JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA
COMPANION: ELDER CORDON
ASSISTANTS
It is 7:30, and we are on the road to Gainesville with $20,000 worth of iPads and accompanying equipment in our mini-van. And that's not even the most interesting thing we've done in the last 24 hours!
We had an awesome week. On Tuesday we went up to fetch Elder Welsh for a trade off. Elder Cordon stayed in Georgia (lucky) and I came back to Jacksonville. Elder Welsh is smart, passionate, extraordinarily humble, and strong-willed. I like him. Which is lucky, because he gets here today to replace Elder Cordon. Yep! Transfers have come again!!! In 12 transfers (each transfer is 6 weeks) I have only been in the area longer than Sent from my iPad
Other big news this week was Mission Leadership Council. Usually this is only zone leadership. But this month district leaders came too! Elder Cordon and I trained on exact obedience. We also made and presented 10 additional rules to what is found in the missionary handbook. Wondering what they are?
The FJM Specifics
1) Elders and Sisters may only be together if there are an uneven number of companionships present or if they are accompanied by members. They may not eat together except with the Bishop or the Ward Mission Leader. They may not ride in the same car.
2) The mission ends where the sand begins. No boardwalks, piers, beach, etc.
3) Prayerfully consider the standards on music found in the Missionary Handbook. Christian Rock and movie soundtracks are not permitted. The Mormon Tabernacle Choir, hymns, and classical music are recommended.
4) You must call for permission from President Craig or Sister Craig if you wish to miss proselyting time, studies, or exercise because of sickness, or for any other reason.
5) Do not call or text between 10 PM and 7 AM except for emergencies or if called by mission leaders.
6) Members may not give rides to missionary meetings except transfer meeting.
7) Dinner with an active member must be finished by 7:00. Dinner with a less-active member or an investigator may be at any time, and may last up to 90 minutes if you are teaching them a lesson.
8) No gyms. No candles in the apartment.
9) Do not make up studies after 5:00 PM, or after a zone meeting, zone conference, or mission conference.
10) The Power of Everyday Missionaries is the only book added to the Missionary Library.
Some of my influence can be seen in these... I do love my classical music! It is incredibly foggy today. Anyway. Two of my favorite quotes from PMG that we used in our training were: "Obedience shows our love for God." and "As you obey, you increase in faith, knowledge, wisdom, testimony, protection, and freedom." My very favorite reference, though, was from a general conference. "Elder Bruce R. McConkie taught: “Faith is a gift of God bestowed as a reward for personal righteousness. It is always given when righteousness is present, and the greater the measure of obedience to God’s laws the greater will be the endowment of faith” (Mormon Doctrine, 2nd ed. [1966], 264). If we desire more faith, we must be more obedient. When we teach our children by example or precept to be casual or situational in obeying God’s commandments, we prevent them from receiving this vital spiritual gift. Faith requires an attitude of exact obedience, even in the small, simple things."
MLC was Wednesday... What was Thursday? Oh! Temple trip!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yes, we go every six weeks. It's pretty fantastic. I will send along some pictures. The rule is that no one is allowed to put them on Facebook though! That's important.
The temple was amazing. I slept almost the whole way down there, which was nice. Late-night meetings and early-morning road trips have been gorging themselves on my sleepy time lately, so a nap was appreciated. Then the temple was perfect in every way. Wish we could talk about it! On the way back, we had a carload of my favorite missionaries (I pick who comes in our van) and it was just a wonderful time. We had another late night road trip on Thursday ferrying a missionary who got stranded back down to st. Augustine where his companion was waiting. There was some terrible accident that closed the 95 (which is the Jacksonville equivalent of the 5 or the 15) for HOURS! Anyway. Road trips for life!
Friday was a special day. You, in one million years, would never guess what happened. We went to a zone meeting in lake city, and then had a trade-off with the zone leaders there. Guess who is the senior zone leader in lake city?? ELDER COLLETT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was pretty firm in staying in his area with him. THEN guess what?????? Zone Leaders do baptismal interviews for baptismal candidates taught by district leaders, and the district leader in Starke needed three interviews done. So Elder Collett and I were in STARKE together!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! But wait, there is more. We knocked on the wrong door while we were there. Instead of a missionary, a middle-aged lady answered the door. And we TAUGHT HER THE GOSPEL. So Elder Collett and I taught the Restoration, together, in Starke, and invited that lady to be baptized. It was perfect. She accepted a return appointment and a Book of Mormon and everything.
Now Saturday. Saturday was the most specialist day of them all. On Saturday, February 28th, three gorgeous, precious souls entered the waters of baptism. Marquez was baptized by Brother Henderson, a recent convert in the ward. Marquez's grandmother, who, until Monday, was absolutely not going to allow him to join the church, not only signed the necessary paperwork but bought him new clothes, brought him to the service, and came to church to see him confirmed!! Elder Cordon confirmed Marquez. Aniya and Cheyanne were baptized by their father Brother Crump. Brother Crump was ordained to the Melchizedek Priesthood in sacrament meeting the next day, and then turned around and confirmed his two daughters only seconds later. That is five saving ordinances in one family, plus two for Marquez, all in 24 hours. Also, testimony meeting was pretty special. Can you imagine getting a testimony service started with three confirmations and an ordination? It was phenomenal. Saturday night after the baptism we had dinner with the Bishops family. Bishop is the one who convinced Marquez's grandmother to allow him to join. He also invited one of our investigators to the meal with us. The investigators name is David, and he accepted a baptism date as well.
Sunday was pretty straightforward. We worked, we had church, we had a five and a half hour meeting after church, I got a new iPad which is mine forever, apparently. Thank you mom and dad!! The Church is giving all the online mission new iPads but the missionary's family or home stake pays for them. But we get to take them home with us. WOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's like Christmas!!!!!!!!!!!! The Church is also having us all go offline while this process happens, and has rolled out a very thorough new training on how to use Facebook and other digital tools.
Let me tell you something about the digital age, for a moment. The Internet does not belong to the adversary. The digital age is not his reign of power. The Internet was inspired to further the work of God. It was brought forth to further His purposes, and has been an incredible tool in the accomplishment of family history, missionary work, education, and many other noble and worthwhile endeavors. Missionaries are being given digital tools and are being kept current in the digital age, and not harbored in isolation, because Jesus Christ is the master of this age, He is the Master of this world and the digital world and of every world. He does not concede battles, realms, or territory to the filth and smut of the adversary. This Church is His Kingdom, we are His servants, and we will win. There will be missionaries on the Internet. It will yet become a holy place. A terrible evil has been allowed to infect the digital world. We will purge it. This is our call, and we will not shirk, we will not fear, we do not doubt.
I am driving through Starke. Seems like I'm back here once a week!
I love being a missionary. I love 216 missionaries I serve with. I love to hear their thoughts, I love to see their faces and receive revelation pertaining to them. I love the people of Jacksonville. I love to tell them what I know to be true. We find new investigators all the time, just walking down the street, telling every single person we see the source of our happiness and joy. I believe one day each of us will have to answer for every ounce of misery suffered by our brothers and sisters that could have been prevented had we shared the light of our hope. To hoard the gift of testimony and faith is to endanger the lifeblood of the soul. So give, and be glad.
While everyone who was baptized changed out of their wet clothes, Elder Cordon and I stood and taught the restoration lesson. We were clothed in our all-white clothes. There were about a dozen investigators there and maybe 30 or 40 members. We filled that room with our testimony. It was a beautiful thing.
I want to finish with a sacred experience I had this week. I told a family this week that I was an Elder, holding the restored high priesthood, endowed with power in a holy temple, and called from the place of my nativity by a prophet of God. I was sent by Jesus Christ to their home to deliver a message, and could receive revelation for their family, because Jesus Christ would tell me their potential, their needs, and their possible rewards. Wide-eyed, they asked what was specific to them. By the power of the Holy Ghost, I saw their personal concerns. I sat on the edge of my seat, told them the subject and the source of their concerns and fears, blessed their home, made sacred promises in the name of Jesus Christ conditional to their obedience to certain commandments, and testified of the answers to questions they had asked only in their own hearts. A white light filled my vision. My frame shook. I thought of nothing, but I felt more than words could express.
What a glorious time to be alive. What a beautiful mural to be added to! What a privilege to labor with such holiness and strength. For I am a sin-stained beggar, fallen at the feet of the Physician. But I will cry for Him and of Him and love Him with every breath. I adore my Lord. His works are mighty and just. His dominion is unbounded and Everlasting. His promised are sure. It is my joy to serve Him. It is my passion daily to delve deeper into His debt, and to lean harder upon His grace. I love Him, and He loves me. And I love you. Happy letter day.
~Elder Jorgensen
Letters Home
Hey Mom! You're the best. Please pray for me. I am starting a 40 day
fast this week! It's where you give something or something's up that
are holding you back from focusing on the work and the Lord. I love
you! I am working super, super hard. As hard as I can. But no! I can
work harder! I can do more! I will do more!
You'd like my new companion, well you'd like Elder cordon too. Oh! I
need to send pictures! Love you!
~Elder Jorgensen
P.S. Just kidding. I'll have to send all the pictures next week. I love
you! Sorry about the delay. We had a series of unexpected
developments. Sigh. I love you!