A Little Off The Top

October 21, 2019

General Información

A many buenas tardes to all of you wherever you may be. I come to you fresh off a another great week here in Queretaro. I also come unto fresh off my new cut, THE BUZZ. Yes that is right, I was just tired of getting called "corn head" in the streets, so I got back at them with the classic Vladímir Putin fade...or maybe I just wanted to cut it. You decide the reason, but it doesn't change the result; my hair is no more. For those worried, I had already talked to Pres about it and he said anything longer than a 2 was ok, so I went the old 1 to 3 fade. I now don't have to worry about doing my hair in the morning which is sick but I do have to worry now about a sunburned scalp which is not so sick. After a full week though I must say I am a bit of a fan, and at least now people have to second guess if I am from the States or Russia! 

"Can I Drink your Water?"

Sunday night started off rough as we got left hanging at the church with an investigator who had a date for baptism this coming Saturday, and 45 minutes he called, said he couldn't come and then tagged on at the end that he wanted more time to wait for his baptism. Ouch. I was pretty sad to say the least, and my trusty Casio watch beeped 8 at night as we walked out of the church. I didn't let that sadness sit long though, as I knew if the lesson fell, it was part of God's plan that it'd fall, and now it was up to us to find out what he wanted to do instead. So, with determination in our hearts and faith we'd find someone, we found the longest street we could, and just started knocking. 58 minutes late and it was a whole lot of nothing, but that didn't stop us from taking on the next door. Finally we get to the last door of the night, knocked and while we waited for the person to come out, my beloved companion Elder Wimsatt looks at me and says "Dude I am going to die of thirst, I'm gonna ask her for a glass of water." I laughed and turned to the door as an older lady walked skeptically out of her house. I don't blame her, as I would probably find 2 white boys in church clothes standing outside of her house at 8:59 at night a little weird. She stayed at the door post as we half-yelled a little explanation about our message, promised that it would bless her life more than she could imagine, and asked if we could talk to her a little more about it another day. ANDD...she said no. Nothing new, so we thanked her for her time, and then started to turn to go back into her house. Now, to give some background, normally here in Mexico if you are going to ask for a glass of water from someone, you say more of less "Could you please gift me a glass of water?" With that, Elder Wimsatt is still a little new to the mission and is learning the language, so as the lady began to turn back into her house he shouted what is roughly translated to "One last question, can I drink your water?" Boy, if that lady opened the door looking skeptically, you should've seen her face after that. You could tell she thought about it for a second, ducked back into the house, and then came back out with 2 tall glasses of water. We thanked her a few hundred times, and then between gulps talked to her a little about ourselves. After a few seconds, the concerned look on her face melted away, as she realized we were just 2 normal people. She began to ask us about the mission and what were doing there, and as we talked, the lady's sister gingerly stepped out of the door and joined the conversation as well. We stood there a talk for a while about the church, and although we didn't leave with an appointment to come back, a genuine friendship and bond was made, and sincere goodbyes were said as we started the walk back home with high spirits and stomachs full of a lottt of water. They may not have accepted us to come back, but I know a seed was planted, and that meeting them and crazily asking them for a glass of water was God's plan in that moment. All things happen for a reason, and all the reasons come from a loving Heavenly Father. It was a beautiful way to end a night that had started so bad, and I know that someday some other missionaries will pass by, and won't have to ask for some water to start a conversation. 

El Fin

This letter has been a little longer of a read than normally so my apologies for the inconvenience, and to help I just keep the end short and sweet; I love my mission. I wake up every day happier than I have ever been, and end every day more satisfied than I can express. This is the Church of Jesus Christ, and it truly brings blessings and happiness that have no end. I know it and I testify of it to all of you, while also wishing you a great week, and I'll talk to you all again soon! Love you all!

Elder Jackson 

1. russian

2. splits

3. bday party of an investigator