YOU Can Change the World!

Merry Christmas, everyone. and a Happy New Year (meaning, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MY AWESOME SISTER ASHLEY)!!

I had a fantastic Christmas. Our mission president lets us watch one PG movie on Thanksgiving, and one on Christmas. We saw Tomorrowland. It is about a girl who is basically recruited to save the world by changing the future. It had a nice Gospel ring at the end, well at least that I noticed. I want you all to remember that YOU can change the world. The power of one is more powerful than the world often lets us realize.

My family knew I'd be missing the new Star Wars, so everybody sent me a bunch of Star Wars stuff (see picture below to be amazed at my sister's awesome duck-taping skills). I also received much needed rations and socks. I never thought the day would come when I'd be excited to get socks for Christmas, but it happened.

We finally had an actual lesson with F, the mother of the recent convert A. She was at the Christmas dinner, and she had commented to several people that she needed more of this in her life. We had a chance to discuss some of her concerns thus far, and she agreed to come to church this week. Unfortunately, we never saw her or her son at church, so something must have happened. I did, however, meet a former missionary of this mission, who came with his fiancee to our branch this week, as she was speaking. He finished his mission probably about 3 to 6 months before I came in, but I knew his name. He was companions with my trainer, Elder S!

As we approach into a new year, I want to invite you to make one of your New Year's resolutions to be to grow closer to the Savior. I don't want this to be one of those half-committed goals you set. I want you to be fully on board. There are so many wonderful blessings that come as you come to know Jesus Christ. I can promise you that as you make more time for Christ, your life will have more purpose and meaning than it ever did before. I can promise that, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Until next week, don't let the world stop you from being you. PS, the mission's newspaper featured a picture of my poor, defenseless, beat-up truck.

-- 

The Lord's Soldier,

                      Elder Jacob C. Tibbitts

My awesome Christmas tree, courtesy of the folks back home.

My new awesome Star Wars wallet (thanks, Ashley).

Skyping on Christmas Day!

Hauling Hay & Jam-Packed Chapels

Well, my beautiful truck is gone, and it has been replaced by the sleek Toyota Corolla. It might be a little difficult to get to a few places in our area with such a car, but at least I can actually turn now.

We got to haul hay bales in the morning. I've said it before, but I've bucked hay bales from La Junta to Lone Tree. It have gained much experience in that field. It is a great work-out, and I like it a lot, mostly because I can exercise and get something else accomplished out of it. I found out after we left that one of the members took a head dive from off of the 11-or-so-foot stacks later (on accident, of course). Don't worry, he is fine.

We had our Branch Christmas Program on Sunday. The chapel was packed full. There were only about 7 or so seats that weren't filled. That's right, we had a whopping total of 48 people at Sacrament Meeting! I was so happy to see so many people there.

Afterwards, we had the Branch Christmas Dinner/Lunch. Even R, our quadriplegic investigator, showed up for that! There wasn't a single empty chair in the whole room, and we had to pull out a few extra chairs. It was great to see so many less-active members there feeling the love the branch had for them. Even our recent convert's non-member mother was there, and she felt so much love and help from the members of the branch. I am so grateful for this time of year, and the love and joy that I can feel emanating from people.

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir recently released a music video for Christmas, singing Infant Holy, Infant Lowly. The music video is set in a prison, and follows an inmate being released from prison on Christmas Day. The story portrayed in this music video is heart-warming, and it teaches that there is always hope.

We are all captives of sin. We have locked ourselves in prison. Many of us believe that we are stuck until the prison guard Satan lets us out. But in Revelation 1:18, we are told by Jesus Christ: "I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death." You see, Satan does not hold the keys to your prison, Jesus Christ does. And the funny thing is, He has already unlocked the cell. All we have to do is push open the door and walk out. Yet too many of us have bought into Satan's lie that the door is locked shut, and we cannot escape right now. Sometimes it takes a great deal of effort to get ourselves to push open that door, but the One who holds the keys of hell and death is with us every step of the way, and He will never let us down.

I proclaim to every nation, kindred, and tongue, that Jesus is the Christ, the Holy One of Israel. His birth changed the world forever. Death and hell have been overcome by that sleeping Baby. This Christmas, I rejoice in my Savior, who has ransomed my soul from the depths of hell, and I invite you to discover why a Savior was born. I know He lives, and I so testify in His Holy Name, amen.

Until next week, not only keep Christ in Christmas, but make Christmas about Christ.

--

The Lord's Soldier,

                      Elder Jacob C. Tibbitts

I made egg & sausage crescent rolls, except I substituted the cheddar cheese with American, and the sausage with Spam (because that's all I had). Don't worry, I received 12 more cans of Spam from the branch, as requested, so I won't run out.

Let Your Light So Shine, and Keep His Commandments

Well, another transfer has begun. I am staying here in Westcliffe with Elder M.

We had a zone conference this week, and I SAW SANTA! He had a Nordic accent.

My companion has made a renewed effort to be exactly obedient, and that has been a huge help to me. We made a commitment to not get up late ever. We have been doing awesome, and I have already seen a lot of blessings come from it, just in this week. I am very excited to work with Elder M this transfer, as we both work toward exact obedience. Elders/brothers and sisters, obedience is FUNDAMENTAL to success in the Gospel, and I am glad we are doing everything we can.

G, one of our investigators, told us that he decided to stop drinking coffee because of us. We haven't even had a lesson on the Word of Wisdom yet! When you act a certain way, and let your light so shine, it affects people in positive ways.

I want to testify to you that Jesus IS the Christ, the very Son of God. I know it with all my heart. I love Him, and I want to follow Him. I know that His Gospel brings happiness, and I so testify in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Until next week, keep Christ in your hearts.

-- 

The Lord's Soldier,

                      Elder Jacob C. Tibbitts

Me with SANTA!

Being an office missionary is SO stressful. (JK, we just had to drop by the office.)

Return to the Homeland

Well, quite a bit happened this week. First, I was able to finally meet R. He is a quadriplegic investigator, and only has limited use of one hand. We helped him get started on FamilySearch.org. He has a really cool special computer. He uses his mouth to move a joystick-mouse, and he blows into it to click the mouse. Obviously, there are text-to-speech capabilities as well. He has tons of family records, and he absolutely loved it!

My companion gave me a haircut. I asked specifically to not have it really short on the sides, but I guess I'll just have to deal with it. Good thing my hair grows incredibly fast, right, Mom? He almost had the front hair be intentionally very lopsided, but I had it cut back. I was able to stop him from giving me a hard point (basically a line in the hair that goes all the way to the skin).

Now, the exciting part: I got permission from the mission president to go on a special exchange back to La Junta, my first area! They lost some records, around the time that I got ET'd out of there, so I went back to restore some records and old investigators. We had a very limited amount of time, but I stopped by one of the old investigators, E, and she remembered me! It was a lot of fun to return to the place of my birth.We got to listen to Handel's Messiah at the stake center at the end of exchanges, and I saw an active member in La Junta, who remembered me, too! Handel's Messiah was incredible! 

At the end of exchanges, we switched back, and I discovered that my beloved truck had gained a few battle scars. Apparently the missionary who was driving lost control on an ice patch and crashed the truck. No hurt missionaries, but there is a possibility that Westcliffe will no longer have a truck. And I have to help the missionary fill out an incident report. Paper work es no muy divertido.

During the First Presidency Christmas Devotional, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sang one of the most famous parts of Handel's Messiah. In song, they quote Isaiah 9:6, "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."

This Christmas season, and throughout the rest of my life, I give praise to the Prince of Peace! It is liberating to feel the power of forgiveness, to feel grace unmerited. Singing along at Handel's Messiah was incredible, but I have realized this week that sometimes, my gratitude and joy really CAN'T be expressed in words. I try to form a beautiful prayer, a moving speech, but ultimately, all that comes out with any meaning is, "I love God. I love my Savior, Jesus Christ." I love Jesus Christ. I love Him. I want to serve Him. I love all of you, and I want the best for you. Please, don't let Christ become second in your life. Give Him everything, your all. "We love him, because he first loved us." (1 John 4:19) I testify that Jesus IS the Christ, the Savior of mankind. I do so in His Holy Name, amen.

Until next week, I love you all. Don't forget the Reason for the season.

-- 

The Lord's Soldier,

                      Elder Jacob C. Tibbitts

My beautiful vehicle, scarred by battle in the war on ices.