July 22, 2013

Hey Family,

How are you all? I hope you have all had a wonderful week.

Things here have been good. The week really seemed to fly by. I don’t even know which day was which. My companion and I were privileged to be taken in to have a meeting with President Ostler and some other few missionaries where we talked about how to better the relationships between the missionaries and the branches and the leaders. As we were talking about this all we talked about how here in Sierra Leone the people just fall like fruit and how do we handle how to catch and harvest the fruit. We discussed on how we can possibly be able to find more families. Here it is difficult to find families because they all stay in different parts and not really together. The rate of married couples with children verse unmarried is very high and many are single parents on their own. But as we discussed we talked about giving full effort to going out and finding families more and more. With this they will see how we do and to implement it into the other areas or what to do. It will be good. Difficult and trying but it will be for the best. We always see the strength in families in the church. I am glad to see the blessings of it from our family and all the families around us back home and being able to see how it truly plays a big part. As for us here we are just planting the seeds. Most of the people in the sacrament meetings are first generation members and it will take time for it to progress and become more of a family built and strengthened church.

On Saturday we were able to have a baptism (barely). We went early to our own branch to fill the font and make sure all was okay. When we arrived the water that had been pumped in the night before had drained out and now the pump was not working.  The called the plumber man to come but he was taking too long so we said we would go to the district center. We went to go tell our candidate. When we got there our candidate said that she didn’t have any money for transport. So we said… Okay, let we walk… Luckily they agreed and were ready to go. We picked up some others and started to walk. While on the way there we got a phone call from some of the others and they said that somebody had drained that font as well. Great… we just walked half way and now we have to turn around. They said they would check and see if they could get the water going. Luckily they did and we continued. As we got there we just had to wait for a long while for the font to fill up. It was crazy, we met some Americans there who had come to witness the baptism. They were from the peace corps and spending time living with a family here who was the one being baptized. It was very weird talking to them. I had to get my courage up just to talk to them and in English instead of Krio. I did okay. Haha. Well the baptism took place and all went well. Both candidates bore powerful testimonies for what they had. It was sweet. After that, we walked all the way back! It was probably an hour walk there and a hours walk back. LOTS of walking on Saturday!

We got transfer news on Saturday as well. I’m still with my companion for the transfer, what we expected. I’m glad. But two people in the apartment just changed rooms. One went from our branch to the other and the other who was in the branch just went to the other area. I was laughing very hard as they were just shifting their things around. But it is all for the work and we will all enjoy anther transfer together in the same apartment.

Well, the internet is terrible today so this is all. Love you all tons!

Love Elder Jones

July 15, 2013

Well.. Two things... I'm beginning to think that this is all a hoax about the baby. you are just sending me fake pictures.. You've been saying this baby is due for a while and still nothing...... haha just kidding. Well, now that school is over the baby will come real quick. and secondly....

DONT SCARE ME LIKE THAT! This morning I receive a phone call and.. let me start from the beginning. I'm sitting in my room and I just hear Elder Bogh yelling my name in kind of a worry and he comes running into my room holding his phone saying that i have a phone call from Salt Lake City. me... Yeah right, in a confused state wondering why he would think of that as a joke that i'd believe.. then i saw on the phone screen the 801 area code! All Elder bogh said was that somebody was calling from Salt lake and something about relatives... my very first thoughts were. "It wasn't me! I didn't do anything. Why would Salt Lake be calling me!? and then in my mind went the words that he said "Salt Lake" and "Relatives"  O no. What happened. I said hello and then there was a pause because of the distance. The next thing i hear is a Sierra Leone voice asking if i'm the same Elder Spencer Jones that he was looking for... He mentioned that he had been with my parents. At this point there was a million things going through my head between something bad happened to mom and dad were on the other side of the phone... He explained that his father is our land lord and he helped to build the house. He said that he had met you and president and sister roggia. Whew... first worry gone. He then started talking about how he knew it was hard is Salone and he was making sure that I was doing okay. He kept saying that if i needed ANYTHING to let him know and he would call people to come wash clothes make food or anything... I kept telling him that i was doing okay and at this point it just was kind of getting awkward. Well, by the end of it all was well. I don't know if you have his contact info to tell him thanks and that i'm doing well. haha :) But again... Don't scare me with phone calls from such a place as Salt Lake (where every missionary's first thought is something from temple square headquarters.) ha ha. Just thought i'd let you know that people are looking out for me and all is well.

    As for this week, nothing too much happened, just the usual lessons and walking and some small rain. We will be planning a baptism this Saturday for two young woman. One is 16 and is related to almost all of the boys that i've talked about that we've been working with and have been baptized. She is great. Strong testimony and very committed to coming to church and other things which makes things nice. The other is 13, her mother is a member and now she is coming to join her. For a 13 year old here she does very well at understanding and remembering the lessons, and even things that we haven't really taught her but she knows from the bible and other church things that she will apply on her own which is sweet. We'll see what happens for our font on if we will have to draw water by hand or if we can get the pump to work for us this week. 

  

    We have this woman named Yoko that we are working with who can't really read and has a hard time understanding a lot at one time. I feel bad because whenever my companion teaches she doesn't understand anything and I always have to go over it again and really break and simplify things down. It has been harder but she is ready and willing. These last few days we were teaching commandments like the Law of Chastity and Word of Wisdom which was really nice because those were very simple for her to understand and she liked them very much. It helped to take off a little burden of us trying to help her review again later for her to remember. She is doing well and staying committed. I'm excited for her. As long as we can keep on track with her and the Lord will continue to bless her with a remembrance of the teachings then she will be able to baptize at the end of the month. 

  There isn't too much else to share or explain about. Things are good. We are just trying to find more people to teach to keep the work moving along. But things are working out. 

   I love you all tons. I hope you enjoyed meeting and talking more with the Roggia's and with the other missionaries parents. Yes, I know Elder Weller very well. He is the one who me and him know like all the same people up at utah state like Danna, Chloe, Dana, Sarah, and others and he was the one who was cousin Aaron Kunz's lab partner in one class. Elder Richardson came with me to Sierra Leone and so we will come back together. 

Again, Love you tons.

Love Elder Jones

P.S. Am I an uncle yet!? ( this question can go to now both Brooke and Katie) :)

July 8, 2013

 Hey Everybody!

Greetings from Sierra Leone once again. :)

I hope you all had a great week and enjoyed your forth of July Celebrations. As of here.... they were kind of a bust. Two other Elders and I from America bought some stuff to grill like we did last year. We sent a member to go to the market to buy some stuff for us during the day. At night when we were cooking it all we could just tell that it was all bad. He had bought spoiled chicken and what not.. Kind of made for a bummer but it's okay. People enjoyed the American Flag tie. So, that was my celebration. 

As for the rest of the week. Things were good. We were able to meet the new mission President and his wife. They are good. It will be nice having them here. Definitely will be very different from before but things will still be good as it is all still the same work and reason why we are here. We had a small zone conference with them on Saturday. They are interesting and i'm looking forward to getting to know them more and learn from them throughout the rest of my mission.

This week we had a baptism for James Vanboi. He is a great guy! I was so happy for him. We moved it to friday instead of saturday because of the zone conference. we did it in the evening. Things here just don't work out to well for us with our font. The members who were supposed to go clean the font in the day before didn't do it so we had to find some replacements and then when they were pumping the pump stopped working and so when we found out we went and just had to draw water by bucket to fill enough water for James to baptize. We drew water for about 2 plus hours. Tiring, but we were able to get enough water for him to baptize. The best part about the service is when we had him stand up at the end to bear his testimony. Wow! can i say Wow! Usually when we have people bear their testimony they just say something crazy and what not, but this time was different. He actually bore a testimony of what sounded to be just like a young deacon or beehive. He hit all the main points, Restoration, Thomas S. Monson, Joseph Smith, Blessing he's received and some others. When he was talking i was thinking "Who taught him how to bear his testimony!? It wasn't us." It was all him and I was so proud of him. He has come so far. All of his friends and him said that he hadn't been to church in like 5 plus years and now he won't miss which is way sweet. The gospel is true. I love it.

For the companionship. We are still working. Trying here a little and there a little. Things are going okay and my companion is feeling more comfortable small small. But all is good. 

Well, I need to be going. Sorry it is short

I love you all So very much.  

Love Elder Jones.

Just kidding. I remembered what else i had wanted to say. I'll make it quick. On sunday during Elder s quorum class they were talking about making and having a happy family. The stories in the book were good and it was funny as nobody in the whole room understood what they were talking about as it talked about a family going boating and skiing and doing other sports and things. It just reminded me of all the wonderful times we have had. It shared a story about how one family had always had plans to fix up their house and their bathroom but always took the money to do something fun as a family instead and their son who was now serving in the army had just written home saying thanks for the fun time instead of the bathroom. The teacher had us all thinking about our favorite times with our families.... I sat and pondered for a long while and missed the family much. But as I thought about it i think some of my most memorable times are just when we have been sitting around the table talking after dinner playing a game ( pit, uno, etc)  watching funny clips on youtube of fat people falling diving board bloopers and football players losing their shorts. and the best part... Some sweet delicious desert afterwards. So... I just want to say thanks to the family for the fun times and good memories and I want to invite each member of the family to sit down and think about one of their most favorite moments with the family, and then share it all together. Feel free to let me in on what is shared. But again. I love you all. Thank you for everything. Hope you have a great week.

Love once again. 

Elder Jones

July 1, 2013

 "And.. His voice... makes me melt like a popsicle on the forfth of July"  (name that movie) (okay little rascles) 

  I hope you all enjoy very much the holiday. I will miss it much. I do miss being in the great land of liberty and freedom. I have learned so much from being here and the people. a lot of that is how blessed we are for what we have, where we live, and how we live, our leaders, neighbors, friends, and family. I've realized what i've taken for granted and what i appreciate so much more now that i'm here. We truly do have things very easy. But that is okay. We are blessed to have had inspired men who fought and gave their lives to making sure that we have what we have today. They were honest, diligent, and men of integrity who had high values and a love of God. As I think of them I just try to think of what things could be like here if we had some of those same people in office and leading this nation. I am so grateful for what we have.

  This week was pretty good. Things have picked up this week compared to the last two weeks which has been very nice. I haven't had to worry and stress as much about things and people as now they are coming together better. My companion is trying and doing well. He is still learning and has so things to develop in personally. He is ready to work and I'm grateful for that. He is working on his Krio. I'm not going to lie when i said I had a hard time but I don't think I had as hard of a time. So we are working on it small small. He'll catch on soon. hopefully. It is good to see where he is at and how far i've come and what i've learned. seeing how he can get stressed about some small things and how now i can see that these things will actually work for us. I am grateful for what i'm seeing an learning.  This week we have taken almost all of the boys that we have recently helped to have a conversion and they are taking turns one each day walking with us for some small time. it is very good to see their excitement and willingness to help. Especially when the first one got to take his turn they all got pretty hyped  up which was fun. The branch is doing well. My companion has a thing for stepping on peoples toes who are in a leadership. and not is a soft way as what we are supposed to in order to help them progress. He just takes the whole foot which caused a big thing yesterday in our meeting. But all worked out. Like I said he is still learning small small on how we can best be useful and how the people will accept what we are trying to help them do. it is good though. 

  I am looking forward to meeting our new mission president and his wife this week. It will be fun. Dad said that you were going to meet Pres. and Sis. Roggia. I'm sure you'll enjoy. I know that they will enjoy as they now get to relax for some time from all the many many stresses and work. They are surely great! They did a lot of work and good to us here and the people. I know our new president, President Ostler will be great. I can't wait to hear from him.

Well. I have to go. I love you all. O ya, Brooke, shiree showed me a picture of you. Looks like your doing good. Ready to burst. I can't wait. just letting all know that i want an email immediately when she delivers, even if it isn't monday............ Wait.... I think i just received a prophecy. you will deliver on the 4th of July and call her name Samantha (Sam) just so i can sing the song. " A real live nephew (niece) of my uncle Sam, Born on the 4th of July!" Just kidding. That isn't prophecy but that would be sweet. 

Well, I love you all very much.

Love Elder Jones

Email To Dad:

Happy 4th of July!!! 

    Don't worry. The tie will be worn both for the 4th, 24th, and all other days where appropriate.

yes, as I've been here I've grown a great love for the country and people of Sierra Leone. But the more I'm here the more I see how blessed I am for being born and raised in such a wonderful land. Even with the things that I hear about that go on and it sounds like things are going down hill I know how nice we still have it. I am so grateful for all the many many things I have back home and the privileges I have and all of the wonderful men and woman who defend our country, rights, and freedoms.  I will miss the celebrations but will enjoy them a lot more when i return for next years.

    I am so happy for the Pew's call and also for Christian! That is soo exciting. I am truly amazed at how many people are out on mission that i know and still continuing to get their calls. this work is true and it is awesome the response of all the members for the work.

    Well, this week was pretty good. everything picked up a lot more than the last two weeks which was very nice. Things are going good between my companion and I. He is still learning and trying the Krio. We've planned for one baptism this week. James Vanboi. I'm super excited. it will be good. I can't wait to meet the new mission president this week. I am glad you got to go meet pres. and sis. roggia. I'm sure they are glad to be home and can now relax. You'll have to keep me posted on them and how everything is going for them.

Well. I have to go. I love you tons. Thank you for teaching me to be who I am and especially to have a love and a devotion to my country and leaders.

I love you tons.

love Elder Jones

June 24, 2013

 Ow di Bowdi? 

   I am so very glad to hear that the wedding at all things went well. I am so very happy for the two of them and their new lives together. Dad!, are you crazy!? you can't tell me what you were eating. Especially when it was a BBQ. You know how much i love BBQ.  Crazy thing.. On friday we had our last zone conference with President and Sister Roggia. There I received my package from the family and a few letters. One letter was from some people that I'd never hear of and it hadn't come through pouch. I was very confused. When we got home I quickly started to open it. when opening it i realized what it was. It was the Wedding reception invite and stuff. It was awesome to open it. As my companions and I were looking at it i realized the time. While we were looking at it it was about an hour and a half to two hours from when the sealing would be. It was RIGHT ON TIME. it was cool. I am so happy for them.. Holy cow. Katie, those are some HIGH heals. 

   I have enjoyed the package very much. So have my companions. Yes i've shared everything..(well... almost everything) we all enjoyed the candies and what not. Tonight we will enjoy the cake. We would have enjoyed last night but i didn't have three eggs. only two.. That's okay. This morning I thoroughly enjoyed my peanut butter. Sweet sweet skippy peanut butter!!! yumm... :)   Thank you for the package. I and the others have enjoyed. I'll make sure that I put the journal to good use.

Well, for the week, things were good. We had a very nice zone conference as a goodbye to President and Sister Roggia. We talked about putting on the Whole Armor of God. It was sweet. I will miss them much. They were amazing. We are saying goodbye to John the Beloved. Ha ha. I hope you get to meet them one day. They sure have done a lot for this mission, country, people, and church. They have made a big difference in my life and will forever be changed by them.

well, dad said some interesting news about facebook for missionaries and something like that..... Yeah.... I don't think that that is really going to affect us here. But it is sweet that the world is moving right along. I wonder if Elder Mathias and the others get to be apart of that.

 

   This week was good. It is a little rough. The area is a little dry at the current moment, but hopefully we can break through that and get some more sweet kingdom builders for us to teach and help bring into the fold and blessing of this gospel.  Yesterday we had a lesson with this man named Osman Bangura. We met him a while ago. He is a strong Muslim and just a crazy guy. We have had a lot of very frustrating lessons with him, but he has still been coming to church which is very positive. As the time has been going you can see him softening and even the changes in him. Yesterday as we were having the lesson he was bearing testimony for say of his own life and how he knows what we say can help and different things. As he was talking my mind reflected back to one lesson with him were i was just so angry with him because he was so hard headed and wouldn't listen and Muslim doctrine is just so... so... crazy. as he was talking it was amazing to see the changes. At the end of the lesson we gave him a Book of Mormon. I explained it small. Gave him an assignment. He held it in his hands. looked at it... Looked up at me and said.... Thank You! It was so sincere, genuine, and full of the Spirit. I wanted to fall off my small bench i was sitting on. I was so happy at that moment for him. But then, i was very sad because he said that he will be transferring back to Freetown next week. Darn! we've worked so hard for different missionaries to have the success with him. but all is well. as long as he comes into the fold it doesn't matter by who or where. But it was a very sweet experience. We will teach him what we can before he goes. 

   Well, That is about it I think for now. I am so glad to hear that everything went well and now everybody can relax. I hope that everybody is doing well. I HOPE and ENCOURAGE everybody to be reading from their scriptures EVERYDAY so that you can put on your own Armor of God. The conference is sweet. I love reading it and am enjoying it. Thanks again!

I love you All! 

Love Elder Jones

E-mail To Dad:

Hey Dad!

How is everything. I am so super glad to hear that all went well for the wedding. I am so happy for the two of them. I am glad that you can now get back to your everyday working and get some rest and strength back into those bones.

The week was alright. Still trying and trying to make it a good experience for the companion. He is doing good. Still trying on his Krio, but isn't doing too bad. He is still getting used to the food and what not but is doing good with that. I can see he is tired. He is strong mentally and spiritually but the excitement of mission and the work and all things are getting to his body. He has been sleeping a lot more but there is no problem with that. by the end of the week hill be back to himself and going good.

well, i literally just had a mind blank. I don't know what i was going to say. Things are going  good. I've enjoyed the package and the peanut butter! :)

my time is running low. yeah, i don't think that whole facebook thing will work for us here. One, the people aren't on that much to contact them, two, the internet isn't always working too well, and three.. yeah that i just don't feel like it would work to to well. But it is sweet that it is happening through the world.

I love you tons dad. I hope that all is going well at work and church and all things.

I love you.

Love Elder Jones

June 17, 2013

 Hey Family,
Well, my new companion has arrived. He came Thursday afternoon. He is from South Africa. His name is Elder Ntozakhe.... Just like it sounds... Ya try that five times fast. or even once. I feel bad because i still have a little trouble with it but not as bad as when investigators or members try it. Boy o boy do they butcher it. I told him that he would never hear his name for two years as even most of us missionaries don't hear our name properly while we are here. Yes, they sometimes even struggle with Jones. But compared to his.... Not at all! haha

He is a good guy. He is 26 years old. It will be good as he is ready to do the work. You can tell he is still a little stressed from the change in culture and food and language. From the last time that I was training Elder Nwosu it wasn't hard for him to pick up the Krio because they speak Pigeon in Nigeria. But for Elder Ntozakhe he is having a very hard time. But, I know the shoes that he is in as i was there before. We will work through things and all will be okay.

I'm very glad that you were able to go and see Elder Barth. He is an awesome guy. We sure had a lot of fun together and he was a wonderful example to me. I can't wait to get home and listen to all these guys talks. Yes, i'm a peanut butter nazi. And PROUD of it. Everything else i'm good at sharing... gotta have my peanut butter. :)

On saturday we had a nice baptism for three wonderful people. Tenneyson Philip Conteh (39), Momodu Wusay (21), and Abass Mansaray (13).  They are all great guys. Tennyson was a struggle to get him to meet up with his baptism. Not because he was doubting but because his and our schedules never could meet up. His very first baptismal date was early last month. Even coming up on this date it didn't look like we could meet up. But when I found out that i was training I knew that we only had a few days left to finish everything with him because when my companion came we would have extra studies that we have to do and would officially never meet up with him. So we barely managed to see him just enough to make sure we got the basics and all that was necessary. He is a very smart man and super strong in the  church already. even with the hardship of us not seeing him he still would come to church all the time whenever he was available. He has a very strong testimony and has already got two new people for us to teach which is sweet!

Momodu was one of the boys that we have been teaching them all in a group. He is very small and has a health condition. everybody calls him M.O.G (man of God) as he loves God. he is way sweet. Very excited and will be amazing.

Abass has been taught by missionaries for a long time but never really went anywhere. His uncle is a strong member and came to us to have us teach him again. Well, this time around things clicked for him and he was desirous to come into the fold. We tried to have his uncle baptize him. He tried many times but couldn't quite get everything right with the words and getting him to go all the way under the water. We felt very bad but were able to get all things okay for him and he is doing better now. 

They are all sweet guys. I'm excited for them.

Yesterday my companion and i got our first FM (food) for my companion. as we were eating it i didn't think anything of it and i asked my companion how he was handling it. He said he felt like he was a dragon! Huh? ooooookay.... was my response. Here they like to add hot peppers to the food. as for me. I like it. for him. he isn't used to it and was dying. We'll see how the rest of the meals go for him :) 

Well, for this week. that is about it. Things are going good. I'm excited. Here are a few pictures. of my companion and I and from the baptism. I hope you get them. 

I love you tons. DJ and Katie. Good luck. I love you both and know that our Heavenly Father will be there to help you both on your new wonderful journey together. 

Dad, happy fathers day!!!!!! I love you tons.

Love you all
Love Elder Jones

E-mail to Dad:

HAPPY FATHERS DAY!

Sorry, it is one day late. But, I love you!

Thank you for all of the examples you have set for me, the love the care the support and everything. There isn't enough space on this page for me to give enough thanks. I'm glad to hear that you got to talk to Elder Barth and that he had some words to make you (my pappa) proud. Just so you know. I'm always proud of you and appreciate you. ( Don't start crying) ( great, now your crying)

Every week. I always look forward to getting news from you and it always makes me so happy. you just reminded me that i've been lacking on my journal. I'll make sure i get to that. 

This week has been good. and time is just flying. I can't believe that this is my second father's day that i'm missing. wow. time here is quick.

Well, as time goes so quick my time is short. I love you so so much. Thanks again for everything!

Love, Your proud son (the peanut butter loving Nazi) (I got the peanut butter loving from you you know)

Elder spencer MARK Jones :)

June 10, 2013

 Hey Family, I hope all is going well for you all. 

As for me. I'm still waiting for my new companion. He is supposed to be here on Thursday. Because of the new influx of missionaries and shortening of the MTC time things are off by two weeks. So, i have to be in a threesome until then but it won't be too bad.

  This week was good. On Saturday I was able to attend a traditional wedding. It was odd. but still good. They can call it, tie Kola, basically the parents of him and her sit down at a table introduce basically their whole family talk about some different things. His family gives gifts to hers and pays for the bride. they bring her out then him, discuss some more and then he and her drink Kola to tie it all together.. I couldn't understand basically anything that was being said because they were all talking in Mende, even though they had a translator it was still all over the place but it was good. While they were doing all the introductions of family and other important people I was just kind of looking around at the people and then i noticed that everybody was looking at me. I froze looked back to the front, the guy translating was telling me and the others to stand up. My heart was in my stomach. I had no idea if i was supposed to do anything or something like that. I timidly stood up and had the others stand up they greeted us, we greeted, and sat down, whew! that was a close one. But it was all very sweet. I was super happy that I was able to finally go to a traditional wedding. I've been wanting to see how they do it but never knew anybody having one. DJ, Katie, I'm not too sure exactly what was all said during the process to tell you well enough, so it looks like you can't do it Old Sierra Leone Africa style for the wedding. sorry. ha ha.

  Yesterday we had the District conference for all of Bo. It was good. Elder Dickson came. I was SOOOO Happy during the conference because I was able to see a bunch of my recent converts from my last area. It felt soo nice to see them still active with out me there to help encourage them. All the young men from there were in white shirts and ties and looking sweet. Before the actual conference they had a small investigators and recent converts program. they had recent converts from all the areas give testimonies. The one from Messima was Bro. Borbor Alpha. I'm sure i've said many things about him. He is soo amazing. During the conference i kept seeing different converts and just felt so happy. 

  Pres. and Sis. Roggia talked as it was there last time they will have a district conference while here in Sierra Leone. Sister Roggia talked about them and their time here and about sacrifice. She talked about us missionaries and the sacrifice we give. As she was talking just saying what we've given up, the hardships we go through and what not I kind of had one of those mind blowing wow moments. Yes, i know i've given up two years away from family, school, work friends etc... I've known that and thought about it many times. But there was just something about it as she said it that just blew my mind. Holy Cow! we give up a lot and especially being here in these circumstances... it isn't easy. But as she continued talking about it she talked about love. And that is why. Love for the people and especially a love for our God. I can't really put down what i was feeling on words to describe it but as she was talking and the spirit was talking to me all i could feel and know was at how important this work is and how true it is. Even with the difficulties, how wonderful it is. I'm so glad to be here with these people and to see that what i'm doing is actually working and helping many people.

 

   Pres. Roggia kind of talked small about the same thing but mostly talked more about the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. It was very powerful! He too talked about difficulties and how his mission was a two year but they told them they would do it for three. He talked about how when he stepped off the plane he had a vision of the progress and wonderful things that would happen here. and many of those things he didn't think would happen during his time but has. He talked about how when they opened the call he knew where this place was but that as almost every missionary who comes here has never heard of this place and most of the world has no idea about it. But even as now nobody knows about it that it can come to be a very wonderful place as it takes int he gospel it will be blessed above other nations and receive what they need and other will even be looking to it to see how and why this has happened so they can do the same. I know that to be true as i've already seen changes for the better in this country and know good things are still to come. President Roggia was talking about how he kept asking everybody what the best, most beautiful thing, most memorable thing he would see while here. He, thinking it would be some waterfall, beautiful sands and ocean, mountain and landscape was told, the people. And that is correct. Even with the difficulties, the people smiling happy faces and just them in general is the best thing. As he was saying that i looked into the face of all the people seeing many people i know and love and have created many wonderful relationships with. The best thing about here isn't the wonderful bush and landscapes, the waterfall and oceans i've seen, not the beautiful sun rises and sun sets but the people. Their faces and relationships are what this work is all about. Yes our Father in Heaven through his Son Jesus Christ created a very beautiful place. But this work isn't about that. It is about the people. Bringing back every precious soul to see the face of God and our Savior. Through all of presidents talk I was almost in tears feeling the spirit and knowing that all to be true and how difficult it will be to leave this place and people, even with what i've given up. It can't compare. As president closed he followed the words of Jacob from the Book of Mormon in closing with an Adieu. It was classy as his last goodbyes to the people as a whole.

  Well, That is about all I have for now. I'm so happy to be out here doing the Lords work and having all of these wonderful experiences and relationships. This gospel is true and can bless us all the more we put ourselves into it. I love you all and hope all is going well. Give my love to everybody. I'll let you know more next week about my new companion.

Love Elder Jones

  

E-mail To Dad:

 Wow! that is a lot of changes in the ward. I hope that all goes well and that the ward can continue to do so well. That is always important. I wish that our members here would keep their commitments as well as they do back home. But... small small.

  I remember giving my first talk. I don't remember what it was about but i remember I gave my talk when the older daughter of the... Hoxies got home off her mission, I think that is there name. haha 

as i've been here i've seen the importance of family history and know that i need to get more into it when i get home. (I just hope i have that same enthusiasm about it when i actually get home)

  Holy cow. I can't believe at how many people I know are heading out on missions. It is crazy and yet so amazing. The work is sweet. I'm super excited for Sister Stuart, she will be amazing! same with the Womack twins. I love them.

  i can't believe that it is only 11 days away from the wedding. I can't believe it is actually happening. Just goes to show the Lord gives blessing to his servants and their families. Ha Ha :) I'm so happy for them and know that they will be great for each other as i've heard you all talk about the wonderful things that are already happening with them.

  That is one thing that i wish was more important to the world wide membership is the importance of the pioneers. I'm so glad that i've been able to grown up learning about them and even following some of their footsteps. I can't wait to see it when i get home. Bishop Johnson is amazing! those youth are sure blessed as was I while he was there and still am blessed by him and his example. Tell him thank you for me.

  Well, I have to go. I love you tons. Hope all is going well for you and you can accomplish all your tasks at work.

Love you
Love Elder Jones

June 3, 2013

Well, the week was good. Things went well. To start off I'll tell you some exciting news. 

On Saturday night my companion and I were walking home from Simbo Town we got a phone call from another missionary asking if we got transfer news. What, early? no. I told him not to tell us anything. Late that night we finally got the news. My companion is leaving back to Freetown and I will be receiving a NEW missionary. Sweet! I get to train again. I'm super excited. They never told me who or where he is from. So i guess i will just have to figure that out when he comes. The crazy thing about that though was that in the afternoon my companion and I were talking about it and asking each other what we thought we need the most to help us improve ourselves and keep us on our toes. As we thought for some time I said to him. Companion. I feel like I need to train again, to have a new companion to really help me get back to the basics. We've been building up and up with more and more but I'm at a wall and can't get around it. I need to train. He agreed and then... later we got the news. It was awesome. I'm super excited for many reasons. One, to help a new missionary get started, to see him over come the difficulties of the beginning and helping him over those, and to get me over or through or whatever with the wall that I'm up against in my own progression. Maybe by next Monday I'll know who he is and where he is from.

   On Saturday morning we had a very wonderful baptism. The finally finished building the font at our own branch and so we were able to use it. And the best part was that we didn't have to fetch the water, carry it on our heads to the font. We were able to use the pump! But because the water levels are still low we could only use the pump for about 5 min and then it would stop so we would wait for about 15 min for the level to rise small again. So... the water wasn't too deep but it was surely a lot deeper than some of those baptisms I've had where it was only to my calf. 

We had one lady named Abigail Combay. Awesome woman! She used to be muslim but turned Christian a little while ago and has just been looking for a church to call her own. From the moment we started to teach her she really liked it. It was funny as we taught her there were many things that she needed  to change in her life but that during those lessons once we taught her those commandments you could tell that at that instant she was leaving the bad behind. The other was Sulaiman Stephen Sowa. Nice tall young man. We taught him in a group of three, one baptized last week (mohamed) and the other should be baptizing soon. I'm not going to lie. When we very first met Sulaiman I thought there was nooo way that he would ever baptize. But he sure showed me! He was very humble during all the lessons and i guess wasn't too active as a muslim so it wasn't hard for him to change. It was funny though because not only I but everybody else expected him to be the last one. We all expected the one who hasn't baptized yet,(momodu) to be the first. Sulaiman is very tall and he is very short and they are just an odd looking pair of buds. Sulaiman keeps rubbing it in Momodu's face (well there went the humility factor) It has been great to see his excitement and love for this new gospel that he has.

  Well, that was the week. It was good. I'm looking forward to the new transfer and companion. I'm sure many fun stories will lay ahead and lots of progression on both of our parts. Thanks for everything. I love you all tons!

  Love Elder Jones

May 27, 2013

 Hey everybody! How was your week. I hope that all went well for you.

This week was good. Things are going good in the area. We had a baptism for some sweet guys. One, Mohamed Kargbo, and two Tommy Ngevao. Sweet guys. Mohamed, we started teaching him with some other of his friends. At first he seemed a little non-committed compared to some of the others but through time we could see that he was the most committed. He was always coming to church and missing school (Muslim School) knowing the risks of getting beat for going to church instead while the other boys who go to a Christian school weren't coming. Over all he really brightened up the teaching as we could see his small small changes and happiness. The other, Tommy was a Muslim as well. His whole family is Muslim and haven't been too happy with him coming to church and all. He is an interesting guy but very committed. just the other day we were sitting with him talking about his baptism that was to be Saturday. He was talking about how his family doesn't really want him to join but he said that he is ready for whatever they do, say, or whatever that he knows this is where he is supposed to be. We were super excited. It was funny though that as he prayed he kind of had a apostatezoramite prayer as if at the rameumpton asking Heavenly Father that his family might be beneath him. it was kind of funny and we don't know if he realized what he was saying. But it showed from what he said that he was ready to endure. It was awesome. If we could have all people have that attitude toward things than all thing would be great. 

     On Tuesday we had an interesting experience. You know how like on the other side of heaven when they are out on their hike to go have a picnic and the girl tries to corner him... Well.. it wasn't quite like that but we both were thinking exactly what he said.... This would never have happened in Idaho ha ha. What had happened was we were going to see one of our investigators that lives next to the above mentioned Mohamed. We were just visiting with him and then we noticed in the background by the side of the house was a young woman who was bathing. The weird thing when a woman baths outside is they still bath with clothes on, well a bra (usually) and underwear. She was wearing these and we just were ignoring her. She kept calling things to try and get our attention. we were now leaving quickly and could tell that she had started to remove some of the above mentioned items. As we were in our next lesson we were both thinking that same thing as Elder Groberg. This would never of happened in Utah!! 

     Other than that, the week was good. The branch had an activity for the young single adults.. they don't really divide, it was just for all the youth. It was about dating... All of us Elders had to just laugh during the teaching because they truly don't understand what real dating is here and probably won't for a long time. But it was good and kept them all entertained which was good. 

     Our branch president, Pres. George has done really well for us this weekend. For the last few weeks it has been really hard to work with the branch and there has just been a gap growing between the two of us. But as we talked to him about it we could really see the changes in him on his part and he really helped to get some things back into play with us and the members especially the branch missionaries which is good.

    We are looking forward to this week and trying to build up the area with many new people before the transfer ends and most likely some changes int he companionship... I'm doing good. The rain is starting to come. Today it was raining real good while we were doing our cleaning. so i collected a bucket and took it to bath..... WOW that was cold!!!! Lets just say to all those who know scouting that it was basically like doing the polar bear just to take a bath. If the rain is going to be like that this year... it is going to be tough to take a shower.haha :) You should try it. It is actually quite a thrill. 

well, I have to go. I'll talk to you next week. I hope all goes well! Love you
Love Elder Jones

Elder McDonald

Me Mohamed Deen Kargbo, Tommy Ngevao Elder McDonald

May 20, 2013

Hey Family!
    How was your week. From the sound of it, it sounds like it was a full week. Lots of people dying. Well, i guess just two but still. We found out friday night, for us, about sister Monson. All of us immediatly said it is a good thing that as the prophet Pres. Monson probably understands the plan of salvation the best of all and is also probably spiritual enough to just talk to his wife on the other side anyway. :)
    
I'm glad to hear about granny Mabbutt. It has been a while that we've been expecting her to move on and now it is good that she has finally done so, so that she can have peace and rest. Well, with that... Things don't look too positive for Grandma Helen. Looks like she has Six to Eight years to live from the time Skyler goes on mission and comes home. Then all three of us will have taken somebody out.
    
Well, this week was good. It was pretty crazy as we had a bunch of exchanges this week and I did all of them in my own area. It was almost everyday that i was taking somebody new to the area and all the investigators that we kept seeing were just very confused at why I kept bringing new people but that they would go and I would stay to bring a new person. 

We had a very successful week. I was very bummed yesterday. we were supposed to watch two sessions of conference at church but we still don't have light and the generator isn't working at the church so we couldn't watch. The other Elders that got to watch at their branches said that it was way sweet. . . O well, i guess i'll get to read it in time. and when i get home i'll just be able to watch it online so no problem.
    
I've got some very good news..... We have found the theif and I have been given my money back! :) It was soo nice, we went out to the town to go and buy some nice treats and food so that i could really fill my belly. It has been looking more toward empty for the last two weeks because you know me.. I don't like to spend my own money. People were starting to notice that I was slimming down but now I don't have to worry about that and so all is well.  You want to know how we got the money?. . .  Here it is.
   
 It was saturday morning and we had just finished our studies and about to head out for the day. Behind our wardrobe mice always hide but for the last few days they have been making a lot of sqeaking compared to normal. So, I told my companion we should just move the wardrobe and kill them so they will stop their whole Law of Chastity breaking in our room. I knew they were doing some baby making with all of that noise. So, we reluctantly started to move the wardrobe and the mice started running. We kept trying to stop them but then it got away. We were about to put it back but my companion saw a bill on the ground. he reached under and got it. I also saw one and we started to pull out the wardrobe even farther. slowly, inch by inch we start seeing money and money and money and a family of baby mice! looking at it we could see that it was all of my subsistance and all of our phone money that had been stolen. Close to 600 thousand Leones!!  We realized what had happened from there. The little boys had come into the house, into the room, into my suitcase, took out the money ( like he said) showed the others at the window and then went to put it back ( Like he said) but, if he had put it back in the same place there was no way the mice could have gotten to it which means he probably just set it on the top of the suit case or on the ground and the mice were able to easily take it all from there. We were soooo amazed. Not to sound too crazy but we think Heavenly Father helped those mice because for them to take all of that money in just some hours on the same day that the boys broke in because without that we would have never known
that they broke in. We also think that the one boy who cut his eye was from Heavenly Father as well so we could get the story easier. But from this point we felt sooo bad about the boys because we know that they got beat super bad for the last while. So we went and bought some treats for them and took them over to tell the whole family that the money was found and it wasn't the boys. But all man agreed that they learned a very valuable lesson about not to enter somebodies house. We know that they will never do that again which is good. So lots of happiness on both sides. Crazy Eh.
    
Another crazy story... Well, it was thursday. My companion and I were out. we had just had this way sweet lesson and we were heading to another. My companion could feel his stomach turning. We had started our next lesson and just a few min into it my companion shouts, David, can i use your toilet!? I was super shocked and then started laughing because my companion continued with the lesson and then just ended it and was having the guy pray.  We went down to a members house just near by so he could go use their squatty potty. (Porta potty with out a toilet. Just a whole in the ground) we went to our next lesson and all was fine. Literally about two min into this lesson all of a sudden i feel a massive pain in my stomach and realize i'm about to lose my whole stomach into my pants. I closed that lesson and we started to jet. we didn't want to go back to that members who we were just at and so we continued. we didn't have any members for a while and by this point we were about 3/4ths the way home and i'd almost lost it three
or four times. At this point i was just looking for anywhere to go. we were now close to a members house and we walked as fast as we could. luckily he was outside and i asked him if i could use his toilet. at first he was like ya. and then he took a second look at me and i think he must have seen a sign that said HURRY I'M ABOUT TO LOSE EVERYTHING!!!! he quickly snapped to it to gather all necessary items need and rushed me out to his squatty potty. It is quite difficult to
crouch and keep yourself up and not to dirty the pants. haha.  Well, all went well.


Well, my time is coming to an end. we are tying to send some pictures but something crazy is going on and so we have been trying to fix it so my time is done now.


Hopefully next week it will all work.
I love you all very much!
Love Elder Jones

E-mail to Dad:

Hey Dad!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!! I love you tons. Thank you thank you thank you for all of what you have done for me throughout my life and especially for the things you have taught me. Thank you for all of the encouraging words while i've been out here on mission. They have done so much for me. I love you so much. I hope you have a fantastic day!

I'm glad that you had fun at fathers and sons. I have always loved that place.


You said that you were re-thinking about your own funeral service... Umm... dad... i hope you arn't thinking about that too much. you're not that old!.

things have been going well this week. As for the lady and the girl with the broken leg we were able to have another lesson with her that went very well, we haven't been able to teach with the husband as he is always gone working and never around except late at night and early morning. We'll have to figure something out and continue to try.


Well, I have to go. I love you so much
Happy Birthday!
Love Elder Jones

Photo's from Mission Blog Posted May 12, 2013