1. First Letter Home

Hello family,

I know it has only been a day but already I have more to tell you then I ever would have thought possible. We were given two pass-along cards to take with us and give away on the plane or during travel in the packet with our visa. Well the night before I left I was thinking about sitting on the plane for nine hours on the way to Brazil and the thought came to me that there was going to be someone on one of the planes that I would be able to share the gospel with. But never did I think it would play out the way it did.

So after I boarded the plane on the way to Atlanta I sat down and right when I did the lady sitting in the seat next to me said,  `I am so glad you are sitting next to me. I saw your mom crying and I wanted to know the story behind it.`  She thought we were Jehovah Witnesses but I told her that I was going on a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. After I said that she said `Oh, the church that puts on the Hill Cumorah Pageant up in New York."

It turns out that she lives right next to the pageant and she went to see it the year Donny Osmond came and spoke to the cast after the show. So I got to give her a card and talk to her about that.

Then when I got on the second plane on the way to Brazil there was this family that was returning home to Brazil.

Drats!  Time is up!  I'm dying to tell you this one but it will have to wait!!!!!

I love you so much.

Bye

Elder Bryan Jacobson

Started the week off with grandma and grandpa coming into town to spend the week with us before we leave.  It has been such a great time.  Andrew & I started off having a movie party, watching all the movies that we won't be able to watch for the next two years, starting with all six parts of the extended version of The Lord of the Rings. Then we went on Amazon and watched Inception, Narnia, and GI Joe 2. During the days time we made time for a few trips into down town San Antonio to visit the Alamo and some of the sights there. 

We three boys and grandpa went out and went to a mirror maze and a laser obstacle course. It was so awesome! I felt like I was in Mission Impossible :) 

On Sunday Andrew & I  had the opportunity to speak in another sacrament meeting, then after that we raced home to make dinner, meat loaf and cheesy potato's yum yum, before company came over for our farewell.

Two hours later we traveled to the Stake Center to be set apart. It's official,  I'm a missionary!!!! Time to pack and wait just a little longer before I can get on that plane after waiting 155 days since the day I read my call. 

Sao Paulo  Brazil here I come!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

10 days away till I'm leaving on my mission! Where exactly to I don't know yet but i can hardly stand the anticipation of leaving my entire life behind for two years. Kinda scary but so exciting. Today I gave  my farewell talk in the wiseman ward and in it I talked about alma the elder how when he heard the words of abinadi he left all that he had throwing his entire life behind him knowing he would never come back to it to do what he believed was right.
Now I am no where near what alma was but I am greatful that I get to have a taste of what it was like for him. Alma has been one of my favorite characters in the Book of Mormon because of the faith that he had and the effect that his faith had on the people. My goal is that I will build my testimony further each and every day of my mission and for the rest of my life that one day I will know that I am willing to do and sacrifice all things for the sake of The Lord and his work. For it is a marvelous work and I am and will be eternally greatful for the opportunity I have to help his work progress in any way I can great or small.
I know that the gospel of Jesus Christ is true and I know that it has blessed my life that through the atonement of Jesus Christ I am standing were I am today. And I know that I can show the love I have for my savior by telling them of the hope that comes from the saviors sacrifice.
I love my savior and I know he loves and watches out for me daily. And because of him I know that I have been prepared and I am ready to go and do.