Happy New Year!!!

January 4th 2016:

What do you call a sleeping cow?
A bull-dowzer. 

I did not write an email last week. There was so much to write about that I couldn't just pick one thing! So here is a quick summary; I went to the temple for the first time in 9 months, and it was amazing. It truly is a house of God! We had a Christmas devotional, the spirit was really strong. Christmas Day we went to my favorite members home for Christmas morning. Taylor even filled our stockings, and attempted to make us snowman pancakes.;) They were delicious! We always have a lot of fun with Taylor. We skyped our families at the Smiths house, and had a yummy lunch. Later that evening  we went to the Erbals home for dinner.  It was a wonderful Christmas! I truly came to a better understand on why we celebrate Christmas. It's about the greatest gift of all- our Savior and Redeemer.

We had a lesson with a media referral named Rob. He said something that really touched me. His point was Heavenly Father wants us, he doesn't need us, he wants us. He kept saying that Heavenly Father doesn't need us, in my mind I was thinking no he does need us. He was right though, he is perfect. He can do everything and anything he wants and he doesn't need us to help him do it. Rob mentioned how he wants his wife to want him , he doesn't want her to need him. It made me think uh yeah! I want someone to want me, I don't want them to talk to me because they need something. Heavenly Father wants us because we are his literal children. It all makes sense in my head now! It was an ah ha moment for me.

On missions you can have some pretty crummy days, days where you are homesick and done. But then I meet someone who doesn't have the knowledge of the Gospel, and I realize the blessing it is to know that there is someone in Heaven that is my Father and he knows who I am. Not even that, but the knowledge that he has a plan for me, in that plan includes my family. And let me tell you my family means the world to me. I miss them like crazy, but I get to spend eternity with them and I know that. Friday night sister Morgan and I went tracting. We knocked on this ladies door, and asked if we could pray with her. She was holding back tears as she said yes, she then goes to explain that tomorrow is the 19th anniversary of her daughters passing. For 19 years she has been in pain, 19 YEARS!! I asked if her daughter had been baptized, she explained a little more of what happen, and that she died right after birth. I am so grateful that Heavenly Father guided me and sister Morgan so that we could tell her about the wonderful chance that we have to go to the temple and be sealed for time and all eternity, and to tell this sweet mother that she could be with her daughter for eternity. There are no words to explain the spirit that was there. It was so strong, and I know that she felt something stir inside her heart. There truly is no greater work. I know he sent us to her house. Gosh I love being a missionary. These are the moments that make all the bad days worth it!

Ps. Don't send me any mail. I could be getting transferred, I'll let you know next week! 

1. Taylor made us yummy salmon! :) she is a keeper! (Taylor is the one closest to me) 

2. Temple!! 

Sister J

Let It Snow

December 21st:

What makes a baby go up,down, and loop-de-loop? 

A stroller coaster! 

 I don't have a lot of time today. So here is a short and sweet email. Well...all of my emails are that way. First of all, I miss the snow!!! Everyone has signs that say "Let it Snow!", and it makes me really mad. It can't snow in Florida. "Let it Rain" would be more fitting. That is my little tangent for the day. 

 This week was busy! We had our mission Christmas party at the beach! I am pleased to announce my zone was the winners of the sand castle contest! 

 We were so lucky and got to go to "Night in Bethlehem", The Tampa stake puts together this huge live nativity every year. It is really popular. Everyone we meet says, " Oh I've been to the night in Bethlehem with your church."  I really wanted to go, and to make it even better we got to go with a recent convert, and can I just say that I love her to the moon and back. Taylor is awesome! All of you need to meet her. You truly meet life time friends on your mission. And to think if I never came on a mission, I wouldn't have met her or anyone else that I have built a relationship with. I am eternally grateful for my mission! 

On Wednesday we taught young womens. I love the YWs program. We talked about individual worth, I have been pondering that a lot this last week. If we all saw ourselves and others how our Father in Heaven did, the world would be a different place. It breaks my heart to see the youth think they are worthless.   I mean we are all sons and daughters of a God! What is more powerful and motivating than that? We were created to be successful! We have a savior who makes that possible, and you have a Father in Heaven who knows and loves you!  You always hear people say" I am trying to find myself", I am sorry but that is dumb. You are a child of God, that is who you are! you have to reach that potential by following Christ, It isn't about finding yourself, it is about making yourself! 

I hope you all have a splendid Christmas! Remember the Reason for the Season! 

Merry Christmas! 

1. Sometimes I think people see us, and fly away just like the birds in this picture :) It really happens. Yesterday someone saw us walking towards them, she stopped turned around and started walking in the other direction.

I have a Mormon in my cupboard?

December 14th 2015:

What do carnivores eat in space?

Meat-eors. 

All I have to say is I love Peggy so much! She got baptized right before I got here. We have a recent convert lesson with her once a week, and I look forward to it every time. She has been through a lot, she is hands down one of the sweetest 59 year old ladies I know! Anyways, I was looking at her bookshelf, and I saw a book written by Glen Beck. I asked her if she knew that he was Mormon, and she said " I have a Mormon in my cupboard?". I love her and I want to bring her home with me. 

It is hard being away from home during the Holidays, but it is also a really fun time to be a missionary! People are just so much nicer and more receptive. We went caroling this last week with some lovely ward members, Taylor and Kiana (Don't worry I whispered the songs so they couldn't hear my angelic voice). Everyone that opened the door first looked shocked, but then had the biggest smile on their face. I loved it! It was a great way to share the special Christmas spirit. 

 

This last week we met a lady named Jasmine. She has the cutest family! We met her outside her house. We said a prayer with her and got a return appointment. We went to her house for her appointment, she didn't answer. We were a little bummed, but not surprised, because it wouldn't be the first time. Sister Morgan and I decided to finish tracting her street, once we got to the end of the street we prayed to know what to do next. After we finished we looked at Jasmines house, and saw someone getting out of the car. We went back to her house, and knocked on her. She answered and of course had forgotten but still let us in. We taught her the Restoration. When Sister Morgan shared the Jospeh Smiths Vision the spirit was SO STRONG. Her eyes were locked on the picture. We talked about how baptism can give her a fresh start, and she said "I want that!" I replied " we can help you with that. The spirit was so strong in the room, I felt like my heart was going to jump out of my chest!!! It was a great lesson. We set a date for January 9th. We are excited to watch her make the changes she desires! 

Well I hope you all have a great week! Also, you should all watch a savior is born, and share it EVERYWHERE!  

Sister J 

Wherefore I could not be shaken.

November 30th 2015:

How much salt do crabs put on their food?

Just a pinch. 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING! I hope you all had a great week! 

 We had a pretty good week! We set a date with our investigator Alain! He is the one from France, who doesn't have a religious background. We saw him pretty much ever day this week, we had to start from the very basics with him. We have really focused on prayers, and telling him to pray morning and night! It has been amazing to watch him come to know he has a Father in Heaven, and a Savior who died for him. We asked if he had been praying, and he told us that God talked back! Oh, it was music to our ears! We asked him if he would say the closing prayer, he didn't even reply he just started praying. He started out in English and finished in French, so we didn't know what he said. But thank goodness for Sister Arick and her translation skills. She told us he said; " Dear Heavenly Father, I hope you are their. In the name of Jesus Christ Amen." Isnt it amazing that God answers everyone prayers even if they are as simple and basic as that? Every time we see  him, his countenance changes. I am eternally grateful that I get to be apart of this!

 Wherefore I could not be shaken. This scripture really stood out to me. This always makes me question where is my testimony at? Am I built upon a sandy or a rocky foundation? I challenge you to ask yourself. See where you are at! Because this life is stinking hard! But, why make it even harder than it needs to be, that is the whole reason we have the Gospel Of Jesus Christ. It makes life easier! It makes life simple. Keep it simple stupid( that always goes through my head). This Gospel isn't rocket science. It is so simple a child can understand it! Everyday I see people who don't have a strong foundation, they let the winds of the world shake their faith. 

 Jacob 7:5 And he had hope to shake me from the faith, notwithstanding the many revelations and the many things which I had seen concerning these things; for I truly had seen angels, and they had ministered unto me. And also, I had heard the voice of the Lord speaking unto me in very word, from time to time; wherefore, I could not be shaken.

1. Thanksgiving day!! 

2. Me making a pie!   

3. AHHHH!!! 

Sister J

When life throws you a lemon, make lemonade!

November 23 2015:

What kind of monkey floats? 

A hot-air baboon! 

Hello family and friends! First of all I would like to apologize for my awful grammar and punctuation. You don't really have a lot of time to make sure everything is perfect, and I clearly didn't get the good English traits from my dad. and just so you all know I know how to spell hole, I realized I used the wrong one after I had already pushed the send button. Whoops.

 

This week has been crazy and full of miracles!!! I don't really know where to begin. We have met a ton of people this week, and we have a lot of return appointments.One of them is from France and he has a really cool French accent, he doesn't really have a religious background so we are going really simple with him. The Lord is truly blessing us! I am excited for this next week. 

There have been countless times where I have been given words in the very minute I have needed them. This scripture is so true; Matthew 10:19. I have been asked some crazy questions that I have never even thought about, and before I knew it I was answering them! That has happen a couple of times, and it is crazy to watch the Lord work through me. When I first got out I was nervous, because I didn't really know anything. I knew it was true, and that was enough. The Lord qualifies who he calls. Plus, this is His work there is no way he is going to leave us alone to do His work! He has been here every step of the way. I truly have come to know who my Savior is and what he has done for me and for you! 

 

I hope you all have a very Happy Thanksgiving! 

PS. If you want to make a missionaries Holidays, send them a letter. 

I found a Dr. Seuss flower!!! 

Sister J 

Get out of the hole instead of making it deeper.

November 16th 2015:

What did one volcano say to the other volcano? 

I lava you! 

Awe wasn't that sweet? 

Get out of the hole instead of making it deeper. The caption of the week has been brought to you by Sister Morgan. I love this! Life is hard, but sometimes we make it a lot harder than it needs to be. We just need to stop throwing ourselves a pity party, grow up and do something about it. My brother Josh is the perfect example of getting out of the hole instead of making it deeper, so shout out to him! I love you Josh! 

What a week. This week has just flown by! Sister Morgan and I are teaching a lot of people on the streets and at doors, but no one seems to be sticking. Which kind of stinks, but I just have to remind myself that we are just in the planting part of missionary work. Nothing is going to grow if you don't plant, I tell myself that often:) 

 

We received a referral a couple weeks ago from someone we had just met on the street. They gave us their friends name and apartment number. They weren't 100% sure if it was the right number, but they said we could try. Sunday evening we went to contact them. First of all the complex is really confusing, and there are a lot of buildings. We finally found it and no one answered. We knocked the door across from it, and no one answered there either. We were getting ready to leave and someone was getting out of their car, so we decided to wait to see if it was him. To our surprise it was someone from our ward, and even more to our surprise it was her apartment that the referral supposedly lived. We told her what happen, and asked if we could share a short 15 minute message with her. She said we could, and it was very clear that she has been going through a lot and needed a message. It definitely wasn't a coincidence! It amazes me the miracles that happen everyday. Gods hand was most definitely in this. I mean what are the odds?! 

On your mission you get to see these miracles every single day. Which just reminds me time and time again, that we have a Father in Heaven that loves us so much! He knows exactly
what we need and when we need it. 

Sister J 

If you want to punch Satan in the face, open your mouth and preach :)

November 2nd 2015

Whats dead and buzzes? 

a zom-bee

 Here is a little explanation for my captions every week, a lot of the time they are from something someone said, or a random thought that comes to mind. sometimes I forget to explain them, so in the future when I  forget, just know it was probably something funny an old person said to me. :) 

 Nothing really happen this week. Poor Sister Morgan was sick, so we had to stay in for a couple of days. Not much to report. But I thought I would send a joke and some pictures. Everyone skips to that part anyways. 

Have a splendid week. 

Oh, Florida.

Sister Morgan

My chicken is shaped like Florida. :)

Halloween

Sister J