African Tokolosh resembles a character in Harry Potter books Hmmmm.

1. How are you and your companion doing?

2. Chas Hathaway said to ask you about Tokolosh and if you serve in Botswana to learn about Tswanas and what about Magua Snakes. And most of all he said to say Dumela to South Africa for him that it is missed terribly. He served there 10 years ago and made a comment on our blog. So another brother is missing his mission land (Chas Hathaways mission memories). I wonder if he knew your cousins Elder McWilliams( 1995 I think?) or Elder Mark Owens (2001-2003) when he was serving? He is an LDS Musician and composer in the Sanpete County.

3. How was the baptisms this sunday?

4. How many miles do you ride bikes?

5. Do they keep goats there in the Soweto township?

6. Having lived now in two of the extremes of Johannesburg what do you know and understand about the apartheid aside from that disney show color purple that we watched?

7. So did you ever go see your Dean family?

8. Z wants to know if you have eaten any snake meat while on your mission?

9. Craziest thing you have eaten that is not at all American just this week.

10. Most humbling experiance this week, even if its something like scripture study, your personal prayers, or a service that you did for someone.

11. So how is the Mothers Day call going to take place this time? On Sunday and are we calling you still?

So this week was way fun the Jones family of your Dads bros and sis's all got together at a Mission called Warm Springs in Nevada and did service of building steps and cleaning up campsites and cutting wood and swiming swiming swiming in the warms springs that are on the mission grounds. This is where all the scouts and girls camps are held for St George and Las Vegas areas. It was very cold the first two days as there was a major cold front that came in. We slept in the car the first night one because we got there at 1:30 am and it was way to cold to set up the tent. The next night we froze but at least we were able to snuggle close in the tent. Eveyone did end up with nasty coughs but hopefully we will be able to shake them soon. J hasn't been home the whole week as she went to Logan for an FFA competition on animal judging and then left two hours after she got off the bus to go to the reunion on Wed. So Jamie Racker insists that you always say hi to her on her facebook and that you are liking your mission. I said well ok I guess so but I didn't really know if you were getting on your facebook over there or not. Then the big news for the week is that Jathan and Julies twins were born right at 36 weeks which is a month early they are very very pretty babies. Sadley they will all be grown up and not at all babies when you get back. One is named C Jay 5lb 10oz and the other is K Jane 4 lb 12oz. Julie did amazing and eveything went really well considering how complicated H's had been for her. So thats a wrap for the week since we haven't really been home except for today. Oh ya church was a bit wild since the little boys were not into being quiet and Kathrin Howell got called to serve in the Ukrain mission and is speaking Russian. Smile and tells us of your mission adventures and know that we love you lots. Watch for your package to arrive.

Love the whole Family

He Loves us back.

1. Well My companion is doing great. I can say that so far I have learned the most from him. He or I might be leaving in this coming week because we have been together about 3 months now and that's usually as long as President Poulsen leaves comps together.

2. Well from what I know A Tokolosh is a small crazy little man. I've actually met quite a few Tswana's here in Dobsonville. But unfortunately I haven't been to Botswana. But you can tell Chas Hathaway that South Africa says lekae back to him.

3.It went great. We actually watched Conference this weekend so we had it right after conference. We only had one though, we had to move the other to May 16.

4.Not really sure but we ride bikes a lot each day. Our area is pretty big.

5.Actually I have only seen a few but some people do. They usually slaughter Goats and Cows for funerals and stuff so...

6.Well I've learned that the apartheid only ended in 1994, and during that time Coloreds, Blacks, Whites, And Indians were only allowed to live in their certain areas and shop and everything. And if you crossed into anyone elses turf you got shot. I guess it was pretty bad but it seems to be ok now days.

7.Yeah we've seen them and things are ok accept that one of them is a sangoma. :(

8.Nope I actually havn't eaten anything weird lately just the usuall PB&J and the ocasional sunday meal of Chicken and POP

9.Ish! I'm gonna have to wrack my brains on that one and try to find something cool to eat. But Elder Ramos recently ate a cows foot.

10.Well I'm going to have to say it was when listening to Conference. I learned alot of things from the Prophets I especially learned alot about Being Patient and working through some of the challenges we face.

11. I actually haven't figured that out yet. I'm going to have to find out the phone # for the church and have you call me there. You will probably call at about the same time, Give or take maybe an hour.

First of All I would like to express my concern about the face book thing because I haven't been on it talking to anybody so I would like to see if you could maybe investigate further and then if someone has been saying hi to her make sure that it wasn't Caleb or things I may have sent along time ago. And if someone is sending to her You should try and change my passwords.

Well this week has been an ok week except it has felt a little slow be cause the days have been filled with other stuff than missionary work. Monday was p-day which we played most of the day. Tuesday was a normal full day. Wed was a normal full day. Thursday felt short because we had weekly Planning up until 2 Friday was the same because we had District Meeting Up until 2. Saturday we watched Conference up until 5 and Sunday we had Conference until 2 then a baptism until 3:30 and then a Dinner appointment until about 4:30 so yeah but hopefully this coming week we will be able to have some more full days. The work is still going good but we are worried about Brother Somniso making his date because he hasn't been coming to church, Other than that everyone else is on schedule. Mom and Dad, You should get Caleb involved in the Duty to God program that they have recently Improved and help him. I think that I would have understood alot more about my duties as a priesthood holder if I would have been more involved in that. And I would strongly encourage you to read again the talks from conference there great. You can tell Julie and Jathan congrats from me and tell them it would be cool to see some pictures. Tell everyone sorry for not writing them more, but I only have time on Monday's and it seems like very little sometimes. I still love getting dear elders and letters from everyone so keep them coming.

This letter is probably kinda lame but I've got to go. I love you all and I will e-mail next Monday and then the Sunday after that we'll talk on the phone.

Love Elder Tyrell Jones

Another Missionary who served in the Land of South Africa

http://calledtoserveinafrica.wordpress.com/

Isn't the world small after all, have fun looking at his cool photos and learning just a bit more about the land Tyrell calles home these day.

African Sangoma Whats That Tyrell!

Dear Tyrell

Here is some research that I did to maybe help you understand the Sangoma religion or health care or Education, however this family views it. Sangoma reminds me some of Indians rituals and smoking of paode(sp) that’s what Dad said. A sweat Lodge is another kind of hut that is used by the Indians to purify themselves to be in tune with what the great ancestors want to tell them. They are often called a Shaman. Also I am reminded of maybe a bit like playing with a weegie boards to call on spirits but that is not really a very good thing to do because it is usually Satan who will come as my Mom told us of an experience when she saw some of her friends play this at a slumber party and called her Dad to get her home because of the evil spirit that was felt there. There are Shaman or Sangomas in every culture remember the Tonga, Other side of Heaven show and the man who died because he gave the last of his food to the missionary he would be considered a Shaman or Sangoma. Nana practiced some of those hearbal uses by consuming herbs, the kinds that are alright to consume. Jeannine Baker did in another way more like an Africa Sangoma plus Hippee. So here are some articles, two that can help you to see some info to help you know how to face what you are going to have to do with your new converts. We will pray for their family and hope that the daughter will come to understand how these two diffrent learning’s can help her to be an even more wonderful kind of a person on this earth, one in the gosple, and two in her education from that school.

Also this week turned into crazy when a young man asked Jorja to the Jr. Prom and it was this weekend. I had to work really fast and with the help of Aunt Terry we changed my prom dress into her dream dress. She had a blast. Also you are about to gain an new cousin in law. Drum shocking roll. Maybe I will put it at the end or in the middle of this long research letter so I can hold out your suspense and surprise. Yes I will tell you that it is Brent who is getting married in Aug but its the who that he is marrying that is very surprising and I never ever thought that it would be a possibility in a million. So have fun reading and seeing who it is hidden in this note somewhere.

Have an amazing week we love you lots.

So insert here that shows the mystery new cousin you are getting. Her name is Tiffany Parker you know the one born on your birthday. They have been dating for about two months. So she just finished the schooling she was doing, he is in Texas for the summer and come Aug they have a date set but I am not sure what that date is so anyway she will now be your cousin.

The Family

Sangoma Info link

Sangoma Info Link #2

TYRELL SAYS!!!!!!!

That's CRAZY! No way Never in a million years did i think that was going to happen. Brent and Tiffany! Sho!!

And Jorja going to Prom Sho!!! CRAZY!!!

Well this week has been a good week. We have been having alot of success building our teaching pool back up and we have two People scheduled for baptism this coming Sunday. And we have 3 others on date for future baptism. One of which is Brother Somniso, please keep praying for him. yesterday was exciting, and it just kept proving to me how true the church is and how great a work it is that we are doing here in south Africa. As church started we began to recognize quite a few new faces in church and after speaking with all of them (6) we realized that none of the were members some had been invited by friends and other investigators and some of them had just decided to come to Church for no reason. We set up appointments with all of them and they are all excited to learn more about the Church. I was way excited because it's just great to see how the Lord works. Sometimes when you least expect it. We also had 13 other investigators who came to church. This area is great and I hope i get to stay at least 2 more transfers, but we will see. Man time is flying by so fast here. How long does it seem like I've been gone to you guys? Well as for that, there's not much more to report on for the week so you will have to excuse me for my lack of stories. Except now that i think about it we met this guy or more, saw this guy who pretty much doesn't stop praying. We went to his house to meet with his brother Michael and he was sitting in the corner breathing really fast while muttering stuff that no one could understand. Michael told us that ever since he joined some church that he did that most of the day. When Michael Tried to stop him, he just got mad. yelled that he was praying and went back to it. He continued to do that the whole 30 min we were there and as we left. It was crazy! I call him the never ending prayer guy. You see some pretty crazy stuff here in South Africa, You should definitely keep asking questions so i can tell you more stuff! Anyway, i love you all

Love

Elder T. Jones

A Girls Dream, PROM & A Freshman At That!

So heres our girl Miss J isn't she pretty. She is ready to go up the mountain and have a blast of an all day date, well 12 to 12 midnight.
Chase C. and Miss J are going to go roast hot dogs. But I bet he won't get her to eat a marshmellow call that girl quircky but she doesnt't like them nor Pizza. She told us that she jumped in the creek trying to save a camera that got dropped and got wet all up her pant legs. Truth be told she would have loved to have had an all out water fight and get down right wet because it was finally a warm day and she's just a girl like that.








Pinning the bootaneer on, oooooh try not to stab him in the heart litterally finally I took over so it wouldn't get him, besides it wanted to flop down. Isn't her corsage just stunning, she loved the braclet that came with it and is removable.They are looking rather dashing to attend a Masqurade ball held for the South Sevier High School Jr. Prom.








Home by the midnight hour and she still looks like a princess what a fun date she had. She is wearing the dress that I wore to my Jr. Prom in the 80's isn't it crazy how the styles come back around year after year. We only had to change the sleeves to fit her fancy and she had her dream dress in time.

J's 2009 year 4-H competing.

HALTER SHOWING!

ALMOST DONE WITH SHOWING HER GROOMING AND HIS STANDING SKILLS!

WESTERN PLEASURE RIDING!

POLE BENDING!

BARREL RACING!

BARREL RACING AT THE COUNTY FAIR! She won state representation from accumulation of all runs and this one tied her up to be a Rep. for Sevier County. Look at the pure joy on that girl’s cute face when she rides.

Finally getting Js photos up. I guess I better hurry with them since we are about to start over again. Hobbles and J went to State 4-H and represented Sevier County she placed third over all in Sevier County and at the State she took fifth for Barrels. As last summer progressed they got faster and faster. In her words "SHE HAD A BLAST!"

Mission culture and Family, Temples, Cousins,Praying

Tyrells replies!( There were a few edits it was way to late that I typed and he made lots of fun of me so I fixed them and you get to miss out).
1. That is an excellent Question. I would say we don't really have time for Uno, but maybe once and a while. And I would love to have a Hacky Sack! if you could send one that would be awesome. I was actually thinking about that the other day.
2. We do have Honey :)
3. Yeah i could still get it to him, Depending on where he goes. But you better send it soon cause he leaves in July.
4.No they are still organizing it so I'm not really sure anymore
5.Can't really think of anything else, Just pack it full!

Well first things first. Speaking of Mr. Orr I needed to see if you could find out if he still has that poem i wrote for Veterans day somewhere and send it to me or something. Second I was wondering if you could see what you could do about maybe setting up some kind of High Interest account for the money that i have so i could maybe have just a little bit more for when i get home.
Well I'm not really sure what to say about this week, The most we have done is set our goals to try and achieve 4 baptisms in the month of May. Things have slowed down a little bit now because most of the people we have been teaching are now members of the church. We are now just trying to find more people to teach and keep our Recent Converts active in the church. I guess now that i think about it, One family of recent converts that we have, has been having some interesting stuff going on. One of the Daughters in the family, whom i have never met before, Just got back from Sangoma School. (Traditional healing, witch craft kinda stuff) and since then there has been a whole bunch of drum banging going on there and partying going on so we haven't dared visit them because that would probably look bad on the churches part. Were not sure what we are going to do and I've never had to deal with sangoma stuff before so maybe you could pray for that family. They are Called the Dean's. You could also pray for A man Named Brother Somniso, that his heart will be open and that he will have a desire to make the changes necessary in his life to be baptized.
I feel kinda bad after getting all of this stuff about how so many people like my e-mails, but i don't really have much else to say for this week. Other than that I know this work is a great work. That the church is true and Joseph smith is definitely a Prophet who did see Jesus Christ And God the father. And I've been Praying for everyone i Can think of from back home that you will all continue to live the gospel and help those who have been struggling with it.

Love
Elder Jones

On 4/11/10, Brooke Jones wrote:
1. Can you play UNO or marble games or Hackey sack?
2. Is there honey over there?
3. If we sent a present and you got it say after Elder Forman and you part ways would you be able to give our gift to him at a zone conference?
4. Have they done the play or when will they do the Play that you held tryouts for in your ward?
5. Last chance to tell us anything you might need cause its going in the mail this week ok.
Where do I start it was the most amazing incredible week. I can not believe how blessed I am and if I can just stay ahead in my house then I would feel totally complete. Lets start off with finding a note on my family blog with the name of Debbie Forman asking me to please email her so I can talk about our wonderful sons in Africa. That was just amazing. then be told by more then two people that they love love love your letters and how expressive they are about the gospel and your adventures. Thanks so much for letting us share your mission through those communications. Today I thanked Mr Orr for the part he played in helping you to write. He told me he didn't think it really had much to to with him at all. So I send a note to the Mother of Elder Forman and have the funnest connection which I did send to you. I am going to copy your letters and send them to Rhett because he can not access a computer at all and wonders what is going on out there in the world and with his family. You may not think this but you are touching those who have lost their way with your enthusiasm and spirit of sharing the gospel. I am having a great time with Bethany having lost weight and connecting to one of my cousins who runs marathons and paying attention to some of how her Friends do it. I am now going two miles run walking on the treadmill and this week trying to increase it to 4 now if people will just not calling me in the morning. I am still at 160lbs and when Bethany and I do whats called another weight lose round in two week Jadie is going to join us and do it too. I also was talked into finally chopping my hair by your sister and dying it more blond. So everyone loves it and some do not know who I am at first its kinda of funny. Even Nana and Papa didn't get it at first. So Sat I went to my cousins Alli wedding shower. She is Rozans youngest daughter. All but one of her sisters was there and another cousin from a different family was there after it was all over we went and gabbed over lunch and at my Aunt Rozans house. It was so so so so much fun. We talked about everything and when I say everything I mean everything. To reconnect to them was almost spiritual and also realizing that we are all so human with failings and struggles that we each get to climb over and most of all just keep on caring and praying and loving each other through UNCONDITIONALLY. I only wish that all the girl cousins were there and then maybe the boys cousins on another day, but hey isn't that called a family reunion. So we are going to have one even if its only the same ones that came on Sat again we are all making one happen the day after Alli's wedding day in the first of June. We all can hardly wait. Now that the ice is all broken for some of us it should be easier for the others to come we hope. Jadie me and Bethany were the ones that went together up there.
So today Dad and I left right after sacrament meeting and attended a special Monroe Stake Temple Devotional. There were about 500 members from our stake that are temple worthy there. This was held in the top of the temple in a beautiful room called the Priesthood session room. There have only been 4 held of this kind this year for the area that is covered by this Temple. Out of all of those ours was the largest gathering that the Temple Pres. had seen. One of the reasons was to be commended for the Extraction work that our stake had completed this year with over 1,000.000 names readied and then again going over by 500,000 over the goal. The amount of names that were done would fill every room within the walls of that temple including the hall ways and closets with those who have gone on before. For a split second you could feel a presence of how crowded we were and that it was on a no seeing of our humans eyes bases. I leaned and asked Dad, I wonder how many are here right now. This has made it so that their is an amazing searchable online family history record so that members can begin to identify their ancestors. There is still billions of names that need to be put onto the online records for everyone in the world to research. There have been over 300 new or renewed temple members this year alone and that would count you as one of the number in our stake. We were told that Brigham Young when dedicating the land for the temple that he produced a blessing that stated that the area around this temples land would be protected and that the riches or wealthy resources of this land would not be released until the Lord saw fit and it became his will. The Temple Pres. joked and stated that well you can now thank Brigham young for having to work so hard to make a living in this the sanpete and sevier counties. That by keeping these wealthy resources locked away it would keep the people here within from seeking the worldly riches and becoming side tracked into the wrong paths of life. I leaned over and whispered to your Dad and said so I guess we won't be getting any black gold oil in the near future. I do remember praying that it would be found so that we could somehow pay for all that Jeremy was going to cost us and then finally just letting go and having Faith. Did you know that that is the first and most important Power to do all things, FAITH. Read Moroni 7 and verse 45 it is so important. There are 7 or maybe its 8 virtues that are so so so very important to our salvation and Faith is the first most important one. So about that scripture that you want us to return and report on of 1Nephi 13:37. Dad and I would say that for our day and age we must redeem our dead to be a Zion people because we are nothing without them. Along with that of sharing the gospel to all that we come in contact with daily by our example and words and our DEEDS. We were told to pattern our homes after the temple organizations and then there were many sacred things that we can not talk about anywhere but within the walls of the temple itself.
It was a great week but of course I have to redeem the house after leaving the crazy boys to fend for themselves but I guess thats ok too. I bore my testimony today about how greatful I am for Heavenly Fathers family plan. Pres. Cottle asked how you were today and to give you his love. I love you and have an amazing week touching the lives of many people.
Love Mom and the family.

So we have new baby goats and can not wait for warm weather.

C's goats all had babies this year. In fact our little cousin who lives next door actually saved the life of one of the little babies by finding it one morning in the snow all pushed into the wet ground and not able to get up. She dried it and rubbed it and finally got it to drink out of a bottle and then suck on its mommy. I never got a pic with her (it's now her goat. The other photos are our everyday chore life that happens right after school for about an hour. This is farm life with animals to care for.

Easter Sunday the Missionary talks a bit about the Attonment in his life.

1.How do you see conference there in Africa?
2.Did you get three diff rent emails of photos this week Mc, K and Jo?
3. The Atonement is the greatest gift of the Easter season have you learned how it helps you while you have been on your mission?
4. Did you hit your number of baptisms goal before April?
5.Wills Mom went to England so hopefully she will forward something to me. I left a question on her facebook but she hasn't said anything yet to me. (Correction she said something I am lame and didn't look before speaking.)
6. So is the address with the SJ not work to send your emails to anymore? I noticed that it was just your name last week is that correct because I sent the photos to the old one and then realized this morning that I should send it to the other address to day.

1.We actually haven't seen conference yet. All of Africa has to wait until the 24th and 25th to see it because otherwise people would have to stay up late to watch all of the sessions because of the time difference. That is something they just decided recently.
2.I got Mc's and Jo's but not K's
3.Yeah I defiantly have. Everything we teach is based on the Atonement and we study it everyday.
4. We need to get 5 baptisms this month to reach our goal. So far we have 3 on date for this month
5.I'm not sure if this one is a question or a statement So I will answer with another statement.
6.Yeah we all got new addresses because Myldsmail.com switched E-mail systems and automatically assigned us with those new e-mail addresses. The one that you are receiving from now is current.

Well This E-mail is going to have to be to everyone and all the family who e-mailed me. It's great to hear from everyone and see all of the Cool pictures of the family. I would encourage the family to continue to send those e-mails and pictures. But be sure to downsize the pics a little or it takes all of my e-mail time to download them. It's crazy to think that Rhett is in the Military, I hope everything works out ok for him. And as for me things are going great. I love the mission and we have seen a ton of progress here in Dobsonville. The people are so willing and ready to recive the gospel and the members here do a great job in fellowshiping and giving referrals. The Missionaries can't do it without the members. So everyone, although most of you are in Utah, should try and find the Missionaries and help them out as much as you can. This week has been a fairly normal week, and I can't really think of any exciting or dangerous experiences right now. But yesterday Sunday we preformed a whole bunch of Priesthood Ordinance in church so that by the time we were done, There was like 5 minutes left after the sacrament was passed for everyone to bare their testimonies. We Had 5 confirmations, 4 baby blessings(one of which was done by Elder Forman) and after church we had 5 Priesthood Ordinations. It was crazy!!! The rest of the day was fairly normal other then that I guess I was supposed to be in charge because at Zone Conference, President Poulsen told Elder Forman to make me be in charge every other day to prepare me for something so yeah. I'm not sure what that means but whatever. Well Sorry once again but I'm out of time and I wish I could say more but I got to go.

Elder T, Jones

P.S. J, It depends on where you are, Some places are nice and taken care of and others are Kinda Dumpy. I'll have to send some pics of my area and my flat and stuff.

The Lords Temple on the earth today.

Did you know that we get a diploma again after the age of 18 and it's not from public High School. When we receive a recommend to the Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints we have finally made it through the dangerous years of 14-18 years of age and can receive the recommendation of that recommend to attend these beautiful buildings of the Lords. This must be a diploma that is renewed often and we need to make sure that we use it to help those who have passed on and bless their lives and increase our understanding and training in reaching the Lords Kingdom. PRAY ALWAYS morning and night that we can know how to keep our diploma gaining us understanding and increase in the Lords desires on this earth. (parts from a talk given in the Monroe Stake Conference March 2010)