Week 59 - Doing Puzzles is My New Passion

Last monday we had a great start to the week! We called some members to see if we could get some eggs from them (they have a ton of chickens).  And so when we went over, they were having dinner and invited us in, how nice is that?? But then when we were leaving they gave us a ton of groceries!! It was so freaking nice! We were in need of food too so it was a miracle.  There are so many amazing members in this area!  Oh the funny thing about that was that we never ended up getting the eggs though haha oh well.  Who needs eggs when they give you Nutella, am I right? 
One of my favorite parts of this week was the service that we did on Wednesday morning.  We went to a members house in a different ward with the Elders and helped them take apart and clean out a really old house trailer thing.  I'll send pics! it was pretty nasty actually but we found some good treasures and antiques in the process! It was a dumpster divers dream!
We are teaching a married couple named Stephanie and Jeremy and they are pretty amazing.  Jeremy found the gospel while he was in prison actually! He's read the Book of Mormon a few times and he LOVES the gospel. They both want to be baptized, but Jeremy is still working through some legal stuff and won't be able to be baptized for a couple of years probably.  Stephanie decided that she wanted to wait too so they could be baptized together.  But last week a miracle happened, she told us that they had been praying together and she wants to get baptized next month so that their family can receive those blessings now, sooner than later.  She knows that having the companionship of the Holy Ghost will bless not only her, but her whole family! Her date is October 27th! They find out the gender of their baby on Halloween and they asked us if we would be the ones to help them reveal the gender! How sweet is that?!
Good things are happening here in Ellensburg.  Sister Shinkle and I never stop laughing, and we started a new hobby this week! Puzzles! Seriously, all of our free time we used to do puzzles.  It was pretty funny. 
I spoke in church yesterday and my topic was how the Book of Mormon can change lives and how it has increased my own testimony of the Savior.  While I was preparing I read through President Nelsons conference talk from the past October called "The Book of Mormon: What Would Your Life Be Like Without It?" And I put together a list of how my life would be different.  He asks the question- "First, what would your life be like without the Book of Mormon? Second, what would you not know? And third, what would you not have?"
I encourage all of you to think about this and make a mental list.  It helps us to realize how precious the Book of Mormon really is.  I love it, and I know its true :)

Have a good week! September has FLOWN by.  CONFERENCE IS COMING OMGOODNESS! So pumped!

Love, Sister Jensen

I don't know what order these are in haha.  But heres pics of the demolition.  And us with our groceries from the Walkers.  And also some baby pigs.  Its kinda blurry but the baby pig was screaming haha.  Oh and a little boy put his Hulk mask on me.  Annnd a pic of our puzzle pieces all over the floor last night.  You know you have an issue when you start taking a photo shoot with a puzzle... lol.  

Sister Jensen Channels Her Inner Rapping Skills

Week 58 - MIRACLES FOR DAYSSSS

This week was one of the GREATEST WEEKS EVER! 
I am in Ellensburg now with my new companion, Sister Shinkle.  She is so great! She is a really easy going person, and super funny.  We were able to get along really quick.  And we laugh a lot, which yall know is important to me.  Since we cover two wards, we stay pretty busy.  I gave two prayers at church yesterday and was asked to bear my testimony in Sacrament meeting, and they already asked me to speak next week! Lol.  We are teaching a few people right now.  One is a 15 year old boy named De'Aaron.  I was able to meet him on Friday.  He is getting baptized in a couple of weeks! His is sooo funny! I freaking love him.So I was able to go to the temple on Tuesday for Josilyn to receive her endowment.  But on Monday night, our ride canceled on us! Sister Tenney and I were freaking out because how were we suppose to find a ride to spokane in such short notice? Especially because Spokane is about a 3 hour drive.  Luckily, earlier that day Brooke (Sister Wadman), who has gone home from her mission now, messaged us and said if we needed a ride, she would come get us.  We told her we already had a ride though.  But it worked out PERFECTLY because since our ride canceled, we called the Zone Leaders to make sure it would be okay if Brooke drove us.  She came and picked us up and I got to spend so many hours with her :') I think Heavenly Father knew I needed more than just an hour to catch up with her on life.  And she gave me way good advice for this time in my mission.  Its no wonder she was my trainer.  We talked the whoooole drive! It was fantastic.  And oh my goodness, being there in the temple with Josilyn for her first time was one of the most spiritual experiences I have had on my mission.  BUT WAIT THERES MORE! On Tuesday Josilyn and Zac asked if I could come to their sealing as well. Which would be pretty tricky because it was on Friday and Transfers were on Wednesday so I'd have one day to get permission from the President, and find a ride.  So all of Thursday Sister Shinkle and I were texting people asking if they could take us.  No joke, we asked around 60 people.  No one could! Brooke said she could come get us, but couldn't take us home because she was a bridesmaid.  So then we decided maybe we could see if someone could just come get us.  We hadn't even gotten permission yet! Permission came from the zone leaders around 10 pm on Thursday.  And at 10:45 we got a text that said a member was able to come pick us up!! So we called Brooke immediately and she said she would wake up super early so she had time to come get us.  Bless her heart.  IT WAS A MIRACLE.  But then Friday morning, we're on the road leaving when the Zone Leaders call... we knew it couldn't be good.  They said the AP's misunderstood my request and thought I was going for an endowment.  They said I couldn't go anymore.  But we were already on our way!! So they just told us to keep going.  Phew! And the Sealing was INCREDIBLE! I realized that I have been there for all of the covenants that Josilyn has made.  I don't think many missionaries get that privilege! And while in the temple I kept thinking, "this is what its all about!" As missionaries we invite people to be baptized.  But really, the goal is to create eternal families and receive the ordinances of exaltation.  There is nothing more important! The spirit was so strong I think I could've been knocked out of my chair.  It is for sure a day I will never forget.  It was a miracle to get a ride from Brooke both days, a miracle to get permission (even though it was misunderstood permission), a miracle that members were willing to drive 3 HOURS to Spokane AND back just to pick us up, and a miracle that we were already on the road when they called to tell us no, and a miracle that Josilyn and Zac are sealed for ETERNITY  Sorry for that long story.  Just thought I would throw in all of the details in there because wow.  What a week.On Wednesday when I got transferred to Ellensburg, I road in a shuttle to the Quincy sight.  But then I was told that I would be riding in the AP's truck to Ellensburg.  It was just me and two Elders... how awkward is that? you know you're a missionary when you feel uncomfortable without another girl in the car haha. Did I mention that Sister Shepherd is going to be in my zone now? She is my STL so I'll get to go on exchanges with her! I AM SO PUMPED!!Well, sorry this email was so long.  I don't know if yall even cared about those details.  Haha but they are important to me so I typed them all.  But thats all the stories I'll share for this week.  OH! My brother got engaged!! So big shout-out to him and Khalida! If you see him tell him congrats :')Also, I am praying lots for the fires going on, as I'm sure all of you are.  I'm sure that is really scary! Its times like this when we need to rely on our Savior the most to help us through these tumultuous times.  

I love you all!!
-Sister Jensen

1: Last FHE with the Wenatchee YSA2: Check out the slug I found while doing some yard work 3: I hiked Saddle Rock all the way to the top for my last P-day in Wenatchee4, 5, 6, 7: Josilyn's endowment day!8,9: Saying goodbye to the Cassiano family and Connie10, 11, 12, 13, 14: Josilyn's Wedding!!
14: A recent convert named Mike.  He is going to teach me how to play guitar!! :)
15: this was a remake of a picture that we took together almost a year ago!

Week 57 - Ellensburgggggg

I'm going to Ellensburg!

Transfer calls came on Saturday night and I found out I will be serving with Sister Shinkle in Ellensburg 1st and 3rd ward.  I am sad to leave, but I'm getting excited! Change is always an adventure. 
My District went to a mutual activity this week.  It was a Q&A with the missionaries.  They asked us things like, "how did you know you were suppose to go on a mission?" and they also asked for advice on how to prepare.  It was really fun! I don't know if the kids enjoyed it as much as I did haha.
We got to go to the temple on Saturday with Kimberly for her first time! The closest temples, Columbia River and Seattle, are both closed right now.  So we went to the Spokane temple! It was about a 3.5 hour drive and it made me appreciate how close I live to the Payson temple back home.  We had to leave at 4:15 a.m. to make it to our scheduled session.  It was so early!! Totally worth it though.  Its so incredible to see somebody make covenants with God, and then 2 weeks later she is helping others make covenants with him.  There was such a sweet spirit in the temple that day. Oh also, the boy that baptized us is named Bob.  He hasn't been a member for very long either! He got baptized last October. And guess what... we got to eat at CAFE RIO!! I haven't ate there since I left on my mission! It was glorious and I thought I could cry.
I get to go to the temple tomorrow too!! Josilyn is receiving her endowment.  Sister Wadman will be there too and I haven't seen her in so long! Its going to be a precious reunion haha. <3
I can't think of anything else to tell yall and I'm freaking hungry so I'm going to go get some lunch haha.  Oh yeah, my older brother turned 25 yesterday! Halfway to 50 lol.  If you see him, give him a hug for me! Happy Birthday bro. :) 

Send prayers my way that all of my stuff will fit in the suitcases again! 
Love, Sister Jensen

1: Julie is a recent convert in the YSA branch! Shes so sweet.
2: Kimberly, Sister Tenney, and I all got matching rings.  And we're all wearing our CTR rings :')
3-5: TEMPLE
6: CAFE RIOOOO

Week 56 - "I know John very well!"

Heyyy 

Exchanges were this week and I got to stay in Wenatchee with Sister Bastian.  We met one of the CRAZIEST people I've ever met on my mission.  He saw us coming so we didn't even have to knock on his door.  He opened right up and started talking to us.  At first the conversation was pretty normal.  he told us how much he loved our church and was invited to join once by missionaries.  Well then he starts saying how hes been around on this earth for a really long time, like thousands of years... then he pulled out a one dollar bill and pointed to the pyramid on it and told us he was there when they built it.  he told us we looked really familiar and he was pretty sure we were there too.  Oh and he says he knows John the Beloved really well! And that Lucifer is a good guy that has a machine to repair old bodies so that no one ever dies.  I can't even write all of the things he said because it would take too long.  But then after we left, he came out of his house and yelled for us down the street and came to tell us about some secret that we need to reveal to the world.  Something about energy levels dropping and the science test of life? I don't even know.  But I marked the Book of Mormon for him about the 3 Nephites.  I figured it might be something he would be interested in.  He might think he is a Prophet...  Then the night of exchanges there was a woman at the park that lost her social security card so we stopped to help her find it.  It worked out great because she only spoke spanish, but the STL I was on exchanges with speaks spanish! Things happen for a reason. We found the card!Oh and we met a 21 year old guy that is an intern pastor.  He was so cool!! Very respectful and let us share our beliefs with him, and he shared his with us.  He said we could come back any time.  This week we met a lot of people that were either super nice, or people that were.. not so nice.  Opposition in all things right? Saturday morning we went on a hike with the YSA branch.  Only two members came so it was mostly missionaries hiking but it was still fun! We cleaned the church right before and ate some waffles.  I'll send some pics!Transfer calls happen on Saturday so I'll have all the transfer deets next week! Sorry this is short and kinda lame but I've gotta go.  My zone is going hiking today! I think the same hike I did on Saturday... oh well.   

LOVE YOU ALL! 

-Sister Jensen 

Here is a bunch of pics from the hike on Saturday! Oh and a note that a lady left for us in the Book of Mormon that she left on her porch.  Just another day in the life of a missionary :')