A Tour of My New Apartment!

Hellooooo World!!!

Remember I told you that I was transferred a couple of weeks ago? Well, today I'll tell you more about that!

I am now serving in Kamputhaw in the city of Cebu, 

right next to the temple and I LOVE it. 


There are temples all over the world. But sometimes missionaries are too far from a temple and so they do not get to go when they are on their missions.

I am so grateful that I am so close to the Cebu Temple.

My area is in the middle of the city. Lots of jeepneys, taxis, cars, motors, etc. 

I love it because - although we aren't allowed to go in the temple every day - we are SO CLOSE to it. We basically stop by every day.

This is a picture of my apartment. This is the living room where we each have a desk to study and to do paperwork.

It's pretty clean!!















And this is the kitchen. 

And this is where we sleep. I have the top bunk.

And boy do we need the fan!! It's always hot and humid!!But I'm used to it now.

Yep! That's an ironing board. We iron our white shirts pretty much every day.

Don't even ask why that blue bowl is by the bed......

My companion is Elder Gama.

He is AMAZING. I love E. Gama... He goes home to Davao the first week of April. Either Buhangin or Gensan.. 


He is such a great example of staying diligent until the end :)











Something else I LOVE about serving here in Kamputhaw is

 that we get to see our Mission President, Pres. McCurdy and Sis. McCurdy a lot.


We eat lunch at the cafeteria at the Patron House almost every day and so does he so we eat lunch with him and the office staff sometimes!

You may wonder what a mission president and his wife do.....

Basically they volunteer three years of their lives to go anywhere in the world that the church needs them....22 different countries and 18 different languages!

They come from all walks of life. Some are teachers, doctors, lawyers, pilots, businessmen. They leave behind their old lives, job and family to serve the Lord.

Mission presidents are responsible for all of the missionaries in a certain boundary. They establish mission rules, outline goals, maintain contact with all missionaries, and promote goodwill and service throughout the mission.

I love and respect Pres. McCurdy and Sis. McCurdy so much. I'm learning from them everyday.

We had another fantastic week this

past week! Everyone in the Zone is recovering from some major bad health! We are all feeling better!

Elder Gama and I are having so much fun working here in Kamputhaw. We had 7 of our investigators at church this week!! Four have baptismal dates and three came for the first time!

The work is progressing. I am so grateful to have been given this opportunity to serve here in Cebu City!

I made a cool connection yesterday as I was studying that our areas in our mission are a lot like our lives here on Earth. We are given an area and our goal is to accept it gratefully and then make it better than it was when it was given to us! That lesson can be applied in our lives!

I studied in the New Testament in Matthew 25:14-30 about the Parable of the Talents. Do you have time to read it?

I want to share a new favorite quote by Brigham Young:

"We can still improve, we are made for that purpose, our capacities are organized to expand until we can receive into our comprehension celestial knowledge and wisdom, and to continue, worlds without end."

That's why we're here. Let's take the "talents" that have been given to us, whether it may be skills, knowledge, ability, characteristics, states, etc... and use them to become better and to make the world and people around us better. I know that, through Christ's Atonement, all things are possible. I know that it is through this same name, Jesus The Christ, that we can take what we have been given and add unto it every day of our lives. 

I love you all soooo much :)  Seek the Spirit and ponder on some ways that you can improve your time on this earth. Because if we don't learn how to "improve our time while in this life, then cometh the night of darkness wherein there can be no labor performed." (Alma 34:33)

Love youuuu :)

Elder James Ryan Jacobs

I've been transferred!

Well, I am not in Carcar anymore!  I've been transferred! I am here in Kamputhaw in the city right next to the temple and I LOVE it. It's very city-like here in the city!! haha 

The work is different in the city, but I am so excited to work together with E. Gama and find, teach, and baptize those that Are seeking a better life!

 I love working here in Kamputhaw because it is so close to the Mission Offices so we get to work more closely with them! I am looking forward to getting to know the office staff a little bit more during these next few transfers!

Another plus of being here in the city... Every day, except Sunday, we have gotten up at 5:10 to play basketball with the assistants and some others at the temple complex basketball court. So awesome!


We had MLC yesterday and so all of the Zone Leaders got up super early and played basketball. It was so fun. I am so grateful for the opportunity I have to make and develop friendships here on the mission. There is a special bond between missionaries in a mission that is just not found anywhere else in the world. At least, not between young men ages 18-25... I want to bear my testimony that, although we are young in age and appearance, I know that we have been set apart as missionaries of Jesus Christ. We are His.

I want to share two things on this subject. The first of which is something called, My Missionary Commission - written by Elder Bruce R. McConkie. It is as follows:

"I am called of God; my authority is above that of the Kings of the earth. By revelation I have been selected as a personal representative of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is my master and He has chosen me to represent Him. To stand in His place, to say and do what He Himself would say and do if He personally were ministering to the very people to whom He has sent me. My voice is His voice, and my acts are His acts, my words are His words, and my doctrine is His doctrine. My commission is to do what He wants done; to say what He wants said, to be a modern living witness in word and deed of the divinity of His great and marvelous Latter-day work. How great is my calling!"

Next time you see a pair of missionaries walking down the street with a black name tag greeting everyone they come into contact with, please remember that THIS is what they were called to do.

Missionaries are not perfect. But we are trying to set an example of the kind of people God wants us to be. I am so grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who is perfectly patient with me. I know we all slip up sometimes, but He is always there to lift us right back up and say, "Try again."

Let's understand what our purpose in this life is. To become. To become what Christ would have us become. If we need clarification on that, we can read part of His beautifully preached, "Sermon on the Mount" in Matthew 5:48

"Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect."

I hope we can understand that this is all made possible to us by a loving Father who, if we allow, guides us every day of our lives. I read a new favorite quote by Elder Bednar yesterday. I want to share it in closing:

"The issue is not going to church; rather, the issue is worshipping and renewing covenants as we attend church. The issue is not going to or through the temple; rather, the issue is having in our hearts the spirit, the covenants, and the ordinances of the Lord’s house. The issue is not going on a mission; rather, the issue is becoming a missionary and serving throughout our entire life with all of our heart, might, mind, and strength. "

That's why I'm here. I am trying every day to become better through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I hope we all are.

 I love all of you. I am so grateful for each and every one of you that read this. I hope, after today, we understand just a little bit more of who we are as Missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We love you and want to help you become what Christ sees in you; or rather, what He sees in all of us :)

Love you!

Elder James Ryan Jacobs

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While we're on the subject of eye tests... This was the best one yet.

Ohmygoodness where do I even start this email???

Wait... I need to yell.... IIIII LLLLOOOOOOOOVVVVVEEEEE LLIIIIFFFEEE :) 

I can't help it Mom!! It's so cute I have to hug it!

Okay, I'm sorry for all those who couldn't hear that, but now everyone in the internet cafe is sufficiently scared. 

Man, we had such an awesome week this past week.

I'm pretty sure I mentioned in an email or two that we are really focusing on "Miracle February".... I know it's not the best alliteration, but I promise I did pass AP Composition in high school... 

This month is SO AWESOME. For those that remember Siclo, our recent convert in January, he has a daughter that lives with him who is 11yrs old - KC or "Kissy". The whole family was Iglesia ni Cristo and when Siclo joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints it made lots of people start thinking. 

At first, Kissy was firmly adamant about not being baptized - therefore, she wasn't baptized with Siclo. 

Since then, she has been going to Primary and other church activities  and got to the point where she wanted to be baptized as well. 

Long story shorter, she was interviewed last night and will be baptized this Saturday. She has been taught as long as her father - about 5 months - and is super awesome. The best part is, Siclo will actually be performing the baptism :)

On Saturday (Happy Valentines Day!!!) and Sunday we had Stake Conference in Talisay! It was so awesome for many many reasons. Matt, Edu, Tatay Villaser, and Tatay Lapinid all received the Melchizedek Priesthood!!! And Siclo came and observed as well!!

Okay, Monday we went out to the city a little bit earlier than usual because I was told to get a Philippines Driver's License.

My awesome companion!

The Land Transportation Office was supposed to be closed at 5pm and .... we all know the usual government organizations .... Rules are rules.

 We got there at 5:02pm AFTER running around for 20 minutes getting everything the office asked me to complete for the drivers license.....drug tests, urinating in cups (I'm supposed to use dignified language as a missionary ;)...) , eye checks, etc. 

Wait, while we're on the subject of eye tests... This was the best one yet. I sat down, the government employee  pointed to the usual eye chart thing on the wall with letters on it. 

Word for word, this was our exchange, Lady- "Can you see the letters on the chart on the wall?" 

Me- "Yes" 

Lady- "Wow you have great eyesight..." 

Hahahahahahahah I think in years past, if I'm not mistaken, I have been asked to read the letters out loud....

Anyways, we got to the LTO at 5:02. The guard said they were closed. 

Okay, what to do? English. That's always the answer. "What? It's closed? Really? What time will they open? Later tonight? Tomorrow? I really need this soon.. Can you help me?" 

Usually, speaking English works miracles. BUT I guess this guard had a dose of grumpy medicine early in the day - he wanted nothing to do with English. 

Haha I love grumpy people. They just need something to laugh about ;) 

After 30 short seconds of English, I decided to switch it up and see if he'd ever met an American that could speak Bisaya as fast as I could. Not gunna lie, he stood there with his mouth open for like 5 seconds!!!

Then I asked if I could ask a favor of the manager and the guard immediately let me in :) Inside, they were all workers - no more regular people. Just me and E. Consigna. As everyone stared at me, I just asked the manager if I could pleaseeeeeee be the last one to go that day - after all I was only two minutes late.... They said sure and, after 9 minutes, I was out the door with a driver's license :) Whew!!

Next, Zone Conference! We had an awesome Conference yesterday!

 We watched Meet the Mormons!! It was AMAZING! That was so good! I loved it. 

What was even better, happened after the conference. As I was in the Patron House across the street, I noticed a group of people that I recognize from over in the Dumaguete Stake. Turns out, they were on a temple trip with a few recent converts! Rosita was there!!!!! 

E. Rowley and I found Rosita and taught her for a couple months in Siaton! Her baptismal date was two weeks after I transferred, last August. Right when we saw each other, we got SUPER EXCITED. It was awesome. E. Rowley and I got a picture with her :)

I wrote in my journal last night that I was able to taste once again a fragment

of the true JOY that we receive from this gospel. I don't think anyone can really understand how happy I was to see Rosita come so far across two islands to just visit the temple and perform vicarious ordinances. I was speechless. I know that this is how Heavenly Father teaches us. He gives us parts, little taste testers throughout our lives of Eternal Joy. This is one of the purposes of the Holy Ghost in our lives. (https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bd/earnest?lang=eng) 

I feel like so much has happened this week I don't know if I was able to even share a little bit of it. I hope you felt even a little portion of what I did this week. I love you all so much and pray for you constantly. Please go serve someone today! Yes, our lives may be hard, but many others are a lot harder. Let's help them first :)

Love,

Elder Jacobs

Basketball anyone!?

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What is a covenant and why is it important?

Hello Everyone!

We had a zone temple trip this afternoon and so we are completely out of time to write! Don't worry, I still do love all of you and will type fast!

This makes a great umbrella!

Last week was awesome! We had MLC on Thursday and it went well! The best part about it was that we went to the temple that night as well :) That's right.... TWICE in less than a week. I love life.

My companion, Elder Consigna, have been super busy doing everything we can to teach people about what brings true peace and happiness in this life. It's not hard. Life is so so good.We just need to understand certain principles and live them!

A thought that I have been having recently has been about our "Covenant-Relationship" with Heavenly Father. 

So poor and yet so happy.

For many people in the world, they would ask the honest question: What in the world is a covenant? A simple answer is that a covenant is a two-way promise... In this sense, between Man and God. 

Why is it so so so important that we have this type of relationship with God? 

Why do we make promises?

 That is one of the most common statements we hear as we teach people. 

This is a typical end of our conversations: "Brother, so that you can find out for yourself if our message is true, will you pray and ask your Heavenly Father?" 

"Well I'm not going to promise. You can sin when you promise because if you don't fulfill it, you are a liar."  The people here are good people. They do not want to sin so they do not promise.

Many people in our generation see no need to promise anything. Or in other words "no need to commit."

Many people see safety in NOT promising things. 

I not only see safety in making covenants with God,I see eternal blessings in the covenants I have made with God. Many people would rather not make promises in fear of breaking them. I make promises to my Heavenly Father, knowing all the while that He would so much rather have me try, fail 100 times, and then succeed.

 Sometimes we forget that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ have PERFECTED the attributes of patience, love, and kindness (among all others). They will love us. They will be patient with us through everything. Especially as we fulfill the covenants we made with Them. 

How many missionaries can you fit in one of these!? TEN!!!

Covenants with God have been 100% mandatory since the foundation of the world. 

When Adam and Eve partook of the fruit, a Savior was provided for the world and they were promised the reality of living with God again IF they promised to be faithful from that time forward. 

So many in today's world will say things like, "As long as I live a good life, I will be saved - regardless of my religion." But then we are faced with the question, "How are two VERY GOOD people saved that believe in completely opposite doctrine?" One believes that Christ is a God, another says He's only a person, but they are both the nicest people in the world! The answer is in the covenants we make. God is not a God of chaos, but a God of order:

D&C 88:119
"Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God;"

Does that sound like He is saying, "Do whatever you want, just make sure you're a good person!" .... No, it doesn't :)

D&C 98:15
"For if ye will not abide in my covenant ye are not worthy of me."

Acts 3:25
"Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed."

Mosiah 18:10
"Now I say unto you, if this be the desire of your hearts, what have you against being baptized in the name of the Lord, as a witness before him that ye have entered into a covenant with him, that ye will serve him and keep his commandments, that he may pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you?"

It's interesting to note: Whenever we read about covenants with God, the Man is never the one to create the requirements or the blessings. It is up to Heavenly Father to set the terms. We either accept and follow, or reject and say that we know better than Him.

D&C 14:7
"And, if you keep my commandments and endure to the end you shall have eternal life, which gift is the greatest of all the gifts of God."

I know that this is what we all need right now. I know that we may say, "No religion is going to save us - it's all personal anyways," but I would seriously invite anyone to ponder upon the teachings of Jesus Christ since the beginning. We need covenants. It's how we are given the power to fulfill EVERYTHING He asks of us.

Helping the doctor register patients for free surgeries.

I know that this is true. I know that there is only one church on the face of the earth that understands the covenant-relationship that we need to build with our Father in Heaven. I hope something that was mentioned here sparked your interest. If it did, stop ignoring it and saying to yourself, "that sounds good" and then convincing yourself that it's the same thing every other church teaches. It's not - and I invite anyone and everyone to learn more about it :)

I love you all so much! I am so grateful for the support you all give! Have an awesome week and make someone else smile!

Love,

Elder Jacobs

There are only a few ways for us to get around here in the Philippines.

Hello Friends and Family!!

How is everyone doing?? From what I can tell, EVERYONE is doing so well at home!!!

Our cool ride.....

I am so happy to read that :) I am doing great here as well, outside the fact that I woke up with a 102 degree fever this morning! I haven't had a fever since I got here! Being sick is not the MOST fun time, but hey it'll go away, right? :)

There are only a few ways for us to get around here in the Philippines. Mostly we walk. In mud.

But sometimes we really get around in style. Like when about ten of us pile on a motorbike with a sidecar.......

Yesterday we had our Zone Interviews up in Cebu!

I'm pushing with one foot.....

I love love love the time that I get one on one time with President McCurdy. He is truly a man of God. And he loves everyone. I want to be just like him.

I apologize if this email isn't as long as previous ones, my brain isn't fully working right now. It's burning up. :(

Asisclo Taneo was baptized this last Saturday!!! It was such an amazing experience. I am so grateful for him and his example. Like I mentioned last time, I have never learned so much about my Savior than when I studied to help Siclo. He is awesome. 

We have a Stake Temple Trip coming up this next Saturday

as well and we are really trying to get everything taken care of so that he will be able to attend with us. It is so important that we help these recent converts get inside the temple as soon as possible. There is a spirit inside the temple that just cannot be found anywhere else. I love it.

On Saturday morning, we helped out at the church with a service project type thing. The Deseret Mabuhay Foundation conducted a free eye check-up, etc. for all those who wanted to come. 

Those who meet the requirements,  qualify for a FREE operation - sponsored by this LDS foundation. It was mostly for those with cataracts and other abnormalities (including cleft lip, etc.)... 

It was a fun experience! I worked with the doctor and took notes of what his diagnosis was. I would just write things like "ecce-os" meaning that they are going to do a laser operation on the left eye, and stuff like that! You could say that I'm basically a doctor now ;) I'll help ya out when I get home Danny ;)

Anyways, this was an awesome week! I can't believe January is already over.. This time is going by way way too fast! This next week we have MLC again on Tuesday! Should be another amazing week!

 I love you all so so so much!

Remember to smile and help someone else do the same :)

Love,

Elder Jacobs

I love my mission. I love it every single day!

Good Afternoon to all my best friends and family members

who love me enough to read these emails each week:

The hardest thing in my weekly email is that very first line. 

How many variations can a person make of the same phrase?! If anyone has any ideas for future beginnings, they will be taken graciously. Haha.. "future beginnings"... that doesn't even make any sense. Isn't that a Young Women's Program that you used to do mom? Err.. I don't know haha I'm sorry. How am I gunna recover from this start..

Phew. Deep breaths.

No not deep breaths because I need to recollect my thoughts or anything like that.. I am literally struggling to breathe right now because of our run down to the beach this morning. Haha just kidding :) I loved it. Elder Consigna and I have been running every single morning since last week and I think he may or may not like me right now. Hahah he told me after the run today that he almost threw up three times and then he saw a bunch of white spots everywhere... I miss running :)

Tag...you're it!!

This week was so awesome!! We had one baptism last week with Lilian Gantuangco! She was actually the other Carcar area's investigator, but because there was a lot that happened last month with not having companions and stuff, all of us just helped each other out in teaching her. 

Christian Lapeña was also baptized that night! He is an 8 year old boy of a family that bishop was really working with. So awesome. 

This Saturday, Asisclo Taneo will be getting baptized as well!! I am beyond excited for this. Missionaries have been working with him for about 5-6 months and he has just never been 100% satisfied until the past few weeks. He has experienced a HUGE change. To give you an idea of his story, I'll refer you to his previous religion. It's called Iglesia ni Cristo. Translated, just means The Church of Christ. Based on the scripture found in Romans 16:16. They have very very similar beliefs as the LDS church which can present problems, but also opportunities. The biggest difference with this church and all others is that they believe that Jesus Christ was only a person. When I say he was only a person, I mean he had no part of God inside of him. They do not believe that Christ was, is, or ever will be, a God. He is "The Son of Man" as seen in the scriptures.

Pure JOY!!

I have learned more about my Savior Jesus Christ as I have studied to help Asisclo through his questions than I have at any other time on my mission. 

I feel like I understand the scriptures more - especially the Bible. The Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants have been absolutely crucial in helping him. He loves to read. He has SO many questions... Not to mention, very intricate questions... But he loves the answers he gets. He is humble and willing to think about the answers we find!

Asisclo is going to be an amazing leader in the Lord's Kingdom on Earth. His family will come along as well. They aren't quite there yet, but I know they will understand.

I know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. I know that no human sacrifice could have ever satisfied the demands of justice for a fallen world like ours. 

Become as a little child......(haha love the headlock!)

I know that Jesus Christ has a Father. They both have immortal bodies of flesh and bones. I know that they are united in purpose, perfections, and attributes. We need to understand who they are. 

Asisclo, now understands who his God is. He understands that the Father has given the fullness to His Son. And that we each in turn will receive of that fullness as we continue to carry out His will in our lives and into the eternities. 

The Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ is an amazing thing. It is not just a church. It is Eternity. I know that it truly is "Life eternal, that [we] may know [Him] the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom [He] hast sent."

I love my mission. I love it every single day! If you are up for a challenge, study to defend your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Testimony works wonders, but scriptures give understanding. 

Alma 34:9-14 gives a great start, but I encourage you to take your studies into the Holy Bible as well. I am so grateful for the knowledge that has been restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith. I love that man and will always hold him in highest regard. He did what the Lord asked him to do. He was just a man, but was obedient to the Lord's direction to restore the church of Jesus Christ.

I love you all! Have an awesome week!!

Love,

Elder James Ryan Jacobs

Thanks for emailing me!!!

Hello All!!

First off, I'm sorry if this is short.. I got caught up replying to all of your

JIMBO!....That's ME!

wonderful emails this week. I love all of you so much and am so grateful for the support and encouragement you give. I love being here in the Philippines and it makes it so fun on Wednesdays to receive emails from friends and family :)

This week was great! I love this area. Carcar has helped me in ways I can't even describe. From the area itself....so completely different from home....., to the investigators we have, to the companions I've been blessed with, to the assignments I've been given, and the wonderful missionaries in this zone... I have learned a LOT.

One thing I have really been able to practice a lot is communication.

I remember in High School I always loved supporting friends in their individual sports. I had some very close friends on the volleyball team. I would do my best to send out a group text to everyone on the team a few hours before their games to support and encourage them and at the end of every single text I would put the phrase, "Remember: Communication is key."

Hahah I'm not going to lie, that was kind of (like 50%) just a joke.

 But know that I think back on it, communication is such a vital skill to learn in this life. Not only on the court, but in real life as well.

Should I take this personally???

Speaking of communication......do you think I should worry that the Mission President called me "LOSER JACOBS"?????


The assignment I have been given allows me to get to know and talk with lots of missionaries - both leaders in the mission and younger missionaries.

At MLC yesterday, we talked about the difference between "persuasion" and "coercion" and what we need to do to help. As leaders, those who follow you need to understand why they do what they do. The desire needs to come from inside each and every one of us, not just from someone telling you what to do.

 It relates on a bigger scale as well. In order to experience conversion, we have to be persuaded by the gospel, not motivated by threatening punishments, etc.

Anyways, I'm sorry.. that was a random tangent, but I just remembered a little part of high school and wanted to write about it :) I loved every day of high school and like to think back now on the lessons I learned there that have helped me here on my mission.

Eating out in the city!

We had MLC yesterday in the city and we have transfers coming up this next week. I have no idea what to expect. I am totally fine with staying a third transfer here in Carcar, but we'll see next week!

We never had a single normal week this last transfer. Every week it seemed as if there was either a storm or a hospital visit or a meeting in the city. It's been the busiest I have ever been in my life!

Okay well I gotta go, but I love all of you so much!! I honestly LOVE reading all of your emails. Thank you so much!! I love you!!

Love,

Elder Jacobs