Week #70

Hi Mom!

This week was crazy! Elder Christiansen and I were made companions which has been super fun! We get along super well and have been successful with our teaching! I've already learned from him, the importance of listening to the concerns of our investigators, and checking for understanding while we're teaching! He's really great at listening! 

For Thanksgiving, we're going to the Shaw's house! They're an awesome family! He's our ward missionleader. I'm excited to be able to get to spend time with that family! They are all high energy so it's always fun when we go over there! Unfortunately, President Brown told us that we aren't allowed to play football because it's a contact sport. I would love to play in the turkey bowl that our ward has going on that morning! 

I don't remember if I told you a couple of weeks ago or not, but I rolled my ankle again! It was my left ankle again... Ever since I rolled it in Ashland while playing basketball, it's been pretty sore. I can walk on it fine but it's sensitive to the touch! The two bones on either side of my ankle that stick out hurt when they tap anything. So I talked to our mission health person and she said that I need to go see a podiatrist. I'm going to set up an appointment and see if there is anything seriously wrong, which I don't think there will be. Funny story how I rolled it though! Elder Davis and I were riding our bikes to a member's house to pick up a dinner. They gave us the dinner and we were almost all the way home with no accidents or anything until we got to this big hill right before our house. I was riding one hand, with the dinner in my other barely making it up this hill and Elder Davis came up from behind me and got really close as I was getting over more to the side. We collided right into the side of each other and I came down on my left side really hard on my ankle and rolled it! The cool part was that I didn't spill a single drop of our food! That was a miracle!

As for our investigators, Anthony is doing great! He's still staying strong in the gospel. He's coming to church this week and told us that he definitely wants to be baptized, he just doesn't know when. He's totally converted to the gospel! 

We texted Lauren yesterday to see when we could meet with her next and asked how her reading was going and she said that she finished the first book of Nephi! She's doing so great! She was planning on coming to church last week but she got sick and pulled a rib muscle from coughing so much! She has a strong desire to come to church, and knows that she needs to be there, she's just struggling to find the time to be there. 

We might have to push Frank's baptism back but we're hoping that he can make it Dec. 3rd. He's still having trouble retaining everything and is super frustrated. We're meeting with him tonight to talk to him about it. We're hoping to help him see the effect that the Atonement can have on him. He isn't understanding that through Christ, we can overcome any challenges that we have, whether they be physical or spiritual. 

We taught Yvette the Word of Wisdom this week and she loved it! She said that she's already living it, other than the tea. She apologized for drinking and told us that she'd never do it again. She is so prepared!

The weather is starting to cool down, which has reminded me of how much of a wimp I am! I hate the cold and it hurts me every time I get out of the car or walk out of someone's house. I love the way snow looks though! It snowed a little bit this week, but it's all melted for the most part by now. Looks like we might have a white Christmas this year! 

Thanks so much Mom for applying to UVU for me! You're the best! I'm glad I got accepted there. I'm still thinking that it's where I want to go. 

I love you so much and can't wait to talk to you in 31 days! I love Christmas! Not as much on the mission but it's still my favorite holiday! Hope you have a great week! Love you tons!

Love,

Jack

Jackson and Elder Christiansen, his new companion

Jackson and Elder Parra, who just came from the Mexico MTC with Jackson's cousin, Elder John Trendler

First snow of the year.

Christmas card pics. :)

Week #69

Hi Mom!  

So Elder Davis is being transferred! He's going to be a Zone Leader in the Cleveland Stake, which is neighboring zone! I'll still get to see him once a month at a meeting that we have as the Zone Leaders in the mission. My new companion is going to be Elder Christiansen! He's super awesome! I actually came out with him too! I don't know a lot about him but I'll send pictures next week. I'll pick him up tomorrow. 

This week was super great, but at the same time had some really heart breaking moments. 

So it started off with getting everything set up for Anthony's baptism! We had an interview scheduled with the bishop so that the bishop could meet him before he got baptized and we had a baptismal interview lined up with President Brown! Anthony was really excited to get baptized! Elder Davis and I went over to go see him this last week to talk to him a little more about his baptism. In our lesson, he told us that he wasn't going to be able to go through with the baptism. His reason being, he doesn't think that he'll be able to live all of the commandments after he gets baptized. We told him that there was only one perfect person that got baptized and that was Christ! We aren't expected to be perfect once we enter the waters of baptism! But regardless of what we said, he just really felt like he shouldn't be baptized, so we canceled the interview. He told us that he knows that church is true and that he wants to join, he just isn't ready. We're still working with him, in fact, we're going to have dinner with him tonight. So that was one of the most heart breaking moments just because he feels like he can't move on. I would be surprised if he didn't get baptized at some point in his life. He is such a kingdom builder. He's definitely one of the most prepared people that I have ever met! He's awesome!

Lauren is doing really good too! We still don't have a baptismal date for her though. We talked to her this week about getting baptized and she said that the only reason she doesn't want to get baptized is because she wants to get married in the Catholic church, just because she is familiar with it. She's single right now and just wants the Catholic church to be a stable thing in her life which is totally understandable. I think once we really get into eternal marriage that will change. She's such a kingdom builder as well! She told us she doesn't agree with some of the things that go on in the Catholic church which is definitely a step in the right direction! She also really believes that the Book of Mormon is true. She's basically a dry Mormon.

Yvette is doing awesome! So we have talked to her about a baptismal date quite a few times but she always says that she isn't ready! This week however, she told us that she would have to take a look at the baptismal font and come to church a few more times! She is totally going to get baptized! She's been crazy busy with work still but has been able to find time to keep the commitments we leave with her. She's retaining everything we teach her and loves the Book of Mormon! She'll be a great member of the church!

Frank is doing a lot better now! He's trying so hard to understand what we're teaching him. He finished the first book of Nephi and loved it! He's made some big steps forward. We're shooting for his baptism on the 3rd of December. He should reach that no problem. 

The highlight of the week was probably the fact that we found 6 new investigators! Elder Davis and I worked hard this week and followed the spirit which lead to a great amount of success. We both felt that the Lord was blessing us for our efforts we've put in the last 3 transfers as a companionship. 2 of the New investigators we found were a Mother and a daughter. Their names are Yasmond and Delores. We found them in the area book. I don't know why I decided to stop by them. There were no good leads in the area book, but I just felt like it would be a good idea. It was obviously the spirit working through me to bring the gospel to this family. 

One other guy that we picked up is name Julian. He is such a sincere guy! He told us that he was really searching for the true church. When we talked to him about the Book of Mormon, he was more than willing to read it! Can't wait to teach him more. 

Well I'm totally out of time today. We have a lot to do to get ready for transfers tomorrow! Hopefully it's okay if I send you a picture of me for the Christmas card next week. I love you lots Mom! Hope you have a good week! 

Love,

Jack

Jackson taking his duties on his bike very seriously!

Jackson and Elder Davis

Week #68

Hi Mom! 

Awesome week! but before I get into that, does Cooper have an email? If he does, I would like to have that. Also, if he can, put the email on his phone so he can check it whenever. I just feel like I haven't talked to that kid forever! I miss Liza like crazy too! I might try and write her a letter. It's a bummer though, we are so limited to time on p-days. 

So I guess to start with the bad news first... Frank is really going down hill. He's super awesome but he is really not accepting what we're teaching just as of this last week. Also, some days he says some stuff that is really out there. We pushed his baptismal date way back. We'll see if he can make it but right now he's being pretty flakey. Really sad but we're praying that he'll be able to figure it out. 

Anthony is doing amazing! He's working so hard at giving up coffee which is awsome! We're shooting for his baptism on the 19th of this month but we'll see if he can make that. It's crunch time so he can't have any coffee from here on out. He's pretty excited for his baptism. We've taught him everything already so now it comes down to him living commandments. Don't know if I mentioned this before, but Anthony feeds us all the time! Pretty much everytime we go over there he makes us a great meal! He's one of the nicest people I've ever met! I love him to death! Can't wait for you to meet him when we come back and visit!

Lauren is doing really well! We didn't meet with her last week because she was crazy busy but we're going to reset her baptismal date this week. She's been reading the Book of Mormon really consistently even though she's got a lot going on! She's the best! 

Yvette is doing awesome!! She has been reading the Book of Mormon a lot too! She hasn't been able to come to church though, due to her crazy work schedule. She has been working a ton! We're getting to the time of year where everyone's lives explode! The same thing happened last year. They all get really busy and it's hard to find a time where they're available to meet.

We found some awesome people this week! 

So yesterday we went and stopped by one of our potential investigators named Curtis. When we knocked on his door, his mom answered and said that she used to study with the Mormons when she lived in Buffalo NY! She said that she really enjoyed it! We invited her to come and listen while we taught her son Curtis but she was busy so we set up a time to come back. We're going back later tonight to go and teach curtis, Tangi (Curtis's Mom), and hopefully Curtis's Sister! We're going to teach the whole family! I'm so excited!! They're awesome! Oh and while we were there last time, as we were walking out the door, Tangi ran over to us and gave us some ribs she made! They were the greatest creation know to man kind.... Stoked to go see them tonight! 

We picked up a couple of other investigators this week but I'll let you know if and when they start to progress. 

Also, I forgot to tell you that this last transfer, Elder Brewer got transfered out of Ashland and went to Ashtabula with ELDER LAU!!! Brewer and Lau are together now and I was talking to Elder Brewer today and he said that it's so fun! I love both of those guys!

hope you have a good week! I can't wait to talk to you on Christmas! I miss you like crazy mom! you're my favorite! 

Love,

Jack

Week #67

Hi Mom!

Happy Halloween! Holidays as a missionary are funny. They just feel like normal days haha. We don't really have any fun plans other than going to Kirtland to meet up with some of the missionaries there to carve some pumpkins. We went to our ward halloween party on Friday night which was a ton of fun! We got to judge all the soups which was my favorite part of that haha! I have a large belly... No shame about it!

We had a great week with our investigators this week! We'll start off with Frank.

So Frank called us on Saturday night and told us that he wants to move his baptism up! He is scheduled to get baptized on the 19th of November but he really doesn't want to wait that long! He was wanting to get baptized this week! We still need to finish teaching him everything, which we'll do this week, and then he'll be all good to go! We might be able to push it up a week to the 12th of November! He is really working hard at understanding everything that we teach him! He's using this little note book we got him to write down what every single verse he reads means! I have never seen anyone put that kind of effort into understanding the gospel before! 

Anthony is really doing great too! We are probably going to push his baptismal date back a little bit so that he can have more time to live the commandments. He's still been crazy busy at work. Luckily, in 4 weeks, his work will slow down and he'll be able to focus more fully on the gospel. He is being worn pretty thin by his job but that hasn't stopped his love for the gospel. He still knows it's true.

Lauren is progressing like crazy! She's been super busy too especially with the world series going on! She is such a die hard baseball fan so she's been going crazy over the Indians! We don't have a solid baptismal date for her right now but she's really feeling like it's true. She has been seeing the difference the gospel makes in the lives of the members she has met and she's really wanting to have that change happen! I've already seen a change in her. I can't explain what that change looks like! The only way I know how to describe it is that she's got this light... I know everyone always says that but it's such a fitting way to describe her!

Yvette is the same way! She is loving the Book of Mormon! We reviewed Joseph Smith's story and she totally connected with it! She's really opened up to us! This week when we were teaching her, she said to us, as she raised her fist in the air,  "Guys, I'm not letting go". That was her way of letting us know that she means business and is really liking what we're teaching her! 

I love all of these people! I truly enjoy teaching all of them because they understand and hold on to everything we teach them with all of their might! I just imagine them holding onto that rod of iron in Lehi's dream, their knuckles turning white. This is the greatest work that I have EVER been involved in. I still can't believe the Lord trusts 18 year old boys to lead out this great work. That' proof of the truthfulness of this gospel. If an 18 year old kid can't screw it up then it must be true!

I think one of the best experiences this week was when we were on exchanges. Elder Wall and I were out knocking some doors. We got to this one that had a sign on it, telling us to go to the back door. We walked around and as we got to the back door, we saw a car with probably 5 or 6 bullet holes right through the passenger side of the windshield! So of course we took a picture of it! Haha I'll send it to you. But we're now teaching the lady that lives there! She's cool! 

So it was a pretty great week! I love you all so much! Hope you have a happy Halloween!

Love,

Jack

This is Parker, that Jackson taught in Ashland.

The windshield riddled with bullet holes.