car because it was cold and such, but then i had that question flash through my mind, "WHOSE NEEDS ARE YOU REALLY TRYING TO MEET?" sooooo we felt we should knock on a door nearby.  Sister McKeon just testified of eternal families and the lady, Diane, was like, "yes.  Please come back, my daughter would love to hear this but we're just sitting down for supper.  Can I set up an appointment with you or something?"  :) :) :) miracles happen when you're repenting of your selfishness.  it's the real deal.  

anywho, this Christmas season is PRIME to feel the Saviour's love and to share the Saviour's love.  So don't look inward this year, please just look outward and serve those around you.  Jesus Christ LIVES TODAY!  Our loving Father in Heaven sent him to earth so that we can be made new, everyday.  You can be forgiven and you CAN be born again.  You're worth more than any earthly thing, and you have great purpose here in this great plan.  Unto YOU a Saviour is born. Don't you forget it.  

christmas.mormon.org  

onward, ever onward. 

Sister Jones 

Aaaannnnd the greatest comp in dee whole world.

West Ed with Sister Torsak

Our Christmas lunch ️️

"Suffer the children to come to me."

There have been many spiritual manifestations in the land of River Valley this week!

Last Tuesday night, after a lesson fell through, we felt we should continue to tract out that gold mine i told you about last week!  So we went.  And it was cold.  And our toes were numb.  But we kept going.  We got to show a lot of people the new Christmas initiative video and it was so fun!  We didn't find anyone that really wanted us to come back, (except a korean man that told us to come back the next day, then when we went back, his wife yelled at us and told us to leave...ha even after sister mckeon wrote the link to the KOREAN version of the video on a card...so we left it in their door...ha) We had decided when we started, that we would go until 8pm.  It was probably like 7:57 and we were cold and we decided to be done tracting. But then we saw one light on in this house, and we looked at each other and were just like...okay fine.  So we went and knocked on it.  And she let us in!  Her name is Renai, and she's actually a MEMBER!!! GOD LED US TO ANOTHER LOST SHEEP!!!  We went in and taught her and her husband a lesson and it was all just so good.  He's not a member, his name is Pascal! :) Renai isn't too interested in coming back right now, but she said we could come back to visit.  #FINDINGLOSTSHEEP #MYFAVE 

There is absolutely no way the spirit doesn't lead us in this work. We know basically nothing.  God knows all. HE LEADS US AND HE KNOWS HIS CHILDREN.  "I am the good Shepherd, and I know my sheep." John 10:14 

We also had interviews with President and pretty much all he said to me was, "alright, now don't run out of gas on me. keep working hard until the end." SO HERE I GO ENDURING TO THE END AND LOVING IT!!!

Our english class has been failing a bit and people haven't been showing up.  We haven't been so sure if we should keep trying or just forget about it, and this past Thursday in our companionship prayer, I just asked Heavenly Father what we should do.  I asked him that if we were supposed to keep it going, to please just send one soul to our class and we would keep trying.  Around about 4 or 5, we get a text from Babu saying he wanted to come to english class!!!!!!  WHHHAT??? So he came and it went really well and somehow we were able to help him improve his english.  God has made it clear that we need to keep trying.  So... keep trying we will.  

We are now teaching Victoria!  A less active's daughter!  She's almost 9 and she's SO PRECIOUS!  such a pure soul.  When we asked her how God feels about her she just said, "well...I think God really cares about everyone.  I don't think he cares about what you look like or where you're from or who you are.  I think he just loves everyone. no matter what."  The spirit was so strong in the room at that time.  God teaches us through children, I know that's true.  The ward had the primary program this week as well, and those kids just have the spirit of Christ in them.  It's amazing.
"But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for

of such is the kingdom of heaven."  Matthew 19:14

We had an especially neat experience on Thursday night after our english class.  We were going to do our facebook time at the end of the night, and as we were driving to the Riverbend library, Sister Mckeon said she felt like we should go to the Callingwood one instead.  So I turned around and we headed that way.  We walked in and said hello to this lady who was rushing out, but when we sat down, she came back and sat by us!  Her name is Flory and she's from the Philippines.  We started talking with her and to make a long story short, she wanted to meet to learn more!!!  We had our first lesson with her last night and she said, "There is something familiar about you, I recognize you, Sister Jones, from somewhere!" ( I was so tempted to just say, "THE PREMORTAL LIFE!!!"...) but I cannot deny the spirit that filled my heart and soul when she said that.  Our God is a God of miracles!!!!!!!  I'm telling you it's true!!! 

We also got to go caroling with some members and the elders and it was just so much fun.  I love caroling.  The spirit is so present in songs of Christ.  

We also found a lady from Jamaica and we helped her shovel her walkway.  (shout out to ma boy Elder Boyer down in jamaica) her name is Paula and she's simply wonderful.  I love her already.  

Exchanges!!!

man so much really did happen i don't even have enough time to write it all.  Sometimes I feel like emailing is like this scripture in John, 

Exchanges!!!

"And there are also many other things which Jesus did [among the people of River Valley], the which, if they should 

be written every one, I

suppose that even the world  

itself could not contain the 

books that should be written" 

Our ward Christmas party!

One more experience i want to share!  We were on exchanges yesterday (with another tri-pan so i was with Sister Angilau and Sister Cameron) and our Relief Society president called us and asked if we could go with her to deliver the leftovers from the ward Christmas party (which was a HUGE SUCCESS btw) to this homeless shelter centre thing downtown (and we all know that downtown edmonton is Holy ground for me) so we said OF COURSE!!!  We had gone once before to bring a meal for a women's group there, and this time it was a little different.  We got to serve it to the people straight off the streets.  I had to hold back tears as I talked with these people and fed them. sometimes, God opens my spiritual eyes and gives me a glimpse of what he sees, and i am 

 forever grateful for that.  

  "And now, for the sake of 

 these things which I have spokenunto you—that is, for the 

sake of retaining a remission of your sins from day to day, 

that ye may walk guiltless before God—I would that ye should  

impart of your substance to the 

poor, every man according to  

that which he hath, such as 

feeding the hungry, clothing the  

naked, visiting the sick and  

administering to their relief,  

both spiritually and temporally, according to their wants." Mosiah 4:27

I love these people.

Onward, ever onward.

Sister Jones 

Every time we go into a store...Santa wants a picture with the us...

I LOVE THIS PLACE

What a week!

First off, Maggie ended up going to Calgary to help her friend who
just had surgery. So we're just excited for her to come back, she said
she would read the Arabic Book of Mormon we gave her :)

We had probably the last MLC that I'll attend. It was AMAZING. so
powerful. Probably my favorite one. President Manion gave a training
on faith and our prayers, and how we can call down the powers of
heaven to aid us in the Lords work. It was the real deal. It was
definitely an answer to my prayers, because lately, it has been hard
for me to tell if I have real faith and what faith even is. He divided
it into two parts. Faith to action, and then that action translating
into power from heaven. To have faith that leads to action, we have to
have a resolve, we have to make decisions, and then have the
determination to work and work and work. Then, he talked about how we
can have faith that leads to action and ACTUAL POWER FROM ON HIGH. We
must have first, faith in Christ and in his atonement. Second,
determination to respond to the Lords requirements of us (aka
OBEDIENCE), and third, to believe that HE has the power to make it
work and to make miracles happen.  God is REAL and he truly gives
us the power necessary for His work to continue on and succeed.  I love
it.

The B family had us for supper, and they also came to church AGAIN!!
They're coming back in full swing.  It's amazing.

We had exchanges with a tri-pan (companionship with 3 missionaries) and it
 was SO FUN!  kind of crazy, i went with Sister Persson AND Sister Kirts.
We had lots of adventures talking with everyone.  They are both such stellar
missionaries.  One of my favorite thing about being a sister training
leader is being able to get to know these amazing sisters.  The end of the exchange, we
always review what we learned and give training on things the sister needs,
and let me tell you the spirit WORKS LIKE NONE OTHER in that setting.
I LOVE IT.

We did some finding/tracting in this apartment complex that we have been
wanting to tract out for a few days, and man..that place is a gold mine. We're
going back to this Egyptian family tonight to teach them! It was pretty awesome
when we talked to them, we found out they were from Egypt, and I had Arabic
pamphlets in my bag for Maggie, so we gave them one! Heavenly Father always
gives us what we need when we need it.  He knows what He's doing.

okay also ANOTHER HUGE MIRACLE HAPPENED.  Our landlord, Solo, is such a
boss.  He's from Eritrea which is near Egypt he told us.  We have been
leaving sticky notes on his door for the past little while that
have verses from the Bible and the Book of Mormon.  Man, this guy is
the definition of Christian.  He's amazing.  We invited him to watch
general conference back in October and he watched a bit of it and
loved it.  He totally gets the organization of the church, this guy knows the bible.
yes he came to the Christmas devotional and said he was "deeply touched" :) it was all so
good, we also got to give him a tour of the church, and props to the
Riverbend stake because they have the pictures around the building in
perfect order to teach the restoration!  He loved it.  We're going to
start reading the Book of Mormon and the Bible with him soon!!! He's
pretty committed to his Pentecostal church right now, but MIRACLES
HAPPEN and it's going to be legendary. :)

My heart is just really full of joy and gratitude and all that good
stuff.  I love this place.  I love these people.  I love this gospel.  thanks for all the support, keep
on keeping on!  Remember that you're not alone and that you have a Heavenly Father who will
give you what you need, sometimes all you have to do is ask.

Onward, ever onward.


Sister Jones

MLC 🇨🇦

Exchange with sister Kirts and sister Persson

"If you need any help...RECRUIT THE MORMONS"

WE ️ CANADA

hola my friends and family it has been a wonderful week full of craziness and blessings. 

first of all MAGGIE CAME TO CHURCH ON SUNDAY AND IT WAS GLORIOUS!!!  We taught her again on Wednesday, we were planning on finishing the Plan of Salvation, and we tried, but she wasn't so sure about the spirit world.  Her religious background is very strong, but we're not losing hope.  Sometimes, I think we get too impatient with people, when in reality, we need to give people time to completely change some of the things they have believed or done all their lives.  It's not an easy road, and "things of quality have no fear of time."  but anyways, we weren't sure if she would still want to come to church after the second lesson, but she called us Friday and said she wanted to come!  we got her a ride, and Sunday morning, I was playing prelude for relief society, and i look up and see Maggie walk in and my heart just REJOICED.  so much so that i botched the hymn and tears almost came to my eyes but yeah it was wonderful.  I think she was the first investigator I have seen come to church in well over 6 months so it was amazing.  And I also forgot how stressful it is to have an investigator at church, especially when members go off on random things like Kolob and signs of the second coming...hhahah *face palm* (don't worry, nobody ACTUALLY talked about kolob this week....but tangents are a real thing and get a little crazy some days) 

We were kind of stressed out after relief society, because not many people were talking to Maggie, so the member who brought her took her to gospel principles, and sister McKeon and I went to the mother's room to say a quick prayer.  We just prayed our little hearts out that people would talk to her and that she would love church and want to come back, and on the way back to class, we just decided to tell everyone individually to say hi to her, and it worked!  kind of like when there's an emergency, you can't just say, "SOMEBODY CALL 911!" You have to tell people individually to do something.  so it worked. :) and she loved it. :) and the sisters here will be teaching her tomorrow (I will be away on exchanges) but please pray that she'll accept the invitation to be baptized!!! :) #keepprayin4maggie 

ALSO HEATHER WANTS TO BE BAPTIZED!!! she wants to wait until March so she can get baptized with her son.  It's all really exciting. :) 

now for the funny stuff.  the most hilarious things happen to us as missionaries, not just spiritual things.  so here you go. :)

We had a relief society Christmas Social last week, and guess who came??!! DAWUTA!  Jody brought her!!! it was amazing.  i just love her so much.  i don't remember if i already told this story, but a couple weeks ago, we were leaving the nursing home that we volunteer at and we both got in the car.  About 5 seconds later, we hear the back door open!!!  We just screamed bloody murder because we just thought some creepy guy was coming to kidnap us or something, then we turn around and it was DAWUTA!  she was laughing so hard.  So we get out of the car and just laugh for like 10 minutes and she was like, "I am so happy I scared you.  I just feel so joyful."  she's such a hoot.  #ilovenigerians 

another funny story, i was making some toast one morning and all of a sudden this giant glass plate rolls off the top of the fridge onto the counter in front of me and shatters everywhere!  My foot got cut and it was kind of gross haha but i was still hungry and wanted to eat my toast.  So after sort of cleaning up, I took a bite of my toast and i accidentally ATE GLASS!!!  it was sketchy. hahahhahahhaa good times... 

okay one more funny story, we were shoveling a former investigator's driveway last week, and this man walked by so we said hello and tried to talk to him, and he said he was going home to shovel his driveway.  Sister McKeon was in kind of a crazy mood and she just goes, "well...if you need any help.....RECRUIT THE MORMONS!"  He looked at us like we were crazy and just walked away..hahhahah.  good times..had to be there.  

We got to volunteer at the SaveOn foods for the Foodbank taking donations! we basically just danced around and told people merry Christmas for like...4 hours.  it was really fun. :) people are so generous.

yeah.  life is real good.  For my spiritual thought, I'd like to share with you what our friend Evelyn said in her prayer this week. (she's the one in a nursing home who shares the gospel with her friend, Bill, the plant..:)) "Satan's out there...he's ready to pounce on us whenever we make a slow move.....I'd really just like to stick something to his head or something......I'm just joking with you, God.  Thanks for these fellas coming to visit me.  I really like the mormons.  Take care."   I just had to write it down because she's THE GREATEST.  and she never fails to make me laugh and make me feel loved.  She even kissed me on the cheek when we were leaving this week...hahah such a gem. 
 

I love this place so much and i love these people even more.  that's what it's all about.  Love. 
 "And above all things, clothe yourselves with the bond of charity, as with a mantle, which is the bond of perfectness and peace." D&C 88:125
"And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity preventeth a multitude of sins." 1 Peter 4:8

Onward, ever onward.

Sister Jones 

All the sisters in the mission at our sisters conference in October :)

A narwhal tusk