Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Elder Jordan Keele- Oct 24, 2011
Buenas tardes,
We've had a pretty weird week. Lots of first time things happened to us, some good and other things not so good :) Ana finally came to church and was super happy there. We only met with her once last week because if she's not going to come and progress, then there's only so much we can do. But she did come and now baptism is just that much closer. President Hicken asked that I attend a financial meeting with branch president Mercado that the Pachuca Mexico Stake is putting on this Saturday. My companion will stay in Molango with another member. I love it here, and I can't tell you how fast the time is flying. I've been in Molango for almost 5 months already! I'm assuming I'll be here for Christmas, but anything can happen.
Your trip sounds like it was so much fun! That's awesome that you went snorkling. I understand why it'd be kind of scary, but it sounds like it'd be really cool. And Jamie and Travis went para sailing?! That sounds like fun!
I had no idea about the only two attacks on U.S. soil. What a blessing it is to have the protection and freedom that we have.
Elder Workman spoke to us when I was at the MTC. I don't remember what about, but I have his notes in my notebook.
Oh man, I don't remember that about grandpa, but I can only imagine how dad's yells sounded ha ha... "yÁhoo!".
Wow, all that flight stuff just sounds like a big mess. But I'm glad all was worked out and that everyone is now home, safe and sound.
I hope everyone has fun with the Japanese student. Thank you all for your wonderful examples and for doing all the good things you're doing. I enjoyed reading about your Hawaiian adventures, and I hope you can understand my cluttered comments about your trip. I love you all and hope you have a wonderful week!
Love, Elder Jordan Keele
We've had a pretty weird week. Lots of first time things happened to us, some good and other things not so good :) Ana finally came to church and was super happy there. We only met with her once last week because if she's not going to come and progress, then there's only so much we can do. But she did come and now baptism is just that much closer. President Hicken asked that I attend a financial meeting with branch president Mercado that the Pachuca Mexico Stake is putting on this Saturday. My companion will stay in Molango with another member. I love it here, and I can't tell you how fast the time is flying. I've been in Molango for almost 5 months already! I'm assuming I'll be here for Christmas, but anything can happen.
Your trip sounds like it was so much fun! That's awesome that you went snorkling. I understand why it'd be kind of scary, but it sounds like it'd be really cool. And Jamie and Travis went para sailing?! That sounds like fun!
I had no idea about the only two attacks on U.S. soil. What a blessing it is to have the protection and freedom that we have.
Elder Workman spoke to us when I was at the MTC. I don't remember what about, but I have his notes in my notebook.
Oh man, I don't remember that about grandpa, but I can only imagine how dad's yells sounded ha ha... "yÁhoo!".
Wow, all that flight stuff just sounds like a big mess. But I'm glad all was worked out and that everyone is now home, safe and sound.
I hope everyone has fun with the Japanese student. Thank you all for your wonderful examples and for doing all the good things you're doing. I enjoyed reading about your Hawaiian adventures, and I hope you can understand my cluttered comments about your trip. I love you all and hope you have a wonderful week!
Love, Elder Jordan Keele
Elder Jordan Keele- Oct 17, 2011
Aloha!
I'm glad to hear that you've all, well, almost all, have made it safe and sound, and are enjoying a bite of paradise!
We've rearranged the hometeaching assignments in the branch, and hope that that'll help them fulfill their assignment. Last week in priesthood we read Pres. Uchtdorfs conference talk from April about living up to our privileges. If we aren't feeling joy in our priesthood, (or any other) assignments, somethings not right. Hopefully that'll help them a little bit step up a little higher so we can progress as a branch, and as children of God more effectively.
Ana still hasn't gotten baptized yet, due to difficulties with her mom. But I have a good feeling about this week :) She has a super solid testimony of the Book of Mormon, and once she's in, she'll be in for the eternities for sure. I can't wait to see her progress and make an influence in the branch.
Sounds like you had a great experience at Sacrament Meeting. I'm sure the families of those two elders were super happy to hear that! Thank you for including their comments in your e-mail.
Mom, I think to a little extent I know what you mean about the little moments of inspiration. The other day Elder Pintor were trying to think of what member we could ask to accompany us to a lesson with an investigator that day, and we decided on Hna. Sara Mari. Right after we said her name, and turned the corner, we saw her across the street and thought, "Yup, she's the one!". The Lord wants so bad to be a part of our lives and guide us by the hand, day by day, hour by hour. We just have to be sure to be always listening to what He's trying to tell us, and be worthy of hearing it as well.
Whoa Mom, hold your horses! You're talking about Novemeber of 2012 already? I haven't even thought of Novemeber of 2011 yet! Ha ha jk, but I would love to stay home with the little kiddies next year ;)
Thanks for all you do, and just keep being righteous!
Love, Elder Jordan Keele
I'm glad to hear that you've all, well, almost all, have made it safe and sound, and are enjoying a bite of paradise!
We've rearranged the hometeaching assignments in the branch, and hope that that'll help them fulfill their assignment. Last week in priesthood we read Pres. Uchtdorfs conference talk from April about living up to our privileges. If we aren't feeling joy in our priesthood, (or any other) assignments, somethings not right. Hopefully that'll help them a little bit step up a little higher so we can progress as a branch, and as children of God more effectively.
Ana still hasn't gotten baptized yet, due to difficulties with her mom. But I have a good feeling about this week :) She has a super solid testimony of the Book of Mormon, and once she's in, she'll be in for the eternities for sure. I can't wait to see her progress and make an influence in the branch.
Sounds like you had a great experience at Sacrament Meeting. I'm sure the families of those two elders were super happy to hear that! Thank you for including their comments in your e-mail.
Mom, I think to a little extent I know what you mean about the little moments of inspiration. The other day Elder Pintor were trying to think of what member we could ask to accompany us to a lesson with an investigator that day, and we decided on Hna. Sara Mari. Right after we said her name, and turned the corner, we saw her across the street and thought, "Yup, she's the one!". The Lord wants so bad to be a part of our lives and guide us by the hand, day by day, hour by hour. We just have to be sure to be always listening to what He's trying to tell us, and be worthy of hearing it as well.
Whoa Mom, hold your horses! You're talking about Novemeber of 2012 already? I haven't even thought of Novemeber of 2011 yet! Ha ha jk, but I would love to stay home with the little kiddies next year ;)
Thanks for all you do, and just keep being righteous!
Love, Elder Jordan Keele
Hna. Jessica Keele- Oct 24, 2011
Hola Querida familia!!!
Yes, I got my companion on time and everything. Her name is Hna Smith. She´s from Virginia but for the past year she and her family have been living in Utah. She´s awesome! I feel so blessed because she´s all ready to work and I´m so happy about that!!
Gilbert's doing great. He´ll be getting baptized this Sunday. Ariel is having a real tough time quitting smoking though. He is used to smoking a TON! He did get a priesthood blessing yesterday with the bishop and another member that his girlfriend seems to have known. And he has improved in building his faith also, so we´ll keep daily contact with him and keep praying that he can have the strength to quit.
Another investigator that´s progressing is Ruben. He´s got a lot of family problems going on.. For example his current wife left him and took his youngest son. To be completely honest, I think part of the reason was to humble him. Becasue seriously there was a huge change in him from our first lesson to our lesson last night. haha The first one he had a list of questions (he was an old investigator that we set up an appointment for) to try and contradict us and argue his points of view.Then last night he said, "look I´m really not in the mood to talk about the Bible. I don´t even want to fight or defend it right now.
But he let us in anyway, and we handed him a triple with the cover on it to read DyC 58:2-4 with him. He paused as he read it and said how he really liked what it said. Then he continued reading and said he loved it and how he felt a lot of peace and comfort. Then he asked, "wait a second, what book is this?" So we started to explain, but then he looked like he wanted to fight about it so we just said, "you know the important thing is how you feel when you read it! Like how you just said you felt! That´s how you can know this book is true!" His look changed from defense to confusion and he said, "Every time I see you guys you bring me peace. I want you to come more. Can I ask you one thing? Please don't stop coming. I need you! "
It's a complete miracle because last Saturday when we tried to set another appointment within the week, he said that´s way too soon. I was thinking next month. At least a week or two. Now he told us he wants us to see him more. :) We´ll probably be stopping by tomorrow. I´m super excited. The Lord works in mysterious ways.
I LOVE MY MISSION!!!!!!!!!! Just want you all to know! I can´t believe how fast it is going by.... It´s okay though. I´ve got a "fresh" companion who´s ready to work and I'm pretty sure that we´ll be together until I "die" with this new 12 week training program. OH, and just another perk... WE got a mini DVD player in our apartment now because we get to watch the District 2 DVD´s during our companion study. Our study time is also 2 hours long instead of just 1). We also get to watch other DVD´s, many of which I have had my entire mission unused because I never had a way to see it before watching it directly with our investigators. Y bueno I just love Caballito!! :D
Love you all!!! Thank you so much for all the conference talks! :D We were able to watch Elder Holland's in our district meeting last week. It was amazing but I´m excited to read it again now. :) I love you all so much!!!
Love,
Jess
PS. Diego´s doing well. He´s assistant to the president and loving every minute of it. Stefan is serving in AUSTRALIA... my dream vacation!! hahha
Yes, I got my companion on time and everything. Her name is Hna Smith. She´s from Virginia but for the past year she and her family have been living in Utah. She´s awesome! I feel so blessed because she´s all ready to work and I´m so happy about that!!
Gilbert's doing great. He´ll be getting baptized this Sunday. Ariel is having a real tough time quitting smoking though. He is used to smoking a TON! He did get a priesthood blessing yesterday with the bishop and another member that his girlfriend seems to have known. And he has improved in building his faith also, so we´ll keep daily contact with him and keep praying that he can have the strength to quit.
Another investigator that´s progressing is Ruben. He´s got a lot of family problems going on.. For example his current wife left him and took his youngest son. To be completely honest, I think part of the reason was to humble him. Becasue seriously there was a huge change in him from our first lesson to our lesson last night. haha The first one he had a list of questions (he was an old investigator that we set up an appointment for) to try and contradict us and argue his points of view.Then last night he said, "look I´m really not in the mood to talk about the Bible. I don´t even want to fight or defend it right now.
But he let us in anyway, and we handed him a triple with the cover on it to read DyC 58:2-4 with him. He paused as he read it and said how he really liked what it said. Then he continued reading and said he loved it and how he felt a lot of peace and comfort. Then he asked, "wait a second, what book is this?" So we started to explain, but then he looked like he wanted to fight about it so we just said, "you know the important thing is how you feel when you read it! Like how you just said you felt! That´s how you can know this book is true!" His look changed from defense to confusion and he said, "Every time I see you guys you bring me peace. I want you to come more. Can I ask you one thing? Please don't stop coming. I need you! "
It's a complete miracle because last Saturday when we tried to set another appointment within the week, he said that´s way too soon. I was thinking next month. At least a week or two. Now he told us he wants us to see him more. :) We´ll probably be stopping by tomorrow. I´m super excited. The Lord works in mysterious ways.
I LOVE MY MISSION!!!!!!!!!! Just want you all to know! I can´t believe how fast it is going by.... It´s okay though. I´ve got a "fresh" companion who´s ready to work and I'm pretty sure that we´ll be together until I "die" with this new 12 week training program. OH, and just another perk... WE got a mini DVD player in our apartment now because we get to watch the District 2 DVD´s during our companion study. Our study time is also 2 hours long instead of just 1). We also get to watch other DVD´s, many of which I have had my entire mission unused because I never had a way to see it before watching it directly with our investigators. Y bueno I just love Caballito!! :D
Love you all!!! Thank you so much for all the conference talks! :D We were able to watch Elder Holland's in our district meeting last week. It was amazing but I´m excited to read it again now. :) I love you all so much!!!
Love,
Jess
PS. Diego´s doing well. He´s assistant to the president and loving every minute of it. Stefan is serving in AUSTRALIA... my dream vacation!! hahha
Hna. Jessica Keele- Oct 17, 2011
Hola Familia!!
I´m in Vicente Lopez!!! But just for today. Hna Iñigo went to Almagro and my new companion will be flying in tomorrow.. Hopefully. The volcano in Chile erupted again and with all the ash falling we´ve heard that they closed the airport again... Pero that´s the plan for now at least. :D I´m happy to be staying in Caballito! And remember the Sanchez family I told you about right before I left from Vicente Lopez? Well I get to see them again because we´ve got a family home evening planned for tonight! Que bendición!
I got your letters today!! :D along with one from Diego, Grandma Judy and Stefan (from New Zealand). Gracias a todos!!
November would be about perfect to come back next year, if not October. By then Maribel and Josef should be getting sealed together FOREVER in the temple!!!! :D Hopefully it will be the same time. I actually just told them last night. haha
We haven´t had contact again with Gillermina. I´ll keep trying to call her though!
I had a really good week :) There was a sister from another mission that called the offices and wanted us to see her boyfriend. She was a missionary 16 years ago, got married in the temple but it didn´t work out. She´s waiting for her divorce to still come through, and she wants to marry a worthy priesthood holder. She told us how she´s falling more and more in love with Ariel. When we first talked to her on the phone, she was sooo excited that she had gotten in contact with us. She told us "You guys will be angels for us!!! Remember what I'm telling you!!" So we´ve got some work to do so that she can still marry a worthy priesthood holder! :D He accepted to "prepare" for a baptismal date for the 30th, but he´s got to stop smoking and from the looks of it, he smokes a lot!! But he´s so sweet and so is she!!! Sometimes he doubts if God really exists and how he can know the truth or if it´s just a wish. We could REALLY use your prayers so that he can have the strength to quit smoking and receive an answer that the Book of Mormon is true! :D
The other person we are preparing for baptism is Gilbert. He´s Joseph Chavarry´s cousin. He´s progressing a lot and he´s got a baptismal date for the 30th as well. I´m so happy to see the family Chavarry so excited to share their joy with others! Marybel kept saying I just want to be a member already!! She and Yahir just got confirmed yesterday and are officially members of the church now!:D
I'm seeing so many blessings from the Lord!! Not only in my own life but I love to see them in the lives of others, following their obedience!! The gospel is amazing!!! I know it is being directed by the Savior! Keep studying it daily!! Mom thank you for the conference talks!! Keep them coming please :D I made a little Liahona and read them all while my companion was talking to her family yesterday for Dia de la Madre. (Y FELIZ DIA DE LA MADRE...AQUI) haha And YES, I´ve heard all about Elder Holland's talk and how él estaba "Bajando la caña" a los jovenes. I would like to read it! I love you all! Thanks for all your support and love,
Love,
Jess
I´m in Vicente Lopez!!! But just for today. Hna Iñigo went to Almagro and my new companion will be flying in tomorrow.. Hopefully. The volcano in Chile erupted again and with all the ash falling we´ve heard that they closed the airport again... Pero that´s the plan for now at least. :D I´m happy to be staying in Caballito! And remember the Sanchez family I told you about right before I left from Vicente Lopez? Well I get to see them again because we´ve got a family home evening planned for tonight! Que bendición!
I got your letters today!! :D along with one from Diego, Grandma Judy and Stefan (from New Zealand). Gracias a todos!!
November would be about perfect to come back next year, if not October. By then Maribel and Josef should be getting sealed together FOREVER in the temple!!!! :D Hopefully it will be the same time. I actually just told them last night. haha
We haven´t had contact again with Gillermina. I´ll keep trying to call her though!
I had a really good week :) There was a sister from another mission that called the offices and wanted us to see her boyfriend. She was a missionary 16 years ago, got married in the temple but it didn´t work out. She´s waiting for her divorce to still come through, and she wants to marry a worthy priesthood holder. She told us how she´s falling more and more in love with Ariel. When we first talked to her on the phone, she was sooo excited that she had gotten in contact with us. She told us "You guys will be angels for us!!! Remember what I'm telling you!!" So we´ve got some work to do so that she can still marry a worthy priesthood holder! :D He accepted to "prepare" for a baptismal date for the 30th, but he´s got to stop smoking and from the looks of it, he smokes a lot!! But he´s so sweet and so is she!!! Sometimes he doubts if God really exists and how he can know the truth or if it´s just a wish. We could REALLY use your prayers so that he can have the strength to quit smoking and receive an answer that the Book of Mormon is true! :D
The other person we are preparing for baptism is Gilbert. He´s Joseph Chavarry´s cousin. He´s progressing a lot and he´s got a baptismal date for the 30th as well. I´m so happy to see the family Chavarry so excited to share their joy with others! Marybel kept saying I just want to be a member already!! She and Yahir just got confirmed yesterday and are officially members of the church now!:D
I'm seeing so many blessings from the Lord!! Not only in my own life but I love to see them in the lives of others, following their obedience!! The gospel is amazing!!! I know it is being directed by the Savior! Keep studying it daily!! Mom thank you for the conference talks!! Keep them coming please :D I made a little Liahona and read them all while my companion was talking to her family yesterday for Dia de la Madre. (Y FELIZ DIA DE LA MADRE...AQUI) haha And YES, I´ve heard all about Elder Holland's talk and how él estaba "Bajando la caña" a los jovenes. I would like to read it! I love you all! Thanks for all your support and love,
Love,
Jess
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Elder Jordan Keele, Oct. 10, 2011
Buenas tardes mis seres queridos,
We've had a great week, and this one looks pretty promising as well. Ana didn't get baptized yet, and the Devil is working pretty hard against her. She could benefit a lot from your sincere prayers. We've helped her cling to the Book of Mormon, and we're sure that nothing will stop her this week. However, we did have two baptisms in the branch on Saturday of 8 year old members. Yahir Mercado- the branch presidents son, and Dhamar Rodriguez- the daughter of a very faithful sister. Yahir's mom, Miriam, went all out for the baptism, and it was a wonderful opportunity for investigators. There were at least 60 people there to witness the ordinance, and over half of them were non-members. We hope to see some solid fruit for all the efforts. It was crazy, and it was a lot of work, but it was all worth it and everything turned out nicely in the end. Afterwards we celebrated the birthday, and lemme tell ya, Mexicans sure do know how to throw parties! It was fun :)
Today we're in Pachuca staying a couple days with our zone leaders. It's only the second time that my "son", Elder Pintor, has even seen missionaries since he's been in Molango. But we have another meeting next Monday here, so he'll be able to mingle a little bit more frequently.
I'm so happy to hear about Shannon McQuarrie. She's such a wonderful woman, and I'm happy to see that she can find that peace and happiness that she so desperately needs. No divorce is easy. It looks like she's taken things positively, and that seems to be key in every challenge we face.
That's a really neat quote by that applies perfectly to what just happened for the Provo Tabernacle. Thanks for sharing that with me.
I love you all and can't wait to hear your experiences!
Elder Jordan Keele
We've had a great week, and this one looks pretty promising as well. Ana didn't get baptized yet, and the Devil is working pretty hard against her. She could benefit a lot from your sincere prayers. We've helped her cling to the Book of Mormon, and we're sure that nothing will stop her this week. However, we did have two baptisms in the branch on Saturday of 8 year old members. Yahir Mercado- the branch presidents son, and Dhamar Rodriguez- the daughter of a very faithful sister. Yahir's mom, Miriam, went all out for the baptism, and it was a wonderful opportunity for investigators. There were at least 60 people there to witness the ordinance, and over half of them were non-members. We hope to see some solid fruit for all the efforts. It was crazy, and it was a lot of work, but it was all worth it and everything turned out nicely in the end. Afterwards we celebrated the birthday, and lemme tell ya, Mexicans sure do know how to throw parties! It was fun :)
Today we're in Pachuca staying a couple days with our zone leaders. It's only the second time that my "son", Elder Pintor, has even seen missionaries since he's been in Molango. But we have another meeting next Monday here, so he'll be able to mingle a little bit more frequently.
I'm so happy to hear about Shannon McQuarrie. She's such a wonderful woman, and I'm happy to see that she can find that peace and happiness that she so desperately needs. No divorce is easy. It looks like she's taken things positively, and that seems to be key in every challenge we face.
That's a really neat quote by that applies perfectly to what just happened for the Provo Tabernacle. Thanks for sharing that with me.
I love you all and can't wait to hear your experiences!
Elder Jordan Keele
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Hna. Jessica Keele- Oct 10, 2011
Hola Familia!
Gillermina moved!!! Que loco!! But anyway, her baptism wasn´t until this Saturday (the 15th). Maribel got baptized yesterday with her son, Yahir! The wedding was short and to the point!!! There was a judge, Marybel and Joseph (the newlyweds), two of their friends to be the testigos, 2 members from the ward, us and their son, Yahir. The judge just asked them a few questions, announced them husband and wife officially, and they put on their rings, signed a paper, y bueno. That was it! No promised blessings or advice, nada!! I imagine it was VERY different from all the temple marriages that you guys had. (But they´re on their way to that one too!! They´ve just got to wait 1 more year to go :D). The baptism was "super linda", we had a lot of support from the ward! WE took SOOO many pictures. Since they don´t have a camera, we were their photographers. I even remembered to bring my camera cord today... but there is no place to plug it in on this computer :( I know I always have some sort of excuse not to send pictures, but I promise I try!!! Next week fo sho! ...unless, of course, one of us gets transferred. My companion's been here a long time. There´s usually no time those days. SO if not then the next week! Wow, I can´t believe how fast this transfer has gone!!!!!!! :(
Okay, so Saturday we had an appointment with Gillermina. Once we got there the guy that answered the door said she had moved. She had mentioned it but we thought it wasn´t for another month at least. We tried calling her over and over again but couldn´t get a hold of her until Sunday. She said she was in Provincia, (I´m in capital so in other words, she was too far to make it to church.) Where she was staying is not where she will be officially because she´s still looking for somewhere to move to. :( It´s an interesting story, but wherever she ends up we hope to get her permanent address so that she can continue on in the church wherever she is. Meanwhile, she promised to come to church with us this coming Sunday. :) Pray that everything goes well and that she can still get baptized and settled down in a good ward.
THANK YOU MOM!!! Very very much for the Conference talks. I've put it all onto Microsoft Word and made it the smallest it can go. I´m going to make my own little Ensign. So yeah, you can send me the other ones too for next week please :D Muchisimas Gracias!
I love that quote by CS Lewis, and that´s so true! Even with us, sometimes we get knocked down so that he can build us stronger. We just have to be patient and put our trust in him! :D
Congratulations to Shannon Peterson! :D Are they going to be staying in the ward then? How is the ward? Any new people? Any old moved out?
About the Christmas package... I don´t think I´ll be needing anything. Just the pictures and maybe some airhead sourZ. :D I still miss sour candies.
I love you all!!!!
Love,
Jess
Gillermina moved!!! Que loco!! But anyway, her baptism wasn´t until this Saturday (the 15th). Maribel got baptized yesterday with her son, Yahir! The wedding was short and to the point!!! There was a judge, Marybel and Joseph (the newlyweds), two of their friends to be the testigos, 2 members from the ward, us and their son, Yahir. The judge just asked them a few questions, announced them husband and wife officially, and they put on their rings, signed a paper, y bueno. That was it! No promised blessings or advice, nada!! I imagine it was VERY different from all the temple marriages that you guys had. (But they´re on their way to that one too!! They´ve just got to wait 1 more year to go :D). The baptism was "super linda", we had a lot of support from the ward! WE took SOOO many pictures. Since they don´t have a camera, we were their photographers. I even remembered to bring my camera cord today... but there is no place to plug it in on this computer :( I know I always have some sort of excuse not to send pictures, but I promise I try!!! Next week fo sho! ...unless, of course, one of us gets transferred. My companion's been here a long time. There´s usually no time those days. SO if not then the next week! Wow, I can´t believe how fast this transfer has gone!!!!!!! :(
Okay, so Saturday we had an appointment with Gillermina. Once we got there the guy that answered the door said she had moved. She had mentioned it but we thought it wasn´t for another month at least. We tried calling her over and over again but couldn´t get a hold of her until Sunday. She said she was in Provincia, (I´m in capital so in other words, she was too far to make it to church.) Where she was staying is not where she will be officially because she´s still looking for somewhere to move to. :( It´s an interesting story, but wherever she ends up we hope to get her permanent address so that she can continue on in the church wherever she is. Meanwhile, she promised to come to church with us this coming Sunday. :) Pray that everything goes well and that she can still get baptized and settled down in a good ward.
THANK YOU MOM!!! Very very much for the Conference talks. I've put it all onto Microsoft Word and made it the smallest it can go. I´m going to make my own little Ensign. So yeah, you can send me the other ones too for next week please :D Muchisimas Gracias!
I love that quote by CS Lewis, and that´s so true! Even with us, sometimes we get knocked down so that he can build us stronger. We just have to be patient and put our trust in him! :D
Congratulations to Shannon Peterson! :D Are they going to be staying in the ward then? How is the ward? Any new people? Any old moved out?
About the Christmas package... I don´t think I´ll be needing anything. Just the pictures and maybe some airhead sourZ. :D I still miss sour candies.
I love you all!!!!
Love,
Jess
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Hna. Jessica Keele- Oct 3, 2011
Hola Familia!
I wasn´t able to see the first few talks on the Saturday session due to some satellite connection problems :( And when we finally got it, we only got it in Spanish :( haha I want to ask if you could copy and paste the talks (in English please haha) and send them to me in an email. I´ll put it into word and print it. Because we´re not going to get that Ensign until December or January at the earliest...So if you could do that for me today. Por favor!! I will be soooo happy!
I´m pretty sure I saw President Monson's talk, but I somehow missed that part! Awesome. I didn't know that the Provo Tabernacle was going to be a temple!!! That´s soo cool. If I wasn´t so in love with the Salt Lake Temple I might consider marrying there. I don't know, we´ll have to see :P Have they already started building it then? Is there an expected date of when it might be finished? I saw the picture and was like "What is this?" I thought it burned down. Then I noticed the Angel Moroni and was even more confused. Then I decided to read your email to make sense of it. :P Awesome!
Conference was amazing!!! We also had a wonderful miracle. Our church is the stake center so everyone gathered here for conference. And we had a wonderful miracle. A member from another ward came up to us after the 2nd session Saturday. She had met a lady (Gillermina) in the street the other day, started talking to her and invited her to conference and she came!! :) She lives in our area so she came to introduce her to us. We invited her Sunday as well and she came to both sessions. She was able to see the baptism (other elders in our zone). Afterward we asked her if she´d like to be baptized and she said yes so she´ll be getting baptized next Saturday, (the 15th). From what she´s told us so far, she´s had a very hard life. This was her first time EVER going to a church and she felt the spirit so strongly or as she put it, she said she felt "good, something very good in her heart". She is truly someone the Lord has been preparing, and she's ready to receive the gospel.
At one of the lunches that we went to last week, the member told us that one of the construction workers that was working on her house wanted to meet us. She thought it was weird but said okay and after lunch when we went back down to meet him he told us that he had a dream with us. Actually with four sister missionaries. When my companion and I walked in he said that he recognized Hna Iñigo (my companion) right away. :) The sad news is he committed to come to conference but neither he nor the member came. But we´re going to be passing by this week.
Derk, you got off way easy with the wisdom teeth!! I couldn´t even eat for 2 weeks. Oh guess what!! I know your mission president's son! :) Elder Bruce was in the MTC with me. We weren´t in the same district there but when I was in Almagro, he was in my district. Now he´s in my zone. Hna Gulbrandson (my mission president's wife) asked me Sunday how my family was, and I told her that you just got your mission call to Antofagasta. "OOOOHHHH" :D She shot up. She told me Elder Bruce´s parents are the mission presidents there. Que loco no? So then I told Elder Bruce and he said he was going to write them today and tell them. He said he´d put in a good word for you. :P It´s still a small world!
I think if I had to choose... Elder Eyring's talk was my favorite! Well, I don't know. They were all good but I LOVE being a witness of my Savior. I wished I could have heard it in his voice. It´s kind of weird watching him getting emotional but the voice in Spanish just doesn´t match it. haha But in my heart I could here him. How it would have been anyway. I WAS able to here President Monson say "Hello" though haha (Because the Spanish comes in after about 5 seconds.) :D It reminded me of the way dad says Hello, or "Rabbits" hahah I don't know why but it did.
Okay, good news. With all of the weddings I´ve missed this summer now it´s my turn to see one!!!!!! :D Wahoo!! haha Marybell (an investigator) and her "husband" (pareja) Joseph will be getting married this Thursday. Then on Saturday Marybell and her son will be getting baptized :D We are very excited for them. They are on the right track to becoming an eternal family and they are soo happy. Yahir, (the 8 year old son) reminds me so much of Josh Keele!!! haha Seriously he´s the Latin version of Josh!!
Bueno that´s all the news for now. I love you ALL!!! I hope you treasure up in your hearts the gospel and what it is. Oh and I want to share a scripture!! Jacob 4:6. I love it! What a blessing it is to live in a time with living prophets AND have words from ancient prophets! :D Everytime I hear them it´s so easy to see that they are sooo full of KNOWLEDGE: and like the scipture... that´s how I feel. It's like I return from listening to them with unbreakable, unshakable faith!!! If we ever doubt, we don´t have to look too far to be reminded of how true the gospel is. :) Anyway, till next week,
Love,
Jess
I wasn´t able to see the first few talks on the Saturday session due to some satellite connection problems :( And when we finally got it, we only got it in Spanish :( haha I want to ask if you could copy and paste the talks (in English please haha) and send them to me in an email. I´ll put it into word and print it. Because we´re not going to get that Ensign until December or January at the earliest...So if you could do that for me today. Por favor!! I will be soooo happy!
I´m pretty sure I saw President Monson's talk, but I somehow missed that part! Awesome. I didn't know that the Provo Tabernacle was going to be a temple!!! That´s soo cool. If I wasn´t so in love with the Salt Lake Temple I might consider marrying there. I don't know, we´ll have to see :P Have they already started building it then? Is there an expected date of when it might be finished? I saw the picture and was like "What is this?" I thought it burned down. Then I noticed the Angel Moroni and was even more confused. Then I decided to read your email to make sense of it. :P Awesome!
Conference was amazing!!! We also had a wonderful miracle. Our church is the stake center so everyone gathered here for conference. And we had a wonderful miracle. A member from another ward came up to us after the 2nd session Saturday. She had met a lady (Gillermina) in the street the other day, started talking to her and invited her to conference and she came!! :) She lives in our area so she came to introduce her to us. We invited her Sunday as well and she came to both sessions. She was able to see the baptism (other elders in our zone). Afterward we asked her if she´d like to be baptized and she said yes so she´ll be getting baptized next Saturday, (the 15th). From what she´s told us so far, she´s had a very hard life. This was her first time EVER going to a church and she felt the spirit so strongly or as she put it, she said she felt "good, something very good in her heart". She is truly someone the Lord has been preparing, and she's ready to receive the gospel.
At one of the lunches that we went to last week, the member told us that one of the construction workers that was working on her house wanted to meet us. She thought it was weird but said okay and after lunch when we went back down to meet him he told us that he had a dream with us. Actually with four sister missionaries. When my companion and I walked in he said that he recognized Hna Iñigo (my companion) right away. :) The sad news is he committed to come to conference but neither he nor the member came. But we´re going to be passing by this week.
Derk, you got off way easy with the wisdom teeth!! I couldn´t even eat for 2 weeks. Oh guess what!! I know your mission president's son! :) Elder Bruce was in the MTC with me. We weren´t in the same district there but when I was in Almagro, he was in my district. Now he´s in my zone. Hna Gulbrandson (my mission president's wife) asked me Sunday how my family was, and I told her that you just got your mission call to Antofagasta. "OOOOHHHH" :D She shot up. She told me Elder Bruce´s parents are the mission presidents there. Que loco no? So then I told Elder Bruce and he said he was going to write them today and tell them. He said he´d put in a good word for you. :P It´s still a small world!
I think if I had to choose... Elder Eyring's talk was my favorite! Well, I don't know. They were all good but I LOVE being a witness of my Savior. I wished I could have heard it in his voice. It´s kind of weird watching him getting emotional but the voice in Spanish just doesn´t match it. haha But in my heart I could here him. How it would have been anyway. I WAS able to here President Monson say "Hello" though haha (Because the Spanish comes in after about 5 seconds.) :D It reminded me of the way dad says Hello, or "Rabbits" hahah I don't know why but it did.
Okay, good news. With all of the weddings I´ve missed this summer now it´s my turn to see one!!!!!! :D Wahoo!! haha Marybell (an investigator) and her "husband" (pareja) Joseph will be getting married this Thursday. Then on Saturday Marybell and her son will be getting baptized :D We are very excited for them. They are on the right track to becoming an eternal family and they are soo happy. Yahir, (the 8 year old son) reminds me so much of Josh Keele!!! haha Seriously he´s the Latin version of Josh!!
Bueno that´s all the news for now. I love you ALL!!! I hope you treasure up in your hearts the gospel and what it is. Oh and I want to share a scripture!! Jacob 4:6. I love it! What a blessing it is to live in a time with living prophets AND have words from ancient prophets! :D Everytime I hear them it´s so easy to see that they are sooo full of KNOWLEDGE: and like the scipture... that´s how I feel. It's like I return from listening to them with unbreakable, unshakable faith!!! If we ever doubt, we don´t have to look too far to be reminded of how true the gospel is. :) Anyway, till next week,
Love,
Jess
Elder Jordan Keele- Oct 3, 2011
Dear familia,
I don't know where to start. So many miracles. So many good messages. So many blessings. So much happiness.
We watched conference at a member's house. We had some pretty good attendance, especially from investigators. The members are really working hard to give us references so we can better help the progress and development of the branch. I loved every bit of conference. Because it wasn't on the internet yet, we were unable to watch the Priesthood session. As a branch, we're planning to download it and watch it together on Wednesday. I heard it was good, and I just can't wait!
I haven't studied enough English to know what words to say to express how I felt on Saturday morning, and even still right now. When I heard Pres. Monson announce the new Provo temple, I was sitting alone with so much excitement and gratitude that I couldn't sit still. I didn't have anyone to express my joy with, because no one here understands the magnitude of what just had happened. It was hard to sit still. Then, I started doubting my Spanish abilities and thought I must have understood wrong. It seemed too good to be true. After the session was over, I went back and changed it to English and listened to that part again. It was true! I heard right! I can't believe what's happening. My new life goal is to be the first person to be married in the Provo Tabernacle Temple. Thank you so much for the picture. It looks so beautiful! I'm printing it off and putting it on my desk forever :)
I've thought a lot about how merciful God is to His children that do their best. I've felt his merciful love many times here on the mission. Especially at times when I may not have the best results for my efforts, or I may not have been as obedient as I could've been, but then repent and sincerely try my best. I felt a huge tender mercy when I was asked to be a trainer again after I had felt like I didn't do very well the first time. I felt it again when I was asked to come here to Molango after I felt that there were many other missionaries that were more fit for the job. And then I just felt it on Saturday. Even though the new temple is a huge tender mercy to many, I personally felt that my Father in Heaven was blessing me even though I fail Him so much. I need to be more deserving of the blessings he's already giving me.
Bernardina is progressing very well, and so is 18 year old Ana. However, Ana has a little set-back that I'm still not sure how to deal with. Three years ago, two of her little cousins drowned in the little lake. She was devastated. It hurts her so bad that every time she thinks about it it brings her to tears. It hurts her so bad she hasn't been down to the lake ever since. It hurts so bad she can't even mention the name of the lake, "atezca"[this is where the baptisms take place]. This morning in the house of prayer, E. Pintor and I had a wonderful lesson on the healing and enabling power of the atonement. It was a very powerful lesson. She has the biggest desire to be baptized that I've ever seen in anyone. We'll continue to work with her and prayerfully decide what we need to do.
I don't know if you can fit a little bit of 'love' in the package ;) That's all I care about ha ha. Seriously though, nothing comes to mind. But thank you for the offer.
Have a wonderful week, and get to work on your repentance- changing EVERYTHING that needs to be changed that's blocking you from receiving all of God's blessings.
LOVE Elder Jordan Keele
I don't know where to start. So many miracles. So many good messages. So many blessings. So much happiness.
We watched conference at a member's house. We had some pretty good attendance, especially from investigators. The members are really working hard to give us references so we can better help the progress and development of the branch. I loved every bit of conference. Because it wasn't on the internet yet, we were unable to watch the Priesthood session. As a branch, we're planning to download it and watch it together on Wednesday. I heard it was good, and I just can't wait!
I haven't studied enough English to know what words to say to express how I felt on Saturday morning, and even still right now. When I heard Pres. Monson announce the new Provo temple, I was sitting alone with so much excitement and gratitude that I couldn't sit still. I didn't have anyone to express my joy with, because no one here understands the magnitude of what just had happened. It was hard to sit still. Then, I started doubting my Spanish abilities and thought I must have understood wrong. It seemed too good to be true. After the session was over, I went back and changed it to English and listened to that part again. It was true! I heard right! I can't believe what's happening. My new life goal is to be the first person to be married in the Provo Tabernacle Temple. Thank you so much for the picture. It looks so beautiful! I'm printing it off and putting it on my desk forever :)
I've thought a lot about how merciful God is to His children that do their best. I've felt his merciful love many times here on the mission. Especially at times when I may not have the best results for my efforts, or I may not have been as obedient as I could've been, but then repent and sincerely try my best. I felt a huge tender mercy when I was asked to be a trainer again after I had felt like I didn't do very well the first time. I felt it again when I was asked to come here to Molango after I felt that there were many other missionaries that were more fit for the job. And then I just felt it on Saturday. Even though the new temple is a huge tender mercy to many, I personally felt that my Father in Heaven was blessing me even though I fail Him so much. I need to be more deserving of the blessings he's already giving me.
Bernardina is progressing very well, and so is 18 year old Ana. However, Ana has a little set-back that I'm still not sure how to deal with. Three years ago, two of her little cousins drowned in the little lake. She was devastated. It hurts her so bad that every time she thinks about it it brings her to tears. It hurts her so bad she hasn't been down to the lake ever since. It hurts so bad she can't even mention the name of the lake, "atezca"[this is where the baptisms take place]. This morning in the house of prayer, E. Pintor and I had a wonderful lesson on the healing and enabling power of the atonement. It was a very powerful lesson. She has the biggest desire to be baptized that I've ever seen in anyone. We'll continue to work with her and prayerfully decide what we need to do.
I don't know if you can fit a little bit of 'love' in the package ;) That's all I care about ha ha. Seriously though, nothing comes to mind. But thank you for the offer.
Have a wonderful week, and get to work on your repentance- changing EVERYTHING that needs to be changed that's blocking you from receiving all of God's blessings.
LOVE Elder Jordan Keele
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