Week 46

Benn's letter corrections

Just 4 minor changes. I've attached the new/improved version for you to just attach to an email for him.

1. Bible is capitalized

2. The first reference of "corrupt" was changed to "different" as it seemed harsh and "corrupt" was used in the following sentence.

3. "allows" was deleted; "The summers are hot and the winters are cold and the humidity allows stimulates mold growth..."

4. "try" was changed to "trying"; "This time of walking up to absolute strangers and try[ing] to help..."

I (of course) took off the P.S. to me. Thank you for being willing to reach out to your cousin at this important time in his life. I love you like crazy!

Oh, and I got your box. Anything in particular you want me to do with the 12 (!) shirts? Can the girls wear the ties? Do you need extra $$$ this week to replace them all?!?!@?

btw: next time you send me a box :) PLEASE send a note too! It was fun to see how you "packed" and could visualize your doing it...but I crave hearing from you.

btw2: Did you receive ~3-5 letters/cards from me one week? I was on a kick. Hopefully they brought smile to your face!

Much love darling!

From Jordan to Mom

Thank you so much for your help. :) I really have been in a non-English speaking country for a while!

You can do what you want with the shirts. I would have kept them, but since they can nearly wrap around me again, I figured I won't need them again for a while. The girls can use the ties, but please make sure that if they lose/damage one, I know which one. I can probably get another one cheap, but I don't want to come back and have 12 of the same tie. ;)

Sorry about not sending a note. I just realized that could've been very easily done... Completely spaced that... I am still working on sending some mail back to you, but we really just don't have very much time. We are only allowed to write letters on preparations day, and that is usually spent on preparing... I'll keep trying. I did get some letters a while back! I think I got them all. Were they from your time with Dan and Jackie? If so, yes, I got those, and I am very grateful. :) Love you!

P.S. If you, mom, could check for errors and/or content and let me know before next week, I would be very grateful. :) Thank you for your help! Love you!

Hey! It's been forever! How is life going? What are you up to? I haven't heard from you in ages! What is new in the life of Benn Stamps?

I'm in Korea. That's what I'm up to. Life is really good. I get to live in a tiny apartment next to a railway station infested with unidentifiable insects with a Korean who loves his fermented cabbage and cucumber. 

This is after moving out of a house surrounded by colleges who cater to Muslims and the Chinese. One week was spent meeting with no one but those who want us to read the Koran and accept that the bible is flawed.

We get to go out every day and talk to people living in a culture super saturated with missionaries sent from corrupt churches. Everyone knows the system is corrupt but loves the easy doctrine tossed over the pulpit like tuna to a performing seal. The summers are hot and the winters are cold and the humidity allows stimulates mold growth on clothes in a sealed box. 

This is the best time of my life so far. :)

I don't need to worry about work, school, or girls. I don't need to worry about wars, financial crisis, or whether or not the car will start in the morning. In the words of a Korean, missionary work is: 1. Obtaining the spirit, and 2. teaching with the spirit. I do that and I have nothing to worry about.

This time of walking up to absolute strangers and try to help them make the most important changes in their life they will ever make is the least stressful, yet most focused time I have ever had the chance able to enjoy. 

I don't know what you're up to these days (though I hope to hear about that soon), but I'm sure you're having a great time. I hope you keep having a great time and get to read some more. I remember that you like that. Take every opportunity to learn more. This life is a time to learn, and the more learning we get, the happier we are. :)

Press forward with steadfast faith in Christ.

Best wishes,

Elder Jones

Week 45: From Jordan

From: Jordan Stamps Jones <jsjones@myldsmail.net>
Date: October 19, 2014 at 10:08:57 PM MDT
To: Steven Jones <sajmba2002@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: Week 45 - Doctrine and Covenants 84:45 For the word of the Lord is truth, and whatsoever is truth is light, and whatsoever is light is Spirit, even the Spirit of Jesus Christ.

Thank you for the comic; it was very good. :) Elder Ahn looked over and said "이해할 수 없..." meaning, roughly, "Yeah, I got no idea what that means." I think it's great. :)

This week has been really good. We did more teaching than any week we have had so far. It was still not quite to the level of 이문, but it was, perhaps better teaching. We have been assigned by the bishop to visit a number of less-active/inactive members. A lot of them have moved, but at least one was grateful for the visit. :) This week also signals the first time in this area that we have found someone from the middle east. He's from Pakistan, but we can teach him since he's immigrated here. He's super nice and may actually be open to the message(!). :)  We never really got the storm I heard about, but the cooler weather has made ours suits a blessing once again. It has again made it easier for people to just ignore us, but those who talk to us, are much more friendly. It's funny. With suits, we look like the hundreds of other missionaries from other churches. This makes us both easier to ignore but more likely to be treated kinder. I am still trying to understand Korean culture.

It's great to hear that everyone is doing well. I hope you keep finding productive ways to spend your time with the weather getting colder. It must be pretty late in the morning before the sun comes up over there, isn't it? We still have mountains here, but they are relatively shorter, so we still have sun by the time personal study is over. Let me know when the snow gets to you! The leaves have all of a sudden changed to red here, so I suppose the snow is probably another couple months off. We'll see.

Yes, time is going very quickly. It is incredible how fast it can go. This last week saw the farewell of Elder Harrison, my zone leader twice, and Elder Fonnesbeck, the AP. Both worked hard throughout their missions, but Elder Harrison's example was really instructive. Right up until the last day, he never felt like it was the end. On his last night we had a dinner with some members, and afterwords, he said, "It's weird. I feel like going home (meaning the apartment) and getting up tomorrow just like a regular day. Go out and (street contact) like any normal day." I don't know if I want to be in denial quite as much as he was, but I do hope to keep working like he did up to the end. 합시다 :)

I hope you all keep enjoying the fall and the activities that come with that. Let me know how Halloween goes. We don't have that here. Not exactly sad, but interesting. :) Thank you for everything you do. I love you and look forward to hearing from you in two more months... or reading your email next week. ;)

Press forward with steadfast faith in Christ.

Best wishes,

Elder Jones

Week 45 - Doctrine and Covenants 84:45 For the word of the Lord is truth, and whatsoever is truth is light, and whatsoever is light is Spirit, even the Spirit of Jesus Christ.

Dear Jordan,

 

We received the box that you sent to us. Do you want to keep all of the clothes? Do you want all of it left in the box or put in a closet?

We hope that you are doing well. This week flew by for us. Monday was Columbus Day but Mom and the girls still had school. I had the day off so I tried to get ready for the 50 mile bike ride this Friday. I rode down to the Trax station and then followed the paved pathway South to Draper. It took a couple of hours but I was able to ride down past the elementary/Jr high schools and back. It was only about 18 miles but it was a start. Of course my butt was sore. We had Family Home Evening and then I helped Bekah with some of her homework. She had a couple of big projects due this week for school and hadn't made any progress until the week they are due. She had a math poster and a science fair paper. On Tuesday the YW/YM did baptisms for the dead. On Wednesday Rachel went to the football game for Summit and mom and I had dinner together. After dinner we went to the game to pick up Rachel. We watched a bit of the game. We got there at half time and the score was Summit 55 Gunnison 0. On Thursday I picked up a trailer hitch and then ran some errands. The girls and mom were out of school for UEA but Sarah still had to do some testing so mom took her and they spent the day together. 

 

On Friday I finished getting things ready and picked up a trailer to carry the bikes for the 50 miler. Jacob Krieter wanted to get the cycling merit badge instead of Swimming or Hiking. I met with those that were going: Jacob and his sister Marion, Buzz Summers and his sister Noreen, and Aiden Futrell. We drove down to the west side of Utah Lake to start the ride. I was prepared to ride but I thought it was better for me to follow behind with the vehicle and all of the food and equipment. It worked out better for me and for the riders because it provided a safety buffer for the traffic. I was surprised at how much traffic was still on the road. We headed South and followed the road past Elberta. It was pretty flat and fairly straight. We only got one flat tire and it was with one mile to go until the finish. Jacob made it all of the way with the others rotating being his riding companion(s) after 30 miles. We past the movie set that was built to film all of the Bible videos the Church is making for the life of Jesus Christ. After the ride I took them to McDonald's and then home. On Saturday I went to the Draper temple and did initiatories and then Hannah and I went to Alpine to mow the lawn. Grandma said that it will be the last time this year. I asked her if Dallin would be mowing next year and she said that she will think about it. I then took the girls to Robert's house and we went to the theater to watch Guardians of the Galaxy. I then did the shopping. Sunday morning began earlier than expected because Sarah woke up and decided to work on her YW personal progress but her sisters were either still sleeping or didn't want to share their workbooks with her. Another great learning experience for all involved.

 

Please continue to let us know how you are doing and how we can help you. I put your name on the prayer roll at the temple. It is hard to believe that you have been on your mission for 10 1/2 months already. I was thinking about it and David Smiley has been out over a year. The time is flying by. This week really flew. Andrea Wood returned home from her mission this week.

 

While I was shopping yesterday, i had a coupon for one of the food brands that is in the specialty aisle and saw a bottle for marinating the meat for bulgogi. Do you eat it very often? What is you favorite kimchi?

 

We love you. You are constantly on our minds because you have been such a big part of our lives. Keep working hard and spiritually smart. Keep the mission rules and stay close to your companion. We know that Heavenly Father will continue to bless you for your good works. Keep reading the scriptures (especially out loud in Korean) so that you will always be prepared.

 

Love,

Mom, Sarah, Hannah, Rachel, Bekah, dad

From Jordan: Week 44

From: Jordan Stamps Jones <jsjones@myldsmail.net>
Date: October 12, 2014 at 9:23:46 PM MDT
To: Steven Jones <sajmba2002@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: Week 44 - Doctrine and Covenants 84:44 For you shall live by every word that proceedeth forth from the mouth of God.

Hello everyone! I hope you have had a chance to review the talks from conference this week! It may have been my favorite so far. :) I was reminded that in this church we are to teach in a way that we cannot be misunderstood. The Book of Mormon is that way. The living prophets are that way. We should always try to be that way. It is hard, though. That's why we have a life to perfect it. ;)

I'm glad to hear that you had a good week of roadshows, tours, and "Meeting Mormons." It seems like it was really fun!

This week we have had some opportunities do do some extra service. I didn't see any immediate effects from it, but we did get to make some better relationships with the other churches in the area. This Wednesday we got to help at a... old person convention... I'm not exactly sure what it was, but there was cheap clothing, expensive food, and coupons for the old folks pouring into the square throughout the morning. We got to clear their dishes and clean the tables. Other missionaries did balloons.... Apparently the mission president can do balloon animals very well. 

We then got to do our weekly service at the mental health care facility the next day. It's always a great learning experience there. We get to take people for walks and then feed them their lunch. It is a tremendous opportunity to see how blessed we all are in different ways. I hope we all take advantage of the many opportunities to serve we have every day. I think it was Predident Mckay that said true joy is losing yourself in the service of others. 

Like I said already, I loved this conference. It's always good, but I really think this was my favorite. I loved how up front people were and how down to earth all the messages were. I especially loved Jorg's talk. All the missionaries who had brought snacks to the conference put them away pretty quickly for the rest of the time. It was also great to hear a return to the old-fashioned idea of helping the poor. It has been quite a while since that has been addressed so boldly. Leave it to Elder Holland to do that. :) We're not allowed to give money to other people as missionaries, but the number of people who need a bit of help is incredible. The Korean welfare system is so good that there really is no reason to be destitute here- they just need the gospel, but it was a great reminder of what to do when I get back. 

Thank you for the email. I am working on a letter to send to you, but we never end up having time to sit down and just write. Maybe today... We'll see what happens. I love you all and hope that you look back at conference often. Technology is an incredible blessing when used to become a better person. Never let it become a distraction instead of the tool it is meant to be. :) Thank you for everything you do!

Press forward with steadfast faith in Christ.

Best wishes,

Elder Jones