Wednesday, May 10, 2017

It's already May but it feels like August!

May 8, 2017

Hey everyone! It's already May but it feels like August! It sure has been hot around here, I can only imagine the summer again...we had a lot of meetings this week, so sadly proselyting time was down.

Tuesday was interview day. My interview was pretty different than usual. President ran a few things on the transfer board by me and asked for a few suggestions about what to do with certain missionaries and certain areas. Then after that he just showed me pictures of missionaries from our mission that were engaged already. So yeah haha...we kinda just caught up for a few minutes. We also got to sit with Sister Henrie all day while President Henrie does all the interviews and I'm positive she was sick of all of Elder Martin's and my dumb jokes. We also went to lunch with them and then had to run off on an emergency to pick up some Elders with a flat tire on their car.

Wednesday was Mission Leadership Council (MLC). We hit Wendy's on the way up, and then were there, being trained and uplifted. The Church came out saying no more "Zone Training's" which was usually in the place of the District Meeting following MLC. So we no longer get to train the zone as a whole, but this info still needs to be passed to the missionaries, so instead, in our mission, the Zone Leaders bounce from every District Meeting, and give a 15-30 minute training. And that will be every week. So that's different, but it'll be good. We didn't get back into our valley and area, until 6:30, which was our dinner time with a member. We hit California Pizza Kitchen, which has some dang good pizzas. We visited some potentials, and knocked a little as well.

Thursday we had district meeting, but we bounced between them, and did training's in them. Hopefully it'll be for the good, and work well in our areas. Elder Martini and I have such chemistry, that makes teaching and training with one another super smooth allowing for the Spirit to teach, and not choppy.

We had a lesson with Mary Anne, and just answered final questions, and got her prepared for her baptism. We practiced what she would do during the ordinance so that she wouldn't have to get dunked more than once and it payed off. The baptism went so smooth on Saturday and was just a great Baptismal service!  But as it turns out, the baptismal font coordinator, booked 3 baptisms all within an hour and a half of each other. He said we gave him the wrong time for ours, but when we reminded him, why we had that time , he remembered, and told us to figure something out with the other wards who were child on record baptisms. It was very stressful, but it ended up being good. We were able to get it all situated, and make for a spiritual experience for Mary Anne.  A couple months ago, missionaries took her to see a baptism of someone in the ward, and a video was shown that answered the basic questions about the Church and talked about some of the amazing things we do around the world. She really liked it and asked us to show it at her baptism for the sake of her kids. So we did. Her kids really enjoyed it, and so did the Stake President. Our Stake President brought up our baptism, and decided to talk about missionary work. He showed the video that we did at the baptism during Stake Conference, and talked about how all members need to work a little harder and spread the Gospel. Being a little better than just a good example. It was really good!

We had dinner at the Waldman's this week and they live in Hidden Hills. Elder Martin took me on a little tour so I could see Drake's house (Yolo Estate),  Adele's house and a few others. Pretty cool area!

We are hopefully going to have another baptism coming up soon for Tabatha Mills. We have such amazing lessons with her every week and she knows it's all true but something is still holding her back. We are praying that we will be able to help her get over the hump and make this commitment with her Heavenly Father that will bless her life forever.

It was a great week! I hope it was for you as well. I would just like to share a couple of the Scriptures that Sister shared that helped her, as well as some quotes.

Isiah 41:10;13
Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.

Jacob 3:1 
But behold, I, Jacob, would speak unto you that are pure in heart. Look unto God with firmness of mind, and pray unto him with exceeding faith, and he will console you in your afflictions, and he will plead your cause, and send down justice upon those who seek your destruction.

D&C 6:20;36
Behold, thou art Oliver, and I have spoken unto thee because of thy desires; therefore treasure up these words in thy heart. Be faithful and diligent in keeping the commandments of God, and I will encircle thee in the arms of my love.

Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not.

D&C 121:7-8
My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment;

And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes.

D&C 122:7
And if thou shouldst be cast into the pit, or into the hands of murderers, and the sentence of death passed upon thee; if thou be cast into the deep; if the billowing surge conspire against thee; if fierce winds become thine enemy; if the heavens gather blackness, and all the elements combine to hedge up the way; and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good.


"If you feel the Lord has given us a long list of things to do, it's probably because you aren't doing them." -Stake President Grasteit

“Who is righteous? Anyone who is repenting. No matter how bad he has been, if he is repenting he is a righteous man. There is hope for him. And no matter how good he has been all his life, if he is not repenting, he is a wicked man. The difference is which way you are facing. The man on the top of the stairs facing down is much worse off than the man on the bottom step who is facing up. The direction we are facing, that is repentance; and that is what determines whether we are good or bad.” Hugh Nibley

One of the counselors in the Stake Presidency gave a little quiz. I think it's called the Charlie Brown quiz, or the Charles Schulz people quiz. It really puts this world into perspective, and shows who matters to us. He followed by this quote:

"The most important people aren't those with the most credentials or achievements, but those who cared the most." President Payne

It's so true! I hope you all have a great week!

I love you all!

Elder Jensen