Dear Family,
What a week it has been. We had zone conference, the musical number went well thank heavens. We learned a lot. The chicken we were supposed to eat for lunch wasn't cooked so that was interesting. The assistants have been crazy this week doing all of the zone conferences all around and they didn't really tell us the plans for shopping this morning. Lets just say that Sister Jensen was very frustrated and not the happiest person. Sigh. Life goes on. We had 6 investigators and Conference! What a blessing it is to have them be able to come and feel of the Spirit so strong. Many of them said that they finally felt what we have been trying to describe!
Danny is amazing. We met with him this week and taught him the restoration. He told us that he didn't know everything but that he trusted God to tell him when he was ready. When we closed we said a kneeling closing prayer and he said it, he paused after it was over and after a few seconds I asked him what he was feeling, he responded that he was feeling empty, not a bad empty, just clear, good. He was able to come to conference and he loved the talks about the importance of families and the management of time. Our ward already loves him and is taking great care of him.
Riu Le is a new investigator that came via referral. Sister Keys and I went to contact him one night, it was dark and rainy and cold. Blessed by the Lord we got off on the right buss stop and were able to walk there while only getting soaked. He was not home so we called the Elders for a ride, when they came we were convinced it must be after 9pm it was so dark and cold. Yup, when they dropped us off it was only a little past 8:30...awesome. We were able to meet with him later this week and teach him the restoration. He toured SLC temple square last week and they gave him a Chinese copy of the Book of Momon. We were able to give him an English copy and explain what the difference between our church and others is. The spirit was strong and we have a return appointment.
Xiao, Al, and Dexter all came to their lesson on Friday. We showed them the Restoration dvd in Chinese and afterwards talked about it. They were the ones who brought up baptism. So we talked about it and reset baptismal dates and talked to them about the process that would need to happen in order for them to be ready to be baptized November 12th. We went into that lesson thinking we were going to drop them and came away with solid baptismal dates and happiness. They were also able to come to Conference and they talked about how they felt the Spirit. For the first time they actually connected what we were talking about the Spirit to the actual feeling of the Spirit!!!
Hiva went to priesthood session and Sunday morning session of General Conference. He loved the talk by Tad Callister about the Book of Mormon and when we asked him what he thought about that he replied "Its true." Last week we showed him the Restoration DVD and talked about why Joseph Smith is so important.. He said that he was still waiting for those strong feelings that he gets when he feel really sad/bad and prays, he wants those strong feelings as his answer. We talked about the Spirit and how it works and the different ways we feel it, on Sunday he said that he was feeling the Spirit more! HUZZAH!!!!
Grace is doing so well. She is so excited for her baptism her energy is contagious. She went home for the weekend and when I called and talked to her last night she sounded just as excited! Catherine and Ashley have been fantastic fellowshippers and friends to Grace. It has been a great help to know that they are calling and talking to Grace out of love and a desire to see her progress. We taught her about prophets last week and she seemed to teach us, she is just fantastic, what a blessing to be teaching her.
Training 3 companions is going well. A little stressful at times when appointments change or cancel and then we have no clue what to do with that companionship. Thankfully we have been very blessed last week to have many appointments and many new investigators which are making this week look a little more full. We are having trouble finding appointments for the new sisters to go to at night and we have 1 dinner appointment all week. I think that our members are feeling a little drained. I hope that something will work out and we will be able set up appointments for the night. Nights are the hardest since we can't go contacting after dark and it really is not safe to walk to apartments to door knock. I am just at a loss of what to do, but that is what prayer is for. I know that things will come up, we will be able to find the right things to do.
We were able to watch all the sessions of conference! It was beautiful. Actually I was not homesick for this one, last October I cried through the entire thing, this time I was a little more occupied with investigators and trainees to even notice really that the days are flying past and that I am not at home. I do miss you all, don't get me wrong, I am just a little busy. Thank you for the conference package, it was lovely.
We have a new morning schedule to make sure that everyone is up and doing exercise. It is inspired really. We get up at 5:53 and pray until 6 then we exercise until 6:30 after that we get exactly 10 min in the shower and have breakfast at 7:30. Those who are not getting ready get time for extra study, which is lovely since our personal study is now 30 min BOM and 30 min PMG scripture chains. It has helped unify the companionship. Also I got to lead everyone in sun salutations, Sister Keys lead us in random stretches with a promise of Richard Simmons type exercise next turn. The person who leads the exercise is the person to shower first. I tell you inspired.
Well I think that concludes this weeks activities. The church is still true! Please continue to pray for me and my companions...we need all the prayer that we can get.
I finally figured out how the apostles and prophets and mission presidents and leaders are able to work so hard for so long and still keep going. Its called LOVE! Amazingly simple yet so profound isn't it. With love and charity that desire to help others becomes the priority and when our priorities are in line we are given power from God and with that power and love comes the energy to do the work that needs to be done. Fantastic!!!!!!
Enjoy the fall weather.
Mahal ko po kayo!
ingat,
Sister Rebecca Jensen
P.S. we were told this week the the Mission Office had our address wrong on a page of forwarding stickers, that has since been corrected. If you sent a letter and it was returned, please try again it has been corrected. I am hoping this is why there has been a great dearth of letters. If not, know I love you anyway and that with or without letters the work goes on.
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