Horse is probably one of the best meats I've eaten!  It gave me lots of horse power...hahaha



Hi Everyone,

 

 



Nothing too interesting happened this week, actually it was pretty hard. We just have had people not wanting to learn left and right. So right now were just proselyting.  Because we have no one :( 

 

Here are a few pictures of Semarang and the horse kabobs that we ate.  Hopefully I'll have more to report next week!

 

Love,  Elder Jones

 

 



 

 

 

Week 40 - Big News!

Hello Family and Friends,

Exciting news, but I'll get to that a little later on...

Tuesday I went on a split with Elder Chou and we had 5 appts scheduled! We left the house at 12:00 and by 12:22 every one of the 5 appts had called or already texted me telling me that they had to cancel so that was a bummer. It was a hard day of proselyting.  Later that night we taught English class.

Out working with Elder Chou

Wednesday 

PLD (Zone Conference) so I had my interview with the Mission President, and the news is I’m moving to North Jakarta and I’m opening a new area next to the ocean!  I get to open and start it, which means it's an area that hasn't had missionaries before.  I'll be with my new comp who I’m training! They don’t have a house for us yet so we will live at the mission home for 2 weeks and once they get a house my comp and I will move out there.

It’s the area that floods the most in that part of the island! It rains so much that they use boats! I’m sure you’ll get some good pics once rainy season starts! How cool huh?

President Donald riding back to his hotel at Zone Conference

 

The bus ride to Solo

Thursday 

We had the zone meeting all day today.   Elder Chou asked me what the chances of him having to speak were.  I said, " well the chance of you speaking, being so new, is probably about the same chance as it raining today. "  (it hasn’t rained since I’ve gotten here)  An hour later it started raining and then President Picked Chou to give a talk! That was so funny!

I got all my trainer stuff from the mission president and then when we were taking a break, I walked down stairs at the church in Solo and there was a young guy waiting outside the Bishops' door and I started talking to him ... turns out HE IS  GOING TO BE MY NEW COMP! He’s from Solo and he was at the church then for an interview.  He goes to the MTC (in the Philippines) in a week.  He'll be there 2 weeks and then comes back to Indonesia!  Such a crazy coincidence!

Friday 

We added a couple of Kitab Mormons to the book shelf :)

Today I was offered a man’s daughter (to marry) in one of the villages he just kept trying to get me to take her ... ha-ha (this happens often with the white elders) ahh this mission always has funny stuff!!  

Hello family...can you hear me?

The water is usually really blue but it was stormy that day

 

Elder Lister's birthday this week

Thanks for all the emails this week.  I appreciate all of them!  Everyone be safe and I'll talk to you next week.

Love, Elder Jones

 

 

 

 

 

Week 39 - Grosser than eating dog...

Hi Everyone,

This week was great and a lot of fun.  For P-day we went to Lawung Sewu and it was awesome.   The place has 1000 doors and is haunted.  We went there with the English class then after that we went to Wendy’s at the big nice mall and everyone tried frosty's for the first time ! :)

 

 

I've eaten some gnarly stuff this week.  We went to an investigators house and I had innards soup. I ate soup with goat and cow intestines and artery’s. I didn’t even know those were edible. As well as the liver, and testicles.  I can't believe the things I'm willing to eat now!

We have had a big rat running around and eating our trash. Elder Martoyo and I caught it with a bucket one night and were going to kill it!  So we had bug spray in an aerosol can and sprayed it into the bucket then when we went to light it on fire the bucket EXPLODED!   The rat didn’t die it just ran off!! Freaking crazy... then right at 10:30pm that night the  power went out until 12 am so we couldn’t sleep cause it was so dang hot so we sat outside and saw the stupid rat again!

On Sunday we watched all the sessions of conference and they were great! I loved them all!! I know the church is true and I can feel the spirit so strong when I hear the Prophet and Apostles speak by the power of God.

I also ate the spiciest nasi goreng (fried rice) ever with ghost chilies.  I couldn’t finish it.

Questions:

 

The picture you sent of your drink looked nasty!  What exactly was that?! 

green bean soup /drink

 

Did you get a letter from me this week? No :( only Annie! Thank you Annie, I love the letters.

What do you having coming up this week? A big meeting in Solo for 2 days! 

Any new investigators? No :(

Coolest thing that happened? Tuesdays lunch menu lol :)

I got a call from president yesterday.  I will be a Trainer and will be moving to a new area, that’s all I know.  I’ll know more after PLD (Zone meeting).

Love you all!  Have a great week!

Elder Jones

 

 

 

Week 38 - The sacrificial cow

Hi Everyone,

Monday (Pday)

I made salsa which was pretty good, and everyone liked it!  That night we had an appointment 8 miles out of town.  We rode bikes to it at 7:30 p.m.  and once we got to his house he CANCELLED -_- so that was a bummer!

Tuesday 

I contacted a nice catholic man at the bus stop we talked for about 2 hours waiting for the bus that never came - ohhh Indonesia!  I gave him a Book of Mormon and he was really interested!   We then went to Brother Bon Bon’s house and had a great lesson on how God answers prayers.  At the end it was so funny he said ... “I prayed to God to know when I would die  ... and God answered my prayer.  He said that God said... "Bon Bon you won’t ever die because we lost our paper work in Heaven so you’re not on the roll call any more,”  he was totally serious!   It was a great story.  He really reminds me of Grandma Leen and I like him a lot. 

Wednesday 

Time is flying by.  We picked up our new “greeny” Elder Chou he’s a good guy. He is from Arizona too!   Later that night we interviewed him with a whole bunch of funny questions.   We went to bed early that night because we left to Jogja the next morning at 4am.

Thursday 

On our way to Zone Conference

We went to ZTM and left at 4am.  We got there at 10 a.m.  long, long ride.   We took a really old bus to get there.  It was a different way thru the jungle it was awesome!  This is our nicer bus that we rode on the way home.

Friday

Taught 3 lessons today!  They all went really well!   English class was good.  It’s so much fun to teach English because they are all about college age and already know the basics!

Sunday 

It was the day where all the Muslims sacrifice cows and goats and it is gruesome.  There is blood everywhere in the streets next to all the mosques.  The night before, they pray on the loud speakers until the next morning at 4am and its so loud cause we live under a mas jid (mosque).  They believe in the Mosaic law of sacrifice.

This is the unlucky cow

They sacrifice the cow right over this drain.  As we were taking pictures of it, they were taking pictures of us!  I have many more pictures of the cow being sacrificed but I will spare you those!

I bore my testimony today at church.   I really like Semarang except the heat!

I’m so happy and grateful to be a missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and to teach and preach in the beautiful country of Indonesia.  I have learned so much about myself, about the world and other people.  My knowledge of the gospel has grown immensely.  My testimony of this church grows stronger each time I share it with others and because I can see the change in their lives when they receive it.

I can promise you that the Book of Mormon is the word of God as well as the Bible.  I’m often asked, “how can you live there, in such a remote place with all those different customs? Why don’t you just come home when it’s so hard? How are you possibly making it through? " The answers are simply because I believe God is on my side and helping me thru all these things.  The more I pray the more my prayers are answered and the more I testify of the love of Jesus Christ and His atonement for our sins and the truth of the teachings of Christ the more my testimony grows. 
I know Christ lives! I believe that Thomas S. Monson is a true Prophet of God.  I believe that God loves all his children equally. 

I can promise that if we pray with a true and humble intent and seek to inquire something from God, and we have the faith sufficient to receive it ... he WILL answer our prayers. 

Love you all have a great week!

Elder Jones

Week 37 - Semarang "Are those your fingernails?!"

Hi Everyone,

This week was transfers and I have a new companion.  His name is Elder Martoyo from Surabaya.  He's been out on his mission 3.5 months. 

Elder Jones and Elder Martoyo in front of the church

This week has been different.   We have been in a threesome, Elder Martoyo and Elder Litster and I.  We only had 3 appointments this week, the rest were all cancelled or they just fell thru.   

It’s been a hard week to work.   It's hard because people live very far away and not all of them have phones so sometimes they aren’t home.   That’s how this week kind of went.  

 

My investigator Ibu Nur came to church but she wants to change her baptismal date to later in October.   Elder Litster lost his credit cards so he has no money.    I’ve had to loan him  some so we can make it thru the month .   Here we get about $150 to live off for  a month.

Questions:

What did you think of the one dollar bill in your letter? it was weird to see!
What did you spend it on? You can’t use American money here.
Did Elder Lister get Elder Chou (from AZ) for his mission companion? Yes he comes on Wednesday!

 

Tyler, I saw a picture of you holding a plate of food, were those your fingernails? Super long nasty gnarly things? Seriously, Tyler so disgusting cut those!
 "Mom, it’s my thumb and my pinky only!  It’s the culture here!"

What are your plans with the district or zone for conference this weekend? on Thursday we go to Jogja and that’s a 4 hour trip there then 4 hour back !  What do you guys usually eat for breakfast? noodles or rice, sometimes eggs too  Do you come back to the apartment for lunch? no it's too far and we live on a hill 

This is the family of our Ward Mission Leader and they are awesome!

How was church yesterday?  Church was good it’s my favorite part of the week

Is it the same 3 hours as here?  It's the same 3 hours here! ha-ha  

Do you ever help with the sacrament? I've helped once.   

What do they use for bread?  For bread they use this stuff called "roti biasa" translation? BREAD!

Well, I've got to go!  I love you all and hope you have a great week!

Love, Elder Jones

 

Week 36 - Keep the Main Thing the Main Thing!

Hello Everyone,

 This week has been very busy, just like my whole mission. Like normal,  this week started with goals for appointments, for how many Kitab Mormons we would give out, how many less active members we could see and on how I can better myself personally.

Now looking back on my week I can see that I met my goals. Because they were my "main thing".
A recent lesson that I have learned is to "live out of your future, not your past". Do you remember Lots wife?  (Jeffery R Holland gave a great talk about her).  When she looked back (in a sense) she took her main thing and put it aside for a moment of the natural man and then she went to a pillar of salt.  "she became the dust from where she was made" 

 I'm realizing that you have to decide what your highest priorities are and have the courage pleasantly, smilingly to say “no” to other things, and the way you do that is by having a bigger “yes” burning inside. A yes to keep your eyes on the prize, a yes to keep your Main Thing the Main Thing. 

I also really like Ether 12 in the Book of Mormon and how much it talks about having faith. "Faith without works is dead". We say that a lot in our mission its seems to always be a subject of discussion in Indonesia (faith) .

14. Behold, it was the faith of Nephi and Lehi that wrought the change upon the Laminates, that they were baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost. (Awesome story)

Verse 27 is a really good one too .  We always share it with our investigators and members to help them become stronger and understand how to do so.

 27. And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.

Just some of my thoughts for the week.  Anyways, here is a re-cap of my week: 

Monday  (P-Day)

We went to the temples which were pretty sweet so I'll let the pictures speak for themselves :)

This feels a little awkward...

 

Elder Gil and Elder Jones

Tuesday (back to work!)

Got one good lesson but all the other appointments cancelled.  Ahhh the life of a missionary!  Just keep working and be positive! 

Wednesday 

The Zone Leaders came that night to go on a split with us the next day ... For anyone not familiar with "splits" it's when you go out with a different companion to learn their way of doing things.  This will help you evaluate and become a better missionary.

Thursday 

Went on a splits with Elder Kyle and we got so much done and worked so freaking hard!  We got 3 new investigators.   What an awesome day!

Friday

Just in case you're wondering what "The Boonies" look like in Indonesia?  Well, here they are!

Sunday

We have a baptism date for Oct 5th for this awesome lady.

Her name is Bu Nur.

 

At church with our new investigator Bu Nur

 

I got your package mom!  Thank you so much.  I've already given out 2 of the Indonesian CTR rings you sent me. Now the kids love me even more than they already do! ha ha  I also got your letter Annie!  Thank you so much!  Well, I've got to go!  Thanks everyone for all your love and support!

Love,  Elder Jones

Week 35 - Disclaimer.... don't read if you gross out easily!

Hi Everyone,

This week I have a few pictures and stories that might make you a little sick.  Remember I'm in a foreign country and they have some different customs, like eating dogs.  Sorry... to all the dog lovers!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM AND DAD before I forget :) hope you have a great birthday and I love you guys thank you for being the best parents ever!!!

 

My long lost brother...

Monday 

P-Day.  I cooked nasi goreng (fried rice) for everyone from all fresh ingredients and everyone loved it! 

Tuesday 

Me and Elder Gil got 3 good appts and we went to the hospital because there are a few sick members.  One who got in a car accident, one who is having heart problems and the other is having kidney failure L
 It was really sad.  They asked us to come and give them all blessings. The hospital was really far away and it was a scary one.   Eight patients to a room no a/c!   It’s big and looks like something off paranormal activity!  We gave them blessings and it was hard to do it in Indonesian, and even harder with 7 other Muslims in the room all looking at us confused, but as of now they are all getting better! 

This is the Rooster that keeps going through our trash!

Wednesday 

Went on a split with Elder Litster!  We had 5 lessons that I had set up from the day before.  It was going to be a busy day!  We got onto our bikes and left and we didn’t get 100 yards from the house till Elder Lister's bike broke and he couldn’t ride it, so then we had to cancel all the appts :( and go to the bike shop.  We rode in the back of a truck of some guy.   It was funny we because we had to hitchhike to the bike shop.

Elder Gil and Litster have been doing pranks on each other and Elder Gil dumped all his baby powder out on his desk and wrote “Gil was here”  So when I got back with Elder Litster, he saw it and was so mad.   So he took his tooth brush and cut up a red chili and brushed it! Later that night he brushed his teeth and it burned his mouth like crazy!   (Gil hates hot food)    I think they have a truce now.

Thursday 9/11

Today I wore my American flag tie! To represent good old America!! 

Brother Bon Bon's house in the middle

We went to Brother Bon Bon's house and in the  middle of the lesson there was a rat!  Right when I'm  talking the rat falls from the roof down thru the ladder hole and Bon Bon gets a wooden stick and jumps down and starts hitting it!   It was already dead but I got the funniest video of him I wish I could send it, but here’s a picture!

Brother Bon Bon and the rat

Friday 

I finished the Doctrine and Covenants!  It was one of the best books ever! I've  learned so dang much! Now I’m on  the Pearl of Great Price!  We had all our appts fall thru which was sad.   English class was good though! Later that night I taught Elder Litster some fun wrestling moves then we ate ice-cream as a district.

Saturday

Turned out to be a cool day.  We didn’t have any lessons so I decided we would look for opportunities.   I saw this sweet iguana this guy had, so we went and asked if we could see it.  Then I started talking to him about the church.   He’s Christian and in the Indonesian navy which is cool! We have an appt later.

 

 

 

Then we continued walking up a hill and at the top it turned into a cemetery.  We walked thru it and talked to the grounds keeper, then 10 minutes later a Christian funeral came up  for a 10 year old boy who died that morning.   They carried him up wrapped in a cloth!   It was so sad.  Nobody knew us but they said they were all so happy we were there because they saw we had Jesus Christ on our name tags. 

 

 

 

Sunday 

I taught half of Gospel Principles class. My language is getting good! And so are our stats!

Here are some pictures of the dogs that they eat over here:

Questions

What's up with all the dog meat? I ate a dog, it was gnarly and I’ve been eating it a lot lately!
Do they always eat dogs?  Not all people.  Papua the islands out here,  they eat people!
What does dog taste like and was it good? yes it’s like lamb or steak
Do people have dogs as pets too? yeah it’s funny. 
Do people eat cats? No cats are very holy here with Muslims because it was Prophet Muhammad’s favorite animal.
Any new investigators? 2 but we lost 4 of them for random reasons 
What are your plans for Pday today? We are going to some temples.
Did Bro Bon Bon eat the rat he killed? no ha-ha
How's English class going? Good, it’s a nice class here!
How many students are in your class? Almost 20. 

I'm looking forward to going to the Temples today, it should be fun.  Talk to you next week!  Thanks for the packages from Aunt Carrie and Leslee, they made my day :)

Love, Elder Jones