Week 4

Well it has now been a month since shipping Jacob off, it has gone fast and slow all at the same time, which is strange. We did receive an email from him yesterday (I am late at posting) and he is in good spirits and is doing well. I am never sure how much of his email that I should share, guess I need to ask him that.

I have noticed a huge change in him since leaving. He is working so hard and praying hard for miracles. This week he told us that he was able to bear his testimony in Japanese using the rules that he has learned and also that he read a scripture verse in Japanese as well. So the language is starting to come together. I am sure it isn't easy to learn and I am grateful that I don't need to learn Japanese. 

He mentioned a friend that he has made at the MTC who's name he said was Tanaka-San. He is also serving in Fukuoka, so he is hoping to be able to see him again there, perhaps to be companions sometime in the future. He is also very excited to head out to japan and would like to leave now, but knows he is learning valuable things in the MTC.

This past week Brad and I drove down to Utah to attend a funeral for Neil Jarman, Brad's sister's husband. It was a beautiful service to honor a life well lived. I shared a story that was told at the service with Jacob and I will share it here as well. 

"One time in particular we were at a prison at the point of the mountain and on one of our songs were talking about how we encourage those people that were in prison to find people that they can be friends with who will take them in and be there for them and encourage them in the right direction So that they don’t end up back in there again. There was this one guy specifically Who was really rough and always kind of looked at us like he wanted to hurt us. After explaining that song…he pulled up his sleeves and said to us...you see all these tattoos… See the way I look… You think they’re going to except me when I walk in the doors of the church. And I remember Neil‘s response was so sweet and genuine to this man. He told this guy, I know it’s hard when people look at us and judge us but We are who we are… And no matter what we have to remember that even though others might not except us that the Lord loves us! Our Savior loves us."

Thought it was such a wonderful way to look at things. Neil was a good man, loved God and loved those around him. He will be missed.

Anyway, one month down, but I know that Jacob won't be in a hurry to come home. I know that he will love Japan and the people there.

Looking forward to speaking with him in less than 2 weeks :)

Love mum