News from The Colony at Transfers - New companion Sis. Iona

Pictures courtesy of some sweet members in Texas who shared them via Facebook.
Melina’s sweet companion Sister Vail, who she loved so much, was sick the whole time she had been out so prayerfully decided to go home and yesterday Melina spent the day helping her pack and going into Dallas to take her to the airport so she didn’t have time to e-mail. 
The family in The Colony gave them a ride.  Melina is staying another transfer in The Colony and her new companion is Sister Iona from Hawaii.  The ladies who talked to her this morning said she is adorable and happy.  I think Melina will be glad as she is teaching Jason who is autistic and she feels prepared and able to teach him.  I’m sure we will hear a lot more next week including details for the Mother’s day skype.

Melina at Transfers

Sis Jones & her new companion Sis. Iona

experience sorrow to know joy!

Hey y'all!

This has been the best and worst week of my mission so far! I said that last week, but this week beats last in both joy and saddness.

Sister Vail has decided to go home to more fully recover. She wasn't able to work this week at all. It is so hard to see her go through so much pain because I love her so much and I just want to take it all away, but only the Savior can do that. 

There were other events that created a lot of stress as well, but the miracles of this week were astonishing!

Joshua was baptized on Sunday!!! There were about 15 non-members from his family who attended the service! I was able to sing at it, which was super fun. The open house afterwards was held at his grandmothers house and non-members were able to mingle with the members for a good hour and a half! 

Josh has made so much progress in his life. It has been such a priviledge to watch him receive the blessings that come from turning to Christ. The first time we met him, he was going out for a smoke. Now he has such a bright and clear countenance! He has already helped us teach another investigator (Fernie) the plan of salvation, and he helped us teach his grandmother about the restoration! His Grandmother has ordered the Book of Mormon on CD so she can listen to it in the car. She also quite regularily watched BYU TV even though she is Catholic! She has great potential and Josh's example to her has been amazing. 

We were also able to go to the temple for endowments and then for proxy baptisms with Brother and Sister Jones for their first time! They were able to find family names to bring with them. The spirit was so strong =)

We also got to teach Bennie again this week. He is the less active who wants help quitting smoking and has a mental disability. We sang I am a Child of God with him and the spirit was so strong. He came to church this week as well.

There have been quite a few thunder and lightning storms here! They are so beautiful! The lightning is HUGE! It is definitely a different experience than Washington storms. =) 

I hope that y'all have a great week!

Love,

Sister Jones

Baptisms with the Joneses

Dallas Temple

Joshua's Baptism

Little Elm District

Proxy Baptisms with the Joneses

Texas Regions

Olaf in Summer

Hey y'all!

Last Monday Bennie called us! He is a less active member with special needs. He asked for help to quite smoking and come back to church! The Lord is so proud of him for being so humble and reaching out for help! He has the sweetest hear ever! Also we are planning to use him to friendship our investigator, Jason, who has autism! 

Josh's date moved back from Saturday to Sunday because his grandmother wants all of his family to be there! (all nonmembers too!) =) He will be baptized this Saturday as long as he is able to keep up with not smoking! 

The members of this ward are incredible! Last preparation day the Primary president called and had a neighbor who was hysterical because her fiance had kicked her out and she brought her over to us at the library and we were able to stop emailing and teach a lesson to comfort her! The members are bringing us the work! Another wonderful member lives in an apartment complex for retired folks. He has been helping about 25 of the (nonmember) residents with their family history every week. He came to our missionary coordination meeting yesterday and wants us to teach the 25 residents and possibly more the missionary lessons every week for 6 weeks and then see if any want to meet with us on a personal level! He is planning to start the invitation this may and make fliers and refreshments and everything! Our ward mission leader requested that 6 more ward missionaries be called, making the total 44 ward missionaries (about 22 couples)! He had a brainstorm session with us about all of the different things they can do to help the work. =) In addition to these amazing members, we received a text from another member who said to pray for her as she was about to give a Book of Mormon to a friend, and then another member on Sunday asked us for two copies of the Book of Mormon for him to give to co-workers! The spirit is really resting on The Colony!

Our recent converts, Debbie, Ben, and Sister Jones are all preparing names to take to do proxy baptisms this Friday and our returning member Brother Jones is as well! We are so excited for them! They are going to go in a group with us and some ward missionaries together. 

We saw so many miracles this week! Believe it or not this was actually maybe the hardest week on my mission, but now that I reflect on all of the miracles that we saw the harder things melt away from my mind faster than Olaf in the summer! and the atonement will take care of them. =) 

Love,

Sister Jones

Staying Hydrated!

The Colony!!!!

Because He Lives

Hey y'all!

General conference was so amazing! =) I came into general conference with five questions prepared and all of them were answered! Plus one question I had that I never even wrote down I forgot I had the question! The prophets are truly called of God and receive inspiration from him. If we prepare ourselves spiritually we can receive personal revelation through their words. 

I know that Jesus Christ is my savior and He lifts us up, strengthening our weaknesses in love. I am so thankful for Christ's atonement that we don't have to be perfect, we just need to keep trying. I loved the quote "it's not because all we can do, it is after all we can do" that we reach exaltation. I have felt God's grace more in my life now than ever before.

I appreciate all of your prayers for Sister Vail. I love her so much and I know that she is a daughter of God with great potential and my purpose now is to help her get back on track to reach it! 

Josh's baptismal date was moved back a week, but it will happen on the 18th! we have faith that it will! 

Love,

Sister Jones

^ Sis. Vail's photo creativity ^