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