Email #71…July 11, 2011

hola hola,

well... this week was another one of those weeks with little
excitement. i'm sorry... i feel like my letters are slowly dying.. but i'm
trying to put new things in them, even though they might be shorter!

this week we met our new president, President Martinez. i had a
feeling that we would be getting a really strict, serious president...
in comparison to President Swenson... but man was i wrong! i still miss ol
Joe Swenson, but if i were to replace him, Pres Martinez would be the man.
he is so full of life and energy! it really was a warm welcoming... both
ways... coming from us to him, and him to us. i'm excited to see what new
things i will learn from him.

Pres. Martinez is very young...41... with his wife,
and three little kids (under the age of 11... i think). they are very intelligent
and just a great family. it was definitely different not having Pres. and
Hermana Swenson there though.... i will never forget them and all the
things that they have taught me. (Side note: apparently Uncle Paul saw Pres
Martinez in the MTC and told him that i was in his mission... crazy how
small the world is:) ! anyways... other than the changes in leadership it was
a normal, good week. nothing really crazy happened. wait.... ok, something to
write about. it's really hard to get activities going in this branch, but when the
word "soccer" is brought up, everyone is excited. so this week, seeing
that Chile played, we planned an activity at the church. we got a
projector and speakers and watched the game in our little two story
church (really...it's just an old bus mechanic station). we had an awesome
turn out though! even the Relief Society came! probably because they
were already there having a knitting activity... which me and my comp
went to. yes... i showed my mad knitting skills! everyone couldn't get
over the fact that i knew how to knit....oh, the random things that you
learn on the mission.... anywho, that was the week. we are starting to
have an activity every week now. hopefully we can help the branch
to get more united.. well that's all i've got to report.... OH, and my
district had a pretty good week. Collipulli killed it this week and we
finally had Puren get someone to church! this whole cambio they
haven't been able to bring anyone to church. so there is definitely
improvement. well i love you all. have a great week!

elder jackson