September 8, 2014

Hey mom!

This week has been okay. Last Monday, we had dinner with a family in the ward. Sister Johnson knew them from back home, and we helped them set up a family mission plan. We also went to another member's house, and they gave us a picture of the Brigham City temple, that the husband took, and it looks like a professional picture. They also gave us a study journal, because they had just gotten back from a trip to Nauvoo.

On Tuesday, we were heading to our dinner appointment, and we drove past a street called Johnson Rd. We stopped to take a picture, and Sister Johnson forgot to keep the keys with her, and we ended up locking the keys in the car. After a big hassle, and having to call AAA, we found out that the passenger's door was unlocked!

On Wednesday, we had Zone meeting and we learned that at the start of next transfer, which is next week, we will be sharing cars. So now, I am going to have to buy a bike. I am so NOT excited to be riding a bike!! For dinner, we ate with a member at a restaurant, and the food was really good. We also taught a lesson to an investigator, and we taught her the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It was a really spiritual lesson that we had.

On Thursday, we had exchanges with our Sister Training Leaders. I went to Xenia (zeen-ya) with Sister Bowie and we taught 2 lessons: one to a recent convert, and another to an investigator couple. We taught the recent convert more about the Word of Wisdom and tithing. The investigators, we taught the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I had a fun time being on exchanges!

On Friday, we had a very productive weekly planning session. We had dinner with a member, and we had pizza. That was the 7th time in the past 2 weeks that we have had pizza, and I am getting tired of it! We also met with 2 of our investigators, but we ended up just getting to know them better. Meanwhile, one of their neighbor's almost died of a drug overdose.

On Saturday, we taught some less-active members the Restoration as review for them. We went to a baptism for the YSA branch, with some of our recent converts. It was a good reminder for me of my baptism.

Yesterday was another eventful day! We had church and I got up and bore my testimony! I learned about missionary work in the wards, and about forgiveness. We got a new investigator, whose name is Vicki. She is awesome!

We had a lesson with a recent convert, who just moved back to the US after being in Japan to teach English. We taught her the Restoration, and I really felt the Spirit there with us.

After that, Sister Johnson was getting something out of the trunk of the car, and locked the keys in there, but the rest of the car was unlocked.

I look forward to hearing from you!

All my love,

Sister Jennifer Rose

Jennifer's Wall - Fairborn, Ohio

Jennifer's Bed - with Quilt mom made in memory of Nana

Missionary Mom Thoughts...

I have been extremely slow at keeping Jennifer's blog up to date.  I really hope to do better.  Her last three letters will follow my post (the most recent one first - will post tomorrow's letter tomorrow night, hopefully).

I have been doing a lot of reflection the past couple weeks.  The Lord has needed so many of our missionaries to help Him share the gospel on the other side of the veil.  My sister-in-law's nephew was in the car accident in Oklahoma that claimed the life of a Sister Missionary.  Her nephew is doing better, after having staples in the back of his head.  My heart also goes out to the families of the two Elders who were serving in Taiwan, who were overcome by carbon monoxide.

Now my thoughts and prayers go out to the Sister Missionary who was struck by another car in Australia.  Our hope is that she will recover quickly.  As a missionary mom, there is a certain amount of fear in my heart, however, I know Jennifer is doing the Lord's work and as you will see, she seems to be doing great.  Her testimony is growing so much already. 

Zone Conference Sisters - Photobombed by a couple Elders!

Zone Conference

September 2, 2014

Hey mom! I got yours and Amber's letters today!

I am looking forward to the package you are sending me!

This week has been good. We have taught a few lessons this week, but my favorite one was when we were helping one of the sets of Elders to teach a lesson to a 9-year-old girl and her family. Her grandparents, mom, and uncle are all less-active members. Her name is Taylee, and she is practically blind. She can only see shapes of things. We helped them teach her the Plan of Salvation. Sister Johnson and Elder Peterson taught her the lesson. Then Elder Simkins and I played the game that Sister Johnson created, with her. The game went through Pre-Earth life, Earth Life, Spirit World and Three Kingdoms of Heaven. She absolutely loved it! She is basically in love with Elder Simkins! It's super cute!

We have done quite a bit of service this week as well. We helped 2 sisters in our ward: Sister Pierson (helped her make curtains), and Sister Collins (cleaned out her pantry of expired foods). It was fun.

On Friday we had a new missionary training in Columbus. I got to see everyone from my MTC district!! We had different groups they split us up into, and for one of the rotations, we had to go onto the OSU campus and talk to people. Our challenge was to teach someone about the Restoration using the pamphlet. I ended up teaching 2 people and I also found them a new investigator!

Yesterday, we had a District activity and we went to a place called Young's Dairy. We played mini golf, went to the batting cages, and went to the driving range they had. Sister Davis (one of the other sisters in our district) and I talked to one of the people that worked there and I ended up giving them a mormon.org pass-along card. Meanwhile, Sister Johnson and Sister Soumphol went to a corn maze, and ended up teaching another guy that works there the Restoration and gave him a Book of Mormon. After that, we went to Subway for lunch, and had fun talking and getting to know each other. So far, we have taught 12 total lessons (member presents, active members, and investigators without member presents) since last Monday. You should read 2 Timothy 1:6-8. It talks about testimonies.

 

Tell everyone I love and miss them, and that all is going well! I forgot my camera today, so I will be sending pictures next week!!

Look forward to hearing from everyone!

Love ya lots,

Sister Jennifer Rose

August 25, 2015

This week has been better so far, but it has been hot and humid.

I haven't received any letters since I have been here yet, but I am hoping to get some this week.

Hope all is going well there at home! Are you going to send pictures with the package? I would really love to have some pictures to hang on my wall.

Every time we have set up an appointment with our investigators, they have all cancelled on us. I hope that this week will go better than last week did.

I look forward to hearing from all of you and tell everyone to write!! I would LOVE to get some letters from people, but no one has written me yet!

Tell everyone I said hi!

August 19, 2014

Mom,

I have had a great week this week! We got 3 new investigators this week, and they were all referrals. We had the opportunity to teach people about the Book of Mormon. I have had a rough morning today, but I am okay now.

I know that if we rely wholly on the Lord that He truly will bless us. My testimony has grown a lot since I have been here. I love having Sister Johnson as my companion, and we have become closer as time passes.

As of right now, we have between 8-10 investigators and they are all really awesome people!

As I mentioned before this morning was rough, but I am powering through it. I know that if I forget about myself, then I can focus on our investigators more. One thing I have been struggling with is when we are teaching lessons, I know in my mind what I want to say, but it doesn't come out of my mouth the way I planned. I learned in Relief Society this week that, "when we are keeping the commandments of the Lord, we are on the road to perfection".

This week Sister Johnson and I had to teach the Gospel Principles class about Charity.

I am looking forward to getting pictures!! I hope that they come soon!!

We met the Beavercreek sisters (Sister Davis and Soumphol) to go to zone conference, and Kim Hansen comes into their apartment, and says "I know your mom!" I was a little bit confused why she said that, and then she introduced herself. She told me that you and dad had commented on the picture, but she didn't tell me what it said.

I am glad that you are able to work at Monarch! I know that it is another one of those "Missionary Blessings".

Yesterday we had a district activity and we played Volleyball! We are all pretty bad at it, but we almost died of laughter, and we were dancing to some of the music. It was a lot of fun!

I look forward to hearing from you soon! Keep the letters coming!!

Love always,

Winkie