Week #7

Alan,

So this was a very eventful week for me.  First off, I have been teaching this guy named Lucas for a few weeks now, he is 19.  I taught him a lesson about prayer this week.  I invited him to accept Christ into his life and to be baptized...he said not now, but that if he knows that this is true, then he will.  SO THAT¨´S GOOD!  Hernan fell through....he called us one morning this week and asked to borrow $10 for gas and so of course we said sure.  We got to where we were meeting him, and he was drunk.  He had driven there too.  We told him that we weren´t giving him the money because he´s driving.  We also told him that he isn´t ready to be baptized.  He antogonized Elder Peck about it, but I know we did the right thing...we will see where that goes.  He is kinda at the point where there is nothing more we can do for him...he knows the gospel...now he just has to humble himself and have a desire to work at this...we told him it isn´t easy, and that Satan is powerful, but that our God is the most powerful and that nothing is impossible with God on our side.

Home Sweet Home

spacious kitchen

My Desk

Bedroom

Living Room

Dining Table

storage room

On another note...Elder Orchard was making fun of Elder Peck for having christmas lights up year round...I told him about how we always have ours up because "we like to celebrate the birth of Christ year round...not because we are too lazy to take it down." hahaha

I think that General Conference was great...it was a tad difficult because I watched 8 of the 10 hours in Spanish, so my head hurt towards the end of the days. haha  All of them were great talks though.  I agree that the one about "Is it me?" is super great.  That is something that I am trying to work on in my life...it is a very valuable asset.

They are everywhere!!!

Lamonite?

Skyline

A few talks that I think that everyone should read or listen to...Slow to Anger, Missionary Work and the Atonement, and His Grace is Enough by Brad Wilcox.  These are all great..I listen to Missionary work and the Atonement every morning for inspiration.  

Just a few things,  I would like Yang and Austin´s emails.  If you ship stuff, you should use USPS...it´s safer.  I would also like Jocely Jones´email from facebook..im sure she´d give it to you. Yesterday, Elder Peck and I were walking, and we passed by this parked truck, and out of NOWHERE something fell from the sky and into the bed of this truck....Elder Peck and I kind of jumped and were just like...."What the heck??? Where did that come from?"  Super funny.  Also, we have service next week with some church...I cant remember the name of the religion, but it´s based out of Israel ( Not Judaism)  LOL I´m excited for that.  I had SUSHI last night for the first time here!  Just as good as I remembered! LOL

So about the mission, it is brand new.  It was made about the time that I was baptized.  President Cook is the first President.  It used to be part of both the Santiago West mission and The Chile Rancaugua Mission.  Super unigue.  The mission is really hard because everyone here is either a member that has gone inactive, heard the message before and isn´t interested, or they don´t like religion.  So it´s super hard to have "sucess".  My comp has been out 7 months and has no baptisms and has like 4 reactivations...it´s definitely not a mission for someone who is out to get numbers.  

My weekly scriptures are Alma 5:52 

 52 And again I say unto you, the Spirit saith: Behold, the ax is laid at the root of the tree; therefore every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit shall be hewn down and cast into the fire, yea, a fire which cannot be consumed, even an unquenchable fire. Behold, and remember, the Holy One hath spoken it.

52 talks about how there is an ax at every tree waiting to cut it down and cast it into the fire if it doesn´t put forth good fruit. 

and Alma 7:23-24.  

 23 And now I would that ye should be humble, and be submissiveand gentle; easy to be entreated; full of patience and long-suffering; being temperate in all things; being diligent in keeping the commandments of God at all times; asking for whatsoever things ye stand in need, both spiritual and temporal; always returning thanks unto God for whatsoever things ye do receive.

 24 And see that ye have faith, hope, and charity, and then ye will always abound in good works.

23-24 talks about traits that we should have to know that we are doing good work that is pleasing to God.  

I think that this is super important that we all remember this.  

You have three kinds of tress...ones that bring forth bad fruit...ones that bring no fruit...and ones that bring forth good fruit.  It says that all of those that don´t bring forth good fruit are cast into the fire...not the bad ones.  This is important to me because many people believe that is enough to do the minimal...or to be the tree that brings no fruit, but that isn´t true.  If we aren´t bringing forth good fruit, it´s the same as if we were a bad tree.  Verses 23-24 tell us how we can know that we are a good fuit bearing tree.  My challenge to everyone this week is to evaluate yourselves and ask yourself, " Am I bringing forth good fruit, or am I stagnant or bringing forth bad fruit?" Then act accordingly.

I love all of you and can´t wait to see yall!  This work is so amazing and though it is difficult, I can´t imagine where else I´d rather be. :)

Con Amor,

Elder Jackson

I have included serveral pictures from the past couple of weeks!!!  Enjoy!!