Senator Hatch

March 16, 2015

This past week has been alright. We met a few more people (investigators and member wise) and also took care of washing and dry cleaning almost every particle of clothing... There was one bed bug and so the guy came and sprayed just in case there was more. We met with an eternigator (eternally investigating) named Mary, but she goes by Nann to all the missionaries. She is in love with all the missionaries! She's a hard core catholic and her husband is a baptist. Russell the husband, he works for the church and does all of the heating and air conditioning for all the church buildings in the area! We haven't met him yet, but hopefully we will!

Member wise we went over to the 1st councilor in the bishoprics house to meet his family. Sad thing was that they put their kids to bed.. We shared a video with them that we didn't download before hand so they had to find it.. Very awkward moment lol. But he has a cool family though! 

Saturday the ward had scheduled to view meet the Mormons (if you haven't seen it, you need to see it!) but no one in the ward showed up to the visitors center... Except us and the bishop.. 

Last night, there was a why I believe and Sen. Hatch came and shared his testimony! I wanted to get a picture but he left pretty quick...

And that was basically our week! I hope y'all are enjoying the warm weather... We keep getting blasted with storm after storm with high winds and such..low temperatures some days then it will jump up to warmer. Maryland is so weird...

Love you all-

Elder JT Ekberg


Dinner with a great member!!  Martineu's

Transfers- Saying Goodbye to Olney...Hello Carollton MD

March 9, 2015

This last week was really hard. A little back ground first: elder
fisher and I have known that the mission president was going to closedown our area and make it a sisters only area, so we have to prep theward for just the sisters. We also had to ask our investigators andless actives about being comfortable with the sisters and to tell themthat we were leaving...

Our main less active/ investigator (Endres) was the hardest... Shegave both of us gifts our last day there which was extremelydifficult:/

Then we get to transfer meeting, and they announce that elder fisherand I will remain comps and open a new area that is a very slow areafor missionary work. We are hoping to get things started and rollingagain here in the Carrollton ward. We were both shocked that we stayedcompanions but very happy as well. So yesterday we met the ward andthey were very very happy to have elders back. Now there are 9missionaries in the ward: 2 English sisters, 3 French sisters, 2elders and a senior couple!


Really quick update bout my physical well-being, my ankle isn't doingwell at all. I've noticed that it's becoming difficult to stand for ashort period of time as well as walking. I am doing my best to keepfocused on missionary work but the past couple of days, I could notfocus because of the pain I'm in. Please keep me in your prayers..
Thank for all you have done for me especially the support. I love youall, and have a fantastic week!

Love you all-
Elder JT Ekberg

Olney Closing & Spanish Splits

March 2, 2015

So for the past 2- 2 1/2 weeks elder fisher and I kind of had an idea that our area would soon be closing. And Saturday, it was official. In a call out our zone leaders made, they announced that me, elders fisher, swensen, and la rotta will be closing our areas... Swensen and
La Rotta are our roommates in the Spanish program. Both of our wards will now just have sisters in our areas. My guess is that President Cooke wants the mission to be 50% elders and 50% sisters. I don't know why, but he is following the promptings he gets, and that is good. But now I can start talking about my week!

Last Tuesday we had 2 general authorities come and speak to our mission: Elder Schwitzer and Elder Gonzales (I am not sure on spelling so please don't hate me lol). The reason why they came, is because the church is now rolling out the new and very much improved iPads and training that comes with it. The 
church is giving all the missions in the US brand new iPads with the new software, security and other features. As policy, we will not be able to use Facebook for at least 2 months, essentially a "Facebook fast" as we train with the actual

Elder Minion

iPads and stuff. The training in total takes about 6 weeks to complete.

Wednesday was our temple trip for dying missionaries. Once a transfer the missionaries gather and go to the temple. One of the blessings of having a temple in the mission :)

Thursday we went on exchanges with our roommates swensen and la rotta. Swensen took my place in the English area and I replaced him in the Spanish. Let's just say that I wasn't blessed with the spirit of discernment haha. The Spanish program is kinda cool, they get fed A
LOT.  That's a blessing and a curse because I like food, but I want to maintain a healthy weight. So far I have lost 8 pounds! And I'm not even in a bike area! ;)

Friday we didn't do much really... I had therapy in the morning, which went good but then I go back to having the regular pain in my ankle. I would be just sitting down and then will come and my ankle will make my whole leg twitch. It's weird haha. then we did normal studies after that. We went to the church after to just update our area real good for the sisters who will be taking over.

Saturday, we had dinner at the Velasquez's home. They have a son on a
mission In twin falls, Idaho Spanish speaking! And they are such a
great family! After dinner, they gave us a bag of food from the dinner
and some cereal because #whynot? Hhaha no they really love
missionaries.

Then Sunday, we had are ward council meeting in the morning, and when
we were done, it was snowing.... We went home, did some studying, then
went back to the church for ward correlation meeting and it was
raining, but it was freezing rain... About halfway through our second
meeting, and we get a voicemail. We didn't listen to it till after
sacrament because due to the weather, that's all they were planning to
have. So we listened to the message and we were back inside for the
rest of the evening. We had a member drop off some food that we were
supposed to go over to that night, but because of the weather we
couldn't.

And that was our week! Just to remind you again, there will now be 2
ways of contacting me: by letters, and by my email. Not facebook.
Also, I have deactivated my personal facebook account and will be
using my mission one. That will become my regular Facebook after the
mission is done.

Love you all. Have a great week!

Elder JT Ekberg

Super Short Letter: MORE SNOW!!

February 23, 2015
This week was very dull and nothing got done due because of the freaking
weather... We were shut in for 4 days in total. The two days that we
could do things, our appointments cancelled on us so we were in those
days too. The first snow storm, we had the derwood elders spend the
night and played so many board games.. We played  bang, settlers of
catan, dominion, hearts, monopoly, and risk. Oh and church was
cancelled as well so that makes 2 weeks with no church and no
sacrament.
That was basically my week.
Hope y'all have a good week this week and I'll talk to you all again! :)

Elder JT Ekberg

Sweet Experience at the VC...more snow.

Hey y'all! 
Hope you have had a good week. We had a very interesting week you could say. Wednesday, we had a sweet experience with one of our investigators named David. We took him to the visitors center with a member to see meet the Mormons! David said he enjoyed it a lot, and that his favorite stories were the missionary mom and the navy football coach. (If you haven't seen it, go see it!) Afterwards, we took him around the center showing him the different areas and talked to him about some of them. He did ask a lot of questions as well, so he seemed very intrigued. 

Thursday we had dinner at the

Taggs, who are members and they have a son who is on a mission. They are super awesome and love helping missionaries out with anything and everything! After dinner there, we celebrated their daughters birthday and had some pretty amazing peanut butter and Reece's chocolate cake. That was soooooooooooooo delicious!! 

Friday, we had another dinner with a member and their family. So my first Sunday here in olney,one of their kids named Duncan commented on my pink tie that I was wearing... So just for him, after our lesson, I signed my pink tie, and gave it to him after the lesson :) now this is wear things get very interesting. Saturday we were over at the Chester's for dinner. They have a son who is out serving a mission in Brazil and we were looking and brother Chester's mission pictures and we found that him and his son look exactly like each other. IT WAS CRAZY! 

Then, we get a call-out from the AP's saying that with the snow storm, we have to be in our apartment asap. So we had to leave :( then they cancelled church today due to the high winds and bone chilling temperature... So we have been inside for 2 days and now tonight, it is supposed to snow 4-8" and we will probably be in all day 

Tuesday and maybe Wednesday if the weather keeps up like this. 

As for my ankle, I am in some kind of pain. It's not extreme, but it is a lot and it is affecting my walking. I am going to therapy so I am hoping that that will help somewhat... If not I am not sure what to do. Please keep me in your prayers as always. I appreciate all the support you have given me and help as well. 

Have a great week with amazing temperatures :P 

Love you all! 

Elder JT Ekberg

During the snow storm, our power went out for like 4 hours, so we played bang! and then made this video... 

Miracles, Basketball & Hot Chocolate

I LOVE THE DC TEMPLE!!

Last Monday, we had dinner with our bishop, and let me tell you, he is
a very cool guy. He has a really big house for just him and his wife.
He also has a very keen eye focused on missionary opportunities and
loves service. Elder fisher was telling me that we are very lucky to
have gotten a dinner with him due to his busy schedule with work and
being the bishop.

Wednesday we had district meeting! Our district Is like a mini zone, I
kid you not.. We have 4 missionaries in the olney first ward, 4 in the
olney 2nd Spanish ward, 4 in the derwood ward, and 2 stake senior
sisters. So, our workshop was on a section out of preach my gospel
called listening to everyone. Then we did some role plays on listening
and addressing concerns of investigators, members, and others as well.
Every Wednesday evening, there is basketball at the church. And I
can't express how bad I want to play... Anyways, so we go over and
Timmy, one of our investigators, brings both of his inactive brother
in laws and two friends from his work. No ward members showed up so it
was the missionaries, an investigator, 2 nonmembers, and 2 less
actives!

Thursday was interviews with President and Sister Cooke at our stake
center. And those were probably one of the fastest interviews I have
had with them! They both asked me how I was doing, how the area is, if
I liked my companion. But we did receive news about our area...
Because of how slow things have been the past little while (before I
was here), President is thinking of closing our area at the end of
this transfer... :( which sucks because we love the ward, and we are
so close with the Endres family.. :(

Friday was a miracle Friday!! We were weekly planning and at the end,
I prayed for a teaching miracle to happen soon. So, since all of our
appointments cancelled, we were going to go to do some online at the
church when the sister missionaries called us and asked us if we could
help them out and go over to a members home to answer questions for
their nonmember friend, because they had something come up. So that
was a major blessing!!! :D

Saturday was an alright day. We did a finding activity at a mall close
by in our area, giving out free hot chocolate and pass along cards. We
were finishing up, when a security officer came over and basically
told all of us missionaries that the next time we do that, we need
permission from the store we are at (which we got) and also the
property owners OK. While he was talking, we was looking directly at
me which freaked me out.. All I did was give free hot chocolate to
people! :/

Then Sunday elder fisher had two performances: one in sacrament- he
played be still my soul on the piano which went really well! And the
other was a vocal performance at the VC with three other elders! He is
very musically talented.

I hope you all have a great week and that hopefully I get to hear from you!

Love you all! :)

Elder JT Ekberg

Slow But Sure...

February 2, 2015
Where to start.....

Pretty much everyday this week, we have been with the Endres family either studying with them, having an actual lesson, doing service, or doing other things with them and their kids. They are pretty sweet! We haven't taught the the WoW yet to the family yet, so we will help them understand that soon. first we need to get over a few concerns Tiffany has.. about baptism.. so since she was "forced" as a little kid into being baptized by her parents, she wants to be re-baptized because she knows what is going on now. But... we dont do that. and she also wants to wait for her daughter, Cambrie, to get older so she can make that decision on her own. But her husband Timmy is ready for a change in his life so he wants to be baptized. but he needs to do some personal changes first before that happens... All in all, it is going to take some time with this family.

Our other main investigator, Sarah, we are going to set something up at the Visitors Center again, or try and get an actual sit-down lesson with her. and that is pretty much all we are working with right now haha!

Today was nice.. we went to costco :) hahah i didn't realize how much we save shopping there and buying in bulk instead of individual items :) 

Love you all and i hope i get to hear from you soon!! :D

Elder JT Ekberg

(Ps. if you send letters or packages please send them to the address below (: )

Here is a pic of our apartment in Olney- in case you were wondering.   I sleep on the top bunk!

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#ElderEkberg

11700 Falls Rd

Potomac, MD 20854

First P-Day Back!

January 26, 2015

hey guys! it is weird be back out let me tell you.... it is pretty much like learning how to ride a bike, but only a second time haha.

 So, i flew into DC on the 20th and chose to stay with the group that came in at the mission home for the night.. except that group was pretty much 10 sister missionaries and me and my MTC comp Elder Levi (leevee). Pres.Cooke had us elders stay at his bishops house for the night. (the bishop had some yummy chocolate chip cookies and milk too that he gave us right before we went to bed. In the morning, we went back to the mission home to have breakfast! that was and is always good!! ;) we had waffles, bacon,, muffins, yogurt, and a variety of drinks!! 

After that, we went up to the visitors center to the transfer meeting to get my comp. His name is Elder Jed Fisher and from Bountiful, UT! (all my comps have been from Utah..... besides Levi and Thornton from AZ) anyways! we are serving in Olney which is about 15-25 minutes NW of the temple. there are a few investigators that they have been working with, one is a Less active&part member in the home. They are less active and wants to come back to the church. her only concern or problem is that she wants to be re-baptized... O.o and her husband is the investigator. he is struggling with the word of wisdom, so if you could,keep them all in your thoughts and prayers. 

(i still can't believe how freaked out people get about 1/2 inch of snow here...)

anyways i hope to hear from you all soon whether letters or emails! 

Elder JT Ekberg

​11700 Falls Rd

Potomac, MD 20854​

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#ElderEkberg

Back In The Game!

January 14, 2015

Today is a GREAT day for JT and the Washington DC North Mission!!

Back in June, JT came home after serving 8 months in the DC North Mission- he was medically released as a missionary.  
He had surgery on June 30, 2014 to remove bone spurs that had formed on his left ankle from previous basketball injuries.  In addition to bone spurs, the cartilage had separated from the tibia and ankle and had to be removed. The surgeon performed a micro fracture procedure on the bottom of the tibia to generate stem cells that formed new cartilage material in its place.  Finally while in surgery, the peroneal  tendon was looked at to ensure it was free of damage; which thankfully it was. 

JT's recovery consisted of 8 weeks non-bearing recovery, and 8 weeks of physical therapy 3 times per week.  After many grueling sessions of physical therapy, JT was cleared to return to normal activity.

He still experiences slight discomfort, but his daily routine of exercise and personal PT, he will continue to heal.

This has been a challenging time for him personally.  We are so proud of the decision he has made to finish his missionary service.  He loves the Lord.  Despite 'heckling' from the stands,he has risen to the challenge and returned to the starting lineup in the ranks of the missionaries!

We give thanks to all - family, friends , co-workers, coaches & teammates- who have supported him, put your arms around him and loved him for who he is and not where he was or wasn't. May God bless you for your kindness.

We offer our love to even those who attempted to discourage him- it has made him even stronger and brought him closer to Heavenly Father.

We love him, we are humbled by the opportunity to be associated with such a dedicated son.  He is an incredible missionary and will unlock many opportunities and blessings for those he serves in Washington DC.

God speed son-

Dad, Mom, Becca & Rachel

**JT has met up with the missionaries called to the DC North Mission in the Missionary Training Center.  He will spend a week in the MTC and fly out to DC on January 20th.