Magandang araw na ito‏ (Good day)

Kumusta ang Family ko,

I am glad to say that I have made it another week here in Michigan!! Nothing like snow in April. I am now driving our car to help give Sister Miner a break since she has been doing a lot of driving lately, please pray for me. We had a little off-roading incident trying to find a less active yesterday, I never want to repeat it in a car, muddy roads with deep grooves are made for trucks and those wishing to get dirty. I do have to say that I had heavenly help as I drove through that...well less than drivable road.

HAPPY PHILIPPINES 50th Anniversary of the Church!!!!! I am not going to lie, today the emotions are high. I have awaited this day since I found out I was going to the Philippines and to not be there in celebration with them is really hard. I am grateful that I have the opportunity to be back out on a mission as this day passes. Yes mom I made Sister Miner eat a mango with me this week (it was her first one!).

This week has been interesting, we have found more members home and been able to teach them. I am so thankful that we have the Spirit to help us accomplish this work, these people have so many trails in their life I am glad that I can testify that the Savior knows what they are going through and that their Heavenly Father is aware of them. I have noticed that since this area has so many different churches and a lot of people have gone to so many of them in their life times that there is a lot of "spiritual static" as Elder Sweatfield likes to call it. They have a hard time remembering what is the truth and taught in this gospel and everything else.

We met with our Branch Council on Sunday and were met with a lot of discouraged people when it comes to reactivating the less active and finding those that are ready. Sister Miner and I have been praying that we can find a way to infuse this branch with hope and excitement for the work that needs to be done in this branch. We have an idea and are praying that as we do some "tweaking" this week that they will be ready for our plan when we meet again May 8th. Please pray for us!

For part of the week we actually stay at the Sweatfields' house in Grayling. It has been interesting to see what a Senior Couple does in this mission and to talk with them about what they have seen and hear their insights. I have really enjoyed getting to know them, they are incredibly kind and such a wonderful example. I seriously cannot wait until I am at the point in my life when I can bring my eternal companion on a mission with me...yes the work is hard for them as well but it looks like they have such fun doing it together and helping each other grow in understanding and faith. Amazing.

Easter was lovely. Mom thank you for sending a little Easter gift to share with Sister Miner, she appreciated it. I am also grateful for my first piece of mail, a card from you mom. I am so glad to finally look in that mail box and see a letter. I miss the old way of getting letters, twice a transfer at district meetings...

I am adjusting to the differences of this mission, there are somethings that I miss a lot and others I was happy to see changed. I was happy to hand write our presidents letters, but as it turns out they changed it this week to using imos again. At least I am used to it :)

There is a member that other missionaries have had trouble getting into the house, we went to go see her twice this week she let us in both times. She also gave us cotton candy and fed us dinner the second time. She says that I remind her of one of her close friends and her daughter loves me, I am glad that I have been accepted and hope that I can lead them back to activity. While I was there this week I had a feeling of peace and assurance that I needed to be there with them at that time. I miss the Philippines greatly but I am so thankful that the Spirit is helping assure me that this is where I am needed.

I love you all and hope that you have a marvelous week.

I cannot wait to hear from you next week. Stay safe, and healthy please.

Everyone should go eat a mango or banana today in celebration of the Jubliee.

Mahal ko po kayo!!

Ingat,

Sister Rebecca Jensen

Hello from a very cold Michigan‏

Dear Family,

Thank you for your e-mails this week, I am going to admit that I do miss home. But then again I was the one that wanted to come back out here and finish what I started. I am serving up in the Gaylord (said Gaylerd) and Grayling areas. We spend part of the week at our apartment here in Gaylord and the rest of the week living with the Sweatfields down in Grayling. The branch building is close to our apartment up here though, it is tiny.

My companion is Sister Miner, she is from Alaska, loves to swim and spend time with her family. She loves to talk, laugh, and have fun. These past few weeks have been really hard on her with her companion going home after only a week in a new area, so we are basically white washed since they weren't able to spend time working in the area with the other sister needing interviews and to leave asap... There are 8 sisters in this mission, including me, the ones I have meet are all under 5'6" so I feel right at home in the mission. I am co-seniors with Sister Miner wich is fun since we both are not quite sure what this area needs or what there really is for us here, but President Jones has promised both of us that there is a reason that we are together and in this area it is up to us to find out what.

I have a feeling that someday I am going to be very grateful for this change in missionary perspective, I started in a mission field that was white and very ready to be harvested, we rarely were rejected on the first visit, we could teach 20 lessons a day and 70 lessons a week. We had baptisms often and rejoiced with the many other missionaries that we served with. Here we are few and far between as missionaries and members. I was told this week that this is the lowest baptizing mission in the US and that our mission standards look at what our daily goals did in the Philippines. I went from one of the top 5 to the lowest, what a change it has been. We have been out tracting this week and I have been told "NO" so many times, doors slam, we are ignored, no one waves, its cold, we walk through snow, every appointment but one has canceled or not been home when we came to visit. I am struggling to make the transition, it feels like such a shock from what I have been used to doing.

I did get to the mission just fine, I sat next to a lady who works at the MTC on the way to Detroit, with a guy that graduated from Viewmont and BYU sitting behind us. It was a set a fun conversations. I was glad that I took my backpack with my spirit braid on it, that was fun. The Detroit airport was awesome, someday I am taking you all to the tunnel of randomness and music, talk about weird, yet cool. After the plane got in I walked down the stairs and there was President and Sister Jones, the AP's with a big Michigan Lansing Mission sign and 3 sister missionaries. We got pictures, they picked up my luggage (the Elders were surprised and commented that "wow you packed light") happiness :) Then we went to dinner...that was not too fun, needless to say I had a water and a plain baked potato...after that we went to the mission home to drop the other sisters off at their car and to show us around. They also gave me a can of oats, almonds, apples, bananas, and some clementines, very appreciated by me these past few days. Then we took the drive up to Gaylord, it started to snow a lot, the roads were covered, being a missionary and having your mission president drive in snow somehow makes it less scary. We did watch the car in front of us spin wildly out of control do a 360 and end in the ditch. That was not fun to watch. Well we got home, I unpacked, we planned, our District leader called (turns out I met him in the MTC) and we finally went to bed.

It snowed most of Wednesday, so I am ever so grateful that I brought my boots. Thursday we had interviews with President Jones. He promised me that we would work out a release date close to my last one, he had not been told that I was expecting to go home before next spring. I am glad I brought it up. I also get to study Tagalog 30 min a day, he told me that I should teach Sister Miner some. I wasn't sure if he was half kidding about that or not, but I guess not since Sister Miner after her interview has been trying to learn some Tagalog words daily. I taught her some of the basics, kumusta, maganda, salamat. I miss teaching and tracting in it, yet it was hard but now English just sounds so awkward and bulky it doesn't flow as Tagalog once did.

We drive a 2010 Malibu, and yes thank heavens we have a GPS system which has saved us many times. I can't imagine trying to figure these roads without it. President did say that I could drive, but the senior sisters in the office said that I will need to wait 6 weeks first. Fine by me, I really don't have a desire to drive.

I am feeling well, a little tired and dazed but I was so grateful that I could spend my year mark in the field that was a hard enough day serving in a different mission. I am glad that I didn't have to try that one at home. I am hoping April 30th the day of the Jubilee we can find something to keep us super busy because my heart still grieves at the thought of missing it.

We write hand written letters to President, also a plus, more time to think about it, we don't have to squeeze family e-mails between quickly typed letters to the President.

I know that the Church is true, I know that everything we go through it for a reason. There are things that happen to us that make no sense, still don't but somewhere, someday they will make sense and we will be grateful that we were blessed with them. I am just trusting that there is a purpose for me up here, and that as long as I do my best and love the Lord things will work out.

Mahal ko po kayo!!

Sister Rebecca Jensen

Mission, Part 2

For those of you who don't already know, Sister Jensen is Sister Jensen once again - or will be shortly. She's feeling much better, and has received a new mission call! She will complete her mission in the Lansing Michigan Mission!

She leaves directly for the mission field on Tuesday, April 19.

Please write to her at her new address:

1500 Abbott Road, Suite 110

East Lansing, MI 48823

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