6/6 Jacob's Setting Apart

Jacob was set apart this evening by  President J. Todd Knudsen, family friend and Stake President of the Fontana Stake in Zion.  He had us sit Dad, Mom, Jacob and me.  He asked each of us to give Jacob advice about serving in a mission starting with me.  Once we started, mom couldn't stop herself from crying.  I told him that he needs to love the people and that he needs to trust the spirit.  Mom and Dad each gave him words of counsel.  Then President Knudsen gave him crystal clear advice and then asked Dad and I to join him in setting him apart.  I guess Jacob was instrumental in helping Braden Knudsen serve a mission.  President got very emotional when he talk about the influence Jacob has had on his family, and in particular, Braden.  He blessed Jacob with wisdom, that he would teach pure doctrine unadulterated, to help and be a help meet to his companions in the field.  So now Jacob has the title of Elder.  President Knudsen kept on calling him Elder as well, which always sounds and feels weird until you are out in the field of the MTC.  He also blessed Jacob with health and that if he got sick that it wouldn't last long.

President Ed Young made an appearance before we met with President Knudsen.  I asked him about Jacob and if we (bishopric) could visit him tomorrow at 7:30, but he let us know that he would be working, although he would love for us to visit him.  That kid though, he has been a person of concern for a long time.  I don't know what more I can do for him.  He always puts a bad taste in my mouth whenever I think or talk about him.  I did tell President Young how much I like the relationship that is building between Luke McDermott and Natalie, his daughter.  He told me that he is starting to like him more and more.  He is still warming up to Sister Teri Young, Natalie's mom.  I told him that I thought Luke was a stand up guy, because he is.

Dad helped Jacob pack today, spending several hours with him in doing so.

We went to Pancho Villas for lunch today.  We shared a tostada salad and I got my usual, a combination plate with rice and beans, an enchilada, chile relleno, and a burrito.  I told dad about the incident that happened at Zimmerman while I was gone, which was when a kid was lost under my care.  He agreed that it wasn't my fault.  What sparked my memory was a male teacher from Sycamore Hills made an appearance at a table close to ours.  It might have been Mr. Stoffel.

We also went to In-n-Out after our time with the President.  We brought it home to eat at the table.  Jacob said the last prayer on the meal that he is going to say.  I usually get a cheeseburger, no tomato, grilled onions extra toasted bun.  I had to forgo on not getting a tomato and extra toasted bun.  But I still had dad ask for four spreads.  He's like four what?  I did eat most of them.

We went to go see the Peruvians today after meeting with President Knudsen.  We went to check up on them.  Their eviction has been postponed until Saturday.  So, Dad and I are going to help them Saturday until done, or until I go to Ryan Lauritzen and Sammy's wedding reception.  Tia Lucy and Tio Jesus will probably move close to where they are now, and Wiwa's family will be moving to an apartment complex by Arrow Route.  I spent most of my time with Mosiah.  He's been going down a wrong path as of late.  I got on him for a stupid Instagram post that had the F-word in the picture.  He was embarrassed, as he should be.  I told him to take it down.  We sat outside in the cool air because it was pretty hot today.  We talked about going to gym, which I'll start doing tomorrow with him.  We talked about my girlfriends, my cell phone, among other things.

Well, Jacob leaves in less than four hours.  It's 11:40pm.

I spent a good part of the day setting appointments for our ministry visits with the stake presidency for tomorrow.  Bishop wanted 6 solid appointments at around 7:30 tomorrow and I booked 4.  I probably texted like 15 different people today.  I also watched Arrow and DC's Legends of Tomorrow today.  So, overall, great day.