Sister Elle Jackson's Adventures in the Washington Everett Mission: Week 21: Satan!!!

Satan can be pretty impressive sometimes and only sometimes! I think he has a full time job in Lake Stevens. He should just be banished forever and all would be well. I have been informed by several Missionaries that can't be the case because of the Millennium. In the last week we've had:

Baptisms postponed

A car wreck

The Sisters in Armar (our roommates), their car broke down

Exchanges

Out of Miles

Had to take 3 Trips to Everett (Couple more coming)

Sister Foster almost killed herself and three other Missionaries; they almost died on I-5 (Which would have been bad because I would have to call President)

Baptism chaos

P-day was moved to Friday (Which wouldn't be an issue but we hadn't been shopping in two weeks)

5 pm Curfew on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day

With every challenge come many blessings!!! Although I was in way over my head with a lot of these things not knowing what to do or where to start everything worked out. We are told in Mosiah 4:27 (Click Here) "...all these things are done in wisdom and order; for it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength. ....it is expedient that he should be diligent, that thereby he might win the prize; all things must be done in order." However it doesn't matter how much borrowed energy I am running on because, "...I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak;I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, For in his strength I can do all things;... many mighty miracles....for which we will praise his name forever." Alma 26:12 (Click Here)

Elle on Christmas Eve

Although that baptism was postponed, and we got in a car wreck we had a lady walk into church on Sunday and asked if she would be able to learn from the Missionaries, .that's US! Her name is Summer and she is one of the most amazing people I have ever met! She is going through a divorce right now and one thing she knew for sure is she didn't agree with her husband’s religion. That is not the reason for the divorce but now she is "free" to be able to follow Him the way that she wants to and knows is right. We have already started teaching her and she loves it!

Then we had the opportunity to be able to work with our new Ward Mission Leader and he has been such a blessing! We have been able to turn to him and get help every single time we need it! I have been blessed to be able to work with Sister Foster who is such an amazing missionary and has taught me so much even though the work can be hard at times she always perseveres and does what needs to be done! Harder worker! I love it!

The mission car after the wreck, Elle and Sister Foster are alright

No one was injured in the car wreck and everyone was able to walk away with no problems...well physical ones that is. The car is still working as well as it is able!

We have an amazing District Leader, Zone Leader, Assistants, and Mission President who always have our best interest at heart but are able to stay focused with what needs to be done.

Now we will be baptizing city's just like Ammon and Aaron!

Although a love of hard things tend to happen the blessings are always so much bigger and I have been able to see that so much this week! We had blessings and miracles that we didn't even get to see! But I am grateful for them no matter what they were. I feel so much love for this work and this Gospel, Ammon explains it the best he says, "...I say unto you, I cannot say the smallest part which I feel." Alma 26:16 (Click Here) He is right I have no words to describe how much happiness I feel every day!

I love you all and hope that you have such an amazing couple of days...Monday!

Elle and Sister Foster at Lake Stevens, Wshington

Christmas

Well we are going to have a baptism this coming Saturday! Heather and Regelio are going to be getting baptized! I am super excited and love that I get to make this journey with them!

I got a phone call this week from a man in Tennessee and his name is John. Apparently John is the one that introduced the Gospel of Jesus Christ to Michael and Laurie who are going to be getting baptized January 2nd! We had an amazing conversation about how you may not get to see the ending result of some missionary work but that "planting seeds" is just as important as anything else. A few months back John would invite Michael and Laurie over for Book of Mormon study. Nothing happened with it, until we were able to find them and start teaching them and yes there were challenges and Satan can be very deceiving, but the Book of Mormon has such an amazing power that cannot be changed or messed with. It is because of the Book for Mormon that the two of them are going to be getting baptized...and want to be baptized. It is nothing that I and Sister Foster had to say, but what the spirit taught them when they would read from the Book of Mormon.