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

Week 36: This Ward Is On Fire!!! (Or at least the building is)

This email will probably be short- we're leaving for a hike soon!
So, to explain the subject of my email- we had an interesting event

happen early Friday morning! Someone broke into the church building, stacked some hymn books around the podium and lit them on fire!  Luckily, approximately an hour later, some guys came to the church to play basket ball and smelled the smoke, so they were able to put it out. They had a temporary podium and sound system set up for Sunday and the chapel still smelled faintly of smoke. It was an adventure!

It's actually been a really adventurous week. So, first of all, greatnews- we got a car on Monday! Woohoo! So Wednesday we were following our sister training leaders from service to lunch and at the last minute they realized they have to change lanes and they didn't realize there was a car in their blind spot! So they got in a bit of a fenderbender. You can't see the damage from six feet away, but it did crack the bumper so they'll have to replace the whole thing. We helped them
out- so I was glad I knew how to do everything with the paperwork! The other guy was really nice though, so that helped. Luckily, they aren't going to have to take away our car. We get to keep it until it retires, so we've got about 600 miles left.

And, another even more awesome adventure- we were doing some service
on Thursday for Sister Pears. She had some stuff to clean out and she
also is trying to make a fire pit out of an old washer drum. So she
handed us a sledgehammer and told us to get the plastic off the bottom
so just the metal was left! I'll try and send a video clip. It was
awesome! So we whacked stuff with a sledgehammer and plastic got
everywhere. And we found a carpenter ant in her apartment building.

On a more spiritual note, Jimmy came to church on Sunday! And he loved it! It was kind of awesome. He didn't get to stay for all three hours
because of work, but he stayed for half of Sunday school. And our ward was really welcoming. It was awesome.

As for a spiritual thought- my scripture of the week is 2 Kings
6:15-17. The Lord will provide us with the strength that we need to do
what He asks us to do! It is pretty awesome.

I love you all- have a wonderful week! Il, have good hiking pictures
next Monday
Sister Jacobs

Week #35 Return of the Sun

This last week was one of those that just seems to last forever. It was odd, because it was sunny just about all week! And hot! For the first time in months, I didn't take my coat or umbrella with me when we went out. It was kind of odd....I was grateful last night when it rained a bit! I guess that means I've adjusted to Washington weather!

On Monday we had a fun FHE at the Turners. They invited the Kahms over and it was a lot of fun. We did the lesson- a matching game with the Ten Commandments- and then we played a game and had ice cream! I ended up with vanilla ice cream topped with peanut butter and homemade strawberry sauce- it was so good!

On Tuesday we were going to go on exchanges but Sister Arnett got a cold so she stayed in for the day and we postponed it to the next day instead! We saw Sister Paul- she's doing really well! We saw her again yesterday and she said she'd relapsed due to stress and sickn ess, but she's back on track. She is a really neat lady!  We had dinner at the Turners- these really delicious cheesy potatoes. And then we saw the Wieses- fun as always. Karl, their two year old, told us a pretty word story- I'll see if I can attach the video. He has a big imagination! The scripture study was small- only Sister Bork came, and we ended up really just talking about family history and the spirit of that. She
loves getting to find names!

So Wednesday we went on exchanges. I went to the Felida Ward with
Sister Arnett. It was pretty fun- we talked to and taught a lot of
people and I feel like I learned some better ways to be a better
missionary! It was a good exchange. Also, it was nice to be in a car
for a day!

Thursday, we exchanged back and we saw Sister Carter- we set up to
watch conference with her too. She's doing really well! She's slowly
getting closer to quitting smoking too. We walked a lot after that and
saw some new people. We met with Megan and that went really well! She
understands things really well and definitely has a testimony.

On Friday, we helped some people move- that was fun. They are moving
into our Ward and seem really nice! The funniest part was that the men
that were there to help wouldn't let us carry any of the heavy
stuff...

Then general conference! We watched the first session at home, which
was nice, then one with Megan. Then Sunday, we watched with the Kahms
and Sister Carter. It was amazing. I love General Conference! I love
getting to hear from our inspired leaders and being able to be
uplifted by the Spirit. We needed it especially this week- we've
walked a lot and worn ourselves out a bit. It was wonderful to hear! I
love the exhortations to help those around us in any way we can.

Another thought that came to me during conference is one I've thought
of before, but seems to be increasingly relevant in the modern world.
During the sustaining of the prophet and apostles, anyone who watched
heard the person shouting "No!" in the background. What struck me was,
first of all, it continued on, calmly and without interruption, as the
Lord's work always will. And second of all, the thought I've expressed
before- there is just as much, if not more, good in this world than
bad- the bad is just louder. In that conference center, when the
sustaining vote was taken, many thousands raised their right hands in
a silent affirmation that they would support and uphold the prophet,
that they would follow him, that they have faith he is called of God.
And one (or two) people called out against it. Thousands to one, and
yet our attention draws to that one- because they were louder. Had the
faithful shouted "yes" rather than silently raising hands, they would
have shaken the roof. Just as that occurred, so it occurs every day in
the world- good, wonderful people go silently and unobtrusively about,
doing good, wonderful things, while those who desire bad make a
ruckus. Think of what we hear about and see in the news- even as a
missionary, it leaks through! And we aren't even allowed to watch the
news! Bombings, and deaths, and shootings, and abuse, and horrible
things fill the air. And those good people keep moving forward, doing
good things. We are reaching the last days before the Savior comes-
when the whole world is in commotion. But don't forget that He will
come! He will descend from heaven, bringing peace and joy and love,
and as was quoted in conference multiple times- Rev 21:4 "And God
shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more
death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more
pain: for the former things are passed away." So I guess the point of
this ramble is, don't forget that there is good in the world- more
good than bad. The sun still shines, the rain still falls, the flowers
are blossoming, and we are alive.

I love you all! I love being a missionary and being able to serve my
Savior, Jesus Christ. I know that He lives and He loves each of you
and He knows you better than you know you. I am excited to be here and
to reach out and help people to find Him, to find what they need. I
hope you have a wonderful week!

Sister Jacobs

Week #34: Hallelujah

This week was a lot of fun- we had FHE with a less active member and
her kids, and we talked about the armor of God. We talked about how we
need to do the basics or we will not be able to stay "afloat" in the
world. We had an object lesson where we showed how when you put an
orange in water, it floats, but when you peel it, then it will sink.

Tuesday was zone conference! It was awesome. President Taylor talked about Ammon and Aaron in the Book of Mormon- how Ammon is this very demonstrative personality, someone we love to love. He gets a lot of attention! But Aaron was an equally good missionary, and also close to
the Spirit and to the Lord. He just was quieter, one of the background people, who nevertheless did his best and found much success. And I had the thought that I am literally an "Erin"- though I may never win a lot of worldly praise, if I work as hard as I can, I can still find good success! And our scripture study was that night - Mike wanted really badly to talk about the last days and the symbolism even though
we were talking about the birth of Christ. So it got a little
tangented. Anyway, Wednesday was wapis- always fun! We helped Sister Kahm out with getting some stuff done. We met with Sister Paul and she said she hasn't smoked in five days- she's so close to quitting!! The Pears are the same as always, and we got to see Stephanie too!





On Thursday we went to clean the soccer arena windows. So on Monday we had some emergency transfers and such because someone went home and so now Sister Carter is in my zone! It was exciting to see her after 8 months! Well, we've seen each other briefly in between but still- it's pretty cool. I definitely feel like I'm a different person than I was 8 months ago.

Friday was weekly planning, and pizza for dinner- it was actually pretty good! We talked to some new people and contacted a referral that we got from the temple visitor's center- actually the wife of a former investigator, so that's cool! We'll see what happens there. And the Wilsons were in town so they took us out for lunch! It was awesome! So we took a pic in front of Dutch Bros- which is kind of a
northwest landmark.

On Saturday we walked A LOT. The most we've walked this month. We talked to a lot of people, and we got to watch the Women's Conference with Megan! It wasn't as spiritual as we would have liked since Cody was leaving for work and they were arguing a bit... But it was still good! Conference is the best!  We made fries during dinner time- that was fun!

Sunday- Easter! Yay! And Fast Sunday, so we had fast and testimony
meeting. There were a lot of really good testimonies. One of the girls
in the Ward reports to the MTC on Wednesday- she's going to Argentina!
So she bore her testimony. It was a good Sunday. We spent our
afternoon and evening egging people's houses (with construction paper,
not real eggs, don't worry :) ). Then we had dinner at the Harrells-
they are a fun family! And it was delicious. We dyed a few eggs with
them afterwards. It was a good Easter Sunday!

It's been a good week, and it flew by. The thing I remember the most
is one night receiving a beautiful spiritual confirmation that He
lives! And He loves us and knows us each so well. He is present in
each of our lives even if we don't always realize it.

I love you all! Have a wonderful week!
Sister Jacobs

Week #33: Strange Lights in the Sky

This week was quite odd. For one, it was sunny for three days! And then, last night, there was actual lightning, which is surprisingly a first since I've been here.
Beyond that, it was a good week! We talked to a lot of new people. We had dinner with some investigators- Amy, Kristy, and TJ. TJ and Kristy are married and Amy is their friend. It was great- Sister Allen was able to answer their questions and help them to commit to really reading the Book of Mormon! They're headed to Africa to do charity work soon, but they are definitely willing to listen!



We met with Megan as well- I finally got to meet her fiancé! Cody is pretty funny. They make a cute couple! It's weird to think that they're our age. s doing well- she understands really well, and knows the gospel. We didn't get to see Stephanie this week because they were sick-something is making the rounds.

We stopped by Nicole's and had a good conversation with her! They have a lot of craziness going on- her son and daughter are both in football, and her daughter is team captain- yeah, she's pretty tough. The variety show was Friday night! It was awesome! No investigators came, but a few less actives did- it was really fun! I've got some great videos from the performances- hopefully I can send those. We had a lot of service this week as well.

Spiritual thought for the week:

"Another lesson taught by death concerns the importance of eternal families. Just as there are parents to greet a newborn on earth, the scriptures teach that caring family members greet the spirits in paradise and assist them in the adjustments to a new life (see Gen. 25:8; Gen. 35:29; Gen. 49:33). While I was standing before the casket, the thought came that separation was not only a shock for the parents, but also for the young man as he suddenly found himself on the other side of the veil. I suspect that he would like to tell his parents once more how much he loves them. Brothers and sisters, heaven only exists if families are eternal." ("The Power to Heal From Within," Merrill G Bateman, Ensign May 1995, italics added)

I love you all! Have a fun week!

Sister Jacobs

Week #32: A Little Bit of Everything

This week has been an absolutely wild ride- it feels like it's been
two or three weeks! I have no clue where to start. So Monday it is!

On Monday we made contact with Nicole, who the missionaries recently
started meeting with. She didn't make it to church Sunday- turns out
it was crazy work stuff going on. Then we walked around a lot.

Tuesday, we did service for Sister Kahm- she needed some help around
the house. So that was a lot of fun! We had an appointment with the
Wieses (less active members) and we played a Ten Commandments matching
game. Then we had a scripture study- they have that weekly. We heard
some interesting comments from Mike Dison about his theories on the
premortal life (that we all lived on a planet and as it exploded God
gained his powers and snatched up our souls and gave them new bodies
on this planet....so Krypton) so we might be talking about the plan of
salvation with him sometime soon! He's a funny guy- great testimony,
loves the Lord, and very unique.

On Wednesday we did wapis! Always fun. And then we got Panda Express!
That was exciting. Elder Read was doing this magic trick and Sister
Arnett was trying so hard to figure out the trick! It was, of course,
super simple. Anyway, that was a lot of fun. Then, lots of walking.
Met a bunch of nice people, including someone who just moved in to the
ward. After dinner, we met with the Pears and Brother Pears actually
admitted he likes when we come over- a first, according to Sister
Dearden! He likes to pretend he doesn't have a testimony, but we're
pretty sure he does.

Thursday, we had zone meeting- that was fun! Lots of good trainings
and a bunch of mind games by the elders. Then they went to clean
windows at the soccer place, but we had to go to an appointment with
Sister Carter (another member). She's had some struggles lately but
she's close to coming back to church! That's exciting! We had dinner
with the Burgoynes (they're office missionaries) and that was so fun.
Their daughter sent them Merlin on DVD and they just started watching
that. We also saw Stephanie again! She's doing alright- just pushing
through! She's really tough. She was telling us about how she got all
dressed up very professionally and she was talking about how she felt
confident and beautiful, even more that she ever felt wearing short
skirts or low shirts or stuff like that. That was awesome to hear! She
is on her way for sure.

Friday was normal planning stuff. Then Saturday we set up a regular
time with the Morrises- they just recently returned to activity and
are working on going to the temple, but they're still working on
understanding some of the basics. They were really excited when we
proposed it! We had correlation that night- lots of planning for the
ward variety show this coming Friday!

Sunday was a long day. Daylight savings made ward council at 7am
miserable. Then I got some bad news- I found out that Adam passed away
last week. That was rough. So after church I got a blessing. We walked
around a lot- the first door we knocked on turned out to be a less
active member! His wife is not a member- apparently he's been trying
to convince her to be baptized forever, yet he never comes to church
or prays. So we're thinking we'll ask him to walk the walk before he
talks the talk. We went by our dinner appointment and she'd forgotten,
clearly, so we just didn't mention it. She had signed up to have us
over for FHE though so we set that up! It felt like it lasted forever.

Anyway. That was the week! Sorry for rambling on so much. It's been
pretty crazy! This ward is pretty awesome, though different. The
members are really nice and the area is fun. We walk a whole lot but
it's okay because Sister Dearden and I are into a lot of the same
things! Music, shows, etc. So we always have something to talk about.

Thought of the week: it's a long quote from Elder Holland (Nov 2003
Ensign, "The Grandeur of God")

"There, in the midst of a grand vision of humankind which heaven
opened to his view, Enoch, observing both the blessings and challenges
of mortality, turns his gaze toward the Father and is stunned to see
Him weeping. He says in wonder and amazement to this most powerful
Being in the universe: “How is it that thou canst weep? … Thou art
just [and] merciful and kind forever; … Peace … is the habitation of
thy throne; and mercy shall go before thy face and have no end; how is
it thou canst weep?”
Looking out on the events of almost any day, God replies: “Behold
these thy brethren; they are the workmanship of mine own hands. … I
gave unto them … [a] commandment, that they should love one another,
and that they should choose me, their Father; but behold, they are
without affection, and they hate their own blood. … Wherefore should
not the heavens weep, seeing these shall suffer?”
That single, riveting scene does more to teach the true nature of God
than any theological treatise could ever convey. It also helps us
understand much more emphatically that vivid moment in the Book of
Mormon allegory of the olive tree, when after digging and dunging,
watering and weeding, trimming, pruning, transplanting, and grafting,
the great Lord of the vineyard throws down his spade and his pruning
shears and weeps, crying out to any who would listen, “What could I
have done more for my vineyard?”
What an indelible image of God’s engagement in our lives! What anguish
in a parent when His children do not choose Him nor “the gospel of
God” He sent! How easy to love someone who so singularly loves us!"

Coming to know more about the nature of God has been one of the great
blessings of my mission so far. I have come to know my Savior even
more, and also learned more about my Heavenly Father and His plan. I
came to the realization that not knowing the nature of God, not
knowing who He is, believing in some ethereal force or cloud, leads to
a loss of faith, a loss of respect and reverence. But a real,
immediate God- one who cares for us and is involved in our day to day
life, that is the God we truly can worship- and that is who He is! He
is there for us- He is not some impersonal CEO so high up the ladder
that we never cross paths. No, He is our Father, our best friend, our
aid in troubled times. He loves us! And that is so important to know.

I love you all! But not as much as God does :)
Sister Jacobs

Week #31: "You Can't Get There From Here"

So I'm writing this email as we sit in Buffalo Wild Wings. All the

sisters in our zone decided to have a lunch date! That's right- all

the sisters. There's more than four! In fact, there's fourteen sisters

in our zone. Partly because we also have the ASL sisters and the

Hermanas. It's kinda a lot of fun!

Anyway, this week's been crazy. Tuesday was mostly packing and saying

goodbye to everyone! And Wednesday was mostly unpacking and meeting

some people. We have some great people that we're teaching here! Megan

is on date for baptism in July! She is super fun. Her fiancé is a

member, so it's perfect.

Anyway, the biggest surprise was that the Vancouver 3rd Ward is a

walking area! So I'm still on foot....this area has more hills too.

But it also has more stores and restaurants, so that's fun. The people

seem really nice, and the Ward is great. And they meet at the mission

office! Which means I get to go to the office all the time. Which is

awesome! So we get our mail faster, and they always have candy there.

We live with Sister Barnum, and she is super nice. She's at work a

lot, so most of the time we have the house to ourselves.

Sister Dearden is awesome! Turns out we like a whole lot of the same

things. So there will be much baking and since we watch a lot of the

same shows we have that to talk about too. And I am learning to knit!

So that will be fun too. So far it's a blast! And this is the seven

week transfer, to accommodate the MTC time going back to three weeks

instead of two.

Thought for the week: Psalm 46:1

The Lord is always present in our lives! He is always there to help us

even if it's not the way we want, or the way we expect.

Love you all! Sorry the email is so short :P

 Sister Jacobs

 Broken Church Window and Rock Face :0

Bailey and Baby!  Got the pout face figured out!