Sprint To The Finish Line!

April 22-28, 2013

MONDAY - Pretty normal pday. We emailed and then headed right to the church after stopping at McDonad's. We played for about 6 hours!! I was so sore! We got back and showered and got ready for the noche de hogar we had with the serranos and the morales. We ate hot dogs and then the morales gave us a ride home.

TUESDAY - HAPPY BDAY ADAM!!! also the anniversary of my mission president and his wife. 30 years!! We didn't have a district meeting today due to the meeting tomorrow so we went ahead and went to the office to send my bike. It took forever!! We finally got it packed up and sent! DONE! We left and got back just in time to head to dinner with the Ordaz family and it was way good. Elder Trover got sick in the process. We then rode all the way down to the south of our area to teach Jason and it was way good! He is super ready and we bumped his date up to my last weekend in the mission! We then headed to the Cruz family real quick to start a list with them and then headed home beat! 

 

WEDNESDAY - Interviews today!!! President told me not to slow down, to sprint to the finish line! It was a long meeting! Our zone is huge so it took some time. We got done and went back and had a ton of stuff going on. We had a lesson with Jason and just taught a few of the commandments and then Christian came with us to a dinner with Liz who we got to know and just talked about baptism and other questions she had. Way nice girl. We then went and played the "magic chair" with the Montelongo family and they loved it. We are going to do that with my family when I get back for sure! We got dropped off after that.

 

THURSDAY - Planning!!!!!! we got done and headed to dinner with the Ayalas with all 6 of us. We have two new elders who are waiting for their visas to go to Mexico so they are with the other elders now. We had a quick lesson with Alberto and then we had a lesson with the Galdamez family who invited us to a pentacostal family night thing? Then we had English classes which went well. The weather is getting better here, our bike ride home was perfect!

 

FRIDAY - We tried to finish planning today, I've never been so tired in my life!! I have to finish strong though! We taught the Orellana family and she is a girl with a son on his mission but she is super less active so we went in and shared a scripture with her. We had to schedule a late dinner at 7 with the serranos because the Xivir family canceled on us. We headed to have dinner after our lesson and had some good tostadas. Christian puts on the playoffs! UGH!! biggest distraction! We have a prayer and then get out of there to try and get up north again and have a quick lesson with the Figueroas. SOUTH NORTH SOUTH NORTH! lots of biking today.

 

SATURDAY - We had the zls come over in the morning for a bit and then we headed to our coordination meeting at the church at two. We stayed and planned an activity before booking it back down to our appointment to be picked up for dinner. We got picked up by Ramoncito to go eat pupusas and my companion and I ate 4 each. A TON! He was joking around that he is going to come to Utah and marry Aubrey hahaha, he is kind of a weird guy. We had ice cream after and then headed home. We tried to have a lesson with the Soreano family before the night ended and didn't catch them there. 

 

SUNDAY - Good sabbath. We had Jason there at church and he is still solid as ever. We planned a temple trip with him and his girl friend and we are super excited. Its weird when you're sitting there listening to things the branch has planned knowing you will not be there ha. We got out and waited an hour or so for president Gomez to take us to his house to eat dinner where we didn't get back till 7:30. We tried to visit one less active before coming back to do numbers. The south part of our area is sketchy! But we came back alive :) Thanks for following! love,

 

Elder Jackson

I'm Going To Miss Knocking Doors With This Tag On.

April 15 - 21, 2013

MONDAY - Well another awesome pday here in the TDM! We went and played basketball again and it was fun, as always! Never gets old. After we got done I got a hair cut cause I needed one back and then we came back and didn't have much time to do anything tonight.

TUESDAY - We had district meeting today and I taught about the attributes of Christ and the purpose of missionaries. We all shared one attribute we liked and then I did my little smore analogy and we all enjoyed smores after together. Then everyone wanted to go out to Subway to eat as a district because it might be my "last time" So we did and then we were picked up by Dominguez to go do service where we were out in the sun most of the time and were sweating cause it was hot and gross! We came back and changed and then went to dinner with a member who I wont mention the name now cause she is a bit crazy and she tried to keep us there forever and just kept talking and talking and it was just kind of weird. We all felt like there was something wrong. So we left. We finally got out and headed all the way down south to teach Jason. Man he is so worth the ride down there. He is soooo cool! Way solid and just a lot of fun to teach! We then came back up as it got dark and stopped in at the Lopez house and talked to them for a bit and invited the son, who is wanting to go on a mission, to come out with us. Then of course they found out I was leaving and started dropping the questions. What are you going to do? Work? School? Marriage? I just said "well... all three" haha. Its getting to that time though. I watched it with Rouse and my trainer and now its me in those shoes!

 

WEDNESDAY - We didn't go to service today instead we planned ahead a little bit before dinner and knocked a little too. We didn't have a dinner so we just went out and worked instead. We had another lesson with Jason and then one with the Montelongos where we blessed their home and it was awesome. The Spirit felt was wonderful there. I hope they all start coming back to church. We grilled at night to celebrate Elder Trovers one year mark tomorrow and my 23 month mark. Hot dogs! Yum!

 

THURSDAY - Happy 1 year to my companion and 23 months for me! Crazy!!! We planned today and then had dinner with the Ayalas where we had spaghetti and enchiladas. It was good but I couldn't even finish it. We took off and visited a ton of people with Rudy and ended up just going to the church to be at English classes cause no one was there.

 

FRIDAY - We dropped off my dry cleaning and then went to service. I had a short temper due to a certain missionary that was not acting according to his calling and doing stuff that is damaging future opportunities for other missionaries. We came back and had dinner with a family in the other elders area and Dominguez kind of threw off our whole night because he said he would take us and then just left so we had to bike and were half an hour late cause it bumped all our appointments and we didn't teach anyone. Figueroa wasn't there and that was it. 0 for the night. We headed home.

 

SATURDAY - Lots of finding ideas we were trying today. We went to pick up my dry cleaning and it wasn't ready so we went and did some knocking and got in and taught a way cool family. I'm going to miss knocking doors with this tag on... But for now I can still do it. We then went and got my stuff and dropped it off and headed to the michoacana and started handing out free dvds... man this world is gotten so bad that its even hard to give out free dvds of Jesus Christ. We gave a bunch to the management in the store haha they were way cool. Hispanics are a lot more willing to let us do stuff like that. We then biked down to Rudy's for his going away party and it was weird because everyone was like "that's going to be you in about 3 weeks!" Freaked me out a bit. We had some good food and then we left to work. We didn't have much luck that night but we worked hard and were happy with that. 

 

SUNDAY - Church today and a good one. We had 3 at church and we taught the class and showed an old movie haha. Good message but very old! We had dinner with the Gonzales family and had pasta and chicken. We ate and left to try a few more people before heading home to get numbers. We went over to the other elders aptmnt because... again our ac was not working. Good week, half way through the transfer. Thanks!

love,

Elder Jackson

"So.... whats the Lord revealing to yall these days"

April 8 - 14, 2013 

MONDAY - We studied, emailed and got to the church ready to play some ball. We played for almost the whole day and then went back ready to go out and work. We visited the Ortiz family and they weren't there so we walked down the street and knocked a few doors that looked Hispanic. We talked to a few people and then headed up to the north part of our area and visited the Montelongo family. The family was not all there but we shared a quick scripture with the mom and talked about conference and then headed back home for the night. SUPER HOT!!! Humidity is kicking in.

TUESDAY - Last night we laid in our beds sweating and this morning we woke up as ice cubes. The weather dramatically dropped big time. We had a zone meeting that we went to and I had already heard everything in Zone leader council and so it was nothing new for me. Afterwards we ate a pizza together before heading to service with Domi bear. We came back and were picked up by hno Flores and went to have some good pupusas for dinner and then returned back to head over to Jasons for a lesson. He is such a good guy and has lots of great questions and is really interested in the learning more about the true and restored Gospel. Why cant we find more people with an open heart like him? It was dark immediately so we headed back trying a referral the sisters sent us that was fake. Not cool! 

 

WEDNESDAY - We decided to skip out on service today to try and get more lessons and it was pouring rain all day long! We had a dinner appointment at 6 with an investigator and she canceled and so we headed to Jasons again and watched the Restoration and invited him to be baptized for the 18th of May... my two year mark! I will not be here. Weird setting up stuff for when I'm not here! The Spirit was powerful and makes me just love the work more and more each time we teach this Gospel. We had another lesson with Lucy and she wanted to come to our English classes and get her son involved in Seminary and so we talked about that a little bit and headed back home. 

 

THURSDAY - My planning days are almost over, crazy crazy crazy! We had dinner with the Fuentes family and then took Rudy out with us for a few appointments like the Ortiz and then the Lopez family where we just talked and shared scriptures. Then we went back got our bikes and rode all the way up to the church to teach the English classes. We first watched the youth play basketball and it was so funny! They were all just yelling at each other and doing crazy stuff haha. English class was with only one person so we just asked her to say any word and we will tell her the English word. Its amazing how much Spanish we know, at the same time how much we dont know ha! 

 

FRIDAY - Today we went and did service. We had pancakes in the morning and then we headed over to the thrift store where we just went through junk all day and sorted it all out. We headed back and got changed and showered and went to the Gomez family where their son just got his call, to Brazil! So exciting to see that. I'm excited to see where my brothers serve. We then went to Golden Corral and Hna Gomez took pics of us eating cotton candy and sent them to all our families. She wanted my moms number but I dont even know it cause I have been out too long! I gave her my dads and everyones moms replied except mine!!! (clearing throat!!!) :( We had fun untill people started freaking out around us because I kept going back for more cotton candy and ate like 4 full things of it haha. It was a fun night. We got back and I almost threw up but I made it through the night. 

 

SATURDAY - HAPPY BDAY APRIL CAKES AND THE BEAST!!! We got up and planned a bit before heading to our coordination meeting which was ok. Then we tried a few people before dinner and headed to dinner with the Morales family. Then we visited the Canales and the Galvan. The south part of our area is super sketchy!!! Some random white guys came up on a roller blades and a bike and were taking pictures of us on their phone. Completely high. They were just like "So.... whats the Lord revealing to yall these days" My companion just says... "that we should pray always" they just agree and then start taking pictures of people walking by and leave singing "I can feel it coming in the air tonight!!" I turned to Trov Daddy and said... lets get out of here! We got back and fixed his bike and started our fast.

 

SUNDAY - Fast and testimony meeting. The whole Gomez family got up and talked about Alex and him getting his mission call. Such an awesome family!!! Church was good, Jason was there and so that made our day. We then went to the other elders apartment and had dinner dropped off to us and then walked back and I got numbers to end the week. Our apartment is getting worse. Our AC is broken so we slept at the others aptmnt cause it was like 95 degrees and our fridge broke. So we went over there to sleep with AC. Thanks for following! :)

Love,

Elder Jackson

Nothing Spices Up A Chicken Like A Few Roaches

April 1 - 7, 2013

MONDAY - Happy bday pops!!!! Today was a good pday, we all went to the church after emailing and played some good basketball before heading to the store to do some shopping. We shopped and decided to get togther with Elder dominguez and Hardy cause they were together for transfers and got some free pizzas and found game fuel too! YUM! We used the rest of the night to plan the week a little, make adjustments.

TUESDAY - We didn't have district meeting today because of transfers so we just had service for an hour before heading to the less active Garcia family for dinner. Pollo again... I'm tired of chicken haha, we have it almost every day! We ate and visited a few appointments we had and all but one canceled. We met with Jason and taught the Restoration in English and it was hard. We struggled to teach in English haha. We got done and he is way solid. Willing to listen, way cool guy too. We headed back in the dark and got rest. 

 

WEDNESDAY - We had district meeting today and I just interviewed everyone and got their goals for this transfer and got a feel for the people they are teaching and what I can do to help them in their goals. After we went back and changed and went and did service again. We finished at 4 came back and changed and got ready to go out to dinner with Nabor. He took us to Griffs at almost 6 so we got back at 7 and it was pouring outside and all our appointments canceled. Again. So we had another poopy night... :(

 

THURSDAY - I was invited to zone leader council so I went with the zone leaders for the 10-4 meeting and it was really good. We will be having an apostle visit our mission in may, right before I go home. We got back late and had dinner with the alvarez family at 6:30... GROSS! on top of having chicken, they were living in a super gross house with cocroaches everywhere... including in my food. But she was poor so I ate the food with the roaches pushed to the side. An experience I'll never forget. Cristina canceled for the third time in a row.

 

FRIDAY - We had our planning session today because of the meeting and planned all day. We had Mcdonalds dropped off for us and the other elders. We ate and then we went tracting together. No luck. We all stayed at the other elders (elder hardys and niebergalls) for conference the next day.

 

SATURDAY - General Conference was awesome! We bought 12 pounds of fajita meat to grill up with salsa, limes and tortillas for lunch in between sessions. It was powerful and uplifting and a resurrance to my heart that no matter the cost I would do anything for this gospel specifically for this one and only true gospel here on the earth. I know that it is true. Nobody can take that from me. We were there all day enjoying the wonderful speakers and we were so tired by the end of the night. 

 

SUNDAY - Another day of wonderful talks today. We still had tons of fajita meat so we grilled again! We had tons of food and of course the branch was telling us to eat more as well of their food. It was way good! We got back and tried a few people and then headed back to get numbers. Not a lot of work this week with all the meetings but conference was so good it made up for it. I love you all and I know that this work is of the Lord. I would deny God himself to say it was not or to even say it was only a partial piece of his work. I love you all. Thanks for your support. 

 

love,

Elder Aaron Jackson

I Will Finish My Mission In Garland Texas!

March 25 - 31, 2013

MONDAY - Today was an okay pday. Elder Trover and I got up and got breakfast and then went and emailed really quick before heading to the church to play some ball. We get there and a bunch of sister missionaries are there and tons of people. They start setting up the volleyball nets and we were mad so we went to lunch. We came back and they weren't even using the nets!!! So we took them down and started playing basketball. We got back and changed and had a family home evening with a part member family and the Fuentes family. We all shared our testimonies of the Book of Mormon. We then went to Kroger before ending our night to get candy susi for district meeting tomorrow. Good pday!

TUESDAY - We headed to district meeting and we were a bit late cause we had to bike but everyone was waiting and ready. Great meeting I just thanked my district for their hard work this transfer and asked them all to share something they learned this past 6 weeks. Then we ate snacks and watched " "How rare a possession". After we had exchanges, I went with Elder Watrous to G5 and had a pretty crazy day. We had one lesson that turned into a bash so we left picked up dinner and ate. I will not finish this day till I get back. Just ask what happened on March 26 2013 or come to my homecoming to find out ;)

 

WEDNESDAY - Today we did service for a good 4 hours and then we had dinner with the Fuentes family and then came back and tried to visit some people and didnt have much luck. We walked all the way to the very south of our area for an appointment and they werent there. So we walked all the way back and some guy randomly stopped us and gave us 20 dollars and we tried to give it back and he kept shoving it in my hand. I asked what we could to do to serve him and he just gave us both a hug and left. Its so different being a missionary. Its like being in a completely different world. Crazy day.

 

THURSDAY - Planning day! We didnt plan, we had to go do a survey and then we ended up going to Taco Bell with Dominguez cause we had to get an extra planner from him. We started making our new planners and it scared me dating my last one, all the way up to mothers day. We went to the Ayalas for dinner and then had Rudy take us out to teach and his car died so we spend the remainder of the night trying to start it again. 

 

FRIDAY - We had service again for a good 3 to 4 hours and then dinner later with the Canales family with the other elders, we ate really late like at 6:30 and then the zl wanted to take us to chillis for a treat, we happened to catch the end of the michigan kansas game. Weird seeing basketball! We didnt get to do a lot today. Service hours going up has really made it harder to teach during the day. 

 

SATURDAY - Transfer calls!!!! We tried to plan today and get that all done for next week and then we went to dinner with the Morales family and had fajitas! Finally the streak of stinking boiled chicken is broken. I swear we have had that for 25 days straight. We finished and started walking back and got picked up by Dominguez and waited for calls to come. Dominguez got a call and will be training someone else. Im old. My trainey is training. Im a grandpa in the mission. We didnt get a call. I'll finish my mission here in Garland with Trover! Im super happy! 

 

SUNDAY - Church was good. Easter Sunday is always good. We had a packed gospel principles class. I love being a teacher of the Gospel because the teacher for the class got released during sacrament and so our ward mission leader threw it on us at the last second to teach the class and so elder Trover and I taught a packed class of new people. It was a lot of fun, I love teaching about the only true and Restored Gospel! :) After we ate at President Gomezs house and then went to work. We set a date with Cristina from Uraguay and it was way good! The heat is coming. We left our windows open cause our AC doesnt work and everything was all stickey in the morning so elder trover and I hung out out side and it cooled down. Good week. Last transfer begins with my dads bday! :) thanks for following!

 

Elder Jackson

 

22 Months In The Mission

March 18 - 24, 2013

MONDAY - 22 months in the mission! Also today was elder trovers 11 month mark in the mission so we had a bbq at the park with all the other missionaries, played some horse and played football and frisbee. Ate some brats and just had a good time in the sun. We finished late and got back at 6:30 and got dressed but didnt have any lessons unfortunately.

TUESDAY - No district meeting today because of the meeting on Friday. Not a lot happened in the day but Rudy came out with us at night and we went to visit a few people having no luck again! We headed to the church and I interviewed little Francisco for baptism and after we were just with the zone leaders till the end of the night. 

 

WEDNESDAY - Bball in the morning and my team did very well! It really stunk though because I went up for a shot and elder Falk tried to block it and we bounced off each other in the air and he fell and really hurt his ankle. Not a good thing! We had came back and elder Trover wasnt feeling to hot so we didnt go out. We had dinner with the de leon family and took pictures with their little huskies! So next week I'll have pics of me and the other missionaries. Me flashing Htown signs ;) She told us her story and we didnt get out till late. There was 2 non members there though so that was good. 

 

THURSDAY - Planning all day today until dinner at the Ayalas where we all ate enchilatas and then we visited the Montelongos and talked to the hermano but he was leaving so we headed to the church to teach English classes. That was our night.

 

FRIDAY - We got picked up early for the meeting in Casa linda and it was a good meeting. Good to see everyone again. We had to wait a long time after because I had to get another temple recommend interview. It was good to sit down with President. It was most scary when they sang "God be with us til we meet again" to the missionaries leaving. (they do it every meeting) and knowing that I'm next. Next meeting they will sing to me and witbeck and crosby etc. . . crazy stuff. we didnt get back till late. Tim out of his kindness took us out to eat and we really enjoyed the time we spent with him. Elder Trover still doesnt feel good though.

 

SATURDAY - Bball today I played ok. Im getting a little tired of the kids that don't know how to play so they just hack the snot out of you! No wonder people keep getting hurt. Our team won 4 straight though. We came back and stayed in again and my ankle started to hurt bad. A pain I had never felt before. We went to dinner with the Xivir and had crazy guatamalen tomales. We walked back. I couldnt bike. I iced it the rest of the night.

 

SUNDAY - Good sunday, we had 4 at church :) We were blessed for our patience and for trying. We waited after church to go eat delicious burgers at the gomez home and then we came back and went to work. It felt good to knock doors again. Our first contact is one to remember. We knocked and the guy answered with a big picture of the virgin mary and screaming that he was catholic. I asked if he knew anyone who wanted to learn more about JESUS CHRIST and he shook his head. The people you meet, a mission experience is one you never forget! We got back and did numbers and ended the night. One more week here and our transfer is over. Then I start my last. Its nuts. Next Monday I'll find out what my last area and comp will be for sure. Love you all, thanks for following!

 

Elder Jackson

21 Years Old!

March 11 - 17, 2013

MONDAY - I had a wonderful birthday today! We got up and went and did emailing and then rode our bikes to some different places to look at things to get. We came back and grabbed our grill and were picked up by elder Wirth and Kruger and headed to the church to have a BBQ and play some ball. We got back and hurried up to the Jimenez families to have dinner and cake. We had dinner and they gave me this little cake and I had to leave it to be brought another day cause we had another appointment. We arrived at the Ayalas and there on the table was another cake!! HUGE! and covered in chocolate covered strawberries. We ate AGAIN and then ate more cake... I was about to blow up! Good birthday. thanks to all that wished me a happy bday. :)

TUESDAY - I canceled district meeting due to the transfer that happened and we went and did service with the other elders from 1 to 4 and then elder Trover bought some stuff to make candy susi rolls (which I will be doing after the mission too) and we headed back to head to dinner. Brother Naegle came and got us and we had some more... interesting food. Hispanic american food I dont really like. We came back and tried to visit some people and had no luck. 

 

WEDNESDAY - Really good day today, stayed with Falk and Scott because we had ball in the morning and then we went to district meeting at 10 which was really fun. I just had everyone share their favorite scripture from the book of mormon and talk about dates and such. After we were picked up by Tim, good ol' Tim!!! He took us to Ghengis Grill and it was much needed because I'm going to have to stretch it out the next 2 weeks haha, I have no money left and no food. The packages I sent home killed my mission money. So it was good to eat a big bowl of meat! We headed home and cleaned the apartment a bit and headed to dinner at 5 with Hna Fuentes and then we tracted a bit. It was nice because it was light out and there were people home and it was just easy to do. We contacted 14 people in just the one hour of knocking. Then we taught the Martinez family and the Soreano family and the Aguilera family. Not a bad night! 

 

THURSDAY - Planning day! We planned all day till dinner with the Garcia family where we had chicken. I'm so tired of chicken every night!!! Thats all we have eaten as of late. We headed to the church to sing a musical number for some baptism example thing they did for the primary where they just went through how the service went. Then we taught English classes. Long day.

FRIDAY - We did service again today, from 1 to 4 and then had dinner with hna Figueroa. Most intersting meal on my mission haha. We had chicken noodle soup, then re heated pizza (which was good) then chicken (of course) and mashed potatoes. What a meal. Its nuts how much they feed you. I feel sick after every dinner and about to blow. But havent gained a pound :) We came back and tried finishing planning. That was our night.

 

SATURDAY - bball was good. Falk and Scott didn't come but it was okay. Over 20 people there! I played much better than before. Hitting 3s left and right. We have some good people playing with us. I was satisfied as we won the final game after scoring 10 of my teams 11 points consisting of 3 threes in a row and 4 other shots. Its about time I get something going haha. We had coordination at 2, brother Farb was asking for a kick in the face! We finished and then we tried to plan again. We had dinner with the serranos and taught the daughters boyfriend and ran into a member as we headed to our bikes who asked us to teach his parents. He was English and said it was the first time they accepted missionaires. I testify we were there for that reason. We went in and the Spirit was so strong. We shared a scripture and said a prayer. They were both in tears! They all were just amazed at how we spoke spanish "you mean to tell me you go to an ALL spanish branch?!?" haha, its so weird because its normal to us now. But still crazy to others. Good day.

 

SUNDAY - Good meeting, good church and more chicken for dinner... We ate and headed to visit a few people before heading back to get numbers. Overall good week. Thanks for following!

 

Love,

Elder Jackson