Modest Prom Dress!

In our Stake Monroe Ut.(meaning several wards or church houses within an area) puts on the Modest Prom Dress Fashion Show every year. The girls who have or are going to attend Junior Prom are allowed to show off their dresses if it is Modest enough to be worn within the Temple. Not that the colorful dresses would be worn there since everyone wears white to that sacred place, but it helps girls to choose to wear dresses that give a message to all that modesty is important even when choosing their prom dresses.

Z boy willingly gave Jo a break and wore the skirt on his shoulders so that I could keep sewing the bottom of the prom dress skirt which is to long for our short 4ft girl in prepration for the show.

The cosmetology college in town was willing to send girls over to do the modelers hair up into all kinds of twists and curls so our Pretty Girl Jo sits patiently while she has her curls made, wonder what it will look like in the end.

The theme of the Fashion show. This was even on our invitations that were given to us mothers at church. The young activity girls were also invited to come along and see the modest dresses that can be chosen to wear at a prom.

Two of Jo's friends helped her to put her shoes on because after getting the bodice on she couldn't bend over to lace the shoe up. Tosh and pretty blue dressed Rach. Aren’t they just so cute? Jo wore 7inch heels to get her as high as all the other girls and to help stop the dress drag that was still long after I scalloped it up.

The stage was set and a slid show was presented at that beginning. This presentation was the video shown at the Young Women General Church Meeting with Pres. Monson telling the girls to ask for answers by getting on bended knee. Click here to view his written presentation.

Our Pretty girl showing off her modest prom dress. Let me tell you a little bit about it. She found it in a store that sold used and new items, it was just so pretty and only 100.00 dollars that she was able to pay all with her own money. It has the most amazing sequins that are sewn in the shape of petals making it look like little flowers everywhere. She had me sew the scallop on the bottom as it was too long. So with every scallop I made a little sequin flower that matched the ones on the bodice and then added some to the whole skirt to make a bit more of a sparkle on the dress.

The whole goal of a modest dress is to get to the end goal so that a girl can wear a modest wedding dress like this and be married in the Temple for Time and all Eternity to the man of her dreams. By being dressed modestly at all times and in all places even to the Prom gives a message to every guy that a girl comes in contact with. It helps him to know that she values herself and her body and the goals that she desires to be kept special forever not just for a short time here on the earth.

A bevy of beautiful modest girls that were in the show with our Pretty girl Jo.
Every girl received a red rose from the young men who escorted them off the stage at the end of their fashion walk.

This is our most modest and precious girl who stated that the value of "Choice and Accountability" helps her to make and choose clothing that sends a message to all she meets that her body is sacred and special and she wants to be cherished always"

These two beautiful girls on either side of her are Jo's cousins and I hope they choose like her when the time comes to pick a beautiful modest Prom dress just like their older cousin Jo.

South Africa gets to meet Apostles. Church News coverage.

Click to see the photo http://www.lds.co.za/images/stories/APOSTLES%20VISIT/MTCELDERS.JPG
Our Missionary was able to be a part of this special visit to the African Continent even if it was through skype that it had to be viewed as he was in Tazneen South Africa at the time of it taking place.
Click to see the story.
http://www.lds.co.za/index.php/news-a-events/news/aseanews/99-apostles-tour-africa-southeast

What is Respect, views by a Missionary.

2. Do you use the rain coat we sent with you or do you use something else that's easier on a bike.

2.Well it's actually sitting at the mission office because it was to heavy for me to carry around, I usually just endure the rain. it's not so bad because I'm in a car area.

3. Name one unusual thing you saw this week.

3.Well we've seen some few interesting things, not sure if I should include them in the e-mail. For example, A really large man working shirtless in his yard, with an extremely Hairy back

4. While you have served have you seen lots of medical sadness's that if the people had good health care things might be different for them?

4.Yeah I mostly see people with facial deformities or leg deformities. I think that's due to not being well cared for when they are young.

6. Tell us what you ate for dinner this week, did you cook it?

6.Well this week we haven't been fed alot so it's mostly stuff we cooked yourself. I recently have been making pap because it's cheep. I don't eat it all the time though. Bishop made a public announcement to the ward that we need more food (we didn't tell him to) so we'll see what happens. People bring alot of frozen meals to church on Sunday so those will help us stay healthy

7. What is one thing that you wish you could bring back with you but your not sure you will try to because of space or cost.

7.I wish I could bring everything but there's not enough time to think about stuff like that

8. What was church like for you this Sunday without a calling?

8.Nice! I can focus on missionary work

9. If I sent protein shakes over would you drink them? Would it help you eat better?

9.Yeah it probably would but I don't know if that's to practical

10. How many times have you been sick while serving, I recall the one phone visit at Christmas the first time you sounded like you had a bad cold.

10.I haven't been sick too much, mostly just if I get a head cold. I'm recently recovering from that actually.

11. Have you had to use the meds, that we sent while you have been there?

11.Yup

12. Do you have heartburn ever anymore?

12.Sometimes, those previcid really help.

13. Do you wish that you had a water bottle that had filters or even maybe a hydro back pack that you took with you?

13.No I can get one of those at the mission office, but I don't really need it here

14. You are using your contacts up right, keeping your eyes healthy by not going over to many months of wearing them correct?

14.Yes I'm using them, I admit I have forgotten to change them a few times but it's all good

15. If you made a documentary film of South Africa that would affect many possible changes for their country what would be your focus? Lack of fathers, Medical issues, homelessness, orphanages,

15.I'll have to ponder that one

16. One thought about respect and what it means to you?

16.Well respect to me is like being patient with others even with all their weaknesses. It means treating them with kindness even if you don't feel like it.

Well this week has been pretty good, the best thing that happened is that we went to a hospital to teach sick people. that was pretty cool. We met a guy who had surgery on his leg and he was very intrigued about the Book of Mormon, unfortunately he was reluctant to give us his telephone number so we'll have to see if he calls us, It happens, so were waiting. We also went on exchanges twice this week which was really cool. I was with Elder Larson the first time and he's a super great missionary. He's been out about 7 months and while on exchanges, we taught for the first time on his mission, a white father led family.  He got really nervous and kind of forgot how to tactfully teach and started rambling on about alot of things and tried to answer every one of their questions all at once. I hardly got a word in. After talking with him about the situation he realized he needed to relax a little bit so the next time they met with the family, they were calm and collected and the family is now preparing for baptism. The next exchange was with Elder Nhlabatsi he is from Swaziland and he is way humble. he's doing great work, the only concern he had was that he is having trouble understanding Elder lechner. I gave him some good advice about communicating more with his companion and last we heard they are doing much better. Saturday was a little tough, most of our appointments fell through and it was getting us a little down. By the end of the day I feel like I learned a little lesson in gratitude though because when I wrote in my journal I realized that we did a lot of good. We actually met some very good prepared people and we taught our favorite family Clyde and Nicky, earlier that day we did service by helping someone move in to their new house. I guess it really just matters where your focus is. If your focus is on the positive you will feel positive, if you focus on the negative you will feel negative. Sunday was good, we had a small fireside and Bishop talked about missionary work, The ward is really excited now so we'll see what comes of it.

On Sun, Jan 30, 2011

So this week our family blog joined the Internet MTC, whats that you say well its a person who is willing to allow their site to be searched when a word or information is looked up that lists things that have to do with our church The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Or links their blogs to sites that has to do with the sites that the church has. Also there is a site that hosts Meridian magazine that tells all kinds of inspirations stories that are Church affiliated and they ask that you link good things to your facebook, or twitter or your blog so that those who are looking for information find sites that carry our opinion's and positive statement's about the gospel helping to teach and give insight instead of negative or incorrect perspectives when google is used in a search to find an answer to words like God, Family Home Evening, Missionaries, Family, Jesus Christ etc. This will help those seeking answers to the Mormon belief ahead of the time that the proselyting Missionaries knock on their door if they have been looking to see what we believe. So I love that the first song on our blog is I hope they call me on a mission but I do have to update and change to some more primary songs that are more about family and the Gospel.

This week I feel more and more like we live at the high school wrestle room after school. Mc worked to be ready for State but he only won his second match and it was a double elimination so he ended up out. C won those two boys in Wayne county and they were 112 pounds instead of 103 he beat the first kid but the second kid they would one get 2 points ahead and then trade over to the other getting 2 points then trade back so C only beat by one point in the end. He told me that I needed to write that out more clearly for you. I think because he wrestled kids that were heavier is why. This weekend he went to Enterprise and took third place. All the kids were juniors or seniors so it was very tough for him but he felt good and the whole team came in 2nd. J has helped by keeping the little boys with her every time I have to take the older boys some place. I think really she would rather that then taking them anywhere. She got Jer to eat a ton of no bake cookies with peanutbutter along with chicken. He is so stressful because he seems to survive on nothing but pedisure and somehow we have got to get him to eat other things. Today they went horse riding and April was so hyper and poor Hobbles was sweating he is way to out of shape. Arab seemed just fine and just wanted to stay close to Hobbles as usual.

I made a goal to get 8 miles in of a run and I did it of course every inch of me hurt from Wed till Sat evening in varying degrees. J whimpered because her calves and shins and thighs hurt from biometrics and C and Mc ached from wrestling. C was so bruised after Enterprise and even has an eye that got a black spot so it kind of is half shut. But we are all excersized for the week thats for sure.

Just so you know the getting ready for Church this Sunday was much better then last Sunday and less of an argument. The speakers talked about being Forever Families and to put our feet in those shoes of others that had not attended the temple. The loss of how they must feel at not having a linked chain to those ancestors. I am so glad that my family is a forever family and that we have been sealed to each other. Even when there are days where we all struggling to be kinder, more respectful and learning to get along at least we are forever connected to each other because your Father cared enough to desire that his partner be sealed to him forever in the temple instead of just on the earth until we die. Anyway without a few struggles we never realize how much better peace can be.

Dad says "that he loves you and wishes you the very best in your endeavors". "Don't get discouraged and pray always". "You will never regret the work that you are doing." "I need to take the time to write a longer letter but it seems that time just moves to fast"

Dad is doing the taxes this week and passed up going skiing with the youth and Mc who will go for the first time without us. He is instead going to watch C at the Region wrestling at the SVC center.

Love all of us

Do you want to serve a mission too heres how!

I am all about helping tell the good story that makes my life more bearable and wonderful all at the same time. My oldest son serves the Lord teaching souls the good story and I would love to help him along the way or for that matter any other young man who is giving two years of his life to tell the world about the Lord and the truth that the Book of Mormon can bring to a persons life.

So with no further waiting may I announce our family is now going to become a part of the Internt MTC.

Say what? ya an INTERNT MTC. How? well people can search my site and hear my side of how I and my family live as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

We are cross referencing words and links that will lead those who need answers to questions that they have along with the things that we do to live a better life because we know who we are, where we are going, and were we will go once our lives on this amazing earth are done.

Come join me by being an Internet MTC to the world.

Click here.Links to how to do it, its easy.

Click here to get to the exact entry area.

When I need a lift I read from things like this click to read Just knowing that if we all do our part then the Lord will send the right people to get the work done. Even a Prince can realize the importance of the gospel and will come when the Lord whispers to him that its a more worthy cause then protecting idols. One of the Young Men that I used to Substitute teach in school here in America is serving a mission in the Princes country today. I hope that he will be able to teach members of the Princes family the truth of the Gospel and help his family become forever too just like mine. Read the story up there on that click to read link and enjoy.

Missionary asks about Family Prayer, Scripture reading, and Family Home Evening?

The Missionary's Questions to the Family.
1. How is family home evening going? 

2. How is family prayers going?

3. How is family scripture reading?

Family Answer: Honestly these are all always works in progress and refinement. There is an ebb and flow to them depending on the mood and strength of the family unit. So we are forever working to be better at each one and some days they are are done with greatness and some days we failed miserably and get up to the next day to work to do them again better the next time. We are not perfect but we are striving to gain that goal which will meet at some point if we try try try and keep always trying to reach that goal. 

1.I want to know what you mean about being obedient? Are you referring to the fact that sleeping is a favorite and hard for you even now that you are on a time zone that agrees with your biological internal clock or is it like Missionary Kathrine Howell says those who are native to the country often act as if the missionary rules do not apply to them?

1.Well I'm kind of confused about this Question, but I can say that I have been trying to develop alot more self control since I came on my mission and I started with making a resolution to be obedient all the time. Unfortunately you have to be with someone else all the time and they don't always want to be obedient and that causes contention. I don't like Contention and I don't like being disobedient so it's alot less stressful and alot more happy when your comp wants to be obedient too.

2.How do you practice listening to the spirit? 

2.We Do Real plays (Role plays) every day to try and discern the spirit, but mostly it just come in teaching and everyday life and decisions. You just have to search for it and you will find it. It's also easier when you don't watch TV and bother yourself with worldly stuff a majority of the time.

3.What are the Internet cafes like that you have to send letters to us from,are they hard to keep the spirit there about you because of the smoke or loud music?

3.The Internet cafes are ok. They are like public businesses so they don't allow smoking and what what inside. None of the Cafes I've been to are actually cafes. They are strictly for computer use.

4. What does it say on pg 15 of the 9:00pm schedule last sentence of the white handbook?

4.It says write in your journal. (I have been writing every night since the first day of January!)

5. Have you taken the time to see when your temple recommend expires? Make sure before you leave Africa that is is in affect with Pres. Poulsen so that you are able to attend here without having to take time to track down the people it will take to get it updated. 

5. I still have until July, then I will get it updated

6.What pictures would you like to see of our family do you have any choices that I could put on next week?

6.Any pictures I love pictures from home

7. Did you have lots of DA's this week? Has anyone asked you to do something that took practice that may have been lost from lack of practice? There is a sister that says she will make sure your fed if you have no DA's have you met her yet?

7.Not really, the ward is really good at giving us food though. We are not supposed to have DA's after 6:00 and that's when everyone wants to do it. The only way is if they have someone for us to teach.

Unfortunately I'm out of time but it's been a great week. I might have to write a letter. We'll see.

Love Elder Jones

 Dear Son and Brother

What a fun week we have had meeting your companions mother over the Missionaries Moms group.As soon as I saw the name I knew I had seen it on the group of the Moms from Africa. I am grateful for those who are willing to share and care about each other in this wonderful world that we live in. And we got see you little flat that sits sorta behind the green roofed house. The boys wonder if the car you have is still blue, that was the color of the one in the google maps address photo that Sister Seastrand sent for us to look at this week. 

This is my take on Listening to the spirit it takes practice every single day coupled with prayer so getting enough sleep helps turn on your ears to hear him loudly at times that you will need his quiet shouting like the time when the car was coming towards me on the freeway and I heard his shout to get in a different lane. 

The alumni wrestle happened this week and the team wiped out Gunnison C did not pin but he had 9 to 4 points on his opponent. I am not sure if you knew that Mike retired yet but can still whip Caleb Young on the mat. The two Willes brothers went against each other and tied up. It was fun to see some of the old guys on the mat. They honored Mike with a legend trophy that they want to start from now on. Thursday was crazy Mc went to the planetarium and then to a region wrestling. The buses made it back from SLC with barley enough time for them to hop in another car and head over to Millard county. He took 4th and was pretty pleased with himself. Of course we had to tell him earlier in the week that he had to finish out the season and go all the way to the end as he is starting to get tired of the practices every night after school. C that same night wrestled in Wayne county and pinned both of the kids he had to wrestle. Every kid on the varsity high school team has qualified to go to state this year. Jer goes around whistling all day now and asks me if I can whistle also. He even whistles in school and when he wants my attention.  Reminds me of someone else that's far away. I did another 6 mile run this week. My friend did an 8 mile run and so I guess this week I better get a move on if I am going to keep up with her.She already has ran a half marathon and she wants me to come run with her. I am a bit scared of it though because I have to talk myself into doing it everyday. Also running outside is way different then inside since there seems to be hills that pop up out of no where when you run outside, which of course makes you breath really hard at times and gets you into a discouraged state for a moment and then all of a sudden there is a flattening and if you kept going then you know that you can go more but if you quit on the hill then there is the talking yourself back into doing it more. This analogy reminds me of maybe how taking time to read the Book of Mormon when your at home and not having to do it can be just like preparing to run in a day but on your mission the time is set aside to do the reading its a part of the assignment. So I guess the bottom line is I just need to set the goal pay the fee and get running so that I am ready to run with her when the date arrives because when its all done I will feel so great. J even went with me on one of my walk/runs around the valley Sat. It only took us an hour and a half where last year it took me about two and a half hours to get around the valley. We couldn't run the whole time because she would get to tired and she had bad shoes on but it was fun to finally get her to go with me.  Tonight Z will be going to a get ready to be baptized class let me tell you he is so very thrilled to be able to go do this.

Please tell us all the new things that this week has brought to you in teaching the truth of all things that really matter most in this world.

Love the family who loves you here.

New Zone Leader and New Area for the Missionary.

So our questions are
1. Where are you in South Africa these days?
1.Well I'm am serving now in place called Pretoria East.
2. Will you be traveling all over and what are the names of the areas that you will cover?
2.Yes and the areas are Pretoria east, Mamelodi 1and 2, Centurion, Sunnyside, Soshanguve, Mabopane, Attridgeville and Saulsville
3. Who is your new companion, name and where is he from?
3.His name is Elder Seastrand. He's from Orem Ut. He is soon to finish his mission but he's doing really good at making sure it doesn't show. He is very obedient and I think that is going to help me to be obedient as well. It's really easy when you have a companion that wants to be obedient. It's positive peer pressure.
4. Did you have to write a letter to the parents of your son(companion he trained) also when you left him?
4. No we didn't do that, it would have been a good idea though.
5. Was it a bitter sweet parting?
5. Well yes I really loved Tzaneen, but I'm going love Pretoria as well. Pretoria is a big change from Tzaneen. 90% of the ward is white people and it's the same in our area. I think I'm going to have to start learning Afrikaans.
6. What will you miss the most about the son you have trained?
6.Well that's really a hard question for me to answer. I just enjoyed being companions with him, and it feels like it was really short.
7. What advice do you have for your brothers about learning to clean that will help them while serving there missions?
7.Just learn to clean up the messes you make when you make them.
8.Tell us the story of why the young man was being forced to leave church early before his interview by his Aunt.
8. Well the young man was scheduled to be baptized after having attended church for two weeks, the only problem was that he was going to be moving to Eastern Cape for school, on the same day. I was told that I should interview him but really just discern if he was ready and really converted. So we set up the interview and it went well. He, was personally prepared, but I still felt that the situation wasn't going to be good for him. Despite those feelings, I didn't want him to feel upset or discouraged so I filled out the record and said it would be ok. I really had two things pulling on me, the one was that I was afraid he would get upset and stop progressing if we said he should wait, and the other was guilt in feeling that I wasn't doing what God wanted me to do by saying yes. Well it turned out that his Aunt who was going to be taking him to Eastern Cape was a little impatient and said they would be leaving on Sunday morning before church and being unable to get baptized. So I really believe that was supposed to happen, and it was a humbling experience for me. I should probably do exactly as the spirit prompts me to do next time because the Lord just might not be there to save me the next time.

Well this week has been great, but it feels like it has taken forever. it started with transfers on Tuesday which was really suspenseful. They didn't announce where we would be going until the very very last minute before it was time to leave. Finally when I found out where I was going I was kind of excited because of my companion. I served around him a little bit in Soweto zone and he is a great missionary. I have already been learning alot from him. I'm no longer a senior companion but that 's kind of a good thing because it takes alot of pressure off of me. It's difficult sometimes being a trainer because your comp doesn't always know what to do and you have to try and make up for that yourself. So it's nice. so far we have both been able to talk and give ideas to each other so it's going well. Being a Zone Leader is nice because you have someone else there to get your back. One of the Coolest things that happened during transfers is that Elder Lechner is now my District leader here in Pretoria so I still get to hang around him. It's way cool! The other thing is that there are alot of Missionaries from my MTC group and missionaries that are older than me in the zone so it can be kind of intimidating to have to give them instruction. But the lord qualifies who he calls. A lot has happened this week, first we had Zone Leader council and that was great. It has helped me get in the swing of things. After the Zone Leader council President Poulsen took us to "The Top Of Africa" It is the tallest building Jo'burg. I had never walked around down town Jo'burg before and I got to tell you it's a little scary. Talk about big city! I could see one of my old area's from the top so that was really cool and if you look hard enough you can see the temple. I have some pics but I don't have time to send them today. The week has been alot of running around trying to organize things and doing interviews so I can't wait until we really get to crack down on our own area. Well that's all for now so I'll talk to you later
Elder Jones

Dear Elder Jones
So its been a very busy week again. Life with all these busy children just never seems to be quiet. Right now we are non stop after school. As soon as they hit the house we are hurrying to eat, run to do chores and fire stoke and then race to be on time to wrestle practices. We pick C up at 7:00 who of course wrestled right after school and then head for home. On nights when there is a match we have to hurry even faster to get all that done so that we can drive over the Mt. to where ever the tournament is happening. Thank goodness J is some-days able to stay with Jer and Z so that they are not always having to go off somewhere or with us. Pretty soon though it will be Zs turn to go to practices and Mc will start to slow down. On Fri Dad and I drove to Provo to watch the Hales Theater Play Foreigner that he got for my Christmas present. We missed the first 15 min because of how bad the traffic was but they still let us in. It was really funny to watch the play. We stayed in a hotel without any kids, strange for the first time in 4 years to not have at least one with us. The next morning we drove up to Heber city to watch C wrestle but it was so foggy that we got lost trying to find the arena that they had the tournament at. By the time we found the spot after going around it about twice he was all done and had gotten beat out placing him 7th out of 68 in his bracket. He felt really good about the time spent considering that not many freshman get as far as he did at this particular tournament. It was called the Rocky Mt Rumble and there were like schools from everywhere, 66 to be exact. We watched for awhile and then after falling asleep in hard spectator chairs we headed for home.
Today in Church the Parker family told about preparing to go to the temple and how when they were ready as a family to go Tiffany was not able to go and yet she had been the one that had needled at her Dad for most of her life until she hit her teen years. She told how she had to sit outside while her family went in and were sealed and how alone she felt. She said I know things happen for a reason and I am grateful that Brent came when he did because he helped me to get to a place where I needed to be to go and become a forever family. It was really a neat sacrament meeting today. Preston Parker said it was sad that he had the attitude all his life that things had to be his way or the Highway and then one day he realized that maybe the Highway he was on wasn't really going anywhere all that great. It almost broke his heart when Tiffany was unable to be with them when he had finally gotten ready to go to the temple. Several very close loved ones that passed on helped him to know that there was an urgency and he needed to be sealed to his family Now and to not waste any more time getting it done. I have never heard such urgency in a guy who never ever seemed that serious about anything to me. He made tears come to many an eye.
Well tonight I went to a Prom Dress check to make sure that J lovely lime green prom dress is temple garment worthy and then we went to a fireside. The boys would not come with us so it was just me and her. It was fun to be with her alone for a min.
That is so fun that you would get to eat dinner with the public affairs Rep over video production. I have always hope that would be a direction that the Lord would somehow open for you in your life. I guess time will tell right.
Well everyone wants me to tell you that they love you. Aunt Jamie said she thinks about you each day and she should be better about writing. Uncle Jathan is going back to school in the medical field. He does work at times with Uncle Brocks company but he got shocked and lost the feeling in his finger on a job that they had sent him out on and that is the thing that made him start to consider Physical therapy after having to go get the therapy done again, This is something he considered many years ago already once. He says its about time he does it and stops just thinking about hints and directions that he keeps receiving. Brock is back to work but his leg does get to bothering him at times. He has to wear one of those compression socks. Papa is still driving truck and Nana has her birthday today. Uncle Brock took us Jan. birthday girls out for dinner yesterday and he paid for it all it was kind of fun to do together. I love you your Dad loves you and we hope that this week is super great for you and we are all on pins and needles waiting to hear where and what you are now up to these days.
Love the family

Teaching steers to lead for showing at the county fair.

Some days it takes muscle to get a calf to learn to lead. Some days it just takes muddy areas too to get them to yield. J girl working with her steer to make sure that when it hits a 1000.00 pounds she can still make him go where whe wants him to go.

C boy had to make his steer get sandwiched just to get the halter on to teach him the finner points to leading.

This is the beginning to teaching a steer to lead for FFA showing this summer in the county fair.