Monday, September 2, 2013

Be Happy

Hello Hello! Well not much time at all but things are going great here in Ecuador! 

We have people to teach! We have been searcching for all the familys and people that are inactive and we have found some and what we are doing is reactivating them and teaching any children that they have. So its like a 2 for 1! Its sweet! We are teaching Sofia, Familia Reina Vera, Alejandro, y Jeremi. They are all progressing and have goals to be baptized in the next couple weeks. But we still have a lot to teach and a lot to do to really get the families excited agian to start fresh and really find the realationship with their Father in Heaven again. 

It is great! So im honestly finding myself happier than ever! I honestly dont think I have ever been so happy in general. Yes, I have had great and very happy moments in my life but I guess what im trying to say is that I am just happy. And I love it because I am finally starting to see that it is not nessicary to have a problem, challenge, or trial free life to be happy. We have trials and challenges and tough moments every single day but yet one can just be happy with a smile... Being happy does NOT mean without struggles. Those are what help us grow and progress! Its great! 

Well, thanks for all your prayers and support! Worrking hard! Talk to you soon! 

Elder Jacobsen 

Monday, August 26, 2013

Life is Good

Hola Familia y Amigos! Que tal! Como estan?Bueno, life is good! As always. I love the idea that life can be good in any situation and at any time. Even in times of trial, need, hardship. Well, I cant express enough how much I love this amazing gospel and this mission. Hey is it just a rumor or is it true that they're thinking about extending the young men to 3 year missions? I would love that!  

Anyway, this week we had some  great baptisms. 2 youth that have been preparing for the past couple weeks. Tatiana and Marco. Two siblings that live practically alone. Their dad works at 3 in the morning till like 8 at night. We're trying to teach him but we never get a chance. But they are great kids and its funny because all they want to know is how they can become missionaries.  It's great! 

Man this  work just makes me so happy! Just  poco a poco seeing peoples lives change! Having more hope and faith! When you see someone that always wondered and doubted become a BELIEVER its the best! Because that's what we are -- believers! And I have the opportunity to testify what Ibelieve! I want us all to become believers and even to the point of Knowers because  through testimony we can know these things are true! Through the love of God, the miracles of God, and through this perfect gospel. I read a quote that I love that says "If this is Gods work, and he still lives, then the miracles and angels are still there."   I love that! If we truly believe that there is a father in heaven and that Christ lives then we must believe in him and his teachings. And he teaches us that miracles are real! I know that Christ lives! I know that we literally have a loving father in heaven that loves EACH one of us and wants us to grow close to him! We are his children and he wants us back! We must trust in him and just be happy to have a loving father and brother and summit ourselves to their will! That is true happiness! 

WEll I love you all so much! Its time to go! Be strong! Pray and talk to you father in heaven! He's there! Trust me!!!! Till next time! 

Elder Jacobsen 



Monday, August 19, 2013

Lots of Changes in the Zone

HELLO HELLO HELLO! Well it's already almost 5 which means time to get dressed back into the work clothes and GET TO WORK! I love this work! I love every moment that the Lord is giving to me in the work. It is life changing! And have I mentioned that I love it? haha. Well, not much time as usual.  This zone requires a bit of informes and other stuff so my emails are very limited but it's all good. Its all worth it and I know I'll have plenty of time to talk to all of you later. Well I might mention that WE HAD CHANGES IN THE ZONE! I've been abandoned. hahaha just kidding. But My compion was changed.  Elder Munoz was excellent and has taught me a TON! A great friend. In addition 3 of the 4 district leaders were also changed! So it will be a fun challenge to welcome the new Elders and get to work. I'm sure they'll be great! My companion is Elder BURGA but not the same Elder Burga. My companion now was born in Otavalo but has lived all of his life in Chile so he just says he's from Chile. He seems like a great elder. I met him in the last meeting we had with president and I'm excited to work with him! Elder Christiansen is gone. It was so great to have some time again with him. The elder that replaced him is from Mexico! Wahooo! Fiesta! haha kiding. Anyway, 

I'M GETTING WAY SCARED! The mission is going by way too fast! TIME IS FLYING! Because they just made me realize that I am the oldest in the whole zone! (Have the most time in the mission). I haven't even realized it because I have always felt sooo young and then ya. I realize that I can not take any moment unseriously! Every second is a gift and a blessing! Who ever said this is a sacrifice I'm sorry but I would have to say your mistaken. And not in a harsh way. But I promise and testify that this is nothing less than a great blessing! 

Well, love you all so much! Think most of you are back in school! Work hard! Enjoy life! HAve fun! Be good! And just be happy! 
Elder Jacobsen 




Funny story with the pic! So we were at a house visiting a great family and then they randomly pass me the little pouch and say we found this and have no idea what it says and we need you to translate it. I was like ya, no problem. Let me see it. And they passed it to me and I just started crackin up laughing and then they started laughing and didn't even know why. And then they asked me again. And I was like, this is gonna be fun to explain. hahah. Anyway, I explained it and everyone was like ewwww hahahaha. Funny moment for me. 

Anyway, the other picture are of the new elders in our house! My comp is the one in the dark shirt! 

Monday, August 12, 2013

Sacrament


Please dont get mad at me but I'm with no time at all this week! Just busy busy busy. haha. I hope you are all doing great! Has school started again? Well I'm sure everyones doing great! I love you all so much! 
Ok ok, a quick funny story before I go. So we have one great investigator that we are teaching. His name is Abraham and is like 75 years and is so so nice. We met him this week and he just wants to hear everything we have to say. We haven't found any big challenges with him yet so we're excited to teach him. Anyway, he came to church and I was sitting next to him and we were in the sacrament and he was just looking around and when the bread came around the young boy raised up the tray and Abraham put coins thinking they were asking for money and then said out loud "por que hay pan en esta cosa, que pasa¨ or in other words why in the world is there bread? It was so funny. I quickly grabbed his hand and money and started to explain quitley to him and he doesn't hear very well and was talking really loud. It was a little  irreverent but it is not his fault at all. It was funny and we will be teaching him about the sacrament tomorrow. haha. 
Well I love this work! Keep working hard! Keep smiling!
Elder J. 

Monday, August 5, 2013

Crazy Week - No Time!

Bueno, I have no time! as always! haha. So this week has been a little crazy! Dont have anytime to explain hardly anything! All i can say is that i know this work is the work of the Lord! A week ago we had a great baptism and got a bunch of the missionaries together to have a noche blanca. Our two converts are Hilda (the little girl) and Maria (la senora). Both great great converts! So ill try to send some pics of the baptisms. The other pics ill send are somewhat funny. So i got a little under the wheather this week. DONT WORRY mom! Im completly fine. But the picture is of what happens when a bunch of elders get into your house and want to mess around. haha. Well i love you all so much! SOOOOOOOOOOO muCH!! Cant express that enough! Thanks for all your prayers and support! chao! 

Elder Jacobsen 






Monday, July 29, 2013

Taking Advantage of Every Moment

Bueno, this week has been another fast week! Times flyin here and I feel like there's just no time to do everything I want to or need to. It's crazy. Almost always there's more than 5 things that are all important but I can only choose one. haha. So ya, I'm really learning how to take advantage of every moment and mangage my time better! I'm grateful this work truly teaches thousands of life lessons and gives us the oppertunity to develop habits that well help us progress through out all of life! 

Well, this week we had two baptisms. That was great!!! I don't have pics because I forgot my camera.  I'll have to copy them from another camara. But it was great! They are both members of inactive members. But we found them and not only got to teach them and help them find and follow the path but we were able to bring back many less actives as well. It's been great! But right now we have hardly anyone. We have one couple that needs to get married and we're trying to do a fundraiser so they can buy some documents and eventually get married. 

Anyway,  I have like no time at all! I'm sorry, but I gotta go! I love you alll so much! Miss ya tons but the time is honestly Volando! Your the best! Thank you for all your support, love, and faith! Adelante!

Elder Jacobsen 

P.s. The pictures are of the 3 Elderes I live with (Peru, Espana, Mexico) 
The other is a picture of celebrating my comps b-day which was yesterday! 
Love this work! And love you! 






Monday, July 22, 2013

Serving a Mission


Buenos Dias! Buenos Dias! Buenos Dias! Well things are great here en La mitad del Mundo! Ecuador! I was pondering a little this morning and man i am just so happy to be here! I love this work! I love it so much! It is truley the best thing i have ever done! Though i can only do this everyday all day for these two years i will be sharing the studying, loveing, living, and sharing this gospel for the rest of my life that my father gives me here to grow as much as i can and help others do the same! This is true happiness! This is changing my life completley! If anyone is reading this and is doubting about going on a mission you already know what im going to say! Get on it, and go serve the lord! It will be the best thing youve ever done! I dont care who you are! If you have the perfect education, job, sport, special someone, or whatever it is that might be makin ya doubt! Put your trust in the Lord and do the best thing that you can possibly do at this time in your life! You will change your life and the life of SO MANY MORE! (Investigadors, Converts, Family, Friends, Future family, and everything for teh rest of your life with be improved for this short amount of time that we are privledge to have) Will it help you with school? YES, your level of studies will shoot throug the roof! Will is help you with jobs? YES, In so many ways!!! Will it help you sports? YES, It sure can! youll learn how to work great in teams and how to achieve goals youve never thought possible. Willl it help you with your special someone? YES! This is one of the biggest blessings there is! To serve the lord and his children and finding yourself in the marvalous work! Please go! and if you cant or youve already served you can still be a missionary! Is it hard? Of course it is! But thats what makes it so great! Thats when we grow so much more! Thats when we grow closer to our heavenly father! Thats when we study and strive harder! Thats when we raise our bar and persfective of ourselves and this life physically, Mentally, and Spiritually! I read somthing a while back that was a picture of the savior and it had the words [I never said it would be easy, But i did say it would be worth it]... Some of the greatest moments of progress, joy, happiness, relief, love, and so much more come from real effort and even a fight through the obsticales of life! But in the end it is SO SO WORTH IT! and though im saying we will have tough times and it wont always be easy i will say as always that you can still be happy! Because ATTITUDE IS EVERYTHING! Adelante my wonderful friends and family! Everythings great here in Quevedo Sur! My new companion is a great worker! He only has 4 months left. The other two in are house are fresh and ready to learn. One from Espana y the other from Peru! All great guys! The zone is huge and ive been doing intercambios all week with different elders trying to get used to this. haha. But life is great! And it should be for all of us! I love you all so much! Take care! 
Elder Jacobsen 

Monday, July 15, 2013

Changed to Quvedo Sur

Well hello hello! I have noooooo time to write at all! I've been changed! Nooooooooooooooooooo! haha. I love Duran Sur. It was an awesome zone and sector. I did not expect the change at all but the Lord knows what he wants and needs. Wow, this was very hard saying goodbye. I didn't have much time to say goodbye to many people but I stopped by La familia Chavez and they started crying and wow that was hard. They wrote me a huge letter and gave me something that I will keep forever. It's a hand made frame decoration that has the fruits of the Holy Ghost. The feelings that someone should always have in their house and in their life! They made it in Quito when they lived there and have had it in their house ever since.  They all wrote me on the back of it and said they want me to have it and to always remember the spirit here and remember it always where ever  I go! I love that family! I love so many people here! Man I dislike changes! So hard! Well, I have no more time! I love this mission! I love this work! I'm learning every day! And its just the best to see the changes in the lives of these great peoples!  I'm now with Elder Munoz from Mexico and we're in Quevedo Sur! Yes, back in Quevedo! But the other side-zone. We have 18 missionaries in this zone so it will be a big adjustment so I'm greatful for my little practice in Duran because I realize that this is going to be a little bit different! But I'm way excited and ready to give it all I have! I love serving the missionaries and trying my best to lead and love them and just be their friend. It's helping me a ton to learn how to develop Christ like attributes. Which i have a lotttttttt to learn! But poco a poco! This is the work of our Savior! Without a doubt! Love you all soo much! Thanks for all your prayers and support!

Working hard,
Elder Jacobsen 




Monday, July 8, 2013

Four Titles

Que Tal Familia! (y amigos) O man, les extrano y les quiero bastante! Pero se que el Senor les esta cuidando y bendiciendo! In English it means I love you all soooooo much! And I just hope you are all  having an amazing summer and living up life and overall, living up this great gospel that we are so blessed to have! Well this week has been a pretty solid week! We've been workin hard to find some new investigators, and we sure did. We found a young adult named Jovani. He's great! He came to church this week. He is way way smart! He understands a ton of english and history.  It's almost scary teaching him because he knows so much! But he's way interested and excited to read the Book of Mormon. As we explained the Restoration and everything to him, he said it appears great and if it was true everything would all make sense. Please keep him in your prayers so that he can gain a testimony! We can't teach him hardly at all because he's always working. And we also have Jose Luis who is a young man thats assisted church with us a few times but still is unsure. He knows deep down, but we're still trying to find his fear. Your prayers with Miguel have been helping becasue he's been improving but he wasn't able to get baptized. It was really tough. He was all ready and wasn't giving into his tempation. And the night before his baptism his so called friends practically forced him and  tempted him and he fell. But we're not going to give up on him! Well I think I will say this for the rest of my life, but I am really developing a love for studying the gospel! It is changing my life! And it is a 100x better when you apply it and just see the differences in your life. This week I was studying over one of my new favorite talks called ¨Four Titles¨ from Pres. Uchtdorf. Wow, it is a great talk! I was able to really study it in depth and it has helped change, increased and strengthen my perspective of who I am and who I want to be greatly! It is just inspiring to be a better young man, missionary, friend, son, brother, future husband and father and a lot more. I have realized that we can all truly become great! We as disciples of Christ do not have to be average. We do not have to live the ways of the natural man! We can grow and literrally become something great! I loved what Pres Uchtdorf said. He said, ¨All though none of us are perfect, we do not use that fact as an excuse to lower our expectations, to live beneath our privleges, to delay the day of repentance, or to refuse to grow into Better, More Perfect, More refined followers of our master and king.¨ God wants us to become like him! Great! Glorious! We can accept that we will never be perfect but that doesn't mean we can't strive to become close and be the best we can! The closer we become to our potential the happier we will be. We can become BETTER and REFINDED. Each day as we ponder and pray on how to become a better son or Daughter of God. I testify that God will help us! He wants us to shine! He wants us to come to him! HE LOVES US! ¨Think of the purest, most all-consuming love you can imagine. Now multiply that love by an infinite amount. That is the measure of Gods love for you!¨ Those words come from an apostle of the Lord. I testify of those words! I have felt the pure love of Christ in my life and I feel the love of my God every day! If we pray, read the scriptures, repent, set goals, and show faith in this gospel EVERY DAY! I promise with all my heart, you will feel the love of God EVERY DAY! You will be able to have that faith and hope in your heart that we are literally on the path home to our LOVING FATHER IN HEAVEN! And if we do our best, he will welcome us with open arms and joy that we can not imagine! I Testify of these things! And I will for the rest of my life! It is real happiness! And I Know that EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU can feel the same Love of God! Search your heart, apply the gospel, and watch your heart change and your perspective of this plan of happiness. Cuidanse mucho! 
Elder Jacobsen 

Monday, July 1, 2013

Attitude Enthusiasm Determination


Well hello hello! Happy future 4th of July! Its funny because lots of people here no that its a big day in the US. So hows everyone doing! Enjoying a great summer im sure! Im doing absolutly great! Just love love love this mission! And yes, I am officially still part of the Ecuador Guayaquil NORTH mission! Which i am way excited about! I get to stay with my Papi Amaya (President) and just ya. Im excited. I wont be seeing the beach though. I only saw it one time for a conference in Manta. It was beautiful but i think its a good thing i wont be seeing it becasue that way i dont get tempted to go jump in! haha, just kiddin, i would never do that. But yes, i am definitly a beach lover. But i got the rest of my life for that! 

So Our Zone is doing great here. We honestly have a great group of misisonaries here. All working hard! We stayed in our sector a bit more this week. It was nessicary because we need more people to teach. But we have a great brother that is fighting to be ready to be baptized this week. Miguel. He will be baptized this week if he can hold strong against a few things. Please keep him in your prayers. His goal is to enter the temple to do baptisms with is wife the 24th. Were really working with him! 

So ive really really been trying to just improve my attitude. I know I talk about Attitude all the time but it really is somthing that i have found to be very important in my life and important for anyone. I have learned that when we truley learn to have a good attitude in all situations we will be a hundred times happier. And Attitude includes many things.For example, an attitude of positivity, trust, love, optomistic, fun, funny, and just happy.Also an attitude of Faith and Hope through the atonement of Christ. I love what Elder Neal A Maxwell has said. He said that we should develop ¨Hope through the Atonment of Christ¨. ¨Hope is a realistic anticipation which takes the form of Determination, not only to survive adversity, moreover, to endure it well.¨I think that is essencial to a great attitude and somting i really want to develop! Everyone can say each morning that theyre going to have a good attitude. Thats great! But usually that last an hour, half an hour, or whenever the first bad thing happens. But we can overcome that in literally be happy throughout the day and everyday. We need that DETERMINATION to endure it well and do it with ENTHUSIASM. Theres a great quote that says ¨Enthusiasm is one of the most powerful engines of success. Wehn you do a thing, do it with you might. Put your whole soul into it. Stamp it with your OWN personality. Be active, be energetic, be enthusiastic and faithful, and you will accomplish your objective. Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.¨ We can achieve GREAT things every day. I testify of that! And this past year i have truley been able to see that. Those days that i just decide to be happy and do my best no matter what struggle or let down comes along, have been some of the greatest days in my mission and in my life. And i want to develop that more and more. I know we can all do this. We wont be perfect, but we can give it our best, and i promise we will feel the hope and joy that comes from the heavens and the power of the atonement of our Savior Jesus Christ. May we all just smile and think of the good things over the tougher things and just have a great day! I love you all so much! Take care!

Elder Jacobsen 

Monday, June 24, 2013

New Suit

Wow! How fast this week flew by! I feel like yesterday i was here in this little cyber writing you guys! Hahaha! This is crazy! So hows everyone enjoying summer! Is it hot there yet? Well this week has been really good! Our Zone is really raising up the level of work here in Duran Sur. Its great! Me and my companion have been all over the place! We practically hardley are in our own sector! And when we are we have to take advantage of everyminute! We have some great Missionaries! But i feel so bad saying this but i was bummed when the sisters here were changed here this week and a gringa came! I Loved being the only gringo! haha, im so selfish! But its all good, im still the only white person! Because Sister Chill from Florida is Latin. And she speaks spanish really well so im just not going to count it and say im the only Gringo. hahahahjkjk. But really, it is an experience of a lifetime just being practically solo with so much culture so many countries. It is helping me learn and truely feel the joy that EVERYBODY is a child of God. That it doesnt matter where your at or what language you speak or whatever. We are all brothers and sisters and all with the same goal. To work togeather to be able to return back with as many as possible to our Loving father in heaven! I love that! So yesterday i had an awsome oppertunity to attend a worldwide conference with all the leaders and missionaries in the world! According to the apostles, it was a historical event and it sure was. One of the neatest conferences i have ever witnessed! Wow, what inspiration and excitment to be part of one of the greatest times in church and mission history! I love it! We are truley part of Gods Army! I love and miss you all so much! Gods speed! 

Elder Jacobsen 
P.S. I am stoked to announce that i got my first Ecuadorian Suit Done with some of my greatest amigos here. And yes, it is definitly my favorite suite. And yes, im a little crazy. haha. Viva Ecuador! 



Monday, June 17, 2013

Life is Fantastic

Welllll heellllooooo! Whats happenin mis amigos! Well i hope you are all doing great! Life is fantastic! How could it not be! We got the gospel, we got sun, we got life! Live it up! I have had the oppertunity to ponder a lot on whats going on in my life right now and i realized i should be the happiest guy in the world. And i think i am! We all are! Why? Because Our Father in Heaven loves us! He loves us so much! Well, The work is going good. Were still workin with Miguel. And we found a single mother who is passig through some really rough times and i know the best thing for her is the gospel. she attended church and felt really god. Keep them in your prayers please. Forgive me, i have a lot of this things i gotta do so i gotta keep the email short. And the majority of my emails are going to be getting shorter. But its all good. Im doing great! I love this work! I love life! And l love all you guys! Just smile! Thats all i ask. Doesnt matter what situation is going on. I promise you that the Lord understands because he felt the same and we can smile knowing that he will help us and loves us. The happiest life comes from being happy! Love ya! 

Elder Jacobsen 

Monday, June 10, 2013

Attitude is Everything

Well this week has been a good solid week! Just working hard here in Duran Sur de Ecuador Guayaquil! Im just loving this work! So hows everyone doing in SUMMER TIME? Wow, I can't believe it's already summer again! I hope everyone is just enjoying it up! I was thinking the other day about the seasons and I realized I'm pretty much in a two year summer! haha. Its gettin hot! The rainy season is now gone and the SOL is comin out stronger and stronger! But please be safe and just know I love you all so much! 

Harold B Lee said, "There is only one day that you and I have to live for, and that's today!" And it's so true! We just got to make the best of every day! There's no reason to not make the best of each day! If you know that it might be a long hard day well then make it Great, hard, long day! As always, Attitude is Everything! Well we recently touched the heart of a man named Miguel who has a wife and children that have been listening to the missionaries for over 6 years and has liked to listen but has never wanted to commit to anything! Yesterday, the spirit of the lord touched him and he now has a goal to be baptized the 6th of July! It's a ways away but we got a lot of work to do and I think we can really help him complete his great goal! 

With God anything is possible! Keep him in your prayers please! I love this work! I love you! Adios! 


Elder Jacobsen 

Thursday, June 6, 2013

Love the Gospel

Well it was a good week! Passing by rapidisimo! We're already in Junio! This is getting ridiculous! But wow I love the mission! I love learning every single day! If there is anyone out there doubting about a mission,  I will tell you right now. Just go!!! It will be the best experience of your life and the best thing you can do! Serving your brothers and sisters around the world! So I love studying the gospel! It is something I will be doing throughout my entire life! I learn something new everyday! Or if I'm reviewing something I realize what I need to improve on! 

My comp and I were reading a talk from Elder Uchtdorf from the junio Liahona and it was fantastic. It completly told us the importance of applying the conference talks and scriptures to our lives. Not just listening and reading but actually applying. 

Well, today was a fun day! We had a Pariada! BBQ in english! It was delicious until they said that we were going to eat chicken heads! But they were joking! Well I have absolutely no time! Less and less each week! But it's all good! I'm doing great! I love this work! I love this gospel! There's honestly nothing better! Just got to live it all up! Be safe! I love and miss you all! 


Elder Jacobsen 


Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Most Loving and Humble People

Wahooooooooooooooooooooooo! So I was in one of the churches on Tuesday morning preparing for our Zone Conference with my companion.  Some of us were doing garden work when I thought I recognized one of them and sure enough I did! It was BISHOP CHEME from MONTE SINAI! (Reference the pic with the fish and pig leg)... wow, it was so great to talk to him. Especially to be able to speak to him in spanish. I didnt have much time but he told me great great things about many of my converts! I was the happiest guy in the world and still am! The Zambrano family is firm in the faith! The complete family! BROTHER Zambrano is now secretario of the ward and his wife a teacher in sunday school and wow. I was just so happy. And Obispo Cheme said he was going to say hi to everyone for me. 

But I also recieved some tough news. As you know Monte Sinai in not completly legal and the goverment has come back in to take it over. They are taking houses down and from what he told me its tough becase many of the people are losing their homes and they have no idea what to do there. Please pray for them! They are the most humble and loving people I have ever met in my life! Keep them in your prayers that they can find peace and hope whether they are permitted to stay or if they have to leave. 

Well, we had a baptism this weekend. It was really great! Like 30 members showed up to support! This is by far the strongest ward I have been in! Great leaders and great members! The family Chavez are some of my greatest friends. They just take care of everything for us. We call the mom Mamita Chavez! They showed us a bit of Guayaquil today for PDAY! It was great! Man, I just absolutly love this place! It's so beautiful! People are great and I love this work!  Life is good! We can all just look at the best in every day and I promise you it will be a good day! I love and miss you all so much! Cuidense! 


Elder Jacobsen 



Probably Staying in Guayaquil North Mission

Well hello hello! So I have no time as always but this week was great! I hope everything is going great with everyone back home! So to sum it we are working harder and harder and busier and busier with the time flying by faster and faster. Ok see you later. hahah just kidding. But really that's about it! This week we had a conference with all the leaders in the mission and I won't lie it was kind of intimidating especially when I was called up to talk and share my testimony with all of them. But it was a great conference, great learning experience, and lots of inspiration on how we can raise the bar in this great, great work! And it was sad because it is supposively the last conference with the whole Guayaquil North Mission together before they split it in July! So lots of good friends I have came to know and work with will be in the other mission. If you're wondering I am currently in the boundaries of the North Mission and will probably be here for a good few months. That's just my guess. Never know now days! Next thing I know they could be sending me to Argentina! haha. 

Well next month 30 more missionaries are coming and the majority are hermanas! This is crazy! haha. They say the mission will double by Christmas time! And it has been declared the greatest time of missionary work in the history of the church! I feel so lucky and proud to be a part of it! This work is just amazing and I don't have a single little doubt that this is all the work of God! He is with us! I get to see lives changed every day! There's nothing better! Well I love you all so much! 


Elder Jacobsen 

Families are Eternal

Well no time this week! All I can say is that I have witnessed and gained a great testimony that families are to be eternal. I was able to see my amazing family last night and I just can't express the joy of being part of an eternal family! I love you guys so much! You're the best! The plan of our father in heaven is perfect! Lets just do our part! I love this mission! I have the opportunity for 2 years away from my family so that others can have their eternal families! It's all worth it! 

My companion Elder Garzon is great! He's from Bogota, Columbia and his accent is sweet! We have the exact same time in the misison and are working hard to try to make this ZONE the best zone possible! We have ALOT of work to do! There are 13 of us in this zone! My companionship, three other companionships of Elders, and 2 companionships of Hermanas. One of the sister companionships is a trio because there are so many sisters in the misison now. haha. And 4 of the 6 companionships are in training. So we have a young young young ZONE! .haha. So we're working hard! It's the Lord's work! And it's great! I love and miss you all! 

Elder Jacobsen

P.S. We had a baptism with 3 sisters! And the parents are in the process to get married! Wahooo! 



Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Transferred Again


Well hello hello! We are in May! Sayyy what! hahah. This is crazy! Time is flying by way to fast! I just passed the year mark which scares me. Because this year has flown by. The last 6 months were some of the fastest months in my life and what scares me is they say once you hit the year it’s all down hill and it just flies! So So So much to do and learn and develop and so little time! Ay yai yai! 

Well I hope everyone is doing great! I think everyone is in their last couple months of school right? Work hard! It’s worth it! Nothing better than a break and knowing that you did your best. In the mission I have learned to do something called rendir cuentas. It has really helped me. We rendir cuentas to ourselves and to the Lord. It’s like giving a summary to the Lord in your prayers. It helps me a ton so that I can repent of every little mistake and really understand what I need to change, improve, or keep doing. And then when I lay down to fall asleep and usually just think if I really gave it my all or not. But usually I don’t think much because I’m asleep in like 5 second because I’m exhausted. haha. I think that’s a good thing. But at times there’s definitely things to ponder about.

Well I have had a crazy change. I was transferred yesterday. I was at another house asleep in an intercambio with another elder and I woke up at midnight to the phone ringing and they told me I had a transfer. I thought it was a joke. One because I only had 2 semanas (weeks) and because the next day was Sunday. But they weren’t joking. They said we had to take a bus at 5 in the morning so I can get back to my house by 6 to pack up my things and take the 3 hour drive to Guayaquil. I was like WHATS HAPPENING. haha! And I won’t lie. I was way way bummed because I loved my new companion! Elder Burga was my best comp yet!  Such a great guy. We were working so well together. And we had 16 people listening to us. It was great! So I did not want to leave it behind. But my zone leaders could tell I was bummed and humbled and helped me by sharing Nephi 3:7 and saying everything has a purpose. And I guess it did. But I’m still a little in unbelief and just really hope that I will be able to help with all the Lord wants me to. 

I have been called to be Zone Leader in Duran Sur. I now really have to apply the Jacobsen phrase - "Attitude is everything", and really just trust in the Lord with all my heart. I know this will be a very humbling experience. I’m grateful to be able to grow and learn more and most of all serve others. I love this work! It is truly the work of God! It’s changing my life! And I promise that we can all be missionaries. Just share your testimony wherever you go! Cuidense mucho! Les quiero

Elder jacobsen 

Keep Sending Letters


Como estan mis amigos y familiares! Well this week was just busy busy busy but a great week in the misison! Lots of WORK WORK WORK! That’s the best way the mission can be! And life in general. We should always take advantage of all the time we have... Anyway, I will start by saying that all my emails will be shorter and shorter! So please don’t think I’m just being lazy. But two things have changed. First, apparently the Church email rule was changed so I have been receiving a little more emails and no time to respond. And second I now have to give informes to my president for my district. So I’m just going to be writing a little less. Lo siento. Oh, and its great to hear from a lot of you! I love hearing from you but I’m going to ask a big favor to my friends. PLEASE KEEP THEM SHORT! The best would be to just keep writing me and if you have something big or a question then email. Please don’t take that the wrong way. It’s just that I will not be able to respond in email and I don’t want you to think I’m ignoring. But if we don’t keep the time well my president will take away lots of email privileges. He’s already taking away from many because they are writing for hours and hours on p-days. I don’t want that! haha. So ya. This week I’ve been getting to know my sector! It’s a good sector! I like it! Its up and down, up and down - lots of little hills. But it’s pretty here. Tons of green! My comp is great! He’s working hard with his little legs and we’re just trying to teach everyone. As of now, it’s all good! So I had a district of 4. Me my comp, and two elders mas. But this zone had a zone conference this week and afterwards the president and assistant changed our zone. A district leader was taken and now I have a district of 6 - my comp and I, two elders from Peru and USA, and two Hermanas from Guatemala and Argentina. First Hermanas I have met in one year in the mission. haha. I am completely awkward and have no idea how to talk to them because for a year I have been very direct with elders and just tell them. But it’s good because now I have to practice being more soft. haha. But ya, I now have no time in the night to do anything -  Just informes, wash face, teeth, and Hasta manana. So that’s new :/ but its all good! Learning tonnnnssss!!! OH and were in a house of 4. Gringo, Ecuatoriano, Colombiano, y Peruano. Fun to get to know all of these countries and cultures. Well that’s it for now. This work is the best! Love it! Love you all! 
Elder Jacobsen 

Oh, in the conference I took a fun picture with my hijo elder Barragan and my new companion Elder Burga. Just happen to be a little short! haha! Gotta love it!