Hey family!
So....realized that I
really don't have that much time to write. Sorry! We had some situations today
that were a little hectic. First, we had chequeo of the month for Hna. Noj
where we go and have lunch with all the newbies who have been on their mission
for a month and we eat lunch with our Mission President at his house. It was
delish! I love his family. We took some pictures with them and I'll get those
sent to you. Afterwards, we had to go with the mission secretaries to get some
things and then bring our third bed (finally) to the house and get situated.
Then we realized we needed to write. So, sorry. Kind of crazy. But I will read your letters
later and write about it all next week. I apologize. It's just a little bit
crazy having two companions to take care of and make sure all is well. But
things are great! I'm so sorry that in this email I won't be able to respond to
some things you guys have written. But I hope that all is well. I pray for you
guys every morning, afternoon and night. Also, I always have a prayer in my
heart. I sure appreciate your emails and love and support. Seriously, I'm a
very lucky girl.
So...this week. Wow a
lot has really happened and time seems to really be picking up. It's kind of
between normal and then also really fast. We always have something we need to
get done every day. Also, we will be changing homes because our home is a tad
bit sketchy. We live behind a liquor store and when the mission secretaries
came, they saw that we usually have a group of men drinking next to our house
and playing the casino games. They said that this isn't good to have men by our
house this much so they said to get out of there no matter how much our next
house costs. So we have to look for a new place to live. Plus, our owner is
crazy. But all is well.
Ok, here are baptism
pictures of what went down. Shoot. I'm really sad that I can't get everything
written to you today. I completely apologize! I even wrote it all down. Ok here's
the list of what went down. Again, so sorry. Totally my fault!
1. Lesson with
investigator Bryan: we went to his house to kind of give him a lesson and ask
if he is really serious about taking the lessons. If not we will have to stop
seeing him. Basically say that if you aren't going to do your part, then we
can't really continue teaching you. We first taught about the atonement and
explained in great depth the atonement. We shared experiences of help we have
received from Christ and really just how much he loves us. I related his boxing
to the atonement of if he gets knocked down, what does his trainer do? Run and
help him get back up. We talked about how Christ runs to help us get back up
when we fall. He started to cry and then of course I started to cry and we just
bore our testimonies of the atonement. I explained that if he doesn't want more
lessons, to say it now. We can wait a few months if that's better but that he
needs to follow through with the things we give him. It was a powerful lesson.
But later, both of our next set of lessons fell through with him and he didn't
come to church so....sad – not seeing him anymore. We'll just have to wait on
him.
2. We found a few more
families to teach and have had some cool experiences with them. The only
downside with one family is that the dad works every Sunday. But they are
ready. The people in these families don't go to any churches because they just
don't feel that any are right! So awesome for us because our first lesson
(restoration) totally applies to them. It will be great! Hope we can get some
more families prepared for baptism and progressing towards sealing in the
temple.
3. Baptism of Yeudi and
Pricilla: WOW! It was awesome!!!!!!! They showed up hand in hand ready to go.
The baptism was beautiful. We had members from the Ward there who were there to
support them at their baptism. But it didn't matter because Yeudi and Pricilla
were glowing. Pricilla said that they felt really content and calm. They are
amazing! Well...we didn't get the water filled up exactly on time so it was a
tiny bit low. Pricilla was baptized 3 times because her dress kept coming up or
her foot. Then Yeudi 4 times because his stomach kept popping out of the water
and shirt. Ha-ha. Oops. But it was really a cool experience. We made them a
journal with pictures and had the people in attendance write their testimonies
to put in the journal to always remember. We are writing ours as well. We
bought them the book of Mormon on cd to listen to and a cake that we are giving
them tomorrow night with the bishop and mission leader. Hna. Pricilla shared
her testimony in church and prayed in the class. The bishop told us he already
has a calling in mind for her and an assignment for Yeudi. They have been
welcomed in and are really a part of this ward. They will be sealed in a year
and I plan on returning. I will make whatever sacrifice necessary to see my
first family and maybe only family sealed in the temple. They are really
incredible. I can't wait for you to meet them! I have never felt this way about
two people. I really feel like I knew them before and we have just been
reminded that we are friends. Pricilla and I are the same age and Yeudi is only
27. I feel that they are one reason why I was sent to Costa Rica. Really, I wish
I could say more about them. Sorry. I just get excited for you to meet them.
Pricilla and I have the exact same personality and it's hilarious.
4. President came and
interviewed us this past Friday. It was exactly what I needed. We talked about the challenges of training two
very different sisters. We talked about setting up plans for each one to meet
their individual needs. This reminds me of Elementary Ed. And will definitely
help me in my teaching when I get home. I want to help each one progress and
become the best missionary they can be. My one companion is so shy – and she
feels quite inadequate and unprepared – she is very homesick – and I just
really want her to want to stay and have experiences that will help her become
stronger for when she does return home. Heavenly Father sure had a plan when he
sent me here on my mission. So needless to say it was good. My mission
president complemented me and thanked me for the work that I was doing. Incredible
interview! Love that man. Told him what you guys had told me too about why I
was sent on my mission at this time and not when I was 21. He said I have
inspired parents. :) Very true.
Also, mom, totally shared phrases you always
taught me growing up in relief society like: “when life gets too hard to stand,
kneel and pray”. Or dad “things will be alright in the end and if they aren't
alright, it's not the end”. They all wanted to write it down and quote you. Ha-ha.
Such an awesome family. Love, Hna. Jones
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