Mormon Missionary we love you.

Well this week has been pretty exciting I could say. Starting with Tuesday we had Zone leader Council which really helped a lot on how we can better improve our zone performance. Zone leader council took most of the day to attend, but we did have some time to visit an investigator and a member family that invited us for dinner. I'm really excited to apply the stuff to our zone.

Wed we had another interesting day. We had some appointments up to about 4:00, and then all of our appointments after that had to be cancelled because the Assistants asked us to go and pick up a missionary from the airport, because they were going to be in the north east. Well we did as we were asked and we went to the airport and waited a long time until the missionary finally came out of the terminal. We picked him up because he arrived 2 weeks before his MTC date, so until he enters the MTC he is going to be working in our zone with Elder Heward. He has quite an interesting story. He is originally from South Africa, but he has been spending the last year in Utah. He went to Utah looking for his long lost father, Found his father, Found that he was a member of the church, and ended up joining the church as well, and decided to serve a mission. He got his call to serve in the Johannesburg mission, because there actually wasn't any other option due to visa problems. In all of this he accidentally overstayed his visa and got thrown in jail for 4 days so now he is in South Africa early. Story of a life time!

    Thursday was interesting. we had planning as always. And then we had exchanges so that our Investigators could be interviewed for baptism. I went out of the area because I don't quite know it yet, and I went to an area where the missionary has been there as long as me, and that was our only option because the district leader had to go do the interviews.... Lets just say we were a bit lost and we didn't make it to our appointments. The car also started to overheat so we had to take it to a petrol station and get it cooled down. In all of that we did manage to contact some great new people, one of which was a father led family and we set 2 appointments so you can't say the day wasn't a success.

Friday was also interesting. Due to the recent events of Elder Van Heereden's life we had to pick him up and take him to the U.S. consulate building so he could turn in some forms that would allow him back into the United States after his mission. He plans to go back because he has a scholarship to BYU. That didn't really take a lot of time so we were back in time for district meeting. Which was great! The rest of the day went ok. We did a lot of finding and also an interview for some Elders in the zone. It's been hard to be in our own area this week but it's paid off. the Zone just achieved 30 baptisms with a goal of 31 so we were really close to making it for may. I'm sure we'll make it for June with a goal of 30.

Saturday was a normal day apart from when the first thing we had to do was change a tire on our car that had gotten a screw in it. After changing and fixing the tire, we were rolling awesome.

Sunday was great, we found out that we cant use our shower because all of the plumbing is plugged up and whenever you flush the toilet the base of the shower fills with sewage water, so we went over to the other Elders flat to shower and prepare. We made it to church on time and filled the font! As church started we had another interesting experience with one of our investigators named Ral, coming to church completely out of his mind I'm not sure what he was doing, but he was definitely under the influence of something very hardcore, because after a while he could hardly stand straight or stay awake. He kept falling on my shoulder and then waking back up. Finally we had to go out with him and try to figure out how to get him home. It really makes me feel sick inside to see so much self induced pain. He is definitely struggling so keep him in your prayers.

     On a lighter note we had 3 baptisms and the baptism went wonderfully. It was the baptisms of Renaius, Sarah and Tafadzwa. It was a good end to a week. Other than that we are now staying in a different flat until the plumbing is fixed up.

1. Baptisms did they go through?

1. Answered

2. Where is your companion from again?

2.He is from England

3. What is the town area like there?

3.It's a lot like Monroe but bigger

4. Did you need money put in account it should be working for you now.

4.well i don't know if i need money but i could probably use it.

5. Is there anyone that has inspired you while your serving there whether its a member or one who joins.

5.I would say Elder Van Heereden

6. What is one food that you would like to never see again since being on your mission.

6.um..... i don't know. Probably Mgoudu (this is cow intestines)

7. DO you HAVE you temple recommend up to date
7.yes
8.How is the changes with the mission president affecting you?

8.hasn't happened yet

9. So now are you being able to run with the change of place and companions?

9.I'm getting it now

Well that's all i have time for
Love Elder Jones

To my dear Missionary son

I am trying to make sure you get at least one note this week as I am at Beths typing it. The computers at home are having issues so that's why I am thinking ahead as we have to take Dads in to get fixed and we might not have it back in time to write a note Sunday.

I need to know out of those two classes which one you would want of the jump in class, Marriage and Courtship or the Public Speaking if taking the time to drive up there is something you want to do. I have to get the registration on it done next week. It can be dropped up till Aug 22 if you want to change you mind but as of right now one has to be picked and on your schedule before the class filles up. Its not really one I want to pick but I did say that the Marriage one would be the best as a class working towards graduation just pick based on the names and then we will reevaluated as the time gets near.

The kids are done with school today and so summer has started. I hope I can keep them busy. I have decided that I wont work because first I have no car to drive. And I kind of need to be here to referee the kids being at home. Jo and C both are going to be working at the ice house so that xxes me out of a car to drive. I also need to be on top of Jer and keeping him eating. I found out that I still may have the job come starting school because the boy who I sat with will be back on the bus come Aug. So it looks pretty good for my chances.

Well enough about me. We want to hear what your adventures are right now. Now that your in a new spot.

We think we have asked you every question that is possible to ask we too are having a hard time thinking up things to ask. Maybe I need to ask Mark and Chad what they would like to know about you now that you have been there so long.

Well Maybe there will be more letters later this week but as of right now that's it for my computer time as I have got to head for home to keep the roof on since they are all there and most likely doing the swim in the mud or play in the water while they change it since they think summer is here. The crazy thing is there is still all the snow in the mountains to melt and its cool all the time unless we have a really fast snap of warm up.

Love you lots keep up the good work for the Lord. Have the best week ever

Transfered to Germiston South Africa

Dear Family
Well I'm now in a place called Germiston and I'm serving with none other than the Famous Elder Palmer, the same Elder Palmer that was in my district in Tzaneen for 7 months. So far I'm still trying to get my barrings in the new area and zone, but I'm enjoying it. I'm not struggling to adjust to my companion because I already know him really well. We are hoping to have 4 baptisms this coming Sunday. I've already been on exchanges with one of our District leaders and he's a great focused missionary. His companion's  name is also Elder Jones so it was funny because everyone in their area thought I was joking when I introduced myself. Our zone is really doing great on their goal achievement, The goal for this month is 31 and we are at 22, which will probably be completed by this coming Sunday. It's nice to see that we can achieve our goals of bringing souls to Christ. Sadly I am struggling to think of things to write so I'm going to have to think a minute..... Well I've really got nothing, I'm just going to have to wait until I've had a full week here in Germiston and then I'll have lots to say, Lots of questions from you guys really helps as well.

Love Elder Jones
Which one of my cousins is coming home early???

The family news.
So the rest of the news and to answer your question.

The missionary who came home early was one of your older cousins that came home like 3 weeks early to start school and I am not sure who Aunt Carol was saying it was when she was telling us about Trents new job. It could have been one of hers or someone in their ward I am not sure, it was just someone that came up in our conversation because of the school timing and such. Sam (from Cape Verda) comes home in July and is going to be going to school here in Richfield and working is what I have been told so far. Devon well he only writes like one liners so I don't know much except that he is in Main right now and loves being a missionary and is not done until Dec some time. That's all of the cousins that are out right now.  Today was high councilor Sunday. Brother Brady (who also served in Johannesburg South Africa and taught Tyrell is highschool) 

spoke and he talked about education. You should read D&C 88 75 to 79 in 79 it talks about all the areas that we should study so that we can be prepared in all ways. I did not catch the scripture spot but then he said the one that says "the only thing that we can take with us at the end of our lives is that knowledge that we have gained, and based on what we spent our time learning will dictate the levels of the places and glories that we can attain to. He went on tell tell us that it is so very very important to encourage our children to learn and that he is watching a slipping of kids that just want to get by and it is and will affect the world that we live in. It will also affect the quality of life that your family has in the end he stated. He said that often youth will say they want to be a doctor and then it will list out the 4 years of college plus the 4 years of med school and then if you specialize there could be even as much as 5 more years by that time most say never mind I will be to old. But when you reach that age where you would have been when finally done with school are you going to be in a better place if you never started or choose to do something less hard and are you actually fulfilled in what your doing because your still going to reach that age sooner or later. And if learning is so important then why shrink away from it if that is what keeps you healthy (look at note late in this letter on healthy part) and gains you a higher place in the here afters. Not that he thinks the only way is college but that doing and always always learning is so so so important. Of course I think that is the most important thing you can do, continue to always stretch your mind at all times. Interestingly enough did you know that is one of the things that keeps a person from disintegrating into all timers keeps the brain healthy is to try to learn an new puzzle or game and they rehabilitate the elderly that way once they get them on medicine to help combat the issues that can start. one dang important reason to learn right. His was a really good talk that's for sure.

Well school is fast coming to an end and the kids I hope I can keep them busy. The weather is so dang weird. It has literally rained for a whole week straight Sat was so sunny and then today back to black dark thundering storms. Its so wet we cant plant and the river is scary. The bottoms at our house are a total river now. All roads closed to Annabella except one and its even getting risky. Because they rebuilt our bridge in down by Mills our road is ok but all the new fencing and rip rap that we put in in 2005 and stuff is going to be soon ripped out as the debris keeps hitting it. I watched a huge tree going down the river the other day and hope that its not off our banks in the bottoms. The snow is not even melted at all as a matter o fact it snowed more in the tops and the ski resorts will be open until July they said. Pictures don't even do the mess justice.

I will send some soon as I have finally gotten them all cleaned off Dads computer so now I just have to off load the camera.

We are also all holding our breath as there is a really bad virus that kills horses that got brought from Canada to a show in Ogden and if they find one horse in our state with it then they will have to cancel all shows and that sucks cause the state show was to be held here at the Blackhawk and Jo has every intention of winning and being there no matter what. Cristy also had a baby and is it a beauty they named it Coco. It was born on the 17th.

Just so you know Dad did send a Birthday letter but when I looked to see if you had returned a note to him I came to realize that he had somehow deleted instead of sent and he has not gotten back on again to fix that. Please know that he tried but I am not sure what happened because he did the whole thing this time without my help except setting him up.  

Well where are you in that huge land and tell us our adventures for this week. We love you lots.

Love Mom

Oops we are running out of question ideas after these many months. Heck after all this time we need ideas give us some.

Happy Birthday to the Missionary!!!

So this week has been a good week.
I'm not going to have time to write much, but I would like to ask some q's mom. Which of those Classes listed will be required for me to take and which ones will help me be on track for graduation? I spoke to my Mission President and he recommended that I start school as soon as I can and if that means October then so be it. I just want to be smart about it and know how to schedule it right. Give me some details on how things might work out if I was able to do all 12 credits. Whether it be both online and at school or one or the other. Cause I'm not sure if I got it clearly. I really enjoyed that Mothers Day phone call. I think if anything it helped me to focus alot better.

Anyway, let me give you the weekly rundown.
As you know we had zone conference on Monday so I sent you an e-mail on Tuesday and the rest of Tuesday was p-day so we only had a few appointments that night. Our first was with a member family that we have been trying to get involved in inviting their friends to Church and just be missionary minded, it was a great lesson. We showed some missionary DVDs and then talked about how important it is to have investigators who have friends in the church, otherwise they are likely to go less-active or inactive. Sister Klopper could totally relate because that is how she still feels. She is partially inactive and she just feels like she doesn't fit in with everyone else. the church is a lot different then the church she used to attend. Either way I think things are going well now because their whole family came to church this Sunday and it's usually only Bro Klopper who comes. After the klopper family we saw a nice little family that is excited for baptism(the only thing is that as of yesterday they are no longer in our ward boundaries so we won't be teaching them anymore it will be the Mamelodi Elders.) They are in the beginning stages of being taught but their great.

Wednesday was also great, we started off by visiting two different members and trying to get them engaged in just getting to know their neighbors and it's working because one of them told us a whole lot about one of his neighbors that he just decided to go and talk to. I hope that leads to baptisms in the future. Later the day went well and we decided to do some Business tracting (If you don't know what that is please ask because I'm not sure if I explained it) and we set up some appointments from that. later on we went to the Van Dyk family to teach their neighbor who was progressing well but sent us an sms yesterday telling us that she didn't want to participate anymore, I'm not sure why I guess will just have to find out from the Van Dyk family tonight. After seeing them we taught another family that is now out of our boundaries, Chriselda and Ishmael, and that also went well.

Thursday was our weekly planing just as usual so straight after planning we got lunch and then went of to do business tracting again, it also proved successful. After a long while of business tracting we Visited the Baldwin family and we did some missionary work with them. They have recently giving out some Church DVDs so we were talking about the next steps that they were going to take to continue helping their friends learn the gospel. After that appointment we just did some running around trying to visit past contacts and do some finding because our night appointments had cancelled.

Friday was great. We attended District Meeting with The Soshanguve district and I'm not sure if they were really prepared because it was very short and we talked about things that we had talked about before so I don't know. After DM we got lunch at Subway, which is rare in South Africa because there are only 14 of them in the whole country and it turns out that there is one around here. After lunch we did more business tracting, and then taught Chriselda again. I'm not sure what happened but her husband dodged out on us. After Chriselda we visited the Van Dyk family to see Lina again and it went great so I just dont' understand why she doesn't want to see us anymore.

Saturday was mentally stressful! It's week five of the transfer and on the Saturday of week five we get the news about who will be leaving and staying and who will be getting leadership calls and what not. So I was on edge because there was a definite chance of me leaving, and a slim chance of me staying do to the fact that Elder Hatch goes home next transfer. So it was in the back of my mind all day and finally when we got the call it turns out I am leaving. Where I will be going I don't know, but I know I will still be a Zone Leader. I leave on Wed. so you will find our where I am next week. Anyway the day was full of tracting around and checking up on old contacts, o yeah and a member invited us over for dinner and cake since it was my Birthday. Elder Lechner also bought me some Birthday muffins and left them at the members house for me to pick up. I did where the glasses, but not all day.

Sunday was a good day, we had church and I gave my departing testimony, after Church we had Lunch with the Vermulen family and it was awesome because they had invited a nonmember to church and he also came to lunch. He is one of the Daughters driving instructors and I guess she talks to him about the church all the time so he wanted to visit. I tell you it's just that easy to invite someone to church. The lunch went well and we got to know him really well. He's Defiantly prepared to have the gospel in his life. After lunch our next appointment that kept was with Bro Aubrey and his family, unfortunately Bro Aubrey didn't want to join us so I hope everything is ok. After Aubrey we went to an appointment to find no one home so we hit our back up plan and found a family to teach. The family is a family from Uganda and they are not currently going to church, they accepted the invitation to come next week so I hope that goes well. That pretty much ended our night as well as the week. We came home did call ins and I flopped on the bed to go to sleep.

2. Tell us an adventure that you had this week.
2. Well an adventure would just have to be as shown above.

3. Please fill us in more on what your Pres. said and about the come home early thought that I presented because of school?
3.He just said that he doesn't like the idea of missionaries going home and having time to waste. So he suggested I enroll.

4. What is the thoughts of psychology coming up for these days based on that you talked about in the phone call. What made you start talking to companions and flat mates about it for? Is it because of the Zone Leader position that you are in?
4. I will have to explain that one another day, but it's not just from being a Zone Leader

5. Did you read that cool talk that I sent you it is so good to be able to share with new members on ways to grow closer together in marriage and family life.
5.I haven't yet but it's sitting on my desk ready to be read.

6. Did you ever read the scriptures I sent yet?
6.Can you send them again I can't recall that right now, Sorry I love you

I love all of you and I'm glad to know everyone is doing great.
Elder T. Jones

Mon, May 16, 2011
HaPpY BiRthDaY you are now grown up so they say! How does it feel and we hope you wore our party glasses all day long just kidding. 21 or did you even remember that is was your big one and that it was that day of days?
Answers About College online when you get home.
 These classes are all online done at home classes that you will start as soon as you sleep and then wake up you will have to work hard and fast to catch up but the teachers seem to think you can and for sure if you keep missionary study a part of your life you will be able to. Permission has been given to start a month late if necessary.
Now I want to know more about what your Mission Pres. said to you about going to school because one of your cousins came home early so that he could enter the school date on time and I did not know this but it is an option if the end of mission is so close to the start of school. You of course would need to pray about that and maybe decide before the Pres. switch happened but you would still need to live at home as I can't get you into the campus classes they are filling way to fast along with the fact that you have no place to live. The jump in classes for Oct. are not working and are not enough credits to cover all for the use of the grant money which is a requirement. Most important Dad wants you to be here and start fresh in Jan on campus as he says "your going to have a hard enough time just adjusting to coming home and doing school bam as soon as you hit here unless you arrange to come back earlier to start the online classes and then you still will have to adjust and I guess because it was really hard for him he thinks it will be really hard for you too". Also call it selfish on all of the families parts but we just can't stand the idea of you going right off to school and not being with us for just a little bit, Jo said today that she can't wait to have you here and just do things with you. I would say that Dad is the one who keeps dropping hints about it the most whenever the statement about doing the jump in classes came up and you leaving so soon after getting home. But he is more ok about the fact that you would stay and do online class work before leaving to head off to school on campus in Jan. He is nervous that you will need to really focus and work fast though but he wants you to not wast education time as it can really affect how long it takes to get through. I hope you can feel the love at the moment and not the what the heck they are all trying to keep be from growing up and leaving if you get my drift.
Saturday we spent cleaning and cooking and moping to have dinner with the missionaries that ended up having crossed over planes so we told them to just come get the food they could have it for dinner tomorrow as we were supposed do dinner tomorrow after all the mix up but then they couldn't because of correlation meeting. They never showed up to get the food so we are not sure whats up with that. Early in the morning we did weighing in sheep for 4H for K first time, Jo is doing a steer and a pig and C is doing only a steer and Mc wont do any of them this time. We got a new ice cream maker so tonight we spent making homemade ice cream with our hand crank gallon mixer. T came and a friend of Jos called Mari. I think they had fun but it took a very long time to make the stuff. The river finally is overflowing the banks and the whole bottoms is under water with the field starting to slowly look like a new lake moving ever closer to the house. I will send pic soon but the computer has so many on them that we have to either get sticks or cds and burn them off before it crashes the drive. Jo and C are whipping through their online class so far. Its kind of hard to get them to settle down and do some time but all I have to do is tell her that T can not spend time with her and then she kicks in to gear and then C out of competitiveness gets caught right up fast with her. I wish he would do a Spanish class online as he and even you (a language) need to do that for college graduation stuff. The online school has plug ins that help you learn the language maybe when he gets done with this one which is finance stuff. Oh I think Dad hopes that you can help him pour flooring in the basement so that we can get heat coils down there, he all of a sudden is like it has just got to get done. He to is thinking of doing an online class with math to start getting his degree finished.
Well that's all the news for the week, Love you will all my heart and hope that you have the greatest week ever, that maybe you can teach a new person or help someone grow more in the gospel and that includes a missionary or yourself.
i love u tyrell love jer jonesqwfkrnergelkgjgxzzxcvwkejc3lkutj54rwe;6hy4fkj3mre5g4mtrekgjm4kfhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh,
bhffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggg yep typed by him love jer.

How Could This Happen To Us.

Not one of us are going to get away from struggles within this lifetime. Some of us have to face ones that seem harder then another. But when we take the Lords hand and we hang on we can and will make it through the hard stuff even if we end up with scars in the end. We must help each other be accountable and heal to the end. Be saved, atoned, forgiven or pay a price whatever the outcome that is what learning and teaching and helping will get us. Do not shut a door and keep from communicating it will only hurt you in the end. Please go to these links and learn then teach others so that we can all be stronger in the end.
http://ldsmag.com/index.php?option=com_zine&view=article&Itemid=3&ac=1&id=7948

Motherhood can have many rewards but every once in awhile there can be a blind side that no one would want to face. With tools we can learn to be stronger and help our little ones so that they can be safer or willing to talk. Tools help us to react with love not fear, peaceful intent not anger. Bottomline we can know what we need to do to make a difference in this struggle if we get tools and that's what this article can give us. Please read and learn and then teach someone else.
http://ldsmag.com/family-connections/article/7960?ac=1
http://somesecretshurt.com/

Do you want to learn SeSotho an African Language?

Here is a link to be able to learn a little bit of one of the many languages spoken in the land of Africa.

Just hit the link and enjoy the trip to a new tongue.

http://friendsoflesotho.org/files/puo_ea_sechaba.pdf

To learn what the other  many tongues that  are spoken in this vast land  please go to this link to learn more here. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_South_Africa

Missionary info back and forth.

1. So can you send us some chocolate in that gift box I assume you are creating? I have been learning about chocolate and found that the higher the what is called cacoa content of the dark kind the better it is for your blood pressure and cancer prevention and stuff like that but of course all in a balanced moderation. What is bad for you is the amount of sugar it takes to make it drinkable.

1.I'm actually struggling to get that package together. I just struggle to find time.

3.Did you get our birthday package yet????????
3.Nope

4. We prayed all week and hope that Brother Abouray has now opened up about his conncerns.
4.Well I think were making a little progress but not much

5. What kind of shoes are you running in?
5.Just Tennis shoes that I got from Elder Seastrand. The souls are falling off though

6. MOTHERS day call what is the plan please? Skype (I guess lots are now using this route) or is it using up our min with the number that we call though. Dont forget to give us all the routing numbers please.

6.Ok so mothers day call. Devon was trying to contact you concerning the phone call. But I have the Info worked out now. I will be expecting your phone call at 6:00pm my time, I've been struggling to figure out what that will be your time so if you could figure that out. I hope you still have the Phone card thing because we didn't find anyone with skype. 
TO ADD TO THIS FOR OTHERS MOMS READING THIS. Make a time booklet that you can send with your son that he can refure back to what time it is in the USA or other contry he came from because after awhile they can't remember how to convert from where they are at to where they need to be calling to. JUST SAYING.

7. They have again changed our addresses out here so write this down because as of May 20th it will take affect but for a year stuff will be delivered but you still better put it on whatever you come to need to have any follow up mail after the 20th.
Crazy Jo said could this be the reason that I never know my address, it always seems to be changing.
7.Not Again that's 4 times in my own life time!

8. Can you tell us the address of where you live now so that we can google earth it and see it?
8.I'm actually not sure of my current address, but it's only about 30 mins from my old place.

9. Z wants to know if you see mosquitoes where you are at?
9.Yes Lots of them sometimes, especially when I was in Tzaneen.

10. Tell us one scripture that impacted you this week.
10.Well i have one but i can't remember the verses

11. Is there anything that us that family should do to help you more on your mission? Like more letters to you by hand or, what about your songs on your little ipod is that still working for you.
11.I think I'm ok without songs and stuff

12.Maybe do you need hand held pictures is that important what please tell us.
12. the Pics by e-mail are great

13. John Bytheways do you still listen to them that we sent you?
13. I actually haven't carried those around much.

Ok my stuff from the Missionary

1. Mom could you sign me up for Private Violin classes at Snow? If there are any deadlines for the January semester at least.

2. And maybe a Choir class or something.

3. I would also like more details about school, if there are anythings I need to do before I get home that would be much appreciated.

So as for the week, Monday was a normal p-day,

Tuesday Elder Hatch and I had to go to Kwaguqa to help resolve some District Dis-unity. Issues. We went and sat down with them to talk about what has been going on and Honestly it just seemed like no one was communicating their frustrations to one another so no one could make good enough goals to get over the problems. We sat them down and made it possible for everyone to communicate their feelings and set some good goals. The last we heard, things are going well now. We made it back a bit later than we expected so we had to re-schedule some of our appointments but we made it in time to see a new Family the Elis family for just a few minutes and then head off to see Bro Aubrey. It felt like there was a little bit of tension in the room and the lesson didn't really lead to much because of it.

Wed Elder Hatch and I had a pretty long day. We started out by going to another Business to share a scripture with them and we got there and stood there for a long time and no one let us in, eventually we went back to the flat to do our study and start the rest of the day. The first thing we did after study was to take some big banners and pamphlets and books and dvd's to a little shopping complex and just try to talk with everyone. Most people just ignored us and the people that we did talk to, don't even stay in our area. Sheesh! after an hour or so of that, we just decided to tract when our first appointment came around they weren't home and the rest of our appointments cancelled as well so we spent the whole day tr acting. Luckily in all of that tr acting we did find 2 new Father led families and we have appointments with them so I'm excited for that.

Thursday we did our planning, and we got to correlate our efforts with the new bishop, He's a great guy! and I think he's really going to help the work.

Friday we went to district meeting and then had some great appointments. We Took the Van Dyk Family to an appointment with us to help the Kapp family feel comfortable coming to church, as well as to help them overcome their addictions. It was a really positive lesson, but the Kapp family still didn't come to church.

Saturday I had the privilege of going on Exchange in Sunnyside with Elder Udy, the one who sat next to me on the plane ride over, We talked slot about how our missions have gone so far and about a few of our plans after mission. We also had a great day of finding and teaching. Unfortunately, when I got back to the area Elder Hatch had some bad news for me, He told me that the Nkwashu family, dropped us, The thing is that it wasn't even their family that did it, but it was Bro Nkwashu's Father, whom I guess is a pastor. He brought the Book of Mormon's out and said that they weren't going to leave his Church. It didn't really seem fair because it didn't come from The Nkwashu family themselves so we are going to let the steam blow over and then check back on them.

Sunday was a great day most of our appointments worked out and the ones that didn't, we had some good backup plans that did work out. We saw a new family that is going to come to church, and we taught Bro Aubrey again and this time it was a lot less tension. over all it's been a great week and I'm excited to hear from you all on Sunday. I hope things all work out. If there is anything you need to tell me concerning the phone call, Just get in touch with Devon.
All the best,

Elder T. Jones


Good morning Son or whatever time of day it is that you look at this.

One of the most important things stay focused and centered in Christ this is the most important time you will give your all to him and his cause with no interruptions from life's pulls and strains.

Newsy news

So I sent forwarded that email that Nana sent but I am not sure that you can listen to the music on the computers that you use so if it wont work just know that its a beautiful song about Christ.
Sunday morning at 6:00 am my time I got a facebook message from someone who is in Afria and I think the name is Devon??? but the message would not load so that I could read it correctly. I caught something about my missionary son doing well and a phone call on Mothers day but then could not read the rest on my phone. When I went to see on the big computer I had somehow deleted it off my phone and I am really not sure how I did it. If this is a person who you know please tell them I am sorry about not getting the message and so that brings us to the conversation part of Phone call. So could this person be someone who was trying to tell us their skype info to be able to speak with you someone that you arranged with? So also at about that same time I got an email from Elder Jake Seastrand and asked him if he would know who the person was with a last name as that part was not visible to do a search and resend a message back. After thinking about it for a min I got to wondering if it was the new convert that you mentioned with the name Devon so now I am just waiting to fix because I do not know his last name to even search if it was him. Technology maybe really great but sometimes it can frustrate the heck out of ya.
We have been supposedly supposed to get new phones for a switch since ATT bought out Alltell since Sept. and finally I had to ebay buy a new used phone to keep going. They still have not turned our phones on even though they are sitting here waiting to be used and last week my phone decided to stop working other then just allow call-es to come through. Now all of a sudden yesterday is starts to work again. So I was trying to clean all the past stuff that had loaded up with the messages and stuff that seemed to clog it all up when the message on facebook was coming through and that's how it got cleaned off along with the fact that I got the worst case of stomach flu all weekend so I was a bit on the foggy side of not having a clear thinking brain. So glad that the flu has passed on by now. I hate being sick it makes me even more grumpy then normally every day grind of things can in the grumpy category.

Well you remember the year Jer was born and how we watched the river come up the field in the plow line that Dad had made? Thank-goodness he has not made one this year because we are pretty sure that that lower field is going to be really buried in water and we really hope that the fences stays standing when it all gets done. The rivers are flooding over everywhere the gravel pits out towards Jotown hill are already under and filled to the top. The bottom of the Gays fields have already been covered and they have been cleaning the canals out really deep to be able to hold the over capacity that is needed. Some of the ski resorts think they will be open until July there is so much snow pack up there. Every weekend we are plagued with snow and cold. It is really not feeling like spring here at all. This weekend has been no different and Dad had to fix the heaters because one was leaking all week so it had been turned off. Its cold enough that he had to turn them all back on again.

C played his last soccer game they did not win but he had fun and being with cousins made it nice to. Mc will have games for a bit longer because they just got going with there season. Jo is getting antsy and she has been working with the new little filly she already has her leading and can put her leg on the back of it. C needs to work with Pharaoh more because he is just way to antsy having to much of Junes scared blood in her. We are going to hopefully get a foal out of Christy I sure hope it will make a fast runner that can be broke to barrel race someday. The boys all went and got a horse today to ride as they were boared of being in the house. At least it is warmer today then it was yesterday. Yes you can tell that we all slept in because the Mom did not get the people moving to go to church having been sick in bed. Everyone on my side fo the family went to Idaho to help Grandma and Grandpa clean house and clean yards. They are not doing every well physically and so they needed some extra care. Along with the fact that Jathan wanted to have pictures taken with his little twins. They of course saw both sides of grandparents. We have not a car big enough to fit us all anymore so we did not go. Brock and Jamie did not go because Bry was sick like me and their dog got kicked by Cristy and broke its hip so they are nursing it back together. Amber also did not go because of the cost and stuff like that.

The Jones side are all at a supposed warm spot that we were maybe going to drive down to but not now that I got sick so we are missing out on all the fun family things going on. You will not believe how big these boys are all getting. All three of them share their shorts around and shirts. They also just changed the wrestling weights so that C will wrestle 106 next year. He was a bit miffed because now it will make so that the line up stays the same is how he put it. You will be shocked at Jers gift for gab and oh ya i think I said this but he whistles all the time now. Loudly too and it makes him mad that he can't do it in school. Z told me last night that he wants to be a doctor when he grows up or maybe an artist. He had to get glasses as he can't see the chalk board. He picked out with the help of Jo and C some really fine lime green framed ones. At least they are black on the rims until the ear side and then they turn green. I was not there because I was on the bus at the time. When I load pic again I will send them to you.

I need to tell you a few thoughts that Amber and I talked about. We started talking about the art of acting and the learning ways. I am not sure if I ever told you this but one of the reasons that we wanted you to go not to Ceder City was the influence in the theater dept. Let me preface's this with saying that yes you can find evil or shades of it if that is what you are looking for. But a person had told me that Snow verses Ceders departments was worlds apart in that one was small and not as exposed and Ceders was way more worldly and not one that should be attended if you were not secure yet in your strength of the gospel. By the time a person was a return missionary they would have decided what side they were going to stand on when attending the Ceder departments theater school. Yes this person is very educated in the two different schools and their take on looking out towards the worlds views and choices. So that's one of the reasons Dad and I would say to go to Snow. Anyway Amber and I got talking on very worldly ways in order to work the craft of theater. As she said it, lots of political writings with always a sexual innuendo to get it over to the viewers. Lots of the people are there because they didn't make it on Broadway and its then next closest thing they can get to. Anyway that's just one more reason for me to push the fact that looking towards Provo, UVU or BYU and doing Hales theater might be a good thing to be open to along with being a good influence support to C when the time comes. Aunt Rozanne still wants people to come live with her remember when she said that to you?
Anyway that's about all for the news I am going to try getting Dad to write to you so I better not take up to much room gabbing about stuff that's not really important.

Love you have a great week.

Love the Mom

Weighing the show steers in with SNOW!

We awoke to lots of spring snow and coldness. Draw back, the two untrained show steers had to be loaded and taken to be weighed to know what the gains will become over the next few feed out months before the show. They were pleasantly surprised at how good they were weighing in by this date in the game.

That was way easier then we all expected.

The cutes pinky girl ever.

We were happy to see our cute cousin niece there girlying the gates to the shoots.

T watching the steers move below him in the  pass to the scales.

C boy thinking come on already the wall is not going to eat you steers move it.!

Pushing the steers through the gates into the shoot weighing scales. Yep that's one cute girl of mine with C boy standing  n front of her and the one holding the yellow prod making  them move forward is our niece. Of course lets not count out the handsome side wall prod man getting the steers to move on down the path, he is mine and no one else's.

Pretty girl Jo,T, and Z an K boys sticking their lovely tongues out at me. C boy is watching them be goofy.

What a big bunch of farm kids not even caring of all the muck around them.

Now be nice an load up again to head back home.

Yippy three more months to grass feed and pack on the pounds and then make some big money to put away for college. Jo and C look like it just might  be lucrative in the end.

Botswana trip, & the wearing of the pass around suit.

For the Questions,
1. Do u drink chocolate or eat it or have it powdered since its grown in that country or is it a product that seems to be only for the very wealthy?
1. There is a ton of chocolate here and it's not expensive.

2.Last week his question was he wanted to know if a brown suit was his cousins that he left in Africa when he finished his mission and the answer is.
2.Yes the brown suit was worn by Elder Mark Owens from your own home town and he is your cousin. He is amazed that it is still around so take a day wear it to a meeting and then pass it on with your name signed inside he says its tradition.

3.Tell us what it was like to see Botswana the land inside of South Africa, along with your adventure to drive cars there??????
We hope there are some pictures to go with that trip that you took to Botswanna.
3.Well the Botswana trip was cool, I'll tell you a little about it in the meat of my e-mail

4. Brother Aubery what has happened we have prayed all week for him.
4.Well this week, we haven't seen him since last Sunday, but we will be seeing him on Tuesday night. He still seems to have some hidden concerns that he doesn't fully want to talk about so it's hard for us to address them.

5. What do you think of the info about driving busses as a side job.
5.I really don't know. Um.... I never though of myself as ever driving bus for kids but you never know.

The Elders letter
I can't tell you how excited I am to hear that they are doing Beauty and the Beast at Snow. It's actually making it hard to think right now. (in highschool Tyrell was Lafou and he loved being that crazy guy.)

Anyway lets start with Monday. Not much happened then but we had a good p-day and got some general stuff done like cleaning and shopping and stuff.

Tuesday We started of by going to The Paul Nicol's home for handicap people and we organized a massive service project, for our whole zone to come and paint a part of the place it should be pretty easy with 20 missionaries so it's going to be great. and as the day progressed, we went to our appointments. it seems like we've been struggling a bit lately because alot of people have dropped us and alot of people aren't committing. So Elder Hatch and I have been filling up our time with trying to find new people to teach. Tuesday was full, but everyone except for Benee and Maria and The Baldwin Family (both member families). So we did some finding around and actually found a good family, The Groenewald (pronounced with a dutch accent) family.
Wednesday I was on exchanges with Elder Ramahefarivo (from Madagascar) We got to go to an employee meeting for a store called Clicks, and share a message from the scriptures about unity. After that the rest of the day was a bit drab. We set up some posters produced by the Church in an effort to stop people as they walked by and talk about coming to visit them, and unfortunately all of the people we found were not really in our area. after about and hour of that, the Elders In Kwaguqa (Kwa-goo-[click with your toung] and say wa) Telling us that there was one of our investigators in my area that needed to be interviewed for baptism that was to be this last Sunday. So after finding where he was we went to go and interview him. We had made a plan to meet him at a toll gate on the N4 freeway which was about 30mins from our area. we got to the toll gate and called the investigator who said he was on his way. After waiting another 30mins we called again and he said he was having trouble to find a taxi and that it might me another hour wait. I realized that we weren't going to be able to to that so we made plans to see him on Saturday. After getting back to the area our 4:30 appointment didn't show up and our 6:00 appointment cancelled as well. so then Elder Rama and i drove to Sunnyside to switch back with his comp and my comp so that Elder Hatch and I could pack our things and drive to Jo'burg for the night.(because of the trip to Botswana the next morning). Finally we got to Jo'burg and we packed our things into the medical flat for the night.

Thursday was the day we drove to Botswana. We woke up at about 5:00am to get ready and we were at the Mission office by 6:30 to receive instructions and to load up to go. The purpose of the trip was to pick up 12 mission cars and drive them back down to south Africa before we had to pay a fine, because the cars are registered in south Africa. So what they did is they loaded us up into two vans for the trip up and then we had to drive the cars back. It was a long drive up, but a longer drive back. To give you some details let me tell you some numbers. There were a total of 12 cars waiting for us in Botswana and a total of 6 companionship's and one senior couple making 14 of us in total. So to get back to south Africa we had to drive back the 12 cars plus the two vans.......so do the math. OK each of us had to drive our own car WITHOUT A COMPANION!! I'm going to tell you that was one bazaar experience. We were put into groups of four to be sure and stick together. It was me Elder Hatch (my comp) and two others behind us. I was the only one in my group that hasn't served in Botswana so I was right in the middle. The drive was honestly one of the weirdest things because I had no music and no companion to talk to.So I realized how weird it was to talk to myself after having not been alone for the past year and a half. After a long drive we got home and the deed was done. Unfortunately i didn't get to see much of Botswana because we just went in and came out, but I can say I have now touched ground in three separate countries.

Friday we had a Zone meeting and it was great, we talked about our upcoming goals for this trimester, and I got to say a few things that I enjoyed in General Conference, about Being and Doing.

Saturday was hectic because we had to drive all the way to Kwaguqa which is about an hour drive and do that interview. After that we came back and started our own day which was mostly finding again. At 4:00 we went to Sunnyside to do another interview and then got back to our area. to finish of the day

Sunday was average, we had about 2 investigators at church, Benee and Maria's Neighbors Finally gave in and came to Church and then the day went on from there. Please just keep praying for us that we can find lots of good families to teach and Mom keep up the good work on setting me up for school. Sorry I haven't had the chance to reply to you yet Dad sometimes I just don't have time to say all that I want to say.
Love Elder Jones

The families newesy news.
I am to tell you that our bus driver says you really should start the CDL training when you get home and be on the sub Bus list with her hubby training you because then where ever you go you could be a sub driver especially if you go to Ceder City because there is a huge turn around that happens there with young drivers graduating and leaving to do real life jobs. You have to be 21 so in a few weeks you will be just the right age to start training and have a side job that is not to expensive to get into either.

Working on getting you set up for school when the time comes. After talking to Will live in person( info to follow about what that means keep reading) he said the same kinds of things you were saying that acting could be sorta of a dead end job type thing and so he was looking more towards the angle of teaching drama in schools so that he could actually make money in life, and he did say a mission sure changes your views of life and what you might want out of it all in the end. I am going to add to the fact that with much prayer you will be guided if the Lord as a set path that he needs to you be following just make sure you listen after you talk to him about that path.

So (brakets info meaning read on) lets get to some crazy news notes. First I ran into Will Casper at Snow when I went up to see how I could make school work for you at the point you come home in. He said he had just gotten a letter from you. Also to tell you that he would be trying out for Gaston and hoped that you would try out for Lafou in the January production to be put on at Snow. So I went in to talk to Dr K  who was standing near Brad Olsen when I found them and they said to both write them an email note that I can send to them to make them aware that you desire to please have scholarship's within both possible departments. I am thinking based on Brads statement that he may be hoping to pull you over to his dept. possibly. Brad also said to make sure and tell you hello and that it would be really great to have you back again and to have some more crazy fun like running you into the wall in a wheel chair.

Family news: The river is getting higher and higher because of the vast amounts of snow and how cold it has been staying. The kids set the tent up in the bottoms and then slept there one night but the next night Uncle Ray said that he had raised the river level again so we would not let them stay down there. Its amazing that they did not freeze out because it was really not that warm of a weekend. Nana had an Easter party that she planed that we held at Bethany house. They had to find eggs and they had been hidden really good so they had a hard time finding them. They played pin the tail on the bunny and it was so funny when C did it they fliped the bunny drawing upside down so that there was no way that he could get near the spot that the tail should go. They fliped it again on its side when Jord did it but he somehow got it smack on the right spot even with the eyes covered and hands tied behind his back. We were all laughing pretty hard over that game. Well there will again be a son of the hospital staff going to Johannesburg. The Bastians,the lady who once cut your hair and are in Jadies and Chads ward son just got his mission call there to Johannesbug but he will not leave until the week you are arriving here.
Love me all the family too.

Zane Jones
i love you Have you ate or seen misquitoes? How many people have you baptized now?

Are you doing good on your mission? Do you remmeber how old I am? I lost my front tooth a few days ago.Bryce is also loosing a tooth too on the same side as me.

Have a great day did u gitr preznts yet?

Love You lots jones zane