Called To Serve

Hey Mom,
I have enjoyed to hear about your wonderful time in Hawaii! You two deserved that vacation. It really is quite beautiful, Heavenly Father is an amazing artist :)
So Cait has a belly now does she? I'll believe it when I see it ha. When is the gender to be known? I am probably more excited than anyone just to let you know. The clean up goes well Mom. We have been in a Helping Hands bright yellow t shirts and jeans the last few weeks which has been very odd. I am going through withdrawls I swear from not wearing proselyting clothes ha. To be able to help has been such a blessing though and truly a humbling experience. I kept thinking as I was tearing water logged moldy sheet rock out of a home "What if this was my house?" Oh what a tragedy that would be. Lots of these people were just getting their homes fixed from Rita and now Ike just spoils all that progression. To go back in time a bit these past two Sundays have been two of the best of my life. The first one, on the 14th was held in Woodville. It consisted of Elder Salisbury, Elder Warren, Elder McReavy, Elder Wilson, Elder Digerness, and me. We got special permission to hold the meeting from the Branch President in Woodville. With no power in the building we partook of the sacrament in the brightest room we could find. That renewal of my baptismal covenants was such an experience. I never really had understood how important and lovely that is until now. We each picked a scripture and a hymn and then bore our testimonies. Not a dry eye could be seen. The spirit was so strong as these six 19 and 20 year old boys shared their feelings about this gospel. I shared 2 Nephi 33:10-12 and hymn 136 I know that My Redeemer Lives. The next Sunday, the 21st, was very unique in the fact that only about 6 or 8 people were in Sunday attire. The congregation was yellow shirts and jeans. We had a work party that day and to look across the chapel at all the men and women from the area that were willing to help aid these poeple was a beautiful sight. How great is my calling. That's not all that made last Sunday one to remember. The West's came to church, but in Jasper. Ha. We were in Beaumont and they were in Jasper but to know that our church is the same everywhere was such a comfort. Kim West the member and mother was accompanied by three of her non member children and they enjoyed it too. We have kept close with them via phone over the course of Ike and have an appointment coming up this week at their home in Brookeland. Elder Digerness has made so much progress Mom. It was a particular blessing indeed when he told me that no other missionary could have helped him like I did. I am so blessed to have a companion who pushes me in more aspects than one. Diggy is a great missionary who I am very fortunate to help out and also be helped out by him. Mom I am so happy right now. More than ever I realize the importance of a mission. It has been and will be, until I am married and have kids, the best thing I have ever done. Missions are like a filter of goodness, a mid life fine tuning if you will. It may be a two year experience but it's a lesson that lasts a lifetime. I am very blessed to have a family that supports and loves me the way ya'll do. I am especially blessed to be your son. Mom I love you.
Elder Jarman

Aloha Back

Dad what is up?!
Hawaii! Oh man that's exciting! I hope ya'll have a great trip and enjoy one another. What a blessing it is to have parents who love each other. Thank you. The work is going... it really is tough when you get flushed twice. You are pretty much opening an area up and working with what you find yourself. But it is going good. We are still moving forward with the West family yes and have an appointment friday at 2 where if the spirit prompts us we may set a date. It's been 6 months and I have yet to have a baptism... ugh. I wrote you a letter concerning a verse of scripture, Ether 12:6 and I have grown to love that so much. It is so true. I know that. I just gotta keep being obedient and working hard. That is awesome about the Reg. Conf. What a blessing conferences are. I love Boyd K. Packer's talks. What was your fav? I have heard about the BYU game ha, a wins a win though right? I'll take it haha. I heard that the U beat Michigan?! Wha? That's nuts. I love you dad and am proud to be your son. HAve fun in Hawaii!
Love Elder Jarman

I Am In The Right Place

Hey mom,
What a fun time you must be having in Hawaii! I am way excited for ya'll. Jasper is good. We are doing good. I love serving here and the branch is great. I am about 175 pounds I think? We get fed so much here mom haha. I work out every morning though so I am not too fat I suppose haha. No need to worry though, I have will power. I will not be fat. Thank you for having Ali over for dinner. She enjoyed it thoroughly. How did you like her company? I love you and dad so much. My mission has been amazing so far. I just know that I am in the right place. I may be going through trials but I assure you I will only be strenghtened from them. love Elder Jarman.

What A Week

Mom! 

Thank you for the package you have no idea how much of an answer to a prayer it was. I got it the day we evacuated. I had no food, had just ran out of soap, and lo and behold I get a package from my mom with goodies and soap in it. I think that you not emailing me last week had a purpose, just as everything does. So thank you. 

What a week... We were evacuated on Sat. and I have yet to be home to Jasper. I have been living out of my suitcase and I have gotten pretty good at packing ha. I never thought I would see the day... The work is coming along. Jasper is awesome, I love it. I have so much faith that we will have a lot of success here. We are teaching a less actives children, 4 of them and it's going good. I called them everyday that we were evacuated to show them that we really do love them. They are great people. I think I told you about Sis. West and how she had been inactive for 40 years and then our first Sun. in Jasper she showed up out of nowhere. What a blessing. Our other investigators Brad and Jacquilene are still going along. Brad last week unveiled to us a bit of his past... woah... Some of the things that he's gone through and done I could not believe. I just hope he gets a hold of the beauty of the atonement soon. 

Andy is home?!?!?! That is crazy haha. Missions end? Huh? ha. Tell him hi for me would ya? 

So pictures? Can you please oh please send me some of you and dad? I love you and appreciate the love you show me. I am praying for you so much. 

Love Elder Jarman

I Have Been So So So Blessed

Mom,

I have been able to reflect a lot since leaving home and I have been so so so blessed over the years. To have friends and family like the ones I have is unreal. The Magelby's, the Knells, the jarmans, the drapers, Ali, Kief, Ray, Tyson, Calvin, Chris, The list goes on and on. I can't even begin to describe the happiness that I have from all these amazing influences. I love you Mom and appreciate your charity. Moroni 7:48 is a great scripture to describe you. I would love a photo of my mom and dad to be sent to me... :)

 love you Elder Jarman

I Wouldn't Know

Mother! 

Hi! I was very happy to hear that Benny May called ya'll. He is such a nice guy for doing that. I hope you had an amazing anniversary! 25 years! Woah! That is quite a while haha. I am so blessed to have been born into such a wonderful family. I have never really understood just how blessed until now. I love you and dad and the love you have for one another and your children, soon to be grandchildren ha. 

So the olympics have been good eh? I wouldn't know ha. I wish I could watch them but.... oh well. I guess Michael Phelps is good at swimming though, 8 golds, impressive. 

What a blessing this gospel is. I didn't realize just how much I didn't know until my mission ha. I cannot believe just how much I took for granted. My testimony before my mission was like a rock that just sat there and served somewhat of a purpose but now its a firery flame that is understood and loved. I have such a strong testimony concerning families and the importance of them. They are the most important social unit in all of time and eternity. You and Dad have done a superb job of raising your children and making us all feel loved. I cannot tell you enough how much I appreciate you. I love you so much. This church is true. If we read our scriptures say our prayers and pay our tithing then all will be well. 

Love Elder Jarman

With All Due Respect

Hey mama,

Time really does fly... It's already been 5 months... that just blows my mind. The new place is great. We live with Brother and Sister McDaniel in a lovely double wide just off of the 252, it's a farm road I think. My new companion is a little different ha. He's 6'2" 195 and at first glance looks like he could play some ball but... looks are so deceiving. He couldn't be more opposite. He tells people he's a tree hugger... down here that's the worst thing you could tell folks. The main industry in Jasper is logging. He is socially not the best but a very spiritual Elder. I feel like we are together so I can teach him how to be personable and he can teach me how to be that much more spiritual. Jasper is probably one of the most racist cities in Texas. Look it up on Google and I am sure you'll see about the man that was drug behind a truck. The members in the branch are amazing! They are all very supportive of the missionary effort. 

That was great to hear about the family updates! I feel like I am missing so much ha. I like to look at the mission like this. I push pause on a movie and then leave the room but right when I leave someone presses play. So when I get back I will expect the world I left to be what it use to be when in reality I will be so far out of the loop ha. 

My testimony grows each and every day. It's incredible how that is. I love this work, I really do. I hope and pray that all is well with everyone back home. I was recently in the how of a pentecostal man and he kept trying to tell me that Jesus and Heavenly Father were one. For me to be able to say "With all due respect sir whatever you say will not change what I know. I know that Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father are two serperate beings. I know that sir." was so powerful. I love being a missionary. 


I love you mama.

Elder Jarman