Missionary answers questions time marches on.

Letter #1
1. What is the technology like in South Africa, like the cell phones you get to
use I am assuming they are basic and there are areas that still don't get
service   
1. Well the Cell phone system is about the same. They have smart phones and what what. It's pretty much the same as home. The only thing that is different, is that they are all run on Prepaid service. You get a top up on Air time each month, and if you run out you have to by more from your own pocket.
2. Are you haveing another transfer soon? You said something about that a few
notes back.
2. The transfer ends on April 5th. We are just starting a new transfere now.
4. What is it that makes you like Elder Lechner so much, is he a bit crazy like
you?

4. I just get a long well with Elder Lechner. Our personalities aren't exactly the same, he's actually really serious most of the time.

Well our day has been really shortened so I'll just answer the questions. Sorry

Letter #2

1. Is Centurion the poor area that is in the middle of the rich area that Elder
Seastrands mother told us about?

1.I'm not really sure what you mean. Centurion is about middle class I'd say. I think maybe you are thinking of Eastlynn.

2. "Our next Hurtle is coming up soon, and seems serious, but we'll talk about
that as it comes"  ???????????? so what the heck is that about Dad says.

2.That just means that we recently had to help a missionary overcome some serious disobediance issues. It got cleared up alot quicker than I thought though. He had an interview with President, and now he's back on track. But on that note. Our landlord just sold her property so we have to find a new place to rent, by April 30th :( 

3. This is all that I have from Will. "I still don't have a snow address he says".

3.Thanks for the adress, Has will already started school?

Love you lots, this week was a really great week. We had 4 father led families come to church. making about 11 investigators at church, which is a record since I've been here.

Things to ask about next week, so I can inform you is

The five talent Challenge

Love Elder T Jones

March 13th
So I had this great letter written that I started back on Tue and somehow got
deleted. By the end of Tue it felt like a really long week even though it was
hardly a week started.
On Mon Jo got asked to the prom by T. On Sunday she had been teary eyed
and whining about me wanting her to go get signed up to for college. She
just couldn't go alone she said and I was trying to get her to go on a road that
T Uncle could pick her up because most likely she would speed on it ya know
the college road, the only road that Dad ever has gotten a ticket on. Well after
being all teary Dad finally told her to knock it off because all Mom was trying
to do was to get her to go somewhere so T could ask her out. She felt dumb
and went to her room and was still all teary and finally I consented to go with
her to the college. We were pulled over just as she turned in to park and was it
ever funny she just kept insisting that she had not done anything wrong and yet
she did not have her insurance card which I guess is law now and she really was
only going like 30 for about 3 min maybe. He gave her a hard time and then said he would not give her
a ticket if she would go to prom with T. She sat stunned for a sec and then
started to cry, whacked me with the back of her hand and just kept saying over
and over thats so mean thats so mean. I grabbed her hands and said just
don't smack him ok because then you will be in trouble. He was laughing so hard
and saying how is that mean its a good compromise, so go call him now. Every
time she talked to anyone about it thats what she would say. She even called
T and said the same thing and even texted it to him it was pretty funny to
watch her. Then we went over and did a Mcdonalds fundraiser for 4H. She had to
go be behind the counter and said she never wants to do that again in her life
either.
Tue I wished I could just talk to your face email and texting is nice but some
days a back and forth exchange would be so much less stressful in
the exchange of info but thank goodness at least the news is only a week old not
months old by the time we get to hear what you have been up to.
Both boys meaning Mc and C are full force into soccer now. C is playing
striker on he thinks the varsity team but things keep changeling. Mc is a
new team that they are just getting going for the Jr.High school  team.  Jo
is getting antsy and wanting 4H to start. I wish we could afford a new fast
horse for her to do High-school rodeo but the gas prices are so crazy we could
barley even drive her to the matches. The price has now hit 3.50 and it jumped
like in 4 days to that.
Thur night I drove up to take Jer to those NICU follow up clinics and wow it was
so horrible. The snow was making whiteout I could barely see the lines on the
sides of the road. I was so glad when we finally got to J and J house.
It took us and hour to get from Nephi to Payson which usually is like 15 min or
so. Jer passed off lots of mile markers but he is nearsighted and when he is 8
it will start showing up which they said is most likely from genetic of our
family. They also said the he is right on target for the adjusted age that they
go by so he is doing well that way other then he has attention issues but they
said that that was to be expected. Today he shocked me by not only writing his J
which I knew he could but he wrote an e for his name it was so dang cute. He is
a left hander boy like Mc thats for sure.  After all
the Dr visits we went shopping with Jo and her friend Tay to find shoes
for the Prom. headed home and then back to Salina after changing our clothing
and leaving Jer with Dad to go watch K's prom. They had a really fun dance
that they did. Sat Dad and the boys cleaned outside and Jo and I cleaned
inside of course tonight it looks like we did not do a thing to the inside ugh
what a day. Sunday was sweet the oldest Campbell son is finally going to take
his wife and new son and go through the temple to be sealed. It made a very
spiritual sacrament meeting as he bore his testimony along with Sp Gay
saying he hated to cry and then breaking down and crying as he bore his
testimony. Jo fasted today for her friend. I asked her for what in
particular and she said just everything. Well I guess thats all the news I can
think of.
I really loved your letter and the insight to what your week was like sorry
about our letter not getting to you.

Often even outside of being a missionary a
person can feel overwhelmed  but the most important thing to always remember is
to listen to his prompting and directions always in your job, with your
children, your church calling, because he gives you a responsible area that you
should also represent the Lord in all through your life. And most important is
to obtain his direction to carry out the day in his name being prepared to bless
all the you come in contact with each and every day. I love that you are
learning this it will help you to be a much better father then if you had not
that truth and growth of understanding in your life to pull from. So now for a
few little questions for this week.

Well thats all for tonight I love you son with all my heart may this week bring
you lots of great joy and many sweet spirits to help come closer to a sweet
life.
Love Mom

Genealogy you know FAMILY

May I please announce a very special blog spot with stories of my children ancestors go there read have fun check back there is bound to be more as time goes on.

THE FAMILY OF ANDREW AND SIDDIE BUNN SMITH

There is a link spot if you ever need to find it again on the bottom of my family list. Love my family lots. 

I promise there really is cool stuff going on!

I always forget the camera when it seems mundane, but there has been cool stuff going on on our farm. 

We have laughed and cleaned and cleaned again.

 Then taken to cleaning the yard of the winter blowing's and tree branches on the ground.

 The garden spot is getting prepared and oh ya I better remember to make my seed starts get into those little peet pots. 

The boys Momma chickens are now laying in overdrive again.

The cows are starting to be born, our first one came the other morning and yippee its a heifer too.

Will there be another baby foal in the field I guess we will see pretty soon as spring comes ever near.

17 robins we saw through the window yesterday and we always measure spring because the geese come from far away.

 Now if I could just remember to recored all the things that we see and we do by a photo, you would see that there really is cool stuff going on over here on the JONES family farm. 

Missionary news go view the Family Proclamation.

Well this week has been really great. Monday was like it always is, with some bonus Appointments that kept. One being a Father led family that we also saw last night.

Tuesday was transfers so we now have some new missionaries in our zone, most of which are new district leaders and their full of missionary fire. Elder Seastrand and i couldn't go to the transfer meeting because neither of us were being transferred, so we had a pretty full day. It started with teaching one of our recent converts about doing missionary work and it paid off because hes now helping us do some fellowship of some of our investigators. We were also doing service that day but we were struggling to be in all of the places we needed to be so we went on splits with some of the ward missionaries. I think it was inspired. It did bring alot of fruit, but we did get accomplished, what we needed to accomplish.

Wednesday we Had our Zone leader Council. All of the Zone leaders in the mission came together to talk about the progress of the mission, and what needs to happen. I felt really good, because i got allot of thoughts off of my chest about all of the things that we are asked to do as missionaries in this mission. Our mission has discussed lots and lots of ways to do missionary work effectively, and lots and lots of ways to help us improve. Well with all of thees inspired ideas, I've felt that many of the missionaries just feel overwhelmed at times, because they can't incorporate all of thees tools that we have. Some incorporate almost everything, but they do it out of a sense of obligation rather than for the purpose they are intended. I have felt that way at times, and so after talking about it, President Poulsen gave some inspired advice. He referred all of us the pg 5 of the white handbook bottom paragraph which says: "you and your companion are assigned to a specific proselyting area. you represent the lord in that area and are responsible for obtaining His direction in carrying out your assignment and blessing the people there." i felt like it really helped me gain purpose and understanding about all of the tools, and so later on in the week we talked about it as a zone.

Thursday was actually a bit hectic, mostly due to crazy planning. We cover two areas and to get to the other (Centurion) it's about 25 minutes to drive. well we usually spend our night on Thursdays proselyting in centurion, but that day we had an early appointment and then had appointments in our main area Pretoria. Well because it's kind of a waste to got to Centurion if no one will be there, we were trying to call our investigator but no one answered. The next dilemma is that if they don't answer you still have to go there because maybe their home, but their phone isn't working or something. Well basically the worst happened and we went and they weren't around. Now the dilemma was we were faced with time on our hands, and we only go to centurion by referral, therefore we try not to do finding there. So we had to go back to Pretoria do some tracting then hit our next appointment. The appointment we had was at a house that we tracted into. He felt like he didn't really want us to share because he already had Jesus in his life. We explained that we are unique and the only way for him to know that is to listen to us. so he agreed, but we had to stand outside his gate, while we talked. After teaching he Reluctantly agreed to have us come back, but never the less did invite us to come and check on him.(unfortunately that fell through) Anyway, then we went to see our Bishop to correlate the mission work, then went back to Centurion. We had 1 great appointment, and then the last cancelled, fortunately the time worked out that we could have correlation right after, then we hit the road home. it was a hectic day but our smiles stayed on our faces.

Friday was FANTASTIC. Throughout the week Elder Seastrand and i Had been planning to have an uplifting, motivating Zone Meeting and we held it on Friday. We really incorporated the things we learned at Zone leader Council. I started by talking about the mission tools that we had and how we can find purpose in using them. Each missionary admitted to feeling the way i did about the tools. so we talked about it and we talked about what it says on pg 3 of the white hand book (our purpose as missionaries) and pg 5 of the white handbook. I feel like each missionary had a better understanding of how, when, and why to use the mission tools and each of them committed to search more diligently for how to use the tools in their own areas. After talking about the tools, we did a 5 Talent report. We read the parable of the five talents and then asked our misisonaries 2 questions. 1) in this last transfer, what have you done with what the Lord has given you. and 2) what do you plan to do, to double the talents you have now. Each missionary shared their thoughts and impressions. And the last of all we gave a report on where we are as a zone right now, and where we need to be. I think that we all went away edified and ready for a new transfer.

Saturday was just a day packed with stuff to do and quite a few cancelled appointments. We also broke a fast that we started Friday after the zone meeting. In which we were doing with an investigator to help him find strength to overcome word of wisdom challenges, and later that night he called us, very drunk, confessing that he was unable to fight temptation. All i could do was feel bad for the guy. Elder Seastrand and i are doing our best, but he's really struggling. He could use your prayers. I've written about him before, His name is Clyde, his wife is also going in for surgery so she could use some prayers as well.

Sunday we Had Three General Authorities in our ward 1 Elder Koeliker 2 Elder Renlund 3. and an area 70 Elder Bricknell. They are talking about splitting our stake and making another stake. So i think they came to do interviews for new stake leadership. After church I Talked with Elder Koeliker and i didn't have to remind him who i was, he already remembered. He said that he's going to be coming there around July and he'll say hi to everybody for me.

When church was finished, we actually ate lunch at the church because we didn't have time to go back to the flat, then after lunch we went to work. One of the highlights was that our investigator families, the Vandak (Faan-day-k) family had us over to celebrate their anniversary. The served us some cake, and we talked about The Family Proclamation to the World and gave them their own copy. It was a short visit, but it was a nice purposeful visit. As the day moved on eventually we picked up The recent Convert i was talking about (Devon) and took him teaching with us. He added allot to the lesson and i think it helped with inviting the spirit.

On our way home, we got a phone call from an Elder in the zone, telling us that he wasn't going to be able to sleep until he could talk to us, because something was disturbing him. So after dropping off Devon we went to his flat and he said that him and his companion weren't getting along. we offered to do a split so we could take care of our call ins and also resolve the issue, but they said they needed to stay together. So we got in the car and drove to our flat so that we could do both the call ins and the companionship inventory. Elder Seastrand did the Companionship inventory and i did the call ins. It was quite a long night, but things were resolved and everybody is happy now. Our next Hurtle is coming up soon, and seems serious, but we'll talk about that s it comes.

I hope everybody is doing well, i can't wait to hear from you, good look and keep on keeping on

Elder Jones

A day in a Zone leaders life in Africa, Missionary work

1. So did you decide what one video documentary you could make if you had the opportunity to change the lives of people in south Africa

1a. Well, for a documentary I would have to say I don't know. unless it's just a documentary about missionary work.

2. How has your opinion of the atonement changed since you have been out over a year and a half?

2a.Well I'm not sure what you mean about my opinion of the atonement, but I can say I understand it much better now. It's one of those things that I can't really put into words and it's probably better to keep it personal.

3.What is one Gospel Principal that you would like to become better at and are working on now.

3a.I would really like to be better at Knowledge

 You forgot to answer these questions last time my dear.

1. Does anyone ever ask for extensions to their missions these days? Are you, just wondering?

1b.Yeah allot of missionaries do, but they usually don't get approval because they say we are called to serve for two years and then comes life. There is the occasional exception like if you don't have anything to do when you get home because of school or what what.but even then its rough.

2. What one thing would you want us to send to you this next month?

2b.Lots of photos and letters from people.

3. Please tell us one scripture that has helped you this week.

3b.Well that's a good question. I'd have to say John 15:7 combined with the Bible Dictionary under prayer.

4. When should a person ask the missionaries to meet with one of their friends?

4b. A person shouldn't ask the missionaries to come. They should introduce the friend to the missionaries. Invite the friend to a dinner with the missionaries. You don't have to wait to do that or have a special moment. Just do it.

5. How do you prepare for fast Sundays as a missionary?

5b. We prepare just the same as anyone would. We fast starting Saturday night or Sunday morning and then just fast.

 African Zone Leaders life read all about it here.

 Well this week was a pretty good week. Monday felt really hectic because we didn't have time to do much of anything, in fact we did our shopping and went straight to our first appointment with our groceries in the boot of the car. Tuesday, we had our exchanges.  Wed. was a pretty normal day. Thursday we had another Exchange for interviews, and then we switched back Thursday night. Friday was awesome. We had a temple trip and it's the first time I've been to the temple since April last year so it was really refreshing. Unfortunately Elder Seastrand couldn't come into the session because his recommend had expired, and he had forgotten to check. I think he was really upset because it may have been his last chance to attend the temple here before he goes home. It was a nice lesson of getting your recommend updated before it expires so you don't have a situation like that. I feel like I learned allot in the session and came out with a lot of questions to study up on. After the temple trip, I got to be on exchanges with Elder Lechner, one of my favorite missionaries in the world. He's now my district leader so he gets to conduct exchanges with me. I'm going to be friends with that guy even when I'm home. Saturday was a normal day, thank goodness, it's been really hectic having to do so many exchanges because half the people we are now teaching and have appointments with, I have never met and the other half, Elder Seastrand has never meant. (I'm exaggerating a little bit but that's how it feels) Sunday was great. We had some great investigators at church, but unfortunately we didn't see Clyde there. We didn't get to see him at our last appointments so that may have attributed to that. We did see however some investigators that we have had trouble contacting lately so it was nice to see that they can still progress. After church we had lunch and prepared to teach a U-night. It's a program that members invite non-members to as a kind of social gathering and they have a spiritual thought and game. The u-night was fantastic and they asked us to give the spiritual thought. We talked about the sacredness of families and their part in Gods plan. I think it got allot of people thinking, so we should see some fruit.

     Sometimes life as a leader can be stressful. There's so much you have to be thinking about all of the time and there is allot of places you have to be all at once. It's a good thing that there are two of us cause if it wasn't that way I don't know what we'd do. I feel like I'm really learning allot as of recently and really how important prayer has been. I know that the power of prayer is real, it just takes effort and faith. you have to pray for things that are according to Gods will, because he's not going to give you something that isn't in his plan. I'm really grateful for the spirit because without it we couldn't get half as much done as we should. He's always giving impressions and thoughts that help us keep going. Keep on praying and learning. Something I could suggest for the family to have and study is "Preach My Gospel" the principles there are meant to teach missionaries how to teach, but also how to convert yourself. You should get it and study it.

 

Love Elder T. Jones

 

P.s. Mom could you get Wills address for me, I'd like it before he sends me a letter or something 

The families weekly news brief Well Jo and T and now Cod are all working to get her new friend Ta to church, seminary,young women's, and the missionaries will be making contact with her tomorrow when she goes to church with Cod cause me and Jo saw the missionaries at the Wrestles and told them that she was going to go to church with Cod. They said that was where they were going to be tomorrow also and they knew Cod because he had gone on splits with the one the other week. So Ta even told me that she was so excited because Jo was going to get her some scriptures for Christmas, I was like why wait so long  for them. Jo told me that she already has a Book of Mormon so the rest of the set would be a nice thing to have too. Cod will be going on a mission in about 6 months so hopefully there will be some changes that can take place real soon.  Well today is Sunday and she went with Cod, she was wearing Jo skirt but i haven't heard what happened yet. She lives in Aunt Ambers ward so Aunt Amber is going to look out for someone who could fellowship her in their ward also.   Well we are all done with the wrestling THANK goodness maybe now we can get the house cleaned back up and the laundry off the couch and a whole bunch of other things done. Maybe some boys can get some scout things finished and clean their room up so its walkable in. C is wanting to play soccer so we will see how that goes. On a funny note at the end of the wrestle season there were two broken hands and a broken elbow of D B. C received the Biggest Heart award and lettered in wrestling so he felt pretty good and this week he has to stay after school so that he doesn't get to behind in typing and weights since his arm kind of handicaps him in that area. Mc wrestled like crazy and took second place, he said there is one kid that he has just not been able to beat all year but next year he is going to have it be different cause C is going to teach him some new moves to use on him. K took first because there was no one in his bracket his size but they bumped him up to 4th grade to wrestle and he took second in that area. Z took second also and the coach gave Jer a medal and he calls it his gold, he even had to take it to church today. Sam wrote to his Mom and she forwarded it, he says he will feel like he is in heaven when he returns as their housing is much to be desired and they have very little water to be able to use. I guess you could say you have it cushy over there right now.  Devin is I don't know were right now. Will made contact over his new facebook and said if you want he will make room for you in Ephraim when you get home even if you are not in school yet, he is going into a halfway point of the school that has already started but it isn't looking like that is possible by the way the schedule looks for when you arrive. I told him how to get your address so hopefully he will find a min to write you in all the settling he is trying to get done. Well that's all Love the family

Letter from Z   i love you ty i missu to. I took 2nd place in wrestling. hav you ate a worm. mom has a new phone. dad mis u.hav u had a fun tim.i love you ty.       love z

Letter from K

dear tyrell  i love you and i took first in wrestle and it wus my first time ever.  I am in the blue and gold banquet as a cowboy this year. So you remmeber doing scout skits? I am about to become a webelo I am all done with my bear book. i get to do 4-H this year. love k

We love to wrestle! 2011 a great finish for the little boys.

A couple of family photos it has been a while since we all got our mug shots on here and of course some want to hide parts of their faces and be goofy.

 The sport of wrestling today done by the Jones family after much training.C boy helped ref the matches of the older boys and even Jer got a medal which made his day of course he didn't wrestle. He calls it "my gold" We even got Jo girl to come watch this year and of course I am sure that it was only because there was someone there that kept her busy and  not too bored. The close of another year of wrestling has finally come for the Jones family.

Two silvers and one gold oh ya Jers is gold too he says even though I think the color is bronze really.

Valentine's Day Family Home Evening

We spent time as a family loving and caring for each other isn't that what  Valentine's day is supposed to be about anyway. We had dinner under the table while watching a show. Of course the one I picked out they deemed as to old fashioned. So they vetoed and picked one to their liking.

 

We put blankets over the table to make it into a cave, stuck the bean bag chairs under the table passed dinner pie out on plates after saying our family prayer.  They had fun didn't even spill any food on the floor headed to bed after, all of us feeling loved and happy on a beautiful day made to love each other and pay attention to caring for each other. The only thing I could do without is all the packages that cover the candies from school treats that are sugar loaded, that stuff could all go in the trash for all I care.

Hey if you need ideas for your own Family Home Evening click here to get some cool lesson plans or go outside the box like we did and eat under the table with an activity like the movie watch.