Say hi back to a number of the ward members :) Also, say hi to Dewey from me, Dad said he is home.
So the weather here isn't snowy yet, but it got cold two days ago and probably won't warm up again. Last week was really nice though so I guess it is time to accept the cold. Now I just need to find a jacket. I want to wait until after transfers though so I don't have to carry it if I leave. I will find out tomorrow whether or not I am staying in Ivano.
Thanks for helping Elder Belashov. He said that the PEF doesn't exist here so he has to find the money on his own and there are not a lot of international student scholarships. And you asked about talking with him. (I asked what language Ryan and his companion use when conversing.) First, I don't speak Russian at all so there is none of that. He speaks Ukrainian most of the time but he also speaks English if I don't understand or if he wants to talk English. He says that he thinks in Russian, but here in Ivano everyone speaks Ukrainian and so he does too. I speak both English and Ukrainian with him. Other missionaries say it is weird because we switch in and out of Ukrainian sometimes in conversations.
Wow, I just realized how long your letter was to me. I just started responding and then decided to finish reading and it kept going and going. Wow mom! So I am excited for this week, even though there is a lot of unknown ahead. I hope I am not being transferred yet because I feel like I am finally getting comfortable here, but we will see what happens. I will be excited for whatever my next assignment is.
I will definitely listen to President Monson's talk this week. I have a cd of it so I will listen while I make lunch one of these days. It is a great talk and this year we have so much to be thankful for. I keep realizing each and every day just how blessed I am and it is just incredible. Keep me updated on what happens in WV, even though I am sure they would tell me too.
So this past week here was great. On Saturday, Elder Belashov baptized Zhanna. She is a great woman and is so happy, even though her family isn't super acceptive at the moment. She knows that what she has found is worth everything and that is what matters. I was able to confirm her yesterday and the sisters said she was super happy all day as she realized what she has received. The talk yesterday went well too, after I worked on it a lot during the week. Yesterday we went to Isaac too and he is preparing to go to the temple in two weeks which is so cool. That is so important for him and he is really going to be blessed as he gets there.
I am glad to hear that you and dad are going to get to the temple too. I think that your goal and dad's goal - the one's for after retirement are awesome by the way. (I told him my goal is to visit all the temples after we retire and Rob's is to visit all the baseball parks, which we've said we'll combine.) I am sure that it will be great to go to the Oakland temple for Christmas. I hope I will get to go to the temple here too around that time. I am really excited to get to the temple here and I know that as you and dad go, life will just become a little bit better and eternity will be a little more understood.
Well, I need to write to Grandma and Grandpa Chidester so I guess I will end by letting you know that I am so thankful for all you do. I love you very much mom and I know you will have a great Thanksgiving this week. Just don't miss me, because before you know it, I will be home and the blessings of me being a missionary will stop. Anyway, I do love you. Have a great week.
Love,
Elder Jones
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