Sister Josie Jackson: Here I go again!

Merry Christmas all y’all! I hope you have a wonderful day with family and friends and that you feel the light and the love of Jesus Christ in your life today! Christmas as a missionary is one of the best ways to spend Christmas. There is nothing sweeter than serving the Savior during those holidays that we celebrate him.

Well, as some of you know, I was asked to train a new missionary, or a golden! Sister Roberts has now joined me in Woodstown as a brand new set of eyes and a brand new missionary! She is so awesome! She’s from Dayton, ID and has a love for the gospel that is amazing! She’s got great desires to do the work of the Lord! I got her on Wednesday after a few meetings and spending some time in good ole Valley Forge! It’s a little weird to go back and see places I haven’t seen in so long!

Thursday was pretty normal, we went to the Storehouse, did weekly Planning, all that jazz. We also had some pretty awesome stuff happen! WE GOT OUR CAR BACK!!!! Finally, it took it long enough to get it! Our dearest Mahonri is now back in tip top shape and get us where we need to go! It’s so awesome! We also got to teach the Ayala family, and they were so great! We talked about the Book of Mormon and how it’s just a story of a family who wants to get closer to God. Beatris (the mom) said “That’s exactly what I want for my family!” I know that the Book of Mormon will help us grow closer to God.

Friday we had our Christmas conference. It was so good! I got to see Sister Bush and Sister Taylor again! It was so fun to see their happy smiling faces! We had a wonderful conference all about the miracles in the year and the conversion stories of this year. We talked a lot about remembering, and what we want to remember from this last year. I thought over my last year, my only year of being a full-time missionary, and thought about the laughs, tears, joy and sadness I had felt. I thought about Agnes and James. I thought about Sister Shin, Sister Abbott, Sister Kuta, Sister Bush, and Sister Taylor. I thought about the many members who had become like family. 2017 was a year for the books. A year I never want to forget, I learned so much.

Saturday was so good! Maggie was baptized! It was such a wonderful service, but it was also super crazy. We forgot to bring a towel, the water was green, and she had to go under twice, which she did NOT want to do. She was a good sport though it all though, and after she was baptized we asked her how she felt and she said “I got chills, I’m not gonna lie.” Maggie is one of the realist people I’ve ever met, her love for the gospel is contagious, and I’m so excited to see where her service in the church takes her. Sunday she was confirmed, the Spirit was UNBELIEVABLE. It was so strong, and it brought tears to my eyes to think about how far Maggie has come, it also made me reflect on all the other confirmations I was able to see come to pass. My heart continues to swell with joy and happiness as I look over my mission and see the blessings of the Lord around me.

Yesterday we spent the day taking Christmas cookies to our investigators and wishing them a Merry Christmas! It was so fun! We got to do some service for our investigator, Mariah, and that was just the perfect way to start Christmas! We then headed over to the Whitcombs where we had dinner and acted out the nativity. It was so fun, and I could feel the Saviors love.

Well, Christmas is a special time of year, and a time of year I hope we all strive to keep with us. President Monson once said “To have the spirit of Christmas you need only drop the last syllable. It is the Spirit of Christ.” May we all have that spirit with us through the year. Think of how much better the world would be if we all kept that spirit with us, but before the flood comes a trickle, and that trickle starts with you and me.

Alma 7:10-13

“And behold, he shall be born of Mary, at Jerusalem which is the land of our forefathers, she being a virgin, a precious and chosen vessel, who shall be overshadowed and conceive by the power of the Holy Ghost, and bring forth a son, yea, even the Son of God.

And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.

And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.

Now the Spirit knoweth all things; nevertheless the Son of God suffereth according to the flesh that he might take upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance; and now behold, this is the testimony which is in me.”

Always,

Sister Jackson

Sent from Woodstown, NJ 🌳