Move Day!!

Dearest family and friends,

It has been a busy P-day indeed.  We moved flats today to a place a little farther away from the city.  We will have a little more space and we will be living with Elder Smith and Elder Guy, they serve in my branch and the zone leaders.  We are all really excited to be with each other.  Before, I was in a 2-man flat with the 3 of us.  There wasn't a whole lot of space to do push-ups, but that is alright.  Haha.  I am trying to have a more serious exercise program.  

It was a really awesome week.  Last week, the entire mission fasted for mission goals and for companionship goals.  It was an amazing to see the things actually happen.  My faith has been strengthened and belief that miracles do happen as we are obedient to gospel and truly do all we can.  Life is going really to say the least.  I feel really happy. 

Australia continues to be really good.  It has been a little warm, but no worries. Haha.  School is getting started, so I can some momentum coming in these next couple weeks.  We have zone conference on Thursday.  I feel very excited.  The Maxwells are awesome.  I honestly couldn't ask for any greater people to help direct this work in Melbourne and be my mission leaders.  They are so humble and caring of all people.   

The most amazing experience of the week was finding a member on the way to church yesterday. She had slept on the streets the night before and had not gone to church in years. She has some really hard times.  She had came to Melbourne to pay respects to two cousins that had just died and then while she was here, she was badly injured due to domestic violence.  It is really sad story.  She initially told us that she would wait to go back to church until she gets back on her feet, but I told her that I knew going to church would help finding the peace and comfort that she is seeking in her life.  She did come.  It was the most wonderful experience.  The talks were particularly touching yesterday and it was interesting that as I listened, they connected so well with her recent experiences.  Many members were wonderful in making her feel welcome. I love Matthew 25:32-40.  I know it is true.  As we serve, help, and love others, we are actually performing these acts for our Savior.  This is how true commitment is shown.  

I have thought a lot about Joshua 1:8-9 recently.  I have read verse 9 many times, but have often overlooked this verse 8.  Verse 8 discusses the learning of the law and mediating upon the law day and night.  I believe this in an allusion to searching the scriptures.  I know as we feast on the scriptures, we will know more surely God is with with and feel His presence.  I love you all.  Sorry for the short letter.  You are all awesome.  

your son, brother, grandson and friend

Jonathan, Elder Shumway, Anh Ca Bao 

Dearest family and friends,

It has been really good week.  I feel overjoyed that everything seems to be going home at headquarters.  It seems like it was a busy week for everyone, but God continues to help us navigate and overcome the different challenges and curve balls that life sometimes throws at us.  We have been greatly blessed to continue to find new people to teach.  I feel very excited about this week, to see the impact of the last couple weeks of hard work. We have had some humbling experiences, but I am grateful for these experiences because I feel like our companionship has been more willing to change how we do missionary work.  I have come to know that one of the best attributes to always strive for, is to be accepting of change because I have seen as we try new ideas in finding and teaching, we learn much more and more willing to follow the Spirit, not our own wisdom.  That is something I have really enjoyed about serving with Elder Marker and Elder thus far. 
We are now preparing Anh Phan,the person I spoke of last week for baptism. He seems really prepared to hear the gospel.  He is just so humble.  He said that he has been thinking about the Mormon Message, "Good Things to Come," the entire week. I saw him on Thursday and he had a big English exam the following day.  I told him how I always says a short, but fervent prayer before every test I take because sometimes I feel a little stressed. Yet, after I pray, always feel a surge in peace and confidence. I invited him to pray and he said on Saturday that he saw noticeable difference after he prayed. That is so cool.  These are the most experiences, as I see people come to know and trust in God and feel His love. I love this work.
 We invited his wife, Chi Hoa, to be baptized as well, but she wants to know and understand more about Jesus Christ before she makes that decision. They are both from Hanoi and have never learned about Christianity.  Everything is very new.  We are actually going down to their home in Springville tomorrow to teach them again. 
Life continues to be really good. We see many miracles and I see more and more, how God always prepares a way to accomplish His great work.  We saw this past week. We had been street contacting for several hours with not much success, but after a quick snack and prayer, we had the best finding day of the entire week.  We had started to doubt our efforts and if there was something that we were doing wrong, but then God allowed us to see the fruits of our labors. It was an incredible learning experience for me.  I remember that grandma used to say patience is the mother of all virtues.  That is something I continue to learn here in Melbourne.  I feel very happy.  Hope all is well.  As they say in Australia, love you heaps.  Haha.

your brother, son,grandson,and friend,

Jonathan

Good Morning from Australia!!

Dear family and friends,

It was an incredible week.  It was one of the best weeks for me so far on the mission.  I saw many miracles.  I felt the Spirit and saw the gospel bring light into other people's lives. Our companionship continues to be really good.  I am having a blast in serving with both Elder Marker and Elder Pham. 
 We had several experiences that I will never forget.  This week, I am continually reminded how is truly a God of miracles.  This was clearly shown in several different experiences that we had this week.  There was a couple that we have been trying to meet with for several months.  They come to every English class, but were reluctant to meet with us.  They have been asked several times, but I felt a distinct impression to ask them again.  They initially said no, but Elder Marker had an inspired idea to invite them to watch a movie with them.  They then willingly met with us and we shared the message, "Good Things to Come."  As we discussed the video, it became that coming to Australia and all of the pressures associated with it, have humbled them.  They needed some source of hope for the future, because we feel their stress, anxiety, and perhaps even despair over the current situation.  We made the connection to having hope in Christ and His Gospel.  We discussed this for awhile, but I then felt a prompting to bear my testimony about the hope that I have in this gospel.  I felt the Spirit in very real way and I could feel that hearts became softened.  Testimonies were shared and now we plan to meet them several times a week.  This experience has reminded me of the marvelous work we are engaged in.  I remember His mercy and faith in me to allow me to be involved in this great work.  Life is going really well.  This was just one experience, but as Elder Pearson said from a Area Presidency message yesterday in that "we call down the miracles of heaven," we can truly call miracles from Heaven.  I know we can call, but also that He answers in a greater abundance we could ever imagine. 

We were in the city basically the entire week.  The area is a little different because the Vietnamese are more spread out in comparison to Sunshine and Footscray.  My area is several hours by train.  It is huge, so we spend a lot of our time in the city.  A lot of people we find, we do not teach, but I have seen as we work hard, other missionaries have found Vietnamese people that we can this glorious message with.  I feel that we can qualify ourselves for blessings as we "put our shoulder to the wheel." I have definitely seen this to be true.  Many of the people that we talked to even last week are now learning about the gospel.  It is amazing.  I felt the Spirit strongly on many occasions.  One of those themes I have testified a lot about recently, is the potential that God sees in each of us.  I know that God's vision of what we become is greater that what we can or see of ever imagine.  I saw many people reflect seriously on this point and desire to learn more.  

Life is going so good.  I wish I had time to write all the miracles.  I feel so happy to be here.  I love sharing the gospel.  It has been a great blessing in my life.  Love you all.

Jonathan

First Week in Richmond!!

Dearest family and friends,

It has been a wonderful past week.  I am really enjoying with Elder Marker (my former companion from the MTC and the beginning of being in Australia--soon to be the companion I will have serve with the longest) and Elder Thao Pham.  I was serving with Elder Hieu Pham last transfer.   Elder Thao Pham is from Seattle actually.  He has a brother serving in Hanoi right now.  Super cool.  I love serving with both of them.  The flat isn't too big, but it feels like home to me here.  It has been full of learning, rushed cooking, classical music, and yes, some laughs.  Haha.  It has been really good so far.  I know a lot of missionaries don't like serving in 3, but for us, so far, it is going awesome.  Everyone likes to talk, but we know how to listen also.  It has been very fun.  

We basically were on the streets of downtown Melbourne for basically the entire week.  I have been outside a lot.  We just try to keep finding prepared people to hear his message--that I know will change them, their posterity forever.  That is something I do know.  I have no doubt in my mind.  

I feel greatly blessed.  We began meeting with several new people.  They all seem really keen to learn more about the gospel of Jesus Christ.  I feel very excited.  One of them came to church in the city, wanting to return the Book of Mormon and the pamphlets we had given her.  She had great doubt that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God.  We basically hinged every objection she said on whether the Book of Mormon is true.  We bore strong testimony of its truth and how the Book of Mormon can bless her life.  She has felt confused in the past few years on the contradiction of different churchs' doctrine and the Bible's teachings.  She is definitely a seeker of truth.  Elder Thao gave a testimony on the Book of Mormon and how God answers prayers that I will never forget.  The Spirit definitely was witnessing the truths that we spoke. She says she will read entire Book of Mormon.  I feel very happy that she came to talk to us.  Most of time, it seems, people just picking up calls, but she recognized for herself, that this message we share is more important is no casual affair.  She realizes that the message we share is either of God or not.  It is up to her, but I feel very indebted to God and His divine help in allowing us to teaching this gospel.  I give my witness that the Book of Mormon is true.  I love it and have indeed felt its power in my life.  It has answered many prayers too many times to count. 

I have begun reading the book of Acts this week.  It has been awesome.  I love Peter the people.  I love and admire greatly his faith and willingness to act on revelation from God such as in Acts 10.  He does not wait to visit Cornelius.  Hes simply joins Cornelius's servants and goes.  I have seen great blessings in following the Spirit, but I also know we will receive greater blessings, as we act immediately on revelation.  That is something I try to work on every day.  Faith is definitely needed.  Yet, I know as Ether 12:6 proclaims, that witness will come after the trial of our faith.  

Life is going well.  I enjoyed all your letters so much. I hope mom and Peter feel better.  I will keep you in my prayers.  Good luck with everything this week.  I am safe and happy here.  You are all awesome.  Love you so much!!!

love,

Jonathan

Happy Australian Day!

Dearest family and friends,

Happy Australian Day!  I can't express enough gratitude for the letters you all write.  They are music and food to my soul.  I feel like the army soldier in WWII that eagerly awaits for when his letter from his family or a friend would come.  That is so true.  I love reading your words.  I l love to hear from all. I am sorry I don't always write back.  There is never enough time.  

It was really, really good week.  To say it was easy would not be truth, but it was worth it.  I have learned ever more to trust in God and in His will.  It is ultimately the only person we can trust because He is the only person that truly understands us perfectly--even the deepest places of our soul.  As I went in to last week, I wondered how everything would be. Yet, everything has worked out.  Several miracles certainly did happen.  That is no exaggeration.  It true.  I felt the Spirit in such a real way several times last week.  I was sharing my testimony with Tram Anh in preparation for her baptism.  I testified that she was a daughter of God and that was a prized possession of His.  He loves her and has given her unique talents and abilities.  I know sometimes in life we compare ourselves to others, yet, I know each of are special.  Each of us are made different in such a wonderful way.  

Tram Anh was baptized this past Saturday.  It was a very sacred experience for me.  I could see her great joy and happiness as she reentered the baptismal service--being baptized already.  She described her great feelings of being being clean and just simply "so good."  I had the privilege of confirming her yesterday to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost and to become a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  I did in Vietnamese.  I admit I felt overwhelmed with this task.  I did my best to prepare spiritually to be able to act as God's vessel to participate in this sacred ordinance.  As I began the prayer, I felt much greater peace and greater confidence.  I know it was the blessing that God wanted her to receive.  It was a special experience.  Several people told that the Spirit filled the room as the room was said.  I take no credit, but I feel so blessed to be able to be God's servant in this great work.  

I guess on this mission, I learn the basic principles of the gospel over and over again, yet, I feel my testimony growing.  I feel my trust in God to grow.  I can truly say I only want to do what He wants to do.  I do not up this perfectly, but I am trying.  To follow God's will and His plan is inevitably the only way we will find lasting happiness.  I love this gospel.  I have met many people who proclaim belief and even knowledge of the gospel, but it is up to us on how we follow and act on this divine knowledge.  

I love you all and I am so grateful and so richly blessed to have so many wonderful role models and examples for me.  I am so grateful for my blessing.  As we count our blessings, I know we can only feel joy.  

Love you all,

Jonathan

I am moving to North Richmond.  I will be with Elder Marker and another Elder Pham.  I am excited.   

Steaming Melbourne

Dearest family and friends,

Hope everyone had a good week.  I was a very good week for us.  We actually taught the most than I have on my entire mission.  It was a great blessing with all of this hot weather.  Don't worry.  I was still outside for my share.  Haha.  I spent most of Thursday in the 42 C weather.  I was on splits with the Elder Smith, one of my zone leaders.  It was a really good time, but not as many people seemed to be interested in the hot weather.  That's alright.  I still feel our efforts brought some success though.  We walked around a little bit with a sign saying, "Who Wrote the Book of Mormon?  Answer right for a FREE COPY."  To say the least, it was a blast.  I already feel like the missionary tag gives greater comfort in talking to people, the sign even more so.  Good times.  Good times.  

I actually went to the Australian Open this week.  It saw several matches.  The sun was burning bright, but it was pretty awesome to be able to see professional tennis players play up close.  The amount of power they had was amazing.  One of the serves was clocked at 216 kph.  That is pretty fast.  

I did see some miracles this week.  The person we have been teaching this past couple weeks has decided to follow all of the commandments. It has been such a pleasure and privilege for Elder Pham and I to teach her.  We heard her say an audible prayer after not having heard one for several weeks.  It was amazing to just know by sincerity, trust and conviction, the strength of her relationshiop that she has with Father in Heaven.  It was amazing.  I desire greatly to have this type of experience many more times on my mission, but throughout my life.  I love missionary work.  We do not always see the results or impact of day after day going out to the streets to talk to people about the gospel of Jesus Christ, but it is all totally worth it.  

Sorry my email is short this week.  The Australian Open took more time than anticipated.  Hope all is well.  I love you all so much.  

There is certainly a person in Melbourne that loves you and admires you very much.  

Jonathan

Dearest family and friends,
I amazed how cold St. Louis was last week.  That is pretty unusual.  Hopefully, everyone had a chance to go sledding or play in the snow.  A lot of the Vietnamese I know here, have never seen snow, but have the dream to see it one day.  I do love snow.  Some of best childhood memories are definitely snowball fights and sledding.  Some of our backyard fires will also a little big during winter break.  Haha. 
It was really good week. There were many special experiences this week. We were able to meet with member referral this week and I think he and his girlfriend are very prepared to meet with the gospel.  They are certainly very humble and have desire to learn about spiritual things. We have met with them already twice. We had a very edifying experience as they related experiences that suggest the role that the Holy Ghost has already had in their life, in terms of feelings of comfort as they have prayed before and also impressions that had do things that would've have done otherwise. One of them even described something even inside that was telling him to keep pressing on and not give up on himself. Our meeting with them reminded me of the constant role that God has in our lives.  We meeting them again tomorrow.  One of them actually asked if through baptism, one can really become clean of all mistakes.  We then testified of the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ in ability to help us change and truly have a chance to begin a new life.  Romans 6:4 is probably one of my favorite scriptures in relating the power of baptism.  Scriptures teach with such power and clarity.  I love using the scriptures.  I met with President Maxwell.  He asked what was one of the things that I learned the most on the mission.  There are so many things, but I think one of major one, if my love for the scriptures.  I  feel honestly a little sad as my study time ends.  There is so much to learn and continue to study.  That is what I love about the scriptures.  It is truly a source of endless knowledge and one of the best modes to continue spiritual growth.  It is hard to express my love for the scriptures and their words of peace and comfort and enlightenment.  President Packerd in the latest General Conference captures very well my feelings towards scriptures.  As he relates in the talk, it is not so much of where or what we read in the scriptures, because no matter what chapter or book, we can feel the power of revelation that God has given to past and modern prophets, and solutions to problems will come to mind.  That is a great promise given in his talk.  I would recommend all to read this talk and continue nourish and develop a love for the words of God. 

I wish every best of wishes as everyone begins school, work, and the normal routines of life.  I am so proud of Elias and his new ordination to be a deacon.  I felt a great leap of excitement as I read about that in your letters.  I know he will be a great asset and example to those in the priesthood.  I love you all.  Words cannot express my love.  I hope everyone is doing well.   I know prayers are answered and our questions can answered through scripture.  I love being a mission and bringing a message of the love of God and Jesus Christ to the whole world.  It is incredible and amazing.  

your brother, son, grandson, and friend (all my family)

Jonathan