"How Did You Know That?!"
Week 89- 87 Weeks in Phoenix Mission-- 2nd week in Buckeye
Dear friends and family,
We had a really great week here in Buckeye! Lots happened and we
reached most of our proselyting goals! I'll try to put everything into
words.
New investigators
We found two new people to teach this week!! Both are pretty cool
stories. The two people we found are James and Stephanie.
-James: James is the new husband of a member. He is a really cool guy.
He works on bicycles and is really good at what he does. James was in
a very serious car accident a few months ago which has hindered his
mobility. He can still get around, but he's very slow and steady. The
accident didn't affect his funny personality, however. He cracks
jokes, laughs, and still has a great time. He came to church last
Sunday and had a lot of questions about the Book of Mormon and Joseph
Smith. We were able to teach him the Restoration and he understands it
all now. He is excited to learn more.
-Stephanie: Okay, this story is pretty cool. Monday night we were
visiting the Hert family, who are less-active. We park, go inside, and
sit down and talk for a little bit. Right before we say the opening
prayer, someone knocks on their door. Sister Hert answers the door and
then says, "Uh, Elders, the solar salesman wants to talk to you." We
go over there, and the solar salesman, Jared, talks to us. He said he
saw us walk inside. He had just finished selling solar to a lady up
the street and he had a great conversation about the Church with her.
He told us we should stop by and give her a Book of Mormon. So...we
went by the next day! She answered and was a bit confused about who we
were. We told her we were missionaries and Jared sent us. She let us
in and we talked with her for a little bit and set up a return
appointment. We went back on Saturday and she was there waiting for
us. She invited us in and we had a great lesson with her. She had read
the whole Restoration pamphlet and had started reading the Book of
Mormon. She had lots of questions about it so we did a brief rundown
of the book. As we were talking about Moroni burying the plates, she
said, "Oh! Moroni is the son of Mormon, right?" Mine and Elder
Sumsion's jaws dropped. We both laughed and said, "How did you know
that?!" She said that she remembered it from reading. So this must be
what it's like to have a solid investigator. Haha! We continued on and
taught a little more about the Book of Mormon and set up another time
to visit her. Yeah—she's solid.
Exchange
I was able to go on an exchange with Elder Thaut in his area. It was
great getting to be his companion again, even if it was just for a
day!! He serves out in west Buckeye, the third biggest area in the
mission. They live with members in the middle of nowhere—off a dirt
road, and off THAT dirt road. It was super fun riding around in the
middle of nowhere. There are lots of crazy people out there. I'm glad
I serve in the more affluent part of Buckeye. :) We taught a couple
lessons and reminisced about when we were companions.
Working out
For those of you who don't know, my companion, Elder Sumsion, is a big
workout freak. I've always wanted to get bigger, but never had much
motivation to work out. With Elder Sumsion's help, I have started
working out morning and night! I'm not doing anything too intense, but
enough to feel and see results hopefully. Well, it's not very intense
for Elder Sumsion...it's pretty intense for me! Needless to say I'm
not very good at working out, but he's helping me a lot! My arms are
almost always super tired. So that's that.
Yard work
We went over to one of our investigator's house to help her with her
yard. She's an older lady with a lot of health problems so she can't
get out much. She is a smoker, so every time we go over there to teach
we always have to come home and change and shower before we go out
again. Anyway, we were just pulling weeds and trimming her hedges when
a van pulls up. Two ladies got out and walked in. They were Jehovah's
Witnesses! They didn't really see who we were because we weren't in
our shirts and ties, just our tshirt and shorts. We went in to get
some water and they saw our name tags. After we introduced ourselves
one of the ladies said, "Well, we were just finishing up anyway. We'll
see you folks later." And they left hahah! I guess that's all it
takes. I kinda wanted to sit in on their "lesson"...would have been
fun. :)
Weather
It has been pretty hot this week! Man, being in a car makes the days
go by so much faster. I feel like I'm able to get more done too. Like
nobody walks the roads here in Buckeye so it's not like we miss
talking to very many people. Sometimes Elder Sumsion and I get out and
walk around a little to talk to people. It's pretty fun!
So that's about all that happened this week. We got to teach quite a
bit and do some service. I'll attach a couple pictures of our zone
hike this afternoon. Hopefully we'll have another successful week this
week. Elder Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles will be here
to speak to our mission on Thursday afternoon....hopefully he doesn't
send me home! Just kidding, Mom, calm down :) Have a great week
everyone!
Much love,
Elder Jones
Buckeye 1st & Sundance Wards
Arizona Phoenix Mission
We had a really great week here in Buckeye! Lots happened and we
reached most of our proselyting goals! I'll try to put everything into
words.
New investigators
We found two new people to teach this week!! Both are pretty cool
stories. The two people we found are James and Stephanie.
-James: James is the new husband of a member. He is a really cool guy.
He works on bicycles and is really good at what he does. James was in
a very serious car accident a few months ago which has hindered his
mobility. He can still get around, but he's very slow and steady. The
accident didn't affect his funny personality, however. He cracks
jokes, laughs, and still has a great time. He came to church last
Sunday and had a lot of questions about the Book of Mormon and Joseph
Smith. We were able to teach him the Restoration and he understands it
all now. He is excited to learn more.
-Stephanie: Okay, this story is pretty cool. Monday night we were
visiting the Hert family, who are less-active. We park, go inside, and
sit down and talk for a little bit. Right before we say the opening
prayer, someone knocks on their door. Sister Hert answers the door and
then says, "Uh, Elders, the solar salesman wants to talk to you." We
go over there, and the solar salesman, Jared, talks to us. He said he
saw us walk inside. He had just finished selling solar to a lady up
the street and he had a great conversation about the Church with her.
He told us we should stop by and give her a Book of Mormon. So...we
went by the next day! She answered and was a bit confused about who we
were. We told her we were missionaries and Jared sent us. She let us
in and we talked with her for a little bit and set up a return
appointment. We went back on Saturday and she was there waiting for
us. She invited us in and we had a great lesson with her. She had read
the whole Restoration pamphlet and had started reading the Book of
Mormon. She had lots of questions about it so we did a brief rundown
of the book. As we were talking about Moroni burying the plates, she
said, "Oh! Moroni is the son of Mormon, right?" Mine and Elder
Sumsion's jaws dropped. We both laughed and said, "How did you know
that?!" She said that she remembered it from reading. So this must be
what it's like to have a solid investigator. Haha! We continued on and
taught a little more about the Book of Mormon and set up another time
to visit her. Yeah—she's solid.
Exchange
I was able to go on an exchange with Elder Thaut in his area. It was
great getting to be his companion again, even if it was just for a
day!! He serves out in west Buckeye, the third biggest area in the
mission. They live with members in the middle of nowhere—off a dirt
road, and off THAT dirt road. It was super fun riding around in the
middle of nowhere. There are lots of crazy people out there. I'm glad
I serve in the more affluent part of Buckeye. :) We taught a couple
lessons and reminisced about when we were companions.
Working out
For those of you who don't know, my companion, Elder Sumsion, is a big
workout freak. I've always wanted to get bigger, but never had much
motivation to work out. With Elder Sumsion's help, I have started
working out morning and night! I'm not doing anything too intense, but
enough to feel and see results hopefully. Well, it's not very intense
for Elder Sumsion...it's pretty intense for me! Needless to say I'm
not very good at working out, but he's helping me a lot! My arms are
almost always super tired. So that's that.
Yard work
We went over to one of our investigator's house to help her with her
yard. She's an older lady with a lot of health problems so she can't
get out much. She is a smoker, so every time we go over there to teach
we always have to come home and change and shower before we go out
again. Anyway, we were just pulling weeds and trimming her hedges when
a van pulls up. Two ladies got out and walked in. They were Jehovah's
Witnesses! They didn't really see who we were because we weren't in
our shirts and ties, just our tshirt and shorts. We went in to get
some water and they saw our name tags. After we introduced ourselves
one of the ladies said, "Well, we were just finishing up anyway. We'll
see you folks later." And they left hahah! I guess that's all it
takes. I kinda wanted to sit in on their "lesson"...would have been
fun. :)
Weather
It has been pretty hot this week! Man, being in a car makes the days
go by so much faster. I feel like I'm able to get more done too. Like
nobody walks the roads here in Buckeye so it's not like we miss
talking to very many people. Sometimes Elder Sumsion and I get out and
walk around a little to talk to people. It's pretty fun!
So that's about all that happened this week. We got to teach quite a
bit and do some service. I'll attach a couple pictures of our zone
hike this afternoon. Hopefully we'll have another successful week this
week. Elder Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles will be here
to speak to our mission on Thursday afternoon....hopefully he doesn't
send me home! Just kidding, Mom, calm down :) Have a great week
everyone!
Much love,
Elder Jones
Buckeye 1st & Sundance Wards
Arizona Phoenix Mission
 |
| Looks like Arizona. Dirt, dirt, random brush, cacti, dirt |
 |
| Elder Weston gave me a piggy back ride! |
 |
| Bolo tie! |
 |
| Elder Thaut's area (the boonies) |
 | |
| On exchanges with Elder Thaut (THE CAR IS NOT MOVING DON'T WORRY.....) |
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| weekly selfie! |