Hi family:)

 

Dad thank you for all the videos of Andelyn dancing at the game and of Ruby.  I loved them! Andelyn your dance looks great and it looks like you are a really talented team.  How fun for you! and what great news about Jades baptism is this weekend! Tell her congratulations for me please, that's so special that you all have been such a big part of her conversion process.  You will always be in her memories of the day she was baptized and that is something really special, way to go Fam! Can't wait to see all the pictures from her baptism.  

 

Well...Family it finally happened! Jennie was baptized! It was a great service, not many people were there but the spirit was present and it was strong.  She was so excited.  Both of the speakers didn't show up so we had to improvise and it all worked out, and Sister Ika and I sang a duet for it as well.  Her 3 nieces came with her for the service and a few members were there as well, even the missionary couple that has been helping her in the career center came, they are such nice people and they just love Jennie.  Brother Madz was even there to give his support.  Jennie also bore her testimony at the end, and it was so sweet.  She was also confirmed and given the gift of the Holy Ghost yesterday during sacrament meeting. She cried through the blessing and continued to cry through the sacrament, I think she could feel the spirit really strong.  Getting the holy ghost is something she's been really looking forward to for a while.  I'm just so happy for her, I think that I was sent to this area for her.  I look forward to keeping in touch and seeing how she progresses in the gospel.  

This is Jenny and John Tago-on he is a recent convert.  He was baptized last December and this was his first time baptizing someone.  It was a great opportunity for him:) 

 

This has been a pretty interesting week for us I must say.  We had a pretty cool experience the other day.  We left the house on Wednesday morning and were walking to our area when we ran into one of the Nanays from the ward Sister Bonrostro.  She told us she was free for the day and would like to work with us,  of course we said sure and we went to our area.  S. Bonrostro is a hoot let me tell you, she's been a convert for 3 years and has a great strong testimony she was awesome to work with.  At one point during the day we walked by a big group of women, and normally as missionaries we try to find families to teach and teach people in there homes so it's more quiet and refrain from teaching big groups of people cause it's hard to get to know people that way and discern their needs.  But as we were passing by to go to an appointment we turn around and find that S. Bonrostro had stopped and was talking to this group of women so we turned back and started talking to them as well.  They agreed to hear our message and so Sister Ika and I sat on this little wooden bench in the middle of the squatters area and taught literally a small multitude of people haha at first it started out around 10 people and than within a few minutes grew to about 30.  Not gonna lie I was so nervous! But I know the lord was with us and gave us courage.  We taught all about God's plan for us and how he restored his gospel to the earth through the prophet Joseph Smith.  We than handed out pamphlets and scheduled return appointments.  It was pretty awesome! Hopefully some of them will really be interested and we can teach the rest of their families.  

A few days later we were teaching a lesson at Jennies' brother in laws house and these two women start screaming at each other right outside the door where we were teaching.  I thought I was going to see a murder take place, I have NEVER heard two people fight like that before, it was terrifying.  I just felt the spirit leave immediately and I just felt so dark inside.  I just closed my eyes and started singing a hymn to make the feeling go away.  It just scares me to know that Satan has such great power to make people get so angry at each other like that :( 

 

I also had some crazy dreams this week haha      
basically you all came to the Philippines to visit me on my mission and we were all riding around in Jeepneys around the city.  and than I kept begging you guys to let Andelyn come out for the day and work with us so that we could get more member present lessons.  haha I have no idea but it was just funny.  

All 4 of us sang in church on Sunday and everyone loved it! the whole ward was telling us how good we had done and how we need to take it on the road haha I tell ya the way to get to a Filipinos heart is just sing to them..they love it! 

I got to see S. Wilson twice this week and I'll see her again in 2 days. One of the times we got to sit and chat for a little bit which was so nice:) 

 

Reminder: Next week is Transfers so I'll be emailing on Tuesday.  this transfer went by so fast! I'm pretty nervous, I have a feeling I am leaving and Ika will stay and lead the area, but who the heck knows.  I just know whatever happens will be the best.  I am excited though to see what happens.  I'll fill you in next week:) 

 

Today is also my 8th month in the mission!  ahh one more month and I'm already half way through. That's not much time left:(  Grabe.. it really does go by so fast, I'll be coming home before we know it.. Sometimes I daydream about that day..haha I just miss you all sometimes.  

Sobrang Nagpapasalamat po ako sa lahat ng mga bagay na ginagawa nyo para sa akin.  Mahal na Mahal na Mahal ko kayo:)  Enjoy all the pictures I sent this week haha your welcome mom! ingat hah!
 

 

Crazy traffic. This is what it looks like when it rains which is all the time. It can take us hours to get home sometimes.

 

Sister Ika, Me, Jenny and her cousins.

 

 



This is how we drink soda here in the Philippines. A straw and a plastic baggy. Weird huh?





 

 



He was prepared to hear the gospel and I'm glad we were able to find him that day.

 Magandang Araw and aking Pamilya!:)

  haha we took Jenny to lunch after her employment workshop one day.  We took a few silly pictures.  isn't she a doll??





just me...

Walking home in the rain.

More Rain

Jenny and Sister Ika. I love these two girls.

 

 

First off, Andelyn congrats on being oh so close to finishing Personal Progress that is awesome! You will feel so good after and you'll always remember it and you will be proud of yourself for completing it, So proud of you!  Amelia...I'm working on sending more Filipino hair bands..it's been busy lately so I haven't had much time and I'm trying to figure out a way to get a bunch to you through a small package so just be patient and I will try my best.  Also I got Andelyn's letter and the postcard  from Hollywood last week, thank you so much for that, it was thoughtful and definitely made my day.  Mom your trip to grandma's cabin sounded fun and I'm glad you could work on some family history with her.  I can't wait to come home and get working on Family history. 

This week has been great! The other part of our ward, in the other sisters area had a baptism on Saturday.  The baptism of Brother Madz.  It was such a special day, and the spirit was strong at his service.  Me, Sister Doucette and Sister Medina my last transfer trio comps actually found him 3 months ago.  We went out tracking one day and knocked on a few doors, we were walking down his street and felt prompted to knock on his door so we did and we got no answer, then we were actually knocking on his next door neighbors house when he walked up and we started talking to him and asked if he would like to listen to our message about the restored gospel and he said yes:) We only had time to teach him 2 lessons and than the area got split so I haven't been his missionary since, but for the past 3 months I've seen him every week at church and we've become good friends.  I spoke at his baptismal service  about Faith and talked about the day that we found him.  He was crying through the whole service, I think he could feel the spirit very strong.  Every time I looked at him while giving my talk I started to cry.   He was  prepared to hear the gospel and I'm glad we were able to find him that day and that he continued to accept the gospel from the other missionaries.

Jenny is officially getting baptized this Saturday the 14th! :) yayyyy:) It's gonna be a great day and she is so excited! In the morning we have temple tour so we are taking her to the temple with us along with some of her less-active family members and than in the evening at 3 she will be baptized and then on Sunday confirmed and given the Holy Ghost.  Can't wait:) thank you for all the prayers in her behalf my sweet family.  I told her that my family has been praying for her too and she smiled and said how nice that was.

We've still been busy visiting less-active families and it's been hard but a real great joy.  Most of them have non- member family or friends who also live with them and we have started to teach them as well.  So we've just been really blessed:)
 Me and Sister Ika just continue to get along great, and I'm sad we only have a few more weeks left together.  She's been a great companion, she's always willing to work hard and serve.  Sometimes I'll come up stairs from eating breakfast and my bed will be made.. just little things like that she always does and I  really appreciate her.  We've had some great experiences together here, and I'll never, ever forget her or this area. 

 

Family, I love you guys and I pray for you everyday.  It was great also to hear about the things that President Anderson spoke to you about.  wish I had been there to hear an apostle too, I am look forward to General Conference coming up here in a month eeekk soo excited! anywho...mahal na mahal ko kayo lahat, ingat! muah!

nagmamahal- Sister Jones!
p.s.

enjoy the pics:) some of them are from the rain we walked home in, they turned out kind of fun:)

So...let me tell you..we've been working our fannies off trucking up the mountains and teaching lessons.

 

Kamusta!

 

Me at the Temple

 

 

My toes that Jenny did.  She used to do it for a living.  They are strawberries!

 

 

 

1. Jenny's mom and son (AJ) he is a sick little guy right now. :(

 

Magandang Hapon po family I hope this letter finds you all well:) Andelyn you looked so cute in your Pommie uniform and it sounds like you are really enjoying your self.  Wish I was there to see you perform but know that I think about you and miss you.  and Amelia Ba-delia, I'll try to send more of the cool hair scrunchies to you when I can haha they are pretty fun eh? Wow! Niel L. Anderson is coming to speak at Stake conference this weekend for you guys? wooww you lucky ducklings!  I'm so grateful for an organized church that sends it's Apostles and Prophets all over the world to talk to the Saints, we are so blessed! 

 

Well this week has been full of blessings and tender mercies from the Lord.  We are waiting for the approval from the Area Presidency to create a group here in our area.  So for now it's in the Lords hands and whatever is his will is what is best for this area.  I'm thinking it's going to happen though...I just feel it.

 

 (and about the group- because of the lack in worthy priesthood members on the mountain the Pres will probably take the sisters out of this area and put in elders so that they can help run the group with the Priesthood.  It makes sense...I'm thinking we will all be transferred this upcoming one and they will put elders in.)  

 

 I've  felt prompted lately that we need to prepare this area and find as many less-actives as we can to prepare them to attend the group if it does in fact happen.  There are many less-actives here in the mountain and we only know of half of them! It's so hard to find people because they don't have addresses and there are teaching records but they just have maps and it's nearly impossible to figure it out.  One of the blessings we've received is a returning couple in the ward who lived here for 15 years and left for the province a year ago and they have just now returned and they live in our area.  The Sullivan's! Man they are great.  They don't have to much to do during the days so they told us they can come out with us 3 days a week and introduce us to families they know that are members that are up higher on the mountain than we usually go.  So...let me tell you..we've been working our fannies off trucking up the mountains and teaching lessons haha.  The Sullivan's are so great though and they add a great spirit to the lessons.  Sister Sullivan is a bit feisty too and she's been rounding up some of them to bring them to church so this past Sunday we finally had some less-actives there! We were so happy to see them there:) One of them is a 16 year old girl named Jemie-Rose.  We visited her and her grandmother on Saturday night shared a message with them.  Than the next day she showed up at church and even went up and bore her testimony at the pulpit.  She talked about how she comes from a broken family and doesn't go to church, but than the missionaries showed up and taught a lesson and she felt like she really needed to come back.  Her sweet testimony made me tear up and made me feel so good inside and grateful for the gospel. Sometimes it's easy to get discouraged when we visit so many less-active families every week and each Sunday no one shows up and sometimes it makes me ask myself if what we are doing even makes a difference... But hearing her say that she was grateful that the missionaries came and helped her to come back just testified to me that what we are doing IS important.  We have met some more families this week and I fall immediately in love with them and  look forward to visiting them and helping their families come back to the gospel.  

 

Also this week is seems that some of the other members are more eager to work with us.  I never realized till my mission about how important members are and their role in missionary work.  I think back to my pre-mission life and wish I would have done more to help fill the missionaries planners with lessons.  It's so hard to find them by ourselves.  Tracking is great and all but it's so much more helpful when we have members who introduce us to their friends and than they have someone to come with to church and to answer their questions when we aren't there. 

 

Jenny had a family emergency this past week so she wasn't able to attend church again, we will have to move her baptismal date again.  It's okay though, we can just continue to help her prepare.  She's been trying to find a job now for a month and has had no luck.  We took her to the employment center in our area and she is attending a 10 hour workshop right now.  I hope it helps.. Also, last week we taught her about Prayer and Fasting and we invited her to fast this past Sunday to ask Heavenly  Father to help her find a job.  She text us yesterday that she had been fasting and knows that she will be able to find a job soon:)  man...she's just awesome, gotta love her.  We've also had some more luck with her niece Brenda who is a less-active.  We've been visiting her family more often and when we can't teach them she will come to Jenny's house and listen to us there.  Which is an improvement because usually she's one of the ones that hides from us when we come knocking... ha.  But this week has been great, our numbers were greater than they've ever been since Ika and I have been together.  also our health has been pretty good, I've been good and healthy for a full 3 weeks now woohoo!  I'm just loving it here, I'm loving the work and helping these families remember the covenants they made at baptism.  it truly is so important to bring back those who have lost their way.  

 

I'm so grateful for you my sweet family and all the prayers that you send my way, Maraming Salamat po talaga sa support na ibibigay ninyo sa akin palagi araw-araw.  Sobrang blessed ako:) Mahal na Mahal ko kayo lahat.  Maging Liktas ah?! Ingat na long kayo! 

Nagmamahal, Sister Jones

 

When a Filipino compliments you on your rice that means it must be pretty good!

Hi Fam!

Man, I’m so happy that you guys were able to find the Rambutan! That makes me excited because now I know I’ll be able to get a hold of some when I get home.  And now it sounds like Amelia loves it too haha it's kind of addicting actually but I’m glad you guys like it too.  It's everywhere here by the bucket fulls!  (David went to the Asian Mall near his work and looked for some of the fruit that Ammah has sent pictures of and told us how much she likes, he bought some and we all tried it and sent Ammah a video of us eating it)

 So this past week has been good, there were a few times that we were asked to stay inside by the Mission President because of the heavy rain which was causing areas to flood.  Sister Medina sent me pictures this week of their neighborhood and they are up to their knees in water and they had to evacuate their house and stay with some other sister missionaries nearby till the water went down.  For one whole day we had to stay inside because the wind was just so strong and then not stop rain and thunder, to be honest it was pretty boring haha you can only study and organize for so long.  But I was looking out the window and thanking Heavenly Father that our House is not in a flood area. It was pretty crazy though, we texted all the members and investigators in our area to see if they needed help evacuating their things from their houses.  They all said they were okay, some of them got about a foot or so of water but they were able to get valuables out of the way before they got ruined.  The last few days have been mostly clear skies though with a little bit of rain so it's been better.  (picture from the internet of Quezon city flooding.)

 We've had to track more this week and we've found a few new people who might be interested I hope they can accept the gospel.  Some of them are whole families so I'm really praying that they will be open to the message we have to share.  Jenny wasn't able to come to church this week so her baptism had to be moved back one week now Sept 7th is the set date and she's been continuing to read the Book of Mormon and say personal prayers to prepare herself for her baptism.  She's so excited to invite her family because her brother in law is a member and so are some of her nephews and nieces but they haven't been to church in a long time.  We've been working with them as well.  I'm hoping that coming to see Jenny be baptized will help them have a desire to come back to church.  

I received some nice compliments from Sister Repotente this week  she complimented me on how perfect my rice was that I made the other day (and might I add it was made without a rice cooker and without a measuring cup haha) When a Filipino compliments you on your rice that means it must be pretty good! Success! I also got to work with her a day this week because Sister Ika was ill and we had to do splits so she came to my area to work for the day and on our way home in the jeepney she turned to me and told me how good my tagalog was :) I was so glad to hear that because I haven't had a Filipino as a companion now for 8 weeks and I've been wondering how my Tagalog has been progressing , it was just really nice to hear that, as sometimes I wonder hah.  

Not much more than that my family but till next week know that I love you all and I loved the videos you sent me.  It was good to hear your voices and see your sweet faces:) Love you guys so so much! 

Love Sister Jones

p.s.

 

 

We ate at a place called Banapple today and...oh my gosh...it was soooo good.  They have real American food there, Caesar salads, soups, milkshakes, cheesecake (which I had and it tasted just like cheesecake factory, delicious!), sandwiches, pancakes, chocochip cookies... and all for pretty cheap. It was the cutest store, too bad my camera had no battery sorry no pictures, maybe next time.  Also Sis Ika  and I found Quizno's in our area, we couldn’t believe our eyes and we were in heaven that day eating real toasted American sandwiches.  ( I found pictures off the internet of Banapple and added them to her letter, I wanna go to Banapple now)

You find those prepared and than the ones that are not so prepared and you love them all.

             Tim-Tams! haha this is for the Tucketts:)

The children of our investigator April. They love us haha they were singing songs for us that they had learned at school that day here.

Magandang Hapon Po from the WET Philippines.

Hello again family:) I run out of ways to start my letters haha so it's the same boring "hello family" every week but just imagine me saying it all excited and stuff! Oh man...those pictures of cousin Bobbi were beyond adorable! She has to be one of the cutest chunkiest babies I've seen (besides Amelia of course) ha! and the pictures from the Crab Shack were awesome, You all pull off those bibs just great;) and Yes the fruit I was talking about is Rambutan, I remembered after I got off the computer that I forgot to tell you what they were called.  Dad, It's definitely possible that you could find them at that Asian mall.  I eat them all the time, they are a great snack.

I hope you didn't worry to much about the typhoon and all ha , I just want to reassure you to not worry we are just fine here, just real wet all the time and cold....yes I said cold! haha I actually had to get out my quilt last night that I brought and wrapped myself up in it all night.  It's been raining NON STOP for the past 5 days, it just doesn't let up.  I'm grateful I'm in an area where it doesn't flood like some other areas here in the mission.  

Well to be honest their really isn't too much to say about this week.  Other than the rain it's been normal.  Jenny is still doing great she came to church again this week her third time in a row! We also had a sweet moment with her in a lesson the other day.  At the end of our lesson she expressed her gratitude to us for teaching her and guiding her. She said she will miss us so much when we have to leave this area in the future and she will never forget us...It was just some of the nicest things I have heard from someone here and it  warmed my heart.  I'm glad I could help someone like her who has been so prepared to accept the gospel.  I'm grateful that I could be in this area for a time to be able to meet her and many more like her here.  It makes me confident in the revelation that President receives that we are needed in certain places and certain times to help certain people.  Some of the investigators we have had we have had to drop lately because they aren't progressing...it's sad when we have to decide to drop someone.  We don't completely say goodbye to them though we just "put them on a shelf" so to say.  maybe it's just not their time right now and that's okay.  I  pray that someday they will think about the things we have taught them and maybe some missionaries in the future will find them again when they are prepared. For right now we have to use the lords time wisely and find those who have been prepared to hear the gospel right now.  One of these is a 14 year old boy Erwin who I have taught since my 2nd week in this area.  I have so much love for that kid and a week ago we had to say goodbye.  We still visit and say hi to him, but my eyes watered as we left that house...I pray for him every night.  hmm.. but that's the life of a missionary though.  You find those prepared and than the ones that are not so prepared and you love them all.

 

On a more lighter note, we have two new sisters in the house Sister Strebel and them are a threesome.  So now we have 5 sisters living under one little roof. haha and let me tell you it's squished in there talaga.  One bathroom for 5 sister missionaries..yah...just ponder that for a second! But, they seem nice and I'm excited to continue to get to know them.  

 

Well Fam, I love you all and I think about you all the time and always have a constant prayer in my heart for you. I love you:) Listen to the spirit and continue to be good my sweet sisters;) 

 

Love, Sister Jones

Haircuts, Singing, Typhoons, Transfers...Spreading the Gospel..the usual:)

 Hello po ang magandang pamilya ko!

Hey there EVERYONE!

Our cute little guest for a lesson. It's ears are huge.

Some of our investigator children.  They are reading from a Primary song book and singing.

The security guard at the church bldg.

Sister Ika BEFORE I cut her hair.

Sister Ika AFTER....her hair turned out cute huh?

Me and my Anak just chillin in a tricycle, our main form of transportation besides walking/hiking.

Weird fruit that is in season for only 4 months. I love it. It's my favorite fruit.

 

 

Man I really loved those first day of school pictures Mom, thanks for sending them. I'm just completely blown away with how grown up Andelyn and Amelia look! Amelia you look like a little woman now your so not a little girl anymore haha I feel like the "Amelia" I have in my head is still the 10 year old with the funky socks ha! btw Amelia got your letter in the mail last week...thank you! loved it:) and btw Mom and Dad I hope you had a great 23rd anniversary!  The next time  it rolls around I'll be there to wish it in person! 

Welp..we found out who was being transferred last night and...I'm staying! and my wonderful Anak sister Ika will be staying with me.yay yay. Sister Medina is transferring and Sister Strebble is getting a new American companion.  I'm going to have to work on my Filipino cooking skills this transfer so we don't all starve. Medina was our cook! haha I'm so happy that S. Strebble is staying, she and I have become real good friends as well,  we like all the same music and movies from back home. We quote The Office to each other all the time and sometimes she'll sing Les Mes with me haha were soul sisters! 
I feel really good about this transfer and we have a baptism coming up for Sister Jenny in 2 weeks.  I'm  excited for her, she's  ready:) After church this past Sunday our 2nd Counselors daughter was baptized and Jenny stayed with us after church to attend.  After it ended we walked out and she turned to me and told me about how excited she was to be baptized, and she can't wait.  She's also been introducing us to her friends so we can teach them, one of them is Lianne.  She is 20 yrs. old,  we've only taught her a few times but the other day we received a text from her and she said that she knows the Book of Mormon is true and all that we've shared with her is true, and that Heavenly Father answered her prayers.  Aww she's just the sweetest and she has a desire to be baptized as well so hopefully she won't be too far behind sister Jenny in following the example of our savior.  I just love those two girls and I'm glad I'll still be here to teach them.  I think they were as nervous as Ika and I, they kept telling us how much they wanted us to stay and they would be so sad if we left.

So I'm not sure if you've heard but their was a typhoon in the Philippines this week near Quezon City, we have been getting affects from it so it's has rained every day this week and hard, it's been very difficult to work in it, not gonna lie.  Especially up in the mountains because it's slippery and real muddy but we've been managing and keeping safe.
 

Last p-day I gave my first haircut to my anak! She wanted her hair cut real bad and didn't want to pay to go to the Parlor so she asked me to do it.  I was so scared cause it's a short haircut! but...it actually didn't turn out too bad and EVERONE has been giving her compliments, and she loves it soo..success! I'll attach a before and after picture for you.

We have a security guard at the church building who is there almost everyday and he always has his guitar with him, sometimes I mess around on it for a few minutes but I just get sad cause I can't remember most of the songs I had memorized before I left:( but...He is really good and  last week I sat beside him and sang a few songs with him.  A bunch of the oldies like "when you say nothing at all" etc..it was sooo fun and I miss it oh so much.  Whenever I see guitars on the streets my hands just itch to start playing haha but alas it is not meant to be right now..

 

Well family I'll wrap this up now, miss you guys tons..everyday..and think of you often. Please be safe and listen to the spirit:) love you all! Muah!

ahhh, I always get so nervous around transfer day.

 Hi Family :)

Ammah's very 1st companion from the MTC...they see each other on transfer days and special engagements. Special Friends Forever!

 

 My first Filipino dish that I made all by my self without any help! haha, it's called Pancit! It's so yum and it turned out perfect 

 

Close up...don't ya want a taste. Ha...I'll make ya some in 11 months.

Children of our less actives they are the sweetest girls I love them:) 

        Temple tour on Saturday with less actives and investigators

My pangit tan! haha I told you it was bad.  I finally have a picture that proves that I can actually tan.

Wow Mom....

those pictures were pretty great. I can't believe you all got sunburned,  it looks like you guys are  having a blast though, your making me a tad trunky (homesick) but I know we will have opportunities as a family to go to Cali in the future :) You are doing all the same stuff I did when my girlfriends when I went there after high school graduation, riding along the beach on the beach cruisers, Balboa Island awe..yup..that was the best! Maybe someday I'll be able to track along the beaches here in Mindoro who knows! I would love that.

This week has been great and full of blessings, We have found a lot of new investigators and they all have families that they are introducing us to this week that they want us to teach so I'm super excited for that.  Families are the perfect people to teach because this gospel is all about families :)

 

We had the Sister Leaders work with us this week and it was a great opportunity for me  I worked with Sister Suarez, she is close to leaving for home and she gave me tons of pointers on how to go finding and tracting, which really helped and inspired me to find more people.  She is kind and so spiritual and I  appreciated her advice,  I found a new friend in her here in the mission.  I am so grateful for all the people I've met and become friends here with.  These are relationships I would have missed out on if I hadn't gone on a mission.  Even relationships with investigators and less actives.  I have become close to many people here, as we are nearing our next transfer day I'm getting nervous.  I  don't want to leave just yet. I love this area oh so much, and I love, love these people.  I pray for at least one more transfer in this area.

 

Speaking of which...this area is really starting to progress and especially if we can get a group started it would progress even more. One investigator we have is Sister Jenny, she has been taught now for 6 months from other missionaries and she has  made an impact on me, I just love her so much and really want her to be baptized.  She has a bap date for this month hopefully it will happen.  She has had a real rough time this past month, she is 23 years old and her husband just recently left her for another women who is pregnant with his child out in the province.  Jenny has a one year old son and her heart is completely broken.  The thing I love about her most is that she has continued to pray everyday for strength and to find a job so she can support herself and her son. She has a lot of faith in God. She wants to be baptized  but she is one that struggles with not having enough fare to get to church. She's been praying a lot to be able to find a good job so that she can save up money to come to church.  She's awesome :) .  Hopefully I can stay to see her be baptized.

I would also like to stay with Sister Ika too, we have really grown to love each other and she's  doing great work here.  I have loved being her trainer and hope I may have the opportunity to finish her training this next transfer, we shall see...  ahhh, I always get so nervous around transfer day haha. But.. I know the lord knows where I am needed and I will go where he wants me to go:) 

 

Family I love you all so much, be safe while traveling back home na! 

Take care of all those sunburns hehe ;)

love,

Sister Jones

 

Excerpts from a quick letter Ammah sent me on Wed this week. Which was the best birthday gift I could ask for.

 

Mom..so before you freak out about getting this email when it's not my pday..haha.... we were asked by President to do some online training stuff sometime in the week so I wanted to do it today so I could email you real quick and you would get it on your birthday as a surprise....so...SURPRISE!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!! I hope you guys are having so much fun there in California, not sure if you have come back already or not but so glad you all had fun.  What a fun birthday treat:) Mom I loved your letter that you sent with my new tops. I have read it a few times and I miss you and Dad all the time.  Thank you so much for the shirts I tried them on and they look great and I've gotten tons of compliments on them.  You said in your letter than you can feel my love for you growing through emails, and it's true! I didn't realize how much I would miss you all till I was gone and now I can't wait to get back to you all.  I just look back at how I got here on a mission and it's all thanks to all the things you and Dad taught me and your example.  I'll never be able to tell you both how grateful I am for all you do, all I can do is be an example to others so that they know I was raised by great parents;) Mom I hope you have a great birthday and everyone treats you extra special today on your FORTY-SECOND birthday haha woww bata ka, your still so young! Everyone who sees my pictures always tells me how hot my parents are and how young my mom looks haha! serious ako! but really mom Happy Birthday, I love you:)   and Dad.. I love you too;) 

p.s..  no i'm not a sister trainer haha that is a letter notifying you about me training. that's all  I got the same letter actually and I thought the same thing, my heart started pounding so fast! Then I realized what it really meant and I calmed down haha scared me to death! not ready for that yet...

and... tell jade congrats for me I just love her from all that you've told me about her.  I'm so glad she and Amelia are friends:)  hopefully they will be able to still see each other often even though they go to different schools. 

 

Okay I need to go do my training now ha! just wanted to shoot you an email and say happy birthday:) love you!!! 

also p.s. ulit...next week is transfers  so pday isn't on Monday it's Tuesday! Love you all give the girls a hug for me muah muah muah sa inyo lahat! mahal ko kayo talaga!