The area we cover is HUGE. We use buses to get to different parts of the island. That does make it a little harder to get lots of things done in a day because the areas are so spread out. It seems like we are wasting so much valuable time traveling 30 minutes from place to place throughout the day. It's sometimes hard to slow down. Where I live in California life is fast-paced. Here on our little island, life is calm and slow. So when we are on a bus we just do our best to talk to EVERYONE on the way.
When we get to a populated area, we walk from house to house. That is done differently than back home!! Here you have to walk across rice fields like you see me doing in this picture!!
Yes! I have fallen in a wet, muddy hamayan (rice field)!!
At least I haven't stepped in Carabao poop.Elder Samon has stepped in Carabao poop twice so far.
We are really starting to get things going! When I got here, the area/church branch was very very unorganized. We decided that we really want to turn this area around. So we prayed and went to work. The members are wonderful. We are working hard with them.
The people here in Siaton are very different than the people in Cebu. They are still very nice, but it's just a different feeling. They are not as accepting or trusting of strangers and of our Gospel message. They accept us and are nice to us, but for some reason, they either don't accept the message of the Restoration and are not willing to exercise their faith, or they just don't understand the message in the first place. It's not the language that is the barrier though because the people in Cebu understand and what's more, I have a Pinoy companion. So we'll keep working and doing our best every day!! I love this work.
This week we taught that in the scriptures we are promised Eternal Life. We will all live forever. We do not have to do a thing for this to happen. Jesus Christ made eternal life available to all mankind through His Atonement.
But what about in the scriptures when it talks about different "mansions" and "rewards" in heaven? We all live forever, but do the murderer and the innocent child live next door to each other? No! Of course not! Does the murderer live in the presence of Heavenly Father?
Eternal life in the presence of God, Jesus Christ, our families is what I want that more than anything. But what are the conditions of this promise? We read all throughout the scriptures that the steps are 1. Faith in Jesus Christ, 2. Repentance, 3. Baptism, 4. Receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and 5. Enduring to the end. (See 2 Nephi 9:23 for one example). This is a promise that applicable to everyone. You and me. God cannot go back on a promise. If He did, He wouldn't be perfect - therefore, He wouldn't be God anymore. So it's here waiting for us all.
I just want us to stop and think about this for a minute. Do we understand this? How do we truly gain exaltation and live with our Heavenly Father again.
"Whosoever perisheth, perisheth unto himself; and whosoever doeth iniquity, doeth it unto himself; for behold, ye are free;"
We make choices every day. I'm not sure about all of you, but I would like to live in the Celestial Kingdom with my Father and loved ones. How does this affect our day-to-day choices? Don't get me wrong. WE CANNOT EARN Eternal Life. We cannot merit this - no matter how much we do in our lives. It is on the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ. Always remember that, and turn to Him if you need help. BUT. We CAN make choices every single day to follow the Savior's example and the gospel He taught. We CAN be exactly obedient to His commandments. As we do this, we can guarantee a place in the Celestial Kingdom. It's a promise! If we just do what we need to do and follow the steps outlined in the scriptures, we can be 100% positive that we will receive salvation.
If you have questions about this just email me or ask two guys walking around with a missionary tag on his shirt or ask your Mormon friend!
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| We're sitting back here? |
We had District Conference down in Dumaguete last Sunday so our whole branch traveled in the back of that truck type thing. Haha it was like an army truck. Pretty awesome hour and a half drive in the back of a truck.
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| Yep!! And we all fit!
I love you all so very much and pray for you every day! I love being on a mission - wouldn't rather anywhere else. I do miss you all, but I have been called to share the truth with everyone I meet for 2 years of my life. I have consecrated it to the Lord and am SO HAPPY to do it!! Have an amazing week ALL of you!!! Love you!!
Love,
Elder Jacobs
P.S. Elder Giar - Have fun in the -154 degrees. Please don't die... it's like 90 here haha
P.P.S. Sister Engle - Welcome to Argentina
P.P.P.S. Elder Miyahara - You're a stud and I love you
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