Dear Friends, Family, loved ones, and supporters,
Thank you! First and foremost, thank you, for all that you have done to support me and show me your love. It has meant so much and this journey has been life changing. I love my mission. I love my Savior. I love His gospel. Christ lives. I know He does! He loves us and wants to be with us.
I know that coming home will be a new experience, but I am so excited to be able to serve the Lord at home in a way that I couldn't before, but can now because of my mission. I know it will be a hard adjustment, but I do have confidence that the Lord will be with me. My call to be a missionary wasn't for 18 months. It was for life. I will forever be a disciple of Christ and I will serve Him. I love Him and I know He lives.
I love you all so much. I am excited to see you and want you to know that I love each one of you! May the Lord continue to be with each of you as you serve Him. May HIS force be with you!
Love,
Sister Felicia Jones :)
Tuesday, December 30, 2014
Monday, December 15, 2014
Merry Christmas! :)
We have had some interesting experiences with many of our potential investigators and actual investigators telling us their not interested, or kind of fading out of contact with us. It's been really hard, especially when we are trying to do so much to work harder and more devoted than we ever have. However, I have felt that the Lord is helping us to clear people out of the way that are not ready at this time so that we can find those that are. I know that there are people ready, and we have found a few new potentials! There are also many other parts of the mission that are blossoming! I know that the Lord's timing is wonderful and merciful. He knows so well when we need what we need. I know that our faith is being tried, and that in turn our hearts are being purged. I know mine is and I am so grateful that the Lord loves me enough to purge me a little more.
As we are striving as a mission to do more than we have done, next week we will not be taking time for our normal preparation day stuff on Monday. As a mission we are giving that day to the Lord as a gift to Him this Christmas. Therefore, I will not be emailing or reading my emails until the Tuesday before I come home. I want you all to know how grateful I am- really grateful- for all of your love and support! I have been so blessed over the past 18 months as I have served as a full-time missionary. I love this work! I know that it is a sacred call to represent the Savior and share His gospel 24/7. I know that I have grown and learned so much through my service to and with my Savior. He has changed me. He has refined me. He has helped me become more of who I can become to be like my Heavenly Father. I love my Savior and my Father in Heaven. They are real and they are living. They love us and they know our desires, our needs, and our potential. They know you!
May you all have a blessed and merry Christmas day and week as you find and put a little more Christ in your lives. I love you all! Talk to you soon!
As we are striving as a mission to do more than we have done, next week we will not be taking time for our normal preparation day stuff on Monday. As a mission we are giving that day to the Lord as a gift to Him this Christmas. Therefore, I will not be emailing or reading my emails until the Tuesday before I come home. I want you all to know how grateful I am- really grateful- for all of your love and support! I have been so blessed over the past 18 months as I have served as a full-time missionary. I love this work! I know that it is a sacred call to represent the Savior and share His gospel 24/7. I know that I have grown and learned so much through my service to and with my Savior. He has changed me. He has refined me. He has helped me become more of who I can become to be like my Heavenly Father. I love my Savior and my Father in Heaven. They are real and they are living. They love us and they know our desires, our needs, and our potential. They know you!
May you all have a blessed and merry Christmas day and week as you find and put a little more Christ in your lives. I love you all! Talk to you soon!
Monday, December 8, 2014
The Gift :)
We also had interviews on Tuesday and MLC Thursday and Friday. There is a powerful spirit at those mission leadership council meetings, and I think Sister McDonough said it best when she testified, "The spirit is strongest when you sacrifice." In this last MLC meeting we talked about our baptism goal for this year and if we should lower it or keep it, since we would need 20 baptisms more than what we've ever gotten in a month. After discussion we decided to keep it and do our best to increase our faith and diligence this month. As a result we discussed what we need to do in order to make it happen. The reality is, if we want to accomplish something we've never accomplished before, we have to do something for it that we've never done before. This means sacrifice will be necessary. What are we willing to sacrifice in order to receive the blessings of Heaven? I didn't realize how much my heart loved certain things until we talked about sacrificing them.
The Lord is answering my prayers and I am truly being refined during these final weeks of service as a full-time missionary. I know that there is more for me to learn and become, and my hope is that I won't stop it from happening. Am I willing to put my fear, my personal comfort, my routines, and my habits on the alter of sacrifice? This will be the test. Christ doesn't just want us to give up the bad. He wants us to give up the good for the best.
Dearest family and friends, we need your prayers. This mission is doing things it's never done before. Progess is being made, but it needs to continue in ways it never has before. We truly need Heaven's help to share the gift of our Savior and help others come unto Him.
I would invite you all to watch the video the church has put out called "He's the Gift" at christmas.mormon.org. It is just over 2 minutes long and it really brings the spirit of Christ into your home and heart. Ponder it and Share it. It is a wonderful opportunity to share the gift of our Savior, and it's so simple! I know that the more we share our testimonies of the Savior, the more hearts will be open to receive Him and His gospel - including our own.
I know my Savior lives. Jesus is the Christ and the Son of God. He is my brother and Redeemer. He is my leader and my friend. He is my everything. He is the gift. Discover the gift! Embrace the gift! Share the gift!
Monday, December 1, 2014
Thanksgiving :)
What a great week we had! Thanksgiving was quite literally a blessed day! That's a common phrase down here, "Have a blessed day!"
We spent most of the day at [a member's] home with the two other sets of missionaries in the Madison ward. We love that family! And the other missionaries! We got to do service for them, which is why we are in jeans and t-shits in the picture :)
That morning Sister Harley and I went to help Sister McDonough with cooking. Then after the [serving at the member's home] we went back to the McDonough's! All 6 of us missionaries who were at the [member's home] went to the McDonough's, as well as our Zone Leaders and a recent convert of just over a year from the Madison Ward. We had a great time there too!
We also visited [a sweet sister], a less active who has the last few months worked so hard to do all she can to be a covenant keeper, even though she is nearly 90, almost blind, and practically deaf. She is such a good example to me and such a sweetheart. I love her so much and am so grateful I got to know her here.
Exciting news of the week is that [an investigator] from the Jackson Branch was baptized on Saturday and confirmed on Sunday! Sister Keyes and I were the first missionaries to teach her, and then we passed her off to some of the Jackson Elders since she moved closer to them. She is a sweetheart, and has been through a lot to be where she's at now, but she is strong and will do great things if she will continue that way! I'm so proud of her!
I also learned this week on exchanges the importance of knowing the how of our message. Our message is of great value and importance, and it can enable us to improve the quality of our life and overcome problems, challenges, and concerns, but if we (or those we teach) don't know how to apply it, they won't get those blessings. They way to apply it is to make covenants with God and keep them. As we are obedient to the covenants we make, we access the power of the atonement and our lives our changed - our heart is changed. That is the gift that the Savior has given me - a changed heart. I am so thankful for that gift. He is the Savior of the World. He atoned for the sins of all mankind. He will come again.
We spent most of the day at [a member's] home with the two other sets of missionaries in the Madison ward. We love that family! And the other missionaries! We got to do service for them, which is why we are in jeans and t-shits in the picture :)
That morning Sister Harley and I went to help Sister McDonough with cooking. Then after the [serving at the member's home] we went back to the McDonough's! All 6 of us missionaries who were at the [member's home] went to the McDonough's, as well as our Zone Leaders and a recent convert of just over a year from the Madison Ward. We had a great time there too!
We also visited [a sweet sister], a less active who has the last few months worked so hard to do all she can to be a covenant keeper, even though she is nearly 90, almost blind, and practically deaf. She is such a good example to me and such a sweetheart. I love her so much and am so grateful I got to know her here.
Exciting news of the week is that [an investigator] from the Jackson Branch was baptized on Saturday and confirmed on Sunday! Sister Keyes and I were the first missionaries to teach her, and then we passed her off to some of the Jackson Elders since she moved closer to them. She is a sweetheart, and has been through a lot to be where she's at now, but she is strong and will do great things if she will continue that way! I'm so proud of her!
I also learned this week on exchanges the importance of knowing the how of our message. Our message is of great value and importance, and it can enable us to improve the quality of our life and overcome problems, challenges, and concerns, but if we (or those we teach) don't know how to apply it, they won't get those blessings. They way to apply it is to make covenants with God and keep them. As we are obedient to the covenants we make, we access the power of the atonement and our lives our changed - our heart is changed. That is the gift that the Savior has given me - a changed heart. I am so thankful for that gift. He is the Savior of the World. He atoned for the sins of all mankind. He will come again.
Monday, November 24, 2014
Hope :)
This weekend we have been so blessed to see miracles and blessings. Sister Hartley and I have been praying and fasting for a while that we would be able to find people to teach. We have really been struggling to find anyone who is willing to listen to our message or accept a Book of Mormon. However, on Saturday we were able to teach 2 other lessons, get 3 return appointments, and give out a Book of Mormon. Then Sunday [two of our investigators] AND a friend of theirs all came to church! They only stayed for Sacrament Meeting, but they were there! It was [one of those investigator's] first time, as well as the friend he brought. AND we also coordinated before hand with a member family in the ward and they invited [the two investigators] to have dinner and a lesson in their home tonight (Monday), and they accepted! In fact they seemed really excited! I was on cloud 9 I was so happy and felt so blessed!! I know that it was the hand of the Lord that put all of that together. It just came together so perfectly, and I know it was because we put our trust in the Lord and expected that He would keep His promises and we kept ours. We have planned in faith and are praying all will go well tonight.
Yesterday in church the two speakers talked about faith and hope. The one gave one definition of hope as expecting or having confidence in the promises of the Lord. Hope isn't a passive word, it's an active word. How much hope we have is based on our personal righteousness. This is because we cannot have confidence that we will receive the blessings promised to us by the Lord if we are not keeping our promises to Him.
Another part that I liked was when he talked about things we hope for and things we hope in. He read a quote from Elder Uchtdorf's Oct. 2008 General Conference talk called "The Infinite Power of Hope." He said, "The things we hope for lead us to faith, while the things we hope in lead us to charity." He then said, "The three qualities—faith, hope, and charity—working together, grounded on the truth and light of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, lead us to abound in good works." I know that's true, and I'm experiencing it more and more each day as I learn how to have greater faith and hope in my Savior Jesus Christ. Again, my study each night for 5 minutes on faith has helped so much. I know it will make a difference for anyone who will sincerely do it.
I hope (expect and have confidence) that you will all have a great Thanksgiving as you truly have an attitude of Gratitude (another great talk by Pres. Uchtdorf), and show your faith by keeping your covenants with God. I love you all and am so grateful for each one of you in my life! Hope on!
Yesterday in church the two speakers talked about faith and hope. The one gave one definition of hope as expecting or having confidence in the promises of the Lord. Hope isn't a passive word, it's an active word. How much hope we have is based on our personal righteousness. This is because we cannot have confidence that we will receive the blessings promised to us by the Lord if we are not keeping our promises to Him.
Another part that I liked was when he talked about things we hope for and things we hope in. He read a quote from Elder Uchtdorf's Oct. 2008 General Conference talk called "The Infinite Power of Hope." He said, "The things we hope for lead us to faith, while the things we hope in lead us to charity." He then said, "The three qualities—faith, hope, and charity—working together, grounded on the truth and light of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, lead us to abound in good works." I know that's true, and I'm experiencing it more and more each day as I learn how to have greater faith and hope in my Savior Jesus Christ. Again, my study each night for 5 minutes on faith has helped so much. I know it will make a difference for anyone who will sincerely do it.
I hope (expect and have confidence) that you will all have a great Thanksgiving as you truly have an attitude of Gratitude (another great talk by Pres. Uchtdorf), and show your faith by keeping your covenants with God. I love you all and am so grateful for each one of you in my life! Hope on!
Tuesday, November 18, 2014
The Faith
Hello Family and Friends!
Wow time flies! Another transfer has happened and I will be finishing here in the heart of the MJM in Jackson, Mississippi. Sister Hartley is staying with me and I love her. :) I am so excited for the next six weeks because it is the very best time to be a missionary for our Savior! I love this time of the year with all of my heart! He lives! He really lives! And He wants all of us to know Him! I'm so excited to get to know Him better and to help others get to know Him too. :)
Speaking of that, good news! [One of the two young sister we've been teaching] got baptized this weekend! [The other] wasn't quite ready so she didn't get baptized, but we're still working with her. Hopefully she'll be ready within the next 2 weeks!
[This girl's] baptism was beautiful :) The spirit was very sweet and powerful. Elder Heartman, one of the Elders in our district, baptized her and ended up confirming her since her uncle, President White, ended up getting called into work on Sunday. [The girl] wore a dress that we got from one of the Madison Sisters who is going home and she looked beautiful! She looked so happy!
We're still working with . . . a few others, but we're also still trying to find more people. I know they are here, and we have seen incredible things happen throughout the mission since focusing on increasing our faith! We're already at 24 baptism this month as a mission, and that has been our average total for an entire month for quite some time now! We have a goal as a mission to reach 300 baptism by the end of the year, which would require about 40 for the months of November and December each. I know we can do it if we will continue to increase our faith!
I've been reading something every night about faith and I know that my faith in my Savior Jesus Christ has increased. I am learning now how to truly rely on the Savior - to not stress out when things aren't going how WE planned, and instead to stay calm so that I can feel the spirit and do what HE planned.
Sister Hartley and I really experienced that this last week, just in preparing [this sweet girl] for baptism. We had many opportunities to stress out, but we stayed calm and everything worked out perfectly. It really was a powerful experience.
I love you all and hope that you embrace the spirit of this season, starting with Thanksgiving and then leading into Christmas. This is the most wonderful time of the year because of Him - because we remember Him. Remember Him more through prayer, study, hard work, and obedience, and your faith in Him will increase. I know that.
The saying usually goes, "Keep the faith," but I want to challenge each of you to "Increase the faith." It will bless your life to have more joy and less stress - I promise you that.
Wow time flies! Another transfer has happened and I will be finishing here in the heart of the MJM in Jackson, Mississippi. Sister Hartley is staying with me and I love her. :) I am so excited for the next six weeks because it is the very best time to be a missionary for our Savior! I love this time of the year with all of my heart! He lives! He really lives! And He wants all of us to know Him! I'm so excited to get to know Him better and to help others get to know Him too. :)
Speaking of that, good news! [One of the two young sister we've been teaching] got baptized this weekend! [The other] wasn't quite ready so she didn't get baptized, but we're still working with her. Hopefully she'll be ready within the next 2 weeks!
[This girl's] baptism was beautiful :) The spirit was very sweet and powerful. Elder Heartman, one of the Elders in our district, baptized her and ended up confirming her since her uncle, President White, ended up getting called into work on Sunday. [The girl] wore a dress that we got from one of the Madison Sisters who is going home and she looked beautiful! She looked so happy!
We're still working with . . . a few others, but we're also still trying to find more people. I know they are here, and we have seen incredible things happen throughout the mission since focusing on increasing our faith! We're already at 24 baptism this month as a mission, and that has been our average total for an entire month for quite some time now! We have a goal as a mission to reach 300 baptism by the end of the year, which would require about 40 for the months of November and December each. I know we can do it if we will continue to increase our faith!
I've been reading something every night about faith and I know that my faith in my Savior Jesus Christ has increased. I am learning now how to truly rely on the Savior - to not stress out when things aren't going how WE planned, and instead to stay calm so that I can feel the spirit and do what HE planned.
Sister Hartley and I really experienced that this last week, just in preparing [this sweet girl] for baptism. We had many opportunities to stress out, but we stayed calm and everything worked out perfectly. It really was a powerful experience.
I love you all and hope that you embrace the spirit of this season, starting with Thanksgiving and then leading into Christmas. This is the most wonderful time of the year because of Him - because we remember Him. Remember Him more through prayer, study, hard work, and obedience, and your faith in Him will increase. I know that.
The saying usually goes, "Keep the faith," but I want to challenge each of you to "Increase the faith." It will bless your life to have more joy and less stress - I promise you that.
Monday, November 10, 2014
Faith :)
Thanks to all of you sending prayers, emails, thoughts, love, and support my way. It means so much to hear from you when I do, and to feel of all of your great support! I am so grateful for each one of you in my life, and want you to know that you have blessed my life so much by serving and loving me, my family, and the Lord. I know that the Lord is aware of all that each of you go through, sacrifice, and give to be obedient and serve Him. He loves you and is sending you blessings, I'm sure of it. Please keep your confidence in the our Savior and trust in Him. He is there and He is aware. :)
This Saturday and Sunday [two girls that are sisters] will be getting baptized and confirmed into the Jackson Branch! They are sweet girls and I am excited for them to finally be able to take this step! I know it will help them so much!
This week I have been learning lots about Faith. That was the main topic of our Mission Leadership Council Meeting. We all have taken the challenge of studying faith each night for 5 minutes, and then applying a principle we learn the next day. It has already helped me, and I would offer the same challenge to each of you! Also, one of our area presidency said that you can substitute faith for personal righteousness in the scriptures...it's amazing when you think of it that way.
I hope you all have a wonderful week! Thanks again for all you do! Love you each one of you!
This Saturday and Sunday [two girls that are sisters] will be getting baptized and confirmed into the Jackson Branch! They are sweet girls and I am excited for them to finally be able to take this step! I know it will help them so much!
This week I have been learning lots about Faith. That was the main topic of our Mission Leadership Council Meeting. We all have taken the challenge of studying faith each night for 5 minutes, and then applying a principle we learn the next day. It has already helped me, and I would offer the same challenge to each of you! Also, one of our area presidency said that you can substitute faith for personal righteousness in the scriptures...it's amazing when you think of it that way.
I hope you all have a wonderful week! Thanks again for all you do! Love you each one of you!
 |
| MLC Conference |
Monday, November 3, 2014
Let the Lord use His tools :)
Hello!
I don't have much time today, but Sister Hartley and I had a good week this last week. We enjoyed the festivities with the Madison Ward and the Jackson Branch, and at the Mission Home! Sister Hartley and I and the Madison Sisters got to go to the Mission Home on Halloween and pass out candy since President and Sister McDonough had to be out of a town for a senior missionary conference. It was fun to be there and to be with the Madison Sisters! It's always such a joy and peace to be in the mission home...there is a special spirit there that Sister Hartley related to the lobby part of the temple...it's special :)
Also, fun note, I suggested at the past Branch Council that they do the donut on a string game at their Halloween activity, and none of them had heard of it! But they decided it sounded like fun, so they provided the needed items and Sister Hartley and I were assigned to do it at the activity. It was SO FUN!! They all LOVED it and many said that it was the best part of the night! So the Knighton tradition (from my mom's family) gets carried on to Jackson, Mississippi! :)
Sister Hartley and I got to go on two exchanges this last week and one thing I really learned was how to open my heart more to the Lord. I'm still learning, but I have just felt so much recently that my heart is being more turned to the Lord - to trust Him and let Him do His work, instead of trying to do it all for Him. I thought this week of an analogy of how we get to work with the Lord. I kind of feel like a glove on a hand...People can't physically see the Lord all the time in this work, but it is only because of Him that we can do what we do. I also feel that sometimes I think that I have to be the one to do the job of the shoe and the glasses and the helmet and everything else, but if I trust the Lord, and others that He works through (hat, shoes, glasses, etc.) it is so much easier and so much more gets done. It's a miracle, and it works.
I love you all! I hope that you all had a safe Halloween and that you enjoy the fall weather! Have a wonderful week! Keep praying! He wants to hear you and help you!
I don't have much time today, but Sister Hartley and I had a good week this last week. We enjoyed the festivities with the Madison Ward and the Jackson Branch, and at the Mission Home! Sister Hartley and I and the Madison Sisters got to go to the Mission Home on Halloween and pass out candy since President and Sister McDonough had to be out of a town for a senior missionary conference. It was fun to be there and to be with the Madison Sisters! It's always such a joy and peace to be in the mission home...there is a special spirit there that Sister Hartley related to the lobby part of the temple...it's special :)
Also, fun note, I suggested at the past Branch Council that they do the donut on a string game at their Halloween activity, and none of them had heard of it! But they decided it sounded like fun, so they provided the needed items and Sister Hartley and I were assigned to do it at the activity. It was SO FUN!! They all LOVED it and many said that it was the best part of the night! So the Knighton tradition (from my mom's family) gets carried on to Jackson, Mississippi! :)
Sister Hartley and I got to go on two exchanges this last week and one thing I really learned was how to open my heart more to the Lord. I'm still learning, but I have just felt so much recently that my heart is being more turned to the Lord - to trust Him and let Him do His work, instead of trying to do it all for Him. I thought this week of an analogy of how we get to work with the Lord. I kind of feel like a glove on a hand...People can't physically see the Lord all the time in this work, but it is only because of Him that we can do what we do. I also feel that sometimes I think that I have to be the one to do the job of the shoe and the glasses and the helmet and everything else, but if I trust the Lord, and others that He works through (hat, shoes, glasses, etc.) it is so much easier and so much more gets done. It's a miracle, and it works.
I love you all! I hope that you all had a safe Halloween and that you enjoy the fall weather! Have a wonderful week! Keep praying! He wants to hear you and help you!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)