10/23/2014
10:27 a.m.
Dear Family,
Que Tal? How's life? The MTC has been pretty fun so far! I'm writing this letter from the provo frontrunner station. It's kind of weird thinking I could walk home and deliver this letter quicker than the mailman could. I'm at the train station because we are going up to SLC for a consulate for our visas. I'm going up with Elder Johnson, my ex-companion. So, the first day here I arrived grabbed all the stuff I needed, took an entrance course on the computer, to prep me for the MTC rules. After that I went into my classroom and met my comp, District and teacher. My companions name is Elder Johnson. He's from Walla Walla, Washington. He likes a lot of computer stuff, and he loves R&B music. My teacher is Brother Salisbury, he has like every page in Preach My Gospel & The Book of Mormon memorized! He is way smart and super spiritual! My District is awesome too! We have: Elder Haymond from Chandler, AZ, volleyball player. Elder Bresee, from Dallas, TX, cinematographer, photography, and musician. Elder Davis from Layton, UT. He has the deepest, most profound voice I've ever heard. Elder Meyers from Dallas, TX, played tennis for BYU-Hawaii. Elder Jones from Arizona, he's really shy and I haven't learned too much about him. Elder Thomas from some hick/redneck town in Washington. He likes fixing trucks, he's a convert, he loves Mt. Dew. Elder Burns, from Toronto, Canada., he likes art, dance, singing, & talking about Toronto. And Elder Jones from Pocatello, ID, he likes writing novels, and Lord of the Rings.
Wednesday Night we also met our Branch President, Brother Doman. He's awesome, energetic, and he loves everybody. We also did an activity where we met investigators & taught them as a big group. The second day on the job, me & Elder Johnson taught our first investigator...In ESPANOL! Nevermind, I just remembered that we taught her on the third day. Thursday, we got to meet our zone and the rest of the Branch Presidency. Our zone leaders names are Elder Stout & Elder Peterson. I'm pretty sure they are both from Washington as well. They are awesome examples to our whole zone! The other two members of our branch presidency are Brother Durfey & Brother Sumsion. Ya, Thursday night was pretty cool. Our district had the opportunity to meet individually with the Branch Presidency. It was really awesome because after we all met with them. Brother Durfey announced that I would be the District Leader!! I was so excited and so #blessed.
Anyways, the MTC is great. The food is pretty good!! I drink a cup of powerade and a cup of chocolate milk each day to replenish my protein & electrolytes. Some of the missionaries are crazy! Like they tell us that the MTC is spiritual prison...Whatever:) I think it's great! I can't wait to go out and serve. So, I've been talking about my companion Elder Johnson, but some things happened, Elder Thomas (new convert) and Elder Jones (really shy) weren't functioning very well as a companionship. So me and Elder Johnson had to switch, so now I am going to be a companion to Elder Jones. I've been given a big responsibility to help teach and train him & get him ready to live a mission life.
Well, I love playing basketball for gym time, so Mom, if you could, could you send my basketball shoes, and maybe another workout shirt & shorts? Love YOU! By the way I love packages. I need some stamps for mail. I love you guys & I appreciated the letters I've gotten so far. Kyle, I don't remember leaving a present for you. And Kaylie, today we went to Costco & bought chicken bake. How are you doing Jacob? & I miss arguing with you Meghan. And thanks for the cookies mom! We got them while they were still fresh! Love you guys! Tell Cassidy that I walked by her school today!! Tell Brenda that I saw Beth's friend, Sophie the other day. An elder in my zone actually went to school with Cody. And I ran into Tammy's nephew, James? I think his name was.
Anyways, I'll talk to you guys soon!! Remember, the purpose of this life is to make and keep covenants that will help us grow closer to Christ and become like him. And don't forget to also invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in the Lord, Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end.
Well, it is now 4:05 pm and we are passing through Orem on our way back, so I will talk to you guys ASAP!
Love you!!!!
Elder Paynter
Feel free to let me know what this says...
yo se que Jesu Cristo es nuestro salvador y mediente de su expiacion, nosotros podemos voluer a el. Le amo el Evangelio y soy feliz ser serviendo el Dios! en el nambre de Jesucristo, Amen.
Friday, October 24, 2014
Thursday, October 23, 2014
1st P-day in the MTC
Fantastic!! today is my P-day, but last week we didn't get one
because it was only our second day, and today me and Elder Johnson are
heading up to SLC to do some like Consulate or something? so its gonna
pretty much take up our whole Pday, so we decided
to wake up early and do some laundry, and send some emails. Elder
Johnson is my previous companion, Just yesterday
we had to switch companionships because another companionship wasn't
working very well together. So my new comp will be Elder Jones. We have
an awesome and fun district, led by a fearless and handsome district
leader... Myself... haha thats right, i'm the district leader, and i'm
so excited!! My second day on the job, I was called to be the DL. Food
is great!! I'm eating as much as I can to give
me energy to study from sun-up until sun-down. My Spanish is doing
pretty good, i still need work, but it will be alright. Missionaries
love mail packages, haha. If you guys wanted to send me some stamps,
that would be awesome. and maybe find some goofy ties
for me to trade around with other elders. Thats another thing that
Missionaries love here, is trading ties. So, the next time you guys head
to kohls grab some goofy/ugly/cool ties haha. (or you could just stop
by savers for some:) Thanks for everything!! Love
you and the rest of the gang!!
Jordo
ps, share this email with everyone, i dont think ill have tome to email everyone else today, sorry :(
1st pic: Me and Elder Johnson(Wala Wala, WA)
2: Elder Haymond(Chandler, AZ) & Bresee(Dallas, TX)
3: Elder Thomas(somewhere in WA) & Jones(somewhere in AZ)
4: Elder Burns(Toronto, Canada) & Jonas(Pocatello, ID)
5: Elder Davis(Layton, UT) & Meyers(Dallas, TX)
6: District at the temple
Reply to an email from Kaylie...
Sup
hows it goin dawg? i might be in Mex city for like a day when i get
off the airplane, but idk if ill see her (Natalie, a neighbor on a mission in Mexico City). ive seen that vid! its pretty
cool how your good actions can help you to always be in the blessings
of the lord!!! or somethin like that, just
remember that our purpose on this earth is to make and keep covenants
with our heavenly father so that we can grow closer to the savior and
become like unto him and to invite others to come unto christ!!!! the
church is true and nobody can stop it from growing!!
i love packages!! if you just send me some baller loco ties, and some
mexican candy i will be pleased!! me gusta corbatas!!! I got the cookies
have you guys gotten my letters yet??? adios!!
Jordo!
Friday, October 17, 2014
Food for thought...
Ben Stein
Apparently the White House referred to Christmas Trees as Holiday
Trees for the first time this year, which prompted CBS presenter, Ben
Stein, to present this piece which I would like to share with you.
The following was written by Ben Stein and recited by him on CBS Sunday Morning Commentary.
My confession:
I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejewelled trees, Christmas trees. I don't feel threatened. I don't feel discriminated against. That's what they are, Christmas trees.
It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, 'Merry Christmas' to me. I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu. If people want a nativity scene, it's just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away.
I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where the concept came from, that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution and I don't like it being shoved down my throat.
Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship celebrities and we aren't allowed to worship God? I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too. But there are a lot of us who are wondering where these celebrities came from and where the America we knew went to.
In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is a little different: This is not intended to be a joke; it's not funny, it's intended to get you thinking.
Billy Graham's daughter was interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson asked her 'How could God let something like this happen?' (regarding Hurricane Katrina). Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response. She said, 'I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives.And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?'
In light of recent events... terrorist attacks, school shootings, etc. I think it started when Madeleine Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her body found a few years ago) complained she didn't want prayer in our schools, and we said OK. Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school. The Bible says thou shalt not kill; thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself. And we said OK.
Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave, because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem (Dr. Spock's son committed suicide). We said an expert should know what he's talking about. And we said okay.
Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves.
Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out. I think it has a great deal to do with 'WE REAP WHAT WE SOW.'
Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to hell.
Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says.
Funny how you can send 'jokes' through e-mail and they spread like wildfire, but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing.
Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene articles pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace.
Are you laughing yet?
Funny how when you forward this message, you will not send it to many on your address list because you're not sure what they believe, or what they will think of you for sending it.
Funny how we can be more worried about what other people think of us than what God thinks of us.
Pass it on if you think it has merit.
If not, then just discard it.... no one will know you did. But, if you discard this thought process, don't sit back and complain about what a bad shape the world is in.
My Best Regards, Honestly and respectfully
The following was written by Ben Stein and recited by him on CBS Sunday Morning Commentary.
My confession:
I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejewelled trees, Christmas trees. I don't feel threatened. I don't feel discriminated against. That's what they are, Christmas trees.
It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, 'Merry Christmas' to me. I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu. If people want a nativity scene, it's just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away.
I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where the concept came from, that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution and I don't like it being shoved down my throat.
Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship celebrities and we aren't allowed to worship God? I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too. But there are a lot of us who are wondering where these celebrities came from and where the America we knew went to.
In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is a little different: This is not intended to be a joke; it's not funny, it's intended to get you thinking.
Billy Graham's daughter was interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson asked her 'How could God let something like this happen?' (regarding Hurricane Katrina). Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response. She said, 'I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives.And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?'
In light of recent events... terrorist attacks, school shootings, etc. I think it started when Madeleine Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her body found a few years ago) complained she didn't want prayer in our schools, and we said OK. Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school. The Bible says thou shalt not kill; thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself. And we said OK.
Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave, because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem (Dr. Spock's son committed suicide). We said an expert should know what he's talking about. And we said okay.
Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves.
Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out. I think it has a great deal to do with 'WE REAP WHAT WE SOW.'
Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to hell.
Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says.
Funny how you can send 'jokes' through e-mail and they spread like wildfire, but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing.
Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene articles pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace.
Are you laughing yet?
Funny how when you forward this message, you will not send it to many on your address list because you're not sure what they believe, or what they will think of you for sending it.
Funny how we can be more worried about what other people think of us than what God thinks of us.
Pass it on if you think it has merit.
If not, then just discard it.... no one will know you did. But, if you discard this thought process, don't sit back and complain about what a bad shape the world is in.
My Best Regards, Honestly and respectfully
Thursday, October 16, 2014
The last few days with Jordan...
Sunday was Jordan's farewell talk. He spoke on a testimony of Jesus Christ and His gospel. He concluded with a quote from Michael Jackson....don't ask. He's gonna "make a change." Family and friends gathered at our house after church for soup and rolls. Thanks to the many people who contributed to the meal! These are the last of Jordan's buddies who are waiting to serve the Lord. What an awesome army.
Monday,
we went to the Salt Lake Temple with the Labits, and Jordan baptized
and confirmed his siblings and cousins for 68 of the Labit family
ancestors. I was touched to see my sons and daughters participate together in this saving-ordinance of baptism.
As Jordan repeated the phrase "Having been commissioned of Jesus Christ..." over and over again, I was amazed to think that Jordan's priesthood authority comes from a direct line back to the Savior. I was proud of Jordan's choices to be worthy and now to go forward as a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ, sharing the gospel with the people of Mexico, and performing that same ordinance for men and women who receive a confirmation of the truthfulness of his message.
That evening, we went to The Roof restaurant on the top of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. The Woolfs gave us a gift certificate here for Christmas. We have saved it all year, waiting for the "right" time to go. Tonight seemed like the right time! It was incredible. Thanks, Bob and Kathleen!
The picture says it all...this Oreo pie was to die for.
Would it be sacriligious to say it was "heavenly, celestial...?"
Tuesday night, Jordan was set apart as an elder for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
President Pope advised him to 1) be obedient; 2) work hard; and 3) have fun.
We returned home to sip some authentic Abuelita Mexican hot chocolate, supplied by the Hursts (friends of the Labits).
Late that night, Jordan confided in me that he didn't feel sad leaving all his family and friends. He figured he eventually would, but for now he just wanted to go and serve.
That smile hasn't diminished since he got his call to Pachuca, Mexico.
The MTC...
How can you be sad, when he is so thrilled to go?
Nonetheless, we shed a few tears, took pictures, said our good-byes, and took him to the MTC.
See you in two years, Elder Paynter...
For those wishing to correspond with Jordan while he is in the MTC, you can send letters and packages to the following address:
Elder Jordan Paynter
Nov24 MEX-PAC
2007 N 900 E Unit 83
Provo, Utah 84602
He will leave for Mexico on the 24 of November.
The last few days with Jordan...
Our last family picture was...well, never. Not with me and kids. Julie persuaded me have one taken before Jordan left on his mission, she even offered to take the pictures.
If we had been to her house by the time she wanted, the lighting would have been better, but she did an excellent job with what she had to work with.
Thanks so much, Julie!
Thanks so much, Julie!
Chloe & Mapleton Canyon
Though I have grown a "little" found of Chloe, Jordan has always loved her. He sounds like a proud father each time he plays with her. He insisted that she stay here until he left for the MTC. We will all (yes, all) miss her when she leaves.
Jordan loves to take pictures of sunsets, landscapes, and Chloe!
Jordan loves to take pictures of sunsets, landscapes, and Chloe!
Love this time of year!
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