HallO! (That would be the way Freccas try to say "hello".) The time rolls like a Sumo Wrestler down a rather verticalized hill. (Have I used that analogy before?)
REGARDLESS! Big big news (again like the Sumo Wresteler)! Someone give me a drumroll...*faint drumroll is heard*...Thank you Ishmael.
I'M GETTING TRANSFERED!!!!
That's right ladies and gentlemen, Elder Jones is getting shipped off to another location within the DR! Grab your SmartPhones and look up San Cristobal, because THAT'S where I'm going to be! (Specifically, San Cristobal, the area being known as Madre Vieja [Old Mother] North.)
My companion, Elder Serraty, is actually from the DR, so I'll be spending a lot of time speaking only Spanish (which is good; I strive to reach perfection ;D ).
OH! And here's the kicker: I'll actually be the companion with the most time in the mission. Elder Serraty has a month and a half less than I (if that's even possible). SO WACKY. SO BIZZARE. SO BEAUTIFUL. ;D
Anyway, because of the aforementioned, we've spent a bit of time heading around to people I've taught/members of the ward, so as to bid farewell. It's hard, actually. I've drawn to close to this land, to this people. And now, I'm heading off for a new adventure. Though the location will change, Villa will always stay close to my heart. *Sad french violin plays in the background*
Actually, speaking of French, I've considered dedicating time to try to learn that language too. It only took me 6 months to become fluent in Spanish, so why not French? :D
I dunno, we'll see what goes down.
I'd a wonderful experience in Church the other day, when during a particularly reverent moment, The Lord brought to my notice the fruits of my labors here in Villa Altagracia, many of which were seated around me in the chapel. Pure joy and deep gratitude filled my heart, for I knew that my work here had been pleasing in the sight of The Lord. (This is not me bragging, just as a note. I'm 100% aware that everything I did was 1% me and 99% God. Actually, my percentage might be a little high. THE POINT REMAINS. :D )
When we meet again, I shall be in a mystical faraway land! (DK San Cristobal.)
Adios mis amigos!
-Elder Jones
Monday, March 9, 2015
Monday, March 2, 2015
29 and a Bit of Time! (...That was stupid...*beats head with a pineapple*)
Hola, mís bonitos amigos! Esto es chevere...solamente las personas que habla Español puede entenderme ahora! JAJA! GLORIOSO! (...Y quizás los que usan algo para traducirlo...NO IMPORTA!)
Alright, now to English for you Gringos up north! (Love you.)
This has been a week filled with experimentations! (Food, namely.) I would love to send a list of Dominican recipies up to you guys...actually, maybe I'll do that next week.
SO! What did we make? I'LL TELL YOU WHAT TELL YOU WHAAAAAATT!!!
1. Ham cooked in a Ketchup/Coke mixture (it makes a gorgeous BBQ Sauce, actually!
2. Rice, Beans, and meat. Nothing new there. WOO!
3. Empanadas! ...Super unhealthy, but SO GOOD! (*SOO GOOOOOD!!!*) I actually have a picture of that one!
4. Chicken Coleslaw Sandywiches! Just...beautiful...
5. ...Something else that I can't remember! YAY!!!
6. Oh, and Pizza on Sunday, like always! YEHAW!
We'd a pretty awesome moment while teaching an investigator named Fransisco. He has about 12 times in church (A BUCKETLOAD), and is pretty receptive to what we teach. When we were teaching him the other day, he recounted a story to us about the first time he went to church. He told us of how immediatly afterwards, he randomly started to feel sick, and actually ended up vomiting a few times. The following day, however, when he woke up, he realized that he'd completly lost the desire to drink coffee (noting that before this, he'd been a heavy coffee drinker). The wackiest part, is that we actually haden't even touched the Word of Wisdom yet! (The LDS Health Code for those of you unfamiliar with the name.) WHAT DID I JUST WITNESS?! WAS THAT AN ENSIGN MOMENT RIGHT BEFORE ME?!
Also, Dominican Independance day was last Friday. It was cool to see the celebrations, but difficult, because we couldn't really get any work done! :D
Paz y amor, mis amigos!
-Elder Jones
Alright, now to English for you Gringos up north! (Love you.)
This has been a week filled with experimentations! (Food, namely.) I would love to send a list of Dominican recipies up to you guys...actually, maybe I'll do that next week.
SO! What did we make? I'LL TELL YOU WHAT TELL YOU WHAAAAAATT!!!
1. Ham cooked in a Ketchup/Coke mixture (it makes a gorgeous BBQ Sauce, actually!
2. Rice, Beans, and meat. Nothing new there. WOO!
3. Empanadas! ...Super unhealthy, but SO GOOD! (*SOO GOOOOOD!!!*) I actually have a picture of that one!
4. Chicken Coleslaw Sandywiches! Just...beautiful...
5. ...Something else that I can't remember! YAY!!!
6. Oh, and Pizza on Sunday, like always! YEHAW!
We'd a pretty awesome moment while teaching an investigator named Fransisco. He has about 12 times in church (A BUCKETLOAD), and is pretty receptive to what we teach. When we were teaching him the other day, he recounted a story to us about the first time he went to church. He told us of how immediatly afterwards, he randomly started to feel sick, and actually ended up vomiting a few times. The following day, however, when he woke up, he realized that he'd completly lost the desire to drink coffee (noting that before this, he'd been a heavy coffee drinker). The wackiest part, is that we actually haden't even touched the Word of Wisdom yet! (The LDS Health Code for those of you unfamiliar with the name.) WHAT DID I JUST WITNESS?! WAS THAT AN ENSIGN MOMENT RIGHT BEFORE ME?!
Also, Dominican Independance day was last Friday. It was cool to see the celebrations, but difficult, because we couldn't really get any work done! :D
Paz y amor, mis amigos!
-Elder Jones
Monday, February 23, 2015
28 Slices of Pizza in the pan...take one out, pass it around...now everyone has sauce on their hands.
SUPA QUICK! LIKE A SUMO GOBBLING DOWN A ROLL OF SUSHI! (I miss sumo wrestling with Brady and Squid...)
I have become victim to one of the greatest additions known to man. Like a demonic wildfire, it spreads without restraints, consuming every person it touches. I speak, obviously, of P90X3. :D
Fitness! It's becoming an obsession of mine! ...Which is actually a very god thing, as I've (shamefully) never really been in to fitness! BUT NOW I LOVE IT.
This last...ummm....yesterday was rather glorious! We had 10 investigators attend church, which (I believe) ties with the most people I've ever seen in church! This was only made possible because of a member of the church (nicknamed "Chulo" [meaning more or less, "cool, dope, or pimp"]) gave a family a ride in his truck to church. Likewise, this same family is filled with interest in our message, so we'll see what the future brings!
MORE PIZZA! PIZZA SUNDAY IS MY NEWEST TRADITION! WOO!
..I honestly can't remember anything else at this point. This week's kind of been a blur. :D
I shall have more next week! Until then, enjoy a beautiful picture of a homemade pizza!
Paz y amor!
-Elder Jones
I have become victim to one of the greatest additions known to man. Like a demonic wildfire, it spreads without restraints, consuming every person it touches. I speak, obviously, of P90X3. :D
Fitness! It's becoming an obsession of mine! ...Which is actually a very god thing, as I've (shamefully) never really been in to fitness! BUT NOW I LOVE IT.
This last...ummm....yesterday was rather glorious! We had 10 investigators attend church, which (I believe) ties with the most people I've ever seen in church! This was only made possible because of a member of the church (nicknamed "Chulo" [meaning more or less, "cool, dope, or pimp"]) gave a family a ride in his truck to church. Likewise, this same family is filled with interest in our message, so we'll see what the future brings!
MORE PIZZA! PIZZA SUNDAY IS MY NEWEST TRADITION! WOO!
..I honestly can't remember anything else at this point. This week's kind of been a blur. :D
I shall have more next week! Until then, enjoy a beautiful picture of a homemade pizza!
Paz y amor!
-Elder Jones
 |
| Isn't that just the most beautiful pizza you've ever seen? And its CHEAP too! The most expensive part would have to be the cheese. (its like buying gold. Seriously.) |
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| Rice with green pigeon peas and a sausage thing that doesn't really have a name in English! DOMINICAN, BABY! |
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| Our Chapel! IT'S FUN SIZE! |
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| My face when I realize it's P-Day! |
Monday, February 16, 2015
27 Gifts of Valentine's Day!
And of course, by 27, I mean NONE. *Cries in a corner and eats Yogurt*
Mmm...yogurt.
So, this last Valentine's Day, I was eagerly expecting a beautiful package from my girlfriend, when I realized rather sourly that I don't have one! ;)
But seriously, I actually didn't even realize that it was Valentine's Day until someone pointed it out. Our here, it's just sort of a normal day!
Speaking of not even realizing something until later, I've progressed with my Spanish to the point where at times I'll be speaking in Spanish, and not realize until afterwards that I was speaking in the Spanish tongue. THEY'RE CALLED MIRACLES, PEOPLE! AND I ONLY HAVE SIX FREAKING MONTHS (and three days) WITH THIS LANGUAGE!!! WOOOO!!!!
I've also received another blessing, and that is the dedication to exersize! Before the mission, I was always kind of indifferent and rather unmotivated to do such. In the mission, however, I've been blessed with a stronger resolve to do such. GLORIOUS!
One thing I'm still trying to hammer away at is my Time Management skills. They suck. We left our house a bit later than we should have to head to a Zone Meeting...one thing led to another...we got there an hour late...and President and Hermana Nuckols had randomly decided to visit our Zone that day. ...Yeah. It was a bit awkward. :D
YOUR WEEKLY CHALLENGE IS HERE! I desire to hear from all of some fantastic new recepies. I'm collecting down here, and my list grows. BUT I NEED MORE. I'm like an addict to recepies. ;D
Paz y amor! -Elder Jones
And here's a photo of a beautiful tie burning! (It's a missionary tradition for the 6th Month mark.)
Mmm...yogurt.
So, this last Valentine's Day, I was eagerly expecting a beautiful package from my girlfriend, when I realized rather sourly that I don't have one! ;)
But seriously, I actually didn't even realize that it was Valentine's Day until someone pointed it out. Our here, it's just sort of a normal day!
Speaking of not even realizing something until later, I've progressed with my Spanish to the point where at times I'll be speaking in Spanish, and not realize until afterwards that I was speaking in the Spanish tongue. THEY'RE CALLED MIRACLES, PEOPLE! AND I ONLY HAVE SIX FREAKING MONTHS (and three days) WITH THIS LANGUAGE!!! WOOOO!!!!
I've also received another blessing, and that is the dedication to exersize! Before the mission, I was always kind of indifferent and rather unmotivated to do such. In the mission, however, I've been blessed with a stronger resolve to do such. GLORIOUS!
One thing I'm still trying to hammer away at is my Time Management skills. They suck. We left our house a bit later than we should have to head to a Zone Meeting...one thing led to another...we got there an hour late...and President and Hermana Nuckols had randomly decided to visit our Zone that day. ...Yeah. It was a bit awkward. :D
YOUR WEEKLY CHALLENGE IS HERE! I desire to hear from all of some fantastic new recepies. I'm collecting down here, and my list grows. BUT I NEED MORE. I'm like an addict to recepies. ;D
Paz y amor! -Elder Jones
And here's a photo of a beautiful tie burning! (It's a missionary tradition for the 6th Month mark.)
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| And I see fire...inside the mountain...or maybe the tie..." |
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| Celebrating my "Bump" Day with Dominican Hamburgers/Soda!...Soda doesn't like me much... |
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| HOMEMADE PIZZA! WHO DOESN'T LOVE ME NOW?1 ;D |
Monday, February 9, 2015
Subject: 1, 2, Buckle My Shoe; 3, 4, Shut The Front Door; ... 25, 26, This Song Makes Me Sick...
WEI WEI WEI THOU BEINGS OF THE WORLD BEYOND! How goeth the things of normality?
Hugs not Drugs! The problem is, as missionaries, we can't give hugs (torture for a huggy person like me), so the latter will have to do! ;D But in all seriousness, we were out contacting, when I said, "hey, we've never contacted that house over there!" So we went...and there was a Hooka machine out. It wasn't on, so we continued the contact, but after a time, I noted that the air still had a scent to it. From that point on, I devoted my attention to breathing out hard, so as to (hopefully) clear an air pocket. When we left, however, Elder Sullivan told me that he'd a large headache, and that things didn't quite make 100% sense in his head. ...Needless to say, the next time we passed by to teach, we made sure the machine wasn't anywhere around before deciding whether to teach or not.
We've a raise and a fall within the same week! IT'S A TWO FOR ONE SALE! There's a woman named Fior we've been teaching for a while who made the commitment to come to church next Sunday, and likewise promised to pray with regards to the truthfulness of our message. GLORIOUS! On the other end of the spectrum, we'd a family who was progressing insanely insanely insanely well...and we couldn't find them for the longest while. When I called to see where they were, I was told that they decided to join a different church, and they weren't going to be continuing with us. ...It...it hurt a little bit. I felt like I'd been dumped. Ouch. ...Ow...
One thing that's been fascinating to see is truly how much I've changed over the course of my mission. I look back to my first day (by means of a journal, muhahaha), and I can easily note the difference. It's wacky, really! The Lord is indeed refining me in these years of service. I'll get off the plane next year, and all the world will be like, "woah, who's this Angel?" And I'll say, "Angel is a good friend of mine. I prefer to be called...*pause for effect*...Elder Jones." And then a shockwave of awesomeness will ripple across the Fresno Airport. ;D
Quote of the week!
"There is a misconception about righteou people and wicked people with regards to life. Being rightous does not guarentee complete immunity to the difficulties of life, and nor does being wicked prevent such people from good fortune. The true difference, however, is that for the followers of God, all things work out for their benifit, be they soft or rought. Wickedness, however, only recives a growing tower of condemnation, regardless if their fortunes be good or ill."
And now, please insert you favorite credit music.
...Doo wee doo...
Paz afuera! (The literal translation of "Peace Out!")
-Elder Jones
Hugs not Drugs! The problem is, as missionaries, we can't give hugs (torture for a huggy person like me), so the latter will have to do! ;D But in all seriousness, we were out contacting, when I said, "hey, we've never contacted that house over there!" So we went...and there was a Hooka machine out. It wasn't on, so we continued the contact, but after a time, I noted that the air still had a scent to it. From that point on, I devoted my attention to breathing out hard, so as to (hopefully) clear an air pocket. When we left, however, Elder Sullivan told me that he'd a large headache, and that things didn't quite make 100% sense in his head. ...Needless to say, the next time we passed by to teach, we made sure the machine wasn't anywhere around before deciding whether to teach or not.
We've a raise and a fall within the same week! IT'S A TWO FOR ONE SALE! There's a woman named Fior we've been teaching for a while who made the commitment to come to church next Sunday, and likewise promised to pray with regards to the truthfulness of our message. GLORIOUS! On the other end of the spectrum, we'd a family who was progressing insanely insanely insanely well...and we couldn't find them for the longest while. When I called to see where they were, I was told that they decided to join a different church, and they weren't going to be continuing with us. ...It...it hurt a little bit. I felt like I'd been dumped. Ouch. ...Ow...
One thing that's been fascinating to see is truly how much I've changed over the course of my mission. I look back to my first day (by means of a journal, muhahaha), and I can easily note the difference. It's wacky, really! The Lord is indeed refining me in these years of service. I'll get off the plane next year, and all the world will be like, "woah, who's this Angel?" And I'll say, "Angel is a good friend of mine. I prefer to be called...*pause for effect*...Elder Jones." And then a shockwave of awesomeness will ripple across the Fresno Airport. ;D
Quote of the week!
"There is a misconception about righteou people and wicked people with regards to life. Being rightous does not guarentee complete immunity to the difficulties of life, and nor does being wicked prevent such people from good fortune. The true difference, however, is that for the followers of God, all things work out for their benifit, be they soft or rought. Wickedness, however, only recives a growing tower of condemnation, regardless if their fortunes be good or ill."
And now, please insert you favorite credit music.
...Doo wee doo...
Paz afuera! (The literal translation of "Peace Out!")
-Elder Jones
Monday, February 2, 2015
Pictures
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| Me new Comp! - Elder Sullivan |
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| A PACKAGE IN THE MAKING! Muhahahaha... |
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| An Agenda of Awesomeness. Aka, The Bearded Book |
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| A parting gift from Elder Thibault. *Sobs* |
"Hey, Patrick. You know what's funnier than 24?" "What?" "25." *Giggles*
Okay nerds and nerdlings! It's time for your weekly dosage of awesomeness. It'll be a short and sweet one, but there you go.
NEW COMPANION! Elder Sullivan is his name, and nerdcraft is his game! (He's a level 58 Nerd. *Bows in respect*) He's a great missionary, and is the possessor of several life habits which I desire to learn. DOPE!
DELUGE! We'd two days of strait rain (not curly rain, mind you). Just the little thing Elder Sullivan needed to get adjusted to Villa Altagracia! ;D
Anyway, because of the rain, we did something I've never done before: we wore our Work Crocs to work. AND THEY WORKED.
For those of you who are wondering what Dominican food looks like, here's one of the staples: ...Well, it's the attachment. VIEW IT WITH PRIDE.
Time to bounce! *Grabs pogo stick* Awesome.
Paz! -Elder Jones
NEW COMPANION! Elder Sullivan is his name, and nerdcraft is his game! (He's a level 58 Nerd. *Bows in respect*) He's a great missionary, and is the possessor of several life habits which I desire to learn. DOPE!
DELUGE! We'd two days of strait rain (not curly rain, mind you). Just the little thing Elder Sullivan needed to get adjusted to Villa Altagracia! ;D
Anyway, because of the rain, we did something I've never done before: we wore our Work Crocs to work. AND THEY WORKED.
For those of you who are wondering what Dominican food looks like, here's one of the staples: ...Well, it's the attachment. VIEW IT WITH PRIDE.
Time to bounce! *Grabs pogo stick* Awesome.
Paz! -Elder Jones
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| SUPER DOMINICAN LUNCH!! Fried Plantains with Salami and RICE! |
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