It Doesn't Matter Where we Serve, its How we Serve!

HEYYYYYYYYYYY! Oh wow time is just flyingggggggggg!!! So much to do!!!  This week has been good! And yesterday was awesome! We had a conference but it was directed towards Ecuador through satelite. Elder Nash, a Sister, Elder Holland, y Elder Scott spoke! It was awesome!!! Felt the spirit so strong! Wow, really doesn't matter where we are or what languange. This gospel is true! So something that I liked and I'm going to try to say it in english. It isn't where we serve its how we serve. Obviously there's inspiration in where we are called to serve but for those waiting for a call or will some day or those that have already recieived a misison call I think its important to know that the HOW we serve is much more important than WHERE we serve! Someone can be called to a misison with lots of people receptive to the gospel but if they dont work, then what! How do we serve? And this applies to more than just missions. Primary teacher, Bishop, Stake presidency, or whatever calling it may be.  It's all about HOW we serve! Whether at Chaparral High or TVHS or Great Oak or Margarita Middle School or Vintage Hills or whatever school it may be. It's about HOW you help others, HOW you give an example, HOW you speak to others, etc... Whether that Job or another Job its not so much about where! Its about HOW! So lets all remember whether as full time missionaries, as teamates, schoolmates, siblings, cousins, friends, or just sons and daughters of God... the importance of HOW. And lets make that HOW be joyful, happy, inspiring, full of smiles, optimistic, and pleasing before God. I promise that if we strive to do whats right we will be blessed! I love you all so much! Take care! 

Elder Jacobsen 

Examples

Does anyone know what Patacones are? They are tasty!!! I hope that i can eat some patacones in the States! Well, hows everyone doing! I miss and love you all! Well, lots of work to do here in Ecuador! I hope that you can all pray for Dolores y Alfredo so that they can get married! They have 3 kids! Kelly (their daughter) already was baptized. But I want the parents to also be baptized! 

Well, I want to talk a tiny bit about the importance of giving a good example. I realize that giving a good example is really important and sometimes we might not even recognize that we are giving examples all the time. But is the example were giving bad, so so, good, better, or best? Or maybe we're doing something that's not bad but not a good example. I realize that we as missionaries have to be careful about that! I can look back at things I've done and then after I'm something like ¿WHY? I need to give a better example! And the best example! I'm a misionary! But not just missionaries! We should all always try to give the best example I know were not perfect! We all mess up! But we need to learn and think of how we can give a better example and really help others have an example of the right. I might sound like im going in circles. But i just want you and me to be better examples! And be the best example that we can be! Whether in school, work, sports, family, in public, or whatever it may be! Just remember how important your example is! As our savior gives us a perfect example he wants us to do our best to give good examples as well. Lets ponder on what we need to change, improve on, or even apologize for and stand as righteous examples. 

Elder Jacobsen 

General Conference

Well, it has been a good week. I love General Conference. I'm going to be very simple this week and just say. READ, LISTEN, WATCH or whatever you can do to review the General Conference! Inspired Messages from God! I love you all so much! Hope everyone is doing fantastic! The church is true! God loves all of us! And we all need to be the best we can be and improve and be happy! This life is like a great journey but we need make every moment count and always make sure and do what´s neccessary to be on the right path! Take care! 

Elder Jacobsen 

Thankful for This Opportunity to Serve

I dont know if your going to believe this but my companion had a change and I now have a new companion! haha. What to say. Well Elder Silva was a GREAT companion and I know he will do a great job in his mission. I believe he is now a Zone Leader so I'm excited for him. My new companion is Elder Sanchez de Perú. He seems like a nice Elder and it will be fun to get to know him and work with him. We have a lot of work to do. Well keep in your prayers Diana, Steven, Jarot, Jorsh, Eddy, Alejandro, Jeyaneira, y todos los demas. I'm happy to have this opportunity to serve and hope I can give all that I can to the Lord. I love you all! 

Elder Jacobsen 

A Good Week

Aloooooooohaaaaaa!!! Haha. Well this week was sweet! Yesterday we participated in a Devotional Musical Misional. It was something fun and different than the usual. In our zone there are 2 sisters from from Hawaii (one se llama hermana Te`o and I think her brother plays the San Diego Chargers. Sweet! Check that out to see if its legit). and an Elder from Samoa, and gringos y Latinos. So different cultures. It's a fun zone! Anyway! Lifes good! I love the mision! I love getting to know people and being able to carry and share the gospel. Its great! Well I love you all so much! I hope you know that! And I hope that those of you that have the Gospel appreciate it and SHARE IT WITH EVERYONE! Every time you walk into the door of a friend's house that's not a member or at school just remember that you have precious knowledge that can CHANGE LIVES AND FAMILIES! Are you kidding me! so SHARE IT! Dont be selfish!!!! Share it share it share it! And if you're reading or hearing this and are not a member or don't know much obout the Gospel of Jesus Christ, READ AND LISTEN! I PROMISE YOU WITH ALL MY HEART THAT YOU WON'T REGRET IT! We're talking about happiness, hope, knowledge, salvation, eternal families and marriages! Be happy! Choose the Good Shepherd always! Trust me, he knows where the sweeter grass is at! And even if there's what seems to be good grass away from the Good shepherd, be careful because that snake might be right there and ready to bite! Lets be careful and enjoy the sweet and joy filled grass that the gospel has to offer us! 

Elder Jacobsen 

The pic is of some members, some of the missionaries and the little girl I had the opportunity to baptize the last Saturday! wahoo!!!! (and the little boy is her younger brother). The devotional was packed! A great turn out! Well, please keep in your prayers Jarot, Jorsh, Angelo, Eddy, Alejandro, Leonardo, Leonardo, Jose David, Diana, Steven, and everyone else! Thanks!  file://localhost/Users/cathy/Desktop/DSC00003.JPG

Choose the Right

Well hello hello!!! So this week was a great week! I guess I´ll just get right to it. Mirna got married last Friday! Baptized Saturday! And confirmed Sunday! Wahooooooooo! La familia Castro Chila! A great family! Please keep Hermana Mirna in your prayers so that she can just progress and be a STRONG Member! And thanks to all those who remembered my Birthday! You all are so awesome! So how's everyone doing?

       I hope everyone has, is, and will hearken unto the voice of the Lord. If we do that, we must choose to prepare and have joy right? But you might have read or heard about someone who does not want that! So if we have made or are making, or are wanting to make the choice to follow the Good Shepherd rather than the devil I think it can really help to understand what comes from what. Or better said, what we need, and what we need to completley avoid, get rid of, and stay away from. Alma simply says ¨For I say unto you that whatsoever is good cometh from God, and whatsoever is evil cometh from the devil.¨(Alma 5:40). GOOD and Evil. BUENO y Malo. Can it get more clear than that!?!? haha. So why have me messed up? Why do we make mistakes? Why do we make bad decisions? Why have we sometimes chosen the wrong rather than the right? 

     We can all ponder and share different thoughts and reasons but I'm going to share some words that you can find in 2 Nephi 15 or Isaiah 5, (take your pick) that I believe explains at least one big reason. Because it talks about ¨them that call evil good, and good evil, that put darkness for light, and light for darkness, that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter.¨ Now is that real or what?  Whose seen something on TV or whatever it may be that makes beer seem like somthing good, or smoking and drugs cool, or unmodestly dressing or hardly dressing attractive. Or people that think they're cool because they can say bad words! Or think its cool to not care about anything. These things are WRONG! They are not good, they are not light, and they are not sweet! Drinking, drugs, immodesty, pornographic material, cussing, etc... None of it is from God! Now if I have any friend reading or listening that might be caught up in or experimenting with any of these things. Throw it away, set goals, make plans, and tell Satan to go to hell! And no, Elder Jacobsen is not cussing. What I said is literal. I'm saying this because because I love you. So please take it seriously and with love. I expect the same from all my friends. To tell me straight up when I'm wrong and help me make things right.

   Now please, I do not want to hear, but hey, you only live once (YOLO). WRONG! Thats garbage! If you think that your being decieved! After this life there is more. And if we don't repent and don't do our best we will regret it. And if you want to think you only live once and you can do whatever you want and do wicked things, and deny the truth... Then I think that when you find yourself in the final judgement, you might just wish you only lived once. 

    So lets be careful to determine what is really the good and what is the bad. Satan offers lies and confusion.  God offers Prophets and Apostles. What do you Choose? 

     I love you all so much! Lets help each other and all those around us choose the right! Always! Whether that person is a child, a youngster, an adult, an older adult, and even the elderly. I hope to be able to help you. Many of you have helped me in many ways, and I know I will continue to recieve and need your help and guidance and support and love. And I am SO GRATEFUL FOR THAT! Thank you! I love you all so much! TAKE CARE AND PUT A SMILE ON YOUR FACE! 

Elder Jacobsen 

Whose Side are we on?

Well hello everyone! Im doing good here in ECUADOR! I am so grateful to have this opportunity to be here! I know that this is an experience of a life time and a blessing. I'm serving a mission but its funny because I think this misison will serve me throughout my life! And its important that we make the best out of this life right? 

I Believe that many of us know that ¨this life is the time for men to prepare to meet god...¨(Alma 34:32). And we can learn in 2 Nephi 2:25 that ¨men are, that they might have joy¨. Awesome! So we are here to prepare and to be happy! I like that! Learning and happiness sounds pretty good to me! Who wouldn't love to learn and have joy doing so. I am convinced that we all learn one way or another whether we like it or not. Now applying what we learn is another thing. To be frank, I invite all of us to not be dumb and to apply what we learn. Ok, so we know that we are here to prepare. We must learn and apply. But the Joy part? I'm pretty sure I've said things like smile, be happy, Attitude is Everything and what not. Now I hope that we are all smiling, being happy, and having great attitudes! Thats what we want right. But as we know there is someone, a fallen angel of God, yes the devil himself who seeks ¨the misery of all mankind¨(2 Nephi 2:17-18). Now just think about that! All mankind!!! Whether your name is BillyBob, SallyLoo, elder Jacobsen, Bryce, Angelina, Chase, Jacquelyn, Whitney, Miles, Gardner, Brent, Elizabeth, Corey, Thom, Kate, Austin, Lilian, Shelby, Josh, Rindi, Maddy, Collin, Ben, Lauren, Julia, Kari, Sam, Cindi, Rob, Paul, Cathy, Scott, Jake, Macee, Mackenzie, Jill, Dylan, ryan, Samantha, Heather, Greg, Luke, DJ, Dan, Briar, Jacob, Haylee, Steven, Chloe, Emma, Jessie, Autumn, Alexandra, Suzette, Blake, Shannon, Nate, Chad, Anne, Marshall, Amelia, Nadine, John, Kyle, Dru, Brock, Cole, JB, Or whoever! He wants you!!! Satan wants you and me to be miserable! Just like him! We're not just talking about being a little sad or bummed. We´re talking Misery! From the most Recent Newborn child to the oldest. With saying that, Lets never ever forget who that most recent newborn and the oldest person on earth are. Lets never ever forget who WE are! Children of an Almighty and loving God! We are his children and he literally loves each one of us. He wants us to have joy and prepare to be able to return to his glorious presence. So if we know what God wants and we know what the devil wants, lets ask ourselves. What do we want? God or the devil? Angels or demons? Light or darnkness? Peace or contention? Love or hate? Rightousness or wickedness? Repentence or guilt? Forgivness or Condemnation? Truth or lies? Hope or Fear? Joy or misery? A good Shepherd or a bad shepherd? Whose side do you want to be on? Ask yourselves right now! Whose side do you want to be on? I testify that true happiness comes from chossing the Lord's side. And not just choosing with your lips but also your thoughts and actions. Choosing rightousness! Choosing to repent! Choosing to love others! Choosing hope over fear! Choosing patience and kind words over contention. Choosing the right is what brings joy! Leraning, and might I add learning from mistakes and then applying brings joy.

Now I ask a question. Does having joy and being happy mean that Satan ceases to exists? NO! he is part of this. I really appreciate something that my Dad wrote me once. He told me that ¨Everything about the gospel is good and true and from a loving Heavenly Father that wants nothing more than for us to return to him refined and ready for the next stage. In fact, he loves us so much that he allows Satan to test us and confuse us so that we become stronger because of it. I have always thought it ironic that satan is actually making us stronger by him doing his job. One day he will hate the fact of how critical a role he played in creating this strong army of our Heavenly Father.¨  I love that! We can be happy! We can be so grateful for the opportunity to learn, grow, improve! We can be grateful for repentance and happy for the opportunity to refine ourselves. I have made many mistakes in my life. Some bigger some smaller! But I am learning! And I am so grateful for the Atonement and the hope we can have as we strive, repent, learn how to make better decisions, and become better! I have a long ways to go. A ton to improve on, a ton to learn, a ton to apply, and a ton to be so grateful and happy for. So while we have a TON (because this life is full of just so MUCH) may we all choose to be joyful! Always! Let us be humble, accept and learn from consequences with positive attitudes even when its hard, embarrasing, not the funnest, and just do our best! Don't ever follow satan or his ways down to misery! If we get knocked down or lost physically, mentally, or spiritually, lets GET UP, and if we get knocked down again, and again, and again, and again, and how ever many times... Lets get up, put ourselves in the right direction and with and through the Atonement stay as close as we can to the Good Shepherd! 

¨Behold, I say unto you, that the good ^ashepherd doth call you; yea, and in his own name he doth call you, which is the name of Christ; and if ye will not ^bhearken unto the voice of the ^cgood shepherd, to the ^dname by which ye are called, behold, ye are not the sheep of the good shepherd.

 And now if ye are not the ^asheep of the good shepherd, of what fold are ye? Behold, I say unto you, that the ^bdevil is your shepherd, and ye are of his fold; and now, who can deny this? Behold, I say unto you, whosoever denieth this is a ^cliar and a^dchild of the devil.

And now I say unto you that the good shepherd doth call after you; and if you will hearken unto his voice he will bring you into his fold, and ye are his sheep; and he commandeth you that ye suffer no ravenous wolf to enter among you, that ye may not be destroyed."

May we hearken unto his voice my dear Family and Friends! We can do this! I'm so grateful to have all of you in my life! I have recieved much help and I know I will recieve more help. Lets support one another! Lets help one another! Lets help others! And lets prepare and have joy doing so! This is my prayer in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. 

I love you all so much! Take care! 

Elder Jacobsen 

More Time to Serve the Lord!

Wahooooo! MORE TIME TO SERVE THE LORD! Thats what I'm talking about! Isn't that awesome! Well, its honestly a blessing that I get more time! Wow! So, this week has been a good week! We had a great attendance of investigators yesterday at church! Please keep F. Vinces, Mirna, Briggitte, Dominicia, Hector, and everyone else in you prayers! Pray that Mirna can get married, and please help us keep having more people to teach! Hay que encontrar a Bastantes que estan dispuestos a escuchar! Well, I was able to participate in a baptismal service that was a little different. It was a special experience. So a 99 year old Hermanita got baptized and I was not expecting to be part of here baptism. I'll try to keep it short. So the sister is in a wheel chair and well, in the end I ended up being able to help so that she could be baptized. We had to carry her into the font and at first we tried with her in a chair but that didn't work so what worked was for me to kneel down in the font and hold her on my knee. I dont know exactly how to explain it but it was a neat experience and getting to carry her in my arms out of the font was special. Dont have pics but I'll try to get some. Anyway, P-day was fun today! Went to the Puntilla! And hey, saw Elder Crisp! El novio de la prima de mi mejor amiga. jajaja! And some time with mi amigo Elder Randall! 

Love you all! Take care! 

Elder Jacobsen 

Scriptures: Read them, Enjoy them, Apply them!

Hello! How's it going? Well, I'm in a new sector-zone and it seems like a good sector. I already know the most part of the sector I would say. haha. Well, my companion is Elder Soto from the Republica Dominicana. I don't know exactly what to say about my companion in this message. But please pray for him and us that we can have lots of success. Well, we have some great people. Please keep in your prayers la hermana Mirna (she needs to get married), Hno Pedro (a young man that has great potencial), and la familia Vinces (the mom and 3 girls this week accepted a baptismal date for the 22) The mom did attend church and has to get married but has potential. We need to teach the parents the Law of Chastity. 

So what else, hahahah. Oh, one of the Zone Leaders is Elder Randall! A good friend! Ya, that's about it. Love you all! Be good! And read the scriptures! Enjoy them! Learn from them! And APPLY them! They are a gift from god to help us. Hay que aprovechar! 

Elder Jacobsen 

Ferroviario Experiences

Hello Hello! Como estan por allá! Ya estamos en Feb! Well, yes I have some news! I am no longer in Triunfo! haha. I'm now in DURAN SUR again! Wahoo!!!! But in a different sector! But I'm excited because I already am familiar whith this zone I guess you can say! So sweet! And if I get the opportunity to have an intercambio in La RIVERA (were I was) that would be sweet because I could possibly see how some converts are doing and just see some of those GREAT people again! So I'm here with Elder Soto de la Republica Dominicana! Well, what else! Oh ya, I ate fish eye this week! Wahoo! hahahaha. (I think thats what it was!) Truthfully, I don't think the flavor was that bad! Oh and I have a funny story with a brother storming around while we were in a lesson.  He was yelling to shut the door with a towel on and a broom in his hand! He was after a dog that was in the house and wow that was not expected at all! hahaha. After things  calmed down and the dog and the hermano were no longer in the house, all of the sudden we hear the yelping from the dog! Poor dog! But come to find out, the dog had  bitten the daughter of the hermano! Anyway, I love you all so much! Hope to have lots of success here in Ferroviario! 

Elder Jacobsen 

Prayer

Buenas Tardes!!! Como están por allá!?! Well, time is just flying!!!! It seems like just a little bit ago it was New years and Christmas. This is crazy! Well, I'm going to keep this short! So were really needing to find some new people to teach. Please include in your prayers that we can find families and that they can have desires to keep commitments! And preferably with married parents! haha. So, were in the rainy seasons here but I think we might be getting a lot wetter here in the next month! Well, what else! haha. OH ya, we ate BOFE (If thats correct) this week. I understand that its the pulmones of the cow! Which are lungs right! haha. Let it keep on commin! So, I hope you're all praying sincerly! Honestly I think one of the most comforting things that we have in this life is the ability to just pray and truly express ourselves to our Father in Heaven!  I invite you to try imagining that your are REALLY talking to him! Do your best to really make a connection and imagine him there listening, smiling, or whatever... It's somthing special! Your Father in Heaven is there! Talk to him!  Well, I honestly believe with all my heart that this is the work of the Lord. I know I will never be the perfect missionary but I want to strive to finish the best I can!!! Well I love you all so much! 

Elder Jacobsen 

Pregunta. When they say its super super cold in the states does that include all the states? 

ATTITUDE

Hello Hello! 

Hola familia y amigos! Bueno, this week was a good week! I would like to talk about the importance of just having a good attitude! I truly hope you know the importance of just having a good attitude! ATTITUDE IS EVERYTHING! How many times will you hear that from me or read it? I don't know! But I'm sure more than once! haha. But honestly our attitude is so important! When we learn, work, or going through harder times, passing through normal times, or whatever it may be we must have the best attitude and just strive our best to trust in the Lord and have a good attitude doing the best we can do. I hope you all have a great week and just great attitudes in all that you do! Be happy! 

Well, we still need to find MANY more people to teach! Lots of couples that need to get married! Pray for the familia Sarmiento, Napa, Cuji, Lema, and anyone else that needs to get married! haha. Well, love you all sooooo much!!! 

Elder Jacobsen 

Have a Prayer in Your Heart This New Year!

Hola familia y amigos!

Bueno, esta semana pasada has been a good week. I feel like I'm starting to progress and progress is great! But I do know that I have a LOTTTTTTTT to learn and to understand! But I'm pretty sure my whole life will be like that! But there's certain things that I really want to just get on top of this year! I know this year is going to be a big year! A year of many great changes and progress! So I hope your new year has been great! Its kinda crazy that were already in a new year!!!!! Wow!!!! Well, one of the things that I think I'm really starting to learn is the importance of carrying a prayer in your heart. Or better said, being able to pray in your heart at anytime! I've been doing it a LOT latley! I invite you all to try it. Whenever you just want to communicate with our Father in Heaven, or need help, or whatever it may be. PRAY! Obviously if you can kneel down and pray thats great, but don't think that if your not in private that you can't pray. Pray in your heart and mind! Trust me, it works! And you can recieve lots of comfort throughout the day and even be guided! Its helped me a ton, and I know I will do this throughout my life! Were doing good! It appears that the rainy season is starting up! Oh boy!!!! So we need to find MORE people to teach! and FAMILIES! Parents!!!! This branch has great people in it but I want to help build it up even more --obviously!!! .... There's a lot of work to do! But great people here!!!! Great people! Have a great week! 

Elder Jacobsen 

I HAVE TONS of Pics that if you want to see you'll have to see later but here is an example of some fo the things they do for the new year. THEY BURN THEM! Its pretty exciting! 

Merry Christmas from Triunfo, Ecuador!

HEY everyone! So Merry Christmas! Hope you all have a GREAT one and really just live up the holiday season! But lets not forget that this is to celebrate the birth of someone VERY VERY SPECIAL! The birth of our Lord Jesus Christ! What a wonderful person to think about! Please, in your families, with your friends, and whatever might be going on, lets all try to really remember the most important. Jesus Christ! Lets do our best to do what he would do, say what he would say, and really share Christmas love with others! So, I’ve been changed. Yes, today. Iré y Haré!!! So I’m no longer Zone Leader. And no I don’t think I should say I can rest now because the truth is, it doesn’t matter the assignment.  I just need to WORK HARD and Strive to be the Missionary I can! So ya, time to get at it and just enjoy being a MISSIONARY! I think its actually going to be great! Well, I’m in a place called Triunfo with an Elder named Elder Alfaro from El Salvador! Well, ya, talk to the family soon so wahoooo!!!!!! Feliz Navidad! Love you! Smile!!!!! 

Elder Jacobsen 

November 25, 2013 News

Well hello hello! So times flying here in Ecuador. WAY to fast which is a good and bad thing. Haha, I'm not going to lie. Pero bueno, This week was a good week and yes I have a couple things to tell. But as usual the time flies so I'm going to be keeping my emails nice, short and sweet. Hope thats ok. So this week we had a conference en Babaoyo with Presidente Amaya la hermana Amaya y el ELder Mestre (From the seventy, I'm pretty sure from Venezuela) which was an absolutely excellent meeting. I loved it! He taught in just a very exciting, spiritual, motivating, understanding manner. I was touched in many ways and am even more boosted to just keep getting better and improving and trying to be the missionary I want to be. The missionary God wants me to be. He said something like this. The missionary you are now is the kind of person you will be in 10 years. I loved that and  it helped me realize even more that there's no time for slacking or saying tal vez or maybe later or that's not that important. Its just not even worth it! So yes, as I was excited and motivated a while ago to really be the best missionary I can be, I'm even more now. I want to give my all. Its hard at times. I won't lie. Being obedient at times is really hard. Sometimes it really hurts. That sounds funny. But true obedience with all your heart is WORTH IT! I can literally see God trusting me more as his son and using me way more as an instrument in his hands. Its amazing and I want to keep trying to make it better. I love my Father in Heaven. I know he has given me SOOOOOO much. WAY more than I could have posibly deserved and will ever deserve. I am in debt. I'm pretty sure we all are to some degree. But I feel like im the luckiest in my own special way. haha. Just so much patience, love, miracles, forgivness, etc... It's incomprehensible. I honestly don't understand it and sometimes its hard to believe. But the great thing is, I DO BELIEVE! And it brings so much HOPE and HAPPINESS. And all said and done, it all comes from the ATONEMENT of Jesus Christ! I can say that when I truly have faith in the atonement I am a much happier person. When I don't, its not very fun! I have a lot to learn about the atonement and to understand and to apply. But I do know that its something very special and I am so grateful for that! Well, this is a lot longer than it was going to be. Oh, I dont know if I mentioned, Elder Suarez was changed. That was not a fun change. He was honestly a great companion! Teaching and helping me a ton! But now I have the privilege to be with Elder Rubio. He's from Quito. And its his first time as ZL which is really helping me because I'm able to strive even more to be a better example and push to keep the wave of the work of salvacion rolling! It's time for this baby to getta rollin to the point where its the most popular wave known and everyones surfin and boogie boarding along with it enjoying the joy of this work! Love you all so much! Cuidanse! 

Elder Jacobsen 

October 21, 2013 News from Milagro

Hello Hello!

So I have no time because I've been traveling all day!! Yes los cambios were today and Yes I have been transfered from Quevedo. Wow, I loved Quevedo and my months there. I will definitely miss it a ton! The lugar, the people, the members, the pres de estaca, el obispo, los jovenes misionaries de barrio, my converts and just ya... It was a great zone! Anyway, we received the call last night at 1 AM with the changes and I was included. We travelded all morning to Guayaquil and there I was presented to my new Comp. Elder Suarez! De Colombia! Wahooo! Los Colombianos me caen super bien! so ya, and had already heard good things about him. It's funny because we have had a couple of the same companions. Elder Barragan who I trained and Elder Da Silva. But ya we got to know each other a bit in our bus ride to MILAGRO which is my new zone. Milagro 1. From what I heard we are 14. So I'll let you know who's here and where there from next time. Oh I might mention that this Zone was part of the old Guayaquil SOUTH mission. But its now newly ares. I'm excited to learn more and really try to progress in this new zone. Well, thats whats going on here. Oh, i dont know if i told you, I was waiting to tell you but I got bit for the first time in my mission a week ago. Thats a story I'll have to tell when there's time. Which might be after the misison. haha. I love and miss you all so much! I love this misison. It truely is a blessing to be able to start to really understand and develop a true perspective of life! 

Con amor,

ELder Jacobsen 

October 14, 2013 News

A los tiempos! Well, you'll have to forgive me! I think its been a couple weeks. Just lots of work to be doing here in the Lord's work! Well, with the short time I have I first off want to share a small part of the testimony of my heart. My dear family and friends, I believe with ALL my heart, with all there is within me that Christ is our Lord and Savior and that God the creator is our loving father in heaven! I believe that they with the spirit are a perfect Godhead of all things. And a Godhead of love! I believe with all my heart that we have a divine purpose here on earth! Yes, TO BE HAPPY and truely make the best of life BUT in the PATH OF THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST! That is TRUE HAPPINESS! That is true peace and hope! I know with all my heart that the fulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is what brings and offers more happiness and help and comfort than anything else in this entire earth! Why is that? Becasue it is divine! Dad helped me understand that and I am forever grateful. Just think about it. Yes there are MANY (millions even billions) that can be happy and experience much joy and happiness throughout there lives. Why is that? At first that really made it hard for me to understand. Why are there so many people that don't have the gospel but yet can be happy, can overcome challenges, etc....? How can that be if there's supposivly only one true way. But the answer is simple. God the Father and his Son love ALL of his children. Even the lost, the unbelievers, the believers to a certian point, even the wicked and those natural men that are enemies. Though he knows not all will be able to come completely back due to agency and many circumstances do to the perfect plan, he wants all to be able to feel his love! The light of Christ is for everyone! Even those that don't believe! Where does their light and happiness come from? From the atonement and love of Christ! Why can other religions also be convinced that they are in the truth? Because they DO have parts of truth! Prayer, faith, obedience, righteousness, etc... are many  principles throughout the world and God isn't going to take away their opportunity to feel the divinity of those principles of the Gospel just because they haven't found ALL of it. He wants them to have as much happiness as they can. The difference is, we have the FULLNESS of the Gospel! The service, the unity, the truths, and happiness is literally like NOTHING ELSE in this entire world! And as my father simply and beautifully explained it. IT IS DIVINE! And, I am now starting to understand the HUGE importance and responsibility that we have to SHARE it! God is depending on us! He gave us so much whether through pre-existence affairs or agency here on earth it has come to us and yes part of the PLAN and the DEAL is to share it! There are billions still that don't have it! They need it! Their ancestors need it and their future generations need it. Our brothers and sisters! I have much to learn and much more faith and knowledge to acquire. But from the depth of my heart, I am certain that this is The fullness of the Gospel. The work of our God. The work of the only God. The plan of all plans. The immortality and eternal life of man! I pray that we may all study, learn, apply, and increase our testimonies and faith of this GREAT CAUSE! I love you all so much! Work hard, and know that Elder Jacobsen loves and misses you! Hasta entonces!

Elder Jacobsen! 

P.S. Ive been asked for stories. Real quick I'll tell a story of this week. So coming home from a Leadership Meeting in Guayaquil I wasnt feeling too well on the bus. (3-4 hour bus ride) and I realized I was going to throw up (had only thrown up 1 time in the misison) and I told an elder next to me and as I was opening the window he tapped me and said no use this (a bag) and toss it out after. I asked if it had holes because I couldn't see because it was completely dark in the bus and outside. He innocently replied no, its all good. Well, long story short. It definatly had holes in the bag! hhaha! Aww man, my poor pants and shoes. And the poor people in the bus that had to wonder what that horrible smell was for the last hour and a half in the bus! But the funniest part is that the police pulled over the bus to do an inspeccion. And they had flashlights looking under the seats and what not. We had moved more to the back. The vomit was more towards the middle. And we all watched as one of the men looked under the seat were I had thrown up and when he looked up his face was struck and he looked to the others and said to the others and said no hay nada aqui (theres nothing here) and they left. We all laughed! 

Well that's it! Love you!