Howzit-Elder Flexy!(for real)

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We got an email today. I am so glad.
Elder Flexy 10:3 -email-

Make,
sorry i didn’t Email yesterday was a national holiday so no email shops were open but I’m doing fine we hiked Execution Rock again, it was super fun and we had a brai(Barbeque) on top. So apparently i still have my hiking skills because i smoked the other elders! Life is good we are teaching like crazy, we are having three baptisms on Sunday its gonna be sweet. I went on exchanges with Elder Henson the native American and it was great we taught very well, it was fun. I’m so glad Ariane is coming back to church. Thats so good to hear. this week we successfully outdid a Jehovah witness without even losing the spirit, now that is dang near IMPOSSIBLE!! and we stared down a dog that could have eaten us. but ya its been a awesome week. i love you.
    Love Elder Sebenele (Swati name)


    

Baba
dang i thought that might happen the last time we fixed that pipe but (note: a secondary water pipe broke in the yard). wow that story about Adam is pretty funny that reminds me of me being called a Tokoloshi in my last area which is a little demon the witch doctors summon to get there enemies. but ya, mission is pretty sweet i’ll let you know about the baptisms next time. love you
    Love Elder Dirkie

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Just an FYI, Kelsey left for Texas this morning! 
We talked on the phone, she is nervous and excited. 
Please pray for our missionaries!

Howzit-Elder Flexy!

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So it’s Monday at about 7:10 p.m.
I have been checking my email account
 off and on all day, and nothing. 
Our darling Elder has not sent an email. 
Paranoid me says, 
“What’s wrong? Is he ok? 
Maybe he’s just too busy today.” 
Faithful me says, 
“He is great! Doing the Lord’s work!
 He is definitely safe, the Lord will protect him. 
You need to relax!” 
Momma me says, “That little stinker! 
Doesn’t he know I worry? 
Can’t he at least give me a few lines?!” 
It will all be just fine, but it is a challenge for me. Who knew when I decided to name Alex’s posts “Howzit-Elder Flexy”, that it was prophetic. That there would be times many times when I wonder “Howzit?”
I thought I would tell you a story about Alex when he was five. Just to keep my mind off the fact that I haven’t heard from him, and to give you all something to read today. 
—————–
The school was having a talent show. Because we’re not that talented at our house, I’ve never been a big fan of them. But this time Alex decided on his own, that he wanted to be in the talent show. I never heard a word about it. I found out after the talent show was over, that Alex had indeed taken part in the talent show. He signed up and on the sheet he said he was going to whistle. I’m sure that the teachers thought he was going whistle a song, a tune of some kind. But when he got up to do his talent, all he did was whistle. Just one note, for about 3 seconds, then he sat down. Everyone applauded. And Alex felt super. The teacher who told me the story started to cry when she told me. She said it was the sweetest thing, to see this little boy sharing his whistle with his peers. He believed that they would think that was so neat. I need to tell you here, that there were kids who could play the piano, sing, and all kinds of talents that the parents had spent money helping their child develop. I didn’t have to spend any money, ’cause Alex’s talent was to whistle. What a darling little boy! He has always been such a great kid. Always happy and easy to please. I know that he is a blessing to the people of South Africa, and I am happy to share my wonderful son with them. 

Family History Friday: What Are You’re Ancestors Telling You?

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New York Times-picture
Have you ever read
a journal or 
a story of an ancestor, 
and thought that what they were saying in word or in the life they lived might be for you? 
I’m sure it was for you and anyone else who is a descendant. Just like we love our families and those who will come after us, the ancestor’s of those in Japan loved their descendant’s too! 
I found an amazing article about a village in Japan whose ancestor’s left a message for their descendants. 
It was a warning on a stone, 
that said not to build their homes below a certain spot. Apparently, many stones were found, but not all headed the warning. You can read more about it here. 
Our ancestor’s have left messages for us. 
They may not have written all of them down, but when we research and find the stories about their lives, they will speak to us. If we are listening with our hearts, we will hear what they are trying to say. Think about your ancestor’s, their lives, the way they lived, and what it all means. When I think of mine, I think they might want me to know, life is full of hard work and wonderful. They are telling me, “It was hard sometimes, but I did the things that I needed to do, you can do what you need to do. Be amazing!” I love them, and am so thankful for the messages they have left for me. 
Happy Family History Friday! Love, Joy

Totally "Fort Worth" it!

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Kels and Em!

Hermana Kelsey 2:5 -email-

Madre,
My week has been good. A little bit stressful, but just because I have a lot of things to do before I leave, and I’m really worried about making weight. My bag is like 15 pounds without anything in it so I’m hoping that I can fit everything I need and still be under what I’m supposed to be. I might buy another luggage piece from the bookstore. I hope that is okay. 🙂

I’m so excited you get to watch T and G. I miss those little boys so much. Tell them I love them. There is an Elder that was in our zone that just left on Tuesday, and he reminded me so much of G. He was really tender and sensitive, and he even looked like him, only with darker coloring. Pretty funny. It was really sad when that district left. They only got here a week before us so we’ve spend the most time with them. We had a really hard night the day they all left, because we were so sad. They are such great Elders, and I can really say that they are some of my best friends ever.
I’m glad you are staying busy. It is really good to be doing things a lot. I feel bad for all the time I wasted when I didn’t really have any purpose in my life. It’s kind of sad. But things will be different from now on.
Spanish is coming along. I feel like I don’t know near enough, but everyone tells me that I know enough to get by, and I’m not expected to actually learn Spanish in the MTC. You learn it the most out in the field. So hopefully I’ll be learning A LOT of Spanish in the field. 🙂 I’m looking forward to seeing some of the people that I met in the MTC that went to my same mission too, so that should be really fun.
In other news, we had our last devotional on Tuesday, and guess who came to speak to us…Elder Richard G. Scott! Yeah the apostle! It was so great. We haven’t had an official member of the twelve this whole time, but we lucked out that we got one before we left. Some people never get to see an apostle. It was pretty neat. He did an amazing job of course, and he blessed us, with the authority of his apostleship, with the gift of tongues. It was so amazing.
Anyway I was wondering if there was anyway, you could send me my address for in the mission field so that if I decide I want to send something there so I don’t have to pack it, I can. That would be fantastic. Gracias!
I will be sending pictures this week. I tried to this last week, but there was an issue in the bookstore so they didn’t get printed off. But now they are, so they’ll be coming soon.
I better go now I love you lots. Love, Hermana Kelsey
———————
Padre, I’m glad you are doing good. Bye. 🙂 Love, Hermana Kelsey
———————
Emmysaurus Rex,
I’m sorry you are having such a hard time with the baby. (Note: Emily had one of those babies from Child Development, it cried for hours last night) When I was in high school, it was extra credit to do that, so I never did it. Anyway, I better go now. I’ll write you a real official letter once you write me one. 🙂 Love you lots. Love, Hermana Shelton
P.S. How is Sandy doing?
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

"Bonus Baby" is 17!!!

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Newborn Emily
My darling Emily turned 17 today!!
My how time flies! It seems like I was just doing a post about her sixteenth birthday. What a fun girl!!
Em and Natasha

So here goes, 17 things I love about Emily (in no particular order):
1-she is funny
2-she is a good friend 
3-she gives the best hugs
4-she is entertaining
5-she isn’t afraid to talk to people
6-she is a good example
7-she is creative
8-she loves to keep her room clean
9-she is beautiful
10-she is very helpful
11-children love her
12-she has lots of friends
13-she is tender
14-she loves the Gospel
15-you can count on her
16-her laugh is contagious
17-she loves Heavenly Father and Jesus

So when she was born the Dr. said, “She’s a little peanut!” She was tiny, and was such a blessing then and now. I am so grateful to be her mom and to have such a wonderful daughter!! I love you, Emily! 
Happy Birthday!!

What a beauty!!!

Howzit-Elder Flexy!

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Swaziland Flag
Elder Flexy 10:2 -email-

Make,

man that is so good that Ariane came to church and with the cute baby that’s awesome. but ya this week has been awesome we had some planned STRIKES (I think this might mean coming to church) happening but its kinda funny cause the people get all exited and ready to strike then they end up staying home and doing washing instead. so nothing really happened. 
1 Are your investigators doing well?
1.yep they are doing awesome the main ones will be baptized on the first of may.
2 Did you see conference? I can’t remember if I asked.
2.we only saw one of the sessions but it was vary good the one with the announcement of the Rome Italy Temple.  

3 If so, where did you see it?
3.at the chapel yesterday.
4 Do you want me to send you a copy of the Ensign when it comes?
4.no the mission office gets some so you don’t need to.

5 Have you done anything fun this week?
5.well other than missionary work not much….ha
6 Favorite scripture?
6.Mosiah 18 the whole chapter.
7 When will you get to see the game reserve?
7.well we saw a small one but idk when it will happen again.

Special question:

8 What advice would you give to someone who wants to come back to church and it’s been a really long time since they’ve been?
8.well i would just use the wisdom of someone else and tell them that a journey of a thousand miles begins with one step so you might as well start now and keep going slow and steady!
anyway all is well here in swaziland. love you
Love Elder Dirkie(my Afrikaans first name)  

Baba
ya sounds like you are still staying busy. that is so good that Alex came over to help has been to church since i left. i was so happy to see him at my unfarewell but you should give him fire for me and tell him to come back to church. but ya i’m glad he bought a honda i miss cruzin with Riley in that old beater. but ya mission is starting to feel like we do the some thing every day but i guess thats appropriate because that is what we do every day but its good and its fulfilling. anyway i hope life keeps you on your toes. love you dad
love Elder Flexy

M
thats so good that your pull your grades up i’m glad your going to all the dances and stuff its good and vary fun. but anyway sorry i’m running short on time but i love you my little seester. 
Love Elder Flexy  

Sunday Best!

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Matthew 18:2-5
2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in midst of them, 3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.
***********
Hope your Sunday was the Best! 
Love, Joy

Family History Friday: Location, Location, Location!

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Location isn’t just important when buying a home. When trying to research our families, having the right location is important, because territories, state lines, and counties have changed over the years. Since most records are found at the county level, it is important to know the date when the county was formed. Most Family History Centers, Genealogical Libraries, and even Public Libraries have books available such as “The Red Book” and “Map Guide to the Federal Census”. But today, with so many places to look on the internet, we can find the same information there. Be careful not to get so caught up in one location where you are researching, that you forget to look in the surrounding areas. These surrounding areas may have been part of that county or state at one time. My mom was helping a patron at the Family History Center who was trying to locate her Pioneer ancestry. She was moving backwards in history looking at Census records. She had already looked at 1870, 1860, 1850 records. My mom noticed that she was standing with a puzzled look on her face and asked her if she was having a problem. The woman said, “I don’t know what I’m doing wrong, but I can’t find the film for 1840 in Utah.” Then she smiled and said, “Oh yeah, they didn’t even get here until 1847!” At that point she said, “I guess I’m going to have to look someplace else.” And my mom said, “Yes, you will.” She was successful at what she had been doing, but momentarily forgot that there was a change in location. That’s why it’s important to always check the year and the location. 
Happy Family History Friday! Love, Joy