Hey all!
This week was good! Had an awesome Christmas and had a swell transfer meeting. I'm now with Elder Hoffman! He goes home at the end of this transfer, but it's gonna be sweet! We're actually opening up a new area! It's called Livonia South. So - new phone, new apartment aaaaaaand a new CAR!!! hahaha I'm so stoked! I can't wait to get out there and see the Lord's hand in all that we do! We actually don't have an apartment yet, we'll be staying with some other missionaries for maybe a few days until we sign with a new apartment complex! I'll have to get my new address to you all this next week. In the mean time.... my address is still
33505 State St. Ste. 101
Farmington, MI 48335
I definitely feel blessed for having the oportunity to serve here in the MDM. Lovin' it!
~ Elder Jones
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Monday, December 19, 2011
12.19.11 email
12-19-11
What up does!
Hey there all.
This last week was really cool… I’ll share a quick miracle then keep going with the letter! :D
About 4 ½ or 5 months ago I was on an exchange up in the Ferndale area and we were tracting. Well we tracted into a woman named Jodie, her parents are Apostolic Ministers, and she said they never let her really look into different religions. Well, in talking with her on the door step, within an hour we had taught the whole Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Plan of Salvation, and we gave her a copy of The Book of Mormon. Well… she moved and the missionaries in the area lost contact. Well… I was on an exchange up there again earlier this last week and we had a potential address, well we stopped by and she was home! She told us she had read the whole Book of Mormon and that she believed it was true! She is now on baptismal date for Jan. 22!! It was a sweet tender mercy of the Lord!
But anyway, the week was good! Had a good birthday and didn’t end up speaking in church yesterday!
Hope you all have a WONDERFUL Christmas!!!
-Elder Jones
What up does!
Hey there all.
This last week was really cool… I’ll share a quick miracle then keep going with the letter! :D
About 4 ½ or 5 months ago I was on an exchange up in the Ferndale area and we were tracting. Well we tracted into a woman named Jodie, her parents are Apostolic Ministers, and she said they never let her really look into different religions. Well, in talking with her on the door step, within an hour we had taught the whole Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Plan of Salvation, and we gave her a copy of The Book of Mormon. Well… she moved and the missionaries in the area lost contact. Well… I was on an exchange up there again earlier this last week and we had a potential address, well we stopped by and she was home! She told us she had read the whole Book of Mormon and that she believed it was true! She is now on baptismal date for Jan. 22!! It was a sweet tender mercy of the Lord!
But anyway, the week was good! Had a good birthday and didn’t end up speaking in church yesterday!
Hope you all have a WONDERFUL Christmas!!!
-Elder Jones
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
12.13.11 email
I came home this afternoon to an inbox full of photos from Elder Jones! I'm posting most of them (not all of the graffiti ones, though - Elder Jones seems to really like the graffiti!) along with any descriptions he wrote with the photo, so hang on... this is going to be super photo-heavy! :D
Me, my trainer's trainer, my trainer
Me and Elder Welch - third cousins!
Side of Palmer Park building - it used to be a Catholic church, it's huge!
Front of building
A biker's club we talk with every now and then
Me in front of the big green dude {Mom's note: The big green dude is also known as the Spirit of Detroit. Sigh.}
Tunnel to Canada!
Sweet graffiti! You know who that is!
Some more sweet graffiti
Me and the D-town Grim Reaper
District photo
Black Jesus - he's a legend in the Dexter area!
On an exchange... sometimes you gotta get inventive on how you lock the bikes up!
Gotta love an Obama gas station.
Yeah, that's how I roll!
Elder Adair and me at the temple
A $17,500 watch at a VERY expensive mall!!
Mom - thought you'd like this one, hahaha.
This is how the word gets spread on Dexter Road.
The FIRETRUCK ran this one over! I wish I'd have gotten it on camera!
You find these all over.
And you see these all over.
Ford world headquarters.
E. Chaus and Aiden, an awesome member.
Me, holding the "infamous" tow chain. Back in the day, Aiden was traveling with some missionaries and some "bad guys" were coming at them and threatening them; well, Aiden prayed to Heavenly Father and asked for a weapon to protect his "younger brothers" (he calls everyone in the church family members) and a tow truck drove by and a tow chain fell off right in front of him. He took that as a sign and picked it up, and has been carrying it since 2006.
That's it for a while! Enjoy!
Me, my trainer's trainer, my trainer
Me and Elder Welch - third cousins!
Side of Palmer Park building - it used to be a Catholic church, it's huge!
Front of building
A biker's club we talk with every now and then
Me in front of the big green dude {Mom's note: The big green dude is also known as the Spirit of Detroit. Sigh.}
Tunnel to Canada!
Sweet graffiti! You know who that is!
Some more sweet graffiti
Me and the D-town Grim Reaper
District photo
Black Jesus - he's a legend in the Dexter area!
On an exchange... sometimes you gotta get inventive on how you lock the bikes up!
Gotta love an Obama gas station.
Yeah, that's how I roll!
Elder Adair and me at the temple
A $17,500 watch at a VERY expensive mall!!
Mom - thought you'd like this one, hahaha.
This is how the word gets spread on Dexter Road.
The FIRETRUCK ran this one over! I wish I'd have gotten it on camera!
You find these all over.
And you see these all over.
Ford world headquarters.
E. Chaus and Aiden, an awesome member.
Me, holding the "infamous" tow chain. Back in the day, Aiden was traveling with some missionaries and some "bad guys" were coming at them and threatening them; well, Aiden prayed to Heavenly Father and asked for a weapon to protect his "younger brothers" (he calls everyone in the church family members) and a tow truck drove by and a tow chain fell off right in front of him. He took that as a sign and picked it up, and has been carrying it since 2006.
That's it for a while! Enjoy!
Monday, December 12, 2011
12.12.11 email
Hey what up!
This last week was good. Been busy stopping by everyone and their dog! Got pretty chilly at times but that’s what hothands and thermals are for! Right!?
So I’ve been studying the Savior’s birth because I am speaking in church on the 18th and it’s been a really cool study for me. I’ve actually learned some things that I either hadn’t known or never paid attention to. I wanna invite you all to do the same and read over it in the Bible!
Christmas (and transfers) are right around the corner! Remember the reason for the season!
Gotta run!
Stay safe and stay chaste.
~ Elder Jones
This last week was good. Been busy stopping by everyone and their dog! Got pretty chilly at times but that’s what hothands and thermals are for! Right!?
So I’ve been studying the Savior’s birth because I am speaking in church on the 18th and it’s been a really cool study for me. I’ve actually learned some things that I either hadn’t known or never paid attention to. I wanna invite you all to do the same and read over it in the Bible!
Christmas (and transfers) are right around the corner! Remember the reason for the season!
Gotta run!
Stay safe and stay chaste.
~ Elder Jones
Monday, December 5, 2011
12.2.11 letter
Family, 12.2.11
(Detroit-ese) What up, doughs? What's good witchu? I'm alrigh'. You straight? Yeah, I'm on point. Hey man, I'm being' 100% witchu, we straight.
(Normal) Hey there, guys! What's up? I'm good, how about yourself? Yes, I'm being honest. Hey guys, I'll be honest from here on out, everything's alright.
Haha, you like it? Coulda added a little more, but milk before meat, right? Ha! How's it going? Everything's fine here. It's gettin' colder, but it's all good. I'm staying pretty warm. The weather here is dysfunctional! One day it snows, then the next day, it's 60! But, I'm adapting.
Crazy - I'm hitting 10 months here 2 days before my birthday. I realized something a while ago - the time may go by fast, bit, it's still a full 2 years!
I'm doing alright here with E. Chaus. He hit 19 months a few days ago, so he makes the joke of how far the planes are for him and me. I just let it roll off & laugh, because the joke's on him - he's going home, and I am still using the opportunity to save up blessings! Haha!
So, when do you guys go back to the regular building? How much longer? Just wondering.
Hey, so I like the wool socks; they actually stay up like they're supposed to. But 2 more pairs would be good. :)
Um, can I request that if you were planning on sending me something for my birthday, to just keep it till after Christmas (or save the money for me for when I come home)? Two reasons - 1, transfers are right after Christmas (2 days later) and I don't want to have to worry about packing it up and moving it, and 2 - I'll have no money when I get home, so it would be chill if some of it could be saved. :) Love you!
So, how are the sister missionaries? Any baptisms yet? Ha! Did you get to go out and teach with them yet? If so, how'd it go?
Well, I gotta run, family. Love you all... pass the hugs around, Mom! :D
Always -
~ Elder Ethan Jones
12.5.11 email
Hey all what up.
This last week was pretty good! Been going through the ward directory and stopping by people and so we've been pretty busy! Way busy actually! Been getting colder too, had to bust out all my warm stuff! Haha I never thought of the wind chill factor on a bike before and now I'm paying for it!! Hahahaha but I'm adapting well, so it's all good.
It's fun to ride down streets every other day and watch, one by one, the houses get decorated for Christmas, never saw the slow progression back home like I have the ability to here! Definitely enjoying it too!
I know I always say we saw some sweet miracles but I hardly ever share them, but I swear they happen and one of these days I'll just write them all out and that will be the weekly letter, haha!
Well Christmas is coming and I hope you all remember the reason for the season! As a missionary it's hard to forget it, but sometimes we can let it slip, so if it's possible for me, then I can't imagine how rough it is back as a normal person! Hope you all can adjust well!
Gotta run.
Stay Safe & Stay Chaste.
~ Elder Jones
This last week was pretty good! Been going through the ward directory and stopping by people and so we've been pretty busy! Way busy actually! Been getting colder too, had to bust out all my warm stuff! Haha I never thought of the wind chill factor on a bike before and now I'm paying for it!! Hahahaha but I'm adapting well, so it's all good.
It's fun to ride down streets every other day and watch, one by one, the houses get decorated for Christmas, never saw the slow progression back home like I have the ability to here! Definitely enjoying it too!
I know I always say we saw some sweet miracles but I hardly ever share them, but I swear they happen and one of these days I'll just write them all out and that will be the weekly letter, haha!
Well Christmas is coming and I hope you all remember the reason for the season! As a missionary it's hard to forget it, but sometimes we can let it slip, so if it's possible for me, then I can't imagine how rough it is back as a normal person! Hope you all can adjust well!
Gotta run.
Stay Safe & Stay Chaste.
~ Elder Jones
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
11.30.11 email
Whaddupp.
Hey there all. Didn't e-mail on Monday because we're going to the temple tomorrow, but we got permission to do it today!
This last week was sweet! Saw a few miracles and lives change! Plus we had a VERY filling Thanksgiving!
We had a sweet investigator lesson this last week! We taught the Word of Wisdom and I kinda threw down on cigarettes, haha. Felt kinda bad at first, but a couple days ago she told me that what I said is what she needed. Taught the doctrine of why she shouldn't and then gave a couple examples to kinda show my point, instead of just telling her to stop; the Spirit was really there and you could tell her heart was pricked by what she was feeling. At the begging of the lesson, she said that she would never quit, and by the end she set a date to be done by Dec. 10th. I'm pretty excited for her, it's not only going to help her spiritually, but also physically and financially. Her daughter actually thanked me on Sunday, because her mom wasn't smoking in the house anymore, so it wasn't hurting her head anymore! The progression is awesome!
So guess what, it finally snowed and stuck (last night actually). Not too much, maybe a quarter inch, and it's supposed to snow a lot more here in the next week or so. We'll see!
Sorry to those that I haven't physically written in a while, been way busy and then when I have time I'm too tired, but I'll get to ya soon! Promise! Haha.
Yesterday was sweet too, we had our zone conference (big missionary meeting) and it was legit. Very Spirit powered and uplifting. We practiced a lot of new things and I'm stoked to get out there and try them!
Gotta run. Hope you all have a great week!
Stay safe and stay chaste.
~ Elder Jones
Hey there all. Didn't e-mail on Monday because we're going to the temple tomorrow, but we got permission to do it today!
This last week was sweet! Saw a few miracles and lives change! Plus we had a VERY filling Thanksgiving!
We had a sweet investigator lesson this last week! We taught the Word of Wisdom and I kinda threw down on cigarettes, haha. Felt kinda bad at first, but a couple days ago she told me that what I said is what she needed. Taught the doctrine of why she shouldn't and then gave a couple examples to kinda show my point, instead of just telling her to stop; the Spirit was really there and you could tell her heart was pricked by what she was feeling. At the begging of the lesson, she said that she would never quit, and by the end she set a date to be done by Dec. 10th. I'm pretty excited for her, it's not only going to help her spiritually, but also physically and financially. Her daughter actually thanked me on Sunday, because her mom wasn't smoking in the house anymore, so it wasn't hurting her head anymore! The progression is awesome!
So guess what, it finally snowed and stuck (last night actually). Not too much, maybe a quarter inch, and it's supposed to snow a lot more here in the next week or so. We'll see!
Sorry to those that I haven't physically written in a while, been way busy and then when I have time I'm too tired, but I'll get to ya soon! Promise! Haha.
Yesterday was sweet too, we had our zone conference (big missionary meeting) and it was legit. Very Spirit powered and uplifting. We practiced a lot of new things and I'm stoked to get out there and try them!
Gotta run. Hope you all have a great week!
Stay safe and stay chaste.
~ Elder Jones
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
11.22.11 email
Hey all, what up doe(s).
How’s it hangin? What’s new? You know, all the good stuff. :)
Everything is good here in Detroit. It's getting colder so people are calming down, and on the plus side, the modesty percentage is going up at a very pleasing rate! haha We had our first snow about mid-week last week. Nothing stuck but it flurried a lot! It’s gonna be fun when the snow does stick and we gotta ride our bikes!
This last week was cool. We found a less active on the bus, he had just got out of the military and was looking for the church but didn’t know how to find it! We were definitely able to help him! Ha he didn’t know much.
That’s about all! Hope you all have a good week!
Stay safe and stay chaste!
~ Elder Jones
How’s it hangin? What’s new? You know, all the good stuff. :)
Everything is good here in Detroit. It's getting colder so people are calming down, and on the plus side, the modesty percentage is going up at a very pleasing rate! haha We had our first snow about mid-week last week. Nothing stuck but it flurried a lot! It’s gonna be fun when the snow does stick and we gotta ride our bikes!
This last week was cool. We found a less active on the bus, he had just got out of the military and was looking for the church but didn’t know how to find it! We were definitely able to help him! Ha he didn’t know much.
That’s about all! Hope you all have a good week!
Stay safe and stay chaste!
~ Elder Jones
Monday, November 21, 2011
11.18.11 letter
Family,
Hey there. How's it hangin'? Or if you want it in Detroit slang: "What's good witchu?" Kind of gotta throw that last part together like a car crash. Ha!
Anyway.... how's school, work, weather, life? :) It's gettin' more cold here, it snowed off and on in some intense flurries yesterday. It all melted when it hit the ground, but it still snowed! :D
Sorry I haven't gotten any pictures to you yet. As soon as I get to a computer that will let me load them, I'm gonna send every picture from week to week. And start from this last week.
Oh, so guess what? My trainer, Elder Adair, is training again! So I have a little brother missionary out here. (Slang in the mission is: trainer's trainer = grandpa, trainer = father, then you get the pic of uncles and brothers, etc.) His name is Elder Simpson and he's from Connell, WA. Think there's any relation? He didn't know Dean's name, so I don't know.
So I'm now in my 7th of 18 transfers you get on your mission. Missionaries here count how long they've been in each area a few different ways: 1, by weeks; 2, by months; 3, by companions, and 4, by transfers. I'll test ya and see if you can figure it all out! Ha!
So I've been sick for about the last week. My throat is feeling better but my ears won't pop; any ideas?
In exactly one month from today I'll be 20! Whoa! Crazy!
Anyways... lots of random thoughts. Sorry!
So, how's life in the 208? Any news on the Meridian temple? I'm stoked to see any info!
So, hey, I'm probably going to be sending home a few more packages; I've realized over the last few weeks that I have acquired a lot of... stuff. Some of it I'm just gonna label to myself - those things you can just store. The rest of the stuff, you'll get the idea of what to do! :)
Welp... I gotta hit the road and study. E. Chaus is in the shower, so I had a moment to myself to write!
Love you all. :) Stay safe and stay chaste! :D
~ Elder Jones
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
11.15.11 email
Hey all.
How's it hangin'?
Things are well here in D-Town. Got transfer calls this last Saturday and I'm staying! so I'll be here in Detroit for another 6 weeks guaranteed. Should be fun. That means I'll be on bike for a lot of the winter here! so I'll have been here for the dead of summer and most of winter! Yay!
This last week was good! Found some sweet new investigators! We were tracting towards the bottom of our area and just as we were about to leave the street and hit up Micky-D'S, a car pulled up beside us and asked if we were the police (it happens more than what you would believe), well we said no and introduced ourselves and they said they have been searching for God in their lives and they commited to come to church this next week! They had prior this for this last Sunday :) but I'm pretty excited for it.
Our new ward mission leader is awesome too! :) He is fired up: ready and willing to help! Love it!
Oh, hope you all had a wonderful 11-11-11!
Well I gotta run! Hope you all have a good week.
Stay safe and stay chaste...
~ Elder Jones
How's it hangin'?
Things are well here in D-Town. Got transfer calls this last Saturday and I'm staying! so I'll be here in Detroit for another 6 weeks guaranteed. Should be fun. That means I'll be on bike for a lot of the winter here! so I'll have been here for the dead of summer and most of winter! Yay!
This last week was good! Found some sweet new investigators! We were tracting towards the bottom of our area and just as we were about to leave the street and hit up Micky-D'S, a car pulled up beside us and asked if we were the police (it happens more than what you would believe), well we said no and introduced ourselves and they said they have been searching for God in their lives and they commited to come to church this next week! They had prior this for this last Sunday :) but I'm pretty excited for it.
Our new ward mission leader is awesome too! :) He is fired up: ready and willing to help! Love it!
Oh, hope you all had a wonderful 11-11-11!
Well I gotta run! Hope you all have a good week.
Stay safe and stay chaste...
~ Elder Jones
Monday, November 7, 2011
11.7.11 email
Hey all. What up doe(s).
This last week was good. We taught a lot and saw a few sweet miracles! Had a couple of sweet exchanges too! It's cool to be able to go out with other missionaries for a day and glean off them, and kind of form your own style of teaching for yourself.
This week we have specialized training! It's where two zones get put together for the day, we get to be instructed, practice teaching and instruct ourselves. I'm pretty excited for it!
Next week is transfers too... on the 15th to be exact! I'm pretty sure I'm gone, but we’ll see!
Think that’s all for this week!
- Stay safe and stay chaste,
E. Jones
This last week was good. We taught a lot and saw a few sweet miracles! Had a couple of sweet exchanges too! It's cool to be able to go out with other missionaries for a day and glean off them, and kind of form your own style of teaching for yourself.
This week we have specialized training! It's where two zones get put together for the day, we get to be instructed, practice teaching and instruct ourselves. I'm pretty excited for it!
Next week is transfers too... on the 15th to be exact! I'm pretty sure I'm gone, but we’ll see!
Think that’s all for this week!
- Stay safe and stay chaste,
E. Jones
Saturday, November 5, 2011
11.5.11 letter
Family!! 10.31.11
What up! How's it hangin'? WOW! Last day of the month! Insane! Right now you guys are scaring people and giving candy out. I'm watching red glows grow and disappear as fires are started and put out.
Last night was the craziest. There was a glow over the city, sirens the whole night! Lots more shots fired, too. But these were kind of distant, so it wasn't too bad.
I'm writing this before bed, because we have had an adventurous day! So I get a chance to reflect on the whole day now.
This last week was actually pretty cool. We saw a lot of miracles. We picked up 3 new investigators, gave a blessing and gave 5 copies of the Book of Mormon all in one day. The area is picking up, so it's good. So that was last week in a bottle.
Today was good, too. We got a ride with Monty & got groceries, then mailed off the package you should have gotten before this letter! After that, he dropped us off at the bowling alley, so we could meet up with the rest of the district. We did our district activity, which was bowling... think I already said that, ha! But I had a blast bowling. Our district is us, Ferndale & Hamtramck. So us, the district leader and the zone leaders; kind of intimidating, but they're just regular missionaries that love to have fun, just like me! So it was interesting. :D Haha.
After we bowled, we had to go up to the Ferndale bike shop to get the gear cluster changed from the old rim to the replacement one CTR Bikes sent me. Well, we were on foot, and Ferndale elders weren't, so I sat on Elder Mo'unga's handlebar for 2 1/2 miles to the shop. My abs still hurt from laughing the whole way up there!
But, we got everything taken care of and started to head home. Well... on the way back, we were banking on catching a bus, but... we didn't see a single one! So we hoofed it 5 miles home & didn't make it to the library on time to catch the public computers. But... you'll have read that already, ha! That was the day!
But anyway... I got these protective strips for my tires that will prevent flats. They go between the tire & tube. They have a guarantee that if a puncture flat happens, they'll replace the liner & tube. So, I have installed them! My tires are theoretically bullet-proof... as long as they don't get shot! Ha.
So...................................... there's like a 95% chance that I'm gonna get transferred. Next transfer meeting is on Nov. 15th, so in about two weeks. We'll see! If I do transfer, I'll be in a new area for Christmas & Thanksgiving. Should be exciting!
Here are some treats for the kids... for ages 12 & under only. :( I got 'em for me, and then I read the stupid rules, ha. So they'd better enjoy 'em! :)
So, how's the ipod coming...? Just wonderin'. :)
Welp! I think that's about it for this letter. Oh, no word on the camera's memory card. I tried the word of mouth thing... we'll see if it works.
Tell everyone hi for me. Love you and keep you in my prayers.
Stay safe and stay chaste!
~ Elder Jones
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
11.1.11 email
Whaddup.
How's it going? Has it snowed yet where you are? A few days ago we were forecast for it, but it ended up just being really cold rain! The weather is definitely changing. I love the colors of the trees, the leaves are sick!
Have had a few more bike issues but they are slowly getting taken care of! Ha.
This last week was pretty cool. We found a few new investigators and saw some sweet miracles. Just one prayer answered can really brighten the day! Let alone a few!
Angel's night and Halloween night weren’t that bad but there were still lots of fires, shooting and sirens! It's funny, the news doesn’t report half of what really goes down!
Not too much to report this week besides that, actually. Hope you all had a good Halloween!
Stay safe and stay chaste.
-Elder Jones
How's it going? Has it snowed yet where you are? A few days ago we were forecast for it, but it ended up just being really cold rain! The weather is definitely changing. I love the colors of the trees, the leaves are sick!
Have had a few more bike issues but they are slowly getting taken care of! Ha.
This last week was pretty cool. We found a few new investigators and saw some sweet miracles. Just one prayer answered can really brighten the day! Let alone a few!
Angel's night and Halloween night weren’t that bad but there were still lots of fires, shooting and sirens! It's funny, the news doesn’t report half of what really goes down!
Not too much to report this week besides that, actually. Hope you all had a good Halloween!
Stay safe and stay chaste.
-Elder Jones
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
10.25.11 letter
Family! 10.22.11
Hey there! Sorry it's taken a while to write. I just realized earlier today that I hadn't written for a minute. Fair warning, this letter might be a bit short.
Everything is going ok here. Been busy here in Dexter. Trying to keep an area running at peak level is hard. What happens usually after a baptism, is that the area dies down, kind of like a climax in a book; one event builds up and up and once it happens, the story is pretty much done. What we want to happen is for the area to be like an escalator, or a rocket - to where there is no cap on what the limit is.... so it's been an adventure.
It's crazy, at the end of this transfer I will be in Dexter (Detroit) for 4 1/2 months. I know this place like the back of my hand now. I'm interested to see what happens to me next.
So we've been challenged to read the Book of Mormon the whole way through by December 22. We were given the challenge somewhere around a month ago. I'm in the middle of Alma right now. I think it's a sweet challenge. Our mission Christmas party is on December 23, the day after Joseph Smith's birthday.
So I've been out for 8 whole months now! Crazy! It honestly doesn't even feel like it. When all the RMs say it goes by fast, they honestly weren't kidding. It still is two years, so it's gonna feel long, but as you count it, it goes by like crazy.
So, I finally met Vina! Crazy! 8 Months to the day that I entered the MTC I met her. She's awesome!
Also.... 8 months to the day I was given the opportunity to get into the water for the first time and baptize an investigator. It was an awesome experience to baptize a person who I found, taught and came to love and learn with.
So guess what, journaling is a lot harder than you think! Well, daily journaling. I have managed to write every day so far, but I feel like I just repeat what I say, kind of like my letters home. Do they ever seem repetitive?
Welp... I think that's about it for this one! Hope you're all ok and have a good week.
Love you all!!
~ Elder Jones
Monday, October 24, 2011
10.24.11 email
Hey there all.
This week was good. We had a lot of success, and that brings a lot of smiles! We found some sweet people and picked up a few new investigators!
Not too much to report on, I guess. Elec was confirmed yesterday, and she was beaming, and there are two sisters in the Palmer Park ward that are preparing to go on a mission, so they have been meeting us at lessons and helping, it's been awesome to not only see them grow as teachers but to see them create bonds with the people we teach.
This Halloween thing is coming up and causing problems! Haha - our curfew is 8 pm on Halloween night - and Angel's Night (the night before) is crazy. Lots of bad people doing bad things!
Hope you all have a good week and a wonderfun (new word I'm trying out, haha) Halloween!
- Stay safe and stay blessed,
Elder Jones
This week was good. We had a lot of success, and that brings a lot of smiles! We found some sweet people and picked up a few new investigators!
Not too much to report on, I guess. Elec was confirmed yesterday, and she was beaming, and there are two sisters in the Palmer Park ward that are preparing to go on a mission, so they have been meeting us at lessons and helping, it's been awesome to not only see them grow as teachers but to see them create bonds with the people we teach.
This Halloween thing is coming up and causing problems! Haha - our curfew is 8 pm on Halloween night - and Angel's Night (the night before) is crazy. Lots of bad people doing bad things!
Hope you all have a good week and a wonderfun (new word I'm trying out, haha) Halloween!
- Stay safe and stay blessed,
Elder Jones
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
10.18.2011 email
Hey there! What's up!
This last week was awesome! Sorry I didn’t email yesterday! We went to the Henry Ford Museum (which was AWESOME!!!!) and didn’t get back till 6 and then we had appointments!
But this week was awesome, we met a lot of sweet people and saw a couple sweet miracles! Like yesterday morning for example, we went bowling in the morning and were headed back to the apartment and we missed our transfer bus and ended up having to walk a few miles, BUT! about a quarter mile later we were walking and smelled smoke and went down an alley and an abandoned building was ablaze! Haha, crazy! So I called 911 and about 7 minutes later we saw the fire truck speeding by. So - if we would have caught the bus, who knows who would have reported it, or if at all!
The museum yesterday was sweeeeeeeeet! I could probably spend WEEKS in there! But I only had 4 hours :( but I got lot of sweet pictures and I saw some amazing pieces of history, like the 1st production Mustang ever built, the FIRST CAR MADE, Lincoln’s assassination chair. Just like some sweet amazing things!
But this last Sunday was the cherry to top off the week! I was privileged to baptize an investigator that I found and taught! The baptism was awesome. Elec was just beaming ear to ear at church. She was super excited! The baptismal program was alright, it was a typical Palmer Park baptism, unorganized and thrown together but Elec didn't care and she was just happy to be there. We got in the water and she was nervous, but it went away quick, she was shaking when I took her arm but I noticed as soon as the words started coming out of my mouth she was as calm as the ocean after a storm! (Cheesy, I know, but waaay true!) It was crazy! The Spirit was amazing, and works in crazy ways! I hadn't practiced the words to say, but as soon as I said her name the words just came out. Once she came out of the water she was just glowing, I've never seen her smile so big! And now when we txt her, her signature says "*SAVED WOMAN*" Haha - it made me laugh the first time I saw it. We are having a lesson with her today and it's gonna be about eternal marriage and the importance of it, and then we'll start the new member lessons. It was sweet! There should be a picture attached here of us! {Mom's note: it's the photo I posted yesterday.}
This next week should be killer too. I’ve set a goal for myself to put someone on baptismal date that we haven’t ever met yet! Should be interesting!
Hope you all have a good week! Stay blessed!
This last week was awesome! Sorry I didn’t email yesterday! We went to the Henry Ford Museum (which was AWESOME!!!!) and didn’t get back till 6 and then we had appointments!
But this week was awesome, we met a lot of sweet people and saw a couple sweet miracles! Like yesterday morning for example, we went bowling in the morning and were headed back to the apartment and we missed our transfer bus and ended up having to walk a few miles, BUT! about a quarter mile later we were walking and smelled smoke and went down an alley and an abandoned building was ablaze! Haha, crazy! So I called 911 and about 7 minutes later we saw the fire truck speeding by. So - if we would have caught the bus, who knows who would have reported it, or if at all!
The museum yesterday was sweeeeeeeeet! I could probably spend WEEKS in there! But I only had 4 hours :( but I got lot of sweet pictures and I saw some amazing pieces of history, like the 1st production Mustang ever built, the FIRST CAR MADE, Lincoln’s assassination chair. Just like some sweet amazing things!
But this last Sunday was the cherry to top off the week! I was privileged to baptize an investigator that I found and taught! The baptism was awesome. Elec was just beaming ear to ear at church. She was super excited! The baptismal program was alright, it was a typical Palmer Park baptism, unorganized and thrown together but Elec didn't care and she was just happy to be there. We got in the water and she was nervous, but it went away quick, she was shaking when I took her arm but I noticed as soon as the words started coming out of my mouth she was as calm as the ocean after a storm! (Cheesy, I know, but waaay true!) It was crazy! The Spirit was amazing, and works in crazy ways! I hadn't practiced the words to say, but as soon as I said her name the words just came out. Once she came out of the water she was just glowing, I've never seen her smile so big! And now when we txt her, her signature says "*SAVED WOMAN*" Haha - it made me laugh the first time I saw it. We are having a lesson with her today and it's gonna be about eternal marriage and the importance of it, and then we'll start the new member lessons. It was sweet! There should be a picture attached here of us! {Mom's note: it's the photo I posted yesterday.}
This next week should be killer too. I’ve set a goal for myself to put someone on baptismal date that we haven’t ever met yet! Should be interesting!
Hope you all have a good week! Stay blessed!
~ Elder Jones
Monday, October 17, 2011
10.17.11 pics
My wonderful, awesome, amazing friend Vina & her husband, Monty, (yes, the one Elder Jones talks about - the one that gives them rides to the grocery store) were able to go to the baptism last night and took some photos for me! :) She said, "He was so handsome in his whites, and then in his suit! Afterwards, I was visiting with him and he is doing you proud, Mom! He did a FANTASTIC job, and was all Priesthood Authority and it was beautiful to watch. My husband and I are both just in love with him. Monty is super impressed with him - he is one of those guys that can't stand missionaries that don't have it together and he keeps commenting on how mature and "with it" Ethan is.
And can I just say that Elec went into that baptism with those beautiful curls and then came out with the same beautiful curls. LOL Everyone kept commenting on how her hair acted like it never touched water!"
Thank you SO MUCH for everything you do for my son, Vina and Monty! You make it easier to have him so far away. :)
Elder Chaus, Elec, Elder Jones
The program
Vina and Elder Jones
And can I just say that Elec went into that baptism with those beautiful curls and then came out with the same beautiful curls. LOL Everyone kept commenting on how her hair acted like it never touched water!"
Thank you SO MUCH for everything you do for my son, Vina and Monty! You make it easier to have him so far away. :)
Elder Chaus, Elec, Elder Jones
The program
Vina and Elder Jones
Yesterday was Elder Jones' 8-month mark - which means he's 1/3 done with his mission. What a wonderful way to spend the day, baptizing a beautiful spirit into Christ's church! Congratulations, Elec.
Monday, October 10, 2011
10.10.11 email
Hey there all! How's it hanging?
Everything is good here in Detroit. We've been super busy these last few weeks, it's awesome! We have found a ton of new people to teach and they are all elect. I'm sure baptisms will follow. We have a baptism this next Sunday, I'll let ya know this next week if it went through! Detroit is crazy so we'll see. We have found a lot of people by them actually talking to us first! One lady actually ran us down WITH A CANE in hand about a 1/4 of a mile down a side walk because we couldn't hear her yelling! But this next week is gonna be sweet!
Not too much exciting stuff happened this week... um... saw a lady try to run down a guy on a side walk, he was ignoring it like nothing and just kept walking. Oh! We also re-arranged our apartment! It's sweet! Probably something that doesn't sound too interesting to you but I'm stoked!
Well, we gotta run. Got a few appointments tonight!
Stay safe and stay chaste!
Everything is good here in Detroit. We've been super busy these last few weeks, it's awesome! We have found a ton of new people to teach and they are all elect. I'm sure baptisms will follow. We have a baptism this next Sunday, I'll let ya know this next week if it went through! Detroit is crazy so we'll see. We have found a lot of people by them actually talking to us first! One lady actually ran us down WITH A CANE in hand about a 1/4 of a mile down a side walk because we couldn't hear her yelling! But this next week is gonna be sweet!
Not too much exciting stuff happened this week... um... saw a lady try to run down a guy on a side walk, he was ignoring it like nothing and just kept walking. Oh! We also re-arranged our apartment! It's sweet! Probably something that doesn't sound too interesting to you but I'm stoked!
Well, we gotta run. Got a few appointments tonight!
Stay safe and stay chaste!
~ Elder Jones
10.10.11 letter
10/5/11
Hey there,
I have some downtime, so I figured I would write a longer letter!
Thanks for the package! I'm sittin' here listening to "The Work" CD, poppin' Pez and wearin' my new pajama bottoms! :)
We actually just got back from Target & Kroger's with Monty. I'm so thankful he can give us a ride shopping! But, I'm down to $4! But what food I have should last me around another two weeks. I still haven't got my missionary blue card yet, so I have had to use the money you sent me for food & bike parts.
I'm getting ready to blow up my bike! The back axle is broken, so it wobbles as I ride, but, it's still ride-able. And, the front rim is bent, so I don't use my front brakes because they rub so bad. Haha, my seat also got stolen a few weeks ago, so I took one off an old broken bike. That may sound like a lot of issues, but I'm ok with it all. I'm past getting upset, I just laugh and say "O.I.D." in my head. It means "Only In Detroit!" It's all for the experience, so I figure there is no point in fighting it!
The baptism for Elec is this Sunday - I'm pretty stoked. She is way solid and she is prepared. I don't know how I'm gonna get pics to you guys, because the library here won't let you get pics off a memory card, so I'll probably just have to print them off & mail 'em. We'll see, though!
So...!! Did you get my Christmas card? We decorated on 9/26 and I found a box of 16 Christmas cards. I didn't get everyone like I wanted, because of the number of cards, but I want Christmas here! I decided to skip Halloween & Thanksgiving, both not fun holidays as a michiganary in the city, ha!
You have to tell Emmy that she has to send me lots of refills for the Pez, because I'm already out! :o
So, I'm gonna send a few packages home here once I get some money. There will be some stuff for all of you, and some stuff just to store for me as mementos. Sound good?
Hey, so this part is for Brett. If he could get some sweet talks & put them on my iPod (if he's not using it, and if he is, that's totally ok) and send it out here, that'd be sweet. Turns out we can have an MP3 or iPod. I had the idea a while ago, but I never took the thought seriously 'til the cold hit and we started doing an extra hour of study more often. :) Haha.
Here's some McDonald's Monopoly pieces. :) I figure if you get pieces from across the states, you'll have a higher chance to win! :)
Hey, about the wallet - Grandma sent me a wallet last week, I think - and it has a little wallet that came with it, so that's what I'm using right now. Thanks though.
So! I've decided that I'm going to sing a song from "The Work" CD for the Christmas party. :) I've listened to it like 4 times through already, throughout the day!
Well, I've gotta get going! Hope to hear from ya soon! Love you all!
~ Peace out,
Elder Jones
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Thursday, October 6, 2011
10.6.11 letter
10/3/11
Family!
What up. The last couple of weeks have been pretty crazy. I told ya about our temple adventure! And then the weather decided to get freakin' cold and rainy! I had to bust out the beanie & gloves. But it's all good.
So you probably read the email, but I'm staying! I'll be in Dexter (Detroit) for at least another 6 weeks, and be with Elder Chaus for a 2nd transfer! Crazy!
Hey, sorry, this letter is way short but I kinda ran out of time. I love you all & pray for your well-being.
With love,
~ Elder Ethan "Nye-Nye" Jones
Monday, October 3, 2011
10.3.11 email
Hey all, what up? These last couple weeks have been crazy! Hopefully you got the adventure to the temple story, if not, hit me up. But! it was a good week nonetheless! Got to go down to Ford Hospital and give a blessing. It was a sweet experience!
General Conference was good, there were some amazing talks. Crazy to think that I only have 2 more on my mission then I'm home! :O
SO!! got the transfer call yesterday morning and I'm staying here in Detroit for another transfer with Elder Chaus. At the end of it I will have been in the Dexter area for a total of 4 1/2 months and will have been with Elder Chaus for 2 transfers (3 months). Crazy!
Not too much exciting... the weather changed and it sucks... had to use my beanie and gloves for the last week or so. The cold is here in Detroit already! >:| But! I only have 2 winters and I'm about to knock one of 'em down!
General Conference was good, there were some amazing talks. Crazy to think that I only have 2 more on my mission then I'm home! :O
SO!! got the transfer call yesterday morning and I'm staying here in Detroit for another transfer with Elder Chaus. At the end of it I will have been in the Dexter area for a total of 4 1/2 months and will have been with Elder Chaus for 2 transfers (3 months). Crazy!
Not too much exciting... the weather changed and it sucks... had to use my beanie and gloves for the last week or so. The cold is here in Detroit already! >:| But! I only have 2 winters and I'm about to knock one of 'em down!
Peace out all.
~ Elder Jones
Thursday, September 29, 2011
9.29.11 email
Hey all. This week was pretty good. Not too productive, but heck, I can now say that we are bed bug free!!! Ha now my arm can heal up!
Today's temple trip was pretty adventurous! We (our whole district), took a bus there, like a half hour to 45 minute ride, well as we're passing the temple we ask the bus driver to stop and he made a huge deal out of stopping where there wasn't a designated stop. So.... we got off a little over 3 1/2 miles later and hoofed it back to the temple! (The temple workers kept saying that it was a huge sacrifice to walk but I looked at 'em and said hey, at least it wasn't 3 days!) Didn't make it to the ten o'clock session but had time before the 12 o'clock one so we did some sealings. It was nice to spend some extra time in the temple.
Other than that, the week was pretty good!
Transfer calls come in Sunday morning instead of Saturday night because of general conference and the priesthood session. So we'll see if I go or stay!
The mission also recently got new phones! They're alright, all the missionaries that have been out for more than a year are in awe and wonder! Ha I just told them to wait till they get home!!!
Think that's about it for this week!! Love ya, peace out.
Today's temple trip was pretty adventurous! We (our whole district), took a bus there, like a half hour to 45 minute ride, well as we're passing the temple we ask the bus driver to stop and he made a huge deal out of stopping where there wasn't a designated stop. So.... we got off a little over 3 1/2 miles later and hoofed it back to the temple! (The temple workers kept saying that it was a huge sacrifice to walk but I looked at 'em and said hey, at least it wasn't 3 days!) Didn't make it to the ten o'clock session but had time before the 12 o'clock one so we did some sealings. It was nice to spend some extra time in the temple.
Other than that, the week was pretty good!
Transfer calls come in Sunday morning instead of Saturday night because of general conference and the priesthood session. So we'll see if I go or stay!
The mission also recently got new phones! They're alright, all the missionaries that have been out for more than a year are in awe and wonder! Ha I just told them to wait till they get home!!!
Think that's about it for this week!! Love ya, peace out.
~ Elder Jones
Thursday, September 22, 2011
9.22.11 letter
9/19/11
Family -
What up, doe? How goes it on the home front? Anything new or exciting? :) Getting used to the temporary building? Hey - gotta question... have you thought about visiting my mission? Like when I'm done? Just a thought. :) And that's not a hint or an invitation, haha, just a question!
Everything is alright here. I love rain... :) :( But it's all good. I'm just glad that I have a bike!!
Random thought: it's INSANE that Lion King has been out for 17 years!!! =:O
This week was alright. It was kind of an accumulation of a good & bad week put together. It had both, so it's just a 'whatever' week. Optimistic, I know, right? Haha.
Still trying to get rid of the bed bugs. I just LOVE waking up with more bites! Ha. But it's gonna get taken care of - hopefully tomorrow!
I had an interesting experience this last week! Ha. We were leaving a dinner appointment and it started pouring rain. So, naturally, we were without a jacket, so we put trash bags over us and started the 3 1/2 mile ride back to the apartment! Ha! But!! The fun part was the ride! I couldn't wear my glasses because they were getting soaked, plus they were fogging up because of the heat difference, so I put them in my bag. Well, it was dark, and I couldn't see, which made it more interesting! So I was riding on the side of the road, and all the freaking trash cans were out!! So, I was playing a real-life Sonic game! Ha! I was going as fast as I could, hitting the rings, which would be avoiding pot holes, and avoiding the spike walls, which were the trash cans! All for the experience, right? Haha. (BTW, I WON!)
Well, I gotta run. I love you all!!
Peace out ~
Elder Ethan Jones
Monday, September 19, 2011
9.19.11 email
Hey there all. What up.
This week was alright. Not too much exciting! Just kinda romped around and lifted Detroit a li'l higher with a li'l prayer :) hahaha there’s bumper stickers everywhere that have that saying! I love it!
Not too much exciting. The rain stopped for 2 days and it's dumping right now! Ugh! Ha but it's all good. I’d rather be riding than walking in the rain! Imma run out of time on here so imma keep it short!
Oh fyi, I wont be e-mailing again till next Thursday because we’re going to the temple so our preparation day got moved! Hope y'all have a good week! Peace out ~
This week was alright. Not too much exciting! Just kinda romped around and lifted Detroit a li'l higher with a li'l prayer :) hahaha there’s bumper stickers everywhere that have that saying! I love it!
Not too much exciting. The rain stopped for 2 days and it's dumping right now! Ugh! Ha but it's all good. I’d rather be riding than walking in the rain! Imma run out of time on here so imma keep it short!
Oh fyi, I wont be e-mailing again till next Thursday because we’re going to the temple so our preparation day got moved! Hope y'all have a good week! Peace out ~
Elder Jones
Saturday, September 17, 2011
9.17.11 letter
9/14/11
Hey there family! How's everything going? Is it cooling down there yet? It is here! They're saying we're supposed to have snow by Halloween, but we'll see!
Everything is alright here for the most part. Nothing too much more besides what was in my email. Except for what we did yesterday for our P-day. We chilled for a bit, emailed, ate lunch, went bowling and then went up to the Ferndale Elders and played Ultimate Frisbee.
Bowling was pretty fun, played 6 games - my highest score was 175, then it went down from there. But!! I got a strike bowling it through my legs... while I was facing the pins, hahaha. I was pretty happy about that!! Bowling keeps me sane. It makes me wanna curse, too, but mostly sane. ;)
F.Y.I.! Ultimate Frisbee is lame...... I think it's dumb, haha. Everyone else had fun, so I guess that is what counts. The grass was freaking tall, so my legs were itchier than all get out!
This week is looking pretty nice, as of right now. But we'll see!
All the kids in Detroit are now back in school, so the city is more quiet than normal. I like it, but at the same time, I don't! It makes night time more fun, because that is when all the kids are out of school & that's when they do stupid stuff!
So guess what, Elder Chaus doesn't like country music, so I'm stuck listening to, like, a total of 4 CDs, haha. And you can only listen to all of "the best of Mo Tab" so many times 'til your brain melts! All for the experience, right? :)
This week's funny story: Riding down the street and some drunk guy yells out, "Hey, lemme ride your bike!" (which happens 10-20 times a day) to which Elder Chaus responded... "Gimme a thousand dollars!" and the guy yelled back, "Man, if I had that, I'd buy more beer!" Hahahahaa - I was laughing sooo hard! Way funny!
It's crazy that I'm already halfway through week 4 of this transfer - it's almost over!
So, how is school going for everyone? What grade is everyone in now? I forgot! :) How's work for Dad? Home life for Mom? I already know about Brett, haha.
Well, I gotta bounce. Hope you all have a fantastic week. Love you all!!
Peace out ~
Elder Jones
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
9.13.11 email
Hey all.
Pretty eventful week for me!
To kind of finish a story that I thought was over from last week, after I got everything taken care of for my money getting taken, within 3-4 days the rest of my wallet was stolen - that means the blue card, temple recommend and all my bus passes. So.... the only thing I have for identification is my name tag!! Feels weird not to have a wallet... aggravating too! But on the plus side, I know that I am for sure worthy to enter the temple because I had to have another interview with president yesterday to get a new one! :D
Something that happened, well is continuing to happen, is the bed bug problem! I hate waking up with 5-7 more bites on my arm, back, chest or face! haha. But, it’s a VERY good incentive to get up and at it in the morning! :) All for the experience right??
On the plus side, my bike is running well, haha... no more problems with it besides the usual airing it up with the temperature changes.
This past weekend, we had stake conference which was sweet. The stake center is on the same plot of land and right across the parking lot from the temple! I can walk from the outside wall of the stake center and walk to the door of the temple - and if I remember right it's like 50 or so feet! So there is always a special presence. But both sessions I attended were awesome. There was a special focus on families and temple work.
Then on Monday, well yesterday, there was a mission tour for Elder Packer (you know, President Packer of the 12? This was his son) and that was combined with our zone conference, so that was cool. He did like a question/answer type thing, so that was pretty legit. It was after the conference that I was interviewed!
We also had, like, every appointment possible cancel because it rained most of the week! I was sooooo irritated!!! They wouldn’t (I explained it to all of them!!!) understand that we are gonna be out in the rain if we’re at their house or not! Hahahaha... so we rode around a lot and got wet for most of the week. :) I just pray and hope that this week is a little less wet and that people will be more understanding!
Hope you all have a fantastic week.
Peace out ~
Elder Jones
Pretty eventful week for me!
To kind of finish a story that I thought was over from last week, after I got everything taken care of for my money getting taken, within 3-4 days the rest of my wallet was stolen - that means the blue card, temple recommend and all my bus passes. So.... the only thing I have for identification is my name tag!! Feels weird not to have a wallet... aggravating too! But on the plus side, I know that I am for sure worthy to enter the temple because I had to have another interview with president yesterday to get a new one! :D
Something that happened, well is continuing to happen, is the bed bug problem! I hate waking up with 5-7 more bites on my arm, back, chest or face! haha. But, it’s a VERY good incentive to get up and at it in the morning! :) All for the experience right??
On the plus side, my bike is running well, haha... no more problems with it besides the usual airing it up with the temperature changes.
This past weekend, we had stake conference which was sweet. The stake center is on the same plot of land and right across the parking lot from the temple! I can walk from the outside wall of the stake center and walk to the door of the temple - and if I remember right it's like 50 or so feet! So there is always a special presence. But both sessions I attended were awesome. There was a special focus on families and temple work.
Then on Monday, well yesterday, there was a mission tour for Elder Packer (you know, President Packer of the 12? This was his son) and that was combined with our zone conference, so that was cool. He did like a question/answer type thing, so that was pretty legit. It was after the conference that I was interviewed!
We also had, like, every appointment possible cancel because it rained most of the week! I was sooooo irritated!!! They wouldn’t (I explained it to all of them!!!) understand that we are gonna be out in the rain if we’re at their house or not! Hahahaha... so we rode around a lot and got wet for most of the week. :) I just pray and hope that this week is a little less wet and that people will be more understanding!
Hope you all have a fantastic week.
Peace out ~
Elder Jones
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
9.6.11 letterS
{Finally got a 'real' paper letter today - with a bonus! There were actually 2 letters in the envelope. Yay!}
Family,
Hey there! Sorry it's taken so long to write! It's been way busy the last few weeks. Like, intensely super confusing busy! But, I'm taking the time to write now!
So, how are y'all? Everyone excited to be back in school? The streets are a little more empty here, but halfway through September most of the schools start here, so I can't wait! It'll be a lot easier to ride down the streets without kids either throwing stuff at us, or wanting to race us on their bikes!
Elder Chaus is pretty chill. He's way laid back & really funny. He is full of the Spirit and willing to listen. He actually contributes and wants to help with investigators! Not saying that my last companions weren't, but it's refreshing to be back in my own area and doing work!
Right now we have 8 on date! I'm not gonna tell you who or when, though. Only because here in the city everyone is waaaaay flaky & if it can happen, it WILL happen!
So I know it's the beginning of this transfer, but I've been thinking a lot about what's gonna happen this next one. I'm getting conflicting feelings on if I'm staying or going. I know it's dumb cuz I have such a long time! Oh well.
Thank you for the stickers!!! I've been passing them out and sticking them on things left and right!
So speaking of left and right, I've been using 'port' and 'starboard' a lot and it's been confusing everyone and I love it! :D
So! There is a member here in the Palmer Park ward, and he has the same last name you do! My jaw hit the floor when I heard it! I actually met him last transfer, I just keep forgetting to tell you guys! You should see if there is any relation. His name is Phillip {surname}. It would be sweet to have a 2nd relative out here!! {Mom's note: Elder Jones discovered some time ago that one of his fellow missionaries in the Detroit area is his 3rd cousin - how fun is that?}
------------------
Family! 8/31/11
Hey there! Sorry it's taken a minute to write ya, but I told myself I was gonna this week, so I am!
From the emails it sounds like everything is going good. Everyone's back in school? Fun! Kids here don't go back till the first or second week of September! So all of 'em are still getting ready. I tell them that my family back home are already in school, and they give me a surprised look and say, "That's sweet!" Every kid here is bored in the summer, so they count down the days till school starts when they get out!
Everything is good here! I got to go to Wal-Mart finally on Monday, so I'm good on food for a minute. Everything except for milk & bread! Got lots of ramen & lots of cereal.
Thanks for the new scriptures! I forgot how good it feels to feel those stiff pages and the excitement of pulling two pages apart for the first time!
How's the new building you guys are attending? Well, visiting? Probably feels weird, huh? Well, guess what! I bet I beat you in the odd feeling category! The Palmer Park ward church building is an old Greek Orthodox church building. It's got a huge dome in the chapel and in the end of the pews, there are still crosses engraved in the sides! This place is HUGE - words and pictures don't do it justice. You'll just have to come pick me up when the 2 years are up and see it for yourself! Ha hahaa...
So, the bike is doing much better! Haven't had a flat in a few weeks! So right now, my flats total is 11!! I pray that the number doesn't get any bigger!
Well, I gotta run. I have to prep an instruction for district meeting, on "how to be diligent in all phases of the work."
I love you all! Have a good week!
With love -
Elder Nye-Nye Jones
9.6.11 email
Hey all... it's been an alright week. Super busy, but not very productive.
The numbers definitely didn’t show the effort we put into it... but I'm gonna make sure this week is better!
Crashed a couple times due to a companion not doing stuff, ha, but I still love him... so the elbow and knee are a little sore.
I had a SWEET prep day yesterday, I slept like 5 hours. I was tired!!
But... today not so fun so far. Found out my debit card was stolen over the weekend and I have a ton of money missin'! So prayers would be very much appreciated.
I want so very very very badly for this week to work out the way I want it to!
Hope you all have a good day! and week!
Peace out ~
Elder Jones
The numbers definitely didn’t show the effort we put into it... but I'm gonna make sure this week is better!
Crashed a couple times due to a companion not doing stuff, ha, but I still love him... so the elbow and knee are a little sore.
I had a SWEET prep day yesterday, I slept like 5 hours. I was tired!!
But... today not so fun so far. Found out my debit card was stolen over the weekend and I have a ton of money missin'! So prayers would be very much appreciated.
I want so very very very badly for this week to work out the way I want it to!
Hope you all have a good day! and week!
Peace out ~
Elder Jones
Monday, August 29, 2011
8.29.11 email
Hey all!
This week has been good! Very busy but good. I'm with Elder Chaus now - he's pretty chill... he's funny and very willing to work.
So let's see here..... not much exciting happened this week. A lot of our appointments fell through, so we biked a ton! About the only super exciting thing that happened was that I got a new mattress this morning!!! I have been waiting for it for like 3 weeks!!! I had to wait to get it till all the bed bugs were gone! But they're all gone now, so we don't gotta worry!!!
Hmm...... I don't know what to talk about, haha. Hope you all have a wonderful week!!!
This week has been good! Very busy but good. I'm with Elder Chaus now - he's pretty chill... he's funny and very willing to work.
So let's see here..... not much exciting happened this week. A lot of our appointments fell through, so we biked a ton! About the only super exciting thing that happened was that I got a new mattress this morning!!! I have been waiting for it for like 3 weeks!!! I had to wait to get it till all the bed bugs were gone! But they're all gone now, so we don't gotta worry!!!
Hmm...... I don't know what to talk about, haha. Hope you all have a wonderful week!!!
~ Elder Jones
Monday, August 22, 2011
8.22.11 email
Hey all! I'm doin' good - now the city of Detroit, I don’t think I can vouch for it! Ha we ripped it up this last week! It flew by and was amazing! We got a lot done!
Let's hit up some highlights!
· Rode about 135-140 miles
· Hit my 6 month mark
· Got the transfer call and found out I'm staying
· During this week I was with my 5th and 6th comp.
· Got some sweet mail items from some amazing people :)
So it was a good week. I stayed with the Ferndale Elders, so we had to cover both areas on bike. We did a tooooon of riding, but I’m losin' more weight so it's all good. :)
Tomorrow I get my new companion for the new transfer. This transfer will take me all the way into October! By the time I'm done with it, I’ll be at 7 ½ months! Time FLIES by out here! All you future missionaries won’t believe me and the returned agree! Hahaa...
So! I have successfully written in my journal for over 6 months straight. No promises that it’ll happen after the mission but heck, I'm doin' it now!
For the record, I hate the game Phase 10. It is the most irritating game ever! Rummy is waaaay better!
Hope you all have a good week! Peace out~
Elder Jones
Let's hit up some highlights!
· Rode about 135-140 miles
· Hit my 6 month mark
· Got the transfer call and found out I'm staying
· During this week I was with my 5th and 6th comp.
· Got some sweet mail items from some amazing people :)
So it was a good week. I stayed with the Ferndale Elders, so we had to cover both areas on bike. We did a tooooon of riding, but I’m losin' more weight so it's all good. :)
Tomorrow I get my new companion for the new transfer. This transfer will take me all the way into October! By the time I'm done with it, I’ll be at 7 ½ months! Time FLIES by out here! All you future missionaries won’t believe me and the returned agree! Hahaa...
So! I have successfully written in my journal for over 6 months straight. No promises that it’ll happen after the mission but heck, I'm doin' it now!
For the record, I hate the game Phase 10. It is the most irritating game ever! Rummy is waaaay better!
Hope you all have a good week! Peace out~
Elder Jones
Monday, August 15, 2011
8.15.11 email
What up doebro's! {I have no idea what that word is, let alone if it is spelled correctly. :) Taffi}
Everything here in Detroit is going good. :) Busy week filled with meetings and getting Elder Hunt through his last week! Yep, I killed him off. His two years are up and he is going home a week early to start school on time. He actually flies out at 12 today! About a half hour away!
So right now I'm on my 5th and 6th companions! I'm with the Ferndale elders. It's fun. I'll only be here a week, then next week on Tuesday I will get another new comp! Crazy! But my address that I am at will not change, unless I get transferred and there is like a 99% chance that I'll be staying!
This week went by fast! Actually, these last 6 months have gone by fast! Well, for me, at least. Tomorrow on the 16th I hit my 6th month mark. I feel like I just barely left the MTC!!! But it's all good :)
Well I gotta run! Hope you all have an amazing week!
Peace out!
~ Elder Jones
Everything here in Detroit is going good. :) Busy week filled with meetings and getting Elder Hunt through his last week! Yep, I killed him off. His two years are up and he is going home a week early to start school on time. He actually flies out at 12 today! About a half hour away!
So right now I'm on my 5th and 6th companions! I'm with the Ferndale elders. It's fun. I'll only be here a week, then next week on Tuesday I will get another new comp! Crazy! But my address that I am at will not change, unless I get transferred and there is like a 99% chance that I'll be staying!
This week went by fast! Actually, these last 6 months have gone by fast! Well, for me, at least. Tomorrow on the 16th I hit my 6th month mark. I feel like I just barely left the MTC!!! But it's all good :)
Well I gotta run! Hope you all have an amazing week!
Peace out!
~ Elder Jones
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
8.10.11 email
{Elder Jones sent me a quick email to let me know not to expect a letter this week. :(
He is fine, though, and promises to write next week. :)
~ Taffi}
Monday, August 8, 2011
8.8.11 email
Hey there all. Another week has blown by! But it's all good!
Stayed busy with exchanges and other sorts of service projects and special activities! We also helped a family that moved from Redford, Oregon move in a few days ago into a house over in Hamtramck. It was all done in the pouring rain!
Had a few more bike issues but heck, what's a mission without a few obstacles! :D
Not too much for detail this week. Way, way tired... so yeah. haha :p
Peace out ~
Elder Jones
Stayed busy with exchanges and other sorts of service projects and special activities! We also helped a family that moved from Redford, Oregon move in a few days ago into a house over in Hamtramck. It was all done in the pouring rain!
Had a few more bike issues but heck, what's a mission without a few obstacles! :D
Not too much for detail this week. Way, way tired... so yeah. haha :p
Peace out ~
Elder Jones
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
8.2.11 letter
Family!!! :D 7.29.11
Hey there!
Fair warning, this letter is probably gonna be a little shorter than what you'd like. :)
I had a good (almost) two weeks! We were super, super busy the whole time , which was awesome! I have personally seen a lot of miracles!
Elder Hunt and I are getting along pretty well. He's pretty funny. And he's super focused for going home in 17 days from now. I want to be like him in that aspect when I get to that point.
The Tigers game was awesome! They did lose, but they had some sweet plays. We (the missionaries) made it up on the Jumbotron for a bit! I didn't see it, but everyone else did! If I get the chance in the future, I will definitely take it, to go again! The seats were a bit uncomfortable, but all is well that ends well. :)
This next week is looking pretty well. I don't think it will be like last week with the 15 new investigators & 19 potential, but it's lookin' good!
Fair warning - I might not have anything to say for a hand-written letter for the week of the 1st-7th, so be prepared. ;)
Oh! And thank you for the card. :) I loved it!
Well, I gotta run!
Love you guys!!
Peace out ~
Elder Nye-Nye Jones
Monday, August 1, 2011
8.1.11 email
What up does.
This last week was good :)
Sorry about the last e-mail, didn't have much to say!
But this last week was good. The Tigers game was legit! They did end up losing, but I had a blast! Once I figure out how to get pictures out, I'll attach some!
We had a buuuuuusy week! We taught 27 lessons which was sweet! Super busy, but well worth it!
I've had more problems with the bike, I'm actually using a spare bike that is kinda better than mine. Man, I'm getting tired of buying tubes!!
We did service last Tuesday in the soup kitchen. It really opens your eyes to the world and what's really going on. It makes me really appreciate my life and all the people that are in it! That includes all y'all :)
Well I gotta hit the road! Have fun!
Peace out ~
Elder Jones
This last week was good :)
Sorry about the last e-mail, didn't have much to say!
But this last week was good. The Tigers game was legit! They did end up losing, but I had a blast! Once I figure out how to get pictures out, I'll attach some!
We had a buuuuuusy week! We taught 27 lessons which was sweet! Super busy, but well worth it!
I've had more problems with the bike, I'm actually using a spare bike that is kinda better than mine. Man, I'm getting tired of buying tubes!!
We did service last Tuesday in the soup kitchen. It really opens your eyes to the world and what's really going on. It makes me really appreciate my life and all the people that are in it! That includes all y'all :)
Well I gotta hit the road! Have fun!
Peace out ~
Elder Jones
Monday, July 25, 2011
7.25.11 email
Hey all. It's gonna be a short one this week!
We had a pretty busy week. Well, waaay busy, haha - 27 lessons, 15 new investigators and 19 potentials... but it was very good.
Riding the bikes in the heat was no bueno, but I survived. :)
Not too many exciting things went down. Just talked to a lot of people!
So... we moved our p-day this week to Thursday because on Thursday...... I'M GOING TO A TIGERS GAME!! :D I'm so stoked!! haha. The tickets were given to us by members and they gave us caps to wear there too. The Tigers are playing the team from LA. So, I'm looking forward to that. And then next week, we might be moving p-day again, to try to go to the temple! But we'll see how that goes! Love ya!
Hope you all have a good week! Peace out ~
Elder Jones
We had a pretty busy week. Well, waaay busy, haha - 27 lessons, 15 new investigators and 19 potentials... but it was very good.
Riding the bikes in the heat was no bueno, but I survived. :)
Not too many exciting things went down. Just talked to a lot of people!
So... we moved our p-day this week to Thursday because on Thursday...... I'M GOING TO A TIGERS GAME!! :D I'm so stoked!! haha. The tickets were given to us by members and they gave us caps to wear there too. The Tigers are playing the team from LA. So, I'm looking forward to that. And then next week, we might be moving p-day again, to try to go to the temple! But we'll see how that goes! Love ya!
Hope you all have a good week! Peace out ~
Elder Jones
Friday, July 22, 2011
7.22.11 letter
7.18.11
Family,
Hey! So, a lot of this is probably going to be repeated from the email, so bear with me.
It's been a pretty eventful week. We finished with 24 lessons, 10 new investigators and 15 potential investigators. That was nice - it pretty much made up for everything else. I had 5 flats within 5 days, I crashed my bike & had a un-opened can of soda thrown at me.
But on the plus side, I've lost 10 pounds. :) Being on a bike is different - the day goes by faster, but it draws it out, too. I've only been here for 6 days, but it feels like a couple of weeks!
But aside from all of the not-so-good things that have happened, I've seen a ton of miracles, too. The first one that I've been trying to count as a miracle would have to be the flat tires.
What was happening was, that on the rims of the bike, the hole that the valve stem comes out of is sharp. So as I rode along, every time, pressure was being applied to the stem, and the rim cut the stem. And it happened to be cutting it right at the base of the stem and the tube - so there is/was no way I could patch it.... so I kept having to buy new tubes. Well, right now I have a different rim on the front from an old bike, and on the back, I have ground it down and put 2 rubbers around the rim, and bought a heavy-duty tube for the back. So, hopefully, knock-on-wood, I won't have any more flats! I'm not quite sure what I'm gonna do about the front yet, though.
But, I'm counting that as a blessing, because I'm learning patience, and I'm learning how to fix my bike in-depth. :)
The other miracle is actually pretty amazing. Because of the tube issues, I have kept having to undo my brakes and take off the tire. Well, after my last fix on the tires, we were in a hurry to get to an appointment that we were already late to. Well, we were riding down a street named Florence, which comes up on a street named 6 Mile (which is a major travel way) and we needed to cross it. Well, I went to slow down & all of a sudden , I lost control of the bike & hit a curb that was like a divider or something, and I hit the pavement pretty hard. Well, I got back up, patched up my elbow, looked at my torn pants and knee, then tried to ride away. Well, I did a once-over on my bike, and realized that neither my front or back brakes were connected. I was only 20 feet from 6 Mile when I crashed. If I hadn't have crashed, I would have surely been hit by a car.
So yeah, I'm counting that as a miracle! :)
Another cool thing that happened was we put a 76-year-old guy on date that has been smoking for 66 years! He hasn't smoked in two days, and I hope he never will again! :D
How is everything back home? I guarantee that the weather is nicer! ;) Hahaha! You don't have to deal with the humidity!
Well, I gotta go finish laundry, then we gotta bike over to the store & get groceries. Biking gallons of milk plus food for the week sucks! It would be amazing if we had someone to take us to the store and back. But hey - life goes on, right? :)
Oh! I'm 5 months out now! Crazy!! :D
Love you guys! Stay safe!
Peace out ~
With love,
Elder Nye-Nye Jones :)
Monday, July 18, 2011
7.18.11 email
Hey!
Everything is going good here for the most part. I've had an interesting first week. Let's see here.... I had 5 flats in 5 days, I crashed my bike which ended up being a miracle and I had a un-opened pop can thrown at me from a car! Detroit seems pretty interesting thus far.
There are some pretty sweet people here and the same for the opposite. The weather is taking a toll on me, but I guess it does that to everyone. Elder Hunt is awesome, but I'm kinda stressing out because I know he'll be leaving (cuz he's going home in a month) and this place is confusing! He is super focused for the most part!
The flats have been a test of patience, both for me and for Elder Hunt! I'm just going to shorten the bike wreck story down. After the last flat I fixed, we headed to an appointment because we were late, and we were riding up on 6-mile (a super-busy street) from a side street and I tried for the brakes - and all of a sudden, I was on the ground after I hit this weird concrete divide. Well I got up, checked my bloodied elbow and my ripped pants, and then looked at my bike.... neither my front OR back brakes were hooked up. We were in such a hurry to get to that appointment that we forgot to hook the brakes up. If I wouldn't have crashed, I would have rolled out into 6 mile with no brakes and would have for sure got hit by a car. I crashed only 20 feet from the intersection. So... I am definitely counting that in my miracle book, because there is no way that that is an accident!!
But everything else is good! It's been waaaaaay hot, but it's all good. I've been drinking about a gallon and a half of water a day to stay hydrated!
Stay safe and stay cool!
Peace out ~
Elder Jones
photos from Flint:
First one is me and the Smiths, and the second two are me and Izzsh, Keyosha, and Christian.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
7.12.11 email
Hey there,
So my new area is called Dexter. I am officially in the dirty D. hahaha I'm in Detroit now! It's an all-bike area, so that will be fun. I'm just excited, because at least this apartment has a.c.! But it's no match for the 95 degree weather outside! haha Hope you all have a good week!
peace out ~
Elder Jones
{note from Mom: let me know if you'd like his new address!} :)
Monday, July 11, 2011
7.11.11 email
Hello!
This last week was a pretty good week! We stayed busy and ended up finishing with over 20 lessons, on top of the leadership training day and preparation day, so that made me feel pretty good.
I was able to confirm Terri S. on Sunday, so that was cool - it took a month but it was definitely worth it! Mike M. is set for getting baptized next Sunday! I'm way excited for him!
But..... I won't be there for it, cuz I'm getting transferred! I got the call this last Saturday, and I've been packing ever since! I'll find out where I'm going at the meeting tomorrow morning. We'll see how that goes!
The first picture was taken at Izzsh and Keyosha's baptism! I've been meaning to send it for a long minute so here ya go!
This last week was a pretty good week! We stayed busy and ended up finishing with over 20 lessons, on top of the leadership training day and preparation day, so that made me feel pretty good.
I was able to confirm Terri S. on Sunday, so that was cool - it took a month but it was definitely worth it! Mike M. is set for getting baptized next Sunday! I'm way excited for him!
But..... I won't be there for it, cuz I'm getting transferred! I got the call this last Saturday, and I've been packing ever since! I'll find out where I'm going at the meeting tomorrow morning. We'll see how that goes!
The first picture was taken at Izzsh and Keyosha's baptism! I've been meaning to send it for a long minute so here ya go!
The second picture is of a billboard for a pie. DON'T EVER EAT IT. It tastes like what rabbit food smells like!!
And the 3rd picture is of Keyosha and Christian wearing our ties, because they wanted to look like missionaries too! haha.
Well, I think that's about all!
Peace out ~
Well, I think that's about all!
Peace out ~
Elder Jones
Friday, July 8, 2011
letter 7.8.11
Family! 7.4.11
Hey there! How are y'all doing? Have a good 4th of July? Anything fun or interesting happen? :)
Everything is going good here. Been super busy!
Like I said a week or two ago, we had two more baptisms, Izzsh & Keyosha. They have both been confirmed, so we're all happy about that. We have another baptism scheduled for July 17th! Mike M. is finally getting dunked! We're all super excited. I hope I will still be in this area then. Transfers are next Tuesday, the 12th, and there is like a good 75-80% chance that me & ElMo will be splitting up. We'll see!
It's been an interesting last few days. It's been hotter than Hades! Plus, our AC broke Friday night, and no one will be in the office till tomorrow (Tuesday). So it was 98* outside and stinkin' 85* in the apartment! So we're trying not to stay there as much as we can. :)
Well, I gotta get runnin'! We're going golfing today with our old ward mission leader. So I'm pretty stoked for that! :)
I miss you guys! I love you all, too!
Be safe & have fun!
~ Love,
Elder Jones
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
7.5.11 email
Hey all... how are ya.
Everything is going good here. We've been busy! I never thought I'd be pleased with being how tired I am. But, it's all good.
We went to the temple last Thursday, and it was sweet.
We had a pretty fun 4th of July. We went golfing with our old ward mission leader, it was fun. I got a little too much sun but it's all good. I split my thumb open on our fan, but a little super glue fixed it right up! It's a little swollen, but it's all good. :)
It's crazy to think that this is already the last week of the transfer. This Saturday night, I'll find out if I'm getting transferred or not. So (just in case) if ya are gonna send anything this week, just send it to the mission office.
Well, I gotta get going! Peace out, y'all.
~ Elder Jones
Friday, July 1, 2011
letter 7.1.11
Family! 6.27.11
Hey there!! How's it going? :)
Short letter this week, you'll hear about it in the email Thursday. But... Thanks for the package, everything was and is much, much, much appreciated! :)
We had two baptisms this last Sunday, and one confirmation. Keyosha was confirmed yesterday, and Izzsh (pronounced Ausha) and Terri are being confirmed next Sunday. And Terri wants me to confirm her on Sunday, so I'm looking forward to that! :)
Thank you for the addresses!
I hope you guys have a great week!
LOVE YOU!
~ Elder NYE-NYE Jones
P.S. - Any chance I could get more stamps? :) Oh, and by the way, I have to get another inhaler, so you'll see that on my debit statement. :)
to Dad 7.1.11
Hey,
I just wanted to say Happy Birthday! Just think, everyone celebrates your birthday by blowing stuff up! haha. I hope you liked your tie - I got it with you in mind - I could envision you wearing it to church.
Anyway - I just wanted to wish you a happy birthday and let you know that I'm thinking about you!
Be sure to blow up some extra stuff and lite another one of Mark's bushes on fire for me! LOL As missionaries, we're not allowed to have or buy fireworks, so do some 'work' for me! :)
Have a good one!
With love,
Elder Jones
Thursday, June 30, 2011
6.30.11 email
Hey there all. Long week & a half!!
Not much really occured, besides the baptisms of Izzsh (Ausha) and Keyosha, her daughter. We taught a ton of lessons and kept pretty dang busy.
Today we went to the temple so that was fun. Learned a lot and felt the Holy Spirit :)
Not quite sure what else to throw out there...... peace!
Monday, June 27, 2011
6.27.11 email
Just a quick note, I won't email till Thursday, because we're going to the temple this week, just lettin' ya know. :) Oh btw, we baptized two more this last sunday, I'll hopefully get pics Sunday! love ya.
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Friday, June 24, 2011
6.24.11 letter
6.20.11
Dear Mom & Family,
Everything is going well here. We're staying super busy, but we're not teaching as much as I want to - but that will come in time and learning the area. I'm kinda getting the area down, but it's taking a lot of time!
This last week I went on 2 exchanges - 1 was in Lapeer with Elder Hansen, and that was ok. The other one was in Lake Orion with one of the zone leaders, Elder Fogth - with him, we biked between 24-25 miles in around 9 hours. My legs are still killing me and that was on Wednesday & Thursday. But it's all good, the rain kept us cool as we were biking, and I lost 4 pounds, so that was the upside, I guess. :)
Well, I gotta get going. We have apartment inspections next week, so we have some major cleaning to do! Haha.
Love you guys! Stay safe and be good!
Peace out ~
Elder Nye-Nye Jones
Oh, P.S.... we had a baptism yesterday!! You'll see it in the email, but just thought I'd let ya know. :D
Monday, June 20, 2011
6.20.11 email
Hey there, how goes it! Everything is going well here. Been a busy week with exchanges and meetings but we're managing it!
We actually had an awesome week, the high point would definitely have to be my first baptism!!! Her name is Terri Smith. Her husband Billy baptized her and she's asked me to confirm her next week in Sacrament, so I'm looking forward to that.
But I had a busy week. 2 Exchanges, one in Lapeer and one in Lake Orion. They were fun for the most part, I'll let Mom fill you in on the blog if you wanna hear more about those, haha. I just don't feel like typing today! {Mom's note: I'm assuming the stories will be coming in this week's letter, which should arrive on Wednesday or Thursday.}
Zone conference was awesome! I got to meet some of the new Elders that came in last transfer, there are now I believe 5 Elders from Idaho, which is sweet! Way to represent!!
Well, I think that's about all. Hit me up. Peace out!
We actually had an awesome week, the high point would definitely have to be my first baptism!!! Her name is Terri Smith. Her husband Billy baptized her and she's asked me to confirm her next week in Sacrament, so I'm looking forward to that.
But I had a busy week. 2 Exchanges, one in Lapeer and one in Lake Orion. They were fun for the most part, I'll let Mom fill you in on the blog if you wanna hear more about those, haha. I just don't feel like typing today! {Mom's note: I'm assuming the stories will be coming in this week's letter, which should arrive on Wednesday or Thursday.}
Zone conference was awesome! I got to meet some of the new Elders that came in last transfer, there are now I believe 5 Elders from Idaho, which is sweet! Way to represent!!
Well, I think that's about all. Hit me up. Peace out!
~ Elder Jones
{Mom's other note: Elder Jones attached 7 photos to his email, but didn't explain any of them... so if you're confused, ask him! LOL}
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
6.15.11 letter
Family! 6/13/11
How's it going?! I hope everybody liked what they got in the package! I'll get something for Emily soon, I promise!
Everything is going good here! We had an adventurous last week! Went on an exchange with the Burton elders and got 23 lessons. Next week will be better!
We didn't have the scheduled baptism yesterday like I thought we would, but we should have at least 1, if not 2, next Sunday! I'm so excited!
Anyway, how's everybody? Excited for school to be out? How's work going for Dad? Did Brett find a job yet?
P.S. to Dad - HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!
An idea for summer would definitely have to be the zoo! I never made it there, so you guys definitely should!
Hope you guys liked my story about the shooting! But don't worry - we're safe. :)
I wish I had a stinkin' CD player for the apartment; it's driving me crazy to just sit here in silence!
Tell all of the MOFia members I said hello & I hope they are all doing well.
Well, I gotta get goin'! Love y'all!
Peace out ~
Elder Jones
{Taffi here... the sticker on the back of the envelope was a checklist that said, "Please send more... / / Money / / Cookies / / Letters / / Anything" and he'd checked off the 'Anything' box... so I'm sending a package today - please feel free to send him letters, too! Let me know if you need his address! :D }
Monday, June 13, 2011
6.13.11 email
Hey there! It's been a fuuuun week! hahaha
I'll start from the beginning!
- Monday we went to Forman Mills and I got some what the store guys said, "thug threads." Haha I just got a couple hats!
- Tuesday we just had lessons and a pretty bland day.
- Wednesday I had a meeting then had an exchange with one of the Burton Elders, Elder Morris, and that carried me into Thursday.
- Thursday I finished the exchange and just had more lessons. We also tracted some of the not-so-good part of town (the ghetto).
- Friday was pretty normal, just lessons and tracting.
- Then.....on Saturday we were driving on Welch and Dupont, stopped at a light, and I heard a loud POP! I kinda looked to the right and saw this car drive by real fast, then I looked behind us about 20 yards back, and saw this 16-17 year old kid like ninja jump off this porch, bring up a gun and squeezed one (shot) off!! Haha so I slumped down in my seat real fast and turned around and looked and he pulled the trigger two more times shooting at the car, and that's when I yelled GO! GO! GO! GO! and we had to wait for one more car to move and we drove off. We parked like a half block away and looked and saw the kid running after the car towards a gas station with gun in hand!!! He was shooting parallel to us at the black car that drove by us real fast. Once it was done, we prayed and thanked Him, and went on with our day. You hear gun shots all the time here, but usually not that close. So that was exciting! Hahaha good way to break up the routine!
- Sunday we went and stopped by an investigator, and there were some thugs sittin' outside and were like "Y'all Mormons?" and I said "Ya" and he was like "Oh OK, don't worry 'bout us then, we ain't wantin' to go to hell today! Man I'm even Muslim and I don't wanna go to hell!" I started laughing and said "Man, I respect that." Then we had a little discussion and said he'd call if he had any more questions! But what Mom's friend said is right, they respect us and actually watch out for us, because we are, in their eyes, "God's people" and they'll do anything to help us out.
So yeah, was a pretty interesting week. I really do love everybody I meet here! It's God's way of showing me that we can make friends in whatever situation we might be in.
Here's a good quote that I got and I want to share it with you all :)
“Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger men. Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers. Pray for powers equal to your tasks. Then the doing of your work shall be no miracle, but you shall be the miracle.” –Phillips Brooks
Just thought I'd leave that with ya! You all be safe out there! Peace out ~ Elder Jones
Here's a good quote that I got and I want to share it with you all :)
“Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger men. Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers. Pray for powers equal to your tasks. Then the doing of your work shall be no miracle, but you shall be the miracle.” –Phillips Brooks
Just thought I'd leave that with ya! You all be safe out there! Peace out ~ Elder Jones
Thursday, June 9, 2011
6.9.11 package
We received a package from Elder Jones today! In it we found several things he wanted us to store for him, some ties that need repaired, and some gifts - a really sweet backpack for Brett, a fun not-yet-to-be-named gift for Dad for Father's Day, and for Ben... a harmonica. (Yikes!) There were also some mementos from his trip to Hell, MI - I had to share! I put it up on the wall by his other mission stuff :D
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
6.6.11 letter
6/6/11 (hey, it's a date!)
How's it hangin'?
Everything is goin' good here. As you guys know, I got transferred. I'm now in an area called "Super" Flint. It's both the Flint North & Flint South areas combined. So, it's just me & Elder Mortenson, and thus far, it's crazy! We only taught 19 lessons this week, but we were busy with service & meetings and such. I hope this next week will be better.
This letter is probably gonna be short. Fair warning. :)
Um... I have only seen 2 drug deals so far, and only heard like 5 or 6 gunshots. :) Haha. It's all good, though. No one here will mess with us. Everybody out here knows who we are and what we do.
Whenever we pass by someone or vice-versa, they will say, "Praise Jesus!" or "Praise the Lord!" So that's always fun! I've learned a ton of slang already. It's funny!
Hopefully we will have a baptism this next Sunday. His name is Mike M. I really hope that he doesn't fall through!
Hey, do you guys remember the Myers that lived on Birch, next to Coral? The thought came to me this last week to try to get a hold of them. Is there any chance you could possibly get their address for me?
I have a package waiting for me at the post office. Random thought - but yay! :)
OK, so I think that's all.
I love you guys! Peace out.
~ With hugs and kisses,
Elder Nye-Nye Jones
Monday, June 6, 2011
6.6.11 email
Hey there! How are y'all doin'? Everything is going good here!
Flint is pretty big! It's pretty ghetto too and I love it! The people here are so open to everything it's awesome! Everyone out here knows who we are and what we're about so they're all like "Praise the Lord", or "Praise Jesus!". It's pretty funny. Their hearts are all in the right place.
So, I may have gave wrong info last week, haha. Elder Mortensen is from Aztec, NM. I might have said Arizona last week but I'm not sure.
The weather (I know, exciting right?!) is getting warmer.... like A LOT warmer. We hit 93 yesterday with I don't know how much humidity. So yeah, it's hot! Dry heat is A TON better than a wet heat. You just sweat constantly and you always gotta down a bottle of water, like on the hour! But I'm lovin' every minute of it! :)
Not much really happened this last week besides the crazy big town stuff. We didn't teach as many lessons as I would have liked but hey, it's all good!
Peace out!
Elder Jones
Friday, June 3, 2011
5.30.11 letter
Mom! & Family! :) 5/30/11
Hey there! How are y'all doin'? :D
Everything is going good here. So by the time you get this, you'll already know that I'm getting transferred! Hahaha! I'm excited and nervous at the same time. I hate packing. It's the worst thing ever created!
This last week has been pretty interesting. I'll start with today, Monday: Just a little while ago, we were ballin' it up and somehow the back ankle half of my shoe got stuck in the partition divider at the church. Well, I tried to run out of it without knowing I was stuck, and I pretty much fell on my face - and when I fell, I hit a folded-up table leaning against the wall, and it came down and hit me on the top of the head before the rest of me. So, that was fun. That's all for today. Well, yesterday, Sunday, first, the seminary kids spoke and Austin Douglas gave me a 'shout-out' with his fist in the air and head bowed. Then I stood in on a confirmation which was cool, Jacob Nyfeller is his name. Then we went to the Brooks' for dinner & ended up eating in the basement, watching the weather channel, listening to the tornado sirens go off! Ha! So, that was pretty fun! There was actually some pretty bad ones that hit Fowlerville, Cahocta and Cahocta Township. Those are the only ones I know of. Then... on Friday & Saturday I was on exchanges with Elder Welch... who is my 3rd cousin! Hahaha! I don't know if Grandma has told you or not, but yeah, he is Aunt Dean's great-grandson!I went to Hell with him, got some pictures. I just don't have any money to print anything off, haha. The blue card from the mission office isn't here yet. But, it's all good. This last week was ok, like, honestly we could have gotten 5 or 6 more lessons than what we did, I just wanted to tract. So we only finished with 31 lessons. I know that sounds like a lot, but we could have done more.
Well, I gotta run. We're going to a barbecue! I love you guys!
Oh, and I'll be sending a package soon, I just don't have any money to send it with, lol. :)
LOVE
YOU
ALL!
~ Peace out!
Elder "NYE-NYE" Jone$ <-- ha ha :D
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
5.31.11 email
Hello all! How was the holiday!?
Everything is good here in Michigan.
So.... I WAS transfered!!! I am now in a city called Flint. The area was Flint North and Flint South, but they combined it, so it's huge!!! So here's my new addy... in case any of ya wanna write meh...
{email Taffi if you'd like the new address!! :) }
My new comp's name is Elder Mortensen. He's from Arizona and he's been out for almost 16 months. He's really cool, so I'm lookin' forward to serving with him.
This last week has been crazy!!! Crazy as in busy and all the other ways it could be taken! Let's start with last week... exchanges with Brighton, tornado warnings in all of my area, I know of at least 3 that touched down, but it's all good. Then on Monday, I got knocked out playing basketball, long story hahaha but you can get the details from Mom's blog that she has set up for me. I'll have her send the link when she gets this... right Mom? LOL {FYI, this is all the info I have on that story! I'd love to get more details if anyone has any! LOL} and then today I got transferred! So yeah, fun week!! Oh and on top of all that, guess how many lessons we taught? No, no, no, guess... hahha 31 is the total on that one. And the weird part is, is that we could have gotten at least 5 or 6 more lessons than what we did. I hope this area will be just as fruitful! :)
Well I gotta peace out, the library is busy and we are limited to a half hour today! Peace out, homies!
Elder Jones
{and in response to some questions I'd emailed him about the weather...}
Everything with the weather is fine. We hid out in a member's basement while the storm went over us... it only uprooted like 15 trees that I saw and took out a lot of fences and lawn stuff. Fun! Ha.
I sent out a letter to you and to Brett. I'm putting my trust into Elder Wenzel to send a package to you guys.
I can't wait for the debit card. I've been living off the reserve cash fund, haha... as soon as I get the card I'll be pullin' out more to make another reserve fund!
Next week I'll print off some pictures for you guys!
Here are a few pics, I'll get more next week, k? This is me in Hell and some pics of a random barn somewhere in the sticks. Gotta go! Bye!
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