Week #43 Just a great Week!!!!

Greetings from Santiago!!!

This week was just great!   I`m starting to feel more comfortable with the sector.  I got a little lost in a division this week, but hey...I only have like three weeks here…there  are a lot of pasajes!  I am literally loving life.  I am finding more and more joy out of the little things in life.   Discussions  jokes, shared meals, bedtime stories.   

It truly is amazing the changes that happen to a person on the mission.   It COMPLETELY alters your perception of the world...of your purpose...and what you want.   I am living right now with my best friends.   I love my friends.  I love that they are always seeking to help me better myself.  I love that they bring me joy in a life that is a complete roller coaster ride emotionally, physically, and spiritually.  I am so grateful for the opportunity to have them in my life.  

I have a story to share from this week.  A couple of days ago, we were in a lesson with a family and they started to ask us about our lives, families, and our stories.  They asked Elder Miller about his family and story...and then they asked me about mine.  I told them my story and they were shocked.  They started to talk about how what I am doing takes more courage and will than it does from Elder Miller..how it has to be soooo much harder for me than him because I don`t have the level of support that he has had his entire life...that I haven`t been preparing for this for a good part of my life like him...because he grew up in the church.   I attempted to explain to them that the mission is difficult for EVERYONE!  EVEN THOSE WHO WERE BORN IN THE CHURCH...THOSE THAT HAVE FAMILY TO SUPPORT THEM...THOSE WHO DON`T HAVE SUPPORT..   

I realized in that very moment what I had said...that it really is something difficult for everyone and that I should NEVER feel that I have it more difficult than other missionaries.  Obviously, each mission is distinct unto itself.   But all missions are UNIQUE FOR EACH MISSIONARY.  Each of us was called to our missions by God...it`s what we need/needed in our lives to bring us closer to Christ.   I realized that each of us has the same goal in the end...to help others come unto Christ, to continue progressing in our personal progression, and that really, it doesn`t matter where we come from.   It doesn`t matter if we have 3 months or 50 years in the church.  It doesn`t matter if we served a full time mission or have never had a calling in the church.  It doesn`t matter if we have family in the church or not...it doesn`t matter what sins we have committed in the past...we all have to follow through with the gospel of Jesus Christ, helping our brothers and sisters always...with that, comes the blessings...that is when the miracles come...that is when we can become a little bit more like Christ. 

I am so grateful to feel the love of Christ in my life...for my mission...mission president and his wife...family...friends...and most of all, for my Savior.  I pray that through this message, you could feel the spirit testifying to you of the sincerity and truthfulness of my words.  I want to close with  this promise....testifying.that THIS IS THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST.  I have never felt like this before.  I have never felt so..at peace with life.  This is how I KNOW that our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ live.  That they love us and are watching over us.  I just want to extend the invitation to each of you...to take that step...whatever it may be...to make your Heavenly Father proud of YOU.  Turn to him in humble prayer, and he will show you what you need to do. 

I love you all and thanks so much for all of your prayers on my behalf!!!

Con amor,

Elder Jackson

Week #42

Hello Everyone Back Home!!!

This week was an interesting week.  I don`t know if people know about it up in the States or not, but Chile is hosting the Copa America this year.  Basically, that is when a big group of the countries from Central and South America get together to see who is the best.  Haha.  It is super funny because they take it REALLY seriously here...and people get mad over just the dumbest things.  They all make fun of each other a lot more than usual. When Chile plays, we have to enter the house early because the Chileans get pretty "rowled up".

This week was good for teaching.  I am starting to get connected with the members better.  This Sunday, it was my first time in my new chapel.  Elder Dueñas and I got to present ourselves to everyone.  There were 60 people in the ward there.  It is a ton smaller than Ducaud, but has its advantages as well.  :)  We are going to the bishop`s house tonight to eat a little bit with him.  

The area that I am serving is an older community.  Most of the people are probably 60 years old.  We are praying for a ton for opportunities to meet new people and to find the people who are ready to receive the gospel in their lives.  :)

This week, I was thinking a lot about obedience.  As missionaries, we have many MANY rules.  I feel like sometimes, as members, we feel that we are obligated to do many things.  Go to church, refrain from buying on Sunday, refrain from some of the things of the world...etc.  In the end, there are many people who feel sorry for themselves because they have "limits" on what they can and can`t do.  Ya know what...in the end, we aren`t obligated to do anything!  We don`t HAVE to do a THING,however, God IS OBLIGATED to bless us always, when we are obedient.  He literally has to do it...he has no option.  So, next time you are faced with a decision of obedience, remember that.  Remember that you have a choice of the outcomes...God does not.  If you can remember that, I promise that you will make the right decision.  :)

I love all of you.  I am so thankful for all of the support that I have received through the years.  I am thankful for all of the guidance that I have received from my leaders and my elders in the church.  i am very grateful for Bishop Stinnett back home and the help he gave me.  I am just so very grateful for the gospel in my life...I don`t know what I would do without it.  :)

Con amor,

Elder Jackson

Week #41 Another Day in Paradise

Hello Everyone Back Home!!

This week has been a really stressful week.  We found out the other day that Elders Dueñas and Hawkins were being kicked out of their house because the contract was ending, so we went to go help them clean and pack and all.  Then, on move day, we found out that they would be moving in with us! haha So we basically spent the day doing all of that kind of stuff.  We now have 6 people in a house for 4 again.  It`s okay..just a little hard to focus at times...during studies to be more exact.  

We had Stake and Zone conference this week....it was really cool to get to listen to new leaders since I`m in a new zone.  It kinda sucked that I didn`t know anybody, but hey...it`s part of being the new guy.  :)  It was all fun though.  For pday this week, we went to the temple.  Like always, it was simply amazing...a great spiritual experience and opportunity for service.  Then we ate at Popeye`s! :D

The work is a little bit slow in the new sector with all of the stuff going on with the Copa America and reunions and things like that, but I figure things will be normal soon.  :)

I just

wanted to share my testimony of leadership positions in life.  Husbands, bishops, sports captains, team captains, whatever leadership position that you can think of.  The point of it isn`t always because you are better, the best, or anything like that, but that it is an opportunity to help you grow personally and to help those below your authority to do the same.  I just want to share my testimony that at times that can be really frustrating and difficult, but if we go to the Lord in prayer and ask him for his guidence, we can`t go wrong.  Always seek the Lord with your might, mind, and soul, and everything will be okay.  :) I testify of it, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Con amor,
Elder Jackson

Week #40 Transfers

Greetings From Santiago, Chile!!

So, I got transferred yesterday.  :(  It was super hard to leave Ducaud.  During my farewell talk on Sunday, I almost cried the whole time...I literally felt like a little baby.  WAAAH!    I feel like I am leaving my family all over again...it`s the same, but different.  I love Ducaud, but it`s a different kind of love...I dare to say a Christlike love. 

It was hard, but the Lord has called me somewhere else...to a sector called Las Industrias!  It is in the community of San Juaquin.  It is known to be richer than San Bernardo where I was. There are more houses than "throw up" houses.   My comp is a grengo from Utah.  His name is Elder Miller.  He has 3 months left in the mission.   President thinks the world of him with reason.   We were in the same zone in Gran Avenida, so we kinda already knew each other.  We live in a house with two other Elders...the house is nicer than in Ducaud, plus there are only 4 in the house.

With the heartache from leaving, it made me think about some scriptures in Doctrine and Covenants 76:5-10 If you are too lazy to read it, basically, it says that Heavenly Father delights when we serve him in righteousness.  It LITERALLY BRINGS HIM JOY!  Wow, what a thought.  Can you imagine the face of God, smiling because YOU are doing what he wants you to do?  It`s really a pretty amazing picture to me at least.  It continues to say that he that doith this will receive knowledge of the gospel that has now been heard, seen, or spoken yet...even all of the mysteries of God...WHAT A PROMISE!  We will know EVERYTHING!  All we have to do is what the Lord has shown us and commanded us to do.

In these trying times, this gives me much comfort in my purpose.  That not only it is what I`m doing on my mission, but that this is what CHRIST NEEDS ME TO DO TO HELP HIM WITH THIS ETERNAL WORK.  That sure does make me feel special.  This is what gives me the hope and the knowledge that there are miracles waiting for me here, just like there were in Ducaud.  It gives me the desire to excite myself, and "GO TO WORK"  I simply want to invite each of you to ponder on these scriptures and to think what is in your life that Christ needs you to do.   Promise him you`ll do it, and do it.  It`s that easy.  It is simply a matter of making up your mind to serve him righteously, and following through.  I testify to you that when you do this, you will feel comfort in your life.  You will feel peace about what you are doing...and if you don`t, you will know what you need to do to realize this promised blessing. 

Con amor,