Dear Family!!
Can I just start off by saying that life is amazing. I never thought that training or opening an area could be happier. I have never laughed and smiled more, and the best part I am honest to goodness happy. I think that I have finally lost myself in this service and I absolutely love it, I love talking to people on campus and walking with them to class just to talk to them a little longer. The realization came this week when Sister Keys was freaking out about talking to people and she asked me what it felt like...pause...meh...it just feels like I want to talk to them. Who am I???
Sister Keys and I eat healthy. She is a blessing as well since we both love fresh veggies and fruits and whole grains. We seriously have some awesome veggie wraps/sandwiches for lunches. It really is so much easier to eat well when your companion is eating healthy too. So yes Mom, I am getting fresh veggies.
This week we have almost hit standards, we have hit our 10 return appointments, 3 new investigators (happiness!!) and we are working on our 20 lessons, so far we only have 14 right now, but for having 1 set appointment last Sunday when we got home from Church all I can say is that I am so blessed and proud of the work that we have done. The Assistants are just fantastic, they were able to meet with Elder Jay E Jensen and President Hess this morning and they are just excited as all get out about the potential growth that can come from applying what they learned. I asked what it was and all they would say it that it is in the sealed portion. Sigh.
I got a hair cut today, 5 inches are gone and it feels lovely and like I am ready to fit in on a campus and not the jungles of the Philippines. I also made lots of banana bread, the Elders buy bananas and don't eat them and so I volunteered to turn their black squishy bananas into bread. Then Sister Keys made salsa and so our kitchen is a mix of sweet banana bread and cilantro. I tried to eat it but it still comes out tasting like soap.
We were able to gain some new investigators this week! First we have a girl named Paige Smith who is living at the Student Center and living with a less active. We had a meeting with Mary her roommate and there she was, as we came in and started talking she joined in the conversation and started to ask questions. We were able to teach the Restoration and give her a copy of the Book of Mormon. The Spirit was strong and the look in her face was very sincere about truly knowing. We meet with her again on Monday.
Tianshu from China, she has no christian background and yesterday we were able to start from the very basics and teach her who God is and what prayer to God is and what it can do for us. We were able to teach her in the institute and the Spirit was very powerful. She prayed for us at the close and I asked her what she felt and she smiled said and the words calm and happy, that summed up the experience. We are meeting with her again next Thursday. I am very excited to help her now understand who Jesus Christ is, she had some questions as we taught her how to pray like, who Jesus Christ was and why we needed to close in his name. We are also working with a language barrier there, but she is amazing.
Anwer from Egypt, he is Muslim and is more interested in just learning more about what we believe not joining, but we are still happy for someone willing to listen to our message.For now he is willing to make and keep commitments and it is helping us learn together as a companionship so we will continue to teach him while he is in America. He goes back to Egypt in October.
Last night was slightly crazy. While walking yesterday I got a sunburn on my neck and was glad that we were able to come in right on time and do our laundry so that we could get it done (yes we had permission to do it on Friday). I got a call from Elder Ransley saying that a member of the ward was in the Hospital and would it be alright if they picked us up early from tracting-no we don't have a car so yes they drive us a lot-we said yes and they came to get us around 8:40. We went to a hospital, it turned out the be the wrong hospital so we quickly drove to the right one. We got there a little before 9pm. Turns out the guy was intoxicated and is a member that often works with the Elders. I was seriously giddy to be in a hospital. The smell just sings work mode to my soul. I got some "you are crazy" looks from the Elders and Sister Keys. Luckily while they were slightly weird about going in and around the hospital I was able to help out a little, I think my happiness to be there made it a little easier for them to get comfortable a little quicker. We were able to talk about how we are Sons and daughters of God with a divine potential. I made us all sing his favorite hymn, which was Come Come ye saints. I love being a sister and being able to get away with things like that!! :D Long story short, it was amazing to see the skills and abilities that we have all been given and that as we all strengthen each other we can help others on the path home. The Spirit was strong and I am so grateful that I was able to see these Elders sincerely caring for a lost sheep. It was an awesome moment. We also got home past 10pm, we ran to get to bed but I had planned on doing laundry so my bed was already in the laundry basket. Needless to say for one reason or another I watched the hours of the night tick past...I couldn't sleep and I am still not sure why. We did get up at 4:30 to do laundry and then we went shopping at 6:55. Preparation days went from nice slow paced days to ones where we are running around and yet I still feel awake and ready to go to work. It is a conundrum and I am just going to say BLESSING and move on.
I wish you all luck at School this upcoming week. What an exciting time to be back in school learning. What a beautiful time of life. I am praying for you all, it was great to hear that everyone is plugging along. Well there are some I haven't heard from in a while and I am just going to assume from the silence that you are still the same and moving onward. If you ever get some time I would love a letter! HINT HINT. Those who write me, please know that I am so grateful for you.
Julie, awesome story for you. Well remember Turtle Troy that you sent me, well he his now our new professional investigator. Yes, we made him a name tag and all. He sits on my desk and we practice teach him in the mornings. He has also become the background for our phone. I love it! :D
We have trainings in Grand Rapids this Tuesday and Wednesday. I am SO excited, I love learning!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It is going to awesome, especially with all that President and the Assistants just learned from Elder Jay E Jensen. What a blessing it is to interact with such amazing priesthood leaders and to learn from them.
I know that this Church is true and that Jesus Christ lives. I know that our Heavenly Father is infinitely aware of every one of His children here upon the earth and that as we try our best He can use us as instruments in His hands.
with love,
Mahal ko po kayo.
Sister Jensen
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