From Uncle Elder Jensen

What´s happenin Oakley!?! SOY TÍO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AHHHHHH

Holy cow I am so happy....... Plus CONGRATS BROOKE AND COREY cause now I´m an uncle, and CONGRATS CHANDLER cause now you will speak spanish and we can talk about people.. right?

Wow I don´t have much to say, except wow. All I wanna do is cry.

You are probably wondering why I am writing so late... well this month as a mission we worked super hard, so we went to the beach!!!!! We went to Champerico, and the mission invited us to eat some fish and to relax in the sun. We just got back to San Antonio. I took a thousand pictures, but the my dang memory card thing is too fat and doesn´t fit in between the cables in the computer..... Que lastima. But hey, in a week I will send a ton.

This week we had 5 baptisms... but at the last second we changed them all to this next Saturday. The dad of the family had to work and who knows what else, but I am super excited about that.

Changes are this Wednesday... and I have some news.... IM PREGNANT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Literally... and I'm giving birth this Wednesday in the morning. (that means I´m going to train....... YIKES!). They are also putting me as District Leader here in San Antonio... this all means that Elder Juarez leaves............ super sad. But I am so SO excited to meet mijo (mi hijo (my son)). The truth is, I am scared to death, but I´m ready. I´m thinkin it will be a Gringito. This month there are 30 missionaries going home and a bunch coming in, and a lot of gringos. I´ll let you know about all that. Crazy stuff happenin with the Jensens this time of year am I right!?!?!

I can´t really remember the week... it goes so dang fast. Every week is faster too.

Just know that I know that the church is true, Joseph Smith was a prophet of God. God lives. He loves us more than we can imagine.

I had the opportunidad to give a blessing to a sick little baby yesterday. That is proof that we have a God. It is proof that He loves us. We are so blessed in this time of year with everything going on. It probably wouldn´t hurt to get on your knees and thank our Heavenly Father for everything we have... AM I RIGHT!?!?!?! Please choose the right this week. Remember who you are and what you stand for... and please pray for my new companion. I am SO excited for this week. I love you all so so much, you already know that I love you, but you can´t imagine how much. WOW!!!!! ps sorry the letter is short... I still love you.

Well.... wish me luck.

 New niece...Oakley

Chandler's mission call to Bolivia, Santa Cruz

¿Que tal?

What´s up my fam??

What are you doing?

I´m doing super good this week!!! I sure do love being here. It is incredibly hard, but it is so worth it. This week we didn´t have much. Just normal days filled with teaching and recieving references that fall from the sky, literally... They are from heaven. 

Here in San Antonio we receive references without asking, and they turn out to be references of gold. The other day a sister picked us up in her car with her whole family, and we went and taught a partial family that we didn´t know existed. This family now will be baptized this Saturday. The wife is a member and the parents. But the wife´s husband and the kids aren´t. They are super humble and understand everything that we teach. I love teaching them because they are so accepting and I just know they can feel the Spirit. 

We also were contacting the other day and we found a place where the missionaries really haven´t passed by very much. We are going to start working there more. We found a lady with 15 kids......... FIFTEEN! haha she isn´t that positive, but she has 15 kids! plus one of her sons is married and has 3 kids, and they all live in the same house. 15+4+2=21 in one house. Everytime something happens like this, I realize how lucky we are. We each have our own rooms with our own beds. Bathrooms with toilets that flush. We can drink whatever water without worrying about getting sick, we each have a car and a cell phone. We have tile, carpet, and concrete. We have air conditioning!!!! We truly are blessed. Never ever take these things for granted. Please.

Also I want you all to remember that we have the true gospel in our lives. We have the map that will lead us back to live with our Heavenly Father. Some people are searching for that map, so they can follow it, and sometimes we don´t even follow it. First, FOLLOW THE MAP. Then FOLLOW THE MAP. We only have one chance to do all we can on the earth. Something that President Maravilla told us about 3 months ago that stuck with me - We want to become like Christ, but we follow Satan. It´s true. We say we want to become like Christ, but we don´t keep the commandments, we sin. I know we aren´t perfect, but we should try right??

I don´t really have special things to tell you this week. Nothing big happened. President came to our zone meeting on Tuesday and gave us all a juice and a little sweet bread thing. I´m sure lucky to have that man as my President. His wife super rules too. I´m so lucky to be here huh?? Yeah it´s hard, but I will be rewarded... hopefully with a hot wife AM I RIGHT!?!?!

I love you all so much!!!

-- 

Elder Jensen

Just Peachy!

Whats happenin?!?!?!

Everything is just peachy here in Guatemala. Literally... there is

this peach juice that I really like.

But seriously, everything is going great. I love this place more and

more every day. Today we went to Mazatenango (big city) in a bus, then

we returned back to in a bus called Pocholo, (it is my favorite bus

cause it is fast and crazy and always has crazy muzic..... its just

fun), but Pocholo was just smashed full of people and everyone was

staring at the crazy tall gringo, and that is why I love this place...

ITS NUTS!

Anywho... what a surprise that I dont have much time right..... But

this week was good... I dont really remember what we did. BUT I know

we had a meeting with President, all the District Leaders and their

companions. Its always good to hear from him. especially how often we

do. I love that man.

Also on Friday I woke up with a fever, and head ache.. it was crumby.

I got a blessing, took some pills, prayed.. Saturday, I was the same,

Sunday, a little better, today PERFECT! Its a miracle. It could have

been something worse, but with Faith, and the authority of God here on

the earth, I have been healed. I love this stuff.

Saturday we had another baptism. The wife of the man we baptized two

weeks ago got baptized. It was pretty good. Not only did I direct the

baptismal service, but I also shared the message. cool huh?? I sure

love being a missionary. Teaching is really one of my favorite things

in the world. I just enjoy it, and I learn lots from it. I know

baptism is important. But it is only valid if it is done by someone

with the authority and the way that Jesus teaches us.. by immersion.

Man has his doctrine and God has his. Some people don't understand

that.... actually 99% of the people dont understand that.

Right now we are teaching a man that is about 27 years... he is just

super smart and asks a lot of super good questions. Most people dont

really understand what we teach, but he really thinks stuff out, he

likes to read, and he is just really smart. It is really fun to teach

him.

Nothing else really happened this week.... except today I bought some

new shoes. They rule. Fotos included. They are a little bit better

than my Rockports.... Chan, don't buy Rockports, buy Eccos or something

with a harder sole... Just buy Eccos. Bummer they don't sell Eccos

here, but I bought something good.

Also I sent pictures of the ole movie theater from last week. Also of

the baptism.

I love you all so much. Jesus Christ lives, He is my Savior and

Redeemer. His church is here on the earth, He directs it through a

living prophet. There are a thousand million churches here on the

earth, but He only has one. We get to heaven on His terms, no one

elses. I hope this week is just spectacular for you all. I know it

will be.

Write me! I love you!

-- 

*Elder Jensen

Shortest Letter in the History of Elder Jensen's Letters

Hello hello...... I have about 5 minutes so this will be a quicky.....

This week was a good one, we have been working super duper hard to reach our goal, and to find the people that are ready. We haven´t eaten lunch with our cocinera for this whole month... I don´t think she wants to cook for us. But it´s ok... there´s no time for food, am I right???? Dont worry though, we still eat.. just not with her.

Saturday is basically the most important day of the week.. we had another baptism. Two niños who their brother and sister in law were baptized a while ago. Now we are going to start working with the parents. cool huh??

After the baptism we had a movie night. We invited the whole world to an old movie theater in town and played the Joseph Smith movie. Not very many people came, but it was still fun. We had a few non members there so we´ll see how that goes.

I don´t remember this week... and if I did, I wouldn´t have time to write all about it. HAHA

I love you all so so much. The church is true. Jesus Christ is my Savior and Redeemer. He lives. He suffered for us so we don´t have to suffer, if we repent. He loves us so much he gave us a living prophet here on earth. He also gave us the Book of Mormon. I love this stuff!!!!!! I love you all once again.

This week... more baptisms!! (as of right now just one, but we´ll see about that!)

plus sorry, no fotos. NEXT WEEK!!!!

I LOVE YOU

Write me!!!!!!!! (I got one Dear Elder from Eric.. I don´t know why I haven´t gotten the rest. I´m still getting them from Gramms though. Thanks. I will try to write back, we´ll see if I find some time hiding in the corner of the house or something.)

-- 

Elder Jensen

This Missionary Loves His Mission!!!!

Hi family......

Well this week was a fabulous one.... or did I just write you yesterday?? Cause that´s exactly how I feel. This week went by SO fast!! Wouldn´t you like to know what we did??..........

Monday - We sacrificed an hour of our p-day and went to teach a jovencita (I really wish I knew that word in English)... oh boy the sacrifice was worth it. She accepted a baptismal date for Saturday... it was awesome. Her mom was baptized about 2 months ago, maybe more. But she hadn´t ever been taught, but we taught her... YEAH!! What did I learn today? Sacrifice brings blessings

Tuesday - We did divisions with the Zone Leaders so they could do th interviews. I went to Mazate with Elder Jennings. A super super good missionary. We contacted the whole day, and found a few positive people, one of which already has a fecha. What did I learn today? Be diligent (cause we contacted literally all day)

Wednesday - divisions again. Elder Juarez went and did an interview and I stayed in the hood with Elder Cruz. oh... and it rained.......... With Elder Cruz we taught a super excellent lesson about the Restoration. Elder Cruz only has 4 months and he doesn´t like to study. So I just trusted in the Spirit and taught the best I could, and it turned out excellent. That is my absolute favorite lesson to teach. What did I learn today? Trust in the Spirit

Thursday - We went to Reu for a conference with President and two other zones. Man I love President and his wife with my whole heart. I hope you get to meet him one day.... maybe after this life. First he taught about Faith. Something that I have learned a lot in San Antonio. Everytime we talk to someone, I take all of the doubts out of my head, and put faith in my head. I can feel the Spirit stronger, I can teach better, the persons faith will grow, and they will get baptized, and hopefully one day will be sealed in the temple. Wowsie. Then we had a snack (banana bread.. always). Then president talked about the Atonement. My absolute favorite thing in the world. He talked about what really happened in the Garden, why it was necessary to have a Savior, and a whole lots of stuff. What did I learn today? Christ loves us. (I already knew it but...)

Friday - What a great day. San Antonio is huge, with tons of Fincas and Aldeas and people. But we mostly work in two places, centro y Aldea Margaritas. We went to Margaritas on Friday and set up a screen with a projector and invited everyone to come learn about the church. We put on the Joseph Smith movie. It was great. Tons of people came. This Saturday we are going to do the same thing here in San Antonio in an old cinema.... awesome. What did I learn today? Think outside the box

Saturday - BAPTISM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We baptized a complete family, Lorenzo y Victoria with their three daughters. Then we baptized a man named Jenaro. Then the young woman named Vilma. Fotos included.... It was great. I loved it. I was honored to be able to baptize Lorenzo and Jenaro. Elder Juarez baptized all the girls... he is more handsome. haha. What did I learn today? The color white = miracles.

Sunday - not much happened... 7 people were confirmed members, and there wasn´t very much time for the testimonies. oops.... What did I learn? I love hardworking bishops. (My bishop here kinda reminds me of President Bangerter mixed with Bishop Donaldson... he is just the bishopy type of guy, and I love him haha)

Super spiritual moment this week - During the Joseph Smith movie, I was sitting outside the house, cause the house was full. I couldn´t really see the screen, and Elder Juarez was telling jokes and hitting me or something, I don´t really know. But during the First Vision I felt the Spirit so strong. I hadn´t ever felt it so strong. I have always known Joseph Smith was a prophet, that´s why I love teaching about him, but I just started bawling and just felt so strong the Spirit. I know with every fiber of my heart that the church is true. It is the Kingdom of God here on earth. Joseph Smith was called as an instrument in God´s hands to establish the true church here on earth again. I know it for a fact. I love you all, I hope you have a great week. Send me letter, pictures, hugs, and prayers. I love you I love you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ps in the picture that I look angry, I´m not angry. The members were making fun of me cause I was smiling bigger than everyone else and I had my mouth open. Also there is a picture with Elder Lechtenberg. My homeboy from St Geezy. I don´t remember what others ones I sent... ENJOY!

I love you

-- 

Elder Jensen