Sister Josie Jackson: “If this is a state of emergency, Utah would always be in a state of emergency!”

Aloha from the warm, sunshiny state of New Jersey!

Hahahahahahaha I wish that was true! The more accurate statement this week would be “Hi, welcome to Jersey, the place where you can’t feel your toes.” It has been so cold here this week! I don’t think it has reached above freezing at all, and with wind and humidity it has been like a freezer out here! I’m not sure how people actually live in this state.

This week was good! We saw some awesome miracles come to pass! We met with a referral we received who is from Jamaica. She is so amazing! When we talked about prophets she brought up that she believes there are living prophets today. She also set up the time for us to come back, she didn’t even wait for us to ask! I know people are being prepared to receive the gospel!

Last week we met a lady named Venita, she was a miracle after a long day of tracting! On Sunday she messaged us and asked if we could come over. She’d had a stressful week and needed to feel Christ’s love, so away we went! It was an awesome meeting with her, she really just needed to be reminded of who she really is. I think we all need that every once in a while. We sometimes forget the spiritual side of our DNA because our lives are so temporal, but there is such great peace found in remembering that you are a child of great worth and that you have a Father who loves you and knows you perfectly.

We also met a rather interesting man this week. We knock on his moms door and she let us in to show her a video. While we were showing her the video her son (who was like 30) came in and was smoking, a little too fond of cuss words and tried to flirt with us. So we started asking questions about the Savior, and he goes “Now, the real question is, what would your dad say if you brought someone like me home?” We were like, ummmmmmmmmm and so he walked away. It was kind of super creepy. His mom was so nice though! She told us we are welcome to come back when we are in the area.

On Thursday we were grounded. It was okay thought because my cute companion had a raging headache so we stayed inside anyway! It was funny though, New Jersey declared a state of emergency and with both of us being from Cache Valley we were so confused. If Utah said declared a state of emergency like Jersey did we’d always be in a state of emergency! It was pretty funny actually.

That pretty much sums up our week! I’ve been thinking a lot about eternal families this week. We have some investigators who are losing loved ones due to death and divorce and it has made me so thankful for the sealing power. It truly brings so much peace to your heart and mind to know that you are with your loved ones forever. I couldn’t imagine living in a world where I didn’t have the knowledge that I will see my family and those I love after this life is over.

I am thankful for President Monson, he recognized that blessing and knew that we needed temples in order to complete that blessing. I’m thankful for the temple he announced that was built right here in Philadelphia, allowing so many people to be sealed for time and eternity to their loved ones. There are so many blessings held within the walls of the temple, on of them being that sealing power.

I love you all! I leave you with my witness that, I know the gospel is true. “If this is boasting even so I will boast for this is my light and my life, my joy and my salvation and my redemption from everlasting woe.”

Always,

Sister Jackson