Anllelina got Baptized!

September 23, 2013

Hey!!

This week was a great week for us here in Lo Prado 2!! Elder Breed and I were able to baptize this week and it felt really good! Anllelina got baptized!!! I'm really glad the Lord let us see that miracle in our sector after lots of hard work. I feel like the Lord is trusting me a lot with His children. I think that's one of the biggest things that we as missionaries need to do...gain the trust of the Lord first before we do anything. I feel Him trusting me more and more every day with His sons and daughters here in Chile. It's a great feeling.

 

Elder Jenson, Leo (Priest in our Ward), Anllelina, Samantha (Anllelina's sister), Eduardo (Anllelina's dad) and Elder Breed. Leo baptized Anllelina in the San Pablo Ward on September 22, 2013.

We had a crazy week with Anllelina this week actually...to begin the week she said that she wasn't ready to be baptized at all and that she felt really scared (crying while saying this). Elder Breed and I first listened to Anllelina for a while express herself. After discerning by the Spirit what we should say, we started showing tons of love for her and helping her remember all the great experiences she's had with us, especially when she asked God if this was true and how she felt happiness and excitement. After talking with her a few minutes about that, I felt like we needed to kneel down and pray to ask our Father in Heaven to help Anllelina feel peace and comfort. We did so and Anllelina offered the prayer. During her prayer, I was pleading from the bottom of my heart that the Lord would help her feel ready for Sunday. I felt strongly that the Lord was going to prepare her. We kept showing Anllelina our love for her and then finished the lesson. We told her that we were going to come back on Thursday so she could tell us how she felt again. On Thursday, we went by her house and she said that she felt ready and she was gonna be baptized!! Now how cool is that?? I know the Lord helped her feel His love..."amor perfecto desecha todo temor". That's definitely true. So, after we were set for the baptism, we found out there was no gas in the church and that it had run out!! That meant no hot water for the baptism. We called Eduardo and Anllelina to tell them what happened and we figured out a plan so that Anllelina could get baptized. One other companionship in the Zone was also baptizing, so we made plans to do it with them. It all turned out really well, but I was like frantically calling everywhere trying to figure out what to do for the baptism. In the end, all was well and Anllelina got baptized in the San Pablo Ward which is about a 20 min walk from our Ward.

 

Elder Jenson, Alejandra, Susana, Maxi (Alexandra and Susana's nephew) and Hugo (Alejandra's son) on 20 de Septiembre in Lo Prado 2 for a Ward Independence Day Celebration.

Even though we were not able to teach as much this week, Elder Breed and I gained a great relationship with a lot of our investigators through activities and celebrations that we were able to attend for the 18 de Septiembre...Independence Day here in Chile! We had 8 investigators attend the Ward activity and that was huge for us! Tons of members came up and fellowshipped our investigators and because of that, we ended up having a lot of investigators attend church yesterday! 7 investigators at church (Alejandra, Susana, Hugo (Alejandra's son), Maxi (Alejandra and Susana's nephew), Anllelina, Joan and Rafaela!!! 5 of them are progressing towards baptism (Anllelina (progressing towards her Confirmation), Alejandra, Susana, Rafaela and Joan) and 3 of them have their baptismal date for this Sunday (Joan, Alejandra and Susana)! Elder Breed and I have faith that they will follow through on this committment with the Lord as He makes them feel His Spirit and the courage to make the decision.

So, here's a sweet experience that Susana told Elder Breed and I on Monday night this week...In church last week, Susana heard (during the opening prayer), a whispering of the Spirit that told her that this is the true church. She immediately opened her eyes to see who had told her this and there was no one there...everyone had their eyes closed listening to the prayer. Since then, Susana's had tons of desire to be baptized.

Another cool experience...So, it's been so awesome to see the change in Alejandra and Susana since we began teaching them...Susana in particular. In the beginning with Susana, I remember going to church to teach her for the first time and she was like...don't ask me any questions, don't ask me to read, don't ask me to do anything! I just want to listen. After that, we started a short lesson with her and it was a little awkward to be honest. After that, we started teaching Alejandra a little more and invited her to be baptized as you know. Susana was like, "You guys are gonna baptize my sister? I never want to do that!" Before Susana knew it, she was reading the Book of Mormon, praying and receiving answers that this is the true church...she asked and felt like she was going to cry because the spirit was so strong, she heard the whispering in church, and on Wednesday her nephew that is disabled got lost for about 2 hours and during that whole time, all that we had taught her was vivid in her mind. Susana was reminded rapidly of the steps to pray and in the end, Agustin was found. After that experience, Susana got her whole family together and told them that this had happened. She shared her testimony and said that after that experience with Agustin being lost then praying and then finding him, she KNEW that this church was true and that she needed to be baptized. So cool!

Joan just came to church out of no where...he had been in Northern Chile for a week and a half. He told Elder Breed and I that he had gotten home really late Saturday night and that he really wanted to come to church so he showed up right after Sacrament started. So cool! Elder Breed and I weren't even planning on it. We like surprises like that.

President Essig, Elder Breed, Elder Jenson and Sister Essig on September 10, 2013. "Picking up Elder Breed at the mission home and headed to Lo Prado 2 for Elder Breed's first day in the mission field!"

My companion, Elder Breed is doing well. He has many great attributes one of which is the ability to bring the Spirit strongly into our lessons by testifying. We are practicing and planning our lessons more than usual so that Elder Breed can feel comfortable when it comes to teaching.

Highlights/Thoughts of the week:

We had two activities this week that were basically all day long! On Wed, the 18th, we had a Stake activity from 2-10pm. Rafaela went to that activity. Then we had another activity of Friday the 20th with the Ward and we were there from 430-10pm! We had 8 investigators go to this activity! So awesome. I ate like 8 empanadas between the two activities. We drank like 5 glasses of mote con huesillo and had a sweet barbeque with steak and choripanes....it was the life!

Mom....the greatest thing about being on a mission is...BAPTIZING :) To see those baptisms is realllllly cool.  Also seeing the changes in peoples thoughts, words and actions.

My clothes and shoes are holdin up just fine. Just a few repairs with the shoes and they're good as new.

I'm in Hebrews right now in the New Testament! It's so awesome...I love it!

I want to wish Dad a very Happy Birthday!!! I can't believe another year has passed on my mission. What you have taught me throughout my life has really helped me to convey the message of this wonderful gospel in a way that helps the investigators progress towards baptism. Thank you for your great example throughout my entire life and for your patience!! I know I wasn't the most obedient kid sometimes, but now I know the importance of that. Thanks for all that you do and just know that I love you tons!!! Hope you have a great birthday spending family time together,what you love best! Love, Tan

Well, that's all the time I have. I hope you're all doing really well! This is HIS work!!! I'm so glad to be a part of it.

Love,

Elder Jenson

"IT'S A BOY!"

September 16, 2013

IT'S A BOY!!!! My new companion is fresh from the MTC! His name is Elder Breed from Las Vegas, NV (Henderson). He's just 18 years old (Tay's older than him...haha). Elder Breed's birthday is the 23rd of January! He's trying to figure out the language. I'm here to help him. Elder Breed likes to play soccer so he's in heaven here. We actually played a little soccer this morning and he's pretty good. Elder Breed's thinking about going to BYU or UTAH STATE for college after his mission. I obviously told him he's got to go to Utah State. He's a cool kid! Elder Breed's been pretty winded this week though getting adjusted to the change and how much work a mission is. On top of that, we're trying to work harder than any companionship out there for the Lord!!! It's such a short time on the mission, so you gotta give it your all!

So Elder Breed and I are shreddin it right now in Lo Prado 2. Everyone keeps tellin Elder Breed he's so lucky to be in a sector that's on fire! Yesterday in church Elder Breed and I had 4 investigators progressing and 5 total in church! Anllelina, Rafaela, Alejandra and Susana were our investigators progressing and Rafaela's cousin decided to come to church yesterday as well and his name is Amaro (10 yrs. old). Elder Breed and I taught Rafaela on Saturday night and Amaro was present just listening in. We had him read a few scriptures. Elder Breed and I just thought Amaro was a member until he came to church and I asked him (to make sure he was a member). Amaro said that this was his first time to church! I was like, "What?" We had a killer Family Night with tons of people last night that Elder Breed and I arranged. Here's all who were in attendance...Rafaela, Hna Jorquera (Rafaela's Grandma and President of the Relief Society), Camila (Rafaela's 17 yr old sis), Amaro, Amaro's mom (nonmember as well we think), Anllelina, Samantha, Eduardo, Leo (Priest in our ward that we want to baptize Rafaela and Anllelina) and Elder Breed and I!! That's 11 people!!!! Since Rafaela and Anllelina are going to be baptized together THIS SUNDAY the 22nd of September, we wanted them to get to know each other a little bit more so that they can fellowship eachother and have a friend in church already even before they are baptized. It worked like a charm as we had some fun playing a game, eatin some grub and sharing a spiritual message of course.

Elder Breed and I finished teaching Anllelina all the lessons and commandments she needs to be baptized this week and she's really excited. We just have to finish up with Rafaela and she'll be more than ready!!! It's gonna be a sweet baptismal service this week! Leo is going to be the man and baptize them. In our Family Night last night we talked about that and Rafaela and Anllelina said that it was ok :) Wish them luck!!

Elder Breed and I also had such a sweet week with Alejandra (+-36 yrs old) and Susana Fuentes (26 yrs old)!! The two sisters are even starting to be missionaries!!!! We taught about baptism so that Susana could be progressing this week with a baptismal date and she accepted to be baptized the 29th of September with her sister Alejandra!!! Susana told us that she is reading the Book of Mormon every day with her sister Alejandra!! Susana reads aloud so Alejandra and the whole family can hear. What a stud. Susana and Alejandra's mom now really wants to come to church with us this next Sunday after listening to Susana and Alejandra read the Book of Mormon aloud. Alejandra's 18yr old son Hugo is also starting to soften up and wants to go to church as well to check it out! I just want to scream I'm so happy for them!!!!!! Elder Breed and I also taught them the Plan of Salvation this week with our Stake Patriarch. It was such an awesome lesson. Elder Breed and I always teach them at church so that there's no distractions and we can take advantage of the white board and draw everything all out for them. They understood al tiro! OH!! also probably the coolest thing of all of this is that Susana shared an experience with Elder Breed and I this last time we taught her (Saturday) that she asked God if this was true and she said that she got this feeling in her chest that made her cry!! She has her answer already. We asked Alejandra if she had asked God if this church was true and she was like..."From what I've heard from you, what I've read and what I've felt, I already know its true!!!!" Basically I'm lovin life right now.

To top this all off....we have an investigator named Mario Nunez. He's a stud, but has a tonnnnnn of doubts. He was going to shut the door in our face after two visits because he just couldn't accept the Book fo Mormon or "Senor Smith" as a prophet. After the spirit worked in his heart for a little bit, we finally achieved leaving the Book of Mormon with Mario to read. We said that we'd give him a week to read the Book fo Mormon and then we'd come back. When Elder Breed and I came back we asked Mario if he had read the Book of Mormon. He said that he had...We asked him what part he read and all of a sudden Mario says..."I read the whole book." I was like...what??? You read it all???? He's like "ya, I read it all and I'm waiting for my answer from God if it's true or not." The Lord is going to answer Mario's prayers and he's going to know it's true soon!!!

Highlights of the Week/Thoughts:

So remember Joel Riffo from Vespucio?? He emailed me this week telling me that he's on his mission!!! So cool to hear from him. Here's the letter:
holaaaaaaaaaaaaaa dude??????
Como ha estado, dejeme contarle que ya estoy en la mision sirviendo he increible las experiencias que he tenido en estos 2 meses como misionero, tengo algunos problemas con mi visa y mientras tanto estoy sirviendo en la mision chile santiago west.  como a una hora de mi casa jajajja es genial la mision...espero que este super bien y que estemos en contact dude...!!!!! y estoy usando su corbata en la mision...le quiero much.....
en que sector esta????? cuanto ya le queda??
ELDER RIFFO

Congrats mom on your new calling!! You're gonna do great.

I trained on how to commit people to live the law of chastity in district class. It went pretty well.

I'm feeling a little bit better, but now I have a pretty bad cold...its the change of seasons.

Good for Tar on her Academic Lettering and 4.0! :)

I ate some vegetable called Alcochofa this week...pretty interesting.

Chile's mail strike is over but still no mail....waitin for it!

This Wed is the 18th of Sept...Fiestas Patrias de Chile!! We have a huge activity in the Stake Center like alllll day and it's gonna be sweet.


Well, don't have any more time this week...hope you all have a sweet week cuz I'll be havin one!!!

Love,
Elder Jenson

Prayer and Fast Brings Blessings!

September 9, 2013

(* I took lots of pics this week but the computer isn't cooperating so I can't send any of them this week...until next time!)

Hey Everyone!!

This week was really crazy....First thing that happened was that I lost my case with all my memory cards, ipod, USB and recorder!!! I was basically devastated since those memory cards have all the pictures of my entire mission on them (I was making some tranfers of photos on my USB and took all my stuff with me to the cyber). Elder Diaz and I got back to the house and soon after figured out that this had happened. I immediately started to pray with all my heart that Elder Diaz and I would find my case or that it would be found by someone that would turn it in. Elder Diaz and I went back to the cyber where we had written our families earlier and it wasn't there. We then went to Linder to hopefully find it there and it wasn't there either. I kept praying and praying hoping to find the case. It was hard to focus on anything else other than finding my case. The next day at lunch, Elder Baldovino suggested that I should fast to be able to find my case. I thought that was a great idea so I started a fast right after lunch. I felt a lot of peace and was able to start working and focus on the work. I felt like my case was going to be found. I suddenly wasn't worried at all. That Friday, I get a call from the Zone Leaders. They start by asking me if I had left something in the cyber on Monday. I was like, "YES!!" They then told me that Elder Crossley had my case with everything still in it. I couldn't even believe it. I was so happy I couldn't even see straight!! I then talked to Elder Crossley on Sunday since it was Stake Conference in San Pablo. He told me that one of his investigators had found my case in the cyber. Then on Friday when this investigator had their appointment with Elder Crossley, they asked him if he knew an Elder Jenson. Elder Crossley said that he did and the investigator gave him my case with all of its contents. Our Heavenly Father answered my prayers and fast. That experience this week built my faith more than you could ever imagine!!!!

More news with changes!! I will be training a new missionary! My new companion and I will be staying in Lo Prado as well. I meet him tomorrow at a welcome and informational meeting with President Essig and his Assistants (Elder McKinley is one of the new Assistants to the Pres. He's got 3 months left til he goes home!!) I am really excited to be able to be training a new missionary from the MTC. Excited for the opportunity to serve. We will be working realllly hard here in Lo Prado so you don't have to worry about that!

I have a new district as well. President made a bunch of changes. Here it is! Lots smaller...

Lo Prado 2: my entrenado and me!
Lo Prado 1: Elder Deming and Elder Baldovino
Los Conquistadores 1: (don't know who yet)

Elder Diaz and I had some sweet success this week in our sector. It was a little tougher though since I was pretty sick for a couple of days. I was draggin out in the streets and in the lessons but since I gave it my all those days, the Lord blessed us. Elder Diaz and I could have easily stayed at home and rested. We had Stake Conference yesterday and it was awesome. Elder Wilhelm from the Seventy spoke. He's from Southern Chile. It was so awesome to have 4 investigators in church this week at Stake Conference and three of them progressing (Alejandra, Susana, Anllelina and Joan....Susana was the only one without a baptismal date)!!!! I am excited for our investigators to come to the waters of baptism this change...it WILL happen! Alejandra and Susana loved Stake Conference. They felt the spirit a lot and its really helping them in their conversion. Alejandra and Susana are learning how to FEEL the Spirit and recognize His presence. So awesome. Anllelina is so sweet! Eduardo (the dad), Anllelina and Samantha (little sister) walked 45 minutes to be able to go to Stake Conference this week!!!! What an inspiration. Anllelina is excited but also nervous for her baptism in two weeks. Since Rafaela didn't come to church this week...she will no longer be getting baptized the 22nd of September with Anllelina...it will have to be the 29th. Rafaela said that church was far away and that she liked the church that we regularly go to. My new companion and I are gonna have to help her understand a little bit more, but Rafaela is on her way to happiness!!!

Thoughts/Highlights of the week:

1. Thanks a ton mom for helpin me out by calling USU and figuring out all the scholarship info. Love you!

2. Pretty sweet the Broncs are killin it again. Let's just hope they don't let us down like last year!

3. I've gotten used to the dogs everywhere. haha they're EVERYWHERE!

4. Wow, USU golf bags are silky! Uni's are so sick!!!! I want one :)

5. Right now I'm in Galatas in my scripture study! Blazin through the New Testament. It's been sweet! Love 1 Corinthians 13 when Paul talks about the fruits of the spirit...and so many more scriptures.


We're going to keep searching for more and more investigators here in Lo Prado. Alejandra, Susana, Joan, Anllelina and Rafaela are definitely prepared. We are going to continue helping them come to Christ. Still waiting for permission from Joan's mom. Alejandra and Susana live in a family of 8! Elder Diaz and I found out this week that their mom is now excited to come to church since Alejandra and Susana have been telling her all about it and that they like it. Alejandra's son is still thinking about the church. He thinks there's a lot of rules and stuff you have to do. Goal this week is to start working with the rest of the family and help them allllll to be baptized!

Well, I hope all is well and that you have some fun at the USU golf tourneys!!! That got me excited to get back on the course in due time! :)

*I love you Tal. Happy 13th Birthday! I'll be thinking about you on Wednesday!!!! Hope you have a greatttttt day!!!!

Love you all!

Elder Jenson

"I Just Love This Work!"

September 2, 2013

Hey everyone!!

Elder Diaz and I had a great week this week...the only bummer was that our two best investigators that we were teaching and were so ready for baptism, Jovana and Joselyn, moved out of the sector on Friday!! That was such a bummer because they were scheduled to get baptized in two weeks, the 15th of September. Elder Diaz and I still need to figure out where they moved to so that we can send the reference off to another sector with a huge bessing!! I guess the Lord wanted that to happen!

Elder Diaz and I were blessed to teach 17 lessons with a member this week! The most lessons with a member in the whole mission! That was huge and helped a ton with our investigators. There are a few members that have really been helping us a lot (Alejandro, Pres Arriaza, Jace and others). The other thing that Elder Diaz and I focused on this week was part member families. Obviously, these lessons are going to be with a member. We've found that there's so much more support and it's so much easier with members present when we teach our lessons.

Also, three investigators came to church this week...their names are Norma, Rafaela and Carmen. Rafaela is the only one that is progressing this week and has a baptismal date for the 22nd of September. Anllelina and her family didn't come to church because Samantha was sick and her jaw was killing her. Elder Diaz and I set Anllelina with another baptismal date for the 22nd of September and will now have to attend these next three weeks so she can get baptized with Rafaela the 22nd...it would be perfect since they're both 9 year old girls! They can fellowship eachother! :) Rafaela is the granddaughter of the Relief Society President in our ward and never got baptized when she was 8!

Elder Diaz and I have been playing creative games with eachother pretending to be potential investigators so we can improve and get better at contacting. We've even practiced a few times in the house and will keep practicing throughout this week.

The Lord is always putting people in our way. I know that the Lord provides people wherever we are so that Elder Diaz and I can have success if we're diligent and obedient to the mission rules. This has shown to be true in our sector in Lo Prado 2. I just love this work!!

I just want to recommend a few videos for the family and any future missionary that is reading this!! So, you go to lds.org and then click on mormon channel on the left hand side. After that, under series, there's a series called "the district". There, you will find some real live lessons and ways to teach the missionary lessons. Elder Diaz and I watch those videos as I train Elder Diaz. When you are called to serve as a missionary, you will watch them in your first three months as a missionary in the field. Tay and Tar you gotta watch them!!


Thoughts/Highlights of the week:

The district is doing well. There's some sister missionaries that are killin it in San Francisco 3...they've baptized two weeks in a row. I did the baptismal interviews for them and it was an awesome experience! There was one little girl that hugged me without knowing that she couldn't after we were done and I told her she could get baptized...haha she was so excited!

We have Stake Conference next week and our next Zone Conference is in a month or so

I need to email Jonathan and see how he is doing

I have continued in the New Testament and I'm now in 2 Corinthians Chapter 2...Paul is a boss!

Haven't gotten mail for at least a month....don't know when I'll get mail...probably this week if the protest is over.

Pretty crazy that I'm 15 months old in the mission! Time is flyin by and I can't believe it.

Looks like a pretty sweet schedule for the USU golf team this year. I can't believe they're starting a new year again. I wanna hear all about it.

*Our family was surprised by 3 live email recordings this week instead of pictures. Have to say that hearing Elder Jenson's voice was like Christmas! Here are the highlights as told my Elder Jenson and translated by Trevor:

We had some good news and bad news in our sector this week. Today is Saturday the 31st of August (Elder Diaz is heard saying in the background "You've got to speak Spanish to your family" and then Elder Jenson says, "I'll record a little at the end.") So on Friday, Elder Diaz and I went to visit Jovana and Joselyn and when we knocked on their door the owner came out and said that they had moved today. That was rough to take. They were our best investigators. Last night was bad, I felt horrible. It was tough to take not knowing where Jovana and Joselyn had gone. They had told Elder Diaz and I that the owner was increasing their rent and that they might have to move but they didn't tell us they were moving. Now our two best investigators are Anllelina and Rafaela. Rafella's parents are members and her Grandma is our Relief Society President. It was a blessing the Lord gave Elder Diaz and I this week to begin teaching her. Today Elder Diaz and I taught Rafaela for the first time. We prayed and felt the 22nd of September was the right date for Rafaela. The good news is that we were blessed with new investigators. Elder Diaz and I met another investigator of ours Susana last Saturday and taught her at the church this week. When Susana didn't come to church last Sunday, Elder Diaz and I went to her house. Alejandra, Susana's sister, answered the door and said Susana wasn't there. Alejandra said that she had read the pamphlet Elder Diaz and I had given Susana twice and asked if she could have one for herself because she loved it. Elder Jenson then said, "Actually we have a book for you. It's called the Book of Mormon". Alejandra gladly accepted it and we set a return appointment to teach Alejandra at the church after leaving her with a scripture and teaching her about the gospel and how it can help her. Alejandra thanked Elder Diaz and I for coming to her house and said "I found the truth. I feel so good." On our return appointment on Wednesday with Alejandra, the Stake Patriarch (who's in our Stake and ward boundaries) came with us to our lesson on the Restoration of the gospel and Joseph Smith. At the end of the lesson we set the 29th of September as Alejandra's baptismal date and she said, "I want all my family to come to church with me. I want to help my family." Alejandra comes from a family of 8. Elder Diaz and I were blessed again. Even with the set back of Jovana and Joselyn we're doing good. Everything happens for a reason. Then Elder Jenson asks Elder Diaz if he wants to say a message to his family. Elder Diaz asks Elder Jenson, "Can I speak in Spanish?" Elder Jenson says, "Yes". Elder Diaz then says..."Hello to everyone there in Colorado. Thank-you for having a son so cool, so beautiful and precious. I'm learning a lot from Elder Jenson. Greeting to everybody and to all Elder Jenson's friends and family. I hope you have a great week. Hugs and kisses to everyone and to all the brethren and sisters in the Church in Colorado." Then Elder Jenson closes in Spanish by telling us that... "I'm looking forward to Stake Conference this next week. Elder Wilhelm, an Area Seventy, is going to come from the Southern part of Chile to speak to our Stake so it's going to be really powerful and good. I love everybody alot and think of you often. Tender kisses and hugs from me and Chile. I'll talk to you next week. Bye"


So, I sent you recordings about our investigators and don't have much more time to tell you about them. Alejandra was the miracle of the week and now has a date for the 29th of September. She's so prepared!!

Have a great week!! Love u lots!

Love,
Elder Jenson

"Workin our tails off in Lo Prado"

August 26, 2013

HEY EVERYONE!

Elder Diaz and I had a good week this week in Lo Prado! Elder Diaz and I are workin our tails off here in Lo Prado so we can have some success! The Lord still keeps blessing us with people to teach the gospel. Literally it's like every day something happens and I'm just like in awe. The Lord trusts us a lot with His children and that feels good to know that. We were able to have 3 investigators come to church even though we were expecting a lot more. Everyone of our investigators are progressing towards baptism for this next month! That's a huge accomplishment. Elder Diaz and I started here 4 weeks ago with very few investigators and now we have 9 investigators with a baptismal date!

 

Lo Prado 2 Map (blue outline-focused on, green pins-investigators, red pins-members, blue pins-less active members and yellow pins-recent converts)

Here's our invesigator names and dates:

September 15:

1. Joan (14)-He's doing pretty well and wants to get baptized!! The only thing is that we have to work with his mom because right now she hasn't given Joan permission to get baptized. We are praying every day so that Joan can step up and talk to his mom about why he wants to get baptized and share his testimony with her. One big problem is that his mom is a Johovah's Witness.

2. Marta (30)-She's the Columbian that went to church last week. So the day before she went to church I felt the spirit strongly to promise her that if she sacrificed a little time and went to church with Elder Diaz and I Sunday morning, she would find work this week (she's been searching for 3 months)...Well, Marta found work this week and that promise was fulfilled! That's great for Marta but now its going to be hard to find her....we just have to keep encouraging her.

3. Anllelina (pronounced Angelina, 9): This was a sweet miracle this week. Elder Diaz and I were on our way to an appointment we had set up when a man stopped us and told us that he was a member of the church, but less active. He told us that he had two daughters that he had been telling stories to about the church when he was active. Since then, his two daughters had been bugging him every day to take them to church. That's when he saw Elder Diaz and I in the street and talked with us. This man, Eduardo, told us that he wanted us to come by his house so that we could help his daughters go to church and be baptized. One of Eduardo's daughters is 9 and the other is 7. The family all came to church this week and Anllelina (the 9 yr old) is progressing now towards her baptismal date for the 15th of next month. The 7 yr. old, Samanta, can bet baptized next May. Anllelina accepted al tiro her baptismal date...but she is a little bit nervous.

4. Flor: She's doing well, but it's really hard to find her. Flor works until late and then she just hits the hay from being so tired. Elder Diaz and I saw Flor last night and were able to set an appt with her for Tuesday at 9pm.

5. Jovana (+-40) and Joselyn (12): They both went to church this week!!!!!! Ok, so I've already told you about Jovana, but Joselyn is her daughter and they're both so awesome!!! Elder Diaz and I taught them the Restoration this week and about the Book of Mormon and they both loved it! Jovana and Joselyn were in shock when Elder Diaz and I gave them both their own Book of Mormon to read. Joselyn is so cute and really smart. She always puts this huge smile on her face when she opens the door and sees that its us. Elder Diaz and I also invited them to be baptized and they were like "YA!!" Jovana and Joselyn are progressing so well.

6. Nataly (+-26): She was doing really well, but it seems like she's putting other things more imporant than the Lord first in her life and isn't making time for Elder Diaz and I in her schedule so that we can pass by and teach her. We'll see her progress this week and determine if we are going to keep teaching her or not.

September 22:

1. Juan (53): He's a man that lives solo. Elder Diaz and I found him this week and talked to him about the Plan of Salvation. Juan felt the spirit pretty strong. He accepted a baptismal date for the 22nd of Sept. We'll see how he progresses!

Hopefully you can all pray for my investigators so that they can progress and follow through with their commitments to be baptized!! Elder Diaz and I were able to teach 17 lessons this week. 10 with a member and 7 without. Elder Diaz and I set a goal to have at least 5 in church this Sunday!! We can definitely achieve that! This sector is actually a lot different than my other sectors...not looks wise, but the fact that it's reallllly hard to teach during the week. Like from Monday thru Thursday Elder Diaz and I teach really little, but then the weekend comes and we teach 4 lessons a day which is really good. Elder Diaz and I are going to start finding more people to teach during the week in Lo Prado. The houses and environment are basically the same as my other sectors. On the weekend, we teach the whole day, but during the week is where we have to do more contacts and ask for referrals from the members. Elder Diaz and I are working with the Lopez family, the Dote family, Luz and the Bahamondes family and are trying to get some referrals from them. Alejandro (recent convert), Pres Arriaza (Elders Quorum Pres) and Jace (got back from his mission 2 yrs ago from Columbia) accompany Elder Diaz and I a lot during the week which has been helpful in our lessons.

Highlights/Thoughts:

Hermana Cortes has been doing our laundry this month. This next month it's Hermana Bahamondes.

I train every day. Elder Diaz and I have two hours of companionship study that we have to do instead of one hour so I can train Elder Diaz with missionary lessons, we watch Preach My Gospel videos, read and discuss passages in the Book of Mormon etc. It's been fun for me to go over all the lessons from step one again.

Happy Birthday Papa!! Every year lookin a little bit younger :)

Compared to Chileans I'm a giant....haha!





Elder Jenson, Paulina, Hugo and Elder Diaz in Lo Prado after a day of service

 



Still no mail but that's ok....not even dearelders! No idea how long. Pres. Essig  just said can't get or send mail again this week.

Elder Diaz and I bought supplies on Monday and made completos 4 nights this week...mmmmmmm

 

Elder Jenson the master chef of completos!

 

 

 

Look what I found in Linder this week!!



Elder Jenson's favorite candy bar! "It was like 5 bucks...haha...decided not to buy it!"

9th of September are transfers...I think I'm staying! :)


Well, I hope you all have a great week!! Sounds like you're having lots of fun in Colorado!

Love,
Elder Jenson

"It's all true!"

August 19, 2013

Hey all!!!!

 

 

Elder Diaz, Hugo, Paulina, Elder Jenson and Matias ( Lissette not pictured) after a great day of service in Lo Prado 2!



Elder Diaz and I had a great week here in Lo Prado 2! We were actually struggling a little bit up until Friday (only 5 lessons total in 4 days...). The Lord allowed us to develop a little patience with following the mission plan and focusing ourselves in our little sector that we had selected. I was praying so hard with faith that the Lord would let us have a great weekend with investigators progressing this week and it happened!! Elder Diaz and I had 4 powerful lessons with a member on Friday that turned the week around and some investigators who said they weren't going to come to church committed to coming! We then followed that day up with 2 more key lessons with a member on Saturday that led into Sunday having 3 in church and 2 of our investigators progressing! We're improving every week here in Lo Prado. Finding more and more investigators in the small sector that we selected by following the mission plan, and not just normal investigators, ones that want to progress!

Elder Diaz and I taught 16 lessons again this week but had 11 with a member!! That's a big improvement from when Elder Diaz and I got here (The week before I got here the Elders taught 4). Elder Diaz and I are loving involving the members in all we do so we can have some real success. Also, Marta, Joan, Maria (Joan's grandma that's less active) and Jovana (see story below) all came to church this week!! Joan has a baptismal date for the 15th of September as well as Marta. That means that they're both progressing towards their baptismal date!! I'm excited for all of them! The other investigators that have a baptismal date now but didn't come to church are Nataly (9/15), Flor (9/15) and Isaias (9/15). Elder Diaz and I have 5 with a bpatismal date now! Remember when we had non?....BLESSINGS!! :) Our MED this week was 335.

I want to share an experience that Elder Diaz and I had on the way to lunch one day this week. Elder Diaz, Elder Demming, Elder Baldovino and I all were on our way to lunch and all of a sudden I see this lady way up ahead that had just come from the Feria and was struggling quite a bit to get what she had bought back to her house. I kept my eye on her as we got closer and closer and then saw her take a break in the shade exhausted. I felt a strong impression to help her even though we might be a little late to lunch. As I asked her if we could help her, an expression of relief came over her face and she pleaded, "Por favor!!" The Elders and I chatted with her all the way to her house about her family and the gospel of Jesus Christ. She wanted us to come back to her house and teach her about the gospel two days later. Elder Diaz and I went to that appointment with a recent convert in our ward and had a great lesson about the Restoration with her and her daughter. She loved the visit and committed herself to come to church yesterday. She came and stayed for the full 3 hours. In Gospel Principles, she shared the experience of us helping her this week and said that she was just hoping and praying that someone would help her to her house. That's when we came along and helped. She expressed how grateful she was...Another little side note to this story is that she took a longer route to her house instead of taking the shorter one. We would have never helped her if she had taken the shorter route!

It's amazing being an instrument in the Lords hands! It's all true!!


Highlights/Thoughts for the week:

Brendan Dennis said he bought a condo is Parker and sent me a pic of Chaparral! He said he went to the Solheim Cup as well....small world. Solheim sounded really cool. Glad dad had some fun! That's awesome!

Pretty sweet you were in Forbes! Awesome achievement dad and mom!

The weather is actually pretty nice right now. Its prob about 60 degrees during the day but it gets cold at  night!

Didn't get any mail this week....still in protest!

Elder Diaz and I served a part member family this week at their house. Their family consists of....Paulina, Lissette (14 yr old daughter), Hugo (nonmember) and Matias (6 yr. old son). Elder Diaz and I helped them remove trash that had built up over the years (sofas, stoves, washers, tvs, broken chairs,wood, trash etc.) Here's a picture of Elder Diaz hard at work!

Elder Diaz hard at work serving the members of Lo Prado 2!

Well, I already have no time to share other experiences...Just know that Elder Diaz and I worked hard this week, went to mutual with Joan (14 yr old) and he loved it, Flor is so awesome (she just gets it). We always have powerful lessons with Flor. Nataly is movin along. Nataly doesn't have a ton of faith in Jesus Christ...that's why Elder Diaz and I are here!!!

I love you all and hope you have a great week!

Love,
Elder Jenson

"CHILE SANTIAGO NORTH MISSION...BEST MISSION IN THE WORLD!"

August 12, 2013

Hey Everyone!!

We had a pretty good week here in Lo Prado 2! The Lord is putting people in our way so that we can find and help them to come to know the message of the restoration of the restored gospel. It's a great feeling knowing that the Lord is blessing Elder Diaz and I and using us as His instruments to bring His children unto Him. Many times after we got to know people or had a great lesson, Elder Diaz and I would just looked at each other in the street walking away thinking to ourselves, "Wow, did that just happen?!" I then have to remind myself that this is the work of our Almightly God and He is always with us wherever we may go. He loves us and watches over us. He always gives us just what we need to become more motivated or excited about the work.

Elder Diaz and I were able to teach a little bit more in Lo Prado 2 this week which was good!! The Lord lead us to His children to teach and there were many uplifting experiences this week. Elder Diaz and I taught 16 lessons this week with 9 of them being with a member. Yesterday was a holiday so no one came to church. We have two investigators with a baptismal date that we were able to find and their names are Flor and Nataly.

Luz Ayala got baptized!!! That was so awesome to see her name in the mission news this week. Elder Rodriguez, Elder Castro and I had found her the first week of our last change. Luz was almost ready to be baptized when I left. I'm so happy she made the decision to get baptized yesterday! Such a great feeling to know that she did. There are still 3 more (Katherine, Ingrid and Lissette) that should be baptized this change in El Salto 1! I'm hoping and praying that all 3 of them make the choice to be baptized and follow through on their committments.

The district here is doing well. The Sisters are always working hard and trying to please the Lord. They all have a sweet spirit about them and its been cool for me to see how they work. This last week there were a few confusions about the rules in this mission compared to the rules for all missionaries in the world so I taught my class on Wednesday on the norms and rules of our specific mission. We all played a game where I had 19 questions about the rules of the mission. We had two teams and they fought to the end to win...haha. We then watched a mormon message that I have about prayer and how this lady prayed that the missionaries would arrive at her doorstep and in hours it happened. I then told my District that the Lord is preparing people just like this lady and that we have to be obedient to our mission rules to receive blessings.

Entonces, tenemos un investigador que se llama Isabel. Ella es una buena investigadora, pero tiene algunas dudas referente al bautismo. Es un poco dificil para ella aceptar que necesita seguir a Jusucristo al bautizarse y seguir en Su iglesia yendo cada domingo. Pasamos a visitarle y Nataly contesto la puerta. Ella dijo que Isabel no estaba. Empezamos a hablar con ella y al final, nos dejo pasar en su casa para ensenarle. Empezamos a hablar de la restauracion y dijo que ya habla escuchado a los misioneros hace un tiempo. Hablamos del Libro de Mormon y senti una impresion de hablar del bautismo con ella y leer in 2 Ne 31: 5, 10-11. Lo leimos y al tiro se dio cuenta que tenia que bautizarse. Fue una experiencia impactante para mi y testificio que realmente no sabemos la voluntad de Dios, solamente tenemos que trabajar en su obra y el resto vendra.

(Translation by Trevor: We have an investigator named Isabel. She is a good investigator but she has some doubts about baptism. It's a little hard for her to accept that she needs to follow Jesus Christ and be baptized and go to church each Sunday. We went by to visit Isabel and Nataly came to the door. She said that Isabel wasn't there. We started to talk to her (Nataly) and finally she let us come in to her house and let us teach her. We started to talk about the Restoration and she told us she had already listened to the missionaries a while ago. We talked about the Book of Mormon and I felt impressed to talk about baptism with her and read in 2 Ne 31: 5, 10-11. We read it and all of a sudden she realized she needed to be baptized. It was a very impactful experience for me and testified to me of the reality that we don't know the will of God and that we just need to do His work and the rest will come.)

Elder Diaz and I also have another investigator named Flor we are working with and found last night. The missionaries had gone by Flor's house about 2 months ago but then never passed by there again. We taught Flor about the Book of Mormon and she understood everything al tiro!! Elder Diaz and I talked about baptism and she said, "Well, I guess if I want to follow Jesus Christ, I have to get baptized!!" Elder Diaz and I were like....YA!!!!!! We're looking forward to teaching Flor this change.


Highlights/Thoughts

Yes, it's true we are on to the 3rd week that Chile is on a mail strike. President Essig said there's not anything being received or mailed to any other place....not sure how long this will last. There's a lot of strikes here in Chile. So, no mail or packages this week :(

Really proud of Skyler Bunch for making the decision to serve a mission!!! Best decision you could've ever made buddy. There's nothin like it. Your testimony is going to grow like none other. You'll be able to see the Lords hand in His work every single day for two years. Nothin better!!!!!

Got USU updates about the team this coming year from Coburn. He says the team will be pretty good when I get back! He said I better get my game in shape cuz we could take conference!!....sounds like we're looking pretty good!!

Thanks Nana and Papa for all you do for me and for doing the research on housing at USU! That was really helpful and meant a lot. Lookin good Papa!

Dad's a stud...loved the pictures of the family at Convention

Looking good Tal and Tar...growin up so fast! Happy you got the pod and teachers you wanted

Elder Diaz and I are gonna sleep today for p-day :)

CHILE SANTIAGO NORTH MISSION......BEST MISSION IN THE WORLD :)


Well, I don't have any more time...hope you all have a great week!

Love,
Tan