Going on a mission

[JohnnyL]

Has it already been that long?? Wow. Good to hear a report again. You have more going on in your branch than we do in our ward.

[BroJones]

Yes, almost a year on our mission!

19 March 2017 Sunday -- was just AWESOME!!

1 - Sister Jones was asked to speak about Temple work in Sacrament Meeting - which she did, wonderfully. Yesterday, our dear friend Abnare (photo below) received her own endowments in the Manhattan Temple. Sister Neltha was also asked to speak - which she did. She said that when I explained to her the need for baptism by authority (quoting from D&C 22) - even though she had previously been baptized in another church -- this had a big impact on her decision to be baptized. She and two daughters and a cousin have all been baptized this year.

2 - Our dear friend Mary was baptized unto the Lord, to a SRO group in the E Orange building. This is one smart and loving Sister - she takes notes as she reads the Book of Mormon, for example. And getting baptized wasn't easy because of her arthritis - two Elders were in the font, lifted her off the chair (also in the font) and gently submersed her - then brought her back up onto the chair. My eyes were also submersed, viewing this. The 2nd photo shows Mary at dinner in our flat, last summer. Elders Windsor and Peterson (on the left) returned to the Branch to perform the baptism. After she had dressed with Sister Jones' help, Mary told me of the pain - but with a smile on her face at receiving baptism!

It must have been scary for her - putting herself in a position where she had to trust others to save her from drowning, while she was in pain. But isn't that what faith is all about? Letting go of the world and trusting in Jesus Christ who alone can save us?


3- After that, the Branch hosted a "Linger Longer" - in which the Branch President thanked Sister Jones and I for our service over the past year. The food was delicious! Then numerous others got up and thanked us followed by me thanking THEM! The LOVE and gratitude of this group of Saints is just wonderful!

4 - Then we gave rides to people to their apartments, as we generally do following meetings.

5 - We invited Elder and Sister Ricks over, and had a planning session with them. During, Elder Ricks and I went with two young Elders to see recently-baptized Michael Duggan in a hospital in Newark (I drove), and to give him the sacrament. Returning, I fixed tuna-melted-cheese sandwiches for a late dinner (about 9:15pm by then).

Sister Abnare gets her endowment.jpg (79.72 KiB) Viewed 1182 times

[BroJones]

A lot has happened in the past ten days... including Sister Jones in the Morristown hospital with pneumonia and bad flu - at the same time... Also, just before THAT, she fell on concrete and broke a bone in her shoulder - which needs surgical repair...

This update will help bring you up to the present -
UPDATE 31 March 2017

Happy day! Sister Jones is looking and feeling improved today, and will probably be out of the hospital tomorrow. And that's NOT April Fools' either!

Seriously, thanks for all your prayers!

Sister Taggart, the mission president's wife, came by and spoke to Lezlee and me as did Sister Falana of our Branch - very welcome visits!

The orthopedic surgeon who will probably operate on her arm came by also and says they think the progress is very encouraging and the surgery is still planned for next Thursday, April 6th. (Quick - what is the significance of that day?) Will everyone please pray that her pneumonia and flu will be completely healed up by Thursday - so the operation can take place-- and so that she can regain the full range of motion in her dominant left arm?

So more packing and cleaning to do. Pls note that Sister Jones did much of the packing and cleaning over the past weeks, most of it before she fell and hurt her shoulder.

Thanks, everyone! so much.
We love you all,
Elder Jones

[JohnnyL]

It's always one of the best on here to hear how things are going with the mission.

[BroJones]

Thanks, JohnnyL.

Much has happened - bringing us to surgery, as I await in the main waiting room. Here is the email I sent out to family this morning:
QUoTE:
Today is the big day - her shoulder surgery is scheduled for noon. Sister Jones is already in the hospital as they requested her to come in a day early for further testing and prepping. The doctors want to be sure her oxygen level is up properly, that the breathing is good., following her bout with pneumonia and the flu. They're also concerned with swelling in the legs.

So I'm headed in to the Morristown NJ Medical Center again to be with her. Best case scenario: the shoulder surgery is done today at noon and goes well, followed by a day of recuperation and checking in the hospital. Then we're on our way this weekend to Maryland (to Danelle's) for further resting up.

Thanks everyone for your prayers - and patience -- during this process. We really appreciate your love and concern. Wish there was time to call everyone individually...

Sister Jones is being such a trooper. I love to be with her and hold her hand, to read to her and talk to her.

Love to you all,
Dad/Elder Jones

[JohnnyL]

Thanks, JohnnyL.

Much has happened - bringing us to surgery, as I await in the main waiting room. Here is the email I sent out to family this morning:
QUoTE:
Today is the big day - her shoulder surgery is scheduled for noon. Sister Jones is already in the hospital as they requested her to come in a day early for further testing and prepping. The doctors want to be sure her oxygen level is up properly, that the breathing is good., following her bout with pneumonia and the flu. They're also concerned with swelling in the legs.

So I'm headed in to the Morristown NJ Medical Center again to be with her. Best case scenario: the shoulder surgery is done today at noon and goes well, followed by a day of recuperation and checking in the hospital. Then we're on our way this weekend to Maryland (to Danelle's) for further resting up.

Thanks everyone for your prayers - and patience -- during this process. We really appreciate your love and concern. Wish there was time to call everyone individually...

Sister Jones is being such a trooper. I love to be with her and hold her hand, to read to her and talk to her.

Love to you all,
Dad/Elder Jones

Hope all went/ goes well, and you can both soon get back to doing what you love and have been called to do.

[Elizabeth]

God bless you Steve for the life you have led and the awesome example you are to all.

Sister Jones is being such a trooper. I love to be with her and hold her hand, to read to her and talk to her.
Love to you all,
Dad/Elder Jones

[BroJones]

Sister Jones is OUT of the hospital (yesterday) and planning to go with me to Fast & Testimony Mtg. in the East Orange branch today -- HURRAY! We have a few parting gifts for branch members.

Our Mission President said he would come by this afternoon - he is so Awesome!

Then tomorrow (after a final cleaning), we will head down to our daughter's home in Maryland, leaving our beloved New Jersey Morristown Mission.

Thanks everyone for your love, concern and PRAYERS!

[marc]

This thread is one of the few reasons I still visit ldsff. Love you, brother, Jones!

[BroJones]

Thanks, Marc. It seems the thread comes to an end though- as we have completed our mission!

Sister Jones wrote up this parting letter, which I'd like to share here. Thanks for reading/participating everyone!

QUOTE
What a month it has been!!! Before we close this chapter of our lives, I wanted to share a few thoughts.
First, I want to express my deep gratitude for my companion, Elder Jones. Without his support, love, compassion and devoted service, this would have been a very different experience for me. He thought of things I didn’t and interfaced with others when I was too weak to do so. How grateful I am for him and how I love him.
Second, I am grateful for all of you. Your thoughts, love and prayers have been felt and efficacious. How truly blessed to have so many who care!!! A favorite thing to do was to have Elder Jones share with me your responses to his updates. It always provided a lift.
I am sure it is because of your prayers and the Lord’s goodness that since being in recovery, I have needed nothing for pain. I am grateful for that. Also, though it was a little early, Dr. Sayde took the staples out at seven days instead of ten. He said that things were healing fine. He was really happy that the shoulder connection he made was still together. There is still five-six weeks of recovery and I am still trying to catch my breathe. The Lord has promised a full recovery and I have faith in that.
Now that I am doing better, I really feel the loss of heavy involvement in our missionary labors and the associations we had there. With this situation change, it will be interesting to see what the Lord has in store for us. We are at our daughter Danelle’s home right now. It has been spring break from school so we have enjoyed being with the grandchildren too. Next week we will wind our way back to Missouri.
This is Easter weekend. We are reminded with each new bud that bursts forth of the glorious gift of new life that we each will receive because of Christ’s Resurrection. What a magnificent thought! So much is given to us because of Him!!! I am grateful for Him and His great love for us. I am grateful for our Heavenly Father and His great love for us in giving us the great plan of happiness whereby we may become like Him and return to Him. I am grateful for the Holy Ghost, for His presence in my life as I am worthy of it, for the comfort He gives, for His teaching and testifying of the Father and the Son and all truth, and for His protection and warnings.
May the Lord bless you now and always!!! We love you!!!
Sister and Elder Jones

[JohnnyL]

Cool, I read about the buds and thought about how ugly and small they are, and then they blossom!! And then they bear fruit. Kind of like many of us in our mortal and then post-mortal lives...

[BroJones]

Well said, JohnnyL.

We were released THIS evening by our Far West Stake President - President Call. He asked when we had arrived back in town - that was last night, about 9:20 pm. Yesterday we paused at the Columbus, Ohio Temple on our route homeward.

We had a wonderful visit with President Call before he extended our releases, and then he offered an awesome prayer/blessing.

NOTE: our "homecoming" talks are scheduled for the Three Forks Ward in Albany, MO, this coming Sunday, 30 April, at 10:00 am. You are all invited to come!