December 27, 2010

We were able to talk with Ryan for Christmas so his email was extremely short.  He was going to email Christmas wishes to friends and family instead.  The great thing was we were able to skype with Ryan for Christmas.  He went to a member's home and used their computer.  It was great to see his smiling face and see how well he is doing.  We had a great time talking for about an hour and a half and were able to see his companion as well.  He is doing well.  They had gone to a baptism earlier in the day in L'viv and were excited about that.  He is healthy and happy which is all that matters.  The bum did open is Christmas stocking before Christmas though. :P

I've been asking for pictures lately but the internet club in L'viv is difficult to work with when it comes to sending pictures.  He did send the mission's Thanksgiving picture below.  He is in the back row by the right edge of the temple with his glasses on (which he pretty much wears all the time because it is easier on his eyes there) and two over to the right is Sean, his high school friend.

Here is his short and sweet note.

Hey Mom,

So I am glad to hear that you had a crazy week. I hope you enjoyed it. I tried to get pictures on, but this internet club just doesn't work. I just sent a letter to grandpa and grandma Chidester. I testified about baptism and the gospel so I hope that grandpa starts to work more towards that. He says they have been working with the Sisters for 6 months now and he just finished doctrine and convenants. Really, it seems that all he needs to do right now is make the decision and be baptized into the only true church on the earth. Anyway, I hope you have a good week. When are you going back? Be safe, whenever it is. And tell everyone I love them please.

I love you Mom,

Elder Jones

December 20, 2010

Hey Mom,

I am glad to hear that things are going pretty well. Don't get too stressed out, it is Christmas time! I am glad that you made it to California just fine and hope that all is well with Grandma and Grandpa; tell them that I love them please, along with everyone else.

So the skype dealio..I still don't know exactly how it will work, but we are going to a member's house. We have already talked to him and so that will be fine. We will do the same thing that we already planned, maybe a little earlier, like 8:15ish PM, Ukrainian time will be best. It will probably be limited to an hour and a half tops so make sure you are ready with questions or whatever. As far as skype, I don't know what account I will be using, but make sure you are on there and I will find you for sure. It is going to be cool!

Christmas in Ukraine is a lot different. Yesterday they had a holiday Saint Mikolai who is their version of Santa. Kids got presents and were happy. The 25th is American Christmas and they kinda celebrate it together as families. Then, comes New Year and Ukrainian Christmas in January which are huge holidays and all the missionaries will be inside on New Years because they are so crazy and big here. The Ukrainians focus a lot on families though which is cool. The only problem with these Holidays is that everyone gets busy and doesn't want to meet until mid-January. But, everything is going well here.

So things here are picking up. Elder V is healthy and we are finally having a little success. We won't have a baptism here on Saturday, unless some miracle occurs, but, there are going to be TONS of them as a mission which is great. The mission has really exploded recently which is super awesome. We have a great new investigator, Vasil, and everything here is just awesome. The branch is starting to do a little better too which is great. Yesterday, one of the counselors of the Temple President was here and spoke to everyone on a combined sacrament meeting (both branches combined). There were tons of investigators there and total, more than I have ever seen at church in Lviv. Everything is just picking up here and we talk to tons of people and boldly invite them to act. We have had success caroling here which is really fun for us and great for others too. It is a great icebreaker and I love it. We also have focused on Christ with everyone, members and nonmembers and it is really just cool to see the success come. As we invite people to read the doctrines of Christ in the Book of Mormon and focus on that, they really become new people with a true faith in Christ.

Well, I probably have to go, but I wish you a wonderful week. Don't forget to get on Skype this Saturday and if I don't find you by 8:40ish, then go ahead and call ok. I love you Mom, you are truly the best.

'til Saturday,

Elder Jones

December 13, 2010

Hey Mom,

So I heard that you got a little sick this week.  I hope that you are feeling better and allowing yourself to rest so that you can get healthy.  It is not fun to be sick!  Oh and I will be after Elder Valdivieso so don't worry about time.  We will be able to talk for about as long as you want to talk.

So things here have been going better, but still really slowly here in Lviv.  We are just having lots of troubles finding people and it is getting really frustrating at times, but we are going out and doing it.  The weather here has been crazy, cold and wet and snowy pretty much all week.  It is fun though to fight through it.  And I will be fine this winter for sure.  I still haven't even pulled out the thermals and I am feeling fine so don't worry about me freezing.  Elder V has still been fighting a cough, but he is getting better.  We go out and work hard everyday.  By the way, why do you ask about tracting?  I have gone once here, but it is super ineffective and most missionaries don't do it except for a last resort.  It is the worst way to do missionary work.  Members and investigators are the best ways to finds others.  Oh and the apartment here is really neat, not special, but cozy and enough.  The only problem is that I don't have a pillow, but I actually prefer it that way.  Oh, and the boots are awesome.  They are super warm and protect from the wet and snow.  The clothes are all fine.

So I am working on sending pictures, but we have just been hurried recently.  I will try to make the time, ok.

So I hope that you have a wonderful week and a safe drive to California.  Tell Grandma and Grandpa that I love them and say a big thanks for the money.  That is so nice of them.  I will probably buy some gloves here soon - like liners I mean, because the ones I have are falling apart already.  We just use our hands a lot so they are getting beat up.

Well, I love you Mom.  I am grateful for your wonderful Christlike example and all you have to help me be here.  I know that you and Dad have sacrificed a lot and you have no idea how much that means to me.  Thanks for all that you do.  I love you.

With Love,

Elder Jones

December 6, 2010

Hey Mom,

So the inversion there probably isn't too much worse than the weather here!  We have had temperatures around 0 degrees during the day and the snow came in a huge dump, leaving the roads super icy and dangerous.  It has been tough, but luckily I am staying warm which is what matters.  Scarfs are a miraculous invention!

So things here in Lviv have been going really slowly this week.  The weather was the first obstacle, but that one wasn't too big.  The biggest one is that we were confined to the apartment because of the weather.  We didn't want Elder V to develop pneumonia so we spent the first four days of the week inside.  Then on Friday and Saturday we signed on an apartment and moved in which took up time as well.  It made for a tough week because we didn't get tons of work, but I can't complain.  We now are mostly healthy and moved in so we will be able to focus on our new area and the work.  Oh and yes, I am senior companion now, not that it really makes a difference.  I just know Ukrainian better because I have been here a lot longer which is the only real difference. Oh also, I am fine on toiletries.  They have good stuff here so I am not worried.  Some missionaries just love American stuff and their moms send it, but I don't need that kind of stuff.  Peanut butter has definitely been my favorite American item, but when I don't have it, I don't even notice the difference.

So Derrick is doing well from what I have heard. (An investigator Ryan had in Ivano.)  He is still preparing for baptism which is great.  The mission is having tons of success right now and this Christmas has been nicknamed "white Christmas" because we are planning on getting over 20 baptisms here on that day which is huge.  That is TONS for this area and the success is just really awesome right now

Nice work on the birthday card mom!  (Rob's birthday card named the seven dwarfs at 50 - Squinty, Itchy, Gassy Saggy, Cranky, Gimpy and Snoozy, which I told him all applied to him.)  I forgot to say happy birthday last week, just forgot.  What a horrible son!  Oh well I think he will forgive me, I hope ;)

Well I hope that you have a wonderful week.  Good luck at the Christmas party and have fun there.  Also, remember why we are celebrating (that is funny, you always tried to remind us, kids, that as we grew up so I probably don't need to remind you.)  Also, thanks a ton for the little ornament that you sent me.  (It was the nativity scene.)  It is awesome and I have it on my study desk.  I am so grateful to Christ for all that He has done for us and for me personally.  I wouldn't be here without Him.  He is truly our Savior and Redeemer and I know that He loves us all so much.  I am so thankful that we have this time here on earth to become more like Him and help those that we love become more like Him too.  Thanks for always teaching me of the importance of this season.  I love you a lot Mom, you are the best!

With Love,

Elder Jones

December 6, 2010 - To Dad

Hey Dad,

So we are about to run to a lesson so I will have to keep this short, but I want to answer all of your questions.

This past week was actually a really crazy one. The snow and cold came and it came hard. The temperatures dropped down to -17C the other day (about 1F) and the snow really quickly turned to ice which made walking around really hard. Also, my companion was sick with a cold and we stayed inside for over half of the week because we didn't want it to develop in his chest with the cold and wet weather. So basically, we didn't get a lot done. I went apartment searching with a member here (just a half day exchange while Elder Valdivieso was sick). We found an agency and worked through them, but it was really hard to get a good deal. Finally on Friday we found one and signed on it and on Saturday we moved in. Now we can focus on the work.

The branches here are both really struggling. We are working in one branch along with another companionship and then the other branch has the other companionship (plus there are Sisters here which work in both branches). The numbers of sacrament attendance have been really low and people have been falling more and more into inactivity which is bad. They have decent cores of priesthood which is good, but they are struggling and that is one of the reasons that we opened a new area here.

As far as Lviv is concerned, this city is gorgeous. They are preparing for the Euro Cup in 2012 so there is a lot of construction now, but it will be beautiful. There is tons of history too which makes it beautiful. I am super excited to serve here and I will get pictures home eventually.

Christmas is going to be great here. On New Years we have to stay inside because there is too much partying on the streets, but for Chirstmas, we have big plans. The whole mission is working towards making this a "white Christmas" and so far there are tons of baptismal dates for the 25th. We are trying to do our part and will hopefully be celebrating with a baptism.

Well I love you Dad. I am glad to hear that things are going well in the HP group and that you are working hard to do your part in helping people come unto Christ. Whether it is active members, less-actives, or nonmembers, all of us can work to help them become closer to Christ. That is the work and glory of God. I love you.

Elder Jones