Week Seventeen: The Trio

28.10.19

NEW ADDRESS 💂

Sister Eliza Jones

5 North Baileygate Mews

Pontefract, UK

WF8 2GN

Hiya! This week Sister Campbell (one of the four Ponti sisters) got surprise transfered to Leeds, thus putting Sister Saulle Sister Schreiner and I into a trio!

The three kingdoms of glory.. Our creative Halloween costume

The week has been good but exhausting. Sister Saulle has been sick all week so we have been arranging "splits" with members for her to stay with and Sister Schreiner and I have been out working hard! On Saturday it was raining SO hard and it was SO cold. Everybody told me that the cold here in England was different than in Utah.

It's so cold and rainy, I'm going to freeze this winter.

I now understand this....the chill goes straight to your bones! And the sad part is that it's only October and just going to get colder from here on. Pray that I will not freeze to death as I'm out knocking doors, okay?

Door 200. We've gotten to 350 this week.

The week mostly consisted of knocking doors and visiting less active members. We also dusted a lady's shelves that were full of cat trinkets (hence her obsession with cats).

A lady gave us some weird fruit while we were knocking.

Yesterday I gave a talk in Sacrament. I wanted to share a portion of it with you:

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There is power in CHOOSING to let the Lord refine us. When we turn to the Lord in difficulty rather than turn away, he can shape us until the person we were meant to become.

This time on earth is meant to be a time to become more like God. In order to become like him, we must be refined, and often redirected so that he can shape us into something better.

Hull for zone conference.

One way I've learned that God can refine is by humbling us. I was reading in Alma this week about the Zoramites who built a high tower In their synagogues to worship God. The poor were cast out of the synagogues and not allowed to enter into worship because of their poverty. They didnt know what to do because they couldn't worship God anymore, so they came to Alma.

Alma rejoiced when they came to him and verse 32:6 says "for he beheld that their afflictions had truly humbled them and that they were in a preparation to hear the word."

Because these people were so humble, Alma is able to teach them that they can worship God wherever and whenever they could.

Zone Conference in Hull

The Lord often humbles us in order to prepare us to become better, just as he did to these Zoramites. These people could have chosen to become angry with God. They could have concluded that if God were really there, he wouldn't have allowed them to be cast out of their place of worship. But they allowed their humility to turn them to Alma for further instruction. Often times, like these Zoramites we are trying to do our best. They were worshipping God in the way that they had been taught. But in order to help these people to become better, God allowed them to be refused into their places of worship so that they could learn a higher law.

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Now I want to ask you to ponder this question. When difficult things happen in your life, do you turn to the Lord for further instruction? Or do you turn away in bitterness? Do you ask the Lord, why me? Or do you let your difficult circumstances humble you enough to ask for further instruction as the impoverished Zoramites did?

As we turn to the Lord, he can redirect and refine us in order to become more like him. I love the gospel and the perspective that it gives me!

Cheers! Sister Jones

Mom's Letter

Grandma Gayle sent me stickers:)

(Ps: shout out to mom and grandma Gayle for the letters they mailed me!!! ♡ xx)

(Pps: if you want a couple good scriptures read Alma 37:16, 45. So good.)

Closest thing I've ever held to a cheetah. A Leopard Gecko

French braiding hair

Week Sixteen: Knock, Knock

21.10.19

Door number 100

Knock knock.

Who's there?

1000 doors...YAY! (I'll expain)

This week I left the lovely city of Sheffield and moved to a little village called Pontefract. There's not many exciting facts about this place except that the Haribo Gummy Bear Factory is here and lots of elderly people as well... Ha!

My new companion is Sister Saulle. She is from Le Mans, France and I absolutely love her! She is great at following the white handbook exactly so I'm getting up to speed! She has a goal to knock 1000 doors this transfer (takes about an hour for 16 doors so you can do the math). This week we knocked 178 without a single potential friend. But we will keep trying!

Lantern Festival

A picturesque castle by our flat

We did meet a very sweet old couple. Jean is quite unwell at the moment but we were able to share a message of hope with them.

I loved these folks. They gave us gummies each time we came over

The ward is also very kind. Abi Pegg surprised me by driving to Pontefract on Saturday night and giving a package to a member to give to me on Sunday! It was the BEST! I love her.

Package from Sis Pegg

My new comp gave me cute stickers

All 4 sisters moving our beds to different rooms. Our frames got stuck in the hall. Notice Sister Campbell's face in the corner. She was NOT happy with me

I made dinner for everyone. BBQ slow cooker chicken with spinach and rice

This week was probably the longest on my mission so far. When you knock all day long it can get pretty discouraging. I had a neat experience yesterday though. After church we had 4 hours of knocking and on our way we met a lady named Jayne. We started talking to her and she broke down about how difficult her life was. All the sudden the spirit told me to give her a hug. So I did. She told me she hadn't been given a hug in a long time and just cried and cried in my arms. I felt the Savior's love so strong for her in that moment. It is incredible to be able to represent Jesus Christ.

Sis Saulle, me, sis Schreiner and Sis Campbell in the four man flat

sharing clothes! I love sis saulle

Lastly I just wanted to share a short thought from the scriptures. They have been my best buddy this week :) I changed the scripture a little bit to fit to my situation:

"And we have entered into their house and taught them, and we have taught them in their streets and on their buses and trains...and we have been rejected, and laughed at, and misjudged, and ignored, and avoided...and through the power and wisdom of God we have been delivered again." -alma 26:29

Missions are tough. But life is also tough. When things get hard, turn to the Savior. He will ALWAYS give you tender mercies to keep you going.

Xx Sister Eliza Jones

Making macaroons the proper way with a french expert

Wonderful Ward Members The Turner Family let us make Macaroons at their house on Pday.

Me and Sis Saulle and our new WALL we created

Saying Goodbye to Sister Mottlova

Sister Abi Pegg created these illustrations and gave them to Eliza before leaving Sheffield

Week Fifteen: Ta Sheffield! Moving to York

14.10.19

Hello from England! I am moving to Pontefract (York District) tomorrow! My new companion will be Sister Saulle, a missionary from France. Leaving Sheffield will be bittersweet. I have made some lifelong friends here and feel so connected to the ward. I an especially grateful for the Pegg family and what they have done for me. The reason I look up to Brother and Sister Pegg so much is because they serve when it ISN'T convenient. They help out even when they are busy. They serve not because it's their calling, but because they truly want to help people. I hope I can become that type of person.

The Pegg Family

Although it will be sad to leave, I am excited for this next chapter in Pontefract!

My New Companion from France

My New Assignment in the York District

Last Monday I went to IKEA for my first time for pday. It was SO COOL. I can't believe that I've never been inside when I live 20 minutes from one at home. So if you haven't been to IKEA, go.

This week we got to do a bit of service. We helped a member paint a bedroom bright orange and blue. Then we helped another woman move houses. Service on a mission is the BEST! I don't know why I ever complained about it when I was a young woman ;)

Has anyone watched The Book of Mormon videos? They are perfect for missionary movie night. It's funny how much you appreciate little things like that on a mission.

Kim

Today I had a final opportunity to teach Kim and Katie. It's incredible to see how God helped a group of people of different ages and backgrounds come together. One from Hungary, China, America, and Czech Republic all in England strengthening each others testimonies.

Katie my neighbor from Hungary

I cannot describe the joy I felt as I taught them. My heart was completley full seeing the Gospel of Jesus Christ enter their lives. I have such a strong testimony of the way the gospel changes people. It changes their countenance, their attitude, and their lives. Oh how blessed I am to have it a part of my life!

Little missionaries. Practicing door approaches. We had a lesson on missionary work today

Saying Goodbye to Anna Maria

Saying Goodbye to Yanko:(

Saying goodbye to the Macko Family.

I was really inspired by the reoccurring emphasis on being fully committed during conference. It inspired me to step up my work as a missionary. In my personal study this week I was reading about the sons of Mosiah and their experiences preaching the gospel. In Alma 21 we see the sufferings and opposition they encountered in their work. But despite the difficulty, they were persistent.

"And they went forth whithersoever they were led by the Spirit of the Lord, preaching the word of God in EVERY synagogue of the Amalekites, or in EVERY assembly of the Lamanites where they could be admitted." (21:16)

Rotherham

Take note, they went into EVERY synagogue they possibly were admitted into. They were fully committed to the work. They didn't just give a little effort, but as much as they possibly could. And as a result of this full commitment-

"the Lord began to bless them, insomuch that they brought many to the knowledge of the truth; yea, they did convince many of their sins..." (21:17).

Beautiful England

As we fully commit ourselves to the gospel, the Lord will truly bless us. I have seen that this week as I have made sacrifices in order to be a more fully committed missionary. I challenge you today or tomorrow to write a list of a few things you can do NOW to show your commitment to the Lord. Maybe it's living a commandment in it's entirety. Maybe it's saying a more sincere prayer before bed or deciding to read the Book of Mormon every single day. Whatever it is, write it down then do it. As you show the Lord you want to be more fully committed to him, he will reach out and bless you. I know it because I've experienced it.

Cheers! Sister Eliza Jones