A Spiritual Giant!

I just got back from Pioneer Trek and it was incredible! One of the days focused a lot on missionary work and how it is so crucial for young men to go and to grow on missions. There were five girls and seven boys in my family. As we approached a very steep and bumpy road, the boys were given mission calls and were asked to leave the sisters behind. After watching the young men proceed up the hill we gathered together as women and tears streamed down my face--the experience was perfectly applicable. The Stake President's wife then spoke to us about how we as young women need to do everything in our power to encourage boys to go on missions. Then we pulled the handcarts up the trail as women. I have never had a greater confirmation that the Lord knew me individually and that Jake was where he was supposed to be until that moment. Then as the Trek ended and I finished pulling the handcart my mom handed me a letter!!! Jake is and is continually becoming a spiritual giant :) Here is just a part of his most recent letter that I loved:

"I know without a doubt that our Heavenly Father wants me to go to Arizona. I know that our Heavenly Father will guide and help me to those He has already prepared for the gospel of Jesus Christ!"

Awesome, huh?! I can't wait to hear about his experiences in Arizona :)

JACOB LEFT MTC THIS MORNING

WROTE HIS PARENTS HE WOULD

ARRIVED IN ARIZONA AROUND

10A.M.

Jacob wrote "Ony 6 more days and I am in Arizona.  Exciting.  I can't wait to get back into the world.  I can't wait to feel unique again."
"Today I was able to be a host for those new Missionaries.  It's so weird that it was only 2 weeks ago."
He shared an awsome experience in how his district has become his family and a special testimony moment.

Said one Elder has left to go home and how it touched them all and how sad it was.

Excerpts from June 18 letter to Grandma and Grandpa Graves

"I have a lot of stuff to do like clean my room," (see I knew there would come a day)"get new sheets, buy a couple things from the store. I have to email my parents today for sure. So I thought I write you while I am waiting for my Laundry."  (Don't you love it and I am so glad for laundry, we get a letter).
"Its so weird cause now when I read my scriptures now its relaxing time, Its so funny cause before I felt like I needed too and I have to. but here I always want to cause its relaxing not having to worry about how I am going to teach the next lesson or preparing for an Investigator but when I read it is my personal time.  I really enjoy it and i feel I learn more by myself in personal study than a class.'
"In the morning our district went to the Provo Temple.  It was really cool.  I love how every Temple is different but the spirit is in all of them."
"So about the gum, we can't have any but candy is good.  But you don't have to worry about sending me food though, they feed us well, maybe even to well."

OUTSIDE LOOKING IN--ENTERED MTC JUNE 2,2010

We ate lunch at the Noodle Factory and for his last non-mssion meal he ordered Mac&Cheese.

                                                    

Accompanied by Uncle Jeff and Aunt Andrea, cousin Carson and Grandma Gravesr

Time to say good bye and God be with you.  Love ya Jake see you in two years.

WASHINGTON D.C. TEMPLE

Jacob took out his endowments in the Washington D.C. temple. April 10 2010.      He was accompanied by Daniel Jenson and his parents,                  Cindy and Bob Maloney and grandfather Bob Maloney .

On this same day his sister Mikayla was baptized

From Jacob's letter to his Grandpa Graves

Jacob wrote "Attitude is every thing Grandpa.  It will make our day or will have the opposite affect.  So I believe that a good attitude will make your trials a whole lot easier."

Missionary Scriptures/Quotes!

One of my favorite misisonary quotes was by President Gordon B. Hinckley. He had been on his mission a short while when he wrote back home to his father. He told him that money was being wasted by him being out in the field. President Hinckley's father wrote back: "Forget yourself and get to work." I love this quote because it not only applies to those serving missions, but to all of us.

What is your favorite missionary quote or scripture? Not only would they be fun to include in letters, but they could be motivating to all of us as we all try to be missionaries:) Post any that you think of or find!

First Letters!!

I got my first letter from Jake on Wednesday June 9th! It's been a week since he arrived in the MTC and it is so good to hear from him:) He was made a district leader and so he's been extra busy. What have you guys heard from him?! Post and share something from your first letters. I think this will be a way fun way to stay updated, even if some of us are states away!!