I literally cannot express my feelings right now. I think I might be breaking mission rules because I feel like I just emailed all of you like yesterday. It is the next week, right? This week has FLOWN by and I don't know what's going on!!! Missions are crazy.
First of all, I want to thank ALL of those who gave reading glasses for my mom to send. You have no idea how many prayers have already been answered just because of your huge desire to give a simple pair of glasses.
I actually want to share one story really quickly..
Elder Buque and I have an investigator right now whose name is Sunny. He is about 45 years old and he and his wife really weren't progressing at all - until this week!
Literally, the day after I received that package of reading glasses last week, we visited them and taught another lesson on the Book of Mormon. The first thing out of their mouths were, "I can't read, my eyes are bad." I immediately thought of ALL OF YOU and I was so grateful that I had put a pair of glasses in my bag earlier that morning... Don't you love how the Spirit works?
Anyways, after explaining some things, I let him try on the glasses. He said it was magic.. That everything was clear on the page.
We had a great lesson and at the end, I did my best to help him see that the glasses didn't come from me, but from his Heavenly Father. His Heavenly Father wants him to be happy and to do what he needs to do to understand this wonderful message. I told him he could have the glasses and there is no payment necessary except to commit to follow our Savior, Jesus Christ. Sunny had never been to church.....until he walked into the chapel this last Sunday.
I am so grateful for all of you and for the love that you have shown the people I am working with. I am so grateful for my Heavenly Father and his watchful, loving eye that keeps us doing what we need to do. I gave out the rest of the glasses from that package to my zone. I advised each companionship to have one pair of glasses at all times. I know miracles will continue to happen in this zone and it's because of you! I love missionary work.
On Saturday, our stake - Central Stake - had their Youth Roadshow!!!
We told the zone that they would be able to attend if they kuyoged (accompanied?) an investigator. It was so awesome!!
Our ward got 2nd place overall, but first place in almost every other minor category. It brought back so many memories of our Roadshows!!
I would LOVE to work with the youth of this church. They are such examples to all of us.
We also had one of our investigators, Cherry,
be interviewed Saturday night for her baptism this Friday!! She is 28 and is a great example of a determined daughter of God set on making her life the best it can be. We have a few other baptisms coming up as well, but we are still finalizing some marriage plans for a young couple before they can get baptized. I love working with these amazing people.
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| We keep very careful records. |
We also had an opportunity this last Monday to go on exchanges with our District Leader, Elder Musgrave. He is from Gilbert, Arizona. I worked with him and it was amazing.
I am so grateful and feel so humbled in the work I am doing right now as a Zone Leader I am so humbled and grateful to be able to work side by side with the quality and caliber of missionaries that we have here.
My companion, Elder Buque, is phenomenal and I have learned so much from him every day. I love opportunities to go on splits with our DL's because, although technically I am supposed to be training them, I have learned more from them than they could ever learn from me.
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| Someone lives here. |
The past few days, in preparation for a conference we are having tomorrow with Elder Bowen (Area Presidency), I have been studying four topics:
The Baptismal Covenant, The House of Israel, The Abrahamic Covenant, and The Oath and Covenant of the Priesthood. They are each individually AMAZING studies, I highly recommend the adventure ;)
Today I focused on the phrase "Many are called, but few are chosen."
I realized that, even though we are all adopted into the House of Israel when we are baptized and confirmed, we we are called, but not yet chosen for Exaltation. I love Matt. 22:1-14, Alma 5:37-38, and D&C 105:35.
I know that Jesus Christ calls each and every one of us. Those not baptized are called to be baptized in the true church. Those baptized are called to go to the temple and make covenants with God. Those who have made the covenants already, are called to continue on in faith and righteousness unto the fulfilling of their covenants.
I know that, no matter how you feel, Christ is ALWAYS calling out to YOU. Let us all answer the call and be worthy of Exaltation.
I love you all soooo much! I know that I am doing the right thing.
Sometimes it's hard for us to know with 100% surety that our walk of life is pleasing to our Heavenly Father but I can testify that if we are doing our best every day in the things we know we need to do, in all obedience, we can be confident before the Lord. I hope we will all continue to experience this confidence in the presence of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
Keep on serving others and making sure that they are as happy as you :)
Love you!!
Elder Jacobs
