Hello, its me. Ive been wondering if after all these days you'd like

to hear, about all my life out here in PA!

Well first order of business, I am leaving Dowingtown to head to a

place called Broomall which is about 45 minutes east of D-Town. So I

am staying in the stake and i am moving into President Randall's ward!

Its going to be so awesome! My new companion is Sister Shin from Korea

and its seriously going to be so fun with her! I am so incredibly

excited to keep learning and keep growing!

This week has been crazy good! I have had a great last week in

Downingtown. I am going to miss my friends and family that I have made

here.

Darren hasn't really talked to us this week. We have tried to reach

out through text and phone calls but so far nothing. He responds after

the time we were thinking of for a lesson or just never responds. He

still shows interested when he responds so we haven't dropped him yet.

Who knows, maybe he is just taking some time to really make sure this

is what he wants. I know he will be baptized one day. Its going to

take some time, but one day he will.

Speaking of baptisms! Maurice is getting ready to go to the temple on

January 31st to do baptisms for the dead!! I am so excited for him! He

really caught the spirit of Elijah when we talked about family history

the first time and has been looking for things ever since! He is so on

top of things, he asked us yesterday who he turns his PA background

check into so that he could receive any calling he needed to. He was

truly being prepared for the gospel. He passed the sacrament on Sunday

for the first time and it was so awesome!

Oscar is doing well! He spoke in sacrament meeting yesterday and as

part of his talk he started singing! It was so cute. He is so funny. I

cant even really describe Oscar. Hes just awesome!

In regards to new investigators we found a family to teach! Last week

we knocked on Adriana Kristmans door. She was busy at the moment but

asked us to come back this week on Wednesday, so we did! We went back

on Wednesday evening, and taught not only her but her husband Richard

and their three kids, Emma, Ricky and Issac. Adriana is from Mexico

and is one of those die hard Catholics but doesn't actually attend a

church. Richard is from Lousiana and only joined the Catholic Church

because Adriana's parents wouldn't let them get married if he wasn't a

Catholic. He told us that he has a hard time with the way the church

they go to is run because they have changed things that are spoken to

plainly in the Bible. He talked mostly about how they used wafers

instead of bread and some of the prayers that they say. We talked to

him about how the same church that Christ organized is once again on

the Earth, but the best part was when we gave him a Book of Mormon. He

was blown away by it and was just so excited to read it. He talked

about how he had never thought about the people in the Americas but

that it makes sense! He told us not long after that that his best

friends sister is a Mormon and attends the Pottstown ward with her

husband. Richard told us that he would like to come to church on a

Sunday with his friends so that they can help answer his questions. It

was so awesome.

We also got a Book of Mormon referral named Mildred. Mildred is from

Liberia and ordered a Book of Mormon because she wants to keep moving

forward spiritually. One thing was really interesting, after the

prayer she started just asking question after question. Starting with

"Do you believe in Jesus Christ?" We obviously answered yes. Her next

question was "Kay and that hes the Son of God?" We answered yes again!

Her next question was "So what's the difference?" So Sister Briggs and

I looked at each other and we couldn't figure out where to start

because there are so many differences and we aren't trained to talk

about the differences in religion but the similarities. So we went

through the list of differences Book of Mormon, eternal families, and

so on. It was an awesome lesson!

Are you ready for the craziest story now? I cant remember if I told

y'all about Victoria but we found out that she ODed on Heroine and is

currently in the hospital to start feeling better. They dont know how

or where she got the drugs so no one is allowed to go visit her but we

are religious clergy so what's up! Anyway we went to visit her and she

is cray cray. Like way cray cray. She was a little off her rocker

before just due to her drug use years ago but now its really bad. We

walked in and I didnt even recognize her. The first words she said to

us were in reference to a bowel movement she needed to make and every

two seconds when we were visiting with her she would tell us to get

her out of there or to bring her "husband" to get her out. They had

her strapped down because she kept trying to escape and all sorts of

stuff. When she gets out she is going to have to be under 24 hour care

and will still be under protective service due to the fact that

someone was helping her get the drugs, they just don't know who. It

was a crazy adventure I can tell you that much.

All in all it was a great week! Sister Briggs is training so I am

excited for that golden to have as much fun as I did in Downingtown!

I love this Gospel so much and I love and miss you all so much!

I am working on getting my new address for y'all but I might not be

able to get it until next week. Worse comes to worst just send it to

the mission office because it is in my area now so no worries there. I

will get it soon! The address is 721 Paxon hollow rd Broomall Pa 19008

I love y'all so much!

Love,

Sister Jackson

Williams Family

The Mele Family

The Seaman Family

Gangsta missionaries

Momma Jo

Sister Mitchell

The Iglehart Family

Vino & Anu

Hola Amigas y Amigos y familia! I hope your week was awesome! My week

was! First order of business. Transfer calls are this Saturday so I

might be leaving D-Town on Tuesday the 24th, but I will let you know

next Monday what the verdict of Heavenly Father is! So if you're

sending anything (letters etc) I'd hold off unless you know it'll make

it by Saturday!

We have had a interesting week this week. Full of good times and weird

people, but welcome to the life of a missionary right?

Well to start off let me tell you all about Oscar. Oscar was so fun to

take to the temple! Afterwards we went out to dinner and he informed

us that he enjoyed getting in the pool. It was so funny to watch him

to the proxies because he would literally just sit down in the water

and poor Elder Kunz (who was doing the baptisms) had to strain to get

him back up and out of the water. He also got to pass the sacrament on

Sunday and on every row he asked the people "how ya doin?" He is so

funny.

Maurice is doing so good! He got the priesthood on Sunday and its just

an amazing feeling to see the people youve worked so close with and

love so much to continue to progress in the Gospel with the ordinances

needed to help them learn and grow even more.

We met a lady named Jen this week. Jen is a former investigator that

met with missionaries about 8ish years ago. We stopped by because the

elders told us we should before they left and we were around her area.

So anyway we set up a time to come back and meet with her so we met

with her on Friday and man was it interesting. She was like 100% sure

that Joseph Smith is a false prophet. She used Deuteronomy 13:1-4 to

back up her claim. She also told us that since Jospeh Smith is a false

prophet the Book of Mormon is false and she isn't going to read a

false book of scripture. So yeah, we can kind of see why missionaries

stopped going by because she is very firm in her belief system which

is far from what we believe. We are meeting with her one more time to

just try to explain to her everything but who knows. Keep her in your

prayers and maybe the spirit will soften her heart.

Speaking of prayers. Darren. Darren is being ridiculous. His grandson

is supposed to be born on January 25th and his daughter or daughter in

law or whatever keeps having false labor so he keeps canceling. He

just texted us not too long ago informing us that until the baby is

born we should just stop meeting. So yeah.

We were able to contact a man named Peter again this week and set up a

time next week to go visit with him! He's super cool. I think I may

have told you all about him before but just in case. Peter was someone

whose door we knocked on before Christmas and so he asked us to come

back after the holidays. He also is familiar with our religion because

his dad attended BYU for his masters degree but did not convert to the

church. Peter is open to learning more but not looking to convert.

Which is exactly what Maurice said and look at where he is now!

We found this really sweet lady from Mexico the other day when we were

knocking on doors. She was incredibly nice and set up a return

appointment! Her name is Adriana and we are so excited to meet with

her and share this good news that we have!

We also met with Vino and Anu again this week. Anu is moving back to

India in February so it has even hard to get in touch with them

because they are preparing everything to get ready for her to go. It

was a great lesson on repentance! Anu said the closing prayer and she

was so cute she said "God we know we are sinners please for give us

because we are human." They also told us that they are wanting to come

to church to experience it before she leaves.

This week on January 14th was national take a missionary to lunch day,

so the Clarke family took us out to Panera bread because they are

doing a thing where every day is a holiday, so that was so fun! I love

this ward!

 I also spoke in sacrament meeting this week and it was really good! I

talked about the Book of Mormon and where y testimony came from and

how I know it is true.

I have felt like Ive always known the Book of Mormon is true. Growing

up my dad only read books of the non fiction variety and so as a

little girl seeing my dad read those books along with the Book of

Mormon I just assumed that the book was true. "If daddy only reads

true books then the Book of Mormon must be true!" As I grew up I began

to read and understand the book for myself. I remember finishing the

book so that I could pass off my personal progress in young woman's

and praying to know if it was true. It took a while for me to get my

answer. I didn't receive an answer until a friend started

investigating the church. The missionaries testified of the first

vision and the spirit confirmed to me what I had known all a long,

that the book is true, Joseph Smith is a prophet and the church of

Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the true church once again

restored to the earth. I know it and if i didnt know it I wouldn't be

on a mission.

Well everyone I love you all and I love my life. I love my mission and

I love our Savior. I know He lives and I know He loves you all.

Because he loves me.

Much love,

Sister Jackson

Sent from Downingtown ❤️

Zone Training

Philly

Hello my most precious friends and family! I know you all got on your

emails yesterday so excited to hear about my adventures as a servant

of the Lord (or a gangster for God as one of Sister Payne's

investigators put it) out here is Downingtown! Its been a good week,

one that went by so fast! In fact if you can believe it transfers are

about a week away. Its been six weeks already. Super weird.

Well first of all we had some snow finally hit! Not like y'all are

getting back home, just a fluff. I have some videos and pictures that

I will attach because I know you're just dying to see them! It has

been a little chilly but not so bad, in fact within the next week or

so it is supposed to hit the fifties again! It's just the best!

This week we had the really cool experience of teaching two people

over Facebook! We taught Maurice and a girl named Arianna over

Facebook because we couldn't find a member and the times we were free

just didn't work with them so Facebook it was and it was really cool!

We have been blessed with a great tool to use as missionaries so that

we can teach and meet with people who otherwise could not meet with

us!

Maurice is doing so well speaking of him! He's just flourishing with

the ward and in the gospel and his questions are spot on! He's so

amazing. I'm so excited for him to be able to do proxy baptisms soon

so that he can feel the sweet sweet spirit that surrounds the temple

and from going inside! He's just someone I know who was looking for

the gospel and was being prepared by the spirit for the opportunity to

hear it!

Oscar is so good! We are waiting at the arrivals center right now, for

Oscar to enter the temple and do baptisms for the dead! He's so

awesome, I just love him!

Darren is also doing good. Although he needs some prayers for sure! He

missed his date again and won't sent a new one because he can't put a

date on when he will "know enough" be baptized. He knows it's true and

he knows he needs to be baptized, he's just doing this little dance

because he's afraid.

We had a lot of finding time this week and we had most doors shut in

our faces. It's been a little rough just because we don't know who to

teach or talk to because no one wants to talk to us.

I was in Havertown yesterday and it was so fun! Sister Payne and I

were walking around visiting some of the gators and such in her area.

We tried to meet with her investigator Patty. Patty is super cool,

she's got lots of rats (I held one), and lots of questions! Her

boyfriend also decided that missionaries are just gangsters for God

because Sister Payne said "fo' real" so yes. I'm a gangster for God.

I'm just loving it here. I'm learning so much and growing so much.

Since Christmas we've been challenged to read the Book of Mormon

before Easter, and also I started reading it again at the New Year.

It's been such an eye opener. The Book of Mormon is truly the word of

God. There is too much evidence inside of it to not be the word. I

have had prayer upon prayer upon prayer answered in that Book. I have

had the Lord rebuke me. I've had tears come to my eyes from the pure

joy that came from a scripture. I know that this book is true, it's

the word of god and it was translated by a prophet. As Elder Holland

once said "No evil man could write this, and no good man would, unless

it was ordained by God." That is the truest statement.

This week I had an amazing experience. Saturday was really hard for

me. It was snowing so all of our appointments canceled on us. No one

was answering the door. Nothing. I was tired, frustrated and read to

quit. I wanted to go home and warm up. As we were driving to the next

door to knock on I just wanted to cry and as soon as the first tear

fell I was reminded of an email that my dad sent me a few weeks ago.

He talked about how on his mission he hated knocking on doors too, but

he remembered a time when his companion prayed right before they

knocked a street and they found two amazing families who are still

strong in the gospel today. I was immediately humbled, because we pray

before we get out of the car but I hadn't been prayed for the strength

to knock on the next door for myself. I said a quick prayer in my

heart to be able to have the strength to keep going and finish the day

strong. That's when my eyes cleared, the tears were gone, and I had a

new energy inside, I wanted to talk to everyone, I wanted to just

shout it from the roof top the message I have to share. I know it's

true and everyone deserves this knowledge, that's why I'm here.

Everyone deserves this chance to hear about the restored Gospel of

Jesus Christ.

I know that my Redeemer lives. I know this because I have felt His

arms around me in the hardest moments where I've felt like I just

can't go on. I've felt Him pick me up and push me forward. I've felt

Him brush the tears off my face. I've felt His presence every single

day. He lives. He cares. He's there. I know it.

I love you all so much. I hope you remember how much I love you, cuz

it's a whole lot.

I miss yous guys too.

Love,

Sister Josie Jackson

Sent from Downingtown ❤️

Oscar's first temple trip

Philadelphia Temple

Josie, Darren, Sister Nutting

Aloha family and friends! Can you believe I haven't emailed you since

last year?! Hello from rainy, 40 degree Pennsylvania! I have heard its

gotten rather cold back West. I keep praying our winter stays like

this. It's January and it snowed once and then melted right away! Best

winter ever. Well I am about five months into the mission now. In fact

if we really wanna freak Sister Jackson out, this time next year I

will only have six weeks left on the mission, but we dont talk about

that. Haha, anywho, I trust you all had an enjoyable Christmas and a

great New Year! 2017 is going to be the best I can feel it in my

bones! This year make a goal to not procrastinate the things that

matter most, and stop waiting for tomorrow. Do it today! I know you

all can!

This week has been really good! Its been rather warm but rainy. Which

put a damper on the work but its still pushing forward! Its so weird

to have church at one now instead of nine which is hard because we

cant knock on doors after dark out here because literally east coast

people go to bed at like 7:30, so when the sun goes down at five and

you get out of the church building at 4:30 you only have so much time

to knock on doors. So yeah. We did have a chance to share the light

the world video once with a girl named Lindsey. She was really nice

and sweet! She wasn't very interested in learning more but we did

leave her with a mormon.org card and our phone number!

We got to teach Maurice twice this week and hes doing so great! He had

a few questions around the plan of salvation so we went over the plan.

He was able to put it all together by himself and had really explained

it all  by himself! He's just doing awesome! I can't wait for him to

get to the temple in a few weeks!

We did have some really cool experiences finding, even if I have a

hard time knocking on doors I know that it is one of the most

effective ways to find those who are looking for the gospel! Anywho,

we were walking the streets of the wonderful, glorious, blissful,

divine, magical dreamland of Coatesville, every bodies worst night, I

mean best dream ;) haha its not too bad, its just a tad sketchy at

night and during the day, but we had had a lesson cancel on us so we

decided to try and knock a few doors and we were walking down the

street when we saw a man named Vinny. Vinny was just finishing up the

last drag of his cigarette when we walked by and asked if we could

share a short two minute video about Jesus Christ and he said sure, so

we shared Light the World and asked if we could come back and share a

little more with him on Friday. He said yes! We went back on Friday

and taught him the restoration, outside on his porch, it was so cold,

but we did it! He really liked what we taught and we asked him to say

the closing prayer, he was a like hesitant at first but then he said

it, it was so cool! He thanked Heavenly Father for sending us to him

while he was having a hard time!

Oscar got confirmed on Sunday, I dont know what it is about

confirmations but they turn me into a baby! I cried the whole way

through Maurice's and then through Oscars! Its just so powerful to

listen to them be confirmed a member, and to know that they have taken

their first step back to their Heavenly Father! It is just so

incredibly cool. The most rewarding feeling ever just fills your heart

when you hear the first few words of the blessing. Oscar is headed to

the temple next week! He has been working on his family history so

that he can take his brothers names to the temple so that they can

take the same step that he has for their progression! It is so

awesome!

Sadly we haven't been able to meet with Darren since before Christmas.

He has been out of town and then keeps canceling lesson last minute.

He always reschedules them though so I take that as a good sign! He is

probably not going to be baptized on Sunday. He is going to cause me

grey hairs if we keep this dance around the font up!

We met with Victoria this week and she is doing awesome. She isn't

ready to come to church yet but she is still working towards it! She

is so sweet, she's very sassy sometimes and it kind of throws you off.

We met with another less active this week and I will spare her name

because of the story I am about to tell you. So we were visiting this

lady and we were talking about overcoming trials and she excused

herself to go use the bathroom. All was fine and dandy until she didnt

shut the bathroom door, now mind you this woman is in her 30s and has

lived in the United States for like twenty plus years, yet still pees

with the door open when the missionaries come over. It was so awkward.

We had a good time with members at dinners this week. The members out

here are the best. They are hoping to get Maurice into their homes so

that they can get to know him more and help him feel more comfortable

in the church!

One thing that was so cool for me to learn this week was that with

Christ we are never alone, never homeless. I thought over the holidays

I would feel homesick, or homeless if you will, but in His love there

is a home. Christ never let me feel homeless and it has been just so

awesome. In my loneliest moments I remember that I am not alone. It is

just so awesome to be a missionary. I love every single second, even

the hard ones, because I know I am doing what i need too.

I want to invite each and everyone of you to read the Book of Mormon

with in the year. I will be doing this along with you! I know that as

you strive to read the BOM within the year that you will grow closer

to Christ and learn more about Him as well as find answers for

yourself!!!!!

I love you all, I miss you all, I love my mission and I love our Savior.

Love,

Your literal fav missionary,

Sister Josie Jackson

Sent from Downingtown ❤️

She still loves us!

Hello friends and family! I hope that your Christmas has been

enjoyable and that you have had a good time around loved ones!

My Christmas was awesome! I loved talking to family and seeing their

faces in case you were wondering! We have had a good time teaching and

finding people! We found three new investigators and had a great time

teaching with everyone!

We had a lot of finding time on our hands, it was very well rounded

when it came to finding! We found one through member referrals, bible

referrals, and tracting! We first met a lady named Martha! Martha is a

lady who we tracted into in Coatesville, we were knocking on doors and

we had only a few minutes before sundown and we had zero success doing

anything while knocking. Martha was the last door we knocked in this

neighborhood and she opened the door and we talked about how we are

here to share a video about Christ and Christmas. She told us that

right now wasn't a good time but that she wanted us to come back, so

obviously we went back a few day later to share the video and she let

us right in to share and set up a return appointment with her and she

was so excited to have us come back. She had been looking for a church

in the area because she got to stressed out going to her normal

church.

We had a bible referral as well, her name is Nukeyshia! She was so

cool! We took in her Bible as well as a Book of Mormon. We spent

sometime getting to know her (she owns a bar but doesn't drink) and

she grew up baptist but doesn't like any of the churches out here so

she has been looking for a new church to go to and is super interested

in learning more about what we have to say and teach!

Our last new gator was Javier. Javier was a referral from a member. We

go over to a members house every Tuesday for family home evening.

Javier, a member, brought Javier to the said FHE. Javier really liked

what we had to say and came to church the next Sunday he also came to

the net fhe and told us that he wants to ask his mom for permission to

be baptized into our church which was super cool! So we taught him on

Friday for the first time and he had a lot of interesting questions

about the Godhead and all that so it was really interesting. He super

cool though!

We also visited with a lot of less actives this week and met a few who

I had never ever met before!  One of them was a lady named sister

Taggart and we just happened to knock on her door when we were in the

area and she let us right in the share the video and talk with her

about life! She was so sweet and has such a strong testimony of Christ

and the gospel.

We also met with Denise Ritter again. She is doing really well still

and is just as strong in the gospel as ever! She's so sweet!

We also had Christmas conference this week and it was so awesome! We

watched Its a Wonderful Life and it was super cute and fun! Believe it

or not I also sang there! It was super scary but super awesome a the

same time! Looks like I am finally learning to overcome my fears! WE

talked about a lot of really awesome stuff and a lot about Christ

because of Christmas as you can assume :) It was just a good time!

Christmas Eve was super awesome! We spent some time Mitchell's making

tamales which was way so fun! Plus they taste really good! We then

went to the Mele's for some snacks and Christmas traditions. The last

stop was dinner at the Whitaker house and we had a really good time

there!

Then Christmas was so fun! Talking with the family was so much fun! We

also spent the day with the Seamans and the Hemmingers. Who are both

so awesome!

Today we went and got pedicures with some members (Sister Gregory and

her sister) and it was super awesome! It felt so good to just relax,

ahhhhh

I love you all! I miss you all!

I hope you have a great week and I will talk to you next year!!

Love,

Sister Jackson

Sent from Asia Nails & Spa ❤️

Josie D and bb8

Josie and Sister Briggs - tamale time

Howdy y'all! How has your week been? This week has been bomb to say

the least! We have hit the streets hard and have seen the fruits!

We had some bomb lessons this week and a GREAT baptism to welcome

Sister Briggs into the area! Speaking of Sister Briggs, she's so

sweet! She's from Rigby Idaho and has been out for a year now, she's

awesome! Teaching me lots!

We taught Oscar this week leading up to his baptism! He is just so

awesome and fun! He was so excited to get baptized on Sunday, it was

rather funny actually because he wouldn't bend his knees to be dunked.

So Nils and Brayden Williams just had to lay Oscar down in the font,

literal death and rebirth symbology there. It was so funny when he

came out of the water the first time and realized he had to do it

again. The funniest part was I was standing next to Maurice whose

looking into the font and goes "On the other side of the world now."

Speaking of Maurice!!!! He got confirmed a member yesterday! My tears

were real and he received the Holy Ghost, the spirit just testified of

the truth has brother Williams gave him the greatest gift from

Heavenly Father! He came and joined Darren and I on our bench and I

asked how he felt and his response, "I feel so good. I could really

feel something coming upon me. I could feel the Holy Ghost." It was so

powerful. Bringing souls to Christ is amazing.

We met with Victoria again this week. She's so cute. She asked me if I

was leaving soon and I told her I'd be here until Jan 24th at least,

she then said "you're never leaving if I have anything to say about

it." Pointed at the ceiling and scowled. "I'll talk to Him if He takes

you away from me." I sure love her! She's just awesome, and is really

working towards her goal of the first of the year for church!

We met with Darren this week and guess whose getting dunked on January

8th?! Thats right the main homie, Darren! He's so awesome! He prayed

about the thing he was struggling with and knew his answer so decided

to cancel plans to allow him to feel the spirit! He's so awesome! We

didn't have a chance to talk to him after Oscars baptism but Brother

Mitchell did! We had dinner with the last nigh and he told us when he

talked to Darren that Darren said he'd felt really good, and he was

excited for his baptism. So we are getting there! Thank you for the

prayers you've said on his behalf and please keep praying for him!

We met with Vino & Anu this week. They've been reading from the BOM

and are looking to come to church to get to know people. They still

don't have an interest in being baptized but we know that the more

they read and pray the more they will learn and the more they will

feel the spirit.

Now let me tell you bout my miracle this week. My miracle came in a

lady whose name is Rose. We'd been having a rough few days knockin on

doors and trying to find people. We had been kicked out of complexes,

yelled at for soliciting, and had some doors straight up slammed in

our face. We were headed to a dinner appointment and decided to stop

by a former investigator. He wasn't home and so sister Briggs thought

we should knock on his neighbors door, so we did and We found Rose.

Rose is a lady who moved from New York about a year ago to be close to

family & for her husbands job. We shared the light the world video and

then spent the next 20-30 minutes talking with her about life in New

York and life here! She then told us that her mother in law would be

very interested in learning more! She set up a return appointment

right then and was excited to learn more! She accepted a Book of

Mormon and said she'd read it! She was so cool. Were pumped to get her

and her family dunked as we work with them!

We also went knocking the other day and found two people who want us

to come back! It won't be until after the first of the year but they

want us to come back and to learn more about Christ!

With less actives this week we also met with the Bangura family and

shared a message about the plan of salvation! Sister Bangura is

working on finding a new job because she knows church is important and

that she needs to come back! I love her so much!

We also met with the Taniguchi family for the first time! Her husband

is Hawaiian and so that's why she has a sick last name! She opened the

door and let us right in! We spend about an hour getting to know her

more and letting her get to know us! We shared the light the world

video and then we shared a few scrips about how Christ is the light of

the world! They were awesome! It's so awesome to see all the walks of

life we meet out here. Philly is the best mission in the world, it's

like serving all over the world.

As costmary we did spend time at the Seamans this week. Both for

dinner and then for their Christmas party which was so fun! I love

that family, it's like coming home every time I walk in the door.

Also still no snow here! It snowed a few days ago, just a light

dusting, and then it rained so it turned to ice and then it got warm

so it went away. Best winter ever.

This week we had the opportunity to sit down with Elder Kunz and just

talk to him while Oscar was being interviewed. At first it was a

little intimidating but we warmed up fast! Our conversation was so

spirit filled as we talked about when he was a mission president

before becoming the area seventy. He shared a lot of really spiritual

things that he learned as a president and how much he loves

missionaries because of his time as a president. He's so awesome!

I came across a really good scripture this week as I studied our

Saviors life. It's John 1:10-12

10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world

knew him not.

11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the

sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

The part that really stood out to me was "but as many as received him,

to them gave he power to BECOME." Wow. The power to become. What a

concept. As we believe in Christ, He gives us power to become, but to

become what? In the scripture it says the Sons (and daughters) of God,

but I think that He gives us the power to become a lot more than that.

He gives us the power to become wonderful followers of Christ. To

become wonderful moms, dads, husbands, wives, friends siblings. To

become a light in an even darkening world. To become better every day.

For me He gave me the power to become a missionary. The power to

become the person I am today. The power to become a teacher, a leader,

and a student at the same time. The power to become greater than my

trials, greater than my doubts, greater than Satans grasp can contain.

Christ gives us the power to become. As you've received Christ, what

has He given you the power to become?

I also was studying a conference talk today and came across this poem:

Although in agony he hung,

No murm’ring word escaped his tongue.

His high commission to fulfill, …

He magnified his Father’s will.

He dies a sacrifice for sin, …

That man may live and glory win. -Eliza Snow

Let's read those last two lines again "He dies a sacrifice of sin,

that man may live and glory win." Wow. Man may live, glory win. He

died for us, so we could live. He died so that Gods glory would win.

He died to let us become.

With a heart full of gratitude for our Savior, I wish you all the

merriest of Christmas's. Don't forget to keep Christ in your Christmas

this year.

As president Monson once said

"The true spirit of Christmas happens when we drop the last syllable.

It become ps the spirit of Christ."

I love you all & I love our Savior!

Merry Christmas!

Sister Jackson

Sent from Downingtown ❤️

Sister Briggs, Oscar, Josie

Sister Nutting's last day

Sister Briggs and Josie

Hello my peeps!

I hope your week was incredible! It's been quite the week out here in

glorious Downingtown! I'm loving it though! Since Sister Nutting packs

up and leaves me tomorrow everyone and their squirrel (there are

literally so many squirrels here) wanted to see us. It was insane. We

had so many double dinners and a packed schedule. Oh so crazy.

We were able to teach a lot of lessons this week which was awesome! We

met with a less active, Sister Loveland, who was so cool! She's had a

lot of trials as of late but she keeps turning outward in efforts to

help other people overcome problems and getting them clothing that

they need to stay warm sometimes! She's so awesome! We saw the

Hemmingers again twice! We had dinner with them Wednesday and then saw

them on Sunday because they had Christmas presents to give to Sister

Nutting and I! They are the cutest people! We also met with Bonnie

again, she is doing better with everything and still has a goal to get

to church once the time changes in January! Her health issues are the

only thing keeping her from coming back which is really sad but her

doctors are working with her to get her a motorized wheelchair that

she can take places since she can't walk very well. She's an amazing

woman with a very cool background! We had dinner with the Banguras

this week and man, African food, it's a little weird. I tried Okra for

the first time, it was slimy and gross, not something I'll try again.

They are so fun though! I love them! They all got dressed up for

dinner so that we could all have our nice clothes on! We also met with

the Bradshaws, sister Bradshaw is active but brother Bradshaw is not.

Brother Bradshaw is from Hurricane Utah so we have some great

conversations about Utah, he's super cool and so sweet! Plus they are

way good cooks so you really can't go wrong with that! They are just

cute and Brother Bradshaw loves missionaries so much, he was so sad to

see Sister Nutting go!

In regards to our investigators we saw Susie this week! Quick recap,

the elders were teaching her before they were taken out and she was

interested. We met with her a few times and we were about to invite

her to be baptized when she told us that she doesn't want to become a

Mormon. So we dropped her, well this week we heard she broke her hip

so we went by the hospital so just let her know that she was in out

thoughts and we were able to share the Light the World video with her

and just see how she's doing! She was excited to see us but isn't

interested in having us back but it was still really cool to go see

her! We also saw Oscar, he gets baptized next week! He's so excited to

finally join the church and take this step in progression! He's so

awesome!

So I know you're all dying. Darren & Maurice. So sadly Darren did not

get baptized this week, he has had a hard time with a commandment that

could easily be fixed if he would just listen to the answer we know

he's gotten but he's being stubborn. Keep praying for him because he's

going to be baptized by the time I leave Downingtown. He's still cool

though! We also were not able to meet with him more than once this

week. Our one lesson with him we covered the interview questions and

what baptism really is. It was all great and he was ready to be

baptized until we got to a question of the interview that messed up

some plans that he already has in motion. So yeah, everything's a

little off track with him right now.

Now to the good part, Maurice! He was baptized on Sunday by Brother

Williams and will be confirmed a member of the church on Sunday! it

was the most amazing experience to be a part of! It was something I

will never forget. The spirit that was around in the meeting was

incredible. It was a long road to get here but it's the sweetest fruit

ever! The ward is just so supportive of him and so happy to have him

in the ward! He just knows his stuff and one of the coolest things was

Sister Seaman invited him over for lunch with us on Sunday! She was

able to invite a YSA and Neil was an answer to our prayers for

Maurice! They hit it off right away and we are hoping that Neil really

gets Maurice involved with the YSA so that Maurice can find friends

his own age who are living the gospel and can be that example to him!

He's so cool. I can't describe the feelings that cam yesterday,

knowing I have been apart of this story and have helped Maurice find

his way to Christ, It's been incredible. The things I have learned

about our Heavenly Father and His love for His children could have

never been found in any other way. It's just amazing.

So in regards to transfers, I will be staying in Downingtown as sister

nutting heads out to California! That's right folks, she's leaving me.

How rude! She's ready to go home though, you can tell she's tired when

you look at her. She's an amazing missionary and will do great things!

My new companion is Sister Briggs, she's from Idaho somewhere, I

haven't actually met her yet! I'll meet her tomorrow and we will head

into Downingtown to get to work!

I spent Friday in a little town called Havertown with Sister Payne and

Sister Taylor while our companions were at the temple for their last

time! It's so crazy to know that this really is it! We met the cutest

couple that elders had tracted into a long, long time ago! We were

walking past their house to another house and they had just pulled

into their drive way so they called out "Are you sisters?" We answered

with a yes and they were so excited that they let us right in and we

were able to get to know Joe and Christine very well as we shared the

video with them and encouraged them to serve those around them and to

share Christs light!

 Oh hahaha back to Maurice's baptism, I was able to do a musical

number for it and to share with him my testimony through song. It was

cool to see how fast the spirit was brought in to truly show Maurice

the way. It's incredible.

I was reading in Alma this week about the 2,000 warriors. If you don't

know the story Alma 56-59 in the Book of Mormon is where to find it!

Anyway, in chapter 56 there is a verse (47) that talks about why the

warriors were not afraid. It says in it that they had been taught by

their mothers that if they did not doubt God would deliver them. Which

made me think of the scripture in Mormon 9 that says "doubt not but be

believing." Which then led me to President Utchdorf, "Doubt your

doubts before you doubt your faith" This scripture has become a

foundation for my mission, because it reminds me that I do know that

God will deliver me as I do my best and doubt not. I know the things

I've been blessed with so far on this journey have come because I am

believing. I know with God all things are possible, and without Him we

are nothing. My friends, my family, please doubt you doubts, not your

faith. Do not doubt God, He will provide.

Do your best and the Lord provides the rest.

A few weeks ago sister Nutting and I were talking about scripture

reading. Well that night I was praying and I had the best analogy for

scripture reading pop into my head. "Reading the scripture because

someone tells you too is like takin the bus tour in Philly. While it's

great you only see the big things but miss the hidden gems. Reading

the scriptures because you want too is like walking the streets of

Philly for hours, you see the big things, but you also find hidden

gems in places you never though of before." If any of you are

struggling I invite you to read the scriptures, wether it's the Book

of Mormon or the Bible, you will find comfort and an answer. Because

if we want to talk to God we pray, but if we want God to talk to us we

read the scriptures.

Love you all! Miss you all! Merry Christmas!

Remember he's the reason

Love,

Sister Jackson

Sent from Downingtown ❤️

Josie, Maurice, Sister Nutting

Maurice, Brother Williams