.Here are a few highlights of the lastest emails. Sorry not much has been posted lately but wanted to make sure that it was still OK to have the blog.
 Elder Samuel and I get along really well, and the members notice that. One of them said, "You guys are a great companionship! You can just see it in the way you treat each other."
Church went really well yesterday we had 5 investigators at church! That was crazy! We're going to be setting 2 to 3 people for baptism this week! So this week will be very exciting! Everyday I am just more and more amazed by the Lord's hand in this work. My companion and I both can't believe how we're both speaking a foreign language that we didn't even know before our missions, and now we can talk with people from all walks of life. It's been amazing to see how the Lord prepares His children to recieve the gospel. No matter what trials come, know that they are for our experience and good. They may be intense and so hard, but as we build our foundation upon Christ, will cannot fall. He is the Rock. We cannot fail. If there is anything I have learned more than anything on my mission it is the true and everlasting Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is the only thing that strengthens families, even enabling them to be eternal; erases the mistakes from our lives and points us ever so surely to our destination; our home with our Heavenly Father. Don't fear, but have faith. It does seem that Dogs hate the missionaries here in Nebraska lol. I got tackled by one last night. It didn't bite me or anything but we were walking away from its owner and we were out of the yard and it just butted me in the back of the leg with its face!
     General Conference was amazing!!! I watched half in spanish and the rest in english. WOW!! I got a ton out of it. It's amazing how the Lord speaks to us through the Spirit, His servants, and even others. I took a lot of notes. lol. My teaching has changed a lot and I feel it has improved for the better. It's amazing how much I learn from my stepson *cough* lol Elder Vawdrey. I love him :) He is so humble, and bold, he just exemplifies diligence and hard work. :) But now we're ready to burst and reap the blessings or service and find those the Lord has prepared here in Sioux City. Finding has been pretty crazy this last week. I do love Elder Vawdrey and I try to be the best example I can be, it's funny; I'm supposed to be training him, but yet he teaches me so much. He's constantly striving to improve and be more diligent, he is very fearless when it comes to speaking with people and just has the strongest desires to share the Gospel with everyone.
 Another week!! With an exciting addage!! We have another companion now!! I'm in a trio again!! We had Stake Conference yesterday which was so full of the Spirit, I felt it so much! President Kunz gave a talk and during his talk he asked all of the Full-time missionaries to stand, So my whole zone stood and we were scattered throughout the audience. What he said next just hit me profoundly, "I know that mission president's often have concerns for their missionaries. I do not have any concerns about any of these Elders standing before you. They are phenomenal missionaries, I was surprised that the Lord wanted them all here. Use them while the Lord has placed them here." I almost cried, lol, I was so humbled to know that I'm in an amazing Zone, but not only that, but that President Kunz has no concerns for anyone in our Zone.
Hey! Today is transfers! We're sadly losing Elder Vawdrey. Elder Thayne and I are staying and now we are recieving another companion.Elder Thayne is a very diligent missionary who is not afraid to speak his mind or share his ideas. He is truly brilliant when it comes to teaching. He has worked very hard in his mission and continues to do so every day.Elder Vawdrey, Elder Thayne, and I really got a long well. We complimented each other and had so much fun serving the Lord. I know we all learned a ton from each other. I will miss Elder Vawdrey but at the same time I know the Lord needs him elsewhere The work keeps increasing here in Sioux City not booming but gradually. The Branch is organizing more and more every week and our branch presidency is supporting us very well. We will help this branch grow and become a ward.
Wow, what a crazy fast week. Yesterday Elder Christoffel Golden Jr of the 70 came to visit hence the reason I didn't write yesterday. It was an amazing meeting with him! We truly prepared ourselves, he said he taught us higher principles because we had been prepared and so very reverent. One question he asked was why do we read the scriptures and pray? The answer was so simple yet so deep! So that we can have the power of the Holy Ghost rest upon us. So if we want to the spirit, we need to read and pray! lol.

Elder Jones in NOM: Transfer time

Elder Jones in NOM: Transfer time: Today is transfers!! I have sad but yet exciting news!! I'm leaving Lexington and opening an area that was closed months ago! Grand Island...

Transfer time

Today is transfers!! I have sad but yet exciting news!! I'm leaving Lexington and opening an area that was closed months ago! Grand Island!! :) aka GI! I'm so sad to leave Lex though. I love it here and I love the members. It'll be hard, but it's all the Lord's will. Packing sucks as a missionary! :P Grand Island from what I have heard from all of the other Elders is an awesome area!! Crazy thing is, it's the biggest area I've ever been in. There is maybe 50,000 people there lol. Supposedly there were 7 investigators at church last week, so we have a lot to do! Haha, Elder Meza said that place is a gold mine, and that the field is literally ready to harvest there. The power of bearing your testimony is amazing. I've learned that a lot recently and yesterday that popped into my head. Many people think that we have to prove what we have. Yes, we have a great evidence of the Restoration, being the Book of Mormon. We're not here to prove though, only to declare. That's the way the Spirit wants it done and so we declare it by bearing our testimonies. I know the Book of Mormon is true! I know it was written for our day! I know they knew of what we faced even 2,000 years ago! I love this gospel! It blesses me, and raises me, and although sometimes I feel tested and stressed, through the Atonement of Jesus Christ I can be strengthened and move forward! I know Jesus Christ lives and is my Savior, and is the Savior of the world. His Atonement is Real. It's true, and is all powerful to those who humble themselves and sincerely repent. I know we have a living prophet on the earth today! :)

and more mission pics

Just more mission

Elder Jones had a great trainer, Elder Sheddon . After he got to serve with some awesome Elders.
He has learned so much from each of his companions. He also has grown to love the people in each area he has served.

Just a few random pictures from the mission field.

Few more pics

Storm clouds and the rescue of the little yellow ball that landed in the gutter .......

More Pics

More email quotes and pics

I found a really cool scripture last night in Mormon 5:22 "Know ye not, that ye are in the hands of God?" It just struck me. The statement, that we are in the hands of our Heavenly Father. That brings so much peace and comfort to know that the Lord's eye is even on the sparrow and to know that His eye is on me too.
We had a crazy cool lightning storm the other night! :D It was just like the 4th of July! :D But Lightning!!
We had a tornado watch! Hail about the size of gumdrops, and crazy winds! I was excited! Yet a little nervous! :) but I got some amazing pictures of the skies!
I know as missionaries we meet a ton TON of people but yet alot of times we don't get to see the fruits of our labors. But I imagine the impact we leave impacts generations and generations of people. I mean it puts the scripture from Doctrine and Covenants 20 into perspective. How great shall be your joy if you bring one soul unto me, and how even greater shall be your joy if you bring many souls unto me! :) As missionaries we don't affect people we affect generations! :) But I know we help people come unto Christ everyday! It's our purpose! :)

mission pics

Our last district pic before transfers and
Elder Mesa and me :) we were in the MTC together

Latest email post

In Elder Jones email all sounded really great! He still loves his mission and those he is teaching:) His emails are always filled with great experiences with teaching and serving others. He has mentioned on several occasions that he and his companion are getting good at out running dogs when they use their bikes !
Quotes from the email:
So! My studies are now about to go into Alma! :) I love the Book of Mormon, and I absolutely love reading it! :D It just fills me with joy and understanding every time I read it! :) But recently I have been studying a lot about the purpose of the Book of Mormon. The Book of Mormon is such an amazing marvelous blessing in our lives, and many people don't know of its truthfulness! The Book of Mormon testifies of Christ, and contains the fulness of the gospel. That's not all, it confirms the Bible and confirms the life of Christ, His ministry and Atonement. The Scriptures are so priceless! Yes, many a times they are hard to understand, but I know the Lord hears our prayers and sends the Spirit to us to enlighten our understanding. :)

"For behold, thus saith the Lord God: I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts, and lend an ear unto my counsel, for they shall learn wisdom; for unto him that receiveth I will give more.." (2 Nephi 28:30)

Quotes From Emails

" missions are not easy, they are not easy spiritually, emotionally or physically. But they Lord has promised that he will uplift and support his servants. The struggles and growth you will have will be such a benefit for those you serve and for your future."

Nebraska is a typical winter on steroids!"

TEACHING A CHILD TO PRAY:" My companion asked him to pray before we left one day and the child was so funny he kept saying no and at one point he said to look one up on youtube and play it haha. :P I finally said to him, here I'll pray with you and tell you what to say, I sat next to him and we both folded our arms and closed our eyes. it was such a cool experience to teach a child to pray and to pray with him. It was a simple prayer. but it was amazing! :)"

"You will find the most marvelous treasures and miracles from reading the scriptures."

Can't breathe :)

One of the members who did as my mom asked " to give me a big hug for her" :)

Sweet Times

Dont we look awesome

The tag

When asked what did I do in His name, I will be able to reply, I served faithfully . Its not the tag but the actions that show who it is I believe in and who I follow. The tag helps remind me who it is I represent. My testimony of Christ should be known by my actions in all things, in all places, of who He is, the Savior of the world.

Mosiah 28

3 Now they were desirous that salvation should be declared to every creature, for they could not ^abear that any human ^bsoul should ^cperish; yea, even the very thoughts that any soul should endure ^dendless torment did cause them to quake and ^etremble.

4 And thus did the Spirit of the Lord work upon them.......

This is how I feel about the people I have been called to serve. I want to declare the gospel to all the people I come into contact with. I want their lives to be blessed and for them to know the happiness that comes from accepting the Gospel of Jesus Christ.