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.