Monday, October 24, 2011

La Ùltima Carta

Dear Family,

Hey everyone this is it. I`m not sure if I`ll have a Pday next week so I`m going to make this my last letter. I leave Artigas next Wednesday night. I get to Montevideo Thursday morning. We go straight to the mission home and have lunch with President and Hermana Heaton. After that we go to the temple. After that we have a testimony meeting. Somewhere in that time President will interview all of us. We should have a few other activities too. I`m not sure. We leave for the airport at 8. My flight leaves at 10:15. These changes are different because President has a conference in Buenos Aires. We usually have two days in Montevideo. I don`t know if I`ll have a lot of time to buy stuff but send me some money anyways. I`ll grab something at the bus station. A hundred should be fine. Maybe a little more just in case I have airport fees. Gracias.

Well I `m having a baptism this Saturday. Her name is Miriam Severo. She will be a great member. She has gone through a lot to get baptized. As usual, Satan has been working a lot. The last two Sundays she`s had to walk to church because her motorcycle wouldn`t start. It worked fine throughout the week and then came and it just happened to not start. That didn`t stop her though. She just walked. She`s super excited to get baptized. I`m super happy for her. It`s been great teaching her. I met my goal. I said I would baptize my last weekend and I`m going to do it. We also have a lot of other investigators who will get baptized in November. We have two Aaronic Priesthood age investigators ho have dates for November 4th. Their names are Jacinto and Isaac. Their older brother is already a member. Their mom and dad are going to get married so they can get baptized as well. Then there are Marìa and Carlos. Marìa is doing great. Carlos is struggling a little bit. He says he doesn`t have a desire to go to church right now. We`re working with him though. We`re having an FHE tonight with the stake president and his family, and we`re hoping that he goes. All we can do is jeep invithng him and let the Lord do the rest. Everyone is doing well. This area will have a lot of baptisms next change.

So I`m not exactly sure what to say now. This all so weird to me. I remember everyone telling me that before I knew I`d be on the plane heading home. I didn`t believe that before but I believe it now. It`s really weird. These two years have been the best. The mission has been the best experience ever. I`m so grateful that I was able to come to Uruguay and teach the gospel. I have learned so much. I have seen people change as they embrace the gospel. One family in particular is the Moreno Family. We went through alot to get them baptized but they finally took that step of faith and now are completely converted. They share the gospel with everyone. I hope to be able to come back here when they get sealed. One thing I`m going to miss alot is wearing my name tag. I wear it with pride every day. I`ll miss being able to work full time in the work of the Lord. It`s so tiring but so awesome. There were defenitely hard times. There were times when I wondered, "Why?" In the end, however, everything always worked out. I love this work. I have loved representing the Savior. I can`t describe in words how much I have enjoyed being here. Know that I have really tried to be a good missionary. I tried to honor the Lord. I tried to do my best. This week will be the best week of my mission. I`m going to work my comp and myself to death.

I have no doubt that this is the work of the Lord. He leads it. He helps us. This is His church. Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer. He lives. Our Heavenly Father lives. He loves us. I felt His love in very special ways. I love my Heavenly Father and His son Jesus Christ. I love testifying even when people don`t listen. I love sharing the Book of Mormon with everyone. I know it`s true and that it has the power to change lives. The gospel is the answer to everything. It doesn`t matter how hard the trial is. We can always succeed. I know that through Jesus Christ we will be perfected some day. We can all return to live with our Heavenly Father again. This is the true Church.

I want to thank all of you for your support in these last two years. It really helped me. Thanks for the letters. Thanks for the advice. Thanks for everything. I love you all so much. There is no other family that I would rather be with than this one. Thanks again.

Umm next week at the airport please record everything because I want to remember that moment always. Invite anyone to the airport. The more the merrier, right? Also can someone copy and paste the letters that I sent home. I want the ones I sent and the ones I received. Gracias.

Well I guess that`s about it. I`ll see you all next week. I love you all.

Love,
Elder Ethan Jones

Sunday, October 23, 2011

I`m sad

Dear Family,

Well I`m not sure what to think right now. It feels really weird to be in this situation. Everyone keeps reminding me that I`m finsihing. It`s really getting annoying. I really feel sad because I waited for the mission for years and it finally came and now it`s two and a half weeks from being over. You were all right. The mission ends before you know it. Oh well that`s life. However these last two weeks are going to be great. I will be having at least one baptism my last weekend in the mission. It`s a lady named Miriam Severo. Her two daughters got baptized almost a month ago. I was so happy to see her at church yesterday. Everything is going well here. The ward is getting really excited. I really don`t have anything else to report.

I have a few requests. I can a get a little more money? There is nothing to buy here in Artigas, I`m going to have to buy stuff in Montevideo and it`s a little more expensive there. Also I hope that there will be a lot of cereal waiting for me when I get home.

That`s really it for now. I don`t know what else to say.

Love,
Elder Jones

Hey Family

Dear Family,

Well it looks like I`m already picked on to give talks and I`m not even home yet. Where`s the justice? Dad, I think that you being in the stake presidency might not be such a great thing. Haha. Oh well. One thing I`ve learned on the mission is wingin it. I remember in my sixth change, I was asked to give a talk an hour before sacrament meeting started. I had about ten minutes to get it ready right before sacrament meeting started. At least this time I have more time to prepare. Ummm can someone put an announcement on my Facebook account telling all my friends that I`m speaking on the 13th. I would greatly appreciate it.

So the work is progressing right along here in Artigas. We had a great week last week. We worked like locos. I`m enjoying every minute of the mission because it`s going to be over too soon. I hope my comp doesn`t mind if I work him to death. We`re seeing a lot of miracles here. That`s something else I`ve learned on the mission: there are miracles everywhere. Yesterday we had three of our investigators go to church. The first two are Juan and Mònica. They were defenitely prepared by the Lord. From the first lesson we had with them last Tuesday, they were completely commited to do everything we asked them. They went to church by themselves yesterday. There starting the process to get married. They do everything. They even made us food. We had to take it home though because we were fasting. It`s pretty fun teaching them because Mònica speaks a mix of spanish and portuguese. I get to learn spanish and portuguese at the same time. The other investigator that went is Marìa. She`s great. She`s just waiting to get divorced from her first husband so she can get married to the man she`s living with now. His name is Carlos. They should be getting baptized in November. Satan is really, really, really, really working against them. Satan always attacks the strongest ones the most. But with the Lord`s help, we`re going to get them baptized. We`re also teaching a teenager named Fernando. He`s awesome. He couldn`t make it to church yesterday because he didn`t have any shoes. This sunday he`s going though. He already wants to leave and work with us so I guess you could say that means he`s pretty commited to getting baptized. As of now, I will be having at least one baptism my last weekend on the mission. That was my goal and it`s going to happen. So ya. That`s what`s happening here.

So the Black River trip sounds good to me. Which part are we going to? Are you going Nathan? If you do, you, the Bishop, and I can speak in spanish and no one else will understand.

Someone tell Robert congrats. That`s great that he got his mission call. I know Mark Cooley is in Houston but I think he`s in the Houston South Mission. Colton Jones is there as well but I think he`s in the Houston South mission as well. Maybe they`ll see each other. But ya someone tell him congrats. I`d do it but I can`t.

That`s too bad about baby Briana. It is very good to know that death is not the end and that we can be together forever. Knowing that, Bobby and Kaylene will get through this trial just fine. I`ll be praying for them for sure.

Well I guess that`s just about it. Oh ya Mom were you able to start printing out the letters? Did you get that email I sent you? Also could you send just a little more money? I want to get stuff for everyone. Gracias. You`re all awesome. Thanks for all that you do for me.

Love,
Elder Jones

AWESOME CONFERENCE

Dear Family,

Well let`s start with General Conference. In one word: AWESOME. There were a lot of different topics and they were all good. Maybe it`s just the missionary in me but I love General Conference. I`ve been looking forward to it for the last month. I did see all the sessions. I watched the Priesthod Session Sunday morning because it was 9 Uruguay time and at 9 we`re supposed to be in the house. I had to watch that session in Spanish because they only recorded it in Spanish. Good thing I understand spanish. It was thinking that this was my last General Conference in Uruguay. It was a good conference to leave on though. I hope you all enjoyed it too.

What else? To answer your question yes I did stay in the same area. I just have a new comp. We have a lot of work to do here this month. We set a goal of five baptisms this month so we have to do a lot to meet that goal. It`s going to be great though. We`re trying to find some new investigators. This week is important because they have to go to church this Sunday and every other Sunday this month so they can get baptized. We`re going to work like crazy this wek so we can get everyone to church. That`s the update there.

So everything sounds good back home. Did Robert get his mission call yet? Make sure to tell me when he does. Ummm how`s school going? Has the job market improved yet or am I going to be jobless? Any new callings in the ward? Say hi to Tyler for me and find out why he neve wrote me.

I know that my letters have been short lately but I really don`t have much to say. Just know that the mission is going well and that this last month will be great. Thanks for everything.

Love,
Elder Jones

Change 16 of 16

Dear Family,

Well change number 16 of 16 is now starting. Oh boy! I`m pretty nervous. I`m getting a new comp. His name is Elder Ponce. I have no idea who he is. All I know is that he`s now starting his fifth change. My plan is to not let him find out that this is my last change. It`s going to be a little hard but I`m try and make it work. I`ll also be a district leader again. I hope my new district is as good as the one I have right now. We ended up having 19 baptisms as a district. We had 30 as a zone and 120 in the whole mission. The work as always is moving unhindered. We`re giving our best effort and the Lord is helping us. It`s great being part of such a great mission. By the way mom, you`re right. I have nothing negative to say about the sister missionaries. They really work hard. My comp and I had a great week last week. Three of our investigators got baptized. It was a miracle that they all got baptized. Their names are Victoria and her older sister Paola. The name of the other is Carlos. It was a really good baptismal service. Last night we taught Carlos` little brother Fernando. We gave him a date for October 21st. Even better is that Carlos is talking with his friends about the Church. Last night he asked us for some pamphlets to share with them. What else is happening? Oh Paola`s and Victoria`s mom has a date as well for October 14th. On top of that we have a lot of other good investigators who are progressing right along. This last change will be a week short so that means I have a lot to do. It`s going to be a great change. I have a feeling that it`s going to be a little hard too but I like a good challenge. I have a little over five weeks to have more baptisms and I want baptisms in my last change. It`s going to be a great last change. I`m super excited.

When I read your letter mom there were a lot of names that I didn`t recognize so I guess that means that there will be a lot of new people to meet. It`ll be fun to meet them all. By the way someone say hi to Tyler for me and tell him "Portate bien". Also if anyone sees Ryan again tell him hi. Can someone find out if I `ll be speaking in church on the thirteenth because if I am someone needs to post that on Facebook so all my friends can go. By the way if you didn`t get the hint in my last letter I want my old room back. Also can I get some more money sent to me? I`m looking for stuff to buy. I bought a machete in Brazil today. It`s pretty awesome. I plan on going there a few times this change because it`s cheaper there. I would greatly appreciate it. Gracias.

Well that`s all for now. Have a great week everyone. Thanks for everything.

Love,
Elder Jones

Hey

Hey everyone,

What`s up? I got the picture of the new stake presidency. Nice suit dad. Well from what I`ve read, a lot of stuff has happened in the stake. Good times. Lots of new people to meet. Yay! So mom when are you going to get put in a stake posotion? I`m sure you`de love that. Keep that in mind dad. So am I going to be President Johnson`s second missionary realease or is someone else going to get home before me? Well dad I hope you have lots of fun in your new calling. Just think only a few more years. Haha.

Cool well moving on. Artigas is doing great. My district is baptizing like crazy. Last Saturday and Sunday I did five baptismal interviews. All of the them were for the Hermanas. They are baptizing machines. In the last two weeks, they`ve baptized eight people. They`re baptizing one more this weekend as well. On top of that interview, I`ll have three more to do for the other two companionships in my district. In short, I`m very happy because my district is working really hard. Thye`re showing the Lord that they`re willing to work and He is giving them people to teach. They`re all pretty awesome missionaries.Tomorrow is our last district meeting. This change has flown by super fast. I`ve learned a lot.

Umm can someone tell Aunt Jabice to tell Robert that I won`t be speaking in church until November 13th. He wrote me today and said that he already bought a ticket and will be in Mesa from the third to the tenth. He needs to stay a little longer so he can be at my homecoming. Oh and about the the whole sleeping thing. I say that the guests can sleep on the couch and I`ll stay in my room. Just kidding. I`ll take my old room again and when anyone shows up, I`ll just take the couch. That`s what I always used to do.

Well that`s it for this week. There really isn`t anything else to report. The work continues and that`s all that matters. Have a good week everyone.

Love,
Elder Jones

Hey

Dear Family,

So apparently a lot has happened back in Mesa. So Mesa South Stake still exists. That caught me by surprise because last week everyone told me that Mesa South was going away. I`m glad it stayed. I do have to admit that when I started to read your letter, dad, I thought you were going to say that you were called as stake president. I know you would have looooved that. They did snag ya though. I don`t know what it`s like to first counselor in a stake presidency but I bet it`ll be fun. Uncle Doug got put in the stake presidency as well. I think I know who this President Johnson person is. He was a bishop in Pueblo stake before, right? He`s a red head or something like that. Maybe I`m thinking of someone else. I`m also happy top hear that the wards are still the same, at least for now. I was super anxious the entire morning becasue I wanted to know how everything was going to turn out. Everything turned out great. Have fun this week dad with everything you have to do.

Ummm well the work here continues. One of the zone leaders here is number hungry so he`s got me stressed out. I prefer to just let my district work the way that is best for them. Each area is different so I can`t really make them work in a specific way. In my first district meeting with them, we read the story of Enos because I wanted them to understand how we should be praying. I told them they need to talk to the Lord. I can give them suggestions but ultimately it`s between each compaionship and the Lord. That`s the way I prefer to work. I kind of wish that my zone leader would get that. Oh well, life goes on. Remember that Weston and Cameron on your missions. Talk with the Lord. It`s about people not about numbers. Right now my comp and I are trying to find the best way to work in our area. It`s a really small area and everyone has heard the missionaries at least a thousand times. We`re talking with the Lord to figure what to do. Little by little we`re figuring out what to do.

Let`s see. Tomorrow is my last zone conference. I`ll be giving my final testimony. That`ll be really weird. I`ll give it in the same church where I gave my first one. I guarantee that when I go up to the front everyone will think, "He`s finishing his mission?" Everyone thinks that. We have to leave at 5:15 tomorrow morning because it`s in another city about 2 hours away. I`ll be getting up at about 4. It`ll be fun though.

Well I think that`s about it. I hope everyone has a good week. By the way my guess for Robert is that he`ll come here.

Love,
Elder Jones