Dear Family,
How are you? I hope this note finds you all healthy and happy! Things are going well here. You remember how our family has a knack for getting sick on holidays? Well turns out the luck continues. You see this past Friday was Sisters Training (a training they do for just the sisters in the mission twice a year so it's kind of like Christmas) and we were supposed to sing at it. It was also Lupe's birthday and we were going to make her dinner to thank her for all she has done for us. Well the night before my companion got sick and was throwing up all night. We thought it was food poisoning until I got up the next morning and almost passed out when I got to the bathroom. We got Priesthood blessings and made it to part of the sisters training (we were only 2 and a half hours late) but it was funny to me considering our previous history.
The good news is that I got to see Hermana Pierce for the first time since I got here and it was pretty much the best thing ever! We walked in just as our mission president's wife was telling all the sisters that we were coming but not to hug us and all the sisters turned around and were like "Awww." I was like Hold your applause please...you're far too kind. Hahaha. Jk. But Hermana Pierce turns around and just starts crying. I had forgotten how much I love that kid. She is so great.
We have been doing a little activity with families in our branch in preparation for easter. We do a little easter egg hunt with different things to symbolize different parts of Christ's last week in each egg with a scripture to go along with each thing. The families have really enjoyed it I think and it has made me think a lot more about the real meaning of Easter. Did you know that the reason we have Easter Eggs is because they represent Christ breaking the bands of death? I had no idea...mind blown. We have been challenging the families to think of something they can give to Christ this easter. One idea someone had was to pick something we want to be better at and work on that thing. I have thought a lot about that. In our zone meeting this week someone made reference to the doctrine of today which is the idea that we will do things today rather than putting them off for later. Earlier that day I had read in 3 Nephi 13:34 where it says "Take therefore no thought for the morrow, for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself." I realized that I have a tendency not to live for today and that is my goal this easter. That is the gift that I want to give the Savior...to appreciate every day that I have been given. The days are flying by here. I cannot believe I am already over 5 months into my mission.
We are teaching so many wonderful people here in our area. Please pray for them. The Castillos came to church again yesterday. I was so happy to see them there and they looked so happy to be there. They are such good people. They now have the picture I gave them of us in front of the temple on their coffee table with a dooly under it. I have seen firsthand how Satan works on those who are trying to do what is right. The amazing thing is that he often uses good things to keep them from doing the essential things. I think that is something else Christ was trying to say in 3 Nephi...if we will but put our trust in Heavenly Father today...he will take care of everything in the future. I know that is true. I know this gospel is the way to true happiness. I know that people are put in our lives for a reason. I'm so grateful for that.
I love you all!
-Hermana Jones
Picture #1- Us with Lupe and her kids and her sister Maria and his kids. These are my people! :)
Picture #2- Kennewick is a melting pot. The other day we taught this awesome family from Afrika and fell in love with them instantly. They don't speak spanish so we had to pass them. Haha.
Picture #3- My district out to lunch.
