Sister Jacobson's Glimpses of Gilbert: Week 56: The Rains Came Down, the Floods Came Up

February 21, 2018

Hola!

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.

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.

Still smiling in the rain

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