Happy Birthday To You!

Even though I forgot to mention it in last weeks email, I did wish you a happy birthday. I was the first one to do it because when I said my morning prayer at 6:30 here (3:30 there) I prayed for you to have a good birthday. I hope it was great and full of everything good!

About the high school reunion... have they sent around questionnaires or anything? If they do will you respond in my behalf? Thanks!

Davy... I bought him a t shirt and sent it home in that suitcase... I don´t exactly want you to go digging for it because that would ruin all the surprises, but I´m afraid he might grow out of it. I say we just wait and see and if it doesn´t fit him, then oops, we can put it on a teddy bear or something. What do you shink?

Nata – your last letter said just the right things and made me feel happy! Have a ton of fun in Spain with Marta! Tell her hello for me and buy me something nice!

Advice for the sister missionary – buy a good sleeping bag. It will be your best friend. But tight spandex pants to wear under your skirts. Invest in good water boots. The ones we found me are perfect! A giant two-person umbrella is convenient being that we are always with a companion. Fabrics... it´s obvious – go light in the summer, layer up in the winter. Buy a good outlet converter. Bring a dropper to purify your water, or you can buy one in a pharmacy here. You´ll want to double up on socks and bring a good pair of gloves.

Daddy – We got a record high of 7 referrals this past week, but it was not quite as amazing as it sounds because 4 of them were repeat referrals and the people rejected us for a second time. But hey. They try. We don´t knock doors that much because it doesn´t work. We street contact... all day long. We go from street contact to street contact. When you stop them in the street you try to get their address and then we go and visit them a few days later to teach them. It´s called an appointment to return – and it is what we do a ton. I LOVED the advice you gave me and it is just what I have been worrying about. Today in the celestial room I was praying and I told my Heavenly Father that I had so much I still wanted to do and that the time is flying by. The answer I felt was “be still” and I decided to just keep doing what I´m doing and try not to have a “cram it all in attitude.” How perfect that you advised me to do the same. I value this counsel more than you know.

Mommy – could you do me a favor and try to find the sheet music to the CDs you sent me of Spanish songs. Especifically the song “all my days” – “toda mi vida” I would like to sing it in my last transfer meeting and will need to start practicing asap.

About the sponge foam fight... we were filling plastic bags with the little foam pieces and then they make pillows with them. So of course as you fill the bags you have to fight a little bit. In the video – you can´t tell, but I was almost throwing up at the end with my back turned because I accidentally swallowed one and was quite unwell as it went down. But it was super fun! It is service we do for the family that sells the pillows.
Quote that I love: the intelligent learn from their mistakes; the wise learn from the mistakes of everybody else. “Los inteligentes aprenden de sus errores, los sabios, de los demás.” Pretty deep isn´t it!

Nata – Could you write to Hermana Barrera and tell her I sent her a bag of stuff with the mission mail and to bug the Elders for it. And could you ask her to send you the recipe with the measurements of all the ingredients needed to make milanesa? Thanks!

This week we did service weeding a small, I mean small garden of an 84 year old woman. I felt just like Mommy using a giant kitchen knife to make the dirt all pretty where it hits the cement. It was super fun and made me decide to have a SMALL garden of my own some day. We took cool pictures like that old farmer couple with the shovel and pitch fork! My back hurts. Low back. I can´t make it go away. I stretch, I do everything. I need my daddy to pop my back. Oh where oh where could he be?

Have you been receiving real letters from me lately? I have sent 2 home lately and I want to know if they are getting to you.

We are in week 6 of my first transfer without baptisms since I arrived to Argentina. Let me just say that a transfer without baptisms drags by like 2 transfers. It is so frustrating to work and work and work and have “nothing” to show for it. (Yes, seeds planted...) but it is depressing and makes me feel like a crummy missionary. The President wasn´t too hard on me in my interview, he just said to try and baptize one of the people we had... but none of them are ready.

Well, I am surprised at how well I am taking the news of Matt's death. That goes to show just how protected I am by the Lord. It was Tuesday at 9 pm Argentina time when the closure finally just came to me. I knew that it had a lot to do with the “closure vibes” my mommy was surely sending me from the memorial service. I felt very blessed to know that you were thinking of me and the feelings of peace that I received have stayed with me. I couldn´t see the words very well on the scanned program, but the pictures were crystal clear. I am super glad you found the donut falls pictures and feel glad that they were able to use them.

On other notes...

The other day I had this deeper realization as we walked in the street that we are all children of God. I stopped dumbfounded as I tried to think that He literally knows me personally, and my companion, and every single person in the street. He knows their names, their fears, their sins, their thoughts, everything. It is literally mind boggling. Ponder it for a second and you too will be literally confused at the grandness of the simple statement “I am a child of God.”

I had this one day last week that I actually didn´t want to go out in the street to proselyte after lunch. It was freezing and raining and even with my umbrella and gloves and coat and scarf and everything... I just looked outside and thought to myself, “do we really have to go out in that?” I felt ashamed at my lack of desire. Obviously we went out in it anyways because we´re obedient, but for the first time in the mission I was tempted to just say “nah, we´ll just chill here in the chapel for a bit.” Rest assured that we did not.

Story about today... for some unknown reason I lost the hot water in my morning shower. I stood their freezing and soapy and pled with the Lord to give me just 30 seconds of hot water to rinse off and get out. He said no. I admit that I actually shed tears as I freezingly rinsed off and got out. Then I cried to my companion telling her how much I hate the shower (and this is in the dream apartment...) She made me feel all better telling me that I should throw my flip-flop at it ... which made me feel much better. Then she had me say things like “I didn´t want to take a hot shower, hot showers are for wimps!” It is powerful what that can do because I felt all better afterwards. But the tears that fell from my eyes were warmer than the water that washed away the suds from my shivering body this morning. Wahoo! Gotta love the mission!

When somebody comes to the door with their keys to open the gate and let us in I get all excited like a dog that hears the keys or his chain and knows he´s going to go for a walk. The reason for this is that lessons taught on the inside of the gate count for our numbers... lessons taught where they don´t let us in the gate don´t count for jack squat. So the sound of keys is super happy. I feel so much like a dog. Does that make you laugh?

Story of the week: We were finishing a lesson with this woman and her busy, busy grandson
threw a teddy bear at her just as she started to say the prayer. Luckily I had delayed just a second closing my eyes and saw the little stuffed dog flying straight for her head. I stretched out my hand and grabbed the dog about 3 inches before it struck the praying grandmother. It was like this awesome superman moment and I saved the day... or prayer! I felt so glad that my Daddy had invested his time teaching me to play catch because it came in handy!

The miracle and the failure of the week was this sweet old widowed man (84) that we found, taught, and committed to be baptized. We lost him 3 days later because his family prohibited him from receiving us ever again. So sad....he just wanted to be with his wife again... The other cool part of the story was that after the lesson we taught him he took us around for an hour and we contacted 13 referrals from his neighbors and family that live nearby. Everyone we passed by he stopped and said, “Listen to these girls, they brought me a message of peace!” It was amazing and then it about broke our poor hearts when he told us on the phone he couldn´t receive us anymore. He was almost crying. I hope he passes away soon so Grandpa Olson can teach him the gospel for me in the Spirit World.

FYI : lessons taught to less active members depress me and scare me because no one is safe from personal apostasy. Ex- bishops, ex- missionaries, anybody and everybody can just up and decide not to go to church anymore. I just die a little bit every time I teach someone that they need to endure to the end. I swear I will NEVER quit going to church. NEVER. And I absolutely refuse to let anyone of you do it either! I will drag you kicking and screaming to church before I ever just give up and let you throw away your exaltation.

There are twins in my ward that had their little farewell to go on their missions and there was this movie of their big brother on his mission. It was shown to get them excited and show them all of the fun they are going to have. As I watched the video with pictures set to music – you can only imagine the plans that I was making in my mind for the video I am going to make of my mission. It is going to be so cool! I have tons of pictures I still need to take to realize this dream. Yes Dad, more pictures to take!

So then. I am super excited to be transferred. In case you couldn´t tell. I hope to go to campo, but I´m not sure what the Lord has in store for me. Actually I think it would be really cool to replace Elders, but at the same time that scares me because you´d have to figure everything out yourself without being taught the area....but I just have to wait until the meeting on Monday to find out what my fate is.

Gotta go!

Love you, thanks for sending me closure... I really felt like it just came S.W.A.K. too!

The church is true!
Hermana Jensen

Pictures From Haedo 1

Rain and flooding streets- yay!

It´s Really Just A Transfer-- To Another Area...

Stacey received some sad news on Friday about a friend who had passed away. Since it has always been my goal to have this site represent both the highs and lows of serving a mission, much like the mountains and valleys we each experience in our own daily lives, I have included this weeks letter. In it you will hear her express sadness, shock and grief, but as she closes she reminds us of the truths we know and believe in and the strength we can each gain from being committed and determined to move onward and upward....come what may. And so we will.

~Karen ~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Matthew Alan Peterson 8/11/1986 ~ 5/19/2009 was born in Dayton, Ohio on August 11th 1986 to loving and proud parents Darwin Grant Peterson, Jr. and Celinda Kay Peterson. He passed away at the age of 22 in South Jordan, Utah on May 19th 2009. He was a faithful servant of God and had served an honorable mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His mission and his faith were the pride and joy of his life. He was dedicated to truth and being an honorable man. He lived his life honorably and dedicated himself to striving to better himself. He was a happy positive young man who worked hard and did well in school. He was always willing to help in another's time of need. He looked to the future and never looked behind. He was known for his wonderful sense of humor that brought the joyful sound of laughter into any room he was in. He made friends easily and was loved by everyone who knew him. He will be remembered for the characteristics that best describe him Honor, Morality, Valiance, Righteousness, Humor, Faithfulness, Talented, Charitable, and Positive. He will be missed and always remembered by his loved ones who remain, which are his father Darwin Peterson, mother Celinda Peterson, brother Christopher Peterson, sister Crystal Versluis, brother-in-law Jordan Versluis, sister April Ferguson, brother-in-law Chadwick Ferguson, and nephews James and Andrew Versluis and Michael Ferguson, and his dear friend Stephen Nelson and the entire Nelson family whom he loved dearly as he loved his own family. A memorial will be held to honor this special man, brother, son, uncle, and friend on Tuesday, the 26th of May at 6:00 p.m. at the LDS chapel located at 1540 W. 10400 S. South Jordan, Utah.

A small family grave side service will be held in Chesaw, Washington for Matthew.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

5/26/09

First off, thanks for informing me as you did about Matt´s death. Having Hermana Benton call and tell me was the right choice because it gave me some time to try to come to terms with it all.

At first I felt like the Lord only let me carry 5% of it... and I was coping quite well. Then little by little He started letting me carry more and more. I would say I´m up to about 35-40% and it´s about 20% more than I would like to be carrying.

I am glad you found the pictures under my bed. I have more on a CD somewhere of when the three of us hiked Donut Falls, but it is obviously too late now. I hope the pictures you found were good ones. I feel truly sad about it all even though I know all that I do about the Plan of Salvation. It doesn´t change the fact that it´s just sad. I have been praying a ton for Stephen and the rest of the Nelson and Peterson family.

Herman Benton called me at 10 pm on Friday and broke the news to me. I was so shocked and confused that I couldn´t remember even half of what she said. I was in denial until I said the companion prayer that night and then was super sad lying in bed trying to sleep. I woke up randomly and have ever since then-- and it´s amazing how your mind can cling to something. I wake up to go to the bathroom and without even consciously thinking it occurs to me that Matt died, and I can´t quite seem to forget it or push it away.

Wouldn´t you know it that the very next day we were teaching the Plan of Salvation to a mother who's son had recently died as well. It was a lesson that left me quite confused about myself. I taught it all in a much more real way than I ever had before, but I was confused that I didn´t cry. She was crying a ton, and I almost felt her pain, but my heart was so numb that I just kept testifying and teaching--but I felt like I was in some other world.

For my own weird healing process I decided to write Matt a letter. I felt a little better after doing it. I turned to my getting over death scripture; Joel 2:12-13

“Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with mourning: and rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God; for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.”

Talk about a coincidence... we were fasting when I found out. I have so many questions and feel powerless and so far away from the answers I need.

Today I read a talk a Stake President gave and he talked about a vision he had of the spirit world. He said that it was really like this giant school or library where many of the spirits are running around doing family history work. And anyway the point of it is to think of it like a transfer... you are just going to a different area, to do a different, but more important work. I´m trying to see it all like that.

So I promise I am keeping this email as positive as I can. It doesn´t help much that this has been such a draining transfer. It looks like it will be my first without baptisms because all of our investigators are struggling. I have fought almost 6 months in this area and was hoping to leave it on a high, full of incredible miracles worth the trial of my faith.

On the bright side, I learned how to make tortas fritas and tarta this week. They are both yummy. I made little torta fritas in the shape of a baptism (which is a figure of waves – like in water – and then an arrow pointing down in the water... I´ll explain better when I can draw you one.)

Also another thing to be thankful for since we´re playing “the glad game” is that next p-day is temple p-day. I have needed that for so long, once every transfer is just not enough for my soul.

Speaking of temples... the pictures you sent me of the Oquirrh Temple are amazing. Was it already dedicated? I can´t believe how spoiled we are to live within 15 minutes of 3 temples. It is a gorgeous one. I can´t wait to go to the 2 new temples when I get home.

Speaking of going home... interviews with the President this week and the news about Matt made me all reverse trunky. I don´t want to go home... in part because I don´t feel prepared to face what awaits me. Don´t let that feeling make you sad. Just try to understand that it is one way that my spirit is reacting to what is happening. It´s like a big denial thing.

Allow me to explain... we had interviews with the President and he showed me my little paper with my picture and the boxes that represent each transfer and according to the paper I only have 3 left. It was downright weird to see this paper saying that I am a “dying missionary.” I got all nervous because there are so many goals and dreams I haven´t reached yet, like baptizing a complete family. I thought to myself, “wow, I´ll be leaving before I know it... how scary is that!” And then that night I found out about Matt and it made me all weird – for lack of a better word for it.

We had a few days of major heat again.....and then we got caught in the freezing flooding rain yesterday. The weather here is literally unpredictable. I am sure it is totally predictable for those that can refer to the news every night, but since we can´t we hit the streets without umbrellas because we are just plain uninformed!

Good news for you guys... I don´t know if you knew this already, but inside the suitcase I sent home there is a white box (the same one you used the last time you sent me a package) Open the suitcase and remove only the white box. Inside you will find presents for you to enjoy--I hope you yike them!

Bytheway......I love pears and eat 2 of them a day!

The other day the police stopped us and questioned us saying that they had been called because we were behaving suspiciously. The only thing we can think of is that I took a picture of a grocery store sign that I thought was cool. If someone saw me do it, they might have called the police because sometimes they think Yankees are CIA. But the police were very friendly and let us go without a problem. I was all excited to show them my clergy certificate, but he was like, “no, no, it´s OK” and they left.

I will be transferred on the 8th of June and will be so happy to find my way in a new area. This area has been so hard. I have suffered (and of course grown) so much here. I guess I should have said I have grown (and suffered) so much here. That is what Dad said, "The mission can be rewarding and hard or hard and rewarding." I am trying to choose the right way of saying it and living it. Easier said than done.

I appreciate your desires for me to not be sad. If I could just snap my fingers and not be sad I would definitely do it. I would like to thank you for your prayers because I am keenly aware that I have only been able to cope as I have as a result of your prayers and everyone else who is praying for me.

It´s true what we say, “it just goes to show that we never know how long we will be here in this probationary state.”

I don´t know what else to say this week. If I go on, I´ll just say things less than positive. I´m just so heavy... does that make sense? I feel like I am literally under this big, dark cloud. I can´t shake it. I pray and pray and pray and pray and know He listens and is helping me a ton, but still feel so heavy. I feel guilty for feeling this way and that just makes me feel worse.

Oh, one happy thing that I can say is that my companion and I had a good long companionship inventory last Thursday and resolved our differences. We have gone 5 days without a single problem and we get along just like we did the first 2 blissful weeks. We laugh, we joke, we share... I´m not depressed all day long, and even when I am I still joke around with her. I´m just sad when I´m not really busy. You´d think then that that would make my grief quite bearable because I´m a busy missionary, but at the same time not so much because we have almost nobody to teach so the “busy” part is substituted for “street contacting and being rejected all day long.”

I´m sorry. I don´t mean to be negative. I don´t want to complain... I know it doesn´t help you guys at all. I know that it is the last thing you need to read. You deserve a 5 page letter saying “all is well, it´s ok, I´ve totally accepted and overcome Matt´s death, we are baptizing 3 families this Saturday and I lost 5 pounds from walking so much and eating such well-balanced meals prepared by the members!” That´s what you deserve to read. I know. I know. Complaining only makes things worse. I know, I know. I´m sorry. I´m trying to be happy, but my mind is swimming in confusion of knowing that the mission is quickly coming to a close.

One story that is a little more happy; we are super protected. The other day when we found our investigator drinking and smoking we were shielded from all danger. It was night, it was dark, they were all drunk, and yet I feared nothing. I literally have that invincible belief that most 18 year-old boys have. There are many times when I stop and think, “hey, I should be nervous about all this. We don´t know who these people are... etc.” And yet I think, “but I´m not scared.”

I know what will make me feel better:

I know the church is true! I know that Joseph Smith saw God the Father and Jesus Christ. I know he was called to be a prophet and restore the gospel. I know he received the Priesthood keys and that as a result, families can be together forever. The Book of Mormon is true. Jesus is the Christ. He is my Savior and Redeemer. Heavenly Father hears and answers prayers. We are never left alone. The gospel is the only way to find happiness. I have been called of God to preach His doctrine. I am a missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I am fighting at His side and we will win. I know I will see my Savior again. I know that I will look into His eyes and worship at His feet. There is nothing that could stop me from persevering to the end. I will never give up, I will never quit. I will never surrender.

Of THIS I am sure!

Hermana Jensen

This too shall pass, and when it does, I will be a better, stronger Disciple of Christ for having made it through.

Take care, you are in my prayers!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Lauren said...
I stumbled across your blog while looking for some more information about Matt. I didn't find out until a few days ago and it was too late for us to attend the memorial.

Matt served his mission in my home town. He taught my sister-in-law and her family and was such an amazing and dedicated missionary. He became good friends with my family and I've been able to see him a few times in Provo while we're at school here.

It was comforting to me to read your testimony. I'm sure you're doing a great job of teaching the gospel to those searching for it. Take care!
MAY 31, 2009 9:08 PM

The Musical Staff Shadow

5/19/09
Long letter....lots to read today!

The other day after a really tough day my companion stopped in the middle of the sidewalk and just started crying. As I tried to pat her back and help her calm down I looked at the fence where we had stopped. The streetlight where we were was shining on a bush and illuminated a shadow of a musical staff. Each leaf on the branches fell perfectly on the staff showing individually painted notes that varied from all kinds of intervals. I didn´t have time to jot it down, but I am sure that if I had sat down at a piano the notes that fell on the staff would have made a lovely melody. It was then that I realized that my companion and I needed to take advantage of the musical gifts the Lord had blessed us with. She has an angelic soprano voice and I can hold my own with the alto harmony. I told her that I felt that we needed to sing hymns in more of the lessons to invite the Spirit more powerfully. Of all the companions hips in the mission, I know that the Lord put us together to help others see and feel the Spirit. We decided to sing more and really try to invite the Spirit to each lesson. So far, it has helped us begin each lesson with more focus and we know the Spirit is with us.

Nata – an alfajor is the yummy treat I sent you… see the picture mom said she put on the blog last week. Way to go with FHE – you will be blessed.

Mom – the picture of Haedo (from last week’s post) is in my area… I have walked by that sign about 3500 times in the last 5 months. We live at 1406 ------ about 6 blocks from that sign you posted and about 4 blocks before the freeway. Good luck finding it on Google.

About phrases that I say throughout the day … when things blow up and go wrong I say “how much can one heart take?” – it is a lyric from a song about Emma Smith. Then I realize that I really don´t have it THAT hard. I also say “you´re gonna miss this” – a lot.

Ready for the best news I have received to date in the mission? Last Monday I got a letter from Sister Wilcox – one of my companions in LA – that I already knew from BYU… She said that after Orion Newell moved to Alaska to study – they forwarded the reference and her friends from her home ward invited him to dinner and apparently he kept receiving the Elders and was baptized in Alaska! It made me so happy I almost cried. Remember me writing about him? We found him tracting in Hollywood Hills my 3rd week in the mission. He was 20 – agnostic, but read the entire Book of Mormon in the month we taught him. He was my favorite of our investigators… and now he is one of my favorite converts--which means I need your help. I want to write him and congratulate him. The address I have is ----- that is all I know. His cell number back then was -----. Could you call him and say that you are Sister Jensen´s mom and that she wants to write you? Tell him Sister Wilcox wrote me and told me he was baptized. Then could you give me his complete address? I can´t wait to tell him how happy I am for him. Thanks – I simply could not wait 6 months to look him up myself.

Random story: people burn grass here. So there is quite often a smell of burning cut grass. It is interesting and always makes me stop and think, “what is that smell?”

Mom – the Relief Society here wants to know about the canning/sealing machine we use and what different food items we can. I was telling them about how efficiently we do food storage in the states and told them that you can get large cans of flour and other things. They want to know specifically if there is flour because it is the hardest to keep here the way they do it. Will you send me the low down about canning and how much it all is? Thanks on behalf of the Relief Society here in Haedo!


Challenge of the week: I feel that it is very, very important to write a personal history. For this purpose I challenge you all to write 2 pages every week explaining something monumental from your life (how you met your spouse, how you chose your career, the birth of you children, big injuries, sicknesses, successes, failures, trips… anything that would be interesting and would shed light on who you are. 2 pages a week about one specific thing… at the end of the year you will have an awesome personal history and your posterity will thank you for it. I cannot wait to start my own after the mission. I am going to write one story every week for the rest of my life – or at least until I run out of important things to tell about!

We stopped by and could only leave an English Book of Mormon with Santiago – instead of sitting down and really teaching him. It was late and he had to go to bed early for soccer practice in the morning. That morning I had written my testimony in the front of it in the most powerful way that my soul could muster. It is amazing, and a little bit sad, that I want soooo badly for him to accept this and let it guide his life. I always feel like that more for young people because I want them to have the gospel all their lives. But if I had such desire to preach to everybody like I have for the little Australian boy Santiago… I would be a much better missionary. I try to pray to have that desire for everybody.

We had a tough time getting ------ to church yesterday. We arrived at his house and really had to work to get him to go. He was saying that he wasn't going to go--but that he knew he needed to go. He eventually did decide to go with us and really liked it. Later he was mad at my companion because she was trying to cut to the chase of his 30 minute story and he felt offended. He called us that night crying and begging forgiveness. I think all this has to do with trying to quit drinking. Surely his body is going through serious withdrawal and he is suffering emotionally and a little bit psychologically. But he needs the gospel, and he needed to hear what we told him. He thanked us for pushing him. Sometimes you have to be a little bossy. Trust me-- we felt strongly that we knew what we were doing.

We have 2 others with baptismal dates, but before I can get too happy about it… it´s just that they were too easy and that almost always means that they won´t make it. When people just accept everything like this… it´s usually not the miracle you think it is. One is -------- who needs to quit smoking, but came to church on his own on Sunday. And the other is -------- who wasn´t there when we tried to pick him up for Church, but has 7 days sober of drinking and not smoking. He will be baptized next transfer (just after I leave) if things keep going this well. The other is a young girl named ------- who is just waiting for permission from her Dad – he said he´d let her when she turned 18 which is just after I leave… we´ll see if he signs the papers, but that would make 2 baptisms right after I leave. I know they still count and all, but it is still heartbreaking to not be there for them. It's like you need to see with your own eyes the proof that your labors are paying off. And you just want to be in the picture so bad. Laugh all you want, but it is true and it is real.

Question: is there any way to keep dirt from getting under your nails. The more I use a file to clean them, the more the dirt gets under there. I see no solution and my nails are just barely starting to grow again after 3 months of rebellion from my stress...… any ideas?

FYI: Here in Buenos Aires in the morning there is this fog that fills the air and it makes you feel like you live on the inside of one of those glass balls with the snow inside. Or it makes you feel like you live in a place with those fogged windows. It is cool. I took pictures this morning.

Why do they do that? Here in Argentina every Fall they literally cut all the branches off the trees. I´m not talking about simple pruning, I´m talking about massacring the poor tree and leaving it a stump and a bunch of fingers that reach to the sky but look terrible. I took pictures. Everybody destroys their trees right before Winter. They claim it makes them grow better and stronger in the spring but they don´t realize that they literally defame the beauty of the tree. Back home we are more concerned about the beauty of the landscape to half-kill our trees every Fall. This place now looks like a slaughtering yard for trees. It makes me sad.

It was so cold in our apartment and our heater was broken-- that I started heating our feet with my hairdryer in the morning as we studied. It was truly pathetic, but the Lord blessed us with a miracle the next day. A surprise apartment inspection, and when the Smith couple came they offered to DRIVE US to the store to buy a heater and bring us back. We accepted and we were able to buy 2 little heaters and I have slept great and studied better ever since. What a tender mercy… how cool is it to have a car to drive and buy the thing you need right when you need it? You have no idea. We were so cold. So cold.

Sorry you didn´t get the “estandarte” mailed to you – you won´t be getting it next transfer either… I´m not that good with the numbers anymore so you won't get the success papers but just know I am working hard every single day.

I have senioritis of this area. I´m screaming to get me out of here, but sad that I´ll barely miss the baptisms. I walk around way too comfortable… I need to go somewhere new and be confused again. It´s good for me to be lost and not know anything… you work differently when you know nobody and nothing.

We tried to wash the dishes of an investigator the other day and she yelled at us. The truth is that she was mad that her 19 and 15 year old daughters didn´t do them and she doesn´t want the guests who came for lunch to do their own dishes. It was really awkward and weird to be so seriously yelled at for simply trying to serve. Imagine that! So if for some reason I hesitate to wash the dishes after the mission you will know why… for 18 months we were literally forbidden to help out in the homes of the members and investigators… nobody lets us serve them… not even the members.

Mom – brace yourself… don’t take this wrong, but I have learned how to make an omelet even better than the omelets you make. It´s ok, I´ll teach you how it´s done. It is so amazing that you can learn something after cooking for so long and it´s like, “hey, why didn´t I ever try that?” You are going to love it!

Daddy – I´m glad you had a lovely 50th birthday spent quietly at home, but rest assured you will have a 50 yard line cake when I get back! I hope that the job scene is better when I get back and start searching… I never thought that I might be one of those people with a college degree that struggle to find a job. Let´s hope that doesn´t happen.

Jason – I bet you are already winning on the personal history thing. Way to go!

Wow how the hour goes by...

Love you tons, love the mission, love the cold, love the cough drops that I brought, love wearing ankle socks under my nylons, love my long warm coat,

Hermana Jensen!

p.s.

Thanks for the picture of daddy and the kangaroo... I was going to ask you to send it to me. You were inspired! I will print it and show it to Santiago today!

Wubba

Testimony Gloves

Posted by Hermana Cheryl y Presidente Evrett Benton
at http://www.bentonsmission.blogspot.com/

We sure have enjoyed the "Testimony Gloves" in our Mission! We gave the gloves to each of our missionaries at our recent Zone Conferences, and they always bring "Sonrisas" (Smiles) to the faces of the missionaries when we all put the gloves on our hands and review the telling of our testimonies with them.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Testimony Gloves are a simple but effective tool to help children understand and express their own testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As Parents, Primary Leaders and teachers, it is our responsibility to instill in the hearts of children a desire to believe in these five essential elements of a testimony. This belief can grow into a knowledge that it is true.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A Pure Testimony Is...

1. I know that God is our Father in Heaven and He loves us.
2. I know that Jesus Christ is His Son, our Savior and Redeemer.
3. I know Joseph Smith is a prophet of God, and he was the instrument through which the gospel of Jesus Christ was restored to the earth. He translated the Book of Mormon by the gift and power of God.
4. I know the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Lord’s church on the earth today.
5. I know this Church is led by a living prophet who receives revelation.

© 2006, Testimony Gloves may be used for incidental, noncommercial, church or home use

I´m Walkin' On Sunshine!

Happy Birthday Daddy ¡Feliz Cumpleaños! I can´t believe that you are fifty. That´s pretty nifty. Couldn´t resist. :)

The other p-day we did play the piano and sing music. I love music and realized that after the mission I absolutely HAVE TO learn to play the piano… like really play it. And the guitar. And the Kalimba! It is this cool African instrument… it is a small thumb piano and I am in the process of having a member go and buy me one. They sell them at fairs that are out of the mission boundaries. She´s going to buy me one and then I can master it after the mission. It is SUPER cool – just trust me.

Good idea about tracking down some kind of souvenir gift for the family. I´ll have to really get working on it though because I don´t know what it would be, where I will find it, or how I will get 15 of them. But I´ll do my very best.

Sorry I talked like the entire phone call. I always do that. After I hung up I started kicking myself and thought that it was probably not that entertaining for you guys. My stories seemed so random and there was no overall thesis to the conversation… just bursts of sporadic confusion and me saying weird things in English that sound wrong to me. And then justifying why I can´t speak.

I have pretty much gotten along with all of my companions… there´s is always one or two “conversations” when you have to stop, clear things over, and then put it all back together, but they are important and then you have a better understanding and relationship. They just have to happen once in a while so I don't feel guilty when they do. When you live 24/7 with someone for 6-12 weeks… you are bound to have a run in or two. But yeah, I haven´t had to white-knuckle it too much--every once in a while, but not too bad.

It´s coat, scarf and gloves weather again. It makes us feel more like missionaries because you look more formal and truth be told… more like an Elder because their coats are black and our coats are black… so we are more easily recognized as Mormons and not other denomination missionaries. Hooray! It does make everything more heavy and you have more junk to keep track of, but for now… I like it being a little chilly. I pulled out all my winter clothes today and it is fun to wear different things. Life´s little pleasures.

Story: when your companion suggests that you de-junk your bag… you should listen to her… she just might be on to something-- I only half-listened. She said that I should take out 3 of my 4 lipsticks. So what did I do? I took out one. Not a week later I reached my hand into one of the pockets to pull out my change to ride the bus and everything was all sticky and pink and gross. Yep, the lipstick exploded and stained and dirtied everything. I shoulda listened to her… she reminded me several times and I am still trying to get the Vaseline –y feeling off of the things in my bag. Live and learn. Now I have just 2 lipsticks in the bag.

I miss a good milkshake--with all the awesome flavors of ice cream… I just want to make a creation of mine that would knock their socks off, but I don´t have the resources… like a mixer. But I keep trying new flavors here… there are so many! That is one thing that I wish I could bring home for you all to try… Argentina ice cream!

Challenge from the missionary: I have 2 things that I want ya’ll to do. 1. Read and really study your patriarchal blessing at least once a month. I have plans to cross-reference mine and put footnotes in Microsoft Word with mine when I get back… it´s going to be so cool! 2. Have Family Home Evening every week. A prayer, hymn and spiritual thought (even if it is just 3-5 minutes of discussing a verse and how we can apply it to our lives and make goals with respect to what we learned) and finishing with a prayer. Simple. Will you do it? I promise you that you will feel the blessings of the Lord as you obey the divine counsel to have FHE. A family is never too old or too young for it.

I´m reading the Old Testament… and it makes me really love and appreciate the Book of Mormon. Let me just tell you that I LOVE the Book of Mormon.

As I finish up this last 4 weeks in this area I literally feel like I am planting a lot of seeds that hopefully will grow and produce fruit… but I won´t be here to see it. That´s ok though. Somebody´s gotta plant seeds or there won´t be anything for anyone else to harvest.

I told the President the other day that if he helps me track down Worcestershire Sauce I could make brown sugar chicken for the whole mission. That was kind of a bold thing to say considering that I have never cooked for 200 people, but hey. Anyways… that is one of the things that I haven´t been able to find here. How sad!

I had a nightmare the other night that I finished the mission and was home and it was time to start looking for a job – like a career. And I was paralyzed with fear. Daddy was telling me that I needed to start looking, but I was super afraid. We´ll just see how that all goes down after the mission. I hope that it was a bit exaggerated in my dream and that I won´t be afraid to go job hunting.

This week I did a special fast so that I can have “more obedience, diligence, and faith to move mountains.” I was super proud of myself because I had to not eat an alfajor and I really wanted to eat it. But I fasted and know that the Lord will bless me.

As far as the work goes, here is the update. ______is the father of a completely less active guy that suffers from mental problems that leave him pretty much unable to carry on a conversation. We found him and started teaching him and challenged him to quit drinking and get baptized. If all goes well and he is able to quit, he will be baptized on May 30th. When we found him he was spending 1,000 pesos (like $350) a week on beer. To help you capture that… that is our monthly rent and our apartment is the newest in the mission. He has cut back a ton. He went from drinking 10 bottles a day to the other day, just one. Yesterday we told him “no more” – and that he needs to be 100% sober for 2 weeks to get baptized. That means that on the 16th he cannot drink again. I really hope that he can beat this. I know that if he does his part the Lord will bless him. He has come a really long way and accepts every other commitment. He is 67 and it will be really cool to help him make such a big change in his life. Will you include him in your prayers? He needs a lot of support.

The other day our lunch cancelled and we were starving. Did you know that with a mug of white rice, a tiny bit of mayo and a can of tuna you can like make a meal? It isn´t that satisfying, but it fills you up. I now know that if I am ever literally starving… a little bit of rice and a can of tuna will keep me alive. The members here… don´t quite live up to the expectation that I had about them forcing us to eat “asados” every day and all that you hear about. I don´t know what the deal is, but we are less than spoiled. There, I said it. No more complaints…

Nata – let me know about the things you learn about the abuelas and tell my mini that I love her soooo much “de polo a polo y atras.” She is super cool and will really appreciate your help with her English. Will you really push her? If she is going to end up marrying Brian Jensen, she has to master English. Hehe.

Jason – I was super happy to hear that you guys are planning a trip to Utah when I get back. I can´t wait for that “airport reunion!” Will you record it like you did when you dropped me off at the MTC? Thanks!

Mommy – don´t even worry about crying on the phone call. I hope you had a fantastic Mother´s Day and that you were able to enjoy the call. Thanks for taking care of all the details and making it possible to speak to everyone at the same time. It was a dream come true for me to hear from everybody. I was sad that I didn´t really chat with Jason on Christmas, so I felt better this time. I feel like I talked too much about dumb stuff, but, I guess that´s what happens when you haven´t been able to talk in 5 months… you just ramble! I loved the pictures of your trip with Daddy and can´t wait to explain each and every picture (of the thousands) I have taken on the mission. Get ready to have your baby girl talk your ear off!

Daddy – guess what… we found a 15 year old Australian boy that came here in December to play soccer! He is from Melbourne (I don´t know how to spell it, but I know you say it “Melbin”) and I told him that you served as a missionary in Sydney 30 years ago. We asked him if we could share a message with him and I started teaching in Castellano – we were all talking in Castellano at this point. Then he said that when it comes to religious stuff he doesn´t have that much Castellano down, so my companion turned to me and said “teach him in English.” So then – for the first time in a long time – I started teaching the apostasy and the restoration in English. It was cool and weird at the same time. As I said on the phone call – it was utterly simple and blissful to be able to ask all the questions just how I wanted to and know that he understood what I was really asking. But I was tripping in every transition from principle to principle. Out of nowhere I would say “entonces” (then) or “como” (like) or “claro” (of course) and it made me blush and feel dumb because my brain couldn’t continue speaking it´s native language. But he was super cool about it and get this… here is the best part… something that I have been reliving for the past 24 hours… I said, “the cool thing about our message is that we just invite everybody to pray and ask God if this is true and the Spirit will answer you. Do you have a habit of praying?" (This is usually when everybody says “no” or “yeah, like I recite Our Father and Ave Maria every night”) and he said, “yeah, every night. I ask God to help me be better and I pray for…” I about cried right there in the street. There is a 15 year old Australian boy in Argentina that prays – every night – because he wants to… and we found him. I am praying so fervently that his mom doesn´t stop him from listening to us or anything…. that is the biggest problem… when you find a kid or youth that is truly golden… so often the parents don't allow them to progress. Last night I prayed and prayed and prayed that she would not only let him listen to us, but that she would listen too so that they can both be baptized! It would be literally a cool miracle for me to be able to teach and baptize an Australian because it unites me and my daddy even more – teaching the gospel to the Australian people and bringing them to a knowledge of the truth! And yes… I will be transferred in just 4 weeks. He could be baptized in this transfer if everything goes like clock-work, but even if not… I will just have to go to the President and ask him to make an exception and please let me be there for the baptismal service… it would just mean so much to me. And… unless I am sent way far out to campo… I´m pretty sure he´d let me go! And yes… all these plans after a 7 minute lesson in the street. But hey, we always dream like that.

I love the mission so much. I love it, I wouldn´t trade it for anything in the world. I have 6 months more to find, teach, and baptize the whole world and hopefully a few people from the land down under! I know that this is the Lord´s work because when we went by Santiago´s house (the Australian boy) he didn´t hear us knock and then an hour later we ran into him in the street a good 4 blocks from his house… the Lord literally put us in his path twice!

I love you all, wish everybody well from me… especially Tiffany, Katybug, Cameron and Tyler… say hello to everybody!

I´m walking on sunshine and lovin´every minute. Make sure you all have FHE this week!

Love,

Hermana Jensen

~~~~~~~~~~~
Lance said...
Boy, who is that young, Australian missionary? He looks a lot like the guy I knew at BYU :)

I found your daugther's blog while doing some missionary searching. Sounds like she's having a great time. My son is serving in England Manchester.

Lance McIntosh
MAY 18, 2009 7:53 AM

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
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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

Same Area But New Companion!

April 28, 2009

Well here we go with the letter of the week:
I really appreciated your letters this week... I love what Jason said about, "savor every minute with your Savior" and I was super impressed that Nata read the Book of Mormon in 3 weeks, and mom... studying Preach My Gospel like a good missionary mom! Daddy... I thought NC won. I hope you have a ton of success on the business trip and that it brings you a lot of growth as a company.

A mini missionary serves for a transfer and doesn´t have to pay a thing. She is thinking about serving a full time mission, but hasn´t gotten an answer yet. Boy do I remember that feeling. She would be an incredible missionary and I told her that frequently. I hope she chooses to serve, but I understand her desire to get married and have a family. It sounds so familiar and then I remember that they are the exact same words that I said for so many months. She now returns to her normal life of work and studying... she has a bunch of tests to take in July and after that she said she might put in her papers.

Mommy, I am pleased to announce that my Granuloma Ammulary is almost gone. I can´t see any on my ankles or feet and there is just a tiny bit on my left knee. It just gradually went away and I didn´t even notice it until you asked me about it and I examined my feet and thought "hmmph... it went away!"

Random stories:
For Easter the whole world here began revolving around chocolate eggs. All the Elders and Hermanas talk about them and buying them and how much they cost and every store offers chocolate eggs in all sizes. And I mean ALL sizes. I saw eggs as small as - well all the chocolate eggs in the states, but get this... I saw chocolate eggs as big as the tire on my (your) car. Not kidding. There are chocolate eggs so big that I couldn´t wrap my arms around it without putting pressure on it and crushing it. I swear - they take this chocolate egg thing to the EXTREME. And then they keep selling them after Easter - with no notable discount. I´m perplexed.

There is one sound that I will not miss after the mission and that is the deafening sound of a motorcycle that has one of those trumped up mufflers that makes so much noise that you can hear it 8 blocks away and all the while as it gets closer to you and the 8 blocks after it passes you. I swear... the teenagers and young men here will all be deaf before their time because of their motorcycles.

We live like 10 blocks away from the "comisería" and I can´t quite explain what that is. It´s not the court and it´s not juvenile detention, but it´s where a bunch of stuff happens and people go when they get robbed and they also bring the thieves there and they stay the night sometimes. It´s like a mini-jail. Kinda. It´s one block away from the chapel... funny, huh? We always invite people and say it´s a block away from the comisería and then they say "then I don´t want to go." Anyways... every once in a while we hear helicopters above us and in the area and we know that that means that a thief escaped the comisería and they´re searching for him. It´s a not-so-comforting sound, but it makes me laugh because I hear it and think "oh, another thief got away." But don´t worry... I tell you this so that you have another story to tell about all the adventures we face in Argentina.

It´s the norm: want to know what is normal here? Fanny packs. Yep... because people know that it´s harder for someone to rob your fanny pack. They look just as dorky when worn by Argentines but no one makes fun. Also they wear their backpacks in front like those pretend you´re pregnant packs. They also do this so that they don´t get attacked or robbed from behind. Again... it looks ridiculous, but you get used to it. Walking around looking like you are insanely paranoid... but hey, so is everyone else. I have yet to be robbed--that is robbed in person... they rob the packages you send me, but that just happens.

So I sent home my middle sized suitcase with a doctor named Thomas who lives in Arizona. His son, Chase, will be heading to BYU Provo in June and when he drives down - you will meet him somewhere and pick up my suitcase. Open it and remove the white shoe box which contains presents for you to have now...but don't touch anything else! It would totally spoil the surprise of it all. I´m sure you were already going to do this, but could you send him a thank-you card (and maybe a gift certificate to the Olive Garden or something for the gesture)? He was way nice and it was really cool for me to be able to get a bunch of stuff sent off. That will make the return home a little bit easier. Of course the day after he flew out with my suitcase I found in my closet the way worn out pair of Sketcher shoes that I wanted to bring home just to show you the soles of. I blew it... a perfect opportunity to send them off and I didn´t think of it. So... I´m going to keep carting them around and in 6 months if there is room in my suitcases, I will bring them home!

So I now need to buy another suitcase - but a soft one. Would you mind telling me what the girth is that is allowed for the middle suit case?

This week I got "bit" - nipped really, by a dog! It belongs to a less active we were visiting and it followed me nipping at my ankles and I thought to myself - "this dog is going to bite me. No, really, this dog is going to bite me" and then yep, "this dog bit me!" I yelled at it in "vos" (Spanish slang) and it left me alone. It didn´t penetrate the skin - thanks to the thick knee highs I was wearing. But did turn the skin white. I quickly washed it with my handy hand sanitizer and there was no harm done. I really barely felt it, but I can now say - " a dog bit me on the mission."

I kid you not... 20 minutes later we were walking down the street and from out of nowhere came this big dog charging at full speed right for us. With the sole motive of attacking us. I heard my companion scream and then she grabbed me and we were like hugging as it instantly was 3 feet away from us. I started yelling at it in "vos" again and the miracle that resulted was the obedience that the dog had, because in that second the owner called it and it left us alone and returned to the other side of the street and into the house. We were infinitely grateful! We were unharmed, but by now quite shaken by dogs. It was almost funny to me.

There is a law here that prohibits bread bakeries from selling bread on Monday because the bread-makers deserve a day off. It amazes me that they opted for Monday over Sunday. There really is very little respect for the Sabbath day here. All the panaderías (bread stores) and many of the heladerías (ice cream stores) are closed on Monday but work all Sunday long.

Well then... on Monday we had the transfer meeting and I waited quite anxiously to see what lie in store for me. We had 140 converts mission-wide this transfer which is great considering that it is the 2nd highest number the mission has ever had (last transfer we beat it with 179 – which is now the current mission record). I was glad to know that we are learning to maintain that kind of number and not just hit it once in a while. You may be thinking that we were 39 short and yes, that is significantly lower, but lots of times what happens is you have a transfer like 179 followed by a transfer of 63. So trust me, we were happy with 140.

As I said in the title – I´m still in Haedo 1 which was to be expected. My new companion is Hermana Mara DiStefano from Neuquen (now ken) Argentina and is about to hit 8 months. She came at the same time as Hermana Roy. I on the other hand will hit my year mark and 13 months this transfer and.... get to call home on Mother´s day! We don´t have any instructions about that yet, but I´ll keep you posted. You may expect basically the same deal – a conference call with the 4 of you for 40 minutes. I´m super excited for said phone call.

Hermana DiStefano is going to teach me a lot. Not only with Castellano and culture and stuff, but she is going to help me develop many other social skills. We both have really strong personalities and it was a surprise for everyone that we were put together because of that very reason. But I am determined to show everybody that 2 strong people can work together and get along and have a ton of success too. I´m excited and feel like we will do quite well together as long as we both go into this understanding this and how we need to compromise and stuff. We already had a talk about this and are determined to rock! It´s going to take some getting used to because I´m so “lights out at 10:30” and she´s a little more laid back. But she is willing to improve and I am willing to not demand perfection from her. However I need to continue to demand the most from myself. That is the key... that I don´t fall into pushing the rules. I´ll let you know how it goes. But I think that we will do quite well together. And even if it´s tough... it´s just 1 transfer because I´ll be hitting 6 months here and the President basically promised me that then I´m going elsewhere.

Pablo – didn´t show up to church this week and that was a big shock because he is a true man of his word. When he says he´s going to be there, he is... even when he is super sick. We will be finding out what happened soon. We tried to commit him to be baptized last Tuesday night, but he rejected the date.

Jose – we had kind of a charla franca ( frank talk... it doesn´t translate right. I know there´s a way to say this, but it´s not coming to me. It´s kind of like a DTR – define the relationship – but with investigating the church.) Anyways. He could be so close to getting it that I don´t want to give up on him. But at the same time, maybe he´ll just never see. It kills me because I have worked and struggled with him for 4 and a half months now and he has come so far.

Hugo and Carmen – are a couple we found the other day trying to visit their less active son. We are now teaching them. I feel really good about them. They came to the second and third hour of church on Sunday and we have an appointment with them tonight. Pray for them too.

We also found a great guy named Angel when I decided to knock a random door that had a no smoking sticker on it. He let us in, let us teach him and we are going to visit him and give him a Book of Mormon the next visit. He said that no book has ever filled the emptiness in him... this book will! I feel like he is a man that the Lord has sincerely prepared and that he led us to find. When I saw the sticker, I crossed the fence, went straight to the door and felt like the Spirit was pushing me to do it. It was cool. We have set a baptismal goal of 3 converts this transfer and I really want to reach it... and surpass it!

The Lotierzo boys aren´t progressing like I want them to. The youngest sat down in the Family Home Evening last night and listened... he had even read his pamphlet, but didn´t pray to know if it´s true. We challenged him to do that. The thing is that the gospel just doesn´t quite call them enough.

Anyways. Gotta run. We have nothing to eat and I´m hungry. I love you tons. Thanks for putting more money on my card. I bought you guys presents that you´re going to LOVE but I can´t tell you about them... it´s going to be a surprise for when I get back. I miss you, but know that we will be together again soon.

Oh what I have is called Rosasha (I have no idea how to spell it), but the mission doctor was at the meeting on Monday and he told me what it is and what cream I need to treat it with. He said I might have to do that for the rest of my life, but whatever... they said that about Granuloma too. I´m happy and I´ll get the cream today.

I love you sooo much.
Keep up all the great study and take care of your testimonies!

Hermana Jensen

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1 COMMENTS:

ajohns37 said...
Dear Familia Jensen, We love her fun descriptions. It helps bring Argentina and the mission alive. She has an amazing spirit and testimony. Hope all is well with you. Our favorite PMG chapter is #6 about developing Christlike attributes. We love and appreciate you and your little Hermana. Take care.
All our love, Familia Johns
APRIL 30, 2009 9:43 PM

Closin´The Transfer With The Mini

April 21, 2009

What a week. What a day, I am literally exhausted. We had a zone activity playing ultimate Frisbee, soccer and eating lunch and I am beat.

First of all... I tried to use Strawberries Romanoff as a tactic to get the teenage Lotierzo boys to stick around a sec for FHE last night. It didn´t work too well, but just a 'little part' of a maybe they´ll start giving us the time of day. It´s a drag to have to think of how you can bribe someone into listening to you....but it's part of the job. By the way, everyone loved the strawberries... it was a big hit in Argentina!

I´m super sad to see the mini go. She was a dream companion and I learned so much from her. Not only in Castellano and culture about Argentina, but we clicked so well. We have laughed so hard we cried. One such story represents just what happens to the mind when one thinks, breathes, eats, and sleeps missionary work:

The other day we were walking down the street and there was this way jungle-like tree with a bunch of vines and branches and stuff. She turned to me and asked "is this the kind of tree that Tarzan swung by?" And I said "no, I think they were softer." And then we looked at each other and burst out laughing because of the conversation we had just had! It was hilarious...maybe you just had to be there!

Then the other day I was helping her put a band-aid on her neck and I jokingly said "it doesn´t stick" and she said " you have to take the little papers off." and I said "no.... really?" It was so funny we laughed until we cried. We were pretty tired too.

Another thing she does that makes me laugh is ask me if certain things exist in the states. But they are always things that ARE FROM the states. For example, "Do you have McDonald´s in the states?" or "do you have Snickers in the states?" I always respond proud fully-- declaring that all of those things in fact come from the states.

News:
Dengue Fever is here... and in the very area where I am serving. I am being extra cautious with mosquitoes these days. I have no idea what the symptoms of Dengue are, but I can´t imagine that it would be any fun to get it.

I have had 2 dreams now that the President has sent me to some new and mysterious area in some “uncharted by Hermanas” territory. We´ll see what happens. After this next transfer... I´m outta here for sure!

Nata Jasa,
There was this little boy the other day in church that is about the same age and size as I imagine Davy is now and I almost cried as I watched him take the sacrament and manage his little cup of water with his little hands. I thought about how much I miss Davy and how it makes me sad to think that I am missing this stage of discovery and accomplishment in his little world. But, alas, this is where I need to be, and where I want to be.

Do you realize just how blessed we are to have the topical guide and bible dictionary at our disposal? Those don´t exist in any other language yet. They are just about to finish (in September) a new version of the Bible in Castellano with the chapter headings and foot notes and everything. It will be so cool for all the Spanish-speaking saints and missionaries. I can´t wait. Too bad I´ll get my hands on one just as I´m finishing the mission, but still. Anyways... the next time you are trying to find a scripture that says something about that one subject... and you look up the key word in the topical guide and find the reference in 24 seconds... think about just how great it is to have those amazingly helpful tools. Thank heavens I brought my English quad because I use the topical guide a ton.

We stopped by the chapel the other night when it was dark, cold, and no one wanted to let us in and we did service hours cleaning our church building. Let me just say that there was something in the bottom cupboard of the kitchen that smelled WORSE than the dead dogs here. We were both almost sick as we got it out and threw it away. It continued to reek for the next hour that we were there. You would have died if you had smelled it. I almost did.

Mom- could you put some money on my debit card for me? Thanks. It just so happens that I finally found an awesome store with a bunch of souvenirs and did a good part of my shopping last p-day. I will be communicating with the family going to the states soon and we´ll see if this suitcase thing is going to work out. I hope so, but if not, life goes on.

I shouldn´t have told you that my eye psoriasis went away because that very day it came back. It´s not nearly as bad as before because I keep using the cream, but it´s not completely cured yet. Í bought a multi-vitamin per instruction of Hermana Benton and she says that it is a deficiency of something. She is investigating what so that I can add it to my diet, but let me just say it.... what are the odds?

Random things that you see here that you would never see in the states:

A young teen-aged couple where the boy is riding a bike and his poor girlfriend is sitting on the handlebar reclining and resting her head against his body and her legs and feet are flying in the air in front of them. It´s ridiculous looking and I am always certain that she is going to fall and break her head open.

Also - you can fit a family of 4 on a moped... did you know?

One more... the stray dogs love to chase motorcycles, bikes, cars, and trains. They usually don´t mess with colectivos, but they sure love to bite at the tires of all the moving vehicles. I am always waiting to see one get run over, but so far it hasn´t happened. What really gets me is when they chase a train on the platform... like do they really think they are going to win against a train?

Speaking of trains... Hermana Barrera told me a true story the other day that has made me develop a fear of trains. Last year in Ramos Mejia (where we go every Monday for district meeting) she was on the platform of the train and like 30 meters away a woman was crossing the street (and the train tracks) and wasn´t paying attention. She was reading or something and must have been wearing headphones because she was hit by the speeding train headed her way and her body was suctioned up to her waist into the bottom part of the train. It dragged her along for the length of 2 or 3 train cars until it came to a stop. Hermana Barrera said she didn´t get a good look at her but said that it was incredibly horrible. I didn´t know trains could pull you down like the Titanic did. I would have thought it would have hit her and sent her flying in the opposite direction to land 20 yards away. So now every time a train comes I stand even further behind the yellow line. Don´t let that story scare you... I am way too paranoid to get hit by a train. And besides, we never wear headphones.... haha!

Story about the mini:
Her name is Barbara (Barbie) and since my name is Stacey we dressed up two of Yamila´s Barbies (like we would dress) and took pictures of the Barbie missionaries. We are the companionship of Barbies! It´s funny to us….so some day when I send home pictures of Barbies... you´ll understand why!

Mom and Nata - do "banana" hair clips exist in the states. They are plastic and you put your hair in there and close the tail part and it stays all nice and crimp free but out of your face-- and isn´t so tight that you get a headache either. You´ve got to give them a try. If they don´t exist tell me, and I´ll buy you a bunch and send them home. I´m totally hooked on them. That is another one of the wonderful things the mini taught me!

It´s cold enough again that I sleep in my sleeping bag every night with blankets on top. It´s like going camping in your own house. It´s nice because making your bed in the morning consists of straightening the sleeping bag and folding the loose blankets on top. You can´t go wrong. I am fond of it.

I am re-exploring the possibility that I just might, might have a parasite because I am eternally hungry and that is one of the things parasites do... they eat your food before your body can so you are starving again. Example. Yesterday we ate a very satisfying lunch at 1:30 pm. Then in the FHE at 7:45 pm I ate 3 pieces of pizza and a ton of strawberries Romanoff. At 2:30 am I woke up in utter pain - starving. I ate crackers and went back to bed. At 6:30 when the alarm went off... I was again... DYING of hunger pains. I couldn´t eat enough fast enough. What do you think?

I am super tired... I´m always like this the last week of the transfer. It´s truly a mystery that when you finish one you somehow find this new source of energy to start another one. It is astounding to me that I can crash onto the mattress one Sunday night and hop out of it Monday morning to find out who my next companion is and where I'm headed.

For the first time in over a month we finally found someone to teach. She is married and her husband is a member but inactive. She wants to be baptized, but not without his support and he doesn't want her to be. We are also teaching an agnostic man and I hope that he gets an answer soon that God exists and that this is His church. He has come to Sacrament Meeting for the last 2 Sundays and we are going to try and commit him to accept a baptismal date tonight... pray for us!

Another man we are teaching has read every strong and powerful chapter in the BOM about baptism but says that he just doesn´t feel that it is his destiny to become a member of the Church. He is a lot like the other guy we were teaching in October and November and December who was never baptized-- even though he had received a confirmation that the Church is true a bajillion times. The thing is he says that he´d have too many family problems if he joined the church. His wife is Catholic. We are working so hard with him hand in hand with the members and he always feels the spirit so strong and believes the BOM and Joseph Smith and everything but just doesn´t get how it all works together. He just needs to see for himself. I really have a feeling that he is close to getting there... he just needs to take a leap of faith. It´s just something that only he can do.

I miss you a bunch... I´m not too trunky, but every once in a while I think about how cool it would be to be able to take a nap and not think about how many contacts we have to do in the evening of p-day. And it would be cool to be able to go exploring in a mountain and dip my feet in some stream. I miss mountains.

I´m super happy and anxious to see what the next transfer holds. I am holding out my hopes that my next companion will be Hermana Pruner - because 2 days in the MTC just wasn´t enough. We want to be companions so much! I just hope I don´t train again (at least not for this coming transfer... I need a break) It´s demanding and it takes the energy right out of ya! But it is a great experience and a privilege to serve.

Daddy,
Who won March Madness? I think you told me who was in the final two... but who took it?

I love you tons and hope that you are super, super happy. Please keep our investigators in your prayers...

Love ya more than Abachoc ice cream!


Hermana Jensen

Motivational posters to discourage smoking

placques!

Ranch Dressing from home--a hot commodity

A daily planner-- where every 15 minutes is scheduled

Stake Activity

Representing the Telestial Kingdom

Something is definitely growing...

A take home meal

A Kiosco (front window of a home)

Representing the Celestial Kingdom

Pin the Angel Moroni on the Temple

Eating lunch in between sessions of General Conference

Napping in the house of a member

The last care package from home!

Fruit and Vegetable Market

11 Months out!

Service

Hermana Johns y Barrera

We ROCK!!

Happy Easter!

Andrea's Baptism

4

The Lotierzo Family

The Stacey Barbie (left)

The Barbara Barbie (right)

Dressed as they would choose!

These are all mine

Look at my cool hat

Souvenir shop

Now you see 'em ...

Now you don't!

Strawberries Romanoff--yumm!

Oeste Zone

Too tired to brush...

Cereal sold by the gram

2nd Sisters Conference

a cool tree

I'm not bossy!

The Centurion family

There are holes in my socks!!

The Zone Leaders with Stacey and Hermana Barrera

Presidente y Hermana Benton with Stacey and her companion

An abandoned... earlier robbed car