The Day After the Day After Tomorrow

Alegrante dias familia y amigos!

Who knew that in one day Houston, Texas could go from a warm subtropical climate, to a cold bitter frozen snow-less tundra that reminds me of a scene from one of the greatest disaster movies of all time? Evidently, the answer is: everyone but Elder Jensen. This week was marked by the first freeze, which was evident in the 50 degree drop in temperature between Saturday afternoon and Sunday afternoon. This made for a couple of under-dressed missionary Popsicles. It is now cold in Texas. Finally, after more than a month of waiting, we have entered the Texan "fall season" -which really only lasts until next week and the start of winter. 

I learned a lot of things this week! Firstly, that waking up early for service makes Elder Jensen tired and second, that putting foil in the microwave does actually light it on fire. One smoke alarm and burning pile of cream cheese later, I have learned that valuable lesson.

Also, I learned how awesome service can be. Yesterday, the local food bank that has been the scene of oh so many funny stories and odd experiences had their annual Thanksgiving meal for the homeless! It of course featured lots of food, lots of games, and the local 92.0 radio DJ and Pastor participating in an "off-the-chain" rap battle. 8 hours and more than a thousand plates of food later, we all left feeling so grateful for everything we have. 

Service is hard sometimes! It typically involves getting up early, maybe burning some cream cheese to a crisp in the microwave, and working...hard. Yet, it remains to me personally as one of the most rewarding experiences we can have. The chance to set aside all that we have and help others is one that is truly special. As we serve we come closer to Christ and closer to who we want to be, it brings out the best in us! 

Now. As we draw nearer to the Thanksgiving and Christmas season I issue to all of you that read this far down into my letters a challenge, to go and serve someone. It can be something easy, something like helping a neighbor with groceries, or sending a thank you text to someone you care about, or helping your local food bank, whatever it is...go and do it. I promise that as you go out and serve others and lose yourself in service, the more that you'll discover about yourself. Then, I want to hear about it! Send pictures, stories, I'd love to hear about all the great things you all have the capacity to do! 

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf gave a great talk called "Be Grateful in Any Circumstance" and there's a quote I really like. It reads: 

"Some might say, 'What do I have to be grateful for when my world is falling apart?...Could I suggest we see gratitude as a disposition, a way of life that stands independent of our current situation? In other words I’m suggesting that instead of being thankful for things, we focus on being thankful in our circumstances—whatever they may be...True gratitude is an expression of hope and testimony. It comes from acknowledging that we do not always understand the trials of life but trusting that one day we will." 

I know that as we serve others, we can find the hope to conquer life's challenges and keep moving forward. So get our there and do it!

"Don't be a turkey...get out there, serve,  and go ham" -Elder Jensen and McKinley

CSI: Houston (Elder Jensen edition)

Buenas felices dias!

Another week has passed in the strangest, most redneck, and happiest place on Earth! Another week of clear skies and rain (those happen at the same time here) and quite a plethora of oddly entertaining stories. The highlight of this week was the one time that Elder Montierth and Elder Jensen discovered the apartment we were living in had an "Ultimate Juicer" and we decided to play a few rounds of "Will it juice?"- which ended with a lot of laughs and a huge mess of Cran-apple-grapefruit-lemon-lime juice all over the kitchen. 

That or the handful times we hung out with the Houston Police department this week. 

Before anyone starts filling out bail forms don't worry it wasn't anything we did, they just happen to always show up at places we are! Every Wednesday we have the opportunity to work at the local  food bank and this week was definitely interesting. We had a couple fights, a couple of people get angry because we ran out of peaches (which necessitated restraining orders), and a lady fake death twice too...in a matter of 4 hours we talked with the Houston Police departments 4 times or so...just another day in Houston,Texas! It's a lot of fun to work at the Food Bank, we always have interesting stories afterwards.

Elder Jensen and his companions have also gone full swing detective mode this week. We've been working hard to narrow down our 600-strong list of members to figure out who still lives in this area and who doesn't. We've had a lot of success and actually ran into old investigators that wanted to get the lessons again! Other than that, this week was full of meetings, lessons, and a lot of new investigators. Our area is finally picking up speed and having success, and we're all really excited about that! 

The absolute best part of this week though was yesterday. This is A: (sorry A and her brother are super super cute but I am always uneasy posting pics of other people's kids without permission!!)

A is one of the first friends I met here and is also the newest member of our ward! 

Typically, in our church we baptize kids when they turn 8 years old. However, A's family was inactive a year ago and missed her baptism...so the Sister Missionaries have been teaching her and she finally had the chance to be baptized! When asked she claimed that she wanted "Elder Gigante" (Giant) to do it so I had the privilege to be the one to baptize her yesterday. It was such an neat experience and to see her afterwards, smiling from ear-to-ear and the happiest I've ever seen her was so awesome. 

 I love my mission and love the people I've been called to serve and I can't imagine life any better. I know that I was called here right now for a specific purpose and every time I get sad or down that thought pushes me forward. Whenever you just want to give up, remember that nothing is impossible, don't look backward, and just keep moving forward!

Con amor,

Elder Jensen

So you think you can play soccer? (Formerly "So you think you're better at soccer than a 5th grader?" - which was changed because it would involve Elder Jensen telling an embarrassing story about himself)

If you're Elder Jensen and playing against a bunch of tiny Guatemalan mini-Messi's who can simultaneously scorpion kick the ball and score a goal before you can even turn around, the answer to both of those questions is a resounding no. Let's just say that Elder Jensen tripped over himself more times then he kicked the ball and that he landed on his face more times then he scored a goal. Story of this week: Guatemalans are good at soccer and Elder Jensen is not. 

One of the really cool events we've started doing during the week is investigator soccer, where all 10 missionaries in the ward bring investigators and proceed to get our butts kicked by a bunch of Fifa All-Stars. 

Our goal this week was to get more people to church and we noticed that weirdly enough more people were available when we said the word "futbol" as opposed to "leccion". So thus our "that one time our investigator and ward member soccer team demolished 10 gringo missionaries" program was born. 

And it worked! Though it's STILL raining (two weeks later) and freezing cold, we had nearly 200 people show up to church on Sunday, about quadruple what we had last week! It was such a neat experience to see all the families we visited and invited to church, show up and stay for all 3 hours! Another neat thing was that we actually had more investigators than missionaries for the first time in this area in a long time. All 10 of us are working as hard as we can and we're definitely seeing the blessing from that. We've had so many opportunities to serve.  We work at the food bank every Tuesday and every other Friday help to do vision tests for kids that can't afford them. We're seeing really awesome miracles in this community and it's so amazing. 

Spiritual experience of the week: we have the opportunity to teach a member of our ward that was excommunicated. It's a delicate and often difficult situation, but overall it's been a life-changing one. He has a testimony and knows the church is true, just has problems in his life that we're working to get over. But the lesson I've learned most of all through this process is that the Atonement and love of Jesus Christ are available to all who seek it. It doesn't matter what our past is, what experiences we've had- Jesus Christ is always there to help, lead, and guide us. My favorite scripture in the Book of Mormon is in Alma 7:11-12.  It talks about how Christ suffered for each of our sins, but also our pains, afflictions, and infirmities...and the reason he did that was so that he would know "by the flesh how to succor (or help) his people".

"11 And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.

 12 And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities."

More than anything, I've come to such a realization of that this week that Christ loves each of us, knows exactly what we go through and in times of sadness, loneliness, and hopelessness he is there for us. In fact, that's when he's closest with us. I know that's true and that he only asks that we turn to him and we'll receive happiness, love, and hope. "And no matter what you do...keep moving forward!" 

Con mucho amor,

Elder "Coach" Jensen

(Andrew's mom here....I asked him what missionaries do on Halloween and this was his reply:)

Also for Halloween I dressed up as a self proclaimed "tall missionary" (I had a nametag!) because according to a kid at the trunk or treat that how I am distinguished :) 

(Imagine that...he's known as the "tall missionary" :) )