Dear Family,
It is good to hear that everyone is still alive and doing well.
How was the first week for School for everyone? I feel a little out of the loop at the moment.
This week has been a trial and a half. You know when you finally feel like you have your feet under you that something is going to change so that more growth can occur. Well that was this week. Monday we were at a dinner appointment and we were told that we were not having training until September, but then Sister Keys was sad because she wouldn't see Sister Jones (they are seriously BFFLs as they say it) so the assistants got thinking and decided that if we went with the other Zones that there would be an even number of companionships and life would just work out happier. So we were last minute moved to the trainings in Grand Rapids. I was not that excited since many of my missionary friends will be at the one in Mt Pleasant. We drove down on Tuesday with President and Sister Hess. They are very spiritual, even in the car. Sister Hess read us a story out of a church book about Sam Hannah, the guy who translated the Book of Mormon back into some Islamic language. It was very interesting. Then on the way home they took us to Costco. I didn't know were would be going there so I didn't have much cash on me so I just bought a box of flat fruit. The set up to that Costco is identical to the one in Bountiful. The only difference was where the bread is there was a ton of alcohol and the bread was up front by the flowers. It felt so weird walking out of there and going back to work. For the second day of training we just rode in the Assistants' truck. They were reviewing what they would be teaching that day and we learned a lot about the Book of Mormon. I love learning so much so fast. Trainings are blessings.
The actual training was good. Sister Jones and Sister Keys were like two peas in a pod, their anxiety attacks were both grand and they helped each other get through parts of them. It was slightly funny yet way too stressful at the same time. I have never actually seen someone freak out mid training, usually they are very spiritual meetings. Finding is a tender topic though. My companion I thought was doing okay until a little before the end of the second session she just all of a sudden burst into tears. Who knew. Ever since training there have been a lot more anxiety attacks and a lot more tears and frustration. I am not sure if that is because of spending time around Sister Jones, feeding off of her tense energy and then being taken away again or if it is just overwhelm mode. I have tried to stay patient and understanding but there are things that I just don't get. There are things that I just don't know how to help. I have been spending a lot of time on my knees, and with the church carpet in our apartment my knees look terrible by my soul feels more calm.
Sigh.
President Hess is SO EXCITED about MSU, seriously excited about the 46000 potential investigators that will be walking around campus for the next few months. I am so grateful that I get to serve here, that he and the Lord trust me so much with helping in this area. It is quite a big thing if you think about it. Luckily I am blessed with a great companion who is trying and Elder DeHart and Ransley who are always willing to help. After our terrible day finding...long story...just not a happy day...they called and asked how things were going, from the long pause on my end I figure they knew something was up. After hearing my story they scheduled right there to meet us Monday and help Sister Keys and I. My trouble is that I want to talk to everyone and Sister Keys doesn't want to talk to anyone. If the people look away she will stop talking or just not talk at all because they are not interested. That has lead to some frustration. But she is trying and I am so grateful for that.
The Diversity here is so amazing. Remember how I thought that I was going to be bland my entire life, BYU and the Philippines are just not the places for diversity. But the MSU campus is!! We teaching/have taught and met people from China (all around Asia-except the Philippines haven't seen any of them yet), Brazil, Russia (not sure where but somewhere in that direction) the list goes on but I do have the say that the Brazilians understand more English and they seem to radiate happiness when we talk to them about God, its fantastic. I guess being on one of the largest campus' in the world has its cultural benefits.
I have been teaching Sister Keys and the Assistants Tagalog. It has been fun. Greetings are strictly Tagalog now and the only word Sister Keys can remember is Ayos (fine or great) and the only word the Elders can remember is Mabuti (good). I get a good laugh, which I think is worth it.
We are participating in Sparticipation on Tuesday, like a serious of clubs with booths. Please pray that it goes well, there are a lot of things that we don't know about with that and I am a little unsure of what it is going to turn out like.
I think that is about it for this week. It has just flown past. I am still trying to just take one day at a time, there are tired and slow days but before I know it another week has past.
I love you all.
Mahal ko po kayong lahat!!
Ingat,
Sister Rebecca Jensen
PS a BFFL is a Best Friend For Life.
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