73rd email: October 25th, 2010

Hey.š Things are good.š Olga's getting baptised on the 6th of November.š We were able to getting over the obstacles pretty smoothly.š yaayyy olga!
mom...i love that the first thing on your list is about your hair...you girl...haha... yeah I've got a crappy little one you can use.
and... clothes... right now we're still in just fall weather clothes...shoes and sometimes I wear boots... scarves hats and gloves and jackets... no winter coats yet.š Just bring warm clothes...like probably just winter clothes... Intourist is across the street from my apartment...literally two seconds away.š My address in Lenina 170 Ç (g) kvartira 4.š Just give me the info about when you'll be here and what train and stuff and we'll meet you at the station.š I'm in a 3-some, so we might just go on splits while you're here (let my companions go out and work and we'll go see the people that we need to see before we go)š we used to have a baptism planned for saturday night, but we moved it up.š There will most likely be an activity at the branch that night.š My release date is the 23 of november...I think we're supposed to be in Dnepr on monday 22? I'm not sure.š I bet the 22nd will be like the last interviews and dinner and stuff, and then the next day early morning we leave....well they leave... my cell phone number is 0952912760... i don't know what the country code or any of that stuff is... you'll have to figure that out.š As for stuff to bring... I want to buy garms in kiev... aparantly they are way cheap...like 40 cents a piece or something... i do need some new ones... ewww sick gross :) I know the Nielsen's like english toffee...I was thinking maybe something University of Utah something for the members?š They'd love it... Lots of like taco and fajita and ranch seasoning...everyone loves that and that's cheap...peanut butter... that ring for alyona... something for alyona's parents too maybe? they've got a cute house...something for their home maybe... And something for Arina...alyonas little sister that is like my little sister... she's 8... maybe like a Utah stuffed bear or something?š She loves all her stuffed animals... something small for my comps... i'll be sending hoggan a package in january anyway for her barf-day... We've got a little boy that's getting baptised on saturday that is the smartest most talented little guy you've ever seen... zhenya... he paints like a 20 year old... maybe a little art kit for him ( he also has a little bro thats like 5)š I don't know... i feel like i'm making a christmas list... this can be my christmas list... just these people aren't used to quality, good, things... when in fact they deserve so much better.š Ukraine is just a tough place... living condition wise... it's be nice to surprise them with something nice..š I'm giving piano books and clothes and other stuff i have away already... I'm trying to figure out what to do with my guitar... i'll probably sell it to a missionary... i'm selling my coat to sister smith... uhhh...about the airport... i dunno.. decide yourselves... i don't really care either way this makes me naustious thinking about it. ugh.š I 1000% don't want to come home and i'd get an extension if it were'nt for stupid school in January.š I love you and I'm way siked to see you... but life is just better here.š ugh... yay still a month left!!š
love you...stay strong...
love cectpa jones

send pics of halloween! we're not allowed to dress up this year :(

Ukraine is game to you?!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzLtF_PxbYw

hahahaaa

UPDATED!

I updated this blog. It is a Christmas miracle. Mom, you can stop getting on my case.:)

She's almost home!!

72nd email: October 18th, 2010

momomomomoma - 

haylooo... olga's back on date which is good...all is well with her.  She's awesome.  I'm so happy for her... we're taking things a little slower this time around, and I feel a lot better about it. 
The work is rolling.  I'm in a threesome again.  Sister Antoch, a really quiet, sweet sister from right outside of kiev, is serving with us now.  I'm pretty sure it's so we had a smooth transition when I leave.  I've been here forever and Hoggan could totally handle it... but it'll be a bit easier with Antoch.  She speaks 0 english, so it's good practice for Hoggan.  AND she cooks... we now have 2 personal chefs...oh we are lucky.
Alyona turns 17 this week...ooora!!  She invited us to her birthday...cutie pie... yeah i got that ring and it fits me fine...thanks so much!  Get her a couple sizes bigger... her ring that she wears on her ring finger fits my pointer finger...but I have lerpy fingers.  And get her like a girl style one in english...the one you sent me was man style...but I guess I'm kinda like that...haha... jk...
I don't know what else to write.  we're not having pday today, and after this we're off to baburka (on the right side of the river) for a few lessons.  should be great.  There was a massive concert this week for "The day of the city" in Zap... right across the street from our house...it was crazy!  they closed down the roads and our marshrutka's couldn't make it home, so we just walked through all the drunk people... It was insane.
There are a lot of ups in serving with natives... and better yet domestic ones.  Like opening nuts.  Everybody gives us nuts... bags and bags and bags of walnuts.... and we have no idea how to open them or what to do with them... i thought maybe they don't know either, and that's why they give them too us..."How many americans does it take to open a walnut?" more than two obviously...we wandered all over the renok asking for nutcrackers, or whatever, to open these things, but we couldn't find anything.  Then Antoch comes waltzing in and I see her eating nuts.  hmmm... haha... she taught us that you just need to but a knife in the little hole at the end, twist, then break the half a walnut with your hand... it takes like TWO seconds with no tools... man... i was ready to buy a fell fledged nutcracker soldier guy that is for decoration.... hehe... so we've got a lot of walnuts now...
I don't really know what you can get members... something americanish and small and fun for them and cheap... maybe like... i dunnoo... we'll brainstorm...maybe something churchy...i dunno.. 
love you all!  have a wonderfullll week...stay strong and be good. 
love cectpa kassarellastoopidchil 

ps. guess what.  cectpa hoggan used to work in a warehouse where they had to wear masks every day because of the dust... she wrote home about the air quality in Zap and how bad it is... and guess what her old boss sent her... a huge warehouse package of face masks.  haha... some people get peanut butter and oreos... Hoggan gets face masks... :)  the best thing is that it was an $83 postage... hahahaha

Kathy coming home!

Kathy will be home on November 30th, and speaking in church on December 12th at 10:50 at our building. Just thought I'd let you know.

Heidi

71st email: October 11th, 2010

Hey mama - 

sorry i don't have a ton of time... Olga called me during internet time...here's my letter to pres.

Dear President Nielsen - 

Alyona gathered up the courage and asked her father about baptism, but he said the same thing.  He said that this next year (she's almost 17) will kind-of be a testing ground.  If she really wants to be baptized, she'll stay active.  I appreciate her fathers concern.  At least we know he's not against it.  I shared a story of my friend and the exact same thing happened to her.  When she was 16, she wanted to badly to be baptized, but her father didn't give her permission and said to wait until she was 18.  By the time she was 18, she had completely fallen away and was in no state to be baptized, and to this day is having a hard time.  We'll continue to prepare her for baptism and hope that things turn around.

I just talked to Olga like 30 seconds ago.  Some major problems arised, that I thought were already taken care of, at our lesson right before her interview.  I tried to convince her to wait and do the interview after we figured this out, but she wanted to just talk to Elder Wilcox about it.  Of course the same thing happened with Elder Wilcox, and we have postponed her baptism.  She feels like we're reminding her of her very difficult past...something that she has already suffered for and repented of infront of a Priest.  She doesn't understand why it's a problem.  I tried to explain that this is something that we ask everyone before baptism, and she has the chance to have this guilt completely taken away before a representative of Christ.  She said that it already was taken away, and we're just bringing it back into her life.  She doesn't want to meet with you tomorrow and talk about it, and doesn't want to be baptised just yet.  She said that she's not completely saying no, but she needs a couple days to figure things out.  I feel terrible that this is how it worked out, and I hope she can find the humilty to understand.  She said that'd she's take a trip up to Dnepr when she's ready.  

Anya is gone.  She had an arguement with one of our members and then invited herself over to his house with a pile full of questions about our church.  That man can't see God, that there's not just one church, about baptisms for the dead...all topics that we've addressed and overcome already.  The member wasn't able to give her the answers she wanted.  We stopped by last night, and answered every one of these concerns precisely, that it was impossible to misunderstand.  I felt so guided by the spirit and I've never spoken cleaner russian or recalled verses like I did last night.  Sister Hoggan, was firm and serious with her.  She needed to understand that there are answers...and that we are missionaries, not toys to be played with...and that this church has authority.  She wanted to meet with us today to ask us more questions, but we said no.  She really is just not ready to recieve them and we need to move on.  We told her to keep searching and praying and to not let these silly questions disrupt her progression.  I hope she'll come back with an attitute of learning and humility. 

So our investigators are hitting road blocks, and we've got our work cut out for us to help them through.  We do have some others that we're focusing on, so the work moves on!  The mission is tough sometimes.  My confidence is shaken sometimes.  I can't find answers sometimes.  But this is when my faith can bridge over those gaps.  That's when I'm humbly forced to my knees and allow the Savior do His work...and then we see the miracles.  I trust Him.
Thanks for your support and love.  Thanks for keeping me in Zaporozhia...I know I needed to be with these people!

Love Cectpa Jones  

70th email: October 4th, 2010

Hey mama - 

I'm so siked about conference.  I was thinking about it all yesterday and about who's talking and what not.  For conference, we get all together, watch the first session, take a borcshe break, and then watch the second...and the same thing the next day.  I can't wait...good to hear that we got a little shout out! 
Things are good...the work is good...we're busy which is good.  Olga's truckin along for baptism in a couple weeks and she's solid...you will absolutely LOVE her...omigoodness she taught us how to stand on our heads this week...she is 60...but probably like 12 inside... my type-a woman :)
And yeah, we're still bummed about Alyona, but everything will work out... she hasn't had the chance to talk to her dad yet, but she said she will.  We talked about Esther with her and her courage to get what needed to be done, done.  Like Alyona, she had this guy holding her back from saving her life and the lives of others.  She knew what she needed to do, pondered and fasted about it with the help of her family and friends, and planned out how she was going to approach him.  She buttered him up with some feasts, and then firmly let the king know not just what she wanted, but what she needed.  She needed the King to reverse the decree that Haman made...for the sake of her and her people.  Alyona needs her Dad to reverse his decision that he made...for the sake of her and her family.  We encouraged her to think up a plan, think about why she wants to be baptised, and then wait for the right moment to approach him with it.  We fasted together on Sunday, and are constantly praying so that she can have the courage, and her father can have the humility, do get that decree reversed.  I see Alyona, and I see an entire family tree of members of the church with her at the root.  I see her marrying a returned missionary and raising her kids as active, strong, saints. I see her getting married in our Kiev temple... ugh... it'll all work out.
I don't need anything else...I'll just have you bring stuff to give to members and investigators and companions and stuff. Not alot.  Think of something fun to give to our members!  I've promised a couple people Skippy and taco seasonings and ranch and stuff like that.  I wanted to get a CTR ring for Alyona for her birthday...it's in a few weeks...can you get her a cute one? In english is fine, they think it's cool... :) Just a cute, girl style, little one...she likes blue... 
I still think Johnny should come. 
BYU!  4to takoy!  I can't stay at home by meself next year!  The U is a WONDERful school...and really fun... don't get lost in our inbalanced family of BYU kids. 
I don't know what else to say...life is good... I'm in a wonderful companionship and am as happpy as a clam in zap...funny things happen every day...i talk in my sleep in russian... it's getting chilly again which i love... and Christ lives and loves me and guides my every step...if I allow it.  Love you all!  Stay strong and be good... give roy a smooch and get him ready for crazy tyotya kjones to get home and tackle him with love...haha...just joking...kind-of...
love cectpa rella-cchillle

p.s. we're teaching an armenian guy that hardly speaks russian...and knows know english...but he reads his aremenian BofM that we gave him and comes to church...it's a whole new experience teaching him...but i love it!  

psps.. how would you feel if I bought my own dog when I get home? haha... but I'm kinda serious...3's a crowd? :)

69th email: September 27th, 2010

Privet semya moya!


Cray-say week!  So right off the bat.  Alyona's dad said no to baptism.  We were so blasted close.  Her mom was all for it, everything was in place...then her dad decides that she can get baptised when she's 18. He doesn't see the need for her to get baptized in this church is all.  We haven't lost hope though.  Her mother is still supporting her and agreed to speak with him again this weekend (they went out of town together).  We encouraged Alyona to go and talk to her father herself and let him know how important this is to her.  She agreed.  So her baptism won't be this weekend, but we're sure it will be in the near future...we're praying to Alyona's father's heart will be softened.
Anya is getting lazy on her journey towards baptism.  She's not showing up to meetings and not coming to church and smoking again.  We're not sure how to approach this, because it's already the fourth time this has happened with her.  I want to love her and support her no matter what situation she is in...but we can't keep on trailing and running after someone who just doesn't do what it takes to be consistent.  I talked to our branch president about it (he knows her well) and he said to not be too concerned...that she will come back in due time.  It's frustrating for us.
Olga is on date for baptism!  She's an old investigator that I had almost lost hope on.  She just did not take the church seriously, however she was actively coming to church, living by the word of wisdom, and she's read the Book of Mormon 3 times.  About a month ago, I found her, a member, and another investigator having a "French Lesson" during the second hour of church.  They assured me it was a Book-of-Mormon-based language lesson, but there was not one Book of Mormon in the room.  I was upset, and asked them to either come to Sunday School, or have their lesson else where.  Olga was a bit offended and left and I didn't see her for a while, but I felt like I did the right thing.  She came up to me on Sunday and apologized for what holding their language lesson on Sunday.  She said she was offended at first, but she realized it was wrong.  I apologized for getting upset, and we agreed to meet that night.  We came ready to address all of her specific hold-ups about our church that night, but after we went over just a couple things, things that had earlier caused hour long disputes, she said, "Well, it looks like I just didn't know that!"  The spirit flooded the room, and we gave her the commitment to be baptised on the 16th of October...and she accepted!!  I just about dropped to the floor in shock.  She said that she's been thinking about baptism for the past two months (just so happens to be the past two months that we haven't been meeting with her) and she feels ready...after almost a year and a half of investigating the church!  I'm so happy for her.  It will take some work to get her there...but she can do it :)


ok so I'm lazy and just copied and pasted my letter to president about our investigators..that's why it's all seriuos like with normal-ish punctuation... haha.. but yeah that's the scoop.  Cool about Olga huh!  She's the 60 year old that I talked about a while back.  Her and I have kindred spirits or whatever you call it...she's the one that I always race down the stairs with and we slid home on the icy streets together in winter and grasped arms and ran through all the puddles in spring.  She is SO hilarious...and ready,.. finally... to get baptised...goes to show you  don't give up on anyone!


We just went paintballing in an old abandoned house in the middle of the forest, in the middle of Khortitsa Island... I know we're hard core...seriuosly though.  haha... I'm in pain!  I ate it way bad while we were playing a capture the flag type game...but I got the flag!  hahaa... super fun.  It's Ostler's birthday today and we thought we'd celebrate...and It's like some underground company too...like no signs, no advertising...it's just by word of mouth kind of thing... haha.  it was so fun. 
So.  We were trying to track down a less active member on day and we see this shirtless man one floor up.  He's like, "Come up here!"  We were like heck no. Then he decided to come down to us and at the beggining he was just wonding if we saw his friend on the street.  Sorry, hadn't seen him.  Then he was all interested in what we were doing.  So we explained to him we're missionaries and we trying to find those that are ready to accept to restored gospel...he just thought the was the greatest thing.  haha.  So he was like..., "Girls.  Listen.  There's this woman the lives 2 floors up and she is READY to accept you. Let's go." Well alright...refferal by our drunk friend.  So we knocked on her door, and he hid behind the corner, listening intently, perioudically popping his head out.  Yeah, she wasn't interested.  So, we got ready to go, but he's like, "Wait. Girls.  5th floor...there's another lady."  We were already amused, so we just followed our drunk Vova around to all his neighboors that were READY for the gospel, as he hid around the corner, seeing how things went.  soo funny.  We finally asked him if he would be interested and he was like, "Yeah! come on in!" So we went in to his apartment, but stayed in the front hall and didn't shut the door... we started teaching him and he was so funny...he went to go get his bible, and tripped way bad over a cord...but he got right back up and looked down at the cord all confused...oh man... basically we took down his address and we'll have the elders stop by him...such a funny guy... :)


Mom you got a jeep!  I can't believe it.. you've got a dang good husband...i'll have to take it out for a ride when i get home...everythings good... the work is great and there's a lot going on... I'm loving it! Love you all a lot a lot and I don't really miss you, but I'll be very happy to see you and show you Ukraine... haha... don't take that the wrong way... we'll have such a blast.. by the way.. a member offered me her dacha for you to stay in...you'd have your own little house with gas and water a little outside the city...it's really pretty there and we've done a ton of work there too... i dunno, if you're looking to save money.  Everyone can't believe that you'll be staying in a hotel...I've got like 5 other people that offerred you a place...i understand that a hotel might be more convienent, but thing about it...might be worth it to save a few hriven....are you planning on having a working cell phone?  Highly highly recommend it... i dunno if you can set up a world plan for a couple days, but it'd be really really nice to have....


that's all!  love you tak mnogo and give your students a privet from Ukraine! 


Love Cectpa KJones


ps.  tell the next russian you see... vosmee tvoya popa b rykakh i idi syouda!... :)  they'll laugh. 

Picture!

68th email: September 20th, 2010

Allo!

Thur goes another week!  Crazay is all I have to say.  First off, don't worry so much about the trip and just leaving me alone for like 4 days...thats dumb!  We'll still work, but just take you along with us!  It'll be just the same, we'll just sleep across the street from eachother...haha.. don't worry about that.  You love missionary work in Ukraine :) It'll probably be snowy...well maybe... so take warm clothes.  We'll talk about that when it gets closer...UGH!  ewww sick gross. 
Anya feel off the face of the planet for a week.  We stopped by on Saturday and she didn't open the door.  Cectpa Hoggan left her a cute note saying that she was speaking in church the next day and would love for her to come.  And who shows up the next day?  Anichka.  We were so excited to see her and find out what was up with her.  She was like, I 90% decided that I wasn't going to come to church anymore and that I wasn't Christian (they use that word very freely...it's like one who believes and goes to church and the whole shabang... not saying that she decided that she didn't believe in Christ) But then she said that she read that note and decided to come and see Hoggan speak.  She came, and I could tell and that she was major in the dumps.  One quick thing about Anya.  She is hilarious during Sunday School.  She is way into debate and argueing and like crime shows and law and stuff, so EVERY gospel principles class becomes like a high school debate between everyone and Anya.  She loves to fire things up.  One of the major things that bugs Anya is the the principle of Eternal Families and why we even need to seal our families.  She comes from a tough family life, so I understand why the white and fluffy, "Families can be together forever!" strikes her sore spot.  Well of course that was our topic in sunday school... right when she's tender and was humbled enough to come back.  Sunday School was a nightmare... and she just about walked out and left after it was over, saying, that's it...I'm not coming back until i'm ready for this...until I'm ripe!  I followed her out in the hall and talked to her a little bit.  I asked her what the heart of her question is...what answer does she want?  Because when the Saducees and Pharisees set out these kind of questions, they were trying to disprove Christ's teachings, and I don't think that's what she was trying to do.  She just wanted to understand all the ways of God...we all do... but with our little human brains, it's physically impossible.  We shared Isaiah 55 with her that says that Gods ways and Gods thought are higher than ours... we physically can't fathom everything...but the portion He gives us is enough to fulfill that which is expedient unto Him.  She calmed down, agreed to meet with us that night, we shared some more scriptures about the principle of eternity, and she was ok.  I can relate though.  We want what we want and we want it now.  If only that were God's plan, right?   It's awesome how Heavenly Father helps His missionaries out in our trying to help His investigators.  Basically, Anya's back. :) And we love her more that ever! 
Alyona is still on track... her baptism in in less than 2 weeks!  She has permission from mama, but not from dad.  oh i just get the willies thinking about it!  I feel like the entire mission has mounted up to this :)  That definitely sounds like a line from a movie.
This week, guess what we did?  So Heidi McSweeny sent me a bunch of KoolAid packets and you sent me a bunch of Crystal Light stuff (ps, did you know you sent me tea?  haha...I'll share that with some investigators, don't worry) but I was like....hey... we've got a free day tommorrow,...it's going to be wonderful, warm weather...how about a FREE LEMONADE STAND!!!  Best idea ever.  We hauled our kitchen table across the prospekt and set it up on Festivalnee Square...we made a huge sign that said "free lemonade!" "American recipe!" "4 flavors!"  And then we set out all our brochures and english invites and served free koolaid all day.  It was seriously, the most effective contacting activity I've ever done... as we were pouring, we were full on just preaching about the restored gospel of Christ, or about the Plan of Salvation, or about the Book of Mormon... there were full on crowds around us, enjoying fress, cold 100% natural american koolaid, and thumbing through brochures and reading verses in the Book of Mormon, and listening intently as we taught, and poured and joked and invited people to meet with us. I felt like Alma, or Amulek, or King Benjamin...so cool.   People just lit up when we wanted to offer them something for free, no catches, just free.  That just doesn't happen here.  We will definitely do it again...probabaly next time with hot chocolate :)  
Life is so so good... We're working hard and the Lord is blessing us with success!  Thanks for all you support and prayers and the examples that you set before I ventured over here...it's those memories of the people I love, doing good things, that make me want to change for the better.  Love you guys...stay strong and do good. 
Love Cectpa KJones

ps.  I died about Roy!  Hi SAYDEE...hehe...oooo i love 'im.

psps..  cover youssss!!!

67th email: September 13th, 2010

MOM - 
privet mamochka.
Your kinda tripping me out with all these plans...ugh.  But here is what I was thinking....
When you guys get to Dnepro, me and Hoggan will either meet you there (if we get permission) or the elders can just put you on a bus and we'll meet you in Zap.  I'm thinking that we'll just plan really well for those next couple days and basically just take you around doing missionary work and meeting all the people that you'll want to meet and seeing all the places and everything.  Book a room at Intourist for sure.  I laughed so hard and how blasted negative that blurb was about Zap and Sevastopol!  There are amazing cities and so beautiful and you'll love them!  Yeah, my hair falls out cause of the water here, but meh.  Actually, we were in another area of the city this week that's out in the countryside and the air is clean, and I got all light headed...i felt there was too much oxygen...haha... I hope I don't have smoker lungs... ANYWAYS... Intourist...it's right across the street from my apartment and in the center of everything.  It's on Festivalnaya Square, which is 3 stops from the branch.  If you want, we can even stay at members apartments..they offerred...but I was thinking you'd probably want our own place.  Don't worry about places to eat...and know that like my own 5 fingers...and members and investigators will feed us.  We'll probably have an activity on Saturday night to welcome you guys and so the members can do all their ukrainian stuff..it's hilarious...and it's also mine and Ostlers last Saturday.  We will have both served here forever!  I was thinking of going to Kiev after Zap?  Is our plane leaving from Kiev or Dnepr?  If Kiev, then ponyatno, we''ll need to save Kiev for last, but if Dnepr, i think we could go to kiev, and then Crimea for the end?  I dunno... figure it out and I'll do whatever.  Most important is that we spend some time in Zap and the temple...and Crimea...haha..  In Sevastopol, the hotel on Naximova would be best...it's called Sevastopol.  It's on the same square as the branch and right on the sea.  In Kiev, if we end up needing to stay the night, book a room and the temple hotel...cool huh!  Right on the temple grounds is a hotel and a ward building...so that hotel would definitely be best... we can also go in and see the city too which is amazing!
And thats all for now... i trust you guys...plan away...
One thing.  So like in April, my camera fell in the Dnepr.  Don't ask me how. haha..  but I saved it!  and then discover that it didn't work.  I took it to this creepy old man to do remont, and he kind half-fixed it.  So I was just going around with a half fixed camera.  Then I lent half-fixed camera to a member that was going to Kiev for the temple event.  She didn't have a camera and wanted to document everything...understandable... however I got it back and half-fixed camera was now fully busted camera.  So I was like, whatever...I'll just mooch off other peoples pictures.  I went like a month without anything, and then passed by a camera shop... and bought one.  I'm sorry kinda... but I figured I still have quite a bit of the mission left, and especially at this time, I don't want to miss out on taking pictures and remembering these things..  I just bought the cheapest cannon they had, so I could still use all my old cannon equipment from my old camera...So theres a big chunk out of my personal fund...but i figured pictures are the best souveniers...I'm taking good care of it!  
uhhh...great week!  We have a hilarious inverstigator, Iolanta, that is such a free spirit... she chases after cats and pidgeons, but doesn't touch them cause she's allergic...hahah... she's sounds crazy, but she's just solid and way cool.  She plays the piano SO well...and i am REJOICING because she frees me of my pianist duty.  
I loved this week.  We just have little America in our apartment. Sister Smith is the best cook ever and made us all this american food...even creme brulee...who does that???  We loved it :) I found out she was coming to us 2 days before...like always...haha...what an adventure. 
I love you all!!!! have a wonderful week!  

Love Cectpa KJONEZ!  holla. 

ps.  send me PICTURES of the hike!!!  Lizzie, write me a really long letter about it!!! and send me more pics in general :)  I wanna see Hannah play!  ps.  My companion things Uncle Jim is goooood lookin'  haha... then i showed her the cheerleading christmas eve pic... hehe...

66th email: September 6th, 2010

Hey mama. 

 

Man.  Dad and Lizzie are harrrrrd core.  They're probably summitting right now!  What an adventure.  Things are good here.  Haha.  Get this.  Sister Smith...remember her?  The gall bladderless greeny that I was supposed to get in April?  Welp.  She came. And guess who her trainer is?  Me.  Weird, right?  I have TWO little American greenies and I'm about to pee my plantaloons!  She didn't go back to the MTC a third time, just came straight here...and she's all healthy and ready to go.  Our apartment is a disaster-zone, but I'm sure we'll find order...Cectpa Hoggan likes to clean.  Cectpa Smitty likes to cook.  And I have no attributes of a quality wife.  haha.  my poor husband.  But yeah... that was a shock.  President said that he doesn't think anyone's ever double trained before...ye-hah...roughin new ground!  haha. 

The weather is stupendous.  Breezy, fally, gorgeous weather!  I'm hoping it stays like this for a while...it makes it easier to work.  And sleep.   :)  We heard all about the temple from members on Sunday.  They put together a nice slideshow for all of us that didn't see it.  There was a way sweet cultural presentation the night before that looked SO cool.  I wish we could have gone!  But oh well.  I guess the most important thing is that we now have a dedicated temple in our country.  The members that went and saw it were just glowing.  They loved the Prophet and how light-hearted was...always cracking jokes, that man :)  I'm so excited for General Conference.  I can't wait to hear what he has to tell us. 

As for coming to Ukraine...yeah it's coming up huh.  I'll try to plan a rough outline of what we'll do this week and tell you next week.  I've invited both Alyona and Anya to come with us to the temple to do baptisms for the dead.  OH it'll be so fun with them.  You'll get a kick out of Anya and just fall in love with Alyona.  I think we'll probably go to Crimea first, then Kiev, then end up in Zap...good thing I've only served in 2 cities!  It's gonna be so so so fun..   bring warm clothes!  Ukraine in winter!  haha..it actually won't be that intense.

It's so weird serving with Americans.  And speaking english...haha.  Cectpa Smitty is a cute "Utah" girl from Morgan...wherever that is...and Hoggan is the funniest person I've ever met!  We had this HUGE bucket of waterballons that we filled up for waterballon volleyball for sports that day and were just TEMPTING me all through personal study.  So I'm just like...that's it...and take one and throw it at Cectpa Hoggan...it didn't pop. dangit.  but this led to harding throwing, bigger pelts, and wetter appliances....haha.. we had a blow out War!  so funny... but yeah...she's like that :) i love her.  Sister Smitty's making us some pasta parinara marinoscittio pompopello mamamia today...after an entire week of borshe and hard boiled eggs, we're happy!  Did I tell you we have a cook?  haha.. Valya...  she's a member and we pay her 50 hriven to make us delicious borshe and sandwich thingys and whatever else we order.  It's funny, cause she only cooked for the elders, but then she found out that the sisters also are kitchen handicapped.  haha.. 

love you all super muchos gracias... GOOD WORK DAD AND EIZZIL!!!!

Pics and letters and african marakas are expected.

:() )

 

Love Cectpa Jones

65th email: August 30th, 2010

Thanks for the email mama-cakes!  Things are good.  We spent half the week in Dnepr which was fun/tiring.  We had a 3 day conference about our new program for teaching.  I love it.  It's just more focused and helps us be better teachers.  We were asked to take what we learned back to our districts and teach them so we can start implementing everything.  We've already seen success.  I wish we started this at the beginning of my mission!  
Anya is down to 3 cigarrettes a day...that's down 17 in 2 weeks...she's hardcore!  We''re getting excited for her baptism, but we'll really need the Lord's help these next couple days when she quits completely.  Alyona is still so so so good.  She's really excited to be baptised...but the moment of truth is this week when we ask her dad to sign the form giving her permission to be baptised.  She's almost 17 and starting University tomorrow...I hope he realizes that she's a big girl and knows what she's doing.  She's just SO cool dangit!  Johnny, did you know I found your wife?  I'm not even joking...you should write her a letter :)  
My companion is still hilarious and hard-working...combination for success... she's a worse cook than me which is so funny.  Valya, the lady that cooks for the elders, came up to me yesterday, and asked if we needed her to cook for us...I about dropped to the floor laughing :) We're worse than elders!  But Cectpa Hoggan does clean like a mad woman... and I make pitas.  We are quite the team :)  Yeah...I made pitas!  homemade pitas!  I helped Cectpa Nielsen make them at conference, and they we so easy and delicious.  Yes, maybe I have about 7 burn marks from the oven, but the taste good.  Now we've got to find something to go in them....ideas?   haha..
Africa tomorrow!!!!! man.  I'm happy* for you.  I'm happy* you get to climb the mountain I've been itching to climb.  I'm happy* you're going on the adventure of a lifetime.  I'm happy* you get to see elephants.  Haha...I'm kind teasin.  I really am excited for you guys... send me lots of pictures and stuff.  You'll own.  It'll be fun.  Nat, you and I will go climb it all ghetto style with your crazy hook-ups (who has hook-ups named Simba and Zanzibar in Africa?  you do...hahah) have a blast and be safe!
OH.  So we have a dedicated temple in UKRAINE!! So great!  We went all the way to Dnepr to watch the broadcast, but in the middle of the first session (we were the second session) it stopped working.  a-buh.  That crappy thing is that you can't record a temple dedication.  so we'll never see it.  We were all super bummed... we've been waiting and waiting for this!  But I guess the most important thing is that we have a dedicated, house of the Lord in Kiev.  I will be there soon enough!  Yesterday, rain just poured in Zap...like flooded streets pouring...  We've had months and months of dryness without rain!  My companion pointed out that it was like Heavenly Father just pouring down the blessing of heaven, without room enough to recieve...how appropriate :())
I'm so happy for Lindsay and her new baby girl!  What's her name?  That's difficult that she has the same thing Jonas has...good thing this life is just a spectacle in the eternities of our lives.  I know God trusts 2 of his choicest sons and daughters in the arms of Lindsay and her husband.  What patient and loving parents!  Send them my love and congratulations...I'm sure they'll be remembered in all of our prayers.
That's is for this week... love you and miss you...when are you moving to Ukraine?  cause I'm not planning on coming home... :)  We can have a huge family reunion here...Kozak style :)  haha... i'm not joking though. 

love cectpa kjones 

* insert JEALOUS!

64th email- August 23rd, 2010

Hey semya moya - 

good to hear from you as always...we just came from a boat trip across the Dnepr...I'm all windified!  haha...it was way fun.  i can't believe Jeff thought I used a translator.  I'm offended.  haha.  Cveta needed to get some documents done on the internet, so i had some free time to write him...i write SO slow in russian script...script?  is that what you say?  but anyways....
Alyona is doing very well...she was on the sea this week with her family, but we touched base with her every day.  She's amazing!  The date is set for October 2nd...she wanted a little time to talk with her papa.  We put Anya on date this week!  She is hilarious old investigator anya that reminds me of Cruella Deville :)  She came back to church after a kind and unexpected visit from the Relief Society sisters...aren't they great?  She's doing so well and really knows that it's her time to quit smoking and accept baptism.  So yeah, that's our issue...she still smokes.  She's meeting with us every day, and lessening how much she smokes a little bit by a little bit.  It's good that we have a goal to work towards...an end in sight.  So September 11th is her date and we pray that we can help her make it.  We need some major Godly support....but we'll get it :)  She's ALSO awesome.  
We had a baptism on Saturday!  Larissa...the most humble, pure ladies that I've ever met.  I was talking to her before her baptism and she just looked at me with tears in her eyes, and said..."This is my fresh start!  My whole life I've been nothing special, but this is my start to my new life!"  Oh I love her.  She has two little boys, zhenya and dima that bring a spice and at the same time, innocence, to our rowdy primary.  What a miracle. 
Zaporozhia is exploding with miracles...i seriously collapse down in bed at night and just am in awe at the day that Heavenly Father has given us.  I love it.  It's still way hard...but it's overwhelming worth it.  
Our temple is finally being dedicated on Sunday!  We are all going to Dnepr for the broadcast and I'm already itching with excitement...finally finally finally.... THIS is why the work is exploding.  I hope you'll have a chance to watch the broadcast!
I'm heading to Dnepr this week for a Leadership Conference for 3 days.  We have this new teaching program that we'll be trained on that missionaries, starting in January, will be taught in the MTC.  We're preparing for it and implimenting it right away and we already see the fruits of it.  It'll be kinda weird cause it's just the elders from all throughout the mission in leadership positions and then me.  It'll be like how it was in Bulgaria, but with alot more testosterone.  haha... it'll be funny.  I still don't like leaving Zap though.  
MY COMPANERA IS THE FUNNIEST PERSON EVER.  I seriously don't know how God can make people so funny.  We were in the middle of nightly planning and I was talking to someone on the phone, and i look over at her... she's was looking at our address stamp and turning it over in her hands...then she puts it up to her forehead and stamps herself... hahahahah... i died.  It reminds me of that one time that Tucker jumped widespread into a bush at school then got out and walked away not saying a word...haha...i like people like that :)  She is so fun to work with to.  Absolutely fearless.  She can't cook.  I can't cook.  That's funny too. haha.,.. basically life is so good.  
Send Bundial my congrats and love...i'm still shocked, but good on him!  Way to go boucher.  Give royboy a kiss for me...make him so KJones flashcard so he's all ready for me... "Kathy = my favorite tyotya... Obama = vehicle of my tyotya... toast and eggs = staple food of my tyotya..."  haha...we'll communize his brain... :)  just kidding...
Welp, got to run... love you all.. stay good and be strong and pray for alyona and anya...and larissa... I've got ya'll covered and my thoughts and prayers!

Love Tyotya Kjones

ps.  Hulk Hoggan knows every word to beach boys endless summer cd.... a guy in our branch said she has humble eyes... she won a scholarship for being tall... she's certified to drive a forklift... you can imagine how cool she is :)