Another week in the DR...

Hello Family!!!

So it sounds like Nicole and Gary had quite a bit of rain.  Let me tell how the rain went here in the DR.  So it started raining randomly one afternoon.  And rained and then poured.  Elder Teran and I had to make it back to our apartment because we left our windows open.  We walked through rivers instead of streets because the streets had about 3 to 4 inches of water on them.  Right in front of our apartment was a huge lake that went up to my knees!!!  Once we swam to our door, we went inside and found my bed, and puddles of water all over the floor.  So, we spent the next 2 hours cleaning up.  That my my tropical rainstorm story.  Pretty interesting.

So with mailing stuff, I found out a few different things that will help.  Like I said last week, sending letters to the florida PO box address is the best way for letters!  When you send packages, send them to the Mission with DHL or FedEx because if you do it through the postal mail system, the people will look through it when it gets here, and I might not end up getting it.  But make sure to keep the tracking number!  Also, the mission is moving offices, so if it'll be more then 2 or 3 weeks before you send it, please let me know!

So not much really happened this week, just the same old routine.  President Lee finishes on Friday and President Douglas arrives.  I really am excited to meet the new President, but I wish I could of had a little more time to serve with President Lee.  This week I'm trying to send alot of pictures, so thats why it's so short!  Enjoy!!

Love, Elder Jensen 

Another Week...

Hola everyone!

Sounds like the wedding went really well!!  I'm glad I was able to be there and be carried along, haha!  I hope Nicole and Gary are happy and that they are really enjoying Disney World!  She is the closed she'll be to me for 2 years!  Anyways, doesn't seem like much is going on at home right now.  But things are bound to change.  Sorry if my grammar and stuff isn't the best, but the keyboards here are different then US keyboards and everything is in Spanish, so....sorry.

Anyways, things here are going really good!!  I have a really good zone and awesome Elders in my district.  I work in an area called "Gurabo A" which is really big!  I've attached some pictures of my apartment as well as my view of the area from my house.  I'll definitely send more pictures as time goes on.  These first few weeks have just kind of been a big blur...Anyways, I attend a ward with the chapel right behind a casino.  It's funny when we give people directions and say "you know the casino grande?" they reply "Your church is in the casino?"  Haha, we reply back "no, its right next door."  I will say its pretty easy to give directions though.  I'm used to big wards with 300+ people and here in the DR we're lucky to get maybe 125+.  But the saints here are really strong and dedicated to their callings.  I continue to walk, and walk, and walk.  Then after a little more walking we make rest and walk some more.  I'm really getting to be a good walker, when I get home we can walk all day and I won't break a sweat, haha.  So maybe its time to tell you how I travel around my area and to different places.  We take what we call a ruta, which is kind of like a taxi route.  The cars are little honda civic like cars and all beat up the majority of the time.  We pay 20 pesos and get in.  We just ride along the route until its time to get off.  Did I mention that they fit up to 7 in the car?  That's the best part about it.  Driving down the road with 7 people in this little beater car:) I really am liking all these new experiences I'm having here in the DR.

I continue to eat rice, and chicken.  We tend to switch it up and have pasta sometimes.  I'm losing weight because of the sweating, walking, and just because I don't snack as much.  So that's good I guess!  We get money every 2 weeks for everyday expenses, but we definitely don't live a life a steak and luxury.  I had to use a little money to buy some personal items that wouldn't    count under my "apoyo" money.  I might buy a cookie sheet so I can make cookies throughout my mission, but after that I should buy a whole lot with it.  So I'll let you know if I do.

Running out of time, so just some things I want to address:  

First, mailing stuff to me.  The best way to LETTERS is through the FLORIDA address.  For PACKAGES send it directly to MISSION.  You pay more on your end, but I don't pay anything on my end.  But make sure to have a tracking number in case it gets lost...

 

Lastly, I want to start of Book of Mormon challenge within the family.  Read the entire Book of Mormon from the cover to Moroni 10, so the whole entire thing.  We'll all start this Sunday (June 24) and finish by April 4, 2013.  Each week we'll share what we learned and grow together as a family in the Book of Mormon.  Seems like a long period to read it, but be warned it'll come fast!!!  Will you all agree to do it?? Including Holli?  I look forward to hearing your response next week.

I love you all and thanks for everything you do!!  Keep up the good work!  THANKS FOR ALL YOU LOVE AND PRAYERS!  IT MEANS THE WORLD TO ME!!

Love,

Elder Jensen

 

Hola from Gurabo!...

Hola Everyone!

Things in the field are completely different from anything I've ever heard.  Missionary life out in the field is very different than I had thought!! I don't even know where to begin...Let's see.  Last Wednesday night we finally made it back to our apartment.  We essentially dropped our bags off and went out and walked around our area.  After meeting several people, we headed back home and went right to bed; I was so, so tired!  The next morning I unpacked and starting cleaning the apartment.  Let's just say it wasn't up to par on the Russell Scale.  I still have to finish cleaning today, but I should get it pretty clean.  My apartment is on the 4th floor of a really nice apartment building.  It has a living area, kitchen, and 3 bedrooms, and 2 bathrooms.  The power and water goes out pretty regularly, so I've learned to just go with whatever works that day.  I'm high enough that I can see my area and I have a very pretty view of the mountains.  So that's kind of what my apartment is like.  It's pretty fun!!

Once we leave our apartment we go right to work.  I've only been here for a week, but I've met a ton of people!  We've taught quite a few lessons and contacted so many people.  My area has a lot of rich people, but also a lot of poor people too; so I have a pretty good variety of people here to teach.  The people are so, so nice and loving.  We walk up to their gate and yell, "Buenas!" and they usually come out and talk to us.  After introductions, they invite us to come in and sit down.  It's kind of weird that people here let random strangers inside and tell us missionaries their complete life story and how Jesus Christ had helped them.  The only problem is is trying to get them to commit to stuff or are home for the next meeting.  Some people are really cool and have interesting stories.  We were contacting and stopped at a guy's house.  He invited us in and we told him that we were missionaries with a message that can bless his life.  He said not 30 seconds before we showed up he post on a blog site something like "I'm stuck right now.  I don't know what to do with life or my family."  That really shows how the lord blesses and prepares the people for us to teach.  I just hope this man is prepared and ready to come unto Christ.  We've met some other people who also seem ready to receive the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

The food here is very different!  Rice, and lots of rice.  I get tired of rice.  The propane in our house is gone, so today we have to get our tank filled up.  Also, we really don't have a lot of food right now, so there is another thing we have to get done today.  Busy, busy, busy.  But we seem to get everything done. 

Walking.  Who knew that word could be something so hard?  I've never walked so much in my entire life.  I think we probably walk 8+ miles everyday.  My blisters have blisters.  The sun is brutal too, I don't think I've ever sweat so hard in my life too!  But I love being in the field.  I'd rather be out in the field then my apartment, because meeting people and staying busy is really keeping my spirits high!!  I've also lost a little more than 5 pounds in one week!  I'm gonna come home a tooth pick.

Love, Elder Jensen

I'm the real deal now...

Hello Family!!!

Well it's a fact!  I'm a real deal missionary.  I traveled to the mission home early Tuesday morning and spent the day there!  My President is really, really nice and caring so I'm kinda bummed that he only has one more month!  I went on the split yesterday to what is now my area with a missionary who was there.  The area is called "Gurrabo" in the the Santiago city.  The mission home is actually in my area! My companion's name is Elder Taron and he is from Arizona.  He actually was one of the APs for the
last four months, so I've been following him around all day as he finishes up his duties.  He is really cool, and I've heard only amazing things about him.  I haven't been my house yet, nor been out in the field so next week should be full of adventures!  I'm really excited to get started and begin my field work.  It's going one amazing adventure out here in the field. The little I've seen in my area so far, it seems like a very rich neighborhood.  A lot of big houses and nice buildings.  The church house is right behind a casino, haha.  I thought that was pretty funny!  My area is a big area so I'll have plenty of walking to do!  Yesterday, I walk probably 5+ miles in a little less then 3 hours.  I'm gonna have legs the size of my head, haha!!!(:  I don't have a ton of time, but I'll definitely have a lot to share next week after I've been in the field and had alot of new adventures!  Let me know of questions you have!  Oh! I also decided I don't know Spanish, haha!  It seems like a different language in the field!

Love,
Elder Jensen

P.S. my new P-Day is Wednesday's for the rest of my mission.  So just so you know!

Last Week in the CCM...

Hola!

  How are things back in Utah?  Things here at the CCM are winding down pretty fast!  I only have a couple more days and then it's out in the field doing the real deal missionary work!!  I leave Tuesday, June 5th, super early in the morning.  I head to the mission office, receive a couple hours of orientation, and then I'm out on my own with my trainer!  I'm ready to get out of here and start the next chapter of my mission.
  Last friday I was able to do exchanges with the some missionaries in the West Mission.  It was crazy!!!  I had the biggest piece of humble pie I've ever had in my entire life!  We met the missionaries at a chapel where we received a companion.  My companion and I headed out and got onto the Metro.  The metro was super cool!  It is only 2 years old, so it still is pretty nice!  Like it could give traks a run for its money.  However, as soon as we got off, it was a completely different world!  Not even close to what I ever thought it was going to be like!  People everywhere, little carts with goods, and just very different.  I don't think you can fully picture what it looks like until you actually see it with you own eyes!  It is really just a different place then the good old US.  The best word I can use is just: Poor; the DR a very poor country.  I can't wait to get out into the thick of it in Santiago!!  Anyways, once we walked a little while we found another mode of transportation that carried us to the assigned area!  Very tropical place, and alot of sweat involved too!  We briefly
stopped at the apartment and took care of some business and then we headed out to teach!  Since we had to spend most of the time traveling we could only teach two lessons!  The first lady and daughter had set a baptism date; and were just finishing up the lessons.  We sat and read 1 Nephi1 with them. I couldn't understand anything!!  I just sat there and tried to look pretty!!  I bore my testimony of the BOM and tried to answer some questions.  It was really spiritual and very exciting, even though I
couldn't understand anything!  She even gave us some soda because it was a hot day.
  After that lesson we headed into the poor part of town.  We walked though the main street and headed down a little alley.  Just cinder block walls everywhere!  We winded down and around through this maze of cinder block houses.  Pretty soon we ascended above all the rest to level 2.  As we rounded the corner, it hit me of what everyone had told me about!  There before my eyes was the valley full of tin-roofed, shacks.  Those who have seen it know what I'm talking about.  We stopped at this gate with a very small yard and a hut.  The yard was full of water and clothes.  Naked kids ran everywhere!  I later found out that Friday was the first day in 25 days that this family had water, so they were taking baths, and doing laundry, and stocking back up on water.  We maneuvered around the water and took a seat in the house.  The kitchen, bedroom, and living area was all one room.  We sat down and talked with the family and did the same lesson of reading from 1 Nephi 1.  Randomly, one of the girls made a comment, and everyone laughed, and the mother than rebuked her daughter.  Turns out the girl said "You're kind of fat.  Why are you bigger than your companions?" The mother replied, "He's not fat, he's full of love.  Like me!" I laughed so hard!!  If I'm fat, I wonder what she would call the people on the Biggest Loser, haha!  Anyways, that was pretty fun!!  We headed back and I was sent back the CCM.  It was so much fun being out in the field for the day!  I get to go again tomorrow, and then for the next 22 months on Tuesday.  I can't wait to t each the gospel and help other people come unto Christ.  I learned from this experience that it doesn't matter what culture you live in, what means you grow up with, or what language you speak. The fact that we are all sons and daughters of a loving Heavenly Father, who wants us to turn to him and rely on Jesus Christ.  The spirit talks to everyone in the same language, that is the language of the heart.  I look forward to serving the people of the DR with all my heart, might, mind, and strength.  I love the humility of the people in the DR, and I can't wait to teach all kinds of people in every circumstance!  I know I've been called of God!

   This past week I watched the youth Mormon message titled "Dare to stand Alone." It was about President Monson and his story about Navy boot camp.  I would challenge each person who reads this to take five minutes and watch this video!  You can currently watch it from the home page of LDS.org.  So much can be learned from it!  Remember the phrase, "Dare to be a Mormon; Dare to stand alone!  Dare to have a purpose firm; Dare to make it known!"  I know we have a prophet on earth today and he leads and helps direct God's work on earth.  Jesus is the Christ, and the church is true!  I love you all, and thanks for all the support and prayers!

Love,

Elder Jensen

Another Week in the DR...

Hola Everyone!!

 This past week has been pretty slow.  The rest of the Latinos showed up,
so currently there is 39 missionaries piled into the 4th floor of the CCM.
Let's just say its very, very crowded!  My companion and I (along with the
rest of the missionaries) got to go contacting at the local university.  I
must just have rotten luck, because every person we talked to was a devoted
Catholic.  But oh well, hopefully we planted a seed that can grow and
develop into something bigger!  We had the President of the Este mission
come and speak to the CCM last Sunday.  I feel pretty good about my
spanish...I can understand 1 out of 10 words rather then just 1 out of 15!
Hopefully soon I can understand 1 our of 5 words...
  Nothing else too exciting really happened this week.  We did a lot of
studying, and a little more studying.  The weather is getting hotter, and
there isn't quite as much rain, but I've heard that Santiago has the most
rain, so I'll be able to be in water after all, haha!  People continue to
have stories about what to expect on a mission and things to make sure not
to do!  Most of the time I just nod my head and say "Yep, ok I'll try not
to."  When people start preaching to you about things to do and not to
do before you're actually out in the field all it does is confuse your
head.
 This past week I've spent a lot of time reading Jesus the Christ by James
Talmage.  He was one spiritual man, that Talmage guy was.  Anyways,
something that really caught my attention is when Talmage analyzes the
different Apostles of Christ's ministry.  When he spoke of Peter, Andrew,
James, and John it really increased my faith in those servants of the
Lord.  You see, those four men were fishermen when Christ came and said "Ï
will make you fishers of men."  Most people know that, but what they don't
realize is the status of the 4 as fishermen.  They all owned their boats,
and had a paid crew aboard each boat.  That right there is big!  Back in
the day that was quite well off!  And we find out Peter owned
his own house, and they all had material possessions.  I always thought that
the 4 of them were just poor fishermen trying to get by, but I learned that
these mean were very well off "physically" anyway.  And yet when Christ
came and called them to follow him, the four men dropped their nets and
followed Christ.  How much faith and heart would that take to drop your
whole life and devote yourself to following the master?  These were rich
men, who gave up everything to serve the Lord.  I wonder about all the
things I've given up to come out on the mission for 2 years.  Yes, I've
given up Work, School, Girls, Money, Movies, etc, but looking at the
sacrifice that those 4 Apostles gave to serve the Savior, I haven't had to
give up that much at all!  These men gave up their whole life on earth to
serve the lord, I've been asked to give only 2 years of my life to be a
full-time servant of the Lord!  Peter, Andrew, James, and John are amazing
examples!  I want to be able to have the amount of faith they had, so when
the Master calls me to work I can be there to answer the call!  I challenge
each of you to continue building your faith and serving the lord.  Magnify
your callings a little more, attend the temple more often, give a little
more fast offering, have a little more charity for people, and thank your
Heavenly Father for everything he has given you!  Most people haven't been
asked to devote their life to the lord, but we can devote a little more
time to serve him and help build up the kingdom.  I know with all my heart
this church is true.  Jesus lives and he is the Savior of the world.  Put
your faith is him and he will always be walking by your side.  In the name
of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Keep the faith and have an amazing week!  I'll talk to you all next
Thursday!

Love,
Elder Jensen

Hello again...

Hola Everyone!!

    How's life back in Utah? It was soooo good to hear from all of you on Sunday! It sounds like life is just trucking along! I hope Ashley's wedding goes through alright today! I wish you all the best at surviving the day!!

   Dad thanks for the picture of the temple!!  It looks so nice!!!  Sounds like planning commission is really heating up.  Who new of the excitement that could happen over something so small in the grand scheme of things.  Try not to make too many enemies, haha:)  By the way, I did make that purchase here in the DR, so not to worry.  However, I don't expect to make any purchases for the next 3 weeks, so be watching just in case.

    I really don't have a whole lot to say this week.  I seemed to have covered most it over the phone.  Just 2 or 3 things to mention back to my fans at home!  The Haitans left early Tuesday morning, so all day Tuesday and Wednesday, there was only the 10 of us from Provo.  However, these next couple days will be quite interesting!  We have 22 new Elders and 7 new Sisters arriving from different countries.  Most are from Peru, but on sister is coming from Spain.  Let's just say, the CCM will be really full!  
     On Tuesday morning we had were able to take a trip to the Market.  It was kind of like a Dominican Walmart.  It was quite different.  But it was so good to buy American candy and chips.  I found some Hershey's dips Cookies & Creme style for $5.  I figured if I can get American Chocolate for $5 I might as well buy 2 of them, haha.  I do enjoy my food!!  I also bought same necessary items like an Umbrella, wash clothes, chocolate, tie, oreos, did I mention chocolate?  Haha, it was pretty fun to get out and look like a bunch of little kids lost with no idea what to do.
     I know this church is true!  I know with all my heart that Jesus lives and is the savior of the world.  Through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, we can all be cleansed from sin.  The Atonement is so must more than that.  I testify that through the Atonement, we can all be made perfect throught Christ.  Not just with sin and afflictions, but with all aspects of our lives.  Christ can make weaknesses into strengths, imperfections into perfections, and help us become the people we need to become to enter into the Celestial Kingdom at the last day.  I know Joseph Smith was a prophet, and we currently have a prophet on the earth today, President Monson.  I know I've been called of God to serve the people of the Dominican Republic and help all to come unto Christ and enjoy the fullness of the gospel in this life.  I love you all so very much and I am truly grateful for all your prayers and support you have given.  In the name of our lord, savior, and redeemer, Jesus Christ, Amen.

Que vaya con Dios!!

Love Elder Jensen

P.S.  I attached some pictures of the CCM and the Temple.