You little devil, get outta my house!!‏

The view from the top of the Prudential Building in Boston

Cabo verde, te amo

Me, Djeison and Rodrigues!

I still take flower pictures. Still

You might be thinking those were the words someone said to me, but you would be wrong. In fact, they were the words an old man said to his government ID stuck in his pocket, as he handed me and E. Rodrigues his keys, wallet and gigantic Bible. The adventures of the T!

This week has been pretty exciting! We had transfers on Wednesday, and since Elder Rodrigues never got to experience them his first day he got to spend the night with the rest of the brand-new missionaries and the Packards. And I was reunited with my old companion Elder Lopes!! We spent a day in Dorchester together and it was legit. Then that night we said goodbye to the missionaries headed home and heard them bear their final testimonies in the Massachusetts Boston mission. Each time this happens I know more of the ones going home--- makes me feel old. Which I'm still not. 

We hit the ground running on Thursday and were able to see Djeison, who's going to be baptized this Sunday, and have correlation with the group leader Alberto. That meeting in and of itself was inspiring, because his vision is the same as ours and he sees the possibilities here. He doesn't have the greatest means fiscally in the world, but he and his family are spiritual giants giving everything to the Lord. He's got big plans for the portuguese in Boston, and we're hitting the yoke together.

Friday I assumed a new responsibility as a district leader, and got to fumble my way through the first meeting of the transfer. Some of the strongest missionaries are here in the city, and they make up for my lack of experience. We also found a guy going back to cape verde, Ladimir, that had always wanted to visit the church there but never got the chance. We taught him about the church and the restoration, and since hes returning to CV in a week we're going to coordinate with the missionaries there so he doesn't fall through the cracks in transit. 

Saturday was miraculous. For really the first time in my mission, everything we tried or planned worked. All pieces fell into place and all the people we needed to see showed up, including one Elton who pulled up right as we were walking out of his house. We had a lesson with the family of 6 teenagers and finally the oldest son opened up to us about how he feels. That he wants to know, and that he understands this decision will affect the course of his life, and is ready to ask God if this is the right path. We left him Alma 32 to read. He came to church on the next day, Sunday, having read and prayed; he asked when he could be baptized. 

Being on a mission I've learned so much about companionship. So often when we face discord with our family or friends we point the blame all directions except inward; our pride digs in and we hurt the ones we disagree with. But think of Christ. He was leading a nascent church with apostles that were adolescent in the faith and in their responsibility. They were sometimes prideful, sometimes ignorant, and often just human like we are-- imperfect. Yet the Savior chastened with love. Instead of distancing himself, he drew them closer, taught them more. He spent months removed from Jerusalem with them, unfolding the church and priesthood to them. And you can read the result in the closing books and epistles of the New Testament-- the apostles teaching with power and authority, administering and guiding the church!

So it is with our families and friends. Only increased love and hard work bring the Zion that we need. And nothing else is worth it!

Love,
Elder Jackson

In the City‏

From a gigantic and ancient library in Boston, here's your update on the life of ELDER JACKSON.

 

This week was sweet. Like a ginepa. Or as I call them, eyeball fruit. I ate MANY this week.

 

I taught a 10-year old how to conduct hymns, so that he can soon have a chamadinho (little calling) in the group... I'm the designated piano player for church, so he's gonna be my conductor. #groupperks

Djeison is on fire. We were teaching about the Holy Ghost in church on Sunday, and I asked him about its role in his conversion so far. He said "When I read the Book of Mormon, I got a feeling that was very powerful. Something I never felt before, that I couldn't make up." Like getting hit with the Spirit train. LEGIT.

 

3 out of 7 teenagers from our favorite family of Marcelino were at church on Sunday, and they're starting to receive answers that this is the right way to go. eh fixe dimais! 

 

I'm not going to have 3 days as a cyborg (72-hour EEG), but instead a neurologist found a medicine that just might work. I'm hoping. It feels right.

 

I'm learning Portuguese faster than ever, probably because its the first time I'm teaching it to my companion and teaching in it to our people. Plus were getting a vision of how this group can crescer (grow), which it will--- one important step, we think, will be finding a place to have church in Dorchester. Gonna be an adventure. But we talked to a pastor who invited us to come read his sermons during the week, and we're gonna go! Maybe he'll lend us some real estate three hours a week!!!! its a stretch... but gotta be optimistic.

 

Shout outs to Daniel for his birthday and Scott for his birthday and Darren and Carey for their 1 year anniversary!!! BOM DIMAIS!

 

Love,
Elder Jackson 

Sta sabe dimais‏

Indeed it is... you awesome brethren and sistren, I have limited time because yesterday was labor day and all the libraries were closed and we spent 7 hours in the Boston temple. It was a good day.

Highlights---

Our 14-year-old friend Djeison will be baptized on the 21st, and he's better at studying scriptures than me. 

As soon as we can figure how to help somebody quit smoking, Manuel will be on the road. Viciado... addictions are hard.

In a few days I get to have my brain hooked up to cyber wires and proselyte with a Red Sox hat for 3 days. beat that.

And last P-day, I played the organ in a Masonic Temple. My songs of choice: If You Could Hie to Kolob, and Praise to the Man ;)

I love you all! More updates next week!

-Elder Jacksao

Yahd sale in Dowchestah‏

Bom dia my friends.

Shoutout to three people in this email list who I saw two days ago...

(Sister-no-longer) Jenna and Darren and Carey (whom I got permission to meet with on Jenna's way home) came honking and hollering through the parking lot of the chapel in Boston where we were having a party for the portuguese group. It was the strangest and happiest reunion I've ever had. 

(see pictures)

Now we are in Dorchester! Were starting everything from scratch. The biggest benefit is having sisters with experience here, because they already know the members and the city and the T. We had a little bit of whiplash in the transition here, mostly because E. Rodrigues (my new companion and second son) and I together have a miniscule background in public transportation. Everything here is bus and train, walk and walk some more. I'm feeling for my brothers and sisters serving in brazil, except its even hotter there and they have hills. 

BUT. After 5 days of confusion and transition, we're back on our feet (literally and metaphorically) and finding prepared people in Dorchester. It may have taken walking past a sign that literally said "YAHD SALE -->" for me to realize that this really is Boston. I never dreamed of living in a city, but now that we're here I'm realizing its actually aiight. Especially once you know which bus to take.

One struggle-- right now we live about an hour away from our proselyting area in Dorchester. We're in a swanky senior couples apartment, and I'm grateful for that, but the time spent in transit is killer. Probably in a month or two another senior couple will join the mission and we'll get moved closer to the orange line. Our work level will increase dramatically! But for now we will conseguir. 

Some miraculous stories from this week:

On the buses we usually sit in different places so we can talk to different people, and this past week God directed someone directly into my mass-transit path. I sat down next to an Indian-looking man, but on a whim started speaking Portuguese to him, and turns out he's cape verdean! His name is Manuel, and he loves, I mean loves the church. He says its the only church in cape verde that practices true religion and actually helps people change their lives. His son was baptized in Fogo, and he wants to start coming with him to church here. I told him the group was just starting, still small, but he didn't care. He has a gargantuan smoking problem, and he says he will only get baptized once he's completely free of it. Let the addiction recovery begin!

Also--- the sisters were teaching a 14 year old boy, Djeison, who really wasn't progressing forward. Then we showed up, and they transferred him to us. Turns out he's just really shy with girls.... because he understands the restoration of the church, the gospel of Jesus Christ, and he wants to get baptized. We tried to set it for a month, but he said that was too long. So we marked a goal for the 14th! 

Last, I've been reading the allegory of the olive tree in Jaco 5. And I'm struck with the investment of the Lord of the vineyard. He weeps with grief at the idea of losing the trees of the vineyard, which are the workmanship of his hands. That is the God we worship-- a God who weeps. 

Love yall com todo meu coracao <3

-Elder Jackson

Jerusalem, if I forget youuuuuuu

Zoram and the Narrador 

Selfie 

Luisa's baptism

That is the sad song I sing, except Jerusalem is Brockton and I am not singing Hebrew reggae... But after several days of calls between President Packard and I, we've decided my brain in decent enough shape to handle a transfer to Dorchester, opening an area and training without a car. All I can do is trust and dive in. But the Lord qualifies whom He calls, neh?

This week was full of many great experiences, lots of the Spirit, struggles for answers and moments of great and sweeping views. I wrote a few weeks ago about my frustration with the people's struggle to keep commitments, to progress forward. And this week saw the realization of a love for the people I could not instill in myself, but had to come from God. Where before there was resentment, now there is understanding. And I deeply appreciate the chance to be here in my "promised land".

Two stories:

We went to go see two women we've been teaching, Nichinha and Bia, several times this week, and it all culminated in a lesson on Wednesday. We brought the Restoration video and a recent convert who gained his testimony through that video and set up the Miller's computer and speakers in the living room to watch. When the movie arrived at Joseph Smith's walk into the forest to pray, Julio (the RC) moved from one side of the room to be closer to the screen, saying "this is the best part-- this is what I really want to see." And the Spirit was there. And they watched, and we talked and prayed, and they decided to be baptized. It was miraculous.

On Saturday we had a casa aberta (open house) at the chapel, where the mission's portable visitor's center was on display. It took days to prepare everything, but in the end it was fantastic. Especially sweet was a play that me, E. Lopes and E. Vecchi wrote for 1 Nephi 2-4 (Nephi + bros go get the brass plates from Laban). We had two rehearsals, both of which only had like half the people there, and I thought it was going to fall apart. But it didn't. It was funny, it was dramatic, and I learned that Cabo Verdeans are really good improv actors. And most importantly the people there loved it. I'll get a video and send it to you.
My role? The narrator...in portuguese :) #gringo

Will I go to Brazil? The question that has been on my back for 21 weeks now.... And I think I will stay here. Many prayers, a lot of counsel with parents and President Packard. It seems right. It hurts a little bit to close the door, but I think maybe this was where I was meant to be all along.

Love,
Elder Jackson

Just a quick shoutout to all the greatest people in the world

I am very limited on time today (I'm so sorry because I know yall desperately want to know about my missionary life ;) )

The neuropsych test came back and I am absolutely normal--

So the doctor says there's nothing left to test for and I can go to brazil if I want---

but I'm still not so sure. so the decision is up to my parents, me and the Lord! 

I don't know what will happen-- but I have this to say. 

It doesn't matter where you go in the service of the Lord because he is doing his work among all these people. And while we can't always explain the why, we're guided just the same. 

Keep going! Keep doing good! Don't die with your music still in you!

Love,
Elder Jackson

Land of Light

First off, I want to share this video with anybody that can watch it.

https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2012-04-1010-cape-verde-land-of-light?lang=eng

Its the church's spotlight on cape verde and the growth of the church there. Its a fantastic video and one that we're going to share with the members and people we're teaching. 

This week was humbling. My weaknesses have been demonstrated to me, emotional,physical and spiritual, and I feel a strong desire to repent and do better. Most of all, I need to love the people here more. The struggle this week was a lack of accountability-- people not doing the things they said they would do. It culminated in 11 people who committed to come to church on Sunday (members and non-members) cancelling and not showing up , including one who got baptized last week skipping her confirmation. We never have all the details, and we never know fully the pressures people face, but I admit I was frustrated. And I started to blame it on the culture. And it took the presence of the Holy Ghost right out of me. 

So E. Lopes and Vecchi showed me the land of light video, which I had never seen. And I was reminded that no matter the culture, no matter the strength or deficiency, God is doing his work for His children. He reaches out to the isles of the sea, the lost children on every continent, and invites them to come unto him. To change and take steps towards exaltation. And every, single one of us qualifies for the Savior's grace, because we're not like Him yet. Doesn't matter if its the harvard grad or the brocktonian who can't read or write. Everyone needs Christ and his Atonement. Even missionaries. 

I have two weeks left here in Brockton, and I'm going to give them all to the Lord and to the people. Then its a new challenge and a new step forward. Grace by grace we learn, just like Christ did. 

Love you all! Sorry this one was so dang serious but sometimes thats just the way it is. 

Love,

Elder BDJ

ps. shoutout to Daniel and Ashley for successfully finishing their stay in Thailand and receiving another assignment in CAPE TOWN. WORD.

p.p.s sorry no pics. our presidente do ramo took my camera card so I won't have it for a few days hehe