Elder Jackman 12/29/2014

Dear Family,

Well it was an amazing week in London - a great Christmas! My most memorable one by far! This week flew by yet again. Time is speeding up I swear!! Lots of meetings from Zone P-Days (Minute to Win it!) temple trips, tons of Christmas meals and visits, Skyping!, baptisms, and fufu.

The greatest thing was going through the London Temple with Lewis Mancer, my convert in Brighton, to recieve his endowment! That was a truly remarkable moment! It was such a great opportunity - to be dressed in white with him, and my trainer, Elder Stephan in the temple. Such a wonderful blessing! He is happy and well. We went to dinner after too and had a good time again after like the old times in B-Town!!

Skyping was truly such a blessing. So nice to see you all!! You all have truly grown up - I was blown away at how much you changed (appearances, and goodness) At first, after ending the call, it really made me miss home... But I got over it and decided to work even harder for my family. D&C 31 was a very comforting scripture.

Christmas was crazy!! The weather is mega cold now in England - one of the coldest winters in London on record!

 

For dinner and lunch, we had African food - Jeloff rice, agusi soup, casava fufu, and cow stomach and throat. They had mercy on us and also cooked us some turkey haha. My stomach still is recooperating - on Saturday we went to a Nigerian members home and he taught us how to make Fufu - you have to stir it in a huge pot with a huge wooden stick and its like a wrestling match!! Hard stuff! Also, extrememly spicy with ocra soup!!!!!

The Wandsworth Zone is doing great!! Our missionaries are doing well - a big tansfer, so there are a lot of moves. I am staying in Peckham with the same companion, who I love! That'll make 3 transfers together, and 6 months in London! And many more months to come!

On Christmas we wrapped up Book of Mormons and gave them out to people on the streets as presents along with a 'He is the Gift' card! You should have seen people's faces just light up! The people were a lot more open to the gospel message!

I am loving my mission - every day and every second! Thank you all SO much for all the gifts/money. It is well appreciated. I love you all so so much and miss you dearly. Have a great and HAPPY week!! Remember, our purpose in life, is to have JOY, no matter the circumstances!

Love,

Elder Jackman 

Hey family!!

This week was great! We have been focusing again on finding new investigatores, and it was really nice. We found a lot of new people. We have the goal of finding 2 new investigators every day. Well we ended up finding 14 news this week. But we werent constant on the 2 every day. One day we found 6, that was neat, we found a family. We talked with them out side of their house, and smoothly asked if we could see some of the products they sell, he is a carpenter. And has his products in his house. we entered in and after looking at the stuff he makes, we had a little lesson and then showed them the "he is the gift" and "Thanks to him" videos which are super powerfull!! It turns out that about 4 years ago they had heard a little bit about the missionaries. Another cool new investigator we found this week was through a member. There is a 35ish lady that was about to committ suicide. She was in her 3rd story window about to jump, when all the neighbors tried talking her out of it, and it worked. One of her neighbors is a sister in our ward, and she said that it would be nice if the missionaries could talked with her, so we went over and had a solid lesson. She said that she really wants hope in her life, because she doesnt have any. Her situation is really tough!!! Her husband is a SUPER alcholic! He drinks every single day, and a LOT!! He cant hold a steady job, for how much he drinks, and he is abusive. When he leaves the house he doesnt leave her with keys, and tells her that she cant go anywhere. And when she runs an errand and takes longer than he thinks she should he yells at her. Well like i said she isnt married which techniqully means she wont be getting baptized anytime soon, because we dont want her marrying him. But that doesnt really matter to us if she cant get baptized or not at this point we just want to help her out, and we know that by teaching her and building her self esteem that can really help her. Who knows maybe one day down the road she can get away from him and get baptized. But she is really enjoying our visists so that is pretty much all that matters.

This week we did a TON of service. tuesday wednesday, friday and saturday we did service projects the whole morning until the afternoon for different people. like 6 or 7 hours each one. A lot of painting houses, and people moving houses. Then we hit it hard in the afternoon contacting and teaching. 3 nights in the week i fell asleep on the couch in my missionary clothes. And last night I fell asleep sitting on the ground against the wall in my suit. jaja I am dying of sleep, but I am going to go play soccer today in a few hours :)))))))))) 

I love you all so so much!!

Elder Allison

fotos... my comp and i, zone activity, and a teenager that is headed to peru today on his mission. (I tried talking him into giving me his sweater but he said he couldn't that it was from his GF :( 

Elder Jackman

Elder Hunter Jackman is serving in the England London South Mission. He is in Peckham currently.

Dear Family,

There's nothing sweeter than slowly walking into a baptismal font, dressed in white, and standing in the water... waiting for a young man you had been preparing for this special day finally come stepping down slowly into the waters of baptism and standing there with him. Yesterday was amazing. We finally were able to baptise Ethan, our young 'Tough-nut' investigator, who now knows that this is the true Church. I was able to baptise him yesterday and the service went perfectly. We had been teaching him since September, and he had been taught by missionaries since January, when his mum was baptised, but never wanted any part of it. But Ethan is a smart chap and knew the points of the gospel well. We taught him with his mum, a recent convert, who helped us out a lot. We used a lot of presentations/skits to help demonstrate lessons. It took quite a lot of creativity!! Things like boiling an egg and not the other one and him 'Choosing the Right' one and quickly choosing and smashing it on his head! We are so dang good! Haha. His anti-mormon father and his non member family came to his special day as well!! Prayer have been answered!

Well my life is so busy right now. I've never worked harder! We are running all over London right now!! Actually, the other day, me and Elder Hernandez took a wrong bus and headed into the other mission on the other side of the river Thames! We did 2 'mini' Zone Trainings for our districts; Peckham, Crystal Palace, Clapham, and Kennington districts - 24 missionaries to teach and train and support them in their work! A lot of computer work too - prepping for the training's and also, THE DREADED STAKE CORRELATION!!! You have no idea how stressful stake correlation is for us! We have to gather ALL the zone/stake info of all converts, all statistics, baptismal dates (which we do already), and a ton of other info and then present it to the whole Wandsworth Stake Presidency and the mission president and his wife and other people. I must say it is training me for future callings. What work!! I have been drained physically this week.

As far as emotionally - I had a powerful experience with using the Atonement that built me up so much and helped me become a better man. I guess all of the hard work of missionary work finally built up too much and I just felt so down on myself and just everything one night. There's always a down-time in missionary work for every missionary, and I felt it this week hard one night. I did pray so sincerely and all I will say, is that I do know the Saviour lives and that He is very near. Nearer than we think. That night I felt the love of my Saviour so strong, I cannot ever deny Him or the truthfulness of this message. 

We have been teaching so many great people. Mostly all our baptismal dates! They are all progressing so well; Nicodemus (getting baptised on the 13th), Isata, and Tenna and her boyfriend Jack! We are killing it here in Peckham and in the whole Wandsworth Zone! President loves us haha. All of our dates came to Church yesterday too!! Even Tenna's hesitant boyfriend Jack came and loved it!! And Ethan got baptised and Russell did the last week!! So, things are going amazingly well and we know that it's all the Lord's hand.

Crazy experience of the week: Went contacting in Burgess Park one morning and saw a man sitting on a bench. Me and my companion said to each other; 'Which life question do you think he is pondering right now??' We approached him and he turned around and told us he hated us. He was from Jamaica and had LONG dreadlocks that went down to the floor. He told us we were absolute fools and mocked us hard. He got up and came at us angrily, but me and Elder Blackner stood our ground and rebuked him and stood up for our beliefs and he got more and more mad and was cursing us and showing us science books. And then he continued on and told us how since we were white people we came from black people and were their slaves before and we lived in caves as white creatures. He hated us because of our skin colour. He told us many other racist things, but we stood up for Christ, whom he did not believe in. And told him that God loved him. You had to be there really in the park, but it was wild!!! Tons of things like this happen in Peckham! 

I love my mission and for the opportunity it has given me and learn and grow and to wash myslef clean in the blood of the Holy One of Israel. I am excited for this Christmas to see you all :)

All my love,

Elder Jackman

Hey Family!!

This week was good. I am doing well with my companion. We are focusing a lot on finding new investigators. I had a mini heart attack this week because I have been worrying so much in the people we are teaching. Here during this time of year, a lot of people are open to listen about Christ. But also almost everyone is just "too busy" to listen, accept us to come by, to pray, to read, its kinda frustrating me a lot!! But we are working to find new people. Satan has also been working very hard with the recent converts in this ward. and with some of the investigatores that have been progressing, both of the sisters, and ours. We have a big war we are going up against, which means we have to step it up even more. I am doing all I possibly can to be the best missionary I can be, and to give everything I have. I am gaining stronger testimonies of faith each and every day. 

Also we have been focusing a lot on helping out each member of the zone. President is always teaching us that we should never let behind the weaker missionaries. It is very true. We are trying to help them, by going on visits with their investigators, contacting in their areas, fasting for them, and anything that we can think of. But that means a little less time that we can spend here in our area, but its okay. This type of stuff, staying very busy is helping out my companion a lot, to have more desires to work hard, and i am very thankfull for that!! I have been praying for a lot of help, so that we can find people that are truly ready to hear the gospel. Because president is stressing us a lot that we have to be putting the example for the zone, and we HAVE to start baptizing each week. I feel a big load, but I know that if we can be obedient, and diligent the Lord will help us. 

Angeles who got baptized about 2 weeks ago, has been going through a lot of trials. Her sister stopped talking to her, because she got baptized, she hasnt been able to get work off, and so yesterday, after 2 WEEKS she got confirmed the Holy Ghost. But thank heavens she was able to come, because she came straight from a full night shift. But she said that she has really wanted to come, but her boss hasnt let her get off. But that she is going to try and talk to him, so that she can rest saturday in the nights, to come to church not so tired. 

We got a christmas tree in the house, and santa hats, and lights and orniments for the tree. It is pretty fun!! . 

I had a few different experiences this week giving priesthood blessings. I really love and am thankfull for the priesthood, and the ability to use it. I was blessed to be able to give a blessing to a 1 and a half year old girl yesterday after the church services, that is sick and not able to use her legs. I felt a little part of the love that God has for her. Especially being a little child, innocent. Before the blessing i asked the mom what the little girls name was and as i approached the little girl she grabbed my finger, and held it tight, I sat there for about 30 seconds with her holding onto my finger with her tiny hand and I just felt so much love.

I am learning a lot. And I am happy, I can't not be, I am a missionary!! :) Thanks for all your support. I really love you all so very much!!!!!!!!! Have a wonderful week!!! 

I Love you!!!

Elder Allison  

Hey Family,

There were quite a bit of cool-strange things that happened this week. I had litterally 25 or more comments on the new hair cut... A drunk guy hugged me late at night in the street... we ate pumpkin pie and cheese cake :))))... We got into the CCM again... I had to give a talk in stake confrence... and much more fun adventures. 

This week we focused a lot on gaining our personal testimonies of Joseph smith again. It was great. I read and really analized the whole joseph smith history. I love it so much, I truly have been learning so much, and strengthening my testimony a lot!!! I am so thankful for him!! And for the great sacrafice he made for us, to be able to have this church. 

We got into the CCM again. It was so great!! We had to take the keys to the stake president again. It is so amazing inside!!! There is a big difference once you walk in the gates, and when you leave to go back to the street!!! It is so beautiful also! Oh and guess who I saw when we were in the CCM?? My companion Elder Nogueda, the one who really trained me!! It was awesome! He finished about 3 months ago so that was cool to see him in there, he was there for his test, to see if he can get a job working there or not. 

The hair cut... wow, jajaja super funny stuff!! President when he saw me was making fun of me even. Saying that he would make sure to never go to that same hair cut store. I even said a prayer during the week that my hair could grow back a little faster, and it has a tiny bit, but is still pretty short on the sides.

The event of the week was during stake confrence. So apparently President Hall was going to give a talk in the stake confrence no.. Well about 3 min. before the confrence starts the 1st councilor in the stake presidency comes over to me and my comp. And said "President Hall was going to give a talk in the confrence, but he isnt here, if he doesnt make it, Elder Allison could you give a talk on missionary work about 5 or 10 min.." I immediatly started praying that President Hall would come. I said yes, and then we went out and called President. He didnt answer, so i franticly started to prepare for what I would say, and continued praying that president would come... well that prayer wasnt answered. I had a brief outline of what to say, but didnt have much time to really memorize the order in how I would say it, but i decided to trust that all would be well. I was really nervous. For one, speaking in stake confrence is extra sketchy, second not having any time to prepare, and third in spainsh. Crap... But I got up there, and started to talk, thankfully it is a topic I am passionate about, and I could talk from the heart. Unlike almost all of my talks I gave in english I actually had my head up about 90 percent of the time (maybe its because i didnt have time to write anything...) I truly felt the spirit guide me as to what to say. It was amazing, and i consider it a miracle for me. Also my spanish was really good, I know that the Holy Ghost helped me out a lot. I ended up saying just about everything I had planned to say, and a few other things that came to my mind during the talk. I know that I am developing some good attrabutes and I know one of them is talking infront of people. I had a lot of help from Heavenly Father, there is no doubt in my mind about that. When I got done, and got back to my seat, I felt a big releif, and was very thankful! All in all it was a good experience for me, but I think 1 is all that I want or need :)

This week we had a lot of spiritual experiences teaching about Joseph Smith. And it was great, we helped a lot of investigatores gain a testimony of him. 

On Sunday we went to the temple visitors center with The Rocha family. Dolores, her 3 kids, and her husband mario. It was very nice, especially because her husband came, and he is progressing. slowly progressing, but progressing.

Angeles, hasnt been able to assist the past two sundays :( she gets done working a long night shift at 5 or 7 in the morning sunday, and the tiredness has beaten her.. We are going to see what happens with her this week, but we are continuing to help her out, and she is just about ready for baptism. 

 I am so thankful for your support!! I love you all so much!!! Have the best week ever!!!

Love Elder Allison. 

Hey Family.

This was a really solid week. Starting everything off, was tuesday. My comp. and I taught the zone because it was first tuesday of the month, and we taught about the good samaritan :) I learned just how much I love that parabol!! It is quite great, and teachs a great lesson. After Tuesday I decided to memorize the parabol, and I am close to concoring it :) After leaving from the zone confrence we had to give the keys to the stake center back to the stake president. Well he works in the CCM!! So we went over to the entrance of the CCM, which is like 3 min. walking from the stake center, figuring that the high tech security guards wouldnt let us in, that we would have to call him, or leave the keys there. Well what do you know. One of the coolest blessings in our lives. The security guard let us in!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He gave us visiting passes to wear around our necks. I felt like a rockstar!!!! It was so awesome. It is like a different world in there. It is HUGE!!! We had to find him, so me and my comp decided to "look really hard for him......" as we walked around "looking" for him, well yeah after about 15 min. of taking it all in and taking pictures of everything we finally headed over to the building he works in, and gave him the keys. There were a lot of missionaries walking around, and a few that looked at us like we were rockstars. It was pretty awesome!!!! We were very happy, I always wanted to go into the CCM, it was a dream of mine, and now that I have been just accross the street, I have had the desire even more. It was a true wish come true. Also it was my companions birthday on Tuesday I bought a mexican flag, and secretly had all the missionaries in the zone sign it, then we gave it to him at the end of the meeting, with cake, he was happy :) He only has two weeks left, and I am trying to help him be excited to keep working hard, until his last day.

On friday we had thee longest meeting of all time. it was from 9 in the morning until 6 in the afternoon. with a 45 min. lunch break. President made a lot of different changes in the mission. The best one, is that we are going to have 1 hour during every week to go to the church and use the computer to send emails to recent converts, less actives, investigators and members of wards that we have been in, to excite them, and to help them to stay active!!! That is way cool I think!!! 

I started a thankful journal. I got a tiny little booklet, and I am writting down every little thing that I am thankful for throught the day, It is really fun. I love it I feel more thankful always. Also about 3 weeks ago I finished my first journal, and am now on my second one. Sometimes it is very hard to write late at night, but I know that it will be good in the long run, and that future generations better like it!!! :) 

I got my hair...cut.... or chopped.... which ever one you want to say.... It looksreally funny. The guy cut it really short on the sides and in the back, and then it looks a tiny bit like a fluff ball on top.... thank heavens hair can grow back right??? To be completly honest it doesnt bother me. Its funny to laugh about.

On thursday, or friday not sure which, I had a cool experience. I wanted to reconfirm my testimony about joseph smith, so when we got home at night I started to read the joseph smith story in the scriptures, and after I read I got down on my knees and prayed then sat up and pondered. Well it felt like i was there for a while waiting for the answer, so i got back down on my knees and said another prayer I got back up and thought, then I felt a wonderful feeling, that I cant describe it was amazing, and I was very thankful for it. I have learned that even though we know something is true, it doesnt mean that we cant and shouldnt keep praying for a confirmation of that testimony. It is very important that we have a lot of spiritual experiences, because the hard days will come, and if we can lean on the spiritual experiences we will be able to remember, and know that this is the right path, and we can get through the tough times without falling away, which happens to so many people!!

Also I am learning a lot about Love, and service. These are the 2 bases that we should have as people and as members of the church. It is what Christ taught us, He has unconditional love for everyone. and he always served everyone. I am thankful for this opportunity to serve. I am learning lots, and I am learning each day to love more and more!!! :)

We went to the Lady that called us over in the street. wow. her little kids are crazy, it was very hard to teach because they have SOOOOOOOOO much energy. So we had to have other gameplans. We taught really simply, and we are going to teach with pictures next time. There son has 15 years, and he is really cool, he went to mutual on friday night and liked it a lot!!! We are going to see if he can come and do visits with us to get him excited about missionary work, because on sunday he brought his friend, and had an interview with the bishop, it was his first time going to church since he got baptized at 8 years old.

Also Dolores and her family including her husband came to church, and they stayed for the second hour. That was the first time it has happened with him. We got a lot of help from their son, that ran to his primary class as soon as sacrament ended, but what ever works right?? :)

I sent you guys a letter in the mail today, so hopefully it gets there soon. I love you guys so much. And am always so thankful for you, and your love. I hope you have a great week!!!!!

Love Elder Allison

Elder Allison

Familia,

What a week!!! wowzers. the highlight of the week was for sure having Elder Clarke from the 70 here. I learned so much!!! And I know that i will be a much better missionary from the things that I learned!! He taught so much by the spirit, and I felt like everything he said I needed to hear so much, he is so inspired, it was the best!!!! 

Something that i really liked is when he was talking about how we need to find people to teach that "want to", and "Can" there is a lot of times here that we are teaching people that want to get baptized but for a specific reason (not married, husband wont let them, parents wont let them, work on sundays) they cant get baptized. and there are other times when they can get baptized but they are life long investigatores and just dont want to. He explained that there are too many missionaries that waste their time with these type of people. We need to start finding, and focusing on people that want to, and can. that was an interesting point, that we have been thinking about a lot!

This week we made a lot of progress with Angeles!!! She is so awesome!!! She came to church again this sunday and is way ready to get baptized, she just needs one more assistance. She invited a friend to church, that is in other ward boundries, and the friend liked church a lot also. She is great!!!!

Yesterday something pretty funny happened. So we were just walking in our neighborhood, with all the apartment buildings, and we turned one way, well from about 50 feet away across the street a lady yelled to us to come over, so we turned around and walked over to her. On our way over, I said to my comp, joking around "this lady is going to ask us how she can get baptized, my comp said, no she is going to ask us if we teach english classes." We cross the street to talk with the lady and her two little girls. and the first thing the lady says. "at what age do you get bapitzed in your church?" Us.  "when you turn 8 years old, why?" her." because my two twin daughters are going to turn 8 on November 15th." we talked with her for a little bit, apparently a long long long time ago she got baptized, but completly fell away from the church, and she told us that she wants her kids to live a different life than she has, and that she also has a 15 year old son, that she said only got baptized and never went to church, but that she wants us to come by and teach the family so that the kids can go to church and live a better life. That was pretty cool. We are really excited to go to their house this week and see, how we can help them out!! It was a cool experience!!! The lord is blessing us a lot, which is really neat to see!!

HALLOWEEN, here they celebrate dia de los muertos, and on the 1st of november there were SO many people dressed up, every one dresses up of terror people, and dead people, and witches, and scary stuff, I honestly missed a lot, super heros, and other fun less freaky stuff. That was one thing i miss about Utah. I was very tempted to take my "nerd" costum to the street, but i thought twice, remembering I am a missionary;) 

Saturday the sisters baptized Ester, it was really cool! She cant walk and cant move her legs or she is in a ton of pain, but is in a wheelchair. Me and my compainon along with the ward mission leader all helped her get baptized, my comp held her legs, our ward mission leader her body, and me, her shoulders, arms, and head. It only took 2 times to get it right and it was a very cool experience!! The ward mission leader and I pretty much had to carry her in and out of the fount which was not very easy, but all in all a very good experience. Ester has a daughter that is 11 and she didnt want to get baptized, she said that she is not ready, but after the baptism, and the special musical number that we sang (a different one....if you were wondering yes, go ahead and sign me up now for the voice, 2016.) it was very spiritual the whole service, the sisters put a baptismal date for this coming saturday and she said yes, so far so good, hopefully it will work out!!

Me and My comp carved our pumpkins and put them in our second story window, varios members of the ward really liked it and thought it was a clever idea. My comp really liked it!!! He only has 3 weeks left, 

I am a very happy camper, I got a package today, from the releif society!!! They were so awesome and very thoughtful, I thought it was a genius idea what the RS did, please thank them from my part, and i hope to be able to send off a letter soon. Lately its been almost impossible for me to find extra time, i really want to write to different people, to help them out, or show them my love, but i dont have time for anything almost. Even pdays arent really free, having to go to the offices, and what not each monday for the meetings. But i will try my very best. Just know I love EVERYONE SO MUCH!!!!!!! :) :) 

Thanks for all you do. Your the bestest!!!

Love Elder Allison

p.s. forgot to write. So on tuesday in the night Elder Clarke talked with all the stakes in the mission. So i got to see Cristian and his family, and also some people from my first ward. Cristian is thinking a lot about going on a mission. And his mom, told me that she is going to get baptized, she just wants to know a little more, also an investigator that me and my second compainon in my first ward taught is going to get baptized!!!!!! :) good stuff!!