Harvesting some pumkins in October with lots of cousins from my side of the family.

October harvest family fun on a hay ride to get pumpkins and the orange leaves popping out everywhere. Jer says hey everything is turning into his favorite color ORANGE so he is one thrilled boy. My side of the family got together this year and rode the hay wagon to the pumpkin patch and then went home to eat Chili together. So glad that we have family, couldn't make it without them sometimes.

Dance going even if your on a set of crutches.

Pretty J girl is going to the Homecoming dance. I wonder how they will dance with a crutch in the mix. Later heard that dancing didn't go to well, he is a bit to tall for her to hold him up without a crutch help and they about had a fall over happen.
Riding up the Mountain went better even if he couldn't hike to much. You know all these kids that have to have predance dating. She said dinner was fun and yummy too.

Richfields Junior league Soccer Champions for 2010

Mc's team did it again two years in a row for him and he is one thrilled kids to say the least.

Missionaries Traveling to pick up his Greeni.

Tell us all about the long drive to Johannesburg and your new companion.
1. What country is he from?
1. He is from South Africa
2. How many in his family?
2. 5
3. How long has he been serving? (sorry I ment to ask how long he had been a member)
3. Well If you read the e-mail I sent, I said I was training a new missionary, which means that Thursday, when we got back to Tzaneen, was his first day.

4. What is his name.
4. His name is Elder Rasi (the R makes a Gh sound kinda like in german) He is a Xhosa man. (click this link to learn how to say this and what thier culture is like.)
5. What is it like to drive across that country for 5 hours and then 5 hours back?
5. It is long and it makes you really tired. Especially when you have to go spend the night at the mission home.
6.Well I am wondering also how your testimony feels right now and the growth that you are seeing in yourself as you look back over the last year of being out of the MTC and having given others the truth.
6. That is a very good question. Because I've found that you really have to fight for your testimony. If it's weak than it means you are being weak. If it's strong then you are being strong. And there are days when I feel Super strong, and days when I feel kinda weak. Those are usually the days I have let the natural man take over. I would say I usually have more strong days, but that sounds kinda pridefull so I just realize that there is always somthing to improve. I'm feeling great today because I had a chance to meet with the district and discuss the progress of our goals.

Well it sounds like the week was pretty averege for the Jones family, cars breaking down just when it's time for the snow to start, Kids getting sick, Dad getting called to do surgery... As long as things are going that way then you know everything is ok :)

Our week has been hectic due to transfers, our whole district had to go down to Jo' burg, because one member of each companionship changed. Now we have Elder Jones and Rasi, Elder Palmer and Searcy (both from England) then Elder Lechner and Byrns, Byrns is from Australia. Elder Rasi, Searcy and Byrns are all fresh from the MTC so our district is full of Greenie Fire. The transfer took quite a chunk our of our week, but we are now recovering. We will be having a baptism this coming Sunday here in Tzaneen and the other elders will be as well so we are all on track for reaching our goals. and you might just hate me for this but I am our of time already because I had to read a few e-mails from President Poulsen that took some time so I'll fill you in on everything I can next week,

Love Elder Jones

P.s. I was wondering if you were able to track down all of the e-mails I've sent from my mission, I really would love to have those saved somehow.

What a normal Jones week this has been.
Jer the other day asked when you were going to come home. He said you were taking to long. He even asked if you were eating over there. It was kind a funny that one whole year later he connected to the fact that you were gone for a long time. He told the whole primary that you were eating when they talked about you serving a mission. So we made an apron with cool sayings about missionaries all over it and we are sending it to Elder Makoso so he gets our little Christmas package wherever it is that he went too.
Hearing Brother Holland must have been so inspiring especially as he spoke right to you as an Elder. I heard that he even talked about how to handle life after the mission. Like I have always said if you ask the Lord and remember to do as he would want you to do to continue building his kingdom here on this earth you will be guided what to do when your mission is over. There are always inspirations that will come it just take time for learning to listen and hear what he wants you to hear.
Last year at this time I was complaining that I should just get a job driving the little preschool bus so that it wasn't such a frustration trying to always catch it for Jer. And that they needed someone who could continue on for a long time. You wont believe who called and asked if I would consider being a relief driver for the little bus yesterday. Yep the headstart bus. See the Lord works in the most mysterious ways and it all came about because Burnadean and I were talking about my little run in with the drug thing up at you know where and making money to keep you on a mission. I have had a lot of fun reading the blogs of some of the missionary moms from Africa and just hearing about what their sons are up to. It gives me a little insight into what your up to sometimes. Again I can not stress how you will love your journal so make sure you write in it. I just read through Dads and am going to send some parts to you. It makes a new insight to what he was like back then before life got heavy to carry on his shoulders.
Wed. night K climbed into bed with us and was burning with a high fever when he got up he complained that he couldn't walk and his legs ached and his throat hurt his eyes where watery and yep he had a bad case of strep throat. Went to the Dr. and today Sunday he is finally feeling lots better. Uncle Brock is still laid up this is now going on a month of not being able to get back to work. The only up side to this is that Uncle Jathan has been working in his place for some really big jobs that they bid out up near Vernal and he will stay busy until Dec. Hopefully they will find something to help change this for Uncle Brock. The strange thing is that the guy who was working at the job with Uncle Brock on that job that he bumped his leg on then bumped his knuckle the other day and his arm is now overly swollen and the Dr.s are starting to wonder what they might have gotten on or in their systems that made them react this way.
So today was a very wild Sunday. The kids where so so so may I say it again SSSSSSSSooooooooo noisy. And I mean all of them. I could barley keep the little people paying attention to the lesson. I then found out that I was officially released as a Scout leader for the Weblos and released as a primary teacher. Wow two years and it all ended so quick. But I am sure the Lord will have something new for me to do like sit by Jer until he adjusts to his new teacher. Mc had his interview to be advanced to a Deacon today. So next week when its his birthday on the 31st he will be advanced to pass the sacrament.
Our poor cars today the truck decided to leak transmission fluid and so Dad can't drive it. The suburbans brakes have decided to go all soft and we are still paying for the last time that we had to fix that. J car is driving but we hold our breath daily on all of them. Dad can't decide if we should just go ahead and buy a nice one or a beater that's cheap. We both just keep praying that they will hold together. It has rained for 4 days now and tonight it is supposed to snow. I bet you are burning up there, sorry that you are cooking right about now though I would love to have some warmth. As I get older I seem to like the warmth more and more.
Well Dad this week has been very busy at work and not had much time to be at home. But yesterday he finally got time enough to clean out some of the paper that has been stacking in his office. It didn't last long before he got called back into work for a surgery that was really rough he said.
Well I seem to just be rambling so I had better head to bed and say my prayers for you and your safety and can hardly wait to hear how your week went. Oh yeah mine was pretty good but nothing extra different happened.
Love you and all the kids are writing notes on paper so I think you will not get any emails from them.

The Missionary gets a greenie.

1. C wants to know if you still have enough contact solution or if you can get it there?
1.That is a great question because I was going to ask about that. I have 1 and 1/2 bottles left. Now I'm not sure if that will last me my mission or not so I was thinking maybe another one might be good since I don't know how to get it here.
2. We are all wondering if you are still in that area or if one of you got transferred?
2.Yup I'm still in the area, but Elder Makosa is being transferred and i am training a new missionary
4. Have you had to eat worms fresh yet.
4. Nope and I don't yet plan to, but I will if it comes
5. How careful must you be of illnesses that are in the area around you.
5. Yeah we recently have been told to start taking Doxycycaline for malaria and we have mosquito nets.
6. When will you next go to a conference in Johannesburg?
6. We are going to transfer meeting on Wed so we will be there then.
7. Tell us more about the village and the town church and their differences.
7. Well in the village we meet in a school with just some chairs and tables. and in the Town we have a small house converted to a chapel with a nice podium and soft padded chairs. The thing is that it is growing faster in the village than it is in town because the people are humble there. And most of the people in town are very stubborn and either slam the door in your face or they try to convert you. In the village we only struggle with the language, but we have some willing members who translate for us alot.

Well this week went well, but it seems like everything comes down to Sunday and what happens then. and this Sunday was not so great on the side of our investigators attending. We only had 6 investigators at church and 1 of 3 being baptized on the 31st didn't pitch up. so I'm just a little concerned at how ready he is for baptism. And if the spirit says no then, we will miss our goal for October by 1. Meaning somewhere somehow we missed something important and we've got to improve. The way
I feel about it is that our goals were inspired and the only way we can't achieve them is if we missed something. Of course there is the agency thing, but I don't know. On a good note Modjadji had 5 baptisms this Sunday and that puts us at 17 for the district and 34 for the zone. So we are half way through and we have achieved about half so we are on track. The Lord really does put his hand in the work if you do your part. I think I'm just starting to realize the full reality of that. Mission is the toughest of the toughest and the best of the best times. This Last Friday, none other then Elder Jeffery R Holland himself was in Jo'burg and he addressed us, unfortunately we had to listen over skype since we are 5 hours away, while everyone else got to meet him face to face. It was quite the powerful experience to hear an apostle speaking directly to you and I took alot of good notes. He talked alot about converting yourself which I think I'm going to have to try alot harder to do that........We'll I just got news that we have to travel to Jo'burg tomorrow so we have to go prepare for that. I love the family to much so keep on sending my love. Tell Aunt Bethany thanks for the e-mail, I love hearing from them and I'd like to hear some more from others.
Love you all

Elder T. Jones

The Families stuff for the week.
For some reason Sundays sure seem really hard as of late actually the whole weekend is if C is left to not stay busy. The three oldest tend to never get ready in time so we are late and then they wont sit in the back so we end up out in the hall. It makes for a very unquiet meeting and frustration on the parents. Your letter about getting investigators to church sure made me think today. I wish that the boys would not find every reason in the world to not be ready to go to church on time. It tends to make me love the get up and get it over with instead of church at one time frame. There were even days that you were here that I think I remember feeling this way I hope you feel different about it now as you mature.
The cold is coming in and we are rather worried because we can not get coal because they are not doing the big lump coal because Brock is the one who is supposed to be welding the big grates that are used in the mine and he is still stuck on the couch . His leg is better a bit but not much it is pretty worrisome. Then of course all the good wood spots are burned so that's a bit concerning. I am sure we will make it through Dad is pretty good at getting us covered when we are in a pinch but he has been thinking about getting a propane converter for the stove as a back up system. We are sorry that you are cooking in the African heat. I guess maybe you missed it a bit last year because you never said to much about it in your letters back a year ago. Maybe take a hanky and place it wet on your neck to keep you sorta cool might help a bit.
Not much happened this week really that is note worthy. Well except poor J had to again fix a part in the car, the water pump went out in it and T and C helped her to replace it but it still says that it is not working so there is something that they have missed even though there is no water dripping out anywhere.
Just to update you I have now hit the 135 pound mark on the scale and seen Dr. Pope who was shocked and had my fat percentage measured which should be anywhere from 20 to 27 and mine was 27% dot on. I have only 15 more to lose to be back where I was before Mc was born, but I will not be trying to lose anymore until after Thanksgiving dinner is over. I am getting a plan going to run a 10K not that I will do just that I am following a run, strenght, stretch plan to get to that spot. My goal date is Dec. 4th a friend is running one in Moab but that remains to be seen if I can be strong enough to run by that time. The boys are getting ready to start wrestling and J went and judged horses at Snow College last week. C has one football game left on Tue and then we are moving to the mats so to speak.
All my family got together at the pumpkin patch so I will be getting some pic to you next week as my battery died and the card stuck in it until they are charged. We had a chili dinner after and watched movies on a sheet. It was strange to not have you four oldest cousins there but I guess it will slowly work that way for a bit until changes in the addition of family begins. The hay is finally all out of the fields had to wait until is dried out to stack it and we are getting ready to put the horses out there. The only thing is that Rosie is up to her tricks getting out and stealing grain and destroying the stack again. The baby is sucking all the fat off of her really fast so its not really that bad that she gets eating the hay it just that there is plenty to eat where she is at and she is so naughty about it.
Church news our ward alone has 8 soon to be nine missionaries out in the field. Christina got her call to the Chicago Illinois mission and will leave in Jan. Our ward has the most missionaries out of the whole stake.The scout troop for our ward finally beat the Elsinore ward in doing the most over this last year in scouting.
We are sure in a pickle someone took the keys off the ring that opens the tank on the Suburban and so now we can't get more gas. We are trying to figure out a way to get into it. Know one will say they did it and so we sure are wondering what happened we found it our today on our way home from church when we discovered that we were almost out of gas.
Well we are patiently waiting to hear how your success went this week and hoping that all is well. Never be sorry for asking us to fast. It helps the boys to feel closer to you and what you are doing and hopefully they will be able to figure out what they can do to show others the truth also that they are friends with and to be member missionaries. P.S Sam was just made a District leader and sent to live in the big city. He says he wishes that the people would not be so lazy because then their area could actually thrive and maybe become a better tourist area bringing more money into that area to build it up better. Sorry no updates about Will his Mom hasn't said anything on her blog or her facebook. Maybe this week I will have to ask her right out so I know whats up. He must be getting close to being done but I can't remember for sure maybe I am jumping the time frame here a bit.
Love ya lots smile and have a good week. I am glad I have a son who is serving the Lord. I pray you are learning so much.

Whats the eats and the play today.

When there are 6 yes six boys in the house there is always something that is going on that maybe shouldn't go on. So the subject today the Boys and what they are doing.

The eats, ANTS BUTTS yes that's what I said.

C boy (who is about 14) came home from scout camp having been taught by his cousin no less, how to eat and survive in the wild by eating red and black Ant butts. They supposedly taste like lemon pepper and have tons of protein and make you have lots of energy. So all my little boys age 6, 9 and 12 try it, they actually kept at it for a long time and you wouldn't believe it but they didn't need any dinner and they wouldn't go to sleep either. I laid the rule that from now on it had to be breakfast if they were going to keep that up.

Playing

This is what our old VCR looks like now that they all sat around and took it apart claiming certain areas that struck their fancy. I left it over night sitting there as they whined that they had to go to bed. Thank goodness for school because it disappeared and they haven't said one thing about needing its parts to haul up and spread around their bedrooms.

Here is what two of the little boys did one day while playing even though I had threatened them if they got muddy they would have to go to bed. They reasoned saying we needed a bath anyway. It took me an hour to get them to hold still to be sprayed down with the outside hose.

BOYS they are such a huge adventure.

What happens when you share a tie.

THE TESTIMONY TIE
Elder Bernard Etienne FetySubmitted by Elder Brent and Sister Lorrayne Jameson, Senior Missionaries, Cape Town, SA

Elder Bernard Etienne Fety arrived in the mission field in mid-February, 2010, with Lubumbashi as his first assignment . His tender story of faith and testimony has been world changing for him and many he contacts.

This week when we visited the apartment where Elder Fety lives, he proudly showed us his tie and announced that he was wearing his "testimony tie." With curiosity, we asked him why he called it that. He said that he was taught the gospel in Madagascar by an American missionary. The day they met, the elder was wearing this tie. He said that he gained his testimony from his experience that day.

When Elder Fety was baptized the elder gave him the tie. Now, he wears it to help him as he shares his testimony with others. Last week Elder Fety had his first baptisms ever, five of them. What a great young man! It is impossible not to love and learn from these young, faithful elders!

Why, where, when about tithing and other stuff. Stated by the Missionary.

So lots of questions today.
1. Being a ward clerk can you tell us where the tithing monies are used and how? This is because I am hoping to answer a loved ones question about how and where and why the use for this monies. They think that is pays for the salary of the Church authorities.
1. Well the most I ever see is that the tithing is collected, then we enter it into the computer and it is deposited in the bank every Monday. (I myself does that) the accountant. The tithing is then accounted for by the designated area Presidency then, a council put together by the first presidency quorum of the Twelve Apostles and the Presiding Bishopric. The council reviews the affairs of the church and makes the decision on how it should be distributed. It then gets distributed between the different areas as needed. Examples of use are building of Churches and Temples, Printing copies of the Book of Mormon and other church materials like Missionary pamphlets and DVDs. Also it helps the missionaries who have none to be able to serve missions. All of those things are now paid for so they can be distributed freely to those who do not have the gospel.

Humanitarian to South Africa by our church.

Zimbabwe

Swaziland

Lesotho

2. Have you heard of using baking soda around the windows seals and doorways to let the cock roaches walk through and then lick off their legs and blow their insides up because of the acidic content of their insides.
2.We just had our Flat sprayed for roaches on Thursday so we aren't having much problem now.
3. Do you need me to send you some baking soda?
3.No I can get that here
4. What one thing do you think you will miss the most about Tazneens area come time for a transfer?
4. Well Right now I'm thinking I won't miss the heat. It's about 112 Fahrenheit right now. But I will miss all of the beautiful scenery. And the People. I probably won't be transferred though for another month and a half or three months so we'll just have to see. We find out on Saturday.
5. Who all is writing to you besides us anyone?
5.Usually I get e-mails from President Poulsen. But usually just you. I get a letter occasionally from the Stake Presidency. and if I send to Emily I usually get one from her.
6. Does your companion know about the perpetual education fund for schooling that the Church can provide?
6.Yeah he does, he is planning on signing up for it when he gets home.
7. In what ways would he need help after his mission I am wondering.? After reading about the history of his country and the deaths of just 2009 from Cholera it makes me sad to know yet I do realize that the Lord has an amazing plan to help change his country for the better if he can try upon his return with the Lords help.
7. I'ts hard to say how he might need help. He's led a rough life, but things aren't super bad off for him. He had a small business when he was home and that usually took care of things.
8. So I suppose he has never celebrated Christmas to much and I am wondering if we got him socks, gum, a toy, shoe polish kit, and sewing kit or does he have those kinds of things. They are kind of like what you have too. If you have a suggestion please tell us as we are going to wrap them with companion written on the outside so you will be able to tell whose it is. So if its wrapped then you have to wait to open it ok.
8.No he's celebrated Christmas just like anyone. and about getting some things for him would be nice, but he might leave next week. That's not for sure, but it's the most likely. If you sent the package to me, it would be hard for me to get it to him, But if you addressed it to Tapiwa Makosa then it would go to him. Things he would need.... I think maybe the best gift might be something unique to America. Practical things like socks and shirts might be good, but shoe polish is way easy to get around here. (speaking of which, I could use some extra money in the account for some shirts, but if not it's ok)
9.And there are how many in your apartment? Are there others that are in your apartment with you especially native to Johannesburg or a neighboring Country like Zimbabwe?
9. We have two companionship's in the flat, and one more companionship in the district, staying at another flat making a total of 6. Currently we have two Americans, one Englishman. And three Zimbabweans. But that will most likely change next week.
10. What is Doom?
10.It's Cockroach spray.
11. Is there anything that will make you feel more like Christmas being so far away? Besides hot chocolate and maybe pop tarts?
11.That's a tough question for me to answer now, but I would say the things that Santa usually would bring me for Christmas at home.
12. Do you need floss?
12.no
13. Do you need toothpaste?
13.no
14. Do you crave Chocolate or brown sugar or chocolate chips?
14.Chocolate chips, the Carmel ones
15. Any Christmas idea would be great ok for you and a companion too. please.
15. It's hard to think of Christmas now when it's 112 degrees. I know I'll regret not being able to think of much, because other Elders will probably get that stuff, but I'm going to have to trust your judgement and my companions would like anything you can think of... as long as it comes from the heart.

Well this week has also flown by like a bullet. We've had some ups and downs and we are really struggling to keep our select few on date for October, to focus. I think it will be up to our constant reminders, and their agency if they make it. I realized just after sending that e-mail asking you to fast for us that we are not supposed to ask you to fast for local causes, but your prayers will be appreciated and we will see the blessings come of it. Our District totals are great, I just did 5 interviews on Friday for The Modjadji Elders, and that will bring our district to 10 baptisms this month and if we, Elder Makosa and I, reach our goal of three, then our zone should be on track for bringing 70 souls to Eternal life. We' are trying our best to be diligent and work hard, and we are seeing the blessings come from it. We had a great p-day today, we got to see some of the beautiful views from around here. I'll try to send pics next week, but today there isn't enough time. I can't tell you how bad the heat is killing me right now.... Actually, I could use some sunblock in a package. Sunblock is expensive here. I sure hope I don't develop cancer while I'm here, that would be super lame. So it sounds like you've been talking to some people I know from mission. Is there anyone in particular that you know. Anyway, I'll catch you later. Times up

Elder T. Jones

The Family Note for the Week.
So Dad and I were talking after reading your letter about the letter of the law and the law referring to helping to help missionary's. Dad said it is hard to follow rules and there is the fine line of the law and the letter of the law. Of course maybe it would be a good thing for many ward members to know what should or should not be asked of a missionary. Could be a good young men young women activity some night. C wondered if they were trying to help activate R Wood but Dad said that that should not be their place as a missionary because he is already a baptized member. Even though his family is not members. Today in sacrament meeting the one missionary bore his testimony and he told us that they can do nothing without the members bringing them someone to teach. That they would ask us to please pray to know who we could invite of our friends or inactivates that we could help them to come and teach the gospel too. Brock is slowly getting better but he is so antsy. It has made it so that Jathan was hired to work in Brocks company because the boss was in a very hard spot and needed someone he could trust. The company had landed several big jobs that made it so he had to have someone. The Lord can work in some ways we do not understand from death to illness to war to peace. We are only required to stay faithful and prayerful and excepting and enduring to the end no matter how hard it might be. This makes me think of your companion and the hardness he must face without parents. He has been called to have to return some day to very challenging circumstances but I know that he was called to make changes for him and others that will change the lives of those who come maybe many years after him. I am sure you are learning so much about the lives of people who face so many illnesses hunger and desolation. I think about the dream I had and the telling you of how that land had so many hard illnesses and sadness's to face. You are softly changing those hardness's just because of the light of the Gospel that will lift and inspire amazing changes many years down the road. Your Dad is often amazed that there is now a temple in the land he served a mission in. Not only there but now in Indianapolis which is so close to his mission area. The Lord makes amazing peace come after many storms sometimes. It will be crazy when you are close to 50 and look back to what might be happening in the areas you served. Maybe there will be temples dotting that land too.
This week just went somewhere not sure where but wow over fast that's all I can say. Dad got rid of the couch and Sat. we found another one that was not to much money. It really works there by the TV to not take up to much room and also to lay into a bed so that was kinda nice. We are going to get bean bags also so that we can put them down stairs when its done. I dove the bus on Fri. Wow not sure it will be so easy when the kids are all on talking loud. There is alot to pay attention to especially when making a big turn. It rained everyday this week and snowed in the tops of the mountains so now the fire is out yeehaw because that was so yucky smelling. I ran into Joseph your brother on Martins Pioneer trek at Christensen's and we had a very fun talk. I didn't dare ask him if he had tried to date Jarell again. I can't believe its been a whole 2 years for him. He said to stay strong and wow that you were a district leader and most of all HI from him. Amy Grant is getting married to one of Travis's cousins named Dustin I think. But as to other of your friends I am not sure there are no comments or invites on facebook. There are lots of return missionary friends that would like you to be your friend those are the only ones I think that would be getting married but I don't know because they are not your friends on facebook. Is there anyone in particular that you are thinking about that I can pay attention to for you? Well J is on a date for Homecoming dance with broken legged Travis and both her and C have worked at the ice house. Bullies did higher J on, but only for one day a week until she is trained and I just hope she will do a god job. The ice house once it is full for the winter they shut down until April so I hope she realizes and works hard at Bullies so she can keep the job. C will for sure be picked for the ice house next year V told me because then they can bounce around with all the sports boys schedules. I guess we will have to see what happens come next year though. Today Me J C and Mc fasted that you would be able to meet your goals for the baptisms that are needed within your district. The boys even had to haul hay without having anything to eat and did a great job waiting the eating out. It had soaked the hay bales in the field so we had to wait till they dried out to stack them. The boys said they still felt like 110 pounds instead of the usual 90 pounders. K didn't have the ability to fast yet but he is pretty young. Well I hope you answer all my questions Aunt Jamie and I are waiting to see what we can send in a Christmas Package and so answer as best you can please. Papa sent some ties and Brock also so you will have many to share with others. Also the Mission home will have some come about the 20th because a young man leaving from Arizona is taking them in his luggage to the Mission home. I wish we could do white shirts also but it is really expensive to send stuff that's for dang sure. And never fear we have a big bag of cereal coming to you from this side of America since we found that you do not get that sugar ladened corn ground flavored corn syrup covered stuff over there in that land. Love you keep smiling and working hard the time is flying by super fast and in about three months we will be talking again. J says Hi as she is heading to the shower. Have a great week Missionary. We all love you lots and lots.

Working the hay fields.

They are growing up to be very good helpers this year we did not miss our Missionary as the other two boys picked up the slack and really worked the hay fields. The rider on the tractor is 11 year old Mc who watches to make sure that the bales pick up while the Dad drives a straight line. The two runners are hurrying to roll the bales into straight lines to be picked up by the bale wagon.

Missionary tells how to find why baptism is important.

The Mom Says:

I did ask a question last time I just didn't number it so this time I will number them so you know they are questions.

1.So how are you getting on with your companion?

1. I'm getting along well, with my companion.

2.What is he like?

2. Well this is kind of a broad question, but I will answer to my best. He's my first companion who is shorter than me.(by almost less then half an inch though) He smiles all the time. And he can speak Shona. He loves the work and he is a good missionary.

3.How do you handle all the differences that I am sure you are finding with working with many different young men.

3. Well sometimes you just have to swallow your pride and leave it at that for the unimportant stuff, but if there are things where a missionary is out of line then you have to address it.

4.Is there anything that your companion would need that you have and he goes without?

4. Well probably not right now, because we all get the same allotment and stuff. He would probably need help when he gets home though.

5.Are you still learning a language?

5. I'm trying but I haven't been focusing to much on it lately. It's difficult, because there are so many different languages and everyone has a different idea of how to use them. For example you could ask someone how to say hello in Sotho, and then someone else down the road will say you are wrong and try to correct you. It's tough.

6.So do you see cock roaches there and are they in your apartment?

6. We have tons of Cock Roaches. as a matter of fact we just bought some more DOOM today.

7. Have you eaten the other fruits that you mentioned that were not ripe when you arrived there at first?

7.No their not quite ripe yet. We are getting alot of Mulberries around here, but those are at home too. The Mangos are just now starting to grow, but there about the size of a plum and still super green.

8. Max did the baptism go forward?

8. Max isn't scheduled for baptism until the 31st, he is doing great and his wife said if she sees a big change in him, then she will follow but right now she is sticking to her church. It's good, because we are already seeing a great change.

9. Did his family come with him in baptism?

9.answered

10.Have you ever had to pay for extra luggage that you had with you?

10.Nope

11. How much has the branch grown since you have been there?

11.Well we so far have baptized 7 people. and alot of less active members have been coming to church now.

The missionaries return to our letter:

Yo! that's scary, is she doing ok? it sounds like alot of people are getting sick or what what. I hope Brock gets well. Did you know that most of the world doesn't understand what it means to be baptized, but you can find out from the scriptures. Mosiah 18 is a good chapter for that.

I'll tell you, every time I get an e-mail from home it seems like time is just flying by... WOOSH!!. Hearing about Rhett and Justin and my brothers and sisters in high school doing sports and what what. It's crazy!! and I didn't know Cody was old enough to graduate yet. Time just goes to fast, Especially when every second is measured. I've never had to measure time more in my life then on my mission. From the whole two years, to every month, then to the weeks and then to the days, to each appointment and every second. When you are given only so much time to use, you have to use every second of it WISELY.

Well this week was another really great week for our district and for the area. We had four Baptisms in the district and four Confirmations, Unfortunately one who was supposed to be confirmed didn't come to Church so she now has to wait another week, which can get scary. I was told that our District is carrying the zone so we could use lots and lots of prayers from home and maybe even fasting that we can reach our Goals for the coming months(goals of bringing 70 Souls to eternal life). The zone is at 23 and our District is at 12. The trimester ends in Dec and then we start again in January.

Just to give some advice to the members of the stake. It can be pretty difficult for missionaries to follow the rules if the members don't help them. That is something that we are battling with here in Tzaneen sometimes. The members don't really know what is expected of missionaries so they keep asking us to do things that we aren't supposed to do. So help the missionaries out and learn what is expected of them so you can help them live up to that expectation.

Well I love to hear from everyone so keep sending those e-mails

Love Elder T. Jones

P.S. have you heard if any of my friends or people I know have gotten married?

Our letter to the Missionary

Aunt Twila ended up having an appendectomy she was who was in the hospital when Dad got there on the Sat ( he didnt say that I found out from Aunt Terry). We saw the missionaries that week that you asked and C said they came to seminary and then played night games with him and B and Kes over in Monroe, but he was a bit bugged that all they seemed to do was play and not take their curfew hour serious. I have heard of no one from here coming over there to serve. Many of the new Missionary Moms are having their sons go to Durban and Botswana area.This week has settled into a quiet roll of going to school and me riding the bus, doing chores. Mc's team won the soccer championship again and they got cool dog tag awards with a Pepsi hat. So that's two years in a row for him now. C did a really good job playing football the other night and Kevin Anderson said he just loves to watch him play. It reminds him of when you would play and he was the coach way back forever ago. Hopefully today the fire has been put out because it is raining cats and dogs here. There is a lot of controversy over this fire because they could have put it out and it wasn't done. This spring run of is going to put a lot of mud into the ditches and the pipes which is not going to be very fun to keep cleaned out. The mountains are going to have nothing to hold the dirt together with and so who know what its going to be like this spring. Conference was nice to listen to but hard with these noisy boys who do not want to sit still. When you are praying please pray for Uncle Brock. Uncle Brock is pretty laid up because he bumped his leg and got a huge infection and it has made his leg very very swollen. It has Dad worried it is so bad. Papa gave him a blessing that Nana said was very tender and that someday he would look back on this and understand why it had happened. There are loved ones who do not understand why we do baptism in our Church. Rhett is over in Hawaii now and Justin is almost done with prelaw he has two classes left to go. Cody is down at SUU now to. J will be going to homecoming with T which should be interesting since he has a great big cast on his foot and it still hurts a lot. Well the Cabins are done for the year and so I am so grateful that the Lord provided another employment to help us out. Uncle Jathan has been learning to weld so that he could go to work with Brock but it has turned strange from all that is happening to Brock. He has still been going to work with Brocks Boss which has really been very nice to help them a little bit. We had a huge diesel wreck that was carrying Stoffers frozen meals. It crashed up the Marysvale canyon and it filled everyones freezers up. We took lots up to Jathan and Julie and to Aunt Ambers also. We are also praying for that families loss of their father. We begged Papa to please be very careful when he drives also. Well I think that is all the news for this week. I love you very much and hope that your week was amazing and very filled with the Lords work. Oh ya do not worry about what you need to be doing here because it can wait till you get back. The Lord is taking care of that by teaching and tempering you now while you are serving and learning what he wants you to know now.

Those pics you sent remind me of the little boys all working together to carry buckets of water to the horse and now here you are showing us that the skill we taught here is a very usable skill when serving a mission. HEEhee.

Love you with all our hearts love the Mom