Monday, November 5, 2012

Week 2 in Shady Grove

MONDAY - Today was a great preparation day, we didn't get JP so we didn't really shop but we did go get stuff for a little Halloween party we wanted to have as a district. I love the district here. Elder Jorgensen and Henze, Dominguez and Adams... Cant wait for Christmas with them. We went to email and I had to call Elder Chappell and Crosby out East to get his library card number. We had a great conversation. Elder Chappell is so awesome and so is Elder Crosby. He is definitely in the running for my favorite companion of all time. The library has a touch table top screen thing with chess so as we waited for the rest of the elders to get done I smoked my son (Dominguez) in a game of chess and checkers :) we then went and got the stuff at the store to make smores and we threw the football a little bit and played a hot potato game that was so fun! We talked about skating and laughed at good times we had. I love these elders! We finished Preparation day and we headed to visit a less active member that the bishop assigned us to visit. Hna Barraza, her non member 25 year old son, Tony was there and so we got to know him. Incredible artist!! He showed us one of his sketches and it seriously looked like it was a snap shot from a camera! He was way cool, very humble and willing to learn. Good way to start off the week.

TUESDAY - We had a good district meeting today and after we enjoyed some very delicious pumpkin pie with blue bell ice cream! SO GOOD! We then headed to the store so that I could buy some food for the week because we had no money yesterday and we didnt have any today but my oh so sweet peruvian companion payed for me and I'll just pay him back when I get money. Yes I bought some Mountain Dew for the first time in a while only because Master Chief was on the cover. We then went to an apartment complex called Kirkwood Apartments. Ha. Visited a few people there and visited the relief society president there as well. We had dinner at her house (Abarca family) and we had my favorite! Authentic tacos. I could eat a million of them I tell you! estuvieron bien ricos! we ate and discussed the presidential campaign a little and then we were on our way. We had a lesson with Vanessa and Kimberly and talked about eternal families and also baptism. We reset their dates for November 17. I love the Plan of Salvation, I love talking about families, especially my family! It is my favorite thing to teach by far! We committed them to read one verse from the Book of Mormon every day. I apologize of some of these things are lacking details, I was 4 days behind in my journal and thats what I use to type my blogs. Just know it was another amazing day in the mission :)
 
WEDNESDAY - HAPPY HALLOWEEN!! (^^) We had a meeting in meandering way, Zone Leader Council. Great meeting from 10 to 4. We learned a lot and talked about the holidays coming up and what was going to happen. President Durrant wants to have another talent show, so looks like I will be able to show case my dunk one last time in the TDM. I will probably prepare weeks before, training in the mornings. I want to do something I havent before. Maybe an under the legs or a crazy oop. Not sure yet. The meeting was good and time flew, I loved seeing all the old missionary friends especially my main man Elder Chappell! We got done with the meeting and went to a 7/11 to get gas, I had to get money off my card to get a new Preach my Gospel in Spanish. Ive wanted one of the mini ones since day one in the mission and they finally have them again. So I went in and they had it there in the fridge.... GAMEFUEL!!!! I had to get it! It was so good! we went to the mission office and I got my new mini Preach my Gospel aka (The best manual in the world!) I love it. Its a manual for life. We then headed to the Mancias for dinner, it was just us and the North elders there so we talked and had a good time and ate. Then I found out that Elder Henze has a Christmas tradition similar to ours... Christmas Vacation!!! So we were laughing so hard as we brought back those memories. I love the holidays, such a great time. We got done and dropped by Vanessas and Kimberlies house to see their haunted house and it was awesome!!! I got pictures but I will have to send them next week because I forgot my camera! But it was a way cool, I got pics of me next to this guy with this HUGE clown mask haha, then we headed to the church to support the ward in its Trunk or Treat activity and it was a lot of fun! It was a good Halloween. Last one in the mission! :O
 
THURSDAY - Today was a long day, we finally got money on our cards so of course us being the only ones with a car were asked by the north elders to go shopping. We took them and they took forever!! So we didn't get back to plan untill like 3. We planned for an hour and a half and then headed to Bishops house for dinner. We had some amazing Carne asada which we all ate like pigs! Then Bishop and his two councilers all came out with us to our appointments. We went with el Obispo (bishop) and visited first Raul Pacheco and taught about prophets and the Book of Mormon as well. Bishop is such a boss, he knows when to talk and when he does he always says something awesome. We then went to teach Santiago and we taught the 10 commandments and also the Sabbath Day. He is ready, he just needs to tell his parents and he will be good to go!
 
FRIDAY - Today we had the Stake President Report, President Porter bought us and the English Zone Leaders both our own 10 dollar box from Pizza Hut in which we devoured within minutes like Voltures (as my dad would say) We had the meeting with President Porter and Durrant and talked about the Stake. Its so exciting because we set a new mission goal on Wednesday of 670 Baptisms for this year and we are at 532 or something and so we are also about to hit the stake goal, the wards goals and my personal goal of 25! Im so excited!!! We could baptize a lot here, we have so many great people! The meeting was great and it was good to talk to President after as well. We then went tracting and ran into this crazy Catholic girl who pointed to her neighbors (who just got out of jail) and said "Now I'm not christian when it comes to them over there, a few years ago their house was on fire and we called the fire apartment and I regret it! I should have just let it burn!" hahahaha, we got a few return appiontments and headed to dinner with the Ayala family and had chili dogs! It was really good, all 6 of us were there and enjoying each others company. We then went and taught the Villatoros and talked about the Book of Mormon. They are just such a solid family. We will baptize at least 3 of them and maybe even 5! So thats going to be a great day! We ended our night on that note.
 
SATURDAY - Today we went back to the Ayalas house to have a coordination meeting where we talked about the work and I brought up some of the ideas we did out in Longview and we are going to put them into practice. Im excited! We ate breakfast with them and had ham and eggs and cheese and hot chocolate and it was really good! Hno Ayala showed us some pics of missionaries that went home... including one of my past Zone Leaders (Elder Solis) who got married with a Sister missionary that was here too!!! They were engaged while they were both still on the mission. Elder Solis baptized a ton but I lost a lot of respect for him after that. But it was weird to see Elder Feild too, I miss that kid. We then took off and got some stuff at Staples for our ideas for the ward. We dropped off the North elders and headed to our lesson with Raul and taught the law of chastity and he is almost ready for baptism too! Just needs to stop smoking and he will be good to go! After that we had to take the car in to get the brakes checked and then we did some more tracting before dinner with the Erazo family, it was really good chicken but we were there for too long. I hate getting to members house when we should be eating and waiting 15 minutes till its done cooking and then just being there over an hour. Its a waste of time. I love the members but ugh! So we had time to go and teach Kimberly and Vanessa and invite them to church. Tonight the clocks went back!!! EXTRA HOUR OF SLEEP!!! Couldnt ask for a better gift on a mission. 
 
SUNDAY - Today was a good Sunday, there were some changes in the bishopric but also in the meeting with the leaders before church we were told members have been complaining that we flirt with the young women and that we don't ask the members to turn off the TVs and Radios when we get into their homes... UGH!! Its not us I know that, I stay away from girls at all costs and I have never had a problem like that before. So a great situation to walk into... Now we have to regain the trust of the members (which is one of if not the most important things) gotta love the mission. We will do it though, its not really a big thing but we will change that. Church ended and we went to eat dinner, we had meat loaf with the Ortiz family. I think that's a first for me, meat loaf on the mission. It was so good! You never eat better than on a mission I tell you. We finished and headed to our appointment with the Villatoros and taught my favorite lesson El Plan de Salvacion! It went really well and they are doing so good. We met their daughter for the first time and we are still trying to get their rebellious 12 year old involved but with time. We finished and headed to do numbers. I was so tired, because my body was telling me it was 10:30 when really it was only 9:30. What a good week though. Thanks for reading and I love y'all.
 
Elder Jackson

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