MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!

Dec. 23, 2013

Merry Christmas! I can't believe that it is already here!!! I loved your Christmas card :) It was super cute! And I am super excited to be able to Skype home for Christmas!!! I will be calling you right around 2pm your time. It's going to be super fun! I've been looking forward to seeing you for a long time :)

So, my Christmas Zone Conference got moved to Christmas Eve, so I haven't gotten my packages yet... But I did get the one you sent to my apt. and I got a package from both grandparents :) Be sure to tell them thank you for me if I don't get the chance anytime soon. I am super excited to go to Zone Conference. We get to watch a movie and there is going to be a talent show! Elder Brown in my District asked me to accompany him in a song that is called In Christ Alone it is by Owl City. You should Youtube it or look it up somehow because it actually sounds really cool!

We have been staying super busy this last week! Everyone has told us that come Christmas time it is really hard to get an appointment with people, but we have been getting them just fine!

We got to meet with Sonny on Tuesday and we taught him about tithing and fasting. He actually loved it! And he messaged Sister Hall on facebook the other day and told her that the more that he thinks about it, the more he realizes that he can and should pay tithing! super cool huh?

We also went on exchanges with the Sister Trainers this week. I went to Doyles town with Sister Earl and for some reason, everyone that we stopped by was home and we were able to give them all a copy of the Joy to the World DVD! And then we ate dinner with this family that they ought to make a TV show about and call it 8 kids and counting... They are a super cute family.

So this last week. President Anderson's son-in-law fell and had some serious injuries. The whole mission fasted for him (a total of 275 missionaries). He had injured his spine and broke something... I can't remember what. But the miracle is that the next day when they were taking him to surgery, he was able to walk himself there!!! He shouldn't have been able to walk. He should be paralyzed. The miracles that occur when you fast :)

We got 2 New investigators this week! YAY! One of them was a referral from headquarters, her name is Ipheka. I think she is still in High School, but she wanted a visit from the missionaries, so we called her and set up an appointment to meet with her on the 28th. The other one is actually a former investigator who had a baptismal date and everything but then dropped off the face of the earth. We went to her home on Friday and she invited us into her home and said that she wanted us to come and meet with her again. She wants to get going on the scripture study stuff again. YAY! I am super excited!

The members of the ward have been taking really good care of us. I swear every member came up to us to make sure that we had a place to go on Christmas. I love Pennypack! I know that this Christmas is going to be a Christmas to remember!

I love you and look forward to seeing you soon. I will be home for Christmas, even if it is through Skype :)

Love,

Sista Jess Cox

Jehovah's Witness...

Dec. 16, 2013

Hey Everybody!

So, sad news on my end... but our ipads were having some problems with the installation and we will have to wait until the beginning of January to get them... So we will be skyping (or facetiming... I don't really know yet) at the Relief Society President's house. She is the one who is related to the Bloods that live in Sterling :)

Sister Williams is now in New Jersey back where she started in Woodstown. As far as I know, she is doing really well. She says that she loves it, but it's not Pennypack. But, Sister hall and I are having a lot of fun together. It took us a good 24 hours to realize that there was only two of us, but we finally got it down to a science :) The transition from 3 down to 2 actually went a lot smoother than I thought it would... but I guess that we are supposed to be in twos for a reason :)

We have our Christmas Zone conference this week and that is when I will be getting my Christmas packages :) I'm excited! We are going to watch a Christmas movie, have a talent show, and the spirit is going to be there big time with all of the missionaries gathered together! I'm not sure who's gift is that I didn't label... you will have to let me know which ones are labeled...

So, we got to stop by Brenda on Saturday... We haven't been able to meet with her for a while and it has been hard to make an appointment with her this time of year when everything suddenly gets crazy. We were happy to be able to see her for a little while... but her Jehovah's Witness friend was there too... There wasn't any bible bashing or any of that. Her friend just decided that she wanted to tell us why they don't celebrate Christmas... Which honestly, it is a really dumb reason. Apparently Nimrod (or something like that), who was a very evil guy, his birthday is on December 25th and so when we celebrate Christmas, we are celebrating his birthday. We politely explained that the date has no importance and that it is all the spirit and coming close to Christ. But she thinks that we are evil... But Brenda is a big girl- she does still have issues with the holiday thing, so she wont be celebrating Christmas with us. In fact, she wants us to come back after the holiday season... until then we will be having the ward contact her and we will contact her and make sure that everything is going well. So, obviously that means no baptism this month... we get to push back her baptism date again. I am just glad that Brenda defends the church even when her friends are rough. Be sure to keep her in your prayers.

We are getting a Christmas tree today!!!! I am so excited! A member in the ward got one and realized that they don't need it, so they are giving it to us and the best part is that it's REAL!!! YAY!

I love you all so much and will be sending off my Christmas cards hopefully today! :)

Merry Christmas!!!

Love,

Sista Jess Cox

Too much fun?:)

Dec. 9, 2013

Hey everyone!

this week has been great! definitely full of adventure! We went to center Philly on Monday and it was super pretty!! We went to Love Park and they had the cutest little Christmas village up! And they had a huge tree! It was super fun! There was a guy there who was taking our pictures for us by the Love sign and he was telling us all about how he was recently saved as of June of 2013... we were pretty sure that he was high on something... We got to go to the temple sight and I got to see elder Larson from my first district and elder Cowley who I taught with on the airplane! We had so much fun talking with them and catching up! The temple is growing!!! Oh my gosh its crazy! While in center Philly we went into this big cathedral! It was so pretty and honestly kind of scary. It is so cool to see the difference in the spirit from one side of the street to another!

We also got to see Brenda on Monday. She is doing good. Right now she is praying about a baptismal date, but we are pretty hopeful for the 22 of December. And then we met with Sonny on Tuesday and he is progressing very well. We just have to get him to come to church and then he is ready to be baptized! Wahoo!!!

Thursday was super fun!!! Sister Kayce Johnson (the relief society president) took us to the zoo!!! America's first zoo!  :) We had such a fun time. we had to get special permission from president Anderson to go, but he told us that "in the interest of getting to know the members, I think you better do it!" I love President, he is the BEST! And to  make things even better, the animals were all pretty active and having a bunch of fun! The monkeys were going crazy, the tigers were going crazy, the otters were going crazy! It was a good time of day to go to the zoo!

We also got Christmas pictures taken by a lady in our ward who normally charges a ton for pictures, but she did ours for free :) They turned out super cute and as soon as that letter gets to me with all of the addresses I will send out a card :) Then we came home to plan, but we didn't get to plan because the power was out... so we took crazy jumping pictures :)

Friday was the day that we found out about transfers. So... when they called us they told us that we are staying in a trio! I was super excited to hear that because I love my companions so much! But at the same time, it didn't feel quite right. But we were all excited to be able to stay together for Christmas. We started putting all of these plans together and everything. Well, in the morning we decided that we should text the assistants just to make sure that we really were staying in a trio, because for some reason the word never gets down to the trios that someone is being transferred. Well, they got our text and called back telling us that they were confused because Sister Williams is getting transferred. All of the sudden the excitement dropped, but I had this feeling of peace come over me that Sister Williams needs to leave, that she is needed elsewhere. She was praying so hard that she would stay in Pennypack, but apparently that wasn't according to the will of the Lord. We have been going around to as many people in the ward as we can so that she can say goodbye.

Yesterday it snowed. People in Philadelphia do not know how to drive in the snow. IT IS RIDICULOUS!!!! It took us and hour and a half to go 1.5 miles! Ugh! I am so glad that I know how to drive in the snow! It really does bug me that people think that slamming on your brakes is going to help when in all reality it does no good, it only makes the situation worse. There were people sliding all over the roads, we saw a bunch of people completely off the road. When I say crazy Philly drivers, you really don't know how crazy they really are. ugh!

But Sister Hall and I are staying in Pennypack. Same address and everything. Hopefully we will be getting ipads this next week... but we have to make it to transfers first. I will be getting facebook this week. But just so you all know in advance, I can not add you as my friend unless you are not a member or a less-active member, and even then I would have to get special permission to add you as a friend.

I love you all so much! Have a Merry Christmas!!!

Love,

Sister Jess Cox

Book of Mormon CHALLENGE!

Nov. 25, 2013

Hey Everyone!

I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving in Pennypack was so much fun! We went to the Menezes family's home for thanksgiving. They "Americanized" thanksgiving for us since they are from Brazil. It was so good! All of the missionaries in Pennypack were there, the elders all had additional appointments, but we didn't... we had plenty of offers, but honestly there is only so much you can really eat! It sounds like you had fun on the Maylett's side for thanksgiving! I kept on telling my companions about how we go and get a Christmas tree Thanksgiving morning, they think that it's crazy! But I love it! It's those simple little traditions that make the holidays so much fun!

So, I'm pretty sure that we broke the rules... but we did go black Friday shopping.... we mostly just wanted to see the crazy people at walmart, but we ended up getting footsie pajamas! black Friday at walmart started at 6 over here! its so ridiculous! Its really funny how on thanksgiving we show are gratitude for the things that we have just to go shopping for more that same night.

There are so many homes that are already decorated for Christmas! I love how they actually celebrate and decorate for the holidays out here, and its not just for Christmas, they decorate for everything! The small space that some of them actually have is completely decked out, it is super fun!!!

I haven't gotten a gift for Matt yet. But I am going to center Philly today and so hopefully I will find something for him. Mom, please make sure that I still have money on my card please :) I am excited to see Love park today with the big christmastree set up! It's going to be fun!

So, funny story... we went to a part member family's home on Friday for dinner. The husband (aka the non-member) came in a little late. I go to shake his hand, he grabs my hand and pulls me in for a hug (like a guy hug that is super awkward especially when a guy is hugging a sister). I didn't know what to do! then he told me that he is a hugger... According to Sister Williams, my face was priceless...

Brenda made it back to church yesterday! Yay!!!! I was so happy to be able to see her again, I didn't realize how much I missed her until I saw her walk through the doors into the church. She gave us a hug and then went right into the chapel acting like she is already a member! I am so excited to go and teach her tonight. Hopefully we will be able to reschedule her baptism, since she was sick this last time.

I finished the book of Mormon this week! And now I've started all over again! I love how you can read the BoM so many times, and yet you can learn something different each time that you read it! So now I am reading it again and I am so excited to be able to learn more! If you are up for the challenge, then I think that the whole family should read the BoM from cover to cover by Dad's Birthday which will also be my half way mark! My goal is to read it 2 more times before then, but you guys can read it once.

Anyways, I hope that everything is going well for you and I hope that you enjoy the snow! It has snowed once here, but we don't have any snow on the ground to show for it... I love you all so much! I'll be sure to let you know about transfers next week and whether or not I am moving.

Lots of Love from Pennypack!!!

Love,

Sista Jess Cox

Sister Hall, Jessica, Sister Williams

Black Friday shopping:)

Where is Sister Hall?

Happy TuRkEy Day!!!

Nov. 25, 2013

Hey Mom!

Happy Thanksgiving! It seems like time is just flying by over here. This transfer has just flown by! I will be done being trained here pretty quickly. This week for my training, I am in charge of everything! I make all of the appointments, I do all of the planning, I start every lesson, I end every lesson, I leave the commitments with them... I do it all. Sister Williams and Sister Hall are pretty excited to be able to sit back and do nothing all week long. haha! Too bad I will be putting them to work! :)

I am so sorry to hear about Brady. He had changed so much these last couple years or so for the better. It is so hard to have someone that you know pass away. But it is also so comforting to know that he is in a better place right now and he will be able to live with his family for ever. Tell the Simons family I am sorry for their loss and that I am keeping them in my prayers.

This week was a pretty good week. We had zone conference! It is incredible how strong the spirit is when a group of missionaries come together to learn. We learned how to give super short lessons using the missionary pamphlets and we also learned about how there are NO RANDOM THOUGHTS! If you have a thought about an investigator or someone who you are teaching then you should probably call them or stop by to see how they are doing. Or if you have a thought to go down a certain street then you should probably go down that street. Most of the time you have no clue why you are doing it. But it is so important to follow the promptings that you receive.

We had the opportunity to go and work in the Pennypack South Elder's area to work with some single sisters in the ward. One of the ladies that we stopped by- her name is Elizabeth Kelly- we can't tell if she is just going through a really rough time or if she has some mental issues... I think its a little bit of both. But we stopped by her and she went off about her daughter who she has a baby and how she is always drunk and can't take care of the baby and then she kept on asking us if she addressed things correctly, she wanted our council and advice, which as missionaries, we aren't allowed to give. She is one tough cookie to read though.

Unfortunately, no baptism yesterday... Brenda got sick and has strep so we will be moving her baptismal date to Dec. 7 and then she will be confirmed the next day in sacrament mtg. And Sonny is still coming along. We didn't have another girl with us to teach so we let the elders teach him instead of cancelling the appointment.

It has been such an amazing week! I have been paying so much closer attention to the spirit and the prompting that I receive. I may not always see the direct result of what happens when I follow the spirit, but it is always better to do rather than to regret not doing and regretting it later. It is so great to know that because I have been following those small and simple promptings and that I act on them that Heavenly Father trusts me more and more with those small and simple promptings.

I actually do miss doing the book for basketball Saturday mornings. I am excited for Basketball getting started! Tell Mikaela, Spencer, and Sadie good luck for me!

Thank you so much for the package! It definitely made me smile. My comps got packages the day after I did and we were trying to decide whose mom was the cheesiest. And guess what?! You won with the whole "Orange you glad we love you!" haha I loved it!!! I hope that the package I sent for Spencer and Mikaela got to them for their birthdays :) And I hope they liked them!

I love you so much thank you so much for all that you do for me! I love you!!!!!!

Love,

Sister Jess Cox

This last week has blown by super fast!!!

Nov. 18, 2013
Hey Mom!

This last week has blown by super fast!!! It's crazy! We got a new bishopric yesterday. Our old Bishop (Bishop L'heureux -sounds like Ler-rew) got called to the stake presidency. our new bishop is Bishop Ackerman and he is going to do so good! he reminds me so much of Brother Russell. He is super tall and has such a fun sense of humor. He is going to do great things for the ward!

So funny story about church yesterday... I was leading the music and at the end of the 3rd verse I turned around and started going back to my seat... there was another verse... so I turned back around and continues to lead the music. All of the Elders and my lovely comps just busted out laughing... They told me it was a comical relief that they all needed... :)

We had a teaching appointment last night with a lady named Trudy. A member of the ward invited us over to give her the first discussion. we were actually super nervous because the member that invited us over has that whole serious uptight thing going on... but once we stepped into his home there was a completely different feeling, he was warm and welcoming and it just made the lesson go that much better. Trudy has lots of questions about the church and we are excited to be able to teach her more! She committed to read the Book of Mormon and to pray about it! Yay!!!

Within 20 minutes of the end of that lesson we got an additional 3 new investigators! All it took was a simple phone call to a part member family to see if we could come and teach them! 4 NEW INVESTIGATORS IN ONE NIGHT!!! It was so fun!

I think that my most favorite part of being a missionary is working with the people. Whether it be the ward members or investigators. Right now I am building relationships that will last me for ever! And all of this happens in the shortest periods of time! But even just to see them grow is amazing. Even the members who do have this strong testimony of the gospel, to see that they can feel the spirit and that they are learning and growing closer to the Savior makes me feel so happy because that means that I am fulfilling my purpose as a missionary.

Sister Williams is doing great. she has to call the doctor here soon to find out what exactly is going on, but the work is still going forward! She continues to work hard everyday. Sister Hall is doing great too!

You didn't tell me that dad was going to help the governor pardon the turkey! that is so cool! take lots of pictures for me! My companions think that I am so crazy for being raised on a turkey farm. they don't like the idea of having turkey all year round... but I love it! We actually got a turkey dinner this last week and I felt right at home!

Did spencer get his Birthday card? I will have his and mikaela's birthday presents sent out probably tomorrow... I hope that they like them.

That is so lame that they are starting the black Friday sales on thanksgiving! Thanksgiving is a day that we show our gratitude for the things that we have, not for being greedy and looking to buy things. We live in such a commercial world, its not even funny how people put things that have zero value before things like spending time with their family on thanksgiving.

Anyways, things have been going great. I haven't gotten sick yet... but they say that 1 in every 3 people get sick from the flu shot... there are 3 of us. I just hope it all goes well when we go and get those done this week.

Anyways, things are going great, we are having our zone conference this Thursday and will probably start our training for our ipad minis I can't wait until December so that we can use them in our teaching appointments!!!

I love you lots!!!

Love,

Sista Jess Cox

p.s.

we all got matching shoes last week at H&M! it was sweet and we saw herby driving on Roosevelt!

Another week in the City of Brotherly Love

Nov. 11, 2013
MOM!!!

Things here have been going pretty good. We got a new investigator. Her name is Myrna. She lives like 2 blocks away from our apartment. She is an older lady who lives alone and doesn't have a car. We were actually trying to find one of the less-actives in the ward and when we saw that they weren't home, we decided that we would knock on some of their neighbor's doors. That's when we found Myrna. I swear we stood out on her doorstep for 45 min. just talking to her, and it was a little chilly too. Finally we convinced her that we are good people and so she let us in and we now have an appointment with her tomorrow. I don't know how this is going to turn out... but I sure do hope for the best.

The tripanionship is great. I am so lucky to have them. This last week, for one reason or another I got a little discouraged, but they were right there to help me through and to lift my spirit. I am so grateful or them and for their examples. There is definitely a reason that we are still in a trio. Right now I don't know for sure who is staying and who is leaving. We think that Sis. Williams is going to stay until they figure out for sure what is going on with her stomach problems (Speaking of which, we get to go to the doctor's on Wednesday to get an ultrasound!) Hopefully all goes well! 

I got Sadie's letter! I got a letter from grandma Maylett on the same day! And they came at the most perfect time. Be sure to tell them thank you for me! Oh and tell spencer happy birthday! I will for sure send him a card this week, but I might wait to send his present with Mikaela's... But it will be his MAGIC BIRTHDAY! So make sure he has a really good time :) Good luck to the football team!!! I think that is what happened my freshman or sophomore year? But I can't remember... Tell Mikaela and Spencer good luck with try-outs for me! I have such talented siblings! Keep up the great work there.

Now, for the Ipads and Iphones. We will get them by the end of the transfer in December, we will have a training on them and what is expected. There is a lot o trust with our missionaries. We will have access to the internet all the time, and we have access to the internet anyways because we come to the library everyday for facebook... It is goin to be such a great tool in missionary work! You really have no clue how much easier this will make things for us. Right now we have an hour of facebook a day, but there has been a rumor going around that we will have even more time to use the internet per day with the new resources that we will be able to use. But there really is a lot of trust in this mission. We have been told over and over, even by general authorities that our mission is one of the highest ranked mission out there. It is so important for us to keep that trust. I know I don't want to loose their trust.

Can I just say how much I love writing in my journal? I took it so much for granted at home! I wish I would have written in my journal at home like I do here. If I ever do have a bad day, it is so easy to write down my thoughts and get it out o my system, it also allows me to be able to look back and to see what was going on earlier and even just to see the kind of progress that I have been able to make while here on my mission. I would encourage you to write in your journal daily! Even if it's just a line. It makes the world  a difference! I guess that is your challenge for the week! Make I a goal!

Thank you so much for all that you d or me! I think I often take for granted the kind o lie that I was given at home and now being away I see how much it has truly influenced my life! Jus like Nephi, I have been born of goodly parents and like the stripling warriors I know these things because my mother knows it. I love you so much!

Love,

Sister Jess Cox