Up, Up And Away-- To L.A.!

On Tuesday morning, Stacey called us from the airport before heading out to Los Angeles. She said she had been assigned to fly out with an Elder as her traveling companion, which was funny because I pictured him waiting for her outside a restroom or listening to her conversation with us. We had a nice phone call full of questions, answers, expressed emotions galore and of course happy tears. There were many things said and conveyed, but above all was our love for each other and our gratitude for the comfort, guidance and strength we will receive while we are apart.

Here are a few lines from a letter, written three days before she left the MTC:

The Lord answers prayers! I prayed for you to check your email because I desperately needed that info and you did. The littlest things like that make me cry. It is a miracle how much the Lord loves us and that He will give us what we need exactly when we need it.

We had a special opportunity this week - one of our teachers (for me it was Hno. Toledo) gave us a Priesthood blessing - en espanol. Before he asked me what I wanted, what I desired, and stuff and of course I said the gift of tongues. In my blessing, he blessed me to receive "el don de lenguas ahora" - ahora means "now" I couldn't stop the tears then or now as I tell you about how strongly I felt the Lord's love for me in that moment. He wants me to have success and He wants to bless me. I just have to work hard, be obedient, give Him all my heart, might, mind, and strength and He will pour out His blessings upon me. From that moment on I felt different. I still make tons of mistakes, say things incorrectly, blank out when I'm trying to speak and stuff, but I feel different. I'm not fluent or perfect, but know that He is helping me.

We taught lesson 2 in the TRC - our last time in the TRC (where pretend investigators listen to you--in Spanish of course) and for the first time I felt like I truly taught with the Spirit. Our pretend investigator almost started crying and when I responded with my testimony, I was fighting back the tears as well. It was incredible because up until that point, I felt like every time I teach and testify, it is completely "dry." That's what I call it when you don't just feel the Spirit like drowning you, ya know? Anyway, it was a landmark for me here in the MTC. It was a blessing from my loving Heavenly Father who wanted to show me that even now I can teach with the Spirit and I can testify with power.

I have a testimony that nothing just happens by coincidence. I believe that each missionary in our district and zone has taught me something. My teachers were literally the best teachers I could have ever asked for. They were so different that it was refreshing to have them both each day because it kept me sane. Both have incredible testimonies and have changed my life for good.

I'm healthy and well and truly blessed with energy - the rigors are already a lot, and all we do is sit in class. I have to get up around 5:45 to shower and get ready to be in the classroom to study at 7 and then lights out is at 10:30, but I usually stay on my knees for 10-15 minutes in the dark as I pour out my heart and soul to my Heavenly Father. He hears me. So I'm always tired, but always able. The beds aren't that nice, but I'm shocked that I'm actually sleeping just fine. It's almost like I have a pretend "heaven memory foam" on my bed, but I assure you I don't!

Pray for me as I'm packing today, I need peace and faith to abide with me in spades as I embark on this adventure. I'm nervous, but that's good.

In our departure meeting last night there were 340 of us. 40 going to Argentina - me and 2 other Hermanas :)

I feel so different, and I'm not. I'm like the other 3000 missionaries here, dressed up, in a tag, and studying like crazy. I can't imagine how different I'll feel when I get out to the field and really am the different one, with the truth to share with the world.

I'll call you tomorrow. Thanks for being responsive to the promptings of the Spirit from my prayers.

I love you so much. Never forget that this is His work and He will guide it and all of us.

I love you.

Hermana Jensen