Charity Never Faileth ~

Since I have never served in the mission field I really do not have any idea what the experience is like but I can tell you with all certainty that there are A LOT of lessons learned in the mission field!!!

Jake's letter this week taught me a lesson in charity and I appreciate him sharing his experiences with me.  It is easy to react when someone is rude to us but it definetely takes a special individual to humble themselves and show charity back to the person who is treating us badly. .

According to the scriptures, charity . . . “is the pure love of Christ,” “suffereth long, and is kind,” “envieth not,” “is not puffed up,” “doth not behave itself unseemly,” “seeketh not her own,” “is not easily provoked,” “thinketh no evil,” “rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth” (Moroni 7:45).

Jacob does a great job when it comes to following the Savior's example. I personally think that this is one of the great things about Jacob - he loves everyone!  Anyone who knows Jake will tell you that he has a way of making you feel truly cared about.  I love that about him!!!

I believe the members in Shelby, Montana are very charitable and I am extremely thankful for that.  Jake said that last week they had no dinner appointments or lunch appointments and before they knew it... Sister Bridge came and gave them food and a $25 gift certificate, Brother Lybbert took them shopping, his wife and Sister Thacker made them dinner, and Heatons brought them food also. WOW - as a mother of a missionary, that is such a blessing!  I wish I could thank them all personally.  Instead, any opportunity I have to return those blessings to other missionary moms - I WILL do it!

Jake told me about how they teaching someone about repentance and how it is important to be honest and the gentleman said, "What if your wife is ugly and you tell her she is beautiful, is that a lie?!"  LOL - that is hilarious!!!!! I love it!!!  Hopefully when Alex tells me I am beautiful he isn't lying!

If any of you happen to have girl scout 'thin mint' cookies lying around - you might consider sending them to Elder Packham!! I think he was trying to charm the girl scout cookie lady in the library the other night to get some thin mint cookies! LOL

I think we all know that Jake LOVES basketball! I mean he really loves it! Well, I decided (and with Jorvik's support) that since he isn't here to watch, I would create a bracket for March Madness. I think he would be proud - maybe? Also, I sent him a bracket to fill out!  Now, Mikey said I shouldn't, but I did it anyway because I thought it would be fun for Jake to make some predictions.  So..without giving you all of his predictions I will just tell you that he had Ohio and Butler in the final with Ohio winning.  Well.. Butler is totally out. Oops Jake! LOL

Here are some pictures:

The first picture is of his district.  The second is from dinner the first night in MT, and the last one is pretty explainatory - he is pointing to MT!

I really love all the pictures - they are awesome and if I could figure out how to make a slideshow on the blog - I would.  Maybe, eventually I will.

Before I close this post I want to give a shout out to Alli and Lindsie - thank you! Thank you both for listening to me say how much I miss Jake all the time and thank you for being so supportive of Jake - you both rock!  To my family - sorry I have been crying lately - I just miss him but as Jorvik said, "It will be okay Sandi - only 1 year and 10 months to go!"

In closing:

This is why Charity is so important ~ “We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul–We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things” (Articles of Faith 1:13).