And the Craziness Continues

So okay, yep, mission life is still insane.

On Wednesday, we traveled a ton. We went to Jyväskylyä for District Meeting and it was definitely the best District Meeting of my entire mission. Our District Leader had us do a role play where we showed the new Christmas Video and then committed someone to baptism. WELL IT WAS AMAZING and we actually used it this week and IT WORKED! So that was really cool!

We then went home for a little bit, and then went back to Jyväskylä. The way that all our schedules worked out was that we had to go there twice in one day. But I'm not complaining, it was a blast. We had exchanges there with Sister Bradbury and her trainee Sister West. This was the most amazing exchange that I've ever been on. Seriously, I learned soooo much from those sisters.

I was with Sister Bradbury and she took me contacting to her favorite spot in Jyväskylä. It is by the edge of this beautiful lake overlooking the most picture perfect thing you ever did see. It was about 7:30 at night and the lake was frozen and a storm was coming in. It was absolutely perfect. I started crying when I had the realization that my mission is quickly coming to an end. Luckily, Sister Bradbury knew exactly what to say to me in that moment and she helped me soo much. My feet are definitely still here in Finland, but I'm realizing that they won't be much longer. So I will definitely be focusing even harder and taking advantage of every moment I have here.

We had our Ward Christmas Party this past weekend and it was a blast! They wanted us missionaries to do a skit so Sister Adams and I were in charge of creating a skit for us eight missionaries to do. Four our skit, we decided that we would "get ready" for the party. So we had the senior companions get ready, while their arms were tied behind their backs, the junior companions then knelt behind us and pretended to be our arms. Sister Adams put my make up on, one set of Elders shaved faces, one combed hair and made a sandwich, and the other sisters wrapped presents. It was pretty funny and the whole ward had a ball with it :) 

We had exchanges yesterday here in our area and it was a blast! We taught some great lessons and talked to some really cool people. I learned a lot about how when you do your planning and everything you can, then (when you are in the moment of a lesson) the Spirit will help you to know exactly what they need to hear and what you need to hear as well. It's really amazing.

That's pretty much my week! I love you all soooo much! Thank you for everything!

Love,

Sister Jones

Pre Christmas Party Selfies

Us Missionaries With Joulu Pukki 

Morning Train drop offs with Vaasa Sisters

Morning walks with the Jyväskylä Sisters

I'm definitely not creative this week..

Hey Everyone! So this week I'm sorta brain dead so I'm not going to be able to come up with an interesting title for this email..

We've been really busy this past week. We went to Helsinki for MLC on Thursday and Friday. It was a great meeting, as always. We had a lot of things to talk about and it was really so much fun. Sister Adams had her first real moment as a Sister Training Leader when President Watson calls all the STL's and ZL's into his office 10 minutes before the meeting starts and says "Elders and Sisters, you are going to be teaching most of this meeting today... Here's your assigned topics..." He then said "There's no need to worry, you've got 10 minutes to prepare." Elder Johnson, Elder Andreason and I just all looked at each other and laughed (Sister Clark will totally get this) because President did this to us last transfer when he told us "you have a whole day to prepare for the role play." So it was pretty funny. Sister Adams was kinda freaking out, and I'm not going to lie, I didn't really know what to say either, but it all went well and we think that the District Leaders got what we were trying to teach.. Hopefully.. ha

We also went to the temple while we were there and it was amazing! While we were there my Bishop from Marjaniemi and his wife were in the session with us. ALSO one of my bestest friends I made in Marjaniemi was there as well. It was so amazing to see them again. I definitely cried. Last weekend I also saw some of the best members in all of Finland, from Marjaniemi, and it was one of the most amazing experiences.

Yesterday we had exchanges with the Sisters from Turku! ELI I got to be with Sister DuPaix again! It was like a dream come true! Seriously it was amazing! We were teaching one of our recent converts yesterday, and we had one of the most amazing lessons I've ever had on my mission. The Elders were giving a Sister a blessing and they needed someone else to be with them, so they asked if we would be at the church and we were going to be so we told them we could come with them. We thought it would be a great experience for our Recent Convert because he really didn't know about blessings and such. We explained what was going to happen and everything. We got back to our lesson afterwards and let me tell you, I'm 100% sure that it was the exact lesson he needed at the time. Seriously it was insane. It really turned into one of the most sacred lessons I've ever had. I really wish I could explain what happened, but I can't.. It was just a really special experience.

I love you all sooo much! I hope that you have the bestest week!

Love,

Sister Jones

Temple with all the Sister Training Leaders

Tortilla House at the Mission Home

Posers with Dinner

All the crew yesterday

Snoowww

All us STL's, ZL's and DL's at the temple

Me and Sister Adams at the Temple

Me and Sister Adams PERFECTLY describing our personalities 

Snoowww

Me and my sick shirt that I'm probably giving to Tyler for Christmas.. 

What a week!

Sooo seriously, my life is insane. Ha thats all.

Its been quite the week here :) We started it off with a trip to Jyväskylä for District Meeting. There were a lot of changes in the mission this past transfer and we now go to Jyväskylä once a week for District Meeting. So we went there and came back this past Thursday. And we went yesterday for District Meeting again.

We've had a lot appointments and its been quite fun getting Sister Adams adjusted to being a Sister Training Leader. She's been quite surprised (just like me) at how much we actually do. Its been really fun to watch :)

Sister Adams and I are doing really well. Its been soo much fun to catch up on the past year and see how we've both grown and changed in our time in Finland. Its been really fun because we realized that it was like coming home to an old friend that you haven't seen in a long time, since we are the oldest friends we have out here right now. It's been a really cool experience.

The church came out with a new Christmas Initiative called "Light the World" eli "Valoa Maailmaan" Its pretty much the most amazing thing I've ever seen. I cry every time. Since I'm a Sister Training Leader when we were in Helsinki for MLC a couple of weeks ago, President Watson showed us the video before it was released. As soon as the video ended we all turned to President to see what he would say, and he looked at us with tears in his eyes and simply said "This will make the difference." 

I know that this will make the difference. That as we all share this video with all those we know, this will make the difference. Not just in my mission, but throughout the world. This will change the face of missionary work. I know it. I'm soo grateful to be serving a mission at such a pivital time in the world. Its been such a blessing to serve my Heavenly Father.

Go check it out at mormon.org or joulu.mormon.org (if you're a Finn:))

I love you all sooo much! Thank you for all that you do!

Love,

Sister Jones