Hola mi familia!!
Como estan? Yo estoy bien! Hoy es la dia de preparacion...me gusta mucho!! Porque yo necisito dormir...and lots of other stuff as well! Anyways...How's it going? Have any of you done anything interesting this past week? I know this is a big weekend for my sweet little girl, Alexandria! Someone is getting baptized!!!! How exciting! How is work? The garden? Neighbors? Tell me anything and everything!!
Anyways, I'm doing a lot better. Days here, overall, are improving. It is still an emotional rollercoaster though. There are moments throughout your day that are just so draining and taxing. Moments were I miss you all so much. But, (thank you Aunt Kim) I take a deep breath and continue pressing forward. The sisters who have here say that the experience of time at the MTC is a paradox...days are super long, they can feel like multiple days in fact and you can hardly remember what you had for breakfast and what lesson you learned that day, weeks go by fast. So far, I would definitely agree with that theory. It is amazing how spiritual experiences can really heal a wounded and aching heart. I could be having the worst moment of my life yet with the spirit it automatically improves. Like, last week when I took my first shower here I just sobbed and sobbed. I didn't know how to control my emotions. But then, out of no where this other sister that was taking a shower started to sing a hymn with her beautiful voice and my spirit lifted. I love having spiritual experiences because they always make me feel so much better about why I am here and what I am doing. The spirit is truly the Lord's blanket, hug, pat on the back, and encouragement to "go get em'!" I want to grow spiritually everyday-every moment that I can.
I'm sorry this weeks email is so short. I have a bunch of stuff to do and my laundry is done so I need to move it to the dryer now before someone tosses it away...they wouldn't really...I don't think. Thank you all so much for your words of encouragement, your thoughts, prayers, fasting, packages, letters, everything! I hope you are blessed beyond comprehension! If only my family and friends were blessed while I served this mission I would still do it- because you mean more to me than you will ever know!
Know that I am doing 100 times better and that I continue to improve each day. I'll write you as soon as I can! I love you!!
Con amo,
Hermana Kimmy Jones
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Saturday, April 21, 2012
Hola Mi Familia!! Day 4!!
Hola Mi Familia!
Como Estan? I hope you are all doing very well. This week has been oober crazy! From the moment I was dropped off it has been Go! Go! Go! Each second and I hardly get a moment to breath, use the restroom, rest, or even read my scriptures. (dad just so you know the elders who helped me were very nice and the wouldn't let me take and of my freakiously heavy luggage and insisted they carry it for me, so no worries, papa) In fact, since I have been here I have only been able to have about 15 minutes total of personal scripture time. It is just chaotic! Though, I find that when I am super busy that I am able to focus on the work and nothing else. When I get moments to myself that is when I start to get very homesick. I won't lie familia this has been the most difficult experience of my life thus far. I have had so many obstacles to face and I feel like I haven't been able to overcome any of them. The most difficult of them all is the language. If it weren't for the language barrier I think I would be doing one million times better. It is just so hard to know what you want to say but be unable to, due to your lack of vocabulary. Like, yesterday mi companera y yo taught our first investigator. Supposedly she didn't understand any ingles and she wouldn't help us at all if we got stuck but at least we could use notes during it. However, the whole thing was a disaster. I constantly found myself feeling like a deer in the headlights. Huh? Hugh? Que? No entiendo? Repita por favor? No se... it was like the most awkward and overwhelming experience of mi vida. Pero, I have been praying as hard and as often as I can so that I can have the Lord's help with all the tasks I face. Today I am fasting, tomorrow I will ask Hermano Monson for a blessing, and I will continue to pray and plea to the Lord each day for help with all that comes my way. I need to have more faith in him and in the spiritual inspiration that I receive from him. I'm also worried that mi companera is sick of me. I am honestly trying very hard to be a good and helpful companera but I'm not sure I am doing enough. Today, after our half p-day is over (my p-day will be on Thursdays) mi companera y yo have to teach our investigator, Sylvia, yet again. Oh, and unlike yesterday, all we can use is our scriptures which make it beyond impossible. In fact, after talking to other sisters who have been here for 7 weeks + we discovered that what our teacher is asking us to do today is unheard of. In fact, these sisters who have been here for weeks on end still use their preach my gospels and notes along with their scriptures in their lessons. I'm definitely going to be praying! Then, I have to prepare a short lesson to give tomorrow in Sacrament meeting because our branch president randomly will select hermanas o elderes to speak. Knowing my luck that will be me.
Family, I miss you all so much. This experience has been so difficult but I try to find hope each day to press forward and forget myself. En mi corazon, yo se la iglesia de Jesuscristo es verdadero y cuando oramos Padre Celestial ayudar El hijos Porque, El tien mucho amor, por su hijos. I love you all and will talk to you soon I will also try to send some photos within the next few weeks.
Love ya!!
Hermana Jones
P.S. Keep an eye out in the mail for a few letters, I sent them other day and today
P.S.S. I have had this quote stuck in my head for the past few days...it makes me laugh each time I think of it. It is from the new "Bewitched" its, "Donde esta mi pero?" but what is the rest? Alex, I need your skills to fill in the blanks.
P.S.S.S. I have only met two hermanas here who are going to the same mission I am. In fact, the last hermana I met has been here for 7 weeks and I am the 2nd hermana she knows going to Costa Rica, the other hermana is also the one I know as well. We are a rare few....the best few!
P.S.S.S.S. R E S C U E rescueate society!! Heads held high! Touch the sky!! You mean everything too me!!!
Como Estan? I hope you are all doing very well. This week has been oober crazy! From the moment I was dropped off it has been Go! Go! Go! Each second and I hardly get a moment to breath, use the restroom, rest, or even read my scriptures. (dad just so you know the elders who helped me were very nice and the wouldn't let me take and of my freakiously heavy luggage and insisted they carry it for me, so no worries, papa) In fact, since I have been here I have only been able to have about 15 minutes total of personal scripture time. It is just chaotic! Though, I find that when I am super busy that I am able to focus on the work and nothing else. When I get moments to myself that is when I start to get very homesick. I won't lie familia this has been the most difficult experience of my life thus far. I have had so many obstacles to face and I feel like I haven't been able to overcome any of them. The most difficult of them all is the language. If it weren't for the language barrier I think I would be doing one million times better. It is just so hard to know what you want to say but be unable to, due to your lack of vocabulary. Like, yesterday mi companera y yo taught our first investigator. Supposedly she didn't understand any ingles and she wouldn't help us at all if we got stuck but at least we could use notes during it. However, the whole thing was a disaster. I constantly found myself feeling like a deer in the headlights. Huh? Hugh? Que? No entiendo? Repita por favor? No se... it was like the most awkward and overwhelming experience of mi vida. Pero, I have been praying as hard and as often as I can so that I can have the Lord's help with all the tasks I face. Today I am fasting, tomorrow I will ask Hermano Monson for a blessing, and I will continue to pray and plea to the Lord each day for help with all that comes my way. I need to have more faith in him and in the spiritual inspiration that I receive from him. I'm also worried that mi companera is sick of me. I am honestly trying very hard to be a good and helpful companera but I'm not sure I am doing enough. Today, after our half p-day is over (my p-day will be on Thursdays) mi companera y yo have to teach our investigator, Sylvia, yet again. Oh, and unlike yesterday, all we can use is our scriptures which make it beyond impossible. In fact, after talking to other sisters who have been here for 7 weeks + we discovered that what our teacher is asking us to do today is unheard of. In fact, these sisters who have been here for weeks on end still use their preach my gospels and notes along with their scriptures in their lessons. I'm definitely going to be praying! Then, I have to prepare a short lesson to give tomorrow in Sacrament meeting because our branch president randomly will select hermanas o elderes to speak. Knowing my luck that will be me.
Family, I miss you all so much. This experience has been so difficult but I try to find hope each day to press forward and forget myself. En mi corazon, yo se la iglesia de Jesuscristo es verdadero y cuando oramos Padre Celestial ayudar El hijos Porque, El tien mucho amor, por su hijos. I love you all and will talk to you soon I will also try to send some photos within the next few weeks.
Love ya!!
Hermana Jones
P.S. Keep an eye out in the mail for a few letters, I sent them other day and today
P.S.S. I have had this quote stuck in my head for the past few days...it makes me laugh each time I think of it. It is from the new "Bewitched" its, "Donde esta mi pero?" but what is the rest? Alex, I need your skills to fill in the blanks.
P.S.S.S. I have only met two hermanas here who are going to the same mission I am. In fact, the last hermana I met has been here for 7 weeks and I am the 2nd hermana she knows going to Costa Rica, the other hermana is also the one I know as well. We are a rare few....the best few!
P.S.S.S.S. R E S C U E rescueate society!! Heads held high! Touch the sky!! You mean everything too me!!!
Saying good-bye can be hard to do
This last Wednesday, we sent Kimmy off to the MTC. We spent a lot of time with her the last couple of days that she was home. I put together a little video of some of the pictures of all of the excitement from the week. Enjoy!
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
How boldly are you declaring the Gospel?
Sunday was Kimmy's "Farewell" talk, she did absolutely amazing! She has such a strong testimony of the Gospel. She spoke about how we must be bold in our declaration of Jesus Christ! I was brought to tears by her testimony and how fervently she spoke of serving the people of Costa Rica.
I want to share a part of her talk; it has really made me consider how boldly I am in my declaration of my Savior. She said, "Elder L. Tom Perry states, "We must be bold in our declaration of Jesus Christ. We want others to know that we believe He is the central figure in all human history."
We must be bold in our declaration of Jesus Christ! What a powerful petition!
"How will you declare your beliefs of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ? Through quiet acts of charity and service? Through faithfully attending your church meetings? Through striving to uphold your callings in the Church? Through sharing your testimony with members and non-members alike? There are so many avenues one could take in order to boldly declare the truth of the Redeemer of the World. Whatever it may be, know that your feelings, your actions, and your testimony of the Savior Jesus Christ have meaning-- even your most simplest of actions could rescue a soul that is yearning for the happiness that the Lord can and will provide. The Savior wants you to receive His love, and He also wants you to share it with others...strive to love as He loves, with unfailing compassion, patience, and mercy.
Elder L. Tom Perry stated, "The message of the gospel of Jesus Christ is unlike anything else you will share with others. In the information age, it is the most valuable information in all the world. There is no question about its worth It is a pearl of great price." The Lord has promised us His unwavering love, support, grace, hope, and protection; so what do we truly have to fear? In Doctrine & Covenants 84:88 it states, "And whoso receiveth you, there I will be also, for I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up." OR Isaiah 41:10, "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God; and I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
In the end of his General Conference address, Elder Perry makes this solid promise, "I promise you that if you will respond to the invitation to share your beliefs and feelings about the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, a spirit of courage will be your constant companion."
In the end of his General Conference address, Elder Perry makes this solid promise, "I promise you that if you will respond to the invitation to share your beliefs and feelings about the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, a spirit of courage will be your constant companion."
I want to thank everyone that came to support Kimmy on such an important day, you all helped make it a wonderful and special day for not only her but for her family as well. Here is just a glimpse at what an exciting day that it was!
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
I hope they call me on a mission....
Hi! This blog is for Sister Kimberly Ann Elizabeth Jones. She will be serving in the Costa Rica, San Jose Mission, she reports to the Provo Missionary Training Center on April 18, 2012. This video pretty much sums up her excitement and everyone that will be home supporting her in every way possible!
I will try and post her emails that she sends home every week so you can all see how she is doing. I know that she will love hearing from all of you, even if it is just a small little line in an email saying hi, or just to let her know that you are thinking about her! Thanks again for all of your support and prayers in behalf of Sister Jones as she prepares to serve her Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, in the beautiful land of Costa Rica.
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