#squadchiefs

So this week was nuts.... like I don't even know where to start. so I guess I will start at the beginning.

Monday- we taught an investigator named Juan. He is struggling in life. Trying to figure out how to be a dad and things like that but it was a struggle lesson as he was helping his kids with a science fair project.

Tuesday- District meeting and a blessing for a sister in the zone. In the evening we taught Robert... that was interesting. He had a "friend" that was "just passing through" over hahah she seemed like she'd been there for a day or two and wasn't leaving very soon, but she was nice to us. She asked us about women being wisdom. We didn't know what to say so I said well I have always been told that dad is the head of the house, but mom is the neck that turns the head. Robert was super drunk and loved that and he freaked out and cussed up a storm and told me he was going to get me a promotion. Then his friend was reading some verses that reminded me of "How great thou art" so I was muttering the lyrics under my breath. Robert somehow hears me... like I don't even know how, he was so drunk. SO not wanting him to think I was talking about him I tell them it was lyrics to a hymn and his friend is like "oooooh sing it!" Me and Elder Smith look at each other and are like.... uhhh that's a bad idea you don't want us to sing. Anyway somehow they got us to sing and then he kicked us out of his house. We were that bad.... not really.... but he was touched by the hymn that is for sure.

Wednesday - was exchanges we had a good day didn't teach anyone though.

Thursday - Mission Leadership Conference! It was great! I loved it and I got to see some of my Favorite missionaries ever ! So that was awesome!

Friday- Planning and more planning. We also picked up a guy named Cyle who recently moved in to the YSA ward and went and taught Taylor. He is still struggling, but he should meet his baptism date.

#squadcrew hike on P-day, we are #squadchiefs

Saturday - so at like 11 pm on friday after we are asleep we get a call that we need to get to the hospital and help administer to a sister missionary there. So we wake up and run down there and come back as fast as we can. And before we can fully fall asleep we get another call at like 12:05 am from a different set of sisters that we need to come give one of them a blessing. That poor sister was so sick she couldn't move or speak. So we rush to their place and minister to her and then come home. By time we were asleep it was like 1:30. And at 8 am in the morning we had a meeting with our stake high counselor over missionary work. Then we tried/attempted to proselyte and plan our zone training meeting. Then while we are eating dinner we get yet another call from some sister's who had a rough experience and needed some comfort. So that was a spiritually exhausting, but and amazing and faith-building day! NEVER EVER EVER be scared to ask for a blessing!

Sunday - So we had a meeting in the morning with our stake presidency and mission presidency. and then church... Kenny stood us up... that was sad. Taylor came though!

We also called the sisters who were sick and they are all a lot better so that is good.

Early morning sunrise on P-day hike

We went hiking this morning. 

Elders Hurren, Jensen, Smith and Topham

three 2015 Toyota Corolla's in a row......ha, mission life

funny little cactus we found

Love

Elder Jensen

PS.   This week, everyone here was like 'Are you worried about the storm?' and I was like 'what storm?'...and they were like 'the big one out east... like lots of snow and stuff'..... I was like 'oh no we do snow all the time. And we don't live out east.' 

The Mojave Flows!

So to explain the title...

There is this river that runs north right through the middle of the entire desert and like for ever ago it used to flow above ground.... but now it is just below ground (kinda like on Sahara). But because it has been relatively cool and really wet it is now flowing above ground. First time I have ever seen it do that... so it has been alt least 2 years since it has... probably more like 15 hahaha.

This week was another busy but good week. We set a date with Kenny. It is a little farther than expected but it is the day he wanted. He is going for March 16. Its his brother's birthday and his brother passed away like 6 months ago so it has some personal meaning for him. He has been to church the last three weeks in a row and is determined to be baptized!  We have high hopes for him and his wife, Sabrina. She is  a member and at our last lesson with them she talked tons about how she wants to get to the temple. And then at church we saw her paying her tithing.

We also found a new investigator in the YSA ward. His name is Tyler. He was a former, but he said that he would be willing to meet with us again.

Also meet with Mario and Liz on Sunday night. They are really struggling in life. they have no purpose in life other than to provide for their son. We explain what God intended for us, but they couldn't see how it would bless them so that was really saddening and frustrating.

On Friday we had Zone conference. it was kinda a follow up to the broadcast we had last week. President asked me and Elder Smith to train on something our Zone needed. So we talked about how we get people to progress. It was pretty good. President thanked us a bunch after so I couldn't have been too bad.

On Sunday we had church...der.... Both Kenny and Taylor were at church. After church we had dinner and then later a lesson with Taylor... the whole YSA Elders Quorum presidency came ( kinda over kill but oh well!!) It worked.  They were super bold with him. Me and Elder Smith hardly had to say anything. It was so cool!

Love you lots!!

Elder Jensen

[I received a text from a lady in California with these photos and the text read, "Hello Jensen family...ask your son about Sucking the guts out of grasshoppers! He's great!" So I asked him and this was his response]

 That was at our bishops house. So you take these cookies called tim tams (some people call it sucking the guts out of grasshoppers some people call it a tim tam slam). Then make hot chocolate. Bite two bits off of opposite corners then use it as a straw to drink the hot chocolate. Be careful.... it will melt and fall apart. So you gotta be fast and get it in you mouth quick.

Also peanut butter filled cookies are good for it as well.

Love 

Elder Jensen

Bananas and Potassium??

What a week! Wow! Feels like I was just here a day ago... but it was 7 yikes!

Sorry about last week.... We had a scheduling mishap (my bad) and I was only able to email for like an hour in stead of the usual 2+.

So this week was crazy!

Tuesday- District meeting and reporting numbers in the morning. Then a lesson with Douglas... he is coming along slowly. He finished the Book of Mormon last week. It took him about 4 month to read it all... which is faster than the average member! So that is awesome! Tuesday evening started the phone calls with president....1 of 7. And we had to do a little prep for the mission broadcast.

Wednesday- Was the world wide missionary broadcast! it was awesome!! So cool to be able to learn at the feet of Apostles of the Lord! Imagine being at the Jerusalem conference with Peter! And it was all on missionary work!! So great! Afternoon 2 of 7 with president. Then just some regular proselyting. then we started an exchange with one of our district leaders. I was with the Elder he is training. Evening 3-7 with president.

Thursday- an awesome exchange! we taught a couple of lessons and I was able to help the new guy with some personal struggles! It was great!

Friday- We went over to Victorville to get supplies and we taught a new investigator in the YSA ward. His name is Diego. He is a self proclaimed atheist, but we got him to pray at the end of the lesson. That was amazing!! He has some amazing potential.

Planning and another Phone call. 4/7

Saturday- We taught Kenny in the morning. He is awesome. He has been to church twice now! On Tuesday we are taking one of Uncle Nathan's mission companions to teach him. (obviously one of Nathan's former mission companions from 20+ years ago....now living in Apple Valley area). Then we taught Lyn and Lanice with our Ward mission leader. It was a good lesson on the plan of salvation. (5/7 with president). Then meeting with President Hobbs! Not related to the phone calls thankfully. We have a Zone conference coming up. So us and the STL's met with President and Sister Hobbs to discuss what we would be training on and whats going to happen. The evening was filled with the reason for all the calls with president. Some missionaries in my zone along with their ward were putting on a musical fireside.... and somehow we got sucked in. Also they needed permission from president to do it.... so yeah... I was particularly unimpressed with it. And sick of being grilled by President about it. Saturday night 6/7 with president.

Sunday- We had Taylor and Kenny at church! It was Awesome! We also taught Taylor after church... it was kinda awkward 'cause he asked to meet with the sisters too....

Sunday evening 7/7 with Preisdent Hobbs. So in total between phone calls and our meeting I spent 4-5 hours talking with president Hobbs... thats more than like 2 total transfers.... I am slightly upset.

BUT me and Elder smith are killing it together!! we are having so much fun and success. So many inside jokes (like bananas and potassium) hahah loving life!

Also love you guys

Love 

Elder Jensen


(follow-up clarifying email)

It has been a heck of a week!! super busy! lots of shenanigans.... like i spent over 4 hours talking with president hobbs.....

 yep lol I was not impressed.... but hey its over and i am happier now!

Just to clarify. Me and Elder Smith still get along great!!! both of us were on presidents side... but it was still ridiculous! Life is great!!

Also please tell Melanie Hansen that her medley of "As sisters in zion and armies of helaman" is the best ever!

We live with the same guys as last transfer. Elder Topham ( who i trained) and Elder Hurren.

Also cool story a guy in my ward was Nathan comp in finland... like 99.974% sure... Unless there were 2 elder forsyth's or Elder healy's.

Love

Elder Jensen