Dear All,
Last week was just too busy. I’m sorry I didn’t write.
I finally found my immunization record, so you don’t have to worry about it anymore.
I’m not sure what of my e-mail and letters you have received. Including this, I have sent 3 e-mails and 2 letters.
Last week was just too busy. I’m sorry I didn’t write.
I finally found my immunization record, so you don’t have to worry about it anymore.
I’m not sure what of my e-mail and letters you have received. Including this, I have sent 3 e-mails and 2 letters.
Hma. Perez makes sure we’re always on time but the elders are still struggling with the short meal times, and are frequently late to class. This has resulted in a game called “Get There Before the Hermanas,” which frequently sends the elders dashing up the stairs past us, which I find amusing.
I’m enjoying choir a lot. It is my favorite time. This week, most of the elders are joining me in choir. (Hma. Perez, while gifted to play the saxophone, has a rather terrible voice, and she’s quite aware of this.) The directors are both very talented, and always have uplifting things to say.
We spend one day a week in the Response Center. There, we make follow-up calls, take inbound calls, and participate in chats from mormon.org. The other day, I spent half an hour talking to a woman who was looking for a church that would accept her. She had several obvious tattoos, and while she was not proud of them, they had caused her to be rejected from several churches. She had a sincere desire to come closer to Christ. I read her the first vision, and committed her to pray and come to church.
The newest district in our zone has two new sisters. I’m thrilled and Hma. Perez is happy, too.
I must freely admit that I am not sleeping well. On a good night, I get 6 to 6 ½ hours of sleep, which has begun to tell on me a bit. I’m getting help and will let you know what’s happening.
Please Do:
I’m enjoying choir a lot. It is my favorite time. This week, most of the elders are joining me in choir. (Hma. Perez, while gifted to play the saxophone, has a rather terrible voice, and she’s quite aware of this.) The directors are both very talented, and always have uplifting things to say.
We spend one day a week in the Response Center. There, we make follow-up calls, take inbound calls, and participate in chats from mormon.org. The other day, I spent half an hour talking to a woman who was looking for a church that would accept her. She had several obvious tattoos, and while she was not proud of them, they had caused her to be rejected from several churches. She had a sincere desire to come closer to Christ. I read her the first vision, and committed her to pray and come to church.
The newest district in our zone has two new sisters. I’m thrilled and Hma. Perez is happy, too.
I must freely admit that I am not sleeping well. On a good night, I get 6 to 6 ½ hours of sleep, which has begun to tell on me a bit. I’m getting help and will let you know what’s happening.
Please Do:
- Send my camera cable to the mission office
- Publish all mail to the Blog and BmoG (Myr will know how to do this)
- Send one of my smallest square Aquabee drawing books. (In the brown portfolio)
- ¡Tell Myr to put my lava lamp back!
- Publish my various addresses and DearElder to everyone.
Sincerely,
Hma. Mären Michelle Jones
Mission Office
Mission Office
Hermana Maren Michelle Jones
Illinois Chicago North Mission
3295 Arlington Heights IL 60004
In response to father’s letter:
I highly recommend DearElder as the best way to contact me. I only have 30 minutes online on p-day, so myldsmail is not very practical (and apparently has bounce issues) and while snail-mail will get to me, I am limited to writing letters on p-day. (Although sometimes I fudge a little on that, using quiet time.)
I gave some details on Hma Perez in my e-mail. However I did not mention that I am struggling to form a relationship with her, an issue she is aware of and that we are working hard to resolve. We both work hard to care for each other, but have not developed even a cursory friendship. Our mission president assures us that as we share experiences, we will build common ground and friendship. So, to be bluntly honest, I’m not sure there is anything I love about my companion yet. I am constantly seeking some way I can open up to her and try to respond warmly to her attempts, but as of yet, there is little between us.
I have not included details of my schedule because it is hopelessly erratic. The teachers are all BYU students, and so teaching is worked in between classes. There are few constants, which I will list on the back.
Daily (except Fast Sunday)
In response to father’s letter:
I highly recommend DearElder as the best way to contact me. I only have 30 minutes online on p-day, so myldsmail is not very practical (and apparently has bounce issues) and while snail-mail will get to me, I am limited to writing letters on p-day. (Although sometimes I fudge a little on that, using quiet time.)
I gave some details on Hma Perez in my e-mail. However I did not mention that I am struggling to form a relationship with her, an issue she is aware of and that we are working hard to resolve. We both work hard to care for each other, but have not developed even a cursory friendship. Our mission president assures us that as we share experiences, we will build common ground and friendship. So, to be bluntly honest, I’m not sure there is anything I love about my companion yet. I am constantly seeking some way I can open up to her and try to respond warmly to her attempts, but as of yet, there is little between us.
I have not included details of my schedule because it is hopelessly erratic. The teachers are all BYU students, and so teaching is worked in between classes. There are few constants, which I will list on the back.
Daily (except Fast Sunday)
6:30 – arise & prepare
7:00 – breakfast
12:30 – lunch
4:30 – dinner
Weekly
Monday @ 6:00 pm Response Center
Tuesday Saturday
8:30 – Laundry 6:00 Training Resource
1:00 – Temple Center
7:00 Devotional
5:15 – Choir
Sunday
4:15 – Choir
7:00 – Fireside
As you can see, this leaves most of my time in flux. Personal, companion and language study is planned the night before, but those times change frequently. Gym time is also different every day. In short, I flat-out refuse to transcribe my schedule. It’s just too nuts.
As for spiritual experiences, I have too many in a day, let alone a week, to try and filter. If one strikes my as significant, I will try to share it, but I’m riding such an emotional high, I’m not sure what’ll come to me.
Last night, however, Elder L. Tom Perry was at the devotional. It was quite the experience. The choir (w/me as 1st soprano) sang “Lead Thou Me On.” I took many notes, and was strongly moved, but I’m not sure I can pull any one thought from it.
On a side note, I began my medication, Trozodone, last night. I took one 50mg tab and got four (as opposed to the previous night’s 2) hours of sleep. I’m starting to worry. I can’t point to any reason I’m not sleeping sound. I’m not stressed, I’m comfortable, and with the exception of 5:00 am on (when the other sisters begin their rigmarole) the room is quiet and dark. I will take two tabs tonight and pray for health and rest.
Sincerely, and I miss you too.
As you can see, this leaves most of my time in flux. Personal, companion and language study is planned the night before, but those times change frequently. Gym time is also different every day. In short, I flat-out refuse to transcribe my schedule. It’s just too nuts.
As for spiritual experiences, I have too many in a day, let alone a week, to try and filter. If one strikes my as significant, I will try to share it, but I’m riding such an emotional high, I’m not sure what’ll come to me.
Last night, however, Elder L. Tom Perry was at the devotional. It was quite the experience. The choir (w/me as 1st soprano) sang “Lead Thou Me On.” I took many notes, and was strongly moved, but I’m not sure I can pull any one thought from it.
On a side note, I began my medication, Trozodone, last night. I took one 50mg tab and got four (as opposed to the previous night’s 2) hours of sleep. I’m starting to worry. I can’t point to any reason I’m not sleeping sound. I’m not stressed, I’m comfortable, and with the exception of 5:00 am on (when the other sisters begin their rigmarole) the room is quiet and dark. I will take two tabs tonight and pray for health and rest.
Sincerely, and I miss you too.
Hma. Maren Jones
