Wei! I don't have a lot of time, and not much happened this week, so peace! Remember to eat your vegetables and laugh often!
Here's a comic to delight your fancies!
Monday, December 29, 2014
Thursday, December 25, 2014
Christmas week
No email this week because Elder MK got to Skype with the fam on Christmas!!
So great to hear/see him!! He spoke great Spanish, we were shocked to hear how fast he can speak it. Way to go MK! We all love you!
So great to hear/see him!! He spoke great Spanish, we were shocked to hear how fast he can speak it. Way to go MK! We all love you!
Monday, December 15, 2014
Picture-mania!
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| Elder MKzing Jones, Elder Thibault, and groupie. :) |
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| Holy Guacamole! This is serious stuff!! |
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| Missionaries need some serious "selfie" practice. Elder Thibault |
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| What?! Not every mission is a tropical paradise?? |
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| Members of our ward. That pic was taken atop an empty building in La Cuchilla! |
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| They're in the Zone... |
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| Santo Domingo Temple and the Nativity |
Seventeen is A Teenage Dream! ...For Some, Anyway!
Grrreetings, Chespians! (Only members of C2H2 will understand such a name.)
Oh, how the days are like hours and the hours are like minutes! Many of you have heard the Missionary Cliché that "the time just flies by" or something like that (it took everything in my power to refrain from writing that in Spanish). The truth of the matter is, it does. This is due of course in part to the Mortal's concept of temporality, in which case the Present takes up a large and difinitive form. However, when applied to an external Four-Dimensional examination, the current moment in which we exist is literally nothing, and by such virtually impossible to pinpoint (like trying to skewer a gnat with a pin from 127 feet away in the middle of a hurricane). When the mind has less reference points to hold on to (or rather, more definitive recent memories to shape the past), or perception of temporality slows, hence causing the present to balloon in size. However, when more unique marks of passing temporality are applied, the conciousness becomes more streamlined, thus causing time to appear to have moved (or be moving) faster. Man, I am feeling GREAT today!
This last week has been a bucketload of traveling (insomuch that all of our funds dried up...we had to start living off of Personal Money for a few days [it's all good though; our reembursal is going to be HUGE!]). We'd a Christmas Conference this past Tuesday, in which half of the missionaries of this mission gathered together for a day of glory and celebration. While conversing with some of the Spanish Speaking Missionaries, I realized a bit of a humorsome fact: I can indeed speak/understand spanish extremly well. The problem is, I'm not yet fluent in Dominican. ;D
And then there were some random District/Zone meetings mixed in there...ah! But this last Friday, we'd the opportunity to take an investigating family to Santo Domingo for a Christmas Concert (that sounds weird in English). The music itself was beautiful, and the Spirit was even more so!
Ah, and at the aforementioned event, President Nuckols (the President of our Mission) told Elder Thibault and me that there's still a lack of Elders...so he and I are going to remain solo in Villa for six more weeks. Not too bad though, as Elder Thibault and I get along really well, and the house is more peaceful as a Two-Man. ...Except in the mornings, where we excersize like mad. :D
AH! And most recently! Earlier today, we popped down to Santo Domingo (just an hour and a half away) to see the Doctor Regan (the Doctor for the missionaries) with regards to an Ingrown Toenail that was trying to sneak into my fortress. All was resolved extremly quickly, so we walked around the Temple a bit, then ate at Pizza Hut...which was frankly bizzare. I kept having to remind myself I was in the DR.
Oh, and a new agenda! WITH A COVER DESIGNED BY YOURS TRUELY.
Feliz Nuevo Semana!
-Elder Jones
Oh, how the days are like hours and the hours are like minutes! Many of you have heard the Missionary Cliché that "the time just flies by" or something like that (it took everything in my power to refrain from writing that in Spanish). The truth of the matter is, it does. This is due of course in part to the Mortal's concept of temporality, in which case the Present takes up a large and difinitive form. However, when applied to an external Four-Dimensional examination, the current moment in which we exist is literally nothing, and by such virtually impossible to pinpoint (like trying to skewer a gnat with a pin from 127 feet away in the middle of a hurricane). When the mind has less reference points to hold on to (or rather, more definitive recent memories to shape the past), or perception of temporality slows, hence causing the present to balloon in size. However, when more unique marks of passing temporality are applied, the conciousness becomes more streamlined, thus causing time to appear to have moved (or be moving) faster. Man, I am feeling GREAT today!
This last week has been a bucketload of traveling (insomuch that all of our funds dried up...we had to start living off of Personal Money for a few days [it's all good though; our reembursal is going to be HUGE!]). We'd a Christmas Conference this past Tuesday, in which half of the missionaries of this mission gathered together for a day of glory and celebration. While conversing with some of the Spanish Speaking Missionaries, I realized a bit of a humorsome fact: I can indeed speak/understand spanish extremly well. The problem is, I'm not yet fluent in Dominican. ;D
And then there were some random District/Zone meetings mixed in there...ah! But this last Friday, we'd the opportunity to take an investigating family to Santo Domingo for a Christmas Concert (that sounds weird in English). The music itself was beautiful, and the Spirit was even more so!
Ah, and at the aforementioned event, President Nuckols (the President of our Mission) told Elder Thibault and me that there's still a lack of Elders...so he and I are going to remain solo in Villa for six more weeks. Not too bad though, as Elder Thibault and I get along really well, and the house is more peaceful as a Two-Man. ...Except in the mornings, where we excersize like mad. :D
AH! And most recently! Earlier today, we popped down to Santo Domingo (just an hour and a half away) to see the Doctor Regan (the Doctor for the missionaries) with regards to an Ingrown Toenail that was trying to sneak into my fortress. All was resolved extremly quickly, so we walked around the Temple a bit, then ate at Pizza Hut...which was frankly bizzare. I kept having to remind myself I was in the DR.
Oh, and a new agenda! WITH A COVER DESIGNED BY YOURS TRUELY.
Feliz Nuevo Semana!
-Elder Jones
Monday, December 8, 2014
16! Which, According to The Age Old Song, Rhymes With "Kitchen"!
"And there shall be days in which the words of the Madmen shall descend once more to the Valleys, and there shall be great rejoicing mingled with nerdy references."
-Author Unknown
Another week tucked away! And a bit of a painful one at that, I might add! But, before we go into the deep emotional stories, let us look across some of the smaller, but still equally beautiful ones.
We made guacamole. It was good. Enserio (seriously).
An old Jentzsch Family Tradition was brought to the DR, and shared gloriously with my companion. For those of you who are unfamiliar with such, it is known as "St. Nick's Day". I'd deeply explain the emotional roots behind it...but I'm a missionary, so time is a sauce I left back home. :D
Also, I'd send a picture...but my computer refuses to do such. Huh.
AND NOW, TO THE PAIN! (Princess Bride Reference)
I've continued with my impossible quest to shed all traces of fat from this noodley body of mine, and because of such have endured great trials and tribulation (known in the common tongue as "soreness"). But hey, when I get back, I'm gonna look GREAT! *Dorky Double-Fist-Pump, moonwalks away*
There is once thing that should be avoided at all costs in the DR, known by the deceivingly delicious name: Pan de Fruta (be not deceived, as it is nither bread nor fruit). So apparently, if you're not Dominican, this weird nut thing can play weird tricks on your stomach. Namely, (extremly squemish people, close your eyes now) you will lose fluid from one or both ends. Elder Thibault was up half the night vomiting, whereas I stuck it lucky and only had to endure a couple painful bouts with Diarea. The worst part is, the flavor of the demon nut thing wasn't even that good. Really bland, actually. ...Disappointing.
And now, I would like to slip in a quick note: Mom, don't worry, I'm fine.
I got hit by a motorcycle.
We were heading to an appointment, when we crossed a road. There were two motors heading towards us, the closer of the aforementioned moving to pass behind us. The latter, however, decided to try to go in front of us (the direction we were walking). Unconcerned, we steped back to let him pass...but I suppose he realized how foolish his current direction was, for as we steped back, he moved to go behind us. Still unconcerned, Elder Thibault and I froze, waiting for him to make a decision and go. However, the driver was not the most desisive of chaps, and simply swerved back and forth, trying to pick a side...until he slammed into me.
Elder Thibault grabbed onto my arm, preventing me from falling (which would have made matters worse), and the driver immediate began apologizing profusely, telling us that his brakes weren't working (looking back, it's slightly funny, as I made a fairly effective brake). So, once my head stopped spinning, I did the most logical thing anyone just hit by a speeding motor would do.
I told him that we were Missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and that we'd love to share our message with him some time. :D
I felt kind of bad for him, as he kept freaking the crap out, and we just stood there laughing at how funny of a story this was going to be. We gave him a Pass-Along Card with our names and number on it, and told him that if he ever wanted to hear more about our message, we'd love to share with him.
Man, I wonder what that guy was thinking afterwards...
Anyway, so I walked away basically unscratched, just slightly dizzy from the shock of what just happened, and with a small bruise. According to Elder Thibault, just before it hit me, I jumped a bit, which somehow took away most of the impact. ...I don't remember actually doing anything, but hey! It worked! SECRET NINJA POWERS!
(Mom, stop worrying, I'm fine.)
In other news, we're working to establish a Branch! If you remeber the Miracle that happened the first time we got trapped in La Cuchilla, the same guy that helped us out is similarly now helping us (meaning the Ward) in this regard! (Freaking double pronged miracle!)
Paz y Buena Voluntad!
-Elder Jones
Another week tucked away! And a bit of a painful one at that, I might add! But, before we go into the deep emotional stories, let us look across some of the smaller, but still equally beautiful ones.
We made guacamole. It was good. Enserio (seriously).
An old Jentzsch Family Tradition was brought to the DR, and shared gloriously with my companion. For those of you who are unfamiliar with such, it is known as "St. Nick's Day". I'd deeply explain the emotional roots behind it...but I'm a missionary, so time is a sauce I left back home. :D
Also, I'd send a picture...but my computer refuses to do such. Huh.
AND NOW, TO THE PAIN! (Princess Bride Reference)
I've continued with my impossible quest to shed all traces of fat from this noodley body of mine, and because of such have endured great trials and tribulation (known in the common tongue as "soreness"). But hey, when I get back, I'm gonna look GREAT! *Dorky Double-Fist-Pump, moonwalks away*
There is once thing that should be avoided at all costs in the DR, known by the deceivingly delicious name: Pan de Fruta (be not deceived, as it is nither bread nor fruit). So apparently, if you're not Dominican, this weird nut thing can play weird tricks on your stomach. Namely, (extremly squemish people, close your eyes now) you will lose fluid from one or both ends. Elder Thibault was up half the night vomiting, whereas I stuck it lucky and only had to endure a couple painful bouts with Diarea. The worst part is, the flavor of the demon nut thing wasn't even that good. Really bland, actually. ...Disappointing.
And now, I would like to slip in a quick note: Mom, don't worry, I'm fine.
I got hit by a motorcycle.
We were heading to an appointment, when we crossed a road. There were two motors heading towards us, the closer of the aforementioned moving to pass behind us. The latter, however, decided to try to go in front of us (the direction we were walking). Unconcerned, we steped back to let him pass...but I suppose he realized how foolish his current direction was, for as we steped back, he moved to go behind us. Still unconcerned, Elder Thibault and I froze, waiting for him to make a decision and go. However, the driver was not the most desisive of chaps, and simply swerved back and forth, trying to pick a side...until he slammed into me.
Elder Thibault grabbed onto my arm, preventing me from falling (which would have made matters worse), and the driver immediate began apologizing profusely, telling us that his brakes weren't working (looking back, it's slightly funny, as I made a fairly effective brake). So, once my head stopped spinning, I did the most logical thing anyone just hit by a speeding motor would do.
I told him that we were Missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and that we'd love to share our message with him some time. :D
I felt kind of bad for him, as he kept freaking the crap out, and we just stood there laughing at how funny of a story this was going to be. We gave him a Pass-Along Card with our names and number on it, and told him that if he ever wanted to hear more about our message, we'd love to share with him.
Man, I wonder what that guy was thinking afterwards...
Anyway, so I walked away basically unscratched, just slightly dizzy from the shock of what just happened, and with a small bruise. According to Elder Thibault, just before it hit me, I jumped a bit, which somehow took away most of the impact. ...I don't remember actually doing anything, but hey! It worked! SECRET NINJA POWERS!
(Mom, stop worrying, I'm fine.)
In other news, we're working to establish a Branch! If you remeber the Miracle that happened the first time we got trapped in La Cuchilla, the same guy that helped us out is similarly now helping us (meaning the Ward) in this regard! (Freaking double pronged miracle!)
Paz y Buena Voluntad!
-Elder Jones
Monday, December 1, 2014
A few more pictures
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| Selfie!! Elder MKzing Jones and Elder Thibault |
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| Yoda and Captain Moroni... Perfect team! |
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| Clothesline in a tropical sunset. :) |
Numero 15! Much Like The New Year We're About To Break Into!
Wei wei wei, my fellow Nerdlings!
I am currently in agonizing pain! Yes, it is breathtakingly true! I've recently contracted an incredibly painful disease, which makes it difficult to walk. Though known by different names across the world, in English, it is called: The Side-Effects of Excersizing Effectivly. ;P About two days ago, I went against the pleadings of the chubs on my body, and accompanied Elder Thibault in a round of "Insanity" workouts, which were all conviniently packed together in a DVD. Now, normally I've a mixed bag of emotions with regards to Workout Videos (frankly, I've a really hard time not laughing when I watch them), but I will say one thing. They WORK. And hurt. Yeah, so here I am, two days later, with sore thighs/calves. It's a good thing my job doesn't involve walking all day, right? It's a good thing that Villa Altagracia isn't just covered in hills, right?
Note the sarcasm dripping off those last two sentences. ;D
WE PRESS FORWARD, HOWEVER! Haha!
Let's see...stories of glories...hmm...(stalling)...what to write...
Thanksgiving! My first Thanksgiving away from my family/country! However, Elder Thibault and I are no mere mortal men (we're missionaries, foo!), so utilizing our awesome dorky powers, we crafted a beautiful Thanksgiving lunch!
Most of what you see it made from scratch, with the exception of the chips, chicken, and sparkling apple cider (which we verified with the cashier about fifty times to make sure it was alcohol-free). ...Okay, so the Brownies were only about halfway homemade (we bought the mix and added peanut butter), but hey, we MADE it at HOME. That should count, right?
And the Salsa...my gravy boat...SO FLIPPING GOOD! They don't have salsa in this country (or anything even remotely spicy), so I decided to defy the system and make my own! FIGHT THE SYSTEM! (That one's for you, Elder Valenzuela!)
Speaking of food, one of the most confusing things about the DR is its prime restaurant chain. They're called Pica Pollo and are catagorically chinese food...as long as your definition of "chinese" is fried-chicken and fries. ...I still don't understand. They're all chinese themed, run by chinese people, and claim to have chinese food...but are really more like KFC's with paper lanterns and random fried rice!
We'd also a beautiful lesson with the mother of a family, who shows extreme interest in our message. She's already recognized the Spirit testifying that our message is true, and agreed to, with her husband, pray to know for certain if it's true. ...I can't really put how glorious the lesson was into words! Just beautiful...
And a comic to spice things up! (Like my Salsa!)
Paz mis amigos!
-Elder Jones
I am currently in agonizing pain! Yes, it is breathtakingly true! I've recently contracted an incredibly painful disease, which makes it difficult to walk. Though known by different names across the world, in English, it is called: The Side-Effects of Excersizing Effectivly. ;P About two days ago, I went against the pleadings of the chubs on my body, and accompanied Elder Thibault in a round of "Insanity" workouts, which were all conviniently packed together in a DVD. Now, normally I've a mixed bag of emotions with regards to Workout Videos (frankly, I've a really hard time not laughing when I watch them), but I will say one thing. They WORK. And hurt. Yeah, so here I am, two days later, with sore thighs/calves. It's a good thing my job doesn't involve walking all day, right? It's a good thing that Villa Altagracia isn't just covered in hills, right?
Note the sarcasm dripping off those last two sentences. ;D
WE PRESS FORWARD, HOWEVER! Haha!
Let's see...stories of glories...hmm...(stalling)...what to write...
Thanksgiving! My first Thanksgiving away from my family/country! However, Elder Thibault and I are no mere mortal men (we're missionaries, foo!), so utilizing our awesome dorky powers, we crafted a beautiful Thanksgiving lunch!
Speaking of food, one of the most confusing things about the DR is its prime restaurant chain. They're called Pica Pollo and are catagorically chinese food...as long as your definition of "chinese" is fried-chicken and fries. ...I still don't understand. They're all chinese themed, run by chinese people, and claim to have chinese food...but are really more like KFC's with paper lanterns and random fried rice!
We'd also a beautiful lesson with the mother of a family, who shows extreme interest in our message. She's already recognized the Spirit testifying that our message is true, and agreed to, with her husband, pray to know for certain if it's true. ...I can't really put how glorious the lesson was into words! Just beautiful...
And a comic to spice things up! (Like my Salsa!)
Paz mis amigos!
-Elder Jones
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