"I Didn't Even Know the Olympics Were Happening"

February 17, 2010

Dad!

It's incredible the amount of love I have for my family. I truly appreciate all that all of you do, the prayers, the emails, the letters, the packages, everything- just thank you. I have to admit I didn't even know that the olympics were happening until like a few days ago haha, that is sweet y'all are watching them together. I remember my last Super Bowl at home watching it with the fam, that was the best part- being with y'all. Not to mention it was one of the greatest games of all time ha. Thank you for sharing the ward goal for this year. Pondering is something that President Moldenhauer tells us to do all the time. I can definitely improve on my pondering skills. I allow myself to get distracted or anxious and it's not good. I am excited to be able to go home to a spiritual environment where love is spoken.

Elder Salisbury and I have really been blessed this past week. We were on exchanges with the assistants and I was able to go with my former companion Elder Clove. We had an incredible day. We were tracting and some how or another we were prompted to cross the street and knock on a certain door. A man named Ray opened up and wasn't too thrilled to see us. The spirit gave us both words to say that softened his heart and like a clam he opened up and gave us a pearl. He told us he was a recovering alcoholic and a member of AA currently and that we would be wasting our time, but we both knew that we weren't at all. We explained the church's great love and actual correlation for and with the AA program. While we were talking to him I noticed he kept grabbing his chest and asked about it, he told us that he was in severe pain and that he'd be admitting himself to the hospital later on in the day. I was able to tell him a little about the Priesthood and that Elder Clove and I had the authority given to us from God to administer to him. I have never done this before but I felt that this is what the Spirit was prompting me to do. He accepted the offer to have us give him a blessing and Elder Clove was able to read a few verses from James 5 further explaining the process. It was a great experience to give him that blessing. After that he asked us if we could come back and teach him more, we of course said yes. Miracles are happening, hearts are being softened, and blessings are being poured out on this mission. I love this work. I called Ray just yesterday to set another appointment up but he is currently out of town until next week. We will stay close to him and do all we can for him. Also, I got a sweet package from the family and also Ali for Valentines Day. Oh! Elder Salisbury's mom fandangled a way to overnight deliver us Cafe' Rio and we got that this morning, so that is what we are eating for lunch ha. I gave my final testimony at my final zone conference yesterday and was able to let the missionaries know how incredible the mission experience is, and to not let the small and simple blessings pass them by.

The 17th of March will be an amazing day. I am soooo excited to see you and the family. I doubt I have dry eyes for that tender moment. In preparation for that monumental occasion I do have a few questions: do you want me to send my bike home or sell it to an incoming missionary or donate it to the mission? what's the plan for that day? My close friend Elder Draper and I are planning to have a little time to take a deep breath together some time during that day and just soak in what has happened these past two years. that's it ha.

I love you dad, you're the best man I know.

Elder Jarman