2 weeks and 4 days til we see Airman Basic Jacobson

We got to talk to Josh on the phone yesterday and he told us what to expect when we get there for graduation so, I wanted to share it with you all.

Actually I will tell what is in store for him this week first. It is beast week at basic training which is the week they have been preparing for the whole time he has been there. They will be acting as if they are deployed and will set up a camp with guards, medics, and war similations. Josh will be on the medical team and it sounds quite grueling. He said it is very hot there and they will be in full gear and will even need to wear chemical suits some of the time. (It will be 89 degrees today with 20% humidity). I can't wait to hear all about it, well all that we can drag out of him anyway.

We will arrive on the evening of the 20th and we get to go cheer Josh on in the airmans run the next morning the 21st and spend time with him on base. the 22nd (friday) will be a parade and his graduation. Saturday he will get to leave the base with us and he really wants to go to the Texas Road house to eat real slowly (his words not mine). Do you think they make them eat fast or something??? Then we can visits some of the sights around San Antonio (The Alamo and the river walk). Then Sunday we will get to attend church with him and spend more time on base. The next morning we fly home and he heads for Shephard AFB near Dallas for his tech school until September.

We are so excited to go see him and we want to express our appreciation those of you that have sent him letters, you have helped him immensely and we love you for it. He has even been blessed to have missionary experiences while at basic.

1st letters home

We received letters from Josh yesterday and we would like to share just a few excerpts from them here for you! These were sent in individual letters to us his parents but I have combined them here.

Dad & Mom,

I love you and miss you more than I ever have! I'm sorry I've been so unappreciative for everything you do for me. It's pretty rough here, it's hard and and I'm having a hard time. I need your prayers right now, but I'm going to make it through. It wasn't until 2 nights ago that I actually got to read in my scriptures and it really helped a lot. The church has come up a few times but everyone has been really respectful. I've had time to talk to people about church and things. There are 3 trainees in my flight from Utah including me, one of them is LDS but not active at home though he does attend here. It's officially the start of week 2 now, they say it gets better around the end of the week. I love y'all at home and if you come for graduation we can see each other Thursday- Sunday. Unless someone does something stupid I can leave the base on Saturday. I want to go to Texas Roadhouse or something equal to that. Let the family know I'm having a rough time but I know I can make it, and yes I can still smile =)

Just a reminder of his address because he needs them very much:

AB Jacobson, Joshua W

323 TRS/FLT 371 (Dorm B-9)

PSC3

1320 Truemper St. Unit 369558

Lacland AFB, TX 78236-5570

Thanks

I'm so grateful for valiant Missionary couples

29 March 09

To The Family of Airman Basic Joshua Jacobson;

We are full-time missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, serving in San Antonio , Texas . As part of our Church assignment, we had the opportunity to meet Joshua on Sunday at the Base Chapel. He gave us permission to e-mail his address and photographs (which are attached below). His address at Lackland AFB is:

AB JACOBSON, JOSHUA W.

323 TRS / FLT 371 - Dorm B-9

PSC #3

1320 Truemper Street

Lackland AFB , TX 78236-5570

Trainees may not be able to write or call home for the first couple of weeks until their flight earns the privilege, therefore encouraging letters from home would be welcome by them. We are confident that the Trainees will write as soon as permission is granted by their Military Training Instructors (MTI's).

Sincerely,

Elder and Sister Reynolds

Military Relations Missionaries

Lackland AFB, Texas

Off again!!

Josh leaves tomorrow morning for Lackland Air Force base for basic training. I can hardly stand the thought of someone talking mean to my boy!!! I know Josh has a lot of self esteem but it is still hard. Keep him in your prayers and I will post his address as soon as I get it so you can all write him a letter. I will truly hate not having email or text messaging!

He truly appreciated the family coming to see him the other night. He will miss you all. You are such a great support system, Thanks so much.

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.

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.

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.