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

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