Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Hey Mom and Dad!!

Dear Mom,

Thank you so much for your email, as always love you lots :)
Actually this week was kind of boring, we didn't do too much! It was just a normal fun week of missionary work! Thank you so much for sending those packages, I will try to get them today! We did receive a new companion, his name is Elder Smith and he's pretty cool!  It's good though, we've had a lot of fun :) Yes he will probably be my companion once Elder Sharp leaves. (He's only got 5 weeks left!) We'll see though :)

Leiry is awesome! She decided to move her date up so she will actually be baptized next Sunday! We're super stoked :) We did a lot of finding this last week so this week we'll spend going through the list to find who actually has interest and who doesn't. No exciting adventures but just another great week :)

I'm so glad you got to go to Kyley's and Quinton's farewell! I'm so excited for all of these missionaries that are leaving, a mission is the BEST experience in the entire world. Wouldn't trade it for anything! It changed my life and continues to do so every day, for that I am super grateful :) I'm sorry that this week was so crazy, always remember that you are the best mother in the world and that will never ever change. I would not change my childhood for everything. I now see that everything you and Dad did for me, has helped me become the missionary I am today. I wouldn't be able to do this without you and Dad. That story about Ethan made me laugh so much!! Thank you so much mother, you are the best :) 

The how of missionary work. Honestly, it does just take practice and it really comes when we just befriend everyone and find those friends that we have that are ready to listen to the gospel. That's why we work with members. We know that's the only way to find prepared people! Especially in the US as Spanish missionaries we rely so much on member referrals. Not everyone is always ready to listen, but if we befriend everyone we find those that are ready! As we just love them and help them through service, people see our example and eventual the conversation just naturally turns to religion. That's the how to missionary work, love people and serve them!! :) Thank you so much for everything you do mom, you really are such an example to me. I wouldn't be who I am without you. I love you so much and miss you guys so much :) Hope you have a great week!!

Love,
Elder Jensen :)

Hey Dad!

Thank you so much for your email, as always I miss and love you guys a lot! That's exciting that school is over, I can't believe it was a year ago when I graduated! Time flies in the mission and I love it!

We had a good week! Our investigator Leiry will be baptized next week, but we've run out of people after that so we worked really hard to find new people. I even tracted for the first time!!!! We weren't sure what to do so we started going door-to-door. Some interesting responses for sure haha :) We knocked on one door and this guy came to the clear door and yelled "mormons?" and we were like "yeah!!!"...then 15 seconds of awkward silence then "see ya later!!!". Super funny and awkward just thought I would share, it reminded me of some stories that you told me about your mission. But it's good for me I've gotten way tougher skin since being a missionary :) I've learned that being offended is a choice we make! And when we are offended we take away our own agency! So why would I make that choice? Learning that has blessed me SO much. 

That's so awesome, I am so happy and excited to hear about all these missionaries that will be leaving for the field. This is the best experience in the world and I wouldn't want to trade it for anything. It sets you up for the rest of your life! I've learned so much and I can't wait to learn even more in the next 15 months. I am so grateful for you and mom. You both are such great examples to me in word and deed. Thank you for everything you do for me dad, love you!! :)

Elder Jensen



20,000 Leagues Under Houston

Hello friends and family!!

I hope that you are all well and happy. Another week in the second-best but surely-most-humid state in America has been conquered and Elder Jensen escaped with only minor scratches.

This week we got to go with our English Class to the Houston Downtown Aquarium!! ​
And Elder Jensen dueled with a stingray (actually just petted it with two fingers then got scared because jumped at me).

It was a great week! I hope that all you are doing well and that you have the greatest week. Miss you and love you all! :)

Elder Jensen

Sunday, May 22, 2016

Stayin' Alive...

Hello dear family and friends!!

I hope that you are all happy and well. Though most of you already know Elder Jensen is literally the worst at writing and really just remembering to do things in general. So to sum up the last few weeks here's some picture highlights :)


​Houston turned into a ocean. We've had three storms that have left flooding in the last 4 weeks! Luckily our car is a transformer and turns into a submarine when it starts raining.


​We got to take a field trip with the African refugees in our English Class to the Memorial Bird Park. We got to go fish catching and between all of the kids we caught like 50 fish in 10 minutes. (The poor tour guides didn't realize that they were super-athletic refugee kids till it was too late)


We went to a forest and picked up trash. Elder Jensen fearlessly led the group through the only trail that was completely covered with poison ivy​, luckily my foolish mistake only led to two people getting poison ivy.

Anyway, life is good I love my mission. No matter what keep moving forward. Love you all!

Elder Jensen