Elder Jardine and his companion

Week 67

Well, this week was great for us. Allow me to show some highlights:

•  I got to speak English at a class at the church Thursday night and now we have a bunch of references to go and teach!  woohooo
• Friday morning we had zone conference and I learned a lot; it was great to know where I can improve.
• This Friday afternoon, we went to go talk English and eat milkshakes with some students of a school where the teacher is a member (same one who teaches at the church). While there, we gave a pamphlet to a young woman member to give to a friend. 1 hour later, we received a message saying "I want to learn more about Mormon doctrine." We passed by there 30 minutes later. Lo and behold, it was the friend of the member. We taught her and her family and one of her aunts in the closing prayer admitted to being critical at the beginning, but was immensely grateful for the great joy that our message brought. Spirit for the win!!!! The entire family was receptive and enjoyed the message. Unfortunately, they weren't able to come to church this past Sunday because they were in another city, but we will go by there more. I think that they will be our five baptisms this transfer, super excited.

• On Saturday, we went and helped clean a balcony of a member. It was great to be able to go and help out.
• Sunday was Stake Conference which was fun, especially since we got to have lunch in a member's house who make cinnamon rolls!!! They weren't as good as moms, but it helped to kill the missing you guys, so... worth it.

So that is what is happening. I am getting used to my new designation (Right now, Elder Jardine is serving as a zone leader; he's responsible to lead a group of 10-15 missionaries.) and am enjoying being able to help the mission on a greater level. I am healthy and am excited to receive your package! As for weight, I am about 70 kilos so see what that is in pounds (about 154 pounds) and I think I am also growing so you can let Uncle Preston know to get ready to pay up (Jaron knows what I mean) (My younger brother bet Nathan he wouldn't reach 6'10". It's already too hard to find him pants that fit now, so I'm hoping he doesn't get much taller...)

I love you all so much and I am soooooooo excited to see you at Christmas!

Love you,

Sincerely,

Elder Jardine

Week 66

Well, transfers happened. I learned in the bus station that I was now a zone leader which is exiting. I am now in an area called Ouro Verge (green gold) which has much promise. My companion is Elder De Almeida who is ending his mission this transfer and is a great guy. I think all will be well together. I am excited to see what happens in my last 6 transfers of the mission.  That's a scary thought.

Sorry, I didn't take many photos this week, so I will send them next week.

I am so excited to see how things are progressing for you guys there and can't wait to see how things improve.

Love you all soooooooooooooooo much and hope that the Lord will continue to bless you.

Sincerely,

Elder Jardine

Week 65

Well, my week was pretty normal. We worked a lot and found a few new people to teach which is exciting; it only sucks that two of them who are also the most excited live in another city! So, we can't really teach and baptize them here, so... bummer. But this past Sunday we had a lady in our ward who I had previously thought was a member ask to be baptized!!! So that was super exciting. It only sucks that transfers are tomorrow and I will probably be leaving (still waiting for the phone call ). We also had divisions with the zone leaders which brings me to the title of the email because, in the morning, we saw monkeys!!!! And after our appointment fell through, we went and bought two bananas and gave them to the monkeys. Best 60 cents I have ever spent. Videos and pictures are attached. They are so funny, especially when the first saw the banana. They were like Tucker with a hot dog, thinking " is that yellow thing food?" and "is it for me?" and when I went to take what was left of the banana out of the skin, one kept looking at me and "talking" as if asking "what the heck are you doing with my banana?!" It was great!!!!!!!

Well, I am all good here; ready to know where I will be going so be ready next week for the great reveal .

Well, you guys keep having a great week! 

Love you all and miss you all!!! Have a great week!!!!!

Sincerely,

Elder Jardine

Week 64

This week was great. We had a P-day as a zone we had a BBQ and Nerf fights, so that was great. We also had interviews with president which was awesome. Other than that, not much happened. 

One day, we walked over 20 km (it felt) to get to some people who ended up not being there  but at least one is interested, so count your blessings, right? 

We were able to teach 5 new people and they look promising, so we are excited to see how that goes and we are also excited to teach some new people who we found. One has already received the missionaries and went to church a lot in another ward, so now we just need to get in the freaking house to teach and baptize but we are super excited. (Her name is Anjela; Please pray that we can teach her).

It is always great to see how your weeks are going and good to see that you are all happy.

I love you all and hope you have a great week!!!!

Sincerely,

Elder Jardine​

Week 63

This week was great. Dara was baptized and confirmed, so that was great. We worked the rest of the week, but unfortunately, we weren't able to find new people to teach, but it was still a great week.

Last p-day when we were at home, we watched a movie called Charlie, which is an incredibly sweet church film that made me cry out of gratitude for the tender mercies that grandpa had in his last days of life. It was great and I was able to have a very spiritual experience with my companion (and yes, I wrote it all in my journal immediately after).

A few quick notes...transfers are on the 31st and I will probably be leaving, so I have no idea where or with who I will be for Christmas, so we will have to see (it also doesn't help that there is a transfer the 11th of December). I can't wait to get my package and see you all this Christmas!!!

I love you all sooooooo much and I hope that everything keeps going well this week for you. Be sure to send me pictures of everything especially Tucker being funny.

Sincerely,

Elder Jardine

P.S Happy Birthday, Grandmas!!!!! love you!!!!!!

P.S.S the dog is called xis (derived from xi-xi which is what he was doing) and he did exactly what tucker does in looking back to make sure we were still following him. ​

Week 62

This week was good. We worked a lot and we had some success. I was able to do some more baptismal interviews which was fun. We were also able to work with a recently returned missionary which was awesome and we were able to learn a lot. 

Today is a great day. We just got one of our investigators married and she will be baptized at 4 today. It will be Elder Taylor's first baptism, so we are super excited.

Thank you so much for the emails. I really saw how the Lord was able  to bless grandpa and the rest of us at the end of his life.

Keep me informed how things go and how your weeks progress. 

Have a great week!!!!

Sincerely,

Elder Jardine