Week #50 Emotions Overflowing

This week has absolutely just flown by!  It has been filled with flowing emotions for me.  Elder Soulier went home on Monday.  Elder Miller and Elder Cabrera are going home this coming Monday.  I complete a year in Chile today.  It is really a surreal moment for me.  Three of my four comps are going home right now.  I have an arsenal of feelings for all of them, but more than anything...I am just so thankful humbled by the opportunity I have had to serve with each and every one of them.  I have learned so much about my Heavenly Father and myself from each one of them.  They have all taught me very distinct things.  I cannot wait to see the miracles that they are a part of in their lives.  :)

Having a year in the mission now is very weird.  I feel that I have been here for four months..that each sector has been a month, but here I am...one year.  But, I also feel that I have come a very long way.  I have progressed in my personal conversion in so many ways I could never even of thought of.  I have come to a better understanding of who my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are and what they expect from me.  I understand their role in my life...and what I must do so that their efforts are not in vain.  I am very grateful for the opportunity that I have had to serve the Chilean people.  To serve with them, to rejoice with them, to understand them,  and most of all to love them.  

I am grateful to my Heavenly Father for my mission call.  I have come to the realization that there IS NO OTHER MISSION I COULD HAVE BEEN CALLED TO!.  This mission is literally perfect for me.  I can`t imagine this time anywhere else.  I still have a long way to go, but I`m well on my way to being the man Heavenly Father wants and expects me to be.  I find happiness in the scriptures, I find comfort in the scriptures, and I find answers to all of life's problems in the scriptures.   I so love assisting others in getting to know Heavenly Father better and progressing spiritually, mentally and seeing them happy through the  gospel of Jesus Christ.  

I really am at a loss for words.  Words can`t describe my feelings.

I am a disciple of Christ.  I am called to preach repentance unto the world.  I pray that my Heavenly Father would give me the strength to always remain humbly.  And to remain proud of this fact, to maintain the vibrance to share it with courage, the diligence to stay loyal to this call for the rest of my life, the optomism to put my faith in His will always in my life first, and the faith to doubt my doubts before I doubt the miracles of my God.  

I love the gospel of Jesus Christ.  I love our God.  I find happiness in things of righteousness.  This is who I am. I pray that each of you could come to desire this state of serenity as well and that you would take appropriate actions to achieve it.  This is my humble prayer, in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Con Amor,

Elder Joseph Nathaniel Jackson

Week #49 Miracles

This week was super great!  The work is starting to pick up a little bit here.  We are finding some new people to teach.  Lots of walking.  haha.  We are also beginning to find more service, which is super cool for me because I love it.  There really is no better way to share the love of the Savior than to serve others humbly without expecting something in return. I am finding more out about myself now.  Who I want to be, who I don`t want to be, and how to achieve my desires.  I LOVE THE SCRIPTURES!  I love studying them, praying about them, and receiving answers from them.  I have such a testimony about studying the scriptures.  If you aren`t studying them, I invite you to start now.  

We celebrated Peruvian Independence Day at the church with The Chavez and Cruzado family.  :)  We ate a bunch of Peruvian food.  It`s literally amazing.  haha.  I ate pizza like four times this week...first time in my mission. haha  We kinda went crazy.  

I would like to share a miracle from the last seven or so months.  

About seven months ago, at about 9:45 at night, Elder Soulier and I were walking to pick something up from Ivan`s house...I think it was some food or something they had made for us.  We were walking by a park and out of nowhere we hear "HEY GRENGOS!"  There was somebody yelling at us in English.  We like messing with people who do that, so we went and talked to them.  It turned out to be two young twin sisters and the boyfriend of one of them.  We talked to them for a couple of minutes, explained what we do, got to know them, and set up a time to go visit them.  We began teaching the sisters.  Their names are Janis and Jailyn.  

After a month or so, Jailyn decided not to listen anymore.  It was a hard blow, but we continued with Janis.  After Elder Soulier left, Elder Cabrera and I continued teaching her.  It was a little tough, but she was progressing slowly.  She started assisting the church every Sunday for like my last month in Ducaud.  We had set a date to be baptized for her.  Then Elder Cabrera and I both we transferred.  She made me promise to her that I would return to baptize her, so I did.  I found out about two weeks ago, that she hadn`t missed a Sunday and that her date was still set.  I got into contact with her and she told me that she still wanted me to baptize her!  I was super excited because I hadn`t heard anything about her since leaving.  

This Sunday, Elder Soulier and I took a trip down to Ducaud to see this amazing young woman baptized.  I had to honor and privilege to baptize her.  It was one of the most special moments for me on my mission.  The gratitude that I felt in seeing her dressed in white, dedicating her life to serving the Lord.  I, for a brief moment, got a glimpse of how our Father in Heaven feels when we make those steps towards him in righteousness   It`s unexplainable.  I`m just so happy to see her happy and to have been a part of this process from the beginning.  

I testify that the Savior lives.  That the gospel works miracles.  That the gospel changes you.  I don`t know what I would do without these miracles in my life.  I just want to invite everyone of you to never give up.  Even if the odds are against you and your cause...NEVER GIVE UP...NEVER GIVE IN....ONLY BELIEVE.  

Con Amor,

Elder Jackson

 I know our Savior Lives!!

Read the Book of Mormon!!

lds.org

mormon.org

Week #47 Great week

This week was really great.  It went by super fast!  We had interviews with President Cook to go over our three month goals and to set new ones.  I`m really excited about mine.  I set a really ambitious study goal on accident, but I`m going to try to meet it anyway!  :D  I am really happy with the way things are going here.  I have recently started trying to refocus my mission.  It`s funny how you can literally feel and see a difference in yourself when you put in even a little extra effort to draw nearer to Heavenly Father.  It makes a difference not only in your life, but in the lives of those around you.  People note the change as well, and it at least somewhat makes them want to change as well.  :)

This week for my spiritual thought, I`d like to share a miracle that happened this week.   SInce arriving here in Las Industrias, we have been sharing with a less active young man named Miguel.  He is the same one I talked about before.  In the beginning, it was hard to even find him, much less get into a lesson with him.  Last week, we had a lesson with him and we invited him to come to church on Sunday.  Before, he told us that he wasn`t ready to go back to the church yet.  This time, we felt that he wanted it...that he wanted to go back and that he was ready.  When we asked, he told us no because he didn`t want to tell us yes and then end up not going.  He is a little bit lazy. After that, we asked if he would go if we walked over to his house in the morning to get him and went together.  He was slow to respond, but HE SAID YES!  I was so excited!  And that was exactly what happened...we passed by, got him, went to church all three hours, and he left.    Yesterday night, we had a meeting in the church with some of the members of the church. We got to the church, AND MIGUEL WAS THERE FOR MUTUAL!  He had ridden his bike all the way from his house to the church without us inviting him or anything.  I felt such happiness in the moment that I saw him.  I don`t know what`s going to happen to him from here, but in that act, he showed me a true desire to close m to Christ.  

It is so amazing to see the fruits of the Spirit!  It really does work miracles.  It makes the once impossible, a reality.  It brings me joy as a missionary to know that we have helped this young man to feel the Spirit of the Lord in his life.  I just want to say, don`t EVER think ANYONE...ANYONE..is a lost cause.  If you can bring the Spirit back into their lives, all can be restored.  "For the worth of all souls is great in the sight of God."  They should be in your sight as well.  Remember, even the slightest acts of love resemble the love of the Savior.  

Con Amor,

Elder Jackson

Week #46 Elder Jackson: Conflict bring about growth!!

Greetings from Santiago!!!

To be honest, this week was a real challenge.  We had some problems in the house, but that`s not what is important...what is important is that by working together we were able to get through it.  We had a good rest of the week.  We have been pushing hard to help each other out with goals...which is great by the way...we ALL need help with that from time to time. 

I`m gonna keep it short this week.  I learned a very important lesson this week.  All of my life, I have been taught excellence in all you do.  You NEVER do something half way.  You NEVER give it half of your thought/energy.  You NEVER give up.  As a byproduct of that, I have grown to expect to excel in everything I do in life..whether that be sports, school, work...everything.  The mission is SO amazing.  It teaches you things that you might NEVER learn in your life otherwise.  What I have learned is that...no matter what I do, I will NEVER be a perfect missionary...and ACTUALLY very little depends on me.  A part does...it`s my job to bring the spirit, but the people we teach still have their albedrio(agency) to choose to accept the gospel or not. 

No matter what we do in life, we will ALWAYS fall short of the glory of God.  But, thanks to the atonement of Jesus Christ and the grace of God, we can be saved and achieve eternal life with our loved ones.  I am just so grateful for the atonement.  Truly with this gift, we can do anything!  I love the Lord for this sacrifice he made for me.

I just wanted to share my feelings about the Atonement and testify that it is our responsibility to utilize it, or the sacrifice of Christ was made in vain.  

Con amor,

Elder Jackson      

Week #45 Heavenly Father is the same yesterday, today, and forever....

Hello Everyone!!!!

This week was pretty amazing.  As I have said before, Chile was the host of the Copa America this year….well, we made it to the finals!  It was on the fourth of July.  We got permission from President Cook to watch it!  It was a GREAT game!  They went into penalty kicks and WE WON!  We beat Argentina. (Who is like the arch rival of Chile.)  We came back to the house and had an asado. (Barbecue)  It was super good.  Our house is like 2 miles from the Estadio Nacional, so we got to see the fireworks after the game!  So I got to see big fireworks for the fourth of July in Chile!  It was literally THE BEST 4TH OF JULY EVER!!! 

Elder Miller made a bet with the Chavez family about who would win between Chile and Peru, and Chile won, so they had to cook us cachangas…it is like fried bread with a sweet cream in the middle...Peruvian Heaven.  

Another cool experience, I did my first baptismal interview.  It was with an elderly woman named Exxxxx.  She was super nice!  :)  It was kinda weird being on the other side of things because I still remember my baptismal interview like it was yesterday.   

We had a bunch of service this week.  We painted an elderly lady`s room for her.  We cut down a tree with a saw.  (I had to climb up in it to get up high enough...made me feel like I was back in the South a little! XD )  Then we started trying to pull up the stump, but it`s got a ton of roots, so it`s a work in progress.  It was fun to get my hands a little dirty this week.  ;)  

On another note, Elder Dueñas and I have started doing boxing in the mornings three times a week.  He did it before the mission, so he is training me!  I`m super excited for it!  Something I`ve always wanted to work on and it`s GREAT exercise!  :)

This week, I was thinking a ton about the power of conversion in the gospel.  I decided to do an indepth study of this conversion power in the scriptures.  I did a study of two of the most influential people in the scriptures...Paul and the son of Alma.  Here is what I found.  

Saul-Paul

1)Made havoc of the church (Acts 8:3)

2)Threw Christians in prison ((Acts 8:3)

3) Had a marvelous experience

• Pillar of light from Heaven (Acts 9:3)
• Saul fell to the Earth trembling and was astonished (Acts 9:6)
• "Why persecutest thou me?" Jesus (Acts 9:4)
• "Go into the city and it shall be given what thou must do." (Acts 9:6)
• "Great things will he suffer for my name`s sake."  (Acts 9:16)
• Saul received his sight and was baptized by the laying of of hands (Acts 9:18)

• Spent time with the disciples (Acts 9:19)
• Preached Christ in the synagogues (Acts 9:20)
• Jews wanted to kill him (Acts 9:23)
• Name changed to Paul (Acts 13:9)
• Was a missionary (Acts 13:1-14:26
• Imprisoned for two years (Acts 24:1-26:32

Son of Alma

1. very wicked and idolatrous man (Mosiah 27:8)
2. Led many eople to do much iniquity (Mosiah 27:8)
3. "Great hinderment to the prosperity of the church (Mosiah 27:9)

• Much dissension
• Stealing away their hearts contrary to the commandments (Mosiah 27:10)
• Giving the enemy of God a chance to exercise his power (Mosiah 27:9

1. Seeking to destroy the church
2. Marvelous experience

• Angel of the Lord appeared (Mosiah 27:11)
• Fell to the Earth astonished (Mosiah 27:12)
• "Why persecutest thou the church of God?" (Mosiah 27:13)

1. Happened because of the prayers of others (Mosiah 27:14)
2. Lost his strength and couldn`t speak (Mosiah 27:19)

• was restored after much prayer and fasting (Mosiah 27:23)

• Born of the Spirit (Mosiah 27:24)-after wading through much tribulation and repenting (Mosiah 27:28)  Soul was pained no more (Mosiah 27:29)
• Preached through all of the land )Mosiah 27:32)
• was "greatly persecuted" by nonbelievers (Mosiah 27:32) 
• Imparted much consolation to the church (Mosiah 27:33)
• Strived zelously to repair the injuries that he had caused (Mosiah 27:35
• Instrument in the hands of the Lord (Mosiah 27:36)
• Was blessed-published peace, good tidings, and that the Lord reigneth (Mosiah 27:37)
• Desired that salvation was published to every creature (Mosiah 28:3)

As I read these conversion stories, I started to think much about my own conversion.  It is apparent that I didn`t have a marvelous experience, but the conversion in itself is a marvelous experience. 

1.  None of the three of us PLANNED on being converted
2. We all did some bad things before the conversion
3. We all fell to the Earth for a reason
4. We were all told what to do from that point onward
5. We have all been born of the Spirit and had a change of heart
6. We have all served as missionaries of the Lord
7. We have all been hated
8. We all publisht he good tidings of the gospel of Christ
9. We have all been instruments in the hands of the Lord
10. We all desire the salvation of all souls

I`m not saying that I`ve experienced the same level of conversion of Paul or the Son of Alma, because I haven`t, but it IS apparent that Heavenly Father is the same yesterday, today, and forever.  That the results of living the gospel are the same.  That the power of true conversion completely changes a person...that they turn to a life of service.  Not that any of us are perfect, but that we have the desire to serve the Lord with our lives.  

It is such a blessing for me to have this gospel in my life.  The more I study the scriptures, the more of a testimony I have.  The more I know that the Book of Mormon is true...that it is another testimony of Jesus Christ and that with both the Book of Mormon and the Bible, we can learn such small things in the gospel that make the biggest differences.  I love the gospel.  It has made me into the man that I am and it will make me into the man that Heavenly Father wants me to be...a leader, a servant, and example to all of mankind that the power of the love of the gospel is real.  That God has reached out and given us this light or knowledge to guide us back into his presence.  

My prayer is this, that each of you would think about how converted you are to the gospel of Jesus Christ. That you would seek light and understanding in this matter.  I testify to each of you that the power of prayer is real...and that if you prayer about the validity of the Book of Mormon, Heavenly Father will show you that it is true and what you must do.  I challenge each of you to pray to Heavenly Father and ask him if what I say is true...I know it is. 

I love you all, and thank you for all of your prayers.  This act on your part brings me not only comfort, but also the strength to do His work that I have been called and set apart to do.

Con amor,

Elder Jackson

Week #44 Love This Work!!!

Hello Friends!!!

Another great week here in good ole San Juaquin!  It`s funny how this work really becomes your life and your very person.  It helps you to see a glimpse into the eyes of our Padre Celestial...how he feels when we succeed, when we fall, when we cry...I am beginning to understand why nobody can ever explain why, but why EVERYONE says that the mission is the most important experience of your life.  It just helps you understand.

We had some good lessons this week.  A young boy Miguel is starting to gain confidence and open up to us.  He had lost trust in the missionaries for some reason and gone inactive in the church.  He still isn`t assisting, but at least he is consistently receiving us now.  :)  Also, we had a good lesson with the family I talked about last week.  They had some questions that we did our best to help them understand...the cool part was that it led right into the message of the restoration.  It`s just so cool how the Holy Ghost literally guides you through lessons if you lesson to it.  I figure that in itself teaches us a lot about life.  If you will listen to the Holy Ghost telling you what to do...things will always end up where they need to be.

This week I was thinking a lot about the timing of Heavenly Father in our lives...why he doesn`t always step into our lives immediately to change things.  Why is that?  It makes me think about the development of a child.  During my mission, I`ve had the blessing to be around right after a baby was born.  I have gotten to see the development of said baby..it really is quite remarkable   In the beginning, the parents have to do EVERYTHING for the baby, but it reaches a point that if the parents continue doing everything for them, they will NEVER grow and act for their own.  First, a baby begins to crawl.  Slowly, after MANY times falling, the baby begins to kinda waddle around.  In time, it masters the art of walking.  Then it wants more!  It begins to try to run!  Again, it falls.  That never stops the baby.  It continues to attempt to run time after time after time.  After many more attempts, it masters running!  Next thing you know the baby is running with a soccer ball...kicking it around like a professional with the Dad coaching it.  

None of that progress would have ever come if it hadn`t been for the parents letting the baby fall...time after time after time.  The baby took it`s own initiative.  It begins to practice.  Isn`t that marvelous?  We can relate that to our progress spiritually quite easily.  Heavenly Father guides us many times and then leaves us to see what happens.  Through learning from our mistakes and continually striving to become a better person, we become what we were born to be.  After mastering a part of life or the gospel, our Heavenly Father again begins to guide us where we need to go to continue growing as people.  We are right where we are supposed to be.

I love the light that has been shed on my life.  I love the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  That I really can understand a little better who our Heavenly Father is, how he works, and why he does the things he does.  I want to testify to each of you that the timing of Heavenly Father is perfect.  Many times, we don`t want to wait...we don`t want to fall, but it it ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY!  Any time you fall down...I want you to always remember that there is a reason.  There is something that Heavenly Father is waiting on us to do so that he can continue to guide us.  Any time you fall on your back, look up, there`s a sky full of opportunities just waiting for you to take them.  I pray that we all might try to draw closer to the Savior.  

Con Amor,

Elder Jackson     

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