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