Shall we see a Real Elder Price not a stage Elder Price? Lets compare the Broadway show to real mission life.

So you want some other truth about what its really like to serve in Africa, This is a great article done to compare and contrast the Book of Mormon Broadway Musical to a real Elder Price that serves.

The first part of the Real Elder Price here
The second part of the Real Elder Price here

Loved these stories and wanted to share.

The last letter from Africa

Well, I don't know what to say. I feel a bit mixed right now. I'm
scared to death of coming home, but at the same time I'm excited to
see my family and start a life of my own. This has been the best
experience I've had my whole life and it is now coming to a close.
Last night was my last day of teaching, as Elder Kafeero and I will be
leaving tonight for Gaborone and then at about 6:30 tomorrow morning
we will be on our way to Johannesburg to the transfer meeting. I hope
that what I've done here is of value to those who have been effected,
as well as the lord. I know there are things that I could have done
better, there are mistakes i could have avoided, but in answer to you
question Mom, I think I've served well. I love you all and I'll see
you on Wednesday

Sincerely

Elder Tyrell James Jones

 Dear Elder Tyrell Jones
Its been a rough day, with kids arguing and name calling so I feel like a rung out Mom. We came home from church and hurried to eat lunch and then popped popcorn and made lemonade and drove up to see the huge flash flood that came down because the mountain burned last summer. We also went all the way to the top of sawmill bench and looked at the burned mountain. SAD it will never be a good camping place in mine and your Dads life time again. But there is lots of firewood its just going to be a really messy job to get it. This week there was the flood that left all of shingle creek that did not get burned wiped out now because of the water. It was so bad it almost wiped out Ed Shaws home at the bottom. The water hit 8 feet high in places along the walls of the narrows. Several other places were at sever risk too but in the end all came out safe just alot of clean up which because of the fair our kids are not going to be able to serve in the shovel clean up. Tue. the kids are all to haul the animals in and have the big intro meeting that evening at the same time that's when they were going to have  kids shovel the gardens and yards out of mud that went everywhere.
We have spent the whole week trimming animals and trying to work the not behave kinks out of a few stubborn ones. K has one sheep that is really hard to make walk and Jo's steer is not to nice at times. I guess they will just have to learn fast with the one day they have left to work them.

The night that the storm brought the flood I just talked about Jo and I were washing the steers to start trimming. She looked up and said wow Mom your hair is standing straight up in the air on top. I looked at hers and the same thing was going on with hers. We really quick finished washing and moved away from that spot. The electricity in the air was scary and we did not want to feel it by any means. The FFA teacher had just got there and she was like hey get out of that water. Dad had been on his way over to tell us we needed to quit before something hit us. As soon as we got over to Brock and Jamie's our hair stoped floating in the air.
Mc went to Timberline all week and had lots of fun doing that and will start football this mon. evening. C started but this week will be out because of finishing the steers off. Mc was also made 1st counselor of the Deacons and has to do a presentation at 7am Sunday morn at the stake center. He also has his first game Sat and he is thrilled that you will be here to watch him but you will most likely have to split yourself in two as K will do his horse show and want you there too. Ya your going ot feel like a pulled apart person until the novelty wears off that your here.
I got a message from a young man named Mykel you is thrilled to get to see you this month at a mission reunion called your talk. I am not sure what more to say as the week just flew past so fast I almost did not have time to breath. I have a few of your school books but we will have to go up to snow to get the rest sometime next week. And then we need to start cutting wood because heck its already getting cold at night which is really eery usually we are sweltering when we sleep but not this year to much rain. You will be just in time to bale hay cause Dad is cutting this week and already got the swather stuck in our mini river that runs by the side of the hay. Well that's all from our side of the world give us a few crazy days and we will be seeing you soon.
1.C was talking about that trench coat not the suit coat when he said you had to bring it home. You do not have to bring it home it has already gone through 3 of your other cousins by the time C serves in 5 years it will have lived a nice life there in Botswana serving someone else so not necessary to bring it home. It would be better to choose something else to take around the world, choose something that you can assign that tradition to and then tell the boys what it is when you get here making it an important symbol for C to work towards for when he serves.
 2. Also C said this about the letter question "I guess he does not think emails are letters, but Mom you still better send an email just in case." So this is the last missionary email to you Elder Tyrell Jones because then you will be home in two days.

 4.What more can I ask then have you served well?????

Farm Kids staying busy all summer long.

Jo tried to make her steer pull her up the log when he backs up it did not work so well.

Jo made Jer sit on the little filly who is so friendly. He didn't think it was so cool as it was not too level standing there eating.

Mc is trying to hide that he ate a fresh green pepper and will start on the cuke next.

This is C teaching a steer to lead for showing at the fair.

Is that what we call a bucket head over there in the distance. Picking veggies at the Papas garden spot.

Jer thinks he is so big standing on the old hay wagon bed.

Mc had to pitch fork dropped hay into the baler to make bales.

Z always comes up with something to entertain himself, walking over the plank spanning the mud from the trough line.

K boy wishes that things would lead like the Mary song but that is not to be.

Jo has a steer that is not nice at times so today the horse got to do all the dragging power instead of the tiny girl and was she ever thrilled to take it easy.

They finally all got off the Mt. and are heading for home to be done with the walking of show animals.

Z boy rides a mutton at the 24th celebration and won 10 bucks was he ever thrilled.

C stroking his steers belly to help it stay calm.

He says its his best bud.

C helping to chuck dropped hay into the baler that is not being very nice this season.

Two cuties who are helping to sheer the show sheep to keep them cool so they will get bigger only a few weeks left till the fair now.

ONE WEEK Left for the Missionarys mission time now.

1. Please tell me what happens when a baby is named after me. Sam said they can't do that in
 his mission because they have like three names. A registered name, a house
 name and a street name and it ends up being confusing to them in the end. Do
 people go by that many names in your mission?
1. The baby is just named after you. that's it

 

2.Old question here DO Rhinos really stomp out fires now that your in the land where they live.
2.I still don't know. Rhinos don't just run around wild. They are all
in game reserves.

 

3. C wants to know how much you regret not playing football the whole high school of years your life?
3.I do regret not playing football, but I also saw what it did to some
of my friends who got a bit of popularity and helped them to make some
stupid choices. I'm not saying don't play football, cause you'll
regret it, I'm just saying be careful who you associate with and the
peer pressure you give in to.

 

4. Have you ever played angry birds.
4.I've never even heard of that.

 

5.You need to bring home your suit coat so it can go all around the world
 with the rest of the boys.

 C boy is talking about the trench coat that  Elder Jones took that went with three other cousins to other parts of the world.
5.Sharp!

 

6.Are elephants really scared of mice?
6.also not so sure on that one. but if I remember correctly I think
there was an episode of myth busters about that.

 

7. Is it really hard to convert elephants.
7.Yes, very very hard. They are a bit stubborn and they like to make a
big stink about whether or not the Book of Mormon is really revelation

 

8. Do you want a letter sent to you next week.
8.Well I think if you send a letter now, it will get here when I get there.

C boy says apparently emails are not letters in the missionaries point of view cause that's what he C boy meant as a letter.

 

9.What is the first thing you want to do when you get home.
9.Have a big weekly planning session.

 

10. What is your greatest experience on your mission and off your mission.
10. Can I tell you that one when I get home?

Well once again, this week has been great, and for some reason,
it feels like it has just flown by
Monday was a normal day of preparation and so forth, Tuesday We
had Leadership council in Gaborone, which was interesting due to our
new mission president. It was great, but not the same as was usually
conducted by President Poulsen. I got to see some old companions and
flat mates while there. I saw Elder Makosa who is now a district
leader, as well as Elder Byrns who is also a district leader now.
After Leadership council we had to get some supplies from the office
and then we left for Kanye to start our proselyting. Wed. was a fully
booked day but only our first three appointments kept and the rest of
the day was spent trying to full fill back up plans and find people to
teach. Thursday we had weekly planning, and the Morgans also came over
to inspect our flat. They said it was the best one they had seen so
far, but I'm not sure if they were just saying that. After planning, I
went on exchanges with Elder Oketa in his area. We had a great day
but I'm struggling to remember all of the things we did. We contacted
a few new investigators on his side, On of our contacts was a group of
sisters that all go to a different church. They had alot of questions
for us and we did our best to answer them. I think they will be great
potential for baptism soon. Friday we had a great district meeting at
our flat and it was my last district meeting on mission, as this week
we will be having a zone activity instead of district meeting.
Saturday was a bit like Wed, except we had a few more appointments
stick, and one of them was with a new father led family. The family
seemed open so far and didn't have any argument with what we were
saying, they had questions about what the Book of Mormon is, but they
accepted the things we explained and said they will be willing to pray
and study about it. We also practiced a musical number that day to
preform on Sunday, in an effort to try and get more people to choir
practice. Sunday we had church as usual and we did preform our
musical piece. I hope it has the desired effect, I guess we will find
out on Saturday this week. One great thing about church was we are
starting to see the fruits of our efforts in inviting others to come
to church. We had 8 investigators come to church and some of them are
really great progressing investigators. After church we had lunch and
then saw Lydia and Matlaa, whom we had to move their baptism date,
because they are behind the requirements. Later in the day we saw Bro
Rampou who is very prepared to receive the gospel. You can just see it
in his countenacne, the struggle will be working with his schedule
because he is away on weekends and works during the day. I guess if
Christ can raise Lazarus from the dead he can make it work for Bro
Rampou. Over all it's been a great week and I'm looking forward to this
week as it will be my last full week on mission. Man the time fly's by
and before I know it, I will be sitting at the computer again typing
my final e-mail and prepping to come home. All I can say is that if and
when you get the chance to serve a mission, cherish every moment
cause when your through, your through.

Elder T Jones

 Good Day!!!!
 Elder Sam Owens spoke today about the things he learned on his mission it
 was really great. Trevor Maglby spoke just before him too. They both said
 they felt like fish out of water at the moment. They spoke about wanting
 all your family to be with you in the temple and the attonement. Sam still
 stuggles with not slipping into Protugues but he is slowly getting better at
it. He even offered to stay with you when we have to leave so early to the

 fair shows before being able to get you released. What say you to that??

 I sent a note to Jake about when your talking and would like to send to any
 others that you would like to have be in the know about it. I am assuming
 he also sent that note to you that he forwarded to me this week.

 So there is 100.00 in your account if you need more please tell me so I can
 fix that tomarrow. Also I did a link up story of the transfer suit after
 finding it one day when looking at some africa mission blogs. There you were
 posing for Sister Hendrichsen. I told Aunt Twila and she told Mark they all
 had a great laugh over it but wish that they could see all the signatures in
 the inside of that jacket after this many years.

 I set up an event through facebook so that friends of college could get info
 about your return through Will and thought you would like to know that Sam
 is waiting a jingle from you and Will is too and I have his cell number so
 you can make connection. Also Justin said this
  "I have missed Jones a ton while
 he's been gone. I'm deffinately going to be there; especially since I am
 working
 and can finally afford to do that every once in a while".
 There are several others who are excited for your return including many
 little cousins and older cousins.They were all at Uba yesterday when Uncle
 Jathan brought his boat and we played on the lake. I did a jet ski and took
 C and Z out on it. Then Jo took me out on it. She is one scary
 driver I kept falling off the back almost. Then the fun got quickly ended
 because the wind came up and sent sand everywhere and rain pelted us. At
 least we had almost come to the end of our fun day. Dad of course was silly
 and did not get in the water its just not his thing.

  I have not been running very well this summer so I hope that we can maybe
 make that a goal once the fair is over. The kids can't wait to get back into
 school and football starts for Mc and C this week but Mc will be going
 to Timberline first and miss the first practise and placement of where he is
 supposed to play. The thing that counts is that he wants to do it this year.
 Its going to be a busy week of getting everything show ready and trying to
 clean up from the summer kids cause they are just not good at keeping things
 cleaned up. I have not been able to buy one set of books as the bookstore is
 not knowing what the teacher wants yet. So hopefully we can get that done
 soon.

I wanted to comment on the rough experiance you had last week or so about
trying to teach to the man who did not want to listen except out of the
Bible. At least you left that home with a prayer that will flow around them and will slowly soften thier hearts as they pay attention to the bible. You have done your best and must remmeber that is like people we even love here.
They make many a mistake and turn away and wont let them selves come back to the peace that they can have by beliving in the one good truth Jesus Christ.
 One day they will know that he is the whole truth with the Book of Morman
and the Bible too. You have planted a seed and it will take root maybe
 slowly but it will. That is why we should always be missionaries our whole
 life.

 We are anxious to know what that week has held for you and

At this point in my letter/email my C boy took the computer hostage and asked the silly questions and hit send before I could finish so thats what the missionary got this week. Kinda  funny.