Missionary news go view the Family Proclamation.

Well this week has been really great. Monday was like it always is, with some bonus Appointments that kept. One being a Father led family that we also saw last night.

Tuesday was transfers so we now have some new missionaries in our zone, most of which are new district leaders and their full of missionary fire. Elder Seastrand and i couldn't go to the transfer meeting because neither of us were being transferred, so we had a pretty full day. It started with teaching one of our recent converts about doing missionary work and it paid off because hes now helping us do some fellowship of some of our investigators. We were also doing service that day but we were struggling to be in all of the places we needed to be so we went on splits with some of the ward missionaries. I think it was inspired. It did bring alot of fruit, but we did get accomplished, what we needed to accomplish.

Wednesday we Had our Zone leader Council. All of the Zone leaders in the mission came together to talk about the progress of the mission, and what needs to happen. I felt really good, because i got allot of thoughts off of my chest about all of the things that we are asked to do as missionaries in this mission. Our mission has discussed lots and lots of ways to do missionary work effectively, and lots and lots of ways to help us improve. Well with all of thees inspired ideas, I've felt that many of the missionaries just feel overwhelmed at times, because they can't incorporate all of thees tools that we have. Some incorporate almost everything, but they do it out of a sense of obligation rather than for the purpose they are intended. I have felt that way at times, and so after talking about it, President Poulsen gave some inspired advice. He referred all of us the pg 5 of the white handbook bottom paragraph which says: "you and your companion are assigned to a specific proselyting area. you represent the lord in that area and are responsible for obtaining His direction in carrying out your assignment and blessing the people there." i felt like it really helped me gain purpose and understanding about all of the tools, and so later on in the week we talked about it as a zone.

Thursday was actually a bit hectic, mostly due to crazy planning. We cover two areas and to get to the other (Centurion) it's about 25 minutes to drive. well we usually spend our night on Thursdays proselyting in centurion, but that day we had an early appointment and then had appointments in our main area Pretoria. Well because it's kind of a waste to got to Centurion if no one will be there, we were trying to call our investigator but no one answered. The next dilemma is that if they don't answer you still have to go there because maybe their home, but their phone isn't working or something. Well basically the worst happened and we went and they weren't around. Now the dilemma was we were faced with time on our hands, and we only go to centurion by referral, therefore we try not to do finding there. So we had to go back to Pretoria do some tracting then hit our next appointment. The appointment we had was at a house that we tracted into. He felt like he didn't really want us to share because he already had Jesus in his life. We explained that we are unique and the only way for him to know that is to listen to us. so he agreed, but we had to stand outside his gate, while we talked. After teaching he Reluctantly agreed to have us come back, but never the less did invite us to come and check on him.(unfortunately that fell through) Anyway, then we went to see our Bishop to correlate the mission work, then went back to Centurion. We had 1 great appointment, and then the last cancelled, fortunately the time worked out that we could have correlation right after, then we hit the road home. it was a hectic day but our smiles stayed on our faces.

Friday was FANTASTIC. Throughout the week Elder Seastrand and i Had been planning to have an uplifting, motivating Zone Meeting and we held it on Friday. We really incorporated the things we learned at Zone leader Council. I started by talking about the mission tools that we had and how we can find purpose in using them. Each missionary admitted to feeling the way i did about the tools. so we talked about it and we talked about what it says on pg 3 of the white hand book (our purpose as missionaries) and pg 5 of the white handbook. I feel like each missionary had a better understanding of how, when, and why to use the mission tools and each of them committed to search more diligently for how to use the tools in their own areas. After talking about the tools, we did a 5 Talent report. We read the parable of the five talents and then asked our misisonaries 2 questions. 1) in this last transfer, what have you done with what the Lord has given you. and 2) what do you plan to do, to double the talents you have now. Each missionary shared their thoughts and impressions. And the last of all we gave a report on where we are as a zone right now, and where we need to be. I think that we all went away edified and ready for a new transfer.

Saturday was just a day packed with stuff to do and quite a few cancelled appointments. We also broke a fast that we started Friday after the zone meeting. In which we were doing with an investigator to help him find strength to overcome word of wisdom challenges, and later that night he called us, very drunk, confessing that he was unable to fight temptation. All i could do was feel bad for the guy. Elder Seastrand and i are doing our best, but he's really struggling. He could use your prayers. I've written about him before, His name is Clyde, his wife is also going in for surgery so she could use some prayers as well.

Sunday we Had Three General Authorities in our ward 1 Elder Koeliker 2 Elder Renlund 3. and an area 70 Elder Bricknell. They are talking about splitting our stake and making another stake. So i think they came to do interviews for new stake leadership. After church I Talked with Elder Koeliker and i didn't have to remind him who i was, he already remembered. He said that he's going to be coming there around July and he'll say hi to everybody for me.

When church was finished, we actually ate lunch at the church because we didn't have time to go back to the flat, then after lunch we went to work. One of the highlights was that our investigator families, the Vandak (Faan-day-k) family had us over to celebrate their anniversary. The served us some cake, and we talked about The Family Proclamation to the World and gave them their own copy. It was a short visit, but it was a nice purposeful visit. As the day moved on eventually we picked up The recent Convert i was talking about (Devon) and took him teaching with us. He added allot to the lesson and i think it helped with inviting the spirit.

On our way home, we got a phone call from an Elder in the zone, telling us that he wasn't going to be able to sleep until he could talk to us, because something was disturbing him. So after dropping off Devon we went to his flat and he said that him and his companion weren't getting along. we offered to do a split so we could take care of our call ins and also resolve the issue, but they said they needed to stay together. So we got in the car and drove to our flat so that we could do both the call ins and the companionship inventory. Elder Seastrand did the Companionship inventory and i did the call ins. It was quite a long night, but things were resolved and everybody is happy now. Our next Hurtle is coming up soon, and seems serious, but we'll talk about that s it comes.

I hope everybody is doing well, i can't wait to hear from you, good look and keep on keeping on

Elder Jones

Missionary asks about Family Prayer, Scripture reading, and Family Home Evening?

The Missionary's Questions to the Family.
1. How is family home evening going? 

2. How is family prayers going?

3. How is family scripture reading?

Family Answer: Honestly these are all always works in progress and refinement. There is an ebb and flow to them depending on the mood and strength of the family unit. So we are forever working to be better at each one and some days they are are done with greatness and some days we failed miserably and get up to the next day to work to do them again better the next time. We are not perfect but we are striving to gain that goal which will meet at some point if we try try try and keep always trying to reach that goal. 

1.I want to know what you mean about being obedient? Are you referring to the fact that sleeping is a favorite and hard for you even now that you are on a time zone that agrees with your biological internal clock or is it like Missionary Kathrine Howell says those who are native to the country often act as if the missionary rules do not apply to them?

1.Well I'm kind of confused about this Question, but I can say that I have been trying to develop alot more self control since I came on my mission and I started with making a resolution to be obedient all the time. Unfortunately you have to be with someone else all the time and they don't always want to be obedient and that causes contention. I don't like Contention and I don't like being disobedient so it's alot less stressful and alot more happy when your comp wants to be obedient too.

2.How do you practice listening to the spirit? 

2.We Do Real plays (Role plays) every day to try and discern the spirit, but mostly it just come in teaching and everyday life and decisions. You just have to search for it and you will find it. It's also easier when you don't watch TV and bother yourself with worldly stuff a majority of the time.

3.What are the Internet cafes like that you have to send letters to us from,are they hard to keep the spirit there about you because of the smoke or loud music?

3.The Internet cafes are ok. They are like public businesses so they don't allow smoking and what what inside. None of the Cafes I've been to are actually cafes. They are strictly for computer use.

4. What does it say on pg 15 of the 9:00pm schedule last sentence of the white handbook?

4.It says write in your journal. (I have been writing every night since the first day of January!)

5. Have you taken the time to see when your temple recommend expires? Make sure before you leave Africa that is is in affect with Pres. Poulsen so that you are able to attend here without having to take time to track down the people it will take to get it updated. 

5. I still have until July, then I will get it updated

6.What pictures would you like to see of our family do you have any choices that I could put on next week?

6.Any pictures I love pictures from home

7. Did you have lots of DA's this week? Has anyone asked you to do something that took practice that may have been lost from lack of practice? There is a sister that says she will make sure your fed if you have no DA's have you met her yet?

7.Not really, the ward is really good at giving us food though. We are not supposed to have DA's after 6:00 and that's when everyone wants to do it. The only way is if they have someone for us to teach.

Unfortunately I'm out of time but it's been a great week. I might have to write a letter. We'll see.

Love Elder Jones

 Dear Son and Brother

What a fun week we have had meeting your companions mother over the Missionaries Moms group.As soon as I saw the name I knew I had seen it on the group of the Moms from Africa. I am grateful for those who are willing to share and care about each other in this wonderful world that we live in. And we got see you little flat that sits sorta behind the green roofed house. The boys wonder if the car you have is still blue, that was the color of the one in the google maps address photo that Sister Seastrand sent for us to look at this week. 

This is my take on Listening to the spirit it takes practice every single day coupled with prayer so getting enough sleep helps turn on your ears to hear him loudly at times that you will need his quiet shouting like the time when the car was coming towards me on the freeway and I heard his shout to get in a different lane. 

The alumni wrestle happened this week and the team wiped out Gunnison C did not pin but he had 9 to 4 points on his opponent. I am not sure if you knew that Mike retired yet but can still whip Caleb Young on the mat. The two Willes brothers went against each other and tied up. It was fun to see some of the old guys on the mat. They honored Mike with a legend trophy that they want to start from now on. Thursday was crazy Mc went to the planetarium and then to a region wrestling. The buses made it back from SLC with barley enough time for them to hop in another car and head over to Millard county. He took 4th and was pretty pleased with himself. Of course we had to tell him earlier in the week that he had to finish out the season and go all the way to the end as he is starting to get tired of the practices every night after school. C that same night wrestled in Wayne county and pinned both of the kids he had to wrestle. Every kid on the varsity high school team has qualified to go to state this year. Jer goes around whistling all day now and asks me if I can whistle also. He even whistles in school and when he wants my attention.  Reminds me of someone else that's far away. I did another 6 mile run this week. My friend did an 8 mile run and so I guess this week I better get a move on if I am going to keep up with her.She already has ran a half marathon and she wants me to come run with her. I am a bit scared of it though because I have to talk myself into doing it everyday. Also running outside is way different then inside since there seems to be hills that pop up out of no where when you run outside, which of course makes you breath really hard at times and gets you into a discouraged state for a moment and then all of a sudden there is a flattening and if you kept going then you know that you can go more but if you quit on the hill then there is the talking yourself back into doing it more. This analogy reminds me of maybe how taking time to read the Book of Mormon when your at home and not having to do it can be just like preparing to run in a day but on your mission the time is set aside to do the reading its a part of the assignment. So I guess the bottom line is I just need to set the goal pay the fee and get running so that I am ready to run with her when the date arrives because when its all done I will feel so great. J even went with me on one of my walk/runs around the valley Sat. It only took us an hour and a half where last year it took me about two and a half hours to get around the valley. We couldn't run the whole time because she would get to tired and she had bad shoes on but it was fun to finally get her to go with me.  Tonight Z will be going to a get ready to be baptized class let me tell you he is so very thrilled to be able to go do this.

Please tell us all the new things that this week has brought to you in teaching the truth of all things that really matter most in this world.

Love the family who loves you here.