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!