Hi Everyone,

Did you take my challenge last week to read the Book of Mormon? I really enjoyed President Eyring’s testimony of the Book of Mormon. "I have found that by reading, studying and pondering the Book of Mormon each day, my life is more productive, enjoyable and peaceful. I have found the answer too many of life’s questions in the Book of Mormon. I recommend the Book of Mormon for all who are searching for a better life."

I want to share with you my testimony of this gospel. I know that sometimes life can seem so overwhelming.  But I know that this truly is the true church of God.   When trials come into my life, I know that I can get through them if I hold tight to the principles of the gospel and to prayer.  When there are times that I am not as valiant as I should be, in being close to my Heavenly Father, life seems to be difficult and unbearable. I know without a shadow of doubt in my mind that my life is better because of my faith in Jesus Christ.  I know that with my faith, as Peter had when he walked on the water to meet Christ, that if I hold firm to the gospel that Christ will be right there for me to help me when I fall short.

I love you all!  Have a great week!

Elder Jones

PS Here are some pictures from this week.

 

A Brother in our Ward

 

Skyline

 

New companion...

 

Thanks mom for the Easter package, and a shout out to Cara and Kendon who won this Alien for me at Gold Rush!!!

Week 60 - My challenge to you!

Hello Everyone,

Monday 

We had a good P day! We got some killer Chinese food and some cool stuff at Block M and then we kind of relaxed the whole day cleaned things up around the apartment.

Tuesday 

We went to eat with Denny and that was fun! We taught a couple lessons and they went really well.  Also,  it’s been a really rainy week. I’ve been reading the Book of Mormon every day and it’s such a testimony builder! It’s Awesome! I challenge you ALL to do the same and start reading it! 

Wednesday 

Office Elders have formed a band...

and sometimes we workout...

Today President came down to tell Elder Troff and I that we have been called As OFFICE ELDERS :) Now we do mail and reimbursements and all that jazz… answer phones life is nice with A/C and getting hot showers at the mission home!  I’ll enjoy it while it lasts! I’ll be moving in May but idk where yet?  Maybe opening a new island area. Just kidding!

Thursday

Today we had to do lots of office work to catch up on things and wrap our heads around this whole thing. Then that evening we went to a member’s house who works at the Embassy! He is a cool guy we ate pizza and soda and it was awesome. His house was just like an Americans. 

We taught an awesome lesson to a guy on the street about the Atonement of Jesus Christ.  It made him so happy almost to the point of tears so that was really cool! 

Friday 

We had a meeting with President about all the new missionaries coming in, then 2 more hours in the office and English class.

Sunday

Today Brother Antonious was baptized!  It was great! He is an investigator of the APs . Then after church I gave a blessing to a sick lady and that was my Sunday! Full of the spirit!

Hope you all have a great week and remember to take my challenge!  It will make your life better, I promise!

Love,  Elder Jones

 

 

 

Week 59 - A Great Week!

Hello Everyone,

 

I had a great week!  Remember Nicky?  I met him 2 months ago on the bus. He was the last contact of my day. I found, taught and then BAPTISED him! (With the help of God!)  It’s just an awesome feeling!!! Even President came!!!

Elder Troff, Nicky and me.

 

The Sister Missionaries, Yohanna, Vitria (who were baptized last week) with me and Nicky

With President Donald

With the AP's

 

We’re leading the zone right now. I don’t know about the mission yet. We’re having a great week but we just need to find new people to teach.  We taught about 23 lessons the whole week which is a lot for our mission.

I’m in second Nephi now! 3 chapters a day in 80 days it’s awesome! I’m really learning a lot from the scriptures! I'm also reading the Bible.  The coolest thing from the scriptures I read this week was a story about an ax that floats out of the water after sinking. Pretty sick! It’s in Kings.

In other random news...Indonesia is crazy. They lit a guy on fire last week and he ran thru the streets. Also, I saw this demon lizard jump out of a coconut tree from the top onto the ground! It was huge and a long drop!!! 

 I’ll tell you what, I LOVE coconuts and bananas and mangos so much and all these exotic fruits.

I know this church is true and I’m able to testify with even more conviction about it. Seeing the change in Nicky’s life is just astounding! My companions and I have been able to watch him, since day one, learn and grow and build a testimony of his own. I’ve had the chance to read from the Book of Mormon and do an 80 day challenge even though I’m only 7 days in I can see how much it has been a blessing in my life and it’s just awesome! Leaving my family and friends last year was hard. But for me to think of giving up all these experiences is even harder!! I’m just so grateful for all these blessing I’ve had in my life!  A mission is totally worth it!

gtg Love you guys have a great week tell everyone hello!

 

Love,  Elder Jones   

 

 

If you are reading this blog on your phone you will not be able to watch this video of me playing the harmonica and crocheting a tie at the same time....so get to your computer!

 

This is a video of a Zombie lizard.  He got stuck on the door as we were closing it...

 

Week 58 - Hard Work is Paying Off!

Hi Everyone,

We had a great week I’ll just put in some highlights. 

We had a Baptism this week for Vitria and Johanna!  I was able to baptize Sister Vitria.  They have been learning for 2 months and it’s been great! They are just awesome!  The Sister missionaries have been teaching them along with us.

 

Nicky got interviewed for next week and I’m baptizing him! I’m just so happy for him! Christian is getting baptized too!!

Our week was full of lessons, and as a missionary that makes you really happy to be busy! All of our investigators are doing great!

So Thursday was Chinese New Year and we went with Sister Ina, Asa, Denny and Ezra to go eat. We ate at this way nice place and I got Mexican fajitas! It was really good :) and then we got ice cream! I’m so spoiled :) We had so much fun! 

My Camera... it’s on its death bed.

 It hasn’t rained here for 5 days so things are way hot but that means it’ll pour soon...

I’ve been able to see the Lord’s hand in our lives so much this week it’s just been awesome! And 100% obedience is paying off!   We’re reading the Book of Mormon in 80 days as a mission 3 chapters a day! And in personal study I’m in St. John now, I’ve learned so much!

Today for our P-day we're just going to take it slow.  Sister Ina is taking us to Chilies to eat and they have chips and salsa!!!! Jakarta is like America… almost ha-ha :) Then were going to come home to catch up on sleep. We’re so tired lately because of the amount of teaching!

Elder Zollinger is my pal from Idaho

typical street

Elder Troff is beating this guy at chess who we met on the street

 

Okay love you guys have a great week. Don’t forget to pray for me! And I’ll talk to you again in another 7 days bye! 

Love – Elder Jones

Week 57 - Valentine's Video!

This may look like a picture if you are reading this blog on your phone, but if you get on a computer or laptop it will be a video message from Elder Jones and Elder Troff. FYI the toilet paper reference is because it's a scarce commodity in Indonesia!

Hello everyone,

Last Monday we woke up to hardcore rain, so we had to stay home all day.  But on Tuesday we taught a guy at the mall and it was great! Then we had another appt and he never showed up. Grrr we proselyted until 5 then came home and had a weekly game night. Where we go running as a district and lift weights at this park. It was good.

On Thursday we got 4 great lessons.   We're having a great week with teaching even though I usually don’t mention them all. 

English class was fun.   We talked about being polite and what’s not polite. Elder Troff said bad words were bad ... then the whole class started saying the worst American words they knew.  I was laughing so hard but we finally got them under control!  ha-ha 

Chicken trash cans.  Some things in Indonesia are so funny...

 

Had a great Valentine’s day! We had 3 appointments  and have been teaching Nicky! At the very end of the day Nicky, Troff and I went with the sisters and their investigators to this cake place and we ate together.  It was fun! 

Elder Troff and I have been testing our faith. We have this one random German book of Mormon and we have been praying to give it out since Monday.  On Saturday we met this German girl (20)and she is new here and has no friends but speaks English! 

On Sunday Nicky came to church and so did the German girl that we met on the road.  We gave her the book! It's so amazing how the Lord will answer your prayers!

I hope you all have a great week!

Love - Elder Jones

 

 

 

 

 

 

Week 56 - New Companion!

Hi Mom, Dad, family and everyone! 

We had an awesome week.  We’ve been working our tails off and had tons of success.  I got a new companion this week.  Awesome guy.  Elder Troff.

Here are my notes from last week:

Monday – P Day

We went ice skating like normal. But it was really fun and always will be :) I can do some cool tricks now. Elder Wood and I went to this nice pizza place! It was awesome! 

Tuesday- TRANSFERS 

 

Today my new companion came to Jakarta.  Elder Troff is from West Jordan, Utah.  This week has been great! Elder Troff and I have made a pact to be completely obedient and work till we want to drop!  This week we lead the mission in stats and got 22 lessons! UNBELIEVABLE!  We have 3 baptismal dates!  Is that crazy or what?  We’re really working on faith, because without FAITH you can’t have a strong testimony and faith is actually the anchor of our whole lives! 

 We went to the church today and all 3 of our appts cancelled :( But I saw Elder McCleary! I missed him he’s my pal. Ate chicken and rice for dinner. 

Wednesday 

Today we had a contest who could get the most contacts, and I won with 5.   The day was full of miracles!  Because of where all these people were and timing. Taught Pak Herman a great lesson all in English too! Then taught Henri and he wants to be baptized the 1st of March.

For lunch Elder Troff and I had corn on the cob grilled on our stove. 

Thursday 

 Today was good we woke up and posted posters at 9 am all over town for English class! Then came back and got our haircuts :)

Poster for English Class

 

Haircuts Indonesian style!

 

We met a guy named Christian who is just awesome! He came to church and wants to be baptized! We have taught him 3 lessons this week so far! So that was great! He said he didn’t have any friends before us and has just been so sad in his life ... UNTIL we met him and the lessons we taught him gave him a new hope! 

Friday 

 

Had another lesson with Herman the lesson was great! Then met with Christian again! We are just on a roll this week doing awesome! We really can see the work of the Lord progressing! We are working our butts off!

Saturday 
8am President invited us in to his house to watch a devotional for CES.   That was a great talk to start the day. We got to eat breakfast at his house ! This is always good because Sister Donald is so awesome! President then came to one of our morning lessons and we had such a great time! :)

After that we went to proselyte.  We went to the soccer stadium and I went and talked to this group of army men ... and first I blew their minds with some of my magic tricks and then with the gospel! It was so fun!  Seriously like I proselyte with card tricks and coin tricks now then apply it to the gospel and everyone wants to learn!! Ha-ha I love it! President said we need to be more creative! So I did it! He thinks it’s funny but he said don’t do the one where I pull their card out of my book of Mormon.

Sunday 
We had 3 of our investigators come to church and 3 of them were inactive! Our side of the room was full of people! Made me happy!

I sent so many pictures this week :( but I'm having camera problems. The humidity is just destroying it L  My toe nails are not growing back. But I don’t really need them.  I don’t care after seeing some feet here!

 Later when I get off I’ll try and send more pictures because we just got Wi-Fi here ... man it’s pouring so hard this week. Broke another umbrella hah!  I’m doing awesome this week but physically dying of tiredness 

I love you guys and I have to go now ... good bye! :)

Love - Elder Jones

Do you still see kitties all the time around Indonesia? Yes!! I almost stepped on a new one yesterday!  How was your first week with your new companion? Awesome! We led the mission in stats this week!  Does your mission president speak Indonesian? Yes 
Does Sister Donald speak Indonesian? No :)
is Nicky still on track for baptism on the 15th? I think
Any news on Alek? He’s working hard! And loves the blog :)
What have you and Elder Troff been doing this week to get new investigators? Working hard!
Does the fast food in Indonesia taste the same as it does in America? Kind of. I forgot what it tastes like in America
What are your plans for Pday today? Work! We filled it with appts BUT its currently pouring
Do you still talk to Audrey and Taylor? Or Troy? Yes.  I need Troy’s email 

 

 

 

 

Week 55 - Amazing Week!

Hello Everyone,

This past week on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday we had PLD, Zone Meeting.

President came and trained us all on how to be better Elders :) and its working!!!

I’ll save you from the weekly update and just tell you a few things ... so Thursday I went on a split with Elder Barrus.   Before I left I prayed with him that we could give out 4 Books of Mormon and that we could find somebody to teach that would want to get baptized.  So we ended up at the bus station and the bus hadn’t come for almost 2 hours. It was packed and everyone was grumpy, then this guy just starts cussing the bus system, but using English except he was Indonesian.   So I talked to him,  and he said he has been to the States before and has been searching for the right church.  We ended up teaching him almost 2 lessons on the bus and gave him a Book of Mormon and he wants to keep learning! 

 

The second cool story. On the way to Pulit we were walking and I saw an exotic cars dealership and couldn’t help but go in! The guy who owns it is Christian and wants to keep learning with us! Awesome right? Plus I sat in a Lamborghini! 

My new ride...

 

 

Then that same day on the way home I pull out my Book of Mormon out of my back pack and literally within 3 seconds the guy next to me pulls out his ear phones and says,” hey can I read that?” (Yes please!) And he wants to learn too!

This all happened the same day! It’s awesome to see how God answers prayers and how his hand is in our lives! 

However, on a sad note, Sunday Alek didn’t get baptized. His parents came at the very second he was going to and stopped it. President and Elder Funk had a good talk with his parents, but we’re all sad it didn’t happen :(   I don’t know what will happen now?  Alek is 18 and could have done it but out of respect to his parents he didn't go thru with it that day.  He is still planning on being baptized.

Getting ready for the baptism

Nicky is on track to be baptized on February 15^th.  Please continue to pray for him and Alek.  We do baptisms on Sunday here.  This Sunday it flooded so badly that half the church didn’t come ... :(

It is transfers today and I get a new companion.  He is Elder Troff and is from Utah.  I feel that I was put with Troff to do some really good miracles (mukjizat).   I can feel it, we’re going to have some success! And yes,  Elder Prayitno was one of my best comps he’s great!

I love you guys have an awesome week! Thanks for everything and be safe this week! Keep praying for me! Bye!

Love -Elder Jones

P.S. I didn’t even know it was the Super Bowl! 

Questions:

Did transfers already happen? Today! Do you have a new companion? Yes Elder Troff,  from Utah.
Will you be staying at the Mission home? Yeah I think we will live here a while longer.  I’m in Jakarta till May ... hopefully one day we get a house,  the economy is really weak here and its almost 1300rp to the dollar .... the govt is still new. Elder Prayitno goes to Bandung today. 
Do you ever read back in your journal, now that you've been out one year to see what you were doing a year ago? I did that once Did you buy a new journal or are you still writing in the one I bought you? Still writing
What was the best part about this week? The miracles of that one day
What did you teach them in English class this week? I didn’t teach this week 
Do you need anything? Yes, I'd like more letters :)  Seriously, you can't imagine how awesome it is to get letters in the mail :) I love to hear what's happening at home.

Elder Tyler Jones
Jalan Senopati No. 115
Kebayoran Baru
Jakarta 12190, Indonesia

$1.15 in postage (doesn't matter if it's an international stamp or not)