Dec 23, 2013

Dear Family,
Poor little Cannon! It's good to hear that he will be okay but that is still scary he got so sick. I will keep him in my prayers. That's fun that Troy's family was able to stop in unexpectedly, too bad they couldn;t make it to their party though. How much snow is there now? We have had a good 60 degree low for the winter here ;)
We had a baptism for Kassie Webb yesterday! It was a really good service. The room was packed and she had a ton of her non-member friends there as well and her whole non-member family. It was really neat. I would say probably one of the best services I have been to. While she was getting changed she wanted it to be a really good missionary opportunity (she is a solid missionary already, she would bring a different non-member friend to all of her lessons we had with her) and so me and Elder Dean taught a sweet lesson and the spirit was so strong. Things are going to happen from that experience. At the end Kassie even got up and bore her testimony on her own desire and was bold and spared no shyness. She even told her mom that she was going to get baptized next and she shook her head yes. Not a dry eye in the room (expect mine, I don't cry ;) )  The rest of the week was awesome too. We picked up a few new investigators that are solid so we are excited to work with them. I hope you all have a very merry Christmas! The members here take care of us very well so don't worry about me! I love you all!
Love,
Elder Jolley
Here is a picture from our Christmas Zone Conference. I am back row, left of center

Dec 16, 2013

It is always so good to hear how everyone is doing! I'm glad to hear all is well.
Exciting things have been happening here. Daren has his Baptism set for the 28! pray for him! We are so excited for him. This is going to be so good for him and his family. We have a bapt on the 22 for Kassie as well, I don't know if I have told you about her. She is really awesome and is progressing and staying strong. We got her program lined up and it is gong to be a good one. She is excited to be able to use it as a good missionary tool because a lot of her nonmember friends are going to be coming. The work is going forward and fast. I hope that things are able to stay good at home! Thank you for keeping me updated! I love you all!
Love, Elder Jolley

Dec 9, 2013

Hey family! How have things been going at home? I hope you have been getting into the season, I love Christmas time. We weren't able to watch the christmas devotional yesterday because we are going to watch it as a mission together a little closer to christmas. I love things like that now, I used to think it was a good nap time but it is now what I live for!

This week was good here, we had 3 investigators that were suposed to come to church with members lined up to  give them rides but they all fell through. We had Daren at church though. He is so solid! I am so excited for him. We watched the Joseph Smith hour long movie with him and his family becuase he said he said he wanted to learn more about him and so we did and it was perfect. His wife is a member and in their private conversation she told us that she had asked him if he is close to make his decision on baptism (we invited him for the 29) and he said quote "I think I am about 9 1/2. What do you think about that?!?" so he is right there.

It is really cool to see the gospel work in peoples lives. I love you all! Keep me updated on what is going on at home! I love hearing how all ALL of you are doing. I love you all!

Love,
Elder Jolley

Dec 8, 2013

Hey Sister Jolley. My names Kendall Pefley. Your son is serving in my family ward and the singles ward. When they came over for Thanksgiving a couple weeks ago, we took some pictures of some of the weird traditions my family has and I thought you would like so see some of the pictures. (:

We have this little challenge called the whipped cream challenge where you put some whipped cream on your wrist and slap your arm and try to catch the whipped cream in your mouth. I know its weird, but the Elders had fun doing it. (:   (We took some video, but the file is too big to email)

Dec 2, 2013

Dear family,
Sorry you didn't get an email from me last week! It sounds like it was a good week for you though. Thanksgiving is always a fun Holiday. Especially going out to Enterprise, it is always a lot of sun there. Tell Angel and Wade congratulations for me!!! That is so exciting they are having a baby! That is going to be so fun for their family, I love them. How far along is she? That is going to be one lucky baby going into that family.That is going to be an adventure for Troy and Sam moving to Mesquite. Jamie's family is always so awesome, it's good to hear that things are taking off for them in New Zealand. They are having so many original and neat experiences. That is still too bad about Dad's back, that will be nice to get it fixed in not too long. I'm keeping you in my prayers Dad. 

Things are way good here. We have been having alot of success. I haven't baptized my whole mission so far, it's been kinda tough getting people to progress. But as of like the past several weeks things have been so sweet. Lastnight we set a guy named Daren with a date for Dec 29! It is a part member family (Daren is the dad and is the only nonmember) his wife is a solid mormon and they have 5 kids. So ever since they got married 25 or more years ago I would guess missionaries have been coming by. But now he is prepared, it goes to show that things are on the Lords time. We can try to speed things up or slow them down but we will be wrong. We have just got to align ourselves with God and we will never be wrong. 

Also we are over a singles ward as well as the a family ward (the one Daren is in) and in the singles ward we have a solid girl that is going to get baptized dec 22. Her name is Kassie and she is super solid. David is another black YSA guy that we are teaching too! We have a date for dec 15 with him too but I think that one might get pushed back maybe. We will see with him during our next lesson. Those are the most promising people we have right now. More than I have had my whole mission no doubt! For Thanksgiving we went to Daren's house (our investigator) and that was a lot of fun. Their family reminds me of our family and so it was fun to be with them. We also had a less active family invite us over so it was good to build relationships and still do missionary work on a holiday that would have been tough to otherwise. 

Well I love hearing from yall. I hope this Christmas season is special for you. It is so neat being a missionary during times like these. I love you all!
Love,
Elder Jolley

Nov 18, 2013

Dear Family,
It is always so good to hear how everyone is getting along. That is a big accomplishment 60 years! Good job grandma and grandpa, good job. They are so cute, in the first picture grandpas hair looks a lot whiter than I remember it being.
 That sounds like a fun party, that is cool they even had high school friends come as well.
That is the cutest, Connor and Cannon's Halloween costumes,  haha! Janessa is always doing cute fun stuff with her kids. They are getting so big!

That is sad that there have been several deaths there in your Stake last week especially the really young guy of cancer. It is so good to have the knowledge that we do. makes life a little easier. The gospel brings us hope. But I can just imagine Dad being there at any point that anybody needs him, he is such a great man. I learn so much by his example.

Life here has been crazy. We have transfers again and I am with Elder Dean! I don't know if I have told you about him but he is awesome. He is from Alabama and was my zone leader in Huntington Beach and in cypress as well. We are going to be over 2 wards, the cypress 5 and Park wards, One is a family ward and one is a singles ward. I am so excited to be with him, we are going to be able to do so much work together. It was sad leaving Elder Lo though, it was a good experience being with him, I learned a lot. President Tew is an awesome man and is making so many changes in the this mission for the better. It is entirely different from what it use to be. Not that Pres Bubert was bad, it was just time for change.

I was on exchanges with Elder Dean 2 sundays ago as well and the day before he informed me that we were singing in sacrament meeting and so I had to do that, it was so funny. It was 4 of us that sang for a missionaries farewell sacrament departure. I don't know how good we turned out being but it was so funny. Everyone said that it was good, but no news is usually good news and we got a lot of news so... haha

There was also a Veterans day parade that we helped with. We had like 18 missionaries that we had volunteer. And then they let us be the last people in the parade. One of the high council members was a veteran in the parade and he lead us in his uniform and we followed him. It was way cool to do, we had bikes and we made a mighty duck V behind him. People all clapped and waved and cheered for us. It was a really good public rep opportunity. The stake public relations guy that set it up for us was super excited for it and it was a success.

Elder Dean and I have already got quite a few people that we are teaching. Daren is a father of a part member family. They are probably in their late 40's and the mom has been active thier whole marriage for the most part. their kids are all pretty solid too. 3 of them married and one in college and the last in HS. We have had several sweet spiritual lessons with him and his time is coming soon. Elder Dean is a masterful teacher, I am going to be able to learn so much from him. We also have a YSA girl Kassie that we have taught several times that has a Bapt date for dec 22 so that is really exciting too. And a black guy named Darren that we found this past week that has alot alot of potential. We had 4 inv at church this past week! This transfer with Elder Dean is going to be so good, we are able to do good work together. Right now is defiantly the busiest and most teaching I have done so far. It is so nice to be able to help people.

Life is still good here in sunny california. Is it snowing there yet? It is crazy what is going on in the world. The Philippines- the bishop of the singles ward has a son that is in the mission that was hit dead on. He is okay but it was scary how they didn't know the all the missionaries situations for a while but it is a miracle they all turned out the be fine. His son is going to come home early though because he had less than 3 transfers and because of it they are sending alot of them home if they have that much time left. But then also the tornadoes in Illinois! How many was it, 57 or something? That is crazy, things are really starting to happen and pick up... the time for preperation is getting shorter and shorter. I am glad to hear everything is good at home still! I love you all! Have a good week.
Love, Elder Jolley

Nov 4, 2013

Dear Family,

I am always realizing how awesome my family is! I love you all. I am still keeping Dad in my prayers for his upcoming back surgery, I hope that he will do alright all the way until February. That is a fun trip for the girls to make. John and Shannon are so cute, I am missing all the little kids but by the time I get back there will probably be new ones that replace the ones ages of where they are so I really won't miss too much ;) Everyone here that I am emailing with said to tell Grandma and Grandpa Jolley congratulations! 60 years is a long time! They are number one everyone says.
Life has been good here. I love you all!
Love, Elder Jolley

Oct 29, 2013

I wish I had more time to email! You hardly have time to do anything as a missionary, life is very busy. And that is good. Our Pday was changed to today because we were able to go to the LA temple! It was so nice. I love the temple. I'm gona try and request the calling of being a temple worker when I get home. ;) This week has been really good though. Elder Lo is a great companion, we study english every day and he is getting better, more people can understand him and he is able to follow conversations a little better. The people are tough to crack here, we don't have any solid investigators right now so we are mostyl just hitting the streets hard every day. Being district leader is a really neat opportunity becuase you are able to apply a different part of missionary work and that's administering to the other missionaries and helping their needs and areas. It has really been cool to see the living gospel happen. I see why it is the toughest but best years of your life. The weather is still good... in case anyone was doubting.
I will definantly keep dad in my prayers even more now that he will be having surgery. But I bet he is excited to get that taken care of. He will be good to go once I get home and we can go back packing and wrestle. I will keep you all in my prayers, we pray a lot. I love you all!
Love Elder Jolley

Oct 21, 2013

It is good to hear all is still moving along back at home. Glad to hear everyone is doing well. The work has been good with Elder Lo, there is some challenges but everything always works out for the better. I am glad for this opportunity. The Church is true. After conference it has been reassured that we still have a living Prophet and 12 Aostles. Sometimes God works in misterious ways, and sometimes it is pretty obvious.
I hope you all have a fun safe weekend!
Love Elder Jolley

Oct 14, 2013

Dear Family,

This week has been an exciting one. For transfers we trade places with a set of Elders that were living in our area and we were living in their area so that was a good change. I don't know how they are going to fit in the apartment I was in. We had 4 Elders in there when I was there and the new set that we switched with just got a third and so there will be 5 in there and it was already a little squishy but they seem to be getting along good. The house we are in now is with another member, a single guy Adrian Martin. He is really nice and has a pitbull. He is really nice to let us stay with him. My new companion is Elder Lo and he has been out for 18 months but was straight out of Hong Kong. He is a really good guy, he has 1 brother and 1 sister, 22yrs old, and is a good worker. He is still working on his English a bit and so there is a slightly language barrier. Teaching is a little more difficult because people can't understand him 100% but it just creates a really good opportunity to grow though, I am excited for this transfer. We revised his language study to hopefully help him advance some. Cantonese and English are very different and so it would be very difficult, I have a lot of respect for him.

We taught the High Priest yesterday and that went really well, I love old guys and their humor. Also this past week we were stopping by a Part-Member/Less-Active family that we had never seen before and first got in and talked with the non-member dad and his 7yr old son and that was really. He had a few concerns or issues, not about the church just life and it's good to have someone who has been alive for eternity on our side because boy, his wisdom sure comes in hand when you're only 19. He said that we really brought something that he needed and wanted to get his whole family and have a prayer with us so he even called his kids and gathered them all up, even ones that were over at a neighbors. Really cool to see how people honestly have a hungering for the spirit.

And then there is there are apposing situations haha it's always interesting to talk with people who are out on corners preaching with their megaphones or holding signs and what not. (those experiences just grow my testimony of how true the church is) But there was a guy with a sign out by a really busy intersection saying that Jesus is the only way back to Heaven and so Elder Lo and I decide to go talk to him. We tell him we appreciate him spreading the good word and that we have a lot of respect for him because we know how it is to stand up for what you believe. So things start and it is a good convo, respectfully sharing beliefs. After a minute though it becomes very apparent that he is Born Again Christian even though he wouldn't answer what he was (they dodge questions and derail anything that they can't or don't want to answer) But then someone comes up and says "oh I am a huge believer, what are you teaching these 2 kids" and it was funny to see him change. He starts throwing the mud. I don't understand though because they try to show how we are wrong but the truth is never wrong! You can answer everything that they try to throw out and prove to them that you are right. But unfortunately "proving" is not the way to do it. If the spirit isn't there, you shouldn't be there. Those kind of people have hard hearts and doing that is a waste of time. I've learned that you can leave with something positive though, you basically have to shock them and then they might actually think twice and listen for half a second. So that's what we did. I felt bad doing that at first but you honestly have to try and humble them. And then after reading Galatians... there is a right way and a wrong way and you have to do it respectfully and lovingly because you actually care. I think though that we could have made them think twice and gave room for half of a mustard seed. The next night we knocked into another born again and he was really cool. He knew so much about the church, Elder Lo after said that he thinks he knew more about church history and quoted the BOM more than we did haha He is a funny guy. But this guy (Frank) was honestly there wanting to learn and the spirit was there and that is an actual productive time.

I have to go but I hope all is well at home! How are the grandparents doing? I love you all!

Elder Jolley

Oct 7, 2013

I was nervous last week that maybe you had joined the original city of Enoch since I didn't hear from you. Haha that is strange though that the email you wrote didn't send. I did get it this week though with the pictures as well. It is always good to hear how everyone is doing. The three girls look like they had fun up in the mountains. I miss the mountains so much. When I first got here I thought that "hey I wouldn't mind living here one day, it would be nice". Now though I don't think I would move here if I had the choice. I miss just having open space, not even to be in but to at least just look at. Everything is so crammed here and packed in. But that is nice for being a missionary, I think there is over 2 million people in this little 20 by 20 mile area. Transfers are this week and sadly Elder Varney is leaving and going to Long Beach. We were here together only 1 transfer but it was his 3rd. Tuesday I am going to get my new companion who has been out 18ish months but can't communicate in english too well. He was straight out of china when he got here. So this is going to be exciting to get him, I am excited. I am in the same district and the District Leader still. I enjoy being able to help people that actually want it! No but really it is an awesome learning experience for me, they have taught me so much.
That was really nice of Sister Simmons to say that about me. She wouldn't be able to though if it was just me that would go into their families home. I had the Elder companion and the Spirit companion (<-- most important one). But they were a really good family, they took very good care of us.
That is sad to hear about grandma Anderson, I hope she is feeling better by now. I will keep her in my prayers.
Conference was so good. I am jealous that you all were able to attend some of the sessions. If that's how they have been all along I have missed alot in my life. There is so much pertinent teachings and lessons to be learned and the spirit teaches you even more. Conference is a really cool experience. I watched it all at the Stake Center.
Well family, I love you all. I hope you have a good week!
Elder Jolley

Sept 30, 2013

Dear Family,
I love being on a mission. I am learning so much. You have so many experiences out here that you could not have anywhere else! Transfers are comeing up next week so we will see what happens. I am interesting in how everyone is doing. I love to get pictures as well. I hope you are all doing well! have a good week. I love you all.
Elder Jolley

Sept 23, 2013

Sorry I was unable to email last week! Hopefully you all didn't get too worried, all is well. Again thank you so much for the pictures, I love getting those. This week has been a good one. It's been a week full of finding and I'll tell you about a few interesting people we ran into. Well first off there was a lady at church last week that was very interesting. After sacrament meeting we walk out and there is a homeless lady on the couch. The first councilor tried talking with her but she wouldn't give him her name and wouldn't talk to him at all so we decided to try and talk with her. She was wearing a sweatshirt as her pants. I felt bad. She also had the weird contacts in that made her have all white eyes except her pupils. She was kinda scaring the kids. But we started talking to her but she wouldn't talk to us either really. So invited her to class and convinced her to come in. That was good, she actually started to participate a little, her questions were a little off though. It was going well untill we read a passage of scripture and she interpreted it to mean that she wasn't going to heaven? So the teacher tried to tell her otherwise and talk it out but then she lost it and started talking loudly/at times yelling kind of about her life. She had a pretty rough life. She talked about her Dad dieing and she still had his obituary in her backpack, and her family ex husband... ect a lot of bad stuff and then just got up and walked out. So we obviously got up and followed her out and ended up talking with her for another hour or so about all of that and trying to help her. But she was not all mentally there, it was a tough situation but she ended up saying "I am going to get up and go to the bathroom and wipe away these tears and then I am going to leave." So that is what she did. After she was gone there was another bishop that came out of his office and we talked to him about her and she had actually been to their ward for about the past month and he was also the agent bishop. They had talked to her a lot to and she is just not mentally stable. It is tough to see people in that kind of situation and try to help them but there is no way to. All you can do is your best. There are A TON of different ethnicities  here too. I think I have talked with people from every area of the world. This week we have talked with quite a few Indian Seiks. We also talked with a 10 year free mason and we are very excited to go back and teach him again. It is just a melting pot of everything out here. A lot of great learning opportunities. But you are able to see what types of people are nicer and who will actually talk with you. It is funny how different people react and how you have to work with and handle people differently. I hope all is well at home! Tomorrow I will have been out for 7 months, it is flying too fast! Have a good week! Love you all!
Love,
Elder Jolley

Sept 9, 2013

It is so good to hear from you. That is so crazy that you know the Varney family! Were me and Elder Varney (Spencer is his brother, he is Jared. He was one of the twins) were we good buds in Nursery? Because we are now! haha He is a really good companion to have. It is crazy that we are not only in the same mission but companions now! If we would have stayed in Georgia we would have grown up being good pals probably.

That is fun that the family all talked in church. I bet it was a really good meeting. I have such an awesome family! I love you all! That is really neat that there were three Authorities that came and Dad had a meeting with them and Jessica could go to the fireside too. That is really neat. Why did they come down? That is unusual to have 3 of them! Is there crazy things happening there too? Or were they there for the temple possibly?!?! Is there any news on it?

I love being a missionary and I love learning! I miss you all but we will have plenty of time together eventually ;) Thank you so much for being an awesome family and supporting me. Thank you for the letters from everybody as well, sorry I don't have time to respond to them all but I read them all and love them. They keep me going some days. Especially you Mom and Dad though, you are amazing parents and I appreciate everything you do for me. I love you!
Elder Jolley

Sept 2, 2013

Dear Family,
The transfer has gone very well so far, I really like my new area and companion. Speaking of, I need to ask before I forget. In Georgia did you know a Varney family in the ward? Elder Varney is my companion and he is from Snellville and growing up his bishop was Scott Johnson and now his stake president is President Johnson as well. He thinks that we had to have been in the same ward! It is a small world! He is an awesome Elder, I am very glad to have him as a companion.

We have already been able to do good work. The district is awesome as well, they are going to make my job easy. There are 8 of us total, 4 elders and 4 sisters. The ward is good as well, it is an older ward but a good one.

Elder Varney just got out of training but you would never guess it, he is really good. We share an apartment with 2 Spanish elders who are 1.5 months and 3 months old so our little apartment is fresh missionaries.

The people are a lot different here, it is funny seeing how religious choices, dedication, pride, and curiosity changes due to peoples circumstances. I am excited to get to work here as well.

Thank you for all the pictures and hearing the updates of everybody. When I get home I have to go around and visit everyone! They are all growing up and getting big and I am missing it all! So I will make a world travel trip. Are there any updates of the Cedar Temple? That is going to be so nice. Glad to hear all is well! I love you all! Have a good week!
Elder Jolley

Aug 19, 2013

I have the best family in the world! I love you all. I did receive the envelope that defiantly had no chance of getting lost in the mail haha I really appreciate the help, sorry if it put any stress on you guys. I sure hope that I am growing and maturing! If I let all the experiences I am having flow on by with out learning and growing then boy, I have a long life ahead of me ;)

It is crazy to hear that I only have 18 months left. It's a long time, a whole sister mission, but I have already served 6 months, that went by so fast. I love quotes and good ensign talks or doctrinal speeches and addresses. I LOVE THEM so keep them coming. That goes for the whole family. In fact it would be nice (I told Dad this) if you send those sort of things to dear elder they will send them to me on paper and then I can put them in my binder of that kind of stuff. That would be way nice actually. Just a thought.

 Jayci is getting so big! Already has her ears pierced. I don't even have mine done yet, and i'm an old man. Jayden is the man, getting all the girls to sign his cast. It reminds me of the song "cause the chicks dig it". How are the Youngs likeing New Zeland? It's colder than desirable for them it sounds like but I bet they love it. That is a blessing for the window for 'little guy' (truck), he is a trooper, nothing will take him down (now that i'm gone).

It was interesting just coming and sitting down to email I was sitting next to a guy and talking with him and he was baptized to the true church in his 20 and now (25yrs later, not active) but very nice and heard his story out and it is sad to see how people in the world try to find happiness. They get in a vicious cycle of having a trial and try to get out of it by seeking worldly outs that appear to lift them out of the trial... until they realize they are in a worse position after trying the worldly way. And then being in a even worse spot still think the worldly route out of the hole they have dug is still going to get them out but really it is a quick rockslide to the bottom. I don't understand the worlds logic.

 Me and Elder Edwards have really grown closer as a companion ship and did very will this week in 2 areas. We boosted our member present lessons and also we got 5 new investigators this week! That is people we teach lessons to and they give us a specific return appointment. That is a huge huge break thru for this area and us. We were way excited.

 Yesterday it was sad, we were down by PCH and saw cops cars and areas taped off so naturally we gravitated towards it and there was an accident. A guy driving a motorcycle way too fast rear ended a jeep and you can imagine what happened. We walked up fairly close because we felt like we need to talk to 3 people standing on the corner and they ended up being the people in the jeep and so we were able to comfort them and have a prayer with them. It is crazy to see the different things that happen to people in life. I am so grateful for the knowledge we have through the gospel. It makes life so much easier when you do go through hard times. And it makes you even happier in the good times. Again I just don't understand the worlds logic.

This is probably my longest letter yet! I hope you're proud. I love you all so much, I hope you have a great week. I know it will be in sunny 70 degrees Huntington Beach ;

Love, Elder Jolley

(doing a free carwash service project)

Aug 12, 2013

Sorry I wasn't able to email last week. It was a crazy week! We had time to sit down and I got to read emails and then I had to give up my computer. And your email came in right as I was getting off but I still got to read it. I wish I could have stayed on longer because we could have done quick emails back and forth and chatted.

Things are still going here in Huntington Beach. We got our first solid Baptismal Date! I wish we would have had  alot more success and done more for this area in that regard (we did a lot of reworking the area and building it up again and preparing a lot of people I believe) but none the less we are very excited. She is a lady Elder Hicken and I found about 5 months ago, and now she starting to hopefully move forward.

Thanks for the pictures of the Family Reunion up in the mountains, it is so good to see my natural habitat, I do miss the mountains. But Huntington Beach is really nice as well. Well, that isn't the first thing that has happened to 'little guy' (window broken in the old truck), and it probably won't be the last haha

This morning we were able to go to the New Port Beach temple again (we get to go every other transfer so every 3 months) and it was awesome. The new Temple Video is really good I thought.

It is amazing how learning through the spirit goes. It is like a HUGE puzzle. Once you think you've got a hold of a really good piece and you get it into place you see that it actually just connects to even more pieces and more pieces and you keep making more connections and it is so cool. I love learning. Back to speaking about temples, is there any news on the Cedar City temple? Do you know where it is going to be, when they are going to start it/ finish it? I am so excited for that to happen!

Thank you for the love and support you all give me. I am truly blessed with the best family! I am so glad I get to be with you all forever.
Elder Jolley

July 29, 2013

Dear Family,
Thank you for the Birthday Package last week! You guys are so nice! Thank you so much, I was so happy to get it. It made it a good Birthday day. And sister Morphy is the best, she is so nice to the missionaries. She made cupcakes for mine and Elder Jensen's birthdays. The ward is so nice to the missionaries as a whole.

That is crazy that you had another big storm with houses being flooded, was anyone hit in the ward as hard as the last one I was there for? The back yard does look nice though even as a puddle.

Things like always are going well here. We have really been able to get good street lessons. I think that is a big tool to be able to do hear because people won't give you the time of day to ever come to their house. Having the trio is good too for that because we can surround people so they can't leave and they have to listen to us. haha No really it is good having a trio, the training is going good for them, they are awesome missionaries so it makes my job easy.

 I don't know if you guys have kept up with the latest missionary announcements but there have been quite a few. One that is going to be going into effect immediately is that we need to get side bags instead of backpacks. Our mission is doing away with backpacks as a whole. The mission president hasn't set a date of when we need to have them by but it is already going into effect. So that is something that I don't know how we will work out. I am sorry to put this extra burden on you guys! Do you think it woul be better to get one out here or do you guys know of good ones to get? Maybe the church is going to start making some that we could get? I am not sure but I just wanted to let you know.

 I love you all! I hope that things go well with Troy's interview, I hope the Caziers can keep hard enough books in Parkers hands, I'll pray for the city of enoch and it's flooding, Julene as well with her new life starting to go. Much love from Huntington Beach!
-Elder Jolley


P.S. look on the news about the down town Huntington Beach riots that happened Sunday night from the US open.

July 22, 2012 Happy Birthday!

Dear family,
Thank you so much for the Birthday Wishes! It made my day for sure. Holidays just aren't the same on a mission so it's nice to have the real world reminder that holidays are in fact alive and well and still celebrated. I hope no one get's offended that I am hardly ever able to resond to emails. I do love getting emails (and pictures) and being able to see everyone and their families and get updates and hear how everyone is doing. It is the highlight of the week so please keep them comeing. The downside of that deal for yall is that I am super pressed for email time and so I am not always able to respond but know that your emails are VERY MUCH appreciated.

This week has been awesome. We got our third companion to complete the trio and he is a nice Elder. He is from Oregon and is a visa waiter going to Brazil. It is very interesting trying to train 2 at once but it is also very fun. I really like being in the trio. I have already seen the blessings of it and so I am excited to have it longer.

The people we were hoping would come to church didn't show up. But we found another family on Thursday that is a mom and a 13yr old daughter, 12yr son, and 2yr son and had a good lesson with them about families. It is nice having a big family to be able to have so many examples and lessons to share with people. But we had a church tour set with them the following day (Friday) and it fell through, their car was having problems...

We have been having an explosive amount of street lessons and that is awesome. I am loving it. This week the surfing US Open started and so things in downtown Huntington are crazy (the only area we are serving in so we can't go else where) but it will be fun. We had alot of success on the 4th with the church open house, so I think this will be a success too.
I love you all! Thanks for keeping me updated!
Elder Jolley

July 15, 2013

Dear Family,

It is always so good to see pictures of everyone and hear the latest updates. Tyson and Dawn look like they are going to have a some good years coming up for them, that is exciting he is starting Dental School. It is amazing to see how everyone in our family is progressing and growing and becoming successful. I better get my act together so I can do the same! Now Julene, I said that you better be careful. You better stay in "just a relationship" for 19 more months ;) No really it is good to see that you aren't too prone to the post mission malaria.

It's been another good week in Huntington beach. This Tuesday is transfers and an Elder that has been in this ward the whole time I've been here is going home so that is sad. He was in the ward for almost 9 months I think so he had has a huge impact on the area. But he is ready to go home. It's funny/sad seeing the missionary dieing process in action. With the transfer we also have new leadership calls that come in. Last transfer I became a trainer and that lasts 2 transfers so I'll be continuing that with Elder Jensen. That has been going very well. Elder Jensen has been learning fast (I am learning a ton too) and he wants to work hard as well so it is good situation for both of us. We are doing the best we can. But then I got a call Wednesday that I am going to be training again but I'll still keep Elder Jensen and finishing his training and getting another Elder and training him, so we are going to be in a trio. It is going to be awesome! He is a visa waiter but they have a reputation of being here for at least 2 or 3 transfers. Especially with all the missionaries now that are going to be waiting for visas. So that means I'll be able to totally train him most likely. This is going to really help the work here I think. There are some ladies here that we haven't been able to go into her house and teach them because we only had 2 of us and that's against our rules and they would never set appointments so we couldn't get a member with us to be able to get in. But now with 3 of us we will be able to go into any house at any time. I am super excited about that. It is crazy though that I'm out 3 transfers and Jensen is out 1 and now we will have a fresh guy. We are a super young set, which will be to our benefit because it seems as missionaries get older they loose some of their excitement. This will be an opportunity to grow as well. To stop leaning on my own understanding but to lean unto the Lords. Whither I want to or not it will cause me to put myself aside and realize I can't do it on my own and that this is only possible through Gods help, only after everything I can do. I am excited to see what happens these next few week. Here is a cool little story that doesn't sound big but is neat. Our zone had a high goal of investigators to church and so all week we have been inviting after lessons, street contacting, knocking doors, phone calls. We were trying really hard to get our part there. No one was going to come all the way until Saturday and still we had no one. Then we were walking in between visits and a guy walked around the corner I didn't know but Elder Jensen had meet him several weeks ago when he was in another area on splits and they had invited him to church then but didn't know if he had gone. We start talking and he says he tried to go to church but couldn't find the building and asked where it was and we gave him directions and his words "awesome, that sounds good. I'll see you in the morning" and walks away. We didn't know what had just happened, stuff like that never happens! It is awesome to see that when you do all you can and try your hardest God will ALLOW you to then have success. It really puts you in perspective of where the power really comes from. It's Gods work. With out him this is all futile. I love you all! I'm excited to hear from you all next week!
Elder Jolley

July 8, 2013

Dear  family,
Oh my goodness everyone is so cute! Shannon has gotten so big and Dustin has too. I think he looks kinda like me, atleast in that picture he does. The stairs the boys built look so good, I wish I could have helped them with it. You guys are having all the fun now that I am gone. I want to see more pictures of the yard if you have done more improvements in it. You are doing a good job Dad. I feel like I need to be there to watch over Julene and make sure these guys are okay for her! I said I expected a niece or nephew from her before I get home but actually she can't even get married. Same for Jessica. I need to supervise their male interactions. haha
Things have been continual good here. Always trying to improve and make ourselves better so that we aren't hindering the work. We spend most of our time trying to find people to teach since no one is progressing. I am glad we don't have a car so that we can always be on the street talking with everyone. Training with Elder Jensen has been going good. We are getting better and better every day as a companionship. He is a hard worker too. One of the other Elders that we share the ward with goes home a week from tuesday and it is sad seeing the process happening. I can sort of sympathize for you Julene, I am already not looking forward to that last week. Luckly it is far away! We have been trying to do alot more work with the members and we are already seeing improvements, the members here are awesome. I encourage you guys to get to know the missionaries in that area and support them. I don't know how they function in that mission but haveing members to work with is awesome. I am sure you all are so good at sharing the gospel with those you have in your everyday life. Even if they are already members, it is amazing to see members strengthening each other and how reaching the effects are. I love you all! Keep up with your daily missionary work. You are just as important of a missionary as I am. have a good week!
Love,
Elder Jolley

July 1, 2013

I am glad to hear that all is well! It sounds like the family gatherings have been good and that everyone is still chugging along. I have limited time (again). I wish I had more time to respond to everthing but know that I appreciate it all. Especially the pictures, it is so good to see everyone!

Huntington Beach is doing good. It has been getting a little warmer but not bad. We have been meeting with this man named Lenny and he has not been keeping commitments too well and hasn't come to church but we have really been working him and we hope that he will start to follow what we are teaching or drop him. He is older ( mid 60's) and grew up catholic but has turned to born again christian. These guys are very stubborn. But we will see what happens with him. We also have a lady named Pamala who is the same situation too. Same age and Catholic as well. She is more open though and hopefully will come to church soon.

Our neighbor we have talked to several times (another born again) and he is just in it to bash for the most part. We got home from a 4th of july program the church put on (it was so awesome, alot of nonmembers there) but when we got dropped off he was out walking his dog and we had one of the best convos with him. He said that in church they were talking about mormons (throwing us down) and that he was worried about us and our selvation but we were able to turn it around and it was really good and he invited us back. The work goes on! I love you all, thank you for all the support!
Elder Jolley

June 24, 2013

Dear family,
It is always so good to hear from you! That is so fun that so much of the family is there, i'm sure that is such an enjoyable time. It is crazy to see how awesome our family is and how busy they are but are able to all gather together to see eachother. Families are so important, I love you all. I wish I was there to be able to help with the back yard too. It was nice, I was able to get out and dig some holes and move some dirt around and plant some trees for a ward member. Being able to get out and do some manual labor was refreshing. The little section they have for their orchard/garden is funny because there is no free land here. They are using a little corner of an oil pump yard and so the dirt is pretty bad. I'm glad they asked us to help though because service is my FAVORITE thing to do. If we can somehow help them out or get them to allow us to do work for them then they will usually open up and so that is my go too. It is very enjoyable too, I really like serving other people.
The Work of Salvation broadcast was so good. I don't know if you all had a chance to see it (it was sunday afternoon) and we were all so pumped after seeing it. Except for the facebook and blogging that we might have to do... I am not excited for that. They said that they are going to start phasing that into missions right away. I wanted to delete facebook! But it may be a good opportunity so we will see how it works out. Heather Jensen's companion has already been called to do facebook and blogging on her mission like a few times a week so it has already been used a little I guess. For some missionaries I think it will be hard to tract what they do on computers though so they hopefully will keep tight reigns on it. Trainging has been going well. It still amazes me how much God really helps you when you are doing his work. If it weren't for His help it would impossible. Having this work carried on the shoulders of young men and women 18-25 years old HA! if it wasn't true it would have fallen a long time ago.
I wish we had success stories to be able to tell you but we are still working as hard as ever. The success that we have is in the little everyday work of being able to actually get in a few doors. I have faith though that there are those out there that are the elect that God has prepared and are ready to hear the gospel. We have had several really good dicusions and lessons that will hopefully lead to something. This work is so enjoyable, I love being out here. I am sorry Julene that you had to go home ;) It is crazy that I have already been out almost 4 months, it goes quick! I love you all, I hope you all are having fun being able to spend time together. Have a good week!
Elder Jolle

June 10, 2013

Dear Family,
That is crazy that Julene is going to be home this weekend?!? Wow that went by so fast, that seems weird to me that she is going to be home and probably married with kids by the time I am home (tell her I said that ;) ) It is always so nice to hear how everyone is doing. Things are good here, my new company is way cool. His name is Elder Jensen and he is from Littleton, Colarado. I bet he feels like he is babysitting me even though I'm supposed to be his trainer, he is almost 23 yrs old. He basically came out here pre-trained so he makes my job easy. He has been really good to work with the past week and we have just been working hard. I feel like we both have the same attitude and desire so I feel like we both are always just wanting to work. I did feel the mantel get passed on to me once Elder Hicken left and I got a trainee and alot more responsibility. It is difficult to get people to progress and listen, they are very stuck in their ways and set with their life how it is. So we will keep searching for those that the Lord has prepared and are ready to hear the gospel. I would not think that at 18 yrs old I could be doing what I am at this point in my life, because it isn't me at all. The Lord blesses you so much and there is such and enabling power that allows you to do more than would ever be possible on your own. Thank you for your letters, they mean so much to me! Keep beeing the great examples you all are. I love you all.
Love,
Elder Jolley

June 3, 2013

Thanks for sending pictures, the yard is sure looking good. I wish I was there to be working next to dad! Or even better, working while dad just watched! haha That is awesome what you are doing with yard though, save some work for me for when I get back. I should have done all that for you guys before I left. I might have used that exact bobcat when me and Chandler were working out at the farm. We rented from Bro Memmot too. It's a fun machine. And a little less strenuous on your back. That is so crazy that Julene is coming home from her mission in Russia in only 2 weeks! That will be so fun for you guys to have more people in the house again. Everyone seems just as busy as usual. I was showing my companion some of the stuff going on and telling him about everyone, we seem to always have something going on in each stage of life with having all of our family members. He is the oldest of 3 so it is totally different for him... and most everyone in the world haha I love having a big family though.
      Transfers are this week and I got the news that I'm staying and Elder Hicken is going back to Long Beach to cambodia town. It was so fun though, last night there was a departure fire side for the missionaries going home and one of them was a cambodian elder so we went to it and there were cambodians there and Elder Hicken had me show off just a few of the things he has taught me like: hello, how are you doing. Wait a second. what time is it. I know only a little cambodian. God is our loving heavenly father. That person is drunk (we had to use that so we could tell each other when we would run into drunk people) and some other stuff. So that was so fun, the cambodian people are so nice. I want to learn the language and go to cambodia town too now.
Oh and another exciting thing is I'm just getting done being trained and I got assigned to be a trainer, it will be a definite  learning experience, but I am excited for it. I don't know how it will work because there is A LOT I don't know but it will work out. We are really having a difficult time getting people to progress. We are continually looking at ourselves and trying to change and tweak and adapt to be able to find the right formula to all the different ways and situations we run into to be able to find the most success and I guess we haven't found it yet. Me and my new companion will have alot of work to do!
    Thank you for all the support you give me. I am so blessed to have you guys and know that I have an amazing family at home. I love you all so much and think of you all the time ( it doesn't distract me from the work though ;) ) I love being on a mission, I am learning so much and changing for the better, I really feel like I am becoming somebody through the gospel and I am so blessed to have the opportunity to do this.
Love,
Elder Jolley

May 27, 2013

You guys are busy wow! It is weird seeing pictures of our yard, it seems like forever since i've seen it! That looks like you had alot of fun for your birthday mom, i'm glad everyone there treated you right. What is jessica up tp now? is she still going to school and working at the hospital? It's so nice seeing everyone so happy and busy and enjoying life. (There are people here that enjoy life a little bit too much though so be careful ;) ) Is troys truck still at the house or have you been able to sell it too? You guys are the best parents in the world!
      Sister Morphy told me that she had found you on facebook, I bet your glad about that because she said she had sent a picture so now you finally have one! I will try to remember next week to bring the camera cord so I can send more. The Morphy family is so awesome. I've got a long ways to go but when I'm at that point in life I want to be like their family.
       The ward here is so supportive of missionary work. Any activity is a missionary activity. Today they are having a memorial day picnic at a park and some one in the ward donated pony rides, there are going to be grills going all day and just tons of activities and EVERYONE has invited people (sis Morphy invited like 6 families I think!) and so that is going to be an awesome activity, great missionary opportunity. Also starting next week the ward is going to be doing a 40 day fast. Last year they had done this when there was very little progressing missionary work going. So each day is given to a different person or family to fast on. After last years 40 day fast I think they had a baptism for 6 months straight and reactivated alot of members so this is going to be awesome, i'm excited. This ward is so good.
We have been doing alot of proselyting (as usual) and have found several people. Lenny seems like he has the most potential. He is early 60's and is just a non-denominational christian. Has his own "original views and thoughts" about religion (as every other person we talk to does) (so really they aren't very original because you hear the same things all day everyday) but he really is trying to do good and be a good person. We have had 2 lessons with him this past week and he was going to be at church but cancelled at the last minute. But we have had those 2 solid lessons and during one we were talking about baptism and he was telling us how he has been baptized twice now. Once when he was young. And another time just last week in fact! He felt like he needed to be baptized again and show God his loyalty so what would the logical thing be to do? He hopped on his beach cruiser and rode down to the beach and baptized himself. Everyone watching and they asked what he was doing and he told them and they were all impressed and told him it was beautiful. So he really was trying to do something good but we have a lot of work to do. He talks to alot of different religions all the time. But we are working very hard with him. Things are good here in HB. transfers are comeing up here soon so we will see if me and my comp both stick around, I hope so. Thank you for keeping me updated! I love you all!
Love,
Elder Jolley

May 20, 2013

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM! It's a big step turning 35 ;) That is fun that Tyson and Dawn are having you over for dinner to celebrate and lunch at the hospital is always a good idea... we would go there to eat lunch during the school year sometimes! It is always good to hear about everyone and how amazing our family is. Mom and Dad you truelly are succesful parents, "by their fruits ye shall know them" and you have done such a good job producing 9 good fruits (we don't know if I am yet) Tell Jayci that i'll think about her when I run because we have to run every morning which is nice.
   Things have been going very well here in the Huntigton Beach 7th ward. (Oh Mom here are a few streets so you can look it up: Main and Utica is the corner I live on; and we are woking all the time in the numbered streets like 6, 7, 8,8... all the way to 22 with the cross streets of walnut, pecan, olive, palm... so just put in any of those and you can explore a little bit. It's right on the ocean!)
  Also before I forget I have a scripture! Ephesians 6:10-13.
  The past week has been good, people don't really ever say we can come back or want us to teach so instead of asking and giving the option to say no we just jump right into teaching and that has turned out well, we have had alot more lessons taught that way, alot of them street lessons. This weeks favorite questions that people would ask was all about the Book of Mormon. It is funny because every week it seems to be a different question. I think the other churches coordinate what things they are going to TRY and disprove about the mormons each week. That is why I have learned so much in every area of our religion and it is amazing how it is always true.
   But it is true that like it says "open your mouth and it shall be filled" not "i'll fill your mouth so then you can open it". We run into alot of preachers, retired pastures, theology teachers, old ministers, religion experts and it's amazing how me and my companion of 18 and 20 yrs old can actually talk with these people. They are so knowledgeable and have studied SO MUCH but we have the truth, and the truth is never wrong. I still hardly know anything but it really is through the power of the spirit and help from God that we are able to do anything.
   This makes we realize how much you know, Dad, having gone through religious studies as well as having the full truth. Because alot of these people have truth but they just are not open at all to more truth, they are almost scared of more truth. It's like wanting to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich (the whole truth) they have the peanut butter but call that good and slap the other slice of bread on and close their minds to everything else. A peanutbutter sandwich is good, but it still isn't the whole sandwich, it isn't everything! We have the jelly; being Priesthood authority, the book of mormon, living prophets and apostles, temples, correct ordinances... If you've only had a peanutbutter sandwich, then it seems so good and you don't even want to try anything else. They don't realize what they are missing though, they could be having the whole sandwich! Missions are so amazing, I love it. Thank you for supporting me out here, I know it is a financial sacrifice and I am so thankful for you guys. I love you all! I look forward to hearing about you next week!
Love,
Elder Jolley

at the Morphy's home

May 14, 2013

We have NO TIME AT ALL to email today. We are going to the temple now, i'm so excited. Hopefully after I will be able to get back to the library to email for real but if not I will try to write a letter and send it just so you know. I love you all and thank you for everything you do mom! Happy Mothers day! It was so nice to be able to talk to you all, glad all is well. I love you!
Love
Elder Jolley

May 6, 2013

I'm so glad to hear everyone is doing so well. It crazy to think how much everyone will change by the time I get home, I won't be able to recognize my whole family! I hope things work out with Jamie's family to be able to gain residency in New Zealand, that is so exciting for them. Janessa's family is getting so big and all their kids are so outgoing, that is cool the are so actively connected. It is fun to be able to see Tyler's kids in all the pictures as well, Dustin is really growing up. Troy is a great example to me of hard work and what I get to do when I get back. I wish I had time to write everyone back individually! I love Hearing the updates and how and what everyone is up to.

I'm so excited that this next week is mothers day! Seems like I was just with you guys but it will be so nice to talk with you. I should be calling around 3ish on sunday and we will be able to just use our cell phone. But we are trading phones with another set of missionaries so you can't keep calling me after Mothers Day ;) Not that you guys would but that is just the rule.

The work has really been picking up still this past week. People really aren't too receptive at all and are very set in their ways. Alot of people have their millions of dollars houses and a car for every day of the week (a little exaggerated) and so they don't really see what 2 young guys on bike have for them that they can't buy. But the more faith we have and the harder we work, the more we are able to teach. This past week it seems that no one will talk to us and we feel like we have struck out for the day but we say one more and it's a hard no and we say we 'we have time for one more' and it's another closed door and finally down to the last possible minute we finally get in and are able to teach a lesson. I've really gained a testimony of enduring to the end. We have been able to teach a lesson everyday now because of it. It is hard to get the people we teach to progress still but a few have and that makes it all worth it, seeing people become happier and be blessed because of the gospel.

 I look forward to being able to talk to you all on the phone next week! I love you all so much and thank you for the support.
Love, Elder Jolley

April 29, 2013

Sorry that I wasn't able to write a letter last week! Things are so busy here and I'm happy about that but it just doesn't leave time for emailing too much. I am doing well so don't worry.

The second transfer started and me and my companion (Elder Hicken) are staying. Which is good because things are really starting to move along. He is a great trainer and I'm learning alot. My gospel knowledge has grown like 10X as well. It is so fun learning now, I love it. I think I learn so much because now I have the questions of my investigators to answer. Answers were always right there in the Bible or Book of Mormon but I didn't have the questions. And so now it just is so amazing.

We have had some funny talks with people though. We ran into several 'prophets' that go into 'other dimensions' and have supernatural powers and can turn into dragons and such. And when it gets evening time there are quite a few drunk people and even more so on the weekends obviously. You can smell weed all over the place but they say Long Beach is worse so that will be fun. I am loving it though, the people are really awesome here and most of the time pretty nice and usually very educated. I am still surprised at how religious people are and how much they really know, I have so much more learning to go. There are always answers to their questions and objections though, the gospel is so true and pure. We just need to find out all the answers!

Thanks for the pictures you sent.
I miss the mountains and the view from our house! 
Jayci is getting so big, she is defiantly taller since I left, she'll probably be taller than me by the time I'm home.

 Texas looks like they are pretty well off, I bet the crime rates have already dropped.

Hey let me tell you Julene and Jessica, the basement is a fine place to be staying, you better treat it right for me until I get home and take it back ;) haha that is nice people asked about us at church. Our ward there is so nice. It is good to hear you are all doing well. I keep you in my prayers every day. I love you all!
Love,
Elder Jolley

April 15, 2013

 Some good things have happened this week! We had an investigator at church yesterday. That went really well, he is very observant and comparative to what he already knows. Which he is very smart spiritually/religiously. We just have to get a few things straight for him so hopefully things keep progressing with him. Getting people to come to church is hard! Just getting people to let us in is pretty difficult too. It is a good challenge though, keeps us working hard, nothing comes easy.

The members we are staying with are so nice. Its a mom/grandma (Sis Taylor, late 60's) with her daughter (Jenny Early 30) and her husband (Mike early 30's) and their 2 kids (Andy 4.5 and Emma 1.5). We cooked lunch for them because they sometimes will have food for us when we come home for a meal. We made an Elder Hicken favorite of eggs, hot dogs, salsa, bbq sauce, and cheese on toasted bread. We think it's really good... I hope they did. It was funny too, Elder Hicken flushed his retainer down the toilet on accident.

Elder Hicken and I are getting good at teaching with each other. We have been doing ALOT of finding, because the majority of all the names that were in the area book were no good. So it's taken some time to get a little bit of a base to work with, but things are picking up. We are working towards having several people progressing in the next few weeks, so things are going good. It seems like everyday we have more work to do which is exactly what we want.

I want to hear more of how everyone else is doing too. It is already going by too fast, in a few week it'll be 1/12 over! I've got alot of work to do! I love you all!!
Elder Jolley

April 8, 2013

 Dear Family,
I wish I had more time to write! I am so excited to have a Temple in Cedar City. That will work out so great. Maybe they will try and get it done fast so that it can be done before they start work on the St George Temple. We can still cross our fingers that they will build it on the hill in Enoch.

Conference was so good, we were able to watch it at our stake center. We were hopefully going to have a few people to some of the sessions, but they all fell through. That was too bad. This would have been a great one to have them be at.

Our appointment went good with the guy who tried to stop us from teaching last week. We had a member there  with us, Bro Bolin, and he is awesome. He actual does custom surf boards, and invented the Turbo Tunnel for surfboards, so you could actually check him out on the internet probably if you wanted to, he is referred to as 'The Greek'. It was good, though, we meet at the park because the guy wanted 'neutral ground' (interesting guy) and he brought 2 buddies along. It ended up being like a 2 hour meeting, but it was really good. His 2 buddies ended up actually being more open to listening,;the guy that stopped us, at first was just there to bash, I think, but it went well. I gave one of the friends a Book of Mormon at the end and talked to him. The work is picking up and starting to come together so we are so excited.

Everyone there seems like they are doing so good.Thanks for the pictures, the kids all look so cute, they are getting so big already. Tyler and Margret seem to be right at home in Texas. When will Tyson and Dawn be moving to AZ again? When I get home I'll have to just travel around to all of the siblings new places that they are at! I'm glad Troy and Sam are liking their area and ward. Tell Troy that as Ward Mission Leader he is an appreciated valuable asset for the missionaries.

I keep you all in my prayers every day! I hope everything keeps going well. I love you all!
Elder Jolley

April 1, 2013

Dear Family!
   I miss you guys! Those pictures you sent seem like you guys are having so much fun, that is awesome. That Easter picture is such a short line up for a holiday; compare it to the one 10 years ago and you' think it was a different family. I guess it's Zuno that gives you guys the new look.

   John is already so much bigger than when I left! After 2 years he is going to have changed so much!



It's weird to think that it has already been a month, I'm 1/24th done. I've got alot of work to do this last 23rd!
   Me and Elder Hicken have been just working away. We have gotten alot of bible bashers the past few weeks so that has been fun. While we were at a door a guy even pulled his truck over and got out to tell the lady to not listen to us and that he was there to rebuke us. We sent him away and got a return appointment with the lady we had been talking to and another appointment with that guy tonight so i'm excited. The Lord really blesses you when you are doing his work, I've seen it so much. I wouldn't have known what to do with myself if this stuff happened before my mission but He really does fill your mouth with the right things to say and you don't even remember what you said afterwards.
   I'm glad everyone is doing well, and thank you for the pictures, they are appreciated! Love you all!

Elder Jolley

Contact information

If you would like to write or send packages to Elder Jolley here is his contact information:

Long Beach Mission office:
Elder Todd Henry Jolley
California Long Beach Mission
6500 E Antherton St
Long Beach, CA 90815

email: todd.jolley@myldsmail.net

March 25, 2013

Hello family!
How is everyone doing? I'm glad the mission Pres sent you that picture, i'm not too good at remembering to take pictures or even send them but this next week i'll try to get a few. Through-out the week i'll get a list of things to say and ask but I always forget it when I sit down at the computer! I'll have to start writing them down so I will remember.
  I was able to buy a bike from and elder that got his biking privileges taken away cause he crashed 4 times and broke his wrist. That wasn't a good idea to buy his, because that night the bike broke. The gear shifter on the bike tire broke off when I was going up a hill so he is taking it back since it was damaged from when he crashed, but i'm going to just buy a new one now.
  The work here is going good. I can't remember if I told you but me and my companion were brand new in the area so we have been able to get things rolling and we are teaching people. There are some interesting people here. One guy we contacted said he thought he was a prophet that was actually a reincarnated angel that is trying to become a god that can go to different dimensions with angels and devils and gods. He said alot more, but it is very interesting some of the people here. There are alot of good people though. People are alot more religious than I thought. I'm learning so much and it is great.
   My trainer Elder Hicken is awesome, he actually played college basketball for a year before coming out here in southern Virgina or someplace like that. I never would have guessed though. The ward is so good as well, they have such a missionary attitude it seems, I don't know if that's just because I only see the missionary side of things. But the ward mission leader, Bro Bontempo, is the best. It's funny too, everyone here surfs. Even if they say they don't, they still surf.
   I need to learn how to write better letter but until then if you guys want you can ask questions so I can tell you more about here. I love you all and pray about you every day.
Love,
Elder Jolley

First letter from California

Dear Family,
      This is cool to have 2 of us out (me in California and Julene serving in Russia), doesn't happen very often. It was fun to be able to talk with you guys when I was at the airport. The flight went well, fun first experience flying.
   When we landed we went to the mission office where we got our companions. My companion is actually white but was going Cambodian speaking in Long Beach. So that is neat, I've learned alot about that while being with him. We were white washed into the area so it was good trying to just get connections and start things rolling. They have and things are well. It is very diverse as well, we have taught all sorts of people like whites, blacks, Mexicans  Brazilians  Italians  Asians  and others I don't even know, I'm loving it. My comp (Elder Hicken) is a great trainer and we are working hard. It's only been 3 weeks but I feel like this is the only thing I know now. It's funny because since being out I've had dejavou so many times and so many people remind me of people I've know. The MTC was fun but this is defiantly better being in the field. We are also staying in a members home so that is very kind of them. The weather is so nice or maybe a little on the warm side from coming from snow. People will be out with jackets on saying how cold it is and i'm sweating. But it is nice. I'm in the Huntington Beach area and we go right up to the ocean, it is beautiful. But with even just St Patricks day it is defiantly going to be a party happening place so we will have to be careful and watch out for that. That is a cool story about Grandpa, missionary work doesn't only happen when your on a mission   That is too bad about Jayci, I'm glad she is okay though. Could you send me Jamie and Jayson's email? Well we've got to get going, but it is awesome out here and i'm loving it. This is going to be a great 2 years!
     love, Elder Jolley

Letter from Pres Bubert

Dear Brother & Sister Jolley,
   It was a pleasure for Sis Bubert and me to welcome your son, Elder Jolley, to the California Long Beach Mission. He arrived the 12th of March, bringing with him an enthusiasm that uplifts the entire mission. We welcomed your son with fresh cinnamon rolls at the Mission Office followed by an orientation and lunch. He was then assigned to his new companion/trainer, Elder Hicken. By 6:00 pm they, as a new companionship, were proselyting.

   Our greatest desire is that your son will have a successful and spiritual mission, one that will be a blessing eternally. Your encouragement, your prayers and communication with him are essential. It greatly strengthens your missionary when he receives encouragement from home. The means of communication will be by letters or e-mail. E-mail communication can be used only on P-days, which in our mission is on Monday.

   We are in close contact with your son and the zone leaders over him. If you ever have a need for urgent communication with him beyond your weekly exchange of letters or e-mail, please call Sister Bubert or myself. We will be most happy to assist you.

Very truly yours,
President Ted F. Bubert II
California Long Beach

Letter from the MTC

Hey everyone! Wednesday is our p-days, but the MTC is going so good! I'm loving it! I've only got a minute but things have been so busy, we have no free time but I like that. The few big things that have happened is that on the second day me and my companion were made zone leaders. SO many experiences have happened already from that. I'm glad for that opportunity. I have a lot to do today, sorry I can't write more. I love you all and hopefully i'll have more time next time!

Love,
Elder Jolley

Going into the MTC

Tues Feb 27th- Todd finished packing, 

 with some help from John

That evening Todd was set apart by Pres Lovelle (who was called to be our new Stake President just last week) and his councilor Pres Jensen, and Todd officially became Elder Jolley,

 ready to serve in the California Long Beach Mission!

That night we drove to Nephi, and spent the night at 

Grandma & Grandpa Anderson and Mike's house

Wed Feb 27, 2013- We drove to Provo. First we had a nice lunch at Chuck-A-Rama (They gave Todd a complimentary meal, since he was going into the MTC)

 Then we drove up by the Provo Temple to take our last pictures:

 A nice family from North Carolina was also there taking pictures with their missionary, and they offered to take the above picture of us. 

Come to find out, their son, Elder Jones, is also going to the California Long Beach Mission, speaking English, also going into the MTC today at 1:15, they are wearing the exact same shoes, they are both 18 and even their birthdays are only a week apart! 

 Can't wait to get Elder Jolley's first letter and find out if he and Elder Jones are together in the MTC :)

Then it was time- we drove Elder Jolley into the Missionary Training Center

 We pulled up at the curb, and some helpful Elders unloaded his luggage.

Elder Jolley handed over his cell phone (no, Jayci does not get to keep it :)

The last goodbyes 

And then Elder Jolley was off to his new life, his two year adventure!

We love you Elder Jolley and are so proud of you and your choice to serve the Lord!

Watch out California!!