Welcome To Longview. Things Are Going To Get Crazy Busy!

MONDAY - Well I decided since I had to get money out for laundry we would go joggin in the morning (like Elder Dahlberg always wanted to do but I didn't) and go to the bank he said "I know where the bank is" So we take off, 6 miles later, clear down town 40 minutes away from the apartment he turns around and says to me "actually I don't know for sure if its around here" .... great way to start of Pday right? I was angry, and annoyed, we ran back and stopped at 3 or 4 gas stations whose ATM machines weren't working... then finally the gas station had one. We were now an hour and a half behind schedule. All I can say is I'm ready to go to Longview. We did Laundry and studies and I did a little bit of packing and then we went to the Library to email, we went to he church to say goodbye to everyone and then went to CVS so I could print off a few more pics and some random guy payed for everything... haha, not a member but his wife is. So we headed back and I packed and packed for a while and still didn't finish by the time we had to go out and teach, had a short lesson with Izidra and then came back to pack, I did a good job this time, everything was good to go, we planned and hit the sack.

TUESDAY - Got in the car and headed to meandering way, were picked up by a member from Mckinney 2nd or 4th ward and went down there, Elder Witbeck and Dominguez and all them were there and we were there just running around and talking to everyone, Elder Dahlberg met his new companion and hugged him and left him. Weight off the shoulders. We got on the Van and headed out, Witbeck on my left and Dominguez on my right, talked the whole time about the transfer and stuff and before we knew it we were in Lindale, Elder Rouse was waiting and Bishop Bayles, he bought us lunch and we talked a bit and then headed to Longview. We got to the Apartment and planned and talked for an hour and we were out the door, Had dinner with the Hendersons and then had lessons at 6, 7 and 8 Bush family first, meeting them at the church with Steven Harris, didn't show so we went to her house and had a lesson. Reids next, less active family. Read a bit from DandC and then headed to the Sadlers, who all have Baptismal dates, AWESOME family, we reviewed the questions for the interview and that was good, that's how we ended our night.

 

WEDNESDAY - Studies and preparing for the meeting, went to the church and standing in front of 30 other missionaries was pretty crazy! we talked about goals and it was so good, we have the best zone in the mission! So many awesome missionaries, love them all. We trained a bit on prayer and everyone was on the same page so it was good, after we had a lesson with the Bush family and all of them came!!! We played some basketball to start out cause their kids love it (good taste ;)) We played some and I got a slamma jamma in my church clothes and then we had a lesson/church tour. Was so awesome! Joe canceled, so did Bro Prince. The assistants came and dropped off Elder Hadfields companion and then we went and visited a less active and had the Albas come with us to give a blessing. The Alba family gave us dinner and we went to the church and ate, we were starving! We visited then, Bro Penal whose wife just passed away and she was a member, him no. He was pretty sad and stuff, we did our best just to talk to him, wanted nothing with the church. Had a lesson with Joe, way cool kid, read 3 Nephi and then we called Elder Dominguez and Jorgenson after planning to set up to drive there for an interview, we have to drive to Oklahoma and Dallas this month, crazy busy!! 

 

THURSDAY - Had a lesson in Kilgore with Josh Chub, and with Brother Mcdonald who came with us, we had studies at the park and then planned for the next week, made a billion phone calls and received just as much! We ran back to Longview grabbed stuff for exchange and then went back to Kilgore and tracted a bit, not a ton of luck but then we went to dinner with the Sellers, our ward mission leader. SUCH A BOSS! Went to the Jones after, nothing. Visited Josh Chubs parents and talked to his dad for a bit and to his Grandparents, so sad how some people live, THE GOSPEL IS AWESOME! :) I also held a baby bunny for the first time... didn't see that coming haha. We then exchanged and I headed into Henderson with Elder Brown and we planned and hit the sack.

 

FRIDAY - We had German Pancakes, yummmmmmy we headed to visit some members in the hospital and talked a bit, shared a scripture in Alma about the Atonement and then we went and bought a fresh watermelon for lunch, yummmmmy, we went to sonic after and talked to a less active and he asked where I was from and I said Utah, and he asked if I like the Jazz I said yeah and then he told me the Heat won it last night, CRAZY! Lebron has a title and I didn't even see it, crazy stuff. We then got some medicine for some old lady in the ward and then went clear out to Carthage and tried to visit some peeps down there, no luck. We did give a blessing to a young boy, consecrated oil in the kitchen and everything, I gave the blessing and it was a really great experience. We had dinner with the sweetest old couple and exchanged stories and enjoyed some awesome Mexican food! Then we headed back to Henderson, visited a boss member and headed back to change back, President was on the phone with Elder Rouse and I got to talk to him for a bit which was nice and then we drove home and filled out the exchange reports. alskd;fkljaskld;jfaj its nuts! never been so busy in my life, over 140 phone calls I tell ya! Interviews went well with the Sadlers, Sandy has to have one more on Sunday though, but they are good. Super solid.

 

SATURDAY - Josh Chubs again, no Chip though... Went to the Sellers and had a mini meeting with Bro Seller and helped him mount his slide for his pool, we had studies again in a park and then tracted a bit before going home and praying for 30 minutes just trying to receive revelation for what to do. We had dinner with the Alexander family and Elder Rouse told me they talk a lot, I didn't believe it, we were there from 6 to 9!! Had some pizza, my companion drank 5 Dr Peppers and me 3! cause we were fasting so we needed sugar fast, they are big 'The Office" fans so they freaked when I told them I love it too, we exchanged stories and he told us about his mission in the West Indies and how crazy it was over there. We finally got out of there!

 

SUNDAY - Studies and off to church, first time covering 2 wards, we went to the Spanish branch first and we had one investigator in church! WHOOT! Branch is super small, we meet in an office building haha, it was good though, went by super fast. We headed to the stake center an hour earlier before church started just to be there for Sandys second interview and she passed and we had 4 investigators there! WHOOT WHOOT! Sacrament was good, Bro Sellers taught Gospel Principles so that was of course awesome! We had a Coordination after church and talked a lot about our investigators and such, then we headed to dinner with the Rossow family, Brother Rossow is head over Suziki in 19 states, so his driveway had 7 of them in there haha, very awesome guy, so so so nice! we ate with their family and loved it, We took off to go visit a few people and then headed at 8:30 to do numbers... oh boy, it was nuts!! we didn't get home til about 11! NUTS! but the Zone has a ton of dates! :) I'm doing great though, love my new companion, love the new area and the zone, I'm doing good! Love you all as well!

 

Elder Aaron Jackson