Samoa

Samoa

Thursday, December 24, 2015

Week 3

There wasn't a group email today but I did get a personal email so im gonna share pieces of that.
On a side note. We discovered an old friend of his from when he was about 4 was in his district today. I sent him a picture and he confirmed that it was elder Tu'ua but didn't make the connection before  Elder Tu'ua left for California last week. Small world. The elder on the Far left is Elder Tu'ua.
The MTC only gets better but the wait for Samoa only gets worse.... President Oakes said it rihgt in my setting apart blessing, because I've got a hankering for them Samoans! The language is picking up. I tend to speak like I'm a broken record but it's not a big deal because they can understand me... supposedly. :) Brownwyn found me at lunch today and I shared some of your love for her(some because your love will always be too much to explain) and made sure she had gotten a blessing. She really appreciated that! She did seem pretty shooken up... :/ Mommy Jones I love Jesus Christ and the more that I know Him the more that I realize how personally you have come to know Him. Thank you.... 

So My favorite part of the day is when I get to write in my journal during "Sacred time" (10:15-10:30). It's as if I'm writing a letter home every night and I mean that in two ways. obviously it feels as if I were writing to those who understand me best, YOU and the FAM. But also to those who are with me every step of the way. Here comes my weird way of thinking/living. I write for my children that " they may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins" -2nephi25:23,26. It's a powerful moment and I feel linked to them so simply!

I am so excited to talk to him tomorrow. He also sent some pictures.
 He says sitting cross legged is getting easier. Thank heaven He will have to do it a lot in Samoa. I'm glad he is gaining this skill. lol

Monday, December 21, 2015

6 weeks is tooo long!!!!!

Well first of all hello, I love you all so very much, and to Mommy Jones I'm sorry that it's after 11... :/ I'll answer all the questions I have first:
Mom;
Yes you do get a christmas call from me to you on Christmas from 3:15-3:45pm. Don't be late... I absolutely got your packages and letters! They're still giving me the giggles! I lovey you mommy ! :) WE have all been enjoying the cookies and there are still some left. Along with all of the christmas stuff you sent me! The chocolate covered almonds are HEAVENLY! :) I haven't heard about my Visa, I won't worry about it though because if it comes late than its planned sinced the foundation of the Earth. This isn't my mission, it's God's.

Thats so lame about the water problems. Wish I could do something to help but I love to picture the chaos it has been causing. It makes me smile to imagine how you're all reacting to it. ;) I love how much of a goof you are to me in everything you send and say. I love it! :) :) My district thinks I spent every moment of my life buttering you up with love or something. I just told them that you understand love and they did't know how to respond. 

I'm finding out tons about how weird I am compared to the rest of the young men of the church who are my age. I don't know celebrities, innapropriate movies, sports teams of any kind, rappers, hip hoppers, <--- That's probably not even a thing, etc... etc... Plus I worked at a pre-school, know tons of scriptures, and the list goes on... I LOVE IT!

Friday, December 11, 2015

Week One!

Bronwyn Younger-Howard and companion and Roberts comp Elder Kimball


Well I don't know what more to say than I'm loving this place! My companion is the perfect balance for me, my zone is 80% polys, and my district is ALWAYS together. Plus the food is great! 

So the language SUCKED to learn the first 5 or so days, but I've realized the blessing it has been to be humbled by the language. Every day starts out and I'm invigorated by the spirit as is promised for those who retire to bed and wake up early. Then breakfast only adds to that energy. But after breakfast is class... In ONLY Samoan... So of course I end up feeling like a lot great men from the book of Mormon, " in a gulf of endless misery and wo". I never realized how much it sucked to be like a toddler who's just learning to speak! Nothing is done quickly. Nothing is done Effectively. Nothing is simple besides hello (Talofa), goodbye (tofa soifua), and mommy or daddy (Soa Kimipale). It's rough to teach about the gospel using only three words.The first lesson of being a missionary is that I've got crazy respect for babies! ;) 

Anyways after that "gulf" is trodden through with all the will-power I can Muster (EVERY DAY), is a little break for lunch and then another 5 hour block of class... LOOOONNNGGGG. :) I think a lot about the promises throughout the scriptures while I'm in class because really I'm just scrounging around for any sign of hope. My life consists of this promise that I actually don't know the exact quote of but it still works, "after the trial of your faith (This is the part I don't know) your faith and capacity to serve will increase". Each day of my mission so far, which I assume will pattern the rest of it, has been examples of every promise I have ever heard, seen, or found within the scriptures. The Lord blessses me with success, usually in small degrees, because I'm doing all that I can. 

I love to be a missionary in the lords service! :) To all My boys out there; Don't miss out! You need to be here in Our glorious God's service! It is worth more than you can ever imagine.I'm in tears telling you this tender part of my testimony. I LOVE YOU GUYS! 

ps Be sure to give my mommy lots of love, and lots of opportunities to love. 

pps PLEASE DON'T give her ANY reason to worry about me. Her heart might break...again...

ppps To Ammon Davis: That means you have the precious opportunity to go ever to my house OFTEN and love her on my behalf. Much like I'm a representative of Jesus Christ, You can be a representative of me to my mommy for a while. ;)

With Love, Elder Sione! 
pppps mommy. I found Bronwyn like you told me to do. :)

Thursday, December 10, 2015

No letter this week

I waited anxiously all day for my email but nothing came. I miss Robert

Friday, December 4, 2015




Some last minute changing to the baggage due to a 40lb weight limit. In hind sight I would just have him buy his personal items like shampoo, detergent and mouth wash in Utah during the 4 hours he had to waste before entering the mtc. Hind sight is 20/20



I Got A Letter From Elder Jones ;) tears of joy I miss him so much

Mommy Jones!!! Please don't feel bad at all about the bags. I have everything I need here and feel more at home with these elders that have had a lot of the same confusions while trying to pack. The MTC is great! My companions name is Elder Kimball and what a blessing he is! Yes he is related to President Spencer W. Kimball! :) The miracle of this week is first that I have a companion, second The language is coming along. Slowly but it's making sense, and I'm intensely focused. No thoughts of family or friends have been distracting from my work! I wish I was in the field already because then I'd REALLY have some miracles to share with you but until then I'll be sure to get creative. ;)

So I read my setting apart blessing last night and found tons of errors. I was holding back giggles and loving images of my tired mommy wearily typing away late at night. I can still understand most of it but I would love if you would go back and edit some key words to make reading it easier and more spiritual. I love you for typing it up for me so quickly and definitely miss joking around with you. I was trying to explain you to my companions last night but had a hard time doing it. What they all got from that discussion is that I'll be married really young, not sure how but I'M FINE WITH THAT! 

So back to the language. I am working on it and haven't had too much time to study or put forth very much effort but as far as prayer and desires go I feel golden. However, I need each of you to pray for me. Anyone that can. Ask them to excersice their faith in my behalf and as Elder Bednar teaches pray for the gift of tongues. God gave me such a faith-filled family for a reason and now I'm calling upon that collective faith deservingly. I love you all very much and want you to know that you're in my heart always. The love that I have learned from each of you flows through me as I strive to teach, testify, and inspire others to come unto Christ. Please pray for me to have the gift of tongues and the gift of love.
 As always don't worry about me. I'm in the service of almighty God.
Your boy, Elder Jones