Abrir Cuando, para Mateo

November 8, 2020

Hola Mamá!! I won't be there to put these in Matt's bags on Wednesday, but I was wondering if you could like print these out and put them in an envelope for me? Thanks so much!!! Love you lots!!! Can't believe it will be down to you the girls and Zach, but mostly you and Z. Or maybe it'll just be you the girls, Jessie, and Zach. What ever it is I know you guys will make it great and as happy as ever! I didn't think this day would ever come!!!!! Sending my prayers and love siempre 

Open on the flight 

Hola mi hermano amado!!!! I'm so excited for you to be starting your service in the field!!! It really is the greatest work of all. It isn't easy by any means but it is so rewarding and the joy that comes from it is incredible. In the mission call it says you will have more joy than ever before in your life. I know this is true!! I've been able to find joy among some hard circumstances already and I've found this comes when I try to turn outwards instead of inwards, focussing on the work, people we meet/teach, companions, and do so with a positive attitude and trust in the Savior. It is not easy, and I don't do it all the time, its something I'm working on but I know I feel so much better when I do these things. I know you will be an incredible missionary. Your passion and love for the mission has been so evident and fun to see these last 6 weeks, even from a far out here in El Paso. I can tell you loved the MTC, your teachers, comp, district, French, all of it. You already look so happy!! I'm so excited for you to take that same passion and drive, along with your own unique talents and attributes to the people in Fresno and, in time, Montreal. I know without a doubt that there are people who God truly has prepared for you, you specifically, to find. There are people there waiting to hear your message. My mission president took us to a look out over Albuquerque on our first night and said look out over the mission. Your brothers and sisters are out there. They are lost. Our Parents haven't seen them in a long time, They miss them. Our Heavenly Parents sent us out here to find them and to bring them home. It was so powerful and I know the same is true for you. Be obedient and work hard, which I know you will, and there will be straight miracles. Unexplainable except the hand of God. IM SO EXCITED FOR YOU. Go find our brothers and sisters, my beloved brother!! I'm so grateful Heavenly Father sent us into this world together and now to be entering His work together. I love you so much!!

Tu hermano, 

Josh 

PS butter isn't a breakfast food ;) 

Open on the first night in the field

Que tal Mateo!!! 

Alright I'm not sure how you're feeling right now, first night in the field. For me, this was pretty hard haha the first week was honestly really tough. I guess it really all hit me the night before I left, and I was like what am I doing?! Why am I really leaving!? Haha I went to bed and felt better in the morning. The airport ripped out my heart a little, but I was with other missionaries the whole time so I was alright. And even the next few nights we stayed with all the new missionaries and it felt like a basketball camp or something. But, it really hit me again when I got to my apartment and started taking everything out of my bags. With two guys who I had nothing in common with. And we couldn't leave the apartment for two weeks and no one to teach. And I hadn't ever lived away from home. Really the first week was the hardest because I couldn't even talk to the fam the whole time either! I really hope your first day is better than mine was. But if you feel the same home sickness, even to a degree, these are some things I did throughout the first transfer to help those feelings!!

First everyone gets homesick. Everyone. Unless they just hate their family but that's even worse tbh

Alright I'm a big list guy so I started making some lists. Here's a list of some of the lists. Lol List of all the people praying for me

List of all the people who have served missions, even like Craig

All of the tender mercies I saw throughout the day

All of the other people, all my friends, who are serving right now

Thinking about what I would do if I was actually home - absolutely nothing but be depressed bc I wasn't on a mission 

Biggest one, Reasons Why I'm Here!!

Focussing on my purpose, my intent as a missionary, focussing on why I am here on a mission made everything feel better. The biggest reason was I love my Savior. I want to serve Him and help others come to know Him. I want to help others receive the blessings from Him that I have been so richly given to others. It's just like that talk you said to listen to by President Oaks, such a good talk. 

I really only missed our family, not like friends or anything but just the family. But then I realized, yes I love my family so much, but the only thing, or person, I love more is my Savior. Really that's it. Heavenly and Jesus Christ are number 1. The family is number 2. They are the only reason I would be here away from them for two years. 

Also here are some quotes I read in the first little bit, they're from Adapting to Missionary Life. Straight fire quotes that get me so pumped to share the gospel.

“I have often said one of the greatest secrets of missionary work is work! If a missionary works, he will get the Spirit; if he gets the Spirit, he will teach by the Spirit; and if he teaches by the Spirit, he will touch the hearts of the people and he will be happy. There will be no homesickness, no worrying about families, for all time and talents and interests are centered on the work of the ministry. Work, work, work—there is no satisfactory substitute, especially in missionary work.”

—President Ezra Taft Benson

Much of the secret to dealing with the discouragement and stress that are common to missionary service is to renew with the Lord your decision to serve. President Gordon B. Hinckley tells of his experience when he first began his mission in England.

“I was not well when I arrived. Those first few weeks, because of illness and the opposition which we felt, I was discouraged. I wrote a letter home to my good father and said that I felt I was wasting my time and his money. He was my father and my stake president, and he was a wise and inspired man. He wrote a very short letter to me which said, ‘Dear Gordon, I have your recent letter. I have only one suggestion: forget yourself and go to work.’ Earlier that morning in our scripture class my companion and I had read these words of the Lord: ‘Whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.’ (Mark 8:35.)

“Those words of the Master, followed by my father’s letter with his counsel to forget myself and go to work, went into my very being. With my father’s letter in hand, I went into our bedroom in the house at 15 Wadham Road, where we lived, and got on my knees and made a pledge with the Lord. I covenanted that I would try to forget myself and lose myself in His service.

“That July day in 1933 was my day of decision. A new light came into my life and a new joy into my heart. The fog of England seemed to lift, and I saw the sunlight. I had a rich and wonderful mission experience, for which I shall ever be grateful” (“Taking the Gospel to Britain: A Declaration of Vision, Faith, Courage, and Truth,” Ensign, July 1987, 7).

President Hinckley found success in dealing with his discouragement as he renewed his decision to serve the Lord. He later said: “The best antidote I know for worry is work. The best medicine for despair is service. The best cure for weariness is the challenge of helping someone who is even more tired” (“Words of the Prophet: Put Your Shoulder to the Wheel,” New Era, July 2000, 7)

Last couple things

Greenie fire. It is real!! Don't let people give you flack for it. Embrace it and let it drive you. I want it to be known as Elder Jackson Fire!! 

Things will get better naturally over time!! You will get more adjusted, feeling comfortable, and days really do start going by faster. 

D&C 84:88. The Lord is with you!! We are with you!! There is support on both sides of the veil. Never ever alone. 

3 Nefi 5:13. Straight fire. Goat. 

Anyways I hope this doesn't come off across as condescending or make it sound like I have things figured out!! I definitely do not!! I just made a very long list today of all the things I need to mejorar. I just hope that some of these things can help you and give you some peace and love!! I know you are and will continue to be an incredible missionary. I love you so much mi hermano. 

Amor,

Josh