Mom,
So the weather here is still incredibly nice. It is even hot today I think. I was sweating on the bus where it was probably 80 plus degrees. It has been really nice though, but I have heard that once the winter comes, it will be relentless.
By the way, piece of business here. Elder Belashov is planning on studying at BYU after his mission but doesn't have enough money. He needs to find a sponsor and they will help him to pay for the first year or two of school. I guess he needs about 20,000 dollars and was wondering if there is anyone in the ward or neighborhood that you can think of that could help him out. It is not a huge problem if you can't think of anyone, but just a question.
I have not received anything from Elder Sudbury in a long time. I sent him a letter at least a month ago so I am sure he will respond to that, but I haven't heard from him. As for Jacob, I send him letters snailom mailom (that's Ukrainianized English - just a joke) and he writes me back by email. It is actually really funny. He writes and I wait til Monday to get it, and I write him and he waits a month for it to get to America.
Speaking of America, I just sent a package there today. It is for Christmas so let me know when it gets there - it will probably be a month or so. I told Caitlin about Thanksgiving because sometimes I just think of things like that when I write her. I also told her about some drunk guy experience I had in Kyiv 3 months ago and never told you (I don't know why I remembered that). Sometimes it just happens. Sorry.
So I wish you a wonderful Thanksgiving. I am sure it will be way cool with some family members there. Tell them hi for me. And like President Monson taught, remember to be grateful. Like for example, with the new computer that is so much faster than the old computer. That is a little different from electricity versus lamps, but similar too, eh? We all certainly have a lot to be thankful for which is great.
So that is strange that I helped give a talk in sacrament meeting. (We had a missionary farewell Sunday and the youth speaker wasn't there so they read clips from Ryan's last 4 emails having to do with Isaac and his baptism as well as Elder Close's last letter.) I will be giving one here this week too. I am glad that people are able to hear about missionary experiences that we are having. Hopefully it will help some of the young men prepare for their own opportunity, and some of the older people look for opportunities at home. Like President Hinckley always said, every member is a missionary and all of us who take part in this work will be blessed, whether it is the full time missionaries or the busy members at home.
So as for an update here. This past week we were in Lviv for a missionary meeting and it was cool to see some of the members from Rivne there who had a training. It is neat to see that they are still doing wonderfully as they work hard and do their part. Also this past week, we continued to work with Zhanna and with the African members here. Zhanna is doing wonderfully. She is Russian by the way, but has lived here for a very long time, in Ivano I mean. She is still planning on being baptized this weekend which will be awesome. She continues to understand everything so well and the only thing that is really standing in the way is her husband who doesn't seem to like us. I think he will accept it though and hopefully with time, he will warm up too. All is going well with her. Isaac received the Aaronic priesthood yesterday which is cool as well and now he is able to pass the sacrament. He is still doing awesome.
Well, that is all for this week that I can think of. Thanks again for your letters. I look so forward to them each week. How has your reading been, or visiting the temple? I hope you are doing all you can to get there. I will finally be able to go to the temple for Thanksgiving and I am really excited for that opportunity. It is so important to get there and to be able to help others to receive salvation, not to mention help ourselves receive salvation. I know that the temple is a place that all of us need to strive to be worthy of. If we are able to go to the temple often, then our lives will be just fine and the Lord will prepare fo us all that we need. Set a goal for yourself to get there as often as possible. I know that Heavenly Father wants us all to do that.
I love you mom,
Elder Jones
No comments:
Post a Comment