For this letter I will give one tiny bit of a heads up so you know what has been going on. Elder Jacobson informed me he was going right in to celebrating Christmas after Halloween this year because it is hard to celebrate Thanksgiving in the mission field. I had sent him this email to which his response is after it.
I was reading in Alma 26 this morning and I wanted to include this as my PS to my last email. Alma 26:37, you know it is the chapter that Ammon glories in the Lord after their great success in converting so many of the Lamanites to the Gospel and Aaron his brother rebukes him for boasting. I think it fits in with this week;
"Now, my brethren, we see that God is mindful of every people, whatsoever land they may be in; yea, he numbereth his people, and his bowels of mercy are over all the earth. Now this is my joy, and my great thanksgiving; yea, and I will give thanks unto my God forever. Amen."
Love again and always,
Mom
The following is his response:
Mother,
Before I go any further let me clarify a statement that I feel has been misunderstood: I mentioned in emails past that we are skipping Thanksgiving for the fact that the mission life isn't conducive to a good thanksgiving. This is not because thanksgiving is a lame holiday, nor does it mean that I do not like it. I do not wish it to be interpreted that I am disrespecting such a historically loved holiday. Contrarily, we will be skipping the ceremonial celebration of the holiday this year, igual que el año pasado, out of up most respect of the holiday. The following phrase, taken from my journal will help to clarify any misunderstanding, "thus, we will be skipping thanksgiving this year because as missionaries we can't make the holiday all that it should be, and all that it has been." In short, thanksgiving demands respect. It demands football, family, football, eating, and Muppet's (we always watch the Muppet's Christmas Carol on Thanksgiving night). Of the five categories mentioned, highlighted during such a pivotal day, only one of them can be completed while serving a full time mission. there will be no football, nor family, nor football, nor Muppet's. Attempting to celebrate the holiday without those four categories would be a disgrace, and a gross sign of disrespect. Thus, out of respect for the holiday, we have not erased it, but merely postponed it, in order to fully achieve the respect which it commands in the following years.
Anyways, things here are going well, you need not worry to send me a camera, I'm keeping faith that wal-mart will have one available today. maybe if by next week there is nothing I will change my mind. but we'll let you know. I await the package at your consent, I will not demand you send it as I have in years past.
So I realized how big of a brat I was, when I remembered that I used to complain to you for not having clean clothes, as in "what's the matter with you, why haven't you washed my clothes?" That's one of the most pathetic statements that could leave the mouth of a teenager, being one of the biggest signs of un niño chiflado that could be found in our culture. For that statement as well as statements similar, I apologize, and express my gratitude for countless actions unappreciated and undeserved. Thank you.
Moving on, Elder Cunningham and I are doing well. This week Eduardo should be baptized, assuming he stays strong and resists the temptation to smoke. These next two days will be pivotal. As well the 6th, a young girl named Morena should be getting baptized. Her older sister, Carolina, is a member, but her parents aren't. Her parents like the church, especially her mom, but won't be baptized because they won't get married... or at least not yet. Carolina was baptized 18 months ago, but Morena was still in Mexico. Morena would have been baptized 6 months ago, but her near sighted father forced her to work in the apple harvest, impeding her education limiting her ability to speak English, and making it virtually impossible for missionaries to be able to visit her due to her egregious schedule in la huerta. However, the time is now right. As I stated to the Royal City district this past week. "The Stars Have Aligned." The time is right, the Lord has primed our zone to harvest the souls who he has prepared and is preparing. We're excited for the upcoming weeks, there are miracles happening everywhere, things are starting to click, the only fear that we have here is that Elder Cunningham could be getting transferred as he has been her for almost 6 months. It really depends on how long President wants him to stay in his last area, 7 months or 5 and a half. we'll see. this Saturday or Sunday we should receive the verdict. Cross your fingers that he'll stay.
Love you mom, keep the faith, have a great thanksgiving.
-Elder Jacobson
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