It is also good to hear that REI is not going to be as crazy this week. Hopefully the extra rest will give you time to work on family history and allow your ankle to heal. We actually had a family history specialist from the Kyiv Stake here yesterday and she gave a presentation during our third hour of church. I actually ended up doing a little translating too because we had a senior couple, the Petty's here from Kyiv and Elder Monson was at a member's wedding (that is a long story, but he got permission to go with Elder Fanning and do some missionary work). I got to stay in Rivne with Elder Smith and we taught a couple of lessons and did some work. I guess that Russian comment last week was well timed, because I was with Elder Smith for two full days this past week and I will be finishing out this transfer with him. Elder Monson received a call from President Steinagel on Saturday - he is going to be training again in Kyiv and President wants him to come in early to get used to the area, so he will be leaving today at 1:00 and I will finish this week with Elder Smith before we go into Kyiv for transfer meeting and for Elder Scott's visit. That made for a really crazy weekend, receiving that news. It came four days earlier than expected, but Elder Smith and I are going to have a great time together this week. He is a great missionary, and even though he speaks Russian, we will have a lot of fun together.
Anyway, so I am glad to hear that the girls are doing well. I haven't heard from Chels in a while, but she has been busy. Caitlin sent me a long letter about all of her crazy experiences in California. I can't believe that she is graduating in a week. Hopefully both the girls stay/get healthy to finish out school. And hoorah for Bonneville, even though it isn't as good as it was when I was there ;) (I had told him that 5 of the 7 students that maintained a 4.0 gpa at middle school are from Bonneville, and one of them is Chelsea.)
Also, I got a letter from Elder Sudbury this week and he definitely is excited about the work in Mexico. He said he as already adjusted which is great.
So about this upcoming week. On Thursday, we go into Kyiv. On Friday, all the missionaries will be at a transfer meeting where I will get my new companion. Then Saturday, we are spending time with Elder Scott from 9am until 1pm and then we have a night train back to Rivne, assuming I stay here (I will find out Wednesday, which means if I receive a transfer, I will have to pack in one day). This past week was a really crazy one, but we set two new baptismal dates (now we just have to get those people from accepting a date, to being baptized). The work was good this week and I am looking forward to this upcoming transfer. Even though Satan is doing all that he can to bring down the people here, the hope that the Gospel and the Temple bring are getting us all excited and it has given me a new desire to talk to everyone, which is hard enough with the rules here. The blessings of the Gospel are so evident though and it makes me excited to share that with everyone.
So I wanted to share with the family something that I read in the May 2009 Liahona. Elder Bednar's April 2009 conference talk is absolutely incredible. It is called "Honorably Hold a Name and a Standing." He talked about the Temple and the necessity to visit it as often as you can. I challenge you to read it together for family home evening and then make plans to start attending the temple as often as you possibly can. One part that really hit me is when he talked about our sacrament covenant and how we covenant to be "willing" to take upon us Christ's name. It doesn't say that we do take his name upon us. He talked about how it is necessary for us to make those temple covenants in order to fully take the name of Christ upon us. It is such a blessing to be living in Utah, where literally everywhere you go, you can see a temple. For the people here in Ukraine, they have had to take a day long bus ride to get our to Germany to go to the temple. Many don't have money, or the visa to be able to visit, and yet so many people have gone. With the temple opening soon here, our goal is to get people there. Without the temple covenants, we can't live together as a family forever. We need to take part in those covenants for ourselves, and then we need to do the work for all those who never had a chance. I am glad that you are working so hard on family history, but remember that once the names are ready, the work has to be done.
Well, I have some more letters to write, but I want to let you know that I love you very much. I know that this church is true. It is Christ's Church. I know that Thomas S. Monson is a true prophet and that through him, this church is perfectly led. I know that the priesthood is on the earth again and I am so lucky to be able to use it to bless the lives of those around me. I know that Christ is our Savior and that only through Him can we be saved. We must always strive to follow his Gospel, and as Elder Andersen taught this last conference, we need to teach our children to love His gospel too. I love you all and again, I want to thank you for your love and support.
Love,
Elder Jones
Thought I would throw in one last picture with Elder Monson. Ryan fits right in with all the blond kids don't you think?
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