I Hate Goodbyes!

Hello my little Latter-day Saints.... (was that cheesy or what??)

Holy canoly it is cold today.. REALLY COLD. It has been cloudy and misty all day. We also forgot our sweaters in the house. but... no biggie, we are strong.

In case you didn’t know, I will have a new companion this week... his name will be Elder ________________. (Fill in the blank) Elder Villatoro has finished the battle. I feel silly inside. I don’t know if I’m ready for this. But its whatevs right?? haha.... do the young people still say whatevs? What a stupid thing to say…for reals.

I don’t really remember this past week, so… sorry for this letter.

I love San Marcos/Guatemala. The people here are incred. We have been visiting a ton of the members right now lifting up the ward and saying goodbyes and stuff. They always invite us to eat too. Lemme tell you a little bit about the culture here. The people are very open, and the talk about their feelings, they are so loving and humble and patient and simple and just amazing. I love the people so much. You probably didn’t know that, but its true. I have never felt such a love for someone. They could spit in my face and I would still love them. They are such a special people. I can’t even imagine how much our Heavenly Father loves us. (FYI I just about started crying in this Internet cafe...)

Today our bishop invited the four of the missionaries in the ward to eat lunch with him. He took us to a pretty nice restaurant and let us get WHATEVER we wanted... He is pretty rich so its no biggie hahahaha. He is one of the most hardworking men I have ever met in my life. (Picture included)

This week we also ate breakfast in our favorite breakfast place haha. A member is the owner and it literally is the best place on earth. First they give you some oatmeal with some yummy bread, then you can ask your eggs how you want them (I like with onion and tomato), then they give you a big bowl of beans and you just ladle them onto your plate, pour some cream on top, hot tortillas, and some lemonade. It’s heaven for only 15 quetzales... $2. (We get a good deal!)

We also visited the Familia Alvarado last night. Meet Mami Cicelly, Papa Miguel, Angie, and Carol. They have two other kids that just barely left on the mission about a month ago (one week apart). They help us so much. Right now they are preparing a list of people for us to teach, and we will soon see success.

We were talking to our bishop today about the ward and he can tell that the members are more excited. They had 7 months of bad missionaries and now we came to literally nothing and we are lifting it all up. It is amazing to see the changes. We will shortly see fruits. Its hard here in the mountains, but with the members and the Spirit, anything is possible.

Yesterday we spoke in church with the bishop also. It went so so well. I spoke about the power of a testimony. That the members just need to share their testimony and the Spirit will do the rest. D&C 62:3 is a good scripture too... I shared about how they can receive forgiveness of their sins just by sharing their testimony, I talked about how there are angels preparing the hearts of the people so they can receive the truth, and maybe they receive the truth through the testimony of someone else.

I know the church is true, that God lives and loves me. He gave His only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ. Right now I’m reading Jesus the Christ, I love it. It is so good how it talks about every aspect about His life. He gave his life, as an infinite and eternal sacrifice. He just asks us to repent. I love the truth, it sets us free. I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior and Redeemer. He lives.

I love each and every one of you. I hope you have the best of the best weeks.

Oh I just remembered a funny story - On Saturday we went to Palo Gordo to do some baptismal interviews and me and Elder Cruz were walking up a big dirt hill that curved and joined into a highway, there were also two girls walking on the other side of the road, when all of a sudden a big truck passes by and whistles really loud at the girls (It’s the culture), but me, being all funny and stuff just said, "gracias." hahaha the girls and E Cruz were dying of laughter... It was pretty hilarious, you shoulda been there.... haha. In life you can’t be all bitter and stuff, it’s just too boring. Besides, were Mormons, it’s the truth!!!!! I love you!!!!!!!!!!!

--

Elder Jensen

I Saw a Questzal!

Whats happenin my little quetzales?? (if you aren’t aware what a quetzal is, look it up and get with the program.... or just keep reading).

Today I had a once in a life time experience. I SAW A QUETZAL!!! Actually 3. They are the most amazing birds in the whole wide world. I saw them fly and soar with their long tail. They are so colorful. Included here are some pictures... the ones with the long tails are the boys and the girls have short tails. There is a protected refuge here in our zone. I LOVED IT!!! We had lots of fun and it was something different than the usual. I didn’t get the best pictures cause they are fast little buggers and when you get close they fly away.... the males anyway. The female just sat there and sat there.... lazy. I sent a picture with me and our guides too... the old guy knows everything there is to know about them.... when he got there is when we say two up high in the sky flying and playing I think.. They didn’t really want to get close to us though. they are shy.

This week we also went to Reu... Elder Villatoro took his English test so I just sat there for a little bit and then we went to eat with the zone leaders in the area. It was fun. I love missionaries. they are my friends..... except the ones that complain. (did I say that out loud??) oops hahahahahaha

We also are working a lot with the ward. We are still going house to house showing the video about the Atonement, it is working out well. The fam Alvarado (remember them?) They have a list of about 15 people that they are going to pray about and start inviting them to church. They are incredible. We had the opportunity this week to teach la noche de hermanamiento. Every Friday we have it... Night of something... haha its just a night so everyone had friends and learns.. but we showed the video to everyone there and the Spirit was so so strong. The members here are INCREDIBLE. We will soon see fruits. I’m so excited.

Another thing we did this week... we went contacting yesterday with the kids from Mission prep. We got so many appointments set for this week and I LOVE IT!!!! 

ummm.... Also our amazing bishop and his family invited up to a family night on Monday but he got stuck traveling, so we put it for Thursday, we went. haha this family is amazing. (I will send you a picture in another email) Their kids taught us in the family night and they are just special little people. Then they invited us to eat dinner on Sunday. Fried fish, fried chicken, rice, beans, and tortillas. It was so fun to be with our bishop and his family. He trusts us so much, and I love him so much. He is so willing to help us and he wants us to have so much success. I do too. I can feel it, success is right around the corner!!

I know that God lives. He loves us. He created such a beautiful planet with beautiful creatures and amazing people because He loves us. He sent His Son to die for us. I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior and Redeemer. He Lives. I love to be a missionary. I know this church is the true church of Christ. In it we can do ordinances with the priesthood so we can make it to like with our Father in Heaven one day. I love you so so much.

This week was jam packed with stuff and so is this letter... I hope it all makes sense and that I didn’t leave anything out!!!

 Dinner last night with our amazing bishop and his incredible family.

 Familia Miranda. They are the ones we had a BBQ with.... I told the wife I was going to send this to you and she told me to explain to you that she has her husbands coat on.... haha I LOVE THIS FAMILY.

Thats me on a bridge in the refuge place. So handsome.

 Elder Villatoro and me. Right when we started leaving the refuge, a whole ton of the thickest fog in the world just poured in... enjoy the picture haha

Deja Vu

Hello hello. There is a lot of fog outside and I want to send you pictures... but this computer isn't working. I think I might have to borrow my companions computer to send them.. He probably won't let me though. He is real mean. Just trickin. I love the guy. He is just so Guatemalan and SO ready to go home. hahaha he is leaving the 1st of May... but he isn't really that bad. I'm actually impressed. All he wants to do is work harder and harder. I'm alright with that. Well.... lemme tell you a little bit about my life. It's amazing.

 

I don't know if I've ever told you this or not but, I have a ton of deja vus. Like... a TON. At least 3 a month. Seems like a ton I think. They are the most vivid weird things. I love them. I had one today riding in the car of our bishop. It was so weird/dejavuy. I think I'm supposed to be here on the mission. haha

 

This week we had a conference with President. They weren't planning on doing it, but he wants the whole mission to know about his new calling and if we had questions and stuff, then he taught us some good stuff. He was in SLC Tue, Wed, Thur, Fri, Sat, and Sun of the week of conference. he got back here to Guatemala Monday night. No one knew he left, and they actually configured his phone so he could call us and send messages and stuff. He was totally texting us last Tuesday. He said he ate lunch in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building and recieved training in the the church office building. HAHA You guys were super close to him all week, lucky ducks. He told us a little bit about his experiences being trained by the 12 aposltes and the first presidency. amazing huh??? A sister that was here in the mission was taking pictures up in the JSM building of her wedding and saw him. He freaked out cause NO ONE is supposed to know he was there. Then later in the night he got a phone call from old elders that showed up to his hotel... then later in the week they had a mini mission reunion with about 60 missionaries. hahaha. he told us all about it and I loved the story. Sorry my version isn't that good. I asked Hna. Maravilla if she saw my plaque, but she told me she didnt even enter in the JSM building. She was doing other stuff. I forgot to ask pres... I'm sure he wouldve told me if he wouldve seen it. I love that man.

 

I love Barrio Maya.... That's my ward here. The members are so so amazing. I feel like they are trying to make up for the lost time with the bad missionaries that were here before. They feed us SO much. They are the most amazing people in the entire planet. My heart is just so full of love. I never knew it was even possible to love people so much. I can't even imagine how much our Heavenly Father loves us.

 

On Saturday we went to help the 2nd counselor of the ward clean out his flower beds. his Grandma is coming from the states and she always gets mad at them if they arent clean hahaa. Then they invited us to lunch. I was so full of food all day Saturday. Then yesterday another family invited us to eat lunch. We had a BBQ. One of the funniest/most amazing families ever. People love us.... and why shouldn't they??? hehe

 

Elder Villatoro and I came up with a plan to visit every mermber in the ward and show them a video called "La Expiacion y la Obra Misional" It's super powerful and I love it. We have had lots of good lessons and we are starting to get people pumped. We are also in the process of planning a piece of paper that the people can tape to the back of their door so when they leave the house they can be reminded to always share the gospel. ps look up the video. It's in english with spanish subtitles so you will be able to understand it... or just look for it in english.

 

Last night we had a good experience. We went to go visit a family where the dad isn't a member.... and is never home. But he was home last night. We tryed popping in the movie but it wasn't working, then we felt like there was a reason it wasn't working. HE WAS HOME AND WE HAD TO aprovechar..... (what does that mean in english... I totally forgot). But we taught him about eternal families and the daughters were crying and the Spirit was there and he started getting teary eyed. He is totally prepared. They have been married for some 22 -23 years. The mom has been a member for a long time and they have a some on a mission. We are going to help Marvin get baptized this month and help this family become an eternal family. PRAY FOR MARVIN PLEASE.

 

I know for a fact that God loves us. He sent His Only Begotten Son Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer and He lives. In the year 1820 there was a boy named Joseph Smith. He had a question and wanted to know how he could be saved, and which church was true. He did something very simple. He studied the scriptures and prayed. God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ appeared to this Joseph Smith as an answer to his humble prayer. He was called as a prophet in this dispensation and this I know as a FACT. I do not have a shadow of a doubt. I know he was a prophet. Through him, Jesus Christ established His kingdom here on earth. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the only true church on the face of the earth. The only place where the familias pueden ser eternas. I love it. I'm so greatful for this time I have to be a missionary, a representative of Jesus Christ and defender of the truth. Not one day in 17 months have I regretted to be a missionary.

 

I love you all so much. I hope this letter helps someone out there gain a testimony of the truth. That's my goal, that the whole world knows about the truth.

 

Remember: Read the scriptures, pray always, and go to church, and everything will be ok. I love you so so much.

1) All the fog today... this is in my area. We walk on streets like this all day long. I love it.

2) We were trying to start up the charcol yesterday for the BBQ... I wasn´t helping much

3) Her name is Dulce and she is the cutest thing ever. The 6 year old daughter of the amazing family where we ate yesterday

4) And finally the food with el hermano Boris. (The boss) this guy is sooooo rad.

I love you. Remember who you are and what you stand for.

General Conference

Hello,

How on earth is everyone?!?!?!

I´m doin fantastic. In case you didn´t know, we heard from prophets and apostles this weekend. It was amazing. I was blessed to watch it in english. Me and 5 other Elders and a sister that speaks English crammed into the Family History Library and shared one computer. I loved it. I love the saints in Guatemala. They are amazing. 770 of them crammed into the stake center.... and it isn´t the size of our stake center... it´s little. So they had to go to the kitchen and baptismal font rooms too.

I literally soaked up every talk. They spoke a TON about missionary work. A TON about sharing the gospel with everyone. They also talked a lot about the Priesthood. We are so blessed to have the power of God here on earth. Something I loved, I don´t even remember who said it, "God only has imperfect men to work with, I´d imagine that´s frustrating." (Something like that) We are all imperfect, God trusts us with so SO much. He trusts me to be a representative of His Son Jesus Christ. I´m so SO not perfect. No where close. But He loves us and trusts us, why can´t we love and trust others? Everyone is a child of God. He loves us all. He wants us all to be happy and return to live with Him. He wants to say to everyone, "Well done, thou good and faithful^aservant: thou hast been ^bfaithful over a few things, I will make thee ^cruler over many things: enter thou into the ^djoy of thy lord." I heard that scripture quoted at least twice. I love it so so much. Plus it´s quoted in my patriachal blessing. I want to tell you everything I learned in conference, but that´s all I remember. I don´t have my notes here soo.. sorry. I love this church, It´s true. I know it. I know that Jesus is the Christ. My Savior and Redeemer. I´m His representative here in San Marcos. I love the people here SO SO much. They are amazing. I feel so happy whenever I´m with any of the members here. They are such a special and loving people. 

Something else cool from conference?? My mission pres, Pres. Jose E Maravilla was sustained to be an area authority. I love that man with all my heart. He is so amazing. I wish with my whole heart that you could meet him. One day.

I don´t actually even remember the rest of the week..... Here are some cool pictures. 

"Book Club" -all night reading of the New Testament during shut-in Holy Week

1) A member here has this giant singing Christmas dog, I had to snap a pic!!

2) Our book club.. hahaha the zone reading the New Testament.

3) Cristian.... The first councilor in the wards little son. I love him to death, and he loves us. We call him "Gordo" well... cause he is fat. But he does the funniest stuff. I was taking pictures of him and he kept hiding behind the egg carton. I only got one good one. 

4) I was walking around this place called "Piedra Grande." It´s part of our ward and It just has roads like this and steep hills and fog. It´s so beautiful. I love this world.

I love you so so much. With me whole entire heart. Be good this week. Be safe. and always say your prayers, study the scriptures, and go to church. The basiczzzz

--

Elder Jensen

April 2... 17 months Out!

Is it really April?!?!?! I don´t believe it for one second. Well... Yesterday we went to Reu for the zone leader conference, then we ate dinner with President and Hermana Maravilla. I love those two. We ate Gallo Pinto. It´s a dish from Nicaragua. I LOVE IT! haha.  The conference thingy was really really good. They split a zone into two, and President talked about Pride. The 2 words from yesterday that he kept using were pride and accion. I love the way he teaches, and jokes and just who he is. I´m so blessed to have amazing people as my mission president and wife!!! I wish you could meet them!!!!!!

Last week, as you know, was Holy Week. So what did we do?? We were in jail for three days. Wednesday we did some workshops and Thursday at 2:30 pm we started reading the New Testament. Friday at 12:45pm we finished!!! Without sleeping. haha. We were the first zone to finish. I realized too that I love staying up late and not sleeping. We already knew that from before my mission, but I changed. haha

It was pretty boring.. I must tell you, but who cares right?? The point was to keep us out of sight of the parades and everything. It gets pretty intese here this time of year.

It´s starting to warm up, and in about 2 months starts up the rainy season... I dont know if i´m ready for that. Is it crazy that I hit 17 months today?? I don´t know if anyone else is freaking out about that... but I am. I feel funny about it.

Yesterday President bore his testimony about Christ. He explained the atonement and everything that happened.He suffered in Gethsemani, died on the cross, and resurrected. I will live again someday too. Yo se que Él es mi Salvador y Redentor. Y Él vive.

Sorry this is a short letter... not much happened because I was shut in a church for a few days. I love you so so much. Be good!!

I´m trying to send some great pics, but this internet isn´t working up to my standards... another day! I love you

--

Elder Jensen