Halloween Time!

Pumpkin Carving Activity

Thabo's little brother (Thabo is on baptism date)
Great Halloween Costumes

Dear Family and Friends!!

How the heck are ya'll? I'm doing super here in South Africa! The work is going great and I'm having a good time.
I'll start off with the bad news first. Richard didn't come to church because some members failed him. They were suppose to pick him up to go to church because he had no money for taxi last time, but the members didn't bring him and instead brought some neighbor girl that we aren't even teaching. Richard is going to be upset! He's doing well though. He's still praying and he's noticing blessings coming already and a change in his heart.

Pumpkin carving went great! We had a good time and got them all carved, but Moya doesn't know how to put them on her step and light them! We finally put them out there but they're already going bad.(see picture) She was going to light them that night but it rained real good. She invited us over later in the week also for a braai with her and her neighbor who we are teaching. It would've gone good, if there had been a braai stand and charcoal there when we got there. We brought everything else, except the meat, and she just had to get a few things but didn't. We got the stuff from the store, using her money, and it turned out alright. So we got to have a nice braai for lunch. Oh yeah, I just realized you might not know what that is. Braai is a BBQ. Now it makes sense, neh? Nosisa is doing good. She was telling us about the whole surgery and everything and I ended up covering my ears. Its a good thing she can't see me. I just waited for her mouth to stop moving and I said, "that doesn't sound good. Ok, who's going to pray so we can start?" She was laying on her stomach on the couch though and she said its really painful still. She's getting better though so that's good.

On Thursday night, we taught the girl that is on baptism date, Mokgadi, and waited there to get picked up by the other guys (we were on bikes). We got bored of waiting in her house so we went outside and I had my bandanna and mustache with me so I put that on and just waited on the street corner at night in the township. A lot of people eyed the bikes as they walked by, but looked at me after and just walked off. It was funny stuff. Some lady asked us what we are doing and I told her what we do as missionaries and halfway through my shpill I remembered that I'm dressed like an idiot. She just said cool and walked off.

We only had 2 people come to church on Sunday. I dont know why.
Today is going to be a good day. We are going bowling as a zone After that we are going to play American Football at the chapel and tonight is the halloween party! We made some odd shaped pinata last night and I hope it works. We are having a braai and then we'll just tell scary stories around the fire. I can't think of anything else to do that'll be cheap so thats the best I came up with.

Well, my lovely family and friends, I've got to bail now. The guys are getting uneasy and wanting to go bowling on time. I dont know why, but they do. I love you all so very much and am thankful for all you do for me. Grandma Travis, I'm sorry I'm no good at writing you back personally but I want to thank you for your emails! They boost my spirits and help me to want to work hard! I love you. Thanks for sending my patriarchal blessing, Mom. I'm excited to read it all again and again! Take care and CTR!

Love
Elder Jordan Langston

"I'm Glad They Called Me on a Mission"

Dear Family and Friends!

The work is going well! The people here are doing awesome!! I am still healthy and enjoying the guidance of the Spirit.

First off, Richard is doing great! We saw him and he's been praying and reading. We taught him the plan of salvation and he asked, "when are you going to baptize me?" So he sees how important it is to be baptized, so thats good. The only thing that was disappointing is that he didn't come to church like he promised. We just need to get him there and then he'll be hooked, I just know it.

About baptizing boys, no, I haven't baptized any in this area but in Thaba Nchu, we baptized 2 guys. You dont really understand how hard it is to get guys that are sober to teach. The beer flows like....some massive river or something. There's a lot of beer here. In fact, every weekend everyone is drunk and it's hard to tract. I almost hit two drunk guys while going 120 on the freeway. Thats 120 km/h!

I can't really think about what else happend this week that was totally awesome. We did some yard work for some less actives and that was nice to do. We've been doing a lot of tracting to build up our teaching pool with people who are really serious about the gospel. So far, we haven't found too many, but we aren't giving up!

Today we are going to Moya's to carve pumpkins with her and her friend that we are teaching. It'll be good fun! We helped the Thulo family get started on making masks and they are so cool! I'll have to send some pictures when we do it. We are doing it next Monday night!

Moya's sister's baby is doing better now. Susan is doing better and she told us how blessed she is to have people explain what the scriptures say. She said she can tell its the true church because we help people understand things instead of just telling them whats up. She'll be a good member!

Well family, I'm glad to hear that you had a great time with Dan and Nicole. I'm glad to hear that Bryce is coming home and Ali is getting married. Thanks for all the support you give to me! I sure do love you all! I hear its been snowing a bit down there! That is neat. We got the first rain of the season the other day and it was nice and wet. We gave Nosisa a blessing in her shack while the rain was pelting the tin roof so hard. I was pretty much yelling the blessing. She had some surgery because of hemorrhoids gone bad. Sounds painful. Keep her in your prayers, please. I love you all so very much! Take care and CTR!

Love,
Elder J. Langston

Happy Columbus Day

Good morning family and friends, and happy Columbus Day!!

This week has been an interesting week. On Monday, we went to the hospital to visit Moya's sister because her 3 week old baby's heart isn't beating correctly or something like that so we went to visit and it was so crazy. Usually at hospitals they have the people in their own seperate room and all that jazz. Well, this place, all the babies were in a hot room, almost laying shoulder to shoulder in a room that had scary paintings on the wall and cobwebs everywhere. It was like a run down hospital that someone decided tyo open back up but they didn't clean anything before they started stackin the babies in. We were going to give a blessing but it was too crazy and a million people, well not really a million, but a lot of people were in there with their crying babies. I gave Moya's sister some socks, the ones that you sent a while ago, and then we left. I heard that the baby is out now and is doing better.

We also went to the Thulo's house for FHE that night. Usually when we go we take some candles or flashlight or something because their house is dark because for some reason the lights don't work, only the outlets. So we bought some lamps to take there, some real cheap ones that put off enough light to light their house and they loved it so much!! I told them that it was a holiday that we celbrate in America called "Present giving day" and they liked that holiday. It was nice to see how grateful they were for just a little bit of light that we took to their house.

We were tracting one day and found this guy who let us come in instantly. We sat down and started talking. Turns out, he has a Book of Mormon but doesn't really understand it and was looking for the people who use it so they can explain to him what it means. It's so cool being a part of someones answer to their prayers! He was really excited that he found us and we are starting to teach him now. His name is Richard and I'll let you know how things go with him.

We did some service in the other guys area at a members house and being there made me want to adopt a little black girl even more. There was this little girl, cute as ever, and she was so funny! She would play with us and tell jokes in her language and she was just awesome! The best part was that when her mom or older sister told her to go do something or to get something, she'd do it. I wanna git me one a those.

We got another girl on baptism date for December. She's doing well, but we just want to make sure her testimony is strong. Now we have 5 people on date.

Well, my fam, it sure is good hearing from you. I'm glad to hear that the food storage is going great! And that Jacob's hair is short. Ps, those babies are getting huge!! I dont even know them! A lady told me that white people are so much bigger than blacks because the white parents take their kids out in the sun when they are young. I think she's thinking we are like plants or something. Ok, enough of my random stories. I'm going to end this. Thanks again for all your prayers! I'm feeling them! I got to go to the temple on Friday and it was so nice! I didn't even sleep! BOO WOO! I sure do love you all! Take care and CTR!
Sharp!

Love,
Elder J. Langston

Conference Report

This is a picture of Jordan and Elder MacDonald, one of the other 3 missionaries in the flat.

Dear Family and Friends,

Conference was totally awesome!! In the words of my sister and fellow teammate in the gospel, "oh my holy yum-yums!" It was so delicious to receive living scripture from prophets and apostles. I enjoyed every minute of it and yes, I was able to stay awake for it all! We didn't get to watch the Sunday afternoon because it didn't start till 10p.m. and the Saturday afternoon was all choppy for us because the satelite was weird. Moya didn't go to the women's broadcast so I didn't get to hear how it was from her. I told her to take notes for me because you said it was good but her sisters baby is in the hospital so she was there all day. She did come to the Sat. afternoon and Sun. morning session and she brought goodies and sat with us and ate them! It was nice! Afterwards we were chatting and she told me she wants to come visit the family in America because she loves you, Mom. I gave her my Gladys Knight cd and told her it was from you and she called me up that night to verbally tell me how much she loves it. So she's starting to make plans to come visit after I get home some time, so I hope thats cool with everyone.

We did some tracting this week and found a family with two girls. As we were teaching them, both Teerlink and I felt the Spirit so strong and I'm sure the family did too. The girls were totally zoned in as we were discussing the Apostasy and Restoration. They understood everything and even asked some questions. We left that house feeling like we were on top of the world. We had an appointment to see them Friday but the girl called to let us know she wouldn't be there, which was cool because most people wait till we get there to find out that they wont be there, but we are seeing them tomorrow and I'm sure it'll be awesome possum!

Well, I'm sure glad that you got the package safely! Was the spidey suit still there? Does Jacob wear it all over the place? The pictures of the kids that you put up were some kids in Thaba Nchu that I got to say "I love you" with their hands. The girls were our neighbors and they'd always come over to our flat asking for sweets and debekos. I'm glad that you both (Camille and Mom) enjoy the skirts. They were made by Sister Mohokare in Thaba Nchu and all I had to do was buy the fabric which was about R200 each, or $30. She's the same lady who made the spidey suit for me. She's way cool! Oh yeah, she's the same lady who made the birthday cake for me!! She made good food for us too! If you wanna write her a letter and send pics of you wearing the skirts, I'll send them to her and I'm sure she'll love that! Moya said she has a letter that she's going to send to you and I still have a package for Mom and Dad. Oh yeah, I thought of you, Dad, when President Monson talked about "Music Man" and our good friend Professor Harold Hill.

Thank you for your email, Camille! I really do enjoy getting encouraging letters from my loving family! I'm sorry that I'm such a slacker as well because I dont even think I've sent you something, like a letter just to you. I hope the skirt with the ladies smoking makes up for it. I sure do love you Camille! I love you too Candice and Jill and Jeanette! When they spoke about giving respect to girls in Priesthood session, they said to tell family members that you love them. So, I'm just letting you all know I love you! And I didn't' forget you Rachael and Nicole! I sure do appreciate having you in the family and taking care of my brothers. I love you all so much and I grow to love you even more as I learn about the gospel and have an eternal perspective on things because I get to be with you all forever! I love you Mom and Dad! Take care and CTR!

Love your African boy,
Elder Jordan Langston

I Love You!

There's something special about pictures of sweet children. I love to see them!

Videos from Jordan - Wedding Celebration

Jordan sent a CD with pictures and videos. I'll post 3 of the videos here. Turn off the music on the site so you can hear what's going on. This is a wedding party celebration.

Hail and More Hail!

What great weather in South Africa!

More video

Not sure what to make of this but it's fun to watch. Don't know if I should be more impressed with the baton twirling or the skills of the "videographer".