Hitting the Ground Sprinting

July 12, 2021

 Holaaaaaa !!!! 

This week was another great one, honestly one of the busiest ones of my mission!! So many powerful experiences but I'll try to just write about the highlights!  

This week started off with Elder Johnson saying his last goodbyes to all the members and friends we're teaching here. It was the first time I've had a companion who was going home and it was actually really weird to see that eventually the mission really does end. Gratefully, I still have over a year left but it really put things into perspective that this is such a special and sacred time and it's not going to last forever. There isn't another time of my life where I'll be able to fully dedicate my whole life to serving the Lord, I'm trying to enjoy every minute!! 

With Elder Johnson leaving I of course was able to welcome a new companion. As I mentioned last week he is from Pleasant Grove and man he is a stud!!! He has wasted no time getting adjusted and we have hit the ground not just running but sprinting. Haha literally because we have been going hard in the morning works, but even more so within the work. We had a packed week and so many miracles. Some of the strongest spiritual experiences of my mission honestly. It has been awesome and I'm so grateful for the situation I am in. 

One of the biggest things this week was our friend Patricia accepted a baptismal date for July 31st!! She has been taught for quite a few months now, having some ups and downs, but she has been steadily progressing since I've been able to be here. Fortunately she was able to receive an answer to her prayers and said she feels ready for baptism!! The advsersary has been working on her big time lately though, but the cool thing is she recognizes it is because she is trying to do what Heavenly Father wants her to do. Please keep her in your prayers!! 

We had an absolutely incredible experience with our guy Jesús!!! On Saturday we just called him up to set up a lesson and when he answered we felt impressed to ask him to pray with him before we let him go. He had the coolest experience and said he felt peace like he hadn't ever before. We then were able to go over to his house for the lesson and were able to teach his wife and son too!! It was an absolute miracle as the mom completely flipped from being against the church at the beginning to asking about baptism after her husband shared of his experience. The Spirit was so strong as we were able to testify of them being able to have an eternal family. We are hoping the put them on date this next week and are so excited to help them reach that goal!! 

The last experience I want to mention about is actually a continuation of something I talked about a couple weeks ago when we felt impressed to go down this street and found this family having a get-together, celebrating the life of their son who was recently tragically killed. We have been struggling to get in the door since that time a couple weeks ago but we went back another time this week. After a little persistance about the importance of our message for them, we were able to teach them about where their son/husband was. It was honestly again was one of the strongest spirits I've felt being able to testify of them of the reality of the Plan, made possible through the Savior. It is so neat to see the Lord places us in the path of these people at just the right time and then to be able to feel the Spirit work through us as instruments in His hands. 

We had some other awesome lessons with a handful of other people including a new lady named Armida who seems really solid! As well we had Zone Council and it was great, I honestly had the most overwhelming feeling of love for all the missionaries in the zone. And we also managed to paint some cabinets of an hermana in our ward with about 10 coats of primer haha. It honestly felt a little like we were juggling trying to balance everything but it was so much fun and made the week go by in the blink of an eye. 

I just want to leave you all with one of my favorite verses that has been on my mind lately! D&C 6:36 " Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not." This has been the focus to look to the Savior in ever thought as we started a '40 day fast' as a zone this week, basically where we try and remove anything from our lives that might be take away from the Spirit for the next 40 days. It has been really neat to evaluate all the little things that could possible dull our spiritual sensitivity and work to take them out of our lives. The added power of the Spirit has been undeniable as we have started in this effort to dedicate ourselves more fully to the Lord. Changing is hard and uncomfortable but it really is the whole goal of this life, to repent and become more like the Savior. 

I love you all so much!! Have an incredible week!! 

Amor,

Elder Jackson 

1 Taco truck from some members!! 

2 Caught Argentina winning the Copa America as we walked into a lesson, Aguante Argentina!!!!! 🇦🇷

3 Zone pday in the Los Lunas Zone