Hey everyone!
It's great to hear from you! I liked the talk we had on Monday even though it seemed a bit short. I unfortunately didn't get to call Grandma and Grandpa Stamps because the card apparently only works in the state you purchase it in... That was a bit of a let down.
The flight was okay, I was in a window seat thanks to Mrs. Rowberry's generosity. There was not too much to see over the arctic, but there were some very nice rivers in Russia. It was also interesting to see the plane fly around North Korea instead of over it. We took the subway from Incheon to Seoul, proselyting all the way in our broken Korean. We then stayed in the housing next to the temple for two nights while we had some training and processing. Thursday, we got our companions and shipped out. I am with Elder South, a student at Yale, who is quite good at Chinese. That has been important because we've done more lessons in Chinese than in Korean. No, I have not been able to keep up, but I have been able to add my two cents occasionally. We currently have no Chinese study, but we are working on getting that. It's been interesting.
I'm glad Rachel did so well in the play! I'm sorry I couldn't see it! I'm glad Robert & co. made it back safely and hope the weather warms up for them soon. Tell Sarah good job on getting up on time and thank you for talking on the phone. Tell mom sorry that I couldn't help with her talk. I did want to.
The food is good. Though the kimchi is pungent, it does not overpower the constant smell of cigarette. All the Korean food is really good and rich, but a lot of the meals we eat at the apartment with what we have lying around. It is interesting...
Thank you for the study suggestions! I will do my best to implement them, but study time is really limited out here. We have a lot of lessons, but it cuts into our study time occasionally. We'll see how that goes. I don't understand the vast majority of what people say, but I am getting really good at guessing based on context, so that's improvement.
Thank you for everything you do. We pray for you many times everyday.
Press forward with steadfast faith in Christ.
Best wishes,
Elder Jones
Monday, February 10, 2014
Week 9 - Incheon by Incheon, row by row, going to make Korea grow (From dad)
Dear Jordan,
It was great to be able to talk with you on Monday. We received the email from your mission that you arrived safely.
Hopefully you enjoyed the flight and bus ride. Hopefully you were able to see some impressive sights going over the Arctic (other than just white) and then driving through Korea from Incheon 인천 to Seoul 서울. Hopefully you were able to call/talk with Grandma/Grandpa Stamps.
I am sure that you hit the ground running. You should be in your new area with a new companion. We would love to hear about it. Hopefully you started out your first area better than I did. On the way to the apartment, I had to put my suitcases in the trunk of the taxi but we couldn't close the trunk. As we were driving around a corner, someone tried to steal one of the suitcases. Fortunately it was shoved in tight and was so heavy that he couldn't pull it out. Ah the fun memories. You may not want to share some of them with mom but I would love to hear about them. lol
Rachel finished with her play last week and she enjoyed it. She did a good job and I could hear her singing even though I was standing in the back of the auditorium. On Sunday she bore her testimony and she acknowledged that she missed you and was thinking about you during the play. Robert made it back safely from DisneyWorld. He enjoyed it but was cold and in the rain for several of the days. We fed the missionaries on Thursday and Sunday. On Thursday it was pizza and on Sunday it was mashed potatoes and chicken. I don't want to make you hungry. Sorry. We would like to hear about the cuisine you are eating now. What you like, what you don't like, etc.
Sarah was so looking forward to your call on Monday that she got up and was ready for school on time.
Thank you for that. We haven't received your package from the MTC yet.
Please don't get too upset if you don't understand the people for a while. I was in the MTC for the 8 weeks plus the additional 3 waiting for my visa and it still took 2 months before I really understood the people. Even today, there are some people that talk in a way that I can't understand them, in English and Spanish. I talked with Sam Knecht (who went to Italy) and he said that he followed the same instructions of studying in English in the MTC but then started studying in Italian once he was in Italy and it made a difference. I think you should still read the Book Of Mormon out loud in Korean to help you with pronunciation and get the rhythm of the language. If it bugs your companion, do it while he is taking his shower.
In Ecuador we only had hot water if we had a heater that linked directly to the spout for the shower. Please let me know if you have hot water and if you can drink the water or if you have to drink bottled water.
From the LDS Living email, they have started to include information from missionhome.com. Here is something I liked:
Make a “pick-me-up” scriptures card. Fill an index card with 10-15 inspiring scriptures that you can refer to when you need more spiritual energy.
Here are some great scriptures to start your “pick-me-up” card:
1.Nephi 3:7
2.Helaman 10:4-5
3.Alma 17
4.Moroni 7:33
5.2nd Nephi 31-33
니파이전서
제 3 장
7 이에 이렇게 되었나니 나 니파이가 나의 부친에게 이르되, 내가 ㄱ가서 주께서 명하신 일들을 행하겠나이다. 이는 주께서 사람의 자녀들이 그가 명하시는 것을 이룰 수 있도록, 그들을 위해 길을 ㄴ예비하실 것이 아니고는 아무 ㄷ명령도 주지 아니하심을 내가 앎이니이다 하였더라.
We love you Jordan. We pray for you and know that as you do Heavenly Father's will, you will be successful.
Enjoy all of the experiences and know that you are not alone.
Love,
Mom, Sarah, Hannah, Rachel, Bekah, dad
It was great to be able to talk with you on Monday. We received the email from your mission that you arrived safely.
Hopefully you enjoyed the flight and bus ride. Hopefully you were able to see some impressive sights going over the Arctic (other than just white) and then driving through Korea from Incheon 인천 to Seoul 서울. Hopefully you were able to call/talk with Grandma/Grandpa Stamps.
I am sure that you hit the ground running. You should be in your new area with a new companion. We would love to hear about it. Hopefully you started out your first area better than I did. On the way to the apartment, I had to put my suitcases in the trunk of the taxi but we couldn't close the trunk. As we were driving around a corner, someone tried to steal one of the suitcases. Fortunately it was shoved in tight and was so heavy that he couldn't pull it out. Ah the fun memories. You may not want to share some of them with mom but I would love to hear about them. lol
Rachel finished with her play last week and she enjoyed it. She did a good job and I could hear her singing even though I was standing in the back of the auditorium. On Sunday she bore her testimony and she acknowledged that she missed you and was thinking about you during the play. Robert made it back safely from DisneyWorld. He enjoyed it but was cold and in the rain for several of the days. We fed the missionaries on Thursday and Sunday. On Thursday it was pizza and on Sunday it was mashed potatoes and chicken. I don't want to make you hungry. Sorry. We would like to hear about the cuisine you are eating now. What you like, what you don't like, etc.
Sarah was so looking forward to your call on Monday that she got up and was ready for school on time.
Thank you for that. We haven't received your package from the MTC yet.
Please don't get too upset if you don't understand the people for a while. I was in the MTC for the 8 weeks plus the additional 3 waiting for my visa and it still took 2 months before I really understood the people. Even today, there are some people that talk in a way that I can't understand them, in English and Spanish. I talked with Sam Knecht (who went to Italy) and he said that he followed the same instructions of studying in English in the MTC but then started studying in Italian once he was in Italy and it made a difference. I think you should still read the Book Of Mormon out loud in Korean to help you with pronunciation and get the rhythm of the language. If it bugs your companion, do it while he is taking his shower.
In Ecuador we only had hot water if we had a heater that linked directly to the spout for the shower. Please let me know if you have hot water and if you can drink the water or if you have to drink bottled water.
From the LDS Living email, they have started to include information from missionhome.com. Here is something I liked:
Make a “pick-me-up” scriptures card. Fill an index card with 10-15 inspiring scriptures that you can refer to when you need more spiritual energy.
Here are some great scriptures to start your “pick-me-up” card:
1.Nephi 3:7
2.Helaman 10:4-5
3.Alma 17
4.Moroni 7:33
5.2nd Nephi 31-33
니파이전서
제 3 장
7 이에 이렇게 되었나니 나 니파이가 나의 부친에게 이르되, 내가 ㄱ가서 주께서 명하신 일들을 행하겠나이다. 이는 주께서 사람의 자녀들이 그가 명하시는 것을 이룰 수 있도록, 그들을 위해 길을 ㄴ예비하실 것이 아니고는 아무 ㄷ명령도 주지 아니하심을 내가 앎이니이다 하였더라.
We love you Jordan. We pray for you and know that as you do Heavenly Father's will, you will be successful.
Enjoy all of the experiences and know that you are not alone.
Love,
Mom, Sarah, Hannah, Rachel, Bekah, dad
Very first quick letter from Korea!
2/9/14
Good news! I have pictures to send you! Bad news: the Internet is too slow to send them right now. I may just fill the card then send it home. It would be slow, but until I find a better way, that is the game plan. Thank you for everything you do. I look forward to hearing from you and I pray for you. I am doing alright, and I hope you are too :) God bless :)
Press forward with steadfast faith in Christ.
Best wishes,
Elder Jones
Good news! I have pictures to send you! Bad news: the Internet is too slow to send them right now. I may just fill the card then send it home. It would be slow, but until I find a better way, that is the game plan. Thank you for everything you do. I look forward to hearing from you and I pray for you. I am doing alright, and I hope you are too :) God bless :)
Press forward with steadfast faith in Christ.
Best wishes,
Elder Jones
Mission Home address!
Elder
Jordan Stamps Jones
The
Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-day Saints
Korea
Seoul Mission
PO
Box 210
Jongno-gu
Seoul-si
SOUTH KOREA 110-602
Wednesday, February 5, 2014
Preparing for the big call...
On 30 January 2014 07:47, Steven <sajmba2002@yahoo.com> wrote:
From: Jordan Stamps Jones <jsjones@myldsmail.net>
To: Steven <sajmba2002@yahoo.com>
Sent: Thursday, January 30, 2014 10:57 AM
Press forward with steadfast faith in Christ.
On 30 January 2014 11:27, Steven Jones <sajmba2002@yahoo.com> wrote:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sent: Thursday, January 30, 2014 11:31 AM
Press forward with steadfast faith in Christ.
Subject: Re: Dont know if you need to know this but...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear Jordan,
I dont know if you need to know this but Sarah and I will be on frontrunner monday morning at 7:30 am in South Jordan.
We love you. Please let us know if you need anything.
Love, Dad
Sent from my NOOK
From: Jordan Stamps Jones <jsjones@myldsmail.net>
To: Steven <sajmba2002@yahoo.com>
Sent: Thursday, January 30, 2014 10:57 AM
Since you're online, I don't know when you want me to
call. I can call from Detroit in the afternoon, or I can call from SLC
really early in the morning. Please reply with a preference and I will respond with exact time later today.
Press forward with steadfast faith in Christ.
Best wishes, Elder Jones
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~On 30 January 2014 11:27, Steven Jones <sajmba2002@yahoo.com> wrote:
Jordan,
Do you want to call us?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From: Jordan Stamps Jones <jsjones@myldsmail.net>
To: Steven Jones <sajmba2002@yahoo.com> Sent: Thursday, January 30, 2014 11:31 AM
I would enjoy calling, but not if it causes too much stress or inconvenience.
Press forward with steadfast faith in Christ.
Best wishes, Elder Jones
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
11:39 am
Jordan,
Please call us at 6:15 am from the airport. More than likely you will need to check in at least 2 hours early so you should be there probably by 6.
Please call 801-891-7489 (mom's cell, in case you forgot).
Love you.
Dad
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From: Jordan Stamps Jones <jsjones@myldsmail.net>
To: Steven Jones <sajmba2002@yahoo.com>
Sent: Thursday, January 30, 2014 11:43 AM
I will plan to do that. If I can't, please know it is outside my control.
Press forward with steadfast faith in Christ.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Best wishes, Elder Jones
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
On Thu, Jan 30, 2014 at 11:49 AM, Steven Jones <sajmba2002@yahoo.com> wrote:
Jordan,
Also, if you can't call until after 6:30 am, still please call mom. She will expect you call and she doesn't have to go to work on Monday.
Love you.
Dad
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From: Lisa Stamps <stamps.lisa@gmail.com>
To: Steven Jones <sajmba2002@yahoo.com>
Sent: Thursday, January 30, 2014 2:31 PM
To: Steven Jones <sajmba2002@yahoo.com>
Sent: Thursday, January 30, 2014 2:31 PM
So...he's calling my cell @6:15. Hannah will jump on first, then I'll jump on before I take her to school.
By 6:30, he'll be talking to you/Sarah/Rachel/Bekah until I get back ~7:10. I'll talk to him for the last 5 minutes? sound about right?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
Jan 30 (6 days ago)
| | ||
| ||||
3:23 pm
Lisa,
I will take Hannah to school that day so that you can continue to talk with him. Yes, let's start with Hannah.
StevenFriday, January 24, 2014
From Jordan to Mom (Week 7)
Thank you for the note. I am happy to hear that things are going well, but I am sorry to hear how difficult it feels. I hope you feel better about everything sooner than later.
You would do well with the SpEd department at the HS. They have great people there. You could do a lot of good there.
I miss music too. After some meals, the district goes and messes around on a piano until it's time to go to class, but everyone is always sad to leave. It's actually quite soothing to just relax and play music for a while.
I am less bored, but really all it is is me forcing myself to always be doing something. It's not always the most effective work, but it passes the time. Thank you for the advice for learning Korean. I have been doing that for a while and it has been a major help. I feel fairly comfortable teaching lessons now. It is just talking in other contexts which is really difficult. We have not studied very much non-gospel Korean. It will all work out though. I can talk to the Koreans that came on Tuesday for practice.
I'm glad you finally read the book. I am surprised you went straight for the one I said was the most depressing, but it is still good. Just remember to look at it from a different perspective. It is really a novel about how you see others and how you see yourself. That is the important part. I don't think I did anything mentioned in the book at all, but I think the book is a good read because there is something for everyone to identify with.
Have you been to the temple recently? We went last week and I apparently forgot to tell you there is another new presentation. In many ways I like it more than the old new one. Keep you eyes out for some familiar faces. Not only that, but the temple will help you while you struggle. Life isn't easy, but it's worth it.
Let me know if there is anything I can do to help. I am working on my book of quotes for you. Once it is full, I will probably send it to you. Thank you and I pray for you. Much love.
Press forward with steadfast faith in Christ
Best wishes,
Elder Jones
You would do well with the SpEd department at the HS. They have great people there. You could do a lot of good there.
I miss music too. After some meals, the district goes and messes around on a piano until it's time to go to class, but everyone is always sad to leave. It's actually quite soothing to just relax and play music for a while.
I am less bored, but really all it is is me forcing myself to always be doing something. It's not always the most effective work, but it passes the time. Thank you for the advice for learning Korean. I have been doing that for a while and it has been a major help. I feel fairly comfortable teaching lessons now. It is just talking in other contexts which is really difficult. We have not studied very much non-gospel Korean. It will all work out though. I can talk to the Koreans that came on Tuesday for practice.
I'm glad you finally read the book. I am surprised you went straight for the one I said was the most depressing, but it is still good. Just remember to look at it from a different perspective. It is really a novel about how you see others and how you see yourself. That is the important part. I don't think I did anything mentioned in the book at all, but I think the book is a good read because there is something for everyone to identify with.
Have you been to the temple recently? We went last week and I apparently forgot to tell you there is another new presentation. In many ways I like it more than the old new one. Keep you eyes out for some familiar faces. Not only that, but the temple will help you while you struggle. Life isn't easy, but it's worth it.
Let me know if there is anything I can do to help. I am working on my book of quotes for you. Once it is full, I will probably send it to you. Thank you and I pray for you. Much love.
Press forward with steadfast faith in Christ
Best wishes,
Elder Jones
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