Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Dear Family, 
   HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!
   It is a clear and freezing cold day. We had a very long appointment this morning and her house there was not a lot of heat and we froze, that is when I think I officially realized that we are in Michigan during an official winter. It has been very mild this year but we have been getting a little snow everyday for the past few days and it is finally cold enough that it is sticking.  
     Eryun told us last week that he would like to be baptized January 7th and we are going forward with that. His questions have been amazing lately, very detailed about what is happening in the Book of Mormon. Some of them are amazing. We have been reflecting lately on how the Gospel has helped him progress and to see how his English has improved so drastically in just 2 months is a testimony to me that God has great things in store for Eryun. When we met him neither of us could understand each other and now he is coming to church weekly and reading from the Book of Mormon and doing so many things that without the help of God would have been impossible. 
   Ryan and Lily had us over for dinner this past week. We talked about missionary work and they asked if they would need to go knock doors like we do. It was sweet. We talked to them about sharing the gospel with their friends and relatives and Ryan is very excited to share what he knows with others especially those in China one day. Ryan was able to recieve the Aaronic Priesthood on Sunday and be ordained to the office of Priest. He will do great things with that! They were also excited to hear that if they do serve a mission when they are older they are each others’ companions, they are very in love and it has been a blessing to be around such a wonderful couple. They left this week for Virginia with a promise that they will be in contact when they get there and that they will keep us updated when big events happen. Also when they are sealed I will be traveling to whichever temple they are sealed in. I love them so much, what a blessing it has been to watch them grow in the Gospel. 
  Steaven came to church this Sunday. We were not expecting him to come so when he walked in we were both very happy. He stayed for all three hours and called later Sunday night to tell us he enjoyed the service and that he would be coming again. We are going to pass him to the elders in the University ward this week. He is doing well and sincerely desires to learn more and to become better.
  Sister Bogar and Sister Baker went and taught Pedro while I was in Owosso, it went well. They started off talking about the Gospel of Jesus Christ but he had a lot of questions about the fall of Adam and Eve and so they covered part of the Plan of Salvation. We meet again with him this afternoon to pass him to the elders in the University ward we know that he will be well taken care of and his needs met. 
  Exchanges went well with Sister Thackeray last week. She was feeling a little overwhelmed at all the responsibility that she has had placed upon her. We spend a few hours out finding and we practiced in companion study. It was a lot of fun to be around her again and to see how far she has come in such a short time. It is amazing how much we grow then there is a need for it. 
  It is Sister Bogar's Birthday today. I feel a little bad since I won't even be here to help her celebrate, I leave for WMU this afternoon and don't get back until mid Thursday. It should be an adventure. I am just grateful that I don't have to drive. :D 
  New Years Eve was an adventure. We cleaned the baptismal font. It was embarrassing the last baptisms to have floaties...those are gone. The rest of the evening was not how I wanted it...I am glad that I only had one of those on my mission. 
  I made gingerbread bread yesterday and it turned out dry...it still tastes good but was super dry. I am wondering if it was our oven or what? I don't make it enough to know what happened to make it that way. When I get home I am going to experiment with a full kitchen...be warned. I also made banana bread for Sister Bogar's Birthday. Not quite cake but the Elders keep giving us bananas and I want to use them up before I leave and to my time is ticking. 
  I cannot believe how quickly January has come; it feels like it was just April. Time just moves faster and faster for me, Sister Bogar still says that it is agonizingly slow for her...oh the days of being new. We are still working on being better. The quote on the back of this planner is "In the search for our best selves, several questions will guide our thinking; Am I what I want to be? Am I closer to the Savor today than I was yesterday? Will I be closer yet tomorrow? Do I have the courage to change for the better?" -President Thomas S Monson 
  How true that is. 
I love you all.

Mahal ko po kayo

Sister Rebecca Jensen