Feliz Navidad

So it was good to talk to you all on Christmas, it's always a little strange to talk to the family, and in our bishops day they didn't allow them to call home due to the distraction. All in all this Christmas was as good as last Christmas, making the mission Christmas's a cherished memory forever. Christmas on the mission is pretty legit. Good work on finishing the book of Mormon, good luck with the Old Testament, talk about running a marathon.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH for the Christmas gifts, especially the shirts and the Jesus el Cristo. I've been reading it already and my Spanish ability has already improved. What a bomb book, I was ecstatic when I opened it, just like a child opening a hot wheels set.
So not too much is new since I talked to you last, still trying to get these people to show their faith and accept the Gospel. It's definitely a pleasure.
Well mom sorry its short but currently I have not much to really say. Just that I hope that you have a very happy new year.
Love you
-Elder Jacobson
Things are going very well here. Good to hear that the Cowboys continue in their domination. I heard that they are going to win the super bowl this year. That will be pretty legit.
The Christmas card picture was taken in the front room where we live. They have, as you can see, a monton de nut crackers. We are quite pleased with our creativity.
We had a good turn out in church, but still about 8 people dropped the ball on us and couldn't come. We need some straight miracles because we are working with about 12 people who could be baptized next month, they just need to start showing their faith, and we need to start doing things better to help it happen, like teaching, diligence, etc. Good things are going to happen in July. Time to cut out the fat and get to work.
I don't know what else I can write given that we just spoke a few days ago.
All I can say is that the work is going well, that I'm excited for the new year because it is going to be sweeter than sweet. I can just feel the momentum building going into 2010. oh and just a reminder, call it twenty-ten, instead of two thousand ten, because how lame would it be if people were saying two thousand-six hundred- and seventy seven in 667 years, instead of twenty six seventy seven? Super lame. That means it must start now the change of the trend. Welcome twenty ten!

Ben is outstanding in the field that is white and ready to harvest!

I've been left with little to say. What are the chances that two of the most legit missionaries have such horrible things happen to their families? What more can I say, besides how pleased I am to have the confidence and assurance that if anyone could bear it well, that it is them.
So can you wonder anymore why you had not yet been released? Is there any wonder why He kept you in the position? I can think of about 100 reasons why it is, but I won't begin to name them. Again, all I can say is that I am very pleased to have the confidence that there is no one who could do that calling better at this time than you. The reason I know that is because how much you know that you need the Lord to do anything, easy things, not to mention hard things.
I'm confident that both families will recover due to the amount of faith found in each. Faith asks how, not why, and it seems to me in my limited vision that that is what is being asked. There is not really a better feeling than being able to know that you can rely on someone to take care of something; Nick and Aaron are reliable people, that's a good feeling.
Things here in Othello are great. We are moving forward with hope into the Christmas season.I'm glad to hear that the word is firing on all cylinders, and that when people are need there are people to count on. We have several people close, we've just got to get them over the hump. I know the Lord will take care of it.
-Elder Jacobson

Mom,
YES! Praise Sister Dopp and her genius to re-institute the Christmas breakfast, that's just what I needed to hear.
Eduardo did not get baptized, he is on probation for two more years, and will not be permitted to be baptized until he is off, which is a cause of great disappointment for us all, and he has really lost fire since then, it's super sad to see.
On another depressing note, Elder Cunningham is being transferred to Wenatchee tmrw. I will be receiving Elder Reyes, who is from Peru, but his family lives in Orem.
We had a miracle week six, finding a ton of new people and one new family came to church already, we were seriously HANDED about 4 new families who all have great potential, we're hoping this can all work out. I'm pretty excited for Elder Reyes though I am super sad that my compañerito Elder Cunningham is leaving.
So I have been learning another dialect called mixteco. it's a dialect that they speak in Guerrero Mexico, and there are a ton of people that speak it here so I have been required to learn it, it's super sweet sounding and difficult to learn. If you can find a mixteco book to learn it that would be sweet ;).
Well mom love you. Thanks alot for the package, it was perfect. Love you

The more they change, the more they are the same!!!

For this letter I will give one tiny bit of a heads up so you know what has been going on. Elder Jacobson informed me he was going right in to celebrating Christmas after Halloween this year because it is hard to celebrate Thanksgiving in the mission field. I had sent him this email to which his response is after it.

I was reading in Alma 26 this morning and I wanted to include this as my PS to my last email. Alma 26:37, you know it is the chapter that Ammon glories in the Lord after their great success in converting so many of the Lamanites to the Gospel and Aaron his brother rebukes him for boasting. I think it fits in with this week;

"Now, my brethren, we see that God is mindful of every people, whatsoever land they may be in; yea, he numbereth his people, and his bowels of mercy are over all the earth. Now this is my joy, and my great thanksgiving; yea, and I will give thanks unto my God forever. Amen."

Love again and always,
Mom

The following is his response:

Mother,
Before I go any further let me clarify a statement that I feel has been misunderstood: I mentioned in emails past that we are skipping Thanksgiving for the fact that the mission life isn't conducive to a good thanksgiving. This is not because thanksgiving is a lame holiday, nor does it mean that I do not like it. I do not wish it to be interpreted that I am disrespecting such a historically loved holiday. Contrarily, we will be skipping the ceremonial celebration of the holiday this year, igual que el año pasado, out of up most respect of the holiday. The following phrase, taken from my journal will help to clarify any misunderstanding, "thus, we will be skipping thanksgiving this year because as missionaries we can't make the holiday all that it should be, and all that it has been." In short, thanksgiving demands respect. It demands football, family, football, eating, and Muppet's (we always watch the Muppet's Christmas Carol on Thanksgiving night). Of the five categories mentioned, highlighted during such a pivotal day, only one of them can be completed while serving a full time mission. there will be no football, nor family, nor football, nor Muppet's. Attempting to celebrate the holiday without those four categories would be a disgrace, and a gross sign of disrespect. Thus, out of respect for the holiday, we have not erased it, but merely postponed it, in order to fully achieve the respect which it commands in the following years.
Anyways, things here are going well, you need not worry to send me a camera, I'm keeping faith that wal-mart will have one available today. maybe if by next week there is nothing I will change my mind. but we'll let you know. I await the package at your consent, I will not demand you send it as I have in years past.
So I realized how big of a brat I was, when I remembered that I used to complain to you for not having clean clothes, as in "what's the matter with you, why haven't you washed my clothes?" That's one of the most pathetic statements that could leave the mouth of a teenager, being one of the biggest signs of un niño chiflado that could be found in our culture. For that statement as well as statements similar, I apologize, and express my gratitude for countless actions unappreciated and undeserved. Thank you.
Moving on, Elder Cunningham and I are doing well. This week Eduardo should be baptized, assuming he stays strong and resists the temptation to smoke. These next two days will be pivotal. As well the 6th, a young girl named Morena should be getting baptized. Her older sister, Carolina, is a member, but her parents aren't. Her parents like the church, especially her mom, but won't be baptized because they won't get married... or at least not yet. Carolina was baptized 18 months ago, but Morena was still in Mexico. Morena would have been baptized 6 months ago, but her near sighted father forced her to work in the apple harvest, impeding her education limiting her ability to speak English, and making it virtually impossible for missionaries to be able to visit her due to her egregious schedule in la huerta. However, the time is now right. As I stated to the Royal City district this past week. "The Stars Have Aligned." The time is right, the Lord has primed our zone to harvest the souls who he has prepared and is preparing. We're excited for the upcoming weeks, there are miracles happening everywhere, things are starting to click, the only fear that we have here is that Elder Cunningham could be getting transferred as he has been her for almost 6 months. It really depends on how long President wants him to stay in his last area, 7 months or 5 and a half. we'll see. this Saturday or Sunday we should receive the verdict. Cross your fingers that he'll stay.
Love you mom, keep the faith, have a great thanksgiving.
-Elder Jacobson

So things here are good. Transfers are next week so I guess we'll see what's happening. Where are you going on vacation anyway? Europe again? if so to what countries? If you can't email don't worry, I'll just use that time to decorate for Christmas, or to carve pumpkins. I'm going into the decoration business for Christmas as soon as they become available in wal-mart, only this year because thanksgiving has no significance on the mission as far as a holiday on the mission. We can't watch football or play football, so might has well skip on to something that does matter if you ask me. In the future though thanksgiving will get it's proper respect. (and no I'm not blaspheming the holiday) We made a pumpkin pie today. It was right!
We have a scheduled baptism for the first, which should be a few more. We have many people with great potential. Do me a favor por favor and send me the other camera card... I fear in three weeks mine will be full and if you are gone there will be no retrieving a new one for a while.
Other than that things are good. Thanks for the tie. It's good. The shoe's are good too, still trying to break them in though.
Well I suppose I'll give you more news after the trip. Don't stress out. I stress out a lot too, but I've been doing better. My theory (I haven't yet proved it all the way) is that if we had perfect faith, we wouldn't stress or worry too much. I doubt Christ ever stressed, he knew it would work out.
Our little district is doing rather well though, not any credit to me.
Sounds like Aaron is staying busy with all the work. So are you going to build new storage units some where or what... that was supposed to be my buisness. Things are good here in Royal City. It's cooling off finally and it's actaully been a bit chilly. I had to put on my hat and scarf. They got confirmed this week, the two from last week, and my companion worked some miracles while I was away on exchange, giving another lady a baptismal date of the first, which she accepted. Her and her daughter have come to church three times, and her other two sons should be coming regularly with them as well here pretty quick.
We've seen a lot of blessings, again, not due to any talent or ability of my own. The Lord is blessing us, the only difference I can see now from when I was in Spokane is the attitude. The attitude of trusting in the Lord and working for over the top blessings. I was seeking too much control of the area instead of letting it happen. I work the same now, same obedience level, same everything except wisdom. Oh how time changes a man, for better or worse. And no I am not talking about the fact that I have less hair than Dad practically. So I've been trying to grow in my faith. -Elder Jacobson

Mother,
Well things are going well still in Royal City, we should be having two baptisms of Herman and Leticia. Leticia previously was not wanting to be baptized but after some miracle help from some of the members here many things have changed. The Lord is really blessing us, now it's just time that I start taking advantage of these personal blessings myself.
We were finally able to go to the temple again today. We took off to Spokane and it was super crazy seeing my old area and my future home again. (Gonzaga)It's like BYU for catholics, but it's not the big deal, could you do me another mega favor and tell me what other schools are in their conference? That'd be great. I love Spokane. One of the greatest places on earth.
So anyway, sounds like things back home are doing well. How's my room looking? oh I was thinking the other day, assuming that you hadn't destroyed it already, that it would be OK for you to take everything down, paint it, and put it back, though the gum wrappers could be left out. I'm assuming that you didn't take it down already, but either way. if you could just put the stuff back where it was that'd be great.
So yes I did get the shoes, they are great. Who is the guy that Brother Dopp (our ward mission leader) was trying to contact?
Other than that things are pretty good here. Slowly but surely people are being brought to the gospel. Today was a bit discouraging because it just showed that I need to repent, and really change. i need to change my personality to a degree, not the the whole thing, just the foundation upon which it is built, and as soon as that is changed, everything about me will have improved, though the root of my personality won't be changed, just my character. If you don't know what I'm talking about, don't worry about it, it's doing to be pretty sweet though. Love you mom!
-Elder Jacobson

Dad,
This will probably be the last email that I will be able to read of yours because of the scores you will be including. I prefer them not to be there for the simple reason that, "if super man tried to resist kryptonyte, instead of fleeing from it, he'd die!"
I'm just kidding, I'll still read them, I just won't scroll down all the way. Call me stubborn but you're the one trying to send me the scores!
So anyway, I've never heard of Jonathan nor banana apples, though there are big reds and golden delicious. those ones are pretty good. This furrow stuff sounds pretty crazy, maybe you should have moved next to the Columbia river so that you'd have had an endless supply of water... oh well, sounds like you did pretty good under the circumstances. (Scott's grandmother had a apple orchard she ran all her life here in Utah).
Well pretty much mom's email contains most of the pertinent information so I don't have that much to say. Mostly I'm just momentarily frustrated so I can't think entirely straight. Too many things running through my mind, beginning and ending with inadequacies in the pursuit of reaching long set goals.
You ever think that there are millions of people in the world who would like to change their life style, but the life they are in is a giant whirl pool, and each time they try to escape, maybe for a time they even taste fresh air, they just get regrettably sucked back into the same cycle? It can be habits, friends, environment, etc. that sucks you back in. Maybe someone decides to renounce a habit, next thing you know, they find themselves in the exact same position that they wanted to leave, and they respond in the exactly the same way that they wanted to change. They don't change because in the life of the whirl pool there is no 'emergency exit.' There is only the path against the water to escape, and without divine intervention we are not strong to escape the current created by our own habits, circumstances, friends, pressure's, inadequacies, and fears.
Every old habit has to be cleared with the devil, who certainly will not let it go without a fight. The moment he knows you are trying to change he immediately puts more pressure behind the current, increasing the circumstances to which you have habitually responded poorly, throwing temptation from neglected spaces, and pressuring you with the desires of ease. The only true path to change, escape and ultimate freedom must be hard fought through the toughest of battles, without shortcuts, breaks, or reinforcements. The only weapons we can truly employ are those of the choice to follow the Savior, and the use of his atonement. With him behind us, the path to escape the newly heated pressures becomes possible, but not easy.
Thanks for reading the rambling
SYL
-Elder Jacobson

August 31st

Mother,
Due to your vague and limited description of your vacational destination I have no idea where you are vacationing and thus I feel no trunky feelings. Luckily, even if you were at Lake Powell I wouldn't be trunky knowing that we have two baptisms scheduled for this week. These two will happen if the Lord makes it happen, if not, I don't know. I'm still realizing how out of control that I really am. I can't do much. They are a super golden family so if not this week than the next for sure. (wow those statements sound a little faithless.) Those garment tops are legit. please send more. and the bottoms just like it. then I'll be a nylon freak, but at least I'll be comfortable. Nylon is the cloth of the God's. (D&C17 and 1/2: 32). That tie you gave me is legit by the way, like three people have asked me for it. Something egregious happened though. We were driving back from Warden on an exchange and I was wearing my orange tie. My nose was super dry due to all the dust in warden's appt so I was doing some spring cleaning. Well, then it started to bleed. A drop of blood tragically fell upon my tie, leaving a trademark of it's staining power. Thanks to some handy paper towels the bleeding was stopped, but not after the horror had already passed. we quickly drove to kfc (for lunch but i went directly to the bathroom). the first miracle then occurred when after some application of cold water, the trademark was erased, the tie came out unharmed.
Continuing on, we arrived home, I opened the package revealing the new tie which I immediately put on. Later, while eating dinner I decided to scarf down some ice cream, which apparently caused an unblocking in my previously dried nose and the blood began again (this time I had not touched the nose). Some how, the tie was avoided, and no blood stained the tie. That night, while planning, the blood began again, and once again I had not touched my nose. but this time, the tie wasn't so lucky. Three drops now dotted my newly opened tie and there was little I could do, the blood was coming faster now, and I couldn't protect the tie, and stop the blood. Somehow I managed to jam a tissue up the nostril, damming the blood for a moment, as I quickly, but lovingly applied cold water to the tie. Just as I was laboring with delicacy the blood over ran the dam, but just In time I dove into the bathroom avoiding any further mancha. Minutes later the blood was stopped and I returned to my whithering tie. Somehow, the stains were all gone, the tie looked newer than new, and there were no trademarks claiming ownership of the missionarymall.org tie.
Other than that I have no inspiring stories, though this next week should be filled with them. Good things are on the horizon. Thanks for everything. Have fun in the water. Don't get burned.
-Elder Jacobson
p.s. transfers are Saturday. next email you'll know.

Well, the guy who was supposed to be baptized 2 times by now is officially moved to Moses Lake, so I suppose the Elders over there will have to make sure it happens. It was pretty shocking to us. However, since that time the Lord has blessed us and we have a golden young family lined up for baptism on the 5th of September. Also another young family should be baptized the middle of September and another guy (and maybe his wife) for the middle of September. The Lord has really been blessing us, giving us the "over-the-top blessings." Over the top blessings come when one realizes that his own efforts are not sufficient to reach the height of the mountain nor go over it without the Lord making it happen. the phrase "over-the-top" stems from the imagery of trying to cross a mountain, and with our own efforts we can almost reach the top, but with each mistake we fall back a little, but then with more effort we can almost reach the top. Then we fall back again due to some mistakes, causing great frustration to the one making the efforts. Only when he takes a moment to think of what he can do to qualify for the over-the-top blessings does the Lord bless him with them. That's what my companion and I did when the golden family canceled on us for the third time in three weeks - which is out of our control. We simply identified a few things that would make us better people and missionaries, and went to work. Then the Lord blessed us with an over-the-top blessing. The didn't cancel, and they accepted the invitation to be baptized. Over-the-top blessings are blessings which the Lord gives us, which we physically could not create on our own. We could not make them not cancel on us, nor accept the invitation, but the Lord was able to. (their agency still played a part, but the Lord allowed us to teach with the Spirit so that it touched them, and they exercised their agency under the influence of the same spirit.) Clearly two over the top blessings.
Sounds like things are going good there. Hopefully the risk game doesn't get too competitive. We didn't see the temple dedication, I don't even know what temple you're talking about actually. We are isolated from the Utah world/culture.
Another story. There was a guy who had been taught before, but didn't have much motivation for it. We taught him on July 2nd and because he is super humble he said we could come back. Every time we came back for the next month he was never there, or he was busy or something, So we quite going. For some reason we were knocking on his door again one day. he accepted to let us teach him and my companion, being bolder than bold committed him to be baptized on 9/12. He accepted the invitation and asked many questions concerning the ordinance of baptism. The next time we went back he had been waiting for us, and he seems committed to being baptized. Sadly he didn't go to church due to having to do a favor for a friend which brought him home at 4 in the morning after a long day of work, etc. He should be there next week, and the baptism should be in mid-September. But why wasn't he like this with the missionaries before him, or when we taught him a month before? Because no one had been bold enough to do invite him immediately to be baptized, FEARING that he would not want to accept it. The spirit is bold, we can't be AFRAID to follow it.

The only bad news is that 3 people who should have been in church yesterday weren't. The only bad news is that I think I'm getting old. I ran 2.4 miles in 19 minutes , which is like more than 8 minutes a mile. pathetic. I ran a 5k in the same amount of time back in the day.
Elder Casco is still my companion. We get along better than any of my other companions so we are hoping that we get another 6 more weeks together, which we will find out about in less than two weeks. I've gone through companionships like I go through cereal so they aren't lasting long, so I'm trying to make this one last.
Well I'm straight out of ideas of what to write about... maybe next week I'll have some more. I'm sure I will. It gets super cold at night, and I always leave the window open so I go to bed hot, but wake up shivering. it's been pretty exciting. My snoring companion hates it though, but he'll get over it. I'd rather be cold than hot that's for sure. He's got plenty of blankets so he'll be alright.
SLY
-Elder Jacobson
D&C 108:7... think if everytime you talked to someone you were lifting them up, if you talked to them once a day for a month, they would be a new person. That's my new dream, to personify this scripture.

August 17th

Mother,
We got some good news and some bad news. The bad news. The guy Ramon who was supposed to be baptized this coming week is no longer going to be baptized this coming week. Basically his girlfriend in California told him he can forget about her if he gets baptized so he chickened out, though we haven't given up on him. The good news. we found a young couple and they agreed to be baptized, now we just need to get them to agree to come to church regularly and keep the commandments. September 6th will hopefully be a big day for those two.
We are working with some awesome people, we just haven't been able to nail them down yet, which can be a little frustrating. They have so much potential, they just haven't seen it yet. Another good note, two people who I taught while in Warden are currently scheduled to be baptized as well.
The work is tough but I love it. I think the thing that is so frustrating about being a missionary is that virtually everything (besides my own actions) is outside of my control. Where as in track (which is basically the way I learned to confront challenges - through sports) virtually everything is in your control. So having to do so much and trust in someone other than myself is something not very easy for me. I only am realizing this now because I went on an exchange with a missionary who was in counseling for a while and he taught me so many amazing things about the human mind, feelings, thoughts, and how the three influence each other. Basically he inspired me and now I want to be a counselor, probably for LDS family services. That exchange changed my life.
I should have a bunch of new stories the up coming week. I don't know how long I'll be here, but I'm thinking I want to stay now that all these awesome things are occurring. Love you mom.
Sorry it's short.
-Elder Jacobson

Sorry for being a slacker post!!! The mother not the missionary!

Mom,
I just felt my love handles, despite what you say, I'm fatter than fat. Luckily my companion is even fatter so my self esteem is still high because his is low. Notice mine would not be high if his was. Probably an unhealthy relationship but what can you do. Considering his laziness in the morning exercises i have nothing to worry about as far as him becoming skinnier than me. (I tell this to him so it's not gossip.) Speaking of my companion we have 6 more weeks together and then I prophecy that i will be leaving. Probably to Wenatchee, or Moses Lake. The girls I know don't write me anymore. and trust me, that is not a complaint. I'm long past that stage. Stage one: shock. Stage two: complaint. Stage three: desperation. Stage four: desperation. Stage five: successful re-adjustment. I've been hoping back and forth between stage 4 and 5, I even wrote Elder Robertson's girlfriend out of desperation, but i was back in stage 5 when Candace wrote me again and I forgot to open it for a few days (the latter is actually not true but I thought it was funny). (note, Elder Robertson's girlfriend hasn't written back to me and it's been three weeks.) So things here are going pretty well. We have so many people who are close to baptism with just a few things they are working to overcome. There is a 15 year old girl who has two siblings on the mission who is more active than active who can't be baptized because the mom doesn't want her to be. It's straight sad. She starting crying when we talked to her for two minutes while expressing her fear of upsetting her mom. The Lord will help her overcome. Royal is great, though the district I'm in hasn't been as bad numbers wise in 8 months. Looks I screwed that up, but that's OK, August will be a pivotal month. We just gotta have the faith.

Mom,
Kill me. I wrote you a long email but this bloody computer screwed the whole thing up! I simply don't have time to do it all again either. The jest of it said: I removed 7 chunks of toe nail from the skin in my toe (it was ingrown). The bump on my wrist is now taller than the natural bump we all have on the wrist. If you could send me the black thumb brace I once used that would be good, I actually used to use a bandanna for it but the brace is better. We have a baptism on Saturday for Ramon. We have a mission tour tmrw, with Elder Hafen of the 70, and I get to see Elder Robertson again. Hurrah! I told a cool story about a new investigator we found but I'll save it for when he gets baptized. So it's a to be continued email now. Just stay tuned for information about Ramon's Baptism. More than anything I just wanted to say I love you. Thanks for the support, and next week you'll get a better email.


Dad,
I have learned a plethera of things over the first year, but it's been a slow process. Basically the trick to getting a long is calling people out when they make you mad instead of bottling it up. Hopefully your companion is humble or it's hopeless, and more importantly hopefully you're humble.
The trick to success is being willing to be bolder than bold, doing everything possible to help them progress, otherwise the Lord won't come to help us for we are not doing all we can do.
The work here is going good. OUr baptism for the 8th is pretty solid. Ramon is overly humble that I'm pretty sure it's going to happen, and change his life. He committed with dedication to give up drinking to live the word of wisdom. We are anticipating more success, it's just moved slowly because we haven't been teaching bolder boldly.
My companion and I will be together at least 6 more weeks here in Royal City. This is smaller than Radiator springs, there is only one blinking light and that's 5 miles from the city on intersecting county roads.
Love you dad, things are good here. tune in next week.

July 13th

Mom,
Man, your eye is grosser than gross. Might as well just go for the glass eye or keep your glasses on. Just kidding, don't take it personal. Also you don't have to reserve my number for me, I can't remember it was first of all and new things are always good - assuming its an upgrade. The phone I did have though, did you save the pictures on there before you got rid of it?
So there was no baptism on Saturday, it has been scheduled for this Saturday and it should happen. He's the man, the only thing holding him back at this point is talk of his parents coming to see it from Idaho... hopefully they don't cause any delays.
pulled muscles can be slow, you just gotta keep it stretched and give it easy exercise that doesn't make it super tired.
Miracle story to end off the email: on June 27th a stranger, known as Audelio, came to church unknown to anybody in the branch. So obviously we asked him where he lives so we could teach him. He didn't go very specific, he just said it was straight up the road north of the Church. Come to find out, The road goes through and orchard and then forks after passing three houses. We went searching for him on 7/4 and after 20 minutes of search we talked to a guy cooking some chicken outside of a garage, which in the back has a mini apartment thingy, that is probably a little smaller than my room at home. It is made of pure cement and hotter than hot. We talked to him, Ramon and found out that he lives with some people there, including Audelio, so we were happy. We taught Ramon and things went pretty average, inviting him to read a chapter we left from the BoM. On 7/11 we went back and talked to Ramon again, this time Audelio was there but I don't think he was listening very good, doubt he could hear us over his loud snores of his drunken slumber. So we talked to Ramon who told us without doubt he would be to church the next day which was good news. So we start teaching, he's humbly accepting everything.

1 Year down and 1 to go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

First, Royal city is small. The house is gross. Was gross that is. I spent a total of 5 and 1/2 hours cleaning it this past week, four of those hours today. I cleaned the corners, the closet, the carpet, everything. The room is shining. It looks cleaner that anything I have ever seen. I do it because the way it was I'm pretty sure the Holy Ghost couldn't have penetrated all the cob webs.
The lady in our house was very pleased to see that a missionary was finally cleaning the rooms. She said she doubted that any missionary in a number of months had even used the vacuum. Gross. I rearranged the desks and beds and quadrupled the amount of space in our house. I can officially breath again now that all the dust is gone.
Everything in Royal Is going well except that I it's a little weird not knowing everybody and learning the area. But things are good. We should have a few baptisms coming up so we are excited. Tomorrow I will be going to warden on an Exchange. That is going to be righteously fun. and Thursday I'm going to Spokane for a district leader training so I'll be all over the place.
Thanks for everything mom, love you
-Elder Jacobson
PS my companion is from Vera Cruz Mexico and has been out 3 months. his parents live in West Jordan

Dad,
Royal city is doing well. The four other companionship's in the district call me every night which is killing me in relation to writing in my journal everyday.
we have a car but we have to bike most of the day. The car is mostly just used from in and out of town, similar to warden, and going to weekly district meetings.
I'm back in the Spanish Zone, which is really racist against English missionaries sadly, killing our mission unity, not allowing us to reach the goals we set. I talked to the ap's the other day while they drove the transfer van about the "one mission commission" which I coined, and they are in favor. Hope fully we can destroy the sense of superiority in our zone.
(because we aren't even close to being better by the way)

Note from Mom; If anyone can create unity it will be Ben. He has been that way his whole life and he will not give up until it happens and then the mission will explode in baptisms! In my humble opinion of course

Transfer to Royal City!

Well Elder Jacobson is on the move finally and just in time before my green stickers run out on the count down chart! I think he will be OK with the move after some comfort from his sippy cup! Sorry on to his email...

A farewell to la ciudad
Mom,
Thanks for the email. I know a little bit of what you mean as you grow more and more spiritually weary of your calling as RS president, the Lord will support you as you endure to the end of the calling. I felt like that a bit in this area which hasn't been as successful as originally anticipated, as far as baptisms. President Clark told me four weeks ago that I would be staying in Spokane with another native so I had planned on staying. Only this past week I started questioning whether or not I could continue to endure the lack of progressing investigators, the wavering recent converts, and the overwhelming pressures of working in Spokane. I've given everything I've got to these people but not much has come from it. I've killed myself working with the recent converts, but none are as strong as they were, the size of the branch and the recent influx of distraction has debilitated the fulfilment of home teaching, leaving recent converts to allow themselves to fall into apathy as well, despite our daily effort to strengthen them. Basically I was in the midst of the wrestling match but I was falling behind, I would stay forever if I had to, but I was looking for a tag team.
The Lord in his wisdom is changing things in Spokane. The Lord tagged teamed Elder Oliver to take my place in Spokane, and I know that his fresh energy will be able to continue to allow this place to grow. Spokane will certainly be on the ups this summer. As for me, I'm going to Royal City, which is a bit smaller than Warden (Ben's first area), and only an hour away from there. I'm getting a native Mexican companion who has only been out one transfer so I'm "second training," as it is called. I'll be the district leader over there so we'll see how that goes. Elder Cunningham who was in the MTC with me is the new Zone Leader and in our district so I'm pretty excited. I feel I received the experiences in Spokane which I needed most, and now this place is going to explode, and Royal City is just another name for the New Jerusalem if you ask me.
So I leave tomorrow. I'll keep you posted on the work in Spokane as well.
Thanks for your support mom. I love you. Send any letters to the mission home for I do not yet know the address in Royal City.
Farewell Spokane; thanks for the memories, it truly was an honor.
Love you
-Elder Jacobson

Dad,
I'm going to Royal City. also known as royal slope. Don't even bother looking on the map for it I'm pretty sure it can't be found. It's smaller than small and there claim to fame is the apple orchards.
Apparently the work is going incredible out there so I'll try not to mess it up too bad. I'm finally going back to "the zone" where all the Spanish elders are except for us too. It'll be a pretty big change but I'm excited for it. Something I'm really excited for is to go on an exchange in Warden (Ben's first area) because it's in our district! That will be sweeter than sweet.
No body came to church yesterday, as far as investigators, so it was another bummer week, I tried to finish strong but the Lord wants to try me to the very end. So be it, if it's what I need.
I don't hesitate to say I gave this place everything I had. It's a good thing we were in a car otherwise I would have killed myself with physical and spiritual stress. the spiritual stress was enough that I didn't need the physical.
Love you dad.
-Elder Jacobson

Ben and his friends at the Mt. Timpanogas Temple before he left on his mish.



Mom,
Thanks for the email. Sounds like everything is going well in Utah. Speaking of Utah, one of our recent converts took off to Utah because they heard rumor of work. They up and left quite rapidly because they have been out of work for a while. Too bad you guys don't speak Spanish or you could talk to him. Pity.
So things here are going well. We have a couple of people on date right now, sadly it's not one family. This white guy, who speaks Spanish wants to be baptized but his Mexican wife is coming a little bit slower. We are working hard for them to be baptized together in a couple of weeks. Sadly, one of us will be leaving Spokane most likely next week, we'll find out Saturday what's happening with us. I gotta be straight with you I'm really nervous for this transfer call. We've been labouring in Spokane to have these baptisms, what if they ship me out just before they happen? I have been here for a little while... however, I'm always calmed by the fact that it really doesn't matter where I am, as long as they do get baptized. I know where ever he sends me that it will be right, whether I stay or leave. We'll find out shortly.
So we went for a short little run on Saturday, only two miles, and I wanted to run it under 17 minutes, because when we ran it one day it was 17:45 which was egregiously slow. anyway, 17 minutes is more of a casual run right. Should be a piece of cake (and in all honesty it is a piece of cake). About half way there my companion - who allegedly ran track and was pretty good in his day - started dropping behind. Slowly I began distancing myself from him (still within sight and sound) but he was fading. So I decided to stop and wait for him - after 35 seconds he finally caught up, and I felt the goal of 17 minutes, which was so easily reachable, had fallen out of reach. Well, I continued to try and push him, and we arrived .03 after 17 minutes. Which I'm ashamed of because I should be able to do it in like 14:30... anyway the funny part is that my comp was so tired that he threw up. Anyway, I love you mom, thanks for everything, keep up the good work. I think you could go another year or two as the RS pres right?
-Elder Jacobson
p.s. whom the Lord calls he qualifies

Dad
Kevin and Nina both came to church. They are already married. Kevin wants to be baptized this month but Nina is a bit slower. Luckily her best friend happens to be a very strong member, so she can't hesitate too long can she? Jorge and Gloria flaked on us and I think they got invited to a JW church which they were planning on going to, luckily they didn't end up going due to some last minute confusion. The Lord is truly helping us out. If I work the valley I will move to the valley, but things aren't looking like I'll be going there. If they open it I think my comp would go, but I don't think he has the man power to open it yet so it will probably remain as it is, with a change with my comp or I. We'll find out on Saturday, I'm always so dang nervous about transfer calls. This is eternity we're talking about. Whether I stayed in Spokane for 5 or for 4 transfers. Where will I go, what will I do, what other experiences await me? If you think about it too much you could lose you're mind. Luckily we all trust the Lord and his servants so whatever happens it doesn't really matter. You guys should move out of Utah, you'd be temple workers and hold 3-4 callings besides that. A young couple in our branch work in the temple and they aren't even 30 yet. Our ward mission leader is in the branch presidency at the prison as well, and he is a temple worker, and he owns his own
business which is giant.
I'm not actually suggesting that you move out of Utah, but it's fun to see the differences in responsibilities. Like mom has 1,000,000 women to take care of, but the RS president here only has like 20, but half are recent converts. The Lord will never cease to challenge us. I'm finally learning that life will never be easy, no matter what we do, but we can make it
easier and make it worth it if we follow the Lord. If only people would understand that.
Thanks dad, love you. Keep up the good work. I heard that your mission call will be to Italy.
-Elder Jacobson

Jubilant June

Mother,
Thanks for the email. The blog was really good. You're writing skills have improved (no offense). You must be very proud of your son.
So if you could send me the other camera card back that would be great, the one I have is getting full from a plethora of videos.
Things here are going well, pretty much the same as the last few weeks though people have been progressing better recently towards baptism than the last two months so that's a relief. We are expecting 4-6 baptisms in the month of Jubilant June. Majestic May ended majestically with our bomb investigators attending church on Sunday, This month is going to be great.
People are convinced that I will be leaving, but I do not believe that I have finished my work here. I can see one to two more transfers, though no body believes it.
We are very excited for this month, it truly is the Lords work, and as long as we are doing are best, we can trust that the ddifficulties we have are for our benefit. Though we don't know why we have them, we gotta have the faith that the moments, days, weeks, and years of sorrow will are there for us. It is a time of probation, we expected nothing less. If they are self inflicted difficulties I don't think we can make the same statement, until we have repented. The Lord gives us the difficulties that will make us better later.
Love you mom, keep up the good work.
-Elder Jacobson
Mosiah 26:30
Doctrine and Covenants 58:42

Dad,
It's true, the Lord is pretty much obligated to give us trials otherwise there would have been no purpose of coming to earth. No one expected it to be easy. It's like running a 400 meter hurdle race. We prepared for a long time, and as we waited to start we knew that is was going to be harder than hard. We sat in the blocks of birth when the gun goes off. Sometimes you are running smooth and everything is going good, then you start to get a little tired, but you keep going. Sometimes you hit a hurdle, but it's OK, it just slowed you down a bit. Then you start getting incredibly tired and you want it to be over, but you remember what you trained for and you push harder.
Sometimes you hit a hurdle of greatest trial and fall... but you get up and finish the race, because that's what you came for. After it's over, you want to do it again.

So things here are going good. Pretty much everybody is telling me that I'm getting transferred in two weeks - including the members, but I know something they don't know, so I just smile and say maybe.
All four of our prime investigators came to church (the two couples) so we are really excited for them. June should be there month, and hopefully a few of our lazier investigators will pick it up a bit.
I don't know that I have any good stories right now, there are a lot of little miracle stories.
New mission president is coming at the end of the month so I'll have too start sucking up to this one. Joke, I'm anti suck up. I avoid the appearance of it at all costs.
The only thing new is that All my friends have ceased righting me, except Aaron Burgin, so I'm trying to get the girls my greeny knows to right me, but he's not going with the idea too well. Maybe he feels my writing skills are too much of a threat, that I would steal his potentials.
Love You dad.
-Elder Jacobson
The Conejo
Moroni 10:3-5

The Spokane Secret

Elder Jacobson, Elder and Sister Howard, and Jose

Mother,
Thanks for the email, yesterday we were told to prosolyte so we prosolyted. It was a little weird but luckily Spanish people who haven't been in the U.S. very long don't even know what it is so it was no problem.
Before I forget I have an important favor to ask, that is, I have no Idea when the dead line is for applying for BYU, fall of 2010, I know we are very early, the dead line will probably be in 6 months, but given that we can only communicate once a week I think it would be helpful to check it out as soon as possible, I would hate to be rejected because we were late. So anyway, if you could find out when the deadline is for applying that would be great. Just keep me informed please.
So peanut is completely deaf? That's kind of shamefully weird. does she here the doorbell anymore?
So we are looking at some good things happening here next month, we just gotta rely on the Lord. I've learned so much the last few months, even though we've struggled like nobodies business, to the bewilderment of myself, my companions, and the mission president (who insists that good things are going to happen because we've been working hard) but through it all I know the Lord has been teaching me things that I'll see throughout my life. I think all the hard work will be harvested in the summer months, particularly in June.
Well Mom I love you. Just tune in next week for the exciting news of Spokane. Here what happens to Jorge and Gloria, will they take off to Idaho for a day to be married, or postpone it, waiting for a belated divorce for Jorge? Will Kevin and Nina finally accept the date, or will Nina's catholic roots prove to be an obstacle...? Find out next time on, The Spokane Secret.
-Elder Jacobson
Matt. 10:39

May 4th (Almost Mother's Day, yipee)

Thanks for the email. Sounds like Josh is having a pretty intense experience. He'll be a new man when you see him in two weeks. When did he go into this training thing? it seems like he just got it.
We got transfer calls but there is nothing changing with us. They didn't even put new elders in the valley for some reason, even though they have sufficient elders to do it. Kind of confusing and frustrating because we have too much work but oh well.
We get a new mission president soon so people are bromeando (joking) about him being trunky.
For mothers day I'll probably be calling before church, which would mean like 9:30 our time, but I'm not exactly sure... it may have to be after which would be like 5 our time. we have meetings and stuff at 11 and church ends at 4 so.... who knows.
Everything here is going good. we are working with a lot of good people that have a ton of potential but they just haven't quite said, "bautizame" yet. soon it will come. My greenie is doing good. He kind of reminds me of Josh, and My trainer reminded me of Aaron. Weird but true. So you can understand the difference of personalities between them. well mom I love you. Thanks for everything. We'll talk Sunday. Te quiero mucho, cuidate vos.
-Elder Jacobson
1 Cor 15:8

April 13th

Mom,
So when Josh graduates does he come home or what does he do? I don't even know. No one told me. Thanks for the package and for the ties each month, they are quickly turning into the best ties that I have, so keep up the good choices. This week was pretty slow but it set us up for an amazing week this week.
We should be having some baptisms coming up here. It's been too long since the last one. Spokane is just one step away from an explosion of baptisms : FAITH
I told dad about the people we are going to be teaching in the hospital so you might want to check that story out. I think it will pan out pretty well. We biked the other day for the first time in months and it left my back side incredibly uncomfortable, but I quickly recovered. I think I'm getting old. Luckily the Howards are hooking me up with stuff that should be improving my health. When you talk to them you need to ask them about all their secrets. Just mention the words: magnets, bacteria, pressure points, and leg lengths. They'll tell you the rest. I'm telling you, they have unlimited secrets, just say those words to prompt the secret spilling. It will change your life, no doubt.
Thanks for everything Mom, I love you very much.
-Elder Jacobson
D and C 4

Dad,
Training is pretty intense, pretty much I have to do like 10 times more than I used to, it's pretty overwhelming but you learn a lot. How many times did you train?
Everything is going good and we are going to start throwing people on date for baptism this week so we are really excited. We have one golden investigator who is held back by work on sundays and we have a couple really really close to golden investigators.
There are two people who came to church yesterday, they are living temporarily in the hospital here and have been here for 3 months, and will be here for another three months. They came from Mexico and are just awaiting a surgery for their kids foot. We're going to try and teach them in the hospital so this should be pretty intense.
Thanks for everything dad. Love you.
-Elder Jacobson
Mosiah 7.33

April 6

Mother,
Josh will be fine, he will just have to learn how to rely on the Lord in an incredibly different way than he did on his mission. He'll be having experiences completely new to any of us, and he'll be fine. Good man that brother of mine.
I know what you mean when you say that the more you pray for miracles the harder things get. That's just a test the Lord lays down to see how serious you are about getting these miracles. March of Miracles was a tough month because there were few instant miracles, most of the miracles are still developing and we will see the harvest with time, in this Astonishing April.
So two nights in a row we had really powerful lessons. Last week when we taught about the Book of Mormon the Spirit was so undeniably strong and I have no doubt that Jorge (the investigator) felt it two. The next week we taught him again and we felt the same spirit; each time time I had to fight back tears. Then last night this guy was reduced to tears when we talked about the atonement and it's ability to free us from guilt and shame. He's ready for the atonement to free him from his past.
Mom thanks so much for the support and the weekly emails. I appreciate all you do for me. This month is going to be a good one. Love the Mission. Love you Mom.
-Elder Jacobson
D y C 31

Dad,

Quick, hook me up with advice on training a new missionary.
Everything is going good in Spokane, we are looking forward to a very wet April 11, as of right now one is scheduled, but we want to get 7... it'll take a miracle.
hopefully we get some funny stories with the greenie so I'll hook you up with them.
Elder Davila and I have a bad habit of having eating competitions, which I almost always win even though he's 40 pounds more than me. Our last competition was curry. It made me sicker than sick, I think it gave me the flu, I could hardly see straight or walk straight. Luckily I was given the strength to still deliver my talk in church. Whom the Lord calls he qualifies.

My greenie is whiter than white, but he speaks OK Spanish, he just can't understand any of the natives yet. Things are going well though so far.
He hasn't tried to lay down to study though, they get you out of that habit in the mtc.
We had a tough week as far as current visual success, but we did find 5 new investigators that should produce something, if not I'll be extremely disappointed.
I will just assume that you sent me an email but it didn't work. I just have a question, can Josh read his email?
Hopefully you're enjoying being an empty Nester, crazy how time flies right? So we had some amazing lessons this week and I think my testimony of the Book of Mormon multiplied by about 100. The spirit and feelings which enveloped my soul as I bore testimony of the Book of Mormon are undeniable.
It was a feeling that I had never before felt; it's an indescribable feeling. The Book of Mormon is true. I'm excited to go tell more people about it.
Thanks for everything Dad, I love you. keep up the good work.
-Elder Jacobson
1 Nephi 1:1

Mom and Father,
I felt like the other emails were pretty heartless and for that I apologize. When we come to play basketball and email, people pressure you to get off so that we can go play basketball instead of checking email.
But things here are going really well. Yesterday actually was the worst Sunday I've ever had in the mission though. There are a number of excuses that we could make for it, but the truth is that we just need to work differently. The work has hit bottom and it's still going good, so we are going to renovate the way we work - actually applying what the Mission President and Mission Leaders teach, and Spokane is going to burst with success, as long as we have patient perseverance. The March of Miracles is coming to an end with an astonishing number of miracles, thus ushering in the proceeding month, "An Astonishing April!" Things are going to go well in April, even better than in March which was exceptional. Basically we are going to revolutionize the way members think and work, we are going to change the culture of our Spanish branch with Charity creating a culture of growth, relying on the members. It's time to capacitate our members with the skills and abilities to invite friends and acquaintances to church. (I don't know why people are afraid to lose a friendship by making a charitable invitation to attend church with them.) As long as it is a charitable invitation it won't fail, and it won't kill a friendship, even if they decline the offer, at least they know they are invited.
That's pretty much a preview of what is going to happen, and next month we are going to see the fruits of that. It's going to be an exciting month.
One of the miracles - too many to currently relate - is that a family who kept cancelling and we couldn't get something set up with for about 6 weeks, suddenly set something up with us and we taught them and they want to come to church and learn more. It all happened all of a sudden when Elder Gleed showed up. The Lord is preparing his people for the right people.
I'm glad you were able to spend some time with Brother Aaron, the kid is alright!
Everything is Spokane is going well. The Lord is really trying our faith, but I think it's all getting set up for next month. The miracles of this month will be setting up a very Astonishing April. We found a really amazing family. They are really awesome, just too busy for their own good and I think they know that too.
The Lord has really been blessing me with Spanish, as I've been able to understand nearly everything (except cubans and some things I think I'm better of not knowing) which wasn't possible just a few weeks ago.
Hope everything is going good in the nest which has gone startlingly empty. It'll be filled with grand-chicks (children) very soon. Sooner than you think. Time flies when you're havin fun right?
Love you very much. Have a great week.
-Elder Jacobson

March of Miracles 3

Father of mine,
It is the March of Miracles. We had a baptism saturday and good things are happening in Spokane. The font should be full through April if you ask me.
Don't even bother to drain it. Why not just start a line?
So I wish to relate to you a funny story. Monday we had a car accident. Oh no! don't worry, I'm pain free, a member was driving his car. We went to turn right into the parking lot but for some reason some negligent blonde was trying to pass us on the right (keep in mind this is a one lane road) we were only going like 10 and her like 20 so it wasn't bad at all. However, Elder Davila complained of a tingling pain in his neck.
We went and taught a lesson, and at 10 o clock the member and Davila decided they wanted to go to the hospital to make sure he wasn't paralyzed. (I decided to not point out the obvious fact that indeed he wasn't paralyzed, after all he had been walking and moving just fine just minutes before.) So we went to the emergency room at about 10pm. Keep in mind he had some neck tingling, I thought the emergency room was for people who had been shot, stabbed, mauled by a bear, or who were going into labor. Apparently I was mistaken, a neck tingling warrented ER status.
At 11pm we were still sitting there in the waiting room. 12am, same story.
1am still nothing. 2am, finally we are called in to get checked out. At 2:10 the doctor determined there was nothing wrong with him, just a sore, tingly neck. So he prescribed him ibueprofen right? Wrong, the doctor wanted more money I think so he gave him Loratab even though he had just finished saying that he would be perfectly fine in two days.
At 2:30 we left after my loopy companion tried to teach the nurse the gospel in unorganized sentences. We drove back home as Davila began preaching to us. He cried as he bore testimony, and every time he said the word strong he flexed and said, "see look."
At 3:30 we arrived home. Davila began crying when he realized he didn't keep tract of how many people we invited to hear the word that day. at 3: 45 I had to help him down the stairs so he wouldn't die. Then he refused to go to sleep, insisting that he wanted to work instead. He became upset when I said no to that idea. At four o clock he fell asleep after a few minutes of some random dry-heaving. At 6:30 I woke up and resumed the missionary life. The day has been entitled, "The Longest Day of the Mission."
Pretty funny story huh? Talk about miracles, I wasn't even tired the next evening after going 39 hours on only 2 1/2 hours of sleep. I suffered more fatigue due to day light savings the week earlier than I did from this.
Thanks dad, Love you
-Elder Jacobson

Mom,
I'll forgive you on the package thing. Don't worry about it. You know what I really hated at first but I love it now. Nightly planning. I think I'm going to continue doing that when I get home in a couple years. Then I won't ever be bored and I'll know what I got to do and I'll be able to get things done and I won't waste time. It will be especially helpful when I'm in school as well.
New mission president comes at the end of June and I'm pretty excited for him. His wife speaks spanish! HOrray, now we won't be neglected and treated like english missionaries because they really don't know what it's like. The Clarks do the best they can, they are great people, but I"m excited for a change. Gonna miss President Clark though, he's an exceptional mission president
Andres was baptized on Saturday! Good news: he wants to serve a mission. He's 22.
Good News: he's got family and friends who are coming along to baptism nicely.
Well mom, love you. stay strong.
-Elder Jacobson III
psalm 51: 7-12

March of Miracles 2

Mom,
Sorry to say you are up to date on our most current baptisms. Until this saturday with Andres Lugo-Castillo, as long as everything goes to plan.
You should expect some good results this March of Miracles, just keep the faith. Satan knows it's a Month of Miracles so he's going to try and thwart it, and the Lord wants to know the calibur of our faith so he will allow us to be tried. Just keep the faith, and don't lower the standards.
Thank you for the information on the dentistry. I'll probably forget it all until 2 years from now but that's ok. Still don't know what I want to do, but I'll figure it out.
Transfers are in two weeks and I'm just hoping that I can stay here in Spokane, this place rocks. As I described it, currently Spokane is on simmer, and it will shortly be put on to boil. Andres has three people living with him, but two were going to move back to Seattle. However, they want to stay now, and they also really like the Church, and the lady is fascinated by baptisms for the dead, so they could be baptized very very shortly. Just gotta keep the faith. Thanks for everything Mom, I love you. Keep the faith.
-Elder Jacobson
Ether 12.6

Dad,
March has been miraculous but it is not without it's trials. Day light savings apparently murdered all of our investigators as our anticipated 10 people didn't show up, merely one showed up. It was extremely disappointing.
However, we should be seeing some good things coming up here by the end of the month and into april.
We can go to the temple every other transfer, and I've only been once, except when we got miraculous permission to go and to confirmations in the temple on Saturday with the members, mostly recent converts, of our branch.
It was really cool doing them in spanish too.
It's snowing really bad and we almost got in an accident. Extremely close, good thing the sidewalk was there otherwise that fool who pulled out in front of me AND swung wide into my lane would have had a crushed bumper.
Thanks for the prayers and support. Love you. Go Jazz.
-Elder Jacobson
Helaman 5.12

"March of Miracles"

Mom,
It made me trunky to move to Mexico when I saw you're picture. You should go to Cuba next, you'll like them too.
I'm glad you enjoyed the trip. We'll go down there one day too.
Everything here with us is going good. I hope you had a nice trip. I can't even remember where you went. Maybe I'm a bad listener or something. Or bad reader. It's true though I'm not as good grammatically when I write in English any more, you should see how many times I have to hit the back space.

So on the 14 we will be having a baptism of Andres from Yucatan Mexico. He's a great guy and he even gave me a yucateco shirt, authentic. It's awesome and I look more guapo than guapo in it.

So I decided that March would be named "March of Miracles." Well the miracles began a little bit too early as on Wednesday we received a call from a man from Cuba who was baptized 7 years ago, but hadn't been to church in a year, he wants us to talk to his brother about the Church. When we told this guy, Mario, about the Spanish branch he decided that he wanted to get involved in the church again, he told me, "Elder Jacobson, I will see you Sunday at the Church, and I will bring my brother so you can meet him." It was pretty awesome. His brother has only been in America for 2 months but Mario has been here for like 10 years. It was awesome, we didn't do anything and were suddenly given a golden investigator. Mario even signed up to feed us on the calender.
Miracle number two (again, before March began): I silently prayed for a miracle because I was getting discouraged about our investigators, and not five minutes later a mysterious phone call came from a lady explaining to us that she had given a Book of Mormon to a family one year early. Alas, the parents had not read it, but the 13 old boy read it cover to cover, and he wants to be baptized. Too bad that was just coincidence, that couldn't have been a miracle. We get mysterious phone calls like that all the time.... yeah right, give me a break. So pretty much we are going to try to get the whole family, and this 13 year old kid is going to play a big role. It's good to have God on our side to give us miracles otherwise we'd pretty much be stinkin it up over here.
-Elder Jacobson
Alma 26:22

Dad,
I agree about the going down there again, but not on a cruise. Too expensive, too American, but still fun. It would be superior to go through Mexico, or to Cuba, or to South America or something. How sweet would that be? I believe we're in accord that it would be sweeter than sweet.
Yes we have a baptism the 14 of March, see mom's email for more details.
It's been pretty rainy here which is good because I like the rain, beats the snow at least. Even though I like snow more just not as a missionary. I'm getting pretty pumped for Spring, and for The March of Miracles. This month is going to be packed with them. Hurrah for Israel! I hope that I stay in Spokane for like 6 more months. How could I leave this place. Plus it makes us feel cool to think that we are the only Spanish missionaries out side of the Columbia Basin, which means that Warden is the closest place with other Spanish Missionaries, which means that's how big our area is.
I'm glad you put in the point about how if you trust the Lord to help you then he will. I actually had the same thought the other day. We're on the Lord's errand (not just missionaries but members of the church in general, no matter the calling), so we shouldn't just hope for miracles, we should expect them. Has the day of miracles ceased? if it has it's because you're faith has ceased. As Elder Holland puts it, "if you have to call down angels to do it, THEN CALL THEM DOWN!" I wish I had caught that vision before, and I hope that I never lose it.
A member opened my eyes the other day as we retaught the doctrine of "return and report." In my mind it was broken down as a bishop has 50 hours of work to do every week, and the more hours that other people spend, it takes that much away from the bishops load. Basically, if the bishop could, he would visit every family, but he can't, so he relies on home teachers. If he could, he would collect fast offerings, but he can't, so he relies on the deacons. If he could he would make his schedule as effective as possible, but he can't so he relies on his Secretary.
Another example, if the mission president could he would preach the gospel to the entire mission, but he can't, so he relies on the missionaries. If these people don't return and report then things could get done more than once or not at all. It's like a giant pyramid going back to the Lord, or like we are in a vineyard. Thus it doesn't matter where you are assigned to labor, but that you do you're best because you are working in place of the Lord. Whether you're the prophet or a home teacher it doesn't matter, because we're in the same vineyard with the same goal. we must each do our part to have success.
For some reason I had never realized that before. Thus, I thank you for always saying, "when you're done, return and report," when you were making us do chores or something. Although I found that rather obnoxious and I figured you said it to keep us in bondage of escaping the labor, I thank you for teaching me that eternal truth.
Love you Dad.
-Elder Jacobson
Helaman 5:19

Monday Feb. 16th 2009

To whom it may concern (mostly my Mother as this is her address):
I wish to express my thanks for the gift card to pizza hut as it provided a wonderfully satisfying meal all for no expense of mine. Thanks for the support, it's good to hear from you each week to hear how life in Utah is pretty much the same as it was when I left.
I really am at a loss for words at the moment... I'm kinda just hungry and I've been here too long so it's time to go. Just know that everything here is Spokane is going awesome!!!!!!!!!!!! and given the amount of exclamation points it must be the awesomest place ever. You can't argue with that many exclamation points. It may please you to hear that I am not requesting anything this week by way of package, as I have fallen into debt by the surprising number of packages that you have sent me. I want to be more frugal with my money as they are sacred funds. The simple life is the way to happiness. As one wise cantador wrote, "All you need is love." And as the other inspired revelator wrote, "God is Love." Remember, God loves you, and he has an important role for each of you to play. All you need is this love, let us all pray "with all energy of heart" that we may be endowed with Charity, and let it be accompanied with virtue "garnish our thoughts unceasingly." Let us be patient, and not just today, but tomorrow, next week, next month, and next year. Patience is not patience unless it endures the torrent of time.
And with that I bid you adieu. I wish you (Mom, Dad, and Josh) a very merry trip and a happy relaxation period. may you use the time to marvel at the Lord's creations.
As you do these things by way of meditation a new light and love will enter your heart, a feeling of optimism and determination will replace feelings of negativity coupled with complacency.
I love you all (any who may be reading this), may the Good Lord bless and keep you.
SLY
-Elder Jacobson
John 3:16-17


I suppose 4 baptisms is a high goal... our branch had four in January... and the goal is 50 for the year. but I realize we're working with humble Lamanites so the field is unfair. The temple president spoke at stake conference yesterday and he talked about how the number of proxy endowments has decreased dramatically since the opening of the temple and he said he fears "that we are catching the Nephite disease." Those words were profound and awakened me to a sense of pride within my self. Thus I request your forgiveness of any pride that has been shown towards thee from me. I apologies and hopefully one day I may be found without it. What a terrible thing this pride, who needs it?

February 9th

Mom,
So today I'm in a trio in another area which explains the unprepared state of these emails. All I want to say is thank you for making us have family scripture study almost everyday, even though I disliked it very much and most of the time I would just be day dreaming anyway. I've learned the importance of it, and it's a habit which will be passed into my future family. So thank you for laboring to follow divine counsel. Hopefully you're still doing it even if you are just about empty nested. Next week's email should be packed with information about how sweet this area is and how awesome some of the people are, sorry about the neglect today. but I'm off. Love you -Elder Jacobson
Mom: DyC 4
Dad: John 8:12
both John 17:3s.

Dad,
My next companion is Elder Davila. He's from Peru but he lived in Provo from most of his life. Luckily his native language is Spanish so I think we'll be alright. the next thing is that they closed Spokane valley, and by that I mean that before we just covered the city and two other Elders covered the valley, but now we cover both the city and the valley, which doubles our work load, and quadruples our planning necessity. The next issue is that Morelos knew this city like the back of his hand and now he left... Elder Davila has been out one transfer less than me, but he's a good man. He was formerly in the Valley so I know him pretty well as we worked side by side last transfer.
We have several anticipated baptisms this month and had one on Saturday so everything is going well.
Thanks for all your support and keep doing what you do. Love you -Elder Jacobson

Ground hog day

Spokane Washington Temple

Mom,
You gotta love, the dia de la marmota. My companion looked at me blankly when I explained what ground hogs day is.
This coming week we will have two baptisms of two Cubans. Good people those Cubans. Jose Carlos Aguila, and Omar Cue. Omar was basically a JW, the only thing that held him back was his ex wife wouldn't let him be initiated through some sort of baptismal ritual. So he had a lot of JW knowledge. JW's doctrine is messed up, but they do have a lot of truth so we were able to work through that and he was humble enough to follow Moroni's commission, and now he's good to go. You gotta hand it to the JW's, they create dedicated people, and Omar is going to be amazing. He wants to come team teaching with us even though he's not a member yet, he'll make an excellent missionary. And he's so smart he'll make an excellent teacher.
Jose Carlos is 21 and he's only been in the US for a few months, but after seeing one relative and one friend baptized he felt the Spirit and was converted to golden.
We found two other goldenish investigators this week which we will be baptizing, if all goes well, the 28th of February.
keep the faith. It's all about faith, and hope... and of course Charity... and diligence.. and obedience... and like a million other things, but just keep the faith anyway.
-Elder Jacobson
Moroni 7:48

Dad,
Did you guys watch the super bowl? My companion pretty much told me I'm a horrible sinner for having watched it in the past. I didn't believe him.
Spokane is a beautiful City, though downtown is pretty small, it's cleaner than clean. I hope I can stay here into the summer time so that I can go to one of the many parks which they have here.
Glad you're staying busy at work. Don't stress about it, it no time you'll be laid off and be without work like everyone in Spokane. (I'm kidding, you're not going to be laid off, sorry if I frightened you. If that was rude feel free to rebuke me.) What I meant to say was in no time you'll retire with a miraculous acquisition of full benefits, so don't worry about it. Well I'm about out of time. Thanks for everything Dad.
-Elder Jacobson
Alma 34: 31-35

Jan 27th

I thought Ben was tall, not!

Dad,
I forgive you for your neglect. I thought maybe you were some sort of state employee taking the day off due to the holiday and thus refused to email.
Thanks for the GPS. The importance of the GPS cannot be expressed. I'd thank you for the time you took to buy it but if you have enough time to play Mario kart wii you have time for just about anything. (That's a joke, I really am grateful) We have been strangely blessed this week, in several ways, I will relate one of those ways to you, and the other to mom, so read hers as well.
First, while I was on an exchange with and English missionary, he came to our area we were visiting some potentials in an apartment building when we found a nice man from Yucatan, named Abel. He let us right in and the Spirit was stronger than strong in the lesson, which prompted him to interrupt and ask where the church is "that he could unite himself with and learn more." I quickly told him we could pick him up Sunday morning. Saturday night when I called to remind him he said, "I've been waiting for you to call all day...
I'm glad you remembered."
The next morning he came to church with a grateful heart and humble Spirit.
That night we gave him a baptismal date of 2/14. He happily agreed, already having gained a testimony of the restoration between church and our lesson that night. He loved it all.
The coolest part is, that he is actually moving to Florida next week to live with some family because there is a shortage of work here. So we will be giving him to the Floridians to finish the job, and he is already excited to share the gospel with his family and friends. From this I know that many will be brought to the Gospel including his wife and kids in Mexico, and his extended family in Florida. Elder Morelos is from Florida, and he goes home three days after Abel moves to Florida, so he is going to go to the baptism.
Talk about a miracle plus some in the making. After three days of knowing him he has already talked about the incredible change in his life, namely the joy he has found.... I can say little more about this man. The Lord had prepared him.. He's definitely one of the elect.
I know have a question for you relating to Cuba: some Cubans seem to believe that the church is in Cuba while others say it is not. If you could some how find out if it is or not I would greatly appreciate it. If it is, how many members? if it isn't, what would it take to get it there? Cubans are amazing people. Well dad I love you very much, thanks for everything. Don't get sore playing the wii. Do me a favor will ya? you and mom should treat yourselves to something nice, play some tanks tonight.
-Elder Jacobson

Mom,
We have two baptisms coming up on 2/7... another one in Florida on 2/14 (refer to dad's email) and a marriage date for a couple on 2/14 and their baptism date is 2/21... The people who are getting married have been taught since September, but are finally getting around to getting married so I'm lucky enough to see the end of this. Rafael is from El Salvador and Lisa is from the Marshall Islands. I have no idea how they communicate because they are both learning English, and they don't understand the other's native tongue, but they've been together several years now. When we teach Lisa we bring a guy who speaks Marshallese to translate for her, so it's been really fun. Lot of work but finally they're Getting married!!!
I put "!!!" because in that package you sent me it had letters from my missionaries friends and it seems like they always are typing exclamation points in needless areas!!!! it bothered me a lot!!! what's with all these?!?!?!?!? Exclamation points should be a rare occurrence!!!! And they should not be used in the following way, which I did see: so we talked to a guy named Juan at a bus stop today!!! Then we had p day!!!! Ate some lunch...!!!
Shoot, all these exclamation points are wearing me out!!!!! someone needs to stop them!!!!!!!!!!!
Well Mom I love you!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks for everything!!!!!!!!!!!!! Keep up the good work!!!!!!!!! Keep Praying hard!!!!!!!!! Mighty Prayer and Hard work is the key!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
-Elder Jacobson
John 8: 12
p.s. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Horrah for Missions!

Horrah for Missions!

Basically Elder Morelos and his last companion went through the phone book and organized every spanish name into a usuable "potential investigators"
paper. Now all we do is type in addresses, go to the house, and work to have them change their lives for their eternal betterment. But they all live so far away that it's impossible to memorize all the streets in this town. I have the main streets down but all the residential areas. Wow, I get lost.
So we had a baptism on Saturday. Morelos had been working with him before I got here and he was baptized finally. His name is Pedro, but we call him Pedrito. He is an amazing guy. He was a political prisoner in Cuba but has been here for two months. he had a bad accident and had to get his hip bolted. He showed us a picture. They have a big metal arm on his leg now. He wasn't able to walk for quite a while, let alone bend to be baptized. But once he decided to be baptized his recovery greatly hastend, miraculously, and he was baptized. Good man. Can't understand Cuban though. Read the following sentence and try to make sense of it and you will understand the difficulty of understanding cubans: yetay i wheno churt an toot uh sacamen.... Which translates to: yesterday I went to church and took the sacrament. Tough stuff considering I'm still learning regular spanish.
So how's everything going with you? Still living life to the fullest? I hope you find time to enjoy yourself between work, church, and finding people for the missionaries to teach (by inviting people to your home for dinner and telling them the missionaries are coming too). "when all is said and done the most important thing is to share the gospel." -Joseph Smith.

You spend a lot of time perfecting the saints, but neglect not the duties of proclaiming the Gospel to those currently out of it's reach. Speaking of which whatever happened to that Spanish pass along card that I sent you. I've been waiting to here of a baptism. I trust you gave it to someone...
Well I'm just about out of things to say, perhaps I'll give you and dad another generalized letter. I assume you both read each others anyway (you should be because it's pretty much intended that way) but it's good to generalize sometimes. One day I'll author another epistle like I did to Aaron but I'm just not feeling it right now. Thanks for all that you do. Remember, don't work hard, work smart. Or work hard and smart, that's the key.
-Elder Jacobson
D and C 42:14.