Week Thirty: Ducks, Rice and Faith

27.1.20

Typically foggy day...could barely see a couple yards in front of me today

Ay up me duck! (Aka: Hello). Why they say this..I have no idea. This week we had the opportunity to teach both S. And P. with members. Can I just say...getting members involved is one of the best things a missionary can do to help people progress. I love working together! S. unexpectedly had to go to the hospital on Sunday, and was unable to come to church. As it gets closer to her baptism, I can really see how the adversary is doing everything he can to influence her decision. Please keep S. In your prayers as she works against the opposition. It's my greatest desire that she will continue on this path.

Sister Pegg created these for us to help in our lessons.

On a silly note, we were at an elderly couple's home for tea the other night. Sister L. Didn't realize that she had spilled some rice on the seat, so when I stood up I had squished rice all over the backside of my trousers. She looked at me and said, "Oh fiddle!" Then she marched over and began to scrub the rice off the back of my trousers with a wet rag. Try and picture that. I felt like a 5 year old having my grandma clean me up after a meal. It was just a classic missionary moment.

As I've been out just about 7 months, you'd think I have the hang of things. Maybe it seems like I do, but to be honest, I'm still trying to figure out how to do the work and be a missionary. I look back on the past 7 months and see how many priceless lessons I've learned. However, sometimes when you're in the thick of the moment it's hard to see what the Lord is teaching you. Right now, I cannot see the reason I am struggling with the things that I am in the work. But this is where FAITH comes in.

Like Nephi said, "and I was led by the spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which I should do" (1 nephi 4:6). Oftentimes in life we dont know why we have the trials we do. It is usually not until later on that we look back and realize the reason for it. Keep that perspective. Have faith that even though you cant see all the reasons NOW, there is a reason for every difficulty. Life is hard, but it can be really good if you choose to make it.

Cheers! Sister Jones

Week Twenty Nine: "And my Father dwelt in a tent"

20.1.20

We "Heart Attacked" a members door.

This week I had two fervent prayers answered...First, my phone was found! YAY! Second, S. decided to continue learning about the gospel! We had a lesson about the restoration on Wednesday and it went so so well. Our ward mission leader and his wife came and really helped with a second witness of these truths. To make a great miracle even better, S. came to church on Sunday and wants to bring her son next week! She is so prepared to hear the gospel and I feel so blessed to be able to help her learn more. Our friend P. also came to church for his first time on Sunday. We have been teaching him for about a month now. Luckily the meeting topic was on service (easy to understand) and the Sunday School lesson was on The Tree of Life...which both S. and P. read this past week! It was wonderful.

Another side note...I took a break from writing this email to go teach S, and she accepted the invitation to be baptized!! I am so proud of her. She is planning to get baptized on Feburary 8th.

A dress Laura Pinnock sent Jane and I for our birthdays

This week we continued to teach our Persian friend P. English and more about that gospel. The Farsi speaking elders skyped in twice this week to help translate the lessons. It's incredible how technology can help futher this work! P. wants to know how to find more peace in her life and committed to read the Farsi copy of The Book of Mormon we gave her.

On a another note, P. always makes Sister Whitby and I laugh. She wanted to learn the sentence "I am trying to on a diet" and told us the hardest word she has learned so far is "parallelogram" (who taught her that?!)

HERE IS THE FIRST BLUE SKY WE HAVE SEEN IN WEEKS! JUST SOAKING IN THE SUNSHINE!!

On Friday we went to Zone Conference in Sheffield. In preparation, President Green had us read "In the Strength of the Lord," a 2001 BYU devotional given by Elder Bednar. If you haven't read this talk, PLEASE read it. It was one of the most moving talks I have ever read. Interestingly enough, this talk and our zone conference was centered around the enabling power of the atonement. This is a topic I have been studying over the past few weeks. One line in the talk reads, "The purpose of the gosepl is to make bad men good and good men better, and to change human nature." Bad men (sinners=all of us) can be made good through the redemptive power of Christ's atonement, and good men (those who have repented and continue trying) can be made even better through the enabling power of Christ's atonement.

Japanese food with district to celebrate three of our birthdays (The restaurant was called "Wagamama")

A few weeks ago my dad sent me a letter explaining the difference between kindness vs charity, knowledge vs wisdom, etc. As humans, we can be kind. We can gain knowledge. But the latter quality (charity, wisdom, etc) can only be developed through Christ. And I want to add to my dad's message by including, it is only through the ENABLING POWER of the atonement that we can develop true Christ-like qualities.

Chinese food at the Peggs after zone conference

Hanging at the Peggs

Elder Rosquivist and Elder Neck from Sweden and Wales (this was from our Birthday lunch)

I made an interesting discovery this week in my personal study. In 1 nephi 2:15 it reads, "And my Father dwelt in a tent." I remember when I started Seminary kids would pick that as their "favorite scripture" jokingly because it was so short and could be taken as seemingly insignificant at that age. However, this week I noticed something quite important about this statement. Lehi was dwelling in his tent when he received the vision of the tree of life (1 nephi 8). He was dwelling in a tent when he learned about the Savior coming to redeem his people (1 nephi 10:16). Lehi is "dwelling in his tent" when some of the most critical truths are revealed to him. How often do we take the time to "dwell" in a quiet place to converse with the Lord? Perhaps if we took more time to do so, could we learn important truths that could help us greatly in our lives?

I hope all is well in America, and that the weather us treating you a bit better than its treating us over here in Nottingham. Have a great week!

Sister Eliza Jones

A birthday present from Nanny and Max

Bought myself some lilies from the cutest little floral shop

Weighing sausages with a suitcase scale.

Celebrating my Birthday with Bishop King and his wonderful family! THANK YOU!!

My view from my bedroom window in Eastwood

Doodles

This

Talking to the fam on FACE TIME

Week Twenty Eight: "I'm 20!"

13.1.20

Hey everyone! I wrote out a big long email to send out this week, but unfortunately I lost my phone :( So today's email will be a bit shorter.

This week has many ups and downs. By Wednesday, I felt like I was just trying to push through the hours. Appointments cancelled, less actives weren't home or wouldn't let us in, and the rejection was tough.

On Friday we received a referral as a woman had requested a copy of the Book of Mormon online. We went to bring her the book, and she invited us in. As she begun to tell us her story and her desires, it brought tears to my eyes. She was SO ready. She had read about Joseph Smith online and said it felt right. She needed to fill a hole in her life and after exploring many religions, finally felt like she had found one that was right. This was one of those moments that you read about in Preach my Gospel that you don't think will actually happen to you (at least not in Europe). She asked if she could come to church and if we could come teach her more. When we left, my companion and I both started to cry. We were filled with SO much joy. At this moment I realized something important. I had done nothing to find this woman...and this really isn't my work, it's the Lords. We are just priveledged enough to take part in his gathering. Well, Sunday came around and we got a message from S. She explained that she was nervous and didn't want to come anymore. I was so gutted. To make matters even harder, she sent us a message that she wasn't ready to learn more either. I was trying so hard not to be disappointed, but it was one of the hardest experiences on my mission. I wanted so badly for S. to fill that hole in her life with the gospel. As I prayed that night, I asked Heavenly Father why he didn't give her the courage to come. And I heard these words: "This is STILL my work." It's hard seeing someone choose something contrary to the gospel, but I am trusting the Lord and his plan.

I got to face time with my family on my Birthday!!

Oh..and I turned 20 yesterday! My birthday was wonderful. We went to church, to the bishops for a lunch and then the Peggs surprised me with a tea party at the chapel! And I got to watch all of the videos of the birthday wishes from home...Thank you for those! I felt so much love!

Matt Peg

The Pegg Family Surprised me and my companion at the chapel with a proper English Tea Party for my 20th Birthday!!

I love you all and hope you are staying warm in the chilly Utah weather. Just remember that I am freezing with you over here in rainy England :)

Love, Sister Eliza Jones

Week Twenty Seven: Happy Six Months!

6.1.20

My District

Wow! Crazy to think I'm a third of the way done. It has been the hardest 6th months, but there is no price that could pay for the lessons I've learned, the people I've met, and the testimony I have gained.

First off, I am overjoyed because AL AND SOPHIE GOT BAPTIZED! I was so sad I couldn't be there for the special day, but I was able to video call them afterwards to talk about their experience.

Factiming Al and Sophie on their baptism day

I am taken back at how much influence a child can have. A few months ago, Sophie asked her dad if they could go to church. He searched for local churches in the area and came across ours. As we began to teach them, Sophie was at church every single week without fail. One week, her dad was sick but Sophie wanted to go so much that Al arranged for a family friend to get her to church. I am truly amazed at her desire to come to church and read The Book of Mormon. I am so blessed to have gotten the opportunity to teach them about the gospel!!

On Saturday I had a really neat expeirence. I sat by a woman named P. on the bus and began to talk to her. I told her what my purpose was as a missionary and offered to help her with English since it wasn't her first language. Although she couldn't say much, she was beaming. She translated something on her phone from Farsi into English which said, "I was praying and asking God yesterday to find a friend who could help me with my English." And to make it a real PROPOR MIRACLE she and her husband came to church yesterday! That was the first friends we have had come to church in the 7 weeks I've been here!! Wow. It was the best day.

As I began my study of Come Follow Me this week, I noticed something in the first verse of 1 Nephi. Nephi says, "having seen many afflictions in the course of my days..." and when you look at the footnote it says, "affliction; blessing". I began to study more about the correlation between the two words. In Alma 7:5 it says, "My joy cometh...after wading through much affliction and sorrow." Another verse I loved was in Alma 28:8- "And this is the account of Ammon and his brethren, their journeyings in the land of Nephi, their sufferings in the land, their sorrows, and their afflictions, AND their incomprehensible joy." Without their sufferings, they could not experience this joy! So back to Nephi....our afflictions are blessings as they ultimately help us to be able to feel joy! The Book of Mormon is filled with so much wisdom and truth. My love for it grows each time I read it!

As it is the start of a new year, take some time to think about what you can do this year to BECOME a more dedicated disciple of Jesus Christ. Rather than saying, "new year, new me" perhaps say, "this year, better me." Its the little choices we make daily that determine who we become!

Cheers! Sister Jones

Pday with my district

Week Twenty Six: The Enabling Power of the Atonement

1.1.20

The Pegg's for Christmas. Abi, Maleah, Zach, Matt and Ky

Happy New Year! This past week has had many ups and downs, as always. The highlight was the "Christmas break", of course. On Christmas Day Sister Pegg picked my companion and I up at the crack of dawn and drove us to Sheffield.

They had stockings for us!

We opened some packages from family and friends. I was thrilled to get my favorite cereal, Raisin nut bran from my grandma and of course many stickers :)

One of my fav gifts! Raisin Nut Bran!

Honey

We popped crackers, ate a Turkey dinner with brussel sprouts and pigs in a blanket (not like we have in America...this kind is sausage wrapped in bacon!) and watched a few Christmas films.

On the 26th, Boxing day, my companion and I spent a good portion of the day relaxing. It was so strange to have a morning without any buses to catch or appointments to fill.

Janet and Robert Stinson

Later on in the day we helped a member make apple strudel and watched The Sound of Music (my most favorite movie ever).

Waiting for the Bus by Bishop King's house

Despite the wonderful meals, movies and relaxation, the best part about this Christmas season was devoting so much attention to Christ. In past years, I have appreciated and thought about Christ's birth at the holiday season, but there were so many distractions that made It difficult to really spend time focusing on him. This Christmas, I was able to focus on the TRUE JOY of Christmas. I didn't have my family, homely decorations and traditions. Although it was difficult to be without these familiar things, I found so much joy IN Christ. Not only his birth, but his atonement and the hope his life and resurrection brings us.

Making chocolate houses with the Kings

A few random thoughts from the week:

1. My companion and I were meant to be. We both LOVE crafts. Every night after 9, we sit and do a craft together. We paint, needle felt, make tassel bunting, quill, etc. After Christmas we've ended up with so many crafts we don't have time to do them all!

2. I tried pea soup this week. Kinda strange, but not bad. We were also fed liver and jello for a meal. Hm

3. For those of you who are familiar with Nesquick strawberry milk, it's the best. In England, the strawberry milk is even better. They also have other flavored milk. My favorite so far is banana. It tastes like a mix of a laffy taffy and a melted creamie! My companion and I decided we will start a flavoured milk business when we get home. Maybe we will go on Shark tank...

After Sacrament meeting on Sunday, someone that had come to church with my companion and I pulled us aside and let us know he didn't want to come anymore because he didn't feel anything. After talking to him for a bit and doing all we could to encourage him to keep trying, we walked into Sunday School pretty disheartened. In the lesson, we talked about the Atonement. While it has the power to redeem us (from sin, guilt, pain, etc) it also has a power to ENABLE us. Take for example in Mosiah 24 when Alma and his people are in bondage. They cry unto the Lord in their hearts asking for help in their affliction. Although the Lord did not change their situation, he enabled them to endure.

"And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage. And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord."

I felt that this lesson was just for me. Here I was, discouraged and disheartened about what had just happened with our friend giving up on the gospel. But I realized that in these painful moment, Christ's atonement can enable us to endure them. Not only that, but endure them cheerfully! I am so grateful for my knowledge of the atonement and its enabling power.

To end on a high note, I want to share a PROPER MIRACLE from yesteday. My companion and I didn't feel good about our plans for the next few hours, so we knelt down and prayed for direction. As we prayed, the name Richard came into mind. I didn't know of any Richards, so I looked it up on area book. I found one that was taught in the past, and we went to visit him. It turns out that his mother had been recently telling her husband that she really wanted to go back to a church, she just didn't know which. She let us in and we talked for a good time about the godhead, the priesthood and our plan. She even invited us back!! God really does work in miraculous ways.

I am so very grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ. As I approach this new year, I am thankful for the opportunity to spend the next year in the service of the Lord, in this country that I am learning to love :)

Cheers!

Sister Eliza Jones