I was HERE

Hello to my beautiful family,

 

Got a little to much sun. ooops

Our branch building

View of the ocean on Pday

I was HERE



Sister Acostan and I



This week has also been real busy, I'm not sure where to start ha this week has just been amazing, full of miracles and great experiences.  The area is doing great, we have been blessed to find 13 new investigators this week made up of 3 families.  And Each family i just feel are really ready to accept the gospel.  They all are referrals from members in the ward, one of them even came from the District President.  We are just so excited, yay families! Each first lesson we had with them, i could just feel the spirit so strong.  I'm looking forward to this week when we will go back to them.  We also were blessed to have a baptism this week, Sister Nida, she's been a long time investigator and now she is finally a Member of the Church.  I"m so happy for her:) 

Everyday we have been meeting new people and visiting the less-actives and this past week we had an experience with one of the friends of our less-actives one day.  We had gotten punted, none of our appointments had worked out all day and we knew of an inactive who had joined another religion who lived nearby so we decided to stop by.  She was kind of surprised to see us at her door but she invited us in none the less, and introduced us to one of her friends who was visiting for the day.  We  introduced ourselves and asked if we could share our message with her and she agreed.  The lesson started out great, the friend listened to us and started shared her thoughts and beliefs with us as well, she went to bible school for 3 years when she was younger.  We respectively listened to her thoughts and than i was impressed to share a scripture from the Book of Mormon.  After I finished sharing the scripture the friend said "Well Sister before you go on....I just need to say something....When you are sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ...you should never use any other book than the Bible...NO OTHER BOOK" I was kind of taken back by her bluntness ha I wasn't expecting that. but I knew that this was a perfect opportunity to bare testimony of the Book of Mormon.  So I just smiled and looked at her and said "Thank you Sister...but...I cannot do that, because i know that this book is the word of God and it is Another Testament of Jesus Christ" as i continued to share with her my testimony of the Book of Mormon and how I had come to know of it's truthfulness I could feel the Spirit so STrongly testifying even to myself that what i was saying was true.  I'm so grateful for that opportunity I had to bare my testimony to her and invite her to find out for herself through reading the Book of Mormon and praying about it.  I came away knowing with even more of assurity that it truly is Another Testament of Jesus Christ. I'm grateful for all the opportunities I have everyday to bare testimony of the Principles and doctrines of the Restored Gospel,  I feel like because of my mission my testimony has been carved in stone so to speak ha it won't ever go away.  

 

Sister Acostan and I also taught primary this week haha all 2 hours.  none of the teachers or counselors showed up so we slapped smiles on our faces and went in and it was a lot of fun haha. Even though we had like 1 minute to prepare, I was in charge of all the singing time and all the kids are so stinkin cute singin their hearts out.  It just made me smile:) haha 

 

Well those are a few experiences from this week that I thought I'd share, But I love you guys so so much and be safe this week. 

 

Love Always, Sister Ammah Jones   

Wherever we are we can always feel the breeze coming from the ocean.

Hello:) I'm here!

1st steps on Mindoro Island

Well I gotta start out by wishing Andelyn a Happy Birthday:) I heard about the Girls day you had with mom sounds so fun! glad you had fun and enjoyed but Happy Birthday and know I'm thinking of you! 

Well I've almost been in Mindoro now for a week and I'm just loving it.  It's so BEAUTIFUL and the air is so fresh.  Wherever we are we can always feel the breeze coming from the ocean.  I love it! I'm so glad that I have the opportunity to serve here because I can really see the real beauty of the Philippines.  But even in the city I saw a lot of beautiful things too but here it's just different.  The people are nicer to here than compared to the city too ha! So here in Mindoro we don't have wards just one Branch in San Jose which is where I am serving and than 3 or so Districts.  This is my first time serving in a Branch during my mission, and it's very different than in the city.  It's not as organized or stable as some of the wards I've served in and the missionaries do a lot of work.  A lot of times we end up teaching the lessons or something during classes.  So Their is a lot of work to do here, but I'm excited for the challenge and the opportunity to help the ward.  We have tons of less-actives so about 50 percent of our time is working with less-actives and the other 50 percent with investigators.

Invited to dinner at a members house

My first night here there was a brown out. This is how I did my nightly reading.

The farm land in my area. Miles and Miles of crops.

The outer part of my area

 

YES...maybe I didn't mention that Mindoro isn't a small island it's actually pretty big and the church is really growing here.  We share half the island with the San Pablo Mission.  Our mission covers the Occidental Mindoro part.  Our area doesn't include the seashore so I don't get to walk the beach everyday haha darn, but were pretty close, ours mostly includes farms and just miles and miles of crops and we pass Caribou grazing in the fields.  It feels so weird wtih no buildings and squatters and stinky sewers,I will probably finish my mission here, at least I'm hoping.  But you never know and I might get sent back and finish in the city for my last month but I don't know.  The members here are great and we have  progressing investigators here.  We actually have a baptism next week and then another few coming up in the next 3 or 4 weeks so the work is great:) 

I'm lovin my companion sister Acostan, she is the anak (trainee of Sister Houser) whom I was in the MTC with and we came here together.  She is also 22 years old and she is from Bacolod.  She's definitely a hoot and likes to have fun but when it gets to the work she is serious and I seriously enjoy teaching with her.  We will learn a lot from each other this transfer.  It's been so good to be with Sister Ika again haha I missed her and her anak Sister Fewster is fresh fom the MTC in Provo and she's from England, but...she is Filipino nationality but doesn't speak any Tagalog.  She is so quirky and t makes me laugh ha she has a great spirit and she's so excited to talk to everyone.  It will be a fun transfer:) plus my companion is a great cook and cooks all sorts of yummy Filipino dishes for us every lunch, and this is probably the nicest house I've been in during my mission ha Life is good in Mindoro! 

Well Mom to answer some questions:

The flight was only 45 minutes and it wasn't scary haha but it did feel weird being on a plane before I'm supposed to go home ha 

traveling is the same here, we travel just by tricycles they don't have very many jeepneys here.  

Just continue sending mail and stuff to the same address: it will still get to me no worries:) 

Yes we do have a nice chapel, it even has air conditioning! and their are some nice houses in our area too but for the most part out in the fields their is just little hut houses made out of bamboo.  and a quarter mile between each house and we just walk and talk throughout the day walking to each house  it's a good life:) 

I love you guys! have a great week, Be safe! 

Love, Sister Ammah Jones 

PICTURES and Her Island Transfer is Below the pics.

This is one of our forms of transportation. Tricyle they call it but it's really a motorcycle with a two seater passenger hookup on the back. HAHA.

This is the G. family,  probably one of the poorest families I have come across in the wards I've served in. Mom has a lot of things to work on but she is trying and I love the kids.

some of the sisters that we worked with last transfer.  Sister Quinco and Sister Dowe. 



Antipolo City. One of my old areas.

these are the kids of our less-active.  the Abano children they are so cute! and so well behaved.  their family is working on getting to the Temple this year.

haha this is Myah she is the grand daughter of nanay evelyn who is a recent convert and we are teaching her daughter in law Marisel. 

myah dressed me up and did my hair so we took pictures hehe we are artistas:)

 

my heart just dropped than he says "because guess where you are going.?."

Sister Magaad and I. I'm going to miss her a ton.

Subject: Weekly Email 03/11/14
Magandang Umaga po Sa inyo lahat:)

Man so much has happened this week on both sides. Andelyn getting her wisdom teeth out (don't worry it gets better Sis:) and all the busy stuff you guys are all doing.

Well This transfer announcements are one of the most shocking I must say ha-ha. I got a call yesterday from the Assistant to the President, he says "Sister Jones how are you liking being an STL?" I say "It's great! I love it!" he says "well...you actually are now being released as STL"  my heart just dropped than he says "because guess where you are going.?." I'm like whaaa?? (there is only one place in the mission where it's impossible to be an STL because it's so far away.....the island of Mindoro)....so I say "Mindoro?"   " yes Sister Jones, you are getting transferred to the island of MINDORO!".... basically it's the last thing that I thought would EVER happen.  There are only a few sisters who get to serve in Mindoro, they only have 4 sisters over there! I never thought I would be one of them ha.....I'm kind of still in shock I really don't know what to think....I'm not gonna be a city girl anymore I'll be in the REAL jungle. But I'm excited for what is ahead of me. I'm a little nervous about going to there to be honest, it's very different from where I've served in the past and it will definitely be something new. But I know that I'm needed there to serve the Lord and I'll go where he wants me to go. Even if it means getting released as STL.  When I got off the phone I just started crying, I really hope that I was able to do what Heavenly Father wanted me to do with this calling. I'm sad to be released, I will really miss the Sisters but I'm glad I had the opportunity to be a part of their missions and hopefully be a good example to them.
It's gonna be hard to leave this area, I have  fallen in love with the members and the investigators here. Just this past week we have had a lot of them really progressing and extending more baptismal dates to them all. The area is  progressing and our investigator Marisel will be getting married and baptized in a few weeks. It's so great and I'm actually glad to leave it like this. I'm proud of the work we've done here, we worked hard to keep up the area even though our time was limited. It is a great area with so much potential. It's probably been one of my favorite areas. I have also really enjoyed being companions with Sister Maagad. She is  humble and patient and teaches with such a great spirit. I have learned many things from her this transfer, and it was great fun to travel around together working with the other Sisters. 
We also had mission tour this past week. Our mission was visited by Elder  Larry J. Echo hawk of the Quorum of the Seventy, he came to observe our mission and give instruction to us from the First Presidency.  It was amazing to hear from him, he spoke a lot about his experiences with the Prophet Thomas S. Monson and about the organization of the quorums in the church and how church leaders are called like our Mission President.  My testimony of the organization of the church was strengthened and I felt the spirit so strong testify to me that this truly is Jesus Christ's Church restored to the earth and that we have a living prophet.  Elder Echo Hawk loves to tell stories and I wish I could write you them all right now ha-ha but that would take forever. He was just so awesome and so was his wife.  She radiated with the Spirit and her testimony is so strong, I want to be a woman like her someday...
Well Tomorrow I will be on a plane flying to Mindoro to serve there with my new companion Sister Acostan, She is also Filipino she's been out for about 8 months in the mission.  And my anak Sister Ika will be there and she is training a newbie so I'm going to have a granddaughter in the mission hehe yay!

 

The economy of Mindoro is largely based on agriculture. Products consist of a wide variety of fruits, such as citrus, bananas, lanzones, rambutan, and coconuts, such cereals as rice and maize, sugar cane, peanuts, fish (catfish, milkfish, tilapia), livestock, and poultry. Logging and the mining of marble and copper also thrive.
Tourism is a lucrative business as well, with locations such as Apo Reef National Park, Lubang Island, Puerto Galera, Sabang Beach, and Mount Halcon. Puerto Galera's beaches are the island's most known tourist attraction and are widely visited.

Family, thank you for your prayers...I really feel peace and comfort and I'm able to be focused on my mission.  I'm just so grateful for you:)  enjoy the pictures, I sent A LOT ha-ha your welcome mom ;)
love you all!
-Sister Ammah Jones

Well Transfers are next week....and I am stressin haha I really really want to stay here.

Hey Fam!

Well the birthday celebrations for Amelia looked fun:D I loved the video, looks like she has a lot of good friends. and I'm excited to hear that Andelyn got her patriarchal blessing, how special, can't wait to hear about it in her letter that will probably come in a million years haha jk. 

Well this week was so good, we did splits with 6 sisters in Antipolo and Pasig City.  I always love being in Antipolo, it's so beautiful and almost kind of provincy.  But I had some great spiritual experiences with them.  While doing splits sometimes it's hard to teach other missionaries investigators and less-actives because it's my first time even meeting them and I don't know what their needs are or what they are struggling with,  because of that I really have to listen to the spirit to know what to say to them. I don't know their needs, but Heavenly Father does, and I know that if I'm an obedient missionary and continue to open my mouth than Heavenly Father will keep his promise to me and fill my mouth with the words and things that they need to hear in order to repent and come unto Christ.  I really know that he has been doing just that, I just teach and things  come and the language just flows.  Than we walk out and I don't  remember half the things I said but I  feel the spirit and I leave knowing that we really helped them. It's such a good feeling...:) I'm  so grateful for the Spirit.  

Well Transfers are next week....and I am stressin haha I really really want to stay here.  We are  working hard and I  absolutely love this area and the ward.  I just want to stay for another 6 weeks, that's all I'm asking! I guess we will see....I would really like to stay with Sister Maagad for another transfer too.  She's a great missionary and we have so much fun together and we are obedient.  She's such a jokester like me and we always laugh with each other haha I've really enjoyed this transfer with her.  The bishopric is so involved in our work, we report to them in counsel every 2 weeks about the work that we are doing.  We talk about each less-active family and bishop gives us suggestions on what we can do to help them come back to church.  On Saturday we saw one of our less-active single adults Gerald and we say, "Gerald, are you coming to church tomorrow?" and he says "Nope...we are all going swimming!" and we say whaaaa?? yep I guess all the families that live in one of our areas that is all less-active, they are all hangin out and going swimming on Sunday instead of coming to church.....I felt like walking over to one of cement houses I was near by and hitting my head against it haha. .We still got some work to do with them I guess ha. But I love them all, most of them are recent members to the church and they used to be really active about a year ago, but because of fair to get to church, and jobs etc... they all slowly are inactive now.  Bishop really wants us to focus on this area and we are planning to have a big FHE with the 6 families there in a few weeks...I'm excited! hopefully I'll still be here. Basically Bishop is awesome and he knows we are busy being STL's so sometimes he and one of his counselors will visit some of the families that we couldn't get to that week.  They are awesome! 

So my computer won't let me upload pics again today so next week na long, sorry:( 

Well I love you guys and just remember next week is transfer day so I won't email till Monday night for you.  My pday will be on Tuesday. I love you please stay safe and know I am thinking about you.  Have a great week! :)

love, Sister Ammah Jones 

A letter from Ammah AND a letter from Sister Sabiano our adopted missionary.

On Sunday, February 23, 2014 10:04 PM, Ammah Jones <ammah.jones@myldsmail.net> wrote:

Kamusta sa inyo lahat!

First off I just gotta say......HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Amelia Bedilia aka Braceface:) hehe Grabe ka your turning 14 years old this week, can't believe it.  But I hope you have a great day and that everyone treats you extra special:) I'll be thinking of you Sis! p.s. the new braces look cute on you;)

Well this week was good, We had 3 days worth of splits with the other sisters and it went great. We worked out in Antipolo and I always love working over their it's so beautiful and it's so cold! We were walking around at night and It was so chilly haha But the sisters their are great and they have lots of great progressing investigators.  Some of the investigators were families that I taught last time we did splits with them too so it was so good to see that they were still listening to the missionaries:)

Our area is doing good, Sister maagad and i have been getting a little bit stressed out because with the responsibility to do splits and we have limited time in our own area so some of our investigators aren't really progressing as fast as we would like and bishop has given us a lot of assignments for this week of visits to do and activities to plan.  Part of the problem is that our area is so huge, it's definately the biggest area i've served in and that i've seen when doing splits in other areas.  But I know that If we continue to be prayerful and ask the lord for help he will help us to keep up the work in our area and keep up with the responsibilities as STL's...working on that Faith principle on the time I tell ya haha:) 
Our workshop at Zone Conference went pretty good everyone enjoyed it.  I also really enjoyed giving it.  I took a picture of part of it I'll send it next week.  Also Sister Sabiano bore her testimony and  I balled through her whole testimony and she talked about her family back home and the Typhoon when it hit Leyte.  She talked about things she learned on her mission and about the support she had from her brother and one of her companions mothers aka you:)  She said with tears streaming down her face "one of my companions mothers has emailed me every week for over half my mission...She became my mother in my mission...and that companions family has become my family" Mom, I'm going to miss her so much.

 

I'm a little short on time today so I'll end this now but just know I love you!

love, Sister Ammah Jones

FROM AMMAH'S 1st companion in the mission and eventually her STL. Sister Trainer Leader.

 She is from Leyte Philippines. A city that was ruined in the hurricane.

 

Good day Jones Family! 

 

Last wednesday was my last zone conference and i bore my testimony ..that is so weird and I met my companion in the MTC that day too..She went home already last week. Our 18 months had passed already and it too fast.. I remember that when  I bore my testimony how the Lord had been always there for me for my preparation and I really felt the hand of Heavenly father and felt that HE really exists and mindful of me.. He sent many people in my life so I can perform my calling in the greatest way  could ever be..During my testimony i hide my feeling and my tears keep running down my cheeks,,.. I want to share with you the miracles I 've seen before my mission and during my mission,..

the day  I started my preparation for my mission......

 At my house my parents will not allow us to read our scriptures, or even listen with the church music.. how many times that my father will try to burn my book of mormon but ended up not doing so.. When he will loose on the cock fight or something bad luck ,trials happened in the family my parents will blame my religion ..one of the superstitious beliefs here in the Philippines is if we will change our religion bad luck happen for the rest of our life..  so whatever happens the blame is always on me and my brother.. he is always angry with us if he will see us working with the missionaries and my parents hated  seeing us wearing our Sunday best...the thing that  I will do is hide my skirts and change at the chapel and work with the missionaries and one night we went home late because we worked with missionaries and it was raining so hard so we didn't go home early.. My father slap my face but I never cried in front of him for knowing that I helped someone that day to be lifted up spiritually.. I don't know what to do with my application to serve a mission so my Missioanry Prep.Class helped me in my process and my bishop is always there for me during my dental and medical..He helped me some of my financial need for my money was not enough..the day that my parents know my application was sent they stopped  sending me to school and they said now I can do whatever  I want..they just sign my papers because they don't want to give any support.. my desire of going to the mission has been increasing through the trials I been encountering.. the night before I will enter the MTC my parents told me that If I will continue serving my mission they will never accept me after my service. That night my father told me that I am not using my brain anymore  that he is totally disappointed with me with all the decisions I am making that days.. THey were so mad at me but that night I could totally see that it is not them ..the parents I know are so kind and loving.. I know that satan that night had hold their hearts.. the same night the missionaries assigned in our ward drop off in our house and just said these words" don't forget that missionary force is on your side" and after saying those words they turn  and leave.. My tears was dropping feeling of Heavenly Fathers love and arms encirlced in me and giving me comfort.. that night I went to one of the member house ( he served also his mission now and his serving also in Quezon City..) this person was a convert and same missionaries taught my brother and me.. he the only member and experiencing the same situation with..HE just bore his testimony to me and he lifted me up seeing his strong faith at that young age.. after talking to him I was really comforted..Arriving at our house everybody was sleeping and i went to all the letters I received ..there  i saw a note from a missionary assigned in our ward ( this missionary was transferred already that time and on his next area he saw my former bishop and give a note for me not knowing why) I read that note again that night there he wrote that " REmember , when you have hard times on your mission , it is better to get on your knees and pray then try to endure and to only complain.. " I prayed to Heavenly Father for almost 6 hours seeking guidance and comfort and  I received it from Him.. The day comes of my entrance to the MTC..when I woke up nobody was at home... I need to be at the Mission Office at 3pm but my money is not yet  enough to travel to the MTC and other things I needed...My Bishop and I went to the city to check if he has money but the bank was offline..we went home no money yet..1:30 pm we went to one of the members house and ask for help..they have money but they need to use it for their fertilizers on the rice fields but they decided to gave it to me because I need it more and they have faith that they can find more the next days..around 2 pm the Mission President called me that in 30 mins in need to be in the office so he can set me apart..I went home and pull my luggage's but nobody was still home..walking away from home the spirit was telling me not to look back for if I do that I will go back and not to serve my mission..that was the most painful thing I ever did but replaced with too much joy knowing that I can serve my mission after all the things that happened.. I saw my bishop crying while  I was leaving ..the day I left home I told my self I will accept what will happen to me but I will strive my very best to be successful on my mission so when I go back my parents saw the happiness i felt during my mission that  I will never feel any regret of my decision..   At the MTC the LOrd provided me the companions who can help me to be more stronger..on my mission the lord gave me companions and mission leaders who will support me and strengthen me. one of the blessings I received  is your family..the family that is very dear to me..the family that heavenly father sent for me in answer to my prayers..no words I can express how  grateful I am to your lovely family.. it is really true that the LOrd will provide someone for us to uplift us and be there for us .. I know that in the Pre-existence the Father knows that I will need you in my life that's why Sister JOnes became my companion.. I have so much joy leaving my mission for I know I will still have the people I love after my mission.. the lord show me how many times in his mighty hand to help me and help me feel that he really exists by sending other people to me..

now, I am so happy leaving my mission,with great courage to move forward, great love for my family and other people and ready to establish a family that can go back to the celestial kingdom.

have a great week..

love,

Sister Sabiano

Philippines Quezon City Mission

August 2012-March 2014

Ammah and her 1st companion and trainer Sister Charmagne Sabiano.

The people that I am serving among at this time are the "Pioneers of the Philippines".

Email 02/17/14 

 

I loved the pictures and the descriptions of your experiences in the new Gilbert Temple, it looks absolutely gorgeous.  I can't wait to see it in person:) I got teary-eyed hearing about you and especially the girls feeling the spirit as they walked through each room.  Temples are so amazing, and we are so blessed to have so many that are close to us in Mesa. 

This week has been so great, i've recieved revelation for myself on how I can make the most of my time left here in my mission.  We had Stake Conference and there was so many wonderful talks that were so uplifting.  President Revillo was there for both adult sessions and gave some great talks and I really felt the spirit.  The first session on Saturday was kind of like a testimony meeting, President Revillo, and Elder Pajaro and his wife (member of the seventy) shared with us the stories of their conversion.  The great thing about the members in the Philippines right now, is that most of them are converts to the church, everyone has a great story of the missionaries coming to their house and teaching them the gospel.  52 years ago President Gordon B. Hinckley came to the Philippines and opened it up for missionary work. The people that I am serving among at this time are the "pioneers of the Philippines".  So many of them joined the church against family wishes and have been disowned from their families, here, tradition is HUGE.  Basically whatever religion your parents are is what you will be till you die.  The members here have given up much to join the The Church of Jesus Christ.  Elder Pajaro cried through his story of joining the church and how he will never forget the missionaries who taught him.  And I just sat their with my eyes brimmed with tears as each person bore their testimonies about missionaries and just thanked Heavenly Father in my heart that I get to be part of this great work in the Philippines.  The church is growing rapidly here and I get to be a small part of it...wow:)  

The Stake Conference was just what I needed, I have been feeling a little discouraged lately with some of our investigators so it made me feel better and gave me the pick-me-up that I needed.  We just don't have many progressing investigators right now and i've been getting a little frustrated.  I try so hard to be patient and I feel the spirit when we are teaching and I just pray that they are feeling it too and realize the precious knowledge that is right in front of them.  Sometimes I just want to grab them by the shoulders and be like "come on! you know it's true!" haha but that would not be something the Savior would do now would it. We do have Sister Marisel and she could be baptized today she is so prepared, we are just working on getting her married to her live in partner. They are so close! They just need money to get a valid I.D. for one of them for paperwork purposes, they had the money but a month ago Marisel got this huge lump on her throat the size of a tennis ball and had to use the money to go get medication to get rid of it.  So now it's almost gone and they are starting to save up again.  So it's a slow process....but she goes to church every Sunday and is over half way done with the Book of Mormon...She's so awesome!

This week we have zone conferences with 4 other zones so half of the mission will be there and Me and sister Maagad were asked to give an hour workshop during it.  Oi haha thats about 100 missionaries! So we've been preparing for that and i'm actually super excited, it's about Tips to overcoming companionship differences (aka: marriage prep class hehe!) joke! I think it will go well, but pray for us anyways! We are also the musical number as well,  Me sister Maagad and another sister in our zone will be singing Consider the Lilies with a sister from another zone playing the piano for us.  Hopefuly it all goes well:)

well times up I gotta go! love you guys so much!

till next week, mahal na mahal ko kayo!

love, Sister Ammah jones