Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Dear Family and Friends
This is your Elder Jones speaking.
Here's how this week went. Well basically not so much interesting things happen again. Just studying like a mad man. But it is so good. Just learning about the gospel and learning what it really means to be a missionary. And it is really cool. The language is still tough but I'm so impressed with how much I've learned since I've been here. It's crazy. It's still not a whole lot, but it's something.
 
Last week on wednsday morning, the MTC got hit with some bug and flu that is getting everyone sick. It's starting to slow down a little. But it's still here. When I woke that morning, I walked out into the hall way and the hall way was filled with sick elders laying on the floor just dead. (Of course not "really dead", why would you think that. but they sure looked like it though.) They were up all night just letting all there problems out in the bathroom. And I guess the just zonked out in the nearest spot to the bathroom. I felt bad for them, but the sight was kinda funny. Not ganna lie. And through out the week people have been getting hit with it. I luckly still haven't got hit but we'll see what happens.
 
Also that day, my companion Elder Trussell had to go back home because of personal problems. So that was sad to see him leave. So now I'm in a Trio with my other roomates in our district. Elder Michealsen and Elder Crannor. These Elders are sooo funny and sooo cool. I love them. They are teaching me so much and we are Jamming our lessons, sometimes. It's great. It's my first trio and probably going to be my last. We'll see though. These Elders are going to get asigned as Zone Leaders this coming sunday. So since I'm their companions, I might also get dragged into being a Zone Leader also. Which would be pretty dang cool. But we'll see what happens.
 
So guess the flippen what! So this sunday there was the Missionary Leadership Worldwide Broadcast program for all the members in the world. At the Mariot Center in Prove. ( The Mariot Center is the basket ball court stadium at the BYU college in Prove.) I was part of the HUGE missionary chior group that sanged. You can probably see it on LDS.org. I checked it out though to see if i was on video when the chior was singing. And I WAS! But only half of my face, way in the back. So half of my face is famouse. So sick! But that's not the cool part. So do you remember when I asked you guess what. Well here it is, I saw all the apostels except for Elder Packer. It was so amazing and we almost saw the prophet and the first presidency but latter on after the program, I heard that Thomas S. Monson was sick. So he couldn't make it physically. But he still spoke on a live recording of him. So that was a bummer that we didn't get to see him. But it was still so amazing. These men are so incredible. You should of seen it.  You should of felt it. It's amazing how quite and still and peaceful the whole crowd was when those men walked in. I was sitting with my companions and talking to them. And all of suden the whole stadium of people just silenced instantly. And then I noticed everyone standing up around me. And right I new what had happen. I stood up also and looked over the many heads and saw the apostles walking in. It was so amazing, my eyes couldn't handle selves. There was just so much respect for those men. When they were about to get to there seats, some turned around and smiled at all of us missionaries. And Elder Oaks waved at us. I promised I felt like a girl at a Justin Beaber concert! I was so excited! It was great. The program was really great too. I didn't feel like it all was directed to us Missionaries specifically. I feel like this whole program was directed to the members for us. To get the members to start helping missionaries teach others. It's a missionaries job to share the gospel, not find people. So I'm excited, I feel like this is going to help out the missionary work a lot. I hope you friends and family, who are members, are helping new members feel welcomed and having to courage to invite others to be apart of this great happiness. And if not at least just being good to everyone, members or not. We all need to love and respect everyone. We are all Heavenly fathers children, so lets act like it. And love one another.
 
I wish I could write more, but my time is about up for writing. So much is happening in my life right now, I'm learning so much. And they are all good things. I love it all! I'm sorry if my letters and E-mail don't get to you all as soon as you wish. I'm so busy with all this work, I can barely get some sleep. I'm going to try doing this Dear Family and Friends letter weekly so that I can let you all know what is going on. And if any one else in our family and friends want to know what is going on in this mission of mine. Just let them know about this. So if i don't get to you all with E-mail or letters. You all can always check this out. I really appreciate those of you who have gavin me letters so far and for the E-mails. They mean so much to me. I love you all. I hope you all are doing amazing. Keep on Jaming and doing your best.
 
Love, The Elder Jones

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Dear Family and Friends
I'm here. I doing it. I'm officially a missionary. I've been here at the MTC for two weeks now tomorrow. The spirit here is amazing. I don't think it has fully hit me yet that I'm a missionary now. It's kind of a wierd life style here at the MTC. I get ready for church everyday now. I study all day long. My first day here we went to class and I started learning portuguese. And two days latter I'm already trying to teach people in Portugese and man it's tough. My companion's name is Elder Trussell. He is from Missippi. And has a funny and  deep southern acent. I still haven't gotten use of having to stay with some one 24/7. At first I would tell my self "Who is this guy following me around, does he think I'm cool or something" but then I realize "oh yeah, I'm a missionary now and he is my companion." We are quite different. He has a bit of a temper burt I"m the perfect companion for that. He is pretty funny, layd back, and polite. We get along pretty well. His family is very friendly, his mom wrote me a letter. Nothing really big has happen. Just learining so much so fast it's great. We have these amazing talks everyweek by some great men. This coming up sunday the prophet and the twelve apostles are coming and I'm so pimped up for that.
 
It's so amazing. I'm starting to really realize something that just blows my mind. I'm starting to realize how great Jesus Christ really was. And really understand what he really did for us and it is really just the greatest thing that has ever happened here on earth. I really hope that I can be someone like him someday. If I was even 1/100 of a man he was, I would be satisfied. 
 
I've been hearing some amazing stories here at the MTC. There are some amazing people out there with some characteristics of christ. I want you all to know that I'm loving it. It is hard. But I'm learning so much. And enjoying the whole experience. The spirit is teaching a lot. I miss you all so much. And i hope you all are doing your best to become the person that the Lord wants you to become. If you all can, and I know it is harder. But letters would be awesome. I would be able to write more in detail, more personal, and more descriptive. I don't have to much time to write. So this is it for today. Love you all and may God be with you till we meet again.
 
Love, The Elder Jones