Tuesday, August 29, 2017

8 WEEKS REMAINING; MESA, AZ

August 28, 2017

This week was pretty good! No complaints! So last week I mentioned
that a guy stopped us and asked us to visit him and he told us to
visit him! Well we did and he told us he's been inactive for a while
but that he wanted to make it back! So we visited him right before
Sacrament and we read with him in the Book of Mormon. Then he came to
church so that was good! So on a mission the cars we drive have a
certain amount of miles we can use... and we ran out. Hahaha so we
spent our weekend walking but we saw blessings! We found a member that
isn't on our record but he said he wanted to repent and come back!
Then, we found another member family that aren't on the Records! So we
saw some tons of blessings come as we were walking around! Truly we
have felt like the lord just wants us to work with the Members in our
area and talk with everyone and we've seen the lord doing his work! I
love this work!

This talk is really good! It's called converted to his gospel through
his church! I love this part.

Some have come to think of activity in the Church as the ultimate
goal. Therein lies a danger. It is possible to be active in the Church
and less active in the gospel. Let me stress: activity in the Church
is a highly desirable goal; however, it is insufficient. Activity in
the Church is an outward indication of our spiritual desire. If we
attend our meetings, hold and fulfill Church responsibilities, and
serve others, it is publicly observed.

By contrast, the things of the gospel are usually less visible and
more difficult to measure, but they are of greater eternal importance.
For example, how much faith do we really have? How repentant are we?
How meaningful are the ordinances in our lives? How focused are we on
our covenants?

I hope we can all become converted to the gospel not the church!
Because thats actually the thing of most importance. It's something
I've noticed on my mission that someone can go to church every Sunday
but not be totally converted! Conversion comes from the heart. It
comes from our desires. I love the question that preach my gospel
poses and it says "is your greatest hope to inherit the kingdom of
god?" Love you all! Have a fabulous week.

Oh man! THats bad! I'm super sorry to hear that mom! Hahahaha we could've been matching tooth buddies! That's good mom! Getting back into running shape! Me and Elder Olivera have been doing running and it feels so good. I've stopped lifting weights because I would randomly get pain in my joints. I think it was Heavenly Fathers way of telling me I was focusing on it too much. Hahha so now I just lift a little bit but we mostly run! That's awesome! We finally got rid of that gray carpet?! That's exciting! I love the new carpet smell. It is really hard to deal with  people are negative. It's hard because you can only influence you can't force people to change. Hahaha I would love to force some of these people we meet to embrace the gospel. But we can't. We just have to do our best to help them be better but ultimately they have to choose :)   Thanks for all you do for me Mom! Love you!




9 WEEKS REMAINING; MESA, AZ

August 21, 2017

This week was really good! Thursday night we had a guy come up to us
as we were walking into our apartment and ask us to visit up later in
the week. We went but he wasn't there.... but stay tuned folks! The
update will be coming in a later episode! Then on Wednesday, maybe it
was Thursday too... but we felt like we needed to visit a part Member
family. So we went and found the non member dad in tons of pain
because of a surgery he had. We gave him a blessing and he told us
that he was going to have his wife call someone from the Ward to give
him a blessing but he didn't because he didn't want to be a burden.
Then we showed up! It was clearly Heavenly Father guiding us! On
Monday we visited with a family that has been inactive for a long
time. The dad used to be an Elders Quorum President. But they talked
about how when they were in the gospel they still had different
problems but when they had the gospel they were still happy because
they knew Heavenly Father would take care of them. And it was sad to
see how they are but hopefully we can help them make it back. On the
mission tour we learned the Key to Joy! I wanted to share it with you
because I've seen it work!

Jesus
Others
You

As we put Heavenly Father and the gospel of Jesus Christ first in our
lives, then others, then ourself I KNOW we will experience happiness.
It's amazing how it works but I am so grateful for the gospel of Jesus
Christ that gives me direction and truly gives me peace. I love My
Heavenly Father and the opportunity he gave me to be here. Love you
all!

Elder Jensen

Mommy! Yeah we were inside painting when that happened! Hahha didn't
even notice it! Could you tell a difference? That's awesome! They got
to speak the same day?! That's awesome! Hahha I bet she's busy!
Getting into school that fast has got to be crazy! He did remember
her!? Hahha that's so cool! In the picture Man Cub looks huge! What
happened!? He's a little boy. He's no toddler anymore.

Just like your quote you have on our wall going to the basement "Life
is to be enjoyed, not just endured" life is supposed to be happy!
That's why I smile. Hahha. For some reason 9 weeks sounds way far
away. Hahha but it is hard to not think about it. It's bitter sweet to
think about. I've absolutely loved my mission. Thinking back to the
times during the MTC and with all my companions. Definitely worth the
hardships and the amazing times! Part of me wishes I could start back
over from the MTC, but then the other have of me is like what the heck
are you talking about, you're tired as heck. Hahaha ;) it'll be good
to see you all again. I can't wait. :) but I still have a while! This
week we had the opportunity to have two seventies in our mission. We
learned about helping others understand the Book of Mormon so they can
feel the spirit and receive a witness that it is true. We tried it out
with an investigator and less active and both of them were so excited
to read more in the Book of Mormon and they said they felt the Spirit
very strong! Elder Wilson said he read the Book of Mormon like that
for a year with a man that said he wouldn't get baptized. And after
finishing the Book of Mormon he got baptized! And so I thought it was
something amazing that maybe some people in our family don't
understand! If they are willing, it would bless them with a testimony
immensely!

I'm doing good. I do think these last two months will be the hardest
though. Hahha because I, supposed to be an example of how to do
missionary work and be the driving force of everything we do, but also
every time we check the date I'm reminded I only have a little bit
left, Bens email helped me a lot. I'm just going to keep on doing my
best! How's Maisey? How are you? And the Brothers? Love you!:)

Elder Jensen


Temple Trip!!!



10 WEEKS REMAINING: MESA, AZ

 August 14, 2017

This week was good. We met with a less-active family that goes to a
different church. We talked with them for a while and it was amazing
to see their ideas change because of the Spirit! They agreed to allow
us to return to help them understand the Spirit! It was beautiful!

We also talked with our neighbor and she too commented how she wanted
to change her life! She said they haven't been to their Catholic
Church in forever! So we are going to teach her! So many other
blessings have we received.

We've been able to meet with many other less actives and have been
able to help them with their faith! I love the mission it's amazing.

On Sunday we watched the dedication of the Tucson temple. The Spirit
was soooo strong! As soon as we walked into the chapel it felt like we
walked into the temple. As we sang the spirit of god I felt the Spirit
so strong. I can't deny the peace I felt and the tranquility from the
spirit! It was awesome. I love you all! Have a fantastic week!

 I have dreams like once a week I'm a missionary in Hawaii
 baptizing people. It's really funny. I'm so excited!
Thanks for giving me extra money! I'm trying to eat cleaner
and hopefully get pretty in shape before I get home! Hahaha
in theory. I think Working as a CNA is what I want to do when I
get home... but as you know I lost my license because it expired.
 I looked up some classes and it looks like the earliest month I'll
be able to take it is in December. But the daytime schedule looks
 pretty crazy. I'll send it to you.


Going to the Tucson temple open house--oh yeah!!!


11 WEEKS REMAINING; MESA, AZ

August 7, 2017



This week was an adventure. So I'm training Elder Olivera, he's from
Kansas City. He's been a convert of 3 years! He had his adult
life and he left it all to come on a mission! He's an example to me!
He loves to share his testimony with everyone and it's great.


Our ward is the Valencia Ward. It's about 25 square miles in the
middle of Mesa, so it covers a lot of ground. I'm definitely not used
to this huge ward. We divide it between 3 sets of Missionaries so we
cover about a third of that area. It's a little hard though because
the hispanics just aren't sitting outside their trailer or apartment
like I've been used to my mission. They all have pretty nice houses.
So it's a little harder to find. The ward is huge though! I think
there is around 300 that attend every Sunday! We contacted tons of
people! We only had like 6 people in our Investigator pool but
heavenly Father has blessed us so much! We have like tripled it and a
less active family we taught decided to go to church! Heavenly Father
really does bless us!

So last Tuesday as I was getting ready to move to the new area I got a
migraine. Haha it was the worst day to get a migraine. Because I had
to pack all my stuff and drive to my new area and pick up my trainee
and it was the worst. So I took a nap but it still didn't work, I took
medicine, nothing worked. So I prayed and I was like Heavenly Father,
I tired my best but I can't get rid of it. Please help me. Then I got
a blessing from Elder Parra and I felt the pain leave my body! It was
truly Amazing! A miracle. And the pain didn't come back. I know Faith
and Priesthood blessings are real.

Another experience! About two weeks ago I had this sore on my lip and
it hurt a lot! Hahha my companion told me to rub salt on it and it
would hurt a lot, but afterwards it would feel better. So I did it! It
burned sooo much! But afterwards it was great! Then the next day me
and my companion got into an argument about something and as I was
saying my nightly prayers I told Heavenly Father "I'm sorry Heavenly
Father i don't want to be mad at him, I don't want to be annoyed,
please help me" and I felt that I needed to apologize to him that I
got mad. Even though neither of us had offended each other we just
weren't agreeing on something. So I did it, and I felt so much relief!
I didn't feel annoyed or anything! I didn't want to eat my pride, but
as I did it made me feel so good. An amazing lesson learned!

Love you all! :)


So Gus will get home next week?? That's crazy! Goes by so fast. I
can't believe Brody is getting married. That's so crazy. Life is so
weird Mom. It's kinda sad it's never going to be the same after,
goofing around with the buddies probably won't happen. Haha :( When
does Spencer finish his mission??

I can't wait to meet those two puppies! And I hope I get to see my maisey
again! :) how are you doing mom? Are you happy? Spiritually ok?
I sure miss you and dad and the family. I love you guys so much.
Seriously the family and the gospel are the most important things in this life.

This last week was kinda hard for me. I think I've just been really
stressed from white-washing and training and the area is hard to find
people to teach. So I was kind of depressed and sad this last week.

I think I'm also getting a little homesick because all my friends are finishing their missions and it just makes me think of home a lot. And I miss you guys a lot. But Heavenly Father is blessing me a lot we've seen some crazy miracles and the Spirit has definitely been with us and we've been able to touch people's lives. Today I read a talk that helped me go forward (April 2012, mountains to climb) it talks about how trials help us grow closer to god and how it polishes us and makes us what Heavenly Father wants us to be. So I know this is what Heavenly Father wants me to do! There's times I just want to throw in the towel, but I can't. Just have to keep going. I never thought I would've felt this emotionally challenged this far into my mission! But thanks for allowing me to be able to share this with you. I love the gospel. I'm safe, healthy, and working on being Happy!

My comps name is Elder Olivera!

Love you mom! These next months will fly by!

Elder Jensen

12 WEEKS REMAINING; MESA, AZ

July 31, 2017

Well, we got transfer calls! And guess what! I'm going to die
training! White washing into the strongest Spanish ward in the
mission! It was nice to spend the last seven months here. I learned a
lot! It was sad to say goodbye to some of the Investigators I have
taught and the Members. This has Been my favorite area so far.

We had a really good week. We focused on talking to as many people as
we could! It was really good! We made lots of contacts but nothing
that has turned out too crazy! I learned how important members are in
this area. We found a lot, but nothing lasting ever happened until we
started doing what Heavenly Father wanted us to do. Then that's when
the blessings came in.

Well, this is when the last two transfers start it. Obviously
President didn't want me to trunk out. I'm excited to train my last
two! But I read an awesome article. It's called "When doubts and
questions arise" it's super good. It takes about how whenever we have
questions we can't use that excuse to be disobedient. It's showing
Heavenly Father that you want an answer on your terms! But he will
only respond to us when we do it by his terms! In the article it says

“When faced with a trial of faith--whatever you do, don’t step away
from the Church! Distancing yourself from the kingdom of God during a
trial of faith is like leaving the safety of a secure storm cellar
just as the tornado comes into view.”

I've had tons of doubts and questions come as a missionary! I can't
deny it, but I've also received so many answers. Heavenly Father has
blessed me in so many ways. I know this gospel is true. I'm so
grateful I've received that blessing. I love you all:)




Everyone is moving!! Yeah sometimes it's easy to get mad and be onry.
But we can't control the wind but we can control our sails! I know
it's super hard to be nice and happy when everyone around you isn't.
TRUST ME. It's hard being with a person 24 hours a day for 4 1/2
months. But you just gotta do It! He'll help you!

Yes! Thank you for doing that! School is quickly approaching. 
Hahaha. Thanks for all you do mom. What do you think I could do when I
get back? Like do I try to find some work to do as soon as I get back
right before school? I would like to be busy. Haha. 

Thanks for everything mom! My G-Shock watch died and I think I'm just
going to get a cheap watch from Walmart, because I think it's like 30
dollars to get the battery replaced.  Love ya mom. I can't even believe it's coming to an end......


Aguila District