Week #63

Hey Mom!

So before I get into spiritual things and happy things, I have a crazy story! Just so you're not worried as I tell you just know that everyone is okay now.

This story begins Sunday evening right after the final session of General Conference. 

At this time it's 7:45. Elder Davis and I were out stopping by some potential investigators but weren't having any luck. We had knocked on a lot of empty houses and had a few people tell us they weren't interested. We had dinner planned for the end of the night at about 8 o'clock. We got in the car and were just about to start heading home to go eat some grub when we got a call from a random phone number. We answered with our typical intro of "Hi, it's the missionaries, Elder Scoresby and Elder Davis." On the other end of the line was a shaken up voice. It was Elder Vance, one of the missionaries we live with. He told us that him and his companion, Elder Wall had both been jumped. Then a random man came on the phone and told us that they had been hurt pretty bad and that an ambulance was on it's way. We got of where they were and drove it like we stole it over there. For the entire 15 minute drive there, we were in complete silence, thinking the worst. 

By the time we got there, Elder Vance and Elder Wall were both in the back of the Ambulance and there were two police cars on the scene. When we opened the back of the ambulance, Elder Vance was laying there on a stretcher with a decent amount of blood on his shirt and face. Elder Wall was sitting beside him looking untouched. Anyway, we ended up following the ambulance to the hospital where we were led to where Elder Wall, just outside Elder Vance's room. When we saw Elder Wall this second time, he had quite obviously been punched right in the face. He had swollen up pretty bad but looked better than Elder Vance by a long shot. 

After all the scans and x-rays, they found that Elder Vance had a slightly fractured skull, nothing that would require surgery. We sat around in the waiting room of the hospital for a good 5 hours, really just waiting for Elder Wall to get checked up so that we could leave. By the time we were good to go, it was 4 in the morning. President Brown was waiting with us at the hospital the whole time and told us we should go home and hit the hay so we did just that. We left Elder Vance in the hospital so that his wounds could heal. As you can imagine, going to be at 4 in the morning threw off our schedule a little bit. We're doing well now and have Elder Vance here with us now. He's still not doing great but he'll be fine. 

Just a brief story of what happened to them. They had just stopped by an investigator and were getting their bikes when a group of 6 gangster came up to them and took everything they had. Elder Wall was choked out and punched a few times but Elder Vance was pretty much beat on until the guys' fists hurt. We're pretty sure that these guys were just targeting them because they were white. We're upset with those chumps to say the least. 

Other than that our week was good. Lauren and Anthony came to conference. We set a baptismal date with Lauren and she's pretty excited about it. 

So sorry for the lack of info this week but Elder Vance isn't doing great. We've got to get him home. Love you so much and hope you have a great rest of the week! I loved conferece too!!!!!

Love, Jack

Week #62

Hey Mom!

I love hearing about the family! I miss them so much! I wouldn't be upset if you sent me pictures of you guys! I don't need anything fancy... just take random pictures of the kids! I have some funny ones of the family I'll have to send you hehe! 

So we are having a little trouble with Frank. He doesn't want to meet with us until the new year or maybe later. He said that he wants to wait until he moves to a new apartment. I'm really hoping that we can convince him otherwise. He is so golden! He loved church and really wants to come back! I want to teach him again so bad!

Anthony does have a baptismal date. He is so amazing! Everything we teach him he accepts and knows it to be true! He is probably the first person that I have taught that made the connection that if the Book of Mormon is true, then so is everything else in this church. He's progressing really well and is doing great at being a missionary himself! He pretty much lets everyone know that he's going to be a Mormon. He's getting a lot of persecution for it. He has had people come up to him while he's been reading the Book of Mormon somewhere and tell him that he isn't Christian and that he shouldn't be reading that book. He tell us jokingly that he wants to beat them up. He has such a firm testimony, I don't think anything or anyone can shake him! His new baptismal date is for the 15th of October. I'm hoping we don't have to push it back any more. 

Pam doesn't have a baptismal date yet. She is having a really hard time right now financially. She is super stressed so it's hard to get her to slow down and feel the spirit in our lessons. Hopefully we'll get to set a date with her this week. I love to see the spirit touch her. She always tells us that she feels better after our lessons. I'm hoping she can find time to read and make it a priority in her life to progress in the gospel. She's awesome!

Lauren is doing AMAZING as well! She is strong in her Catholic faith but she is loving the Book of Mormon right now! She's coming to church next week! We still haven't set a baptismal date with her but we're getting close. She is improving so much its crazy! I love teaching people the gospel!

This week was a rough one with finding new investigators and with meeting with all of our investigators. I just feel like there isn't enough time in the day to do everything! It's crazy. I'm not sure if this week will be a whole lot better because we have Mission Leadership council on Tuesday, which doesn't get over until about 4:00, and then we have to travel back, which takes us to about 5:00. Then we have to plan for zone training meeting, and then we have zone training meeting on Thursday, so it might be a little crazy. It will all work out though. 

Oh and I didn't even know Ansley got married!!!! That's insane!!!!!!! 

Love you so much! Have a good week!

Love,

Jack

The title of Liberty Jackson and Elder Davis made for training on Jackson's pillowcase.

Jackson in the new ties we sent him. :)

Jackson took a bunch of pictures of Cleveland.

Week #61

Wazzzuppppp!!!! 

Hi Mom!

Had a good week this week! So if there are any letters that should be capitalized that aren't, just ignore it. This keyboard that I'm using has a terrible shift key and it's driving me crazy. 

We totally got to take Lauren to Kirtland which was AWESOME!!!!! She loved it! The spirit was so strong there, like it always is, and I think she was able to feel it. We meet with her every Tuesday, so we'll see her tomorrow and answer questions she has. She's doing so great! 

Pam is doing really well too! She's been sick, so we haven't been able to see her in the last week.  She didn't come to church, but we plan to see her in the next couple of days. I think the fact that her sister is a member is a huge motivator for her to continue learning about the church. She is really wanting to improve the quality of her life and come closer to God as well. We're hoping to set a baptismal date with Pam this week.

Yvette didn't come to church either. She had to work yesterday, which is what really prevented her from coming. She still isn't sure if she wants to join the church or not. She keeps telling us that what we teach her seems right and seems like the will of the Lord. All she wants to do is what the Lord wants her to do. Hopefully we can get her to church this coming Sunday.

Anthony is still doing well! He is crazy busy, but we're meeting with him this Wednesday. We are going to reset his baptismal date for some time in October. He was at church yesterday and loved it like usual. He's been there 4 or 5 times now!

Zone leader responsibilities are going well! We had zone conference just this last week and gave a discussion on finding. Zone conferences come every 3 months and those are easy to prepare for. We have zone training meeting (ztm) every month and that requires more planning. For ztm, the zone leaders meet with all the missionaries in their zone and relay lessons/info down that we get from President Brown, at mission leadership council (mlc) which takes place every last Tuesday of the month. The reason those ones require more planning is because we do all of the teaching. Still really fun. For our last ztm, Elder Davis and I made a Title of Liberty for our zone on my pillow case! We didn't have anything else to write it on so we figured that would do! I'll have to send you a picture next week! It's pretty hilarious!

Exchanges are good. They're fun, I just don't like having to be out of my area for a day. Other than that, I love them!

Okay now I have a miraculous miracle! 

On Saturday, we were doing some service for a lady, helping her move a ton of stuff she didn't want out of her house, that was less clean than I would have preferred. While we were doing that, we got a phone call from a random number. I answered, and on the other end was a man with a deep voice. He told us that his name was Frank and that he needed a copy of the Book of Mormon. When we asked how he had heard of the Book of Mormon, he said that back in 1999 missionaries came and gave him a copy. He had since then read it and given it away to someone else that wanted to read it. When we went over and visited Frank, he showed us a little address book that had the missionaries' names down and their phone number back in 1999! He was so excited to get another copy of the Book of Mormon! We invited him to church which was the following day and he accepted. He just needed a ride to church. Sunday morning we were scrambling to find someone that could take him! We were barely able to get a member to pick him up. We did get Frank to church though! He's so great! Love that man! We are having a little trouble trying to set a return appointment with him, but we'll get there!

I know from miracles like these, that this is the Lord's work. I wouldn't rather be anywhere else. I know that I'm meant to be here, and am eternally grateful for the experiences I'm having. I love the work!

I love you Mom! Great job in the dive meet Ben! I am going to need some videos of his meets! That would make me super happy! Hope you all have a good week!

Love,

Jack

Week #60

Hi Mom!

I can't believe Mitch is going to Cambodia! That's insane! I love him so much! He is going to be such a good missionary! 

I'm glad Cooper is doing good in XC! That's so fun! I miss those races! Good times in cross country. 

I have no idea where I want to go. I'm thinking that I want to go to UVU. Not totally sure yet but I think that's what I'm leaning towards. I have put zero thought into where I want to go but most of my friends will be at UVU so I'll probably go there. 

This week was a pretty good one! So we had the hardest time getting in contact with Anthony! He fell off the face of the earth for about a week and a half which was a bummer. We finally got a call from him on Friday telling us that he was just super busy with work. We were able to meet with him and have a powerful Word of Wisdom lesson. We had to push back his baptismal date. Not sure yet when we are going to set it for but most likely some time in October. We have some solid other investigators I haven't told you a ton about. 

So we've been teaching a lady named Lauren since I got here but she wasn't interested in joining the church at all when we started. She was just getting back into Catholicism and had just barely joined one of the local Catholic churches. She just wanted to know what we believed and what the Book of Mormon was all about. Well, we probably should've warned her that the Book of Mormon tends to change lives.Lauren is currently reading in 3 Nephi right now and is loving it! It's amazing to see how much her spirituality has grown in just a few weeks! This last week we committed her to pray about the Book of Mormon to know if it's true. Depending on if she recognizes her answer or not, we'll try to set a baptismal date with her. Oh and this Saturday we have planned to take her to Kirtland! Can't wait!

Pam is another investigator we have. We found her 2 weeks ago or so and she's amazing! Pam is a middle aged woman that has a true desire to improve the quality of her life. She is reading the book of Mormon like crazy right now! She wasn't able to come to church this last Sunday but she plans to this coming Sunday. We tracted into her and when she answered the door she told us she was super interested and that her sister is a member of the church! Pam is so cool and prepared! 

Yvette is another investigator that is doing great! She told us that she is really considering joining the church! This last week she went to a relief society activity and had some great fellowship. She really enjoyed it and it was a huge step forward for her. We plan to have her at church this coming Sunday as well. 

That was most of the progress we made this week. I'm not sure why this area has been more difficult to get people to engage. I have seen the work progress a lot more with taking members out with us though. We had a promise from President Brown. He said, "If we do missionary work the Lord's way (taking members out teaching with us) then the Lord will provide a way for us to do his work". In other words he was saying that we are going to be way more successful if we take members out teaching with us. 

I'm loving it here in Shaker Heights! The area is great and the members are trying to do missionary work! I love you all so much! Only 3 1/2 more months until I get to Skype with you! Have a good rest of your week!!!

Love,

Jack

Week #59

Hi Mom! 

I LOVED the packages you sent me this week! You're so awesome! I loved all the ties that you guys picked out for me! Made me so happy that I don't have to wear those same ties that I've been wearing for the last year! You all rock!

So Anthony has been SUPER busy! He spent this last summer preparing all his lesson for teaching 6th grade but at last minute, he was switched to teach 8th grade and had to redo all of his lesson plans. We're hoping to meet with him this week and really crack down on teaching the lessons. 

Orlando is kind of the same way. We haven't been able to meet with him because he keeps working double shifts when people cancel. He really wants to go to Kirtland with us which would be so awesome for him! We're hoping to get him to Kirtland this week and church as well. 

Yvette is doing awesome! She told us that she is really considering joining the church and that it all depends on what the Lord tells her to do. That's exactly what we want her to do! We have a bible study every week on Thursday and Yvette is planning on coming to that this week. We're teaching her at a pretty slow rate so that she can understand it all. She's so prepared! Can't wait for her to come to the church for bible study.

We've been doing a lot of yard work for non members which has been awesome! We had a member tell us that her friend, Velvet, needs help with yard work. We went over and cleaned up her yard. We offered to teach her more about the Book of Mormon and she was way excited about it! We set up a time to meet with Velvet and bring the member family that introduced us to her! We taught a very powerful restoration lesson and she committed to read the Book of Mormon and pray about it. We'll try to meet with her this week and let you know what she has thought about the Book of Mormon thus far. 

I said this to Dad already but Cooper looks so much older in the picture I saw of him running! I'm glad he's keeping the Scoresby running Legacy going! GO COOPER!!!!!

Love you guys so much and thanks again for the ties! You're my favorite!

Love,

Jack

Jackson and Elder Davis

Week #58

Yo!

We go on splits about once a week with other missionaries which is fun! It's cool to learn how other missionaries teach. I have no idea how long I'll be zone leader for. I could be here and then after this area go be a zone leader elsewhere or I could stop being zone leader after this area. So I could potentially be ZL for 4 to 11 more months. Just depends what president Brown wants me to do. We aren't working with any less actives right now. We've been trying to find some less actives that are actually willing to progress and have any desire to come back to church. 

We had a good week this week but it was also a little bit of a rough one. We have been struggling with getting people to keep return appointments. It's difficult to teach people when they aren't home for a scheduled teaching appointment. Orlando is still doing pretty good. He didn't come to church this week because he had a family reunion to go to and we didn't get to go to Kirtland either. We are planning to go to Kirtland this Saturday and he should be coming to church this Sunday as well. 

Anthony didn't come to church yesterday either. He is starting teaching tomorrow at the 8th grade level so he's been getting ready for that. He still loves the Book of Mormon and wants to baptized. We might have to push back his date a little bit but he'll for sure be baptized!

We have an investigator named Yvette that we've been working with. She is doing pretty great! She said that she is going to do whatever the spirit tells her to do, so we're just really working with her to recognize the answers that she receives. She's going to come to bible study next week and ease her way into church. I see her getting baptized in the next couple of transfers.

Sorry for the short email, but not a lot happened this week that was worth mentioning. I think the best thing that happened was just that I felt the spirit so strong, and not necessarily at one moment, but throughout the week. The Lord blessed me with the spirit in response to my hard work. I have such a strong testimony that our Heavenly Father always blesses us when we do what he asks us to do. 

Hope you guys have a stellar week! Love you so much!

Love,

Jack

Week #57

Hi Mom!

(The Whitemans and Neilsons were vacationing in Ohio and attended Jackson's ward by chance on Sunday.  They sent us a picture, included at the end of the letter.  It's so great having a stateside missionary!)

It was kind of fun to see the Whitemans even though I don't really know them haha. So we only had one investigator at church on Sunday but the sisters in our ward had an investigator too so we had 2 investigators at our ward which was awesome! Anthony stayed at church all 3 hours and it was so perfect for him! All the talks and all the lessons were so perfectly fit to Anthony's needs, which was amazing! He's still progressing and working towards baptism! He feeds us every single week, too, which is so nice of him. We also helped him this week with some yard work. He has this beautiful house that he co-owns and there was so much work that needed to be done, so we got to help him with that for a little while. 

We picked up a new investigator this last week named Orlando, and he's so AWESOME! We taught him the restoration, and when we told him the first vision he said "This is so awesome! I want to go to this church!" He was so excited about the message! He's coming to church with us this Sunday, and after church we're going to visit historic Kirtland. He's on fire right now, and is so prepared to receive the gospel! 

Then we went and stopped by this potential investigator we have, and her brother answered the door. Our potential investigator wasn't home so we asked her brother if he would be interested in listening to the message that we share and he was super open! We taught him the whole restoration and he loved it!

We are having a lot of fun finding prepared people here in the Shaker Heights area! Those are the only people that we're really teaching right now. Love it here in this ward! The members are great and the investigators we have are strait fire! 

Sounds like you and Dad had an awesome week together! I can't wait to be able to spend time with the family! We are going to have to do some fun things together before Ben leaves on his mission to Australia (prophesy). 

Glad Ben is preparing to serve a mission. The two best things he can do to prepare is read the Book of Mormon and read preach my gospel chapter 3, especially the first 3 lessons. He's going to be such an awesome missionary! 

Coop Keep up the good work with XC! I know its hard to wake up but its such a good thing to be involved with. Can't wait until you start running races! You'll have to be sure to send me all your times.

Liza, I always see little girls probably close to your age that remind me of you so much! Can't wait to see you in 11 months!

Love you guys so much! Glad things are going well back at home! Miss you all so much but there is no place that I would rather be! I love My mission more than anything! Hope you have a good rest of your week! 

Love,

Jack

PS I am dying with my ties! I'm completely sick of all my ties and could use some more! Thanks

Jackson with Rylie Neilson and Nick Whitman

Jackson and his companion, Elder Davis from Seattle, Washington.