Monday, September 3, 2012

A German Shepherd Will Bite Your Arm Off!

MONDAY - We switched it up today and got everything done right from the get go. We played ball from 2:00 to 5:00 which, like always, was heavenly! Love to just get out and play hard. We went and tried to visit a few appointments we had down in the ugly part of town and then went to the FHE that was in the church with Marlene. It was pretty good, all the Hermanas really helped her out in everything. We loved it. We then ended the night by getting our hands on a newspaper and trying to figure out if we could publish something in there about the church. Longview is just super tough, things have really turned around here that's for sure. I have never had so many doors slammed in my face. Tracting is worthless. But we know that we have been called here to baptize and so we will do that. We just are trying to find new ideas.

TUESDAY - District meeting was really good as usual and then after we had nothing but tracting in the hot sun and visiting less actives and just working our butts off. We were so sore from walking by dinner that I was limping hahaha, but it felt good that we put our shoulder to the wheel and pushed along. We had dinner with the Hendersons and it was really good. We ate up! Talked about hurricane Isaac and how we will probably get a piece of it. Then we went over to the church to wait for Jordan to have a lesson with Brent Day and he canceled on us so we visited some people and had one lesson with the Alexanders and then we dropped off Jordan and visited the Albas and he was out smoking and drinking with his friends. We set up an appointment and left.
 
WEDNESDAY - We woke up at about 5:30 to drive into Dallas for the 6 hour meeting well 7 hours for us Zone Leaders. We drove 2 hours in and grabbed some breakfast on the way in and then we had the meeting. It was so good! President Durrant started the meeting by saying "have you elders ever seen Elder Jackson and Chappell play basketball? At the last meeting they were dunking it left and right. Does anyone want to take them on 2 on 2?" Hahaha, it was funny. Its true though, we are the only companionship that can dunk in the mission :) I love having a companion who played, Elder Chappell is so awesome. We get along perfectly as I did with Rouse and with Dominguez, and Rodriguez etc. I have only had one rough companion and I feel so blessed for that. Everyone else? I could even see me hanging out with after the mission. We will probably start a city league team with all the awesome ballers I have met out here. Anyway enough of me ranting about the wonderful companions I have had, the meeting was great! It was so good to see Elders Lee, Rodriguez, Beatty, Walker, Willman, Moffitt, Crosby, Scott, Falk, etc. Loved it! I got mail from Bfos and Todd and Bishop! Loved the letters thanks! We then took the car into the office and then took it to get photos of the dents and then rode home and put up some fliers (because that's all we had time to do) and then ended our day.
 
THURSDAY - Planning!!! yay...... not. We got it done and got out and tracted in the rain! It was so so so fun! I love the rain here in Texas! The best! We came back for pizza that Sister Whitman ordered for us, so so so good! THANKS SISTER WHITMAN! We then headed to the Church and waited for Brent Day and had a very BOLD lesson with him and just told him straight up. Man I love teaching the Gospel, it really is "good news" I tell ya. It brings such joy to my life I cant even express it. We then went with Brother Sellers to Charles to have a lesson and read out of 3 Nephi 11 and watched a bit of the Testaments. Very powerful. We ended our night asi.
 
FRIDAY - Tocabamos casi todo el dia, que nos hizo sentir bien pero no econtramas a nadie para ensenar. Tambien recibi una carta de shawn GRACIAS! a mi me encanta escuchar de mis amigos mejores quien realmente quieren escribir cartas a mi! Los demas? no son amigos reales! no no estoy jugando. amo a todos! :) Casi perdi mi mano hoy, vimos a un perro en el porche y tratamos de entrar y vino el perro y se parecio bien tranquilo entonces puso mi mano paro tocarlo y me trato a morderme! un German Shepard tambien! que loco... continuabamos tocando hasta que tuvieramos ir a la cena con la familia Alba. Tocabamos mas despues y fuimos a la capilla para ensenar clases de ingles pero nadie vino. Visitamos a una persona mas antes de que acostarnos. Pero no estaba. Fuimos a la cama despues bien temprano por que teniamos mucho sueno. :) 
 
SATURDAY - Can you believe its September already! We got a call this morning of a girl that got in a wreck in Mt. Pleasant and that was getting life flighted to the hospital in our area and we were asked to go down there and give her a blessing. We got there before the chopper and then we had to wait. So, her family bought us lunch while we waited. I gave the blessing and it was awesome. I love the Priesthood. Its so amazing and makes me just want to always strive to be a better person in all aspects, to follow Jesus Christ more fully. We then went straight to work and knocked for 3 hours and had no luck. Darkness is very heavy in this area, it truly needs the light of the Gospel. We taught one lesson and then had to head out to Gladewater to have dinner with the Reynolds. Way sweet family, love going out there! We always get a good sports update. He told us East Texas is huge in football and they take state almost every year even with the big Cities in Texas. Apparently Adrian Peterson grew up and played about an hour away from where I'm serving right now! Crazy huh!? But we then visited his parents after and they talked about their trip to New York and I tell  you what I want to go to the Sacred Grove SO bad... I just want to travel! Its my dream. Love it. But more than anything see all the Church sites up there in New York. After we visited a family that hasn't been active for years! He had his daughter and her friend there that of course was giggling the whole time and when we left I shook her hand and she just nervously said "Hi" and we walked out and my companion was laughing but it was funny. We set up some more fliers before ending our night at the Golden Arches to start our fast :)
 
SUNDAY - What a Sunday I tell ya, we had no investigators at church but it was one of the most powerful and edifying testimony meetings I have ever had (in English) So many powerful testimonies and also I bore mine. It was really good! We went to dinner with the Hills and Whitmans after and then went to visit some people. We almost ran out of gas so we had to just went to numbers a bit early and we actually got to bed on time tonight. Way good week... well it was hard but it feels good to work hard. Thanks for following! Love you all! 

P.s. Friday-We knocked all day and didn't find anyone to teach and I almost lost my hand to a German Shepard! It was on the porch and we rattled the fence. Didn't move. Then we started to open the gate and he came trotting down looking completely innocent. Then I put my hand down to pet him and his ears went back and he just stared at me and then snapped at me! But I pulled back quick enough not to lose my arm! We continued knocking till dinner then had dinner with the Albas and then went to have our English classes and no one showed up. Very unfruitful day.

Elder Aaron Jackson

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