I sure do miss all of you. But I'm doing great.

Hello to all my favorites!! 

How is everyone doing?? I sure do miss all of you. But I'm doing great.

Say hello to my little friends...

The last few weeks have been crazy! Ever since getting here in Carcar, I feel as if things haven't stopped or even slowed down.

When I was transferred here there wasn't a single person on the calendar to teach! My companion and I are basically starting from scratch to work in this area. So it has been crazy busy!

This week was awesome! We had Zone Conference in Naga on Thursday. It was a great opportunity. 

President McCurdy shared on the Beatitudes and it was so interesting. 

One quote that stuck out was that Matthew 5 is a perfect example that "the Greatest Man that ever lived, gave the greatest sermon ever given." We have so much to learn.

We do a lot of walking on roads like this one.

It's so awesome to get to know missionaries from other parts of the world!

My companion is the Elder in front.

And I am learning so many different ways to cook outside. These are ovens!

I love to camp! Good thing...the mission here is just like camping!

"Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness;"

I have heard countless times that it is "so hard to go home from a mission and keep the same good habits of study, prayer, etc."... I feel that this is true for those who have not developed the self-control, self-mastery, and true determination that needs to exist in us. It is kind of summarized in the cliche phrase, "it needs to start from the inside out."

I know that the only way that we can fulfill what has been required of us - to be even as Christ - is to understand this principle. We have to get to the point where true obedience is part of us, or is ingrained within us. We need to glory in our Father and His Son. I know that this is possible in and through the power of the Atonement of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

A real tree house!!!!!

I love this life! Isn't there just so much to learn?? So awesome! We can't  get overwhelmed. Just take it in and do your absolute best! :) I am beyond grateful for the patience that my Father in Heaven has in me. I hope you thank Him for that as well.

I want to study more about obedience and self control in the future, so if anyone else has something to add - insights, scripture references, etc. - email me! I would be a very happy missionary :) 

I love all of you so much! I am so grateful to have every one of you as an example to me. Especially all of you who are reading this :)

Love,

Elder James Ryan Jacobs