Dear Mom, Dad, Jake, Benj, Josh, Tara, and Danny Bear,
Hi! I miss you so much, as always! I don’t think I’ll ever stop missing you so much. It’s hard for me to be away from you! I just love you so much! But everything is going well other than that. We had the Relief Society Broadcast on Saturday, which was just wonderful. I loved President Monson’s talk and just listening to the Prophet speak. He cheered me up and gave me fuel for the week. We also had interviews with President Albright this week. We talked to him for 15 minutes and then Sister Albright for 15 minutes. I love both of them so much. They make me feel so loved, which is really what I need right now!
We just got some really great news! We just received a letter from the First Presidency giving permission for Cassandra to get baptized! It came in just over a week, and we were expecting it to take about a month, so we were so excited! We are planning for her to get baptized on Oct. 9th. It is so exciting! She has changed so much over the course of the month that she’s been introduced to the Gospel. I am so blessed to be a part of her conversion process! She is wonderful! A few nights ago, we were watching “On the Lord’s Errand” (President’s Monson’s bio. movie) to get her excited for General Conference. All of a sudden, Grandpa Wayne was on the video talking. It totally took me off guard, and I almost started crying. I’m just glad it wasn’t Nana, or I totally would have lost it! It was hard. I’m still so homesick! I think I always will be, but it’s so much better than it was in the M.T.C., so I’m grateful for that!
This week, we had exchanges. I was really nervous, but it was pretty fun. I stayed in our area, and my companion left. My companion for 24 hours was Sister Flores. She’s a convert from Bolivia, and she’s really great. She’s serving what’s called a mini-mission, which I had never heard of before. She’s from Virginia, and she just serves in the area close to her home for three months.
Something that really brightened my week this week was running into Nana’s cousin (I can’t remember his name) at church. He and his wife were there visiting their daughter and son-in-law who just moved into our ward. We made the connection, and got to talk for a while. He was so sweet to me. He knew he couldn’t hug me, so he just sat and talked to me and patted my arm. It felt good to be around family, even if it’s a distant relative.
We had a wonderful experience this week that I’d like to share with you: We were tracting about two weeks ago, and knocked on a woman’s door, her name’s Elsie. She wasn’t home, but as we started to walk away, she pulled up in her car. She got out, and we talked to her, and she gave us her phone number and invited us to come back a few days later. We came back at the scheduled time, but she wasn’t home. We were disappointed, but kind of forgot about her for a while. Then, on Saturday, we were driving, and I suddenly remembered Elsie. I decided to call her, and she answered on the second ring. She invited us to come over the following day, which we did. We taught her about the restoration of the Gospel, and the Spirit was so strong. After teaching her she said, “I just want you to know that I don’t invite people who knock on my door into my home. But before I drove up to my house the night you were there, I was praying in my car for God to help me find peace and direction in my life. And then you were standing on my driveway.” She committed to read some of the Book of Mormon and pray about it, and we are going back to see her this weekend. It was a wonderful experience. I know that Heavenly Father is very active in and aware of our missionary efforts. We are just instruments in His hands.
I have been thinking a lot this week about how I felt after being interviewed to enter the temple. I have never felt that way before. I was overwhelmed with feelings of joy, but also feelings of sadness. I truly felt I could relate to where it says in the Book of Mormon that “I was weighed down by the sins of the world.” I couldn’t stop crying for a long time. It is difficult to have this wonderful Gospel, to know of its truthfulness, of the joy it can bring families, and of the eternal importance of its message and not have everyone accept it. It really weighs me down sometimes! But I am doing my best to share the Gospel with all those who will listen. This is the Lord’s work, and I am doing my best to do my part.
I had two “classic” missionary experiences this week. First, I was semi-attacked by this little bull dog while we were tracting. He jumped up on me and scratched up my legs. I took some pictures that I’ll send you soon. Second, I had a door slammed HARD in my face. I’m not going to lie, it hurt. It made me feel bad. But what can you do? It’s their loss, right?
Well, I miss you all so much! Please write me! Thank you SO much for the letters and emails! They really are what get me through the hard time! I pull them out and read them when I’m feeling down. The Church is true. This is the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is good news! Let’s all think of each other this weekend as we watch General Conference! I am SO excited for General Conference! Take notes and think about how you can apply what you learn. I will be doing the same. You are the most wonderful family in the entire world. Of that I am sure.
Love you forever,
Jordan
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Jordan: 9/15/10, oops!
sorry this is out of order... but here is her letter from the 15th :)
Mission Home Dinner Picture
Mom, Dad, Jake, Benj, Joshy, Tara, and Danny!
Hi! How are you? I miss you so much. The last two days have been really hard because my companion's been sick, so we've been sitting at home. Too much time for thinking! I've been super homesick and sad. But, I'm just going to disregard that and tell you that I am doing great. Enough of the downer emails! First of all, thank you so much for the package! It really made my day. I'm going to send you a package every six weeks (every transfer) with pictures and the tape recorder. (So send me the tape recorder when you can, so I can record on it and send it back!) Also, could you try to find out the addresses for our old homes in Virginia, Dad's old house, and Pat Ott's house? I want to try to go to all those at some point. I am trying to get up the courage to use the phone number Viriginia Thomas gave me at Dad's Investiture and call them, but I'm scared! :) Also, if there are any good church/e.f.y. cds around that you could send me that would be great! Tena sent me a cd player, and I love it. Music really helps to boost me up and feel the comfort of the Spirit. I realized after sending my email last week, that Jake can't email, so you can't forward my email to him. Is that still true? If so, I will print out my emails and mail them to them because I have access to free printing (up to 20 pgs./day). As far as my winter clothes, I don't think I'll need them for a while. Whenever you want to send them is fine. Sorry I know there's a lot of stuff! Just weed through it and send what you think is necessary.
Well, first I want to tell you more about my companion. She reminds me SO much of Alyssa Doman! It is such a blessing. She just makes me laugh, and we laugh at dumb things all day long, which makes the time go fast. I am so grateful to have her. The one struggle we have is that when I get sad or homesick, she gets really stressed out. I tell her it's not a big deal, that I just need to cry once in a while and then I feel better, but she gets frustrated. I was having a really hard time last night because we'd been sitting around the apartment all day, and I just started crying after we prayed. I just wanted to hug my mom or dad or nana or grandma. I just wanted SO bad to be with someone who knew me inside and out and understood and loved me whether I was laughing or crying or whatever. I hugged my little stuffed dog that Mom sent in the M.T.C., and cried myself to sleep. But I really do think a good cry is necessary sometimes because I feel better this morning. And I really am doing leaps and bounds better than I was in the M.T.C.
Something that brings me a lot of joy is teaching Cassandra, our investigator who's getting baptized on September 25th. She is in her early twenties and is such a wonderful person. The great thing about serving in a singles' ward is that almost everyone (boys and girls) are returned missionaries, so everyone helps us a lot. They find investigators, come on exchanges, etc. It's a great blessing. Anyway, three girls from our ward, all of whom served missions, were out shopping and ran into Cassandra about a month ago. They started talking to her and ended up inviting her to church. She accepted. It turns out she's been investigating other religions and searching for the truth for a long time. We started teaching her right when I got here, and she's been progressing rapidly ever since. She works at Starbucks but completely gave up coffee after learning about the Word of Wisdom. She fasted on fast Sunday to confirm that the 25th is the right day for baptism for her and decided that it was. She prays and studies on her own and then brings questions to the lessons. She is just wonderful.
I feel like one way I've been really blessed in the last week is with how busy we've been. We set a record by finding 10 new investigators this week and teaching 28 lessons. The mission president called to congratulate us, and it was very rewarding. It feels good to be busy because then my mind is where it should be.
We had a really great experience last week in which we found two new investigators, Francine and Saundrine. They are from Cameroon. We were out looking for lady's house, but we couldn't find it. Turns out we were on the wrong street, but we saw an old lady sitting out on her porch, so we decided to go talk to her. We went up and introduced ourselves, but she pointed to her ears--she is deaf. She went inside and brought her daughters outside, and they invited us to sit down. We ended up teaching them about the Restoration and the Book of Mormon. They were very inquisitive and sincere. We are going back to teach them tonight. Heavenly Father really puts those that are searching for the truth in your path if you are faithful in doing His work.
We also have a great investigator named Li. She is from China. She has come to church with us the past two Sundays, and we are going to commit her to baptism this week. After church on Sunday, I asked her how she was feeling, and she said she just felt so good. She was so happy.
This past Saturday, I hit my 1 month mark! Yay! We found a frozen yogurt place, and I was beyond excited. I took some pictures that I'll send to you when I send my package. They even had the natural tart flavor! It was great.
Well, I'm going to write letters to each of you today too because my companion's still sick, so I'm guessing we'll be home most of the day. Blah! I hate sitting at home. I love you all so much and think of you throughout the day. I want to hear more from everyone! Letters are such a boost to my day! You can email me if that's easier. Whatever works! I can only email Mom and Dad and siblings, but anyone can email me. (However, I only get my emails on Wednesday, my Preparation Day.) I pray for you by name every morning and night. I hope everyone is feeling those prayers!
Love you forever,
Jordan
P.S. Can you forward my emails to Grandma, Nana, Mandie, Shayly, Alyssa, Tena, Kristi, Greg, Tim, Diana, Chelsea, and Ashley?
You can forward them to anyone else too, but those people for sure. Thank you so much!
Hi! How are you? I miss you so much. The last two days have been really hard because my companion's been sick, so we've been sitting at home. Too much time for thinking! I've been super homesick and sad. But, I'm just going to disregard that and tell you that I am doing great. Enough of the downer emails! First of all, thank you so much for the package! It really made my day. I'm going to send you a package every six weeks (every transfer) with pictures and the tape recorder. (So send me the tape recorder when you can, so I can record on it and send it back!) Also, could you try to find out the addresses for our old homes in Virginia, Dad's old house, and Pat Ott's house? I want to try to go to all those at some point. I am trying to get up the courage to use the phone number Viriginia Thomas gave me at Dad's Investiture and call them, but I'm scared! :) Also, if there are any good church/e.f.y. cds around that you could send me that would be great! Tena sent me a cd player, and I love it. Music really helps to boost me up and feel the comfort of the Spirit. I realized after sending my email last week, that Jake can't email, so you can't forward my email to him. Is that still true? If so, I will print out my emails and mail them to them because I have access to free printing (up to 20 pgs./day). As far as my winter clothes, I don't think I'll need them for a while. Whenever you want to send them is fine. Sorry I know there's a lot of stuff! Just weed through it and send what you think is necessary.
Well, first I want to tell you more about my companion. She reminds me SO much of Alyssa Doman! It is such a blessing. She just makes me laugh, and we laugh at dumb things all day long, which makes the time go fast. I am so grateful to have her. The one struggle we have is that when I get sad or homesick, she gets really stressed out. I tell her it's not a big deal, that I just need to cry once in a while and then I feel better, but she gets frustrated. I was having a really hard time last night because we'd been sitting around the apartment all day, and I just started crying after we prayed. I just wanted to hug my mom or dad or nana or grandma. I just wanted SO bad to be with someone who knew me inside and out and understood and loved me whether I was laughing or crying or whatever. I hugged my little stuffed dog that Mom sent in the M.T.C., and cried myself to sleep. But I really do think a good cry is necessary sometimes because I feel better this morning. And I really am doing leaps and bounds better than I was in the M.T.C.
Something that brings me a lot of joy is teaching Cassandra, our investigator who's getting baptized on September 25th. She is in her early twenties and is such a wonderful person. The great thing about serving in a singles' ward is that almost everyone (boys and girls) are returned missionaries, so everyone helps us a lot. They find investigators, come on exchanges, etc. It's a great blessing. Anyway, three girls from our ward, all of whom served missions, were out shopping and ran into Cassandra about a month ago. They started talking to her and ended up inviting her to church. She accepted. It turns out she's been investigating other religions and searching for the truth for a long time. We started teaching her right when I got here, and she's been progressing rapidly ever since. She works at Starbucks but completely gave up coffee after learning about the Word of Wisdom. She fasted on fast Sunday to confirm that the 25th is the right day for baptism for her and decided that it was. She prays and studies on her own and then brings questions to the lessons. She is just wonderful.
I feel like one way I've been really blessed in the last week is with how busy we've been. We set a record by finding 10 new investigators this week and teaching 28 lessons. The mission president called to congratulate us, and it was very rewarding. It feels good to be busy because then my mind is where it should be.
We had a really great experience last week in which we found two new investigators, Francine and Saundrine. They are from Cameroon. We were out looking for lady's house, but we couldn't find it. Turns out we were on the wrong street, but we saw an old lady sitting out on her porch, so we decided to go talk to her. We went up and introduced ourselves, but she pointed to her ears--she is deaf. She went inside and brought her daughters outside, and they invited us to sit down. We ended up teaching them about the Restoration and the Book of Mormon. They were very inquisitive and sincere. We are going back to teach them tonight. Heavenly Father really puts those that are searching for the truth in your path if you are faithful in doing His work.
We also have a great investigator named Li. She is from China. She has come to church with us the past two Sundays, and we are going to commit her to baptism this week. After church on Sunday, I asked her how she was feeling, and she said she just felt so good. She was so happy.
This past Saturday, I hit my 1 month mark! Yay! We found a frozen yogurt place, and I was beyond excited. I took some pictures that I'll send to you when I send my package. They even had the natural tart flavor! It was great.
Well, I'm going to write letters to each of you today too because my companion's still sick, so I'm guessing we'll be home most of the day. Blah! I hate sitting at home. I love you all so much and think of you throughout the day. I want to hear more from everyone! Letters are such a boost to my day! You can email me if that's easier. Whatever works! I can only email Mom and Dad and siblings, but anyone can email me. (However, I only get my emails on Wednesday, my Preparation Day.) I pray for you by name every morning and night. I hope everyone is feeling those prayers!
Love you forever,
Jordan
P.S. Can you forward my emails to Grandma, Nana, Mandie, Shayly, Alyssa, Tena, Kristi, Greg, Tim, Diana, Chelsea, and Ashley?
You can forward them to anyone else too, but those people for sure. Thank you so much!
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Jordan: 9/22/10
Mom, Dad, Jake, Benj, Joshy, Tara, and Danny,
I get SOOO excited to come email you on Wednesday mornings. I love getting your emails and writing to you. I miss you! So much! I think about you all the time. But I am doing really well! I am happy and love being a missionary. I really couldn't imagine myself saying that three weeks ago. The Lord has really blessed me. I feel that it is a miracle that I am here, being a missionary, and really enjoying the experience -- and I don't say that lightly. Thank you for your prayers, fasting, and temple attendance in my behalf. I am so eternally grateful. A mission is really exactly the experience I need at this time in my life, and I was thinking the other day how immensely grateful I am to the Lord for making it abundantly clear to me that I should serve a mission. I am learning so much about myself, about life, about communicating with others, and especially - most importantly - about the Gospel, the plan of happiness. It truly is the plan of happiness, and I know that it is eternal truth. If we exercise faith in Jesus Christ, repent of our shortcomings, are baptized by one holding the proper authority, and spend our lives progressing and working on becoming more like our Savior day by day, we can truly live with our Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and our families forever. What a blessing! I challenge each of you who read this to take that message to heart. Ponder it. Pray about it. And then act upon the answer you receive, whatever it may be. We can all improve. We can all strengthen our relationship with our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God and that man can grow closer to God by abiding by its precepts than by any other book. The restored Gospel of Jesus Christ is real. It is on the Earth today. It truly is good news! And that is why I'm happy: because I get to spend all day, every day sharing this good news with all those who will listen.
This past Thursday, I had the opportunity to go to a leadership training meeting (just because President Albright's super nice to me and invited me to come) where Elder Carlson of the Seventy spoke. He counseled us to remember that any doubt or discouragement we feel comes from Satan. God is never discouraged or frustrated. That really comforted and strengthened me, and I hope it does you too. Remember that! Recognize that! And when you're having a difficult time cling onto it. That is what I am learning to do!
President Albright sends motivating texts out to us multiple times each day. I love it. Here are some of my favorite texts from this past week:
Sister Bennett and our brand new Sister Lee found 10 new investigators this week!
"The most important position in the Church is the one you presently hold." -Elder Antoine R. Ivins
"God does watch over us, but it is usually through another person that he meets our needs." -President Kimball (I am really starting to see how true this statement is. The Lord constantly watches over us and places those people in our path that we need at any given time. I feel that way with my mission president, my companion, the sisters I live with, and Bishop and Sister Sampson.)
"Work will win when wishy washy wishing won't." -President Monson
"The intensity of our desire to share the Gospel is a great indicator of the extent of our personal conversion." -Elder Oaks
One of the wonderful things about a mission is the great people you meet and come in contact with. One of those people right now is Popo (meaning Grandma in Chinese). She is a recent convert who we meet with and read the Book of Mormon to each week. She is about 85 and missing most of her teeth. She has two huge fishtanks in her house. She cooks us Chinese food, and she has the funniest, most contagious laugh. I love visiting with her. She is going through the temple in January. Hopefullly, I will still be in this area and will be able to go with her.
Another person I've grown to love is Cassandra. Cassandra is our investigator who I told you about last week. She was scheduled to get baptized this weekend, but while preparing her for her baptismal interview she told us that she's on probation. So she met with President Albright, who is going to send a request to Church Headquarters, so she can hopefully be baptized in the near future. It has been really hard for her since she realized she can't get baptized as soon as she wanted to. She feels like she is being judged by her past and not who she is now. I understand her frustration, and it has been a difficult situation. My companion has still been sick with the flu and sleeping a lot, so a few days ago I was sitting reading the scriptures in the living room. I got a text from Cassandra that said, in short, that she didn't want to be baptized anymore. My heart started pounding, and I immediately dialed her number. I talked to her for about a half an hour, listening to her frustrations and doing my best to address them. I encouraged her to still meet with President Albright and voice her concerns with him, which she did. The meeting went well, and now we're just waiting to hear back from Church Headquarters.
This week we had the opportunity to teach a Relief Society Enrichment class on using Preach My Gospel in the home. It went really well and really strengthened my testimony of the importance of Preach My Gospel. It is a wonderful tool that each of us, full-time missionary or not, should use to accompany us in our daily scripture study. I encourage you all to get a copy and study it! It's amazing!
On Sunday, we had dinner with a family that had a nine-year-old girl (who actually goes to Abington Elementary!), and it made me SO homesick. I missed my Tara Sue so much. It was a hard day. Sundays are especially hard because they're such a family-based day. But overall, I am doing so great! I feel such a sense of pride and duty and joy when I look at my nametag and see the Savior's name next to mine. I try to think of the Savior and what He would do in each situation I'm in throughout the day and likewise pattern my choices. I try to remember whom I represent and really be His representative. When I get in this mindset, missionary work is easy, it is a joy, and time flies. Little things are suddenly beautiful, wonderful miracles. Like comforting someone who's depressed or playing blocks with a two-year-old. I am so humbled and blessed to be a missionary for this great and restored Gospel.
I miss each and every one of you and pray for you by name. I think of you often and say little prayers in my heart for you throughout the day. Always know if you are having a hard time or need love and support that you have constant love and support from me. I love you so much, and through this restored Gospel that love is eternal. What a beautiful, wonderful blessing that is available to all those who seek after it.
Please write me this week! Emails are good or letters or DearElder or whatever! I want to hear from you more! I will write you back, I promise! :) Today is P-day, so my companion and I are going to see the Masonic Temple. I am excited because I read The Lost Symbol this summer. I will take pictures. I have lots of pictures and things I'll send you in a few weeks, but I want to wait for the recorder to come, so I can record on it and send that too. Hope everything is well with everyone. I will write you each letters this afternoon, so expect them this weekend.
Love you forever,
Jordan
P.S. Thank you for your love and support. I am so grateful to have the family and friends I do! I opened my scriptures yesterday to the book of Acts and found a sticky note that said, "Mandie loves you!" It was stuck in there from years ago, probably when she borrowed my scriptures for seminary or something. It made me so happy. I felt like for a moment I had my dear friends there with me. That's how I feel when I get letters and emails from you. I love them and cherish them. Thank you for all you do for me! I love you so much!
I get SOOO excited to come email you on Wednesday mornings. I love getting your emails and writing to you. I miss you! So much! I think about you all the time. But I am doing really well! I am happy and love being a missionary. I really couldn't imagine myself saying that three weeks ago. The Lord has really blessed me. I feel that it is a miracle that I am here, being a missionary, and really enjoying the experience -- and I don't say that lightly. Thank you for your prayers, fasting, and temple attendance in my behalf. I am so eternally grateful. A mission is really exactly the experience I need at this time in my life, and I was thinking the other day how immensely grateful I am to the Lord for making it abundantly clear to me that I should serve a mission. I am learning so much about myself, about life, about communicating with others, and especially - most importantly - about the Gospel, the plan of happiness. It truly is the plan of happiness, and I know that it is eternal truth. If we exercise faith in Jesus Christ, repent of our shortcomings, are baptized by one holding the proper authority, and spend our lives progressing and working on becoming more like our Savior day by day, we can truly live with our Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and our families forever. What a blessing! I challenge each of you who read this to take that message to heart. Ponder it. Pray about it. And then act upon the answer you receive, whatever it may be. We can all improve. We can all strengthen our relationship with our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God and that man can grow closer to God by abiding by its precepts than by any other book. The restored Gospel of Jesus Christ is real. It is on the Earth today. It truly is good news! And that is why I'm happy: because I get to spend all day, every day sharing this good news with all those who will listen.
This past Thursday, I had the opportunity to go to a leadership training meeting (just because President Albright's super nice to me and invited me to come) where Elder Carlson of the Seventy spoke. He counseled us to remember that any doubt or discouragement we feel comes from Satan. God is never discouraged or frustrated. That really comforted and strengthened me, and I hope it does you too. Remember that! Recognize that! And when you're having a difficult time cling onto it. That is what I am learning to do!
President Albright sends motivating texts out to us multiple times each day. I love it. Here are some of my favorite texts from this past week:
Sister Bennett and our brand new Sister Lee found 10 new investigators this week!
"The most important position in the Church is the one you presently hold." -Elder Antoine R. Ivins
"God does watch over us, but it is usually through another person that he meets our needs." -President Kimball (I am really starting to see how true this statement is. The Lord constantly watches over us and places those people in our path that we need at any given time. I feel that way with my mission president, my companion, the sisters I live with, and Bishop and Sister Sampson.)
"Work will win when wishy washy wishing won't." -President Monson
"The intensity of our desire to share the Gospel is a great indicator of the extent of our personal conversion." -Elder Oaks
One of the wonderful things about a mission is the great people you meet and come in contact with. One of those people right now is Popo (meaning Grandma in Chinese). She is a recent convert who we meet with and read the Book of Mormon to each week. She is about 85 and missing most of her teeth. She has two huge fishtanks in her house. She cooks us Chinese food, and she has the funniest, most contagious laugh. I love visiting with her. She is going through the temple in January. Hopefullly, I will still be in this area and will be able to go with her.
Another person I've grown to love is Cassandra. Cassandra is our investigator who I told you about last week. She was scheduled to get baptized this weekend, but while preparing her for her baptismal interview she told us that she's on probation. So she met with President Albright, who is going to send a request to Church Headquarters, so she can hopefully be baptized in the near future. It has been really hard for her since she realized she can't get baptized as soon as she wanted to. She feels like she is being judged by her past and not who she is now. I understand her frustration, and it has been a difficult situation. My companion has still been sick with the flu and sleeping a lot, so a few days ago I was sitting reading the scriptures in the living room. I got a text from Cassandra that said, in short, that she didn't want to be baptized anymore. My heart started pounding, and I immediately dialed her number. I talked to her for about a half an hour, listening to her frustrations and doing my best to address them. I encouraged her to still meet with President Albright and voice her concerns with him, which she did. The meeting went well, and now we're just waiting to hear back from Church Headquarters.
This week we had the opportunity to teach a Relief Society Enrichment class on using Preach My Gospel in the home. It went really well and really strengthened my testimony of the importance of Preach My Gospel. It is a wonderful tool that each of us, full-time missionary or not, should use to accompany us in our daily scripture study. I encourage you all to get a copy and study it! It's amazing!
On Sunday, we had dinner with a family that had a nine-year-old girl (who actually goes to Abington Elementary!), and it made me SO homesick. I missed my Tara Sue so much. It was a hard day. Sundays are especially hard because they're such a family-based day. But overall, I am doing so great! I feel such a sense of pride and duty and joy when I look at my nametag and see the Savior's name next to mine. I try to think of the Savior and what He would do in each situation I'm in throughout the day and likewise pattern my choices. I try to remember whom I represent and really be His representative. When I get in this mindset, missionary work is easy, it is a joy, and time flies. Little things are suddenly beautiful, wonderful miracles. Like comforting someone who's depressed or playing blocks with a two-year-old. I am so humbled and blessed to be a missionary for this great and restored Gospel.
I miss each and every one of you and pray for you by name. I think of you often and say little prayers in my heart for you throughout the day. Always know if you are having a hard time or need love and support that you have constant love and support from me. I love you so much, and through this restored Gospel that love is eternal. What a beautiful, wonderful blessing that is available to all those who seek after it.
Please write me this week! Emails are good or letters or DearElder or whatever! I want to hear from you more! I will write you back, I promise! :) Today is P-day, so my companion and I are going to see the Masonic Temple. I am excited because I read The Lost Symbol this summer. I will take pictures. I have lots of pictures and things I'll send you in a few weeks, but I want to wait for the recorder to come, so I can record on it and send that too. Hope everything is well with everyone. I will write you each letters this afternoon, so expect them this weekend.
Love you forever,
Jordan
P.S. Thank you for your love and support. I am so grateful to have the family and friends I do! I opened my scriptures yesterday to the book of Acts and found a sticky note that said, "Mandie loves you!" It was stuck in there from years ago, probably when she borrowed my scriptures for seminary or something. It made me so happy. I felt like for a moment I had my dear friends there with me. That's how I feel when I get letters and emails from you. I love them and cherish them. Thank you for all you do for me! I love you so much!
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