Training: Round 3--Week 94, 92 weeks in Phoenix Mission- 7 Weeks in Buckeye

Training: Round 3--Week 94, 

92 weeks in Phoenix Mission- 7 Weeks in Buckeye

Dear friends and family,

A lot happened this week!! It feels like an eternity since last pday
because of all of the stuff going on. Lots of changes happened out
here in Buckeye. Here we go!

New companion
Elder Sumsion went home on Tuesday morning so I got a new companion on
Wednesday! I spent Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday morning with Elders
Price, Thaut, and Weston. Elder Ockey, Elder Weston's old companion,
was just made the assistant to the president. Soooo Elder Weston and I
both needed new companions. What happened was definitely not what we
expected. Elders Thaut, Weston, and Price combined areas and are
serving in a tripanionship (3 of them), covering 4 wards. YIKES. So
needless to say they're really busy. I am training again for the third
time. President Griffin My new companion is Elder Thames (pronounced
"Tim's") and he's from Tucson, AZ! He is serving a three-month mission
to see if he can handle the two year mission. So far he is doing
great! I'm learning a lot from him. He's different from all of the
companions I've had, but I really enjoy being with him. He's always
happy and is SUPER grateful to be out on a mission. I'm excited to
continue working with him. Because of the weird transfer, they moved
the Spanish Hermanas into the Buckeye district, so we have 7 in our
district now. It's weird having sister missionaries in my district; I
haven't had them in my district since my first area, 18 months ago!

Miracle knock
We got out of our dinner appointment a little early on Elder Thames's
first day in the area. We decided to knock on a referral's door that
hadn't been home the past five or so times we've tried. We knocked,
and she answered! And let us in! And accepted a return appointment! So
we got a new investigator off Elder Thames's first contact! Pretty
cool! Her name is Crystal and she came to church on Sunday!

Sacrament
Yesterday at church we were asked to help bless the sacrament because
of the shortage of people at church because of the holiday! It was
awesome to be able to do that again. I hadn't done it in 2 years!

I don't really know much else that happened this week; we've basically
been visiting members to get Elder Thames acquainted with them. We had
a couple good lessons but nothing out of the ordinary. I'm looking
forward to a great transfer! Have a great week everyone! :)


Much love,

Elder Jones
Buckeye 1st & Sundance Wards
Arizona Phoenix Mission

Elder Jones & Elder Thames

Elders Thaut, Weston, Price, Jones, Thames. Hermanas
Zamora and Lawrence.

Elder Thaut  always making faces!

Selfie

Memorial Day Root Beer Floats!  Thanks Brother Wright

Helping at the transfer trailer!

Buckeye is Home--Week 93, 91 weeks in Phoenix Mission, 6 weeks in Buckeye area

--Buckeye is Home--Week 93--

 91 weeks in Phoenix Mission, 6 weeks in Buckeye area

Dear friends and family, It's transfer week and I don't have a companion! Well, I kind of do.  I'm staying with  Elder Weston right now as his temporary companion because Elder Sumsion, my  companion, went home today and Elder Weston's companion was made the new   assistant to the president. So Elder Weston and I are kicking it at his place. I'd  love to email y'all! Our week was full of....stuff. Here goes! Temple Trip Bust Elder Sumsion and I had planned to go to the Phoenix temple last Tuesday morning because it was his last week and he had never attended the Phoenix  temple. We were super psyched to go together with Brother Marr, an older guy from  our ward. We drive an hour in the morning traffic to get to the temple and there's a  sign on the door that says, "Temple closed for maintenance." Sooooo we didn't get  to go. But we drove through Verrado, a really high class community, and took some  cool pictures on a hill. So that was fun.....haha Companionless Elder Sumsion went home today so I've been hanging out with Elder Weston. He's a   fun guy! It brings back good times from when he was in my district in Peoria a long  time ago. We receive our companions tomorrow. Can't wait to find out who he will be! Driving a lot Elder Sumsion had his exit interview up at the mission office in Peoria so we got to drive all the way up there on Saturday. Yep, that's right! I drove in the city traffic during rush hour. Didn't even die. Investigators This week was stake conference and Stephanie came to church! She really enjoyed it  and is looking forward to coming to a real church service. As a missionary stake  conference really throws a wrench in your plans. Stephanie finally got to come to  church and see what it's like—and there were 6 times as many people there because  it was conference! Oh well—the message is (usually) always the same. Thank goodness  no one got up and preached deep doctrine. DON'T DO THAT, PEOPLE! Anyway, we  got to have lunch and a lesson with Stephanie this week with a member. She really likes  the members of the church! Her one big hang up is tithing, but she'll be able to get over  that soon.  She understands the principle and sees its importance, but she can't see how  it will be possible for her to pay it. Faith has never been a part of her life, so having  to exercise that much faith right at the start kind of scares her. Like I said, though,  she'll get it. She is exercising her faith by following the other commandments first.  Building blocks, I guess! I Mean Something. There was a very tender moment for Elder Sumsion and me this week. We have been working with am older lady named Ruth since I got here 6 weeks ago. Over those 6 weeks she has opened up quite a bit. We would go in and teach her, she would feel the Spirit, but she never really grasped it. We came to the conclusion that we need to serve her more! So we helped with her weeds, yard sale, and we mowed her yard. We would serve her every week in addition to teaching her. We went by to visit her before Elder Sumsion left and she cried. (Side note—I hate seeing old people cry. It's probably the worst thing ever!!) She told us we have been better to her than her own kids. She told us how much we mean to her. Man, right there, I feel like I saw her how God sees her. That lady has gone through so much and has kept her faith centered on God. Weather It's been pretty nice recently! Upper 80's, lower 90's...we even got some rain one day! (Of course, the day we did yard work for Ruth!) Photo shoot On Sunday night we went over to Gilbert's house, a recent convert. His wife is a member returning to activity. They are great to us. Gilbert takes pictures professionally, and since Elder Sumsion was getting transferred he offered to give us a little photo shoot. It was super fun! Hopefully I'll get the pictures from him soon. Some were serious, but most were just us messing around. Well, that's about all that happened this week. I am excited to find out who my new companion will be!! I hope you all have a great week. Email me! Much love, Elder Jones Buckeye 1st & Sundance Wards Arizona Phoenix Mission Here is an update from Elder Jones Good afternoon! I received my new companion today and he's pretty cool! His name is Elder Thames (pronounced Tim's) and he's from Tucson, AZ. He is doing a 12-week trial mission and is super excited to serve. He's brand new! Doesn't even have a name tag yet! They're working on that one. :) It looks like he has a great work ethic. I'm excited to work with him! I'll attach a picture. Lots of changes happened down here in Buckeye. I'll give more updates on Monday. Have a great week! Overlooking Verrado Elder Thaut. I love that guy. Look who I saw when we dropped Elder Ockey off to be the new AP? ELDER GARDNER! :) District pic! Bye, Elder Sumsion! :( Elder Thames (pronounced Tim's) Chillin on one of our investigator's many bikes.

 

He's Hearing Plane Sounds-week 92, 90 weeks in Phoenix mission, 5 weeks in Buckeye

He's Hearing Plane Sounds-week 92

90 weeks in Phoenix mission, 5 weeks in Buckeye

Dear friends and family, This week was pretty uneventful, but I'll try to squeeze out a decent letter. My apologies  if it's pretty short... Big dogs A week before I got to this area, the missionaries baptized a brother and a sister who live  together, the Gomez's. They are really awesome; they're both teachers and have a great  sense of humor. They have three dogs—BIG dogs. For this reason, we usually meet at  the church for our lessons with them. We had dinner with them this week, so we met at  their house. They have two really big dogs (I'm not sure the breed) and a huge Dalmatian.  I'll attach a picture I took with him. His name is Max. Plane Sounds Elder Sumsion goes home a week from today so he is definitely "hearing plane sounds."  One morning during studies I looked over at him and he was just reading his flight itinerary  and a plane was actually flying over us outside. I said, "hey, you hear that?" He replied with,  "Yeah, that plane was so close it almost hit me." From what I have observed, he is most  excited to lift weights for longer than 30 minutes a day, and go to the gym whenever he  wants. Can you tell we're pretty opposite? Haha! Interviews We also had interviews with President Griffin this week. During my interview he thanked me  for what I have contributed to the  mission. He said that he's "expended his limits" on asking  me to do difficult things for him. Haha. He told me he's going to give me a companion who  will be able to take over the area when I go home. He said I'm either going to train a new  missionary who is really solid, or I'm just going to get a solid veteran. (Crossing my  fingers for that one...) So I guess we'll see! I'll find out next week. Bike Box Hassle Elder Sumsion has been trying to mail his bike home all week! We had interviews in  Goodyear this week so while we were over there we took his bike in to Sport Chalet,  a sports store that ships bikes. Well, they're going out of business so they discontinued  all services. They referred us to a bike shop in Litchfield Park that ships bikes cheap.  So we went there, and they told us they don't ship bikes. So we drove back home...still  with his bike! We're pretty sure we figured it out though. Investigators We've been struggling finding new people to teach out here, but we're still working hard.  The investigators we do have are pretty solid. The three we're working with the most right  now are Stephanie, Ladonna, and Ruth. Stephanie: She is our most solid investigator. I have talked about her before in previous letters.  She is the referral we got from the Solar guy. She just got a new job that allows her to have  Sunday's off and come to church! She recognizes that the Lord helped her get that job so  she could come to church. She is accepting almost all of what we teach her, but she has a  couple hang ups. Her biggest one is how her family will take it. She's working on that, and  continues to keep all of her commitments. It's really refreshing to have someone who  doesn't cancel appointments, keeps commitments, and isn't absolutely Glendale crazy.  Funny story—she asked me what my favorite soda is and I told her Mtn. Dew Baja Blast  from Taco Bell and at our next lesson she gave me a can of it. She had gone out and  gotten me Baja blast! It was awesome!! Luckily she doesn't like it so she said every time  we come over I have to drink one to get rid of them. I think I can handle that!! Ladonna: Ladonna isn't the most solid investigator in the world, but she's really sincere.  Missionaries have been meeting with her for a while now, but recently she's been making  some progress. She loves the Book of Mormon, but she also loves the current church she  attends. She also has 6 children at home from the ages of 6-20. The two oldest boys are  huge NBA fans and huge black guys! (20 & 17). I started talking basketball with them  and really connected with them. The 17 year old said, "Man, for a little white guy you  sure know your hoops." Hahaha. I jokingly told him I probably know more about it than  he does! So now they love it when we come by, when before they would usually just go into separate rooms. The next step is getting them to sit in on a lesson! Ruth: She is an older lady for whom we have been doing a lot of service. She is so grateful when we help her out. She was pretty closed off, but since we have been helping her recently she has been opening up  and actually becoming more interested in coming to church. It's been awesome  seeing her change! Weather Yep, it's summer again. It's been in the 100's quite a bit this week. Lucky us! Tornado Anniversary I find it quite confusing why they would hold graduation on Sunday, May 22 this year... I hope no one is superstitious... A lot of members have been asking me about the tornado recently. Home will definitely  be in my thoughts this Sunday. Can't believe it's been 5 years since that monster  rolled through. Anyway, that was my week! I hope all is going well for everyone. Keep praying and  loving one another. I'm looking forward to finding out who my new companion will  be next week! Elder Sumsion is looking forward to flying home! As of today, I will  be home in exactly 3 months. It's getting close! Too close! Much love, Elder Jones Buckeye 1st & Sundance Wards Arizona Phoenix Mission   3 months to go!! Max the Dalmatian The "Bro-District" Elders Sumsion, Jones, Weston, Price, Ockey, Thaut Tag Picture I have been begging for.

Under 100 Days!!---week 91, - 89 weeks in Phoenix Mission, - 4 weeks in Buckeye

Under 100 Days!!---week 91, 

- 89 weeks in Phoenix Mission, - 4 weeks in Buckeye

Dear friends and family,

We had a really great week. It was pretty crazy. I'll just get right into it.


Crazy Sunday
This Sunday was unlike any Sunday I've had on my mission. We were
asked to teach sharing time during primary in Sundance, both junior
and senior. So we were kinda stressing about that but we knew it would
be fun. We have Buckeye 1st Ward first, so we went to church and right
before sacrament meeting started we got a text at 9am from the
Sundance bishop asking if we could fill in for someone who cancelled
their sacrament meeting talk last minute. Uhhh, sure.... So we had an
hour to scramble together something to say. We spoke in sacrament
meeting—on Mother's Day—last minute. I felt pretty good about it,
considering I've spoken on either Mother's Day or Father's Day since I
was 12....including my mission. (I spoke on Father's Day last year...)
Then we went in to primary and spent church in there. Man, primary is
so fun! Kids have the sweetest testimonies. After church so many
people came up to us and thanked us for all we did. So we gained a ton
of trust in just one Sunday. Moral of the story: Help the ward! After
church we got to skype our families! It was great getting to see
everyone again. The next time I see them it will be in an airport!
That's such a crazy thought. Mother's Day was also my 100-days-left
milestone. Sunday was great.

Exchange
I led the area for the first time with Elder Price. I served with him
in Glendale, too, so it was a fun reunion. He got to meet most of our
investigators! We had a great lesson with Stephanie about the Plan of
Salvation. She had tons of questions that we were able to answer. She
said that she never understood Adam and Eve, and everything clicked
when we explained that it was part of God's plan. She has also never
understood why a loving God would only prepare two places: Heaven, or
Hell. She loved the idea of the Kingdoms of glory. She is reading the
Book of Mormon, the Bible, and the pamphlets we leave with her. She is
progressing well. We had dinner and watched the Joseph Smith movie
with another investigator, James, and his wife who is a member. Then
we helped Ruth, another investigator, clean up the remains of her yard
sale. In the rain. It was pretty miserable, but fun! (You won't
understand unless you're a missionary!)

Zone Conference
It wasn't my favorite meeting, but it was great. Our whole district
wore pink ties, pink wristbands, and pink socks in support of Elder
Price's mom who was just diagnosed with cancer. Here in the Buckeye
District we have true unity! The meeting was all about how we're
called to be "fishers of men." We need to keep our lines in the water
as much as we can so we can find those who have been prepared to
receive the gospel. President Griffin taught us more about how to work
better with members. He always relates it to his business in Montana.
I got to say goodbye to Elder Gardner, who will be going home in two
weeks. I'm gonna miss that guy. (Oh, and by the way, I drove all the
way up to Surprise on a major interstate. I know you don't believe it,
Mom!)

Weather
Well, it broke 100°F this week and I've never been more grateful to be
in a car. Haha!


That was my week, sorry it was a little short. We are teaching quite a
few people right now and I'm just loving it here in Buckeye. Thanks
for all the support you send me! Speaking of sending me things, SEND
ME A LETTER! Please!! :) My address is:

Elder Kevin Jones
23429 W. Hopi St
Buckeye, AZ 85326

Thanks for all your prayers. I love you all!


Elder Jones
Buckeye 1st & Sundance Wards
Arizona Phoenix Mission

 

 

Bye bye, Elder Gardner! :(

Elder Bryan w/ Elder Jones

Elders Thaut, Sumsion, Jones and Bryan

The district at zone conference! Elders Ockey, Weston, Price,
Thaut, Jones, Sumsion.

lunch

mukti Zone meeting

Mother's Day Skype

Our car! (Yes, Dad, I backed in.)

Temperature.....

Us at skype call from Kevin's end

 

Disappointment Central -Week 90- 88 Weeks in Phoenix mission- 3 weeks in Buckeye

Disappointment Central -Week 90- 

88 Weeks in Phoenix mission- 3 weeks in Buckeye

Dear friends and family,

Well this week was a huge disappointment. All is well, it just seemed like everything that could go wrong did go wrong! We had a couple good lessons which made this week alright. We also did some service for a couple people.

Elder Holland and Elder Robbins.....yeah about that.....
Thursday was the long awaited day that I would finally meet an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ! While on my mission I have been able  to meet various Seventies, Area Seventies, and other Church leaders. But Thursday the anticipation was thick because of the special guests—Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and Elder Lynn G. Robbins of the Presidency of the Seventy.  We arrived early to the Glendale North stake center and began to place ourselves for the picture when the Brethren would arrive. In walked Elder Robbins and President Griffin. They said Elder Holland's plane had a minor delay, and that he would be here shortly. We took the picture and filed into the chapel after meeting and shaking hands with Elder Robbins. I took my seat next to Elder Bryan—whom I miss dearly—and began preparing for the meeting. President Griffin got up to the pulpit to start the meeting and said, "Elders and Sisters, I have some disappointing news...Elder Holland's plane is still delayed.  He won't be able to make it in time for our meeting." We were all devastated. Elder Robbins told us that when Elder Holland heard that he wouldn't be able to make it to speak to us, he was devastated too.  The meeting went on and Elder Robbins taught very powerfully about agency and responsibility being linked together. The two doctrines cannot be separated. We have the agency to choose what we do, but we
don't have the agency to choose whether or not we are responsible. It was a GREAT discussion and it was well needed throughout the mission.  We could tell that Elder Robbins was trying to stall the meeting in hopes that Elder Holland would arrive in time to meet us. At about 4:45, Elder Robbins received an email that Elder Holland had landed in Phoenix and was 45 minutes away. We all got SO excited. Elder Robbins said that he had to close the meeting. We were all devastated again.  Twice in one day! He was coming to speak to the single adults in the area and wanted to speak to the missionaries before then. Just saying....we would have had plenty of time. But it wasn't my call! So we all went back to our areas, and a member of the Twelve Apostles arrived 10 minutes after we left. Talk about a heartbreak... Thank goodness Elder Robbins's message was on point.

Investigators
Our investigators are doing well. Stephanie is still keeping all of
her commitments which is so cool! She was wondering how she would recognize the Spirit when she prays about the Book of Mormon. We explained to her how the Spirit feels. I felt impressed to tell her that if she feels good when we come by, that's the Spirit speaking to her. Her eyes got big and she said, "I was just thinking about how I have been feeling since you guys started coming over....I feel so much better! I really want this to be true!" The Lord is showing Himself in her life which is so cool to watch.  Our other investigators are doing well, but not much to mention.

Service
We did lots of yard work this week. One was with a less active family.  He was really grateful and actually came to church yesterday! He's trying to get his life together and it seems like he's going to the right place to help. His son, Dalton, is 18 and also looking to do better. He is going to come with us to a few lessons this week which will be so fun! He's a nice guy!!


That's about all that happened. Have a great week!


Much love,


Elder Jones
Buckeye 1st & Sundance Wards
Arizona Phoenix Mission

Elder Jones and Elder Sumsion

storm is coming! Looks like MO!

The best apartmentship reunited at the mission conference with
(not)Elder Holland! Elder Clough, Thaut, me, and Rodriguez!

weekly selfie

Whole mission waiting for Elder Holland

Official Mission Picture