November 15, 2010

Mom,

So the weather here is still incredibly nice.  It is even hot today I think.  I was sweating on the bus where it was probably 80 plus degrees.  It has been really nice though, but I have heard that once the winter comes, it will be relentless.

By the way, piece of business here.  Elder Belashov is planning on studying at BYU after his mission but doesn't have enough money.  He needs to find a sponsor and they will help him to pay for the first year or two of school.  I guess he needs about 20,000 dollars and was wondering if there is anyone in the ward or neighborhood that you can think of that could help him out.  It is not a huge problem if you can't think of anyone, but just a question.

I have not received anything from Elder Sudbury in a long time.  I sent him a letter at least a month ago so I am sure he will respond to that, but I haven't heard from him.  As for Jacob, I send him letters snailom mailom (that's Ukrainianized English - just a joke) and he writes me back by email.  It is actually really funny.  He writes and I wait til Monday to get it, and I write him and he waits a month for it to get to America.

Speaking of America, I just sent a package there today.  It is for Christmas so let me know when it gets there - it will probably be a month or so.  I told Caitlin about Thanksgiving because sometimes I just think of things like that when I write her.  I also told her about some drunk guy experience I had in Kyiv 3 months ago and never told you (I don't know why I remembered that).  Sometimes it just happens. Sorry.

So I wish you a wonderful Thanksgiving.  I am sure it will be way cool with some family members there.  Tell them hi for me.  And like President Monson taught, remember to be grateful.  Like for example, with the new computer that is so much faster than the old computer.  That is a little different from electricity versus lamps, but similar too, eh?  We all certainly have a lot to be thankful for which is great.

So that is strange that I helped give a talk in sacrament meeting.  (We had a missionary farewell Sunday and the youth speaker wasn't there so they read clips from Ryan's last 4 emails having to do with Isaac and his baptism as well as Elder Close's last letter.)  I will be giving one here this week too.  I am glad that people are able to hear about missionary experiences that we are having.  Hopefully it will help some of the young men prepare for their own opportunity, and some of the older people look for opportunities at home.  Like President Hinckley always said, every member is a missionary and all of us who take part in this work will be blessed, whether it is the full time missionaries or the busy members at home.

So as for an update here.  This past week we were in Lviv for a missionary meeting and it was cool to see some of the members from Rivne there who had a training.  It is neat to see that they are still doing wonderfully as they work hard and do their part.  Also this past week, we continued to work with Zhanna and with the African members here.  Zhanna is doing wonderfully.  She is Russian by the way, but has lived here for a very long time, in Ivano I mean.  She is still planning on being baptized this weekend which will be awesome.  She continues to understand everything so well and the only thing that is really standing in the way is her husband who doesn't seem to like us.  I think he will accept it though and hopefully with time, he will warm up too.  All is going well with her.  Isaac received the Aaronic priesthood yesterday which is cool as well and now he is able to pass the sacrament.  He is still doing awesome.

Well, that is all for this week that I can think of.  Thanks again for your letters.  I look so forward to them each week.  How has your reading been, or visiting the temple?  I hope you are doing all you can to get there.  I will finally be able to go to the temple for Thanksgiving and I am really excited for that opportunity.  It is so important to get there and to be able to help others to receive salvation, not to mention help ourselves receive salvation.  I know that the temple is a place that all of us need to strive to be worthy of.  If we are able to go to the temple often, then our lives will be just fine and the Lord will prepare fo us all that we need.  Set a goal for yourself to get there as often as possible.  I know that Heavenly Father wants us all to do that.

I love you mom,

Elder Jones

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.