13. We had our first BAPTISM!

oi família, Este semeia foi moito bom!!! On tuesday I had the oppertunity to go on splits with a group of all greenies!!! hahah. their was three of us with close to the same amout of time out in the field. It was realy fun trying to talk to people. I learned a great lesson this day. As I watched these new elders, like myself, talk to everyone they saw not caring that they couldn't speak perfectly. They were such a great example to me because I am afraid to try to do street contacts cuz I haven't figured out all the words to say it but now I have decided to let go of my fears and just do it. Just open my mouth and let the words come out. I have seen in lessons this week that words have been coming to my mouth that I did not think I would be capable of saying. And I have seen that through the Lords help I have been able to be bring joy to peoples lives. I also got to go on splits with Elder Da Silva. He is a Brazilian that has been searving for about a year and a half. It WAS SO MUCH FUN. We found two new investigators and taught them the 3rd lesson, The Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is the best feeling to see peoples faces light up when they hear this message. Here in Brazil one of the cool things to do is fly kites!!!! Everyone is always in the strees flying these kites around. Its realy cool. When I was with Elder Da Silva we walked down a street and could see close to 50 kites in the air. One of the boys flying a kite ran unto me and asked me if i had ever flown a kite before and how I would say his name in English. haha. I have a picture of us holding one of the kites that fell inside the gate of the chapel. haha Me and Elder Ahmed are still getting fed so much food. Next saterday we are going to be eating at a members house. The member said that I did not eat enough and that I had to eat 4 plates piled high!!!! In reply I told him I would eat 5. (I dont know what i was thinking) I am going to do a special fast before I go to this lunch appointment. haha And I saved the highlight of the week for last!!!!!! We had our first BAPTISM for Lucas!! Lucas was one of the first people I visited and taught here. He was fellowshipped by the ward mission leader. It was perfect. I know that the Lord was preparing Lucas for this moment in his life because he has been ready for a very long time he just needed to find it. Every day I feel so blessed to have the oppertunity to meet so many humble and loving people. I have never experienced anything like it. People here are ready and waiting. waiting for me to clap at their gate. I love you all so much and I am so greatful for this oppertunity to be here in Brazil on my mission. I am so grateful for the gospel and for all that it was done for me in my life and above all I am grateful that I have the oppertunity to share it with others. Love you so much!!!!!!!!!!!! Elder Bryan Jacobson PS Answer to your questions, Well for our toilet we fill a bucket of water and bump it in to flush it. Clapping at the gate instead of knocing on doors or ringing doorbells is new. All the food I eat is normal:) YAAAH!

12. He has always had a plan for me

oi. familia!!!! Another busy week!!! The work is really picking up this week. We have three investigators with a baptismal date set with 5 more progressing. And on top of that we found 16 new investigators this week!!!!!! The Lord has blessed us greatly. I just continue to pray that the Lord will allow us to say the words that we need to say to get these people to understand and feel the spirit testify to them. It is so cool to see the people we teach show their faith by being willing to follow the commandments of God. Yesterday at church we had 7 investigators attend sacrament meeting. This week has clearly taught me that the Lord has prepared people to hear the message of the gospel of Jesus christ. I have been reminded that everyone on this earth already knows the truth of this message, they just have to be reminded. So somthing realy cool happened last night. It was poring rain and i was soaked . My companion & I went back to our house to drop some papers off before they got wet. Then my companion asked if I wanted to go to our last appointment or stay home and study. Our last appointment was not marked and it was with an investigator that was unsure about us coming. We had gone to his house five times before and had not once gotten in. But I know that I would not feel good about staying in early so I told my companion that I wanted to go and see if we could talk to Migel. So we walked to his house in the rain. But this time we got to talk to him. At first Migel was hesitant to talk to us but after about a minute he opened right up to us and we talked to him about some of his concerns. He had alot of questions about the word of wisdom and the law of chastity. My companion taught a great lesson and Migel understood. We marked a date to go back!!!! I pray that we can keep making progress with him. This story has testified to me that when we do the things that we are supposed to do the Lord blesses us. And that is what this gospel is all about, doing the things god asks us so that we can be happy in this life and in the life to come. I love you all so much. Thank you for your prayers, I have felt at peace this week because of them. I know that my Father in Heaven is looking after me. He has always had a plan for me and now parts of that plan are revieled to me each day. LOVE YOU. Elder B. Jacobson

11. Another great week on the mission!

oi Familia!!!!! 

This has been another great week on the mission. Full of many great learning moments. This week I went on splits with Elder Merker. Haha he is a great missionary. We spent one day in my area going through the appointments that we had. We had two great lessons that day. One to Wesely, we talked to him about the Book of Mormon. He thinks it all makes sense and he feels good when he reads it. We are going to get him to come to church next week. And then we taught a little boy named Ozmor. He is EIGHT years old and wants to be baptized. When Elder Merker and I went to teach him, he said that when he read and prayed about the Book of Mormon he felt good and that he knew that baptism was the right thing for him to do!!!!!!!! It is such a strength to my own testimony when I see an 8 year old read and gain a testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ. He truly has been prepared by the Lord. 

Last Thursday we had our first zone conference. All of the missionaries met in a church building about 40 minutes away by bus. I don't really know where it was. We were instructed by President Martins about how to be better missionaries. It was all in Portuguese so I didn't really get a lot out of it but I did feel the spirit comfort me and I learned once again that I am in the Lords hands. I am looking back on some of the trials that I have had in the past and I am seeing now how some of them have prepared me for the trials God knew I would go through here. He is so aware of me I can not tell you the number of times I have felt the comfort of the Holy Ghost telling me that everything will be okay. And it will because God has a plan for me and he will help mr fulfill that plan. 

Friday night the ward had a ward party!!! It was a great chance to get to meet some of the members of the ward. It was supposed to be a huge missionary effort but only one nonmember was at the party. haha o well, we got her address and are going to talk to her this week. 

Saturday morning, Elder Ahmed and I had the opportunity to go to a convention of non profitable organizations. The Mormon Helping Hands had a huge booth set up and I got to go and talk about what Mormon helping hands was. Hahah it was realy cool. I might show up in the Ensign here. 

Sunday we had lunch at a really rich members house. HUGE HOUSE.  There was so much food holy cow . But it was an exciting lunch because a huge family fight broke out. I didn't understand what they were yelling about so I just kept eating and trying not to laugh to hard. One of these days ill get it. 

I have been watching the district this week and as I have I have found a new excitement to learn the language faster and apply what they do to my mission. I know that god is on my side and with Him, I will be a great missionary. 

Thank you all for your support. I love you so much!!!!!!!! 

Talk to you next week,

                                                      Elder Jacobson

10. Another busy week!!!

oi. familia!!!! 

Another busy week!!! The work is really picking up this week. We have three investigators with a baptismal date set with 5 more progressing. And on top of that, we found 16 new investigators this week!!!!!! The Lord has blessed us greatly. I just continue to pray that the Lord will allow us to say the words that we need to say to get these people to understand and feel the spirit testify to them. 

It is so cool to see the people we teach show their faith by being willing to follow the commandments of God. Yesterday at church we had 7 investigators attend sacrament meeting. This week has clearly taught me that the Lord has prepared people to hear the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I have been reminded that everyone on this earth already knows the truth of this message. They just have to be reminded. 

So something really cool happened last night. It was poring rain and I was soaked . Me and my companion went back to our house to drop some papers off before they got wet. Then my companion asked if I wanted to go to our last appointment or stay home and study. Our last appointment was not marked and it was with an investigator that was unsure about us coming. We had gone to his house five times before and had not once gotten in. But I know that I would not feel good about staying in early so I told my companion that I wanted to go and see if we could talk to Migel. 

So we walked to his house in the rain. But this time we got to talk to him. At first Migel was hesitant to talk to us but after about a minute he opened right up to us and we talked to him about some of his concerns. He had allot of questions about the Word of Wisdom and the law of chastity. My companion taught a great lesson and Migel understood. We marked a date to go back!!!! I pray that we can keep making progress with him.

This story has testified to me that when we do the things that we are supposed to do the Lord blesses us. And that is what this gospel is all about, doing the things God asks us so that we can be happy in this life and in the life to come. 

I love you all so much. Thank you for your prayers, I have felt at peace this week because of them. I know that my father in heaven is looking after me. He as always had a plan for me and new parts of that plan are revealed to me each day. 

LOVE YOU. 

9. "You do realize that you have only been out 10 days?"

Hello Family!! 

Ow what a week it has been. The work is getting better!! And by that I mean we are teaching more lessons. We found a new investigator yesterday and set a baptismal date!!!! Its crazy how fast it all goes. Her name is Anna Palla. We found her through a referral and have only taught her once but I believe she has been prepared to here the message of the lord. Its also great because if she is baptized, her son that just turned eight would be baptized as well. We are gaining more and more people to teach each day and i look forward to the opportunity to share my testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

So last week i was in a panic, everything seemed so overwhelming then my companion looked at me and said ` You do realize that you have only been out 10 days`. 

I looked at the date on my watch and i couldn't believe it. Ever since then I have been able to just relax and take things as they come. And as I have done so I have felt that the spirit has been able to be with me when I am calm and put my faith in the Lord. This week I have felt my prayers being answered as I just keep moving forward in faith. 

    So this week we have been doing allot of walking!! It's great I love the workout!! haha but it's funny because the sidewalks are so uneven that I trip all the time. Me and my companion have been keeping a tally each day. Saturday I broke the record with 28 trips!!!! hahah. my pore shoes. and then to top it off into a drain in the side of the road because the rock covering it was broken and when I stepped on it I fell right through!!!! hahah. but it all ended good because while I was trying to get out we ran into a guy that asked us for help. We gave him our number, the number of the bishop and address. I don't know what happened after that but I hope we hear back soon if there is more we can do to help this man.

    This week I went on my first exchanges. I was terrified. Trying to find all the houses was very difficult and I missed one of the appointments cuz I couldn't find the house to save my life. But me and Elder lopes taught two really good lessons that night and got two return dates. It was awesome. A very humbling and rewarding experience. 

    Last thing before I go. I was talking to my mission president this week and he gave me some really good advise. It wasn't anything I hadn't heard before but never had it impacted me in this way. I think the same comments were made in the talk dad sent. 

"Faith proceeds the miracles." I have to be willing to open my mouth and say things that I don't think I know how. I have to go places that I don't know, and do things that I am afraid to do before I can receive the blessings from my faith. It has and will continue to be a hard lesson to learn but I know that as I move forward in faith, the Lord will provide the way for me. He sent me here and He has a  plan. 

I look forward to see it unfold before me. (So do we son, so do we. - Mom) 

I love you all very much!!! Thank you for your support and prayers

Love Elder Bryan Jacobson

 D& C 78:18 And ye cannot bear all things now; nevertheless, be of good cheer, for I will lead you along. The kingdom is yours and the blessings thereof are yours, and the riches of eternity are yours.

8. Out of the MTC.... Into the Field. Big Crazy City "Field"

Hello again. 

It has been too long since I have had the chance to email you. So, I have made it safely out of the CTM. My first area is called Vila Maria!!! I am with Elder Amed!!! So, where to begin. The day I Left the CTM I went to eat at the mission presidents house. We had some kind of chicken gravy with rice. My mission President is awesome. He looks realy scary but he is realy funny. The city is crazy!!!! I don't know how I am going to do this. (You know how easily I get lost) haha. I have to admit I am terrified. I just keep reminding myself that I am in the Lord's hands and that he has a plan for me. 

So this week we have been trying to get a teaching pool together. It's a lot of work and so many of our appointments fall through 'cuz everyone works all day here. But we have two baptisms lined up. KEEPING MY FINGERS CROSSED! 

It's funny 'cuz I hardly know these people but I just can't help wanting them to accept the gospel. 

I make a lot of people laugh because I don't understand a word they are saying!!! haha I just smile and nod my head. The members here are also great. We have a great ward in Vila Maria. 

The members feed us so much food!!!!! I kid you not, we have meals at a members house every meal and then they all send us home with the left overs. It's crazy. I'm getting fat already!!! haha. 

So, this morning I got to go to the temple again!!!!! All of the missions close to temple get to go once every 3 months, or something like that, and I just happen to get out of the CTM at just the right time to get to go. It was awesome. Can I just say that the Lord knows me and the things I am going through. There is nothing I needed more then to go to the temple and feel the love of my savior.

I love you all very much. 

Okay, I'm trying to send pictures let me know if you get them. 

I love you all so much. Please pray that I can handle all the things I need to do:)

Love you all so much,

Elder Bryan Jacobson

7. Greenie in Vila Maria

OI FAMILIA E AMIGOS 

Just writing this email to you to let you know that I have made it safely out of the CTM. 

My first area is the Vila Maria area and my companion is Elder Ahmed. I am so excited and so terrified at the same time!!!! Cant wait to tell you more when I get the chance to email again. I'm sure i'll have so much more to say now that i'm out of the CTM. 

Remember that I love you!!! Talk to you soon. 

Love,

Elder (Bryan) Jacobson 

6. MY BROTHER MY BROTHER

Oi como vi

Can you believe it was been another week in the CTM!!!!? The time has gone by so fast!!! This is the last email I will be sending to you all while I am in the CTM!!!! Crazy!!!! This week has been a complete miracle. Our daily schedule was about the same as the typical week. Gym in the morning, study, prepare for our lessons and then time with the instructor, but the thing that has changed is the time when me and my companion get to teach our investigators here at the CTM.

Before this week I was always so terrified to practice the lessons with our investigators here because I always felt that I could never say the words that I wanted to say to them. But this week that changed. I have seen miracles in my life but never like the one that I am living in now.

As I read my patriarchal blessings I am seeing some of the promises come true. My mouth is being fulled with words to say at the exact time I need them. This week Me and Elder Brogan were teaching a lesson and in the middle of the lesson the investigator asked me to bear my testimony on the power of prayer. (We were teaching her about prayer) At first I did not understand what she was asking my, my companion had to mouth the words to me. I finally understood that she wanted to know how I knew that God answers our prayers or something like that. When I realized what she was asking me I was not afraid because I had been thinking in my mind about 5 minutes before what I would say to bare my testimony of the power of prayer. I told here that I know God will answer her prayers and that God can help you with all of the things that you are going through in your life if your ask him for help. It took me awhile to get the words out but they did come, and I know it was because of the Lord and the power of the Holy Ghost that she understood what I said.

Even though the investigator is not real yet I know that the power of the Holy Ghost is and it is amazing what happens when you have the faith to follow its promptings.

After that lesson I have been able to say more things without having to read them off a paper!!! Just shows me once again how much my Father in Heaven loves me and has a plan for me.

So I have to tell you about one of my best friends here at the CTM. His name is Elder Tanchiva. He speaks Spanish and a lot of Portuguese and has claimed me as his brother! haha. He found out about Andrew and now ever since then every time he sees me he yells MY BROTHER MY BROTHER SEMPRE SEMPRE. YOUR BROTHER NOT,  I'M YOUR BROTHER!!!!  He then makes me say,

eu sou elder Jacobson, eu sou um missionario da igreja de Jesus Christo dos santos dos Ultimos dias. Nos temos um mensagem sobre jusus cristo e O Livro de Mormon. ( Hello I am Elder jacobson, I am a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint. We have a message about Jesus Christ and The Book of Mormon.)

All of the Brazilians on our floor wait in a group for me to come up and say this each night. It repeats when I go into the bathroom to brush my teeth. hahha!!! And I have to say I love it. I love the people here and I have found that if I just smile they are really nice and open. In my classroom I am the class greeter. Every time someone comes in I yell, Oi, como vi? ( Hi, how are you). It it so much fun.

So I have time to tell you one more thing. I bought a book of Mormon from the temple store for 1.50R (.75$) Me and elder Brogan are going to mark it up and give it away on the bus ride on the way to our first areas!!!!! I'm so excited!!!! Its going to be awesome. Everyone in our district has 4 hour plane rides to get to their areas but me and Brogan could only have a 45 minute bus ride!!!!! just think In 5 days i will be in the field doing it for real!!!! so pumped!!!

well I'm out of time.

I love you all so much. I will  get to send some pictures next email!!!

Talk to you all next week

                                                      CHAO CHAO!!!

                                           Love,

                            Elder B. Jacobson

5. "I Need Thee Every Hour"

Hello Family!!!!

I'm so excited to tell you about what has happened this week. First off, I went proselyting in the streets of Brazil!!!! It was so awesome! I could hardly say a word but the Spirit was still so strong with me and Elder Brogan. We handed out four Books of Mormon!!!! So many people here are interested about the church and they know that the CTM missionaries come teaching on that same street often. So one of the people we gave a Book of Mormon to was sitting in a chair by the side of the street holding a sign. We told him about the Book of Mormon and then I bore my testimony to him in Portuguese. haha I don't know if he understood a word I said but when we passed him on the way back to the bus stop we saw him reading it!!!! haha.

Next our district sang "I Need Thee Every Hour" in front of the entire CTM!!! It went really good and I have grown to love that song as I have realized just how much I do need the Lord every hour of my life.  So this Sunday I was asked by our district leader if I would bless the sacrament. It normally would not cause me any stress to bless the sacrament except for the fact that I had to do it in Portuguese. I was terrified!!! Me and my companion practiced the prayer over and over again trying to get me to say the words right. I thought I had it down and then when I said it for real I couldn't get the words out of my mouth the way they should have.

I was kinda embarrassed and just tried to remind myself that I have only been here for 4 weeks. Just as I was feeling better the president presiding over our meeting got up to announce who would be speaking. 

(btw, they don't tell you  who is going to be speaking until you get there, everyone has to have a talk ready to go each week just in case.) Well I had convinced myself that I was safe from speaking since I had blessed the Sacrament.  hahah wrong. My name was called last!!!!

I got up and shared my thoughts on the atonement the best I could. I read Isaiah 1 18 and then shared some thoughts that I had about the atonement written down on a piece of paper. I was planning on sitting down right after that but then I was prompted to bare my testimony and the words just came out. It was simple but it was enough for me to learn that the Lord truly will fill my mouth with words when I need them. I just have to put my trust in the Lord.

Today we went to the temple and after the section Me and Elder Brogan talked to some missionaries that are serving in our mission. They work in the mission office or something like that. They talked to us about the mission and about the mission president (btw, I forgot to mention I saw my mission president at the temple last week).

Yesterday 88 missionaries left the CTM it was so cool!!! And I get so excited that it will be me in just two short weeks. I am going to miss the people at the CTM  however. There is a Brazilian Missionary named Elder Tanchiva, he has adopted me and is now my new twin. Every time he sees me he yells JACOBSON MY BROTHER BROTHER, SEMPRE SEMPRE which means ALWAYS. HAHA  then he gives me a hug and demands that I tell him the name of the church in Portuguese. hahah!!! Its so great!!

I am so excited to go out and do all that I can to share the message with others.

I love you all!!!!!

Ill send you some pictures soon!!!!!

                                                                                love,

                                                                           Elder B. Jacobson

4. Half way done with my time in the CTM (MTC in Portuguese)

Hello Family,

Another sweet week in the CTM. I can't believe how fast it is all going. I am half way done with my time in the CTM and it is hard to believe that I will be teaching on the streets in just a few more weeks!!!! This week I chocked out my first prayer in Portuguese in our class. haha it was cool! I couldn't believe how many words came to my mind right when i needed them. It has been the most amazing thing to see the lords hand in my life each and everyday. I know that he is watching over me and each day my testimony grows stronger that I am were the lords wants me to be.

So the other day I went to the police station with the rest of my district to get out visas finished up. We spent the entire morning getting our finger prints taken and signing paper work. It was kind of nice to get out and see some more of Brazil. As I sat in a chair waiting, I started watching all of the people walk by I pictured myself sharing the gospel with every single one of them. I thought about how God knows about every single person and he cares for them just like he does me. As I thought about this I felt this strong desire to learn the language faster so that I could share my knowledge of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Never have I realized what a blessing the Gospel is and how important it is to share what we know with others. For some reason I have always been afraid to share the gospel with my friends and the people around me except for when we were at pageant. But know that I am here and i have nothing for worry about but missionary work I have realized that sharing this message is something that I could and should have done more often.

So many people are ready to hear the message of the restored gospel and we just have to open our mouths. For that is the true purpose of why we are on this earth. We don't have to teach a lesson to share the gospel either. This week I have been thinking about how I can share the gospel when I am unable to speak the language. As I  thought about this I realized that I don't need to speak to love and help the people here. I decided that until I can put my testimony into words I will share my testimony through my actions and through my face. I know that as I do all I can the Lord will bless me and provide the way. I have been so blessed and the Lord is so willing to pore out more blessings to me if I have faith and do the things that he wants and needs me to do.

                   Eu sei A Igreja De Jesus Christo dos santos do ultimos dias verdadeiro. Eu amor Jesus Cristo. A nome de Jesus Cristo amem.

I love you all so much and pray for you every day! 

3. Can't believe it has already been another week.

Hello Family!

Can't believe it has already been another week. I got to go to the temple again today! It was a wonderful experience. The spirit is always so strong. This week me and my companion have been working diligently every day trying to learn new words in the language. With endless practice some of the stuff is making a little sense! haha I am feeling vary hopeful that when the time is right and if I do all that I can do the lord will bless me.

      While listening to the conference this weekend I felt that every single talk had to do something with missionary work. It was the most amazing thing to feel like every word coming from the speakers mouths were meant just for me. One of my favorites was of course by President Uchtdorf, when he talked about his skying trip and how he fell and could not get up alone. It reminded me of the time when I was at the park and I couldn't get up the ladder to get to the slide and I kept falling over and over again. I think back on that story and the words of President Uchtdorf and it brings me hope to know that no matter how many times I fall down I will only fail when I quit.

      So I am determined that no matter how hard I fall i will get back up and try harder the next time. Just about everyday me and Elder Brogan have the opportunity to teach a lesson to an investigator, and although it is not real I have found myself feeling this great desire to convert them to the church again! Our last lesson was the best we have taught yet. All we talked about was God being our Heavenly Father and Families, but as we taught I felt the spirit so strong even though I could not say the words to make the message perfectly clear. But from that experience my testimony of the power of the holy ghost has been strengthened. I truly know that if I am going to be a good missionary I am going to have to rely fully on the Holy Ghost.

      If you get the chance you should try and find a talk by Elder Holland given to the missionaries about the atonement. watch the video! It is the most powerful talk I have ever heard in my life and motivates me to give all I have to the lord. Whenever I am feeling tired or unmotivated to keep studying I think of this talk and all that my Lord and Savior had to do for me so that I could have the chance to return to him. I love my Savior so much and I know that he knows me more then I know myself. I just have to put my trust in him and let him work through me.

      So I met sister Cummings I think was her name, she said that she was in your cast team a few years ago. Does that name ring a bell? 

      Lets see, our district is singing I need thee every hour in Portuguese on Sunday during sacrament meeting this Sunday. haha. The CTM Presidents wife found out that we had people in our district that could sing so she hunted us down. haha it does sound pretty good!

     Well I'm about out of time. I hope to get some pictures to you as soon as i get out into the field.

    I love you all so much!!!!!!

 I know that this gospel is true. It is the coolest thing to be devoted to the one thing that truly matters in this life time. For so long i have worried about school and so many other things that I thought were so important, but now that I am here I have come to realize that there is nothing on this earth more important then sharing the message on the gospel to others. This gospel is truly the only thing that matters and I am so grateful that I am so fortunate to be apart of it.

        I love you all so much and I love looking at the picture of us in front of the temple. I know I have been blessed greatly to have the family that I have. love you again!!!!!!

                                                Elder B Jacobson

My MTC District (or class)

2. First Week in the MTC!

Hello Family!!

So,  I can finally tell you the second story of what happened on the plane on the way to Brazil!!!!  So I was sitting on the end seat in the middle section and there was a couple sitting next to me. When we got settled down in our seats I decided to start talking to them because it was a late flight and I knew that if I waited too long, all they would want to do was sleep. So I said hello. They did not speak very much English but I could make out just enough of what they were saying. After about 5 minutes I remembered I had my Portuguese Book of Mormon in my carry on bag, so I pulled it out and told them a little bit about it and Joseph Smith and Jesus Christ. I let them read it. Oscar and his wife read the entire introduction and a little bit of the first chapter of Nephi. 

They seemed very interested and so I gave them the pass along card that I had in my bag. Oscar, the husband, looked up the website right there on the plane TV thing in front of him. I told them that if they wanted I could send someone over to their house so they could learn more. Oscar gave me his families home address, home phone, and cell phone that the missionaries could call.

Oscar then showed my on my mission map were he lives, But unfortunately he is right outside my mission. Haha oh well.

Now that I have been in the MTC a week I am starting to get used to the busy schedule. We had to teach a lesson in Portuguese the second night!!!!!!! It was so scary. As I thought, the language does not come naturally, but I just have to remember that the Lord knows me better than I know myself. I know this is were I  am supposed to be and I have faith that when the time is right I will be able to share my testimony with the people. Today as we walked down the streets for the first time just from smiling at the people made me so happy and my desire to share what I know about this gospel grow. I already feel a love for them that I can't describe.

So my companions name is Elder Brogan! He is the best! I am the only one in my district that did not take 4 or more years of Spanish so it has been so difficult for me. I feel like I am being left behind in the language. haha But the biggest lesson I have learned is that I am not here to learn the language, I am here to learn how to follow the spirit.  And I know that as I do that, the Lord will bless me and my mouth will be full of the words that I need to say.

This was confirmed to me as I sat in the temple and felt the spirit so strong.

I have come to the strong realization that this life is the time to become like God and Jesus Christ and I have learned that this task is not an easy one. I have come to the realization that I must go through the bad to truly enjoy the good. I have gained a stronger testimony of my Savior's Atonement and I know that like my Savior, I to can do hard things. 

I see Andrew almost every day! We play volleyball together most mornings!! And he is in the classroom next door to mine.

I would love to send you some pictures but we were just informed that we cant send them. Sorry.

I love you all so much!!!! I look at the picture I have of us at the temple everyday. It makes me so happy. I love my Savior and I am so grateful for all that He has done for me. I know I am here today because of Him. I know that without Him I would to totally lost. I love this gospel and I pray everyday that I will be able to share it from my heart soon( instead of reading it off a paper) haha. I know without a doubt that this gospel is true and I am so grateful for the chance I have to be a part of this great work.

I love you all once again and I pray and think of you daily.

                                                                               Love,  Elder B. Jacobson

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.