11-16 Still in Florenca!

Dear Family,

This week has been great! Towards the end of the week we had one of the 3-day Brazil rain storms where the rain just washes everything in sight down the dirt roads into the rivers in the valley (aka jungle). The shoes are taking a beating. Elder Jack showed me a sweet store where he buys tougher shoes that are still comfortable for only 20 Reals!! He’s going to give me some stuff when he leaves including the shoes he’s wearing now which I think will fit!

This week we were walking in the valley and were passed by a van with a bunch of guys who yelled "what’s up man! Need a ride?!" followed by a roar of laughter. I wonder if they realize I think it’s hilarious too. I love making fun of myself. Elder Jack is going home in a week so he’s been dreaming of home while trying to finish strong at the same time. I can see him on his last string though...especially training me haha. I’m sure I sound like an idiot sometimes after his great teaching and then he will look at me and Ill take 5 minutes to explain our life on earth.... ok, its actually going pretty well. I’m learning a lot.

This week we found an older lady named Dona Maria. Dona is like “Mrs” in English and everyone out here has a first name of "Maria Rosario" so right now were teaching 3 people all named Dona Maria Rosario…it’s a joke. Anyway, Dona Maria is awesome! Whenever we teach her something new she sits there wide-eyed and you can just see her eyes glow.  When we first started teaching her they were dull and now she sits in her house and literally reads the Book of Mormon all day! It’s amazing. I had the great opportunity to baptize her on Sunday. Before her baptism we were teaching her and her daughter. Her daughter found it funny that we don’t drink coffee. After about 10 minutes of explaining to her why we don’t, she finally understood. She then came out with cola which we’ve been told by President we can’t drink either for whatever reason. Elder Jack looked at me and I looked at him and just laughed...how the heck are we going to explain this one to her. She probably thought we were so weird. And then we had to leave and cut it short to be home by 9.

Lunch yesterday was great…just the normal Brazilian lunch. I was pretty hungry so I was eating pretty quick. I looked down at my plate really quickly and found a chicken foot and leg…ohh the Brasilian surprises!

Yesterday Elder Jack and I were in Belo turning in the fichas… forms—to the office. I was planning on sending some letters off but turns out the city was shut down due to some random Brasilian holiday…hahah...it reminded me of not being able to go swim because of some random holiday at the JCC at home. Haha. It’s really hot here in Brasil— in case anyone didn’t know yet. It’s pretty ridiculous. The other day elder Jack and I had just finished lunch and we stuffed ourselves just to leave and find that it was incredibly hot outside and we needed to be somewhere pretty quickly. We felt like a couple drunk people trying to walk down the dirt road stuffed with the sun beating down on us. It’s this crazy feeling where you feel dizzy and stuff...kinda cool actually.

I love hearing all about the family back at home!! I miss everyone…Catie that’s awesome you’re doing so well with swimming. And Spencer and Davis sound like they’re beasting it up with football. That’s all over now...time to beast up the baseball field. Get it done this season!!! Sarah— great to hear you’re still doing great swimming and ballet. Mary I miss you too! I love to read Elizabeth’s never ending emails that take half of my email time too! Hahaa just kidding—they’re hilarious. Keep ‘em coming! I heard this week from Brady Johnson from SVU and Noah Christian. They are both doing great!! Oh, and dad—I got a letter that you wrote about a month ago that was send to Arcadia! It’s the one where you promised you’d give me the civic when I get back. I liked that one. I love getting letters—pretty soon here I’m only going to be able to go to the office every month or so maybe even longer because come transfers I won’t be with a district leader anymore so we won’t have to go to the office every week. That’s gonna suck, but it’s all good.  And I mailed those letters today that I couldn’t get off yesterday.

People make you eat like crazy here! Elder Jack said he threw up 3 times after leaving a few lunches when he first got here. Don’t worry I’ve learned quick though! The big trick is when you go to lunch you just get a tiny bit so then when the host tells you to go get your millionth serving of beans you don’t barf all over them. It’s good stuff.  We do an incredible amount of walking everyday. That’s pretty good excercize I think… I’ve been trying to go some plyometric stuff every night and crunches and pushups so I think I’ll be alright. I just gotta make sure I don’t get fat from all this bread and wheat here! The fruit is great too! It’s almost mango picking season!! There’s mango trees everywhere you look so I’m stoked to start picking them and eating them on the walk. I ike to buy lots since it’s pretty cheap here!

It’s so great to hear from every one of you!! Everyone keep working hard with school, work, baseball, ect. whatever it is. The Lord will always bless you as long as you work as hard as you can and you’re studying the scriptures and trying your best to live like Christ.  This week I’ve thought a lot about living right consistently. It requires a firm and sincere desire to be like Christ. I’ve been reading Elder Ballard’s book, Our Search for Happiness. It talks about the need to really love the Lord and then we’ll be alright because He will shape our life. It’s pretty awesome. I’m excited for transfers. There’s really no way I stay here in Florenca since it’s a zone leader area and there’s 4 people living in a 2 person house. I think Elder Bowerbank and I will be headed somewhere else. I’m excited to learn a new area and new people! Jonathan, it’s great to hear you’re doing great too!! I continue to pray for you as well!

Well that’s about all the time I have!! Love you all!! Have a great week!

Love,

Elder Jones!!

Elder Jones and the city of Florenca at night

With Dona Maria Rosario on her baptism day

Brazilian License Plate

Andrew's Brazil ID and some of his money.

The missionaries are livin' in style...

At the Mission Office

Short letter from 11-9-11

Dear Family and Friends,

This week flew by just like all the time has here so far— well like the entire mission actually. It’s weird to think that it’s already been 3 months...crazy. My companion Elder Jack is going home at the end of this transfer.  He keeps telling me that he is almost positive that President will make me a senior companion and will transfer me since this area is only supposed to have 2 missionaries but it has 4 now. I think elder jack and i already have 8 or 10 baptisms since being here1!! So crazy. 

Something I really missed on Halloween was picking apples with the family. That’s something that I loved doing every year. I loved just going with the family and eating those delicious apples. The fruit is really awesome and cheap out here but it’s not the same as those apple orchards! 

One of our investigators told us that she thought we were 30 this week which was pretty funny. She’s doing really well. We’re supposed to be baptizing her this Sunday but she’s being iffy. Elder Jack is really good with being firm with people and telling them that it’s really important. The outline that the president gives us to teach doesn’t even mention the Book of Mormon until after they accept baptism which is surprising to me especially when they stressed using it ASAP in the MTC. Weird…I think I’m going to put more emphasis on the Book of Mormon when I’m senior companion and ask President about it. 

The work is still going great though! Christmas lights do actually exist in Brazil…it’s pretty funny. They’re just at random places and today I saw a Christmas store in the city. Today we’re in the city for our P-day because Elder Jack is gonna blow 400 Reals of stuff before he goes home (he says). So the whole 100 Reals a week allowance thing isn’t as much as I thought. Almost out…

We’re still working hard and the work is progressing. I miss and love everyone! This week I got 2 letters from dad and Catie and one from Derek. That was great to finally get mail in Brazil! Love everyone! Have a great week!

Letter from 11-2-11

Dear family and friends,

First off, I got emails from James Webb and Derek Dixon but the President has threatened to send us home if we respond to other people than our immediate family so tell them I wanted to respond but can just write letters, sorry! Tell James I give him a HUGE CONGRATS and that I’m beyond stoked. Elder Rios went to Curitiba. What mission exactly? Sooo sweet. This work is true and I will keep working hard to bring it to others.

Anyway, the mission is great. All is well.  I haven’t even got sick here so that’s pretty sweet. I love Brazil.

Letters take forever to get here apparently. Still haven’t received the one from dad. The office doesn’t forward the letters so we have to go pick them up at the office. Fortunately for us 4 who live in Florenca (45 min from Belo) we go to the office to drop off baptism forms for the zone since we live with 2 zone leaders. So we spend 7 bucks on bus tickets at least once a week. It’s all good though, they give us 100 Reals every 1st and 15th so that’s 50 Reals a week which isn’t as bad as I thought it would be.

This week was fantastic!! Jessica and Maria, two of our investigators, were excited to be baptized and we worked on teaching them all week. Two more investigators committed to going to church this Sunday to see the baptisms of Jessica and Maria as well as another family we’ve been teaching this week.

On Thursday we were up in Florenca across the highway we have to cross many times a day (I’m gonna be the worst with hitch hiking when I get home haha) and we were up high in the hills in an area where Elder Jack said he’s never been before in his many, many months serving in this area. I was surprised to hear that since he’s always pointing out people in the street that he’s baptized. Everyone seems to know him and I’m just the new missionary haha. But yeah so we’re up there seeing all kinds of animals...i’m pretty sure there were llamas like in Napoleon Dynamite but who knows…they have fruit here and animals that nobody knows about in the states.  As we’re walking through this narrow dirt road in the jungle there are random shack houses-which I’m getting really used to-and we finally get to the end of the road without any luck. At the last house on the hill in this jungle neighborhood type area, Elder Jack says "that’s a humble house" so I clapped my hands and we met a 19 yr old girl named Isa Marie. She came out to tell us that she had been waiting for the missionaries to come by so she could be baptized right when she saw us. She went on to tell us that her mother and father had been baptized by Elders that had passed by their little house 3 years ago. They had been forbidden to go back after those missionaries left and their dad went inactive. He threw all the Bibles and  Book of Mormons away that her mother had and her mother has gone into a depression ever since. They weren’t home at the time, only Isa. We sat down with her and we started the first lesson and she said she’d be baptized in 2 weeks after going to church with us on Sunday.

The next day we passed to meet with Isa Marie again and met her dad who was the only one home. He was incredibly rude and hostile towards both us and his daughter. It was probably a good thing that I could only understand a little bit of it. He told us that many missionaries have come by over the years and have all wasted their time with their family because they were "all Catholic"  and he explained that he didn’t like all the "rules" in the church. We explained to him that we had taught his daughter and she wanted to be baptized. He said he wouldn’t stop her from being baptized but that she only talked to us because we were "americanos." Elder Jack told him that we’d be back and we left after telling him to have a good day.

I don’t know all of Isa’s motives but when I taught the restoration I looked carefully in her eyes to make sure she was serious about it. As we left and gave her a Book of Mormon, she held it close to her heart. When Sunday rolled around we went to go pick up Jessica and Marie for their baptisms early in the morning and walked through the mud before 9 o’clock church. They had locked their house and turned off their phone and we haven’t been able to find them since. They were golden and suddenly did a 180. We’re going to try to find them later tonight. Anyway, every baptism fell through and the 2 investigators that committed to come to church weren’t home. We stood outside their houses one after another clapping our hands. That was really hard. It killed me. In Alma chapter 15 I think it is verse 23 it talks about Alma and Amulek and the anxiety they felt when people would procrastinate the day of their repentance. It’s truly a killer especially when you get to love them and they don’t follow through.

So we walk frustrated to the bus stop to meet some members waiting there and then Isa showed up which brightened me up a little. We showed her through the meetings at church and suddenly out of nowhere Elder Jack tells her after gospel principles class that she could be baptized that same day if she wanted to. She freaked out a little bit and so did I but then I realized she had already sat through the lessons with her mom and dad and been to church a few times a while ago. She said she had the desire (which is all the people in the Book of Mormon needed when they were baptized at the waters of Mormon) so all the missionaries in the ward scrambled to set up chairs and get an interview set up to see if she still remembered the lessons and everyone was throwing paper work around.

Elder Jack told me to go quickly change my clothes and get my white baptismal clothes on (which Elder Bowerbank was so kind to hem). I was a little nervous but confident with the prayer and had practiced it a lot. Right before getting into the water I asked her name. I’m pretty sure she gave me at least 5 or 6 names that i couldn’t pronounce. She was freaking out so I was trying to remain calm. She didn’t know it was my first baptism and that I had no clue what she had just said. I started the prayer and said her name and heard an "espera" or wait from Elder Jack behind me on the stairs. He then had me repeat her name as he said it and then I proceeded with the prayer and everything went great. It was exciting for me and her. She said she felt a lot better after the baptism and that she felt good. We’re going to keep teaching her. Her whole story is just one example of the miracles the Lord has prepared for us.

This work continues to amaze me. It’s still pretty frustrating to not understand the old people that talk a million miles an hour but have no teeth— but I’ll get there. It’s really hard to speak still too –especially about non-gospel related stuff.

Halloween was weird. I woke up and Elder Bowerbank said happy halloween. Nobody celebrates it here. The children knew it was Halloween but they don’t know what trick or treating is. Apparently Elder Jack says they don’t celebrate anything here haha. Not really even Christmas. Either way well be knocking doors to share a message – but not for candy… although some chocolate would be nice a break from rice and beans 24/7. haha man I love it here. I wish I had more time to tell you about my experience of reading in John chap 13-15 this morning and the spirit I felt when I read the words that Christ spoke to his disciples before being crucified. Read those chapters and relate and liken them to you. It’s amazing!

Love you all and hope you all had a great Halloween! Gotta run and buy groceries. Love you all!

Love, Elder Jones

First letter from Brazil:

Dear family who is worrying way too much about me,

This place is freaking sweet!! I don’t remember much about Venezuela but I’m pretty sure it’s a lot like it. Everything is going just great though!

So yeah, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday were long days…I got ok sleep on the giant plane. That thing was huge! I gave the Brazilian next to me the first discussion...He seemed interested a little and I gave him a pass-along card and the restoration pamphlet. But yeah so when we got to Dallas I saw Elder Wilson! I was stoked to see him and really happy cause he’s going to Belo too. Elder Clark (who I left with) was going to another mission so I was going to have to connect by myself. It was really nice to have someone else. He’s better at Portuguese too.

We finally got to Sao Paulo and the lady at the desk was trying to tell us that our flight to Belo had been cancelled. Finally, when we didn’t understand her, a young lady nearby came and helped us and translated. The Portuguese here is not even close to the Port. in the MTC. It’s crazy. Some words are even different. Some things that they taught us don’t even make sense here. But yeah so we finally took a bus to another small airport in Sao Paulo... a real sketchy one… where we took a plane to Belo. When we landed I saw Elder Bowerbank from the MTC! He was there with a secretary missionary. He told me that Elders Ercanbrack and Baker were in the office all waiting for us to get there too.  We finally got to the mission office in the middle of Belo (which is the only place where we can send and receive letters by the way). It was a really long walk with my luggage. President is awesome! He’s really strict and all about business. The mission here is completely different than the one in Cali. We don’t hand anything out and the structure of the lessons is completely different. We don’t even mention the Book of Mormon till the second lesson. It was weird at first but now I’m getting used to it. Anyway, President took us out to eat that night. I was pretty hungry along with the others since we didn’t really eat anything all day. He took us to a restaurant that just gave us TONS of meat…the first thing they brought out was chicken heart. It wasn’t bad...but weird haha. That night he interviewed us and assigned me to Elder Jack. We spent that night in the assistants’ apartment—that place was crowded and really messy. I was glad to be able to get out of there haha.

Once we got back to the mission office the next morning, Elder Jack came to pick me up along with his old companion, Elder Domingos, who was assigned to be with Elder Bowerbank. I live with all them now in a 2 person apartment haha. Elder Bowerbank and I sleep on the floor and keep our bags in a small study room. It’ll do for a transfer haha. We got right to work after about a 45 min bus ride to Florenca where I am serving. At first I was a little shocked but I’m getting used to the area and it’s becoming my home.

Ok now let me tell you about the people here. It’s amazing. They are so humble and open to everything you say. Even if they reject you they still listen to you a little bit…nothing like California.

It’s amazing! Elder Jack and Domingos are zone leaders. Elder Domingos doesn’t speak English but my companion Elder Jack is from Utah. He’s going home in 4 weeks at the end of the transfer. I think I’ll probably end up being transferred although I don’t want to be. The first 2 days I was here I saw 2 baptisms and we have 6 planned for this Sunday. Elder Jack and I fasted yesterday and have been praying hard that they will all come through. The retention rate is about 68 percent here. I don’t know if that’s good but Elder Jack claims it is horrible. He told me yesterday that I’ll probably be baptizing some this weekend. I need to get the baptismal prayer down. I’m pretty nervous especially because the names here are insane. They have like 5 first names that I cant even pronounce…

The language is pretty frustrating so far. I’m trying to stay patient… but I’ve only been here for a week. It’s coming pretty quickly and yeah, I’m learning a ton more here than if I were in the MTC. I need to work on the tenses more though as well as my vocab. People like to make fun of Elder Jack and I because everyone knows we’re white. People always call us Germans...it’s pretty much the kids in the street playing soccer. But yeah Florenca is awesome!! There’s only one paved street and the rest are dirt. It rained hard for like 2 straight days...i’m gonna buy a new umbrella because that one is too small and the water goes right through it haha. I’ve only wore my 2 pants that aren’t dry clean only since everything you wear gets mud all over them. Elder Jack told me he’d give me some of his boot shoes when he leaves and probably some pants. It’s all worked out so far. He says that mail takes like 2 to 3 weeks to get here and packages take months...

You are constantly wet here though...either drenched in rain or sweat. I have sunscreen too so I’ll put that on if I start burning…the sun is intense here. There’s lots of shade that we try to stay in for the most part though. I can understand some things…I usually can understand what people are talking about but it’s still really hard especially when people slur words together and talk really fast. But I’ll get there. Everyone, including the President, told me I’d get it down really quick…like 3 months… so I’m confident. It’s hard to study both the gospel and understand it while needing to study the language but it’ll work. This place is hilarious too. I love the kids in the streets. There’s like roosters that wake me up every morning and dogs, horses, ducks, ect. just running around the streets. People just walk down the street with bloody chickens haha. My filter in my water bottle is working good I think— I haven’t gotten sick. I need to eat more fruit though. I need to keep working out too…I think I’ve gotten real weak haha...I did some push ups last night but we just don’t have anything to work out with. I’ve eaten lots of weird stuff too like pig skin, ears, ect…it’s not as bad as you’d think. And beans and rice out here is not a joke—it really is for EVERY meal.

Good to hear from all of you. It’s supposed to get warmer soon so no I’m fine mom...i’ll just use my hoodie and stuff when it’s cold at night. I’m loving it here. My only worry here is that you are worried about me so please don’t. I get sick if I think you are worried about me because I’m perfectly fine. The lord has promised that I’ll be protected as long as I’m dong what I need to be doing. I love this work. I can feel the spirit so strongly out here. This is a humble people. The lord has blessed me so much to be teaching with them. It’s awesome. I witnessed a baptism the other day and it was amazing.

Love all of you lots. I love your letters, Elizabeth haha. Mom and Dad and everyone else, love you lots too. Hope everyone has a great week! I’m going to try to send some pictures! Talk to you next week!

ps I haven’t really been bit by any mosquitoes...i’ll let you know…

On his way to Brazil!

His companions in the CA, Arcadia mission

Florenca 

showing the love with a little graffiti...

Apparently it rains a lot

Elder Jones, Elder Jack, Elder Bowerbank, and Elder Domingos

On to Brazil!

We received Andrew's first letter from the mission field (Arcadia, California) this Monday.  He waits until halfway through the letter to nonchalantly mention that he will be flying to Brazil in less than 48 hours.  He has since made the 18 hour journey and landed in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, where he will be serving for the next 22 months!

Dear family,

Well here I am in the church building where I’m serving. We have an hour now to write emails and don’t have to listen to 2000 washing machines run behind me. man! Life is great out here! iIt's exactly what I expected. We’re constantly doing something. I barely ever get time to look at my watch or to think about time passing. I never even look at myself in the mirror. It’s all good anyway cause it's all about other people.  So yeah, I live in La Verne, just by a panda express by the big road called foothill road. I live in a really sweet shady area. Somebody got shot last week and there’s constantly helicopters flying overhead with search lights. Sunday something went down again…cops everywhere outside our door. They always just see us looking out the door reading our scriptures...hahaa… ohh man LA county is intense with the crime. But it's all good. You wouldn’t understand how safe we are. It’s incredible-people always talk about how we’re protected and whatnot and you can’t understand it till you experience it. The church probably gets a kick out of putting missionaries wherever they want because they know they’ll be alright. Everyone loves us and says hi to us. There’s nothing ever to worry about as long as you are working hard and being obedient. I love this place.

I’ve talked to lots of old people since being here and they all say that the smog is a LOT better than years ago. I guess they’ve got all kinds of new laws for businesses and whatnot. The air is still gross but apparently its a lot better. 

The main thing I realized when I got out here is the trees and landscaping. All the plants are sooo sweet. You know all those church movies like the testaments, ect with Joseph and Mary walking on the donkey past all those palm trees? That was filmed right here where I live in Pomona. Apparently there’s places up high in our mission where you can see all of LA and the ocean. My roommates all climbed Mt. Baldy a couple weeks ago. They said it was sweet. But yeah, so we’re constantly on bikes-its sweet. My butt and legs are finally used to it. I was a little sore after the first couple days but now I have an iron butt like in spongebob.

But yeah I serve in Claremont. That’s our actual area. Yeah, I’m in a threesome. It’s not too bad actually- it’s working out pretty well. It’s tricky to make sure you keep it simple and basic when you have 3 people teaching but it’s worked out pretty well. We’ve seen countless miracles. I found a lady on the street the other day and suggested we go talk to her and her son. Her name is Cassandra. She said that she’s looking for a church and has even told us now that she knows that God lead us to her for a reason. I gave her a run down of Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon and we came back and taught the first lesson the other day. She has been so prepared that it’s unbelievable. I asked her to be baptized on November 13th (after the first lesson) and she said yes of course. We just gotta keep teaching her. That’s just one example...2 days ago we stopped on Foothill rd. and asked a man how he was doing.  He said not too good and explained that he was trying to get somewhere where he lived and how he was hungry and only had 40 cents. Elder Suiter (my senior companion who is the best example and missionary ever) explained that were just poor missionaries but we could pray for him. He said he would like that so we took off our helmets right there and prayed and Elder Suiter said that as long as he had faith and had righteous desires that he would find a way to get home and get something to eat. Right after we said amen a few random boys walked down the sidewalk with a huge thing of donuts. We asked them for one and gave it to the old man and told him to have a good day and left. It was amazing. This stuff happens 24/7 out here. You realize when you are out here that you are truly doing everything in Christ’s name and that you are doing his work. You are doing what he would do if he were here. You begin to really understand that nothing is just an occurrence; the Lord’s hand is in everything. We’ve given out a good amount of Book of Mormons and taught tons of lessons that have gone pretty good. I’ve still got a lot to learn but I’ve got some time.

So yeah, the day we got here I arrived in the Ontario airport with about 25 missionaries- about 15 in our mission. The mission President and his wife who are awesome met us at the baggage claim. Then they took us to this amazing restaurant for lunch and we all introduced ourselves and spent the rest of the day meeting Brother and Sister Toole, and everyone else in the mission office. The whole day was boring and was hard to stay awake. Everyone had a interview with the president that lasted at least 30 min each. I was excited for mine and was last so I went in there and he shook my hand and said congrats you have your visa… apparently it came in while I was on the plane here...ironic. So yeah he told me to work hard and learn all I can before I take off for brazil Wednesday morning. I have to be at the arcadia stake center by 6:45 am and pick up everything and then its off from Ontario to Dallas to Sao Paulo and then I fly to Belo. It’s about 18 hrs of traveling...pretty intense. It will be long but I’m excited. The Portuguese has definitely not gotten any better since being here…I’ve been incredibly busy. It’s wake up, get to work, get home around 9:15 and get to bed. But yeah, I’ll be alright though. I thought they would have told you that I got my visa but it’s all good. So yeah looks like I’ll be calling Wednesday from the airport. Ohh and I’ll be traveling with Elder Clark!! (he’s the other old District Leader in the 33B branch from the MTC) so that will be sweet. It will just be us two. But yeah I said bye to Elders Kendrick and Wilson the other day who are both going to my mission so I said I’ll see you soon (hopefully). But yeah this is gonna be wild! I know the Lord wanted me here for a reason so I’m working my hardest so I make sure that I fulfill that reason. I now understand how time flies. I feel like I just got here and it’s already Monday. Crazy...

So yeah I live with 2 zone leaders, Elder Otter and Elder Pitt, who are hilarious but they work hard. My companionship is Elder Carpenter from Arizona who left for the MTC August 10th too and Elder Suiter who has been out a year. Elder Suiter is a great missionary and I’m learning lots from him. We’ve got a bunch of weight stuff in our apartment that he collected over the months on the streets… it’s actually really nice.  We use them every morning. But yeah our apartment is humble.. .the carpet is incredibly dirty…it’s hilarious. And man, does the Lord provide. I don’t have any food here at all cause we haven’t been to the grocery store and when you open up our fridge there’s like nothing in it but we are constantly fed. People are just constantly feeding us and keeping us full with great food. The palm trees out here are real sweet. I’m glad I was able to come out here first-it was real awesome. So yeah just be ready for me to call home on Wednesday at completely random times…I’ll call Elizabeth too.

Ok so yeah, that’s lots of what’s going on right now. I obviously can’t sit here and tell you everything. Just know that I’m completely cared for and that we’re preaching the gospel to our area like no other and we’re working hard and have probably biked over 400 miles in the last week. I’m constantly sweaty and everything but it’s great. This mission is pretty great. Ohh and quick cool fact… the mission president and his wife BOTH served here in the arcadia mission. They said that they don’t think that that had ever happened before where they send someone back to their mission like that. I have a pick of the mission pres and his wife and everything. I’ll find out a way to get that to you ...and I haven’t had the chance to take any pictures yet! I’ll definitely have to do that. Maybe with the palm trees and with my companions on our bikes with the mountains in the background or something. The sunset is unbelievable here and the afternoons are gorgeous - especially on bikes. We still sweat because we are peddling hard but it feels really good. There’s lots of low riders out here and all the Elders know about the Chino Sinners.  We’re going to eat dinner on Tuesday with a man who served 6 months in Belo Horizonte so I’m stoked to talk about it with him.

Anyways, sounds like Spencer and Davis are having a good time with football...make sure they’re still going to seminary todos dias.

Elizabeth- sounds pretty sweet…wish I could go on the white house tour…we almost did with Mr Rivera but got denied. Keep letting me know what’s going on! Can you tell everyone to now send letters to Belo!!?? just let everyone know I’m finally in Brazil!! Heck yeah. I’ll be there Thursday morning I guess but dang I’m sooo stoked. I’m not gonna understand NUNCA!!  But it’s all good because I’m excited to know nothing and hopefully learn fairly quickly. All is well. My testimony is as strong as ever and I love talking to everyone. There’s no fear when you fully understand what you are sharing with them.

  

Love you all! God speed.

Love, Elder Jones

Andrew's Testimony.

Andrew sent this home- he wants all his friends and family to know why he went on a mission:

I would like to share a few thoughts and principles of my faith that bring my all the joy that I have in my life.  I would like everyone that reads this to know that I know that we have a living and loving Father in Heaven.  He knows us by name. He cares about us.  He wants to see us succeed.  He loved you and I so much that He gave His perfect Son, even Jesus Christ to atone for the sins that we commit each day.  With Christ's atonement, I know that we are all able to return to live with Heavenly Father and His Son. It is only through Him that we are able to return.  This requires our humility, patience, and faith.  If anyone desires to know of the joy which I have felt in my life and feel so much now, as I have the opportunity to preach His gospel to the world, I would ask you with sincerity to please "excersize a particle of faith."  If this is your desire to come closer to Christ and know how you can have eternal life with your family after death, know that this is possible. Know that you are able to KNOW it. I know it because I sincerely prayed about the Book of Mormon. I have asked if the book and all that it is in it is true. We all, everyone on the earth, is promised a very direct promise that if we follow what the Book of Mormon asks in the last 2 paragraphs on the introduction of the book. Just as Joseph Smith testified that the promise is real, I too testify with all my being.  The Lord will reveal the truth of the book unto you IF you will only excersize a partical of faith by reading moroni 10:3-5 and the last 2 paragraphs of the introductions and if you will pray and ask your Father in Heaven if the book is true, ponder it in your heart and ask with sincerity. I know that this will change your life and the Lord will pour out His blessings upon you if you will only do these simple things. I know that He lives and you can too.

Love you all, God speed.

-Elder Jones

8/15/11- well hello there

After not hearing from Elder Jones for six days, we finally received two emails and a handwritten letter from him!  He is doing great.  The following letter is to all of his family and friends- enjoy! The other email was a request for Phillies stats... haha.

Dear Everyone,

I haven't even been here a week but it seems like I have been here for at least 3 weeks. Yesterday on sunday we had an awesome fireside which helped me a lot with my stress. It's been overwhelming but not discouraging. The language is coming quickly but with hard work.  I can pray and pretty much bear my testimony in portuguese as well have pathetic conversations.  Today has been really great. We got to pass the MTC police and walk out of the gate into the world for the first time in 4 days. We even got a "I'm really proud of you guys" yell from some hobo in his pickup at the red light while crossing the street. 

 

My time here has been a great blessing.  I was called to be the district leader of district 33A the thurday night after I got here. That added to my worries but I handle it just like everything else here. Just put it on the Lord and press forward.  21 min left..pshh. anyways, gym time is way to short so i just run and do lower/upper body everyother day. I think im doing a good job staying in shape. campus is huge, theres lots of walking but im pretty sure ive spent at least 300 hours in this one classroom that our district sits in for what seems like a lifetime while our teacher, irmo petty speaks portuguese to us without stopping to actually tell us what he is saying. sometimes we miss really important stuff..maybe he doesnt realize we just got here? its getting better though. my comp, elder rios and i have been teaching an investigator since the 2nd day we got here. weve had 2 appointmetns already. the first was incredibly bad..we had no clue what he was saying and we didnt know what we were saying either. after we finished the lesson we stared at eachother for 2 minutes trying to figure out how to say thanks for meeting with us see you next time..it was bad. the second one was a little better.

 

anyway, this is truly the Lord's work. I have never felt the spirit so strongly and all day during every meeting like I do here. This place is awesome. I'm doing great. While I miss everyone at home, I don't let that get in the way of the work which I'm here to do. I'm happy and excited about the future. I know the future is going to be touch so im trying to learn portuguese asap.  I cant wait to be a middleman for the Lord. as long as i do my best to bring others unto the Lord I can know He will be pleased with my work. the outcomes may vary however if im doing my best i will have joy.  my entire district went to choir practice last night for tuesday's devotional..prolly gonna be an apostle!! it was legit..everyone was insanely good and we completely sucked but its all good cause the reason why we did it was so we could get front row seats tuesday!!! we didnt get cut or anything hahaha..what a joke. Thanks for all your prayers and thoughts. I pray for all of you daily!!

Love, 

Elder Jones

HURRAHH FOR ISRAEL!!!

This summer has been one of the best of my life.  After each summer I always say that that one particular one was the best and that I'll never have another like it but then it gets topped the next, so who knows where this one ranks. The best thing about this summer has been spending time with my family and trying my best to get mentally, spiritually, and physically prepared for my mission.  After all the ties, suits, shoes, and white shirts have been bought, I always end up sitting back and pondering how ready I really am to preach the gospel in Portuguese to a people I've never met.  I guess that's the fun of it and joy of it.  That's where faith comes in to play I guess.  I'm clueless as to where I'll be living in the next two years or who I'll be living with.  All I know is that I'll be serving the Lord which is good enough for me.  I have plenty of my imperfections but I know that the Lord with bless me as long as I'm trying my best.

My good friend Derek was able to visit the past week or so all the way from the deep south and we were able to have some awesome experiences together.  One of these experiences included going to the Hill Cumorah Pageant which I've attended which seems like at least a dozen times.  Every time I go to up-state NY and get the opportunity to visit the church historical sites and get to see the pageant it gets better.  I always feel the spirit so strongly and come back glad I was able to go.  The Sacred Grove is truly the place where the boy Joseph Smith saw Heavenly Father and His Son.  I know that they spoke to him.  I know that because the spirit has confirmed it to me.  I don't have faith that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the only church that has the fullness of the gospel, I know it.  I know it for myself because I have asked and have put in the work to find out by reading the Book of Mormon and testing the Lord.  I know that anyone who does that can have that same knowledge.  That seemingly simple fact has brought more joy to me  than anything imaginable.  Every time I read the scriptures or talk about the gospel I find so much joy and just want to share it with everyone.  I can't imagine what joy I will feel when the Lord comes again and every tongue shall confess that He is the Christ.  For those that don't know what I'm talking about go to lds.org and talk to the missionaries. They're everywhere, literally. You won't ever regret it and the joy that you will find is indescribable.

I know I will miss my family and friends when in Brazil but I will have the comfort of knowing that my family and the Lord stand beside me in everything I do which is all I need.  I can't wait to be in Brazil.  I already have one bag packed and hope the other will fit everything else..haha.  Anyways, I know the Lord will provide as long as I keep His commandments and my heart has good intentions.  Until I return from the Good country of Brazil incredibly tan, God speed, and HURRAHH FOR ISRAEL!!!

Alma 26:35
"Now have we not reason to rejoice? Yea, I say unto you, there never were men that had so great reason to rejoice as we, since the world began; yea, and my joy is carried away, even unto boasting in my God; for he has all ^apower, ^ball wisdom, and all understanding; he comprehendeth all things, and he is a ^cmercifulBeing, even unto salvation, to those who will repent and believe on his name."


I love you all.  Keep it real dubtown.  As as one of my brothers in the Lord one said, "GO PHILS."

my time at southern virginia university

leaving southern virginia is harder than i originally thought it would be. my first semester here went by rather slow. my senior year of high school to my freshman year of college was not a shock since i prepared for the worst but it certainly challeged me to a level ive never been to before.  being done with early morning seminary i was excited to be done with the waking up at 530 am chapter in my life.  that never ended..baseball lifting had me waking up at 530 and often going to bed at 2 or 3am on school nights up late studying anywhere i could find light. while everyone slept i was up studying fairly often and then found myself up before anyone got up. at first i felt like rocky and on top of the world but i soon realized that it absolutely sucked.  hard preseason workouts had me excited to be done practice and start the season that seemed would never come.  nevertheless, its safe to say that the first semester of college was the hardest thing ive ever done in my life but im proud of what i achieved. 

over the first semester i met so many awesome people that i will never forget.  a few of them left me to serve the Lord before the second semester started.  i look forward to seeing a few of them again in the future. the second semester was certainly filled with awesome events and memories ill never forget as well.  starting playing games was probably the biggest motivator of the year.  it was exciting to begin my first season as a collegiant athlete.  opening day was looked forward to like no other after all the long practices and early morning weights.  during the second semester i also met some new friends that ill always love and remember. 

this is my last day on campus.  i remember the first day i pulled up to main hall and walked into 4th floor main with my family who helped me move in.  looking back on my experience here cannot be explained. it just feels weird.  i feel like ive grown so much. i have learned more than i have in my entire life. i know i still have a long way to go, but i feel ive also matured a lot.  i dont know if its the education at this school, if its the friends who ive spent all my time with, or if its just the time that has gone by that has taught me so many life lessons, but i feel so much more ready for life. 

its hard to leave, never thought ide call a small southern town in virginia home.  this is where i read where ill be serving the Lord for two years. this is where ive had so many opportunities to serve others. this is where ive worked harder than i ever had in my life, both physically, spiritually, and mentally.  this is where ive had some of the worst times and best in my life.  ive some some insane things here, that only my friends and i should know about.  everything ive done here has been permantly written in my life.  there are many memories in life that pass and are forgotten about later in life, this will not be one of them.  to all my friends who ive made here that have worked through the hard times and late nights, as well as the great times, thankyou, i love you. ill never forget you.  youve given me strength to keep going in the future. your examples have engraved characterists that i want to emulate.  through you, especially the returned missionaries who are my close friends, i have a good idea of what i need to do and be when i return from brazil. 

even though leaving my home is harder than i thought it would be, i know its what the Lord wants me to do right now in my life.  i have faith that the Lord will provide for me in the future as long as i stay worthy of his awesome blessings.  leaving for brazil in august is something that i have waited for my whole life.  i feel so ready, although i know there is a ton i have to learn.  i know ill see everyone that have meant so much to me later, whether in this life or the next.  i have an awesome family back home in delaware that i am so excited to see and live with for another couple months before i leave.

i thank the Lord for the past.  ill always look back on the past with awesome memories and a smile and to the future with faith in the Lord and a determination to succeed.

its been real southern virginia..good times.

Portuguese is harder than I thought..

Well this past week was probably one of most exciting weeks of my whole life.  After our game on thursday, I turned my phone on to read a text from Denny saying that I had my mission call in my mailbox.  I can't describe how excited I was at that moment after the longest week of my life waiting for a white envelope to tell me where I'll be spending the next two years of my life doing the greatest thing I can imagine.  Once our bus pulled back into school, I anxiously ran to my room took a quick shower and ran down to the mail center.  I opened my mailbox and it was still sitting there, the big white envelope.  I was just about to reach in and get up but I stepped back in humility being overcome with amazment at both how time flys and how honored I was to recieve such a divine and important responsibility.  I remember being a little boy going to church and showing off my little "future missionary" badge and here I was pulling out my real missionary call.  The Lord blesses us without us even realizing.  Later that night I opened my call at my friends house in front of my awesome friends and family (and other friends out at byu) on skype.  I was sure that I would be able to read the call without getting emotional or a delay of anykind, and I think I was right..but they had no clue what was going on inside of me.  My heart was beating so incredibly fast that I had to pause after pushing through the first paragraph reading that I was called to serve in the Brazil, Belo Horizonte mission, portuguese speaking, and sit back in my seat in both joy and unbelief. 

Recieving your mission call is not as much as a suprise and exciting as it is humbling.  I can't believe that the Lord trusts me to go overseas and to teach his children his gospel in their language.  I feel so ready but know I am far from being prepared.  I am truly humbled and estatic to have the opportunity to serve in Belo Horizonte.  I know the Lord will help me in all of my rightouse endeavours.  I know I need to prepare as much as I can now in order to be a successful missionary and bring people unto Christ in Brazil.  There is nothing that brings me more joy than knowing I have this divine and sacred calling to serve for two years.  The thought of dedicating two years to the Lord and exerting all of my efforts and energy into preaching His gospel is undescribable.  Part of me wants to leave now, however I know I have more preparation and responsibilities I need to take care of such as school. 

Well, for now I am on spring break, having a great time in BV.  The baseball team as well as many of my friends stayed so it's nice to be able to relax, play baseball, get ahead with school school work, and of course attempt to learn Poruguese.  Till next time, Hurrah for Israel!!!!

Sundays are the "bessssttt" - (get it nachooo)..

Hi, today is Sunday and this week was great! Our baseball team is now 5-1 looking forward to tomorrows home opener.  It's exciting to finally play a home game after 6 away games to open the season! This week was lots of fun, it was really busy, but tons of fun.  I love hanging out with people at SVU.  Even if you don't know them, everyone is really awesome and fun to be around.  This morning was fun.. so Denny and I accidentally slept all the way in to 12:30 which was the most sleep I have had since being here, and missed our home ward! We were freaking out and pretty sad/disappointed in ourselves.  So I got up and ran to the shower and back to find Denny getting the good ole cereal out.  As I get ready I hear a loud crash and Denny yell "nooooooo my milk." I thought something terrible happened, and surely something did hearing Denny's cry for help.  I look around the corner to see Denny holding a milk carton completely busted on the bottom with milk pouring out.  As runs with the upside down carton to the bathtub while holding the lid trying to stop the brand new gallon of milk from pouring out on the floor, I am desperately running around the room trying to find something to hold the milk for the time being.  I finally find an old carton of water and pour it out and give it to Denny who seems to be holding back some massive tears.  Knowing Denny's love for cereal, I realized that the pain he must be going through cannot be comprehended.  Denny then tries to pout the milk out of the busted container to the empty one and pretty much misses leaving him with only 2 inches of milk and the rest floating in our clogged bathtub drain.  We then mourned over the loss of milk by singing a song while Denny played the guitar hopelessly.  We realized it would be a long day, nevertheless the day must go on.  So I left to go to meeting and find a Sacrament Meeting and Mish. Prep class somewhere and Denny took off for home teaching. 

We will never miss church again..

im gonna try this too..

hi everyone! im living in buena vista virginia where im attending southern virginia university.  i absolutely love it here. i have the most awesome friends and everyone here is really awesome and kind. the classes are challenging and great. we just started our season last tuesday and are now 3-1. im excited to continue to have the opportunity to play with this group of people.  ive never been on a team so talented and professonally handled which is really great. well, im gonna go take a nap now, but its good to finally write on this thing after having a blank page for 4 months hahaa.. welp, ill try to write as often as possible but life is good! ill be getting my mission call in less than 2 weeks!!!!!! heck yeah.