Tuesday, May 31, 2016

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!









Wednesday, May 25, 2016

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


 

Tuesday, May 17, 2016

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



Monday, May 9, 2016

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
 










Monday, May 2, 2016

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