April 29, 2011

P-day moved to Friday

Sorry I don't have alyssa's email on me so i'll work on that next week. haha! it seems every email starts this way! but anyway great week. Got to hear from Elder Scott and Oaks! It was amazing! they were both so great! Scott's spoke more to me. My favorite quote he gave is " to reach something never before achieved one must do something never before done." O! and "Grace comes after we've done all we can possibly do." should of brought my notes to the computer lab! dang! He also testified about how our calls are from God. He then pointed at two missionaries in my zone and made a comment about Costa Rica. And sure enough those missionaries are headed to Costa Rica! I love this Church and the power God gives to these loving leaders! Elder Scott also bore his testimoney of Christ and this Church. While he was i was thinking "man could any other leader from another church give a testimoney like this!" they can't! it was so amazing. I huge day in my Mission experience. Oooo other learning experience. You guys will get a kick out of it. because school is coming to a close we get alot of subsitute teachers! its really frustrating cause you waist the morning getting to know them and then another hour finding out where we are at in the lessons. One day it really really bugged me! The teacher then began into the lesson of "the importance of the Spirit in teaching". I had heard this lesson three times now! I was so torcked! I was so sick of listening to the same speach! While I was throwing a little tissy fit in my mind the teacher then told us to start practice teaching. I turned to my "investigators" and began to teach. I couldn't! I couldn't find scrilptures, i couldn't think of things to say, i couldn't answer questions. It was awful! I took me having to listen to the lesson THREE TIMES to finally get it! It's such a good thing the Lord knows me and knows how dence i can be. :) A few days ago I taught the whole lesson of the restoration in spanish! SKIYA! Maybe this Spanish thing is possible :) O that's right! Elder Scott blessed us all ( as an apostle of the Lord) with the gift of tounges! It's amazing cuz its actually working! it is so much easier! I do my part at studying and the words just somehow stay in there! How's everyone doing? Shelby your in some tournament or something? Please right me. I can't respond to everyone so don't be offended but i'd really like to hear from people. Dad those pics are so cute! Briell has gotten big already! Thank you everyone for your letters! they mean alot! Love you all and miss you tons. Now back to work!
 
Elder Valdez

April 19, 2011

Short Fuses

Ugh mom i lost your email adress! i threw the letter away that had it on it! ugh so sorry. anyway thank you so so much for the care pakage! it made my entire week! reminder that letters make my day! so all you lazies use some dear elder. :) jk dad please dearelder me your address that'd be nice. awesome week but also filled with drama. o boy do i have stories when i get home! loosing an elder in my district today :( don't know any details but we fasted and prayed for him very hard. o well what do ya do. everyone's gotten over the one week efy/scoutcamp feeling and now we're all realizing how long two years actually is. everyone's on short fuses and getting upset about the language. lot's to take care of. but me i'm so so hapy! this is the greatest thing ever! i feel the Spirit and am starting to recognize promptings. Elder Crayton is new to the church so he doesn't know the stories that we refer to all the time. so we bought him one of those primary book of mormon stories thingamajig. yeah he loves that and reads it all the time. hey i don't know how you could cordinate with sister stephenson but she has a news letter that she sends out to all the misionaries. if you could put in a snipit for me that'd be nice. her address is on my hotmail account or you can fb here on my account. anyway its been excellent! I'm studying Matthew and Christ's life. its been very good!
  
I love you all so so much and can't wait to spend forever with you guys. this church is true. Love you guys tons! :) be happy and enjoy life :)
 
Elder Valdez

April 14, 2011

First Week! "Oh my goodness..."

Hey I was so happy to get your letter. please keep using dearelder.com. it's faster and i only have half an our on this so i don't have time to read emails.
the week's been great. I was made DL on my second day here. i love my district! their so cool. I just have to get the hang of all this though. David Stott was made ZL on his third day!
K mom so so sorry but here's a few things. dad please read too :)
My feet stink. if there's like a spray or something i could use that'd be the best.
I need thumb  tacks. with long needles please. I'd also enjoy some pics from Mom and Dad.
I can't use dearelder so i need mo's address
I love seeing hand writing but I love how fast dearelder is too! Letter's really make my day so spread the word and keep them coming.
i need more colors for my marking pencil.
O very IMPORTANT. all my slacks say dry clean only. can you call the miss mall and see if that's true? dry cleaning here is expensive and they don't do a very good job.
Dad I'd also like your address please. send bella josh and brielle stuff.
someone please put my mailing address on fb.
yup and that's it :) still got time to say how much i love this! o my goodness we watched the Joseph smith movie the other night and all i could think of was Elder Hollands talk about "Nevermind that they were leaving their families fatherless. Nevermind that their followers were going to be homeless." remember that one? yeah please read that and go watch that movie. so powerful! I've had tough hours but never a tough day. there's always just so much going on that the days and your mood change. I love the Spirit! It's helped me so much. My mind is like crystal clear! all the spanish i've ever learned is flooding back to me. It feels so weirdly cool. so the thing that made my day today was i found out i play basketball everyday with Kelsey Brown's Missionary Friend. yeah way small world. we get to play basketball everyday Shelb! Ugh the day's are just so full and there's not a whole lot of time to waist. I'm looking at a ginormous work project! when i look at it i'm overwhelmed at all that needs to get done. so i just grab the closest thing to me and get to work. Valdez mindset no? how's everyone? How was josh's denver trip? how's AZ? Elder Tanner Winger left this morning for Argentina. got to see him and also get to see Elder Stott, Hansen, Burt, Carlsen, and (for josh) Elder Bennet. it so sweet to see all your buddies choosin the right! I'm making some close best friends too. Elder Brady is my companion. Shelb Elder Crayton is my new black friend from SLc. he's a sick basketball player. he's been a convert for two years! isn't that awesome! he's such an example to all of us to see him working so hard to still understand. Elder Gunnel is my buddy from Mesa. I forgot what highschool he's from. but anyway love the kid and he helps me stay happy. still lot's more to tell and lot's more to share but not time. so ttyl Until next tuesday.
please use dearelder.com instead of email! It'll save me money and typing time. mom please put your email address in your next letter. love you all!
Elder Valdez

Making The Drop!

Yoda unloads another Valdez missionary!  Not sure if Shelby knows what's going on....

Elder Valdez and Elder Stott!

Elder Valdez and his small but enthusiatic farewell party :)

This is the last photo taken of Elder Valdez.  When pulling up to the MTC there was such a huge line of cars.  Still about a block away our enthusiatic Elder couldn't take it anymore.  He begged to just be let loose and walked the rest of the way to the MTC.  Not even knowing if he made it to the building ok, we later found out that a security officer stopped him at the gate and simply asked, "Son, where did you come from?!" :)

April 10, 2011

Welcome!

Welcome to Elder Valdez’s blog!

Elder Jared James Valdez was called to serve in the Chile Concepcion South mission and reported to the MTC April 6, 2011.  As his family we are so proud and excited for him.

Thank you so much for your support and the friendship you’ve given Jared as he’s prepared for this phase of his life.  We hope this blog is a way you can stay updated on what is sure to be many adventures during the best two years of his life so far.

Viva Valdez!!! :)