Mom's latest letter to J

I'm glad that you are enjoying the language study. Grandpa suggested that when you learn a new word, you plug it in to several different sentences.

Example: Car (new vocab word)
I like your car. Your car is red. I want a car. My car is damaged. I wish I had my car. I like to drive my car. There is a car. Does she have a car? Do you like to drive your car?

I asked him to write it to you himself, but they are SWAMPED with Temple Presidency activities. I think they work there 4 days a week now. It used to be just one evening...

One final thought... would you kindly write a "public" letter each week? It feels funny posting/fowarding your replies to your dad and me and Hannah. YOU TOTALLY MADE HER DAY, BTW. She started squealing, "He replied to me!"

Elder Taylor is now the big crush in our ward. Both Katie and Rachel went absolutely gaga after receiving his letters. Thank him for taking the time. It's making your absence less painful for them. :$

I miss hearing your cough. Isn't that strange? If I'm in my room when everyone comes home, there's silence. Then I look up at the ceiling and realize that you're not there coughing. Well, and then there's the uke, and the VLOG Bros. It is a lot quieter here...and a bit more mellow. I confess I don't miss the testosterone.

Speaking of changes around here, a hot air balloon landed on Barium by the dead end sign in our yard. Trucks had been driving back and forth in front of the house; then I heard the "whoosh" of the hot air blower, and went out to investigate. They deflated it in our front yard (and on Platinum). It always amazes me to see how big those things are. The neighbors who were outside their houses saw it coming down, and came over to help. Kyle Herd, Chad Christiansen, the DeWolfs, and Brian Herrmann. Jade and Abbie came running down in their jammies. It was a fun adventure for Rachel's birthday morning.

One last thing. Grammar Nazi attack: Your sign-off line needs a period!

I love you!
Mom

Hannah's Christmas letter to J & his response...

Let's see....Bekah- bike

Rachel- phone, DW Yahtzee

Me- phone (matching pair ^), DW dictionary, books 3 and 4 of the "Inheritance Cycle"

Sarah- pink stetson and crown, and gloves to match

Those were the big ones. Bonni's family was there, we Skyped: Dan's family, the Popes, and Nate's.


Congratulations on all the presents, but don't get addicted to the phones! Other than that, have fun with it all.

Let me know how Doctor Who is going occasionally and tell me about Capaldi. It seems like he'll do well and I want to know what you guys think about the series. Just, please, don't be too fangirl-y...

Did everyone have fun with relatives? How is everyone doing? 

Thank Robert for the treats. though I am sure you helped, so thank you. Also please tell Grandma and Ben that I am working on replying to them, but it is slow going...

Have fun, and enjoy your holiday.

Press forward with steadfast faith in Christ

Best wishes,

Elder Jones

J's reply to Dad's Christmas letter

Dad,

 

Thank you for the prayers and well wishes. I hope everyone had fun at Christmas and enjoyed each others company. I would have loved to play as well. Tell Ben we could try long distance, long term chess over email if he's up to it.

 

Tell all the departing missionaries good luck for me and let me know which ones are coming here! I have the opportunity to be host anytime I want and it would be fun to welcome them. Tell Kevin welcome home for me. Also, tell Sister Hill I got a chance to see Dillon up here. He didn't recognize me and I didn't have time to chat, but he was helping the Cambodian students.

 

Really quick, do you have any recommendations for retaining vocabulary. That is the closest thing I have to a challenge here, but I would like to get better anyway. There really isn't much going on here. I am bored quite often when not doing personal study or Korean. The only thing I ever actually learn is Korean and until I am in the field, that is not very helpful. Any recommendations for how to be more active would be much appreciated.

 

Tell mom I will do my best to send the pictures she requested, but it will take time since I can only email on P-Day and don't have any pictures at the moment.

 

Thank you for your prayers and I look forward to hearing from you again.

Press forward with steadfast faith in Christ

Best wishes,

Elder Jones

Christmas card from J

Dad's letter to J on 12/26/2013

Jordan,

It was great to receive your email and cards. I appreciated your testimony and your clever joke with mom. We received the packages and should be able to send them to you. Christmas was enjoyable for the family and was nice to have Bonni and Chris and their family here. Ben and Chris were playing a board game and I know they would have loved to have you there. You are loved and missed. We know that you are doing your best and hope that you are finding joy in serving the Lord. This Sunday Josep Rivera will give his farewell talk in the Galena branch. In our ward, Maddie will give here farewell talk and Elder Wellman will give his homecoming talk. Mom would like your companion or one of the other missionaries to take another picture of you for your plaque at the ward. The pictures we took of you turned out great but mom (and the bishop) wants to have one with your name tag. Try for a "school picture" look like Kevin Wellman's.

Please keep up the good work and study hard. We continue to pray for you.

We love you.

Dad, mom, and the rest, here on Jordan's fan club

Surprise from the MTC!

Happy Christmas everyone! Missionaries in the MTC don't get to call home on Christmas, but it seems they get an extra email opportunity. What a sweet surprise.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Jordan Stamps Jones <jsjones@myldsmail.net>
Date: Wed, Dec 25, 2013 at 7:21 AM
Subject: Christmas
To: Lisa Stamps <stamps.lisa@gmail.com>, Steven Jones <sajmba2002@yahoo.com>


Hello!

Just a quick email before P-Day the one time we're allowed to do so.

Merry Christmas! I hope everyone is doing well and enjoying the break! Say hello to Bonni's family, Robert, Grandma, Ben, and anyone else who decides to visit on Christmas :) I hope you all have a great time and remember the reason for the season.

I am doing well here, but I am looking forward to getting to the actual mission field more and more as time goes along. Nonetheless, I am grateful for the package you sent me. It was touching. I will look at the pictures often and will enjoy the treats for as long as possible because I know I won't find any as good anywhere else in the world. A special thanks to Grandma and Ben for the letters: I will keep them safe and reply to them as soon as I can. We aren't supposed to do any mail on days other than P-Day...

Anyway, my time is short, so I will just leave you with my testimony that this holiday is a time to celebrate the birth of our literal savior and redeemer. He lived for us. He died for us. And through his Atonement, we can live again with Him and the Father in the Celestial Kingdom. The gospel is true and I know that President Thomas S. Monson along with all the members of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve are prophets, seers, and revelators.

I love you all and I look forward to seeing you when I return :)

Press forward with steadfast faith in Christ

Best wishes,
Elder Jones

Family photos at Wheeler Farm November 2013

Family photos at Wheeler Farm November 2013

Week 2: MTC

It's great to hear from all of you! How did Ward FHE go? Thank you for shoveling the Townsend's walk. Please thank them and tell them they are remembered. Let me know if you get to teach them again! Thank you for the bank statement and, as far as mom's note, could we please start each month with exactly $500 and I'll budget for that? I'm glad Sister Lee's grand kids get to go to scouts; it will be good for them. The ward mission plan sounds good, and I hope everything goes well!

Elder Taylor got your letter and was quite surprised. He is 18 and originally from Utah but moved to Kansas early on. He lived in Norway for 5 months before coming to the MTC and loved it there. He played soccer in high school and professionally in Norway. He's the district leader if you want to talk about that.

As far as phone calls on Christmas, we don't get any. We can call when we go to the airport, but we still need to pay. Also, the last group of missionaries going to Korea left at 2 in the morning, so I don't know how things will work out then. I don't know exactly where the bag is, but if it is not behind the rocking chair in my room, it may be in the bag of bags I have stored on the East side of my room.

I hope all of you have a great time on Christmas and I hope you know you are missed. Pleas tell the ward I miss them even more than I thought I would. The Sego Lily Ward truly is the best ward in the world. And please say hello to Brother Hecker for me.

The list I was referring to is the list of email addresses of people who wanted emails. I think you invited all of them to the blog, but I would love to be able to send some personal emails as well. I'd also love it if Hannah could give me updates from Summit about how things are going. Also, I would really love that shipment of Dr. Shulze medicine. If you happen to have the medicine delivered home first, please add an old pair of sneakers; some of the coaches don't want us to use toe shoes :S Also, apparently Koreans like pictures of family and hobbies, so, if it's not too much trouble, please send that too...

Life here is fairly monotonous, though not bad. Every morning is spent studying and preparing for lessons in the afternoon with occasional breaks for exercise and meals. The afternoon and evening are filled with classes where we learn Korean and then teach investigators. Sundays are essentially study marathons with meetings interspersed throughout the day. On Tuesday nights we have devotionals and Fridays are P-Days. Other than that, everyday is basically identical. That's why I haven't had much to say. Korean is going fairly well, but I feel I have not been working on it as much as I should. I am going to begin a more structured and strict study program.

Thank you for all your love and I look forward to hearing from you soon. I may be able to squeeze in another email later today.

Much love.

Press forward with steadfast faith in Christ

Best wishes,

Elder Jones

Family letter to J

Elder Jones,

It was great to hear from you through mom's email. It would be nice if you could tell us more about your daily routine, Elder Taylor's background, how learning Korean is going, etc. Do you know yet if you will be able to call us on Christmas? If you can't, just be aware that we will be thinking of you.

Tonight we have the next ward Family Home Evening at the Christensen's house. We should have some investigators there. The missionaries don't have too much going on in our ward right now. Joyce Lee's grandsons will be going to scouts and they could turn into investigators.

On Sunday the ward council was able to finalize the Ward Mission Plan. Since you will be working with wards/branches/districts, the ward mission plan is a short document that specifies how the ward/branch/district will help individuals "Come Unto Christ". Our mission plan starts with God's Mission (Moses 1:39). Then the four-fold mission of the Church (preach/perfect/redeem/care for poor/afflicted). Then the stake wants three goals (number of convert baptisms, % sacrament meeting attendance, and #/individuals that become temple worthy-temple recommend). We then asked each of the quorums/auxiliaries to have specific goals to help achieve the ward goals. Each group provided input and we will review each month in ward council and update each quarter.

As I was shoveling at Bree Townsend's house, Angel came out to thank me. She asked about you and I told her that you were already in the MTC. She said that she was sorry that they missed your talk but wished you well on your mission. Several members (Sego Lily and within the stake) have asked how you are doing and I tell them that you are well, you like your companion, and you are learning Korean. Unfortunately I don't have much else to tell them. Hopefully you are still writing in your journal so that you can refer back to it when you want.

Please let us know if you need anything. Mom sent you your bank statement so that you could see how much was in your account and if you wanted to change how much was in each area of your account.

Bonni, Chris, and family are still planning on visiting during Christmas. Last week Dallin Colgrove did something to his leg so that he couldn't bend his knee. We are praying that he recovers quickly. Elder Wellman from our ward still hasn't been able to leave his mission in the Philippines due to visa issues with the typhoon. He has finished his mission but can't leave until the government says he can. He doesn't have a mission president now and supposedly he is released but still has to follow the rules to be safe. His parents are frustrated but hopeful.

Do you remember where you put the bag/cover for the inflatable mattress so that I can put it away? No one has moved into your room (yet). There were several missionaries on the train today going to the airport but they didn't have any luggage. It may be that the MTC will now send all of the luggage to the airport by bus and send the missionaries by train/TRAX. You will be leaving on February 4th but don't know what time. Sarah and I will look for you that day on the train (leaves South Jordan at 7:30 am) but if we don't see you, we know that you are in God's hands.

We miss you but are happy that you are serving God. He will support you and help you in doing His will. He will help you in learning Korean and how to teach people. You are a great son and we love you very much.
Please continue to provide as much information as you can.

Love,
Dad, (Mom, Sarah, Hannah, Rachel, Bekah and everyone else who is praying for you.)

Week 1 MTC P.S.

P.S. If you guys have time and resources, please send my companion a letter in the mail sometime. He doesn't often get any (Elder Taylor).

Week 1 MTC: The beginning

Thank you for the message, and I look forward to reading more next week! Everything is going pretty well here. The language is difficult, of course, but other than that and fatigue, everything is fairly easy. I miss the days when I got to go to bed early. I also miss my healthy food from home. Everything here is outrageously processed and the digestive system is not happy with it. My district is really great. There is just one person that rubs people the wrong way, but everyone is learning patience and charity, so it will be better for them in the long run. I have the best companion in the MTC for me. He's fun, but is also able to be serious when necessary. We have been teaching lessons in Korean for about a week now and they have been getting much better. 

I hope everyone is doing well back home and I look forward to more news! Thank you for all the prayers and I want you to know that nearly every prayer said here includes a blessing on our families.

Best wishes, Elder Jones

Mom's first letter to J in the MTC

I woke the girls to The Beatles' GOOD MORNING (quite loudly, of course!) and I thought of you. It's been so fun showing people the last picture I took of you as we dropped you at the MTC. I've attached it for your reference :)

This morning I used your story as a missionary opportunity. One of the Spectrum moms asked about you: "I heard he just shipped out to overseas somewhere...when will you see him again?" (in a strong NJ accent). It was shocking to her that you weren't "drafted," and that you've talked about doing it since you were a little boy, and that you're not paid to go.

A similar thing happened at the chiro last week. One of the other patients asked where you were, and I had the opportunity to share your story. You're such a good example!

Everyone asked about you (of course), yesterday, at church. Helen said to be sure to look for her granddaughter who also departed/arrived on Wednesday. Her name is Sister (Katie) King.

I love you like crazy, kiddo!  <3 Mom

Jordan's reply to his dad from the MTC

From: Jordan Stamps Jones <jsjones@myldsmail.net>

Thank you for the email. Tell the family I miss them too. Although I don't know what Rachel meant by "payback". I got your letters and package today and I am grateful for them. I can email on Fridays and I will do my best to send letters throughout the week. If I don't, don't worry, I will email you Friday.

The MTC is good, but it is definitely going to be a tough learning experience. We teach our first lesson in Korean tomorrow after, hopefully, learning sentence structure and non-greetings words this afternoon.

Keep me in your prayers, and I will keep you in mine. Thank you for everything and I look forward to seeing you when I return.

Love, Elder Jones

P.S. Mom, please send the email addresses as soon as you have time...

Dad's first letter to Jordan at the MTC

On Thu, Dec 5, 2013 at 8:37 AM, Steven Jones <sajmba2002@yahoo.com> wrote:

Jordan,

I was sad yesterday to send you off on your mission but also excited about all of the great experiences you will have. I hope you had a chance to write down what happened in your journal so that you can refer back to it when you want. It is a weird feeling when I think that you are not there for me to rely on. You have been a great support to me. Continue practicing the language and it will come. You might be surprised at how quickly some words come to mind. I can't wait until you are thinking in Korean and you have to translate to English. We love you and we will send other emails. Your pictures got a lot of Thumbs Up yesterday when mom posted them.

Please let us know what arrangements are possible for your Christmas call.

Love you always,

Dad (and family)

Jordan's MTC Address

There have been more than a few requests for Jordan's contact info:

MTC (Letters & Packages):
Elder Jordan Stamps Jones
FEB 04 KOR-SEO
2007 N 900 E #9
PROVO UT 84602

LETTERS ONCE HE GOES (~Feb 4th):
Elder Jordan Stamps Jones
KOREA SEOUL MISSION
Gwanghwamun PO BOX 210
Jongno-gu
Seoul-si
SOUTH KOREA 110-602

PACKAGES ONCE HE GOES (~Feb 4th):
Elder Jordan Stamps Jones
KOREA SEOUL MISSION
Samcheong-no 9 gil 45
Jongno-gu
Seoul-si
SOUTH KOREA 110-230
(some carriers require the local phone number: 82 2-734-3653)

Thinking of our very own just breaking into song!

'Twas the night before departure...and all through the house...Jordan and Mom were...

Starting a load of laundry
Counting ties
Stuffing shoes with socks
Picking out washcloths
Verifying that all the immunizations are complete
Realizing that we are missing a "recommended" book, but...
Recognizing that the packed copy of Jesus the Christ belonged to Great-Grandpa Wesley B. Nance
Counting pencils, pens, highlighters
Choosing "appropriate" tie pins and clips
Trying to find batteries that work
Attempting to take a "missionary" picture for the wall at the Stake Center
and
Getting a call from Grandma & Grandpa Stamps...

Today was wonderful ... and shocking!

Who knew? Jordan belted out "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" and blew us all away!

After a talk which was eloquent (as usual), and filled with poetry (thanks, Ms. Richards!), it was a huge shock to ALL of us to hear Jordan sing the way he did. I always enjoyed his strumming his ukulele and singing old Beatles, John Denver, James Taylor and folk songs with me, but today...WOW.

That shock was closely followed by the attendance of the Denver Stamps family. What a special treat. I just about squealed when I saw Reilly! The Spanish Fork Smileys--even "the newleyweds"--surprised us. It was so great having so much family there with us. Pat, Kent, Sheri, Auntie "B," cousin Amanda, Uncle Ben, Uncle Robert...so awesome!

The Summit Academy High School was well represented as well. We were so pleased to see Mrs. Mangelson, Mrs. Richards, Ms. Park, and both Turnbows! The entire front row was filled with friends from school, even more were hiding in the rear overflow... The cute kids asked me if they could kidnap Jordan and have an impromptu farewell party. After pictures with family and best wishes from many ward members, he slipped off into the "friends" zone.

We are so blessed.

During Jordan's talk, he spoke to folks who are new to The Church and those who have been members of the Church their entire lives. He reached out to all in attendance--even his friends who are not of our faith. Many tears were shed when he testified of the Plan of Salvation. We all thought of loved ones who have gone before us, but whom we plan to see again.

I was enchanted when Jordan gave recognition to our Mother in Heaven. Thanks, love!



These are the texts that Jordan read or sang. Enjoy.

Invictus

BY WILLIAM ERNEST HENLEY

Out of the night that covers me,

      Black as the pit from pole to pole,

I thank whatever gods may be

      For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance

      I have not winced nor cried aloud.

Under the bludgeonings of chance

      My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears

      Looms but the Horror of the shade,

And yet the menace of the years

      Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,

      How charged with punishments the scroll,

I am the master of my fate,

      I am the captain of my soul.

We are Seven

By William Wordsworth

———A simple Child,

That lightly draws its breath,

And feels its life in every limb,

What should it know of death?


I met a little cottage Girl:

She was eight years old, she said;

Her hair was thick with many a curl

That clustered round her head.


She had a rustic, woodland air,

And she was wildly clad:

Her eyes were fair, and very fair;

—Her beauty made me glad.


“Sisters and brothers, little Maid,

How many may you be?”

“How many? Seven in all,” she said,

And wondering looked at me.


“And where are they? I pray you tell.”

She answered, “Seven are we;

And two of us at Conway dwell,

And two are gone to sea.


“Two of us in the church-yard lie,

My sister and my brother;

And, in the church-yard cottage, I

Dwell near them with my mother.”


“You say that two at Conway dwell,

And two are gone to sea,

Yet ye are seven! I pray you tell,

Sweet Maid, how this may be.”


Then did the little Maid reply,

“Seven boys and girls are we;

Two of us in the church-yard lie,

Beneath the church-yard tree.”


“You run about, my little Maid,

Your limbs they are alive;

If two are in the church-yard laid,

Then ye are only five.”


“Their graves are green, they may be seen,”

The little Maid replied,

“Twelve steps or more from my mother's door, 

And they are side by side.


“My stockings there I often knit,

My kerchief there I hem;

And there upon the ground I sit,

And sing a song to them.


“And often after sun-set, Sir,

When it is light and fair,

I take my little porringer,

And eat my supper there.


“The first that dies was sister Jane;

In bed she moaning lay,

Till God released her of her pain;

And then she went away.


“So in the church-yard she was laid;

And, when the grass was dry,

Together round her grave we played,

My brother John and I.


“And when the ground was white with snow,

And I could run and slide,

My brother John was forced to go,

And he lies by her side.”


“How many are you, then,” said I,

“If they two are in heaven?”

Quick was the little Maid’s reply,

“O Master! we are seven.”


“But they are dead; those two are dead!

Their spirits are in heaven!”

’Twas throwing words away; for still

The little Maid would have her will,

And said, “Nay, we are seven!”

Come thou fount of every blessing

by Robert Robinson 

Come thou fount of every blessing


Tune my heart to sing Thy grace


Streams of mercy never ceasing


Call for songs of loudest praise

And teach me some melodious sonnet


Sung by flaming tongues above


I'll praise the Mount I'm fixed upon it


Mount of Thy redeeming love

Here I raise my Ebenezer


Hither by Thy help I come


Oh, and I hope by Thy good pleasure


Safely to arrive at home

Oh Jesus, sought me when a stranger


Wandering from the fold of God


He, to rescue me from danger


Interposed His precious blood

Ode to grace, how great a debtor


Daily I'm constrained to be


And let Thy goodness like a fetter


Bind my wandering heart to Thee

Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it


Prone to leave the God I love


Here's my heart, Lord, take and seal it


Seal it for Thy courts above

Here's my heart, Lord, take and seal it


Seal it for Thy courts above.




The Fly
by William Blake

Little Fly,
Thy summer's play
My thoughtless hand
Has brushed away.

Am not I
A fly like thee?
Or art not thou
A man like me?

For I dance
And drink, and sing,
Till some blind hand
Shall brush my wing.

If thought is life
And strength and breath
And the want
Of thought is death;

Then am I
A happy fly,
If I live,
Or if I die.

Left to Right: Sarah Jones, Chris Smiley, John Smiley, Andi May, Scott May, Cooper Stamps, Jordan Stamps Jones, Summer Stamps, Mason Stamps, Reilly Stamps, Julia Stamps, Rachel Jones Bekah Jones, Fox Stamps, Cody Smiley, Mark Smiley, Lisa Stamps, Hannah Jones, Sarah Stamps, and Steven Stamps.

And so it goes...

I wanted to make photo cards or bookmarks or something to send out to everyone because I'm so proud of my favorite son...you know...Valedictorian of the charter class at Summit Academy, called to serve as an LDS missionary in Korea Seoul...all around fabulous kid...but then...

Picture this: I call him in to look at the final options I had picked out. He walks into the room, sees the samples and says, "It's just too much about me." And so, alas, you'll just have a blog (butitsnotaboutme) to look at. I'll post pictures and letters as they come.

Please join me for a 2+ year adventure...It actually starts December 4, 2013.

Oh, and btw, Jordan is not having a "farewell," but his last speaking assignment in the Sego Lily Ward (9824 S. Flint Drive, Sandy) is on November 24th @11am.