May 24th 2010

Hey family, thanks so much for the Happy Birthday wish and. I can`t believe I am about to turn 21, if I weren`t a member of the church I would be heading to the casino or something like that, or maybe be drinking a beer legally, it sure is a good thing I am a member. The baptism of Jeremy was awesome, he asked me to baptize him so it was a great experience for me. A lot of the youth showed up so it made Jeremy feel really good. Also the baptism excited Carlos, he will be baptized this Saturday with Marta Martinez. Also, after the baptism we had a little snack, while we were eating, the father leaned over to me and asked me when Dolka(his wife, not married yet and the mother of Carlos and Jeremy) is going to be able to be baptized. He told me that she wants to be baptized also so that the whole family can be baptized, so I talked to him saying that he needs to be married to her before she gets married, I explained why and told him that I had the opportunity to marry a couple in Copiapo and then they were baptized the next day. I told him how the Relief Society did all the decorations for the marriage in the church and it all turned out really good. So I told him he good do the same here, so it got him really excited, so hopefully here soon I will be hearing the news that they are going to be married. It would make me so happy finishing the mission like that.
Today was day of transfers, I will be finishing my mission here in Calama with Elder Vasquez, so it will be fun. Also, the brother of the Elder that trained me in the mission, Elder Calquin, is now in our mission and he will be in my zone, how sweet is that, Elder Calquin blessed my life my helping me get started and so hopefully I can do the same and return the favor to his little brother. I couln`t believe my eyes when I saw Sam in those pictures, I miss him sooooo much. He still looks the same goofy Sam. How is he? Tell him hi for me. I remember going to his house the last night before he left to the MTC and we played Risk, it seems like just yesterday. Crazy stuff.
Anywho, keep praying, I am going to finish this last transfer good so I will never have regrets later on. I am always teaching the people that the last thing they have to do after baptism is perseverance, so I need to put it in practice. I will be traveling again to Antofagasta this Thursday for another leadership meeting, I will try and take a picture of the stars in the dessert, it is my favorite part of traveling here. I love you all, talk to ya later. Please tell everyone sorry I couldn`t write them this week, I don`t have much time.
Elder McKay Bryan Jackson
P.S. I received in the mail the package that Jakes grandfather sent me, please tell Jamie to tell him thanks and I will start handing the little cars out, they are awesome.

May 10th 2010

Hey I don`t have a lot of time, and plus the more I write the more it makes me think about home and what it is comming up, so this one is gonna be short. My week was just great. Jeremy, Carlos and Marta went to church so that means that Jeremy will be baptized this Saturday, then Carlos and Marta will be baptized the next weekend. The work is going great and we are finding a lot of new people to teach. We received a reference from a family that I love last night doing family night, the kids name is David and he is excited to read the Book of Mormon and pray to know if it is true. I can`t believe that my best friend will be comming home on Wednesday, he is the man, give him and Jason a big hug for me and take a picture. The time has gone by way to quick. It scares me to think how fast this next month will pass by.
That is awesome that Doug and Kydee both recevied their mission calls. Doug won`t be leaving before I get home right? I am so excited to hear about Travis, let me know how he is doing, you can forward his emails to me if you can, I would love to hear about what is going on, and help him if I can. Tell your mother hi for me, she has been so great in wriiting me. I will definately be praying for Jake, I hope he does well. Anywho, I love you all and hope you have a great week. Thanks for all you do, and for all your prayers.

Elder McKay Bryan Jackson

P.s. Jessica Smalley sent me a birthday package, I had kinda forgotten that it is my birthday soon, I am getting really old.

May 3, 2010

Hey mother, Cristians baptism went very well and there were a lot of members that went. Also we are teaching a family the family Castillos Torres, Father, Mother and two sons 13 and 14. Well the family went to the baptism and loved it, and the next day they all went to church. The two sons (Carlos and Jeremy) are going to be baptized the 22nd of May, they are so excited. Also, this week was really dificult, we were working so hard trying to find people to teach and everyday we would come back home with out teaching even one lesson, but we kept going. We had faith in our Lord and put our confidence in him knowing that if he sees our dilligence he will bless us. Well it went exactly that way, we had a lady(Marta Martinez) stop us asking us where the church is and at what time, so we told her and later went to her house to teach her and get to know her, I was thinking that she is a member but I was wrong, she told us that she hasn`t had the oportunity to be baptized yet but she always attented the church where she is from Peru, and arrived here in Calama about a year ago. So we taught her and we invited her to be baptized the 22nd of May also, and she accepted. She is so happy and also went to church inviting everyone to her baptism. Then Sunday we taught another kid(Sebastain) that has been going through difficult times, his mom died about 4 months ago, and so he has bad friends and started doing drugs. Well the missionaries have been teaching him for about a year and yesterday we taught him about the Restoration and how he needs to be baptized to receive the blessings and he accepted. He will be baptized the 29th of May. We are so excited and want to keep finding more and more to baptize, this is an amazing work and the Lord really does bless his children when they put their faith in him.
That is great the Jason will be coming home this week, you will have to say hi to him for me, I was wondering when he would come home.
That is awesome that Tiff is in the Seminary Counsel, she will have a great time, my friends were in it, and i was always right there with them, it is a lot of fun, and she will be blessed for her service. I am glad that you ladies had a good time in conference, you have been a great example to all your daughters and much more. Well mother I love you so much and I am so excited to talk to you on Sunday to tell you happy mothers day. I will be calling at 7-8 my time and 5-6 your time, so it should be perfect when you get home from church. Thanks for the information of President Watson. You should be getting my flight plans soon, sad but extremely happy to move on and see you to give you a hug and a kiss. I love you mom, thanks for everything. Have a great week and we will be TALKING soon. Choa.

Elder McKay Bryan Jackson