Lluvia en Unquillo !!

May 16, 2022

Hola a todos!! 

Another week that flew by and was full of some really great things so I'll just get right into it!!! 

The rain we got yesterday wasn't the highlight of the week, but it's what's preveían on my mind so we will start there! We woke up to Sunday which not only made for a very humid cold morning, but a huge challenge for people to get to church haha. Elder Romero told me when it's cold and rainy like that literally only the leaders go and that's what happened haha. So a tough week for church attendance but we still had some really great lessons and visits after. As well some good mate and 5 layers of jackets kept me fairly warm. And we still some other exciting things with our amigos throughout the week !! 

Interviews on Tuesday were great and it was especially a blessing to talk with President this time around and get some insights from him, especially before he finishes up here soon. Crazy to think I'll only have one more with him, he has been an incredible blessing, as was President Weathersby in New Mexico. 

The best part of the week without a doubt, were exchanges!! My previous companion Elder Silva had some crazy changes and circumstances in his new area and ended up having to spend the past week with some elders in my district. Which meant we were able to miracously reunit for the day and it was a blast!!! I really love him and it was fantastic to be able to work along side him, have some great discussions about the work, and see several real miracles in the day as well! He has so much faith, drive, and his testimony is especially powerful. And not to mention we got to drink some mate and he made guiso in the night which was incredible. The whole day was a huge tender mercy. 

Amigos!! 

- Sofia. We had some really great lessons with Sofia!! She is continuing on, praying and reading and working towards baptism. She really has the desire to change which is really special to see. She continues to be battling a lot but it's special to see her faith. We were able to have several different members in the lessons with us which has been a huge support for her as well. 

- Adrian. Wow, huge miracle with him!! He is the husband of a returning member who has been taught by several sets of missionaries in the past but hasn't ever been able to commit to baptism. Elder Silva and I were teaching him again when I first got here but between a crazy work schedule and some family difficulties he wasn't able to meet with us much. Well the other day our Obispo calls us tells us he was able to have a Family Home Evening with Adrian and his family. After talking about a recent death of the cousin of Adrian and explaining all about baptisms for the dead, Adrian decided now is finally the time to get baptized so he can go to the temple and be baptized for him as well!! So we were able to go over this week and set a baptismal date for the 4th of June! We are working hard with other people but this miracle really just has fallen in to our laps. 

- Gaston. Our friend Gaston is good! He continues to be busy with work but reading with his novia which is great. The news for him this week is he and his fiance announced the date of their wedding is going to be the 27 de Mayo!! We are really hoping to be able to set a baptismal date with him for shortly after then. 

- Priscila. The wife of Marcelo! She has been really busy lately too and we hadn't even seen her since the baptism of Marcelo until this last week. But we had a great lesson with her when we did! Marcelo was able able share his testimony about his baptism and having faith in the Lord which was super powerful. After we explained the temple, family history, and eternal marriage and she loved it!! Especially the family search app haha. And about being able to be sealed with Marcelo for eternity. We are super hopefully for her!! 

- Brenda y Dalma y sus familias. Two sisters who are members but their husbands aren't that we are working with continually! The 9 year old son of Dalma who has previously been deathly afraid of water had a change of heart and told us he wants to be baptized with his 8 year old cousin! We are going to set the date this week but it should be pretty solid! 

- Sandra. Last amiga I'll mention. Elder Silva and I taught her once a couple months ago but she didn't seem super interested and every time we went back she was there. Until this last week she was getting home as we walked by and before we could greet her she called us to come over and come inside. She had read a little bit of the Book of Mormon we gave her and even though she said she didn't understand much she wanted to learn more! It was definitely a great surprise! We are excited to go back and continue with her. 

Pensamiento Espirtual 

For my spiritual thought I've had several topics on my mind recently but I'll just share two quick things. First, members truly are the best way to do missionary work and sharing the gospel with others really is a life long promise, not simply just as a missionary. I have seen the biggest miracles in my mission through members and their willingness to share the gospel. At the beginning I really didn't understand the importance of members but have progressively seen time and time again their power. As well previously in my mission there were times I felt was burdening members by inviting them to share the gospel. Really it is the exact opposite!! Sharing the gospel is the most joyous thing there is. Not to mention part of the covenant to stand as a witness of the Lord at all times and all places (Mosiah 18:10). I listened to a fantastic talk from President Oaks this week that I'll put below but here is just a part that really was powerful to me. 

Sharing the gospel is not a burden but a joy. What we call “member missionary work” is not a program but an attitude of love and outreach to help those around us. It is also an opportunity to witness how we feel about the restored gospel of our Savior. As Elder Ballard has taught, “A most significant evidence of our conversion and of how we feel about the gospel in our own lives is our willingness to share it with others.”

President Oaks, October 2016, "Sharing the Restored Gospel"  

Sharing the gospel truly is one of the most joyous things there is and fills us with a divine love and spirit. I love being a missionary and am trying to cherish this sacred privilege of representing the Savior full time. 

Sorry this is really long! 

Other thoughts were personal revelación is esencial and an incredible blessing. And mansedumbre is a powerful Christlike attribute I am striving to have more of. But more of those things next week maybe. 

Muchas gracias a todos!!! Los amo!!! Chau chau !! 

Amor,

Elder Jackson