Another week in August

Hey hey hey my favorite people! You all are simply the best and I just love you all from the depths of my soul! I am doing alright after the accident, still in a bit of pain. I finally broke down and agreed to go to the Chiropractor this week! All is well! This week has just been a tough one and not too much success. Satan has his grasp on so many hearts here. However, through it all I feel strengthened. It is the hardest days that I feel closest to God and this Gospel. I know Jesus Christ Lives and I know there is such immense truth in this restored Gospel. I am grateful to be serving Him with all that I am. Keep reading, keep searching, keep praying! He is there. 

So much love Sister Jackson:)

The Elders insisted on the sisters to cook for District Meeting.. Needless to say we shot that stereotype straight down with the filthy burnt cookies we brought. Not on purpose.:)

A week sent from Thomas

Hello my dearest ones!! I AM ALIVE AND WELL!  I'm sure you were surprised to get a call from my Mission President last night! I had wished he hadn't call you all because I didn't want you guys to be worried about me over here. I was in a car accident in Linda Williams car. We were at the stop light and a car behind us was texting or something and ran full speed into the back of us. But we are all okay! I promise!! Just on loads of meds for the headaches and back pains! 

I spent yesterday at Thomas Hospital and they ran tests and gave us some pain meds and we were good to go:) Absolutely no worries! Honestly it was a neat experience that i want to tell you about a bit. I had a few hours to myself. Completely to myself. I was laying in a room waiting for our xray results to come back,(Sis Fletcher was in a different one) with no one or nothing to distract me from my thoughts. Out here you rarely have moments where you aren't trying to do or accomplish something. MAN i felt so strange.In that silent hospital room as my thoughts wondered every direction I started praying. I felt such peace and comfort feeling God with me in that room. No family, no companion, just God. And for the first time I began to understand how so many people in this life make it simply through God.

We got home late and the Elders came to our apartment and gave us both a blessing. So many awesome awesome people out here, OH how im grateful!

This week was soooo great!! There is no better feeling than coming home at night exhausted and happy for the efforts you made. I have 10034 things I want to say and no time to say it! A few tender mercies will do:)

We got in contact with a L.A that i had never met sense being here! We found out she was in the Thomas hospital, called her home teachers, and they gave her a blessing! Her story is remarkable. She was taking 18 pills 4x a time. Completely hooked in Satan's tight grasp of addiction. One night while watching T.V she decided to take her life. She had all of her pills in the palm of her hand when the Mormon ad commercial came on T.V, she quickly turned the channel when a few moments later another one came one. The Mormon Ads came on 5 more times as she kept trying to change the stations. It was then she realized God was speaking to her and she put the pills down, called the number and joined the church. GOD IS REAL. He is so good. 

We were able to teach teach teach this week!!! Most of them were in the BLAZINNNN heat. OH August will be the death of me. Inside and outside of homes we just sweat and sweat and sweat. Ha its filthy. Most lessons are taught on lil plastic chairs covered in dirt, I have come to love and cherish them:)

SO I actuallyyyy had a few moments of panic this week. A lot of close calls. We knocked on a Catholic investigator Bill's house for our appointment that day. He opened the door and started talking to us when all of a sudden his eyes rolled back into his head and he collapsed. He layed there wide eyed unconscious. We ran to him yelling "BILL!!" "ARE YOU OKAY BILL!" we reached for the phone to call 911, because he was totally unresponsive and we didn't know what eles to do. It wasn't long before he started sitting up asking why he was on the floor. He hit his head on the way down but didn't remember that, so he sat there Indian style in the door way while I  inspected the back of his head for blood! It scared me have to death, i care about that man so much! He got out of Thomas Hospital a few months ago. Ha he was so embarrassed and i guess this has happened a few times in his life before and just wanted to move to the back porch for our lesson. We ended up having a decent lesson with him haha. As many people say here ROLLL TIDEEE. Strange things happen in the South, I tell ya.  

I LOVE IT HERE. I love it here because of my love for our Savior and his work! I mention in Sacrament meeting yesterday of the sincere blessing that comes from trusting him. How much power comes from the simple act to TRUST HIM. This has been one of my focuses lately and any tribulation that comes can be healed with those two words. God does not make mistakes in our life. I love this Gospel. I love you all. Thank you for making me the luckiest Sister Missionary:) Keep reading and keep praying, I know as you do will carry you through. Sending you my whole heart,

Sister Jackson:)

LINDA

This is our less active Bill from last weeks letter! 

Pokemon Go Is Savin the Souls

I love you guys. I love hearing the fun things everyone is doing! Truly lifts my spirits! This week was a learning week for me. We had exchanges so the Monroville Sisters came down and stayed two nights at our place, it was grand to see Sister Redfearn again:) I am a firm believer in exchanges. They always roll around when you feel like you can't take a step further! They are so many incredible Sisters in this Mission. Also had the interview with The Mission President, cool to get to know him better. 

Amongst the dead ends in the week there are ALWAYS tender mercies! How wonderful they are! Bill Barnett was one of the Gems from this week. He is a less active older guy who we visit. Every week it goes something like " Well Pastor Heagy said... Or Pastor Heagy teaches..Pastor Heagy this..Pastor Heagy that.." Every. Single. Week. And every single week for the past 4 1/2 months i'v invited Bill to come to church. And have racked my brain over and over again in circles of what he needs. This Sunday HE CAME! You would've thought i won the lottery when i saw that man standing in front of me in the chapel! There is no better feeling than seeing someone who truly needs the gospel partake of the sacrament. 

You go all week with no success,disappointments fighting the discouragement for these lil tiny golden moments. These moments make every pain worth it.

Last night was another one. we were contacting/chasing down people playing Pokemon Go. After about 10 people who to say were even a least bit interested in listening to us or what we had to say would be an understatement. At 9:15 we started walking back and there was a guy named Hani sitting on a bench by himself. I try my hardest to follow the spirit with who to talk to! So we stopped and he is from Saudi Arabia, he honestly spoke pretty good english. We testified to him of the power and reality of a God in this life. I meant every word i said and something was different with this contact. He seemed hesitant and he was out of our area but still got his number for the Mobile Elders. 10 minutes later we were still in the parking lot about to go home when he chased us down. With his Saudi Arabia accent he said "who can help me learn more." "I want to know more." We just looked at him for a moment will full hearts. How powerful it is to be able to have this access and knowledge to provide for wandering souls like Hani. It was one of my fondest moments on the mission where my purpose collided with the work im putting in. It is remarkable that one true seeking man like Hani outshines the 100s of harden hearts that came before him. 

4 1/2 months out and i feel myself shifting into who i need to be here. I was on the phone with our District Leader one night and he was asking about all my lil problems and concerns and i just layed them alll out there hah. I was telling him how I am really hard on my self and so often times I am burning myself out with constantly trying to be a better missionary. And how I never want to not give it my best. And sometimes i will get home and beat myself up about not talking to so and so that day on the street. And all he said was that THIS IS THE LORDS WORK. My first thoughts were yeah of course it is! But did i believe that? Looking back, every one of those thoughts was about me! This work is not about me! Our work here on earth is not about us. Everything the savior did was for someone else. I don't care who i come home as as long as i was able to simply be the lords hands here in Alabama. 

Everything thing we receive or are are because of the Savior. Every talent, possession, relationship, miracle, victory are all his. Everything has its origin with in the Savior. Every single thing but one; our will. He does not have our hearts and desires. It is the only gift we have to offer that He does not already have. And so when we give ourselves, we truly give everything to him.

I know that there is a profound change within ourselves when we find the humility and strength to give of ourselves in this capacity. I know God lives. And I love him.

Sending so much dang love from Fairhope:)

xoxo Sister Jackson

here is a awkward picture of me outside "Fairhopes Castle" Dean Mosher is a famous artist around here and gave us a tour of his house that he crafted. It was inspiring! So neat. 

Happy Morning in Fairhope

This morning was a happy happy happy morning here in Fairhope:)  Sister Fletcher and I run to the bay every day at 630 but today was a special one! We got there only to find ourselves in a JUBILEE! That's when something in the weather mixes with the lack of oxygen in the water and all the fish rise to the surface and wash up to the beach! Ha its a lot more technical than that but thats all i got! Any ways they are super rare here and besides the Mobile Bay, Japan is the only other coast that these occur on!  Y'all should just google it!  Lots of people who have lived here there whole life have never seen one!

 We ran back with squirmy shrimps in my hands and grabbed a bucket and a cup and went wildddd. Haha here we were this morning runnin the beach with all the local "jubilee chasers" trying to catch em. They are the real deal let me tell ya!! We figured we had no idea how to cook fish haha let a lone had time to do that so we filled our bucket with shrimps. We stuck out as we usually do due to our lack of equipment haha. But some nice fella said any one who is out here trying to catch with a Dickees Barbique Cup and their hands deserve some help and dumped his shrimp in our bucket. Hahahah hey we took em. We got back to our apartment well into personal study and called one of our crazy less actives who told us how to clean them and what to do with our crab! Luckly one of our nutzo neighboors John let us borrow his crab boil at 8 in the morning! I had no idea how behind i was on Crab anatomy and seafood cleaning:) We will be feastin finneeeee tonight! 

We spent the morning at the hospital with Beverly Giles who had her breast cancer surgery this morning. I love her. Other than that this week was a goodie. Lots of good and bad experiences! One day we walked into Kelley's place(our investigator with a baptismal date..which we have actually already dropped) and she was sound asleep. OUT COLD. If she wasn't snoring so loud I would have thought she was in serious trouble. We both stood in the door way whispering not sure what do. After we knocked louder we went over to her bed and i tried to shake her awake... ha super bold but she didn't wake up! Sis Fletcher tried and long story short we finally just left. Ha sad day when we can't even wake our gators up to meet with us! 

We contacted at 3 different gas stations this week! We met some cool friends and some wild ones. One pal in line as we were talking to him just opened up his wallet and showed us it. He had like 2000 dollars in cash in that thing.the whole conversation was real strange and Sis Fletch and I both just kind of laughed and went eles where. I can not tell you how many times I wish I could just take a good picture of the faces that I talk to. The people down here are the best. It is usually at night that we do and I am always exhausted and just feel like going home but not a night passes where I wasn't glad we made that extra effort. 

Also noteworthy news.. Last night! We were out knocking trailers all were busts. It is hilarious what people do when they talk to you. One man stuffed an entire tub of tobacco in his mouth in our two minute conversation. I just kept thinking theres no way he has more room in there.The next trailor a shirtless man answered and he only spoke spanish! I am PROUD to say I said the whole contact in poor spanish. Ha some of the Spanish Elders here taught me how to say some things, that, combined with my junior high years in spanish made a good door contact. 

This email is officially a scattered brained novel but i just love you all with everything that i am. Yesterday as I was driving through the country side i was almost brought to tears with the profound power that God has here in this life. I know that a simple belief that he is there brings happiness to our beings. I am grateful to be here. Know somebody in Fairhope lovesss youuuuu:)

Sista J

Eric is the cooooolest we can't teach him cus hes in mobile. 

The Good Within

HELLO my Dearest ones! All the missionaries are going on a duck boat tour in Mobile wahoo!!... Not entirely sure what that entails but that's why i'm on so early! I debated not even sending an email this week because i am sure you got your Sis Jackson fill with the videos Members have sent home:) I was as nervous as i looked hahah. But i will send yall a few bits none the less! 

So Last Monday the hours of pday got pushed back because we were mowing lawns for investigators and had appointments! So at 8 we went and spent our last hour at my second love.. Chick fil la! I was sitting in there in my sweats with out my tag on(I had forgotten it at service) about to write some letters when i saw a lady with an Insulin Pump on and debated if i should go talk to her because i have an instant bond with any diabetic.. eh its got to come in handy sometime right?:) Long story short 45 min later we got an appointment with her! 

A few days ago we got to her house and she was playing BEAUTIFUL hymns and Christian songs on her Grand Piano. Gosh it just was the calm before the storm. Shanon is a Catholic of 2 years whos has directed church choirs for over 20 years. I can't even began to describe how the next 45 minutes went. It started with her boasting about how correct and awesome the Catholic Church is and then she started asking us what seemed like innocent questions. Which quickly turned into personal attacks and harsh accusations.  My lil hearts was just beating and usually we run into bashers on the streets and not in homes. I finally just stood up and said we have to go and walked out of her house. I sure am learning how to be more bold here. By now it was dark outside we snuck onto the Yacht clubs area of the bay and just sat on the beach for a few minutes to re gather our thoughts. We sat there looking out across the dark horizon in silence for a few moments in prayer. Together we sang Nearer My God to Thee. There were  lights and people laughing and drinking on Piers down the way, but in that moment I felt COMPLETELY excluded from the world. It was a beautiful moment to just feel Gods touch amidst all the ridicule, rejections, and persecution i get out here. 

Satan is so real. We knocked on a door yesterday and talked to a boy around my age who was just filled with evil and hooked up on anything and everything. The girlfriend, who had wounds all over her from Meth i assume, came over stared us down and walked away. You could just feel the grasp Lucifer had in that apartment. My heart breaks for so many lifes here. I have never felt the stark contrast between good and evil more than I have here. 

I know that Christ Lives and that he changes hearts. Because his power is so subtle and it requires our utmost searching, it is that much deeper and moving within. It is starting to feel like home here and I am grateful amongst all the hard to be serving. I love you all with everything that I am!

xoxo Sister Jackson:)

:)

HI FAM. It so fun to see what you all are doing in life, gosh how i love you all. It sounds like the Fourth was a good one for everyone! We got to go to the ward mission leaders house who is back in the woods and watch his fire works that he shoots in front of his lil lake. I actually didn't get home till 1030 which probably sounds way early to you all but to me it felt like 4 in the morning. Ha it was a good good night:) 

As i sit here thinking about what to even begin to write about this week i am at a loss. It was a difficult difficult week emotionally. But if there is one thing im learning out here, everything has its end. And i am grateful to be here. 

One of the cooler things this week was the Montrose Rehab Center. As we were walking out of the place after teaching Kelley( the diabetic with an amputated leg) we ran into a black dude named Vincent in the smoking table outside. He is the manager of the place and we came back later to teach him the Restoration. While we were waiting for him to find free time in his work we taught Kevin who was on a smoking break the Restoration on the spot. Both went fairly well. I am still getting used to the heat and mugginess of it here and i swear i am going to hit the ground while i am teaching of heat exhaustion haha. But no one here seems phased by it. Any who we hope to keep progressing with them. 

WE also have done service out the Wazoo this week. Soooo I am not sure if it is the south or what but i guess girls don't do yard work or anything of that sort here! And here i am my lil independent self so to say when it comes to things like that. DRIPPING in sweat, I had a deep conversation with Linda the other night after building stairs for a less active about Woman Empowerment and Capability. Ha i am more about it all more so now then ever. 

I am so grateful to be here. I know God is watching out for me. I have never really felt led by his spirit until now. There are times at doors where I will get just a sick sick feeling and tell Sis Fletcher we need to go. He loves me lots:)

 If there is one I know, it is that this life needs a God and a Redeemer. To much heartache and despair. Too much. Too much mistreatment and abandonment. Our relationship with God is personal and so so available to everyone. Out here I truly believe we are led to those who are at points of despair. In my talk the other week I talked about how on Mission I  sit here on porches and in living rooms listening to these broken people. And although i just love them so deeply i swear my heart could burst there is nothing I can do. Nothing. What sacred chance i do have, is the chance to point them to someone who CAN. Someone who will never leave them. Someone who will forgive them time and time and time again. Someone who will give them the strength and friendship needed to live today. What a pure and sacred calling that not only I have as a missionary, but that we all have as members to point our Brothers and Sisters back  to our Savior and Redeemer Jesus Christ. 

I love the south, I love my Brother Jesus, and I love you all. More than you will ever know!

Sister Jackson

A random assortment from this week:)Elix

America in Fairhope

Happiest of the 4th of JULY!!!! I love you all and hope you all have some Patriotic things going on today:) Tis a BEAUTIFUL country we live in. Holidays are still a little strange on a mission! 

This week was nuts. We almost got dropped by all our investigators and if not the investigator the appointment. So are lessons this week was sad. Just one of those weeks! BUT,  in the midst of it all there were some good good times. 

We also welcomed our new Mission President this week! I love zone gatherings, it is the absolute best to see everyone. We had one to meet President and Sister Smith and they seem really cool. I am excited to work with them!!

Because it was the end of the month we were out of miles and have been bikin our butts off. The other day I felt like the worst trainer ever hahah. We left an appointment and it was literally pouring harder than I have ever witnessed in my life. Within 3 seconds we both could have just as well jumped in the bay. Any who, I still am kinda new to the area( so i'd like to say;)) and so i just use the GPS from the car to navigate us around town. But it was raining so hard i couldn't read the screen so we definitely doubled the length of the trip haha. We turn a steep corner and Sis Fletcher hydroplaned and completely whipped out. Ha and by this point we both we just freezing, hungry, soaked and exhausted. No one would talk to us from their porches and all of our belonging were drenched. An hour later we made it. Ha Luckly we were seeing Beverly Giles who when we got there welcomed us non the less! I remember in the heat of it all riding my bike through pools of water, getting slapped in the face with soggy branches and seeing all the people look over as they drive past us, i'm sure just thinking about how much they wouldn't want to be us, and appreciating this moment on the mission. It is hard work but it is easy to appreciate hard things you do. 

MEANWHILE I LOVE THE SOUTH. Oh so so much. Everything is just so casual and informal. Doug and Linda who just got baptized this year had us over for dinner and we invited a less active mom and daughter. We all ate meat with our fingers in camping chairs around their dinning room table, Dougs and I's heads barely surfaced. Ha my heart was so full this night. As I said the prayer, all holding hands around the table, I couldn't help but just smile because i was so happy to be here. I just wish you all could have just been here too. Linda had the idea of having a bon fire and of course i backed her right up because i miss those and the mountains to death! NEVER AGAIN. Never ever again. I have never been more hot, sticky, and humid in my life. It does not cool down here at all at night and adding a fire is blazinnnn. Sister Fletcher and I just laughed our heads off at the whole situation. Linda's eyes were burning with all the sweat dripping into them as she dug clungs of melted chocolate out of the wrappers and slopped them onto the grams for everyone. However, I was proud to say that I was the one to get the fire lit:) ---Kenz our years of endless campfires pays off;) Twas a good night.

I am finding God here everyday. Some days I feel closer to him than others. The days and moments I do make up for all the rest. I love my Savior and I love his Gospel. AND I LOVE YOU ALL. I pray and think of you all daily. Sending so much love:)

Sister Jackson

Linda gave me one of her dresses to wear for the night:)