Jones, Talmage T

What a cold and wintery week! It has been pretty cold and icy. There are a few stories about ice, that's for sure. It didn't get below 20 degrees Fahrenheit while we were out and about, which was surprising. It probably got to 8 or 10 degrees while we were sleeping though.     On the 23rd, the roads froze over with a thick layer of ice! The public ones were slushy, but apartment parking was frozen badly. We accidentally hit three cars as we went to park--even with the brakes being pushed to the max! I freaked out, but we had a good laugh. Thank goodness there was no damage to those cars. We walked around on the frozen water and had fun too.     We had a temple trip with all the missionaries in the mission on Thursday, and it was so special. I love it every time.     Later that day, we had the mission's first Christmas conference; it had numerous Christmas musical numbers, speakers, and--of course--food. It gave me a new perspective on how Christmas feels as...

Welcome back to another week of Elder Jones in Renton, Washington! The temperatures continue to drop, the precipitation continues to descend, and the people continue to progress!     What a week! Elder Miller and I have a lot in common (such as having a deep appreciation for music), and we are able to teach with confidence and the Spirit. It makes a difference as we seek to help others come to know their Savior. It is a good experience to have a companion so that when we have disagreements, we talk it out and work through it.     We made two new friends this week in our English class! They are so nice, and their names are Maria and Bryam. We gave them an invite to the Giving Machine, and they said they wanted to go! We were happy to hear this because I know giving of ourselves helps us feel true joy.      On Friday, our ward had a Christmas party. So many people came to see it! There was lots of food, dances, and a show of acting out the Nativity and S...

¡Hola todos! Ha estado una mejor semana para mi compañero y yo.     Muchas buenas cosas han sucedido durante esta semana! Mi abilidad hablar en español esta mejorando!! Basically, my Spanish is improving a lot and I can understand almost all of what people say to me!! I am so thrilled about it and I give credit to Heavenly Father for blessing me in this way.     Two English elders in Renton (in our same area) have taught a mother and son for a bit, and by working together with them, they baptized them on Saturday! Their names are Julieta and Julien. We helped put together the program and invite our ward. Elder Miller and I had the opportunity to confirm them members of our church in sacrament meeting yesterday! We did it in Spanish, and I was so proud of my companion. What a terrific experience it was. They are new members of our Spanish ward--named Rainier Vista!     We have three or four friends that we are teaching right now, and they have interest in po...