Nov. 13, 2016

Well, how was your week?  Anything exciting happening?  Do you have anything lined up for this week?
Have you heard anything about whether you will get to call or skype for Christmas?  Our church will be at 1130 instead of 11 because the 7th ward is doing their meeting at 10. Taylor and Kayla I think go at 11 instead of 1030. Hopefully it will be a short meeting.
Our sacrament meeting went 15 minutes over today and we didn't do a closing hymn (which was awesome). It makes me laugh when they try to have 4 adults speak. It never works. It they want it to work times need to be assigned. Today the one lady took like 20 minutes, her talk was good but after so long I think people quit listening. Oh well.
Our week was filled with lots of the same normal things football and wrestling practice. Carson wrestled with Nick Sorenson on Tues. he thought that was pretty awesome. He wrestled with Rasten last week at one of the practices too. Hopefully he is learning something from them. Carson left Wednesday after school to go to mesquite with the Collings. Easton had surgery on Thursday (it went well), so we couldn't leave Til after the work was done on Thursday and Jolene Worked on Friday.  We got to mesquite about an hour before their game at 930 mesquite time 1030 our time. They had an injury on the game before so they even started later. They played lehi and beat them 25-0. I didn't feel like moving all my stuff to the other side of the field so I was on the lehi side during the game. It's amazing how mean people get when they are losing.  No one can actually win unless they are cheating. It can't be that they played hard and things went their way.  Pretty sad deal. We finally got back to our room about 130am.
The next day was full of drama. Lehi complained and said that we had a stacked team,which we didn't, so they moved us into a different bracket and they ended up playing Juan's team. It was ugly. We lost bad. The boys didn't even play.  Then Saturday they played Moab. We won 25-20. They played well-  all the Moab points were scored by the same kid that got a break away.
Sean was the quarterback and he called all the plays for the offense. It was great. Dad and I came home after their game we got home about 1am and Carson stayed and came home today with the Colling's. They got home around 530. I thought we had a court of honor that I needed to have refreshments to and dad needed to do the program but it was cancelled and dad never said anything so we could have stayed but oh well. I didn't feel very good- getting Carson's cold that is turning in to bronchitis just like it did with him. He's been battling it for almost a month now And 2 rounds of antibiotics.  I'm calling the dr in the morning, maybe he will just call me in a prescription and I won't have to go in? 😉.
That was pretty much our week.

I hope that your week goes well and you will be able to set and accomplish your goals. Work hard, we love you.
Love
Mom

Okay so this week was just stellar!! Haha I wanted to say something new (: anyways I'm just glad that I am not getting transferred and I am staying with my companion. I don't like him all that much but I will just have to live with it right? I was a little home sick this week but you know it is alright. Just part of the experience right? But I have learned that I need to trust in the Lord a bunch more. I do work so hard and I do lose myself in the work but sometimes I don't lose you guys. I just love this work. This week I learned a great lesson. This lesson is about the Lesson number one. The Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This lesson is the lesson that everything rides on. If we shank this lesson or do a crappy job, it is almost certain they aren't going to be baptized. Our whole doctrine and all our beliefs ride on this lesson. Well really only in one part of this lesson. We teach that God is our loving Heavenly Father but everyone knows that. Then we teach that there are prophets. The people don't really understand what is a prophet so we have to teach that really good. But then we teach how Christ founded his Church. Then what the whole lesson and what honestly is everything we teach rides on is the First Vision. If we don't teach this with the spirit or with the right attitude. If we are just going through the motions at this part of the lesson we might as well not teach it. It is almost like the sacrament prayer. You can just read it fast and it is okay. But you can also read it slow and emphasize certain words and you feel the spirit so much stronger. This is the way we have to teach this lesson. I'm done with all these number I don't care. I work with names. If I ever get a call hey what are your numbers I will correct them. We teach people not numbers. Jeffery R Holland said "These people are not a baptismal statistic. These are Children of our Heavenly Father that need to be shown the way." I love that. I will live by that my whole mission because that really is how it should be.  I love you mommy :) Hope you had a good week! 

Mom:  I'm driving home from the doctor right now so I'll hopefully get home before you get off line

Jackson:  Hopefully!! Speed home ;) haha be safe mommy :)

Mom:  It sounds like with a little adversity you are learning some lessons that will take you far in this life and the next. 

We have always tried to tell you that being a friend and example of Jesus Christ needs to come first and it will speak for itself and the gospel. 

Don't know if you're done for the day, but have a great week. Learn lots, work hard and love the people. Even your companion will teach you lots of things even if he might not be your favorite. 

Love 

Mom

Jackson:  I'm not done yet!!!

We had a grill out today and the other is my corn :) Well I can only send one because time is up sorry.... It didn't load the internet was super slow!!! Love you!!!

Mom:  Ok!  I missed the first 20 minutes because I was waiting for my prescription and my email wouldn't load. So what families or people did you teach this week?  Do you ever get dinners from the members or what have you been doing for food?  Do you need some recipes or anything like that?

Dad wants to know if you grew that corn?

Voice Recording:  Ok well, this week is the changes, so we'll see.  I'll have to write it in my letter because it's in the morning and I have to go to San Vicente to find out if I am leaving Zacatecoluca.  So, I'll just tell you about my week.  Um Tues we were like wow its a good good  day, and then we saw the numbers and we were like woah oh no.  Two other companionships were like woah and they were having numbers up the wall we were like yep we're screwed.  But whatever, we talked with the little girls today and the little boy.  The little girl that we are going to baptize, her name is Katie and then we talked to Manuel y Ricardo they're the boys.  We need to make it happen this month.  We have some rich friends and we had dinner with them today.  It was pretty good.  We talked about the sacrament and had family home evening with them.  The next day we found 7 new investigators and I was like oh ya! But we didn't get a single baptismal date.  I was like oh man this stinks. but I'm not going to be a trainer.  That's all that matters.  Heh heh  I'm not going to be a trainer. :(  but I'll tell you the story about that after.  Then all our dates fell through on Thurs. all our appointments just crashed and burned.  I was like I don't know why these people won't let me in because I am so happy with this gospel and like they're struggling and I can help them, but they just don't want to listen or they don't want to try it.  My companion lied to me.  He said he recommended me to be a trainer and I find out today that he didn't.  He was like I'm so happy for Elder Williams because he recommended him to be a trainer and he's like oh I'm so happy for Elder Williams because I only recommend one person and he's a trainer now. and I was like oh cool, cool.  I was pretty pissed but whatever you know, it doesn't really matter.  Then we had a zone conference on Friday.  It was good, it was really good.  Mainly we talked about the restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ lesson 1.  We have something that's like lesson 0.  We do it first.   It's to find their needs the fastest way possible.  Word or Wisdom, law of chastity, Sabbath Day, Reading the Scriptures and Prayer.  It's just to find that real fast in one lesson.  And then we teach lesson 3, The gospel of Jesus Christ; so Faith, Repentance, Baptism, the Gift of the Holy Ghost and Enduring to the end.  And then we talked about how everything we teach rides on lesson 1.  So, we do a bad job on lesson 1 but do amazing on the other lessons it doesn't matter because they don't know that Joseph Smith was a prophet and received that revelation.  So we practiced that and I felt a ton better with that lesson.  Then, Saturday, it was alright,eh. I had some troubles, I didn't want to do anything.  Well, not that I didn't want to do anything, I was just struggling, because my companion, I want to strangle him sometimes cuz he's just a jerk.  But, whatever, you know.   Today it was Sunday and oh, it was super rough.  I really was homesick, and I'm sorry guys.  I was really sorry. I was really bored, because in one lesson, he was like fighting with a guy and I was like uh :( , I'm not even going to say anything.  And then he's like hey, what's wrong? I was like - oh nothing, nothing, just nothing.  I just want to leave this area, because I don't know how I'm going to work in this area without him because he does all the little kid stuff.  I don't know how to teach them, but Whatever you know.  I'll find out today.  Well, that's all I got.  See Ya!  I Love Ya A Lot!

Nov. 7, 2016

How was your week?  I need your lds login and password so I can reprint some ordinance cards that we are missing.
We are wondering if you know if you will be able to skype or if you call on Christmas?  Our meeting is at 1130 so we will be home around 1.
Did you pay $5 to get your package? Just wondering. The mission secretary sent us an email this week that you aren't supposed to use the mission funds to get your mail that we have to send $5 to the secretary to pay for any packages we send.
Did you ever get the first package I sent with the mosquito spray and sunscreen?  Did you get the Yellowstone package yet? It was out for delivery to the post office on Friday but I'm not sure how quick the turnaround time for them is.
I went on to lds.org last week looking for something and they had a section that is labeled 'talk of the week'. Last week was elder Nelson's talk about having joy which was my favorite talk of conference. This week's talk is president Oakes talk about joy in sharing the gospel.
He gave 7 things to be successful in sharing the gospel.
1-people learn when they are ready to learn; not when we are ready to teach them.
2-an invitation to learn more about Jesus Christ is preferable to an invitation to learn more about our church
3-be authentic
4-don't limit yourself to your circle of friends and associates
5-bishoprics can plan special sacrament meeting for members to invite others knowing the content of the meeting.
6-many opportunities to share
7-social media is a great tool
Great talk!
We worked on some stuff for your Christmas package tonight. Azalea, Taylor and Kayla, Kristal and the kids, Tonnya and kids and us. Now I just need to figure out the best way to package it to send it.
Tues is voting day. Keep praying for good things to happen.
How's the companion?  Are you getting along?  Kayla said you told her he was a jerk. Is the Spanish coming along?  Tell us about the family that does your laundry and meals?  Did you get to eat your brownies I sent?  Do you have a way to play CDs? Do you have a microwave? Do you do daylight savings?  Just wondering if your time changed?  Just In case we want to send you popcorn or something.
Well our week was just a normal not a lot going on. Wrestling started, and Carson is finishing up football. Going to mesquite this weekend. They play on Thurs night at 1030pm our time 😟.   Hopefully they don't have the early game the next morning.
Well. Have a great week.
Love you
Mom

This week I learned a lot. Some people have different purposes. Like my comp He plants seeds. He hasnt baptized a ton of people but he has told me he is a seed planter. Then my comp told me one of the Assistants is a baptizer. He has like 70 baptisms and like a year in the mission. He also told me there are people who reactivate. And many more. I just need to find what I am good at and do it. He told me he feels like I'm going to train this next change. I'm a little scared but if that is what the Lord and President want then that is what I'm going to do. So here it is hard to get members to work with us. So if I hear one word of you not helping the missionaries I'll straight up come home and beat someone. Next I learned that people really do feed off our energy. People feel the same way as us. We can be sad and they feel the same way. So this coming week I'm going to be so happy. Like the happiest person alive pretty much :) Because I want them to be happy like I'm happy. This gospel is the true happiness. We always tell people why we are so happy. It is because we are Mormons! Be a Mormon and be happy. I love this gospel with all my heart I hope you know. This is true happiness. Go share it!!!! I am liking the comp. He is a jerk. I can speak Spanish just fine. I do all my laundry now and we eat in the market because it is cheaper and my comp is a cheap skate. He knows it I told him. We have a microwave we don't have time to cook the brownies. We can play cds but only mo-tab. No day light savings. 

Jackson

Mom:  So How are you doing your laundry?  all by hand?  I'm sure we don't help the missionaries as much as we should either, but we will try and do better.  We signed up to feed them a few weeks ago when they opportunity came up, but we really don't know anyone to refer them to, so we aren't much help there.  I guess we are stuck in the rut of #4 in Elder Oakes talk that we need to branch out of our circle.  I try to share experiences and different things about what we do with people that I talk to on the phone at work, and that's pretty much my branching out.  And that isn't helping the missionaries here in Brigham City.  

I did forget to tell you that Easton is having surgery on Thurs this week, so remember him in your prayers.  He has a lump in his neck that they are going to remove.  He isn't sick or anything, and the doctors aren't super worried that it is cancer, just that it is a lump and it isn't supposed to be there so they are taking it out. 

Did you get your package today?

Jackson;  Thank you. I love you. We do our laundry by hand it is easy. I paid 2.50 for the package. Oh I got the package finally. Thank you for everything. 

Sorry I only have 3 photos this week. One is a jeep that I was so mad when I saw it. Just look close. At everything. I want to but something like Christ is watching. Then the other two are in a members house because we were soaking wet and my umbrella broke. So we were just messing around being goof balls.

Mom:  You got the first package with the mosquito spray and stuff?

Love you have a great week!

Jackson:  We aren't done Typing!!!! Talk to me a la vida!!! 

Mom: so did you get the first package with the mosquito spray and stuff then or not?  or you just got the one with the Yellowstone stuff?

Jackson:  No I got the first one with the mosquito spray.

Mom:  Cool.  So I guess now we know it takes almost 3 months to get a package to you regular mail.   Do you have anything fun planned for Pday today?  Are there any sights to see or anything like that you could do?  So what made you decide not to use the family for cooking an laundry anymore? 

Just curious if the package was intact and everything was still in it?  What was in it?  I honestly can't remember what I sent.

Jackson:  Everything was in it. It was safe. Because my comp said something that pissed her off and her food is a little expensive. Didn't bug me but whatever right?

Mom:  So she quit?

Jackson:  Kinda. If I stay she will probably let me come back. but not him

Hey I have to go I love you Have A great week!!!

Mom:  You too!

Love you

Voice Recording:  I still haven't figured out how to just attach the mp3 file :(  Enjoy and disclaimer, some of the stuff he says in Spanish I have no clue how to write it or really what he is saying so it is probably completely wrong-- don't judge too harshly  :)
Hello, How are you?  Anyways, this week, was an ok week.  It wasn't that great I'll be honest.  Um. . . my last pday, not today.  We got a call at 635am from  the Zone Leaders and they said you need to come to San Vicente.  We need to have a meeting.  I was furious, I was mad .  And we went and I was kind of bugged, but um. . . I decided I was going to grow up because I want to be a leader and I want to be a great missionary out here and so I'm going to grow up and work hard.
Tues. we were just like  success, popping up everywhere, boom boom boom.  Woah what the heck is going on.  I actually taught a guy in English, well I contacted him in English and we are supposed to teach him this week, but We aren't sure if he was actually interested in our message or if he just wanted to practice his English, but  who knows.  The 2 little girls were like, "hey why haven't you been over to teach us."  We were like  "What?!" - They were all "Why haven't you come and taught us? You guys are the missionaries right? Why haven't you taught us? "  So we took them to a members house that was super close and started teaching them.  They are going to get baptized this month.  So I was like alright!
Tues. we had a like a marriage counseling meeting.  I seriously felt like Dr. Phil or something like that.  (Laughing)  It was pretty cool.  I took coffee, cigarettes, stuff like that and ripped them up  stomped them into the ground, all sorts of stuff.
Oh, we met someone that lives super close like 3 houses from us and they got money and they want to be our friends. I was like ALRIGHT!!  That is OK with me!
And then Wednesday rolled around and  it was called the dia de defuntos.  The Day of the Dead pretty much.  We sat in the cemetery all day and got 102 contacts. We talked about the plan of salvation and family history. It was really good.  That's all we did on Wed. really.
Thurs. honestly it rained soo hard and we were soaked it sucked, I hated it.  But then At the end of the day we found one person.  It wasn't a very good day, but well, I just hope my future wife is getting hotter and hotter because I am working hard in the rain.  (Laughing)
Let's see. . . Fri. we worked with some former missionaries, well one, his name is Samuel. He went to Mexico   He's a pretty cool guy.  One thing he told us his first interview with his president.  He said "Elder diga me sus Malditos precados." He was like Woah!   Malditos is like damn  it's strong here. but in Mexico it means nothing.  And the President told him that word means nothing here. Just so you know.  He was like oh, ok?  I could just see his eyes huge when his president would say that.    OH man, I would laugh so hard.
And this girl, she didn't think I understood Spanish, And she took a shot at me and I was like Oh-  I fired right back and she was like oh uh I promise it's just a joke, it's just a joke and was like yah, ok Yep that's what I thought.
Um Sat was a 7out of 10 day. we worked hard, but not a ton of success. We had a district meeting it was alright and we talked about obedience and I'm with the district leader so obviously I'm freaking obedient because he's obedient  too and we work hard.  But today, I would teach something and he would reteach it and I was kind of bugged about that and that frustrated me but it's ok.  It would bug me, but I need to not worry about that kind of stuff and get over it. We were also fasting, we started our fast so I understand that he could probably be a little grumpy without food but he was just kind of a dick today.  But whatever.  It's not a big deal, but Sunday it was solid.  It was Fast Sunday so it was fast and testimony meeting. We also had a meeting with the Ward Mission leader after.  In Sacrament meeting I was like Wow, the spirit is so strong, just  listening to testimonies I was like wow.  Before my Mission I was like man, do you really know that's true?  But right now, I'm like wow, that is so true. And it just makes me feel so much better about myself  when I'm teaching, because other people,  it's not just me, it's not just a kid from Utah where Mormons are from, it's people in El Salvador they know it's true and I just LOVE that.  Then our meeting with the ward Mission Leader he was like Hey, so what's going on?  Because he just saw that we were sad, we're not happy, and it was hard and we were just sad and we didn't look like we were having a good time.  He just told us, you know what,  because we had people just,  Every time we ask for references they are always less actives, never new ones and we have trouble with people working with us.  and so he's just like hey give your excitement for this gospel show your excitement and when you're happy and everyone will ask why you're happy and we will tell them it's because the gospel makes me happy.  I was like wow, why haven't we been doing this?  I'm normally happy and everyone's like why are you so happy and I'm like I don't know, it's because I'm a missionary and I'm just happy.  So that was nice to take and then we found a family, it was really cool.  They had a bunch of questions. and I was like oh, ok, alright.  That's cool.  Then we uh taught what did we teach, we just taught normal and when I was done, I was like wow, that was good.  he was like wow, I felt that, I felt your teachings, and I was like wow, thanks man.  and he's like wow, you really are ready to train and I was like woah woah woah.  crazy man and so that was all for this week. It's all I got so, I'll talk to you next week I guess heh heh  Feliz Semana!

October 30, 2016 Happy Halloween!!

How was your week?  Any fun experiences you want to share?  You need to share some experiences. I know you are having them but for whatever reason you don't tell us. I will say you aren't as short as Taylor's, but close. You don't need to protect my feelings or whatever. You can tell us what is going on.  I don't know, Maybe you are telling us what's going on and how things are going.
We sent you a Yellowstone shirt and some postcards last week. No idea when they will get there.
I've been trying to figure out what to send for Christmas since you really don't need a lot but I kind of want to send you something fun. This sucks -since it's so expensive to mail anything. It is ridiculous!!
This week was pretty low key. Carson has been sick all week. He has bronchitis and I think I'm coming down with it now too and he doesn't seem to be getting any better. I think if he's still coughing tomorrow I'm going to take him back to the dr. For an antibiotic shot before he has full blown pneumonia.
We went to the wrestling parent meeting and I don't think Riley was too impressed with me. I told everyone that fundraisers suck and that if we were going to do one we need to have a purpose. What are we fundraising for?  I'm not going to ask for money if I don't have something in mind. - I was kind of ornery about it but I didn't say anything everyone else was thinking just too afraid to say out loud 😬. I guess in getting old and mean.
We really didn't do anything this week. Just laid around and tried to get everyone healthy. Even Saturday was a super lazy day. Carson and I read and watched Netflix. Dad went to work and did some stuff but we were pretty much worthless. 😕
Carson and I stayed home from church today and pretty much the same as yesterday. Hopefully we can all get feeling better soon.
We did listen to pres. Nelson's conference talk on having joy again. It just reaffirms and we are here to have joy. Not just be happy or float or even be sad. We will experience all of those things. But we can be joyful ALL the time.

Well. Have a great week! We love you. Work hard.
Love
Mom

Well this week I cant say much about it. It was just a week of work. I am sorry that I don't have much to say. It is hard to always have experiences. I am trying my best but it just isn't happening right away. Anyways this week really was boring. But I did learn about many things. One in the Bible in Ecles. 12:13  It says that the will of man is to fear God and to keep his commandments. I read that and was like what the heck... When people down here are always like oh God first and never go to church and they all say that they pray but when we ask them to pray they are in like shock. I get frustrated really easy with them. But Maybe that is why I am here. To learn patience because I know that I don't have any. I also read Alma 5:62. It says that baptism is the First step in partaking the tree of life. I just want to ask hey would you like to partake of the tree of life? Then be baptized!!! Haha anyways I just read those two things and wanted to share them with you. Also I was talking to the zone leader and told him I was a little scared to talk to the people. I know really weird huh.... Haha laugh all you want. No but he told me that he had the same problem when he came to the mission. Then one day he thought this and he told me, "I am a member of the true church. I have the gift of the Holy Ghost. I have the Priesthood. I have an endowment. I have a tag that shows people I am a representative of Jesus Christ. What do I have to be afraid of? So I am going to live by that. Well that is my experience. I love you!!!!I hope you and Carson get better.

Mom:  I don't mean all spiritual experiences. Like what happened at your zone meetings or district meetings or who you met. What do you talk about at dinner with your host family. Do you eat with them. What do you and your comp talk about. Do you have anything in common. It sounds like you get along with the zone leaders. What do you talk about. Where are they from????  Details of what you are doing, what you see?

Jackson:  Well first lets get this package thing down. I want that journal with the Elephant and socks. Some ties. Some candy. And whatever you think will be something that I would like. Is that okay?

Mom: Yes. I've got most of that done. I was thinking more Christmassy stuff😊.  I will still need to get the journal because I wasn't sure if you were still wanting that.  But we got it. I just wish it wasn't so expensive so I could send you stuff more often. 

Jackson:  Ya me too. What do you guys want for Christmas. I'll send a package. I have something for dad and Carson I just want to know if you want anything.

Mom: I'm good. I don't need anything. Just a super detailed letter of everything you have been doing the last by then 5 months. 😊. If you're sending stuff You should send something for Taylor and Kayla. That would mean a lot to them. 

Jackson:  What the freak should I get?!! Haha I don't know. Mom why am I so worried right now? It isn't about you or anyone at home. It is about everyone here. In El Salvador. I want all of them to come to church and I am heart broken when they don't. I want them to keep the Word of Wisdom and when they say I'm sorry I drank coffee today I want to cry.. Why...?

Mom: It's not a bad thing. It's because you want the best for them. But it's like we have always said. You can't make people do what you want. All you can do is be their friend and example and love them. They have to make the choice because it's something that they want. 

You can't worry. But you can care about them.

I'm guessing you are probably out of time. DON'T WORRY. We love you. Work hard. Til next week😊

Love

Mom

Voice Transcription:  This week was a good week.  We had some success in finding new people, but not very many people came to church  We are having a struggle with people coming to church, but we had a district meeting this week and it was about the Holy Ghost.  I learned some good stuff that if we teach with the Holy ghost. it can be pretty good.  One of the Zone leaders taught me a pretty good lesson and I'll never forget it.  I told him that I was kind of scared to talk to people.  I know weird huh, you think that's pretty funny, but he told me yeah, me too, but then I thought, I have the priesthood, I have the Holy Ghost, I'm a member of the church, I have an endowment, and I have a tag that has the Church name and Jesus Christ's name on it.  What is there to be afraid of?  I've got everything.  I was like wow!  Alright!  So I'm not going to be afraid ever again.
Then, the next day the Zone Leaders came to our house and started checking our clothes and I was like what the heck!  But it's alright.  They took some of my ties away, well they didn't take them away but they told me to put them away because they were too skinny.  They were all gifts, so I wasn't mad.    What else, well, we went to work.  ya ...we did some tracting the next day.  Contacting we got like 20 contacts, it was pretty cool.  I'm being a missionary, that's why.  The next day we had a struggle inviting people to come to church because people just don't want to come.  And then Sunday came and we only got 2 people to church.  That kind of sucks but you know, I don't have much to say about this week.  That was my week.  I Love you!

 Shelling Casheews.

 Mom:  How much do they Cost?
Jackson:  Like 15 pounds for $20

 Mom:  How many did you eat?
Jackson:  Only like 10.
Mom:  Not as good as roasted and salted eh?

October 24, 2016

It's been a good week. Just the normal. I got my new glasses last Saturday and I've been trying to get used to them but it's a little weird. Apparently I'm at the age where bifocals are the norm😩. I thought I might fall down the stairs coming off the stand after leading the music last Sunday because I had to keep readjusting my eyes to see faraway or close up.😂😂  Nothing was focusing. It's been a week and it's not too bad now.
Carson had friends over a couple days. He and dad went to chance's basketball game on Thursday and then Carson went to Frightmares with Thackarey's. He said it was pretty fun.
We left for Yellowstone Friday about 330 with Thackarey's. Went to Idaho falls and stopped for gas and then we stopped in Rexburg at Pizza Pie Cafe for dinner. I was surprised how small the restaurant was for being a pizza place in a college town. We didn't have to wait too long even though the parking lot was packed and the line was way out the door. And pizza pie never disappoints. We stayed at the White Buffalo in West Yellowstone. It wasn't too bad. I was a little upset that they didn't have breakfast like it said they did and Dad wasn't impressed with the tiny OLD TV that we had but we weren't in the room all that much anyway. We got checked in about 830ish and then dad and I went for a walk around town to see what there was for breakfast and decide what to do for lunch. It was pretty cold. We walked pretty much the whole town in an hour and found out that most everything was closed for the season (Til after Christmas).  I guess Yellowstone park closes this week too. Which seems really weird. There is a little bit of snow on he ground and it's not very warm but nothing to keep people from coming to see all the cool stuff.
They have road construction going on and the wait can be 30 min or more and yesterday we caught it going in and didn't have to wait at all. Then we got to the end and instead of being able to do the loop around we had to turn around and go all the way back around the way we came and we just bared missed getting through so we had to wait. It wasn't too bad though we got out and visited and rested since we had been walking most of the day.
We stopped at gibbon falls, Norris geysers, mammoth hot springs, tower falls, the petrified tree and we saw tons of elk, a couple moose, lots of buffalo (up close and personal- one walked right by the driver window and dad wouldn't roll his window down and get a closeup-  and one this morning just as we entered the park was walking right up he middle of our lane like nobody's business so I videoed for a minute while he walked toward us).
We walked over 7 miles yesterday and let me tell you, everyone was tired and hungry by the time we got back to West Yellowstone for dinner. Kendra and Kenzie who barely eat anything usually ate everything they ordered and then some. And everyone slept pretty good last night too. Considering no one slept very well the first night and we were pretty tired last night it was good.
We stopped and got some tshirts and some dinner last night. We got you one. I'll send you a picture of if and holy cow, We found one for dad and it is HILAROUS!  I'll send you a pic of it too.
Ok we just spent the last 15 minutes herding buffalo. I got some good pictures. I could have reached out and touched them. Pretty awesome!  How many people can say they herded buffalo in Yellowstone?!
This morning we are headed to see the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone Upper and Lower falls and old faithful and then we will head for home.
It's been a fun road trip. And not quite as far of a drive as Phoenix, But no baseball game either 😕.
It will never cease to amaze me the beauty of our earth and the things that transpired to create it and how people can not believe that there is a God that created all of it for us to use and keep for future generations. Our Heavenly Father loves us soooo much.
We have been busy walking and seeing all the amazing things in the park the last 2 days and have missed a lot of things too but it has been relaxing to be able to leave so many of the stresses of life behind and enjoy all of the beauty of the earth.  Even dad hasn't been as 'hurry up we gotta go'.
We just went to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and saw the upper falls and crystal falls. We searched for the lower falls but never found it and now we are on our way to old faithful. It will probably take and hour to get there so we are taking a little longer than we thought it would. But it's all good.
We got to old faithful just in time for everyone to make a pit stop and get the camera set up for pictures. So we weren't there very long.
We headed back to west Yellowstone and had dinner at the Wild West Pizza. It was the best pizza I've had in a really long time.
Then we headed home. With a Stop in Rexburg for gas and a drink. We're home. All in one piece with tired feet but we had a good time.
Carson's got a cold and isn't feeling great right now but hopefully he'll be fine in the morning and the rest of us don't catch whatever he's got.
Ok. I'll send you some pictures and we have a short recorded thing and a video of the buffalo.
I hope your week went well. Any new contacts or people that you have met. Tell us at least one experience for the week.
We love you. Work hard listen to the promptings of the spirit and be obedient and good things will happen.
Love
Mom

SO this week got faster than last week. I don't know how but the days went by so fast. I was like what is today to my comp and he was like Friday. I was like no...? Its Miercoles! But it really was Friday! So yep fast. We taught a lot of people this week and I was with 3 different comps this week. Mine The zone leader and the Hawaiian elder in my District elder Williams. I did comp exchanges with those two one day each. Elder Williams is a really fun guy. The zone Leader Elder Velaquez is really good at teaching. But we taught our most probable baptismal candidates this week. They are a family who is really good. We took only one of the kids to church this week because the others weren't ready to go. Then we also baptized this week!!! I cant forget that!!! I have a lot more pictures this week. But all my letters are the voice recordings!!! So hopefully you like them!!!! Love you mommy!!!!

Voice Recordings- transcribed

So, this week started off with Pday obviously.  We didn't do much pday.  The next day we went and just started normal and we found 2 investigators. And we had an interview, well we didn't have and interview, the Zone leaders were supposed to interview our baptismal candidate.  and then Assistant showed up and I was like whoa oa. Crap!  And then my ZL said go get your stuff, you're coming with me the San Vicente and I was like Crap I don't want to go to San Vicente,but then I was like- It's better than staying with an Assistant right. and then he helped me out pretty good.  He really is a good guy.  And then the next day.  Wed. I can say I finally showered with a bucket.  It's kind of funny huh?!  Yep, I took my first shower with a bucket.  And then we had a district meeting it was really good. I did another companion exchange with the Hawaiian in my district,  Elder Williams.  We were a little lost because I didn't plan for the day because I planned for the Zone Leader's area. so yep alright,  That's ok I guess.  I took the lead in all the lessons.  I felt pretty good.  So it was alright.
Then Thurs rolled around Spanish was pretty good and then we found a bunch of people.  We taught our most probable baptismal candidates.  They are pretty solid.  They're a good family.  The mom has terminal cancer so it's really hard to talk with them.  I have so much love for that family and  It's really hard for me to do that.  
Now Fri.  We have a baptism #2. HA HA.  Her name is Doris Flores.  My Comp and I did not baptize her, her boyfriend did, which was really cool.  Like we'd rather have the members baptize than us.  We struggled a little bit finding people.  A bunch of people didn't want to come to the baptism.  When you say 530 in Utah it means 540 here in means 6. but actually everyone showed up at like 630.   but that's alright- we baptized and that's all that matters.  All the people that tell us we don't baptize. That really bugs me!
Sat. we didn't do much.  We just kind of taught a few families and invited them to come to church. A couple of them said they would think about it and one of them was like yeah, yeah we will come.
This Sunday we were late AGAIN, and didn't get to take the Sacrament AGAIN.  I'm getting kind of pissed about that.  We're late because we're bringing investigators.  It would be nice to get some help from the members that have cars, but whatever, you know.
The people that said they would come, only one came and it was the kid.  Not even the adult.
I saw Dallin H. Oakes today. Crazy right!  My Spanish is ALOT better than his and his wife's; I can say that.  He did a little bit. but he talked about the Book of Mormon and the Godhead and stuff like that, but his wife said something that I've been told my whole life.  "Life isn't easy."  I loved it.  I just loved it!  And then what else, we went and ate and that was about it. That was my week it was really, really, really boring this week. but it was fast I don't know why.  Our numbers were really good this week too it doesn't sound like it but they were, and we baptized and that's all that matters.  She's probably one that will go to the temple.  That's all for this week.  Elder Lancaster OUT.

Mom:  That's great you had another baptism!  It's probably nice to get a break from your normal companion for a little bit and see other teaching styles and stuff. I'm glad you had a good week. 

Ok. Well let me know what you want me to send for Christmas and I will do my best. I'm going to try and get it sent by the first of Nov.

Have a great week!  Love you. Keep working hard. 

Jackson:  M&Ms  and anything that Macey and Azalea want to put in

This is how I fish on PDay

 This is how missionaries dress in Miami

 My Hawaiian Friend- Elder Williams

 Cleaning My ears  (Not sure this is a good idea)

 2nd Baptism -- super excited that her boyfriend was able to baptize her!

October 17, 2016

I've been putting off writing all day. I don't really know what to write about.
Last week was just a day to day normal stuff seems like all week. Carson had practice I went back to the garage project and got the center bay emptied of stuff. Now all I have left is to move the 2 shelves on the Yukon side of the garage and paint under them and move the flat grill and all that stuff out of that corner to paint there and do one more coat in the middle bay. But for now things are put away and all the cars are in the garage for the first time in 3 months. (At least for a couple days). I'm not sure what I'm going to do to get it all finished because I don't want to cleanup the paint stuff more than one more time😕.  I still need to finish painting the window frames on the window wells we replaced and put some new rock in the bottoms and we need to replace a couple sprinkler boxes but that isn't going to happen this week- it's supposed to rain Til Wednesday. I'm not excited about that.
Carson played his last little league football game yesterday. They lost but Carson played well. They are planning on going to mesquite again the 2nd weekend of November so we will be doing football for another month. I am guessing that wrestling will be starting in the next week or so too so whatever projects we are going to get done I think that will be about how much time we will have to get them done. Wrestling always seems to take a lot more time than football. I guess we will test it out since we won't have to chase high school Just maybe once during the week and Saturday.
It was Ethan Bunderson's farewell today. We didn't make it out there but thought you would want to know.
I got a new calling a couple weeks ago- no I didn't get release for the music calling-- I am the secretary for the scout committee. I'm not really sure what I'm supposed to do but I went to my first meeting today. I was feeling pretty out numbered - 8 men and me😊. I guess that's just my place in life. The only girl at home, 1 of 2 girls at work -- everywhere I go and I wonder why I don't relate well to other women most of the time😂😂. I'm good with it,  makes life have a lot less drama I think.
We had our home teaching dinner today. Baker's and Greene's ended up not being able to come, so it was us Bailey's, Burt's and Taylor and Kayla. Always a good time. It's good to have friends to visit with and know that if you need something you can call them and they'll be right there to help. Taylor and Kayla went to the temple yesterday for the first time since before they got married. It was pretty awesome. I'm so thankful for the dedication that they have to each other and to the gospel and the choices that they make each day to keep them on the path back to Heavenly Father. They are awesome examples of how the Atonement can work in our lives if we let it and allow ourselves to be forgiven and move forward doing the things necessary to make that happen. It is amazing to me the overwhelming love that the Savior has for us. It is actually unfathomable, but awesome!!
Our lesson in relief society was about being committed to the gospel. And I was thinking about it and I think I've always had a testimony - I know the church is true. Some things I probably have a stronger testimony of than others at different times in my life. But overall I know it's all true. Honestly I don't think I have ever questioned any of it. Not Joseph smith, not the Book of Mormon, none of it. But, my level of commitment varies sometimes from day to day. I know that I should be more positive about things, I know that callings come from the Lord- even though I don't know why I have the one I have- but I have made a more conscious effort to try and have a better attitude about it - and then today your dad was making fun of how I lead the music in front of everyone at dinner.  It really hurt my feelings.  I'm already nervous and know I'm not good at it because I really don't know what I'm doing, but I didn't say no to the calling even though with everything in me I so wanted to. I know that I'm supposed to learn something from it. Being the young women's president was hard, but at least there I felt like I could make a difference and do something good. I don't know what my purpose is now, but I still go to church and try to feel like I'm doing something worthwhile. I don't miss spending so many hours at young women, but I miss the girls and the women that I worked with and the connection that we had. #thestruggleisreal. 😂
So, how was your week?  How's the new comp?  It sounds like he is really good for you. I'm glad to hear that you are being obedient. Good things will happen when you do what the lord asks of you.
Did you get your package?  I tracked it again last week and it shows that it was delivered to its final destination on Monday October 10. So I'm hoping that you at least got that one. I'm kind of waiting to see what happens with that package so in can decide how to send your stuff for Christmas.  I'm still pretty upset that you haven't gotten the first package that I sent to you yet. It's been 2 months maybe even a little longer.
I hope you know how much we love you and how proud of your we are. You are a great example to Carson and to your cousins and I know there are many others that look up to you as an example of what they want to be like when they grow up. You really have a lot going for you.
I kind of chuckled a little bit about you saying you might want to teach school when you complete college. I think you will be awesome at whatever you decide to do. And really at this point that is the least of your worries, But as a teacher you are in a position to influence many lives. It's good to have some things in mind that you might want to do when you get home.
Love
Mom

So this was a super fast week again. We worked really hard and we found a little success. We were supposed to baptize a girl who is 11 however, the mom is a member but the dad is Catholic. So we thought the mom would just sign because everyone told us that she wears the pants in the relationship. But we then found out that she doesn't like the church and likes the Catholic church more. So she wouldn't sign. There goes our baptism... Next we taught a lot of lessons and I swear freaking everyone here needs to be married. They just shack up!!! And never get married. It is really hard. But my companion is okay. He is really difficult because he is kinda a douche when people tell him no. He throws scriptures at them and says you need to do this and that. I just don't like it! He also drags the lessons out. They could be 30 minutes but are like an hour and a half. It gets boring. I definitely don't feel the spirit so I don't know how our investigators feel it. Then one day he told me to respect the time. I about punched him in the mouth. Other than my companion troubles I am learning Spanish and things about the gospel. In D&C 50 it talks about how you should teach. It helped me realize how I need to teach. I really strive to teach like that. Oh my Spanish is pretty good. I understand everything but I just have troubles speaking it now :) So the first part of the week mom I struggled because I was worried about you. My mind wasn't on the work but then I put my mind on the work and I had a better week. Well I love you :)

Here is the voice recording ( I tried to just attach the file, but it wouldn't let me so Here's the transcription)

Well, Mommy How are you?  How the Heck are you?  Let's just be honest right now.  Well, I've had this for a while and just haven't used it.  I'm sorry. I think it might just be easier, I might just write a little bit and just send these voice recordings because it will be a lot faster to send them than it would be to write.   I think.  I think?  Well, we'll see.  Anyways..
This week was  - well- it was a little different like I wrote in my email. The beginning of the week was a struggle for me because of you and everything you know- a little struggle for me.  but I'm fine now. Especially now.  Like about Thursday 1/2 way through the week I was pretty good. I was comforted, like I said in my letter.  I was just comforted by the spirit that you were going to be ok and hopefully that's the case.  Hopefully, I'm not saying this and you send an email and you have something super bad happen to you.  Knock on wood, you know.  But, I still have not woken up in the middle of the night hating my companion not knowing how to speak the language and wondering why the heck I am here and wishing I could be running Chan fir.  Because I definitely don't wish that I could be running chan fir right now.  You can tell Wayne that right now, or text Amber and say "I don't want to run chan fir STILL, like it's still not that bad,  the mission is still not that terrible!"  There are parts that suck.  Like I said in my letter, my companion likes to talk on and on and on.  One time, I honestly fell asleep in a lesson.  and I woke up right in time and I was "Oh, crap- what do you want me to teach?"  He was like - It's alright (something in spanish) we are out of time.  - OK Sweet.
We were teaching a lady and she was like everybody here says 'Soy Catolico' -I'm Catholic no quiero eso ( I don't want this).  My companion was Catholic so he says ' no you're fine, you can be Catholic, but we just want to teach you about Jesus Christ' and then he kind of rips 'em open about it.  He's kind of mean to them and tells them that their church wasn't founded.  I mean it's true, but that's a little harsh you know.  Whatever.  It doesn't but me.  Well actually it does.  Sometimes we're with investigators that I've been with for a little bit and we've just been friends with, and he rips 'em open and I'm like whoa!  A little mean there aren't ya.  But you know if that's how he's going to be, that's how he's gonna be right?!
Anyways, we're just livin' the dream in Zacatecoluca El Salvador.
You know, I've learned a lot of things on my mission already. One change, Huh, The biggest thing is probably teaching by the spirit.  I'll have to say that teaching by the spirit is the most important thing on the mission.  I think.  You can be the greatest teacher in the world, but if you're without the spirit, you're nothing.  You're absolutely nothing.  If I could be disobedient and teach by the spirit then I'm still better than an obedient kid that can't teach by the spirit.  Even though that would never happen.  If you aren't obedient you won't have the spirit so you can't teach well.  Also, kind of got ripped on today because there wasn't a baptism in the whole zone.  The assistants ripped on us, well just one in particular.  he's kind of a dick.  I don't care if that's bad to say, but yeah, it's probably bad, but he's a douche.  and if he hears this he can come talk to me.  Elder Lancaster in Zacatecoluca right now.  you can come talk to me Elder Stout I think you're a douche sometimes.  so Mom- Sorry- just How's it going. Maybe you could send me one of these sometime.  I'm not opposed.
One thing we learned is how to make ties skinny.  I think it's super Chivo (super cool)  Super Chivo because I like skinny ties.  Well I don't like super skinny, skinny ties; I like slim ties, not fat ties.  I have some fat ties I've cut up and made skinnier.  One of them I can't make skinnier because it's the patch tie- that one has to be saved.  Well- that's all I have to say for now.  6 minutes not 5 minutes.  Well, I love you Mommy. Maybe next week I might just send these instead of writing a long letter, that might be a little bit better.  Nah, I'll still write a long letter.  Love you Mom- Bye.

Mom:  You don't need to worry about me --I'm fine!!  

You should ask that Elder how many baptisms he had last week. Obviously he didn't have any his week either. 

Teaching by the spirit is exactly what you're supposed to do so keep it up. And just because what your companion might say to the people about being Catholic or whatever might be true. It doesn't give him the right to judge them and if he thinks treating them disrespectfully will further the work of the gospel there - he is dead wrong-  if you want to sell the gospel - which is basically what you are doing-- you have to be an example and bring them along with you not degrade them and think they are going to think 'yeah I want to join that church' because their missionaries are jerks. And word of mouth makes or breaks more sales than anything. I can guarantee that the people he is rude to are telling all their friends that the missionaries from the Mormon church are real butt heads. 

Jackson: I've told him that. Oh thanks for the M&M`s they are amazing. I still haven't got the first package so make sure you spend the extra money.. Sorry you did always say that I was the most expensive child right? ;) Promise you're fine?  

Mom:  I promise I'm fine.  How about the cereal?  What are you going to do with the recorders-- did you use one of them to send the recording or did we send a recorder with you?  I can't remember?

 

Jackson:  I have the nice recorder. I've sold two already. I think I might need one more for another elder. If you could send it in my Christmas package.... Love you mommy :)

Mom: What are you doing in the grass with the stick?  Nice shirt?  I don't know about your taste in shirts.  How much were the shoes?  Carson wants some ;)  JK.  Nice socks LOL  I'll have to see if we can find you another pair.   Who are the elders in the picture?  I recognize some of them but there are a couple I haven't seen before. 

Well-- You are out of time-- Have a great week!!  Don't worry about what the AP says.  Just get out their and be a great example of who you are.  A representative of Jesus Christ!!  Not the judge, jury and executioner.  Your job as a missionary isn't to baptize people- Yes that is a great benefit if it happens-- but your job is to show people what the gospel is all about and share the message of the Plan of Salvation and the Plan of Happiness that will guide them back to our Father in Heaven.

Work hard and remember that we believe in you and know you are doing a great job!!

 We aren't sure if he is poking at a snake or what?

 Doing some kind of Service.

 District Service and I think the Zone Leaders are on the Right.

 He either has little girl hands or working hard?!  Probably a little bit of both- Maybe he needs some gloves :/

His new shoes with his Steak Socks

October 10, 2016 -- 6 Weeks in the Mission- 1st Transfer Day and new companion

Oct. 3rd

Well, exciting night. After I got done emailing you I picked up paint in Ogden, went home and took Ben and Carson to practice, came home and cleaned dad's side of the garage and moves everything to the middle, swept and mopped the floor and started painting it. I filled the paint tray and was feeling a little crampy but figured it would go away so I kept working. It was getting worse so I figured I would empty out the paint tray and go in and lay down. I emptied the paint tray and was going to put the lid on the paint and close the garage but the pain was too much. I laid down on the garage floor curled in a ball and--same thing-- figured it would subside. But it kept getting worse and I couldn't get up. So I started yelling for dad. He finally heard me and came out. I threw up a few times and was trying to get inside so dad could take me to the hospital but I couldn't do anything except lay on the floor in pain. And throw up.  Dad, Ben and grandpa gave me a blessing and I really did feel a little better but still couldn't get to the car- I couldn't even crawl. So grandma called for the ambulance. Not sure what that's going to cost but I guess it's only money right?!  So we finally got to the hospital and like always they about rip my arm apart trying to find a vein she put it right at the elbow so every time I bent my arm I thought the thing was going to come right through my arm.
Anyway after X-rays and ultrasound. I have ovarian cysts and one of them exploded causing lots of pain. That is still here but not as bad as long as I take the pain meds. So yeah exciting night. So thankful for the priesthood and the blessing and comfort that it is.
Love you
Mom

I actually wrote this while we were watching conference last week but never got it typed into an email. It was during Elder Nattress's talk.
Thinking about Jackson and laughing about the challenges he brought to me over the years.
All of it was worth it, and I love my boys so much. I can relate to Elder Natress's mother - "I will not lose you!"  I never said those exact words but that was pretty much exactly how I felt a few times over the years.
I will do whatever it takes to help you stay on the path to eternity and back to our Heavenly Father.  I always wish I had been more patient and more loving and a better teacher and mother as you were growing up. But in spite of all my short comings, you and your brothers are in the path at this point and I hope and pray each day that you will continue to make choices that keep moving you closer to the ultimate goal of a forever family with our Heavenly Father.

Love you
Mom

Oct, 9th 

What a whirlwind of a week!  I spent all day Tues. and Wed. And half of Thurs. in bed. I went to the Dr on wed. And he said basically just deal and if it gets worse come back in. 😕 otherwise he'll see me in 6 weeks for another ultrasound. I'm not sure what answer I wanted. But that wasn't it. The fact that it's not cancer - awesome, -- no surgery - again awesome. So yeah what do I want right.
So, Monday had its own letter 😊. Tues. I slept. But, while I slept, Grandma Hardy passed away.   Everyone was able to say goodbye, but still hard for everyone. Chance was able to call home for 10 minutes and talk to his parents.   Latisha said he is doing great and working hard.
Wed. Was pretty mellow. Thurs. I went to work a little before noon and worked the rest of the day. Fri I worked all day and I should have stayed home. It was a stressful, if things could go wrong they did kind of day. But it all worked out ok.
Sat. We went to Keegan's baptism and the to Carson's game they won 20-0 so they live to play another week.  Then we went to dinner with Taylor and Kayla and to Costco.
Today we had Canadian thanksgiving and had turkey for dinner. It was really good.
What have you been up to this week?  Any new contacts? How's the new companion? Where's he from?  how long has he been out?  Where did elder villatoro get transferred to?  Anyone else in the district?  We were checking the weather and it said that there was 70% chance of rain for the 10 day forecast. I keep wondering how it's so hot when it rains everyday.
Well. Work hard. Listen to the promptings you receive and good things will happen. Love you. Have a great week.

Love
Mom

Well thank you for scaring me to death that is awesome. It is also kinda of sad that grandma Hardy Passed away. I loved her. So this week I didn't do much. Well actually just Monday and Tuesday.  Monday and Tuesday nothing. Well we talked to the families that Elder Villatoro was close to because he left. Then Wednesday I got a new Latino comp. His name is Elder Perez. He is from Guatemala. We are a better companionship than  me and my old comp. He actually teaches me how to teach and is obedient!!! My last companion was not really obedient. He was really hard to work with because he didn't want to work. But now he studies with me and helps me. In less than a week I already can speak twice as much Spanish as normal because he gives me a chance to use my Spanish. It is super nice to be able to speak. He is a really good guy. Sometimes I think he is a little too strict about the rules but its all good. Also this week in my studies I saw a scripture in Alma 37. It is about the Liahona. The Liahona guided the Nephites right? The word of Christ guides us to eternal life I just thought that I should share that with you guys. I hope you had an amazing week. Please be careful mommy. I love you so much.

Te amo tanto

Elder Lancaster

Mom:  And you didn't want a new companion!  I'm so glad that you are doing good.  Remember we have talked about more than once--EXACT obedience and you will be blessed beyond imagination.  Keep up the good work!

Dad was talking with Aaron Bunderson last night and he said that in Briar's mission, they only get 30 min to email each week because missionaries were taking advantage of their time to email, so make sure that you obey that rule too. 

Briar writes a letter and takes a picture and sends it so he can take time to write people.

Jackson:  I'm good I have fast fingers. Haha. Anyways I'm obedient but not a fletchon. Fletchones no one wants them. Anyways. What the hell were you thinking? Why are you hurting yourself? I don't want to get a damn call from the Assistants or President saying oh your mom... Freaking be careful!!!!!  So next week I get to meet Dallin H Oaks. Super cool huh? Hey so I need razors... I lost them or my comp took them. I think my comp took them... Sorry mommy...

Mom:  I didn't hurt myself.  My body decided it didn't like the cysts that are growing inside me and they exploded causing PAIN!!! 

How long has your comp been out?  Who are the new elders in the district? So 2 of you Gringos :)  Who is the new district leader?  What is your new plan of attack with the new companion?  You are studying better and using your Spanish more which is awesome- anything else?  No more laying in the street thinking you're all dying? What is a Fletchone?

Jackson:  When I complete 3 months he completes 17. He is dying con todo. But there is one from Hawaii Elder Willams. And one from Hondruas Elder Gonzalez and mi comp. Elder Perez Chapin (Guatemala)

Mom:  I guess you are done for the day.  Work hard, be obedient and know that we love you and pray for you everyday (and sometimes cry for you too :)- because that's what Mom's do).

Love you  Have a great week.

Love

Mom

  

Trainer and 1st Companion Elder Villatoro from Guatemala

 Elder Rojas - 1st District

 1st District Elder Tavarez- DR, Elder Rojas- Panama, Jackson, Elder Jiminez-Guatemala, Elder Villatoro-Guatemala, Elder Barojas-Mexico

 New District- Elder Gonzalez- Honduras, Elder Barojas- Mexico, Jackson, Elder Perez- Guatemala,  Elder Williams- Hawaii, Elder Tavarez- DR

October 3, 2016

Thanks for emailing me.... Well anyways this week went by fast. We had super high goals so we had to work super hard. I tried my best to always stay busy and we did. The only crappy part about this week was that like every time we went out to work there was absolutely no one to talk to. Like we can't knock doors because we might get a gun in our face and we just have to find open doors and people in the street to talk to. Well there was no one in the street and all the doors were locked. So we went and prayed and found a less active member to go talk to and then we went to the recently baptized member and talked. But one day we did get a lot of contacts. We just went to the park and got contacts. That was the only day that we actually got any numbers. Today we find out if we have transfers or not, but we don't know exactly when. So conference was amazing. Kinda 2 days to relax and reload. It was great I loved the quote by Elder Hales "If we love the Savior more will we suffer less?" That got to me. No we won't suffer less physically but spiritually we will suffer less because we won't go away from the straight and narrow path. Well that is all I have to say this week it would have been cool if you wrote me. I'm going to send letters tomorrow I think so that should be good for you. Love you guys.

Love 

Elder Lancaster

I didn't get my letter sent on Sunday night like I normally do- and he has been emailing pretty late in the afternoon on Monday, so I figured I had plenty of time to get my letter finished at lunchtime. :)

So how was your week?  Give me a detailed run down of each day 😊.  Our week was busy with house projects again. Carson came in the garage on Saturday and told me there was something wrong with me. That nothing was ever good enough. (I had swept and mopped the middle bay and was painting the stairs and the floor with epoxy paint). It looks really good. I just have 2/3 left to finish 😕. The hard part is going to be moving everything off the shelves etc. I guess it will be the perfect opportunity to dejunk a bunch of stuff that has been buried in the corner of the garage for years that we can't get to because there's so much crap in the way.   Dad can't help do that though because he can't get rid of anything. We got new caps with lights for the posts on the deck and he was freaking out about how getting rid of the old ones because we might need them again. Really?
We worked on replacing the window wells all week. Monday we dug the first one out. Tues we did a little more digging. Wed. We sanded and ground the rust off the window frames and painted it. Thurs I went and exchanged the wells for shorter ones and we hung the first one and filled the whole back in.   Carson and I went to Azalea's soccer game too. She played well. I also met her mom and little sister. We missed the end of the game because I had to take Carson to football practice, but it was fun.
Fri  Taylor and I dug out the second one except for the one corner that for some reason was like concrete and I couldn't dig it any more so dad finished digging. We sanded and painted the window frames and put in the well--In the dark. I was holding the new shop light for dad to drill the holes for the screws.-- but it was in. I couldn't even lift my left arm by the end of the day and we still needed to fill the hole back in and out some more dirt on the first one we did. We lowered them each down 3 inches to give a little more light into the basement and we got the safety guards primed to repaint before we put them back too.
Sat. We went to Carson's football game at 830am. They beat Skyview 24-14. They played pretty good. Carson had a good game.
We went to the coop for lunch and then went home and got to work. We filled in the window well and got the bark back in. We need some more bark but maybe if it quits raining this week we can get that done.
Carson went to Ben's for a couple hours and dad went to work and then he and Taylor and dad went to priesthood meeting. I was working on the garage until I ran out of paint which was just after they left.
Sunday we watched conference and Azalea came for the 2nd session and had dinner with us.
My favorite talk was elder Nelson on having joy in spite of the struggles. I thought of you and hope that you have joy through your experiences as a missionary. That you will be able to look back on your time their as being a great experience of joy, and sorrow and learning. But mostly joy!!
Love you
Mom

Mom:  I just sent my letter.  I was going to finish it at lunch time because I had some stuff at home I wanted to add to it.  You haven't been emailing til about 3pm so I figured I had lots of time to finish it.  :) 

What did you do for Conference?  Did you have lunch at the Church?   Do the members have to travel a long way to come to watch?  

Jackson:  It was in my capilla (church building) so no it wasn't far. And I sat in a A/Ced room and watched it with the other Elder that knows English. So that was good. No we had lunch at Mami's house so it was normal. 

Mom: So what is on your agenda for this week?  Any baptisms scheduled?  You said you have 10 baptismal dates?  So do the members try to feed you or  is it just the rule that you have the one family that takes care of you?

Jackson:  The members can feed us but honestly we don't get much help from the members. But we have a lot of dates but a lot fall through due to the word of wisdom and other things. We have a really positive girl named Doris that we are sure of this week but who knows. 

Hey will you buy me that journal and send it with my Christmas package? and will you send my retainer? I want some serious nice teeth when I go home

Mom:  Did you get your package yet?

Jackson:  The oriente assistants have them we think or I'm getting it today.

Mom:  That's good.  Are you getting along well with your companion?  Do you talk much with him yet or is it still super hard to communicate?  You know once you get the language barrier down a lot of things will come easier, but there will still be stuff that's hard.  Are you Happy? 

Jackson:  Ya he helps me and we can communicate. My Spanish is pretty good to be honest.

Mom:  Did they get both packages I sent or just one?

Jackson:  Well we don't know. Is my newest one in the office?

Mom:  I figured once you decided not to worry about how it came out and to just talk that you would pick it up pretty quick.  I'm glad.  The elders you are with look like they are pretty fun.  Do you think you'll get transferred already?  Taylor's first area I think he was there for 2 transfers with his trainer, but every mission and missionary is different.  You didn't answer my question -- Are you Happy?

Jackson:  Mom siempre estoy feliz :) and no I think my companion might get transferred he has been in this area for 6 months. 

Mom:  I have no idea.  I haven't tried the tracking # on it yet.  I just sent it last Monday.  It's the one with the recorders.  I'll go get the # and check it really quick.  It cost a lot more to send it that way so I guess if it works, that's the way we'll send your Christmas. 

Jackson:  Sweet :)

Mom:  I know you're always Happy.  Except when you're Hungry :)  Then you're just flat out mean.  How is the food?  What kind of stuff do you eat or is it mainly just beans and rice?

Jackson:  Ya mainly that and a lot of pupusas I am getting a little pudgy ha SIKE!!!! I think this month we are going to get a gym membership because I want to work out everyday. I'm going to try and push him to work out with me. 

Mom:  Dad said that you had lost 20 pounds.  Have you?  I just checked the tracking on your package with the recorders and it delivered to San Salvador on Fri.  So sadly that is probably the package that you'll get-- I'm kind of thinking you may never get the other one. :(  I'm not sure I even remember what was in the first one except that it had some ties and a letter from Azalea and I had a bunch of letters for you and one from Grandma.  I Think I put in a bag of Starbursts and there was sunscreen and mosquito spray. 

 I guess let us know if you get either one. :)

Mom:  So- Have you Lost weight?

Jackson:  A la vida!!!!! I'm so happy!!! We are pretty sure I should get the other one this month.

Ya like my pants are starting to be too big... but don't send any!!! I can buy some for like 3 dollars that are pretty nice. I just want socks.

Mom:  We are on the sock thing!!  :)  Well I hope both of them (packages) are there.  It cost way more that the package was worth to ship the stuff, so we definitely can't send a whole bunch.  But at least now I know I can send it with tracking and it will get to you in a week.  and not month's. 

What are you planning for the rest of your pday?  Is there any fun historical sights or anything like that to see there?  You should email Bishop Peterson and ask him about people he might remember from Zacatecoluca.  He served there when he was on his mission too.  He thought that was pretty cool that you were there.  His email is bundteacher@msn.com .

Jackson:  Cool socks not gay only black socks unless they have the nike sign then I guess I'm okay with that.  

When your mom doesn't even want to talk to her missionary son because he is still the least favorite.... ;) nah son bromas but talk to me a la vida!!!

Mom:  Whatever. I had to answer the phone. I am at work you know.

Jackson:  What is more important your son or work? And I am going to email him right now. 

Mom:  Probably work at this moment because if I don't get my work done, I can't pay to keep you on your mission or send you packages. 

Jackson:  Oh my mommy... Why do you guilt trip me...

Mom:  because it's what I do :)  You know you love it! 

Jackson:  Yep of course. There goes mom gotta be like that....

Mom:  Someone has to keep you grounded. And make sure your head can fit through the door. 'My Spanish is pretty good to be honest'.

Jackson:  Mom honestly my Spanish sucks but in lessons the Holy Ghost can speak the language pretty darn good.

Mom: I'm guessing you are getting close to out of time. 

Love you. Work hard, be happy. We love you and pray for you always. 

Love 

Mom

Jackson:  Nah we are waiting for the clowns to get back from San Salvador because one of them lost the phone.

Mom:  So where do you go to do transfers?

Jackson:  No clue. I'm sure you go to the bus station and then you meet some other elders and things like that but I'm not too worried about getting transferred.

Mom:  Yeah you'll probably stay there at least one more transfer. But who knows. 

Jackson:  Everyone who has started in this area has became a trainer and then left. So I'll probably be here a while.

Mom:  It looks like a pretty good area to be in. 

Jackson:  It is pretty safe and nice. I think my comp is getting transferred...

Mom:  That's all good. You'll get an opportunity to make a new friend!

Jackson:  I don't want to.

Mom:  I know. But it will be fine. You should find something to do. Sitting on the computer for 3 hours is probably not the best use of your time. 

Jackson:  Ya well it is because my comp. Next week I won't be able to do it because I'll be with someone else who will probably say an hour and then leave!! So be grateful I get to talk to you. 

Mom:  I guess that is true. So do you know for sure that he is being transferred?

Jackson:  Yes.  There is a multi zone this week so I might get my packages and letters then

Mom:  Ok. Don't worry about them though. 

Jackson:  I'm really not worried about them. I just want to have a successful week 

Mom:  So what are you measuring your success by?

Jackson:  By the goals I set. I just want to achieve my goals and everything. But I know I'm doing good

Mom:  With you getting a new companion, part of your week will be the transition there and you will be getting a new district leader as well so some changes. Use the changes to make new goals and just work hard and follow the promptings that you receive. And ask for guidance and you will be sent answers. Maybe not the exact way you seek but answers just the same. 

Jackson:  Thanks mommy. You are the best :) I'm leaving now 

Love 

Te amo tanto

Elder Lancaster

Mom:  Good. I'm glad. Just keep setting those goals. And make adjustments to them sometimes if you need to. 

 These ones came with the subject:  Fact, Bears eat beets.
                  This is the way I watched Conference.