July 11 2016

Well, they have finally arrived my travel papers to return home are here. I am not so happy to know that I´m almost at the end as much as I am to not have you asking me every week for the info hahahahaha jk love you mom.
Starting at 2 am we leave Santa Cruz to Panama then to Houston Tx and the last leg finally into SLC arriving at 7:50 pm on Aug 26th. Anyone who would like to welcome me home at the airport I will be glad to see you.

4th of July 2016 Love America

First things first, President Rodríguez is awesome. He has a firey heart and burning desire to see the missionas well as us as missionaries improve. Quick sad note, 2 of my past companions go home this week. Elder Jarvis and Elder Butts. It hurts to see them go and see the mission become even smaller but they are going to enjoy it back at home. Remember Elder Jarvis was from Portland Oregon and Elder Butts is from Houston Texas. I love you all and can't wait to see you. Thanks for the pictures of the girls I can't believe how much they have changed and grown up.  I am so excited that you were able to meet Pres and Sister Willard.  I loved them so much.

July 3 2016

Insert from parents. We had the great privilage to meet Pres. and Sister Willard and hear them bear testimony of the great work going on in Bolivia with the missionaries. It was a tender moment to hug a mom who had just seen our son days before and to know that she had shared my "mom" role for him the last 2 years.  Thank you both for your thoughtful and tender care of our son.

June 27 2016

Well transfers are the 13th of July and then I am in my last transfer! I am super excited but I have not let it affect my work ethic. Not much has been different except that President Willard goes home tomorrow and President Rodriguez gets here tomorrow as well. We are all super excited but sad at the same time. Pres Rodriguez is from Spain. Well my comp Elder Butts from my last area just informed me that a kid that I found is gonna get baptized this Saturday and I am so happy for him, paving the way for the rest of his family I know it.

June 20 2016

Mom and Dad I would really like for you to go meet my president and his wife.  Details below
Dear Parents and Family,

It has been a privilege and an honor to serve with your child here in the Bolivia Santa Cruz Mission - the Mission of Miracles! As we prepare to conclude our service here, please know of our love and appreciation for your missionary and for you as their support at home. We can honestly say that the Lord sent us the very best missionaries in the whole world, and we feel so blessed to have had them here with us during our time in Bolivia.

President and Sister Rodriguez will be arriving on or around the 1st of July. We have spoken with them on many occasions, and they are amazing! We have already felt of the love and concern they have for each one of the missionaries. Several times they have asked us: "How is it possible to feel so much love for people you haven’t even met?" We know that your missionary will be in good hands.

With love and gratitude,
President and Sister Willard

If you are in Utah on July 3rd, we will be sharing our testimonies at 9am at the Riverdale chapel located at 5500 South 1175 West. We would love to meet you if you are in town.

June 13 2016

Well, I am super sick. I am stuffed up, with a small headache and loving being here in the mission. We had a conference with Pres Willard last Friday and it was amazing. It was also our last opportunity to have an interview with him. I felt so inspired afterwards and I came out with a new goal, to see others as God sees them, to see them as children of our Heavenly Father. I realized in our interview (as well as he told me) that many people have mirrors in front of their faces. The difference between a mirror and a window??? one we see ourselves and one we can see others through it. We must look through the window, and not only that but the eyes in poetry and in theater are many times refered to as the "windows" to the soul. I know that if we could see through the "windows" of our Father´s eyes, we could always have His Spirit to be with us and this world would be a much better place. I invite everyone of you and I have decided to take my mirror and smash it on the floor. We must follow the example of our Savior and live lives of selfless service and dedication to God. Will you do it??? Love you all, Elder Jones

June 6 2016

Well I just want to let you know that transfers were last Wednesday and my turn came. I was so sad when I heard that I was leaving my other area Progreso. I loved being in that ward and I loved all of the members. We were working so hard I know that they are going to be baptizing here shortly. Now I´m back in Santa Cruz, but this time I´m in an area that I already know. I am in Guapilo 2. Over a year and 4 months have gone by since I was here. Weird huh, this is were my District Leader used to live and were my Zone Leaders lived in Zona La Pampa. Now we are Zona Lucero but still the same area. The three wards that make up this Zone are Guapilo, Lucero and guess who, La Libertad. Unfortunately I can´t go back there in exchanges because my District Leader doesn´t live there but I talk with the Elders that are there about how everything is. I live at the edge of the city, I basically live halif in the city and half in the jungle. My new comp is Elder Talaverano from Lima, Peru. He´s 23 years old and he´s been in the mission for about 8 months. He´s the youngest of his siblings and the only missionary of his family. He was trained by Elder Smith, the same Elder Smith from my group and my comp from the MTC.

Transfers by airplane every time

Elder Jones

It's winter and rainy here.

This is how I wear out good shoes.

My new comp