Yes, of course I get homesick. Who wouldn't??

Hello!!!

I am so happy to be back emailing all of you :) Time here flies by SO quickly. I don't like it and I do like it....all at the same time. Weird, right?

We had an AMAZING week this last week.  But first..

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR SHELLYYYYYYY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU! Getting bigger and bigger every day..... ;)

Shout out to Shelly...due any day now!

I just want to paint a picture in everybody's mind right now of what the last 45 minutes of my life was like!! 

Elder Uata and I were just sitting in the internet-han emailing all of you and we get a call saying that there are some people at the temple that would like to meet the missionaries. So we logged out really quick and ran over to the temple and met them. 

There were three of them and one was a member from down in Talisay. He just got back from his mission in Quezon City. All three of them work at a call center down in IT Park. Anyways, they are great and we loved showing them around.

Then Elder Uata and I went into the mission office and Sis. Nelson asked if we had finished emails yet.  No...we haven't......So now here I am with my shoes off and a wireless keyboard finishing my emails in the mission office. Not gunna lie, it's awesome. 

On to this AMAZING week....

 Wait... Just as I was writing this, the Minglanilla Bishop just walked in and said that he ordered McDonalds Delivery for E. Uata and I. WHAT??? Love life. Now I am sitting here stuffed with a Big Mac and an Oreo McFlurry :)

Dinner with the Tan family. Love. Them.

NOW on to this week. 

We got a text last Friday from the Tan Family in San Nicolas. The ones that came down to Carcar to take us out to dinner last Christmas. They asked if we could go to dinner. OF COURSE WE CAN!! Long story longer, we went to a hotel called The Quest and ate at the buffet. It. Was. Heaven.

 I have never eaten so well on my mission. Everything from crab, to salad, to fruit, to pasta, to sushi, to pork, to chicken, to fried rice, to cheesecake, to crepes, to ice cream... Literally you name it, it was there. I loved it. They are such a great family! I love them!

We have been pretty busy with zone stuff this last week as well. Not really "problems" just "situations" haha :)

 On Monday night, we got home and knelt down to start our nightly planning. Phone rings. Turns out, the sisters' gas tank was leaking all day in their house and so they called wondering what to do.. We told them to open all doors and windows and turn on all the fans, etc. and then wait outside for a little. Okay, problem solved. 

Knelt down again to start our nightly planning. "Amen." Open my eyes. Everything is still black for some reason. Why? Brown out. All of Cebu City lost electricity. Hahah I was so confused I even tried closing my eyes and then opening them again. Still black. Quick thank you to Mama Jacobs for sending those flashlights and headlamps. Came in useful once again :) 

Okay would have been fine, EXCEPT for the sisters' fans that all just died! There house is still full of gas. We waited a few minutes to see if it would turn back on again, but nothing. So, we made arrangements to transfer those four sisters over to a different sisters' house at like 9:45pm. Long story short, big shout out to Elder and Sister Nelson

because they are the best. Haha I think Sis. Nelson is my best friend out here. She is President McCurdy's younger sister. Last week at a baptism, I had a little boy ask me if she was 100 years old yet (She's only 62). I told her and she died laughing. She thought it was hilarious. She is one of the only people I know that says, "It's fun getting old!"

Last week we had a service project where we cleaned up a plot of land and leveled it out to prepare to build a house. We accomplished SOOO much in just a short two hours, but we weren't able to finish everything. We'll go back and help them finish next week :) Service is so awesome. It reminds me of a study a had yesterday... Matthew 26:31-46 (https://www.lds.org/scriptures/nt/matt/25.31-46?lang=eng#30)

Along this note, I heard one of my all-time favorite quotes this week. I believe it was by President Uchtdorf and it is something along the lines of, "We need to strive to do as much good as we can, for as little credit as possible." That is true service. I hope we all strive to give the glory to our Father in Heaven in all times and in all places.

 

Lately I have been learning so much about using the Atonement of Jesus Christ to align our will with the will of the Father. Many times in life, we are faced with situations where we need to pick between what the Lord wants and what we want. Many times, making this decision means overcoming our own individual weaknesses and becoming strengthened in the Lord.

 One example that has been a little prevalent in this zone lately: 

Homesickness. Sometimes, missionaries just don't quite catch the whole "mission" thing. They "decide" that it's just not for them. 

Well, getting on a mission isn't easy. And neither is quitting and going home. 

The Lord (with only a few exceptions) does not want missionaries to go home early from their missions.. Especially just for feeling like it's too hard, etc. So, in this example, we already know the will of the Lord. The harder part is following it! Making His will ours. This involves a change of heart. We know that anything relating to a change of heart, desires, thoughts, character, etc.  involves the Atonement of Jesus Christ. We all have been given weaknesses. We need to remember that they have been given to us so that we can - with the Lord - turn them into strengths. (See my new favorite article: https://www.lds.org/ensign/2015/04/it-isnt-a-sin-to-be-weak?lang=eng)

I love my mission. Yes, of course I get homesick. Who wouldn't?? I love my family and always want to be with them! But I know that I have a purpose to be on my mission right now, at this time. For two full years. I am so grateful for the opportunity I have to help those around me. I am so grateful for my Savior Jesus Christ. I love Him.  I love all of you as well. Thank you for being the best family and friends anyone could ask for. 

OH! Sorry, I have been slacking in the funny stories department... I'm not sure if this actually classifies as "funny" though... Mom, close your eyes. Scroll down. Don't read this part...Now open them again ;) 

On Monday, while we were at our first Family Home Evening, a woman showed up. I don't know the correct or proper way to describe her in English, but the word here for it is "Buang". They live on the streets and are basically just mentally lost. It kind of reminds me of schizophrenia. 

Long story short, she stayed outside until we left the house where we were. Then she followed us. She was just walking behind us. Until we got out to the highway. We figured, "Oh, she'll probably just go her own way now.." and we jumped on a jeepney. Yea... 

She jumped right on with us. 

Creepy. The driver tried to tell her that she had to get off, but that didn't happen. So we go and when we get off, I jumped on a habal-habal (motorcycle transportation) here. I got on first, not really noticing that she was still standing right next to me. Next, SHE TRIES TO GET ON BEHIND ME! But I'm grateful my companion loves me. E. Uata was not about to let that happen... So he jumped on first and we just told the driver to go. Go fast. Go fast NOW!!!  It. Was. Interesting. :0

I LOVE being on a mission! I love doing what I get to do every single day. Preaching of my Lord, Savior, and King: Jesus the Christ. I know that He lives. I know that He truly did do EVERYTHING that we all say He did. I know that this Gospel - this church - is the only way to true peace and happiness in this life and eternal joy in the life to come. I am so grateful that I have the knowledge necessary (because of this church) in order to know with 100% surety that the course of life I am pursuing is in accordance with our Father's will. I love you all :) Thank you for your examples. 

HEY! Do me a favor... Please follow Lindsey's example and, when you see some missionaries walking down the road, pull over and say hi! If nothing else, please give them a bottle of water or little treat. I can't even begin to explain how happy that would make me. Even more so, our Father in Heaven.

I love you all!

Elder James Ryan Jacobs

These Missionaries are Glowing!!

Everyone!

Maayong hapon sa tanan! Gimingaw jud ko ninyo ba as in! Salamat sa inyong emails karong semana kay nafeel jud nako ang inyong love sa akoa ba.. Good luck so google translate kay, sa akoa lang nadunggan is nga dili jud ni matranslate dira ;) Apan tinuod jud nga gihigugma jud temo <3 Sorry kaayo sa Bisaya, ha? Maglingaw-lingaw lang sah ko diri :)

I just felt like that was the right thing to do today... ;) Haha I feel like you never get enough Bisaya from me so, there you go :) Have fun on Google, cause I'm pretty sure that won't do you any good. Love you!!

This week was awesome! We had Zone Interviews, apartment checks, and four baptismal interviews on a mountain! I don't have much time, but here we go!

We are GLOWING!!!

Zone interviews were great! We each get some time one on one with the mission president, President McCurdy. My interview was awesome. I needed it! :) We just talked a lot about how Heavenly Father knows each one of us so perfectly and knows our thoughts, intents, and desires. How awesome is that? We have a loving Heavenly Father that - when we feel like others don't understand - knows us perfectly.

Our AWESOME senior missionaries!

The Nelsons took Elder Uata and I out yesterday to do apartment checks in our zone. It was awesome. Especially the part when they took us to lunch :) I love them!

Just about ten more miles this way.........

On Monday, Elder Uata and I traveled back out to Busay (Where I went a few weeks ago... I compared it to Saddleback mountain I think?). 

The kids in the family we visited a few weeks ago are being baptized this Saturday!!

 Since the District Leader is the one teaching them, Elder Uata and I had the privilege of interviewing them before their baptism. It was awesome. And SUCH a long hike. 

This picture is from a Family Home Evening that we had last night.

We ate s'mores!! :) 

Today we are going to the Sabado Family's house for a zone lunch. They are so nice and have us over for lunch once a month on P-Day!

I'm sorry I am out of time this week.

 I just want to encourage us to read or watch two of my favorite talks at conference. Oh yea! WE GOT TO WATCH CONFERENCE THIS LAST WEEKEND!! Haha I know I'm a little late to the party, but here on the other side of the world, we have to wait a week...

Basta, here are the two for this week: (https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2015/04/the-music-of-the-gospel?lang=eng) and (https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2015/04/truly-good-and-without-guile?lang=eng)

OH and then a new all-time favorite!!! (https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2015/04/the-greatest-generation-of-young-adults?lang=eng)

It was an awesome conference. Please take the time to read or watch it over again. I know that we will be blessed AS we hearken to what we learn. Let us be diligent and faithful in doing just that :)

Love you all!!

Elder Jacobs

I Want to Answer Some Questions.....

Hello All!!!

I love you all! Thank you for all of the emails! This week was fantastic!!
 We had the most successful week that Kamputhaw Zone has seen in months!!

SO AWESOME!!

I am so grateful to be able to work along side such great missionaries and servants of the Lord.

It's sometimes crazy to think that we really are only 20yr old young men and we are doing the most important work of the Lord. It sure is humbling.

I wanted to answer some questions that I've been asked!

1. Yes! There are trash trucks here, but not like the ones at home haha.. I'm not exactly sure where the trash goes but if I had to guess.... it's either burned into the air or thrown in the canals hahah.. It's so dirty here in the city! But it's awesome and I love it!

2. We do have 6 Elders in our apt/house.. It works out. We have had talks about accountability and making sure everyone is responsible for their own things. And then in addition to that, we take turns sweeping and stuff, but it works out really well for the most part. We also started having FHE every Monday night after everyone gets home. It's awesome and super effective.

3. We do eat with members sometimes but not often.

This is a marinating BBQ of all parts of a chicken: head, intestines, feet, liver, etc.





I'm so grateful for the good people here who are so willing to share all that they have.

Dad asked a question that made me realize I've been slacking in an area of my emails! 

I'm so sorry I haven't talked too much about our investigators (those were teaching)! I will try to do better.

 We are mostly focusing right now on one family: the V. Family!  They came to church the first Sunday we invited them and have been coming since (three times now!) ... 

Every week, C and C join in with the youth programs of the ward as well. Whether it be basketball or service projects, they've become super involved already. 

Their scheduled baptismal date is for this April 25th! So awesome!!!

We had MLC (Mission Leadership Conference) yesterday with all of the Zone Leaders and Sister Training Leaders and we discussed the doctrine found in the book of 3 Nephi and also what it means to become a true disciple of Jesus Christ. 

We talked about what it means when Christ invites us to, "Come Follow Me"... 

We can learn a lot from the account when He called four of His original apostles: Peter, Andrew, James, and John. Matthew 4:18-22

"And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.

"And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.

"And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.

"And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.

"And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him."

They immediately dropped everything they were doing. And that's not it. It isn't as if they just stopped what they were doing for an hour or two, but rather, they dropped their old life. They gave up who they were and turned to the Savior in order to become something so much more.

As I pondered on that, I realized how truly important it is for us to UNDERSTAND the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We can't just know the Gospel and leave it at that.

 We can't be content with our lives and never seek to improve. I have no doubt that Peter, Andrew, James, and John were likely very content with their lives. But they gave their lives to the Lord and allowed Him to mold them into new beings. Beings that could live into the eternities in the presence of our Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ.

I guess it was "Earth Day" last week?

Earth Day festivities

There were thousands of bicyclists who all decided to ride down the highway one night!

As Easter is fast approaching, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has tried to help us all understand more fully the gift of Christ's life. The miracle of His Resurrection is something that we need to come to realize in our life. 

If I can ask one thing of you (YOU as in... You who are reading this right now), I promise you will be filled with Joy within 5 minutes. I want to ask each of you to watch this video: http://www.mormon.org/easter... This is something the Church has put together for the sole purpose of helping us to remember that HE LIVES. 

I know He lives. I know it. He suffered in the Garden, He died on the cross, and He was laid in the tomb. Three days passed; after which, the biggest miracle in the history of our world came to pass. He rose. On the third day, Jesus the Christ raised as a resurrected, perfect being. I know that it is in and through His Resurrection that we can gain the hope of Eternal Life. I love Him and I know the He loves us. Because of that love, He desires for each of us to attain to the level of Joy that He has attained to. Please take this message seriously. I have never been more serious in my life than when I testify that I know that He Lives.

I love you all. I am grateful for all of you in my life. I just hope and pray every day that each of you can experience what I am experiencing. Not necessarily the life of a missionary, but rather the Joy that the members of this church have been blessed with. It's a free gift to all those that seek. All those that leave their "nets and boats" and come follow Christ.

Love,

Elder James Ryan Jacobs