A Few of My Favorite Things…….

Kamusta?!?

Hello everyone!! I first off want to thank everyone for the emails this week. It was amazing.

Haha but, tungod kay niana, I don't have too much time for this email! 

I want to take a minute and respond to my sister's email to me. She is so amazing and sent an email to me of her "favorite" things. I wanted to do the same thing right now. It is so important for us to have favorite, special things. Things that we hold close to our heart. So here are a few of mine. Not in any specific order, just as they come to me:

Favorite: My family. I would do anything for my family and I know that they would for me as well. Families are so central to this life, but so many people forget that. Our Heavenly Father gave us families to make us happy, to help us grow, and to gain experience through learning. We see broken families so often in the world right now. Relationships can be hard. BUT one promise that our Father gives to us is that if we establish our family on the principles of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we will be blessed. There are no if, ands, or buts. It's a fundamental truth. I love it. I've seen it in my family. I'm so grateful for my parents and their courage to open their minds and hearts to hear the truth. I am grateful for my siblings and for their amazing examples to me. I love my family.

Favorite: My Savior. So many people just do not understand the relationship that we are able

 to build with our Savior, Jesus Christ. No, He may not be literally standing right next to us on Earth, but He is always there - if we are following Him. There is one way to follow Him. His way. His church. I am so grateful for the relationship I have with my Savior, my Eldest Brother, and my perfect example. It all comes down to His Gospel. And the complete truth is only found in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Just try it. Read Alma 32. Try the experiment. Give it a chance and just listen to what the missionaries have to say. I promise you your life will improve, no matter what situation you're in. I love my Savior, Jesus Christ.

Favorite: My friends. My friends have been my support (along with my family) for my entire life. Especially in high school. I'm so grateful for my friends. Members and not-yet-members of this church. I love them all. 

Anyways, I am about out of time, but please understand just a little bit how much i treasure these things, among SO MANY MORE. I know without a doubt that I am here for a reason. I love the Philippines. I love it. I am always happy here. I can't wait to just serve every single day. I love you all. 

Love,

Elder James Ryan Jacobs

Getting around in the Philippines!

Are you wondering how Elder Jimmy Jacobs gets around in the Philippines? The missionaries there do not rides bikes!

Most days the missionaries walk to wherever they are going. Walking is the most reliable way to get around, but its also hot and muddy.

Sometimes the missionaries squeeze onto trikes-motorcycles converted to have a sidecar that can fit two people but usually carry five!! It's hilarious seeing two big Americans trying to squeeze into one. It's a great way for our missionaries to share the gospel with those driving and those in the side car!

Occasionally the missionaries will get a lift from someone who has a motor bike!!

It's always best to take public transportation for the following reasons:

*No traffic lights
*No traffic lanes
*Pedestrians share the road with you
*No signs
*Crazy roads
*Lots of horn honking that makes sense to the Filipinos but not to us
*Too many cars on the road

Pubic transportation includes:
Jypneys- converted army trucks with seats that run

down the sides of the truck. Most are decorated. They run everywhere. You squeeze in and sit so close to the person next to you that you can't believe it's ok! They put as many people in them as possible.

Mini Vans- Also converted. Eight passenger vehicles that fit 21 people!! You meet at a central place and wait until it's filled up. Then you leave. No time table. Big Americans are strategically placed to balance the bus. They take people off if they don't meet their strategy.

Taxis- The only way to get air-conditioning or air con as they call it there.

Ferry's are taken between the islands.

I hope this has given you a peek at the way Elder Jacobs and our missionaries travel around to do the Lord's work in the Philippines! Each day is a new adventure!
Sister Jacobs
(Jimmy's mom)

Kamusta!!!

Okay, well I'm gunna be honest... After my last email home, I realized that I am really failing on this whole "Email-Home-Thing". I never share any funny stories or anything like that. I'm so sorry!!! There are always things happening here I just forget to right them in my email. Haha so at the end of this email, we'll have some fun story time :)

First off, I want to share an experience I had that truly led me to ponder this calling I have on my mission right now. As I share this though, it applies to everyone who is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ. 

About a week ago, Elder Buckley and I were heading to a return appointment for some newish investigators - Stephanie and Renan. They are a young couple with one small son. When we met them, we taught the Restoration and Joseph Smith and they LOVED IT. They were very receptive and Stephanie actually came to a party we had at the church later that week. Anyways, as Elder Buckley and I got to there house, Renan wasn't there, just Stephanie. She called out the window to Renan and he came up. He went on to say that Stephanie's parents are extremely Catholic and they commanded them to not listen to us. He said we weren't allowed to come back. 

Being the new missionaries we both are, we didn't know exactly what to do. I just gave them another pamphlet and wrote our name and phone number on the back. I said that if they ever wanted us to come back, just call the number. Then we left. As we were heading back home, I felt horrible. I didn't ask any questions or try to understand what they were thinking and feeling. I didn't even try anything. That whole night I was thinking about this. 

As missionaries, we are called to preach the true Gospel of Jesus Christ with EVERYTHING

that we have. Everything. I didn't fulfill my purpose that night. So, I told Elder Buckley we needed to go back. By this time, it was too late at night. The next day, we went straight to their house. I had no idea what I was going to do, but I had to do something. 

We have something that every single person in this world HAS to have. They need it. If they want Salvation, there is literally no other way. We got there and I still didn't know what to say. I just knocked on the door.. Renan answered and was surprised to see us again because he just told us the night before not to come back. We kinda just stood there and looked at each other for a minute. Then I just said, "Renan, I felt like I needed to come back here. We want you to know that we love you both and we care about you. We know that our message will bless your life and we know that you need it." I went on to just bear my testimony a little bit and the Spirit was so strong. Nothing changed - he didn't say we could teach them - but I can say that I did my best. 

There is a scripture in Jacob 1:19 and it says: "And we did magnify our office unto the Lord, taking upon us the responsibility, answering the sins of the people upon our own heads if we did not teach them the word of God with all diligence; wherefore, by laboring with our might their blood might not come upon our garments; otherwise their blood would come upon our garments, and we would not be found spotless at the last day." This applies to every single one of us who knows the truth, but even more to me at this time in my life. I am called to serve with everything I have, with ALL diligence. And we are held accountable if we don't. 

What I learned from this experience is to always do my best. Leave everything out there. I have to. We have to. I know that as we strive to share this gospel with the world, there will be trials and hardships. There will be people that reject us. But we do the best we can. That's all Our Heavenly Father asks of us. Part of consecrating this time in my life includes giving everything I have, every minute of every day. I am so happy to do it.

I am so grateful to have this opportunity to be out here on my mission right now. I love this work. There are times when it is SO HARD, but whenever those hard times come, there are always little blessings and tender mercies given to us by our Father who loves us so much.. 

Elder Buckley and I were coming home last night and a few guys (that live right next to us)

were sitting outside with a flashlight and what looked like a home made gun. I asked what they were doing and they said they were hunting "Bucknits" (which are monsters). Hahah I just laughed and stood there for a minute. I asked if there really were monsters and they got all excited and were like "of course". One of them ran over a little ways and came back with a bat. Dead. Shot with this homemade marble gun. The bats are the monsters in the trees hahahah. No, mother I didn't not touch the bat and get rabies, don't worry:) Haha thought that was awesome though.

Anyways, sorry this was a little longer than usual, but I felt like you all really needed to know these things. Know that I am doing amazing over here and I can't wait for February 1st because I have my first baptisms! Devine and Geneveve! They are doing great and still on track!! I love you all so much! I'm doing the best I can over here! Love you!!

Love,

Elder James Ryan Jacobs

My interesting week!

If you see some guys like us…talk to them!!!!

Helllllooooo Allllll!!!

This week has been pretty different!  I never experienced on my mission some of the things that I experienced this last week! 

(This is Jimmy's mom! Did you notice in the sentence above that Jimmy worded his sentence in an usual way? That happens when you begin speaking in your new language all of the time. You begin to phrase things in English differently! This tells us that Jimmy is really embracing and using the Cebuano language!!  OK…Back to Jimmy….) 

I'm gunna do something new this email! I'm gunna breakdown the days of the week for you all!

Thursday: We had our once-transferly Zone Training Meeting! (Remember a transfer is every six weeks!) This is a time that we get once a transfer to hear from our Zone Leaders. They give a workshop and talk about doctrine, helpful things to focus on, and stuff like that! 

After that, we went and visited Tatay Hornorato (tatay is just a name for an older person haha) but he is SO hard to understand and talk to because he can't hear very well. He is a recent convert, but nobody is really able to talk to him. So we are going to get his home teachers to go over and try! He's so funny and nice. Then we went over to Devine and Jenny Viv's! They are doing amazing! They are doing everything they need to do in order to be baptized on February 1st! I'm so excited!

Friday and Saturday: We kept very busy meeting new people and talking to everyone we could. We had some amazing lessons and found some new investigators!

Sunday: Best day ever. We got to church at 8, but then left at about 8:40 to go kuyog (err uhh IDK what that word is in english... like... guide? Or bring along?) Sister Gonzalez and her kids to church! 

And …oh… it was POURING rain!! Crazy! We ran all the way there and we got to church a little late, BUT it was okay! We had 5 investigators come to church!! It was so amazing to see my prayers answered. I love my Father in Heaven. He knows each and every one of us so well. He knew I needed just a little bit of extra love this week. Sister Gonzalez, Devine, Jenny Viv, Raquell, and Marium all came!! It was amazing! 

Then, later that day, we went to visit Marium. We wanted to invite her to baptism because she has been doing everything and really showing progress! She is reading in Jacob in the Book of Mormon!! So we asked the Relief Society President to come with us and she brought her first counselor with her as well! I thought of you, Mama Miyahara, and Mama. Help the missionaries! Haha we need you. 

It was great having them there to be a friend and to bear testimony through real life examples. Marium still needs some time to think about baptism. She just needs to continue reading her Book of Mormon. I know that as she does that, she will understand how important it is for her to show her faith. Pray for her please! And Devine and Jenny VIv:)

Monday and Tuesday: So... Elder Buckley got super sick on Monday and felt like he needed to stay in, so we actually didn't get to work at all on Monday. You know, one would think that 16 hours of being inside sitting at a desk would be torture.

It actually wasn't bad at all. Elder Buckley rested and I had my scriptures, PMG, Patriarchal Blessing, and lots others to keep me company. I got some amazing personal study time. I studied so much in the Book of Revelation and in D&C 77, 88:85-114. It was pretty awesome! Tuesday came and Elder was still feeling like he couldn't work, so I texted the Zone Leaders and asked if we could go on exchanges so we could get some work done in our area but they couldn't. They said it was okay, just stay and take care of my companion! So that's what I did on Tuesday! And lots more studying! I studied a lot on Priesthood Keys and the Plan of Salvation in Alma 40-42.

I am so grateful for the old and modern revelation that we have in the church today. The Book of Mormon and The Doctrine and Covenants. I am really starting to LOVE reading from D&C. Joseph Smith truly was a Prophet called of God to restore His gospel to the earth FOR US! The Bible is sometimes hard to understand... Almost all the time. But as we use the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and other resources, we can learn SO MUCH!! I love it! 

Anyways, don't worry at all about me! I love this place more and more every day. I love you all and have an amazing week for me!:)

Just outside my apartment!

Love,

Elder James Ryan Jacobs

I Love being on a mission! I love it so much!

This is Elder Buckley! He's from Utah!

Hellooo Everyone!!

Well I have some pretty interesting news to share with all of you... Elder Ferris got transferred!!! What?!?! Emergency transfer! We got a call on Monday night from the APs (Assistants to the President) saying that Elder Ferris and I need to be in Lahug at 4pm on Tuesday. He got transferred down to Negros to help train another young elder!

Soooo…. that means I got a new companion! His name is Elder Buckley. He's great! He is one transfer ahead of me... Sooo we are both very new to this whole mission thing, BUT I know it is going to be an amazing transfer. That is what I want to talk about today!

Elder Ferris was awesome. I learned so much from him, it's crazy. I know, without a doubt, that we were put together for a reason. He helped my language grow faster than anyone could have. Because of everything we were able to experience, I feel confident going forward into this next transfer with someone as new as Elder Buckley. Our language is far from perfect, but I know that as we continue to study, as we continue to have faith in Jesus Christ, we will succeed. Faith is something we cannot take for granted. There are so many times in the Book of Mormon and the Bible where it mentions miracles only being possible through faith. I know that is true.

So many people here in the Philippines have faith. They really do. It is rare when we meet someone who says they don't have religion in their life or they say they don't really know who Jesus Christ is. Everybody knows and everyone has faith. At least, they say they do. 

What people don't understand, and so many of us as well, is that faith is an action word. We know that from all of the teachings of Jesus Christ. I can't even start to count how many times I have heard the phrase, "Con naa ka'y hugot nga pagtuo, maluwas ka!" (For all of you that, for some reason, don't speak Bisayan: "If you have faith, you will be saved!") 

That is so far from the truth!! We are saved by grace AFTER all we can do!! (See 2 Nephi 25:23). Most people just do not understand that there are literal things that need to be done in this life. They say, "as long as you go to a church, are religious, and belief in the Lord, you're fine!" 

NOOOO. Jesus Christ had a church. It was perfect. It had all of the perfect principles and ordinances we needed. It was taken from the earth after His death. It has been restored! It's here now! The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is His perfect kingdom once again established on the earth. I just want to stand and scream at the top of my lungs to everyone. This is Christ's church. There is only one because there is only one Jesus Christ. I know this to be true. I know it more than I know anything else in this life. I want all of you to know it.

I hope, that as some of you read these emails, they inspire you to actual do something. To change for the better. To ask questions. To find out for yourself, not because your parents told you to believe something. I love you all so much and I am so grateful every day for all of you who made me into who I am today. I love being on a mission. I love it so much. I had an amazing holiday season here in the Philippines. I hope you know how much this church - this true gospel - means to me. Even if you understood a tiny bit, it should make you want it for yourself. I don't know why you wouldn't want something that has made me, my family, my friends, and people on the other side of the world, SO HAPPY. I love you all. Have an amazing week:)

Love,

Elder James Ryan Jacobs

Just a random pic!