This week has been crazy! In an awesome way. Hopefully most of you
have heard about the worldwide missionary broadcast by now, but if not
I'm going to sum it up anyway! So essentially they made changes to our
schedule as missionaries. Before, it was very exact, and we had to do
certain things at certain times- I have had personal study at 8am
nearly every day for the past 18 months except for when we had
meetings. But now the schedule is much more flexible- we just should
have studies sometime before 10, and now, daily planning happens in
the morning instead of the night before, and companionship study
happens during the day sometime. We've been getting used to the
additional flexibility- which actually is really nice, but is
definitely taking some getting used to.
The other really exciting thing this week happened on Friday- we had
the departing temple trip! So I and the other five missionaries going
home this transfer all got to go to the temple with President and
Sister McAteer (pictures to come). There's three English sisters going
home, one Hermana, and two Spanish elders. We took the big twelve
passenger van from the mission office to the temple, and luckily
didn't hit too much traffic at all! It was amazing too- the Spirit in
the temple was so strong. That's a testimony to me of regular temple
attendance- having gone two weeks in a row rather than going once
every six months as has been the case previously on my mission. I was
able to focus on the Spirit much more than trying to remember
everything- after six months, it's all pretty unfamiliar.
Besides that, this week has been pretty normal! We were able to see
Julie- she is doing well, coming along slowly but surely. We were able
to commit her to another baptism date in March (she said she wanted to
get baptized before either of us left so we had to break the news that
it was not possible at this point). Hopefully we can get her to church
next week- especially since it's my last Sunday!
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| Sister Jacobs discovers "Where the sidewalk ends..." |
We were able to see Angie! And she was feeling better too. We actually
had a really good discussion with her.
Also, we took the bikes out this week! (I've only been kinda ignoring
it). We couldn't really find rides so we just decided to bike it, and
it actually went pretty well. The weather was nice too (or we might
not have done it). Both of us were a little stiff but nothing too bad.
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| Beautiful View |
Yesterday at church, we had Sister Muraski's parents there- her dad is
serving as a mission president in Peru and was here to visit. He
taught the third hour for the youth so Brother Johnson suggested we
come and listen and we did- it was amazing. He talked so much about
preparing for a mission and how the best way to do that is really to
have a testimony embedded in your own heart. It was a bit of an
emotional roller coaster for me- this whole week has been, as I
contemplate going home and leaving this all behind me. Sometimes I
wonder what difference I've made in people's lives or what I've done
to really help or change anything and some days I feel okay about it
and others I'm not so sure. But I do know I've changed, even if only a
little bit, and that is something that will shape my future. President
Williams reminded me of what is most important- not numbers of people
baptized or of lessons taught, but of the change in hearts- our own
and others. And that can still happen to me when I return home. That
is all a choice I can make. And that was kind of the theme of the week
for me- I may not know exactly where I will work or what I will major
in or who I will marry but I know that God will guide me and
everything will work out even if I don't always see exactly how. So
all I have to do is to keep doing what I can- to study my scriptures
and apply them in my life, to serve where I can, to never be afraid to
testify of the gospel, of Jesus Christ, and of the Restoration. To
continue to try every day no matter what obstacles may come. To cry a
little and laugh a little. And it doesn't mean I'm not a little scared
or worried or anxious, but it means that those feelings don't hold me
back. So that's my challenge for each of you this week is to draw
closer to Him and trust Him, even if you are afraid.
I love you all! Have an incredible week!
Sister Jacobs
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