The lights at the Salt Lake TempleDecember 30, 2008
Well, I´m a little curious to know if the Christmas call left you all the way it left me. I tried not to let it make me homesick, but I´d have to admit that it did just a tiny bit. Hearing your voices was great, but after I hung up it dawned on me that I did most of the talking and so I didn´t take advantage of the opportunity to listen. Bummer.
I meant to make sure to talk directly to everyone for at least a sec, but the 40 minutes flew by just like the last 7 months have flown. I had planned to start the phone call by breaking into song "I just called to say I love you," But I didn´t do it because when Daddy answered the phone I didn´t want to just start before mom got on the other line, and then when you two were there, we waited to get Nata on and by then I forgot. But pretend that I sang to y'all k?
I also meant to bear my testimony to you guys in Castellano on the phone, but when it came right down to it, I knew that only Nata would be able to understand it and I didn´t want to be selfish and use some of the time saying something that would mean nothing to the rest of you. But don´t worry you´ll hear it after my talk in Sacrament Meeting...what a day that will be!
Nat, I meant to ask you to get Davy to make some sounds... I wanted to hear his little noises and tell him I love him. But, I guess I should be more than pleased with how the phone call went down. Mainly because the conference call worked! Thank you for making it possible to talk to you all at the same time! That really made the call special.
Just send whatever Motab cds you have accummulated. I don´t know off hand what I already have.
Mini stories: Sometimes when I´m walking down the street with my comp and the sun is beating down upon us we have little drops of sweat that roll down our scalp, basically all over our heads. Unfortunately it is almost the exact same sensation as when a bug is crawling in your hair. Which it really could be‑‑because we walk under trees all the time and lots of times giant ants get stuck in our hair. So we have to learn to discern between sweat in our hair and bugs in our hair. Both are highly gross!
At midnight on Christmas Eve we were woken up as every Argentine in the Country sent up their own firework show, the good kind that are illegal and all. You looked out the window and in 8 different parts of the sky there were fireworks, but it wasn´t that cool really because they weren´t set to music and one went off every 30 seconds. But still. It was loud! They sure love their fireworks here!
On Christmas day we did all of our street contacts differently. I wanted to sing a hymn as a Christmas carol to the contacts and then try to teach them. It didn´t result in a single lesson or new investigator, but about 8 contacts let us sing to them. It was fun, and different, but weird to be Christmas caroling in such awful heat!
Instead of mowing the lawn most people just cut their grass with an edger. Interesting. And those that do have lawn mowers just have mini ones. I sent a picture of one back home to you. The rotating blade is about the radius of a small pizza instead of a blade.
Just about every day people wet down their driveways here. I have no idea why. They fill up bucket after bucket of soapy water and throw it on the driveway and stairs and then they sweep it all around. I don´t get it because if this country is so humid (and it is!) why are they wetting it down all the time? I´d just let things stay dry when they finally were dry. Maybe it's because they want their driveway cleaner...pine sol fresh and all, but it's outside the house! But yeah, it never ceases to amaze me that we pass people doing this all day long!
If you are stopped at a traffic light waiting for your turn to go, you are NOT waiting for green, you are waiting for yellow. It goes yellow, green, then yellow again before red. Which is really funny because I remember playing "red light, green light" as a kid and I always did that. I started with yellow which meant "you can start going, but slowly" and then someone told me that that wasn´t how the lights worked so I stopped, and now we know that I was right all along! I just thought I was already living in Argentina. Funny, huh?
I thought that any area map would be better than the map of Castelar, but I have now learned that every area has issues. For example the streets have names and numbers to express what part of the street just like in the states. We live at 3683 it´s the same here and all the streets that run parallel to Salinas will have the same number system. So the house that is exactly where ours is but one street south will probably also have the number of 3683 or thereabouts. Are you with me? Unfortunately that does not always work here. In our area there is a street that has numbers of 500‑600 on that block and if you go one street further but still parallel, the numbers are 1100‑1200 on that block! So you can´t just assume that it´s one block south because it might be one block south and 12 blocks East even though the number indicates that it should be just right there. Talk about frustrating! Also there are these little spots of twilight zone going on where one sign says "Don Bosco 1900‑2000" So you walk that street and THE VERY NEXT SIGN ON THE VERY NEXT BLOCK says "Don Bosco 2800‑2900" doo‑doo‑doo‑doo! Where did those 8 blocks go? It´s pretty trippy and there is no rhyme or reason to it.
It is a very difficult time to work because everyone and their dog is leaving for vacation. And not just see you in a week vacation‑ they´ll be back at the end of February, which is in the next transfer! Every time we have a half‑decent lesson with someone they proceed to tell us that we can come back in 2 months. UGH!
I got the package from the YW yesterday and we will be eating the mashed potatoes and gravy in about an hour! I´m super excited! Thanks for the treats and the letters and the cool photos you sent. There were 3 collages of our family--who were they for? I gave one to Hermana Roy, but I didn´t know what your vision was. Either way they are way cool!
I found out on Sunday that they added 'virtue' and felt very inspired to write you something to read to the young women...even before I received the package and before you wrote me about it.
Hello! I´m so happy that virtue is now one of the Young Women values! When I heard I got all excited and thought about how essential it really is. Moroni 9:9 says that virtue is the most precious-- and it really is. The hymn "Dearest Children God is Near You" reminds one and all that we must "cherish virtue." I could not be more certain that the application of this new young women value will bring lasting happiness to our lives!
I am serving in a world where very few people cherish their virtue and they are all suffering the consequences of it. It is my hope and prayer that each of you will embrace with open arms this new value and strive daily to develop the highest level of virtue in your lives. Carefully protect your virtue. Don´t let music, television, movies, books, magazines, facebook, myspace, or anything attack and destroy your virtue. What you fight your entire life to protect can be lost in just a minute. Never let that happen to you! I know that as we pray and live to develop virtue, we will be truly "called to know the richness of His blessings."
In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Mom.. will you read that out loud to them. I felt impressed to share that with them. Thank you!
Daddy‑ it´s all good, I don´t think I´ll be needing to drive the Taurus this week anyway so don't worry about shoveling the whole driveway for three cars! Sorry there´s so much to do. I wish I could be there to shovel the snow at your side and then retreat for a mug of hot cocoa in paradise!
Jason ‑ I´m sad I didn´t get to speak with you specifically on Christmas. I hope that when I call home for Mother´s day in like 6 months we will all be able to talk better! I love you tons and hope that you find joy in every day.
Nata ‑ thanks for your love. The pix of Davy drinking from a cup are precious! You said he´s crawling, right? I hope you are showing him pictures of me everyday so that he will "come to me" when I get home, but it´s ok....I promise not to force the little guy!
Mommy ‑ thanks for everything. You are amazing. I look forward to reading your Sacrament talk. I printed it so that I could have more time today to write you guys. I´ll be sending all my praise about it next week!
Sorry I cried a little bit when we were hanging up the phone‑‑it´s a girl thing.
Hermana Johns left on Friday and is in Castelar with her mini missionary. Today she will be getting a phone call from the President telling her the results about her Dad. I´m praying tons and tons for her and miss her so!
Can you send up a few special prayers for me and my companion? This area is really a lot to handle. We can work 6 straight hours and not teach a single soul. It wears you down FAST. I´m pleading with the Lord to lead us to those who are ready. We know they are here, we just don´t know where. I want so much to have success. I want so much to teach what I know. Just being in the street isn´t what I came for. The rejection starts to take its toll and it´s easy to get frustrated. We are working hard, but are having challenges. Please pray for me personally to toughen up and not give in. I need to be an example for her. I need to lead with faith and excitement. I need to not let it get to me. Please pray for us to find people, pray for us to find them-- and for them to listen!
I love you all and will never give up. Don´t let the last paragraph make you sad or worry. I am in this area because the Lord called me here. I do not deny it. I will learn and work and be better for it.
Hermana Jensen!
Well, I´m a little curious to know if the Christmas call left you all the way it left me. I tried not to let it make me homesick, but I´d have to admit that it did just a tiny bit. Hearing your voices was great, but after I hung up it dawned on me that I did most of the talking and so I didn´t take advantage of the opportunity to listen. Bummer.
I meant to make sure to talk directly to everyone for at least a sec, but the 40 minutes flew by just like the last 7 months have flown. I had planned to start the phone call by breaking into song "I just called to say I love you," But I didn´t do it because when Daddy answered the phone I didn´t want to just start before mom got on the other line, and then when you two were there, we waited to get Nata on and by then I forgot. But pretend that I sang to y'all k?
I also meant to bear my testimony to you guys in Castellano on the phone, but when it came right down to it, I knew that only Nata would be able to understand it and I didn´t want to be selfish and use some of the time saying something that would mean nothing to the rest of you. But don´t worry you´ll hear it after my talk in Sacrament Meeting...what a day that will be!
Nat, I meant to ask you to get Davy to make some sounds... I wanted to hear his little noises and tell him I love him. But, I guess I should be more than pleased with how the phone call went down. Mainly because the conference call worked! Thank you for making it possible to talk to you all at the same time! That really made the call special.
Just send whatever Motab cds you have accummulated. I don´t know off hand what I already have.
Mini stories: Sometimes when I´m walking down the street with my comp and the sun is beating down upon us we have little drops of sweat that roll down our scalp, basically all over our heads. Unfortunately it is almost the exact same sensation as when a bug is crawling in your hair. Which it really could be‑‑because we walk under trees all the time and lots of times giant ants get stuck in our hair. So we have to learn to discern between sweat in our hair and bugs in our hair. Both are highly gross!
At midnight on Christmas Eve we were woken up as every Argentine in the Country sent up their own firework show, the good kind that are illegal and all. You looked out the window and in 8 different parts of the sky there were fireworks, but it wasn´t that cool really because they weren´t set to music and one went off every 30 seconds. But still. It was loud! They sure love their fireworks here!
On Christmas day we did all of our street contacts differently. I wanted to sing a hymn as a Christmas carol to the contacts and then try to teach them. It didn´t result in a single lesson or new investigator, but about 8 contacts let us sing to them. It was fun, and different, but weird to be Christmas caroling in such awful heat!
Instead of mowing the lawn most people just cut their grass with an edger. Interesting. And those that do have lawn mowers just have mini ones. I sent a picture of one back home to you. The rotating blade is about the radius of a small pizza instead of a blade.
Just about every day people wet down their driveways here. I have no idea why. They fill up bucket after bucket of soapy water and throw it on the driveway and stairs and then they sweep it all around. I don´t get it because if this country is so humid (and it is!) why are they wetting it down all the time? I´d just let things stay dry when they finally were dry. Maybe it's because they want their driveway cleaner...pine sol fresh and all, but it's outside the house! But yeah, it never ceases to amaze me that we pass people doing this all day long!
If you are stopped at a traffic light waiting for your turn to go, you are NOT waiting for green, you are waiting for yellow. It goes yellow, green, then yellow again before red. Which is really funny because I remember playing "red light, green light" as a kid and I always did that. I started with yellow which meant "you can start going, but slowly" and then someone told me that that wasn´t how the lights worked so I stopped, and now we know that I was right all along! I just thought I was already living in Argentina. Funny, huh?
I thought that any area map would be better than the map of Castelar, but I have now learned that every area has issues. For example the streets have names and numbers to express what part of the street just like in the states. We live at 3683 it´s the same here and all the streets that run parallel to Salinas will have the same number system. So the house that is exactly where ours is but one street south will probably also have the number of 3683 or thereabouts. Are you with me? Unfortunately that does not always work here. In our area there is a street that has numbers of 500‑600 on that block and if you go one street further but still parallel, the numbers are 1100‑1200 on that block! So you can´t just assume that it´s one block south because it might be one block south and 12 blocks East even though the number indicates that it should be just right there. Talk about frustrating! Also there are these little spots of twilight zone going on where one sign says "Don Bosco 1900‑2000" So you walk that street and THE VERY NEXT SIGN ON THE VERY NEXT BLOCK says "Don Bosco 2800‑2900" doo‑doo‑doo‑doo! Where did those 8 blocks go? It´s pretty trippy and there is no rhyme or reason to it.
It is a very difficult time to work because everyone and their dog is leaving for vacation. And not just see you in a week vacation‑ they´ll be back at the end of February, which is in the next transfer! Every time we have a half‑decent lesson with someone they proceed to tell us that we can come back in 2 months. UGH!
I got the package from the YW yesterday and we will be eating the mashed potatoes and gravy in about an hour! I´m super excited! Thanks for the treats and the letters and the cool photos you sent. There were 3 collages of our family--who were they for? I gave one to Hermana Roy, but I didn´t know what your vision was. Either way they are way cool!
I found out on Sunday that they added 'virtue' and felt very inspired to write you something to read to the young women...even before I received the package and before you wrote me about it.
Hello! I´m so happy that virtue is now one of the Young Women values! When I heard I got all excited and thought about how essential it really is. Moroni 9:9 says that virtue is the most precious-- and it really is. The hymn "Dearest Children God is Near You" reminds one and all that we must "cherish virtue." I could not be more certain that the application of this new young women value will bring lasting happiness to our lives!
I am serving in a world where very few people cherish their virtue and they are all suffering the consequences of it. It is my hope and prayer that each of you will embrace with open arms this new value and strive daily to develop the highest level of virtue in your lives. Carefully protect your virtue. Don´t let music, television, movies, books, magazines, facebook, myspace, or anything attack and destroy your virtue. What you fight your entire life to protect can be lost in just a minute. Never let that happen to you! I know that as we pray and live to develop virtue, we will be truly "called to know the richness of His blessings."
In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Mom.. will you read that out loud to them. I felt impressed to share that with them. Thank you!
Daddy‑ it´s all good, I don´t think I´ll be needing to drive the Taurus this week anyway so don't worry about shoveling the whole driveway for three cars! Sorry there´s so much to do. I wish I could be there to shovel the snow at your side and then retreat for a mug of hot cocoa in paradise!
Jason ‑ I´m sad I didn´t get to speak with you specifically on Christmas. I hope that when I call home for Mother´s day in like 6 months we will all be able to talk better! I love you tons and hope that you find joy in every day.
Nata ‑ thanks for your love. The pix of Davy drinking from a cup are precious! You said he´s crawling, right? I hope you are showing him pictures of me everyday so that he will "come to me" when I get home, but it´s ok....I promise not to force the little guy!
Mommy ‑ thanks for everything. You are amazing. I look forward to reading your Sacrament talk. I printed it so that I could have more time today to write you guys. I´ll be sending all my praise about it next week!
Sorry I cried a little bit when we were hanging up the phone‑‑it´s a girl thing.
Hermana Johns left on Friday and is in Castelar with her mini missionary. Today she will be getting a phone call from the President telling her the results about her Dad. I´m praying tons and tons for her and miss her so!
Can you send up a few special prayers for me and my companion? This area is really a lot to handle. We can work 6 straight hours and not teach a single soul. It wears you down FAST. I´m pleading with the Lord to lead us to those who are ready. We know they are here, we just don´t know where. I want so much to have success. I want so much to teach what I know. Just being in the street isn´t what I came for. The rejection starts to take its toll and it´s easy to get frustrated. We are working hard, but are having challenges. Please pray for me personally to toughen up and not give in. I need to be an example for her. I need to lead with faith and excitement. I need to not let it get to me. Please pray for us to find people, pray for us to find them-- and for them to listen!
I love you all and will never give up. Don´t let the last paragraph make you sad or worry. I am in this area because the Lord called me here. I do not deny it. I will learn and work and be better for it.
Hermana Jensen!
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