:)

It hardly feels like another transfer has gone by...it went by so fast!  I had the amazing opportunity and privilege to help out with the new missionaries yesterday and today!  Sister Keyes and I, along with the STL's from Richland, the 3 Assistants to the President, and President and Sister McDonough, all went to the air port yesterday to pick them up!

It was so weird going back to the airport.  My mind flashed back to when I arrived as if it had just happened.  I still remember those first two days so clearly. :)  It was so exciting to see and welcome all 21 of the new missionaries!  Seven of them were Sisters, and 14 of them were Elders!  It was a large group, and they are all stellar men and women.  Last night we had a testimony meeting where each of them bore their testimony.  Some were a little more nervous than others, but all had great faith and deep gratitude for being there.  They made me cry.  I wanted to be back in their shoes and have that fresh new feeling again - to have absolutely no thoughts or desires but to serve and love the Lord.  It's all too easy to get caught up in other things the longer you are out.  Things like knowing the doctrine, your relationship with your companion, your relationship with the members, how to better your teaching, what goals you want to set, how you can be more unified with your district, how to eat healthy so your body can keep up with the work, how to be yourself while also being a missionary, etc.

As I pondered while writing in my journal last night, I realized how much all of those kinds of thoughts had started crowding my mind.  As I thought of all of those new missionaries and their pure hearts and desires to share the gospel with everyone they see, I wanted to have that same simple, pure desire again.  I wanted to start again.  Then the spirit impressed me with this thought, "you can." :)

Each day is a new start.  I can clear from my mind what happened before and start fresh every day.  Before I prayed that night, I cleared all the thoughts from my head, and put myself back into the feelings I had that first night I was here in Mississippi.  I simply prayed with the desire to serve all I could with the Lord.  I just wanted to be an instrument in His hands and do His will.  He was my thoughts that night.

It was so refreshing to pray like that again.  I know that all of us can start new.  You can start today.  Clear your mind and find that single desire to serve your Heavenly Father with your brother and Savior Jesus Christ, and you will find peace.  They love you.

One more thing I want to share is the thoughts that each of us can share the gospel every day.  The thought came to my mind yesterday to start recording in my journal every day the answer to this question, "How did I share the gospel today?"  That is part of my plan to keep my missionary efforts going through out my life.  It's a life-long calling that I want to fulfill and magnify.

I know this Church is True.  It is the Church of Jesus Christ in these last days and I know He leads it.  I hope you all have a wonderful week and can feel His influence and peace and love in your life at this time.  I love you all!

Love :)

This last week was filled with lots of things - lots of good things! :)  Here's a little break down:

Monday night - Tuesday: Sister Keyes and I got permission to go on exchanges with the Richland STL's, so I got to go back to the area I started in!  They're even still in the same apartment I was in while I was serving there!  It was crazy to go back.  I never thought I would have the opportunity to go back to my first area while on my mission.  I got to see a young man and his family that I helped prepare for baptism while I was there.  I also got to see a couple of members that went out with us, and the mother of a recent convert family that the sisters there just baptized a few weeks ago!  It was great!  That recent convert really inspired me.

Wednesday: Zone Conference!  Blessings came in multiple forms at Zone Conference.  First of all, the people.  I got to see Sister Walker (who I trained) and all the Sisters in our zone!  Love them all!  I also got to see more members from the Florence Ward because they provided and served us our lunch!  It was so wonderful to see them again! :)

Second of all, the spirit and topic.  The theme of Zone Conference was "The Book of Mormon - Key to Conversion."  My testimony of the Book of Mormon and the power it has was renewed and refreshed.  I know that the Book of Mormon is true. I know that with out it we wouldn't have a lot of the answers we have today.  I know that if we read it with a search for good and truth, we will be touched and strengthened. Our ability to stay firm in our faith in the Savior and His gospel will increase.  Our love for Him will grow.  We will want to do better and we will be happier.  I have felt this difference as I have committed to reading from the Book of Mormon every day, and to finish it by the end of the transfer (next Tuesday).

Thursday: We had the wonderful opportunity to meet some wonderful members of the Jackson Branch.  They are less active, but they are great people and hopefully we will see them back at church soon!  We also found some new investigators!  Hopefully they will go through with their return appointments next week and we will be able to keep teaching them!

Friday - Saturday: We went on exchanges with the Sisters in Brandon!  Sister Booth came to Jackson with me.  We had an awesome couple of days!  I learned a lot from Sister Booth.  She goes home at the end of this transfer, but you would never know it.  She is one of the most calm and peaceful, really peaceful, missionaries I have ever seen in their last couple weeks of their mission.  When people ask her how she feels about going home she says, "I'm excited to go home, but I'm more excited to see what I can do with the rest of my mission."  Sister Booth is younger than me, but she is such an example to me.  I hope I can have that attitude and spirit as I continue serving.

Sunday: [Our golden family] got back from vacation Saturday night and came to church Sunday morning!  They had been gone all week to Florida, and when we asked if they were going to make it to church they didn't respond because they wanted to surprise us.  Unfortunately we went to the Jackson Branch since we thought they weren't going to make it, but then they went!  So we missed seeing them at church since they go to the Madison ward, but we were still so happy to hear that they went anyways without us!

We also found out that they obeyed the Word of Wisdom the whole time they were on vacation!  We taught it to them right before they left, and even with family offering them coffee, they didn't drink it!  And [the husband] got lemonade instead of tea!  Wahoo!! We were so proud of them!! :)  AND they usually go shopping on Sundays, but because we also had taught them about keeping the Sabbath day holy, they just stayed home! Wow!!  Talk about faith and immediate obedience!  [This family is] the most prepared people I have ever met!  They're amazing examples, and will be totally ready for baptism on August 30th! We love them! :)


So that was the week!  I have been greatly inspired and recommitted to serving with all my heart, might, mind, and strength.  I know that we really do have to serve with all of those things. The scripture is so true that says, "Whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it." (Matt 16:25)  Service heals.  I know it heals.  It is the key to having our hearts love.  President Uchtdorf said,"As we extend our hands and hearts toward others in Chris-tlike love, something wonderful happens to us.  Our own spirits become healed, more refined, and stronger."  I know that's true.

I love you all and hope that you will feel of that Christ-like love in your hearts this week!  Love you!

Hopeful Burdens :)

This last week I learned a lot about burdens.  I realized that most of the burdens I'd been having came from my attitude at the beginning of each day.  One thing I have learned from these dear southern people, is the value of each day.  They are constantly talking about how it is a blessing to wake up each morning, thanking God for another day.  I decided to start doing this in my life.  Each morning after I get out of bed, I kneel down and say a short, but hear-felt prayer, thanking my Heavenly Father for another day here on Earth.  I realized that each day is a blessing.

Yesterday in church it hit me pretty hard that I really don't know when my mission will be over.  The Lord is in control, and each day is a gift from Him.  Likewise, we don't know when our mission here on Earth will be done.  As I have started saying this prayer of gratitude every morning, I have found so much more joy in each of my days! :)  I have found more purpose, more desire, more joy, and more gratitude.  Life is good :)

Sister Keyes and I did have some fun in the rain this weekend!  We were teaching a young man in his garage when it started pouring.  Our car was parked down at the other end of the street, so we made a run for it!  We were really wet haha.  But it was totally worth it!  We were laughing the whole way and didn't regret it one bit.  We wouldn't have met this man if we had decided to go to our car before the rain hit.

I know that the Lord is with us.  He wants us to follow Him and take His yoke upon us.  As we do, we join a whole team - a whole family - of people who also have taken that yoke and decided to follow Christ by walking with Him.  I know that trials bring us closer to our Savior and make us more aware of our Heavenly Father and His eternal plan.  I love my Father in Heaven.  I know that He loves me and is helping me.  He is my guide and my comfort.  Christ is my strength and my support.  I know that with Him all things are possible.

I know that hope is a must to have joy.  With out hope there is no joy.  I hope ( I really do!)  that each of you will know of your Father in Heaven's love for you and those who you know.  He loves every one of them.  I know that He wants us to love them as He loves them.  Try to see them with His eyes and you will find miracles.  I know that.

I love you all!  May you have a wonderful, hopeful week!

First a word of apology that this blog was neglected all summer.  My responsibilities as stake camp director and several family reunions and events distracted me.  I'm so sorry.  But I'm back, I've put all her summer letters on this blog, and plan to update the blog regularly again with the inspiring words of this dedicated missionary.

Also, we received this fun email from the mission this past week:  "Sister Keyes and Sister Jones earned the"Golden Mop Key" Award for keeping an amazingly clean and organized apartment. These are super hard working STL's. They are happy, healthy, and great companions.  We love these wonderful Sisters." --Felicia's mom, Diane Jones

Learning :)

We've been teaching [a wonderful] family and they are doing awesome!  They have a baptism date for August 30th now, because we need a little more time to teach them, and they are leaving to go out of town this weekend.  But they are doing great!

Also, Sister Keyes and I are starting to work with the Jackson Branch, as well as the Madison ward.  So we are doing double duty now!  I'm so excited though!  We went to the Branch for the first time yesterday and I loved it!  The spirit there was special, and I could feel strongly that the gospel is for everyone - literally.  I loved it. :)

This last week I also went to my first service of another denomination.  It was a Wednesday night service, so much more low key and not as long, but it was for a Methodist church that one of our investigators currently attends (Mike).  It was a good experience!  The people were very nice and welcoming.  Some looked a little curious and surprised that we were there, but no one was rude in any way.  They also had a dinner before hand that we enjoyed!

During the actual service, I had a personal experience that I want to share.  As I sat there listening and observing, I tried to put myself in their shoes - as if I had grown up a Methodist.  I listened with an open heart to see what I could learn and feel.  I did feel comfortable and would even say that the spirit was there at times.  I also found myself pondering and asking questions in my head about things that were being said.  There were a few things that really made me wonder and question.  Then at one point the distinct impression came to me, "If you hadn't grown up in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, you would have searched for the truth."

It was such a comfort to me that really settled a deep-down question I had had for a while.  I'd wondered if I really would have searched for the full truth if I had grown up in another faith.  That answer came to me that night as I felt the spirit testify to me that I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints not because I grew up in it, but because I know it's true.

I know that it is Jesus Christ's church because it has the full truth that answers all of the questions of the soul.  I also know that knowing the pattern of how to receive personal revelation, personal answers is so important.  That is how this entire church is run - by revelation from God.  That is why and how it can be His church.  The pattern of receiving revelation through prayer, scripture study, fasting, and acting, is used in every aspect of the church and should be used in every aspect of our lives.  That is how we will become one with our Savior and Heavenly Father.  That is how we will come to know them.  That is how we will "learn heaven."  Brad Wilcox once said, "We are not earning heaven, we are learning heaven."

I know that is true. I know that the way we will be comfortable living with our Father and Savior is to be comfortable living like them. :)

I hope you all are finding joy in your lives as you face it with your Savior at your side and spirit as your guide.  I know your Heavenly Father loves you!  I love you too!