Things We Get To Do On A Mission Make Me Laugh

December 30, 2013

Not too much has happened since Christmas. Things are going well. We have two super solid investigators, Mike and Alex. Mike is awesome, he is married to a less active member and hated the church for a while and then realized how good is was and is now taking the lessons and should be baptized in January. Alex is the most humble man I’ve met, he’s super teachable and is just taking it all in. We went to visit a member on Christmas Eve and when we got there they asked us if we could deliver something anonymously for them while we were out and about that day. So we taught the Lesson and were on our way out and they handed us a bag of presents and a card and told us who to give it to. Then as we are putting the bag in the car the husband comes walking out with a 4 foot Christmas tree and tells us it’s going to the same place. So we fold the back seats down and cram a 4 ft. tree in our little Chevy cruze, and spent some time driving around VA beach with a Christmas tree. Things we get to do on a mission make me laugh. That’s too bad hearing about Shelli, I hope things work out. Well that’s about it, love ya. 

Jordan

I'll Talk To You In A Few Days

December 23, 2013

No everything I talked about last week is from Norfolk. This new area will be good though, there’s a lot going on. I don’t want to say a whole lot so we have something to talk about Wednesday. I’ll call at 11am my time. Everything is going well over here. It doesn’t feel very Christmassy though... it’s like 75 degrees here, it feels like spring. It should be a good Christmas, some members invited us over to their house for food and stuff so it should be fun. Well I’ll talk to ya in a few days, love ya.

Jordan

I Am Also Going To Be The Zone Leader

December 16, 2013

Well I’m getting transferred, I’ll be going to the Cape Henry ward in Virginia Beach. It’s not too far from Norfolk. I am also going to be the Zone Leader for that zone, so it should be pretty fun. It’s kind of a bummer though because we have 4 investigators that are set for baptism and are solid. They will all be baptized before the end of January. I might get to go back and see a few so it’ll be good. I don't know what time I’ll be skyping because of transfers, but I can tell you next Monday. Things are going well here, we helped a member move this weekend so that's always fun, by the time I get home I will be a moving pro. I’ll have to open a company or something. It’s a good thing I spent my entire time in Pre-calc junior year playing Tetris on my calculator, it helps with packing the trucks. We found a new investigator this week who is one of the most prepared people I’ve met. She is a chaplain's assistant in the navy and has served under 3 LDS chaplains. She did all of her course work at BYU and has wanted to join the church since 2007. But between deployments and getting moved around she hasn't had the opportunity to take the lessons and get baptized. But she is here now and will be till March. She is super solid and will be getting baptized in January. I did get the package, thank you!! I really like both of the ties as well. It’s good that you sent me a red one, because I didn't have a Christmas tie and the Sister missionaries have been calling me a scrooge. Well I guess that's about it this week, love ya.

Jordan

It Was One Of The Best Lessons Of My Mission

December 9, 2013

This week was pretty good, we had some really good lessons. One was with a man named Charles, he was a referral from a member. We went over there on Wednesday with the member to teach him the restoration. The member was so awesome to teach with, the whole time he was just sharing his experiences with joining the church and they both had a lot of the same concerns and questions so it was super good! Then we introduced the Book of Mormon and talked about how he can pray and know for himself. Then the member started sharing his testimony about it and then invited him to be baptized, I’ve never had a member do that before, it was so powerful. He said yes and we set him with a date in January. It was one of the best lessons of my mission.

Ya last week it was weird weather, it got really warm, and then yesterday it’s all rainy and cold. This place can’t make up its mind. I don't really know if I need a shoulder bag. Plus I think it’s a really dumb idea so I improvised. I found a little rack that fits on your bike in our apartment as well as a bag that goes with it. So I just put all the teaching stuff I need in there. I’ve been using it this whole transfer and it works really well, so I probably won’t ever get a shoulder bag, because if I’m ever in a car area I can just keep everything in the car and not have to worry about it either.

We will be able to Skype on Christmas, I’ll set it up this week and find out times and everything and I’ll tell you next week. Next week tell me what person or name I need to call on Skype. Transfers are next Thursday the 19th so if I get transferred times might change, but I’ll know Sunday if I get transferred. Well love ya, have a good week. 

Jordan

I Actually Ate A Real Thanksgiving Meal This Year

December 2, 2013

You do realize that Christmas is not on a Sunday right? Thanksgiving was good, and yes, I actually ate a real Thanksgiving meal this year. The entire family will be shocked next year when they see what I’ll eat. We went over to a member’s house and had dinner with them. They had a non-member son in law there so we got to teach him as well, it was fun. He wasn't interested in hearing more but you could tell he listened and took in everything he said. He liked us a lot too. He is a camera guy for a skydiving company and offered to take us for free. Dumb mission rules.... it’d be so fun to go. That's super awesome that Luke is going on a mission! I figured he’d go back to church eventually. I knew Kiley would crash my car before I got home! I’m glad to hear she’s ok though. And you did not tell me Natalie was pregnant.

    We have been doing this thing with members where we sit down with them and teach them parts of the lessons we teach our investigators. But before we do that we teach about revelation and promise them that as we teach names and faces of friends and neighbors will come to them who need to hear the message of the restoration. And almost every single time the members think of people. Then we go back and help them receive revelation on what invitation to extend to their friend or family member and just keep going back and helping them until they hopefully bring their friends to dinner when we are over there and we get to teach them. So far things are going really well, no dinners with investigators yet, but it will happen soon.

   Well I guess that's about it, I can’t really think of anything specific in the Christmas package. Love ya.

Jordan

I Got To Confirm Him Yesterday

November 25, 2013

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!! I hope you had a good time for your birthday! :)

The baptism went really well, Josh was super happy and just said it made him feel warm. I got to confirm him yesterday so that was really neat. Every time there is a baptism it reminds me how powerful Satan is and how true this church and gospel are. I've never been part of a baptism on my mission that went smoothly, there is always some last minute change or someone is late and its starts stressing people out. And it’s all the adversary trying his hardest, even at the last possible second, to prevent people from doing what is right. But it always works out, and everyone is always happy after and they and always know they made the right choice. I did take pictures, but I forgot to bring my camera to the baptism so I had to use someone else’s, so it might not be till next week when you see pictures. That’s a bummer your friend couldn't make it to church, just keep trying and it will work. If she sees the persistence and love that you have for her she will recognize that she needs the gospel in her life. Tell Kiley to stop spending money and save up for a car so I have something to drive when I get home. We have a dinner on Thanksgiving so it should be a fun time, hope y'all have a good Thanksgiving as well. Love ya.

Jordan