Pray for Missionary Work

Well this week was so slow so this email is going to be very short I'm sorry....

But Monday once again we were at mama Tammi's it was Amber's birthday and she asked to have a party with the elders so we had cake on Amber's birthday. It was fun then we shared a message on the Christmas initiative. She enjoyed that. Today is mama Tammi's birthday, so I'm going to make pancakes and coconut syrup for her birthday Then Tuesday came around and we just tracked all day and Wednesday we went to zone training which was really good the zone leaders did a really good lesson on reading your patriarchal blessings more frequently. And then every other day was just tracking we really didn't get any lessons it feels like because of the weather and the time of season.

Like my new slippers
And the snow well I do

I recieved my mom's package I loved it

We'll sorry for the short email hopefully the week will pick up better next week

Love ya all 

Love,

Elder Vickers -Jacklin

It's Snowing....December 5, 2016

Oh boy we got snowwww!!!

Well this week has been one of those ups and downs and all around. my companion and I are getting along real well now. I guess we had to learn patience and empathy and I guess a little humility as well . at least for me. well that was a good lesson learned. Nephi had to learn that as well with Lamen and Lemuel the two turd heads in the book of Mormon. (They we mean to Nephi and Sam and their parents ) that reminds me of a talk that my dad gave in church when we moved to Preston. my dad gave a talk on taking a journey through the wilderness and (I consider moving) we only took what we really needed and we moved to a new home. During my dad's talk he said "and Lamen and Lemuel murmured." ouch, my dad called me a turd head from the scriptures . I guess he was right. funny memories. 

Wow big tangent, the weather here is brutal it is so cold but I'm still sticking to shorts whenever I get to wear them. everyone says I'm nuts but we all knew that (my question is why does everyone have to keep reminding me, I got a good memory .. I guess most of the time )
Well the week started with us bowling on Monday... I really am considering picking that up when I get home I'm really getting good and it's just fun .... new Hobbies I guess . the guy that owns the bowling ally in Ladd he's not a member and he loves us missionaries and he let's us bowl for free usually we get three games on Monday so it's fun. We have the whole alley to ourselves because mama Tammi cleans the bowling alley and so when she's cleaning we get to bowl.... sometimes I wish she could come play a game with us but from what I can tell she loves the company and I'm her son so it makes it all great and fun. I'm going to miss mama Tammi when I get transferred I really am. 

On Tuesday we taught lots of people and we got to go see some less actives and such and that was a lot of work. I can't even describe how much work we are doing it just crazy I am so tired by the end of the night and Ya lots of work.

Wednesday we had district meeting and that was good. Elder Kelly is great at these meetings he doesn't make you fall asleep so that great and we all have conversations and all and it makes it so interactive  (way to g Elder Kelly ) then the rest of the week was work work work. we only had 12 of us at church this week so I liked to call it the Princeton branch tiny winy meeting. Elder Kelly played the organ this week . I probably will play next week never knew I had the skills did ya.... I really don't, I just push a button and it plays for me. but I'm trying to teach myself it's a little ruff but getting there. well we got dumped on it snowed a lot and it is wonderful and I got to teach my companion how to drive in snow (like I know haha) but it all worked out and we survived and my teaching skills I guess do wonders .... hmmm strong in his teachings skills this one is hmmm.... hmmm surprised I am hmmmm...

We also got the opportunity to go to a nativity thing that all the churches in my area which was sweet ...

Well the holiday cheer is different without family cause that's what Christmas is to me but I have mama Tammi to help with that and the mission family as well 

We'll I love you all and be safe this week as the winter season comes upon us...

And if you have not got to see the new Christmas initiative go to mormon.org and it is the video call #LIGHTtheWORLD and it will lead you to sharing the light of Christ through you. 

Love,

Elder Vickers -Jacklin

THE pictures with the nativity 

Service and Brotherly Love

Well hello my wonderful and beautiful /handsome family yes,yes that includes you Brian haha. Well let me say that this week was a roller coaster week. You see me and my companion act a lot like brothers we love each other and then we love to push each other's buttons, well I found the mother load button on Elder Kelly  and he found mine on the same day and we just had to push it haha well let's say we had the biggest girl fight that led into us apologizing over nothing haha we don't even remember what happened but we both laugh about it now it's a new change but we are surviving. We do however teach the gospel well together that we do well we have found over 8 new investigators this past week working with former investigators and potential investigators. We both love the gospel so much !!! 

Well Eugene is back on date for the 17 of January and by the way it looks he's getting dunked which I can't wait to do because I want to hold him under the water for a bit, just kidding he's been a pain but I love him. well mamma Tammi knows how to help us have a wonderful time for Thanksgiving.  We went to an old couple they are so cute and funny but anyway we had dinner with them and we helped put up a Christmas tree for them it was enjoyable . I love mama Tammi we call each other family I get called brother by Amber and Alex it's so much fun.

We have been teaching a lot of people the restoration and the plan of salvation lessons to the point that I have been dreaming of teaching those lessons it's wonderful and horrible at the same time. I went from me dreaming about sports and cars and girls to teaching people the gospel big change.

So Elder Kelly has come to the conclusion that everyone that I talk to ends up becoming my friend or I become someone that they look up to and a lot of the other missionaries see the same thing even the scary sisters haha jk about the sisters but I don't see that, but they do and it's funny because as I sit back and think about it it's so true. I guess I was blessed with they hat gift, that's what I like most about the mission is talking to random strangers I don't even know and they end up become someone I love.

What I am most greatfull for is my family especially my mom and dad they have taught me the right and how to obey I am also greatfull for my grandparents especially grandpa ray and grandpa Chadwick, they have taught me how to be a respectable human being . I'm thankful for my other grandparents because if it wasn't for you I wouldn't be here in the lovely family I am and I'm also greatfull for my aunt toad because she's my favorite .... I love all y'all that's what I have to say I'm greatfull for all y'all crazy people.

Love,

Elder Vickers -Jacklin

THE PICTURES WITH ALL THE ROCKS IS SERVICE WE DID AT BROTHER HEREDIAS WE BROKE UP HIS CONCRETE WITH A SLUDGE HAMMER AND THEN MY FEET HURT AND KIDS DON'T PLAY WITH BROKEN GLASS AND YUMMM BLOOD. can't wait for another week.

Happy Thanksgiving

November 21, 2016

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!!!!
And what a great week to be be great full for. I am now serving with Elder Kelly he is from Las Vegas Nevada and he loves the mission. He has 3 siblings and he's the youngest of his family. He loves to bowl and run cross country and was on the swim team and he looks a lot like Elder Zachary Jacklin. At least to me he does.
We'll Monday was the day to say goodbye to Elder Morwood which was sad cause I learned a lot from him but he will take great care of Pekin.
I'm still in Princeton and I'm happy to be here for another transfer.
Tuesday was transfer day and I got the opportunity to do some work in Peoria with Elder Wiser while we waited for our country companions to come.
I was able to get a couple names for the Peoria elders and past out a couple Book of Mormons and I was able to get a couple referrals for the Joliet missionary's.
Then Elder Kelly showed up and I drove us to Spring Valley so he could meet a couple people in the branch. We had 46 people go to church last week and only 7 of which were visitors.  I was so happy.
Well Wednesday came and Elder Kelly is our new district leader and so we had a great lesson and then we drove to pizza peel and have done a wonderful lunch. We then drove to spring valley and had a lesson with the Ashby Eugene is now back on date so we are very happy for him.
Thursday came and we as a companionship that's Elder Kelly and I decided to work with the members more as well as out investigators you know what it's working . The members here love us missionaries and they are giving us names and they even offer to use there home for lessons it's great. There's nothing better than having a lesson in the members home. The spirit is always strong .
Then that night we decided to go through our phone and area book and decide to clean it out a little bit more and call people and we got more lessons that way and we been visiting less actives and all the less actives came to church this week and it was amazing to see oh and I got to play the organ for sacrament meeting that was fun now I can say I played in sacrament meeting.
Over all this week was aaaaaammmmm,aaaazzzzzziiiiinnmmmgggg.
We also got a Christmas tree and lights for five bucks it was sweet so now we have a tree this week was just great.
Love ya all,

Love,

Elder Vickers -Jacklin

Changes

Hello everyone guess what I'm walking I'm working I'm happy and I'm good looking like always haha
Well this week has been good Monday we did another pday at the Mercers house. Tyler left yesterday for the mtc and it was cool . So we sat and talk and played board games again then we went and tracked all the rest of the day.

Tuesday we went to the lemons and talked and tried to have a lesson but it was a challenge but they are great people and I love them.
Wednesday we went and had a wonderful district meeting it was the last one of the transfer. And then we had zone lunch at panda and we signed transfer journals and then I was on exchanges with Peoria West with Elder Champneys and all we did was find places to get there car fixed because he hit a deer and he needed tires changed in his car so that's all we did. 

Thursday we went a did service at epic and I worked with a lot of special needs kids and it was so much fun. Then we exchanged back and then we had dinner at the Mercers because she wanted us to have thanksgiving with Tyler.
Then the next day we went to the Lemons and then went tracking and then we tracked all day Saturday and then we got transfer calls me and Elder Morwood will be split up. My new companion is Elder Kelly I pick him up tomorrow so you will get pictures of us next week. Sunday we had Tyler's farewell and then we had a potluck to send him off. Today we are going around to all the people that Elder Morwood wants to say goodbye to.
    

                                      Elder Vickers -Jacklin

                                                                                                               Elder Morwood and me

  Elder Clark and me . Elder Clark  goes home

We had lunch with Vivian I had beef tongue meet sandwiches I wanted to try it and it was good.

Mamma Tammi gave us 1 pound gummy bear

The Book of Mormon is True

well hallelujah it is over. So this past week was horrible. now let me tell ya you ready.....
so i didn't get better from my sickness i got worse. Monday rolled around and i was so tired and i hurt and i couldn't breath so we were told to stay in for a couple of days so all i really did was stay in bed and sleep or try to at least. Sister mercer( mama Tammi) let us borrow a humidifier to see if it would help. it did a little. but Wednesday rolled around and we had a zone conf. to be to, so we went to Peoria to the stake center. it was a 6 hour long meeting we were trained by president and sister Griffen and the assistance some of the district leaders and the sister training leaders. we started the meeting and got to lunch and then after lunch we split off into our zones and then president Griffen came out and told me and Elder Morwood and i to fallow him. we went to the other room and we talked for a bit and then he told me and Elder Morwood to go home. Good thing to cause i started to go into a fever and i was coughing for along time finally we called sister nurse and she said we needed to go to the doctors right away the morning. so we did turns out i had the flu and bronchitis and the lung infection at the same time. so they sent me to go get medication and i was told that i had to stay in all week. No proselyting no exercise and no physical labor i had to sleep and to get better. that was my week of torture. but there is a good side to this story as well ... through all of this resting i had to do i got to read a lot of The Book of Mormon.... do you know how wonderful that book is let me tell you. 

I was reading in Alma 32 and it was talking  a lot about how people even though were going through a hard time they still had faith that everything was going to be okay and that as long as they had faith they would grow. well there was many times that there lands were destroyed or they were driven out of their lands completely and they still turned to the lord and still had faith to rebuild and to start over. it was amazing to me that they had so much faith. then i started thinking well didn't that happen to the saints as well because they were driven out of their land so many times it was like it was a replay of what was going on in Alma time which was surprising to me as well.... cool match up isn't it. well then i was reading in D&C 86: 1-3 and it was talking about if we allow ourselves to sleep during the harvest which means if we were to sleep on the gospel and let the worldly things take over which comes from Satan it will soon choke out whats good in the harvest and let Satan influence take over and me and elder Morwood started talking about well let's say we didn't have general conference. one year what would happen. well Satan has already been working on us and now he has gained a little bit of ground and then we "sleep" or don't have conf. then that just means hes only going to get stronger. i hope that  makes sense cause the reason why we have conference is because we need to improve day by day and conference gives us that direction on were to work on and when that direction is given to us and we work on it then its breaking down what Satan has been working on and it makes him have to start all over again which is mighty fine with me. general conference is wonderful you all should go over the conference talks and ask yourselves are you sleeping on the gospel are you allowing Satan to build even more than he has. I want to thank all that have been sending emails and letters it is really appreciated and it helps out a lot. 

Thanks for the prayers it has helped as well cause i am now up on my feet ready to get back to work.It is weird to think that i am three months strong in the mission and that i only have 15 more transfers till I'm home. i would ask  if all you peeps can send your  prayers to my Good friend Zach's Dad he could use a little help as well. thanks again for all that you wonderful peeps have done for me and how you all have influenced my family and me.

I have a testimony on the gospel of Jesus Christ and i know that it is true. If there is anyone who is struggling and feels like they do not know where to turn to turn towards the lord cause i can promise with all my heart might mind and strength that the lord can and will help you. i know that the book of Mormon is true. i will go along with what President Monson has said , "if you have not taken the time to read the book of Mormon i will tell you this READ IT!!!!" there is many trues and wonders many blessings and answers that can come from taking the time to open up the book and fill your mind of the teachings of Jesus Christ. I know it because i have done it and it WORKS. the savior and our heavenly father love us and wants us to improve and improve we must because Satan is getting stronger and it will not be pretty if we allow ourselves to sleep when the harvest is soon to be here.  i love you all and hope you guys enjoy the weeks to come.

love ,

Elder Vickers -Jacklin

Quote of the day:
"for anything worth having one must pay the price; and the price is always work, patience, love, self-sacrifice-- no paper currency, no promises to pay, but the gold of real service."
--John Burroughs--

My Little Boy is Sick

October 29, 2016

Hey mom got an important question to ask you can you be a good movie to your Simon and put 20 dollars on his card so he can go visit a doctor before he dies from coughing a lung out and so he can get some sleep tonight that would be great if do have special permission to email you about this from sister nurse

Elder Vickers -Jacklin

(Yes, I know, my poor little boy is sick, but this little message made me laugh for days. Auto correct, not reading your message before you send it, and forgetting all he learned in English class, makes me laugh. I love and miss my missionary.)

October 31, 2016

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!
Well this week has no been the best. so at the beginning  of  the  week Monday we had our normal day except we had a cool pday the whole zone got together and we played ultimate Frisbee and soccer it was a blast then we also did exchanges and it was in charge of my area for a couple of days with Elder wiser.  We had some lessons and a meal appointment that night. We had Chicago pizza and by far that was the best one ohhhh Chicago pizza is so good .
Then the next day we had appointments and lessons and tracking. Oh it's been so cold lately I've feel like I'm in the middle of a glacier it's so cold but it's fun to haha . Well Wednesday we had new missionary training in Peoria and it was so much fun until after.... I started coughing a lot well we did our normal teaching routine and me coughing to the point were in was coughing all night and I'm surprised that is didn't wake up Elder Morwood at night ... well Saturday comes around and Elder Morwood said it needed to call the mission nurse cause it looked like death ran over ... so if went to the doctor and the doctor checked my lungs and checked them again and then left ... she didn't tell me what's going on she just left. Well two minutes later she has another doctor come in with her and he checked my lungs and by now i known  it's not good ... (this is why i don't like docs they always tell you there's something  wrong with you)... well then both of them leave but the first doc came in with a breathing machine and i did a breathing test ... well to make the story short I'm have a lung infection .they asked me if i smoked and i said no and then they asked if I'm around people that smoke (in my head I was saying have you seen Princeton everyone smokes in Princeton) but I was like ya I'm around people who smoke quite often and she said that it's a high possibility that it could be because of that but there not quite sure yet but I know have to use an inhaler which I have to pickup tomorrow. But they have me on some medication to help a little bit . Oh boy. Well then Sunday roles around and it was stake conference so we got to listen to our mission president  talk and he did a swell job and then we went to spring valley to go see a less active and we really didn't say much because he had the music blaring loud with my favorite artists and he was working on his car and I was struggling not to move my little body because I wanted to dance and I was coughing and ya this whole funny situation was hard. Well after out "lesson" we were on our way home and we stopped at a stop sign and then I hear a squeal and bang we get hit from behind . Great!!! Do you know how bad whiplash  feels it hurts but everyone was okay . All our car had was paint on it and  the little George that hit us broke it's bumper and light. So ya that was my week . Hope Halloween is a great one for y'all and happy birthday Sarah! Love ya !

Elder Vickers -Jacklin

1. Car
2. We had a good treat
3. No surprise

Chocolate Overdose

Hey everyone thanks for making me cry with that package of pumpkins notes I got you all, know I'm a big boob and I feel so loved.
Well nothing much has changed the Lemons are so awesome they told us we can now use there washing machine and dryer they said that we shouldn't spend the money for our food to do laundry so ya.
We are progressing in the Princeton area and it is AWESOME. Oh ya I am sleeping a lot better so ya .
Today we have a zone preparation day we are going to play soccer and Frisbee so it should be fun.
Well I know that the church is still true even though we face hard times and tough trials we are always able to overcome them with the lords help.
Sorry this is short got a big schedule today. 

Love ya

Elder Vickers -Jacklin

Must Have Sleep 10-17-2016

Alright so this week to be honest with you has been a rough one I haven't been able to sleep very good at all and I'm sooooooooooooooo Uber tired but it's all okay. If you could pray to help me sleep better that would be nice.

Well Eugene is being a turd, but he hasn't been keeping his commitments and so we had to push his date back to next month and today I go on exchanges ones again because Elder Morwood is the district leader and he has to check up on all the other elders so I'm not always with my companion which sometimes can be frustrating to cause your always unpacking packing not slowing down and you get tired from all the rides in the car and I found out that I never want a job were your in a vehicle all the time Dad I don't know how you do it but ya. 

The lemons are doing good and bad Nick is getting really sick and he asked us to give his wife a blessing. At first he didn't know we could do that and he said he had a feeling to ask and he did and I was able to bless Shannon with comfort and peace for the hard times that are coming but I also blessed her with the knowledge to know what she needs to do. Nick has been in and out of three hospital getting test done we are not sure what it is but nick wants us to keep coming because he says there a peace he feels when we are there so Wednesday we are going to have dinner with them.
Vivian Botka she is one of our long time investigators she has been meeting with the elders for 20 years now. She came to church yesterday and it was good to see her there.

I got a mom in the mission field sister mercer  (mamma tammi) loves me so much she got me a blanket and a candle cause she found out I love the smell of candles and I love fuzzy things plus she feeds us to and she gets me my happy food sometimes ice cream, she's so nice.

So we went and saw one of our other investigators John foster and we were watching one of the church history videos because he loves them... well any way he fell asleep in his lazy boy and the all the sudden he falls out of his chair and he has some sort of choking problem going on a me and Elder Morwood think something he's having a seizure  and then it quits and he looks at me and Elder Morwood  and says I had a vision that I had a gumball that was sliding down my throat and I had to get it out. Let's say we had a heart attack
That's about my week
I wrote a couple more more poems and here they are :

When life becomes a dark place...
Where shadows begin to chase...
When light seems to fade away...
DON'T FORGET HIS FACE

When trouble comes...
But never leaves...
Where struggle comes from far beneath...
When life begins to become a dream...
DON'T FORGET TO GET ON YOUR KNEES

When pain comes and only increases...
Where sorrow arises from its sleep...
When time ticks away and demands more...
DON'T FORGET HIS PLEA

BUT REMEMBER...

When darkness came, came a light into the world.
When shadows chase , did he not put them in their place.
When light dimmed, did he not leave his candle burning.
DO YE KNOW NOT THAT HE KNOWS YOUR FACE

When troubles came, was he not there to help you along the way.
When struggles arose, did he not teach you the way.
When life falls into a dream,  did he not wake you from your sleep.
REMEMBER HE GOT DOWN ON HIS KNEES.

I walk the rows one by one
Feeling the ground beneath my feet
I smell the air that feels the earth
I sit and ponder how would it be...

The Savior going row by row healing, healing hearts of broken men...
The Savior giving a man strength to rise up and walk...
The Savior bringing breath back to those who sleepeth ...

I walk to the edge of the farm and look at the field all done
I feel the ground all loose ready for another season
I smell the dust that settles from the working of the day
I sit and ponder once more...

The Savior walking from city to city ...
The Savior loosening the hard hearts of men...
The Savior leaving a trail of love and peace to all he walks by...

I walk to the safety of my home
I feel the love that abides all around
I smell the aging of time that has been spent
And once again my mind goes wandering...

The Savior walked home to home but never to his own...
The Savior left his love to surround all that fallows ...
The Savior walking till the age of the harvest is over...
AND HE WON'T QUIT TILL THE HARVEST IS OVER.

Of course I miss you all and love ya!

Pictures
1. Ninja missionary
2. Quote
3. Goes with the first poem
4. Ugly tie Monday
5. District leader meetings through Skype every  Sunday at 8
6. Goes with the next poem
7. More good food I made
8. Me
9. Purple cow more pink though haha
10. Me and my blanket and candle from mamma tammi

Elder Vickers -Jacklin