525,600 Minutes

Well almost.....or at least it will be on Thursday! Wow, one year... can it really be true?

So ok, I´m super excited to write you a bunch of fun stuff this week. I hope that you are all well and I am WAY pumped to talk to you on Sunday. Ideally things will go down just like they did on Christmas. I'll call the land line at Salinas and you conference call in Nata and Jason so we can all talk for 40 precious minutes. If they are in Church or can´t be available, I guess that´s life. But my dream would be to talk to all. I confess for just one second... the more time you are away... the more you miss home. At first it was the opposite... each passing month made me forget all about home so I didn´t really miss it, but now that the time to return is actually getting closer... your mind drifts a tiny bit and remembers that you will one day actually return and so then you miss home... just a little bit. But don´t worry, I´m not homesick... just more aware that home exists.

I love my new companion-- Hermana DiStefano is so much like me, but so different at the same time. We get along great and are always laughing. She is a riot! She speaks great English and I LOVE it when she does. The other day when we were doing who knows what because I can´t remember... she started singing “bad boys, bad boys, what ya gonna do, what you gonna do when they come for you?” I about DIED! She threatens me saying “be careful... the punish finger...” and then she licks her index finger like she´s going to give me a wet willy. It is so fun to work together and even though this week we struggled a ton in the work, we were able to support one another and cry at different times. But we really understand each other and I know that we have already built a really strong and lasting friendship. We are buds!

Interestingly enough we are fighting in the work. Last Monday the President came over to greet us and said “there´s going to be an explosion of baptisms” – referring to us and our new companionship. No pressure, right? We didn´t have a single investigator with a baptismal date... and still don´t. And we are already in week 2. In case you hadn´t already figured it out... people who don´t have baptismal dates fixed... never arrive at their baptism. It´s a problem. We tried to set dates with everybody we talked to yesterday and I´m tellin´ya. It was a rough day. We are trying to do all in our power to be worthy of the miracles and see this “explosion of baptisms” but time is slipping rapidly through our fingers... we are reaching the threshold of the transfer when you either 'will' have baptisms... or you won´t because you always have to think 3 weeks at a time to get their assistance... does that make sense?

Nata – I have 2 assignments for you. One is that you need to be “facebook friends” with my former mini Hermana Barrera-- and then there are like 8 more, so I told her to add you instead of you having to search for her. I want you to be her friend and help her with English and she can keep you fresh with Spanish. She is so sweet and one of my dearest, truest friends. Will you take care of her for me? I´m not allowed to email her, but I can write her and send letters with the Elders to her ward. Write her... she´s so cool! The other assignment is something that I think you will find quite interesting. I intend to do a bunch of research after the mission about this horrible scandal that happened in Argentina in 1976 when 30,000 young people went missing and were like tortured and killed. I have heard various versions of who was really at fault – but you should read about it. You can search “abuelas de plaza de mayo.” There is a movie – but don´t watch it – it´s supposedly way worse than ‘R’ but maybe there are documentaries that aren´t too explicit. I am way interested to learn about it after the mission.

I am going to have such a better accent after this transfer... 3 straight months with Argentine companions... so it´s not just a good accent... it´s a true Argentine one! We rendered service the other day reading the Relief Society lesson out loud to a sister in the ward that has lost her sight. Normally we read her the Liahona... but it was cool to see how someone wants SO BADLY to read the lesson before going to church and we were grateful to be blessed with the privilege of serving like that. It is so cool to be able to do things like that... to know that you are doing just what Christ would do.

I learned a new way to play tic tac toe... It´s super fun and requires much more thinking. Instead of winning losing, or having a “ tie” every 22 seconds... these games can go on and on for like 12 minutes. I can´t wait to teach you all when I get home! Another funny thing my companion says in English is “whoa... my companion has 3 cars... you (referring to the rich, rich, rich people here that only have 2) are nothing!” - maybe I shouldn´t have told her we have 3 cars... but I did it with great humility – explaining that in the states having a car isn´t quite the same as having a car here in Argentina... here it´s like one in 25 has a car. But there... it´s like 1 in 3. She gets it, but likes to exaggerate and say things like that. It keeps us giggling in the street.

We are teaching the boyfriend of a less active member and they need to get married. But she was robbed a few years ago and lost her document... so she has to do the paperwork to get another one and then they can do the whole 1 month date to get married thing. But she has to pay 30 pesos (yes... like $8.50) to get the document in process... and can´t because every time they get paid they spend all their money buying food…so they aren´t getting any closer to getting married or him getting baptized. Try to imagine for just a sec how it must feel to a fighting missionary to know that if you could just give them the money to go to do the paperwork... you might have a baptism... and you can´t. It´s against the rules... and it would be a little awkward “hi, we want you to get baptized so bad, we are willing to buy it... here, take my 30 pesos – go to the office and get your document... then go to the font!” Nope, the Gospel doesn´t work that way. They have to sacrifice, save, and do it themselves. But... just put yourself in my shoes for a sec... it all comes down to an amount of money that you could buy lunch with at Carl’s Jr.

Thanks for the tips and advice about swine fever. The President is much more worried about Dengue and has bought every companionship special repellent spray from the states... we will be getting it soon and have specific instructions to be very cautious. I´m not in much danger. I see a mosquito once every few days, but I´m sure there are a ton of Elders in the swamps that are literally in danger. We should pray for them.

I’m glad you were able to get a hold of Thomas. He is a really good guy and was thrilled to visit his old converts and meet their sons. Thanks for all that. I went to the store today and for 78 pesos – like $25 US I bought a giant shoulder bag that doesn´t have wheels, but was much cheaper than the one with wheels. I will use it as a substitute for my middle suitcase. It´s a cool bag. Daddy will love it. I just might let him use it after I get back... if he´s good until then!

I felt like such a fire fighter missionary the other day. We went to visit this couple that isn´t married and they were so mad at God that they were saying that none of these changes are worth it and that it´s too hard and they were ready to quit and throw us out. But I very calmly and with this sweet voice started to teach and testify about the necessity of opposition referring to 2 Nephi 2 and then bringing it all back to the atonement using Alma 7. After about 22 straight minutes of me talking, teaching, explaining, and using examples that apply to them – and the fact that she is pregnant (it hurts giving birth, but the prize – the baby - makes it worth it... opposition in all things...) they were completely softened, the spirit testified, they received the teaching and it was a great lesson. I extended the commitment to come to church with us the following morning... and she said “no.” I was downright floored. She had just barely admitted that she felt so much better and knew that it was all true and then said that she wasn´t going to come to church. This is why Heavenly Father puts us in companionships, because if I had been alone I would have said something like “what? That is ridiculous... you can´t want and ask and beg for blessings and then do nothing...” But like I said... that is when I closed my mouth and turned to my companion. She opened hers for the first time in the 25 minute lesson and took it from there. In the end they both committed to come to church, and the next morning... they came! They aren´t married – so it didn´t even count for our numbers, but the point is that they came! But as we walked out of that lesson I felt like a fire fighter hero. We took 2 very angry people who were ready to turn their backs on God forever and left 2 people who were preparing to come to church the next day. I felt quite blessed and capable – meaning that the Spirit was able to work through us... not that we did anything.

Daddy... I wish I could be there for your 50th birthday. If I were I would make you a cake of a bunch of football players ready for the scrimmage at the 50 yard line. It has a double meaning... because everybody knows that when you´re at the 50 yard line... you´ve still got a long way to go... that is ... that you´re not old! I will still make you said cake when I get back and we will celebrate it together, savvy?

Mommy – I am so happy to be your daughter. Every time I see something that reminds me of you or that you would like... I smile. Today I bought you a gorgeous coin purse made from real leather with cool flowers stamped in it. You are going to love it. I saw it and instantly thought of you and couldn´t leave the store without buying it for you. When I get home you will see the custom gifts I had made. There are some really talented saints here... that live off the missionaries buying souvenirs!

PS – everybody should jot down like 4 or 5 questions that you want to ask me for the phone call because I want to take advantage of every second and talk about meaningful things! I´ll jot down some stories, but you should come with questions... just like every General Conference!

Well – the hour has already gone, but we´ll be speaking soon. I love you tons. I am fighting the fight, running the race, and ask for just one thing... will you pray for me to have more faith... the miracles depend upon our faith. I need to really, really believe that we will receive the miracles.

Wubba,
Until Sunday!
Hermana Jensen
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ajohns37 said...
HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY amazing mom! You doing such an awesome job at this blog spot for your little girl is tremendous. I can't imagine the hours and work you have spent on this to leave her this legacy. There are so many special inspirational spots to it from her letters, fun things she's said,the pictures, the videos, info on Argentina, thoughts, the uplifting music which we still listen to...a lot, etc. We even use your little clock to see what time it is in Argentina. You are my hero in doing this, for I use it in living part of my little girl's mission. We love and appreciate you, Your fellow missionary mom.
MAY 5, 2009 9:31 PM