Welcome Home Elder Grover!!!

Elder J.J. Grover returned with honor on Thursday, February 3, 2011. After two days of traveling, his airplane landed in Salt Lake City at 3:50 pm. We were all there to greet him (except for Jordan, who had a dance performance at the same time), along with tons of other families waiting for missionaries. He didn't get the signs and balloons that some other missionaries got, but he did get to see our happy smiling faces, and I think that meant more to him than anything!Tears were shed as father and son reunitedAnd this is the happiest mom in this world!!! The nieces and nephews were SUPER excited to see this uncle again that they look up to so much. Thanks for your awesome example J.J! They had all grown so much that Elder Grover hardly recognized them! And, there were two new nieces for him to meet. What an exciting day!Elder Josh Lyman, a neighbor and friend of J.J. for a long time, flew in from France, just four minutes after Elder Grover. It was great to see him and his family again! And Elder Grover was right, he did need a coat! The cold, dry weather might be the hardest thing for him to get used to.

WE LOVE YOU JJ! WELCOME HOME!!!

Guatemala - January 31, 2011

Hey, so I got your e-mail and so I will try to answer some of the questions. So the week has been really great, but very busy! With thanks to God, everything went well with the baptisms in the zone. I really don't have any idea about traveling plans, so we will see this Wednesday. As for the Elder that I came here with, he was one of the only ones that opened the mission from my group, and so there is a really good chance that he will be with me. As far as the dinner, I will be fine with whatever. But, as time goes, I am out of it! But I will tell you everything later. I love you all and will see you in a few days!
con amor
Elder Grover

Guatemala - January 24, 2011

Hey Family!
How is the life in the small town, I'm sorry to hear about Kent, but it is good to know that the family is good. So this past week was amazing! My companion is great and truly we are seeing God's hands here in Tiquisate. Last week Hermano Manrique, the husband of Hermana Zoila that was baptized in December, go his problems fixed, and said, "Im ready". Honestly, I was not expecting it, but God know all. This week we are going to go hard again, we are preparing Hermano Angel and Sonia, Emily, and another Sonia to received their ordinances, but with a lot of prayer cuz it is not our work, but His that sent us. I have been wondering how I can take the mission home with me, but I know that if I can serve the Lord with all my heart, it does not matter where I am. So mom, I pulled out a lot of money to buy corte, the traditional apparel, but you are going to have to do some sewing with it. I hope to bring home enough to satisfy the need:) Other than that, we will see what happens. I think I'm only going to need one thing when I get there, and that is a really big coat. But, if I think I need also mas, I will let you know next week. So, I love all and take care.
con amor
Elder Grover

Guatemala - January 17, 2011

So how is the family?
I'm great here with Elder Aguirre, just as happy as we can be working in the Obra del Senor. I will tell you what, it is HOT here! It blows away anything I have ever felt in the US. But here in Tiquisate it is a little different, not like an old city. The production of bananas and Sugar Cain and a fruit called African Palm for the production of oil, has made it into what it is today. But as far as cool traditional items or clothes, there is zero here! We have a baptism this week, her name is Sharon, and she is really smart, she is 9 years old. We are also preparing two families to be baptized. I know that this is God's work, and I love it. I hope all is well at home. I love you all
con amor
Elder Grover

Guatemala - January 10, 2011

So how is the most wonderful family on the earth? It is okay to be prideful of your family, just read President Ukdorf's talk. So the wrestling is sounding good, it is was easy there would be no growth, but I have confidence in you Jade and Jens. Work hard and do you best! I remember the good old days when coach JJ would always tell me the more conditioned wrestler will have a better outcome. That means that if you are in really good shape you'll push the older, more experienced wrestlers and even win - trust me! Work hard and good things will happen. That's crazy to hear that Elder Lyman will be flying home the same time as me, it will be neat to see him there after two years. About the clothes, I'll do what I can, but traditional clothes are a bit expensive, but I will look a bit. I have some preparations days left, so I will see. But, on to the more important stuff, the zone is doing alright, we have a lot of families to get married in the next few weeks, and I'm trying to work hard. I hope God will forgive me of my faults and slowness, I feel a little old at times (mentally) but I know the Gospel is true and if I understand it, it will change me to be a better person, and I will be able to help others along the way. My really good friend wrote me, he is from Texas, and was my assistant for a very long time, he has there weeks home. He said that the life is great after the mission (still looking for work) but the Gospel is what makes it great. I love the work, and I love Christ! I can't understand it all completely but someday I will, and in that day I will see my Savior's face. I know He lives, I know this is His church, I love you all and thank you!
con amor
Elder Grover

Guatemala - January 3, 2011

Hey family!
So how is life in Blanding? I hope that you passed the Holiday great! Happy New Year! 2011, can you believe that a new year is here already? We are here in REU with all of the zone leaders, we still don't know what we are going to do exactly, but its all good. I just got your e-mail. Gracias for the help on the medicine, I will aske the presidente if he needs anything more. So congratulations Jesse on going throug the temple, there is no greater place on earth - we will go together when I get home. But all is good here and working into January there is a lot to do, but God will help us, I know it. I'm so grateful for the time that I have been given to labor in God's vineyard. I will pull our a little money to buy a few things, but if there is anything you want, just tell me next week and I will do what I can, okay? Sorry, got to go, so I will talk next week. I love you! Take care and God be with you all.
Elder Grover

Guatemala - December 27, 2011

Hey fam!
So how did the Christmas time pass by? Really fast! Yeah, and now it is the new year and all the fun stuff. So, I just want to apologize for not being able to talk to everyone, and also for not being able to tell who was who on the phone. But thanks for the support that you have given me and also for the many prayers. So, I just want Jesse to know the great confidence that God has in him to be a name bearer of His son, and what a great blessing to know that God is sending you where the people you promised in the pre earth life are waiting patiently for your testimony and spirit. Read the Book of Mormon and Preach My Gospel, and also draw near to our Father in Heaven in prayer and you will be stregthened and even given loads of desire and faith. I know with all my hear that this is God's true work and GLORY, how blessed are we to be a part of it. All in all I am great, and my companion is too. We are ready to rock into Enero and see what good we can do. We are teaching two families that are amazing, but you know there are always little set backs, but we are going to find the soluciones. I love you all and with you a Happy New Year!!
con amor,
Elder Grover

Guatemala - December 13, 2010

Como esta la familia Grover!
Hey, it's great to hear from everyone and to know that all is well. Congrats to Jad and Jens on your wrestling. That is so good that you are getting good experience and growing. Jade, just remember, you are not boxing, so try to be more careful:) This is so cool that all is well, so just tell me when you know the dates for the state tournament cuz I want to see you both there. Man, mom, I can't believe you actually let Jesse go to California, I'm amazed! No, that is cool that he is focused on the mission. How about Jordan, the new Elders Quorum President? What a humbling calling! I have been learning a bit about the stewardship of leaders and I know God has a lot of confidence in him to give him this calling, he will do a good job. So, yeah, this week was crazy again, but the good Lord helped us out. In the zone there was three families baptized. And for us here, we had a wedding for Manrique and Zoila, but only Zolia and two of her children were baptized, we will continue working with Manrique and the other kids. God is opening so many doors here in Tiquisate and I'm ever so grateful to be here. I hope the good Lord helps me in the things I still need to overcome and pray for the people here, I love them. Even though we have passed through hard times and all, this really is a chosen people. Just a spiritual thought: yesterday was one of those days that it was so hot by 3 in the afternoon, and after two appointments fell through, we were really having a hard time picking up the spirit. Then we stopped by an old investigator's house. This investigator really does not want to go to church yet, but we talked with them about the Christmas season and the Book of Mormon, and how the two connected in Christ. Walking out of that house, I felt as if my cargas, or load, had been lifted. I know that if we remember Christ and apply His attributes this season, our loads will be lightened. I testify of this in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
con mucho amor para todos,
Elder Grover