Heros, Miracles and Blessings

Hello everyone! This is going to be one of those LONG LONG LONG emails. If I have time to say all that I WANT to say! So much has happened. And I got JIPPED a P-Day... So I'm feeling a little behind. Haha.

So first things first. Sister Bradley and I BOTH got transfered out of Concordia, Missouri! We were so sad to have to say goodbye to some of our favorite families and investigators! It's getting easier to say goodbye though... because I know I'll get to talk to them all again soon!

I'm serving now in Indpendence 3rd ward with Sister Villalobos who is from Mexico. English is her second language, so sometimes she says the FUNNIEST things! She makes me laugh! But she is a HUGE sweetheart! She's kind of quiet, but has a heart of gold!

We live in a newly remodeled home on Willis, right by the Visitor Center. It is BEAUTIFUL! It was actually donated by Brother and Sister Lacey, a couple from the area. It is such a blessing to get to live here. The home is much like something we would see in Utah. I LOVE IT!!!

So about the 3rd ward, Nine months ago, I told Bishop Cato (the bishop of the 3rd ward) that I was going to pray myself here... and today... here I am! And he still remembers that I told him that! The Lord must have been listening. We are promised that if we are faithful that we will get whatever we desire if it is according to the will of God. I LOVE THIRD WARD! It is the highest baptizing ward in all of Independence. Really... it's just because the members are SOOO great! And... they are HILARIOUS! This Saturday the relief society is having a Bob Barker, Price is Right Birthday Party! Sister Villalobos and I will be on shift at the VC, so we'll be unable to attend. But it will be great!!! Connie and Melody were recent converts that I helped prepare for baptism while I was serving in Indpendence 4th ward, but now their records are in 3rd ward. They're both active and lovely as ever! I also have an adoptive grandma here in 3rd ward- Her name is Sister Williams. She is a seniors sister from Highland, Utah serving as a geneology missionary. I love her. She gives me good advice and great hugs!!! It is such a blessing to be here!

We have some great investigators. We have an investigator named Rodrigo who we just committed for baptism! He's got some things to work on, but his spirit is prepared. He's great... more on him another week.

I'm back at the Visitor Center. Back to studying history! I have missed it SOOOO much! My first day, I gave four solo tours! I surprised myself by how much I remembered. Actually, it wasn't me... The SPIRIT knew that this work I'm involved in is IMPORTANT so he blessed me with remembrance. I took a couple on tour this week from Springfield, Missouri and to me they appeared to be just your ordinary LDS couple. When I was taking them through, I felt pressed upon to speak more on W.W. Phelps than I normally would. I explained how he had fallen away from the church. He had betrayed Joseph. Phelps was one of the key players in Joseph Smith ending up in Liberty Jail... but he returned and asked for forgiveness. Joseph told him, "Friends at first are friends at last." And W.W. Phelps was faithful until the end and is now buried in the SLC cemetary. Despite of EVERYTHING he did in his life, the MOST IMPORTANT part of his journey was his return. In the end, W.W. Phelps is a HERO. Praise to the Man is a song to celebrate Joseph's life, but W.W. Phelps holds credit for this song. He is an incredible man. I then closed by bearing my testimony of the Savior and his church. After I had finished, I noticed the man was crying. He then continued to explain to me that he has been inactive for years, and came on this trip with his friend (not his wife) looking for peace, and the courage to go back... He said he had found his answer... I am always humbled when the Lord uses me as his instrument. For I know that these words are not mine. They are his.

A young boy named Joey walked in out of the rain last week. As he entered, I felt his spirit. He was sitting on the couch and I felt prompted to talk to him... So we talked, and talked and talked... He is not a member but has felt like he needed to come in the VC for a while. He has had a hard past, which was a past I could relate to.... and we talked and talked and talked. About the gospel, about the miracle of the atonement, about the miracles that continue forth today. And he's getting baptized April 17th... Another Miracle Mark (<<< from the beginning of my mission). There are miracles all OVER THE PLACE! The spirit here is so strong.

I wish I had time to write more... but this week we had Zone Conference with Elder Snow of the 70 and we saw President VanKomen. He is looking well. He JUST started treatments. The Conference was POWERFUL! I'll share more insights later.

I love you all! Don't forget to dream big. Wish hard. And Love Always-
Sister Wathen

Chicken Noodle Soup

This was an interesting week... mostly because I was SICK!!! It's so frustrating to be sick as a missionary, because you WANT to go out and do the work, but you know that it's for your own good, and the good of those around you that you STAY INSIDE. But then you feel like you're not being very diligent because you're not out and about. It's quite the interesting complex. It also makes me miss home! I JUST WANT MY MOM!!! Haha... and Chicken Noodle soup and Disney Princess movies!!! My magic cure-all! Haha! No Disney Princess movies out here! But of course we managed to get lots of soup from members! They're so great!!! It's not a substitute for Mom's love, but it's good to know that there are people who love and care about us as missionaries!

This week I think I would have done anything for a hug from my mom! I love reading the scriptures though. They have always brought me such great comfort! I know that they are words from a Heavenly Father who knows our needs! Did you know that the scriptures talk about hugs all over the place??? 2 Nephi 1:15- "But behold, the Lord hath redeemed my soul... I have beheld his glory, and I am encircled about eternally in the arms of his love." A scripture all about a hug! Alma 5:33 "Behold, he sendeth an invitation unto all men, for the arms of mercy are extended towards them." -SPIRITUAL HUGS!!!- Haha! Seriously though! I have a testimony of spiritual hugs! That peace and warm feeling that can ONLY come through the spirit and the love of Christ. It is a very real thing! I'm grateful for the testimony I have of them during those most difficult moments on my mission, and last week while I was sick, that I can feel his arms around me! And I can feel His angels around me!

Aside from that, it was a bit of a tender mercy because I had time to do some very important things that I have been putting off for a very long time. It was like, "No excuses! I'm giving you this time! Make it happen!" He knows me... I know he knows me. And I'm grateful that he has allowed the spirit to be with me that I have been inspired as I have gone throughout this week despite of my crazy bad symptoms!

This week we saw miracles in our investigator Casey. We can really see his life starting to change. This last week was HUGE for him and now he is well on his way to progressing in his life. He is no longer held bound by his past but is free to make the changes that will bring him greater joy and happiness in this life. He has a long ways to go still, but I have faith that he will be baptized in the upcoming months! He is AMAZING! And he COMMITED HIMSELF to read the whole Book of Mormon. I love it when investigators make their own commitments! It's the best! Casey's story is kind of complicated. But miraculous! I love him so much! I'm grateful for his friendship and grateful that I've had the chance to serve here and be involved in this spiritual journey he is on!

Zone Conference is always my favorite! Sister VanKomen showed us a video we've seen before. It's a clip called "the death crawl" from the movie Facing Giants. (Dad, you should see if they have it on Youtube.com and post it to my blog!!!) It's intense. The coach is just on his star player saying, "Don't give up! Don't give up on me! Keep going! Keep going!" I feel like the Savior is saying that to me! "Keep going! You promised you'd give me your BEST! Your BEST!" And the player is saying, "But it hurts! It hurts!" "Keep going! Keep going!" -Intense!- But the Lord believes in me! He believes in all of us! With Casey this week and with being sick I can hear the Lord, "Keep going! Do your best! You promised me your best!" And that as we do the best that we can, he makes up the rest! That is the atonement! That is the gospel!

That is the vigor and the excitement of the gospel! In sacrament meeting this last Sunday we were singing Hymn #2 - The Spirit of God. And all I heard was primary children.... "We'll sing and we'll SHOUT with the Armies of Heaven!" It was so powerful! I love children! I love their love and enthusiasm towards life! "Keep going! Keep going!" Like the little train who could, "I think I can. I think I can." I know the Lord has carried me much further than I ever thought that I could go. 100-yards! I love him! I love his gospel! I love sharing it with others! I love ALL OF YOU!!! WITH ALL OF MY HEART! Thanks for being my friends! Keep dreaming big. Wishing hard! And Loving ALWAYS!

Jessica Rose

The Spirit Manifests Truth

My Companions; Sister Maxfield and Sister Ayala, they are my Angels.

Miracle week for the Missouri Independence Mission! Last week was Zone Conference. My companions and I sang "Yo Trato de ser como christo" I'm trying to be like Jesus, in ESPANOL, along with "a Child's Prayer." I was really nervous when our zone leaders asked us to sing... but it was such an honor. We practiced a lot, and then when it came time to perform the spirit was so strong! Even president VanKomen was crying! In zone Conference, President VanKomen challenged us to get 250 investigators to church this week. With 190 missionaries,about 95 companionships, we typically get around 175, and our record was 212. SO THIS WEEK, the stats came back that we had... 356 INVESTIGATORS AT CHURCH!!! Amazing! Blew everyone out of the water! President VanKomen truly is a visionary man!!! The Lord is helping the work progress in amazing ways! THAT is the Independence Missouri Mission!

My companions and I have been busy teaching! We've gotten 20 lessons every week since we've been together! We found some new investigators this week too (which is ALWAYS a good thing!) We even found 2 new Spanish families to teach! Sister Ayala brings miracles to this area!!! I still love teaching... and seeing the miraculous ways that the spirit works!

Next week Elder Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles will be coming to our mission. I look forward to the opportunity to hear him speak and shake his hand. It is such an honor to be here at this place in this time. This mission where Zion will be, Adam-ondi-ahaman, Liberty Jail, we have a new temple that will breaking ground in the next few months, we have general
authorities coming to visit, baptizing, miracle performing, 356 investigators at church mission!!! THIS IS THE MISSOURI INDEPENDENCE MISSION!

This week I was studying the gospel of John. Chapter 4 is about the woman of Samaria (the woman at the well). What an amazing chapter, as it talks about the living water which IS the gospel of Jesus Christ, which IS eternal life. But this last week as I was pondering, I discovered something about this woman... She was an outcast. When she went to get water from the well, in
verse 6 we know she went at the "sixth hour" (which is about noon). Typically women would go twice a day, once in the morning and once before dinner. She went in the middle of the day, because she knew no one would be there. She knew she could be alone... When the savior comes and sits by her, he converses with her about some of the struggles that she has, "thou hast
had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband." In my own words, "I know your deal." The woman does not need to say a word, she has no need to explain herself, the Savior already knows her... Without saying anything, he calls her unto repentance, and she recognizes him as the "Messiah." And THEN this woman, who probably has a lot of insecurities, who is an outcast... she "left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men, come see a man, which told me all the things that ever I did: is this not the Christ?" (v. 28-29) #1 SHE LEFT HER WATERPOT! NOT GOOD! Water is VERY important for survival, and without this water, her family would have to thirst for some time. But she knew what she was doing. She left something that was important to do something that was MORE important. To testify of Christ. And despite of her past, despite of her insecurities, she goes STRAIGHT INTO THE CITY! she is an amazing woman of courage. a great missionary. All of us have insecurities... a lot of us have somewhat of a 'past'. But we have to recognize that JESUS is the CHRIST. That we have no need to be ashamed, but to leave our past behind us, and move forward. I’m grateful for the guidance of the spirit. I testify that Heavenly Father is VERY AWARE of me right now. I have been learning some very important lessons lately. Recognizing as I read that story that there are a LOT of very important things I could be doing in my life right now... but that THIS WORK, testifying of Christ, is more important than the waterpot, it is MOST IMPORTANT.

I'm grateful again for the guidance of the spirit as I know it has unfolded direction to me this week. I’m grateful for the gospel, for the answers, insights, and perspective it allows into my heart... I’m grateful for the peace it gives me. I know that these are inspired writings given through prophets for all of us to learn and benefit. I know they are the words of God as the spirit manifests truths unto me. I know that the fullness of the gospel has been restored in this final dispensation of time... and I am so so grateful for all of you! I love you all so so much!
Thank you for your support!

-Jessica Rose

I know that the Lord needs me here

So this week was amazing mostly because Melody got BAPTIZED!!! Hooray! There is no greater joy than seeing someone I've grown to love accept the faith that has changed my life.

The Independence Mission has 69 baptisms in May 2009. In May 2008 we had 35. We almost DOUBLED our numbers from last year. President Hinckley would have been proud. The missionaries here are tearing it up!

We had Zone Conference in Blue Springs, Missouri this week. Driving into there is a HUGE David Cook sign on an overpass. I had fear enter into my heart. For I knew not what they would do to me if they knew I was a David Archuleta fan from Murray, Utah. I kept my mouth shut. I was safe. HA HA! But I truly love Zone Conference. I wish we could have zone conference EVERY DAY! Haha... True story.

I shared my testimony in Zone Conference and I cried... Really cried... I don't think I've REALLY cried during a talk for at least a year. But during my testimony I said, "I know that the Lord needs me here." I testified that this is truly the Lord's work and that there is no greater purpose than this service. I know that missionary work has eternal consequences and blessings... What I mean is that my missionaries baptized me, now I'm serving a mission. I'm helping people get baptized. Hopefully some of them will go on missions. ETERNAL PROGRESSION! This work is also about uniting families together forever. Leaving all of you at home is the hardest thing I've ever done. But leaving my family at home, I'm given the opportunity to teach people how they can be with theirs forever.

I love my family. So much. I didn't serve a mission for myself. I served it for them. There's a quote in the Joseph Smith movie that says, "There are many in this life to whom I have loved. To them I am willing to prove faithful."

Onward Christian soldiers... I know I'm not perfect. I know I never will be ... But I know the Lord will bless me in my effort to be better. To become more than I ever thought I could become. More than that, I know the Lord will bless my family for my sacrifice. Present and future. There is nothing more important to me than them. I know that the Lord will bless the future for my family because of this mission. I know he is going to use these experiences to mold me into the BEST me that he knows I can be.

Phew... and it's still hard. But no one ever said this would be easy. We are told to "waste and wear out our lives" but yet we are promised that because of righteousness that our voices will be like a fierce lion. GRRR! (Ref. D&C 122:4). I have to be TOUGH like a lion. Endure to the End. Putting on the WHOLE armor of God. And sometimes that armor gets heavy. Sometimes it seems like it would be easier to take off the armor... But it's much easier to sometimes just stand still. When the weight is more than you can bear. Just be still. Let the Lord lift that burden from you. Because he did truly descend below all things. There is nothing the Lord can't handle. That is my testimony that I leave with you all.

I love you SO SO SO SO much! Please let me know if there is anyone in need of extra prayers this week. I'm here for you all.

Dream Big. Wish Hard. Love Always-

Jessica Rose