Hey guys! Just chillin up here in Everett! (Kirkland, WA)
I have some answers to questions:
No, i have not done the filming thing, but i will this week cause its been buggin me and i just wanna get it out of the way.
-p.s. my camera's zoom stopped working so i think i'm gonna send that to you too to see if you can get a new one from Costco..
No, i'm not going to panda today because right now im kinda stressed that im gonna appear fat for the Lindon 15th Ward.
Do i feel older? Yes actually i do. A lot older than i felt a year ago, but not twenty more like 13, maybe Josh and i are just twins: Which that would make me the runt of the litter though, haha. I did a lot of reflecting on my life during the 28th and what it has consisted of, also kinda who my personality has changed over the years. It was a weird and surreal day, and all day i waited for that package, but all i ended up getting was just the best letter ever from my great grandma!-haha, it seemed like she was the only one that remembered, (97 yrs old-i think)!
Do i ever have to speak in Church? I think some day soon i will, but the latest thing in that genre was yesterday i had to teach an hour Gospel Principles class to a class of twenty or so people. It went really went since we have a bunch of recent converts in there that would answer my questions and made it more like a discussion. I ended the class with my testimony and during that time for some reason i knew i had touched the people in that class just looking into their eyes and had made a difference which really made me feel happy knowing that i had met that goal.
Federico still for the 12th of Feb? No. He couldn't come to church this Sunday, again, although he really wanted to. So that pushed him back a week, but hopefully he can make the push. He has a testimony, it would be nice just to be able to get the ordinance done, but the rule is here three times to church before baptism. It really hurts us since the church building is so far away from our area.
Pili? I'm pretty sure his big brother is my friend that i went to Oak Canyon with and played running back for BYU the other year. (Jojo Pili)
BYU, yea! i am so excited to hear about march madness, hopefully that LOBO game woke them up for the harder games to come. Jimmer is a beast. Alguien tiene noticias(or articles) de El?
Well this week was a doozy, for sure. We had like 3 lessons and my faith meter starts going down after a couple days of nothing, i'm sure its different all over, but i have specific expectations where i am right now and seriously no one was home or around! It was very hard to hear about the other elders in the ward getting a bunch of success and people to church (we had nobody) when, i unfortunately know that their testimonies fall in line with just about everybody's over here, including my district leader, "Obedience to the Rules and the White handbook do not help you have success and bring the spirit", hearing that over and over again and then seeing through your week while having a testimony of the opposite is a little disheartening. It is nice every once in a while to get to be around people like my zone leaders that know what is going on, spiritually, on missions.
I have been thinking a lot about why i am out here are what does the Lord get from me. I do know one thing: I gain the most out of my mission and i will be a changed and more Christlike person if i am obedient and follow the Savior.
SORRY about my ranting, i just get ultra-defensive when it comes to spiritual things.
Sorry this is all over the place and might not be what you want, but i'm peacin out.
I love you all, I love these people, I love my mission, I love life!
love, Elder Lee
Monday, January 31, 2011
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Jordan: 1/26/11
My Dear Family,
Good morning! It's snowy and wet here in Virginia today. We have had a really great week! I was reading a little while ago in the book of Alma (in the Book of Mormon) and came upon a verse that really stood out to me. It is in Alma 43:1, right after Alma gives advice to his sons. The verse reads: "And now it came to pass that the sons of Alma did go forth among the people, to declare the word unto them. And Alma, also, himself, could not rest, and he also went forth." The end of this verse really struck me. Alma had been a great prophet for years. He had preached the gospel and brought up his sons in righteousness; now, his sons were going out to share the gospel. Alma very easily (and respectably) could have just said, "Go ahead sons. I'm going to 'retire'." But, as the scripture tells us, he "could not rest," and he went forth with his sons to preach the gospel. What an inspiring example! It is inspiring to me as a full-time missionary but also to all of you at home. Alma knew so strongly of the truthfulness of the message he and his sons were sharing that he "could not rest." When I feel tired or depressed, I think of this scripture, and it gives me strength. If Alma couldn't rest, then neither should I! I am so grateful for the Book of Mormon, and the strength that it is to me. In the introduction to the Book of Mormon Joseph Smith says: "I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts than by any other book." I know that to be true!
This week, we had the opportunity to take our investigator Elsie to the Visitors Center to watch the Joseph Smith movie. Elsie is from Bolivia, so we watched the movie in Spanish. As you know, I speak a little Spanish, but I have found that if I am just passively listening to other people speaking Spanish (or a movie in Spanish) that after about 10 minutes I kind of zone-out. My brain gets too tired, I think. Because of this, watching the Joseph Smith movie in Spanish was a very different experience for me than when I have watched it in English. Since I wasn't comprehending the dialogue, I was much more in tune with my feelings and the impressions of the Spirit. This got me thinking about how in life I am often far too concentrated on my thoughts and the dialogue going on inside my head. I need to slow down a little and focus more on my feelings and impressions. I know that this will bring me greater peace, faith, and success as a missionary! (P.S. Elsie is doing really well and is continuing to work towards baptism on February 12th.)
We are also teaching Monique and Mon'e Moses right now. They are so great! Very humble and excited about everything we teach them. Mon'e is 13 and knows very little about anything to do with God or religion. We had a good laugh this week when we were teaching Monique and her about the Word of Wisdom, and she looked at us with big, concerned eyes and said, "Am I Mormon? Because my friends and I went to a coffee house a few weeks ago!" They are both doing great, and we are planning to help them set a goal date for baptism on Friday when we teach them. One struggle we are going to have to face is that Monique lives with her boyfriend. So we are most likely going to be planning a wedding in the near-future! Who knew being a missionary would include being a wedding planner? Not me, but it sounds like fun!
We taught the Chambers on Monday, and they are doing well. This week, we watched the Testaments and talked a lot about the Book of Mormon. The Spirit was so strong while we watched the movie, and I know that Chambers felt it. They continue to ask great questions and fulfill their reading assignments. Sister Chambers also told us that since our lesson on prayer last week she has started praying in the morning in addition to her evening prayers. They are so great! I know they will receive an answer to their prayers as they continue in their efforts. Sister Chambers is still nervous to pray about baptism; she feels like she needs to read the entire Book of Mormon first. They are so dedicated and engaged in our visits--it makes me so happy! When we got their on Monday, (of course there was a fire going in the fireplace) Brother Chambers said well should we have our prayer and then discuss the reading assignment you gave us? They are so great!
Now, I will end with a few funny/embarrassing stories for the week. First, I'll embarrass myself, then Sister Vaitai. :) This past week, we were watching the Testaments with Nathan (who got baptised in December) and a few other members of the singles ward. Russ, one of the members, had made popcorn for all of us in this machine called a "whilry pop." After the movie, there was a long silence, and Russ broke it by saying, "That was good popcorn. Whirly pop!" I thought he said, "That was good popcorn. Really poppy!" So I (trying to be funny) said, "Yeah, and really corny!" No one laughed, and we just kind of moved on. Woops. :) That's what I get for trying to be funny. I'm super cool, I know! Now to embarrass Sister Vaitai: Her English is great, but she is still learning and occasionally says something really funny. Since I am the driver, she is constantly the one on the phone, trying to find exchanges, calling investigators, etc. So she was talking to a member about coming with us to a lesson, and the member said she couldn't come but that she would call and try to find someone to come with us. Sister Vaitai meant to say, "Oh, that sounds great!" But instead, it came out "Oh, that sounds fun!" We were both laughing so hard. Sister Vaitai's the best.
Well, I hope you are all having a great week! I love you so much and am so grateful for all that you do for me! I expect some letters this week :)
Love you forever,
Jordan
Good morning! It's snowy and wet here in Virginia today. We have had a really great week! I was reading a little while ago in the book of Alma (in the Book of Mormon) and came upon a verse that really stood out to me. It is in Alma 43:1, right after Alma gives advice to his sons. The verse reads: "And now it came to pass that the sons of Alma did go forth among the people, to declare the word unto them. And Alma, also, himself, could not rest, and he also went forth." The end of this verse really struck me. Alma had been a great prophet for years. He had preached the gospel and brought up his sons in righteousness; now, his sons were going out to share the gospel. Alma very easily (and respectably) could have just said, "Go ahead sons. I'm going to 'retire'." But, as the scripture tells us, he "could not rest," and he went forth with his sons to preach the gospel. What an inspiring example! It is inspiring to me as a full-time missionary but also to all of you at home. Alma knew so strongly of the truthfulness of the message he and his sons were sharing that he "could not rest." When I feel tired or depressed, I think of this scripture, and it gives me strength. If Alma couldn't rest, then neither should I! I am so grateful for the Book of Mormon, and the strength that it is to me. In the introduction to the Book of Mormon Joseph Smith says: "I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts than by any other book." I know that to be true!
This week, we had the opportunity to take our investigator Elsie to the Visitors Center to watch the Joseph Smith movie. Elsie is from Bolivia, so we watched the movie in Spanish. As you know, I speak a little Spanish, but I have found that if I am just passively listening to other people speaking Spanish (or a movie in Spanish) that after about 10 minutes I kind of zone-out. My brain gets too tired, I think. Because of this, watching the Joseph Smith movie in Spanish was a very different experience for me than when I have watched it in English. Since I wasn't comprehending the dialogue, I was much more in tune with my feelings and the impressions of the Spirit. This got me thinking about how in life I am often far too concentrated on my thoughts and the dialogue going on inside my head. I need to slow down a little and focus more on my feelings and impressions. I know that this will bring me greater peace, faith, and success as a missionary! (P.S. Elsie is doing really well and is continuing to work towards baptism on February 12th.)
We are also teaching Monique and Mon'e Moses right now. They are so great! Very humble and excited about everything we teach them. Mon'e is 13 and knows very little about anything to do with God or religion. We had a good laugh this week when we were teaching Monique and her about the Word of Wisdom, and she looked at us with big, concerned eyes and said, "Am I Mormon? Because my friends and I went to a coffee house a few weeks ago!" They are both doing great, and we are planning to help them set a goal date for baptism on Friday when we teach them. One struggle we are going to have to face is that Monique lives with her boyfriend. So we are most likely going to be planning a wedding in the near-future! Who knew being a missionary would include being a wedding planner? Not me, but it sounds like fun!
We taught the Chambers on Monday, and they are doing well. This week, we watched the Testaments and talked a lot about the Book of Mormon. The Spirit was so strong while we watched the movie, and I know that Chambers felt it. They continue to ask great questions and fulfill their reading assignments. Sister Chambers also told us that since our lesson on prayer last week she has started praying in the morning in addition to her evening prayers. They are so great! I know they will receive an answer to their prayers as they continue in their efforts. Sister Chambers is still nervous to pray about baptism; she feels like she needs to read the entire Book of Mormon first. They are so dedicated and engaged in our visits--it makes me so happy! When we got their on Monday, (of course there was a fire going in the fireplace) Brother Chambers said well should we have our prayer and then discuss the reading assignment you gave us? They are so great!
Now, I will end with a few funny/embarrassing stories for the week. First, I'll embarrass myself, then Sister Vaitai. :) This past week, we were watching the Testaments with Nathan (who got baptised in December) and a few other members of the singles ward. Russ, one of the members, had made popcorn for all of us in this machine called a "whilry pop." After the movie, there was a long silence, and Russ broke it by saying, "That was good popcorn. Whirly pop!" I thought he said, "That was good popcorn. Really poppy!" So I (trying to be funny) said, "Yeah, and really corny!" No one laughed, and we just kind of moved on. Woops. :) That's what I get for trying to be funny. I'm super cool, I know! Now to embarrass Sister Vaitai: Her English is great, but she is still learning and occasionally says something really funny. Since I am the driver, she is constantly the one on the phone, trying to find exchanges, calling investigators, etc. So she was talking to a member about coming with us to a lesson, and the member said she couldn't come but that she would call and try to find someone to come with us. Sister Vaitai meant to say, "Oh, that sounds great!" But instead, it came out "Oh, that sounds fun!" We were both laughing so hard. Sister Vaitai's the best.
Well, I hope you are all having a great week! I love you so much and am so grateful for all that you do for me! I expect some letters this week :)
Love you forever,
Jordan
Monday, January 24, 2011
Jake: 1/24/11
Hey hows everyone doing? I am doing pretty good. This week we continued to work through meals and work our little bottoms off (excluded my big one). We have been running every morning and trying to get some kind of exercise at night. It is just so hard to stay fit and focus everything on others.
Some great things that happened this week really gave me a boost, but boy am i tired. First, we were having a very slow Tuesday when I felt a prompting to go knock this door that was next to one of our other investigators. I was not in the best mood and was very tired and it was just about time to go back home. Before we knocked i was thinking, "there is nothing that is going to come from this, i will just knock it to show God we are trying" and then when Gerardo opened the door my premonition felt some-what confirmed. I introduced us and then let my little verdecito go ahead and try his broken Spanish. Before Elder Albertson could say one sentence, Gerardo said to my surprise as what i understood, it is cold and come in. Inside he explained to us he spoke a little Spanish and mostly Portuguese. Then what happened was we had one of the most spiritual lessons so far on my mission and he committed to baptism. We are still trying to find him a Book of Mormon in his Native Language..."Where's Alex when you need him?!"
The rest of the week started to slow down a little more and ended with a little bit of a bad note by having 6 people tell you they will come to church and none of them showing up; o well.. Elder Albertson is a very Christ-Like person and is a little bit quiet. We get along really well and really the only problem is that i just talk all day by myself; sometimes a little back-up helps. Elder Alberson is starting to see the disobedience other Elders have and braking out of the bubble i've tried to cover him with. Obedience does bring blessings, it is just a little bit harder sometimes.
I am having a hard time trying to help our ward out. We are in the same Stake as some of the most efficient Wards i've ever seen at helping missionaries and organization, but ours is lacking. We are going down to help some people with some divorces, then will later come marriages, and finally baptisms; its like these people just try to put up as many road blocks as possible! Federico is still preparing for the 12th of Feb., Ana Maria and Moises are growing in their testimonies (they call us their angels, which we are so nothing like that), Patty told us she wants to be sealed together forever with her family, yay! Now that i am training and my newbson just kidding, he's great, is not or cannot speak, i end up speaking a lot and it is sometimes so scary to talk to some of these guys! Like Etzio, who is a 6 ft. 4 latino beast, or just all the other meanies that yell at us, but it is definitely getting me out of my box and helping me grow.
Couple Comments:
Yea Jimmer Woo Woo! -I'm gonna need the article of the Sandiego v BYU game asap.
Danny- thats my boy!!! I'm so proud that my BF is a bball star!! Wow!! but keep practicing just as hard pal cause your defenders are gonna start getting better too.
Dad- thanks for the articles: Loved them..-so did Albertson-whos a big BYU fan
Mom- I love you, don't be sad, you'll hear me squeak/sing that Kweller song soon+uknow i can still play the other one on the piano? Cool huh, i actually played it today and a stake center.
Ben, Josh: I've been really missin Basement basketball lately, go play some for me!
Sissysue: You looked so old, beautiful, and mature in those pics from christmas grandma sent me!
Some great things that happened this week really gave me a boost, but boy am i tired. First, we were having a very slow Tuesday when I felt a prompting to go knock this door that was next to one of our other investigators. I was not in the best mood and was very tired and it was just about time to go back home. Before we knocked i was thinking, "there is nothing that is going to come from this, i will just knock it to show God we are trying" and then when Gerardo opened the door my premonition felt some-what confirmed. I introduced us and then let my little verdecito go ahead and try his broken Spanish. Before Elder Albertson could say one sentence, Gerardo said to my surprise as what i understood, it is cold and come in. Inside he explained to us he spoke a little Spanish and mostly Portuguese. Then what happened was we had one of the most spiritual lessons so far on my mission and he committed to baptism. We are still trying to find him a Book of Mormon in his Native Language..."Where's Alex when you need him?!"
The rest of the week started to slow down a little more and ended with a little bit of a bad note by having 6 people tell you they will come to church and none of them showing up; o well.. Elder Albertson is a very Christ-Like person and is a little bit quiet. We get along really well and really the only problem is that i just talk all day by myself; sometimes a little back-up helps. Elder Alberson is starting to see the disobedience other Elders have and braking out of the bubble i've tried to cover him with. Obedience does bring blessings, it is just a little bit harder sometimes.
I am having a hard time trying to help our ward out. We are in the same Stake as some of the most efficient Wards i've ever seen at helping missionaries and organization, but ours is lacking. We are going down to help some people with some divorces, then will later come marriages, and finally baptisms; its like these people just try to put up as many road blocks as possible! Federico is still preparing for the 12th of Feb., Ana Maria and Moises are growing in their testimonies (they call us their angels, which we are so nothing like that), Patty told us she wants to be sealed together forever with her family, yay! Now that i am training and my newbson just kidding, he's great, is not or cannot speak, i end up speaking a lot and it is sometimes so scary to talk to some of these guys! Like Etzio, who is a 6 ft. 4 latino beast, or just all the other meanies that yell at us, but it is definitely getting me out of my box and helping me grow.
Couple Comments:
Yea Jimmer Woo Woo! -I'm gonna need the article of the Sandiego v BYU game asap.
Danny- thats my boy!!! I'm so proud that my BF is a bball star!! Wow!! but keep practicing just as hard pal cause your defenders are gonna start getting better too.
Dad- thanks for the articles: Loved them..-so did Albertson-whos a big BYU fan
Mom- I love you, don't be sad, you'll hear me squeak/sing that Kweller song soon+uknow i can still play the other one on the piano? Cool huh, i actually played it today and a stake center.
Ben, Josh: I've been really missin Basement basketball lately, go play some for me!
Sissysue: You looked so old, beautiful, and mature in those pics from christmas grandma sent me!
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Jordan: 1/19/11
Here's Jordy's letter from earlier today. I knew her Spanish would come in handy eventually!
Tom
My Dear Family,
How are you? I hope you are having a wonderful week! Today is warm (46 degrees) and sunny, so me and my little Tongan are really happy. We are going to go to D.C. today with our roommates and two other sisters and see some museums, so that should be fun! I love D.C.! I really enjoy riding the metro too.
This has been a really great week. Sister Vaitai and I set the goal to reach the "D.C. Standard" this week and were determined to reach our goal. We were pretty far off from reaching the goal come Saturday, so we reevaluated and figured out what we needed to do and then worked like crazy on Saturday and Sunday. By Sunday night at 8:30, we were just one lesson away from reaching our goal. We tried knocking on the door of some less-active members, but no one answered. I felt determined to reach our goal and decided to just start driving and follow the spirit as far as where we should go. We were driving down the street, and I saw one little house with its lights on and immediately pulled over. I told Sister Vaitai that we were going to go knock on the door and teach them a lesson. We went up to the door and knocked, and a Hispanic man came to the door. (P.S. I have been studying Spanish every day because my companion has a 1/2 hour for language study. Don't tell my mission president though because I don't want to get switched to the Spanish program! ) He didn't speak any English, so I started speaking to him in Spanish. I told him that we were missionaries sharing a message about Jesus Christ. He was friendly, but said that it wasn't a good time. Determined to get that one last lesson and reach our goal, I said in Spanish, "Well, can my companion just use your bathroom?" He agreed, and Sister Vaitai went up and took her sweet time in their gross bathroom, so that I could teach a lesson in broken Spanish to this man. I told him about the Book of Mormon, bore my testimony, and told him that the Gospel blesses families. When Sister Vaitai came down from using the bathroom, we had a prayer together, and we gave him the phone number for the hermanas and encouraged him to contact them and learn more. Hopefully he will!
We taught the Chambers again this week and feel like we had a bit of a break through. We had a lesson about prayer, and I felt prompted to share my experience with the Chambers about how I decided to serve a mission. I told them that for a long time, I was too scared to even pray about whether or not I should serve a mission, but that when I finally did, I had a powerful experience and was giving the strength, courage, and peace I needed to decide to serve a mission. Sister Vaitai also shared a personal experience, and we just had a really good discussion with them about prayer. Then, we invited them to sincerely pray about the Book of Mormon and about baptism. In the past, Sister Chambers has repeatedly told us that she's already been baptized in the Church of England and just kind of shrugged off the commitment to pray. But this time, she paused for a long time, and then said, "I don't know if I'm ready for the answer I am going to receive." I told her that I can somewhat relate to how she feels because that's how I felt about my decision to serve a mission. I was too scared to even pray about it for a long time because I was afraid that my answer would be that I should go! I bore testimony to her that we can pray for strength and courage and that Heavenly Father will help us and prepare us--He's not going to ask us to do something that we're not able to do! I felt the Spirit so strongly throughout the evening and look forward to getting to see how they're doing when we teach them again on Monday.
Some exciting news for the week is that we set a goal date for baptism for our wonderful investigator Elsie. She is scheduled to be baptized on February 12th. She is such a wonderful person and is really striving to read and pray and come to know for herself that the things we are teaching her are true. She says she is feeling closer and closer to God each day and that she feels more at peace in her life. I know she is receiving answers to her prayers!
We went and saw Li this week (who was baptized on December 23rd), and she is doing so well. She said she's been reading from the Book of Mormon every day and can feel such a difference in her life. She feels so much peace and joy. She also told me about her brother who is struggling with depression. She said he's having a really hard time, and she talked to him on the phone for about four hours on Sunday. "Sister Lee," she said. "I just kept telling him he just needs to talk to the Mormon missionaries!" She said he wouldn't agree to it, but that she is going to keep trying. She is such a wonderful person and shares the gospel with so many people! I am so proud of her!
Sister Vaitai had a difficult week this week because she found out in her email last week that one of her brothers is really struggling with his testimony and has started drinking a lot. She is worried about him and worried about her mom having to deal with it, so please keep her in your prayers. She is such a wonderful companion, and I'm so grateful to have her. If I could spend the rest of my mission in Crystal City with Sister Vaitai, I think I would do it!
Well, I hope you are all having a great week! Please write me! I will always write you back! Thank you for all that you do for me!
Love you forever,
Jordan
Tom
My Dear Family,
How are you? I hope you are having a wonderful week! Today is warm (46 degrees) and sunny, so me and my little Tongan are really happy. We are going to go to D.C. today with our roommates and two other sisters and see some museums, so that should be fun! I love D.C.! I really enjoy riding the metro too.
This has been a really great week. Sister Vaitai and I set the goal to reach the "D.C. Standard" this week and were determined to reach our goal. We were pretty far off from reaching the goal come Saturday, so we reevaluated and figured out what we needed to do and then worked like crazy on Saturday and Sunday. By Sunday night at 8:30, we were just one lesson away from reaching our goal. We tried knocking on the door of some less-active members, but no one answered. I felt determined to reach our goal and decided to just start driving and follow the spirit as far as where we should go. We were driving down the street, and I saw one little house with its lights on and immediately pulled over. I told Sister Vaitai that we were going to go knock on the door and teach them a lesson. We went up to the door and knocked, and a Hispanic man came to the door. (P.S. I have been studying Spanish every day because my companion has a 1/2 hour for language study. Don't tell my mission president though because I don't want to get switched to the Spanish program! ) He didn't speak any English, so I started speaking to him in Spanish. I told him that we were missionaries sharing a message about Jesus Christ. He was friendly, but said that it wasn't a good time. Determined to get that one last lesson and reach our goal, I said in Spanish, "Well, can my companion just use your bathroom?" He agreed, and Sister Vaitai went up and took her sweet time in their gross bathroom, so that I could teach a lesson in broken Spanish to this man. I told him about the Book of Mormon, bore my testimony, and told him that the Gospel blesses families. When Sister Vaitai came down from using the bathroom, we had a prayer together, and we gave him the phone number for the hermanas and encouraged him to contact them and learn more. Hopefully he will!
We taught the Chambers again this week and feel like we had a bit of a break through. We had a lesson about prayer, and I felt prompted to share my experience with the Chambers about how I decided to serve a mission. I told them that for a long time, I was too scared to even pray about whether or not I should serve a mission, but that when I finally did, I had a powerful experience and was giving the strength, courage, and peace I needed to decide to serve a mission. Sister Vaitai also shared a personal experience, and we just had a really good discussion with them about prayer. Then, we invited them to sincerely pray about the Book of Mormon and about baptism. In the past, Sister Chambers has repeatedly told us that she's already been baptized in the Church of England and just kind of shrugged off the commitment to pray. But this time, she paused for a long time, and then said, "I don't know if I'm ready for the answer I am going to receive." I told her that I can somewhat relate to how she feels because that's how I felt about my decision to serve a mission. I was too scared to even pray about it for a long time because I was afraid that my answer would be that I should go! I bore testimony to her that we can pray for strength and courage and that Heavenly Father will help us and prepare us--He's not going to ask us to do something that we're not able to do! I felt the Spirit so strongly throughout the evening and look forward to getting to see how they're doing when we teach them again on Monday.
Some exciting news for the week is that we set a goal date for baptism for our wonderful investigator Elsie. She is scheduled to be baptized on February 12th. She is such a wonderful person and is really striving to read and pray and come to know for herself that the things we are teaching her are true. She says she is feeling closer and closer to God each day and that she feels more at peace in her life. I know she is receiving answers to her prayers!
We went and saw Li this week (who was baptized on December 23rd), and she is doing so well. She said she's been reading from the Book of Mormon every day and can feel such a difference in her life. She feels so much peace and joy. She also told me about her brother who is struggling with depression. She said he's having a really hard time, and she talked to him on the phone for about four hours on Sunday. "Sister Lee," she said. "I just kept telling him he just needs to talk to the Mormon missionaries!" She said he wouldn't agree to it, but that she is going to keep trying. She is such a wonderful person and shares the gospel with so many people! I am so proud of her!
Sister Vaitai had a difficult week this week because she found out in her email last week that one of her brothers is really struggling with his testimony and has started drinking a lot. She is worried about him and worried about her mom having to deal with it, so please keep her in your prayers. She is such a wonderful companion, and I'm so grateful to have her. If I could spend the rest of my mission in Crystal City with Sister Vaitai, I think I would do it!
Well, I hope you are all having a great week! Please write me! I will always write you back! Thank you for all that you do for me!
Love you forever,
Jordan
Monday, January 17, 2011
Jake: 1/17/11
hey so not alot of time today to im gonna just try not to ramble on. So mom, you asked how is my new companion? he was good...haha i changed again and now i am training a new missionary and staying in Kirkland. Elder Haywood was fun and great. Elder Albertson is great also. He is new and wants to work just like i do! finally! honestly we haven't stopped for more that 5 to 10 minutes to eat or anything. We really wanna show God we are commited.. We have Federico on date for the 12th of February. We are working with a bunch of other people also. Ah! Training is crazy. My Spanish is growing a lot. We run every morning in the little gym we have in the apt. complex. Usually just two miles is what i can get in. I have some really bad news, i got a parking ticket... and i have no money to pay for it. It was so lame because we were in such a hurry and we needed to go remind someone about church and so we pulled over as close as we could to their trailer in the trailer park and ran in to tell em and then we ran out five minutes later and there was a cop screaming in my face that it was a fire lane, but i did pull over as far as i could and there was no where else to park. The stupid thing is that the ticket is 350 dollars. I called the mission office and they told me to file a mitigation hearing because that is way too much, but just a heads up for that money, just maybe send me money that was going to be my birthday money and add some more and i will pay you back in a year. I am hoping that i wont have to pay that much after the hearing. Sorry guys. Anyway if it makes it at all better i am working harder that i ever thought i could and talking to everyone i see about the gospel. I love all of you and I will try to get on later in an hour.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Jordan: 1/12/10
My Dear Family,
Good morning! How are you? I am cold but good. We got a bunch of snow last night! Yesterday, Sister Vaitai and I got invited to go to a Pilate's class that a member of our ward teaches at 5:30 am. It was awesome and felt so good to get to work out for a full hour, but we are so sore today! We are going to go again Thursday morning. She teaches it every Tuesday and Thursday morning and said we can go whenever we want!
I'm kind of at a loss for words this morning, so this may be a really random, scatter-brained email. Better than nothing, right? Last week was so strange. Knowing that a chunk of my family was in D.C. really through me for a loop. But I just did my best to focus on the work, and I made it through. :) I want to see pictures and stuff from the trip and event! How was it? What's Michael's plan for the future? Are they going to move to the D.C. area?
Something exciting that happened this past week was that we got a family of five to church! I was literally sweating by the time church was over trying to get everyone situated in their various classes and making sure they were happy and having a good experience, but it was so worth it! The family is a woman named Monique, her 13-year-old daughter Mon'e, and three younger children, Makai, Jada, and Jay. They are an awesome family! It was quite to production to get them all to church because they don't have a car. The Ecohawks each to a car and drove the whole family to church. (I think you know them, Dad. Brother Ecohawk taught with you at the Law School. Sister Ecohawk is the Stake Relief Society President and is a convert to the church. She is awesome and always willing to come to lessons with us.) It is such a blessing to have a wonderful ward that supports and helps us in our missionary efforts. Monique accepted an invitation to be baptized in the last lesson we had with her, and we are teaching her again on Friday, so we are going to try to set a goal-date for baptism. Hopefully soon!
We also had a great lesson with the Chambers (British couple) this week. They are such a joy to be with, and I look forward to our visits with them so much. Let me just paint a picture for you of our most recent visit to their house: red-brick house with a perfectly manicured yard, plaque that reads "House of Chambers" next to the door, fire going in the fireplace, hot-chocolate and cookies on the coffee table, sweet Sister Chamber's reading from the Book of Mormon with her British accent . . . you get the picture. I love going to their house! They always send us away with a "care-package" consisting of miniature water bottles, fruit, and cookies or some type of snack. They are so kind to us! (They're the same ones who gave us the White House ornaments and $20 for Christmas.) Now, we just need to work on helping them progress towards baptism. We have taught them many times, and they read the Book of Mormon consistently, so we just need to give it some time. We have another appointment with them on Monday.
We are also really excited about Elsie, who I've talked about before. She is the one who we found through tracting back in September. We just started teaching her again about a month ago, and she is doing really well. We are teaching her again tonight and are going to try to set a goal-date for baptism. She is from Bolivia and is such a wonderful lady. She teaches special education at an elementary school and has such a big heart.
We have also been working with Kathleen, who is a member of our singles ward. She was baptized when she was 16 and then wasn't active for about 8 years. (I've talked about her in previous emails.) Anyway, she is doing great. She has been faithfully attending church and told us yesterday that she received her limited-use temple recommend and wants us to go with her to the temple to do baptisms for the dead. I am so thrilled and so proud of her. She is also preparing to receive her patriarchal blessing and asked if we would be there with her when she gets it since her parents aren't members of the church. She is a wonderful person and such a joy to work with. I am looking forward to hopefully being able to go with her to take out her endowments in the temple some time this fall.
Well, I am sure there is more to share that I'm forgetting, but that's all I can think of for now. Today is P-day (obviously because I'm emailing), so we're going to go play volleyball at the Stake Center with some other missionaries. Should be fun!
I love you all so very much and miss you every day. Please write me this week, and I will write you back! Thank you for your letters, love, prayers, and constant support. I couldn't do it without you!
Love you forever,
Jordan
P.S. I am working on making a video for missionary month for the ward. When do I need to have it to you?
P.P.S. Yesterday was my 5 month mark! Wow, can you believe it?
P.P.P.S. Love you so much!
Good morning! How are you? I am cold but good. We got a bunch of snow last night! Yesterday, Sister Vaitai and I got invited to go to a Pilate's class that a member of our ward teaches at 5:30 am. It was awesome and felt so good to get to work out for a full hour, but we are so sore today! We are going to go again Thursday morning. She teaches it every Tuesday and Thursday morning and said we can go whenever we want!
I'm kind of at a loss for words this morning, so this may be a really random, scatter-brained email. Better than nothing, right? Last week was so strange. Knowing that a chunk of my family was in D.C. really through me for a loop. But I just did my best to focus on the work, and I made it through. :) I want to see pictures and stuff from the trip and event! How was it? What's Michael's plan for the future? Are they going to move to the D.C. area?
Something exciting that happened this past week was that we got a family of five to church! I was literally sweating by the time church was over trying to get everyone situated in their various classes and making sure they were happy and having a good experience, but it was so worth it! The family is a woman named Monique, her 13-year-old daughter Mon'e, and three younger children, Makai, Jada, and Jay. They are an awesome family! It was quite to production to get them all to church because they don't have a car. The Ecohawks each to a car and drove the whole family to church. (I think you know them, Dad. Brother Ecohawk taught with you at the Law School. Sister Ecohawk is the Stake Relief Society President and is a convert to the church. She is awesome and always willing to come to lessons with us.) It is such a blessing to have a wonderful ward that supports and helps us in our missionary efforts. Monique accepted an invitation to be baptized in the last lesson we had with her, and we are teaching her again on Friday, so we are going to try to set a goal-date for baptism. Hopefully soon!
We also had a great lesson with the Chambers (British couple) this week. They are such a joy to be with, and I look forward to our visits with them so much. Let me just paint a picture for you of our most recent visit to their house: red-brick house with a perfectly manicured yard, plaque that reads "House of Chambers" next to the door, fire going in the fireplace, hot-chocolate and cookies on the coffee table, sweet Sister Chamber's reading from the Book of Mormon with her British accent . . . you get the picture. I love going to their house! They always send us away with a "care-package" consisting of miniature water bottles, fruit, and cookies or some type of snack. They are so kind to us! (They're the same ones who gave us the White House ornaments and $20 for Christmas.) Now, we just need to work on helping them progress towards baptism. We have taught them many times, and they read the Book of Mormon consistently, so we just need to give it some time. We have another appointment with them on Monday.
We are also really excited about Elsie, who I've talked about before. She is the one who we found through tracting back in September. We just started teaching her again about a month ago, and she is doing really well. We are teaching her again tonight and are going to try to set a goal-date for baptism. She is from Bolivia and is such a wonderful lady. She teaches special education at an elementary school and has such a big heart.
We have also been working with Kathleen, who is a member of our singles ward. She was baptized when she was 16 and then wasn't active for about 8 years. (I've talked about her in previous emails.) Anyway, she is doing great. She has been faithfully attending church and told us yesterday that she received her limited-use temple recommend and wants us to go with her to the temple to do baptisms for the dead. I am so thrilled and so proud of her. She is also preparing to receive her patriarchal blessing and asked if we would be there with her when she gets it since her parents aren't members of the church. She is a wonderful person and such a joy to work with. I am looking forward to hopefully being able to go with her to take out her endowments in the temple some time this fall.
Well, I am sure there is more to share that I'm forgetting, but that's all I can think of for now. Today is P-day (obviously because I'm emailing), so we're going to go play volleyball at the Stake Center with some other missionaries. Should be fun!
I love you all so very much and miss you every day. Please write me this week, and I will write you back! Thank you for your letters, love, prayers, and constant support. I couldn't do it without you!
Love you forever,
Jordan
P.S. I am working on making a video for missionary month for the ward. When do I need to have it to you?
P.P.S. Yesterday was my 5 month mark! Wow, can you believe it?
P.P.P.S. Love you so much!
Monday, January 10, 2011
Jake: 1/10/11
Here is Jake's letter. I'll send Jordan's shortly, since I think I forgot to send hers from last week (which I got when we were in her area!).
Tom
Hey everyone hows life? I miss you all!
So recent news that we received this morning is that Elder Haywood is moving and I am staying in Kirkland. Finally something not crazy happened. Although, all my companions so far have been one-and-dones. The week was pretty crazy and I am just glad I made it through.
First, the whole toe thing had me pretty low and I didn't receive the Vit. D stuff until last night cause my Zone Leaders are kinda air heads. Finally we got to work on Friday and it actually became a pretty awesome week. Ana Maria and Moises have testimonies and want to get baptized, but need to get married, but... Ana Maria needs to get divorced first. Her marriage license is in Mexico and it has been a while and she is not a citizen. Also, her husband does not want to get divorced, but I really don't know what we can do. Patty, is hopefully going to start coming to church next week, and will eventually be baptized and hopefully soon since she knows its true. Federico's baptismal date is February 5 and he is golden. Ana Maria, Moises, both came to our church and Federico went to the church way down in Samammish where he lives.
Hopefully we will be able to do some more work, but i do honestly feel the hard work paying off. I sometimes have a hard time seeing it, mostly because at the beginning i expected us to gain our success instantly, but we all know God answers (every single prayer) on his time, not ours.
I broke down the other day with Elder Haywood. I have been trying so hard to keep our relationship good, while in the mean time saying no to just about a million things he wants to do against the rules. The whole day we were having success, but i just felt empty: maybe 1 because it felt like the anxiety building up, 2 because of 0 % Vit. D, and 3 he really just wore me out this transfer. Honestly, I love that kid though. He is a very good kid. I love this mission, but I feel like I keep getting thrown curve balls every other day. Change the pitch up coach! But really I can't say a lot because I can kinda feel that this is changing me for the better, like clay in someones hands; they've gotta put pressure somewhere.
Thank you for the money Mom, Dad. Thank you for everything. I love you.
Tom
Hey everyone hows life? I miss you all!
So recent news that we received this morning is that Elder Haywood is moving and I am staying in Kirkland. Finally something not crazy happened. Although, all my companions so far have been one-and-dones. The week was pretty crazy and I am just glad I made it through.
First, the whole toe thing had me pretty low and I didn't receive the Vit. D stuff until last night cause my Zone Leaders are kinda air heads. Finally we got to work on Friday and it actually became a pretty awesome week. Ana Maria and Moises have testimonies and want to get baptized, but need to get married, but... Ana Maria needs to get divorced first. Her marriage license is in Mexico and it has been a while and she is not a citizen. Also, her husband does not want to get divorced, but I really don't know what we can do. Patty, is hopefully going to start coming to church next week, and will eventually be baptized and hopefully soon since she knows its true. Federico's baptismal date is February 5 and he is golden. Ana Maria, Moises, both came to our church and Federico went to the church way down in Samammish where he lives.
Hopefully we will be able to do some more work, but i do honestly feel the hard work paying off. I sometimes have a hard time seeing it, mostly because at the beginning i expected us to gain our success instantly, but we all know God answers (every single prayer) on his time, not ours.
I broke down the other day with Elder Haywood. I have been trying so hard to keep our relationship good, while in the mean time saying no to just about a million things he wants to do against the rules. The whole day we were having success, but i just felt empty: maybe 1 because it felt like the anxiety building up, 2 because of 0 % Vit. D, and 3 he really just wore me out this transfer. Honestly, I love that kid though. He is a very good kid. I love this mission, but I feel like I keep getting thrown curve balls every other day. Change the pitch up coach! But really I can't say a lot because I can kinda feel that this is changing me for the better, like clay in someones hands; they've gotta put pressure somewhere.
Thank you for the money Mom, Dad. Thank you for everything. I love you.
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