Elder Caiden Jones

#24: Sooooo much service. I love it

Happy Thanksgiving to my Americans!

Yooo what's up everybody? This week has been awesome. Every day is a new adventure as a missionary and being in Australia onlly adds on to that.

Little side note, my phone broke. I can't see like half my screen right now so if there is a lot of typos in this email then my bad, but I literally can't even see them.

Anyways I can't really think of anything else to add so let's get intooooooo

THE WEEKLY EPISTLE!!

Google Photos:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/SPHBKzMm2s5zEyUQ8

Animals(s) of the Week!

- A bunch of beach creatures (crabs, tadpoles, seagulls, etc.)

- A huge Reback Spider. Sadly no pictures because it hid really fast but this guy was BIG

- Ruby! She is an adorable dog that we got to walk this week. She was awesome

- Two more big spiders!

- Still no Koala. Or Kangaroo. You've got to be kidding me.

Lost Ring Counter: 1

I have this CTR ring that I bought before I left and I don't know what the deal is but I will lose this thing for days or weeks at a time and then randomly find it again. I'm starting a counter.

- This time it was only lost for around a week

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Highlight Reel (Short):

- We went to the "beach." Wasn't really a beach but it was still a lot of fun

- Interviews with President! I love President Standley. He is awesome

- Service and a truckload of Grapefruits. We picked a ton of fruit from a friend's tree and we don't know what to do with it.

- AREA!!! (Broken phone)

- Thanksgiving dinner! The Edmond family are the goats

- English Class! This was a ton of fun and was supposed to be a one-time thing, but our review was too good so now we're in charge of it every week. What can we say🤷‍♂️

- Took the wrong bus and had an hour and a half detour

- My volleyball is getting better

- Church was awesome (Quinton came)

There is so much that happens every single day but I won't write it all.

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Long:

Monday:

First pday in the land down unda! It was a pretty good day. Calling my family is awesome because it's Sunday for them and so everyone is home. We did  the regular pday things and then went to the "beach." I keep putting it in quotes because my DL told us it was the beach but then turns out it was beach adjacent. It was a little river that led to the ocean but it was still fun because there were a lot of animals that we could see and try and catch. The flies sucked though. We also had a district picnic while we were there. That was pretty much our pday but after it was over, we went to FHE which was a lot of fun. We played pictionary and had a ton of food which was awesome.

Tuesday:

We had interviews with President Standley who is awesome. I loved the interview because he gave us direct guidance for each of us and I just know that it was Spirit-led. While one of us was in an interview, the rest of the district did choir practice. I am slowly learning how to sing and I am so glad. After interviews we took a FAT nap which defintely should not have happened but it was nice. Then we went and did some service for a member who gave us some really good tacos. And ham. It was fire.

Wednesday:

Had my first DC down here and it's definitely different. Nothing too crazy but I need to memorize some things pretty quick. The ZLs were also there and they're pretty cool. Definitely good leaders. After all that we went and did some service for one of our friends and we got a TON of Grapefruits. Sadly, we couldn't take any home on our bikes and so those with cars got them all but it's alright. That was on awesome service for reasons I'll explain later. We also finally got our area and our dots which is soooooo nice. We got a little too excited any my phone got knocked out of my hand. Usually it's fine but obviously this time it wasn't. Now have my screen is black and I can't see anything but I'll get a new one on Wednesday so that's good.

Thursday:

Happy Thanksgiving! We got to start out the day walking Ruby! She's a pretty cool dog and the neighborhood she lives in apparently has a Koala. We tried to search for it but had no luck :( We also walked to a local bakery and had breakfast which was fire.

We went biking a lot today. We went around visitng all of our brand new dots and getting to know people and we met some pretty interesting people. One of them was a woodworker who loved to build a lot of things for people. It was fun looking at everything he built but what made it really funny was that he doesn't wear pants. he has boxers on but that it. The other guy we met loves the gospel. Super prepared, super interested, but he keeps saying that he won't et baptized until his mom dies. He's scared that if he gets baptized his mom will die, and so he's waiting for her to die and then he'll be baptized. We have a lesson with him tomorrow.

We also had a lesson with the Sisters and one of their friends which went well. To end the day we had a Thanksgiving dinner from an absolutely wonderful family in the ward.

Friday:

Today was more visiting people but nothing too crazy happened. We did teach English class though and that was a lot of fun. We had a lot of games and activities and they gave us a really good review. Now we're in charge of English class from now on.

Saturday:

Started out with two services that were both a lot of fun. We painted someone's wall and then cleaned up someone's house. I love doing service for people. Then we went home and took the bus to another one of our friends but we took the wrong one and ended up going on a trip that took an hour and a half. It was definitely a learning experience to not take the wrong bus. We visited one of the friends that we'll do service for soon and they were awesome! I love the people in Australia. They're all so cool. Then we ended the day with sports night where I was taught how to play volleyball a little bit better. I'm still going to be killed by any poly as my companion let me know.

Sunday:

Church was awesome. One of our friends (who we are passing off ) showed up and he seemed to be really interested and he was awesome. He stayed for classes and really enjoyed it! We also talked with "Mr. Theology" who was an interesting character. He dipped real quick though but the Sisters got his number.

After church we had more choir practice which was fun. Then it was off to the Lals for lunch! They're an awesome family who cook some really good food. They also cook a LOT of food so that's good too.

After that we went to a YSA activity which is always fun. Then we went to go visit our friend Tom, with our bishop. No answer. Turns out we've been visiting the wrong house this whole time but that's a story for another time.

Then the night ended with some zoom call meetings and that's it.

It has been a very eventful week full of a lot of amazing experiences

It is difficult to put into words, the joy that I have felt as I've served the children of God this week. There are so many people out there who need just a little bit of help. As we worked with smiles on our faces and the pure love of Christ in our hearts there was a feeling that could only come from being a disciple of Christ.

CLASSIC SERVICE SCRIPTURE GO!!

(Mosiah 2:17)

17 And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.

As we serve and as we love, we will have a heavenly joy fill our souls. This is a wonderful lesson that I have learned this past week and I can't wait to continue learning as I continue to serve God and His children.

My invitation to all of you is to go out and serve. Whether it be planned, or out of the blue, seek to serve and the Lord will not only bless you with opportunities to do so, but the joy that I have spoken about.

I love you all! 'Till next time,

- Elder Jones