Current Address

Sister Jorden Elizabeth Jackson
Philippines Baguio Mission
PO Box 115
National Highway
Brgy. Lingsat
San Fernando, La Union
2500,
PHILIPPINES

Monday, April 20, 2015

BEST DECISION EVER

It honestly doesn't feel real that I am going home. Sometimes I am excited, sometimes I am nervous. A few times this week I even cried. It’s been a roller coaster week and an amazing year and a half.

This week was great. So full. We killed it. Worked our tails off. We were so tired at the end of every day. Even had some people come to church. (YES!)

But this isn't really about the week. It’s sort of just my thoughts of what I have learned on my mission - just a few things off of the top of my head. 

The best time is now – don’t procrastinate repentance. Don’t postpone a prompting. Never let a good thought go unsaid. Today and now is the best time. Start what you finish. Just buckle down, roll up your sleeves and get the job done. Make your hopes and dreams and goals a reality through ACTION! We each are the masters of our own lives. Start today - NOW!

“Why” and “How” are a lot more important than “Who” and “What.” Whatever we are doing, whoever we are doing it with, be sure we remember why and do it the best we can. It’s not just serving. It’s how we serve. God wants it all – especially our heart.

Everyone is just doing the best they can – including me! Of course we all know we have different strengths and weaknesses, but we also all have different variations of “bests.” And what my best is today is probably not the same as yesterday or tomorrow. Everyone really is just making the most of what they have to work with. Instead of judging, gossiping or criticizing, we have to just give others the benefit of the doubt. Including ourselves! Just do our best and have faith that our best is good enough.




















































Nothing replaces quality time when it comes to building strong relationships. My strongest companionships have always been when I invest time into them. Listening to them tell me stories even when I was just so tired and wanted to sleep. Eating food together. Doing yoga after planning. Going running in the morning. It’s the little things that add up and make us closer. Nothing replaces spending quality time with someone – time outside of working and planning.

Don’t wait for the perfect moment before we give. Whether it’s giving of ourselves, our time, or our talents – just give. Don’t worry about it. Whatever we  have is enough. If we wait until we’re not busy, if we think that someone else can do a better job then we are cutting ourselves short of blessings we can receive. Take any opportunity and run with it!

I've never been so aware of my weaknesses in my life. But being aware of these weaknesses has brought me closer to God. But for real, being a missionary the closer I've come to God more and more weaknesses are just thrown in my face. I've learned how to overcome some, but I've also learned how to be patient with myself and forgive myself. Because some weaknesses we will take with us to the grave.

One of my favorite expressions here is, “kung gusto mo, maraming paraan, kung ayaw mo maraming dahilan.” It means “If you want it, there are many ways. If you don’t want it, there are many excuses.” It’s so true.

Time is the best medicine. Everything gets better with time. Missionary life. Investigators. Areas. We just have to have faith and hope and actively wait. Everything gets better with time. I've found that if I continue being diligent everything works out in the end.

Probably one of the biggest lessons I've learned is how to be interdependent. It has been humbling. I've never really been a dependent person. I've always been pretty independent. I didn't like accepting help from others (cough, cough - pride) but I was compelled to be interdependent on the mission. Dependent on my companions. Dependent on my family. And mostly just dependent on the Lord. Which has been super humbling for me in the best way because I can’t do everything by myself. And relying on Him doesn't make me weak – it makes me stronger than I could ever be on my own.

I hope my mission is a catalyst for how the rest of my life goes. I just feel so thankful that I've been given this opportunity to serve. Because for every sacrifice we make the Lord triples it with blessings. The mission has improved me. It has improved the goals that I have for myself. I don’t think I've been changed – just refined and improved. I wish I could word how full my heart feels. I’m not very sad that it’s over. It feels right. I’m just so happy that it happened. So cheesy but so true. I gave my all and God gave it back to me so much better than before.

See you soon!
Sister J