Yak'in in Yakima : The Dreaded First Week.... Week 1

Well, we finally heard from Camri. She is doing great. I asked her how her knee was and what were some of her other challenges. Here is her response, "My knees doing good. I haven't noticed it too much. My branch president asked me about it and he seemed concerned but I assured him that I would take care of myself. I played volleyball yesterday and just tried to stand in one spot. It's good though. Hmmmm my biggest challenge has probably been getting up early. If I go to sleep at exactly 10:30 I get 8 hours of sleep. And after sitting in class, my brain just gets tired."
Here is the group email she wanted us to send out this week. Notice the subject line. hahaha. We also received a few other emails throughout the day. She had me laughing out loud several times. She told me at the end of the day that she had to go to choir practice. She wanted us to know that she joined the MTC Choir. She also said it may be the only choir she ever gets in. she told me that she sleeps in the top bunk and it "sucks". She is going to be a tour guide tomorrow (Wednesday) at the MTC open house. Her shift is from 2:30-6:30. She told me that we were not allowed. However, if any of you are going, make sure to get some pics. We have attached a few pictures in this email. We will also have some on her blog (thanks Rachel). http://sisterjenseninyakima.blogspot.com/

Thank you all for your support in getting Camri on her mission.

Hey fam!
Hope everything's going great in life. The MTC is such a unique place! I'm busy like all the time. And everyday feels like Sunday! The spirit is so strong here though and I love it! After getting to the MTC I got my name tag and was super stoked!!! Then I met my companion, sister Facey. She's incredible and I love her so much! She's from California and she's going to be serving in the Orem Utah mission (poor girl). Lol. I wish I could take her to Yakima with me so bad! It's strange that we got put together and are going different places because most companionships aren't like that. But I'm so blessed that I ended up with her. :') hahahah so funny story.... she's Polynesian. And I asked her if she was. And she was like yeah I'm Samoan. Did you guys know Tongans and Samoans are both Polynesians!? Hahahah I'm the dumbest. I thought they were all separate things. So I was like... wait so you're a Samoan Polynesian? She got a good laugh out of it. And I came to the conclusion that I'm English Caucasian. Oh the things I've learned. She also told me how to tell the difference between Tongan and Samoan. It has to do with their noses. So when we pass one, she quizzes me. And I've gotten good at telling the difference 😂 Here's a recap of my week: everyday I sit in class for 6 hours. But
it's split in half. I get an hour of exercise time a day and so we usually go play volleyball or spikeball with our district. I teach TRC's twice a day. Which is actually teaching investigators. Some of them are just members acting though. I know one of mine is a member cause I saw her G's. lol. But the other lady, I'm almost positive she's really an investigator. But it's tough because she wants doctrine to back up everything we say. For example "god knows us individually" or "Jesus Christ suffered for more than just your sins" she wants us to have doctrine from the Book of Mormon to prove it. Or, another thing, when she read the first Vision, she pointed out that Joseph smith didn't say he saw god. He says he saw two personages and one spake to the other saying this is my beloved son. So she was like, is this what your basing your knowledge off of saying that he saw god? I never noticed that Joseph smith never says he saw god. And I was like uhhhhhh. But she's super sweet and I love her lots. And she's teaching me things by me teaching her things. I've been studying my butt off though trying to find doctrine for her hahah. My district is great! They're who I have class with everyday. Most of them are serving in the Orem mission or Salt Lake City. Me and the two other sisters are going to Yakima. Sister fox and sister Tenney. The other Yakima missionaries are in my zone but a different district. I'll post a pic of my district. There's been a little contention between the elders last night though because they all want to be the alpha male. So that's annoying. Buuuut it's okay. We love each other. It's so weird how easy it is to love people here. I've realized that

when we are loving Heavenly Father and our savior Jesus Christ, loving others becomes easy.

I saw Sister Stephens a few times! (Liza) and I've also seen Kenton boothe and Tyler Batty. It's so fun seeing people I know. Oh! And I've seen some friends going through the MTC tour. Haha those people all

look at us like we're zoo animals it's so great. I get to guide the tour tomorrow and I'm so super excited to talk to all the people that aren't missionaries! I saw Bailey Jensen going through the tour. I started jumping up and down waving my arms I was so excited! What a cutie she is :')

GUESS WHAT. Elder M. Russel Ballard came and gave a devotional on Sunday night. Hes so cute. His message was pretty much: don't flirt while on the mission. Because it's a big problem I guess. So we gotta

lock our hearts up. And then! We watched a video of Elder Bednars talk "The Character of Christ". The talk hasn't been released to the public so only missionaries watch it. ITS AMAZING. Something that stuck out

to me was "learn of Christ- not about him- but of him". And that's something I've been pondering since then. Christ always turned outwards to others when the natural man turns inwards. There are so many examples in the scriptures that show him doing that. Here's been some of the hardest parts of my mission: waking up at 6:30

everyday. The first morning when my alarm clock went off I was like what the freak am I doing with my life?! But it's getting easier everyday. Haha I've had blisters on my heels since day 2. The other sisters in my district do too. I ripped a little hole in one of my dresses when I got stuck on a bathroom door hinge. I've hit my head on

this shelf in my room like 3 times but it gets funnier every time! Oh I didn't wash one of my towels before using it. So the towel lint sticks to me and it stays on me like all day long ugh. The food here isn't bad. But I think I'm already gaining weight because I eat a ton and then just sit in a classroom haha it's not a good thing for your

health. Ummmm another thing is that one of my roommates... I won't name names.... likes to sing in a super high pitched Snow White voice late at night. And I just can't deal. But it's fine because I love her so I guess I'll get over it. But that's all the things I can think of that haven't been great. Everything else here is awesome! There's an Elder in my district named Elder Lewis. He's from Alabama and his southern accent is hard core! Hahahaha it absolutely kills me. He says a bunch of really funny junk. So I'd just like to share some of it. He likes to use the phrase "that's just silly" or "that's goofy" or "that's absurd" but say those in a southern accent and you'll understand why it's funny. He keeps telling me "Sister Jensen I'm not a very spiritual man. They keep trying to change what's in here (pointing at his head) but that's just silly and it ain't gonna happen" when he says "I'm not a very spiritual man" it reminds me of Forest Gump for some reason.... anyways. He just keeps all of us entertained. Wish you could all here his accent. Oh that reminds me. Sister Facey told me I have an accent... and I wasn't even trying to do one of my accents! She said it's a Utahn accent whatever the freak that means. I'm so sorry this email is so long! Thanks to whoever actually reaches the end of it :') So much happens here and I wish I could share all of these experiences with everyone. And I wish you could all meet these amazing people that

I've met! Here's a scripture that I loved from this week! It's 3 Nephi 13:31-34. I ain't gonna type it so look it up. But it basically says Heavenly Father knows your needs. He's aware of us. And so if we are righteous, we have no reason to worry. He will take care of us :) I love all of you and would love to hear from you! I have an iPad while in the MTC so I can get emails any day of the week! Just can't reply until Tuesday. Also, if you go to dearelder.com you can write a letter that will be delivered that same day! I know y'all are busy. But if you get bored, think of me :') have a good week! Be good.

-Sister Jensen ❤️❤️❤️

This is my district. I'll go from left to right. Elder Merrick (doesn't talk too much and doesn't get my sarcasm. I think I freak him out), Elder Johnson (he's a recent convert and is the only member in his family. His family hates the church. When he bears his testimony... Holy. He's awesome), Elder Franchino (his first name is

Luigi which I enjoy haha), Elder Lewis (funniest kid ever! "One thing I do know is that you can't make chicken soup out of chicken poop. No matter how hard you try."), Elder Holland (District leader. He accidentally shaved his mole off because he didn't use shaving cream or a mirror... everyone has their hobbies I guess), Elder Clarke

(Talks a lot and talks loud), Elder Dow (Mr Sassy pants but you'd never know it until he starts feeling comfortable around you), and Elder Anderson (The quiet one. Probably one of the most mature. But is particular about his hair I've noticed). And then there's me, sister Facey, Sister Fox (She's allergic to perfume so I can't spray it in our room :/ ) and Sister Tenney (Sweetest little thing ever. She apologizes for anything and everything Haha)