Monday, October 23, 2017

It's unreal that my time here is slowly coming to a close.

July 31, 2017

What's up Everyone! It's been another super cool week here in Woodland Hills! It's unreal that my time here is slowly coming to a close. Sadly the ward found out about it and is having me speak next week haha! It'll be good practice though for my real homecoming talk.

Well this week we had some awesome experiences! We did a lot of door knocking and talked to some super cool people. We taught this Lady named Ming who recently came to the United states from China. She has no religious back ground and had never prayed before. So we taught her how to pray and she loved it. She finished her first prayer ever and looked up at us with the biggest smile ever! She's excited to learn more. We also taught this really cool Jewish guy named Rich who has a lot of Mormon co-workers and we were able to teach him about The Book of Mormon and he's excited to read it! And we also talked to quite the character...he was a 40 year old DJ named "Snap UTI" That's his stage name and no UTI does not stand for Urinary tract infection....it stands for Under The Influence. Hahahaha So he has "SNAP UTI" tattooed on his arm! But anyways, we talked about the Restoration and he said he believes it 100%! Not sure if SNAP was UTI when we were teaching him though! We'll see where that one goes haha! 

We also had an awesome lesson with Aria this week which was one of the most amazing and sincere lessons I've ever had on my mission. Aria has little to no religious background. The last time we had talked to Aria about prayer and this time he was asking us questions like "Do we have to pray to God only?" or just things like that, so we asked him what would hold him back from praying and he said "Maybe...maybe it's because I'm afraid He might actually answer..." I said "Sometimes we're afraid to pray because we don't feel worthy." He then opened up to us about his addiction to marijuana and that he has tried multiple times to overcome it but feels too weak to stop. He said sometimes he weeps because he feels so weak and dependent on it. We taught Aria about the Atonement of Jesus Christ and how he can access it through sincere prayer. He was so excited. He was like "That makes so much sense!!!!" Then he said, "Can I be frank?" and explained his issues with religion and asked us "So why Mormon?" and we taught the Restoration and he was like "I get it!!! it HAD to happen!" and he was just to excited. One of the coolest lessons ever. We then read him this scripture and I'll leave you with this:

2nd Nephi 4:
17 Nevertheless, notwithstanding the great goodness of the Lord, in showing me his great and marvelous works, my heart exclaimeth: wretched man that am! Yea, my heart sorroweth because of my flesh; my soul grieveth because of mine iniquities.
18 am encompassed about, because of the temptations and thsins which do so easily beset me.
19 And when desire to rejoice, my heart groaneth because omy sins; nevertheless, knoin whom have trusted.
20 My God hath been my supporthe hath led me through mine afflictions in the wilderness; and he hath preserved me upon the waters of the great deep.
21 He hath filled me with his loveeven unto the consuming of my flesh.
22 He hath confounded mine enemiesunto the causing of them to quake before me.
23 Behold, he hath heard my crby day, and he hath given me knowledge by visions in the night-time.
24 And by day have waxed bolin mighty prayer before him; yea, my voice have sent up on high; and angels came down and ministered unto me.
I love you all so much and hope you have a great week!!

Elder Jensen

P.S. There is a lady in our ward who actually served with my Grandma and Grandpa in Denmark! She showed me some pictures of them together. Pretty small world!
 
Elder Hadley is a little tired

Some Jewish people gave us a cross on our exchanges. 

Sister Powell (Or Sister Axman) With my grandparents.