12-23-13 - Jordon

Hola familia. ¡Feliz Navidad!

This past week was awesome!

 

As you know, Transfers were this past week. But, first, a little bit of unfinished business: Here is the picture of Me with Elder Cox. (Picture 1827) He is doing fine. He left for Pennsylvania Wednesday morning. 

 

My new companion is Elder Jewkes (Picture 1832) He's been on his mission for about 6 months now, and he comes from Orangeville, Utah. (Where?) It's a small town in Emery County, near Castledale. He's a fun-loving guy and is quite the social butterfly. Already, I've noticed several things that we can learn from each other. This is going to be an interesting transfer.

 

 

After Transfer Meeting, we all went down to the Gilbert Temple to take a picture. Yup. All the missionaries in the mission. Later, they gave each missionary a copy of the picture. I meant to take a picture of the picture so you could see it, but I didn't get to it. I'll show it to you next week.

 

On Thursday, we had the Mission Christmas Party. It was quite a change from last year's. Each of the Zones was instructed to prepare a song or skit to be performed at the party. Even the office staff got in on the fun. I'm in the process of putting the videos on Terra (our hard drive at home), but I might not be able to get to all of them today. Something else we did at the party were some "Minute to Win it" games.  It was a lot of fun for me to see.

 

As far as missionary work goes, it's still going slow, but I believe it's starting to pick up. We're starting to see some fruits from the Temple Presentation. Likely because Christmas time is almost over, but I'm glad to start seeing some movement.

 

---------------------------------------------

Well, it's official: I've gotten sick!  I've actually had a sore throat and been coughing for the past week and a half, but it's been going on long enough that I've had to admit it. I'm getting better though. Now I'm mostly only coughing later in the evening, starting about 9pm. It's not so bad, but it makes nightly District Leader calls rather difficult.

---------------------------------------------

The other day, I was looking up a word in the dictionary, and decided to read a little bit of the preface. It was talking about where the English language came from and meantioned something about the "Norman Conquest".  Immediately, my mind started thinking D&D, and that the "Norman Conquest" might make an interesting campaign or historic plot point. Hehe.

---------------------------------------------

 

Well, that's it for this week. If you haven't already, you should have a Bro. Frisina calling you to work out Skype calls on Christmas. We have dinner with them that evening, so I figure we might be able to do it about 4pm. Does that work for you?

 

Oh! By the way, I got the Birthday/Christmas package. The only problem I had was that I wasn't able to identify which of the 4 types of wrapping paper were Birthday presents and wheich were Christmas presents. I only knew which were the Santa presents. So, my solution was to just wait until Christmas to open any of them. They are currently sitting under our Christmas Tree. I'll explain a bit more about that next week.

 

I hope you have a very merry Christmas. I'll see you on Wendesday.

Con amor,

-Elder Jordon Hill-

12-21-13 - DJ

Hola Everyone!

So This week was crazy in the offices. More so than last week. Monday I got to learn several things about being the Financial Secretary that I didn´t know before. I recieved my new companion, Elder Smith, and had to clean up from stuff the Elder Rutter was supposed to be doing that he didn´t do.  On top of that I had to do everything so that our new American missionaries (2 Elders & 9 Hermanas) could get their visa stuff started so they could stay.  Everything is good now but it was hectic and stressful before.

 

Elder Smith is pretty awesome. He´s a computer guy too so we are going to be an awesome team here in the offices. he worked as a web developer before the mission so he knows some things that I could probably learn from him.

 

This coming week is Christmas! as such... MERRY CHRISTMAS!  Hope it´s great for everyone. I´ll send home pictures of our tree and everything next week. I haven´t had a chance to take pictures of it yet.

Really that´s it for this week. Nos Vemos!

-Elder D Hill

12-16-13 - Jordon

Well, this week may have been slow, but after the events of this past weekend, I am quite happy.

 

On Monday, We got together as a Zone and made "gingerbread" (gram cracker) houses. I took a couple pictures of mine. (See below.) What do you think? Isn't it awesome?... Hehe. When I was starting, I didn't really have in mind the finished product, so I just attached pieces where I felt like and that was the result. At least it was tasty.

 

 

On Friday, my district joined with our Stake High Counselor over Missionary Work to do some Christmas Caroling. It was a lot of fun. We met a lady who said that this was the first time she had ever had carolers at her house. This made me realize something. I think this was the first time I had ever gone caroling. hehe.

 

Saturday was the big one. on Saturday our wards each had their ward christmas parties. One at 2pm, the other at 6pm. in between them, I had the opportunity to help set up for a baptism that the Sisters were having at 5pm. Dispite the fact that it was another of my firsts (first baptism the new missionary had in my district), everything went well. The only problem was that, as District leader, I have a responsibility to make sure that the Baptismal Record gets to the Bishopric/Branch Presidency presiding over the baptism. Well, I had an appointment at 5, and when we reached 5, no one from the Branch Presidency had shown up yet. But everything worked out in the end. Just a bit of stress, that's all.

 

The most exciting part of Saturday, however, was the appointment at 7:30 with Bro. Carroll, the less active I've been telling you about...Let me back up.

 

On Tuesday, we weren't able to meet with the Carrolls because they were at Disney Land. So, instead, we made a visit to the Carrolls (Bro. Carroll's parents) who live in my other ward. We talked about their son and what could be done to help. They also told me something rather interesting. Apparently, when I first moved into the area, I had drawn their attention. Mom Carroll in specific. She just felt good about me. She said that Wife Carroll (LA Bro. Carroll's Wife) felt exactly the same. I knew there was a reason I felt the need to keep meeting with him.

 

So, fast forward to Saturday, again. We get to their house at 7:30, but the house was completely dark. We knocked on the door...no answer. I paused for a moment, looking for guidance from the spirit for what should be done next, then we started to leave. As we're peddling away, I noticed that my bike was really, really squeeky for some reason. So, we stopped on the corner to see what could be done about it. After a moment of examination, around the corner comes the Carroll family in their van. It was a miracle as far as I'm concerned. I'll spare you the details of the conversation, but I have reason to believe that we're making progress.

 

Yesterday (Sunday) I was involved in the special musical number for the New Member Fireside that the Mission Presidency has every 3rd Sunday of the month. Dispite the fact that my voice has been a little under the weather recently, it sounded great.

 

This Wednesday is Transfers. Calls were received last night, and suspisions were confirmed. I'm staying. Elder Cox got approval to go back to Pensilvania, so he's leaving me. (I promise to get a picture with him before he leaves.) I did not receive any leadership calls, so I'm still District Leader and not training this transfer. More on Transfers next week.

 

That's it for today.

 

Until next time.

Con amor,

-Elder Jordon Hill-

12/14/13 - DJ

Hola Everyone!

Well, this week's been crazy. We have transfers this coming Monday, and new people coming in,0Which means a lot of work to be done in the offices. Plus Elder Rutter is getting transferred, so I need to make sure I know everything that both secretary positions do so I can train my next companion. Just Chaos as usual. 

 

We also did some Caroling in the Metro this morning as a zone. We used it as an opportunity to contact people and invite them to come unto Christ. It seems to have gone over well. Maybe this will catch on. Pics of that once I get them (one of the sister missionaries is going to get me copies of the pictures she took)

 

Not much else to say. Nos Vemos!

-Elder D Hill

12-9-13 - Jordon

Well, this week has been kinda dull. I'm more excited about the upcoming weeks.

 

We're still working with Bro. Carroll (the LA I mentioned last week), and he's still being a hastle. The sum up of our meeting this past week is that he asked us what are the three biggest reasons that we believe in the Church are. The first one we said was Spiritual witness. He has arguments against that one that I don't have time to explain here. The second point was in basically "fruits of the Prophet Joseph Smith," namely the Church and the Book of Mormon. He had arguments with that one too. And, actually that one comes down to spiritual witness, as well. The third point was pure personal testimony/witness. In the Scriptures, any time God gives a commandment to anyone, he always gives a set of specific blessings that are granted to anyone who keeps the commandment. He also says, in essense, "Prove me. See if I will do all I say I will do." I told him that I have done what God has commanded me, and I have reeped the reward. I have seen come to pass the things that God has promised. Up to this point any time we said anything, he always rebuttled, following which we had to remind him that we were short on time. After this one, he said that since we were out of time, he'd wait until next time to give us his arguments. And, then as we were going out the door, he was using up our time again. I think we may have stumped him a bit with that last point. We're hoping for the best. Could you keep him in your prayers to let his heart be softened?

 

Other than that, we didn't really get a whole lot done. One of the other missionaries in my appartment wound up with an infection in his leg and is confined to his bed, so we three "healthy" missionaries have been taking turns staying home with him, meanwhile the other two go out and work between the two areas. (5 wards between us.)

 

In the coming weeks we have some exciting stuff happening. On the 18th is transfers (5 week transfer followed by a 7 week transfer due to Christmas). On the 19th is going to be the Mission Christmas Party. Yay! Then on the 25th is Christmas. Still no word on iPads yet, but they say that Church Headquarters wants to have them out by the end of the year. I'm hoping to have it before Christmas, cause then I could theoretically skype you on there. If we don't have them before Cristmas, I'm making plans to go to Johnny's house like last year, although with the Transfer meeting the week before Christmas, I may need to go elsewhere. What are your time restraints so we can set up a time?

-------------------------------------------

So, right now I look outside and I see early September. Mostly green with a few shades of orange. So, no, it's not beginning to look a lot like Christmas.

 

That's it for me. I love you all, and hope you enjoy my 23rd birthday with out me. I feel old.

 

Until next time.

Con amor,

-Elder Jordon Hill-

12-9-13 - DJ

No sign of my birthday package.

Here's the photos from Thanksgiving.

Elder Jeffersen and his companion

DJ and Elder Rutter

12-7-13 - DJ

Hola Everyone!

This week was a little crazy, but only in what´s been going on in the office. Just with everyone wanting certain things, and with Christmas coming up, it´s been fun. (not to mention all the Christmas packages coming in for the missionaries)

 

We also had some good lessons this week. One of the people we are meeting with is a Less-Active member who has forgotten pretty much everything about the church and so we are re-teaching the lessons with the Elders Quorum President to bring him back up to speed and invite him back to church. we also have an Investigator who has lots of questions. I feel like she will be super strong after she accepts the gospel we just have to work through her questions first.

Other than that, Nothing really exciting happened. So, Nos Vemos!

-Elder D Hill

12/2/13 -  Jordon

Hola familia. Cómo están?

This week was a little unusual as far as the schedule was concerned.

 

Wednesday we went to the temple. (yes, I still have names. Working through them nicely though.) That afternoon, we did some more work for the dead - We had a small training on family history work and using Family Search. There wasn't a whole lot I hadn't heard before, but it was fun. I didn't get a whole lot done, however, I did merge my entry for Grandpa Hill with Mom's. I also located the line we have that runs back to Adam and Eve, and began working on a list that traces it down to me.  I was having fun!

 

Guess what happened on Thursday. I spent the day in Urgent Care. (Mom's reaction: "What happened?") There's no need to worry, I'm ok, but stitches were involved. (Mom's response: "Ok, explain now!") I suppose I should explain then. Thursday, as I'm sure you're aware, was Thanksgiving. Elder Cox was home with his family/resting from cortizone injections, so I was with the other elders that live in my appartment. The schedule was a little wonky because (1) it was Thanksgiving, and (2) our schedules were meshed together. So, we started with a Lunch at noon, followed by a lunch at 1pm. While biking to our would be "Linner" at 3pm, Elder Hammond (not me) had an accident in which his chin made contact with the sidewalk, resulting in a gash about 3/8 in. deep. Thankfully we were right around the corner from our appointment, who readily took us down to urgent care. We were there for the rest of the evening waiting for Elder Hammond to be done. See? no need to worry. (Mom's reaction:  "Don't do that to me.") (My response: "I love you, Mom.")

 

By the way, Mom, Elizabeth Vlahovic says to tell you "hi". You don't know her, and she doesn't know you, but she likes interesting people.

 

As far as the work goes, it's still very slow, and seems to have slowed further. We're turning toward our part members and less actives now to see where they stand. One of our less actives is rather opposed to religion in general. He found all this "evidence" in Church History that supports theories about the Church being false, and he says there is no need for God because we can support everything now with science. I like him. He's a good guy. He makes me laugh. I see him as a son of God who has lost his faith, and I intend to do what I can to help him come back. His wife is on our side. She is a strong member of the Church And desires him to come back as well. I fear for their kids though. I don't want to see what impact this will have on their faith growing up. More info as it develops.

 

Well, that's it for this week. I hope you all are doing well. I imagine in the coming weeks, that feeling of "this is so wierd not having snow for Christmas" will set in again. oh, well.

 

Oh, one more thing. Happy Birthday, Dad!!!!

 

Until next time.

Con amor,

-Elder Jordon Hill-