Hey Dad,
>
> I love that question of what do you know. I often ask myself that for a personal study, it's a great test for me and a time to really ponder what I do know.
>
> My plans for p-day are to email, shop, eat lunch, then today we have our housing coordinator bringing some extra furniture for a couple investigators we have that have zero belongings in their new place, then if we have time we'll go to the Pasadena church and play some ball, then we have dinner at 5 so we'll have to leave by 4 to get all spruced up for it. We have a great appointment set up with a Bible referral we got last week for our evening that Elder Clove will be seeing with an amazing member named Brother Febbo (Bryce Ayoso was one of the Febbos favorite Elders), while they are at that Elder Christiansen and I will be stopping by a potential investigators house. Then we are going to all meet back up and visit a member of the high council and his family, then finish our night off with contacting a referral the Febbos gave us for a family they are close with. It should be a good p-day. I talk to the Tice and May's every once in a while and they are actually in my zone's area now so I could visit them if I ever had time ha. I'll have to stop by there one of these days. No news on any hurricanes as of late, but we are usually the first to be notified of any threats- the church has a really close eye on their Elders.
>
> I too smiled when hearing of Timpviews defeat. Elder Clove and I stayed up pretty late last night exchanging war stories so high school football was fresh on my mind ha. Thanks for the update. How's PHS looking these days?
>
> Oh the good old days of the Jarman BBQ's. I love those ha. I can't believe Wally is already home. He's a good man.
>
> 60+ people at our house?! Holy smokes! I can't wait to see the changes that have taken place, pictures only do so much.
>
> My new area is really good. I love it here. It kind of smells bad and the locals call it Stinkadena but Pasadena, bad smells and all is a great place to be. It gets the aroma from all the chemical plants around town I guess. I am serving in the same ward as a senior couple from AF that have a son who played high school football in 1981. His name is John Stephens, making them of course the Stephens. They said they are really close with Davis Knight and I told them of my days as a ball boy for him and how I played against him in high school. They are great people and I am privileged to be serving around them.
>
> Looking back on my times of struggle on my mission I realize now that I wasn't working as hard as I should have nor was I striving to be exactly obedient. In your first email to me you told me a cure for any ailment that I'll never forget: hard work and being obedient. I have such a strong testimony of that Dad. I wasn't ever home sick, I was just not working like I should have been. I am feeling better than ever now and will do all that I can to serve to the absolute best of my abilities for the duration of my mission.
>
> I got a wonderful package from y'all this past week. Thank you so much! I love all the ties and especially the photos. I still can't belive Hillary is in college... ha. I think my favorite part however was Emma's little addition. It melted my heart I would have to say. "To the best brother a girl could ever have. Love Emma." I am part of such an incredible family. I love you Dad, I love my Mom, I love Tyler, I love Courtney, I love Danny, I love Caitlin, I love Elle, I love Hillary, I love Louisa, I love Olivia, and I love Emma. Thank you for all you do.
>
> Love Elder Jarman
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
The Tree of Life
26 August 2009
Mom!
Yeah I suppose Dad did cover it all but I am so grateful that you still took time, and always do, to email me. It makes a boy happy! I did get the package, thank you thank you. It was a delight. I still am enjoying all the treats and have looked at the photos everyday since getting them. I especially loved Emma's note to me. What a sweet girl that Emma France is. Things are going really well for me thank you for asking. We have a lot of good stuff going on in this area. We are working with a couple guys named James and Chase that are wanting to be baptized but just need to qualify by living in harmony with the commandments, namely the word of wisdom. I was studying in 1 Nephi 8 this morning (Lehi's Vision) and made the connection to James. Lehi before being able to enjoy the fruit of the tree of life went through a dark and dreary waste. Then after getting through the wilderness he was in, only after crying out to the Lord for mercy, he came to a large and spacious field. I liken the wilderness the James' addictions of his past that he has already overcome, now he's at the edge of this wilderness looking at the field. Lehi then talks of how he saw the tree of life and then still had to cross the field to get to it. He describes the fruit of the tree as being sweet above all that is sweet. James can see the tree and knows of it's sweetness because of meeting with the missionaries. I just like Lehi have been able to taste of that fruit, the fruit of the tree of life-the fruit of the love of God, or the Atonement. James can see where he came from, the progress he has already made, and where he wants to be and can be if he but chooses to be there. It was a great study and I am looking forward to our next visit to Chase and James. I am busy it's true but that is such a good thing. If I weren't busy I wouldn't be doing what I was called to do. I love you Mom!
Elder Jarman
Mom!
Yeah I suppose Dad did cover it all but I am so grateful that you still took time, and always do, to email me. It makes a boy happy! I did get the package, thank you thank you. It was a delight. I still am enjoying all the treats and have looked at the photos everyday since getting them. I especially loved Emma's note to me. What a sweet girl that Emma France is. Things are going really well for me thank you for asking. We have a lot of good stuff going on in this area. We are working with a couple guys named James and Chase that are wanting to be baptized but just need to qualify by living in harmony with the commandments, namely the word of wisdom. I was studying in 1 Nephi 8 this morning (Lehi's Vision) and made the connection to James. Lehi before being able to enjoy the fruit of the tree of life went through a dark and dreary waste. Then after getting through the wilderness he was in, only after crying out to the Lord for mercy, he came to a large and spacious field. I liken the wilderness the James' addictions of his past that he has already overcome, now he's at the edge of this wilderness looking at the field. Lehi then talks of how he saw the tree of life and then still had to cross the field to get to it. He describes the fruit of the tree as being sweet above all that is sweet. James can see the tree and knows of it's sweetness because of meeting with the missionaries. I just like Lehi have been able to taste of that fruit, the fruit of the tree of life-the fruit of the love of God, or the Atonement. James can see where he came from, the progress he has already made, and where he wants to be and can be if he but chooses to be there. It was a great study and I am looking forward to our next visit to Chase and James. I am busy it's true but that is such a good thing. If I weren't busy I wouldn't be doing what I was called to do. I love you Mom!
Elder Jarman
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
A Change of Scenery
August 19, 2009
Mother Dearest,
That was so weird to hear that the girls are already getting back into school, it came so soon it seems. Thanks for the update though. I will be praying for all my sisters as they further their education. That is way cool Louisa is in student government! I always wanted to do that but never got around to it I guess ha. Good to hear your committment to the temple is going wonderfully! What a great example you are mom, thank you. I was surprisingly transferred. I am actually thrilled about the move. I am still a Zone Leader, but what they've done is combined the Houston West and East zones into just the Houston East zone and brought in two new ZL's (my new companion and I) to whitewash (once again) the area. We are actually in a trio too. It's quite the mix up but I know that President Moldenhauer was inspired to make the changes he did. I am now serving in the Deer Park area in the Pasadena 2nd ward with Elder Clove (ZL) and Elder Christiansen. Elder Clove is probably the greatest missionary I will serve with on my mission. I have served around him before and was 6 months out when he joined the mission. He is a great example of diligence, obedience, and hard work, plus he's an incredible athlete- he played baseball for SUU before the mission and plans on going back. I am really so excited to say the least. He is from Enterprise Utah. Elder Christiansen is from Portland Oregon and is a great missionary. I am looking forward to my time here. I am feeling much better mom, thank you for asking. I remembered it was your anniversary today by the way, so happy anniversary! Can you believe that last year this time Benny May gave y'all a call ha, time flies. This'll be the last anniversary I miss out on. What a blessing it is to have the parents I do. Elder Christiansen's parents are going through a divorce after 25 years of marraige so it's really brought to light the fact that I have been thoroughly blessed with you both. Pray for him as he goes through this hard time. Being whitewashed into a new area is always a lot of hard work and right now we have a baptism that is set for Saturday with a 12 year old boy named Christian. The missionaries that were here previous really did a stand up job and left us a great area book so that helps a lot. We just got here Monday so we have just gone out and visited members and done some tracting to try and get familiar with our new territory. Things are going really well and are looking up that's for sure. I love you and appreciate all you do for me!
Love Elder JarmanDear
Dad,
You're a good man. Thank you for always being there for me Dad. Thank you for being a master teacher. That is something I have come to realize and am so grateful for is that you were constantly teaching, whether I was constantly learning is up for debate but the opportunity to was always there- so thank you.
I cannot wait to meet Elle, she sounds amazing. I am sure that you are only her favorite until she gets to meet me :) haha. What a blessing it is to have the gospel in our lives though. We come across a lot of domestic disputes down here and they are typically over the dumbest things, this happens in our home too, but the difference is that we have the gospel to help heal those wounds that were opened and repentance and forgiveness occurs and we move on oft times not even remembering what caused the rift. Without the gospel however I have noticed it is much harder to overcome those small differences and ties are severed a lot of times because of the poison of harboring bad feelings. What a blessing the gospel is. I know that it is the gospel that ties our family together and allows us to overcome our imperfections.
That is exciting to hear that school is up and running again. I still can't believe Hillary is in college... crazy. I sent her a belated birthday card today actually, I know it's late but hopefully she appreciates it. I was out of stamps when July 23rd came around and never got around to it ugh.
I have been transferred. After only one transfer in North Shore I was moved. I am now in Deer Park (Pasadena 2nd ward). They whitewashed us in, that makes 4 times for me now. I am still a zone leader. I am serving in a trio with Elder Clove (ZL from Enterprise UT) and Elder Christiansen (Portland OR). I couldn't be happier with my new assignment. We have a lot of work to do and it will require much focus and diligence. In our meeting last night with the Stake President and high councilman over missionary work it was brought to my attention that we as missionaries can do better at taking advantage of the PEC groups and ward correlation meetings we are having. That will be my focus this transfer- better utilitzing PEC and trying to formulate a method to teach other missionaries. A lot of the time its just a show and tell in those meetings but it should be much more.
I have yet to get my package but will expect delay now that I am transferred. Thank you for that though! I am excited to get it!
I love you Dad, thank you again for being steadfast and immovable.
Elder Jarman
Mother Dearest,
That was so weird to hear that the girls are already getting back into school, it came so soon it seems. Thanks for the update though. I will be praying for all my sisters as they further their education. That is way cool Louisa is in student government! I always wanted to do that but never got around to it I guess ha. Good to hear your committment to the temple is going wonderfully! What a great example you are mom, thank you. I was surprisingly transferred. I am actually thrilled about the move. I am still a Zone Leader, but what they've done is combined the Houston West and East zones into just the Houston East zone and brought in two new ZL's (my new companion and I) to whitewash (once again) the area. We are actually in a trio too. It's quite the mix up but I know that President Moldenhauer was inspired to make the changes he did. I am now serving in the Deer Park area in the Pasadena 2nd ward with Elder Clove (ZL) and Elder Christiansen. Elder Clove is probably the greatest missionary I will serve with on my mission. I have served around him before and was 6 months out when he joined the mission. He is a great example of diligence, obedience, and hard work, plus he's an incredible athlete- he played baseball for SUU before the mission and plans on going back. I am really so excited to say the least. He is from Enterprise Utah. Elder Christiansen is from Portland Oregon and is a great missionary. I am looking forward to my time here. I am feeling much better mom, thank you for asking. I remembered it was your anniversary today by the way, so happy anniversary! Can you believe that last year this time Benny May gave y'all a call ha, time flies. This'll be the last anniversary I miss out on. What a blessing it is to have the parents I do. Elder Christiansen's parents are going through a divorce after 25 years of marraige so it's really brought to light the fact that I have been thoroughly blessed with you both. Pray for him as he goes through this hard time. Being whitewashed into a new area is always a lot of hard work and right now we have a baptism that is set for Saturday with a 12 year old boy named Christian. The missionaries that were here previous really did a stand up job and left us a great area book so that helps a lot. We just got here Monday so we have just gone out and visited members and done some tracting to try and get familiar with our new territory. Things are going really well and are looking up that's for sure. I love you and appreciate all you do for me!
Love Elder JarmanDear
Dad,
You're a good man. Thank you for always being there for me Dad. Thank you for being a master teacher. That is something I have come to realize and am so grateful for is that you were constantly teaching, whether I was constantly learning is up for debate but the opportunity to was always there- so thank you.
I cannot wait to meet Elle, she sounds amazing. I am sure that you are only her favorite until she gets to meet me :) haha. What a blessing it is to have the gospel in our lives though. We come across a lot of domestic disputes down here and they are typically over the dumbest things, this happens in our home too, but the difference is that we have the gospel to help heal those wounds that were opened and repentance and forgiveness occurs and we move on oft times not even remembering what caused the rift. Without the gospel however I have noticed it is much harder to overcome those small differences and ties are severed a lot of times because of the poison of harboring bad feelings. What a blessing the gospel is. I know that it is the gospel that ties our family together and allows us to overcome our imperfections.
That is exciting to hear that school is up and running again. I still can't believe Hillary is in college... crazy. I sent her a belated birthday card today actually, I know it's late but hopefully she appreciates it. I was out of stamps when July 23rd came around and never got around to it ugh.
I have been transferred. After only one transfer in North Shore I was moved. I am now in Deer Park (Pasadena 2nd ward). They whitewashed us in, that makes 4 times for me now. I am still a zone leader. I am serving in a trio with Elder Clove (ZL from Enterprise UT) and Elder Christiansen (Portland OR). I couldn't be happier with my new assignment. We have a lot of work to do and it will require much focus and diligence. In our meeting last night with the Stake President and high councilman over missionary work it was brought to my attention that we as missionaries can do better at taking advantage of the PEC groups and ward correlation meetings we are having. That will be my focus this transfer- better utilitzing PEC and trying to formulate a method to teach other missionaries. A lot of the time its just a show and tell in those meetings but it should be much more.
I have yet to get my package but will expect delay now that I am transferred. Thank you for that though! I am excited to get it!
I love you Dad, thank you again for being steadfast and immovable.
Elder Jarman
Thursday, August 13, 2009
It's Just a Matter of Time
August 12, 2009
Dad!
Hey! Oh it was so good to read your letter you sent, thank you so much for that. I really enjoyed reading the talk you gave on covenants. I can relate to the part you shared about interviewing baptismal candidates. I really have loved my opportunity to do that. It's always a very spiritual experience. The only thing I would have added is a quote from Boyd K Packer about temple marraige and the power of that covenant, it's way too long for me to have memorized ha. A package really would hit the spot, definetly send pictures if anything.
12 Angry Men is such a good movie! I remember watching that in AP Psychology. That is way sweet y'all watched it for FHE.
The work out here is so different than anywhere I've been. We get a TON of referrals that we try to hunt down and do a lot of less active work. Sister Simpson is one less active that we have been working with in particular. There are so many just like her that are so warm and welcome with us as missionaries and even with ward members but that just don't come. We are working on building a solid relationship with her. Something else we have been working on is extending invitations to members, ya know all the time we are committing investigators to do this and that but now we are going to apply that to member work both active and less active. We are working with a few part member families, one in particular has a baptismal date for the 29th. Jason is the man's name and he loves the church but complications with previous marriages have postponed his baptism. He'll be baptized, it's just a matter of time. Lately our mission has taken quite a hit, President Moldenhauer has sent 6 missionaries home in the last week on account of disobedience. It was a definite eye opener for me. I can do better at trying to help those in need and be a better leader. It's a shame something like that had to happen. Transfers are coming up and I could be called down as a zone leader, I've been one for around 7 or 8 months now. I will take what I have learned and apply it to wherever I go. I hope that little blurb painted a picture of what is going on here.
I love you dad! Glad to hear you are alive after your monster bike ride haha.
Love Elder Jarman
Dad!
Hey! Oh it was so good to read your letter you sent, thank you so much for that. I really enjoyed reading the talk you gave on covenants. I can relate to the part you shared about interviewing baptismal candidates. I really have loved my opportunity to do that. It's always a very spiritual experience. The only thing I would have added is a quote from Boyd K Packer about temple marraige and the power of that covenant, it's way too long for me to have memorized ha. A package really would hit the spot, definetly send pictures if anything.
12 Angry Men is such a good movie! I remember watching that in AP Psychology. That is way sweet y'all watched it for FHE.
The work out here is so different than anywhere I've been. We get a TON of referrals that we try to hunt down and do a lot of less active work. Sister Simpson is one less active that we have been working with in particular. There are so many just like her that are so warm and welcome with us as missionaries and even with ward members but that just don't come. We are working on building a solid relationship with her. Something else we have been working on is extending invitations to members, ya know all the time we are committing investigators to do this and that but now we are going to apply that to member work both active and less active. We are working with a few part member families, one in particular has a baptismal date for the 29th. Jason is the man's name and he loves the church but complications with previous marriages have postponed his baptism. He'll be baptized, it's just a matter of time. Lately our mission has taken quite a hit, President Moldenhauer has sent 6 missionaries home in the last week on account of disobedience. It was a definite eye opener for me. I can do better at trying to help those in need and be a better leader. It's a shame something like that had to happen. Transfers are coming up and I could be called down as a zone leader, I've been one for around 7 or 8 months now. I will take what I have learned and apply it to wherever I go. I hope that little blurb painted a picture of what is going on here.
I love you dad! Glad to hear you are alive after your monster bike ride haha.
Love Elder Jarman
An Incredible Gift
August 12, 2009
Mom!
Hey! How are things?! It feels like it's been forever, at least for me anyway. I hope everything is going well. How has your temple attendance been coming? I remember you had that goal long ago to go more often. I really have had a hard time adapting here but I am certain that is only because of me and nobody else, so who else can fix it but me? Really it's such a different place ha, unlike anywhere I have been before. Attitude is everything. I have been pondering so much lately on agency and how incredible a gift it is. It is a gift of love, pure parental love. It's not that Heavenly Father trusts that we'll all do all he has set out for us to do, it's that he loves us enough to let us do what we want to do. He has given us so much.
I am so grateful for you mom, I love you so much! How are Tyler and Courtney doing? Tell them I say hi.
Love Elder Jarman
Mom!
Hey! How are things?! It feels like it's been forever, at least for me anyway. I hope everything is going well. How has your temple attendance been coming? I remember you had that goal long ago to go more often. I really have had a hard time adapting here but I am certain that is only because of me and nobody else, so who else can fix it but me? Really it's such a different place ha, unlike anywhere I have been before. Attitude is everything. I have been pondering so much lately on agency and how incredible a gift it is. It is a gift of love, pure parental love. It's not that Heavenly Father trusts that we'll all do all he has set out for us to do, it's that he loves us enough to let us do what we want to do. He has given us so much.
I am so grateful for you mom, I love you so much! How are Tyler and Courtney doing? Tell them I say hi.
Love Elder Jarman
The Ultimate Pursuit of Happiness
August 5, 2009
Dearest Mom,
It sounds like yet another eventful week in the Jarman household. Braces off?! That is sweet. I do like the street preach approach but it's not very effective ha. Really the most effective way is through the members, and we have struggled to get the members involved. It's just a tough time for now but things will change I am sure. I am doing a lot better. I have had a great opportunity in this area to learn about humility. I am going to make the necessary changes to be happy and work hard. I know that this church is true and that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world and that I absolutely depend on him and need him. Sharing the message of the restoration with Houston is such an honor. I love you. I had such an incredible childhood and the best parents a boy could ask for. I like to think that because of the missionary efforts everywhere some little boy will be able to have a childhood like mine with parents who are righteous and want to be together forever. That is the ultimate pursuit of happiness right there, eternal life.
Elder Jarman loves you
Dearest Mom,
It sounds like yet another eventful week in the Jarman household. Braces off?! That is sweet. I do like the street preach approach but it's not very effective ha. Really the most effective way is through the members, and we have struggled to get the members involved. It's just a tough time for now but things will change I am sure. I am doing a lot better. I have had a great opportunity in this area to learn about humility. I am going to make the necessary changes to be happy and work hard. I know that this church is true and that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world and that I absolutely depend on him and need him. Sharing the message of the restoration with Houston is such an honor. I love you. I had such an incredible childhood and the best parents a boy could ask for. I like to think that because of the missionary efforts everywhere some little boy will be able to have a childhood like mine with parents who are righteous and want to be together forever. That is the ultimate pursuit of happiness right there, eternal life.
Elder Jarman loves you
I Love Serving
July 29, 2009
hey dad!
Things are going pretty well. My new area is so foreign to anywhere I have been before and it's been hard to adapt. Seeing Israel get baptized was such a good experience. He is such a good kid. He has strengthened my testimony of the change that occurs when one finds the true gospel. Before his baptism he was super shy and kinda cold but now he's so different. It's a blessing to witness such things. The work here is good. We are working a lot with part member families still and finding much success there.
I was saddened to see so many deaths in the ward. I can't believe how much has changed since I left. I will pray for those affected that is for sure.
That will be nice to see cait and elle again i am sure. i didn't even know steve had his mission call, where is he going?
i don't have anything for you at the moment on covenants but i will next week i promise.
i love serving dad. its a wonderful experience that will stay with me forever. i have learned so much about so many things but most importantly the importance and seriousness of making and keeping covenants and how they lead us to salvation. i love you and thank you for being such a great father.
love elder jarman
hey dad!
Things are going pretty well. My new area is so foreign to anywhere I have been before and it's been hard to adapt. Seeing Israel get baptized was such a good experience. He is such a good kid. He has strengthened my testimony of the change that occurs when one finds the true gospel. Before his baptism he was super shy and kinda cold but now he's so different. It's a blessing to witness such things. The work here is good. We are working a lot with part member families still and finding much success there.
I was saddened to see so many deaths in the ward. I can't believe how much has changed since I left. I will pray for those affected that is for sure.
That will be nice to see cait and elle again i am sure. i didn't even know steve had his mission call, where is he going?
i don't have anything for you at the moment on covenants but i will next week i promise.
i love serving dad. its a wonderful experience that will stay with me forever. i have learned so much about so many things but most importantly the importance and seriousness of making and keeping covenants and how they lead us to salvation. i love you and thank you for being such a great father.
love elder jarman
Street Preachers
July 29, 2009
mom!
hey! that is so crazy about all those people in the ward passing away. my heart goes out to all the families effected.
that was comforting to hear about tyler and getting some relief from that doctor. i agree that that was no coincidence. how are he and court doing?
the work here is going good. we are doing a lot of part member work. we don't do much tracting but contact at a big bus stop where i get to feel like a street preacher haha. elder roman is a great missionary and friend. we get along great, but for some reason i have just been homesick. i can't really pinpoint why either. i'll get over it i assume. that's fun you and dad get to go 4 wheeling, be careful!
love elder jarman
mom!
hey! that is so crazy about all those people in the ward passing away. my heart goes out to all the families effected.
that was comforting to hear about tyler and getting some relief from that doctor. i agree that that was no coincidence. how are he and court doing?
the work here is going good. we are doing a lot of part member work. we don't do much tracting but contact at a big bus stop where i get to feel like a street preacher haha. elder roman is a great missionary and friend. we get along great, but for some reason i have just been homesick. i can't really pinpoint why either. i'll get over it i assume. that's fun you and dad get to go 4 wheeling, be careful!
love elder jarman
There is a Lot of Work to be Done Here
July 22, 2009
Mom!
Well it sounds like you and Emma are just having a party while everyone else is gone, good for you. I am doing good! We have a baptism tonight. His name is Israel, he's 16, and we started teaching him last week. He's been coming to church for a long time and is so ready for his baptism. Elder Roman and I also are working with a family and another part member family on baptism. There is a lot of work to be done here. Yesterday was our zone conference and it was great. President Moldenhauer is such a nice and loving man. Emma has grown 6 inches?! Holy smokes... that's a lot of inches. Good that Rob did swell in reporting, tell him i say hi. Berk is prego?! Congratulations. Thats so cool. Sounds like Danny is keeping busy, goodness #1 in the company.
Ya know I haven't really been homesick until now. I really have missed you so much and just hanging on you. I am not struggling- I wouldn't call it that- but I am definitely missing home. So... that really sucks. haha. I miss you mom. Pray for me. I love you.
Elder Jarman
Mom!
Well it sounds like you and Emma are just having a party while everyone else is gone, good for you. I am doing good! We have a baptism tonight. His name is Israel, he's 16, and we started teaching him last week. He's been coming to church for a long time and is so ready for his baptism. Elder Roman and I also are working with a family and another part member family on baptism. There is a lot of work to be done here. Yesterday was our zone conference and it was great. President Moldenhauer is such a nice and loving man. Emma has grown 6 inches?! Holy smokes... that's a lot of inches. Good that Rob did swell in reporting, tell him i say hi. Berk is prego?! Congratulations. Thats so cool. Sounds like Danny is keeping busy, goodness #1 in the company.
Ya know I haven't really been homesick until now. I really have missed you so much and just hanging on you. I am not struggling- I wouldn't call it that- but I am definitely missing home. So... that really sucks. haha. I miss you mom. Pray for me. I love you.
Elder Jarman
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