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