Ol' Van Horn, Texas

 

ヤッホー！

This week was so sweet! We went on exchanges with the Ft Stockton elders and drove to this town in our area that's about 100 miles away.

The day before we went, Jeff Bezos was there and did his little space trip! We could've given old Jeff a Book of Mormon! Man that would've been sweet. Anyway we saw a lot of miracles there, and I got to bike a lot which was fun. We even ran into a guy that worked on the space project. Such a neat time.

We had some awesome spontaneous service that ended in us having a free lunch that we can go get whenever. So that was sweet. Then there was a little district party for all the branches down here, that turned out pretty fun!

Most of our people have had some things going on in their lives, so it's made it hard to meet up with them, but it's ok!

Happy Olympics by the way!!! I'm dying to watch them, but I'm trying not to get distracted by them haha, who knows, maybe I'll see some leftover merchandise when I get there ;)

"May we reflect personally on what we can do to eliminate contention from our own lives as we embrace the Olympic ideals of excellence, friendship, and respect." President Nelson

またね！

Chilling with Elder Peterson

Some sweet posters

The mural

cool abandoned building

Party time

 

Pro basketball players

どうもジョーンズ長老です！

*Ok I'm gonna shoot you guys straight... this is last week's email, so you're gonna get 2 haha. I was waiting for permission to use the picture and I forgot to send it :)*

I've pretty much been to more parties on my mission than I ever went to at home haha.

On Monday night we got invited to this sweet party at an outdoor restaurant for a pro basketball player who is close to the lady who was just baptized! It was a good time, some really... good... live music haha.

Then on Thursday, we got invited to a birthday party! It was at the district president's house and it was a blast. Lots of legal complexities (children) though. It was funny because there were lots of members there, but the food was catered, and we were looking at some cups of mysterious liquid and asked the guy what it was. He said sweet tea and non sweet tea... so we walked away haha. Those are our 3rd and 4th parties out here so far!

The people we are teaching have had a lot going on, and it's made things a little bit difficult, but we still had lots of powerful and spiritual lessons. It's so fun to watch people progress and change or even just understand the message we share. Miracles happen everyday in our lives, and prayers are always answered. Sometimes you just need to look and listen closely.

またね！

Isn't bingo gambling?

 

Good ol Texas sunset

ヤッホー皆さん！

Well that's the last week of the transfer in the books, and it looks like I'm sticking around with Elder Wilie for another one!

We got to do a lot this week, giving blessings, teaching new people, a bunch of service, it was great! We got a call from some lady who works at the senior center and she said the missionaries used to come help with bingo, so we're doing that now! My voice was pretty dead after calling out those numbers for 'em, but it was quite a pleasant time.

We got to do some family history recently, and it has led to a lot of members and nonmembers asking us to do it with them too! Family history is so important to Heavenly Father's work. The promise that "the hearts of the children shall be turned to their fathers, and the fathers' to their children" is real! God needs us to help our ancestors, so that they can one day live with him forever. I invite you all to do a little family history this week!

またね皆さん！

Driving like the mom from Ponyo

 

A little joke we made because we were taking care of the facebook page a lot

こんにちは皆さん！

This week was pretty eventful, I guess. We had a lesson about 30 minutes out of town, and then we had to drive in a super intense storm, which was pretty scary at night haha.

We had a pretty good amount of lessons this week too, but unfortunately a lot of them didn't go through. It kept us pretty busy still, so that's good. 

Happy Fourth of July by the way! This opportunity to serve in Texas has definitely given me way more of a chance to appreciate this country, and the blessings that come from living here. I wouldn't have gotten the chance if I didn't come here!

I've been thinking about pride a lot this week, it really is just the worst haha. It leads us to take offense, make mistakes, and stop progressing. So I'd invite you all to think about how you can choose to be humble, even when those around you aren't!

さようなら！

My new study sheet 

Lightning and thunder

Goodbye to my first Zone Leader

 ヤッホー皆さん！

We had a lot going on this week! This was rodeo week here in Pecos, which if you didn't know, claims to be the home of the first rodeo. Not sure if it's true, since there are other cities that say the same thing, but Pecos is better so I'm going to say it's true. Anyway we got to walk around during the parade and hand out tons of pass along cards. It was a pretty good time!

We had a bunch of lessons this week, and it was pretty hectic, trying to juggle it all haha. I finally understand that whole "so many blessings there won't be room to receive them" thing

Remember to love others, share what you have with others (especially the gospel), and invite them to come closer to Christ! 

またね！

Parade

Dont worry Leslie I'm eating well

バプテスマ！

 

BAUTISMOOO!!

どうもジョーンズ長老です！

This week was sweet! Judy-Ann got baptized and confirmed this weekend. She's just the neatest lady, she was so prepared for it and changed so much over the course of her being taught. It's not an experience I'll soon forget.

That was probably the biggest thing this week, but we had a lot of mighty miracles, and some tough discouragement. Watching people understand the gospel is a different experience than anything else in the world, and it's taught me a lot about what this Gospel really is, and the people it helps us become. "The greatest opportunity we have in this life, I believe, is to share the message of the Gospel.... You don't have to join the church to be a convert to it, and you shouldn't have to join the church to be a convert to it... [Conversion is] a spiritual witness for the member and the nonmember alike." -Bill Carpenter

またね皆さん

Wild Goose Chase

 

こんにちは皆さん！

We had a lot going on this week for sure. We had zone conference, which is always a great time. The only sad part is that this is the last transfer for all my first leaders. They're all most excellent people.

We spent the rest of that day driving all over the city, like a wild goose chase, just trying to find a place that could get us a passport photo for my visa stuff. We drove back and forth to so many different places, it was frustrating. But after a few days I got all my visa stuff in and it's off my mind.

We got invited to a super old member's birthday party this week! Her nonmember daughter in law, who we've only talked to once, invited us so that was exciting. We got to talk to a member who hasn't been to church in a while because of work, but he told us his story and it was sweet. Christ's Atonement is open for everyone and this church has a place for every single person. Working with those who have stepped away from the church is such a testimony builder for me. We all have a chance to come and see, come and stay, and come and belong. 

Not too may pictures this week, but anyway 

じゃあね皆さん！

Chopsticks Judy-Ann gave us from her trip