Week #35 Paradise

Another week in paradise.  This week, they divided the sector into three parts and assigned each companionship to a part.  They did this so that we don`t have to walk so much...to save time, not energy.   Elder Cabrera and I got assigned the flete or the ghetto part.  We think it`s because I`m bigger and because we are both just a little bit ghetto.  ;)  Haha   Also, with that we have been leaving a bunch of people that aren`t progressing.   

This has left us with only about five people to teach.  You know what that means, CONTACTS! :D  So my week has been full of a lot of contacts.  They are always fun.  You get one of two things.  People who hate us, people who talk to us because they think I (because I`m grengo) am "rico", or you get people who say to come back another day.  The people are receptive and all, but we have almost never gotten into a house out of a contact.

Yesterday was the birthday of Elder Aguero, so in the morning after we did T25, we threw eggs and flour on him and everyone else in the house at that.  Yes, it made a mess.  Was it worth it? Absolutely.  Then at night we grilled, made homemade potatoes, drank matte, sang music, and just hung out....cuz we don`t really get any time for that outside of at night.  Robin, our neighbor, came over and played guitar while we sang.  Haha.  It was awesome.  

This week, I got to see a little more of the administrative side of being a missionary.  Now that I have been in this Ward longer than everyone else here, usually the members turn to me in church when they need help with something.  

It is pretty cool to think about that the members have confidence in me.  :)  Also, it made me think about the Savior.  How tired he must have been from a lifetime of service.  Especially during his mortal ministry.  It made me think how we should trust in the Savior and have that kind of relationship with him.  If we can put trust into a kid that is 21 years old, how much faith could we put into the Son of Man, The Savior of the World, and our PERFECT EXAMPLE?  This world sure would be a lot better.  

So this week, I have decided that I am going to work on trying to put more of my faith in the Lord Jesus Christ in my everyday life...at least in one thing.  I`m going to let him take control.  I`d like to invite you all to do this as well.  Why?  Because I know that he will guide you.  He will show you why it is that he asks you more than anything else to a) love him. b) put all of our faith in him.  I know that if you will do that, you will see miracles in your life and you will receive personal revelation.  

Con amor,

Elder Jackson

Pictures, Pictures, and more Pictures

Did someone say Baptism?

Happy Couple

Clean

Practicing

almost ready

Happy

more pictures

Week #34 Elder Jackson "Small Miracles"

Wow...I just started typing in Spanish and realized that I`m writing to Grengos...haha.  I found out this week that I get at least another change here in Ducaud, so that means I`ll be doing my second skype from Ducaud as well! 

All is well here.  Elder Ocarez got transferred this change to San Miguel.  It was sad to se him go, but the missionary that replaced him, Elder Aguero, is super awesome!!!   He was in my district in the Missionary Training Center, so we are already good friends.  :)   Also, he is really big into exercising, so that will be fun to have someone else to do that with.  :)

This week  for my message home, I would like to share an experience that happened today.   As a house, for preparation day we went to the Temple.  So off we went, Elders Dowdy, Smith, Anderson, Aguero, and I.  Elder Smith and I were standing by each other on the bus, talking about the mission.  We both served in the ward Gran Avenida, so I said "You know what, I`d really like to visit CXXXX and see how she is doing."   He nodded his head in agreement.  CXXXX is a women who is married and has two kids that we both used to teach.  She had a lot of issues associated with her husband and his ability to live the standards of the church.   After a little while, we get to the train station and are heading towards the train to get on.  It was really packed, so he got in one train car and I got on the other.  As I started to get onto the train, a women bumped into my back....and I bet you already know who it was...CXXXX!  She got onto the train with me and we began to talk about life and the things that were going on in her life.  It was so amazing to see her face, and to know that all is well with her and that she was doing well.  

More than anything, my point in accounting this story is to testify that I know that our Heavenly Father loves each and every one of us and he knows us individually,perfectly, and compassionately.  Of all the 5 million people that live in Santiago, Chile, Heavenly Father felt it necessary to show forth his hand and provide me with a miracle   Neither of us expected to see CXXXX that day, but it happened anyway.

I want to share a verse that has been my favorite verse for as long as I can remember.  John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, and that whomever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” 

Now I have a living testimony that our Father in Heaven loves us so much!  We don`t have to pray to him for him to know our wants and desires.  We don`t have to make is something "official".  Just like many times...our parents know what we want and need loooong before we ever say anything to them about it...our Heavenly Father is EXACTLY THE SAME! 

I love my Heavenly Father, so much.  I have learned to trust and lean on him.  He knows what we want...we just have to open the door so he can provide us with these blessings.  Open your doors...ALL OF THEM!  Let Heavenly Father fulfill all of your hopes, desires, and dreams.  All it requires is a bit of faith...it all depends on that.  I share this, knowing that it will change your life for eternity if you will heed my words...I testify of it, in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Con amor,

Elder Jackson

Week #33 Another day in Paradise!!!!

Hello All

This week was just amazing!  It was the best feeling in the world to have a full week of working and studies.  Elder Cabrerea and I are doing things together to try to have the Spirit with us stronger now.  It is so amazing.  :)  I really have learned to love studying the scriptures...it makes such a difference in the day and how strongly we have the spirit.  If you have a good scripture study to start off your day, I can promise you that your day will ALWAYS be good!  Maybe it won`t be the best number wise, contacting, you`ll probably still walk a ton, but at the end of the day....I guarantee that you did everything you could that day and that you were prepared to be an example to the world.  Preparation is everything.  

This week was a great week of good old fashion WORK, but to top it off, I had the privilege of baptizing my good friend Glover Matias Vaca Cariqueo!   It was such an amazing experience!   His family worked hard on making it a special day for him.   He is 8 years old.   His family is members and they asked me to baptize him.  He just had a heck of a time!  Especially with the play dart gun someone gave him!  Haha.  :)  Also, we got 2 new people to teach from the baptism.  Pictures to come!

More than anything this week, I have felt the Spirit really testifying to me about the power we have as Missionaries.   After the baptism of Matias,  I kept on receiving promptings from the Holy Ghost about the power I have as an example to other people.  I kept on having the feelings that I needed to improve as a missionary...that what I`m doing isn`t enough.  That feeling was reaffirmed when the Stake 1st Counselor invited him to the ward...he told him "Remember always Matias, that you were baptized by a Missionary...that Missionary sitting beside you...Elder Jackson.  Remember that name forever."  That just really got me thinking about the influence that I have on Matias.   Then, I got to thinking, if I have such a substantial influence on Matias, who knows who else actually looks up to me in some way!   I have felt a higher calling ever since that...a calling to be more obedient, to be more specific in my prayers, to work a little harder....we have definitely seen results from the increased efforts.

Jacob 6:12  "Be prudent, what more can I say." My prayer for all of you is that we can think about the influence that we have on someone...one person...and then ask yourself "Am I being the example I need to be for that person?"  Then, if you aren`t the example you believe you should/could be, change it.   Make the changes.   Be that person.   That`s what our Heavenly Father wants and expects from you.  

I love you all??

Con amor,

Elder Jackson

Week #31 Food Poisoning

As most of you probably know, I was sick with food poisoning last week.  None of us could leave the house Tuesday-Sunday with the exception of going to General Conference at our local meetinghouse.

Really more than anything, this week I learned things about myself.  I learned that when I get lost in the work, I don`t even realize what is happening to me.  I get so caught up in just doing the work that I don`t see the changes occurring in me...it seems normal.  

During my week in the house, I felt TERRIBLE.  Not just because of the sicknesses, but more because I was preoccupied with the people that we have been teaching.  "How are they?  Are they reading?  Are they becoming closer to the Savior and learning?"  I can`t even tell you all of the questions that were in my head.  

I feel like I have felt the preoccupation that all of the prophets from the scriptures felt for the people they were teaching.  It is a preoccupation  but more than that, a love.  A pure love...the love of Christ.  I feel that without me even realizing it, I have at least started to develop a Christlike Brotherly Love for the people here.  It really is one of a kind.  It truly HAS to be from my Heavenly Father.  I felt soooo good when I finally was able to see the people that I had been missing.  I felt like a hole in my heart had been filled.  

It`s funny how as missionaries, many times we think or say to ourselves.."Man I`m so tired...it sure would be nice to take a nap or something", but it`s not really this way.  It made me sad.  Now, I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that my Father in Heaven, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost are with me here.  Though I may not be as "successful" as some other missionaries on their mission, I am serving my purpose.  The change is occurring in me that my Heavenly Father has promised each and every one of us if we will "lose our life for his sake", to find life eternal.

I`m so grateful for this gospel.  I am so grateful that I have been chosen to receive the gospel in this life and that I have the opportunity to take advantage of this for the rest of eternity.  I want to promise each and every one of you that we all have this opportunity.  If you are reading this, you are chosen too, but you have to do your part.  You have to learn what you must do to receive these blessings as well.  I pray that each of you can see this opportunity in your lives and that really from this, you can feel the Savior`s love for you.  He loves you.  His arms are eternally extended out to us...we just have to reach out and take his hand. 

Con amor,

Elder Jackson    

Week #30 Elder Jackson

Greetings From Santiago!!!

I don`t really have a lot of time to report this week.  I want to say that I am learning to better myself.  To be more self-motivating, to put my trust in the Lord in everything that I do, to practice my faith more effectively, and to put others needs above my own.  I am learning not to worry about the little things.  I am learning that there is a reason that I am here...I know that not many people could serve here and that Heavenly Father put me here, to grow my testimony of him and his son.  

I want to testify that I know that our Father in Heaven knows us personally.  He loves us.  He wants the best for us.  He knows our true potential, not us.  Even though we don`t realize it, even when we feel successful  we are living below our potential.  I know that there is a reason for EVERYTHING that happens in our lives.  If you are a member of the church, there is a reason GOD CHOSE YOU!  If you aren`t a member of the church and you are reading this, there is a reason that GOD HAS DIRECTED YOU HERE!  THERE IS A REASON THAT GOD HAS PRESENTED THIS GOSPEL IN YOUR LIFE!.  That purpose if for you to become a member.  

Please, please, don`t waste this opportunity.  Take this message from one of Heavenly Fathers’ servants at this very moment.  He is telling you that HE WANTS YOU IN HIS CHURCH NOW!!  Not only does he want you, but HE NEEDS YOU!!  I have such a testimony of the church and this gospel.  I know beyond the shadow of a doubt that this is the fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  It has been restored to us through the Prophet Joseph Smith and that we can receive all of the promised blessings to each of us only if we follow the promptings of the Holy Ghost, and follow the Savior.

I love each of you,  really.  I don`t care if I know you or not.  I love you because you are seeking God.  I know you are seeking him and he is seeking you.  I bear testimony with all of my soul that this is the way to eternal happiness and that the Gospel of Jesus Christ WILL CHANGE YOU now, and for all of eternity.  I pray that each of you would see this, and not waste a moment.  Seek the Savior.  Seek our Father in Heaven.  He is waiting.  

I pray that this will touch your heart in a way that it will prompt you to not only know that the words that you read are true, but that you will be moved upon to act.  I love you all, and pray for the Lord’s blessings on your behalf!!

Love,

Elder Jackson 

Week #29 Strict Obedience Yeilds Immediate Blessings From the Lord

Hey everyone.  

This week has been pretty sweet.  I`m going to save something from this week for next week to share...you`ll see why.  This week was a lot of computer stuff.  A lot of making documents ,calling people…the administrative side of the mission.  We have been working with the president of a neighborhood group here on organizing the building of a house in the West Mission.  It feels pretty good to be able to talk about that kind of stuff a little better now.  

Saturday, we helped an investigator with a bunch of service for like 6 hours..they were really grateful.  There really is no better feeling than providing service to others with no expectation of a return favor.  I have come to realize that Service is the first step in detaching oneself from the things of the world.  This single act towards others will always yield an immediate blessing to you, and will always draw you closer to Christ.  

It was another week of the Lord`s work.  At this point in time, I feel like I am hitting my stride.  This is my normal life now.  I will say though,  I have gotten really close with the other Elders in the house...especially Elder Smith and Anderson.  They are great guys.  All of them are really cool and really good guys.  I enjoy our talks...they make me feel like we really are a family.  Though all of us are far from home, we find love in pushing each other in the work and helping one another to better ourselves.  

I just want to share a little thought this week.  Today, we went to the central of Santiago to buy some stuff. (I bought some weights to workout!)  We met a guy, while waiting in line at Burger King, who could speak perfect English.  We talked for a few minutes and come to find out he is a member of the church.  At a young age, his parents moved him from Santiago to Utah.  He studied at the University of Utah and got his MBA.  I told him about how after the mission, I am planning on going to BYU to study business.  We got our food, and invited him to eat with us...he accepted.  We talked a lot about his family and his life.  Basically, in the end, he shared his testimony of the gospel, which was really powerful.  He told us that although he is a successful businessman, that the biggest regret of his entire life...is that he didn`t serve a mission.  At that moment, I thought to myself , "This man has literally EVERYTHING.  Several houses, travels the world for work, a nice vehicle, a loving family, a son on the mission in Lubbock,TX, and he says that he has all of that and that the biggest regret of his life is that he didn`t serve a mission."  Then he said something interesting...."Though I never served a mission, I continue to serve my Lord each and every day, wherever I am."  THAT`S SO TRUE!  It`s so cool to me to think that there really are people in the world that get it!  We all have to be set apart to be full time missionaries, but we don’t have to be set apart to be missionaries every day in the way that we conduct ourselves.  When we are baptized, we covenant with Heavenly Father to take the name of the Lord upon ourselves for eternity...that means we have an eternity of opportunities to share the gospel...both through example and through our words.  He thanked us for our service and our act of love to the children of God here.  

I just want to share my testimony that there is a reason that our paths in life cross with others.  Really, we have a purpose in this life.  We need to realize when this happens and take advantage of it.  There are always opportunities to better ourselves.  Great blessings really are the best, and they always come from something small...like opening your mouth.  :)

Love,

Elder Jackson