Week Thirteen: Gratitude and Perspective

30.9.19

Chatsworth House

The Peggs' took me and Mottlova to Chatsworth House for Pday. The Elders really wanted to come... the Peggs made them ride the bus, ha! Pride and Prejudice was filmed here.We saw beautiful Renissance murals on the ceilings, mazes and gardens, and sheep grazing all around. It was proper English!

Hiya Y'right? This, is the way English people greet each other. Kinda funny. Here's a few more fun differences that I've written down over the past 3 months:

Boggared-tired

Ta!- Bye

Nappy-diaper

Banter-mess around

Cheeky-on edge, a little risque

Lift-ride or elevator

Chuffed-exstatic

Nackered-tired

Nicked-stole

Mate-friend/kid

Wellies-rain boots

Ice lolli-popsicle

Proper-very, so

Pants-underwear

Trousers-pants

Lemonade-sprite

Plaster-bandaid

Hood-trunk

Trolley-shopping cart

Skipper-jump rope

Rubbish bin-trash can

Cheers!-thanks/good day/bye/hello

Pavement-sidewalk

Swimming costume -swimsuit

The weather this week was constantly rainy and grey. It was a true taste of English weather...

On Thursday we took our friends to institute with us. It was such an enjoyable night! We had a lesson at the chapel then went to the Toby Cavery. Imagine Thanskgiving dinner...that's the kind of food we ate. Yorkshire puddings, gammon, peas, mash potatoes and smothered in gravy. Yum!

Jenny..A return missionary from Russia who loves to come find and teach with us.

Stake Relief Society craft activity.. The Benitez

This week I am making a goal to focus on gratitude. As I reflected on my mission thus far, I realized something that I am so grateful for. I want to share a little analogy I thought of:

When I was younger, my mom would drive me places. I knew generally where things were, but I couldn't get there myself. But as soon as I got my license, I needed to navigate myself. As I looked at maps, I began to understand the city as a whole. Similarly, I have grown up in the gospel. I have understood the principles, but it was not until I was out here on my own that I began to understand the gospel as a whole. I have an outside perspective, like a map, of why the gospel is essential. I am grateful for the priceless lessons I am learning on my mission!

The Pipa. An instrument our Chinese friend Ruby plays.

I'm about out of time but I wanted to thank you for your prayers and support! Hope all is well in America.

Cheers! Sister Dan Jones

(the name has stuck

)

Made this for the Elders flat because they were getting a little down. They said they needed something bright since the sun has hid itself all week .

Our morning run alongside the canal

Dinner at TGI Fridays with the Jabbers, a senior mission couple. TGI Fridays is super popular here

My attempt to get close to sheep

Week Twelve: The Garden

23.9.19

This week was full of so many miracles! I wanted to start off by saying thank you for your prayers. I feel an army of strength back home and have so much gratitude for you.

I am so grateful for the members here in the Sheffield First Ward. They are really starting to get involved in missionary work. It's so edifying to see members helping missionaries, and missionaries helping members. I have a strong testimony that when we work together, everyone is happier. We are made to strengthen each other! Word got out that my favorite meal is Speghetti and meatballs and I'd like to thank the members for the many variations of this meal I have gotten over the past couple weeks ha!!

On Tuesday night we had a fireside at the chapel with the Elders, a less-active couple, a few members, and our friends who are getting baptized, Carlos and Simone. We had a dinner that consisted of Pot of Plenty, Enchiladas, Korean Beef, and American peanut butter balls (thanks to Bobby Smith for the recipe!) After we ate, Carlos shared his experience with the Elders. It was one of the simplest, most authentic, and most powerful testimonies I have ever heard. He shared how the Elders rescued him and changed his life. When people share experiences like this, I reflect on the importance of a missionary's calling.

Later in the week we taught our Slovak friend Maria. She described a dream she had the week before she met us. Her sister-in-law, who passed a little while ago came to her with some fruit. She told her it was the most amazing fruit she had ever tasted, and that she wanted Maria to have it too. But when Maria asked to try it, she told her that she needed to go to the church to find it. We let her read Lehi's Dream, and she was overjoyed. She said it was exactly the fruit her sister-in-law was talking about. Wow. The Lord works in miraculous ways.

Making Poppies for Remembrance Day

DARLING LITTLE SLOVAK GIRL

On Saturday the Elders called us up and asked if we could teach someone that they had an address for since she lived close to us. We looked up the address and realized it was right across the street! We went to knock on her door preparing for any outcome, as missionaries do. Katie invited us in and we began to explain to her what we do as missionaries. She was SO eager to learn. She begged us to stay and teach her more. Just then an exchange student from China walked in and asked to join. Kim was so interested and even asked to come to church with us! After teaching them for a second time on Sunday, Kim expressed that he felt serenity in the things we were saying. He said, "I know that you are sent from God." And Katie told us that she felt a special power when we were in her home. Wow. There I was, in a little home in England, with someone from China, Hungary, and Czech sharing about Jesus Christ and the hope that the gospel brings. This moment was priceless...one that I will never forget.

Sister from our ward, Katie and Kim

I'd like to end with something I've studied hard and deep this week. Sister Pegg, a close friend of mine, suggested that I study about gardens. As I have done so, I have discovered so many significant connections between the gospel, myself, and gardens. I would like to touch on two of the major things I took away from my study.

Padley Gorge

#1: The most significant events happened in gardens. God chose the Garden of Eden as the first place to begin our journey here on earth. The first covenants with God, which are essential to our salvation, were made in this Garden. Then there is, of course, The Garden of Gethsemane. Because of the Atonement that was performed by Christ in this garden, we are enabled to spiritual and physical redemption.

#2: Patience. Gardens take TIME to grow. We can water the plant, place it in good soil, give it sunlight, and shout at it all we want...but it will not grow in an instant. Likewise, I am a fairley new missionary. I see my potential, and want to be a tall and beautiful shade tree. But growing takes time. No matter how long I read the scriptures, growth takes time, and it takes patience. Sister Pegg said something that really stuck with me. "Remember to be happy enjoying the work of gardening and not just desperate for the end result." This is a good reminder for each of us. We all want to become better than we are. We know we need to be better. But for us perfectionists, this can be difficult. I often tend to get frustrated that I have not yet reached my full potential. For everyone out there who feels unsatisfied with themselves, be patient. Work on improving yourself, but be patient with your growth. There is joy to be found in the small steps we take!

I am grateful for your concern and prayers and wish you a wonderful week from England.

Cheers! Sister Jones

THE MOORS

BEAUTIFUL ENGLAND

The Peggs took us to a historical house called "The Bishop's House" from the 1500's

The Bishop's house with the Pegg Family.

Read the description of this. It was located in the Bishop's house.

Kim and Katie

THAI FRIENDS

Zone Conference with Elder Sabin of the 70

Elder Hammond. He is in my Aunt Liz's ward.

HONEY

Week Eleven: The Refiners Fire

16.9.19

Hi everyone!

It has been a very tough week. But the good news is that the gospel is still true!

On Wednesday we spent the day doing service. It's quite funny because manual labor is such a treat for missionaries. It breaks up the type of work we do.

We painted Sister Nettleships hallway, then went to Sister Youngs. We missed the bus so we decided to run to her house. It took 40 minutes and was mostly uphill.

Part of our 40 minute run to Sister Youngs

Typical missionary life :) Because Sister Young has a hurt foot, we helped with small chores. We helped her hoover (vaccum), pick apples and blackberries, and hang curtains.

Picking apples for Sister Young

This past weekend has been pretty tough for me. There are a lot of things weighing me down in the field right now. I am still adjusting and trying to get used to life as a missionary. As I watched a video published by the church, "The Refiner's Fire", there was something that really stuck out to me. A woman talked about her personal challenges and said, "I believe that the greater our sorrow is, the great our capacity is to feel joy." So, right now I definently feel my capacity to feel sorrow deepening. But I believe that it will not only prepare me for harder times in my life, but increase my capacity to feel joy!

Interviews with our zone

If you want another Spiritual insight you can check out my Facebook post :)

The rest of the week was filled with teaching Slovak friends in Rotherham, studies, and transfer interviews.

Teaching our friends M and K

We got a Tea appointment almost every night which was awesome because we usually only have a few a month!

Exchange in Barnsley with Sister Barnes

Enjoy the mountains for me...I miss them!

Sister Eliza Jones

(Ps: English people call rainboots wellies, and swim suits swimming costumes. Ha!)

A little piece of old England (I spy a tiny red telephone booth)

The canal

We Made Peanut Butter Balls (Thanks to Bobbi Smith's Recipe).

PDAY ICECREAM

Mimi & Jason Jones: We are so grateful for people like Sister Peg and others in the ward or area who help out these missionaries. We are extremely grateful to members like this who see a need and come to the rescue. We are also grateful for President and Sister Green.

Sister Pegg took us to The Peak District. Beautiful moors and Padley Gorge.

Sister Pegg

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Eliza's Mission to Leeds, England