The World Strikes Back (from dad)

Dear Elder Jones (or Jordan for short),

Hope you are doing well. I sent you the email about Dallin. By the time you read it he will be home. You have already completed 5 weeks in the MTC and only 99 left. You are now in the double digits instead of the triple digits, to give you some math language. We are doing well. Mom said that she talked with Mrs. Mangelson and told her that you were bored except for the Korean. She said that it is a good thing that you are learning Korean instead of Chinese; otherwise you would be bored with that too.

Mom read a bit of your email in church on Sunday and mentioned the part about Bro. Hecker. He was surprised and a bit embarrassed but thanked her afterward. The girls are back in school and mom is back at work. We miss you taking Hannah to school in the mornings but it is selfishness on our part. You are a great young man who helped with the family and did what was right. In a way you are still helping the family and doing what is right. Please keep up the good work. We saw some of the pictures that your companion took. It would be great if you smiled more. You were the only one not smiling. If you smile the world will look brighter and you will influence others in a positive manner. Plus you have great smile, especially when you are having fun.

I didn't understand why you wanted me to read the paragraph in the handbook. I assume that you meant the missionary handbook. You could have meant Handbook 2 but I need some guidance for the section if that is what you meant.

The elders in the stake have been sick for a little while and we haven't seen them much during the holidays. I hope to use them in going around to all of the houses in the ward area to help gather information for the ward directory. We use the online tool but we also want to get the information on the non-members for emergency purposes. It may also allow the missionaries to get some more contacts.

I know you have several emails to read so I will end now.

Know that you are loved and that Heavenly Father is smiling at you, so smile back every now and then.

Hope to hear from you soon.

Love,

Hannah, Rachel, Bekah, dad, mom, Sarah