Y'all Boys

 

Well well well - - -

It's my first week in South Carolina. First time being on a plane and it's the farthest I've been away from home. Well, I flew out Wednesday at 6 am, had a stop in Dallas then flew to South Carolina. I got here and just chilled in a stake center from like 2-7, it was kinda boring and I was not used to the humidity and so it was killer hot. We stayed in a hotel that night, I was in the same room as Elder Teller (an elder from my MTC district) so that was hype. 

On Thursday we got assigned our trainers. My trainer is Elder Weiss from Gilbert Arizona. He's a pretty cool guy, he's pretty chill and he and I got along pretty well. This week we were able to do some service, have dinner at a member's house, go to a wars Halloween party, and a couple other things.

We met with a member that is actually in a band. It's called the moth and the flame. So go check it out haha they came out with a song the other day so go listen to it haha. 

We were able to attend a baptism and it was such a cool experience. The guy that was being baptized had a stroke and so he was paralyzed on his left side. He was in a wheelchair and all and it was so cool to see how eager he was to be baptized. 

On Saturday we were invited to go play some golf with the elders' quorum presidency and at first, I was a little hesitant. We went and for the first bit, I was wondering why we were wasting our time golfing not on a p day. At about hole 3 or 4 I remembered a story that my MTC teacher Hermana Nelson shared with our class. She shared that on a normal day she and her companion went to a friend's house and spent 4 hours with them making food. She had the same feelings I did of not wanting to do it since it seemed like she was wasting her time. But for her, they ended up gaining so much of their trust they were able to create a connection that allowed this family to invite others into their home and share more about the gospel with them and their friends. I remembered this and then I was able to enjoy myself. I was then able to talk more openly and have a good time and create a bond with the members in the ward. It was a good time. 

Well, this week has been good, way different than what I thought it was gonna be like and something like I've never done before. And it's awesome but just a little bit stressful so I'm doing my best. 

But I did finish the Book of Mormon yesterday!! I finished it in 20 days and it was such an amazing experience! My testimony grew so much in Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon! It is the best book!

Hope you all have a grand week!!

ELDER JONES

p.s. I was able to see elder Denning from high school on Saturday and it was hype (and yes I forgot a tie.. a rookie mistake).

Elder AJones: Week Number Two

One great thing about Home MTC is to get a Friday night visit from
missionaries I know and love: Elder Matthews and Elder Lucero

Wow.

It has been such a good week of the MTC.

This week started off great. On Tuesday, I got my reassignment and I couldn't be happier. I got reassigned to COLUMBIA SOUTH CAROLINA!!! I'm so excited to be able to serve and teach the people of South Carolina. I know the Lord needs me there and I'm so very willing to go. An Elder and an Hermana from my district are also going to South Carolina and they're both awesome!

Meet my District

This week flew by. It's crazy how fast time flies by in the MTC. Just constantly busy with classes or studies or trying to learn Spanish. But it is honestly so much fun. My district is just getting better every day. We just have a good time in our classes and it's so much fun getting to get to know them better every single day.

This week my companion, Elder Rees, and I taught our first lessons. They were in English so that was a relief. We taught a woman named Aubrie. We gave two lessons, one on Thursday and one on Friday. Might I say teaching is so much harder than you think it is. It's completely different than giving a lesson in Priesthood and teaching someone who doesn't know literally anything about the gospel. 

The first lesson we taught was on the Family: A Proclamation to the World. It went terrible. We didn't share any scriptures or anything. And we only brought up Jesus Christ-like once!! So ya it wasn't good like at all. But then on Friday we decided to teach her about the Restoration of the Gospel and Joseph Smith. We followed a lesson plan from Preach My Gospel and I just have to say WOW. The lesson went great! The Spirit was so strong and it was amazing to testify of Jesus Christ and of Joseph Smith.

Here's a quick quote from President Thomas S. Monson, "There is absolutely nothing in this world that will provide more comfort and happiness than a testimony of the truth [of the Restored Gospel]."

This week has been amazing. I've learned so much and I have felt happier than ever. I can testify to the words of President Monson. I'm so happy to be a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I am so happy to be able to serve the Lord every day. It is an amazing feeling.

Hope you all have a great week!