April 12, 2011

Hi Mom,

So I got the package and it was stuffed.  Thanks!  It wasn't too fun to carry it home from Lviv, but that's ok.  I am glad that you liked the pictures and I will try to send more in the next couple of weeks.  

So spring has started here for sure, but that means that everyday we are getting rain with the occasional hail or snow mix.  It certainly makes missionary work interesting, but it is also cool to see the rebirth of everything.  This country is so beautiful in the spring.  Thanks for thinking ahead with the dining room table, by the way.  (I told him we bought a new dining room table that will easily seat eight - all the kids and their spouses, so they need to live close by.  A big thanks to Mom and Dad Chidester for the Christmas money to fund the purchase.)  Hopefully I don't go too far.

So thanks so much for sending the Fourth Missionary talk.  I will print it off eventually, but for now, it is fine.  This talk is so incredible and has totally changed my view on the mission and what I am here to do.  I love the scripture, 3 Nephi 27:27 - "what manner of men ought ye to be?"  We are here to become like Christ.  That is why he performed the atonement, to make that possible.  Life is hard and the mission is one of the hardest things I have ever done, but I have no doubts whatsoever that this is the most important thing I have ever done.  I am so grateful to Heavenly Father for this opportunity.

Hmm, favorite scripture is a tough question.  I have so many of them.  I love 2 Nephi 31:19-21.  Also 3 Nephi 27:27 and Alma 26, the whole chapter.  3 Nephi 5:13 is a new favorite of mine too.  Anyway, I am sorry, but I can't really pick one.

So it is great to be back in Ivano and I am so happy that I got to see Zhanna.  She is so awesome and she is doing great.  I have a lot of work to do here and a short time to do it, so I am going to try and be extra diligent while I am here.

I got to watch conference this past weekend in Ukrainian and then yesterday in Lviv at our conference they gave us cds with conference so I will listen in English now.  Once the Liahona comes, I will study that too.  I haven't seen or read Priesthood yet, but I printed off the talks from the First Presidency so I will read those soon.  This conference was just incredible and I can't wait to continue to study it.

Thanks mom for all you do.  Thanks for your great example in following our Savior and His prophet.  I know that Thomas S. Monson is the prophet of God, called of Him to lead this church.  I know that we are here to become like our Savior and thanks to the atonement, that is possible.  Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer.  He atoned to redeem us from our sins, and to give us the strength we need to reach our potential, become like Him and truly be happy.  I know He lives.

Love,

Elder Jones