Week 36: from Jordan

This week was a really fun one for everyone, it seems! How was the Xmen movie? And how is 드래건 길들이기 2? It has some fun posters!

This week we got to meet with a few good people. One is a missionary for the Seventh-day Adventist Church. He really wants to know if what we're saying is true and he likes it, but he's not sure if he can make the commitment to join the church. He's currently signed on for life-time missionary service, so I understand the worry. Elder Pons also got to meet a 52 year-old man from Gambia. He is studying for a Master's degree so he can become minister of education in Gambia. He is loving the message and the only thing he doesn't like is that there are no missionaries in Gambia right now. He says he will personally translate the Book of Mormon in to Fillani because "the people of Gambia need this book!" He's doing really well, but since he is so old, and doing the entire master's program in one year, he is always really tired, and so sometimes sleeps through our appointments. I look forward to meeting him soon, though.

I didn't get to go to the lesson with Mr. Ba (Gambia) because of a conflicting appointment, but it worked out int he end it seems. In similar news, I was senior companion for a day because of exchanges with Elder Ashby. He's still struggling with the language and is noticing some gigantic differences between Korea and Utah, but he's working hard, and that's what matters. :) He said it was really weird to be with someone other than Elder Redd. That's fair. 

Other than that, we have had a pretty quiet week. We got to go visit the northern end of our district and walk by the river. People were much more willing to talk up there. Still not exactly leaping for baptism, but willing to hear us out. That was nice to experience in contrast with the always busy areas where we usually are. We should always be willing to give time to listen. We can learn a lot when we do. :) Not only that, it is through listening that we help others feel important. Granted, people need to want to talk first, but when they are, it is listening that helps them keep going. Maya Angelou said, "People will forget what you say. People will forget what you do. But people will never forget how you made them feel." As missionaries, we are helping people come closer to Christ, and, in large part, that means helping them see their true worth. 

Sorry there's less to report this week. We have had a lot of time street contacting in new areas. It hasn't yielded as many stories, but it has given us the opportunity to meet some people that possible never would have been found otherwise. It's been good. :) Thank you for all you're doing. I am always happy to hear about your adventures back home. Keep up the fun times, but now that school has started, 시간이 많이 없다. Hope you have fun anyway. And that you use this lack of time as an opportunity to focus on what is most important. :) Have a great week!

Press forward with steadfast faith in Christ.

Best wishes,

Elder Jones