Week 55 response

Hey! It was great talking to all of you, too! I hope you're all doing well still. I also hope Rachel still has both her eyes despite the bow and arrows. ;)

I'm so glad you all had a fun Christmas time. Sorry again about the problems with the phone call. That was stressful... It worked out in the end, though. It was fun to hear from so many of you. I'm sorry I didn't get to talk to Grandma and Grandpa Stamps, Ben, or Sarah. Please tell them "Hello" for me. :) 

I'm just curious, what was a typical week in the Ecuador, Taiwan, Sweden, or Alabama missions? (I think I got all of them in there...) A normal week here is a lot of street contacting, very little door approaching, and a couple lessons here and there. I imagine we may be quite different from the Ecuador mission. ;) Just to give an idea, we have talked with and given gospel material to nearly 700 people in the last 3 weeks. We don't keep track of the people that don't take gospel material. I'd love to hear what normal weeks are in other missions. :)

We haven't had any interesting lessons or people lately. We've really been working on finding those who want to hear about our message. There is one man who was slightly interested when we talked with him on the street, and was impressed when we talked with him in a lesson setting... He then got to look us up on the Internet... I'm still helping him sort out false, misunderstood, and misinterpereted information. It really all does come down to the Book of Mormon. 

I realize everyday how easy a missionary's job would be if people would just read the Book of Mormon. I'm grateful to know it's true, and I hope you all realize the blessing it is in our lives. Without the Book of Mormon, and by extension no prophets or priesthood, we'd be left to our own devices. It was sad to see the complacency of our friend when he said there is no perfect church on earth. Though true through certain lines, how much happier could he be if he realized that prophets, revelation, and God's guidance had returned to the earth. 

His argument can be explained through an analogy... he used it with me. Christ is the light of the world, and all the Christian churches are like different facets on a diamond. They all give light, and so are all "true." I am overjoyed that we are able to know that instead of having to rely on refracted light through mortal crystals, we have plain and simple truths given from God. We don't have to sit around knowing that Christ's church isn't here. We can know that He has restored it and has again brought us into His light. Please don't let that be treated lightly. It can be such a source of joy. :)

Thank you again for all you do. Thank you for your prayers and love. I am so grateful and pray for you many times every day. I hope you are expecting miracles. :) Love you all!

Press forward with steadfast faith in Christ.

Best wishes,

Elder Jones

Week 55 - Two Scriptures this time - 1 Corinthians 15:55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? - Acts 7:55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God

Dear Jordan,

It was great to talk with you on Christmas. We are glad you are doing well. Thank you for making the call happen. Mom was especially pleased that you were able to call her back and I actually talked to her as well. It sounded like you were really enjoying yourself. Please get those shoes, especially if your current shoes are not going to make it very long. Thank you for answering all the questions that we had listed. You may think that your daily life is pretty normal but we don't have access to see what you were doing. We appreciate all that you share with us in the emails and over the phone.

On Monday we had Family Home Evening but Mom didn't attend because her parents came into town. I took the girls to Wendy's for dinner and then we had a lesson. On Tuesday Mom bought Little Caesar's pizza for dinner and then I ran some errands. On Wednesday Mom and Sarah spent the day with Mom's parents. On Christmas we slept in and finally got up and opened presents. The girls enjoyed their presents and we had me enjoyable morning. 

We then went to Roberts house for brunch. The food was excellent. We then watched Willow (an old show). We then were able to talk with you on the phone. We then watched Frozen (sing-along) a show that mom got us for Christmas. 

Mom said that she did not get emotional when you first called and talked with everyone. Then when the phone call ended early and she wasn't able to talk to you she still said she was fine. However when you called the second time she said that she got all emotional thinking about you. 

On Friday I woke up early and worked out. I then took the van into get the oil change so that it would be ready for Dallin to use on the 2nd. Robert also was in there getting the airbags taken care of on his old pilot. We bought his old Pilot from him. Robert and I went to the DMV and changed the registration for the pilots. We then went to IKEA and bought some items. Mom and some of the girls went up to the hotel where grandma and grandpa Stamps were staying and went swimming. Hannah and Sarah then rode TRAX home and I picked them up. We got a new computer for Christmas. It didn't seem to work when I first plugged it in so I worked on it in the evening to get it up and running. We now have that available to us to use as well as our old computer. 

On Saturday I worked out and then the girls helped clean the church. Sarah, Ben, and I then drove to Alpine and finished putting in the kitchen floor. I then did grocery shopping. On Sunday it was Rachel's birthday and so grandma and grandpa Stamps came over to our house to open presents with her. She was very surprised she got a bow and arrows for her birthday. She is already lost two of the arrows but she is enjoying it very much. We then went to church and then to Roberts house for dinner. Grandma and grandpa and mom also came over for Rachel's birthday for cake and ice cream.

We love you very much. You are awesome. We are thankful for you to be in our lives and give us the blessings of having such a wonderful son.

We hope you enjoyed Christmas and that you will have a wonderful new year. We love you and are continually praying for you. Please let us know if there is anything we can do for you. We miss you. We are so glad to be able to communicate with you on a regular basis. 

Please continue to obey the mission rules and enjoy your time in Korea. The time will fly by very fast so enjoy it while you can.

 

Love,

Bekah, dad, Mom, Sarah, Hannah, Rachel

Fault in our Stars

I just finished watching it again, and I'm flooded with tears. I am so ungrateful for what I have, and who I have. Ideally, when you get home, I'll be more caring and selfless. When I think of all that you are doing--especially with no socks or shoes, I am humbled. 

Thank you for being who you are. I am so sorry for my inability to be a "present" mom for you. As I'm emerging from the haze, I'm realizing all that I was just not there for you--emotionally or financially! I'm spending $90 on an ACT prep class for Hannah but didn't think I could spend $30 on a BYU application for you. I am so sorry. We didn't even file for the Regents Scholarships. I so much wanted you to escape Utah. It wasn't right for me to make those decisions for you.

I want to live a life with no regrets, but it's hard when I realize how much I neglected you. Please forgive me. I can't "blame" it on my missing mental health, but I fear that it does weaken me, and that your high school and college prep time was spent caring for me--instead of the other way around. I'm SO proud of you. I'm always astounded with how well you raised yourself--and just wish that you'll be able to have everything God has planned for you. 

I'm so looking to talking with you this week. I love you SO much. Be well, my son! Happy Christmas.

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.