This week has been so interesting!

 

First off, we found this huuuge pinecone, so we took it home. So now we have a pet pinecone named Gretchen. I'll send pictures later.

 

Wednesday, we got a call from a sister named, Veronica saying that her step-daughter, Alyssa, had moved in a bit ago with her boyfriend, Dale, and Dale wanted to take missionary discussions and be baptized. WHOOOOA!! So we taught him that night. Awesome, awesome lesson! The Spirit was so strong! We asked him if he would be baptized, and he said yes! But then we talked to him about how he needs to keep the Law of Chastity and either get married or separated before he could get baptized. Alyssa said they were planning on getting married sometime in May when she saves up enough money for a nice dress. However, at the end of the lesson, I felt prompted to ask them if they would take the necessary steps to be baptized on March 30... to which they agreed! It was one of those moments when the Spirit is working so much through you that you feel physically weakened after it. We stayed just a few minutes after the lesson, talking with Veronica, and Dale was already reading the Book of Mormon before we left. Oh my gosh.

 

Yesterday, however, things got.... complicated. We were on our way to their house for our second appointment when Veronica called us to say that she had kicked Dale and Alyssa and their baby out of the house. We were on our way to her house to try to figure out what exactly went down, when we saw Dale and Alyssa pushing a stroller down the sidewalk. We stopped to talk to them. They told their side of the story, and are now homeless. We then went to talk with Veronica, who gave her side of the story. All in all, it was exhausting. Separately, Veronica told us that Alyssa was willing to get married this coming weekend so Dale could get baptized on the 30th, but yesterday, he said during the fallout that he didn't want to be baptized then. I don't know the full story, and I don't really know what's going to happen next with any of them (Dale and Alyssa said they were going to try to move back to Salt Lake), but dang.... what a bummer.

 

On a completely different, awesome note: Mercediez is getting baptized this saturday!!! I don't remember if I've talked about her yet, but she's 13, and has been wanting to get baptized for a while now, but has been waiting for her grandpa to get in town to baptize her. Her grandpa is a trucker and was planning on coming at the end of march, but got in a crash last week (he was fine, the car wasn't), so no one knew when he would get here--months, maybe. Wednesday night, though, we got a text from Mercediez' mom (less active who had previously expressed that Mercediez wasn't ready yet), saying her grandpa would be in town this coming weekend, they had talked to the bishop, and Mercediez can get baptized on the ninth!! AAAHHH!!! We went over to talk about everything on saturday, and Mercediez is so excited. She's such an angel! I am so happy for her.

 

Even though we've had a lot of ups and downs this week, I like to take to the example of this hilarious, firecracker, unbelievably sweet 80 year-old lady in one of our wards, Phyllis. Her husband died a few years ago, she's recently had knee surgery and can't get around as much, and lives alone. However, she spends all her time making quilts and baking things to give to others. All of her time is spent in service! As we've visited her, she's said, "Each time I feel down, I realize that I have a warm house, food, and everything to live for." What an amazing lady! She's said about making these 3-hour rolls, "The more I told myself I couldn't do it.... the more I wanted to." She's such an incredible example of gratitude and charity. I love her so much!

 

Teva's doing much better! He realizes these trials have humbled him and have helped him to grow closer to God.   And Liz and her family wanted to come to church yesterday, but they were sick. But they're planning on coming next week! They're doing so well!

 

God wants to bless you, and all you have to do is follow His simple commandments. He's not going to give any commandments that you can't follow, and He won't give you any trials you can't handle. He knows you. He loves you. If you are obedient and work hard, He WILL keep His promises and bless you. I've seen it so much these past few weeks.

 

I love you all so much!

-Sister Jacobson

P.S.   I cover 5 wards- a stake. I suggested our zone wear red to zone conference (since there are three zones that meet), and we all did it! zone unity! Great picture op! (from her mom: I had asked Katie what was behind the picture in the previous post with all the missionaries wearing red/black)

 

  Love you! Thanks for everything!