Mi Casa es su Casa

 Elder Jacobson on a train

 Elders on P-day

Dani! I love this little guy!

Hey everyone, I had a pretty good week this week. We found some really
solid people to teach. We also did tons of service! It was slow as
heck, but it was so great.

Tuesday we got to build a greenhouse for an elementary school, that was cool.
Wednesday we worked at Salvation Army again- cool as well.

Thursday was sick. We found a dude named Jose and his wife Olga. He's
hilarious. He's from Oaxaca Mexico, but he was saying he moved to
Tijuana and that's where he would always hop the border haha. He just
talked forever, and then he was asking if we yell during our church
like Pentecostals and we said no, so he said he would go haha.

Friday we had Spanish Conference in Richmond, that was pretty cool. It
took most of the day, so we got home and did an interview for baptism.
After that we just went trying to teach a bunch of people but no one
answered. That sucked, I hate not teaching ha.

Saturday we got taken to breakfast by Hungate which was sweet. I love
Hungate, he gets so fired up about things then always brings the
spirit so strong whenever we talk. I want a guy like him to be our
mission President or some kind of leadership role in our mission. We
taught this guy Brian, I don't know if I mentioned him last week? He's
a homie, he just had a bunch of questions about Mormons, because he's
pretty Americanized and he just looked up Mormonism on the Internet.
Which is stupid haha but we cleared it all up. After that no one
answered their freaking door until like 8:45 and we taught Jose and
Olga again. We had the most effective, deep, spiritual restoration
lesson I've ever had, it was sick.

Sunday was so awesome! Jose and Olga actually did show up to church
and it was perfect! All the talks were centered just on the Savior and
the Atonement. After that, class was on developing talents, and
then priesthood was focusing on David A. Bednards talk, and
EVERYONE was sharing their conversion story, it was perfect!

Well I'm transferred. I loved Harrisonburg. I have gotten so attached
to the members here. I love this place, and I'm kind of bummed I don't
get to see Brian and Jose and Olga progress; but it's time to leave
and continue on in my mission. Which I'm really excited for! Just at
Spanish conference I was eyeing out everyone to see who could be my
companion next or who I would want to be my companion, haha I just
hope I don't get some weird kid. Oh well, I'm so excited to experience
new area, people, companions, everything.

So yeah this week was really slow lesson wise and teaching wise. But I
have been absolutely blown away by my personal studies. I have had so
much personal revelation. I know without a single sliver of a doubt.
This church is the true church. Everything about this church is true,
in the words of Brigham Young "I love this gospel because it's true."
That simple. I know God listens to every single one of our prayers, in
our heart or out loud. He knows us, he knows our trials, and
especially our potential. We are children of the living God.

1 Timothy 1:12 "And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled
me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;"

 My favorite family- the Stratford's

 Cerrito's family

 West Virginia today

Harrisonburg!

April 18

This week was a roller coaster of a week. There were a few ups and
downs, but some cool, crazy things happened!

Tuesday we had district meeting and after that we went to Domingas.
She won't freaking come to church anymore, mainly because her
family has been coming in on Sunday's from Puerto Rico. But while we
were there her husband was eating these boiled eggs and started
choking. I thought he was going to die right there! He was just
coughing up a lung and the daughter in the kitchen is trying to give
him water, but the funny thing is Dominga just looked at him, then
just turned and kept telling us a story haha. I don't know it was
weird. After that we had dinner with Hermano Hungate. He fed us picó
macho. It's pretty much just a manly casserole of steak, sausage,
fries, jalapeños, onions, peppers all in one. It's by far my favorite
food now.

Wednesday we got stuck doing service for Bro Wilson again. We mowed
his neighbors lawn and then he wanted more wood of course. We went
and started chopping wood and the log we were doing was kind of rotten
so he just decided to pack it up and head home because he was tired.
Haha just wasted like 4 hours. After that we just went finding. We went back to Julios just to see what's up. Well, he was there and he
actually let us talk! So we started just talking then that Chris dude
wouldn't shut his mouth and everyone was telling him to chill out,
then finally this huge black lady comes out and starts screaming at
him to leave us alone. He just shut up and was like "yes
ma'am...yes ma'am." It was sweet hahah he looked like a puppy that
just got kicked. Then anyways he invited us back so it was sweet!

Thursday we weekly planned and just tracted, it was really boring,
nothing happened.

Friday we got to do service at the Salvation Army, that was pretty
cool. We got to listen to the 80's Rock station through the warehouse
speakers (haha tender mercy)
And just hang shirts and clothes up. Then out of nowhere Julio walks
in! He said he got kicked out of that house and now he's homeless, but
he said to call him whenever, so we've been calling him but his phone
is dead and his number changed. After that we just busted our butts
finding and found a bunch of sick people! We did that until soccer
that night.

Saturday we just got like every Catholic, Jehovah's witnesses,
baptist, you name it that wanted to bash. It sucked, it was so
irritating and pointless. I HATE BIBLE BASHING. There is no way you
can sit and talk about God and Jesus Christ and his teachings while
having any sort of contention. That is as Hypocritical as it gets!
Plus, these people that try and bash- I swear- are missing half their
brain too. This guy we start talking to, because we were looking for
his cousin, the first few questions he asks is what are you sharing?
(After this one I recognized him from before and I just thought here
we go..) " The Gospel of Jesus Christ" then "oh what gospel?" If this
gives you any clue how smart or attentive this guy is.. Then he just
goes "what book" then he just goes off. He was trying to tell us
there's only 9 commandments, We don't need to be baptized anymore
because Christ already was for the 144,000 that are going to be saved.
Then people try saying, where's Joseph Smith in the bible!? Which is
like the laziest/pathetic bash move someone can pull after they've
just been getting slayed with doctrine or their own bible (Jehovah's)
also mainly because the bible doesn't prophesy anyone by name, no not
even Jesus Christ is mentioned by name in the Old Testament. I don't
know, none of these other religions actually make sense. But it was
another sick day because we found 8 new investigators and taught 12
lessons. We just went to work, it was sweet.
Also we were teaching this guy from Cuba and he actually thought I was
from Cuba too! That just like shot my self esteem about my Spanish
through the roof.

Sunday we went to church and after that we saw the sickest thing ever!
Hahaha we went to this complex and we pull in and park. We just
hear this screaming and its this group of chicks just going at it!
Then all of sudden one comes out with a bat and then these dudes jump
in and tackle the chick with the bat. Then a bunch more dudes jump in
swinging at each other, so at this point there's like 15 people in it!
Then cops show up and start tazing fools, then this dude thinks he's
all bad with the bat and starts swinging at this one dude then he gets
hit with a bean bag shot gun. Everyone scatters or is in cuffs at
this point. It was like the most crazy, heinous 5 minutes of my life
ever hahahahahah. It was so nuts.

Nothing too miraculous happened that was on the good side, besides
just finding a bunch of new people to finally teach. Just this week
I've been really studying faith and baptismal covenants. It's really
sad to me how many are baptized without knowing 1) it's without
authority, 2) they don't even know HOW important baptism is, let alone
how beautiful a covenant it is they could enter if it's done by proper
authority.
Something else this week I've just really noticed is I'm just so glad
I served a mission (and get to learn Spanish) to be here and find out
who I really am. I've never felt so close to my Savior and have felt
my self change for the better and can actually say I like myself or
who I am for once. Well that's my week, this week I get to find out if
I'm out of the Burg after 6 months or no, we'll see!

Another week in the 'Burg

Well this week was a tough/great one. It was a really humbling week. I learned a lot. 

I also got fed Cracker Barrel thanks to the Hunsakers!! So I want to give a shout to them because they're so loving as to drive 2 hours just to take me to Cracker Barrel! 

 Susan, Abby, Elder Jacobson and Darin Hunsaker

So this week was pretty tough because a lot of things that I would not like to happen, happened. We got dropped by like 5 different people. It really sucked because Julio dropped us. A member was supposed to give Julio a ride to conference but it didn't happen. So we go over Wednesday night and he just starts calling us liars and cussing. His friends are just laughing and saying we lied to him too. He said he's just going to go to the Pentecostal church by his house now. It sucked. I've never felt so mad at my self and so slothful. 

So other than that absolutely heart breaking/depressing episode we've just been performing triage. Trying to focus on who has the most potential, then others, down to potentials. But we've also been doing a lot of member splits as well. So we've been kind of putting in a lot of work with lessons and trying to get the results of it. We've found so many golden people this week. There are so many ready for this gospel. Unfortunately they're all English speaking haha so we have to refer them over. So we've taught a lot of really great lessons these last few days.

Here's the funny story of the week. We were at this apartment complex and we look over and there's a BUNCH of Latinos all filing into this basement door of another building. So we go over there and as soon as we get right by the door we just hear, from a microphone "PODER A DIOS! GLORIA A DIOS!" So we knock the door and they all let us in and shake our hands and tell us to sit down. So it starts going and this guy just gets on his knees and starts chanting through the microphone a prayer or something and he's screaming at the top of his lungs. Then all of a sudden everyone starts yelling their prayers too. Then in Spanish he yells "WHO WANTS THE SPIRIT!?" Then he like does a pushing motion and says "TAKE IT!" and everyone starts shaking on the ground and screaming. It was the weirdest/creepiest thing I've ever seen. They start all chanting at once "SOLO LEE LA BIBLIA!" Over and over. After that they all take turns screaming every psalm of David from the book of psalms. By this point the spirit bolted out of there, I've got a raging headache, then they ask US to share a scripture haha. So I shared Galatians 5:22 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith," then they all started yelling hallelujah and amen and closing their eyes and yelling and shaking their arms hahha which didn't make sense- why they would agree with it then do that. Then we sat down again and asked how much longer there was, and they said 2 hours. So we left. But man I've never felt the so out of place, and weirded out in my life. Honestly I felt sad. I felt sad that these people are so far off with what church should be, how the spirit really feels and works. Something I would have never felt before my mission, as to think these are my brothers and sisters that are astray. 

Over all though I learned how much my Father loves me this week. Because honestly, I was not feeling worthy at all to be here and be his servant. I asked for forgiveness and peace again. So I didn't think it was by coincidence that I thought to read D&C 121-23 and Ether 12. I've never felt the power of scripture hit me so hard as to reading those scriptures. To feel the love and comfort that my Father has for me. For all of us who suffer, or have trials, no matter good or bad, he loves us beyond comprehension. I also finished the Book of Mormon again. I love this book. The answer is always the same. It is true. This church is true, we have the fullness of the everlasting gospel here on earth. 

The scriptures that have hit me like a sledgehammer are 

D&C 122:9  Therefore, hold on thy way, and the priesthood shall remain with thee; for their bounds are set, they cannot pass. Thy days are known, and thy years shall not be numbered less; therefore, fear not what man can do, for God shall be with you forever and ever.

D&C 123:17 Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed.

And Moroni 7:31 And the office of their ministry is to call men unto repentance, and to fulfil and to do the work of the covenants of the Father, which he hath made unto the children of men, to prepare the way among the children of men, by declaring the word of Christ unto the chosen vessels of the Lord, that they may bear testimony of him.

I know why I'm here. I know the promises that are promised to us are real, as long as we just simply follow Christ. These scriptures give evidence of it. I can testify and tell you these things are true, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

 Favorite tie still..

Elder Jacobson, Houston, and Slivers

Thank you Darin and Susan!!

Hola

Well this week has been really slow, but also we've had some really cool experiences. 

So the first really miracle we had this week is that Dominga's Husband went home from the hospital Monday night! I'm honestly so amazed at this! His leg was like twice the size of his other one on Sunday when we were at the hospital with him. I know without a shadow of a doubt that this priesthood power is the literal power of God. D&C 121:36. I know through our faith, miracles are completed. I know without any second guesses that is a miracle that I have witnessed. 

The second really cool thing is Julio was able to meet with us again, we went over and he was really drunk. Like couldn't even write his phone number drunk ha. But he always end up breaking down when he talks to us. We got him to commit to not drink for 5 days. We asked him if he's willing to do that and he agreed. So we asked him why don't you start with this beer, and immediately he dumped it out. Then we asked if he had more and we dumped out 3 more. It's a small step. But God sees those small steps and knows how hard they sometimes are. 

So other than that this week we did tons of service, we helped Wilson again.. Chopping wood and we finally finished his wood pile haha. We also helped some members move. 

We also taught Ashley this week, she's this little 9 year old in a part member/less active family and they really want her to get baptized hahha done. I love kiddy dunks. 

But man there was this TV show on called "Al Extremo" so weird man! It was just a show showing a bunch of people dying! I don't get it, the whole family was just chilling watching it, eating dinner. 

We also found out why that trailer park we got is so sketchy. We had like 5 people ask us why we are here and everyone of these dudes had "hate" tatted on their hand, then finally another guy had a wife beater on and had a swastika tatted on his chest, turns out a bunch of people from the Arian Brotherhood that live their and have meetings ha. (If you don't know about them do some research hahah)   

Then we ran the 5K today hahaha I actually won, I'm really suprised. I ran it in like 22 minutes. But now I'm dead.

But anyways those are the cool things that happened this week.

Like I said it was a really slow week.. It's always like middle of the transfer slowing down. I don't know why it always happens. But we can not get one person to come to church anymore. Not even to come sit down and watch a screen for conference. But everyone says they want to know everything about the Church but no one wants to actually come to church! It's sad to see because it's almost like people worship the actual bible more than who gave it to them. And Just because Joseph Smith isn't mentioned by name in the bible, it's not true. Which doesn't make sense.. Because the actual name Jesus Christ isn't mentioned until the New Testament, so of course Joseph Smith isn't named? That's just one really simple excuse I have for that question. We have so much evidence that this church is true. Everyone believes in God for the most part, even the devil and his servants know that Christ is the son of God, But it means nothing without an actual Testimony of this restored gospel, given through Faith (not just belief) and Prayer with a sincere heart in the name of Christ if this church is the true church. 

Well that's my week, remember who you are, I know we are in the latter days, I wear a name tag that says it every day. All the prophesies are coming true from both the Bible and the Book of Mormon and our canonized scriptures. Honor your priesthood if you hold it, the same power which created and controls this Earth, planets, and sun around us. sustain your leaders, something that was very emphasized this conference. D&C 121:35-36 Because their hearts are set so much upon the things of this world, and aspire to the honors of men, that they do not learn this one lesson--

That the rights of the priesthood are inseparably connected with the powers of heaven, and that the powers of heaven cannot be controlled nor handled only upon the principles of righteousness.

Apparently Elder Jacobson still had enough energy to chase ducks