Gosh Bon Jovi is still so relevant even on a mission! Well, hello all

you great and lovely people! I hope you're all enjoying your last day

for the three day weekend and have a great Memorial Day! I am so

thankful for those who have fought for this country and the freedoms

which we enjoy. Without their sacrifice we wouldn't have all the

freedoms we have today, including our religious freedom, which I am so

thankful for.

It has been a great week out here in PA! As it always is! We are

really picking up out here! We were finally able to meet with our

investigator, Dave and it was really good! His wife just recently

passed away so we were able to talk about the Plan of Salvation and

how we know he will see his wife again. We also talked a lot about

baptism and Dave expressed that he knows he needs to be baptized by

immersion to enter into the celestial kingdom (which is the one he

wants to be in) so he told us he would pray about it and let us know!

It was so cool because the Spirit was so strong in the room as we

testified of the Plan. The coolest part though is in my personal

studies that day I was prompted to study the plan again and to find

scriptures in the Bible that talk about the Spirit world & the three

kingdoms. Which came in handy with Dave because as we talked he asked

where it said those things in the Bible. Man, the spirit is so cool. I

was able to share with him the scriptures I had found just that day

and the spirit just testified of the truth as we spoke. It was

incredible!

We also were able to see Sister Monroe at church yesterday! She just

has surgery so she hasn't been able to meet but there was a baptism

today for a child of record who came out to visit, since they moved to

Utah a few years ago. She and the whole Monroe family came and it was

so good to see them! We were able to set up an appointment so that we

can come and talk about baptism!

We did some service this week for Sister Dean and it was so awesome!

We helped her with things around the house and just the little chores

and one of her TSSA's were there and just kept asking us questions

about what we do as missionaries. The best part was that right before

she left she was like "Mormons rock! I'm gonna make a shirt that says

that and wear it around!" It was super awesome! We are hoping to see

her again!

We also did service for the Lower Macungie Township Historical

Society. We just helped move a bunch of boxes and it was so hot. We

were so sweaty afterwards is was ridiculous, it also didn't help that

it was humid. Oh good times.

This week we had to say goodbye to sister Abbott, she flies home on

Wednesday. We also had transfer calls on Sunday and Sister Kuta will

be leaving me tomorrow! I will be staying up here in Kutztown and be

companions with Sister Bush. I'm excited to keep working up here and

pushing the work forward!

Oh my dear friends and family. It has been an unbelievable nine months

out here serving Christ. It has been amazing, life changing, and

remarkable. I have been blessed beyond belief out here. My feelings

thus far can be so well explained in the 26th chapter of Alma verse 16

"Therefore, let us glory, yea, we will glory in the Lord; yea, we will

rejoice, for our joy is full; yea, we will praise our God forever.

Behold, who can glory too much in the Lord? Yea, who can say too much

of his great power, and of his mercy, and of his long suffering

towards the children of men? Behold, I say unto you, I cannot say the

smallest part which I feel."

I love this verse for so many reasons. Because really the Lord is so

merciful, so powerful and so forgiving. I'll be the first in a long

line of people to tell you that I am the farthest thing from perfect,

that I am so undeserving of the blessings I have been blessed with in

these last nine months. But I'll also be the first to testify that the

Lord is merciful and from his mercy we are blessed. The Lord is

powerful and from his power we are given power. The Lord is forgiving

and from his forgiveness we are able to progress and return to him.

Just as Ammon, I can't say the smallest part which I feel for my

experiences here, or the smallest part of how much the Lord has

blessed me, or how much I love him. I have quite literally been living

on a prayer out here, because I couldn't do this without the Lord.

Friends and family. I am forever changed because of Christ. I am

forever changed because I let him in. I am forever changed because he

loves me enough to chasten, try and challenge me. I am forever changed

because of His love, His mercy, His power and His forgiveness. I know

that it can change you too. Don't be afraid because I am a living

testament that it is worth it to let Christ change you. I am a better

version of myself because of Him.

I know He lives. I know He love you and He loves me. I know the church

is true. So, what else matters?

I love you all.

Much love,

Sister Jackson

 

The District

Gandalf the White aka Josie

Josie and Sister Kuta

Hello everyone! I hope each of you had a good week full of love and

laugher! My week was good, crazy but good! It's been an adventure a

minute and I love every second of it!

We have done a lot of finding this week. We spent a long while just

tracting and while doing so we met a lady named Ann. Ann wasn't

interested in hearing about the gospel but she was interested that we

offer service. So, to preface this story it has been hot and humid and

ridiculous out here for the last week and Sister Abbott was the one to

knock on the door so she was in the shade. Anyway, Ann starts talked

about how impressed she is with us and how she appreciates that we

would do something like we do in a world like today's. She kept

talking and talking and Sister Kuta and I are baking in the sun, like

sweat rolling down our faces hot. Anyway, she finally glances up at us

and sees that we are sweating, looks at the sky and says "Oh I better

let you girls go, it looks like it's about to rain" there was not a

cloud in the sky. The good news is is that we will hopefully be able

to go do service with her soon!

We also met a guy named Hans. We were walking to our dinner

appointment and he was out on his porch so we waved and said hello and

continued on our way. So fast forward to after our dinner and he's

still out on his porch as we are walking back. He waves and says hello

again and tells us we look very professional. He has us come up on his

porch and we have a great conversation about religion and about how he

isn't happy with his current church. So we left him with our number

and a promise to come back!

We haven't heard much from our investigators but we did manage to set

up a time to go and see Dave! We haven't been able to actually sit

down and teach him since his wife passed away so it was really good to

set up a time to actually do that! Sister Monroe also had surgery this

week so we haven't been able to see her for a while, but she still

wants to be baptized and that's what's important!

We also went to see a less active named Brenda this week and she is

hilarious! She's home bound so she can't come to church but she knows

that it's all true! She's got two cats and a dog and they are so fun!

She's also got an insane amount of books, like bookshelves overflowing

and a table covered in books. #goals. She's just awesome!

We saw Sister Defrees this week! She is in a home because she's 101

and she's awesome! She just loves life and loves God. She loves

puzzles and playing a game called kings in the corner and is always so

excited to see us when we come to visit! She's just so cute!

So this week we also had Topton days! So we were able to get a booth

and preach the word! We had Book of Mormons, bibles, pass along cards,

all that jazz! We only got about 3-4 people come over and talk with

us. Everyone else was friendly but would keep walking on by. We had

one lady who we said hello to and she said no. And another lady who

just shook her head as she walked away. It was rather funny. I love

Pennsylvania Dutch people and their stubborn ways! We also saw a lot

of Amish people during the festival riding around on their bikes and

just being cute like the Amish are!

We also went to see the Skidmores again and they are doing great!

Brother Skidmore is headed back to work this week and he is so

excited! I just love this family so much! Last night we taught the Law

of Chasity to Alex (she's nine) and Brother Skidmore just boiled it

all down to "no kissy faces" and Alex just stuck her tongue out and

gagged. It was hilarious. We quickly told her to stay that way because

boys are icky. It was just so funny. I love them so much!

Oh man, it's been a great week. It's been crazy, it's been fun. I love

it. Also, transfers is this week! So next week will tell all! I can't

believe it's been six weeks here in Kutztown.

This week I've had some really interesting studies. I was reading in

Moses 7 and I love the story of Enoch. I love that he describes

himself as a little lad and slow of speech in Moses 6 but then in

Moses 7 he is described as powerful. He can move mountains, make

rovers change their course, and all nations fear him. So, what

changed? Well, it's simple, Enoch walked AND talked with God. In order

to become powerful, to overcome the world, to free ourselves from

Satans grasp we much walk the walk and talk the talk. We can't be

fence sitters, we can't sit back and rely on others testimonies to get

us into the celestial kingdom. We must stand for what's right, stand

by our covenants, and never give up on our God. Because His plan is

great and He is mighty. I know that this is true, that when we walk

AND talk with God, He gives us power to overcome all things, and to

keep a strong hold on our covenants. I have seen what walking and

talking with God can do to change a persons heart, mind and who they

are. I know this because it has happened to me, I am not Enoch, but I

am a better version of myself, all because of the power of a Father

who loves me enough to try me, to chasten me, and to change me. All

because He knows who I can become and He wants me back with Him one

day. Just as He wants each and every single one of you back with Him,

so let Him change you. Yes, it's scary. Yes, it's a trial. Yes, it's

worth it. Let's do this together, shall we? I know it works. I promise

you it will work for you.

I love you all. I love His work. I love putting on a rage each day the

bears the name of our Savior, Redeemer, Advocate, and Friend. I know

that Jesus is the Christ. That He loves us enough to die for all of

us. That He lives.

Have a great week!

Much love,

Sister Jackson

Sent from Kutztown, PA 🐻

 

Topton Days

Sister Abbott's farewell photo

Sister Abbott, Erica (ysa), Josie, Sister Kuta

Hello everyone! I hope you all had a fantastic Mother's Day and that

you had a great week! PA has been beautiful! Lots of rain, but lots of

vibrant colors too!

This was a great week! We were able to teach Chris again and it was

really awesome! His mom actually got antied so she didn't want him to

talk to us, but we were able to answer her questions and she got over

being antied. So this week we went on a hike with them and with two of

the YSA kids, Matt & Karina! It was so good, we were able to talk

about priesthood blessings and testify of their power. Well, we asked

Chris if he would like a blessing, and he said yes. Low and behold,

Matt was going through the temple so he just receive the Melchizedek

priesthood. So he gave Chris a blessing right then and there! The

spirit was so strong, it was such a powerful experience!

This week we also did a lot of service! We were able to paint some

wagon wheels for the historical society, and help Sister Rodriquez in

her candy shop! Service really is just fun, and I never realized how

rewarding or fun it really is!

We were able to do a lot of finding this week, and were able to find

people who wanted us to come back this week so we are pretty excited!

The highlight of this week was going to the temple. I love the temple

so much it is not even funny! This time around was a really cool

experience. There were 3 people there taking out their endowments, 2

YSA and one lady who is in the ward. It was so cool, and the spirit

was just as strong as ever! We drove down with Sister Molano and her

daughter Erica and it was crazy fun! Sister Molano drops gospel

knowledge and it was so mind blowing! It was awesome!

We had dinner with the Molano's again and I seriously love them! They

know how to eat! Plus they are just a great family who love each other

and love those around them. It was incredible to spend Mother's Day

with them!

We had Zone Conference this week and it really was a spirit filled

Conference. We talk a lot about repentance and how we teach people

about repentance. Peeps, there is nothing more real than repentance.

Nothing. Repentance is real and it works. Is there something holding

you back right now? If there is I invite you to repent, because it is

nothing but joy.

Well! I love you all! I love this work and I know our Savior is at the

head of it! Keep up the good work!

Much love,

Sister Jackson

 

Josie and Hunter