Week 32 - Apache Junction, AZ

Hey everybody! I wanna start out by writing something cool at

happened, so Elder Green wanted to do splits with me and I haven't

seen him like at all since my first six weeks because he's been doing

AP things, so I went with him and learned so much!! Wow it was so

good, hahaha like what I've been doing forever is inviting people to

read the Book of Mormon on the first visit, but with him he just

stated how our purpose was to invite others to be baptized to receive

remission of our sins and he invited 3 people that night and they

didn't accept but still, hahah the boldness was insane! I'm totally

going to apply that into my work! I want to share how important Jesus

Christ is to me! I want to center my life around him more and I love

that we can always have someone with us and he can help us through any

challenge that we have! It was crazy superweek was very very good!

Last P day was super crazy! We helped some other Elders move all their

stuff. Hahah one elder had like 2 bows and an Ax and just a bunch of

crazy weird stuff. Hahha Elder Parra is living with us now and he is

from Chile. Hahaha he's so funny! He loves to practice his English and

he's so great! Also a less active had a BBQ and invited all these non

members and we taught the restoration and  one of them came church!

Sorry this one is short and I will be better! You should send me a

letter early to remind me! I love you all so much!

Elder Jensen

Week 31 - Apache Junction, AZ

Hahah Yeah it was transfers! Thanks for catching on because I always
forget to warn you.  The mountains were so green in the picture of
Conner! Hahaha I haven't seen that in a while. I also had to spend
some money this week on a soccer ball and some weights hahah I bought
some but they aren't heavy enough now ;) Mom, want to hear something
interesting? So lately even though it got up to 118 degrees I just
wore a long sleeved shirt and I feel like I stayed cooler... Because
down here, you step out side and you can feel the skin peelin off of
your body because it's roasting in the freaking desert. Haha. So when
you wear the long sleeve it kinda protects it I guess? And it's a lot
better way to make sure I don't get skin cancer again. Hahaha granted
it feels like my garments are under amour because the sweat suction
cups it to my body lol, but I think I want to try wearing long sleeves
to see if it helps me. Thanks for all the cereal you sent me this last
time! And always putting a little extra to buy weights and stuff,
You're the BEST! Hahaha I cannot believe those kids are that big! What
the heck!! Love you mom! I love you and my appreciation for you grows
daily!:) hahaha I'm getting sick of writing weekly emails, also make
me write in my journal because I'm slacking

Tu hijo

Weekly:

Well this week was really good! Tori sent me a thing called Purifying
ourselves! And it's just like something we can do to powerfully
testify and have the spirit with us to teach better! And it talks
about not doing the things that set us apart from the spirit. Like
ANYTHING. and to do a fast from it, anytime we do that thing you ask
for forgiveness and pray for help to overcome the next time that
temptation comes! And wow it's super powerful! I felt it change me
just like throughout my week and I feel a lot happier now! And I can't
wait to see how much more it changes me! Let's see as investigators
goes we've been finding some and dropping some but I'll share an
experience we had with one of them! They were a Referalls from a
family in our ward and it was heir neighbors, we passed by a couple of
times and they told us to come back because it was a good time, but we
went back and finally we were able to teach the restoration and wow it
was so good! Jason, the 18 year old really had some good questions!
He's more interested in the historical side but his dad was so into
it! As we shared the first vision the spirit filled the room and it
was dead silent. They totally felt the spirit and they accepted the
invitation to read the intro and pray! They want to go over the
restoration again so we are going to the Braddocks (members) and we
are going to teach them there! Jason was excited to read it at college
and it was just so cool to see how they were prepared from the Lord.
I'm so excited to see how the gospel can change their lives! Other
than that we had transfers, the Elders that shared Adobe got
transferred out and some new ones came in. It's so hot. Gosh it's the
worst. I never thought I would be thankful when it 'dips' below 100. I
just wanna share my testimony that even if our testimonies aren't the
strongest, we can always make them stronger. I wanted to have a better
understanding and testimony of Joseph smith and after reading Joseph
Smith History I can tell you it strengthened my testimony, if we pray
for specific things we will receive some pretty specific answers. It's
kind of the best!

Much Love, Elder Jensen

Week 30 Apache Junction, AZ

Haha the weeks are flying by! I didn't even realize may was over until

I saw that it was May 30th! Hahah what the heck! So last Sunday I

forgot to mention we meet the Butler's. Hahah oh the Butlers! They're

the first black people I've taught. But anyways they're super cool!

Hahaha he was like "Ay man someday your gonna come right on ova here

and we gonna eat some So Foo (Soul Food)" hahhaha and I asked him I

was like what the heck is So foo? Is that Chinese? Hahaha but no I

then learned that it's something different. We're also teaching a less

active member, her name is Brenda. She's super cool! She has 3 kids,

ones 8,3,2 and the 3 year old was born with some kidney problems.

Invitation for a District VB tourney.  Bring it on!

She's single, she just finished her GED and is finishing up her

internship as a Medical Assistant. Wow. If there's anyone that has an

excuse to read scriptures it's her. Hahaha. But no one does! It's

amazing to think that how someone like her who has more on her plate

than most people can still take time out of her day and read the

scriptures with us. And whenever we pass by her house she's always so

happy to see us! It's just nice to go by someone's house and have

someone be like absolutely happy to see us! We taught a Mexican family

the restoration this week! It was soooo good! The spirit was so strong

and like you could just see it in their eyes! But then the father was

like just talking about a lot of doubts they had and stuff and it was

sad cause the spirit left and then they just went off about a lot of

doubts they have. We also got a lot of Referalls from members and we

have been visiting and some people have let us in to teach! Nothing

crazy but we taught a family with a set of triplets and they were so

nice! They would be great members! This week was a little tough just

because a lot of stress from the areas just like got to me. Then we

read in preach my gospel about how our main focus is to find, teach,

baptize. And we decided to  change how we were doing missionary work!

We were helping out the English ward with a lot of less-active work,

but we just have too much to do!!! And it kinda helped me realize that

the Lord will always be happy with my 

Check out the white peacocks.

work. I shouldn't be focused on pleasing other people.  I am only accountable to the Lord. As long as I am trying my hardest. I love you all! Thanks for everything you help me through! I love you all so much! I am so grateful that we have The sacrifice of Jesus Christ to help us in our life. And I love the peace that comes from the Knowledge that Christ Lives and he died for us. I

can feel it in my heart. He lives!!! And because he Lives so will we!!! Love you family! I try to pray for you all everyday!:)

Elder Jensen

Week 29 - Apache Junction, AZ

How was Conner's Birthday?? Did he have lots of fun?? Haha I loved the

pics Beck sent! How's Good Ole Wisconsin!? Is it Hot and Muggy?? If

it's noticeable, you should send pics of the Fireflies!

This week was alright, We had tons of meetings so we didn't get to

spend tons of time out working but it was still super fun! So we were trying to split the time up in the wards and accidentally just got sucked into doing a lot of work in the English Ward and we actually found a couple of families that are kind of interested! Super Cool!

So me and Elder Parrella went on exchanges and since the Spanish branch we serve in covers from AJ out to the rest of our mission we had to go out to Superior and Kearny (two little tiny mining towns) to go see if there was any work! Hahha there wasn't. But the drive was super cool! We tried Fried Oreos... Oh snap. So Good!

Also this week I got a surprise call from Elder Fairholm saying that Isidro wanted me to baptize him! So I was super blessed to be able to do that for him!

Wow I am learning a lot of patience! Haha a lot of patience with the

people I am working with, the investigators, and the missionaries.

Haha whenever I get frustrated or mad I just think... I wouldn't yell

at my kids so I won't yell at them. Sorry this email is lame. Hahaha I

just don't know what else to say

Good to hear you made it safely there in PDC! Send pics! Hahaha I'm

sure that drive was... Fun.  I was so surprised to baptize Isidro! But

I was so happy!:) um... He hike took like 1.5 to get to the top. (It

wasn't much compared to Baer Canyon) hahaha no it was good but nothing

compared to that. Ok I'll use it all! Thanks mom! Love ya! Make sure

to tell Grandma that I send my love! Tell her I miss her!

Week 28 - Apache Junction, AZ

Wow this week was great! Elder Vo helps me and inspires me to talk
with everyone! Haha he was like "Elder, I wanna get a door slammed in
my face" hahaha we did btw. But it was so great to talk with everyone,
even white people! Haha I have always been good with talking with
Mexicans cause they are usually nicer and more humble but I love
talking with everyone! Even the white people. Hahaha.

We street contacted this guy and we were just talking with him and I
saw 2 corn hole tables! So I was like let's play! Hahah we made a deal
that if I won he would listen to us... I prayed and played with
faith.... But I got destroyed. Hahaha turns out that's how he kind of
makes his living... He owns a roofing company but then he goes to Corn
Hole tournaments and wins like 60,000 dollars. Hahahha I was expecting
it to be like a crazy story where I won then he listened then he got
baptized.... Sike! Hahha but he did say we could come back to play.




We hiked Flat-Iron today! It was super tiring but it was my first hike
in a while! I'll send pictures. It looks over the whole valley.

Lately it's been on my mind talking about humility. And I love Mosiah
4:11-12! I love knowing that we always have our Heavenly Father

watching over me! And how humbling it is to realize how blessed we
are. Hahah I can't even type how I'm feeling but it's just something
that I love! Everything starts with humility! When we are humble, we
can know of great things to come to pass! Love you all! Have a great
week! Be safe!
Elder Jensen

Week 27 - Apache Junction, AZ

It was so awesome to talk with you guys! Haha it's so crazy how fast
time flies! I can't believe I only have two more times doing that...
Weird haha.

This week was pretty good! We were super blessed with new
investigators! Only in the Spanish Branch though.. I feel bad because
I want to work hard in the Twin Knolls ward, it's just that There's so
much work in the Spanish side! Yesterday we spoke in the English ward,
the Spanish branch needs a lot of help. Haha I'm not gonna lie. It's
super disorganized and not very many people go to church. So I'm gonna
ask president for advice.

We've been meeting lots of people in the ward but nothing crazy. Sike,
scratch that. We ran into a guy That drives ships for Nissan and he
drives the boats all over the world! And he's talked with Missionaries
all over the world and has read the Book of Mormon 10 times and he
likes to read it because it brings him closer to God. Wow! We have a
lesson tonight and we're gonna get all his info to teach him over the
internet because he leaves for 1 year on Tuesday! But he so cool so
hopefully we can teach him over the interwebs!

Also so we were in our first district meeting and there's a sister
from the Philippines and I felt prompted to ask her where she's
from... She was from Cebu City! It was so awesome to talk with her and
she was speaking Cebuano and there's so much Spanish in Cebuano! And
she said that mostly everyone down there can understand Spanish!

I just wanna share the best experience I've had on my mission yet! I
have had some great experiences on my mission that has strengthened my
testimony! But with those experiences it brings lots more questions, I
had tons of questions and I felt like I hadn't truly received a answer
if the Book of Mormon was true, I have had good experiences with the
book but when I prayed about it when I finished it I didn't feel like
I received an answer. The reason why I think so is because I prayed to
check it off. I didn't truly want to know for myself. But this week I
prayed wanting to know for myself and Holy cow! The book is true! I
can't describe exactly what it is! I can't describe to you what salt
tastes like. But I can sure tell you that it's worth it to be out
here. I love that booK and I'm so grateful what everyone did so that
we can be blessed to have the book with us here! I love you all and
the gospel and our family is the most important thing to me. I
encourage you all to frequently pray if you want to know for yourself!

Love you all!

Week 26 - Apache Junction, AZ

Sorry I didn't have like anytime last week! We had to move all of our
stuff and it was so busy! Elder Vo is so great! He's from San
Francisco and he likes to hip hop dance! He loves to work hard and he
wants to learn! There's nothing more a Trainer could ask for! So
Apache Junction... Hahah it's harder, it's more just different.
There's a lot of nicer apartments and not a ton of people outside and
stuff.. Ugh it's just different and I'll have to adapt! But we have a
Truck! Haha it's a Nissan Frontier! It's super nice and fun! We have
an English Ward with TONS of work in it! And we have the Adobe Branch
which just needs missionaries to help run it. Haha. I love all the
members I've met though! I feel like this amazing love for everyone
here! It's just amazing how we can go as missionaries and not know the
people and just feel this incredible love! It's not that hot... Yet.
Hahah it rained a couple days ago.. I think the third time in my
mission. So when should we skype?? Or FaceTime? Could we skype at 8 in
the morning? That's what would work best for us! I saw the pictures of
the Trees! Dang! That's crazy! That's so good it didn't hit the
houses! I just want to tell you all how much I love you personally! I
miss all of you! The first week has always been hard because I've
always white-washed and it's just been hard then I start missing you
all. I know it's worth it though. Trying to give other people the
chance that we have (eternal life) is so worth it. Sometimes I just
sit back and think, how did I get so lucky to grow up in the church
and with an amazing family. I miss you all so much but the gospel is
so worth it. We have the amazing opportunity to live for eternal life
and I believe that! I would've gone home a long time ago if I truly
didn't believe it! Love you all and I can't wait to skype!

Elder Jensen

Ok mom this one is for you!

How's the work going? Sheriff office still the same old same old? I
miss the rain so much! I always think back to when we went out there!
SO FUN! I think I want to start doing more vacations after I get back,
I'd rather do fun things with you all than drive a nice car. Haha. The
pictures made it look sooo green. Haha I miss that. The brown desert
is getting a little tiring. Good to hear the ward really rallied
around and helped. Great to hear Dan made it out! Will everyone be
able to talk with me this Sunday?? So 8 is kinda like the only time we
could without taking a lot of time out of our Proseltying time! Elder
Vo is from San Francisco! We're gonna be great friends! I love it!
Hahaha are you really gonna do a cut-out!? Yes! That makes me so
happy! Haha. Wow their time is already coming up to leave?? And Aaron
comes home soon? Crazy. How's Spencer doing?? And Tanner? I can't
believe I already have been out that long... Haha thank you mom! I
love you so much!! Tell the family I love them! So much! That's
something I'm so grateful for going on a mission. My appreciation for
my family is so much more! Love you mom! I'll look for my package
today! Thanks for everything! Love you!

One of the many awesome youth in his current ward.

Elder Jordy

Elder Jensen & his new companion.  He says this is father and son.!

Elder Jense and Isidro--plans to be baptized.

The EQ president in the current ward.

Two great missionaries!

Branch president's pet.