Oct. 30, 2017 Pink Eye

So how was your week?  Hopefully no more trips to the hospital. Are you doing anything fun for pday?  You're out in the country this year, do they do anything for Halloween?
This week was pretty normal. Work and football. Carson's last game against Logan. They won 40-7 I think that was the score. One of the Logan kids targeted Carson's friend Keaton Lamb and he got a concussion. A pretty bad one. Not cool.
Other than that life is pretty chill. Carson went to the corn Maze on Friday with some friends, they came back to our house after and finished watching game 3 of the World Series (go Astros) and then to a Halloween party at the craynor's on Saturday so we're back to the picking kids up late at night on the weekends. We had a reprieve from that for a minute. He has some pretty good friends so hopefully we don't need to worry too much about him getting into trouble. But you never know I guess.
Dad went golfing on Saturday with Chad Noorda in Ogden somewhere. He had a good time. Carson and I went to Ogden to lunch and went and bought some new tennis shoes. By the time we got home I had a migraine, so I spent the rest of the day trying to get rid of it.
I did go to the dr this last week to get my heel checked and I have a bone spur. It looks not good- (no wonder I can't hardly walk some days.). Anyway, I got a cortisone shot in my heel - hurt like crazy- and they gave me a brace and an insert for my shoe and some exercises to do for a month and come back and see how it's doing in a month. Some days it feels much better and others it still hurts like normal-- I guess I'll just have to deal because there's no way it hurts bad enough to have surgery on it at this point.
We are planning on the Halloween hay ride and dinner and mostly watching the World Series. Today is a day off while they travel to LA. It's been great so far. We are all cheering for the Astros and so far they have fought to the bitter end of each game. 2 OT games. Most home runs hit in a World Series- they are breaking all sorts of records. I'm pretty sure everyone thought that the Dodgers would sweep them and the Astros are up 3-2 they won 1 game in LA and lost one at home, but won the 2nd game against Kershaw so that is definitely a feather in their cap. Verlander is starting tomorrow. So hopefully they can get the win. It would be awesome.
Quote from sacrament meeting yesterday -Ryan ended the primary program.
'Don't pray for an easy life. Pray for the strength to endure a difficult one.' Bruce Lee
Have a great week!  Love you
Love
Mom

So this was a difficult week. But we sure did make it through it. Hahaha it really wasnt that bad it was just a little bit harder than normal. This week we did a pretty sick activity but lots of people didnt show up so it was a little disappointing. But you know how the mission is full of ups and downs. It is a complete emotional rollercoaster. So this week the main focus was find new people that we can put baptismal dates for the 25th of November. So we found the people we just havent but the baptismal dates yet. But also we were just trying to get people commited to go to this activity that we had. So the activity was we blocked off a street and we watched a movie in the park. We watched the testaments. Which is the movie about how Christ came to the Americas. It is awesome. Well at least I like it. Not only for the people that didnt show up to the activity I caught the eye problem that has been going around. It is called conjunctivitis. It blows. My eyes are super red.. And it feels like there is a little rock in my eyes and so you rub them, but it just hurts more. I had to use sunglasses all day because the sun kills your eyes... It really is horrible. The nurse told me that I couldnt leave for 3 days and I said thats an awesome joke. So I left and I suffered. But it was great. I love the mission. So that is why it was really difficult. But this week we were walking and an old man, who we were teaching someone in his house but we stopped visiting her because she didnt want to progress, anyways he stopped us and said why dont you visit her anymore? So I said because I have been busy and she didnt really want to listen to us. He told me come by and visit me. I want to know more. I even would like to be apart of the church of Jesus Christ. So we said is it ok if we come by tonight? He said if you arent busy. So we went and taught him and he told us that he wanted to be apart of our church and that he would try his best to go to church this week. That was a really cool experience. But yeah so that was pretty much the week that I had. Fighting another sickness... And just trying to find the chosen ones of the Lord. I hope that you all had a great week!!!

Your boy

Elder Lancaster

Oct 22, 2017 Chosen ones and bee stings

It's hard to believe that another month has passed.  Christmas will be here before we know it.  The last football game for Carson is on Wed. and I think they start open gym type stuff today after school. CRAZY!  I'm not ready for winter and wrestling and all that business.  Football season has been pretty chill and I have loved it.  I haven't gotten anything done, partly because of my shoulder and party just because I haven't felt like it, but I have read a lot.  I guess that is coming quickly to an end, I'll have to ramp up and get some energy from somewhere :/

Carson is doing great in school so far, he has a few core classes this trimester, language arts, earth science and honors math. He's keeping up well, but I'm a little nervous for the next tri with wrestling because he doesn't have seminary and PE as a buffer, he adds German and something else that wasn't easy.  He will definitely need to keep his nose to the grind stone.  I'm not sure he's prepared for it.  He is also working on his NCSA recruiting profile for baseball and he's already had views from 4 universities.  It doesn't necessarily mean anything yet because he doesn't have any video or stats on his profile yet. 

This week we spent helping Aaron with his roof.  Monday Dad and Carson went after practice, Tues. Dad went around 3 til 530 when we went to Carson's game at Green Canyon (new school in Hyde Park), Wed. Dad went over around 11 and I took Carson after Practice.  Thurs Carson went around 10:30 and I took dad after work and picked up Carson so he could go to a thing with some friends.  And then I picked Carson up at 10:30pm and we went back over to help finish getting the paper on the roof because it was supposed to rain on Fri.  We got home about 2am.  We told Carson he could tell his friends he went to an all night party over fall break.  ;)

We worked on Fri and relaxed.  Then went over on Sat. morning til 5.  It's probably 1/3 shingled now, so a couple more evenings and it will be done.  He still has to finish his deck and the soffit and facia, so he still has a few things to finish up but nothing that is going to ruin his house.  

I went to the Dr on Wed for my final check on my shoulder.  I have almost full range of motion, so I don't have to go to Physical Therapy again, just do the exercises at home, so that's good.  I sent you a picture of the hardware that was on my shoulder.  Carson thought it was pretty gross.  It was kind of weird to actually see it and the drill scratch marks on the top of it where they were putting the screws in.  

How's the new companion and training?  Any thing new and exciting happen this week?  Any new baptismal dates?

Keep working hard and focused on the task at hand.  

Love you

Mom

Well fam and friends I am glad to start another change with another MEXICAN!!! I dont know how but I guess I will always be with latins. Haha dont know how to get a gringo comp yet... I am loving the heck out of my comp right now. He is kind of a nerd but he is a great guy. I really am not training him. He can ready to go. But he is a great missionary that wants to serve the Lord and give Him all that he has for 2 years. His name is Elder Olivas. He is really funny and we joke around all the time. But this week I would have to say that there were 2 highlights. 1 we found a chosen one of the Lord. Her  name is Yesenia. She is 25 years old. You could tell that she had been separated from her husband well boyfriend. Here they never are married. So we were contacting and we just happened to knock on her door and she let us in. She had a member friend but she headed to the states just like everyone else in this flipping country... But anyways we taught her lesson 1 and she said that she is going to read the Book of Mormon and everything to find out if Jesus Christ came to the Americas. We invited her to be baptized the 25th of November and she accepted so we will be working with her for a bit. The 2 highlight or you could say great experience, was I was drink a bag with water and a bee or wasp just happened to land on the bag and I went to drink it and the wasp or bee stung me on the inside of my lip. In that moment we got in a house to teach. We taught like a 10 min lesson and left. But that time half my face was numb and my lip was pretty big. So we went to a members house that was close and he called the mission doc. and the mission doc told me to go to the emergency room in the nicest hospital in San Miguel. I was like fine. So we got there my whole face was numb but only the side that it stung me was swollen, but it was enormous like an elephants ears... So when we got to the hospital they took me to a room and the they came in and gave me 3 shots. One was like 100ml of fluid... They couldnt do it just in my arm so they had to but it in like an IV but just with the injection. There was so much liquid because my vein filled up and they had to jab another whole in me.. What??? I was like you filled me up with so much liquid... But It was really strong so the nurse let me sleep for like 30 mins because the real doctor said I couldnt go yet because there were a few things why I couldnt go, SO ya that was pretty much my week. Also this week we went to a ton of less actives inviting them to the Movie Night activity. So we got visiting and we started to rip on these less actives a little bit. We were with a member too so he helped us out. But the best one was when we went to a house and literally asked why they are inactive. They went on to say fro the members and everything so I started to give them a good ole machete. Then the member starts in. And then the less active started to justify herself. But here comes the best part, my comp interrupts all 3 of us talking by saying "Sister, you need to repent." We were like woah!!! The new kid on the block is the Big Man on Campus now. It was really awesome to hear him just come out and give it to her hard core. But Sorry kinda boring the week but that is what happened this week. I would be proud to have dope pics of El Salvador, but there isnt anything that cool to take pics... Sad... But ya I hope you all had a great week. Love you guys.

Elder Lancaster

Oct 16, 2017

Since I didn't get my letter written yesterday, you'll probably write early. I just couldn't get motivated to get it done.
We had a scout meeting after church and dinner and then we had a court of honor at 630. So not much relaxing going on😕. Dad and Carson and Kevin and all the boys (Hudson and Rhett too) played football in the yard for a while after dinner and then Boyd and Carson went to the park and did some hitting and field drills.  And then we went to the court of honor.
Last week was kind of a lazy week for me. I was taking it easy and letting my shoulder heal up again. It looks pretty good and isn't too bad for movement. I'm not back to where I was before the surgery as far as range of motion, but pain wise it's about what It was then. So I guess it's doing good. I go back to the dr on wed morning and hopefully I won't have to go back too many more times.
Aaron is replacing his roof right now. Don't you wish you were here to help?😂. His isn't as big as ours and it's not the hottest week of the year so that's a bonus.
So how was your week?  This week is transfers right?  Are you staying or going?  Either way is good. You are finding people, you just need to be patient. Becoming a member of the church is a process and Some people just process things different. Change isn't easy even if we know it's the right thing to do. And that it would be a great thing for our life.
And habits are super hard to change, we may not even like what you're doing and want to change but it's a habit. I think bad habits are harder to change than making a good one.
Anyway. I guess not much to say this week.
Love you
Mom

Hey guys!!!! This week I will be 100% honest... It was soooooo LONG!!! I have no idea why... Well, yes I do it is because there are changes this week! I knew that I had changes since Wednesday. Because I am going to be adopting! Hahaha I am going to end a training. I am not going to be a complete dad so I guess that I will be adopting. This week was full of many things from fun to getting matched by President for my comp... But what it is. You just have to keep going. So this week on Tuesday we did something different. It was )according to my comp. who was in the meeting with the stake President= what the Stake President wanted us to do was leaving in the morning and study at night. I didn{t like it. I felt like the day was never going to end and that MEN )the most important thing to get into a house= Were all working. So it was a little bit difficult for me to do it. Oh and the reason why we were supposedly told to do this was because we are trying to open a branch in Chapeltique. It is where we live along with many other members. It is 30 minutes away from the church building in Moncagua in a bus and like 20 in car. So we are trying to open that up to help the ward grow. Anyways, the next day was a district meeting so we left like normal, after lunch. Then that night they called me and told me I had to go to the trainers meeting the next day. We went at 5 am to go to San Salvador. We got there they started teaching and then they asked a few questions and I was going to be 100% honest with them, so they asked who had been studying the first 12 weeks. There were many who were in their training so they obviously raised their hands but my coomp and I aren{t doing it so we didn{t raise ours. Then they asked my comp why we didn{t study it. He goes on to be an idiot and says ooh it{s because we leave in the morning and study at night. Then President kinda lost it. I was like oh no.... The thing was that we only did it one day but my comp made it sound like we had been doing it for months! After President gave us a good ripping they went on with the meeting until it got over. Normal training meeting. So we came back to Moncagua and worked some more. Now Friday, I have no clue why but we had interchanges AGAIN... I was like dude it is the last week of the change why are you doing interchanges___ He said that the zone leaders asked him to do them so he did them. Once again I went with the Gringo Elder Ledesma. He really isn{t that bad of a guy like everyone thinks he is, you just have to get him to open up. If you get him talking he{ll be your friend. Like he is my friend now. So what was cool about the interchanges was that we ate dinner with a family that 3 of the kids are deaf mute people. But it was so cool how the whole freaking family can communicate with each other so well. I even picked up a few signs. It was really dope. I would love to learn how to speak sign language but that stuff is a TON of practice and studying. Now along came Saturday. We finished the interchanges and my comp )because he stayed in the area= was supposed to plan for the day. However, after lunch he goes [Where are we going_[ I was like WHAT_ Did you not plan_ He was like no not really. So I was a little ticked off. So I told him it was your responsibility to plan so you will tell me where we are going today. But then he did the biggest girl move that made me livid. He goes ok. Hey will you call Hector )a member= so we can go to visit Selena_ I replied uh no_ You have the phone don{t you_ Just call him. Then the baby starts to whine no just call him. It is your turn I had the phone yesterday. I lost it. I sharply said Elder it is a phone call. Are you scared he{ll say no_ And it just so happens that whenever you want to call someone it is ALWAYS my turn but when I ask you to call someone you always say well you want to call him here is the phone. WOW I honestly lost my cool in that moment. I called the member and he didn{t answer. So we went to work and did the norm. Look for investigators that we have and look for new investigators. But yes I am really struggling with this comp but I am just trying to always be more patient with him as the Lord is with me. But you all know how patient I am.... So ya that is what is going on but I at least already know that he isn{t going to be my companion so I am pretty happy about that. Like wow I really don{t like Mexicans but that is just how it is. You have to learn to LOVE not LIKE EVERYONE so that includes whites, blacks, latinos, Chinese, and even the MEXICANS.... Hahaha no I try to love everyone it is I love everyone in different ways. Some I love because I love them, some I would love to talk to them, other love to teach them and other I would just love to smack {em in the mouth! Hahaha I hope you guys had a great week Love you all!!!!!

Elder Lancaster     

October 9, 2017 Familia y cheros

Wow. Another month gone. Only 8 fast Sunday's left Til you come home. It's crazy to even think about. Time goes by slow and fast at the same time. I hope that you are accomplishing the goals that you have set, because your time in the mission will be over before you know it.
How was your week?  Any new experiences to share?  I saw a picture that was posted with you and Ledenia'S mom. It's kind of amazing how small the world is.   
Did you get your backpack and keyboard?  Dad thought it looked like you were wearing the new backpack.
How's the area?  I've lost track, when are next transfers?
It's crazy how fast the time ongoing. It's almost Halloween and then Christmas will be over. I'm so not ready for it to be cold. The drivers said it was snowing in Montana last week. Not cool. There has been snow on our mountains here too.
Well last week was pretty uneventful for the most part. Monday and Tuesday were just normal. Wed dad had a wcf advisory board meeting in SLC in the morning. I went to the hospital to have my surgery at 11. Grandma dropped me off. Dad was there to pick me up when I got done. I wasn't feeling great, but I had my ice machine and power to plug it in and some Tylenol and ibuprofen so I got in the car and we headed to Morgan for Carson's football game. I figured I could sit it the car there as easily as I could sit in the chair at home.  I didn't see much of the game because I didn't feel good and my eyes were closed most of the time. But it was better than sitting at home by myself.
Thursday I was hurting and pretty tired. I went to the office for about an hour. Mostly to have dad help me put the ice machine pad on my shoulder so I could get the ice machine going.
Friday I went to the office for 1/2 the day. I was way tired when I got home and just got in bed. We missed a missionary dinner thing and a friend of ours mom passed away and we missed her viewing too. Dad didn't want to go by himself and I just wasn't up to it.
Saturday Carson played ball in the afternoon, so we took it easy and slept in and went to Hyrum around noon.
Yesterday I slept in again and relaxed. This morning I obviously didn't sleep in but I'd like to still be sleeping. Dad took Carson to school and I'm thinking about getting up and in the shower. It's the first day I am supposed to take a real shower. I don't think I have to keep the incision dry any more so I can just get in. What a pain!
That was pretty much our exciting week.
Love you
Mom

So this week was really fast and actually pretty normal for me. We didnt do much. We found a ton of people like normal. But who knows why no one wants to be baptized. We are really struggling in that aspect of the work. However we are working hard. I have been sick a little bit for the food and all. I am still wondering when my body will adapt or maybe I just have adapted to what my body does now... Hope not... But to help me in the work I have decided to do something. Well It is straight revelation. I feel like we as missionaries focus too much on Joseph Smith and how he restored the church. But our main purpose as missionaries Preach my Gospel explains that we are supposed to INVITE OTHERS TO COME UNTO CHRIST. Not to the church that has been restored. It is to Invite them unto Christ. The church just helps us come unto Him yes but if they dont feel the love of Christ in their lives they will not want to change. So from now on I will be teaching the Atonement of Christ more than anything. I love this gospel and my Savior. ANd you guys. Have a great week.

Voice recording:

Well we had another week go by, week 5 of the change.  So we are ending up the change this week.  We had an alright week, we had a lot of new people again, 21, but the thing is we just can’t find a person that wants to get baptized.  It’s really hard, like you can find 300 people in 3 weeks, but I mean it’s just, it’s honestly ridiculous how these people don’t wanna do anything.  Nah, go to church?  Are you kidding me?  I don’t want to move, I don’t wanna get myself up from this hammock on Sunday morning, are you kidding me?  Just stuff like that, and it’s really frustrating.  And all the people that go to church are like, no I don’t want to be baptized.  We’re like what the heck?     They’re like straight members, all they need to do is be baptized.  And they’ll be actual members and there won’t be any difference, like I don’t understand.  People are scared and I’m getting frustrated with them, but I mean, it’ll be alright, we’ll get them.  We’re gonna get somebody this month, that’s our hope. 

We had 6 people in church yesterday.  Only 4 are progressing, 2 of them are eternal investigators, 3 of them are eternal but we’re visiting 1 of them and she’s progressing, because she said she wasn’t going to go to church, and then she showed up.  We’re like alright, cool. 

This week we had interchanges.  I was with the Gringo.  He does not know how to speak Spanish, still.  He has 9 months and he still can’t speak Spanish, it’s ridiculous.  But, hey, you know.  He understands a lot, but not that much.  But anyways, I’ve been sick all week.  It’s just been an awesome (sarcastic) week. 

This week we were contacting a little bit, well, I was contacting in the other area during interchanges and I found a guy, that he was really, really good, like he was a really good guy.  But he was like no, I can’t learn, I’m way too old.  He looked like he was 63, I pinned him as 63, he was 81 years old.  I was like wow!  He was like no, I’m too old to learn.  All his family that lives in the states, they’re all members.  So I don’t know, I was like, you’ve got to visit this guy, you just gotta listen to him, you’ve got to understand why he really doesn’t think he can learn, what’s the big deal about it.  I feel like he can be baptized if they’ll just keep visiting him.  I felt the spirit with him a lot and I feel bad for this gringo, because he was only trying to get a lesson in.  I was just like no, don’t be like that,  in my mind I was like, we just need to listen to him, ask him a few questions and find out what it is.  What’s the deal?  We taught him a little bit and it was alright, but the other gringo just kept trying to push, push.  I was like, no, you can’t be pushing him, you’ve got to let him go.  I don’t know, I feel like the leaders are trying to, like they’re pushing us a lot right now.  Like I understand it’s their job to push us and push us, but when people don’t want to be baptized, they just don’t want to be baptized.  I mean it’s hard, we’re doing everything that we can, and letting them use their agency.  They obviously aren’t choosing very wisely, but I mean, that’s just how it is.  But one thing that we are trying to do right now is trying to find the people that want to be baptized.  We are trying to focus on people that have the attendances or have some attendances and I feel like we’ll be doing pretty good this next week.  We should, maybe we won’t get a baptism in this change, but maybe the next week like the 28^th we can get a baptism.  We’re hoping on 2 girls that go to another ward but they live in our area so we can baptize them.  But, we’ll see how it goes.  Well, I mean, that was pretty much my week.  Just finding people, teaching people yeah.  Well, love you guys, have a great week.

Mom:  So what's up today?

Jackson:  Nothing. It sucks... I hate P-Days here we don't ever do anything...

Mom:  We'll plan something to go do in advance so you can do something fun on pday. 

Jackson:  We try and no one ever wants to do anything and everything you have to have permission I am so tired of it.

Mom:  Eh. Put a smile on and make the best of it.  What else is going on?  We saw a picture of you with the privado lady's mom. Is she in your ward or whatever now?

Jackson: No she is a stake leader that is coming to my ward because they changed the Primary presidency

Mom:  They said you speak good Spanish. I thought it was pretty cool. That you got to meet her. 

Jackson:  I see her almost every week hahaha but what it is. 

Mom:  I  guess you are out of time. 

Love you!

Oct. 1, 2017

How was your week?  Did you enjoy conference?
I really enjoyed president eyring's talk this afternoon and elder Bednar's talk.   But they are some of my favorites anyway.
I liked the one 70 that talked about his changed vacation plans and how things in life change. He was funny and one of the other 70's, Koch I think was his name. He was a bit snarky, I liked it.
I can't remember which one talked about miracles and divine intervention, but that talk was great too.
We have been reading and discussing pmg chapter 6 but just once part at a time so we aren't done yet but we are working on it.
Our week was pretty normal Carson played football on Wednesday and Jared called and asked him to play baseball on Saturday again so that was fun other than it was raining and cold. The temperature went from 90 to 50 in a day I swear. Cold sucks!
I'm having surgery again on Wednesday to take the metal out of my shoulder so hopefully that goes well and the recovery isn't long. The Dr said I had to be in the sling again but didn't say how long. I'm not excited about that part at all.
Well, hope things are going well. Have a great week.
Love you
Mom

 So this week was ok I would have to say. I didn't have that much visible success. But I'm sure we will see it in the future if we keep working. The main highlight of the week was general conference. I'm sure that was the highlight of everyone's week ;) Anyways this week we were working so hard to get some people to go to conference. We asked them just about every single day and they still don't go. I don't know why but the people here have problems with commitments. Like they are so afraid of that word. It is so stupid. I don't understand why that word is so difficult for them. It is just do something that you say you will or sometimes a little bit more. I get really frustrated. But you know I just have to love this people as the savior loves them. Because if I can see all their potential I will understand how to help them. I just want to be a great missionary and representative of Jesus Christ. So also we had 4 people go to general conference we are almost positive that 2 will be baptized in a couple weeks. I just hope that we can meet our goals by helping God's children. I love you guys have a great week. PS 3rd GC

Mom:  Who are the people in the pictures?

Jackson:  Elder Hughes and Elder McDaniel. They came with me and we watched conference Sunday in English

Mom:  Commitment is a hard thing. It's not just the people there that have a hard time with it.  It's a generation thing I think.

Jackson:  No I don't have problems with commitments. When I say I will be at a place at a certain time I am there. And one thing I don't get is why a piece of paper saying that you are married is a big commitment when you have 3 kids? I just don't get it. I did watch it in Spanish but it isn't as good. The translators don't have the voice crack President Eyring does. The translators aren't as strong as Jeffery Holland there just are so many differences.

Mom:  I didn't mean you have commitment issues. But I agree with you on the translators just not being the same. Carson had the TV on the Spanish station when it started on Sunday morning and just that little bit was weird.

Jackson:  Yes it just isn't the same. Hahaha I got a email from a social security thing

Mom: Forward it to me. It's probably some kind of scam.

Jackson:  No it was a notification that the embassy from San Salvador will not do anything for social security. But hes fine we get along and everything. A little inpatient sometimes. But its fine. no I have not gotten the package. I should get it this week or the next

Mom:  So what else is going on?

Jackson:  Not much. We are struggling with the investigators but we'll be fine. We are working hard to keep everything good. But wow... Mommy I'm old in the mission...

Mom:  Yep. More time out than you have left. What a great feeling😊. These last 9 months are going to go by so fast you won't know what hit you. It's gonna be awesome.

Jackson:  Love you mommy talk to you next week

Voice Recording:
Alright, well, we have another week down.  It was an alright week.  Well, it wasn't that great of a week, I'll be 100% honest.  We tried really hard, but there wasn't that much success.  At least I felt like I was trying hard.  And so What happened this week.  It was general Conference this week as you all know.  Our main focus was just to commit people to go to General Conference, because if you go to General conference, it is a high possibility that you get baptized.  So we were committing everyone.  The first day, of Conference rolls around and only 7 people for the whole zone show up.  Not 1 of our investigators.  I don't know, I kind of got really disappointed, really sad, really discouraged because I passed by their houses every single day and they said yes, yes, we're going to go, we're going to go.  Then when it comes to the day, they never show up.  Wow there some really good talks.  I liked Jeffrey R Holland's talk and Dallin H Oakes, Russell M Nelson,  Saturday they were all really good, the Priesthood session was really good too.  Wow, here it's super apostasy because there are women in their Priesthood session.  Like WHAT is going on here?? But you know, it's alright.  It's what it is.  So, we had to stay in San Miguel because it was too late to go back to our house.  There weren't buses and everything, so we stayed with some missionaries.  We stayed with the district leader, we got a call from the zone leaders that we had to go get everyone tomorrow.  It kind of bugged me some of the stuff that they said. So then Sunday Conference; we actually got to watch this one in English.  Saturday we didn't get to watch in English, because no one showed up.  No, no, I can't come right now.  It's like the stake Presidency, they can't show up to conference.  I was actually kind of upset about that, like  they can't show up to conference, alright, it's cool, but it doesn't matter.  So we watched in English.  So 4 people showed up, for our investigators, They were cool.  But, one thing that kind of still bugged me is that everyone that we invited did not come.  These were all references of members -- it was ridiculous. Let's just say that.  I'm really discouraged about that.  How the people do not do anything, like the people here, they have zero sense of commitment.  Like they don't know what commitment means, not even the members know what commitment means.  They are so scared of that word, commitment, it's ridiculous.  Like, I don't know what the deal is.
Pretty much no one here is married, So we're like why aren't you married?  NO, it's because we don't want that commitment yet, it's a big step.  so I was like, How long do you have together?  Oh, 15 years, we have 2 kids.  OH!  You don't think that's enough commitment? Like What's a little paper going to do with your name signed on it saying you're Freakin' married?  I don't know, this country is frustrating me right now!  Because they don't understand a lot of things.  But it's alright.
Then, Conference rolls around, I'm really sick, it's a cold, it's gross. 
We found a lot of people this week again.  But it was cool, I was like it's great finding people.  Our problem right now is finding people that want to learn and progress and be baptized.   Like they don't progress, they just listen.  We had to drop some people this week, they were always, yeah, yeah, we'll do that and they always say that they do stuff, but they're such liars, so we dropped them, like it's not worth my time to keep going when they don't do what they say they're going to do.   They don't want to change their lives, so we have to drop them.   That was our week pretty much, just General conference stuff all week.  We're hoping this week is going to be a lot better.  Well have a great week.  Love you guys.

Sept. 25, 2017 'isms

Well, not much happened last week. After we wrote on Monday, dad went golfing on Tuesday with quality tire and I was at the office by myself. By noon my body ached everywhere and I was SICK. I felt a little better by Saturday but still coughing like a 40 year veteran smoker.
We went to the Weber state homecoming football game on Saturday and had our home teaching dinner on Sunday. That was pretty much it for me. I spent the rest of the week sleeping and coughing. My chest and stomach hurt so bad from coughing so much. Hopefully dad and Carson don't get it because it is nasty.
So we didn't do much studying but we did start last night and went over the first section. So we don't have anything to discuss yet.
How was your week?  Are things still on track with your baptismal dates and going well with your new contacts?
How good is the retention rate of the people when they get baptized?  Just curious is there is more reactivation that goes on because of so many people that get baptized but don't continue to come to church. It seems like that's what is going on in our ward. We used to fill the chapel and the overflow plus every Sunday and now there are most Sunday's that I wonder if we even fill the chapel. It's pretty sad. We have had a few families move away, but some good ones have moved in too. I don't know, it's Weird.
Well, have a great week, work hard. Love you
Mom

So this week was awesome!!!! We had the opportunity to baptize Lionel! Wow he is such a cool guy. He learned so much in 3 weeks! We honestly found a golden investigator. He just showed up to church and we started to teach him and then 3 weeks later we dunked him!!! Hahaha he had never been to a church before in his entire life!!!! Like wow!!! But he is just a great guy. Also this week we are still finding a lot of people. And wow we have a project going and if it all goes good in 2 weeks I'll tell you all what it is. I am so happy that I am going to have my 3rd general conference... Wow.. I am getting old. But anyways I love GC and I really hope that you guys go with a question to learn from the Lord's servants. Love you have a great week.

Mom: So how was your week?

Jackson: It has been great

Mom:  Good to hear. What did you do?  Anything fun for pday this week?

Jackson:  We are going to church. and we see if investigators go and stuff like that.

Mom:  That's pretty awesome. What are you doing in the font?

Jackson:  Filling up the Font!

Mom:  With a bowl??

Mom:  So what are your plans for conference?  Do you just go watch at the church? Or do the members watch at home like we do?

Jackson:  We are going to church. and we see if investigators go and stuff like that.

Mom:  Do you get to go to All the sessions?

Jackson:  Yes I get to go to all of them. Hey where is my package?

Mom:  looks like it is there but hasn't been delivered yet because they have to pay the charges.

Jackson;  So they will go get it don't worry about it.

Mom:  I wasn't worried about it.   Your last package -- the lady here at the post office definitely didn't do it right because I sent this one on 9/13 and it was there on 9/22 .  10 days-- it will take a while before you get it still probably, but i'm guessing not 2 1/2 months more. 

did you think any more on what you might want for Christmas?  I think I'm still going to try and get it sent mid october just to make sure you get it in time.  BUT  you can't open it til Christmas if you get it early.  You are probably almost out of time.  So learn lots, be good, have fun, work hard.  Love you!!

Jackson:  Sounds good :) Love you mommy. I want some sick ties. That are SKINNY!  But you think of the other stuff.

Voice Recording:
Well, we had another good week this week.  We actually had a really good week this week!  I did interchanges 2 times this week.  The first one was with Elder Santos, the district leader.  I thought he was a really weird guy to be honest at first, but he's a pretty cool guy.  Like, he's pretty legit.  He's a pretty good friend right now. 
So, we were going to have an activity in the ward, like a ward Family Home Evening, but it was ridiculous.  It started to rain-- NO ONE CAME!   Only the freaking Bishop and his family.  It's ridiculous, because, no one else does anything.  They are like, no it's late, no it's raining, they always have excuses.  No, there's not transportation- like anyone would drop them off; like anyone.  It's so ridiculous.  But anyway's, that doesn't matter. 
This week the thing we are trying to focus on is trying to get our people to progress.  We are finding a bunch of people that are really positive and everything, but we are trying to get them to progress.  We got a bunch of people to progress this week.  It was cool.  We also got 2 new people that came to church that were references of members.  We're just going to baptize them too, so it doesn't matter.  It's pretty dope, but.  Then Saturday was
pretty sweet.  Before Fri. I did interchanges with the zone leaders, don't know why, buts it's alright.  I did interchanges with them and Elder Martinez, I think he's the oldest one here, He's going to end his mission next change, he doesn't have a clue what he's doing in the lessons I feel like.  I was like WOW dude!  You have like zero control in your lessons man.   So , you know, it's just kind of frustrating when you're just sitting there because it's not your area or anything like that and you're trying to help them out but he just doesn't have a clue what he's trying to do or anything.  But, it was actually kind of fun, the interchanges.
Then, Saturday we had our baptism.  We baptized Lionel.  That was really AWESOME!  He is so good dude!  Like He is legit.  One of the coolest Kids, well, he's actually kind of weird, but he's a great guy.  He's kind of shy, but he's a really good guy once you get talking to him and everything.
This week we are going to have a meeting with the Stake President so we can start something really cool in 2 weeks, but I can't tell you guys until it happens, because if I say it's going to happen and it doesn't...you guys will be like that sucks, he talks big but it doesn't happen.  so, we'll see how it goes.  Love you guys.  Have a great week!