October 31, 2011

HEY :)
I’m glad to know you finally got that letter.. I thought you might have not received it. I sent a letter to the Primary Children so beware of that letter haha Lately I have been learning who I really am.. This week has been the longest week of my life for some reason but it’s all okay :) Everything is wonderful.. I’m glad you enjoyed my hand written letter! Pres. Shamo is a neat guy.. I’m soo happy to hear how people are concerned about my well being.. You asked if I’m taking my protandim? yess mom I am taking my protandim and all my other pills :) I do get the Ensign.. I am good on pills for now.. I will let you know when I’m getting low. I was wondering if you could send me some of those shoe insoles. The Dr. Shoals or whatever their called. those would be nice! I thought that was great how Dad found my flat! Is our neighborhood safe?? yes and no. I don’t mind. There are tons of what we call chavs ( counsel house and violence) kids.. They’re all talk, they wouldn’t even mess with Elder Burton and I.. Are people nice? not really.. once in awhile you’ll get a cool person but that’s often. We weren’t able to get through to Wayne.. he is so set on his ways and he does not want to even put his effort in to knowing what our religion is. So we dropped him. I heard lil big buddy got called to Bountiful.. that’s great :) For your info I do my own haircuts now! ;) lil big buddy can’t risk cutting a chunk out of that beautiful luscious hair haha jk jk thats def funny how she gave moma 2 a call :D that’s wonderful! hahahha i literally laughed out loud when i heard Logan dressing up as Nacho !! All Elder Burton and I quote is Nacho! lol  They don’t really celebrate Halloween all that much here.. they think it’s all devilish stuff.. I haven’t really used my Spanish here at all.. I’m losing it.. I really am! Hopefully I will get transferred into a Spanish speaking area :) id love that! WHAT??? I’M JEALOUS! I can’t believe you guys are going to Chicago again! All I talk about is Chicago ;) I heard Riley is taking over.. I’m glad he is learning the ways :) hey guess what, your article was on the stripling warriors and such.. this week I have been thinking about the stripling warriors a lot.. It’s a sign ;)


I have been doing my best about obedience with exactness.. like you said there is always a group of what we call the - homeboys-  I have always done my best about being obedient.. I have received a few calls about what they did or what they are planning to do about breaking the mission rules.. It’s sad to watch missionaries do such things.. It was a blessing to watch them be transferred out of this area to another.. Hopefully they will grow up and see the real meaning of things and how they are playing with fire..  I have been reading Jesus the Christ lately.. I suggest you read every time you get a chance.. I’m learning soo much! Hopefully this week we will commit a family to baptism. Mom just get on my email and print off the letters he sends out.. just do it every once in a while okay :) I’ll let you know how this week ends up going! Wish you the best.. I love you too! 

October 31, 2011

October 31, 2011

Dear Sister Jones
I just wanted to write to you to say thank you for sharing your wonderful son with us here in England. My family and I live in the Reading Ward where Elder Jones is serving with Elder Burton. He has visited our home several times now for meals and yesterday my husband brought he and Elder Burton back for breakfast after an early morning priesthood leadership meeting and we took this picture of them outside. I have a son on a mission too at the moment and know how comforting it is to hear from them and hear from others that are ok. I want you to know he has a strong testimony which is growing daily as he serves his mission . He bore his testimony in church recently and expressed his great love and appreciation for you and all you had done for him to support and encourage him to serve his mission. He said he knew he had not always made that easy. I know as a Mom we don't always get to hear those words so I wanted to share that with you . I cried for you!! He is a gentle missionary who is always friendly and welcoming with all he meets. He is excited to share the gospel . We love having the missionaries in our home they bring a special spirit. My husband Andy and I have 4 children and 1grand daughter - Meg 25 married to Luke who have baby Hollie they have just moved back to live with us, Jak 22 married to Sandy living also in Reading Ward, Ethan 20 serving in the England Birmingham Mission and Elliot 16 still studying. Elliot loves to have the elders round and we are grateful for the example they are to him. If there is anything you feel we could do for Elder Jones while he serves in our ward please do not hesitate to ask us.
Love Sue Blackwood and Family xxx

October 24, 2011

HEY FAMILY!!

Wow I really want to know how the meeting will go in San Antonio! That’s GREAT! I bet dad is soooo happy :)

My week has been fantastic! Even though we have been flogged, yelled at and plenty of more stuff but I’m still happy! Things like that don’t seem to bother me as they used too! I guess that is just one of many changes I’m seeing in myself.. The baptism went really well! After the baptism he stood up and said how happy he was to make this choice in his life! He asked me if i could go to the temple with him a year from now :) isn’t that great! I’m glad you are updating my facebook and such :) let them know I’m good I guess if they want to know haha.. My area is really good! This past week was rough because a few of our investigators decided they didn’t want to follow the church, I couldn’t do anything to convince them to come back.. Lately Pres. Shamo has asked us to start teaching and baptizing more families! We have been praying most earnestly to find families! Well 2 days ago we received a referral from another area! We decided to stop by and get to know them! We found out that her 2 youngest kids were living in Spain with their dad and they just randomly decided to move back with their mom! I honestly think they were the answer to my prayer! Sabrina is 15 and James is 14! They EVEN speak Spanish :) isn’t that great :) We are going to start teaching them, hopefully the mom will want to follow the path they are taking :)

Elder Burton and I are doing well! Everyone has their ups and downs but I’ve gotten through them easily by just smiling a lot and laughing! haha I feel like the smile makes everything better ;) That’s sad to see 2 missionaries have a hard time! I wouldn’t let a rough time affect the missionary work! :) The Weather is really good! Everyone in England is surprised on how warm it still is :) I probably brought some of the Mexican weather over here I suppose ;) jk. We don’t have bikes we have the double decker bus to haul us around!! yeyeahh!! ;) We walk a lot though! I think I will need new shoes in months :D

I might be transferred before Christmas! I’m not sure to be honest but I will be with Elder Burton for 6 more weeks! yes I am keeping the letters from my mission president! If you would like mom get on here and go to the folder that says - mission president letters- and print them of every other week so that they won’t get deleted :) Speaking of mail could you get Elder Rowe’s address for me? I think I will always consider him one of my good friends!

That is a really good quote by Elder Packer! I am purifying my heart daily! It’s easy to do on a mission! :) I sure do love serving the lord! I feel soo good all the time its weird haha! Sometimes I ask myself am i really a missionary? I never thought time would come this fast! I’m still trying to catch up! I’m doing really good though.

WOW, I’m glad the wedding went well :) That is awesome that Eagle project worked out! My eyes watered up as i read that too! That is sooo cool! Dad has been extra emotional since I have been gone :) Finally he’s turning into a big softy :) Wow if you’re serious about this marathon you’ll be looking younger than me by the time I get home mom haha! jk we’ll have to run a marathon someday wont we :) thanks for that sweet little quote mom! I have seen both sides of what you’re talking about.. it’s amazing to call upon the heavens and give them a blessing! You can literally feel energy that being send through you to the other person.. I have been reading Jesus the Christ!! I think it is my favorite book! I read that book as much as I can! I’ve never really loved reading until I’ve read the Book of Mormon and Jesus the Christ haha! You guys should def study Jesus the Christ!

Tell Mitchell I’m super happy for him and also that it’s about time the last dog left! haha see I told you Andre would be good.. I talked to him for a while! He is excited for his baptism that is coming along :)

Thanks for everything you do for me mom! I love you tons! I forgot to tell you that I bore my testimony the other day and told everyone how much I loved my mom and my dad and how you and I were best friends and how we did everything together! If it weren’t for my parents I wouldn’t be out here! But I always tell people how good of a relationship I have with you! I sure miss you mom!

love you

Questions From Home - Oct. 13, 2011

Here is another set of questions...just answer them in the same email and send it back;)Love you!

1.  Is is cold yet?  How cold....is your apartment warm? yes it is getting cold :) the apartment is pretty warm! i think you should send me an electric blanket if that’s okay :)

2.  Do you eat with members every day?

 most of the days we do.. once in a while we will throw some food together

3.  How do you do your laundry?

 laundry?? wash it in a washing machine and hang it up to dry!! guess what??? I’m super super good at ironing ;) put Uncle Matt to shame!

4.  Are you getting letters from friends?

 yes im getting letters :)

5.  What is your flat like?  Big...small?  clean...dirty???

 the flat is big sort of clean! i try to keep it clean but my companion freaks out! He is such a pig haha but I’ve dealt with it

6.  What have you learned about yourself since you have been in Reading?

 i have learned that things are a lot easier than they really look

7.  How do you spend your p-days?

 p-days we shop, we get things we need, go out to eat, hang out with other missionaries in other  areas and we take a nap if we can

8.  Where do you go to send emails?

9.  What is the best food you have eaten since you have been in Reading...and the worst food?

 the best.. um probably foo foo made by the Africans :) and the worst.. a nasty lasagna lookin stuff the English look.. no flavoring in it whatsoever

10.  Do you get to do anything fun on p-day?  Basketball?

 Yes, with other missionaries..love it!

11.  How far is the temple from you?

 the temple is an hour away! we don’t get to go :/

12.  What do you miss from home...that you can't get over there??

 i just miss my awesome family and my horses! if i do miss a certain thing il tell you :)
thank you for that wonderful package mom! it really did make my month.. i was having a sad day and i said a lil prayer that  i would get it and i got it and it all went up hill :)

***Muneca and Reina say hi!!!  They came for a visit yesterday..I gave them apples...Riley rode Muneca and brushed them

both really well.  Reina is in love with the gay horses....she cries when she isn't with them!;)

 stupid gay horses!!! haha i cannot believe that have brought her into the homo fold!! MESSEED UPPP!!!! lol

I love you Sonny!!!!

Elder Jones 1st Baptism!

October 17, 2011

HEY MOM!!

I finally received one package! You said you sent two! Hopefully this Tuesday I'll get the other one! WOW I cannot believe that MTC letter took that long to get there! NOT COOL!!

The baptism this Saturday was a success! He was soo happy to make that 1st step! We gave him a wonderful blessing in church and we also confirmed him there as well.. I will send you pics for sure :) I have been blessed to be in Reading.. I’m learning tons! I will hopefully have another investigator being baptized on the 12 of November! This guy we are teaching is named Francis! He is also African! That has been one of the most powerful teaches I have been in soo far! Strong Words were flying out of my mouth! I felt like Elder Holland for a sec haha ;) I won’t say everything I said in that teach but I can tell you that scriptures that I really didn’t even know of came out of my mouth.. The spirit was extremely strong and if all goes well this guy will take that 1st step to his salvation as well!

WOW I cannot believe Max broke his shoulder! Tell him I said to stop hitting people so hard haha ;) jk But I am happy to know and hear how wonderful things are right now! The scriptures you were telling me about were brilliant I mean great!!  :D I always like quotes or great scriptures because I have really applied them and I have seen the things that come from them! I’m thankful for the priesthood! I never really realized the power of it! People have talked of amazing experiences to me about the priesthood  and I never had it stick in my brain! But since I have really seen how it works and looked back on those experiences I have heard I will never ever doubt it!!

I know my letters are short but before I close I met this guy named Wayne. Wayne does not have legs, he is Scottish, his left arm is severely burned and as well as his face! He told me of an experience that made him the way he is! He said he went to a club with his wife and his 2 best friends! All 4 of the were jacked up on alcohol and ecstasy! Something happened at the club so they decided to leave! They were going extremely fast back home and they rolled their car and hit a huge tree. The car then caught on fire and everyone died except him! He said - I remember waking up while the car was upside down on fire and I could feel the wet grass on my left hand! 3 days later I woke up in  a hospital! The reason why I share this experience is because I feel strongly impressed that my close experience to death will hopefully relate to his in a way and I could get through him.. Missionaries have tried and he will not accept the things which they have taught him. Pray for me that I will be able to see his heart, his needs and answer his questions! til next week!

fLove you mom