Email #56...March 21, 2011

well here i am in Lota. what a DIFFERENCE! man it's crazy how big of
change a few hours can make. it's gonna take some getting used to here
ha ha. let me try to explain this place. when they told me it was the
poorest sector here i didn't know what to expect. mom, dad... remember
when we were moving Allie to Texas and we were right next to the
boarder of Mexico? you could see all the houses on the hills without
windows, and practically no roads. well... that's pretty much what it
looks like. there are some richer parts, but over all its CRAZY. there
is not a flat piece of ground here.. just up and down. hills steeper than
up by the Provo temple! it's definitely a work out! we've got about three
really big hills here. the streets are not really organized at all....
they are going all over the place, some of them are just sidewalks
going up hills. the people are pretty receptive though. its a lot easier
to get appointments, but at the same time they are just afraid to say
no to us. so, we come back the second time and they just tell us they
already have their religion. shocker? not really. However, i know there
are people out there waiting for us. we just gotta find em! it will just
be a little harder now... ha. i'm still pretty lost too... i had a pretty
good sense of direction in Victoria... but not here! it's definitely fun
though! gorgeous views of the ocean and everything! we are just a
block or two from the ocean! the only thing that really stinks... is
that it STINKS! oh my goodness. think of the place by East Bay where
they ground up dead animals. it's that times ten... plus the smell of
ground up fish... and that describes Lota! when we walk out of our
apartment it's just like you're hitting a wall of smell. i literally
almost vomited. but i'm learning to hold it in pretty well...:)

my comp, Elder Williams is a stud. his Spanish still needs some
work (all of his comps have been gringo), but he is such a good worker.
he's got his head on straight and really helps me out. he's from )Oregon
and has 10 brothers and sisters...a big family! he is really a great
guy! we have fun for sure. he was "born" here in Lota (started the
mission) so he doesn't know anywhere else. he will complete six months
in Chile with me. it's definitely a different view once you are comp
mayor. it's hard... and i feel under prepared. but i'm really trying to be
a good comp. and striving to rely on the Lord.

we had the opportunity to have a conference with Elder Corborage... what
an awesome conference! he talked about the Prophet Joseph Smith and
all the things that he did. wow!. it really helped my testimony grow.
it was more of the stone hard evidence that he was a prophet. he did
so many things in so little time, there is no doubt that he was a
prophet of God. it was great. then he taught something that really hit
me. something that my parents have been trying to teach me for my
whole life. he was talking about working for the Lord. how we shouldn't
have to wait to be told to do something, we should just do it and look
for things to do. my mom and dad have been trying to teach me that my
whole life. obviously... i wasn't the best at it, i tried though. and had
been preparing for a mission my whole life. it really touched me.
it's just great to be able to listen to general authorities and also to be
able to tie those things to the teachings of my parents. i truly am
grateful to be a part of this work and to have great parents who have
taught me many important things in life to prepare me for other
things. it's a great adventure here on the mission and i would not
change it for the world. i love you all and hope you have a great
week!

love elder jackson