February 24, 2015

So this week hasn't been especially exciting, but there were a few fun events to happen this week.  Like we played signs again and I made a few more magic tricks up.  I'll have to video them and send them to you for next week.  People love that I can always blow peoples minds, especially with my ring tricks.  So first this week started with FHE.  I've begun to enjoy it a lot more now.  At first it wasn't too fun since we didn't know everyone very well, but now I really like it since we know everyone.  On another note I found gymnast rings here!! I'm so psyched!! It's been the most fun thing to do since I can't really run much with my knee still recovering and all, but I have been able to play some volleyball and other things. I have a knee brace now, which is the most comfortable thing ever.  Way better than the ones we tried buying at home before.  I wear it pretty much all the time.  


We also went to get our visas finalized.  That took us out to the big part of Mexico City, which was basically LA.  Me and some of the other guys tried to talk with the natives.  I did magic tricks and we talked about the gospel a little bit afterwards.  They could tell our Spanish was super duper bad though. Most people just ignored us.  I also had a moment of realization of why I'm here. I want to make everyone's life better! I just want to serve people and make them smile. Baptisms are just a side reward as long as I can make a person happier than they were before. And hopefully my impression on them will lead them to baptism in years to come if they don't end up baptized after a lesson from me (which is ridiculous of course).  

This week elder Faasao got sick so I had to spend a day at the casa with him. That was kinda boring, but we still were able to have fun while I juggled and stuff.  I've been drinking a ton of juice which is to be expected.  There have been a lot of times where I can't think of a word in English, but I can in Spanish so that's great. I cant think of anything super duper interesting to happen this week, sorry. I did send Allison a letter yesterday so we will see when that arrives to her dorm. Also if you feel so inclined to send me a package or a tangible letter you can do it through a service called www.missionarypackagemx.com, I think. You can even get me Krispy Kremes. but don't worry, I don't expect any of that.  Letters would sure be nice though! They only take like 1 day to arrive since they print them out here! Isn't that awesome!? Anyways that's pretty much it. If you have any specific questions let me know and I'll get back you guys. 

Love you guys!

Elder Jacobs

February 17, 2015

 
This week was strange. I’ve grown and learned so much.  Not strange like bad, but strange as in ... I don’t know, just fun and weird at the same time.  I’ve learned a lot about being in tune with the spirit. I can’t believe how much I can feel God and Christ in everything.  I wish I could explain it. The other day our Spanish teacher was getting on us for not speaking enough Spanish just around the MTC, and I was thinking, "But you’re speaking English right now!!" And then I realized he was actually speaking Spanish and I felt super cool!  Everyone else here I realized is learning the language as a flashcard or memorized term, but I learn best by talking with everyone so instead of learning the term in English and having to translate from Spanish to English to understand what people are saying, I have been learning it as a completely separate entity apart from English altogether.  It’s kinda hard to explain... anyways something else to happen this week is just the other day I felt like one of our fellow district members needed an interview with the branch president.  But our district leader just kept rushing everyone along before they could make the choice to have an interview or not since we were late already for another thing because our branch president wanted to talk with us for a while.  I felt that we needed to stay but he wouldn’t. So as we were leaving I told him what I had felt and he said, “aw well, we'll just figure it out next week, were late.”  So since he is the district leader I agreed. But every step I took towards the next meeting my heart sank. So I said we needed to go back and help that elder anyways.  Then he said, “oh, he went to the cafeteria to find his scriptures,” but as he said that I got a clear image of him and his companion walking down the hall of our class building.  So I said no, and we went to the class building. It’s like my feet were just guiding me.  I was nervous because I thought maybe these are just my own thoughts. And it would look really ridiculous if we got there and they were not where I said.  But I kept going with the faith that what I had received was from God. And it turns out they were there. I was so relieved. But I knew it was God, not me, and I’m grateful for that.  I pulled the elder aside and I told him what I had felt and he said he had indeed decided he wanted an interview, but he did not want to hold everyone else back.  So I waited with him while everyone else went to the next meeting.  It's strange how I felt during that whole experience.  It was sort of powerful, yet completely submissive that it was not my power, but the Lord’s power that enabled me to help my fellow district member. I've been able to feel that power ever since.  I love it! 

On another note we started a casa war today. All the other districts in our house are out to get us because we made fake poop and put it in their toilets.  We tied our door closed and ended up escaping out our window that we had to unscrew because the screen was bolted in.  I had to take apart my pen to unscrew them.  It was pretty cool.  As part of our new zone we do family home evening, which is pretty cool.  We play signs and have a spiritual thought.  We play signs with sounds though. It’s kinda different, but I like it nonetheless. It’s very ceremonial and kinda strange.  I would compare it to a fraternity, but it totally is spiritual and helps to make the entire zone good friends.  It’s really very awesome!

The temple is beautiful.  I love it.  Possibly the most beautiful one I’ve ever seen.  I wish you all could be here with me.  Mexico is amazing!! My Spanish is coming along fantastically. No one knows how I do it because they never see me study, but I just know it’s the Lord helping me to learn as I do service and try to speak and make people smile while speaking Spanish.  I love you guys!  All of your support means a ton to me! Thank you so much! See ya later!

February 12, 2015

This week I've been having a great time! I forgot to bring my journal this time so I might not be too detailed, but I hope I do a good enough job for you guys.  This week has felt so long. The food is good and the weather is the same as back home. Even the vegetation is exactly the same.  I'm having a blast though!!  It's awesome to learn Spanish! Me and my companion are the power duo in terms of Spanish ability.  My favorite thing to do is to look up different phrases in Spanish that I can bust out at any time like "Mirame! Como un pulpo!!" (Look at me! Like an octopus!!) 

The first day was weird because we just went to bed, so not super fun.  The next day was a lot of introduction stuff and it killed me.  I hate sitting through meetings... I also hate the boxed in feel of the CCM, or otherwise in English known as the MTC. I got super homesick the first two nights but every night I would say a prayer to have peace and feel God's love, and that you guys and Allison would be able to feel mine.  I pray for that every time I pray now.  It's made everything so much better. I made a lot of new friends too! Like every five minutes you hear "Hey Jacobs!!" It's super fun for me.  Everyone knows me because I do magic tricks all the time, haha.  Not at the wrong times though, don't worry.  I've had a major rejuvenation in terms of spiritualness.  I can feel the spirit everywhere.  Teaching our fake investigator is fun.  Every other companionship in our district has to script it out but me and my companion can just go in there (after having prepared a lesson, of course) and just talk to him.  I love talking with the natives. My time here has felt long this first week but I hope it gets faster soon because I'm already getting cabin fever.  My companion is super negative all the time and that does not mix well with my positive attitude.  Also, one of my best friends went home yesterday so that sucked.  I love you guys!  I'm having a great time! See ya later!

An Early Morning Farewell

The Beginning - February 4, 2015

Your Missionary's mailing addres is:

[Elder Jacobs]

[16/03/2015] [6 - A]

Carretera Tenayuca-Chalmita #828

Colonia Zona Escolar, Gustavo A. Madero

07230 Mexico, Distrito Federal

Mexico

The estimated departure date for your missionary is [16/03/2015]. The use of the

above address on all correspondence will greatly faciliate delivery to your missionary

at the MTC. Please don't send packages.

The flight was great! I´ve been taking a lot of pictures!! I love it! I haven´t met my companion yet but I know his name is Elder Moore.  I love you guys! Tell everyone thanks for sending me off this morning. Also my P-day is on Thursdays.  This has to be short so I´ll catch you guys up on everything later. See ya!

Elder Jacobs