First Earthquake, New Companion!

 4 January, 2016

Hola everybody! I just wanted to say a quick hello and Happy New Year from Riverside! I hope you all had a great holiday season. That is my favorite time of year, where we can be with family and reflect on the year. I know everyone has things they want to improve about themselves (resolutions), and that is what is so great about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It allows us to ditch those feelings of regret and sadness and leaves only happiness. I love serving as a missionary and serving my Lord. I can promise that there is nothing more rewarding than having a personal relationship with Him. Best wishes. Love, Elder Jackson 

We felt our first earthquake! It was a 4.8! or 4.4 not sure. It was nuts! My comp is also from Randolf, Ut! We had a double dinner with some Polynesians last night. I thought I might die! It had to have been like 9,000 calories!

I am glad that you got those framed! I think Dad will really like those! Maybe I should just draw pictures for you all instead of sending gifts for Christmas. I had a lot of fun making those!

I am so excited that you are doing the BOM everyday! I am currently doing 2 pages of the BOM, 2 pages from the NT and like 15 minutes out of Our Heritage, as well as 5 pages out of Preach My Gospel with doing all of the scripture activities everyday (the advantages of having 2 hours of study per day :) ). I started the BOM on the 1st and am really loving it so far!

I am currently reading through Acts for the first time and I think it is one of my favorite books in the New Testament that I've read so far. I was blown away by Acts 5. The boldness of Peter and John is flooring! People had so much faith in what he could do that even his passing shadow had an effect on them. He stood in front of a council and testified with so much power. I think it is written beautifully too. And as Gamaliel said, that if this was the work of men, it would have been thwarted or fizzled, but since it is God's, it can't and oughtn't be stopped, or even attempted to be stopped. Since we are the extended arms of the apostles, we can and should bear as powerful of testimony as Peter. This is God's work and He is with us.  He wants us, like the apostles, to never cease preaching of Jesus. We have the privilege and responsibility to do so, and we are so blessed to be "counted worthy to bear shame for his name". 

I must say that I am more and more grateful for Elder Andrus every day. I guess it really is like with parents, you appreciate them more when you are not around them constantly. Elder Andrus and I got along great and I loved being with him (in fact, I would be ecstatic to be able to serve with him again if I could), but since he has been gone I have really been able to realize how good of a missionary and how hardworking and pure he was. That being said, I am very excited to be working with Elder Cornia and I think we can accomplish a lot of good together. I am excited to have the stretch that comes from having a second companion. It has really kept me on my knees and relying on my Heavenly Father's help. I think we will have a great transfer and will get a lot of good work done as we focus on the fundamentals of missionary work,  continue stressing obedience, and continue working our hardest and loving the Lord.