Week #52 It is his year mark!!!!

This week was a little difficult.  Ya my dear Elder Miller went back home. We kept on working right up until the end.  We continued learning from each other, right until the end.  I am very grateful for the things that he taught me, the experiences we were able to share, and for the spirit that was felt.  I can`t wait to hang out with him at BYU!  :)

Also,  my dear friend Elder Cabrera went home.  My Poolcito!  haha  He is a great friend of mine.  I will always remember the nights we spent up just talking about life...our aspirations, our goals, our lives, and most of all, our God.  I am certain that I will be getting into contact with him very soon after the mission to plan a trip down to Manchu Pichu and Pisco!  :)

To kinda catch things up, I am now in a trio with Elders Dueñas and Hawkins for a week.  I am going to be with them until we have changes next Tuesday.  It is pretty weird to only have three elders in the house, but it`s a lot more tranquillo.  It is easier to focus.  I am leaving every day with members of the ward so that my sector doesn`t  die...so I can continue to teach my people.  It should is fun.  Today,  I went to play soccer with about fifteen other missionaries from the zone.  ;)  We played soccer and had a barbecue at one of the chapels.  It was super fun.  I`ll have some new pics next week...I don`t have my camera right now.  

So I learned something that I feel is very important this week.  I honestly got really sad when I got back to the house when we dropped off Elder Miller.  I cried a little while I finished cleaning up his stuff, changing my bed to the bottom bunk, and just getting everything back into order there.  I was sad because he really helped me to see my weaknesses and he helped me to know how to overcome/better them.  I felt that now, I was alone in that fight...that I was alone.    As I continued cleaning, I had an epiphany.  I thought to myself, "You know what Elder Jackson, this is dumb.  It`s dumb to be sad about this...IT IS A GLORIOUS THING TO SEE A YOUNG MISSIONARY COMPLETE HIS SERVICE TO THE LORD.  If you just get sad, it`ll take away from the sacredness of this moment.  Also,  it`s not what he would want, so stop." In that moment, I began to think of all of the special moments I had with both of them.  Of all of the things that they both taught me about life, the gospel, and myself.  I came to the realization that it was actually very simple what I had to do at this point.  I have to remember the miracles we saw, treasure their teachings and counsels, and apply it to the rest of my mission and my life.  If I do that, this sacred experience not only won`t be in vain, but that it will actually be to MY advantage in the future and that, as a byproduct of my future success, it will play a role in the success of many others in the future.  WHAT MORE COULD I WANT!? 

I testify to each and every one of you that this gospel is true.  It is the gospel that changes us, not ourselves.  It is when we put ourselves in circumstances to grow that the spirit guides us.  It is when we fall, that we succeed.  It is in our growth, that our Heavenly Father finds joy in us.  This is the road to happiness.  This is the road to peace.  This is the road to eternal glory and exaltation.  

Con Amor,

Elder Jackson