I'm going to Carcar!

Hello to my Bestest Friends!

WOW was this week awesome. So hard and so good!

It's really amazing how hard we work as missionaries to share goodness with people. But I think the fact that it's hard and we do it anyways makes it so much more rewarding. We feel good at the end of every day no matter what happens. 

Hahah it's so fun being a missionary ;)

I have lots to share so I'm gunna just jump right in!

We had our baptism on Saturday!

It went so well!! The Gaabucayan Family is awesome!

All three kids were baptized and it was a huge success. Now the family has made plans for being sealed in the temple. I can't even describe the joy we feel! 

AND.........

Just in time to get transferred :( 

We had transfer meeting on Monday and I got the bittersweet news that I will be leaving my home here in San Nicolas and moving out to Carcar! Nothing in me wants to leave these

Hello America!

wonderful members and investigators, but I am excited nonetheless to get to work again in a new area. 

Carcar is about 25 miles south of where I am now but it takes 1 1/2 hours to get there...on a bus....

What's more is that my new companion, Elder Edvalson, and I have already lived in the same house together back in Siaton! So it'll be a nice reunion! 

I am definitely going to miss so many of the families I've gotten close to. The Alidon and Tan Families have literally been like family for me here in San Nicolas! I can't wait to see how well they are going to continue and progress in this wonderful gospel!

Oh! Let me help you with those grocery bags.....

Yesterday on splits with Elder Knutson, we met a 62 year old nanay (old lady) who plays DUTA online... It's the computer game that all the kids play here in the internet shops! Like World of Warcraft. Hahahhahahaha

I wanted to share something really quickly that I studied yesterday! It's about the Book of Mormon. Many of us have heard of or read the Book of Mormon. Today, I hope to give us a little bit more excitement to read, ponder, and pray about this wonderful book. As I was studying in Preach My Gospel, I came across a page at the beginning of Lesson 2 that talks about "helping others learn of Jesus Christ". I decided to study a little more into it! This is a part of what I found!

Have you read the Book of Mormon?

In the Introduction of the Book of Mormon, we learn that there are three ideas mentioned about Jesus Christ. In other words, there are three ways that The Book of Mormon fulfills its purpose as "Another Testament of Jesus Christ". It testifies of:

1. Christ's personal ministry on the earth: both Pre- and Post- Resurrection

2. The truth that Jesus Christ is the Son of the living God

3. Jesus Christ's divine calling as Savior of the world.

Start today reading the Book of Mormon! Every page is about Jesus Christ. It truly testifies of Him. 

Christ promises us in 3 Nephi 28:10.... "ye shall have fulness of joy; and ye shall sit down in the kingdom of my Father; yea, your joy shall be full, even as the Father hath given me fulness of joy; and ye shall be even as I am"

Who doesn't want that happiness?? I know I do! So please come and follow Christ with me! If you haven't read the Book of Mormon yet, do so! Learn of Christ. Learn of his doctrines. Learn how to live with your families in His presence for ever and ever. I love you all so much! I am so grateful for the wonderful evidence that Heavenly Father has given us. Let's do our part and ask for a free copy of "The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ" and change our lives for the better. 

Love our new Zone shirts!

Love you sooooo much!!!

Elder Jacobs :)

P.S. President Monson has a twitter account?? Awesome.

Conference Didn't Get Better,I Did!!

 Hello Friends and family!!

I've been thinking about you all week!! What a fantastic week!! Rain and I'm pretty sure it was like 120 degrees here!! Haha! The cold showers are a blessing!! (We do not have hot water...I haven't taken a warm shower for a year! And I love it!)

I was able to watch General Conference this weekend and it was AMAZING!!! I LOVED Elder Bednar's talk.... Perfect. 

Also, I liked President Uchtdorf's on Saturday Afternoon(?) Where he talked about seeking truth and revelation.

We are so fortunate to have such wise counsel from the leaders of the Church. We never have to wonder about what we should do. We can read the Scriptures, listen to church leaders and PRAY to know for ourselves!

 I remember my Dad said last conference that he didn't think conference got better, but he himself had experienced growth and so it seemed that Conference was better!  I love that. 

I thought it was so interesting how many spoke on the topic of "Prophets"

  

Eugenia, Ever, and Revodem are being baptized this Saturday!! The less-active family we have been working with for two transfers!! I'm so excited!

 

My guapo missionary in training.....

We also have a crew from SLC coming to film a documentary for the church this week! In our stake!! They chose three recent convert families in our ward to interview. The Alidon family is one of them! So awesome! 

We have transfers already coming up next week as well!! I've been here two transfers. I may very well stay, but typically ZL's stay two and then transfer. We'll see!

 Here are some things about my mission that you might find interesting:

No ovens! We mostly cook outside on coals or on a hotplate inside.

 Milk honestly doesn't really exist. You can't buy it in the grocery stores except in Dumaguete over on Negros Island.. And even when you can find it, no it is not like home haha.. I miss cereal with milk :)

We always get up at 6:30 or earlier if I have some extra things to do like laundry or studying

I love studying!

No ice cream....it's kinda hard when there isn't really any milk /: But there are 7-elevens that have slurpees and soft serve sometimes!

 I really like the dogs. Not the ones on the streets.. but the pets. Ugh, the ones on the streets are disgusting! Don't ever touch them..

We eat at McDonalds about every other week probably.. I usually just get a chicken sandwich or a burger.. They're good!

We went to a members to eat and.......

Guess what's for dinner......


Sorry I'm short of time this week, but know that I am happy and well and I LOVE SERVING A MISSION. I love the Gospel and the goodness that comes from living it. I love seeing peoples lives change in positive ways when they live Gospel principles. Seek to know for yourselves that this gospel of Jesus Christ is true and live the principles to find real happiness. I love you all!
Elder J. Jacobs

Saturday was a crazy storm. Monday was an even crazier storm. IT WAS SO AWESOME.

Hello There!!!

Happy to report on another fantasmic week of missionary work. 

I think it was one of the harder weeks of the mission -

Every. Single. Day.

Mostly due to the CRAZY weather lately... floods every day!

But I am happy to say that I am doing my best to live after the manner of happiness :) 

The people here are such a great example to me. They live with this weather and never complain. They just deal with it.

They are happy even with three inches of water covering the floors of their homes.

Wading through water in the house!

It makes me think about all that we have been blessed with where most of us live. We should NEVER complain.

And as far as missionary work....don't you even worry. We go out to do the work NO MATTER WHAT!

We splash, wade, float and even swim to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ to whoever will listen.

Here's one creative way to avoid soaking our shoes.....again.

Saturday was a crazy storm. Monday was an even crazier storm.

 IT WAS SO AWESOME.

Well, I guess I shouldn't say it was awesome because everywhere just floods when storms come through, 

But it gives us some more challenges to work through and learn from so that's definitely an upside. Now I'm even more prepared for the next one :) 

We were at one appointment on Monday and about halfway through the lesson it starts POURING. By the time the lesson ended (about 10 min later) the entire walkway was flooded. I'm not going to lie, I have been waiting for almost a year to be able to request what I requested that day... Leap Frog with the chairs. It was awesome. We grabbed two chairs and took turns getting to the door of the house! It was quite the experience :)

Sprinkling some wood-chippy stuff to absorb water.

We had a successful finish to the Walk for Peace event and Zone Conference yesterday!

On Thursday, last week, we hosted the event at the Plaza. 

It was great! I actually would like to give a personal thank you to Elder Giar for this one... 

Yes! there was lots of audio/visual equipment... 

No!  There was nobody there that knew how it all fits together. 

Thanks for teaching me, my brother :) 

We successfully had projectors working and mics, pianos, and computers wired through the soundboard. It was really fun!

Yes, my pants and shoes are always wet. Always.

I actually wanted to mention a couple things that stood out to me at 

I had help sprinkling wood-chippy stuff.....

Zone Conference yesterday. Among lots and lots of amazing things discussed, there were two phrases that were resounding in my ears for the rest of the night. 

The first of which, I might discuss next week because I want to study more about it. The second ties into what I shared last week about being happy. Here they are-

1. "Instead of focusing so much on trying to live a 100% perfect life with no mistakes, I believe we need to focus more on learning how to repent PERFECTLY for our sins."

- President McCurdy

2. "There is nothing inside of me that wants to be disobedient to my Heavenly Father."

- Sister Dustin

I want to focus on this second quote by Sister Dustin - who, having reached the end of her mission, will be going home this transfer. Sister McCurdy shared an amazing workshop with us on Elder Holland's address given recently at BYU-Idaho. It was about what it means to be happy and how it is achieved.

I want to print this talk out and study a little more on the topic, but I want to share the three overall things that Elder Holland shared. We read in 2 Nephi 5:27 an interesting verse: 

"And it came to pass that we lived after the manner of happiness."

We notice it doesn't say that the people of Nephi here lived happily, but rather they lived AFTER THE MANNER of happiness. I love this. We can unlock an amazing secret to happiness if we can emulate this strategy and live as they lived. But what is this "manner of happiness"? Elder Holland described it in three ways:

1. Living AND BEING OBEDIENT to the principles and ordinances of the Gospel of Jesus Christ as taught in His true church.

- This is where Sister Dustin's testimony comes in. We need to get to a point in our life where there is literally nothing inside of us that wants to disobey our Father in Heaven. I think we would all like to say that this is how we feel - and it very well may be - but it can go deeper than that. We need to have the Natural Man inside all of us rooted out and replaced with the Spirit of the Lord. This is when we can truly start down the road to eternal happiness.

2. Understanding that true happiness is something that we need to CHOOSE, it will not just happen automatically.

- I mentioned this last week so I won't beat a dead horse here (sorry, thank my dad for the weird phrases I sometimes use. Still trying to fit in a "horse shoes and hand grenades" line somewhere... ;)..) It's up to us! So choose to be happy and have a good attitude!

- "Man is only as happy as he sets his mind to be." - Abe Lincoln

3. We need to be an industrious people.

- We need to be proactive! We need to DO things with our hands. We can't sit around and say, "someday I'll understand," or, "someday I'll be happy." We need to get started TODAY! Happiness is something that comes when we aren't focused on it, but rather on others. When we are focused on living the way that Christ taught, true happiness just comes.

Anyways, I know this is basically what we talked about last week, but I just thought that was so awesome that it was exactly what Sister McCurdy felt inspired to share with the mission yesterday. It's a life principle, so let's learn it. I love learning :)

I love you all so much!! Be happy! I know that so many of you are doing harder things than I am right now, but that is not at all an excuse to be unhappy. It's the purpose of our existence to do hard things and to learn. I know that as we start to understand the big picture of life, we understand that there is nothing we desire more than receiving a fullness of joy at the right hand of God.

Love you,

Elder Jacobs

Mmmmmm....delicious dried fish.

"Hard" is an important part of life. Accept hard. Work through hard. Make "hard" a challenge that will not beat you.

Helloooo!!


So my mom sent me this picture and asked if I was drowning!!!

MOM!!!! I'm fine!!! The floods are normal. I can't even count the times I have walked in water up to my knees (in the middle of the street) but it's good and makes for great adventures.

 Most of the time, when a flood hits, we go to members' or investigators' houses and ask if we can help bail water out of their houses. They are okay though. Because it happens so often, it's kinda just part of life so they don't get mad or discouraged or anything.. Just tired.

I love these people. They focus on simple things in life like family. They don't need too much to be happy!

Okay, this was an awesome week. 

We had lots of meetings in regard to what is called the iPEACE Interfaith Religion Festival that is being held this week. 

There were 4 zones and 3 stakes involved. What happens is basically all the religions in the surrounding areas come and set up booths and invite everyone to learn - (basically what our wonderful church does every day). We had different zones scheduled for the different days. Central Zone (ours) was yesterday so from 3-9pm we were at Plaza Independencia talking to EVERYONE. 

I can't even explain how tired I was last night.

Cleaning up after the festival

We helped the Assistants take the materials back to the mission office after and then did our best to get home as quickly as we could, but wow... that was a long day. 

And I loved it :)

The streets after the festival. Crazy.

But this week I actually wanted to write a little more specific letter today for those who are planning on serving missions and those who already are. 

About something that I have learned that I can't imagine not understanding as a missionary.  It's all about mission life. 

I was studying a few days ago in Preach My Gospel and found two sentences that got me thinking:

1) "You should not, however, become discouraged; discouragement will weaken your faith. 

2) "When you have done your very best, you may still experience disappointments, but you will not be disappointed in yourself."

Under the topic of "A Successful Missionary", I found these two sentences super super insightful. 

So I did a study on them. When searched in the Topical Guide, "Discouraged" reads "See also Afraid", meaning that these two words are closely related. I thought about it and realized that's so true..

 After being rejected 5 times, naturally, we wouldn't want to try again for fear of just being rejected a 6th time; therefore, we feel discouraged. 

A mission is hard. I don't know how many times I have said that in my emails, but it's so true! The difference here is that we understand that WE NEED TO DO HARD THINGS. We cannot go through our mission or our lives shrinking from HARD things. 

One of my favorite all time scriptures is Section 122 in the Doctrine and Covenants. Verse 7 reads: 

And if thou shouldst be cast into the pit, or into the hands of murderers, and the sentence of death passed upon thee; if thou be cast into the deep; if the billowing surge conspire against thee; if fierce winds become thine enemy; if the heavens gather blackness,and all the elements combine to hedge up the way; and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience,and shall be for thy good.

IF WE ALLOW IT, all things will be for our good.

 I then went on to study a little in Alma 26:

Verses 29-30: And we have entered into their houses and taught them, and we have taught them in their streets; yea, and we have taught them upon their hills; and we have also entered into their temples and their synagogues and taught them; and we have been cast out,and mocked, and spit upon, and smote upon our cheeks; and we have been stoned, and taken and bound with strong cords, and cast into prison; and through the power and wisdom of God we have been delivered again.  And we have suffered all manner of afflictions, and all this, that perhaps we might be the means of saving some soul; and we supposed that our joy would be full if perhaps we could be the means of saving some.

I love this. That is my life every single day. Well, I'll be honest.. I haven't been smoted upon (sp?), stoned, or cast into prison. 

As missionaries, we have every reason to be discouraged, but instead, we CHOOSE to have faith. We choose to keep going to find that one soul. It's a choice. And that's where our attitude comes in. One thing I have learned is how in control we are of our own attitudes. So be happy!! Why would anyone not want to be happy?!

This is what I gained in my personal studies: Satan won't be stopping any time soon - what matters is that we start to accept his role in the Plan. We need to stop asking ourselves why these trials or hard things come into our lives. We need to understand their purpose and their importance.

 Brigham Young has an amazing quote that I LOVE!

"Do not imagine that I am in the least finding fault with the Devil. I would not bring a railing accusation against him, for he is fulfilling his office and calling manfully; he is more faithful in his calling than are many of the people."

"Hard" is an important part of life. Accept hard. Work through hard. Make "hard" a challenge that will not beat you.

Disappointment is a negative part of life - especially mission life - but that doesn't mean we let Satan win and let this disappointment negatively affect us. 

I know and have a testimony that Satan is doing exactly what he needs to.

We just need to fulfill our part and prove to our Heavenly Father that we can win the battle. 

I know that each and every one of us has the power to do this. I know that, no matter how hard, boring, or stressful a situation may be on the mission, or in school, or in life, we have the power to control our attitude. 

So let's do it! I know that we have the BEST reason to be happy! We have the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ!! I love it. And I love all of you. Keep on doing what you know you need to be doing... And let's do it with a good attitude :)

Love,

Elder Jacobs

What in the world happened to MY HAIR?

Magandang Tanghali Everyone!!

Haha so my Mom wrote and said "What in the world happened to your hair (or lack of...)

Funny story so I'll share it really quickly.

We went to the hair cutter place (English word?....oh ya....barber) a couple weeks ago... 

Before this, I didn't really like how short they always cut my hair. They call it a 2-4 and it's basically what they just do if you come in and say you want a haircut.

 So this time I got in and he asked what I wanted. I decided to give him more direction.....I answered something along the lines of "definitely NOT a number 2 on the sides". 

So he says okay and starts trimming the top and stuff. Looks good so far. 

Then, he starts on the sides. After about 2 cuts I ask him, "That's not a 2 is it?" and he answers, "no way... 1.5..." 

Ughhhhh hahahahaha I'm not exactly sure what happened in the translation, but he just figured I meant anything short, just not a 2? Not really sure. But I'm alive and never looked more gwapo ;) haha..... It'll grow fast Mom!

Elder Cube on the right...never mind the photo bomber!!

So I want to tell you....my companion is AMAZING!!

 I love Elder Cube! No, not cube. It's like Kobe - as in Kobe Bryant... 

He is such an awesome missionary and I can tell that this is going to be one amazing transfer. 

He speaks Tagalog!! As you may or may not have got from my greeting at the beginning of the letter, I am making him teach me Tagalog! We speak Cebuano here in the mission. 

Tagalog is the National Language so everybody knows how to speak it... except me... yet...but I will soon :)

Elder Cube is a hard worker. The BEST kind of companion to have!

Jessica got baptized almost just as planned! Haha she was supposed to be baptized on Saturday night, but then Bishop asked if we could move it to Sunday morning because there was a Single Adult Activity that night!

So Jessica was fine with it and actually went to the activity in Lahug! She didn't know how to get there, didn't have anyone to go with, but she went anyways! She said it was the most fun she's had and when she got there, it turns out she knew almost everyone!! I love this church! So Sunday morning, before church, she was baptized! So awesome!!

Looking forward to 50 more people cramming on this bus.....

We have an event coming up called "Walk for Peace" in our zone's area. It is a week long celebration of religions. I'm still not exactly sure what we do, but it should be more clear tonight, after we meet with the Mission President! I LOVE planning events. Reminds me of home!!. I do know that we will be having booths and missionaries will be assigned to work so it should be super fun!

This past week I was studying on the subject of Faith. 

I started studying about what it is and how it got introduced to the world in the first place. I realized something interesting. 

In the beginning stages of the world, Adam's posterity had faith in God - however, it is interesting to trace back to the source of their testimonies. 

Adam was the only one (with a few exceptions including Cain) who had a pure and concrete knowledge of God. He walked and talked with God in the Garden of Eden. The Fall did not cause him to lose the knowledge he had. As he started his mortal life, he preached and taught his posterity about God. ALL of the knowledge that these early people had came through the medium of Adam - they heard him teach and believed his words. So, in a sense, their faith was just in the testimony and teachings of one man. 

I was thinking about how much this relates to each and every one of us. Our faith in God - at one point or another - was rooted in the testimony of another person. Maybe our parents. Or maybe that friend who introduced the Gospel to you.

But we have to get to a place where we have faith because of OUR OWN KNOWLEDGE AND SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES. There is very little power in faith if it is rooted through another person. Our faith has to be our own because of our prayers and experiences with our Heavenly Father, and his Son, Jesus Christ..

 The amazing part of this gospel is that Heavenly Father gives us a way to know for OURSELVES. 

I have been able to experience this first-hand. And you can too. REALLY!! Read the Book of Mormon. Pray to know if it is true. You will get an answer. I know that we can come to know and understand the truth through the medium of the Holy Ghost. I know that, as we do our part, we will be blessed with witnesses and manifestations of truth. I know that we can get to the point in our life where our faith is not rooted in the testimony or teaching of a person, but centered in the Lord himself. I know that this is the first step in order for us to be able to exercise this faith unto Salvation and Exaltation. Let's start now and work on getting our own testimonies.

And now it's time for my delicious dinner........

I love you all soooo much! And miss you all! But I am sooooo happy where I am right now. I love this gift of life. I just pray that more will start to see the big picture and act accordingly. Have an amazing week!! Love you!!!

Love,

Elder Jacobs