Saturday, September 28, 2013

Road trip...

Hola Everyone!!

So, this past week has been a fairly regular week.  I've helped my companion with moving missionaries, I've serviced some cars, did the weekly mail run, and tried to get all the mission materials organized.  However, Thursday was a pretty fun day!  We went on a Santo Domingo Road Trip!!  The mission has 2 new missionary couples coming in the next couple of weeks, so I had to go down to Santo Domingo and pick up 2 new trucks from the Area Offices.  It was fun to see the country and the "big city" again.  We didn't have time to visit the temple, but we did go inside and sit down for a little bit.  Then, on the way home we stopped at KrispyCreme Donuts and had a very delicious "full america" donut dinner.  Overall, really fun trip the the country's capitol.  Other then that little burst of excitement this week has been a regular, uneventful week.

So the couple I mentioned last week is doing great!  Yesterday afternoon, they went to the civil offices and got married legally.  So, Carolina's baptism is still on track for October 12th.  They seem really happy, and the deep sorrow of losing their kids is being lost in the joy of gospel and the knowledge of Eternal Families.  This couple is really doing well!  Hopefully, they continue like this for the rest of their lives.  It'll be a great experience to see this couple one day be reunited with their children.

Well, as of yesterday I have 6 more months until my mission ends.  As I've thought of the past 18 months, I've realized the amazing experience I've had.  I have see things, done things, and learned things in these short 18 months that I never would have imagined possible.  I've witnessed the hand of God, I've seen the mighty change of heart, and I've grown to have a deeper gratitude for the Atonement of Jesus Christ.  It's a weird thought to see how fast 18 months has gone by, and I look forward to seeing what Heavenly Father has in store for me during my final 6 months.  Serving a mission has been an amazing experience and I'm grateful that I'm a missionary!  I love this work and I love what I'm doing!  Being bold and sharing my testimony of this gospel is the best way to build my faith in God's promises and show him I love him.  I know God lives and he loves each one of us.  This church is true and President Monson is God's prophet on the earth today!  I testify of these things, en el nombre de Jesucristo, Amen.

Have a great week everyone!  And good luck with everything!!

Con mucho amor,
Elder Jensen

Saturday, September 21, 2013

Office job...



Hola everyone!


This past week has been a very busy week for my companion and I.  Things in the office are just really busy right now.  We have the 2 assistants, 2 secretaries, and us.  But, it seems even with all 6 of us we can't keep up with sick missionaries, housing problems, and our regular responsibilities.  It's just a whirl-wind of exchanges, errands, and busy-ness  However, we seem to be finding a little more time to relax now that all of it is taken care of.  I have to say that the most interesting thing that happened to me at the office this week was defending on vehicle needs with a guy in Santo Domingo.  He was insisting that we needed to turn in one of our mission vehicles, but I said no.  We need the extra truck and I couldn't give it up.  Well, he tried pushing me around because I'm only 20, but I wouldn't let him.  So eventually, we came to terms that I'd give him the old truck he wanted, but he'd give me the new truck (for the incoming couple missionaries) a 3 weeks early.  So, it's been interesting doing grown-up things and having to demonstrate that I can be "grown-up."

So, my companion and I preparing for a baptism in 3 weeks.  We're teaching a couple who's really had a very hard life.  The man is a "less-active" RM and his wife isn't a member.  Well, about 1 month ago, they left for different errands and their house caught on fire.  The saddest part is that their 3 kids were left inside and died.  It's been really hard on our ward.  The miracle about this though, is that this couple knows and understands god's plan for us.  They really want to get sealed in the temple and have the knowledge that they can be with their kids again.  It's been a painful process, I'm sure, but I think it's helped Omar and Carolina realize God's Plan and the importance of the gospel.  So, my companion and I have a lot of work in head of us.

Well, not much else is new in my life.  I'm doing well and enjoying what I'm doing.  I know that I'm where I need to be and I'm doing exactly what I should be doing.  I know this church is true and I know that god lives.  Shall we not go on is so great a cause?  En el nombre de Jesucristo, Amen.

I'm going to send a bunch of pictures showing alittle of what I do and such.  Hope you enjoy!!

Have a great week everyone!!

Love,
Elder Jensen

Pictures!!!









 

Monday, September 16, 2013

Weekly email...

Hola Everyone!

It sounds like things are going great back at home, and everyone is getting into the routine with school, work, and cheer.  I'm glad that all is well and everyone is doing great! 

So this past week has been a pretty slow week you could say.  I've been doing my thing at the office, trying to get the hang of all my responsibilities.  I've visited Claro a few times with cell phone issues.  I've had to get 2 mission vehicles serviced and fix.  And I've done the "mail run" for the week as well.  It always seems that I find something that needs to be done.  My companion had to go to La Vega to find an apartment for a missionary couple that's coming, so that was fun.  Then today we had to go and take money to a sick missionary in a little town call Mao.  So, it's an interesting experience being an office Elder.

I really don't have a ton to say today.  It's been a kind of regular week as you can say.  I've been meeting some members and getting to know the area of Pueblo Nuevo.  It's a very small ward for being the Stake Center.  The attendance level is about 60-70, and the members are just going through the motions right now.  I hope that we can help them get up and going and be the example for the Stake that they represent.  So, I guess we'll see what happens.

Well, missionary work is awesome!  I love what I'm doing and I'm so grateful for the opportunity I've been given to serve a mission.  It hasn't always been easy, but it's always been worth it!  I'm learning alot about me, life, and how to always push forward with faith.  I know this church is true, and that God lives.  He's our loving Heavenly Father who always wants us to succeed.  I testify that God is always our friend!  He loves us and we should always love him.  Jesus Christ is our savior, and I know he's always ready to walk beside us and carry us if necessary.  All we need to do is ask.  Luckily, as a missionary I've been given the opportunity to share my testimony and invite everyone to ask him!  Thanks for all the love, support, and prayers from everyone!  I love you!  En el nombre de Jesucristo, Amen.

Have a great week everyone!  Que vaya con Dios.

Love always,
Elder Jensen

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Not a letter...just a question...

Nathaniel Anderson... If you happen to read this post, Elder Jensen would like your email. Just put it in the comment box and I will make sure he gets it. Thanks.

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Weekly email...

Hola Everyone,

I can't believe that Saturday has already rolled around!  This week sure went quickly and I've been very busy.  But, it feels good to out and about after a week at the hospital.

So for my first full week at the Mission Office, I was very busy.  After week in the hospital, I had a little catching up to do.  So let's see...
Monday-I headed to the office and entered package reports and organized mission materials.  We also had run errands with my companion.
Tuesday-New missionaries came to a meeting and I had to help them receive all training materials.  Also, my companion and I had to go to a couple of missionaries' houses to check construction status.
Wednesday-Pretty slow day.  I ate at Wendy's.  Yummy.
Thursday-I picked up mail and packages from the different mail businesses.  Then in the afternoon my companion and I had to visit Puerto Plata and work with some missionary houses.  I pretty much just tagged along.  But, I SAW THE OCEAN!!!
Friday-I spent the day organizing mail to go to the missionaries and then a couple of errands for Pres. Douglas.
Saturday (Today)-P-day.  Good day to relax.
So all in all, that's my first full week of the office.  I have a feeling all the weeks will start looking the same.  But, I'm enjoying life; especially the A/C, haha.


So, missionary life in an office is a lot different then regular work.  I'm busy doing "non" missionary things like: visiting businesses, traveling to missionary's area around the mission, calling people, organizing mail, talking with the cell phone company, and just other random jobs that President Douglas needs or comes up.  It's an enjoyable learning experience to grow and gain knowledge of doing "grown up" things, but I'm learning something much more valuable in return.  I feel like the biggest thing I'm learning is maintaining my spirituality in a non-spiritual atmosphere.  I'm trying hard to find time to read my scriptures, pray, and share the gospel when at times I can't seem to find time to do so.  I'm learning how to continue strong in my calling and balance an "office job" at the same time.  I love this priceless experience that I'm learning that will help me prepare for my future as a working husband, father, and latter-day saint.  It's not easy to maintain your testimony and spirituality when you're very busy doing "worldly things," but we can do both and enjoy our time in the service and love of the master.  I wouldn't trade learning this for anything; Because I know that it'll help me learn to rely on my Heavenly Father and his son during the busy, hard, and "worldly" times in my life.  I know he lives and loves each and every one of us.  We are his heirs, and I know that we can return as families and live with God forever.  This church is true and Missionary work is awesome!  En el nombre de Jesucristo, Amen.

Have a good week everyone!!  Thanks for the continued love and support!!

Love,
Elder Jensen

Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Hello from Freedom...

Hola Everyone,

As I'm sure everyone knows, I've been in the hospital since last Monday with Dengue Fever.  They finally let me leave this morning, so I spent almost 6 days in the hospital.  It was a long week of fevers, low blood pressure, vomiting, terrible food, and just overall "Blgh."  I'm really feel tons better now and am glad I'm past the fever.  I'm still weak, and I've lost lots a weight, but I'm happy and just enjoying being a freeman from that hospital room too!

So I wish I had lots of new, exciting things to tell everyone about my assignment in the office, but you'll have to wait until next Saturday because I really didn't get around to doing it.  Being stuck in the hospital really slowed things up.  However, my new companion, Elder Astacio, is a stud and helped me out with some of my responsibilities while I was in the hospital.  So, I'm very grateful I didn't get too behind!

Well, that's how my week went.  Spent the past 6 days in the hospital with Dengue Fever.  I'm made it, and I'm doing well!  Thanks for the love and prayers everyone!  It was a very different week of my mission and I'm looking forward to a "slower" week.  

Have a great week everyone!!

Love,
Elder Jensen