Week 105 THE BEST 2 YEARS OF MY LIFE!!

Wow, I did! I cannot believe how fast 2 years went by. My whole life I grew up thinking about and singing the primary song, ¨I Hope They Call Me on a Mission.¨ They called me to Honduras and now I am done. Its unreal. And now...onto new goals and aspirations. My next goals is college, a job, and weird to think about even marriage. I have loved my mission and I cherish it more than anything else I have. The people will be forever in my heart. My mission Presidents, all my companions and districts and zones, but most of all just the regular people of Honduras that I had the privilege either to teach or to serve. It makes me so happy in side to think of all of them. A mission is harder than they said it was, but even more amazing than they said it would be. This email....since it is my last on my mission.....instead of writing my whole testimony down, which I have been doing progressively this last month.  I decided to tape me bearing it in Zone Conference. (MOM NOTE: I NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO INSERT THE VOICE FILE OF HIM DOING THIS, AS SOON AS I DO IT WILL BE HERE) I luckily did not ball, but I testified of the truth I know. I know that my Father in Heaven is happy with me for giving my service to the Him and to the Honduran people. I can't say it enough, I loved my mission. I would not give it up for all the money in the world. It is sacred to me and I know I will always remember it as the Best Two Years of My Life. See you guys on Wednesday! Adiojummmm!!!

Les quiero mucho,

Elder Alec Jensen

Week 104 The Beginning of the End

My last full week on my mission. I cannot believe it has come down to this.  To be honest, I do not have any words for what I am feeling right now. Some part of me is happy to see my family and to start a new chapter, but for the most part I am sad to say good bye to the best 2 years in my life. I have seen a big difference in me, personally, in these last 2 years. Spiritually, I am converted more happier and ready to share my testimony with everyone I meet. I can now say I know my Savior and I know he knows me and loves me for who I am. It is truly been a privilege to be his servant. It is going to be hard being so far away from this country I grown to know and love. But, Honduras will always have a very special place in my heart. My testimony has grown more than I can ever could imagine. I have a true testimony of the truth and love of this gospel, and its mine. I am a representative of Jesus Christ and always will be. To be honest this past week has been kind of hard for me. Just thinking that 2 years are gone. I do not want it to end. I love my mission so much. But, that is how life goes right? I know that there are many blessings are in store for me because I have been obedient by serving a mission. 

Work this past week was difficult....the attendance at church was really low. So, we were trying really hard to help support and love the people of our area. There is a scripture I found this week in Alma 5:26. I encourage you all to read it. It talks about if we made a change when we got baptized and the promises that we made with our HF and the love we felt...can we feel that again? I know the Lord loves me and I know I will always love him. And I know who I am and who I still want to become. My dad has told me his whole life about his mission and how it changed him. And how really all he has and is today stems back to his experience as missionary. I now know what he means. Hard things can bring the biggest changes. 

Love you all...see you next week!

Les quiero,

Elder Jensen

P.S. This is is not my last email though! 

Week 103 My Purpose

Wow....I have no words to describe what I am feeling today. It feels weird to be going home in 2 weeks. I feel like just yesterday I arrived here in La Esperanza and now I have already been here a month. But, this past week I have learned a lot about this area and why God sent me here to finish my mission. To be honest, I wanted to baptize in my last area, but I know now he did not send me here to do that. Yes, baptizing is prize to a missionary. But, I now know he sent me here to just love the people of La Esperanza and to learn to love me, and the person I am truly becoming. Here in Intibuca, the people do not remember the sweet feelings of the spirit and the the gift of the Holy Ghost they received so long ago. I am here, my purpose, is to help them receive that once again, to feel it and let that change them. I know it can because it has for me. The love of Christ and Heavenly Father has changed me and has changed how I feel about myself. I am not perfect, I never have been and I never will be. But, what I have learned on my mission for myself and what I have tried to convey to the people Honduras is, all He expects is that we try our very best. And if we are REALLY trying He, Christ, will make up the difference. It's when we stop trying is when we fail.  I know Familia Corales will get baptized, and all the other investigators I am teaching as well one day, I have felt that they will. My purpose here is to help those people and less actives receive that sweet spirit I have received in my mission. One of my favorite things to do as missionary is making people laugh. Seeing them smile brightens my day. I know that if I can feel the spirit always, they can too. They just need to find it. As I think about it, if there is no sacrifice, there will not be any blessings. I know why I am here and I know why I am with my companion. And I know that the pure love of Christ is real.

This week was fun....not a lot of people came to English classes this week. I have grown to love the Spanish language...even thought it has been a challenge to learn. I have gotten even better just by teaching it these last couple of weeks.  I know I will talk to my dad everyday so I don't forget Spanish. That is for sure. But, I am enjoying my last little bit here in Honduras. I know my Savior lives and loves me and he loves you.  I know have my weaknesses, but I know through the Atonement I can be saved through his grace. And you can too. Love you all!

Les quiero,

Elder Jensen

Week 102 Half Way Mark

Wow, I literally have only 3 weeks left in Honduras and then I am done....bucha I cannot believe it. It is truly amazing how time goes by so fast. But, literally being a missionary is a privilege. I have enjoyed every minute here in Honduras and it is amazing of the miracles that I have seen here in Honduras. We have worked a lot here in Intibuca trying to help activate so many less actives. There are like over 200 less actives here and we are responsible for all of them. It is overwhelming sometimes, but we are doing what we can to help everyone to come unto Christ, to feel of his love and know of God's plan for us. We are doing our best to work on investigators too. But, since my companion is more worried about the ward, we are doing the best we can to work on a little bit of both. The familia Corales is doing great...we helped them on another part this week of the divorce. There are only a couple more parts they need to do and they can get married and then baptized. What an amazing family they are and their desire to change. And our Heavenly Father will help them...we both just need to have faith and everything will go alright. We found this cool family and all of them want to get baptized...me and my companion are helping them prepare to get baptized the Saturday before I leave. It is weird to think of the little time I have left!

Wednesdays and Saturdays here in the night are so awesome. Me and another gringo teach English classes to a bunch of members, less actives, and investigators in the church. Surprisingly, we get a lot of people attend. It is so dope. It actually helps me to speak better Spanish and to remember a little bit English at the same time.

Having a lot of fun here in Intibuca...trying to make every last moment count until the end. Something I learned this week from Elder Dale G. Renlund that I love is that:

"A Dios le importa mas quienes somos y en quienes nos estamos convirtiendo, que quienes fuimos alguna vez." "God does not care who we once were, only in who we are now in who we want to be." The spirit helps us everyday to become better people. To follow His plan and to become who we are suppose to be. I know this because it has happened in my own life. I speak from my own experience. I love my mission and who I am becoming. I know God will blessing me if I finish this good. Love you all....see you soon!

Les quiero,

Elder Jensen

Week 101 Una Mes Mas

I cannot believe that 23 months have passed by so fast...it is like just yesterday I was coming back from my mission from surgery at home. But, I am very happy that I am serving here in La Esperanza. It is sooooo cold here. It is the only department here in Honduras that is cold. Like seriously, sometimes I am freezing at night, a real change. And there is like no restaurants that are good, we are like 5 hours from Tegucigalpa. But, I am coping with it...lol. Familia Corales is doing good...they are going to be doing more paper tomorrow and see what else we need to help them with so that they can get baptized this month. I am praying for a miracle that they can be baptized, please pray for them too. It might be the only family I baptize in my mission. My goal to finish my mission is 25/1. If my dad baptized over 100, the least I can do is baptize 25. But, we contintue to find people that the Lord has prepared and we are teaching more people here in Intibuca. It is a little stressing sometimes because my companion has a lot of responsibilities within the branch, so sometimes we work more with less actives than we do with investigators. I am doing all I can to do my best. I know the Lord knows why I was put here to finish my mission. That is what I will have faith in and do all I can. 

Pday hike.

This week was really fun. To increase more references we hold English classes twice during the week. Even this far into mission I still am learning more and more Spanish, and the lessons acrtually help me speak some English before I go home. 

Loving my time in La Esperanza. I am grateful for the time I have spent here as missionary. It is a privilege to be a missionary. I have my weaknesses, but the Lord helps me as well as the Holy Ghost make up for when I fall short. The Gospel is true. I would not be here if it wasn't. Love you all and I am grateful for the all the support you have given to me these past couple years. Cannot wait to see you all in just 1 more month! 

Les quiero,

Elder Jensen

So much of the food I will miss. You know me...I love food.

Week 100 Enormous Intibuca

Freak! I only have a couple weeks left in my mission. I cannot believe that 2 years have passed by so fast. It feels like just yesterday I was entering the MTC. And now I am here in my new area. I felt kind of sad to leave Germania with 2 new recently baptized converts. But, I know the members will help them fit into the ward and show them everything. Here is just crazy. My new area is called La Esperanza, Intibuca. Our area is huge! Like seriously, I could hop on a bus for like 1 hour and a half and I would still be my area. Not walking, on a BUS! Our area is so pretty...its like when you go camping in the woods. A lot of pine trees, rivers, creeks, and everything. Also my companion is named Elder Mena and is from Guatemala and he's great

. He is also the Branch President. So I am his First and Second Counselor, District Leader, Secretary, and President the Elders Quorum. It's crazy busy, but I'm not complaining. I am always occupied doing something. It is fun, and great to be busy.  But, man it's stressful. I always have to have a lesson or a talk ready at any moment on Sunday. Not many people go to church, like 50 or 60. Compared to like 300 in my ward back home. Super weird, but it is great.

I have fungus on the bottom of my feet again. Remember I had this when I was Siguatepeque. My feet really hurt, but I'm not letting it get me down. The doctor said to put my feet in timid water with salt for like 30 mins, use this cream, and work until I can go no more. And that is what I have been doing.

  About the work, we have about 3-5 people preparing to be baptized this change before I get home. We have this family that is just gold. They have had all lessons, they have been going to church for years, know that this church is true, and want to get baptized real bad. It is so amazing to see them and feel of their spirit. The only thing that stands in their way is that the man needs to get divorced from his first wife and then marry the lady his with with right now. He is almost done with the papers...just waiting for the lawyer to finish his first case and then he will start on his. Please pray for the Familia Corales that they can be married and baptized soon. Hopefully before I get home! I am doing all I can to help them so I can be a part of it. I would love to finish my mission with 25 people and 1 family baptized. I want to baptize Familia Corales. 

Loving my mission and the blessings I have received from it. I know that this is the true church. That as we power through are trials with God on our side, He will lift us up and help us so that we can live with him again. I am sad that I will finish soon, but I know it has been worth. Love you all...thanks for all the support you show to me and love you have shown to me in my time here in Honduras. Have a good week! 

Les quiero mucho,

Elder Jensen

My mom sent a cubs tie for Elder Hernandez for Christmas. Been a fan his whole life and was on mission when they won the World Series.

Yep...even in Honduras

Looks disgusting...but it is sooooo good.

Tamale. I will miss these when I go home.

Week 99 Feliz Navidad y un Prospero Ano Nuevo!

Merry Christmas! This Christmas was so rad! I had so much fun this past week. I have the true Christmas Spirit this year....it is much better to give then to get! I know that as we share and LIGHT the WORLD we can truly feel our Heavenly Fathers presence. Well, as you heard last week...we were going to baptize two people this Christmas. IT CAME TRUE! On Friday, we went to go do the baptism interview and man was it so hard. Javier....said he wanted to get baptized on the 7th instead of the 25th. And then the mom said she wanted to as well, because she wanted to do it with her son. We literally had a talk for 45 mins because they changed there mind back and forth from the 7th and the 25th. And we asked them if they had faith to do this, if they believe in Jesus Christ, if they believe that they have repented and of all their sins, if they have the desire to change, and if they desire to get baptized. And they said Yes to all those questions. And with that...we told them it really does not matter what happens tomorrow, just TODAY! And when my companion said that, they agreed to get baptized on Christmas day. The best gift you can give Our Savior. So, literally an hour before sacrament meeting...they got baptized. A miracle happened that day. They will always remember that day to be the best day of their life. I am so grateful I was able to be a part of that day. The spirit once again confirmed to me the purpose of me being in Honduras on my mission. I am finishing my mission this next change, but that does not stop me from being the best missionary I can be for the next 6 weeks.

On Christmas Night, we ate so much. I had like 4 dinners that night of just pork, potatoes, tamales, and torrejas ( sugar bread)....delicious. At 12...we lit fireworks and enjoyed the company of the Christmas Spirit with the people of our ward. I talked to my family as well, for the last time, and I am grateful I had the opportunity to talk with them. 

Love this gospel...and I love my Savior. I know this gospel can change lives. I have felt it this year and I have felt it on my mission. I am grateful for all I have done here and experienced and I know I it will help me be the person I need to be in the future. Love you all.....enjoy the spirit this year. FELIZ AÑO NUEVO!

Les quiero,

Elder Jensen