Week Twenty Five: The Living Christ

24.12.19

Merry Christmas Eve! I wanted to start off with a few English Christmas traditions for you...First, mince pies. They are eve-re-where. It's a little personal pie with dried fruits inside. Second, brussel sprouts. Why they are so popular for Christmas in England...it's beyond me. Third, Christmas pudding. I'll be honest, I haven't tried one yet but it's a little aged cake made of spices and dried fruit with custard poured over. Hm... Forth, Pass the Parcel. It's a game where everybody sits in a circle and passes a present to music. When the song stops, you unwrap one layer and there's a forfeit (some silly task such as making snow angels on the ground while singing in the middle of the circle) and a little treat attached. You continue to pass and unwrap layers until you get to the final layer. Whoever it stops on gets the present inside! It's fun! Lastly, Christmas crackers. Well, truth be told I only found out a week ago that they aren't edible. Picture a giant tootsie roll...that's what they look like. They are decorated all nice and pretty, and they are placed on the Christmas dinner table. You take one side of the cracker while someone else takes the other and pull it. There's a loud popping sound (hence why it's called a cracker) and there are some little prizes inside. So fun!

Making Gingies

I like Eastwood, but the transportation is rubbish. Buses come and go as they please...some come sporadically and some never come at all. After waiting for about an hour not knowing if the bus will ever come (and not trusting google maps) we end up walking a few miles. We might talk President into getting us a car. If so, I'd have to learn to drive on the opposite side of the road!!

On a happier note, my good friend from Sheffield, Abi Pegg, surprised my companion and I with a visit the other night!! We'd been having a pretty hard day and when we got back to the flat, she was standing at our door with some mince pies and window markers. What a blessing! On another happy note, we had EIGHT returning members come to church this Sunday! Isn't that such a miracle?!

As Christmas is tomorrow, I wanted to share a couple thoughts. If I had to give one word to describe the gospel, I'd use the word light. I love anything to do with light: candles, stars, christmas lights, sunshine, etc. In the scriptures we are told that a new star would appear in the sky as a sign of Christ's birth. When the foretold sign did not appear, the wicked people planned to put anybody to death who believed that a Christ should come. Can you imagine waiting night after night for that star to come with your life dependent on its appearance? And can you picture how you'd feel when you finally saw that star gleaming in the sky? As I see the many lights at Christmas time, I cannot help but think of the hope those believers felt when that star appeared. While that light in the sky literally saved these people, we are also saved because of the source of all light: Jesus Christ.

A little while ago, a mission couple invited our entire mission to memorize "The Living Christ". As I have taken on this challenge, my understanding of Christ's life and my relationship with him has deepened. This Christmas season is a time of joy as we celebrate that he lived, and that he still lives!

I challenge you this week, in spite of all the busy holidays plans, to take 5 minutes to reread "The Living Christ" and reflect on your relationship with him.

"He is the light, the life, and the hope of the world. His way is the path that leads to happiness in this life and eternal life in the world to come. God be thanked for the matchless gift of His divine Son."

I hope your Christmas is joyous as you focus on the source of all light: Our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Cheers and a Very Merry Christmas!

Sister Eliza Jones

Week Twenty Four: A=B

19.12.19

Caroling with my district. Don't get me started on us trying to sing "O Holy Night"

Hiya! I don't have tons of time but I wanted to share a quick thought for the week. I've always been the type of person to put in as much work as I need to get the outcome I want. For example, if I want to do well in a class I'll study as many extra hours as I need to get that grade. I know that when I put in "A" (my effort/time/dedication) then I will get "B" (the grade/result I want). And that's been something that has worked pretty well for me the majority of my life. In fact, that's HOW I work.

However, a mission isn't like that. I can put in as much effort as I want or talk to as many people as I possibly can, yet I do not control the outcome. I can get to the bus stop 15 minutes early and it still might come an hour late. I can share copies of the Book of Mormon but I can't control how many people actually pick it up to read.

My district: Elders from Sweden, Arizona, Mongolia, and Phillipeans. Sisters from California and Thailand. This was one of my favorite districts.

One important lesson that I've learned out here is to not always set expectations for a certain result. That has been something pretty frustrating out here in the mission field. I've found that even if I give more effort, it doesn't mean that I will be bringing a dozen people to the font.

That's not just important to remember for missionary work, but for anything we do.

Exchange with Sister Holland (Elder Holland's Granddaughter )

Regardless of the outcome, do your best anyway. My role as a missionary is to do MY part. While it's nice to have baptisms and visible results from the work, that shouldn't be my worry.

We filled up the entire upper level of the bus after zone conference.

I really am growing to love and appreciate this work. I am so blessed to wear Jesus Christ's name on my heart at this time when we celebrate his birth! Merriest of Christmases!

Sister Jones

12 Days of Christmas my family sent me:)

Last time seeing Sister Mottlova before she goes back home to the Czech Republic.
She was my trainer 💕

First Day of Christmas: A bundle of warm things

Sister Whitby and I made these for the bus
drivers. Homemade gingerbread cookies

and an invitation to our Christmas ward meeting.

Tried to be healthy every once in a while.

Featuring Sister Whitby and I Princess and the Pauper style.

I got to face time my friend Laura from France.
She was an exchange student when I was in high school.

Anna Loes from the Netherlands. She was an exchange student
in high school. She was baptized my Freshman year of college.

Week Twenty Three: Finding Friends

9.12.19

District Finding in Ilkeston

Some of you may know, but as missionaries we now call our investigators "friends". Can you imagine how sad it is when you look at your Progressing board and see "0 friends"? HA! Well, I was determined this week to make some friends. And after a very exhausting week of starting soooo many conversations we got a few new friends! Horray! The Zone leaders gave a training on door knocking. They encouraged us to use a survey as a way to have longer conversations. Sister Whitby and I tried it out last night and got let into half of the doors we knocked! (For all my kind South American bound missionaries this is a miracle for a European missionary...)

Janet is the funniest member. She reminds me of my sister Abby.

Sister Pegg gave my companion and I an idea to paint the nativity on the doors of our chapel so everyone that passed by would notice our church. We took on the challenge!

Oh Wednesday we helped the bishop's wife wrap all of her christmas gifts. It was the BEST service project. Tender mercies :) She also made us the healthiest salad with beets in it. Who knew I'd ever be SO grateful for fresh healthy food??

I made Christmas notes and cards for all the Senior Missionaries

On Thursday we had zone conference in Sheffield. I love zone conference. We talked about recognizing and following the spirit and role played finding scenarios. Oh..and we got to eat Costco pizza! It took my companion and I about 5 hours to get back to Eastwood because two trains were cancelled. (Public transport is rubbish!!)

I was so tired from street contacting so I laid down on the bus

This week I was reading in 3 Nephi about Christ's visit to the people in America. He teaches that the old law was fulfilled, and that there was a higher law that they needed to adopt. He teaches the beatitudes, to love those that wrong you and to keep our thoughts clean. I discovered something very interesting that I want to share.

There are many tweaks taking place in the church today. Ministering instead of home/visiting teaching, home centered gospel learning, etc. In a similar fashion, we are moving to a higher law. A principal rather than prescriptive society. These types of changes are following the SAME pattern Jesus Christ used in the Book of Mormon by moving to a higher law to become disciples of him!

I love the gospel and the light I feel because of Christ. This week I encourage you to participate in LIGHT THE WORLD every single day! It will not only light up your Christmas season, but those around you, too!

Cheers and happy holidays! Sister Jones

(Fun facts: #1- It's rare for someone in England to have a real fireplace. #2- The people in Eastwood call each other duck! Isn't that silly?)

Sunrise waiting for the train to Sheffield

A girl in our ward cross stiches QR codes and they actually work!

A card I made for Abi Pegg

Elders Quorum President gave this to my companion and I for Christmas!

The Book of Mormon Musical is super popular here. I guess all you can do is just embrace it? Some missionaries would stand outside the doors of the musical and hand out books to people

Week Twenty Two: Soggy Pumpkin Pie

2.12.19

Very cold, foggy and wet. Typical day in Nottingham, England

Hello all! Thanksgiving was a bit different this year since the Brits don't celebrate it. My companion and I decided we'd go all out. We took ages to collect all the ingredients to make a pumpkin pie (canned pumpkin is a novelty here...) Anyways, we made the pie and decided to deliver slices to a few people in the ward. As we went out to deliver it started pouring rain (go figure), and the people we were trying to give slices to weren't home. We went to a bus stop, the bus didn't come, and the pie was soaked from the rain. So we sat at at the bus stop for over an hour, ate the soggy pumpkin pie, and talked about what we were grateful for.

Thanksgiving Dinner at a Carvery.

For our Thanksgiving dinner we made a reservation for a Carvery and had a roast dinner: Yorkshire puddings, pork, potatoes, peas, carrots and lots of gravy. Thanksgiving English style!

Eastwood at Christmas!

This week was pretty difficult in the missionary work itself. As I came into the area two weeks ago, we had no one to teach. We still are in the process of looking for people, but finding all day every day can get pretty tiring and discouraging. One day I was praying earnestly about where to go and what to do for finding. After pausing to listen for guidance, I heard these words: "Just go and get to work." So we did. We took a bus to who knows where but ended up having two very quality conversations. One with a woman who just moved to Eastwood and was looking for a church to go to, and the other was a teenage boy who met with missionaries a few years ago.

Nativity my comp and I are painting at the Chapel

This experience reminded me of the scripture in D&C 80:3 "Wherefore, go ye and preach my gospel, whether to the north or to the south, to the east or to the west, it mattereth not, for ye cannot go amiss."

Sometimes we imagine promptings from the spirit being direct and specific. When we ask, "Lord, where shall I go? What should I do next?" He may answer, "It's up to you." Or, "just go out and get to work." The next time you pray for guidance, be open to the idea of the Lord leaving the decision up to YOU.

Nottingham Christmas Market

One more thought on Thanksgiving...I decided in my personal study that I'd write a thank you letter to God. It was such a neat experience. I thanked him for the little things he's given me to make me happy: meatballs, stickers, cheetah print, gingerbread men, crafts, pianos, lemonade.

My Companion Sister Whitby loves crafts and stickers.

I thanked him for the gifts I've been given, for trials, for my family support, and for his son and His Atonement. It really made me reflect on the blessings in my life, and how truly blessed I am to have the knowledge that I do. This week I challenge you to do the same. Write a thank you letter to Heavenly Father, and it will help you to remember how blessed you are too!

Go light the world this week!

Sister Jones

(Ps: fun fact of the week: they call ornaments baubles, ha!)

Getting Ready for Christmas. We decorated our tree!

I made this at a Relief Society Christmas Party

Learning to quill

Dinner at IKEA:) A regular hang out spot for us missionaries

Week Twenty One: Ponte, York and Eastwood

25.11.19

Leaving the trio. Sister Schreiner and Sister Saulle...A trio was HARD but I still love em.

Pontefract town center. If you look closely at the lights they are Haribo gummy Christmas mix themed.

This week was...crazy. I jumped to 3 different areas of the mission because of my Emergency transfer! On Monday my new companion came to Pontefract then Sister Pegg took us to the York Christmas Market for pday. So fun! I ate the yummiest meatballs of my entire life.

too much stuff. Abi drove me so I didn't have to take the train. I LOVE HER

Yummiest meatballs at York Christmas Market

Candles at Christmas Market

My New Companion Sister Whitby from Clearfield, Utah!

Betty's Tea Room with Sister Pegg and Sister Whitby

Special Christmas Tea Menu

The Shambles (from Harry Potter Street) with Sister Whitby

Sister Pegg took me and my new companion to our new area in Eastwood in Nottingham.

On Tuesday we had a lesson with Al and his daughters. We invited Sophie (9), and Al to be baptized on December 13th and they accepted!!! Sadly I will not be there as I have been moved to Eastwood, but I am so happy for them.

Emmy, Sophie and Al

They have such strong faith and are beginning to develop a love for the gospel of Jesus Christ. I wanted to thank my mom's 11 year old primary class for sharing their testimonies with Sophie. That will help her so much! Please keep Al and Sophie in your prayers!!

My Mom's Primary Class in America. Each of them participated in missionary work and bore their testimony to Sophie in England.

Wednesday was spent in York on an exchange. I had the COOLEST opportunity to go to lunch with my Uncle Bill and some of my dad's co-workers. A few came over from Utah to meet with the ones that work in York, and Sister Schut and I were able to share a little bit about what we do as missionaries. We explained why the gospel made us so happy. It was also my daddy's 50th birthday so we ate lots of cake in honor of him!!!

My Uncle Bill took this picture of me and my new comp Sister Whitby

Bill and dad's Neutraceutical coworkers took me to lunch

Me and my Uncle Bill in York England

We finally arrived in my new area, Eastwood, on Thursday afternoon. Since then we've settled in and had tea with a few members. The ward is heavy on the elderly end, but they are all so cheeky and I love them already!

My New District in Eastwood

I feel like I'm finally starting to get the hang of things in the mission field. I still have so much to learn, but there's a few things that have helped me start to enjoy what I'm doing. I want to share them with you, especially if you are having a hard time on your own mission or are preparing to serve. First, work. You just need to work. It's hard to open your mouth and talk to strangers, especially when you don't know how they will react. But there's a satisfaction that comes from knowing you tried to give them the opportunity. The second is to love. Love the people by listening to them. A good friend told me that the more sincere I can be in listening, the stronger that love will grow. So that is what I've been trying to do. I try to be interested in whatever they are telling me, even if it's not something I'd normally be interested in. As I've done these two things, my love for the work has increased.

Seeing past friends! Saw Hadfield and Mottlova today.

Musical Fireside

In my personal study this week, Helaman 5:6 stood out to me. Helaman is talking to his two sons, Nephi and Lehi. He says, "Behold, I have given unto you the names of our first parents who came out of the land of Jerusalem; and this I have done that when you remember your names ye may remember them; and when ye remember them ye may remember their works; and when ye remember their works ye may know how that it is said, and also written, that they were good."

Similarly, we have taken upon ourselves Christ's name. We did this so that we will remember him and follow in his ways. This past conference, Lisa L. Harkness talked about the importance of honoring his name. "With covenant identity and belonging, we are called by the name of Jesus Christ." I invite you to listen to this talk and reflect on the importance of his name. Even though you may not have the nametag of a full-time missionary, it is your responsibility and blessing to wear Jesus Christ's name upon your heart.

Cheers! Sister Eliza Jones

Fun fact: people here call honking pipping. HA!