Adventures!

This week was full of adventure and journal entry days! 

So Wednesday was the 4 week meeting nothing crazy, but still good. Got to see some friends for the last time.

Thursday we went on the weirdest exchange ever, both Elder Badoni and I left our area and went with a companionship each because we don't have enough exchange days. So I was in Upland in a trio for the day. We met a couple really cool people. One, a guy named Zach who works at a brewery and looked like, but was so happy that we were going to leave him his own book of mormon!

On Friday we decided to weekly plan at Taco Bell. And while we are there all sorts of crazy happened. The biggest of which was that a punk rocker girl came and started flirting with us... uh oh... So we quickly swerved to what we do as missionaries and testified of the restoration. Good to know I still got it though ;)... I mean...

Sunday we spoke in church along with a returning less active we are working with. She did such a good job and bore such a  sincere testimony of the gospel and how it has blessed her life! Then we came home and saw some people moving in beside us and stopped to help them. We ended up lifting their dinner table up on to their balcony to get it up their tiny staircase. It was crazy stupid, but fun all the same :)

Sorry this is so short but I don't have lots of time.

Ofa Atu,

Elder Jensen

Exchanges and a Wedding Party

Self explanatory email hahaha.

So this week I was up in Victorville and Apple Valley again. It was great. I got to see some people that were just getting baptized in the Zone Leaders area in Victorville when i was a district leader there. They have just gone to the temple and all that good jazz so it was good to see them still active and doing well!

In Apple Valley we had a great day as well. UGH! I love it there!  It was really hard to say good bye for the last time. I am going to miss that place like none other! So many memories there!

Sena and Sekona were married on Saturday! Then on Sunday there was a big ol' eat for them ( not a reception though hahah that was also Saturday! The eat on Sunday was so big, probably the most food i have ever seen in one place. There a was a pick full of  20+ pigs (yes we counted). not to mention all of the other food. Imagine about 25 eight foot tables piled  2 feet high with food. One pig and mountain of telo and kumala ( tongan potatoes and sweet potatoes) and Beef and sausage and Ota (tongan sushi like stuff) and Sapasui and Otai ( tongan punch) so good!!! so much food though!

The whole thing was just a party! it was great! Everyone seems pretty accepting of Sena being baptized and her parent were saying once Sena was baptized they might join as well. So that was very encouraging! Some other random guy was also given in marriage... at least that what I understood to be happening. Excited Tongans talk very fast and I only understand so much. But I do know that a mom asked her son a question and he proceeded to run to a girl he met the night before and get on one knee. hahah Mom spent the next 7 minutes crying in to the microphone about here son. Then the newly made and very surprised couple got a chance to speak. They both seemed accepting of what was happening. They then spent the rest of the evening together hahaha. Not sure how for real it was, but it was hilarious either way.

Those are my adventures for the week!

Ofa Atu!

Elder Jensen

The beginning of the end

This week (and the coming weeks) was full of a lasts. It was sad. I will get to the sad stuff later.

We taught Angel this week. He is doing good. We need to get him to read the book of mormon though. He is looking for truth, but thinks that everyone has truth. Which is true. But not everyone has all of the truth. That is something solely we have. He is comfortable with the church he goes to, but want the truth that we offer... Kinda strange. No word from the Gift of healing lady. We should probably call her and see how she is doing. Sekona and Sena are getting married this weekend, so that means that they are and have been super busy, but hopefully we will be able to get everything figured out in not too long.

On Thursday we had MLC. It was really good. We have some very strong leaders in our mission. It was my last, along with one of the sister training leader and one of the zone leaders. President asked us to bear our testimonies at the end. We all shared very similar thoughts and feelings. It is interesting, if you do a mission right, regardless of how much you teach or baptize you seem to learn the same things. Maybe I am crazy or maybe it is just our mission. Either way, we all testified that there is life after the mission, that the mission is a type and a shadow of our life to come, that this is the greatest privilege, and that through Christ all things are possible.

On Saturday I got to go on exchange with Elder Hirst for that last time. I got to serve with him in the office for 6 months and we are tight. I'll get to see him again, he's my zone leader, but it was weird to think that that was the last time I would get to serve so close to him 

We are into the thick of exchanges now. This week Ii will get o be able to go back to AppleValley and Victorville one last time.

Sorry for all of the sad last business I won't do that ever again.... I hope ..... for your sakes at least

Ofa Atu!

Elder Jensen

Conference Week End

Less lame this week... at least that is the goal.

So we made it through transfers, no natural disasters or freak storms to make life hard. Counting our blessings. Then just the regular nitty gritty after all the transfer business. Found one new investigator. His name is Angel, he seems interested in the church and semi-interested in joining the church. We will work on that. He was supposed to come to conference, but bailed last second to help a friend with some handyman work or something. Some friend keeping him from salvation.

Got to visit and teach couple of less active in the Tongan ward, but not Sena and Sekona sadly. :( 

We are still working on them though! 

On Saturday in between the afternoon and Priesthood sessions of general conference a family took is out to eat and as we are leaving a we talk to a lady handing out mobile pet grooming service cards. We stopped and talked with her for a little bit. She asked what we were doing and the regular questions regarding our youthful looks and strange uniforms. We gave her the low down and started talking about Christ, when she interrupts and tells us about how she has the gift of healing and she is a healer , but hasn't used her gift in a while. We talked with her a little about faith and the power of faith, I don't know if we corrected her view, but she accepted what we were saying. The topic of faith of course lead to a conversation on faith verses works. Surprisingly Denise (thats her name) was on our side that it takes both, not one or the other. I shared the story of the rich young ruler with her and how it takes faith to keep the commandments, but also the action of following Christ. We testified of modern prophets and she said she would come to conference, but again she no showed :(

General Conference was HAMAZING! I love the testimonies and words of wisdom for our Leaders. They are so truly inspired! " We thank Thee oh God for a prophet!" Heed their words. They are just good ideas, catchy phrase the kids say these day or even just good advice for moral living. They are speaking commandments from God!!!

Ofa Atu!

Elder Jensen

OH!! And just because I think it is awesome, the final hymn of the Saturday morning session is actually a Tongan hymn. They like to sing it a little faster and with much more gusto and a little less peace hahah. Ka Kaingata'a Ho Hala Feinga is the name.

This is our whiteboard, what is on it changes, but it is awesome! #WhiteboardAllTheWalls #GoForItKids #OkButNotOnTheCouch!

The California Rancho Cucamonga Mission

Transfer Week

Sorry for the lameness this week... but it is transfer week so that is what we have spent the most of our time doing, between meeting with president Taylor to discuss where everone is going, or planning how everyone will get there, we have been busy working on transfers.

 Life is good and I am well, here are some pictures to make up for my lameness.

Ofa Atu!

Elder Jensen

A week with a Seventy!

SO this week was Crazy Busy! like beyond the regular mission life busy.

Wednesday morning Elder Dube of the Seventy flew in to Ontario ( here Ontario not over there Ontario). After that He met with President and Sister Taylor for a little bit... then he met with Me and Elder Badoni and President and Sister Talyor. after that and a brief lunch we had MLC with all of the Zone Leaders and Sister Training Leaders and Elder Dube. Then HE wanted to personally interview quite a few of us. That was super cool just me and Elder Dube talking about mission life!!

Thursday and friday were spent in Mission Conferences with the 2 distinct geographical areas of our mission. It was amazing to listen and learn from him!!

Some of the things he taught were: 

- The idea that this mission is a type or a shadow of your life after the mission. So are we grounding our selves enough in the gospel now?

- The beautifully simple teaching pattern, which is that we TEACH a principle, we TESTIFY of its truth, we INVITE TO ACT on the principle, we PROMISE SPECIFIC BLESSINGS for those actions and the FOLLOW-UP to make sure that the principle is understood. So great!! Probably one of the best things that could have been to taught to our missions! 

- There was a underlying theme of self consecration, something I hope that all missionaries noticed, not just me.

After all of the Zone conferences Elder Dube met with us and evaluated what was taught and learned and how it can be applied in to our missionary service. As we were shaking hands to say good bye Elder Dube said some rather interesting things regarding mine and Elder Badoni's future.

And with that he left.

Saturday we exchanged and that is about all that happened.

Ofa Atu!!!

Elder Jensen

Sept 12, 2016

This week was about as regular as you can get while you are on your mission.

Tuesday we had district meeting. It was amazing thanks to our wonderful district leader. HE is as close to perfect as you can be with out being translated or a prophet or an apostle. #LifeGoals #BeLikeElderWilhelm

We had a meeting on Wednesday with all the new missionaries and their trainers. Just to follow up and see how they are doing. It went really well. The new missionaries are so solid!

On Thursday we were on exchanges. I got to back up to Desert Knolls ward in AppleValley. It was great day, got to see some old faces and teach a couple new people too. We went and tried a former that I had taught on and off for the duration of my stay up there. He is more prepared now than ever to hear the gospel. I have high hopes for him! 

Saturday we were on exchange again. I was here in Rancho with Elder Schenk from Upland. We had a great day together too. No crazy stories this week though..... nothing blew up or anything, which is good but lame.

Hope y'all  are happy and safe!

Ofa Atu!

Elder Jensen

OOOOH and on Sunday... well Sena didn't make it to church...:( but her excuse was she had her baby two days earlier and was still in the hospital. I guess we will let her off the hook this time. Good news is there is now a very vocal little Tongan baby girl who is just adorable. Both Sena and the baby are doing great!

Labor day!

This week was CRAZY! We had exchanges and a temple trip and a staff meeting with all the office staff (senior couples) and more exchanges. I went on exchange to a spanish ward for the first time. it was weird not being able to communicate fully with those we were teaching, but it was still really good. 

The huge miracle this week is that Sena came to church on her own ( without Sekona). Sekona had to work, but Sena came anyway so that was a huge sign and blessing. We are so blessed to be able to work with her. She is so solid. 

Another miracle is Johnny (who was a 2 week missionary with me) and his sister received their mission calls and opened them on Sunday!!! Johnny is going to Ft. Lauderdale in November speaking Spanish and his sister is going to Tonga!!! Everyone was very excited!

Ofa Atu!

Elder Jensen

Temple Trip

Not a lot of time today, we had a temple trip today so that is why my email is a little late. Like I

Redlands California Temple

said we got to go to the temple today. It was so nice. I love that place. If you haven't ever gone you should truly consider it. If you have gone - go again! soon!... you need to!!!!!!

We have been able to teach Sena and Sekona a couple more times. They are super solid. Haven't missed a week of church in the last month and a half since their wedding. Sena has accepted everything we have taught so far. Our plan is to set a baptismal date tomorrow! 

 Exchanges all last week and more this week. We are busy as ever, but is all good.

Ofa Atu!

Elder Jensen

Elder Badoni and Elder Jensen at the Redlands California Temple

Elder Hirst, Elder ?, Elder Badoni, Elder Jensen

FIRE! FIRE! FIRE! But don't be afraid

well this week was more than un-orthodox...

So on Monday I put Elder Millano and Elder Smith on a plane.... and that was hard. Then we got the new missionaries and everything seemed to be going well and not breaking with out Elder Millano to fix it... until Tuesday.

 On Tuesday the mission burnt to the ground. OK not all of it but a pretty big and major part of it did, but we didn't know this until like 1 or 2 pm because we were in meetings with the new missionaries all morning. The fire burnt.  So we have lunch with the new missionaries and their trainers and tried to plan where they will stay and then we have a meeting with them all. At the end of the meeting President Taylor breaks the news to them that not all of them will be able to return to their areas because of a major fire that broke out near the only 2 highways going up to the desert... well like any road going up to the desert . The fire burned for like 4 or 5 days and shut down all traffic going up and down the I-15. So we got to have 8 extra bodies (and that wasn't even half of the elders that had to stay, not to mention the sisters who stayed at the STL's here in Rancho) stay in our little 2 bed 3 bath apartment  hahah........... YAY!..... It was actually really fun and good, but it meant that life was unusual. We were mostly a taxi service for the week. We set each of the affected companionships up with a companionship here in Rancho to work for a couple days, but we still had to take them everywhere they needed to go. Thankfully a couple of the members here in Rancho provided breakfast and dinner for us and them for a couple days. We finally got everyone back to their areas on Friday and the few evacuated missionaries made it home on Saturday.

Total I think 28 missionaries were out of their areas for a couple days because of the fire, but all are safe and home now.

Ofa Atu!

Elder Jensen

Transfer Week

This week has been real dry... :( hahahah we have spent the majority of our time working on transfers with the Office Elders. Its kinda boring... but we manage to make it fun with a few games here and there, an occasional rage fest and Thai food.  There is this hole in the wall Thai place across from the mission office that is pretty good and not too expensive so it makes fr a great lunch break.

I got to see the video recordings that y'all sent to my District leader a couple days back. The whole video was pretty cool! It really got our district thinking about the importance of our purpose and our calling.

Not much else to report. Just getting things settled with Elder Badoni (my new comp). He is super solid and he has only been out 11 months right now. He has big things coming for him in life! For those of you who know my cousins, Elder Badoni is like Kai Yee's doppelganger (even though Kai is Asian and E. Badoni is Navajo). I think the picture that I sent should be proof enough hahaha.

I won't be able to email on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday next week... so I am emailing now. Life is busy, but tomorrow it will become insane busy!

Ofa Atu!

Elder Jensen

Learned from Elder Millano

From Elder Millano I have learned what we affectionately call the Russian stacking doll principle. Basically everything we do has a larger and smaller equivalent either having more or less detail. So like... idk,  lets start with church organization, that's an easy one to see. starts with a family. then we have home teachers over a couple of families, then we have bishop's over a couple of home teachers, then stake presidents and so on. Pretty simple, it get less simple when you deal with abstract idea's like sacrifice or  agency. It works for topics like the atonement or the plan of salvation.  For example  a seed is a Russian stacking doll of the resurrection. Death burial and new life. The Restoration also is a stacking doll of the resurrection. 

Ofa Atu

Elder Jensen

Video created by Mission families for Missionaries

Mission Video from families to Missionaries

MLC Week

This week was oddly regular... I guess. I mean Tuesday we had our regular district meeting, Elder Whilhelm ( my District Leader) is the best ever so that was awesome! Wednesday was MLC Prep and Thursday was MLC. We have mission tour coming up so lots was in preparation for that. Elder Dube of the 70 is coming to our mission!!!

Friday we helped President Taylor with transfers. Saturday we had a regular day. Sunday was regular until the evening. Then we had to make a run up to the desert to hep some missionaries who could see a wild fire from their back window. Nothing adverse happened, just some safety precautions was all. They are back in their area's safe today.

I have received requests for boring tracting stories. I will send two this week. So here it goes!

This one time we tracted like 3 or 4 streets in a row (and these are valley streets not desert streets, so we are talking like 15-20 houses per street, not like 4) and only 3 doors answered and one was a member who we didn't know lived there.  hahahah

This one is slightly better.

One time I was one exchanges and we were tracting and this guy answers the door and his Opening line is "Oh. Do you believe in the Trinity?" We get this alot actually and so we are kinda like oh not again. this is how the rest of the conversation went.

" We believe in God the Eternal Father and in his Son Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost.

"Ok good, a like young men who a raised with a proper Christian background. (we start thinking yay he's not crazy) But let me ask you this: Do you believe that Jesus and Satan are brothers?"( yup nope this guy is crazy)

" well you see sir we believe that we are spiritually brothers and sisters. So like Me and you and brothers and you and I and Jesus are brothers. so under that understanding Satan is our spiritual brother."

"(Insert any amount of random nonsense regarding fallen angels and separate specious of people and angels and blah blah blah) And that is why  Mormons and wrong!!!)

So i proceed to break out the new pass along card the church made with the most Catholic looking Jesus i have ever seen the Church endorse and convince the man to watch a " non-denominational video about the Resurrection." hahaha

Well that is about it. Tomorrow I will pick up my new companion so her can help us with transfers.

I will also most probably email on Saturday, because of transfers, but i really don't know when I will email next.

Ofa Atu!

Elder Jensen

The sweet sound of Elder Jensen singing Tongan hymn!

the Last of the Exchanges

This week we finished our zone leader Exchanges! YAY! No more worrying about them!! So we get to spent the entirety of the next 2 weeks as companions... something we normally don't get to do hahaha.

While I was on exchange with Elder Memmott we met this super cool guy named George who was more than happy to talk with us after his long and hot day of roofing (like it was 105 on the ground. I can't imagine what it was on top of a black roof). He told us he had moved in not long ago and was living with his in-laws for work ( he could have found a job closer to home, but he needed specific hours in a specific skill set) so he was living at his in-laws. He also told us he was looking for a church out here (perfect) and when we told him where and when he said " anywhere is better than here with them" hahah I guess he doesn't like his in-laws too much. He sadly did not come to church though. We will have to tract him down again.

We also got to see a guy name Junior in the Tongan ward. Bishop asked us to go by a while ago and we have been trying, but with little success until now. We finally got in with him and just shared a simple video a message about God as our Father. We asked him if has had seen God's power. He said he had from his father giving priesthood blessings. We asked him if he wanted to be able to do that as well, he naturally answered yes. So now we just need him to come ti church enough to exercise the Aaronic Priesthood he has so that he can be advanced. Baby steps, but Junior will take them!

On Saturday we got asked to speak in church ... on Sunday.... so we did... and it actually wnt pretty alright. But then the Gospel Principles teacher no showed so we taught gospel Principles as well... And by taught I mean we did what we could with the time we had to prepare hahah

Well that is about it, unless you want to hear boring tracting stories hahah. Anyway love yall!

Enjoy the summer while you have it! The kids here are already getting ready to go back to school.

Ofa Atu!

Elder Jensen

Exchange Week!

So we were again on exchanges this week!

I was here for 2 days and the got to go back to Apple Valley! I love it there it is like my second home!

Had a few small miracles this week. 

We talked with a Lady who know quite a few members, but it very active at her baptist church. How ever she was very excited to read the Book of Mormon to be able to know and understand more about us. She even said we could come back, not something we usually get.

We were also able to see Terrell this week! FINALLY! And he was able to be ordained a priest on Sunday so that was awesome to see as well!

Met a man yesterday who served with a Ralph from Raymond who played alot of basketball. Didn't narrow it down to much, but still a small connection hahah).

Hope all is well!

Ofa Atu!

Elder Jensen

A week of Strange Food Experiences

So this week we were on 3 exchanges and  so I don't have tons to say, but I do have  a couple cool food things that happened. 

On Wednesday I was on exchange with Elder Hurren (I was his zone leader when he first came out and now he is a zone leader). We went to Del Taco for old times sake and the this random lady talking to us out of no where. We didn't approach her, but she approached us and asked us all sorts of awesome questions and then apologized for being creepy and kept on going. Turns out she lives like a block from the chapel Elder Hurren attends! so that was sweet. 

On Friday I had cow tongue with a hispanic recent convert family in the Victoria ward. It was actual really good! 

And then yesterday at dinner with the tongans I had horse. also really good. But at dinner I met a girl who serve in the Calgary mission like a year ago. She was in the same zone as the elder serving in Barnwell so when I told her where I was from she actually knew haha it was weird. Turns out she knew Elder Nonoa and Elder Nawahine, Elder Mackey, Cariesse, Fraser and Crapo so it was cool to bee able to talk about them a little bit.

 Love you all!

Ofa Atu

Elder Jensen

Just a short one

It hasn’t been too long since I last emailed. But we have done quite a bit. On Thursday we had MLC. It was great to get all of the Zone Leaders and Sister Training leaders together so soon after transfers. President and Sister Taylor did very well in their first MLC. It is super cool to watch them learn and grow with every moment. We are so blessed to have them to work with.

We also got a call to give a young man in the Tongan ward a blessing, which we ended up not doing because his grandfather did it (it’s better that way anyway). Their family has been struggling that last little while to make it to church consistent. We have wanted to help them, but they haven’t really be excepting of our offers, but now we think they will open up a little. It should hopefully pave us a path to a few investigators. Not everyone is a member at their house.

On Saturday we were on exchange.  I was with Elder Infanger in the YSA ward here in Rancho. We had a good day, we did a lot of service, but it is always nice to be able to serve someone.  We had a good day and spent a few hours in the sun tracting so my tan got a little better (priorities here).

Ofa Atu!

Elder Jensen

New Mission President

This week was an interesting one.

We celebrated Elder Millano's Birthday. We said goodbye the The Hobbs. It was hard to see them go. We said hello to the Taylor's. We did some errands. We help President Taylor with transfers. We helped President Taylor figure out how to Mission President (really not that hard, but still fun). We introduced the entire mission to President and Sister Taylor. We celebrated Canada Day(Aho Kanata), ok well I did. We figured out the logistical process of transfers.  We took some old missionaries to the airport and picked some new missionaries up from the airport. We celebrated America Day oh sorry Fourth of July. I can never remember why they blow stuff up all night here...like why the 4th?.. why not the 14th? Why July? Why not September? I wish they would name their holidays about what is going on that day. hahahaha.

President and Sister Taylor are super cool. They are on top of everything we throw at them. It has been super cool to see them grow, even in the few short moments that they have been here. They have definitely been prepared for this. Nothing else crazy last week.

This week we start our exchange craziness all over again. It will be good to get out an work with the Zone Leaders again.

Ofa Atu

Elder Jensen

Tomorrow is the Day!

So not much I can say I only have a few minutes. But this week we finished our exchanges. I got to go back to Hesperia again. I love it up there... even if it is 116 F out side.

Tomorrow President and Sister Hobbs fly out and President and sister Taylor fly in. We are excited! Tomorrow is also Elder Millano's birthday so he keeps singing " for the first day of my birthday the mission president gave to me 1- - - - - - - -1 Mission to run!" ahahah  

We are super excited. Mom I think I told you this, but to every one else... Canada day is coming up, which means PARTY TIME! So for Canada Day I get to have a huge party with half of the mission. It is disguised as a "Meet the Taylors" thingy... but... lets be real... it is Canada Day! PARTY TIME!!!! hahah I mean " Yes good to see you" "Oh how is such and such area?" "oh really?! wow that is just wonderful!" "Keep the faith elder!"

Hope you are all well and fine. Enjoy your mild and gorgeous weather! 

Ofa Atu!

Elder Jensen

No rest.....weary or not!

So I seem to see a trend in my life.... busy... then Monday.... then busy until Monday again... It was a great week though.

Tuesday we didn't have the usual district meeting because we have zone conference this week as well (I'll get to that in a sec). So we exchanged with the zone leader in Victorville. I was with an Elder Wilhelm. We had a wonderful day talking with everyone we possibly could and handing out as much paper as people would take from us hahah.

Wednesday we exchanged again ( so I didn't see my companion for like 49 hours or something ridiculous.) this time I was in Ontario with an Elder Badoni. We also had a really good day.  He serves in a YSA Ward so that meant we got to drive all over for awhile. But still a really good day.

Then on Thursday we had  Zone conference. It was President and Sister Hobbs' last one. SO it was pretty emotional for them. The Spirit was so strong  and it was so good to hear from them one last time. We also got to teach Nio.

Friday was a more relaxed day, but definitely not a day of resting, we worked on things for President Taylor a lot and also weekly planned.

Saturday we exchanged again. I was again in Rancho. This time with Elder Spaulding. I served in Hesperia with him and we get to go home together. He is an Elder I will be looking up when I get home. He is awesome. Sadly we didn't get to teach anyone.

Even Sunday was as peaceful as it usually is. There was an Elder who needed to go home 2 weeks early for school ( summer school I guess). So we had to go split up a trio and then meet the departing Elder and his companion and switch people around so that everyone has a companion, so after church we just drove around the entire mission because we could really hahahah not really though we had very serious business to go about! hahah

Love you all and Happy Fathers day to all the Father and Uncles and Grandpa's out there!

Ofa Atu!

Elder Jensen

Busy Busy Busy

This week was good. We went on a couple exchanges. Both times I was with the Junior of the companions. It was really weird to realize that no matter how I try'd to cut it I was an old missionary in their eyes. They were asking me all these questions; thinking that I would have all of these wonderful magical answers, but I don't... hahaha don't tell them that I am not all knowing, they might freak out. I would answer as best as possible ( "Elder if we have faith in Christ we can overcome anything. Read and study the Book of Mormon, it will bring you closer to him. He is there for you. Pray and ask God he will help you") hahah. But seriously though, it was weird realizing that I have more than twice the mission experiences that they have had so they really just haven't had to deal with that yet. 

Otherwise our week was the regular. I got to see Elder Smith on Wednesday. He is training in Ontario and was up for a trainer meeting, It was good to see an Old friend again. Sorry this one is kinda short and lame. But I still Love you!

Ofa Atu,

Elder Jensen

We finally start on exchanges... 2 weeks late hahah

Malo e lelei!

So this week was normal-ish I guess. hahah

Wednesday we just prepared everything that we possibly could for MLC then on Thursday we had MLC. Friday was weekly planning, which turns into weakly planning when you have to prepare for a mission Presidency switch. So lots of time on Friday was talking about things we need to get in place for that to happen. Then Friday night we were finally able to start our exchanges, we are only like 2 weeks later than last transfer, but its no big deal...

We were able to teach a couple people in the Victoria wards, but no investigators yet. We keep getting referrals from the Sisters, but they are all for like 55+ single men... which means they don't really want to learn about the gospel... at least not from me hahaha. Oh dear. I digress.

Fast and Testimony meeting was great! The Victoria Ward has so many little kids who like to get up and bear their testimony. It is so cool to hear their simple pure testimonies about how Ammon is a real life super hero and is better than Captain America and we all need to be like Ammon 1) because he is buff and cute and 2) because he did what was right - always! ( that was pretty much a word for word of one little girls testimony).

The Tongan ward is alot different only a couple little kids get up, but they get up whenever they want, even if someone says they will be the last speaker those kids might get up hahah. And everyone bears their testimony about food! Haha if there is one thing I learned that day it is that if you want the entire ward to cry all you need to do is have a ward camp out and make sure that really good food is served! hahah.

Sorry, apparently I didn't send the pictures last week, I thought I did. Here they are! Terrell's baptism last week.

Ofa Atu!

Elder Jensen

Papitaiso!

So this week was .... crazy! I have already told you about monday-wednesday and all the craziness there. So I won't bore you with that again. But after that we had a pretty slow week. We had another Elder with us for most of it. He heads out tomorrow. But on Saturday we had a papitaiso (baptism)!! It was just awesome! Terrell (the kid that was baptized) was so happy!(even though he doesn't look like it in the pictures). that was the big event. Then on sunday after his confirmation, the Bishop asked him to give his testimony. It was the best thing ever!!! So cool to see how much he has grown. So previously Terrell wouldn't really close things in the name of Jesus Christ (like not even at his baptism did he close in the name of Jesus Christ), but on Sunday he did! Elder Millano and I nearly died! It seems like a little thing, but it truly was a testimony builder that the Spirit and Baptism can change us!

Not much else is new this week. We have had some amazing Tongan the last couple days. Like straight from Tonga food! really good. Everyday is Thanksgiving here, so we don't eat much throughout the rest of the day hahaha.

Hope all is well wherever y'all are at!

Ofa Atu!

Elder Jensen

The last week before.....craziness!

So this week was the last week before things get really crazy. I went on 2 exchanges this week. One I was here in Rancho with Elder Cannon (he goes home with me) and the other I was in Ontario (the one over here) with Elder Nielsen. It is so much fun being able to serve with so many different Elders even if it is just for a day. It has been awesome.

So pretty much you have my week there. I was able to teach a couple less active families in the Tongan ward on Wednesday and on Thursday we did some service and had dinner with a cool investigator family. 

The rest of our time was spent finding...

This week is transfers so we are prepping and stressing over all of those shenanigans. Trying to get everything down to a science so that it is a breeze for everyone. 

Today we went on a hike that is what the pictures are of....

Not much else to report. Any questions??... no like actually if you have questions I would love to answer them... it gives me a direction to write in.

In unrelated and mildly unimportant news... 3 of my former companions are or will be married by the end of the week hahaha yikes.

Hope all is well back home!

Ofa Atu!

Elder Jensen

THE LAST.....

So in case there is any confusion on when I come home.... yesterday was my last Skype call home....

But first the rest of the week. So on Tuesday we had district meeting as per usual. The we did some proselyting .... almost usual. Got to teach a less active guy in the Tongan ward.

Then on Wednesday we had the 4 week meeting for new missionaries and their trainers. That was super cool. We get to see them all again and ask them how its going and what works well and what doesn't that sort of thing. It was awesome.

 Thursday we had MLC. Also awesome. Me and Elder Millano on the Book of Mormon in lieu of chapter 5 of Preach my Gospel. It was a really good meeting. I learned a lot. President Hobbs says some very profound stuff... and some less profound stuff... Like and I quote "Sister Hobbs often leads me astray." hahahah.Then that evening we got to teach Terrell. He is doing good. We had to push his baptism back to the 21 but he should still be good.

Friday weekly planning for most of the day.

Saturday... just regular proselyting. Then we taught Terrel again.

Yesterday I got to skype.. and then had a huge Tongan dinner! The crab legs are the left overs.  That's about it!

Ofa Atu!

Elder Jensen

Kai Pea Ke Lua

So this week I spent about as much time in my area as I did out of it. I was on exchanges 3 days this week, so I don't have a lot to say... but I did get to go back to my old area in Apple Valley on Saturday that was weird! Crazy to be back up there. 

I am well and fine. Sorry this is such a lame email.... next week should be better though. I am not going on any exchanges so that make it easier to tell y'all stuff hahah

The Tongan phrase up there is something the Tongans like to tell us.... it pretty much means "Eat 'till you throw up".... hahahah hasn't happened to me yet.... but we have come close... they like to stuff us. hahaha

Love

Elder Jensen

WHOOOO!!

Yikers Scoobey! What a week!

So my life is just always busy now. And I spend most of my time on exchanges!

Tuesday regular day.... met with President. Talked about how transfers went and stuff like that. Then begin exchanges.

Wednesday - I spent in Chino Hills and Pomona. So I thought that Rancho was a Rich area... Chino Hills is a rich area! (I don't like it) But Pomona is more my speed... kinda ghetto( nothing like the desert though). I had a great day with Elder Memmott. We a had a cool experience where a couple appointments fell through so we decided to go tracting. YSA member we had with us was kinda like "you wanna tract here in Pomona?.....but its ghetto, ain't nobody going to talk with us." I left it in Elder Memmott's hands because it was his area and he said "Yes this is where we need to be. This is where God wants us to be." and we found 3 potential investigators in like 40 minutes... Probably a record for the Chino Zone! hahah so a lesson was learned: tract where God tells you too!

Thursday I Spent back up in the Desert ( my second native land) with Elder Kleinman. We did some service in the am and the afternoon was filled with regular missionary stuff like teaching.

Friday - just planing and coordinating

Saturday - okay you know those missionaries that you hear about that do amazing things and work literal miracles?! yeah they actually exist! So all mothers that can read this, please try to raise your sons and daughters to be like them! You know those other missionaries that you hear weird stories about? yeah they exist too, don't raise your sons to be like that hahahah

We got to see a couple people that we usually don't and got some appointments set up in the Tongan ward, which is a lot harder to do than you would think. When there is a birthday...the whole ward, less active and active, goes to the party... so if there is a birthday party in a city like an hour away that is where everyone is. hahah

Sunday - Church and a Tongan dinner... kinda like a football game with 4 quarters and an overtime... just glad that it's not like hockey with sudden death at the end!

Ofa Atu!

Elder Jensen

Rancho!

Malo e Lelei! Fefe Hake?

Sorry for the lack of email last week.... but things were crazy here!!!

I am slowly getting settled in to the life here in Rancho... but it is honestly kinda weird. Between serving in a Tongan ward and in a very well-to-do family ward things are a lot different from my much preferred and previous Desert life... but the valley could be nice too I guess! 

This week was full of fun things to do! We had lots of errands and organization that we needed to do. Last Monday helping get the missionaries to their new areas, and the old ones out of the mission, and the new ones in to the mission! It was a busy start to the week... and it just continued. Then on Saturday I got to go on exchanges with Elder Redhair, who I came out with. I had a wonderful day with him over in Upland and we were able to teach a lot for one day! It was a great day! 

In the Tongan ward we have one investigator who is on track for baptism. He is a young man who is very close friends with the Bishops family which is great! He should be baptized on the 30th! 

I hope all is well up in the North!

Otu Afu!

Elder Jensen

New Day

Sorry this is a weird time for me to email... but... I do get to email YAY!

Elder Millano and Elder Jensen

So I was in a trio for a week. and then Elder Findlay went home to Kaysville.   Elder Smith stayed in Apple Valley I moved down to Rancho a week early. Now it is just me and Elder Millano (he is from Rose Park). We cover the Cucamonga Tongan ward and the Victoria ward  (so that means I get to learn Tongan! I can already bless the food... thats about it though hahaha). I will be here for the foreseeable future... possibly until the end of my mission.

That is super cool to hear about the Bishopric change! Has it really been 5 years for Bishop Nelson??! YIKES!

That's awesome that the girls won and that the 3on3 went so well!

Well I probably will be emailing shorter than previously for a couple reasons, but never fear I am well and happy and fine! 

Love,

Elder Jensen

The Apple Valley Zone

Celebrating 17-month day with Sister Viraldo and Elder Conner

Week 7

So yup this is a rarity. Week 7 of a transfer begins.... normally there is only 6.

This week was pretty average I guess.

We taught a lot more because we weren't sick anymore ( Thank you for you prayers). We also had MLC down in Rancho this week. So tomorrow is Zone Meeting and President  Hobbs is coming... so yeah...

We were able to teach Lyn and Lanice and we finally found some good fellowship for them. They were able to watch Conference with the members.

We taught Douglas and were able to watch conference with him too.

We found a new investigator in the YSA. Some sisters in our zone were teaching him but decided he would do better in the YSA so they passed him to us.

Conference was the Bestest! It was so good! I love hearing from living prophets and apostles!

Love

Elder Jensen

Ps. the Pictures are of the shirts we made.

 and how we decorated our house... not permanently though

This week was interesting....

This week was interesting...

So we had  regular stuff at the beginning of the week. we got new phones... that are terrible... i might have said that last week... but it is true.

On Wednesday I got to go on exchanges with E. Topham ( the elder i trained... my gosh that seems like for ever ago... sorry) anyway we had a great day together! I also got to do Shantal's baptismal interview ( Shantal is E.Topham's investigator who was also baptized on saturday). The Wednesday evening/night i started getting sick. 

Thursday me and elder smith both were kinda sick... but nothing terrible so we still tried to work. Friday we were more sick so we worked less and just made it to our appointments. then Saturday we thought we were better... but it was God strengthening us for our baptism. In the morning we got everything ready for the baptism( which thankfully wasn't alot because there was a baptism before us) and then the building coordinator lady threw us a curveball and told us she hadn't scheduled us or the other set of missionaries and that there were 2 other baptisms that were happening so we would have to wait.... but she was just crazy. We were the 2 baptisms that she had scheduled and she was just mistaken so that was a relief. Kenny was baptized and all went as good as can be asked. then after the baptism we just crashed ... like i said God strengthened us for the baptism, but after that we felt horrible. Sunday was about the same. Kenny was confirmed and we made it to the YSA ward. Then we had Easter dinner with the Packers. and came home and slept.

Today we don't feel much better... but we are happy :)

Love

Elder Jensen

We have a baptism this week!!!

So this week was nuts.... I feel like I say that a lot.... so I say that alot?

anyway... Monday evening we got a call from our Relief society president. She had just ran into Kenny and Sabrina. an Kenny had told her that he was being baptized on Wednesday... like last week Wednesday. And she was like wait??? what? so she called us. We were kinda feeling like Kenny wasn't interested because he seemed to be dodging us. But we called him and talked with him and then went to his house and taught him all of the commandments in one night.. in one hour more specifically. Thankfully he is already living all of the commandments so that made our life a lot easier! We decided he couldn't be baptized on Wednesday, but we will be baptizing him on this  Saturday! He had his interview on Wednesday and passed. So we are good to go!

Wednesday we did a big service project out at a squash farm... it was super cool becuase the AppleValley Newspaper was there and some sisters in our zone got on the front page of the paper!!

Then on thursday we went on exchanges with the assistants. I was down in Rancho one last time with Elder Findlay ( he is some how related to Melissa Kriszan's husband). We had a great day and handed out an entire stack of cards... thats like 50 I think. It was amazing.

Friday we just planned and tried some potentials.

Saturday we tried to sort out our new phone and plan for a meeting we have to lead about the new phones that we got. the new phones suck. hahah they are pretty much the same as the old ones except for they are with AT&T instead of Sprint so we might actually have service, but the contacts don't transfer very well... and they have a terrible operating system... anyway....

Then we went to 7-11's BYO Cup day. the pics are of the tin I used... it was like 3 gallons I think hahah don't worry I didn't eat it all hahah

Sunday Kenny and Sabrina came to church and we were surprised with Lyn and Lanice at church as well! and Then taylor showed up in the YSA ward too! it was a great Sunday!

Love you lots

Elder Jensen

A week of CRAZY busy!

So this week was NUTS!!

On Monday we actually had to proselyte all day... BUT we did find a new investigator in the YSA ward. His name is Justin and he is super prepared! We just have to actually teach him more. He is already living the Word of Wisdom and Law of chastity ( with out us teaching him) and he believes in keeping the Sabbath day holy and refuses to work on Sundays!!! so that is amazing!

Tuesday we had zone meeting! it was really good!  We talked a lot about being prepared to teach our investigators and how we should teach them. It was really good.

Wednesday was our trip to the temple. It was so nice to be able to go again!!

Thursday was a semi normal day... we just worked. We taught a couple people. Pretty normal day.

Friday was a crazy day full of planning and errands. We had to take our car in for and oil change and ended up enimg there for like.......4 hours.... they took there sweet time...and after they told us we could go the called and asked our vehicle coordinator if they could change our air filter so then we stayed some more... it was frustrating to say the least...

Saturday- WE HAD A CONFERENCE WITH ELDER BEDNAR AND HIS WIFE!!!!! We learned a lot from them and it was such a good day. One of the things he taught us was about using scriptural language. so I guess you could say we were filled with exceeding joy, even to exceed our pains and sorrows! it was so cool... i can't even begin to describe what it is like be ministered to by an Apostle of the Lord. especially as he promises and prophesies to you!!!

Sunday- Stake Conference and then regular proselyting which was a change from a regular Sunday 

at the Redlands California Temple

Elders ?, Conner, Smith and Jensen

some fog on the way down the hill

Shenanigans of a week

 So this week was nuts! it seems like I never have time to do Missionary stuff.... I am more of a mail man it seems..... but oh well.

Monday was a transfer day.... it went as expected.. so not too terribly.

Tuesday we had district meeting. We attended one with a district leader who is new to his role this transfer. He did and amazing job for it being his first meeting and only having like 36 hours notice to plan it. It was super spiritual. Then we had lunch and reported numbers. Then we headed down the hill to the mission office to pick up Elder Mitchell and his greenie Elder Jeppsen. By time we got back up we went straight to dinner and then after that to give a blessing at a hospital... but the person wasn't there. so that was frustrating.

Wednesday - We took a guy from the YSA ward out with us for most of the day. We weren't able to see anyone in the YSA but we did take him to Douglas! It was a really good lesson. 

Thursday we had to run down the hill again to get supplies for the desert. Then we taught Tyler from the YSA ward. It was a decent lesson. After that we taught Lyn and L ... I hope that they have real intent... but I am worried that they aren't committed.

Friday we had a leadership meeting with our district leaders and then started exchanges with one that lives like and hour and a half away. I had an amazing day with a newer-ish missionary who was trained in my second ward. We had some good reminiscing to do. We also found two new investigators. Their names are Cecilia and Jina. Both were miracle finds. We had a lesson fall through and I didn't know what to do for the next half hour. I looked across the street and saw an apartment complex that I had tracted before. I remembered that there were a few people that were kind of interested. So I was like I guess we can try them again and we found Cecilia. 

Saturday - we started out by trying Jina's neighbors( also a set appointment that fell through) but they weren't home.. so we knocked on Jina's door and she told us to come back in an hour which was when we were planning to tract so that was great time to come back. She was there and we taught her the restoration. She then asked us about a verse in acts and I was about to check out and then she said something about repentance and baptism by immersion. So we gave her a book of Mormon and told her to read 2 NE 31.

Sunday Douglas came to church!!!!! That is 3 weeks a row!

Life is good. We got some awesome news this week! In 2 weeks,  Elder Bednar will be vistiting our mission and we will have a mission wide conference with him!!!!!

SO LIFE IS GREAT!

Love

Elder Jensen