Week 26 - First knock is for their salvation, second knock is for ours!

Hey Everyone!

My 6th month mark is this Wednesday! Holy cow! 😂😜😊😳😁💜
Well this week I don't even know what happened! I know we knocked on a
lot of doors, but my brain is not even working today! Also, on Monday
we went to downtown Knoxville and just walked around! It was pretty
fun and it was pouring rain, so the elders thought it would be fun to
play in it. Then they decided they were already wet they went and
played on the splash pad! 😂😜😊

Successes for the week. Dennis and Wilma are still learning, we have
invited them to several things and they don't want to come, which is
super upsetting, but one day they will come and it'll be great! We
were knocking on doors and a few people wanted to hear what we had to
say, so they invited us back! I'm really excited about that! We had
Zone Training Meeting and. It was awesome! President gave a really
good training on obedience and he compared it to King Saul and Samuel!
It was so good! Really made ya think! 😊

Not too much else has been going on. Just working hard and trying to
save some souls! Lots of changes are happening in the next week with
transfers coming up. Like a lot of changes. The only thing I know is
that I am leaving, but I'm not sure where yet. We find out next Monday
what's happening! 😊😁😳

This week I have really learned a lot about my Savior! I love Him so
much and I am so grateful for Him. It's amazing how much I think I
know and then I realize I actually don't know a lot about the
Atonement and my Savior. I am learning a lot though. Through
experiences I have out here and the lives I get to touch. I have also
learned a lot about service this week. I absolutely love doing service
and I love how it makes me feel! When we are in the service of others,
we are only the service of our God. I have done a ton of service this
week and I have just felt so spiritually drained. Maybe that's why I
am tired all the time! I know our Heavenly Father wants us to serve
each other. He doesn't ask a lot from us only that we be as He is. I
know that's a lot, but I know it'll be worth it in the end. 😊

I love my Savior and my Heavenly Father with all my heart! I know this
is the true church on Earth today! Remember the church is true, the
book is blue, and I love you! Have an awesome week! Try to serve
someone this week! 😊💜

Love,
Sister Jacob
Serving in Chilhowee

1 & 2. Graffiti Alley 😊😳

3. Sunsphere View! There was a rainstorm coming in!🌧😊
4. Our district! Sister Mayer, Me, Elder Taylor, Elder Leach, Elder
Richins, Elder Wengreen, Elder Hudson, and Elder Lunceford (I was in
Jr. High with Elder Lunceford)

5. It's the tracting life for us! 😊

Week 25 - Walking, Driving, and Service! 😊😜😂😁😳

Hey Everyone!

This week has been super busy! I feel like I just have been zooming
everywhere! We had a lot of lessons and a lot of finding! It's been
crazy busy! Also, a butt load of service. It's been awesome!

The highlights of the week is when Orlando and Colin came to church!
Orlando is a recent convert and he hasn't been coming for a good
little while and Colin is a less active who got a visit from RM's and
he decided that he wanted to be active again! It was awesome!

Alright crazy story! We were doing a service project for one of our
members, Carla, and we were ripping up grass with her, the Elders, and
us. Well we were about done and she said "Sisters will you pull up
this plastic in my flower bed?" Well we did and I was holding the
plastic in my hand and I was looking at all these earwigs crawling
around on the ground. Well something bit me near my elbow and I
screamed and swatted at my arm. Everyone was looking at me like I was
crazy. I went over to the plastic to see what had bit me and we all
look down and we see this HUGE black widow! One of the Elders just
looked at me and said "you need to go to the emergency room now. Let's
take you to the emergency room!" We were all freaking out and Carla
told us to "stop it" and she looked at my arm because she's a nurse
and was like "you didn't get bit by the black widow. You probably just
got pinched by an earwig or something." It was the craziest thing
ever! I'm fine by the way! Nothing too crazy happened! We just thought
it would have been an exciting story to tell! 😊😂😜

This week I have come to realize how great Joseph Smith is. Having
been through all that he did and still having that strong of a faith
is awesome! he was a very courageous man and I hope one day that I
will have that much courage. I know that his story isn't just a story,
but that it really happened. I love this church and how it makes me
feel. How I want to be better and be worthy to see my Heavenly Father
and Savior again.

Remember that the church is true, the book is blue, and I love you! 😊💜

Love,
Sister Jacob
Serving in Chilhowee

1. The quilt we made! Me, Elder Hudson, Elder Taylor, and Sister Mayer

2. Me and Izzy 😊💜
3. Me and Orlando 😊😂
4. Me, Mia, Grace, and Sister Mayer 😊
5. Funny sign on a church! 😊😂

Week 24 - Tender Mercies! 😊💜

Howdy Y'all!

This week has been full of guess what!? That's right more finding! Our
area is picking up slowly, but steady. We have had some great lessons
though with some new investigators and some less actives. It's pretty
exciting. The finding never ceases and it's great! You meet some
pretty interesting people knocking on doors. Like very interesting!

The success for the week is we got a baptism date with one of our less
active's son. He is getting baptized September 3! I am so excited!
Michael is just the cutest little boy and he just wants to do so much
service and help people! I love it! Another success that we had is
Emily! We tracted into Emily on Sister Mayer's first day here in
Chilhowee. We emailed Emily a few days after we left a Restoration
pamphlet with her and asked if we could come back to see her. Well
would heard nothing from her for over a week, so we thought she was a
lost cause. Well she emailed back a few days ago and was like "I read
the pamphlet you gave me and I would love to talk about it with you
two, when can you come back over?" It was awesome and we were both
jumping up and down! It was a great tender mercy from our loving
Savior.

Another happy thing that happened to me this week didn't happen in
Chilhowee! It happened in South Knox! Ally my first investigator, the
first person I asked to be baptized my first few days in the mission
field, got baptized last month!!!!! 😊😊😊😊😊😊 We get a monthly
newsletter from the mission office and I was looking through the names
of the people who got baptized in July and I saw her name! I was so
happy! It was the best thing ever and I am so excited foor their
family! I just love them so much! 😊😊😊😊 It made my day!

This week I have learned about God's will. It's not about what I want
in life or in the mission. It's about what he wants me to do. I have
been working harder on trying to forget myself and focus on others.
It's crazy how inspired President Griffin is he sends out weekly
emails and today's was about selflessness and selfishness. I feel like
I have been both.  This week I''m going to try to be more Christlike
and fix the little things that I could be doing to be more Christlike!
The mission is a great eye opening experience and I don't regret a
thing about it. No matter how hard it may be! I love this gospel and
church and My Savior. I know that He lives and that He died for us. He
is the most perfect example we have and I want to be just like Him!
Remember that He loves every single one of you and He knows what
you're going through and He is there for you!

This church is true, the book is blue,  and I love you 😊💜 Have an
awesome week!

Love,
Sister Jacob
Serving in Chilhowee

1. Tracting in the rain! 🌂🌧

2. A creepy song... Funny Farm 😳😁
3. My hair in the morning 💁
4. Sacadias! The most annoying insect in the world! They are so loud! 😑🌳
5. My hair at the end of the day, it looks crazy due to HUMIDITY! 😑
6. More tracting fun! By the way I didn't do my hair I just brushed it
and it looked great and curly! 😊😜😂

Week 23 - Weekly update

Hey Everyone,

This week has been super hot and full of walking. My email on my iPad won't work, so I'm at the library trying to catch up on emails. Sorry if I don't get to yours. 

This morning we went golfing which was fun. I still suck at golfing, but it was still fun to hit a ball into a hole! 

This week we did a lot of tracting and trying to find some new people to teach because we don't have any at the time. We have found some success though! We are now teaching a guy named Dennis. We left him with a pamphlet to read and when we came back he read the pamphlet and way more. He printed out some pages from lds.org! (Most people don't do that) It was awesome and it made us so happy! 

Not much else really exciting happened besides the fact that we walked everywhere in the heat. Yes I'm drinking a ton of water even though I don't like it. That's okay though because if I ended up in the hospital my Mission Momma wouldn't be to happy and if I didn't die there she'd probably kill me! 😄

I love this gospel so much and it has blessed me so much in my life. I know that my Heavenly Father has a plan for me. Not just me, but all of us. I have come to realize this week that even if I don't know what that plan is or what I need to be doing that if I trust in Him then I will be led to where I need to be. I need to do His will and that is why I am out here serving. It's not for me even though I hope to become better through it, but it's about the rest of God's children out here. We all are of worth and He wants us to know that. 

Sorry this email is so short, but it's just been full of finding. Also, I'm at the library so I have a time limit. Just remember that the church is true, the book is blue, and I love you!

Sorry no pictures this time, but definitely some when I get my iPad fixed! 

Love,

Sister Jacob

Serving in Chilhowee

1. You've been flocked! 😂
2. Pete/Timmy 🐲
3. Ma & Pa & Pete/Timmy and us
4. Golfing!

Week 22 - Transfers, walking, walking, walking, WHY IS IT SO HOT!?!?

Hey Everyone!

This week was transfers! In the beginning of the week Sister Wright
told everyone bye and we packed her up for her new adventure. Then
Wednesday came and I got Sister Mayer! She's from West Valley, Utah!

This week was full of basically walking everywhere! I have never
walked so much in my life! Especially in super hot and humid weather!
I've been drinking a ton of water! Who knew I could drink so much
water! Not much else has been going on! Still trying to find people to
teach, but not too many people want to talk to us. That's okay though!
Those who did talk to us though are pretty awesome!

Gladys is pretty awesome! Billy and Fran, my Tennessee Ma and Pa,
found her for us. She lives down the road from them and we were
driving around with them on Saturday, so we drove up to see who it
was. She is so sweet and seems really promising on wanting to learn
more! I am so excited to get to know her better and talk with her! 😊

Not much else has been going on except reorganizing and trying to find
people. This experience has really been teaching me patience. I have
been trying really hard to be patient. I know it's not a Christlike
Attribute I'm really good at and I know that my Heavenly Father knew
that! It's great that He has such a funny sense of humor when you
think about it! 😂😜

Thank you for all that you guys do for me! All the prayers, love, and
support! It really means a lot! I am so grateful to be out here
serving my Heavenly Father and my Savior. I know that They do so much
for me and I couldn't do any of it without Them! I love this Gospel
and the teachings! This church is amazing, but I don't want you to
take my word for it! Pray and find out for yourself just how true and
amazing it is! I know that you will get an answer, even if it's not
the way that you expect.

Remember that the church is true, the book is blue, and I love you!
💜😊 You guys are the best! Thank you so much! Have an awesome day and
an even better week! 😊

Love,
Sister Jacob
Serving in Chilhowee

1. Transfer day!

2. Frog in the door that we knocked on! 😁🐸
3. Two BIG FAT pens!!! 😂
4. Sister Mayer and I
5. Fran, Billy, Sister Wright, and me on food pantry day! 😊

Week 21 - Transfers!

Hey Everyone!

We had our transfer call this morning. We went hiking on top of House
Mountain and listened to transfers. It was so much fun. The hike was
alright, but I'm really out of shape! The top was awesome! It was a
great view! I am staying in Chilhowee and my new companion is Sister
Mayer. She was part of the Nashville Mission! Super excited to meet
her! Sister Wright is leaving me which I am super bummed about, but
that's okay new adventures! She is going to North Carolina! It'll be
great for both of us!

We had a really great week! Full of visits and laughs! I love this
area! We kind of thought that Sister Wright was being transferred, so
she was saying her good byes to most of the people. We had some really
good lessons and lots of walking again!  It's good times! Not as many
rainstorms though which is like a bitter sweet!

My favorite part of the week was our Christmas Supper at our Tennessee
Ma and Pa's house, Billy and Fran. I absolutely love them! 💜 Well we
had our neighbor Mike come to supper and one of our members Laurie. We
were having a great time and then it came to our lesson at the end of
the meal. I was so nervous to share it, but I was also so excited.
Mike has never really been open to learning more about the church.
He's asked questions, but nothing too serious. 😁😳 I shared the video
"The Will of God" and talked about how it has applied to my life. I
was looking at everyone when I was talking, but when I looked at Mike
his eyes were glued to the screen and to me and he had tears in his
eyes. It touched my heart so much and I am so happy that he was able
to feel the spirit. I know he won't get baptized any time soon, but I
do know that the spirit will most definitely work with him and that he
will move forward.

I love this gospel so much and I am so greatful for it and how it has
blessed my life. I love you all so much and I am so greatful for your
examples to me! Each and every one of you has played a part to get me
to where I am now and I just want to say thank you! Just remember that
the church is true, the book is blue, and I love you! 😊💜 Have a
great week and day! 😊

Love,
Sister Jacob
Serving in Chilhowee

1. Christmas Supper! 🎄
2. Sister Wright, Billy, Fran, and Me! 😊
3. Transfer call on House Mountain! ⛰📞
4 & 5. Pics of the hike!

Week 20 - Sunshine, Sweat, and Rainstorms

Hola Everyone!

I hope you all had a fandidalytastic week! Mine was full of rain, sweat, and good laughs like always!

Well let's start with the rain. We have had several severe rainstorms in our area! Don't worry we're okay though! I'm just terrified of lightning and thunder. It's been great! 😑😁😳 We've always been in the car too when these rainstorms happen. First it's sunny and happiness, then it changes at the snap of your fingers to storms and chaos and sadness. ☀️😊⛈🌪🌫🌊😳😭😖 It's been great! Some good laughs have come from it!

Now to the sweat. We have done a lot of tracting trying to find new people! Nobody wants to talk to us though! That's okay because it's not in our time it's in the Lord's time. We have met a lot of people though, just nobody is really interested. It's been good fun though!
Lots of memories! 😊

The good times are always the greatest! We always have so many and I just love it! Here's one that happened this week! We met this guy his name is Jacob and the missionaries that used to be here were teaching him, but something happened and so they stopped. Well we went to visit him and he is so cool! He is super smart and really knows his stuff.
Most of it is on him though to find out for himself if it true!
Another cool thing about him is he made a rap about Jesus to the song the Fresh Prince of Bel Air and it is so cool! Sister Wright and I have decided that we are going to learn it, so maybe y'all can get as much enjoyment out of it as we did! 😊😎😂😜

Not really too much else is going on! Just a lot of walking and talking! I love serving the Lord and being able to do His work out here in Tennessee! One thing that I learned this week is that Christ is always there for us! He always has His arm stretched out toward us.
Yesterday in church I felt the Spirit so strong in Relief Society and I just couldn't hold it in any more and I just had to share an experience that I had with a family member (I will leave them nameless). Well I shared an experience that touched me in my life and they probably don't realize it. It has helped me grow my testimony of this Gospel so much! Sorry, but I'm not going into detail. The scripture that I shared with my experience though is 2 Nephi 28:32 "Wo be unto the Gentiles, saith the Lord God of Hosts! For notwithstanding I shall lengthen out mine arm unto them from day to day, they will deny me; nevertheless, I will be merciful unto them, saith the Lord God, if they will repent and come unto me; for mine arm is lengthened out all the day long, saith the Lord God of Hosts." God always has His arm lengthened out toward us no matter what. No matter what we do he is always there. It doesn't matter how far you've gone away, no matter what you have done, He is always there for you. He will forever. He loves us so much! Another thing that I have learned this week is from a message that we have been sharing to those we talk to. It's a Mormon message called The Will of God, I suggest all of you watch it! It's one of my favorites. It talks of a Gardner trimming a current bush and a discussion he had with it. Then he bases it off an experience that he had in his life with the military. My favorite quote from it is "Thank you God for loving me enough to hurt me." Yes it's strange I know, but if God didn't love us then he wouldn't give us trials and we wouldn't grow and become who we need to be, who He knows we can become! I love this Gospel so much! I know that I am far from where I need to be, but I know that I am on the right path to get there! I say these things in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ, amen.

Sorry for little detail on the first story, but I feel it wasn't important to tell! Also sorry if none of it made sense because my mind is just running 100 miles an hour right now! Well the church is true, the book is blue, and I love you! Hope y'all have a good week! Talk to ya next week! 😊💜

Love,
Sister Jacob
Serving in Chilhowee

1. Last district meeting of the transfer! 😊

2. Us driving on the freeway in the rainstorm! ⛈
3. A tree that fell down in the storm!  ⛈🌳
4. Me, Casey (Our cute little wanna be missionary), and Dub (Sister Wright)
5. Sunny's wife Sweetie made us authentic Indian food! 😊😋