Week 51 response

Well, transfers came and Elder Ahn got transferred to the mission office to help out since the mission finance missionaries go home in 12 days. There won't be a replacement until March... But at least we have a replacement! We weren't sure if we would get a new couple for a while. Gratefully there will be one. 

My new companion is Elder Bradshaw from San Diego. He's still a really young missionary and is going through the struggles of learning Korean, but he studied hard in the MTC, so we're starting off well. I would send you a picture of him, but we still don't have one, and it would be easier to say he looks exactly like a tall Chase Rowberry. The resemblance is striking. No known relationship. He's super great and wants to work hard, so we are working as hard as possible. 

The long awaited snow has finally arrived! It started this morning and hasn't stopped. The wind combining with the snow is making it a bit harder to talk to people, but we're trying. It is funny not being with a Korean companion because all the members say, "wow, I didn't know you could speak Korean! You're really good!" Elder Ahn was quite the conversationalist. ;)  We'll have a fun time working with members now that that the easy conversation is gone. There are now no Korean elders in the district, but there is an additional Korean Sister. There are 2 brand new missionaries in the district, and there were 4 new missionaries to the area in total. That's a third of the missionaries. The ward was a bit sad to see so many go. 

There haven't been too many things to write about this week. We finally got snow and the weather got much colder very quickly. We, in fact, had to go buy a new coat for Elder Bradshaw because his old one was too big. I think it may be interexting to you to know the decorations of the Internet cafe we are emailing in. It's name is OZ, but the pictures closest to me, in order, are of: Barbara Streisand, 1960s Batman and Robin, Donny and Marie, Judy Garland "Wizard of Oz," Marilyn Monroe, and Ben Hur. It's funny how often America comes up in conversation and decoration, and how often our church members are in the public eye. One American who lives in Korea now owns Subways here, one is an actor (Robert Halley), and the stake president's cousin invented the soap system in most public bathrooms here. Most people have heard of our church, it is just getting them to understand that we may struggle with. It's all good, though. We're just doing what we can. :)

I hope everyone is healthy despite the cold weather and that you all enjoy going back to school and work tomorrow! :D Love you all and I'm really grateful for the email.

Press forward with steadfast faith in Christ.

Best wishes,

Elder Jones

Week 51 - 2 Nephi 9:52 Behold, my beloved brethren, remember the words of your God; pray unto him continually by day, and give thanks unto his holy name by night. Let your hearts rejoice.

Dear Jordan,

Sorry, I couldn't find a scripture with "thanks" and "51" in it so I got as close as I could.

Hope you are doing well. We are back into the 50s with our temperature so we don't have any snow on the ground.

On Monday the girls went to Jordan High School and watched Les Mis. Mom went to a play with Holly. Will went to bed early. So it was just Sarah and me for Family Home Evening. Generally she doesn't enjoy FHE but she started out by wanting to do the calendar. We then talked about the 10 lepers with Jesus which lead into the lesson on gratitude. I think she enjoyed participating in the lesson. On Tuesday Sarah and I helped move a fridge at Joyce Lee's house. Her daughter moved out but left a fridge. Sarah and I then ran some errands and ate dinner at Burger King. 

On Wednesday I was supposed to introduce Jacob Kreiter to the Eagle board but he didn't show up. We will see what will happen. On Thursday it was Thanksgiving. In the morning I made stuffing and gravy. I also had corn and a roast. We went to Robert's house around noon and ate. We then watched some movies. On Friday I had the day off as well as the girls from school and Mom from work. I exercised and then Mom and I went to the temple and did some initiatories. It wasn't busy so we each did another 5 names. We then watched some movies. Rachel and Bekah had invited some people over on Saturday to do a Dr Who marathon so we spent the evening cleaning the front room. We also replaced our fridge with the one that Robert gave to us. On Saturday I helped Robert by being his chauffeur. He was having his new vehicle be serviced. I then exercised. Rachel's and Bekah's marathon then began when their friends arrived. I then did the shopping. 

Karen and Lance then drove Ben up from St. George on their way to Oregon. On Sunday we had tithing settlement and went to church and then to Robert's house. Will also flew home late Sunday night.

On Thanksgiving, Friday, and Saturday, the temperatures were in the 60s. I made sure that each member spent some time outside to enjoy it. It was the warmest I have ever experienced at Thanksgiving. I know they don't celebrate it in Korea but we hope you had a great week.

We love you Jordan. We appreciate your hard work and endurance. Hopefully you are feeling that your language skills are improving as well as your testimony growing on a daily basis. Whether you are on your mission or not, I believe that we have to be doing those things to increase our testimonies and love of others on a daily basis. There are a lot of people that think that you can just get by and that is enough. I don't know their situation but I know that I can't do that. If I do I feel that I am moving away from the Spirit. Your mission is almost half over and it is going by quickly. 

I am now 50 and I know that half of this life is probably over. I don't think that I will live to be 100, at least I won't if I don't lose some weight. Keep going strong and pressing forward. Heavenly Father will bless you for your efforts. Please keep on doing at least one more thing each day to help your companion or those to whom you are serving.

You are wonderful and we love you.

Love,

Mom, Sarah, Hannah, Rachel, Bekah, dad

Happy almost Thanksgiving, mom!

Sorry I didn't email last week. People's emails serve as a reminder of who needs an email. Since I didn't see an email from you... It kind of slipped my mind. Last week wasn't preparation day... It was a little busy...

Hope you're doing well! Rachel has been going to a bunch of plays; have you been able to accompany her yet? You should! She really loves you a lot and any time you spend with her is very appreciated. 

I'm really not emailing very many people. I send the family email first, then respond to any of the girls that email (meaning sisters... don't go getting any ideas. ;) ), and then reply to any of the sporadic emails that occasionally come in. It somehow takes the whole time. I suppose the nearly constant typos do take their toll of time. It's really worrying. Every time I look at the screen there is a new typo that I wouldn't have made a year ago... Maybe BYU would be a good way to transfer back to English... We'll see. 

I hope you have fun during Thanksgiving and have fun with the family during the break! Thank you so much for everything you do. I say that so much, but it's because I mean it every time I say it. Love you!

Press forward with steadfast faith in Christ.

Best wishes,

Elder Jones

Week 50: Jordan reply

Hello! Congrats on getting snow! The trees still have a few leaves on them so I think we may yet have a few weeks before the snow comes. That's not a bad thing. If it gets much colder in the evenings the Koreans may never leave their houses. ;)

This week had been an interesting one. We found a former investigator who had our number blocked. We talked and decided to meet later. As it turns out His girlfriend blocked our number, and he still wants to meet, so it worked our pretty well! He had a baptismal date before he disappeared for 3 weeks and he wants to still get baptized. The only real problem is his girlfriends utter loathing of other churches. The irony is that her religion is even crazier sounding than ours. :) It'll work out in the end. 

I got a new coat this week and there has already been an improvement in conversations on the street. I guess not wearing a trench coat can be a plus. ;) The weather has been cold at night, warm during the day, and very cold in the evening. It has been a bit of a stress to Elder Ahn, but he's pushing through. :) It's a sad day when he leaves, but it will happen sooner or later. We'll see what happens with the next companion. 

I've been reading the Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants in personal study, and it has been a great experience to see the two separate books paint the same big picture so well. I hope all you got to read the other standard works in addition to the Book of Mormon. There are many reasons that we use all of them. :) I have especially loved seeing the interaction between the New Testament and the Book of Mormon. There is a power that comes from talking about the living Christ. I forgot who said it, but some general authority said that whenever the name of the Savior is spoken, there is a spirit that comes. That's definitely been true here. People think we're just more missionaries, but there is always a power that comes when we tell them that we come from Christ's restored church. It is the Lord's work we do, and He is more than happy to help it move along. 

Thank you for everything you are doing. I love you all and hope you stay safe in the snow. Don't drive more than is needful! Elder Klebingat would probably recommend walking anyway. ;) There is apparently a meme with his picture that says, "Thou Shalt Work Out." Our district leader printed it out for a district meeting a while back. This last conference was quite something. We got the Liahona this past week... Very helpful. 

Have a great week!

Press forward with steadfast faith in Christ.

Best wishes,

Elder Jones

Week 50 - 1 Nephi 17:50 And I said unto them: If God had commanded me to do all things I could do them. If he should command me that I should say unto this water, be thou earth, it should be earth; and if I should say it, it would be done.

Dear Jordan,

 

 We have snow on the ground now. Not too much but it is still staying. The temperatures have been in the 30s and 40s for most of the week. We hope you are doing well. Any snow on the ground for you yet? Mom was surprised when she found out that you have been writing to other people (friends, etc). She was a little sad that you hadn't written to her last week. 

 

 As you can see by the week number, you are coming up on a year. To me it has been going by very fast. I hope you have enjoyed it. Now that you are no longer a teenager, do you feel any different? I didn't think so. Did you have a great birthday?

 

 On Monday we had Family Home Evening and Mom taught the lesson. It was on our bodies as temples and keeping them clean. On Tuesday the girls had Young Women in Excellence. Mom attended. The Young Men had their court of honor so I was busy with that. After I was done I was to the YW program. You may not have heard but Rachel finished her requirements and earned her Young Women's medallion. Hannah is still working on it and Bekah is just beginning. On Wednesday Hannah and Rachel had their interviews to receive their patriarchal blessings. On Thursday I ran some errands. On Friday I had the day off to prepare for the scout camp out. We went to Ken Wood's cabin. Everything worked out very well. It was a little cold but we didn't have to drive through any snow to get there. We ate dinner and then had a scouter's minute. The boys and most leaders them played games for a while. On Saturday we ate breakfast, packed our gear, and cleaned the cabin. We then spent some time planning for next year. Just as we finished, the snow started falling so it worked out very well. We came home and dropped off everyone. Rachel then went to How the Grinch stole Christmas with Robert. I went shopping for food. 

 

Will Stamps then came to our house. He will be staying until next Sunday. He let us know that Reilly Stamps decided to come home from his mission in Chile. We don't have much more information because he arrived back in NC a couple of hours after Will had left to fly out here to Utah. On Sunday Will went to church with us. After church we went to Robert's house for dinner.

 

 I finished reading The Book of Mormon again as part of my daily reading. I love the book and I am so grateful to have it in my life. I know it is true and I am grateful to have the teachings of it available in my life. I am grateful that you are able to tell the people of Korea about it so that they can know that God loves them and wants them to have the blessings of the gospel in their lives.

 

 We are grateful to have you as our son. You are great. We appreciate the choices you have made in you life to become the person you are. We love you.

 

 Please keep up the wonderful work you are doing. We continue to pray for you and your safety and success for what Heavenly Father wants you to do. I will now let you get to all of those other emails you have. Love you again.

 

Love,

dad, Mom, Sarah, Hannah, Rachel, Bekah

Happy birthday 11/21/94!

Dear Jordan,

♪♫ Happy Birthday to You! ♪♫

♪♫ Happy Birthday to You! ♪♫

♪♫ Happy Birthday Dear Jordan! ♪♫

♪♫ Happy Birthday to You! ♪♫

Hope you have a wonderful birthday!

 

Love,

Your Family

Korean War plane