February 21, 2018
Hola!
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| Heading to the temple! |
Happy Wednesday!! It feels like it's been a solid week and a
half since I last emailed...probably because it HAS been a week and a half
haha. This morning we had the opportunity to go to the temple and let's just
say it was much needed! I love going to the temple so much; it's so worth the 5
AM wake-up call and the delayed p-day.
It's been a pretty good week here in the forgotten, Promised
Land. We had so many opportunities to testify to people during lessons, on
doorsteps, and on the street this week! One of my favorite principles I've
learned from Preach My Gospel is that a testifying missionary is a teaching
missionary. It's amazing how much a simple testimony can change the countenance
of someone! I know it's because the Spirit touches their heart and they can
feel it!
Let me tell you about the MESS that was last Wednesday.
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| Wednesday before the chaos |
Sister Small and I were super excited because it was a full
proselyting day, and we were both together in our area! It had been a long time
that we'd been together in our area for a full day due to exchanges and
whatnot. So we go out and work, and all morning long...no one answered the
door. Honestly, pretty classic morning for us so it was no biggie. We decided
to stop by a member and ask for some referrals on our way home from lunch and
that is when the chaos ensued. By this point it started raining a little bit.
Sister Small goes "Sister Jacobson I just cut my foot on my bike
pedal." I was biking in front of her and I couldn't see it, so I was legit
like "Sister Small calm down. You're fine. It's just a SCRATCH." But
we get to this member's house and Sister Small's ankle is seriously GUSHING
blood. And the rain is getting harder, and the member isn't home. We found some
Kleenex in Sister Small's bag but her blood was soaking through the Kleenex so
fast. We had seen a different member outside a little bit down the street so we
were like "it's fine...they have six kids....I'm SURE they have
bandaids!" THEY DIDNT HAVE BANDAIDS!!! At this point Sister Small's ankle
is STILL bleeding profusely and we are on our last Kleenex. Luckily, the next
door we knocked on they were home and had a plethora of bandaids. We were able
to get her cleaned up and we were on our way!
We ate lunch and had companionship study and then we went
and had a lesson with L!! We had a really great lesson with her. We talked
about how the gospel blesses families, and how the decisions we make now will
ultimately play into the lives of our future families. Then we talked about how
God sees our true potential since He is our Father, and we watched the Mormon
Message "Your Potential, Your Privilege." I love that video! I think
that sometimes we cut ourselves short, and we convince ourselves that we are
not good enough to receive all of the blessings that the Lord has in store for
us...when in reality we are MORE than enough! Because Heavenly Father is
literally our Father, we are able to receive all of the blessings that He has.
L told us that the Bible study class every week is going well and that this
last week her mom told her that she was impressed with her knowledge of the
scriptures. L told us that she told her mom that it was because she studies the
scriptures every day, and her mom was so surprised! And then L says, "I
study all three...the Old Testament, the New Testament, and the Book of
Mormon!" and her mom was like "Well...the Book of Mormon
isn't really scripture...” and L was like "Yes it is! It's just like the
Bible, only it teaches us about the people in the Americas and Christ's
personal ministry there." And then she references John 10:16 (And
other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and
they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.)
and said, "I believe that the
other sheep that Christ was talking about in that verse are the people in the
Americas." and her mom was like "Oh, I didn't know that...interesting!"
Her heart is softening!!! L goes, "Sister Jacobson...you told me this
would happen!!" and I was like...I did haha, but I honestly didn't expect
it to be so soon! It was really exciting; and it was a good reminder to both me
and Sister Small that this is all on the Lord's timing. As we were preparing
for her lesson, Sister Small and I were kinda like, "Man...she is so ready
for baptism...it's not fair for her to have to wait to be baptized." But
then in the lesson it was kinda a slap in the face from the Lord like,
"Calm the heck down. I got this. Trust me." I don't know why her
timing is this way, and I don't know the plans that the Lord has in store for
her...but I do know that He has a perfect plan for L, and I know that part of that
plan will one day be baptism and that that day will come when it is her time!
After our lesson with L we went and visited some YSAs. We were on our way back
from these YSA visits and headed to dinner when we realized we were just about
out of gas. So we stopped and got gas, which made us late for our dinner
appointment. We had splits set up with a young woman preparing to serve a
mission for after dinner, and we had planned to bike with her so we had to get
our bikes before dinner. It ended up being okay that we were late because
dinner wasn't ready...but then we got out of dinner late...which made us late
to splits. Also, in the middle of dinner the skies OPENED up and it started
POURING rain. We were like "awesome, good thing we are on bikes." But
anyways, we got to splits, and Sister Small and I are drenched, fully expecting
this girl to cancel. But this young woman was awesome! She's like "Yeah
let's still go on splits...I can handle it!" So we hop on our bikes and
take off to our furthest ward. About halfway through the ride, Sister Small and
I realize that this YW is NOWHERE to be found. We slow down and look behind us
and wayyyy in the distance there she is. We attributed our vast distance from
her to be because we bike everyday and have strong legs, so we slowed down a
bit, and then eventually stopped. When she caught up to us she goes "I
have a flat tire." We look down and sure enough, her front tire is
completely deflated. So there we are....a few miles away from home...standing
in the pouring rain...with a random teenager and a bike with a bum tire. We
quickly abandoned our plans for the night, and instead went to a member's home
who we were POSITIVE would have a bike pump. They did not have a bike
pump...but they felt so bad for us that they insisted that we come inside and
share a message with them. We shared a super simple message about Jesus Christ
and the Spirit was so strong! It never ceases to amaze me how the Spirit can
bear witness of truth even in the most unlikely circumstances. We left their
home, and their neighbor had just gotten home and had a bike pump! We quickly
pumped up the tire so we could make it back to this YW's house. We also decided
that since missionaries have far more experience on bikes it would be better
for one of us to ride her bike back, and for her to ride one of ours. So I
hopped on her bike and let her take mine and let me tell you....that bike ride was
one of the most physically exerting things I have ever done on my mission. It
was worse than riding through sand haha. But long story short...we made it back
in one piece to her house, and she actually didn't hate it too bad, we have
splits with her again tonight.
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| Still smiling in the rain |
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| Rainy night splits |
But wait...there's more. Sister Small and I had correlation
for our YSA ward so we biked home, hopped in the car, and made it to
correlation only about fifteen minutes late. We walked in, SOAKING wet,
freezing cold, and all that our ward mission leader, ward missionaries, and the
Elders who we share the ward with could do was stare. We were in rough shape.
What made me feel better is the Elders only looked a little bit better than us;
their hair was frizzier than normal haha. We sat down on the couch, reported on
the work, and made it through the rest of the meeting. About halfway through
the meeting I leaned down and wrung my skirt out haha we were so wet!! All in
all, a messy day but definitely made for some good memories.
This week we had a couple of really positive interactions
with people all because we were in the right place at the right time. One of
the times, a part member family saw us on the side of the road and rolled down
their window and said, "Sisters! Come to the house and get some
water!" and we ended up having a great visit for thirty minutes or so.
Another time we were biking down a street and I saw that the garage of a
less-active, recent convert, somewhat hostile family was open. As we biked past
we pulled over and started talking to the guy and he was so friendly. I had met
him once before really briefly back in August and he totally remembered me, and
even noticed that Sister Utsch wasn't here anymore. We had a great conversation
with him, and it ended with him telling us how grateful he was for the support
and help of the members of our church in the area!
We had a great Sunday! We had four investigators at church!
We were only expecting two so it was a nice surprise and made for a very busy Sunday
for us. One of the ward missionaries in the YSA ward is leaving on her mission
next week so she gave her farewell in both the family ward and the YSA ward,
and it was the perfect opportunity for K to come to YSA for the first time.
This ward missionary was a stud and invited K and she came! From what we can
tell she had a great time! We are excited to meet with her and the K family
this upcoming week. It's the last week of the transfer and we are excited to
see some miracles!
I love you all! Thanks for all that you do
Sister Jacobson
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| The dark sky over our heads |
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| Crazy dark sky at 6 p.m. last week |
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| Finding a dry spot |
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| Trying to keep our bikes dry |
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| D-ridge at the Temple |
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| Accidental picture |
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| Tryna blend in with the cactus |
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| AZ skies at it again |
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| Spot the bike pump |
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| Wind blew just as I snapped |
