Week 87  Bigger and Bette

Fotos de los miembros aqui en Laureles que fueron excelente a mi estos ultimos 7 meses.

(Photos here in Laureles of members who were good to me these last 7 months.) 

Well, I just got the info...I am finally leaving my area. It is sad to go and what is even sadder is that they are closing the area. I have no idea why, but I guess it what God wants. I had great hope and expectations for this area, but I hope who ever comes here again, will find all those that are seaking. Hopefully that one day I will be able to return to this area when I finish my mission. The Lord has much in store for them and me, but I just have to move on and keep doing what the Lord asks. As for me, I am moving to and opening a new area called Germania. And the best part is that I am with my old companion Elder Hernandez!!!! Elder Hernanzez is who i served with right when I came back to Honduras after my Hernia surgery. I am so excited and I cannot wait for the miracles and blessings that are in store for us and for the people we are going to find and teach! 

This past conference was so awesome! I mean I had to watch it most in spanish and though I understood it, it is always better to watch and hear it in English. My favorite talk was from General Priesthood, the one Dieter F. Uchtdorf gave on Alma and Amulek. He gave a wonderful talk about what we need to learn from Alma and how we can be like Amulek. What I need to change as a missionary to become better. How the little things in the mission really make all the difference. But, what I loved is the story he told about David and Jacob ( you need to watch to truly understand it), but how praying and fasting truly works. And how we can help our fellow men to come back to the church. I challenge each and everyone of you to go out look for someone who needs help or is facing a trial. You truly will make a difference. 

Love you all, please help our fellow brother and sisters who are lost, be found. We can bring the world His gospel together.  Hasta luego! Voy a contar todos de mis experiencias este próximo semana sobre mi nuevo compañero y mi nuevo área! (Bye! I will tell you all my experiences next week about me and my new campanion and my new area!) 

Les quiero,

Elder Jensen

Week 86  Staying Strong

Well, this week was not anything like I thought it would be. We tried to get a lot of people to church and help ourselves get ready for transfers next week in case one or both of us leaves the area. So, that the next elder that comes here has a lot of people to teach here in Laureles. But, most people either were not home or they did not want anything to do with us. On top of that, I have been experiencing a lot of back pain these past couple of months and so it just makes it a challenging to keep at it sometimes. I try and put it out of my mind most of the time, but some times it just gets to me. But, we are doing the best of our ability to work it all out. We are following the rules and being obedient, so that the lord can bless us when the time is right.

Jeisy was not able to get baptized this past week, because she has been experiencing a lot of personal problems. But we are doing all we can so she can prepare herself when the time is right. Also the new family we found has kept up on their reading and they preparing themselves for their baptism which will be on the 22nd of this month. So, it has been pretty cool to be with them. I am grateful I am to here in Honduras. To help these people to really make a difference in there life. It is pretty amazing to be part of something that changes people lives for the good. It changes you a long the way. It is not easy, but it is definitely worth it. 

Lemme tell you what a blessing it is to be apart of this chuch. To teach it and to preach it. I am grateful I have served these past 20 months and I cannot wait to finish the next 4. I cannot believe how fast time has gone by. I hope for more blessings in my time here as I search for the people who are truly looking. As always, love you all. Hope your week goes well this week. Adiojummm!

Les quero,

Elder Jensen

Week 85 Coming Close

Week by week, day by day....I really cannot believe how time is flying by here in Honduras. I wish it would go slower...but it just doesn't. But, I am still here working hard as i can becuse I know that is what the Lord would want me to do. We have been contacting and finding a lot of new people here in Laureles. Searching and searching pretty much everyday. It is so tiring...really it is. I am probably climbed 2,000 stairs this week because some of the people we are visiting live on a mountain. I swear yesterday we climbed that mountain probably 3 or 4 times....I was dead! But, that is the life of missionary here in Honduras. But, it is great exercise, I need it cause I am fat! We have been really progressing with a new family now. They went to church actually this week! Jeisy could not go, apparently she had some kind of commitment. She is in a tough situation right now, we have not had the opportunity to talk with her since Saturday. I have no idea if she will get baptized this Saturday, but we are going to check. We fasted this weekend for her, but we will find out tomorrow what is going on. The family we are teaching right now is the family of  Navia, Eduardo, and Milisen. Really cool family. They are reading the Book of Mormon a lot and they love it. They just need to be better about praying at night. We are trying our best to help them and strengthen them as their testimony grows. 

Missionary work is so much fun, but let me tell you I have had more challenges than I ever expected. I know my Heavenly Father knows me and he loves me. He is always there for me and when I fall short he will forgive me. He cares that I am his son and I am trying. I know I can change and be more like his son as I learn and grow in the gospel. I am seeing it day by day. *Poco a poco* is how they say it here. That is what helps me and keeps me going. One of the my favorite talk ever that helps me to change everyday is by Dieter F Uchtdorf * He Will Place you on His Shoulders and Carry You Home* I hope you all can read this. I literally cry every time I read this....what a powerful talk it is! The power of the Savior is infinite and as we make those little changes everyday, huge blessings will come rushing in.

Love you all. I truly do. I am grateful for your prayers and your testimonies. I know the Savior loves each and every one of you. Hope he can do wonders among you. Hope you guys have a wonderful week. Les quiero mucho y exitos a todos!

Con cariño,

Elder Jensen

Week 84

Wow, well this week was pretty great. We have been working really hard with this awesome investigator named Jeisy (I've been talking about her), who just loves the church and everything about it. She has had all the lessons and now has gone to church twice know and she says that she is possibly going to get baptized this 24th. We are just waiting for her to receive an answer from Heavenly Father. This past week we have praying a lot for her to receive that answer. It is quite cool to see people change from nothing to a BIG something. What a great opportunity it is to help people change there lives around. As a missionary I enjoy the experience I am having here. It kind of sucks that I only have a few months left, but I am working hard and embracing every moment. So, if you could pray for the investigators we have and for us to find more. We are kind of struggling right now with our teaching pool, but we are doing all we can. 

By the way I had another ingrown toe nail take out today and man did that hurt! But, hopefully I do not get any infections....because the last time I had that it sucked. 

Nothing else happened this week, but we are doing all we can to find new people here in Laureles to teach and help! The mission is great...I have been having new experiences everyday that help not only me, but my companionship as well. I am grateful for this opportunity to serve my God. Love you all and please pray for us. We truly need help in this area. It has been slowing down a little but, we are working our butts off so that it can go back up!

Elder Jensen

Week 83 Long and Sick

Well, I can actually tell you that this week went by longer than it seems. Maybe because I got kind of sick...I started to feel pain everywhere and the chills and a headache....and a bunch of other things. Not much to write about his week. We found a lot of new people to teach and I cannot wait to get back to work this week. I am feeling much better, and ready to show what I can do with the 5 months left I have in my mission. I am very excited for the people we are to teach this week. Lately, we have been teaching someone named Jeisy. She was a reference from the church offices and she is very receptive. She is considering baptism. She just has a couple questions about the Plan of Salvation. So, we are teaching and clarifying with her with the help of the members. She did go to church this past week and she liked it a lot. She could possibly get baptized this month. She just needs time and answer from her Heavenly Father that the gospel is true. So, we have praying and been fasting this week for her to receive that. If you could put her in her prayers that would be awesome! 

I want everyone to know how much I love the mission. The mission truly can change lives. In life and even on a mission you have so many temptations, but the mission right now is changing that. Little by little...the savior is helping me to establish grounds to help me to have a successful life and a way to return to him. I love my savior so much and I cannot wait to see him again. I am grateful for this opportunity to serve. Thanks for all the support. Love you guys so much! No photos this week...forgot to take some because I was sick. Have a good week everyone!

Les quiero mucho,

Elder Jensen

Week 82 One More Time

Well, I have been in my area now for more than 6 months and surprisingly President is keeping me here for another change. So, when I finish this change I will have 8 months in this area. Freak man...hope I can be sent to another area before I finish my mission. But, really I don't care, I love this area. I have seen the fruits our labors and the blessings of staying being in this area. We have planned up to have 2-3 more baptisms coming up this next month. Woo-hoo! Love this area and cannot wait to find new people who want to turn there life around and find Christ. 

My new companion is Elder Linsenmann. He is from Coeur d'alene, Idaho. Small town. He has been through a lot in his life and I am glad and respect him for his choice to serve a 2 year mission. He can be socially awkward, but I enjoy his company. And I know the Lord will help us to make miracles happen in this area. 

We have found so many people since Elder Small left. Most of our appointments with our investigators have fallen and so we had to go door to door contacting. We have found so many people this week. We have appointments lined up until Thursday. We had a total of 51 contacts in less than 5 days. We have been working like hound dogs. I am happy that my companion likes to work hard. 

Love you guys. Not much of report this week. Tell you all about next week. Just please pray for Jeisy that she can get an answer to her prayer and will be able to go to church this week. She is such an amazing investigator and has been reading and praying but has not received anything. So, if you could us a favor that would be great. She has a baptism date for the 24th of Sept. So, hoping she gets her answer soon! Love you guys so much. Miss a ton. Hasta Luego!

Con mucho cariño,

Elder Jensen

Week 81 The Chosen Family

BEST. WEEK. EVER! Well, guess what...Familia Garcia Zambrano got baptized! WOOT-WOOT! This experience has been such a blessing to me. To see them grow in the gospel. To see where they were and now where they are. To see the baby steps they took and the see their desire to change and do what the Lord wants them to do.  I am so very grateful I was here to find, teach, and baptize all three all them. The cool thing was everyone from that family came. Everyone from the dad's side of the family and everyone from the mom's side of the family. They all came to see the baptism. So dope! Biggest baptism service I have had here on my mission. Afterward, the dad invited us all to chuleta, papas fritas y ensalada...mmmmhmmm! Delicioso! This could have never happened without my companion, Elder Small, he's the best. And especially without Heavenly Father, Christ or the Holy Ghost.  God truly works in mysterious ways. They are truly the chosen family for me. The confirmation the next day was so sweet. To  hear all the blessing they can receive if they just follow all the principles of this gospel. I cannot wait to see their progress in the next coming months!

Well, this week is changes. And it is so sad to see Elder Small go. I know that he needs to start his next chapter in his life...but I wish he could stay longer. I hope and wish the best of luck when he gets home and that someday I may seem him again.

We were able to go to the temple this past week and wow what a ride. Every time I go to the temple, I feel His presence. I feel the peace and I know my testimony gets stronger every time my knowlege grows in this gospel. I encourage all of you to take the time out of the week to go to the temple and experience all the blessings you can receive by doing the Lord's work. Love you guys so much and cannot wait to tell you about my new companion next week. Hope all is well at home and just to let you know....6 months left!!!!

Les quiero un monton,

Elder Jensen