Well this week has been a pretty good one! It's gone fast and I can't believe this transfer is almost over already. Time is just flying by. I mean some days and weeks are a lot slower then others but that's just how it goes I guess haha. It's been cool to see Britannia start to get moving, it seemed to be stuck in the same place while I was there and Elder Burgess is doing super well and they have like 4 baptisms in the next few weeks. One of them is K who we found penny boarding on day like 8 weeks ago so I'm stoked about that! He's Chinese of course, as with the other 3 haha.

So Elder Tonks and I have been teaching this guy named K who is way cool. He's like the nicest man and he is so committed and genuine but he just works allllll the time. His baptismal date is for the 30^th of April so we are really hoping that he can make that. Our good friend F from Columbia wasn't able to come to church last week so he won't be able to be baptized on the 30th. He is working 2 jobs every single day to support his family in Columbia. He is such a good man. His shifts cut down to just 5 days a week next week and he will be able to come to church. He is still very committed but just super super busy.  He has such a strong testimony already, it's so amazing to see.

Jacob taught Nursery on Sunday!!

We had quite a few exchanges this week and I got to go with my boy Elder Metcalf. We had such a good time. We talked to a lot of really awesome people but also had tons of fun. It's nice to have a lot of similar connections with someone out here. Sometimes it drives you crazy if you don't. Being able to talk about places back home and just good old memories in the 801 haha. He is a super energetic missionary so it's awesome being around him. He reminds me of Hank haha. Everyone thinks he just a laid back person but when you get to know him then it's polar opposite. I guess I just know Hank way to well haha that's what you get when you grow up next door to someone. Oh and I'm still ballin out every week thanks to all those days watching Hank dunk and shoot hoops.

Lords Hand

I have seen the lords hand this week on placing people In our path who are ready to hear the message of the gospel. For some reason, people stop us on the street and want to come to church and learn more and it really has been such an amazing experience. And I have seen while I've been out that more than 90% of these people end up dropping us or not responding after the first or second lesson and sometimes that gets frustrating. But I do know that we are planting seeds and that's all that matters. Who knows, maybe in a few years a missionary will stop the same person and change their lives.

I love you guys so much. It's crazy that it's April. Dad your birthday is coming up! How old are you gonna be? 47? That's not even bad! We best be shredding when we all get back. Love you guys!

No short cuts

Jake

Recognizing the Seeds Planted By Others

First day wearing a short sleeve shirt!

Well! It's been a pretty fast week here in Lea Valley!!!! Some crazy stuff has happened but we have also seen tons of miracles! So it's been super super awesome. So early in the week Elder Tonks and I were walking through a parking lot and this guy runs up to us and asks if he could meet with us and talk about the Mormon church. His name is F and he is a boss! He is from Columbia. We said of course and met him the next day! We were teaching him and In the middle of the lesson he just asked when he could be baptized and also asked which river he could be baptized in because he wanted to do the same thing Jesus Christ did! It was so awesome! I had the biggest smile on my face and I looked at Elder Tonks and we were just super super happy. He had a few missionaries knock on his door in Columbia but he said he didn't really talk to them much but that he did go to Church with them. But he did say that they were very good men who loved God. It just made me think about the missionaries that knocked on his door 3 years ago. They probably thought nothing was going to happen. I've been super super grateful for those missionaries because F is a great man who is so prepared now. So keep F in your prayers! He needs to come to church a few times before!

So our area is a pretty sketchy place I'll just tell you that haha. So we were out street contacting and we found this guy named K. He's a middle aged dude who is super funny but has a few problems that we are sorting out. He told us he has been smoking crack for 10 years almost every day and he wants to stop. As well as drinking and everything else. It's going to be a long process but he will do it! Well anyways, we saw him on Saturday and he was messed up. He had a huge wound on his face and his nose and he had about 45 stitches. He went on to tell us that he was out on the streets with his "Homies" and they got in a fight and some guy stabbed him in the face with a broken glass bottle. He's in a bit deeper than we thought with some gangs in the area so we are going to decide what we should do and how we can help him. But he is a genuine guy that wants to change.

So we had an exchange in central London and it was great! It felt so good to be back again haha! It was good to see Elder Burgess working in my last area. We were talking about how long it has been since the MTC. We even got to sleep at the good old Britannia flat so it was a good time.

Lords hand

I have seen the Lords Hand In so many things this week. But I think especially in F  and his willingness to follow Christ. It just makes me so happy knowing that all missionaries are planting seeds and I saw that first hand this week in Fernando. The Lord prepares different people at different times. It's da bessssttttt. I loveeeee it.

I have basically told the whole mission that my sick cousin is serving in the Kazakhstan mission. Haha I'm so excited for Andrew. It's gonna be sick to be out in the field with him. I love you guys. You are the best family in the world. Keep sending it. Can't wait to talk in less than a month!!!!!!!

No short cuts

Ward Council

Rick Ro$$

"Y'all ready know I'm going"

Well it's been a pretty fast week! Elder Tonks and I have been pretty busy. The work is good. I love it. We have been able to travel to South Kensington quite a bit this week and it has been so strange being in my old area. Britannia is an amazing area. I will never forget street contacting in central London. I feel bad because by the end of my second transfer it just seemed normal and now every time I come back to exhibition road and central London I can't believe that I actually served there. Everything is so big and old and just awesome. It's going to be weird coming back in like 10 years, it'll bring back some sweet memories haha.

We had some great training meetings from president this week and it really pumped me up for the transfer. I'm stoked to just go to work and have fun while doing it. Like mowing lawns with all the brothers and just having a good time. So Thursday we were able to watch Meet the Mormons in Spanish with a recent convert named A and her mom who is not a member. They are from Columbia and they are super great. The spirit was super strong during the movie and I couldn't even understand what it was saying. But the mom loved he video and she was very emotional. The last story in Meet the Mormons is the missionary mom and it made me so happy knowing I have the best family. You guys are the best. It gave some flash backs of the airport with Sam and also me haha but other than that it was so good. I love you momma.

On Friday we had a big meeting with the zone and it was a good time. Everyone was super excited and we came up with some great ideas for this transfer and it's going to be sick! We ate some delicious cookies that some of the sister made so that was good. We then traveled back to our area for an appointment that we thought would be sooo solid. We were stoked. We were a bit late so we were running. I was actually sweating. I think it was the first time I have sweat the whole time I've been here. It was awesome. Anyways, we get to this dudes house and right when we get to his door we know it's going to be a crazy lesson. He has the bible written all over his door and when we walked inside, his entire room was covered in writing. There was not a blank space on his walls. We sit down, he pulls out his bible and yaaaa. You probably know what happened next. We just testified, told him about the Book of Mormon and dipped ASAP. He told us we were of the devil and kind of kicked us out. But we did leave him a something...haha, while he wasn't looking, Elder Tonks left him a Book of Mormon on his bookshelf. Maybe he will read it and realize.

That's Basically all that has happened this week. We were invited to the recent concert A's house for dinner and her mother D made us amazing Colombian food and hot chocolate. It was amazing. They live in the same complex as us so the mother tells us we can come whenever we want. She is the sweetest little columnist woman haha. She makes fun of us for being American though. Well that has basically been our week. So we live in an area called Tottenham, which is pretty sketchy haha. It's been a big change from central London to here but it's good.

The Lords Hand

I have seen the Lords Hand this week in Elder Tonks. He has really helped me a lot. I have struggled a bit knowing what to do and how to do it. But he has been super patient with me and he just lovingly shows me how everything works in teaching me the area and knowing what to do. I have also seen the lords hand in President and Sister Stevens. I have been so lucky to be able to serve so close to them and I get to see them basically every week. President is such a great man and he knows exactly how to help the mission. And sister Stevens is so loving. She can make anyone smile. They are the best.

I love you guys so much! Keep being the best of the best. I hope lax is going well. And dance for Gracie. I pray for you guys always. Love you!

No short cuts

"Get busy livin, or get busy dyin"

Jacob

Conference

Out Jacob's window of his new flat

Wellllll this has been a crazy week to say the least. I don't have much time to write. It seems like everything just got 100000 times busier. But that's good haha busy is good! So I'll tell you a little bit about the new area. So we are still in London. But it's a bit outside of central London. Our flat us super great. We even have a gym that we can go to haha so that sick. I just run on the treadmill every day. It's awesome. My companion is Elder Tonks from bountiful Utah! He went to Viewmont and he has been out a bit over a year. So his mom emailed last week and she went to Highland and knows about the Parkin brothers who were bonnie Parkin’s son’s haha I was laughing so hard. Her name is Tracey Warner. Maybe uncle Jeff knows her. But that's a cool connection!

So basically I have just been getting to know the area and the zone all week. We haven't really spent much time in our own area but it has been so good getting to know everyone. Lots of the missionaries I have served around so it's way cool. It has been a huge difference coming from Britannia (central London) expensive cars, etc. to north London where it's pretty sketchy. Some guy got stabbed to death in front of our flat last week which was pretty sketchy. But there are so many amazing people here. We had a few hours to do some finding in our area and I met probably 7-8 families from Ecuador and Columbia and they were soooo lovely! We are seeing them this week. I wish I could remember all that Senior Salles taught me haha which was nothing. But I'm super excited to meet up with them again!

It's been good to come back to Hyde Park for general conference! I was able to see Elder Hinatsu and also Elder Burgess hahaha. We even went back to the good old Britannia flat to eat some lunch in between sessions. I loved conference! It was amazing. It's crazy how special it is on the mission. It's something that I will never forget. I did miss biscuits and gravy but it's okay haha. It'll come. But I loved Sister Oscarsons talk about believing and knowing for ourselves. I think we all have to ask ourselves if we believe what we have grown up being taught and I am so glad that I can say I believe it. And know

it.

Well I don't have much more time. It's been a good week, but a bit stressful and I don't really know what I'm doing sometimes but I'll figure it out. The Lord qualifies us.

The lord’s hand

I saw the lords hand this week in helping us find people to teach even though we have been out of our area almost all week. I have learned that when we forget about ourselves and serve other missionaries that the Lord will help us in our own efforts and work.

I love you guys and miss you. Keep being the best in the world. Love you lots!

Jacob