Sister Jacobson's Glimpses of Gilbert

July 2, 2018

Hello everyone!!

Sister Jacobson

It has been an INCREDIBLE week!!! I swear, the Lord reserved His choicest blessings for us this week. His hand was 100% visible this entire week.

At the temple with J!

This week we had the opportunity to go to the temple and do baptisms with our recent convert, J. I have been looking forward to this day since the day J was baptized! He was STOKED to be able to go inside the temple. As soon as we walked through the doors he turned to me and was like "Sister Jacobson I can feel the Spirit so strongly right now." Since J is a Priest, he was able to baptize Sister Jensen and me!! There really aren't words to describe how special it was to have one of my own recent converts baptize me in behalf of the dead. Definitely one of the more tender memories of my mission! J has a fear of reading out loud in front of others, so he was really stressed about reading the baptismal prayer...but he did awesome! By the end of my names he was saying the prayer perfect and he was like "I'm getting the hang of this thing!" When we left he told me that he just felt good knowing that he'd helped people make their first promise with God. He's so good.

C's baptism!

We had some really bomb lessons with C this week! We had a lesson at the church where we went over her baptismal interview questions and then walked her through exactly what would happen at her baptism and at her confirmation on Sunday. Man, I'll tell ya, that woman is a TROOPER. She has been through a LOT, but if you give her a challenge she will definitely rise up to meet it. She passed her baptismal interview with flying colors and was baptized on Saturday! She didn't want anyone to come to her baptism, but we were able to find a couple of people in the ward that she already knew to come out and support her. There was such a sweet Spirit there. I know that her deceased son was smiling down on her; his death is what initially introduced her to the Church...there are no coincidences! Yesterday she was confirmed and she stayed inside the chapel for the entire sacrament meeting! Bishop even brought her up on the stand and the whole ward recognized her as a new member and she still stayed. I love her so much. Her life is still crazy, and she's still working through some pretty difficult trials, but I have a firm testimony that God will provide a way for her to make it through.

Polaroids from this last weekend

We also had a fantastic week with T! We had a lesson with him early on in the week all about prophets. T had expressed concern to us about whether or not there is a living prophet on the Earth today, so Sister Jensen and I took an entire lesson and talked with him about the pattern of God calling prophets since the beginning of time down until now! We used a lot of visual aids and by the end of the lesson he understood. He committed to read President Nelsons most recent conference talk and biography and pray to know if he was a prophet, and the next lesson he told us that he definitely has faith that God has called a prophet to the Earth today!

During that lesson with T a thought popped into my head that I am 100% positive was revelation from God. Each lesson T is always eager to share with us what he's read from the Book of Mormon that day. I realized that T had easily read half of the Book of Mormon...but he'd never shared anything with us from 3 Nephi 11, when Jesus Christ comes and ministers to the people in the Americas. I guess it just kinda hit me that T had read the vast majority of the BOM, but he hadn't even read the most important chapter yet. For our next lesson we decided to read 3 Nephi 11. The Spirit was powerful. This lesson was a game changer for T. He was on the verge of tears multiple times. The verses that changed it all for him were verses 33 and 34:

33 And whoso believeth in me, and is baptized, the same shall be saved; and they are they who shall inherit the kingdom of God.

34 And whoso believeth not in me, and is not baptized, shall be damned.

When T read those verses he immediately said, "I know this is true. I need to be baptized as soon as possible. I know that if I were to die today I wouldn't be saved because I haven't been baptized." It was crazy! It was seriously like a light switch went off in his mind!

So we left that lesson with T and called our mission president. We were basically like "Okay President here's the situation. We've been teaching this kid for about five weeks now. We meet with him on average 4-5 times a week, he's read more than half the BOM, he knows this church is true and he loves the gospel, he wants to be baptized...he just hasn’t come to church yet because he can't get work off...what do we do??" and kid you not, President Wheeler literally laughed and said, "Sisters if he knows it's true and he wants to be baptized...is God really going to deny him the blessing of baptism because his manager won't give him Sundays off? Baptize him." I never thought I'd heard those words come out of my mission president’s mouth haha, but the Spirit confirmed to our hearts that what he had said was true...that God wouldn't deny T the blessing of baptism and neither should we.

Our next lesson with T we met him at the temple and sat outside as we taught him about temples. He told us that as soon as he walked onto the grounds he felt the Spirit in greater abundance than he'd ever felt in his life. He LOVED everything about the temple and he is stoked to be able to go inside soon. At this lesson we dropped the bomb that he could get baptized on Sunday, even if he wasn't able to make it to church, and I can't remember the last time I saw someone so happy. T was floored. He kept saying "This feels right. This is the right timing. I know it's true." and he even said that regardless of what his family thought about him, he knew what he was feeling was true and sooner or later they'd come around.

T's baptism

So yesterday we had an awesome baptismal service for T. He showed up in his work uniform...and he works at Bush's chicken...so following his baptism he was confirmed in his Bush's chicken uniform haha it was kinda funny and we were so embarrassed, but T was okay with it so I suppose that's all that really matters! He'd only met a handful of people in the ward, but we invited tons of people and the ward pulled through. He had a huge group there supporting him. He felt so loved! When he came out of the water he was very emotional and right there in the font he turned to the audience and bore his testimony about the gospel of Jesus Christ. He's already changed so much since we first met him and I know that the light that he has is only going to grow brighter. When he was confirmed, he was blessed that he would be a missionary to many people...and afterwards he started asking all of us about our missions. The future is definitely bright for T!

L's baptism!

This week we met with L and B one last time to make sure L was ready for her baptism on Saturday. She was so excited. We reviewed the Plan of Salvation and they both loved it. B especially opened up a ton and started asking Sister Jensen and me a ton of questions about ourselves. B was amazed when he heard that it actually snows in Idaho, and his mind was blown when I showed him a few pictures of Idaho winters. At the very end of the lesson he goes "I have two questions. 1. Adam was on earth before Eve right? 2. When do you think is a good day for me to be baptized?" Sister Jensen and I about died...we were not expecting that! We told him he could be baptized next weekend and he was SO excited. He had a blast on Saturday seeing his little sister get baptized, and he said it helped him feel more excited for his own baptism. His heart is slowly softening! Seriously the miracles will not cease.

When the pull on the drain breaks

Friends and family, at the start of this transfer Sister Jensen and I had just been dropped by our most promising investigator and we had virtually no one progressing fast enough to be baptized within the transfer. This weekend we had three baptisms, and there will be another next week. Things like this don't just happen. I haven't served my mission in South America, this isn't the norm haha. I've served my mission in Gilbert, Arizona, in small proselyting areas that are fairly affluent, densely populated with members, and where missionaries have already talked to everything under the face of the sun. Weekends like this are not a result of the merits of me and Sister Jensen. The success this weekend is 100% the Lord's. I am a witness that this is THE LORD'S WORK. Nothing in this work is possible without His guidance and direction. I know that the Lord provided a miracle for us this weekend.

Transfer 12 in the books!

Last night transfer calls came in and it's officially official...I'm being transferred home. I cannot believe that my mission is coming to an end. I've been very nostalgic this week as I've reflected on my mission and the things I've experienced and the miracles I've seen these last eighteen months. It seriously feels like just yesterday that I left for the MTC, wide eyed and terrified, but with a little bit of faith in my suitcase. I've watched the Lord take that little bit of faith and multiply it over and over again. I cannot begin to explain how much my faith has grown on my mission. Amidst all the miracles this week, there have also been a lot of tears shed, and a lot of goodbyes said. I am truly leaving a piece of myself behind here in Arizona. My life has forever changed as a result of serving these people here. I am not the same person I was when I left home--I know that I have changed as a result of living the gospel of Jesus Christ. I have learned so much about myself and about my Savior.

Every day on my mission I have seen God's love manifest in a new way. I know that His love is the most constant, unchanging, REAL thing in the whole word. He loves us, so He gave us the gospel of Jesus Christ to help us get through the difficult times in our life. I know that as we learn about the gospel and rely on our Savior we can change and grow and become the person God intended for us to become. I know that it is only through living the gospel that we are able to return and live with God someday with our families--eternally. I know that God continues to communicate to us today, both through the words of living prophets and Apostles and through personal revelation. He always answers our prayers. I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God. I know that He saw God and Jesus Christ. I know that despite Joseph's imperfections, God was still able to use him as an instrument in His hands. I testify that the Book of Mormon is the word of God, and that it contains the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. That book has changed my life, and I know that it has the power to change the life of anyone who picks it up with an honest and sincere desire to draw closer to God.

Most of all, I know my Savior, Jesus Christ. I have never felt closer to Him than I have on my mission. I know that He has walked right beside me every day. I know that He knows us individually, by name. I know that His great Atoning sacrifice in the garden of Gethsemane changed each of our lives and opened the door to countless opportunities for each of us. I know that He lives and loves us. I testify that this is His church, the only true and living church upon the face of the Earth. He stands at the head of it and directs every aspect of it through our prophet today, President Nelson. Jesus Christ is truly our Savior and Redeemer, and I love Him so, so much.

Thank you all once again for all of the love and support as I've been serving my mission. I've felt every thought and prayer! I love you all!

Sister Jacobson

Details of the Gilbert Temple

Views all weekend!

Me with my "posterity"

With J at the temple

Classic car selfie

At Top Golf

Fab Four's final temple trip

Fab Four & the Schmidt's

Lunch with A

L's baptism

T & A after his baptism

Goofy post-baptism pic

T's baptism

Saying goodbye to A last night

Polaroids from this last weekend

Mine & Elder Matua's funeral

Blue Wasabi after Zone P-day party

FHA last week HBD Elder Francis!

Zone nerf war

June 25, 2018

Hey everyone!

Yet another crazy awesome and crazy busy week in San Tan! Sister Jensen and I are having a ton of fun out here together. This next week is lined up to be even busier; we are so excited.

Exchanges with Sis. Schwendiman

This week we had exchanges. I was with Sister Schwendiman, a sister who has been on her mission for five WEEKS, and we were in her area! Sister Schwendiman is a stud. I remember my first time leading out my area--I was two weeks old in the mission--and it was HARD. She was so nervous but she did awesome. It was fun to watch her learn and grow on our exchange! We had a long day of contacting but we taught a few recent converts, which was a blast.

This was the last exchange of my mission and it was a good one to go out on! This week I counted up the number of exchanges I've been on on my mission and it is close to 60! Exchanges are long and exhausting, and can sometimes be tedious, but I've truly been blessed to be able to rub shoulders with the best sister missionaries in the world and I have learned so much from them as we have labored together in the Lord's vineyard. I'm so grateful for all of the exchanges I have been able to go on; they have molded and shaped me into the missionary I am today.

We had the opportunity to teach four lessons to T this week as well haha. We have concluded that he likes meeting with us because he likes the way he feels when he is with us. In other words, he feels the Spirit when he meets with us, and he wants to feel the Spirit more often. So here's the summary of the four lessons!

1. We planned to read Mosiah 3 with him but he had actually already read that in his studies that day...so we ended up reading Moroni 7 with him. We talked a lot about faith-what it is and what it isn't-and how faith can overcome doubt. The end of the lesson got a little heated, I was very bold with T...probably the boldest I've ever been with an investigator...and really pushed for a church commitment. He didn't commit, but kept saying that he would try.

2. The second lesson I wasn't there for because of exchanges, but Sister Jensen taught him all about the Gift of the Holy Ghost and she said it went really well! We were finally able to get this one YSA Bro to the lesson and he was a perfect fellowship. Sister Jensen said that T opened up a ton and that he connected really well with this YSA Bro!

3. We taught the Law of Chastity and the Law of Tithing! T understood everything really well and committed to live both of them. He specifically mentioned that he is excited to see what blessings come into his life from paying tithing!

4. We decided to go over the baptismal interview questions with him. T keeps saying he's not ready for baptism, so we decided to go through the questions to help him see he knows more than he thinks he does. We brought a YSA Bro with us who got back from his mission six weeks ago and it was like there were three missionaries there haha! It was a great lesson. T realized that he's progressing better than he thinks he is, and that he actually is ready for baptism haha. At the end of the lesson he almost started crying because he wants to come to church so bad but can't find anyone to work his shift. Eventually he decided that he needs to just be real with his boss and tell him that he's trying to go to church. He committed to talk to his boss and tell us how it goes! He didn't make it to church yesterday, but if he can make it to church next week and give us a solid commitment that he will keep the Sabbath day holy following his baptism then he can be baptized next week. Keep him in your prayers!!

FHA

This week we had FHA (Family Home Afternoon), which is something we do once a transfer! Typically it's pretty uneventful but this time around our zone orchestrated a surprise birthday party at FHA for an Elder in our zone. This Elder is pretty soft spoken and reserved, and he was SO surprised that we went out of our way to celebrate his birthday. He definitely felt special and we all had a blast! I've learned that if we can't take care of our own inside the fold, the Lord will never trust us to take care of those outside of the fold.

Us with our handiwork

OH lol we had a really funny moment this week. A couple months ago we got into this prank war of sorts with our district leader and his companion--all harmless things--like switching the helmets on their bikes, or them locking our bikes together, etc. So this week Sister Jensen and I were leaving the church building and we saw that the Elders had left their bikes at the church. It was our turn to retaliate and we had this BRILLIANT idea to lock one of the Elder’s bike IN a tree. So we U-locked his bike into this tree and then went home for dinner. About twenty minutes into our dinner hour, the Elders called us. They were like "Hey Sisters, were you at the church building? Have you seen Elder Lind’s bike by chance??" and we were like "Oh yeah we were there...you might want to try looking up outside somewhere." and they were like "Yeah we're outside...there’s no bike anywhere...wait but there is part of a U-lock on the ground...hmm...well guess his bike was stolen, we better figure this out." and then they hung up on us. We were pretty sure they were pulling our leg, but at the same time we were like...but wait...what if his bike is legit stolen? So we started like freaking out and running through all the possibilities haha we were like...okay we KNOW that we locked the lock, and it's only been about twenty minutes since we were at the church building, and u-locks are virtually indestructible--there's NO WAY that it got stolen, right?? But we were still worried so we ended up swinging by the building to see if they were still there--and they were...with both bikes! They were totally pulling our leg! They saw us drive by so they called us right after and we were like "yeah yeah, nice try Elders" and then Sister Jensen was like "but thanks a lot, I actually thought your bike had gotten stolen and it STRESSED me out. Now I have a migraine and I'm throwing up. We're not going to be able to go out and work the rest of the night." and they bought it! Haha we turned the prank that they'd turned on us back on them. That night on district calls they felt so bad that we "hadn't been able to work" that night...it was hilarious! We told them the next day at weekly planning that we'd been messing with them and we all had a good laugh about it.

We had a lesson with N this week and we taught the first part of the plan of salvation. N is so humble, so penitent. I feel God's love for her so powerfully every time we teach her. During our lesson she was just crying because her life has been really difficult lately and she had been feeling like it was unbearable. It was cool to be able to testify to her that one of the purposes of life is to learn to rely on the Lord through difficulties. Partway through our lesson, she began experiencing a lot of pain, so we had to cut our lesson short. She ended up going to the ER and found out that she'd had a cyst inside her abdomen rupture. And then yesterday another one ruptured. :( Please keep her in your prayers; she's going through a lot.

AZ at it again!

We had a lesson with J this week!!!! I love him so much and I miss seeing him multiple times a week. This guy is literally so awesome. He couldn't make it to church this past week and he walked into our lesson and said "Sisters, it's been a crappy week and I know it's because I didn't go to church. I've repented and I'll be there this week." Yes! J! We taught all about temples and yesterday he got his recommend so we should be going to the temple and doing baptisms with him this week! So excited!!

We taught C a few times this week as well. Sister Jensen taught her on exchanges about the Gift of the Holy Ghost. C knows that amidst all the chaos in her life she needs the Spirit on her side to guide her. That's one of the biggest things she's looking forward to post-baptism. We also taught her the Law of Chastity and Tithing. She is so faithful! She's really struggling to make ends meet right now but she committed to live the Law of Tithing no questions asked. She was basically like "If God is asking me to, then I’ll do it, He'll take care of me." Ah, I just love her and I am so excited for her baptism this weekend! She came to church yesterday and did so much better than last week; she stayed in the chapel for almost all of sacrament meeting! I'm so proud of her and I know that God has great things in store for her in her life.

Also, we've been teaching an OAY named B, and his eight year old sister, L, for a little bit now. B isn't ready for baptism, but L is...so she'll be getting baptized this Saturday as well! ALL the baptisms haha, it's going to be a great week. We are so excited!

I love you all!

Sister Jacobson