Feliz Navidad....almost!

Hello gringos, 

Feliz Navidad... almost!!

This week was a good one... seems like I say that every week.. BUT IT´S TRUE!!! I love being a missionary. I really have seen a lot of blessings this week. 

The truth... I dont remember a thing the first few days of this week... that feels like it was so long ago!!! 

On Thursday we had a conference with President and it was good..... I loved it, I always do. My mind is just focused right now on WHY I´m writing on Tuesday instead of Monday. We´ll get to that... patience. Hermana Maravilla usually just gives her talk all calm and serious, but this time she got all tough and read some scriptures... then President stands up and says "I love it when she gets angry!" hahaha 

Sunday was District Conference... I´m not in a stake... so it´s not stake conference. But it was awesome. Another chance to listen to President Maravilla and his wife.. Right after the conference there was a priesthood meeting. I was literally dying of hunger.. Then after the priesthood meeting all the missionaries stayed there to practice our skit for the annual mission Christmas party!!! (That´s why I didn´t write yesterday) ps, I barely ate all day Sunday.

Yesterday we all went to Reu for the Christmas party. There was a talent show, and we did our skit. We did the story of Scrooge and I just happened to be Scrooge........ haha it was so SO fun. Then they gave us lunch, (first meal since Saturday´s lunch, YUM!) I loved it.

It always seems like I´m rushing these letters... The blessings I saw, and things I learned -

-President Maravilla is a man called of God. I want to be a convert to the church, and not just have a testimony.

-I think God put food in my stomach, cause I wasn´t dying, just a little hungry.

-With hard work, comes the blessings. We found a family this week Angel and Bresani. So happy about them. We also taught Bresani´s dad. There are people waiting for the truth.

This work is the Lord´s work. He lives. Loves me. I know for a fact that this is His church. He directs it.

Have a good week this week, lots of faith, prayers, and love for others. It´s the season of giving. 

I love you all

-- 

Elder Jensen

Happy!

Hello family! How are you?!¿?¿!??!  

I´m doing so so super good. Before I forget - THANKS FOR MY BIRTHDAY PACKAGE... It´s just what I needed, just a little love from home. I didn´t need anything bigger, it was just perfect... I thought at least I would get letters from everyone... but we´ll save that for Christmas right??

I also got a package from the Clayton family for Christmas... THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!! (somehow they knew I needed a flashlight). It sure makes me happy... our back porch doesn´t have a light, so I use it every night if I want to go to the bathroom. 

This week was a good one. We have two good families we are teaching. They make me all excited and have butterflies and just happy. We are teaching Cesar and Blanca and their kids, and Jonathon and Erica and their kids. These are really humble great people. I love them so much and want them to be happy!!!! We always have super good lessons with them... pray hard for these two families!!!

This week we helped a lady chop some wood, we walked a ton, we made posters for our branch to get them all excited (I love this branch so much btw). We umm... I don´t remember anything about this week!!! I just remember being SO tired Saturday and Sunday night. It´s all a blur. 

Yesterday I spoke in church. Every 2nd Sunday we speak. MY companion spoke about the birth of Christ, Elder Jack spoke about the life of Christ, and I spoke about the why Christ came to earth, the Atonement and I talked a little about salvation. It was one of the best talks I have ever given.. I remember when I was a wee lad I used to write a talk and just read it, but now my talks are just 1/4th of a sheet of paper with scriptures. Even when I plan something, half the time I don´t follow it. I think it´s better to follow the Spirit than plans! I read a lot in Mosiah 4 about salvation. I love the talk of King Ben. READ IT! I also taught Sunday School. About Mormon 1-6 and Moroni 9. About how we can stay firm in the faith in a wicked world. It was one of my best sunday school lessons too... It was more a discussion than a lesson, and the Spirit was so strong. Everyone was sharing personal experiences and I learned a ton!!!

I love always have the scriptures in my backpack... keeping them close to me. I love being a missionary.

Yo se que la iglesia es verdadera. Jose Smith fue un profeta. Amo las escrituras. Amo la verdad. Jesus es el Cristo, mi Redentor, mi Salvador. Él es mi Rey, el Hijo de Dios. 

Los amo y extraño mucho. Cuidense y tengan una semana maravillosa.

I sent one picture... we were riding in the back of a truck to go do a service project. The computer wouldn´t read my memory, I tried to send more but couldn´t!

I love you always.

The Land That I Love

Howdy yall-

How is everything going?? I´m doing good here in the land that I love. Oh boy was this a good week... aren´t they all good?? YES!

The truth about it though, as we already know, I´m bad at remembering things.... REALLY BAD! I just remember a little bit about this week.

First - We chopped wood for some lady.. a lot of wood. Well it wasn´t that much, but we hadn´t eaten breakfast so I was super tired! So we are going back on Wednesday to chop more. Service is good.

Next thing I remember - We had interviews with President. They were so good!!!!! As always. I love that man. He always makes everyone feel all good inside. He told me in my interview that I´m on his team of trainers and he didn´t know if they were going to give me a 6 week break from training of just throw me in there again. haha... yikes. When I started my mission, I NEVER wanted to train. But it´s fun, and I learn tons. I could probably break some sort of record if they put me with another white guy... I did the math - I have 13 months in the mission, and I have been with a latino for 3 of those 13 months... But it´s always fun. Maybe I will train a latino now, that´d be fun! I´m excited for the times ahead, and I never want to come home!!!!!

We also found a really positive family this week that I´m super exctied about... (already running out of time!!!) The guys name is Cesar...

Then we ended the week off with a baptism of two kids in the ward. One kid picked me to baptise him and the girl picked another elder to baptize her.. Elder Jack is what he´s called.

We celebrated birthdays, I got cake in the face... super funny.

I just stole a bunch of pictures from Elder Jack's camera, so I just shoved a few on from what I snagged... I love you so much

The church is true and don´t you forget it. Jesus is our Savior and Redeemer. I love being here as a missionary. I have such a strong testimony of the Book of Mormon, and the church. They are the things I love. I invite you to love them too. Have lots of faith this week, everything will work out. I miss you all and love you. Bye bye.

What a Week!

Greetings,

How are you this week? I have had quite the week. It went by super super fast. Are you sure I write every Monday, or is it every day?? Sometimes I forget.

Well this week we did a lot of service projects... I have done more service projects these past few weeks than my whole entire mission. It´s intense. Literally this week was full of service, walking, talking, planning, testifying, laughing, sitting in busses, enjoying life, studying, crying, and a baptism!! Let me tell you about this week starting with Tuesday - 

Tuesday - We taught a bit... I actually don´t ever remember Tuesdays cause we always have a meeting with all the leaders in the branch and it´s just what takes up the main part of our preaching time and brain power. I love this branch tons.

Wednesday - in the morning we moved a pile of sand from the front of a members house to the back of the house. It took us two hours, but it was really fun. Then in the afternoon we helped some investigators chop the grass in the front of their house with machetes. It was fun. We also taught a lot.... I sure slept good that night.

Thursday - we didn´t do any service... but we did teach and eat some french fries for Thanksgiving. That was fun. I don´t even care if Guatemala doesn´t celebrate Thanksgiving, I still love this place.

Friday - we helped put up a barbed wire fence... It was just little and there were a lot of us, so we did it quick. It was super easy and nothing will ever get inside the place.. unless they go in the gate we made. I wish I could send pictures... but the computer doesn´t work... what a surprise.

Saturday - Elder Barnes and I went on a small trip, we went to San Antonio. Maybe you have heard of that place??? Earlier in the week a kid called me and asked me to come baptize him. I was SO excited. His name was Marlon. I never really taught the kid, we were just friends. But when I left the other missionaries started teaching him. It was such a special baptism, I saw all the people that I love and we ate lunch there, and had the baptism. One member gave me this wood thing with a carving on it. I was SO stoked for that. It was such a good baptism. The kid was holding back tears the whole day... and I cried. haha. Then we hopped back on the bus and went to a city called Patulul. There we had a multi branch talent night. It ruled. We didn´t get back to the house until 11:00. yikes!

Sunday - I enjoyed church, as always. After church we worked hard too and taught. I like teaching.

This letter was a quickie.. I think. But just know that I´m safe, loved, loving, happy, working hard, serving, walking, and living without problem.

I love being a missionary and serving and teaching and feeling the Spirit. The Spirit testifies to me every single day that this church is the true church on the face of the whole entire earth. It is so special. I´m here to tell you that Jesus is the Christ, our Savior, Redeemer. He loves us so much. If we keep the commandments, we are blessed so so much. I love you all so much. Have a good week, be happy, and share the gospel with someone.

ps in the baptismal service they showed a video called Small and Simple Things. Look it up. It´s kinda cheesy but I love it so much... plus I like the music.

I love you more than you even know.

--

Elder Jensen

Howdy from Nueva Concepcion

Hi family of mine. How´s it going?   

Sounds like everyone misses me... well guess what... I don´t really miss you..

This week was a good one... even though I don´t really remember much. Elder Barnes and I found a lot of people this week, and they are really positive. We are teaching people better, we are just being better. I love La Nueva Concepcion.

I´m trying to think back at stuff that happened... but I don´t really remember much..

Tuesday - We went to one of our investigators house to help them cut the grass in front of the house.... with machetes. It ruled, and we got to help out a little bit. It´s super hard doing, I invite you to try it.

Wednesday - we worked hard, taught a lot. I love teaching. 

Thursday - We found a family of 6, it ruled. They live super close to our house and only have time in the nights to talk, which is great for us, cause it´s hard to find stuff to do at 8 o clock at night. Everyone here goes to bed SUPER early. 

Friday - we taught a lot about the Atonement. I don´t know why, but we have taught a lot about the atonement and the Book of Mormon lately. Two things that I love to teach about, and two things that make me happy and feel the Spirit strong.

Saturday - in the morning we helped a member with his garage. It was falling down, so what we did was put us concrete posts. We dug holes, shoved concrete down the holes then put up pipes and filled the pipes with concrete. I now have a nickname here.... Human Ladder, (escalera humana). Every time we have had service projects, I´m always the one to do the high stuff. It was super fun and I got dirty.... fotos!!! Then we were SO tired but we still worked hard. 

Sunday - Church... I taught Sunday School again. I love the Book of Mormon. Then we left and worked hard. always.

We found at least one new person every single day except Monday and Sunday this past week. We have had spiritual experiences. My testimony has grown bigger than I ever thought it could, I have such a desire to just study the scriptures all day. I love teaching and I LOVE the people. Right now we are fighting for success, but I know it´s just right around the corner. I have so much faith in this area, and I feel better than ever, (i didn´t think that was possible either). I think this is a taste of heaven.

Also the other day I was talking, and I really felt like Spanish was my language. It was weird and I kinda felt like a traitor, but I love Spanish so much.

I know this is the place I´m supposed to be, I love being a missionary. I love you all so much and I´m so happy you are doing good. Have a good week, be good, be a little better... and I really do miss you lots. Sorry for the short letter... my mind went blank. 

-- 

Elder Jensen

Alive!

Whats happenin my fam.

How are we?? Alive??.... yeah me too.

Well I sure had a good week, it was full of walking, teaching, preaching, and a ton of hard work. Man I´m super tired and my body hurts. But it´s all good, I´m so glad I´m here... it´s super hot, and the rainy season FINALLY ended. I´m lovin it. 

I don´t remember everything about the week, but I will try to tell you a little bit about it all. 

We are finally finding new people, people that are progressing, and I´m learning how to be more persistent. I´m loving this area. There aren´t many paved roads, but It´s fun to have dirty shoes all day. There is a hole in the side of my shoe, so sometimes dirt gets in, but it´s better than water! That´s next on my to do list, new shoes. (dont send me any, too expensive) I just have to be diligent in my search.

This week we were able to go to another area in our district called La Noria. We went there to serve a little bit. Man, was it hard work. On Wednesday we went and started building a kitchen, we put two big bamboo sticks in the ground, then we went out to a place where there are a bunch of palm trees called a palmera. We took a ton of machetes and we cut all the palm leaves off and used the stick in the middle of the palm leaves... we are talking BIG palm leaves, taller than me. (once again, the email system wont let me send pictures, I don´t know why!) Each one of us got about 7 and then tied them together and carried them on our backs to the house.... 7 is really really heavy. There are to be used as a wall, you just tie them together.. we didn´t help with that, i dont know why.. but we didn´t. But when we were in the palmera was when there was THE EARTHQUAKE!!!!!! I was the first one to feel it, we were all standing around trying to cross a river, and the ground SHOOK! craziness. I took a picture right after it happened of my surprised face. It was intense. But here in La Nueva we are too far south, nothing fell down or anything. But us north is all shaky.... plus yesterday there was another earthquake, we were in the middle of a lesson, and once again I was the first one to feel it. We just sat there, the one yesterday wasn´t as bad, but there are just some crazy times!!!! Just know that I´m ok and alive and everything!!

Other great story - Last Sunday we didn´t have any appointments, we were just contacting, but I was a little bored.. I saw a drunk guy talking to himself on the side of the road and trying to fix his bike chain, se we went to go talk to him. We fixed his bike chain and I told Elder Barnes we were going to baptize him. Well... I wasn´t kidding, he went to church yesterday and we are going to help him stop drinking. He really liked church and understood a lot, when we went to visit him yesterday he told me all about it, I was stoked. 

I also spoke in church yesterday, it was good. I love speaking and teaching in church, I guess you could say it´s my talent (and all this time I thought I didn´t have talents!). But after I spoke, our branch president pulled me over and asked me to teach Sunday School cause the teacher didn´t show up. Of course I said yes... I love that stuff. I feel like when I don´t prepare, I learn more and enjoy more. 

I love being a representative of Jesus Christ. The work really is speeding up, signs of the times. I know the only way we can live with God again is through our obedience to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Faith, repentance, baptism, recieving the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end (aka the sacrament, and obedience) ((that was all REALLY hard to write in English)). I know that we have a living prophet on earth, and anyone that doesn´t believe it, doesn´t believe that God is the same yesterday, today and forever. He is. He loves us. Even in the hardest times He helps us more than we realize.

I love you so much, Dad, Mom, Kelsey, Corey, Brookie, Elder Jensen 2.0, and Oakley. I miss you all so much, Be good this week, and don´t worry about me.

ps this week some member gave us Tacuasin... it´s like a rat, but the size of a small dog... and I ate it. yum

-- 

Elder Jensen

Earthquake in Retalhuleu Guatemala

ONE YEAR MARK!

What´s cookin....

Well, sounds like you sure have had quite the week and will have one heck of a week starting at about 5 today. 

This week was also a good one for me. Here it goes - 

Starting with Wednesday, cause I don´t remember Tuesday

W - We went far far away to this one place called Las Trochas. The lady that I mentioned last week that we had lined up for this week to get baptized lives there. So we went, some members gave us lunch, we played a little soccer with the kids, I rolled my ankle, and it´s still swolen, and we taught this lady named Mildred. We challenged her, she said yes, we set up a time for the baptism, and did the interview right then and there. It was super fast, and super awesome. She had been to church 8 times and been listening to the missionaries on and off for about a year. That´s why it was so easy.

Th - We went to Mazate (my old zone) for a meeting with president. It was rockin. The first thing that he said to us, "Stand up if you have a character like Christ." He talked a lot about how we always have to follow Christ and be like him and we will have success and always have the spirit. I loved it. We were there till about 1 or 2 then got back to our area and went out to work. 

F - My one year mark!! crazy huh?? We served a family, chopped some grass with a machete (super hard), and cool story time ---- We were paying our laundry lady, and a kid rode by on his bike and asked our laundry lady´s husband if he wanted to buy an iguana for 20 Quetzales. He said yes then invited us over for dinner that same night to eat iguana. IT WAS SO SO YUMMY!!!!!! Tasted a lot like chicken but a little more peppery... yum.

S - We had the baptism of Mildred and her kids, it sure was one to remember. First of all, she has a daughter that is 8 years old, but looks like she is 5. She almost drowned in the water so I had her stand on my foot as it was inclined up. haha then after that she was just floating there, so I just pulled her over to the stairs... everyone laughed. haha. then we baptized the other two kids and then Elder Barnes baptized the mom..... but she wouldn´t go completely under. We lost count, but I think he had to do it 6 times. Then I got in there and did it twice. Finally I just pushed her down. It was intense... but she got baptized. Then we went to another area in the zone where there was a multi branch talent night. It was super rad and me and another Elder in the district did an act. We also ate cow stomach for lunch!

Su - not much happened, we helped a drunk guy fix the chain on his bike then we took him home and found out that his daughter had been to church once with other missionaries (God works in mysterious ways)

I wish I could send pictures, but the computer won´t let me.

Just know that I love you, I love being a missionary, and I love the gospel. I know it is the truth and will help us reach exaltation. I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God to restore the true church here on earth. I have absolutely no doubt of that.

Pray super hard for Miguel Angel and Rosemary, the most awesome and positive family I have ever taught on my mission. I love them so much!!!!!

I love you and miss you.

Elder Jensen

Hola familia mia

Hola familia mia,

How´s it going??

Oh boy do I sure have a lot of news for you. My name is Elder Jensen, and I now live in an area called La Nueva Concepción, zona Tiquisate. That also means that I have another companion.... and guess who is training again?? ME! HAhaha his name is Elder Barnes and he is from Texas. I actually didn´t know I was going to train again, until I got on the bus with the rest of the zone to go to the change meeting, they told me right before we all jumped on. 

That all means that we are both new to the area, and we don´t know the people. But it´s really fun to start fresh everything. The other missionaries left some people, but they are not even a little bit positive, so we are starting over. Extra prayers sent my way sure would help. 

Our area is just a ton of houses and it is SO flat. In the area there are just a bunch on blocks, like 24. Everything is really organized and everyone has a number to their lot, it´s pretty easy to find people. I´m really REALLY excited about this area, but send some prayers on the way for Elder Barnes too. He really misses his family, and he doesn´t really like to work or anything.. he is 100% completely opposite than Elder Rucker. But I have other things to learn from him. But he is getting excited because we already have a baptism lined up and we found a REALLY positive family yesterday.

I will take you through my week

Monday - We celebrated my birthday and I thought of all of you, I ate cake in your honor.

Tuesday - My cocinera made some lasagna and we chilled there for a little while and ate some lunch, and said our goodbyes. They gave me a cool card and here in Guatemala they used to have bills of 50 cents, if that makes sense, so they gave me one. I have a money collection going.

Wednesday - was the day of changes, I was sad but excited at the same time, then like I said, as we were getting on the bus they told me I would train again. Yikes! So we got to our area at about 6 pm, dropped our stuff out at the house, and the other missionaries in our branch took us around and showed us a few members, where we eat and who washes the clothes, then to the chapel. Then it decided to rain... and of course I didn´t have any sort of protection. I sure got wet. It was fun though. Our house is nice, it´s another pink house (I´ve already had 2 pink houses in my mission). I´ll snag some pics. Also the crazy part about my mission is, in the whole year, I have had 2 companions that didn´t speak english, 6 weeks each one. I have just been with a million gringos. It´s kinda tough, but if it´s what God says, then I´ll do it.

Thursday - We worked. We just got to know the members and people the other missionaries left. Nothing too exciting.

Friday - Same thing as Thursday

Saturday - basically the same thing, BUT we had a branch activity, talent night. It was really fun. There were crazy missionaries, clowns, dances, and songs. It was awesome. I didn´t get any pics... bummer. There was also a lady there that told us that she wanted to get baptized...... and she has 3 kids, I think. So we are going to get that lined us for this week or next week. Her sister is a member and brought her to the activity and she has gone to church a lot I guess.. cool.

Sunday - We had branch conference. I liked it. It´s just a little branch, and we just cook like hot dogs in the church.. It´s really REALLY hot here. Elder Barnes was feeling sick, and after church we went to our cocinera to eat lunch and he didn´t want to eat all his lunch, but I made him cause we didn´t want to offend her. Then we leave the house and leave her front gate, and he hurls!!!!!!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH I died of laughter.... then we found out that our fridge doesn´t really work that good and he drank sour milk. HAHAHAHAHA. It ruled. (am I bad for laughing at him??). Then last night we were contacting and we found a positive couple, they ruled.

Well... my week was good. I hope you all have a good week this week. Be positive, keep your heads up, always looking up and ahead, not behind. I know the church is the true church on earth. God lives. He loves us so much. Just look around, it´s proof that he exists. We are literally his children. I know the church is the true church and God´s kingdom here on earth. I´m so happy for this past year, and cannot wait to serve another year. I love you all so much. Be good, happy birthday to everyone. I miss you so much. But who cares right? I´m a missionary!!

Elder Jensen

Life is Beautiful

IT´S MY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We haven´t done anything special, I actually keep forgetting it´s my birthday! But who cares right?? 

I´m just sitting here in this internet cafe thinking about how wonderful life is. After seeing all the pictures and hearing about your week, and after crying my eyes out, I realize how blessed I am. God loves me so much, and I am far from perfect, but He has blessed me so much with the best family and we are all safe, healthy, and loved... and funny.

Thank you for the pictures and emails. But I can´t just sit here and be the only one to be wished Happy Birthday!!! 

Dear Chandler, 

Happy Birthday!!! I love you!

Dear Corey,

Happy Birthday!!! I love you!

Dear Mommy,

Happy Birthday!!! I love you!

Dear Kelsey,

Happy Birthday!!! I love you!

Dear Grandpa,

Happy Birthday!!! I love you!

There... that will get us through the rest of Oct... then comes Brookie.. Plus Happy Birthday to Eric and Mason!!! Also to everyone else who shares the month of Oct with the Jensen fam! I´m actually in the process of a little project for everyone.. It´s nothing big, but I´ll will finish it tonight and send it tomorrow. Hopefully you get it before Chandler leaves!!

I tell the Guatemalans about our birthday month and they all tell me that we are the owners of October, they could never be more correct. I love October.

My week was a crazy one!! Right now the mission is really low.. like, really low. So Wednesday and Thursday we had trainings and conferences with President. I love that man so much! We practiced a lot, and got more animated and stoked to be missionaries. Plus this week are the changes so I think that will help a lot too. I still don´t know if I am leaving my area, but I´m pretty sure I will. I´m sad, but ready for some new stuff. I´ve learned a TON in San Antonio and it will always be in a special little place in my heart. I love it.

Tonight for my birthday we are going to this members house and I don´t really know what we are going to do... but I will take some pictures. Then tomorrow our cocinera is going to make me a good lunch and she says she has surprises for me!! This is the best day of my life... I think. 

Other than the conferences with President, I don´t remember what else we did... I know we walked a lot, we got wet... ooohh crazy story time - 

So San Antonio is right on the road to Guatemala City, and there was a bridge that part of the concrete pieces fell down about 20cm so no one could pass through. So all the traffic was directed up the mountains through a city called Chicacao (my district) and then down through San Antonio. It was a super mess and there were just cars and buses and trucks parked everywhere. So I had to get up to Chicacao Saturday morning, by this time the roads were more organized, there were just a lot of cars parked in Chicacao and the police letting people travel up for a time and down for a time, cause the roads are super skinny. anywho.. we got up to Chicacao and we were walking by all the cars and there was a car with a senior couple inside, aka senior couple missionaries from Guate trying to get to Reu. So we said hi and I went and did the interview. Then Elder Rucker and I started walking down and the second car in line was the same missionaries. So we got in the car and they gave us a ride down to San Antonio. (not the crazy part yet). (background info - Elder Rucker has a friend that has grandparents serving in Guate too) So the Hermana asks us if we know an Elder Rucker... we start freaking out. She said she was going to bring him a jar of peanut butter from his friends grandparents, but she didn´t know how to get it to him, so she didn´t bring it. Weird.. (Not the crazy part yet). So then we are talking and they were from Sandy and I told them I was from St. George. They said they have a house there and asked me where our house was. I told them, and the Hermana said, (crazy part) "oh, I went to the Washington Fields Stake Center to do family history once." So I said, "Oh, you probably did it with my mom then." "well, who´s your mom?" "Carrie Jensen." "Oh my gosh... SHE´S YOUR MOM." Then the lady started telling me about how beautiful our Springs house was and that my mom is skinny and nice and that she saw pictures of our house and all kinds of stuff...... wow. Her name is Hermana Spencer and her husband is Arlene Coulsen´s brother... Crazy story huh. I hope all that stuff made sense...

My week was a good one. My birthday is a good one. I hope everyone has a very good week, and always remembers how blessed we really are to be a family. God gives us families to be happy, and I sure am happy. I know that Jesus is the Christ, my Redeemer, and Savior. He lives. I know that I´m a representative of His church here on earth. I know it, because I have prayed. No one forced me to believe it. Living right is the only way to find true happiness in this life. I think I´ve found true happiness. A loving family and knowledge of the true church. I think I´ve found true happiness today. I love you all so much and hope that you are good this week and have the best of birthdays. 

With love from Guatemala.

Que honda?

What's happenin?? Or as my brothers and sisters from the great land of Guatemala say, "¿Que honda?" Its just basically whats up.

How is everything this week? Judging by all the pictures and the letters from Corey and Brooke and Chandler and Oakley, everything is going just great!!! HAHA Just kidding... cause they didnt write me. I still love you.

I'm just here in San Antonio, right now its not too hot. It wants to rain, and has a little, but not too much. October is the rainiest month, and I already want sun. But sun = hot.

This past week was quite a good one,  as always!!! I'm a missionary, I don't know how it could be bad!

Highlights of the week -

*I taught a really, REALLY Catholic guy about baptism, he didnt really listen to me, but it was still a little fun.

*We contacted a lot of people

*We found a lady named Angelica and her two kids that went to church with us. They rule. We have only taught us one time but they are really really positive. I love teaching positive people.

*It rained a lot

*I healed a lady.. well, I didnt do it, God did it.. here's the story --> Every Sunday we go to a different house to eat lunch, and yesterday we went to this place to eat lunch called Aldea Margaritas, and we had actually taken a wrong turn and found some houses to contact, but nothing positive. So we went back the way we came and we passed by this house of a member and there was tons of people inside, and they called us in. Turns out that the lady fainted and her son carried her back to her house and she had been out for about an hour and a half... crazy. So we gave her a blessing and about 10 minutes later she was back to normal. It was pretty crazy. She usually faints when she gets super mad, but usually comes back. But luckily for us, and for her, if we hadnt taken the wrong turn, we wouldnt have seen her or been able to help her. I remember even looking down the right alleyway we were supposed to go down and I remember thinking that it didnt look right, and it was a place I had been down about 30 times, but I just kept walking. The Lord works in misterious ways.

*Another area in my district had a baptism and when I did the interview, the lady wanted me to baptize her. So I did. (fotos included)

*We are teaching a 22 year old girl that has a ton of questions (I love questions) but we were there in the member's house teaching her and it was my turn to share the first vision, so I shared it. I hadn't ever felt the Spirit so strong in one lesson. I almost started crying, the member almost started crying, and the investigator almost started crying. I felt so so happy and just wanted to sit there in silence. Even another evidence that the church is true, and that Joseph Smith is the prophet of the restoration.

That was my week in a few brief sentences. It was a good week. I love being a missionary. The hardest thing is trying to find the people that are waiting for us. Its tough, but there aint nothin worth doing that was easy. (Elder Rucker has that written on his planner). I love Cowboy wisdom. I love this kid.

The church is true, I know it. I could never deny it, and I will never ever leave it. Open your mouth and share the gospel at least one time this week. Cherish your testimonies, and if you dont have one, GET ONE! All you have to do is read, think, and pray and ask God. He listens and loves us, and He always answers.

I miss you guys tons, but it's almost like I haven't seen you for about a year.... oh wait..... I plan to make this year even better than the first one. Wish me luck.

Changes are coming up the 24th. There is a 94% chance that I'm leaving my beloved town of San Antonio. We'll see how it goes. 

PS There is a member in my ward that has a sister that lives on the other side of Guatemala... the missionary assigned in her ward just happens to be Elder Chad Call.... oh man what a small world, and even smaller Guatemala.

PS We might be going to the temple this Friday (pray for that) and Im going to buy a whole ton of stuff. (aka garments, and other stuff maybe... good thing you didnt send me any, plus they are cheaper here).

I love you so so much, be good, and have a good week!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

¿Que tal?

¿Que tal?

How are you??

I´m doing so so good. This week was a crazy one. I was thinking about my work for the past week this week and I relized I was only in my area for 2 full days of work. Let me tell you why..

Monday - P-day, I hope you got last weeks letter. Sorry, I was too ambitious trying to send 8 pictures and I´m only allowed to send 5 or 6 I think..

Tuesday - I worked in my area.... But I dont really remember what we did... but we worked.

Wednesday - I went to Reu for a District Leader meeting, man I just love hearing from President. I love that man. He is called of God to teach us and guide us. He was in a super good mood, joking the whole time and just being funny. He even interrupted one of the assistants that was talking just to say there were three types of pressure - divine pressure, pressure that isn´t divine, and pressure inside the stomach. Oh man it was good. But we really learned tons and everytime I listen to him my testimony and love for the gospel is strengthened. He showed us pictures of his branch where he was baptized. When he got baptized there were 5 in the branch, and three months later he was branch president. Then he showed us a picture of 8-9 months after his baptism of a branch of 40-50 people. Then another picture of the two stakes that are there in his town where he was baptized. The church is true, and growing. Then another picture of the day when he and Hermana Maravilla were sealed... they were skinny.

Thursday - I went to Samayac, an area in my district. I did an interview and we found a whole bunch of new people. I loved that day cause we worked hard, it didn´t rain, and I was just happy. I like Samayac.

Friday - The second full day of work in my area. We got a reference from a member for a little family, so we went with them to teach them, and it was GREAT! They live right by the cemetary and one of the members we were with has the biggest fear of cemetaries.... oh man it was SO funny. She almost started crying, but was laughing at the same time. We couldn´t help but make fun of her a little bit. (weird fear, am I right)?

Saturday and Sunday - CONFERENCE!!!!!!!! We got our own seperate english room, and just watched some conference all day. I loved the talk from M. Russell Ballard about the bees and honey. I have made it a goal to make the world more sweet, even though I´m just one person. I basically loved every single talk.. and I forgot to look over my notes to pick out my other favorites. There was another one that I loved by some 70 on Sunday... I don´t remember his name. Of course all of them were good, but I tried picking out stuff so I could be a better missionary.

Personal experience - I used to think it was weird when people used to say that they cherish their testimony or something like that. But these past few weeks I have learned so much, gained so much faith, and grown so much that I can finally say, "I CHERISH MY TESTIMONY." I never pass up the opportunity to share it these days. I know for a fact that God loves me, and you. We are His patojos, (kids). I know that His kingdom is here on earth, after being restored once again through Joseph Smith. I love the church, I love my Savior, Redeemer, Teacher, and I know that He lives. I have started whistling or humming hymns, it makes me feel happy.. and my favorite ones to sing or hum are, "If the Savior stood beside me," and, "Teach me to walk in the Light." I love those two. I´m so grateful for my mission. I love Guatemalans so much. 

Im so lucky, cause anytime I want fried chicken, there is always a little place to buy some!!! HAHA everyone just eats a ton of fried chicken. Well that´s it for another week... I love you all so so much. I hope everyone has a good week. 

Make the world a little sweeter, even if it´s just 1/12th of a teaspoon, just do it. God will bless you. Be good, and share the gospel with everyone. I love you so much!!!!!!!

-- 

Elder Jensen

Trials Make Us Stronger

Hello my dear family and friends.

Elder Jensen here, sitting in an internet cafe, soaking wet (its raining, suprise!).. But just reflecting and thinking about the things I want to write. I would say I just got done living the best week of my life, but it wasn´t all that great, but I learned more than any other week in my mission. Here it goes..

So lately (about a month) I have been in a funk. I have been stressed, without many desires to work, I stopped studying my Book of Mormon every day and I just wasn´t the missionary that I was, and want to be. It was hard. I felt stuck and I was just walked around town with a headache all day. But this week has changed my mission and my life!

In the beginning of the week nothing really happened that was that special, just working hard. But, Thursday we had a meeting with President Maravilla. That man is called of God, I know it. I love him so much. I always feel better after hearing him. He talked about agency and about how each one of us are sons and daughters of God. We always say that, but do we really understand it?? Do we really think and know and act like we are sons of Him and have the potential to become like Him?? Wow I was stoked. I love that man. Thursday was good, but it wasn´t the part where I learned the most..

I will take us back two or three weeks... There is this guy that is a friend of some members named Jose, and everyone calls him Chepe Cuchillo. Everyone in town knows him. We found out 2 weeks ago that he was a member of the church, and hadn´t gone since he had like 12 or 13 years. So we invited him and his son Chepito to church. So they went last week. It was awesome, they really liked it and the son REALLY liked it. Chepito is 12. So later we went to go talk to them both about the church, and we taught the son a little bit about baptism and they said they would talk about it between the two of them the decision they were going to take. After that we went back a few days later, and couldn´t find them until Friday in the afternoon, but they were busy so we just said hi, and invited them to church again, they said they were going to go. Then Saturday in the morning we found out the Chepito (the son) had been in a scooter accident and had died, along with another less active member that wanted to start going back to church again. Oh man I was super super sad. We went to the funeral Saturday night and supported Chepe and the other member family. Now Chepe Cuchillo is all alone, no more kids, and his wife died 8 years ago. Please pray for Jose. Super sad story, BUT every trial is for our good right?? What did I learn from this experience??

I learned that God loves us, each one of us. We are His sons and daughters. What President Maravilla talked about, is what I have been thinking about a lot, God loves us. He wants us to be happy and wants us to have the truth here on the earth. He gave us the Plan of Salvation because he loves us so much. We know where we came from, why we are here on earth, and where we are going. We never know when this life will end, WE NEED TO BE PREPARED FOR THE NEXT LIFE. Saturday in the morning, before we found out, I had studied Alma 34. I invite you to study it. God has a plan for us, everything happens for a reason. How would we feel if our kids stopped talking to us? Please pray to God, he wants to hear from you, he misses you and wants to bless you. We are so so lucky here on this earth that God has restored His church once again, so we have the fulness of His gospel and can reach exaltation one day. My heart is full of love towards these people and towards you. Please be better than you were last week, and continue to be better every week. Poco a poco we can become better, all you need to do is start somewhere. I cannot put into words how blessed we are and how much I really love each one of you. I love you so much and miss you, but I never wanna come home. I had a dream last night that I was home, but I was bawling my eyes out. I hope you can be missionaries through your examples and testimonies. I seriously love you so much. Don´t worry about me, I´m healthy, happy, blessed, and I know the church is true. I feel like 2 Nephi 33:12. I just wanna drag everyone to church because I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ps I dont know if this email even makes sense, I feel like I just spilled a cup of alphabet soup on the screen. Who cares, at least its in english right?!?! I love you

-- 

Elder Jensen

Lots of Pictures!

What´s happenin my fammmm.

Just here in the motherland, one week full of stuff... This past week Guatemala celebrated it’s independence. It was just a great week, and I am sure proud to be Chapin. But for reals it made me love this place even more. I love all the culture and the things they do. There were parades every morning at 8 o clock in San Antonio. All the kids in schools walk around the city and just carry around flags and there are bands and jammin music... but the only day we watched the parade was Saturday in the morning. It was fun, members invited us to watch it with them and then we went and ate breakfast at their house. I just love this place. I sent a little taste of the parade, aka pictures. 

Also this week we had a ward activity. Comida tipica, aka Guatemala food. There were a few investigators there so it was good. The primary sang and danced, we sang the Guatemalan National Anthem, we got all prideful to be Guatemaltecos. I love this place. There are a few pictures of that night too.

There is also a picture of me about to eat a colorful little chick. Our cocinera has some and I´m obsessed with them… cause they are colors.... it’s not natural.

Other than those two fun things we walked a lot, got wet, taught a lot, and nothing really special happened. It was a good week of work though. I went to Chicacao this week and did divisions there, it was fun. I’m learning tons, but more than anything I’m helping the people that I love so much. Everything the Guatemalans do, I love. The way they are, the way they talk, what they wear. I’m just fascinated by the culture and everything and I just love it. I know this message that I share helps Guatemalans, Russians, Americans, Eskimos, Africans, and every other race on the face of the earth. It’s for everyone, it doesn’t matter rich poor ugly or handsome. It is the true church of our Savior Jesus Christ here on this earth.

I just have enough time to send more pictures; sorry this letter was not that great. Just know that I’m doing good, working hard, speaking Spanish, loving and serving the people. I’m healthy, safe, and I know that I’m doing the right things. I love you all so much, especially Oakley.

ps. Corey, write me!

 

Elder Jensen

September

Helllllooooooooooooooooo Familyyyy...

How are you?? Here I am in Guatemala, still working hard and trying my best. What a week did I have.... It went by in a snap, and not really a whole lot happened, but it was a memorable week. BUT, things I forgot to tell you all from last week... Elder Rucker and I had to wash our own clothes…by hand. Our laundry lady hurt her arm, so we did it. I also pressed all my shirts. It was funny. But now we have a new laundry lady, hopefully I never have to do that again. Ok cool, now that we are all caught up, I will tell you about my week. Pictures included, I have been trying to take more pictures. I have to remember this stuff!!!

Tuesday - I went to another area in my district called Samayac. It was fun, I did 2 interviews and we found a bunch of people. It’s a cool little area, and Elder Pereyra and I had some fun. He is from Oregon... Nothing really special happened, just work.

Wednesday - Elder Jennings, (Zone Leader), came to San Antonio with me and we went to another part of our area called Panan to teach this one guy. All of his family is baptized, just not him. But we left without a fecha, he is a tough bugger... But he always goes to church, so maybe one day he will change. Panan is about 30 minutes away from San Antonio in a bus, and when we got done with the lesson it was pouring rain, and there weren’t any busses at this time. But the Lord always blesses us with a ride… we got a little wet.. .and we finished the night off with Tortas Mexicanas. Yummy, yummy.

Thursday - all I remember about Thursday is that it rained, and we got super wet.

Friday - Was a fun day. First we left the house after lunch, and we went and visited an investigator, and I left their house and realized that I really had to go number 2.... really bad. We were going to walk back to our house, but I couldn’t make it. Luckily there was a lady cleaning the Catholic Church nearby. I asked her for the bathroom and went out back to use it. As I was busy there I realized there wasn’t any TP..... I panicked….I had to use a plan of salvation pamphlet... I don’t know if that’s a sin or not. J I hope not... Luckily I didn’t get any in my pants, but we still went back to the house so I could shower. It was pretty funny. Then we left and started teaching more, and these awesome kids gave us a free ride in a tuctuc. It’s like a tricycle taxi. We just drove around for like 5 minutes, it was funny... Then some members invited us over for a birthday party, so we ate some cake and some tostadas. I sure love Guatemala. What a memorable day. We also found a lady with 9 kids, and she doesn’t go to any church, she was even a little embarrassed that she hadn’t been baptized yet. So we will work with her. I´m lovin families.

Saturday - we contacted all morning in the hot sun, and then we had a baptism. Cristel is her name, and she is my favorite. Her sister got baptized 2 weeks ago. That was fun, a lot of members showed up, so that was good. Then we went and worked and taught these two couples that we are teaching. We have a lot of positive people right now, they just haven’t gone to church yet... (there is always something!!!!!!!) But they promised us they would go the next week and the next Saturday we will have a big baptism. I’m excited for next week.

Sunday - we went to church. Then we visited, ate a super good lunch, carne asada with pasta with salad with green onions with guacamole with papaya with oranges.... all that haha sounds weird when I describe it like that, but it sure was tasty. Then we visited. One of our investigators is drinking again… so we are trying to help him. YIKES!

All the pictures that I’m sending are of the baptism, of my house, then today we were in a park, waiting for our pictures to print off, and I took a picture with two members that were in the parade earlier today. Saturday is Independence Day, so they are doing all kinds of stuff here. I love it.

I love being a missionary, even though I’m stressed, tired, and everything in between. The church is true. Baptism is so important, and just as important is the sacrament. Please go to church every week. Read the Book of Mormon, pray, and do the things you know you should do. I love you all so much.  

Success!

hi family. 

This week was smashing! We has success, we taught, we also did some other stuff.... We will see if I remember the week because I forgot my paper with the week summary... it makes it easier to write emails... but I forgot. So here it goes...

Tuesday - We had interviews with President Maravilla. I sure love that man. I sure am lucky huh?? It was super good. I cant tell you what we talked about cause its confidential... just kidding. We talked about how I was feeling with my two new assignments. So he helped me out a little bit. Still a little stressed out but it's getting better and better.

Wednesday - I dont really remember what we did... but I remember that it was good. It couldve rained or something, but I really dont remember.......... 

Thursday - I went to another area called Chicacao in my district and we did divisions. I walked around with some crazy kid from Panama named Elder Lezcano. It was pretty fun and a little break from the same ol same ol.

Friday - We contacted a ton, didnt really find much. We area also teaching three families right now. Two couples, one is Antonio y Maria and the other is Jose y Siomara. Maybe I already wrote you guys about them but they are super awesome. Also we are teaching Olga and her kids... They are also awesome. We are going to have a lot of success this month, because we have a lot of positive people.

Saturday - We had a baptism!!!! This lady and her 5 kids went to church about 2 weeks ago with a member, they had just moved into San Antonio. But we figured out that the mom and one of the daughters is already a member. But the other kids no, so we started teaching them all and we were just going to baptize two of the kids, cause there are two girls that are special. But they really wanted to get baptized too, so we got permission from President Maravilla and the bishop here in SA. It was a super good baptism. They were all so happy! I sent you pictures... one of the pictures is blurry, but you can see how happy I am. hahaha

Sunday - we went to church (weird thing to do huh??), we also ate lunch with a family that has a son in St. George. He actually lives in Hurricane... so if some Guatemalan comes knockin on your door some day, its not my fault. Just hug him and give him some atol... (this hot drink that everyone drinks, atol de maiz, atol de mosh, atol de arroz, chocolate con arroz.... there are thousands of them).

This week was fun. Im still pretty stressed about everything, I have some big responsability and its hard doing all of it with someone new at my side. But I know I can do it, President knows I can do it, and God knows I can do it. I have learned a lot, grown, and loved more.

The mission is the hardest thing in the whole wide world. I think... But its fun, and I like it. I know my Savior lives, he loves me, and you. He just wants us to be happy here on the earth. He wants to bless us but cant do it if we arent obedient. Every week we also have the opportunity to start over. Its called the Sacrament. Other churches dont really understand the importance of it, they do the sacrament one time a month or one time a year. We do it 52 times a year... well a little less. But still, it is the opportunity that we have each week to start over and get better. week by week, poco a poco. 

I love you all, I miss you.

ps I hit 10 months yesterday.......................... wow. I love you.