Monday Again

You are an amazing woman my mother!! You are never going to grow old because you are always working to be better. We don't grow old until we stop learning something new I say. I can't believe they are all leaving on their missions! and Lisa Callister! I'm happy for them.

I agree with you about Park City- I fell ostracized out in Park City- I don't mind Heber though it's more like a city not a tourist attraction and it's safer- old country, kids can run outside and play....I believe the city suburbs have made me very grateful for where we live.

I read the "anonymous" story of the keys in the door and Grandma and Grandpa's letter! The police didn't say that it was them at all they just shined their lights in our house and kept trying to get through the chain! Yelling police would be a good way to get people to open their door to hear the gospel no?.....

I've been studying a lot about Ammon and brethren and their missionary work lately. The Anti Nephi Lehi's have just born their testimony that they will not fight against their brethren anymore after knowing of the price our Savior has paid. I was wondering what covenants are we willing to keep with that level of conviction- do we always act according to what we know? I know that covenants bring us salvation. "Be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you." 1 Peter 3:15

This week was incredible because we exercised our faith and stretched our goals. In the mission we have a goal to talk with 70 people each every week but this week Hermana Pahulu and I decided to talk with 90 people each. We met many wonderfully prepared people and many news came to church. There is no limit to the Lord's miracles and power. I know that if we want to increase our faith it is not enough just to live the commandments but we much continually serve and sacrifice, we must choose not to have the thoughts of " I have done enough for right now, I'm going to take a break" "why do i have to prove myself over and over again?" or "I don't deserve this setback" We will always be indebted to our Heavenly Father. I know that no circumstance or trial that we face should be a reason to hold back something from the Lord.

I love you all so much!!! Have a wonderful week!!!

Jess

Sunday is a day of Rest

Good Morning Mother Ray!!

Sounds like you might have had a busier Sunday than us! I would love to be part of the Hospitality Committee for the Women's Conference in April. How was the Homecoming?

We began our Sunday morning as normal with our 8:00 personal study and 9:00 Comp study. Then it begins....we spend our mornings making sure investigators have rides or know how to get to church at 11:00 am. We met one member over at a complex to pick up Juan Garcia then went to meet Marla Cantu so she could follow us, then we needed to stop by another complex so la familia Parra could follow after marla's car and two other members picked up the rest. Nevertheless we had a train headed to the church and we barely made it in time so that Sister Pahulu and I could speak in Sacrament meeting. (For the first time I didn't have to read my talk word for word in spanish so that was a blessing!) 15 of our investigators came to church yesterday and recieved some amazing answers to their prayers. Ruben will be baptized in two weeks. He is from Mexico and doesn't have any family here. He is a very intense hispanic and talks way too fast for my new companion but we make it through a lesson all right. He asks amazing questions in lessons. I love good questions.

This week went by fast and life seems to fly by faster- especially on the mission. I have had an awakening of things i've always wanted to accomplish on the mission and in life which came in the form of a SINGLE WHITE HAIR. Yes, you heard right....my companion Sister Pahulu boldly mentioned that I had a white hair in my pony tail. Where did that come from??? Maybe all the investigators that have not come to church, not kept their commitments, weren't at home when we had members with us, losing the keys, visits from police officers, running around like crazy on sunday mornings, biking like Armstrong to get to our next appointment, companion breakdowns....who knows....it could be many things that brought the vibrant white strand of hair to my head but without further balking (that is how you spell it correct?) life goes on and I must live in the moment of realizing dreams and doing the work of the Lord... I'm so grateful to be missionary, grateful to serve our Lord and Savior and grateful for the restored Gospel on the earth today.

Love you so much!!

12.6.10

Hello Family!

Thank you so much for everything. I did see the Christmas Fireside it was amazing! Sister Nava and I are singing christmas carols to everyone we see. By the way Mom I learned the song Little purple pansies in spanish I will sing it to you when I call on Christmas. Sorry about your test mom- Psalms 145: 14

I don't have much time today...i'm sorry and I have all these things to write! First: I have no cavities and nothing to pay- i just had sensitive teeth and he gave me some flouride stuff!

The work is amazing I've learned to find Joy in my imperfections.. and strength in my Savior.

Love you all I'll write more next week!

Jess

Thanksgiving

Sounds like a wonderful thanksgiving!! I had to fight Carly Simon lyrics from coming into my head ha ha. Our Thanksgiving was quite uneventful actually- but the next day we had a wonderful dinner and lesson with one of the members- as if it was Thanksgiving day. The culture in latin countries doesn't include thanksgiving very much but many spent time with their families. I loved that story about Caleb and Brea's shooting abilities :)!! Thanks! this one will be a little short because i'm going to help my companion type a letter to her family-- did you get my letter witht the pictures by the way?!

Well, believe it or not, Missionary Travel has sent me the dreaded letter of arranging flight plans for coming home. I need some information:

What method of transportation will you be using to return home?

- by airplane with other missionaries (i would like this one)

- by airplane but with my parents ( if you would like to come and then we fly home together that is fine too)

- by car with my parents ( why delay the arrival home?)

- Other (maybe horse, hiking...biking....you decide)

Home stake name:

Home ward:

Home phone number:

New address:

Airport nearest home: Salt lake city Airport right? I forgot the name

I didn't realize I don't know a lot of this information!

I can't ask to change my plans after so we have to make it solid. If you can let me know by next monday because I have to turn it on Tuesday. Maybe Mom and Dad fly here to meet me- we spend a day with grandma and grandpa and come back or.....I fly straight home and then the family runs away somewhere for a little bit ( i don't need to speak in church for a while) or I just come home..... I'll just tell you i'm not really excited for the transition home....I heard it is a hard one and I might cry a lot but know that I love you.

The mission life is the most amazing thing in the world!!! I love you all so much, thank you for your prayers, know that they are working.

Jess

Snowy Monday

OK I'll go to the dentist. Thank you so much- i promise I floss every night and I don't eat sugar and i'm brushing three times a day I just have soft teeth!

Thank you so much...I'll let you know.

There is a chiropractor in one of our stakes and he did it for free! It was nice I was so grateful because my back had been hurting. He supposedly lets all the missionaries come in. He has Jersies up in his office from some top NFL players- I liked it.

I love my new area! I'm in downtown Houston. It's beautiful and I' m companions with Hermana Nava- I sent a picture of her with Sister Christensen and I- did you get it? She was burned as a baby and has had many surgeries to repair the damage, she is missing her forearm but is amazing at biking and lifting it up and down the stairs. She is an amazing missionary and a living testimony of the resurrection. I 'm learning so much from her and I hope we stay companions for a while.

There are many humble people here that want to learn but have many difficulties as well. One family wants to get baptized but the mother and five kids have to move out of the house and find another place because the dad is an alcoholic and abusive. It is kind of a touchy situation but they will hopefully be safe by the end of december..and baptized!

Love you so much!!!!

Sister Tuckett

Snowy Monday

Well It was a crazy week!!! Where do I begin...

The first news is that Andy Suarez was baptized on thursday and confirmed on Sunday- He has been waiting for a while because is under 18 and his mom is very catholic and wouldn't let him do it but we worked out some legal affairs (I was pretty good with the attorney lingo) and it all went through beautifully. His dad was also able to baptize him, he just needed another man in the font with him because he went blind from diabetes about 2 years ago. It was beautiful. Then we had a wonderful primary program and every single child that we have baptized the last 6 months sang and gave their testimony. I cried. Esbeyde, Selene, Morelia Damian Jan, Jacklyn, Gio and Benny Jaimes, and Andy Suarez and Kevin Lopez. Then that night we had a fireside and Jennifer Damian bore her testimony in front of investigator's in our zone.

I'm out of time but remind me a funny story about walgreen's parking lot.

I'm being transferred on wednesday so I'll let you know my new address!! I've loved sugarland.

Love you so much!! I'll write more next week! Thank you for all your prayers...they really do work...

Jess

Monday, Monday

Buenos Tardes Mi Vida

This might be my last week in Houston 4, (Sugar Land area) I've been here for about 6 months now and the ward is very much my second home. Almost all of the members make dessert and juice with splenda for me and know everything I can't eat :)

This far in my mission I have realized we sometimes hide from ourselves in vagueness, generalities, and conceptions. One person could live their whole life without really caring who God is and our relationship with Him- Many people we meet say this very thing. But I've decided...of course I'm not finished with my mission, but to this point of three things that would simplify our pursuance :

1. Find out who God is

2. Let Him get to know you

3. Help others do the same

Our Gospel Prinicles teacher and Ward Mission Leader is from Chile, he used to be a jew but was baptized when he realized that an answer he was searching for that took over a year was found in our church doctrine. He came to the understanding that each one of us has an equal right to recieve revelation and answers which was the foundation of his testimony in the church. He is extremely intelligent and I ask him questions every time we have our meetings. I asked him last week "what motivates you to gain so much knowledge?" He began to tell me the story of a man who approached plato wanting to be his apprentice and learn everything he knows. He replied "follow me" They went down to the ocean where had him go under the water but then held him under until he began to struggle for air. He eventually let him come up and asked "What was the number one thing you wanted?"

"to breath!" he replied

"When you want to learn as much as you wanted to breath then you will be my apprentice"

I began to reflect on this story during my studies and prayers: How much conviction do I have in knowing the will of the Lord? What is the number one thing I want in life (no vagueness)? Do I really want to know who God is?

I believe we can all use this story to estimate where our discipleship is... how devoted our we to being examples and followers of Jesus Christ? I know that God gives answers to all those who are willing to pay the price. It is repeated more times in the scriptures to "ask and ye shall recieve"

I'm so happy to hear you had a good trip mom!! I would love to do that sometime with you and be with all the Pyper girls (and grandpa) . Thanks for telling me about the trip!

I'm excited to talk to trevor and nathan about the mission! I hope they make the transition home all right.

Love you all so much!!!