November 8, 2010

Hey Mom,

So Dad told me, twice, that the Giants won.  That is so cool and even though it is too bad I missed it, I told him that we will watch them do it again in two years.  That is super cool though.  He also told me about his hand and cold and everything, going into his AORE trip.  Silly papa, always getting himself sick for these types of things.  He will be fine though.

So the soccer banquet thing sounds like it was pretty fun - 3 hours is crazy though.  I would have died.  Our Halloween party was a much better use of three hours.  The spook alley, including the cow tongue, was all Elder Belashov's idea, and he did a great job as he led people through.  It was funny to listen to him explain what each little thing was.  The banana eating contest was Elder Kuczak's Canadian thing.  You have to open the banana peel and then eat the banana inside it, without using your hands.  It was funny and the woman who ended up doing it fastest of all became a new investigator this week too.  She is really cool.

So to answer your, well Carrie's question, yes, the MTC has sheets and you can switch them out weekly.  It is really cool to hear that Grayden is almost ready to go.  He is going to have a great time and be able to help tons of people I am sure.  Let me know how his farewell goes and send him my regards/luck/whatever.

So the Fast and Testimony meeting here is pretty much the same.  The same people get up and testify every week because if they don't, then we would just sit there.  There were only 27 people there yesterday which is 12 less than last week.  Between 25 and 35 is pretty normal here in Ivano.  It is really cool when the Africans get up and testify.  Yesterday, Anne, a member who just moved here to study from Nigeria, came for the first time and she testified.  She has been a member for a long time I guess, but didn't know the church was here until two months after she got here.  She is really cool and is the 5th African member in this branch now, crazy!

Oh, so I still haven't bought a coat yet.  We have had really warm weather here too for the past month.  My Marmot has kept me plenty warm for a while.  I am sure the cold will come eventually though.  By the way, I learned that phrase 'Indian's Summer' this past week.  I had just never heard it before.  But anyway, I found out that here, they called it 'Grandmother's Summer' which I thought was kind of funny.  Just a fun little fact.

Well, so as I mentioned, Zhanna, one of the woman who came to Isaac's baptism and the party, became a new investigator this week.  She is a friend of a member and we invited her to those activities and she came.  We gave her a Book of Mormon and she read it and she really loves how easy it is to understand, in comparison to the Bible.  Anyway, to make things shorter, after we invited her to be baptized, she said she wasn't sure.  So we challenged her to pray about it and ask God if it is right, and to read 3 Nephi 11 where Christ gives his doctrine.  So the next time, we came back and asked if she read and she said, yeah and it talked a lot about repentance and baptism.  Then we asked her if she prayed.  She said "yes."  We asked, "and did you get an answer.  What are your thoughts?"  Then Zhanna said, " I had only one thought, I need to get baptized."  It was incredible!  We ended up setting a date for the 20th of November, two weeks from this past Saturday.  The Book and Mormon and prayer have such an incredible power and it was so great to be able to witness that miracle.  I am so thankful to Heavenly Father that he really does answer prayers and that through the Book of Mormon, we can receive those answers.  That was a great experience to be a part of.

Well, that is about all for this week.  I need to write Caitlin still so I will go do that.  Thanks for all your letters and support.  I love you Mom.

All my Love,

Elder Jones

P.S. Yes I confirmed Isaac.  It was a privilege and I am glad that I am worthy to be able to help him receive such a great blessing and gift. 

November 1, 2010 - Photo Time

Photo Time

These first ones are from the Baptism.  Elder/President Park baptized Isaac.

Here is our Halloween Party

Elder Kuczak and Elder Schmutz setting up the fishing game

The pumpkin they asked me to carve - I had to do it really quickly before the party

One of the Fushtay children - Lyubomir

Ira, Elder Kuczak and Isaac

Ira and the Fushtays

Another Fushtay child - Clabik

Pumpkin carving race

More pumpkin carving

Jack-o-lanterns

Banana eating contest without hands

Banana race

Room of people at Halloween party

Vincent as a mummy

Isaac as a mummy

All of the mummies

Spook Alley

Elder Kuczak as a dead arm - and then he grabbed people's legs

Elder Kuczak waiting for his next victim

That's me - the wet sock - I was a cow's tongue and I licked people. EWW!

Elder Belashov leading people past the child's remains and human brain

Ira touching the human brain

Vincent going through

Clean up - What a night!

November 1, 2010 - To Dad

Hey Dad,

Well, it sounds like the San Francisco Giants are soon to be the World Champions.  I am super excited for this.  That is what the best pitching, and probably one of the youngest teams now too, will get you.  Even though I won't be there with you, I have a feeling they will be successful for a while with this kind of a lineup.

 

Mom told me that you were gonna have surgery and I am glad to hear that the surgery went well.  We have a new member here, Isaac, who is studying to be a surgeon.  He was baptized this past Saturday and then yesterday he received the gift of the Holy Ghost. I was the one who voiced it and for whatever reason, I was a little nervous, but then I thought, "well I am worthy, and I have faith, so the Lord will help me" and it turned out fine.  It is so cool that Isaac now has that gift, the Holy Ghost, to guide him in his life.  Soon he will receive the priesthood and be able to bless people through that power.  The Holy Ghost is a pretty special gift - think of it, we can have a god with us at all times.

 

Have fun this week watching the Giants take the Series, and then the Utes faceoff against TCU.  I will definitely miss that game, but it will be fun to hear about it from you.  Also, good luck next week in Colorado.  I am sure that will be fun for you.  Where are you headed for that? Boulder?  Well, I love you and I am thankful for the birthday wish.  It was awesome to hear from you.  Next stop - 21 years old.  That is just scary.  Well, I love you again.  Thanks for your letters and updates and example and everything.

 

'Til next week,

Elder Jones

November 1, 2010

Mom,

 

Wow, this is all I get for my birthday???  Just Kidding. Thanks a ton Mom for everything of course.

So, I will give you a rundown of our week here.  This week, we worked hard to continue to help Isaac prepare for baptism. He is so cool and so smart and on Saturday, he was able to enter into the waters of baptism.  It was such a special day and I am so happy to watch him make such a huge step in his life.  He says a hole has been filled and his life now has meaning and I am super greatful that I have been able to help him get this far. Now as he continues to go forward, he will have the Holy Ghost to help him in all that he does and as the Lord molds him, he will have a great work to perform.

 

After the baptismal service, we ran back to the branch building where we prepared for the branch Halloween party.  The party turned out to be really cool and I will send some pictures.  Everyone loved it and there were even a lot of non-members who got involved and were able to take part which was so cool.  There were a couple of them who were there who we will hopefully try to work with.  One of them was so impressed that everyone, the kids and the adults, were able to get involved and have a fun time.  The members, and the missionaries really did a good job of planning it all.  There were tons of games and food and also a spook alley which Elder Belashov put together.  That was my favorite part as we got to do our part to scare people ;)  It turned out to be a whole lot of fun.

 

Then, Sunday came, which as always was amazing.  Isaac received the Gift of the Holy Ghost and it was so special to be a part of that and to help him to receive that special gift.  Next up, the priesthood.  Once he receives the Priesthood, he will be able to get to the temple and his opportunities to grow will be incredible.  I am so excited for him.  

 

Well that was our week here.  It was such a great birthday week and I am super excited to move forward and see him receive more blessings and start to bless the lives of his friends and family too.

 

Well, thanks Mom for everything. Make sure you send this to Caitlin too because I didn't have time to write her.  I love you.

 

With Love,

Elder Jones

October 25, 2010

Mom,

Hey Mom, I can't believe it is already another week.  I am glad that you received the birthday card and that you enjoyed my singing.  (Ryan sent me a Russian hallmark card in the mail.)  Plus is sounds like you had a wonderfully relaxing birthday which is awesome.  My birthday probably won't be as quiet, but it will still be a good one I am sure.  That is the day that Isaac is set to get interviewed for his baptism this Saturday, so that will be a great birthday present.  And then, on top of that, after the baptism we are going to have a Halloween party at the branch which will be cool. It will basically be a normal birthday!  Oh and thanks for the birthday song.  Your voice was beautiful as always! (I figured I would be nice that time, did you like it???) Heehee, that reminds me, yesterday, we had dinner with the Park's, the senior couple that comes here to help run the branch.  When we were sitting at the table, Sister Park said something and then I was able to pull an old joke on Elder Park and it reminded me of all the times I made fun of you.  Luckily he understood when I explained that I just missed picking on you ;)

 

Anyway, so as I said,  Isaac is doing wonderfully.  We will meet with him tonight and then probably once more before his interview on Friday. Then this, Saturday, at 3, the service will be held.  I am really excited and looking forward to the step that he is making.  He understands it so well and because of that, he has no problem in making the decision to follow our Savior's commands.  I am really excited to see the change in him and see how everything goes as he works forward.  Also, this past Sunday, Daniel, who was baptized two weeks ago was ordained to be a Priest, and then the other two recent converts each received callings which will help them along.  Yesterday, we actually had more English speaking Priesthood holders at priesthood than we did Ukrainian speakers.  I am really interested to see how that affects the branch going forward.  Vincent, one of the African converts even brought his roommate yesterday and we want to start teaching him this week too.  They are so awesome and they do a great job of being missionaries.  It makes life here really exciting.  Apart from the Africans, there isn't a whole lot going on here. There are some wonderful members though and it is really exciting to continue building relationships with them.  Elder Belashov and I are having a good time together too which always makes life more enjoyable.

 

It sounds that you had a wonderful Stake Conference this past weekend.  Dad said he enjoyed it too which is really cool.  Elder Evans is an awesome speaker.  He came to the MTC while I was there and he shared stories about his mission and about the Book of Mormon which was awesome.  The Book of Mormon is really cool by the way.  I finished it the other day and started again yesterday.  It is such a powerful book and I have witnessed that power on my mission.  When investigators or members choose to read it, they feel the Spirit and that is what converts us.  I am so glad that I have been able to more fully study the Book of Mormon since I have been out.  I hope that you are continuing to study from it and allow your testimony of Jesus Christ to grow.

 

So I saw pictures on LDS.org of the Rome groundbreaking.  That is going to be a beautiful building and that is really exciting to hear that the work is continuing to go forward so well. Oh and you asked if I have tracted.  I have gone once, and I didn't really like it.  It can be effective if there is nothing else to do, but I would much rather teach people before going out and knocking doors.

Well Mom, I love you so very much. I miss you, but I know that it will be so worth it, even if two years is a long time for you.  I have already grown so much and I am going to be ready to go forward in this life.  I am looking forward to be able to have those talks with you.  I do miss those too (oh and I still pace a little).  I will still be able to talk your ears off when I get home, so don't worry about that.  I hope that all goes well this week and that you have a wonderful week in all you do.  I love you Mom and I am thankful for all that you do.

 

All my Love,

Elder Jones

 

P.S. The money on my card will be plenty thanks.  And thanks for the package that is coming my way.  Also, tell people to write me please!  I got a letter from one friend this week, but I haven't gotten many.  Promise them that I will write and send pictures if they write, ok :) Thanks

October 18, 2010 - Photos

So these first ones are of the branch and of the thermometer here.  We had our first freeze.  It has been cold here!  Everyday we wear our coats (I am wearing the Marmot still which is fine) with hats and my glove liners.  Sometimes that isn't even enough.  This is going to be a fun winter!!

 

This is the town that we went to which is out in the mountains.  It is called Verxovyna.  It was a pretty neat place, but it was super misty and cold that day.

More from Verxovyna.  By the way, this was a pretty well developed town.  It was out in the mountains and it reminded me a lot of Park City because it seemed to me that most of the people who live there are a little more well-off than some of the people who live in little villages.

October 18, 2010

MOM!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAREST MAMA, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!  (wow, sorry for my voice, it is a little out of practice) ;)

Happy Birthday Mom, wow, I am turning 20 which means you are now.... 38???  How does it feel?  Wow, 38, that is soo old.  I will never be that old.

Anyway, so as far as your business, I can't really think of anything.  (I'm sending him a box and asked if there was anything he needed besides insoles and shoelaces.) The only thing that I think I might need to buy sometime is a Ukrainian winter coat.  That one that we bought at Mr. Mac would be plenty for a Utah winter, but it has been killer here and we haven't even gotten to winter.  Still, I haven't pulled out the scarf or thermals which will be necessary once the winter hits.  They are saying though, that this is going to be one of the coldest winters ever (last winter was the snowiest in tons of years and so of course this one has to be the coldest).  We will see, but there is nothing I need from America for that.  I may just end up spending that birthday money on a winter coat which leads me to my question, how much money do I have on that card.  Well that is all for business today.  Thanks for the package by the way. Hopefully I will get one off to you sometime in the next month so it will be there long before Christmas.

So I am glad to hear that you had a fun weekend down in Cedar City.  We here made a long trip too out to some members who live 3 and a half hours away from Ivano-Frankivsk.  We don't get to make trips like that often, but, especially here in Ivano, there are a lot of members who live far away who need to support every once and a while.  That was not the most fun ride though - almost 7 hours total on a bus that was absolutely jammed full.  Luckily we bought seats so I got to sit, but with my long legs, that wasn't much more comfortable.  Still, it was totally worth it, and we got to take conference to them which was cool. 

Other than that, our week was pretty normal.  On Monday, our entire district of four got food poisoning from a restaurant and we spent Tuesday mostly indoors.  That was not the most exciting thing, but we know not to go back there.  Then on Wednesday, Elder Kuczak and Clemmens went in to Kyiv for transfers.  Elder Belashov and I will be together for another month and a half, but Elder Clemmens is moving on so we have a new Elder here, Elder Schmutz.  Also on Wednesday, we met with Isaac, and had a wonderful lesson.  At the end of talking about the plan of salvation, we shared a scripture from 2 Nephi 31.  We read verse 10 which talks about how in order to follow Christ, we must keep the commandments of the Father.  Then we read verse 11 which says, "And the Father said: Repent ye, repent ye, and be baptized in the name of my Beloved Son."  Elder Belashov asked Isaac if he was willing to repent and be baptized in order to follow Christ and Isaac said yes.  So now we are working to help him be prepared for baptism by the 30th of October, the date that we selected.  It was such a strong testimony to see the way that the scriptures do the inviting, and all we have to do is help people to understand the scriptures.  Isaac says that he already believes the Book of Mormon is true and he continues to read it everyday and to pray to God to know if what we are teaching him is true.  He understands so well what the Lord has asked us to do and as he goes forward doing these things, his testimony will grow to be so strong.

So I really like that talk from Elder Hallstrom last conference.  I remember one lesson we had in Rivne on that talk and how it is so important that we turn to the Lord for help and answers.  It is true that Christ suffered all these things so that we don't have to suffer.  We just need to trust in Him and turn to Him in prayer and the peace we need will come into our lives.  Even when life is tough, turning to the Lord and trusting Him will get us through anything.  I liked President Eyring's talk about Trusting God in this last conference.  It is important to remember that we need to trust in God and His prophets always, not just when life is tough, but when challenges are thrown our way, we do have the Savior to help lift us.  As long as we continue to follow the Savior when things are well, we will remember to turn to Him in those times where we are struggling.  I know that Jesus Christ loves all of us and He is our Savior.  We only need to trust in Him and follow Him and we will never be put into a situation that we can't overcome. 

I love you Mom and I am grateful for your love and support.  You have always been there to help me and you have sacrificed so much to help us kids get along in life.  I am truly thankful for that.

All My Love,

Elder Jones

P.S. Two investigators, Inna and Juliana, just got baptized this past weekend in Rivne.  I can't remember if I ever told you about them, but we as missionaries worked with them a lot while we were there and it was cool to hear that they finally made that step.  Juliana is Genadiy's wife (Genadiy is a member there) and so in a year, they will be able to get sealed in the temple!