Buenos Dias!-Email #3

Hola familia y amigos! How is everything going?! i just want to thank everyone that sent me a gift or a card or letter! thank you so much! It's weird having a birthday here. not like they're that special to begin with. But thank you sooo much. It is so good to hear from you all! I truly feel your prayers. It is amazing being here. I forgot to mention in the last email about our devotionals. we have 2 a week! it's amazing. they are always sooo good. This last week, it seems like every lesson we have been taught related to a problem in my life. Now i shouldn't complain about my problems, they are so minor, but i know that the Lord has been answering my prayers. The lesson that stands out the most was the one from hermano Paz Soldan. He is an amazing teacher. Always has the spirit with him, and he taught about having a title of liberty. Something that motivates us while we are here. So he gave us the assignment to study in the scriptures and find our title of liberty. well, i was reading in 2 nephi, which is amazing by the way, and i decided to go back to 1nephi for some reason. and then i came to the scripture. 1 nephi 3:7. what an amazing scripture. so simple, yet powerful. i don't have my scriptures with me at the moment but it says kinda this: i will go and do the things which the lord hath commanded, for the lord giveth no commandment unto the children of men save he shall give them a way. Goodness what an amazing scripture! I have my ups and my downs here, but whenever i'm down i go to that scripture and i receive peace. I know that i am supposed to be here, i feel it everyday. It is very hard learning the language. Hermano Allred said this, "it's like i'm putting your mouth over a fire hydrant nozzle and just opening it full blast". and that is exactly how it feels with spanish. There is SOSOOO much to learn and at the end of everyday my brain is fried! but the lord made a way for me and the rest of us here to do this! oh another thing i forgot to mention, we spend over 60 hours a WEEK in the classroom! Now at first i was just watching the clock to get out of there. but now i want more hours! there aren't enough! It is soo awesome being able to study the gospel 24/7, there is nothing better! well... maybe dirtbikes ;) just kidding. Another way that Heavenly Father answered my prayers was this; so i have been having a hard time with my companion. as you all know. but i am gaining more love for him, still it is hard sometimes, but so is everything else. But one of the other companions in my district left to the Guatamala MTC this morning, leaving one elder companionless, his name is elder mcguire. i was hoping they would put him with us, but they didn't at first. they put him with our district leader, then ten minutes later our branch pres. called them back. Then i found out he would be with us! I was so comforted, not that i couldn't handle my companion, but i really did need help. Elder thomas has been having the hardest time focusing. He will just doze off all the time, not take any notes or just zone out; therefor leaving me to do everything. to teach him and to tell him what is going on! Luckily i have more help now... and i am so gratefull that He has answered my prayers. i feel bad. we have gone so far in spanish, and elder thomas is still in the same spot. he still can't pray right nor conjugate any verbs. i try to help him, even though he is not very receptive. but even when i do, he still doesn't get it. I have faith that he can do it, but he just isn't trying hard enough. i hope and pray for him every night that he will be able to focus. Anyways, we have had a lot of talks about obedience. I am not being disobedient mom, don't worry! ha but it is always good to hear these things. It is reassuring. We all need to grow up more, and be more serious in this calling. We are here to bring others to Christ. I am here because i want to show other people what happiness and joy they can receive from this gospel. and i would be ashamed if i didn't. The gospel is such a great blessing! I took some pictures and will probably send my memory card with brother gardner. if you could just maybe make a file on my computer, and put all of them in i would love it! and about the pictures i want sent. family and friends! please send me more! i can never have enough! maybe some of my photagraphy pictures as well mom. they are just in "my pictures" folder, pick any you like. maybe some dirt bike ones or something. no big deal. also mom, could you have dad put my bowling ball away in the unit, as well as my dirt bike bag and snowboarding stuff please? and maybe do something about my credit card so when i get to Chile they won't think that someone stole it? also could you send me a couple more shirts, just from my closet. it doesn't matter if there is a brand on them or not, and my black basketball shorts. also some febreeze? my compa does not shower enough and well his overweightness doesn't help the matter.. i would appreciate it mucho! and did you get my letter mom and dad? you're probably in texas, how is that going by the way? and in that letter is a story about manassa ha! Vaughns son is here, and he comes by to say hi everyonce in a while :) . well that's about all i can think about right now. i love you all! again thank you so much for the presents and money and cards! Especially grandma and grandpa washburn! and the simpsons and my family and my friends ha ha. Thank you thank you. Muchos gracias. Yo se que jesucrist vive y nos ama. yo se que jose smith fue un profeta verdadero y el trabujo el libro de mormon. yo se que el libro de mormon es verdadero. yo se que nuestras familias podemos ser juntos para siempre. yo se que jesucristo sufro para nuestras pecados. yo digo estas cosas en el nombre de jesucristo amen! i loove you all! please write me! and pelase use dearelder.com to send letters, it is so simple and it gets here the same day aas you write it! love you hasta luego con amor Elder Jackson