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! 

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 

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 

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!