May 23, 2008

Headed For The Field After 17 Days At The MTC

Greetings one and all! On Thursday night Stacey called home for a brief five-minute phone call to let us know that on Tuesday, May 27, she will be en route to the California Los Angeles Mission. It is Spanish-speaking and, per Google, I learned that it's also affectionately called "The C.L.A.M." She will serve there until her VISA is completed, and then be on her way to Argentina.

It was great to hear her voice, which was filled with complete and utter excitement and shock that she is headed to the field to talk to and teach random strangers! She said that although they have been practicing with volunteers, pretending to open their doors, this will all be very new, and let's face it --- scary! In those few moments, she also had just enough time to squeeze in a couple of "I love you's" and "I miss you's," and then tell us a quick story about running into the new "Buenos Aires West" mission president and his wife, earlier that afternoon at the MTC. They will be in Argentina a month or so after she is there (if all goes as planned) and are excited to see each other again.

Hermana Jensen is doing well! She is happy and upbeat and thankfully, not even a little homesick, which is great news. In a letter written last week, she explained that she is learning how to teach the lessons in Spanish, but has NO TIME to learn Spanish. Apparently, the advanced class doesn't teach Spanish, which completely makes sense; but she says that since she isn't native, like everyone else in the class, she is left with a lot of questions. While this can be trying at times, she wrote that she trusts that everything will work out and is diligently striving to have more faith to be blessed to learn quickly and be as fluent as she can, as soon as possible. She closed by saying she feels "so far away from home, but so close to the Lord." What a great quote!

Below is her new address. Write when you get a chance, she'd love it!

California Los Angeles Mission Home
Hermana Stacey Lynn Jensen
1591 East Temple Way
Los Angeles, CA 90024-5801

Thanks for reading and please continue to pray for her to receive the gift of tongues. Have a beautiful weekend!

Love,
Karen

In The Beginning

Stacey's first district meeting



Just a reminder of where she's going


Hermanas Garcia, Mayor, Jensen, and Alcantara


The classic shot in front of the sign

Getting In The MTC Groove

2nd Companion, Hermana Alcantara on P-day
They LOVE their jeans!



First Companion, Hermana Pruner


Once a Cougar, always a Cougar!

Stacey and Hermana Smith sporting their BYU gear before bed


Stacey's 2nd district, "Advanced Spanish," with a sub-teacher

3 Things She Is Never Without