TUESDAY - Today was an awesome day, interviews with the President. We got up and headed straight to Sulpher Springs. We got there a bit early and set up for our training and talked about a few things with the zone. Elder Chappell and I stressed obedience and then we turned the time over to Sister Durrant to give her training so we could go into interviews. Elder Chappell went in first and was in there for a good 15-20 minutes! Then it was my turn. I walked in and he said "Elder Jackson, the Hillcrest Husky legend! come on down!" We sat down and asked what I wanted to talk about and I told him I really didn't have anything and that things were all going super well. He said "Well keep going, seems like you don't even need me. I'm super proud of all your doing. Don't let up at all. I'll try and stay out of your way" that was it. I couldn't believe it. I tried to stay in there as long as I could but my interview was for like 1 minute. We got done and jumped right into the role playing that Sister Durrant had everyone doing and then we finished the meeting by giving our training as well. President came in and talked to us and got on all our cases saying we have to act more like adults, but he did this all out of love. He really wants to help us out a lot. We finished the meeting and headed on our long journey home. We stopped at Braums to get some ice cream and then got home with just enough time to drop the other elders off and head to the Eastwoods for dinner. We had nachos! Really good. We had a very awesome lesson afterwards as well, talked about the Fall of Adam and Eve. He had a lot of questions about it that we were able to clear up very well. It was a very good lesson. We did some contacting at the Monterrey for a while and then bought Marlenys picture from her baptism. What an awesome gift! We ended our night like that.
WEDNESDAY - We had a pretty long day today because we decided to
do our planning today because tomorrow we were heading up to Gilmer to
mand a boothe at the all-famous East Texas Yamboree. This event is
huge!!! They close down all the stores and kids get out of school, I
mean huge! So we are excited to go up there. We planned and then went
down to Kilgore to do some tracting and got into one house but didnt
have a lot of time so we left him and his family with a pamphlet and
headed to our lesson with Celia and Lupe. We just talked about church
attendance and invited them to come and then we went to the Flores'
house for some dinner. They always feed us good. 6 gorditas with rice
and a big bowl of blue bell ice cream.... YUM! We also got some fruit
for the road. We ran over to the church for coordination meeting with
Bro Sellers and Andy and had a good meeting and split up. Bro Sellers
and I visited the Alexanders and also the Nelsons. Bro Sellers was
talking about how when I get home all the 18 year old boys will have
left there girl friends for me to come and pluck hahaha, I cant believe
how close I really am to that point. Time never goes slow when your
having a blast! We got back to the church and helped clean it and headed
home for the night.
THURSDAY - YAMBOREE!! 17 MONTHS IN THE MISSION! We got up and had
personal study and then headed out the door to Gilmer. We got up there
and started manding the booth and it wasnt as crowded as we thought. We
got some dinner after and then went to the square where everything was
and that was where it was just crazy!!!! People everywhere! A lot of
members as well. We went around contacting, I gave a card to a black kid
and his teenage friends and he wouldnt take it because it was "white
Jesus" but I got him to take it in the end. It was a crazy experience.
We had a lot of fun there but it was way to worldly. Music, lights,
rides....GIRLS! So it was way weird. It was a lot of fun though. We did
the interview for the Gilmer elders and then we headed home after a long
day.
FRIDAY - Today was interesting. We received a referral for the
aparments acrossed the street and it didnt have the apt numbers so we
decided to pray and write down the numbers that came to mind. 63 came to
mine and 65 to Elder Chappells. So we tracted all the 60's and 63 didnt
answer or wasn't there, and 65 opened and shut the door right away. At
least we tried. We then started our long day of drop bys. Today was a
drop by day. We visited some old, and potential investigators and then
did some tracting as well. We had dinner at 5 with the Grizzles and it
was soup, super good soup! So delicious. I tell you it doesnt matter
where you go on you mission you will always eat good! Unless its really
poor place and dead birds is a delicacey... ouch! We did some
contacting, tried ot have a lesson with the Ramirez family and then we
went and taught English classes. Charles was interviewed and he passed!
Tomorrow is the day!
SATURDAY - TRANSFER CALLS! Today is the big day! We went out
tracting and ran into some crazy people, one lady invited us in and she
was nuts and her house was full of flies and it was just gross and she
wanted to anoint us with oil... it was nuts. We kept tracting and found a
hispanic lady who had a lot of questions that we were able to answer
and set up a return appointment. We headed to pick up Hno Flores who we
actually went to a lesson this morning as well that canceled on us, well
we got there and he was leaving. Anyway we went to Marlenys and started
the new member lessons with her and then dropped off Hno Flores after
and went to Genghis Grill to meet a member who bought us dinner. We sat
and enjoyed a huge bowl of steak, chicken, rice, noodles, bbq sauce,
shrimp, crab, beef all mixed together. So good! We then went to the
Ramirez family's house and they were not there. First they blow us off
last night and tell us to come back the next night and they arent even
there? If your going to make a commitment
keep it! We did some contacting at the Monterrey
before heading home thinking we were staying together here in Longview
for another transfer. Nope. Elder Beatty called (New AP) and told me I
was going to Shady Grove South as a Zone Leader with Elder Virrueta. I
hate the mission because of good byes...
I didn't sleep well tonight!
SUNDAY - Incredible day! We had Spanish branch and I got some
pics with Hno Flores and Hno Plascencia. My two favorites in the branch.
We would always have this joke that every time we would call him we
would say "hermano el mundo se va a acabar!" (the world is going to end)
and we just had a lot of good times. So in the pics on my right is Hno
Flores and left is Plascencia. We left the branch and it was weird like i
will probably never see that place again. If I do it wont be for a long
time. We went to English and I told the bishop I was leaving and they
cleared a spot for me to share my testimony at the beginning and it was
hard not to cry. I love this area and the ward and branch. So many
amazing people here. I got some good pictures with some of my favorites.
I wanted to get pictures with everyone but it was to hard. Sister
Whitman gave me a hug! Haha, I'm going to miss everyone here! We had some
great classes and then we had Rylands baptism after and it was amazing!
My throat was hurting from trying to hold back the tears. I don't want
to leave but I have to. Ryland is so awesome and her family as well! So
supportive. It was the most spiritual baptism I have ever been to in my
entire life. I will never forget that day. Not in this life or the life
to come. We had cake after and said our good byes and went back so I
could start packing and then we headed to the Johnstons for numbers. I
got a picture with them as well. So there you have it. The Longview days
are over. I am now heading to my 6th are and getting my 10th companion
and I STILL haven't had one from Utah!!!!! I'm excited and thanks for all
the support, love you all!
Elder Jackson
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