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.

Missionary made a district leader for Tazneen

1. Have you had to use your converter very often?
1. I only use the converter when I send pics. I just got a new one with the money you sent so it should work. I just sent some pics with it. I hope it lasts though because it is cheap.
2. What kind of exercising are you doing is it only soccer?
2.I actually haven't played soccer since I got here to Tzaneen. I usually just do some push ups and jumping jacks or what what when I wake up in the morning.
3. When will you be going to another zone conference.
3. That is an absolutely good question, because I'm not sure. The mission just sent around an e-mail saying that the missions all over are changing, and we will only have ZC 4 times a year now. We will be going through some new teaching skills training that they are implementing into the MTC's. so I will have to wait for transfer news to come out, so I can know that.
4.How is Beverly progressing?
4. Beverly has been baptized!!!!
5.What is one new tradition that you have learned about while in Tazaneen?
5. One new tradition.
6.Please tell us a small story that your companion has told you about his country that borders the area you are now in.
6. Well alot of people here, actually almost all people here speak Sesotho and I have really been trying to learn as much of that as I can. Tumela-hello, Leeki-How are you, Rona, I'm fine...
7.Do people sing on the street like they did in Soweto?
7. Just me and my companion.
8.Mc wants to know if you have eaten grub worms like in the pictures we saw before you left?
8.I have eaten only one, but it was dried and tasted like Cardboard. I have yet to eat them prepared as a juicy meal. But I fear I will regret that day.
9.What are the houses like in the village?
9.You will see a picture of one in the pics that I sent.
10.Are there flowers there and what do they look like can you take pictures?
10.Well that's a good question. There are some unique flowers here but not many many. I haven't taken any pics of them. By the way, did somebody enter my photos in the fair?
11.Did you get Emily's letter yet?
11. Nope I haven't gotten any letters in a very long time.

Well I'm going to make this e-mail short even though I have alot to say. With Sister Beverly we managed to set an interview for her this week and she passed with flying colors. I baptized her and I almost fell. She is a big woman, but she is defiantly converted. I would say you have to be to have gone so long and finally realize that you can't make excuses anymore. It was a fantastic baptism and we had 83 people at church, that is a record number here. It was a fantastic Sunday. Now for earlier in the week, Saturday morning to be exact, We received transfer news because transfers are coming up on Wednesday. Well this phone call was from President Poulsen and he was calling to assign me as the new District Leader here in Tzaneen since our District leader is leaving. I sure hope I can cope with it. I am grateful for that e-mail Dad it has really helped me alot I have realized a little through out this week that things are going to get really stressful but I can't let it get me down. I am only just one man...Young man and I can only do my best, and if I'm doing my best that's what the Lord wants. Thanks Dad so much and although I'm meshing all of my writing into one letter because of time I really appreciate you alot and if makes me feel like a load of pressure is gone whenever I hear from you.

Sincerely,

Elder T. Jones

The Dads letter this time.

Hi Bud
It's your Dad. It sounds like you have alot going on in your new area with being the ward clerk and teaching new branch members how to organize the congregation. At the same time you still have to keep up with the missionary work. It appears to be a daunting task to perform. But, I know you can do it. The lord has great things planned for you. He will not ask anything of you that you can't do. The more you learn, the easier it gets. Learning is not always in books or the scriptures. Although they are important. Sometimes the best way to learn is by doing. This can be stressful with so much responsibility, and you can do it. I know what you are capable of. Listen to the holy ghost and follow the promptings he gives you. Pray always, and follow his guidance. You will not go wrong.
Some times your companions can be a little challenging. If they come from areas or cultures that are different it makes it even more difficult. Learn from them. Everybody has something to teach and to learn. Don't get discouraged, it only slows a person down. Be positive at all times and take on a good attitude. It is amazing how much your attitude can effect your success.
On my mission I converted three people, one of them was me. It isn't import how many people you baptize, it's important how many people you convert. Stay in tune and the spirit will lead you to the people prepared to hear the Gospel.
Things are speeding along on this side of the world. summer is half over and thing's are so busy we haven't taken much time to enjoy it. Between the hospital and the farm we don' t stop moving. I'm sure mom keeps you up to date on what's happening but life is always crazy in such a big household. Tomorrow your mother is going to run in a three mile race on the 24th of July milk run. She has been training for about a month now. Since she has lost so much weight she thinks it's time to get into shape and start doing things. J found that Hobbles can run and now is barrel around the area. She is also doing the tecky thing at the high school again with the plays. I didn't know they did plays during the summer. But what do I know I'm just the father. J is broadening her circle of friends which is nice.
I'm trying to learn to e-mail so my letters will be more frequent. Its a challenge I plan to master. I have to go now but I will try to be better at writing more often.
Love Dad.

K's letter to you.
How is it going and how have you been? I can't wait till school starts and I got new cool shoes to wear but Mom won't let me wear them yet.
I have been going to church lately and it has been a great time. Krista was here from Texas and substitutes taught my class today.
I love you very much Love K


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Moms letter now.
One of the Moms of a missionary leaving to go there on Mon. said that they have read and reread all our questions trying to learn what they can about being a missionary there. So thanks for being such a good writer son
I am just writing about the family going ons I promise that letter was your Dads but I had to let him go through my email. I am going to slowly teach him to do it through his. It was pretty funny watching him, it took him forever to type out I thought that it was going to be like the longest letter on earth until he had me do the spell check and realized it wasn't but he put lots of thought into what he wanted you to hear. Stay happy and at peace even if that area is tough you were sent there for a reason one I know because you are such a bright light of happiness to those who do not know truth just make sure you let it shine and not your frustration. Sat. night J ran the barrels in Scipio. She didn't win even Big K didn't win. But they had fun. Aunt Celia told us that she had just been talking with Brother Kolicker who is home for 4 weeks to meet with the brethren and you came up and how you had spoken with him a few times. He said now isn't he in Tazneen right now? She was unsure what the place was called but said yes he isn't in the city now. Brother Kolicker said that is a very tough place to be and he will do a very good job with his attitude for that place. So he still remembers you and your light and that your will have an affect just because you let it shine there even if know one yet comes to the waters of baptism. Just serve your fellow man humbly and happily and you will somehow touch them. Chas Hathaway was in the township Seshego and he also says he is so jealous. They would go over to Tazneen because it was in the same district is what I think he called it. He misses Africa. Dad's first comment about you and hiking in the jungle was "don't, especially if your companion doesn't want to. He would know first hand and it most likely would not be safe and safety is the most important for you whether that is spiritual, physical or mental. He didn't write that in his note because he wrote several days after we got your letter and most likely forgot that he had said that. Also maybe feeding the monkeys isn't a very good idea as what if one of them bites you. So he doesn't want you to do that either unless Elder Makoso says its an ok thing". Sorry I am sounding bossy Mommy, it's just that I love you lots and it's what I do. This week was a wild one. I had had enough of the boys not cleaning a thing up and making it slowly worse. You couldn't even get in C and Mc room plus there was a tube of toothpaste from a camp bag that got stepped on over and over into the carpet but it was under so many layers who would have known. Also tent was laid across the laundry room to to long. All privileges to go and do were suspended until a huge list of put back together got fixed. They didn't believe me the first day and dragged every job out till J ended up missing Tec and that she was supposed to do plus losing her phone C also lost his phone but didn't bring it to me and they ran away. C and her walked to do the dog kennels. They then walked to young mens,womens and it was Bishop interviews. C insisted that he wasn't going to be going to the temple outing because of football starting so he started for home and J went with them to do the interviews. She came back way humbled. C walked all the way home so he had gone all the way around the valley. He had to get up at 6am and do his jobs to make it so I was willing to take him to wrestling came the next morning. But he did it and the room can finally be walked into and the toothpaste is cleaned up. The white truck took up time again and kept me in town and not finishing the cleaning up that was needed but Mc and Z really went to town cleaning. J even did and said "Mom I vacuumed like you do" which it's about time. I have managed to still run about every other day so I am ready for my race goal. I have always wanted to run in the Milk Run I think because Twila did and I thought well if she can I should be able to also. That was a lot of years ago. So I have finally done it. Aunt Carol at 61 years of age ran with me and came in one sec behind me. I had my phone out and was looking at the time that I had crossed and she was right behind me and said what time is it and my clock had changed just before that. She kept right up with me she slowed and then would catch up and slow and catch up. I just had to keep the steady pace I never really stoped except to gulp a drink at the mid point. I had a hard time catching my breath at the bottom of my lungs which really bugged me finally at the half way point I was able to breath deeply the whole last part. I took 3rd place for my age group I was not the last by a long shot and I ran it in 33.53 min which is faster then I had ever timed myself. I felt pretty good and I got a bronze medal out of it. Then I had to turn around and walk the whole main street route with the cub scouts. Its a good thing that I have been sometimes walking up to 6 miles with running. I must admit my legs were tired, pavement is harder to go on all around. Well today both Russell and Kathrine did their farewells and leave on Wed. for the MTC one going to the Kathrine to the Ukraine Russian speaking and Russell to California. Well I can't really think more what to say mostly because I want to hear what you have to say I personally love to hear from you and all that you are doing right now. I am going on a walk with your Dad now and we sent swimming for family home evening and it was Dads idea the kids loved it.
Love ya son

The Lord works in Many Ways.

1. Lennie how is he doing almost ready to be baptized the day after the biggest Pioneer Celebration that Utah can muster, did you remember that was a Utah holiday?

1. He is going to be baptized this coming Sunday.

2. Please buy the card reader we want to see pictures of you again.
2. I can't afford a new one until I have about R120, that equals about $17. If you could help me with that it would be nice.

3. Did you move out of your apartment this p-day?
3. No we haven't moved out yet, but that is a good question because I haven't been thinking about that much this week and we may need to find out.

4. Did any of Lennies friends make a baptism commitment yet?
4.Yes they did, and we are now teaching one of his friends whole family. Unfortunately one of his friends fell subject to the false rumors about satanist and has been dodging us lately.

5. Chase Hathaway served in the township just over from
Tazneen and told a story about monkeys and being curious have you had any come close to you and be curious about what you might be doings?
5.Was the township called Lenyenye? I have seen monkeys quite a lot around here but they always run away from you when you get close. I ll have to try and feed them

6. Have you gone on any P-day hikes in the jungle yet?
6.Nope I haven't and I'm not sure when I will. I would love to do it but the problem is that it is kinda dangerous and my companion wants nothing to do with it.

7. Now the boys wonder if you have seen giraffes up close?
7.Yes I saw Giraffes the same day I saw elephants. I have plenty of cool pics to send

8. Faith must be tried to be called faith tested. What do you think about this saying that I heard the other day. Any thoughts about how our family was faith tested by Jer's birth?
8. I'm not sure if that is the exact quote, but it kinda makes sense. If you have faith but nothing ever tries it then it hasn't been tested much.

Well this week has been an interesting week with a lot of frustration at times. But this Sunday was a great reliever of the stress. There is a lady who we have been teaching named sister Beverly. She has been taught for about 6 months. She was doing everything she is supposed to, to gain a testimony except one thing. and that is to pray. Every Sunday she was coming to church and she was participating a lot in Relief Society activities. But every time the subject of baptism came up around her so did all of her excuses. Since I have been here, Elder Makosa and myself have seen a lot of changes in her and she started to progress closer and closer to the goal but still until recently she has struggled with the idea. Then Yesterday, we came to her house at the end of the night to talk with her and I told her how frustrated I have been this week. She started to quote from the bible in an attempt to cheer me up and she was saying something about how the road to God is a rough one and the road to Satan looks nice and easy. As she was saying these things it was helping me, but I was only kind of half listening. As she talked she started to mention how great a day she had had and how she had loved church. Then out of now where she said..."and I'd like to be baptized next Sunday"... At first Elder Makosa and myself didn't think much of it, but after going over the statement again in my head I asked her to repeat what she had just said. After doing so Elder Makosa and I almost fell out of our seats. She said that she had heard about the mention of Lenny's baptism coming up and it made her think a lot about it. She said she went home and knelt down to ask God if that is something she should do. She said after praying she had never felt so good and so sure about something in her life and she has decided that that is what she wants in her life. We ended up changing the lesson for the night and instead just shared our testimonies. We told her we would make sure to review some things with her and then schedule and interview. She accepted that she might not be baptized next week, but would wait until she could be interviewed. What an experience! it just goes to show how powerful prayer can really be. I encourage all of you to continue praying about the truth and really come to know for yourselves if the church is true. It is our testimonies that drive us to live the gospel and do what is right. If we can each have that spiritual witness to the truth then when our faith is tested, we will always pass the test.

Well, I love all of you and hope you are doing your part to learn the gospel, nothing comes free, especially the best things.

Elder Jones

The Family says.
Wow if life slows down I am not sure what we might do around here. Maybe I should go backward with the weeks happenings.

J isn't eating again this Sunday morning, this time the sticky mouse catching pad was set by the stove top and it finally caught the dang mouse that somehow is getting on the top of the island. 13 years in this house and that has never been a problem and this summer we can not get rid of them. She said Mom are you trying to starve me two Sundays in a row and I can't handle it. Heehee. evil laugh at least it's caught now.
Arrived home late last night from an afternoon at the Smith family reunion. Photos were sent of our family doings there. Drive was eventful the car had an awful smell and all of a sudden us in the back yelled we wanted out because it smelled like smoke. I have never seen little people haul out so fast. For some reason there was oil spurting on the engine and making it burn up causing the smoke. Dad never did figure out why and Darren, and Golden stayed behind us to make sure we arrived home safe which we did or I guess I wouldn't be writing this to you. When we arrived at church today Darren came up and said it's the strangest thing.
When we stoped to see what was wrong with your car I asked Dad -Golden to look at the 4wheelers he was hauling and check all the tie downs. He had the big 5th wheel that they haul hay on and there were like 4 or maybe 5 plus a dune buggy and a mini bike strapped on. As they were looking at why our car was shooting smoke Golden found that one of the big huge 4 wheelers straps were broken and not even latched on. If he had pulled to the side
Darren was on the wheeler would have rolled off the trailer at that point but there was a hill so he had gone off the opposite side of the road. Can you imagine that wheeler coming off and someone hitting into it in the dark of the night not to mention the loss and cost. Well we went ahead as they I guess retied it down and we ran into the worst wind and storm we couldn't even see the road for a little bit. By the time they got to the storm it was most likely not the worst of it and didn't blow the high trailer over and they did have a bit of rain to have to see through. We may never know what danger was prevented but I felt a thrill run through me of confirmation that there must have been a reason to slow us all down as we were traveling home. The car never blew smoke again and we got home just fine. I also realized that at that time you would have been doing your morning study and prayers and so maybe what words you spoke protected us also. Darren even said that he had kept feeling that he needed to check the 4 wheelers and hadn't yet but that gave him a moment to stop and say hey Dad you look while I help them. J got to drive the team of Belgium's and had a blast and then they let her and K get up on their huge backs. She said ok I will just stay here all night. We thought her Hobbles was a really tall horse. Those are monstrously huge.
Fri we spent doing the water at Whites and shoeing the horses so that Hobbles will run faster. J had a barrel run of 16.4 and is going to do the rodeo at Scipio on the 24th. So the horse had to have a nail job. Wed and Thur the white truck kept me stuck in town trying to get little things fixed on it so it could be inspected. Tue and Mon is a blur and to many things happened in between there. Tonight I had to go help Sondra pack the last of the things into her car so she could go to Chads military graduation and they are moved out. It's strange to see the cabin empty and wonder if another honeymooner will get married and move into it soon.
C spent the whole week up at a place called Camp TIFEE and loved it he swam the mile and only one leader beat him. Brother Howell said he must be the energizer bunny because he just never gets tired. We went up to the reunion and him and Mc proceeded to spend the night again 6 nights of camping for that boy. J says you need to answer her note and that she loves you lots. Everyone has there eyes on her and the Bishop gave her a hard time for walking down town with holding a boys hand and then the next day he sees her riding bare back down the road in town. She was so embarrassed she wouldn't talk to him. He said it's ok it's natural and laughed she still was all goofy about being teased. Ron Brown called and was happy to hear that you were out serving the Lord he thinks your a great kid. Well the summer is hot and very raging busy for the next three weeks. Parades rodeos and showing lambs and then quiet peace because school will start and then its time to get wood and harvest the garden. The time is flying by faster and faster it it just amazing to see it that way. I love you lots and can't wait to hear the weeks adventures. Oh ya Dad says we are going to all go for a family Home evening Horse ride tomorrow since he is going to be home early for once this week. They have been going over time which is a blessing because there for a little bit he was getting worried that we wouldn't have enough because of short hours at work. I love you we all love you can't wait to hear from you. Love Mom

Fun at some of our many Family Reunions

Dutch oven cooking is always a big part of the Jones or Smith family reunions here are a few of the cooks getting started. This year K and Z made the scones that our family ate. K would flip them in the oil and take them out while Z carefully dropped the dough into the very hot oil. To bad I didn't get a pic of those little chefs doing their cooking. C was having a wonderful time swinging on the old tree swing as Dad and Mc took off up to go for a hike to see where the spring is that feeds this pretty camp spot in the Sweet Water Ranch. Jer kept begging to have a turn swinging too please but he wouldn't take off his black cowboy hat till the pool. K and Z with other cousins decide that teaching Jer how to slide into a muddy water pool sounds like a fun pass time. Yuck is all I could think. Our Pretty girl J got to drive some beautiful Belgium horses. She was thrilled and it came very naturally to her as she kisses at them to move up a bit more before stopping.

Then J got to sit a top their huge backs both her and K took a turn on the backs of these pretty animals.

You can see that they are very big animals but remember that J is not a really tall girl either.

Then Dad had to be a nut and give me the rabbit ear look in our cute photo shot.

The weekly doings this week.

Wow that was quite the letter.... anyway

2. Caleb really wants to know after 6 hundred times asking what way do the toilets spin there? Is it the same way as here?
2.Well I think I answered that one a while ago, but I haven't recently checked so I will have to do that with the sink. Anyway the Toilets don't swirl they just drain in a monsoon like fashion. They make them different here?

3. Do you have any tips that you could share to a new missionary who is coming there on what to spiritually prepare to do before coming?
3. Read your scriptures everyday and study Preach my gospel every day. Apply the Christlike attributes from Chapter 6

4. Do You have any tips that you could share to a new missionary on things that you would bring different to there now that you got prepared and are there.
4. I wouldn't have brought as many p-day clothes. You don't really wear them on p-day much unless you are doing something that will mess up your clothes or if you do service throughout the week.

5. Please tell us what its like to attend a branch that is small when going to church.
5. It's very very small. and I'm really trying to wrap my mind around how I feel about it. it's kinda quite but at times small noises are really loud because you are in a tiny room. It's usually nice, but sometimes the sacrament meeting isn't fully prepared in time, so we the missionaries have had to give surprise talks all of the time. It's getting better now that some things have changed around in the presidency and what what.

6. I didn't get money in the bank are you ok still?
6. Yeah I'm fine. the only thing is I find myself paying for investigators transport to church, so I've had a little bit less then I normally have had. But it still works out.

7. Please tell one thing that your Dad does that has helped you to be a better missionary.
7. My dad works hard! I've found myself comparing my mission work to the work that Dad does everyday and I sometimes feel like I need to improve on that. I want to have that same kind of work ethic that Dad has by the time I get home.

8. Have you gotten to see elephants yet?
8.Why yes actually, I saw my first elephant's yesterday. and it was sweet!!! They were about 10 feet from the car. There is a place called Kruger National Park that we went through. You should look it up. And to comment on something you asked a while ago about picking me up from mission. You might want to save up alot of money if you want to do that because, you will want to see a few cool places like Kruger.


9. Please tell one thing that you would want to study now that you never would have wanted to know about but your mission has somehow influenced you.
9. That's a good question. I recently began reading Jesus the Christ. which I probably wouldn't have done so before. That book Blows your Mind!!!

10. Tell one normal day activity that you do.
10......Teach, study, plan, find...etc

Like I said that was a long e-mail. I hope I can reply to alot of that. I'm surprised J didn't say anything about Rosie having a baby. That's some really cool news. I can't believe it was already a year ago that that stuff hap pend with Mkalif. It's weird to hear about how life continues to happen even though I'm not around. The biggest thing that weirds me out is hearing about J and all that boy stuff. It's hard to belive that they are the age they are, because I feel like I was just barely that age. TIME FLYS!!!
Anyway. the most exciting thing that has happened this week is with one of our investigators Lennie. Before I got here he was not progressing and it was frustrating the missionaries because he had so much potential. Now he is one of the best finding tools we have. He is scheduled to be baptized on the 25th of this month and since he started coming to church he has introduced us to 3 of his friends and 2 of them came to church. He is reading his scriptures every day and always has tons of questions to ask us about the Book of Mormon. I can testify that reading the Book of Mormon will keep us on the straight and narrow more then anything. The investigators who always progress to baptism are the ones who read that amazing book. Anyway he is awesome and I strongly believe his friends will progress to baptism because they have the same kind of fire. We are seeing them today so I will update you on how things go. It was exciting to go to Kruger park yesterday and see some wildlife. Because of time I will send pics of it later (which reminds me on the side of money i might need help to get a new card reader if that's ok) I love the work and I'm out of time. I'm proud of you Aunt Bethany for taking the challenge and I know it will make your family strong. I've seen it! (Family Home Evening)

Love Elder Jones

Family side of the weekly doings.

I love this quote found on the mission newsletters.

“How can you expect to have eternal life if you can’t

manage 30 minutes wisely?” –Elder Hawker

This is turning into a what a week again. I am feeling ready to have vacation from school over because the boys are so bored and Dad isn't home enough to keep them farm busy. To make sure you know Emily put a note on our blog and said she had just wrote to you that was the week you went up to Tzaneen so hopefully you got a note since last week if not maybe she emailed and it went to the wrong address can you still check that email? C started football by going to football camp with a new football coach. He has a lot to do to get into shape again. That was Mon. that camp started along with going to watch some fireworks in Richfield that night. There was spread celebrating depending on which town you lived in around here. Tue. early up to go to camp again so I ran on the track its kinda nice to have a smooth run spot once in a while. The young women went swimming and then the football camp went swimming later. J was bummed because she had hoped they could all be there at the same time but the Mom was glad it didn't workout that way. Wed. Scouts and Mc got his first aid merit badge started. Thur I ran out of gas on the way to take C to camp. We were able to coast into the station but he was late and since I was there I ran the track again for 3 miles. By the way thanks for your encouragements it helped me get through this week and I look like I lost 40 pounds not different but whatever you think. I arrived home to find Rosie having a live baby filly and it lived yeah that's nice compared to last summers misshapes. Fri. Today I am not going anywhere except for the laundry room because its overflowing with wet shorts from boys who are changing more then a girl would from water playing. Mc is learning how to bale and haul hay. He loves it and has begged to have Dad get home from work early everyday. It's been fun to watch him be that way. I saw Braden Harrison he said to say Hi! Jer is doing super we have noticed that there has only been one throw up time this week because he was eating steak and didn't chew it up enough. But it wasn't like the past where it wouldn't go down and he would fight hard to keep from having a problem and then lose all that was in his tummy. His voice is a bit higher also not so man sounding in a little boy body. The steri strip is about to come off and it looks like a line on his neck and that's all instead of a hole but we can't see the main pinpoint spot yet with the tape on there.
I am actually glad to hear that you are having a hard time writing e-mail it means that time and space is starting to blend because it means that you are really losing yourself in your mission and the experience that you are having right now. Dad says this is the most important time to write your journal because the days begin to blend together and you can't keep separated and you will want to go back and read at times in your life and when your own children serve missions. Besides I might just spank you if you do not use that amazing journal that I made for you and fill it with all kinds of happy and sad and adventure and discouragement for your posterity to come which you can only remember if you write every single night as a review of your day.
J told me that it's T,T's values that make her really like him. Once when she got sick he lectured her about needing to still go to church even if she was sick. He is already an Eagle scout and plans on going on a mission. C is teased by him continuously so the tables are turned, they did football camp together.
Well I hope you got lost in this week and that is was amazingly full filling to you in every way. Tell me if you are needing anything please. I can't not believe that last year at this time you were working your head off to make enough for the mission clothing and now you wear them everyday. I do hope they are all lasting. And of course I better bring you up to date on the fact that they found the snake or they think they have and its up in the front porch rafters in the birds nest there. C says it's it because it is such a hissy mean blow snake. They are this Sat. trying to get it down and and move it out to the field they have been at it for about an hour or maybe more. Papa came to help fix the closet that the clothing shelves came down twice now once because C thought he could use them to power lift himself up. Ya you get the pic. It is starting to get to where we might just put the swamp cooler in, crazy that it is the middle of July and we are barley in to thinking we might need it. Dad and C watched a bit about the land take back that was going on in Johannesburg where that tower stood back in the year 2007. They saw the tower unless there are alot more of them around that area. It was pretty interesting Dad said about how the white wanted to keep their land and kick blacks off that had been born and always lived there. They called them scwaters (sp?) but how can you say that when they were born there and the guy was like 103 years old. I am sure those are things that you can not really express in your letters that you hear about.

Today I felt lifted up as I heard again the talk by Brother Eyring this part (Many bishops in the Church are inspired to call the strongest people in the ward to serve individual children in the Primary. They realize that if the children are strengthened with faith and testimony, they will be less likely to need rescued as teenagers. They realize that a strong spiritual foundation can make the difference for a lifetime.) I sure hope that I am teaching them right, someways little ears do not sit very still and listen when all they seem to want are fishy crackers and drinks. Jer stayed home today with Mc today supposedly Mc didn't feel good and class was a bit quieter then usual, mostly because I am the Mom and he knows my buttons to push. Shelby was on one though and it was kinda of hard to get her to sit and listen. They are finally starting to sit a bit stiller and answer questions as long as I be a really animated teacher then I can hold their attentions.
On the home front I am not going to lie it is hard to get all these boys to be on the same quiet plan and do any kind of sit down lesson. (Family Home Evening) We are spending lots of time together doing busy activities but there has been a precedent set that sitting and doing a lesson isn't important. There has been lots of arguing on the teens parts that Mom is dumb and really bossy and stupid even sometimes, over well almost anything that isn't going the way they want it to go. I am not trying to complain I just want you to realize that everyone has their free agency to be a willing participant or to not cooperate and it sure can make life rough. There is always lots to learn on everyone parts on how to make the whole family life work together a bit better. Well I better get this sent off since its super late having been trying to get kids to go to bed and not much cooperation on some of their parts. I love you and I hope that you have had a great week.
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.

Baptism Successes for our African Missionary.

1. Well I haven't had a chance to cook the cake yet because we only have time on p-day's and our spare time on p-days have been full of trying to get our broken bikes fixed and our stolen tubes replaced so we can get to our appointments on time.

Man it sounds like a lot has happened since the summer has started. Don't forget to show my Photos in the fair and put the money in my savings. That is if I win. That was pretty sweet to hear about C dying himself. Did you help him with that Mom? or what is the story behind that?

Well I've just got to say that this week has been an event full week. It started normal from Mon to Wed and then on Thursday we had interviews For Kgomotso Lkuanyane, Bro. Simon Masetle, and Linet Moyo. Each one made it through the interview and Elder Green the one interviewing said they were all ready except that Linet needed to visit with President Poulsen to clear some things up. So we waited for a phone call from President to set up an appointment and when we didn't receive one on Friday, We called him Saturday. He said he was going to be a little busy but that he had some time at about 1:00 and it was fortunate that we did to. He did say however that he couldn't come to us so he gave us permission to bring her to him... Which was weird because that is against the white handbook rules. She isn't a member and she is a girl. Anyway we planned for that and then went to our first appointment before picking her up. During the lesson our phone rang with an unknown number, but I felt impressed to answer it. We were outside so I walked a little bit away from where we were and I answered the phone and Linet was on the other line. I asked how she was doing and she said she was not ok. Her husband had gotten angry with her and told her she couldn't go to church anymore and that she was not going to be coming with us. There wasn't much I could do at that point so I said some encouraging things and told her we would still visit next Thursday. I went back and finished the appointment and then we got in the car (yes we had the car at that time) I told Elder Bakker what she had said and after a minute of thinking about it we decided to go over to see if there was anything we could help resolve or what not. When we got there Linet was gone but we met her husband. We asked if there was any reason why things were happening and if we could help. He just got very angry clapped his hands, said "that's enough" and wouldn't talk to us anymore. Elder Bakker shook hands with everyone and we walked away. We met Linet on the way back from her house. and she was really upset. She was scared for the little girl that is currently staying with them because her husband had also said that Linet had to send the girl back to her uncle who does not have the means of taking care of her at all. We didn't know really what to do so we just offered a prayer that things would work out alright. and then we said goodbye and left. Man I was so frustrated and event's that occurred through out the day didn't make things better. Anyway when Sunday came we prepared for the baptism and after that we were surprised to see Linet in the chapel. When we asked her about it she said that when she got home her husband had apologized and said she could attend, but there are still going to be some things that challenge Linet I can feel it. So we will just keep working through things.

After church we had an awesome baptism and I really felt like I had accomplished something, because I have been with Bro Simon and Kgomotso from the beginning. I will send some pictures some time but my card is being dumb. So I 'll have to fix it. I'm glad to be on a mission it's a blast and one heck of an experience I can tell you that.

Anyway, It's good to hear from everyone including K. and to answer the question to say cool in Afrikans You say "Lekker" and I'm not really sure with any of the other languages.

Love Elder Jones

P.S. Thanks for the addresses please send more.

Dear Young Man

1. OOPS 1 ? the kids want to know if you could cook your cake and do you like that we sent all the John Bythway cds, did they break or were they ok?

I can not believe how the time is flying these days. I just got to see your cousin Jenni, Uncle Johnny's daughter. She is looking so good and clean from drugs and has a baby too. It was fun and she even admitted that her life was so much better now. C is taking her down now to find a turkey since she has a tag this year and they are very plentiful here. Last night we went to Andrews goodbye party he entered into the military also and will be leaving Mon. Chad is already gone a week now. Rhett is done in two weeks and will be back home until orders to be placed come. Some days I wonder if I am going to survive the energy that these boys have. You were so good at helping me keep our house clean these boys only seem good at messing it up. I guess they will all grow up and it will stay clean someday. Here it is almost June and still very cool. The kids finally couldn't stand it and went and took all sleeping bags and have slept on the tramp no matter what it was like. Two nights the wind blew like crazy and they just hunkered down into the bags and took it anyway. We finally have a garden to a point. Papa is an angel and got me tomato starts since Amber's were all destroyed by the wind or the frost. We put plastic so that the weeds would not take over and planted the tomatoes. Hopefully it stays warmer. Last week it froze every-ones gardens even Amber's while she was at Primaries with little K. They still can not figure out what caused the problem to little K except that she had the Swain flu in Jan. and it must have damaged her lungs this winter and now with the viruses that are in the air and the allergy's the lungs had never fully healed and she just crashed along with the red 40 allergy in med's. Her lungs from birth had the same thing as Jer's just not as bad with BPD but now there is one of those lovely machines like at our house (concentrator) and tubing reaching from both ends of the house and she has to have maintenance breathing treatments along with going back up to Primaries again. She sees the lung doctors that we have to see and I am going to make sure that they keep a closer look on Jer because she was supposedly out grown the problem and in the free and clear having never had to be above a liter of oxygen. She hit a 4 liter here and then they sent her north to Primaries. Amber said she couldn't believe there was a concentrator in her house again. I didn't realize that Taylor had to have one when he was tiny. I guess that was just one of the many equipment pieces I didn't ever have to deal with because Dad knew how when we would take care of Taylor. Dad had a surprise birthday dinner out with me. The kids all went to a barbecue at Brock and Jamie's so that I could take him out. I can't believe I almost forgot it was the big day with all the new fields that we are doing at Whites farm. C is going to be going to Timberline leadership camp hopefully he can get all the last of his merit badges done soon since once school starts it's so hard to smash in the time to finish that stuff. J is the only one doing sheep this year. C has a steer but it won't be ready till next year and Mc. didn't want to do it again and be walked on. Well my brain is super tired tonight and I can't think up a single question, mostly we hope that the Deisko family got a confirmation. I fasted for them today with J. and next week when it really is fast Sunday give us another assignment of someone to fast for ok. We love you and I am sure that you have lots of kids to write since they all wrote to you today so that's another reason for no questions. Oh Jacoy came yesterday to do a sales pitch practice for her job she sells really cool but way to expensive knifes. She was shocked when she saw me all she could say was "Wow you are so skinny and you cut your hair so short. So as soon as things settle down for Amber I will have a photo shoot done. Keep up the good work By the way we love seeing your pic on the mission website that they take at zone conferences. You are looking very good and more grown up. Sometimes you have a look about you that reminds me of Papa's mission pictures. Keep smiling and stay happy. Please write in your journal Dad says because it will help you so much later in your life and get you through the rough return home that can sometimes happen.

Love the Mom of all these crazy kids.

This is K my teacher Mrs. Peterson is retiring so she won't be there anymore. She was your second grade teacher long time ago. I am doing peewee horse showing and I am going to win this summer. I am going to ride Arab to show with in the peewee shows. I am doing scouts and I got a medal for school for doing a play in school. How do you say cool in Afrikaans? I love you and miss you Tyrell. Love K