Dear Family,
First, Thank you all for the birthday wishes!! A birthday is the mission has started great. With eggs and flour all over me (Brazilian tradition). My companions are planning something I am sure of it for later. Its really hard to keep secrets when you live with the same people basically 24/7 hahaha
I have lots of pictures but today we are in a new computer place that is pretty sketch so I am scared to use my card in the computer. So next week.
Okay I can honestly say that this was the hardest week of my mission thus far and I hope for ever. We worked everyday from 9 to 9:30, walking all over the world. We returned home more discouraged everyday and after many tears and prayers, we were blessed with the courage to work the next day. To face the heat of the blazing sun, the doors slamming, the people not caring, and the Elders nagging for baptisms. Sorry I love Elders but sometimes we all need to remember that this mission is not just about baptism. ugh. okay. anyway. So that was everyday. Literally we cried everyday because we felt like we were working so hard and could see no results. But, it was funny because during the whole week, we kept talking about how this was just a trial of our faith. Every day we started by saying ´´Hoje é nosso dia!´´ Saturday we said many prayers to have people at church.
Seriously, I am crying with gratitude just thinking about how yesterday played out. We left really early to start looking for our investigators to bring them to church. We walked all. over. our. area. And no one. No one. Finally the last house this man, Aldo said he would take and shower and then go with us. So we waited. and waited. We went to look for more people and then returned and he was ready. We got to church so grateful for this one humble man. And lo and behold, there were 5 other investigators in church that arrived by themselves.
I was writing in my journal last night just sobbing with gratitude. Its like in Lucas 5:1-11. Pedro and his companions worked all the night trying to catch fish for work with no success. The next morning Christ asked them to try again and Pedro said, We worked all the night but according to thy work I will do it. And they caught more fish that fit in the nets. When Pedro saw this, he bowed and told the Lord to leave his side because he was a sinner, but the Lord said don´t be afraid, for I will make you fishers of men. After working the whole night, I just can imagine that these fishermen were beyond tired, but according to the word of the Lord, they diligently went to work again and they were successful. After the long night of failure, the bright morning of miracles occurred. Many times this is us in our lives. We have to pass through the night before we see the sun.
Everyday the Lord is showing me that this is his work. Not mine. He works the miracles, not me. I am so grateful for his mercy and for his tender arm of love I saw extended towards me and my companion this week.
This companion, Sister Narvaez is my favorite so far. She is so happy and we just laugh and cry and do everything together. I am so grateful for her.
I love you all so much. have a wonderful week!!!!
Sister Jacobson
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