Okay, where do I even want to start......I feel like this past week, I got to taste a little bit more of what the Celestial Kingdom must feel like. It was honestly I think one of the best, if not THE best weeks of my life.
I LOVE SERVING A MISSION!!
On Friday Hero and Riza Alidon were married!!
We got permission to go with them down to Minglanilia for the ceremony.
It was done by a judge and Elder Buque and I were asked to be witnesses. That basically means you get to stand next to them during the ceremony and then you sign the license thing after.
I was SO happy that day. This family has been so patient and so willing to do whatever they need to do in order to be baptized.
All in all, it was a great day - with an even better day coming next!
Saturday....oh man.....I think it was one of the longest days I've had on the mission.
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| Water. Everywhere. Every single day. |
But, it was the excitement we both had for later that night that kept us going.
We couldn't wait for Hero, Riza, and Anthony to be baptized!
Seven o'clock comes around and we start the baptism.
It. Was. Amazing. The spirit was so strong.
This cute little family of 5 has just truly started down a journey that will literally
change their life for eternity. They know and understand how important it is that they are sealed in the temple one year from now.
I love my calling. I love being able to share truths that change peoples lives for the better. What is more rewarding than that??
So, I'm not gunna lie, I didn't necessarily know exactly what to expect for a birthday on the mission.....
but if every birthday was like it was Monday, I would be down to have the rest of mine here in the Philippines.
It was Sister Dreu's (sister in our zone) birthday as well.
Little did I know, the other members of my wonderful zone were sneaking in and setting up the other room! Long story short, Sister Dreu and I walk in and there are TWO HUGE CAKES with our names on them sitting on the table and everybody is singing happy birthday!!
I don't think I've ever really had a cake with my name on it so... that was awesome.
(This is Mama Jacobs....Jimmy certainly HAS had birthday cakes with his name on them but obviously they were not as memorable!!! Everything is BETTER on a mission!!)
Anyways, we stopped by the mission office to take care of a few things and said a personal happy birthday to President McCurdy as well!
Later on in the day, we actually got invited to Family Home Evening at the Osumo's house.
They are in the Sikatuna Ward, but I have gotten close with them as well. We got there and they had COSTCO PIZZA for us to celebrate!! There is a place here called S&R that sells all Kirkland Products as well. That was an amazing surprise.
Anyways, after that, we got called over to Bishop's house for a quick dinner. Get to the end of dinner and.... Yep! You guessed it.....Another cake with my name on it!!! Okay, am I in Heaven?? I love these people!!! I honestly feel like I'm just at home here. Best. Day. Ever.
And to top it off, I got mom's package as well!! I LOVE the books. Thank you so much!!! Been reading/studying during all my free time.
 We were invited to attend the sealing on Tuesday of a family that Elder Buque taught at the beginning of his mission. They were sealed as a family in the Cebu Temple yesterday. This was by far on of the most spiritually impacting experiences I have had since being here. I cannot begin to explain the feelings I felt yesterday as I saw three little angels dressed in white come to join their parents at the alter. I love this gospel. |
I realized something yesterday and today that really hasn't sunk in for me until now.
The purpose of being sealed in the temple. Why is that so important?
We are sealed as families in the House of the Lord so that, when we arrive in the Celestial Kingdom, we may claim our family as ours. It is what links this family chain together.
HOWEVER, it does not guarantee us our inheritance in the Lord's Kingdom. I realized today the important relationship between the two ordinances. The purpose of our personal temple ordinances/covenants is to get us to the Celestial Kingdom. Once there, if we have been sealed as a family, we can claim what is rightfully ours - our family.
Brothers and Sisters! Families! I hope you can feel a little bit of just how much this means to me. It is everything to me.
I hope that we can all get the point in our life where this Gospel of Jesus Christ becomes REAL.
There is nothing more real than this, but many people are so quick to forget. We need to slow down and really think about the purpose of our life here on earth.
I know that the temple is the House of the Lord. It is only within those walls that families are sealed together for eternity. Our loving Heavenly Father wants ALL of us there. I love my family. I am so grateful that I have been blessed with the parents and siblings I have. I know that we will live with each other throughout eternity.
Love you all so much!! Thank you for the birthday wishes! Whoa.. I'm 20.. Weird.
Love,
Elder Jacobs
P.S. Shout out to Sis. Dayley!!! Thanks for taking cake and balloons to my Mom on my birthday! That was awesome!
P.S. Shout out to Sis. Dayley!!! Thanks for taking cake and balloons to my Mom on my birthday! That was awesome!
