Well everyone, I'm back...and I'm going to have to make this one quick again...I should really start writing this email first....we'll see if I remember next week haha.
But this week we had a myriad of car problems....on Tuesday night, we parked our car and then when we went back to it, the battery was dead...but all the lights were on and even worked. So we just didn't know what to do...so we went home and then the next morning realized that we parked in a 9-5 parking meter zone and our car would be fined if we didn't move it...but it wouldn't start...so we called the mission office and they sent a mechanic our way....so about 2 hours later the mecanic was there at about 9 oclock...the meter police were making there rounds and I was kind of worried...it made me think a lot about the Atonement and the justice and mercy aspects...We were absolutely unable to move our car and avoid the punishment for breaking the rules...we had no money with us either, so we had no way....just like we are unable to avoid sins ourselves and we have insufficient merits in order to compensate for the sins that we have....and justice would have had it, we would have been fined....but then I thought about mercy....It wasn't fair that we would be fined for parking a place and then not being able to move right?? I'm relaying this story as fast as I can, but it felt like I was in President Packer's talk about the Mediator....I remember that I thought...we need a third person...we need someone to vouch for us...and so it was...just as the police were about to get to our car and give us a large fine, the mechanic pulled up and told them the situation and fixed the car for us....we drove away with a new battery and a new perspective on the Atonement.. It was a very powerful experience.
Also, after this experience, I was thinking about all of the car problems I've had to handle on my mission...we have jumped a car, ran out of gas, and heaps of others...then I thought...the only thing I haven't done is changed a tire....well that thought turned to a reality on sunday night....we were driving home from dinner talking about potential pday activities when there was a pop and the car kind of swerved...the Elder Li yelled at me from the back "Elder Jackson, ni3 gan4 ma2" ....which pretty much means what in the world are you doing?? hahahah and I was like its not me!!! hahahah so yes...long story short, I learned how to change a tire last night....
In other news, Harry didn't come to church because he was hung over....it was very sad but we will just continue to work...most of the homestays that we contacted last week really didn't have interest, and we had a pretty average week...but I have been translating sacrament into chinese recently and I can testify that the Lord will qualify his servants!!! The gift of tongues is very real! Have a good week!
Elder Jackson
But this week we had a myriad of car problems....on Tuesday night, we parked our car and then when we went back to it, the battery was dead...but all the lights were on and even worked. So we just didn't know what to do...so we went home and then the next morning realized that we parked in a 9-5 parking meter zone and our car would be fined if we didn't move it...but it wouldn't start...so we called the mission office and they sent a mechanic our way....so about 2 hours later the mecanic was there at about 9 oclock...the meter police were making there rounds and I was kind of worried...it made me think a lot about the Atonement and the justice and mercy aspects...We were absolutely unable to move our car and avoid the punishment for breaking the rules...we had no money with us either, so we had no way....just like we are unable to avoid sins ourselves and we have insufficient merits in order to compensate for the sins that we have....and justice would have had it, we would have been fined....but then I thought about mercy....It wasn't fair that we would be fined for parking a place and then not being able to move right?? I'm relaying this story as fast as I can, but it felt like I was in President Packer's talk about the Mediator....I remember that I thought...we need a third person...we need someone to vouch for us...and so it was...just as the police were about to get to our car and give us a large fine, the mechanic pulled up and told them the situation and fixed the car for us....we drove away with a new battery and a new perspective on the Atonement.. It was a very powerful experience.
Also, after this experience, I was thinking about all of the car problems I've had to handle on my mission...we have jumped a car, ran out of gas, and heaps of others...then I thought...the only thing I haven't done is changed a tire....well that thought turned to a reality on sunday night....we were driving home from dinner talking about potential pday activities when there was a pop and the car kind of swerved...the Elder Li yelled at me from the back "Elder Jackson, ni3 gan4 ma2" ....which pretty much means what in the world are you doing?? hahahah and I was like its not me!!! hahahah so yes...long story short, I learned how to change a tire last night....
In other news, Harry didn't come to church because he was hung over....it was very sad but we will just continue to work...most of the homestays that we contacted last week really didn't have interest, and we had a pretty average week...but I have been translating sacrament into chinese recently and I can testify that the Lord will qualify his servants!!! The gift of tongues is very real! Have a good week!
Elder Jackson