So this week was totally awesome!! I had a lot of fun experiences and a lot of good memories and then I had some really good spiritual moments too! First off, the Chinese is going good and I can't wait to get to Australia next week to see how much I really don't know haha. But still stoked. I got my flight plans on Friday and it's basically going to kill me, but I'm good because I think I'll just read all of Jesus the Christ haha. I have a 6 hour layover in LAX. Just when I was lamenting that fact, Elder Smith told me that I was probably in LA for 6 hours for a reason. So that got me thinking and he and I have both decided to get a couple Book of Mormon's here and place them on the way. So that's scary, but I know that we can do it and we'll be guided! I'm stoked though. I can't wait to be out in the real world doing the work. It's going to be so exciting.
Speaking of the real world, the MTC is really close to Lavell Edwards Stadium which was pretty sick on Saturday night. I listened to the whole first have which was pretty exciting but then we had to go to bed. So the only info that I had for about 24 hours was that the score was 10-7 at the half. I'm not even sure if that was right though because it was so hard to hear. We found out the whole story this morning though and Elder Ball and I were getting super pumped. Can't wait to hear how the game against UCLA goes! Haha but let me tell you of my experience as I tried to listen. I stood under and big tree right by the MTC fence and stared at the lights of the stadium. There were several others with me some from my district and others that weren't. We were all dead silent trying to hear the game. We got a lot of it, but mostly we just heard Bosie score a couple times, so that was discouraging. We were supposed to be studying at that time, so I memorized the sacrament prayers in Chinese in between plays. Not sure how well that stuck though, so I maybe should go back and review that this week haha. Anyway, last comment on that. It felt like I was in Lehi's dream and I was standing under the tree of life and staring at the great and spacious building. Hahaha it was great though.
The last highlight of this week ends on a spiritual note. A sister in my district has been having really severe headaches for about a week. She has been to the doctor and everything but nothing was working. She asked me for a blessing on Saturday night and I told her that I would be happy to. It was amazing to once again feel the spirit working through me as the words that came out were not mine. The blessing that I felt prompted to give was different than the Elder that I gave one to a few weeks ago, but the feeling was the exact same. It was yet again an amazing testimony builder for me as I was able to feel and express in a blessing God's very pure and unconditional love for this sister. It was an amazing experience and I was nearly moved to tears. I know that the priesthood is real and that our Heavenly Father loves each and every one of us so much.
I hope that you all have a good week this week! Stay strong and continue to recognize God's hand in your lives because I know that he is there. I have felt his love so much and I know that he has that same love for every one of his children. He knows us personally and has a plan for each of us. I miss you all! Have a great week!
Elder Jackson
Speaking of the real world, the MTC is really close to Lavell Edwards Stadium which was pretty sick on Saturday night. I listened to the whole first have which was pretty exciting but then we had to go to bed. So the only info that I had for about 24 hours was that the score was 10-7 at the half. I'm not even sure if that was right though because it was so hard to hear. We found out the whole story this morning though and Elder Ball and I were getting super pumped. Can't wait to hear how the game against UCLA goes! Haha but let me tell you of my experience as I tried to listen. I stood under and big tree right by the MTC fence and stared at the lights of the stadium. There were several others with me some from my district and others that weren't. We were all dead silent trying to hear the game. We got a lot of it, but mostly we just heard Bosie score a couple times, so that was discouraging. We were supposed to be studying at that time, so I memorized the sacrament prayers in Chinese in between plays. Not sure how well that stuck though, so I maybe should go back and review that this week haha. Anyway, last comment on that. It felt like I was in Lehi's dream and I was standing under the tree of life and staring at the great and spacious building. Hahaha it was great though.
The last highlight of this week ends on a spiritual note. A sister in my district has been having really severe headaches for about a week. She has been to the doctor and everything but nothing was working. She asked me for a blessing on Saturday night and I told her that I would be happy to. It was amazing to once again feel the spirit working through me as the words that came out were not mine. The blessing that I felt prompted to give was different than the Elder that I gave one to a few weeks ago, but the feeling was the exact same. It was yet again an amazing testimony builder for me as I was able to feel and express in a blessing God's very pure and unconditional love for this sister. It was an amazing experience and I was nearly moved to tears. I know that the priesthood is real and that our Heavenly Father loves each and every one of us so much.
I hope that you all have a good week this week! Stay strong and continue to recognize God's hand in your lives because I know that he is there. I have felt his love so much and I know that he has that same love for every one of his children. He knows us personally and has a plan for each of us. I miss you all! Have a great week!
Elder Jackson