I Stand All Amazed

Behold, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the son of God. I have been called of him to declare his word among his people that they might have everlasting life!

I love my Heavenly Father for granting me such a priviledge!!! There really aren't words. I'm overwhelmed with gratitude for the love he has for me! 

Sister Taylor and I had a good sprint this last week. She's unreal and I'm so grateful for her!! So happy to leave Belleview with her there. Sister Souza said a kneeling prayer this week in the name of Jesus Christ!!! Mind you, she's jewish. It was amazing and on Sunday a member said to us, "she was radiating today and there was something different". Had a class with our Burmese family and I said the opening prayer. When I opened my eyes the two kiddies were kneeling on the floor in front of me and we were all sitting in chairs. Every time we say, "Jesus Christ" Julianna says, "amen" haha. They understand the atonement and want to be baptized!!! They've been working on the articles of faith. herb had his second surgery and is doing really well! He had the battery put in his chest and has a remote thing. He's getting around well and seems to have such a new light about him! He's excited to be baptized in April! We had a break through with Maureen this week as one of my favorite members came with us and shared her personal experiences and such. We will see her tonight  :) 

I don't even have much time right now cause I've been reading the sweetest emails.. Thank y'all for supporting me! I honestly can't express feelings or thoughts right now cause I have like 1,000 things going through my head, but I can say emphatically that Christ is my Savior and the son of God! He lives!! The power of his atonement is all encompassing and has brought the BEST changes to my life! Seriously brings no greater joy!!!

Mama & Papa, NOS VEMOS PRONTO!!!!

Hermanita Jackson

The Gospel is written on the fleshy tablets of my heart

Wooooah! Talk about Smorgesborg (I don't speak German..) this week! And I haven't told YALL about the week before even.. Oof. So mission conference was unreal. Elder Zwick sure is amazing. The conference was about the trust we are given with the use of these iPads! It's ALL in my hand- all good and all bad. It's my choice. I was just about floored when Elder Zwick shared how his former companion had strayed! That may have to do with where I am currently in life. It doesn't matter how valiant a missionary, but how well you endure AFTER. A lot of evaluation has been done since then of how well I am using these great tools. I just really wish YALL were there, it was amazing. I have been asking myself if the gospel is written in my heart and if my hands are clean. Do I have faith and MOVE when I am called upon? All great questions we were asked. 

I think we talk of obedience pretty frequently but I suppose it was presented differently at mission conference. I felt more responsibility on my shoulders to uphold and even step up to my sacred calling. A missionary was discussing with me the other day the difference between an obedient missionary and a righteous one. A righteous missionary is one I picture who does what they know to be of God out of a love for HIM; because "the gospel is written on the fleshy tables of their heart". It's a consecrated missionary. The "how" though, isn't something to be taught because it comes out of a desire. "You can't teach a testimony, you feel it". From experience, I can say it requires a lot of effort, but is ultimately the most desirable feeling one could ask for! 

We had a zone pday (missing two companionships) last week and it was a blast! We played volleyball in the rain down at the trailer park place where one of our senior couples lives. Pictures will be coming once I receive them. 

Herb is doing wonderfully! Saw him twice this last week and his last surgery did wonders for him and that wasn't even the biggest part of the procedure. He gets surgery again this week to connect the wires in his brain to the "battery" in his chest. He has such a sweet and powerful spirit about him! I feel honored to know him and learn from him. We had to set another date for April 11th because of his surgery. The people in our Ward are just smitten with him.

We have some sad news about Jimmy Ray. First, he's doing great health wise! That's good to know! But he has decided that his calling is to play in a band for nursing homes. Not a bad endeavor but church won't be a part of the picture, ugh, it seriously broke my heart. But I have faith in the Lords timing. It'll all work out.

Maureen totally came to church yesterday with a member of ours!! Lemme tell yuh, our Ward is unreal at being friendly and giving a warm welcome haha. She seemed to like it but then called yesterday afternoon and said she needs some time to read the materials she has (the Book of Mormon, gospel principles, etc.) and we tried to tell her not to get overwhelmed with those.. Ahh,we don't know what the rest of the iceberg is and we are trying to uncover it but it's difficult. We invited her to just pray about her questions. We will see her this week!

Last night was crazy! We were rushing in to our apartment to not be late when we encountered a former investigator outside. He's not interested but told us of his friend upstairs who was smoking and is in a search for God. We went up and had a really nice chat with him!! Lea Payne, a charming English lad was the most eager person to find and feel God in his life! Wow, he was so sincere in his little prayer! We're seeing him tomorrow!! 

Gotta run. I Love yall and hope all is well! Make it the best week ever!

Hermanita Jackson

Lots and lots of pictures

I met Si from Duck dynasty.. just kidding, but You'd think it was him! 

an exchange with another Danish friend!!! 

not sure if I ever sent these.. 

FLORIDA 

another exchange when we bike the only hills in florida (they're pretty huge) and got stuck in a big rain storm. I swear I don't laugh more than when I'm in rainstorms on the bike. A member had given us a king cake cause it was mardi gras and here I am riding down the sidewalk, can barely see because of the rain and I have one hand holding the cake box down in the basket hahahaaa wow, it was hilarious. 

exchangies were chilly the other day! 

not much of a sight, just something simple about this place that I love- we have the foggiest mornings! 

woaaah! Remember this crew? 

 

The sumterville district

WHATS UP! These two Provo chikas are now STLS!!!! 

look at these lovely companions of mine!!! and Sister Sillivan haha she counts 

we was matchin. 

This is Greg. We serve ice cream at steeple chase every week and he's always a hoot. 

The latest thought. Keeps me goin :)

The Mission Conference was a throw down ...

I ain't being dis-o! We sep lit our email time cause we had like a zone pday haha I don't have my passport info... You may have to call the office cause they have it.. Maybe I'll have them call you.. Sorry sorry sorry I didn't email a big one today!! I have wonderful stuff to report. What an incredible week! The mission conference was a throw down and definitely needed for our mission. Elder ZWICK talked about the trust given to us wih these iPads. I'll have to tell YALL bout it
next week. He's amazing. I also had an interview with president Pratt about my plans and it was wonderful! He's going to be a mission pres.! Woohoo. I told him to be excited and that he would love it. I've gotta run.
Loves you oodles, thanks for everything! 💋💋

Xoxo Hermanita Jackson II

Pics next week 😘

HaPpY VaLenTiNeS DaY!

Hey y'all! I first have to give a round of applause to Scoz and Chels for starting Bee money on da mountain so quickly!! YEEESSS. She looks pretty good too.

Lots to report this week and little time to type it all.. The Burmese family came to a baptism not too long ago and loved it! So cool. We no longer have a set of sisters which is a bummer- we loved those sisters! We now have a new district as well out in who-knows-where haha it's an awesome district though! Josh was baptized and confirmed this weekend!!! Kade (the 7 year old) gave the opening prayer and it was the sweetest thing ever! Josh gave huge hugs to the men in his confirmation circle and I could have died hahaha my heart feels so full for him. He called us right after church and we missed it but when we called back he said, "I don't need you anymore, I was going to ask you to explain the gift of the Holy Ghost to my dad but I already did." Then last night he texted us and said he wants his girlfriend to be taught and baptized when she's ready! #tastingthefruit. 

Jimmy is doing really well, I appreciate all the prayers for him! Haha side note: I've had 2 oldies (above age 80) graze my chin with their pointer finger in the past week and tell me they'd marry me. Good ol Belleview😊. We had the most AMAZING night Wednesday when a member and his non-member wife, Alma, the Barreto Fam (non member dad and aunt and member mom and aunt) and another member accompanied us to a temple tour in Orlando!! It was so incredible and thanks to the help of Brother Geisler (best WML ever) it all worked out perfectly. On the way home Alma was asking way good questions and it was an amazing lesson in the car! The non-member wife to the member was participating well and intrigued as well. 

Thursday night we went to a Lutheran church where we got to present The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and answer questions. I sent  pictures. It was unreal. They prolly felt like they were drinking from a fire hose, but it was prolly the best taste they've ever had! Haha things like priesthood, the role of women, church organization, missionary work, etc were addressed by the bishop, stake pres, etc. super cool. 

Maureen is sick, but because of Sister Denise Brown's unreal testimony, she wanted to come to church really bad! She couldn't this week due to being sick, but hopefully next week! Herbs surgery went well and he sounds tons better. Another surgery will have to be done in March. Gotta run, sorry this isn't the best email .. Next week I'm emailing Tuesday cause it's mission conference!!! With elder ZWICK :)

💌Hermanita Jackson

Baptism of Josh - photos sent by his aunt

only have 4 minutes left ..... GAAA, Next week, I promise.

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY! Happy birthday to Matty moo last week! Hope it was bomb. 

Jimmy has a renued excitement and a DATE for Feb. 28th and made it to church this week! He's gonna be in the ward talent show and pretty exctied haha.

Josh is doing wonderfully and his member mom and aunt and non member aunt joined in for Plan of salvation overview with emphasis on temples!! They're coming on a temple tour this week!! Non memebr loved the lesson and is excited!

Herb received a belssing last night before huge sugery Wednesday and I will NEVER forget his face at the end.... My heart it full. He looked like he would cry and had stopped moving during the blessing. he said, "I accept this calling from God" and bore testimony of the power of the priesthood.

maureen is reading the book of mormon (memberlended one with bigger print) and is praying about Mar. 7.

Hasta la proxima semana!

Les AMO!!!!

xoxo hermanita Jackson

to her Mom - 

Mama, I love hearing from you :) thanks for being so supportive and loving! I feel like I say that all the time, but it's TRUE! i actually read this week in Luke where it says, "remember Lot's wife" and didn't think much of it. The part right after is what I wasn't understanding so I went to the student manual (blessings of the ipad and gospel library app!!!). It didn't have anything on that part I was looking for but I read the part about Lot's wife anyway. I read a quote by Elder Holland and in essence he said, "don't be so attatched to the past that you hinder your confidence in the future". It stuck with me that morning and when I shared it (I was on exchanges haha with the cutie newer sister Bronson again!) I realized that I've been kind of hestitant about going forward. I guess just trying so bad to hold onto this time and not looking forward faithfully that the Lord has BETTER stuff ahead! That's been such a comfort to me. I'm excited to apply the things I've learned here, i really am! The Lord sure loves me to give me this mission!!! I can definitely see how it will bless the rest of my life. 

Thanks for a package! Sister Spencer called the other day trying to get it to me asap haha she's the cutest! I haven't gotten it, but I'm excited for when I do :) Loves you oodles Mama and hope you know how proud I am of YOU!!!! Nice work for giving 2 talks in conference! 5 minutes each! That's amazing! I'm scared my spanish is pretty lacking, but we're trying to get 30 minutes in a day. I'mma move onto the big letter, but thanks, thanks, thanks and loves, loves, loves!

xoxo Hermanita Jackson

Speak Lord, for thy servant heareth

First off, congratulations to the stunning couple (Tan & Misa)! Y feliz cumpleaños a Ella! 7? Fo real? 

I've got lots to share with y'all this week since last week was so lacking.. We had MLC 2 weeks ish ago I guess and it was so awesome! We talked all about the spirit and I wish it would have come sooner, cause it's changed the way we work!! There's a difference between working hard and working smart. I've been "slowing down" a bit to seek the influence of the spirit more. The spirit really is so necessary! It's not like I haven't had the spirit, but I'm more conscious of it now and it's changing the dynamic of EVERYTHING.

Along the same lines of seeking the spirit, I'm making my year plan today. I've been preparing it lots and the time has come haha. I'm just so stinkin grateful for ALL the things I've learned and get to apply in real life (not YET! Still got plenty of time here :). 

Lets talk about good ol Jimmy Ray!!! Eeee! We've been keeping in contact with him and our members have been so sweet and helpful. I LOVE the Belleview ward. Oh so much. They're amazing at missionary work. We saw him last night and he wants to come to church so bad! He's still a little under the weather and hates "being a woman" and doing things around the house all day haha. The latest on his surgery is that there won't be one.. The doctors are afraid he wouldn't make it out. Awe, he's the biggest hoot, most positive lil cutie eeeever! GUESS WHAT! He surprised us by telling us he's been reading every day in The Book of Mormon (on his own, cause we kinda backed off in the last lil bit) and had made it to pg. 295! 

Alma made some headway this week! It was so inspired.. We invited Alma to Denise Brown's for a lesson. Her sister, member in the Leesburg ward, was there as well. We kinda wanted to talk about the Word of Wisdom but it up wasn't feeling right at the beginning so we kept going with prophets and such. We failed to ask Sister Brown to invite Alma to church and stuff, but she brought it up herself by bearing testimony of her first time at the chapel and never having felt so at home and so loved. It was the sweetest testimony and Alma was turned toward her and listening INTENTLY. It was even better when she found out how "fresh" Denise is. The lesson went totally different from what we had planned and I'm really grateful for that. President has been talking about teaching PEOPLE. Haha he joked with missionaries in interviews and told them we won't be using PMG lessons anymore. He's a hoot as well. Low and behold, Alma didn't make it to church this week, but we're really getting there! Our WML set a dinner for Thursday with someone who we think would be perfect for Alma, we then tried calling her to switch to tomorrow for Alma and before we said anything she asked about Tuesday at 5! What do yuh know? 

Ps Denise straight up already bought her temple clothes so she can look at them every day! Eeeee. My heart is full <3

Josh is doing faaabulous!! We had 3 amazing lessons with him this week and a dinner Saturday night where he said he wants to be baptized the 14th instead of the 21st cause we have stake conference that weekend. He really knows his stuff, is loving The Book of Mormon and church and the ward is loving him! The beginning of his story goes like this: we have a new program in the Belleview ward called "sprint families" where we and the WML and bishop meet together and prayerfully choose a family (we just chose 5 more- go big or go home) who then meets with the bishop and is asked to prepare some/a friend(s) within 3 months. The bishop met with this family and their 7 yr old son invited their neighbor (Josh, 20) to church! Josh said he couldn't say no to him haha. Simplicity at its finest.

Maureen is still doing well! We met with her once this lady week and she said there's something different about us. She initially had us over just cause there is something she wants! The Plan of Salvation lesson was so spirit filled this week as we focused on temples as her husband is.. On his way out. She has been trying to read The Book of Mormon with a magnifying glass and went out last week to get an iPad so she could read it, but couldn't bring herself to pay that much haha. We got a Book of Mormon from the ward and will give it to her tomorrow. She's also praying about a baptismal date and really does desire to follow Christ more fully! 

We're so stinkin blessed with all these sweet, spunky, dedicated people  

Simons lesson went alright. He seemed more into bashing more or less at the beginning but because of a member it went lots better toward the end. We focused on the basics and mostly prayer and reading The Book of Mormon. Sister Carey mentioned the temple at the end as she was bearing testimony and he stopped her right in her tracks. He loved that idea. It's actually a big plus that he knows the bible so much. Last night he texted to see when we're coming by haha. We hope that means he's seen the light ;)

These, of course are the highlights of the week. Missions aren't always as swell as they may seem from the outside. But one thing that rang true this last week, was.. IT IS WHATCHA MAKE IT. We had several moments when it was either laugh or cry and we chose to laugh it out. I love having sister Taylor because she is so positive and sweet all the time!! She's helping me to be so much better- definitely more patient and wise. Aaaand we have a blast!

Thank you for all of the prayers on my behalf and on the behalf of these special people I get to work with! They're much appreciated! 

The atonement is so real! As I've tried to apply it daily in my own life it makes me that much more excited to SHARE it with others! This calling is so sacred and people need to know truth! I read about "FEAR(ING) NO MAN" this week. It talked about Peter being a rock, but denying Christ three times. But as he accessed the atonement and felt that guilt lift, and of course SAW the resurrected Jesus Christ, he was a new man and went forth boldly. It talked about him converting guards as fast as they could change them while he was locked up haha. I WANT TO BE LIKE PETER!! I want to fear no man and LOVE my God to proclaim his word. 

Have a wonderful week y'all! Share the gospel at every chance you get!invite someone to church with you like that 7 year old :x

xoxo Hermanita Jackson