"Com'ere right quick!" Jan 13, 2014

Howdy y'all!!

This week has been so great!! I got a couple of days to say goodbye to the people I love in Paper Mill... and then I headed out to Hartwell, GA! This area is the biggest geographical unit in the mission... but the smallest branch in the mission! We have like 40/50 people come to church on average a week. If y'all are lookin at it on a map, it borders South Carolina. Sooooo I moved pretty much across the entire mission. And lemme tell you, it's a completely different world out here. A world that I have fallen in love with! :)

Sister Tanner is my new companion. She's from New Plymouth, ID. She's been out 3 months and I absolutely adore her! She's like a combination between Andrea Jacobs and Jessie Judson. So... she's adorable. Obviously :) We get along super well and we talk. A lot! It's so great :) Every day we find more quirky little things that we have in common. It's really fun :)

My first day in Hartwell, I met a lady named J. She's a super sweet lady that the sisters have been working with for like 4 months. Oh yeah. She got baptized on Saturday :) The weather was pretty bad, but nothing was gonna stop her from getting baptized! Not even tornado warnings! Being the out-of-the-loop missionaries we are, we didn't realize the weather was tornado worthy til we got to the church and heard the news from members. Don't worry, we're all safe. And most importantly, J had her special day :) The service was so wonderful and I asked her how she felt (my favorite question) and she said, "I wanna jump up and down, but I'm afraid I'll break somethin!" She compared her baptism when she was 13 to her baptism on Saturday and said that it's different because this baptism didn't mark an end, but rather a beginning! She's looking forward to the temple and callings and getting a patriarchal blessing. I sure love her :) We're gonna start teaching her granddaughter, next :)

There were so many fun adventures that we've had this week! Like tracting my first trailer park! :) We found an older gentleman who seemed pretty uninterested, but when the conversation turned to Utah, he stopped and said, "God told me to go to Utah, but I didn't. I'm supposed to be there." That really hit him. We're going back on Thursday to teach him more :)

Sunday was so great! I love my new cute little branch! We have 6 missionaries serving here, too! We have a set of Elders, Sisters and a senior couple named the Elders. So we have the Elders, the Sisters and Elder Elder and Sister Elder. Confusing, right? :) I love it here. I love visiting members, less actives, investigators and recent converts and teaching them about the infinite love that Heavenly Father has for them. I adore these people and I'm so excited to learn what Heavenly Father has in store for this wonderful branch :)

Love y'all!

~Sister Jacobs

Allelujah, He is my Savior! Today He is born! :) Dec. 30, 2013

(Vocal Point's Lead Thou me On. Track 5. It's my favorite EVER!) :)

Hello one and all! :)

Sooooooooo... This week rocked. Am I right? Haha.

For Christmas Eve, we were able to go over to a Member's home where like 3 families from the ward joined us! We had dinner, and then we all reenacted the story of Christ's birth. There was lots of singing and kids running around and jumping and being the best angels, and sheep they could be :)  After that, the father of the family read Twas the Night Before Christmas and we all joined in on the parts that we knew. It was perfect :)

We were able to visit some less actives that day and it was wonderful :) We indeed fell asleep with the vision of sugar plums dancing in our heads :)

Christmas was FANTASTIC! :) We got to visit some members before our Skype and that was just lovely. Christmas time is simply magical :) Of course Skyping was magical, too! To see all of your bright smiling faces and to hear your happy, happy voices :) Thank you so much for making my Christmas so wonderful! :) We were able to go out and do some work before our Christmas dinner :) It was so fun to be with the Frandsens, to share a Christmas thought and then to make cookies and ornaments for their neighbors :) 

We received some awesome news this week!! Remember D.? He got baptized a couple of weeks ago. Well he and his girlfriend (who introduced him to the church) are engaged!! :) They're waiting til next December to get married so they can be sealed in the temple :) It's so amazing when recent converts really do understand how important the temple is :)

This week as we were tracting, we knocked on a Jewish lady's door. She was about to close the door when we just simply asked her about her beliefs. While we were talking, her son's friend showed up, so he went into their home to hang out while we continued talking. We had a lovely conversation and then as we were saying good bye, Jared (the son's friend) said, "Hold on. Can I talk to them?" So then we talked to him! He has a lot of questions that through prayer and study, we're excited to answer! :) The Lord works in mysterious ways :)

We're just gonna keep finding and teaching and praying and working and some day one of these seeds is gonna sprout :)

Thank you so much for all of the support! I have truly felt an outpouring of love from my family and friends this season :) Now that postage has settled down a bit, the mission office would like all mail to be sent to them, and then it will be forwarded out to us missionaries. That address is...

Sister Ashley Jacobs

Georgia Atlanta North Mission

1150 Cole Dr. SW

Lilburn, GA 30047

Love y'all lots! I'll email you next year! :)

~Sister Jacobs

Oh there's no place like home for the holidays... Dec. 23, 2013

... for no matter how far away you roam. If you want to he happy in a million ways, share the Gospel and you'll feel at home sweet home! :)

Hello one and all!!

This one is gonna be a bit short. Why? Because I get to "see" you on WEDNESDAY!! AH!! :) Oh man. I'm a little excited! It'll be like... Christmas!! Haha! :)

Update. The skype "call" (what do I even call it? I'm already losing what little technology knowledge I have!) will be at 1:30p GA time. So what, that's 10:30a Washington time? Just make sure you're awake and on some sort of something with a webcam. Papa's probably already got it figured out. Buuut, I just thought I'd bring it up.

Aaaaand this week was good! The highlight was the Mission Christmas party. I love loving people! And I love seeing friends who haven't seen each other in forever reunite! It's a blessing, really truly. I love this ward and they make me feel right at home :) Nothing can beat a rainy Washington Christmas with the family, but a rainy Georgia Christmas with the ward and mission family is a close second :)

Last night we went caroling with some families and it was the best feeling in the world. I almost forgot how much I like to sing! We weren't spectacular, but we had testimonies and we shared them through song. :) 

Other than that... the M Family is doing great! Actually... they're sick. But they're progressing with the Gospel! Haha. And our 3 other investigators are doing well, too. We haven't gotten in with them too much because of the holidays... but we keep in touch with them and they're awesome :)

Ooooh wait. Guess who I saw on Saturday?! E! An investigator from my first area! She was at the church for a party and Sis Sullivan and I had to grab something at the church. So we did, and we bumped into her! We both screamed a little bit. It was a tender moment. :) She's not taking the lessons anymore, but she keeps going to church and I'm sure she'll come around someday :)

Okay really though, that's all for this week!

Merry Christmas and I'll see some of you in a couple of days!! :) :)

~Sis Jacobs.

You gottta keep your head up - Dec. 16, 2013

Hello one and all!! :)

Can you believe it's been another week?! Wow! Monday again... time sure flies! :)

First and foremost... the our investigator, L. update! :) She's alive!!!! We called her and got some stuff worked out. She's out of town til the New Year but wants us to come over and teach her again after that. We'll probably start from square one again to make sure that she really understands what she needs to. But til then... prayers are always good! As Sis Sullivan and I talked about it later, we realized that we both felt a little off about giving her a baptismal date so soon (the 14th). Obviously that was the Spirit. So. While that was a tough way to learn that lesson... I also learned that this really is the Lord's work and we can't frustrate it! "Remember, remember that it is not the work of God that is frustrated, but the work of men" (D&C 3:3) No matter what we do, as long as we're doing our best, Heavenly Father is gonna make sure that whatever needs to happen, happens! We also learned to really listen to the Spirit this week. We had some really cool experiences!! I'll share those in a bit. 

On Wednesday night we were on our way to visit a less active and I thought of a potential to stop by. She wasn't home. On our way out of the neighborhood, I remembered another potential that we needed to follow up with. Sis Sullivan asked me if I was avoiding the less actives, haha. I told her I didn't think so, but that these names were just coming in my head. We knocked on the door and they gently declined us. No big. As we walked back to the car, the mom opened the door, and her daughter came out to talk to us. Sooooo we talked to her for a good 15-20 mins, gave her a Book of Mormon, and she seems really interested! Vamos a ver! :)

On Friday we had another Spirit Scavenger Hunt! We were doing our tracting, and Sis Sullivan goes, "Um. Let's not do this door. I just heard the word 'go'". So we skipped it. Then she said, "Okay. This is super weird. But I think we should go to Harbor Pointe." (A complex near ours) Ooookay. So we got in the car and started to head out. But then we both felt weird about going there. So we pulled over and prayed. Sis Sullivan said that she imagined a member's face. And I thought of their house. Sooo... we went to that member's house! And they didn't need anything. But. The point is, we were listening to the Spirit. I think Heavenly Father was teaching us to follow Him better. It was cool :) I'm really excited for the day when we get to see why we have silly promptings. It's comforting to know that someday I'll know. And right now, I don't have to :)

Saturday was a special day! We went to visit a less active family and they weren't home. So we decided to knock on some doors around their complex. And that's when we found a mom and 2 kids. The mom was going to gently decline, but then the daughter asked if we wanted to come in! Haha. We got talking to them and ended up teaching a first lesson. It was a-ma-zing! We're going to see them again tomorrow and they're so excited for church.

Sunday was.... *drumroll* One of our investigator's baptism!!! Yay for him! :) It was so wonderful. It was simply perfect! After it was over, I asked him how he felt. He didn't say anything, but he just looked at me and beamed the most pure smile I've ever seen in my entire life. It was so amazing to be a part of teaching him and helping him to come closer to His Savior. And gosh, he and his girlfriend are just so cute! haha. :)

Missionary work can be hard. And missionary work can be incredibly joyful! This week, I more clearly understand that this is the Lord's work. I know that He simply lets us be a part of it because He knows how much joy it brings us. I know He loves me. He loves you! What a wonderful message. His love is truly the message of Christmas :)

~Sister Jacobs.

Dec. 9, 2013

And we won't go until you answer, we won't go until you answer...

... we won't go until you answer, so open your door! :)

My dearest family and friends!

Today's email is gonna mostly be full of thoughts and things I learned this week. I hope you don't mind :)

Lesson One. Stop worrying about who you're 'supposed' to be, and just be who you are!! I needed that. Maybe one of you needs that, too. *shrug* Either way, I needed it :) 

Lesson Two. One day while we were tracting, a man asked me if I died today and Peter at the pearly gates asked me why he should let me in, how I would answer. I thought for a second and answered slowly. And something really cool happened. Heavenly Father answered for me. I said things I'd never thought of before. Like, "because He wants me there" :)

Lesson Three. This isn't my mission. It's the Lord's. But it is up to me how I spend His time. 

Lesson Four. Sometimes priesthood blessings don't work immediately. But they do work :)

We did lots of service this week. We tried to do one project with all 6 of the missionaries in the area, but some things fell through for the others. 4 hours and 13 bags of leaves later, Sis Sullivan and I conquered the yard! :) We've been so busy that it was really good for us to be able to work together, get to know each other better and laugh. :)

Our investigator, L, was probably the hardest lesson I learned this week. For various reasons, she doesn't want to get baptized anymore. We're going to continue to work with her and help her to understand exactly what baptism means and why it's important. We'll see what happens. The lesson learned? We have to respect others' agency. And even when it breaks our heart, we can know that our heart isn't the only one that hurts. I know that I have done everything in my power to be the best missionary to her that I could. I love her. I pray for her. I fast for her. and I will always think about her. Heavenly Father knows that. And I feel that He does. But an Elder here told me, "You planted a very deep seed in her heart. And when she comes around, she will remember how she felt when you entered her home and taught the truth." I hope so :) The other lesson? I'm the best seed planter in the mission :P

On a brighter note... yesterday was great!! :) Everything that was said, was exactly what I needed. Paper Mill is my little, I mean, BIG family here, and I love them :) 

After church we visited a less active sister who really wants to get back to church, but she's scared. We've been working with her a lot and she's definitely progressing. She's been to sacrament meeting once, and calls us whenever she needs something. Which is a huge improvement from when we first got here :)

Did I tell you about another lady we met a few weeks back? I think I did. She was the one that we tracted into. We opened up the Book of Mormon and shared a 'random' scripture and it was exactly what she needed. Anyway. She let us come back on Sunday and we taught her a proper lesson. She had read the chapter we left her and I'm really excited to teach her more. She has to work every single day til the first week in January, so we're gonna keep in touch and heart-attack her apartment door and stuff. :) I'm excited for her and her 2 cute boys :)

And that Christmas devotional! Was that not the best thing you've ever seen?! So perfect :) My favorite part was "What happened next?!" Why? Lesson 6: We can't control what happens to us, but we can control what we're gonna do about it! So maybe L. isn't quite ready to embrace the Gospel, but what happens next? We go out and teach whoever else is willing to listen. Because this is the Lord's mission, and that's what He would want me to do :)

I love y'all!

Have a blessed day! :)

~Sister Jacobs.

You gotta keep your head up! - Dec. 2, 2013

Happy December!!

Can you believe it?! In my mind it's still May!

Well, transfers are still hard. I was told that after my first transfer, it would all get a lot less sad. False. Haha :) I'm just grateful that I know that it's all in the Lord's hands. The only One who knows the end from the beginning is the only One who is in charge of it all. It's comforting :) 

My new companion is Sister Rebecca Sullivan from Texas! And her favorite ice cream flavor is rocky road :) We get along. Which is good :)

Thanksgiving this week was great! All 6 of us missionaries got to have dinner together (which never happens) and the Smith family invited a bunch of their family, too!! It was so fun. I had my first fried turkey! :) Yay! At the end of that lovely dinner, we sang with everyone Families Can be Together Forever. It was a tender moment :)

Friday was... my 6 Month mark!!! :) I can't even believe it! I remember when I first came out, I asked everyone how long they'd been out and if they were out 6 months or longer, then their advice was valid. Haha! Silly Sister... :) I have since learned that we are all always learning how to be better missionaries! Even the missionaries who have 2 weeks left have something to improve on :)

This week I've been thinking a lot about what my purpose is here. Not as a missionary, but in my area specifically. And another Sister told me this, "Does it matter? As long as we're being obedient and doing the best we can, that purpose will be fulfilled." Yup. That's true. So I've been working on having more faith that my purpose is being fulfilled :)

I'm grateful for the Gospel. I'm grateful for priesthood blessings. I'm grateful for people who know better than I do what is best for me. I'm grateful for all of you and the support y'all provide. 

~Sister Jacobs.

All things considered . . . I'm doing just fine!

Mon. Nov. 25, 2013

Hello my wonderful family and friends! :)

 

This week has been all sorts of ups and downs, just like a mission always is :)

 

On Wednesday and Thursday the cold got the best of me and I was down and out. Sister Marshall made me drink lots of water and take some medicine to get me better. Which was good. because we all know how I feel about water. And medicine, haha. On Wednesday morning we asked the zone leaders to come and give me a blessing. When they showed up, I answered the door and one of them goes, "ooh. Um... wow. Are you doin alright?" I didn't feel that bad. but apparently I looked it, haha :)

 

Halfway through the week we heard rumor that one of the sets of sisters in Paper Mill was going to become 50/50 YSA and Paper Mill sisters. And we heard that the zone is splitting. And we heard that there are going to be the first set of Spanish speaking sisters. And we heard that transfers were going to happen early because of Thanksgiving. So much was in the air and I think it's fair to say we were going crazy. Sooooooooo. Here's the low down. The only thing that's changing is my companion. Anticlimactic, right? Haha. All I can say is there must be a reason why I'm here. Heavenly Father called me here, English. And even after another opportunity, I'm English again. Which I'm beginning to appreciate, I think. But on the upside... I get to be here for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years!! Which I'm stoked for. The members here rock. Seriously :)

 

Speaking of which... Happy Thanksgiving on Thursday!! Something that Sis Marshall and I have been doing and challenging others to do is... be grateful!! Try to only be grateful in your prayers. It gets easier as it goes... and it helps in praying with faith :)

 

We kind of a cool experience yesterday. We were tracting in an apartment complex (love that!) and it was cold. And it was almost time to go to dinner. I mentioned the cold and Sis Marshall goes, "it just means that there's someone super important for us to find!" The next door? A lady opened the door. She has 2 cute boys. She has been trying to make it to church the past few weeks, but something always comes up. We knocked on her door and she was so excited because she knew we were sent from God. We talked to her quite a bit and then we asked if we could share a scripture with her because she missed church. I looked at her and asked, "Do you have faith that if I open this book to a random scripture that it will be a message that God wants you to hear?" She said yes. So I did. And I don't remember what the scripture was, but I do remember that she teared up and she needed exactly that. We left that very Book of Mormon with her and she was excited for it :) We'll be going back very soon :)

 

Most importantly are our two very progressing investigators! One is going in for a surgery on Wednesday so we haven't been able to actually meet with her, but we've kept in contact. Her phone is working again, thank goodness :)

 

Then we taught our other investigator again yesterday. The Portuguese elders weren't able to be there, so we taught him with his girlfriend, the member. He is *so* ready for the Gospel! We taught him some of the commandments and he asked if he could start paying tithing before he gets baptized! Wow. The Spirit was so strong :) Later we got a phone call from the Portuguese Elders and they said that they had dinner with the two of them and asked them about goals they had for the upcoming year. She said that hers was a secret. He said that he wanted to get to the temple and he also had a secret. So... wedding bells anyone?!?! Haha. I hope so. They're adorable. :)

 

Christmas info!! Because all of the letters, cards and packages that will be going through the mission office for the holidays, they have asked that all letters, cards and packages be sent directly to our apartments. This will be through the end of December, then it'll go back to the mission office. That address is:

Sister Ashley Jacobs

1818 Greyfield Ln

Sandy Springs, GA 30350

 

I love you all dearly and I'm excited to "see" the fam in a month!!! :) :) (We get to skype or do Google Hang out on Christmas Day.)

Oh! Speaking of which. Please make a list of questions you'd like me to answer! This is only one of 2 phone calls that we'll have and I wanna make it awesome!! Also, if there are things I write about that you wanna hear in more detail, I can definitely do that. I'll be coming up with some questions of my own :)

 

Love you all!!

~Sister Jacobs.