They have hundreds of pictures of different missions in every building, in every hallway here! They line the halls with them!
This one is....finally, PARAGUAY!!!! (Hermana Willnauer and I)
Monday, November 21, 2011
Pics of the food Mom?! You got it!
They have so much ice cream here too!!! Don't worry though, I have actually lost weight...probably from stress.
I will gain it all back when they have BYU Gram Canyon ice cream again though!
The food really messes with your insides...if you know what I mean!
P.S. Look at that NAME TAG!
Thank you!!!
All of the letters, pictures and packages mean a lot....and mom thank you for the package from Uncle Jim and Aunt Luwain. I can't even explain how badly I wanted something smelly. :-)
My roomates wanted to cry, they were so happy about the wall flower, and the "thin mints" are my favorite!
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Hermana Applegate - She is from a small farm town in Colorado, Political Science Major, and our Senior Companion. She keeps Hermana Willnauer & I in line when we can't stop laughing. Hermana Willnauer - is from Kansas City.
We are each very different (well maybe not Herm. W & I), but the Lord has put us together & we feed off of each other's strenths. I Love my Companions!!!!
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Week 7(Nov 11, 2011): Needing to Rely on the Father
Dear family...
Mom, Dad, Jessica, Nick, Spencer, Caden, Grandma, Grandpa... and everyone else :)
I hope you are all doing well! I sure do love each of you. A week really does feel like only a day on the mission. I can't believe how fast time flies. Okay so what about this week..? Hmm -
Well for starters, this weeks devotional was given by Elder and Sister Gavarret. They both served missions in Paraguay and Uruguay and are from South America. Elder Gavarret is a member of the Quorum of the Seventy. Elder Gavarret was also the mission president of Paraguay Asuncion!! How neat is that? At the end of both of their talks, they bore testimony in Spanish and Guarani (the native language of the Paraguay people!) So afterwards, my district and I went up to talk to him and his wife and as they were leaving, Elder Gavarret said a bunch of things in Spanish, and we were all so nervous or SOMETHING that the only word in Spanish that we could remember was "gracias" which all 11 or so of us shouted to him in unison as he was leaving the gymnasium. I am sure he is worried now for President Callen... our mission president in Paraguay. Hahaha
Some of my favorite scriptures this week have been Ether 12 and 2 Nephi 4. I can't remember the verse in 2 nephi, but in it we are taught about how God created things to act and to be acted upon. A little background with this story...Okay and my companion, Hermana Willnauer got a letter the other day from a mutual friend who is serving a mission in Guatemala. She is always very happy but is really struggling in her mission. This just made me worried because I feel like a mission YES will be hard, but that it shouldn't be this thing that you are trying to "survive". Anyways... this was just another reason that I was grateful for my India trip. I had, before I left, promised Heavenly Father that I wasn't going to complain... not even the tiniest bit because I wanted to make sure that I got all that I could out of it. And I did that and I was able to feel the spirit so many times and learn so many lessons while I was there because of my Savior and because I decided That was the blessing that I wanted...
And it is the same and will be the same when I leave for the field in just two weeks. Heavenly Father has given us our agency... he has given us weaknesses for our benefit so that we can rely on Him and continue to be strengthened through His Son's atonement and we work faithfully and diligently. I know that this gospel is true and that our Father in Heaven loves us and has a perfect plan for each of his children. We are not alone. I love Him and I love my Savior. And I love you.
Te quiero,
Hermana Natasha Jones
Mom, Dad, Jessica, Nick, Spencer, Caden, Grandma, Grandpa... and everyone else :)
I hope you are all doing well! I sure do love each of you. A week really does feel like only a day on the mission. I can't believe how fast time flies. Okay so what about this week..? Hmm -
Well for starters, this weeks devotional was given by Elder and Sister Gavarret. They both served missions in Paraguay and Uruguay and are from South America. Elder Gavarret is a member of the Quorum of the Seventy. Elder Gavarret was also the mission president of Paraguay Asuncion!! How neat is that? At the end of both of their talks, they bore testimony in Spanish and Guarani (the native language of the Paraguay people!) So afterwards, my district and I went up to talk to him and his wife and as they were leaving, Elder Gavarret said a bunch of things in Spanish, and we were all so nervous or SOMETHING that the only word in Spanish that we could remember was "gracias" which all 11 or so of us shouted to him in unison as he was leaving the gymnasium. I am sure he is worried now for President Callen... our mission president in Paraguay. Hahaha
Some of my favorite scriptures this week have been Ether 12 and 2 Nephi 4. I can't remember the verse in 2 nephi, but in it we are taught about how God created things to act and to be acted upon. A little background with this story...Okay and my companion, Hermana Willnauer got a letter the other day from a mutual friend who is serving a mission in Guatemala. She is always very happy but is really struggling in her mission. This just made me worried because I feel like a mission YES will be hard, but that it shouldn't be this thing that you are trying to "survive". Anyways... this was just another reason that I was grateful for my India trip. I had, before I left, promised Heavenly Father that I wasn't going to complain... not even the tiniest bit because I wanted to make sure that I got all that I could out of it. And I did that and I was able to feel the spirit so many times and learn so many lessons while I was there because of my Savior and because I decided That was the blessing that I wanted...
And it is the same and will be the same when I leave for the field in just two weeks. Heavenly Father has given us our agency... he has given us weaknesses for our benefit so that we can rely on Him and continue to be strengthened through His Son's atonement and we work faithfully and diligently. I know that this gospel is true and that our Father in Heaven loves us and has a perfect plan for each of his children. We are not alone. I love Him and I love my Savior. And I love you.
Te quiero,
Hermana Natasha Jones
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Week 6 (Nov 4, 2011): Becoming Friends with My Companions
Dear family,
I sure do love all of you. Thank you for all of your prayers and support. I can feel the strength that comes from prayers each day. This week we have been working with our investigators Rojelio, Miguel, and Thomas. Through all of these lessons I am learning so much better how to work in a companionship. Not just with one other person, but with three!!! Heavenly Father has blessed me so much though. Sometimes it is really hard to teach as a "trio" because we all think so differently, but it is helping us to learn to work together as a team even more because we NEVER loose sight of each other!!! haha and it is just really good preparation for the field. Three and a half more weeks... can you believe it?! Oh yea, Heavenly Father has blessed me so much though with my companions. They have become my best best friends. I can rely on them, and know that we are each trying to do our best and build up the companionship. It is so true that . I can completely be myself with them...well one, that comes with being around someone for five weeks straight! But also, we just have a lot of fun together. They are through and through really strong people and I couldn't be more grateful for companions that I am such good friends with.
So some things that happened this week:
On Tuesday, one of our teachers, Brother Talataina, told us about how the Prophet, President Thomas S. Monson came to speak to everyone at BYU!!! We thought for sure that our devotional that night would be the prophet. Tons of Elders and Sister rushed through dinner to go and stand in line for the devotional early. Some our Elders went early to save seats. Hermana Applegate was on a comp switch with some other sisters to be in the choir (they have choir that you can participate in every Sunday and Tuesday!! sometimes I don't do it though because you have to leave class a little early during lang. study on Tuesdays)... anyways so when Hermana Willnauer and I got to the doors it was body to body Elders and everyone was Freaking out! We wanted to get there so early so 1. we could sit really close to the Prophet, and 2. we would get to shake his hand afterwards! When they opened the doors, it was like when they are opening a store for black Friday. No joke. Some Elder's around us were like "Push and shove, everybody, push and shove... just don't touch an Hermana!" hahah. Anyways, Hermana Willnauer and I decided it was a good thing it wasn't the Prophet because he would have been so ashamed!!! hahah
It was a member of the quorum of the seventy, Elder Zwick, and his wife! He and his wife talked about prayer and once again, I forgot my notes, but I will try and remember them for next week so that I can share some of their thoughts with you. It was so good, I love hearing from 1. the Lord's servants and 2. the testimonies of good and honest people.
Oh ya. And it snowed!!! Wait. you probably already knew that because Jess is in Provo too... hahah I always forget that.
Oh and Grandma and Grandpa, a member of the Branch Presidency and his wife sat with us for dinner and somehow Wallace and Gromit came up. They were very impressed that I knew the names of each of the characters and movies and no one else did. Brother Malan was so excited... so I just had to tell you thank you haha
Mom- I had to play for sacrament meeting the other day... got to. And it was so bad!!!! hahah but I was so grateful that I knew how to play... that will probably happen more often in Paraguay, no?!
Spanish is going well... I am learning more and more each day ONLY through a LOT of help from Heavenly Father. Actually let me restate that... ONLY through Heavenly Father's help. I saw one of my friends from Freshman year who works here and she is from Mexico. I talked to her in Spanish for like half an hour!!! She said that my Spanish was really good, but she was probably trying not to laugh... hahah. But really, the Lord helps us so much. I continue to carry my dictionary with my everywhere and trust that as I continually look up every single word I can and use the language as much as I can He will help me to remember the words to say. Dad, it is funny though as you were talking about Caden and his letters the other day and how he mixes up his p's and b's... I am at his level right now communication wise!!! hahah I am almost out of time, so I will write some in Spanish next Friday :)
A favorite scripture I loved studying this week was John 17. Thank you for sharing all of your thoughts and scriptures with me Mom, Dad, and Jess and everyone.... they mean a lot to me and sometimes are the answer to prayers.
Lovyou alll soooo much.... MUCHO MUCHO MAS... TE AMO
Hermana Natasha Jones
I sure do love all of you. Thank you for all of your prayers and support. I can feel the strength that comes from prayers each day. This week we have been working with our investigators Rojelio, Miguel, and Thomas. Through all of these lessons I am learning so much better how to work in a companionship. Not just with one other person, but with three!!! Heavenly Father has blessed me so much though. Sometimes it is really hard to teach as a "trio" because we all think so differently, but it is helping us to learn to work together as a team even more because we NEVER loose sight of each other!!! haha and it is just really good preparation for the field. Three and a half more weeks... can you believe it?! Oh yea, Heavenly Father has blessed me so much though with my companions. They have become my best best friends. I can rely on them, and know that we are each trying to do our best and build up the companionship. It is so true that . I can completely be myself with them...well one, that comes with being around someone for five weeks straight! But also, we just have a lot of fun together. They are through and through really strong people and I couldn't be more grateful for companions that I am such good friends with.
So some things that happened this week:
On Tuesday, one of our teachers, Brother Talataina, told us about how the Prophet, President Thomas S. Monson came to speak to everyone at BYU!!! We thought for sure that our devotional that night would be the prophet. Tons of Elders and Sister rushed through dinner to go and stand in line for the devotional early. Some our Elders went early to save seats. Hermana Applegate was on a comp switch with some other sisters to be in the choir (they have choir that you can participate in every Sunday and Tuesday!! sometimes I don't do it though because you have to leave class a little early during lang. study on Tuesdays)... anyways so when Hermana Willnauer and I got to the doors it was body to body Elders and everyone was Freaking out! We wanted to get there so early so 1. we could sit really close to the Prophet, and 2. we would get to shake his hand afterwards! When they opened the doors, it was like when they are opening a store for black Friday. No joke. Some Elder's around us were like "Push and shove, everybody, push and shove... just don't touch an Hermana!" hahah. Anyways, Hermana Willnauer and I decided it was a good thing it wasn't the Prophet because he would have been so ashamed!!! hahah
It was a member of the quorum of the seventy, Elder Zwick, and his wife! He and his wife talked about prayer and once again, I forgot my notes, but I will try and remember them for next week so that I can share some of their thoughts with you. It was so good, I love hearing from 1. the Lord's servants and 2. the testimonies of good and honest people.
Oh ya. And it snowed!!! Wait. you probably already knew that because Jess is in Provo too... hahah I always forget that.
Oh and Grandma and Grandpa, a member of the Branch Presidency and his wife sat with us for dinner and somehow Wallace and Gromit came up. They were very impressed that I knew the names of each of the characters and movies and no one else did. Brother Malan was so excited... so I just had to tell you thank you haha
Mom- I had to play for sacrament meeting the other day... got to. And it was so bad!!!! hahah but I was so grateful that I knew how to play... that will probably happen more often in Paraguay, no?!
Spanish is going well... I am learning more and more each day ONLY through a LOT of help from Heavenly Father. Actually let me restate that... ONLY through Heavenly Father's help. I saw one of my friends from Freshman year who works here and she is from Mexico. I talked to her in Spanish for like half an hour!!! She said that my Spanish was really good, but she was probably trying not to laugh... hahah. But really, the Lord helps us so much. I continue to carry my dictionary with my everywhere and trust that as I continually look up every single word I can and use the language as much as I can He will help me to remember the words to say. Dad, it is funny though as you were talking about Caden and his letters the other day and how he mixes up his p's and b's... I am at his level right now communication wise!!! hahah I am almost out of time, so I will write some in Spanish next Friday :)
A favorite scripture I loved studying this week was John 17. Thank you for sharing all of your thoughts and scriptures with me Mom, Dad, and Jess and everyone.... they mean a lot to me and sometimes are the answer to prayers.
Lovyou alll soooo much.... MUCHO MUCHO MAS... TE AMO
Hermana Natasha Jones
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Week 5 (Oct 28, 2011): Learning to Rely on the Spirit
Dear Family,
Hello again! It feels like deja vu... like I was just here writing you a day ago. Time has never gone so quickly!! So this week was really amazing. Not anything huge that happened, but I just felt like I learned a lot.
I always thought that I was a decent teacher. I had been able to teach in Sunday School and Relief Society callings for most of my time at BYU and I love teaching. But the more time that I am here and the more lessons that I teach (We work with more and more "investigators" each week) I realize just how far I am from the mark that I thought I was at...if that makes any sense. I remember when I first was called as a sunday school teacher my freshman year and thought I was going to die. I don't know if you remember when I called that night Mom and Dad...actually I am sure you do! I was SO scarred!!! How in the world was I going to teach all of those return missionaries while I was the little eighteen-year-old baby who had maybe given a handful of talks in church and had taught maybe ONE laurel class?!! But the Lord truly does qualifies thoes who he calls. Not that I ever became an amazing teacher, but I was able to fulfill my calling as a teacher and teach by the Spirit. And that was all that He needed me to do. To work hard and trust in Him and that my calling came from Him.
Just like then, the mission is extremely humbling. I have relaized to a great extent just how little of this work I can do without Him. None of it!!! I know that the key to success in the work is having the continued guidance of the Spirit, and relying on the strength that comes from our Savior's Atonement and a loving Father in Heaven. I am learning to become and do what Heavenly Father needs me to do and be.
Investigators...Hermana Willnauer and I cannot be companions in the field. We laugh too much!! Our investigators that we are working with this week are Rojelio and Miguel. We have been working with them for the past two weeks and they both have ´baptismal dates´´!!
Yo se que nosotros tenemos un Padre Celestial amoroso. Nos ama mucho mas y el nos ama tan mucho que el da su hijo, Jesucristo, mortar por nuestros pecados y proveer un manera a volver a El con nuestros familias. Yo se Presidente Thomas S. Monson es una profeta de nuestro Padre Celestial y que cuando nostoros seguir la voluntad de Dios constantemene, recibiremos mucho bendiciones por nos y nosotros familias. Yo se que El Libro de Mormon y la Santa Biblia son the palabra de Dios y que Jose Smith restaurada la iglesia de Dios y el sacerdocio de Dios que fue lleno. Yo se que nosotros somos los hijos de Dios y que Dios es la Padre de la spiritus de nos.
Hard to type in Spanish but... I love you all. More than I can say. I love serving a mission. The Lord sustains those He calls... and all of us in everything our Father in Heaven needs us to do.
Con mucho besos y ambrosos,
Hermana Natasha Jones
ps boys' your letter is on the way!!!!
Hello again! It feels like deja vu... like I was just here writing you a day ago. Time has never gone so quickly!! So this week was really amazing. Not anything huge that happened, but I just felt like I learned a lot.
I always thought that I was a decent teacher. I had been able to teach in Sunday School and Relief Society callings for most of my time at BYU and I love teaching. But the more time that I am here and the more lessons that I teach (We work with more and more "investigators" each week) I realize just how far I am from the mark that I thought I was at...if that makes any sense. I remember when I first was called as a sunday school teacher my freshman year and thought I was going to die. I don't know if you remember when I called that night Mom and Dad...actually I am sure you do! I was SO scarred!!! How in the world was I going to teach all of those return missionaries while I was the little eighteen-year-old baby who had maybe given a handful of talks in church and had taught maybe ONE laurel class?!! But the Lord truly does qualifies thoes who he calls. Not that I ever became an amazing teacher, but I was able to fulfill my calling as a teacher and teach by the Spirit. And that was all that He needed me to do. To work hard and trust in Him and that my calling came from Him.
Just like then, the mission is extremely humbling. I have relaized to a great extent just how little of this work I can do without Him. None of it!!! I know that the key to success in the work is having the continued guidance of the Spirit, and relying on the strength that comes from our Savior's Atonement and a loving Father in Heaven. I am learning to become and do what Heavenly Father needs me to do and be.
Investigators...Hermana Willnauer and I cannot be companions in the field. We laugh too much!! Our investigators that we are working with this week are Rojelio and Miguel. We have been working with them for the past two weeks and they both have ´baptismal dates´´!!
Yo se que nosotros tenemos un Padre Celestial amoroso. Nos ama mucho mas y el nos ama tan mucho que el da su hijo, Jesucristo, mortar por nuestros pecados y proveer un manera a volver a El con nuestros familias. Yo se Presidente Thomas S. Monson es una profeta de nuestro Padre Celestial y que cuando nostoros seguir la voluntad de Dios constantemene, recibiremos mucho bendiciones por nos y nosotros familias. Yo se que El Libro de Mormon y la Santa Biblia son the palabra de Dios y que Jose Smith restaurada la iglesia de Dios y el sacerdocio de Dios que fue lleno. Yo se que nosotros somos los hijos de Dios y que Dios es la Padre de la spiritus de nos.
Hard to type in Spanish but... I love you all. More than I can say. I love serving a mission. The Lord sustains those He calls... and all of us in everything our Father in Heaven needs us to do.
Con mucho besos y ambrosos,
Hermana Natasha Jones
ps boys' your letter is on the way!!!!
Week 4 (Oct 21, 2011): Hearing from Elder Scott
Mi querido familia,
Wow! Week number...well I guess I just finished my third week this past wednesday! Or fourth...I actually have no idea! I am heading into my fourth week?!! Well, this week has been great. I have really learned how to better concecrate my time to the Lord through planning each and every minute to something that will help me to learn the language, the grammer, learn how to serve the needs of our "progressing investigators".
And guess who we got to hear from this past Tuesday night's devotional? An apostle of the Lord- Elder Richard G. Scott!! Our District Leader, Elder Lund, always takes five minutes to eat dinner so that we can get good seats for every speaker each Tuesday night. Well, last week we heard from Sister Julie B. Beck and her husband!!! And this week we were right up front on his left side when he walked in!!!! You know someone is a servant of the Lord when you can feel their love from Wow! Mom, you wanted a picture of all of the missionaries in the auditorium but we actually aren't allowed (they probably don't want us taking pictures with the Apostles). The speakers on Sunday and Tuesday nights are always really good... I want to write everything down that I learn, see, hear, and feel here in the MTC...I might have even bought two extra journals while I was here..haha. I wish I had brought my journal to give you all some quotes, but I didn't bring my journal so I can't share any of those thoughts, but it was basically an extension of his General Conference talk...except directed more towards us and our investigators!
Mom, when groups of sisters leave each week, they leave behind anything that puts them over the weight limit on their flights, so I am proud to say that we have collected about five different shampoos and conditioners...its just like home :)\
Dad, grandpa and the boys- the tree house sounds sooo funn!!!!!! I so glad you were able to do that!!! Take pictures! (okay that's dumb. I know you have already taken fifty mom :))...which i am grateful for.
To everyone that has helped me to get to were I am now, here in the Missionary Training Center both monetarily and spiritually- thank you. I couldn't say that enough. I love it here. It is definitly harder than I had imagined it would be but I am grateful for a challenge that is teaching me to rely completely on the Lord. This work is no more than learning to become an effective and loving conduit for the Lord's spirit so that we can touch others and teach others...not just teach, but show others how to follow our Savior, Jesus Christ. I am so grateful for my loving Father in Heaven who has allowed me to choose to serve this mission and is so loving that He would allow me to be able to be a part of this work. Not just for the next eighteen years but for the rest of our lives. It is a daunting task. One that I am not able to do on my own. I continue to realize just how impossible anything and everything is for me alone...more than I have before. But the Atonement of our Savior blesses us and strengthens us. I do not know and understand so many things. I have NO idea how in the world I will be able to do everything that the Lord is going to ask me to do but I do know that He has lifted me and made me equall to the tasks. The guidance of the spirit is the key to the work.
Yo tengo un testimonio de la amor nuestro Padre Celestial tiene para todos sus hijos. Yo se que mi Senor vivir.... en el nombre de Jesucristo, Amen.
ahhh time is up so i will make sure to bear testimony in spanish at the beginning from now on. love you all SOOO much~!!!1
Te amo mucho,
Hermana Natasha Jones
Wow! Week number...well I guess I just finished my third week this past wednesday! Or fourth...I actually have no idea! I am heading into my fourth week?!! Well, this week has been great. I have really learned how to better concecrate my time to the Lord through planning each and every minute to something that will help me to learn the language, the grammer, learn how to serve the needs of our "progressing investigators".
And guess who we got to hear from this past Tuesday night's devotional? An apostle of the Lord- Elder Richard G. Scott!! Our District Leader, Elder Lund, always takes five minutes to eat dinner so that we can get good seats for every speaker each Tuesday night. Well, last week we heard from Sister Julie B. Beck and her husband!!! And this week we were right up front on his left side when he walked in!!!! You know someone is a servant of the Lord when you can feel their love from Wow! Mom, you wanted a picture of all of the missionaries in the auditorium but we actually aren't allowed (they probably don't want us taking pictures with the Apostles). The speakers on Sunday and Tuesday nights are always really good... I want to write everything down that I learn, see, hear, and feel here in the MTC...I might have even bought two extra journals while I was here..haha. I wish I had brought my journal to give you all some quotes, but I didn't bring my journal so I can't share any of those thoughts, but it was basically an extension of his General Conference talk...except directed more towards us and our investigators!
Mom, when groups of sisters leave each week, they leave behind anything that puts them over the weight limit on their flights, so I am proud to say that we have collected about five different shampoos and conditioners...its just like home :)\
Dad, grandpa and the boys- the tree house sounds sooo funn!!!!!! I so glad you were able to do that!!! Take pictures! (okay that's dumb. I know you have already taken fifty mom :))...which i am grateful for.
To everyone that has helped me to get to were I am now, here in the Missionary Training Center both monetarily and spiritually- thank you. I couldn't say that enough. I love it here. It is definitly harder than I had imagined it would be but I am grateful for a challenge that is teaching me to rely completely on the Lord. This work is no more than learning to become an effective and loving conduit for the Lord's spirit so that we can touch others and teach others...not just teach, but show others how to follow our Savior, Jesus Christ. I am so grateful for my loving Father in Heaven who has allowed me to choose to serve this mission and is so loving that He would allow me to be able to be a part of this work. Not just for the next eighteen years but for the rest of our lives. It is a daunting task. One that I am not able to do on my own. I continue to realize just how impossible anything and everything is for me alone...more than I have before. But the Atonement of our Savior blesses us and strengthens us. I do not know and understand so many things. I have NO idea how in the world I will be able to do everything that the Lord is going to ask me to do but I do know that He has lifted me and made me equall to the tasks. The guidance of the spirit is the key to the work.
Yo tengo un testimonio de la amor nuestro Padre Celestial tiene para todos sus hijos. Yo se que mi Senor vivir.... en el nombre de Jesucristo, Amen.
ahhh time is up so i will make sure to bear testimony in spanish at the beginning from now on. love you all SOOO much~!!!1
Te amo mucho,
Hermana Natasha Jones
Week 3 (Oct 14, 2011): Life in the MTC
Dear dear dear family,
I LOVE YOU ALLL SO MUCH!!!
So much to tell you. Thanks for all of the letters and DearElders. I absolutely loved the pictures that you all drew and the hearts and all of the prayers and words of encouragement...once again, they mean more than I can explain. My Spanish is starting to improve a lot more- the key? #1. lots of prayer, #2 speaking the language all of the time, asking lots of questions, and carrying a dictionary with you everywhere #3 once again, lots of prayer- praying for the gift of tounges and all the help that the Lord will give me...I can't believe that I will be in Paraguay in just three weeks though!
So I realized in my last emails and letters I didn't tell you a whole lot about my week and what I was doing. Soo I want to give you a brief run down of my week. Every day is very similar, and it is only boring if you aren't focsed on why you are here! We wake up, I try to go to the kickboxing or aerobic classes in the morning, get ready in record time (spencer, thank you for the practice every morning this fall when I was RUNNING around trying to get ready for the bus!!! it is a lot like that... and will be for a while :) probably good though) - oh Mom that actually reminded me... I am going through withdrawls not having alll of my lotions and perfumes!!! I bought hairspray today in the bookstore just because it smells good and I don't even use hairspray?!!) anyways, then after that we eat, have lots of class, personal study time, comp study time, personal planning for the next day, about two of actually teaching lessons to every day in spanish... solomente espanol!!! And after that we study more, do language study with our comps. and on didfferent computer programs and practice books. I also have gym every day except for PDay and if it is nice outside, we are allowed to play soccer or run around the lower fields around the temple. Ummm acutally that is about all we do! May sound boring, but I absolutely love it!!
Mom, I had a meeting with my mission president this week and he wanted us to show him our planners and our preach my gospel journals and stuff... when I showed him my planner i am not sure if he was surprised or scarred. What can I say, I like to plan things out, like my Mom- just not as much :)
Dad, I willl send you a letter with the families ;)
Jess, sorry I am running out of time, but I just sent you an email like five minutes ago!!!
Spencer, Nick and Caden, your letters are on their way!! Oh and Nick, WAY to go on your time!!! You were smoking!!!! I told one of my Elder friends (he has won state championships for cross country) and he was really impressed- anyways, I am very proud of each of you.
Wish i had more time to tell everyone thank you for sending me letters and DearElders, but I love you all so much...
con mucho amor - ustedes hermana,
Hermana Natasha Jones
I LOVE YOU ALLL SO MUCH!!!
So much to tell you. Thanks for all of the letters and DearElders. I absolutely loved the pictures that you all drew and the hearts and all of the prayers and words of encouragement...once again, they mean more than I can explain. My Spanish is starting to improve a lot more- the key? #1. lots of prayer, #2 speaking the language all of the time, asking lots of questions, and carrying a dictionary with you everywhere #3 once again, lots of prayer- praying for the gift of tounges and all the help that the Lord will give me...I can't believe that I will be in Paraguay in just three weeks though!
So I realized in my last emails and letters I didn't tell you a whole lot about my week and what I was doing. Soo I want to give you a brief run down of my week. Every day is very similar, and it is only boring if you aren't focsed on why you are here! We wake up, I try to go to the kickboxing or aerobic classes in the morning, get ready in record time (spencer, thank you for the practice every morning this fall when I was RUNNING around trying to get ready for the bus!!! it is a lot like that... and will be for a while :) probably good though) - oh Mom that actually reminded me... I am going through withdrawls not having alll of my lotions and perfumes!!! I bought hairspray today in the bookstore just because it smells good and I don't even use hairspray?!!) anyways, then after that we eat, have lots of class, personal study time, comp study time, personal planning for the next day, about two of actually teaching lessons to every day in spanish... solomente espanol!!! And after that we study more, do language study with our comps. and on didfferent computer programs and practice books. I also have gym every day except for PDay and if it is nice outside, we are allowed to play soccer or run around the lower fields around the temple. Ummm acutally that is about all we do! May sound boring, but I absolutely love it!!
Mom, I had a meeting with my mission president this week and he wanted us to show him our planners and our preach my gospel journals and stuff... when I showed him my planner i am not sure if he was surprised or scarred. What can I say, I like to plan things out, like my Mom- just not as much :)
Dad, I willl send you a letter with the families ;)
Jess, sorry I am running out of time, but I just sent you an email like five minutes ago!!!
Spencer, Nick and Caden, your letters are on their way!! Oh and Nick, WAY to go on your time!!! You were smoking!!!! I told one of my Elder friends (he has won state championships for cross country) and he was really impressed- anyways, I am very proud of each of you.
Wish i had more time to tell everyone thank you for sending me letters and DearElders, but I love you all so much...
con mucho amor - ustedes hermana,
Hermana Natasha Jones
Week 3 (Oct 14, 2011): At Provo Temple
Okay just really fast... we can't attatch pictures here at the MTC... things are pretty restricted soooo we ended up going to the temple this morning and saw sister willnauer's two best friends!!! and shelly sent us this picutre so I am mailing some pics today, but will send this one for now.... Going to the temple is THE BEST-every week... how neat is that!
Week 2 (Oct 7th, 2011): Teaching Miestro Talataina
Dear family,
THis is the most amazing blessing EVER... othere than the blessings that come from our Father in Heaven from obediently living the gospel, having the opportunity to share it is the biggest blessing ever. 24/7 I am learining to "consecrate" myself and my life and everything that I can to learn Spanish, learn how to better teach doctrine and teach by the Spirit. I wrote you each a letter today but will send them once I have my pictures to send with them on Monday. So much to tell you.
I love this. My teacher, miestro Talataina is a huge Tongan BYU football player that looks like he could kill you if he didn't smile so much. I couldn't ask for a better teacher. He teaches with a lot of clarity (as much as i can understand at least- he will only speak spanish with and to us!! unless he is trying to get a grammer point across. He met with each of us individually this week to see how we were doing and how our experiences had been so far. he laughed when I told him I was trying to set more specific goals to learn the language... not because of the goal, but because I he realized how much of a perfectionist I am... He has challenged me to speak ONLY SPANISH! That was the way he did it and he said that was the only way that he felt so confident with the language when leaving for the mission feild. Soo... I am learning to speak SOLOMENTE ESPANOL TODO TIEMPO!
Another thing: I love emails, but DearElder is better because I can read them the day that you write them once I get back to my dorm and then write a longer email and tell you more... sorry this one is so short.
One last special experience. Last sat. we had our first investigator lesson in solomente espanol... we had two follow up lessons and guess what... HE IS GETTING BAPTIZED!!! They have teachers here that role play as fake investigators... he was a golden one... wanted to know and acted and his faith grew very quickly (prob. because he was our first one..haha). I was so excited... I can't wait to teach "real" investigators and help them to feel and know their purpose in life.
I will bear my testimony in spanish next week when I have more time, but for now:
I love this gospel. I know that it is true and I know that we have a Father in Heaven who loves us so much. I know that the Book of Mormon is necissary for teaching correct doctrine and giving specific and direct direction for all of our lives. I know that our Father in Heaven loves each of us. And that is the core of my testimony and the core reason and drive for serving this mission. I lvoe you all more than I could ever say.
con mucho amor,
Hermana Jones
#1. "Obedience is the price, faith is the power, love is the motive, the spirit is the key, Christ is the reason, we can return to our Father. the Gospel is true and it is for me and for you."
ps. boys by the time I send this you will be getting into bed!!! love you each so much... if I was there I would give you each a big hug and kiss (Nick this won't stop no matter how old and mature you get :)
oh and we were able to go to the temple today!!!! yea!!!! the provo one is beautiful
THis is the most amazing blessing EVER... othere than the blessings that come from our Father in Heaven from obediently living the gospel, having the opportunity to share it is the biggest blessing ever. 24/7 I am learining to "consecrate" myself and my life and everything that I can to learn Spanish, learn how to better teach doctrine and teach by the Spirit. I wrote you each a letter today but will send them once I have my pictures to send with them on Monday. So much to tell you.
I love this. My teacher, miestro Talataina is a huge Tongan BYU football player that looks like he could kill you if he didn't smile so much. I couldn't ask for a better teacher. He teaches with a lot of clarity (as much as i can understand at least- he will only speak spanish with and to us!! unless he is trying to get a grammer point across. He met with each of us individually this week to see how we were doing and how our experiences had been so far. he laughed when I told him I was trying to set more specific goals to learn the language... not because of the goal, but because I he realized how much of a perfectionist I am... He has challenged me to speak ONLY SPANISH! That was the way he did it and he said that was the only way that he felt so confident with the language when leaving for the mission feild. Soo... I am learning to speak SOLOMENTE ESPANOL TODO TIEMPO!
Another thing: I love emails, but DearElder is better because I can read them the day that you write them once I get back to my dorm and then write a longer email and tell you more... sorry this one is so short.
One last special experience. Last sat. we had our first investigator lesson in solomente espanol... we had two follow up lessons and guess what... HE IS GETTING BAPTIZED!!! They have teachers here that role play as fake investigators... he was a golden one... wanted to know and acted and his faith grew very quickly (prob. because he was our first one..haha). I was so excited... I can't wait to teach "real" investigators and help them to feel and know their purpose in life.
I will bear my testimony in spanish next week when I have more time, but for now:
I love this gospel. I know that it is true and I know that we have a Father in Heaven who loves us so much. I know that the Book of Mormon is necissary for teaching correct doctrine and giving specific and direct direction for all of our lives. I know that our Father in Heaven loves each of us. And that is the core of my testimony and the core reason and drive for serving this mission. I lvoe you all more than I could ever say.
con mucho amor,
Hermana Jones
#1. "Obedience is the price, faith is the power, love is the motive, the spirit is the key, Christ is the reason, we can return to our Father. the Gospel is true and it is for me and for you."
ps. boys by the time I send this you will be getting into bed!!! love you each so much... if I was there I would give you each a big hug and kiss (Nick this won't stop no matter how old and mature you get :)
oh and we were able to go to the temple today!!!! yea!!!! the provo one is beautiful
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