Dec 9th 2013, Distric Leader, Mdanstane South Africa

We will have an Open House on Sunday Dec15th after 6:30pm for anyone who would like to come and visit Elder Jones.

Also his homecoming talk will be Dec 29th 11:00am at the Raymond Stake Centre.

Heyo!

 

Yup this is the last one. It's kind of weird and it still doesn't feel like it. But it is true and I've got to deal with it. So this week goes something like this...

…Today is P-Day... Tonight is FHE with a family in our area. Tomorrow morning I fly to Cape Town. Tuesday all day I will be with 2 other Elders who are going home in my group and we get to drive around and visit people in Cape Town. Tomorrow night we sleep at the Mission home with the Greenies. Wednesday is transfers. Wednesday afternoon I get my final interview with President Wood. Wednesday evening I get a nice home cooked meal by Sister Wood. Wednesday night we get our final going home training (which I have already heard twice as an AP). Thursday morning, 5 out of the seven elders are flying home in the morning. Elder Tukuafu and I hopefully get to go to Robin Island. Then Thursday night we fly out to England and then you know what happens from there on.

 On Sunday we only had 4 investigators at church, but we had a powerful lesson on the Word of Wisdom. I am going to miss that father led family more than anyone else in this area! I love them so much and I can't wait to find out that they are baptized!

 My area is now getting whitewashed and the new companionship coming in is a trainer and a greenie. They are jumping in on some awesome investigators! I'm seriously going to miss missionary work SOOOOOOOOOO much! This is so bitter sweet! I love helping others! I love serving others! I love seeing lives change for the better from the Gospel!

 The one young man in that father led family is a perfect example of that. He has changed completely from the 5 weeks we've been meeting with him! That whole family is completely different! I almost wanted to cry when I found out that they started doing family prayer every night, and we hadn't even talked about that yet. Haha now that I'm talking about this, I don't want to leave... There are some friendship's I've made here that I know will last forever, even if I never meet these people again in my lifetime. I've met some of the greatest people that this earth has to offer, and I met them within the humble little households of poor townships in South Africa. I have too much to be grateful for. I'm just honored that I had this incredible opportunity to serve and help others.

Thankfully it doesn't end here. Sure, full time missionary work in South Africa stops now, but my service to the Lord will continue for Eternity! I'm not ready to come home, but I wasn't ready to serve a mission either...

 Whatever the Lord wants me to do, I'll do it! Even if I fall, even if I suffer, even if I struggle, even if I get no reward. Otherwise, there is no happiness. I need to rid myself of the mentality that when I go home, I get my life back. With that thinking, then all that I have done has been a waste. Rather, I give my life over to the Lord and I seek to do His will always, even within my home, family, friends, anywhere and with anyone.

 I guess this is it. Next time you hear from me, it will be at the Calgary Airport. I love you all!

 

-Elder Jones

2 Dec 2013, Distric Leader, Mdanstane South Africa

Hey!

 I just need to say this first of all before anything so I don't forget!

Please don't forget to bring my winter coat when you pick me up from the airport! I'll freeze to death if you don't! Ok that's all...

 Honestly, I like that Idea of separating family and friends... I was concerned about that before but I think it would be best to do them separate. I don't want people competing for my attention and I think the family would feel weird with all of my friends around anyways.

 So maybe family on Sat evening and then friends on Sun evening?

 If that's not too much of a hassle?

 Oma was also telling me about the snow storm. I hope it's not going to be too bad. I was showing my companion pictures of home and of the snow and he was so fascinated because he has never felt snow before. Actually a majority of the people here don't know what snow feels like. My companion wants to feel snow so badly! So I just scraped some ice off the back of our freezer and threw it at him and told him that it's practically like that. He still wasn't satisfied.

 As for how our area is doing, it's doing great! We had an investigator come to church and afterwards had a powerful lesson on the Gospel of Jesus Christ with him. He's super ready for baptism and we are working with his father and brother as well, but they aren't progressing as fast as he is.

 It's exciting! I don't know how to describe everything that's happening in our area, because it is a lot! We are working with less actives and going through the ward list, and we are working with recent converts. We are finding new investigators and teaching progressing investigators. Things are going great! Just busy busy busy! Too much work! I'm loving it!

 Well I have one more day of emailing before I'm home. So I hope everything is going to be ok. I love you all too much! Take Luck!

-Elder Jones

25 Nov 2013, Distric Leader, Mdanstane South Africa

Hello!

 

 

I'm glad they did a conference on member missionary work for stake conference. We just had a Missionary Fireside with our ward here yesterday. It was really nice. Hopefully it helps to start or ignite a fire for doing missionary work.

As for which day to do the Christmas/family/friends night it doesn't matter to me... Hopefully I get released Saturday morning... I want to be released before the family/friends night so that I can hug everyone!

Thanks for that quote mom! It's a good one. It makes you do a self introspection that's for sure!

Well from my side, I'm still doing great! I'm still in denial that I'm going home, and I definitely am not counting down the days... In fact I try to leave the amount of time I have left as shady as I can. Even when people tell me how many days I have left I put up a mental block and forget what they said moments later. I'm actually impressed with how well I'm able to mentally avoid the fact. It's not that I don't want to go home, but I want to stay focused till the end. So far so good!

Our area is on fire! We had 8 investigators at church. 6 of which have baptismal dates for next month. We have this incredible father led family we are working with that I think I told you about last time and the son came to church yesterday! They are doing so awesome and it seems like we get sucked into their home every visit and lessons go way over time because they are so interested and keep asking questions and want to know more! I love it!

  There are 4 other young men we are working with who are all friends and there is another young man we are teaching as well. We have a few other investigators we are working with and who keep us busy along with the 8 recent converts we need to see every week and the vast number of LA's we are trying to track down from the ward list. So we are busy buSY BUSY!! We honestly have too much to do for the time we get in the area.

 An Elder who I was with in the MTC who is serving in Uganda gets off his mission this Friday and he's from here. So he'll be flying to Cape Town and then hopefully flying to East London (Where I am now). If he flies here I'll get to meet up with him! That would be so sweet! I'm excited!

Well thanks for the emails! Thanks Aunt Terri for all you've done over the course of my mission! I wish I would have shown my appreciation more for all that you have done but know I love you and I'm grateful for your loving support of me!

Thanks for everyone else and everything you all do for me! I love you all so much! Time is flying by too fast! Take luck!

 

-Elder Jones

18 Nov 2013, District Leader, Mdanstane South Africa

Heyo!

 

Thanks a ton for the emails! I don't even know where to start! haha!

First off, HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!!! I don't even know what day it is though... but if you were to have spent that much money here on a meal that would be an insane meal!!! Here, if you spend over R50 ($5.00) on a meal at a restaurant, you are eating a nice meal! Most of the meals I get are usually around R30-R40. So to get a R800-R900 meal would be an incredible meal! You could probably feed 20 people with that!

 The transition from here to home is going to be so strange for me! I might just die from stinginess!

 Well just so you know I have had a really good week! There is too much work to do in our area and not enough time to do it... I honestly wish I could fit about 4-5 more appointments into the day! I would consider going on splits to accommodate all of the appointments, but Elder Warantino is still learning English and can't teach a full lesson in English yet... So we will stick together.

 We were supposed to be having 4 baptisms at the end of this month of 4 boys that we are teaching, but after a lesson with them yesterday, I don't think that these boys will be ready in time for the 30th... it might have to be pushed back another month... there is one boy though who is prepared, but for him to get baptized and not the other 3 might be a bad idea... so we are still figuring out what we will do... we'll see. The work here is great though! I like the ward a lot!

 It has been raining like crazy though! It makes it pretty fun because the drainage systems here are terrible, so the roads just get flooded, and it's very hilly here so some roads turn into rivers and everything! It's pretty fun to drive around in! I didn't take any pic’s though... my camera's battery is terrible and only lasts like a day, so It's always dead when I want to take pic’s. Haha!

 I don't really know what else to write! I'm working hard! I love the work! I love the gospel! I love growing and learning more and I'm still growing and learning each day! I'm getting to know the word "charity" more and more each day. Not only is it the Pure Love that Christ has for us, but it is also the Pure Love that we have for Christ. I love you all and I think you for your support of me! Take care!

 

-Elder Jones

11 Nov 2013, District Leader, Mdanstane South Africa

Hey Mom and Dad!

 So my time is running out faster than I thought... I was getting complacent with my emailing pace but I'll have to type a bit quicker! Thanks for the updates on everything. The sound of snow is ringing in my ears and I am rejoicing at the thought!

 That's a good idea about a fireside, and I even think that every year they usually hold a MTC thing where RM's and Full time Missionaries do a kind of MTC thing where for some hours they do workshops and classes and then give talks and they go out and visit people, then have a testimony meeting. Those sorts of things are awesome!

 As for investigators and our area, it's doing really well! It'll be picking up more I think over the next few weeks. We are now teaching a father led family! In fact there is a Father and 3 sons! Potential Priesthood home! Usually in South Africa you'll find a mother with a bunch of daughters. Actually that is really common, so what a blessing it is that we are teaching a father and his sons. Right now we are only teaching the father and one of his sons, but they are doing really great and said that they were going to come to church on Sunday! So I'm stoked about that!

 

 

My companion Elder Warantino and I are getting along great and I'm getting into shape with our morning exercises! He's a beast! I didn't realize how big of a boxer he really was. Like he is famous! He was undefeated for a long time at one point. He said that he was in the newspapers and on the television and everyone was scared to face him. He's sweet!

 Haha I showed another Elder the picture of dad's truck with 3 trailers and about dad he said, "He's Boss!" You wouldn't be able to drive that load around on these roads here! They are way too small for that many trailers. No room to turn. Well I need to go. We are washing our cars today and having a BBQ then going to a FHE tonight. I love you all! Take luck!

 

-Elder Jones

4th Nov 2013, Distric Leader, Mdanstane South Africa

HAHA!!!

 I like How the Christmas lights are up! I think that's a nice feature to add to the Halloween spirit!  275 kids, still isn't too bad... I like the decorations though, you did a good job! Even got the big pumpkin out too! It was too bad that I couldn't be there for Halloween. They don't celebrate Halloween here... probably for good reasons.

 

 

You wanted to know about my companion eh? He is from the Kiribati Islands, you might have to Google that... His English is decent right now. He's been out for 4.5 months now, so I'm getting him in the state where he understands most things I say, and he responds decently, but just needs a larger vocabulary and better pronunciations. So it's not too bad.

It's just kind of weird though because in lessons he isn't very comfortable teaching in English, so I find myself teaching pretty much all of the lessons, but it's ok. I'm working with him on that.

  I love him! He's so kind and loving and he serves me so much! He makes me food every day! Breakfast, lunch, and dinner he is cooking for me and making me big meals! I'll send you a pic of one meal. He said that in his culture, the men cook, not the women. I'm not complaining!

 

 

 

Also I'm exercising like a maniac every morning and Elder Warantino is my trainer. I'm going to be ripped! He is a professional boxer! He's been boxing since he was 8 yrs old! Also He loves to work hard and his last companion didn't like to work at all... so he's really happy to be with me so that we can both work really hard looking for those ready to hear the Gospel! I haven't been this happy and this full of the spirit in a long time, so I'm really enjoying myself!

 I made those pancakes from the mix you sent me for my birthday. That was glorious!!!! Especially the 100% pure maple syrup!!! SO AWESOME!!!

 I forgot what I was missing! Elder Warantino said he had never tasted something like that before! All they have for syrup here is corn syrup with different flavours... not so great... so the real maple syrup was really nice THANKS!

 

 

As for how my new area is doing right now... well the missionary I replaced was not that dedicated to the work, so the area needs a lot of work... so this week I have been going around meeting people and setting appointments and we are already pretty full. We are going to be focusing on working with members as much as possible to get the work just pumping here!  Also we have 4 young men we are teaching who should be ready for baptism at the end of this month, hopefully! So good things are happening!!!!!

Right now I am in a place where they speak predominantly Xhosa so I will try hard to learn it as best as I can so that when I come home I can share my testimony in that language.

 Haha! As for that missionary we picked up from the airport from Raymond, Kash Ellingson, his mom should know that there are predominantly 3 languages here that he will encounter... there are a lot more, but there are 3 main ones. Xhosa, Afrikaans, and English. Thankfully for the most part, everyone knows English... So he won't be fluent in any new language, but he will learn the greetings and basic things from a few languages.

 Well I'm having a hard time focusing in this email shop from all the noise around me so I’m sorry about this email being lame... I am doing great though and hopefully I'll be able to write a better letter next week. Thanks for all of the support!

 If there were any questions I didn't answer, just re-ask for next time...

  I love you all!

 -Elder Jones

26th Oct 2013, Assistant to the President, Cape Town, South Africa

Hi Mom and Dad,

We just got a phone call from president about 30 mins ago telling us that we are going to be getting elders coming in to our mission who were supposed to be going to the Kenya mission. Transfer day is on Wednesday and we are only finding out about these things today!

 I won't know all of the details until tomorrow night but there are some crazy things going on! I'm going to be super busy for the next few days! Then, relief...

My mission averages around 40-50 baptisms per month now-a-days. It used to be a lot lower but it has been picking up lately. We just had a baptism today. It went really well. I'll attach some photos! Love yah!

 

So some pretty crazy stuff is going on! We just got two new Elders who were supposed to be going to the Kenya Nairobi Mission, but some visa problems occurred so they have come to our mission.

  So yah turns out that one of the Elders coming to our mission is from Canada! Even better he's from Raymond!!! Elder Kash Ellingson is here! I was able to pick him up from the airport and I've been with him all day! It's been sweet! We've just been talking about Raymond a lot! It's pretty crazy!!! Anyways, here a picture!

 

-Elder Jones

24 Oct 2013, Assistant to the President, Cape Town, South Africa

Mom and Dad

Hey thanks for the update.

Things are going well here. Just did our last exchange with some zone leaders yesterday. Now we are just focusing on transfers.

Also, I don't think I told you, but we are going to be having a baptism this coming Sunday. It's the first baptism that the assistants have had in over 2 years in this mission.

President Wood has not seen his assistants have a baptism yet since he
has been here. So that's pretty cool. It's an eleven yr old girl. Her mother is an active member and she wasn't baptized because she didn't know English. But now she knows English very well and we've
taught her everything. She's been interviewed and she's getting
baptized!

But I need to end this short for now.

I love you all!    

 -Elder Jones

21 Oct 2013, Assistant to the Mission President, Cape Town South Africa

Hey!

 

Thanks for the email! This week has been pretty hectic dealing with some missionary issues. Also I have my transfer news!

 

I'm going to Mdanstane to be the District Leader there with Elder Warrantino. Elder Warrantino is awesome! I like him! He's from the Kiribati Islands (around Fiji?) and He's huge! Huge as in strong! He also doesn't know English, so he's learning, so I'll be helping him with his English.

 

He is so loving and has a great desire to do the work! Also Mdanstane is the second largest township in South Africa, and townships are where you can work the hardest! So we'll be working like crazy!!!!!! I'm excited!!!!!!!

 

I'm going to a place where I can work my butt off and help build the Lord's kingdom with an obedient companion, and also I'll be able to learn some new lessons by working on growing in patience and love towards my companion. I couldn't think of a better way to die! I'm still in denial that I'm coming up to my last transfer! I just don't believe it!

 

That all won't be happening till next week though, but now my companion and I need to do all of the organizing and arranging of transportation and flights and busses and everything for all of the missionaries... busy busy!

 

Thanks for all of your support and love! Just remember that I love you all and I'm doing well!

 

-Elder Jones

 

(P.S. I went golfing today and I did terrible!)

15 Oct 2013, Assistant to the Mission President, Cape Town South Africa.

Hi Mom and Dad,

 

This is my first opportunity to email in over a week. I will tell you what my problem is and why it's so hard for me to email you. Every time I have an opportunity to email my time is slim with sharing the computer with my companion. We have one computer at the office that we use to do things, and every time we go into the office we spend time doing all of the other things that need to get done so shared time is very limited, then we leave to the area or wherever we need to go. But right now it's half an hour past my bed time and I read through 12 emails that I haven't even been able to see yet.

 

 Thank you so much for all of the pictures and all of the emails! I really appreciate it! I'm sorry I haven't been able to talk to you more... ... but just know that I love you all so much!

 

 Right now I am in Port Elizabeth going on exchanges with the Zone Leaders and the trainers and trainee's here. Last week, all week, I was traveling between East London, Queenstown, and Mthatha doing exchanges all through there... Lot's of driving... I think the worst thing out of being so ridiculously busy is my lack of being able to write letters, email, write in my journal, and even taking pictures!

 

  But I'm focused on the work, and all I want to do is just get lost in the work... I just want to work in an area... I feel like I've grown out of this "missionary" stage... Not that I don't want to be a missionary, or do missionary work. In fact I wish I could just only do missionary work and share the gospel. I can’t wait till I go back out in the field.

 

I really need to go to bed... It's really late... I love you all! Take care! Thanks for the pictures! Looks like those dunes were awesome!!! Love ya! Good night!

 

-Elder Jones

2 Oct 2013, Assistant to the Mission President, Cape Town, South Africa

 

SORRY EVERYONE ELDER JONES HAS BEEN EXTREMELY BUSY AS AN ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT.

 

IN THE PAST FEW WEEKS HE HAS JUST SENT A FEW LINERS TO KEEP IN TOUCH WITH FAMILY. NOTHING REALLY TO LIST ON HIS BLOG BUT HERE ARE A FEW WITH HIS BIRTHDAY. SORRY I AM LATE

 

 

Mom and Dad,

 

Thanks for the email.  Also I just got your package today!!! On my birthday! And a letter from you! So perfect timing whatever you did! Thanks!

 

 I haven't opened it yet but I will right after I send this email! I love you! Have fun!

 

I just opened it! Thank you so much for the package! I loved it! I couldn't have had a better birthday on mission!  love you both! :)

 

-Elder Jones

19 Sept 2013, Assistant to the President, Cape Town, South Africa

Good morning!

 That was a big spider you found mom! I'm proud of you for catching it in a jar and taking a picture! You always know what makes me happy! Haha! Well let me update you on what has been happening with me and why I haven't been able to email you back yet... This week was transfer week... so I received a new companion and I had the responsibility of making sure that all the missionaries who were travelling to difference areas all got on their flights and busses on time and that everything ran smoothly...

 

Also I was there for the new elders when they arrived and the trainers and when they arrived. Not to mention we had this problem about a week before transfers where the area office told President Wood that there were 4 elders who were in the MTC who couldn't get their visa's for Kenya and who might come to our mission. So with that being said President had us prepare 2 extra flats and 2 extra area's for these elders to stay... which meant moving some more people around and booking new flights and busses. After all that preparation, those 4 elders didn't end up coming after all... so I felt like we had just participated in "Zion's Camp." So we changed all of the plans and the flats and everything back to the first plan and then everything went smoothly...

 

 The Lord keeps putting these challenges in my path and I find that He's doing this to see how much I will truly trust in Him and rely on Him! This is His work and everything will be done the way He wants it to be done! If I start getting my own ideas in the mix and have my own pride, then things won't run as smoothly... but once I trust in Him and do what He wants, His way, in His timing, then everything for some reason just magically works out in the end! I love it! It is really cool to see! Also, we had to open 2 new areas up in Cape Town, and we only had enough room for one more companionship, so Elder Martin (my new companion) and I had to give up our humble abode to Elder Bullock and his new companion, so now Elder Martin and I are staying at the Mission Office... Haha! We live here now until a boarding is found for Elder Bullock. So I have access to the computers whenever I want really...

 

We have Zone Conference next week, which means I will be travelling almost the whole mission next week, but we are preparing for that right now, so we are super busy, but in a couple weeks, things should be a bit more relaxed and I'll have more time to respond more frequently. I love you all! Thank you so much for all of your support and your emails even though you don't hear from me very often.

15 Sept 2013 Assistant to the President, Cape Town, South Africa

Hi Mom and Dad,

I'm sorry that it's taken so long to reply... I really have not had any time to even be on a computer to email... I have been travelling since Wednesday and won’t be back till Wednesday... Went to East London and Queenstown and Mthatha this week and I have a leadership training to give on Tuesday and a portion of the new elders training to give tomorrow... so I'm just super swamped... I really shouldn't even be emailing right now but I am.

 

I just finished taking reports from the Zone Leaders and I thought I would take a minute to email quickly... I wish I could do it more often and spend more time emailing, but I have so much to do... I'm even half an hour late for bed right now... Thanks for the email! I really appreciate all of the support! Don't worry about me if I don't respond promptly... You can write me any time! I work on the computers at the office almost every day so I can check my email.

 

Even if I am limited with time to write something big, but I promise when the times arise I will take them.... they just might be few and far between... So don't be afraid to send emails through the week. but I'll only be AP for 7 more weeks then It'll be over... And I’ll be able to rest... but not really because I'm going to work my butt off in my next area!!!!!! WOOOO!!!! I love this work so much! I couldn't be spending my time doing anything better! I love you all. Take care!

 

-Elder Jones

25th Aug 2013 Assistant to the President, Cape Town, South Africa

THERE IS ANOTHER LETTER AFTER THIS ONE. PLEASE READ ON

 

Hello!

 

Thanks for the pics! I'm sorry I couldn't respond to you earlier! I haven't had a chance all week! On Monday my companion and I left Cape Town and Drove to Knysna (I was able to see some people there! It was awesome to be back!), then Tuesday we drove the rest of the way to P.E. Then we had Exchanges with the Zone Leaders in P.E. Then we drove to Grahamstown that night, then had exchanges with Elder Raharizoandrinirina and Elder Chamberlin

 

Then Wednesday night we drove to Port Alfred and ate at the Stumms (Senior Couple/ Branch President of Port Alfred) then stayed the night with Elder Anderson and Elder Sanders. Then Thursday we had exchanges with them, then that night we drove to Kwa Nobuhle and stayed with the Kwa Nobuhle Zone Leaders.

 

Friday morning we went to P.E. for Leadership training, of which my companion and I had to present a 1 hour presentation to 2 Zones leaders on leadership responsibilities and duties (it went over time though...). After the Leadership training we had exchanges with the Kwa Nobuhle Zone Leaders, stayed the night with them again, then Saturday morning after studies we left back to Cape Town.

 

We made another brief stop in Knysna for lunch and saw a couple more people, then we drove the rest of the way home to Cape town. We spent a total of about 23 hours driving this week! Now we are back and now I can email! I forgot my camera and my flat, so I can't send pictures today... But I will send some soon!

 

Here are some cool experiences I had over the past week while travelling and doing stuff!

 

On exchanges in P.E. with Elder Carlson, we had a terrible day of people dropping and no one being home and nothing was working out. Then, while looking for a member, we found a Nigerian man at the house instead who said he didn't know who the members were. Instead of just saying, "Thanks, have a nice day." We introduced ourselves and he invited us into his home. He brought out his well used bible and told us he studies his scriptures every day. We got to know him better and then discussed our purpose and shared the 3 minute version of the first lesson. He seemed very interested and we helped him see that this is the message that his life was preparing him to receive. He was very interested, said he felt the spirit of God in his home, wanted a copy of the Book of Mormon, wanted to come to church, and wanted us to come back. It was a miracle! 

Another experience was when I was on Exchanges in Kwa Nobuhle with Elder Mapeka and Elder Mapeka accidentally locked the car keys in the trunk. So we used a metal coat hanger from a member and tried opening it but it wasn't working (it works with Aveos but not with the Etios). So after calling a mechanic and him telling us that we needed a locksmith and that he didn't know a locksmith and nobody had a phone book, I decided that I needed to pray. So I said a silent prayer to myself and asked that we could open the car so that we could teach His children. Right after I said, "Amen," Elder Mapeka managed to shuffel the back window down a 1/4 of an inch. So I tried doing something with the hanger through the window but it was too far from anything. So I said another silent prayer asking for more assistance with being able to get the car completely open, and again right when I said, "Amen," the member came up to us with a long thick wire asking if it would help. So Elder Mapeka bent the end into a hook and shoved it in the car and reached all the way down to the latch that opens the trunk and wallah! First try and the trunk was open! I was amazed! Miracles left and right! We were then able to teach two powerful lessons that night. 

My last spiritual experience this week was when we were coming back to Cape Town and we stopped in Knysna to get lunch a Debonairs. So after ordering we walked to the Superspar to get some drinks and as we were coming back to get our pizza, two YSA age men from Zimbabwe stopped us and said that they had been walking around looking for the chapel all that morning and that they had been receiving lessons from missionaries in Zimbabwe and wanted to find the church and get taught again. So we walked to the chapel with them and arranged for the Knysna Elders to come and meet them. We had reported to us that they met them and they said they would come to church. So there's two potential priesthood holders and desperately needed YSA to add to Knysna! MIRACLES!!! I love it!

 

I wish I had more time to write something! I need to take reports now from the Zone Leaders! I love you all! Thank you for all of your awesome support! I need all that I can get!

 

-Elder Jones

 

15th Aug 2013 Assistant to the President, Cape Town, South Africa

I HAVE TO APOLOGIZE I WAS UNABLE TO GET THIS ON ADRIAN’S BLOG

PLEASE KEEP IN MIND ADRIAN DOES NOT HAVE PREP DAYS SO HIS LETTERS ARE SPORATIC

 Hello!

 

Ok, so I have some time now to be able to send something! These past 2 weeks have been very busy. I don't even have p-days anymore... Last week was transfer week so it was very hectic getting all the missionaries in this vast mission to their various areas safely and on time. Lot's of flights that happened. So I'm getting very familiar with airports these days. Also I was able to send Elder Morris to the airport. He was the only Elder going home this transfer.

 

Also this past week we had a Missionary Leadership Counsel at the mission home. So all of the Zone Leaders in the whole mission flew down to the mission home for a 3 day training. So I was really busy with organizing and arranging that all to happen smoothly. We also were able to see a classical concert. There was a pianist named David Glen Hatch and his students who held a concert and it was entirely piano playing, but they are like world class pianists! It was awesome! So we were able to go see that. He is a member from Utah.

 

The rest of this week I have kinda been in the Mission Office a lot doing paper work and updating information and what not... I haven't had much time in my area... Which is a bummer because I love teaching people and working in that sense, but I guess the things I am doing is helping with missionary work anyways... I need to get used to it... but I think next transfer I am going to plan out the transfer better so that I can have more time in the area.

 

Next week I'll be travelling a lot. We are going to drive to P.E. and spend the week there doing exchanges and stuff, then coming back. Then in a few weeks we will fly to East London and drive to Queenstown and Mthatha and do exchanges and what not for a week as well then come back. All the while doing leadership trainings. Busy busy busy...

 

Thank you so much for all of the support! I am glad that the family is all having fun and able to be together! Sounds like you are all busy and having a blast! I love you all and I'm so grateful for all of the support that I get from all of you! I wish I could email you sooner or send more pictures but I can't do that this week. I barely have time to send this email! Take care!

 

Elder Jones

5 Aug 2013, Assistant to the President, Cape Town, South Africa

Good Day mom and dad!

 

Sorry that this email is coming so late! I meant to send a quick message this morning warning you that I wouldn't be able to send anything till later, but I was busy. So! First off! Thanks for the email and the update with the pics! Loved them!...I dont have much time nor can I hardly concentrate right now because of all the stuff running through my head right now... So I'll just cut to the chase!

 

This week has been hectic! I will just say that this week we worked very hard in the area! It was the last week of the transfer and we really got down to work! We only were able to have 2 people at church on Sunday though, but we are still working hard at getting people to church.

 

 This Sunday was fast and testimony Sunday, so I had an opportunity to bear my testimony. I also had the opportunity to say good bye to everyone... yes i did just say that I was saying goodbye! Why would I say that? because this week is transfer week. And What is my transfer news? well... My news made it so that I left Queenstown on Sunday after church and drove 3 hours south to East London. Then at 8:25 Monday morning I boarded an airplane and flew to Cape Town. But wait? isn't transfers always on a Wednesday? yes... Then why did I fly to Cape Town 2 days early? well... I received a phone call Saturday night from President Wood telling me that I was being called to serve as the Assistant to President! Wow!!! Mind blowing!

 

 So now I am in Cape Town calling missionaries and telling them their transfer news! I have done a lot today and I didn't have time to Email... but now that I'm AP my schedule is all messed up and my emails might be coming in at strange and different times... but there is so much I have to learn and so much I have to do and so much responsibility! It's all so overwhelming but at the same time I am just chill...

 

 Luckily my companion knows whats going on and is awesome! His name is Elder Chikara from Johannesburg but he was born in Zimbabwe. He's really awesome and I'm excited to be working with him! Also I will be working right along side of President Wood for the next 3 months! I'm going to be travelling a lot and doing a lot of trainings and what not... I'm not sure if the mission office sent you an email yet telling you or not... anywho.. I can hardly focus on writing this email.. my mind is flooded right now... But just know that I am doing very well and I appreciate all of the love and support!

 

 I have just been given a huge responsibility to serve. I'll need all the prayers I can get! Thanks for everything! I'm going to end this now... Love ya all!

 

-Elder Jones

28th July 2013, Zone Leader, Queenstown South Africa.

(Sorry no pics....)

 

Hi mom and dad,

 

WOW!! Those pictures just blow my mind! That's really awesome with the ariel view of the storm path! That's a lot of hail! One elder in my Zone just asked me, "Elder Jones, is Canada even going to be there when you get back?" That's a good question!

That is crazy weather you are having though! I still puzzle and marvel over it. The weather here, in contrast, is extremely mild! It was a bit windy for a couple of days, but that's pretty much it! It is starting to get warmer and the sun is slowly starting to get higher in the sky. Seems like Fall is over and we are jumping straight into Summer! No spring or winter here!  Thanks for the advice, I will do so for sure! I can't afford for anything to happen to my zone members, or myself.

 

This week has been pretty awesome! Lots has happened but I don't have time to share everything... Last Monday we started shooting a film that the mission President has asked that Elder Maciver make for him. It's about a man who is taking a vacation away from city in a rental car, and on the highway in the middle of no where he gets a flat, and when he checks the trunk for a jack, it's missing. So he decides he's going to borrow a jack from a nearby farmhouse. As he is walking up to the house he starts thinking about all of these things that could go wrong where the people won't want to let him borrow their jack. He thinks that maybe they'll charge him for it and what not. So by the time he gets up to the farmhouse to ask to borrow a jack, he is so angry that instead of asking for a jack from the farmer, he yells, "WHY DON'T YOU JUST KEEP YOUR JACK!!" The message behind it is that we shouldn't "assign dark motives" to other people but rather we should think positively and always give somebody the benefit of the doubt. So turns out that I'm the actor in this film, so we were filming that on Monday and we will be finishing the filming today...

Wednesday was awesome! We had a Zone Training with President Wood and we also had interviews! Lasted until 4:30, but it was very nice! Elder Mholo and I had to give 2 trainings on the importance of teaching Repentance and President Wood gave a training on Grace. His training was awesome! Pretty much all we did was watch a talk by Brad Wilcox titled, "His Grace is Sufficient." IT IS SUPER AWESOME!!!!! I highly suggest every single person who reads this to find that talk and either watch it, listen to it, or read it! It pretty much summarizes, and puts into words clearly and simply, the main lesson that I have learned as I have been on mission. If more people were to understand what he talks about, people would have such a huge jump start on eternity! It changed your perspective and view on the Atonement and on the purpose of this life! FIND IT! STUDY IT!!!

 

After training, President and Sister Wood came with us to an appointment with an investigator that we have. We taught the Restoration and the lesson was powerful. President and Sister Wood simply testified during the lesson, but the spirit was so strong and everything went very well! I wish I could bring them out with us for lessons every day!

Saturday we had exchanges with the Assistants to President. It went very well also. Our area is on fire right now and I love it! I am still being let down every Sunday when only 1 person rolls up to church out of the many that promise us they will. But it will come. We have been trying to give as many people as we can baptismal dates so that it will push them to come to church. We have been able to give out 5 and the goal we have for the end of the week is 11. I'm sure we will be able to achieve it! Hopefully it will funnel out for our investigators to take that next step and change their lives and become baptized. We have been working working working and I'm loving loving loving it! I've seen so many miracles and so many things that I am noticing that the Lord is doing His work here! It's incredible!

 

This is the last week of the transfer! How crazy is that!??!?! It feels like I just got here! This last week I'm going to work harder than my whole time here! Hopefully, if all goes well, I'll get to stay here for another transfer, but only the Lord knows... and President Wood I guess... So maybe next Monday I'll know my news... and maybe not... we'll see... Well, I hope that everyone will be able to stay safe from all these crazy storms!

 

Take care! I love you all tons! Thanks for the constant support from everyone!

-Elder Jones