Miracles and Seeing the Lord's hand in ALL things!

December 17, 2013

What's up?!

Santiago Chile Temple December 15, 2013

This week was sooooooo awesome!!! We literally had so much success. I'm so grateful for the blessings that the Lord has given me and continues to give me here in Lo Prado 2! Since I'm in a trio, we have been able to do a bunch of divisions. We did three this last week...divisions are when a member accompanies us and we split in two groups of two and do double the work. I've been going with the members and am having so much success teaching with them. The two that accompany us a lot now are Leo and Ricardo. They're both priests that are 18 yrs old and are preparing themselves to go on missions. Their stories are pretty awesome. This week because Leo and Ricardo were able to accompany us, we were able to teach 32 lessons! 18 with a member and 14 others. That was pretty awesome.

The most incredible part was because of all of our hard work and obviously with the Lord's help, 6 investigators came to church and 5 of them are progressing towards baptism!! The 6 investigators are:

Benjamin: Basically a stud. He's going to be baptized this Sunday!!!! We're so excited for him. All we have to do is finish teaching the lessons this week which we are planning on. Benjamin's been to church 4 weeks in a row. Veronica, his mom, is now an active member in the church again after being less active. Pretty sweet.

Francisco: Should be baptized this Sunday as well!! Were still working on his dad though because his mom says he can be baptized but his dad doesn't really like the idea. We're trying to really work with the whole family...but its a little bit hard. Francisco is so awesome and faithful!!

Jabiera: Sooooo awesome. She's going to be baptized not this Sunday but the next! She's now been to church two times in a row. Jabiera needs to come this Sunday and the next to be baptized. She is definitely gonna do it. Jabiera really had a great time on Sunday night with the Christmas presentation on the Chilean Temple Square!!

Silvana (16 yrs old): A newer investigator that we found through a less active member. She's golden!!! We've taught her about the Restoration and also a lot about the Book of Mormon. She's really making some progress and has her baptismal date for the 5th of January. This was her first time to attend church Sunday and since she loved it so much she came to the Christmas presentation at the temple Sunday night and had a blast. Silvana told her mom, Beti, about it all and Beti was like, dang I should've gone!! We have had some really sweet lessons with Silvana lately....just when I think about her I get this huge smile on my face. Last night we had a sick lesson. Ricardo and I went to Silvana's house to teach her and all of a sudden Luis showed up (her neighbor that's the ward secretary). Luis accompanied us to the lesson with Silvana even though he was getting home from a long day at work. Silvana told us during the lesson after Luis and Ricardo shared their stories about how they found out that this was the true church that she had asked God if it was true and she has felt her answer!!! That's the best when investigators feel the Spirit and know that this gospel is true!!!!! Love it.

Joan: Went to church and is progressing towards a baptismal date of the 29th of this month. We're praying that Joan's moms heart will soften. Joan was also given permission to go to the presentation on Sunday so he came with us and loved it...he's gonna be a stud missionary someday!

Amaro: Been workin extra hard with him lately and fiiiiiinally he was given permission to go to church again with his gma. Workin on permission so Amaro can be baptized now. Ricardo has shared his powerful story with the family. The spirit was felt really strong. Ricardo was baptized at the same age as Amaro, 10.

Thoughts/Highlights of the week:

Opening a few days of the 12 Days of Christmas!! Thanks for sending me this!!! It's been great to share everything especially the candy with the people here in Chile...they literally love it all!!!

No Stewart or Thanksgiving package but lots of letters :) Thank you so much!

We had our mission Christmas party with President and Sister Essig yesterday. It was great to see everyone.

Our sector board is filled! Here's a picture of our sector board. Everyone is always like...Whoa! you guys have so many people to teach! How??

 

Being at the Santiago temple to see the special Christmas presentation. Everyone was invited to attend including members. We got there by riding the Metro and then the bus. Took an hour or so.

 

 

Special Chilean Christmas Presentation at the Santiago Temple December 15, 2013

 

 

 

Chilean dancers and singers at the Santiago Temple December 15, 2013

Missionaries were invited but could only attend if they brought at least 1 investigator....we brought 3! :)

Our investigators on the Metro headed to the Santiago Temple Christmas Presentation on December 15, 2013 (left to right) Jace, Joan, Silvana (sitting down) and Jabiera

Seeing the PINO FAMILY!

 

When we went to the Christmas Presentaion at the temple on Sunday night I saw the PINO FAMILY! Carla is now married and Javier leaves on his mission to Argentina in just 3 months! Maca is doing well and Tomas is so big now! Hna Juana Pino is doing great as well!!

Going to the Santiago Temple Christmas Presentation with investigators on Sunday was incredible!

Hearing David Archuleta sing at the temple. He was awesome!

Tell Tay I'm proud of him and I love him!!! I'm really glad he got some PT and the coaches are beginning to see his potential. He's a sniper!!!

It's really hard to just put one thing I love while being a missionary, but I think I'm going to have to say the miracles that happen on the mission and seeing the Lords hand in ALL things!

Excited to see and talk to the family on Christmas...5pm Chilean time! :)



I don't have any more time!! There's so much to tell you. I guess next week we'll be able to talk a little more :)

Love you all tons!

Elder Jenson

Happiest I've Ever Been In My Entire Life!

December 9, 2013

Hey all!!!!

 

Elder Paiva, Elder Jenson and Elder Jorge's first week as companions in Lo Prado 2!

My companions and I had tons of success this week, but man am I beat tired!! I'm sure giving all I've got here on the mission. There's nothing else that brings more satisfaction than working for the Lord. Like literally every single night we get home between 10:00-10:30pm and my body burns from the days work. That's when my companions and I plan for the next day and on top of that, we then take the time to write down all that we did in the area book and make all kinds of calls to motivate the district leaders and companionships in the zone to give it their all. So basically after we do all of this it's always like 11:15pm and there's no time to do anything but brush your teeth and go to bed! But all of that work makes me the happiest I've ever been in my enire life. Who ever knew that this happiness even existed! I love the Lord so much for all that He has given me. I feel that He is always blessing me with incredible miracles and seeing His hand in this work. I can't ask for anything more than that!

I was able to do two exchanges this week with Elder Bennett and Elder Lund. I did my exchange with Elder Lund on his fourth day in the mission and felt like that was going to help him a lot to have the vision to baptize right at the beginning of his mission so that he can have that planted in his mind. Well, it definitely worked a lot. Elder Lund came to the sector and we talked about different ideas all day long, about different goals he has and also how I can help him with those. Elder Lund is a great missionary! Elder Bennett was well trained from the beginning. He's in his 4th change and had already learned a lot of things which was really good. He actually taught me a lot of things!! I'm literally always learning. It's so awesome. We had a very successful day.

Ok so Javiera, Benjamin and Joan all came to church yesterday!! They all have a baptismal date which is really good as well so that they can be progressing! It's always important to give investigators the vision to be baptized!

Javiera is doing so well!! She has her date for the 29th of December. Javiera came to church yesterday and loved it. There were actually a lot of people in church that knew her because of her mom, gma and great gma. They had all gone to church many times in the ward and Javiera had come with them many years ago. It was great to see the connection made and the fellowship of the ward. Javiera is reading and praying every day and has found her answer!! Javiera said that before she started reading the Book of Mormon she had lots of nightmares at night where she would wake up crying and really afraid. Since she has read the Book of Mormon she hasn't had even one! Javiera realized the sign from Heavenly Father that this is the true gospel.

Benjamin-I'm pretty sure I've talked to you about Benjamin and his mom (Veronica) that WAS a less active member but now she's active!!! They've come to church now three Sundays in a row and Benjamin has his baptismal date for the 22nd of December, right before Christmas! Benjamin is so excited to be baptized and literally waits for my companions and I to come over to his house with the Book of Mormon, hymn book and the pamphlets that we have given him. I'm really excited for Benjamin's progress.

Joan is such a stud. We did his pre-interview for his baptism and he knew absolutely everything. Literally ALL we need is his mom's signature and he can be baptized a member of the church. Joan's mom has really softened up lately actually talking to us and since it was her bday yesterday I bought her a chocolate bar to maybe gain some trust there :) I'm pretty sure it worked! We just need Joan to pass his school classes!!

HIGHLIGHTS AND COMMENTS:

1. Tell Sister Clinger I don't know an Elder Calder and hello for me.

2. Elder Paiva has been on his mission for 14 mo. and Elder Jorge for 5 mo.

3. We have exchanges two or three times a week so different missionaries can see our sector and what we're doing to have success

4. Surprise me for my bday :)

5. There's 16 other Elders in our zone that I have to train

6. Totally cool that John and Mary had a new baby boy...tell them congrats for me and thank them for their prayers and love!

7. Lookin pretty sweet at Fisherman's Wharf and the Tower

8. This week there were no packages/letters because of the changes...I'm sure there's a few in the office that are waiting for me. Thank-you so much for all your doing to support me.

9. Highlight: Putting up my "Christmas Tree" this week! THANKS FOR ALL THAT YOU DO MOM AND FAMILY!!!

Hope you all have a great week! Don't have any more time left. I love you all!

Love,

Elder Jenson

PS. Here's two videos that are pretty cool. You gotta check em out!

https://www.lds.org/youth/video/an-instrument-in-his-hands?lang=eng
(I thought of Tar watchin this one!)

https://www.lds.org/youth/video/a-secure-anchor?lang=eng

"Baptizer" in Zone Sanlen

December 2, 2013

Hey everyone!!!

 

Elder Jenson with members in Lo Prado 2. "I'm so excited that I'm saying here in Lo Prado!"

President has made quite a few changes here in our mission. He changed the leadership again in the mission. President is making a pretty big emphasis now on baptizing and because of that, he called 10 Elders to be "Baptizers" with the responsibility to train a whole Zone on how to baptize. President said that the Elders selected were the ones that have had the most success in the past 3-6 months. Here's the new structure...

assistants
baptizers (zone leader 1)
trainers
zone leader number 2
distict leaders who have never been trainers
senior companion


President called me yesterday and told me that he wanted me to be a "Baptizer" and lead the Zone Sanlen! He said that in 6 weeks (one change), I would need to do an exchange for 24 hours with every single Elder in my Zone and that for every exchange, I will be staying in my sector, LO PRADO 2, to show the missionaries in my Zone my sector and how I am having so much success. That's quite a responsibility President Essig and the Lord have put on my shoulders. It's gonna be tons of work, but I'm excited to serve and show missionaries how they can have even more success in their sectors and bring more souls unto Him!!

I am now with Elder Paiva from Argentina. He is the other Zone Leader with me (Zone Leader 2). I am also with Elder Jorge from Peru. I'm pretty excited for this change! It's gonna take all I've got!

Two of the new investigators from the week are children of a less active member (Francisca) that Elder Breed and I found. Basically everyone in that house is a member except for Javiera and Diego (the new investigator). Francisca's mom and Grandma also live in that house and they are members as well...yep, 4 generations living in the same house. Tight family! Javiera is so excited. In one of our visits this week Francisca told us about her time in the church and that she liked it a lot and that she is happy she got baptized...right after that, Javiera's like...Mom, I wanna get baptized too!! We're like sweet!!!!! Javiera has a date for the 29th of December. That's gonna be awesome!


Highlights/Thoughts for the week

I never got the Thanksgiving package....not sure if it's gonna come? Haven't gotten the Stewart's package either...

Interviews with President went really well. He just talked to me about what I'm doing to have success, how I'm doing in my sector, how my companion is doing, what I can do to be a better missionary etc.

Leo baptized Rafaella and our Bishop confirmed her

Stephen Horsley's are getting so big!

Right now I'm in Doctrine and Covenants 47. I also study information for our investigators during the week

Haha Dad only wishes he could be a missionary now!

Chileans don't celebrate Thanksgivng at all. I actually forgot it was Thanksgiving on Thanksgiving...working hard!

That's pretty sweet the picture Tarryn drew at the Church History museum for me

Both Tar and Tal have T-bird shirts on! GO AGGIES!

Good job Mama on being on top of my scholarship :)

Soooooo sick you saw the Jabbawockeez. I loved them!

Susana said she "talked" with you this week! Alejandra had a baby girl named Scarlett.

 

 

Baby Scarlett at church for the first time December 1, 2013

Seeing my 2 "sons" I trained at the Mission Home this week!

 

Elder Breed, Elder Jenson and Elder Diaz at the Mission Home December 2, 2013

Ya, so basically we've been able to change our sector in Lo Prado 2 to a gold mine!! We've been able to find so many people and it's so awesome. I'm so excited that I'm staying here in Lo Prado so I can see more and more of the fruits of all the hard work I've put in to this sector! I'm glad President can see it as well and he's not changing me around like crazy.

Elder Jenson and Elder Breed on their last day in Lo Prado 2 together as companions (December 1, 2013). "Elder Breed and I were able to turn Lo Prado 2 into a gold mine!"

Hope you all have a great week. Thanks for all your love, prayers and support. I don't have any more time left! So much to write, so little time.

Love,

Elder Jenson

RAFAELLA GOT BAPTIZED!

November 25, 2013

Hey Everyone!!!

 

Elder Jenson getting ready for the Open House in Lo Prado 2 Ward November 23, 2013

Ok, so I'm literally sooooo beat tired from so much work that Elder Breed and I did this week to get this sweet Open House activity ready, had interviews with Pres Essig, going and renewing my visa to be legal here in Chile (getting up at 6am instead of 730am like usual two days in a row), and also RAFAELLA GOT BAPTIZED ON SATURDAY!!!!! There was so much that happened this week!!

All I could think about this week was the activity and just hoping that the Lord would help us and we could just kill it. I think I used 150 minutes this week just calling everyone to plan and confirm everything for the activity. It was literally insane. I would lay in bed at night just planning and thinking about new or better ideas and then write them down so I wouldn't forget. Elder Breed and I had our Open House activity where we did tours of our church from 4-7pm! It was so awesome cuz every organization made a stand and display and presented what their organization was about for 2-3 minutes each. We had footsteps going from each organization room to another with different colors which was pretty entertaining. After that part of the tour we finished with a video of the Old Testament about the prophets which ended with the story of Joseph Smith. After the video, we took the groups to the cultural hall to show them all about the lesson pamphlets, mormon.org cards, family history, photos, reference table and obviously the food :) We were literally in the church from 8am til 11am cleaning so that it was all organized and presentable. From 11-1pm we put up all the stands and spent time finishing up odds and ends with the members. From 1-2pm we had a nice hour break to eat lunch. From 2-4pm we finished setting up everything with all the organizations, projector for the video on the stage, footprints etc. From 4-7pm was the activity. 25 NON-MEMBERS came to our activity and took the tour!!The members were pumped up because they said that an Open House had been done twice already but there had only been 4 or 5 visitors. This time it was 5 times that with 25 visitors. Hno Facondi (Bishop's 1st Counselor) told Elder Breed and I that there hadn't been a really well done activity from the missionaries in a really long time and thanked us for all our hard work. That was great!! After the Open House we cleaned up everything and got the baptism all ready to go. It went great and Rafaella was beaming!!! Elder Breed and  I stayed til 915 cleaning up everything and then we went to Rafaella's house to celebrate!! Amaro (Rafaella's cousin) took our tour at the Open House and saw the baptism and told us that because of the activity and baptism, he wants to be baptized as well!!! There's only two weeks left til Amaro's baptism!!!! Elder Breed and I are excited for him.

 

Elder Jenson, Rafaella, Leo and Elder Breed at Rafaella's baptism in Lo Prado 2 on November 23, 2013

On Sunday the Lord blessed us even more!!! Rafaella got confirmed and then there was the Primary presentation. When Sacrament was over I realized there was a mom (Veronica) and son (Benjamin) behind us that I didn't know. I went up to them and introduced myself. Veronica told me that she was a less active member but wanted to come back to church again. Benjamin really loved the Primary presentation and told me he was 9 years old. I asked him if he had been baptized a member of the church and he said that he hadn't yet...a few moments later in silence he was like...when can I get baptized?!?! I was like well we're going to pass by your house tonight to talk about that!! We did and Benjamin was literally waiting for Elder Breed and I on the couch. We talked about how baptism works and Benjamin accepted the 22nd of Dec. as his date for baptism!!! So sweet!!

 

 

Rafaella and her family support at her baptism on November 23, 2013 in Lo Prado 2

Thoughts/Highlights of the week:

Not sure if this is my last week in Lo Prado 2! Transfer week

Got my Christmas packages but still no Thanksgiving package :(

Good job Tar and Tal for your Young Women's talks :)

Love being a missionary!

Thanks for your prayers and support. I'm lovin life!


Hope you all have a great week. I love you all!!!

Elder Jenson
 

"HOW CAN I ASTONISH SOMEBODY TODAY AND WHO WILL IT BE?"

November 18, 2013

Hey Everyone!!!!

Having Elder Holland speak to our mission was soooo sweet!!! As I listened carefully to Elder Vinas (Area President from Uruguay) and Elder Holland, I literally felt like Nephi and Lehi in Helaman 5 when they were surrounded by fire so that those that wanted to kill them weren't able to. Well, there wasn't anyone trying to kill me, but I felt the spirit soooo strong in that meeting. Elder Holland talked to us for a little over an hour. It was one of the coolest experiences I've ever had in my entire life. He talked about various things some of the highlights being how something really bugged him and there's not a lot of things in this life that do that. One thing that bugs Elder Holland is when return missionaries don't stay in the church after they return. He told us that when we get back from our missions and we are giving our Homecoming talk, we need to just blow the back end out of the building and just level the place because we bring so much of the spirit!!!! I loved hearing that. Elder Holland told us that while we are on our missions, we teach the first lesson the most (The Restoration of the Gospel) and that sometimes we just teach the first lesson lazily like its nothing and we fall into that habit. We have many first lessons, but not as many second. He told us that when we are in that first lesson we need to ASTONISH everyone that we are teaching with our words. We need to just be teaching with so much power and authority that their knees (investigators) become weak and they have to sit back down after listening to us and then we leave. We need to teach the first lesson like that is their only chance in their entire life that they have to accept this gospel and we will never see them again. Elder Holland also talked about an 18 yr old boy who had won 4 olympic medals, had 22 world records and 37 US records in swimming. They asked him how he was able to do all of this at such a young age...He said that he could answer that in one sentence..."I kick when I don't want to kick and I stroke when I don't want to stroke." That was it!! That's the big secret!! If I want to be the best missionary I can be, I have to talk with people when I don't want to talk and work harder when my body tells me to stop!! Another quote I liked is when Elder Holland said that "The road to salvation has to pass through Gethsemane." If we really want to be disciples of Jesus Christ on the earth, then why in the world should life be easy?! It shouldn't!! Now we won't bleed from every pore, but there will be a few tearful nights and heartbreaks, but its OK!!

Now those are just a few things that Elder Holland said, but he definitely astonished me!! It really strengthened my testimony of the truthfulness of this gospel and because of those really powerful experiences, I can keep working really diligently to help rescue His lost sheep. It's obvious that Elder Holland was called of God as one of His apostles.

The day after Elder Holland, we had our district class. I was able to teach about how to use the Restoration pamphlet to teach lesson 1. I really focused on how to teach that lesson with power and authority since Elder Holland countlessly said that we need to teach that lesson with so much power that our investigators will need to take a seat again after we leave! I really focused on another phrase Elder Holland told us which was that we have to teach lesson 1 as if that is the ONLY time in our investigators life that they will be able to accept this message and then we will never see them ever again. As I really focused on those two things, teaching with power and authority and that this was their only chance, I started the demonstration (teach lesson 1 in less than 14 minutes) and I couldn't even get through the first point without getting emotional telling the investigator how much God loved him. It was like a train came and knocked us all over. The spirit was so strong. As I kept teaching the lesson, my eyes couldn't stay dry especially when reciting the first vision. I could barely say it! I finished the lesson talking about the Book of Mormon and how he (our investigator) was going to feel the spirit so strongly after he read. When I finished, no one said a word for about 30 seconds probably. I couldn't contain myself and started crying again because the spirit was just soooo strong in the room. Elder Cheshire was the one that I was teaching lesson 1 to. He said that I could've stopped after the first point and he would've listened to me. Elder Breed then spoke up and said that the lesson was taught with so much power and authority that we need to teach every lesson like that. The rest of the missionaries were asking me how I was able to teach that lesson so powerfully and I was like speechless. All I can say is I didn't teach that lesson...The spirit taught everyone there. I don't want to tell you this to sound my trumpet or beat my chest, but to just tell you that since then, I feel like the Lord has changed my heart and has helped me really LOVE the people I teach and remember when teaching a lesson, it is the only time that they have to accept this gospel. It's one of the most incredible experiences ever. That is really the potential that we have as missionaries, to really astonish everyone we meet. We need to do it!! Now it's not just the missionaries job either!...it' the members job to astonish as well. So all of the members that are reading this letter today have some homework!!! "HOW CAN I ASTONISH SOMEBODY TODAY, AND WHO WILL IT BE?"

Thoughts/Highlights of the week:

I'm feeling way better :) Thanks for the prayers!

Empanadas still are one of my favorites. I love the shrimp and cheese, pino and napolitano!! So good :)

Wow, that Indian food looks really good. That's one thing I miss....the food!!!

I really hope Joan will be baptized before I get transferred. Joan still keeps coming to church and is so prepared to be baptized!! Proud of that kid.

No packages got here this week, but I did get letters from you and dad, tar, tal, tay nana and papa. Thanks for all the support! I LOVE hearing from all of you.


Yo se mas nunca que la Iglesia de Jesucristo de los Santos de los Ultimos Dias es el reino del Senor que de nuevo se ha establecido para nuestro beneficio en preparacion de la segunda venida del Mesias. Cristo vive. El nos ama y realmente quiere que seamos felices. Siempre esta con nosotros y se siente su presencia muy fuerte en la mision. Yo se con todo mi corazon que Jose Smith fue un profeta de Dios y que no fue mentira lo qu el dijo ni hizo. La evidencia es el Libro de Mormon!! Cualquiera puede tomar el Libro y leerlo. Les prometo que cuando lo hagan, sentiran el espiritu testificandoles que realmente lo que esta leyendo viene de Dios. Es su promesa (1 Nefi 1:11-12)! Lehi fue lleno del Espiritu del Senor. Pregunten a Dios y les hara saber por medio de ese mismo espiritu que el Libro de Mormon es verdadero. Eso significa que esta es la unica iglesia sobre la faz de la tierra que es verdadera y tiene TODA la verdad. Cristo dirige su iglesia, se lo prometo. Esto comparto con mucho amor en el nombre de Jesucristo, mi Salvador, Amen.

English translation of Elder Jenson's testimony:
I know more than ever that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Lord's church established for our behalf in preparation for the second coming of the Messiah. Christ lives. He loves us and really wants us to be happy. He is always with us and I feel a very strong presence of Him on my mission. I know with all my heart that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God and that it was not a lie what he said or did. The evidence is the Book of Mormon! Anyone can take the book and read it. I promise that when you do, you will feel the spirit testifying that it is the word of God as promised in (1 Nephi 1:11-12)! Lehi was filled with the Spirit of the Lord. Just ask God and He will let you know by that same spirit that the Book of Mormon is true. This is the only true church on the face of the earth that is true and has ALL the truth. Christ leads His church, I promise. This testimony I share with you with a lot of love in the name of Jesus Christ, my Savior, Amen.

One more thing...Rafaela will be baptized this Saturday after the ward activity that we planned!! Have her in your prayers so everything goes smoothly!! Love you lots!

Elder Jenson

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland is in Chile!

November 11, 2013

Hey all!!

 

Elder Jenson, Elder Breed, Elder Chinga (Ecuador) and Elder Baldovino (Argentina) golfing at Cuidad Empresarial golf course October 28, 2013 (*all Elders pictured are in the same District and serve in the Lo Prado 2 Ward)

So to start my email I've got some news.....Elder Holland (yes, Jeffrey R. Holland....seriously though) will be speaking to us tomorrow!!!! Elder Holland will be speaking with our mission and two others. Elder Breed and I have to get up at 5am tomorrow to be able to travel to get there in time. I'm so excited!!!!

This week was a little bit slower since Elder Breed and I were both sick and had to go to the doctor and recuperate. We both were coughing non stop with all kinds of junk lodged in our throats that shouldn't be there. It was cool to be right next to the temple again though! Elder Breed and I were able to buy a few things in this tiny store that's basically a mini Deseret Book....very mini.

Our investigators are doing pretty well! Nico (12) and Angelo (13), cousins, came to church again this week and are progressing towards baptism on the 1st of December. Francisco also came to church for the third time in a row and is progressing towards his date of the 8th of Dec. Rafaela is doing good as ever as she will be baptized on the 23rd of November. Amaro is doing pretty well but couldn't come to church this week because Pamela (mom) is not letting him do anything since he's got bad grades in school. Kind of a bummer but hopefully Amaro gets those grades up so he can keep coming to church! The Fuentes family is doing pretty well although Hugo and Ana aren't really progressing. Hugo is struggling with keeping some of the commandmetns and doesn't want to get baptized until he feels ready to live them. Elder Breed and I have tried over and over again to help Hugo but he is now not coming to church so it's tough. Ana is strugglin a little bit as well because she feels she can't leave her Catholic religion. Elder Breed and I are continuing to work with her. Joan is doing awesome...basically a member but not baptized yet. Joan goes to mutual, church and all the activities. He's a stud. We dropped by Joan's house a few days ago with a baptism and confirmation form with his name on it. We filled it all out together and then we stopped at the end with the signature and were like...this one signature is the only thing that stops you from being baptized...get it done!!! Joan's got some homework :)

Thoughts/Highlights of the week:

Tell the Caballero family I love them!!!

I'm reading in D & C now. Im in section 36. I love reading D &C!! It's great to read the words from the Savior himself in our day! The Savior's so bold. I love it!

I'm thinking about getting a scripture cover. Thinking about the images I want to put on them and if I want one for my quad or my spanish scriptures...to be continued...:)

Tell tal....GO NUMBER 11!

Elder McKinley finishes his mission in 3 weeks!

There are about 250 missionaries in the mish

LOVE YOU MOM!! Glad you liked my letter just for you!!

Loved seeing the Santiago temple this week!

Elder Breed and I are hosting a PUERTAS ABIERTAS (Open House) on 23 November. We made big invitations and have put them up on bus stops and street corners and made small invites that we give out to our contacts. We've given out 70 so far and have a goal of giving out 110 invites this week!

No packages this week but lots of letters. Thanks especially to tay, tar and tal!! Love you all!!! Thanks for your support. Love hearing from you.

I love you all!!! Don't have any more time left!! byeeeeee

Elder Jenson!

"I Love Miracles!"

November 4, 2013

Hey all!!

Elder Jenson working hard in Lo Prado 2!

This week was a good week! Elder Breed and I are working really hard and we keep finding a lot of new investigators and have been able to teach first lessons which has been really good for us. We were able to teach 10 first lessons this week which is a ton and also found 13 new investigators. There are a lot of prepared people in our sector that we are beginning to find and teach. It's great to see the investigators progress as they read and pray about the Book of Mormon and come to church.

 

Elder Breed and Elder Jenson searching for investigators in Lo Prado 2!

Two of our investigators are relatives of the Relief Society President in our ward....her daughter in law (Pamela) and grandson (Amaro). Amaro is Rafaela's cousin!! (they're both grandchildren of the Relief Society Pres. in the ward). Pamela hadn't really let Amaro go to church with his grandma or his cousin before but Elder Breed and I taught them about the Restoration on Saturday with the spirit and she softened up as the spirit testified to her that this is true. We invited them both to be baptized and they accepted. Amaro and Pamela are now really excited to be coming to church, reading and praying so that they can be prepared to be baptized. I love miracles!

 

Elder Jenson teaching a discussion in an investigators home in Lo Prado 2.

Elder Breed and I were able to have 7 investigators in church this week as well (rafaela, joan, carmen, javier, nico, carlos and francisco) and that was pretty sweet. We still have a goal to have 10 in church. We taught 24 lessons this week, 12 with a member present.

 

 

Another successful week in Lo Prado 2 for Elder Jenson!

Highlights/Thoughts of the Week:

Susana wants to talk with you guys!!

 

 

Elder Breed and Elder Jenson giving a thumbs up for dinner with Susana and her family!

Dad, Seminary works like this...it's tuesday through friday from 7-8 pm. It's just one class with all the youth of the ward from 14-18 yrs old. Vivana B. is the teacher and she's the Stake Presidents wife...They live in our sector!

Tar thanks for the spanish holiday ornament...pretty sweet!

Hugo and Ana are strugglin...They're not really progressing and we've tried everything in the book. We pass by their house a lot and the spirit is so strong, but they choose to wait....it's kind of frustrating, but we will be seeking more guidance for them this week.

I hear from my converts every once in a while...Susana is doing reallllly well. She wrote me and said that she goes to church every week and is loving everything. She said that her baptism 6 days after I left was awesome as was her confirmation. I heard from Sergio about a month ago and also talked with a few missionaries that have been to Vespucio. Sergio has the Melchizedek priesthood and is the young men's president now!!!!! What a stud. Kevin and his mom write me a bunch as well from Renca and Kevin is doing so well...going to seminary every day, passing and preparing the sacrament and preparing himself to serve a mission. I've heard good news from all of them!

Transfers are the 1st of December

Yep we definitely felt the earthquake on thursday. We were teaching carmen and then all of a sudden the house started to move haha but it wasn't anything serious...hope a bigger earthquake doesn't hit!

Good luck Tal with your bball game this week!! You'll do great!

Out 17 months...only a few flags left to take down in the kitchen ! Ha! Ha!

Well I feel like there's never any time to tell you much about the investigators we're finding and teaching, but you can see the ones we're focussing on in the picture I sent (*we never received this picture. Internet problems) I hope you have a great week! Thanks for your support.

 

 

Elder Jenson all dressed in white (September 29, 2013)!

* We were able to connect with Susana from Elder Jenson's mission. She shared these pictures that you see in this weeks blog. Thanks Susana!

Love,

Elder Jenson