The Brazilian (And Native American Arizona) Adventure: Week 8 July 22-July 28
Dear Family and Friends
This just gets better and better. For this week, we were really busy
and we didn't get as much teaching done. But it was still pretty cool.
I've learned that sometimes, you are going to have some crapy weeks,
and that is ok. As long as I'm doing my best, then it is all good. The
Lord just had other plans for us this week. I can't get down on my
self and be discouraged. My companion taught me that discouragment is
Saitans best tool to use on us. To make us feel worthless, feel like a
failure and just not good enough. But I will always try not to let
thoughts like that ever cross my mind. As long as I'm doing my best to
be my best, then it is all good. Like for real.

Last Monday we went hiking for P-day in the Black cannons. That was a
lot of fun. At the begining of the week, Elder Kay and I ran into a
lot of JW's or Jehovah Witnesses. Man are these people stuburn, some
of them have hearts of stone. But not all of them were like that, some
were nice. But they all never let you talk. Everytime I would start a
sentence, I was always cut off. They are kinda funny, they all said to
us the same exact things and said the same exact scriptures. It is
like they got there things memorized word per word. And they all try
to flater us with there knowledge. They are kinda prideful. And every
time I would have the chance to say something that proved them wrong,
they would pause and then change the topic. But they did teach me
something, I think the Lord wants me to be more familiar with the
bible. I honestly don't know much about the scriptures period. I have
only read the Book of Mormon once. I have never read the bible,well just a
little. So I'm going to try to study the bible more. And I'm actually
excited about that, I'm going to read more about our older brohter
Jesus and his life. Hopefully I can learn to be more like him. It is
going to be sweet! I'm pumped up!

Last thurday night, before going home from our last lesson for the
day. We had a call from the other Elders from the north side of our
mission. It is raining season right now. And it is pouring like crazy
out here, there are some sweet lightning storms. So it has been very
muddy out in the Indian reservations. They said that they were stuck
out there in the Indian reservations. So we just thought we'll just
get them out really quick. But according to the way they made it sound,
it wasn't going to be easy. They called the mission president and told
him about it. And the mission president called us and told us about
how they already had to deal with a towing bill this week form some
other Elders in the mission. And he told us that what ever it takes,
get that truck out of there by tonight. The Elders got a ride to the
gasstation here in town and so we picked them up and took off to go
find and save the truck. We tried calling for help from members near
by. And a nice lady with her boys came out to help us. Ok, so out here
in the Indian Reservation's it is really easy to get lost. There are a
million random trails to everywhere and it was dark. And so after a
long time of searching, driving through roads full of water, runnuing
out side and scouting the area, digging through muddy traills and
getting stuck several times. We finally found the red truck and man
was it stuck. It was in this mini river and the tires were barried in
the water and mud. Acording to the Elders, when they got stuck, the
water was up to the door and water was getting in the truck. They had
to crawl out of the windows and walk miles away to find help. The
water has gone down since then. So we got our shovels and started
digging and we also found rocks and tree branches to put under the
tires. We came to the conclusion that the only way we were going to
get this truck out was from the back, the other side of the river. So
while a couple of guys and I stayed back and cotinued digging. While the
other Elders and a group of people tried figuring out a route to go
around. After a while, we were finished and the other group were still
gone. So we went exploring around this area. The guys that I was with
were some local Native Americans. They were pretty cool. As we were
exploring they were telling me stories about how this land that we
were on was cursed and a story about an ancient people that were
destroyed here and they were saying how their spirits were still
there. And they talk about how there are some old ladies out here who
still do witch craft. They were mentioning that the night was the most
dangerouse time to be out there. While we were walking, they were
talking about how this place still had some ancient arctifacts around.
As we were walking around they just found all this broken old clay
sculptures and arrow heads and other things. I couldn't believe how
many there was just everywhere through out the land just right there
on the floor. It was pretty cool. They then about how these objects
all had a curse to them, if anyone would take anything out, they will
be cursed. And at first I didn't believe them at all, but then they
started telling me stories about people who have been cursed and what
happen to them. So I took the arrow head that I had in my pocket and
threw it out. I was getting kinda scared. When all of a sudden one of
them said LOOK!! And we looked and there was this light and I got
scared for a second and then we realized that it was the othere Elders
and the truck that they were in. That was a relief to see them. They
were gone for two hours. They ended up getting stuck and not being
able to find a way around. And so we were about to go home and try to
get the truck out tomorrow. But then we noticed that the river was a
bit lower then before. So we decided that we were just going to try to
jump the river. So we cleared the area and we layed down a bunch of
branches and dirt on the path of the jump. And then the lady in her
truck just went for it. She jumped it and with a rough landing and a
lot of pettal to the metal. She made it across. And then we tied both
trucks up with a chain and with help form all of us pushing. We were
able to get the truck out. Yeah buddy! It was great. We then jumped
that same spot with both trucks and with a little push from everybody
at the end of the jump, we were able to get them both across. And then
we all headed home. It was a crazy night. We got home at 2 in the
morning and went to bed and about 3. And then the we woke up at 7:30am
and went to work. We were pretty exhausted for the whole week.

The next day they gave us a new truck. It was a nice truck. It is a
Nisson Forntier. After a amount of miles they switch out the trucks.
And it was our time to switch out. And this truck is sweet.

This Sunday was great. We had 7 Investigators at church. And that is
rare. There were some people who made a big effort to get there and
they all enjoyed it they said. So that was awesome to see. We do a lot
of service. Out here on the ress. There are a lot of people in need.
It is so much fun and so great. I love it!

Well that was a brief summarry about what happen this week. Just know
that I'm just loving it. Bad days and good days, it is all great. It's
what I expected and more. It is just so awesome. I hope you all have a
great week and you all are doing good and staying happy and smiling a
lot. Love you all and missing you all like crazy.

Love, The Elder Jones

The Brazilian Adventure: Week 7 July 14-July 21
Dear Family and Friends
I'm out here doing to real thing. I'm actually out here teaching people and it is so great! I'm so happy! It's really hard and challenging, but I'm loving it.

It was very tough and sad leaving my district and some of the missionaries I met there. The night before I left on Sunday, our district had a testimony meeting. It was so awesome. They said some amazing things. We were all crying. Even the tough missionaries. It was a great moment. I'll never forget my district at the MTC. We had a lot of great memories with each other. It was hard, but we all new that it was our time to go and start going to work. We were all excited about it.

I arrived in Durango Colorado airport last monday around 12:00 in the day. When I got off the plane, I walked towards the baggage claim. On my way over there, I saw my Mission President and his wife for the New Mexico Farmington Mission. It was so exciting. His name is President Batt, and he is a pretty cool guy. We then drove about an hour to his house in Farmington New Mexico. When we arrived we ate some food and we had interviews individually for most of the day with President Batt. When I had my interview, he told me that he was already really proud of me and very surprised. I was confused. He explained to me that he read my background and read what my Bishop and Stake President back in Minnesota wrote about me. And he told me that he has never seen a missionary recieve such great compliments and who has been rated so high from their Bishop and Stake President. He then read me the list of compliments, and I was so surprised. One of the things on the list was "A hero to the youth".I never knew that they thought of me like that. It was amazing. And all I have to say is that, I have the lord to thank for that. For helping me be who I am today. All the great things that I am, is because of Him. If it weren't for Him, I would be nothing. (Alma 26:12) After the meetings we went up stairs and had a great testimony meeting with everyone there. We then went to the Missionary home and we met up with members there. And we all splitted up to different members houses to sleep for the night. I went to stay the night at a man named Brother Hanson. On the way over to his house, I told him that I was going to Brazil and that I was a VISA waiter. He then told me that his son served in Brazil also and that he returned about a year ago. And that he was home right now. So when we got there. I had the chance to talk to his son about how his mission was in Brazil. He said he loved it. He showed me all these cool pictures and shared with me all these cool stories. It was so awesome. After a while we retired and went to bed.

The next day we got up and went over the Mission Home and we had orientation and all the senior missionaries went over with us all the rules and talked to us about the mission. We then had all the trainers walk in and sit in the crowed. President Batt then assigned us all to the our trianers. My first Missionary companion out in the field and trainers name is Elder Kay. He is from Idaho. We took pictures and then went to have some snacks that they had there. After a while we took off to our mission area. We are serving in Sanders Arizona. We drove for the rest of the afternoon. I arrived in a little trailer park house where our home is. When I settled in, we went to work and stated visiting and teaching people. It is so awesome! Sanders is a very small place and the houses are very spread out every where. We drive cars everywhere which is pretty dang cool. This mission has the second most highest amount of trucks and cars in the world. Alaska is first. We are out here teaching Native Amaricans, which is pretty dang cool. Sometimes we meet people who just speak Navajo. sometimes they sream at us in there language and it sounds so cool. I wich I could speak it. It sounds so sweet. I've heard it is really hard.

It's kinda funny, I'm just so excited to be a missionary. When me and Elder Kay go knocking and someone slams to door in our face or just
yells at us. I just looked towards him and just say, "This is awesome!" I'm starting to feel like a real missionary. My companion is a hard worker. He is very chilled. If I didn't know he was a memder or missionary and I would just see him down the streeet. I would think that he was a stoner. He is quite silly at times. He puts me to work and trys to be as obedient as he can. It is great. I'm learning a lot form him. We have quite a few investigators to teach and so that is great. This week was awesome. He said that this week was one of his best weeks.

It's funny how all the members expect you as a missionary to know everything, so I try me best to teach them and Investigators what I know, which isn't very much. But I'm learning more and more.It is still very challenging out here. I've been home sick some nights. But I just say a little pray and it helps. It's kinda stressful trying to be the best missionary I can be 24/7 and focusing the whole time. But I'm getting better and better. So I'm going to be here until President Batt lets me know when my VISA is here. I talk to a Sister who's been waiting here and she has been here for 3 months. So it could be that long or longer, whatever the Lord wants. But it can be tomorrow. It is random. My mailling address for here is 400 West Apache St. Farmington NM 87401 for those of you who want to write me. It is random when I leave, so it is a risk to write. But I have a feeling I'm going to be here for a while.

I miss you all very much and I hope you are doing well.

Love, The Elder Jones

The Brazilian Adventure: Week 6 July 10-July 13

Dear Family and Friends

Yesturday I got my reasignedment!! I'm so pumped up! I got reasigned to the New Mexico Farmington Mission to wait for my VISA there. This Mission is also know as the four cornor state Mission. My area covers a chunk of Arizona, New Mexico, Utah and Colorado. It's kinda of a big area. I'm super excited because I know that this calling was a legit calling from the apostles, so that means the Lord has special people for me to meet down there also. I don't know who or why I'm going to meet them, but I know it is for a reason. Or maybe I'm supposed to meet someone who is going to teach me something. Well what ever the reason is, I'm going to try me best to do his will that he has for me. I can't wait to actually go out and start teaching and helping others. Even if i can't go to Brazil yet, as long as I'm teaching and helping someone, I will be satisfied. I am leaving this Monday morning and I am going to be in the field in that afternoon I believe. Can't wait to start putting all this learning into real practice. It is goint to be nice to teach in English. But I still hope I get my VISA soon. I need to go to Brazil and start teaching the people that the lord has in plan for me to teach and help. I'm really going to miss my district though, we are all going our seperate ways. We have truely grown into a family, and it is so sad to see them all go and know that I might not ever see them again. We have had so many great memories and great laughs. HUGE laughs! They are all just so great. We are all different working for the same work, that is what makes it so great. We are all doing it together. Sharing this great happiness with the world. I hope we are able to teach and do what it all how the Lord wants to do it. I'm going to miss them. But I'm not to worried, we'll see each other day maybe in heaven and stuff.  

 

This Mission so far here in the MTC has taught me so much so far. I'm starting to learn what it really means to have faith in Jesus and his full and true gospel today. Faith does't mean anything unless you put action into it. I'm starting to realize what it really means to have a testimony. If you have a testimony or if you have faith, that's great! Now what are you going to do to show that you really have faith or a testimony.It is not enough to just say you have a testimony, you must learn to be truely "converted" unto the Lord and show it. You beleive it's true, that is great! Now let Him see it. Show Heavenly Father with your actions on earth what it truely means to believe in Christ and our Heavenly Father. Be Christlike in all places, at all times, and with everyone you meet in your day. Read your scriptures, learn more about him. Pray often, through out your whole day. Always try to have his spirit with you and have you heart full and your mind clear to listen to what he wants you to do. Don't worry about what the world think. The world is not perfect, therefore they don't know what true happiness is. But He does. So fallow the Lords teachings, be more like Christ. Be good, and I promise you that you will be so happy and feel such amazing peace. And remember, it isn't the "worlds" happiness, Money, Fame, Popularity, and satisfying your humanly desires. A happiness that is never satifying and only last for a little while. But it is the "Lords" happiness. And that my Family and Friends is a happiness that is always satisfying and a happines that is forever. And this happiness is 100 times plus 1 more better then what the world can provide for you.

 

I'm so excited to go out and serve others soon. I hope I can do my best and give it my all. And always remember to do it the Lords way and never my way. I hope that I always remember that even for the two years that I'm out in the field, if I bring one person back to the lord and help them with their lives to do the Lords will and to be truely happy. And that one person is who the Lord wanted me to save. Then I hope I will be satisfied and humble with that one person. I hope I work hard and come home exhausted every night. I hope i do my best every second in my day for these two years. I'm out here to leave everything behind and work with all my heart and all my energy. I hope the Lord gives me strenght on the hard days and help me to keep going on. I'm out not fot me... but for Him, His Son, and for the people I serve and help come unto the Lord. Wow! I'm starting to sound like a missionary. This is so cool and wierd. But mostly cool. I hope you all are doing well, I miss you all.

 

Love, The Elder Jones 

The Brazilian Adventure: Week 5 July 2- July 9

Dear Family and Friends

 I want you all to know that I think about you and pray for you every day. I miss you all. It is kinda wierd. I keep feeling like I am just going to come home soon, and that I am just going to go work for the summer and be gone for a couple months. But nope! It is really two years. Still pretty wierd. I hope you are all doing well. Last week on Tuesday, we had a spaeker talk to us for tuesday devotional. He talk about a famouse stone here at the MTC. There is a copy of it in the main loby at the MTC. It has all these shapes on it on the bottom that doesn't make to much sense. But on the top of it, it says "WHAT E'ER THOU ART- ACT WELL THY PART". He gave a great talk about. So I'm going to make sure that where ever I am. I'm going to do my best to do my part. While I'm on this mission, I'll act well my part.

 

Anothere thing I learned this week is how personal the atonment really was for us. This sister, Sister Andreasen, in our district shared something that was so cool while we were reading 3 Nephi 27. She said that Jesus would have gonge through all that he did for us, the atonment and all, even if it was just for me. One person. And it's true. You and I mean so much to him, so why wouldn't we take advantage of the atonment and actually use it in our lives. He did it all for us.

 

Last week for the fourth of July we watched one of my favorite movies, "17 Miracles". I've watched this movie several times and it still just gets to me. Those pioner latter days saints were such an amazing example of what to be in our lives. They are so amazing. They were very Christ like. I love seeing all those miracles. After the movie, we all went outside and watched to fireworks. They were pretty dang sweet!

 

The other day in class my teacher taught us all to make sure that teach like REAL missionaries and not like robot's. We are here for them. We are there to teach people not lessons. And that was an important thing. I'm always so worried about making sure I can speak the language and am so worried about making sure that they understand it, that I just asume that they know that I love them, so I don't need to show that. But this reminded me other wise. And I'm so thankful for it. The other night my investigator Liandro, aka my teacher, asked me at the end of our lesson if we were forced to go on a mission. And I told him no, and that we chose to go on a mission. And then he asked me why did I decide to go. I then began to cry thinking about all the great reasons why I am here and then I tried explaining the best i could in portugese, why I am on this mission. And apparetly the lord was helping me and putting words in my mouth, because I was saying things that I never new I could say in Portugese. And he understood it all and began to cry him self. It was a great lesson at the end. It was also a great reminder of why I was there. I hope I never forget it through out my mission. Even on the hard days. And I want you all to know that I mentioned you and you are part of the my reasons why I'm here. Thank you all for the support and the love you have for me. I can feel your prayers.

 

I'm leaving the MTC some time this week. I think I'm going to get my reassignment this coming week on thursday to go somewhere in the states and wait until I can get my VISA. But who knows, I might get it this week. We'll see what happens. I can't believe I'm going to go out there in the field and actually start putting the things I´ve learned here into action out there. I'm getting nervouse. I hope I do good. I will let you all know where I´m going in my next letter. It is kinda sad that our district is going to split up. We have all gotten so close and it is going to be tough to leave them. I have learned so much from them all. And we get along so well. We are like a family. We are always sharing so much awesome stories and we are all just make each other laugh all the time. We are all just so goofy. These Elders and Sisters also know so much amazing things. They help me understand so many things. I am so greatful to be here on this mission. Soooooo greatful.  I hope you are all doing awesome! Love you all.

 

Love, The Elder Jones  

mission

The Brazilian Mission: Week 4

Dear Family and Friends

I hope you are doing great. This is my forth week here at the MTC. I'm waiting on my VISA still, I haven't heard much about it yet. The date I leave here is July 15, so in about 2 weeks here. I'm leaving the MTC. If I don't get my VISA by then, I'm going to be reasigned somewhere in the states to wait for my VISA in another mission. The MTC is great. The time here is so weird! It feels like days go by like weeks but weeks go by like days. I can't believe it's been four weeks already. That was quick. But studying and reading all day takes forever. But it is good. I'm learning so much here. The food here is so great. Probably to great. I've gain 10 pounds since I've been here. I think I need to start watching what I eat now and how much I eat. Our teachers here are great. They are returned missionaries and they share with us the greatest advice. My district is great, they are a good example to me. They are some good people. And they are so funny. I'm known as the funny, positive, outgoing, story teller, and a missionary with a great testimony and not afraid to show it, even with his tears. I love my district, I'm so glad I had a chance to be with them. I'm glad they laugh at my jokes and think I'm funny. I'm very exhausted with all this learning, I'm not very use to it. But it is so great. I'm also going crazy sitting in a chair all day and studying. Something that I'm not use to either. But I just prat a lot, and He helps me get through it. My companions are very helpful also.

 

The Provo Temple closed yesturday becasue they are cleaning it and doing  some remodeling. The Temple is going to be closed for a while. So we didn't get a chance to go to the Provo Temple and do sessions. But instead we had the chance to go clean it. It was pretty cool. When we got there though, the man in charge asked my district that he needed two volounters. So me and Elder Siresigg volounteired. And he made us security gaurds for the temple. And it was legit! We had these cool police sercurity looking badges. We just checked everyone in to the temple and made sure that no one got in who weren't supposed to. I ended having to chase someone down the hall way because they tried sneaking in. I was chasing them and I tackled them. It was so sick and it was also a lie. I didn't tackel anybody. Nothing excited happen like that. But I was a security guard and that was tight.

 

I'm listining to so many amazing talks here and getting so inspired. It is amazing. On sunday, we listen to a great talk on video by Elder Holland. It was called "Such as time as this". This talk made me realize how lucky we were to live in a time like this, in this last dispensation. He made me realize how important my mission really is. And what a great opportunity I have. We were chosen to live in this great time, we owe something. I'm so greatful that heavenly father nows us all individually. That he knows us all by name. He knows us so personal. It's so amazing.

 

During class yesturday, my teacher Irmao Hickman shared us a great quote for my mission. I'm going to try to remember this quote for the rest of my life.

 

"My mission belongs to the Lord. With all my heart I give my energy and my time to the

Master because I love Him. Therefore, I'm going to look at every day not as mine, but as

His. And I will treat each minute of His time with respect and focus, and the dedication 

that is deserves." - Elder M. Russel Ballard (28 August 1998)   

 

This is how I'm going to try to be for the rest of my mission. Every time I look down at my hand watch, I'll never look at it as my time. But as the Lords time. So I better not waste it. I love you all so much and hope you are doing great. I pray for you all every night and think about you all the time. I hope you are doing good. The spirit and the Lord are opening my eyes to so many great things. Things that I've never noticed or realized before. And so fast to. I love it. I'm learning how to be a better servant of the lord every day. I may never be perfect. Not even close. But I'll do my best. This mission has been a great blessing so far. And the best part is, it has only began.

 

Love, The Elder Jones