From: Jordan Stamps Jones <jsjones@myldsmail.net>
To: Steven Jones <sajmba2002@yahoo.com>
Sent: Friday, January 3, 2014 12:34 PM
Subject: Re: MTC Week 4 - a new year - the beginning
Thank you for the messages! I'm glad Christmas was so much fun and that all the talks went well.
I am working on being more effective in study and more motivated in work, but it is somewhat monotonous here. That is not necessarily bad, but there is never much excitement. The closest we have come to being excited recently is our surprise that our schedules change next week. Nevertheless, I will be taking your advice and I will work on being more productive.
Thank you again for your love and prayers. I miss you all and I wish I could write more, but time is short today... I will write soon ;)
Much love, thank you.
Press forward with steadfast faith in Christ
Best wishes,
Elder Jones
Friday, January 3, 2014
To Paduwan Jordan: Week 4...A New Beginning
Elder Jones (Paduwan Jordan),
Thank you for your letters and email last week. It was great hearing your testimony. Christmas was good. Hannah now has your phone number and mom has your phone. She had an accident with hers and shattered the screen. Rachel also has a phone so now mom only has to wrestle with Sarah to get her phone back. I have been letting Sarah use my Nook during the vacation but I ask her to do chores in order for her to use it. It seems to be working for now. On Thursday we tended the kids so that Bonni and Chris could go to the temple. On Friday we went to Temple Square to see the lights. On Saturday we went swimming with the cousins. On Sunday we had our usual dinner at Robert's house. On Monday we had FHE and then went to Robert's for dinner. On Tuesday we went to Robert's and watched The Lone Ranger. You will be able to see it in two years if you want. It was okay and had some funny lines but wasn't exceptional. On Wednesday Bonni and Chris drove back to Colorado. As you say in your emails, not a lot of exciting things. However, on Friday we had a hot air balloon land in our yard. Mom uploaded the pictures but don't know if she will send them to you.
Josep Rivera did well on his talk. He enters the MTC on January 15th. Maddie gave a great talk on grace. She flew out New Year's morning at 1 am. Kevin Wellman did well but he had to cut it short because Maddie had taken over half the time.
We are thrilled to hear that the Korean is coming along. I thought it was interesting that you said that during the other part of the day that it was boring. Do I need to remind you of Brother Bytheway's talk about bricks and ants? This is a time for you to feel the Spirit and be guided by its influence. If you are studying about faith, repentance, baptism, and the gift of the Holy Ghost, think of some of the stories from the scriptures and then translate them to Korean. Then do it again with a different story from another book of scriptures. If you used the Book of Mormon the first time, use the D & C or New Testament the second time. Then be adventuresome and use the Old Testament.
If you have completed the exercises, write down in a notebook different ways to start conversations with others. You will find in your mission that you will talk with a lot of different people. However, just like Alma with the Zoramites, you will have more success with the temporally poor people. Listen to the Spirit to come up with ways to capture the attention of rich people, poor people, men, women, children...
I respect you for what you have accomplished already. My dad tried to help me be more outgoing but I resisted. On your mission you will always have people come up to you because of the Spirit. You will need to be able to keep their interested once you start speaking. As you know, a monotone voice will not do that.
Keep up the great work. We love you and are always praying for you. Sometimes I have to remind your sisters to include you in their prayers but they are getting better. Just remember that the time goes by quickly. Dallin Colgrove only has 6 months left. Kevin Wellman claims that he was the hardest working trunky missionary in his mission. He didn't want to think about how much time was left so he continually had his companion out the door working as fast as he could.
Please let us know how we can help you enjoy this experience more.
Love,
Sarah, Hannah, Rachel, Bekah, dad, and mom and everyone else
Thank you for your letters and email last week. It was great hearing your testimony. Christmas was good. Hannah now has your phone number and mom has your phone. She had an accident with hers and shattered the screen. Rachel also has a phone so now mom only has to wrestle with Sarah to get her phone back. I have been letting Sarah use my Nook during the vacation but I ask her to do chores in order for her to use it. It seems to be working for now. On Thursday we tended the kids so that Bonni and Chris could go to the temple. On Friday we went to Temple Square to see the lights. On Saturday we went swimming with the cousins. On Sunday we had our usual dinner at Robert's house. On Monday we had FHE and then went to Robert's for dinner. On Tuesday we went to Robert's and watched The Lone Ranger. You will be able to see it in two years if you want. It was okay and had some funny lines but wasn't exceptional. On Wednesday Bonni and Chris drove back to Colorado. As you say in your emails, not a lot of exciting things. However, on Friday we had a hot air balloon land in our yard. Mom uploaded the pictures but don't know if she will send them to you.
Josep Rivera did well on his talk. He enters the MTC on January 15th. Maddie gave a great talk on grace. She flew out New Year's morning at 1 am. Kevin Wellman did well but he had to cut it short because Maddie had taken over half the time.
We are thrilled to hear that the Korean is coming along. I thought it was interesting that you said that during the other part of the day that it was boring. Do I need to remind you of Brother Bytheway's talk about bricks and ants? This is a time for you to feel the Spirit and be guided by its influence. If you are studying about faith, repentance, baptism, and the gift of the Holy Ghost, think of some of the stories from the scriptures and then translate them to Korean. Then do it again with a different story from another book of scriptures. If you used the Book of Mormon the first time, use the D & C or New Testament the second time. Then be adventuresome and use the Old Testament.
If you have completed the exercises, write down in a notebook different ways to start conversations with others. You will find in your mission that you will talk with a lot of different people. However, just like Alma with the Zoramites, you will have more success with the temporally poor people. Listen to the Spirit to come up with ways to capture the attention of rich people, poor people, men, women, children...
I respect you for what you have accomplished already. My dad tried to help me be more outgoing but I resisted. On your mission you will always have people come up to you because of the Spirit. You will need to be able to keep their interested once you start speaking. As you know, a monotone voice will not do that.
Keep up the great work. We love you and are always praying for you. Sometimes I have to remind your sisters to include you in their prayers but they are getting better. Just remember that the time goes by quickly. Dallin Colgrove only has 6 months left. Kevin Wellman claims that he was the hardest working trunky missionary in his mission. He didn't want to think about how much time was left so he continually had his companion out the door working as fast as he could.
Please let us know how we can help you enjoy this experience more.
Love,
Sarah, Hannah, Rachel, Bekah, dad, and mom and everyone else
Saturday, December 28, 2013
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
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
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.
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
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
Friday, December 27, 2013
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
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
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