Equally yoked

 

どうもジョーンズ長老です！！

Wow this week was so busy. We had to stay up late planning stuff and doing little tasks that had to get done so much. It was a really satisfying week, and I learned a lot, but not much time for 伝道 unfortunately.

-I got to do exchanges with my old MTC companion Elder Helms, and it was a lot of fun! We had some good times streeting, and met these two young fellas that had a blast with us. Hopefully they read the Book of Mormon and meet with us again!

-After that we drove up to Asahikawa and did exchanges there. Wow it was pretty! I ate some good ramen, had some fun housing and streeting, and all that good stuff. We had to leave early and head back to Sapporo, so that was too bad.

-We also got a new companion! And it gets better, he's Elder Raventos!! He's a such a good guy, most people reading this went to Westlake, so hopefully you know him haha.

-We had a family home evening at the Kinjo's house and a couple of our friends came. Hopefully they progress quickly!

There was lots of other stuff I did this week, but it's hard to know what to write from the week haha. I can say my faith is much stronger now than it was last week!

Hope you have a good one!

 

Bye Davis Chourou!

 

どうもジョーンズ長老です！

Well I just barely emailed a few days ago, but somehow a bunch of stuff happened these last few days!

-We had the other zone conferences and I got to translate for them! It was pretty stressful, but really fun! languages are so interesting

-Davis Chourou wanted to go streeting one last time after the last zone conference, so we went out in the rain and even though it was super cold, it was an enjoyable time

-After that we taught the mom of a recent convert and wow she's cool, definitely want to help her get baptized before I go home

-We got to eat sushi with President and Sister Kinjo that night as well, then Sister Kinjo made us breakfast the next day. She's such an angel

-Then Davis Chourou got released... luckily his parents came to get him, so we got to see him every once in a while throughout the week. I will miss him though

-We had a super fun sports night, then went back to old Miyanosawa for exchanges! It was fun to see the church and the apartment and some of the people again

-They also had a super good sports night there, and were able to give 2 Book of Mormons out! 

It was a good week. So so so busy, and probably this week will probably be busy too, but hopefully we'll have some good spiritual experiences

 

The Main Island!

 

ヤッホー！！

Last week was just so much fun! Learned a lot of good things that I'm really excited to apply this week. Its gonna be a good one I think :)

Anyway, here's a little rundown of my week:

-On p-day we went to this really cool park and they had a playground for kids, but it was fun for us too haha. Also I ran up this hill and had the most nostalgic feeling!

-We did some service by the temple! It's been so long since I've done a service project, so I was pretty happy

-It was the primary program this week! It was so cute haha

-We invited the mom of a recent convert to church and she came and had a great time! We also were able to set up a lesson with her for this week :)

-On Sunday night we flew down to Aomori, which is on the main island, and stayed in a hotel there! I love hotels, and it was so cool to see what it's like down south haha

-We had to learn how to use a bunch of audio recording stuff, and it's so cool to know that I can do that now haha. Elder Helms from my MTC district is so good at teaching about all that tech stuff

That was basically my week! We've been seeing a lot of progression with our people, so we're excited for the next couple weeks with them. 

Love you all!

"I love you, Mother,” said little [John];

Then, forgetting his work, his cap went on,

And he was off to the garden swing,

And left her the water and wood to bring.

“I love you, Mother,” said rosy Nell—

“I love you better than tongue can tell”;

Then she teased and pouted full half the day,

Till her mother rejoiced when she went to play.

“I love you, Mother,” said little Fan;

“Today I’ll help you all I can;

How glad I am that school doesn’t keep!”

So she rocked the babe till it fell asleep.

Then, stepping softly, she fetched the broom,

And swept the floor and tidied the room;

Busy and happy all day was she,

Helpful and happy as child could be.

“I love you, Mother,” again they said,

Three little children going to bed;

How do you think that Mother guessed

Which of them really loved her best?"

-Joy Allison

 

愛をあふれた者

 どうもジョーンズ長老です！！

Well hello there! I hope you all had a good week. It wasn't a boring week, but nothing particularly crazy happened, but I'll tell you some of the fun stuff:

-Had lots of good meetings this week, from which we got a lot of good finding approaches to try, so that's been fun to test those out

-We met this guy while streeting, who had just talked to some other missionaries the week before! They told us about this guy, and we just happened to run into him too! Maybe we'll teach and baptize him 

-We saw some cute little foxes one night haha

-no one showed up to eikaiwa, except this mom and her three little kids, so we played Legos with them and taught them simple English. So fun

-Taught this Buddhist guy, who kind of just ranted at us for an hour about Buddhist beliefs

-Had a Halloween party with a big kid's English class, which was really fun. Japanese kids are so. Dang. Cute.

-This old dude we are teaching that is really on the fence about baptism came up to Elder Davis who is going home soon and said "ah you're going home soon... too bad, I was thinking maybe I'd have you baptize me" half of it was a joke we think... but haha

Miracles are all around us! I hope each of you feel happy right now. I'm really grateful for how easy it is to feel joy as a missionary, but it really is possible for whoever, whenever! Just show your love to others, and you'll see :)

Bye bye!

 

Eye luggages

 

どうもジョーンズ長老です！

Holy cow this week was busy!

It was transfers, so there was a lot of traveling going on, which took up a lot of time, but it was fun enough! I've been getting so tired lately haha. Here are some highlights from the week:

-On Monday we went to Otaru for pday! I was so glad I got to go back at least one more time

-That night we went housing and this old guy let us in and we sat down to share the restoration with him. He had met with missionaries a long time ago, and still remembered them. He's a less active catholic haha

-On Tuesday we had to film another Christmas video with our district

-On Wednesday we were busy driving people around, but we got to teach English class at night and had two guys come who we're gonna start teaching the Gospel

-On Thursday there was a bunch of stuff going on for the missionaries that are going home, including a big testimony meeting that night, which was over zoom for anyone who wanted to watch. It was super powerful

-On Friday the returning missionaries went home, which was super sad. But that night we got 8 more! They are all pretty funny haha

-On Sunday we had stake conference! It was packed haha

-also our friend in my last area got baptized, and we got to go watch it in person. She's so sweet, I'm excited for her.

There was lots going on this week, but next week should settle down a bit, and we'll be able to do more missionary work. So I'm excited for that! 

New Assignment

 

Dear Brother & Sister Jones

 

It is our great pleasure to send you this important announcement letter of a new calling extended to your son, Elder Jones, I am certain that you will be delighted as you read a letter written by President Kinjo included in an attachment file.  May the Lord bless you and your family so abundantly!

 

 

 

日本札幌伝道本部

Japan Sapporo Mission

011-890-8140

 

東 姉妹

Sister Higashi 

 

______________________________________________________________________________________________

November 1, 2022
Jared and Leslie Jones
1765 Hidden Hills Road
Eagle Mountain UT 84005
United States of America

Dear Brother & Sister Jones,
It is a pleasure to inform you that your son, Elder Jones, has been called to serve as an
Assistant to the President. He has set excellent examples for the other missionaries by
demonstrating maturity and sense of responsibility and dedication to the work. As an
Assistant to the President, Elder Jones will have the opportunity to serve every missionary
in the Japan Sapporo Mission.
Missionaries in missions all over the world look up to their Assistants for guidance, counsel,
and assurance. In a sense, Assistants are the exemplary leaders of the mission. They are
constantly reaching out in loving service to bless the work and to build eternal friendships
of trust. In many days, they work extremely long hours and do so willingly. I feel Elder
Jones is ready to accept this opportunity and am confident he will faithfully fulfill this
significant responsibility.
Elder Jones’s knowledge of the gospel and his testimony have continued to grow as a
disciple of the Lord. I am confident that he will have many spiritual and exciting
experiences as he carries out this new assignment.
I will have the opportunity to work closely with your son over the next few months as we
travel to various areas and make decisions together. He will be fully involved in the
executive work of the mission. It is a blessing to have Elder Jones in Japan. We love him
and are grateful for the service that he joyfully gives. We commend you for your support.
Please continue to encourage Elder Jones’s efforts with supportive letters from home.
Warmest regards,

President Hiroshi Kinjo
Japan Sapporo Mission

Back and forth

 

皆さんヤッホー！！

This week was suuuper busy!! There was a little mix up with some stuff this week, so I had to go back and forth between Miyanosawa and my new area, Oyachi, a bunch this week! I was happy for the chance to work with Kobayashi chourou for just a little longer haha

Here's a little rundown of the week:

-On Tuesday I got taken back to Miyanosawa for us to film a Christmas video as a district, which was a really really good time. There are some funny missionaries here haha

-oh also my bike that I was using broke! Literally right after I left haha. At least I won't have to use it again 

-Wednesday morning I went back to Oyachi and we got lots done. We played spikeball with this random high school kid who was really nice! Then we talked to this sweet lady and her dog, those were two of the coolest people we talked to that day haha

-On Thursday I got taken back to Miyanosawa! We streeted by the big park here in Sapporo, and had this awesome college kid walk us to this sightseeing place and took a picture with us. Of course to send us that picture he had to exchange contact info, so now we can contact him again ;)

-after that we had dinner with a lady who used to serve in this mission! Her brother also served here not too long ago. It was great!

-on Friday we had a super spiritual zone testimony meeting! That was a good time

-Saturday was actual transfer, so now I'm in Oyachi for good! And wow its busy! But we've been having a good time with it.

-lately I haven't been able to understand people's Japanese very well, which has kinda been scary but hopefully after I settle in, I'll be fine!

Sorry this one was long! Thank you so much!!