First E-mail from South Carolina

This is Jackson's first e-mail from South Carolina.  I've also included a picture of Jackson and the missionaries he traveled with:

Here is a critter in his apartment

Familia,

Hola de South Carolina. I've now been here about 5 days and I have loved every single one. In this email I am only writing my week starting on Tuesday since I can't remember anything past then. So Tuesday we started the long trek to South Carolina. We went from shuttle to train to train until we were at the airport. Then at the airport we were informed that our plane had engine problems and was delayed an hour. So I called that church travel office and they told us to get on as long as it isn't delayed for more than 2 hours. So we got on and when we arrive in Atlanta we were informed that we were already booked on a new flight. So we were at the airport for 1.5 hours and then we set off to South Carolina. Once there we were greeted by the mission president and the APs. We then went to the mission home which is super nice, had orientation, and interviews with the president. Then we went to bed and that was that.

Wednesday was transfer day so we woke up and ate breakfast and started the day. We went to the transfer church where we met the people that run the mission and had some meetings with them then we started transfers and met our trainers. I am still weirdly in a companionship with Elder Hill and with our new trainer Elder Gerado. Elder Gerado is super awesome. He has spoken Spanish all his life but also English. So he has the potential to help us quite a bit. He is super chill as well really funny and everything. Really nice. Then we went to our apartment which is apparently the nicest apartment in the entire mission, especially since it's the only one with wifi. We also drive around in a 2017 Chevy Malibu so that's super nice as well. Oh we are also becoming a Facebook mission and getting smart phones in the next 2 weeks. So that's all really nice. Then work started at 6. We went and knocked some doors, sharing a message about Jesus. Everyone around here is super nice. They all talk to us and listen and such and when we do get rejected it's is all really nice. So that was really fun and that was that day.

Thursday we started service in the morning by serving this man named Maximo and his Spanish is the hardest thing to understand in the entire world. But luckily Elder Gerado is amazing. We cut down part of his ceiling that had black mold growing in it since he couldn't do it because his ankle is broken. We then read the bom (Book of Mormon) with him and that was all with that. We studied and we went to teach some kids a lesson with some members. Then that was that day. 

Friday we did more service with an investigator where we cleaned her backyard for a party she was having on Saturday. Then later we had the dreaded 4 hour weekly planning. Then we visited a Venezuelan member who is a Spanish teacher at a high school so he also speaks English which is good because his Spanish is crazy. Then we teach an English class but it didn't happen because no one showed up. And that was that day. 

Saturday started with more service where we ran into some Jehovahs Witnesses and they taught us a short little message and then they commended us on how we were so nice to listen and so we then wanted to share a message with them and they made all these excuses why they couldn't, but we still tried, but it only turned out to be some good old fashioned Bible bashing. So we got nowhere with that. But we started service which was eye opening because he had 400 lawnmowers just out in the woods and we have to organize some of them each week. It's crazy. But then we went to that party we helped set up. Ate some good food there. Then we had a long night trying to set up for general conference which didn't really happen. And that was that day. 

Then on Sunday we went to church and I was very confused for the next three hours (Spanish branch). Then we went to an investigator's house for a party had some good food and he had the Packers, Bengals game on. Sunday consisted of me being confused the entire time. But great food was had, so it all turned out okay. 

That's been the week so far. Now we are at a members house doing some ceramics and such. Nice pday activity. Not sure what else we'll do today. 

That was basically all for this week. Spanish is a struggle and it looks like we'll do most teaching in Spanish. So that is quite the struggle but it's okay. I'm only 5 days in. The weather here is nice in the fall. Not super humid but still pretty hot. The bugs are the worst here though. We are serving in west Columbia in a giant area. Elder Gerardo has been out for 18 months and is from Vegas. 

All right I gotta go. Have fun. Love you. 

Elder Bertoch 

First E-mail from the MTC

This is Jackson's first detailed e-mail from the MTC, other than the short one he sent on the day he arrived.  His others were very similar so I am justing posting one from the MTC:

Hey all,

Okay so I am up really early to do some laundry today so forgive my spelling and grammar mistakes. After I left you with my last email the day really started to pick up. I went back into my classroom to continue to wait for the rest of my district and my companion to show up. During that time I was still trying to wrap my head around all of the Spanish that everyone was speaking to me. The rest of my district including my companion showed up. My companion is from Littleton, Colorado (Elder Hill) and he is also going to the South Carolina Columbia Spanish speaking mission (what are the chances). My district is all going to places like, Idaho, Nebraska, New Mexico, Mexico, and Washington. I was blessed with my companion, he is pretty dang good at Spanish (even if he says he's not), very patient with me trying to learn Spanish, and very supportive. Everyone in my district are really good guys, there is not one person in it that I do not like. Most days are filled with laughs and the spirit. 

Next category is the food, the food here really isn't bad. There hasn't been a meal yet that I haven't liked, and they have many different food options (although I usually go to the shortest line). On Monday we even had Taco Bell for dinner.

I've been sleeping pretty dang well. The first night was rough because one of my roomates alarms went off at 2:30. So I was up pretty long after that. And I was pretty physically and mentally exhausted the first days. I was very overwhelmed with everything that was happening. So I started going to bed an hour earlier each night and that has seemed to help.

Classes are really fun and seem to go by pretty quickly. My main teacher is Hermana Hadfield and she is great. She is always upbeat and uplifting. She is very patient with our Spanish and a very good teacher. We also have help from some other teachers Hermana Salvord and Hermana Barlow (who knows cousin Austin somehow). My Spanish I would like to think is coming along great. I am the only one in my district that didn't take 3+ years of Spanish so I knew the least coming in, but I don't really care about that. All that I see is that I knew about 6 words in Spanish coming in and now I know 100+. So far in Spanish I can pray, bear my testimony, share a scripture, extend an invitation, and share some information about me, plus a bunch of random vocab words that I have come to learn over the past week. I know that I really couldn't of done it without the Holy Ghost and the gift of tongues that it brings. I forgot to mention that on Friday we started to teach our first investigator all in Spanish. The first lesson was pretty dang rough but every lesson after that has been going much better. Carlos seems to be able to understand me but I still have a very hard time understanding him, luckily my companion can understand him pretty easily. While teaching the lessons I have been able to feel a strong spirit as well, so thats pretty cool.

So my day starts off with waking up and getting out of bed by 6:30. So far I have been doing a good job of doing that. Then we get ready and get to breakfast by about 7:15. After breakfast we get to our classroom to start planning out the day and then class starts at 8:30 and goes until 11:30. Then the study time starts up until lunch. Then after lunch there is more study time, then exercise time where we have been going to the iron chapel to lift weights since my companion is a big strong man. Then more study time up until dinner. Then we teach Carlos for the remaining time. Then we go back to our residence and go to bed. I believe that I am feeling the spirit very strong each day. My head feels more clear then it ever has before and I am feeling very relaxed. 

Sunday morning I was feeling the most sad out of all the other days and I think its because it was the most different out of any other day. I had to wake up at 6:30 and do most of the same routine. Then we had a district meeting, then priesthood, then sacrament. I am so used to going to our ward and having Brother Wright give us treats and everything. Then going home and taking a nap. But I can't take naps here. But Sunday quickly went from the saddest day to the greatest day with one simple decision to go to choir practice. Choir practice was just about the greatest thing ever. The spirit was so strong in that room it made me feel so at peace. Plus the choir director had great stories and was very funny. And we had a guaranteed spot in the devotional room. Which turned out to be awesome because we had Elder Ballard come and speak to us that night. So I have had the opportunity to sing to an apostle, what have you done?  His talk can be summed up in 4 words. Thou shalt not flirt. Then we had the amazing opportunity to watch the MTC exclusive video Character of Christ. Which might be the best talk that I have ever listened to. I have some notes about that on my tablet so I will send those to you later today. Same goes with Elder Ballard's talk. Tuesday we also had a devotional which we sang in the choir again and this time Elder Anderson came. I will also send my notes about his talk later. So for me to see two apostles talk in a week is pretty cool. 

All I can see your emails any time during the week so feel free to send as many emails as you want. I just cant send you e-mails until Wednesdays.  Food is always good to send me, feel free to send me candy or cookies or whatever at any time. Since we can only eat during scheduled meal times I can get pretty hungry at night.

Today will be spent going to the temple, exercising, and napping since we are all very exhausted. 

If I think of anything else to tell you guys I will be sure to send it to you in another email.

The book you sent me with has helped me a lot when I have felt down at night so thanks for that. 

Alright well, Yo se que Jesucristo es son el salvador, y que sus el expacion es un grande bendicion. Yo se que el espiritu santo pedime con la paz y con la del de tongues. Yo se que soy un missionerjo de jesucristo y que ese es trobjar de dios. En el nombre de Jesucristo, Amen. (I didn't have any thing to refer to with that so theres probably a lot of spelling and grammar mistakes). 

Yo amo ustedes,

Elder Bertoch