Week 53 response

Hello! 매리 그리스마스! That's really how it's said in Korean, no joke. :)

This week has been an interesting one. It has gotten colder and it is said that it will get colder. It's okay, though because the colder it gets, the crazier we seem to be outside, and so the more likely people are to at least say hello to us. :) Still no luck with door approaches. I guess people don't want to let the warm air out... I don't know how the American missionaries do it. Tell them good luck for me. I hope they're healthy. 

We've been doing a lot of finding lately. On Saturday we found one many who religiously attends 장로교 (the Presbyterian church) but who thinks it really doesn't matter what church you go to as long as you believe in Christ. I suppose that's a problem most missionaries face sometime during their missions. We verbally wandered for an hour seeing sights from all the first three lessons and eventually strolling past the Word of Wisdom and the Law of Chastity. HE likes basically everything except our non-Trinitarianism and the fact that we insist on baptism by one with the priesthood. :) He even liked latter-day prophets! ...once I explained that their purpose isn't to replace Jesus. ;) We have high hopes for him. It really wouldn't take much much for him to get baptized. Just a paradigm shift. :)

We've been working hard. We've been learning lots. I don't know what more to write than that. Oh yeah, I did only speak to Elder Bradshaw in Korean for nearly a full day yesterday.  That's something I couldn't have done a year ago. It's much easier than English nowadays. I don't know if I want to switch back... I guess that's just not much of an option, is it? :) Another missionary is from somewhere close to us! A Sister Boud is from... Sandy area... I forgot exactly where. Since it's Utah, she could be 3 stakes away, but I may as well throw it out there. It is always astounding how different things are here from home. Our stake includes a large part of Seoul and part of another city. 

Oh yeah, just to give a bit of an image of what the streets look like now: instead of a sea of umbrellas like it was during the summer, the street is filled by people dressed like the rebels on Hoth in Star Wars got in a paintball fight. Everyone is bundled up in layers poofier than packing peanuts and more colorful than hot-air balloons. It's entertaining to say the least. :) 

Thank you for the emails. It is really a great thing to see a letter from family. :) Love you guys! I hope you enjoy this pre-Christmas week week. I'll probably send more Christmas-y stuff next week. :) Have fun!

Press forward with steadfast faith in Christ.

Best wishes,

Elder Jones

Week 53 - Doctrine and Covenants 53:3 Take upon you mine ordination, even that of an elder, to preach faith and repentance and remission of sins, according to my word, and the reception of the Holy Spirit by the laying on of hands;

Dear Jordan, 

We continue to have beautiful weather. We have highs in the 50's to 60's. We still need a lot more rain (snow in the mountains) so that we don't have a drought like California had this year. We received some rain on Saturday and we woke up to a little bit of snow on Sunday but it probably won't last the day in the valley. Fortunately there is still some snow in the mountains. Does Korea ever have to worry about droughts? This coming week we will be in the 40s.

On Monday we had Family Home Evening and Sarah joined in again. On Tuesday the girls helped with the Sub For Santa with the YM/YW. Unfortunately they left before I could get home from work. On Wednesday I cleaned our old refrigerator so it would be ready to be taken away on Monday. On Thursday I went to the scouting Round Table for training and information. 

On Friday Bekah and I watched some shows together. She has most of her science fair project finished and it is due next week. On Saturday we cleaned the church again and then I drove to Alpine to help put in the flooring in Grandma's kitchen. Ben wasn't able to go but Sarah went with me. We didn't finish putting in the floor but we got everything prepped for next Saturday. Mom and I went on a date. We saw Maze Runner at the dollar theater and I then did the shopping. On Sunday I went to the YM's presidency meeting and then we went to church. We then went to Robert's house for dinner. 

You now have less than a year until the end of your mission so please keep working hard. You have been doing a wonderful job. Hopefully you are feeling closer to your Heavenly Father. I know he loves you and will bless you with those things that will help you on your mission and in your life. 

I know in your last email that you said that you would call us. Are you able to Skype? Do we need to do anything for the phone call? Please let us know.

We love you. We appreciate all you do.

Love,

Hannah, Rachel, Bekah, dad, Mom, Sarah

Jordan reply

Thank you for the email. It was really good to read. I didn't know Grandpa Nance's birthday was December 13th! By the way, that was the last day for almost a century where the numbers line up like that. It was 2 years ago for the rest of the world. We got a second chance in America. :)

I didn't intend for the last letter to be a plea for money! :) Thank you for you generosity, but I think I may wait and get some stuff for all y'all later and send it to you you back home. :) I thought it was less to send shoes... I will buy shoes... Thank you for letting me know. :) 

I hope you are enjoying the Christmas season back home. Christmas is much better in America in my opinion. That may be because I like hearing Christmas music and seeing more families outside, but I hope you get many chances to enjoy the season dedicated to the Savior in the land of religious freedom. :) 

I'll make sure to spend your charitable contribution well. :) Really you are too kind! Thank you so much for what you do. I was especially happy to see an email from you with a letter attached! It was a great Christmas present.

I am trying to send some letters to people back home, but I don't know when the letters will arrive... Know they are on their way as soon as possible. :) Love you!

Press forward with steadfast faith in Christ.

Best wishes,

Elder Jones

AAAAHHHHH!!!! When should I call for Christmas????  I almost forgot!

HAVE SOME GOOD SHOES MADE!

...and buy some socks. There's plenty of $$$ in your account. I can't bear the thought of spending >$100 to ship you shoes when you can have them made there at a decent price. Don't forget: the shoes you wore out were $120 each. Go crazy. BUY WHAT YOU NEED!

At tithing settlement this year, it was truly humbling to see end-of-year statements for 3 of our siblings and both sets of Grandparents. You are being supported financially by your whole family. You are loved!

Oh, and Happy Christmas 12 days early. Find something special to help you remember this special Christmas in Korea. I got a $150 PPL commission check and put it in your account. Go spend it. :)

It's amazing to think that you'll be home in a year.

Do they celebrate Chinese New Year in Korea?

I love your gutz and think about you every single day. I still marvel at the fact that you were sent to Korea with Mandarin skills and that you were able to use them there. It's a serious reminder for me that The Lord has a bigger plan, and that there are no accidents. No Celestial mistakes.

Today is 12/13/14 and Grandpa Nance's birthday. I'm thinking he would have liked the silliness of my even noticing the numbers being in sequence. It's been wonderful thinking of him and replaying memories! It's hard to believe that it's been 10 years since he "completed his work on the earth."

I'm all teary-eyed thinking of the two of you. He loved to get down on the floor and play and giggle with you. We were so blessed to have had your great-grandparents for as long as we did.

The Christmas tree hung all year; I guess as a reminder of you and your Christian service. It's now lit with MANY more lights than it was designed to hold. Sarah decided we needed more lights. It's spectacular. We don't need the overhead light in the front room! We have 5 nativity scenes on display. Rachel and Bekah decided to rearrange the furniture and put them all out for us to enjoy this Christmas.

God bless you, my favorite son.

Jordan response to another unrecorded Bekah email

Hello! Long time no see! What's up with that Bekah??? :) 

 

I'm sure you're busy with your thousands of friends and followers. I should be grateful to merit a moment of your time. ;)

 

I hope you're having fun in school! You have a break this weekend, but then it's right back. Take advantage of school. You won't have this kind of time where you get to study with friends for free... ever... You've got quite the blessing in front of you. ;) Enjoy it.

 

Thank you for the email. It's very nice. I had forgotten that picture. :) 

Press forward with steadfast faith in Christ.

 

Best wishes,

Elder Jones

Jordan response to unrecorded Bekah email

Well, congrats on getting an email address! What on earth is yandex?

 

I haven't been able to read a letter. It may have gone to the other Elder Jones, I suppose. I don't know....

 

We just got snow for the first time this morning! It has at last come, but it isn't sticking. It just lands and melts immediately. It's nice to see snow again, though. I hope you get to have some fun in the snow!

 

It's okay that you don't have Facebook or Twitter. There are better things to do. Read The Little Prince with mom! I've heard it's really good. 

 

Have fun!

Press forward with steadfast faith in Christ.

 

Best wishes,

Elder Jones

Week 52 response

Hello everyone! Welcome to December! I hope everyone is enjoying the beginning of the holiday season. :)

This has been an especially cold week. I am using my furry pants and thermals, 3 pairs of socks, a scarf, a suit, and overcoat, and a hat to stay warm. It's still cold at times. :) But it's really fun! People are starting to have mercy on us because it's so cold. They are more likely to answer our greetings now. :) Things are going pretty well with the missionary work. It is entertaining to see the difference between Latin America missions and Korean missions from Jason's letter again. :) We are also pushed to use the "He is the Gift" video as well (I hope all of you have seen it!) but that is in addition to our 20 daily street contacts. I suppose the areas are in different stages of preparation. ;) 

Korean's going well. I get what people say unless they purposely use obscure vocabulary, and can say whatever I need. I guess I have been a missionary for a year! :) It isn't really any different being the senior companion. It is still a companionship, so there is always the balancing act between two people with different skill sets. I guess the only difference with my time with Elder Ahn is that this time I am the one that can talk too much and not the one that wants to say more. ;)

It's great to hear that you're doing fun things, though I hope the colds go away soon! Eat more vegetables! :) The snow has turned to ice that just lingers... It's a bit like a high altitude Minnesota here. According to what people tell me this is a weird winter because it is still nearly as humid as the summer whereas most winters lose humidity. That'll make for some interesting stories next Christmas. :) By the way, still no news on how we will be doing phone calls for Christmas. We'll probably just call Thursday night, your morning. I'll keep you posted as I get more information. :) 

Thanks for the scriptures. I really liked D+C 45:52 It's just a great reminder of the work we're all engaged in. We're all preparing for that day and to help others become prepared as well. It'll be a great day. :) I've been listening to a lot of Elder Maxwell talks lately, and he does a great job of making things real. SO does that scripture. We're not just spreading words that make people happy, we are preparing for the return of Christ and for our eventual day of judgment. It's intense, but so much more real than what people usually do from day to day. It is interesting that so many people nowadays retreat from the world into a virtual world. It's no wonder that they struggle to see the reality of the gospel. I'm glad that I get to help some people see the big picture just a bit more. :) 

Thank you for your email. It is always great to hear about things back in the promised land. ;) Keep up all the good work you're doing. 

Press forward with steadfast faith in Christ.

Best wishes,

Elder Jones