The Brazilian (And Native American Arizona) Adventure: Week 9 July 29-August 5
Dear Family and Friends
The amount of lessons were pretty low this week, but the quality
was great. Most people were not home and so we didn't get the chance to
find and teach very many of our Investigators, which is pretty
normal out here on the Res. But Elder Kay and I were still keeping our
heads up and doing our best. And it is so amazing how the Lords just
guides us by the spirit on what to say and where to go and what to do.
But he only does that when we are obedient and doing our best.
Obedience-
brings blessings, but strict obedience brings miracles. And oh man,
has there been miracles so far. Very little ones, but still, great
miracles.

We found this awesome family this week. They are the Tishinie family.
The dads name is Glen. And he has a teenage son named Dominic and two
teenage daughters named Gabby and Gurdy, and Gurdy has a 1 year old
daughter. We taught them the first lesson and they seemed very
interested and open to it. As we taught, the spirit was so strong
guiding us the whole way. They asked great questions. When we told
them that they can find out for themselves if it is true or not. They
were very interested to find out for themselves, especially the
teens. It was so awesome. I hope the next coming lessons go well.

We are also teaching this great family, they are the Cleavlands. There
is a mother named Marylin and her sisters name is Ginn, Marylin and two
sons named Tim, who is about 14 and Eli who is 9. Marylin is a less
actrive and Ginn, Tim, and Eli are getting ready for baptism. We have
been teaching them for a while now. We are on the fourth lesson, The
Commandments, and they are enjoying it so much. They have been coming
to church for three sundays in a row. The kids are so excited about
church all the time. It is so awesome. If they come this coming
sunday, they can be baptized next Friday. August 16 I believe. I'm so
excited for them.

Last Thursday I went on exchanges. I went to Holbrook Arizona for the
day. My companion was Elder Thomas. haha Yeah! I know! It was sweet.
He was a smart Elder. Something I wish I was. It was so different
being in a bigger town. When we knocked, we didn't to go door to door
in a truck because houses were actually right next to each other. I
met a lot of interesting peolpe over there in that town.

It's so cool being out here on the Res. We do so much service. We do
something for someone almost everyday. For example we helped a lady
clean out a house and get out all this old carpet out of the floor and
get rid of all these old stinky and no good couches, fridge, and beds
out and threw them all away. We also found a mouse and we were chasing
it all over trying to kill it. The lady was screaming and panicking
with all her kids sreaming "Kill it! Kill it! Ahhhh!" It was so funny.
We actually ended up on the roof trying to hit it with a stick. The
little guy was supper fast. It ended up jumping off the roof and I got
it with a rock. So it was all good. We also helped out these Navajos
out on there ranch taking care of there cows. We helped them spray
some fly proof stuff on them. We guided the cows through the corrals.
We almost got kicked a couple of times. There was soooo much poop!
That was fun. I love doing service. A lot of missionaries have a hard
time with it. I'm glad my companion loves it too. It feels so great to
help people out.

Yesturday was a great Testimony meeting. A lot of people said some
great things. Our ward is great and they have some great testimonies,
but it is really hard to get them involveld in missionary work. Not
very many people do there home teaching. And so a lot of people have a
hard time reaching out to others and being unselfish. So that is
something that the Bishop, branch Presidency and us missionaries are
trying to figure out how to get members involed in home teaching and
getting to reach out to those in need. It is pretty hard. But we are
trying. Another challenge we have is getting our members to go back to
church and getting them active again. So that is something and that is
also challenging out here. But we are trying in that too.

I LOVE THIS MISSION!!! Seriously. I hope you are all doing fantastic
in your lives. And I hope the Lord is blessing you. Keep being the
best you can be 100%. All the time. I love you all so much and miss
you a ton plus 7 more pounds. Let me know how you are doing if you
can. I would love to hear form you all.

Love, The Elder Jones