Baptisms and Such....

What´s cookin in the hood this week????

I´m just still here, good ol San Luis. Seems like I email y’all every day, cause the week just flies.

This week was a crazy one. I loved every second of it. Best week of my life... or one of them...

I don’t remember much of the week, and I forgot to write down little notes of what I was going to write, but we will give it a shot...

Monday - We totally received permission for Josue. It ruled.

Tuesday - We did divisions; I was in my area and Elder Aoki had to go to the other area to do a whole bunch of baptism interviews.

Wednesday - We were going to end divisions, but Elder Aoki was still doing a ton of interviews, and one of the families didn’t want to get baptized, so he was there trying to help them and couldn’t return cause there aren’t buses late. Kinda hard to have a whole family fall last minute. But everyone has their agency... So two days of divisions.

Thursday - Elder Aoki came back, and we went straight to a special district meeting with the zone leaders. We talked about our possibilities, received revelation, and then we gave our companions blessings. It was just a super cool/spiritual experience. We were all just charged up and ready to work harder. It ruled. Then guess what we did.... divisions. I was still in my area, and one of the Zone Leaders came, Elder Taufu´i, to do interviews. So Elder Aoki was gone for 3 days.... poor little guy.

Friday - was the day of the baptisms. It seems like baptism days never go as planned. We filled the font in the morning, and then ate lunch, then went back to the church to just finish preparing and such. Then it started raining...... not just a normal little rain... it had to be the whole lotta rain day, where there is a river in the street... yeah.. that rain. (don´t fret, pictures included). Sandra asked that Elder Cieza came back to baptize her, so he did. (he only lives 20 minutes up the road now). And I was the lucky one to baptize Josue. This kid rules, I´m totally going to be best friends with him for eternity. Him and Sandra were just the happiest and most excitedest people in the whole wide world. They were just SO happy…. definitely an awesome day. Two future missionaries right there. After the baptism we had a little dinner with the family, man they rule too!... Sadly, we couldn’t get permission for Kevin, but we aren’t giving up!

Saturday - We were helping the Hermanas in our district all day long, prepare for their wedding/baptism. A family of five. Super awesome. Elder Aoki was asked to baptize them, so we went to the baptism too. The groom wore Elder Aokis suit, so we went to help him try it on and stuff, and he was SOSOSOSOSO excited to just get there and do it. He was just so humble and happy and excited. Just a little Guatemalan guy, getting ready for his wedding/baptism, trying to look the best he can. I loved every second of it. We were in the house, and the Hermanas were helping the mom with her hair, we were helping the dad with the clothes, and the daughters were doing their hair and waiting patiently. This family was awesome, and a future eternal family

Sunday - Elder Aoki was sick, so after church we went to the house so he could rest, and we left to work a little later.

Today - We cleaned our house. Cool

That is my life. Super busy, super full of stuff, and I loved every second. I am so glad I am here, I love being a missionary, I love seeing the changes in the people´s lives. That is evidence that this church is true, the Gospel changes lives. It is the only way to true happiness here on earth, and after this life.

Elder Aoki and I taught a lot about the Book of Mormon this week, it is the truest, most correct book on earth, and not many people want to read it. The evidence of what we tell people, is the Book of Mormon. It is true. I know it with my whole heart. If you haven´t read it today, go read it. (I just realized I haven´t read it yet.... I´ll get on that).

I love you so so much, and so does our Heavenly Father. He wants to hear from you in prayer, he wants you to be happy, and so do I.

I love you I love you I love you

Elder Jensen

Fotos

Querido familia,

Voy a escribir en español, no sé si es una problema o no, pero.........

Oh man I am so full of jokes aren´t I!?!¿!¿!?!¿?!??

This week was spectacular, surprise surprise. What week isn´t spectacular when you are serving a mission am I right?!?!?! I learned a ton this week, and I don´t really know how it´s possible, but my testimony keeps growing and growing. I love this work with my whole heart. I´m not perfect, but I´m so happy, and I´m trying my best.

Guess what? I am quite possibly serving my mission in the greatest place on earth, greatest area on earth, with the greatest companion on earth. I am so lucky and so blessed. Elder Aoki doesn´t have very much time either. So we are learning together, polishing our Spanish together, and being the best we can be together. That´s a companionship right?? The great thing about it, is he is Japanese. (halfie) and I am just enjoying every second here. Wow I don´t even miss one thing about home... well... just hot water........... Who needs it though anyway, right!?!?!?! 

Anywho... my week, let me tell you about it.

Monday - we went to a great lagoon. (fotos). As a zone, we paid some guy to take us up to the path in his truck, yikes. Then we got off and started walking. Everyone here cooks with wood, so there was a bunch of workers with a ton of wood on their backs crossing the hammock bridges. (pictures included of course) There are two bridges... crossed em both! kinda scary, but chilero. Then we were just walking, walking. We found plants when you touch them they just go to sleep, and we turned a corner and we just see this great lagoon. It´s just super duper peaceful, and I´m sure there will be a temple there one day. I loved it. Then we returned to the pueblo and... I don´t remember. But I´m sure it was great. OH YEAH! ate at Burger King. Then back to our areas.

Tuesday - One of our appointments fell through, so we were contacting. It´s amazing how the Spirit works. Usually I think of someone to visit, and they aren´t home, so Elder Aoki thinks of who to talk to. It happened twice this week. But we went to visit a less active sister, I knew she wasn´t home, cause she works, but I just felt like we should visit her. But then we left her house, we contacted the people that live right in front of her. They let us in, and were pretty positive. A young family, my favorites!!!! They handed us a drink, and I smelled it, and it smelled yummy and was kinda whitish, so I drank a sip, but Aoki asked what it was. COFFEE WITH MILK.......... hahahahahahahahahahahahaha.... oops. I didn´t know. Also we recieved permission for SANDRA!!!!!!! She has been going to mission prep, and studying Preach my Gospel, and she isn´t even a member yet. But yeah... we are going to have the baptism this Friday, cause there is a stake activity on saturday for the youth. cool.

(out of time oops....)

Wednesday - we had a conference with President, the District Leaders and companions and Zone Leaders. It ruled.

Thursday - Another conference with President, multi zone. The zones closest to Reu. super cool. I sure do love hearing from him! The man is amazing. I hope one day you can meet him!!!!!! It was also raining a lot. The street in front of our house is called Camino Real.. but we changed the name to Camino Rio... bummer, I didn´t get pictures, but it will happen again, trust me!!!!!!

Friday - walked a lot.

Saturday - don´t remember

Sunday - We found a lady we contacted on Saturday, she has a family, super positive. The husband prayed at the end of the lesson and asked that we could return and asked that he could go to church where we represent. Also we talked to Josué and he asked his Grandma if he could get baptized with Sandra... SHE SAID YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I wish I could explain more of this story but I have absolutly 0 minutes left.

I´m just so happy to be here. I love you all so much. The church is so true and there is so much power in the Book of Mormon. ALWAYS READ IT!!!!!!!!!!!! I love you so so so so so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Elder Jensen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (I love it!!!!!)

1000 Reasons to be Happy

Sometimes we just talk on the phone and I don´t have much to write this week. All I know, is that I am super super super happy. I´m happy for 1000 reasons - 

1- I´m a missionary

2-1000 - I have an eternal family that loves me

I´m super glad we were able to talk and just hear your voices. 

This past week was a good one. Like you already know, I am still in San Luis, but I have a different companion. Elder Aoki is his name, Japanese is his game. (he is a halfie) (is that bad to say??) (sorry if it is) He is an Elder with a ton of love for everyone. We are getting along super fine. We will only be together for 6 weeks. The assistants already told me that I am leaving in 6 weeks. Weird that I have another Gringo companion though right?? President only does that for new guys and super old guys. hahaha but obviously there is a reason for everything.

This week was a good one. Still fighting for permission, we´ll see how that goes tonight. If we get permission, we could have a baptism of 3 this Saturday, and that would rule the world. We also have a family that we are teaching and they are progressing. The other day we were there, teaching about prophets, and the wife didn´t really want to accept what we were saying, but we bore testimony, and asked her to pray about it, and she said she would. I´m stoked about that family. There are still other families waiting for us, I just know it.

Saturday we had an activity in the ward for mothers day. Basically just a great little talent night. The Relief Society danced 3 dances, we played musical chairs, little games, and the young women had some dances too. It was a super awesome activity. I loved every second of it, and I realized how great the people are. Well... I already knew it, but I just loved it.

Not much else happened this week........ umm....... Well.... We were able to talk on the phone. THAT WAS GREAT!!!! Happy Mothers Day to the best mommy in the whole wide world. I love you more than you can imagine. I feel like I don´t have much to write.... except I forgot to ask you yesterday - How´s my girlfriend??????

All I know, is that this church is true, we have a living prophet to lead and guide us, and we are so blessed to have this knowledge. 

I´m still waiting for my letters..... so... send em...... hahaha.

This letter was written with so much love by:

Elder Jensen

I love you I love you I love you I love you

(sorry it´s just a lame little letter, but I´m out of things to say)

What Did I Learn Today?

                                                  What up jammin fam,

Hao r yew? I´m good, as usual, still here, in the same place, sweating. I
wouldn´t change it for the world. My life has changed this week... well...
my mission has changed this week, which has changed my life. We´ll get to
that later. First, my week was good.

It is sweaty a lot here. Not very much rain this week. Which is sad, cause
rain is great! Yesterday was cloudy, but super hot. Wow I love Guatemala.

I finally got letters this week. Dear Elders, from Grandma and Grandpa.
Thanks for the letters, they make me happy!!! I´m trying to write back...
BUT it is a little bit difficult to find a little slice of time. I´ll try
super hard this week.

There is a chance that I get changed this week. We don´t find out until
tonight, I sure will let you know this week. I like change, but I won´t be
sad if I stay. We are going to see a ton of success in San Luis this month.

Last week was a good one.

Tuesday - we taught some lessons, I like teaching. I like the church, it´s
true, in case you didn´t know. We taught the Restoration to one of our
investigators. We watched the movie, and I cried.... well.. almost cried.
Man I love that stuff. Changed my life a little. What did I learn today? We
are so lucky to have the Lord´s church on the earth once again.

Wednesday - A missionary in our district hit 6 little months on the
mission........... ME!!!!! Wow time sure flys, I can´t believe it. Finally,
I feel like a missionary, I´m in the zone, and ready for my one year mark.
Haha. Wowser. Craziness. What did I learn today? Two years is not that long
of time at all.

Thursday - We did divisions. I went to San Felipe with the Zone Leader,
Elder Horne. Every time I do divisions with him, I learn a lot. This is the
day that changed my life, and mission the most this week. Actually... it
was Friday. What did I learn today? I like divisions

Friday - Still doing divisons, we were studying the Atonement. And we read
a talk by Cleon Skousen about the Atonement. It changed my life. Search for
it, read it. It talks about all kinds of deep stuff. The part that changed
my life is our potential to become like God. We just have to Choose the
Right... a lot. Then Elder Horne showed me one of his goals. It is a picture
of the stars and galaxies, and on the back he wrote, "MY GOAL: To make
galaxies with my Queen." Kinda cheesy, but I don´t care. Cause that´s my
goal now too. I love it. What did I learn today? A whole lot..........

Saturday - It was our turn to clean the chapel. Just the outside. BUT
that´s a lot of work. We were there for 3 hours just raking leaves and
picking up trash. But it was pretty fun. Pictures included of our little,
clean chapel. Then after lunch we went to a family that we contacted, they
called us and asked us to come help with some wood. So we went and moved a
mountain of wood from one part of the house, to the other. That was a joy.
Wow I was tired on Saturday night. But it was a great day. What did I learn
today? Service is the best ever.

Sunday - We went to church. It was pretty good. We had 6 investigators in
church. All a bunch of youngins, but they have souls and families too. We
are starting to work with their families too. Three of our investigators
really need permission, Sandra, Josue, and Kevin. Super please pray for
their permission, and their families. Thanks a whole lotso!! What did I
learn today? Church is good.

Well, that was my week. Jam packed of good stuff. The good news? The church
is true, I love learning about it every day. We have the potential to
become so much more than we are right now. All we have to do is forge on
and be valiant.

Other good news. 8 times out of 10 times I show our family picture to
people here, they say how young my mom looks. Mom... you look young, you
lucky duck!

I love you so so much. Until next week!!!!

Elder Jensen

ps, be expecting a call from a strange number this week... I think. :)