Elder Grover saying goodbye to the nieces and nephews

These guys are going to miss their Uncle Jens!

MTC - September 16, 2014

Hola mama,

Life here is great! But I think I am putting on some weight... we don't have a scale on west campus, but I just know I am. But that is okay because the food is great. Tell Jesse congrats on the paper! That is very impressive! That is crazy that Mikell is already flying out. He will love it though, it is amazing. Just tell him not to get frustrated with Spanish, because it is frustrating. But I love Spanish, I cant wait until I can become fluent, it is so beautiful! Tell Jesse and JJ to practice all they can because it is an amazing gift to have, and to lose it would be very sad! Because I know the hours and hours I am putting in trying to learn it, and I don't ever want to forget it! But I can only learn it through the grace of God. He is so important mom, he really is. But it is great, me and my companion can teach a Spanglish lesson without notes, it is really fun! And I find myself understanding more and more of the language. But have a good week and have fun, tell everyone I love them. And mom, I love you so so so much, but I know God loves you more than I do!  And if you ever need help He will be there, I promise because I can testify to you that he helps me every second of every day!

Love Elder Grover

Ohio - September 15, 2014

Hello, Hello

Its good to hear things are good back at home, and that the other Elder Grover is getting along alright. He is in deep in his preparation to come into the mission field! I can remember, that place was so amazing! The spirit teaches you so much in so little time. But with it being preparation for the mission, its just like hat out here too! The ups and downs are all squashed in a shorter period time, but like keep saying, that is how we grow! He can't help us grow if we are in the comfort zone.  Right now he may think that 6 weeks seems like forever, but really 6 weeks comes and goes really fast! For example, this last transfer! Transfers are tomorrow and well, I'm moving again! One and done, I don't exactly know what to think! So this will be another week that I start from ground zero again. I didn't even get to know all the people very well here, I'm one that it takes me a little while to get everything down. Hopefully they will send someone in that can really get the work going here, its a wonderful little place with lots of potential! So yeah, I hope nobody sent anything recently; I did get the package from Amber and Dad's letter so we are good there. Thank you for all everyone does for me, it means the world! Love you Much!

Elder Jade Grover  

MTC - September 9, 2014

MTC life is beyond amazing! Like, I don't think I have ever been so happy because I know for a surety that my father in heaven loves me beyond compare, and I know that he loves you too! Alot! And he loves you even more now that you've let 2 of your sons be his servants! I love being a missionary! Like, I could be a missionary the rest of my life, because letting people know what I know and how happy it can make them, it is beyond compare! So I saw Brayden 3 times, but he flew out yesterday.. he is going to be an amazing missionary! And guess who showed up last week? Heidi Hiatt, it was so awesome to see her!  I guess she had a bad eye so they sent her here instead of Mexico. She is in west campus, so I see her every day! So I don't think I need anything right now. That is sad that Shaeli is coming home, she is missing out, but it is hard! Like the hardest thing I have ever done, but never has anything brought me so much joy! I love it! I couldn't imagine going home! But it is great, spanish is hard, really hard, and confusing, but I will get it someday:) I love it though, the language is beautiful! I keeping learning little different parts,  so it will come together. Say hi to everyone for me and tell them that I love them and that I remember all of them in my many many prayers. God loves you mom, very much, and so do I! I think of you a lot but I know this is where I am supposed to be! Love you a lot! This gospel  is true!! 

My Companion

The Sweet District

Ohio - September 8, 2014

Good Morning!

Today I am well, my companion on the other hand is way too excited for this Cinci Reds Game we are going to later today. I Maybe I should be too, but after being a missionary for a little while now, its not too big of a deal, at least, I mean in the eternal realm of things. But it will be really cool to be able to say I got to go to a Pro Baseball Game in on my Mission, that doesn't happen every day! But what was really cool, do you remember the Harsh family? I sent them an e-mail to see how they were doing, can you believe its been a year since I was with them as they were taking the first steps into Gods kingdom? He told me that they were able to go to the temple! They did baptisms for Heather's father and for Dustin's aunt, he said the spirit was so strong!!! I know this is God's work and that it really does bring families together, not just in this life, but for eternity. I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to be a tool in the Lord's hands as I have got to see his Love first hand! He didn't say anything about going through the temple, that should be coming up soon, that would make my world to be able witness that! So Jens is doing well? Or Elder Grover, I should say! Wait, that makes two Elder Grovers, how will you know which one is which? :) That language stuff is probably pretty fun, but he is a tough kid, the Lord will help him get it down! He know at least a sentence or so, I couldn't read it so I don't know how accurate it was :)  But all in all there is not a better work to be a part of at this time, the Lords work! Much love to you, Take care!

Love Elder Jade Grover

MTC - September 2, 2014

hola familia,

Kinda sad I didn't have an email when I got on, not going to lie... thanks for the package though:) Oh, I need my patriarchal blessing and like a shaver for my chest, ha, this may sound weird but it is bugging me! Hope you had a wonderful labor day! My P days are going to be on Tuesday! Maybe I will write a letter telling you more about my first week here at the MTC.  I've got to say I love it, and I love Christ! He is our older brother and Him and heavenly father have so much love for us. Spanish is so hard, but I have already learned so much! Like I wish I knew more before!  Tell McKady to study more and more because if she wants to go on a mission and has to learn spanish it would be so helpful! I am loving life and having so much fun. My testimony of Christ grows stronger every day! So yeah, I will write a more detailed letter. Happy Birthday to me:)

Love Elder Grover 

P.S. Don't worry about me, I am in the Lord's hands. Yo sé que el evangelio es verdadero, que Presidente Monson es un profeta, yo sé que Jesucristo es el Redentor, yo sé que dios es amoroso, En el nombre de Jesucristo, Amén. Amo mamá! Don't know if that is I love or not, but I love you mom and Familia! But like I said I will send a letter telling more of how my week has been. I love you all and I know with every fiber of my being that God does too. The church is so real and it is amazing! It amazes me how we it is run, it is beautiful.

Ohio - September 2, 2014

Hello, Hello,

It sounds like everyone is alive and well at home, or at least adjusting to lots of changes! But I guess change is for our best. You know me, I'm not a really big fan of change, but as I am learning on my mission that is what life is about. God works through change to keep us growing. He can't qualify us for his work if we are not ever going to grow a little, and that comes with us changing a little. That is The Doctrine of Christ, for a quick look at that its my purpose in Preach my Gospel, Christ's purpose more importantly, but yeah Faith leads to Repentance, or Change, ordinances and then it is a continual thing as we Endure to the End. But yeah, I'm good and well here in Greenville as well, not anything crazy like sending a missionary out but, we are striving to work hard. Oh, I guess there is a big thing coming up, I forgot that next week the Mission is going to go to a Cincinnati Reds Game! My Comp is stoked! Then we should be going to the temple here shortly as well, we don't have a date yet, but that is what I am the most excited for.  I guess that comes when you have been a Missionary for awhile, worldly things just don't sound as fun as spiritual things. I hope things continue to settle down back at home.  Love you much! 

Love, Elder Jade Grover

Ohio - August 25, 2014

Good Morning!!!

It sounds like things are good and crazy around there. That seems to be the case when you are sending out a Missionary! I probably wasn't the fastest at getting ready very quickly either, but I'm out here and alive so we must have got it all done :)  But I guess I went to a much more civilized place, we won't be able to send him any packages, huh? That would be rough but you know, he is a Grover, we are tough kids, he will make it alright. On that note, I received your package safe and sound, thank you so much for making sure I am taking care of myself! I should be good with contacts at least until January, that is unless I lose the ones I have, haha, don't worry :) Things are going good here though, we had a pretty good fireside last night on helping members be better member missionaries. It was open for the whole stake to come to our little building, which would not have fit a whole stake, but being as far out as we are from the stake, we didn't have to worry about that. But both the stake president and President Porter talked at it, so it was pretty good. And out of all the people we invited, one came,  so that was awesome. I guess I did contact missionaries from other units that where able to come, so I guess I could count them too, but yeah, it was a good event. You know me, I have a hard time adjusting to new places, but once I get adjusted, I get to love the place, and well this place is slowly growing on me, so things should be looking good! Anyways, thanks for all you do, love you much! Keep the Faith! 

Love,

Elder Jade Grover

P.S. Jens, or should I say Elder Grover, does look like a pretty good missionary, maybe a little young :) but I guess that is how they send them out now-a-days!!!  But yeah, exciting times! It will be a crazy week but it all will be worth it! God is with His servants!

Ohio - August 18, 2014

Good Morning!

It's good to hear that everyone is alive and well, and making it through all the craziness! Jens is heading out next week? Wow, time goes fast! I still think he is still too young, even if he is 19 here soon anyway. I would still say that, I guess I am just a little older than I feel and I need to catch up on the times.  You will have two missionaries out at the same time once again, it will be for a little longer amount of time than the last time because I still have a lot more to accomplish before I come home :)  But yeah, my new area is nice. I prefer the smaller places and well, I got my wish and now I'm in the smallest place yet as in branch ward terms, it sure works different than what I am used to, but it will be a good experience. It's funny how I get sent somewhere and then I have all these ideas of how if it was this way I could really get the work going, then I get sent to the thing that I wanted in the last area, and it just isn't how I thought it would be.  I guess God has a good sense of humor and just wants me to do what I can and trust in Him, he has the plans and it will all work out the way it needs to. But anyways, this week will be a little crazy here, or slow for us, either way. They have their fair going on, and for a county fair it is huge, so that is where everyone is - not out and about.  We do have passes to get in the whole time, but it is still kind of hard to get the missionary work done. But we get to go to the fair a lot, so that should be fun, right? But yeah, I'm doing good, thanks for always making sure I have what I need! Love you Mom! Keep pressing forward! 

Love Elder Jade Grover

Ohio - August 11, 2014

Good Morning!

I thought I was moved back to Indiana for good!  Actually, I thought I would be in Greensburg for a longer time, with how long I stayed in Wilmington I actually figured that I would spend the rest of my time in Greensburg, but I guess that is not what God had intended for me. Man, I sure do not like going to new places still, you would think with how long I have been out that I would be used to it, but I'm not. So yeah, I'm back in Ohio, in another "green" town, yeah Greensburg to Greenville, how about that! I am now with a missionary that just had his trainer transferred out after being together for his first three transfers, so I guess you could say I'm "greenie" breaking him. He seems like a very good missionary and still has a very good fire under his belt to get some work done, so that is good! Greenville is also a branch, and is actually the smallest meeting house I have been in while being out, but that just means that there is lots of work to do, right?

So there were more goats than lambs at the fair? What in the world, that doesn't happen! What caused that, do you think? That is crazy. It sounds like we made it through though, you always have to hold on to the good things, you came out on top! That's horrible that we lost Aunt LouAnn in the middle of it though, it doesn't sound like the Grovers had a very good fair at all! Aunt LouAnn and Uncle Merlin have always been a big part of it! It is hard for those of us still on earth, but in God's plan, passing on is not a bad thing! It's always hard to look at it that way, but we just need to trust in Him, and it will all be worth it! Anyways, love you Mom! Keep holding in there, you are awesome!

Love Elder Jade Grover

PS. My new address is:

112 Quindora Blvd.

Greenville OH 45331 

I don't know what it is with these crazy Streets they send me to in Ohio :)

Indiana - August 4, 2014

Hello, Hello!

Fair week already, that's crazy! But you know me, as crazy as things get at the fair, that is one of the best events of the year. I wonder why that is, being that it seemed to always be a hard time for me. But that sounds like me, confusing all the time. A couple weeks ago the County Fair here was going on and we stopped in one day, it brought back lots of memories visiting the goat and sheep barns:) After that my companion kind of made fun of me about how I went around petting them and talking to them, I didn't think there was anything weird about that! I hope that you will be able to continue to say Hello out in Indiana. Transfer calls were today, and I'm moving, that makes this the shortest time I have spent in one area, I don't know what to think. I don't have the slightest clue as to where I will end up, I'm kind of scared they will send me in to Cincinnati! Way to many scary people in big cities.  But if that is what the Lord intends me to do, I will go! So that will mean you will probably want to hold off sending me anything until I know where I will be at. I'm really sad though, to leave these converts that are struggling here; I have grown to love them so much, and now wish that I could have done more for them! Man, transfers - aren't they so fun? Jens is an Elder now, huh? I guess that we are all "old" now! It is super good that he is excited about heading out. It really does shape you in the way God wants you to be! But yeah I hope the week goes well. It will don't worry! Love you Mom! 

Love Elder Grover

Indiana - July 28, 2014

Well, Elder Grover is doing pretty good I guess, living the life of a missionary. The work is so rewarding, but that doesn't come without going through some hard times too, right? And no, just because I said that doesn't mean that I'm having a hard time, I'm Great! I really love the people in my area, and am striving to do all I can to help them. But no matter how much you want to help, they still have their agency. And, as you know, life gets crazy, and church does not always come as a priority to those that have not had church as part of their life.  I am so very glad that I have wonderful parents who taught their kids the importance of putting God before everything else we do! I makes a world of difference. As I have been out here, I have seen the effects of just letting your kids do whatever. You learn what you do not want to do, that is for sure. Holy cow, only 30 more days and Jens is off, was he supposed to go to a MTC down there or do they have him going to Provo? If so, you now may be able to see him go into the MTC regardless, with no Visa! I am so glad I didn't have to worry about that stuff! But it will work out, don't worry! And don't let all the crazy get you down, it is just helping us grow, and the Lord cant help us grow if we are standing still! Anyways, love you Mom! Keep pushing forward!

Love Elder Jade Grover

Indiana - July 21, 2014

Good Morning :)

We were able to have a very good week this week. Today I decided to send you most of the letter I sent to President today.  I just had the thought that it might be kind of nice so you could have a little more detailed look into the work here, because I know I am probably not so good at giving details of what I'm doing. 

"This last week after interviews I actually felt more productive this week, I just went out and let myself do anything I could for the families that I have grown to love here.  The recent convert families were not able to come to church, but we were able to do some really good service for Lori Paterson, and had some good visits with the Pease Family. We were never able to share a message, but they actually tried to set one up with us themselves.  It just was even more crazy when they wanted us to come to that. We had planned a really good message on preparing for the next ordinance, or in other words the temple. That is what we are going to try to do, get them excited about the temple, just like they were about baptism, and set goals and steps to get their lives in order to go! But we did get Mike Anderson (investigator) and his 6 kids to Church, his wife was not feeling well enough to come, but that was really exciting. Those kids will do wonderful things in the gospel if they are able to grow up in it.  The situation in that family is very hard though, we helped them move to a trailer house about three or four weeks ago, being that they had to be out of the place they were in. And then just after that, Mike got laid off, so there has not been income for three or four weeks, but we did everything we could to secure them a way to church, and we got them there. Mike will have some interviews today, so we are praying for the best.  Things are looking up around here, thank you much!"

So yeah, things are good here. I hope all is well at home with the summer hustle and bustle. Remember I love you and pray for you often, or in other words ALL THE TIME!!! Love you MOM :)

Love Elder Jade Grover

Indiana - July 14, 2014

Hello, Hello!

I'm alive and well! At least I think anyway :) Missionary work is slow, but we are working with some awesome recent convert families.  They are really going through a rough time though, I guess that happens when you have 11 and 12 year-old girls trying to live out in this crazy world. If you think Blanding is getting bad, compared to the world out here, that may be the only safe place! That is, unless you come from a very strong Mormon family, it is just not a place I would like to raise a family. Then on the other hand, I think quite often about what it would be like to come and live here and do some major Missionary work. Being a Missionary, I see now how important the members and families do are for the most successful growth in the church. Either way, I am very grateful to have been raised in the wonderful family I was and that we were able to live where we did. Anyways, it sounds like you are staying busy back home, with all that's going on! It's so crazy to think that Jens is already going through the steps to leave on his mission. It's a great time of life, when you are learning what God has in store for you! I so wish I could be there when he goes though the temple! That is where heaven is on earth and is where all the work we do out here leads to. That is so awesome to hear! Anyways, keep pressing forward, it will all come together with the fair and stuff, it is just so much fun before, right :) Take care and remember that I love you, as well as your Father in Heaven!

Love Elder Grover

Indiana - July 7, 2014

Hello there, 

I hope that everyone was able to have a wonderful 4th of July week last week, full of busy fun, Right? It's kind of funny, it is very different being a Missionary for the 4th of July than it ever was growing up, not as much to to :( but it's still fun! The mission tried something new for us to do this year. Usually we have to be in the apartment at like four to be out of all the hassle and bustle of the crazy 4th of July activities, but this year we thought we would go out as a zone and find places where the people were and use chalk to draw out the plan of salvation and teach the people that asked us what we were doing. It was very fun! I did take a video of the first one we did in the morning, it was huge! But when we did the little one in the evening we were able to talk to more people about it. Too bad it wasn't in our area so we didn't get the increase of investigators, but I'm okay with that, my purpose is to bring people closer to Christ, and I know the Lord will work through me wherever he wants me to be at the time!  It was cool, this year I got to see the fireworks! Batesville did them the day after and you could see them very good from the other elders' apartment! But yeah, I'm doing good. Love you Much! 

Elder Jade Merlin Grover

Rolling Sushi

Elder Grover helped us roll sushi tonight. He's a great missionary and is doing well. 

Sister Jennifer Dodge