Hey Family. 

            So this week has been good, and transfer day is this Friday meaning that last week was the last full week. This transfer flew by holy grannnnnnnnooooliyiyiyiyiyyieee. 

            But to start off, we had district meeting on Tuesday which was good. But I was kind of having fun and doing some stupid stuff with the district then next thing you know President Balledos walks in and I’m like (just picture what the kid does off the Christmas story) "OOOHHHHHHH FUUUUUDGE" No I didn't do that, But it would've been funny if I did. Ya so he was in on my District meeting and it was like way intense and like the pressure was on. Anyways my workshop was good and then he left. But it was just strange because President doesn't really just go to District meetings... But ya it was good. 

            Then the next day I went on exchanges in San Gabriel with Elder Pettingil who is in my district, He's new but pretty much the reason I went is because they have bikes haha. The only area in the mission that has bikes. So for a day on bikes we got like 50 times more than what we get done walking haha.

            Then the next day I went on exchanges with my zone leader Elder Germaine who's from Woods Cross actually, so we talked a little about Bountiful and stuff, He's close to going home but he's way sick. We taught this guy named Bob Myrena who's wife is a member and she referred him too us, so we finally find him after like a millenium of searching. Then we start just talking and getting to know him, then he just starts bawling and talking about his wife and his son died a year ago and the anniversary I guess of his death-- like the year mark-- was the day before we taught him. So he said he hadn't seen his wife for a very long time, But they saw each other at the son’s grave, which was crazy, and he said they just talked. But he said he misses her and knows they still love each other and stuff so it was cool. We ended up teaching him the Atonement.

            Than we went to Mario Malilum who I have mentioned a lot, so long story short, Mario is a long time investigator. Bacnotan was Elder Germaine’s first area, so when we were on exchanges I told him about Mario and he's like oh ya I know Mario haha.. Anyways ya his problem is he is scared of his boss. So Elder Germaine was straight up like okay we will chastise him.

            So we go into the lesson and we ended up giving him two options, get a new job, or we are going to drop him, so we will see what happens. Because he really wants to get baptized.

             Then I got a call from President last night asking me if I would be willing to be a Zone leader. So I will be a zone leader next transfer-- not sure where or anything-- I will let you know. 

That’s it. Hope all is well.

Love you.

-Elder Jones

Heeeeelllo.

             Ya so this week has been good. We had a lot of lessons and found like 6 new investigators. I got the package and I loved it! Thanks fam. And I got like 1 billion letters-- thanks for that. I loved the laser pointer and the sports illustrated calendar.... I can't believe you sent me the swimsuit edition! (naaaa joke)

            But ya this week I went on exchanges with elder Estocado and we worked in my area, we taught Malilum, they have a baptismal date we still need permission from there boss though to get work off for Sundays. 

            One of our best areas is this Barangay called Cabarsican right on the ocean (remember Barangays are like big neighborhoods in a city or town) and literally everyone there is less active. But we've been teaching this lady named Ellen and she's 20 and has a kid, she read all of 1st Nephi as well which is great so she is progressing fo shooooow. Than we got a referral from some members. This girls name is Gena Rose and she's 14, she is funny, she like only knows Ilocano though so the lessons are interesting haha. Than the Nicdao family, they are less active sooo nice and their 9 year old son wants to get baptized so we gave him a Date, we will see how that turns out. 

             We taught a lady named Annalisa she's like 35 and has 3 kids, she's always busy with laundry (cause you have to hand wash here iiiiif you didn't already know that) and stuff so we taught her she was way receptive and I always offer to help her with anything but she like refuses.

            We have been finding these "15" names, it's less actives in our ward that would be potential leaders and stuff, so each area (Bacnotan A,B,and C) have 5 each, we have found like 3, and one of our LA's we have re activated (Elmer Buccago) he does nothing but computer allll day, than he goes to church on Sundays but ya.... that's about it.

             We have been playing basketball every morning at 6 and my skillzzzz are coming back. This area is crazyyyy, there are 6 elders in a small town, and we are 4 Americans 2 New Zealanders, that's un heard of haha, we are nuts..... 

             Oh wait this story is 2 good not to tell-- I almost forgot. We talked to this girl on the beach (I promise we teach guys it's just the only people I tell you about are girls) and we gave her a pamphlet, this was like around Christmas time, than long story short, her cousin is the lady who does our laundry (of course we are too lazy to hand wash) so ya they are cousins, and our laundry lady is like "hey why don't you ever go to Krystal’s, she's been waiting for you guys to go teach her" and I was like "hhhhhhhaaaaaaaaaaaaa really? OK" and then we taught her and our laundry lady, but the funniest part is, I guess Krystal’s father (this is a true story) only lets her leave the house like.... 1 time a day... Because she is apparently too beautiful and all the Filipino guys would like go crazy haha.... Ya that's a true story, so turns out she thinks I’m Guwapo (handsome) and stuff so her dad I think like hates our guts.... but she is really receptive... anyways that’s that. Funniest story ever. But ya that's that...

Love you all

-Elder Jones

 So this week has been all good. I went on exchanges Wednesday with Elder Davies from New Zealand that was pretty fun I was in an apartment with 2 New Zealanders and a Tongan haha so things got pretty crazy.

             We found a ton of New Less actives this week which was good, all of them with the same excuse on why they don't attend church all of them are like RM's and stuff and I get so sick of hearing like "oh my job" and "i got offended" and stuff like that so it gets kind of annoying but it's alright. Turns out a few of them went gay as well, that's why they are less active so ya... Haha

            This week was just normal though.... We had stake conference for San Fernando stake, we visited a lot of members and committed them to work with us and stuff... We taught this like 20 year old named Irene, she has a kid and she is a part member, she's way receptive so it was cool, She is progressing and hopefully this next week we will extend an IBD.. That's about it... All's good.

-Elder Jones

I haven't gotten anything haha.... Ya Eric emailed, glad he's good, I heard Aaron felli (Felsted) got his call to Canada, and I read Jenna’s thing that was cool. Hey next package but like legit church socks in, like 5-ish pair, a thin light material, because all the socks I have are way heavy and my feet like burn..... It's so hot

Hey so not too much happened this week but I’ll try to break it down,

            Last Monday we went over to brother Steve’s house (the Philadelphia guy) and ate. He is currently sending me play by play of the super bowl since the super bowl is happening right now here. Then Tuesday we talked to all of these less-actives who are part member families. Than Wednesday we had Zone interviews with President Balledos-- which was good. After the zone interview, the Assistants choose one companionship to work with as does president Balledos… so of course there's like 14 or so companionships in the zone but we were the chosen companionship to work with president. It was way awesome though I learned a lot. But it was so stressful trying to teach with President right there haha.. But ya so we worked with him. While we were with him we taught Naty Esperone (who is an old lady) and we gave her a Book of Mormon because she really wants to learn more. She said she can't read because her eyes are bad, than presidents like, “oh I know a guy who makes eye glasses. I will have him make you one, just send me the grade of your eyes.” So that was cool. Then he wanted to see how we worked with members, so we walked into this member’s house (sister Elizabeth) and were just talking than I’m just like.... “So hey you want to work with us next week?” and she's like “yup sure.” So it's as easy as that. 

            Then Thursday we went to the Nicdao family and taught them. This is the 36 year old grandma who's a less-active and sooooo nice and wants her son baptized... And she has an 18 year old daughter that may or may not be pregnant we are too scared to ask haha... 

            We went back to Jessica’s mom--the one who said no to her being baptized-- and we took a bolder approach with the 2nd councilor in the Bishopric....... But ya she still hates our guts and doesn't want her daughter to be baptized... Jessica’s grandmother (the member) bore a powerful testimony (it was in Ilocano so i didn't really catch it) on how she wants Jessica to get baptized but the mom is........ ya.

            And that's about it.... love ya all... been missing the fam lately

Elder Jones