Words of Inspiration

This week has been a rough one as a very close family friend has passed away, but our Elder is truly being blessed by the Lord with words of inspiration that are perfect for this sad time. It has been such a good reminder to love your families a little more, and to thank the Lord for our time together as eternal families.

Jake to Dad:
Catherine is doing well, she has had good experiences with prayer so far and we are teaching her about the Restoration tonight. It will be different because she doesnt have a religious background but so long as we follow the Spirit I know she is humble and receptive enough to be touched by our testimonies. Hannah is doing well also! She has a baptismal date for Sept 8th! Her Mom is so proud of her! She called us this week as well to tell us that she knows the Book of Mormon is true! They are both in good hands at the moment. I spoke to Elder Hutchings this morning as well and he told me Hugh is struggling a bit. Theyve been having difficulty getting a hold of him this week and he wasnt at Church. I started a bit of an emergency fast for him and Id really appreciate as many prayers for him (as well as Catherine and Hannah) as possible. There are many in Cardiff watching out for him but I know Satan will try HARD to keep that man from going to the Temple in a year. The news about Tom is a bit shocking as well, however, I know it will be ok, it will all be ok. Im trying to keep my mission scripture in mind. "Trust in the Lord with all thy heart". Im in his hands and I need to rely on him. I know that adversity and affliction are for our good and if we endure it well God will exalt us on high and we will triumph over all our foes. Pray and read the scriptures. Take the Sacrament and fully apply the Atonement and everything will work out. I thought I knew the Gospel was true before I left but I had no idea. But now im SURE. Ive seen some pretty low pits and some pretty dark places her in the UK and the Gospel shines that much better above it all. I love you, you are my hero, I am so proud to be your son and to carry you name on my badge. Stay strong!

Jake to Mom and John:

This week has been good. Hannah Spence, one of our investigators accepted a date for baptism this week and has eceived her answer that the Book of Mormon is true. The date is Sept 8, a little ways off but were very excited for her, I know her mom is just beaming with pride for her! Sadly I was on exchange to Yate when the invitation was extended but we are very hopeful to invite Catherine to be baptized at some point this week! The other missionaries in this area have an investigator with a date as well, August 11. Hopefully if Catherine can attend the service she will be more interested in being baptized as well!
Otherwise we are continuing to work. We go out and tract and talk to poeple we meet and we dont have any new investigators yet but we have a handful of promising potentials.
Ive really been enjoying my scripture reading this week! I read 40 pages of the BoM yesterday and I feel like Im learning alot! For one I think I finally understand the line of prophets in the Book of Mormon all the way from Lehi to Moroni. I figure Abinadi is very likely the son of Abinadom and the brother of Amaleki who went with the poeple of Zeniff and I read the line from Nephi to Moroni this week. Ive been in 3 Nephi and Im in Ether now and my list of Book of Mormon heroes is getting pretty cramped. I finally know the names of Christs disciples in the Americas! Id never paid much attention to that before but as Ive been following the names of individuals and where they go and what they do the Book of Mormon has become much more real. Zeezrom is one of my heroes because even though he was trying to contend with Alma and Amulek at first he was humbled and rp-ented and even went on a mission to the Zoramites after that! Talk about true conversion! I got to read about the 3 Nephites yesterday as well. If any one in the Book of Mormon is my hero its them! I sympathized with them when they were afraid to tell the Savior what they wanted. I want the same! But I know that im with Alma: its not the plan the Lord has for me. I also read about the Brother of Jared this morning and hes absolutely the example of faith! Faith so strong that Jesus couldnt hide from his sight. I want faith like that!
Over the last few weeks Ive built a personal relationship with the scriptures that Ive never had before. Every day before I read I pray for a powerful witness that the Book of Mormon is true. I cant honestly say Ive ever received a strong powerful witness, but as Ive been reading it has just come alive and Ive had small, meaningful experiences. Im confident that by the time Ive finished I will be able to testify with power and conviction that the Book of Mormon is true and that anyone can pray to know it.
Im starting to catch a glimpse of some of those mountains but im not afraid! I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for i KNOW that the Lord giveth NO commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they might accomplish the thing which he commandeth them. So long as I keep fasting and praying and doing (and im fasting and praying and doing as mush as i can) everything will be OK.
I love you!!!

John- The news about Bro Stone is tough, l but I can promise you well get to see him again if we work hard enough. Keep praying every night and reading your scriptures and things will be ok. I know that everything youve been learning in Church and at home since you were little is absolutely true. Heavanly Father loves us. He loves. I love you! I miss you a lot man! I know I wont be there to see you get 6" taller or to see you pass the sacrament for the first time but just know Im so proud of you, youre an awesome kid! Keep reading books man! Dont lose the habit like I did for a while! But dont stay up too late or youll always be tired! Dont get a new brother! Keep saving up and working for the things you want and theyll mean that much more to you when you get them! Take care of mom and help her out for me! You’ve only got 8 years until youre a missionary too and it goes by quick!

A Little Sunshine

Yes! Im starting to get to know the area better and I feel like were about ready to just dig in and work! I have yet to see any great or unusual effort on the part of the members, were still hoping and praying for just one referral in any given week. Maybe its about to change but for the most part it seems like the members and the Ward Council dont really understand their role in missionary work as of yet. Interestingly there is quite a large number of members here who are only 1st or 2nd generation members.
Yesterday was my 4 month mark!!!! Im 1/6th of the way through the mission!! My companion says the end of his mission isnt soon enough but I feel like im losing days at an accellerating pace! I dont want to leave!
My Scripture readins is awesome right now! I just started Deuteronomy in the OT and Im in 3 Nephi in the BoM. I cant wait to read throught the NT and D&C and of course the Pearl of Great Price. When Ive read the entire standard works I think Ill study by topiv for the rest of my mission, or something like that. I just really want to have read it all soon! And my comprehension (in the BoM at least) has been higher than ever!
Things are awesome and we should have a good two weeks of sunshine!

I love you!!

Happenings in England

Jake to Dad:
Lots to tell this week! I got my bike back! I got to eat Haggis and visit a site similar to Stonehenge (except within mission boundaries) I put my hands on the rocks and felt the 'energy'. We had a nice pagan lady for our guide! I missed a train stop and missed Zone Conference! I got absolutely soaked from pouring rain! Its abundantly clear that my coat is not as waterproof as advertised. I also had a good old fashioned American barbecue with an American member in the ward who works at the nearby air force base. Most interesting of all I discovered that the Bishop in Swindon knows you! Remember Elder Brown? While you were serving with Elder Hunt? (Who supposedly is a Stake President now) Youll be getting an email from him in the near future! He says you were a really zany guy and a hard worker. Im not so sure!
Otherwise things are going well! Im getting to know poeple. The area is nice and there are some cool people here. Right off the bat we have a small handful of good poeple to teach, there are a lot of really nice less active members here. We are teaching a less active family who is incredibly enthusiastic about working towards the temple (and feeding us) and their 18 yr old duaghter is going to start taking the missionary lessons tomorrow! We also have dinner with a Chinese girl and her mother that we met last week and came to Church on Sunday! President Rasmussen seems nice but its easy to see that hes fresh and maybe a little intimidated by his calling. The first thing he said to me after I introduce myself was "Come here, I havent had a chance to tell you I love you yet" And then he hugged me. I have my interview with him on friday. I cant wait! I do miss "The Og-Dog" though, he was something special. And now hes back in Arizona!
Ive been having a really good experience with the scriptures lately! Ive been reading the Book of Mormon and the Old Testament (I finished Jesus The Christ a while ago) and Im in the middle of Alma and I just started Numbers (Leviticus is incredibly tedious and Numbers is proving to be similar) As ive been reading though the scriptures have really taken on a new life. Im finding myself comprehending things on a much higher level, rather than simply remembering the story and the major poeple involved. This week I discovered the names of The Sons of Mosiah and one of the two unknown 'brethren' that made up Almas 'posse' I feel like now I grasp the story of the Book of Mormon on an entirely new level. I actually look forward to my personal study every morning and I know how the various books and people fit together! I find it interesting that about 400 years of Nephite history gets a bit glossed over! The sealed portion of the [plates I wonder? The last 3 months of studying and sharing the gospel have done nothing but strengthen both my testimony and knowledge of the Gospel. Just the other day we talked to a trained and educated minister with multiple degrees in theology and had a civil conversation. I thought it was cool that we could match his knowledge and carry an intelligent conversation on the Bible and its history and teachings with him.
Anyways, Im really enjoying it here, theres no place I would rather be! I love you!

We'll Keep A Welcome

Jake to LoraLynn:
Loralynnnnnnnn... The Welsh farewell song beeeautiful (We'll Keep A Welcome). Its one of the most special parts of wales. Its the only place in the mission where they sing a farewell to missionaries who go home from there. You should send stuff to the mission home. I know that as a result it will take a little longer for me to get things but its much safer that way especially if i were to get transferred again or something. Its much easier to get something from the mission home then from another area. And since when was it your birthday! I forgot! D: How old are you now anyways? How tall is John?
My week has been good so far. The first few days were pretty hard, way harder than leaving home. I feel a bit like a greenie all over again! Having a new companion and a new area at the same time is tough, but I can handle it. Weve already had a few funny experiences and me and Elder Callen are starting to open up just a little more. By this time next week i should be a lot more comfortable here. Ill need to get a map of Swindon first. I havent taken any pictures here yet but ive got it in mind!
I love you!


Jake to Dad:

This week has been getting progressively better, the first few days were really rough, having both a new area and a new companion I just felt like a brand new missionary again and it was kind of discouraging. Its getting better quickly though, I just have to keep working and learn the area and the poeple. Im looking forward to this transfer; the numbers here arent any better than in Cardiff but i really believe that if we work hard we can build up this area. On the upside, there arent as many hills here and there are lots of beautiful bike paths through the area. Good luck with the heat, in Swindon its been rapidly switching between heat and heavy rain! My waterproof stuff is really muddy since the bike im borrowing doesnt have mudguards and I need to get some bleach today for my shirts as well. Such is missionary work! I cant imagine whats its like in 3rd world countries! Im off to shop now! Ta-rah! I love you!


Since Elder Jake mentioned it, here's a link to the Welsh Farewell Song- We'll Keep A Welcome In The Hillsides:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98tM3ZGrAuc&feature=youtube_gdata_player