Week 96 Fastings For Miracle

Marisol and Genesis

Well, this past week was one heck of a ride. We have been working real hard with Marisol and Genesis. They were sick a little this week. so they could not make it to church on Sunday. But, we were able to continue to prepare them for baptism on the 17th. It is really cool to see the change and the happiness when someone really wants to change. I have seen this in my life these past 2 years. I know that the Lord truly prepares those who are seeking for a new life. I know that I have felt that with them. You can just feel this love when you are with them, you cannot deny it. This week I found a scripture that comforted and changed me. I remember reading it a month into my mission, but could never find it again. It reads: 

¨For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to seperate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.¨ Romans 8:38-39

What a beautiful scripture that is right? I know that the pure love of christ that each one of us feels and is in us, no one can ever take that away. It is love unbreakable. A really cool miracle happened this week from fasting. It was Saturday and we were having a bad day and we were waiting for the bus to go to into some residentail areas to do some contacting. And this car came by and honked at us. It was the Stake President and we got in and we went with him instead to do some teaching with him. We met 2 new families and now we have 4 new baptisms for this month and next month. All of them went to church and we are planning their baptisms. What miracles happen when we fast for the most smallest things. I testify that fasting truly works. I love this work and I love my mission. 

I hope everyone is starting thinking of Christmas this year. It does not matter the presents or the gifts, what matter is our Savior Jesus Christ who was born. H who can save all of us if we just simply follow Him. Love you all. I know this to be true. Feliz Navidad a todos! Hasta la proximo semana. Cheque Pues!

Les quiero,

Elder Jensen

P-Day!

Week 95 Finding the Escogidos (Choosen)

What a week it has been! I cannot believe how fast time is going by. It feels like yesterday I was entering the CCM and now I am here 21 months later finishing my mission. But, seriously it has been a blessing to be here in Honduras. I have seen the blessings of being a missionary and helping families and catrachos (Honduran male) come unto Christ. I know that I will be immensely blessed for serving the Lord with my might in these last couple weeks here. I know that if I truly work hard, have faith and continue to be obedient my Heavenly Father will lead me to the people that are truly looking for the gospel in these last 10 weeks. So excited!

Marisol and Genesis are progressing so fast. Genesis loves the young women program and loves the activities that they do every Wednesday. She told all the young women that she wants them to go to her baptism on the 10th.....Yipeee! And Marisol has been reading the BOM a lot know and she finds it be very interesting. She has felt the spirit so much and knows it be true. It is going to be a very Merry Christmas for me and Elder Estrada this year. To have a chance to baptized someone during this time of year. I can't think of anything better. The fireworks are coming out and we are both excited to help everyone remember that the Savior was born in Bethlehem on Christmas Morning. I love this area. We have been finding new families all over and it is an amazing thing to tell them all about Christ and his life right now. 

Love you all so much. The weeks are catching up to me and before I know it I will be going home. It makes me sad and excited all in one.  All I know is that Our Savior and Redeemer lives and that this Gospel is truly amazing. It can change each and everyone of us. Does not matter how old you are, where you are, or what you've done. All that matters is that we are children of a loving Heavenly Father and he wants nothing more than for us to turn to Him and His son. The Book of Mormon is true and I can see new miracles just by reading a little bit everyday. Love you all....please pray for me and my companion and for our investigators that they can truly accept this gospel and receive the blessing that come from it. 

Les quiero,

Elder Jensen

Cute Honduran kids.

How I take a hot shower everyday.

Made Pizza Spaghetti for Elder Estrada's birthday and some investigators

Happy Birthday Elder Estrada!

Week 94 Excellente Estrasda

Bueno, pues. Este semana fue super BUENO! Trabajaba como burros este semana! (WOW! This was a super great week. We worked liked mules this week.) I have changed so much on my mission, and I have even seen a big change just in this change. We wrote down all our goals we want to accomplish this change and we have already completed like so many of them. I am so happy with myself and with my companion. My testimony has grown so much and it has changed me so much and I cannot even tell you how much. The gospel of true. 

An awesome miracle happened this week. We went to go teach a lesson with an investigator this week and we were waiting in the park for them and she called and wanted us to meet them at there house instead because it is starting to get a little cold here. When we got there, there were 4 extra people in her family. It was such a spiritual night, we taught the Word of Wisdom with them and all of them committed to follow it exactly. And then the next night we taught them about the Restoration and when we challenged them to baptism all of them committed to do so. I could not believe it. Obedience truly does bring blessings. But, Exact Obedience brings Big Miracles! I am so happy that Elder Estrada and I worked hard, had the faith, were obedient so we could have the spirit with us to teach them about the gospel and the spirit could touch them. And because of all of that both of them have a baptism date for the 10th of this December. There is nothing better than to see people feel the spirit and change their lives. We are planning to go to the temple this December for them. I am so happy for them and there desire to change. Life is going good! Please pray Genesis and Marisol to continue to receive answers. 

We are going to try and do 100 contacts this week...yea thats alot, but we are up for the challenge. I am loving my mission and I know if I put all my strength n into these last 11 weeks...I will truly return home with honor and with happiness that I did all I could.  Love you all...thanks for the support and the love you bring to me! FELIZ DIA DE GRACIAS! 

Les queiro,

Elder Jensen

2 fecha fijas que tiene un fecha por bautismo el dia 10 de Dic.

Estoy todo Macaunudo!

Que Verde!

Week 93 Cambios De Nuevo

Well, changes happened again. I cannot believe how 6 weeks can go by so fast...it feels like just yesterday Elder Hernandez and I became companions again. I will receive a new companion as of tomorrow. His name is Elder Estrada. He is from Guatemala. I know him pretty well...I know we will get along real well this change. I am going to kill him (this is his last change and he goes home, mission lingo, basically, work him to death). We are going to study hard, work hard, and baptize a lot. I know that these next 3 months are going to go by so fast, so I have to enjoy every minute of it. I love my mission and I know I can truly express my love to Heavenly Father by giving it my all.  I know if we do it His way, it truly does work. That is why this change I am going to make goals for the remaining part of my mission and goals for my future. I don't have a lot of time this week, so this will be short. But, I promise I will tell you about all the cool experience I have next week. 

Real quick...Elder Ochoa from the Seventy came this week and talked about us about how we can be better missionaries and how we can live our missions to the fullest. But, he said that there are thousands...THOUSANDS of people in our area that are waiting for this gospel and are just waiting for missionaries to knock on there door. So, I know now what I need to do as a missionary to really help my mission to the fullest. Love you all thanks for all your support. I gotta go...talk to you guys next week. 

Love,

Elder Jensen

Week 92 Unexpected Contact

 

Weeks are passing like a seconds here. I literally have 21 months right now and it is so surreal. I cannot believe that in 3 months I will be home. I really don't like talking about it. I am still enjoying my time here in Honduras, helping my fellow brothers and sisters find and stay on the path of righteousness to return back with our Heavenly Father. I had kind of a stressful past week with the work and trying to get it all done. We are doing our best and I know with my companion on the right side and the Lord on the left, anything is possible. We have seen some pretty dope miracles this past week. Our area is kind of tough because it is outside the city, but some crazy things have happened this past week. 

One of them was that Elder Hernandez and I were helping a family in their pulperia (small grocery store) sale food and utilities to the local people who always pass by buy stuff. Elder Hernandez went outside for just a minute to talk with the some people passing by. And these 2 ladies come up to him and said ¨Elder, Why are you not with your companion?¨ My companion responds,  he is just inside doing service for Hermana Olga¨´ And she responds again ¨I know the mission rules Elder and it tells you strictly to be by your companion at all times.¨ My companion said ¨Wow, that's right, how do you know the mission rules sister? Are you a member?¨ She says ¨No Elder, it is just I have been talking to elders for almost 20 years, still have not been baptized yet, and the elders have told me all the rules one of them is to be by your companion at all times. Elder Hernandez called for me...and when i came out we started talking more to them and getting to know them. Like she said they have been meeting with elders for 20 years and the reason they never got baptized was because they had problems with getting married because they did not have the money. So, lately my companion and I have been working with them this week. They went to church yesterday and they loved it because now the building is so close (since the new church opened). We are hoping to help them get married. It's just really hard because it is really expensive to get married in Honduras. 

We are working with a bunch of other contacts and referrals from the members this week. Surprisingly, we got a lot of referrals from the church and it has been really cool. This week will be as busy as last week. Which makes any missionary happy.  I am so happy to be a missionary. I have been learning so much and having many new experiences that will help me to prepare for the real life after my mission. President said to us yesterday that if we do not truly change on the mission, we will cry afterwards.  Love you all. Thanks for all your support. See you next week. 

Hasta Luego!!!

Elder Jensen

Christmas Activity

Week 91 Mr. Inspiration

Adorable kids that love talking to "gringos"

So, many things have happened this week I cannot even count. Well, we can first start off with a big surprise from our mission this week. Our mission and the Tegucigalpa mission had the opportunity to hear from GA Kevin R. Duncan and his wife and... Apostle Dallin H. Oaks this week! What a blessing was it to hear from them! They gave amazing talks and my heart just opened up and spirit taught me on how I want to finish my mission. One of the best things Elder Oaks said was, that we need to be Full-time Missionaries! "Work Hard, Strive Hard, and Endure until the very end". He said the he knows that if we put in our heart and our committ to this work, the Lord will bless us in ways we cannot even imagine. However, if we sin and give up....there will be no point to our mission. Repentance is not repeating the same sin over and over. Repentance needs commitment or it means nothing. Sometimes we repent from the mouth, and not from the heart. I know I am not the perfect, I do have my faults and my challenges. I have felt the Saviors love and know what I need to do and how to finish my mission not only with honor, but really changed. I have no intention of going home the same person. Nobody does....and with the Lord by my side anything is possible. The Lord has changed me in so many ways these past 21 months and I know if I continue to be obedient and work super hard these last 3 months I will be truly changed. God has a plan of happiness for each and every one of us and during our journey here are Earth there will be discouragement, loneliness, and frustration along the way. But, I know now what he has in store for me. I just need to do it. We all need to do it. He is the only way to be happy! We just need to trust him. And if we do, he will change us into the people we want to be and who he wants us to become. I bear strong witness to that fact. 

My Zone

Preaching while playing

Along with the inspiration we had this week, we had 2 unexpected baptisms this week. I am so proud of Alejandra and Ashley and the their decision to join the church. They will be eternally blessed. I know Heavenly Father puts people in our path to help nourish us strengthen our spiritual growth. I love Him and am grateful He is watching me and all his children.

Alejandra and Ashley Baptism

Well, this change is almost finishing up. We have about 2 more weeks and it be done. And then I will have exactly 3 months left. It is weird to think that Christmas is coming up so soon. I cannot even believe how time has gone by so fast. Love you all so much and I am grateful for your support and encouragement you have given me these past 21 months. Cannot wait to see you soon! Hasta Luego! 

Les quiero muchisimo,

Elder Jensen

P.S. Happy Halloween!!!

My house. No doors!

Week 90 Miracles Happen for Reason

We walk a lot of dirt roads here

Wow, another week has come and gone. I am grateful for what happened this past week even though it was humbling. I truly learned some pretty hard lessons and I know what I need to do to be better as a missionary in these next 108 days. I now know the blessings of true obedience. We slacked off a little this week and wow, I could see a difference from the results we had this week verses the last 2 weeks. I am not proud of it and I prayed for forgiveness. I can see how and what I need to improve upon and what I need to do to become the best missionary I can and what my Father in Heaven wants me to be. The mission is truly a refiners fire. And even though Elder Hernandez and I weren't totally obedient the Lord still blessed us with 2 unexpected miracles. You can't stop the will of the Lord. I would like to tell you guys about this week. 

Remember Jeisy from my last area? And how we taught her for so many weeks? She struggled with her testimony and she prayed and prayed for weeks.  Well, last Saturday was her baptism. I am so happy! Since I was so close to where she lives, my companion and I were given permission to go see her baptism. As well as my old companion when in that area. I felt such peace and joy as she entered the waters of baptism. I prayed so hard for that day to come. I am happy for her and for the decision she made. It is such a blessing as a missionary to see the change in someone when the decided to get baptized. I really feel like Jeisy was one of those that I was suppose to find. One the main reasons I was sent to Honduras. A chosen one for me. Miracles. So many miracles.

 

Jeisy's Baptism

The other miracle is that next week we have 2 more baptisms. 2 unexpected people from Elder Hernandez old ward who had some difficulties in the ward they were going to. Unfortunately, it got so bad they wanted to come here and be a part of the Germania Ward. Some people in Honduras never learn.  Well, I guess we can all say that sometimes. As the saying goes in the church,  The church is true, but the people are not. Alejandra and Ashley will be getting baptized next week. I have seen so many blessing this week. We are still working with Celeste. We are being patient and trying to help her understand the power of the Holy Ghost. We found some other new people to teach and we are hoping they will follow through with our request to read and pray for answers. Elder Hernandez and I will be praying too. 

Love you all so much! Cannot believe how little time I have left now. It is almost a shock how far I have truly come. Still working at it and doing all I can so I can be proud of myself when I come home. Hope all is well. As Jeffery R Holland says: Keep Loving. Keep Trying. Keep Trusting. Keep Believing. Keep Growing. Heaven is cheering you on today, tomorrow, and forever. Have a good week everyone! 

Hasta Luego!!!

Elder Jensen