(From A.J.)- First week of the MTC

(Excerpt of email from A.J.) 

Hey guys, how are you doing, this email is for everyone, so mom if you can share this with the family and and send it to hank and jonna as well, that would be great, i forgot their emails so it would be awesome if you send it to them.

....So first of all my pday is on tuesday, so just letting you guys know. I am so glad that today is p day, just so i can get a break from everything. Ok so i am absolutely LOVING the MTC. When aunt karen was taking me to the mtc, i started getting really nervous and really scared, i had butterflys like crazy. hank and jonna, you probably know what i mean, it was not a good feeling. but as we were driving by and we saw all of the missionaries standing on the curb, i saw one of my good friends standing there waiting to greet a missionary. it was Kaden Dixon. I felt so much better. so when i got out the missionary that greeted me and was going to take me on the tour, traded with kaden so that we could talk and hang out and what not. I was so happy to talk to him. he made me less nervous and made me fell so comfortable. so after the tour and stuff i went to my class. the teacher there started just speaking in Creole. so as we went on 3 other missionaries showed up and we basically tryed speaking creole for about 2 or 3 hours. finally after a long time, the 2 instructors started speaking english. it was such a relief.

.....so we have a district 4 missionaries, well we did, i will explain that later. and my companion is elder gassant he is half haitian, and half tongen.  He is like 6 foot tall, weighs 240 lbs, and it is like all muscle. he is from miami florida, and then moved to salt lake for about a year and a halft, then got called to serve in the same mission as me. he is awesome.

....Well mom, you are probably crying right now, so cheer up, and i want to let you know that im doing great. i am enjoying the mtc so much. we went to the temple today and we did initiatories. it was awesome. i already know how to bear my testimony, pray, and have a casual conversation going on in creole. it is super easy, it is either that the gift of tounges is helping me out, or that the language is just super easy. probably both. so it is super similar to french, it is almost the exact thing just easier. so i will leave you my testimony in creole.

Me konnen ke jezikri redampte nou ak sove ak pitit gason, bondye. me konnen ke joseph smith yon pwofet la vre. me konnen ke liv mormon an vre ak genyen pwol bondye. me konnen ke jezikri ak bondye remen nou. mwen remesye pou ou jezikri ekspyesyon. nan nou jezikri amen.

Love, A.j.

p.s. if you really want to know what i said, translate it. haha.

(This is Lisa...ok, so if you know me, you know that I will try and find a translation for this!  So I went to an online translator, and this is what came came up):

"Me know that Jesus Christ redampte we and Saviour and son of God. me know that joseph smith a prophet Israelites; me know that book mormon to see is equivalent to winning we have children to take care of God. me know that Jesus Christ with God like to us. thanking you for you Jesus Christ ekspyesyon. of you Jesus Christ so be it."

 

I also have a friend who is from Haiti, and speaks Haitian Creole.  I will email her, and ask her what this says, and when I get her translation, I'll post it here.  

 

 

(From Jonna) Her first transfer- leaving Baytown

Hello All!

 

Dad-Thanks for the email and the advice. Send that letter when you get my new address. Also, Clay made it that far?? Seriously?? I'll need to catch up on that one for sure. Haha. Also, last Monday night, I told Sister Cochran "I betcha my family is at Logans Roadhouse right now." Guess I was right :)

 

Mom- Tell Kendall and Brittany congrats for me! I LOVE Brittany! She is one of my favorite people. I went to her baptism. She is so cool. Also, will you tell Jeni Rudd thanks for all the letters she's sent me? And, the package? I will send her a letter soon, but it has meant so much to me to hear from my ward. Will you tell her that? Can't wait to see Carla's talent! Sounds great! AND, I really need AJ's address...I need it, I need it :) Please, please send it to me. I need his email and his mailing addresses. please, please...

 

Hank-It was awesome talking to you too. I laughed at your Office comment. Cereal without milk...haha! Yes, I will write you again.

 

Ciara-THANK YOU for the package! It was awesome! I am getting transferred and since I didn't have time to make and eat my cake, I made two cakes so fast (chocolate AND vanilla) and gave them to the hermanas and Elders in our district. They both had birthdays recently, so it became my birthday/goodbye gift. I loved it! Also, your letter was perfect!

 

Elise-You are right...I do not have much time...BUT I am taking your advice and I am printing your email. So, I will be reading it this week :) You are awesome!

 

Well, Transfers...and, yes, I am getting the boot from Baytown :( But, its ok. I am trying to stay positive about the future. So, if yall are going to send me anything, don't send it until I get the new address to you. I'll try to email it this week, or next. Saturday night is thr transfer calls night. I've been feeling like I'm the one getting transferred for the last few weeks. So, I wasn't too surprised when it happened. So today, Monday, will be spent packing. Yay... So, tomorrow (Tuesday) I will go to the transfer meeting, get my new companion & area, and be off! So, I won't know anything til tomorrow. I'll let you know as soon as I can. So, again, don't send anything to Baytown anymore and wait to send anything else until you get my new address.

 

My week in review...

 

Tuesday, we got tickets from the mission to go to a BYU Dance Ensemble at the U of H. We could go since Preston came with us. It...was...so...cool!!! I never enjoyed a dance performance more in my life! They were featuring many dances from around the world. My favorites: Bollywood, Ukraine, and the country dancing! It was so nice to hear som good, classic bulegrass sound. (Thats what I was doing while AJ was being set apart.)

 

Then, Wednesday, we went to visit a less-active family. We walked in at 7pm and what do I hear? American Idol!! I asked, "Is this the top 3?" They said yes. I was never so trunky/homesick in my life. It had just started and I could hear the first singer. He sounded black and he was really good. I could then hear the judges and Ryan Seacrest. It took all my strength to not listen and focus on Monica. Then, I could hear the 2nd singer-wasn't my favorite, but I couldnt hear that well. Finally, Monica's husband, Michael (nonmember) came in and talked to us too. We then put in a church DVD and it soothed my homesick heart. Oh my gosh. It was rough, let me tell you...I really miss those Idol days. Yet, as I was thinking about it, what I'm doing is way more important than Idol. I can always catch up on Idol. I think what was hard was that I was thinking about the goold ol days of watching it together as a family. THATS what I was missing really. But, I am focused now. Still, it was a rough night.

 

We've been teaching Melissa. She is awesome. She just "wants to be good." She is sharing what she's learning with all her family (mom, sister, aunt, etc). Also, we've been teaching Christina. She is pretty sweet. She was really interested in learning about our modern-day apostles and prophets. Sad though that I have to leave them now :(

 

Last night was our last Mission Choir fireside. It was in Spanish. Let me tell you...the Lord knew what He was doing when He called me English speaking-for sure! I was asked to sing in a small group a song in English. It was really cool. I wasn't even nervous! Haha. Since I left, I've used so many musical skills I didn't know I had. I've been conducting music, singing musical numbers, and arranging musical numbers. I can't play the piano well, so that one isn't being utilized :) There are much better piano players out here.

 

So great to hear about AJ and him leaving. I can't wait to see photos of him. I am sure he is doing great! Please send me his email and addresses. Please, please! :) :)

 

Lastly, this week, I have been studying Knowledge in Preach My Gospel. I invite yall to read it and apply it. Knowledge of the Gospel and applying that knowledge is how we gain testimonies.

 

I've gotta go now. Next time you hear from me, I'll be in a new area with a new companion. Until then,

Love yall!

Jonna

 

 

(From Hank) May 21, 2012- spotted an alligator

hey dad thanks for the letter. it was good getting a personal letter again from you haha. well i have been thinking about aj this week. i really hope aj has a good time and that he'll be ok. its interesting,after i left on my mission i didn't realize how much i got along with him. i really wish i spent more time with aj, and included him with my friends and stuff. my week here has been alright, i told mom in her letter about it.
Saturday we went to Jackson for stake service. it was really good. we were in this park that was really swampy and even an alligator was sighted. it was cool. we were shoveling dirt and wheelbarrowing trying to level things out. then brother wrich in our branch took us out to five guys burgers. a really really good hamburger joint. i think they're might be one in Tempe. you guys should definitely go check it out someday. Diego cooked us dinner the past few nights and he's doing great. i really enjoy Diego, he's been helping me this past few weeks. i think he may be helping me more than I'm helping him. well dad I'm going to have to go, thanks again for your letter, it really helped me out a lot. thanks for all that you do, ill

talk to you next week, love ya bye!

love hank

hey mom how you doing? well i got your letter this week, i really
enjoyed it. thanks for the pictures you sent of aj and stuff. it made
me think about when i left. you know 2 years ago i had my call. i
remember the day i left very vividly. and theres alot to say. i think
its going to be one of those things thats better for me to say in
person. aj looks alot happier thouh than i did when i left. my bike
here is holding up good. it so far is in great condition, and its a
good bike (knock on wood). im probobly going to send it home when the
time comes. on saterday we went to jackson to do
service for the stake. it was fun we did alot of shoveling and
wheelbarrowing. it was jsut what i needed, it was good to take a
break. after that we went to five guys burgers. that is a really good
burger joint and i dont know if youve ever had it before. it is very
good, almost a good as in-n-out! by the way i really miss in-n-out.
they have none of those here out here. well mom thats about it for
now, thanks for your letter you sent i really liked it and it helped
alot. let me know about the cameras, and il talk to yo next week.  Love
ya bye!
love hank

A.J. is off!

It doesn't get easier.  But I will tell you, A.J. was ready to go, and all smiles as we got up this morning, and even more big smiles as we said our good-byes at the airport.  I've never seen someone so ready and so excited as he was this morning.  I am sure just knowing he's out there with Jonna and Hank, has got to make it that much more exciting for him.  We managed to get through this morning, and are now looking forward to the emails and letters.  They have been treasures from Hank and Jonna, and will be treasures from him.

Taken last night (May 15) just before Pres. Palmer came over to set him apart. 

5:45 AM- Time to go...

A.J. saying goodbye to Buster.  I think we have one like this with Hank and  Juliet!  Wasn't done on purpose, but it's total deja vu!

Saying goodbye to his little sisters....Carla...

Jeri....

Addie...

Just before the tears...

Good-bye A.J....

And then a little Starbucks chocolate shakes make all the tears go away for a few minutes!

Tradition: On the parking garage roof, waiting to watch his plane take off.

A.J.'s plane

...and off he goes!

His Aunt Karron waited for him at the airport.  I just got off the phone with him a few minutes ago, he had lunch, went to take some pictures at the Provo Temple, and was getting ready to head to the MTC. Once she posts the pictures, I'll post them here.  Sure appreciate Karron for doing this for us.  What a great tradition, and Karron loves it, and so do our kids. Thanks Karron!

Ok...here are the pictures from Aunt Karron!  Thanks again for posting these so fast on your FB.  Karron has a great tradition of picking up her nieces and nephews from SLC, taking them to lunch, and taking them to the Provo Temple to get pictures.  Jim (John's brother) met up with them for lunch to Carl's Jr.  (This was A.J's preference... he LOVES Carl's Jr.) 

Uncle Jim & A.J....at Carl's Jr.  His favorite!

Provo Temple Grounds. 

Talking to Mom and Dad one more time...

Aunt Karron and A.J.  She has helped us tremendously, by picking up Hank, Jonna, and now A.J. , and taking them to the MTC for us. It's become quite a nice tradition.

Unloading his luggage...

His new best friend.  :-)

Bye son.  We'll sure miss you.

Catching up on Blog: A.J. leaves tomorrow!

(This is Lisa) It has been since April 8th that I have posted anything.  I am trying to do a catch up today...as tomorrow morning we will be taking A.J. to the airport for his mission.  Three missionaries out at the same time.  I never thought in a million years we would be so blessed.  Having just one out is amazing, and then to have two...wow.  And now three....triple wow.  But with that "wow", comes a heaviness in my heart that also can't be described.  The good-byes are definitely the hardest, and 24 hours from now, A.J. will have just lifted off towards SLC, and I imagine I will be a mess.  Right now, it's 8:00 in the morning, and he's still asleep in his room, just a few feet away.  I will miss that boy.  No, I will miss that young man.  Jeri and I were talking in the car this morning as I was dropping her off to school, and she said "Mom, which would you rather feel?  The heaviness from him leaving, or not serving?"  She's right, and I know she's right.  I know that some of you dear friends and family who are reading this, who have had a child who decided not serve  for whatever reason, knows the heaviness that comes from that decision as well. This post is not meant to be boastful.  I know that we have our free-agency.  It's all part of the plan, and for whatever reason, we are here today, and I want to always remember that the Lord knows all, and has a huge hand in where we are right now. And that heaviness I feel in my chest today..it's a heaviness, a pit in the stomach that I know I will recover from, because we've seen the growth in Hank, and also in Jonna...and I wouldn't want A.J. to miss that for the world.  And I'm so grateful he wants this for himself.  He really wants to serve the Lord.  Yes, the next 24 hours will probably be the hardest for me,  I know that.  Get me through today and tomorrow.  Besides, it's not about me...it's about A.J.  And he can't get out of here fast enough!  He is so stinkin' ready to go! 

From Jonna: Dated May 13, 2012

Hello All!

 

It was great getting to talk to you yesterday. Sad it was a short time, but we had some busy plans the rest of the night anyway. We were off taking cookies & cards to some women in the ward. It was a nice evening.

 

Well, my birthday was great. Thanks everyone for the notes/emails! That day was a Pday and we went to the beach in La Porte with our zone. A much nicer beach than the one in Baytown. It was great. They all got me a singing Disney card (yay!) and we played games and built sand castles. Only my feet touched the water, and as I stood there letting my feet get buried in the sand like I always do in CA, I was singing "Beyond the Sea" to myself. I always find that this song comes to my mind when I visit the ocean. It is a happy song and it brought a smile to my face as I thought of our dorky family and our Disney-senitmentality. (Again, thanks dad for the lyrics to the Bug's Life song :)

Thanks for the package mom and family! I loved the notes. Sis. Cochran and I laughed so hard at the note on the Nutella "Think of Juliet before you take a bite." Haha-awesome. I made the Reeses bars and I put the whole 24 candle pack on it. Wow. Next year, I've exceeded the candle pack limit. On Friday night, we got a knock at our door at 9:15pm that night. A little freaked out, we found it was Elders Packard, Tupou, Backman, and Shepherd. They had been doing exchanges and went to Walmart and got me a present. They got me a Barbie bell for my bike and a Texas T-shirt. It was so cool! I felt special! Haha-so, I gave them some Reeses bars for the road. They loved it.

 

Saturday, we went to the Mors to help them with their house remodeling. We went with our 2 Elders (Packard & Tupou) to help pick up sheet rock, shingles, wood boards, etc. It was good hard work, but really fun. Then, that night was the ward's Chili & Cobbler Cook-off. My first Sunday here, in Ward Council, Brother Halladay said, "Hey! Why don't we have a Chili cook-off?" And, they laughed about the idea, but then, they decided it was a great one and it happened Saturday. They asked us missionaries to be the judges. Haha-me?? The pickiest person, a judge? Well, it happened, and it wasn't too bad. I was super full by the end of the night after eating all the chili and cobbler, but it was a great night. We were in the kitchen judging and I could here the music they were playing in the cultural hall-it was good ol' country music...Coat of Many Colors, He Stopped Loving Her Today, Make the World Go Away, etc. Good thing I was in the kitchen, or else I would've been singing along! So far, my favorite thing about Texas-good taste in music (generally).

 

Well, transfers are coming up next week. If one of us is getting transferred, we will get a call on Saturday and we'll find out where to on Tuesday. So, next week, look for my email with transfer news.

 

This last week, I've been studying a lot about Virtue. How wonderful virtue is! 2 Peter 1:3-10 is fantastic. Read it, ponder it, apply it. Also, try D&C 45:3-5. It talks about Christ's role as our advocate. It is one of my new favorites. It is beautiful how Christ speaks up for those who speak up for Him here.

 

Mom, I need AJ's MTC address, Mission Home, and email. I want to write him as soon as I can. And, when Karron sends you photos of him in Utah, will you email those to me too? I want to see them! Also, can you forward Hank's emails to me? The ones that have the most info about what is happening to him out there? I don't get good updates about him. Thanks :)

 

Have fun in California family! I am a bit jealous, but I am excited for yall. Have a good time! Send me a postcard! Haha-jk!

Love yall,

Sister Jackson

(From Hank: Dated May 8, 2012)

hey dad how you doing?M well my last phone call is about a week away, its very exciting, because then ill h
ave 4 months left to talk to you
guys again. anyway this week was good, cinco de mayo was awesome, Diego and his
friend Ashley took me a Osick out to, we ate so much
crab and stuff. I'm really going to miss them when i leave. well dad theres a lot going on and i can't wait to talk to
you next week on Sunday, talk to you then, love ya bye!
love hank
PS sorry i didn't write back yesterday, it was a little busy