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" :) )