Hey Hey Hey!!!!!!!!!!

What's happenin??? I'm so so good. I had an excellent week. I love my life.

On Tuesday a lady in our ward called us and asked if we could move 700 concrete blocks up the road a bit so another lady could have her house built... Luckily she called on Tuesday cause that's when we have district meetings. So after the meetings all the 20 missionaries in the zone went and just started moving all those dang blocks. It was fun, but everyone was tired and a few newbies walked away with bloody hands. pobrecitos. I didn't snap any pictures, but some other missionaries did, I'll see what I can do to get them.

Thursday we had interviews with President. Did you know I love that man. He is incredible. Also his wifey. I went with Hna. Maravilla and one of the office elders to check all the houses in the zone..... Ours was the cleanest!!! Hna. Maravilla spent more time looking at all the ties than the house, and we ended the day with a whole bunch of ugly ones. It was really fun to get to know her more... she is hilarious by the way. Just like President. In the middle of the interviews President called us all in a room and taught us... more like a machete about obedience. It was excellent. It hurt, but it was good. I love the way he teaches, he is so powerful. Did I mention he is a Seventy? President Elder Maravilla hahaa. Every April he has to be in Salt Lake for the conference... I will get to see him at least once a year. I'm fine with that.

Friday we woke up at 4:30 in the morning and traveled to a little town called Flores then to a village called Villa Hermosa. (If you wanna look on the map Flores is by Genova Costa Cuca, kinda by Reu and Coatepeque and Colomba). Why did we go there?? Well here is the story -

Once upon a time there was a missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Guatemala. His name was Elder Jensen. His companions name was Elder Reed. They were in a little village called San Luis. It was hot, rained a lot, and lots of mosquitos. But this Elder Jensen didn't mind. He like being a missionary and learning spanish. One day these two missionaries were contacting and they met a young teen named Lucita. Lucita like everything that we taught her, but Lucita couldn't go to church because her mommy didn't want her to go. Lucita was very positive, and Elder Jensen and Elder Reed were sad when they had to stop teaching here. The End.

Cool story huh?? haha... other story -

Once upon a time there was a girl named Lucita. She had learned about the Mormons and always wanted to go to church, but her mommy didn't want her too. One day she met a boy from Flores Costa Cuca. A land far away and she got married to that boy. Turns out that boy was a mormon and the missionaries found them and started teaching them. Lucita was baptized... but the elders were lazy and she never got confirmed... Time passed and Lucita had a baby girl. (how sweet). Then the missionaries in Flores found Lucita. They challenged her, and then explained to her that she had to get baptized again because she hadn't recieved the Holy Ghost. Lucita didn't understand why, and didn't really want to. Then Elder Lezcano heard an impression from the Spirit that said, "The first missionaries." Elder Lezcano then asked Lucita if she wanted Elder Jensen to baptize her, she said YES! Elder Jensen and Elder Nájera traveled lots of hours to this baptism, and Lucita wanted to be baptized in a river... so they did it. It was amazing. The End.

IS THAT A CRAZY GREAT STORY OR WHAT?!?!?! (The whole time I was writing that I was thinking about a storybook and a ladys voice was in my head telling the story haha) It was such a cool baptism. So special, peaceful, and happy. It is amazing how the people are prepared through different ways to come to the truth. Now her husband is active and they are happy.

I know this is the work of Jesus Christ. No one else. He is my Savior and Redeemer. I can repent and recieve remission of my sins through the atonement. I love this gospel. I know it's true. I don't have a single doubt. There is power in prayer. In the interviews with Pres. he taught me how he prays. He kneels down alone with a pen and paper, thanks God for everything, and then he says, "I have a problem with so and so. What can I do to help?" and he waits for his answer and writes it down. He told me and my companion to start doing it with the missionaries in the zone.

Did I mention we are going to the temple this week!?!?!?!?! I'm so happy and stoked. I can finally buy things I need too hahaha.

I love you so much. I'm never coming home. I don't really miss you. hehe. I have been so blessed by being a missionary. We are so blessed. You better be thankful for everything!! I love you!!

Elder Jensen

Hey que onda my family. 

What's new?? Seems like everything is going good.. Extra good!! We are receiving many many blessing from God. Or as my companion says, "un buen de bendiciones." Every country talks differently, it's pretty funny. I like to learn everything about Spanish. Did I mention I love that stuff?? 

This week was a good one. We worked hard, traveled, did divisions, solved problems, and saw miracles. Starting with Tuesday, Elder Najera went to an area called Federación, and I stayed here in our area with an elder named Elder Cardona. They have been having problems in their companionship so we went to help. It was fun and I always like divisions. It's a nice change. Then on Thursday I went to an area called Soche with Elder Alvarez from Mexico. It was fun. He is a crazy guy. Soche is just a bunch of hills and stuff. I got pretty tired. I'm not very used to that. Here in downtown saint mark its pretty flat. 

On Saturday we went to Palo Gordo for a baptism of 6. It was a really good day and the family loved that we went. (They were the ones we interviewed and the just gave us hot water with sugar and bread..... I think I told you that story right??) I sure love being a zone leader because I get to know the whole stake. Everyone here is incredible. 

Yesterday was stake conference. Usually president Maravilla comes, but since he is a 70 now he couldn't preside. It's against church rules. So his 1st counselor was there and the 1st counselor of the temple was there, (which happens to be his dad). It was really good. They talked a ton about the family and the temple and all that kinds of good stuff. We were blessed to have 8 investigators there. Now that's what I call a miracle. The members here are amazing. They all brought them. I was so happy yesterday and I love miracles. 

Here in the zone we are seeing miracles. San Marcos is a zone that doesn't baptize very much. But this month we have been guided and blessed and we have found the chosen ones to receive the gospel. I love it. And everyone is super stoked. Interviews are this Wednesday and we are going to bargain with president cause we want to go the temple!!! I have t been since April last year. 

I know this is the true church of Jesus Christ. He guides and directs it. It all started when a boy, that was 14 years old, decided to pray and ask God. This message is what decides between eternal life or eternal condemnation. If you don't know that it's true with your whole heart like I do, you better get on your knees immediately. Ask God right now if its the true church, if its the road to salvation. He will tell you. I know it. And if He doesn't tell you right now, believe on my words and keep trying.

-- 

Elder Jensen

The Day After Mother's Day

Here in this internet there is a little kid that is telling me all about his video games… Right now he is playing Mario Galaxy #1. He has already beat Donkey Kong, Mario Kart, and all the other games he has... hahahaha he keeps leaving to go play and then he comes back. I love him. He is so funny....

Well we talked yesterday on Skype… and I told you everything you ever wanted to know........ I don’t think you realize how special it was for me to pray in Spanish and bless the food and bless you all... It was so special and incredible. I always pray for you, but I was REALLY praying with my whole heart. I know you might not have understood, just dad maybe. I can’t really explain how it was, but I felt like an angel on the other side praying for you. I think they pray for us. Just the camera quality is better...

I know this church is true. God loves us and He sent His Son, who gave His life. I was sitting in Sacrament meeting yesterday during the sacrament, I read DyC 19 (just the verses about the atonement) Then I looked down at my hand, I saw all the little pores and thought about how much Christ suffered, I thought about the blood being squeezed and all because we are sinners. I don’t comprehend it at all. The moral of the story is don’t sin!!!! But if you do, you can always repent. You can always change. I know it. We are children of the Most High God. We are royalty. Do you think Queen Elizabeth gets drunk on the weekends?? No... she understands that she is royalty. We should understand it, and act like it too.

 I can’t think of anything to write you except, I LOVE YOU! I’m so blessed to be a missionary... 2 years is nothing. It goes by so fast, and I’m so sad to leave this place... but I have 5 months left to work hard and baptize the whole world. Be good this week, and enjoy the pics.

Love from the promised land, Guatemala.

1) Elder Villatoro and his family... and me and some other missionaries and our bus driver (far left) hahaha

2) Elder Nájera and I... he was sleepy

3) Craft making class - The 4 missionaries from Barrio Maya. Making our mothers (ward mothers...) some flowers. 

4) The finished product

New Companion

Hello my children. What´s up?!?!

I´m just here in internet, sitting next to some kid from Mexico, his name is Elder Najera... and I think he is my new companion. Elder Villatoro hasn´t been around much these days, he was telling me something about how he was going home, we took lots of pictures and I even met his parents... I dont know where he is, but I´m sure he will turn up in a couple days. I just hope president doesnt find out!

So Elder Najera is his name, and being nice is his game. He is from Toluca, Mexico. But right now his parents live in Oaxaca. (That´s where Elder Juarez is from... remember him?? My other mexican friend)

So this week was fun. We have been getting to know everyone, and Elder Najera is an extrememly good missionary. He speaks a little bit of english too and sometimes says really funny stuff.... We haven´t even taken a picture together yet. I´m actually scared to plug anything in this computer cause I dont want it to get a virus. So sorry... no pictures this week!!

There isn´t much that happened this week... except now I have another new friend... Oh plus Elder Najera was my zone leader, companion of Elder Villatoro when I was in the Nueva Concepcion. 

In other news, tomorrow we are going to Reu for the new Leaders Council. Now there are sister missionaries that are leaders. They aren´t district or zone leaders, just sister leaders, literally leaders in charge of sisters. They will be in the meeting tomorrow, it will be weird. Now it´s not calle Zone Leader council, but Mission leadership council. President made it very clear that this came from above, and that he didn´t make it up haha... go figure, it´s not even his church.

The other day after lunch I layed down on my bed, but I had to stand up to get the phone, my foot got stuck in my blanket and I fell into the bookshelf that we have in between our bed. I have a nice chunk of skin missing right below my thumb.... I actually saw it hanging there on the bookshelf too and almost glued it back on but..... I didn´t. I keep telling Elder Najera that I´m going to die and that we need to find me a new thumb. It´s pretty hilarious. 

Sometimes I love being a missionary. I love doing missiony stuff and reading and explaining the scriptures. Sure it´s hard, even if I have to find a new thumb. But Christ suffered much more than I have suffered my whole life. He suffered the sins of everyone that ever lived and will live. He is my Savior and Redeemer. The church is true youngins. I know it for a fact. I love you with my whole entire heart. Be good and always love everyone. 

ps: Sunday. 5:00. Skype. BE THERE OR BE SQUARE!

Elder Jensen