Hello Everyone!!!
   This week has been great! We have found a lot of new investigators. The work is really taking off here. I love it! So this past week has been pretty busy. I have one important thing I would like to say and that is: Snuggies are soooooo awesome! I bought one this week and have loved it since! A blanket with sleeves, the comercials are extremely cheesy and I never would have thought, but they are so great! Also y'all might have noticed that I now have two suits. That is because the first couple of days I realized that I did not want to wear my nice suit to proselyte in every day, it was getting bitten by dogs, slobbered on by dogs, mud splats and all other kinds of things. So We went to the thrift store. And not only did we find a suit that was made for me, but it is 100% polyester!!! In other words, it is invincible! Here comes the best part..... drum roll... it was only $7 dollars!!!!!!!!! That is what I'm talking Bout! It is a great suit. But that is really all for this week. Everything is going great. I am loving the Book of Mormon! I encourage everyone that reads this whether you are a member or not to read the Book of Mormon. It is so interesting! Not only is it another testament of Jesus Christ but it is a really good read. I have really been trying to follow the storyline and where it is taking place and who is who and what is happening in the Bible at the same time. It has made it so much more interesting through comparisons in the Bible.  The Book of Mormon starts at about 2 Kings 24, or 2 Chronicles 36. It is really cool to match them up and see the similarities. So I encourage everyone to really read it and focus on what is happening it is so cool! Everyone have a great week, I know I will. I love you all!
Love Elder Jackman

Here is what I've been up to this week. Last P day Elder Mackay and I made some taco soup which was great, and he made some vanilla french toast which was also great, and I made peanut butter squares which were also great. We bought snuggies and those are sooooo cool. There is a picture there of us in our snuggies reading the book of mormon that is what we do for fun. Then the last picture is of some nasty grass stuff that Elder Mackay drinks. He convinced me to try it. I almost threw up. That is all the pics! Enjoy!

Hello there!!
   This week has been fantastic! The Taylor area is picking up, we are seeing a lot more success. It might be to the fact that it has been rather cold and rainy and people feel bad for us so they let us in, but I don't care. I want to invite everyone that reads this to listen to the song "My kindness shall not depart from thee" and try not to get emotional. It is an amazing song. My companion showed it to me this week and it makes me want to be better, and pumps me up. My companion and I found an amazing Chinese buffet for only 6 bucks! The owner asked for a book of Mormon! We will be going there very often haha. Well not a whole lot is new this week. But know that I am doing well and loving all the support I receive from home! Have a great week everyone! And to all you friends that might read this: I would like to hear from you! What's up!? Who else is leaving on missions? What is everyone up to? Peace out till next week!

Elder Jackman

Greetings Loved ones!
   This week has been good. Our work has slowed down just a little because this time of year people are out of town, and busy with other things and don't seem to have time for the missionaries. My bike has been fixed and has been given the name "Squeakers".  This is because it has been really cold this week and every time we go out to ride and it's cold, my bike makes little squeaking noises like it's complaining, but the new tires are holding up very well. Thanksgiving was great! Of course it wasn't the same without family, but that didn't stop me from eating a lot! Our mission president told us not to do any knocking because we didn't want to bother people, so we just set up as many appointments as we could and just left short thanksgiving messages with people. We ate two Thanksgiving meals. One was at 2, and the other was at about 5. Oh boy was I full. When we got home that night and I collapsed onto my bed. The members took very good care of us. Then the next day we went to one of our investigators house to teach them and they had thanksgiving again with us! So I ate even more! We had a very good lesson with them after that though. We are finding soooooo many spanish people and we have to turn them over to the spanish elders, that isn't very fun. But I'm loving using my spanish!
   The push up count is now at 72! I dare anyone to try to keep up with me! I do them every morning and night. We are still running so I'm staying very fit! Oh my new favorite food... Nutella!!!!!!!!!!! Every morning I wake up and have a nice nutella and peanut butter sandwich with a banana, there is truly no better way to start the day (that rhymed.. unintentional)
   Well that is all for me this week. Thanks to everyone for all the support and prayers! I love you all!

Present from Mattie

Marcus and his companion

 Working on his bike

Nice tires

 His area

 In front of the train

Greetings from Taylor!
    Things are going great here. I am working hard and enjoying it. I have realized that when we are contacting people on the street or wherever it may be, for whatever reason I am more comfortable talking to them if they speak spanish! Usually they are more accepting and nicer so I love it when we run into spanish speakers. This week I have a good story about my bike. It goes like this. There once was a good bike, a valiant steed. He helped me get to wherever I needed to go. But one day we went on exchanges and another Elder came in and had to ride it. The bike didn't like that because it was meant for me! So on the ride the bike made sure that every thorn and pointy object went right into the tire which made the other Elder have a hard time. However, the bike didn't realize that I would be back the next day and have to fix 12 HOLES!!!!!!!!!" Yep so I'm a pro at patching holes in bike tires now, but it turns out they still are flat.  Today I'm going over to Walmart to get some new tubes for the inside of the tires. Whatever... anyways
    The week has been good other than that. I'm meeting more people and becoming more comfortable walking up to complete strangers and talking to them. Even when they motion to leave them alone, or do mean gestures. Haha I love being a missionary. The ward is great there are about 200 members, and a little over 100 come to church each week so it is a pretty good size ward. Oh some good news this week, our mission president came up here on Wednesday for interviews and he brought some mail with him. He brought me a small package from none other than........ Mattie Jay Parr!!!!!!!! She is so great! It was my birthday present and it was THE BEST! I would attach the picture I took with it to this e mail but I forgot my cord. I'm going to print that picture and some others out and send them home in a letter. I am getting better at making food! My favorite meal right now is frito burritos. They are very good, and I am staying quite healthy as well. I bought a lot of vegetables and fruit and have been eating that with every meal. Along with that my push ups each morning and night are up to 62! I have also started running each morning with my companion! Yeah that's right, I'm fit.  That is pretty much it for the Update, I'll try to be better about taking pictures so everyone can see what I'm up to. Thank you for all the support and prayers! I love you guys so much.
Love,
Elder Jackman

Hellooooo Family and Friends;
My first area is...... drum roll.... Taylor Texas!! It is about 30 mins north of Austin. It is the northern most part of the mission. My companion is Elder Owen Mackay. He has been out 19 months and is a great trainer! He is an English elder and I am in an English area so I don't get to use the Spanish as much, but I’m still studying it, and I still talk to some people in Spanish. The Alamo on the first day was pretty scary. We were just sent out and they told us to give some people book of Mormons!  It worked out great. Since then our day is as follows. Wake up 6: 30 and shower eat and what not (I do push ups every morning and night, I am at 51 each time right now and I’ll keep you updated on my progress) Then at 8 we have personal study for an hour. Then at 9 we have 2 hours of companionship study where we talk about what we learned in personal study and then plan what to teach investigators. Then the other hour of comp study we do my "greenie" training. Then we have an hour Spanish study, and since he doesn't speak Spanish what I like to do is just read the Book of Mormon in Spanish and he reads his in English. Then we have some lunch and we are out the door around one each day. From there we go and knock doors mostly and go to appointments we have with investigators and such. Knocking doors is weird at first but I’m used to it now. My favorite is when they open up and we tell them who we are and they just chuckle and turn around and shut the door. That is pretty much how the day goes for me though. I have realized that I am not a very good cook. I am hungry pretty much all the time so I have definitely lost some weight. But I am learning and today we will go buy some groceries so I’ll be able to cook a little better. I love dinner appointments! Ha-ha we live in a member’s home. Brother and sister Belnap. They are super cool. We have one room where we live study and everything. The Belnaps are pretty much gone all day so we don't see them very much. Oh before I forget, the mailing address here is:
                                                Elder Marcus Jackman
                                                1004 Yellowstone drive
                                                Taylor, TX 76574 I would love to receive mail!!!! If anyone has sent mail to the mission office (the address on facebook) I don't know when I’ll get it. The office is pretty far from here so we only get the mail occasionally. So sorry if I don't write back to it for awhile, it's just because I haven't gotten it. Oh I will be in this are for at least 2 transfers which will be 12 weeks or about 3 months.
Now for all you viewing the blog. I would like to hear from friends!!!!!!!!!! Send some mail, it's not like you have anything better to do :) and anyone viewing this thinking whether or not to go on a mission GO!!!! It is the best thing you can do! Ever!
Well I have to get going I love you so much and thank you for keeping me in your prayers it helps a ton.

He made it to Texas

Dear Missionary Families,
We are happy to announce that your son or daughter has safely arrived in the Texas San Antonio Mission!  President Jones and I and our two assistant greeted them at the airport at about 1:30 this afternoon.  What a great group of missionaries! 

After collecting their luggage, we made our way back to the mission home where we had lunch, individual interviews with President Jones and some orientation.  Then they were off to the Alamo where they learned a little history and had the opportunity to talk to people and give away copies of the Book of Mormon. They did a great job with their first true missionary experience in Texas!  We welcomed them back to the mission home for dinner and a few more items of business, then they were off to the assistants apartment for their first night in the mission field.  The sisters stayed at the mission home.
 Tomorrow morning we will have an orientation and transfer meeting where your son or daughter will meet their new companion and head out to their first area.  You should expect an email from them on Monday, p-day.  We are so happy and excited to have the opportunity to serve with your sons and daughters.  Thank you for sending such well prepared and wonderful missionaries! 

Sincerely,
President and Sister Jones

Dear Elders

I wanted to let everyone know you can send Marcus dear elders through the website http://www.dearelder.com/  They are free while he is in the MTC but then they cost but so does envelopes and stamps so it is just one more way you can keep him informed.  You will have to set up a profile and know his mission. 

Pictures

Marcus with his district in front of the Temple

Studying with his companion

Marcus and his companion with another missionary

All the friends that came and listened to him speak.  Thanks for all the support you give him.

Last MTC Email

The MTC is treating me very well. I weighed myself the other day and I have gained 10 pounds. But since my clothes are still fitting, I am  playing basketball every day and doing 70+ push ups each night I've decided that it is all muscle! I am learning more and more each day, it's great! We have had a couple more missionaries added to our district. They used to be in the intermediate class but they were injured somehow so they have to be here longer so they are now in our class. One of them is in my travel group to go to Texas! I recieved my travel plans this week and leave on Wednesday. I'm super excited! This week has been pretty much the same as the last just a lot of studying and eating. Yesterday our district got to be hosts for the new missionaries. That was pretty fun! I escorted 2 sisters, and one elder. I sent some pictures just barely they will probably be the only ones I send. Once I leave the MTC next week I will just be able to hook my camera up to the computer and send the pictures through email. There are some doubles of pictures because I was kind of confused when I was printing them. I don't know why they don't allow us to just attatch them to our e mail, what are we cavemen? but whatever. One picture is of me and my companion in our Halloween costumes! We used what we had and made costumes, we trick or treated on our hallway in our residence. We actually got quite a bit of candy! It was fun. That package was fantastic and it is definitely enough to last me. On that day I got a package from you guys, from Amanda and Kade, and from Landon they were full of food and Landon's had cookies in it, so elders were pretty jealous of me during mail time that day haha. So I have plenty of food. Today we went to the temple again and afterwards we ate in the cafeteria there. Oh my gosh! what great food! They had real mashed potatoes! Not that canery crap. It was really good. That is pretty much it for me not much new here. I'm excited to tell you guys how Texas is! I leave in 6 days!! Things sound like they are going great for you back home. Everyone sounds like they are doing well.  Bueno, no hay nada mas que decir. Mi espanol esta creciendo mucho! me gusta hablarlo! I love you family. And I love you too anyone looking at the blog!

Love

Elder Jackman

When we get the pictures in the mail from Marcus I will will scan them into the computer for the blog!

Thusday October 27, 2011

Life is still great here at the MTC! My life goes as follows: eat, study, eat, study, teach, study and then eat some more. As you can see there is a lot of eating and studying! i can eat soooooo much! wow! I'm doing push ups with my companion every night, and we play basketball about every day so I am staying in shape. To answer some of the questions you guys have: We get to go to the temple every P Day, so we went this morning. Oh guess what? Chad just walked in and is at the computer across from me. we see each other a lot. Ok back to your questions. Dad the other elders in my district are new as well, but they are mostly native speakers. Elder Chavez is from Alaska but his background is Mexico. Elder Fuertes family lives in Utah but again from Mexico. Elder Ramirez is the funniest person I have ever met, and he is from Mexico but his family lives in Orem.  Hermana Balbuena is from New Mexico, but again her family is from Mexico. Then Elder Jolley, Elder Eliason, and me are all gringos. I have some cool pictures to send you but I have to print them and send them that way. I can't get them on the computer.. So I will send those next week. Your stake conference sounds great, we have had some good meetings here. We have firesides with Gereral Authoritys every Sunday and devotionals with them every Tuesday. So I cant remember their names but I have them written down back at my room. Those were both good. Oh Dad Elder Eliason in my district is a blackbelt in Tae kwon do so he'll just teach me and I'll be better than you and Parker. That is the update for now though I don't have much more time.  I love you all very much and think of you often. I am learning a lot and having a great time.

Love,
Elder Jackman 

First Email

Hello Family!
I am doing great here in the MTC.  pero si, todo esta bien. My spanish is skyrocketing. When I speak, the words just come out! it's amazing!  We have some laundry time today because we just got here, but my companion and I and some other elders in our district are just waiting until our P Day on Thursday. The MTC is a lot of work! we are always busy; studying, learning more Spanish, teaching, and anything else you picture a missionary doing, we are busy doing it. It is a great place though, I have seen several people who I know and I have made tons of new friends. It is a lot of fun. Today during our gym time we are going to play soccer. I'll dominate of course. The food here is really great, and it is really getting me. I weighed myself yesterday and I have already gained 5 pounds! My pants are a little tight, but my companion and I are starting to work out. Haha just kidding, dad you probably just freaked out. I haven't gained any weight. but we are working out. I am going to direct the music in church tomorrow for our branch, so that should be fun. In church here they give every missionary in the ward a topic each week, and at the beginning of the meeting they say who is going to speak. So we have to be prepared! that is the update for now. I will email again on Thursday! I hope you are all doing well and have a great week!!

Love,
Elder Jackman