Elder Jacob Elgaaen in Jacksonville, Florida: May 2019

May 13, 2019 Weekly

This week we had a lot of great things happen. We were able to find some awesome people. One of the people we found was Olivia. She was so open and willing to listen to our message. We shared it with her, gave her a Book of Mormon and invited her to read. Her whole family even pets are girls except for her dad so we asked if she would be more comfortable with the sisters coming by. She said she would so that's the plan. JL also came to church as well as 3 other people we are teaching. Mothers day was awesome! I got to call and talk to the Best Woman in the World! My Mom!!! Besides that not much else happened. We had MLC or mission leadership conference which was good. We learned about how we need to lead through our examples. It's hard to teach or encourage something you're not an example of. This week I was reading through first Nephi and there is a lot of deep stuff that I never noticed before. For instance it completely tells of the reason why there would be a need for a restoration. It was very eye opening and cool! This next week should be a great one because zone conference and 2 tradeoffs. Remember a smile is a choice so make it one!

Love you all!!!

Cool Car

Cool Mustang

Elder Babcock doing his Mother's Day Call

Picture at Walmart Hair Salon

May 6, 2019 Short and Sweet!

This week will be short again! After a while you get in a rhythm of things and not much different happens. This week, we did receive a referral family and they are super nice! We aren't sure how interested they are but they will listen for sure. It was super cool going over there and getting to know them. The youngest daughter is 15 and is pretty much a professional cello player. They set up a time for us to come do some more service, as well as a BBQ for all those that helped. We also had a lot of great dinner appointments. We shared a message about being a member missionary by thinking of 30 second questions that people might ask you and simple answers that you might tell them. It really can strengthen your testimony and help you be prepared to share the gospel and bless others lives. We also had a lot of crazy things happen. Haha we will send some videos and pictures and hopefully next week will be longer! Love yall!

Broken Vent

Cleaning up

Elder Babcock playing Speak Out

Bored Elder Babcock

Falling Vent

Repairs

Jacob Playing Speak Out

Elder Elgaaen & Babcock

Moldy Food

Poop Deck

Looking one legged

April 29,2019 Fish and Unplanned Oppertunities

This week was another quick one. I again will be fishing with the ward mission leader (Brother Hall) for the whole day so this will be a little shorter. So this week we had some awesome experiences and saw many blessings come our way.

One great blessing was a service opertunity we had. One of the members had a friend who was moving from over in Orange Park to Fleming Island. We were asked to help and try and get people there to help if we could. We called up some other missionaries in the area that they were moving from and were able to get a total of 8 missionaries. It was super cool to be able to help someone and really show them what our church is all for and about. They also fed us a ton of pizza. They bought 15 pizzas for 13 people. We had lots extra! We then had a ward BBQ and it was fun. They grilled burgers and hotdogs and there were quite a few people there. We had a awesome experience after. So we were reporting some things in our area book at the church and just about to leave. We waited a few minutes and someone drove into the parkinglot and got out and was looking at their car. They said their car was pulling one way and so we checked their tire pressure and did our best to help them. We were able to talk with them about the Book of Mormon and give them a copy. It was great. Right after, JL pulled into the parking lot. We were able to talk with him and make sure we were still good for Sunday and we also shared a scripture with him.

Another cool experience was after dinner at the Shaws, we were leaving and just had left when I realized my tablet was still at their house in the garage. We texted them and went back when we got there, we heard his car playing music so we thought he was in it. He wasn't and for some reason it just started playing the radio. He had a big project the next morning and was greatful that he didn't wake up to a dead truck. It was cool to see how the lord places us in different places and sometimes places things in our life so we can bless someone else. It was great.

Transfer calls also happened and I am going to be the district leader again and my new companion is Elder Babcock. It should be fun! Elder Kesler is going to Kingsland GA.

Pday was awesome. We went disc golfing in the morning and Elder Kesler threw a disc into the palm meadows. They have saw like stocks and pointy sharp leafs. We went into them to find it and I was standing on top and fell. Haha. It was fun though and we ended up finding 2 extra discs. I went fishing and got fried! I was able to catch a ribbon fish and another flounder. It was super fun. That was pretty much my week.

I challenge each of you to think of what you would say in 30 seconds if someone were to ask you about something you believed in. What's your 30 second testimony on simple truth? (what's the Book of Mormon, who is Christ to you, what makes your church different...). Love you all and hope your weeks are spectacular!