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.
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
Love, The Elder Jones
Good to hear from you. We are always checking out your blog! Love you.
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