Our Birthday Boy off in a far away land.

Happy Happy Birthday Son Your Amazing!

1. The fam just wants you to know that we love you lots and hope it was fun while in the far away land and did you get your birthday box?

1. Yep came the day after, great timing.

2. What new person have you met to teach the wonderful truth to.

3.Well We've met quite a few, but there is a girl named E who we just started teaching and she said she was skeptical about the book of Mormon at first, but what gave her the courage to let us in was that it said Jesus Christ on the front. She is awesome and says she knows now that the book of Mormon is good, but she still needs to find out what that means to her and then gain a testimony by coming to church. So far we've / I've been focusing on the three who are being prepared for baptism on the 30th I'll tell more after the questions.

4. If your thinking of a gift for me I would want fabric that is made by them with all their rich colors that they like so much.

4.I'll take that into consideration ;)

5. So do they sing in harmony more in the Soweto townships?

5.Well I don't really think it's much different, at church, from Ridgeway or even home. But on the streets you hear people singing really cool sometimes.

Well as I was saying about those being prepared for the 30th. I was really stressed for part of this week because Sunday I realized that one of them (K) hadn't come to church and he was required to come 12 times before he could be baptized because of his age, but that set him back at twelve. And then I was also worried because we had planned to resolve some Living together with a girl & boyfriend Issues with a girl named L, but she and her boyfriend were not there when we showed up. So I was stressing. But I prayed and hoped that we and they would still be able to make our goal of baptisms. After finally meeting up with K I found out that he had been terribly sick and that he still wanted to be baptized and is way stoked about becoming a member. Then we finally met up with L and after a short discussion found out that the person that she always called her boyfriend is her husband so she is married. WOW that was a relief!! I'm still and was so glad to hear that news. Every thing is going great here in Dobsonville and I'm loving the work. I finally get my companion tonight actually so this last week I've still been working with members, but now I have someone to plan with so I'm excited. It's been a good week and a good week of learning. We had zone conference again and learned alot about companionship unity and asking good questions in lessons. I'm hoping to apply this stuff in the coming transfer and through out the rest of my mission.

I recently received alot of e-mails from everyone and I want you all to know that I love you lots. Justin, Nana and Papa(happy b-day by the way), Jamahl, Jadie, Bethany, Amber and if there is anyone I forgot, I love you too. Thanks for supporting me and sending your love.

I'm so grateful to be here serving the lord and I can't tell you how much it's helped my testimony of how true the gospel is by living it and seeing it in others lives so much.

I love you family and I'm so grateful for the letter Dad, it means a lot to me and I hope to get some more

Love

Your son/friend/cousin/brother/nephew/Grandson

Elder T. Jones

Instead of our boring letter we are going to do a photo collage of the years leading up to being an adult for Tyrell all his crazy escapades caught in photo.

A Who in Seussical the Musical at South Sevier High School 2004
Tyrells first official baptism. His did the job for little brother K before leaving to serve the Lord in South Africa Aug. 2009
Hanging out with Little Bro C. on his right at cousin Justin's Eagle Court of Honer Tyrell is almost an Eagle at this time 2007. Yes he broke his wrist on a moter bike borrowed from the neighbor boy and he had'nt been told how to stop.
Tyrell with his Dad in 2006 as the character Lafou out of Beauty and the Beast shown at South Sevier High School. One of his Missionary photos done my his wonderful Aunt Amber.
Thanksgiving Dinner 2007 cousins playing games at the little table.
Playing Ryan on the High School Musical presented at South Sevier High 2007
Dinner after finally graduating High school. When you have three in two diffrent schools it takes all day to get through can you tell the three were starving.
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v375/178/8/544191432/n544191432_1501282_8896.jpg 2004 Freshman year talent competition at South Sevier. He blew them out of the water with his fiddlen, know one knew he could do that. Click the link to see the young man when he reaches his oldest age transformation. This was taken at Snow College when he portrayed the character Bill in It Runs In The Family by Ray Cooney

Mothers Day Phone call from the African Mish!

The Phone Call!

We heard his voice but there was so much paper crumpling sounds on the line it was tough to know what he said. I am so glad we get letters as quickly as we do because otherwise I still might think he was transferred somewhere but not know where.

The funniest part was that his sister was just laying around waiting and almost ignored her/his old phone when someone sent a text that morning. She came screaming down the staircase yelling he is texting me, he is texting me. All the boys thought that she had lost it since she never is very verbal about who texts her (The Dad hates texting and could just throw it away), so after figuring out the who we asked if she had asked for a number to call him with. Of course she hadn't even responded to him. Finally we got a number only to call a fax machine somewhere over there in Africa. She sent back saying that it wasn't working so we tried a new number even if that voice was barley audible I did catch that it was the Mission home and to ask for what Elder. Finally a voice with a slight accent that was my son spoke. Heavenly it was way to short, hard to think of questions and the line hung up twice but at least I could hear him say I love you. So here is the weekly questions that we got answered the next day.

1. Please explain what you said about your calling card that was a part that was crackly and I do not know what was said about it.

1. Well the calling card I have was the one we bought at Walmart and it is an AT&T Card which doesn't work here because they don't have AT&T they have other stuff and they couldn't help me so yeah. And I didn't plan very well for the phone call because I couldn't find any members who have a land line so I just said I would call you guys after I figured it out. During the week I found out we could sms you guys and so when we were getting ready for the call I sms the info and had you call me.

2. Tell us is their a new name to the area you are in?

2.I'm still in my second area. It's called Dobsonville. It is in the county like thing called Soweto. So I haven't changed since I left Ridgeway. (As you can see we could not tell what he was saying about if he was in a new area.)

3. Did it mean that you had to move to a new apt when you changed areas?

3.When I left Ridgeway I changed flats

4.What are the names of the other companions in the flat with you. Are they the same Elders as before?

4.They are currently Elder Ramos and Elder Bullard. Elder Bakker should be coming sometime. Their all the same except Elder Bakker

( The one thing we did hear was that his new companion is stuck in Botswana with Visa problems and can not come out to be his companion so PRAY that the Lord will help to resolve that situation and then Tyrell can get a companion.)

5. Are you a Senior Companion now Dad is wondering or when you end up with a companion?

5.Nope, Elder Bakker is actually supposed to be our District Leader

6. Some of those kids have clothing on that look like sweaters is it cool there and are you wishing you had a sweater to go under your suit coat?

6.Yeah it actually gets pretty Chilly around here in Jo'burg. and I would love to have a sweater vest or something.

7.What do you do on Pday give as a schedule the kids say.

7.Well the Average P-day Consists of Waking up and 5:30 To go play Soccer as our physical Activity time. Then we Return to the flat at 6:45 and we prepare for the day until 8:00 When we begin our personal study and at 9:00 start companionship study. Then at 10:00 we clean the flat for however long it takes and then we go to do E-mail. After e-mail we decide(if we haven't previously) what we want to do. Usually it's sports or going to some cool attraction or something. then we shop and go back to the flat to get ready to go to appointments by 6:00. It kinda changes from week to week but that's the usual.

8. They must not celebrate Mothers day there, right?

8.Yeah they do

9.So Elder Forman is now in Botswana, Do you think you will ever get to go there?

9.Yes he is in Bots, Myself I have know idea

10. Who was answering the phone when we would call. Is that the Pres. wife?

10.That was Sister Henrichsen

11. Did you go to long over your time for the call sorry it kept hanging us up and was so hard to hear.

11.No I didn't go over my time and I was kind of upset because they made me get off and I had hardly been able to talk to anybody. I should probably stop having that attitude because some Elders couldn't even get a hold of their families.

12.Tell us what you said in your improptune talk yesterday.

12.Well I ended up talking about the Importance of having the spirit with us to protect us both physically and Spiritually. I actually used your car story mom. It worked out really well. I was kinda surprised with myself.

3.Do you spend lots of time at the Mission home?

13.Nope I hardly ever go to the mission home, but we do go to the mission office a lot on p-day's and when we need stuff. It's kinda weird because the Mission Office and the Mtc are the same building. so every time you go there you see the Mtc Elders.

14. Do you use the Salvation flip cards that we sent you at Christmas time?

14.Yeah I've used them a couple of times but I haven't used them too much recently.

15. Do you have a pan to cook a cake in?

15 I'm not actually sure about that, but I think we have a pan.

16. Do you save the Mission newsletters that you get or would you like me to print them out for you?

16.I'm not sure what you mean by mission newsletter Maybe you could explain more.

Well it was nice to hear from everybody in the short time that I did and I'm sorry that I kinda seemed like I cut it short and didn't really say goodbye properly.
I think the most that has happened this week all happened from wed on. From then I haven't really had a companion so I've been in a threesome for now and working with members of the ward when we go to the areas. It's been kinda fun planning by myself...NOT but I've definitely been learning a lot about myself and what I need to improve, from this experience. Sunday was exciting because I was the only one in the ward with a Name Tag so I was the only one people could come to for referrals and appointments and other things so it was kinda crazy but I'm enjoying my mission and I'm glad I'm here in South Africa so I can't really think of much else to say so maybe next week I'll have more.

Love Elder T Jones

P.s. HAPPY MOTHERS DAY MOM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LmrhUEaQpE&feature=fvw Click to hear some music from South Africa!

PRAYER

I am a firm believer in prayer. I know that when I am consistent in talking to my Father in Heaven he will help me to know and see things that are needed to make my life better . He will answer my call if I will keep talking to him. He is even better then the cell phone that I carry on me. His answers might not look like the emails I get with direct instructions or information about whats happening but he sure can make my heart feel full and guide me to what is best for a child of mine who is struggling or a friend who needs help from an earthly hand.

Remember to say your prayers morning and night so he can talk with you because your the one with the key that unlocks that door to him every time you communicate.

Think of speaking with him as if it's the most imp0rtant cell phone call you make twice a day!

What Soweto Africa looks like.

Missionaries on a soap box!

Our weekly questions?
1. Package arrived yet?
2. Do you have an ability to listen to something on a CD player?
3. Dad said hey Tyrell could have joined the Sanguma families drumming, did you?
4. As of right now interest is so poor on anything do you have any ideas of what you would want done with your money?
5. Can you believe it has been a year since you received your call Wow.
6. Have you bought contact solution there?
7. What about hairspray or shampoos have you bought them?
8.Have you seen any army ants Dad wants to know.
9.What is your favorite scripture now or is it still the same on your plaque.
10. Tell us some of the words you have now learned that are more African, please tell us the meanings to?
11. Can you buy 2010 Soccer cup jerseys the boys think that would be so cool unless they cost a small fortune?
12. Will you send a big box of things when you send? But will you please warn my checkbook first.
13. Are you writing tons in your journal. After seeing Chas Hatheways blog it makes me wonder at all you are seeing and hope that you write often so you do not forget the stuff. Maybe you will write movies one day about all you see.
14. Are you learning any of their crazy dances in that township like Gumboots dance?
15. Tell us the calling number please.

A guy selling clown stuff.
A kid blowing in the Vuvuzela (not spelled right)
Township kids with homemade toy.
Contacting

Classic Township Yard with kids playing Soccer.

Tyrells short letter but lots of photos and some answers.

1.no
2.Our car has a CD player sometimes
3. no we stayed away while that was going on it would have given us a bad image
4. I didn't have any specific ideas, but I was just thinking you could keep it in a locked High interest account until I get back. that way I don't spend it and it grows while I'm here.
5.Yeah I know it's crazy, I read it on the April 29Th.
6.No I still have plenty of contact solution.
7.yeah i can get that stuff here. it's all good.
8.I'm not sure what you mean, But there are some really big ants that run around everywhere and don't seem to care much about anything going on around them. I'll try to send some pics.
9.I'd have to say I have alot of favorite scriptures now, but the one I really like as a missionary is Alma 26:15
10.Well i will try, but I'm not sure on the spellings. Rapellang (pray) Ke Mang (who) Ke Nako Mang (what is the time?) Nkulukulu (God) I will think of some more and try to learn some more to. Ask me on the phone call.
11. Yeah I already have one. I'll see what I can do to get some more.
12.Yeah I'm trying to collect some specific items, but the wallet and the situation is making it hard.
13.Yeah I was writing everyday, but I kinda fell out of the habit so it's been like once a week entries. You can also save my e-mails too please they are pretty good entries.
14.I don't know gumboots but there is some other stuff I have learned a little of. But it's more modern stuff.
15.I will Call you. Just be there when I call!

Because of time, I will fill you in on Sunday.
There has been a lack of planning on my part and some unexpected changes due to transfers coming up Thursday. So the The plan for the phone call is that I will be calling you at about 8:00AM (your time) it could be even an hour or so before or after that, but expect it to be then. I hope that it works out with the plans that you have made because there's not much more I can do to inform you after today.
Love Elder T Jones

Lions n Tigers n Birds OH MY!

African Tokolosh resembles a character in Harry Potter books Hmmmm.

1. How are you and your companion doing?

2. Chas Hathaway said to ask you about Tokolosh and if you serve in Botswana to learn about Tswanas and what about Magua Snakes. And most of all he said to say Dumela to South Africa for him that it is missed terribly. He served there 10 years ago and made a comment on our blog. So another brother is missing his mission land (Chas Hathaways mission memories). I wonder if he knew your cousins Elder McWilliams( 1995 I think?) or Elder Mark Owens (2001-2003) when he was serving? He is an LDS Musician and composer in the Sanpete County.

3. How was the baptisms this sunday?

4. How many miles do you ride bikes?

5. Do they keep goats there in the Soweto township?

6. Having lived now in two of the extremes of Johannesburg what do you know and understand about the apartheid aside from that disney show color purple that we watched?

7. So did you ever go see your Dean family?

8. Z wants to know if you have eaten any snake meat while on your mission?

9. Craziest thing you have eaten that is not at all American just this week.

10. Most humbling experiance this week, even if its something like scripture study, your personal prayers, or a service that you did for someone.

11. So how is the Mothers Day call going to take place this time? On Sunday and are we calling you still?

So this week was way fun the Jones family of your Dads bros and sis's all got together at a Mission called Warm Springs in Nevada and did service of building steps and cleaning up campsites and cutting wood and swiming swiming swiming in the warms springs that are on the mission grounds. This is where all the scouts and girls camps are held for St George and Las Vegas areas. It was very cold the first two days as there was a major cold front that came in. We slept in the car the first night one because we got there at 1:30 am and it was way to cold to set up the tent. The next night we froze but at least we were able to snuggle close in the tent. Eveyone did end up with nasty coughs but hopefully we will be able to shake them soon. J hasn't been home the whole week as she went to Logan for an FFA competition on animal judging and then left two hours after she got off the bus to go to the reunion on Wed. So Jamie Racker insists that you always say hi to her on her facebook and that you are liking your mission. I said well ok I guess so but I didn't really know if you were getting on your facebook over there or not. Then the big news for the week is that Jathan and Julies twins were born right at 36 weeks which is a month early they are very very pretty babies. Sadley they will all be grown up and not at all babies when you get back. One is named C Jay 5lb 10oz and the other is K Jane 4 lb 12oz. Julie did amazing and eveything went really well considering how complicated H's had been for her. So thats a wrap for the week since we haven't really been home except for today. Oh ya church was a bit wild since the little boys were not into being quiet and Kathrin Howell got called to serve in the Ukrain mission and is speaking Russian. Smile and tells us of your mission adventures and know that we love you lots. Watch for your package to arrive.

Love the whole Family

He Loves us back.

1. Well My companion is doing great. I can say that so far I have learned the most from him. He or I might be leaving in this coming week because we have been together about 3 months now and that's usually as long as President Poulsen leaves comps together.

2. Well from what I know A Tokolosh is a small crazy little man. I've actually met quite a few Tswana's here in Dobsonville. But unfortunately I haven't been to Botswana. But you can tell Chas Hathaway that South Africa says lekae back to him.

3.It went great. We actually watched Conference this weekend so we had it right after conference. We only had one though, we had to move the other to May 16.

4.Not really sure but we ride bikes a lot each day. Our area is pretty big.

5.Actually I have only seen a few but some people do. They usually slaughter Goats and Cows for funerals and stuff so...

6.Well I've learned that the apartheid only ended in 1994, and during that time Coloreds, Blacks, Whites, And Indians were only allowed to live in their certain areas and shop and everything. And if you crossed into anyone elses turf you got shot. I guess it was pretty bad but it seems to be ok now days.

7.Yeah we've seen them and things are ok accept that one of them is a sangoma. :(

8.Nope I actually havn't eaten anything weird lately just the usuall PB&J and the ocasional sunday meal of Chicken and POP

9.Ish! I'm gonna have to wrack my brains on that one and try to find something cool to eat. But Elder Ramos recently ate a cows foot.

10.Well I'm going to have to say it was when listening to Conference. I learned alot of things from the Prophets I especially learned alot about Being Patient and working through some of the challenges we face.

11. I actually haven't figured that out yet. I'm going to have to find out the phone # for the church and have you call me there. You will probably call at about the same time, Give or take maybe an hour.

First of All I would like to express my concern about the face book thing because I haven't been on it talking to anybody so I would like to see if you could maybe investigate further and then if someone has been saying hi to her make sure that it wasn't Caleb or things I may have sent along time ago. And if someone is sending to her You should try and change my passwords.

Well this week has been an ok week except it has felt a little slow be cause the days have been filled with other stuff than missionary work. Monday was p-day which we played most of the day. Tuesday was a normal full day. Wed was a normal full day. Thursday felt short because we had weekly Planning up until 2 Friday was the same because we had District Meeting Up until 2. Saturday we watched Conference up until 5 and Sunday we had Conference until 2 then a baptism until 3:30 and then a Dinner appointment until about 4:30 so yeah but hopefully this coming week we will be able to have some more full days. The work is still going good but we are worried about Brother Somniso making his date because he hasn't been coming to church, Other than that everyone else is on schedule. Mom and Dad, You should get Caleb involved in the Duty to God program that they have recently Improved and help him. I think that I would have understood alot more about my duties as a priesthood holder if I would have been more involved in that. And I would strongly encourage you to read again the talks from conference there great. You can tell Julie and Jathan congrats from me and tell them it would be cool to see some pictures. Tell everyone sorry for not writing them more, but I only have time on Monday's and it seems like very little sometimes. I still love getting dear elders and letters from everyone so keep them coming.

This letter is probably kinda lame but I've got to go. I love you all and I will e-mail next Monday and then the Sunday after that we'll talk on the phone.

Love Elder Tyrell Jones

Another Missionary who served in the Land of South Africa

http://calledtoserveinafrica.wordpress.com/

Isn't the world small after all, have fun looking at his cool photos and learning just a bit more about the land Tyrell calles home these day.