October 28, 2013

My dear Mother (and whomever else gets this email forwarded to ;) ), 

My heart just gets sooo happy when I get to read your emails Mom. :) I just love you! You're wonderful. Trick or treating is quite different here than in Utah. Nobody really goes out trick or treating as far as I've heard because it's not really safe. On Halloween our ward and the first ward are doing what most churches around here do: a fall festival. I'm kind of excited for that ;) The fall festival is really just a trunk or treat with different games, food, etc. We are in charge of the fishing pond. There is going to be a big conference for our zone and a few others in Jacksonville on Wednesday evening and then on Thursday morning. We have been told we will stay the night at two sisters' apartment (Sister Major is one of them and she trained Sister Toledo). She's my "grandmother" in mission terms. Anyway, we'll have to go straight to the fall festival after driving home from Jacksonville. 

This week Sister Johnson and I got to go on exchanges again with Sister Ashcraft and Scott. This time Sister Scott was with Sister Johnson in Waycross and I went to Brunswick with Sister Ashcraft. I always love seeing how different missionaries do things and learn from their talents. Sister Ashcraft is just the most loving, sweet, patient person ever. Something fun that she had thought of or heard of for a finding activity was to do a car wash at the church and then do church tours. I was a little skeptical at first because there were hardly members there due to another event going on at that time. I was worried that it needed to be advertised a bit more. However, to my surprise it turned out exceptionally well!! There really didn't need to be much advertisement. Two sets of elders were also washing cars and then some ward members held "free car wash" signs by the busy road in front of the church. Sister Ashcraft and I kind of assumed we would be washing cars so I was in basketball shorts, a tshirt and crocs ;) Next thing you know, the Elders are telling people we would give them a tour of the building. :) Wow! What a great chance it was to invite people in and talk about the church in a non-threatening way! Almost every single person agreed to go on a little tour with us as their car was being washed and vacuumed. We first stopped in the primary room and talked a little bit about what the kids are taught (I am a child of God, etc). We would point to the different paintings of the Savior on the walls and briefly go over the bible story that it depicted and then we would show them the family history center and talk about family history. And then to my favorite part: the first vision painting where we basically taught the whole restoration. As I told of Joseph Smith's experience to a small group of people the sweet spirit that so often accompanies the telling of the event filled the hall. I could see in each of them that they felt the confirming witness of the Holy Ghost. It was so neat to hear the "peace" that each one of them felt as they toured the building. At the end of the tour, Sister Ashcraft asked if people would be willing to learn more and several individuals gave her their number. 

One of the Elders' investigators, Greg, came to get his car washed. He has been to church a couple times so we showed him several rooms (like the primary room). We also showed him the baptismal font. The spirit was strong. He told of his experience in the several churches that he has attended. He said when he was five, he remembers being terrified to go to church. He remembers the preacher yelling and talking about hell. He said every time he is in our building he just feels peace. Everyone is happy. (Mosiah 2:41) He said that he decided a long time ago that he would be open-minded and not throw something off just because he was taught differently. It was so neat to hear his testimony and the truths that he has been learning. I can just feel that he is going to be baptized. He will be such an amazing man in the church. 

I'll try to keep this brief. But I just wanted to add something about a couple of ward members, Sister Taft and Brother Taft. Sister Taft is preparing to go to the temple next month and it makes me so happy for her. She wants to be as prepared as possible. She is reading every day in the scriptures and in preach my gospel and basically everything that she can get her hands on. Her husband hasn't been to church in years. Sister Johnson and I were talking to the both of them the other day and then Brother Taft had to leave. Sister Taft was just expressing how she wishes he would come to church with her and could come to the temple also. I asked her if she prays for him. She said she does often. I asked her if they pray together. She said she doesn't think that he would do that. I told her to invite him every night to join her for her nightly prayers. If he says no, then that's okay, but to invite him every single night. On Sunday she was so excited to tell us that he knelt with her every night as she prayed. We got to meet with them again Sunday evening. I have high hopes for Brother Taft. For those whose hearts break for close loved ones who do not share the same feelings of love toward the gospel as us, my suggestion is to hold on there a little longer. Love them unceasingly. Sometimes the best way to teach is to simply listen. Their time will come. I want to express my deepest love to those who haven't been to church in a while and may have harsh feelings about the church or some of the people in it. I want every person to know that I know that we are not just another church on a corner, but the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. If nobody else has done so, I want to invite you back. "We do not preach and teach in order to 'bring people into the Church' or to increase the membership of the Church. We do not preach and teach to persuade people to live better lives.... We invite all to come unto Christ by repentance and baptism and confirmation in order to open the doors of the celestial kingdom to the sons and daughters of God. No one else can do this." -Elder Dallin H. Oaks. Endure to the end my friends and family! May God continue to watch over you and bless you in everything you do!

Much love, 

Sister Jensen 

p.s. Tom and Barbara King family, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE POST CARD FROM ST GEORGE!! It made my day to get that in the mail. :) :) 

October 21, 2013

Dear Mother, family and whoever else is reading this, ;) 

I can't believe that Candice and Thomas had their two year wedding anniversary! Congratulations to them! They are such a great couple! It sounds like they are both continuing to do fantastic things! I can't wait to hear where Katelyn and Mitch decide to go for medical school. Sam, I'm so excited for you to get ready to go on a mission. It will be exciting to know where you are assigned to serve. :) 

What a joy this week was to have Shanna and her sweet family come to church! We didn't get much of a chance to talk to her afterward to see how she felt about it, but it was so great to have her there. I know it was something that was a big step for her. She isn't one to be the center of attention, so I was so grateful that she came. She came with the Browns and sat by them the whole time. Church is always a different experience when you have an investigator there. I always hope that the members will reach out and say hello or not say something too crazy ;) I remember in Gainesville when one of our investigators came to church for the first time. Of course it was fast and testimony meeting. I was on pins and needles sitting through it. One of the members who was baptized only a few years back was going off about things that.... let's just say, shouldn't have been discussed over the pulpit. Thankfully the bishop stood up at the end and clarified some of the church's stance on a few topics. ;) Thankfully Shanna's first Sunday wasn't quite as colorful as that one. ;)

It seems like I've been hit with a little bug this week. On Friday, I wasn't feeling very well and so we had to stay in for part of the day. I'm still stuffed up and sometimes wake up to a soar throat, but I'm getting better. 

The members are really great here and we have been having some lessons with some of the families in the ward to help give them ideas of how they can share the gospel. One of the families that we invited to do this set a goal of how many invitations they will do in two weeks. The dad was able to invite someone from his work to have dinner with us sister missionaries. She agreed and even told him to remind her when they would be doing that before they left from work! Wow! That made me so thrilled when the member's told us that! 

Well, my computer time has been cut kind of short today, so I apologize I wasn't able to add too much detail. But I just want everyone to know how much I love you! Thank you for all of your support and prayers! I couldn't imagine going on a mission without so much support from great family and friends!

Much love, 

Sister Jensen 

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Dear Mom and family, 

Last night (monday) were transfer calls. Due to so many missionaries in the mission, they wanted to limit how many phones were calling in. Apparently there can only be one hundred phones per call, so we drove to the other sister's place last night (they live in Blackshear). Both sisters in the other ward already received a training call and Sister Divis (the senior companion) knew that she would be leaving. Guess where she's going? Gainesville! Not my old ward, but she will be in the YSA ward. I know some people she'll be working with, so it was fun being able to talk to her about that. Sister Johnson and I will be staying in Waycross, as I expected. President Craig was saying that the brethren are wanting to keep missionaries in areas for six to nine months.  We'll see how long I stay here in Waycross. 

This week we were really hoping to get our investigator Shanna to church. I know it is really out of her comfort zone to go to a church where she hardly knows anyone. She has three kids: one is eight (Tyson), seven (Emma), and seven..?(Isabel). They are so cute. We gave her a church tour on Saturday to help her feel more comfortable about coming. It went really well and all three of the kids came. They were so excited to come to church the next day. We walked them around and showed them where their different classes would be. We stopped in the primary room and let the kids look around for a little bit. When we walked outside of the primary room there were two bulletin boards with pictures of all the primary kids in the two wards. Each of the bulletin boards said, "I am a child of God". Emma looked at all of the pictures and said, "I want my picture up there too." I could feel our Heavenly Father's love for sweet Emma. I thought, "me too Emma, me too." We finished the tour and walked them out to their car. Emma and Isabel gave us these huge hugs and wouldn't let go. We told them that we would see them the next day for church and we went our separate ways. Sunday morning came and we waited for them to come. We sent Shanna a text to make sure everything was okay and to see if she would still be able to make it. She texted us back and said she was in a panic. She had accidentally switched her alarm clock to the pm and not the am setting. Hopefully everything will run smoothly for next week and we can get them to church. 

It's interesting to see the difference that people see in you as a missionary--but really just any member keeping the commandments. There was a man that Sister Johnson and i walked up to the other day who was with his toddler son outside. His name is Charlie. He started asking us a few questions like why we were serving missions. We both bore short testimonies of why we decided to serve missions. He just stopped and looked at us. He said, "Wow. Most people that I would ask that to would hesitate or not know what to say. I'm just really impressed with the way you answered that." It made me think of Elder Christoffersen's (I think?) talk in conference. We need to have a reason for why we do certain things or keep the commandments. He then started asking us about the word of wisdom. We told him of all the things that we don't drink or do. Charlie: "Coffee!?? and TEA??! Don't you know you're in the south!?" ;) We then explained to him why we don't drink those things. We talked about being more spiritually in tune to promptings of the spirit and being obedient to God's commandments. He talked about how much sense that made. He said he had just started drinking coffee again after some time and noticed a difference. He said he always thought it was just him feeling healthier, but realized now why. He started asking us question after question after question. He couldn't get enough. He wondered where he could get one of "those books" ;) and we gave him a Book of Mormon and set up another date to meet with him. When we keep the commandments, I know how blessed we are. They're not restraints as so many think of them. 

I love you all and hope that your weeks go so well! Read your scriptures every day. If I could look back on anything I did before my mission that prepared me most it would be that. Gain a deep love for the scriptures. It doesn't matter where you're at in your life. I feel like I can invite and expect people to read their scriptures every day because I have done that. Pray every day and ask Heavenly Father to help you bring someone closer to their savior (just like was told in conference!). May God bless you and let others see the difference in you from keeping the commandments! 

Much love, 

Sister Jensen :)

Welcome to Georgia! Cotton fields.

Monday, October 7, 2013

Dear Family

It was so great to get to listen to conference the last few days. Many members watch conference at home, but we came to the church to watch it broadcast. Mom, you and I think alike because one of my favorite talks was also President Uchtdorf's during the Saturday session. I really loved that. I really loved all of them though. It was a weekend full of the spirit, that's for sure.

So Lucy and Marvin were kicked out of their home this last week and moved to Blacksheer, which is in the other ward's area so we are going to refer them to the other Sisters. I just wanted to update you on them. But this week we were able to have a really great lesson with one of our investigators named Shanna. Sister Brown, in our ward, let us have the lesson in her home. 

Sister Brown has a son named Ezra. One day Sister Johnson and I were driving and saw a few neighborhood boys playing outside their houses (one of the them being Ezra) so we rolled down our window to say hello. Ezra's friend told us that his mom was looking for a church. We parked the car and walked back from the area we were just in. We knocked on the door and Shanna came and opened it. We had just passed her right before we talked to the boys, smiled and waved (that's the unfortunate thing about driving a car). We told her how her son told us that she was looking for a church. She was a little surprised, but started talking to us. At one moment she just started choking up. I didn't really even know what to say. It was just really clear that she was going through a really hard time in her life. 

Anyway, this last Saturday evening we were able to have a lesson with her in Sister Brown's home. To have a lesson in a member's home really is much more spiritual than just going to the investigator's. There is more power when missionaries and members work together. Shanna had asked us the lesson before what our idea of heaven and hell were. She told us how a dear friend of hers had told her that she would be going to hell if she didn't really come to know Jesus Christ. This troubled Shanna a lot. We shared the message of the plan of salvation. The spirit was very strong as we all were able to testify and teach. We talked about how important our decisions are here on earth because they determine our life here after. Sister Brown talked about going through trials and how God doesn't give us anything that we can't handle. We finished talking about the kingdoms of glory and then Shanna put her hands to her face and started to choke up again. Sister Brown rubbed her back to try and comfort her. After a little while of just sitting there, she said, "I have a confession. You said that God doesn't give us anything that we can't handle... I don't believe that..... My brother committed suicide when he was 18."  I finally realized the magnitude of her concern about heaven and hell from the last lesson. I don't believe Shanna was troubled of the idea of her going to hell right then, but was deeply troubled about her brother being there. We were able to talk to her about Jesus Christ's infinite atonement and how he is the perfect judge of us all. She felt comforted by the idea of three degrees of glory. We were able to talk a little bit about temples and temple work for those who have passed on. The next day she joined Sister Brown to listen to the two sessions of conference. 

I am so grateful for the hope and truthfulness of this gospel. God has a perfect plan for us. We must do our part, however. If we do our very best and keep our covenants that we made at baptism, everything will work out for our good. Pray for Shanna that she will have the courage and faith to come to church. It is a really big step for her. She said something in the lesson that really struck me. She just said, "I just remember feeling like there has to be something more." I can testify to you that there are people looking for that something more, but like it says in the Doctrine and Covenants, they do not know where to find it. Pray sincerely for opportunities to share the gospel, to love deeper, and to help more people experience the blessings that are awaiting them. Jesus Christ has already paid the price for them to enjoy these blessings now. So many of us have been blessed to have the gospel in our lives from the time we were born. What are we doing to repay him? How can we try harder to be a little better? We as missionaries can only do so much. I feel so deeply that we cannot reach nearly as many people if we as missionaries and members don't work together, with everything we have. These are the last days. The Savior lives and loves each and every one of us. Let us show our love for him by reaching out to his children in love. 

May God bless, 

Sister Jensen

September 30th, 2013

Well hello there!! :) 

It sounds like ya'll have been having quite the happening week! :) It sure is fun to hear all of the adventures that are happening. Tell the Rhotons congratulations with all of the family names they've been doing! That is very impressive! So... question: they can trace the family names back to Adam and Eve?! Wouldn't that disprove the whole evolution idea? That's amazing though! And to answer your question about Facebook, I have to drive to the church every day and use the computers in the family history center. It usually takes about thirty minutes out of our day just to drive so sometimes it feels like a hassle to have to get it done at the church. I don't have quite the luxury as I did in Gainesville to have computers at the office in our apartment complex, at the library across the street, or at the church building that was five minutes away. Either way, we are blessed to have this privilege to share the gospel with those online. So for all of those who have added me on facebook, just know that I can't talk or message you, but I love you very much and can be friends with you! :)  Feel free to comment or like any posts that you enjoy! :) I haven't really had the chance to have any lessons on facebook yet, but hopefully I will be able to do that here soon. 

What a wonderful spirit that was felt at the Relief Society broadcast this last Saturday. I just love being able to hear from the leaders of the church! They are so inspired in every word they say and their countenances just radiate the savior. I thought of my sweet sisters and mother as I watched it in our ward building. I just was imagining it. We had a dinner beforehand that was put on by the priesthood. Sister Johnson and I laughed when we heard what was on the menu... Spaghetti. We had spaghetti at least three times this week and have lots of spaghetti left over in our fridge! But! It was still really great! *side note* The YW and YM invited the missionaries for dinner on Tuesday night. The mission president has made it clear that he doesn't want elders and sisters having a dinner appointment in the same home, but he was okay with us having a dinner for an activity like this. Well, we arrived to the church on Tuesday and figured many of the young women and men would be sitting down ready for dinner. Instead, there was a circular table with four place mats, a nice center piece and salad. It was the scene of a date if I've ever seen one. They came out and served us spaghetti and drinks. And then they all just watched us eat. Let's just say It was a little awkward. ;) It was nice of them to think to feed us though. 

Oh, I just have to add that four months from yesterday I entered the MTC. Can you believe it? I've been a missionary for four whole months!? That's crazy. I honestly feel that you can't know what a mission is like until you've experienced it. There really aren't words to describe it. It's wonderful though. There are constant battles within yourself to be better and be more effective. There's always room for improvement. But isn't that what this life's all about? Improvement. Our goal is to be perfected even as Christ is perfect. What a great goal we are all working toward. I love what one of the speakers in the Relief Society Broadcast said though. We shouldn't be too hard on ourselves. What really matters at the end of this life is if we have kept our covenants. When we focus on our covenants and realize the importance of them, we will become perfect as Christ is. Isn't that amazing? God has the plan all worked out for us. We just have to do our little part and Christ will help us finish the rest. 

This week has gone pretty well. We are able to get a lot of new investigators but it has been challenging to help them keep appointments or keep commitments. I just want to sit them down and be like, "THIS IS THE GREATEST MESSAGE YOU WILL EVER LISTEN TO!" Okay, that's a bit dramatic, but you get the idea. I am sure that God feels the same way about us. Something like, "do you realize how important general conference is?!" "do you realize that these are literal prophets, seers, and revelators!!?? or "do you realize that your stake president or bishop or local church leaders are called of God specifically chosen for you!?" I can't imagine His frustration with all of us at times. It just makes me realize how I need to be doing the things that I have been asked to do. I am grateful for all of the investigators that we are working with though. I pray that I can help them see the gospel's importance. We're not just another church, but the way to return to our Heavenly Father. 

Love you all and I pray for your success in work and school and life!! 

God bless!! Muah! 

Sister Jensen 

xoxoxo