#BecauseOfHim

Hey hey fam bam! N friends. So this week is limiting in time cause I'm typing on the iPad.. Getting pretty techy around these parts (insert finger to bridge of nose). Ima prolly be better at the iPadsie stuff than both mama AND Scoz, eh? Heh heh. Ok so this week was oddly awesome!! We had dinner at a member's house and sister marsh had to finish my food when they left the room cause I was literally gonna bust (wow, I felt so much love for her! I owe her big time), a lady called us brainwashed, and I was asked out by a homeless man. I'd say I'm the luckiest ever haha I LOVE IT. As for a report on our investigator Juan and his less active wife Aurora- she came to church yesterday, but he didn't want to. We saw them almost every day this last week and we were getting a lil frustrated by the end by the lack of progression. He has had lots of hang ups by the BOM and Joseph Smith. However, we finally got a member to join us last night and made some headway!! He had lots of questions answered as we just read through some of the BOM and kept it simple and according to his needs. It was super cool. He agreed to be baptized when he comes to know its true, but as hard as we tried, no date. That's the push this week. We will also be asking EVERYONE to come to church!! Man, it's hard to get people to church, especially since it's super far (as in 20 minutes. First world problems). But no one has cars here. Aurora on the other hand is making some progress and we are getting her records back into the branch so she can receive a calling! As for other investigators, no news really to report.
So we had a way cool "Sisters Gathering" on Friday with Sister Berry and all the sisters in the mish! We had classes about health, exercise, laundry, sewing, hair, makeup, etc. and THEN they had a
"missionary mall" of things people had donated- shoes, clothes, and hygiene supplies. By the time I got to it, the goods were mulled over, but I was perfectly happy getting a stock of toothpaste and other goods 👍 haha. It was way cool, I'll send pictures next week. And mama, I'll tell you in more detail in a letta.
Exciting news: Elder CHRISTOFFERSON is coming May 18 (right before transfers 🙏) Commitment: PLEASE, EVERYONE WHO READS THIS, go check out the Because of Him video on Mormon.org and share it! On Facebook, insta, whatever other things that have come out, with a friend in person.. Anything! Get creative 👌 and use the hashtag #BecauseOfHim. We are using it all week and super excited about it👏 here's the link: https://www.lds.org/youth/video/because-of-him?lang=eng
So no excuses! ¡LES AMO MUCHO Y TENGAN BUENA SEMANA!

☀️Hermana Jackson

Sent from my iPad

Conferencia General

In a rush today! eeek, I'm sorry! haha but lots happened this week and I really wanna share it so I'mma get straight to it! (P.S I worry these emails are all over the place and that I don't even end up knowing what I shared or how I shared it, so I apologize and hope they even sound like me! haha the struggle..). So CONFERENCE was incredible! I found myself kinda praying it wouldn't end haha. BUT, like Elder Hales I think said last conference.. We gather to hear the word and then return home to live it. So I'm ready to implement some wonderful things I learned and felt this weekend!! I loved how much they talked about the atonement! Man, they were all on fire. Oh, before I forget, I would LOVE receiving some stories from ancestors and such! I've been meaning to ask but Elder Cook reminded me and now I really do have to act on it haha. That would be way nice. So we originally had great plans for conference and slowly they destructed a bit. We planned to go to Hno. Mejias for the Sunday morning session to watch it with John, but learned on Friday night that we are supposed to watch all sessions at the church buildings.. give it up for the rookies haha. That was a bummer and we're hoping John even saw it cause we haven't heard anything!!! We saw him earlier in the week and taught the first part of the plan of salvation and it was great! Hno. Gutierrez shared his testimony of the atonement and it was really simple and powerful. Simplicity- I'm understanding more and more the need for it. Also, with Hermanita Gruber LEAVING US this week for transfers, I suppose we're back to the search of finding women in the ward to accompany us to lessons.. All is well though. We're totally sad she's leaving us! I'm amazed still at how well our trio worked out these past 6 weeks! I really have only heard bad things and was pretty nervous for it, but I love these sistas and have learned un montón of things from them! It was also pretty awesome to have three working together to tackle tasks and such. She's excited a lil though cause she's been in Smoran since we got here! Ok so we had the beeeessssttt ZTM on Thursday! My mind was blown. We had a training on asking people to be baptized and how important it is to extend that invitation ALWAYS on the first visit. Even if on the doorstep. We also learned a ton about the pamphlets. Did yall know they were written by non-members?! Yeah I had no idea, but we've implemented them more in our teaching and contacting. The pictures were also prayerfully picked and such which was a real surprise for me cause they kinda seem ancient looking. That night we saw Aurora and Juan and he accepted baptism (but not a date) and then invited us to come teach every night this week! haha so every night we have a lesson planned for them!! wooo. They also came to the morning session of conference and we watched it in spanish with them. What do yuh know, I actually could follow along pretty well! Downer: Juan missed all of Elder Bednar's about the atonement which he's been having questions on.. Anyway, later that night we saw Karla and Jimmy (she's also less active and he's not a member) and he accepted baptism as well (not a date). Ok I've gotta be closing even though I have so much more to talk about! I'll save it for next week. I love yall and pray you're doing well!! I'mma leave a commitment to yuh to go over your notes or read some talks again from general conference and pick something to apply! Buena suerte :)

LOVE, Hermana Jackson

Letter to her mamacita -

wait, I did NOT hear Scott Runia called! hahaha but thats hilarious cause I literally thought of him during the sautrday session that I could see him being called! woooah. That's nuts though! I do get the Dearelder letters and LOVE them! I actually wanna answer some questions and such real quick..

1. That's SO cool that you go out with the sisters and elders!! I'm not sure if the Berry's do, but that would be the best! I bet they're loving/stressing a bit haha having yall there!

2. Welcome to the life of understanding the dominicans haha it's pretty difficult, but I'm getting used to it. Puertorriquenos son dificiles tambien para mi. The spanish is really comin along though! obviously there is always room for improvement, but I've been way blessed to be able to pick it up pretty quickly I suppose. It's beginning to be comfortable.. I actually had a really hard time saying an english prayer the other day.. Sister Marsh and I are going to start speaking spanish ALL THE TIME now and although it's difficult, it'll help us master the language. OH, that's the other thing! Hermanita Gruber is leaving us!  :( Not too surprised cause she's been in this area her whole mission, but she's excited to switch things up. It'll be odd going back to 2 of us.

3. Mike, the coka cola shirt man.. He was taught by the sisters and accepted a baptismal date. He also told them he tried to commit suicide and something "out of this world" stopped him. He was standing on a highway overpass in a suit. We were all way excited for him. Then the next day when they went to see him at the park, he had just gotten off the phone with his wife that he's in the middle of a divorce with. He seemed a lil over the edge and just wouldn't believe the sisters and the spirit wasn't there. The sisters handled it all very well. When they tried to leave, he would tell them, "oh so you're going to abandon me too? just like everyone else?". They ended out getting out just fine, but sister Sillivan called us crying and had us come pick them up. She received a blessing and Mike actually called them a few days later leaving a message that he was sorry. The sisters handed him off to the elders and that's the last we've heard. I learned that night at the Bevan's (sr couple) about how important it is to constantly be worthy of the spirit and to LISTEN and ACT. We're just glad they're alright. Don't let this freak you out mama. I was wondering if I should tell you, but you know I'm doing my best to be obedient and follow the promptings of the spirit. We're all safe and well :)

4. Ok so since Sister Gruber is leaving, we don't ave a gps... Would it be best for me to find one here or for scoz to send one? What do you think about that as well? Is that ok?

5. In the Women's meeting President Eyring told us to shoot a smile to our Mommies.....

This is my BIG, grateful smile to you mama! I love you!!!!!!!

XOXO, Meggie

relief society stuff 

last pday we had district pday and biked to Twistee treat and then played raquetball (?) 

Temple service. 

dinner at los Lopez. Their daughter made us roses :)

Dey call me da smasher ...

HOOO-LLAAAAA! Kinda like what they do in hawaii but with Hola instead :) Como le van? I can hardly even remember my last week cause somehow everything is meshing together and time literally flies, but I'mma do my best to inform you of the happenings here in Semoran. So John is the coolest person! We met with him on Wednesday with Hno. Gutierrez y Hno. Mejia (let me inform yall that we weren't breaking rules because we are in a trio and got permission that we don't have to bring a woman). We had plans to teach the plan of salvation, but quickly changed the course as we realized he had lots of questions about "Mr. Smith" and prophets in general. We taught the restoration again and it was such an incredible experience! Hno. Gutierrez shared his lil 2 cents that fit in perfectly and strengthened John's knowledge on the basics. Hno. Mejia shared his testimony at the end of the lesson of the Book of Mormon and how he came to know it was true. The spirit was powerful! John told us he felt comfortable being open with all of us when he usually isn't. He also mentioned that he "knows we're working with God and could feel it in his heart". He is reading and praying every day and told us he would be baptized when he comes to know it's true. He was gonna come on Sunday and then bailed last second for something else, but we have a lesson for Tuesday and Friday and Hno. Mejia will be inviting him to watch the morning session of conference on Sunday! We have high hopes for him. Miguel was taught once more this last week with Hno. Gutierrez there and I think things are beginning to click with him. He too planned on coming to church but couldn't get anyone to switch shifts with him at work. Gabby was planning on coming to church and we set lots of things up for her and made sure she was still planning to come, when she texted us Saturday night to tell us she couldn't come to church and we couldn't go see her because her home is being remodeled. We asked if we could be of help with the home and she said no.. I'm slightly worried, but keeping hopes up. I really think General Conference will be THE BEST if we can just get people to watch even a lil bit!! Ok, how good was the women's conference!? woo. President Eyring sure did hit home with the Mama thing, but I sure loved his talk! I'll be reading that one when it's out. Oh, we saw a family there from Ogden and she took a picture to send home. I couldn't remember numbers but I think I gave her Lizzie's..? Fingers crossed! They were the cutest little chikas, I loved em. They were headed on a cruise for spring break. We had a Relief Society party Saturday morn for the anniversary and helped set up and take down. Not a huge group showed up despite our efforts to invite them and get rides, but that's ok. OH! While we were cleaning up a tornado warning went off!!! haha it was so cool! But obviously nothing out of the ordinary cause the women didn't make notice of it.. Yesterday while knocking in a complex we were on our way out when a man came marching over.. we were all a lil nervous that he'd chew us out. He starts out by telling us how much he respects what we're doing, that it's a part of us, etc. And then says, "If you got any trouble, you come see me ova der in ma partment! Right der in da top o dat bildin! We's got all deez people in a pact fur dis complex n if you got anyone givin you problems, you tell me! I fight for peace! Dey call me da smasher" haha so don't you worry bout me being safe I suppose! I've got the number of the smasher. Woah, gotta run! Love you all and enjoy conference!!!

Love, Hermana Jackson

Feliz Cumpleaños Parker (el Miercoles)!!!

Family going on Cruise - texted to Elizabeth by the cute family.

"Rain soaked, but loving life" - transfers

Is it spring? 'cause the area is blooming!

It must be spring cause y'all are vacationing! haha I hope Scotty and Chels are safe and that Lizzy, Park and crew are enjoying beloved Utah :) I gotta get goin cause I want to send pictures and I have TONS to share! First, remember Miguel who we were teaching last transfer? We stopped by his house this week and set a time to come back to see him. We had an incredible lesson with him that was so simple about prayer, the holy ghost and reading the scriptures. He opened up so much with us and accepted baptism.. but not a date unfortunately cause he's moving to Boston in a couple weeks. SIN EMBARGO, we're hoping to strengthen his knowledge and testimony so that when he goes to Boston, we will have the missionaries there get to him and he will be ready! We had exchanges on Friday with dear Sister Thomson from New Zealand again :) SIster Gruber and I stayed here in Semoran and Sister Marsh left for Olympia. Exchanges are THE BEST! I learned so much from her and we learned how to be better teachers and such. We also got to go see a family that we've been trying so hard to see for so long. He is way strong in the church, comes every week, etc., but the rest of his family is struggling. His wife doesn't want anything to really do with it anymore and his grown kids don't see where it fits in their lives either. Anyway, we had a noche de hogar con ellos y fue bien increible! Wow, the spirit was so strong, especially when he bore his testimony and his daughter in law wants to start meeting with us! 

Ok, now Aurora and Juan! He enjoyed church and when we went over earlier in the week, he told us he wants the discussions! He was asking tons of questions which was great, minus the fact that we couldn't understand him cause he was mumbling a lil bit and talks so fast! They give us a hard time on the spanish end, but they're helping us to get better. Anyway, then we had a temple tour with them on Saturday. Couldn't find any members to come so guess who translated.... me! hahaha Besides it being toasty and humid out, I was extra hot! But with the help of another 2 elders, we conquered. Juan really liked it and kept saying, "one day I'll go in" "one day I'll get baptized". He asked questions about entering the temple as well and why his wife couldn't go in (she's less active). She's so happy with us coming over all the time and with going to church. They have come the last two weeks :) Saturday night we didn't have many miles left for the day (we were actually over a lil from the temple tour) and thought we may not be able to visit our members for dinner. They came to pick us up and they had a less active  (I know, we're magnets to less actives!) that we didn't know about in our area and a non-member friend. After sharing the restoration, he wants to know more, came to church yesterday with his daughter and we will be seeing him in a few days!! His name is John. Sunday we saw our investigator Gabby again! She's awesome and reads the Book of Mormon before every visit! She's 15, so there are some things that need to happen like especially her getting to church before we can move on with her much more. Her mother isn't too interested. But yesterday after talking about the plan of salvation Gabby accepted a date for April 20th!!!! We're praying really hard for everything to work out. Ok, running out of time!!! I love you all and hope you're enjoying your break!

Hermana Megs

This lil chika will be famous for her voice one day! 

Sister Sullivan. Bringin the 90's back? 

not pictured: Juan 

Happy Saint Patty's to yuhs!

So this week we're gonna take the gratitude approach on the email cause i'm just super grateful about lots of things. Alrighty, 1,2,3,go!

1. The man in the Coka Cola shirt. We had been contacting and tracting a ton on Tuesday and were just exhausted. We had ridden our bikes pretty far.. I hate to say it, but it was a "going through the motions" point of time. We hit a park and it was slow so we sat down and organized ourselves, made calls etc. On the way out we passed a mother doing homework with her daughter, I quickly turned around and we started talking to her. Turns out she speaks spanish and was super interested in the Book of Mormon and learning more about how this message can bless her fam. We will be seeing her in a few days. Then on our way home we saw a guy in a Coka Cola shirt sitting with his bike on the corner. We stopped to talk to him and long story short, he just moved here 2 weeks ago, is going through a mid life crisis, no one has talked to him here, he's depressed, etc. He asked the most incredible questions though while we chatted!! He asked how we gained testimonies, what the difference between our church and other churches is (BINGO, authority) he told us he was confused about the bible having been translated so many times (BINGO, Book of Mormon), he told us for the past 4 nights he had been praying to God to know why "he's doing this to him" (BINGO, Joseph Smith). I mean, I really wish I could even describe how inspired it all was!!!! We had him read the last two paragraphs of the introduction and the look on his face just totally changed! He told us he would read as much as he could tonight. He told us he knew we were an answer to his prayers. Hermanitas, Gruber, Marsh y yo walked away from that with tears filling up our eyes.

2. Technology. We had ipad training this week with the "traveling sisters" and my eyes were so opened to the many possibilities! I've had a lil bit of a hard transition with the ipadsies and FB and such.. I just aint a techy haha. Where's Scotty when yuh need him? haha joke. But I've truly realized how much this expands the horizon and hastens the work!! During our meeting with her too she bore her testimony and it just hit me and I knew it was what I needed to hear. 

3. Sister Berry (in particular.. President Berry as well, of course!). This week at trainer/trainee follow up she was just so full of love and care. I'm so grateful for her fun, loving personality and all that she does to keep us functioning as a mission and as individuals. She cracks me up too. Again, Mama and her would be friends.

4. That we are a biking mission. HAHAHA! my heavens, it allows for so many hilarious stories. In the past week we've had two funny casualties.. One of sister Marsh thinking she could mount a curb... Came to a complete hault and tumbling down (don't worry, i got permission to share). And the second of us coming to the corner to stop and sister Marsh kinda tripped on the bike a bit and then I did as well hahaha wow, bless our hearts. I can assure you we are being careful though! Also, I love being able to exercise a bit during the day and contact people on the way. So many pros. Minus the fact that the humidity is creepin in on us..

5. My trio. The pros just keep pilin up! Ilove learning from them and working with them! They're the best companions and we're enjoying time together. It'll be weird going back to 2.

6. Yesterday. Miracles are flyin here and yesterday was full of them. Aurora (less active that we found) and her husband (non member) both came to church!!! As well as Maribel (member from Honduras here for her daughter) and brought her friend Oscar who isn't a member but his whole family is and he lives here now! He LOVED church and wants to see us this week! Then later we got a call from mayra- the Mayra we met last week- after we had heart-attacked her door (she's super sick) and she was almost in tears and told us she was grateful and then that she "read the whole book"...!!!!!!!! She read the whole BOM in the last week and really loved it! she has some questions written down to ask us when we go over and she says she's super excited to keep learning more. Wow, WHAT'S LIFE?! It was the coolest thing. Oh, minor funny thought: We called a potential yesterday and he asked me to marry him hahaha. If nothing else, it provided a good laugh.

7. Growth. The saying that Matty gave me before I left "there's no comfort in growth and no growth in comfort" keeps ringing truer and truer. I'm being stretched and pushed to do things that scare me or stress me out or frustrate me. But I know that as I go through with a smile on, recognize the hand of the Lord and try and understand what he wants me to learn, I'm becoming better. Wow, I love the mish so much and I'm so grateful to be here!

I love yall so much and I'm grateful for you! Have a good'n!

Love, Hermana Jackson

There's always an excuse for a celebration! 

Not featured: sister Marsh with 2 months.

Celebrando seis meses de felizidad verdadero :)

The quote "Time flies but remember you're the navigator" is repeating through my mind hard core this week. I left for the Mexico City MTC 6 months ago from today!! WOW. I'm amazed at where I've come since then and grateful that I get to continue growing and becoming what the Lord needs me to be. This last week was incredible, as always and so filled with miracles! We focused on "how to begin teaching" and teaching short lessons on the spot. We received 4 new investigators and this week we will be receiving 3 member referrals which is 3 more than this area has gotten in the last 6 months!!! One of the investigators is Mayra. We were knocking in a complex and had just finished all the doors in a hallway without any answers and were headed to the next when a lady poked her head out of her door and yelled to us. We went over to talk to her and asked if we could say a prayer so she let us in. Before we started she said, "I've gotta tell you. Last night I was on the phone with my daughter telling her I really needed to find a congregation. I saw when you knocked but I was on the phone with her again. After a minute I felt like I should open the door and talk to you!" We told her we had been sent from God and that He really wanted her to hear this message. She was so faithful and so open to learn! She accepted the Book of Mormon and said to us, "ok, I'll write things down if I have any questions" without us even saying anything. I really don't even know how to explain how solid she was, but we're way excited about it! We've also come to an epiphany this week... Through our finding efforts we have been able to find 4 less-actives from other countries now living in our area. We also have been seeing some less-actives in the ward beginning to progress. I truly think that's a big reason why we're here! To strengthen the ones who have gone astray a lil bit!! One of them, maribel, came to church this week and when we asked her the second hour how she felt she said, "I've been thirsting for so long! I finally feel at peace and I'm so grateful to be here!" She was gleaming the whole three hours and the women in the ward welcomed her really nicely so we're hoping she'll become "a regular" or active, if you will. Another thing I've come to learn this week, the hard way... I've been called to repentance for not being so good at writing in my journal. horrible actually. On Sunday last week we were preparing a last-minute primary lesson in the library when to men from the english ward came in and started talking about missions and all. They stopped and told us to MAKE SURE we write in our journals! I wanted to melt I was so guilty. Then the next day we were watching a mormon message and it talked about President Eyring writing in his journal. THEN we were reading through "adjusting to missionary life" in TWO different parts on wednesday and both of which said to write in your journal. And you wouldn't believe it, but the next day we get a text from the zone leaders asking us to look through our journals to share what we've learned on the mission..... You. are kidding me. I KNOW the Lord sent all those messages to me. I've been trying to in the past, but find "better" things to be doing and just don't put the time in. I've now successfully written every day and it's becoming something I enjoy. Sorry I'm going on about writing in my journal, maybe yall don't even care haha but I really did gain a testimony of the importance of it this week. So Imma encourage all yall to go write in your journals this week!! My companions are the greatest and we're just havin a grand ol time together! Not sure where I heard all the horror stories about trios, but they aint ringing true for these tres hermanita amigas. Sister Marsh doesn't even NEED training cause she's teaching sister Gruber and I a lot. It's so fun to have a fresh mind with us. Sometimes we get stuck in ruts of doing things redundantly. But she's bringin on the fire out here in Semoran! 

   Alrighty fam and friends, I love yall and love hearing from you every week through letter and email!! Hasta la proxima semana!

Con Carino, Hermana Megan Jackson

temple service at it's finest 

las tres de nosotras 

selfie.. I did my hair that day.. 

clippin the nails. Good ol set up, eh? 

we went to steak n shake to celebrate our "birthdays" and before some solid weekly planning 

la la la fabrica

Hola familia! Que pasa? Wow, this lil (lil being all relevant.. I'm so scared i'm gaining weight.. apparently in the cheeksies) Hermanita is happy as a clam :) SIster Gruber and I received our newby on Tuesday morn and odds be havin it, she's from Utah haha. And we knew each other at BYU! Her name is sister Marsh from Joseph, Utah (I don't even know where that is..). She is 20 and tall and knows a surprising amount of espanol. Willing to work way hard, try things and mess up, and has a genuine love for the people here! As scared as I was, of course I'm pleased as punch with how things are going. This week however was slightly rough in the way of investigators.. Both Miguel and Salatiel won't answer calls, don't wanna see us.. So we're doing our best to sort that out. We recognize the need to continue finding though to cycle through and find the elect, so we have been finding like crazy this week! We have a few complexes we are knocking out right now and got super lucky in the past few days! We found a girl named Carla from Honduras living with her mama and Carla is a less-active! she has been looking for a church here and is excited to come.. EVEN though she didn't show up yesterday..? Struggle around here. But she has a car so that's a huge plus. Our chapel is about 20 minutes from where we live right now cause the normal one is under construction. Anyway, we have a lesson with her, her two young boys and her mother tonight and we are bringing a recent convert her age that we're super excited about!! Should go well and we are hoping her mother will be receptive. Then yesterday afternoon we were knocking and found ANOTHER less-active from Mexico named Aurora and her husband who doesn't sound like is a member (Juan). WOOO, that'll be so great to work with these two families to regain activity and hopefully even get the non-members in on it! We love to say prayers at door steps cause it invites the spirit and really opens up hearts! I've been so amazed at the way people open up after the prayers. We gain such a love from them as well when we understand what God wants them to know and feel. What a joy this work is!!!! I can't even believe how happy it makes me! Yeah, it's frustrating and tiring sometimes, but WAY worth it! Haha so I have to tell you about sacrament meeting and the contrast of the last two.... Kinda luckily we didn't have any investigators last fast sunday cause it was a lil bit off-topic and THEN a guy gets up and starts telling a way long story about the farm and roosters. I started zoning out after a lil cause it was a lil monotone as well, but I got a nice wake up call to a "cockle-doodle-doo" from the pulpet..! hahahaha my heavens. I thought the branch president and some of the members would die. However, this week I was expecting kind of the same and I got quite the opposite experience. The testimonies were so centered on Jesus Christ and the spirit was radiating! I wish I could go into details, but I better not. We loved it though. Ok I've got more time and I'm not sure what else to report on, so I guess I'm done? haha. But I do want to tell yall how much I love you and count my blessings to have such wonderful examples to follow! We're so blessed with a knowledge of this gospel and I hope we'll all remember that so we will share it with others! This work is the work of the Lord and it's really gettin rolling right now! I pray that you're all safe, healthy and enjoying yourselves (wherever you are and whatever you're doing :) Loves from da sunshine state!

Con mucho amor, Hermana Jackson

Leaving my mark on the mission :) 

the girl over my shoulder behind me is from Denmark and I've been told since the day I got here that we look alike :) I must be danish or something. 

The pioneer days with the english sisters! last week..

The District - awful picture of me, haha!

 My sista Heiney came home this week! I hope she brings my stuff over soon :)

Mantando en la lluvia :) Pay no mind to the lovely duct taped helmet.