Friday, September 12, 2008

He's enlisted!

Josh went and did it. He enlisted last week, but will not be leaving for Basic Training until March 24th. Until then he is keeping his options open. He might go to Idaho and live with friends in Shelley or he might just stay here. It might just depend on how much trouble he thinks we are.

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Looks Like Josh will be gone again soon

Diane doesn't like it, but Josh is determined to join the Air Force Reserves. We are glad it is just the Reserves so that he can live it at home. That is, once he has done his Basic Training and Tech School.

He took the ASVAB test and passed with a 93 out of 99. So that qualifies him for any Tech School he wants to go to. So he is pretty happy with that. He still has to do his physical and then he can get started. I think he wants to get going so that he can be back for Christmas.

We will keep you posted.

Monday, June 16, 2008

Nice Note from a Member as Josh Leaves

Greetings from Louisiana!

I've had the privilege of hosting your son in my home for the last three months. He has brought great joy and laughter to my household, along with the great faith that we see in him each day. I've hosted the Shreveport zone leaders for almost a year now, and Elder Jacobson has been one of the finest that has lived here. As I type this email, he's packing and preparing to leave tomorrow afternoon.

Thank you for sharing him with us in the Mississippi Jackson Mission. Our mission is a much better place for him having been here, and I know that lives were changed for all eternity because of his ministry. We send him back home this week to your care, but he will always be a part of us here in Louisiana and Mississippi.

Blessings,
Brook Boddie
Shreveport, LA.

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Its Getting Closer

-----Original Message-----
From: Joshua Jacobson [mailto:jwjacobson@myldsmail.net]
Sent: Wednesday, May 28, 2008 9:49 AM
To: dj2002@comcast.net
Subject: Re: May 27th
doing good. The Weather Has Been HOT! Dang Hot. ITs Been in The 90s many times now. We just expect it to be this hot every day. ITs been humid too...Rediculusly so. For instance a couple of days ago a guy answered the door and he had to take of his glasses because they instantly were covered in water. He later moved his hand and a stream of water fell off. The other day I shook my head and many droplets of sweat fell to the ground.
No ya'll cant go on a trip the 11th. because thats more than 2 years since I left but I wont be back. That just wouldnt be right. Lets go boating on that monday When were together. If you go on a trip you should go before the 7th. Jk you can do what you want, but I was supposed to get back the 11th
No. I havent heard from loren for over 14 months. Ill only be gone for
1 evening. I don't feel guilty about doing it either, i hav'nt talked to a friend from home for over 700 days. I want to spend time with the family when I get back. And I want to spend time with ben before he leaves. But Their are going to be times when I go see friends that week too. Thants not to much to ask, is it? And I want to spend some time alone too. Let me make a list of things I want to do 1. spend time with Family 2. talk to a girl (go on a date if she says yes(she already has)) 3. spend time with Friends 4. spend time alone 5. have unstructured time that list is in order too. two years has gone by fast, but i cant remember what its like to do any of those things. these things I REALLY want to do, notice movies ninetendo and TV arent on the list, you know how much I love TV Movies and Ninetendo...thats how much I want to do those 5 things.
Things are going well in our area but not so much in our Zone. we have to do a meeting on friday, we were supposed to have another week but they suprised us, and decided not to give us much time to prepare instead.
I like the Quote, what matters most is family. The mission is described as your life, pre-mission is pre-earth life, post mission is the after life, thus when you leave you "DIE" the first people Ill seek out is my family. I love you very much!
I hear Elder Drysdale is engaged. To a girl I worked with at the movie theater.
I Love you Mom,
Elder Jacobson

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Its Raining!

Mom,
Well not to much has changed since sunday. except that There was a horrible rainstorm and all the roads flooded last night. and some missionaries got their car stuck and it flooded all the way up to the widows. Inside and out.
We got in brook Bodies SUV and drove out to rescue them, and we thought are car might get flooded there was so much water. We were practically boating.
it was rediculas. this morning the water was gone and we pushed it off the road. Thats about all, I love you Mom.
Elder Jacobson

Thursday, May 1, 2008

Josh and Diane nice Letters this week

Mom,
I had no Idea about any passenger train, I guess it has been a long time.
The younger missionaries' Jaws drop when I tell them the last movie I went to in theaters was "X-Men 3". Things have changed I suppose, I've never used Windows Vista, a Ninetendo Wii, nor seen a touch screen Ipod. Ha-ha.


I'm very glad that I have had the opportunity to serve a mission. The blessings have already been many. I believe that the Lord's promises for my mission have been fulfilled and and yet to be extended further. I believe that We are the Children of God. I know that he loves us. He sent his son, to suffer for my many sins. In the Infinite scope of the mercy and majesty of his plan, all of his sheep may return to him if they will but obey. The Gospel was restored to the earth, because no one could recieve the blessings God wants to give us, without a knowlege of, and obedience to his laws and ordinances. Which were lost as well as the Authority to preach, or to act in God's name. Our Dead will be saved if they would have received it here, and we cannot be saved with out them, nor they without us. The gospel must go forth over all the world, until we all stand at the Judgement bar of Christ.
Until then we will be guided by His Spirit the Holy Ghost, and by Jesus Christ who speaks through a Prophet, Thomas S. Monson, and 12 apostles. We know what we must do, let us not be afraid to do it. I say these things in the Name of God's Son Jesus Christ, Amen.
I love you mom, Thank you for raising me in the church, in the light of the everlasting Gospel, through love, and by example.



Let us ask with Respect for Respect for our beliefs, and let us always praise god through our actions, and with a smile on our faces. Bear our trials with patience and if we smile through it all, they will see that through the gospel our circumstances may not have changed, but that we have, they must then want to follow our example. Amen I love you.


Elder Joshua Jacobson


-----Original Message-----
From: "Diane"
To: "'Joshua Jacobson'"
Date: Tue, 29 Apr 2008 07:15:16 -0600
Subject: April 29th
Dear Elder Jacobson,
Well it seems as if spring has finally sprung around here! Well anyway the springs in Utah where you can snow ski in the morning, golf, and ride bikes all in the same day. It looks like we will have plenty of water this summer finally after so many drought years. The new Front Runner train that runs from Ogden to Salt Lake just opened this last week end. It runs right along the existing rail lines we have. It is a double decked train and very cool looking. They have wireless internet on the train as well. It is free to ride until Wednesday and then they will start charging to ride. If you are a college student you get a pass to ride free. Did you know Ben walks down to the highway every day and takes the bus to Weber free of charge? Even all winter he has done that. Pretty impressive don’t you think? I have ridden the train Saturday with Dad to Ogden, yesterday to meet Dad in Salt lake and will be riding today with some sisters from the ward, and I will be riding again Wednesday to Ogden to meet my sister for lunch since she works near by the station. Maybe I’m obsessed but while it’s free I will take advantage of it and save myself some gas. The station in Layton is right by Doug and Emmy’s restaurant. When I was in Slat Lake I picked up trax and stop at Temple square, since the Temple is closed on Monday I walked around the Temple and enjoyed all the beautiful flowers then I decided to go see the Joseph Smith movie at the Joseph Smith building. That movie is so powerful.
Was it showing before you left?


I have been thinking about your last email a lot this week and thinking about the bad press surrounding the polygamists. This is Satan’s attempt to hinder the work of the Lord. Well it will not work!!! The Lord’s work will not be frustrated it will move on throughout the whole world. The Spirit will testify to those who are His and ready to hear about the restored Gospel of Christ. Don’t be frustrated, it will all work out. Here is a quote that I heard recently from President Hinckley that I have begun to treasure And it helps me get through difficult times.
“It isn’t as bad as you sometimes think it is. It all works out. Don’t worry. I say that to myself every morning. It will all work out. If you do your best, it will all work out. Put your trust in God, and move forward with faith and confidence in the future. The Lord will not forsake us. He will not forsake us. … If we will put our trust in Him, if we will pray to Him, if we will live worthy of His blessings, He will hear our prayers”
(Jordan Utah South regional conference, priesthood session, 1 Mar. 1997).


If President Hinckley sometimes felt the way we do and had to remind him self of it every morning it should bring us great comfort. Did you notice how often he said” it will all work out”?
I love you son and look forward to talking with you on Mother’s day. We have church at 11 and we can be home by 2:30. I do need to go to my mother’s grave and would like to know a time if you can give us one. Thanks you for your hard work we are grateful for the blessing we receive because of you and your dedication to serve.
Love,
Mom

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Poligamist Thing, What a Pain

Hi Dad,
No Email Today? Well things are going pretty good I guess. We dont have anybody progressing, and were not teaching the guy, I told you about last week anymore. Were really getting hit by the polygamists. His wife made him stop being taught because of it. when we came over he left a note on the door that said his wife told him not to meet with us because "she is stereotyping you because of the things surrounding the Poligamist thing"
Our other Baptism Dates missedd our apointment last week. Pretty much everyone we talk to thinks were the guys on the news, the poligmists, and we have to explain were not, but they dont even beleive it. You can see it in there eyes when they are thinking it, its like their looking at the most repulsive thing theyve ever seen. ITs sad but were not discouraged. I used to think jokes about bringing back polygamy and stuff were funny...I dont think so anymore.
I wrote grandpa a letter I hope he has it by now. Well I love you Dad.
Elder Jacobson




Mom,
Everything is going pretty good, were working hard and staying busy, but we cant seem to be getting anybody to progress. We are not teaching anybody that was being taught before I got here. Ive never had very many dinner apointments on my mission, people here just dont feed us its sad. Hey Find out how much money the missionaries over there get every month.
Hey I need to know what my homecoming talk is going to be on. I really dont get much time to study whatever I want to, I usually study something for a meeting or for an investigator and I dont want to have to write it the night before, or the morning of.
We might be going to a BYU Idaho Symphony Band Concert this weekend. We may get roped into Ushering, but I really dont want to go, I dont see what it even has to do with missionaries. This reminds me of the 2 times they made Elder Jensen and I teach the music to the primary in the Jackson Branch. People keep getting us confused with the poligamists, you can see it in there eyes when their thinking it to. and the news people just call them the Mormon Sect, seems like they want people to think its us. Have you even heard about all this stuff, in Texas?
Anyway, they can't stop the work of the Lord.
Love you Mom,
Elder Joshua Jacobson

Wednesday, April 9, 2008

Latest Email After Conference

Mom,
Yeah Bro. Bodie is a really cool member. He does get us some food, hes just a really giving person. Im not sure if he gets any money or not, I dont think that he does though, the missionaries have been living here since august. But I have been very clean, and am picking up after myself.
The church is trying to get missionaries to live with members wherever possible.
David sent me an email, but it was all in spanish. the only reason I saw his new email address is because it is in blue.
Im glad that Matt will get to serve a mission, but I frowned when I waw hed leave before I get back.
My bike is in good condition still. It was in very good shape untill biloxi, because we had to keep the bikes outside, and it got rained on all the time. I dont see any reason why we shouldnt keep it. The luggage has kept up real good, one of them may have got a little damaged on the way here. My coat didnt really make it, and the liner really got hashed. but I havee my rain jacket, it may need to be sprayed with some water profing though.
Conference was very very good, I really loved it, so many of the talks were so good, I cant wait untill the ensign comes out next month.
Zone Conference was on Monday, I only have one left. (oh please do your best to refrain from trunky coments) We learned alot. The whole mission (although Im sure many wont do it) is going to have 40 days of sacrifice. I started with a fast yesterday, and came up with 10 things that take away from the spirit and am going for 40 days trying to eliminate them from my life. today is day 2. and day 40 is May 17. so the days of sacrifice will end on My Birthday. Coincidence? I think not.
I love you Mom,
Elder Jacobson

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Letter from the President

We just got a letter from the mission office. It is a copy of a letter to Josh. He has been called as a Zone Leader. We don't know where, but I hope he stays in Biloxi. He is really happy there. Hopefully we will know more when he writes this week.

Here is the latest email from Josh:

Im pretty sure that I will enjoy it, Ive got a good companion to help me out. Hes from Arlington, Tx. Im in Shreveport LA. in shreveport is where the most concentrated group of missionaries in the Mission. (theres more real close here, than anywhere else) Im really gonna miss biloxi, I almost cried when I had to leave. The weathers pretty good right now, but its about to get Real Hot.
Love you Dad,
Elder Jacobson


Thanks Mom,
Yes, I am trying to follow the mission Rules more than ever now, This is probley what I need for my last two transfers so that I dont get trunky.
I am Now in Shreveport Louisiana, We have a pretty good area but it hasnt baptized in a while. We've got a couple good investigators though, but I really havent met them yet. One guys name is Joseph Smith.

The Zone is strugling right now we only have 1 baptizm date for the Whole Zone. But the mission will probley get the most baptizms its ever had since I came into the mission. Weve got transfers tonight and tomorrow morning, Were gonna be pretty busy.
Love You Mom

Sunday, February 10, 2008

Some of the latest emails from Josh

02/26/08

Hi,
P day is today because Zone Confrence is tomarrow. But Kay Lynn emailed me so at least I got somethin. Everything is going good, Mike was baptized this weekend, it was really good. I was able to give him the preisthood it was the first time that I ever did that. The girl we were teaching that had to go to texas will be baptized this week. We had a lady come to church that is from France, shes 80 years old and speaks four languages. Shes a great lady hopefully shell get baptized someday.
I decided that I dont want to eat candy anymore so if I get any packages some fruit would be nice lol.
Well I love you,
Elder jacobson


2/21/08

Everythings going good weve had good weather but today its raining. Last weekend we had the baptism for Mariah it went very well, and this week we have the baptism for Mike, and next week Tiffany will be baptised in Texas, so everything is going very good.
Its good to hear that grandpa is doing good. Im glad I don't have to worry about all that snow, I hate driving in snow. The area really isnt back country at all.

Everything is going good, My new companion is Elder Deatherage. Hes a good comp, so far, haha

Love you dad, Elder Jacobson

2/15/08

Hi dad.
It has been pretty warm hear not really uncomfortable at all. I dont have much time I have to go pick up my companion in Gulfport. I can tell ben is getting excited about his mission. Work is still going the same nothing has changed as of yet. Love you Dad.
Elder Jacobson
******************

Yeah, Did hear that the Giants won, and it made me very happy to hear it. Well if the Lady from work wants me to say Hi to anybody here for her Id be glad to do it.
I wish I could have watched when the New First Presidency was anounced.
Im sorry you havent been felling well, I had a sore throat for a day but then it went away, although it is still a challenge to talk. It makes my southern accent stand out.

****************


From: Joshua Jacobson [mailto:jwjacobson@myldsmail.net]
Sent: Wednesday, January 30, 2008 11:04 AM
To: dj2002@comcast.net
Subject: Re: sad week
Mom,
It wasnt really to hard to say goodbye to the prophet, I know that his spirit lives on, "The Spirits of all men, as soon as they are departed from this mortal life, are taken home to that god Who gave them Life." I know he is engaged in the work still, and he wouldn't want us to spend a whole lot of time Mourning when we should be working. I was disapointed I would never hear him speak to us again, but then I remembered that he has spoken many times and I have not heard it yet, so I can still learn more from him.
The work is going very well, a 14 year old girl named Tiffany that We found in Jackson Will be baptized this weekend, They say that she has completely changed her Life around. On sunday A girl came to church on the Air Force Base, also named Tiffany, Her best friend is a member and the friend did good missionary work. She wants to be baptized and knows this is where she wants to be. She is going to a new base next thursday though, but I know that she will be baptized there. A young man named Mike who is going to tech school in the Airforce on base came in last wednesday and told the senior couple He wanted to be baptized, we taught him yesterday, he has a couple good member friends that have visited with him, He should be baptized soon as well. Mariah is also in the Airforce and last week we gave her a baptizm date last tuesday for the 16 of Febuary, She knew she wanted to be baptized but didnt know if she'd be ready, Her agnostic Mom in Florida would always say "If thats what you really want". But on Sunday at church she said "Now I KNOW I want to be baptized on the 16th, I talked to my mom and she said, 'Whenever you talk to me you seem happy, I always thought that that it was because you were in the Air Force, but when ever you seem especially happy your Either talking about something that happened at church or at family home Evening, and I know thats where you need to be.'
" It was awsome, some really good things are happening in our area, We are really being blessed. I know part of it is through the power of prayer, Ive had two good prayers where I have asked for better prepared investigators who we could baptise, the First time was the Day We heard about Mike, and the second time was Sunday Morning when Tiffany showed up...Mom dont delete this email...its kind of turned into a real good Journal Entry.
I love you Very Much Mom!
Elder Jacobson.
PS For valentines day I could really use some new dress pants Mine cant hold a crease anymore, I could use 2 pairs, and maybe another pair of Socks.
Thanks Mom Your the greatest!

**********************


Dad, Everything is still going well, but not alot has happened since I got here were still trying to get some more good investigators. Last night we went to a tent revival for about 40 min., of course most of the preaching was just entertainment and yelling, but I could tell they were trying. The guy was giving people blessings, and he put oil on my head and prayed that I would gain revelation from the scriptures, the whole time he had his hand on my head, and everyonce in a while he'd vibrate his hands and push just a little bit. Before he prayed over me he pointed and my companion but he shook his head 'no.'
Love you Dad, and since this is my only email tell everyone I love them too.
Elder Jacobson

**************


From: Joshua Jacobson [mailto:jwjacobson@myldsmail.net]
Sent: Wednesday, January 09, 2008 9:57 AM
To: dj2002@comcast.net
Subject: Re: Helllllloooo out there!
Mom,
I am now in Biloxi. Sorry I didnt email last week, but when we came to the library they wouldnt let me email because I didnt have any proof that I live here and they would give me any slack. Luckily we got a referral in the mail yesterday, so i had proof. It made me mad last week but there was nothing I could do. They didnt even look at the letter this time that kind of made me a little mad too.
We did have a baptism the last week that I was in Jackson it was really cool.
Our apartment here is right next to the airforce base, we go in to have a family home evening group once a week, and we also go to the service that they have here. They didnt have a whole lot of investigatars when I got here, well I guess we still dont.
I hope you all are enjoying the snow, Im enjoying not having snow, its pretty nice. the first day I was here it was about 35 degrees but now everyday its like 70 degrees, its hot.
Love you Mom