The non letter from March 22, along with a wonderful gift

Here is Jake's letter from this week -

Hey guys!
I think my email got lost. I am so sorry! I Dont have time to retype it! AHHHHH! I love you gys., it was such a good email too....
Jake

Today, I received this wonderful email from my cousin Michelle. She and her husband had lived in Brazil for five or so years, then returned to the US a few years ago. They went down to Sao Paulo to visit good friends, etc. And they made a wonderful effort to find Elder Jake. Every missionary parent needs amazing and thoughtful family members like Marc and Michelle. This is the email:

Hi!

I have to tell you that I'm so glad we got to see your Jake! We went to the mission office Wednesday and they told us that Jake was in a training at a church all day and that the church was close. So we found it and parked and when we went up to the gates, they were both padlocked with no one in sight to open them for us. So we stood out there for a bit, then, of all the missionaries that were there that day, Jake happened to be returning from the restroom and saw us down the hall and he said he thought "hey they look American". So he came down and opened the gate for us. Can you believe that coincidence?

What a great young man and missionary son you have. He had just gotten pink eye so his eyes were bloodshot but he said that they were going to give him some drops. I could just feel the Spirit so strongly around him. I told Marc that it was as if he had a shield of the Spirit around him and in just standing near him, you felt that impression and love of the Spirit. It reassured me that Heavenly Father loves his missionaries, and in particular, your son. He was stumbling to find English words which is a great sign for his Portuguese:). We gave him some peanut butter, salsa, and Reese's Easter eggs. I felt bad though that he'd have to carry them home with him on the bus.

We took a picture with him that I told him I'd send on to you, so I'll do that soon after I load our pictures. As we drove away, I became very teary, even though Jake doesn't know us well, but as a mom too and in feeling the Spirit and knowing that your son was okay and must be doing amazing work for our Heavenly Father in spreading the message of the Gospel.

I also go to meet Sis. Richardson at church on Sunday and she is really great. They have 12 children, with just their last 3 there now. Their son is at BYU and Jessica knows him and he is getting ready for his mission in Texas. I liked her a lot! I guess Jake will have a new mission president for a few months when they go home in July.

Love,Michelle

March 15, 2011 letter

Well hey there!

Once again, I have like three seconds to type. We have been working like crazy. And today was a temple day!

So, I really love the temple! I feel so good in there. Unfortuneately, I feel so relaxed, and Im so tired, I usually sleep at least a lil. But Im trying. It was great to be there. As I was in the Celestial Room, I was thinking a lot about pride. And once again came back to the quote by Uchtdorf, where we dont need to think less of ourselves, just less about ourselves. Really like it a lot. So I decided I need to think more about my Savior, and my Father in Heaven, and also those around me. As a missionary, I am called to help everyone! So Im gonna try and think much more about those around me, especially now. The temple is so good. I also was able to stay a lil longer than usual to talk to a great friend about how the Lord anwers us, and how we need to follow. Great day. Just that i have no time now!

My area is super poor, and pretty much all ghetto. But, man, are these people amazing! Great peopl, especially the youth! They are so excited! At the baptism on Sunday, the there were a few investigaters there. One of the young men told em all about it, and even practiced with em! So great. Its my first area actuallly inside the city of Sao Paulo, and it is super different. Way sketchy. Mundão.

I love you guys! I gotta go! My comp is so patient! Well, thanks so much for the prayers, and for the great letters. Thanks for the part about the heart to hearts mom. I was needing that. Next week when I have more time, I ll have to fill yall in better, But I am super happy. I Love my new area and all. IT is a wonderful rewarding thing to be a servant of the Lord. I was just laying in bed last night thinking about how happy I am, even though its so hard at times.

Love ya!
Love, Elder Jake

March 8 letter

Hey Guys!

Today I think I have once again, very lil time. Very Lil. So Ill let ya know how life is quickly :)

Well this week was great! We were really excited to help G, and to also baptize Thyan, who is a son of a less-active. However, G smoked. And drank. That was really sad for us. And he was pretty embarrassed and didnt really want to talk to us. I wasnt actually there, as i was in division. But it was still hard.

However, still with a goal for two people, one being a man to be baptized, my comp went to work!

I was in division for three days, so I didnt see this miracle, but it was a testimony for me. My companion found Weverton. A 19 yr old young man, who was taught many times by past missionaries, but didnt want anything at that time. He expressed to Elder HAwkins that he was ready to be baptized this month, and my companion, using the Spirit was able to make a goal for that week. And so 3 days later, he was baptized. I had nothing to do with it, but it really strenghtened my faith, and showed me true faith in this young man.

We also found this great family. Actually, a couple in the ward introduced us to them. GREAT family. They were really open and receptive to our message. During the first vision of Joseph Smith, Fatima started crying. We invited her to pray and ask if the Church was true, and she replied that she already had. And she felt that it was. Marcel, her fiance, agreed to pray about it that night. Then when, invited to be baptized, she said of course! And he also accepted the invitation, as soon as God shows him the church is true, he will follow! It was a really spiritual lesson. And then they went to church! How great! YEAH! It was amazing as well to see the look on Andrea's face (the member who gave the reference) as she saw her friends accept baptism.

How wonderful it is to share the gospel! Her friends will soon be members of His church, and will be able to receiave these wonderful blessings.

Well, I was transferred! I am sad to leave that area. It was a good area, great actually! I loved so much the members, and the investigators. It was sad to leave, but my new area should be great!

My new comp is Elder F. Rocha. Brazilian, and once again, an incredible missionary. I am excited to work with him! This morning I was a lil nervous about the transfer, but as I got to work, I felt the Lord fill me with His love, and confidence. He really loves us, and helps us to feel His constant help. I am so greatful for Him! We are not alone! Well, I have to go, I am sorry I dont have more time, but next week I hope I will have more time to write to everyone individually, especially S!

I just gotta run! I love you all! Have a great week!

See ya next week!
Love,Elder Jake!

March 1 letter

Hi Buddies!

This week was a good one. Pivital. Changed me a bit. I just hope I can pass a bit of this through my letter, well see!

This was the last week of February, as I hope you already knew, and as such we were trying to reach our baptismal goal for the month. As we started out the week on Monday, we were missing one more man to baptisze. (The goal is a the overall number/number of men.) Because you have to go to church two times before being baptized, we made a list of all the men who had been to church in the last year, and weren´t baptized. And we went about visiting them.

On Wednesday, we found Douglas. Douglas had been to church a few times with his girlfriend, but was never taught by the missionaries. We met him at his girlfriends house, and taught him a lot about eternal families, and how God restored the priesthood to seal our families through Joseph Smith. A really different way to teach the first lesson, especially to an 18 yr old kid. But at the end of the lesson, my companion invited him to, using his faith, be baptized 4 days later. He accepted! We quickly taught him the word of wisdom and the law of chastity, and marked to come back to the next day. The Spirit really touched him for sure.

So Thursday, we got behind with our appointments and we weren't able get to his house, so we marked to go back there. When I got there on Friday (in division with my good ol comp Elder J. Harris, a DL in our zone) Douglas dropped a bomb on us. He said he had thought about it, and had felt it was too fast, and he needed more time. He had complete reason to think that. Was extremely fast, but we felt it was right. So we asked to share a message with him.

We thought the problem at first was the law of chastity, but after a few questions, discovered it wasn't. He had a desire to "be Mormon", but wanted to wait to find a job, and get started on the marriage arrangements and everything, and then get baptized. So, we were able to ask him why he acepted the invite the first time. He replied that he just felt it was right. So Elder J. Harris told him that I would invite him one more time to be baptized this week, and that he wanted him to pay attention to the spirit. I invited him, and his answer was more or less "holy...". He felt the Spirit really strong one more time, and acepted the invitation, and he was interviewed on the spot. Was a great learning experience for me, and helped me trust in the Lord.

As he was being interviewed, I went into the bathroom to pray, and thank the Lord for the miracle which he had made happen. I felt the words which I had uttered in my testimony to Douglas come back in to my mind. The Lord wants the same thing you do, you just have let him take the lead, and hell get you there. Douglas wanted an eternal family, and wanted to be able to be able to support this family as well. I wanted to reach our goal, that we felt was from the Lord. These things God also wants, but if we try and do it our way, for example put of the baptism until later, he can bless us and help us get that goal. I was so worried about getting my goal, but I was putting off the promptings cause I thought I didnt have time to do some things that I didnt think would help. But as I was able to fully turn myself over to Him, he was able to work miracles.

As I left that house, I decided to let the Lord guide me. I got close to the next house where we had two baptismal interviews, and the Lord said, "Don't go there." WHAT?! I'm trying to reach the goal which I made with the Lord, and their interviews are marked now! But, we stopped and prayed in the middle of the street and turned around.

Until now, I dont know why, but I know I did the Lords will. Was an incredible test.

Through these experiences, and a few more from this week, I have learned so much more about how to follow the spirit. I am so gratful for that week.

That couple we didnt interview was G and C. G had smoked again, and wasnt around when we came back the next day to do the interviews. But C was there, was interveiwed and passed. Saturday night, we passed by there house and G was so excited about his baptism for the next day. He didnt know that he couldnt be baptized because he had smoked that week. We told him, obviously, various times, but he hadnt understood. We marked his interview for the next day during church, even though we knew he couldnt be bapttized.

That night I had a great talk with my companion about following the spirit, and really helped me to realize that I needed to follow my first promtings, instead of prayin and praying and praying for a stronger or different answer. Just do it. I think because of my pride, I dont accept answers at first, and I feel I need to pray a lot over em.

As I prayed the next morning, I got an answer that it wasnt right to interveiw G. We got to church and everyone told us in ward council and in the hallwayt that we should, at least give him a chance. This was another trial of my faith. But we decided to give president a call (as he would be at the baptism). He told us not to do it, that he neeeded to go one week with out smoking. So we grabbed the bishop and met with G and C during church.

It was a special lesson, w let him know the standards and what the Lord expected of him. We even gave him a blessing during the meeting. C was invited to be baptized if she wanted to that night at the baptism.

She showed up there that night and decided she wanted to be baptized. It was a really spçecial meetng. It was really hard for G. My heart was broken as I looked at this great friend of mine cry because he wanted so bad to be baptized, but couldnt. This moment really gave me a better understand of our Savior. But he will be baptize next week I believe.

Well. sorry if that lettter was long and intense, but thats pretty much how the week was. As I sat in church sunday morning, I was filled with an immense peace. I knew I wasnt perfect, but I knew I had turned myself over to the Lord, and had done what he wanted me too. One of the greatest feelings.

I love you all! I dont have time to respoond to everything, my companion is patiently waiting, so Ill make it up next week! (transfers! Already!?) I love you all!

Love, Elder Jake

Feb 21 Letter

Okay, I am a slacker and haven't posted Elder Jake's letters for a few weeks. I apologize and will try to do better. He is entering the fourth quarter and is gearing up for it.

Hey guys!

Once again, i got the sweet computer that has a broken shift key1 wohoo1

So this week has been pretty crazy, but i suppose that really just means its normal.
G and C they didnt go to church on sunday. that just broke my lil heart. We went there Sunday night, and he was drunk. Tear my heart out and throw it on the ground and stomp on it til I die. It was pretty crazy. His brother was also there, and even though he also was drunk, he took Gilson's beer so "he wouldnt drink anymore". Or probably so he could drink it. but i didnt mind. He's our next project.

Anyways, we went back Monday night, and we were able to talk to him and he said he drank as his "good-bye party" to drinking. Even though I dont fully agree with that concept, I could already see a change in him. He is changing. This week he is good. He hasn't been drinking or smoking. Last night, we were able to give them both preisthood blessings. How great it is to have the power of God on our side. I appreciate it. im sure they are going to be baptized.

There is a dude getting a tattoo in the back right now. I can hear it. Maybe i'll get a tatoo of the Portland Temple. I wont regret that, will I?

Today we went for our usual run to wal mart, and to celebrate, we went to a super nice churrascaria (brasilian grill). Was delicious, and expensive. and definatly canceled whatever workouts I've done this week.

Since you are in Utah, I would love a BYU t-shirt. I dont have one! Cant think of anything else. and the shoes havent arrived yet, but they might be at the office.

Here in the big city, we meet lots of crazy people. For example. last week this guy stopped us and was talking to us about the USA. He asked me what state I lived in. I said, because U was sure he had never heard of Oregon, that i lived in Califorina for a time. [One summer at his grandparents.] He smiled and me and said excitedly "TEXAS!" I just looked at him for a sec, smiled and said yea, something like that. Another kid and other time asked me if I was German. I said yup. "Really? You were born in switzerland?! So you speak english?!" Poor kid slept through every geography class hes ever had. Also, we were walking with a trucker who was so excited that they were building a highway from Mexico to Spain, (that didnt cross the ocean) cause he has always wanted to visit Europe. The big city has got a lot of good laughs.

We got the news about the new President of our mission! Oresident John S Tanner, vice -pres of BYU and his wife i guess was the general President of the Young Women. Seems poderosos. He'll enter July 1. So Ill get him for a good three months.

However, its gonna be really hard to take the Richardsons spot. They are such an incredible couple. Dont think it gets better then them, but maybe as good. I hope so!

I saw a horse crossing the crosswalk yesterday, by itself, just roaming around, abiding by traffic laws. Such a weird city, I love it!

Well, I'm not sure what else I got. We had a great training this week on faith. and how as we do everything we can, and trust in the Lord, he will make the miracles happen. and we can reach our goals. so we should have a great bit of miracles this week. I'm pretty excited, gonna be a great week!

Heard one yesterday. when I was in santo andre, i taught a young woman (22). She didnt accept our message but yesterday, she knelt down and asked God to direct her in her life. and then the missionaries called. They had found her name in the Area Book and decided to call her cause they have one week to baptize 3 people, and had no one. she had been to church, so she could be baptized (you have to go twice). she accepted everything this time around, and will be baptized sunday. people change. miracles exist.

I love the Lord. and im gonna keep trucking along and try to be a lil better this week, so that we can see some miracles happen.

Have a great week! I love you all!

Love, Elder Jake