One Week...

Hello family and everyone else who may read this email!

It has been almost a whole week that I have been out in the mission field and let's see 18 months times 4 weeks makes 84 weeks minus one so 83 weeks to do some work (that is if I did my math correctly, but let's hope I haven't lost my mathematical touch yet)! The mission so far has been good, but I can't say there is much to report. It all seems like second nature by now, so I have to remember that you aren't right here alongside of me learning all that I am and doing the same routine.

Well our schedule is basically planned out for us every day. We wake up 6:30 a.m. and go to bed at 10:30 p.m. Throughout the day, we eat, study, exercise, learn from our teachers and practice role plays. It surprisingly enough reminds me a lot of school. There are two big differences though: I actually enjoy all the work I am doing and see the value in all that I am doing. It's interesting because I notice how much more knowledge I can gain and when I figure out I don't know or understand something, I go ahead and study it more. I have always considered myself a fairly driven and motivated person, but I will have to admit that there is definitely a little extra push here. I am grateful for all the good study skills I have learned beforehand because it makes it that much easier to study and focus now.

I will have to admit, in many aspects a mission is exactly what I had thought it would be, but at the same time, there are some things I could have never expected. This week I found out personal study isn't exactly personal. You would think that personal study would be time that you can take for yourself to study and learn more about questions you may have. While in some essence that is true, the personal study isn't so much about your questions, but rather your investigator's questions. It is a time when you can sit down and learn more about the concerns or questions the person you are teaching may have. It's when you take a moment to become a better teacher by preparing yourself more. With this in mind, I learned that this work truly is not about me, but is about the people I teach. While there are many ways I will benefit from this experience and my time in England, it is truly a time of selfless service that I can help the people around me understand more about this gospel and church. Second thing I realized is that it rains...a lot. It reminds me of Doug when he was at Syracuse for college and one time dad asked if it was snowing. Doug then responded, "Dad, it is never a question of if it is snowing or not. It is a question of how much." It rains literally every day here, even if it’s just for a brief time. As a result, I am understanding how important it is to be prepared for any weather because you never know how the day will turn out.

My last thought this week is about the doctrine of Christ. I will admit, I felt pretty prepared for a mission. I have been a member for the church for the past 10 years, so I kind of figured I knew a majority of things. Plus I have practice teaching, so how hard could it be. However, no worries, I have been humbled. Don't worry I think the mission will be full of those experiences. The first few days we learned our purpose as a missionary. Our purpose is: Invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end. The whole latter part of that purpose (faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end) is Christ's doctrine. It is what he taught during his ministry on the earth. It is also what Heavenly Father and the Holy Ghost testify as well. It is this doctrine that I am going to be teaching and is essential to understand. It is clear to me that I knew about this doctrine before I came, but it is great to know of its simplicity when it is laid out before you. I think it is wonderful how much I am learning and coming to understand. I know that I will continue to learn throughout all my days in the mission field.

Hope all is well and that you are doing good things. I look forward to hearing from you!

Much love!
Sister Jack