Week 49 "Cergy!"

HEEEEEEEYY!  I'm here!  Paris!  This place is beautiful, crowded, and full of life.  Apart from St. Quentin where you could walk those streets for days and not find a lot of people, there are people coming out the gutters here.  There are so many people to talk to.  Which makes missionary work amazing.  I'm still on a high from getting here almost a week ago.

  

Saying Goodbye to Pascal, Tierry and Elder Bigelow

My head is exploding with all those paintings.   I love the sculptures! 

Before I start I have to send a shoutout to Ginny and the guy oh Joe!  That's his name.  I have to wish you two the best of luck with everything.  Jamais deux sans trois as the french say....well also congrats to Willy, Sam, and Abby who all graduated!  School is out!  What a great feeling.  Now you get the bright big future coming your way.  Way to go you all!

At the Louvre seeing the famous "Mona Lisa" painting 

    Alright I will make this short.  Cergy is such a wonderful place.  Lots of people to talk to.  My companion and I have so many opportunities to help people or share the gospel.  We went finding the first day I was here and we had a wonderful time.  I really feel like there are people placed in our path here, and though it's a big challenge to work hard and follow the spirit, we got this, God will bless us.  We experienced some very very cool miracles and I would spend a long time telling them all to you.  Let me share just one. Last night we went looking for people to teach, and we found a lot of people...who really needed our help.  We took a bus thinking we knew where it would take us, and waited, until we realized that we weren't going where we wanted to.  We made the decision to stay on, figuring that the last stop was somewhere we knew.  About ten minutes into the ride a lady lugged all these huge bags onto the bus and we asked her if she needed help, and she thankfully accepted.  She was going back to her native land - Haiti, where my last comp's origins were.  I talked to her for a little bit, while simultaneously my companion was talking to a lady who was crying, and I think he cheered her up.  We got to the train station, and helped the haitian woman load her bags through the gates, up the stairs, down an escalator, and onto a train.  We talked a tiny bit about the church and we gave her our card, and though that wasn't very much I felt like the service we gave her made the biggest difference.  

   So,  Cergy.  It's a beautiful place.  So much happens.  It's a run for my money to keep calm and carry on but with prayer it's totally possible.  Wow.  Deep breath.  Ok.  The apartment I'm in is a bit of an adjustment...being in a four-man with everyone who has different likes and dislikes...it was pretty dirty.  So my cleaning skills were really worthwhile and now our apartment is a lot cleaner.  I feel like I'm really improving each week, expecially right now.  I feel like Heavenly father has really put me here and we're going to see some amazing miracles!  I love you all so much!

Elder Jamison Jones 

Week 48 "Saying Goodbye to St. Quentin"

Elder Jones last few days in St. Quentin

As we received the repetoire I saw I will no longer serve in St. Quentin but instead, Cergy!  This little city is right outside of paris, and I'm looking forward to the higher people concentration and hey maybe I'll pick up some Parisian culture.

Saying goodbye to Pascal

   Three biggest adventures this week:  Ward Barbecue, washing dry clean only pants, and meeting a new investigator.   This week culminated in our ward conference, which went very well.  Saturday, we met up as a ward, split into pairs, and went to visit less-active or other members in the ward.  I got to go with Luc Desmedt, the father of Jules and Marie.  We went around to a couple houses to invite people to some events that were going on, including our ward Barbecue that night.  As we walked up a certain road, the very family we were going to visit came out of their house.  As we caught up to them they explained to us that they were about to wash their car, and we gladly stepped in right away and helped them, the classic sponge and bucket way.  After the car looked good went inside and helped them put up some wallpaper. It was thanks to Frere Desmedt who came in with an attitude of 'we don't mind if you say no that's alright we don't need help, we'll help you anyway. I'm going to remember that example of service and initiative-taking, and try to apply that way of acting and just helping out.   After our service-visit we had a French-style ward barbecue, what makes it French is the fact that there are always baguettes and quiche, and more desserts after the main meal.  Many members came, a couple brought their friends and we got to explain a little about the gospel to them.

Setting up for Ward Barbeque St. Quentin

   One man named Yazid came to the barbecue as well.  Having been contacted by the missionaries multiple times already, he ran into our zone leaders a week ago, and what a miracle, he showed up at the church again this week during the sisters' lesson with an investigator.  They informed him of the ward barbecue, and we finally got to see him - in the flesh!  We talked and set a time to see him with...the Desmedt's!   I am really looking forward to it because they are such a kind, good family and will really take care of him, I'm hoping.

   The many other various adventures of the week are as follows:  I got prideful and decided my 'dry clean only' pants could be put in the washer, and they came out fuzzier, tighter, and darker.  Haha, I guess they're a little more french now.  On our way back from a solid lesson with Thierry our recent convert we say mammataus clouds!  I'm a bit of a meteorologist  so I had a science nerd anxiety attack - I've always wanted to see those clouds! We went contacting and encountered a man we had called a million times in the phone but had never met until now, then we invited him to the barbecue! We journed down to Anizy-Le-Chateau to visit a referral, turns out he moved back to the United States, and we just taught the senior couple who took care of him during his time in France.  Upon our visit to a senior center, our potential investigator resident took us on a tour, introducing us as his american friends.  The other seniors gave us thanks for saving them from the Germans, when really that's more our grandparents - haha, that was a really fun experience.  

   Last District Meeting.  ELder Christiansen the one with sixteen.  Elder Dayley.  Sister Brazeal.  Sister King.  Elder and Sister wilson.  Me and Elder Bigelow 

Just a final more spiritual note to wrap up the week.  I've been overcoming a lot of stress during the last couple of weeks on my mission, and for overcoming stressful situations these are some ideas I've found helpful. Plan your day, especially if you're a missionary, plan WELL.  Choose to be happy and grateful and prayerful.  Readjust expectation to realistic.  I love you all.  Thank you for your prayers and support.  Love Elder Jones

Off to Cergy, France.

Week 47 "Zone Conference in Paris"

                                                             Zone Conference May 2015

Hello Hello, testing one two three....houston do you read?  Copy.  pssschh. 

How to summarize the week?  We helped members with yardwork, ate some really good food with members, and found people!  Yeah!  Two groups of people.  

   First is C a guy from africa, his son, and his friend, G. C is from Congo, and the sister missionaries had taught his wife, but now we got to teach him! The guy named G we ran into on the street two or three times already, and so when we came to C's house to teach it was a, 'I know I've seen you multiple times already' situation.  We taught them about the restoration.  They both want to come to church, and I am excited for these three to progress toward baptism.  C was really into the lesson, he is full of faith, but G had some doubts concerning the truthfullness of the Book of Mormon.  We told him, 'G, It's okay to have doubts, you just have to take time and Heavenly Father will help you understand things.'  There are times when people feel like they can't learn because they have doubts, but God will help us understand if we keep pressing on, just like this man we're teaching. 

Elder Bigelow and Elder Jones in Saint Quentin

   The next group is two men we're teaching.  We were walking to visit a less active when a man waved us down when we crossed the street toward him.  Pretty amazing, he just wanted to know what we do here and learn about our church.  Luckily they live a stone's throw away from the church, so we're inviting them to church and the chances are pretty high they'll come.   In other words they don't have an excuse not to.  When we went over this week we taught them the plan of salvation, and at the end they were impressed, saying that what we told them was more than their preist had told them before.  That's the true benefit of resored and true religion. :)

The streets of St. Quentin during a morning run.

   We had a great experience this week.  We've been contacting a lot the past three or four weeks and not to too much avail, but despite the seemingly unprofitable efforts the Lord has a lot of good hidden along the way for us and that was the case this week. One night we were out contacting along our way to invite members to a Barbecue ward activity.  Walking to one member's house I had the feeling, or I couldn't tell, to ring the doorbell of a certain home.  I was unsure of it, so upon our return I decided within myself to ring it, because all good things come from God, so why not?  I didn't know what I would end up saying, but as I rang the sonné system and the man answered I felt like I should invite him to our church's barbecue.  He came outside and we told him how we were missionaries just inviting people to our church's activity. The man told us he sadly couldn't make it, but he said if we have any other events going on he'd love to come.  I left feeling really happy I had invited someone to come to something that our church was doing, because even though it wasn't a direct invitation to hear about the gospel's restoration, I believe the seeds of the gospel we plant can come from small things, even inviting people to a church activity.  

    That's the news for the week, Over. Psccch.  And Out.

Love Elder Jamison Jones

Elder Bigelow turned 20!! We celebrated at the Three Brasseurs

A zoom up of one of those chicks you sent me.  For a FHE activity we applied the activity from rafael e pino's talk, The Eternal Perspective of the Gospel!

Week 46 "Les Fetes du Bouffon"

"Les Fetes Goblin" A festival in France celebrating the Pentacost 

Below is a video from Pascal feels Jamison serving of soup at the festival.

Unreal. It's unreal how hard the task feels you up to see the blessings poured out on you from the dump truck a day later. I felt really blessed this week to go on exchanges with my area leader Elder Beck in Amiens, and Elder Christiansen in Charleville-Mezieres. Elder Ruttan, a good missionary who is now home Said, 'A change is as good as a rest Sometimes', I find a true sentence. Changing cities made the week much less monotonous, and we saw Good results on Both exchanges. Why do exchanges go so well? I do not know I find myself learning a lot and goal seeing lots of good things Each Time. On an exchange in Amiens, We Were On Some knocking out doors, seeing Who Would listen to us, and we met a nice French woman Who visited America HAD A couple of times, and she wanted us to come back another night! It was pretty cool. Porting as we call it in France, is not always the MOST effective way to do the work goal When It comes down to it, Sometimes that's all we can do. Anyway it went well! In Charleville we Taught a lesson to investgator year, and puts a pair of really nice people wanted to come Who Nigerian to church. The Lady's Name Was Blessing; what a cool name!  

Serving Soup Festival at the May 23, 2015

   Back to St. Quentin: we continue to look for ways to pick up the work, and hey I think we found one. The Fetes From Buffon That happened this week really boosted our reputation. Originated as a medieval festival, this year ounce city wide party HAS about 40,000 people there, and we got to be there for everyone to see. A big hand is the 'soup of buffon `which is served to everyone there in whatever bowls people have. And it's free. From a 3000 liter vat, weekend, or six of us missionaries and Some volunteers served this soup to the city for the festival. I thought It was cool web Abebooks really got to get more Good reputation Even without Actively proselyting, just doing service. So When My Parents got a video of Mexican music playing and me serving soup and a guy stirring a big pot, that's what it WAS. :)

 Ooh, we saw Thierry our recent convert at the Fetes From Buffon, He Was a share of country dancing group and he Had a sweet cowboy suit and an American flag in His pocket. Also, he Spent an afternoon with us Contacting people, It was so awesome. My head hurt a little from speaking in french for four hours straignt (sarcastically speaking I have it hard, do not I?) Goal Thierry Had a lot of fun with us and he really Helped us to Have some concrete conversations with people on the street .

Elder Bigelow and Thierry Contacting with Jamison

 Once We Were talking to a woman with her husband and I Was Trying to explain to this lady Some risked talking and the thing sort of plateauing, And Then Thierry cam in and saved it with a good outcome Kept That inspired this lady engaged. Man I love this, though it's super hard it's good. Love you all!

Elder Jamison Jones

An activity: "How well do you know your companion?"

Week 45 "God GIves us Miracles"

Panorama from Pday Picnic 

Hello one and all!

This week, like every other week, had it's ups and downs, it's good, it's bads, it's uglies.  But we'll stick to focusing on the goods since I've realized that life is mostly a competition to see how positive you can be, when you win, it's better. 

   So let's start off with our family home evening at the church.  We invited various ward members and we had about ten people come to our little lesson and activity.  We taught about acquiring knowledge and the essential role it plays in our time/purpose on earth.  We wrapped up the lesson with Jeopardy, and turns out french people know how jeopardy works already!  We tied it in by saying, alright, if this life is a time to acquire knowledge, let's see how much you know.  We asked pascal for some good French quesions such as lines from Jean Gabin, a famous actor, or who said, Je suis l'état.  Napoleon Bonaparte.  There's the french trivia for you for the week.  Wow, I really feel like things are going well!  Alright, we had a large part of our time devoted to finding new people to teach and we found one family, out knocking doors in the afternon, and another man on the road who said 'well I don't have time right now but hey, why not talk about God and his love for us?!'  Those were two little flecks of gold from a pretty long week. Other things we did, we made burritos for district meeting and they were a hit!  One of our goals as a companionship is to blow minds with meal tasks for district meeting and we succeeded.

Elder Bigelow and I made bruuitos for district meeting

   Well the time is, once again, short for this week but I want to leave you with a miraculous experience.  Elder Bigelow and I, after a couple of hours out talking to people were in one of those emotional ruts, you know, where you just feel angry and we really didn't have that good feeling that you need to have when you're sharing the gospel with people, the feeling originated from our feelings of inadequacy in terms of following all the rules, which is pretty difficult.  Anyway, I was feeling such and we decided to just sit down and figure out the rule, or the thing that was making both of us feel annoyed.  We talked for 20 minutes or so, we even had a lady come and talk to us when we were sitting down.  Then when we got up we decided to knock a street close to the park.  Although we did not teach anyone directly, Elder Bigelow. and I had a much better feeling, and we also talked to that man we mentioned earlier who gave us his phone number.  God gives us miracles despite the hard times, and I am really enjoying the little good things that come every day.  Love you all, be good, do good!

Love Elder JOnes

Elder Dayley and I on an exchange

Soccer on a Wednesday night with members: Elder Jones and Dennis

Week 44 "Visit to Paris"

Visit to Paris for Elder Bigelow's Legality Papers May 7, 2015
Eiffel Tower Selfie

Hello one and all!

This week we saw some really cool things.  We had callled mostly everyone in our area book and we were out looking for a couple of the people, going by address.  We unfortunately found out that both the people had moved.  We knocked some doors and the interest level was lacking and I was getting a little angry.  At that point we were walking home for the end of the night and we talked to a man on the road.  He was in a really difficult situation and he was super happy to see us, and we were happy to have met him, and we got to share a bit about the plan of salvation with him, since his life had been marked by the death of some close family, in fact HE gave us his number to call him! Wow, such a cool miracle. 

   We are continuing to teach T. our now recent convert.  He is so smart, and I'm excited for the progress he is going to make in the church.  Woohoo!  We need people like him, who convert and, for the future I can see, stay strong.

Thursday we went to Paris to go through the legality process for Elder Bigelow. We got there a little early because they gave us tickets for 8:00am. It takes over a hour to get from St. Quentin to Paris so we had 4 hours until we had to do the legality.  We just said "Well we have 4 hours in Paris, we might as well see the Eiffel Tower!" The metro system in Paris is crazy! It is like an urban jungle with tubes of trains or big giant busses everywhere. We were riding all these metros and one of the lines broke down so we decided to get out by Notra Dame and walk all the way to the Eiffel Tower. We stopped in front of The Louvre! It was so cool, I just wanted to enjoy every moment, but we just took our photo and went to find the Eiffel tower.  We walked a little ways and suddenly out of nowhere there it was!! I'd never seen it up close before!  We really enjoyed seeing The Eiffel Tower for the first time! We started talking to a couple from Logan, Utah who were in Paris for vacation. They were kind enough to take us out to eat. Every restaurant is expensive in Paris so we thanked them for their generosity! 

Me at "The Louvre"

   Well that's about the time I've got today but I would like to give my ten cent's worth to my mom, who I got to talk to on Mother's day!  I love you so much mom, and you know I do.  I am so grateful for every time you put a food in front of me and even though I freaked out and didn't want to eat it you'd say, ''Just TRY, Jamison!'' That advice has served me well here in France now that I eat whatever people put in front of me.  Thank you.  I'm also grateful the number one house rule was 'never on the table', because now I know not to climb on the members tables, or the table in our apartment.  In all seriousness the lessons I learn about patience and love were really manifest by you, through your example, and  I admire your sincerity to others and the desire we share to have things looking nice and organized, namely the kitchen counters and cupboards.  Haha, well just remember the scripture in Helaman about how, Their mothers had taught them...I have undoubtedly been taught by you, and I know that I will benefit my entire life from your example and your love for our family and me.  I love you mom!

   Have an amazing week everyone, thank you for the support and prayers!

Elder Jamison Jones

                    Skyping my family on Mothers Day May 10, 2015

Week 43 "The Joy of Missionary Work"

 Beautiful Colza fields

Alrighty Folks, 
I bet you're all wondering what happened in France this week.  Week started with our p-day on Tuesday  because of the mission-wide conference.  Our week was full of efforts to find more people due to the lack of progressing investigators. Elder Bigelow and I put a lot of thought into ways to shake up the work...we both agreed that a day chock full of nine hours of contacting does not work.  In conclusion we drew up a plan to better work with the members at the request of the bishopric, and we have some ideas that will help us increase the work we do with members.  Here are in general our Ideas: show members the joy in missionary work, increase member participation in lessons, and help the members get to know us better. I have faith that our plan will work and help us strengthen our ward through baptisms.  Here is a quote from president Gordon B. Hinckley I love about missionary work, maybe it will help some of you back home or wherever you are trying to spread the gospel. He said   
So many of us look upon missionary work as simply tracting. Everyone who is familiar with this work knows there is a better way. That way is through the members of the Church. Whenever there is a member who introduces an investigator, there is an immediate support system. The member bears testimony of the truth of the work. He is anxious for the happiness of his investigator friend. He becomes excited as that friend makes progress in learning the gospel.

The fulltime missionaries may do the actual teaching, but the member, wherever possible, will back up that teaching with the offering of his home to carry on this missionary service. He will bear sincere testimony of the divinity of the work. He will be there to answer questions when the missionaries are not around. He will be a friend to the convert who is making a big and often difficult change.

I tell you all that that's true,  when we have a member to help us the work flows so much more naturally and successfully.

I tell you all that that's true,  when we have a member to help us the work flows so much more naturally and successfully.

Elder Bigelow and Elder Jones

So what even happened this week?  Well let's see...ooh! We went to Amiens for a District Leader training.  Elder Nord and I, the two who were not in the meeting, talked to people in the center of town, and after some pretty curt 

refusals we talked to a nice mother about the importance of the plan of salvation, and we were able to refer her over to the Amiens Elders!  Woohoo!  

I'm all out of time this week but my theme of the week is even if you feel like you've had it, stop, pray, take a breath and keep going forward, the Lord Has So Much In Store For You If You Keep Going Forward.  That's my testimony.  

I Love You all!

Elder Jamison Jones

More Good Food

A letter from cousin Henry Hayes (third grade)

3 cousins going to missions in Europe