December 28th

    Well I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas this week, I
hope you all received what you were hoping for, better yet, I hope the
Savior was in the mind of all of you. Christmas here was a record high
of 74 degrees, not exactly a white Christmas. This week we got to go
down to Richmond to a whole mission conference, where we we had
multiple trainings and talks given and a testimony meeting. We got to
listen to a ton of musical numbers also. The whole meeting was about 8
hours, but the spirit was there so strongly, it was an awesome
meeting.

 Elder Packer, Prince and Jacobson

me and the other missionaries or dudes, from our zone-

Elder Starr, me, Searle, Prince and Richards

 Elder Jacobson & the head honcho President Wilson

         After Christmas conference we decided to try and find more
new investigators because a lot of our potentials have gone "cold" so
we decided to try and find more people that will want to listen to our
message. We started off at these projects behind our apartment, we got
into one Hispanic home on the first door we knocked, after that it was
a bunch of people drugged out of their minds, so we didn't have a lot
of success there. We went to an older complex after that about a mile
down the road, it's funny because the complexes that smell like weed
the strongest are the ones where we will teach 8 or 9 lessons! So now
we know when we're about to have some success if it smells like
someone just blazed up in the stairwell haha.
        It's honestly been a pretty slow week because of Christmas and
everyone is busy, but after Thursday is when we've been having a lot
more success. We went back out to our two trailer parks we like to
knock at, and we were explaining to one of our progressing
investigators that we have been striking out a lot and we will see
people home but they will not answer. The investigator told us that
they have little kids keep watch for cops or other people from the
government, and that they see us and think that we are with the
government so they go and tell a lot of people and no one will answer
their door haha so that explains a lot for what has been happening
lately.
       Well at the beginning of the week we had about three instances
of people yelling and cussing at us, and trying to bible bash with us,
and I had a lot of hard feelings for those people. When I was studying
one morning I came across D&C 64:10 and it says "I, the Lord, will
forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all
men." With that I realized I was in the wrong also, and I need to be
better at letting things go and focus on forgiving them and focusing
on what I need to do to be more Christlike. Also this week I've been
feeling really insufficient because we haven't had a lot of success;
but yesterday at church there's a member in the 2nd ward who we have
gotten to know quite a bit and we were talking to him yesterday, and
he started to choke up and to thank us for what we do, because if it
wasn't for us he wouldn't know what eternity looked like, he wouldn't
know where to go or who to turn to, so that was so touching and
pierced my heart and After that I just know I don't want to be
anywhere else but here on a mission.
        That was my week in a summary, can't wait to hear from you
guys and I can't to fill you in on what will happen this week.

Con Amor
-Elder Jacobson

We loved being able to talk to & see our Elder! It was so neat to hear his testimony & we had family prayer with Ryan saying both in Spanish. It is so beautiful to hear! 

Christmas week

We saw Santa at a buffet a member took us to, and I was excited!

Well this week was such an awesome week! It didn't really start out
too awesome, we had 26 appointments fall through this week and even
just trying to see other potential investigators and referrals we have
been consistently striking out, but it all paid off. We finally got
the Dominga family to commit to baptism! It made this week so much
better and just made it feel like nothing boring or anything bad
happened this week. Ha we just finally sat them down and taught them
strictly about baptism and how important it is to be baptized when we
are able to be clean of sins, and into our church, not just as a child
and call it good. So she said yes and we asked her husband and he kind
of was wrapped up in a blanket and he said he doesn't know, because he
was already baptized, and she reached over and pulled off the blanket
from his ears and yelled "ESCUCHA! Tu vas bautízate" (listen! You're
going to be baptized) so that was definitely the highlight of my week!

Me and the Dominga family!

The low part of my week is that the Senior couple Missionaries left
this week, and now I don't have anyone to talk about hunting or horses
with, So I'm pretty bummed I only got to spend one transfer around
them.
Today we got to go to West Virginia with the Elders there, and we went
on a pretty awesome hike! We hike to the top of Spruce Knob the
highest point in West Virginia!

Me, Elder Prince, Packer & Franklin Elders on top of Spruce Knob

So yeah this week has been pretty boring as far as stories go because
we've just been trying to visit lots of people.

One scripture I found which I love is Matthew 25:21 I encourage you
all to read it, and I promise you will feel the spirit.

1st transfer down!

It's weird I've already had a transfer go by in the mission field. I'm really glad I'm out here and I'm grateful for who I get to be around! 

Well to start off our week on Tuesday we ended up dropping John as an investigator, he said he didn't really want religion in his life, and just stuff like that. Wednesday we got to go down to Richmond for Spanish conference, it's just where some missionaries bared their testimonies and then others gave some talks. It was pretty fun to see all the Spanish missionaries there! After that we got to go to café Rio which was amazing!! 

I also finished the Book of Mormon again this week. I'm so glad I have the Book of Mormon in my life, it has so many answers to everything that we deal with in life. It also tells how we need to live our life, and overall its just a wonderful read. A lot of people try to tell us whats wrong with the book of Mormon, but no one has ever read it. So I just encourage you guys to just read if you haven't already, and then just read it again if you have. 

We have been striking out on people a lot lately, we try to visit twelve or thirteen people a day and no one will answer, let alone listen. We finally got to talk to two people. The one is a Hispanic named Ever. We got to talk to him and apparently he's been taught a lot and has a strong faith in god, but says if you go to church its all good. It just doesn't make sense because he wont go to any church let alone a specific one. 

The other person we found was named Jennida. She's full of kindness and light which is great. We got to teach her the Restoration and set up another appointment so we will see what happens there! 

Other than that, nothing really crazy happened this week. 

Can't wait to share with you guys next week!! 

-Elder Jacobson

The Thursday before this letter Elder Jacobson had an appointment about his ankle. It was still causing him a lot of pain and was still swollen. The dr. told him it was most likely torn ligaments and to plan on surgery (yes, he's always been this injury prone). We prayed (again) that he'd be healed for his follow up appointment. On the 17th I received a message from him saying the follow up appointment only showed some tendonitis. We are so thankful for this!!! 

Weekly email!

Well as always this week was good and full of weird people, spiritual
experiences, and your basic mission life. 
We got to go back and visit my personal favorite people to talk to, the Dominga family. The two really old Puerto Rican investigators we have. They're my favorite
because they can just talk your ear off for hours! We haven't been
able to see them for about 2 weeks, but they have been listening to
the Book of Mormon (they can't read or write) and they love it! I'm so
grateful we got to find a CD set, let alone in Spanish for them!
That's just how the lord works. Haha they told us to be careful when
we come over because there's people who "pretend to sell pizza, but
they sell marijuana" but she said we're men of God so we will probably
be fine haha. So sure enough we start walking over there and from out
of freaking no where this dude pops out behind these trash cans, and
he's wearing a onesie that's is a shark and it has a hood with the
shark head and mouth, and he is hammered drunk, bottle in hand and
everything. He tried yelling and to give him money, so we told we will
give him our money IF he can catch us. So we start running and we
watch him fall over like 8 times before he just lays there hahaha.
Highlight of my week.

And here is the Domingas dog that just hangs out on my shoulder for an hour or more every time we go over. 

The spiritual part of my week was trying to contact referrals
and potential investigators. This happened twice in the exact same
way. We tried seeing a woman and both times we knocked the wrong door,
and we got a lesson with the person that lives there and got to set up
another appointment with them! Just pretty awesome how the spirit
works.

 Here is me and Elder prince, just being classy gents, or just being tools

And last but not least valley view or little Mexico trailer park, Where we have been knocking doors quite a bit lately. 

One thing Ryan expresses in his personal letters is how much he loves being a missionary! It's also fun to see how his personality isn't changing, but his testimony and spiritual side is growing incredibly fast. 

Love him!!

What I did this week

Well this week I had a lot of time to study and read scriptures, I was the only who didn't get sick so we kind of hung around the apartment for a lot of the week. I got to watch a cool Mormon message called the "Refiners Fire" In the video it explains that as we go through hardships and trials, we are uncomfortable, and under a lot of stress, but after those trials we are something a lot more beautiful. "The greater our sorrow is, the greater capacity we have to feel the saviors love"

On Thanksgiving we got to go to a members house, and we got to have kind of a latino Thanksgiving! It was awesome! 

The highlight of my week was going down to Richmond for a meeting. After the meeting we got to go out and street contact in downtown Richmond. It was a great opportunity to get out and talk to lots of people. I actually found a guy and he was saying how he appreciates and would like to hear more, but he lives in Harrisonburg. Well it just so happens I live there too haha so I got his number and we are going by  later this week! The coolest part though is me and the other Elder I went with (we did companion exchanges for the day) was a Mandarin Chinese elder, so it was really cool me talking to people in Spanish, and him in Chinese, and also both of us in English. We were pretty much Un-stoppable haha. 

But I would like to invite or challenge you guys to watch and share all the Christmas videos that are coming out everyday until Christmas. We're trying to share those messages or at least the main one that is out with as many people as possible. 

Other good news is we got John back on date! everyday I can see him getting closer and closer to reaching his own faith. So I will keep you updated! 

until next week! god be with you

-Elder Jacobson 

Today we went on a hike to Humpback rock, which was wayyy cool, and wayyy freezing

me representing the west side, west side of Harrisonburg Baptists, our absolute biggest supporters, and they let us know it whenever they drive by or we run into them...very friendly/Christ like people

(Gotta love the sarcasm!)

2 months down!

This week was very awesome. We got in contact with a "Mennonite" Pastor, and we went and did service at this shelter kind of community place, I got to shovel composte for 2 hours but it was awesome! The people we got to meet were very loving and kind! Wonderful people. 

I've had lots of personal revelation this week also through a lot of scripture study! Our investigator John is staying steady, he came to church yesterday! He claims that the peace there is just a "good vibe" and not the spirit.. haha oh well. 

Also this week I got to spend some time roping a roping dummy that the Senior missionaries from Idaho brought! That was fun! Ryan said this couple owns a ranch in Rexburg and he had to 'prove himself' before the husband would talk to him about it. :-) he loves their conversations now.

I got to on exchanges with the English Zone leaders this week, it was nice to teach in English, but I like teaching Spanish way more! Mainly the people is what I like more. We just went and walked around University of Virginia Campus and street contacted, man college kids just are not too friendly.. oh well the Lord has blessed us with tons of patience. 

This week was mainly knocking a lot of doors and not having too many answer, but we did get to do a lot of service for members which was awesome! I love doing service. 

Well I'm sorry theres not a whole lot of detail to what happened this week, but just know we are putting in a lot of work and I love serving a mission. 

-Elder Jacobson

 Pretty cool find we had our knocking doors in Elkton! Stonewall

Jacksons headquarters at one point!

And then this car that I've never seen before, it was awesome because I don't know what motor he had in it but it was wayyy fast, and then he had nitrous tanks we could see in the back. It would be so fun to drive! 

In our emails this week we shared 5 things we were thankful and he shared some with us:

- my family

- I'm grateful for my companion

- the chance I have to serve a mission

- I'm grateful for the scriptures

- I'm grateful for the sling shot we bought because we just snipe like 5 squirrels a day from our balcony (why does this not surprise me?)

- I'm grateful for you guys at home, or else I wouldn't be able to do this.

- I'm grateful for the people and lessons I've taught

- I'm grateful we can read the scriptures and worship whenever and wherever

- I'm grateful for the patience our Heavenly Father has for us

- I'm grateful also that He definitely has a hand in my healing process, because I'm where I should be  if I was finished with physical therapy

and

-I'm grateful for my mission, because going to church and talking about the gospel is the only thing I want to do now. I'm also grateful for Angus.

Lean on Faith

 We did a bunch of service this week also and we did 33 bags of leaves

one night so that was awesome

What I've learned this week is no matter how much I think I've already

leaned on God, I have to double it pretty much every week. Especially
listening to the spirit while knocking doors. 
We had a crazy experience in Elkton Virginia. It's a tiny clan with only a few
Hispanics so we had to knock on a bunch of doors in this heavy baptist
town....always fun. Anyways we were knocking this apartment complex
and I felt prompted to go this guy Brian's door, but we got talking
to him and he was really accepting of the gospel, unfortunately we had
to turn him over to the English elders. 
We also learned that there is an active clan group there and they kept telling us to leave their town. I don't know, they're just these string bean looking in-bred
hicks, so I don't even know how to take them seriously when they almost
crash this pile of crap jeep they keep driving by us in hahaha. 
Also, I've learned Mexican Spanish is soooo easy to understand, when it
comes to talking to Argentinians and Puerto Ricans it's way hard to
catch everything they're saying.

We're still teaching John our investigator who was supposed to be on
date for baptism this Saturday, but he just said he doesn't want to be
because he doesn't know everything. So he keeps asking us all these
questions that have to do with science, like where did all the different type of races come from and stuff? I don't know it's kind of frustrating because he listens to all the commandments and reads his scriptures and everything, but oh well we will be patient.
Also the 90 year old Puerto Ricans we are teaching (the Dominga family) love us and the
gospel, they're my favorite to go and teach. They could just talk for hours. And I was praying and the dog was barking and she just started freaking out and yelling at it in middle of the prayer. They hate the cold too so it's kind of funny because every time we teach them they are huddled under blankets and you can only see their faces. But we were teaching them one day and all of sudden like 13 people walk through the door, but one of them (their son in law) was baptized this summer so he sat down and started talking with us and teaching them about temples and baptism. It was awesome! Well that's my report for this week, I can't wait to hear from some of you guys and I can't wait to share what's new next week

With love
Elder Jacobson

I asked Ryan if, by clan, he meant Klan- and he did. So we might send a few extra prayers up for his safety in this area. 

This picture was sent to my phone from a random number. I love those! The message was

"They are great missionaries. He sends his love. We had them for lunching and they wanted to make no bake cookies, so we made them! The book is blue and the church is so so true."

1st week in the field

My first week was awesome! 
I got to meet my new companion and he's awesome! He's from West Valley! 

 Elder Jacobson and Elder Turner

We have an investigator named John who's going to get baptized on the 21st hopefully!! We found 3 new investigators also, the two are these two 90 year old Puerto Ricans
and I can not understand anything they say, but the other investigator
is a mom from Honduras who is awesome and so nice! 

My scripture for the week is alma 13:27-29! I've been using this scripture this whole
week! It is awesome! Well this week has been solid! (Look these up. They are awesome!)

I'm going to give Elder Jacobson a break on his lack of detail, because he's typing with one hand! 
He is in Harrisonburg. He said it's a cool college town with a ton of chicken farms (which apparently smell worse than mink farms). He loves his new companion and seems to be happy to finally be in the field! He is getting a hard cast on his hand today (friday) so that should be a little easier for him to take care of! 

Ryan told me that he doesn't mind my sharing things he writes to us in his personal emails, so sometimes I add things on this blog so that I'll remember them later on. 

On friday he wrote 'these pictures get me through everything, but they also make me cry everytime I look at them' 

I'm so thankful for a son who loves his sisters and for his example, and for daughters who pray for, and stand as an example to their brother in all they do. 

We miss Ry so much, but I can already see and feel the blessings of having a missionary in our family. The relationships that are developing across the miles through emails is so fun to watch! 

He also sent a picture of this saying 'it would be pretty nice to someday come home to this in the driveway'

*sigh* Once a redneck....

Hospital, Virginia

Well this week was pretty crazy! I broke my hand in two places and had
to have surgery in Mexico! So that was a nice little field trip! So
that took up the last half of my week after my last email! I finally
made it here to Virginia and I already love it! 
Tomorrow I get to find out my new comp and my area! So there will be a lot more to come next week! 
Sorry I really don't have a lot of time this week because today
was technically P-day! 

On Friday morning I received a call from a Salt Lake number. He asked for Sister Jacobson and I knew that wasn't a good sign. It was Dr. Harston from the CCM and he told me that Elder Jacobson was there and there was a little problem, I thought that this was surely about his ankle. He told me that Ryan had broken his hand and it would require surgery. He said that instead of flying to Virginia on Monday, he would be flying home. I assumed he meant that we would need to do the surgery here. Dr. Harston told me that, no, the surgery needed to happen right away. It would be done in Mexico and he reassured me that the dr.'s and facilities were great. I would receive an email later that day to give me more details. Justin had left on the buffalo hunt and was out of range. I was finally able to talk to him that afternoon and gave him the few details that I had.

I know other moms will sympathize with me at the stress of having your child hurt and not being involved in any of the decisions or be there for them!

I finally called Dr. Harston back Friday night because I hadn't heard anything. He told me Elder Jacobson was just coming out of a 3 hour surgery and that I would hear from someone the next day. He did say that the surgeon said there was a possibility that Ryan could still travel to Virginia. At that point the prayers became very focused. He needed to get to Virginia. 

By 1pm on Saturday I still hadn't heard anything. I called the dr. one more time and he put me on hold. The next thing I heard was 'Hola, mom'. It was great to actually be able to talk to Ryan and hear his voice. He already sounds so much older and more mature.  He said his hand felt good and he was doing ok. I'm sure the numbing and painkillers were helping those thoughts along. 

I was once again told that I would hear the following day (Sunday) if he would be coming home or going to Virginia. I was more patient at the waiting game by this point. 

I hadn't been able to get a hold of Justin since that very first day and we had decided not to tell anyone until we knew more. I told my girls Saturday so that we could begin our fast and prayers for him. 

Sunday came a no email or phone call. Our minds were whirling, but not panicked haha! Finally, at about 5pm I got a call from President Call in the CCM and 10 minutes later a call from President Wilson in Virginia. They were sending him to Virginia and we cried happy tears. 

He is in a splint and sling for 3 weeks and then no lifting or doing anything too physical for another 3-5 weeks. 

We were able to talk to him today when he landed in Atlanta and he sounded great! I know he's thrilled to be back in the U.S. and so happy to be moving forward.

I joked that he and his companion were going to become really close really fast, with him tying his ties for him :-) He said he already learned how to do them with one hand and his teeth ha! 

Joking aside, we are truly grateful that he was able to stay and our prayers are that he'll follow dr.'s orders and heal quickly and properly.

The road to Virginia has been a long one for our Elder. We know he has important work there to do, and are so thankful for all of the support from family and friends. The number of prayers and fasts on his behalf are amazing and powerful. Ryan has specifically told me several times that he can feel our prayers and wouldn't have been able to get through these weeks without them.

Our family knows that Heavenly Father hears and answers sincere and specific prayers. We know that he is very aware of Ryan and is proud of him. This Gospel is true. I wouldn't be able to let my son go if I didn't have an unshakable testimony of this work. We are so proud of him and know he will continue to learn and grow in this journey.

Last week!

This week was way awesome!! I got to teach a member which I was kind of lacking motivation to do, because they are already a member.. but I was so excited to teach them about how I feel about the church. And she just ended up teaching us way more than I could ever teach her! 
She's a cancer survivor....but to the max.. even pancreatic cancer!!! She had us all crying, it was so awesome! 
Other than that it's just been another week here! 
We caught a giant spider in our room (pics to come) so that was cool, and we got a new district! I got made a zone leader for the last week haha which is cool though. I´ve really stepped up in what I do with my time! 

I found this spider on my foot haha and thats him just chilling in a pringles can showing us how big he thinks he is.

I can not wait to get out and email you guys next week from Virginia! Love you all so much!! 

This week Ryan finally received the letters we mailed him the day after he left! He said it was weird to read our thoughts from that long ago. He's also ready for some good American food!

Haha today at lunch I had no idea what I was eating...but there were like 4 arteries. I can not wait to have a real meal. 

Week 4!

I usually study in the soft chair and kick my feel up so my district calls me Elder Mob Boss

and my way awesome scripture case I got

I can't believe how fast time has flown by! I only have 13 days until I head out to Virginia! This week was just another week of class room work, we also got to hear from an area 70! It was kind of weird though because he has been living here for 15 years, and he's the most stereotypical white guy but he could hardly speak english.. only if I had that problem ha. My companion got sick this week and was in bed all week, and luckily another Elder from our district was also so I didn't have to just hang with him all week. Once again Sundays are the coolest things ever now! We got to watch meet the mormons! That movie made me a little home sick, because it kept my homesickness builiding up through the whole movie, like just stories about others with Christ and seeing families hanging out, then there was a scene of them skiing and snowboarding, then the missionary getting dropped off at the airport haha so that got me a little. I miss my family like crazy but I know I would not want to be doing anything else right now.  

Yo sé que esta iglesia es la única iglesia verdad en la tierra. José smith vio el Padre y el Hijo. yo sé que eso pasó porque he orado para saberlo. todos pueden saberlo por medio de la oración. El libro de mormón es el libro más inspirado en toda la tierra. sé que tiene poder para contestar cualquier pregunta. sé que el sacerdocio es real. es algo para sanar y hacer convenios sagrados y más importante cumplir el plan de Dios y hacer que las familias puedan estar juntos para siempre. Sé que tenemos un profeta viviente. Thomas S Monson es el profeta de Dios. si escuchamos las enseñanzas de él y todos sus consejeros y apóstoles seremos feliz en esta vida y tendremos gozo para la eternidad. Dios nos ama. él vive. igual su hijo Jesucristo vive. Ellos tienen un plan para nosotros. y si guardamos los mandamientos, estaremos con nuestros familias para siempre. En el sagrado nombre de Jesucristo. Amén. 

I'm thankful for Google translate because as much as I'm plucking along with Spanish 101 cd's, I've only progressed to ordering a drink en el restaurante.

I know that this church is the only true church on earth. Joseph Smith saw the Father and the Son. I know that happened because I prayed to know. Everyone can know through prayer. The Book of Mormon's book is the most inspired book the whole earth. I know that it is able to answer any questions. I know that the priesthood is real. 

It is something to heal and make sacred covenants and foremost fulfill the plan of God and make families can be together forever. I know we have a living prophet. Thomas S Monson is the prophet of God. If we listen to his teachings and his counselors and apostles we are happy in this life and have joy for eternity. God loves us. He lives. Like his son Jesus Christ lives. They have a plan for us. And if we keep the commandments, we will be with our families forever. In the sacred name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

We miss Elder Jacobson like crazy too, but wouldn't want him to be doing anything else right now either! 

Week 3

I love the sunsets here in Mexico!

Finally I´m halfway through the MTC as of yesterday! 
This week was really awesome because we actually got to teach a real investigator! 
I´m so grateful for the gift of tongues, spanish is coming along so well for me. So yeah every Wednesday they open the gates here at the CCM and let people who are really interested in (to hear) the gospel. We taught this sister that was fairly old and not in good health. Even though I kind of butchered the prayer, I asked for her health to get better (she was wearing a mask) and she started tearing up, so I know we got to her! 
I´ve come along to really love my district, we all get along so well! I absolutely love my teachers also. 
Ryan said he and his district have gotten close 'through the dumbest things. Like quoting movies or talking like old hicks..it helps relieve the stress so much!'

Something I noticed is by sitting in a class 14 hours a day Sunday rolls around and I start to really have questions, but every Sunday they are answered in Fullness! That was pretty much highlights for the week except I made two full court shots in basketball in a row for some cookies.. all in all it was a good week! Thanks for keeping me in your prayers! I´m truly blessed because of it! love you all talk to you next week!

Elder Shearer and Elder Jacobson playing tennis

I practically broke my ankle last P day landing on a loose basketball, so I had to be the designated server, but I dominated so it's all good.

I won't post the picture of his ankle because it is extremely gross! Hopefully it looks a lot better this week! He said he's able to walk on it, so that's good.

We had donuts and jerky delivered to Ryan to celebrate his half way day and he was pretty excited about that haha. 

Ryan said I could share a cool moment that he had. After emailing last week, I had the feeling to send him a letter with some specific scriptures to look up and read to help with his frustration at learning the language. He said it was awesome because he had just read the same scriptures and had made sure to write them down. He said when he read the letter that he bawled. (Ether 12:23-29)

It's so neat to see Elder Jacobson have these experiences with the spirit & watch his testimony grow! 

el Evangelio es verdadero 

Week 2

Elder Jacobson hurt his back this week moving some stuff out of a cellar (I don't know who's cellar- hence my light scolding of wanting more details :-) Prayers for this to heal quickly would be greatly appreciated! He'd also love some bacon, but we're not sure that's prayer worthy haha :-)

Wow conference was soooo awesome! (The MTC is kind of just trying to find highlights of school to write about so I'm sorry my letters are kind of short) my favorite talk was probably Neil Anderson from priesthood session! Mom, Elder Holland made me feel more guilty than I ever have for breaking your heart ever. So I'm sorry!!! 

It really hit me this week why I'm here! and I'm so glad I came out here and get to serve the lord. My testimony has grown more than ever! 
We had the opportunity to give a sister a blessing which was pretty amazing. 

The investigator we had turned out to be fake.. we saw her at the temple and then she's our teacher now haha. 
The other pretty exciting thing that happened is right outside our window we heard a drive by shooting with a machine gun and it was at the bar 50 yards behind our house...pretty crazy here! Let me know what's going on in the real world! I love hearing from you guys! Keep writing!

 Ryan and his roommate Elder Harker from Oregon. 'We're basically the same person'

It was awesome after conference we had a zone review... just a testimony meeting, but I had the strongest feeling I needed to share.. it was like if I didn't speak I wouldn't ever be able to again.. but I shared about my thoughts this week after a long day.. where satan was throwing every sin I have ever done in my face. I said it's one of those things that you know theres only one place that's coming from, so we need to make our weaknesses strengths and I know we can all do this. I had this girl come up sobbing saying thank you for that,. then like 4 others said I really needed to hear that. It was the best feeling

We sure miss our Elder, but are so proud of him! I also reminded him that we packed earplugs. We were thinking along the lines of snoring roommates, not machine gun fire, but whatever the need!

Week 1

Hey everyone. The MTC or CCM is pretty cool! I have way cool roommates and my companion is awesome! The first day we already had to teach someone and that was ok because he spoke english, but the second day we had to teach a Spanish only investigator which was terrible because I don't know any Spanish yet. The day after that we taught her again, and it went so great! The gift of tongues is real! Other than that we just had a bunch of orientations. Then my companion is district leader now so that's pretty awesome. We got to watch Richard G. Scott's funeral which was pretty great! The only down side is Mexico parties wayyyy hard and our back window is right next to a guy who loves to party, and then next to him is a bar haha.
We'll that's about it for week 1

 Elder Jacobson and his companion Elder Shearer (from Spanish Fork)

(we know his name because our good friend recognized Ryan from her bishops son's pictures! Such a small, but wonderful world!)

Elder Jacobson in his man cave!

¡Vaya usted con Dios!

On September 23, 2015 we said our good-byes at the SLC airport. There were a lot of tears, but Ryan was ready to be off, and we were as ready as we'd ever be to let him go! 

The hardest part was just walking away at the security line. We trusted that all would go well and soon he'd be on his way to the Mexico CCM! After we got home (yes, I cried almost the entire drive), I received this text from an anonymous angel!

What a cool message! We got a short email from Elder Jacobson after he arrived and another picture a couple of days later. 

'What up everyone. I'm here in MexicoCity and alive. This place is pretty cool. I hate airplanes more than I ever have now. I'm so excited to be here though. It's going to be dope. I'll email you guys again on Tuesday. That's my p-day. gotta go'

We are so thankful for the gospel and know of it's truth. Without this knowledge missions would be unbearable! We know that Elder Jacobson will not be alone as he embarks on this two year mission to serve the Spanish community in Virginia!

"Hurrah, hurrah for Israel!'