Week 5 Elder Jones

Hey! I'm so glad everyone's doing well! I'm really proud of Dan for volunteering to talk in Primary.  That's really cool of him. So, a great week here. Only 14 days left in the CCM!

I gave my first priesthood blessing this week to Hermana McLean because she was throwing up and it was so difficult because I had no idea what to say. I honestly don't understand how Grandpa is able to be in tune with the spirit enough to give patriarchal blessings. I apologized afterwards for not saying very much and taking really long pauses in between my words but she said it was fine and that she was honored to be the first person I gave a priesthood blessing to.

So one thing I was thinking about this week was how its hard for me to write in my journal every night because I didn't do it before my mission.  I guess I just kind of assumed that once I left on my mission I would automatically get all these great missionary habits but no, you're still the same person on your mission as you were before you left. And I was thinking about how that's like the spirit world. Once we die we will have the same thoughts and desires as we had on Earth.  We won't automatically have Christlike attributes, we have to develop them here on Earth.

I promise I made up that analogy on my own I didn't steal it from someone. I'm the king of gospel related analogies. Also I'm the king of the subjunctive tense because I mastered that this week and I'm helping people in my district with it because our teachers are still learning English and people from like Idaho speak in sayings so it doesn't always make sense to our teachers what they're asking. I'm really glad I took Latin in High School so I actually understand participles and passive voice and subjunctive because this would be so much harder without that knowledge. So yea tell Tyler to keep taking Latin.  Also we got 2 new districts in our branch this week making it 60 missionaries in branch 12 and I'm the only one that isn't from Utah, Idaho, or California. 

Okay, so I got a haircut today and the lady doesn't even say anything she just cuts your hair and I don't think my hair has ever been this short ever. Also do you have any idea how I did on my AP tests? So, yeah I actually really like being a missionary.

One other experience I want to share from this week. This week on Thursday we were teaching TRC which is teaching volunteer members from this institute from some college nearby and Elder Baker and I were teaching these two young women Lila and Louis and when we walked in the lights were off but we didn't know we were supposed to turn them on because there was some light from the window. So we got to know them and then started teaching and 5 minuets into our lesson one of the workers turned the lights on and I said " Es como Apostasía y restauración" ("the Apostasy and Restoration") and all four of us burst out laughing for a good 2 or 3 minuets. 

 I got a really nice compliment from President Muchado on Sunday. He said I'm the only missionary in the whole CCM that is smiling every time he sees them. It's true I'm smiling 24/7 here. I love you guys. I only have 23 months left on my mission! This past month has not only strengthened my testimony tremendously but it has furthered my conversion to the gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that a strong testimony will never be enough for anyone. We need conversion. I have felt what it feels like to be a vessel in the Lord´s work and teach through the Spirit. I hope you guys have a great week and also on my last day here I can email as long as I want. have a great week!