I sure do miss all of you. But I'm doing great.

Hello to all my favorites!! 

How is everyone doing?? I sure do miss all of you. But I'm doing great.

Say hello to my little friends...

The last few weeks have been crazy! Ever since getting here in Carcar, I feel as if things haven't stopped or even slowed down.

When I was transferred here there wasn't a single person on the calendar to teach! My companion and I are basically starting from scratch to work in this area. So it has been crazy busy!

This week was awesome! We had Zone Conference in Naga on Thursday. It was a great opportunity. 

President McCurdy shared on the Beatitudes and it was so interesting. 

One quote that stuck out was that Matthew 5 is a perfect example that "the Greatest Man that ever lived, gave the greatest sermon ever given." We have so much to learn.

We do a lot of walking on roads like this one.

It's so awesome to get to know missionaries from other parts of the world!

My companion is the Elder in front.

And I am learning so many different ways to cook outside. These are ovens!

I love to camp! Good thing...the mission here is just like camping!

"Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness;"

I have heard countless times that it is "so hard to go home from a mission and keep the same good habits of study, prayer, etc."... I feel that this is true for those who have not developed the self-control, self-mastery, and true determination that needs to exist in us. It is kind of summarized in the cliche phrase, "it needs to start from the inside out."

I know that the only way that we can fulfill what has been required of us - to be even as Christ - is to understand this principle. We have to get to the point where true obedience is part of us, or is ingrained within us. We need to glory in our Father and His Son. I know that this is possible in and through the power of the Atonement of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

A real tree house!!!!!

I love this life! Isn't there just so much to learn?? So awesome! We can't  get overwhelmed. Just take it in and do your absolute best! :) I am beyond grateful for the patience that my Father in Heaven has in me. I hope you thank Him for that as well.

I want to study more about obedience and self control in the future, so if anyone else has something to add - insights, scripture references, etc. - email me! I would be a very happy missionary :) 

I love all of you so much! I am so grateful to have every one of you as an example to me. Especially all of you who are reading this :)

Love,

Elder James Ryan Jacobs

Well...we've got to go through it.

Hello Everyone!

First of all, I am so sorry! I feel like since I have gotten here to Carcar,

I have had such a short amount of time to email and I've just been able to email my mom a few short sentences! 

I will do my best to get better at that :) I am still doing great and loving life - trials and all! 

Isn't it such a blessing for us to truly understand the reason that hard things are such an integral part of our life? They make us who we need to be. 

I think it was Elder Nelson that said one time, "Before we think to beg Heavenly Father to take a trial away, let's remember that - by doing so - we may be forfeiting our own personal fore-ordination." (not an exact quote.. just something I was thinking about)

So this last week was awesome! On Saturday, Jet and Juriz came down from the city (my last area) and worked with us! They just wanted to travel down and work with us for the day so it was so awesome! We were able to go on exchanges as well and got lots done! Jet leaves on his mission this December heading to Salt Lake City!!! So awesome.

I wanted to share something I studied this morning. As I was in the Christlike Attributes Chapter of Preach My Gospel, I found myself on the Doctrine and Attribute of "Patience". 

I had SUCH A FUN STUDY this morning! 

I started in Mosiah 24:9-16. Alma and his brethren here are put in a situation where they are unable to pray vocally. Of course, they don't let that stop them from Praying, so they "pour out their hearts" to God in prayer.

 I realized something different as I read this today.

Sometimes we are put in situations (by our own free will or because of the choices of others) where we can't do the most perfect thing.

 For example, Alma knew that the best way to pray was vocally, but he just couldn't do it.

 What I learned is that one part of patience is that we are confidently satisfied before the Lord, when we know we are doing ALL THAT WE CAN. 

Are you ever in a situation that, for whatever reason, you can't do all that you wish you could do? Well, do what you can...focus on that.

Cross reference that to D&C 123:17. We gain capacity to be patient when we know that we have done all in our power. Then we wait for the Lord to fulfill His promises.

We've got a lot of land to cover....

 I continued on and found a new all time favorite verse: D&C 101:38. I absolutely love it.

 "And seek the face of the Lord always, that in patience ye may possess your souls, and ye shall have eternal life." 

Cross that over to D&C 93:1 to get the process. I love the phrase "in patience ye may possess your souls." We will be able to bring all under subjection as we live the gospel and use the Atonement. Sorry this is so scattered, I hope you can get something out of it. 

In closing, there was one overall lesson I learned this morning:

Alright...well....we've got to go through it....

Patience is a lot more than just not showing emotion when we are annoyed, frustrated, or angry. It's deeper than that. 

It is changing how we think about the situation. There is no point in just not showing your are angry while, the whole time, complaining in your thoughts about the situation. We are patient from the inside out. Prayer helps a lot.

I am so grateful for all of your examples that you have given me throughout my life. I LOVE all of you. Whether it was through church, school, family, or anything, I am glad that we met because I've learn so much from each and every one of you. 

Let's keep moving forward, remembering always Who gives us the blessings every day. Keep Christ at the center of our lives and build every single day upon that foundation. We can all become just like Him, but it starts as we make the decision to act. As we pick one of His attributes and one by one, grace by grace, little by little, place them inside of us.

Love you all and hope you have an amazing week :)  Elder Jacobs