Where does time go? Seems like I just update Jennifer's blog and I look and two months have gone by. Life is just passing by way to fast...
June 29, 2015
First off, tell Grandma happy belated birthday!
This week has been a crazy, but good week! We have been able to meet with most of our investigators, but there were a few that were unable to meet.
On Tuesday, we had a lesson with Marilyn, an investigator who is working towards baptism in July. We talked about the blessings that come from baptism, and how to recognize the Spirit. She had some really great questions that we were able to help her answer, and others that she is going to have to find the answers on her own. It was a really good lesson, and hopefully we are going to start teaching her 8 year old son.
On Wednesday, I had a really good personal study. I read 2 Nephi 26:24-26. I learned a lot about God's love for us. One quote that I really liked it says that "God loves us more than we can comprehend". I also read a talk from this past conference called "Stay by the tree" by Elder Kevin W Pearson. I really like the part where he said "pray for strength to endure to the end" and "when we are faced with trials we need to be patient and clean to truth, understanding WILL come."
Also on Wednesday, at district meeting, we did personal evaluations as well as area evaluations. We evaluated ourselves on where we are at now and what our vision for ourself is. I liked the quote that one of
the elders said, "if you can see it you can be it!"
On Thursday, during personal study, I studied about blessings that come from temple covenants. One thing that I really liked, was that it opens the doors of salvation to our ancestors. We had a lesson with Tia, and we talked about the blessings of keeping covenants. It was a great lesson and we were able to answer some of the questions that she had. Also on Thursday, we had a lesson with a returning number and we talked about fasting. And they had a question about if we can only fast from food or other things as well. We committed them read President Eyring's talk about fasting from conference.
On Friday, it was a spiritually, mentally, and physically exhausting day! We did our weekly planning which took a lot longer than we expected, and we also had a lesson with a part-member family. We talked about Eternal marriage and families. We also shared some of the experiences that we've had with keeping our covenants.
On Saturday, during personal study, I read about why we need to be baptized. I learned that baptism by Priesthood authority is essential to entering into the celestial kingdom. I also learned that that is one way we show our obedience to God, and how we receive forgiveness of our sins. Then, we went to the super Saturday that the Relief Society did. Our investigator, Prudence, was there. In the beginning, we played some games, which were a lot of fun. After that, we went to one of the classes that we had, which was called "Nameless women in the Scriptures". After that, we went to another class called "Things to do in Ohio". I am sending some brochures and a booklet home of a bunch of things to do in Ohio, so that you can plan a trip for when you come and pick me up. I will be sending a package home next week with them in, as well as some other random stuff that I don't really want to drag around with me, but I do want to keep it for after my
mission. Also on Saturday, we had a choir practice for the missionary fireside. It was a lot of fun, because I got to see some of my friends from the mission.
On Sunday, obviously we had church, and our investigator Barbara came! During sacrament the theme was "Build your foundation upon Christ". During Relief Society the teacher gave us ice cream sandwiches that
had chocolate chips in them, and when you talked about how we can have more peace in our lives. That night, we had our missionary fireside, and it was patriotic themed. One of the investigators that I talk when
I was in Lewis Center, Nichelle, spoke at the fireside, and she was just baptized four weeks ago.
Today during personal study, I read one of the articles in the July 2015 Ensign, and in one of the stories that I read, she referenced Alma 36:6, which talks about trusting in God continually and letting him guide your path. There was another article, that talked about how Heavenly Father is aware of each one of us, and he will truly support us in our trials. I was also reading through the new pamphlet app that we have, and I really like the part where it talks about prophets. I like how it said that heavenly father loves each one of us no matter
what. And how our Savior made it possible for us to be forgiven of our sins.
It has been raining a lot this past week, and luckily the temperatures have mainly been in the 70s and 80s. However last week, there was a tornado that came through Ohio, and we got some pretty bad rain. I
have attached some pictures in another email. I walked into a puddle that had flooded the street, and it went up to almost mid calf. It was crazy!!! And that wasn't even the deepest part! The rain was so bad
that we had to park our car and walk for most of the rest of the day. It was a lot of fun being out in the rain though, even though I don't really like the rain!
I look forward to hearing from all of you soon, and I love you all!!
Sister Jennifer Rose
June 23, 2015
Hey Everyone!
So this week has been pretty eventful. We have been able to have a lot of really great
lessons this week.
They all began with last Monday. We had a lesson with an investigator named Mary. We
taught her about the Restoration. She seemed really to understand it and she LOVES to
talk!!
On Tuesday, we went on exchanges with our Sister Training Leaders, and so I stayed in
Scioto with Sister Crandall. We had 4 appointments, 3 of which were back to back. The
first of the 3, we met with John and his family. We read the introduction to the Book of Mormon, and once we explained some things, they were better able to understand it.
Then we met with Marilyn. She is on date and progressing toward baptism in July. We
read Moroni 10 with her, and she loved it! She just started reading the Book of Mormon a few weeks ago, and she is already in Mosiah 27.
Finally we met with Barbara. It was such a great lesson, and the members that were there with us, really helped us to be able answer a lot of her questions. She is really progressing, and she wants to be baptized, but she is not 100% sure yet.
Most of the rest of the week, was pretty uneventful, other than our weekly planning. On
Friday, even though it took us a little bit longer than usual, we were able to have a very
Spirit-filled planning session.
On Saturday, we had a zone meeting for our Area Book Planner App. It is super interesting to use, and it makes planning easier. We also met with a less-active family, and they were super nice. We ended up talking to them for about an hour!
Sunday, we had a less-active member, and also Barbara that came to church! It was so
cool, because all of the lessons and talks really applied to Barbara, and helped answer a
LOT of her questions, so that was awesome!
Yesterday, wasn't actually our P-day, but we still had a great day. Except for when we
went to a viewing of one of the recent converts in the ward :( other than that it was
good. We did some service for a member, gave a couple of copies of the Book of Mormon to some people, and planned for today.
This morning we had the AMAZINGLY opportunity to go to the temple. It was such a great experience, as always, and it was great to be able to do one of my own ancestors names!
I hope everyone is doing well, and I look forward to hearing from you soon!
Love Always,
Sister Jennifer Rose
June 15, 2015
This past week has been pretty great! Other than it being a bit more stressful with
mini-missionaries, it all turned out okay.
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Sister Crandall Sister Balli
Sister Jennifer Rose |
We were able to have some great lessons, 2 of which were with people that we haven't been
able to meet with for a while. It was so great to have Sister Balli with us, because she was able
to bear testimony, and touch the hearts of some investigators, as well as members, that we
previously had not been able to.
I loved the mini zone conference that we had with our mini missionaries, and I loved how we
focused a lot on loving those we teach. I felt it really applied to me, because that is
something that I have been striving to do lately, love the people I teach more. I am so
grateful for being able to learn how to become better at helping others to feel the love that
Christ has for them. Our purpose is not only to find, teach, and baptize, but also to retain and reactivate. I have seen over the past few weeks just how much the lives of less-active
members, as well as members, can change when they start to see just how much love their
Heavenly Father and his Son, Jesus Christ have for them.
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| Zone Conference with Mini Missionaries |
We were also able to do some service for some of our investigators, and they expressed to
us that they really appreciated the help. I am so grateful for even just the little opportunities
that we have each and every day to try to serve and help people to draw closer to their
Savior.
I look forward to what this next week has in store for me, and I hope to hear from all of you
soon!
Love you all!
Love,
Sister Jennifer Rose
June 8, 2015
Hey Everyone! So this week has been an interesting one.
This past week his been pretty good, we have been able to meet a lot of new people and have been able to help them learn more of Christ's Gospel. For
example, we were able to talk to a guy named "Reggie the veggie". He has a
really big garden, and so we been helping him out with that.
We also met a lady named Angie and her boyfriend Phil. They both love to
talk about God. Angie seems more interested in learning than Phil though. I
am excited to be working with them.
We have had a lot of great lessons this week. There are many people that we have been working with. We have been working with a part-member family,
and it is so amazing to see all of the changes that they are making in their
lives. We also have an investigator named Marilyn, and she has been so
prepared for the gospel. She loves us coming over, and she calls us her
"daughters".
We have been able to do a lot of service this week, for members as well as
those that we meet. It has been a lot of fun! From mowing lawns to pulling
weeds, we have been able to share the gospel that everyone needs.
The past couple of days, we have been able to have a mini missionary. Her
name is Sister Balli (bye-e). It has been a lot of fun so far. It has already
been a great learning experience for me and I hope to continue to learn more.
Yesterday at church we read the talk by Elder Dale G. Renlund, called "Latter Day Saints keep on trying". I love this talk, but more especially the quote,
"God cares a lot more about who we are and who we are becoming then about who we once were." It shares the importance of the reason why we should
continue to endure to the end, and help others to do so as well.
Now to top it all off:
I crashed on my bike and it was pretty awesome! As we were coming back
from Reggie's house, we were riding our bikes on the road. My bike wheel got stuck in one of the cracks, which took the bike out from under me and I
literally somersaulted and crashed. Luckily, I didn't get more than a few
scrapes and bruises, but it was pretty crazy! Thank goodness I had my helmet
on, otherwise I probably would've cracked my head open!
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| Ouch!! |
I am excited for what adventures this next week has in store for me!
It was so sad to hear about Elder Perry's passing, but I know it's God's plan.
Sent from my iPad (so weird to see this)
Please write!!!
Sincerely,
Sister Jennifer Rose
June 1, 2015
This week has been pretty good! No meltdowns. Was not transferred. It was so very sad to hear about Elder Perry. I hope his family is doing okay.
This week we have been out riding our bikes (shocker right?), and have been able to talk to quite a few more people. I have seen that sometimes God puts people in our path to talk to, even though it may be someone they know that He is preparing.
One example of that is, earlier this week we were talking to a guy and he said that we could bring a Book of Mormon by. Well we did the next day, and as we talked with his girlfriend, she told us to come back the next day, and he would be home. So of course we went back the next day, and they were both there. As we were talking with them, we found out that his girlfriend is more interested in learning more, and she actually started to read the Book of Mormon. It is so cool to see just how God prepares His children to receive the gospel.
It seems like some weeks we have really amazing weeks, and some weeks, even though we work our hardest, we don't see any results. We just have to be patient and know that everything is in the Lord's timing.
Last night, I had the opportunity to participate in the missionary choir and it was all about the Plan of Salvation. You could tell that the Spirit was super strong, and the music was absolutely incredible.
We had the opportunity this past week to do a lot of service. We did a lot of things from sweeping someone's house (they have 5 cats, so you can imagine what my allergies are like right now), to picking lettuce, to vacuuming someone's house. It was great to be able to do so much service for so many people.
I hope that everyone is doing well, and I look forward to hearing from you soon!
Love always,
Sister Jennifer Rose
P.S. Thanks for all of the pictures you send me every week! It brightens my day!
P.P.S. So sad to hear about Papa! Hope he is doing okay! Keep Sister Staley updated, so she can keep me updated.
Why did the chicken cross the road? Why do sunburns always look so weird? Why does it always have dump rain on us here in Ohio?
May 26, 2015
Hey! Sounds like you guys had a very busy weekend! This week has been good, but crazy at the same time.
On Monday, we went thrift store shopping, where I found a couple of great "summery" skirts! Not much else happened though, just visiting some people.
On Tuesday, we had a great lesson with one of our investigators, and we talked about the Word of Wisdom. She is super awesome, and she is SO close to getting baptized! We also went and saw a bunch of other people, and gave some of them cookies. That night, we had a really great lesson about the gospel of Jesus Christ with a part-member family. The mom has been less-active for years, and every time we go over there you can tell that she not only feels the Spirit, but she is starting to have things confirmed to her that she already knew were true. It is so amazing to see that!
On Wednesday, we had district meeting, and we talked about how we can be better at finding more people to teach as we help those we are already teaching to progress. We went on yet another exchange with the Sister Training Leaders, and I stayed in Scioto with Sister Crandall. We had a great time walking/ driving around Grove City, as we were able to meet some new people. A member took us to dinner at El Vaquero, a Mexican restaurant. (We didn't feel so good after eating all of that Mexican food, but it was still good!) All in all, it was a pretty great day!
On Thursday, we had a lesson with one of our investigators, and she is on date to be baptized on July 25th! Her friend has been waiting for her to be baptized for almost 5 years now, but it is all in God's timing. We all have to learn to accept that at some point in our lives. For the first time ever, I had lamb gyros, and they were pretty good! (I didn't think I would like them, but I did.) We also did our weekly planning, and we went to our ward's Relief Society Activity. One of our investigators came, and loved it! It was all about food storage and 72-hour kits. We got to try some freeze-dried taco soup and lasagna soup. They were both really good!
On Friday, we had our Ipad training. We are getting our Ipads on June 3rd. I learned so much more from the training than I thought I would. Later that day, I had kind of a meltdown, and things just came out. I guess I had been needing to get some things out. It was such a relief after it was all over though!
On Saturday, was my 10-month mark. It is still hard to believe that it has been 10 months since I entered the MTC! We helped clean the church, did some family history, and had a lesson with the Staley family. Brother Staley is coming to church tomorrow. We picked up a bike from a member, so that we can start riding around town now.
On Sunday, Brother Staley came to church. It was so good to see him there. One of the recent converts from some of the sisters before me spoke in Sacrament about prayer and scripture study. It was a really good talk. We saw some other people, and not much else happened.
Yesterday, our ward had a memorial day breakfast, and we biked there and home (3 miles round trip, but it didn't feel like that much.) We did some service for a member in the ward, (we mowed her lawn) and it was so much fun! We went to another member's house for a barbecue, and then another member's house for dessert. We ate A LOT of food! However, with the biking that we have been doing, I have actually lost some pounds, which is awesome!
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| Doing Service... |
We haven't done much today, except for a lesson we had this morning with one of our investigators.
I hope everyone is doing well, and I hope to hear from you soon!
Love always,
Sister Jennifer Rose
May 18, 2015
This week has been another blessed week!
We met and taught some really great people. We have seen how the Lord blesses us as we strive to be more like Him, and to follow the counsel that we are given.
On Monday last week, as we were emailing, there was a tornado watch, where they evacuated us to the basement of the library. (Don't worry Mom! I am okay!) We also had the opportunity to teach a couple of new investigators. They are going to take a while to fully grasp the gospel, but I think that we can get them there.
On Tuesday, as we were heading to an appointment we got in the car to start it, and it wouldn't start. Come to find out that Sister Corbett had accidentally left the headlights on all night! OOPS!! 
We have been working on our family history, and I have learned a lot about it.
Wednesday, we had district meeting. We talked about how to have better companionship studies, as well as personal studies. I learned that there a re 3 questions that will help to make my personal studies better. How can I apply what I learned to help my investigators?, How can I apply what I learned to my companionship/area?, and How will I change? As I ponder these 3 questions, I know I can see a difference rather than just studying just to study. We had a lesson with the Staley family, and we talked about the Atonement. I shared this from President Packer's talk: "The Atonement, which can reclaim each one of us, bears no scars. That means that no matter what we have done or where we have been or how something happened, if we truly repent, He has promised that He would atone. And when He atoned, that settled that...the Atonement which can wash clean every stain no matter how difficult or how long or how many times repeated. The Atonement can put you free again to move forward, cleanly and worthily, to pursue that path that you have chosen in life. I bear witness that God lives, that Jesus is the Christ, that the Atonement is not a general thing that is for the whole Church.
The Atonement is individual, and if you have something that is bothering you sometimes so long ago you can hardly remember it, put the Atonement to work. It will clean it up, and you, as does He, will remember your sins no more." After that, we had a lesson with a part-member family that we have been teaching. We were only planning on teaching the first half of the Plan of Salvation, but we ended up teaching all of it. It is super cool to see the "light of the gospel" coming back to the less-active member. She is starting to truly believe the things that are being taught. I am grateful to be able to have the opportunity to see that. It is such an amazing experience to see people's lives change for the better.
Thursday we had another great lesson with another investigator, even though we didn't hardly get a word in edgewise. (The members practically taught the whole lesson!) Our investigator, asked a lot of great questions, and we ended up talking about eternal families and if we will see those we love after we die. We had a lesson with another investigator that we have been working with for a while, and we taught her about the Word of Wisdom. That night, we got another new investigator, who is a referral from someone in Missouri. She is super interested in the gospel, and we taught her the Restoration. When we extended baptism to her, she said "If I came to know it was true, then yes, I guess I would have to get baptized." It was so cool! It is so amazing to be able to help people come to know the truth, as I learn and teach more and more about it each and every day.
On Friday, we had another great lesson with an investigator who has also been taught for a while. We taught her about Tithing and Fasting, and she committed to live it WHEN she gets baptized. She also committed to coming to church on Sunday. We did our weekly planning, and had a lesson with a recent convert/less-active lady. She is super cool, and she is really funny. I can always count on my days being brightened whenever we go over there.
Saturday, we made cookies to hand out to people. We helped the Staley's plant some of their garden even though it was raining. It stopped just long enough for us to do it, and we got a little bit wet, but it was worth it!
Sunday at church, the talks were about "The Spiritual influence of Women". In Gospel Principles, we talked about the church being established when Christ was on the earth. In Relief Society, we talked about the importance of the Book of Mormon in our daily lives. We had dinner at a recent convert's house, and we talked about prayer and patriarchal blessings. Which was funny, because on Saturday, both Sister Corbett and I read through our patriarchal blessings.
This morning in my personal study, I read a talk by Elder Christofferson, called "Why Marriage, Why Family?" from Conference. As I pondered the 3 questions that I ask, this is how I answered the 2nd one. As you read the quote replace the word "marriage" with the word "companionship"...
"In your love you see only your two selves in the world, but in marriage you are a link in the chain of the generations, which God causes to come and to pass away to his glory, and calls into his kingdom. In your love you see only the heaven of your own happiness, but in marriage you are placed at a post of responsibility towards the world and mankind. Your love is your own private possession, but marriage is more than something personal ”it is a status, an office. So love comes from you, but marriage from above, from God. It talks about us being 2 people in the world, but as a companionship, we can bring families together. In a companionship, it is a responsibility and an office that we hold. We can love our companion we are given, because it is inspired from God that we are put in our companionships.
I am having a great time here in the Scioto area, and I know that my companionship with Sister Corbett is truly inspired. I have been able to learn so much from her, and know that we can have a great friendship afterwards.
I hope to hear from all of you soon!
Love always,
Sister Jennifer Rose
May 11, 2015
This past week has been pretty great! Lots of people to teach, having fun with my companion, and much more!
Last Monday, we had a zone activity. We played ultimate frisbee, ultimate football, soccer, and kickball. It was so much fun!
Tuesday, we had a great lesson with one of our investigators. She really wants to get baptized, but there are still some issues that need to work out in order for that to happen. We did a little bit of tracting, and got some doors closed in our faces, but all is well. It happens.
On Wednesday, we had zone conference, and I learned so much from it. We talked a lot about the different powers that the Atonement can have for us. It was pretty amazing to see how there are many ways that the Atonement can bless us in our lives. I am so grateful for the gift and power of the Atonement and for my Savior Jesus Christ.
Thursday marked the 1-year mark of opening my mission call. It is truly hard to believe that this past year went by so fast, I am grateful for this opportunity. We had a really amazing lesson with one of our investigators, Marilyn. We talked about the first part of the Plan of Salvation, up until the Atonement. We extended baptism, to which she said yes, but when we extended a date she wasn't sure she could commit without being completely sure. She is one of the greatest people that I have met, and she is always so willing to help us out in any way that she can.
On Friday, we did our weekly planning, and then we went and helped one of the ward members plant some vegetables in their garden. It was so much fun, even though it was a lot of work. We had an amazing lesson with the Staley family. The husband, who has been less-active for a while, committed himself to coming to church! He is a great inspiration to me, because no matter how far gone you think you are, you always have the opportunity to come back. I have seen so much progress in him since we started meeting with him and his family 2 months ago.Â
On Saturday, it was another spirit filled day. We had the opportunity to go to the baptism of a couple that the elders taught. It really got me to thinking of how I felt when I was baptized. They were so prepared by the Lord, and they are some of the greatest new members that I have met so far, even though I didn't actually teach them. After the baptism, we went on a short exchange with our Sister Training Leaders, and I am so grateful that I am finally realizing who my Heavenly Father wants me to be. I know that the only way to change someone's life is to help them realize their full potential. I was especially surprised at some of the things that came out of my mouth. I know that it wasn't my own thoughts and words, they were the Spirit's testifying to those I talked to. we also helped our next-door neighbor move in, and they were so grateful for our help. It is the little things that make someone's day.
Yesterday at church, I learned that "the greatest good is Motherhood" and that "the role of the mother (and father) is the most important role in Heavenly Father's plan". I am so grateful for my mom and all that she has done for me, and continually does for me. In honor of some of the moms here, we took some cookies around to them. The family that we ate dinner with, and skyped with, we gave them some cookies, and flowers. They really seemed to appreciate it a lot.
Today, we had a district activity, where we played wall ball, and chair soccer (yes, I hurt my toe again, but it was totally worth it.)
This week, I have had some of the most spiritual and powerful lessons, and contacts than I have before in my mission. I am starting to realize the plan that my Heavenly Father has for me, and how this experience will be the most rewarding one as I continually put in all my effort to hasten the Lord's work here in Scioto.
I am so very grateful for the opportunity that I have to be the Lord's servant and to share His gospel each and every day with those around me. I know without a doubt in my heart that this is what I am supposed to be doing at this time, and am so grateful for the opportunity to see the lives of others change for the better.Â
"I believe in Christ, He is my King. With all my heart to Him I'll sing. I'll raise my voice in praise and joy, in grand amens my tongue employ... I believe in Christ; so come what may, With him I'll stand in that great day, When on this earth he comes again To rule among the sons of men." Hymn #134 (vs. 1 and 4)
I now know that there truly is power that comes when I open my mouth and help others come to know their Savior as I continually strive to do.
Love
Jennifer
May 4, 2015
This week has been pretty awesome! (Other than my HORRIBLE allergies!!!)
Although it was sad to hear about Ron's passing... Also, I am JEALOUS that you got to see Cinderella... I want to see that movie really badly!
On Tuesday, we had a really good lesson with one of our investigators, and we gave one of her friends a Book of Mormon. It was a really cool experience to hear her background and how she came to know God. We also had a really, really good lesson with a part-member family. The Spirit was super strong, and the wife (the member) expressed that she is starting to feel the same way that she had before while attending church, and she almost started crying twice. It was super awesome!
Wednesday, we had a zone meeting, and we learned that in June of this year, WE ARE GETTING IPADS!!!!! We had another great lesson with an investigator who has been prepared by the Lord, and she is super awesome! She has expressed interest in being baptized as well. That night at dinner, we had an awesome lesson with another part-member family. We taught a lot about the importance of prayer, and the Spirit was definitely present.
On Thursday, we did some service for a member in the ward, and then afterwards she and her husband to us out for lunch at KFC. It was delicious!! We also met with a less-active lady who has been in and out of the hospital quite a bit, but it was great to see her again. It was also Sister Corbett's 1 year mark.
Friday, we did our weekly planning, and we ding-dong ditched some cookies to a couple members in our ward. It was a lot of fun! :) That night, we helped a member in our ward set up for her daughter's wedding reception.
On Saturday, we had a lesson with an investigator, and talked about how Heavenly Father has blessed us in our lives. Then, we helped the member with her daughter's wedding... we helped serve the food, and it was really great to be able to help someone, because we don't get a whole lot of service opportunities yet. We also went to the adult session of stake conference.
Yesterday, we had stake conference, and it was super good. This past week I have been studying about Christlike attributes, and 2 of the speakers talked about a couple of them: Obedience and Humility. It was great! We had dinner at the Brown's house, and we are going to help her with her garage sale this weekend... I am so excited to be able to finally start doing some service for people!!
Today, we cleaned our apartment, and after this, we are going to a zone activity (pictures to come next week!)
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| Mom's "Hump Day" Package - April 23, 2015 was Hump Day |
Hope everyone is doing well, and hope to hear from you soon!
Love always,
Sister Jennifer Rose
