Week 55 - KIMBERLY WAS BAPTIZED!!!

Today is Tuesday.  Obviously.  Haha they switched our P-day since we had Zone conference yesterday! Elder Klebengat came to the mission so we had to adjust the week to make sure we could meet with him before he left.  

Right now our teaching pool is very slim...we are teaching one person consistently.  We were teaching a few others but none of them were ready to make commitments so we just told them to call us when they were ready.  So right now we are searching for people! Its a really hard part of missionary work so its a little rough sometimes haha.  But I feel like great things are about to happen. 

But on the bright side... Kimberly got baptized on Saturday!! It was such a special day.  Kimberly was glowing! It was the happiest that I have ever seen her and she texted us that night telling us how happy and good she felt.  There is nothing like the feeling of watching somebody you love be baptized! Its crazy to think that an ordinance that takes maybe one minute can mean so much for eternity.  

Zone Conference yesterday was SO SO GOOD! Elder Kelbengat of the Seventy was there and he is awesome.  He is a very blunt person, and sometimes harsh.  So at first I was like dang this guy is savage! But hes such a great person! He teaches with such power and I don't think I've ever learned so much in one day.  At lunch time Sister Tenney and I were the first to sit down, and he came and sat at our table! I was a little intimidated haha.  He was hilarious though! He was talking about how he listens to music in the morning while he gets ready so I asked what music he listened to and he pulled out his Playlist from that morning and read it to us.  The first one was Death Cab for Cutie, and another one was Imagine Dragons.  I don't remember the others.  But he is just a normal guy! He only gets to go to his own home ward about every 4 months he said.  Sad, huh? I'm super grateful that he gives up so much of his time for the church.  That would be a hard thing to do. I would type some things he taught us but there was  so much... so I'll save that all for when I'm home.  Hahah unless you really want to know then you can email me and I'll give you all of the scripture references.  I loved how he gave a scripture reference for everything he taught.   Its all in the scriptures!

I'll share something that I read in my scriptures this week though.  So I was reading in Mosiah 27 and verse 14 talks about how the angel appeared to Alma because of his fathers prayers.  Sometimes I feel like my prayers for others don't make a difference because we don't always see the fruits.  But This verse talks about how God answered the prayer of his faithful servant! So I learned that when we pray for others in faith, God hears those prayers, and they do make a difference.  I thought it was pretty neat.  :)

Tender mercy of the day: We went to Jimmy Johns and they gave us our sandwich for free! How nice is that?! i love food. But when its free its even better, am I right? #Blessings #TheChurchIsTrue

LOVE YOU!!! Oh also shoutout to Hoontaloss whose 18th Birthday was last week! Such a cutie.  

Love, Sister Jensen

Pics:

I actually don't know what order they're in.. haha.  But theres a pic from getting frozen yogurt with Kimberly.  And a couple from they day of zone conference.  I got to see Sister Pugh from Ephrata and I was so excited!! I was jumping up and down haha.  

And of course pics from the Baptism.  i don't know what Kim was laughing at, but it must have been funny haha! Oh and I finished the Book of Mormon again so heres a saucy pic taken after the Baptism.

Week 54 - Just Tryna Keep the Smoke Away

Guess what? I'm gonna be rocking a face mask this week! 

The air conditions here are pretty awful.  President Jackman has asked us not to go tracting and not to have door-step conversations with people.  And when we are outside, we are suppose to wear a mask.  But if we start having a cough, or itchy eyes, then we have to stay inside.  Hopefully it clears up soon... but I heard someone say it'll be like this until October :(

Kimberly is still getting baptized on Saturday!!! And we already scheduled a day to go to the temple with her to do baptisms for her first time! Yesterday at church she really got along with everyone and seemed to make a lot of new friends.  In Sacrament meeting they announced her baptism and then the high councilmen that spoke TOTALLY singled her out and talked at her for about 5 minutes about how much she had impacted his life that day (he had never met her before).  He even started crying! I think Kimberly was a little embarrassed but she took it like a champ.  And then afterwards, the High councilmen went over to her and said he was going to come to her baptism.  He was such a nice man.

I got to have my first interview with President Jackman this week! It went well.  He just asked me about my family and things that I liked to do before my mission.  Like I've said before, he doesn't really talk much.  He's a quiet man.  But I usually have quite a bit to say so it worked out just fine hahah.  I got to sit down and talk with Sister Jackman again too.  When they first got there, she was pretty demanding about moving the chairs from the foyer into the interview because she wanted the comfortable chairs.  President told her no but she did it anyways.  He seemed a little annoyed and it was really funny! Dang shes spunky lol.  

Another exciting thing, there's a lady in the hospital that keeps calling us and wants us to come break her out.  We sure do love her, but we have to keep telling her that we can't take her out of the hospital.  Life as a missionary is full of so many random experiences! Ya just never know what will happen next!

LOVES!

-Sister Jensen

1: I was teaching Julie how to use the footnotes and Sister Tenney took a pic haha

2: Mirror pic

3:Rocking my new mask

4: We roasted marshmallows in a members oven for dessert the other day!

Week 53 - Satanic Spider or Bedbugs?

What do you call a nun with insomnia? A Roman Catholic.  Hahah some guy we tracted into was telling us a lot of random jokes and this is one I remember.  Except I don't know if Insomnia was the word he used.  So forgive me if that is incorrect.  Funny though, right? 
Last Monday remember how Kimberly wanted to set a baptism date? Well we went over that night and asked her when she was thinking she wanted to be baptized and her response was, "I was thinking next wednesday".   Hahah we weren't expecting that! We talked more about the lessons we need to go through first and we decided with her on August 25.  She is so excited!! We taught her the Word of Wisdom this week and she so willingly accepted it.  Its crazy how prepared she is for the gospel.
Wednesday was CRAZY! Get this.  So on Tuesday morning I woke up with bites all over my body.  They were pretty itchy but I didn't think too much of it.  Well I woke up Wednesday and they were pretty swollen.  I assumed it was mosquitos but Sister Tenney didn't have any bites which was odd.  Well I decided to send the mission nurse pictures and she called and told me it was either a spider, or bed-bugs! I almost threw up!! It really freaked me out because I was in a lesson a couple weeks ago in a house that I'm pretty sure had bed bugs.... sooo.  Sister Shilling, the nurse, wanted me to wash EVERYTHING! All of our bedding, and our clothes.  We couldn't see any sign of bed-bugs but she wanted us to take precautions.  It was pretty rough because we don't even have a washing machine.  Lol we made the Elders let us use theirs.  I don't think they were fond of the idea because they didn't want us to bring bedbugs into their apartment.  But they were Christ-like and let it slide.  The worst part though is that it was mini missionary day! So we had a 17 year old girl with us all of Wednesday named Ginny.  She was so sweet and super cute! But it was probably a crazy day for her with doing laundry on top of all the missionary work haha. In the end, we have come to the conclusion that it was a giant Satanic spider in my bed. 
I don't know if they do the mini missionary in Utah but its this legit program where youth can spend a day in the life of a missionary.  Ginny told us she wanted to serve a mission one day so hopefully spending a day with us didn't change her mind! I think she had a good experience! Other than the bed-bug incident :')  I was worried about tracting because she was just so sweet that I didn't want anyone to open the door and be mean to us.  I didn't want her to have to go through that haha.  Soo I prayed a lot that people would be nice to us and the second door we knocked on let us right inside! The ladies name was Leah and she talked to us for a while and invited us back over this week :) Prayers are answered!
The air here is REALLY smokey.   I'm wondering if they're going to make us wear masks outside soon.  Hopefully it will rain or something cause the smoke is really crampin my style, ya feel? But its okay, the work goes on either way!
Ohhhh and guess what! IVE BEEN A MISSIONARY FOR A YEAR! Can you believe that?? Its weird because I feel like I'm the same person that I was when I left, but different at the same time.  I have grown such a deeper love for the scriptures and for the gospel.  And my relationship with the Savior has definitely grown stronger.  I've been able to see that the Gospel is what brings true and lasting happiness! I wouldn't trade this last year that I've had as a missionary for anything.  I always think to myself, dang.  I really needed this mission probably way more than the mission needed me.   

I am so happy.  And I know its because I'm sharing the happiest message that there is.  :)
LOVE YOU!!!-Sister Jensen

 1: bug bitessss.  They were like this on my ankles and legs too :( 

2&3: mini missionary! 

4:We wanted to take a picture riding this dinosaur at the park but since I was in a dress it turned out stupid :/ haha 

5: I just thought the name of the place was funny haha. 

6: This was taken when it was dark outside obviously but all three of us hit our yearmark on the same day! So we got party hats and balloons! 

7: Today at Target <3

Week 52 - Back on Track to Becoming a Mormon

Yo yo yo!
Lemme give you the run down.Monday, Tuesday, and half of Wednesday I was in a tripan with some other sisters.  It was pretty fun! Tracting in a tripan is always kinda weird.  I still feel like it looks like we are caroling on peoples porches...We did yard work on Tuesday and Wednesday morning.  Its been super duper hot.  I heard tomorrow is suppose to be 108! Thank goodness for Air Conditioning Sister Tenney got here on Wednesday and she is so fun! We've been reminiscing on our days in the MTC together haha.  Such good times.  Seriously, I have been SO lucky in the companion department.  All of my companions have been BOMB! I love all of the new friends I'm making.
Kimberly texted us last week and asked if we could come meet with her! She bought us pizza and we talked for a little while about the Book of Mormon and how we come to know that it was true.  We haven't seen her in a while due to some doubts she had about being "good enough".  But she said she wants to get "back on track to becoming a Mormon".  She is so cool!!! And a couple hours ago, she texted us to see if we could see her tonight so she could choose a day to get baptized! Like, What?? That doesn't happen to us very often haha! I am so excited for her!!! She is so freaking awesome.  
That has probably been the most exciting part of the week other than trying to figure out where all of the one way streets are.  I hate driving in Wenatchee.  One-ways are so dumb... but its okay.  I'm figuring it out haha! Oh also our friend Natalie invited us over to pick blackberries from her backyard and we have SO many!! We've been sharing with other missionaries. I'll send a pic! 
I was reading in 3 Nephi the other day and chapter 2:1 stuck out to me.  Nephi had prophesied to the people about the coming of Christ and the signs of his birth.  After the people saw the signs that he had said would come, a lot of them were converted and had super strong faith.  But after a while, a lot of them fell away. Verse 1 says, "and the people began to forget those signs and wonders which they had heard, and began to be less and less astonished at a sign or a wonder from heaven, insomuch that they began to be hard in their hearts, and blind in their minds, and began to disbelieve all wich they had heard and seen".It made me think about the spiritual experiences I've had in my life and how important it is to remember those experiences.  Sometimes we may go through a time where we don't receive immediate answers or maybe feel like God isn't as near.  But thats when its important to rely upon the experiences that we HAVE had.  And remember the times that the Holy Ghost has spoken to us.  Don't become less astonished with the wonders from heaven.  Always REMEMBER :)
Thats about it.  I have some pictures that I forgot to send last week that I'm gonna send today.  LOVE YA!

-Sister Jensen

More pics from the hike last week and a pic from Sister Baggetts "funeral". Lol.  I don't have pics with Sis. Tenney yet but there will be some next week! Heres a vid of us picking her up though haha.  Oh and a squad pic after morning workouts.  

Week 51 - Coming Soon: Sister Tenney

Heyyyy! 
I found out who my new companion is going to be!.... Sister Tenney! Sister Tenney and I were in the MTC together and shared a room so I already know her pretty well.  I think her and I will get along really great! Shes super super kind.  Shes from Arizona, but I don't remember where.  She'll be coming here from Goldendale on Wednesday.  Sister Baggett leaves today to go to the mission home, so I'll be in a tri-pan with the other sisters in the zone until Wednesday.  
This week was super full of service.   And it was blazing hot outside which made it memorable.  We probably helped about 3 different people move.  One thing I know for sure, if I ever move in the future, I'm calling missionaries.  Free professional moving service, ya know? Well not professional.. but pretty close.  ;) 
Lol one lady we helped wasn't a member and afterwards she wanted to take us out to lunch.  She was hilarious! I think she liked us too because after lunch she said, "if you ever need someone to visit, my door is always open!" but then she added..."You'll never make me a mormon. But I like to visit with ya." I kinda laughed and said, "yeah we get that a lot".  But you never know what can happen! You better believe we're gonna go visit her again.  
I learned some quality life skills this week while doing service.  We helped a lady change the oil in her car.  Well, I guess we didn't really help but we watched an Elder do it and he taught us how.  The same lady also has honey bees and showed us how it works and all that cool jazz.  I think I want to get some Honey Bees when I get home!
The YSA activity on Saturday was CRAZY!! We played twister but there was colored shaving cream on the twister mat.  It ended up being a shaving cream fight and I think I can still feel shaving cream in my hair, even after washing it... I was hoping it would be a good moisturizing treatment, but guess not.  There was a girl there named Monse that the spanish sisters are teaching and they'll be passing her off to us soon so we get to start teaching her! she was super sweet.  Her parents were baptized not too long ago, but she decided not to be because she wasn't sure how she felt about it. But she has decided to figure it out for herself and take the lessons.  
Remember Kimberly? Shes another girl in YSA that we were teaching but we haven't been able to see her in a really long time.  She showed up at church yesterday! Miracles!
Saying goodbye to sister Bagget was so sad!! We've become best friends.  I'm excited for her though.  
Thats about all for this week.  I've gotta go clean my apartment for Sister Tenney! Love you all!! Have a good week :)

Love, Sister Jensen 

Pics from our hike last p-day and Leavenworth.  Saying goodbye to Sister Baggett and E. Palacios.  And a pic from the shaving cream fight. 

  

Week 50 - Goathead Warriors

Dear Fam bam, 

We did some pretty fun service this week! On Tuesday we helped a family move. So we were packing boxes and furniture onto a truck and then unloading them at a storage shed. They bought us pizza after which was pretty bomb diggity. Then on Wednesday half of our zone helped with a community project called "Goathead Warriors". There's this man named Doug and he is VERY passionate about making Wenatchee a Goathead free city. He even started crying as he was telling us about why he does this. He hates that people can't ride their bikes down the sidewalks without getting a flat tire. His goal is to have zero goathead plants in Wenatchee in the next 5 years. Sooo what we did was we all took a few streets in South Wenatchee and took some shovels and garbage bags and we walked around looking for goathead plants. Lol it was probably the most unique service I have done on my mission. But the people that saw us doing it came up and talked to us and told us how grateful they were! Speaking of unique service, did I ever tell y'all about the time this lady we didn't know randomly called us and asked us to come do her laundry? Haha it was so funny. We went and did her laundry for her though! There are always ways to serve people :) 

There is a couple in our area that are not members, but they have a son out on a mission right now.  They invited us over for dinner and we got to know them super well.  They are so awesome!! Sweetest people EVER.  They came to church on Sunday too! We're praying that they'll let us come back to teach them haha.

There was a ward party on Saturday.  It was a Pioneer Picnic.  We had invited these two older ladies named Kay and Velma and they ended up coming!  We've met with them twice but both times its mostly just sharing our testimonies with each other.  They are very religious women and to be honest I think they're trying to convert us to their faith... so we just keep sharing Book of Mormon verses with them.  Its really cool because we'll share a Book of Mormon verse with them and then Kay will say, "oh that reminds me of a verse in the bible!" I don't think she even realizes it, but shes putting it together that the Book of Mormon and the Bible go hand in hand.  

Oh yeah I learned how to make buck-eye balls this week! An investigator taught me how.  Its basically just a ball of sugar and peanut butter dipped in chocolate... so its incredible.

Transfer calls are this Saturday! So i'll let yall know whats going down next week.  I gotta go, we're going to go hiking down in Leavenworth! Bye for now!

Love, Sister Jensen

Unloading the truck, eating some ice-cream, and the Goathead Warrior Crew

Week 49 - Catfished

I can't believe it's already Monday! Weeks go by soo fast.
Our week started with exchanges with the STL's on Tuesday. I got to be with Hermana Falla and stay in my area. We had a lot of fun together! Not a lot of people opened their doors for us sadly.. But we got to go do some service for sister Donaghy in the ward. They were moving so we helped clean the house. I cleaned all the carpets! So that was fun haha.
We had zone conference on Thursday. The theme was about our missionary purpose and how we can focus more on it. I'm sure some of you saw the pics on the mission Facebook page. Hahah I look really bored in a lot of them, but I promise she just took the pictures at the wrong time! My buddy next to me though, Elder Spitzer, he was falling asleep like the whole time. I really wish she would've taken a picture of that haha.
My favorite part of the week was meeting with a lady named Terri. She is a less-active that came to church on Sunday. She got baptized when she was 15 but hasn't come to church since. It's been 40 years since then! Her daughter is a member and also got baptized at 15 after meeting missionaries. Terri has had a lot of experiences that have led her to come back to church. Her daughter has been a good influence on her, and God has softened her heart over the years. When we met with her on Friday morning she told us all about why she's coming to church and wanting to learn about this. It was just amazing to see her sincere desire to embrace the gospel! I felt like Heavenly Father was jumping up and down with joy and excitement that one of his children was coming back :)
She doesn't remember all of the doctrine so we're going to go through all of the lessons with her like we would with an investigator. Terri is a prime example of why we never give up on people. It took 40 years for her to come back, but she did!
Also, one of our recent converts was engaged to somebody that she had met online.  Well, Sister Baggett and I were suspicious of it so we looked up the person on Facebook.  We found out that it was fake and she was being scammed.  She had never met the person face-to-face, and hadn't even talked to them on the phone.  We talked to the Bishop about it because we had reasons to think that she was sending money to the person.  Well, they wanted us to go over and tell her and show her the evidence.  She was heartbroken.  The worse part, she had the persons name tattooed on her arm! So now she has to figure out how to cover that up.. I guess moral of the story, don't be stupid online.  This is the second person I've taught that has been scammed on Facebook.  I knew it was a real thing, but didn't know it was so common.  So sad.  Be careful everyone haha! And don't get strangers names tattooed on you lol.
Only two weeks until Sister Baggett goes home.  Its weird because sometimes I'm a little jealous like, dang seeing my family would be great right now.  But other times I'm like, "sucker!!! You don't get to stay and be a missionary any more!!"  I'm sure shes having some weird feelings about it haha. 
Well gotta go! Have a good week! Heres some pics.  We toured the Rocky Reach Dam last week and the Salmon were passing through! That was pretty neat. 
Sister Baggett and I got some matching P-day shirts.  And look how huge this dog is!! Its an Irish Wolf Hound.  I look really happy but it was actually kind of scary haha.

Love, Sister Jensen