Chao.

Hey guys!!

This week went by so fast!  So many things happened, but yeah, as usual at this moment I can't remember them. But  all is going well.  We still don't have a house in the sector that we are working in, so we are still traveling 4 times a day cause of lunch and studies haha.  So it's a total of 2 hours of travel every day, and about 4 dollars every day.  I try to study on the bus, but I usually end up starring at the rice fields and trees and stuff, or sleeping.

So, we have another baptismal date.  Now we have 3.  The couple that needs to get married and now a 10 year old.  She's super cool and super smart.  Her mom really wants to get baptized too, but she and her husband aren't married and he doesn't really want to get married.  But, the lesson yesterday was really spiritual.  We taught the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  We invited them to be baptized but the thing is that we needed the permission from the parents but mainly the dad.  He didn't want her to be baptized because of her age and stuff.   The whole time I was just like please Father help me with what I need to say to help him understand.  It was about a 20 min discussion with him, and my comp didn't really say much, so that sucked cause I had to do all the talking and I don't know Spanish haha dang it.  But, he softened his heart and signed the paper that we needed him to sign.  He said she can prepare for the 10th of February but if she is not ready or anything like that, then he won't let her or something like that.  It was a really stressful conversation, but I could really feel the Lord testify and I could really feel the Spirit when I was explaining to him our purpose as missionaries and how important she is to us and why we are here.  It was cool.

Anyway, we have had tons of activities and now I have a ton of pictures, but I'm not going to send all of them. Anyway,  all is going well and I'm loving it. The Spanish is coming along pretty well I guess.

Love you guys!  Chao.

Elder Jackson

Elder Jackson Pollock

Hey guys!!

Sorry it's been so long that I've written.  Every p-day I've just been so rushed and not had time to do a whole lot. But yeah, anyway all is going good.

I'm in a new area, so this is my fourth zone.  I'm opening up the sector that I'm in and it's super super amazing.  It's just that we don't have a house there.  So we're traveling 30 there every day then at mid-day we travel back to where we are living to eat lunch at a members house and then at 4 we have to travel back.  We go in a bus.  It's about 6 dollars every day, but everything is going well.  There isn't a church in my new area either.  So yeah, haha, almost none of the people there have seen or talked to missionaries. It's super cool.

We have a couple we are teaching that said they will be baptized the 10th of February.  They are super cool. There was one night when they said that they wanted more time to be baptized cause they are getting married the 7th and then being baptized.  They also said that they want to have read all the Book of Mormon and have more knowledge and stuff.  It was a stressful lesson, but we were able to talk about how important baptism was and how it can bless them and their family and all that.  The Spirit was there and it was a really good lesson.  So they said yes for that date and yeah we are still teaching them and helping them out.

Well, all is going well.  My knew comp is called Elder Romero.  He's 26 and from Bolivia.  He's got about 3 months left in the mission.  So yeah, we're working hard and trying our best to use our time wisely.  The other missionaries are super cool!  We went and watched Zootopia today as a zone and there's a pic of us on the bus to the church so yeah I'll send that.  Anyway, I love you guys so much and hope all is going super well for everyone!

Love you all! and bye!

Elder Pollock

I, Mom, want to add what Aunt Amy sent to you and forwarded it to us as well, I thought it was so cool, I wanted to add it to your blog.

Dear Elder Pollock,

So Friday I was at work and Mark Miller from the radio station came in to sell us some advertising. He saw my name plate and asked if I was Jackson’s mom. I said, “No, I’m his aunt, though!” He said, “Where is he? Is he playing ball somewhere?” I said, “No, he’s actually serving a mission in Ecuador.” He said, “That’s awesome! He was always such a nice kid! I still remember when he went in when Casey Cole got hurt. He was so calm and just acted like it was no big deal! It was impressive! I’ve also talked to him on other occasions and he wasn’t afraid to talk to me or look me in the eye. He’s a good kid! Tell him I said, “God bless him!”

So there you go! It’s always fun to be related when they have such wonderful things to say about you!!! I hope you have a wonderful week!! We are praying for you!!!

Love,
Aunt Amy

Transfers Again!

MOM note.....  Jackson didn't get to write last week, and only wrote to Sam and I without a group letter, so I put in some of what he wrote to Sam for his letter this week.  He sent a picture to Aliza, so I'll put that picture in as well.

Hey! Yeah, sorry I didn't get to write last week.  There wasn't any time to write and we couldn't find a place to write. I'm in a new sector cause we had tranfers and stuff.  I'm in a city called Santa Lucia and I live in Daule which is a 30 min. bus ride. It's not fun.   My comp and I are opening this sector.  There has never been missionaries working here before.  Well, kinda, but they were missionaries from Daule that got permission to come over here a couple of times.  The other missionaries in the house are super cool they are new as well in this zone.  One is fresh from the MTC and the other is my district leader.  This area is very promising and we have two baptism dates for the 10th of February.  They are getting married the 7th so yeah, it's really stressing all on that.  There is never time to work cause we are always traveling.  The district meeting and weekly planning are an hour away.  I love it here but its super frustrating and I'm trying to learn to be more patient.  

Have a wonderful week,

Elder Jackson Pollock

Elder Mendez, District Leader and Elder Pollock

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Hey everyone!

Well, it's starting to rain here.  Not much, but every once in a while it just starts pouring.  I love it because it will get a lot colder while it's raining, but right after it gets super hot and super humid.  But, it's nice while its raining.

Well, it's a new year.  It's crazy how fast time goes by.  It was just the other day I was leaving for the MTC.  But at the same time it goes by so slow, but it's a nice slow you know.  Well the whole year of 2018 I will be in Ecuador.  It's insane!  I'm excited though and ready for what's coming my way.  For the new year here, they have like that countdown and all, but when it hits 12:00 they are lighting off all their fireworks.  They make these huge paper dolls and stuff and fill them with explosives and they just light them off in the streets.  So, for literally like 2 or 3 hours it was just a war zone in the streets.  There were stuff that would rattle the house.  That was my night and it was so cool but not a whole lot of sleep.

Well guys, I hope all your weeks went fantastic!  Just remember to look toward the Lord in everything you do and build your testimonies on Jesus Christ.  Read in the Book of Mormon - Helaman  chapter 5 verse 12.  That's my favorite scripture.

 Anyway, love you guys so much! bye!!

Elder Pollock

and sorry but this computer won't let me send photos so I'll just have to do it next week.