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

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

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!

~ Elder Jones

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

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.

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!

~ 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

10.8.11 card

Received this today...

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

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!

Peace out all.

~ Elder Jones