Mom,
So it was awesome to see my group again for sure. I love them all so much and I am so happy that all of us are out here working so hard and having so much fun. It is truly a miracle that all of us have stayed out and not only that, but successfully worked here. Sister Robinson is leaving in two days which is going to be so weird. I am going to see all of those leaving missionaries and it is just going to be strange to see them all, especially because I know a lot of them. I am coming up on my last four transfers which means I have a lot of work to do. We are going to be extra busy here in the office as well with so many people leaving and coming and with transfers this week.
So my allergies got a lot better this past week. I think it is finally passing. Also, we super super deep cleaned our already clean apartment which helped a lot. No matter how much we try to keep it clean, it still seems to get dusty though so we'll see how it holds up. I am glad to hear that the girls are having a fun time and that all is going well up there. They both wrote and seemed way happy which is so cool. That is why we're here isn't it, to have joy, so I am glad to hear that it is working out for them. Chelsea is going to have a great experience I am sure. I told Chelsea that the reason you are able to do such a boring and tiring job is because you love us and want us to be happy, am I right? Maybe that was just a wild guess, but I told her that ;) I hope they have an awesome summer up there and get to know a lot of new people.
That is cool that Amanda got a job at SVU. Tell her congrats for that and for finishing her masters program. That is really cool for her and it will be a great experience for sure. There are lots of members up there too, right? I bet it will work out great for her.
I am not too worried about having a bed for Christmas. I have been lucky on the mission and had some pretty good beds, but I had an awful couch thing in Lviv, so I will be fine. Plus I will hopefully be so exhausted that it won't be a problem at all. I am excited to see the grandparents and talk to them. I have been really bad at writing them, but it is just because I don't have time. Oh well....hopefully they still know I love them.
We have lots of extra places in our apartment and mats and an inflatable bed for missionaries that are coming in. We had two stay with us last night and may have more tonight, but it will be just fine. There are 14 missionaries going home on Wednesday which is going to be crazy. This last week was my busiest week yet and this upcoming one will be just as crazy, but I am happy. It is so nice to be busy here and it makes the office time go by super fast. We have a lot of stuff for transfer to do and so I think it will be crazy, but fun. We had a great Sunday evening which was super cool. We got a lot of stuff done and got a new investigator which was cool. He is a member's husband and we have another part member family that we are going to start working with. I was with their son in the MTC which is way cool and I met the daughter and non-member father yesterday too. We have another investigator, Vadim, who is doing ok, but hasn't been able to make it to church. Tonight we are going to have a really good lesson and talk about baptism so we'll see what happens there. We have a return missionary who is going to come help us on the lesson and I'm really excited. The work is slowly picking up here and we are getting to know the members better which is so great. It is just a lot of fun and I am really excited for the next couple of transfers.
I am glad that you had fun leading music again. Sister Park and I talked about that a little (she is very musically talented), and she thinks that it will be a great experience too. Learning new skills is always a good thing - that is part of why we're here! I certainly have had to do a lot of things out here which I normally wouldn't do, but it is very worthwhile.
Well, I need to get the newsletter done, but thanks for being such an incredible mom. I too know that this Church is true. I know that Jesus Christ lives and that God is our Eternal Father. The Plan of Salvation is real and I know that we are all here because we chose to follow it and become like our Heavenly Father. This is the Lord's work and I know this is what I need to be doing right now, so that His Children here in Ukraine can receive the same knowledge that we have and all the blessings that God is waiting to give us.
I love you,
Elder Jones
Monday, June 20, 2011
Monday, June 13, 2011
June 13, 2011-Photos
1. The MTC district. Sister Robinson is already going home...I am in shock! This was our little reunion picture from the FHE day.
Here is the before picture when they were still in the MTC.
2. This is Vova Yarmak. He is comtemplating his mission call and talking with Elder Sorenson as he waits to open it. This is the Park's apartment and Vova was called to the Arizona Tempe Mission. I am super excited for him.
2. This is Vova Yarmak. He is comtemplating his mission call and talking with Elder Sorenson as he waits to open it. This is the Park's apartment and Vova was called to the Arizona Tempe Mission. I am super excited for him.
3. This is a big shopping mall Magelan and the busy street it is on in our area.
4. Some pretty neat graffiti
5. The temple this morning after a summer rainstorm
6. The view from our apartment
7. A bunch of hungry missionaries getting their food on Monday
June 13, 2011
Hey mom,
So I use just one sheet and one pillowcase and then you just make sure you wash them at least once a transfer. (I asked him what items he needed for a missionary going out.) I have never had an apartment that doesn't have blankets, but if he wants to take a nice packable fleece blanket, that would help in the winter. Really that is up to them. As far as winter boots, I didn't really wear mine at all honestly. Maybe a couple of weeks and that was it. Ice definitely is the biggest problem though so that probably clears up that question. And yes, I have plenty of allergy medication and I am using it often. My allergies are acting up right now and I think our house is the problem which is frustrating because we keep it clean. I am going to rewash my sheets and everything today and get rid of all the dust and pollen and see if that helps.
Wow, Chelsea is a molodets - straight A's is way cool. I am glad that she worked hard in school and then had a pretty good time with her friends. I bet the physical was quite frustrating and I understand how she feels, not with the fear of needles part, but with the getting stuck a lot of times. (Chelsea had to have a physical for work and for soccer tryouts. They had to stick her four times before they could get a vein to draw blood. The poor kid hates needles already.) I remember when I did my mission physical, the nurse just couldn't get the needle in the vein and I ended up have the biggest bruise of my life as a result of that. Anyway, hopefully Chelsea was able to survive the experience emotionally. I am sure that the girls are going to have a lot of fun up there and that they will have tons of incredible experiences as well. When are they going to be home by the way and are they going to have access to a computer or is Caitlin's still kaput?...wow, that is a German word :) I hope that you are able to survive the summer as well ;P
How big are Rachel's boys getting? I bet all of the little cousins are going to be massive when I get home, aren't they? Are there any more on the way? I got a letter from Ben Emery this week and he said that Erica is really growing up. It is going to be a strange experience to see everyone after two years of being away. By the way, what are the family plans for Christmas this year, with me getting home 10 days before it? Have you been thinking about that yet? Oh and tell Norm that I say hi back and ask him how his family is doing. I hope everyone is happy and healthy back there. I am glad that leading the music isn't too bad and I hope you enjoy the opportunity to develop another skill, even if our ward has a million people who are probably more musically gifted - not that you aren't talented ;D
This last week was really incredible and it was an awesome experience for all the missionaries. Honestly, being here in the office feels like a job sometimes, but it is so worth it to see how things come together so well when we work hard. Monday was just awesome and we all had a great time together as a mission. We played sports, watched a movie, and then had dinner together which was awesome. The senior couples put it together and it was amazing. It helped us a lot as we got to relax a little and focus on the activities. Then, we did a mission photo which I have attached and then had family home evening with the Steinagels. President and Sister Steinagel each spoke and we talked about the work and then had some musical performances from missionaries. It was a really incredible event and it was great to get together with the Steinagel family one last time. They are so great and I am going to miss them. All the missionaries stayed at missionary apartments so we had 6 missionaries total in ours. The next day, we came into the office to get some last minute things done and then went to downtown Kyiv to meet with Presidents Clayton and Lawrence. It was such an awesome event and we were all so blessed to receive great guidance from our leaders. They answered a lot of questions and I feel like they gave some incredible promises for which we need to work to receive the blessings. The rest of the week, we worked hard and the results are slowly coming in. The office was closed because they were repainting it so we had a lot of time to talk to people on the streets. It was a lot of fun and Elder Kashiwagi and I are getting along just great. He is a wonderful missionary and so full of charity. What an example.
Oh and we see members all the time at the temple from all over the place. Usually they are in sessions though when we come to and leave the office, but we certainly see them throughout the week all over the place.
Well Mom, I know that this Church is the true Church of Jesus Christ. I am so blessed to be able to share my testimony each and every day and as I do, I feel it strengthened. I know, without a doubt, that this is God's work and His glory and this is the only way to true and eternal happiness. I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer and our great Example and King. He is the Captain of this great work and with Him in the front, we cannot fail. I know that the Gospel is true and as we live by its principles, we receive the greatest blessings we can receive. I love you mom! Thanks for all you do.
Love,
Elder Jones
So I use just one sheet and one pillowcase and then you just make sure you wash them at least once a transfer. (I asked him what items he needed for a missionary going out.) I have never had an apartment that doesn't have blankets, but if he wants to take a nice packable fleece blanket, that would help in the winter. Really that is up to them. As far as winter boots, I didn't really wear mine at all honestly. Maybe a couple of weeks and that was it. Ice definitely is the biggest problem though so that probably clears up that question. And yes, I have plenty of allergy medication and I am using it often. My allergies are acting up right now and I think our house is the problem which is frustrating because we keep it clean. I am going to rewash my sheets and everything today and get rid of all the dust and pollen and see if that helps.
Wow, Chelsea is a molodets - straight A's is way cool. I am glad that she worked hard in school and then had a pretty good time with her friends. I bet the physical was quite frustrating and I understand how she feels, not with the fear of needles part, but with the getting stuck a lot of times. (Chelsea had to have a physical for work and for soccer tryouts. They had to stick her four times before they could get a vein to draw blood. The poor kid hates needles already.) I remember when I did my mission physical, the nurse just couldn't get the needle in the vein and I ended up have the biggest bruise of my life as a result of that. Anyway, hopefully Chelsea was able to survive the experience emotionally. I am sure that the girls are going to have a lot of fun up there and that they will have tons of incredible experiences as well. When are they going to be home by the way and are they going to have access to a computer or is Caitlin's still kaput?...wow, that is a German word :) I hope that you are able to survive the summer as well ;P
How big are Rachel's boys getting? I bet all of the little cousins are going to be massive when I get home, aren't they? Are there any more on the way? I got a letter from Ben Emery this week and he said that Erica is really growing up. It is going to be a strange experience to see everyone after two years of being away. By the way, what are the family plans for Christmas this year, with me getting home 10 days before it? Have you been thinking about that yet? Oh and tell Norm that I say hi back and ask him how his family is doing. I hope everyone is happy and healthy back there. I am glad that leading the music isn't too bad and I hope you enjoy the opportunity to develop another skill, even if our ward has a million people who are probably more musically gifted - not that you aren't talented ;D
This last week was really incredible and it was an awesome experience for all the missionaries. Honestly, being here in the office feels like a job sometimes, but it is so worth it to see how things come together so well when we work hard. Monday was just awesome and we all had a great time together as a mission. We played sports, watched a movie, and then had dinner together which was awesome. The senior couples put it together and it was amazing. It helped us a lot as we got to relax a little and focus on the activities. Then, we did a mission photo which I have attached and then had family home evening with the Steinagels. President and Sister Steinagel each spoke and we talked about the work and then had some musical performances from missionaries. It was a really incredible event and it was great to get together with the Steinagel family one last time. They are so great and I am going to miss them. All the missionaries stayed at missionary apartments so we had 6 missionaries total in ours. The next day, we came into the office to get some last minute things done and then went to downtown Kyiv to meet with Presidents Clayton and Lawrence. It was such an awesome event and we were all so blessed to receive great guidance from our leaders. They answered a lot of questions and I feel like they gave some incredible promises for which we need to work to receive the blessings. The rest of the week, we worked hard and the results are slowly coming in. The office was closed because they were repainting it so we had a lot of time to talk to people on the streets. It was a lot of fun and Elder Kashiwagi and I are getting along just great. He is a wonderful missionary and so full of charity. What an example.
Oh and we see members all the time at the temple from all over the place. Usually they are in sessions though when we come to and leave the office, but we certainly see them throughout the week all over the place.
Well Mom, I know that this Church is the true Church of Jesus Christ. I am so blessed to be able to share my testimony each and every day and as I do, I feel it strengthened. I know, without a doubt, that this is God's work and His glory and this is the only way to true and eternal happiness. I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer and our great Example and King. He is the Captain of this great work and with Him in the front, we cannot fail. I know that the Gospel is true and as we live by its principles, we receive the greatest blessings we can receive. I love you mom! Thanks for all you do.
Love,
Elder Jones
Monday, June 6, 2011
June 6, 2011
Mom,
Ok, so I am glad that you weren't too freaked out about the food, because it is better than American food. Ukrainian people are very health conscious and their food is really quite good. And holodets isn't too bad, just weird because of the texture. It is broth in a jelly form which is weird. Anyway, it certainly is a great opportunity to learn more about the culture of other people, especially those among whom you serve and I definitely am very grateful for this opportunity. You will be able to learn a little bit yourself when we come back here.
Wow, so I can't believe the school year is already at an end and the girls are headed off to work and relax by the lake. (Caitlin and Chelsea are both working at the Bear Lake Aquatics Base for the boy scouts for the next couple of months.) They are going to have a great experience and this will especially be a great one for Chelsea. She will get to know a lot of new people and try a lot of new things which will be very valuable for her. I am glad that they are going to figure all of it out and get those last minute things ready. We here in the office are doing a lot of last minute preparation for these next couple of days. We have some big events going down and I will tell you about those in a minute. I am actually running around doing about three different things right now so I hope this makes sense.
I am glad to hear that Rachel and Chad and the boys are doing well. I can't believe that everyone is growing up. When I get home, I won't recognize some of the little ones and the others are going to be new to me. It will be fun though to see everyone growing up. It sounds like the ward is going to be completely different too. Dad said that I won't recognize it. I think that is pretty crazy, but I am glad to hear that people are doing well and going forward in life. And I am sure that you will do just fine as the chorister. (I was just called as Relief Society chorister. Yikes. I 've never been a chorister!) I have never had any practice but I have done it quite a bit on my mission. You will pick it up just fine.
I will definitely look up Jacob's letters from his blog. I usually go on to Curtis' every couple of weeks to print off the newest letters. I really enjoying hearing about the success and joy that other missionaries are having. I am sure that Jacob is going to be a great missionary and I am really excited to hear how he is doing. I will try to write to him, especially once he is in Germany and it will be easier to get there. And I just wrote Elder Sudbury the other day.
So things here are pretty fun. This past week was a pretty good one, but we didn't get P-day until Saturday because of all the office work we needed to do. Elder Kashiwagi is going to be very busy at the end of every month because he has to get baptisms entered into the system so they count. We are pretty busy and we will be closed on Thursday and Friday so this may be a real crazy week. I ordered a ton of tickets last week and I hope to get them soon so I can organize all of them. Today and tomorrow are going to be absolutely crazy. All of the missionaries are in Kyiv today for a big P-day in Kyiv and FHE with the Steinagels. It will be President's last opportunity to see all of the missionaries together. We have tons of activities and over 100 missionaries to take care of so it will be crazy. Also, tomorrow we are going to be visited by President Clayton of the Presidency of the Seventy and President Lawrence of the Area Presidency who were in Moscow yesterday to create a stake. (The second one in Eastern Europe according to Ryan.) They are going to speak to all of the missionaries and it will be an incredible learning and growing experience for all of us. I am really excited to hear what they have to teach us and then go out and work to reach our goals. We have a lot of high goals and I think we are going to see a lot of success as we go forward this week and work hard. We have a lot of potential right now which is awesome. Oh and I can do a session whenever I want, but I am going to talk to Elder Belashov today and see if Zhanna is coming next week and if she is, I am going to try and go with her. (I had asked if he'd been to the temple yet this transfer.) That would be cool to be there and see her at the temple. All is going well and I am happy right now, even if we are super stressed right now. I really feel like I have grown a lot recently. I am just trying my best to do what the Lord wants and I am sure that He is going to bless us greatly for all the work we are doing. We are really expecting miracles here and they are going to come as we keep on going. I am sure that we are going to have some great success here in the mission in the upcoming months.
Well I love you very much mom. I know that this Church is true. Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer and thanks to Him, there is nothing that we can't overcome in this life. I know that God's plan is true and it is the path that we all need to take to be happy forever.
Love,
Elder Jones
P.S. Do we have a copy of President Kimball's The Miracle of Forgiveness, because I really want to read that when I get home. I read the preface the other day and now I really want to read it. I will wait 'til after the mission because I have other things to read here, but it is the first book on my list for home. And have you read it?
Ok, so I am glad that you weren't too freaked out about the food, because it is better than American food. Ukrainian people are very health conscious and their food is really quite good. And holodets isn't too bad, just weird because of the texture. It is broth in a jelly form which is weird. Anyway, it certainly is a great opportunity to learn more about the culture of other people, especially those among whom you serve and I definitely am very grateful for this opportunity. You will be able to learn a little bit yourself when we come back here.
Wow, so I can't believe the school year is already at an end and the girls are headed off to work and relax by the lake. (Caitlin and Chelsea are both working at the Bear Lake Aquatics Base for the boy scouts for the next couple of months.) They are going to have a great experience and this will especially be a great one for Chelsea. She will get to know a lot of new people and try a lot of new things which will be very valuable for her. I am glad that they are going to figure all of it out and get those last minute things ready. We here in the office are doing a lot of last minute preparation for these next couple of days. We have some big events going down and I will tell you about those in a minute. I am actually running around doing about three different things right now so I hope this makes sense.
I am glad to hear that Rachel and Chad and the boys are doing well. I can't believe that everyone is growing up. When I get home, I won't recognize some of the little ones and the others are going to be new to me. It will be fun though to see everyone growing up. It sounds like the ward is going to be completely different too. Dad said that I won't recognize it. I think that is pretty crazy, but I am glad to hear that people are doing well and going forward in life. And I am sure that you will do just fine as the chorister. (I was just called as Relief Society chorister. Yikes. I 've never been a chorister!) I have never had any practice but I have done it quite a bit on my mission. You will pick it up just fine.
I will definitely look up Jacob's letters from his blog. I usually go on to Curtis' every couple of weeks to print off the newest letters. I really enjoying hearing about the success and joy that other missionaries are having. I am sure that Jacob is going to be a great missionary and I am really excited to hear how he is doing. I will try to write to him, especially once he is in Germany and it will be easier to get there. And I just wrote Elder Sudbury the other day.
So things here are pretty fun. This past week was a pretty good one, but we didn't get P-day until Saturday because of all the office work we needed to do. Elder Kashiwagi is going to be very busy at the end of every month because he has to get baptisms entered into the system so they count. We are pretty busy and we will be closed on Thursday and Friday so this may be a real crazy week. I ordered a ton of tickets last week and I hope to get them soon so I can organize all of them. Today and tomorrow are going to be absolutely crazy. All of the missionaries are in Kyiv today for a big P-day in Kyiv and FHE with the Steinagels. It will be President's last opportunity to see all of the missionaries together. We have tons of activities and over 100 missionaries to take care of so it will be crazy. Also, tomorrow we are going to be visited by President Clayton of the Presidency of the Seventy and President Lawrence of the Area Presidency who were in Moscow yesterday to create a stake. (The second one in Eastern Europe according to Ryan.) They are going to speak to all of the missionaries and it will be an incredible learning and growing experience for all of us. I am really excited to hear what they have to teach us and then go out and work to reach our goals. We have a lot of high goals and I think we are going to see a lot of success as we go forward this week and work hard. We have a lot of potential right now which is awesome. Oh and I can do a session whenever I want, but I am going to talk to Elder Belashov today and see if Zhanna is coming next week and if she is, I am going to try and go with her. (I had asked if he'd been to the temple yet this transfer.) That would be cool to be there and see her at the temple. All is going well and I am happy right now, even if we are super stressed right now. I really feel like I have grown a lot recently. I am just trying my best to do what the Lord wants and I am sure that He is going to bless us greatly for all the work we are doing. We are really expecting miracles here and they are going to come as we keep on going. I am sure that we are going to have some great success here in the mission in the upcoming months.
Well I love you very much mom. I know that this Church is true. Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer and thanks to Him, there is nothing that we can't overcome in this life. I know that God's plan is true and it is the path that we all need to take to be happy forever.
Love,
Elder Jones
P.S. Do we have a copy of President Kimball's The Miracle of Forgiveness, because I really want to read that when I get home. I read the preface the other day and now I really want to read it. I will wait 'til after the mission because I have other things to read here, but it is the first book on my list for home. And have you read it?
Monday, May 30, 2011
May 30, 2011
Hi Mom,
I heard about the crazy Utah weather from a member here. (We have received over 5" of rain this month, a new record for the month. Also it is still snowing in the mountains.) That is so much rain, but I guess it is a lot better than the hot, dusty, sweaty weather that we have here. I bet the skiers are all happy that the snow is still pretty good up there. Caitlin said that it is probably going to be cold for them at Bear Lake for the first week or two. Hopefully she can survive it.
Wow, that is a huge tornado if it did so much damage. (I told him about the Joplin, Missouri tornado.) That is the biggest tornado on the scale, isn't it? It is true that the signs of the times are real. The second coming is getting closer and closer everyday and almost all of the signs have been or are being fulfilled right now. It is awesome to think about all that is going on, but to have a hope and a knowledge of what is to come. I bet it is a lot harder for the people who don't even know that Jesus Christ is going to come soon and that all of our trials will be done, at least the temporal ones.
Happy Memorial Day by the way. I hope that you have a good one and that all goes well and that you enjoy the day off from work. It is certainly nice to be able to rest some time, but it is good to be busy too so I guess we just have to find the balance. I can't believe that time is going so quickly though. I didn't realize that Max Taggart would be getting home so soon...I guess lots of people are coming home in the next few months. Before you know it, I will be home too. Summer is always fast and then it will just be a couple of months. December 15th is my release day I think. It still isn't official, but you will probably get an email asking about flight details pretty soon. Now that I am in the office, I see Sister Park all the time and she is in charge of the incoming and outgoing missionaries and getting things ready for that. She called everyone from my group this last week to ask if they wanted to go home the early or later transfer. Anyway, we don't really need to dwell on that right now.
Are you going to write a letter to Curtis? If so, let him know that Elder Jones is appreciative of the love and support and sends his back and that Elder Jones is loving his mission and is working hard. I read about the mission split on his blog, so I am interested to hear what will happen.
Elder Kashiwagi and I are doing great. We worked really hard this week, but not much came of it, at least not much is visible yet. On Monday, we set a baptismal date with a man, but then he went off the map and now he is not getting baptized any time soon. He has some very serious alcohol problems which he isn't trying to change yet. It is really sad that his life is being controlled by such an awful addiction. The office was pretty slow this week, but we found stuff to do. We really do run the mission here in the office. Elder Schmutz once said that if we decided to go on strike, the entire mission would come to a standstill. No money, no supplies, no travel...the mission would be ruined. But don't worry, we have no such plans at the moment. Oh and there is air conditioning in the office, but it doesn't work right now. They are renovating the building and that might be a part of the problem. Because of the renovations, we have had three weeks of only Sacrament meeting here. Hopefully they finish the classrooms soon so that we can have a full three hours. The chapel (sacrament hall) won't be done for a while though, so I don't what will happen.
Hey, don't worry about getting old. (I told him that I can't believe all three of my children are driving now which means I must be old.) I am not driving and I won't be for another seven months so you aren't that old, right ;)
Well mom, I love you very much. I too am so very grateful for you and for dad and even Caitlin and Chels and all that you do for me. I know that we will be together forever if we just keep supporting each other and relying on our Savior. I know that this is the true Church of Jesus Christ.
All my Love,
Elder Jones
I heard about the crazy Utah weather from a member here. (We have received over 5" of rain this month, a new record for the month. Also it is still snowing in the mountains.) That is so much rain, but I guess it is a lot better than the hot, dusty, sweaty weather that we have here. I bet the skiers are all happy that the snow is still pretty good up there. Caitlin said that it is probably going to be cold for them at Bear Lake for the first week or two. Hopefully she can survive it.
Wow, that is a huge tornado if it did so much damage. (I told him about the Joplin, Missouri tornado.) That is the biggest tornado on the scale, isn't it? It is true that the signs of the times are real. The second coming is getting closer and closer everyday and almost all of the signs have been or are being fulfilled right now. It is awesome to think about all that is going on, but to have a hope and a knowledge of what is to come. I bet it is a lot harder for the people who don't even know that Jesus Christ is going to come soon and that all of our trials will be done, at least the temporal ones.
Happy Memorial Day by the way. I hope that you have a good one and that all goes well and that you enjoy the day off from work. It is certainly nice to be able to rest some time, but it is good to be busy too so I guess we just have to find the balance. I can't believe that time is going so quickly though. I didn't realize that Max Taggart would be getting home so soon...I guess lots of people are coming home in the next few months. Before you know it, I will be home too. Summer is always fast and then it will just be a couple of months. December 15th is my release day I think. It still isn't official, but you will probably get an email asking about flight details pretty soon. Now that I am in the office, I see Sister Park all the time and she is in charge of the incoming and outgoing missionaries and getting things ready for that. She called everyone from my group this last week to ask if they wanted to go home the early or later transfer. Anyway, we don't really need to dwell on that right now.
Are you going to write a letter to Curtis? If so, let him know that Elder Jones is appreciative of the love and support and sends his back and that Elder Jones is loving his mission and is working hard. I read about the mission split on his blog, so I am interested to hear what will happen.
Elder Kashiwagi and I are doing great. We worked really hard this week, but not much came of it, at least not much is visible yet. On Monday, we set a baptismal date with a man, but then he went off the map and now he is not getting baptized any time soon. He has some very serious alcohol problems which he isn't trying to change yet. It is really sad that his life is being controlled by such an awful addiction. The office was pretty slow this week, but we found stuff to do. We really do run the mission here in the office. Elder Schmutz once said that if we decided to go on strike, the entire mission would come to a standstill. No money, no supplies, no travel...the mission would be ruined. But don't worry, we have no such plans at the moment. Oh and there is air conditioning in the office, but it doesn't work right now. They are renovating the building and that might be a part of the problem. Because of the renovations, we have had three weeks of only Sacrament meeting here. Hopefully they finish the classrooms soon so that we can have a full three hours. The chapel (sacrament hall) won't be done for a while though, so I don't what will happen.
Hey, don't worry about getting old. (I told him that I can't believe all three of my children are driving now which means I must be old.) I am not driving and I won't be for another seven months so you aren't that old, right ;)
Well mom, I love you very much. I too am so very grateful for you and for dad and even Caitlin and Chels and all that you do for me. I know that we will be together forever if we just keep supporting each other and relying on our Savior. I know that this is the true Church of Jesus Christ.
All my Love,
Elder Jones
Monday, May 23, 2011
May 23, 2011
Hi Mom,
So correction, I have had one week in the office, but things are going great. Elder Schmutz (we were in Ivano together) was with me all week to help in the office and then to teach me the area in the evening and it was a lot of fun with him. Elder Kashiwagi and I are finally going to be together this week. I feel like I have gotten a hold of the office and that there won't be too many more questions, and as far as the area, we will see how the work comes as Elder Kashiwagi and I continue to learn it. We have a massive area here, the largest in the mission I believe, and it is only one section of the city. Right now, there are eight missionaries all working in this area, so I am excited for the work.
Here in the office, I have a lot of paperwork, but it is all electronic which is nice. I sit on the computer from 10 to 5 everyday and I fill out ticket requests, scan and send off visas and contracts, send out anything that needs to be sent through a mail service, and I also have some other small projects. I put together the mission newsletter every Monday morning which has a lot of numbers, a letter from President Steinagel, some quotes and pictures of baptisms, and then we go out and do our p-day after that. So we are in the office from 8:30 to 11:30 on Monday. I do train tickets for everyone by the way, except for President Steinagel. The assistants do a lot of travel so I have to stay up with that, and I also get tickets for all the senior couples and they travel a lot. Other things include, transfer letters to the branch presidents, a phone report each month (that was the big project last week; I look at all the phone calls of missionaries to make sure they use their phones correctly). I also pick up mail each week. So yeah, that is about it.
So Elder Kashiwagi is from Arizona and is in his fifth transfer now. Oh and the temple desk just calls the missionaries here in the office if a non-member ever walks in. Some of the temple desk workers are Americans that don't know the language so we help them out. And yeah, we just ask if they want to find out more about the church and how they can enter the temple.
I hope that Jacob's farewell was a lot of fun. I am sure that he did great and that he will be an awesome missionary. Send me his address when you get it please. I am glad to hear that Jake is planning on turning in his papers soon and I think that I might be home for that which would be great. I hope that everyone is doing well. Oh and Sean is now in a city called Cherkassy, south of Kyiv. And by the way, I am probably coming home with Sean because I need to come home earlier for school so if he stays the late transfer, we will go home together which will be neat. There will be lots of us heading back to Salt Lake I think.
I hope that Jacob's farewell was a lot of fun. I am sure that he did great and that he will be an awesome missionary. Send me his address when you get it please. I am glad to hear that Jake is planning on turning in his papers soon and I think that I might be home for that which would be great. I hope that everyone is doing well. Oh and Sean is now in a city called Cherkassy, south of Kyiv. And by the way, I am probably coming home with Sean because I need to come home earlier for school so if he stays the late transfer, we will go home together which will be neat. There will be lots of us heading back to Salt Lake I think.
So the weather here is incredibly hot - it is summer time and I am suffering. It has just been hot, but I will be fine. I just need to get used to it. Tell Chelsea good luck by the way on her lesson. That will be a great experience to get to learn a lot more about President Kimball. I really like him a lot and hope that I can study more of his life when I get home. We will go back to the Teachings of the Presidents so I will definitely have a chance.
Anyway, I love you mom. Thanks for all that you do and for your support. I love you so much. Thanks for always putting up with me when I was a pain back home and for teaching me all that you did. I love you.
Elder Jones
Sunday, May 22, 2011
May 16, 2011 - Photos
Hey Mom,
So here are pictures of the temple, the office, a sunset, Elder Schmutz and me with a hedgehog, and then Elder Kashiwagi, my new companion.
Enjoy!
So here are pictures of the temple, the office, a sunset, Elder Schmutz and me with a hedgehog, and then Elder Kashiwagi, my new companion.
Enjoy!
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