Elder Brown and Me

Translation: "STOP SECTS! we are catholic! we dont want your conversations! thanks"

English class

Zone Conference in Zagreb

Stella and me

me and stella. we're basically best friends now

i just want to let everyone know that i love this work. even though sometimes i think about home and look forward to being back in good old ramona, i still know that this is the most important thing i can be doing right now at this time of my life. im having a great time. ill just let you guys know in case you were wondering... its hard here. its a tough work. thats why they call it missionary WORK. just to give you an idea... we had 1 lesson this last week. that was the spiritual thought in english class. and 2 lessons taught to members. one was just a spiritual thought, but the other was a good lesson with ____. that was really good. but basically that was it. otherwise we were just trying to find people. we talk to around 20-50 people everyday and its very rare to even get a number from someone. but still we keep truckin away. there's not much time. we cant waste our time. i have found out how important this work really is. i am one of the 4 missionaries called here in osijek to preach and teach and baptize people into Christ's church. thats very particular and very special. i have felt the companionship of the holy ghost with us. its a great feeling and only comes when we're obedient and truly ask for it. but the Spirit is so important in this work. without it, its just a couple of 20 year olds trying to convince people to what they believe. we talked a little in zone conference about this but we are put in twos to work. we have companionships. what we need to realize though is that every companionship is basically like a three-some. there's elder brown. me. and the Holy Ghost. thats 3. and we need to be that close in order to work. im so grateful for this work and all these missionaries here in croatia. i love the scriptures. they have all the answers. all the answers we need are found in the scriptures. then if we have questions. there's prayer. its so simple. hard work is how we are able to reap blessings. if we work hard we'll be able to find the people, teach others, and truly feel the Spirit. it might be hard or tedious, but its all worth it in the end.

My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment;

And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes.
D&C 121:7-8

when we think about it like that, its not so bad. really, this time is short when you compare it with eternity. i know that this message is so important for everyone in this world. i know that we have a prophet who leads and guides this church. Elder L. Tom Perry in the MTC said "no man leads this church! Christ does". its through him that we receive revelation for his own church and i know how important that is now. we are not lost. a general authority in the MTC also said that the Great Apostacy ended with Joseph Smith yes... but the apostacy is still alive and well in the hearts of people. these people are living in an apostacy. they are searching for truth but know not where to find it. we're the ones who need to pull the people out of their personal apostacy. im so happy that im here and that im called by God to be a servant of Christ for the crpatian people. im super excited for this opportunity and i hope that you all can feel this same excitment and urgency. remember, every member a missionary. i love you family. i think about you a lot. the work is hard. people arent listening. their hearts are hardened... but that never stopped paul in the new testament. and it wont stop me either. i love you. have a great week.

love

elder jacobsen