Monday

Hey hey! I do love that song...

I will pray for Mckay Burrows family and I'll try and figure out what wailing with someone is like ha ha. I don't need a fast mommy it's ok I promise! I feel better right now too. It has been busy training Sister Pope. I will be in my new area tomorrow.

You are great and wonderful! How is the new house- thank you for the address. I will write more next week b/c it's busy.

Love you! I'm smiling!!

January 25, 2010

I had a funny experience the other day- we went to an apartment complex and one of our investigator's little girls was learning to ride a bike without training wheels and I realized the mother didn't know how to help her so I showed Jaime (the mom) how to hold the back of the bike and the handle bars to guide her-- You were such a good mother growing up knowing everything we needed and how to help- I really believe you have all the answers and are the most knowledgeable mother.

I am a little anxious right now because of some change but I love the ability to rely on the spirit. Mom I have realized that there is no sense of perfection and to stop trying to be perfect in what I think perfect is. My goal since the beginning is to be able to follow the spirit and as I have depended on that my understanding of myself is stronger and my ability to handle these changes is more secure. I love the quote by Joseph smith again that says If we don't understand the character of God we can't understand ourselves.

So this is what happened: Sister Jackson has to get thyroid surgery because she has a cold nodule that could become cancerous. She is training a new missionary that comes in this wednesday but her surger is on thursday- so president has asked me to stay for another week in this area and train this new baby for four days then move into spanish with another baby. I know this is what the Lord wants and I don't have to worry as long as I follow the spirit. So I won't move to my new area till next week.

Sorry this is going to be a long journal entry because there is so much to write. I was talking to a nurse about the health thing and she said it is possible that I am a saliac (the gluten thing) so i stay away from wheat and barley but I can eat rice. It has been two weeks without it and I feel great. I agree with the word of wisdom I won't cut out grains all together I love them! I'm not worried about gaining weight either because I have given everything to the Lord here that means a worn out and tired body at the end of this.

There have been some unforeseen expenses and I have had to use my debit card and I'll probably spend another 30 this week and that is it for food. I would love the rice cooker but honestly I can't fit it in my stuff! I will let you know if that changes but don't worry about sending me granola bars anymore ha ha

Nick and Rose are getting married- they stopped drinking and we are working on the drugs and the weed. Satan works so hard on these wonderful people as they strive to change their lives around.

Sometimes Mom I get impatient when people don't understand and I am a bold missionary- I tell them the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the only way for eternal happiness, any other church does not have the fullness of the Gospel and baptism without that authority is not valid. I am tactful though don't worry and who know how I can do it in spanish.

Collini is a mother with three little kids and has a sweet spirit. She is open to the Gospel and lives her life as a mormon.

Anthony: college student who is smart and motivated we found him in the outskirts of the hood and is going to be amazing!

Hello!!

For MLK day yesterday about 2,000 horses road down the streets of sunnyside and we had some good south barbecue- I was so sick but i made the experience! I don't think Martin Luther King would have appreciated them all celebrating his day drinking and such though.

Mother I wrote you a letter but it's not done yet- it will come soon! I recieved the drawing from Mar- Mar- YOur cursive is AMAZING! it's better than mine.

Tell me how the house is and all-

I'm trying to get better at writing experience and how I fell not just news so here it goes.

NEWS FIRST: I'm being transferred back into spanish on next wednesday so i'll let you know the following Monday- I'm going to be a "stepmother" which means i'm kind of a half trainer because my companion has only been out one transfer- i'm a little nervous because it's in spanish and being senior companion; but that doesn't make a difference we will just love the work of the Lord together and I have all the faith I will be able to speak. I will miss sunnyside: everyone is so receptive to the Gospel and they have so much faith-

DAD: I WOULD LIKE A COPY OF YOUR LINE OF AUTHORITY FOR THE PRIESTHOOD PLEASE- I've been studying the priesthood and it would be nice and i'm sending this note to mother because i know it would go on her to-do list anyways. Loves!

Sister Jackson has had a "Goiter" of an enlarged thyroid so we have seen the doctor a lot lately- we went to really nice part of downtown houston and I was a fish out of water- Sunny side is so poor and everyone in houston was RICH and you could smell the pride...the vanity was disheartening.

Nick (another gang member investigator) we have seen the beauty of the Atonement as he is lifted of the memories and sins of his past and has come realize his potential through Christ!

I wrote this to Josh but wanted to share with the family too:

There was a man that had asked a member of the church "so you believe there is a prophet of God on the earth today?" The member said confidently "of course, I know there is . "
the man then asked "then what has the prophet said lately that we should be doing?"

And the member couldn't think....if we believe there is a prophet of God on the earth do we follow him as we should? Do we truly know he is recieving the instruction for our lives from God?

I've been making sure to read the General Conference talks so I know what we should be realizing and focusing on right now. President Monson simply tells us we are here to serve and lift his children.

"Man's greatest happiness comes from losing himself for the good of others." Christ taught us that "unless we lose ourselves in service to others, there is little purpose to our own lives."

I love to teach the Gospel. There are things i'm working on everyday to become better. Jesus Christ truly is at the head of this work.

Love you all so much!

Snow In Texas

Hey Mom and Dad,

The Lord is refining our desires, intentions, and notions. He has a different plan that the world does and as times goes on the fork in the road from His way and the World's is just going to grow farther and farther apart. This e-mail I want to write about Love. Matt 22: 36-40

" Master which is the great commandment in the law?"
"Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind." And with the second commandment "hang all the law and the prophets"

As I have been searching for the underlying objective and complete purpose of serving here in Texas this what the Lord has blessed me with. From President Uchtdorf's talk from General Conference we learn so much more of how everything comes down to love. The Lord does not need us to love him, this in not a commandment to maintain His authenticity of God but as Elder Uchtdorf put it "Oh how we need to love him!" Because what we love is what we seek and what we seek is what we think and do and therefore how we act, who we are and who we will become. We must recognize Him for His love. Everything that has and will be done to bring to pass his commandments and the words of His prophets are in love.

As we bring our will's in line with the Lord's we begin to realize that what we are building with Him no one can take away from us. We don't make ourselves from pre-eminence, popularity, beauty, or wealth. We can't afford to rely on something so short-lived. As we search for the Lord's will in our lives we are amazed how deeply directed we can become in the simplest actions.

These people are poor. A member family is cutting back even on food this month because they have one income and the husband's hours were cut back, they have 5 kids but are the happiest family I have ever seen. They were baptized about 6 months ago. Another family lives in a trailer, 5 kids as well and one on the way, Patricio (the husband) works construction but there hasn't been much lately....

Let's each find out what the Lord wants for us. Thank you for letting me know how all is well I did recieve both of your e-mails and Josh's. Mom the papers are in one of the folders under my bed in one of the plastic boxes. The only other place they could be is in a box in that hall closet, also in a folder (possibly red)

Thank you for letting me know, I have faith but it does bring comfort.

I love you all so much!! All is well here in Texas!

Jess
Hermana Tuckett

Five Days Till Christmas

Mother i loved hearing that story about going to the beach- you didn't share a lot of stories like that when we were little- do it with the other ones I want to hear more. Haven't had any shrimp yet but I have had Chile rellenos HUGE peppers with cheese or meat in them fried in egg- really gross but I lived.


FIRST: I WILL CALL CHRISTMAS AFTERNOON- 3:00 PM MY TIME ( WHAT IS IT YOUR TIME) I will have about 40 mins to talk I can't wait to hear your beautiful voices!

I can't begin to tell you all the wonderful things that have happened out here but here it goes.

So I am in a new area and I will be in a new one next transfer too- they are just jumping me all over the place. Our mission opened a new area in the suburbs of downtown houston for the english speaking missionaries....but they took me instead of an english sister. So I am now speaking english just outside of the city- Sister Jackson and I were the only white people we saw for the first two days- i'm serious- it is amazing I love black people- I love the Gospel and the Lord is guiding everything we do. So we are White-washing this area but we already have 6 baptismal dates in the first four days- this area has had people prepared it's amazing to see how it works.

We come in early due to President's directions because of the demographics of the area but don't worry we are safe. People are amazed we are out here. I love how diverse it is. New address only for 6 weeks is: 2725 Reed Road Houston, Texas 77051. But it isn't as reliable as the parkway address I will only get the parkway address mail every two weeks though.

We found this is the most ghetto area of our mission it is great- Our branch is about 25 people. We are baptizing Joseph Smith- black of course- He loves reading about himself. Sister Jackson is a little black girl in a white girl's body so it works out well :) Very eccentric excited and we are just putting out baptismal dates left and right. Very different then the Mexican Culture. I know the Lord will bless me when I go back into spanish with the ability to remember what I need- for some reason he wanted me here though and I love opening up an area we can just be bold and love the work.

Well I will talk to you more in about 4 days! I want to hear stories and such. Thanks Dad and Mom and Josh for the E-mails- Merry Christmas

Con amor,

Hermana Tuckett

P.S. Mom- say a prayer and you will find the papers

Sister Tuckett

Hello, sister Tucker and family;


I'm honored to send this photo of your sister missionary, sister Tucker! My family was able to have her and her companion, Sister Jackson over to our home for Christmas dinner. Although she is new to our branch, I've felt her immense love for each person of whom she serves. She shows maturity and again, love for these people here and I am excited to get to know her. I know she will do great here, and I'm grateful the Lord has sent her to our branch.
My family will do our best to take care of your daughter, so please, don't hesitate to ask us anything--if there is anything we can do for your family, or your daughter, please let us know. I was in her shoes a few years ago in Chile and was blessed by generous people taking care of me, so please let me serve in the tiny ways that I can.


Love,
Monika Sampert

Howdy!

Christmas sounded wonderful with the family. It was so good to speak with everybody I didn't really know what to say.

I loved hearing everyone's voices. I love when Nephi is called to build that ship and his brothers murmur but he says unto them " If God had commanded me to do all things I could do them." What part of our lives is missing the faith of Nephi? That we can do all things. I know that God will specifically tell us what we need to do.

Scripture of the week Mosiah 4: 11-12 If we want to always rejoice, be filled with the Love of God and grow in the knowledge and Glory of "him that created you."

Oh mom!! I spoke in our little branch on Sunday- we didn't have enough teacher for class so we only did two hours- it is really struggling and we meet in a small institute building and sacrament meeting is in with the kitchen. But I used a story about you I'll have to tell you next time. remind me Thanks for the presents means the world!

Love you all!