I speak Spanish

Hi everyone!!

 

How on earth are you??? doesnt it feel like we talked on the phone about, oh i dont know, two weeks ago?? Those 10 minutes sure went by fast, and guess what? I still love you, and I still love Guatemala. Does it feel like time has gone by fast or slow?? cause it seems like i have been gone for a week and maybe a half.

 

How was Christmas? we talked a little bit about it, but not much.. what did papa noel bring this year?? I have really been wondering, how is the farm truck? Also how is Corey... cause I havent even heard one thing from him... so guess what Corey, WRITE ME!

 

So remember when it was Christmas and yall are probably cold and all? well I just got back from playing some futbol, and it is probably a lot of degrees outside. something with a C by it... im used to the F. haha im weird.

 

Not much happened this week except a whole lot happened this week. On monday we went out on the town to do some contacting for like 2 hours. Just me and Elder Hansen, yeah... it was the real deal. The bus just dropped us off and we were told to just meet back there in 2 hours and go talk to people. So that is exactly what we did. The very second hombre we talked to was just listening kinda paying attention, then we brought up Jose Smith. luckily I have the first vision memorized, cause I said it, and showed him a picture of it in one of our folletos (pamphlet?), and his face completely changed. Holy cow what an amazing thing the First Vision is. I always want to share it in every lesson, because it is my favorite. It really honestly truly did indeed happen. Joseph Smith saw our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ..... So we gave this hermano a Book of Mormon, and got his address and off we went. But it was a truly amazing experience. and it was in spanish........ thats the other language I know.

 

Yesterday we heard a talk from Elder Holland and in it he said if missionaries come home and fall away, or get tattoos and beards, or anything dumb, he will punch them in the nose! That is the exact reason why he is my favorite apostle. (then he said just kidding, it isnt very apostolic)

 

Then we heard a talk from D. Todd Christofferson at the MTC on Nov 22... the day we were flying down here, we missed him by 3 hours. nevertheless, he talked about missionary work... cool. haha but one thing I really liked about his talk was this, "you are participating in an apostolic duty" then he talked about the church leaders being our companions, and then I started thinking about my companions on the other side. isnt it just way way cool when you think about your grandchildren/my children/my nieces and nephews and our family that has passed on, here in Guatemala, walking along side me as I work? (ps, did you know Richard G. Scott was D. Todd Christofferson´s mission president?? makes me even more excited to meet my mission president. Holy cow I love him.)

 

So remember when we got to talk on the phone? It made me more excited to work hard and to be here, and some people it just made them homesick. But I am Guatemala sick. I LOVE IT HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I know for a fact I have the best mission in the world. It´s way cooler than anyone elses. and I havent even been there yet!!

 

Plus i forgot to tell you about Saturday!! Our district was in the nativity, and I was a wise man, and it was fantastic!!!! I had a turban on... a real live one. I will send pictures as soon as I can, cause it is something you will not want to miss!

 

I feel like I am out of words to say..... except I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I miss you... sorta... do you miss me? Plus if you wanna you could write me a Dear Elder and I would get it tomorrow. Everyone who is reading this, go do it. Letters are fun huh?

 

I love you so so much!

 

Love, Elder Jensen

 

(ps how are my email writing skills? what are some hints and tips?)

Hello hello hello!!

Guess what Sunday is?!?!?! Oh I dont know, just the celebration of our
Savior, Jesus Christ. All I want to do this week is know everything about
His life. I just want to study about Him and everything. He suffered so
much for us, gave so much for us, and sometimes we forget. Dont forget this
year!!! plus read Jesus the Christ cause wow I love it!!!!

Guess what else is great? After we die, we will be resurrected. The Plan of
Salvation is the greatest thing ever. I feel sick right now for all the
families who lost loved ones this week. I love my family so so much, and I
cant wait to live with you all for eternity!!

Guess what else Sunday is??? WE GET TO TALK.... for 10 minutes :( But 10
minutes is better than 9 minutes! So you have to call me at 2:30 Guatemala
time call this number---xxxxxxxxxxxx

I think 2:30 here is 1:30 there, but you are the ones with internet so I
dont know!! hehe.

Have I ever mentioned that we have snack time here? hahaha every day at
7:15 we get a snack. I love it. Sorry I feel like you should know that.

I learned a lot this week. Elder Hansen and I taught our investigator about
the importance of church attendance, we invited him to church, and he didnt
show up :( bummer, but we are getting missionaries assigned to his family
so they can learn the gospel together. Families are the most important
things ever. I love you all. Whenever I am down or anything I just think of
you, and I mostly think of each of you on your knees praying for me. Thank
you so much for the prayers.

We went to the temple today, greatest place ever. The temple here is the
smallest temple ever. I love it lots though. I love everything about this
mission. I love Guatemala! I love this gospel. Im just full of love.

My district, District Mateo, was chosen to be in the nativity this
Saturday.. Im a wise man. But you cant tell anyone cause it is a secret!!

Last night we had a devotional, Elder Martino, an Area Authority, talked
about how we need to let the mission into our lives, we need to let the
mission change us. He talked about how we cant have one foot in Babylon and
one foot on a mission. Guess what?? Both of my feet are here in Guatemala.
coolio huh? I cant wait to hug my mission president and say get me outta
here. Im ready. My spanish isnt perfect, but i can understand a lot, and I
can teach lessons, and I can do the basic stuff. It is amazing how much i
have learned in these past few weeks. Does it feel like I have been gone
long? cause for me it feels like a week... maybe two.

I got two Dear Elders from Grandmama... thank you for them! I will write
you back a hand written letter, It might take until 2014 to get to you
though, since i am in Guatemala and all...............

I am way way excited for Christmas here. I am excited just to focus on
Christ and His life. Kinda like what we did in Mexico! In Mosiah 2 when
King Benjamin talks about us being the dust of the earth, it is so true! We
owe our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ so much. This life is so short, as
we have seen this week, we cannot have regrets, or weeks of missing church
"just because." It is so important to follow the commandments and do what
we are told so we can live together forever in the Celestial Kingdom. I
want everyone there, so start Choosing the Right duh!! Haz lo justo!!! I
just read Alma 5 today... read it!!!

I feel like this letter is more about my thoughts than what I did this
week... well this week we studied a lot, every day. We got a whole new
shipment of Latinos, I love em. cool. I love you all so so so so so much.

Elder Jensen

I Love to See the Temple

Hi hi hi hi hi hi hi hi hi. So it is Tuesday.... lame huh????

haha since I last wrote you I have studied lots, learned lots, and loved lots. Sunday was great!! We were able to watch the temple dedication, which was amazing, and Saturday night we were able to watch the temple culture celebration! I think Elder Hansen is sick of hearing me say how much I love Guatemala, holy cow I love it!! Also, funny side note, Have you realized how similar Hansen and Jensen are? now say them in Spanish............. the latinos love that. They just say Hansen Jensen Hansen Jensen Hansen Jensen, and just laugh and laugh.

Oh and I GOT MY PACKAGE!!!! thanks you so dang much!!! If possible can you send me pictures of my dogs and other pictures of the family, I am already sick of looking at the same ones... maybe of ones when we are little and cute!? I got way excited when I saw that Living Christ thing cause I thought it was a photo book, but I still got excited looking at that. It is pretty awesome! Plus please don´t send me any more gum. Missionaries dont chew gum, its ugly. I will chew it in my dorm and stuff just not out and about, so thanks for the mints!!!!!! Plus thanks for the Emergen-c. I had a whole box of it already.... hahaa I'm never getting sick!! Seriously though, thanks for everything!

Now you are probably wondering why I am writing to you today huh? Well... the latinos stay here for 3 weeks, and tomorrow is the three week mark, so everyone is gone except our zone (20 people). They kicked us out of the CCM to clean it all and everything, so we went on a tour to a huge relief map of Guatemala, talked about the Book of Mormon and how it really was here in Guatemala, we went to some huge underground market with cute little Guatemalans running around selling the cutest things ever. (I didnt even buy one thing and i had 200 Quetzals burning a hole in my pocket).... (like $25). Then we went to a mall and ate some McDonalds..mmm Big Mac for $5, Biggie sized too.... I felt like I was in America cause we were getting fat in one of the nicest malls I have ever been in!! So today is our P-day, different than usual, we still get to go to the temple tomorrow, and welcome the new nortes and latinos.

These past three weeks flew by and the next will go faster. Our district is only speaking Spanish from here on out, so I will be able to learn more! Plus I got some great news yesterday! ----

WE GET TO CALL HOME ON CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!!

I will just email yall a number and a time to call and you will call and we will cry and mind-hug and it will be so fun! (mind-hug... hug.... in our minds.... get it?)

How are yall this week? I feel like you dont love me cause I havent gotten and email from yall, but then i remembered its a day early.. youre off the hook (pardon my terrible grammar/spelling)

Tomorrow Elder Hansen and I get to teach Horacio... am I stoked? YOU BETCHA!!!!

Isn't it the greatest thing ever what I am doing here? I dont want to be anywhere else... well maybe I wanna go to my mission, in three weeks, when I know spanish!! Everyone in my zone proabably also hates how I get so stoked to be here and so stoked to go to Retalhuleu. I just wanna give my mission president the hugest hug ever.

I hope yall know how much I love you, Faja, Maja, Kelwey, Cooey, Brookie, Jenny, Max, Duke, Maggie, Libby, and Fishy. Isnt it cool that I wear a name tag with our last name on it? I am so prideful about our name (good pride),

Plus guess what? The church is true!! How cool is the restoration!??? I love the story of the first vision more than any. I have it memorized in Spanish and I just always want to say it in lessons, cause I love it. I love this gospel. When President Uchtdorf showed up at the culture celebration on the screen I literally started crying. Its amazing to know we are guided by a prophet on this earth today. Im in love with Guatemala (In case you couldnt tell) I cant wait to go teach in the middle of nowhere not even knowing how to speak. God listens to our prayers, He loves us so so much!!

Dad, brush up on your spanish, maybe we can tell secrets about everyone else on Christmas!!

I love you all so stinkin much!!!!!!!!!!!

Love, Elder Jensen

Guatemala is the best place on earth!!!!!!

Holy cow I love it here!!!!!!!!!!! I will start from last Wednesday.... I was sick..... food sick... Wednesday I puked in the hall... hahaha it was way funny, I made it to a trash can, but ever since then I have been GREAT!!!! I dont remember any other day until Monday, which is the main focus of this letter.

 

Monday morning we woke up and our Rama (Branch) ((there are 2 here)) anywho, we all piled on a big ol bus and traveled down to the main park/square/some big important building with folletos and LDMS (Libro de Mormon) and we and preached the Gospel to my people. My latin companions did most of the talking, I would bear my testimony or say a prayer if needed, but the spirit was so strong and I understood 80% of everything, which was GREAT cause they are real live Guatemalans. Oh now I remember Saturday... rewind. Every Saturday we do service and we were able to leave the CCM and go clean up a park down the road. My companion and I started talking to a guy and he said he serves and wants to be a better example to his kids. UM HELLO, THATS OUR RELIGION. He said he prays a ton too for safety, so we took his info and hopefully something good comes of it. (It was mostly Elder Hansen, he is the greatest)

 

This week we are going to start teaching one of the cooks here too. I think tomorrow, our teacher has to set up an appointment. But this is the real deal. Im so glad im not stuck in prison in Provo anymore. so pray for Berlave (park guy) and Horacio (Cook). Isnt this the coolest?!?!?!?!?

 

Ok resume Monday - after the park we piled on a bus, which happened to already be full and needed to fit 50 missionaries, and it did the job nicely. The nuns were squished though... haha. anywho we got back to the CCM and we are getting ready to eat and someone taps on my shoulder. It was none other than my best friend ELDER CALL!!! It was the greatest thing ever. He gave me a whold bunch of Guatemalan snacks and we were only able to talk for just a tiny, but I loved it. He is doing so great, and he speaks spanish!!! Holy cow I just wanna be just like him. Wasnt Monday great!?!?!?

 

Tuesday was just a day full of studying and an old devotional from the Provo MTC. All around great day. I spoke Spanish for 75% of the day yesterday. I love Spanish. Then today we woke up and went to the Temple. They needed people in a session so my district was put in a Spanish session... yes, no English. No translators, no English, all Spanish... AND I LOVED IT!!!!!! Then we were just out playing futbol and doing laundry. Guatemalan life is great! Im loving it!

 

I forgot to tell yall about my Thanksgiving! haha It was a normal day, BUT the CCM Presidents wife decorated the comedor and we had a traditional turkey din din and some PPRUNKIN PIEEE!!!

 

Sounds like yall are just bored at home without me. I still dont miss you very much. Except Wednesday when I was pukey I kinda did. But I pulled out my iPod and I was alright.

 

My mind is blank... umm........... I just wasted like 10 seconds just staring. Maybe I should tell yall about the Liahona. Basically the Ensign, but we all get one here, and I got Novembers too. It happens to have all the conference talks in it. I've read like 45 talks already and I love conference. I love the fact that we have a prophet here on earth, who is guided by Jesus Christ. This is His church. Its such an amazing thing. There's a talk in there that talks about the church growing bigger and bigger and bigger. I'm a part of that right now!!!! Missionaries are cool!!!!! This is the only true church on the earth. The Book of Mormon is such a powerful book. Sunday nights we have district testimony meeting/watch a good devotional and here is what I have to say about that.... GOD LOVES YOU! God knows each of us, loves each of us, and will always love us. No matter the things we have done or will do. His love for us is so great, He has given us so much! All he asks of us is to keep the commandments. Never sin, its bad!!! I love you so so so so so much!!!!!

 

Elder Jensen

 

ps I love you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

ps I love maggie and libby and max and duke and dad and mom and kelsey and corey and brooke and chandler!!!!!

11.30.2011 Guatemala CCM

Hi family!! Ask me if I have the most important job in the world? YEAH, I DO!!!! ps Dad funny you should mention platanos, our first meal here had them, and we get them about twice a week and I just think of you all the time! hahaha I have been here a week and it feels like 2 seconds. It is ridiculous how fast time flies, but I wish we could email more, but we cant, cause im obedient. We just got back from the temple a little bit ago, and WOW ITS SMALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Three benches in a room. Its crazy.

 

Please excuse my lack of apostraphies, this is a Guatemalan keyboard.

 

I LOVE MY COMPANION! Wow he is awesome, and its crazy that you know his parents. He works hard and actually communicates, which is important! Last night we had a fireside be Elder Martino, an area authority, and he talked about the power of just opening our mouth, and working hard. then he shared a scripture in Moses 6, I dont remember what verse but it talks about being a lad and speaking slow, just go look for it. It is on the right page, bottom left corner. haha. BUT HE IS GREAT!

 

So there is 6 to a room and the other 4 are latinos, every night we teach them English and we also teach our latino companions english every morning. Nothing makes me happier when my latino companion gets so excited, he is like a little kid!!!! My latino companions are Elder Cuque (from Guatemala) and Elder Rivera (Honduras). Elder Rivera speaks english already, but Elder Cuque doesnt at all. Last night Elder Rivera was sick so Elder Cuque and I gave him a blessing. The power of the Priesthood is so amazing. 

 

I am learning more spanish, its tough, and this week was the first week I actually thought I would never learn the language and I just got way down, that lasted MAYBE 10 minutes because then the Spirit tells me I can do it, I look out the window, and get SO STOKED TO LEAVE THIS PLACE!!!! I love it here, the food is amazing, I love everyone, even if we cant communicate, but I want to bring joy to other people!!!!

 

Ask me if I love the people here??? Cause I do. One night Elder Hansen and I came into our room and our towels were in different places and they were dry, (odd). Come to find out, our roomates washed them for us. Holy cow isnt that the nicest thing ever. I have so much love in my heart for people here. I dont even miss Provo even a little bit. Its so chill here, and I love it. They are always changing the schedule on us and we dont have to wear suit coats except in big meetings. Our district is the hated gringo district though, our classroom is outside in the gym. Its so great though, we all love it!! (they dont really hate us, theyre just so full) Ps me and Elder Hansen are zone leaders. We just have two districts in our zone, all the nuevo nortes that all came in the same day. 

 

Wanna see a cute picture of me!? hahah go to the Guatemalan CCM website and you should find me and find our big group picture. That will be a fun activity. Plus Kelsey, we have been stuck here but in two weeks we get to go contacting in the main plaza and take a mini tour of the city and go the a market!

 

Funny story of the week? It isnt about me but it is hilarious, (use caution when posting on the blog haha) We have an elder in our district named Elder Buck. Last night he went to the bathroom and they were out of toilet paper, and you know how latinos throw their paper in the can? (we dont have to do that here, its just a habit) anywho, you guessed it!! HE USED ONE!!! AHHHHHHHHHhahahahahaha oh man.

 

All joking aside, I love this place, I wouldve gone crazy in Provo. I didnt like it there much, I didnt hate it, just didnt like it. BUT I LOVE IT HERE!!! I get so excited to study and work here, im so much more motivated because it feels real. I can see the vision now. I love this work. Its amazing how much I have learned in a short month. doesnt it feel like ive been gone for like a week!? This past week we watched a devotional by Elder Holland speaking at the MTC on Jan 11, 2011. Maybe you can find it, maybe not. But it is so great! He just screams at all the missionaries about the importance of this work. Every day when I realize im thinking about myself I just get depressed. Im not here for me, Im here for my little Guatemalans. Ps 30 minutes goes by way too fast!!! I know this is the most important thing to be doing right now. I love you all.

 

Love Elder Jensen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

ps, 126,000 people went to the open house in two weeks in Quetzaltenango! COOL!

What in the World...I'm in Guatemala!

¡Hola!

We only have 15 minutes today just so I can tell you that I'm ok.

I'm ok.

I'm currently sitting the the CCM in Guatemala, the motherland. I love this place with my whole entire heart already. I am currently staring at the Guatemala City Temple. What happened to our phone calls last night? I'll never know. But at least we got to talk. I am doing GREAT! My new companion is from Sandy. Elder Hansen. He's awesome. We also get a native companion for meal times and gym and other stuff like that, but Elder Hansen is my companion for study and class and such. The CCM is so full we have to stay in temple housing, It's connected to the CCM but there are 6 people to a room with two closets. We might get moved in 3 weeks. There is 112 missionaries here. Plus holy cow it is humid here. I just get so stoked to go outside.

Today is basically ANOTHER orientation day. I thought I was done with all of that. It's ok though, we're all way tired and don't mind sitting. They let us take a three hour nap. My p-day is now Miercoles. (Wednesday). Oh and go ahead and ask me how great the food is here??????????? I have died and gone to heaven. oh my it is amazing. they just have tons of fresh fruit and agua de frutas. (i don't even know if that's what it is called, but it's just the water from fruits, nothing else). Did I mention I love it here?? Oh plus I sat next to a guy who served in Guatemala 40 years ago, just visiting, and guess who he knows.... Bruce and Andrea. Weird right? I didn't even ask his name, I should have. Ps this is all on an español keyboard, how does that make you feel? cause it makes me stoked. I'm able to communicate with the latino elders here pretty well, I think once I get unnervous I will be better. I wish ya'll could come here. I haven't even been outside the CCM walls, minus the bus ride, but I LOVE IT. plus our bus was just a huge awesome school bus with stars painted on the ceiling. I should have gotten a picture. I was sleepy.

I have a feeling we aren't going to go the temple dedication, but we'll at least be able to watch it. Hopefully President Uchtdorf (?) can come here to visit us! PS, no guards with guns at airport, but there is one here at the CCM.

By the way, I don't miss you.

Love, Elder Jensen (That's my name)

But I kinda miss you, but I don't even wanna come home and I don't feel homesick, that's all I'm sayin. I love you lots!!!!!