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.