Dear Family!
It is so wonderful to hear all is going well with you all at home, busy as usual, but that's just the typical right, haha! Grover Pride showed at the wrestling tournament this last weekend? That's awesome! That goes to show who the wrestling team has been relying on for the last couple years right JJ? You, and now Jade and Jens, haha! Thats super awesome, I am hecka proud of you all, you are the best! Everything here is going well, just work work work like usual, haha, but very enjoyable! We had a temple day with President Lewis to get us pumped for our White Christmas coming up, our Mmonth full of baptisms - we are super excited! We have seen so many miracles, it has been unreal. We have two baptisms coming up for this Christmas, we are excited! One for the 22, and the lady who has been quiting smoking for the 24, it is so awesome! We had a super awesome lesson with her last night, we took a member with us that quit smoking about a year ago, after 35+ years of smoking, and he helped her so much! He told her she had to quit today and never look back, and she listened to him more than she ever did to us when we said that because we have never smoked. She handed me her carton of cigaretts, and now I can prooudly say that for the first time in my life I have held one, haha. It was a wonderful little miracle! Yesterday we were at church and one of the mission presidency was at church; we talked to him and he told us to tell her to quit now and to take a member with us who has quit smoking so we turned around and our newly called ward mission leader was there so we asked him if he knew anyone in the ward who had quit smoking and he said his step-dad had, but he didnt know if he would go out with us, we gave it a try and he said he would love to, then we had an awesome lesson! OH THE JOYS OF CHRISTMAS MIRACLES!!!!! Just a little update, but all is well. Thanks so much for the prayers, they are working so very much.
We still haven't heard the ruling for skyping yet, so hopefully by next week we will know. President has been really busy lately with all the temple tours and holiday stuff. This is a crazy busy time with out all the commercial stuff, missionaries are very busy this time of year, haha. I honestly can't think of stuff I need at the moment, I always go blank when I sit down to email, haha. I might have to start making notes or something, the only thing I can think of is like stamps or something I will be sending Christmas cards, so those might come in really handy, haha! Thanks so much for all you do! Anything you guys need from me, I will probably sending stuff next P-day, so just let me know by then :)
Les Quiero Bastante!!!!!
Elder Jesse Grover
12/13/2011
12/06/2011
Calfornia - December 5, 2011
Hey family, how are you? Here we are doing well. The weather has been alright, the other day it was raining cats and dogs - only in California, right, haha, jk! We have gotten a little bit of rain, but not to much, the worst day was Thanksgiving, and it was really nice weather for football! But we have been told it will start raining a lot, like for three days at a time, so we are excited for the blessings that will come from these times. We are excited for this month and for our investigators, we had three come to church yesterday - it was awesome! They are all great and could get baptized very soon we are hoping for a "WHITE CHRISTMAS"! They are working for the 24th of December, the perfect gift for our savior Jesus Christ on his birthday, huh? we are super excited for them (by the way, I had you pray for Maria Rivera - it is actually Maria Montoya - sorry, Spanish peoples names can be a little confusing at times, haha). Maria is working on quiting smoking and doing really well she had only smoked one cigarette in like 3 days, so so is doing very well. It is amazing the miracles that happen through the gospel, and i get to witness them first hand, it is so exciting! We are super excited for the holiday season and the closeness we can feel to our savior. The first presidency devotional last night was awesome! I don't know if you all were able to watch it, but the new video was really good too.
It's good to hear that all is well at home. I hope you get feeling better, this time of year is really stressful, but the important part is the birth of our savior Jesus Christ! President Monson talked on that last night; it was really good cause people do get lost in the commercial-ness of Christmas and lose focus of what is really important. That's the joy of being a missionary, we can't really pay attention to worldly things and we get to focus more and more on the importance of the gospel. Remember the reason for the season, and remember who you are and what Jesus would do, always be an example of the believers, never lose an opurtunity to share your testimony with those around you, even if they are members you can help strengthen them. The joy of the gospel is that it is for everyone, and Jesus Christ paid for all of us so we are all equal we all just need to live a life that he would be proud of. I love you all so much, and thank you for all you do, please keep me in your prayers along with our investigators, they are truly awesome people, and I know prayers work. I thank you for all the prayers that have been done for us, they are truly blessings.
Les Quiero Bastante!!!!
Elder Jesse Grover
P.S. I will ask President Lewis about skyping home for Christmas, a lot of missionaries are asking and wanting to do it too, so it is a possibility. I don't think they were able to last year, but we do have a different mission president now, so who knows :)
It's good to hear that all is well at home. I hope you get feeling better, this time of year is really stressful, but the important part is the birth of our savior Jesus Christ! President Monson talked on that last night; it was really good cause people do get lost in the commercial-ness of Christmas and lose focus of what is really important. That's the joy of being a missionary, we can't really pay attention to worldly things and we get to focus more and more on the importance of the gospel. Remember the reason for the season, and remember who you are and what Jesus would do, always be an example of the believers, never lose an opurtunity to share your testimony with those around you, even if they are members you can help strengthen them. The joy of the gospel is that it is for everyone, and Jesus Christ paid for all of us so we are all equal we all just need to live a life that he would be proud of. I love you all so much, and thank you for all you do, please keep me in your prayers along with our investigators, they are truly awesome people, and I know prayers work. I thank you for all the prayers that have been done for us, they are truly blessings.
Les Quiero Bastante!!!!
Elder Jesse Grover
P.S. I will ask President Lewis about skyping home for Christmas, a lot of missionaries are asking and wanting to do it too, so it is a possibility. I don't think they were able to last year, but we do have a different mission president now, so who knows :)
12/02/2011
California - November 29,2011
TO MY DEAREST FAMILY,
Hey, how is all going? Transfers were this week, and I will be staying here in East Sac with Elder Chirino, so this is where I will be spending the holidays. I will live in house full of native speakers! Yeah, Elder Chirino de El Salvador, the other 2 elders, Elder Martinez de Mexico and Elder Sarmiento de Peru, so I think God and President really want to crack down on my spanish - I will be living spanish, haha. That's really the only news, not much new here, just doing missionary work and all. We have been searching for people to teach and God has blessed us so very much with finding people to teach. We are very excited, we will be helping a lady quit smoking, I am supper excited to do it, to help someone give up something like this, it will really be the first investigator I have had that we have got to this point and have had them want to change. She asked us last night to help her, her daughter was baptized back in July and she likes the church, and she really wants to give up the smoking. Please pray for her, her name is Maria Rivera.
That's nice that JJ and Tamra found a place to live, and that the baptism and wedding and Thanksgiving all went good. My Thanksgiving was good, we had good dinners. We are still trying to finish all the leftovers that members gave us, haha. Tell the aunties hi for me and everyone else. So Jess's girlfriend is coming here, right? I think I saw her on the arrivals list, haha, she will be arriving today then, haha, crazy small world, I guess.
Well, I love you all, and sorry I have slacked on writing and birthdays and special events - it's really busy. I am really trying to lose myself in the work and spending more time in the scriptures and on my Spanish, please pray for me to prorgess. I want so bad to be the best I can and I know that I can work, work, work - that is the answer, and of course prayers. Me and Elder Chirino have a lot of goals for this transfer as a companionship, we are the most seasoned (like the oldest) most have an old missionary and a young missionary, and we are in the middle, he is out like 19 months and I have been out 9. There aren't like zone leaders, so we have high expectations to accomplish, and we know God has big plans for us, we are super excited, so pray for us to live to our potencial ok :)
Les Quiero Bastante!!!!!!!!!!
Elder Jesse Grover
Hey, how is all going? Transfers were this week, and I will be staying here in East Sac with Elder Chirino, so this is where I will be spending the holidays. I will live in house full of native speakers! Yeah, Elder Chirino de El Salvador, the other 2 elders, Elder Martinez de Mexico and Elder Sarmiento de Peru, so I think God and President really want to crack down on my spanish - I will be living spanish, haha. That's really the only news, not much new here, just doing missionary work and all. We have been searching for people to teach and God has blessed us so very much with finding people to teach. We are very excited, we will be helping a lady quit smoking, I am supper excited to do it, to help someone give up something like this, it will really be the first investigator I have had that we have got to this point and have had them want to change. She asked us last night to help her, her daughter was baptized back in July and she likes the church, and she really wants to give up the smoking. Please pray for her, her name is Maria Rivera.
That's nice that JJ and Tamra found a place to live, and that the baptism and wedding and Thanksgiving all went good. My Thanksgiving was good, we had good dinners. We are still trying to finish all the leftovers that members gave us, haha. Tell the aunties hi for me and everyone else. So Jess's girlfriend is coming here, right? I think I saw her on the arrivals list, haha, she will be arriving today then, haha, crazy small world, I guess.
Well, I love you all, and sorry I have slacked on writing and birthdays and special events - it's really busy. I am really trying to lose myself in the work and spending more time in the scriptures and on my Spanish, please pray for me to prorgess. I want so bad to be the best I can and I know that I can work, work, work - that is the answer, and of course prayers. Me and Elder Chirino have a lot of goals for this transfer as a companionship, we are the most seasoned (like the oldest) most have an old missionary and a young missionary, and we are in the middle, he is out like 19 months and I have been out 9. There aren't like zone leaders, so we have high expectations to accomplish, and we know God has big plans for us, we are super excited, so pray for us to live to our potencial ok :)
Les Quiero Bastante!!!!!!!!!!
Elder Jesse Grover
California - November 24, 2011
Hoy es el Dia de De Accion de Gracias, entonces Estoy muy agadicido por muchas cosas pero primero es nuestro Padre Celestial y su hijo Jesucristo, y por su plan para nosotros. y tambien estoy muy agradicidos por ustedes y por todo que hacen para mi, por las oracions y su apoyo. el evangelio de Jesucristo es una bendicion por nosotros, y estoy agradicido por la opurtunidad de estar aqui en Sacramento y servir las personas que viven aqui. ahorita estamos buscando por personas para ensenar para tener un navidad especial o un regalo por nuestro senor Jesucristo en su cumpleanos. yo se que veremos muchas milagros in este mes.
I am doing really well out here in Sacramento. I got to play football this morning in the rain, you have no idea how much fun it was! I miss it, but God gives us little blessings to help us on our way, just a little blessing to brighten my day, haha! We will be eating with a member, his name is Antonio. He is great, he feeds us every Thursday. He was baptized about a year and a half ago, and he loves missionaries. Today is our preperation day, which is nice so we can enjoy the holiday. We actually have two dinners, but I will try to not eat too much, I am still trying to lose weight that I put on in the Tongan ward, we will see how that goes, haha :)
Well, one of my companions flew home Tuesday after two years of service. He went home a week early to see his brother before he leaves for the MTC, they would have missed each other by a day, but they let him go home a week early to see his brother. The transfer ends next week. Time goes by so fast, it's almost December, can you believe it? Time flies by so fast.
Jade has a girl friend and Jens is 16 - wow, that's insane! JJ and Tamra are having a baby - WOW that's so insane! Wow, good luck with everything all you alls, wow!
HAVE A WONDERFUL THANKSGIVING I LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!!!!!!!1
Love Elder Jesse Grover
I am doing really well out here in Sacramento. I got to play football this morning in the rain, you have no idea how much fun it was! I miss it, but God gives us little blessings to help us on our way, just a little blessing to brighten my day, haha! We will be eating with a member, his name is Antonio. He is great, he feeds us every Thursday. He was baptized about a year and a half ago, and he loves missionaries. Today is our preperation day, which is nice so we can enjoy the holiday. We actually have two dinners, but I will try to not eat too much, I am still trying to lose weight that I put on in the Tongan ward, we will see how that goes, haha :)
Well, one of my companions flew home Tuesday after two years of service. He went home a week early to see his brother before he leaves for the MTC, they would have missed each other by a day, but they let him go home a week early to see his brother. The transfer ends next week. Time goes by so fast, it's almost December, can you believe it? Time flies by so fast.
Jade has a girl friend and Jens is 16 - wow, that's insane! JJ and Tamra are having a baby - WOW that's so insane! Wow, good luck with everything all you alls, wow!
HAVE A WONDERFUL THANKSGIVING I LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!!!!!!!1
Love Elder Jesse Grover
11/14/2011
California - November 14, 2011
Hey Family!!!!
Yeah, I did hear about the two missionaries down in Texas, that really is too bad. It does make you a little cautious, but God has a plan for each and every one of us, we just need to trust in Him. Yes, I will be careful. Luckily though, I rarely use a bike, every once in a while when we run out of miles on the car, but we do pretty good at conserving our miles. We just cover really big areas, so to try to cover it all on bike would be really tough, but some days we do use bikes to get around to close places. That's cool that you went to a missionary fireside; help out the missionaries in every way you can and you will see blessings that you couldn't even imagine. This is God's work, not ours, but God's, and it is not just missionaries who do missionary work, every member a missionary. That is so cool you got to meet the ladies from the General Presidencies, I am sure that was great. Sister Dalton's talk in general conference was so good! Usally the sister's talks in general confrence are so-so, but this was like Elder Holland throwing down the doctorine, it was so good! Of course, I listened in spanish, but I still understood most of it, haha.
Well, girls wrestling, just remember it's their choice to do it, you just have to deal with it and they will too. It is a man's sport, if they want to do it they will have to deal with the pain and the abuse, 'cause guys shouldn't take it easy on them or get all wierded out, just go out and take care of buisness. Out here in California they have tournaments strictly for girls. We talked with a guy while I was in Stockton, and he was a wrestling coach down there and both of his girls wrestle, and they are good. We live in a world today where girls want to do all a man can do because they feel they are not good enough i guess, i dont know. They can do things we can't, that's how we are created; some people go against how they are created or who they are just to try to please others or for just a little pride. All we can do is just be ourselves and live like Jesus, right?
So things here are going good we are really just trying to find people to teach. They have just baptized quite a bit a couple of transfers ago, so the teaching pool has been limited, but God has prepared people for us, we just need to find them. We had interviews with president Lewis this week, those were really good. Both of us are progressing in the mission, we are still both young, which is kinda crazy, but it's been good, President Lewis is great, I love and respect him so much. And Sister Lewis is awesome too, they are perfect for the calling here. They are kinda like you guys when it comes to cold weather, I was talking with Sister Lewis while my companion was being interviewed and she said that she sleeps with like five blankets and big old sleepers while President just has one blanket, and I started laughing 'cause that's how you are, haha! So you are not the only ones. Winter there huh? Here too, but we don't have snow, just rain and cold weather, kinda greary, but that's how it will be 'till about May, I guess, haha. Lots of water here, haha. But it's great, it is great to hear all is well with you guys. How is dad doing? I feel so left out of the loop, but as long as he is ok, that's good, haha. I love you all so much! You all be safe too ok? We live in a crazy world out there, but we are guided by the light of Christ!
Love Elder Jesse Grover
Yeah, I did hear about the two missionaries down in Texas, that really is too bad. It does make you a little cautious, but God has a plan for each and every one of us, we just need to trust in Him. Yes, I will be careful. Luckily though, I rarely use a bike, every once in a while when we run out of miles on the car, but we do pretty good at conserving our miles. We just cover really big areas, so to try to cover it all on bike would be really tough, but some days we do use bikes to get around to close places. That's cool that you went to a missionary fireside; help out the missionaries in every way you can and you will see blessings that you couldn't even imagine. This is God's work, not ours, but God's, and it is not just missionaries who do missionary work, every member a missionary. That is so cool you got to meet the ladies from the General Presidencies, I am sure that was great. Sister Dalton's talk in general conference was so good! Usally the sister's talks in general confrence are so-so, but this was like Elder Holland throwing down the doctorine, it was so good! Of course, I listened in spanish, but I still understood most of it, haha.
Well, girls wrestling, just remember it's their choice to do it, you just have to deal with it and they will too. It is a man's sport, if they want to do it they will have to deal with the pain and the abuse, 'cause guys shouldn't take it easy on them or get all wierded out, just go out and take care of buisness. Out here in California they have tournaments strictly for girls. We talked with a guy while I was in Stockton, and he was a wrestling coach down there and both of his girls wrestle, and they are good. We live in a world today where girls want to do all a man can do because they feel they are not good enough i guess, i dont know. They can do things we can't, that's how we are created; some people go against how they are created or who they are just to try to please others or for just a little pride. All we can do is just be ourselves and live like Jesus, right?
So things here are going good we are really just trying to find people to teach. They have just baptized quite a bit a couple of transfers ago, so the teaching pool has been limited, but God has prepared people for us, we just need to find them. We had interviews with president Lewis this week, those were really good. Both of us are progressing in the mission, we are still both young, which is kinda crazy, but it's been good, President Lewis is great, I love and respect him so much. And Sister Lewis is awesome too, they are perfect for the calling here. They are kinda like you guys when it comes to cold weather, I was talking with Sister Lewis while my companion was being interviewed and she said that she sleeps with like five blankets and big old sleepers while President just has one blanket, and I started laughing 'cause that's how you are, haha! So you are not the only ones. Winter there huh? Here too, but we don't have snow, just rain and cold weather, kinda greary, but that's how it will be 'till about May, I guess, haha. Lots of water here, haha. But it's great, it is great to hear all is well with you guys. How is dad doing? I feel so left out of the loop, but as long as he is ok, that's good, haha. I love you all so much! You all be safe too ok? We live in a crazy world out there, but we are guided by the light of Christ!
Love Elder Jesse Grover
11/07/2011
California - November 7, 2011
HEY FAMILY!!!!!!!!!!
Yes I did move, I am up here in East Sac, back in the Del Norte Ward. I arrived up here Saturday evening, yeah it was quite an experience, haha! I had to try to get a ride while a huge Tangan funeral was going on, and you know how big those things are! I finally got a ride, and then on Saturday I couldn't get ahold of the guy; I was freaking out, but I eventually got a ride, and I am up here now with my two new companions Elder Chorino de Virginia pero antes de El Salvador y Elder Hutchings de South Carolina, they are great! Going back to the Del Norte ward was awesome, I felt so welcomed there, and my recent convert, who hasn't been to church since I left, was there, it was so awesome! I love this work, some of the happiest moments of my life have been here. This is true joy, everyone needs to do this, it is seriously the best!!!!
I am sorry to hear about the football game, it sounds very simular to my junior year, does it not? Undefeated until the semis, and then losing. And a quarterback who tried to do it all himself and really not perform very well; yeah, I remember how that is. Football is a team sport, you do your responsibility and rely on everyone to do theirs, and you trust in everyone and guess what happens? You have fun whether you win or you lose. But the Broncos almost always win, so it's kinda' a win-win situation, haha! But I was super proud of them, I always brag about Blanding and how awesome we are, haha, jk! Tell Jens that this means that he should get to work now. He knows the taste of defeat and dissapointment and you never want to taste it again, so work hard and put in all your efforts! And Jade and Jens, you both need to be positive about wrestling. I regret being a terd about wrestling now, you will look back and regret it, and regrets are not good! So no matter who is coaching you, do your best and be who you are and love it, and love your family and love your God and show that wherever you are, and things will be good, real good, I promise. NO EXCUSES NO REGRETS!! I promise all will be good, I know it will because our Father in Heaven has a plan for us, and it is great, I love it! I finished the Book of Mormon today, marking all the references to Jesus Christ, and I will tell you, my testimony of the Book of Mormon and of my Savior Jesus Christ has grown immensely, I cant even describe it. I am so greatfull for all te prophets who sacrificed their lives for us to help us to have this book. Our beloved profeta Joseph Smith and all he did, and our Savior Jesus Christ. I am greatful for all of you and the support you give me, you have no idea how much of a difference it makes! Without you all, I would be nowhere, but because of your help and guidence, I am here, and I love it! Thank you so much for everything you do.
So, a cool little fact, the street I live on is called what? ....... JESSE, haha! Cool huh? But it is really wierd, some of the signs are spelled Jesse and some are spelled Jessie, it is really funny, but we all know the correct way to spell it right, haha :)
I love you all and I pray and hope all is well at home. Dad, be careful ok, no more close calls, ok! Rely on the Lord, he knows what's up, ok, haha! We all need to rely on Him, every single one of us needs to.
Les Quiero Mucho
Su hijo, hermano, tio, amigo, ect....
Elder Jesse Grover
P.S. Yes, I want to be in the drawing, of course you sillys, haha! If it is an inconvinence 'cause I won't be there, then don't worry about it, but I would love to be in it - you know how much I love getting presents for people, it's the best :)
P.S.S. OH YES, BY THE WAY I GOT THE PACKAGE, THANK YOU SO MUCH! IT WAS THE BEST! THANKS FOR THE CARDS AND THE LETTERS AND THE CANDY AND THE SUPER COOL PUMPKINS - EVERYONE WAS JEALOUS OF THEM !!!!! THANK YOU
LES QUIERO MUCHISIMO!!!!!
Yes I did move, I am up here in East Sac, back in the Del Norte Ward. I arrived up here Saturday evening, yeah it was quite an experience, haha! I had to try to get a ride while a huge Tangan funeral was going on, and you know how big those things are! I finally got a ride, and then on Saturday I couldn't get ahold of the guy; I was freaking out, but I eventually got a ride, and I am up here now with my two new companions Elder Chorino de Virginia pero antes de El Salvador y Elder Hutchings de South Carolina, they are great! Going back to the Del Norte ward was awesome, I felt so welcomed there, and my recent convert, who hasn't been to church since I left, was there, it was so awesome! I love this work, some of the happiest moments of my life have been here. This is true joy, everyone needs to do this, it is seriously the best!!!!
I am sorry to hear about the football game, it sounds very simular to my junior year, does it not? Undefeated until the semis, and then losing. And a quarterback who tried to do it all himself and really not perform very well; yeah, I remember how that is. Football is a team sport, you do your responsibility and rely on everyone to do theirs, and you trust in everyone and guess what happens? You have fun whether you win or you lose. But the Broncos almost always win, so it's kinda' a win-win situation, haha! But I was super proud of them, I always brag about Blanding and how awesome we are, haha, jk! Tell Jens that this means that he should get to work now. He knows the taste of defeat and dissapointment and you never want to taste it again, so work hard and put in all your efforts! And Jade and Jens, you both need to be positive about wrestling. I regret being a terd about wrestling now, you will look back and regret it, and regrets are not good! So no matter who is coaching you, do your best and be who you are and love it, and love your family and love your God and show that wherever you are, and things will be good, real good, I promise. NO EXCUSES NO REGRETS!! I promise all will be good, I know it will because our Father in Heaven has a plan for us, and it is great, I love it! I finished the Book of Mormon today, marking all the references to Jesus Christ, and I will tell you, my testimony of the Book of Mormon and of my Savior Jesus Christ has grown immensely, I cant even describe it. I am so greatfull for all te prophets who sacrificed their lives for us to help us to have this book. Our beloved profeta Joseph Smith and all he did, and our Savior Jesus Christ. I am greatful for all of you and the support you give me, you have no idea how much of a difference it makes! Without you all, I would be nowhere, but because of your help and guidence, I am here, and I love it! Thank you so much for everything you do.
So, a cool little fact, the street I live on is called what? ....... JESSE, haha! Cool huh? But it is really wierd, some of the signs are spelled Jesse and some are spelled Jessie, it is really funny, but we all know the correct way to spell it right, haha :)
I love you all and I pray and hope all is well at home. Dad, be careful ok, no more close calls, ok! Rely on the Lord, he knows what's up, ok, haha! We all need to rely on Him, every single one of us needs to.
Les Quiero Mucho
Su hijo, hermano, tio, amigo, ect....
Elder Jesse Grover
P.S. Yes, I want to be in the drawing, of course you sillys, haha! If it is an inconvinence 'cause I won't be there, then don't worry about it, but I would love to be in it - you know how much I love getting presents for people, it's the best :)
P.S.S. OH YES, BY THE WAY I GOT THE PACKAGE, THANK YOU SO MUCH! IT WAS THE BEST! THANKS FOR THE CARDS AND THE LETTERS AND THE CANDY AND THE SUPER COOL PUMPKINS - EVERYONE WAS JEALOUS OF THEM !!!!! THANK YOU
LES QUIERO MUCHISIMO!!!!!
11/01/2011
California - October 31, 2011
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY JADE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hello my dearest family, it is good to hear that all is well. Now I am un pequito lost about dad's acciedent, but if all is well then that's ok 'cause I know God watches out for us. So I hope all is well and I trust that everything is good. It is good to hear that sports are going well for everyone. How did Jade do at state x-country? I have been wondering. Who does the football team play in the semis are they looking like they could 3-peat? Thanks for the updates, I love hearing how awesome we are, but of course it is always good to be reminded haha :)
Well, I am still in Tongan work, but it looks like this week I will head out, but who knows. God knows why I am here and what I need to do, so my goal is to do all I can here. But the ward is great, they are unreal, testimonies are so strong, I have learned so much from them. Have you heard of indexing? It deals with family history. The stake here had a goal of indexing 1 million names in October, that's a lot, and guess what, they did it in only 28 and 1/2 days! Unreal huh? And guess what ward indexed the most, yeah, the Tongan ward! There was a lady who indexed 30 thousand plus from our ward, that was over 1 thousand a day! At the start there was only about 5 members that had computers from the ward, but they are so dedicated it's unreal! Their testimonies are so strong. And I had a tongan baptism, haha, yeah crazy, cool huh? He is so cool! He is 11 he is for sure a little Tongan, he is so funny!
Hello my dearest family, it is good to hear that all is well. Now I am un pequito lost about dad's acciedent, but if all is well then that's ok 'cause I know God watches out for us. So I hope all is well and I trust that everything is good. It is good to hear that sports are going well for everyone. How did Jade do at state x-country? I have been wondering. Who does the football team play in the semis are they looking like they could 3-peat? Thanks for the updates, I love hearing how awesome we are, but of course it is always good to be reminded haha :)
Well, I am still in Tongan work, but it looks like this week I will head out, but who knows. God knows why I am here and what I need to do, so my goal is to do all I can here. But the ward is great, they are unreal, testimonies are so strong, I have learned so much from them. Have you heard of indexing? It deals with family history. The stake here had a goal of indexing 1 million names in October, that's a lot, and guess what, they did it in only 28 and 1/2 days! Unreal huh? And guess what ward indexed the most, yeah, the Tongan ward! There was a lady who indexed 30 thousand plus from our ward, that was over 1 thousand a day! At the start there was only about 5 members that had computers from the ward, but they are so dedicated it's unreal! Their testimonies are so strong. And I had a tongan baptism, haha, yeah crazy, cool huh? He is so cool! He is 11 he is for sure a little Tongan, he is so funny!
Tui, our baptism on Sunday
We had to fill the font with a fire hose cause it filled really slow.
Pues, I haven't gotten the package, but maybe sometime soon. I am worried that they are sending it to my next area, but i dont know. Thanks so much for all you do! I love you more than you can possibly know! Please be safe, and I hope you heal, dad, from whatever happened.
Les quiero muchisisisimo
Elder Jesse Grover
10/26/2011
California - October 24, 2011
This is Elder Grover reporting from the Liahona Tongan Ward!
Haha, I am emailing earlier this week, as you can tell, so I guess I won't hear from you until next week, but I hope all is going well and everything is good. I am enjoyng my stay here, it is really different, but the members are really nice. We cover like the whole southern part of our mission, but we don't have miles to drive that, so basically we just stay in South Sac - that is the highest population of Polys. I FEEL SO SMALL HERE!!!! No, but really, I am like a midget to these guys, they are huge, haha! I get my hand crushed every time I go to shake someone's hand, haha. We have only eaten actual Tongan food once - I like mexican food better, haha! Tongals eat a lot of seafood, and you know I am not the biggest fan of that, but they feed you a lot! Usually they take us to a buffet - so much for losing a little weight, haha! I am putting it all back on, and fast, haha! But I should be leaving sometime this week, but who knows, I guess it's up to the Lord. We actually have a baptism set up for this Sunday, yeah we are super excited! We have a lot of cool people we are teaching.
So this week we have Elder Yamashita from the 70 coming to do a mission tour, so we will meet him at zone conference on Thursday, pretty cool huh? Yeah, lots of crazy stuff going on, I can't believe how fast time is going, it is unreal to me (es tan dificil porque yo quiero mas tiempo yo necesito mas tiempo para cumplir mis metas y todo. pero yo se solamente tengo dos anos para cumplir todo y solomente tengo un pequito mas 16 meses). Serving here has helped me realize that God has a calling for each of us, and there are people we have to meet and to find and to teach and to help baptize, but it's God's will, he knows mas de nosotros he has people that I need to help, and that is why we move around so much, and that's why change is necesary, even going to a tongan ward. God loves us and has a plan for us, we just need to follow Him and be worthy and ready because time flies, we don't have time to sit and twiddle our thumbs, we got to get up and move, which for me is a change. Work, Work, Work, solution for all, and God's work is the best of all. I love you all so much, I hope all is well with you and that God is blessing you as much is he me, and i know he loves us and caes for us. I love you with all my heart. LES QUIERO MUCHO!!!!!!!
Love su hijo, hermano, tio, amigo, ect...
Elder Jesse Grover
Haha, I am emailing earlier this week, as you can tell, so I guess I won't hear from you until next week, but I hope all is going well and everything is good. I am enjoyng my stay here, it is really different, but the members are really nice. We cover like the whole southern part of our mission, but we don't have miles to drive that, so basically we just stay in South Sac - that is the highest population of Polys. I FEEL SO SMALL HERE!!!! No, but really, I am like a midget to these guys, they are huge, haha! I get my hand crushed every time I go to shake someone's hand, haha. We have only eaten actual Tongan food once - I like mexican food better, haha! Tongals eat a lot of seafood, and you know I am not the biggest fan of that, but they feed you a lot! Usually they take us to a buffet - so much for losing a little weight, haha! I am putting it all back on, and fast, haha! But I should be leaving sometime this week, but who knows, I guess it's up to the Lord. We actually have a baptism set up for this Sunday, yeah we are super excited! We have a lot of cool people we are teaching.
So this week we have Elder Yamashita from the 70 coming to do a mission tour, so we will meet him at zone conference on Thursday, pretty cool huh? Yeah, lots of crazy stuff going on, I can't believe how fast time is going, it is unreal to me (es tan dificil porque yo quiero mas tiempo yo necesito mas tiempo para cumplir mis metas y todo. pero yo se solamente tengo dos anos para cumplir todo y solomente tengo un pequito mas 16 meses). Serving here has helped me realize that God has a calling for each of us, and there are people we have to meet and to find and to teach and to help baptize, but it's God's will, he knows mas de nosotros he has people that I need to help, and that is why we move around so much, and that's why change is necesary, even going to a tongan ward. God loves us and has a plan for us, we just need to follow Him and be worthy and ready because time flies, we don't have time to sit and twiddle our thumbs, we got to get up and move, which for me is a change. Work, Work, Work, solution for all, and God's work is the best of all. I love you all so much, I hope all is well with you and that God is blessing you as much is he me, and i know he loves us and caes for us. I love you with all my heart. LES QUIERO MUCHO!!!!!!!
Love su hijo, hermano, tio, amigo, ect...
Elder Jesse Grover
California - October 17, 2011
Hello Family!!!!!
So transfers happened and guess what? I am headed off to English work, no, well thats a lie, I am going to the Liahona Tongan Ward, haha! Crazy huh? Yeah, I am a little shocked; it will only be temporary though, I will be up there for a week or two because the elders there don't have driving privileges, so I will be there until they can get that figured out and then I will go back to EAST SAC! Yeah, I am super excited! It will be a little different, and I will be in another threesome up there because one of the missionaries is going home mid-way through the transfer, and I will be with another native companion! I guess God wants me to learn Spanish, haha! But EAST SAC again? I am pretty sad to be leaving Stockton actually, we had a lot going on here. We had our baptism this past week, it was way awesome - at least they got baptized before I left, but as always I should have the opportunity of coming back down here for baptism. Oh, missionary work is it not just the best! Who knows, I may have some Tongan coverts soon, haha! :)
Hey Jade, keep your head up and run your best at state! I know that if you do your best you will have no regrets, I promise. Jens, keep up on the football, Cole may be out, but now it is time for you to step up and show the coaches you can play, and you can play good cause we all know it, you have alot of talent, ok!
Oh man, I am kinda shocked and excited to go work in the Tongan ward for awhile, how many Spanish missionaries can say that? Oh, and one of them is also a Spanish missionary who I served with up in Sac, and he is awesome, and the other is a missionary I came out with, so I am excited! I will be driving again, but that will be good. I will be able to meet a lot of new people and have a lot of different companions if all goes as planned. I will have 4 companions this next transfer, haha, yeah crazy! I must be pretty good that president wants me to serve in a Tongan ward and be with lots of missionaries, haha . But seriously, all is well. I love you all, you are the best! Best of luck in all activities that you have.
Su Hijo, Hermano, Amigo, Tio, ect......
Elder Jesse Grover
So transfers happened and guess what? I am headed off to English work, no, well thats a lie, I am going to the Liahona Tongan Ward, haha! Crazy huh? Yeah, I am a little shocked; it will only be temporary though, I will be up there for a week or two because the elders there don't have driving privileges, so I will be there until they can get that figured out and then I will go back to EAST SAC! Yeah, I am super excited! It will be a little different, and I will be in another threesome up there because one of the missionaries is going home mid-way through the transfer, and I will be with another native companion! I guess God wants me to learn Spanish, haha! But EAST SAC again? I am pretty sad to be leaving Stockton actually, we had a lot going on here. We had our baptism this past week, it was way awesome - at least they got baptized before I left, but as always I should have the opportunity of coming back down here for baptism. Oh, missionary work is it not just the best! Who knows, I may have some Tongan coverts soon, haha! :)
Hey Jade, keep your head up and run your best at state! I know that if you do your best you will have no regrets, I promise. Jens, keep up on the football, Cole may be out, but now it is time for you to step up and show the coaches you can play, and you can play good cause we all know it, you have alot of talent, ok!
Oh man, I am kinda shocked and excited to go work in the Tongan ward for awhile, how many Spanish missionaries can say that? Oh, and one of them is also a Spanish missionary who I served with up in Sac, and he is awesome, and the other is a missionary I came out with, so I am excited! I will be driving again, but that will be good. I will be able to meet a lot of new people and have a lot of different companions if all goes as planned. I will have 4 companions this next transfer, haha, yeah crazy! I must be pretty good that president wants me to serve in a Tongan ward and be with lots of missionaries, haha . But seriously, all is well. I love you all, you are the best! Best of luck in all activities that you have.
Su Hijo, Hermano, Amigo, Tio, ect......
Elder Jesse Grover
10/11/2011
California - October 10, 2011
Hello!!!!!!
Hey guys, coming from sunny California . . . nope, that's a lie, we are coming from rainy California, haha! That time is coming, haha, gotta love the rain. Well I got to go up to Sacramento on Saturday for the baptism of the family I was working with up there; it was way cool, and I will hopefully be going back up this week for another one, so I am excited. And guess what, our investigators got married yesterday after church, and they will be getting baptized Saturday! Yeaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh! They are the best, I love them, I am so excited for them. Baptisms are the best, I love them! So transfers will be this next week, kinda excited, but I will hopefully be staying here, which is good; I am liking it here, it is good. We have Elder Yamashita coming and doing a mission tour in like two weeks, he talked in conference, so we are pretty stoked to have him come. Well, that's cool that Elder Jess's girlfriend is coming here; she got the call to the best mission ever, haha! I will probably meet her since there are only 7 Spanish zones, so there's a good chance. Well Jade, good luck this week with region, I know that you will do really good; just remember, do your best and that's all that counts, leave it all out there, do your best. Sounds like the football is going well, which is good to hear, I hope they can 3 peat it, that would be way cool! I heard we hold the longest winning streak for the state of Utah right now, that is pretty good, I say. Mckady keep your head up and keep working hard ok? I promise things will turn up, they always do. God has a whole bunch of blessings for us and he is just waiting to give them to us, we just need to ask him and and have faith that they will all be good. I love you all, you are the best! I was wondering, what's the plan for Christmas gifts this year, or am I just planned out of that? If I know now, you might get something by next July, hahah, jk.
Love Elder Jesse Grover
Hey guys, coming from sunny California . . . nope, that's a lie, we are coming from rainy California, haha! That time is coming, haha, gotta love the rain. Well I got to go up to Sacramento on Saturday for the baptism of the family I was working with up there; it was way cool, and I will hopefully be going back up this week for another one, so I am excited. And guess what, our investigators got married yesterday after church, and they will be getting baptized Saturday! Yeaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh! They are the best, I love them, I am so excited for them. Baptisms are the best, I love them! So transfers will be this next week, kinda excited, but I will hopefully be staying here, which is good; I am liking it here, it is good. We have Elder Yamashita coming and doing a mission tour in like two weeks, he talked in conference, so we are pretty stoked to have him come. Well, that's cool that Elder Jess's girlfriend is coming here; she got the call to the best mission ever, haha! I will probably meet her since there are only 7 Spanish zones, so there's a good chance. Well Jade, good luck this week with region, I know that you will do really good; just remember, do your best and that's all that counts, leave it all out there, do your best. Sounds like the football is going well, which is good to hear, I hope they can 3 peat it, that would be way cool! I heard we hold the longest winning streak for the state of Utah right now, that is pretty good, I say. Mckady keep your head up and keep working hard ok? I promise things will turn up, they always do. God has a whole bunch of blessings for us and he is just waiting to give them to us, we just need to ask him and and have faith that they will all be good. I love you all, you are the best! I was wondering, what's the plan for Christmas gifts this year, or am I just planned out of that? If I know now, you might get something by next July, hahah, jk.
Love Elder Jesse Grover
10/04/2011
California - October 3, 2011
Hey Family!!!!
Wow, congrats Jade on the Mr. San Juan Pagent! You are braver than I, haha, I was always too chicken to do that, haha, but let's not admit that to anyone huh? Dang, sports are doing so well, I honestly didn't expect them to be this good, I guess that's what I get for doubting huh, haha.
Conference was really good, it was hard for me to understand it 'cause I was listening to it in Spanish, but hopefully it will help my Spanish in the long run. I could have watched it in English, but we had investigators come, so I watched it with them in Spanish. We had four investigators come, so we were pretty excited about that. One is that family we found, they are so awesome! They have chossen the date of October 15 to be baptized; they need to get married first, but they are planning on that. He and his family have nothing, but they are so giving and loving even through all their trials. They have no money, and one of their daughters was taken when he was caught by immagration, so he has been taking classes and trying his best to have all their family together. He is already so excited to go to the temple in a year, my heart aches for them. We teach them on their floor 'cause they have no couches or chairs, and the whole family has been sick. I wish that there was more that I could do for them, we are going to use some of our grocery money to by them some food 'cause they don't have much, but they are always happy and positive. From our first lesson to now we have been the best of friends, it was the greatest lesson I have ever been in, I have never felt the spirit so strong, we were all crying, and ever since we have been the best of friends. They are way awesome, I ask that you will pray for them that all will be good and things will go good for them. They are the best.
This transfer has been crazy! We got here with 0 investigators, and now we have over 15; some a lot better than others, but they show interest in following Jesus Christ, so we work with them the best we can. We teach a lot and we are hoping to have a lot of baptisms soon, haha. Missionary work is the Best! I wish I would have been more prepared for it, I wish I would have prepared better (Jade and Jens, prepare now). The conference talks were all about missionary work in priesthood, so I have to make up for the time I wasted, and it's not easy. Study the scriptures more, attend all sunday activities and seminary, you will be so much better off.
General Conference was the best! JJ and Tamra did you listen to Elder Andersons? Dad, and all men, did you listen to Sister Dalton's little hints on re-listening and studying? Don't worry, I picked out the ones I need to restudy and work on, and I will write a letter letter with some more notes; we don't have lots of time to email, so i will try to write a letter, ok?
I don't know what to tell you about the mail, I haven't gotten anything since I got here to Stockton. We are not supposed to have anything sent anywhere but to the mission office, so I would say, just send it again. I have been bugging our secretary up there, I told her to stop hiding my mail, haha, jk! Yeah, just send it to the mission office, they say it will get to me from there; if it gets sent back again, then just call the mission office I guess, but it will work, haha. i I love you all so much. keep up on all things, but remember if you put God first, all other things will be easy, well not easy, but we will be blessed!
Love your son forever,
Elder Jesse Grover
Wow, congrats Jade on the Mr. San Juan Pagent! You are braver than I, haha, I was always too chicken to do that, haha, but let's not admit that to anyone huh? Dang, sports are doing so well, I honestly didn't expect them to be this good, I guess that's what I get for doubting huh, haha.
Conference was really good, it was hard for me to understand it 'cause I was listening to it in Spanish, but hopefully it will help my Spanish in the long run. I could have watched it in English, but we had investigators come, so I watched it with them in Spanish. We had four investigators come, so we were pretty excited about that. One is that family we found, they are so awesome! They have chossen the date of October 15 to be baptized; they need to get married first, but they are planning on that. He and his family have nothing, but they are so giving and loving even through all their trials. They have no money, and one of their daughters was taken when he was caught by immagration, so he has been taking classes and trying his best to have all their family together. He is already so excited to go to the temple in a year, my heart aches for them. We teach them on their floor 'cause they have no couches or chairs, and the whole family has been sick. I wish that there was more that I could do for them, we are going to use some of our grocery money to by them some food 'cause they don't have much, but they are always happy and positive. From our first lesson to now we have been the best of friends, it was the greatest lesson I have ever been in, I have never felt the spirit so strong, we were all crying, and ever since we have been the best of friends. They are way awesome, I ask that you will pray for them that all will be good and things will go good for them. They are the best.
This transfer has been crazy! We got here with 0 investigators, and now we have over 15; some a lot better than others, but they show interest in following Jesus Christ, so we work with them the best we can. We teach a lot and we are hoping to have a lot of baptisms soon, haha. Missionary work is the Best! I wish I would have been more prepared for it, I wish I would have prepared better (Jade and Jens, prepare now). The conference talks were all about missionary work in priesthood, so I have to make up for the time I wasted, and it's not easy. Study the scriptures more, attend all sunday activities and seminary, you will be so much better off.
General Conference was the best! JJ and Tamra did you listen to Elder Andersons? Dad, and all men, did you listen to Sister Dalton's little hints on re-listening and studying? Don't worry, I picked out the ones I need to restudy and work on, and I will write a letter letter with some more notes; we don't have lots of time to email, so i will try to write a letter, ok?
I don't know what to tell you about the mail, I haven't gotten anything since I got here to Stockton. We are not supposed to have anything sent anywhere but to the mission office, so I would say, just send it again. I have been bugging our secretary up there, I told her to stop hiding my mail, haha, jk! Yeah, just send it to the mission office, they say it will get to me from there; if it gets sent back again, then just call the mission office I guess, but it will work, haha. i I love you all so much. keep up on all things, but remember if you put God first, all other things will be easy, well not easy, but we will be blessed!
Love your son forever,
Elder Jesse Grover
9/29/2011
California - September 26, 2011
Hello Family!!!!!
That's good to hear that Jade and Jens are doing well with their sports and all, that's awesome! It is good to hear that, remember that you've got to push through all the way to the end and that's when the blessings come in. It is not just enduring to the end, it is enduring well to the end, so remember that. Well, this weekend had a nice experience, Elder Flores and his companion taught this family, and they were getting baptized. I had taught them once before on an exchange, and I went over again on another exchange. Two of them asked for me to baptize them, haha! And I even gave the dad a hair cut, haha! The weekend was full of great experiences. So it was a family, Cleo and Orlando, they have 4 kids ,1 over 8, his name is Jesus. And they had a lady that lived there with her kids, her name is Francis. I baptized Cleo and Francis, and Elder Flores baptized Orlando and Jesus. It was a way cool baptism, they are a great family. They have so many trials, they had an old van that broke down this past week, so they didn't even have a ride to their own baptism, so they arranged to have a member come get them, and the member's car broke down on the way there! So the baptism started late, but they were baptized. Then, I was even asked to confirm one of them, I was like shocked over the whole thing. And another cool experience, our bishop called and gave us a number for a guy and we called and invited him to the baptism, and he came with his family. He is so awesome and he was going to get baptized in Arizona, but he moved and lost contact with the church. Things have gone really bad for him, and he knows it is because he isn't going to church, so we hope to be having another baptism. it is so awesome, i love it! We are so blessed out here. Well, I love you guys! Keep praying, going to church, and doing all you can to live the gospel. Be an example of the believers, I love you all!!!!
Love Elder Jesse Grover
That's good to hear that Jade and Jens are doing well with their sports and all, that's awesome! It is good to hear that, remember that you've got to push through all the way to the end and that's when the blessings come in. It is not just enduring to the end, it is enduring well to the end, so remember that. Well, this weekend had a nice experience, Elder Flores and his companion taught this family, and they were getting baptized. I had taught them once before on an exchange, and I went over again on another exchange. Two of them asked for me to baptize them, haha! And I even gave the dad a hair cut, haha! The weekend was full of great experiences. So it was a family, Cleo and Orlando, they have 4 kids ,1 over 8, his name is Jesus. And they had a lady that lived there with her kids, her name is Francis. I baptized Cleo and Francis, and Elder Flores baptized Orlando and Jesus. It was a way cool baptism, they are a great family. They have so many trials, they had an old van that broke down this past week, so they didn't even have a ride to their own baptism, so they arranged to have a member come get them, and the member's car broke down on the way there! So the baptism started late, but they were baptized. Then, I was even asked to confirm one of them, I was like shocked over the whole thing. And another cool experience, our bishop called and gave us a number for a guy and we called and invited him to the baptism, and he came with his family. He is so awesome and he was going to get baptized in Arizona, but he moved and lost contact with the church. Things have gone really bad for him, and he knows it is because he isn't going to church, so we hope to be having another baptism. it is so awesome, i love it! We are so blessed out here. Well, I love you guys! Keep praying, going to church, and doing all you can to live the gospel. Be an example of the believers, I love you all!!!!
Love Elder Jesse Grover
9/26/2011
California - September 19, 2011
Dear FAMILY!!!!
Stockton is growing on me, it's nice here! It is still different, but it's getting better and me and my companion are getting along. Elder Nicholls is from North Carolina, he has been out 2 transfers longer than me, his Spanish is really good! He was originally called to Mexico, but his call was changed due to medical things 'cause they couldn't get his medication to Mexico, so he is here now, interesting huh? He is a good, hard worker and has good Spanish, and we are working hard. We had ZERO investigators when the transfer started; we have seven now, and we had three to church! Yeah, it was awesome! We found a family too that shows potential, but we have only taught two of them that we have as investigators. One is way cool ,he is 17 and he plays football, so we get along pretty good. We hope to get this area rolling. This past weekend we had our Spanish temple tour, huge activity thing, that was way awesome, not very many people from Stockton went, but lots from East Sac, it was way cool. 5 of my old investigators were there, it was awesome to see them and talk to them again. They are all going to be baptized soon, I know it, they are so awesome. One of them I was so shocked to see there, I was so happy to see him there, the joy to see them there was so awesome! I love missionary work, the joy you feel is so insane, I love it, haha.
It is good to hear all is well and the football team is still winning, not BYU, but all things happen for a reason. I can't believe that it's almost Octobre, haha, goodness time is flying, haha. We are already on week three of this transfer, yeah time is flying. Well, keep praying for us to find people to teach and people to prepare for baptism, and that the Lord will help us to teach by the spirit. Missionary work is the best, I love it the best! Love you all!
Love Elder Jesse Grover
Stockton is growing on me, it's nice here! It is still different, but it's getting better and me and my companion are getting along. Elder Nicholls is from North Carolina, he has been out 2 transfers longer than me, his Spanish is really good! He was originally called to Mexico, but his call was changed due to medical things 'cause they couldn't get his medication to Mexico, so he is here now, interesting huh? He is a good, hard worker and has good Spanish, and we are working hard. We had ZERO investigators when the transfer started; we have seven now, and we had three to church! Yeah, it was awesome! We found a family too that shows potential, but we have only taught two of them that we have as investigators. One is way cool ,he is 17 and he plays football, so we get along pretty good. We hope to get this area rolling. This past weekend we had our Spanish temple tour, huge activity thing, that was way awesome, not very many people from Stockton went, but lots from East Sac, it was way cool. 5 of my old investigators were there, it was awesome to see them and talk to them again. They are all going to be baptized soon, I know it, they are so awesome. One of them I was so shocked to see there, I was so happy to see him there, the joy to see them there was so awesome! I love missionary work, the joy you feel is so insane, I love it, haha.
It is good to hear all is well and the football team is still winning, not BYU, but all things happen for a reason. I can't believe that it's almost Octobre, haha, goodness time is flying, haha. We are already on week three of this transfer, yeah time is flying. Well, keep praying for us to find people to teach and people to prepare for baptism, and that the Lord will help us to teach by the spirit. Missionary work is the best, I love it the best! Love you all!
Love Elder Jesse Grover
California - September 12, 2011
Hey Family! Well, all is well, I am here in Stockton, and it is different. I do miss my last area so much, it was the best! But I hope I will get to go back up there sometime, I would love that. I loved being up there with Elder Lopez, it was the funnest transfer. It will be different here, the ward is so different, but I am sure I will adjust and love it here too. I will probably be here for like 3 transfers, probably until the end of the year, but we will see. The good thing is that we have a huge temple activity this week with all the Spanish wards, branches and groups this weekend, so I will get to see the members from Sacramento and stuff, so that will be nice. There is a family up here that I want to bring you to meet someday, they are the best! Del Norte was awesome, but Delta is good too. We have a very awesome invistigator I am super excited to work with, I know I am here for a reason, I couldn't stay in East Sac forever. Stockton is smaller than Sacramento, not as nice, but it has more of a non-city feel to it. But yeah, its pretty nice, lots of good people and lots of less actives we will have the oppurtunity to reactivate. Crazy that Brooke moved into the ward! Where are they living? Kinda weird, yeah, just a little, haha, but that's cool. Blanding 6th ward is the best, I love it. Good to hear all is going well with the sports and the kids, I brag about you all to everyone I can. That's what happens when your family is awesome like mine, haha. Well, I love you all so much, I hope all is going well. Let me know if there is anything I can do to help ya'. Have a good week. Love you all,
Love Elder Jesse Grover
Love Elder Jesse Grover
9/07/2011
California - September 6, 2011
Hello Family!!!
Yes, we do have transfers this week, and a change is happening. I am sad to be leaving East Sac, but I am excited to go down to Stockton. Elder Flores, my trainer, will be my district leader, and I will be with my first non-native spanish speaker; he has been out under a year, so I am way excited to learn and progress. This will be his first transfer as senior, he was actually companions with Elder Flores before I was. Elder Lopez is being made zone leader, so my area will have two new missionaries. We currently have two progressing families, which means I could be coming up here again for baptisms. They are the best people ever, I love them. I love Del Norte, I will miss it a lot, but God has plans for me elsewhere in Stockton, it will be good. That's really all the news I have, I did eat dinner on Sunday with the Byrds; yeah, Jeff Byrd and his family, it was awesome! He made Navajo tacos. Small world huh? Haha, yeah. Keep me informed on all the activities you will be having. I am so proud of all of you, you are the best family ever!!!!
Love Elder Jesse Grover
Yes, we do have transfers this week, and a change is happening. I am sad to be leaving East Sac, but I am excited to go down to Stockton. Elder Flores, my trainer, will be my district leader, and I will be with my first non-native spanish speaker; he has been out under a year, so I am way excited to learn and progress. This will be his first transfer as senior, he was actually companions with Elder Flores before I was. Elder Lopez is being made zone leader, so my area will have two new missionaries. We currently have two progressing families, which means I could be coming up here again for baptisms. They are the best people ever, I love them. I love Del Norte, I will miss it a lot, but God has plans for me elsewhere in Stockton, it will be good. That's really all the news I have, I did eat dinner on Sunday with the Byrds; yeah, Jeff Byrd and his family, it was awesome! He made Navajo tacos. Small world huh? Haha, yeah. Keep me informed on all the activities you will be having. I am so proud of all of you, you are the best family ever!!!!
Love Elder Jesse Grover
8/30/2011
California - August 29, 2011
HELLO FAM!!!!!
I am alive here and the work is going; just working hard to finish the transfer strong. We are actually moving this week, so I have to pack everything today to get ready for it. We are moving to a house, hopefully not for my last weekend in this area - there is actually a chance I could stay, which I am hoping that I will, I love it here! We just found an awesome family, yeah a family, and a golden family at that. When we invited the mom to be baptized she said she had a question about that (nervous thoughts what she might say next). "I have already been baptize,d why do I need to do it again?" (or something like that). "What rules do I need to follow, and what do I need to be baptized?" We just about fainted; Elder Lopez and I were walking on air that night, we were so blessed with that great experience. Good to hear that Jens is doing well with football. Tell him to stay humble and work hard and the Lord will bless. I promise, it works. Christ is the best; we are far from perfect but He suffered for us to help us become perfect, so through him we can be perfect. This week Elder Lopez and I put in lots of hours and saw great results; probably one of my most successful weeks in the mission. We taught a lot and found some cool people. The East Sacramento Stake had stake conference, and it was probably the best one I have ever been to in my life - no offense Blanding, but the saints out here are awesome! Our stake president is seriously the Best, his talk was legit, oh my gosh it was amazing! The church is different out here than it is in Utah, it is hard to be a Latter-Day Saint when no one else is. Mom, I am sure you know faith is so tested and testimonies are built, it is a real blessing to be here and to see the strength of the people, to see them stand so strong in their faith. THE CHURCH IS SOOOOOO TRUE, LIKE HECKA TRUE. How great is it to be a member of the true and living church the church of Jesus Christ? I love it! Share it with all you can, every member a missionary. Invite a nonmember to a family home evening, go on splits with the missionaries, have the missionaries over for dinner, do as much missionary work as you can. When a member offers to help, there is nothing better; it is so needed in a missionary work, and the missionaries should be working to deserve the help of members.
DAD AND MOM HAPPY ANNIVERSARY THIS FRIDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! IT IS A SPECIAL DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY JENS THIS FRIDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY KRISTY THIS SATURDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well, all is well here! Thanks so much for the package, I got it Saturday 'cause we had some elders go to the office Saturday and they grabbed it, if not I wouldn't have got it till Tuesday. God takes care of us, and I thank you so much for all that you do for me. You have no idea how wonderful it is to be out here and know that you have the best people at home cheering you on, it helps us more than you know. I thank you with every ounce of my soul for the support you give me. I know that this mission is the greatest blessing in my life, and I will be the son, brother, uncle, you all deserve to have in your family. The gospel is true, and I love you :)
Elder Jesse Grover
I am alive here and the work is going; just working hard to finish the transfer strong. We are actually moving this week, so I have to pack everything today to get ready for it. We are moving to a house, hopefully not for my last weekend in this area - there is actually a chance I could stay, which I am hoping that I will, I love it here! We just found an awesome family, yeah a family, and a golden family at that. When we invited the mom to be baptized she said she had a question about that (nervous thoughts what she might say next). "I have already been baptize,d why do I need to do it again?" (or something like that). "What rules do I need to follow, and what do I need to be baptized?" We just about fainted; Elder Lopez and I were walking on air that night, we were so blessed with that great experience. Good to hear that Jens is doing well with football. Tell him to stay humble and work hard and the Lord will bless. I promise, it works. Christ is the best; we are far from perfect but He suffered for us to help us become perfect, so through him we can be perfect. This week Elder Lopez and I put in lots of hours and saw great results; probably one of my most successful weeks in the mission. We taught a lot and found some cool people. The East Sacramento Stake had stake conference, and it was probably the best one I have ever been to in my life - no offense Blanding, but the saints out here are awesome! Our stake president is seriously the Best, his talk was legit, oh my gosh it was amazing! The church is different out here than it is in Utah, it is hard to be a Latter-Day Saint when no one else is. Mom, I am sure you know faith is so tested and testimonies are built, it is a real blessing to be here and to see the strength of the people, to see them stand so strong in their faith. THE CHURCH IS SOOOOOO TRUE, LIKE HECKA TRUE. How great is it to be a member of the true and living church the church of Jesus Christ? I love it! Share it with all you can, every member a missionary. Invite a nonmember to a family home evening, go on splits with the missionaries, have the missionaries over for dinner, do as much missionary work as you can. When a member offers to help, there is nothing better; it is so needed in a missionary work, and the missionaries should be working to deserve the help of members.
DAD AND MOM HAPPY ANNIVERSARY THIS FRIDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! IT IS A SPECIAL DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY JENS THIS FRIDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY KRISTY THIS SATURDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well, all is well here! Thanks so much for the package, I got it Saturday 'cause we had some elders go to the office Saturday and they grabbed it, if not I wouldn't have got it till Tuesday. God takes care of us, and I thank you so much for all that you do for me. You have no idea how wonderful it is to be out here and know that you have the best people at home cheering you on, it helps us more than you know. I thank you with every ounce of my soul for the support you give me. I know that this mission is the greatest blessing in my life, and I will be the son, brother, uncle, you all deserve to have in your family. The gospel is true, and I love you :)
Elder Jesse Grover
8/22/2011
California - August 22, 2011
Hello family, your missionary is doing good. Sad that time is flying by so fast out here in the mission; the transfer ends in just 2 more weeks and that means more time for change and less time out here. I love it here and the Spanish is coming, it is a slow process. We had interviews with President Lewis this past week; he is great, he is truly a man called of God, he is progressing so fast! I wish I could progress that fast, haha, but God is helping me.
That is so sad to hear about Jason Workman, just the other day I was telling my companion that I knew a navy seal, that his parents were in our ward, and how awesome he was. I only meet him once or twice, but he was super nice. His family will be in my prayers, I hope everything works out with his young family. That is crazy that he was in that elite group. What is Ryan going to boot camp for? I was hoping to hear like Spain for a mission, but he still plans on going on a mission, so that is good.
So we have another baptism set up, we are super excited! She has had a date picked out before - Leticia, do you remember hearing about her? Well, she has a date for the 3rd of September, we are excited, that is the weekend right before transfers, so I will still be here. We found her my first week out here in California, so I am so excited for her choice to be baptized; keep praying for her to stay strong. We are actually giving her a temple tour tonight, awesome huh? We are excited, pray for it to go well - it will be my first temple tour, which is a surprise cause we only live like a half hour away - closest we could, pretty much, for Spanish elders. Oh the work is great! So guess what? I have been living in an apt for these three transfers and so now that I will probably be leaving, they are moving us into a house! Yeah, not even with a member, our own house, haha! So maybe for a couple of days before I leave I will be in a house, how crazy is that? haha! Oh wells, its been good, I will go where the Lord wants me to go. 1 Nephi 3:7 "The Lord God giveth no commandment unto the children of men save it be He prepares a way for them to accomplish it."
Football!!! Yeah, the NFL started; I know cause we knock into a lot of people who are watching it, and we see football practices going on all over the place. I will admit that was a hard thing at first, haha, but I am getting better with it, I really am. That is awesome that the boys won, that's good, I am glad to hear that. Tell Jens to keep working hard, when I get home I want to see him shine as a senior, and these years are preparing for that last year of high school were you can be the star and represent. I can't believe its already school and sports - my mission is almost a fourth over, i turn 6 months old first of next month :(
Oh thank you so much for the package you will be sending, I am excited in advance, but I am excited, haha! I have an idea for a learning tool I want to see if Josh can make. With Hispanic people, we teach with activities, games, and visual tools, so we watch a lot of videos and stuff. Got to run, people need to hear about the gospel, haha! Also, laundry needs to be done - all the fun p-day stuff. I love you all so much! Keep your heads up and trust in God.
With all my love
Your Missionary
Elder Jesse Grover
That is so sad to hear about Jason Workman, just the other day I was telling my companion that I knew a navy seal, that his parents were in our ward, and how awesome he was. I only meet him once or twice, but he was super nice. His family will be in my prayers, I hope everything works out with his young family. That is crazy that he was in that elite group. What is Ryan going to boot camp for? I was hoping to hear like Spain for a mission, but he still plans on going on a mission, so that is good.
So we have another baptism set up, we are super excited! She has had a date picked out before - Leticia, do you remember hearing about her? Well, she has a date for the 3rd of September, we are excited, that is the weekend right before transfers, so I will still be here. We found her my first week out here in California, so I am so excited for her choice to be baptized; keep praying for her to stay strong. We are actually giving her a temple tour tonight, awesome huh? We are excited, pray for it to go well - it will be my first temple tour, which is a surprise cause we only live like a half hour away - closest we could, pretty much, for Spanish elders. Oh the work is great! So guess what? I have been living in an apt for these three transfers and so now that I will probably be leaving, they are moving us into a house! Yeah, not even with a member, our own house, haha! So maybe for a couple of days before I leave I will be in a house, how crazy is that? haha! Oh wells, its been good, I will go where the Lord wants me to go. 1 Nephi 3:7 "The Lord God giveth no commandment unto the children of men save it be He prepares a way for them to accomplish it."
Football!!! Yeah, the NFL started; I know cause we knock into a lot of people who are watching it, and we see football practices going on all over the place. I will admit that was a hard thing at first, haha, but I am getting better with it, I really am. That is awesome that the boys won, that's good, I am glad to hear that. Tell Jens to keep working hard, when I get home I want to see him shine as a senior, and these years are preparing for that last year of high school were you can be the star and represent. I can't believe its already school and sports - my mission is almost a fourth over, i turn 6 months old first of next month :(
Oh thank you so much for the package you will be sending, I am excited in advance, but I am excited, haha! I have an idea for a learning tool I want to see if Josh can make. With Hispanic people, we teach with activities, games, and visual tools, so we watch a lot of videos and stuff. Got to run, people need to hear about the gospel, haha! Also, laundry needs to be done - all the fun p-day stuff. I love you all so much! Keep your heads up and trust in God.
With all my love
Your Missionary
Elder Jesse Grover
8/15/2011
California - August 15, 2011
WoW!!!
I can't believe the fair has already come and gone - where is the time going? It is going by too fast! Wow, we need to take it off fast forward 'cause this isn't good! One of the elders I live with flies home this week, yeah crazy! He has lived in the apartment as long as I have been here - he has to go home 2 weeks early for school. Tell Jade and Jens not to argue, it is a waste of time! We have so little time here, it's a waste to argue, like seriously, i know from experience! I know, and I can say... WASTE OF TIME!!!! Yeah, haha! It really is my suggestion is to pray for charity every morning and every night and throughout the day, and when you want to argue sing "Love One Another", it really works, seriously, it is actually very fun. Read in Enos about prayer, he wrestled - yeah, I know you like wrestling - so wrestle with the Lord, he will help you have charity. Charity has actually been what I have based my studies on this week; read in Moroni, 7:45-48, I believe is the reference, and it talks about charity. Preach My Gospel's charity part in the Christ-like attributes is very good, study it, it is awesome. Good luck with school and all. I have seen football practices going on, I miss it a lot, I really do, but I will appreciate it just that much more when I get back right? So, you want to hear my cool Spanish story for the week? Well, I was on exchanges with our zone leaders, teaching an English lesson, and the girl we were teaching asked me to pray. In the prayer I kept saying words in Espanol, and in the lesson I would say Spanish words too, it was kinda embarrassing, but way awesome to see how accustomed to Spanish I am becoming. The gospel stuff is Spanish first, now I have to dig in to get it out in English - did a little switch for the better, haha, I love it! Keep praying, and God bless, 'cause He will when we rely on Him.
Love Elder Jesse Grover
I can't believe the fair has already come and gone - where is the time going? It is going by too fast! Wow, we need to take it off fast forward 'cause this isn't good! One of the elders I live with flies home this week, yeah crazy! He has lived in the apartment as long as I have been here - he has to go home 2 weeks early for school. Tell Jade and Jens not to argue, it is a waste of time! We have so little time here, it's a waste to argue, like seriously, i know from experience! I know, and I can say... WASTE OF TIME!!!! Yeah, haha! It really is my suggestion is to pray for charity every morning and every night and throughout the day, and when you want to argue sing "Love One Another", it really works, seriously, it is actually very fun. Read in Enos about prayer, he wrestled - yeah, I know you like wrestling - so wrestle with the Lord, he will help you have charity. Charity has actually been what I have based my studies on this week; read in Moroni, 7:45-48, I believe is the reference, and it talks about charity. Preach My Gospel's charity part in the Christ-like attributes is very good, study it, it is awesome. Good luck with school and all. I have seen football practices going on, I miss it a lot, I really do, but I will appreciate it just that much more when I get back right? So, you want to hear my cool Spanish story for the week? Well, I was on exchanges with our zone leaders, teaching an English lesson, and the girl we were teaching asked me to pray. In the prayer I kept saying words in Espanol, and in the lesson I would say Spanish words too, it was kinda embarrassing, but way awesome to see how accustomed to Spanish I am becoming. The gospel stuff is Spanish first, now I have to dig in to get it out in English - did a little switch for the better, haha, I love it! Keep praying, and God bless, 'cause He will when we rely on Him.
Love Elder Jesse Grover
8/11/2011
California - August 8, 2011
La Familia Mejor!!!!
Well, it sounds like all is crazy in little ol' BLANding UT (everyone here calls it BLAN UT, it's just 'cause they are jealous, haha! We make up names and jokes for where everyone is from; it's pretty funny) Well, cool story, the elders I live with were helping a family move and one of the guys that helped from their ward was talking with them, and he asked where they were from and stuff. He said he was from a little town in Utah called Blanding, and they were like well, "we live with an elder from Blanding, he is Elder Grover." And the guy was like, "no way!" They tell me who it was, and I was like, "no way!" Brother Bird from Blanding, UT, haha! Small world we live in, huh? Maybe I will get to talk to him sometime or something, but crazy huh! Well, this week we had the baptism of Jonathan Ramirez, he is 12, and way cool. He asked me to confirm him. We were at the church waiting for the guy who was supposed to baptize him, he was from another ward out of our mission (my area is on the northern border). They called him, and he said he wouldn't be able to come. So we told Jonathan and asked him who he would like to have baptize him, and he said Elder Grover. What? haha! We were already late, so I had to find a white suite and hurry and change. I had no spare garments, but Jonathan was baptized, and it was a wonderful experience for both of us. It was in spanish, then on sunday in church I had the oppurtunity to confirm him a member of the church, it was awesome! Miracles (MILAGROS) happen, and people want to follow Jesucristo. We had another invistigator who passed his interview, he just needs to pick a date and he will be baptized. And we have others really close, keep praying for us to be directed by the spirit to find out what they need to be baptized.
With all my love,
Elder Jesse Grover
Well, it sounds like all is crazy in little ol' BLANding UT (everyone here calls it BLAN UT, it's just 'cause they are jealous, haha! We make up names and jokes for where everyone is from; it's pretty funny) Well, cool story, the elders I live with were helping a family move and one of the guys that helped from their ward was talking with them, and he asked where they were from and stuff. He said he was from a little town in Utah called Blanding, and they were like well, "we live with an elder from Blanding, he is Elder Grover." And the guy was like, "no way!" They tell me who it was, and I was like, "no way!" Brother Bird from Blanding, UT, haha! Small world we live in, huh? Maybe I will get to talk to him sometime or something, but crazy huh! Well, this week we had the baptism of Jonathan Ramirez, he is 12, and way cool. He asked me to confirm him. We were at the church waiting for the guy who was supposed to baptize him, he was from another ward out of our mission (my area is on the northern border). They called him, and he said he wouldn't be able to come. So we told Jonathan and asked him who he would like to have baptize him, and he said Elder Grover. What? haha! We were already late, so I had to find a white suite and hurry and change. I had no spare garments, but Jonathan was baptized, and it was a wonderful experience for both of us. It was in spanish, then on sunday in church I had the oppurtunity to confirm him a member of the church, it was awesome! Miracles (MILAGROS) happen, and people want to follow Jesucristo. We had another invistigator who passed his interview, he just needs to pick a date and he will be baptized. And we have others really close, keep praying for us to be directed by the spirit to find out what they need to be baptized.
With all my love,
Elder Jesse Grover
8/02/2011
California - August 1, 2011
HoLa! CoMo Esteis?
Crazy that the summer is pretty much over, time is just flying by! Tommorrow is my mission birthday, I turn 5. I am old, there are now two younger groups of missionaries, it is so weird. And now all the people back home are leaving, any more calls, or just preparing? I heard Amber quit her job - that's crazy, but the family is the most important thing, and the Lord provides when we put things that are most important first: GOD and FAMILY are the MOST important things in this world! People always ask how we can leave our families for two years, and it's an easy reply, God has called us here, and he will take care of our family. El Evangelio de Jesucristo es muy importante para todos personas, especialmente para la familia porque la familia es de Dios, Dios es Nuestro Padre Celestial!! Elder Lopez is great, he is a great missionary, he is from Florida, but was born in Vera Cruz, Mexico. Guess what? We have a baptism set up for this weekend, he passed the interview we will go over tommorrow to set everything up for the baptism, it is way exciting. We have some others who are really close so please pray for them to have strength. (Leticia, Jasmin, Pancho)
Well, good luck with the fair and the upcoming school year with sports and all. Dominate and do your best, remember that's all we can do. Put in everything you've got, and God makes up for the rest. God is great! Today we went to buy groceries, and the lady in front of us was a member. She got done and was loading her cart and when we went to pay for our groceries, she told the cashier she was going to pay for it. Don't worry about me, out here God is watching out for me, He takes care of his children.
Love ELder Jesse Grover
PS If you're going to Provo, do you think you can buy some garments and send them out here? I kinda need more. If you could, that would be great! Thanks! Love you all a bunch.
Crazy that the summer is pretty much over, time is just flying by! Tommorrow is my mission birthday, I turn 5. I am old, there are now two younger groups of missionaries, it is so weird. And now all the people back home are leaving, any more calls, or just preparing? I heard Amber quit her job - that's crazy, but the family is the most important thing, and the Lord provides when we put things that are most important first: GOD and FAMILY are the MOST important things in this world! People always ask how we can leave our families for two years, and it's an easy reply, God has called us here, and he will take care of our family. El Evangelio de Jesucristo es muy importante para todos personas, especialmente para la familia porque la familia es de Dios, Dios es Nuestro Padre Celestial!! Elder Lopez is great, he is a great missionary, he is from Florida, but was born in Vera Cruz, Mexico. Guess what? We have a baptism set up for this weekend, he passed the interview we will go over tommorrow to set everything up for the baptism, it is way exciting. We have some others who are really close so please pray for them to have strength. (Leticia, Jasmin, Pancho)
Well, good luck with the fair and the upcoming school year with sports and all. Dominate and do your best, remember that's all we can do. Put in everything you've got, and God makes up for the rest. God is great! Today we went to buy groceries, and the lady in front of us was a member. She got done and was loading her cart and when we went to pay for our groceries, she told the cashier she was going to pay for it. Don't worry about me, out here God is watching out for me, He takes care of his children.
Love ELder Jesse Grover
PS If you're going to Provo, do you think you can buy some garments and send them out here? I kinda need more. If you could, that would be great! Thanks! Love you all a bunch.
California - July 26, 2011
Hi!
Well transfer calls came in last night, and I will no longer be serving with my trainer, Elder Flores, but I will still be here in East Sacramento. Elder Flores is moving to be district leader in another place, and my new companion is Elder Lopez - another Mexican! haha! He is from Florida, but speaks fluent Spanish - his family came from Mexico. I think God wants me to have good Spanish, 'cause that's two natives in a row, haha! I am excited, I hear he is a great missionary; I will meet him in the morning. Things are changing like mad, haha but I will still be here. We have 4 invistigators really close to baptism; we had dates for them but they fell through, so me and Elder Lopez will try to get it all in order and finalized, it will be good. That's crazy to hear about all the stuff going on at home, well always remember God blesses you for doing good and follwing his commandments and blessings are not always the way we want them to be. Sometimes people do bad things and they think they get away with it, but that's just what they think - God knows all and He sees all, he is the judge and he is just, He loves us but we have to follow Him. It is not our place to judge, we always trust in God and let him lead us and we will see miracles and blessings. We see miracles and blessings every day out here, it is the most amazing thing. We say or do something and we don't even know how or why, it just happens; we are just instruments in the hand of God and He does His work through us - I LOVE IT!!!!! I can't belive I have been out almost five months, where has the time gone? It seems like just yesterday you dropped me off at the MTC, and pow, I am here. Is time going fast there like it is here? Or is California just rotating a little faster than everywhere else? Oh, this is the best, thank you all so much for raising me right so I can be here. I know I was a pain, but I am here because of you all and your awesome examples. I hope all goes well, remember TRUST IN GOD in all things 'cause through Him we are even as He is. This life is our chance to learn how to be Gods, because to do that and return to him we need to follow in his footprints, be like Him, and thus learn how to be Gods. The Plan is perfect, just like God. Love you all so much, keep being the best!!!!!
lOvE ElDeR jEsSe GrOvEr
PS Still Loving you (that might be a song, who knows; sounds like it, but I wouldn't know, haha)
Well transfer calls came in last night, and I will no longer be serving with my trainer, Elder Flores, but I will still be here in East Sacramento. Elder Flores is moving to be district leader in another place, and my new companion is Elder Lopez - another Mexican! haha! He is from Florida, but speaks fluent Spanish - his family came from Mexico. I think God wants me to have good Spanish, 'cause that's two natives in a row, haha! I am excited, I hear he is a great missionary; I will meet him in the morning. Things are changing like mad, haha but I will still be here. We have 4 invistigators really close to baptism; we had dates for them but they fell through, so me and Elder Lopez will try to get it all in order and finalized, it will be good. That's crazy to hear about all the stuff going on at home, well always remember God blesses you for doing good and follwing his commandments and blessings are not always the way we want them to be. Sometimes people do bad things and they think they get away with it, but that's just what they think - God knows all and He sees all, he is the judge and he is just, He loves us but we have to follow Him. It is not our place to judge, we always trust in God and let him lead us and we will see miracles and blessings. We see miracles and blessings every day out here, it is the most amazing thing. We say or do something and we don't even know how or why, it just happens; we are just instruments in the hand of God and He does His work through us - I LOVE IT!!!!! I can't belive I have been out almost five months, where has the time gone? It seems like just yesterday you dropped me off at the MTC, and pow, I am here. Is time going fast there like it is here? Or is California just rotating a little faster than everywhere else? Oh, this is the best, thank you all so much for raising me right so I can be here. I know I was a pain, but I am here because of you all and your awesome examples. I hope all goes well, remember TRUST IN GOD in all things 'cause through Him we are even as He is. This life is our chance to learn how to be Gods, because to do that and return to him we need to follow in his footprints, be like Him, and thus learn how to be Gods. The Plan is perfect, just like God. Love you all so much, keep being the best!!!!!
lOvE ElDeR jEsSe GrOvEr
PS Still Loving you (that might be a song, who knows; sounds like it, but I wouldn't know, haha)
7/18/2011
California - July 18, 2011
Hello Family!
This has been a crazy week to be honest. We have 3 invistigators with dates to be baptized, it is not final yet so keep praying for us and them. We are super excited, our ward has not had a baptism since ours when I first got here, now we have our three and there is another family of three that some other elders are teaching, so that could be 6 this month for our ward! We are all super excited; all those hot days in the sun are starting to pay off, haha! No really, it's the best, I love it. Yes, I did meet with president this week with interviews, he is way awesome! He is a runner, so he told me that I need to work out more, haha! jk, no, he just asked how I was doing physically, and I said good, I have not been sick yet in the field, God is blessing me (dont worry I knocked on wood already). But he said we will get fed a lot, so we need to be sure and work out in the mornings. It is true though, as spanish missionaries we get feed so much fatty good food, haha! I love it here, the people are great! I can communicate a little better now, so the people like me a little bit better, haha. But transferes will be next week, so I will e-mail on Tuesday and will let you know how they turn out. I hope I stay here, but I will go were God wants me to go. I am getting better at taking pictures and stuff 'cause Elder Flores is huge into photography, so if it weren't for him telling me to take pictures, I wouldn't have any, so be thankful, haha. Wow, the summer is going by fast for you guys, huh? It is really doesn't seem like summer out here, like if it wasn't blazing hot I wouldn't even know it was summer, haha. All the days get meshed together; it is so hard for me to belive that I have been out for almost 5 months, the time goes by too fast! I have been out five months, and can't speak spanish yet; everyone assures me I will be good by 10 months, so we will see when that time comes. They say I will be training by then; I just laugh, it would be hard to train, I want to stay Jr. companion for my whole mission, haha! The mission is the best, I love it oh so much. I wish I could put it into words for you all but I can't it's not possible. Well, I love you all, keep praying for our invistigators so that they will be baptized on the 30 of July. It's so exciting, baptisms are the best, it is what we go out and do every day is invite people to be baptized. That is one thing that sets Sacramento apart from all others (there is more, this is just a big reason) we extend baptismial invites to everyone we talk to. We have a goal to invite 3 people per missionary per day that is 42 in a week for the companionship! Yeah, ask Jordan and JJ if they did that. Baptism is THAT important, we don't beat around the bush with that. It was hard and scary at first, but as missionaries it is our purpose to invite others to come unto christ by reciveing the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ, his atonement, repentence, BAPTISM, recieving the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end. It is our opportunity to do that, and in the Sacramento mission we baptize many converted people, it's the best. Love you all, study the scriptures - it is the best! I love it, I study for at lest 2 hours a day in them, love it. Love you all a ton.
Love Elder Jesse Grover
Enjoy the pics of Elder Flores and I on the tandem bike:
This has been a crazy week to be honest. We have 3 invistigators with dates to be baptized, it is not final yet so keep praying for us and them. We are super excited, our ward has not had a baptism since ours when I first got here, now we have our three and there is another family of three that some other elders are teaching, so that could be 6 this month for our ward! We are all super excited; all those hot days in the sun are starting to pay off, haha! No really, it's the best, I love it. Yes, I did meet with president this week with interviews, he is way awesome! He is a runner, so he told me that I need to work out more, haha! jk, no, he just asked how I was doing physically, and I said good, I have not been sick yet in the field, God is blessing me (dont worry I knocked on wood already). But he said we will get fed a lot, so we need to be sure and work out in the mornings. It is true though, as spanish missionaries we get feed so much fatty good food, haha! I love it here, the people are great! I can communicate a little better now, so the people like me a little bit better, haha. But transferes will be next week, so I will e-mail on Tuesday and will let you know how they turn out. I hope I stay here, but I will go were God wants me to go. I am getting better at taking pictures and stuff 'cause Elder Flores is huge into photography, so if it weren't for him telling me to take pictures, I wouldn't have any, so be thankful, haha. Wow, the summer is going by fast for you guys, huh? It is really doesn't seem like summer out here, like if it wasn't blazing hot I wouldn't even know it was summer, haha. All the days get meshed together; it is so hard for me to belive that I have been out for almost 5 months, the time goes by too fast! I have been out five months, and can't speak spanish yet; everyone assures me I will be good by 10 months, so we will see when that time comes. They say I will be training by then; I just laugh, it would be hard to train, I want to stay Jr. companion for my whole mission, haha! The mission is the best, I love it oh so much. I wish I could put it into words for you all but I can't it's not possible. Well, I love you all, keep praying for our invistigators so that they will be baptized on the 30 of July. It's so exciting, baptisms are the best, it is what we go out and do every day is invite people to be baptized. That is one thing that sets Sacramento apart from all others (there is more, this is just a big reason) we extend baptismial invites to everyone we talk to. We have a goal to invite 3 people per missionary per day that is 42 in a week for the companionship! Yeah, ask Jordan and JJ if they did that. Baptism is THAT important, we don't beat around the bush with that. It was hard and scary at first, but as missionaries it is our purpose to invite others to come unto christ by reciveing the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ, his atonement, repentence, BAPTISM, recieving the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end. It is our opportunity to do that, and in the Sacramento mission we baptize many converted people, it's the best. Love you all, study the scriptures - it is the best! I love it, I study for at lest 2 hours a day in them, love it. Love you all a ton.
Love Elder Jesse Grover
Enjoy the pics of Elder Flores and I on the tandem bike:
California - July 11, 2011
Hello Family!!
That is so sad to hear about Presient Redd, I knew when I left that he probably wouldn't be there when I got back, I guess I just didn't expect it to be this soon. I hope everything is ok with his family and that all goes well. My prayers will be with his family. Yes, I meet President and Sister Lewis this week, and will have interviews this week with him, so yeah - way cool. They are way awesome, we are all so excited to have them here, they are great people. Dont worry about not emailing on the 4th - I know how busy things get there. That's awsome that Jade did took third place overall on his race. HAPPY BIRTHDAY MCKADY!!!!!! you are all growing up and I am missing it! Well, don't grow up too much while I am gone. I hope your birthday went well. It feels so weird not to be home, time flies by, but you don't realize it 'till it's gone. Out here it is the same every day, and then the next thing you know it's Sunday, or the transfer comes up - it's almost here again. I am thinking about applying for an extension now, so maybe by the end of the two years, after having me bugging them the whole time, they will let me stay longer, haha! It's worth a try right haha :) It is hot here, and some days are hard but there are experiences that you experience out here that are unmatched anywhere! People we talk to, and experiences we have gives me the strength to keep going and to keep working hard. A mission is great - everyone needs to prepare to serve (that means senior missionaries too)! Yeah, senior missionaries are awesome, and do so much for the success of the mission - so prepare today to serve 'cause missions are awesome. Lots of hard work, but so worth it! It is the best! We could be having a baptism soon, we have an invistigator who is getting really close, so we are really excited for her to progress to baptism. So yeah, Baptisms happen here in Sacramento 'cause we are the Best! Yeah, I said it, haha, the California Sacramento Mission is the Best in the World! LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH!!!!
Love Elder Jesse Grover
That is so sad to hear about Presient Redd, I knew when I left that he probably wouldn't be there when I got back, I guess I just didn't expect it to be this soon. I hope everything is ok with his family and that all goes well. My prayers will be with his family. Yes, I meet President and Sister Lewis this week, and will have interviews this week with him, so yeah - way cool. They are way awesome, we are all so excited to have them here, they are great people. Dont worry about not emailing on the 4th - I know how busy things get there. That's awsome that Jade did took third place overall on his race. HAPPY BIRTHDAY MCKADY!!!!!! you are all growing up and I am missing it! Well, don't grow up too much while I am gone. I hope your birthday went well. It feels so weird not to be home, time flies by, but you don't realize it 'till it's gone. Out here it is the same every day, and then the next thing you know it's Sunday, or the transfer comes up - it's almost here again. I am thinking about applying for an extension now, so maybe by the end of the two years, after having me bugging them the whole time, they will let me stay longer, haha! It's worth a try right haha :) It is hot here, and some days are hard but there are experiences that you experience out here that are unmatched anywhere! People we talk to, and experiences we have gives me the strength to keep going and to keep working hard. A mission is great - everyone needs to prepare to serve (that means senior missionaries too)! Yeah, senior missionaries are awesome, and do so much for the success of the mission - so prepare today to serve 'cause missions are awesome. Lots of hard work, but so worth it! It is the best! We could be having a baptism soon, we have an invistigator who is getting really close, so we are really excited for her to progress to baptism. So yeah, Baptisms happen here in Sacramento 'cause we are the Best! Yeah, I said it, haha, the California Sacramento Mission is the Best in the World! LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH!!!!
Love Elder Jesse Grover
California - July 4, 2011
Hello family,
Happy fourth of July! I hope it was good. It feels really weird not to be there for the big celebeation, it was just not the same out here - it is much better in Blanding for sure, but it is ok, haha. This is really my first big celebration away from home, it's not really as bad as I thought just 'cause you know before hand that it is just going to be another day, haha. But every day is precious out here! On holidays we have to be in the church at 6 am, and can't leave until dark - saftey procautions ya know. But we had a fun day today, I will have to send pics - the water ballon fight was tons of fun! The work is going good, no baptisms but hopefully in the future and before Elder Flores or I get transfered. The next transfer is like 2-3 weeks away, it will be interesting - my first big change out here. I am excited to meet President Lewis, he seems way cool. We will keep the parts and non flashy ties - all rules stay the same for now, which is a good thing. We will meet him this week, it is exciting, haha. The spanish is coming; last week we did what is called a zebra exchange were a spanish elder and an english elder are companions, and I taught a lesson and did a church tour in spanish - by my self - yeah! I am not prideful, just super proud of myself, haha. Well, let me know how the 4th went - I love you all. I will try to write a hand written letter to give you more details about everything, we just don't have a lot of time to e-mail, haha. But I love you all so much. Tell Jordan I did get his email.
Love Elder Jesse Glen Grover
Happy fourth of July! I hope it was good. It feels really weird not to be there for the big celebeation, it was just not the same out here - it is much better in Blanding for sure, but it is ok, haha. This is really my first big celebration away from home, it's not really as bad as I thought just 'cause you know before hand that it is just going to be another day, haha. But every day is precious out here! On holidays we have to be in the church at 6 am, and can't leave until dark - saftey procautions ya know. But we had a fun day today, I will have to send pics - the water ballon fight was tons of fun! The work is going good, no baptisms but hopefully in the future and before Elder Flores or I get transfered. The next transfer is like 2-3 weeks away, it will be interesting - my first big change out here. I am excited to meet President Lewis, he seems way cool. We will keep the parts and non flashy ties - all rules stay the same for now, which is a good thing. We will meet him this week, it is exciting, haha. The spanish is coming; last week we did what is called a zebra exchange were a spanish elder and an english elder are companions, and I taught a lesson and did a church tour in spanish - by my self - yeah! I am not prideful, just super proud of myself, haha. Well, let me know how the 4th went - I love you all. I will try to write a hand written letter to give you more details about everything, we just don't have a lot of time to e-mail, haha. But I love you all so much. Tell Jordan I did get his email.
Love Elder Jesse Glen Grover
A letter from a family in Sacramento
Dear Missionary Families,
We enjoyed having your missionaries in our home recently. We have
had some changes at our home. We had to let the missionaries move
because we had additional family members move in. We don't want to
lose touch with all these wonderful missionaries so we still try to
have them for dinner the 4th Sunday of the month. Thank you for
sharing your missionaries with us for this time.
Love,
Tim and Earline Fewkes
We enjoyed having your missionaries in our home recently. We have
had some changes at our home. We had to let the missionaries move
because we had additional family members move in. We don't want to
lose touch with all these wonderful missionaries so we still try to
have them for dinner the 4th Sunday of the month. Thank you for
sharing your missionaries with us for this time.
Love,
Tim and Earline Fewkes
6/28/2011
California - June 27, 2011
Why hello family. Yeah, J.J.'s friend, Elder Proctor, was in the MTC with me, and he asked if I knew Janessa. Yeah, he said Coach Bowring hooked them up because they live in Juab and he played football for him, haha, yeah crazy times. How is Brooke doing with marriage? It's so crazy that everyone is getting married; we are working with some investigators that need to get married, maybe they will too, haha! California is awesome!!! Yeah, we are getting a new president Wednesday, it will be good. Here is a picture of me and President and Sister Jardine saying goodbye at zone conference. 
Yeah, they will be missed, but we are excited to meet President and Sister Lewis. We will have a "meet the president" in like a week and a half, and have interviews with them, it will be exciting. It will be a change, but this is God's work and He will help all those he calls. I know because he helps me alot! My Spanish is getting better, I talked for like 30 min with a member in Spanish because elder Flores was in a meeting. So I just hung out with this member and we just chatted, it is getting better, the Lord helps me so much! I am excited to learn more and to meet more people. The work is moving forward; we need to teach and teach, and baptize and retain. We are working a lot with less active members too, there are a ton. Have you heard JIMMER is in sac? How cool is that? The King's stadium is actually in the area of our YSA ward that our zone leaders cover, so maybe I will meet him, haha! Not likely, but it is cool, and maybe that will help with the work here, because everyone loves Jimmer. I am in the Ensign? That is way cool! I have been waiting for it to come out - that so awesome! We in Blanding are awesome, haha! How has the summer been treating you? It is so hot here, it hit 107 the other day! Yeah, but we still teach and there are really nice people who give us water and stuff. I love you all a ton, and pray for you. Just pray for me, and be missionaries; share the gospel with everyone and be an example in every way possible. I love you all, take care.
Love Elder Jesse Grover
PS. Got to make it short cause I have to send an introductory email to President Lewis! Yeah, it's crazy! Love You All !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :) :):D:D
Yeah, they will be missed, but we are excited to meet President and Sister Lewis. We will have a "meet the president" in like a week and a half, and have interviews with them, it will be exciting. It will be a change, but this is God's work and He will help all those he calls. I know because he helps me alot! My Spanish is getting better, I talked for like 30 min with a member in Spanish because elder Flores was in a meeting. So I just hung out with this member and we just chatted, it is getting better, the Lord helps me so much! I am excited to learn more and to meet more people. The work is moving forward; we need to teach and teach, and baptize and retain. We are working a lot with less active members too, there are a ton. Have you heard JIMMER is in sac? How cool is that? The King's stadium is actually in the area of our YSA ward that our zone leaders cover, so maybe I will meet him, haha! Not likely, but it is cool, and maybe that will help with the work here, because everyone loves Jimmer. I am in the Ensign? That is way cool! I have been waiting for it to come out - that so awesome! We in Blanding are awesome, haha! How has the summer been treating you? It is so hot here, it hit 107 the other day! Yeah, but we still teach and there are really nice people who give us water and stuff. I love you all a ton, and pray for you. Just pray for me, and be missionaries; share the gospel with everyone and be an example in every way possible. I love you all, take care.Love Elder Jesse Grover
PS. Got to make it short cause I have to send an introductory email to President Lewis! Yeah, it's crazy! Love You All !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :) :):D:D
California - June 20, 2011
Wow, it sounds like things are going well. Yeah, we spent alot of time on the shuttles at the MTC, so the chances would be pretty good that I would have seen Jordan now that he is driving the shuttle, I think. Ha Ha! Well, J.J. didn't really want to do school very bad anyways, huh? But hopefully they can find a job; I will pray for them. How did Father's day go? Happy Father's day Dad! I hope it was really good. Happy Birthday Candice!
Well, with the Spanish, I thought I was going nowhere and that I couldn't speak Spanish, but yesterday we did a Spanish blitz on the sisters area, and I was the Spanish speaker in the companionship. I talked to a Spanish guy and got a return from him; it was way awesome, a huge confidence boost for me! I can speak a little it's not great, but still coming slowly. Sister Mason just got transferred into the area, and her Spanish is great; I'm going to have to pick up my game, haha. But yeah, it's going well, the California weather is so hot; it is supposed to hit 100 this week and stay that way most of the summer! Yeah, that's hot, good luck me (at least I have a car :). tell everyone to keep their heads up, trust in God, and he will help us no matter the problem, whether big or small, he can help us, and he will if we just ask him. Missionary work is the best! Everyone prepare to serve; seriously, it is hard, but i love it, and I wouldn't want to be anywhere else, California is awesome! This is my holy land, the people are great. Keep praying for me please, I can use all the help I can get! We have some awesome investigators, they just need to come to church. The Church Is So True! I love it;) Take care, I love you all so much.
Love Me, Elder Jesse Glen Grover :)
Well, with the Spanish, I thought I was going nowhere and that I couldn't speak Spanish, but yesterday we did a Spanish blitz on the sisters area, and I was the Spanish speaker in the companionship. I talked to a Spanish guy and got a return from him; it was way awesome, a huge confidence boost for me! I can speak a little it's not great, but still coming slowly. Sister Mason just got transferred into the area, and her Spanish is great; I'm going to have to pick up my game, haha. But yeah, it's going well, the California weather is so hot; it is supposed to hit 100 this week and stay that way most of the summer! Yeah, that's hot, good luck me (at least I have a car :). tell everyone to keep their heads up, trust in God, and he will help us no matter the problem, whether big or small, he can help us, and he will if we just ask him. Missionary work is the best! Everyone prepare to serve; seriously, it is hard, but i love it, and I wouldn't want to be anywhere else, California is awesome! This is my holy land, the people are great. Keep praying for me please, I can use all the help I can get! We have some awesome investigators, they just need to come to church. The Church Is So True! I love it;) Take care, I love you all so much.
Love Me, Elder Jesse Glen Grover :)
6/21/2011
California - June 14, 2011
Hello Family,
Good to hear that all is well. All is well here too. We just had my first transfer - have I already been out this long? Wow, I've got some serios work to do - I've got to pick up my game! Anyway, transfers are this week, and that is why I am e-mailing today instead of yesterday, and I am . . . . . staying here with my trainer, who was just made district leader, so I am still a trainee (probably because my spanish is so bad, haha). I've got so much work to do, please pray for me, I really need it! I know I was called to a Spanish speaking mission because for me being an English elder would be too "easy" and I would start to slack off, but as a Spanish elder, I have to work constantly or I fall behind. I can't fall behind because we are losing a lot of Spanish elders, and not getting new ones in, so I am going to have to step it up! Plus, I am getting a new mission president, and we have got to get a good start and progress every transfer - I only have 15 left! That is so weird, time is flying by too fast. So everything is well here, I love the missionary work, it is the best! Good thing they came out with "every member a missionary" because that way I can be a missionary forever! Get involved with the missionaries, we really appreciate members' help so much; feed them, give them rides, and tell them how awesome they are. Members are a huge part of missionary work. Take care and know that I love you all so much, and you are all awesome. God is watching out for me, he takes care of me every day, I know that. So just know that I am well and safe and loving the heat of Cali, haha!
Love,
Elder Jesse Grover
6/08/2011
California - June 6, 2011
Thanks for the picture, that is awesome! I feel like I was really there, I got an invite to the sealing, and was there for the pictures! You have no idea how much that means to me, it really means so much! I really do have the greatest family ever! I know it has been crazy there for you, and I wish I could be there to help with it all, but I promise you that I am working hard out here. It is hard, but I love it, and I know God is watching over you all for me, that is the only way I can handle being away from you all for so long. I know God is there and that he cares for us, I know that! Know that I love my mission, it has been the best three months, even if it has been the hardest three months! But I can't imagine myself doing anything else. Transfers are almost here; yeah, one transfer down, time is flying by. We will find out next Monday if we are being transferred. I am glad the wedding went well, yeah it is crazy that he is married, but that is a step in life that we all have to take, in our time and in God's time. If we do what we are supposed to and trust in God, we will be helped and guided in all we do. That doesn't mean that it will be easy, because salvation isn't cheap. That is why missionary work is hard, because we are offering something so great and wonderful, but it required people to change their lives, and that is not easy. We could just go baptize people, but then they would leave the church because they didn't fully understand the gospel. We want people to stay members forever, not just while we are here trying to look good with so many baptisms. I would much rather baptize one person and have them stay active and devout than to baptize 100 and have them all fall away. Salvation isn't cheap, but God is there to help. Any crazy plans for the summer? Any trips, or was the wedding enough? Ha Ha! Weddings are a lot of work, but they didn't it right, they went to the house of the Lord to be sealed for time and all eternity. See, God has given us all the tools in this life that we need to return to Him, we just need to use them. That is what I am, a tool, haha! And God uses me to find His elect. I must offer the gospel to everybody, but they have the choice to follow or not, and it is my responsibility to be the best I can be so that it is not my fault when people choose not to follow Him. Oh, the gospel is great, huh? Well, we are working with another 9 year old girl, she is our only progressing investigator right now. Christ knew what he was talking about when he told us to become as little children, they want so bad to become like Christ. Her mom and her older sister are cool, but they are busy and can't make it to church much, but they are coming along. All we seem to teach is women, the men aren't as willing to listen. But, we found some really cool families we are working with, so it is great! I love you all so much! I've got to run, we have a lesson in a few minutes. Yeah, a lesson on P-day, but remember, salvation isn't cheap, we need to do all we can. I love you all so much! Keep in tune with you Father in Heaven and you will never go astray. The gospel is true, the book is blue, and I love all of you, haha!
Love Elder Jesse Grover
California - May 30, 2011
Hello Family,
Are you alive and well? I haven't heard from you all in a while, so I just hope everything is going well. I miss you all, but I know God is taking care of you, even if I don't get to hear from you. Hope to hear from you soon! Well, missionary work is still going on, and I am still learning. I had my first in-field interview with President Jardine, it was my first and last, I will miss him - he is so awesome! We are working with some awesome investigators - June could be an awesome month for us. I guess June will be pretty busy for you all to, huh? A wedding this week? Crazy! I was hoping I would have a baptism, but some other missionaries are and we will be taking some investigators to it. Maybe we will firm up some investigators, that would be awesome, huh? Ha ha! I have lost 10 more pounds, that makes 30 so far on the mission. I went on exchanges with one of the APs, his name is Elder Bramwell and he is actually a Spanish elder, super cool! Anyway, we did a huge bike ride, and I almost died, but it probably made me skinnier, right? If I keep losing at this rate you won't even recognize me when I get home! I am working on the recorder, I have not had a lot of time to talk into it. I will get better and speak into it more. I will send the memory card home too. I will probably want you to send me some prints of the pictures so that I will have some to put in my book. Has school gotten out yet? How did state track go? Any crazy news? Has anyone else gotten their mission calls or made any wedding announcements? Ha ha!
Well, I do hope to hear from you all, I know you are probably super busy, so it is okay, I understand. I hope the wedding goes well, take pictures and send them to me! How about the family pictures we took before my mission, do I get copies of those? How about the collage pictures? Well, I love you all so much, keep being awesome!
Love me because I love you:)
Elder Jesse Glen Grover
California - May 23, 2011
Hello family,
I am sorry you didn't receive the pictures I sent, they were really cool. You might be able to log on to my mylds mail account - mom, you have the password - because they will be there. This week started out really well, we had our firm give us his coffee, and his lessons were going great. We were teaching lessons like crazy, lots of contacts, and we added three new investigators. But the end of this week was a humbling experience:( All of our lessons fell through! We had 8 lessons set up for Saturday, and guess how many we taught? Zero! We couldn't get a hold of our RC, and our firm lost his job, well kind of, he is a fruit vendor, and the health inspectors took all of his produce, so we never could find him to teach him. We had like 5 people say they would come to church, and none of them did - not even our firm, so his is not longer set up for baptism this week:( We are finally giving up on some really nice people, but they won't come to church and they have been being taught for a long time. It's sad, but we can't waste our time on them, we need to find people who want to follow Christ. I know that this is just missionary work, but it is really sad, there are time I wish that they would just forget everything else and learn the gospel because we know that it will help them so much! But, it is their choice, our job is to bring them the gospel, and they can choose to accept it or reject it.
Well, I am glad that we all lived through the end of the world, haha, did you hear about that? We had lots of people ask us if the world was really going to end, and we would say "no". We talked to several people who were sure it was going to end, we told them that we were sure is wasn't, and that if Sunday came and the world hadn't ended, they should come to church with us, ha ha! Tell Cooper congrats on his mission call, and tell him to write me and tell me for himself - what a bum, j/k, ha ha! Did you get my cards that were like a couple weeks late - sorry, I'm super busy out here serving, it's great! I will try to keep you updated and try to stay up with all the events. Time is flying by, so I am trying my best to make every moment count out here. I only have 2 years, and I've got lots of work to do. NO EXCUSES, NO REGRETS, right? Ha ha! I got a wedding announcement from Jennifer and Marcus - where is JJ and Tamra's? How are all those plans coming? I need Tamra's address, I have a letter for her, but I only have her Logan address, and school is like out, so . . . yup, ha ha! I love you all a ton! Keep being awesome!
Love, Elder Jesse Grover
P.S. So, when I got the packet, and it said ties should not be bright colors, they were serious! I have ties I can't wear, I guess I could, but I am not a rebel, so I won't. So if you ever send ties - no bright stuff, sad day! I love all my bright ties, but President Jardine knows what's best for us as we work here in Sacramento, haha! I LOVE YOU!
California - May 16, 2011
Hola, como estan?
How is good ol' Blanding, ha ha? It is crazy to think that it is May and school is getting out and stuff. It's working time around here, which is good because I love the work - it is hard, but very worth it! Missions are great! We had our baptism on Saturday, for Celest Belen Basuldua, she is nine, but very smart. Her mom is less active. It was a great experience. Elder Chorino, who was here before I came, did the baptism, and Elder Flores did the confirmation, so that left me with the presentation. Since all the missionaries were bringing investigators to the baptism, I got to teach the first lesson, or the restoration, in Spanish - and English, because there were English speakers there too. It was very difficult, but it helped me a lot in learning Spanish. Guess what? Another crazy thing happened; we were in church and an investigator who lives in our area came, and he has already set a baptismal date for the 28th! Crazy huh? The rule is that an investigator must attend church at least 3 times before they can be baptized, but his brother is a member, and he has come with him before. The work just moves on. We have lots of other investigators who are all super awesome, they just need to come to church. It is hard for them because they don't own cars, and most of them can't afford to pay for a bus. Also, they are often sick or have to work. I know the Lord will find a way to help them so that they can attend His church and be baptized into it. Oh wow, I am really on a mission and learning Spanish - it's so crazy! Oh, I love it out here; the work is so hard, but God blesses us every step of the way. Always remember that God is there and He does bless us. It may not always be the way we want - we may have to walk in a hail storm and knock on the doors of very rude people, but there will always be someone out there searching for the gospel in their lives. We talked to a man who said he was searching for religion because he knew he needed it, but he didn't want to have to put us though all of his mess. We told him that we were representatives of Jesus Christ and we share this message to help people repent and come unto Him. He pretty much begged us to return and share more, how crazy huh? He only spoke English though, so we don't get to teach him, but I wouldn't be surprised to see him baptized soon, which is all that matters!
Love, Elder Jesse Grover
P.S. Sorry I e-mailed to early today. Last week we took an elder to urgent care, so our e-mailing was done later. We e-mail much earlier regularly, like maybe even earlier than this - sorry! I love you all and hope you have a great week. You are all the best, I love and pray for you all the time!
California - May 9, 2011
Hola familia,
Yeah, first P-day our in the field - pretty crazy! Lot's more to go, that's for sure, ha ha! It was a lot cooler weather today, which was nice. We went and played soccer, which was fun - lots of running! We had a few members come and play with us, which was cool. It was so good to talk to you last night, most of you at least. Sorry if I didn't talk with you long, or didn't get to talk to you at all. Lots of stuff to do here, and not a lot of time, but we just keep going, ha ha! We still keep knocking doors and talking in Spanish. There isn't much to tell you, because we just talked on the phone last night. We have a baptism scheduled, and some investigators that I have a good feeling about, so hopefully pretty soon we will be helping more people to come unto Christ through baptism by His holy priesthood.
Well, it is weird to think that it is May; in the past I was in school, looking forward to the summer, but now it is all sorts of different. I am a missionary, we don't have summer vacations and breaks, we are missionaries for 24/7, 24 months, ha ha! I only have 22 months left, and I've got lots of work to do! I feel like my timer is running down and yet I am the newest missionary here. I can only imagine how the ones who are in their last transfer are feeling. The church is true, and that is all that matters. God helps so much! He cares about each one of us personally. I know that because He has so much patience with me, and he has helped me learn Spanish, and he continues to help me every day, more than I deserve actually. That just goes to show how wonderful God is, and why we need him in our life.
I love you all so much! Write lots of letters:) Letters are so very awesome, ha ha! I'm just saying . . . you know!
I love you all!
Love, Elder Jesse Glen Grover
5/17/2011
MTC - Monday, May 2, 2011
Wow, two stakes combined into one? That is crazy news! So that is really going to throw things off when I get back, haha, not only a new stake presidency, but a whole new stake, wow! Yeah, I leave the MTC at 5:00 am and my plane leaves around 8:30. My branch president told me to call from the airport, but to not talk too long. We should be able to call again on Sunday, but I am just as lost as you are about what to expect. I am soooo nervous, haha! Way more nervous than I was about coming to the MTC, but I know all things will work out. Yes, I got the package, thank you so much! The ties are awesome, me and Elder DiPiero love the matching ties, they are like the coolest thing on campus. Everyone loved the gifts; you are awesome, I knew you would come up with better ideas than I ever could. Oh, thanks so much, everyone seriously loved them, and said I must have a wonderful monther - and I do! I have the best mother in the world! Thanks so much! I am trying to pack and get everything to make weight limits - I will be packing all night! Oh, wow, this is a crazy time, haha! Our district is sad, we have become like a family, and I am sad to be leaving all of them. I can write to all of them except Hermana Mason because she is in the same mission, and we are not allowed to write to anyone of the opposite sex in the same mission. But it is okay, she will be out there for six months less than me, haha. But everyone else I can keep in contact with, and all my other friends here - gosh, I hae so many, I am going to miss everyone! Elder DiPiero is staying behind, but I am going to Cali, how crazy is that? Your little boy is all grown up, haha! I still have a long way to go, as the Hermanas remind me daily, haha. Oh, how time goes by and things change. It doesn't seem like 9 weeks, my mission is already going by fast! We will see how the field and the spanish are - scary! I want you all to know I love you so much and that God watches over us, and I know he is watching over you. For family home evening one night, whatch the Elder Joseph B. Worthlin, October 2007 General Conference talk. I pretty muh cried through the whole thing. Watch it, and you will know what I mean. We all need to endure and endure well; other will help us along the way, but we also need to help those around us and trust in God. Well, Cali here I come! Hopefully you are home in the morning so I can talk for a minute. I don't want to miss my flight, that would be bad, seeing how I am travel leader, and should be in charge, haha! God will help me, I know it, and I can not wait to get to Cali, even though I am scared out of my mind. Please pray for me! I feel your prayers, especially on those hard times when learning is so hard and I am so down. I think of the great family I have, and all you do for me - I would be nowhere without you! I love you with every ounce of my being, and I will try my best to make you proud!
Love your son, brother, uncle, missionary,
Elder Jesse Glen Grover
Love your son, brother, uncle, missionary,
Elder Jesse Glen Grover
MTC - April 25, 2011 continued
Hola, como esta? Yeah, it is weird having P-day today, but we will make it work. We meet our new teachers tonight, crazy that we are getting two new ones, huh? Oh, and by the way, your tapes are going to be full of singing, haha! Yeah, it is way fun to use them and record stuff, I am enjoying it. Yeah, if you can get stuff before next Tuesday, that is when I fly out. I am trying to get all my stuff ready to go; I am very nervous and excited. I can't believe I have already been out here this long, it is so crazy. I had to speakin sacrament meeting yesterday, me and Hermana Mason - in spanish. How cool is that? I gave a talk in spanish, haha! I am getting better, that's for sure, before you know it I will be fluent, haha! I hope, at least with God's help I will be, I know it. My teacher said I sound pretty fluent when I pray, but when you pray in spanish all the time, you get pretty good at it, haha!
Yeah, I hope Jordan gets around okay, and J.J. with his surgery. Dad has a cell phone? I wish I could see that! But I am very glad that he is carrying it around, it makes me feel good to know he will have it with him. Oh, how things change in just a short time. I feel like I have been gone forever, but in reality, I have not been gone very long. But in two years I know I will be a better person, and hopefully people in Sacramento will be better also. I am so excited to get there and put my weeks of work into practice. Thank you so much for all the help you have given me! My district is so awesome, and I will miss them so much. Me and Hermana Mason leave Tuesday morning while everyone else but Elder DiPero leave Wednesday. Love you all so much! My MTC stay is almost over, but the best is yet to come!
Love,
Elder Jesse Grover
Yeah, I hope Jordan gets around okay, and J.J. with his surgery. Dad has a cell phone? I wish I could see that! But I am very glad that he is carrying it around, it makes me feel good to know he will have it with him. Oh, how things change in just a short time. I feel like I have been gone forever, but in reality, I have not been gone very long. But in two years I know I will be a better person, and hopefully people in Sacramento will be better also. I am so excited to get there and put my weeks of work into practice. Thank you so much for all the help you have given me! My district is so awesome, and I will miss them so much. Me and Hermana Mason leave Tuesday morning while everyone else but Elder DiPero leave Wednesday. Love you all so much! My MTC stay is almost over, but the best is yet to come!
Love,
Elder Jesse Grover
MTC - Monday, April 25, 2011
Hey, my P-day has changed; it is now on Monday. They re-did our schedule here, and it is crazy. We will lose both of our teachers and get new ones, hopefully we will get good ones, haha! Guess what? I got my travel plans; I leave May 3 at 5:00 in the morning. There are four missionaries in our group, and I am the travel leader. Me and Hermana Mason will fly out together, but the others don't leave until the next day. I am just going to make this short so that I have time to get back on, so if you can hit me up with an e-mail that would be great! If not, I will just send another e-mail. Thanks so much for the package, it was awesome, I loved it! And the recorder is awesome - a lot of fun! Love you all a ton!
Love,
Elder Jesse Grover
Love,
Elder Jesse Grover
4/14/2011
MTC - April 13, 2011
Hello, what is the matter with Jordan? That is cool about Cameron Shumway getting his call to South Africa! It's exciting to hear about all these calls, all my friends are going out to serve, it awesome! Sorry to hear about Jade not getting the nomination for Sterling Scholar. Just tell him that I didn't, and I am pretty much awesome. So sometimes they don't let awesome people do stuff like that to save the not awesome people the hurt, haha! It will be okay, I promise things will work our for the best. That is so sad to hear about the Stake Presidency, tell them I love them and so grateful for all they did for me. How is President Redd's health? I get my first haircut today, crazy huh? Yeah, it's pretty exciting. My companion is doing well, he is healing really well. I just got make district leader, yeah, now I get to check the mail. So you all should write a lot so I have a reason to get the mail, haha! Everything here is pretty much the same, it is very repetitive, so not a whole lot of news, sorry! I only have three weeks left, so that is exciting. I taught my first lesson in Espanol last week and a few since, so the language is progressing, that is for sure! Laundry is sucky! I like doing laundry at home better, haha! If this is a bad e-mail, sorry, I just don't know what to write. I wish I had a crazy story or something, but no. I'm glad your trip went well. I hope you had an awesome birthday, mom, you are the best! Family, I love you all so much! Keep praying for me, profavor, I need it! And write lots of letters! Love you! Love, Elder Grover
MTC - April 6, 2011
Oh family, how art thou? haha! I am doing good here at the MTC. It has been a lot rougher with my companion being down; I miss a little bit of class every once in awhile. I will be spending a lot of time out of the MTC with him for physical therapy and doctor appointments. We were not able to go to the temple this morning, which was really sad. I enjoy the temple so much, it is a place where the Lord dwelleth, and they have good food, haha! You know me, always thinking of my stomach! Oh, by the way, I am losing weight. Everyone is like, "are you okay? You look like you are losing weight." I'm like, "sure I am." My suits are starting to look a little baggy, and my slacks are even more baggy than they were before, haha! It is pretty funny. Well anyway, how are things at home? Cool that you get to come to Provo, I am starting to like it here, haha! Still not as good as Blanding, but that is alright. The shorts fit great - thanks! I am excited to get the recorder too. I feel like I have progressed with the language; we taught our first lesson in Spanish the other night, and our teacher said it was good. I know I can still get better, that's for sure, haha! I am glad we stay here nine weeks because I am going to need all nine of them! No, I will not stay with my companion, I will leave with the rest of the group. Our zone leaders are leaving Monday, and then someone from our district will have to be zone leader. I think my companion and I are pretty safe due to our predicament, haha! Oh, and the surgery went great. It is a slow recovery; the surgeon said he could probably leave mid June, but he likes the MTC and is really positive about staying. Conference was so good, huh? Yeah, I watched every session - for like the first time in my life, haha! And I loved it! I took like 14 pages of notes, it was so fantastic, words can't even describe it. Yeah, there were a lot of talks for Jordan, that's for sure! I wrote him a letter about it. Good to hear he finally asked his partner on a date, that makes me excited. I also got a letter from Tamra, sounds like the wedding plans are going great. I am so excited for her and J.J. Elder Scott's talk was for them, it was beautiful. I love you so much, you are my anchor. I want you all to know of my love for you; I think I love you all more each day, and I know Dios loves you tambien. I miss you and I will try my hardest to be the missionary you deserve to have. I want so badly to make you all proud of me. Be proud of who you are, we are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (President Oak's talk) la Iglasia de Jesucristo de los Santos de los ultimos dia. Live it each day, be an example of the believers, be like unto Christ. By the way, President Monson's talk in the Priesthood session was so, so very good. I would suggest you watch it - everyone should. And when the Ensign comes out with the talks, I want one, por favor! Love you son, brother, elder, missionary, Elder Jesse Grover
4/01/2011
MTC - March 30, 2011
Hey Family, It is good to hear from you all. I have crazy missionary news too, me and my companion are meeting with a surgeon today. Yeah, that's right, he tore his ACL meniscus and has micro fractures - MTC basketball, haha! So, we will have lots of time out of the MTC for the next while - our whole stay as of right now. He won't be able to leave until June 4th instead of May 3rd, which would kind of suck, but his Spanish will be super good, haha! Other than that, the week has been pretty much the same as every other week, in the MTC it is the same schedule every week. The Spanish is at a stand still, I am struggling all over again. Please pray for me and Elder DiPiero, we really need it, we can use all the prayers we can get, haha! Please, please, I need the help, I am missing home all over again, haha. My family is so legit, that it is hard to be away! But the fact that I want to make you proud is driving me forward. Don't worry, I'm not coming home, I have to stay here and take care of Elder DiPiero, so I can't, haha! The Lord is taking care of me, and I know he is taking care of you all at home. I have no idea what I need . . . I should write it down, because I always end up forgetting, haha. So, I guess nothing too important, just food I guess, food is always a comfort. Oh, we got a new district, and guess what? I am still the youngest in the zone! I am just a young guy, haha! But in two and a half weeks my district will be the oldest, and a couple weeks after that I will be gone, haha! Time is flying by like crazy! Tell everyone to keep up all the good work, and keep being the most awesome family in the world. I love you all more than anything. Love, Elder Grover
3/25/2011
MTC - March 23, 2011
Oh, MTC life is just about the same, we have the same schedule for 9 weeks, haha. It is way hard, I will admit, and without the help of the Lord and your support, I couldn't do it. But I know God is helping me! We heard from Claudio R. Costa from the 70 last night, and it was very good! The spirit you feel here is unreal! You and dad need to come here in a couple years so you all can serve a mission! The senior missionaries are all so awesome! We eat lunch with them a lot, haha. It is good to hear life at home is going good, I know that the Lord is watching out for you and protecting you. I want all of you to know of my love for you! Every single one of you mean so much to me. It is cool to hear about all the mission calls coming. I actually found out about Stetler's from Nache, I mean Elder Nielson. He flew out Monday, he bore his testimony in Mandrin, and it was awesome, he will be great. By the way, I want a recorder like he has. He said it feels kind of weird talking to yourself, but he said it was really helpful for him and his family, so yeah that would be nice. A little info on my companion cause the aunts wanted to know, I guess. He is from Seward, Alaska, it is right on the coast, about two hours south of Anchorage. He has been a member for almost 2 years. He did that trek in Alaska, and his host family was the Carlsons, not Bill and Christine, but maybe a relative. I have no idea where our aunts live, so it's hard to explain about them to him. So, if you have info on that, please share, haha. He is way awesome, I am very blessed to have him as a companion. He said I don't snore anymore; I snored the first couple nights, but haven't since. Yes, it is hard to sleep a full night on these beds, they are not mine for sure!
We study Spanish and the gospel every day. We have been focusing a lot on teaching lately. Every Friday we go and teach volunteers in what is called the TRC, and they speak Spanish. We also teach "progressive investigators" who are our teachers. It is so very hard to teach, and I couldn't do it without the Lord's help. We have 1 hour for personal companionship and language study a day. The food is still good, but it doesn't really agree with anyone's stomach, haha.
Sorry about the spelling, I get so rushed with this clock counting down on me, haha. We get a new district in our zone today, so we won't be the newbees any more, haha. Our zone is awesome! They are all great, oh yeah! Me and Elder DiPiero want matching ties, so if you could look for some for us, that would be awesome. Wish Amber a Happy Birthday, I have a gift, but need an address.
Love forever, and always your son, a servant of God
Elder Jesse Grover
We study Spanish and the gospel every day. We have been focusing a lot on teaching lately. Every Friday we go and teach volunteers in what is called the TRC, and they speak Spanish. We also teach "progressive investigators" who are our teachers. It is so very hard to teach, and I couldn't do it without the Lord's help. We have 1 hour for personal companionship and language study a day. The food is still good, but it doesn't really agree with anyone's stomach, haha.
Sorry about the spelling, I get so rushed with this clock counting down on me, haha. We get a new district in our zone today, so we won't be the newbees any more, haha. Our zone is awesome! They are all great, oh yeah! Me and Elder DiPiero want matching ties, so if you could look for some for us, that would be awesome. Wish Amber a Happy Birthday, I have a gift, but need an address.
Love forever, and always your son, a servant of God
Elder Jesse Grover
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