I had a good week. I taught a lot of people about Jesus Christ and about getting baptized and about going to church and keeping the commandments and about peace and love and eternal happiness and about where we came from before this life and why we're here and where we're going after we die and about having faith in Christ and about His atonement and about the Book of Mormon and how it's such a crucial tool in our lives and about rescuing the less active members and about helping each other return to heaven and about eternal families. I think that was all. Oh, and about not smoking or drinking alcohol or tea or tobacco or doing drugs and about the law of chastity and about paying tithing and about keeping the sabbath day holy and not taking the Lord's name in vain and about being diligent and obedient and about the gift of the Holy Ghost. Yeah, I'm pretty sure that was it. Wait, we also taught people about the gift of prayer and about how we can repent and be clean from our sins and about enduring to the end. Oh yeah, I almost forgot, we taught about Joseph Smith and the apostasy and the priesthood and about prophets and about the restoration and how Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ have bodies of flesh and blood. I'm sure there was more but you're probably bored by now.
The bishop gave Elder Hoover and me the opportunity to speak in Sacrament Meeting yesterday, and I titled my talk "Si queremos mirar..."--Alma 37:41. We really felt a new vibe at church and feel good about the progress that has been recently made. We hope to continue to help the members and non-members here in the ward to become truly converted to the gospel of Jesus Christ. It's been a great week.
Steph, happy quinceañera! You should buy a nice fancy dress, take some model-like pictures, throw a huge party, dance with Dad, and buy lots of balloons and play loud music to celebrate right there in the cul-de-sac. That's how it's done here! ha ha
Poor Lady dog. I'm gonna miss her. I was hoping to see her soon, but I guess I'll just have to wait a little bit longer before I can see her again.
Mom, thank you for that inspiring and motivating experience. I'm definitely using your missionary child/earth life comparison in a future talk :)
Say hi to Diego for me, I'm sure he's doing great and happy to be back home. Keep safe and have another joyful week back at school and all.
Love Elder Jordan Keele
Monday, April 23, 2012
Monday, April 9, 2012
Elder Jordan Keele, Apr. 9, 2012
Blessed Family,
Elder Hoover and I continue to work hard and continue to be blessed every day. Last night I stayed awake in bed for quite a while with overwhelming feelings of appreciation for the bounteous blessings I've been given throughout my mission, and throughout my life. Dad, Mom, Jamie, Travis, Jessica, Derek, Nathan, Stephanie, Dallin, Tammie, all extended family, and all other friends and acquaintances, I love you! The mission in and of itself is a miracle. I'm loving every moment of it, even the difficult ones.
Friday and Saturday we had no one signed up to give us food in the Relief Society, so after talking briefly with investigator Julieta, she fed us my favorite: Pozole rojo... both days ha ha. It was delicious. Julieta for some reason reminds me a lot of "Ma" down in Argentina. Although I don't remember her very much, I think of her as I'm with Julieta. She's a very sweet lady and has a very strong testimony of the truth. I got a feeling of a job well done when she bore testimony about Joseph Smith and the true church of Christ yesterday in Gospel Principles class. She'll be a great member. She was baptized yesterday with her 24 year-old daughter Carolina. The grandson's name is Cristian, and is only 6, but he already can't wait for his baptism!
I'm telling ya, the Lord works miracles today just as much as he did in the past, if not more. We met this family 18 days ago on a Thursday afternoon, and just like that they changed their lives. It's amazing how quickly the work goes on in these areas.
I'm fully aware that baptisms don't always mean success, nor does success always mean baptisms. But I also know that as we do all we can as missionaries, we will baptize everyone that wants it in their own due time, and we will be successful missionaries- with or without numbers. We can't run faster than we have strength, and we definitely can't ask that of our investigators.
That must be a bit of an interesting situation with the Krasnoselsky family. They're such great people. Also what coincidences you seem to find, and I think these things are happening more and more frequently!
This work is true, there's no doubt about it. Let us keep on progressing everyday. I love and thank all ya'll.
Elder Jordan Keele
Elder Hoover and I continue to work hard and continue to be blessed every day. Last night I stayed awake in bed for quite a while with overwhelming feelings of appreciation for the bounteous blessings I've been given throughout my mission, and throughout my life. Dad, Mom, Jamie, Travis, Jessica, Derek, Nathan, Stephanie, Dallin, Tammie, all extended family, and all other friends and acquaintances, I love you! The mission in and of itself is a miracle. I'm loving every moment of it, even the difficult ones.
Friday and Saturday we had no one signed up to give us food in the Relief Society, so after talking briefly with investigator Julieta, she fed us my favorite: Pozole rojo... both days ha ha. It was delicious. Julieta for some reason reminds me a lot of "Ma" down in Argentina. Although I don't remember her very much, I think of her as I'm with Julieta. She's a very sweet lady and has a very strong testimony of the truth. I got a feeling of a job well done when she bore testimony about Joseph Smith and the true church of Christ yesterday in Gospel Principles class. She'll be a great member. She was baptized yesterday with her 24 year-old daughter Carolina. The grandson's name is Cristian, and is only 6, but he already can't wait for his baptism!
I'm telling ya, the Lord works miracles today just as much as he did in the past, if not more. We met this family 18 days ago on a Thursday afternoon, and just like that they changed their lives. It's amazing how quickly the work goes on in these areas.
I'm fully aware that baptisms don't always mean success, nor does success always mean baptisms. But I also know that as we do all we can as missionaries, we will baptize everyone that wants it in their own due time, and we will be successful missionaries- with or without numbers. We can't run faster than we have strength, and we definitely can't ask that of our investigators.
That must be a bit of an interesting situation with the Krasnoselsky family. They're such great people. Also what coincidences you seem to find, and I think these things are happening more and more frequently!
This work is true, there's no doubt about it. Let us keep on progressing everyday. I love and thank all ya'll.
Elder Jordan Keele
Monday, April 2, 2012
Elder Jordan Keele, April 2, 2012
Estimado familia,
Elder Hoover and I have had a pretty good week. We had quite a few meetings, interviews, and other such time-takers, but we were able to use what we did have anyway to have a productive week. I love feeling the spirit as we teach a family that's progressing. I love teaching about the restoration of prophets and apostles along with all the other blessings God has re-given us since the time of Joseph Smith. The church is true... enough said.
I really did love conference. Learning from last October, I stayed with the investigators that attended the sessions rather than pridefully isolating myself with other English speakers to watch it in English. It's really not bad in Spanish even with the translators. They do a great work that is a blessing to many.
I had the thought as I was trying to take notes personally directed to me by the spirit, that we could have a "general conference" type experience everyday. I'm sure everyone feels an overwhelming feeling that they need to be better after every conference. But, as we read the scriptures directly applying every scripture to ourselves for that specific day, we can make sure that we are progressing day by day. I look forward to continually putting it into daily practice so that I truly can be closer to my Savior day by day.
I did see Jason Christensen! I was actually looking for him and Taylor Ball because I had forgotten when they entered, but I figured at least one of them would have been in the choir. I didn't see David Archuleta though, but was later told that he was there. What a neat experience he'll have if he does go to Antofogasta.
I feel like I want to be an entremaneur when I grow up. (jk, I know that's not the word :)). That dog dealing doesn't sound like too bad of a deal.
This morning we went to play soccer with the zone and suddenly I started feeling a bit nauseated. Within seconds somebody yelled "està temblando!" (6.3 aftershock). It wasn't quite as bad nor as long as two weeks ago, but they seem to becoming more and more frequently. Good thing we have like 20ish gallons of water in the house!
Keep strong, keep reading, keep testifying, and the Savior will be here in no time. Con mucho amor y aprecio,
Elder Jordan Keele
Elder Hoover and I have had a pretty good week. We had quite a few meetings, interviews, and other such time-takers, but we were able to use what we did have anyway to have a productive week. I love feeling the spirit as we teach a family that's progressing. I love teaching about the restoration of prophets and apostles along with all the other blessings God has re-given us since the time of Joseph Smith. The church is true... enough said.
I really did love conference. Learning from last October, I stayed with the investigators that attended the sessions rather than pridefully isolating myself with other English speakers to watch it in English. It's really not bad in Spanish even with the translators. They do a great work that is a blessing to many.
I had the thought as I was trying to take notes personally directed to me by the spirit, that we could have a "general conference" type experience everyday. I'm sure everyone feels an overwhelming feeling that they need to be better after every conference. But, as we read the scriptures directly applying every scripture to ourselves for that specific day, we can make sure that we are progressing day by day. I look forward to continually putting it into daily practice so that I truly can be closer to my Savior day by day.
I did see Jason Christensen! I was actually looking for him and Taylor Ball because I had forgotten when they entered, but I figured at least one of them would have been in the choir. I didn't see David Archuleta though, but was later told that he was there. What a neat experience he'll have if he does go to Antofogasta.
I feel like I want to be an entremaneur when I grow up. (jk, I know that's not the word :)). That dog dealing doesn't sound like too bad of a deal.
This morning we went to play soccer with the zone and suddenly I started feeling a bit nauseated. Within seconds somebody yelled "està temblando!" (6.3 aftershock). It wasn't quite as bad nor as long as two weeks ago, but they seem to becoming more and more frequently. Good thing we have like 20ish gallons of water in the house!
Keep strong, keep reading, keep testifying, and the Savior will be here in no time. Con mucho amor y aprecio,
Elder Jordan Keele
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