Week 7 The wonders of the world (from dad)

Dear Elder Jones,
It's been a quiet week in Lake Wo... er, Sandy. On Monday we had the ward Family Home Evening and it went well. It was held at the Urton's house. The girls finished up their semester of school and mom is back at work. She is also teaching her class in the evening.

We are trying to get by with just the grey car because the van is having problems.

Robert will be flying to Disney World on Saturday. The girls (Rachel & Bekah) will be trying out for parts in the community play like you did for High School Musical. This year they're doing Beauty and the beast. Rachel will have her Jr. High play next week--a Pirates Life for Me. She didn't get a named role (which bummed her out), but she's been a trooper and is a strong member of the chorus.

Your picture is on the board at the stake center but it isn't up at our ward yet. But then again Maddie's isn't up either. We have your scripture but I haven't heard about a final picture yet. I know your companion's mom posted some last week but I haven't seen them yet.

Have the culture classes been fun? Are they saying about the same things as the books from the library? I remember that I learned some interesting facts from the returned missionaries teaching the class that helped me on my mission.

How is the language coming? Have you memorized Preach My Gospel yet? Did they provide any of the other books in Korean or just the scriptures?

We love you and pray for you. Each time I go to the temple I put your name on the prayer roll. We know that you are doing the Lord's work and are preparing yourself for some amazing experiences. If you haven't read it recently, read Helaman 3:35 because I know that just like the people were amazed at the great things that happened because they were ready, you will also be amazed if you are prepared.

You are a great servant of our Heavenly Father.
Love,
Bekah, dad, Mom, Sarah, Hannah, and Rachel

NEW MTC address!

Elder Jordan Stamps Jones
FEB03 KOR-SEO
2007 N. 900 E. #9
Provo UT 84602

From Jordan in reply to mom's message

Thank you for the thoughts. All of you are though of on a daily basis as well. Thank you for the photos. It looks like he's having a great time :)

The first week here someone made the connection between the MTC and a concentration camp. One elder pointed out that here, though, we get food.

Press forward with steadfast faith in Christ

Best wishes,

Elder Jones

From mom...

EVERYONE asks how you are doing: clients @UpZen, church, and school. I tell them that you are bored, but surviving. David from UpZen said that they used to call the MTC the "LDS Concentration Camp." Kind of a funny double entendre, eh?

I think about you at the strangest times...when

I open a can of Vernors

the sacrament guys are released to sit with their families

its time for Hannah to leave for school

I see/hear anything Muppets

I have to drive the grey car

I see dad using your iPad

I read the comics in the paper

There are tons more. You are loved; you know that, right?

Be well, my love!

From Jordan: Week 6 reply

I did get to see Elder Rivera briefly yesterday. He was really excited to be here.

I am glad everyone is doing well! I hope the missionaries get better quickly. Have mom give them some Dr. Shulze. That would get them up. 

Thank you for all the lessons you taught me, both verbally and by example. They have helped a lot, though in some ways, they have replaced what the MTC is trying to teach... I hope you have an active companion who is willing to teach and learn. Let me know who it is and how all our families are doing. Let them know I remember all of them.

The weather is cold, but we've got good clothes. I am doing well as far as that is concerned.

Thank you for all the compliments, but I didn't get here by myself. You have been a great family and I look forward to hearing from you every week and seeing you in twenty two and a half months. I don't have much time now, but I will try to write a letter this week. By the way, do US postage stamps work from outside the country? Also, what is Robert's address? I have been meaning to send a letter to him and others, but I don't have the address...

Thank you for all your prayers. You are all in mine. Have fun and remember that it is not that long. 

Press forward with steadfast faith in Christ

Best wishes,

Elder Jones

From Dad: Week 6 - The Return of the BlueSky (no more haze for now)

Dear Elder Jones,
You may have seen Elder Josep Rivera today. If not, you may run into him at lunch. Last night mom was on a parent panel at Spectrum Academy. She talked about Sarah and some of the challenges. On Monday, mom and most of the girls went to Jordan High School to see the play Falling. It is a story about a family with an autistic child. Mom and Hannah were moved.

Dallin arrived home safely and then flew with his family to Arizona for a family visit. Ben is interviewing several places including St. George, Texas, and Iowa.

Our missionaries have been fighting colds/flues etc so we haven't seen them very often. I am trying to get their help in going around to every house in the ward to update the ward directory and possibly help them get some investigators.

I will be getting a new home teaching companion this week. If I didn't tell you before, please let me tell you now. I appreciated you as my companion and knew that I could rely on you. I hope you enjoyed some/most of the visits and that you picked up ideas on how to visit with people. I know you will use yours skills in Korea. I miss your companionship and help.

We hope that you continue to progress in Korean and your teaching skills. I constantly have people ask me how you are doing. I tell them that you are doing well and are learning more Korean every day. With the cold weather that we had for the last few weeks, I was starting to get a little concerned for you once you are in Korea. Hopefully you will find all of the warm clothes you need.

As I drive Hannah and Ashley to early morning seminary, I think of how many times you drove them. Thank you.

We love you and pray for your success. We look forward to you letters/emails. Even if you don't feel like you have much to say, we appreciate the correspondence so that we can feel like you are part of our lives.
Continue pressing forward through the hard work, enjoy the moments of joy, and continue smiling because your family and your Heavenly Father love you. You are a great son.

Love,
Rachel, Bekah, dad, Mom, Sarah, and Hannah

Our only hope...sends another one!

From: Jordan Stamps Jones <jsjones@myldsmail.net>
To: Steven Jones <sajmba2002@yahoo.com>
Sent: Thursday, January 9, 2014 2:56 PM
Subject: Re: Week 5 - the World strikes back

Ok, I'm back. As I was saying, everything is going pretty well here. I wish we had more language study time and fewer meetings with the district and zone, but, other than that, things are pretty good. I look forward to the time I feel comfortable speaking Korean, but I think more and more that that won't happen until a long time after I am in Korea. Though, I do feel I am making progress, slowly but steadily.

The longer I am away, the more I realize I miss friends and family. I think it will be better in the field because I will get to work with the ward and investigators. Here, however, I only have my district. Although they are all great people, once you finish talking about the difficulties of a mission and friends back home, there remains little to discuss... I suppose it is good practice for when I can't understand anything anyone says in the field. I don't know. Everything will be different once I leave the MTC.

Thank you all for everything you are doing for me and for those around you. I miss you all, but I know we will see each other again. Have fun, be happy, and know God loves you.

Press forward with steadfast faith in Christ

Best wishes,
Elder Jones

P.S. I just realized I never said happy new year... Happy New Year Everyone!