Elder Kevin Jones: Service, Enchiladas, and More Service 11th P -day in Peoria, 34th P -day in Phoenix

Service, Enchiladas, and More Service 11th P -day in Peoria, 34th P -day in Phoenix

Dear family and friends,

This week has been great. I hope you all can say the same. The weather
is teasing us with random 75°F days, but other than that life is good!
Random note: I found BBQ flavored bologna at Walmart and it's
surprisingly delicious. Haha! Elder Flynn is on this protein shake
diet to lose weight. Meanwhile, I'm eating my body's weight in
jellybeans every week. :)
Here was my week!

Monday: The usual P-Day stuff. Nothing too special. After P-Day, we
had a really solid lesson with Leah. Sadly, she still doesn't have a
baptismal date. It's coming, though. I can feel it! Elder Rodriguez
from the Spanish ward (Agua Fría Ward) came over for exchanges with me
in my area. Elder Flynn went with the district leader, Elder Canny in
their area.
Temp: 91°F

Tuesday: I spent all day with my main man from Argentina, Elder
Rodriguez! He is hilarious. He also came out with me. We went over to
an elderly couple's home to help him move a freezer and a tv out to
the curb. After that he asked if we could mow his back lawn real
quick. We said of course and went back there. I had never used a
push-mower and neither had Elder Rodriguez. So I did it. It was rough
at the beginning but I got the hang of it. It looked pretty good if I
do say so myself. :) We then went back and studied and had Culver's
for lunch. Elder Rodriguez sure can eat—he ate a triple Culver's
deluxe basket with a chocolate shake. He's smaller than me. (Well,
shorter—he's put on a few pounds....haha) We went out finding for a
bit then had dinner with the Dutry's. The dad works for the Suns so he
was giving me an NBA update. Haha! I got to know Elder Rodriguez
really well which was great.
Temp: 93°F

Wednesday: After studies we went and volunteered at the thrift store
in Sun City. We sorted hangers and sorted books. There were some
interesting books. Hahaha! Afterward we went through the store and
browsed their items. I found three awesome ties for $1 each. Then they
gave us half off for volunteering. So I got three ties for $1.50.
Score!! We had dinner with the Gonzalez family. Brother Gonzalez is
one of the funniest people I've ever met. They have a sweet 1980 VW
Rabbit convertible. I wanted to drive it so bad!!! Haha. After dinner
we went out with Brother Wincek to visit some people. We visited this
old lady who asked for help from the bishop. She's not a member, but
the bishop told us to go tell her to come to church Sunday and
he'd meet with her. She is the definition of crazy. She was all over
the place. She came to church...stay tuned. Then we visited this lady
who turned out to be a practicing Neo Nazi. Good thing she wasn't
home; only her roommate was. Haha. Pretty interesting day.
Temp: 84°F

Thursday: Happy birthday, Olivia! 19 is old! :)
We did a service project in the morning which was alright. It was
almost a bust. We helped homeless people around to different stations
to get them help with what they need. We acted as guides around the
church campus. There were way too many volunteers, so Elder Flynn and
I greeted people at the DES entrance. It was a pretty lax job haha.
After the service I had a pretty bad headache. We had dinner with a
younger couple. After dinner we met with Britney and went over the
baptismal interview questions. Yeah, I don't think I'll ever see
anyone as solid as she is.
Temp: 76°F

Friday: Our old phone was really bad so we got a new phone from the
mission office. It was the first time I had been there in 8 months! It
brought back memories. We had a great district meeting. It was all
about how we can prepare to the max to go back online in the near
future. We also learned how to control our thoughts better and be more
focused on the Work. I really got a lot out of the meeting. After
that, Britney had her baptismal interview!!! She passed, of course.
Her baptism is still set for Saturday, April 25thl. We had
Guatemalan food for dinner. Nope. Never again. We then had dessert
with Chris and had a lesson. She had a great spiritual experience and
is on the path once again. She loves her Elders!!
Temp: 82°F

Saturday: We had an early start to the day! We got up at 5:30am to go
help The City of Peoria clean up the New River Wash. Our whole zone of
Elders went. It took about 2 1/2 hours to finish. We covered about a
mile of wash. I was pretty drained after it! Thank goodness I wore
sunscreen. We then studied and weekly planned. We had dinner with a
member and it was the best food I've had on my mission. She made
homemade, authentic chicken enchiladas. I could eat those every day
for the rest of my life. Then they gave us this delicious chocolate
tuxedo cake. There are no words. SO delicious. We then had a lesson
with Britney and we went over her baptismal program and paperwork.
Still solid!!
Temp: 90°F

Sunday: Church was great as usual. Elder Flynn played a piano solo in
the Oakwood Ward. It was awesome! It's an arrangement of "We'll Bring
the World His Truth." Britney came to church and the Bishop announced
her baptism. There will be A LOT of people there. We came home, ate
lunch, and studied a little. Then we had sweet and sour meatballs and
rice at a member's home. It was good! However, their experimental
jelly bean cookies were....yikes. Haha! They even said they're gross
and we didn't have to eat them. We then went to a fireside at a
member of the stake presidency's home for investigators, new members,
etc.. It was great! Chris and Leah went.
Temp: 93°F

That was my week. I hope everyone had a wonderful week as well. This
is one of my favorite scriptures:

3 Nephi 11:6-10

6 And behold, the third time they did understand the voice which they
heard; and it said unto them:
7 Behold my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, in whom I have
glorified my name--hear ye him.
8 And it came to pass, as they understood they cast their eyes up
again towards heaven; and behold, they saw a Man descending out of
heaven; and he was clothed in a white robe; and he came down and stood
in the midst of them; and the eyes of the whole multitude were turned
upon him, and they durst not open their mouths, even one to another,
and wist not what it meant, for they thought it was an angel that had
appeared unto them.
9 And it came to pass that he stretched forth his hand and spake unto
the people, saying:
10 Behold, I am Jesus Christ, whom the prophets testified shall come
into the world.

I testify that Jesus Christ appeared to the people in the Americas.
The Book of Mormon brings the good news that God loves all of His
children equally—everywhere in the world. It brings the good news that
He does, indeed, inspire and call people to His holy work at this
time, as in times of old.

Have a great week!

Much love,
Elder Jones
Oakwood / Centennial Wards