EMAIL CHAT 12/7/11……….

…… sounds like an INTENSE week!! Mine was too. LOL.

So I am totally ready for a vacation too.  LOL ..... (I’m looking forward to time off at Christmas.)

1. I actually fasted 3 times in four days that was intense LOL..... 24 hour fasts too.  (Later she said……)   and fasting for that long is actually against the rules.  (and again later……… )  and yeah we did our fast from Friday 12-12 Saturday - then we ate lunch and food until 8pm, then we fasted from 8pm Sat-Sunday 8pm and broke it with our investigator Zory (woot woot she fasted the whole time) then we made Mexican meat tacos. Then we had a day to breathe on Monday... then Tuesday we ate breakfast and started our fast at 11am until this morning at 7:30-8 am. We fasted for the conference today, crazy eh?

2. We have some good potential investigators right now... they’re still kind of hard to get going full blown, but they are getting there. We have Elia who will be baptized Dec 23 and Michelle who will be baptized on the 23rd as well. We are trying to find full families, but it's hard here because the family system is complicated. They are great women and we are excited, please pray they will really take these steps and actually be converted as well. We are still working with Jose and Janet it's been challenging because of their situation, but good news JANET CAME TO CHURCH!

3. We just finished a conference with almost the whole mission with the Caribbean area President. It was good and interesting. It's was kind of funny because all of us went to the bathroom before because we can't leave during, and then three hours later after the hall was filled again because everyone had to go again. LOL. It was kind of funny...

Here I will write more in a little, I'm getting kicked off this computer we are in the office so I’m using one there, so I'll have to wait to use a different one... 

(a little while later………)

4. This has been an insane week with choral practice and we have had everything change on us... every reunion and meetings are never organized. I have never had anything the exact same, every transfer, meeting, conference, interviews everything has been totally different every time. Yikes.

5. We have our interviews this Saturday in our house and white glove checkups, it's been crazy cleaning in the house.

6. I think I found the weight loosing trick... fast more than your body should physically fast. LOL, jk (just kidding)

7. I found MINT M&M's so happy...

8. We are not having a Christmas conference sad story, we are having something after Christmas, but don't know if it will be fun.

9. We get to perform this weekend...

10. I'm ready like you for a seriously amazing vacation. LOL.   (We’re planning/hoping/dreaming to take a vacation as a family when Jessie is released.   It’s a big trip and, as a family, we really need it.)

and that's cool about Harry Potter (we’re planning on going to the Harry Potter area at Universal Studios on our trip and I was telling her that they’ll be opening something similar in the Hollywood Universal park)...

I was thinking I have a lot of movies to check out.   (I then told her about the new Fast and Furious because she’s a huge Paul Walker fan.   It has AMAZING stunts in it.    I was totally blown away.)

heheeh you’re so funny about the movie... wow mom with Fast and Furious heheh that's funny... I'm excited I've seen signs and quick glances shhh. LOL.  jk

………I need to buy a white long sleeved shirt for the singing conference.... the songs are pretty.... and the only place you can send is the mission office....  (she’s talking about mail)

(I was telling her about some amazing sales I found for Christmas.)   oh my gosh that is some incredible savings..... wow!!!!!!!! and mom I told you not to worry about me, you have already given me way too much this year.  LOL (NEVER!) and thank you for sending for my roomies and Hermana Rodriguez... stop worrying about me, we need that vacation and we don't have space to pack everything. LOL... so many goodies.  (Don’t let her fool you…….she LOVES getting packages!!!)

……guess what! I can talk to you soon :)  (Christmas!)
 
I LOVE YOU TONS and tell Kyle that I hope everything goes well and love and miss him too!!!!! BIG HUGS AND KISSES

(Kyle was in the school play. He did extremely well and I am VERY proud of him.)

EMAIL CHAT 11/30/11…………

My week has been all right.... my day horrible.

(Why?   What’s wrong?)   Just little things that are accumulating one of those kind of days.....

So this week has been pretty good....

1. We have two baptismal dates: Elia (which we can't really attend the wedding, sad story) and Michelle. We still have to make sure that Michelle is really ready, but she seems promising.

2. We found Jose and Janet. They had split for a few days and there was drama and all sorts of things. We hadn't heard from them in a little and we didn't know what was going on. Well we finished with a lesson and it was 8:30. We were just going to head back home and plan, but I felt hey we have time, let’s go to Maria (recent convert who is allowing Jose and Janet to stay in her house.) She lives next to us. So we passed by and they were there. And Jose was glad to see us. We ended up teaching them and you could feel the spirit was there and they were thinking and listening. Then before we finished he asked if he could speak. He knelt down and said some nice things to Janet and then asked for forgiveness. She accepted and then he had mentioned after that he wants to get married in our church. So we are hoping that soon they can get married and then get baptized and get their lives straightened out. It was a nice experience for me to see this. I felt I had helped someone finally for a long time.

3. We found out that we are going to have our interviews at our house.... uhhhhh???/?

4. We have mission goals now that we need 23 member present lessons every week, for every companionship. We are lucky if we get 3 a week, and 25 new investigators a week... we are lucky with 6. Please PRAY HARD for us too. Also we are fasting on Friday, eat lunch on Saturday and fast again. Almost 48 hour fast. Our zone is fasting so we can make our goals and try to help Puerto Rico get a temple.

5. Good news we visited one of our investigators that we are trying to help get married. It's hard because they don't have sufficient money to pay for a good wedding. They have been investigating for a long time and Zory has a strong personality, but we get along well. She said that she will fast with us this Saturday and pay her fast offerings... THIS IS HUGE. Pray that she will also do that for real and see the blessings of her sacrifice and faith.

6. I got something cool for you for Christmas, but don't know what to get for Kyle.

7. Hermana Ghersi had Denge (fever) which means we have diseased mosquitos in the house.

8. I'm worn out from this mission.

9. Hermana Miller wrote and it was great to hear from her!!!   (Jessie’s trainer.   She went home in the spring.)

10. Thanksgiving went well. We ate with Hermana Taylor first (we ate pork and rice) and then we went to Elia's and ate the best turkey in the world that she made. And the rice tasted like stuffing, It was great! I wish I wasn't full when I began I wanted to eat more.

(Wow!  On the fast……)   Yeah I can say I have never fasted for 48 hours and it will be rough... trial of faith, huh?

... I want you to know I am trying to learn how to cook PR so you can have good home cooked meals.   (Yummmm)

Well I have to go... I LOVE YOU SO SO SO SO SO SO MUCH AND YOU ARE TRULY MY ANGEL!!!!!!!

EMAIL CHAT 11/23/11………..

okay so things have been kind of interesting....

1. First off what is your phone number I don't know it?   (I guess it’s official…….she’s been gone a long time if she can’t remember my phone number.   LOL.   She needs it to arrange our Christmas phone call.   Can’t wait!)

2. We had an interesting experience the other day regarding saying our prayers....we were heading to a project to see if one of our investigators was home. She lives on the 14th floor, so we take the elevator. We ended up entering the elevator and it was hot and smelled like urine. So we pressed the button. We waited, and waited, and waited but could still hear the voices of the people from the general floor. We also didn't feel the elevator moving. As we were waiting we were pushing the general level button hoping we could just leave.. but that didn't work either. Then we started knocking and nothing. I saw a cockroach on the door and I smacked it with my shoe and then someone smacked the door. So we were saying help, but still nothing. Then we were like let’s try calling our investigator. We called no answer, the phone wasn't even functioning well either. The elevator was shaking and we had no idea where we were, we figured still the level because we could hear the people outside... but we had a few calm-ish drops. At this point Hermana Rodriguez was nervous and I was just hot.  LOL.  Anyways I was like let's pray (about 10 minutes stuck) I said a prayer and immediately after I said "Amen" the doors opened. We were up in level 15 we were going up... it was wild and I think a trial of faith because we warned the family who wanted to enter about our problem and they were like it's okay... we later saw them when we got done and everything worked perfectly for them. Talk about a trial of our faith and ability to pray LOL.... it was nutz.

3. Our activity went well.... it was super slow in the beginning,... everyone waited 1.5 hours for it to start because of complications, but once it started it went well. I think LOL we had more investigators than members. The food was amazing and the talents were great! In the end everyone had fun!! Also we got to do BOMBAS!!! Puerto Rican songs that happen near Christmas time. You should check it out on Youtube they are fun!

4. Jose and Janet are still doing well.... but they still haven't gone to church. They really seem like they want this in their life, but they need a ton of prayers.

5. We are going to have a wedding on 17 of Diciembre... it should be fun, we won't be able to attend the whole thing because we have a singing concert, but at least we can for a little. After her and her new husband will get baptized on the 22nd. We are trying to help her daughter get baptized too, pray that she will please!!! Their names are Elia, Ricardo, and Chanalit.

6. I ended up going to Ponce for one day with Hermana Ghersi. It was a good experience and I got to see Hermana Lopez and Hermana Beltran ...........They changed areas... they are in a different ward and serving in El Tuque.

7. I am getting fatter and blonder.   (Oh brother!   LOL.)

8. HAPPY THANKSGIVING MY DEAREST MOTHER!!!! You are the biggest blessing anyone could have. Mom, aunt, friend, everything you are truly INCREDIBLE!!!! I LOVE YOU SO MUCH AND MAN MISS YOU TERRIBLE!!!! I am so eternally grateful for you and every sacrifice and love you have done for me and given me, I honestly have no way to express how much I am grateful for you and love you!!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!

9. I can't wait beyond measure to talk to you guys soon. I got some serious Christmas fever this year ask anyone.   ;)

We have two citas tomorrow (Thanksgiving).   One at 2 and the other at 5.    Wow! mucho pavo (turkey) tomorrow yum.   (I was surprised they ate turkey and I asked if all the rest was the same.)   Yep they eat turkey and rice and beans and pasteles.... you can ask President Hall what those are.... and it will be full meals I think.   Wow!.... Hermana Garcia was here last Thanksgiving and ate 7 meals.  I hope that doesn't happen.  LOL.

Well I have to go, Hermana Rodriguez is waiting but I love you tons and hope you enjoy your THANKSGIVING.... enjoy the time together!!!!!! LOVE YOU TONS

EMAIL CHAT 11/16/11…………

I'm sorry I'm going to be boring today...not much has happened this week....

1. We had our zone conference: it was good we talked about how people need to understand the principle of tithing first hand because it's such an important commandment. And that is one of the biggest problems here in Puerto Rico is the members do not pay tithing. We have 22% that attend and 12% pay tithing... NOT GOOD.... but we are going to try to focus on teaching this principle earlier with our investigators so they know how important it is and how to properly keep this sacred commandment. We also have a new assignment to do... study 5 attributes: sacrifice, obedience, diligence, virtue, and consecration. So that should be good. I've come to realize I like to do assignments like this in the scriptures and things because I always look at it in a different perspective than I understood it before.

ZONE CONFERENCE - November 2011

2. Our baptismal dates, we need to push back and we don't know exactly what is going to happen with them.

3. Hermana Rodriguez and I are doing well... things have been normal but I have figured out something that maybe we can give her for Christmas. It seems like she loves bath and body works. So I don't know if they will have great deals, but something from there I'm sure she'll love it. Also she loved her birthday things, we decorated a table in the chapel before we planned for the week, it was cute and she loved the necklace.... we do very well picking gifts.

4. We found a good Chinese restaurant that is near the house... yeah normal Chinese... because here it's weird and they eat french fries and rice with it.

5. Alma 24:30 is pretty intense and I want to make sure I can help people who have had this problem to really realize that they aren't only effecting themselves and causing condemnation, but as well they are sacrificing the happiness of their families. It explains that those who have a knowledge of the truth, reject it or not live it, will have harder hearts than when they didn't know the truth. And sadly I have seen that many times, and it made me realize that this life is literally the only true chance that we can use the Atonement in the way that ALL our sins and transgressions can be forgiven. Whatever the sin may be, we can fix it in this life. It is only this life here on earth that we can receive the full effect of the Atonement to save us. I don't understand why people who have made covenants allow temporal things or sins get in the way of their family’s happiness and only chance to live completely together forever. How selfish and sad. It really made me think, I want this hard hearted people who have made this choice, to stop and think and really use the Atonement in their lives, so they can receive the eternal blessings of exaltation with their families forever. That is the whole point that we are even here!!!

6.   All is normal .... LOL

7. We are singing a super hard but cool song for the program with a bell accompaniment "La Primera Navidad".

I asked her if she was fed every day like the missionaries in other areas get fed (by Church members, usually).   This was her response:

No, not really. Sometimes investigators or menos activos but not much with members. We randomly get food or offered at the cita, we don't get assigned food... we don't eat too much from people.

Gotta Go, but I'm sending the photos (they never came) .... LOVE YOU SO MUCH AND MISS YOU WAY TOO MUCH!!!!!!!!!! GIVE KYLE A HUGE HUG!!!!

LOVES

Email chat 11/9/11………………

Today I will write the letters....I have been thinking about it... it's hard because sometimes we have our PDays full and it’s the only day we really can write. So then I also have to wait another week.....

So I have been sick for 2.5 days now... bad cough and congestion in my chest and sore throat not too fun. Today I'm going to buy medicine and hope it will pass by.... Hermana Rodriguez caught a flu during her birthday and was miserable, but we later made up for it and took her to get ice cream and sang. I'll pick her package up tomorrow. (I sent some party stuff, but didn’t have enough time to get it to her by her birthday.   2 days notice from Utah……..didn’t work!   J)   But she is better and now I am sick.  LOL....

1. Hermana Rodriguez is super cute, we get along great, better than I thought we would. I also heard that Hermana Lopez is doing great in Ponce.

2. We have some good people we are working on.... we are trying to help two couples get married before the end of this year. Then we plan to baptize them.

3. We found an awesome couple named Janet and Jose. They’re not married and right now they are staying in a hotel because their house is getting fixed up. They are friends of a recent convert and they were just at her house. We got to talk to them and teach about the plan of salvation and they were totally into it. Then we invited them to get baptized and they said yes .... yeah so now we have to help them with a few things that are super important, but they really want to be baptized. We have to marry them (they are willing to get married) (to each other J) and he smokes and may drink (but he wants to quit) so pray real hard for them because they seem to really want this.

4. Hermana Ghersi is a trainer this transfer. Hermana Heffen came last night and she seems really cute and her Spanish is pretty good. We are trying to only talk to her in Spanish, but oh how English tempts me.  LOL.

Later Jessie said………… She is from MAssachusetts, but studied in UVU. (Utah Valley University in Orem, which is next to Provo where BYU is located.)   Also Hermana Heffen totally recognized and was excited to see the JDawg sauce.   (Jayson…….your sauce is truly FAMOUS!!!)

5. Tell thank you to Chris for getting the scriptures (cases). Yeah they are kind of dull looking, but it's okay they work and it was still thoughtful of him to grab them. I haven't heard from the case guy (in the DR).

6. We were doing contacts and there was a man who was mentally ill passing by with his parents.... then as I was contacting someone else he was like I know you.... then after I decided to contact his family and then he started talking a lot to me. Then the big question popped up.... He asked me to marry him.. "quiere casarse conmigo".  I was trying to keep a straight face and the parents were trying to make him stop.... but hey first proposal. LOL.

Hermana Rodriguez (on her birthday), Jimenez,

and Encarnacon (who is leaving in December). 

Kayra Santiago is the girl and is the elder’s baptism.

 and Maria (Negron) finally got baptized yeah...... (next to Jes). 

On the right is Hermana Lopez.

The Mormon Church it says.... it’s the bus stop in front of the chapel in another city.

And forget to tell you we are having a Thanksgiving dinner with a talent show in the ward soon fun, eh?

Yeah I want to write them all (everyone who has been writing to her).  I think of these people, but I'm just bad at writing... let them know I am thinking of them.

Yeah we are all roomies (Ghersi, Heffen, Rodriguez) ... poor thing she probably couldn't sleep last night because I was coughing all night, LOL, but not talked much yet (about Hermana Heffen from MA).

Sorry I gotta go I LOVE YOU SO MUCH AND MISS YOU MORE THAN YOU CAN IMAGINE..... LOVE YOU!!!!!!!  Adios

Hermana Rodriguez (Mexico)

Jessie eating her favorite snack.

 

hard at work 

 Top Row:  Jessie, Hermana Rodriguez, Hermana Jimenez

Bottom Row:   Hermana Encarnacon, Hermana Ghersi

EMAIL CHAT 11/2/11……….

and drum roll please.... SURPRISE..... I got transferred from Ponce a week early from transfers... actually many hermanas transferred yesterday.

Halloween did not feel like Halloween.... some houses were decorated, but here isn't as big of a deal. We saw a few kids in front of our house, but we worked until our usual time.... many people don't feel that it is safe, so they have their own parties. One of the wards had a trunk a treat, wanted to go, but we didn't have any investigators to go. Then someone in the ward had one, but we didn't go there either (we were limited in decisions within the companionship).

We haven't rehearsed for the group. Don't know what's happening with that....  (the touring musical performance group some senior missionaries were starting…they used to be in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir).

I got my SD card and soon I will send my other.... also I keep forgetting my camera cord to bring and that is why I haven't sent the one picture.

okay so here are the details....

1. Monday night we received a phone call.... I had been waiting to receive one about us and if we were going to switch early.... then it was wild cuz the call was to say that the hermanas were going to have their transfer early. She told me to pack and that we had to be in San Juan at 7am. It took me hours to pack and make everything fit in 2 suitcases, my carryon and my backpack.... not easy I have a lot of things. Anyways I finally finished and thought it was sad I couldn't say bye to anyone... usually we might know a little before... I had no idea. So I'm going to miss some people from Ponce, I made some good friends. Anyways we headed out in the morning and sadly we were very late for our meeting (traffic). We ended the mission home and President had already started long ago eeek.... we had a great lesson about womanhood, our importance of being sisters and woman and our responsibilities. Then he explained about we are making differences even if we can't see them. Then he told us our changes.... I am in Trujillo Alto which is in San Juan. Now I am with Hermana Rodriguez from Mexico.... she was the other trainer that we switched comps. Now we're together. LOL.... but it seems like it will be a good transfer. We will be together for sure until January. Her birthday is this Saturday.... third bday with a companion. Also I have been given the responsibility to help Hermana Ghersi to travel sometimes with her and help her visit the sisters. So not all the time, but a few times I will be traveling with her to see the sisters (like Hermana Garcia and Christianson). So that should be super amazing and a great experience. I love the sisters and traveling. We have a training meeting this next Thursday. Also she will be training a new sister in Guaynabo who is from Belmont, Mass.

In Trujillo Alto there are two couples we are working with to get married and baptized.... pray we will be able to help them make these choices....

2. Ponce 2 had 2 baptisms.... finally the little girl Kayra Santiago got baptized and Maria Negron. Poor Maria... she was terrified to get baptized and then when it was time for her to enter the font had trained a bit, and it takes forever to fill the font.... so everyone waited for the font to be filled up enough.... then she got baptized.. YAHHH and then all of a sudden the little girl who had been hard to set a date because her mom wanted her to get baptized in a river made the decision to be baptized that same night. The elders ran over and interviewed her and then after everyone waiting for the family to come, the little girl got baptized. Unfortunately she didn't come on Sunday to receive the Holy Ghost.....

3. People say I look skinnier, but I don't think I am

4. We dropped off Hermana Ghersi in the airport because she is visiting the sisters in St. Croix and there was a Del Sol in the airport.... (Jessie did an internship in Key West, Florida for Del Sol before her mission.)

5. I drive a new car again yah...

yeah Hermana Ghersi left with president, so we didn't really check out the store. LOL.... and it's sad about the baptism because it's not valid if the person doesn't receive the Holy Ghost, so pray she'll go this Sunday.

and I will be sending you a package of stuff I can't hold on anymore because it takes up space (letters and things).    

I definitely brought my JDawgs sauce. Hermana Ghersi saw it and freaked out with excitement. We are going to have a JDawg night. LOL.....

okay forgot to mention when we had the meeting with president and the sisters, we also ate a Mexican breakfast that Hermana Jimenez and Hermana Rodriguez made (tacos, lettuce, more like lunch food) but it was good and then we received a new RS book (manual) "Daughters in My Kingdom" which seems like an amazing book. I'm excited to read it.

 I think you need to read it and meditate in it.... It really seems like an inspired book for the woman. I just started today, but in the first page I could feel the Spirit.

and sad news the people who we were working with in Ponce, they can't really work with them anymore, cuz the area is strictly one urbanization and the people live outside (the area).

please pray for them...

Maria Negron

Maria Rivera
Miriam Pacheko
Evitte Arroyo
Joann
Rosa

gotta go LOVE YOU SO MUCH AND TELL KYLE THE SAME>>>>>soon we get to talk on the phone....  (for Christmas…….Yahoo!)          XOXOOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXoXoXXO

EMAIL CHAT 10/26/11……..

Hey so I won't probably have the time to chat much because we now have library rules of 1 hour on the computer....

I love reading your letters.... I feel at home which I need many times....

Well, not much has happened....

1.  …………………..

2. I got to see Hma. Jimenez and it was great. She is doing already and we both miss each other terribly LOL.... we had a training that turned out really good. I learned a lot and I wasn't really the one meant to be trained. LOL.  So many of the sisters were at the meeting and it was fun to see them all. I learned how important it is to look for the chosen investigators. I tend to allow my investigators to linger and not just let them go. It's hard as a missionary you just have faith that the person will have potential and in any minute progress. But many of ours never progress and we stay with them anyways. This helped me to realize that I really need to find chosen ones who are ready to hear and be baptized.  Also different ways of teaching I learned as well, that I want to definitely try focusing on.

3. We visited with Miss Mirna. She will have her operation in Nov 11, Becky's bday, yuck eh. She says she is nervous about this one because before she had breast cancer. She is one of my favorite people and it was the coolest thing the other day when we talked with her. Awhile back I gave her a challenge and a promise. I asked her to start reading the Book of Mormon from the beginning and spend like 5 minutes a day, and promised that she would learn new things and grow to love the book in a different way. Not just to read, but to understand it. She testified that she has been reading every day and she totally understands it better and loves it. She has said it's helped her through this and when she waits in the hospitals she reads it. I was like YAHHAHHHHH!!!!!! And her family, who aren't members, want to go to church with her before she gets operated. Let's pray for that, that would be great. Her husband went to church.

4. No the little girl did not get baptized in the river at all yet... we are still waiting for that. The family is super cool, but they have a lot of issues that come up in the family.

5. Maria with the dogs.... we haven't been able to see her, but our plan is to visit with her tomorrow.... she just lives super far away to visit frequently, but we do have a cita tomorrow. She is super sweet.

6. The reference from President has been an impossible person to get a hold of....

7. The other Maria she and her kids went to an activity this Saturday (with the stake, saw Adjuntas) and they didn't want to really participate, but we got them goin’ and playin’ and after they had fun. They also attended a baptism, missed the baptism part, but saw the other part. The plan is that Maria will be baptized this Saturday (please pray for her).

8. The international night was awesome and lasted for a very long time. We didn't get to finish seeing it, but it was great! They had different tables set up (almost all Latin countries, LOL) and then each one presented their country and had a food from it that everyone could taste. Some people presented dances and songs. It was fun!!! and I explained a little about Hawaii....

9. Also these aren't our baptisms, but Ponce 4 has not had baptisms for 2 years and this last Saturday they had 2 baptisms... men (priesthood) cool eh?

10. I'm losing my tan. LOL.  I didn't know what to write for the last point.

Sorry I think I have to go soon.....  it (the international night) was supposed to be a missionary tool, but not many investigators came, LOL, and it was outside.... the temple night sounded great from Tricia (cousin serving a mission in California),  and the dog got in a fight when it has no teeth and apparently ears bleed a lot when it’s not serious. (see photo)

The girl in the white shirt is Hermana Peterson... she is awesome... and she was the one who gave me the backpack...

the food is pinon, white rice, and amarillos (Puerto Rican food)

 ... and yeah the dog was okay after.... and the activity was fantastic

I love you so much gotta go and you are the best I LOVE YOU SO MUCH AND TELL KYLE THE SAME!!!!!!

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

Hermanas of PR Mission

EMAIL CHAT 10/19/11............

oh okay here we go LOL.... well first off we went to the doc(tor) it's because we are late... I am duh duh duh.... absolutely fine!!!!  Nothing is wrong with my body!!! Kyle wrote to me again, it was great!!!  And I will be with Hermana Lopez for the rest of the transfer.

(Jessie stopped emailing and I was beginning to wonder what happened….)  Sorry there was an investigator of the elders that I knew and she is sitting right next to us and I was talking to her.   She's been investigating a long time, I hope soon she'll be baptized.

………….I have learned I know I have heard it many times, and I'm still learning this, but our Heavenly Father knows all.... we may not understand many things, but He has a purpose for every one of us, if we are willing to work diligently and do according to his will. I found a cool scripture today in Doctrine and Covenants 88:67-68. I know that if we keep an eye single to the glory of God He will help us to fulfill our purpose and receive the blessings in His time, His way, and with His will. That's something so, so, so important we never will know. LOL.

…that’s the thing, I can't see it, but obviously my Heavenly Father has something in plan for me because He keeps showing me His trust in me..... and it's interesting every time I talk to president he always tells me wow how my Heavenly Father really does love me, he even bore witness of it on Sunday and he's shown it every time we talk.

67 And if your eye be single to my glory, your whole bodies shall be filled with light, and there shall be no darkness in you; and that body which is filled with light comprehendeth all things.

68 Therefore, sanctify yourselves that your minds become single to God, and the days will come that you shall see him; for he will unveil his face unto you, and it shall be in his own time, and in his own way, and according to his own will.

 1. President gave us a reference that is not a super familiar person in his family and asked us to baptize her in 2 weeks, catch is we probably can't meet her until Friday and she has never been to church hehehehe we'll see.

2. I love teaching youth and kids and to see their desire to learn. Out of anything I find joy with adults accepting the gospel, but I find more joy when youth and kids know that these things are true or want to go to church. Wow they are amazing!!!

3.We have one family we are working on that will be tough, Mom is learning with daughter, Husband is atheist, and they are not married but have been together for 21 years and the kids are theirs.... it's a doozey.

4. We were riding our bikes in Villa de Carmen and all of a sudden a man in a motorized wheelchair called us... we went by and he was stuttering in English... yep he was drunk and he was asking us to push him to his house. So I did... here I am a small, short, American girl pushing a heavy motorized wheelchair with a drunken man down the road to his house that was super far. The neighbors were watching and kind of laughing as we were too. Apparently it happens all the time when his battery dies. Fortunately there was someone who helped and plugged him up so his battery could charge, but it was quite the experience and we couldn't get a picture.

5. Someone in the ward died.... and it's super sad cuz I know him a little.

6. The baptisms that were supposed to happen didn’t.

yeah the death was unexpected... and have learned recently that many of the menos activos problems is they never read the Book of Mormon, prayed, or had a testimony.

That's something I want..... that utmost desire and love for the mission.... I'm still trying and it sometimes gets better. I want that when I come back too, to honestly say that I loved the mission.... I'm trying. I'm writing to Kyle right now at the same time, he wrote me and I love his emails they are great!!!

 (I expressed my belief that getting them to read the Book of Mormon and then pray to know it’s true will change their attitudes and re-activate them.   It would change everything for them.   Then, I told her this:

The other day someone in RS told us about a sign in front of a church.   I can’t remember the exact words but it said something about ‘Don’t read the Book of Mormon.   That’s how they get you.’    I don’t know…..something along those lines.   In other words, you’ll discover the truth of the gospel if you read the Book of Mormon so they’re telling their parishioners to stay away from it.   We all had a good laugh over that one. )

Yeah I've heard of that too, but with pastors and in churches. LOL.

.... umm.... I'm just finishing up my president's letter, and then we'll leave... no playing again today.... talking to you is my playing :P

(I asked if she’d received the box I sent a while ago.   It was full of weird miscellaneous stuff, which I collect and send all at once….)   No I like it, it's awesome thanks a bunch!!!! You truly are the best all the sisters here think and know you are amazing.... they always say you’re so sweet and awesome!!!!

(I commented……are you telling lies about me?   LOL……)   heheeh I am definitely not lying, you just always show it through your loving actions. You are the Best and I continue to grow to appreciate you more and more each day!!!!   (Now, isn’t that what EVERY mother longs to hear?   J   That kind of stuff makes up for all the fights over homework and all the teen drama.  JJJ)

I hope you have our emails because this is my journal. LOL.   (That means she’ll have A LOT of editing to do………)  

and that's okay I'm willing to edit because I don't have a journal really.  (Well, technically she has a journal………she just isn’t writing in it.    J)

Oh so I have a joke.  I know you need to leave.... but here there is a name called Leticia.... the nickname is Letti. So the people here get confused when I say my name because it's como-letti... meaning "like letti (Leticia)... so people think my name is Letti. So when I have a girl her name will be Leticia, mission memory... I hope my husband won't mind.

(I said that at least she wouldn’t be Letti Comoletti, unless she married someone with a similar Italian name.   I think it’s a fun story for why a child has a name.)

…. but how kind of fun would that be. LOL.....honestly it's not my favorite name, but the story is fun....

OKAY I LOVE YOU SO MUCHHHHH!!!!!!!!! xxoxoxoxoxxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxxoxoxoxoxoxxo

Email chat 10/12/11...........

Oh I am glad you’re here. I need mommy love as usual. LOL.

I think Kayliegh returns next month (Jessie’s good friend from HS currently serving a mission in Virginia)....

(about Hermana Lopez…)  We received an unexpected call the night before her birthday that we had an all day meeting... so we spent our day in a meeting.... we decorated her desk with things from my bday and two other sisters came down for the meeting too and helped me with that. They took our car away until 1 hour they gave us an uglier old one that now we have to get an inspection. That's my second third time they have given me a car to get inspections. Today is a holiday and the libraries are closed and I am at the bishop's house.

We do not have baptisms still.... but we will be attending 2 baptisms of women we are helping..... Yesterday we did a service project where we went to the middle of nowhere in the mountains to a single woman who collects street dogs. She had about 100+ and all different forms. She lives in a super humble setting and she has a bunch of tarantula caves near her house. Terrified.  LOL..... we tried teaching and helping. The elders are building her dog houses.... and one of the dogs got injured... so I did operation one on one where I had to clean his bloody ear with alcohol that what interesting. LOL... I'll send a picture next week. We are going to return and teach her and we were at her house really late and we were supposed to go to another person's house that we were planning, but when we went to their house which is a project, she told us that little bit earlier (when we planned to be there) was a shooting near her building..... The Lord works in mysterious ways. We will be teaching another day with her.... she'll be baptized this Saturday. Both these women are named Maria.

(I mentioned how much more money the woman with the dogs would have if she could find homes for the dogs and only keep a couple of them.   I also expressed my gratitude that the dog Jessie helped didn’t bite her.)   She works hard and uses the money to buy food.... and the dog didn't have teeth it was 20 years old

Yeah it's totally true, she's a great woman too with a great heart.... she says it’s a sanctuary and that she feels close to God with them... God's creatures.

When I had gotten my (scripture) cover from the man in Ponce.... he saw my last name and said he is studying the Italian language and he told me that he had a musical disc in Italian. He asked if I wanted it for free and I said okay why not .... so for a long time now I have had this record of Italian music... well it's finally going to be used productively. This Friday we will have an International night where ward members will set up tables with different countries... and the patriarch's family has Italy. I told them about the record they could use for decoration and they will use it and absolutely love it.   (I mentioned that it was kind of random that the vendor gave Jessie the record, but cool too.)   Yeah it was random, but now the family can use it which is cool.

They switched cars, gave elders our new one and then gave us an old one I don't know the reason.

We met a couple that seems interesting and could be good, we'll have to see this week

Not mine.... they are the elders we are attending (the women getting baptized are not Jessie’s investigators)

They’re in the other ward we don't serve in anymore. LOL, we’re helping so the elders can teach lessons before the baptisms.... but they are super cool. One is a mom and the other is a 9 year old girl who will be baptized in a river.

(I asked about the river……is it deep?   Cold?   Clean?)   I have no idea, LOL, how it’s like hehehe we'll have to see.

Well I think I have to go, it's Hermana Lopez's turn.... but I love you and always thank you for every single thing you do for me and show the love, it means the world to me!!!!!!!!!!

LOVE YOU SO MUCH AND MISS YOU TERRIBLY!!!!!!
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxxoxo

EMAIL CHAT 10/5/11………..

Elder and Sister Vickery -

a senior missionary couple who were great to Jessie

and have now completed their assignment and gone home.

Hermana Lopez (Bronx) and Hermana Comoletti



Today, October 6^th, marks Jessie’s one year mark on her mission.   For her it’s been a long, hard year and for me, as her mom, it’s been far shorter than I anticipated.   It also happens to be her companion’s birthday, Hermana Lopez.   They are working hard today, but I hope they throw in a little fun on the side.

1. Hermana Lopez is cool...

2. In 1 year of my mission I have only had technically 1 baptism... what a sad missionary I am right....

(I reminded her of the other great work she’s doing with in-actives and companions.   This was her response:  “I'm worried about baptisms because that is why we go on missions....”)

3. ……………………….

4. Kiersty Lemon who lived with me in EFY for the week, was in the same district as Hermana Lopez in the MTC, small world eh

5. Our first day we were driving back from San Juan from transfers and our gas was super low. We didn't want to get lost in San Juan so we looked for gas stations, but all seemed on the opposite sides. So we found the exit for the direction to Ponce, we decided we could take an exit and get gas.... well the light went on and we were in the middle of mountains where there were no gas stations or exits.... I was praying that we could make it.... still driving miraculously we found one tiny gas station on the side. We drive in and we go to pay with the church gas card and it says they don't accept. I was like you gotta be kidding me. I never carry cash with .... but our Heavenly Father inspires others to help us in our lives. About a few days before I received a nice card from Grandma. I hadn't heard from her in a while and when I get cards from her if they contain money it’s because it's a holiday. This card contained 20 and I had put the money in my walmart (wallet??? LOL). Thanks to Grandma we were able to buy gas and drive safely back.

6. Second miracle.... the door to the house automatically locks. So once it closes we are locked out.... well we both went to put the bikes on the car.... usually I just leave the door open and it stays... well this one time I didn't bring the keys out with me, the wind decided to pull a trick on me and close the door. The keys, as well as spare keys and cell phone were locked in the house. The windows here are weird and not like normal windows in the US. We were locked out. We talked to our neighbor to see if he could call the landlord (dueno). We called and he was on another island that is called Vieques here in Puerto Rico.... he said that if we waited he could come and help.... I felt awful... so I said a little prayer and looked through the windows with our screens. The keys were just right on my desk near the window. I figured if we could cut the screens we could get the keys.... then the neighbor remembered something that he had done once... he just pushed the screens a little and it popped out in a certain way... we grabbed the keys and all was well, we fixed the screen after.

*The Lord definitely takes good care of me always

7. I'm so ready for a stress-free, fun Pday.  LOL.

(I suggested they wander around the pier for a little while.   She said:  “We're not allowed anymore near the piers... and we never have time.”)

8. Today we got the package for Hermana Lopez, when she received the notice yesterday she was freaking out, saying "who sent me saying, there's no one I know who knows this address" and other comments.... I was playing with it the whole time. Then today when she found out she was shocked and super funny, I was thoroughly entertained. So she is now saying she is so extremely happy and super grateful, she'll probably send you an email.   (I sent Hermana Lopez a couple of small gifts for her birthday.)

(I asked if they’d be doing anything fun on PDay to celebrate the birthday.   She said:  “We wanted to get our nails done for her birthday and my one (year) mark but we don't have any more time really today to do it. LOL.... we found a place that does it for 12 a set.... awesome huh and 10 for refills.”) 

9. ……………….

10. The cover guy didn't respond to me either (man in the DR who makes scripture cases for missionaries).... don't know what's going on.... but I'll try sending on my email, but that's it, who knows... but those Guatemalan cases that you looked for in BYU Hermana Lopez has one and bought it at the MTC for pretty cheap.... so I was wondering is the one brother still working there? If so maybe he can grab one for me at the bookstore in the MTC and you can mail it?

(I asked about the visit to the doctor.   She said:  “Got my results back, need to return to the doctor, but from what I understand I am perfectly fine.”)

(Did they tell you the test results?   If so, why do you need another visit?   “No I just guessed and read the results....”   Oh Jes!   J)

Well I gotta go, I LOVE YOU TONS AND GIVE KYLE A HUGE HUG FROM ME xoxoxOXOXoxoXOXOXOXoXo MISS YOU GUYS SO MUCH, SO READY FOR THE FAMILY!

THANKS NOW LET’S HOPE THAT THE OTHER
 MONTHS TURN OUT GOOD. LOL. WOW THAT SEEMS SO LONG.  LOL.  (almost 7 months left on her mission J)

EMAIL CHAT 9/28/11…………

Nope meetings, meetings, and more meetings.... we had transfers today and I changed comps as well.... and did you know that Kyle wrote me a wonderful letter, he made me cry, look now I sound like you.  LOL. (Jessie will be out one year on October 6^th, this is the first letter her one and only sibling has written to her.   It made her VERY happy.)

yeah I'm reading your letter, let me read it one minute and then I can share what happened.... also the letter from him just made my day!!!

hey.... so today I can't really talk much because we are at the library that is in San Juan because we had transfers today....

Crazy stuff....

1. CTR Ring broke, it doesn't even function for me anymore.   (Jessie wears rings all the time and the CTR ring was a nicer quality one, which she wears daily.   She’s hard on rings, so it was only a matter of time. J)

2. I had to talk to President about something and so he had me and Hermana Angel travel yesterday morning because Hermana Angel is now a trainer and then President could talk to me too.... well I spent the entire day in the office and didn't get to talk to President until super late. During the day he was indicating that I wouldn't have Hermana Jimenez which I was so devastated... and that was hard on me cuz I was like am I a bad trainer? Well I met with him and we talked and then he explained that I would still have Hermana Jimenez, but he also had a project for me if I wanted to accept. This is confidential what I am about to write..... (I edited out the confidential part……….)  President gave me an option because he said it will be very difficult, and I chose to take the responsibility.... I haven't had success in the mission so I figured I can try.

3. Hermana Curl and Moltavo have been called to Santa Cruz and St Thomas... lucky ducks, but they can only bring one bag, that's hard for both.   (The outlying islands of the mission have been closed off to young missionaries for most of Jessie’s mission.   Recently they started letting elders go back to them.  I think these two are the first sisters to return.)

4. I finally had the chance to see Myrna our rescued menos activo that seemed hard to get in contact with.... we thought she had cancer again, then the doctors said no, and now we found out that she will be receiving open heart surgery soon.

5. I didn't go to the doctor’s because we tried and when we went they said that it was too late and my blood wasn't right anymore... fasting for too long.... so tomorrow morning we are going.

6. I'm guessing you haven't heard from the cover guy?   (Jessie needs a new scripture case for her Spanish scriptures.   There’s a man in the Dominican Republic who makes them by hand and they’re beautiful.   She’s trying to arrange for him to make her one with a zipper.)

7. My one year mark is the same day as Hermana Lopez's birthday (new comp).   (October 6^th)

8. Nothing really new, not sure if we'll have the chance to see conference.

9. Grandma wrote me and Mare... Tayse Ashby is engaged

10. I'm so ready for success here on the mission, BAPTISMS!!!!!

I had some follow-up questions…….

-The fasting will only be for breakfast only for the tests... (she’s done a lot of not eating for the tests, so I told her she should make the most of it and fast….even it was just a mini-fast.)

- (Hermana Lopez).... she likes criminal stuff she wants to be FBI... she has her masters in criminal justice (and she’s from the Bronx)

- It's not that they don't have it, it’s the fact that if we don't have our foundation before (General)  conference (we) can't go and this week has been super hard... it was the same last time, but I don't know if it’s the same rule

- I don't feel like I've done anything here in my mission.... even when I've had these assignments doesn't seem like I've done anything.... also I'm here to baptize too... I want to help some Puerto Ricans, not just have them reject me. LOL.  

(I reminded her that she’s been bringing inactive members back to church.)

 no I'm not a very good, successful missionary  (Don’t all missionaries say this at some point on their mission?)

yeah LOL..... I hope I'm helping ..... I do know that president has a lot of respect for me, trust and love he always tells me that... he's always like you know we love you right.  LOL.

LOVE YOU TONS GOTTA DRIVE IN PRICAN TRAFFIC LOVE YOU SO MUCH AND KYLE!!!!!!!!!