Dear Family,
GRACE is now a baptized and confirmed member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and oh what joy fills my soul being able to say that. Her baptism was beautiful once it finally started. This was my first baptism in America that I had to plan and prepare so there were many things that I learned this weekend. Can I just say that I have never wanted a Bishopric more than I have this past week. Ours is non existent and so trying to coordinate this baptism was like trying to lift and move a grand piano alone. Luckily God prevailed and everything worked out in the end. We went to go fill the font Saturday morning since we couldn't find anyone who would help us, we were standing there in the men's bathroom staring at the silver box that has no key going how in the world do we open it. We tried a penny for about 15 min until we were frustrated and sick of being in the bathroom. We called the Assistants and there response was we are on our way. My response "what so we can't do it ourselves" their response, it is in the men's bathroom, you have to open up the box and turn it on. "Yes I know we have to open the BOX but HOW" them We are on our way, plus did you know it takes 3 hours to fill the font. At that point I hung up because of just sheer frustration and called the Zone Leaders. I had Sister Keys call because I was hugging my knees trying to calm down. They told us how to use the back of a key to open it (really?!??!?) and that it only takes 90 min to fill the font. It was just a whole week full of things like that. I fell like I was trying to spin plates and every time I accidentally dropped one that is when someone would come talk to me about it and tell me that I had dropped and broken this plate. We had 4 investigators at church on Sunday and 3 of them pulled me aside after sacrament meeting and told me of the plates that I had dropped. Then they went over to Sister Keys and just chatted happily. I got to Sunday School just trying to smile and hold back the tears. YARG!!!
Hiva finally set a baptismal date!! He came to our last lesson and while sitting calm as could be just said "I got my answer, baptism is right for me, I will be baptized." Sister Keys and I wanted to dance we were so happy but we stayed calm and extended a date and explained what would happen in the coming weeks to help prepare him. At church yesterday he pulled me aside and said that he had been doing some research online and he had some off the wall questions about Joseph Smith running for president of the USA and others like that. I was able to resolve his concerns and told him that if he had any more questions to look atmormon.org.
Danny is still trying to learn everything before he commits to a baptismal date. He is progressing well and the Spirit is always very strong in our lessons he is just afraid to use his faith and be baptized without knowing everything first. We are trying to help him see the importance of having the Spirit to help us learn as a confirmed member of the Church. He has a lot of pride and that is his stumbling block.
Xiao and Al were able to come to church this week. They attended a baptism last week. We met with them on Friday and it was a rough lesson. They have also been doing research online and it just has made them confused to the point that they didn't even remember how to pray. It saddened me greatly. But we are taking it slowly and we started over with the three basics of gaining faith: prayer, scripture study, and church attendance. We are having Tristan come to our lesson this week, that will help the language barrier and hopefully we will be able to really help.
Elders Ransley and DeHart had 9 investigators at church on Sunday, it was incredible!
We also had interviews this week with President Hess. My interview took over 30 min. It was awesome. We talked about all of my companions and how the work was going. We also talked about what they have envisioned for me in the coming transfer. He said that if he could call sisters as district leaders he would call me as one. That just brought my soul joy to hear Pres. Hess say that. :D He said that they want me doing companion exchanges to help with the training process, I am not sure the logistics for those but he used the phrase "the assistants and you" quite a bit. It was quite an amusing interview.
We toured the MSU Dairy this week with our ward mission leader. We saw how they make cheese and ice cream. They were making sweet corn ice cream because the have flavors for every school in the pac 10. Also we were able to see the shiny crystal football trophies they have won. Insane!!
We get to go tour the capitol today!! I am super excited I have been asking to go the entire 3 months I have been here. Crazy how time flies.
I love this gospel, I love how it makes sense and it makes life easier. God lives and loves us so much.
Well my time is up. I love you all.
Mahal ko po kayo!!!
Ingat,
Sister Rebecca Jensen
Monday, October 24, 2011
You Should Never Lift a Grand Piano on Your Own
Monday, October 17, 2011
May it be...
Dear Family,
What a week. MSU beat UofM it was one insane crowd of people going to parties and drinking for breakfast. MSU won!! We have had a lot of cold weather, still beautiful fall leaves but now it is accompanied with the cold gray skies. All of the companions are doing well. Sister Keys can now hear, Sister Martin had a broken filling and got that replaced this morning, so hopefully life will be less painful for her. I am done shopping for at least a week. I have been very blessed not to have to go shopping/clothes shopping a lot on my mission and today...well it made be grateful that we don't do this weekly.
GRACE!! Is being baptized this Saturday. She is just fantastic and so excited to be baptized. We are making sure that we are in contact with her daily to make sure that she is doing well. She went home for the weekend and her parents are still willing to let her choose to be baptized. Still not thrilled with it like she is but they are willing. Our ward is very excited to see her baptized many of the members have said that she just fits right in to the ward.
Hiva and Danny are still just about the same. We taught them both the plan of salvation with Bro. Cody as a member present. It went well, I think that it finally clicked for both of them why we keep bringing up the importance of baptism in helping them prepare to return to Heavenly Father. Hiva said that he would pray about it and that we would talk about his decision on Wednesday. Danny is still loving church and our lessons and has started to make connections from church to our lessons, he still says that he lacks the faith to be baptized.
We were able to do service this week at the Golf Course laying sod. I love service, the feeling that comes from it is priceless. Also for laying sod it was really fun to get to know the Elders in our District, last transfer we didn't get to know any of them and this transfer they have been a little friendlier and working with them this week helped break that barrier. Also I got really dirty. The other sisters raked leaves but we didn't have that many rakes so I joined the Elders and we went to work. Talk about awesome! We were also able to do service for Sister Hatch and Cheryl in the Williamston ward. They were fantastic. It was so much fun to help them out raking leaves and scrubbing showers and kitchens to help stave off their mental and emotional break downs. It felt good to help them and to see how grateful they were for what we did.
I am in the ward chapters of Alma and there is still so much to learn. Moroni is a master planner, the thought and preparation that went into the battles that he waged is very impressive. Many times his army won because of the strength of the Lord and his preparation. It reminded me that as I plan then I too can "win this battle" or have success in this work because the Lord will be with us as we stay worthy and do our part.
With the cold can I just say thank heavens for crock pots and warm food. We have not had a single dinner appointment this week so we have been making a lot of soups. Also I made some awesome apple sauce in the crock pot. Just michigan apples and cinnamon, the house smelled amazing.
I hope that everyone in the family is doing well. Thank you for the card. I don't really know Sage but I keep hearing a ton about her, she sounds like an interesting addition to the family.
We have transfer calls on the 28th I cannot believe how quickly the time has flown past, it feels like yesterday I was boarding the plane to come here and that was 6 months ago.
That is about it for the week. We are just plugging along. I know that this church is true. What a blessing it is to be serving as a missionary at this time in the world.
Well the time is far spent!
Mahal ko po kayo!
ingat,
Sister Rebecca Jensen
What a week. MSU beat UofM it was one insane crowd of people going to parties and drinking for breakfast. MSU won!! We have had a lot of cold weather, still beautiful fall leaves but now it is accompanied with the cold gray skies. All of the companions are doing well. Sister Keys can now hear, Sister Martin had a broken filling and got that replaced this morning, so hopefully life will be less painful for her. I am done shopping for at least a week. I have been very blessed not to have to go shopping/clothes shopping a lot on my mission and today...well it made be grateful that we don't do this weekly.
GRACE!! Is being baptized this Saturday. She is just fantastic and so excited to be baptized. We are making sure that we are in contact with her daily to make sure that she is doing well. She went home for the weekend and her parents are still willing to let her choose to be baptized. Still not thrilled with it like she is but they are willing. Our ward is very excited to see her baptized many of the members have said that she just fits right in to the ward.
Hiva and Danny are still just about the same. We taught them both the plan of salvation with Bro. Cody as a member present. It went well, I think that it finally clicked for both of them why we keep bringing up the importance of baptism in helping them prepare to return to Heavenly Father. Hiva said that he would pray about it and that we would talk about his decision on Wednesday. Danny is still loving church and our lessons and has started to make connections from church to our lessons, he still says that he lacks the faith to be baptized.
We were able to do service this week at the Golf Course laying sod. I love service, the feeling that comes from it is priceless. Also for laying sod it was really fun to get to know the Elders in our District, last transfer we didn't get to know any of them and this transfer they have been a little friendlier and working with them this week helped break that barrier. Also I got really dirty. The other sisters raked leaves but we didn't have that many rakes so I joined the Elders and we went to work. Talk about awesome! We were also able to do service for Sister Hatch and Cheryl in the Williamston ward. They were fantastic. It was so much fun to help them out raking leaves and scrubbing showers and kitchens to help stave off their mental and emotional break downs. It felt good to help them and to see how grateful they were for what we did.
I am in the ward chapters of Alma and there is still so much to learn. Moroni is a master planner, the thought and preparation that went into the battles that he waged is very impressive. Many times his army won because of the strength of the Lord and his preparation. It reminded me that as I plan then I too can "win this battle" or have success in this work because the Lord will be with us as we stay worthy and do our part.
With the cold can I just say thank heavens for crock pots and warm food. We have not had a single dinner appointment this week so we have been making a lot of soups. Also I made some awesome apple sauce in the crock pot. Just michigan apples and cinnamon, the house smelled amazing.
I hope that everyone in the family is doing well. Thank you for the card. I don't really know Sage but I keep hearing a ton about her, she sounds like an interesting addition to the family.
We have transfer calls on the 28th I cannot believe how quickly the time has flown past, it feels like yesterday I was boarding the plane to come here and that was 6 months ago.
That is about it for the week. We are just plugging along. I know that this church is true. What a blessing it is to be serving as a missionary at this time in the world.
Well the time is far spent!
Mahal ko po kayo!
ingat,
Sister Rebecca Jensen
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Sorry it is kind of long this week...
Hello Family,
How are you this week? I heard that is has been snowing in Utah, I think that is crazy since we are having a slight heat wave of sorts here in Michigan. It is lovely but crazy.
Sister Keys is still being amazing, she has the ability to make work fun for all involved. We are still working on the desire to go up and talk to people. In lessons she is teaching simply and powerfully and understanding a lot more. Since we have a few investigators preparing for baptism we have been teaching the commandment lessons together so that she will have taught through all of the lessons before the end of her training. We are also doing a lot of short practices in our companion study, those have proved to be fruitful in understanding where everyone is on their teaching and comprehension levels and trying to help them understand and apply what we are learning from Preach My Gospel.
Sister Martin is doing a lot better than she was. It turns out that she does not like Sister Keys more than me, the issue was that she was intimidated by me thinking that I was too perfect. CRAZY!! We were able to talk it out and we have come up with ways that I can help her understand what is going on and see that I am just trying to be obedient and help in any way I can. She is feeling less homesick and has started to participate in studies and activities more often. Elder Ransley gave them a challenge to read the Book of Mormon for 30 min each morning for personal study and mark every time it talks about Christ, this challenge has completely changed the way they study and the Spirit has increased and so has companionship unity. I am very grateful!!
Sister Thackerary is doing well. She is talking less about home. She really has a desire to become a great missionary sometimes there is a desire for her to jump straight to perfect and then to not reach that and feel frustrated but that is happening less and less. I think that she is starting to understand that only through consistent dedicated study and application of the Gospel will bring about the desired result of an effective and obedient missionary.
Hiva and Danny are both doing well. When we met with them this week they both had similar concerns. They both believe that Joseph Smith is a true prophet and that the Book of Mormon is true. They are struggling to accept Thomas S Monson as a prophet. They believe that he is an apostle but not a prophet. It was an answer to prayer to have them both at Stake Conference where they could hear about how that mantle of authority is passed when they released the old stake president and sustained a new one. (Elder Olsen and Baxter from the seventy came. I got to talk to Elder Baxter, one of his quotes is my all time favorite, it saved me in Mt Pleasant and I actually got to meet him. Surreal!!) Also they have social concerns saying that they love the way they feel they just don't know how their friends will accept them if they do join and become a "mormon." They both have fantastic fellowshippers and not only that but friends in the ward that have been inviting them to do activities with them and help them make friends here. We extended a baptismal commitment to both of them Danny said yes, but he wants to learn more before he will set a date, and Hiva brought up his social concerns we told him to pray about it and we will follow up with him in this weeks lesson.
Stephanie who is 17 and from China has talked to her parents and they are okay with her joining and being baptized but she would like to wait until she is 18 years old so that we don't have to deal with paperwork doing to and from the Chinese embassy. She was talking about her brother who is almost 3 yrs old right now and saying that when he comes to America to study here that she will have us teach him about the God and make him one of us. I love Asians!!
Grace was also able to come to Stake Conference. She is SO excited to be baptized! Her lessons are going well and she is still very open and receptive. She accepted the word of wisdom without a flinch and gave up coffee on the spot. What faith she has. Her parents are not supportive of her being baptized into this church but they are letting her choose what she wants to do. She looked sad but determined to follow the answers that she has received from God and be baptized even if her parents don't support it. She will be interviewed next week and then baptized on the 22nd! We are so excited for her!!!!!
I know my emails are long but I hope they help you all better understand what I am doing and who I am working with. Also for the guys reading. Last Tuesday we were walking up to Spartan Village and we were walking past a guy with headphones in and somehow we got talking, I don't know how. We talked about why we were there and about missionary work and we asked what he was studying and about him. Well turns out that he was Isaiah Lewis, he is #9 on the football team. Ya he offered us a ride to spartan village. Don't worry we said no, but he still offered.
We also have a car to drive. After squashing in the truck the Assistants said "that's it the sisters get a car" and by the next day we had a car. We only have 350 miles of which our district leader drove 50 before he gave it back to us....grrr...but atleast it is a car.
Also for the past 2 preparation days we have been playing Quiddich. Our Zone Leaders Elders Hill and Clawson play with us. We do ride on brooms or sticks and have a quaffel, 2 bludgers and a snitch which is still hidden so the game is still on. We don't get that many people to come actually just Catherine, Ashley, Austin, the 4 sisters and our zone leaders. Its pretty awesome. We tried to get the Assistants to come, but they have been acting super weird and detached lately, we rarely see them or talk to them. Sad day.
Well that will conclude this weeks email. Not much more left to say, things are starting to flow easier. I still spend my nights trying to figure out logistics of who is where for which appointment making sure that everyone gets to teach with each other, but God helps. This is not my work I am only an instrument in His hands and I have felt that ever greater these past few weeks.
How are you this week? I heard that is has been snowing in Utah, I think that is crazy since we are having a slight heat wave of sorts here in Michigan. It is lovely but crazy.
Sister Keys is still being amazing, she has the ability to make work fun for all involved. We are still working on the desire to go up and talk to people. In lessons she is teaching simply and powerfully and understanding a lot more. Since we have a few investigators preparing for baptism we have been teaching the commandment lessons together so that she will have taught through all of the lessons before the end of her training. We are also doing a lot of short practices in our companion study, those have proved to be fruitful in understanding where everyone is on their teaching and comprehension levels and trying to help them understand and apply what we are learning from Preach My Gospel.
Sister Martin is doing a lot better than she was. It turns out that she does not like Sister Keys more than me, the issue was that she was intimidated by me thinking that I was too perfect. CRAZY!! We were able to talk it out and we have come up with ways that I can help her understand what is going on and see that I am just trying to be obedient and help in any way I can. She is feeling less homesick and has started to participate in studies and activities more often. Elder Ransley gave them a challenge to read the Book of Mormon for 30 min each morning for personal study and mark every time it talks about Christ, this challenge has completely changed the way they study and the Spirit has increased and so has companionship unity. I am very grateful!!
Sister Thackerary is doing well. She is talking less about home. She really has a desire to become a great missionary sometimes there is a desire for her to jump straight to perfect and then to not reach that and feel frustrated but that is happening less and less. I think that she is starting to understand that only through consistent dedicated study and application of the Gospel will bring about the desired result of an effective and obedient missionary.
Hiva and Danny are both doing well. When we met with them this week they both had similar concerns. They both believe that Joseph Smith is a true prophet and that the Book of Mormon is true. They are struggling to accept Thomas S Monson as a prophet. They believe that he is an apostle but not a prophet. It was an answer to prayer to have them both at Stake Conference where they could hear about how that mantle of authority is passed when they released the old stake president and sustained a new one. (Elder Olsen and Baxter from the seventy came. I got to talk to Elder Baxter, one of his quotes is my all time favorite, it saved me in Mt Pleasant and I actually got to meet him. Surreal!!) Also they have social concerns saying that they love the way they feel they just don't know how their friends will accept them if they do join and become a "mormon." They both have fantastic fellowshippers and not only that but friends in the ward that have been inviting them to do activities with them and help them make friends here. We extended a baptismal commitment to both of them Danny said yes, but he wants to learn more before he will set a date, and Hiva brought up his social concerns we told him to pray about it and we will follow up with him in this weeks lesson.
Stephanie who is 17 and from China has talked to her parents and they are okay with her joining and being baptized but she would like to wait until she is 18 years old so that we don't have to deal with paperwork doing to and from the Chinese embassy. She was talking about her brother who is almost 3 yrs old right now and saying that when he comes to America to study here that she will have us teach him about the God and make him one of us. I love Asians!!
Grace was also able to come to Stake Conference. She is SO excited to be baptized! Her lessons are going well and she is still very open and receptive. She accepted the word of wisdom without a flinch and gave up coffee on the spot. What faith she has. Her parents are not supportive of her being baptized into this church but they are letting her choose what she wants to do. She looked sad but determined to follow the answers that she has received from God and be baptized even if her parents don't support it. She will be interviewed next week and then baptized on the 22nd! We are so excited for her!!!!!
I know my emails are long but I hope they help you all better understand what I am doing and who I am working with. Also for the guys reading. Last Tuesday we were walking up to Spartan Village and we were walking past a guy with headphones in and somehow we got talking, I don't know how. We talked about why we were there and about missionary work and we asked what he was studying and about him. Well turns out that he was Isaiah Lewis, he is #9 on the football team. Ya he offered us a ride to spartan village. Don't worry we said no, but he still offered.
We also have a car to drive. After squashing in the truck the Assistants said "that's it the sisters get a car" and by the next day we had a car. We only have 350 miles of which our district leader drove 50 before he gave it back to us....grrr...but atleast it is a car.
Also for the past 2 preparation days we have been playing Quiddich. Our Zone Leaders Elders Hill and Clawson play with us. We do ride on brooms or sticks and have a quaffel, 2 bludgers and a snitch which is still hidden so the game is still on. We don't get that many people to come actually just Catherine, Ashley, Austin, the 4 sisters and our zone leaders. Its pretty awesome. We tried to get the Assistants to come, but they have been acting super weird and detached lately, we rarely see them or talk to them. Sad day.
Well that will conclude this weeks email. Not much more left to say, things are starting to flow easier. I still spend my nights trying to figure out logistics of who is where for which appointment making sure that everyone gets to teach with each other, but God helps. This is not my work I am only an instrument in His hands and I have felt that ever greater these past few weeks.
Mahal ko po Kayo!!
Ingat,
Sister Rebecca Jensen
Ingat,
Sister Rebecca Jensen
Monday, October 3, 2011
What a Beautiful Morning!
Dear Family,
What a week it has been. We had zone conference, the musical number went well thank heavens. We learned a lot. The chicken we were supposed to eat for lunch wasn't cooked so that was interesting. The assistants have been crazy this week doing all of the zone conferences all around and they didn't really tell us the plans for shopping this morning. Lets just say that Sister Jensen was very frustrated and not the happiest person. Sigh. Life goes on. We had 6 investigators and Conference! What a blessing it is to have them be able to come and feel of the Spirit so strong. Many of them said that they finally felt what we have been trying to describe!
Danny is amazing. We met with him this week and taught him the restoration. He told us that he didn't know everything but that he trusted God to tell him when he was ready. When we closed we said a kneeling closing prayer and he said it, he paused after it was over and after a few seconds I asked him what he was feeling, he responded that he was feeling empty, not a bad empty, just clear, good. He was able to come to conference and he loved the talks about the importance of families and the management of time. Our ward already loves him and is taking great care of him.
Riu Le is a new investigator that came via referral. Sister Keys and I went to contact him one night, it was dark and rainy and cold. Blessed by the Lord we got off on the right buss stop and were able to walk there while only getting soaked. He was not home so we called the Elders for a ride, when they came we were convinced it must be after 9pm it was so dark and cold. Yup, when they dropped us off it was only a little past 8:30...awesome. We were able to meet with him later this week and teach him the restoration. He toured SLC temple square last week and they gave him a Chinese copy of the Book of Momon. We were able to give him an English copy and explain what the difference between our church and others is. The spirit was strong and we have a return appointment.
Xiao, Al, and Dexter all came to their lesson on Friday. We showed them the Restoration dvd in Chinese and afterwards talked about it. They were the ones who brought up baptism. So we talked about it and reset baptismal dates and talked to them about the process that would need to happen in order for them to be ready to be baptized November 12th. We went into that lesson thinking we were going to drop them and came away with solid baptismal dates and happiness. They were also able to come to Conference and they talked about how they felt the Spirit. For the first time they actually connected what we were talking about the Spirit to the actual feeling of the Spirit!!!
Hiva went to priesthood session and Sunday morning session of General Conference. He loved the talk by Tad Callister about the Book of Mormon and when we asked him what he thought about that he replied "Its true." Last week we showed him the Restoration DVD and talked about why Joseph Smith is so important.. He said that he was still waiting for those strong feelings that he gets when he feel really sad/bad and prays, he wants those strong feelings as his answer. We talked about the Spirit and how it works and the different ways we feel it, on Sunday he said that he was feeling the Spirit more! HUZZAH!!!!
Grace is doing so well. She is so excited for her baptism her energy is contagious. She went home for the weekend and when I called and talked to her last night she sounded just as excited! Catherine and Ashley have been fantastic fellowshippers and friends to Grace. It has been a great help to know that they are calling and talking to Grace out of love and a desire to see her progress. We taught her about prophets last week and she seemed to teach us, she is just fantastic, what a blessing to be teaching her.
Training 3 companions is going well. A little stressful at times when appointments change or cancel and then we have no clue what to do with that companionship. Thankfully we have been very blessed last week to have many appointments and many new investigators which are making this week look a little more full. We are having trouble finding appointments for the new sisters to go to at night and we have 1 dinner appointment all week. I think that our members are feeling a little drained. I hope that something will work out and we will be able set up appointments for the night. Nights are the hardest since we can't go contacting after dark and it really is not safe to walk to apartments to door knock. I am just at a loss of what to do, but that is what prayer is for. I know that things will come up, we will be able to find the right things to do.
We were able to watch all the sessions of conference! It was beautiful. Actually I was not homesick for this one, last October I cried through the entire thing, this time I was a little more occupied with investigators and trainees to even notice really that the days are flying past and that I am not at home. I do miss you all, don't get me wrong, I am just a little busy. Thank you for the conference package, it was lovely.
We have a new morning schedule to make sure that everyone is up and doing exercise. It is inspired really. We get up at 5:53 and pray until 6 then we exercise until 6:30 after that we get exactly 10 min in the shower and have breakfast at 7:30. Those who are not getting ready get time for extra study, which is lovely since our personal study is now 30 min BOM and 30 min PMG scripture chains. It has helped unify the companionship. Also I got to lead everyone in sun salutations, Sister Keys lead us in random stretches with a promise of Richard Simmons type exercise next turn. The person who leads the exercise is the person to shower first. I tell you inspired.
Well I think that concludes this weeks activities. The church is still true! Please continue to pray for me and my companions...we need all the prayer that we can get.
I finally figured out how the apostles and prophets and mission presidents and leaders are able to work so hard for so long and still keep going. Its called LOVE! Amazingly simple yet so profound isn't it. With love and charity that desire to help others becomes the priority and when our priorities are in line we are given power from God and with that power and love comes the energy to do the work that needs to be done. Fantastic!!!!!!
Enjoy the fall weather.
Mahal ko po kayo!
ingat,
Sister Rebecca Jensen
P.S. we were told this week the the Mission Office had our address wrong on a page of forwarding stickers, that has since been corrected. If you sent a letter and it was returned, please try again it has been corrected. I am hoping this is why there has been a great dearth of letters. If not, know I love you anyway and that with or without letters the work goes on.
What a week it has been. We had zone conference, the musical number went well thank heavens. We learned a lot. The chicken we were supposed to eat for lunch wasn't cooked so that was interesting. The assistants have been crazy this week doing all of the zone conferences all around and they didn't really tell us the plans for shopping this morning. Lets just say that Sister Jensen was very frustrated and not the happiest person. Sigh. Life goes on. We had 6 investigators and Conference! What a blessing it is to have them be able to come and feel of the Spirit so strong. Many of them said that they finally felt what we have been trying to describe!
Danny is amazing. We met with him this week and taught him the restoration. He told us that he didn't know everything but that he trusted God to tell him when he was ready. When we closed we said a kneeling closing prayer and he said it, he paused after it was over and after a few seconds I asked him what he was feeling, he responded that he was feeling empty, not a bad empty, just clear, good. He was able to come to conference and he loved the talks about the importance of families and the management of time. Our ward already loves him and is taking great care of him.
Riu Le is a new investigator that came via referral. Sister Keys and I went to contact him one night, it was dark and rainy and cold. Blessed by the Lord we got off on the right buss stop and were able to walk there while only getting soaked. He was not home so we called the Elders for a ride, when they came we were convinced it must be after 9pm it was so dark and cold. Yup, when they dropped us off it was only a little past 8:30...awesome. We were able to meet with him later this week and teach him the restoration. He toured SLC temple square last week and they gave him a Chinese copy of the Book of Momon. We were able to give him an English copy and explain what the difference between our church and others is. The spirit was strong and we have a return appointment.
Xiao, Al, and Dexter all came to their lesson on Friday. We showed them the Restoration dvd in Chinese and afterwards talked about it. They were the ones who brought up baptism. So we talked about it and reset baptismal dates and talked to them about the process that would need to happen in order for them to be ready to be baptized November 12th. We went into that lesson thinking we were going to drop them and came away with solid baptismal dates and happiness. They were also able to come to Conference and they talked about how they felt the Spirit. For the first time they actually connected what we were talking about the Spirit to the actual feeling of the Spirit!!!
Hiva went to priesthood session and Sunday morning session of General Conference. He loved the talk by Tad Callister about the Book of Mormon and when we asked him what he thought about that he replied "Its true." Last week we showed him the Restoration DVD and talked about why Joseph Smith is so important.. He said that he was still waiting for those strong feelings that he gets when he feel really sad/bad and prays, he wants those strong feelings as his answer. We talked about the Spirit and how it works and the different ways we feel it, on Sunday he said that he was feeling the Spirit more! HUZZAH!!!!
Grace is doing so well. She is so excited for her baptism her energy is contagious. She went home for the weekend and when I called and talked to her last night she sounded just as excited! Catherine and Ashley have been fantastic fellowshippers and friends to Grace. It has been a great help to know that they are calling and talking to Grace out of love and a desire to see her progress. We taught her about prophets last week and she seemed to teach us, she is just fantastic, what a blessing to be teaching her.
Training 3 companions is going well. A little stressful at times when appointments change or cancel and then we have no clue what to do with that companionship. Thankfully we have been very blessed last week to have many appointments and many new investigators which are making this week look a little more full. We are having trouble finding appointments for the new sisters to go to at night and we have 1 dinner appointment all week. I think that our members are feeling a little drained. I hope that something will work out and we will be able set up appointments for the night. Nights are the hardest since we can't go contacting after dark and it really is not safe to walk to apartments to door knock. I am just at a loss of what to do, but that is what prayer is for. I know that things will come up, we will be able to find the right things to do.
We were able to watch all the sessions of conference! It was beautiful. Actually I was not homesick for this one, last October I cried through the entire thing, this time I was a little more occupied with investigators and trainees to even notice really that the days are flying past and that I am not at home. I do miss you all, don't get me wrong, I am just a little busy. Thank you for the conference package, it was lovely.
We have a new morning schedule to make sure that everyone is up and doing exercise. It is inspired really. We get up at 5:53 and pray until 6 then we exercise until 6:30 after that we get exactly 10 min in the shower and have breakfast at 7:30. Those who are not getting ready get time for extra study, which is lovely since our personal study is now 30 min BOM and 30 min PMG scripture chains. It has helped unify the companionship. Also I got to lead everyone in sun salutations, Sister Keys lead us in random stretches with a promise of Richard Simmons type exercise next turn. The person who leads the exercise is the person to shower first. I tell you inspired.
Well I think that concludes this weeks activities. The church is still true! Please continue to pray for me and my companions...we need all the prayer that we can get.
I finally figured out how the apostles and prophets and mission presidents and leaders are able to work so hard for so long and still keep going. Its called LOVE! Amazingly simple yet so profound isn't it. With love and charity that desire to help others becomes the priority and when our priorities are in line we are given power from God and with that power and love comes the energy to do the work that needs to be done. Fantastic!!!!!!
Enjoy the fall weather.
Mahal ko po kayo!
ingat,
Sister Rebecca Jensen
P.S. we were told this week the the Mission Office had our address wrong on a page of forwarding stickers, that has since been corrected. If you sent a letter and it was returned, please try again it has been corrected. I am hoping this is why there has been a great dearth of letters. If not, know I love you anyway and that with or without letters the work goes on.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Forget-me-not...Conference is Fantastic!!!!!!!!!!!
Dear Family!
What a wonderful week it has been welcoming Sister Martin (from Bountiful, she lives over by Washington Elementary, her mom passed away last Sept from cancer) and Thackerary (from Skull Valley Utah, she lives on a farm and is not used to being around so many thousands of people) to the companionship! It is a little crazy trying to get everyone showered and read and out the door in the morning and in bed at night. We are managing though.
Training is going well, Sister Keys is doing a fantastic job it is amazing to see how much she has changed in just the past few days. She went from being so cautions and nervous to confident and aware of the Spirit's guidance. What a blessing it is to have her helping me with these new sisters. Sister Thackerary and Sister Martin did not get along well at the MTC and were excited to get new companions, so it was a little bit of a shock when they stayed together and all got me as a trainer, thankfully things have calmed down and we have so much work to do that there really is never any time to dwell on that. Sister Matrin has been dealing with culture shock and homesickness pretty bad the first few days, she finally started to open up after the Relief Society Conference, now she is smiling and laughing and adding into conversations and lessons. Em I am greatful that you shared your feelings about your mission, that has helped me relate to her and help. Sister Thackerary is a talker I am praying for ways to use that skill for missionary work, but at the moment we are hearing great stories about her home and childhood. I have been doing 3 hour rotations each day so that they all have an opportunity to work with everyone. Those blessed hours and night working with Sister Keys while Sisters Thackerary and Martin do member visits in the Living Center are a tender mercy. It has been hard to just send them off with those investigators that you have grown to love, but there is no other way for them to learn.
Investigators: We had 5 investigators at Church yesterday, it was fantastic.
Grace: she is progressing beautifully. Sister Keys and Thackerary taught her the Gospel of Jesus Christ and during that the issue of baptism came up, she said that she had already been baptized. She did come to Relief Society broadcast with Catherine. Sister Thompson talked about the power of covenants (fantastic!!) and then Grace came to church on Sunday. After Church we followed up with her about all that had gone on that week. She asked about the Relief Society and Baptism. We were able to answer her questions then extend a baptismal commitment and she light up and smiled huge and said YES! It was a beautiful moment, we paused and just felt the Spirit confirming that choice. Then we set a date, October 22!!
Hiva, was also at Church, he is reading from the Book of Mormon and asking great questions. We were able to teach him the Restoration. He was concerned about Mohamed and him being a prophet, when we testified about Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon being the fruits of Joseph Smith's works he was very excited to read Alma 32 about Faith.
Xiao finally came to church!! We have been working with Xiao for the past month and she finally showed the faith and came to church. She also for the first time to a lesson alone, she is always bringing friends. We were able to read from the Book of Mormon with her, she had read up to 1 Nephi 5 and so we read that along with her and explained what was happening. Then we talked about the importance of prayer and we closed with a kneeling prayer. She all knelt and prayed one by one so that she would have a better example of what prayer is and the feelings that come from it. We paused after the last prayer and after a few seconds I asked what she was feeling. Light, happy. I am so excited for her!
Danny is one of those people that we all pray for on our missions but don't really expect to find. Danny actually called us on Thursday afternoon asking if we would be able to meet him and let him come to church. We set an appointment for Friday and I took Sister Martin with me to meet with him. He is 26yrs old from China but studying Hospitality. He learned about the LDS church from the Marriott Hotel chain. He also has a good friend that was just baptized that helped him find our phone number. During our first visit he told us that he wants to learn everything. As I told him the outline of what we were going to be learning over the next few weeks and that we focus people on baptism as an end result of our teachings he happily said GREAT! He prayed for us in closing and said that he felt very good inside. Danny was so excited to get involved with our members that he came to our day of service on Saturday and made a lot of new friends. He also came to Church on Sunday and was a great help with Xiao in translating what was going on. He said that during testimony meeting he wanted to get up and share what he felt inside but didn't know how or what to say. He has been prepared. We are meeting with Danny on Tuesday and will be setting a baptismal date! What a blessing he is in our lives. He also helped Sister Martin find some hope for being out here serving!
Tia is still meeting with us although she is not progressing much because her prayers are not sincere. We have talked about prayer and faith before but there just seems to be no application. Today we are meeting with her and Sister Martin and I are planning on teaching about praying with real intent and talking about what that really means. I think that Tia doesn't fully understand what the answer to her prayer about the Book of Mormon really means, so we are hoping to clarify that today.
It is fascinating to me to feel that when we really understand that God in our Loving Heavenly Father and that He desires to hear from us that it becomes our desire as well to talk with Him in prayer. I have seen that in my life this past week, there have been a lot of adjustments and new challenges and questions that I have no clue what the answers are, but God does and He is always there to help me along my course. I was studying Elder Bednar's conference talk about Revelation and he said that, "Sincere desire and worthiness invite the Spirit of revelation into our lives." Again it goes back to desire. Amazing how often that word appears in the scriptures and how key it is to agency. It is up to us, we just have to ask God for help and blessings and if it is right we receive. It is a good thing there is revelation because I personally would have no clue what to do daily without the help and guidance that we receive.
I am eternally grateful that whom the Lord calls He qualifies, there would be no other way that this companionship could work if that were not true. Thank heavens He does and everything has worked about beautifully so far!
January 25 is my new release date! Thank you for being willing to have me extend, I know that it is not the "home in time for Christmas" that we planned on but it is what needs to be done.
PLEASE pray for us, Sister Keys, Thackerary, Martin, and I. It is going to take a lot of work but it is going to be great once we all get in the rhythm of things, I pray that we find that soon.
I get to sing at Zone Conference again, I am singing Lead Kindly Light with Elders Hill and Clawson. Should be interesting...
Thank you for you help and support.
Mahal ko po kayo!!
Sister Rebecca Jensen
I hope you all have a wonderful conference!!! Seriously Sister Jensen absolutely LOVES this time of year, fall weather, fresh green apples, garden veggies, canning, and conference. Could not get better. Mind you this year it is store bought produce, personal contacting, lesson teaching, commitment extending, super-training and repentance crying. Either way Conference is just AMAZING!!
What a wonderful week it has been welcoming Sister Martin (from Bountiful, she lives over by Washington Elementary, her mom passed away last Sept from cancer) and Thackerary (from Skull Valley Utah, she lives on a farm and is not used to being around so many thousands of people) to the companionship! It is a little crazy trying to get everyone showered and read and out the door in the morning and in bed at night. We are managing though.
Training is going well, Sister Keys is doing a fantastic job it is amazing to see how much she has changed in just the past few days. She went from being so cautions and nervous to confident and aware of the Spirit's guidance. What a blessing it is to have her helping me with these new sisters. Sister Thackerary and Sister Martin did not get along well at the MTC and were excited to get new companions, so it was a little bit of a shock when they stayed together and all got me as a trainer, thankfully things have calmed down and we have so much work to do that there really is never any time to dwell on that. Sister Matrin has been dealing with culture shock and homesickness pretty bad the first few days, she finally started to open up after the Relief Society Conference, now she is smiling and laughing and adding into conversations and lessons. Em I am greatful that you shared your feelings about your mission, that has helped me relate to her and help. Sister Thackerary is a talker I am praying for ways to use that skill for missionary work, but at the moment we are hearing great stories about her home and childhood. I have been doing 3 hour rotations each day so that they all have an opportunity to work with everyone. Those blessed hours and night working with Sister Keys while Sisters Thackerary and Martin do member visits in the Living Center are a tender mercy. It has been hard to just send them off with those investigators that you have grown to love, but there is no other way for them to learn.
Investigators: We had 5 investigators at Church yesterday, it was fantastic.
Grace: she is progressing beautifully. Sister Keys and Thackerary taught her the Gospel of Jesus Christ and during that the issue of baptism came up, she said that she had already been baptized. She did come to Relief Society broadcast with Catherine. Sister Thompson talked about the power of covenants (fantastic!!) and then Grace came to church on Sunday. After Church we followed up with her about all that had gone on that week. She asked about the Relief Society and Baptism. We were able to answer her questions then extend a baptismal commitment and she light up and smiled huge and said YES! It was a beautiful moment, we paused and just felt the Spirit confirming that choice. Then we set a date, October 22!!
Hiva, was also at Church, he is reading from the Book of Mormon and asking great questions. We were able to teach him the Restoration. He was concerned about Mohamed and him being a prophet, when we testified about Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon being the fruits of Joseph Smith's works he was very excited to read Alma 32 about Faith.
Xiao finally came to church!! We have been working with Xiao for the past month and she finally showed the faith and came to church. She also for the first time to a lesson alone, she is always bringing friends. We were able to read from the Book of Mormon with her, she had read up to 1 Nephi 5 and so we read that along with her and explained what was happening. Then we talked about the importance of prayer and we closed with a kneeling prayer. She all knelt and prayed one by one so that she would have a better example of what prayer is and the feelings that come from it. We paused after the last prayer and after a few seconds I asked what she was feeling. Light, happy. I am so excited for her!
Danny is one of those people that we all pray for on our missions but don't really expect to find. Danny actually called us on Thursday afternoon asking if we would be able to meet him and let him come to church. We set an appointment for Friday and I took Sister Martin with me to meet with him. He is 26yrs old from China but studying Hospitality. He learned about the LDS church from the Marriott Hotel chain. He also has a good friend that was just baptized that helped him find our phone number. During our first visit he told us that he wants to learn everything. As I told him the outline of what we were going to be learning over the next few weeks and that we focus people on baptism as an end result of our teachings he happily said GREAT! He prayed for us in closing and said that he felt very good inside. Danny was so excited to get involved with our members that he came to our day of service on Saturday and made a lot of new friends. He also came to Church on Sunday and was a great help with Xiao in translating what was going on. He said that during testimony meeting he wanted to get up and share what he felt inside but didn't know how or what to say. He has been prepared. We are meeting with Danny on Tuesday and will be setting a baptismal date! What a blessing he is in our lives. He also helped Sister Martin find some hope for being out here serving!
Tia is still meeting with us although she is not progressing much because her prayers are not sincere. We have talked about prayer and faith before but there just seems to be no application. Today we are meeting with her and Sister Martin and I are planning on teaching about praying with real intent and talking about what that really means. I think that Tia doesn't fully understand what the answer to her prayer about the Book of Mormon really means, so we are hoping to clarify that today.
It is fascinating to me to feel that when we really understand that God in our Loving Heavenly Father and that He desires to hear from us that it becomes our desire as well to talk with Him in prayer. I have seen that in my life this past week, there have been a lot of adjustments and new challenges and questions that I have no clue what the answers are, but God does and He is always there to help me along my course. I was studying Elder Bednar's conference talk about Revelation and he said that, "Sincere desire and worthiness invite the Spirit of revelation into our lives." Again it goes back to desire. Amazing how often that word appears in the scriptures and how key it is to agency. It is up to us, we just have to ask God for help and blessings and if it is right we receive. It is a good thing there is revelation because I personally would have no clue what to do daily without the help and guidance that we receive.
I am eternally grateful that whom the Lord calls He qualifies, there would be no other way that this companionship could work if that were not true. Thank heavens He does and everything has worked about beautifully so far!
January 25 is my new release date! Thank you for being willing to have me extend, I know that it is not the "home in time for Christmas" that we planned on but it is what needs to be done.
PLEASE pray for us, Sister Keys, Thackerary, Martin, and I. It is going to take a lot of work but it is going to be great once we all get in the rhythm of things, I pray that we find that soon.
I get to sing at Zone Conference again, I am singing Lead Kindly Light with Elders Hill and Clawson. Should be interesting...
Thank you for you help and support.
Mahal ko po kayo!!
Sister Rebecca Jensen
I hope you all have a wonderful conference!!! Seriously Sister Jensen absolutely LOVES this time of year, fall weather, fresh green apples, garden veggies, canning, and conference. Could not get better. Mind you this year it is store bought produce, personal contacting, lesson teaching, commitment extending, super-training and repentance crying. Either way Conference is just AMAZING!!
Sunday, September 18, 2011
I am training again and again and again... :D
Dear Family,
What a week this one has turned out to be. We had transfer calls this week and wow were they different than I thought they would be. I thought that Sister Keys and I were immune to these since we are still in the middle of the 12 week training program. Well we were not immune and President Hess called and asked if he could talk to me and well I am training the 2 new sisters that are coming into the mission along with finishing training Sister Keys. Yes those who have math skills that would be a grand total of 3 companions. Still not sure how that is all going to work out but it will. On the plus side I have never been more complimented in my life. The Lord seems to have a lot of trust in me and training in the niche that I was told I would find in this Mission. Seriously what a compliment to have the opportunity to train so many new dear sisters.
This week it rained a ton and was cold, my tracting shoes with the hole in the bottom was rabid, it actually was bubbling and foaming every time I stepped down. That plus lack of sleep and stress equaled Sister Keys and I laughing until we cried right in the middle of campus. I love life!
Our Asian moments this week were awesome. We met a guy last night who was sad and we asked him why, in broken English he responded, "I tried to ask a girl on date, I failed" and hung his head as he walked away. It was really sad, we tried to talk to him but he was not wanting to talk. Another guy we met said that he did not have time for God, he was heading down campus when we met him. We didn't think anything of our visit and moved on talking to others, we were talking to a guy that took us in walking loops around campus and he dropped us off in the middle of nowhere middle of campus and lo and behold there was that the guy that said he didn't have time for God. He came up to us and said that he had made a great mistake and could he meet with us. It was awesome. We also met another Asian kid who we asked how he found peace and happiness in his life and he responded that he just had his first hug from a girl today and that made him happy. Asians are just amazing, I love working with them!!! :D
As for investigators there is Tia, she did not finish reading Alma 34 so we read it with her. Abby our fellow-shipper was able to be there and answer questions. Tia was asking some really really deep doctrinal questions that we were able to point back to faith to answer. Her assignment is Ether 12, we are working on helping Tia sincerely pray and have a greater desire to know that what she is learning is true. She has a lot of fear and that is hindering her faith.
Dexter and Xiao are still progressing towards baptism. Dexter is reading from the Book of Mormon and loving it, he is also praying and you can see the difference. Xiao is struggling to pray and we are going to spend our next lesson with them talking about the purpose of prayer. We were able to teach about the Plan of Salvation and to see Dexter make the connections was just happiness. They were not able to make it to church last week because of illness but this week they said they would and they have already met the person giving them a ride.
Hiva, is a member referral from our Ward Mission Leader. Hiva has met with the missionaries about a year ago but he said that he was not ready to learn and now he wants to learn. He has been coming to sports night with the YSA for a while now. We were able to give him an overview of what we will be teaching and answer his questions when we met with him. Brother Cody is really good friends with him and is making sure that he has a ride to church and that he has someone to sit with. It is fantastic to have him to welcomed. Hiva was also able to come to our ward opening social last week, yay!!
Finding has been going well, Sister Keys is doing great she is being more persistent and I know that she will do great this next transfer helping a new sister learn how to contact as well. What a joy it is to see her learn so quickly, I know that the Lord has helped her learn quickly so that she will be ready for this new opportunity! We went from wanted to "barf on peoples shoes" to "Hey how are you" and responding to needs. What a beautiful thing.
Dexter and Xiao are still progressing towards baptism. Dexter is reading from the Book of Mormon and loving it, he is also praying and you can see the difference. Xiao is struggling to pray and we are going to spend our next lesson with them talking about the purpose of prayer. We were able to teach about the Plan of Salvation and to see Dexter make the connections was just happiness. They were not able to make it to church last week because of illness but this week they said they would and they have already met the person giving them a ride.
Hiva, is a member referral from our Ward Mission Leader. Hiva has met with the missionaries about a year ago but he said that he was not ready to learn and now he wants to learn. He has been coming to sports night with the YSA for a while now. We were able to give him an overview of what we will be teaching and answer his questions when we met with him. Brother Cody is really good friends with him and is making sure that he has a ride to church and that he has someone to sit with. It is fantastic to have him to welcomed. Hiva was also able to come to our ward opening social last week, yay!!
Finding has been going well, Sister Keys is doing great she is being more persistent and I know that she will do great this next transfer helping a new sister learn how to contact as well. What a joy it is to see her learn so quickly, I know that the Lord has helped her learn quickly so that she will be ready for this new opportunity! We went from wanted to "barf on peoples shoes" to "Hey how are you" and responding to needs. What a beautiful thing.
What else...we get to set up the apartment to house 4 sisters now, one bathroom...this apartment went from spacious to small. Oh well, still the good life compared to the Philippines.
We made zucchini bread this morning and muffins on Friday. I love spending time cooking with Sister Keys she is just amazing. I have really never had a happier companionship. There really is charity and love and companionship unity. What a blessing it is. Also please keep her in your prayers she keeps loosing the hearing in her left ear, they think that it is related to stress and headaches. (Loss of hearing sound familiar to anyone? She really is my trainee!!!)
This morning I could not sleep, I lay in bed from 2:30 am until 4:30 when we got up to do laundry then I wrote in my journal and just got ready for the day. There are so many thoughts running through my mind, about training 3 sisters and once and leading the change in the mission. Of having SO many prayers answered this past week that I cannot even begin to number them. Our lives right now are exceedingly blessed!
We have been extending this 21 day challenge to every member of the Relief Society in the ward and the Elders have been to every guy in the ward. We had to have them all out by tomorrow before our Missionary Fireside. We have our Stake President Richie and President Hess and Bishop Robison speaking at it, we are also singing. It should be a great meeting. I hope that it helps inspire our ward members to do some missionary work!
Thank you all for your letters and e-mails. I really love hearing from you. Let me know if there is ever anything that I can do for you from Michigan!
Mahal ko po Kayo!
Ingat,
Sister Rebecca Jensen
P.S. Our preparation day is moving to Monday so I will not be writing until next next Monday. Please still write me! Love you all!
Saturday, September 10, 2011
At home in Mt Pleasant again...at least for a few hours
Dear Family,
HAPPY BIRTHDAY EMILY
Well it sounds like you have had an eventful week. A new dog. Wow. You moved on quite quickly but it sounds like Sage just fit in...I hope that she likes me when I get home.
This week has been crazy. Thank you for the package, it was nice, even though it did have a bunch of pictures of Champ that I got right after I read your email...sigh. I have been a little stressed this week. And when I get stressed I have trouble sleeping which makes me a little slow and well I have an awesome 2 inch blister burn on my arm because I was trying to be nice and bake banana bread and I hit my arm on the top rack of the oven. Ya it hurt like crazy. I tried to keep it as cold as I could but we just didn't have a lot of time and so it is quite painful and a deep burn. Oh the joys of my life, when one burn in healing up I get a new one.
The Assistants were gone all this week, it was ridiculous. They has Zone Leaders Council on Monday, then leadership trainings on Tuesday and Wednesday in Mt Pleasant then Thursday the were blitzing Traverse City and today they are dropping mattresses off up north. Working the area with just Sister Keys has been weird. We are grateful that every week is not like this past one. Also we did our first splits with the ward missionaries. It was interesting. Sister Keys went with a girl named Andrea who just got off her mission to California in June, and I was with a really sweet girl named Ashley Fox who is really young but wants to serve a mission in 3 years. My companionship did really well we were able to teach a lesson with a girl named Xingyi and then personal contact, we were able to get 6 return appointments so that was sweet. Ashley just went up and started talking to just about everyone, it was really fun to see how bold she was. Andrea and Sis Keys didn't quite have the best experience, I guess in California they do things different than here, and Sister Keys does not like change so that was also hard for her. Luckily we only have then scheduled every other week so this next week we have off.
Awesome finding story. Ashley and I were talking to people by Hubbard Halls and we met a girl who just looked sad. I stopped and talked to her for a bit, just asking how her classes were going and then how she found peace and happiness in her life. She paused, looked a little shocked, looked down then back up at me. Then she responded with, my dad died last week and I have been searching for something like this. Wow talk about Heavenly Father being in charge of His work and placing us in the right spot at the right time! We were able to testify about the Plan of Salvation and that her family can be together again because of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. She is going home this weekend for the funeral but she is meeting with us as soon as she gets back on Tuesday! What a miracle.
Our ward has been stepping up and coming to more appointments with us and doing more fellow shipping. Although we had a lesson with Xiao, Al, and Dexter (they all have bapt dates) and we were teaching in the institute before our ward party began. The party had not begun and there were people lining the walls and as we ended our meeting we walked right past them, we were desperately trying to get people to fellowship them but no, they just stood there as they walked out. FRUSTRATION! On the plus side we now have 5 investigators with a baptismal date. That right there is a tender mercy. Also we were able to finally hit the mission standards. It looks like it takes a solid month of work for me in a new area to hit them but with many miracles and hard work it always comes. For that I really am grateful.
This week it has been really cold outside, we have been pulling out the nylons and jackets. I am very grateful also for the cooler weather. Although it feels SO weird to be doing missionary work in the fall, I have never had to experience missionary life in this weather the Philippines was always drastically hot. I do enjoy crunching the leaves while we walk to campus. The downer to living in a singles ward is that no one has a garden so we don't get any awesome free zucchini or tomatoes.
Yesterday we walked a ton, our district leader passed an investigator to us and told us earlier in the week that when they set the appointment that we would be able to use the car to get there since it is so far away. Well the night before he told us at about 9:45 that we would not be able to use the car and that we needed to ask someone for a ride or something. Little does he understand that those with cars have class and work. Sigh. We took the bus only to find out that our transfer bus only runs once a day at 7:35am so we ended up walking 2+ miles out to this appointment and then we get there and she isn't even home. We wanted to cry but we laughed instead. Elder Ransley when he found out told me that I should have called and had them pick us up, or he would have let me drive the truck if they weren't using it. I like my independence but I also like not spending hours walking to the middle of the city.
Our ward had an opening social last night, sigh. I didn't really want to be there, we had pizza for dinner and then games to mix mingle and marry. We couldn't leave because they asked us to be celebrities in their LDS version of Hollywood Squares. It was a long night but I am glad that we were able to help.
I got up at 3:30 this morning, just couldn't sleep anymore and we had to leave by 5:50 so the Assistants could be in Gaylord on time. It was early and we had a lot to do since this is still our preparation day and we do have cleaning checks on Wednesday. Sigh. I am tired but happy to be here. Isn't that always how it goes. Last week Sister Keys and I were exhausted and after our prayer to close nightly planning we just laid on the hard church carpet and laughed because both of us had one tear streaming across our faces. Companion exhaustion unity tear is what she called it.
Today at the baptism Brittany asked me if I would say the closing prayer. Of course I agreed, then last night Sister Ricks called saying that their coordination meeting planning the baptism group had decided that they want me to talk about the restoration while she is getting dressed. I am all for helping out with baptisms but I am a little saddened that there isn't more member interaction planned for the meeting.
I love you all so much. I hope that you know how grateful I am for your examples and prayers and letters of support.
Well it sounds like you have had an eventful week. A new dog. Wow. You moved on quite quickly but it sounds like Sage just fit in...I hope that she likes me when I get home.
This week has been crazy. Thank you for the package, it was nice, even though it did have a bunch of pictures of Champ that I got right after I read your email...sigh. I have been a little stressed this week. And when I get stressed I have trouble sleeping which makes me a little slow and well I have an awesome 2 inch blister burn on my arm because I was trying to be nice and bake banana bread and I hit my arm on the top rack of the oven. Ya it hurt like crazy. I tried to keep it as cold as I could but we just didn't have a lot of time and so it is quite painful and a deep burn. Oh the joys of my life, when one burn in healing up I get a new one.
The Assistants were gone all this week, it was ridiculous. They has Zone Leaders Council on Monday, then leadership trainings on Tuesday and Wednesday in Mt Pleasant then Thursday the were blitzing Traverse City and today they are dropping mattresses off up north. Working the area with just Sister Keys has been weird. We are grateful that every week is not like this past one. Also we did our first splits with the ward missionaries. It was interesting. Sister Keys went with a girl named Andrea who just got off her mission to California in June, and I was with a really sweet girl named Ashley Fox who is really young but wants to serve a mission in 3 years. My companionship did really well we were able to teach a lesson with a girl named Xingyi and then personal contact, we were able to get 6 return appointments so that was sweet. Ashley just went up and started talking to just about everyone, it was really fun to see how bold she was. Andrea and Sis Keys didn't quite have the best experience, I guess in California they do things different than here, and Sister Keys does not like change so that was also hard for her. Luckily we only have then scheduled every other week so this next week we have off.
Awesome finding story. Ashley and I were talking to people by Hubbard Halls and we met a girl who just looked sad. I stopped and talked to her for a bit, just asking how her classes were going and then how she found peace and happiness in her life. She paused, looked a little shocked, looked down then back up at me. Then she responded with, my dad died last week and I have been searching for something like this. Wow talk about Heavenly Father being in charge of His work and placing us in the right spot at the right time! We were able to testify about the Plan of Salvation and that her family can be together again because of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. She is going home this weekend for the funeral but she is meeting with us as soon as she gets back on Tuesday! What a miracle.
Our ward has been stepping up and coming to more appointments with us and doing more fellow shipping. Although we had a lesson with Xiao, Al, and Dexter (they all have bapt dates) and we were teaching in the institute before our ward party began. The party had not begun and there were people lining the walls and as we ended our meeting we walked right past them, we were desperately trying to get people to fellowship them but no, they just stood there as they walked out. FRUSTRATION! On the plus side we now have 5 investigators with a baptismal date. That right there is a tender mercy. Also we were able to finally hit the mission standards. It looks like it takes a solid month of work for me in a new area to hit them but with many miracles and hard work it always comes. For that I really am grateful.
This week it has been really cold outside, we have been pulling out the nylons and jackets. I am very grateful also for the cooler weather. Although it feels SO weird to be doing missionary work in the fall, I have never had to experience missionary life in this weather the Philippines was always drastically hot. I do enjoy crunching the leaves while we walk to campus. The downer to living in a singles ward is that no one has a garden so we don't get any awesome free zucchini or tomatoes.
Yesterday we walked a ton, our district leader passed an investigator to us and told us earlier in the week that when they set the appointment that we would be able to use the car to get there since it is so far away. Well the night before he told us at about 9:45 that we would not be able to use the car and that we needed to ask someone for a ride or something. Little does he understand that those with cars have class and work. Sigh. We took the bus only to find out that our transfer bus only runs once a day at 7:35am so we ended up walking 2+ miles out to this appointment and then we get there and she isn't even home. We wanted to cry but we laughed instead. Elder Ransley when he found out told me that I should have called and had them pick us up, or he would have let me drive the truck if they weren't using it. I like my independence but I also like not spending hours walking to the middle of the city.
Our ward had an opening social last night, sigh. I didn't really want to be there, we had pizza for dinner and then games to mix mingle and marry. We couldn't leave because they asked us to be celebrities in their LDS version of Hollywood Squares. It was a long night but I am glad that we were able to help.
I got up at 3:30 this morning, just couldn't sleep anymore and we had to leave by 5:50 so the Assistants could be in Gaylord on time. It was early and we had a lot to do since this is still our preparation day and we do have cleaning checks on Wednesday. Sigh. I am tired but happy to be here. Isn't that always how it goes. Last week Sister Keys and I were exhausted and after our prayer to close nightly planning we just laid on the hard church carpet and laughed because both of us had one tear streaming across our faces. Companion exhaustion unity tear is what she called it.
Today at the baptism Brittany asked me if I would say the closing prayer. Of course I agreed, then last night Sister Ricks called saying that their coordination meeting planning the baptism group had decided that they want me to talk about the restoration while she is getting dressed. I am all for helping out with baptisms but I am a little saddened that there isn't more member interaction planned for the meeting.
I love you all so much. I hope that you know how grateful I am for your examples and prayers and letters of support.
Mahal ko po kayo!
Ingat,
Ingat,
Sister Jensen
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