Week 53: Hectic Day

June 29, 2015

Hey mom and dad!

Sorry for emailing so late. We had a hectic day. Elder Sutton had a doctors appt that he needed to get taken care of. Other than that, I'm doing really good. It sounds like the last week has been awesome. I wish I totally could have been there! I also apologize if this email is a little short. We have been finding like crazy last week! We have found a bunch of new investigators and have seen several miracles this past week.

One happened when we decided to tract a street that we had dinner at members house at! We didn't even plan on doing that, but as we did it, we clearly found out that it was the right thing to do. We met a kid going into the marines who after we taught him the first lesson, gave us his word that he would Pray about whether or not Joseph smith was a prophet. We then met a less active woman whose family aren't members. We had an impromptu lesson with her that both elder sutton and I felt was taught by the spirit. It was really memorable.

We gave a few golden investigators and had a baptism on Friday. That was pretty exciting!

I hope you both have a great week!

Zach

Week 52: Tule Springs!

June 22, 2015

Hey everyone!

This past week has been awesome. I really am loving life here in the Tule Springs stake! Everything is going great. My new companion Elder Sutton and I have been working really hard, and have seen a lot of the fruits of those efforts already.

One thing that we have done a lot this past week is tracting. Knocking on doors doesn't sound fun when you first hear about it, but you get so many ridiculous stories, it's hilarious. One funny story happened when we knocked on one door. A black kid answered. We shook hands and then his mom in the background said "y'all should come in!" And then the kid said "nah, she's trippin'!" He told us to wait, and he closed the door. We waited for 15 minutes and he still didn't come back and so we walked away. But then he opened the door again to spray air freshener at us. I guess we smelled bad or something.

We have also had a lot of success from tracting. We have found around 12 potential investigators and have 3 people set for baptism, one of which is getting baptized this week. Things are really exciting, especially since I get along with my new companion so well. We both love music; it's awesome!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Father's Day! I would love to hear from all of you!

Have a great week!
 

Elder Jones

Week 51: Leaving Logandale!

June 15, 2015

Hey everyone,

Although this week has been a little bit tough since my surgery, I am pretty much ready for whatever lies ahead. I have been trying to recover this past week, and so I haven't really been able to do much.  My companion and other missionaries have gotten a little bit
frustrated because of my lack of desire to sit down. I really don't like sitting around :(

On Tuesday morning, I was released from the hospital. That night, I told Elder Rathjen that I felt well enough to go to our dinner appointment. I didn't quite realize how much it would actually hurt.  We went, and I think I pretty much learned my lesson to sit for at least a couple days. The members who we had dinner with thought I was crazy. It's safe to say I made an effort to relax.

I received my transfer call on Saturday and found out that I will be serving in the Tule Springs stake in Vegas. I am familiar with some of the people in the ward that I will be serving in, so it should begreat! I am really sad to leave all my newfound friends in Logandale but the Lord has asked me to go somewhere else. That is the hardest thing about transfers. I think I am finally beginning to realize what it will feel like at the end of my mission.

It is exciting to look forward to a new area. There will be so many more opportunities to serve and to progress. There are lots of more people to meet, and lots more things to do. The Lord blesses those who press forward. It's as President Monson counseled--we need to find joy in the journey!

Hope you all have a wonderful week! Hope to hear from you!
 

Elder Jones

Week 50: In the Hospital

June 8. 2015

Hi everyone!

Just to update everybody on the situation, yes I found out that I had appendicitis yesterday. It wasn't too much fun, but now I have one more story to tell. The surgery was taken care of last night. I haven't been through a surgery before so it was a little bit scary, everything is ok now. I was released from the hospital this morning and am on the road to a speedy recovery. I want to say thanks to those who prayed on my behalf. I wasn't too confident going into the surgery, but I know for a fact that Heavenly Father helped me through it. Needless to say, I'm free!!!

We had a neat missionary experience yesterday. The man I was sharing a room with yesterday was a very well-spoken person and was also very outspoken about what he believed. The nurse asked me as part of one of the forms that had to be filled out what denomination I was. I replied that I was a Mormon. A few minutes later, the man began to talk to us about what he was in for. He told us what his condition was, what was needed to be done, that he needed faith in God to get through it, but wasn't sure he had the faith to go through with it. I replied, "Well, we're Mormon missionaries," to which he responded, "It had to be you guys." My companion and I talked with this guy for awhile about some church doctrines, and we exchanged phone numbers. It goes to show that you can have missionary experiences while being laid up in a hospital bed.

Here's a spiritual thought for the week:
Nevertheless they did fast and pray oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in their humility, and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ, unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation, yea, even to the purifying and the sanctification of their hearts, which sanctification cometh because of their yielding their hearts unto God. (Helaman 3:35)

I have really come to love this scripture because it really makes it clear why we need fasting and prayer. Those two things help us to come to know Heavenly Father, and recognizing that relationship is what allows us to change!

I hope y'all have a great week! Thanks again for all the support!!

Elder Jones

P.s. I will send pics later
Sent from my iPad

Week 49: 11 Month Mark

Hey everyone!

I hope everyone is doing great. First, I would like to say good luck to Riley Stephens and Hannah Ward as they both get ready to leave on their missions. They will both do great!

Everything went well with our trips this past week. We went to the temple twice and also had our zone conference in Vegas. As you can probably tell, there was a lot of driving involved. But it was all worth it. We went with Dan and Pat to do baptisms. It was such a testimony-building experience to see them get baptized on behalf of their ancestors and other family. Many of the names that were done were brothers and sisters, and grandmas and grandpas. It was really amazing.

I hit my 11 month mark tomorrow. That is really insane. In addition to that, this transfer will be over in about two weeks. With that coming up, I will probably be transferred somewhere else which is sad to think about. I really hoping to come back here to visit after my mission.

A scripture that I have come to love is in Hebrews 10:35-36. It says,

"Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise." Heavenly Father promises us so many different kinds of blessings, but we need to be patient. We can have confidence that He will fulfill his promises, but we also need to make sure that we are living up to our end of the bargain.

I felt sad to hear about Elder Perry. I have always loved his energy at the pulpit. Although it is sad to see him go, it's probably better that he didn't have to suffer through too many cancer treatments.

I hope y'all have a great week!

Love,

Elder Jones