Wednesday, February 26, 2014
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
2/20/14
Para Mi Familia,
Hola! Mi primer semana es muy fantastica a la MTC! Just kidding I am not going to write this in Spanish but it is the end of my second day at the MTC and it feels like it has been an eternity. Not in a bad way though, it is just that I have never been so mentally and spiritually worn out in my life.
So some fun facts.... I am in a Trio! Also my class is only 5 hermanas so it is so amazing. Also I am living on West campus which is the most amazing thing ever. I live in an apartment with 2 other sisters and we have a living room, kitchen, and bathroom for just the three of us. Also West campus is a completely Spanish speaking campus. So people are speaking Spanish all the time. Another thing is 400 missionaries came the same day as me to the MTC! There are so many people here. Even crazier is of those 400, 100 came to West campus with me. Over 90% of us are all going to Mexico! It is crazy how many missionaries are being sent there. I have met tons and tons of people going to my mission and Mexico City in general.
West campus is way better than main campus because on P-Days we get to go to Brigham Square which is a shopping center with lots of stores and restaurants... and we get way bigger rooms. I have only been here two days and I have never felt the spirit so strongly, been so stressed, cried so much, or been so lost in my life but I can already see that it is so rewarding. No one ever told me how hard the MTC is though!
I learned all the Spanish I ever learned in my life and more my first day at the MTC. Today we learned to pray, bear our testimonies, and teach the first discussion. We teach our first investigator(Ricardo) tomorrow. I feel like I pretty much have no idea what is going on... ever because we have to speak Spanish 24/7 and we can't even cheat because we are on the Spanish campus. Even the lunch ladies speak Spanish to us! A lot of the investigators that they are hiring at the MTC now are real investigators. So that makes it a little more stressful when we teach them. Although a few have been baptized now because of all the missionary exposure. I have the worst news ever though... I have to give a ten minute talk this Sunday IN SPANISH. I understand that total immersion will help us learn much more quickly but I would prefer not to give a talk in Spanish.
Also exercise time at the MTC is pretty much the best thing in the world. There is so much that you can do. It is so funny on West campus because they don't have a gym. There are these giant bubbles that we go in to play sports and other things. So that's pretty much all that has happened my first two days:)
I love you guys and I hope everything is going great. I know that this church is true. I know that the gospel changes people, you can see changes in missionaries here. Even just from the beginning of one day to the end. I have found out so many things about myself in just the last two days, my weaknesses and strengths and I know that it is because Heavenly Father is trying to make every missionary the best they can be to go out and preach the gospel. One of the most interesting things that they are focusing on teaching us is how to love...our heavenly father, our companions and our investigators.
Love,
Hermana Jones
PS. My name tag is in Spanish!
Para Mi Familia,
Hola! Mi primer semana es muy fantastica a la MTC! Just kidding I am not going to write this in Spanish but it is the end of my second day at the MTC and it feels like it has been an eternity. Not in a bad way though, it is just that I have never been so mentally and spiritually worn out in my life.
So some fun facts.... I am in a Trio! Also my class is only 5 hermanas so it is so amazing. Also I am living on West campus which is the most amazing thing ever. I live in an apartment with 2 other sisters and we have a living room, kitchen, and bathroom for just the three of us. Also West campus is a completely Spanish speaking campus. So people are speaking Spanish all the time. Another thing is 400 missionaries came the same day as me to the MTC! There are so many people here. Even crazier is of those 400, 100 came to West campus with me. Over 90% of us are all going to Mexico! It is crazy how many missionaries are being sent there. I have met tons and tons of people going to my mission and Mexico City in general.
West campus is way better than main campus because on P-Days we get to go to Brigham Square which is a shopping center with lots of stores and restaurants... and we get way bigger rooms. I have only been here two days and I have never felt the spirit so strongly, been so stressed, cried so much, or been so lost in my life but I can already see that it is so rewarding. No one ever told me how hard the MTC is though!
I learned all the Spanish I ever learned in my life and more my first day at the MTC. Today we learned to pray, bear our testimonies, and teach the first discussion. We teach our first investigator(Ricardo) tomorrow. I feel like I pretty much have no idea what is going on... ever because we have to speak Spanish 24/7 and we can't even cheat because we are on the Spanish campus. Even the lunch ladies speak Spanish to us! A lot of the investigators that they are hiring at the MTC now are real investigators. So that makes it a little more stressful when we teach them. Although a few have been baptized now because of all the missionary exposure. I have the worst news ever though... I have to give a ten minute talk this Sunday IN SPANISH. I understand that total immersion will help us learn much more quickly but I would prefer not to give a talk in Spanish.
Also exercise time at the MTC is pretty much the best thing in the world. There is so much that you can do. It is so funny on West campus because they don't have a gym. There are these giant bubbles that we go in to play sports and other things. So that's pretty much all that has happened my first two days:)
I love you guys and I hope everything is going great. I know that this church is true. I know that the gospel changes people, you can see changes in missionaries here. Even just from the beginning of one day to the end. I have found out so many things about myself in just the last two days, my weaknesses and strengths and I know that it is because Heavenly Father is trying to make every missionary the best they can be to go out and preach the gospel. One of the most interesting things that they are focusing on teaching us is how to love...our heavenly father, our companions and our investigators.
Love,
Hermana Jones
PS. My name tag is in Spanish!
Saturday, June 15, 2013
Dan's Baptism
Dan was baptized today, June 15th. It was a raining when we went into the chapel, but overcast when we came out. All three of his grandparents are here for the event.
The baptism was conducted by Roger Moffat, and Bishop Blair Holbrook was presiding.
Courtney played the hymns "When I am Baptized" and "Choose the Right." Grandma Linda was the chorister.
Tyler spoke on baptism, and Hal spoke on the gift of the Holy Ghost. I baptized and confirmed Dan.
Grandpa Harry and Allison gave the prayers.
After the baptism, there were refreshments - cookies & milk / chocolate milk, chocolate covered pretzels, and chocolate cream pie.
When we got back home, Hal got his Patriarchal blessing from Grandpa Harry.
The baptism was conducted by Roger Moffat, and Bishop Blair Holbrook was presiding.
Courtney played the hymns "When I am Baptized" and "Choose the Right." Grandma Linda was the chorister.
Tyler spoke on baptism, and Hal spoke on the gift of the Holy Ghost. I baptized and confirmed Dan.
Grandpa Harry and Allison gave the prayers.
After the baptism, there were refreshments - cookies & milk / chocolate milk, chocolate covered pretzels, and chocolate cream pie.
When we got back home, Hal got his Patriarchal blessing from Grandpa Harry.
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Mother's Day Present
Harry always gives good presents. However, this year was one of the best. Life has been crazy busy with Court graduating, end of year school activities, 4 birthdays in less than a month and Relief Society. We are at a busy time of life and the housework has suffered because of it. So Harry gave me 4 maids for 4 hours!!!! Yeah! Most considerate present ever!!!! I came home yesterday to a house that has never been this clean. There is something about a clean house that makes me very very happy. It makes me feel like even though my life is a little out of control there is some order to it. Thanks, Harry!!! You are wonderful!!!
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
20 Years and Counting!
Sunday, December 9, 2012
Starved Rock State Park
Here are some pictures from our trip to Starved Rock State Park this summer. I think Courtney was working that day, but the rest of us hiked and went canoeing.
Monday, October 22, 2012
Finished Indianapolis Marathon
Hal and I (Harry) ran the Indianapolis marathon on Saturday, and it was a great feeling of accomplishment and relief to complete it. I trained all Summer & Fall to prepare, and Hal was in good shape from running 1000 miles this summer then training hard during his cross country season.
Teresa and the kids came down to watch, and also Grandma Chestnut was there, after staying with us for the last two weeks. My mom and dad also came to watch. We stayed the night in Indianapolis both the Friday night before the race and the Saturday evening after the race.
My final time was 4:55:34, with a pace of 11:17. At the halfway point (13.1 miles) I was at 2:18:52, with a pace of 10:36. My overall place was 496 of the 659 runners who completed the race.
Hal's final time was 3:32:05, with a pace of 8:06. At the halfway point, he was at 1:43:46, with a pace of 7:58. His overall place was 76, and he was second in the men age 19 and under.
It was a nice day for running -- 48 degrees at the start, with a mix of clouds and sun throughout the morning. The race started at 8:30am, and the course went through Benjamin Harrison state park and along a river trail. The fall leaves were in color, and there were a lot of times that I looked around to admire the scenery as I ran.
The race combined a half marathon with the same start time as the full marathon, which was interesting because I sped up a bit in mile 12 as the people around me started running faster to finish out the half marathon. It was also more sparse in the second half of the race. I tried to keep my mind on running as many 11 minute miles in a row as I could, and worked to keep my pace slow for the initial miles so I wouldn't run out of energy as I went. I was hoping that I might get under 5 hours time, and was happy with my effort and very excited for Hal. I ran the marathon at a faster pace than either of my two 20-mile training runs. It was really neat that Hal and I got to do it together, and it was fun that we were able to cross paths twice during the race to cheer each other on. It helped to have our family there cheering us on, as well.
It started to get quite difficult for me in mile 23, although I'm not sure if I hit the "wall", but I knew I couldn't run any faster than what I was going. My pace was slower by that point, but I ended up running the whole race, without stopping or walking. I did grab plenty of fluids along the way, much more than I would have in a practice run, and I believe that helped. I saw Teresa as I neared the finish line, which was neat, and I saw everyone waiting for me at the end. I was quite exhausted and sore -- I found it hard to stand and walk, but was happy to have done it. It's Monday now, and I'm still feeling some of the soreness, but it's much better now. Glad to have made it!
Teresa and the kids came down to watch, and also Grandma Chestnut was there, after staying with us for the last two weeks. My mom and dad also came to watch. We stayed the night in Indianapolis both the Friday night before the race and the Saturday evening after the race.
My final time was 4:55:34, with a pace of 11:17. At the halfway point (13.1 miles) I was at 2:18:52, with a pace of 10:36. My overall place was 496 of the 659 runners who completed the race.
Hal's final time was 3:32:05, with a pace of 8:06. At the halfway point, he was at 1:43:46, with a pace of 7:58. His overall place was 76, and he was second in the men age 19 and under.
It was a nice day for running -- 48 degrees at the start, with a mix of clouds and sun throughout the morning. The race started at 8:30am, and the course went through Benjamin Harrison state park and along a river trail. The fall leaves were in color, and there were a lot of times that I looked around to admire the scenery as I ran.
The race combined a half marathon with the same start time as the full marathon, which was interesting because I sped up a bit in mile 12 as the people around me started running faster to finish out the half marathon. It was also more sparse in the second half of the race. I tried to keep my mind on running as many 11 minute miles in a row as I could, and worked to keep my pace slow for the initial miles so I wouldn't run out of energy as I went. I was hoping that I might get under 5 hours time, and was happy with my effort and very excited for Hal. I ran the marathon at a faster pace than either of my two 20-mile training runs. It was really neat that Hal and I got to do it together, and it was fun that we were able to cross paths twice during the race to cheer each other on. It helped to have our family there cheering us on, as well.
It started to get quite difficult for me in mile 23, although I'm not sure if I hit the "wall", but I knew I couldn't run any faster than what I was going. My pace was slower by that point, but I ended up running the whole race, without stopping or walking. I did grab plenty of fluids along the way, much more than I would have in a practice run, and I believe that helped. I saw Teresa as I neared the finish line, which was neat, and I saw everyone waiting for me at the end. I was quite exhausted and sore -- I found it hard to stand and walk, but was happy to have done it. It's Monday now, and I'm still feeling some of the soreness, but it's much better now. Glad to have made it!
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