Elder Jacobs arrived in the Philippines!!

AHHHHHHH!

Now that that is out of the way, let me just say: I apologize, mother, but I don't think I'm going to be coming home. I love it here WAY too much!!! It has been less than a week of being here and I'm in love. I couldn't even count how many times people told me that, when I get here, I'll hear a language that I swear I have never heard in my life. Not true!! It's AWESOME! Haha I love this language!

So we got here on Wednesday and stayed in a hotel that night. The next day, we got up and came back to the mission home to meet our companions and get our area assignment. 

BEST COMPANION EVER. His name is Elder Ferris and is from New Zealand. He has been here in the mission for 6 months and he is the best trainer I could've ever asked for. So awesome. We have so much fun talking to people. It's so important to have fun doing what you're doing. Not worldly, short-lasting fun, but truly enjoying spreading this true gospel to people in another country. The people here really are very nice. I love them. 

Anyways, we got assigned to "White-Wash" an area called Pardo. That basically means that there weren't missionaries here for a while and so they put both of us in here to re-open the area and start from scratch. Typically you have some past teaching records of the previous missionaries to work with. But we just have to start all over. But it's so cool.

The first full day we were in our area, we just walked around to get used to it. It's HUGE! And one specific part of our area is very bukid (mountain/forest) so that's always a party! ;) We have two other companionships of sisters in our area, so we have 6 missionaries in our ward. Hahah daghan mga misyonario!

Man I don't even know where to begin. We have done so much in this short week. While we were walking the first day, we started talking to this nanay (older woman) and set an appointment to come back to teach her and her husband. Her name is Ludy and her bana's name is Bernard. He works every day all day doing construction. So we went back last night around 6:30 to teach them and he really didn't want anything to do with us - but Ludy is so interested and has so many good questions! Well that's good, because this gospel can answer all of them! 

As I was trying to get to know her a little more, I asked if she has ever had any questions about religion or anything like that and she said "it's funny you should ask that, because ever since I was a little girl, I wondered where I came from. I would always ask people and they said 'from your mommy's stomach'. But I feel like there's something more than that." 

HELLO! "That is a great question, Ludy. Let me just pull out this pamphlet from my bag titled THE PLAN OF SALVATION. Anyways, she is going to be great. Last night we taught her, her daughter, and another couple that wanted to join in on the lesson. We shared the first lesson and we have an appointment to go back and visit with them tomorrow.

Our ward is so great. Elder Ferris said that it is so much more organized and structured than his last ward. He was just transferred over here from Negros (another island in our mission). It was so fun getting to know the members in our area. Because we are white-washing the area, all six of us were new this last Sunday so we all bore our testimonies in the meeting. It was so great. We have meetings with the ward every Sunday before church at 8, and then after church we have Ward Council at 4. We have a Christmas Party coming up on the 13th of December! We're gunna go caroling and everything. I can't wait for that! 

Okay sooo what next? The kids here? They are the best. We always talk to them and they love it. Most of them know a little bit of English too because they learn it in school. But they literally follow us around EVERYWHERE. I have some pictures of some. Hopefully I'll be able to send them today.

Hahahah one thing that is a little bit different is how many bayods there are... There are so many!. Haha bayod means gay.  There are like communities of them. Cross dressed and everything.That will take some time to get used to. :/

Okay lastly, I just want to share a quick something. There is no place in the world where young men and young women could go - nothing they could do - that would allow them to learn a language as quickly as this. Like I said, everyone told me how lost I would be when I got here. That what they speak here doesn't even sound like Basayan. I didn't let myself think that one time. I just studied as hard as I could in the amount of time that I had. I am so grateful for the blessings that my Father in Heaven has given me. I feel very comfortable in the language. Don't get me wrong, I am far from fluent - but I know enough to get by. And I know that as I stay optimistic and keep pushing on - I will continue to progress very quickly. It is just like all of us. We don't know everything, but we know enough to keep us going. To keep us on the right path. In my personal study yesterday, I found a scripture that I love. It is in 2 Nephi 7:8,11. I know that as I continue to walk in the light of my sparks, it will turn into a fire. I love it. And I know the power that a good attitude and faith in our Lord, Jesus Christ can bring to each one of us.

I love you all so much! Know that I am constantly thinking about all of you, and praying for you, but I know that I am doing what I need to do right now. I love this work and I love these people. Nasayud ko nga tinuod ang ebanghelyo ni JesuKristo. Kon dili tinuod, dili magalagad ko. Nasayud ko nga gihigugma kita tanan sa Dios ug nasayud ko gihapon nga naa siya og plano para kita.

I love you all so much! Have a great week!

Love,

Elder Jacobs

*Baby Jacobs out*

I'm really going……..

HELLO!

Kumasto mo, everyone!? I hope everyone is having the opportunity to be as happy as I am. This week was so awesome! I don't even know where to start. I guess Tuesday Night Devotional would be appropriate.

As most of you know, we had the amazing opportunity to hear from a living Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ. Elder L. Tom Perry!!! AHHH. 

So, as usual, there I was sitting in choir practice before the devotional. Brother Eggit (the director guy person that waves his hands in funny patterns) was telling us about Elder Perry. The first thing he said was something like, "Let me tell you something about Elder Perry. His favorite word is enthusiasm. He is the oldest member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and his favorite word is enthusiasm." He went on to define enthusiasm as "being filled with spirit". 

So, naturally, my ears perk up and I really want to test this hypothesis out. Choir comes and goes and the devotional is about to start. 

Elder Perry walks into the room. Strike that. Elder Perry basically trots into the room and before taking his seat on the stand, runs over to his son who is sitting on the front row with his family and gives him a hug. 

Okay pretty impressive -briskly walking/trotting. Next. JOGS up the steps onto the stand! Hahaha what is going on?? Let me just reiterate something with a little more detail - this man is 93 YEARS OLD. I already love him.

Elder Perry when on to talk about companions and why they are so important for us... not only for our physical safety, but spiritually as well. If we are following all of the mission guidelines pertaining to our companions, we won't ever have any problems. He talked about the scripture in the Bible that says something like "in the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established." I think its 2 Cor. 13:1… 

Anyways, I'm sorry. I don't know if this is a bad thing or not, but the main point that I got from his talk was not ANYTHING he talked about. That's why I love the Spirit. It can teach us things that were never even said through quite feelings. As Elder Perry was talking, you could just tell how much he loved the gospel. There were so many times where the mic would get all distorted because he was yelling. Not out of anger - just because he is so enthusiastic about life and sharing the gospel. WAIT….. SO AM I!!!. I cannot even begin to explain how excited I am to devote my time to the Filipino people. Which brings me to my second point.

As I'm sure most of you are aware, The Philippines were just hit with one of the biggest typhoons (if not THE biggest) in the history of... ever. Thousands of people have lost their lives and I think I just read that about 700,000 were displaced - meaning loss of homes. This is an incredibly hard time in the Philippines. I could not be any more grateful that I am the first batch of missionaries that get sent in to serve. These wonderful, kind people are in desperate need of help. 

The first thing that Elder Perry talked about on Tuesday, literally the first words out of his mouth, was about this devastation. He told a story about the missionaries in Tacloban (where the eye of the typhoon was). After a few days of not knowing where about a third of the missionaries were, finally the last 24 were found. They all had tickets to fly out of Tacloban, but were unable to board the plane because of others paying such high prices and taking their seats.

 As they were standing out in front of the plane, wondering what to do next, a United States Air Force Sergeant approached them and asked what they were doing. After describing the situation, the pilot looked at the missionaries, then at his cargo jet behind him, then back: "Let's get out of here" he said. 

I know that this was no coincidence. This was not by chance. This was a miracle. Every single missionary in the Tacloban mission is safe and accounted for. Elder Perry said that Tuesday morning, the Quorum of the Twelve and First Presidency of the church met in the Salt Lake City Temple and just expressed their thanks to our Father in Heaven for about an hour for watching out for and protecting His missionaries. I am so humbled and grateful to know that we are prayed for by our Prophet Thomas S. Monson, his counselors, and the Twelve Apostles.

Alright well I am out of time, but I want you all to know how grateful I am to be here right now, at this time in my life. I know it's where my Father in Heaven wants me.  I love this Gospel. I love this work. And I can't wait to enthusiastically share it with the world.

I love you all! I'm sorry this was so long - it seemed appropriate. Thank you for everything! I'm leaving on Monday!! 

18 NOV 2013

Leave SLC @ 4:58pm

20 NOV 2013

Arrive at Manila @ 4:00am

Leave Manila @ 7:00am

Arrive at Cebu @ 8:15am

 Byeee!

Kinasingkasing,

Elder James Ryan Jacobs

P.S. If you want a good study topic, Alma 32 has been the topic of some of my studies this week. If you don't have a Book of Mormon, get one:)

Small words, Huge lessons!

November 7, 2013

Small Words, HUGE Lessons!!

Most of you are probably thinking to yourselves that I'm just going to say I had another amazing week here at the MTC. If you are, you are SO RIGHT. Hahaha I never get sick of saying how incredibly awesome this place is. Sure, I can't wait to get out of here in 11 days, but there is so much to learn here and I love it.

Okay... What happened this week... Other than learning that there are basically no such things as verbs in my language (mind = blown) and something about demonstratives (I thought Halloween was like a week ago...), I learned how truly important it is that we consecrate these years to the Lord and His work. 

Have you ever thought about the difference between the words sacrifice and consecrate? 

I was studying this during personal study for most of the week and I learned so much. I would definitely recommend it as a study topic. What does the word sacrifice generally connote? Personally, it makes me think of leaving something behind; leaving something that you wish you didn't have to leave. I hear missionaries say so many times that they are "sacrificing these next two years" of their lives. 

Can I just take a moment to say that I am not sacrificing anything. 

Sure, I left behind family, friends, and schooling for two years so that I can serve the people of the Philippines. I chose this week not to sacrifice two years for my mission, but to consecrate them. To devote the next two years of my life to the Lord for the purpose of hastening the work of salvation. I am consecrating my life to the Lord and to the people of the Philippines. 

The best part of what I learned is that you don't even have to be on a mission to consecrate your time or a part of your life. You don't even have to be a Mormon. Any person who truly wants to find purpose in life, or simply get more out of their life, can consecrate a portion of their life to something - whether that is 4 years to go to college and prepare to make a living for a future family, or maybe it is consecrating your life to being a better parent to your children. I know that as we exercise our faith and devote our lives to a good cause, we will be blessed by God. I hope that makes sense...

One more thing I loved about this week is how much I have come to dislike the word "endure". 

I don't know why, but I think I am just focusing a lot on specific words lately. When I think of enduring, I think of going through tough times and trials just to get through them. Just trudging on through life. 

Friends and family! Can we please not just endure through life?! Have a good attitude! Smile! I know that as we do this, as we try to find the good things in life, we will turn our trials into learning experiences. Ether 12:27 - our weak things will become strong things. As we constantly strive to be happy and have a good attitude, we will not just endure through life, but we will prevail and triumph. I know this is true. Anyways... I just thought I would share a few little words that have changed my view on life.

That is about all the time that I get today... Thank you for everything! You guys are such great examples to me! Thank you ALL who wrote and sent their love to Sister Rimai. She is such a strong Sister and is doing very well. The trials that our district has been put through have been blessings for us. Our district is so much closer together and so much closer to the Lord.

Gihigugma kamo nako!

Kinsasingkasing,

Elder James Ryan Jacobs

P.S. OHMYGOSH!! ELDER L. TOM PERRY OF THE QUORUM OF THE 12 APOSTLES IS SPEAKING TO US NEXT TUESDAY!!!!! AHHHHHH!!! I'm stoked:)
P.P.S. Also, one of my roommates, Elder Ellis (New Zealand) split his pants and it was one of the funniest things I think I have ever witnessed.

P.P.P.S. Elder Archibald (Canada) says hello.

P.P.P.P.S. Love you all

Elder Jacobs and Friends!

And he still has a messy room!!!!