Elder Perkins from Spanish Fork

What’s happenin gringos? How are you? How´s it going? What´s new? Long time no see.... haha

Well here I am in Yoyo´s Internet. It´s a little slow and I get angry sometimes, but I´m in Guatemala.. It´s cool and all. This week was a super crazy one. There were changes, our phones haven´t been working, it rained twice, and I cooked myself LUNCH! crazy huh??

A little bit about this week?? We had to move more furniture... not much. Here in the mission 42 missionaries came from the CCM. cool huh?? They opened another area in our zone, we are now 20 in Saint Mark. So Wednesday we rented a big ol bus and went down to Reu the 3 zones from "Tierra Fria." It was fun to travel all together and pull up in a huge bus. The change meeting was crazy, 42 trainers, 42 newbies. We got 4 of them. Here in San Marcos the missionaries rarely trained, but Pres is changing the zone!! YES! PS. I met an elder from Santa Cruz Bolivia... I could hardly understand the guy, pobrecito E Jensen 2.0. hahaha 

When we got back from Reu we went and taught Oto and his daughter (Marleny was working) we taught about faith. I love that stuff. IT was such a good lesson and he told us that he talked with his wife and they want to keep learning and eventually get baptized. We are so stoked about them.

Thursday we did divisions with Palo Gordo. I was with a newbie, E Nuñez from Ecuador. It was fun. He said a couple bad words hahaha aka the words in Ecuador are bad here and the words here are bad there. It was a fun time. It´s probably the same with Bolivia too I feel like. (It rained and I got really wet.. the first time in like 6 months).

Friday the office elders came up and we split up and went to a bunch of areas to put fechas fechas fechas. In the morning I was with E Yergensen from Las Vegas, great young chap. Then in the afternoon I was with E Navas... maybe you remember that name. We were in the same district for 6 months when I first started. He is in the top 1 best friends of my whole mission. I love the guy. We had tons of fun and taught good lessons and reminisced.

Saturday we had our Book of Mormon activity. It turned out GREAT! About 15 investigators showed up. It was really really good. We all learned and felt the Spirit and now we have appointments with these people. This ward is amazing. The relief society made tostadas and rellenitos… lemme tell you about a rellenito - Platano with beans inside, with sugar and cream on top!!! All of my favorite things. Our neighbor made them and she is going to teach me one of these days. I´m in love with rellenitos.

Sunday we had a really special activity too, it was called La Reunion Sacramental. During the sacrament I tried just focusing on Jesus Christ. It was such a great experience. Then I taught Gospel Principles on the life of Christ. He is my Savior and Redeemer. He is the Son of our living God. He loves me. I know He lives. Especially in the Easter season I have been trying to learn more and live more like Him. I was thinking about the resurrection during the sacrament and I am STOKED. I can’t wait to be able to meet my Savior, to be able to see the marks in His hands and feet and personally thank Him for all He did for me. Then to be able to worship Him for the rest of the eternities. He makes it possible that I can live again, just as He lives now. I´m so thankful for that.

Then after church no one invited us to lunch, so I went and made my own!! I made rice and beans and these chicken circle things I bought. I don’t know what has gotten in to me here in San Marcos but I´m always cooking. In my other areas I never did. I always make egg sandwiches or moshito (oatmeal drink stuff). This morning I made arroz con leche from the leftover rice from yesterday. (hot milk with rice, sugar, and cinnamon. it’s a drink). I´m so Guatemalan and so... cool. I can’t wait to make this kind of stuff for the rest of my life. Us gringos don’t know nothing about hot drinks. These chapins rule. I love them so so much. 

I also love you so so much. I hope you have a fabulous week and that we can remember our Savior Jesus Christ. This week is Holy Week here... We will be shut in the church just like last year. Starting Wednesday. Wish me luck!

I love you!!s

Open Your Mouth!

Hello champions. It´s always a pleasure to write to you. It´s really fun being a missionary. I´m one. 

HOW ARE YOU!?!? I´m doing so SO good. I love my life. I love this gospel. I love the Book of Mormon. I love the Familia Alvarado. haha The Family Alvarado are basically the coolest/most perfect people on the entire planet. I literally love them so so much. They are amazing. They work in the temple here in Xela and they feed us food a lot and they help us be better missionaries and better people. The dad kinda reminds me of dad. and the mom kinda reminds me of mom... not a whole lot, but they are just the greatest. I love the people here so so much. Probably no one knows how my heart is about to explode when I think about it. They are so so special here. Enough of that for now. Lemme tell you about the dynamite of a week that we had...

So here in the mountains there are 3 zones. San Marcos (mine), San Pedro, and Rio Blanco. we are 36 missionaries in the 3 zones and this Wednesday there will be 10 more. 46 missionaries. cool huh?? Before there used to be 8 missionaries in the area of the 3 zones. Crazy how the work of the Lord is growing. Anyway... The zonies called us from San Pedro and asked us if we would help 2 of their missionaries get on the bus to Guatemala City at 2:30 in the morning on Tuesday, we said yes... (it’s a good thing I answered the phone, cause I think my companion would’ve said no) The reason they asked us is cause we live super close to the station where a million buses go to. So we got these patojos (kids) Monday night, and left at 2:15ish to go wait for the bus... We just left in sweatshirts and stuff ya know.... so we were waiting and waiting and waiting but the bus never came. One of the missionaries was sick too and puked all over the road hahahahahaa. Anyway we get this feeling we need to walk to the park, which is like 5 blocks away. We get about halfway there and we see a couple walking. We ask them about the bus and they told us it passes at 3:15  in the bus place where we were, so we walked back with them. We got to know them a little and we were just joking around and being all cold and stuff. Then a little voice said, "contact them." Umm... I didn´t have my agenda, pen, or even a TIE! But we contacted them, put a cita, and the bus came. The bus was actually running late, and now I´m realizing as I´m writing this that it was late so we could talk to them.

So we went to the house on Thursday. THEY ARE THE GREATEST!!!!! Otto and Marleny. They have a daughter named Jennifer too that’s 7 and the cutest. We taught them the Restoration and they said they felt like it was the truth, and that it all makes sense. We also taught them last night with the Fam Alvarado (that’s why they were on my mind haha) But we taught about the Book of Mormon and they totally accepted it and they are progressing so so well. We have found a chosen family to receive the truthfulness of the gospel. 

I love this gospel. I love being a missionary and having experiences like this one!! Please pray for this family. They are so so amazing. Also we need some super prayers for this Saturday. We have our Book of Mormon activity planned. We have been to every member’s house; we have given them books to give to their friends, now we just need everyone to come. Everyone is so excited, plus we are ready to see some miracles.

I don’t think I’ve said it enough but, I love being a missionary. I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior, my Redeemer. I’m forever grateful for  the sacrifice He did for me. I´m a representative of His true church here on the earth. My name is Elder Jensen, and I´m a missionary. So happy and blessed and healthy and loved.

I love you all so so much. Be good and ALWAYS OPEN YOUR MOUTH. Even at 3 in the morning. Every time is a good time to share the gospel. And if you can´t open your mouth, be an example. 

I love you!!!!!!

PS today I saw some little goats and I loved them!! There were 2!! I was scared to get close cause the mommy was there… but she was a sweetheart. She only said "bwaaaahhh" when we picked up her offspring.

-- 

Write Elder Jensen!

Heeeeey... long time no write.

How r my people?? 

Cool. I’m doing good. But something weird happened on Saturday... I woke up SICK! The first time in 16 months, isn’t that intense? I woke up with a funny stomach, a fever, super tired, and what we like to call BU. Pardon my French. I had heard that’s what happens to the people that get parasites. But I don’t believe in parasites... haha. I actually was doing divisions. I woke up in a place called Palo Gordo with Elder Cruz (one of my best friends ever). We ended divisions and I got back to my house. Turns out there were two other missionaries there picking up baptismal clothes so I asked them to give me a blessing... E. Cruz, E Dalton, E Balladares, E Armijo, and my companion E Villatoro were all there, giving me a blessing. I literally felt my body changing. It was such a cool experience. After the blessing I was hungry and I could stand up without getting all dizzy. I was still super tired though. Saturday. So we took a little breather and slept a bit. It was great. God loves me. Now I feel a lot better. The only problem now is a sore throat, headache, and I’m tired... But I’m fine. Tomorrow I will wake up perfectly healthy, don’t worry even a bitsy. With the power of God on my side, no sickness will get me down. 

Other than that weird experience, I had two good ones!! I got to listen to President twice last week. We are so lucky we get to listen to him at least monthly, but being a zone leader its twice or 3 times a month. He is such a good man. Tuesday morning we woke up at 4:30 in the morning, left the house at 5 headed to Reu for the monthly ZL council. Put your self in my shoes for 2 seconds... 5 o‘clock in the morning in a cold bus, pitch dark, no cars on the road, and the bus driver is a professional... THEY FLY DOWN THESE MOUNTAINS.. It was kinda scary but fun. The busses here are NUTS! haha. The Zone Leader council was a good one. President machetes us with love. I love him so so much. He is such an amazing person. His wife too. They are so powerful, and have such great stories and experiencias. Plus you can really feel the love they have for us. 

Thursday... We had a Zone meeting. It was good. I shared a message about the Priesthood and how really we need to live up to the holy calling that God has given us. Alma 13. Read it, study it, live it, love it.

On Friday we rented a bus for the three zones up here in "tierra fria" We are 36. We traveled to Malacatan for a multi zone conference. President talked about Faith. I thought I had learned everything about Faith. I was so SO wrong. I’m determined to have tons more faith in these short months that I have left. I thought I had lots.... I don’t have barely any. Wow I want to be better every day.

I don’t remember much about this week. I love being here. I love the message that I share. I love being a representative of Jesus Christ. I know He lives, He loves me. This is His church, and it is the only true church on the entire planet. His power is on this earth. It is called the Priesthood, and it is REAL. It works. I know it. 

I love you so much. I hope you have a fabulous week. Vie included a picture of me with "pan dormido" I’m not sure why its called that... but its big. Be good... 

PS This week the area presidency changed the rules about email... I’m now allowed to write anyone in the world, EXCEPT females in my mission boundary.. so write me!!! chasej@myldsmail.net. I love you!!

Never Thought It Would End

Hello.... we have a problem.. this key board doesnt work very good. The space bar isnt that great, it doesnt allow me to do exclamation marks or ANYTHING... This will be a sad letter then....

WELL HI. hows it flowin in the snow+++ Im also not allowed to do question marks or parenthesis. sorry.

This week was a crazy crazy one. Remember how I told you we were going to change houses and we would be moving a little bit.... well that happened.. We now live in a good little apartment. I love it. We live with members.. kinda. Just upstairs ya know. Its cool... But Im so thankful mom and dad for allowing me to develop my talents of moving furniture.... 

On Wednesday a member called us to give some service. It wasnt just any type of service... the owner of where she lived lost the property.. so she had to go. This lady doesnt just have a house there, but a restaurant too....... oh and she lives on the 3rd floor. HAHAHA. So we started wrapping up plates and dishes and stuff waiting for the moving truck to show up, then once it got there we started moving. I got all thinking about home cause it wasnt normal moving, it was Jensen moving. So she lives on the third floor right, there wasa stairway to the 2nd floor and it lead out to a deck.. the truck was an open backed one and they parked right under the deck...... you can only imagine what we did. We lowered everything to the second floor through some skinny  stairs and lowered it down off the deck. it was intense... Some stuff was heavy and scary... a big king size heavy mattress, closet dealios, 2 washing machines, a dryer, dressers, and all kinds of stuff. I never thought itd end. Im so blessed with long legs, super strong arms, a great brain, and Im dang good at tetris. It was actually really fun, there was a family there helping us and we became super good friends. We are going to teach  them later this week. We are exited about them..

This Saturday we also had an awesome activity planned... We were going to do a bonfire behind the church and watch a movie about the book of mormon.. We bought 100 donuts and the relief society pres made hot chocolate.... good stuff. But just about everything went bad. First the guy who was going to let us borrow the projector wasnt home, then it was really cold, then rainy, then absolutly 2 people showed up to the activity, Mario and Veronica, investegators. cool huh. So we cancelled the activity, now we are going to do it the 23rd. Luckily there was a baptism for another ward and institute so we had someone to share the food with... Then our ward mission leader really wanted to light the fire... so we did. Just Elder Villatoro, our Bishop, Pitu, our ward mission leader, and I enjoyed the fire and donuts and chocolate... I ate 3 1/2 of the greatest donuts ever. I will try to send a picture if this computer quits acting up...

Other than these 2 experiences our week was pretty normal. We are sleeping good in a new house, our zone is improving each week, the the Lords work is  moving on. I know its His work. He leads it. Im doing the most important thing I could possibly to doing right now. I love it. I know my Savior lives. He loves me, and I love Him. Im going to try a little harder this week to be like Him. 

Be good this week, I love you all so so so much..

Happy New Year

--

Elder Jensen