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!

The Minster

Windmill in York

Week Twenty: Muffins and Broccoli

18.11.19

A new and innovative way to find new investigators. Turned into a bunch of homeless people crowding the table

This week was quite eventful. First things first, the new white handbook was released!! In our interviews with President Green, he talked about prescription vs principles. The old handbook contained many prescriptive guidelines that are detailed and straightforward. However, the new handbook contains guidelines that allow us to use principles to discern things for ourselves. President Green mentioned something that I really liked. He said, when the opportunity to call home weekly was released, some missionaries refused to embrace it and said they were going to live the "higher law" by not calling. But by doing this, they are saying that revelation from the apostles applies to everyone but themselves. I loved that! It reminded me of something my dad would say. 😁

Oh and, BIG birthday shout out to my dad...it's his 50TH BIRTHDAY THIS WEEK!! 🎂

So mad. Broccoli in my garments.

On Friday I threw my whites in the washing machine. When they were finished, I opened the washer and to my surprise water started GUSHING out all over the floor. This wasn't any water, it was water from the sink pipe!! Long story short, the washing machine and kitchen sink are connected, and somehow the washer sucked everything from the sink piped and washed my whites with the nasty water and leftover food. As I was wringing out my grayish yellow whites there was bits of broccoli and other adventurous foods stuck inside. It was hilarious, but not so fun!!!

On Saturday we tried something new: muffin finding! We made a bunch of muffins then set up a stand in Pontefract market. It may have attracted more homeless people than potential friends, but it was still a fun and creative way to get ourselves out in the community. I offered one man a free muffin as he walked by, but he just shook his head as he looked at my nametag and said, "it's all just a fairytale." As he walked away, I thought to myself...it really is a fairytale. The gosepl is too good to be true. It's a PERFECT plan, that if we follow we WILL live happily ever!

Al, Sophie and Emmy

On Sunday night we went sing finding. We knocked on doors and asked if we could sing a song that we were going around the neighborhood sharing. We sang "I am a child of God." It's incredible how powerful music can be. Many people were much more receptive to our message once we had brought the spirit through music.

EMMY

I made this for Sophie

Word of Wisdom chart I made for Sophie.

Funny sidenote...we get lots of excuses of why people can't meet us for appointments, and the best of the week was "I'm sorry I cannot meet today. I now identify as a Christmas tree. Thanks for understanding." Hahaha.

Well, surprise surprise I'm being emergency transffered to Eastwood in a couple days! A sister needs a companion and so President Green called me to let me know I'd be moving before transfers. I'm sad to leave Al and his daughters as they are progressing so strongly along the path to baptism, but I'm excited for the new journey ahead!

Nottingham (I'll be in a section called Eastwood). I will leave after Wednesday

My challenge of the week is to listen to more spiritually uplifting music. When you're in your car, turn on something that draws you closer to the Savior. Listening to uplifting music really makes a difference in your day.

Love you all! Cheers!!

Sister Eliza Jones

Cute Knitted hats on drinks. I bought one

I made this for my companions T book. Under each door was a memory we had together

Pub for dinner....American Food

Sis Schriner became obsessed with this inflatable turkey. She named it Trey (after Elder Stewart). She brought it on the streets, cooked with it, slept with it.... she also memorized animal mating sounds as a hobby...

Our daily prank. Hiding the hand for each other to find

IN YORK WITH SISTER PEGG AND MY NEW COMPANION TODAY FOR PDAY
New Companion is Sister Cassidy Whitby. We will be in Nottingham (Eastwood).

Week Nineteen: Remembrance Day

11.11.19

Remembrance Day

Typical England. Umbrellas serve no purpose

Hiya from your long-lost friend SISTER JONES!! It was a chilly week in Pontefract but it's just going to get colder... today is Remembrance Day. We wore red poppies all week in honor of those who have died in the wars. It's touching to see the efforts that the English make to remember the soldiers and their families.

Door 600

We had a week full of finding. The difficult thing about our little village is that there are not many people out to contact. Even the town center only has 3-4 people after 2pm and they tend to be...well, a little tipsy. Ha!

We are continuing to teach our lovely friend Al and his daughters Sophie and Emmy. Sophie is 9 years old and has the biggest heart. I don't think I've ever seen a little girl so excited to go to church. On Sunday her father's foot was injured, but she wanted to go so bad that he made rearrangements for one of his friends to bring her to church. She reads the Children's Book of Mormon every single day. She is so dear in my heart.

I made this for Sophie

On Thursday we went to McDonalds with an elderly man in our ward, Brother Huby. He has been a member for 3 years and shared his incredible conversion story with us. It took him 42 years and 26 missionaries before he was baptized. He is now serving in the bishopric and is one of the strongest members in the ward. His story inspired me to not give up on people we find and teach!

Brother Huby

This week I decided to read about an ancestor. I researched which relates were born fairly close to where I am serving, and found that my 4th Great Grandmother, Mary Turpin, was born just 17 miles from where I am living now. I read about her childhood, her journey to America, and her experience traveling across the plains. I felt the spirit so strongly as I read about her life. I felt so close to those who came before me, and I know that they are not far even though they have passed. How beautiful it is to have the knowledge that we will be with all of our family after this life. This week I challenge you to research 1 ancestor. I hope you can feel the same spirit that I felt as I read about Mary!

Lastly, I wanted to share something from my personal study this week. In D&C 19:23 it says that if we "walk in the meekness of [his] spirit, we shall have peace in [him]." What does it mean to be meek? While humility is recognizing our dependance on the Lord, meekness is being willing to submit to him even when we think we know better. When we are meek, we recognize that we cannot see the full picture and continue to turn to the Lord for guidance. As we do this, he is able to bless us to be able to feel peace...even in the most chaotic and difficult times of our life!

In 2008 April General Conference, Elder Bednar said that meekness is also being able to "learn from people who may seem less capable, experienced...or who otherwise may not appear to have much to contribute" (E. Bednar). This resonated with me. Some of the major lessons that I have learned on my mission have been from people I did not expect. Regardless of the difficulties of a mission, I am so thankful for the variety of people I meet who teach me valuable lessons. I am far from a perfect missionary, but I am sincerely trying my best to represent Jesus Christ. I love him, and I know that he lives!

Sister Eliza Jones