Jan 5,2011

Hola Hola Hola,

Well this is another instalment of the Elder Jolly mission story. Well Elder F is alright, not the most obedient but I am working on that with him. He will learn to be obedient and to love every second of it. The area is going great, I C and A's baptism was moved back to this sunday because we found out I lives in the Salt Lake City Mission so we had to go through so lengthy process to get that all worked out and to get approval, but everything is good to go now and he is crazy excited. Everytime we teach them they ask more and more questions and you can see the light in their eyes as they feel the Spirit. I spent tuesday and wed morning on splits with my district leader Elder H (very obedient love it!) and it was awesome. We had two appts last night, one was all in spanish so I taught the lesson because Elder H doesn't speak spanish but he can understand it pretty well. I am surprised at how well and fast my spanish is coming along (thanks to the help of the Spirit). I have had people ask me if I have been out for more than a year or if I studied it in college. When I tell them I learned it all in the past 4 months mostly the past 7 weeks they are blown away. The Spirit is the main teacher of spanish for me. But yes last night I taught the Restoration to E her bf P and her granddaughter E. My teaching was alright but the Restoration dvd was where the Spirit really touched them. At the end of the Movie both E's were almost in tears and the grandma asked her bf "So why do we go to the Catholic church?" I was shocked by that response. I explained the feeling I get when I watch the movie and E couldnt help but agree through her teary eyes. After that we had an Appt with C and A to teach A the Gospel of Jesus Christ in english. We didnt think I would be there so we were searching for a member to come with us but everyone was busy. I was told the Elders Quorum was having a presidency meeting at the building. I turned to Elder H and said we are going to the building, one of the members of the presidency will come out with us. I walked in and told them we needed one of them and so Hermano M accompanied us. I ended up being there though. An amazing lesson followed,it was one of those lessons described in Doctrine and Covenants where we all felt the Spirit so strong and we both rejoiced together. C described how as she continues to learn and feel the Spirit she sees how she can better her life. It is amazing to watch these people take steps to grow closer to God and to rejoice. Elder H after the day was over and we returned to our house said "That was fun, I haven't had a lesson as spiritual as that in a while". He said he wants to be my companion. We talked about obedience a lot and the importance of it as we teach other people. He told me I am on the "watch list" which means Pres. Miller is watching me to see how I would do in a leadership role. It is early in my mission so I dont want a leadership role anytime soon, but who knows. We are teaching N still, he is a new investigator. We taught him on sunday and we asked when we could return and he said monday morning. So we returned monday morning and taught him and he just kept asking questions because he was so interested and it lasted about 2 hrs but it was a great use of time. We are sending the Daily Dose couples over to teach him english because he wants to learn. I had a check up appt with Dr. Jones and my results came back negative. He checked me all out and said I am perfectly healthy and good to go. I now have my driving privilages back!!!

    I hope everything goes great with the adoption papers and that Bernie and Rich are able to enter the temple soon.  4 months gone 1/6 of my mission crazy how time flies. Thanks Bernie and Rich for the package and you too Brenda, your packages and letters are always a great pick me up. I never have a lot of time to write letters but I will try and send one out in the next 2 weeks, hopefully I can find time today.  Anyways I hope you all had a great christmas and I am sorry I couldnt be there to entertain you all for christmas. Did you get a chance to look at the photos I sent home? I will be sending home a few more in a few weeks with more baptism photos. Oh mom if you find time can you go to vistaprint.com and make some business cards for me with my mission info and home info and stuff that I can give to the people in the wards I serve in and converts that I want to keep in touch with. I love the mission field and there is no other place I would rather be and need to be. Next week I will tell you about the baptisms and Elder L. Tom Perry's talk and how I got to meet him and shake his hand and talk with him for a little bit. Stay strong, pray always, read the scriptures and attend church. Those are the keys to blessings in this life and happiness in the life to come.

 

Love,

Elder Jolly