Texas Storms. Summer Heat and Humidity Are Comin'

LUNES - We did studies and laundry and got all of that done before noon, then we headed to a barber shop (Mexican of course :)) and the other 3 elders got their hair cut, I didn't, instead I wrote letters to Shawn and others for that time, we did some quick shopping and then went to Hno Beare's to do emailing cause all the library's were closed. It was really nice of him to let us come over, while my companion was emailing I wrote down the steps for a Priesthood blessing, Because Bro Beare wanted to know them, made me way thankful for the Priesthood and to be a holder of it. We came back to the apartment and did not go to the church, instead I finished some more letters, wrote a lot, took a little nap and then we headed out to visit the Torres Family and talked to their Mom and ended up teaching her about The Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we invited her to be baptized and she declined but we were happy we actually invited her, that's our goal this week to invite invite INVITE! We had an appointment in a trailer park with Magarita Garcia, she was not there so we went and taught Hermano Arreola, listened to El Libro de Mormon on disc, 3 Nephi chapter 5. Went really well! love verse 13. We ended our night there.

MARTES - Crazy storm this morning! The lightning seriously scared me so bad and woke me up, and I'm a pretty deep sleeper, it was nuts, we had district meeting and as we walked outside it was as if nothing even happened, ground wasn't wet, no clouds, just the sticky heat and humidity :) SUMMERS A COMIN. District meeting was good, we got back and talked in English, still trying to work out our differences and its going just fine. We left to work and contacted the first guy we saw, he was a member who served a mission in Honduras, said he baptized 255 people! but a huge chunk of them are not active to this day and have no testimony of the Book of Mormon. SO CRUCIAL!!! The book is amazing, why wouldn't you want to read it :) We went and tried for the Torres family again and their daughter answered and we talked to her for a bit but couldn't get in. We went to Ilogio Solises for a lesson and again it was so hard to stay awake cause he likes to just talk and talk and talk about his health problems haha, so not a whole lot of progression there, we got out of there asap. Got a letter from Tim, wish I had the time to write you back, maybe in a few weeks. Then we went to the Garcia family's house and taught them for 20 minutes about prayer, it was really nice, smooth, and spiritual. Good day. Tired.

 

MIERCOLES - ANOTHER CRAZY STORM! even louder this time! :( not much sleep because of it either. We had another awesome meeting again, went to meandering way, it was a leadership meeting and so I got to see Elder Rodriguez, I love that kid so much, such an amazing missionary, and Elder Chantry and also Elder Lee and Elder Feild, and and and, Elder Beatty, it was just awesome, I told Elder Rodriguez about my moms comments about having him write Amber and he said to send letter to the mission office with his name on it, but you have to put his whole name: Elder Roman Rodriguez, FAMILIES CAN BE TOGETHER FOREVER! ;) The meeting was great, When we broke for lunch it was pouring as if Noah was still around but when we got out it was like 90 degrees with no clouds... gotta love Texas :) its the BEST! We left home and picked up some pizza from a member for dinner and then I talked a little with my companion about the meeting and what I learned, Then we went out to work with the last few hours of the day still at hand. Went to the park to bug people :) We stopped to talk to a pastor who was preaching with his church out on the grass and he was really nice, a ton of there members were saying "You mormons kick butt!" "If our members were as dedicated as you guys, we would have a ton of success" Haha, such great people. After he asked what our REAL names were, I said "Aaron Jackson" He repeated it in a deep voice and says "I like that, sounds like the name of an athlete" I replied "I am an athlete, love the game of Basketball" he said "Thats cool can you dunk it?" me: "...yep" haha, it was way cool, we continued contacting and talked to Jose Garcia, it was such a good contact and set up an appointment with him, way good day.

 

JUEVES - Studies and planning, we planned for a while then went to Eduardos to teach, guy just doesn't get the true doctrine. Still thinks Jehovah is God the Father and not Jesus Christ even though we have explained it a thousand times hahaha, gotta love the mission. We invited him and his friend to be baptized, it was good even though they both said no, we were bold and testified. We planned a lot after too until Hno Beare took us to a lesson with a family in Allen, the Araiza family, we taught and testified, Hno Tecualt came as well with his daughter, we committed them to baptism and they accepted, it was so powerful!!! I felt so good after, best feeling in the world.

 

VIERNES - Took meds last night because my back was hurting, so I was out till 9 this morning and we were going to go do service but I couldn't stand up straight haha, so I napped for another 3 hours and still was loopy. So we didn't even get out today. But I was feeling so much better, back pain gone.

 

SABADO - We decided to have an extra hour of companionship study because there was just no unity going on! we ended up not doing anything productive anyway and I was just not happy, so we talked some more, some things I wanted changed, and my companion as well, We went and taught Hermana Caballero and the kids are out for the summer WHOOP! you know what that means!?!?..... nothing for us we just keep working in the blistering sun and sweat till we are withered as a dry weed :) Gotta love the mission, it was great watching her kids swim while we... well in a way we were swimming too, we were drenched in our sweat. We taught the ten commandments and then headed to contact some people, elder Dahlbergs tire went flat and dinner called and he just said no we are not going to have it... didn't even talk to me about it. I told him because tomorrow is fast sunday we need to eat so we have the energy cause I was dying, so we started heading back and he was walking his bike... not going in the right direction. I was getting very irritated, then he turns around and suggests that I fast starting then... I think (in my opinion) that is a personal thing. I told him I dont like fasting that way and so we finally headed back and I sat in silence, trying to calm down. Thank goodness for all the wonderful pics of my beautiful family and friends on my ipod, helped me a lot. After we went walking to talk to a less active, ended up talking to a really nice black girl, Lacy and also Alma. It ended much better than it started.

 

DOMINGO - Fast and testimony sundays are the best! I shared my testimony today and heard a lot of wonderful ones from the branch. Second hour we learned about the life of Christ and third hour about having the desire to share the Gospel. We got a ride home from Presidente and headed out to work! Taught Jose and Maria on their Porch, one of the worst lessons I have been a part of, bouncing from topic to topic with no purpose. I could have talked a bit more too, my companion was kind of going on about different things with no purpose. He is young though, lot to learn. Me as well! Taught Luis as he pulled up and then talked to his neighbors and then headed home so I could get numbers and make calls. Good week I would say, still trying to gain a relationship with my companion, its like he is a robot, I don't want to be like that. But hey I love him. He is great! I'm learning a ton from him!!! He is teaching me a ton, and it will get better. I love this work and know its the work of the Lord. There is no other church on the face of the planet that teaches 100 percent correct doctrine, only The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints!

Elder Aaron Jackson