Monday, August 15, 2016

One Year Down!

August 15, 2016

Hey everyone!

Well I hit my year mark this week...so crazy to look back and see how fast it went. Now we're on the count down! It's been one of the best learning experiences I've ever had, full of funny stories and miracles.

Speaking of miracles we had such a sick miracle happen with Jim this week. We had a lesson scheduled at his house and I decided to just shoot him a text and see if we could switch it to the church. He's never been to the church so it was kind of a long shot but we decided to just send it. He replied super fast and said he had nothing going on so he'd meet us there. Well we show up to the lesson and he was already sitting in the chapel reading his Book of Mormon. Then he told us about this super spiritual experience he had as he was walking into the chapel. He had a super mellow day at the office which was unusual to him but it was nice. Then he showed up to the chapel an hour early and was a little nervous to be there. He walked down the hall all stressed and  anxious because it was new to him. Then he got to the chapel door and he stood there for a second and just tried to calm down but he couldn't. So he decided to just go into the chapel and read. The second he touched that chapel door handle he was just filled with this feeling of peace and he felt so at home. God has his hand in the work! He made this whole thing possible. He blessed Jim with a peaceful day and, then some how made it possible for Jim to get into the church because it was supposed to be locked at that time. But someone was there to let him in so he could get that personal spiritual witness that this is where God wants him and that he's on the right path. Jim has investigated for 2 years and lately he's come a long way. We also had Stake Conference this Sunday and Jim showed up to the 7:00 Priesthood session. That was his first time at church. That experience changed the game for him for sure!

So we met this awesome kid named Edwin last week during knock out and picked him up as a new investigator. He's 17 and is golden. We talked for a while about God and he said recently he's been trying to find out if God is real but he is struggling. So we talked about the Book of Mormon and bore our testimonies and told him it would help him find God. Well we came back this week and he had read some of it and loved it. He doesn't believe in coincidences and he's ran into lots of Mormons in his life and he's always liked them. Then we showed up at the perfect time...right when he was struggling to find God. He knows this wasn't just an accident that we crossed paths. There's only one problem. His parents are hard core Catholics and every time he tried to come to church they get real mad. So we're working on them slowly.

Ian came to church this week! We named him "stanky flakes Ian" because he would always flake out on us. But we did a church tour with him and he's been so solid ever sense...so we have to change his nick name haha. Ian came to the Saturday and Sunday sessions of Stake Conference and liked it a lot. He did say something super funny though that Elder Wade and I still laugh about. He said "Man that was a good meeting but I feel like you're atheists." Hahahah what? We are so far from atheist. He asked to be taught the lessons though so we're stoked!

Another highlight of the week is that we have the coolest service spot! We get to go to a Gibbon Conservatory and feed the Gibbon monkeys and stuff! They just swing around and like parkour in their habitats haha.

Here's a sad story for you. We were walking into wing stop to grab some lunch. Just a causal normal day. Well we walk into the store and turn the corner and BAM....the TV was eye level and it was golf highlights from the Olympics. My biggest weakness. Bubba Watson had a pretty sick eagle not gonna lie hahaha! That's all I saw though. Golf is Life!

Now here's a funny story. We knocked on this guys door and he opened it and started yelling and told us that if we didn't run he was gonna let his dog out on us hahaha! So I said "Oh awesome I love dogs!" So he got so mad and let his dog out and it was this tiny little dog so I just petted him and was like "Thanks for letting us see your dog bro!" then we peaced hahaha. He was sooo mad hahaha. Some people.

I love the new area! It feels a lot like Utah though haha. Love the companion and love the ward and people we serve! 

I don't have tons of time because now some of our email time is taken up by Zone Leader duties and spread sheets we have to fill.

Well I hope you all have a great week!

Elder Jensen

P.S. We decided to take knockout to the next level with this 100 degree weather so we bought some tanning lotion hahahaha!

Elder Wade at the Gibbon Conservatory

Me at the Gibbon Conservatory

Gibbon Conservatory mural.  Me and the monkeys!

Taking knock out to a whole new level.