This Christmas feels like the very first Christmas to me!

Week 18

4 month mark!

ALOT of stuff happened this week! First Elder Bates Got sick, so we had to spend some time healing up, and then We botha had to go to center (30-40 minutes by Marshutka) to get some medicine and stuff.  So that was a time drain, and our key indicators suffered for it! But we still saw plenty of miricales!  ITs hard to explain, but our key indicators dont reflect our success as missionaries, we have so many other cool things happen that we dont put down on paper!

We had a good lesson with are English Investiagator walter, he has been meeting with missionaries FOREVER, I do not even want to know how many times hes heard the Baptismal Commitment, he probably has it memorized better than I do by now.  Anyway, we had an amazing lesson on the Book of Mormon, and we really showed him how we are restored, not reformed.  Then we commited him to be baptized, and he said no again, but this time, unlike everytime before, we asked him why.  HE explained for him it would be like a betrayal, he would be betraying his mother(who died a year ago) and his friends, and his chruch, like he would be betraying who he is.  Then we talked about what happens after this life.  And I said walter, what if you knew that your mother was accepting this same gospel right now, then would you accept it?  He said yes i suppose I would.  And then I talked about how my Dad died, and he was called home to heaven to teach this Gospel to those who died without knowing it.  And I told him his mom is being taught this same message right now.  It gave him a lot to think about, and I hope he will have an experience with the holy ghost and his mother that will validate what we said by the power of the spirit. 

Second cool thing this week! (Besides skyping my family) last night, after a long day, with no visible success, I commented to elder Bates as we were entering our DVOR(like a park by our house) THis is when the miricale happens right? he responded, yeah thats what president said, right as we walked in the door I got a call from this random Serge that we have been trying to meet with.  He was on his way home from Kyiv, and he opened up the conversation: What do you believe about God?  I said "God is our Father"  He said "Yes I believe this too" He continued to explain his beliefs, which were not all against the gospel, some of them highlighted truths.  Then He continued, "While I was in Kyiv, I saw Hell. I saw what would happen if I did not change my ways, I am scared, and I dont know how to change, can you help Me? Please can you help me?" I responded with the most sure feeling of confidence and spirit I have ever had and said"Yes we can, and we will!"  We are going to meet with him some time today!  

And one more real fast, the reason for the subject line is because for Christmas Eve we went to a family in our branches home to share a quick message and then leave.  It turns out that this is the first year taht they have celebrated chritmas on the 25th(Most Ukrainians and Russians celebrate it on January 7th),  They explained they had no traditions, so I shared ours with them!  We read the Story of Christs birth from Luke in Russian.  And We showed them the Christmas video, oh my gosh the spirit was so strong there, it was so thick you could hardly breath. Then Elder Bates bore his testimony and his last line was "I am here to share this miracle with people"  Siezing that perfect intro, the spirit influenced me and I said"But we cant share it without the help of the branch, so do you know anyone that would like to hear this message?" They talked about one man that we might be able to! We ate our first homemade Ukrainian dinner with them, all of it looked scary, but tasted amazing. 

Well that was our week! oh yeah, Christmas dinner was 6and1/2 feet of pizza. Love you All and Merry Christmas!!

Hey buddy,

Wow...it was so great to talk to you and see your smiling face on Christmas.  You were just glowing and looked so good.  I was left just totally uplifted and glowing after seeing you.  I didn't know what to expect, but it was better than I could have hoped for.  It was great for all the kids to see you as well.  I have rewatched the video again several times:).  The other fun thing was the Elder Bates, and Elder Jeffery's moms both sent me the picture with you in their Skype videos.  Overtime I see a new picture of you in it, it's like a little bit of you comes back to me for a moment.   I love it!  Send more pictures of you in it!

I am glad I had the lesson on you being exactly obedient at the beginning of your mission, because I would have fought you hard for those extra 20 minutes if not.  I want to do everything I can to support you in being exactly obedient.

I have been thinking a lot lately about how I am able to have you in Ukraine wandering the streets and I am not freaking out all the time.

Jesse and April came to Christmas dinner and I showed them the video of you speaking Russian,  I told them "He was just glowing".  While watching the video Jesse looked at me and said, "wow, you are right, he really is glowing".  When he asked about your schedule and what you do each day, I told him that you are walking the streets after dark for 3 hours.  He asked, "Is that even safe?"  I told him that you have to stay close to the spirit and leave the area if you feel prompted.

That is what I have been pondering upon.  "Is that even safe??"  The answer to the average person is "NO!"  It absolutely isn't safe.  But to a faithful missionary, and a faithful mother of a missionary the answer is quite different.  My missionary has to rely on the spirit to keep him safe.  He has to listen and know when to get out of a situation.  I have faith, and know that you will be guided, and also protected.  I know the Lord is by your side, as well as Dad and a host of other angels.  I just think it is remarkable that you are relying on the spirit to keep you safe, but at the same time it is the spirit that is calming my fears and worries about you being there.  I am confident in your safety and at peace with what you are doing.  I am finding so much joy seeing you progress and learn.  I love you so much.

Christmas was nice.  Dakkon has been pleasant and we are hoping will find a job this week.  He got the info to get his Patriarchal blessing today.  We are praying he will really prepare for a mission.  He is pretty lost right now with his life.  I don't want him to serve for the wrong reasons, but I don't know if he even knows what is the right reason or wrong reasons at this point.  I just know that serving for him is his best chance at having a good life right now.  Dad talked with him about laying of games for awhile and we hope that will help.  Keep the prayers coming for him for sure.

Everyone else is doing well.  Jordy spoke in Sacrament meeting today about missionary work.  He didn't want too and fought it pretty hard, but we settled for him to bear his testimony about it. He did a good job and talked a little about you in Ukraine.

I miss you and love you so much!  Thanks again for everything you did for me, and the continuing good example you are to all the boys.

Questions-

1- Spiritual experience for the week?

2- Funniest experience for the week?

3- How did it feel for you to Skype?

4- Did it make you home sick or sad after?

5- If so...has it gotten better?

6- Are you happy, and staying positive?

7- Any specific prayers for you needed?

8- How do you like being a trainer?

9- Are you staying obedient?

10- Do you remember what lesson of obedience I am talking about in the above comment?

11- Anything I can do to make you happy, or help you?

12-Do you have any questions for me?

I love you so much!!!  You are in my thoughts and prayers continually!  Don't forget to say I love you this week!!!  

Love you!

Mom

Funniest experience I am only going to share with you: When elder Bates got sick, We had to go to center, we ran into Sister Sullivan.  When she saw my acne, she called area medical. And then I got a call from him and he talked to me about it, and then he told me to get a Benzoyl Peroxide cream, so I did. ITs just funny because sister sullivan did it all without talking to me, so when he called, he was like "Sister sullivan said you have been having some acne problems" I responded with "Well I didnt say anything to her about it so it looks like she took the initiative on this one".  I am happy to know that she cares about my appearance and happiness! 

Skype felt really good, and I was so excited, it was really wierd though.  I loved it, what do you mean I was glowing?  It didnt make me sad for sure! I was so happy after! 

I am staying happy and positive all the time! Just for our investigators to get baptized! 

I love being a trainer, but Elder Bates came pre trained so we are doing pretty well! Yes we are staying obedient.   

I do remember, its the one with the Email that first week right?  

We dont have brown sugar here, and I could use some maple flavoring stuff.  

I am going to go get another skarf and better gloves today, the shopkas here are like 10 bucks each, so if you want me to send a couple packages of them home I could, FOr 11 Shapkas to get home it would total to be about 140 dollars for all of the hats, and shipping! 

I love you!

Elder George

Week 17-

Well I am sure you are curious about the subject line, and so I will explain it. My last name is very difficult for Ukranians to pronounce.  About my second week here a native was like "I will call you george."  So since the root for Jorgensen is Georgic, I said "Ladna(Whatever)"  SO now when someone cant pronounce my name, I just say, you can call me george,  they sigh in relief and say, yes George is much better.  (вы Сможете называть меня george).  

So this week was pretty awesome!  We had a giant zone conference and we all learned so much from president Sullivan and the spirit.  On top of that we got 2 new investigators!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Yes that is a lot of investigators! Both of them basically sought us out, so one day on our way to the branch building, a christmas tree dude stopped us and I thought He was going to try and sell us a christmas tree, I was just about to say Nay Nada(I dont need it) when he said, dont you meet there on Sundays?  I was like yeah! at 11 oclock in the AM.  HE said Can I come?  I was just like yes of course, here is our number so if  you cant find it you can call us! in my head the conversation continued with him saying, "I dont know what baptism means, but can I do that?" Yeah so he came, and he wants to come again next week and he said he was interested in learning the Gospel, and I was just like, well, you came to the right place!  The other is from our potential investigator list,  the potential investigator lists, are where we right down potential investigators in the Area book so that the next elders know who might be interested in the gospel.  His name is Артем(Artyom) we invited him to come play ping pong with us, he showed up, we played it was fun.  The night was winding down, and then he asked Elder Bates about the church.  He is one of the few Ukrainians that claim to be christian and actually follow christ!!!!  Elder bates tried to quote John 3:16 but it got lost in translation, Artyom, was like oh I know that one, and he helped Elder bates finish the quote!  HE started asking about the church leader ship, and elder bates explained to him all about the prophet, and the quorum of the 12 and the 70s,  Artyom exlaimed"Wow thats just like how Jesus did it!"  He wasnts to meet us again, and not just to play ping pong. 

Well saddest day of my mission was the other day.  We had to drop Valeree.  We still see him everyday, and hes read the book of mormon stories, but he just doesnt want to meet with us.  He is still nice but he wont ever show up to lessons any more.  Asd soon as elder bunker left, so did Valerees desire to meet with us.  

Ping pong was awesome this week though! We had 4 investigators come, and they all got to meet the Branch President(who also happens to be wickedly awesome at Ping pong).  

  One close new investigator is Eugene, we met him by the River, but he seemed reluctant to talk with us, and then we started to talk about christ, and why we are here and he really wants to meet with us now, he is older and has some health problems.  I am so excited for the next few weeks because we are really starting to see miracles here! 

I love you all so much!!!!!!!

Emails with Mom-

Hi buddy!

Wow...just 4 days until we get to see each other and talk to you!  I can't wait...we are all so excited. I sent the Skype info for you.  I will stay on tonight so that we can talk about any details.  

The T-boys have to go back to Margaret's on Christmas Eve and they will try to call in on the Skype call.  You won't be able to see them but they should be able to talk.  We will have Dakkon here though.  Most of the family is going to come over, but some can't work out the schedule.  Lynds and Clint won't be here I think.  

We are all doing good.  The stake is asking us to create our own family goals this year to become more spiritually minded.  We are going to study Preach my Gospel as a family as our goal so that we can be studying the same thing you are teaching.

Dakkon update- (confidential...don't bring it up with anyone... even him) I did tell him that I was going to tell you.

Bad News first-

He failed his classes again and lost his scholarship.  He wants to move back in with us, because he isn't speaking with Margaret again.  Things were really bad with Simon and I guess Simon is atheist now.  Environment sucks at the U...we knew that!  He is going to drop out of school...why waste money if you don't go to class.

Good news-

He is expressing interest in a mission.  He went and talked with the Bishop today and got a temple recommend.  I don't think he has had one in several years.  He is going to get his Patriarchal blessing set up asap.  We have told him that we want to be supportive, but will NOT enable him again.  If he moves in he will have to work full time, contribute financially, have chores, babysit, etc. If he doesn't like the terms he can get an apartment on his own.  We don't know if he is serious about a mission...or using it as a ploy to string us along.  So we are going to push it to happen asap.  If he is serious (which we are praying he is) then we'll get him out quick.  If he is trying to string us along and buy time, we will be able to see through it that much faster.  If he wants a life of gaming he will have to do that on his own dime.  He has been very kind and helpful around the house.  He feels bad about how things went and sees that Dad and I were right and is trying to talk openly with us.  Should be interesting to see...but if he really goes on a mission it will be awesome.  He misses you a lot and has a lot of regrets I think.  He doesn't want to tell the tboys he is moving in because he doesn't want them to tell margaret...so that is still a mess.

Everyone else is doing pretty good.  Dad is taking up guitar lessons through a system on the xbox one, with an electric guitar.  He is actually pretty good and just started.  We went to Star Wars yesterday and everyone loved it.  It was good.  Jacob had a great game yesterday and made several shots including 3 of 4 free throws.  The Y lost to the U in a pitiful football bowl game yesterday.  We had 5 turn overs in the first couple minutes resulting in them having 35 points given to them in the first 5 mins. of the game.  We came back and held them with the final score 35-28.  Ethan was happy everyone else was pretty bummed.

Well, I am just super proud of you and excited for you.  I made you a final scrap book of the last 3 years so I am totally caught up.  Sarah helped me find some of the pictures of the dances I was missing.  So after your mission, we can do a mission book and then your whole life will be in books. Sarah was super jealous...I guess stacey has never even uploaded a picture...like ever.

I have added to the shrine and was laughing this week because you sent me a picture of you and an elder in the MTC...but I didn't know who it was.  I was putting up the new pictures and realized it is you and Elder Bates.  So that was cool.

Biggest question is just making sure we are good to go on Friday for skyping.

1-I would love for you to bear your testimony in your group email.

2-How are things going with Elder bates?  

3-Language still coming along?

4-What are the English classes that people are talking about?  Are you teaching them?

5 What are the activities that you are talking about?

6  Are your SD cards full?  Do you need to send them to me and I can send them back empty?  I could send out some new ones too...so you always have them.

7 Are you happy and enjoying it?

8 Have you been healthy still?  

9 What mail/ packages and letters have you received?

10  Im glad I was able to send extra things for your companion.  I don't think Elder Bates mom got a package out on time.  I helped her figure out the Roxolana thing though so he should get one soon.  

11  Anything you need from us, or how can I be helpful?

12-  Are you starting to love Ukraine and the people?  What is your favorite thing over there?

So Kaestli is super cute and misses you.  Today she said  I miss Jaxon Jane Toone.  She is obsessed with her full name right now.  Then she tried out Jaxon Jared Toone.  I told her your name was Jaxon Hunter Jorgensen and she said "Hunter???  That's a weird name!"  She is sweet.  

The family is still feeling blessed by your service and if Dakkon actually makes it out on a mission I will attribute it to you serving as well.  You are awesome.  Keep working hard and staying faithful.  Heavenly Father knows your heart and you will be successful in his eyes no matter what the outcome is.  I believe in you and love you so much.  We are praying for you and your district continually.

Love you tons!

Mom

Wow that is so amazing, I am literally crying right now, because I have been praying for/about Dakkon, and was going to send him an email today encouraging him to serve a mission.  God definitely hears and answers every childs prayer.  

Okay I can bear my testimony, Elder Bates and I are getting along swell, we are very similar people.  

The language gets better everyweek, its like a muscle now, With use it grows, there are some words now that I know in russian that I dont know in english.  

Yeah I am teaching them, its basically just us teaching a gospel lesson in english, its more of a practice than a lesson in english, but if they have questions we answer them.  

The activity is just ping pong, and food, and games.  

I havent even touched the second SD card, but I have tons of pictures today.  

I am very happy here, Elder Bates and I saw a lot of miricales this week.  

I am Still very healthy, but everyone that sees me tells me I look sick becasue4 of the shape of my cheeks.  

I have recieved so many, and I just recieved the one from Nov. 11 that you sent in the other system, it is not better.  I have recieved all packages that I know of, that is 2.  

I dont need anything but support, What is your skype name so that I can find you, I will be skyping through Face book, my Username is Jaxon Jorgensen, and the other thing is facebook:jaxon.jorgensen, 

I am starting to love the people, they are all really funny and different from Americans.

My skype name is Julie.toone3 I sent a Skype email. I had Dakkon help me set up an account for you and we sent a separate email about it. I didn't know if you had something set up. I'll look for the other one through Facebook. 

The November 11, through the other system...was it just a piece of paper taped?  I have only done a couple of those. I'm glad the letters are finally coming!  I'm doing 1-2 a week. Some from me. Some from dear elder.

You forgot I love you again!

You should still email Dakkon!  That might really help. I'm glad I told you about it and that it answered your prayers. That is awesome!  He seems genuine in it. Time will tell:). 

Love you

Mom

Love you too, I will try the skype you set up. I am super excited to talk with you all !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Meet your trainee!!

Week 16!!

This was a big week, so ill start towards the beginning. So my mom has been asking about my weight and stuff so I will just give you all a physical run down: one of our investigators, Sasha(Male name), works at like a nutrition shop.  Me and Elder Bunker Met him on the street and he was like do you have 15 minutes to meet with me right now? Well, we always have 15 minutes to meet with anyone because its either that or walk. So we followed him, he took us to his work, Elder Bunker and I were expecting like a spiritual conversation but it turned into him trying to sell us his companys stuff.  He took our measurments and had us step on a magical scale, and here is what he told us about our bodies: I am 5'11 and 1/4 of an inch, 67.5 Kilograms, he told me according to his measurements that I was 55 Kilograms muscle, and like 9% body fat, that is just what happens when you walk as far as we do. Well we left and he wants to play ping pong with us so that will be fun. So there you have it, dont worry, I eat a lot of food, but I still lose weight becasue of the Poyezdka(journey).  

Next is the Funny story for the week:  I dont know if I have told you a whole lot about walter.  His is about 60 years old, served in the CCCP army as an officer, and is very good at speaking english, Which is why he asked us to call him Walter instead of Volodia.  Anyways, he only ever comes to english, and he has a never ending list of questions, he is a unique guy.  So it came time to organize an activity on Friday, and we really needed people to come, We wanted it to be big, so I called walter to see if he wanted to come play ping pong with us, he sounded thrilled and said "Yes, I will bring my racket and we will play together".  He is like 60 so I was suprised he actually wanted to play with us.  Ping pong comes, and its Elder Bates' First time at an activity, walter and Alex both come, and we are about to start to play.  We decided to play as teams at walters request.  I was thinking " I better take it easy on him so that i dont hurt his feelings"  And then the game starts, and he just destroys me utterly. I cant even describe how strange it was to see this man play ping pong so well. He put so much spin on the ball and he just like mind controled the ball to do exactly what he wanted. Okay we stop doing teams because Elder Bates and Alex want to go play Uno.  SO its just me and Walter, Walter is like"Okay, here is what we will do, you will start with 6 Points, and we will play to 11."  With hurt pride I responded "No I will start at zero we must play fair" he says "No need to be prideful, it will simply make the game more interesting for me because I am more experienced in this field than you" Still nursing the wound I respond"Okay, fine but if I win then next time we start 0-0" He agreed.  Then I won, by like 5 points, so we start again, it was just so epic, I felt like somebody else was playing ping pong for me becxasue it was just amazing how we were playing.  Aparently he was toying with me becasue then he just started slamming me and I couldnt handle it so he won, and that was it.  Just an Army Veteran, who can barely walk faster than a turtle that is amazing at ping pong.  

Also scary story this time: IT was elder Bates' first night contacting, and so I took him around a market where we taought one lesson and got a phone number, it was all going pretty swell.  Then a drunk guy lumbered over towards us and we basically have no choice but to walk past him, so he says hi, and gives us knuckles, I am just about to get me and Elder Bates out of there when some guy grabs the drunk guy and throws him against a cart and is like y elling at him about somethjing.  Elder Bates, Jet lagged and fresh out of the MTC freezes and has no clue what in the world he signed up for, so I grab him by the shoulders, turn him around and we got the heck out of there, he definitely had the scariest First night of any greenie becasue later we saw like a burned down candy shop, and a few other drunk guys.  But he is okay now, that is the scariest thing that has happened out here so far except for Karate guy.  

Something wierd happened this week with Valeree, so on Friday before ping pong, we had agreed to meet.  He comes in holding his childrens book of mormon and he says he has read it all.  He gives it to me and then he starts to leave.  I try to stop him, but he just keeps going.  He said hed come back later but he didnt, so I really hope he just got busy and doesnt want to stop meeting with us!  He read it all though so that was good.  

Well me and Elder Bates are loving it here, even though there is alot of scary stuff, there is even more funny stuff, and cool stuff, like yesterday we saw this monument that had a jet taking off, and the art here is awesome on the walls, Ill try and get some pics of cool stuff soon, we just arent supposed to while we are proselyting.

WEll that is it for this week so I love you all and I cant wait to hear more from you!

Hey buddy!

WOW oh WOW.  I am so proud that you are a trainer.  I can't even believe it...except I can believe it because it's you.  I am so happy about it.  I was actually feeling like you would be a trainer as well...but didn't want to say it, because it seemed crazy.  So I wasn't shocked...except I was kind of;).  The crazy thing is that last week on Sunday night Elder Bates mom sent me an email with some questions and concerns for Dallas...she said she had been praying for his trainer that he would be prepared to help Dallas.  So I was dying not being able to tell her until she got the email from Sis. Sullivan.  We have texted a ton this week and we talked on the phone Wednesday night for over an hour!  We are going to go to lunch this week.  I usually wake up when your email comes through and I didn't last week.  I was bummed a little...but then realized that if I had I wouldn't have been able to go back to sleep after so it was probably good.  I am just really excited for you!  Everyone is so proud and excited for you as well.  It is just awesome to see you doing so well.  Sister Sullivan keeps the blog up to date so that is fun to see pictures.  

This week with the family...  We got the Mika's basketball tickets for the BYU game against USU.  We won.  We had an extra ticket and took Tom with us.  We had a lot of fun.  Josh seems to be doing a little better.  Me and dad took Cam and Kaes to California and Disneyland Thurs-Sat.  We had fun.  The little kids loved having Curtis be so engaged with them.  It was a great time.  Grandma and Grandpa have had the boys at the cabin all weekend.  

Kaestli has her dance performance tomorrow...(now aren't you glad you took the time last year to get pics with her and go?)  I told you;)  She is a butterfly in the Alice in Wonderland Ballet.  Oliver has a choir performance downtown also so dad will have a full day trying to work and make it to both events.  

Cam is doing good...but has been sick.  Just a bad cold and cough.  

We started cupcake season with out you...I know you are sad you couldn't be the one to wash the pans, but I'm sure you'll survive.:)

Adam bought some sort of BMW...not sure what kind.

The weather here has been pretty mild.  We had snow once in the valley so far.  The mountains have had a few good storms though.

I saw a Facebook post from Brittany today that said her "letter opening" was cancelled because the brethren wanted her to get healthier before she goes.  It is pretty unusual for that to happen. I hope she is ok.  She asked for prayers.

Sister Sullivan said you got your package...don't open the presents until Christmas.  Did you open the package yet?  I put in some meds for Sister Sullivan for the missionaries that need some.  

Pictures-  I need more pictures!!!  What does your apartment look like?  What does Ukraine look like?  What does your church look like?  Stores, streets, companions, district???  I need more pictures.  I'd also like a picture of the binder:)  Elder Biesinger does a much better job sending pictures...so ask him for help if you have too;)

Some of the new moms from your group and from this new group started a private mission Facebook page so that is really fun.  So far we have about 13 moms on it.  Mostly from the 2 new groups.  I need Elder Ditty's mom's info so I can put her on it.  What is her name?  Email?

Questions-

1- How are you feeling about training? 

2-How is the companionship going?- What did Elder Bates think of it??

3- How is your language coming...and Elder Bates coming?

4-Are the hand warmers helpful?

5-  Have you weighed yourself again?  Loss??

6- Are you HAPPY???

7- Are you staying warm while walking?  Is it still about 30 Kilometers a day?  That's 22 miles!!!

8- How is Valeree doing?  Any baptism date?  We are praying for him.

9-Are my emails lacking anything?  Any info you are wondering about?

10- Do you have any questions for me?

11-Do you need more pages or sleeves for the binder?  

12- Do you feel safe where you are at?

13- Are you getting any of the letters at all?  How often can you go to the mission office even?  I'm sending a couple a week...should I keep doing that?  Do you like them?  Do you need more than 2 a week?

14-Can you share anything specific about experiences with Daddy Jake?

**** Most important question!  Details of skyping for Christmas.  What time?  How do we do it?  How long will we have???

Well,  I miss you like crazy!  I am so excited to talk to you in less than 2 weeks!  You continue to amaze me and teach me.  I am so glad you are my son.  Please stay safe.  Keep your faith.  Work hard.  Remember you can do hard things...you have already proven that!  I have complete faith in your ability to train!  You will be great, don't doubt that and don't doubt the Lord's faith in you.  He knows you will do a great job.  Keep being kind and obedient and remember you are one of the happiest people on this earth...keep it that way.  You are the best.  Have faith that even if no baptisms come right away you are doing what the Lord wants you to do.  

I love you and always will!

Mom

I am so excited to train!!!  I just dont feel comfortable taking pictures here, but I will try, that is why I try and make the emails so descriptive is because then you only see the good parts of Ukraine. I will be honest with you right now, there is alot of cool stuff here, and there is a lot of scary stuff here, the problem is I only see the cool stuff on proselyting days, because we are always so busy on P-day, and I dont want to look like a tourist by taking out a camera and snapping a pic. It is against the White handbook to take pictures while proselyting, so I can get stuff around the apartment, and if I see cool stuff today, then I will take a picture for you, I just dont want to be disobedient. Trust me there are so many cool statues, and buildings, maybe in a few weeks when its not a busy P-day, Elder Bates and I will just go take pictures of all the cool stuff.  The companionship is going well and we are getting along good.  Elder Bates said he thought wed be companions eventually just not so soon.  Language is coming well, I have really felt the gift of tounges, and at this point I can understand almost all of what people say to me.  Elder Bates is amazing with the language, unfortunately his ears are still tuned into MTC russian, but he still picks up about 30 percent or more of conversations,  I just have to tell him what to talk about and then he speaks nearly perfectly.  He even catches words sometimes that people we are taching say that I missed, and he tells me what they said, and then I am able to tell him the rest of the conversation, so yeah it should be good.  I havent opened the package yet so I dont know if handwarmers are helpful but probably they will be!  I am around the same as last time with my weight, I have just shed any fat that was on my body, ill tell that story on the group email.  I am very happy!  Yes we still walk about that far a day, and yes I am staying warm!  Ill talk about Valeree on the group email.  YOur emails are perfect! No questions and no sleeves, I can buy them here.  I do feel safe most of the time, you wouldnt feel safe here, but I am used to it now.  I only go to the mission office on P-day, and so i only get letters or packages once a week, which is why I have not picked up the package yet.  Theres not anything really specific about daddy Jake, but I know he is here.

Hey bud. Sounds good about the pictures. I don't want you breaking rules at all so I understand. What about Christmas?  Have you got any letters from me yet?

With christmas we will probably do it around 11 oclock your time, we have to find a place to do it, but it should be fine I have a few pictures this week!

I need a definite time so everyone can be here next week. 

Love you...you forgot I love you this email

I love you too, and yeah it should be 10 AM your time actually becasue we will do it at 7:00 PM here

 Elder Bates and Elder Jorgensen

Welcome Dinner

Snow Day!

View From Apartment

Picture from Bates...much better!

Mission Impossible: TRAINING!!!!

Week 15

Alright too many cool things happened this week, I will start with the beginning of the week and the story.  So there is not a ton of missionaries here in this mission, and I think this last transfer there wasnt an elder that wasnt training, or being trained except for the APs.  So going into this new transfer we are recieving 8 new elders.  ELder bunker told me he thought that we were just going to stick together, and I thought yeah, probably.  And then something crazy happened, President called us both in for interviews this week.  And then I got this crazy idea in my head that I should mentally prepare myself to train a brand new elder.  Well going into the interview i was sure he was gonna say i was training, it was an awesome interview because President is just amazing.  He said nothing about me training to either myself or elder bunker.  So he th ought we for sure were just sticking to gether now, but I was not fooled. THat day we started exchanges, and when we met to exchange companions, Elder biesoinger would go with Elder bunker, and I with elder mccleary. We had a discussion about what was going to happen at exchange time the next day.  Elder bunker thought we were all gonna just stay in left bank.  Everyone gave their opinion but elder Mccleary, because he claimed that he knew and couldnt tell.  We were just like whatever but then I said what was I thought was going to happen I would train, Elder bunker would leave, and eldr mccleary and biesinger would stay together and elder mccleary would be district leader. THen that night I was having a hard time falling asleep because I knew that I was going to get a call in the morning saying I was going to train, and then I decided who I was going to train.  Elder Bates came to mind and I decided that I was going to train ELder bates.  Well that morning, we get a call from president, Elder mccleary answers and President says: "You already know your new position, hand the phone to elder Jorgensen"  I say "Hullo President, this is elder Jorgensen." "He says hello, I have information about your new assignmetn, You will be remaining in Left bank, Training elder Bates"  "And I just said, YeahI know. I decided I was gonna train  him last night"  then he responded and said"Well then I guess your feeling the inspiration too!"  So I am way excited to train elder Bates, it is gonna be the greatest time.  NOw our district will be the most inexperienced in the mission, be cause all three of the companionships are training, or just barely finished training.  I got a hair cut today, and we got some groceries, because now I am in charge of everything, I have to keep myself and Elder Bates alive and healthy.  Not much happened with our investigators, but Valeree did tell us that he would let us know when he wants to get baptized this year, meaning 2015.  Elder bunker is going to be district leader in a city called kreemanchook.  

Funny story: The shampoo thief in second hand.  So we were second handing last Pday(shoping at thrift stores) and we were almost done at this one store.  Elder bunker sees this man walk into the store, he waits until the lady isnt looking, then slips a bottle of shampoo into his pocket.  He comes to the counter to buy something else and then Eldr bunker says "Hey whats in your pocket" the dude responds "my phone" and pulls out a phone.  Next elder bunker says "Tee Cho!(whats your problem), other pocket"  THe guy gets flustered, pulls out the shampoo and says, "I brought this from home!"  Elder Bunker looks at the clerk and is just like "He just took this from a shelf" She just shrugged and said"What ever".  We left and elder bunker was just raging all week about it.  He told everyone he could, he just couldnt belive that the lady didnt stop him and he was just soo pissed.  What made it even funnier is we saw the guy again later that day by another store and he was like "Hey are you belivers? because if your true believers, you wouldnt tell people I am stealing stuff when I am not!"  He totally was, and we just kept walking. 

 Well that is about it.  oH YEAH no one here celebrates christmas on christmas, but they still put up decorations and stuff in stores.  I translated again this week and it went way better.  Somehow I also got stuck translating for president in preisthood session, he usually isnt in our branch, anyway he took pitty on me and was like, just translate anything I  want to say for them, and unless they get in an argumetn I dont really need to know exactly wahats being said.  It waws so relieing, I probably under stand about 90% of what is going on, but I can only translate about 80% of it.  Well pray for me as a new trainer, I am really excited and it will be so fun!

Hi Buddy,

How are you?  We miss you, but are doing good.

I am dying to know if you got transferred...if you got a new comp and who is it?!?  The guys in the MTC are so excited.  I found out that Marlin Schafer/Dawson has a nephew that is heading to you guys in January with another group so she is really excited to hear about your mission.  I know a few of the moms of the new group coming too.  

We are doing pretty good.  Josh has been really terrible this week and super disrespectful to me.  I'd love it if you could send him an email telling him to respect me.  He has struggled not having you around for advice.  He is doing terrible in math right now so hopefully he pulls up his grade.

Jordy is doing better.  It has been less stressful for me and he likes it a lot.  He earned his laptop from Adam.

Jacob just started Jr. Jazz yesterday.  They won their game and he had a lot of fun.  He is with that same coach.  He has been helping a lot more. 

I found someone really good to help clean around the house so that has been wonderful!

They got your plaque up in the hallway finally, it looks so good and makes me so proud.

Dad and I are still doing really well.  We are taking just Cam and Kaes this week to Disneyland for a couple days.  I am excited for him to come and see the magic in Kaes' eyes when she see the princesses.  It should be a lot of fun.

Cam and Kaes are both doing good.  They are learning a lot and loving the snow and Christmas season.  They are learning on about the same level right now.  

We had all t-boys this weekend including Dakkon.  Dakkon is sick of rooming simon.  I'm not sure what he will end up doing.  Me and dad are just hoping that he passes his classes.  We aren't sure how he is doing...he says he is doing good.  He isn't going to church though or institute.  He has been coming more often though.  I don't think he has any contact with Margaret.  The t-boys were glad he came, because they haven't seen him in a long time.  

Kaestli wants to tell you that she loves you so much!  She made up a song singing I love you so much over and over dedicated to you.

We fasted for you today.  I liked this quote...

“There is divine purpose in the adversities we encounter every day. They prepare, they purge, they purify, and thus they bless.” Elder James E. Faust

Question time...

-How are you...like really how are you?  Are you doing ok?  Are you happy?  Are you LOVING it or are you faithfully serving, even though it's really hard?

-Has your weight stabilized?  Are you still losing, and how much?

-I want full details of your new comp/area/etc if it got changed.

-What has been the biggest lesson you have learned on your mission?

-How are your investigators doing, anyone new?

-How is the language coming?

-Have you received any mail yet?  Letters?  What package was waiting for you?  I sent a package from the Dear Elder just incase I couldn't figure out how to get another package to you...but I did get it figured out so you should have another one coming.  

-Are you staying healthy?  keep me posted if you need any medicine.  I can send some cheaper than we thought so let me know if you need anything...or if Sister Sullivan needs anything for others.

-Are you still with your friends, Ditty, Biesinger, Bunker etc.?

-Jordy is wondering about your ward?

-Any Christmas decorations in Ukraine?

-I still want to know what the letter said that helped?:)

-What is your favorite food there?

Well,  I miss you like crazy.  I'm so proud of you and love being a missionary mom.  I really hope Dakkon decides to go and Ethan and Josh too.  I love you so much.  Thanks for everything you did for me.  The service you gave me and the unconditional love was such a gift, probably not deserved, but I am so grateful for it.  I need you in my life and I am really glad you are my son.  I am truly blessed.  I love you so much.

Be careful, stay strong, stay faithful, forget yourself and go to work.  Find joy in serving the Lord and the people of Ukraine.

Love MOM

I am really doing well, and I am faithfully serving, it has been a really good experience.  I dont know about my weight, as for how I am eating, good.  THe tea here is really good, we are aloud to drink it as long as it wasnt made with tea leaves, my favorite is probably Summer boquet.  So ill tell you the full story on the group, but I am training elder bates in Left bank. Do you remember him? hes the one that read your blog.  Training means that now I am doing what elder bunker did for me, so that means that I am literally the leading member in the companionship now, i have to teach him everything.  THe biggest lesson I have learned is probably not to be too hard on myself.  I met with pres. sullivan, and he told me that Satan is happy if we are on any path but the straight and narrow.  He is happy if we are saying all is well in zion, its all good doesnt matter, or if we are saying man I am terrible, I cant do anything right, there is no way I can be forgiven.  We have to be in that middle zone where we are repenting and trusting in christ. The language is good, I translated again this week, and this time I probably got about 80 percent of the Idea communicated. I got the Dear elder package,a and  3 letters on monday.  Elder Bunker is getting transfered to Another city, elder mccleary and biesinger are still here, and elder mccleary is the new district leader, you cant say a thing about elder bates to him or his family!!!!I am still healthy, I was sick last week, but sister sullivan said it was probably because our apartment wasnt clean, so i promised god, i would do my  best to clean if hed help me stay healthy.  YEs there is afew decorations in stores, but they are pretty weak.  Honestly an ideal meal is Tea and Booleechkee. (the little jelly filled things, they remind me of poptarts, but healthy.)  I know that ethan will serve, and i know that Josh will serve.

I love you too.

One More Question...

Do you need anything from me?  How can I help you?

I love you so much. Please send more pics. Or even load them to drafts and I'll send them in the morning.

Love you
Mom

nope I a m good!  just send taco seasoning and maple concentrate if you get a chance, I can make syrup.

Lost in Translation, and a Thanksgiving...Chicken?

Week 14

SO this week was pretty cool.  We found 2 New investigators!!!!!!! (Yes that is a lot of investigators)  The First on was an Old dude named Meesha, the other was a less old, but still old guy named Vova.  Meesha, has a lot of health problems, and is actually getting Heart treatmetn done today, im hoping next time we see him we can offer him a priesthood blessing, and then he will feel the spirit, and then he will keep commitments, and then he will get baptized, and then he will go to the temple! but it all starts with the spirit.  Vova is totally new, so we ran into him on the street, and were talking about God(Because thats what we do) and he believed that he was perfectly happy, and that faith in God couldnt help him no way no how.  Well Elder Bunker turned to me and was like "Dude, share your fav verse with him"  I was thinking "Crap, hes gonna leave the minute I pull that book out" But I asked him if I could share a quick verse with him, and he said yeah.  So I pulled out the book, and then we explained to him"We always pray before reading the holy writings, may we say a quick prayer right now to ask for the spirit to be with us?", he didnt mind, so prayer, and then I opened up to Moroni 10:3-5, and I explained to him that verse 5 was my favorite, because it meant that the Holy Ghost could help us with everything.  We then talked a little bit and asked him if there was another time he could meet with us and he said On sunday(Yesterday), we then asked him if we could say another prayer with him to thank God for the holy writings, we did, he seemed really humbled by our message, and took the Book of Mormon.  Its so cool when you meet someone who has never encountered the spirit and thinks they are perfectly fine with out it, then you say a prayer, and share a scripture, and all the sudden they just like, "Shoot dang, that was cool, do you guys feel like this all the time?" They dont say that, but they sure do think it! So Valeree is the only other investigator to really say much about, he has been struggling with Understanding the Book of Mormon, and he said "Man I wish there was a childrens version of this book"  Elder Bunker was thinking after that "We have that! Why didnt I think of that!" so we got him a childrens book of mormon and he loved it so much.  We read it with him, and he was hooked, we were like, okay we want you to read the next story at home,(he didnt know we were gonna give him the book until then)  And he like freaked out and just started reading it as fast as he could.  I think that book will really help him feel of the truthfulness of the Book oF Mormon, and the Prophet Joseph smith.  

Cool story: Remember how I asked you all to pray for Elder Biesinger, and Elder Mccleary, well like basically the next week they found one, so like keep the prayers coming for us because the power of prayer is real.

​​Okay, are you ready to have all of your minds blown? I eat cereal, for breakfast, with milk!  Thats right, I broke the taste barrier, now I am confident I could eat anything In Ukraine, heck id even try the meat jello.  Elder bunker is really helping with my pickiness, he keeps on buying things I dont like, and then gives them to me, and if I dont eat them he calls me a baby, but then I grow to like them, so its cool.  He says hes going to get to the point where he could buy me a box of rusty nails, give them to me, and I would eat them, but we will see.

​Speaking of Food thanksgiving was pretty normal, we went to Elder Mcclearies and Biesingers apartment and they cooked for us(We always cook for them on sunday so it was their way of showing appreciation)  We had chick, over cooked potatoes(Elder Mccleary messed up), and crossants filled with jelly.​ It was good.

Well I think that is about it, there werent very many funny things that happened this week, but a few weeks ago we saw a guy that was so drunk that he just slowly fell to the ground, his face hit first, it was like watching a train wreck, but it was really funny.

Oh wait something funny did happen:  I had to translate Priesthood meeting for elder Schumway yesterday, and it sucked.  IT was hard to  hear the teacher in the first place, and I didnt even know the meaning of the topic, apparently it was dilligence.  I managed to translate maybe 40-60% of what was said, and the rest of the time me and Elder Schumway just stared blank faced at the teacher.  I love you all so much!

Dear Jax,

Did you know that 13% of your mission is completed?  and on December 3 you will have served 100 days!  That is awesome!  I am so proud of you!

I loved all the pictures last week!  Keep them coming!

We had Thanksgiving break this week.  It went really good.  We spent a lot of time at the cabin and dad and Dakkon came for thanksgiving dinner.  Dakkon spent the weekend with us so that was a lot of fun.  Everyone came for Thanksgiving dinner since grandma and grandpa will be in Fiji next year!  It snowed the day before so there was a winter wonderland. Plus, Jordy finished his year on no talking about girls so Adam is getting him and iPad air with a keyboard, so he is thrilled!  It was a good weekend.  Jen and Casey came up yesterday for the day.

I had a cool experience with my book progress this week.  I had told only a couple people (mom, mikey, lynds) that I finished the rough draft.  I wasn't sure what to do with it.  I got nervous about sending it in to the publisher and started to change my mind.  I was praying a ton about it, but really was talking myself out of it.  Monday night I was praying hard about it and talked with Dad about sending it in on tuesday, or maybe wait until next week...or just forget about it.  Well, tuesday morning I woke up to an email from the editor that I have been talking too.  It said "I heard through the grapevine that you finished your rough draft, how do you feel about it?  I would love to read it..."  I was in shock.  I knew it was a direct answer from Heavenly Father that I was supposed to send it in.  So I emailed her back and sent it in.  I spent all day trying to figure out how she would have found out.  It made no sense!  I hadn't told anyone!!!!  So then I remember that last week in church I saw Stacey Ralphs for like 10 seconds and told her that I had finished the rough draft.  I called her up and asked her about it.  She was like, "Oh, I was talking with my brother last night about how my parents are doing and then asked him about his job.  He works at Cedar Fort publishing and I remembered you told me that you were submitting to them.  So I told him about you and that you had finished your rough draft and he said he hadn't heard anything about it.  I told him a few things and then we went back to talking about my parents."  ------SOOO  he must have sent out a mass email to all the editors asking who was working on my book and said that I had finished.  It is just crazy that Heavenly Father knows us so well.  He knew that I would second guess sending it in and prompted me to tell the 1 person that would be able to get the message to the editor that I had finished on the exact day I was praying about sending it in, but was totally chickening out!  So that was really special for me, and I feel like Heavenly Father is guiding and directing this path.

OK....are you ready to have your mind blown???  Cassidy Kartchner is ENGAGED!  WHAT!?!  I know crazy right?  I am dying over it.  It totally blew dakkon's mind.  He was like, so she is getting married and I still eat go gurts..hmm   Funny.  I can't get over it:)

I think about you everyday and am always praying for you.  I love you so much and really miss you.  Your email last week totally made my whole week!  I am dying to know what the letter said that you needed to hear.  I want you to know that I did pray hard about those letters and my intent was that you would be lead to them when you needed them most.  So that made me so happy.  Plus, it was super validating for me as a mother and I loved that you called me "your darling mother"  so sweet...loved it.  Thanks for that!!!

So questions this week...

1-what was said in the letter that you needed to hear?

2-  How is your companionship going?  Do you like Elder Bunker? 

3-  Did you talk with Elder Biesinger about the fact me and his mom went to lunch?

4-  I need details about Christmas skypeing.  Time, place etc.

5-  Did you have Thanksgiving dinner or do anything at all?

6-  How is your spirits holding up, are you happy and enjoying your mission?  Any depression or homesickness at all?

7-Do the videos help or make you homesick?  Can you send us a quick video?

8-Have you received any mail yet???  I have been sending things straight to the mission home.  It hasn't been returned, so once you start getting letters they should start coming weekly.  It will just be a month late.  I sent the Christmas package so let me know when that comes!

9- Do you get to see Elder Ditty at all?  Do you have anybody that you really get along well with?

10-Will you find out about transfers this week?  Are you hoping to stay put with your comp and area or hoping for a change?

11-WHat do you do on P-day?  Do you get to go site seeing at all, or any fun activities?  

12-  Are you staying healthy, or have you gotten sick?

13- how is that language coming?  Do you feel like it has been harder for some of the other guys?

14- Have you felt Dad's presence at all?

Well,  I love you so much.  I can't believe how proud I am of you.  I still wonder how I am surviving with out you, but we are really doing well.  The kids miss you like crazy too.  Kaestli has been pretending you are a baby that she can rock and cuddle with.  So that is cute and sad;)  Thanks for working hard and being a great example.  I know this will be challenging and hard at times, but remember that is when we truly rely on the Lord and get to know our Heavenly Father.  You amaze me everyday and I am truly grateful to be your mom.  I love you so much.

I hope you have a great week!  

Mom

~The answer to the first question is confidential! Sorry mom, but its just gotta be between me the lord, and daddy Jake. YEah me and elder bunker have like zero problems.  Yeah me and elder biesinger were like well thats cool, and then we just continued on working, it wasnt like wierd or anything. I dont even have christmas details, we are going to the office today, so maybe I can tell you next week.  Sister Schumway told me I had a package, so that might be from you! Yeah I am happpy, I just recharge everyt pday.  I dont really have a way to watch the videos, so i have to figure out how to do that, I think I will buy a flash drive and down load them. Yeah actually elder ditty is standing behind me right now.  I get along well with every one.  And with elder knorpp, I see him every Pday and we are great friends, I think we just cant live with or without eachother.I find out on saturday for transfers, Elder bunker thinks I might Train my second transfer.  On pday we 1email, 2 business in center, 3 shop and second hand stores, 4 buy groceries, 5 occasionaly we will go bowling or, like in the warm weather play soccer.  I am the picture of health but something that is really funniy is our investigator valeree, everytime we see him, he says I look sick and unhealthy, and weak, he tells me I should wash my face with warm water and baking soda, and get a gym membership, but thats okay, because I know he is just fuill of crap.  The language is definitely harder for others than for me, the Lord has definitely blessed me with the gift of tounges.  Yeah I have felt dads presence.

~Are you still there?  You forgot to say I love you.

~Yes I am here and I love you too!

~You sound great!  I love your letters so much!  I really want you to tell me what the letter said. Any pictures this week?

~I have an Idea, so videos are to big to send, but if something is too big to send it will save it as a draft.  So what I will do is I will make a big video every transfer, and then you can go on to my email, and download it from my drafts, I sent the pictrure already.  Love you, we are almost out of time.

~Great idea!  I can do that. I found the coat picture as a draft when I added the bishop to your list. That will work. I love you so much. Have a great week!!