This is a great news article that was reported the day that Jacob arrived in Ohio.  It talks about all the new things happening with the opening of the second mission in Ohio and an influx of many many new missionarieshttp://www.wcpo.com/news/local-news/mormons-could-soon-spread-the-word-in-cincinnati-one-text-at-a-time

The Kentucky Temple Visit

Jacob sounded so happy in his letter that we received today.  He was able to go to the Louisville, Kentucky Temple

on Friday, and said it was truly wonderful.  And, the day before, they had a zone conference with a musical presentation about Joseph Smith.

He said it strengthened his testimony immensely and when they went to sing the closing song "Praise to the Man", he couldn't sing, he was so overcome!  I love experiences like that! He said he wished we could all hear what he heard, and I wish it too!
Jacob spent quite a bit of his week doing service for a member of the ward who has been so good to him and all of the Elders (Brother Blackwelder)...he feeds them almost every Sunday.  Brother Blackwelder has a warehouse full of old vinyl records.  Along with his son, Denis, Jacob and his companion had to go through and find the records that were still good...not warped or damaged after 30 years in storage...and box them up.  He said it was a HUGE project and took up a great deal of their prostlelyting time, but he was still able to visit with the Zagottis.  The Zagotti family has set a baptismal date! and Jacob says that they are truly a fantastic family and they have a real intent for learning about the Gospel.  They WANT to know.
And...Jacob loved the "Mormon "Minion"aries I sent him.

He said he almost doesn't want to eat the twinkies because they are so cute...which made me happy, because it was something that made him laugh!
And...last of all...he hasn't lost all of his pictures like we thought!  He still has his original flash drive and it was the copy that disappeared or was ruined in the mail.  So, we sent him another drive, and I should hopefully be getting some current and fun pics soon :)

https://www.dropbox.com/sc/yg5wcxpg10mm6mf/CyPrIL6KrsThe "day" was finally here...the letter was here!
What a great feeling as a parent!  Seeing the excitement of your child, and also the apprehension...knowing that this is supposed to be right where the Lord wants you to be.  Am I going to be leaving the U.S.?  Will I be speaking a foreign language...will I be somewhere with hot and running water!  Lol

 Jake's girlfriend at the time, Natalie Felix was there when he opened the call.  It was interesting to see her try and be just as excited as Jacob, knowing that he was going to be leaving.  She looked like I felt on the inside...I was already missing him!

Well, I couldn't decide, since Jacob's been gone since July 10th, if I should start at the beginning, blogging 5 months into this journey... or just start from where he is now.  I decided that I just wanted to share everything with you, but I will probably try and do current things and work my way back when I can, as this has been one of the best experiences of my life, too.  Sending Jacob out to serve was soooo much harder than I thought it would be.  I've truly missed him a great deal.  But, as I read his letters and look at his pictures, I can see the change and the growth and I know how much Heavenly Father is blessing him.

Now that Jacob knew where he was going and how long he had til he needed to report to the MTC (July 10th), things could keep rolling along.  So, while Jacob prepared to leave, he finished up his 2nd Semester of classes @ Utah Valley University (he had a scholarship there).  He spent time with family and friends in all types of situations...One of my favorites, however, was an outing Jacob took with Doug on the golf course.

And, there was the 4th of July when we got to see Kelly Clarkson, live, in concert at the Stadium of Fire.