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

G' day from Melbourne!!

Dearest family and friends,

Life is going very, very well.  I feel very happy.   It was awesome week. It was definitely one of the best weeks so far on the mission. One of the people we are teaching just continues to make such progress, now reading and absorbing the Book of Mormon. After praying the night before if she father really did love her, the following day she had a very sweet experience that revealed to her for the first time in her 21 years that her dad in fact does love her. It was amazing for me to be able to hear her relate her experience and really come to know more for myself that God does answer our prayers, Also that His love for each of us is impossible for us to fathom or understand. I sometimes feel amazed by these experiences, but I am remember also by the greatness of the calling we have. God will certainly send down miracles do save His precious children. I have no doubt about that. 

I was outside a lot this week, but I love it. I admit I am getting a tan and by hair is a little blonder. 

Everything is going really well. I have come to know more for myself of the revelation that God can give us. Sometimes for me it does not come all at once, but it does come. God is certainly aware of us and His Son lives. I am really enjoying serving with Elder Pham. I feel like we make a good team. We bring a different perspective, but I believe that makes a companionship even better.

It is interesting as I talk to people on the street, sometimes I just know that I needed to talk to them.  Generally, before I begin talking to them, I don't know why, but as I begin to talk to them, I truly come to know.  A lot of interesting things happened in this regard in this past.  I talked to one of guy on the bus who had just split up with his best friend.  He was just completely in the dumps.  I guess he had seen me in Footscray before.  He told me after I said hello, "I know who you are.  You talk about Jesus Christ with other people."  I told him that was exactly right and we had a really good conversation.  Perhaps, many of the people I talk to, I never see again, but I believe that I am able to help many to at least reflect on God and His love and mercy, and give them more hope to live.  Another person was a drug addict that left college to get back on track.  He kept asking me why I felt so happy and why I was smiling.  He told me that there must be a reason why I feel so happy.  As I spoke with him, I felt probably the Spirit the strongest for the entire week.  I felt like I a taste of the the love that God had for him, as a son of God.  I feel the hope and light that Jesus Christ can give to our souls.  I hope to meet with him in this next week.  I love His work.  I know as Grandpa Shumway used to say, "we are on the winning team."  We will win when we are with God.  When we have have God and Christ in our lives, we can do all things according to His will (Phillipians 4:13--one of my absolute favorites).  I believe that.  I totally do.  I know sometimes figuratively, our lines fall back or we lose a battle, but I know through this gospel of Jesus Christ, we will inevitably win the war.  It not easy, but it is possible.  I know God would already prepare a plan if we there was a chance that we could suceed.  I see that Vietnamese, I see that in missionary work, and every aspect of life.  

I love you all so much.  I pray for you each day.  

your brother, son, grandson, and friend

Jonathan, Bao (and Ti, a nickname from one of the church members.  Haha)