2013 August 26th

 

Hey!!!! It is good hear from home again.

 

Sunday Certainly Sounds like it was a good day. We were blessed to have a Happy Sabbath so I guess that your wish for me came true for both myself and my companion.

 

I can't believe that Vara is almost 4!!!!! That is cool that you were able to Skype with them. I can imagine them playing Hide and Seek and having a pillow fight, cause that is stuff they would do fairly often. It is good to hear that they are both happy.

 

I find it amazing that such amazing events are taking place for President Vellinga to be able to confidently state that the visions and dreams of old are coming into fruition. It makes it humbling to know that I am part of that accomplishment, at least for the brief time I will be here. I believe, however, that it won't end with completion of my 2 years. I have come to learn what it truly means to be a missionary and I know that isn't something that can only be done by those who were called.

 

I will do all that I can, as well, To "catch the rain". It is great to know that There is a Bright side to every situation no matter the appearance. I am amazed at how much we understand as we grow up and also at how much of it we lose. I will always do my best to find the bright side in anything. That is what we have to do out here.

  

I love you too. I never said it enough or expressed to you how much I love you and am thankful for all that you have done for me, but I hope I can catch up now. I hope there is something I can start doing to catch up on what I have lacked.

 

Love,

 

Elder Jastal

 

2013 August 19th

A little insight I had a few weeks ago about visiting and home teaching is that I figured it is very similar to being missionaries. They give you a companion and you have "Investigators" (families) that you go and see and teach. I thought it was interesting.

I am not surprised that Brother Miller is the seminary teacher again. He was a pretty awesome teacher, and probably still is. I think he is perfect for the job too.

It is soooooooooooo exciting that Josh and Sammi are going to be getting sealed. And just a couple months away.. I am soo happy for them though. I will have to tell them that.

 Congratulations to Brittany as well.  What is her last name now? Isn't Waynick or something? I don't remember who it was she was going to get married to. And I am absolutely in agreeance that Sister Berry is Absolutley Amazing!

 Training is going Great. My Companion Elder Hancock is doing really well and is already a top notch missionary.

 

It is crazy that Zach is already in High School and that he is going to be in Seminary as well. Holy Smokes! Time is flying by! I bet he is really excited to be waking up at 5 in the morning though. hahahaha. I think he will really like seminary. If he is anything at all like the rest of his brothers, he will probably be giving quite a bit of the input as well. I really think that this is going to be one of the greatest things ever for him. Seminary helped me to grow so much, and I am sure it will be the same way for him.

I hope you all have fun. Love you all.

Love,

Elder Jastal

 

 

It is great to hear from you again about the family. Gabe certainly sounds to be improving, as well as Zach and Grant. It is sad to hear that Ukazoo is closing down and will be weird to get back home in the future and see that it isn't there any longer.

 I am not surprised that Zach has been going to grants to work out. That kid is crazy like that. I do feel it's a good thing that he is doing it, and that it will help out with the whole Martial Arts program. It will be interesting to hear how he improves from all of the exercise that he is going to be doing.

Also, when is Grant's next fight coming up? And do you have any pictures from it? That would be cool to see how he was doing and also to see how he improves in the next one he goes to. I feel as though he could be the guy that could fight a fight without getting hit. That is just the kind of guy he is. He is definitely quick enough and proficient enough for it.

How is everything else going at home? Are there any activities planned for the upcoming days or weeks? How is the weather? Is it still really hot, or has it cooled down yet? How is the ward doing? How about the missionaries over there? Do they have anybody that is coming close to baptism yet? Have there been any recent converts in our ward?

That probably is a lot of questions so I will cut them short for now. I can however e-mail some pictures today. I still have to go get a card reader/ adapter from radioshack or something like that.  I will send a few pictures over today.

Love,

Elder Jastal
 

2013 August 12th

(I believe this is the shortest message he ever sent)
Just so you know, I have been doing great this week. It seems like it never even happened though, it went by so fast.

Anyway, My companion and I had a baptism Saturday. It was awesome!



We were able to get quite a few things done this week, and my companion was able to hand out a book of Mormon.

How did the week go for all of you?
 

I love you all and hope you all have the best week.

Love,

2013 August 5th and Several Other Weeks.

2013 Aug 5th

    It sounds like life is going okay for some and starting to get better for others.  I don't know if I ever actually did tell you, but P-days are back to mondays. hahaha sorry if I never told you. It sounds like Gabe is doing okay. I will have to send him another email. I will probably just send him one word e-mails like your texts to see if that works. He probably thought that was hilarious. It is good to hear that he is working at walmart. 

   The cord to my camera isn't a regular usb. It almost is but not quite. It doesn't matter right now though, I will be able to get a new cord or an sd card adapter pretty soon anyway. For now, I am just going to borrow one from another missionary that said he wouldn't mind. I will probably be sending pictures today.

    It was great to be able to hear from you again. I hope that everything goes well this week and that good things will happen.

 Love,

Elder Jastal

 

                 (Elder Jastal sent photos of some pretty sharp looking cars)

 

 

 

 

2013 July 23rd

  I have not been told that I am getting Transferred.  I am actually staying in my "Greenie Area" for another three months. I guess it doesn't happen too often from what I have been told. 

  As far as what I have gotten with my gift card so far, I decided that I would treat myself to some oreos, and a new set of really nice pens. If ever you want to get some really super nice pens, Look for Pilot Precise V5.  I also decided that I would get the few grocery Items I was getting last week on the card, so now I have 24.98 left on it. I think I am gonna get some other things with it this week too. I will let you know. 

  Btw, I heard from Elder Smith, that he was in the PA part of the mission now. I thought that was super crazy. He went from one of the farthest spots on the west side of the mission to one of the farthest spots on the east side of it. But I remember when we would have all 6 of the missionaries over for dinner sometimes. then it went down to all 4. 

   I didn't know that I had an Aunt Delores. At least I can't remember ever having heard about her. But that would be cool to be able to meet her and talk to her, and get to know her a little bit. That would be totally awesome! 

  I hope that you can all have a great week this week. Tell Brinya that I love her and miss her, and everyone else too. especially everyone at church. 

That would be cool.

May God be with you all.

 

Love,

Elder Jastal

 

2013 July 16th

 It is probably gonna get hot and humid here. Yesterday was for sure.

 I will definitely keep Sister Richter in my prayers.

   I still need to call the Newport Beach Temple and tell them that I have some names I would like to put in. But things get busy and I keep forgetting. Brinya looks like she is doing well though. Even with all the pain and the treatments and everything that is going on. How was she on her Birthday?

   Vara sounds like she is her happy little self though. Lol, Bunnies probably came because of Helaman. I think that maybe one day when she is older, and I am not on my mission anymore, I will get her her own little bunny to take care of. I think she might like to have one some day. It certainly sounds like she had fun at the fair though. I don't remember ever going to a fair. That is really good that she is able to have all these fun experiences.

   Karaoke....... I miss that. But I know I am doing something  much greater so it is more than bearable. I got a couple other emails today from some people at the dojo, including Colleen. It sounds like they are doing pretty good. I also got e-mails from Josh and Brandon.

   I did get the gift card. I think that is the gift you are talking about right? THANK YOU!!!!!!! That is super cool. I have had to wait the whole week to be able to use it cause i got it last Tuesday and we are only allowed to shop on P-days. I think they might make exceptions for emergencies but otherwise, it is just P-Days.

   I am hoping things are going well and that you will all be able to have fun this week. Until next time, may Heavenly Father continue to bless you.

 Love,

 

Elder Jastal

 P.S. Can you have Zachary start e-mailing me. Also, some of the people I had mentioned on Mother's Day as well. 

2013 July 9th

   Well, my companion and my area stayed the same from what they had changed to in June, but the new mission doesn't really feel any different. We got to meet our new mission president on Thursday and meet the missionaries that had previously been in the Carlsbad Mission. That meeting lasted from 10:30 to about 2 in the afternoon. 

   The next exciting thing is that My companion Elder Tietjen and I got to go to a block party that a member invited us to. It was super cool to be there. The food was great and the entertainment greater. They had a mechanical bull in their driveway and I got to operate it for about 30 minutes. I had a lot of fun with that because mostly it was smaller kids getting on, and they had so much fun too. That night was the best though. Our Zone leaders told us to cancel our appointments we had that night (which we really didn't have any cause it was the holiday) because they were going to pick us up from our apartment and do something cause it was "my Birthday!". So Elder Tietjen and I got there early so I could change my shirt cause I had gotten chocolate on it. Then the Zone Leaders picked us up and took us to the building my companion and I meet at on Sundays with our ward. 

   The whole zone was there except for a coupe companionships that couldn't make it. They had a cake with candles and everything and it was supposed to be a surprise, but I wasn't really surprised cause I had figured it out for the most part. The only thing I didn't really expect was the cake and candles part. But it was the best part of my Mission so far.

   As far as Canada, I agree with Brandon. But I also think it was nice that you got to spend time with family up there. I got a birthday e-mail from Jerret and that was nice too. Unfortunately, no one else in the family seems to have remembered about me cause he was the only other one to send one.

   I would like for you to tell Brinya that I said Happy Birthday to her. I haven't had too much time to be able to sit down and write letters or anything, but I think that soon I will get a birthday card for her from the store or something. I am kinda wondering how long her operations are supposed to continue. I hope that she can continue to stay strong through it all. But I do know that the Lord is helping her. I just hope that she knows it too.

    How is Vara doing? is she still her giggly little self? Is Aubrey doing better? 

   As far as temperatures go, I heard that today was supposed to get up to about 100 but I don't know. It doesn't feel like it has been too terribly hot, cause we usually have the wind keeping us cool while we are biking around, but it doesn't seem like the aftermath is any noticably different. We still end up sweating from the... exertion?... exhertion?...  I don't know. I forgot how to spell it, but it is that word. So, I don't know if we are included or not, cause I haven't really been paying attention.

   By the way, I don't know if you remember me trying to tell you the new mission office address for mailing stuff out here but it is 23 Lake  Irvine CA, The only thing I don't remember at the moment is the ZIP Code. 

   I did get a letter From Grandma.... a card anyway with a note/update in it though so I will have to write her back as soon as I can.

   I am super excited to get the envelope with the thing in it though. Lol, I haven't gotten anything quite yet but I am now looking forward to it.

   Also, can you tell Cory I said Happy Birthday as well? I had forgotten when his birthday was but I would still like to wish him a happy one.

  Anyway, I love you too. I love all of you and hope you all have a super great week. It has been fun and I know that it will continue to be fun.

   Love,

 

Elder Jastal

 

2013 July 9th

   I am in fact able to e-mail. However, until further notice, P-day is now on Tuesday and I will not be e-mailing on Mondays. I am not sure if it will change back in the future, but I will keep you updated. The new mission Address Should be something like 55 Lake CA Irvine, but I don't remember the zip code or even if that is the right address. President Bowen sent out letters to the families of all the missionaries going to the new mission with all the info, so if you haven't already gotten it, you should be getting it shortly. I don't know when he sent them though so it could still be a little while. 

   One thing I had on my mind that I wanted to ask about before I forget, is whether or not, you still have my mp3 player in custody or if you have sent it out. Also, I got the box of cookies and the letter.

   I am super Glad that Brinya's surgery went well. If the kidney doesn't start looking better, that might not be good. However, I have the fullest confidence in saying that all will be well. 

  How many different callings is that now that dad has gotten in the past few months? It seems like he has gotten a few. 

  How is everyone else doing? How are people at the dojo? What about Sensei and Colleen? How is Zach doing there? 

  Do you know if he has gotten my Email that I sent him? Have there been anymore people that wanted to get my e-mail address at church? or anywhere else? I feel like I haven't heard from anyone. I think, actually that I haven't except for family and Gabby, and Kyra (from the dojo). But I haven't heard from Kyra in a while so.... I think I would like some more people to talk to. Also, have you been able to try and talk to Thomas at all? If not that is okay. I am just curious. I just discovered, by the way, that I will not be able to send you any new pictures this week, as I have just found out that my Camera cord that hooks it up to the computer, is not in my backpack, so it will have to wait until next week.

  Oh, What's up with Elder Smith, When I talked to you on mother's day, You said he was still in Your ward. Has that changed yet? I e-mailed him a couple of weeks ago, and then last week he sent an e-mail back, but all he said was guess where I am and then he said some other stuff, I don't remember what, but I was just wondering what's up cause I didn't get a response from him yet.

   Anyway, I have possibly rambled a little bit much for the time present, but I love you all and hope that everything is running smoothly with work and life and everything else.

 Love,

 Elder Jastal

 

Just so you know, Elder Jastal's mission is being split, and Elder Jastal will be transferring to the new mission . . . the California Irvine Mission.  As of the first of July, his new address will be:

Elder Devin L. Jastal
California Irvine Mission
23 Lake Rd.
Irvine, CA  92604 

2013 June 17th

My week has been pretty good. The weather is warming up and all that, but they have this thing out here called June Gloom. Pretty much it's just coud filled skies where you can't see any of the blue from like 6-11 or 12. It is nice this way cause it doesn't warm up that quick during the mornings but as soon as the skies clear, it heats up like an oven. Which just means that it heats up super fast until it gets into the 70's and 80's.

 

Sounds like Saturday was fun though (referring to the Chrysler Jeep open house). I bet it was funny to watch Vara going around to all these different places at the Carnival.

 

By the way, before I forget, Elder Beckstead says hi and that he loves and misses all of you.

 

That is good that you get to skype with Brandon. I bet that he is going to love being able to do that. the only thing that you would have to figure out, is when he would be able to do it over there and what time it would be at home, because that is like almost exactly half way around the world for you all isn't it?

 

As far as what I would like for my birthday, I think I would love to have a larger tie collection than what I have already. But other than that, I think maybe some more pictures of family and friends and anything else you would want to send me in a picture. Also, Gift cards are fantastic. Speaking of which, I did get the gift card and the other stuff that came with it. Maybe some more cookies too, if that would be do-able. Especially the pumpkin cookies that you make. Those things are super delicious.

 

As far as spiritual experiences that I can tell you about, I think one of the things I am still learning to do is pick out the small whisperings of the Spirit. That is something that I have never tried to do and so the only spiritual experiences I might be able to think of are the ones where it is super obvious and strong. But one that I can tell you about was when I had only been out for maybe two or three weeks. . . . .

 

Elder Lund and I were just about to do some roleplays to finish up our comp study and I wasn't up to it. Something just wasn't clicking in my head and he was just sitting there waiting for me to start when all of a sudden he asked me if I knew the hymn "I Need Thee Every Hour". I said that I did and he told me he wanted me to start singing it with him. And then he started singin and I couldn't get any of the words out cause I got all choked up because right when he started singing, I started to feel the Spirit sending me the Love of my Heavenly Father. He got maybe halfway through the first verse and I just started crying. That was an experience that taught me that I can't do this by myself and that I needed to learn how to get out of the way of the Spirit and let Him Teach trough me rather than him just testifying to what I had to say, even if it was true. That is quite possibly one of the best experiences I could share right now.

 

Congratulations to Zach! (referring to 8th grade) He made it through alive!!! That is so crazy that he is already going to be a Freshman. And Seminary!?!?!?!?!? Holy Schneikes!! That kid needs to slow down. He is going to be almost a Junior by the time I get home. I guess that is okay though. As long as he is doing good he will be just fine.

 

I haven't heard from Grant in a couple of weeks though so you will have to tell him to e-mail me soon. I want to hear all about his fight. DId he win, or are you gonna let him tell me everything?

 

How is Sensei doing? How about everyone else at the Dojo? I have gotten a couple of e-mails from one of the people there, but no one else has told me anything. Can you tell them all that I miss them and would love to hear from them?  

 

Well I probably have written quite enough for one email and as a last comment, could you some how get Thomas my email address and ask him if he wouldn't mind e-mailing me?

I love you all and hope nothing but the best happens while I am away,

Love,

Elder Jastal

2013 June 10th

That is soo exciting that Dylan is almost there. I have high hopes for him. 

It sounds like you had a good block of meetings Sunday. How is the ward doing? Are there anymore people getting ready to move out? How are the Westphals? Tell them that California is quite an interesting place.

I am absolutely positive that my testimony has never grown quite as rapidly as it has out here; and I know that it will continue to grow so much in the two years that I have. I am so very grateful for this chance that I have to have been called to serve in the army of our Lord and Savior. Not a day goes by that I do not reflect on the magnitude of such a calling, and realize that I am indeed the one wearing the name tag when I see that face in the mirror.

I hope and pray that my calling can be an example to all those who know me and all those who need a testimony builder. This has been an example to me, and a testimony builder in so many different ways.

I love you all and am keeping you all in my prayers.

2013 june 4th

Yesterday was transfers and Elder Lund went home. I got a new companion named Elder Tietjen (tea, gin like the drinks). He is super cool and he knows a lot about cars. He is from Texas and I already know that we will be able to do great things together for this work. 

I am absolutely amazed that Brinya is doing so well, but I can't say that I am suprised that Heavenly Father is answering my prayers. I know that it isn't just that though. I am sure that there are lots of people praying for her. 

I think I have have gotten a couple of e-mails from Gabe and I think he is doing well, but he hasn't told me very much so I don't know. I am keeping him in my prayers as well. 

 

Anyways, Take care. I will send you some more emails of pics and I will pray that God will be with you all.

Love,

Elder Jastal.

29 May 2013

Hey mom, Thanks for the Scriptures. The John 14 reference has always been one of my favorites.

 

On Memorial Day the libraries were all closed, so we went down to do some sight seeing with a couple other elders. After that we did a little bit of shopping and then went and got eady for the P-day activity. . . Softball. I was the pitcher for like 4 of the eight innings that we played and I hated it cause I couldn't throw overhand. The other missinaries told me I wasn't allowed. But it was still fun playing. I just hope that next time I do any pitching, I can throw overhand instead of underhand.

 

About the cookies you sent, they were deliscious. Elder Lund and I both enjoyed them. 

 

Anyway, I hope all remains well in "Zion". May God be with you all.

Love,

 

Elder Jastal

2013 may 20th

It has been amazing for me to see my testimony grow, and to be able to feel the enabling power of the Atonement working in my life, helping me feel Heavenly Father's love for me.  I never would be able to do the things I do or be who I am today without Christ and the enabling power he gives us all through His Atonement.  It is one of the best feelings in the world, however, to see the Atonement work in the lives of others and see there testimonies grow and know that they feel the love of the Savior. Through the wisdom and mercy of Him who is mighty to save, we can learn and grow in knowledge so that we may have wisdom to share.

The hardest thing has been to see people with so much potential begin to halt in their progression, to see the adversary working against us all. To know that despite all we can do for them as servants of the Lord they use their agency in such a way that a cessation is brought about in their spiritual progression and they then refuse to allow us to help.
 

That is pretty cool that grandma is able to go on the cruise, the Bucks as well.

I hope Brinya makes a full recovery soon.  Can you let her know that I am keeping her in my prayers?

I send my congratulations to the Brackens and wish them happiness on this exciting new journey.

I hope Zach can be able to really enjoy his schooling. I never really could understand what joy there is in learning until after I stopped going to school. I will keep you all in my prayers and hope that all remains well.

 

May you find peace and joy. Love,

Love,

Elder Jastal

2013 Mar 18 - sorry posted so late - Mondays are Emailing Days

I don't typically get to email more than once a week, but that was able to happen last week because there were things I needed to get done and it involved contacting you guys at home so that is what that was all about. From now on, unless it is a special case, I will only be able to do Mondays.
As far as everything else is going, we met our first investigator Saturday, and he agreed to meet with us. The ward here is really nice too. the bishop is great and is really interested in seeing how we do. The ward mission leader is Brother Walker and we'll be working with him a lot to get on more solid ground here.
I have been doing a lot of biking by the way. I think I have done more biking here than I have done ever. As far as anything else goes, I am doing pretty good. I have this awesome trainer who is showing me some great things about the work. We have been trying to meet more of the members so that we can be able to better work with them. So far we have only met with a couple of them and one of them was a dinner appointment. We are both just hoping that we can do what the Lord needs us to do. Aside from that, we are just doing what we can. Also, as soon as you can, can you have people start mailing me?
I am loving it out here, but I still want to be able to talk to people out there. Have Zach tell me how Martial Arts is going and if he's been able to use my sword at all. he tells me that Sensei said he would be allowed to use it while I am gone. How are things going at work for dad? What about photography? How is the ward? Do any of them miss me? hahaha. I am hoping that I will only ever have good stories to share with everyone at home.
By the way, the food out here is really great, but the prices are mind-blowing. Things are so much more expensive out here than they are back home. If ever you want to send me something other than a letter, and this goes for anybody, I wouldn't mind some things that would allow me to spend less money to survive.

Anyway, if there is anything you want to hear about that I haven't talked about so far, email me back and you will probably get an answer. 

Love you all And may God be with you,

Elder Jastal

6 May 2013

I do have to say that things are going great. It just rained out here last night and into the morning so the ground is somewhat wet.

I wish i could have heard all of that. Did Elder Hales and President Uchtdorf just get quoted, or were they actually there? I think that would have been amazing to actually see them. They are both fantastic.

 

 The work is great. It was a little slow this week, but I am sure that that kind of thing will happen throughout my mission. My spirit is getting stronger and stronger. Which is going great as well. 

 

Amazingly, cleaning the apartment it is kind of relaxing. Laundry is pretty easy too when we have a washer and dryer on the patio to our apartment. 

 

Other than that, I am hoping I will be able to skype with you guys on Mother's Day. I just don't remember what my skype info is so I will have to use a member's account. That will be cool. If Skype doesn't work out, I will end up having to call on the home phone cause the phone service that the missionaries have out here is sprint. But, I am hoping that we will be able to skype. If we are, I will probably be getting on sometime between 7 and 9 local time and we are 3 hours behind you guys. so it would probably be 10-12 Toledo time. Also, before I forget, if you are periodically updating info on facebook and you see a request from someone, he is a really cool guy that we met out here and he tried to request me as a friend so if you could accept that, that would be sweet. I love you all so much.

Love,

Elder Jastal

23 April 2013

I thought coming out that I was really prepared, only to find out that I had had little preparation at all. I don't think there is enough time in one year for me to be out with the missionaries enough to prepare for what it is like to actually be one.

I wish I had spent more time reading the scriptures and studying them, than I had reading all those novels. There is no greater book I could have been engrossed in, than the Book of Mormon. I also wish that I had learned how to study better. I can't tell you how much that would have helped. But, I can say that I have gotten a few helpful tips from my Trainer.

Believe it or not, I actually do miss 40 degree weather. There is plenty of wind out here, being that is only like 2-3 miles from the beach to our apartment.

If you don't mind, can you let everyone at the dojo know that I said hi. That would be awesome. And let Mason and Chase know that I really miss seeing them work hard, and that they were both great.

I am grateful for the words of encouragement and will strive to my utmost to seve with Honor.

My week was wonderful. We were able to teach this really cool guy that used to be a surfer.

Yes. We do get to go to the temple Quarterly. my companion said every other transfer so that's pretty much every 3 months.

I get some emails from Elder Tribbett every so often and he is so excited about it. He is full of love and encouragment and is always sending Godspeed and Hoorah!

I am eagerly awaiting the letter and photo album and also have one special request that if at all possible, could you send me some of the strudel and other snacks? If not that's okay, but that would be awesome.

Oh! By the way, before I forget, sorry I wasn't able to email yesterday. It was transfer day and so we didn't have a ride to get to the places we were gonna go, cause everyone that was in a car had to go to meetings.

How has it been at home?

May God be with you

Love,

Elder Jastal

These photos were emailed to us last week . . .

Elder Jastal is permitted to receive emails from people and would love it.  His email address is devin.jastal@myldsmail.net

Were you able to ask them (everyone in the family) if they were e-mailing me? I know Grant is, but I haven't gotten one from Brandon in a while. I don't think I have gotten any from anyone else. I know you are all trying to keep busy, so I understand if I don't get e-mails or letters, but if they could send something occasionally that would be fantastic.

Conference was Amazing. We all went to our stake center to watch it, and it was quite possibly the best conference I have ever watched. I made this comment to Elder Lund, and he told me that it was probablly just cause I was a missionary now and that everything is different when you are a missionary. I hope that you will be able to go back and view conference soon. It was very uplifting and inspiring.

I have been great actually. Very happy too. Sounds like fast and testimony meeting without me has been just as good as it has ever been, maybe even better lol. And the rest of church sounded amazing as well. I was actually able to cover for our Gospel doctrine instructor this week so it was almost like being back at home. It didn't make me "trunky" though. (code for homesick or something like that). It was really good. The chapter was on baptism and so we had some really good discussion about that. Elder Lund was able to cover for Deacon's quorum and so that is where we were 3rd hour.

Love,

Elder Jastal.

Elder Jastal emailed several photos, some of which I'm adding in this post.

                                        Apparently the missionaries got hold of light sabers.

                                                              Elder Jastal's hair cut.

Shopping

I talked with Elder Jastal's mission president secretary about grocery stores and she told me that, yes, Target by him is a grocery store.  I believe she called it a big Target, and it's similar to the Super Walmart stores.  He can get pretty much anything he needs there.

27 March 2013

(This is from last week)

 

I got the bike, a helmet, a pump and bike lights. The bike is absolutely wonderful and is more suited to my size than the bike I had been borrowing. As far as the stores we shop at out here it's mainly Target when it's not an eating place. So if people wanna send Target gift cards that would be cool. 

 

Today we were able to go to the temple with the zone. It was wonderful. As far as pictures go, I have taken several, but have not yet had a chance to be able to send them when I remembered to bring my camera with me.  I will try and remember next Monday (our p-day except on special occasions, which is why i didn't email Monday). From what i understand, that is not a typical occurance and so Mondays are still the day to expect emails.

 

Tell brinya that I love her and that I know that what she is going through is really hard, but I know that Jesus is with her. 

I hope that everything is gonna get better out there and that the weather won't get too hot. But knowing that it's Toledo .... let's just say i hope it all works out good.

Tell Zach that I hope he is doing all he can to prepare to go on a mission cause i know that it is gonna be one of the best choices he can ever make. If you ever want to hear anything specific about California, let me know and i will do my best to tell the stories.

 

Go with god and with my love,

Elder Jastal

1 April 2013

The bike is wonderful, but I didn't ride it to the Temple. It would have taken too long, and i would have been too sweaty to feel comfortable entering after a bike ride. We got a ride to the Temple.

The only grocery store they have out here that is even in our area is Target.

We are just a few miles away from the ocean, but we cannot step onto the beach under any circumstances. So, if the ward had an activity out there Elder Lund and I would be proselyting.

Tell Aubrey and Brinya that I love them and that I know God is with them.

Thanks for all the scriptures mom.

By "grant started learning Martial Arts", do you mean he is taking Karate? or that he is still doing MMA?

That is crazy that so many families are moving.

Anyway, i am going to attach a few photos so that you have something to look at.  

God be with you 'til we meet again (and even longer)

 

Love,

Elder Jastal

Elder Jastal has been blessed to be able to borrow a bicycle. Sorry I'm posting from last week so late, but here's his email . . .

i don't typically get more than once a week, but that was able to happen last week because there were things i needed to get done and it involved contacting you guys at home so that is what that was all about. from now on, unless it is a special case, i will only be able to do mondays.
 we met our first investigator saturday, and he agreed to meet with us. the ward here is really nice too. the bishop is great and is really interested in seeing how we do. the ward mission leader is brother walker and we'll be working with him a lot to get on more solid ground here.
i have been doing a lot of biking by the way. i think i have done more biking here than i have done ever.
As far as anything else goes, i am doing pretty good. i have this awesome trainer who is showing me some great things about the work. We have been trying to meet more of the members so that we can be able to better work with them. so far we have only met with a couple of them and one of them was a dinner appointment. we are both just hoping that we can do what the Lord needs us to do. aside from that, we are just doing what we can.
also, as soon as you can, can you have people start mailing me? i am loving it out here, but i still want to be able to talk to people out there.
have Zach tell me how Martial Arts is going and if he's been able to use my sword at all. he tells me that sensei said he would be allowed to use it while i am gone.  how is the ward? do any of them miss me? hahaha. i am hoping that i will only ever have good stories to share with everyone at home.
By the way, the food out here is really great, but the prices are mind-blowing. Things are so much more expensive out here than they are back home. if ever you want to send me something other than a letter, and this goes for anybody, i wouldn't mind some things that would allow me to spend less money to survive.
elder lund says he doesn't know if the elder lund that we had is any close relation. he says that he might be related in some way but he doesn't know him.

Anyway, if there is anything you want to hear about that i haven't talked about so far, email me back and you will probably get an answer. 

 

Love you all And may God be with you,

Elder Jastal

Another email

Hey mom,
Well i know i have sent you a few emails over the past couple of days and here is another one. Today My companion/trainer and i are just doing some things that we need to get done. My first area is a Biking area so one of the things we are trying to do is go about getting bikes. i know i asked you to maybe try and add some money to my account but if you could add some more, if you have already, or add a lot, if you haven't, i need to be able to purchase a bike and i think they are suggesting around $450-$600.  other than that, California is hot. At least, during the day it is hot. mornings and evenings are pretty cool so it isn't all bad. I am having a great time already. i am loving it! My companion's name is Elder Lund. He was just released from being a zone leader so that he could train me so i feel like i am in really good hands. He has already shown me some stuff that they didn't really go over in the MTC. Everything is going so well that i hope i can get things done. The area we are in was closed for a couple of weeks cause one of the previous elders got hurt and had to go for a surgery, so they put us here to take control. so we are already on the way to getting things set up here.

. . . everyone to write me as often as they can find time to. so if you can remind everyone in the ward and maybe put my mailing address on my facebook for me, that would be great too. and give the mailing address to zach so he can pin it up on the board at martial arts. i would love to hear from people there as well.

Anyway, i don't think i have told you this yet, but they are going to be splitting my mission come July. so depending on what area they have me in when that time rolls around, i might end up staying in this mission, or i will end up in the Irvine mission. so i hope, that i can just stay in this mission, cause i have already met most of the people that would most likely be staying here and i am hoping that the others from my district at the MTC will be staying in the Anaheim mission as well. but i know that wherever i end up, that's where i need to be. one of the reasons i hope to stay though, is cause i have met the mission president and he is a fantastic guy. I haven't gotten a chance to meet with him much 'cause this is only my second day, but i believe that i would like to have him remain my mission president, so because this is my first area, and because i am a trainee, i don't think that is the most likely course, but if they whitewash me out with my companion after these next three months, then i will have a possibility of being in the Anaheim mission still. Whitewashing is when they transfer both of the elders from the area out and bring in two completely new elders in. so my companion and i were whitewashed into the area we're going to be serving and if they whitewash us out, then i will have a chance of staying in Anaheim instead of Irvine. but anyway, i just wanted to get this out to you and i hope you all are doing well. i love you all and know that God is smiling on you too.

Love and Godspeed

Elder Jastal

First Day in CA

Today is going to be my first day in the field. I had to wake up at 4:00 a.m. so I am really tired, but I am feeling pretty good aside from that. All the other missionaries in my mission seem pretty cool, so that is awesome. The flight out to California was pretty uneventful, so there is not much to say about that. I have met the Mission President as well. He is really nice and already seems to genuinely care about us all. I am confident that I will grow to have all confidence in him. They fed us a little snack when we got to the mission office, because they felt that we might all be pretty hungry.

I am already Loving California. It is all so beautiful out here. The air smells cleaner too. I don't know much about how things are gonna work out here, but this much I do know; these are going to be the best two years of my life.

Once again, I would like to tell you all that I love you and that I wish the best for you. They took a picture of us all so I will upload that. Tell the ward I said hi, and that i will try to update you all frequently.

Love you all.

11 March 2013 Last Full Day at the MTC

today was my last full day at the MTC. I have loved it here, but mostly because of the people. my companion refers to it as Spirit Prison. hahaha. mostly cause they don't let us out much except to go to the Temple which we were able to do again on Sunday. It is so Peaceful there. even just being on the grounds. Tomorrow i have to wake up at 4 to be able to head out to California. but we will be there finally.  I love you all. Tell the ward i love em and that i love to get email too. the address for the next 2 years will be

Elder Devin L. Jastal
California Anaheim Mission
2500 N Bristol St.
Santa Ana, CA 92706

i Love you all. Godspeed!

Elder Jastal.

First email home

Elder Jastal's email address is . . .

devin.jastal@myldsmail.net

This is his first email home:

Hey,
This is Elder Jastal. I just wanted to check in on the family and see how everyone is doing. It has been great here at the MTC. The teachers are great and the branch presidency is too. I am loving it. I have lost about 5-6 pounds since I got here and I am hoping to continue that trend. My companion and i are doing great with our "investigators" as well. The lessons have really helped me to learn so much more about the Gospel than i had ever thought possible. I am progressing so much here that I hope never to forget this experience. Anyway, tell the ward I gave them a shout and that I hope they are all doing well. I love you all and hope you all the best.

 Preparing to go through security.

 Somehow, the photos posted out of order.  Dad waited for everyone in the truck so he got to hug me first.

 Rather than have a welcoming committee, I have a goodbye committee.

God be with you 'til we meet again.

On 16th February 2013, I went to the Detroit Temple with my parents.  Mom insisted on taking a  photo.