Love,
Elder Jones
ринок
Orthodox Church
Monday, June 28, 2010
June 28, 2010 - Photos
Well I figured I would send you a couple of neat photos I took. The first are of the town market or "ринок" and the others are of the big white orthodox church up the street from us. Well, enjoy!
Love,
Elder Jones
Orthodox Church
Love,
Elder Jones
Orthodox Church
June 28, 2010
Hi Mom,
So it sounds like you have a crazy couple of weeks ahead of you. (We have two family reunions and girls camp coming up.) I am sure it will be a lot of fun though and you will be just fine. Say hi to everyone in the family and let them know that I love them. Also, if they have any questions, I would love to answer them so just send them my way. Anyway, so Caitlin is at Bear Lake all week and Chelsea is playing soccer - or watching it all week. And then you are working all week. What does Dad do? Just kidding. Sounds like life is just as busy as it always was, except now I have something that is keeping me busy too.
It seems that Ward conference went well. Again, another great opportunity to receive guidance from our leaders. President McConkie is such a spiritual leader and he definitely knows what he is doing as the Lord is guiding him in his calling. The commandments are so basic and key, but sometimes they do seem tough to follow or we just forget about them. What President McConkie said is true though, when we follow the commandments, we will receive peace and joy. That is what we try to tell people here to help them read the scriptures or give up smoking. God loves us. We are here on earth to receive joy, as 2 Nephi 2:25 says. God gives us commandments so that we can have that joy. It is so basic. Anyway, so I actually read that talk from Elder Carlson this morning so it is pretty convenient that you talked about it. Those scriptures he shared at the end are great too. Along with them, one that came to my mind when I read it was D&C 82:10 which says, "I the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say, but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise." Also D&C 130:20-21 go along with it. Every commandment has blessings along with it. As we read the scriptures, there is a pattern of law, and then promise. As we diligently search the Scriptures, we can find those promises right along with those commandments. And because God is perfectly just and loving, he always blesses us when we keep the commandments.
So, just to update you on the work here. There isn't much at all actually. This was the hardest week of my mission without a doubt. It is ok though, because Elder Parker is a great missionary and he is guiding me a lot. We are going to keep working and try to find people. Elder Smith and Fanning are still here in Rivne. It is their second transfer together. They don't have a whole lot either. It is really tough right now, but that is because Satan is pulling everything he has out to bring us down. He knows that in less than nine weeks, he will lose whatever grasp he has over Ukraine. The temple is ready. It is so close to being done and in 2 months, President Monson will be here to dedicate it to the work of the Lord. I am so excited for that day. Until then though, we still have a lot of work to do. There are plenty of people who know nothing about the temple and it is our responsibility to bring that knowledge to them. There are families everywhere that could receive the blessings of the temple, but first, we need to talk with them. What would you say to a mother and father who are walking around with their kids? What would be the most comfortable approach for them that we could take in trying to talk with them? If you have any ideas, that would help a lot.
Well, I want to finish with my testimony that I know this is the true Church of Jesus Christ. I know that the Book of Mormon is the true word of God. I know, because I read it everyday and I feel the Holy Ghost bear testimony to me. I know that Joseph Smith is a true prophet of God. I am so grateful to him for the many sacrifices he made. It wasn't easy, but he did his responsibility and as a result, we have the knowledge of Christ's gospel. It is true. The gospel of Jesus Christ is the only way that we can live together as a family, with God, for eternity. It is the only way to a fullness of joy and peace, in this life, and for eternity. Thomas S. Monson is God's prophet on the earth today. He loves us and through revelation, he guides us. All we have to do, to know this for ourselves is to follow the teachings of Christ, because they are true, and the blessings that result testify to us. God lives. Christ lives. They love us.
I love you all,
Elder Jones
So it sounds like you have a crazy couple of weeks ahead of you. (We have two family reunions and girls camp coming up.) I am sure it will be a lot of fun though and you will be just fine. Say hi to everyone in the family and let them know that I love them. Also, if they have any questions, I would love to answer them so just send them my way. Anyway, so Caitlin is at Bear Lake all week and Chelsea is playing soccer - or watching it all week. And then you are working all week. What does Dad do? Just kidding. Sounds like life is just as busy as it always was, except now I have something that is keeping me busy too.
It seems that Ward conference went well. Again, another great opportunity to receive guidance from our leaders. President McConkie is such a spiritual leader and he definitely knows what he is doing as the Lord is guiding him in his calling. The commandments are so basic and key, but sometimes they do seem tough to follow or we just forget about them. What President McConkie said is true though, when we follow the commandments, we will receive peace and joy. That is what we try to tell people here to help them read the scriptures or give up smoking. God loves us. We are here on earth to receive joy, as 2 Nephi 2:25 says. God gives us commandments so that we can have that joy. It is so basic. Anyway, so I actually read that talk from Elder Carlson this morning so it is pretty convenient that you talked about it. Those scriptures he shared at the end are great too. Along with them, one that came to my mind when I read it was D&C 82:10 which says, "I the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say, but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise." Also D&C 130:20-21 go along with it. Every commandment has blessings along with it. As we read the scriptures, there is a pattern of law, and then promise. As we diligently search the Scriptures, we can find those promises right along with those commandments. And because God is perfectly just and loving, he always blesses us when we keep the commandments.
So, just to update you on the work here. There isn't much at all actually. This was the hardest week of my mission without a doubt. It is ok though, because Elder Parker is a great missionary and he is guiding me a lot. We are going to keep working and try to find people. Elder Smith and Fanning are still here in Rivne. It is their second transfer together. They don't have a whole lot either. It is really tough right now, but that is because Satan is pulling everything he has out to bring us down. He knows that in less than nine weeks, he will lose whatever grasp he has over Ukraine. The temple is ready. It is so close to being done and in 2 months, President Monson will be here to dedicate it to the work of the Lord. I am so excited for that day. Until then though, we still have a lot of work to do. There are plenty of people who know nothing about the temple and it is our responsibility to bring that knowledge to them. There are families everywhere that could receive the blessings of the temple, but first, we need to talk with them. What would you say to a mother and father who are walking around with their kids? What would be the most comfortable approach for them that we could take in trying to talk with them? If you have any ideas, that would help a lot.
Well, I want to finish with my testimony that I know this is the true Church of Jesus Christ. I know that the Book of Mormon is the true word of God. I know, because I read it everyday and I feel the Holy Ghost bear testimony to me. I know that Joseph Smith is a true prophet of God. I am so grateful to him for the many sacrifices he made. It wasn't easy, but he did his responsibility and as a result, we have the knowledge of Christ's gospel. It is true. The gospel of Jesus Christ is the only way that we can live together as a family, with God, for eternity. It is the only way to a fullness of joy and peace, in this life, and for eternity. Thomas S. Monson is God's prophet on the earth today. He loves us and through revelation, he guides us. All we have to do, to know this for ourselves is to follow the teachings of Christ, because they are true, and the blessings that result testify to us. God lives. Christ lives. They love us.
I love you all,
Elder Jones
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
June 22, 2010
Mom,
So the socks are doing better, but we will see in the future. (Don't buy the cheap socks at Men's Warehouse, they get holes right away! :( ) I will let you know as time goes by. And woohoo for the ring...finally. It would be great if you could send a ton of claritin because that has been working, and maybe a bag of candy...but really that isn't necessary because we have been making plenty of brownies recently. We have actually been making them for investigators and for members and it turns out that my cooking skills aren't too bad. They are pretty tasty brownies, made from scratch. Anyway, so yeah, candy isn't really necessary because there is plenty of that here if I really want it and you are already spending enough money for me. It should say ВП on it which means Choose the Right!
So Caitlin did tell me about camp and it sounds like she will be having fun up there and that it will be a great learning experience for her. And Dad told me about the Pac-12 which is one of the coolest things I have ever heard...I am super excited for all those future Cal-Utah games where I get to go cheer against Dad's old school. But that is still way down the road so I am not super worried about it. Chelsea didn't tell me about the World Cup, but I will write her and ask. She probably just watches that all day at home, doesn't she? Well, I hope she finds a way to have fun this summer.
So it is crazy to hear about that oil spill, but I am glad that it is getting taken care of. And the weather is probably going to start getting hot for you soon. It is summer time which is absolutely crazy. It has been way hot here, but we still get rain (it is actually wet today) which has kept it cooler. Still, it is short sleeves everyday for me. And it sounds like work is pretty crazy for you right now. 38 hours a week is a lot. How many vacations do you have planned in the future, or were you talking about all those trips to Cedar City and whatnot? Well, good luck with it.
So, just so you know, we had zone conference in Lviv yesterday (hence the late email...sorry to scare you ;P). (We didn't get his email until today) It was a great day and we learned so much about how to go out and better do the work. It was a long day, and we didn't get back until late, but we learned so much about how to do missionary work and I plan on doing my best to implement it everyday as we try to go out and work. The work is very slow for Elder Parker and I right now, but we have learned and continue to learn so much every day and as we follow the guidance of our leaders and the examples of great missionaries in the scriptures, we will start finding the elect that God will place in our path.
Speaking of great missionaries, it is awesome to hear that you are all studying and discussing the life of Christ. That is one thing that the Apostles always emphasize is a sincere study of Jesus Christ's life. As we know, he is our greatest example. Our Heavenly Father's purpose is for us to all receive immortality and eternal life. Through the Atonement of Christ, everyone will receive immortal bodies as a gift. Wow! Also through the Atonement, we can all gain Eternal Life if we choose to apply the atonement and become better. As John 17:3 says, "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." Eternal Life is to know God. How better can we get to know Him, than by following the perfect example of His Son, Jesus Christ, who is One with the Father and therefore knows Him perfectly. We too can come to know God if we just strive to follow the example and the teachings of Christ. I am striving so hard to develop love like our Savior has for us. He is perfect and He has charged us to be perfect even as He and His Father. What a great invitation, eh? It may be tough, but we can do it with His help. I know that Christ lives and that He loves us and that through His perfect atonement, we can live with each other forever, along with God in His Kingdom.
Love,
Elder Jones
So the socks are doing better, but we will see in the future. (Don't buy the cheap socks at Men's Warehouse, they get holes right away! :( ) I will let you know as time goes by. And woohoo for the ring...finally. It would be great if you could send a ton of claritin because that has been working, and maybe a bag of candy...but really that isn't necessary because we have been making plenty of brownies recently. We have actually been making them for investigators and for members and it turns out that my cooking skills aren't too bad. They are pretty tasty brownies, made from scratch. Anyway, so yeah, candy isn't really necessary because there is plenty of that here if I really want it and you are already spending enough money for me. It should say ВП on it which means Choose the Right!
So Caitlin did tell me about camp and it sounds like she will be having fun up there and that it will be a great learning experience for her. And Dad told me about the Pac-12 which is one of the coolest things I have ever heard...I am super excited for all those future Cal-Utah games where I get to go cheer against Dad's old school. But that is still way down the road so I am not super worried about it. Chelsea didn't tell me about the World Cup, but I will write her and ask. She probably just watches that all day at home, doesn't she? Well, I hope she finds a way to have fun this summer.
So it is crazy to hear about that oil spill, but I am glad that it is getting taken care of. And the weather is probably going to start getting hot for you soon. It is summer time which is absolutely crazy. It has been way hot here, but we still get rain (it is actually wet today) which has kept it cooler. Still, it is short sleeves everyday for me. And it sounds like work is pretty crazy for you right now. 38 hours a week is a lot. How many vacations do you have planned in the future, or were you talking about all those trips to Cedar City and whatnot? Well, good luck with it.
So, just so you know, we had zone conference in Lviv yesterday (hence the late email...sorry to scare you ;P). (We didn't get his email until today) It was a great day and we learned so much about how to go out and better do the work. It was a long day, and we didn't get back until late, but we learned so much about how to do missionary work and I plan on doing my best to implement it everyday as we try to go out and work. The work is very slow for Elder Parker and I right now, but we have learned and continue to learn so much every day and as we follow the guidance of our leaders and the examples of great missionaries in the scriptures, we will start finding the elect that God will place in our path.
Speaking of great missionaries, it is awesome to hear that you are all studying and discussing the life of Christ. That is one thing that the Apostles always emphasize is a sincere study of Jesus Christ's life. As we know, he is our greatest example. Our Heavenly Father's purpose is for us to all receive immortality and eternal life. Through the Atonement of Christ, everyone will receive immortal bodies as a gift. Wow! Also through the Atonement, we can all gain Eternal Life if we choose to apply the atonement and become better. As John 17:3 says, "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." Eternal Life is to know God. How better can we get to know Him, than by following the perfect example of His Son, Jesus Christ, who is One with the Father and therefore knows Him perfectly. We too can come to know God if we just strive to follow the example and the teachings of Christ. I am striving so hard to develop love like our Savior has for us. He is perfect and He has charged us to be perfect even as He and His Father. What a great invitation, eh? It may be tough, but we can do it with His help. I know that Christ lives and that He loves us and that through His perfect atonement, we can live with each other forever, along with God in His Kingdom.
Love,
Elder Jones
Monday, June 14, 2010
June 14, 2010
Wow, well it sounds like you have had a crazy week in Utah. I didn't know that you were all going to Cedar City, but it sounds like you had a fun time. I know that later today, you are dropping Caitlin off at Bear Lake. It is crazy to think that it is already summer. I have definitely noticed it with the heat here. It has been in the 90's every day this past week and our apartment is literally like a sauna, especially with the ridiculous humidity that we have. To put it in perspective, President Steinagel said in his letter to us that yesterday was the hottest sacrament meeting he has EVER been to, and he served his mission in the Polynesian islands. It has been pretty miserable here, but it still doesn't feel like June. I started in December and I have already come this far. It is scary how fast the time is flying. You said Michael just got home...I was thinking last night that was so far away when you told me that and now it has already past. Where is the time?
Anyway, so the catastrophes all around the world hit home this past week, eh? (We had our own oil spill in Salt Lake, but only 21,000 gallons. It spilled from a broken pipeline into the Red Butte Creek which runs through our church grounds.) Were you ready for it? That is really crazy to think about, but that is why President Hinckley was always so firm in commanding us to prepare. He knew what was coming and now we are seeing it ourselves.
So, yes, I did get the package. (I sent him peanut butter and a few other things. You can't get peanut butter in Ukraine.) Thank you very much. Do you have any updates on the CTR ring because it has been a long time for that. And don't worry about sending more peanut butter or anything with the Shipp's. It would be too much of a hassle to try and get things figured out and it is not worth it, no matter how tasty peanut butter is. Don't worry, I am feeding myself just fine with pizza, fajitas, sweet and sour chicken and more (that is some of what Elder Parker and I made this week). We even made brownies, and are planning on making more for a member who's birthday is today. My allergies are doing ok too. They just hit me really hard and it was a little unexpected, but I have benadryl and Elder Smith gave me some claritin to use too so I will let you know if that works.
So to answer your next question, yes those pictures are taken in Rivne. They were taken from the 8th floor of that building and як раз (conveniently), the elevator wasn't working that day so we got to climb the stairs. That one picture of the hallway is taken from the balcony and I don't know what the boxes are for. Ukrainians are kinda silly ;P and I can never guess what they use things for.
Anyway, So I am glad to hear that you enjoyed Stake Conference. Our Stake Presidency truly is a great one, full of inspired men who received revelation specifically for everyone who was there to listen. That is so great to remember as you listen and then follow their teachings. They have the priesthood, and the keys to run the Bonneville Stake, and you got to listen to their guidance specifically for your family, wow!
Well, so President Didyshok, our Branch President, asked Elder Parker and I to speak yesterday which was a little intimidating, but I did it and it was a great experience. I talked a little about all of you back home and how you helped me by teaching me the gospel. Afterward, President Didyshok spoke himself and he posed a question that I want to ask you. He said, "what can you do to be worthy to go to the Temple?" Then he said, "I know that you can all give me a good answer, but are you doing it?" So, ask yourself that question. What can I do, to be worthy to visit the Temple. I know that all of you know the answers to that question. Of course, I can read the scriptures. I can follow the prophets. I can think clean thoughts and say nice things. I can love other people. There are tons of answers to that question, all of which can help us to be worthy. But, the real question is are you doing that? Are you reading every day from the Book of Mormon? Are you showing your love for others by serving them? Are you preparing yourself each and every moment by doing what Christ would want you to do? I am sure that you are doing your best to try and do those things, but are you doing them? I know that sometimes it seems hard because we are all so busy and tired and people around us aren't nice, but are you doing all that you can, to be worthy to visit the temple. Take a minute and look back on your day. Ask yourself how you could do better, and then ask Heavenly Father and Jesus Chirst for help and go ahead and do it. I know that as we all try our best, we can be worthy to go to the temple. That is such a blessing and soon the people here in Ukraine will be able to take part in that blessing. Soon they will be able to to visit the Temple. In 11 weeks, it will be open! And then the work here will continue to expand. The Lord's Kingdom is growing each and everyday and soon, it will gain so much more power over the hearts of the people. But they have to prepare themselves. We all have to prepare ourselves for the work which is ahead. We are the only one's which the Lord has at this time who can do this work. So let's get out and do it. I know that This Church is true. It is the Kingdom of God, restored to the earth through the Prophet Joseph Smith. Thomas Monson is the Prophet of God today. Jesus Christ is leading this church through him. I know that this work can only move forward. I love you all!
Love,
Elder Jones
Anyway, so the catastrophes all around the world hit home this past week, eh? (We had our own oil spill in Salt Lake, but only 21,000 gallons. It spilled from a broken pipeline into the Red Butte Creek which runs through our church grounds.) Were you ready for it? That is really crazy to think about, but that is why President Hinckley was always so firm in commanding us to prepare. He knew what was coming and now we are seeing it ourselves.
So, yes, I did get the package. (I sent him peanut butter and a few other things. You can't get peanut butter in Ukraine.) Thank you very much. Do you have any updates on the CTR ring because it has been a long time for that. And don't worry about sending more peanut butter or anything with the Shipp's. It would be too much of a hassle to try and get things figured out and it is not worth it, no matter how tasty peanut butter is. Don't worry, I am feeding myself just fine with pizza, fajitas, sweet and sour chicken and more (that is some of what Elder Parker and I made this week). We even made brownies, and are planning on making more for a member who's birthday is today. My allergies are doing ok too. They just hit me really hard and it was a little unexpected, but I have benadryl and Elder Smith gave me some claritin to use too so I will let you know if that works.
So to answer your next question, yes those pictures are taken in Rivne. They were taken from the 8th floor of that building and як раз (conveniently), the elevator wasn't working that day so we got to climb the stairs. That one picture of the hallway is taken from the balcony and I don't know what the boxes are for. Ukrainians are kinda silly ;P and I can never guess what they use things for.
Anyway, So I am glad to hear that you enjoyed Stake Conference. Our Stake Presidency truly is a great one, full of inspired men who received revelation specifically for everyone who was there to listen. That is so great to remember as you listen and then follow their teachings. They have the priesthood, and the keys to run the Bonneville Stake, and you got to listen to their guidance specifically for your family, wow!Well, so President Didyshok, our Branch President, asked Elder Parker and I to speak yesterday which was a little intimidating, but I did it and it was a great experience. I talked a little about all of you back home and how you helped me by teaching me the gospel. Afterward, President Didyshok spoke himself and he posed a question that I want to ask you. He said, "what can you do to be worthy to go to the Temple?" Then he said, "I know that you can all give me a good answer, but are you doing it?" So, ask yourself that question. What can I do, to be worthy to visit the Temple. I know that all of you know the answers to that question. Of course, I can read the scriptures. I can follow the prophets. I can think clean thoughts and say nice things. I can love other people. There are tons of answers to that question, all of which can help us to be worthy. But, the real question is are you doing that? Are you reading every day from the Book of Mormon? Are you showing your love for others by serving them? Are you preparing yourself each and every moment by doing what Christ would want you to do? I am sure that you are doing your best to try and do those things, but are you doing them? I know that sometimes it seems hard because we are all so busy and tired and people around us aren't nice, but are you doing all that you can, to be worthy to visit the temple. Take a minute and look back on your day. Ask yourself how you could do better, and then ask Heavenly Father and Jesus Chirst for help and go ahead and do it. I know that as we all try our best, we can be worthy to go to the temple. That is such a blessing and soon the people here in Ukraine will be able to take part in that blessing. Soon they will be able to to visit the Temple. In 11 weeks, it will be open! And then the work here will continue to expand. The Lord's Kingdom is growing each and everyday and soon, it will gain so much more power over the hearts of the people. But they have to prepare themselves. We all have to prepare ourselves for the work which is ahead. We are the only one's which the Lord has at this time who can do this work. So let's get out and do it. I know that This Church is true. It is the Kingdom of God, restored to the earth through the Prophet Joseph Smith. Thomas Monson is the Prophet of God today. Jesus Christ is leading this church through him. I know that this work can only move forward. I love you all!
Love,
Elder Jones
Monday, June 7, 2010
June 7, 2010
Hey Mom,
On Saturday, we got up early and headed to center Kyiv to meet with Elder Scott. That was such an incredible experience. All 100 of us missionaries were there and as he got there, we all stood and had an opportunity to shake his hand in introduce ourselves. I am sure his hand was a little sore after that. He talked to us about a lot of different topics. He talked about the Spirit and how He will guide us in the work. Elder Scott told us to always pay attention to those things which we see, hear, and feel and to write them down as we seek guidance from the Lord. That is how the Spirit will answer us. Elder Scott also talked about personal character. He said that the yardstick which the Lord will use to judge us is measured in our personal character. As we strive to study the gospel and to follow the commandments, we are molded into that character which our Heavenly Father wants us to be. He also bore strong testimony of our Savior, Jesus Christ. I have no doubts that Elder Scott is an Apostle of the Lord. His personal witness of Christ is so powerful. The Spirit was incredible in that room as he testified.
We got back to Rivne Sunday morning at about 5. I am starting to get sick now and I think it is because of the lack of sleep that I got these past few days. Also, my allergies have been absolutely horrible this past week. But it doesn't matter. As Elder Scott taught us, the secret to get through our trials is to just enjoy the experiment and think about what we can do to learn from them. He must be a very wise man, because it is very difficult to enjoy allergies, but I will do my best :) Well, I am glad to hear that all is going well back home and that you are all doing what you can to continue to grow and become that person that the Lord wants. I know that life is sometimes difficult and there are so many things that get in the way, but the gospel of Christ is so simple and as we do all we can to follow the commandments, our lives will be so much happier. God loves us. Christ loves us. That is why they have revealed their plan to us. They didn't leave us guessing. We always know what we need to do and as we follow the commandments and seek the Spirit, He will tell us more that we can do to improve. I love you all and look forward to hearing from you. Thanks for you love and support.
With Love as always,
So this past week was a pretty crazy one. Elder Smith and I had a lot of work to do and we did a pretty good job getting out and keeping Rivne going. It was really tough to go away for a couple of days, but the work should pick back up this week. Elder Smith is a great missionary and a good example for me. So, on Friday I found out who my new companion is. His name is Elder Parker and he is from Alpine, Utah. He has been out for 8 months (two transfers more than me, so 12 weeks longer). I am looking forward to working with him and we are both going to grow a lot this transfer I think. 
(Here Ryan is with Elder Parker)
After spending Friday afternoon contacting in Kyiv, we went to the mission office next to the temple and ate dinner and then watched The Other Side of Heaven, before going back to get rest for the night. I have some Temple pictures that I will send home.
(Here Ryan is with Elder Parker)
On Saturday, we got up early and headed to center Kyiv to meet with Elder Scott. That was such an incredible experience. All 100 of us missionaries were there and as he got there, we all stood and had an opportunity to shake his hand in introduce ourselves. I am sure his hand was a little sore after that. He talked to us about a lot of different topics. He talked about the Spirit and how He will guide us in the work. Elder Scott told us to always pay attention to those things which we see, hear, and feel and to write them down as we seek guidance from the Lord. That is how the Spirit will answer us. Elder Scott also talked about personal character. He said that the yardstick which the Lord will use to judge us is measured in our personal character. As we strive to study the gospel and to follow the commandments, we are molded into that character which our Heavenly Father wants us to be. He also bore strong testimony of our Savior, Jesus Christ. I have no doubts that Elder Scott is an Apostle of the Lord. His personal witness of Christ is so powerful. The Spirit was incredible in that room as he testified.We got back to Rivne Sunday morning at about 5. I am starting to get sick now and I think it is because of the lack of sleep that I got these past few days. Also, my allergies have been absolutely horrible this past week. But it doesn't matter. As Elder Scott taught us, the secret to get through our trials is to just enjoy the experiment and think about what we can do to learn from them. He must be a very wise man, because it is very difficult to enjoy allergies, but I will do my best :) Well, I am glad to hear that all is going well back home and that you are all doing what you can to continue to grow and become that person that the Lord wants. I know that life is sometimes difficult and there are so many things that get in the way, but the gospel of Christ is so simple and as we do all we can to follow the commandments, our lives will be so much happier. God loves us. Christ loves us. That is why they have revealed their plan to us. They didn't leave us guessing. We always know what we need to do and as we follow the commandments and seek the Spirit, He will tell us more that we can do to improve. I love you all and look forward to hearing from you. Thanks for you love and support.
With Love as always,
Elder Jones
These are the former 4 missionaries in Rivne, Elder Monson, Elder Smith, Ryan and Elder Fanning.
These are the former 4 missionaries in Rivne, Elder Monson, Elder Smith, Ryan and Elder Fanning.Monday, May 31, 2010
May 31, 2010
Hey Mom,
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
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?
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
May 24, 2010
Hey Mom,
Well, it sounds like work is crazy like always. Hopefully with Caitlin leaving soon and the sale ending, life will get normalish again. How are the church callings? You are still the family history guru right? We have a specialist coming from the Kyiv Stake next week to teach our members how to use Family Search. Elder Monson and I have been helping members a little with it too, just because it is in English. The Temple is so close though and the members are all excited. President Steinagel said in his letter to us last week that they are laying the sod and the fountains are being built and whatnot. It is mostly just the beautification that they have to do before it is done. And in a week and a half, I will be going into Kyiv. We are finishing our transfer early and next Saturday, every missionary will be in Kyiv to listen to Elder Scott.
So, I got a letter from Elder Sudbury last week and he said that last Monday he was taking off for Mexico so he is officially out of Utah. He was very excited about that.
Say hi to Grandma and Grandpa from me. (They're visiting right now.) I haven't gotten any letters from them, but I have slacked and haven't written any either. It is so hard with all that I need to write and such a short amount of time to do it. I did get a letter from Grandpa Chidester this week and he said all is going well.
Wow, it is so awesome to hear that Ian and Miles are both preparing to head off to Brazil. That will be such a great experience for them. It is too bad though that they are stuck in South America with everyone else ;P
Hmm, so this week was a pretty tough one for us. We had to drop another baptismal date, and we have a lot of people who aren't progressing right now. We have some potential families and a couple of investigators who we hope to set baptismal dates with this week. Elder Smith and Elder Fanning are doing awesome right now too. It has been awesome to work with them. Yesterday Elder Monson and I got to sit in on branch council and that was a crazy experience. It was really sad to hear about all of the problems right now with the branch and a lot of the members. We have so much work to do and I am grateful for that, but it was just really humbling to hear of what is happening to people who used to be so strong.
Elder Andersen's talk was absolutely amazing. (Each week we're sharing a general conference talk.) I remember listening to it just a couple of days ago and his testimony is so strong. That quote you shared with me is absolutely amazing and it is true. As Mormon taught, we have hope because of Christ, but if we don't have faith in Christ, then we aren't willing to act, and therefore our hope is lost. As Nephi taught, (along with every other prophet), it is only through the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and his infinite atonement, that we can receive eternal life. (2 Nephi 31:19-21, a couple of my favorite verses). There is no other path, and therefore we need to enter into those covenants, and then endure to the end. The enduring to the end is the hard part, but if we remember to trust in Jesus Christ, and rely on His Atonement, we will never need to fear. (D&C 6:33-37 and Helaman 5:12) All we need to do is live the Gospel and all will be fine. The gospel of Jesus Christ is so simple. First, we need faith, which leads us to action, specifically repentance, which leads to baptism and confirmation. After that, we must endure to the end. And so the cycle begins again, and as it does, our faith grows, we have more desire to repent and to follow the prophets and we are made clean again by sacrament, allowing us to have the Holy Ghost with us always. I know that it is as simple as that. Our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love us. This Church is the Church of Jesus Christ and he leads it. The Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ and it teaches us all that we need to do and helps us build our faith in Christ. That is the message that I share with the people of Ukraine, and as they accept it, I see their faith grow and they are able to overcome all trials. I know that this gospel is true. As I live it each and everyday, I feel closer to the Savior than ever and I know that He is here to help each and every one of us to return to live with our Heavenly Father, as families. That gives me the hope to get through all the tough moments of everyday and to look forward to the day that I stand before Christ.
Love,
Elder Jones
Well, it sounds like work is crazy like always. Hopefully with Caitlin leaving soon and the sale ending, life will get normalish again. How are the church callings? You are still the family history guru right? We have a specialist coming from the Kyiv Stake next week to teach our members how to use Family Search. Elder Monson and I have been helping members a little with it too, just because it is in English. The Temple is so close though and the members are all excited. President Steinagel said in his letter to us last week that they are laying the sod and the fountains are being built and whatnot. It is mostly just the beautification that they have to do before it is done. And in a week and a half, I will be going into Kyiv. We are finishing our transfer early and next Saturday, every missionary will be in Kyiv to listen to Elder Scott.
So, I got a letter from Elder Sudbury last week and he said that last Monday he was taking off for Mexico so he is officially out of Utah. He was very excited about that.
Say hi to Grandma and Grandpa from me. (They're visiting right now.) I haven't gotten any letters from them, but I have slacked and haven't written any either. It is so hard with all that I need to write and such a short amount of time to do it. I did get a letter from Grandpa Chidester this week and he said all is going well.
Wow, it is so awesome to hear that Ian and Miles are both preparing to head off to Brazil. That will be such a great experience for them. It is too bad though that they are stuck in South America with everyone else ;P
Hmm, so this week was a pretty tough one for us. We had to drop another baptismal date, and we have a lot of people who aren't progressing right now. We have some potential families and a couple of investigators who we hope to set baptismal dates with this week. Elder Smith and Elder Fanning are doing awesome right now too. It has been awesome to work with them. Yesterday Elder Monson and I got to sit in on branch council and that was a crazy experience. It was really sad to hear about all of the problems right now with the branch and a lot of the members. We have so much work to do and I am grateful for that, but it was just really humbling to hear of what is happening to people who used to be so strong.
Elder Andersen's talk was absolutely amazing. (Each week we're sharing a general conference talk.) I remember listening to it just a couple of days ago and his testimony is so strong. That quote you shared with me is absolutely amazing and it is true. As Mormon taught, we have hope because of Christ, but if we don't have faith in Christ, then we aren't willing to act, and therefore our hope is lost. As Nephi taught, (along with every other prophet), it is only through the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and his infinite atonement, that we can receive eternal life. (2 Nephi 31:19-21, a couple of my favorite verses). There is no other path, and therefore we need to enter into those covenants, and then endure to the end. The enduring to the end is the hard part, but if we remember to trust in Jesus Christ, and rely on His Atonement, we will never need to fear. (D&C 6:33-37 and Helaman 5:12) All we need to do is live the Gospel and all will be fine. The gospel of Jesus Christ is so simple. First, we need faith, which leads us to action, specifically repentance, which leads to baptism and confirmation. After that, we must endure to the end. And so the cycle begins again, and as it does, our faith grows, we have more desire to repent and to follow the prophets and we are made clean again by sacrament, allowing us to have the Holy Ghost with us always. I know that it is as simple as that. Our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love us. This Church is the Church of Jesus Christ and he leads it. The Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ and it teaches us all that we need to do and helps us build our faith in Christ. That is the message that I share with the people of Ukraine, and as they accept it, I see their faith grow and they are able to overcome all trials. I know that this gospel is true. As I live it each and everyday, I feel closer to the Savior than ever and I know that He is here to help each and every one of us to return to live with our Heavenly Father, as families. That gives me the hope to get through all the tough moments of everyday and to look forward to the day that I stand before Christ.
Love,
Elder Jones
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