Week 37: I Think I'll Stay

Transfer news is in- Sister Dearden and I are both staying! Woohoo!  This week's been pretty crazy- but the week before transfers always is. So I'll be here for May and part of June- I don't know where 2016 went, but I want it back! My 9 month mark is on Friday- that is crazy! Sister Dearden describes it as "climbing an expert rock wall only to find a super slide on the other side all the way to the bottom, where there's a bunch a bunch of guys waiting with wedding rings, babies, and student loan checks, and someone's trying to push you down because they don't know about the super slide yet."


On Monday, we had an awesome hike! I'll attach pictures for sure. I've got really good ones on my camera- haven't figured out how to get them from there to my iPad yet. But I've got ones that everyone else took. It was so gorgeous! It was nice to get the fresh air and the trees.  Honestly, it feels like we're out in the woods all the time- pretty funny. The falls were gorgeous. Then Monday evening, we had two polar
opposite lessons with some potentials that we dropped by. The first was very open and willing to listen! She asked really good questionsand committed to read and pray about the Book of Mormon and get back to us on a time we can meet. The second- well, in the first minute, he talked about every controversial issue except polygamy, then was
twisting our words, and just wasn't listening. The most interesting
thing to me was how the Spirit was so apparent in the first conversation but not the second. Just being willing and open invites that Spirit in. She may not get back to us while I'm here, and I may
not teach her, but just giving it a chance let that Spirit in. And the second one- we think he may have been trying to make us question. He
wasn't willing to understand or let us help, even just to clear up misunderstandings. Anyway, that was an adventure.

Tuesday was our MMTC with the Relief Society! We gave them all name tags and mission calls and talked about our purpose as missionaries.

Then we had three breakout groups- Brother Turner did one, Sister
Burgoyne, and us. We did an open question sort of thing and then a
package game- how to build a good missionary package! We did our job
too well- since then, we've gotten chalk (to keep ants out), cake mix,
jello, fresh produce, and a can of olives. So we don't really have to
go grocery shopping this week ;) our intent was for them to send it to
missionaries from their Ward that are out! Hopefully it helps with
that too. Anyway, it was a blast- the Relief Society is a lot of fun!







Wednesday night, we met with the Pears. Brother Pears had just gotten home from the hospital and he bore his testimony for the first time!  He said he definitely believes in the power of the priesthood. He got a blessing at the hospital and he looked a lot better than usual. More color, more energy, actually joking around....Sister Pears was glad to have him home. It was a good lesson! He has a testimony- he just
hasn't totally admitted it yet.

Thursday was zone meeting- it was a good meeting. I love those meetings because I always seem to leave with a better sense of direction and also more enthusiasm! (I am glad I'm not an STL though- that's more meetings than I could handle!). We had an FHE that night at Sister Paul's house- we made a CPR puzzle. Just her and the Morrises came, but we're hoping to make it a weekly thing. She's having a rough time with a lot of things so we're trying to help her
get through it!  We also met with Megan- she and Cody are doing well!

Megan definitely believes and understands the gospel. Now she and Cody just have to really commit to living it! So this next week we're bringing someone to help fellowship Cody. We've been bringing Sister Kahm to our lessons and they get along really well.



Friday was kinda sad- Jimmy's wife decided she didn't want us to come
over after all, so she dropped us (and Jimmy, by proxy). Jimmy was
doing really good- he's ready for the gospel and he believes it. He
will get baptized some day! She's just not ready for it yet. Anyway,
we ended up having a good lesson with just the Morrises- they are on
track for the temple in the summer and they're excited. They can make
it! Dean is really committed.

Saturday, we had no appointments and at first we thought it was going to be really rough but it ended up being a really good day! It was actually relaxing- everything was in our control. We went by Sister Kahm's (she's the one who gave us produce- someone gave her some, and it was too much for them to eat!) and we talked to a lot of new people, just had good conversations. It was one of those days where
just about everyone you meet is polite and in a good mood (might have been the gorgeous weather). And Ruth Santos (Brother Turner's daughter) made us chocolate chip cookies from my moms recipe! That wasthe best part- a little piece of home. So it ended up being awesome.

And yesterday was a normal day! So it was a wild week. But in the end, a lot of good things happened- gives new meaning to the scripture "after much tribulation cometh the blessings." So the moral of the story is, keep on pressing on and good things will happen! The Lord isalways watching out for you. He's just helping me learn to rely on
Him- I did ask for it.

Love you all! Have a good week!
Sister Jacobs