The time is swiftly passing.

1. Are u eating ok your photos looks like your a bit thin these days?
1. Actually I thought it was the other way around. I lost some weight in my last area, but I've gained it all back in this area...Well I've stayed about the same since we haven't had a car.
2. What person needs our prayers the same ones that you talked about in the last letter?
2.Clifford And Elijah that they can come to church. Elwin and Noriah for the same thing.

3. Did you get your car back yet?
3.We have a car now but it's not our car. it's a senior couples car and they have a rental.

4. What was the name of the shoes we got you, are your nice ones that got bit holding on?
4. I have a pair of Propet shoes and some Rockports. the Propet's are starting to get some small holes in the heel but I think they will be fine and the other shoes are ok too.

5. Do you wish for a new tie now?
5.I would love many new ties if that is possible. I've actually had to give some away som my selection it is slim.

Well it sounds like you've had a pretty hectic week. Thanks for the advice, I'm not sure what it is because I'm usually patient but sometimes it just doesn't seem to have an effect. Their all great missionaries though. Well this week has been a fairly normal one except for a few humbling/learning moments P-day was an average day of shopping cleaning and e-mailing. nothing very exciting happened because we are all short on funds until Friday. Tuesday was a bit long, we were walking around the village alot because our appointments dropped us and anyone else we could go see was far from where we were. Wednesday we went to Polokwane for our new lesson training and I hope the Elders learned something from it because I had to teach and I wasn't really sure what to teach or how to teach it, I just kinda got thrown into it. Thursday we had our weekly planning and set our baptism goals for the next 4 months Sept-Dec. (it feels like we just did that for May-August) and time just seems to keep going faster and faster. Friday was the day I was humbled and I learned a little bit about keeping time. We were working in the village on Friday and everything was going well, when Elder Mortenson (Senior missionary and Stake President) called and asked if he could pick us up a little early. We told him yes he could and that we would meet him at a designated place. We only had 1 more appointment and it was very close to where he was going to pick us up so we figured we would go there and then close the appointment when he gave us the call to tell us he was there. As the appointment went on we lost track of time and realized that the phone didn't have any service. After realizing this we quickly ended the lesson and took off down the road, there he was sitting in his car waiting with his phone in hand. We jumped into the car and with the most sincerity I could I said Sorry President... BOOM!! I don't think I have ever gotten more of a scolding than that in my life. And I think I will not be late again.
Map of what is near our missionary. ">Saturday I had the opportunity to go on Exchanges to Modjadji with Elder Hove (Hove-ay), We had a pretty good day and some disappointments too, but that's missionary work for you.

Google Map of Tazneen with blue marker showing land of Modjadji

Modjadji is where the biggest Satanist Rumors are. People drop like flys from the missionary teaching pool, but they are holding strong. Sunday was great, we had 12 investigators at church and some of them came after the first appointment. I sure hope good comes from that. Unfortunately Clifford and Elijah still were not there and we are starting to wonder if they will ever make it. Please keep praying for them. Well that's the overview of the week, One more thing I could say is that I'm going to do interviews for the first time tonight so I hope it goes well.

Some Q's of my own
1. How many animals do we now have on the farm exactly?
2. Can I please get more pics of some of the goings on at home some how?
3. How is Will have you heard much?
4. How is the FHE going with everybody? I still strongly encourage that.

Well that's it, love you all

Elder Jones

P.s. sorry if my e-mail is poorly written, I was having a hard time writing today for some reason.

The time is swiftly passing.
Here goes the story of the adventure of last Mon. after the wild working morning experience. The little boys had their last peewee 4H show over in Monroe. Dad had said that there may need to have gas put into the fire engine truck but I was so out of time by the time I got back that I just hurried to load all the horses and go over to the arena. They did pretty good J went and helped me and Jamie drove separate so that they could go ahead and get signed up. It went forever late and we finally got to drive out of there at about 11:30 pm. I was just rounding the hill after crossing the last canal when the truck just went off dead. I called Dad and he came and we tried to get it to go with a small amount of gas. Finally at 1:00 am he returned from getting gas in Elsinore at the night pumps and we still couldn't get it to have enough to make it stayed turned on even after priming it. He finally hooked the white truck up and pulled me all the rest of the way home with the three big horses inside. Talk about knuckle gripping scary it was a very dark night and I was so afraid I would hit into the back of him. I went over to Jamie's after to grab the little boys who she had fed. J and I ate at 2am in the morning. Dad and Mc had already ate and C was left over at a friends house for a sleep over. My elbow was swollen the next morning from gripping so hard on the steering wheel. I must admit I was glad that that was the last show for the year. School started this Wed. and they are all thrilled to be back except J. Jer feels jiped because his did not start until tomorrow and he was lonely and kept asking where the boys were. When they got home he would say do you want to play dump trucks with me outside to each of them it didn't even matter that it was dark either by the time C got home and done with all the chores.
Rosie is back to her tricks of getting out every day all day long. We finally had to lock her into the round coral and hope that it keeps her there. She knocked the whole end of the hay stack down on one of her out moments. J and Bootsy had just moved from the spot so they were pretty lucky to not get hit. J had just gone down to put her in for the second time that afternoon. All the steers got out into the field one of the days because April had broke the waterline and they were out of water all day till Dad got it fixed. I was amazed that I was able to get them all back in by myself. I think mostly because C has been working to walk his and so it was pretty pushable to return to its home site. J's is a bit more wild but at least it followed the other one in. It is starting to feel cold at night and there is that nip in the air that turns all the leaves in a few weeks to gold and orange and red. Papa brought over a whole bunch of tomatoes and I am making chili sauce over the next couple of days. Or maybe spaghetti sauce. I can't keep peppers around for nothing C and Mc keep eating them like they are apples. They even keep the garden cleared of them. There are so many cucumbers the I am going to have to make some into pickles this year. Its funny to watch those two older boys eat now they pretty much will eat it all except for the tomatoes. Of course Z and Jer are still very pick and stick to the hot dog or cracker foods.
For the last two Sundays now we have grilled outside or C has cooked for us with a grill that Sondra and Chad left for us. C thinks it is the fun-est thing to do. J keeps not being here when we do it. She has been volunteering and so now she gets to work at the ice house and today they had to work also and then she went on a date with Travis to his grandparents farm to watch movies out in the barnyard after they were all done filling the pallets for the ice order. She is not wanting to stay at Hoovers very badly because she hates having to talk to people but the job will end here about the middle of Sept. anyway as their season starts to get very quiet after labor day. I wish that they would hire her at Bullies then she could go there right after school.
C has been doing football and they are really trying to keep him from getting to beat up at a young small age. The football coaches wish he would grow and the Wrestling coaches want him to stay right where he is at. But sadly enough he has grown at least 4 to 5 inches as all the pants he wore last year are very short on him now. He is driving me crazy with all the energy that he has and can take out Mc or any one who we don't want him to hold down of the little boys. K is so glad school started and can hardly wait to sleep out with Dad at Gooseberry.
Well Rhett is being stationed in Hawaii shock of all shock. He was just sure that wouldn't happen. Only about 5 are sent there of new Marines so he was just sure he would go to North Carolina. My cousin is also being transferred to there so Jadie hopes that they will be able to have some family moments maybe.
Brittany Obray and her boyfriend moved into the cabin. Derek Obray got engaged. Cristina is going to put her papers in to serve a mission now also. That will be three out in their family all at one time.
My little bit of advice to D&C 121. Often this is how being a parent is so put your feet in the role of a parent and then think you love the child so much you want the choice they make to be the right one but there has to be correction done. You would never want your child to leave your sight without knowing that they are very important to you even if you had to get disciplining with them. The Savior had to whip with chains to get the attention of his brothers but in the end he loved and cared for them even after his anger at the wrong done in the temple. Learn to put your arm around them when you are chastising them it will help them to know that you do care for them. Of course you have to be careful with this because not all people accept a physical contact in the moment of chastisements. The most important is that the Lord will have Angels whisper the words of chastisement and encouragement if you listen closely enough making sure you do not take it personal when there is anger directed at you. Something we each get to always work on that's for sure. Dad told me I should tell you some advice but I am not sure it was really great advice. I just know this that the Lord is there always sometimes even carrying you through the very hard struggles that we face. He called you to this because he knows you either need to learn or are very willing to learn to touch others and help guide them to becoming better missionaries sometimes just simply by your simple example. I love you your amazing and wonderful. So glad that you are serving your Heavenly Father in the search for his lost children.
Love Mom

Fathers Day what a Day!

1. Have you noticed fewer homeless children and people on the street. This is an issue that has come to my attention from some comments that were made by other people that they just move the problem people out until the huge nation event is over.

1. Well I'm not really sure because I haven't seen to many homeless people on the streets except for a few here and there. You have to remember I haven't been in mainland Joburg much.

2. So do you count a mission start date from the time you leave the mission home or the home that you live in from your birth?

2.You count your mission from the day you started the MTC

3. Some money will be in account soon for warm clothing like Mon or Tue ok. We heard that it can get really cold there at times.

3.don't worry to much about the money for warm stuff now. I got it sorted out and the place I'm in is much warmer then where it was

.4. Were you able to fit all your old and new paraphernalia in your suitcases?

4.Yup, and I condensed everything down to two cases and a crate.

5. Do you long for a hand written letter from us? If so why does it make us seem more there

5.No e-mail is good enough. I do wish that other people would write me letters more often or dear elders or something. P.s. You should ask Emily on facebook if she got my last letter or not because I haven't heard from her in a while now.

6. What is your favorite part of a mission Day. The scripture reading or the exercising in the morn or the tracting What?

6. Well that's a good question. I really like to study in the morning, but you have more adventures when your out Proselyting

Well this week has been great. I am now in an area called Tzaneen (za-neen). It is a five hour drive from the mission office and it is in the top right corner of South Africa in the Province of Limpopo. THIS PLACE IS SWEET!!!!!!!!! It's just like you would imagine the African jungle....Kinda. Anyway. The place is SUPER green and we live in the mountains. Tzaneen is actually a town with streets and a mall and what what, But some of the area we work is a village called Motupa and that is directly in the mountains where there is tons of green trees(mango trees, Banana trees, Litchi Trees, Paw paw trees, Orange trees and a whole lot of others. Only a few are in season tho) and farms and stuff. You would be jealous Dad.

I wish I could send pictures but my reader thing is messed up so I have to get a new one some time, but when I do it will be way cool.

Now as for the work. It's a little tough. We are working in a very small brach with about 30 or so members and a group with about 10 or eleven out in the village of Motupa. The saints here really show their faith because most of them have to walk/or find transport for quite a distance, from where they stay to get to church. And in the Village of Motupa there is a lot of persecution going around about how we are satanists or something like that, but they are holding strong. Soon this place is going to have two booming branches. So far for the week, I've seen monkeys twice and that's about it for cool animals. I guess there is a reserve not to far from here that we will have to go check out that has Elephants and stuff.

I now have a new companion. His name is Elder Makosa and he is from Zimbabwe. He is a very humble guy and is always smiling or laughing about something.

I don't have much to write about yet, but this is just the beginning of my adventures in Tzaneen. I'll send some pics to show you the differences in the two areas.

Love Elder T. Jones

P.S. I hope you had the most awsome of Fathers days Dad!!!......That is after all the crazy horse stuff happend.

The weekly news if I can keep track of it all.

I ran 4 miles and walked one yesterday. Mc did get up and go 2 miles with me that morning that we wrote last and he of course ran circles around me. He would go slow and then fast and then stop and pass me. He is so fast and getting faster as his legs seem to get longer. He is almost as tall as C which is kind of crazy to say because C had grown at least 3 inches and is as tall as J. This drives her nuts, she so wants to be taller but that's not going to happen ever. She did her first horse show and won all the speed events. Big K was gone and I think she's going to be her biggest competition this year. Mc didn't compete and drove us crazy so we made it clear that he has to compete or stay home and babysit because he was so wild that night and helped all the other little boys be all wild too. The next day we rode in a fundraiser for a police officer who died in the line of duty here and they both tied for second place in one of those extreme rides ( which really wasn't that extreme)K won a Bullies dinner prize and J got 59 bucks at Burns and Mc 25 at Pepperbelly's. Hobbles would not get in the horse trailer at the end for nothing and Arab went right in. It wasn't our trailer so we are not sure why he had a spaze attack except it wasn't his. I did the Scout day camp and got sunburned beyond belife. It was the first really nice sunny day to me. We have a garden in the back yard which is all starting to come up now. The new FFA teacher came and looked at J and C's projects for next summer. J finally has a red steer that she is going to show at the fair. C's is black. J is the only one who is doing sheep this year. C told me he wanted to about a week ago and that's just a bit to late since we already weighed the others in at the first of May.

A side note someday when you get to see You Tube again there is the coolest clip that goes along with Jeffery R. Hollands talk Good things to Come, that has your very own cousin's baby as the portrayed baby in the clip. It is about him telling about his family and a hard time and that if you just hang on to the Gospel good things will come some time. Maybe not here on this earth but sometime. It is really inspirational. Duty to God award is a special thing that all the boys and C got to earn up at the camp. Not many earned it but he did. He will have to tell you what he had to do to get it but he was very please with himself for getting it. He said at first he hated the camp but as time went on he adjusted and came to accept the tight rules and structure that they made them deal with. It was not a fun and games kind of camp, it was all about leading and learning and stress too and how to deal with hard stuff in life. He also got to know Brother Jensen at Timberline.For Fathers day we had to have Dad get a rude wakening. C and I had gone for a walk and decided to get the chores done before we went home. When we got there we could not find Kalif and Hobbles anywhere. Khalif's gates were kicked to pieces and pretty much turned inside out and over. All the mares were out. So C started feeding and I went up to the Dairy barn, no horses. All of a sudden there were the two with their butts facing each other and not moving at all. We found them tangled in the fencing gate that attaches to the far field, for Kalif it was with wire wrapped around his leg holding him there and Hobbles almost through the fence with his front legs. I called Dad saying hurry get wire cutters and run down the railroad track. The dumb things were so cut up and Hobbles is going to have to be watched because it wire cut right on his back hock pretty deep, though he isn't yet limping. Then we found a pipe cracked in the basement leaking water all along the outside wall. We all hurried to get ready for church and then Dad shut the water down. After Church you guessed we glued repairs of pipe together. And our lunch meal was cake and ice cream since I had no water to cook with. We had planed to do breakfast in bed but that went out with the horse adventure. Next years play at Snow college will be Seussical the musical isn't that kind of familiar territory.

Well on a spiritual note. C was advanced to a Teacher today and seems lots more grown up since attending Timberline. He actually hopes that he gets an invite to be on staff. And he in the end didn't want it to end as he learned so much about himself. I hope that he will keep reading his Book of Mormon and also help us all to get back into doing that since it has been turned upside down lately. I pray that you are well that you are growing an even stronger testimony daily and that you can see the work of the Lord in your life now and even in the future as he guides and directs you to be a tool in his hands. This of course only comes when you allow that to be a part of your life which I am sure is happening right now for you. I love you very much and hope that your transfer was all that you had hoped for. Love Mom,

Dad says keep praying and learning all that you can.

Can't stand the suspence wondering if you are transferred?

1. Camera card fixed? Do you need a new one?
1. The card works but I have to get a new converter thing to send pics with it.

2. What new thing have you seen that you would never see in America?
2. Well, I've seen alot of things now and I've kinda become desensitized to it so I can't think. But you usually see people cooking chicken legs over bry stands on the street alot.

3. What scriptures did you read that made you feel closer to the Lord this week?
3. Well a good one that I read recently that shows the importance of following what you learn in life was Helaman 7: 23-24

4. One crazy thing that your companion did that you were not expecting.
4.I haven't really been with Elder Bakker long enough to say anything crazy has happened but I'll have to tell you some good stories later on.

5. Where is Elder Bakker from and how many in his family?
5.Elder Bakker is from Idaho. He has a mom a dad a twin brother (not identical) and a sister.

6. Did you follow where the Lord wanted you to go at some point this week, after making it a matter of prayer and or fasting?
6.Yeah we have actually done alot of that lately. We have decided to focus our efforts on Braamfischerville and Extention 2 Dobsonville.

7. Tell us one thing that you miss from home that they do not have there.
7. One thing that I miss Hmm........ I don't miss home! J/k well the things that I miss are stuff that you do. Like horse riding and other stuff you can't do on a mission.

8. So what are you doing with the calling card that won't work over there?
8.It's just sitting in my drawer

9. They post the newsletters several months after to the mission page like the one on now is March so tell us about Benjamin Moepudi did he get baptized or what?
9. Well Bro Benjamin is someone that I didn't really teach, but he was baptized when I was there. He was the arch bishop of a church here in South Africa and he realized some things were wrong. He found the church through his son who served a mission in Madagascar but is now living in California. He investigated and found it was the true Church. Wait for the story it's better.

10. How many have you personally taught and then seen through to baptism?
10. Haven't been counting, and don't really want to so stop asking. But I have baptized people I started teaching. (sorry I was trying to clarify as he asked me in the last letter.)

Yeah it's been pretty crazy with world cup going on but it was mostly during the first game between Bafana Bafana and Mexico. I think a tie was a good outcome especially for the missionary work to keep going. (I have some pics. I will send them next week probably)

Well transfer news came on Saturday and I found out I am leaving. But there is a catch... I don't have a clue where I'm going. Know one does. and I won't find out until the day I leave. I was just told to pack and show up to transfers. I was kind of upset to get that news because I don't feel prepared to leave here especially with a lot of baptisms coming up that I personally worked to get while I was working alone with member missionaries. I was especially sad because of the Diseko family.... MAN I LOVE THAT FAMILY!!!! But there is a great story to tell about them. I hope I can describe how awesome it was in a simple letter. Yesterday, My last Sunday, we set an appointment to meet them. The father had come to church finally and I was way excited about that. On our way there we were discussing what we would teach. Our first plans were to teach about Tithing and Fasting, but we felt that wasn't right so we taught Baptism and Confirmation. It was an awesome lesson and we taught in the dark because the power was out as usual. After the lesson I extended a commitment that had been extended many times before. I said "will you prepare to be baptized and confirmed?" To my great surprise The father was the first to say yes.... Right then and there I was so surprised that I didn't know what to say or what had just happened. Elder Bakker eventually repeated the question and Brother Diseko replied " Isn't that the main goal?" I almost fell out of my chair! After hearing this I asked if the family would like to set a goal to be baptized together and they all agreed to August 8. To make it short we took some pics because I was leaving but I'm so glad that I had the chance to be there for that. It helped me feel prepared to leave and I feel like I've done what I was meant to do here. I'm going to have to continue to pray for them but I know they will make it. Man they have helped my testimony to grow so much. I can't really explain how I feel, but I will definitely be sending pictures home.

Because of time I have to go, but I love you all and keep doing what's right.

Elder Jones

Dear Son who is far away and serving the Lord with all his might sacrificing to find and even grow his and others testimony's each and every day.

WORLD CUP crazy stuff, Dad and some of the boys watched the opening ceremonies, then on the news Fri. night we laughed about an elephant that made the US team late to play because it caused a traffic jam. So it must be just wild crazy over there with all the goings on for the Games. One guy is from the Real Salt Lake team lucky guy. Mc has been begging me to get him a new soccer ball. We are trying to decide whether he should play football or soccer since he is in 6th now. Uncle Shane will not be coaching that team because he has been moving with the team that is in 8th now. I finally reached my goal with bonus of 144.0 I got a new dress for the effort and still can't reach 3 miles running yet but it will come I am sure. Rhett will be graduating Marines next week so I am sending the last letters from the past month to him on Mon. He got the highest honorers for rifle shooting and did apply to be a sniper so I guess nobody better mess with a gun around him. The Jones family reunion is this weekend down in the bottoms but I am not sure many will come all the brothers are gone now of Grandpas and his one sister that is alive will be having a surgery so she won't be here. Supposedly on the 29th is the surgery for Jer again. We will see if they go forward again. We went to see his Dr. on Thursday and he thinks we should see the lung Dr. again just to make sure that there is lung tissue growth after the last three years has passed. I know they won't do a CAT scan because he already had two but it sure makes me wonder if they will be able to see changes on that little tiny xray they usually do. On this Dr. chart he could finally see growth where there has not been any over the last year that we had seen him so that's good. Little K is finally off the oxygen in the day but not at night. They are still being really careful. The weather turned off cold again with lots of rain but Sat I made the most of it and did my first 3 mile run in between rain down pours. It felt pretty good to accomplish that and to know that I can. I am thinking the Milk Run might be reachable now. C leaves to go to Timberline really early in the morning and Mc asked if he could go running with me in the morning so we will see if he can get out of bed to go with me. Brent spoke today in sacrament meeting today and told about his Hero Samuel the Lamanite and how he was often teaching alone. You could feel his spirit as he spoke about some people that he was able to touch while teaching the gospel. He comes to our ward most likely because of Tiffany. I forgot to tell you that her whole family went through the temple a few months ago. Nothing really exciting is happening but next week C will be ordained a teacher if Dad isn't called into work. Remember his Birthday. He won't even be here for his birthday so I wonder if they will make a party up there at Timberline for him. He is really getting good at preparing to camp its been fun watching him get ready today. J is doing the driving part now but I keep having to go take her over in the morning and we miss the teacher twice now. Yesterday K about killed the car by catching the charger cords into the fan belt. We were lucky that he hurried to turn it off when it sounded funny and learned a big lesson in not doing something that is for big people to do. Dads work hours started to pick up this last week just when he was wanting to go horse riding. The little boys did peewee 4-H and K did pretty good. Even B took Star and got her to do some of the stuff. Well we are all waiting to hear if you are staying or going to a new place in South Africa the news should be enlightening to us. Have a wonderful week of spreading the light and keep smiling did your card get fixed we need to see some photos of something new.
Love the Family

J's 2009 year 4-H competing.

HALTER SHOWING!

ALMOST DONE WITH SHOWING HER GROOMING AND HIS STANDING SKILLS!

WESTERN PLEASURE RIDING!

POLE BENDING!

BARREL RACING!

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

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