SURPRISE!!!!!

As of 8:37 P.M. on December 31, 2010,
this is EXACTLY where Sister Jensen is right now.
That's right, she's headed home! Just in time for the new year!

She departed from Manila in the Philippines yesterday (our time) and flew to Tokyo, and then from Tokyo to New York (really!), and from New York to Salt Lake City.

This is an honorable medical release. She just needs to come home and get healthy.

Happy New Year!

Happy Birthday Mom

Dear Family,
It was wonderful to talk to you on Christmas. Well Christmas for me, Eve for you. Either way I am so glad that we get to call home at Christmas; it really cheered me up. I am glad to hear that the family parties went well and that everyone had a safe, warm Christmas.
We went out to do member visits, focusing on the RC and LA but we worked in almost all of both of our areas and practically no one was home, everyone here goes to the "province" for the holidays so our numbers are exceedingly low. But it is not about the numbers it is about those we were able to share the Christmas Spirit with.
Health wise I am kind of really struggling at the moment. I was able to talk to Sister DeLaMare today, she says again that I am going to take my many meds and we will wait and see. Sigh. We do that with our investigators who aren't progressing, we will visit them again, give them another chance, wait again. Some stay in the other section for months without progressing just to make sure that they have their fair chance. It is a good method but for those waiting, it is a little hard to just wait sometimes. Random tangent.
Not much to report about the work, honestly we were only able to go out and work for a few days this week. Sigh. The Church is True. Our Christmas Conference was beautiful. I was the chorister and we sang just about every single Christmas hymn in the hymnal. I was glad that I could help out. I also had the opportunity to bear my testimony, that was a spiritually uplifting experience. Every time we go to meetings like that or district meeting this morning, I feel the Spirit so strong and all I want to do it go share this gospel. Then we go eat or take the long long bus and jeepney rides home and somehow that feeling wavers. I am trying with all my heart, might, mind, and strength to serve, I really am.
They love fireworks here, there are stands and stands for fireworks in the streets and kids are playing with them everywhere. When they come running at you with their ears covered I have learned that you should stop and cover your ears. If not you get a big headache from all the bangs and flashes by the end of the day. Also dodging firecrackers that people light and throw in the street make for fun work. We were advised to come in early New Years Eve. I am grateful.
I hope that all of you had a wonderful Christmas and really rememberd the reason for the holiday. Also as you plan for 2011 that you keep Spiritual goals in mind as well, Spiritual goals are just as important as your physical goals as well.
Well thank you all for your prayers and support, it is what is keeping me going. I am so lucky to have such a wonderful heritage of faith to come from.
Have a wonderful New Year's.
Mom, Happy Birthday. I love you so much, it meant the world to me to talk to you last week.
Mahal kita,
Sister Jensen

Merry Christmas

Malagayang Pasko!
Or Merry Christmas in English.
What a week! I can't believe how fast the weeks fly by, whoosh and Monday again. This last week we had Temple lighting tour on Friday and we were tour guides for it on Saturday. I wore my first red shirt on the mission on Saturday and I am thinking it will also be the last. Everyone "Merry Christmas, Happy Birthday, Happy Valentines day" you just can't wear red here, which in unfortunate since it is a lovely color. The lights and the Spirit at the temple were beautiful, I am so grateful that we get the opportunity to share with our investigators the Spirit that is available even outside the temple.
What else, I am on antibiotics again, sinus infection they think. Either way, I had to buy a few new handkierchiefs while out tracting this week, I also really miss a washing machine while washing them...shudder. On Wednesday we found out that we are actually further away and one really expensive taxi ride away from the hospital. Also we found out that when the Doctor doesn't come in, they just expect you to somehow magically know, or call ahead of time to find out. Well I didn't have his number and didn't know that he called in sick so we have scheduled another appointment with him for this Thursday. In the mean time I am just trying to enjoy the work and take it one step at a time. I am truly grateful for all of your prayers I really feel so loved and watched over. What an adventure!
I am so excited for a phone call. Honestly 6 months is a long time, be prepared because I am pretty sure I am going to bawl through it. Luckily for you family, there is an amazing member here that served his mission in Provo and lived in Salt Lake for years, his daughter missed her friends so much in Utah that when they moved back to the Philippines they bought a phone line to Utah and Skype and said that I am welcome to use it to call you, in their air-conditioned office room. Talk about the greatest tender mercy I could have prayed for!
What else. We had another baptism on Saturday. This Brother is so prepared for this gospel, it has been amazing to work with him so far, he showed up early and was wearing his newly purchased white shirt and tie and black pants for his confirmation. I also tied his tie for him a few days ago, just proof that all those times I was playing with your ties dad and Clark there was a purpose. He is the first in his family to accept the gospel and completely gave up drinking and smoking and hasn't looked back. Also we have another investigator who I was sitting by at one of our Sacrament meetings yesterday and one of the speakers talked about only having one set of earrings, well she had 2 and we haven't taught her about that yet. Well she immediately said "I am stopping now" and took the other set out after the meeting. What Faith!
We have Christmas conference on Christmas eve. I am excited for that. It sounds like it should be a good spiritual boost. It doesn't really feel like Christmas to me, it is still hot as July and the decorations here are few and far between. I don't recognize most of the music as Christmas so I am still confused about that. I am grateful for wonderful wards and members who support the missionaries. Also for those at home who have taken missionaries into your homes and helped them out. A blessing for one of us is a blessing for us all.
Merry Christmas all of you. I hope that in all the hustle bustle of the season you have been able to take sometime to remember the Savior whose birth we are celebrating. It is because He lived and atoned for us that we have purpose to our lives now. Christ is the reason, love the motivation, the gospel our message. This Church is TRUE, never ever doubt that, we have a Heavenly Father who loves each and every one of us. We are His children, He has a plan for us and happiness in this life and eternal salvation in the world to come are possible because He loved us enough to send His son Jesus Christ to save us. What a blessing!

Love you,
Sister Jensen

Quezon City

Hello Family,
I am glad to hear from you all. I am looking forward to hearing
from you. The call info is this, we can call anytime conducive to our
missionary schedule from noon Christmas Eve to 6pm the day after
Christmas. I am not sure when our mission Christmas conference is, I
expect that will be the deciding factor of when I call you. We get 30
min and can use Skype if we can find somewhere that is open and has
skype.
I am glad Sis DeLaMare is keeping you in the loop, I go back into
the doctors on Wednesday, I am hoping we come up with some solution
because I am really starting to wear down.
My new areas are big and there is a lot of traffic and pollution. I
have 2 areas, Bagbag and Baesa. We had a baptism this weekend, he was
late for sacrament meeting, we were praying so hard he would show up
so he could be confirmed. I also got to speak in both wards yesterday.
What a blessing we got permission to take investigators to the
Christmas Devotional that was broadcast yesterday, yes I cried through
it. I am still working hard, but with all of these health issues it
has been really hard these past few days to settle into a new area and
get used to a new companion and new people and reexplain to everyone
who offers us food why it is I can't eat it. Sigh.
I was studying this week and I came across the quote about the
atonement, how everything is made fair through it. It took me back to
the days of working at LDS seeing the faith of my patients, their
examples of faith has really helped me these past few days. Also thank
you so much for the package, whoever put jello in it should be
sainted, I have been craving jello for the past 3 months.
What else. My companion is Sister Galvez, she is from Dumageti (sp?)
she is 2 transfers ahead of me, I am her first American companion and
she doesn't know much English. She loves to be cutsie and wear make-up
and text, I feel a little like I am back with my trainer, but this
time I am more prepared, still I am trying to find a way to show her
that yes I can help teach, not just testify at the end. Sigh. Our
entire district is American except for her, so today she was saying
she felt a little weird, I just chuckled and sighed, that is how the
American's usually always feel. It was weird to hear it from a native.
I am going to try better next week to help her get involved.
We had one of our wards Christmas parties on Saturday. Wow, totally
different than in America. They don't listen to Christmas music, I
have yet to hear Christmas music played on the street, it is still all
pop band and 80's, like what they were listening to in June when I got
here. Weird.
There are only 2 of us in the apartment, but it is huge, 2
bathrooms, although one is so nasty we just leave the door closed,
there are 2 bedrooms upstairs but one looks like it had an earth quake
and all the floor tiles are broken and shifted...weird apartment. Also
the light bulbs in our working CR are out also in the room where we keep
our clothes, and iron. That is made for some interesting
experiences...life in an adventure here. Also they start construction
across the street at unholy hours and the dogs next door barking has
made for some interesting nights. Sis Galvez just sleeps through it, I
wonder if it's something I will just get used to??
Well I think that is about all that is new.
I love you and can't wait to hear from you.
Mahal ko po kayo,
ingat,
Sister Jensen

Where ever you feel love it feels like Christmas

Hello Family,

Well, surprise I am being transfered tomorrow. Actually Sister Reyes and I are being pulled out of the area. I have felt a transfer coming for the past few days and have been denying it. Good thing I got up this morning and washed my sheets, I couldn't sleep. I have been having some pretty weird dreams lately, maybe this is a start of their fruition. We shall see. What else.
We saw another miracle this week, Wenard the boy that was sick last week and we were told that we could not continue his baptism, well we asked his cousins and sister to pray for him and he was given a blessing and he made a fast recovery. It was so humbling to watch his cousins kneel at the end of our lessons and pray for him to be able to be baptized with them. Happily we were able to watch all 5 of them baptized and confirmed and bear their testimony. Wenard's testimony came with so much power it surprised both Sister Reyes and I. Astig. [Astig means "Cool." - Emily]
I am going to really miss this area, it is where I have really begun to feel at home, I know the area and where I am going. I, like you Dad, do not like to be lost or have no idea where I am going.
I have not heard from St Luke's [Hospital] yet, and we have not had time to go back anyway. There really is no time on a mission to be sick. My advice just don't get sick, don't drink the water, juice is your enemy, ayaw ko siya [I don't like it]! Yes we are still working!
Christmas is just around the corner and a new area, grabe ["worried"], it is going to be stressful and challenging but the Lord must have some plan for me.
We had Zone Conference this past week. It was amazing we talked about using the Book of Mormon and the Spirit's role in conversion. Powerful. Zone Conference really energizes us to work harder to go out in the field and use what we have just practiced, to gain those skills that others have and use them in our work. It really is effective to learn then practice then review then practice again. It is also a lot more fun now that I understand more of the language and have investigators that have real concerns that I want to help resolve.
I think I am being transfered close to the Hospital in Quezon City Zone. At least that is what the weekly report said. We will see if they updated it too early, and if that is actually where I am going tomorrow morning. Good thing I have already done most of my laundry.
Well I think that is about it for the week. The church is true, so true, never doubt that. When times get hard that just means that there is something that we need to learn. Scary though. That is where Faith comes in. Amazing how this gospel really makes perfect sense, doubt not, fear not. Have faith, repent, be baptized, receive the Holy Ghost, follow it until the end. It is amazing to see others grasp this plan and see it in their eyes. That right there is the joy of serving a mission.
I love you all. Please stay safe and warm with all of the snow.
Love,
Sister Jensen

I Love You

Dear Family,
What a week it has been. We has mission tour on Tuesday, and it was really awesome and cold with the air conditioning. I turned all white and got purple lips. Fun. Anyway we learned a lot about working better together with out companions and our most important companion, the Spirit. After the meeting he chose a few from the whole group and did interviews, he chose to interview me. That was exciting. He asked about our family, my health, then asked me if I had any questions. I asked about RC [recent convert] retention and LA [less active] reactivation, our really big problem here. He gave some good insights that made me really open my eyes to this ward and the cracks that are there that hopefully we can help heal.
Piano is going well, right now I am just being the confidence booster and question answerer, 2 of the YW played yesterday in Sacrament meeting. I was really proud of them.
We have 4 baptisms this coming Saturday, we were supposed to have one more but he caught Denge and can't get wet until next Monday now. So his will be on the 18th. It is an exciting time to see them prepared for this next step in their lives. The Spirit is always so strong during discussions and they are so happy at church.
I am glad to hear that everyone had a good time at Thanksgiving. A blizzard, wow. Snow. Dad you can say you would trade for this weather but I am not sure you would want the humidity, dry heat is so different. Yes, next year I am going to bake my heart away, I haven't actually seen an oven in a house since a member in Morong, and I never actually saw it being used. I miss food. Sometimes I dream about food, those nights are fun, actually not really because I wake up craving food I can't eat. I am glad that you had a good time though.
As for the Christmas tree, I thought about you decorating, some of my favorite memories are those first days decorating for Christmas, the fresh snow, Thanksgiving leftovers, the smell of pine, sigh. The Church is True, which is why I am here. Please enjoy the snow, even if it takes you 3 hours to drive home, stay safe, but then pause to look at the white pure flakes and the peace and quiet of the storm. That is what I miss. Standing in the complete silence and purity of the fresh now, and knowing that inside it is warm and happy with family.
Well if you can't tell the holiday's are a little hard. I am really missing home. Really REally REally. The Church is true. I can do this. I think that the Lord knew that I could only handle one of these seasons on my mission.
Well until next week. Stay Safe.
Megan enjoy your Bridal Shower, I wish I could be there to give you a hug and help. Know I am excited for you and can't wait to hear more. I was endowed on December 26, so almost paraho kami. masaya ako na!
Love you all.
ingat lagi,
Sister Jensen

Happy Holidays

Happy Thanksgiving!!
What a week, we have met 3 new sisters and they are so hungry for the gospel, they about cried when we gave them the Book of Mormon, they came to church on their own yesterday and they gladly accepted baptismal dates. Amazing how the Lord is really preparing people for us to teach. Then others close their hearts. I got my first "Please don't come back anymore" note, that kind of hurt since we have spent so much time with them and teaching them.
Another miracle this week, we have been teaching the children of part member families in Tumana, and there are 4 families, we gave them December 4 baptismal dates almost a month ago and their children gladly accepted. But one of the mothers was very opposed. I have been praying that her heart would be softened and that before their interviews she would consent. Well our prayers were answered this week, she listened to us teaching the 10 commandments, with all the hand signals and interaction and spirit we could bring, and after wards she told us that she would tell us her answer on Friday. We came on Friday a little nervous, but after our lesson, she told us that she was in favor of her daughters being baptized and that she would like to come to watch the baptism. She is next, I know it!
Snow. Jealous. We have a lot of pollution so it looks white like it is going to snow, but then it can't because it is still really really hot. We have had a lot of rain lately and it is slightly cooler, people are wearing jackets, and I am still sweating. What an adventure.
I hope that you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving, there is so much that I am thankful for this year, mostly you as my family. I miss you all so much. I hope that this holiday season is wonderful for you, even though I have been gone 7 months now I am still grateful for the letters, prayers and support.
I am glad to hear that everyone is doing well.
We have mission tour this week so we deep cleaned our apartment. I found out that like in Harry Potter if you follow the little spiders and little ants you find GIANT spiders. Ick. It honestly doesn't look any cleaner after 5 hours of scrubbing, but lo and behold we did indeed follow the counsel of our President and it is as clean as we could get it. Sigh. The Church is True.
Well I miss you a lot today, especially since the holidays really start this week, at least I only have to do this once. YAY.
Pick a good looking Christmas tree for me. If it has mice, ayos lang [all right], they are actually kind of cute compared to cockroaches, especially the tiny mice that we always see in houses. Yup I am super weird. I think I will end here this week.
Ingat.
with love,
Sister Jensen

Happy November

Happy November lahat,

Salamat para sa lahat [Thanks everyone for the] emails and prayers on my behalf this past week. I really have felt them and appreciate them.
This last week has been wonderful, we have really decided to push our investigators. Well more like drop those eternal investigators that just like chatting with us. Surprisingly enough those we pushed, responded and have started to keep their commitments again, maybe they just needed a little change. Hopefully they will continue to progress.
We had 3 baptisms on Saturday, wonderful. There really is nothing better than the feeling that is there at a baptism. Masarap! What else, a lot of walking, a lot a lot of walking. We have been covering 2 areas in one day so that we can really focus on those that we have extended baptismal dates to. That has been good to see them more often and help them make and keep their commitments. It has also meant a lot of travel and walking, but I feel good about helping those that are really progressing or that have potential.
On Sunday we went to go pick up 6 people for church, after a lot of walking, only 2 came. We got to the church in time for me to sit down and play the opening hymn, it didn't go well. I was thinking about too many things and I couldn't read the notes anymore. Scary. Luckily I recovered enough to play the top hand only. I was embarrassed, but after the block a few members thanked me for playing. I guess top hand only is better than no piano at all. I bought the skills and teaching book for piano today at the distribution center. Hopefully that will help with lessons.
The Temple was beautiful this morning. We got up at 3:30 so the other sisters would have time to get ready. As it turns out they changed their minds and were going to the 7am session not 6am so we were ready really early. Oh well. I feel at peace right now, just happy to have made it through half of November, before I know it I get to talk to you!! Excited ako na! [It's my turn to do it!] We also went to CTR corner, a kind of missionary gift shop, Sis Reyes accidentally hit a wood carved tiger and it broke, she was out of money, so I bought it. Pangit siya pero mas mabuti na tulungan kasama ko kasya nakikita siya maging malunkot. [I'm not sure, but I think this means something along the lines of "He's ugly, but he will look better when I fix him.") So I now have my first real souvenir from the field. Fun.
We have a mission tour next week, we don't have district meeting we were told to deep clean our apartments. I am excited for that, deep cleaning...I wonder what our apartment will look like?
What else. The Church is True, the Book of Mormon really does have all the answers. The Temple is amazing, no matter where we are in the world the inside of the temple always feels like home. Sigh.
Dad I hope you took a picture of your big fish because it sounds amazing. Clark Congrats on the grades, that is awesome!!
Please enjoy the cold for me, I am really missing it. :)
Until next week.
I love you all.
Sister Jensen

I made it to November!

Dear Family,
Well this week must not have been very interesting because I didn't get much info.
Happy Halloween, it is still October 31 here. Me, I am loving November. It is All Souls or Saints Day so most of the streets are closed down and people are buying flowers and visiting cemeteries. Go figure, I have been living right next to a cemetery this past transfer and I just figured that out. Crazy.
My new companion is strict but good, she is a native and her native language is pure Tagalog. She was Sister Sargent's (MTC batch) companion. Leading the area has really stressed me out, these past few weeks I have been trying to lead the way but Sis Santos was always there to help, now it is just me. So yesterday we walked from one end of our area to the other without realizing it, well our aching feet told me maybe we were going really far, I was just trying to find a member so we could ask the address of her referral. I didn't realize that she lived so far away. Yes we did find her finally. Good grief, sometimes I feel like Sister Reyes is a little frustrated that I don't know how to do more. I am trying to learn from this and stay calm and grow from the experience and not freak out at the new challenges this Transfer has brought.
What else. I am now the only pianist in the Marikina 3rd ward. Yesterday was my first time in my life to accompany sacrament meeting. To tell you the truth I felt like I was going to go take AP Calculus test again. It was the 5th Sunday so rest hymn as well. I guess I passed their approval because the Bishop and some of the ward asked if I would continue teaching the piano lessons that the old pianist started. Gulp. Me teach piano, I can only play simplified hymns. Sigh. The Lord must really want me to grow a lot because, wow, I am completely outside of my comfort zone. But I am happy that I have the opportunity to play such a role in the ward now and really earn their trust. That is good, also the language has been getting easier. I find that sometimes I find myself just chattering away when I am nervous. that is usually when the members or investigators ask if it is hard for me to learn or speak Tagalog, then I think about it and it turns hard again. Weird.
This Church is true. Even if everything else is Different or strange or uncomfortable the Gospel of Jesus Christ is still warm and safe and peaceful and wonderful. What a blessing to be able to be here sharing it. No matter the challenges I am glad to be here serving.
Enjoy the cold for me. Because I really miss it.
I love you all.
Take care.
Sister Jensen

One Down

Dear Family,
What a week it has been. All of the sisters in my apartment are transferring and I am staying. Needless to say I sat and cried last night when I thought about all of that responsibility and not only that but they completely are whitewashing the Marikina 2nd ward, so all new housemates. I am nervous but then again we would never grow if we never reached out of our comfort zone. There is slow progression when you are comfortable, when we are put in these situations it's like getting a cavity filled...miserable but oh so necessary. Sigh. which means that tomorrow bright and early we will be going to the transfer meeting and finding out who my new companion is, then hopefully manage to lead the area. Gulp.
What else. So a sister in the ward gave me the biggest chocolate bar (dark chocolate 74% cocoa) last week with hazelnuts, from Sweden. Yum. Except for the stomach pain it caused. Chocolate is again on the bawal [forbidden, illegal, or prohibited] list. I am still living on skyflakes [crackers like unto saltines] and oatmeal, sigh. Thinking about living on it for the next year makes me not too happy, but again when I feel brave and try and eat even the simplest Filipino food I am left suffering. Joy of joys.
Our investigators are doing great, we extended 5 baptismal invitations and all accepted this week! Actually bonus they are children of less active members, we got a referral for one of them then they said oh my neighbor is a member too and their kids are always over, go teach them too, we house hopped like that for hours. Now they are thriving and their kids are learning the gospel. While listening to their stories and watching their children, I realized that they didn't know that it was their responsibility to teach their children the gospel, when they started having children they fell away. We teach them that families are central to the plan and this church but I know that they still don't understand that because families are central the whole family is invited to church. That is something I am going to try and help them understand this next transfer.
What else. Oh we had MTC exchanges, my first 2 daughters in the mission. I didn't die either, I was scared out of my mind yes but luckily the Spirit and a legion of Angels were there helping me and we taught lessons, tracted, OYM'd and they listened with excitement at my stories. Odd, I never thought I would have stories to tell about the mission but yes I do now.
We had a Family History Fireside last week as well. Amazing. I am so glad that we have such amazing members of our family who have really caught the spirit and done a lot of work. These families here don't have many records, many storms destroy all records, many parents move far away from their birth homes and don't tell stories about their grandparents so a lot of knowledge is lost.
What else, I am just trying to do as Pres. Uchtdorf said last last conference, Patience is not just enduring, it is enduring well. I am trying. Wow. Hard.
As for the weather we have had a lot of rain and wind, I lost my really good umbrella and the wind destroyed my cheap one in a matter of days, so I need to buy a new good one today. Other than a lot of rain, and cooler weather for a bit, not much is new. Everything is still green and feels like July. Dad I am going to hold you to Yellowstone when I get home, I can't wait for the culture shock. Just one year left!!! Thank Heavens. I love the mission, I love the people, but wow I am going to be grateful if this next year goes as quickly as the last transfer did.
I love you all!
Sister Jensen

Family

Dear Family,
How are you all? I am doing better, I have found that if I simply don't give in and eat with the natives my digestive system and I are a lot happier. I have gained a new ward full of mothers who are all concerned for my digestive system and all of them telling my what foods I should eat. So far I am doing okay. Thank you for the prayers. Also for all who wonder I have now finished my 5 lb. of Peanut Butter on the Mission. Yup.
Dad, yes I ate Balut once and I am pretty sure I am done for life. It helps that I was in a weird mood when I ate it, thinking back makes me a little queezy.
We had a miracle last week. Last Saturday we were told by 4 investigators that their parents would absolutely not sign the BR since they were having a viewing at their house. Well actually they keep the dead in their house for over a week before the actual burial, then they have a party nightly with gambling, and smoking and drinking. So we didn't want to go near the house, especially since that area is pretty hard for me with out added alcohol. But Thursday after a week of Sis Santos and I praying and pleading for help and safety we went to the area at night when the parents got off work. They gave us a bench in front of the house looking in at the patay ["Patay" is Tagalog for "the dead". - Emily] and to our left was the tent of sin (gambling, drinking, smoking ect...) to our right there were people making dinner over a fire, so smoke as well, and us in the center. We asked to speak with the parents. They came out, and we started. It was not going well, the mother was not willing to listen, the father seemed pretty willing to let his daughters be baptized but the mom had the final say. Sister Santos looked and me and we both took a pause, prayed silently and continued. We bore a simple testimony of the truthfulness of this gospel. As Sis Santos testified I prayed for her and the parents to open their hearts, for the Spirit to please come. It did come, and powerfully. All distractions were muted and it was just us, the parents, and their 3 daughters who wanted to be baptized. The Spirit touched their hearts and they asked their children do you want to be baptized, their children said yes. The parents paused, then to our surprise testified that they knew that this gospel was helping their children and they would be happy to sign their BR's. Sister Santos and I just about flew home and praying thank you the entire way. What a miracle to watch them be baptized this past Saturday and be confirmed new members on Sunday and hear them thank us for not giving up on them and for helping them. That was a tender mercy. Attached is their picture.

This Gospel is true. Yes the work is hard and harder with the health woes but the work goes on. The Spirit is such a powerful tool in this work, I cannot imagine having to work without it.
Transfers are next week, this past transfer has gone a lot faster, at this rate I might actually make it to Christmas without realizing it. I get my first 2 "children" this week. We go on MTC transfers for a day, I am a little nervous to go out on my own with new missionaries but all the other missionaries say that I should have little trouble, so I am just going to rely on the Spirit and have fun.
Yellowstone in the fall!! Jealous ako! Oh well. The Lord has shown me this week that He is aware of me and there have been a lot of tender mercies this week.
Also yes Mom, there is a storm here, they have told us to get a 72 hours supply of food and water ready. There has been a lot of rain and we have gotten really wet and had to walk through ankle deep water. So far nothing terrible though. Up north I guess they are evacuating. Scary day. But I know that we will be protected what ever happens.
Thank you for all of your prayers.
I love you all,
Sister Jensen


Thank you for the wedding invitation Bryson and Destiny and good luck to the Bachman's and Love side of the family involved in that.

This is me eating balut!

...I will send my camera card soon, I bought a flash drive today.

Dear Family,
I am so jealous of fly fishing and fall. Thank you for enjoying it for me. FYI it is still as hot as ever here and will be until the day I leave and will be probably forever and ever.
What a week. I survived though. To start off, conference was wonderful. I cried though the entire first session of Saturday. Mom, Dad thank you from the bottom of my heart for my love of conference but it sure makes it hard to be away from you on conference weekend. I really missed you all. I was craving apple crisp and waffles all day on Sunday, random. Interviews last week went well. I was able to be open with Pres. DeLaMare and we were able to laugh about some of the difficult cultural differences and get advice about how to politely refuse food. His advice blame the doctor. Awesome! I am still trying to find my place in this culture...still hard for me.
Also the food this week has decided that it will not stay in me, needless to say I have had a most interesting time eating crackers, rice, bananas, and Gatorade since Thursday. Everything else that I eat just makes me sick. I have talked to Sister DeLaMare about it when it first started and will talk to her again tomorrow. (We get to listen to Elder Jay E Jensen tomorrow as a Mission Devotional, I am so excited.) That has made the work hard this week, many of our areas are exceedingly poor some don't have a CR some don't even have electricity. I listened to Pres Monson's talk about gratitude with different ears this conference. Some of our teaching appointments are done by a single light bulb or lamps. What a different world I live in.
The work this week other than me running to CR's ["Comfort Room"] has been good. We had a set of 4 sisters decide to delay their baptism because of their uncle's death. Which left us a little sad...okay more than a little sad. But also we had 3 sisters step up and ask if they could move their baptism up to this Saturday, so we swapped their dates and happily have baptisms for the stake baptism. They are all amazing. I was on exchanges yesterday and got to lead the area, that was fun and very humbling. It is still hard for me not to understand and speak as much as I want to. I still have so so so so so so so so much to learn. I am coming up on 6 months on the mission, they say it goes faster after this point. Really?
Well Conference was amazing, beyond amazing. I sat there entranced by the English and the MoTab (yes MoTab) and all the white people, good grief we really are white. I got to answer a lot of questions about the Conference Center and who is who and what is where. That was nice to feel like I actually know something.
Well I think that is it for this week. Congratulations Megan. My heart goes out to you and please keep me in the loop. Congrats and marami-maraming salamat din para sa lahat [many, many thanks also for all] who have served, who are preparing to serve, and for those I get to serve. This is a marvelous work and a wonder! The church is true. Thomas S Monson is the Prophet on earth today and his words are for us.
I love you all
Ingat,
Sister Jensen

Fall??

Kumusta Family,

I am not even going to start with how much I missed you over conference weekend. No, we have not yet seen conference, we get it delayed this weekend. Although we missed the announcement that there was a rebroadcast of the Relief Society meeting, my companion and I found out Saturday afternoon just as it ended. Well needless to say there were two sisters standing in the middle of a road in Bagong Silang crying. We taught one lesson and went home to rest and recharge our phone which had died. Later that night we played Fairy Godmother. We invited 3 of our investigators to a baptism of Elder Smith and Arthur and while walking to meet us, the youngest's flip flop broke, the older sisters came to meet us and when we asked where the youngest (Siya, she's 14) was they told us she was home crying. We sent them running back to get her while we ran to find and buy new shoes. It seemed like we ran a long time before we found a tidahan that sold shoes, we finally found a place and thank heavens for inspiration we knew her size, payed for them quickly then ran back to get them. We replaced her shoes and then took a jeep-nee to the baptism which was slightly late because of us. Although in the process we won the hearts of their parents, they know that we love their daughters and are just helping them. Also the sisters are so excited for their baptism as well!!
We had 12 investigators come to church yesterday and two got lost and didn't make it, they took the wrong jeep. I know that the Lord blessed our fasting and prayers and for working through relief society meeting even when we were heart broken to miss it.
What else. Yes, I ate Balut! [Wikipedia says that "A balut is a fertilized duck or chicken egg with a nearly-developed embryo inside that is boiled and eaten in the shell... It is commonly sold as streetfood in the Philippines." - Emily] My companion said I ate it like a native, no gagging or anything. I was in a really weird mood when I ate it, like a tired whatever mood. So it turned out well. I also ate Cassava cake (rice something), Papaya, and Ube [purple yams] this week.
It has been a full week. The Spirit has been so strong in every lesson, I can't believe how strong, our investigators are wonderful they are really catching hold of their purpose and progressing. It is exciting to see and be a part of that, and to have so many at once.
I finished Jesus the Christ last week and our Search for Happiness this week. Inspired books!! Also I finished reading the September Ensign, wonderful messages about missionaries. What can I say other then the Spirit has really been so strong this week, even with all the rejections and all the discouragement, this church is so true and this work so necessary.
I am glad to hear that everyone is well and that you all enjoyed conference. I miss canning season more than you can imagine. I find myself doodling pictures of peaches and apples and tomoato plants. Yes my companion lovingly thinks I am insane when I described canning with the excitement that I get when I talk about canning. You know how excited I get.
We had our Zone activity today. We went to the top of a mountain and saw the city from up high. We also had a scavenger hunt, a spiritual one of course. It was fun.
I saw a shirt this week that I really liked it said "there are 2 things you can controll in this life, 1 your attitude 2 your effort." How true that is, in this mission I can have my line out in the water all day constantly reeling and recasting, paying close attention to those who strike, or I can put my line out in the water and wait. Well I am trying to be a diligent Sister and work hard.
I love you all. Thank you for your prayers and letters.
Ingat,
Sister Jensen

Gulp - Conference Without You

Hello Family,
I am not sure what to write this week, it has been a long full week. With Sister Santos we teach about 9-12 lessons a day and are always tracting and OYMing. [Open Your Mouth-ing. It's a contacting mindset that if you open your mouth to talk to someone about the Gospel, it will be filled. -Emily] It is awesome. President DeLaMare suggested that I be more assertive in this area. I am trying. As for the work, we basically started from scratch when I got here, not sure why but we have been tracting like crazy. We have found a lot of new people that are progressing, one family stopped us on the walkway and said that they wanted to go to the temple. We started asking questions and found out that about 4-5 years ago they took lessons from the Elders and for some reason stopped, and their young daughters remembered going to the temple and when they saw us they came up and asked to be taught. We gave them Books of Mormon on Friday and the feeling there handing their 3 daughters (which are now upper teens) their own BoM. Wow, what a feeling. They texted us on Saturday if it was okay to bring their BoM to church with them on Sunday. How amazing! Temple tour on Saturday was good we just took a taxi with 3 of our investigators, no getting up at 3:30am like in Morong. Unfortunately on the way back the traffic was horrible, again with the no rules really, try having a whole mass of cars from one direction trying to get into a single lane...ulg...so we were all feeling car sick and one of our investigators kept throwing up which honestly did not help at all.
Oh well, the church is still true.
Another investigator taught us about Enos and testified of the truthfulness of the BOM, the spirit was so strong in the work this week. I feel like a missionary, every night I am dead tired but feeling the Spirit, I know that we have a lot of work to do here, Kaya namin!!
Tracting is different here, in Morong it was more provincial and here it is just a mass of houses and houses where I didn't think one could fit. Some of them are so small, so so so small. I am learning that with the Spirit is doesn't matter if they live in a mansion or in a little tiny basement house with cement walls and dirt floor the Lord still wants them to hear the gospel. I have been experiencing some interesting smells which knock all appetite out, and some sights and sounds which astound me. But again the Church is true, I didn't get called to the Philippines to be comfortable. I was called here to work, and that means forgetting myself, forgetting that I am uncomfortable and focusing on loving the people I am around, trying to understand their Tagalog and address their needs. That is when the work goes better, when I am able to do more, when I am happier. I still have a long long long way to go.
Happy Conference everyone. I am not even going to start with the waves the homesickness that I have been feeling every time someone mentions conference. Sigh. The Church is true. I will be able to watch some of it next weekend with our investigators at our stake center. I love my new ward though. I loved Morong as well but there are a lot of SA [I think this means Single Adults. - Emily] here and they are really helping me with my Tagalog.
Happy News. I was asked to speak at a ward baptism on Saturday so we went. For the special musical number there was a girl who played the violin. My heart about died of joy the first violin I have seen in the Philippines. After the baptism I asked her if I could play it, for an hour I took requests from the children's hymn book. There was no shoulder rest which made it slightly difficult for me, and it was out of tune at first. I showed her how to tune and explained some other things she had questions about, then I just played for the members. I started in a different room because I didn't want too much attention but after a while most of them had come to listen. I know that I had help from the Spirit as I played. For not really playing in 5 months I was able to play every song they requested on the first try. By the time that we really needed to get back to work my soul was so happy. I can't even begin to describe the joy that playing again, being able to share music with others help others through music again...amazing. Actually a lot of those in the ward ask me for help with music, either piano hymns or theory for their classes. It is just another testament to me that I am supposed to be here in the Marikina 3rd ward.
Well that is about it for this week. Everyone was out partying yesterday because it was the 1 year anniversary of Ondoy [the typhoon]. We hear about it a lot because this area was one of the most effected by it. A lot of drunk people. Lets just say after an event yesterday we then met up and went to work with 3 SA helpers. I have never been so glad for RM's who come with us to work. YAY work with missionaries.
Oh also I got a handful of letters today. Thank you all for your letters that you send. Yes Valerie your pouch mail made it through, thank you. I haven't read them yet, haven't had time but I am so excited. I LOVE MAIL!!!!!!
Enjoy conference, the fall leaves, crisp apples, the cool beautiful mornings that just testifies of God, all of which I miss a lot. Again The CHURCH IS TRUE!
I love you all.
Sister Rebecca Jensen

Hot Hot Hot

Hello Family,
Guess where I am? Marikina 3rd Ward. An actual ward, how awesome is that? I live in an apartment with 3 other Filipino sisters and my companion is Sister Santos from Isabella. She is pushing 5 feet tall, and I am pushing 6 feet and am the tallest sister in the Quezon City mission. I found that out about 6 million times at transfer meeting. Needless to say there are a lot of stares and there were a lot of chuckles when we went to hug up front after the transfer announcement.
I am happy here. My Tagalog has improved 10 fold here, we practice and talk and laugh and eat and talk, talk, talk. There is still a ton that I don't understand, especially when they speak fast, but oh it is so much better. My companion and I sing in just about every lesson and that I love. We teach a lot of lessons daily. There hasn't been an American sister in the 3rd ward for quite some time so all of the people stare again and call out barbie or princess or Americana, but this time instead of feeling awkward or weird I smile and answer back in Tagalog. That is fun. Sometimes the people let us into their house because they want to know why an American is trying to speak Tagalog. Plus with the height difference we get a lot of looks. Sister Santos is loving it, she says that tracting has never been so easy. I am glad that she is supporting our differences and using them to strengthen our companionship.
District Meeting was awesome today, Elder Smith (who was in my last Zone) became our District Leader, its nice to have him as a friend already. Also Elder Arthur that I met in the MTC is his companion, so I feel completely comfortable.
As for my eyes, Mercury Drugstore stopped carrying the prescription that Sister DeLaMare gave me on Thursday but today we went to a mall for lunch and I was able to get it there. It is the one that starts with a G, I can't remember the name. Hopefully it will help. Luckily I didn't get pink eye like Sister Miras, she got it bad and rubbed her eyes a lot so it spread to the other one and needless to say our last day together she wasn't very happy. Sigh. I hope she is happier now. Sister Santos' old companion and I just swapped places, she went to Morong and I came to Marikina. Sister Santos' first area was Morong/Tanay (they were combined then), so I have more to talk about.
I am so completely jealous of all of you and fall weather. Sigh. Here in the city, well here it is mostly all slums so it is really really hot. Hotter than Morong, actually. Also more polluted, I wipe black off my face every night. But the people are so humble, a lot of them are still having a hard time building back up from last years Undoy, [Undoy is the name of a deadly 2009 typhoon. Think of it as a Filipino Katrina. - Emily] which I didn't hear about a lot in Morong but here almost every person mentions it. I can't believe how oblivious I was back in America, yes I was swamped with school but how could I not learn more about this. The people here are so amazing, so happy, I am so grateful that I get to help teach them! Even if I am sweating more than I thought was ever possible, fun times!!!
What else?? Oh tomorrow is my 5 months as a missionary mark, woot!
Oh we have lunch everyday as an apartment, that is fun, I am learning how to cook native dishes. When I get home I am going to hopefully be able to give you a little taste of what food here is like. I hope you like soy sauce and vinegar and a lot of meat.
The Church is True!! Go to the temple as often as you can, the blessings are eternal.
Thank you for your prayers and support.
I love you all.
Sister Jensen

Side note. Saying goodbye was one of the hardest things I have done. I was excited to leave but being able to only say goodbye to one family (Sis Miras wouldn't go inside because there were kids, so I was on splits with 2 young women) it was so hard to tell them that you are leaving. But the church is true no matter who is teaching them. It was hard but at the same time a wonderful feeling to know that they really were sad that I was leaving, to know that in some way I have helped them in their lives.

MORE INFORMATION ON SISTER JENSEN'S NEW AREA:
(THANKS, WIKIPEDIA!)

The City of Marikina (Filipino: Lungsod ng Marikina), known as the Shoe Capital of the Philippines, was formerly the capital of the province of Manila during the declaration of Philippine Independence. Located on the island of Luzon, Marikina is one of the cities and a Metropolitan municipality that make up the Metropolitan Manila Area, the National Capital Region of the Philippines. It also belongs to Eastern Manila District of Metro Manila's four districts.

Marikina City is located along the eastern border of Metro Manila; it is bordered on the west by Quezon City, to the south by Pasig City and Cainta, Rizal, to the east by Antipolo City (the capital of Rizal province), and to the north by San Mateo (also in Rizal). It is approximately 21 km. away from Manila.

Marikina was given the title the "Shoe Capital of the Philippines" because of its notable shoe industry. Shoemakers in the city recently finished creating the World's Largest Pair of Shoes and it was only recently that the Guinness World Records recognized this feat. The Shoe Museum located in the city is the home of the famous shoe collection of the former First Lady Imelda Marcos, shoes of the world leaders, past presidents, famous celebrities and persons, shoes of different countries around the world etc., and contains the largest collection of pair of shoes in the world.

The people of Marikina are amongst the most disciplined in the Philippines. Marikina City is considered as one of the healthiest and livable cities within the Asia-Pacific, and it is also the most industrialized and business-savvy city in Metro Manila. Marikina City is one of the wealthiest local government units (LGU) in the Philippines in terms of current assets, cash in banks, share of internal revenue allotment (IRA), gross income and gross net income. The city features many spacious parks, tree-lined streets, bikelanes, boulevards and commercial areas. Despite the latter, most of the city is classified as residential.

I am now done with 2 transfers

Dearest Family,
I am glad to hear that Emily's Birthday went well, I really missed you all that day. Really. Ashley when I get home I want to bake with you in the kitchen for hours. I miss ovens, and real stoves, and cooking in general...sigh...that time will come, just not for the next year and some.
I cannot believe that I am done with my second transfer. How time flies by. We did not go to district meeting or transfer announcements today because Sis Miras woke up with conjunctivitis [pink eye]. I warned her about touching her eyes so much with it going around. But either she didn't understand or didn't want to listen. Either way it was a very tense morning for me. I got up to get read to leave by 7 and so I have just been reading Jesus the Christ since 6:30 this morning. We got the call, I am being transferred. I about dropped my book, me, not her. She has been the one preparing, washing all of her clothes, sheets, taking pictures, saying goodbye. I am thoroughly unprepared packing wise but my heart is excited for a new beginning with a new companion and new area. I love the people here and they have been wonderful in accepting me and helping me adjust, but hearing that I will be transferred - it just feels so right. I am sad to leave with a baptism next week, but as long as he is baptized it doesn't matter the missionary that is there supporting him.
Yes we do get to watch conference, I think it is scheduled for October 8-9, but I am not sure of any other details.
What to say. There are so many things going through my heart and head right now. Oh I wanted to mention about last weeks mention of Jane Eyre and musical songs, I am trying to repent to this week I have tried to imagine or think about BoM prophets or Bible stories. It has been interesting trying to remember the stories then I try and think about them in Tagalog. It is a challenge but makes walking a little but more interesting. Also I have after each lesson I pray that thank Heavenly Father for help with what I have been able to say or teach, and I have noticed that instead of getting so down on myself about the language or feeling that how I taught one principle wasn't how Sis Miras asked, I feel a lot happier and the spirit is a lot stronger.
Suggestions for missionaries coming to the Philippines or going on a mission in general. Here is my advice: Get over bugs and the fear of bugs. And sing every song in the hymnal and be able to sing them without a piano. Especially those near the back of the hymnal, these people here love to sing the strangest hymns.
This is the Lord's church on the earth today, He leads, He guides. More than ever today I know that the Spirit can calm hearts, when Christ appeared to His apostles after His resurrection He started by saying Peace. How true that is, He is the messenger of peace, this gospel is one of peace and love and hope and joy. Helping other people see that and accept that in their lives is amazing, I know that I have just begun my journey here and already I have seen so many people accept this gospel and find that peace, and joy and love. This is the good news! I am so excited to start new, I hope and pray that the rest of my mission will just get better from here on out!
I love you all.
Sister Rebecca Jensen

One more week

Hello Family,

Happy Labor day!! BYU won, and the U woot!
Happy Birthday Emily!!!!
Life is going well, I am feeling a little better, thank you all for your prayers. Today is Sis Miras' 25th Birthday. We went to a waterfall for Zone activity and had some sort of chicken BBQ...it was interesting and very tempting to get into the water but we didn't. Anyway a lot of you have mentioned Jane Eyre, which is funny because I have been pondering that story as well, occasionally a song from the musical will pop into my head or while we are walking up the street and the exhaust fumes are covering the street I look at it billow and pretent that I am Jane on the moors. Fun times. I am trying to make life more of an adventure than a endurance trial. I think of my cold showers in the morning as prep for backpacking trips, we play cockroach hockey each night, anyway I am trying to find ways to make things more fun.
I finally got a new fan!!! I love being able to sleep and not sweat all night!!! Although I don't sleep very well anymore, I wake up a lot...this morning it was a combination of the roosters and jeep-nee horns. Sigh.
Merry Christmas. They start their christmas celebration September 1 because they don't have Halloween or Thanksgiving they just jump straight to Christmas...a little soon for me especially since my brain still thinks that it is July. We get up every morning to the same green the same heat, the only difference is the amount of rain we get each day.
I have been listening to my music a lot, music really does wonders to heal the soul. I am already through the batties of my CD player, luckily I have extras. Thank you again for the music and speakers.
Oddly enough as I feel better and feel like I am trying to work harder and the language is seeming a little more understandable the work seems to be slowing down. Brother Jun smoked and is feeling really discouraged about trying again to quit. We have had a few move away for the next 42 weeks to work. Sigh. They don't tell us they just are gone and their families are like "didn't they tell you they are working in ... for the next ...weeks." We had 2 at church last week. There are a lot of sick people around here now and that has caused many to miss coming. We did get a referral this Friday who is golden, he is 16 and after we taught the restoration we stayed there for the next 35 minutes just answering questions of the soul, he was asking questions like what happens to someone who doesn't accept the gospel in this life. Awesome!!! He accepted a baptismal date! People like him make it worth it.
Well Sis Miras wants to go celebrate her birthday at the members' houses, we are late because the activity went over. Sigh.
I am working hard.
I love you.
Sis Jensen

Zone Conference

Dear Family,

Thank you for your prayers this week, they have helped a lot. We had zone conference on Tuesday. That was a lot of fun, since the First Presidency changed Interviews and Zone Conference to every other Transfer, that was my first one, seeing that we had interviews last transfer, also there are only 2 Zones that come so it is more personal. We talked about the new 8 topics of focus that they are adding/emphasizing from Preach My Gospel, it was amazing. The spirit was strong and I got a lot of support and comfort from it, driving home I felt all new and refreshed. I also got to sit in the front of the Jeep-nee for the first time...yay for not being squished in the back! Another fun part about last week is we stayed in Cainta so Sis Miras had her friends to talk with, we also went to eat and they wanted rice and meat as usual and I found Pan De Manila...masarup! ["Masarup" in Tagalog means "delicious". And I'm pretty sure that Pan De Manila is a bakery chain in the Philippines. - Emily] Needless to say I rode home with a big backpack, your package (I didn't open it until we got to Morong) and 2 loaves of whole wheat (as whole wheat as the Philippines comes) bread. Happy Day.
Well this week has been slightly discouraging. We had an elder diagnosed with an ulcer this week, he is in my district, I finally have a bread eating buddy! Not fun though his is a lot worse, he has been throwing up blood, which concerns me a lot. Anyway I was able to help him understand what he is feeling and what he can eat ect...he went to the hospital but still was fuzzy on some points. I miss speaking Med, it makes me so happy. Also because of his drastic change in diet and now eating the way I always have, I have been getting a lot less grief for my crackers, bread, and water. So I am sad to see Elder Robbins suffer but he is helping others see that I am not just a weird American.
The work went really well this past week, we invited a lot of people to baptismal dates, some accepted some didn't. When we tried to use our new skills to resolve concerns to help them accept, we discovered who were really our progressing investigators and who just liked to visit. We have one that has been taking lessons for 4 months now and she finally said that she has no desire to join she just likes us...sigh, so we told her that we couldn't come see her as often, but then she came to church on Sunday. Also Brother Diaz after 14 days being smoke free, broke down and smoked. What hurt the most was that he did it right after our really spirit filled lesson about the Priesthood where he committed to becoming worthy to hold the priesthood. We were so excited after that lesson and when he told us yesterday that he had smoked it is like your heart dropping into your already throbbing stomach... ya not fun. Also last week we had 12 investigators at sacrament meeting, this week 4, odd how we feel the spirit testify more powerfully and our companionship is more unified and opposition has ramped up as well. The work goes on though, there are still people to teach, commitments to extend, and souls to save.
Well I think that is about it for the week. Oh my fan died the other day, luckily the weather has been cooler with the wind but still dead hot in the apartment. I seriously woke up a puddle and have melted everyday since...Elder Sibley said that he would get me a new one with in the next week or 2...sigh...
Alam ko po na totoo ang simbahan, at ebanghelyo. Buhay si JesuCristo! Puwede tayo maging mas malapit sa kanya sa pamamagitan ng ebangheylo ito! Alam ko na nakikinig ng Diyos lahat panalangin at sobrung salamat ako para sa malaman ito. Kaya namin iyan!
Mahal ko po kayo.
I love you,
Thank you again for everything.
Sister Becky Jensen

One More Week

FAMILY,
Kumusta na po kayo??
Hello, how are you?
Although the normal greeting is "Magundang .......umaga (morning) Tanghali (lunch) Hapon (afternoon) gabi (evening).
This week has been an adventure and a half. We tracted a new place that was much like Tay-O I could look down from my seat through the bamboo floor and see fish, actually one nice man we tracted into gave us fish for dinner, it was still alive in the bag for a few more houses...interesting. Lovely people though.
Our baptisms last week were wonderful we had 4 investigators come to watch and they are more excited than ever. Bro. Diaz is still smoke free I am so proud of him, he is one that if he sets his mind to it can just quit. I know that he will make it! Although we just got told we have to move his baptismal date because of District Conference, so it looks like September 25, so far away!
What else, lots of rain this week as usual. It has been really hot in between the rain storms so we have been wet either way. Interesting feeling. I saw the biggest spider of my life inside a house on Saturday night, and it was in my apartment, I just stood there frozen looking at it listening to my heart beat for a good 10 minutes before I got the never to move. We were without power again Thursday night and wow the cockroaches came out in flock. I have never seen more or bigger raoches....yet again be still my anxiety....shudder.
It has been a pretty quiet week. Health wise still feel like someone punched me in the stomach, and there is that popping every time I swallow but at least I can hear. So I am not complaining.
I got a package today!! Thank you so so so so so much. I also got 2 letters from Megan, Elder Jake and Shanna. Shanna, thank you again, hang in there I am praying for you, you are so strong!!
Thank you everyone for the updates and the prayers, I really do live on them. I am still struggling with the language and the culture and the companion but at the moment I just feel really loved and for right now I know that I will be okay. So thank you all so much.
I am jealous of all of you starting school, I love school, I love to study and learn more and be able to sit and just soak in knowledge. But then again I am teaching and I love to teach...I just wish I understood more of the language. They talk so fast that honestly sometimes most of the time I just don't really understand much...lately I have been having trouble speaking...I hope that it means that my brain is finally finding a place for Tagalog and that I will get the language sometime soon.
Oh I was thinking that I will describe for you what the walk to church is like. Imagine yourself camping in the jungle with all the jungle noises, roosters crowing, monkeys (okay one pet monkey outside a house we pass), leaves crunching, many radios playing, the smell of smoke from little fires the light to burn garbage or cook on, then walk through it carrying an umbrella for shade and wearing a skirt, knee highs and nice shoes, and there you have it, or what I can quickly write of it.
We are staying in Cainta (technically part in the Manilla mission) tonight because we have zone conference tomorrow. My first zone conference!!
I love you all.
Have a wonderful week.
Love,
Sister Becky

Almost Month 4!

Dearest Family,
On the 21st I will officially complete my 4th month...yay! Time is starting to pick up, funny the language is getting better. Morning prayers this week were interesting, I can't remember the day but I rolled onto my knees to say it and it came out Tagalog.
Weather...ya clouds...and more clouds, right now really super heavy rain...followed by more clouds. Remind me that I never want to live anywhere where it rains daily again, I need sun. But then again when we do get those moments of sun I feel like a puddle melting on the floor. I like the rain because it is cold but it comes down so heavy there is no way not to get wet, which wouldn't be bad but you just really never dry. What is the next season?? Rain then what?
As for the work, we are tracting more areas, one called Bamboungan, which is a mountain road. Literally we walk up the mountain. But there are some great people that we have started teaching, the ones at the top are Inglesia Ni Cristo so they won't even listen to us. Inglesia's are hard, they don't even believe in Christ, other than that he was a good man, they can't read from the Bible, and they are banned from listening to us, it is so hard because their churches look like our and are everywhere.
We have 2 baptisms this week. A part member family, well 2 of their children, Jr and Divina ages 12 and 9. They are absolutely adorable and have helped me learn a lot of Tagalog. Their interviews were on Saturday along with 2 other children, the way the families were preparing their kids for these interviews was serious quizzing. They had one listen to our lessons with Jr and Divina. They were making them recite the Word of Wisdom don'ts and the Law of Chastity points specifically. I don't remember my interview but I don't remember being as scared as these kids looked or being quizzed in preparation for it, I just remember being excited. I knew what I was doing was right, not what is that 5th point of the LoC. Culture differences, fun. What else. Jun and Julyn Diaz an amazing family that were a referral my first week. They have progressed along with me, and on Friday the 13th at 3pm Jun shook hands on stopping smoking from then on, that he would enter the waters of baptism with his wife September 18th. The spirit was so strong as he made that promise, and he was smoke free on Sunday at church. I know he can make it! His wife is amazing, she is very patient and when we came back last week she had read the entire introduction because she had already read the assigned reading and wanted to read more. We just started teaching Sister Ruby, she is also wonderful! She has 4 sons who are all black belts and being so into the sport they have no WoW concerns other than coffee. I love sports! She has wonderful questions and always reads. Amazing how they progress when they read the BoM. If they just get into it there is the Spirit, truth, experiences that can help everyone, I wish everyone could understand that and see the importance.
Fun story for you. Saturday after our interviews we went to follow up with some investigators and I was really happy having been able to talk to American Elders that afternoon. I always get excited when I can speak in English without getting glares of death. Anyway I was feeling the spirit and it was my turn to share the spiritual message, I shared Enos' my soul hungered and with the spirit and my desire to share the feeling that was in my heart, honestly the Tagalog just flowed out. I am not sure what I said but afterwards I felt like I could skip home. I wish that feelings like that would last and that happiness like that was daily, but small moments like that are what keep me here, keep me going.
We shared the Restoration for the first time this week. That was a lot of fun. The spirit was really strong, if you have some time I highly suggest watching it in Tagalog with English subtitles, interesting to think that 4 months ago I laughed at the thought that I would understand this, and now I am not only understanding but testifying, and trying to speak this language.
What else. Megan Congratulations on being a real teacher in a real big school, I am so proud and know that you can do this!
So in our meeting with the Branch President on Sunday after church he said that he had a dream that I trained a Samoan girl. Odd. I am sure that when I train (a long time from now I am sure) that all these experiences I am having now will help someone else. At least that is what I am telling myself because if I have to endure just for me it seems a whole lot harder.
Health wise, I am breathing normal, joyous rapture! After over a month of hacking I can breath! Still am having trouble hearing though, I can hear more but there is still a lot of popping. I am sure it will get better.
Thank you all for your prayers, I know that with all of your help I have been able to make it this far and I will be able to continue.
I love you all!
Sis. Rebecca Jensen

A New Transfer Has Begun

Dear Family,
Well another week has come and gone, and it is time to start a new one. Good grief where does the time go?? Well I am learning quickly that prayers are answered...sometimes in ways we do not expect. On Wednesday I slept from 5:30pm until 6:30 on Thursday, desperately needed. Since the transfer announcement I had been praying that something would change, something would help our companionship, as we got out of the jeep-nee on the way to our first lesson that day I just begged the Lord for help, I can't keep following in silence, I can't do this, something has to change. Well I got my answer and mid opening prayer given by me, I started crying and just couldn't stop, didn't stop until a few hours later actually. Odd how that total breakdown was the answer, Sis. M didn't know what to do so she called the Traveling Sisters to come to the rescue. Thank goodness Sis. Haws the new traveling sister is blessedly from Utah and oh so white. We had a lesson when they got there that night, I desperately wanted to stay but told them that if things kept up I just couldn't bear the work for another transfer. Well we were able to talk things out, then Sis Haws and I just talked for hours about any and everything. Then we went on splits on Friday, talk about fun, talking, laughing, teaching lessons with Tagalog I understand and missionary work the way I was taught it, my questions were answered with stories and smiles. Oh it was fun! So I have been trying to find that joy in the work with Sis M as well. I try to ask her one question a day about herself, and try to smile as much as I can, it is not her that is looking at me, it is the people we teach and talk to, I don't want anyone to get a bad impression about the church just because we don't get along yet. I am taking each day one at a time, and yet again have no clue why this mission is making me cry and break down so often, yeash, for not being a cryer I sure am one now.
What else, health wise. I am coughing up more but coughing less. If that makes sense. I am still feeling so tired a lot, yesterday I was just dragging and prayed for help staying awake, well the answer to that was to walk up a mountain road in the pouring rain. Also I finally have one of the sisters in the branch doing my laundry, we dropped it off last night, it just drains me every single time and we don't have enough hangers or buckets when Sis M leaves hers to soak for days I am left without clothes, so I am feeling good about it, although still a little weird I am so not one who would usually have someone do what I can. But the Nanay that we have doing it is really nice.
Our investigators are doing well, a lot of them have new baptismal dates that they are motivated to make, I hope, we are working really hard on helping them with their WOW problems. We have 5 baptisms scheduled for September 11 and 2 for August 21, we will try our hardest to help them keep these dates.
Well I think that is about it. I can't believe that school starts so soon. I am so grateful it is already August though, time is so weird on a mission. You want it to go faster because you miss home and family, you don't want to wish it away because you are on a mission what you have waited your entire life to serve, you feel like the days are weeks, weeks run into days, and months pass before you can blink. Yikes!
Congrats Bruce on the Graduation!!
Grandparents on both sides, thank you so much for your e-mails I appreciate them so much.
Monica I am glad to hear that you were able to enjoy New Orleans, ya I am not sure if there is such thing as really adjusting to the heat and humidity, although after this long I just don't really think about it.
I love you all, thank you so much for your prayers.
Love,
Sis Becky Jensen

Letter, Dated July 21

We actually received a hard copy letter in the mail this last week from Sister Jensen. Here are a few of the best parts:

Oh, wow, I miss American toilets! Yes, laugh, it is the truth. At the temple they actually have instructions how to use the CR because they are American toilets.

We were tour guides last Saturday for temple tours, we got the movie station. I loved it! Air conditioning, welcoming people, thanking then for coming and then being able to watch the short movie and Elder Holland's "And None Were With Him" [Special Witnesses of Christ DVD] message over and over and then testify about the church and Christ. I was happy doing that, sometimes I think going to a visitor's center would have been fun.

Ashley, I might actually be able to deliver a cockrat! [A "cockrat" is made-up species of vermin that is a cross between a cockroach and a rat. This is a family joke since before Emily's mission. Spain failed to deliver on the cockrat front.] I have seen many of both - I just need to get them together...usually I try not to look at them... yup, bugs are still not my thing.

Alma 26:12-16
12 Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will bnot boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever.
13 Behold, how many thousands of our brethren has he loosed from the pains of hell; and they are brought to sing redeeming love, and this because of the power of his word which is in us, therefore have we not great reason to rejoice?
14 Yea, we have reason to praise him forever, for he is the Most High God, and has loosed our brethren from the chains of hell.
15 Yea, they were encircled about with everlasting darkness and destruction; but behold, he has brought them into his everlasting light, yea, into everlasting salvation; and they are encircled about with the matchless bounty of his love; yea, and we have been instruments in his hands of doing this great and marvelous work.
16 Therefore, let us glory, yea, we will glory in the Lord; yea, we will rejoice, for our joy is full; yea, we will praise our God forever. Behold, who can glory too much in the Lord? Yea, who can say too much of his great power, and of his mercy, and of his long-suffering towards the children of men? Behold, I say unto you, I cannot say the smallest part which I feel.

Another Transfer

Dear Family,
The internet here is really unreliable, sorry I couldn't write until now. I'm not sure if this is going to work, so I will keep it short.
We got transfer notices today and I will be staying with Sis Miras for another Transfer in Morong. The Zone leader played a dirty trick, he called the 2 sets of sisters and 3 sets of elders up and said one from each of these is being transferred. I was a excited that there was going to be a change. Then we sat down. He got up and wrote 3 Elders' names and said this is really who is being transferred. I am going to have to try and work with [Sis M] for another transfer.
I have been thinking of hymn #266 a lot this week.
Trek sounds great, I am glad that you were all safe and only minor medical emergencies occurred. You all sounds so hopeful and happy, I am really jealous.
I opened the package you sent last week, mid laundry while it soaked and just bawled through it. Yes I know I am a big wimp here on the mission, but knowing that someone cares about me so much to know what I would need then take the time to send it. I have read mom's note daily and have the book of Gil [the Moose] sitting by my pillow.
On Sunday I was so tired, and we were fasting and Saturday we had temple tour so a lot of traffic so again even more tired, and after coordination we went to a apt of one of the branch missionaries and I just sat in a chair and used my scriptures as a pillow while they were drawing maps of the area. Sometime during that someone brought me a pillow and I woke up with a fan on me. I just looked up and was so grateful for them, they work with us so much then to allow me to get some rest while they were yet again working to help us with the area, my heart swelled with great gratitude. We do have a good branch, they are really supportive of missionary work and I know that is why we are able to have so many come to church and to progress.
Well that is about all I can think of today. I love you all.
Keep up the good work.
Love ya
Sis Jensen

Feeling Much Happier

Hello Family,

Well I am still sick, it sounds like I have been trying to cough up both lungs for the past 2 weeks. I finally found my soggy cough drops and have been using those, they don't seem to be helping much. Today I woke up with sinus drainage and everything is muffled in my right ear. Life is really fun, I am going on 2 solid weeks of cough tomorrow I am so tired.
I had an emotional break down on Friday...don't freak out, the traveling sisters came to help us work on our companionship and played an EFY song that I used to listen to on the way to the temple sometimes, and I just bawled. Then they talked about accountability and forgetting yourself and I just asked them what they thought I did. I explained my feelings and frustrations, how I am trying really I am, I was sobbing so hard every inch of me was shaking, then I would cough for a while then sob again. Completely ugly I am sure and afterwards I was dead tired but we had weekly planning then work. I worked with Sister Quilacio. Amazing even though I was dead tired we went out, not only did we go out we went out and tracted and taught and OYM [Open Your Mouth, i.e. street contacting] and with the Spirit. It was amazing, in my exhaustion I just had to rely on the spirit and wow. At the end of the day I was surprisingly happy. Then for evaluation instead of the usual you did this wrong, and this and this. She told me that I was good, that I was teaching people not lessons, that my desire is in the right place I just need patience it will come. Having that affirmation that these feeling are the Spirit, that made my heart sing, it felt like a 1000 ton weight was lifted off of my shoulders. So even though I am still coughing and feel sick I am happier now than I have ever been. I am so thankful for my Heavenly Father for knowing that I needed to hear that He knows I am trying.
We had a family that we have been working with for a month come to church on Sunday...Yay! I gave the closing prayer and I swear I said it really loud into the microphone but I guess not I said amen and went to sit down and everyone was still bowing their heads. In response I just coughed and then shrugged then walked off to greet our investigators who walked in late. Kind of funny though.


What else... we did a service project in Tanay on Saturday, we tore down a house that was tilted by the storm. I have never seen so many bugs, and spiders as big as my hand and cockroaches... but I know that I have the spirit with me because I was able to stay completely calm and do the worked that needed to be done. Amazing what can be done when we have the help of the Lord. 1 Nephi 7:12. I think.
[Yea, and how is it that ye have forgotten that the Lord is able to do all things according to his will, for the children of men, if it so be that they exercise faith in him? Wherefore, let us be faithful to him.]
Well I got your package this week, I had to pay the AP's 40 pesos [about 87 cents] to pick it up but so worth it, I only opened it and grabbed your letter before we had to come e-mail. Thank you so so so so much. I also got Megan's letter, one from Elder Plaizier and Sister Garrett (2 from Brazil, how cool am I!) Just kidding. I got some laughs at district meeting because I was smiling so big.
The work is still hard but I am feeling much happier, thank you for your help and support. I love you all. I still live on your prayers, and miss you all like there is no tomorrow. We had an American sister sent home for health reasons this past Friday, there are so few of us already it makes me sad to see her go. I am trying to get better I really am.
I love you.
Sister Rebecca Jensen

One more week done

Hello Family,

After a super long and hard week I am writing again. So I got sick last week...sore throat no voice....still have no voice and a great cough a week later...don't sleep much because I am coughing, pero [but] life is still good. We are still doing the work and people are still listening to my raspy cough ridden tagalog. Yes we were hit with the Typhoon, it was a scale 2 (whatever that means) and we went out to work, thank heavens for crocks because there was a lot a lot of rain and water. Then at night it was upped to a scale 3 and Sis M just said it was a little rain, so we didn't shut our windows or anything...bad idea. She sleeps on the floor by the door my bed is right under 3 windows...ya scariest night of my life. Wind, rain, tree limbs hitting the house, lightening. I don't think I have ever prayed harder for my investigators in their little huts or my ears to stop hearing the tremendous noise. Wednesday was interesting no one wanted to listen to us because there was so much to clean up. We didn't have water for 2 1/2 days and power until Saturday. That was fun, we planned by candlelight.
We went to the temple this morning, we got up in the wee hours of the morning to take a jeepni to White planes before 6 for the first session. We got there and the session was full of other missionaries, only 33 people per session, so we waited. Even though the clothes there don't really fit and everything is short, it is still the House of the Lord and it made me miss home more than ever. Yes I am still struggling with the homesickness thing. Well after that we went bowling in Tanay, which is like a 2 1/2 hour jeep ride, they pack us like sardines and it is hot and sometimes you just cant help but laugh. There is a joke, I don't remember if I told you it already. How many people can you fit on a jeepni? Isa pa (one more) always isa pa. There are times when there are so many people jammed in there that when they take corners everyone has to sway because one person does. Awesome. I don't think I will ever complain about riding in a car again, still feel queezy after almost every ride, some of the elders say that they still feel sick even after 2 years of riding them...so I am not too worried,
As for the work, I can understand a lot more this week. I keep surprising myself by answering questions that they have asked, sometimes Sis M will translate and I will be like, wasn't that in English. I am still not convinced that it wasn't English. Who knows either way Tagalog is coming. 16 Days until Transfer Sis M reminds me of the days until transfer every day. Who knows what will happen. I assume I will stay in the area and she will leave, she says that most greenies stay in their first area for 6 month. 6 months...that seems like so long. Tomorrow is my 3 month make. Yeash.
Trek...I love trek, I am so excited that it is only a few days away. I remember it being hard but so fun, there are days when I am here hiking up a mountain trail in the rain, sliding down the hill as I try to get up it, getting covered in mud and sweat and I remember women's pull or that last day we had to circle around when I didn't know if I could take another step I was so tired and thirsty...but then it was over, and I was in a bus home with a paces popsicle. Well it helps me put another foot down and continue onward... I did it then I can endure now.
Our investigators didn't want to come to church this week, with the storm they just don't want to listen. Slightly frustrating, but I am hoping that this week they will remember what they felt while listening to our message and realize that they want the gospel in their lives.

I love you all.
Have a wonderful 24th of July, set some fireworks off for me.
Love,
Sis Jensen

Note: For those of you who are concerned, the cough/sore throat combination indicates a typical cold/flu situation and NOT tuberculosis or some other pernicious tropical disease. - Emily

Sorry LDS mail was not working yesterday

Sorry about not being able to write yesterday we did try, but the mail system would not let us on, so we got permission to write this morning.
Family,
What a week, a lot of firsts for me. I started to teach tracts, and parts of lessons, and I had my first splits with the sisters trainers, I got my first sunburn...its been a long week.
Well life is still hard and hot. I am trying to keep the faith and continue onward, trying to learn patience. Trying... For all of you who are wondering the heat is like you are in a sauna just after someone has poured a lot of water on the coals, all of your pores open and you sweat a lot, a lot. Pero [But] since it is rainy season the nights have cooled down and the mornings are nice, but if there are not clouds the afternoons really heat up. The Food is delicious for all you who have asked, nothing at all like what I ate in the states, they eat a lot of meat, and everything is fried. I have yet to try something I really don't like...well I didn't really like sardine soup, that was not my favorite. We do eat a lot of fish. And Rice is a must. They think I am weird for always eating tinapay bread! I miss my lead bread, wheat bread here is practically non-existent. The fruit is amazing though, I had a pineapple smoothie yesterday and the lady took the pineapple from the display washed it and chopped it up and put in the blender...amazing. The mangoes are huge and they eat them with salt, which I don't really like the salt part, but they are so sweet.
Well we had a lot of investigators come to church 10 of them, I was really excited. But there could always be so many more, we invite everyone we contact to come and everyone we teach. It is so sad when they are progressing and so we confirm a baptismal date with them, excited yes awesome, please continue coming to church, then they don't show up. The next week please come, please please come it is so important...then they again do not show up. This work is hard, it is asking people to change who they are and what they are used to. That is why the Spirit is the vital to this work.
We had a water fight for P-day yesterday with a combined district activity. It was fun but after we played basketball and I got sunburned. Not too bad I did put on sunscreen earlier that day but enough to be red last night, this morning I am just brown. Still feel super white, I have a feeling I am going to feel super white until I go home and look tan next to all of you, except for Clark, you tan child you.
Well that is about it for this week, not much new just still going. We have interviews with Pres. DeLeMare this Thursday so we need to get a lot of work done in the next few days to be able to meet our goals.
I love you all, thank you so much for all of your support.
Love,
Sister Rebecca Jensen

A few Photos from the MTC

Hera are a few of the photos Rebecca sent us from the MTC. We haven't seen any photos from the Philippines yet, but I'll put 'em up when they come!



Most missionaries pose with the MTC sign. This is classic.



Becky said that "This was the part of our zone that showed up for pictures.
Elder Northrup is indeed on the ground. Yep."



"Filipino Happy Birthday to Sis. McCormack."



The Sisters Jensen:
Sister Jensen, Sister Jensen, Sister Jensen, and Sister Jensen.
"These are really our heights, we were all tall, blondish, and blue-eyed!"



"Piesta! Party the night before the sisters left for the field.
Yes, lights were all out by 10:30 and quiet time was observed."




"Coordinating sisters!"
Sister Elwood was Rebecca's coordinating sister before Rebecca was the coordinating sister.
"She was the best coordinating sister I could have ever asked for."



"[Philippino] sentence structure review I wrote for Sister McCormack."




She was in District 2C. Can you tell?