hey there cute fam-
thanks so much for the emails, i am so glad to hear that things are going well and that you are getting everything pulled together for the holidays and i am glad to hear that you have the new tree all put together, so sad we had to put the other one to its grave last year after many years but this one will function much better for you old folks with the pre lit lights haha. to answer your question i did get one of the boxes!!!! thank you so much, i will be well makeupd and will enjoy my treats and of course the great socks for next winter.... i am boiling right now though.
well it has been a good week, we had our christmas mission conference on friday which was really great, always gives me more motivation is a great recharge. one of the senior mission couples talked at the very end and it was really cute. they were only called to serve english speaking in the offices for 6 months but when they were here they were assigned to serve in a ward that is struggling a bit and were sent off to serve a full time mission.... no spanish and all. they struggled to give their testimonies in spanish but it was really so sweet to hear them. we had a lunch with everyone and they served us stuffed chicken and sent us off with a bag of goodies... yummmm. got to see all my old comps and hermana thompson brought me stuff from some of the cute families i taught in maldonado. the calamaris family, of richard and paola, made me a video with new baby claudio, and the moirera family sent a letter that was so sweet it put me to tears. we were teaching ¨the abuela¨ and she was baptized a few weeks ago and sent me a letter to tell me all about it. hermana thompson keeps me up to date every week with a letter about the old area, i love those people and miss them tonz!!! speaking of that i was in church yesterday just chatting with someone when i caught a familiar face out of the corner of my eye, it was my DOM of my old ward in Maldonado, or the member who is in charge of helping with the missionary work within the ward, and then right behind him was his wife and baby!!!! they had taken a bus to come and suprise me and bring me a christmas gift. made me cry like a little baby but i was so so happy to see them, they are a family that will always be really close to my heart. so my christmas has been filled with some really great suprises already.
well if its not chicken pox..... its fleas.... yuck, yet another adventure. we have a flea problem right now and i look like i am back to chicken pox. there is someone from our ward that is going to come and spray our house tomorrow while we are out working so everything can settle while we are gone. guess its a big problem during the summer in this area because of the tall weedy grass and the heat and humidity... they reproduce really quickly. the problem started a few nights ago and i could feel them crawling and i was scratching like mad so i finally got up and tore the sheets off my bed and just laid on my matress. good thing we are getting it taken care of because we cant sleep with them either!!!! well guess its another adventure to add to the book.
well we found this really cute woman named clarita that we are teaching... haha honestly i dont know where it is going to go. she is a beautiful old woman that is about 75 with white hair and blue eyes. really i think that she just likes talking to us but we will see. we went to visit her this morning and she came out to the gate in her swim suit. while we were saying the closing prayer she started out with a prayer and then she just started saying... well i have no idea.... she went totally off topic, and then she started having a conversation with her eyes closed and her head down and then out of no where just opened her eyes and started talking, cant really explain but it was really cute and funny. i still had my eyes closed and head down until my comp nudged me and clarita was in full conversation with us. but ya she is adorable. we have found some really great families that were great contacts as well that we are going to go back to this week. things are really rough and slow right now but i am trying to work on my patience. i read this talk by one of the church leaders named Elder Uchtdorf called Continue in Patience, highly suggest you look it up and read it, its amazing. i have probably read it at least 7 times now and have needed something different from it each time. He says ¨Patience is the ability to put our desires on hold¨ I am truly learning to accept the Lord´s will and timing, i fall short every time but i have to be patient with myself as well. i know that as long as i am doing my part 100 percent that everything else will come with the Lords timing.
well cute fam, cant wait to talk to you. i tried to send a little box off to you today but when we went to the correo someone had broken in over night so they were closed... and i took that as i dont trust the mailing system here for this box to get to you so i am giong to save it until i get home.... sorry charlie, but its really great so i dont want it to get lost in the mail. but anyway, love you tonz, miss you always, and cant wait to hear your sweet voices. send foxy a smooch and tell her she is allotted a few barks. love you millions and zillions and trillions- monkey
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
December 13
thanks for the email updates!
on our way to the cyber we just saw a moto accident, motorcycle that is, scary stuff........
so glad to hear that you have plans to go see the minnesota fam poppy and that auntie holly and the boys are going to come and visit mama, that sounds like a fun little trade. give them all my love okay??? its true poppy, aunnie and auntie marilyn are a HUGE blessing, dont know what we would do without them. how great is it to have family to take care grandma and grandpa. we went to an old folks home this week and sang some christmas songs and they were so happy!!!
okay okay now i understand the whole retirement deal... sounds like a pretty good plan you have going, but also sounds like you are retiring one job to work more in another... kind of kills the word retirement haha. mamas baking ahhhh!!!!! i miss the smell of the house with all her baking for the business at this time of year, enjoy it for me!!!
well today i officially have 7 months in the mission!!! wow the time passes so fast, each change goes by faster.
this past week was really good, we were able to do intercambios with the other two hermanas that we live with and i went with Hermana Enamorado in her area and the other, Hermana Puentes worked with my companion in our area for a day. It was SO good and I learned a ton, Hermana Enamorado is an amazing person and missionary. I really felt that that intercambio took place for a reason, i figured out so much by teaching with her for just one day.
My companion and i are continuing to look for new people to teach, we had some really great lessons this week and found some really great new people that are interested to hear more about our message. Its a fight to find people but it is such a good lesson of patience for me. I think i have been so used to things moving so fast in life that it has been hard to realize that we will be blessed if we can have patience. If i continue to do my part the Lord will do His, reminds me of a quote that says something along the lines of pray like it all depends on the Lord, but work like it all depends on you. I really feel that I am learning to trust in the Lord and His timing.
This friday we are having a mission Christmas conference, i am super excited!!!! The conferences are always great, and i am so excited to see my old companions as well of course!!
well earlier this week during my study i came accross a scripture that i have read plenty of times before, but that took a new meaning to me. it is in John 15 verses 1-13 really. but i am just going to quote a few of them. Jesus is comparing himself to a vine and us as the branches of the vine, it reads ¨abide in me, and I in you. As the branch itself cannot bear fruit itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches; He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit; for without me ya can do nothing..... As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you : continue ye in my love.... if ye keep my commandments ye shall abide in my love.¨ wow oh wow i love this scripture, i was truly able to read it at just the point i needed to. I know that without Christ I am nothing and that if I put my trust in Him and do everything I can I will be able to bring forth fruit.
well i love you millions and zillions and trillions, love you so much and hope that you are all doing so well. xoxoxoxoxoxo- Jess
on our way to the cyber we just saw a moto accident, motorcycle that is, scary stuff........
so glad to hear that you have plans to go see the minnesota fam poppy and that auntie holly and the boys are going to come and visit mama, that sounds like a fun little trade. give them all my love okay??? its true poppy, aunnie and auntie marilyn are a HUGE blessing, dont know what we would do without them. how great is it to have family to take care grandma and grandpa. we went to an old folks home this week and sang some christmas songs and they were so happy!!!
okay okay now i understand the whole retirement deal... sounds like a pretty good plan you have going, but also sounds like you are retiring one job to work more in another... kind of kills the word retirement haha. mamas baking ahhhh!!!!! i miss the smell of the house with all her baking for the business at this time of year, enjoy it for me!!!
well today i officially have 7 months in the mission!!! wow the time passes so fast, each change goes by faster.
this past week was really good, we were able to do intercambios with the other two hermanas that we live with and i went with Hermana Enamorado in her area and the other, Hermana Puentes worked with my companion in our area for a day. It was SO good and I learned a ton, Hermana Enamorado is an amazing person and missionary. I really felt that that intercambio took place for a reason, i figured out so much by teaching with her for just one day.
My companion and i are continuing to look for new people to teach, we had some really great lessons this week and found some really great new people that are interested to hear more about our message. Its a fight to find people but it is such a good lesson of patience for me. I think i have been so used to things moving so fast in life that it has been hard to realize that we will be blessed if we can have patience. If i continue to do my part the Lord will do His, reminds me of a quote that says something along the lines of pray like it all depends on the Lord, but work like it all depends on you. I really feel that I am learning to trust in the Lord and His timing.
This friday we are having a mission Christmas conference, i am super excited!!!! The conferences are always great, and i am so excited to see my old companions as well of course!!
well earlier this week during my study i came accross a scripture that i have read plenty of times before, but that took a new meaning to me. it is in John 15 verses 1-13 really. but i am just going to quote a few of them. Jesus is comparing himself to a vine and us as the branches of the vine, it reads ¨abide in me, and I in you. As the branch itself cannot bear fruit itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches; He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit; for without me ya can do nothing..... As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you : continue ye in my love.... if ye keep my commandments ye shall abide in my love.¨ wow oh wow i love this scripture, i was truly able to read it at just the point i needed to. I know that without Christ I am nothing and that if I put my trust in Him and do everything I can I will be able to bring forth fruit.
well i love you millions and zillions and trillions, love you so much and hope that you are all doing so well. xoxoxoxoxoxo- Jess
Thursday, December 2, 2010
November 30, 2010
hey there!!!!
i cant thank you enough for the emails... my companion hasnt received an email from her parents in over a month now so i feel extremely blessed. thank you for your love and support.
ahh i cant believe how much it is snowing there!!! that is so nuts!!! enjoy it!! i hope thanksgiving was wonderful, i totally forgot that it was thanksgiving until my old comp sent me a message, haha, but i live with three latinas so they didnt know either. hope you ate enough candied yams to last you till next year... that is one of the first things i want, marshmallows dont exist here!!!! poppy thanks so much for doing the shopping, you are a dad with a fashion sense, blessing in disguise. i am a bit worried that you said you bought pumps though... that means with heals and we walk all day but i am sure everything will be just fine. you are the best!!!!! im sorry you didnt find the backpack and bought a new one!!! well you are definitely going to make my companions christmas, i am not sure she will get anything so you are going to put a huge smile on her face. i am so greatful to be here for that very reason though, to be able to teach people that this life is just preparation to meet our Heavenly Father, there is a great plan for him. thanks so much for everything!!! hey only 25 more days till we can talk on the phone!!!!! yeeehawwww!!!! oh i didnt tell you, katie taylor (baker) is pregnant with a baby boy!!!! just got the final news that it is a boy, so if you see her give her a huge hug for me....dont know that that will happen but just wanted to share the good news with you, that i will be an auntie in a few months.... hehe.
well where to start.... i really feel like i have stepped into europe... who new that one country could carry so many different types of people, varying the missionary work alot. this area is really hard, really slow. its hard to not really be able to see the fruits when i feel like i am working so hard, i know everything will come, its just a matter of being patient. most people in my other area believed in God in one way or another, but here i would say the majority are athesit and have no interest in what we have to say. the Lord sure stretches us throughout our missions, every area and every companion bring something new to our lives, something we need to learn, and ways to grow and change. one of my favorite scriptures states that the Lord gives unto us our weaknesses so that we can be humble, and through the Lords help he can make our weaknesses into our strengths. i know this is possible if we put our trust in the Lord. haha i thought before the mission that i was a patient person... i had no idea what patience is!! i still dont but i am learning slowly but surely... its all a matter of patience.
we did find a woman this last week named Luisa while walking in the street. she recently lost her husbund due to bone cancer and her daughter last year due to a flu. we have been teaching her this past week and poor thing she is really a wreck. when we met her we asked her if she believed in God, she started crying and answered more or less and then told us what had just happend. we shared a bit with her and then met up with her at her house a few days later. she has been doing better but is in a really difficult time in her life right now. ill keep ya updated on how she is doing.
well i love you to pieces. attached are some pics!!!! i cant remember the order but are of some families i taught in my last area, a few members, the baptism of the Izaguirre family, me and Juan, and me and my comp... oh we have bikes finally!!!! i fixed mine because it was busted.... expensive. one petal, brakes dont work, sounds like its gonna fall apart when i ride it but oh man i have never been happier to have a crappy bike before, i cant even explain how huge this area is. (dont worry about the brakes... since i know you will... i am really careful and always wear my helmet and ride at snail speed) love you, talk to you next week!! muah!!!! -jess
i cant thank you enough for the emails... my companion hasnt received an email from her parents in over a month now so i feel extremely blessed. thank you for your love and support.
ahh i cant believe how much it is snowing there!!! that is so nuts!!! enjoy it!! i hope thanksgiving was wonderful, i totally forgot that it was thanksgiving until my old comp sent me a message, haha, but i live with three latinas so they didnt know either. hope you ate enough candied yams to last you till next year... that is one of the first things i want, marshmallows dont exist here!!!! poppy thanks so much for doing the shopping, you are a dad with a fashion sense, blessing in disguise. i am a bit worried that you said you bought pumps though... that means with heals and we walk all day but i am sure everything will be just fine. you are the best!!!!! im sorry you didnt find the backpack and bought a new one!!! well you are definitely going to make my companions christmas, i am not sure she will get anything so you are going to put a huge smile on her face. i am so greatful to be here for that very reason though, to be able to teach people that this life is just preparation to meet our Heavenly Father, there is a great plan for him. thanks so much for everything!!! hey only 25 more days till we can talk on the phone!!!!! yeeehawwww!!!! oh i didnt tell you, katie taylor (baker) is pregnant with a baby boy!!!! just got the final news that it is a boy, so if you see her give her a huge hug for me....dont know that that will happen but just wanted to share the good news with you, that i will be an auntie in a few months.... hehe.
well where to start.... i really feel like i have stepped into europe... who new that one country could carry so many different types of people, varying the missionary work alot. this area is really hard, really slow. its hard to not really be able to see the fruits when i feel like i am working so hard, i know everything will come, its just a matter of being patient. most people in my other area believed in God in one way or another, but here i would say the majority are athesit and have no interest in what we have to say. the Lord sure stretches us throughout our missions, every area and every companion bring something new to our lives, something we need to learn, and ways to grow and change. one of my favorite scriptures states that the Lord gives unto us our weaknesses so that we can be humble, and through the Lords help he can make our weaknesses into our strengths. i know this is possible if we put our trust in the Lord. haha i thought before the mission that i was a patient person... i had no idea what patience is!! i still dont but i am learning slowly but surely... its all a matter of patience.
we did find a woman this last week named Luisa while walking in the street. she recently lost her husbund due to bone cancer and her daughter last year due to a flu. we have been teaching her this past week and poor thing she is really a wreck. when we met her we asked her if she believed in God, she started crying and answered more or less and then told us what had just happend. we shared a bit with her and then met up with her at her house a few days later. she has been doing better but is in a really difficult time in her life right now. ill keep ya updated on how she is doing.
well i love you to pieces. attached are some pics!!!! i cant remember the order but are of some families i taught in my last area, a few members, the baptism of the Izaguirre family, me and Juan, and me and my comp... oh we have bikes finally!!!! i fixed mine because it was busted.... expensive. one petal, brakes dont work, sounds like its gonna fall apart when i ride it but oh man i have never been happier to have a crappy bike before, i cant even explain how huge this area is. (dont worry about the brakes... since i know you will... i am really careful and always wear my helmet and ride at snail speed) love you, talk to you next week!! muah!!!! -jess
November 22, 2010
hey there-
i cant believe that it is snowing there!!! well i guess i know that is happening but i cant even imagine it with how much sun we have here. wow enjoy it for me will you, i am definitely going to miss a white christmas and a good ski season, but i will get that next year. wow you are all about to have thanksgiving eh??? well sad news for you... remember how that is an american holiday... haha sorry poppy but to answer your question i will be workin like usual, they dont celebrate thanksgiving here, no worries though i eat as much here on a daily basis as i would on thanksgiving so im not starving. but do enjoy it for me and give the fam my love. i know the minnesota kubs will cheating and having their usual double thanksgiving for lunch and dinner yum yum!! buddy enjoy some good old tofurky for me... hehe. i am going to miss you all like crazy, but the church members here are going to take good care of us and we already have some invitations to eat for christmas. i have something for you that i was going to send home with my old zone leader to deliver to you but the man who is making it in my old area got really sick and was hospitalized so he just started working on it, so sorry it wont be there on time.
well greetings from salinas, my new area. wow i must admit i kind of feel in a sense like i started over, the nervousness, not knowing anything or anyone, feeling really lost but i am getting there, i am sure i will get to know it faster than i did the first time in maldonado. poppy no worries, my address is the same, everything goes to the mission home and then they ship it to us. well like i said my new companion is Hermana Rodriguez, she is from El Salvador and is really such a sweet girl. she is very quiet and soft spoken which is a reverse from hermana thompson, so my life is a bit more quiet but we are getting along great. she really wants to learn english so we are working on her telling me stories in english to help her improve. this new area... man is hard, it is super slow and hard to find people to talk to. the people here are generally more wealthy than those in maldonado, there are still areas that are poor, but thier living conditions are much much better. people are usually really nice when they reject us... but finding people that want to listen is a bit like pulling teeth. but i know the Lord will never give us things that we cannot handle, and he will put people in our path, its going to be a learning experience, thats for sure. i am going to learn alot about patience and that everything comes in the Lords time as long as we are doing our part. its just really weird going from Maldonado where we were able to see some really amazing things happen and have really steady people we were teaching to this area which is really dead. also i thought my area in maldonado was huge and we walked a ton but geez, this is probably double, its really great to come home tired but wow....
well my companions family is having a difficult time financially and she has no money from home to buy anything and i was wondering, because her shoes are completely falling apart, if you can send some shoes, flat and durable, like the ones i have, size 8, doesnt need to be fancy, just hit up nordstrom rack again. and also, my old backpack that i have for school, it is orange and should be in my stuff that you moved, hers is falling apart and the one i have at home is practically new, promise i will pay you back. i would buy it here but the quality of the stuff here is really bad and doesnt last. if you cant i understand, if at least you can send the backpack that would be great.
well i know this isnt anything really exciting, but know that i am doing well and am alive. i love you all to pieces and you are always in my prayers. tell everyone i say hello and that i love them. much love-jess
i cant believe that it is snowing there!!! well i guess i know that is happening but i cant even imagine it with how much sun we have here. wow enjoy it for me will you, i am definitely going to miss a white christmas and a good ski season, but i will get that next year. wow you are all about to have thanksgiving eh??? well sad news for you... remember how that is an american holiday... haha sorry poppy but to answer your question i will be workin like usual, they dont celebrate thanksgiving here, no worries though i eat as much here on a daily basis as i would on thanksgiving so im not starving. but do enjoy it for me and give the fam my love. i know the minnesota kubs will cheating and having their usual double thanksgiving for lunch and dinner yum yum!! buddy enjoy some good old tofurky for me... hehe. i am going to miss you all like crazy, but the church members here are going to take good care of us and we already have some invitations to eat for christmas. i have something for you that i was going to send home with my old zone leader to deliver to you but the man who is making it in my old area got really sick and was hospitalized so he just started working on it, so sorry it wont be there on time.
well greetings from salinas, my new area. wow i must admit i kind of feel in a sense like i started over, the nervousness, not knowing anything or anyone, feeling really lost but i am getting there, i am sure i will get to know it faster than i did the first time in maldonado. poppy no worries, my address is the same, everything goes to the mission home and then they ship it to us. well like i said my new companion is Hermana Rodriguez, she is from El Salvador and is really such a sweet girl. she is very quiet and soft spoken which is a reverse from hermana thompson, so my life is a bit more quiet but we are getting along great. she really wants to learn english so we are working on her telling me stories in english to help her improve. this new area... man is hard, it is super slow and hard to find people to talk to. the people here are generally more wealthy than those in maldonado, there are still areas that are poor, but thier living conditions are much much better. people are usually really nice when they reject us... but finding people that want to listen is a bit like pulling teeth. but i know the Lord will never give us things that we cannot handle, and he will put people in our path, its going to be a learning experience, thats for sure. i am going to learn alot about patience and that everything comes in the Lords time as long as we are doing our part. its just really weird going from Maldonado where we were able to see some really amazing things happen and have really steady people we were teaching to this area which is really dead. also i thought my area in maldonado was huge and we walked a ton but geez, this is probably double, its really great to come home tired but wow....
well my companions family is having a difficult time financially and she has no money from home to buy anything and i was wondering, because her shoes are completely falling apart, if you can send some shoes, flat and durable, like the ones i have, size 8, doesnt need to be fancy, just hit up nordstrom rack again. and also, my old backpack that i have for school, it is orange and should be in my stuff that you moved, hers is falling apart and the one i have at home is practically new, promise i will pay you back. i would buy it here but the quality of the stuff here is really bad and doesnt last. if you cant i understand, if at least you can send the backpack that would be great.
well i know this isnt anything really exciting, but know that i am doing well and am alive. i love you all to pieces and you are always in my prayers. tell everyone i say hello and that i love them. much love-jess
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