March 21, 2016

Here are some thoughts from the week. Every time we have the wonderful opportunity to eat with and teach members it is amazing. It is such a safe environment to testify and every time we do it my testimony grows.

So an interesting teaching moment this week... Well Elder Agre and I went on exchanges yesterday and we had a lesson with the two kids of our recent convert and it was... More than interesting. The older one who is 14 has some real interest and had great questions and is awesome. His brother on the other hand was being more difficult. We were able to get through to the older one I think and I hope we can baptize him soon.  That was definitely an experience that made my journal.

Cool story from last Tuesday when I bought my bike:) crazy cool story!! Pretty long tho so gear up:) Now that I am in the city I need a bike no more car for me.

      So we went to the bike shop and the guy says "hey what can I do for you" and I said I'm looking for a bike and I gave him my price range of like 200-250 and the guy goes, "alright well let me refer you to some shops that are more in your range" hahaha and I was like Ouch;) but there was another guy in the back that chimes in, "oh wait wait wait, I think I might have something for you" and he runs downstairs and pulls out this bike. Now I was going in there looking for a street bike type like all the other missionaries you know? So he pulls out this army green bike that just.. well it just shocked me. He's like check this thing out. And so I look at it and I'm a little skeptical and he says hop on it and ride around for a sec. So I jump on it and ride around and I loved it. It was super smooth and rides great and it was basically everything I needed. As well as my comp said, "dude that bike is just like you. It fits your personality" and that sold me. So I go back in and ask how much and he says, "well Alex owns the bike" (who apparently is a guy that works there), "and he is gonna be in to work in like two minutes but I think he wants 250 for it so just wait and ask him". So I do and this Colombian guy walks in and I say I like the bike and I say how much? And he says $300. And I was like awe... I know I can get something for 250 and this wasn't what I was even looking for so I was giving up right there. So I turn to the first guy and say oh well and then he turns to Alex and goes, "hey Alex give him your bike for 250". And he is like... "Sure". 😏 it was so cool:) and that's my story:)

Elder Jones

 

March 14, 2016

Hello everyone from downtown Chicago!! I love my new area.

I know I haven't sent a group email in a while and so once again I will apologize for that... But on a great note, I have some news for you all this week!

First off we had a baptism on Saturday and I had the amazing opportunity to confirm her yesterday during ward conference. To be fair she was already on date when I got here but I have been able to be a part of the whole thing. I even got to be in the water! my companion wasn't sure he would be able to lift her up so I got to help and how awesome was that! I am a firm believer that the spirit helps you with words and blessings much more then you are speaking a language you don't know. So I am grateful for that.

Something else that is cool about my area right now is that it is the "blessing area". Now I see why they call it that. In my last area I am pretty sure we gave two blessings in my six months there and I only participated in one. In this area we gave four blessings in my first week. It is so cool!! It is such a pleasure for the missionaries and priesthood holders, as well as those being blessed to take part in these wonderful ordinances!

Thank you for your support and letters please keep sending them.

Elder Kelly Jones

March 7 2016

Sorry about the blackout last week. When you move to a new area you have to reset some passwords on your iPad with new area and email so that they can send you the ones that apply to your area. I didn't know that cuz this is my first area change. Haha so I got it figured out:)

I am so proud of Ally for learning the viola so cool! I can't wait to hear her play everything when
I get home! I can play clocks by Coldplay on the piano:) so that's cool. Chicago rocks:) I don't know if I told you but downtown is in my whole area:) most areas of the mission don't have any of downtown and only a few cover parts of it. Mine is the only one Spanish speaking that covers 100% of downtown!! You don't even know how cool that is:) Everyone else has to ask permission to go there and I receive revelation about the people that live there!! How cool is that? If you come get me definitely bring everyone you can cuz I have some stuff to show you:) I can't wait till I am a pro at the city. So about my comp.. Elder Rejas, is the best guy in the world. I love him and he is hilarious. He is 22 and has almost as good of a knowledge of 80's music as me and an even better knowledge of the movies. He is from Vegas and is just a solid guy.
So ya my area is great! We bus every day and occasionally take the train... Every few hours actually;) My district is hilarious too!!

Elder Jones