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
Monday, May 27, 2013
Monday, May 20, 2013
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
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
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
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
Love
Elder Jolley
Monday, May 6, 2013
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
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
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)