April 26, 2010

Hey family, Calama is going great. I don`t know if I told you before but Presidente almost closed the city of Calama about 2 months ago because there was no progress and the members were not helping at all. They were all full of pride because of their richness. Well being here I feel like it is the exact opposite, my zone is having so much success and we have only been here for 2 weeks. It has definately been a challenge getting started, but I love challenges. We are going to be having the baptism of Cristian this week on Saturday, we are so excited. Then we will be able to help him get started on his mission papers. I am reaching all the goals that I had at the start of my mission, baptize someone that will later on go to the temple with his family(Oscar), marry two investigators and then baptize them(Alvaro and Yanet) and then send someone who we baptize on the mission(Cristian). The mission is going so great, I am said but also excited to see it finish soon. I will just have to take advantage of the time I have.
I am so happy that Trav is going on the mission. I was thinking about him all day Sunday, thinking how much he has progressed. Seems like he has really grown up and I can`t wait to see him in two years.
I am not gonna lie, I loved the email that you sent me, it was full of great news, Trav having his farewell, Tacy receiving her endowments, Jessika getting married, everyone finishing up there degree, Tiff making the Danze company heck yes, the Jazz in the playoffs, I just think of two songs when I hear such great news "Count your many blessings" and the other not so churchy "What a wonderful day" by Barry White. I get thinking, can life get any better, and then every week you write me, it always proves that it can get better and will. Can you even imagine the fullness of joy that we will have in the Celestial Kingdom together, it will be like entering into the celestial room for the first time but times infinity.
We had zone conference this week in Antofagasta, my zone traveled 3 hours there and 3 hours back. The conference was amazing. I am so greatful that God blessed me with such an amazing President, President Urra and Hermana Urra are so amazing. We have become so close, and it is sad that they wont be there to see me finish the mission. They finish the mission a week before me, so I won`t be having my final interview with President Urra, it will be with the new one. But hey, all is well. Also I received my "Casa Papers" or the documents that I have to fill out to get ready to go home, it made me sick. I didn`t think they would ever come, and now here they are. So i need a little information if you could send me the next week so I can get this information sent soon. Love Ya Elder Jackson

Amazing story and Another earthquake March 26 2010

Hey family, Terry wasn`t lying when he told you that there was another earthquake in Copiapo. It was crazy, like the movies. My companion and I were walking home from the centro, and then all of a sudden my companion starts freakin out and grabbed my shoulder( he is always really nervous when we have earthquakes, for what happened with him in Santiago), I had no idea what was going on, thinking that I was just walking weird because i was dizzy from walking in the heat, until i saw the car next to us jumping up and down and then I look up and see the power poles swaying back and forth with the power lines going crazy. So I thought, hmmm where should I run to not be electricuted(spelling ?) but when I was about to run in the street it all ended. The Lord was blessing us and always will. It was pretty strong, the strongest I have ever experienced. I just started laughing at my companion because he was totally freaked out. Everyone ran outside to go get their kids from school and to see if everything was alright, and luckily there was no damage. It was definately a journal experience, je je. That morning I was thinking, I have got to stop procrastinating the food storage and the water and just get it done, so I filled up a 5 little bottle for us 4 missionaries. Talk about inspiration no. I think it is so funny that we as missionaries are teaching that everyone needs to listen to the prophet and obey, and we as missionaries aren`t even prepared. But I sure learned a great lesson.
Things are going great with Felipe, we had a family night with his family and a family in the ward and it went really well. He is so excited to be baptized, I showed him a painting of when Jesus Christ was baptized and he said pointing to Jesus, "Elder he is the one that came to me in my dream the night before you invited me to be baptized, and he told me that I need to be baptized in this church, and for that reason when you invited me to be baptized I accepted." That is why we are invited to become as a child, and if we do we will be able to receive glorious answers like Felipe.
We also invited another kid to be baptized for the 24th of April, and he accepted. His name is Kevin. He is receiving a lot of help from his neighboors which are members. We want to invite his mother to be baptized also, so I guess we will see what happens. Today we are going to invite another family of 3 to be baptized, it is the Family Villaloba, so keep them in your prayers also. The Lord is preparing his his children, and we are seeing miracles happen.
I had the opportunity to interview a lady for her baptism, and it was the most amazing interview I have ever done. She was a drug addict before and lived in the street and did just about everything. But she has had a mighty change of heart, and now is a completely different person. Elder Thomason, one of the missionaries that lives with us and is new in the mission had the opportunity to baptize her.
I will keep grandma Stephens in my prayers. She sure is an amazing example. Oh by the way, their is a painting in the March 2010 Ensign with the Mellor Family, I saw it and said hey that is my family.
Anywho, I am so excited to watch conference this week, it is sad to think it is my last in the mission. The talks will be great. I love you all so much and will be talking next week. Love ya.

Elder McKay B. Jackson
P.s. I don`t know how the weather is there, but it is getting really cold here, it is so crazy.