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.
Monday, August 29, 2011
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Welcome to the Good Life!!
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
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
Saturday, August 13, 2011
I feel like I am living a Preach My Gospel movie
FAMILY,
So I am currently sitting in the East Lansing Public Library with Sister Keys and Sister Miner and the Assistants. We really do work closely with them, as in we have a million questions which they have been having fun answering for me the past few days. Sister Keys believe it or not is the niece of the lady who was getting her hair cut at the same time I was back in April. Which means that I had already heard about Sister Keys before I met her, and she had heard about me as well. Blessings.
Sister Miner gets picked up at 1pm by her parents and grandma, needless to say she is SO excited. I honestly can't blame her. I spent Tuesday with the missionaries who were leaving -no I am not trunky in the least- but it shocked me how some here counting down the hours until they could play video games or wear shorts. There were also some that looked tired but they were so full of the Spirit, they were sad to leave the mission but ready to move toward the future. Missionaries like Elder Curley and Swapp and Wood were great examples when I first came out here. I love how the mission life is always changing, we are always growing and learning from those around us.I love how we get to learn from and work so closely with our District, Zone leaders and the Assistants, I have learned a lot about how the mission is run. Someday all of this knowledge will be useful.
The apartment is the most gorgeous apartment I have ever stayed in, it is owned and run by the church so it looks and feels like a church. Blessings! It is new and clean and has central air and mattresses that are comfortable, a shower and sinks that don't say ewww all over them. I really feel more like I am living a surreal life than my own at the moment. We pushed our desks together so they are facing each other so when we study we can see each other. PMG movies always have their desks like this which I have always thought was cool but none of my companions would ever try it out with me. Until now that is. I love training! I am constantly trying to ask myself if that were me how would I feel, or how would I need it explained. Keeping her up to date on what I expect has lead to happiness and no homesickness or problems so far!!! Blessings again.
Sister Keys in from Sandy and she was a nanny before she came out on a mission. She went to SLCC and doesn't quite know what she wants to do with her life yet. She has amazingly cute clothes and accessories which make me feel like an old seasoned missionary, it also reminds me of a time when I was the one with the colors and cutes. How times change. I am glad that we get along so well, she eats healthy and she loves to be clean and well pressed. Which makes my life so easy. I really just can't say enough how blessed I am!! She is also the first companion I have had that is younger than I am, her birthday is November 12. Again weird to feel like I am one of the older Sisters in the mission but there are only 4 of us who have been out for more than 2 transfers, all the rest of the sisters in this mission are new. Probably why the new training should leave these sisters ready to train themselves. That is the vision of what they need to become and we have a desire to reach that.
We live in a YSA Ward and they love us. We are a new novelty. We have been left gifts at our door just about every time we go out of the house. Pots and pans, laundry soap for the new high tech complex machines which are free (blessing) knives, toaster, cups, plates, you name it we have found it at our door with a note saying how excited they are to have us in the ward. I have never been so welcomed into a ward before, I am left every night feeling just a great love for the people and for this work that I am blessed to do in this area.
Campus is massive, there are going to be about 52,000 people here in the fall. It is one of the largest campus' in the country. Luckliy, I have been able to get a hold of the campus pretty quickly and after pouring over the maps nightly I am feeling a little more prepared. We figure that there are 520 people ready for baptism on campus and we with the assistants have a goal to see 25 baptisms by January 1. It is a high goal but we feel motivated and good about it so we will reach for it, even if we don't make it we will have at least grown in the process.
There is a new 12 week training program, they started doing a type of this in the Philippines when I was there so the whole idea is not foreign to me. Funny how much the first part of my mission has really prepared to me serve here. The Lord works in mysterious ways, someday I hope to understand maybe just a little bit better how my life is turning out the way it is, because really I am so very very blessed.
My new address for the next 3 months will be
I know that this church is true and that Christ lives! I know that God is our loving Heavenly Father and that even with all of life's little annoyances we can still feel of His love and guidance daily.
I love you all.
Mahal ko po kayo!
Sister Jensen
"Big things are accomplished only through the perfection of minor details." John Whitman
So I am currently sitting in the East Lansing Public Library with Sister Keys and Sister Miner and the Assistants. We really do work closely with them, as in we have a million questions which they have been having fun answering for me the past few days. Sister Keys believe it or not is the niece of the lady who was getting her hair cut at the same time I was back in April. Which means that I had already heard about Sister Keys before I met her, and she had heard about me as well. Blessings.
Sister Miner gets picked up at 1pm by her parents and grandma, needless to say she is SO excited. I honestly can't blame her. I spent Tuesday with the missionaries who were leaving -no I am not trunky in the least- but it shocked me how some here counting down the hours until they could play video games or wear shorts. There were also some that looked tired but they were so full of the Spirit, they were sad to leave the mission but ready to move toward the future. Missionaries like Elder Curley and Swapp and Wood were great examples when I first came out here. I love how the mission life is always changing, we are always growing and learning from those around us.I love how we get to learn from and work so closely with our District, Zone leaders and the Assistants, I have learned a lot about how the mission is run. Someday all of this knowledge will be useful.
The apartment is the most gorgeous apartment I have ever stayed in, it is owned and run by the church so it looks and feels like a church. Blessings! It is new and clean and has central air and mattresses that are comfortable, a shower and sinks that don't say ewww all over them. I really feel more like I am living a surreal life than my own at the moment. We pushed our desks together so they are facing each other so when we study we can see each other. PMG movies always have their desks like this which I have always thought was cool but none of my companions would ever try it out with me. Until now that is. I love training! I am constantly trying to ask myself if that were me how would I feel, or how would I need it explained. Keeping her up to date on what I expect has lead to happiness and no homesickness or problems so far!!! Blessings again.
Sister Keys in from Sandy and she was a nanny before she came out on a mission. She went to SLCC and doesn't quite know what she wants to do with her life yet. She has amazingly cute clothes and accessories which make me feel like an old seasoned missionary, it also reminds me of a time when I was the one with the colors and cutes. How times change. I am glad that we get along so well, she eats healthy and she loves to be clean and well pressed. Which makes my life so easy. I really just can't say enough how blessed I am!! She is also the first companion I have had that is younger than I am, her birthday is November 12. Again weird to feel like I am one of the older Sisters in the mission but there are only 4 of us who have been out for more than 2 transfers, all the rest of the sisters in this mission are new. Probably why the new training should leave these sisters ready to train themselves. That is the vision of what they need to become and we have a desire to reach that.
We live in a YSA Ward and they love us. We are a new novelty. We have been left gifts at our door just about every time we go out of the house. Pots and pans, laundry soap for the new high tech complex machines which are free (blessing) knives, toaster, cups, plates, you name it we have found it at our door with a note saying how excited they are to have us in the ward. I have never been so welcomed into a ward before, I am left every night feeling just a great love for the people and for this work that I am blessed to do in this area.
Campus is massive, there are going to be about 52,000 people here in the fall. It is one of the largest campus' in the country. Luckliy, I have been able to get a hold of the campus pretty quickly and after pouring over the maps nightly I am feeling a little more prepared. We figure that there are 520 people ready for baptism on campus and we with the assistants have a goal to see 25 baptisms by January 1. It is a high goal but we feel motivated and good about it so we will reach for it, even if we don't make it we will have at least grown in the process.
There is a new 12 week training program, they started doing a type of this in the Philippines when I was there so the whole idea is not foreign to me. Funny how much the first part of my mission has really prepared to me serve here. The Lord works in mysterious ways, someday I hope to understand maybe just a little bit better how my life is turning out the way it is, because really I am so very very blessed.
My new address for the next 3 months will be
4912 S Hagadorn Road
East Lansing, MI 48823.
What an awesome road name! Also we don't have a car so we ride with the Assistants a lot and we take the BUS. Crazy, I am actually using a bus. Who knew that taking classes in the SLC center which caused me to use the bus would also come in handy now. Really I feel that I have been so prepared for this assignment, we are going to see miracles. Yes the work is still hard, don't worry I fully feel the weight of this calling I am just saying that in the process of finding more about this area and walking around talking to people the feeling of peace and preparation is just overwhelming.
East Lansing, MI 48823.
I know that this church is true and that Christ lives! I know that God is our loving Heavenly Father and that even with all of life's little annoyances we can still feel of His love and guidance daily.
I love you all.
Mahal ko po kayo!
Sister Jensen
"Big things are accomplished only through the perfection of minor details." John Whitman
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Opening an area, training... No stress
I have 5 minutes, the main library is closed and the public library only gives you 30 min and writing to president took a little too long. I am so sorry.
Here are the quick highlights, transfer calls came at 11:57 yesterday and I will be opening Michigan State University down in East Lansing and while doing that I will also be training a new sister missionary. I will be sharing the area with the Assistants to the President.
I have been praying lately to reach a new high so that after my mission I will have a lot to reach. I don't know if that makes sense but I don't have time to explain. Well I think that this opportunity will indeed help me grow and learn and reach a new high. I feel a lot of peace which is great since I think normal me would be freaking out. Nope just happy as a clam. although I did burn the palm of my hand pretty well today trying to cook breakfast. Good thing we had Popsicles that I held all during studies.
I will transfer on Tuesday and serve with Sister Miner until her family comes to pick her up on Saturday. Please pray that she does not make my trainee homesick or me trunky. I am a little worried about that since she was so trunky when I served with her in Gaylord.
I am really out of time. I love you all and am praying for you all!!
Here are the quick highlights, transfer calls came at 11:57 yesterday and I will be opening Michigan State University down in East Lansing and while doing that I will also be training a new sister missionary. I will be sharing the area with the Assistants to the President.
I have been praying lately to reach a new high so that after my mission I will have a lot to reach. I don't know if that makes sense but I don't have time to explain. Well I think that this opportunity will indeed help me grow and learn and reach a new high. I feel a lot of peace which is great since I think normal me would be freaking out. Nope just happy as a clam. although I did burn the palm of my hand pretty well today trying to cook breakfast. Good thing we had Popsicles that I held all during studies.
I will transfer on Tuesday and serve with Sister Miner until her family comes to pick her up on Saturday. Please pray that she does not make my trainee homesick or me trunky. I am a little worried about that since she was so trunky when I served with her in Gaylord.
I am really out of time. I love you all and am praying for you all!!
Saturday, July 30, 2011
We Live in Sodom and Gomorrah
Dear Family,
So we have come to another Saturday in the year of 2011 which means that I am still in Mount Pleasant still working hard as a missionary and nothing new has really happened this week. Yun lang.
Well we did have some fun stories this week. We have been preparing to teach one of our investigators the LOC [Law of Chastity] because she is homosexual and well what do you know when we went to another investigator to talk about the Gospel of Jesus Christ she came out and told us she was in a homosexual relationship and that other female that we have seen around the house is not her sister its her...well girl friend. I felt sick to my stomach when she said that, but luckily the Lord had prepared us to teach the LOC to a homosexual sister so we were prepared. Also I carry a small copy of the Proclamation to the World on the Family and we read some of that with her. The Spirit was strong so there was a lot for her to process, we go back next Thursday and she will tell us when she has decided. We were also able to teach the LOC to the one we were planning, many tears were shed and at the end we scheduled another appointment but after the closing prayer and through more tears she asked us not to come back, that we are at an impasse because she does not believe that this lifestyle is a sin. Can I just say I do not understand this problem at all and I never want to, guys are awesome, enough said.
Other than that huge blow to us, having Julz drop us after almost 3 months of lesson and us knowing that she has received a confirmation that this Gospel is true, we picked ourselves up and dusted ourselves off and went right back to work. We have been able to hit/ go above mission standards for the past month. The only thing that we have been missing is the goal of 1 baptism per month. We are working on one for August. Brittany Abbott is progressing beautifully. She came to church and stayed all 3 hours and came to our ward Family Home Evening and brought her younger sister. She enjoyed the program and she was fellowshipped by our YSA and stayed playing Volleyball with them even after we left! She is reading a couple pages from the Book of Mormon each night and is in 2 Nephi. Brittany is starting to light up with the Gospel and it is wonderful to see and feel. We were able to meet with her and teach her the Plan of Salvation, and talk about the requirements for baptism. We meet with her again tonight!
Brother and Sister Chubb are doing well, they are both home and even though they have a lot of Doctors appointments they are still in good spirits. We have been over a few times this week to cut up some cantelopes for them. We are working on getting Sister Chubb converted strong enough so that when Sister Missionaries leave the area she will not go inactive again.
I really don't know what else to say. We are very tired. We had a slight change of schedule today we went and played Gator ball with the YSA/Elders this morning. I think I might have found a new favorite, it is like tag/ultimate frisbee/soccer all mixed into one. You start with a soccer ball played with your hands until someone drops in then it is played like soccer. It was an intense game, completely awesome. Then we washed our car, which I do have to say is all shiny and happily clean and waxed. Then I mopped the floor while Sister Wright got ready and well here we are. Luckily the house is clean I just need to write a million letters to people before I can rest. Oh well getting mail at the end of a long day is worth the sacrifice of rest.
Also this week I have seen more band students practicing than I have in my entire life. They are everywhere. That little metronome things keeps going off, we hear drums just about all day. It makes me feel like I am at a parade. I quite enjoy it actually, listening to the drums and the horns just blare onwards. Nothing like a marching band to give you some energy.
This week I taught Sister Wright Tagalog sentence structure and if I give her a sentence and the verb type/verb she is able to write it out. What a blessing it is to be able to teach tagalog. It makes me so sad that in our prayers I am starting to pause more in Tagalog and flow more in English. Weird as it may sound that really makes me sad. I am not sure why I get this wonderful opportunity/trial/blessing/ulg but here I am and I am trying to make the best of it.
I think that is about is for this week, I am glad to hear that everyone is doing well and that most of you were able to get up to tail lake. Summer wouldn't be right without at least one trip down to tail lake. Keep up the good work everyone. I love you all.
Mahal ko po kayo.
Sister Jensen
So we have come to another Saturday in the year of 2011 which means that I am still in Mount Pleasant still working hard as a missionary and nothing new has really happened this week. Yun lang.
Well we did have some fun stories this week. We have been preparing to teach one of our investigators the LOC [Law of Chastity] because she is homosexual and well what do you know when we went to another investigator to talk about the Gospel of Jesus Christ she came out and told us she was in a homosexual relationship and that other female that we have seen around the house is not her sister its her...well girl friend. I felt sick to my stomach when she said that, but luckily the Lord had prepared us to teach the LOC to a homosexual sister so we were prepared. Also I carry a small copy of the Proclamation to the World on the Family and we read some of that with her. The Spirit was strong so there was a lot for her to process, we go back next Thursday and she will tell us when she has decided. We were also able to teach the LOC to the one we were planning, many tears were shed and at the end we scheduled another appointment but after the closing prayer and through more tears she asked us not to come back, that we are at an impasse because she does not believe that this lifestyle is a sin. Can I just say I do not understand this problem at all and I never want to, guys are awesome, enough said.
Other than that huge blow to us, having Julz drop us after almost 3 months of lesson and us knowing that she has received a confirmation that this Gospel is true, we picked ourselves up and dusted ourselves off and went right back to work. We have been able to hit/ go above mission standards for the past month. The only thing that we have been missing is the goal of 1 baptism per month. We are working on one for August. Brittany Abbott is progressing beautifully. She came to church and stayed all 3 hours and came to our ward Family Home Evening and brought her younger sister. She enjoyed the program and she was fellowshipped by our YSA and stayed playing Volleyball with them even after we left! She is reading a couple pages from the Book of Mormon each night and is in 2 Nephi. Brittany is starting to light up with the Gospel and it is wonderful to see and feel. We were able to meet with her and teach her the Plan of Salvation, and talk about the requirements for baptism. We meet with her again tonight!
Brother and Sister Chubb are doing well, they are both home and even though they have a lot of Doctors appointments they are still in good spirits. We have been over a few times this week to cut up some cantelopes for them. We are working on getting Sister Chubb converted strong enough so that when Sister Missionaries leave the area she will not go inactive again.
I really don't know what else to say. We are very tired. We had a slight change of schedule today we went and played Gator ball with the YSA/Elders this morning. I think I might have found a new favorite, it is like tag/ultimate frisbee/soccer all mixed into one. You start with a soccer ball played with your hands until someone drops in then it is played like soccer. It was an intense game, completely awesome. Then we washed our car, which I do have to say is all shiny and happily clean and waxed. Then I mopped the floor while Sister Wright got ready and well here we are. Luckily the house is clean I just need to write a million letters to people before I can rest. Oh well getting mail at the end of a long day is worth the sacrifice of rest.
Also this week I have seen more band students practicing than I have in my entire life. They are everywhere. That little metronome things keeps going off, we hear drums just about all day. It makes me feel like I am at a parade. I quite enjoy it actually, listening to the drums and the horns just blare onwards. Nothing like a marching band to give you some energy.
This week I taught Sister Wright Tagalog sentence structure and if I give her a sentence and the verb type/verb she is able to write it out. What a blessing it is to be able to teach tagalog. It makes me so sad that in our prayers I am starting to pause more in Tagalog and flow more in English. Weird as it may sound that really makes me sad. I am not sure why I get this wonderful opportunity/trial/blessing/ulg but here I am and I am trying to make the best of it.
I think that is about is for this week, I am glad to hear that everyone is doing well and that most of you were able to get up to tail lake. Summer wouldn't be right without at least one trip down to tail lake. Keep up the good work everyone. I love you all.
Mahal ko po kayo.
Sister Jensen
Monday, July 18, 2011
Wax on, wax off
Hello Family!!!
What another week it has been here in Mount Pleasant. Can I just say that we are exhausted and we got up early yesterday for interviews in Midland and today to wax our car. I have now waxed a car, to be honest it is kind of fun.
Interviews were amazing. We got a call Thursday night from our Zone Leaders asking us to card into their apartment and bring their area book to Midland with us, they were there early for a Stake Coordination meeting. It is a good thing that I had a spare card and we were able to get their area book. The door opened for me without any problems on the first try. What a strange blessing and skill to have!! President Hess wanted to review our area books with us during interviews, so it was a good thing that everyone had theirs. We also did 100 miles of driving yesterday and it was not my driving day...I got pretty car sick. It was not in any way shape or form fun, but the work goes on even if we are car sick, and dizzy, and completely tired. Good times.
Sister Wright and I were able to meet the standards of excellence again. It has taken everything out of us to do so, we have worked harder than ever to reach those goals. We have sacrificed a lot, yet in the long run probably not a lot, it just seems like a lot because we are here and now living it and giving it up.
My interview with President Hess was awesome. Can I just say that I am so grateful to come from an awesome family. No matter where I am in the world I seem to come across people who know the Jensen family and they love them. This case was no different. Dad, I am glad that while you work you do so in an honest and respectful manner. Grandma Jensen you too. President Hess says to tell you all hello. The overall feeling of that interview was "expect good things" I am not sure what those things will be, but over and over that is what has been said and what comes to mind.
We were able to go visit Sandy and Linda up in the Country Senior Living Center. I love these dear sisters. We just met them last week and they were so happy to see us again. Linda had the idea that we read from the Restoration pamphlet and talk about it at each of our visits. We read and talked about God being our loving Heavenly Father and ended talking about Prophets. Midway through our conversation Sandy turns to Linda and says, lets get a bus and go to Church this Sunday. She proceeded to write it in her planner and help Linda see that she was going to go with her and sit with her and that they could bring snacks in case she was hungry between meetings. It was so sweet to see the Spirit work on these sisters, especially since we didn't bring up coming to church. The way the share the Ensign's and read the scriptures together is inspiring. It showed to me the importance of friends in helping us along our Spiritual progression.
We have just been so busy this week I don't know what to say or where to start in telling about it. One cool story is that as I pray to become a more bold missionary I have found myself approaching people on the street and while we are walking and talking to them. This last week I even noticed a man setting up a tent outside his apartment complex and I went up and started to talk to him. Turns out this is his first tent, it was a Coleman 3 man tent, simple enough to set up, but he looked lost. Without hurting his pride I offered to help him set it up. Sister Wright does not camp so this was good for her as well. We were able to set up the tent and talk about the Gospel while we did so, as we walked away I couldn't believe that I had actually just done that. I am glad that the Spirit is helping me with this mission because normal me would have shied away from helping a stranger set up a tent.
Sister Wright and I get to teach Relief Society tomorrow, the lesson is about Eternal Marriage. Woot. Not sure why we get to teach about it but it is another teaching opportunity so I am not about to turn it down. Plus since we have investigators coming to church this week that will be awesome, they said that they would stay all 3 hours. And Brittany Abbot did stay for it all last week. We have such wonderful investigators I am so blessed to be teaching them and learning from them.
I am glad to hear that everyone is staying busy and since I haven't heard much from anyone I assume that means all is well. I love you all. Have a wonderful week.
Interviews were amazing. We got a call Thursday night from our Zone Leaders asking us to card into their apartment and bring their area book to Midland with us, they were there early for a Stake Coordination meeting. It is a good thing that I had a spare card and we were able to get their area book. The door opened for me without any problems on the first try. What a strange blessing and skill to have!! President Hess wanted to review our area books with us during interviews, so it was a good thing that everyone had theirs. We also did 100 miles of driving yesterday and it was not my driving day...I got pretty car sick. It was not in any way shape or form fun, but the work goes on even if we are car sick, and dizzy, and completely tired. Good times.
Sister Wright and I were able to meet the standards of excellence again. It has taken everything out of us to do so, we have worked harder than ever to reach those goals. We have sacrificed a lot, yet in the long run probably not a lot, it just seems like a lot because we are here and now living it and giving it up.
My interview with President Hess was awesome. Can I just say that I am so grateful to come from an awesome family. No matter where I am in the world I seem to come across people who know the Jensen family and they love them. This case was no different. Dad, I am glad that while you work you do so in an honest and respectful manner. Grandma Jensen you too. President Hess says to tell you all hello. The overall feeling of that interview was "expect good things" I am not sure what those things will be, but over and over that is what has been said and what comes to mind.
We were able to go visit Sandy and Linda up in the Country Senior Living Center. I love these dear sisters. We just met them last week and they were so happy to see us again. Linda had the idea that we read from the Restoration pamphlet and talk about it at each of our visits. We read and talked about God being our loving Heavenly Father and ended talking about Prophets. Midway through our conversation Sandy turns to Linda and says, lets get a bus and go to Church this Sunday. She proceeded to write it in her planner and help Linda see that she was going to go with her and sit with her and that they could bring snacks in case she was hungry between meetings. It was so sweet to see the Spirit work on these sisters, especially since we didn't bring up coming to church. The way the share the Ensign's and read the scriptures together is inspiring. It showed to me the importance of friends in helping us along our Spiritual progression.
We have just been so busy this week I don't know what to say or where to start in telling about it. One cool story is that as I pray to become a more bold missionary I have found myself approaching people on the street and while we are walking and talking to them. This last week I even noticed a man setting up a tent outside his apartment complex and I went up and started to talk to him. Turns out this is his first tent, it was a Coleman 3 man tent, simple enough to set up, but he looked lost. Without hurting his pride I offered to help him set it up. Sister Wright does not camp so this was good for her as well. We were able to set up the tent and talk about the Gospel while we did so, as we walked away I couldn't believe that I had actually just done that. I am glad that the Spirit is helping me with this mission because normal me would have shied away from helping a stranger set up a tent.
Sister Wright and I get to teach Relief Society tomorrow, the lesson is about Eternal Marriage. Woot. Not sure why we get to teach about it but it is another teaching opportunity so I am not about to turn it down. Plus since we have investigators coming to church this week that will be awesome, they said that they would stay all 3 hours. And Brittany Abbot did stay for it all last week. We have such wonderful investigators I am so blessed to be teaching them and learning from them.
I am glad to hear that everyone is staying busy and since I haven't heard much from anyone I assume that means all is well. I love you all. Have a wonderful week.
With love, Mahal ko po kayo.
Sister Jensen
Monday, July 11, 2011
A week of Miracles!!!
Dear Family,
I am glad to hear that the 4th of July was fun for you all. Jealousy does not even begin to describe my lack of dutch oven cooking and fireworks. Luckily the Lord watched out for us and we had a delightful day. We decided to car fast, it was about 92 and humid (love it!) and we walked a good 7 miles! It is a good thing that I love to walk because I really drag Sister Wright all around Mt Pleasant sometimes. Monday we planned to walk out to an appointment then stop at Less Active families on the way to another appointment that was on the other side of things. We pleaded that these families would be home and lo and behold as we would walk down the street there they would be in their garages cleaning out or doing yard work. Truly a blessing. We were able to teach/walk all day on Monday. Then the YSA invited us over for FHE. Rumor has been circulating around the YSA that I like homemade rice crispies so they made a huge flag of them, colored even, and after the lesson and walking all day we got to sit in their apartment talking laughing, playing Blast from the Past (a really cool Mormon history game which I won the game we played :D) and eating rice crispies. It was a fantastic way to celebrate the 4th. Then we listened to fireworks, we could only see the tops of them over the trees from our apartment.
Tuesday I wanted to die. The Elders had given us a woman in her mid 60's that we taught Monday, well I guess that she did not like us and called to complain to the Zone Leaders and so bright and early Tuesday morning the Elders called and told us about it. I was crushed, the appointment wasn't that bad, or I didn't think that it was such the horror that she told the Elders about. They said that they knew there was some other concern and that she was just taking it out on us, but ouch. I cried most of the morning, through service at the care center we were playing Bingo (ever since the Philippines I really do not like bingo) and the rest of the day Sister Jensen's soul went into hiding. We were able to teach some lessons and get a new investigator but it was really difficult. Thank heavens as well for inspired leaders, our District leader called Tuesday night just asking how we were doing. He usually doesn't call on Tuesday's to follow up but he said that he felt he needed to, well after he heard about the situation he gave some quality advice and told us to move on with the work.
Wednesday was amazing. Our companionship had been a little rocky at the beginning of the week but it turned around, we studied the talk from this past conference from Elder D Todd Christofferson about Whom the Lord loves He chastens, also I spent a long time in Moses comparing the difference between how God talks to Moses and how Satan talks to Moses. Amazing to think that sometimes Satan does rant and rave and makes us quake with fear but if we remember our Heavenly Father then faith replaces that fear and we are blessed as we remember God. That was seen the rest of this week, we went out with a greater desire to do the work to reach the standards of excellence and we have been blessed for that. Sunday night we drove out to a dinner with the Elders (yes we had president's permission) but as we were driving the Elders challenged us to reach the standards of excellence for the mission to have the faith to go out and work hard. For some reason that hit me hard and I have been studying how I can become a better missionary, praying more sincerely and more often, I have seen my desire to understand my purpose increase. Which is why I think Tuesday was so necessary, for after the trials cometh the blessings. Tuesday was our trial but Wednesday, Thursday and Friday were the blessings.
Friday we went to midland and were able to meet President and Sister Hess. Yay Sister Hess recognized me, and said that Lindsay said hello, awesome! They are going to help this mission catch the fire of missionary work and we are going to go places that we cannot even comprehend yet. He was one of the people who helped the schools in Utah go online with UEN and is very tech savvy which means that we are going to be doing a lot of work with computers and social networking to find people. Still not sure how that is going to work or when that will start but we are going to go places with President Hess. There was an amazing Spirit at that meeting. Also what was joyous was the fact that afterwards we were able to talk with the other missionaries for a few minutes before everyone left. I missed the friendships of the Elders in the Philippines and so far have not seen here until yesterday, usually they run from sisters like we have the plague but yesterday Elders actually talked to us. Miracle! We got back late (the Elders drove again and with them being Zone leaders they had to distribute supplies) and when we got to that appointment there was a note taped to the door for MORMONS, it basically said we were lairs and to not even contact her anymore. Awesome. We had a very silent lunch break and started work in Shepherd at 3pm. We contacted a referral, got a return appointment, tracted that street and when that was not successful we went to get a slushy at Nana's Ice Cream parlor. It is a small town that really doesn't have much in it, but the town has the feel as if it has been trapped in the 1970's just a very simple way of life. Its nice to get a change from the college campus sometimes. After that we drove to the far end of our area to visit a sister in a Senior Living Center, while there we met an elusive less active that we have been trying to find since our first week here and she was just sitting there when we walked in...Miracle! As we were teaching their friend Vivian came over and joined in and started to ask questions about what we believe and we were able to pick her up as an investigator and have a return appointment with her next Friday. Miracles really never cease. Then we drove to see Sister Chubb also a less active who has really become active and was working on going to the temple, she broke her hip on Sunday and has been in a hospital out of our area and we couldn't find anyone to drive us to see her (we called 17 people and asked then figured if it was that hard we weren't supposed to go) she was finally moved to a care center in Mt Pleasant. Her husband is also in the hospital now with a blood clot in his leg from a tractor falling on him. Its been a crazy week!! Anyway she was so happy we came to see her since her phone died before she was able to tell us she had moved. The Spirit really is so necessary to this work. Then we had no time for dinner we just quickly went to our next two appointments. Both less active sisters, both doing well. Sister VanHorn has been a challenge in the past, she has argued and at times we have left those appointments feeling really down. Lately the past few visits we have been able to feel the Spirit and she has open up more and more, well yesterday she said the opening prayer and apologized for giving us trouble about it in the past. Not only was it a fantastic day to start with meeting president and meeting the mission standards with our findings but to end with Sister VanHorn telling us that she wants to work on becoming worth to enter the temple again I about fell off my seat, I almost expected to hear concourses of angels singing and rejoicing. When we got back to our apartment we prayed then got off our knees and jumped up and down hugging because we had met the mission standards and because we have been so blessed this week.
I am forever grateful for the chance that I have to serve, I know that sometimes my letters get long and you don't really know who I am talking about but these people mean so much to me now. I get the opportunity to invite them to come unto Christ by helping them receive the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ through Faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost and Enduring to the End. What a blessing that is!
I love and pray for you all!
Ingat,
Sister Rebecca Jensen
"As we recognize our strengths, stretch ourselves in service, ignore the devil's derision, and build our faith, we will overcome feelings of personal inadequacy. Ultimately, we will fell an ever-increasing sense of value and worth as we draw closer to the Savior." -Elder David Baxter
I am glad to hear that the 4th of July was fun for you all. Jealousy does not even begin to describe my lack of dutch oven cooking and fireworks. Luckily the Lord watched out for us and we had a delightful day. We decided to car fast, it was about 92 and humid (love it!) and we walked a good 7 miles! It is a good thing that I love to walk because I really drag Sister Wright all around Mt Pleasant sometimes. Monday we planned to walk out to an appointment then stop at Less Active families on the way to another appointment that was on the other side of things. We pleaded that these families would be home and lo and behold as we would walk down the street there they would be in their garages cleaning out or doing yard work. Truly a blessing. We were able to teach/walk all day on Monday. Then the YSA invited us over for FHE. Rumor has been circulating around the YSA that I like homemade rice crispies so they made a huge flag of them, colored even, and after the lesson and walking all day we got to sit in their apartment talking laughing, playing Blast from the Past (a really cool Mormon history game which I won the game we played :D) and eating rice crispies. It was a fantastic way to celebrate the 4th. Then we listened to fireworks, we could only see the tops of them over the trees from our apartment.
Tuesday I wanted to die. The Elders had given us a woman in her mid 60's that we taught Monday, well I guess that she did not like us and called to complain to the Zone Leaders and so bright and early Tuesday morning the Elders called and told us about it. I was crushed, the appointment wasn't that bad, or I didn't think that it was such the horror that she told the Elders about. They said that they knew there was some other concern and that she was just taking it out on us, but ouch. I cried most of the morning, through service at the care center we were playing Bingo (ever since the Philippines I really do not like bingo) and the rest of the day Sister Jensen's soul went into hiding. We were able to teach some lessons and get a new investigator but it was really difficult. Thank heavens as well for inspired leaders, our District leader called Tuesday night just asking how we were doing. He usually doesn't call on Tuesday's to follow up but he said that he felt he needed to, well after he heard about the situation he gave some quality advice and told us to move on with the work.
Wednesday was amazing. Our companionship had been a little rocky at the beginning of the week but it turned around, we studied the talk from this past conference from Elder D Todd Christofferson about Whom the Lord loves He chastens, also I spent a long time in Moses comparing the difference between how God talks to Moses and how Satan talks to Moses. Amazing to think that sometimes Satan does rant and rave and makes us quake with fear but if we remember our Heavenly Father then faith replaces that fear and we are blessed as we remember God. That was seen the rest of this week, we went out with a greater desire to do the work to reach the standards of excellence and we have been blessed for that. Sunday night we drove out to a dinner with the Elders (yes we had president's permission) but as we were driving the Elders challenged us to reach the standards of excellence for the mission to have the faith to go out and work hard. For some reason that hit me hard and I have been studying how I can become a better missionary, praying more sincerely and more often, I have seen my desire to understand my purpose increase. Which is why I think Tuesday was so necessary, for after the trials cometh the blessings. Tuesday was our trial but Wednesday, Thursday and Friday were the blessings.
Friday we went to midland and were able to meet President and Sister Hess. Yay Sister Hess recognized me, and said that Lindsay said hello, awesome! They are going to help this mission catch the fire of missionary work and we are going to go places that we cannot even comprehend yet. He was one of the people who helped the schools in Utah go online with UEN and is very tech savvy which means that we are going to be doing a lot of work with computers and social networking to find people. Still not sure how that is going to work or when that will start but we are going to go places with President Hess. There was an amazing Spirit at that meeting. Also what was joyous was the fact that afterwards we were able to talk with the other missionaries for a few minutes before everyone left. I missed the friendships of the Elders in the Philippines and so far have not seen here until yesterday, usually they run from sisters like we have the plague but yesterday Elders actually talked to us. Miracle! We got back late (the Elders drove again and with them being Zone leaders they had to distribute supplies) and when we got to that appointment there was a note taped to the door for MORMONS, it basically said we were lairs and to not even contact her anymore. Awesome. We had a very silent lunch break and started work in Shepherd at 3pm. We contacted a referral, got a return appointment, tracted that street and when that was not successful we went to get a slushy at Nana's Ice Cream parlor. It is a small town that really doesn't have much in it, but the town has the feel as if it has been trapped in the 1970's just a very simple way of life. Its nice to get a change from the college campus sometimes. After that we drove to the far end of our area to visit a sister in a Senior Living Center, while there we met an elusive less active that we have been trying to find since our first week here and she was just sitting there when we walked in...Miracle! As we were teaching their friend Vivian came over and joined in and started to ask questions about what we believe and we were able to pick her up as an investigator and have a return appointment with her next Friday. Miracles really never cease. Then we drove to see Sister Chubb also a less active who has really become active and was working on going to the temple, she broke her hip on Sunday and has been in a hospital out of our area and we couldn't find anyone to drive us to see her (we called 17 people and asked then figured if it was that hard we weren't supposed to go) she was finally moved to a care center in Mt Pleasant. Her husband is also in the hospital now with a blood clot in his leg from a tractor falling on him. Its been a crazy week!! Anyway she was so happy we came to see her since her phone died before she was able to tell us she had moved. The Spirit really is so necessary to this work. Then we had no time for dinner we just quickly went to our next two appointments. Both less active sisters, both doing well. Sister VanHorn has been a challenge in the past, she has argued and at times we have left those appointments feeling really down. Lately the past few visits we have been able to feel the Spirit and she has open up more and more, well yesterday she said the opening prayer and apologized for giving us trouble about it in the past. Not only was it a fantastic day to start with meeting president and meeting the mission standards with our findings but to end with Sister VanHorn telling us that she wants to work on becoming worth to enter the temple again I about fell off my seat, I almost expected to hear concourses of angels singing and rejoicing. When we got back to our apartment we prayed then got off our knees and jumped up and down hugging because we had met the mission standards and because we have been so blessed this week.
I am forever grateful for the chance that I have to serve, I know that sometimes my letters get long and you don't really know who I am talking about but these people mean so much to me now. I get the opportunity to invite them to come unto Christ by helping them receive the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ through Faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost and Enduring to the End. What a blessing that is!
I love and pray for you all!
Ingat,
Sister Rebecca Jensen
"As we recognize our strengths, stretch ourselves in service, ignore the devil's derision, and build our faith, we will overcome feelings of personal inadequacy. Ultimately, we will fell an ever-increasing sense of value and worth as we draw closer to the Savior." -Elder David Baxter
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