Haven't died in a snowdrift yet...

Hello hello!!

My week! This is probably terribly out of order, but fortunately for me, you won't have any idea(; To start, Sister Thomas and I went to our Book of Mormon class again and read through 2 Nephi 10-11. Somewhere along the way, one of our less active members asked about what happens to those who don't accept Christ, but are good people. And suddenly I was at the chalkboard drawing out the plan of salvation while Sister Thomas was explaining it. It felt like a random turn of subjects, but it was great! Honestly, even if the lesson goes completely off from what we went in trying to teach, if the spirit is still there, it's totally okay. In fact, it's usually the spirit that tells you to go completely off course. It was great though, I could tell the ladies went away with more understanding and peace.

Before our dinner with the Isaacsons, Sister Thomas and I decided to tract around a little bit and knocked on the door of an older man named Jim. Holy cow was he a character. He was the first door we knocked and he answered totally upset with us for even daring to trespass his doorstep. He started "Girls, I can already tell ya you made a mistake by bein here.." At first he was pretty mad at us, telling us how he asked the church not to send us by and how he wants to be taken off whatever list we have. (we apologized, telling him we honestly had no idea and that he was just the first door we knocked) But 45 minutes later, he had walked us around back to show us the pheasants he raises, told us his whole life story, and even cried at one point. Looking back on it, we hardly said a word, but he ended up inviting us back. He said over and over "girls, you can't convert me" when we would begin to testify, but the spirit was working on him somehow, so we'll see where things go with him.

After meeting Jim we talked to another lady who seemed lowkey a little crazy, and totally uninterested, so we headed to the Isaacson's for dinner. Oh my heck was that weird. But I loved itx) I hardly remembered what their house looked like so I was no help to Sister Thomas in trying to find it. It was great to see them again! For Sister Thomas it was like another member family dinner where she didn't really know them super well, but she knew it was kinda odd for me. It's weird to have them here, but fun. Missionary life is weird but fun. Sister Thomas and I have determined that missionary life is just awkward in general.

We got to go to a football game this week! Terrible game, because Jantzen&Adalee's school totally shut the other team out(; I think the final score was 60(ish) to 0 if that tells you anything.. so they did great, but the other team probably had a rough ride home. Sister Thomas and I took it as an opportunity to hand out invites to the Hoe Down our stake had! It was kinda awkward walking around a football game as a missionary, but we kinda just went for it and left after handing out almost all of our invites. We had to head to our dinner appointment.. which was at a member's house...a member who is the mother of EIGHT children. O.o Oh my heck was it a madhouse. Super fun, crazy dinner though, and I now have an even higher respect for the time Grandma B spent raising my mom and her (9) siblings.

That brings me too...the Hoe Down! The whole "Hoe Down" had the following outline- we'd start with a talent hour, just a few acts from the wards. Then line dance instruction, and a church tour for non members who attended. Food would be served throughout. We had a lot of good musical talent, Jantzen being one of them, playing an arrangement of "If You Could Hie to Kolob" on piano! He did great, and following the talent hour they did some line dancing, which was pretty fun to watch. We didn't end up doing a church tour, because no nonmembers came out, but it was a fun time still(:

That about sums up my week! I love and miss you all, have a great week!

Love,
Sister Jensen

Banished to Wyoming...

Mi familia!!

Yes. I am here, and I am in WYOMING.

SO. On Tuesday we shipped out! It didn't seem like too long of a bus ride to Pocatello, I honestly didn't pay attention to the time. I was either catching up in my journal, talking, or staring out the window as we came into Idaho. We got to the mission office and they had us pack an overnight bag, then shuffled us upstairs to do some newbie orientation. They had us watch a few videos, meet with President, take a picture, and call home, which was weird for both me and my parents, because it definitely isn't Christmas or Mothers day.

After that I met with President Hancock and his wife, and fun fact, I have family out here in the area I'm covering. No, during my interview I did not specifically mention I had family in Afton, because I didn't think it would be an issue. I honestly never thought I'd get called to Star Valley... President even said something about "one of you will be off to star valley.." and I was like "hah so definitely not me, hope they have boots". Oops.

We had dinner at the mission home, after which the AP's gave another mission presentation and then we found out who our companions would be and what area we would all be heading too. I was towards the end of the sisters and opened my envelope to read "Sister Thomas....been out for 2 months....serving in Thayne 1 WY" Just like with my mission call I immediately laughed because I just knew I had to be nearby Emily&Adam's ward. (I found out later that I actually cover their ward) I ended up with the youngest trainer, she's actually only been out 5 weeks, more like 6 now, but she's awesome. We haven't had any problems and have been on the same page since our first day together so it's been great! Anyways, so we stayed the night at the mission home and then took the transfer train to our various locations.

President and his wife drove us to Star Valley and along the way I finally asked if I was supposed to mention where I am in the mission, or just leave it out because I have family somewhere in Afton. I didn't know what ward to tell him, but he didn't seem concerned. I mean, I guess he couldn't do much because we were on the way to Wyoming at the time. He said to say where i'm serving still because they'll find out, and then go read page 37 of the white handbook. (they found out the day I got there I'm pretty sure) So I mean he knows, and to be fair, Sister Tanner also has family in the mission as do a few other missionaries, so I'm sure I'm not the first case he's had. But yes, we are scheduled to have dinner with the Isaacson's this week so that'l be funx)

We had a training meeting back in Pocatello on Saturday so it felt odd to be going back so soon, but Sister Thomas and I did the 2.5 hour trek back for a 2 hr meeting. It was a good meeting, but it was kinda funny that we were driving longer than we were learning. While in Pocatello President gave us permission, in fact told us to go out to the stores while we can and get what we need before going back to WY. So, I bought boots and a jacket because I was not prepared to go straight into nowhere with a side of cold and a possibility of snow. So it'll be an adventure!

It honestly was an adventure from the get go though, we got to the place we're staying and Sister Thomas goes, "so we kinda got a cricket problem." It wasn't awful, but bad enough that the night before we went to Pocatello we set off bug bombs. Which seemed to fix the problem. Too bad that wasn't all though! Hah, so Sister Thomas showed me a leak in the ceiling of the bathroom that was lookin kinda pretty bad... We're living with members, and our apartment is basically their ground floor. So we called the members again to tell them about it, (they were on vacation in Laramy that weekend) and they sent over some friends to check it out...who told us we gotta turn off the water. So until the Reinharts got back (sunday night) Sister Thomas and I were hopping between their house for our food/clothing, and the Docksteader's for bathroom/showers. It was a fun time.

We've already been out talking to people a bit, we don't have a lot of investigators, we'll be working mostly with less actives. I am kinda thrown for a loop with this, as you don't get a whole lot of training on LAs in the MTC, and how do you talk to someone about the gospel when they've "tried it already"? Thinking about it, it's hard because unless they're looking for a change, we might just come off as rude and like we're out here calling people to repentance.. which I guess we are, but it's just a different approach. It's especially hard because of some of the members! Sister Thomas and I were talking about what to do to find investigators and both agreed we needed the help of the members to really get anywhere. So we made a goal to ask for referrals at each dinner (we get fed a lot!) and even after each lesson or contact we make. Well the second member dinner we go too, we finish the meal and give a spiritual thought...which leads into missionary work...then pull out a Book of Mormon and challenge them to take it and place it. I swear they would have told us no if not for a granddaughter that had served a mission and was there. HOLY COW. It was almost so awkward. But really, some of the members here just aren't really willing to help us out...so that's been interesting.

It's been a good time though, banished to Wyoming, cricket filled apartment, leaky ceiling, foreboding clouds that seem to promise snow soon.... it's been interestingx) No really, I do love it in Star Valley though, it's a beautiful place, the members are really welcoming, and Sister Thomas is seriously awesome(:

I love you all, and I miss you!!

Love,
Sister Jensen

Updates from the MTC!

Hello all!

This past week has flown by, we've been so busy. We have new TRC investigators and I'm not ready to say goodbye to them yet because teaching them has been great. Kristina is a very sweet woman, and has absorbed everything we've taught her. Oleksandr is more difficult. He's from Ukraine, and upon meeting him he told us he doesn't believe in God, but that he's open to learning about the gospel. His lessons have been my favorite because they've been so hard. By the end of our first lesson, we asked him if he would commit to pray by the next lesson and he flat out told us no. (In the most polite way possible.) so we asked him to read from the Book of Mormon instead, which he said he would do.

Our last lesson, we planned to talk about the apostasy and restoration so that we could expound upon the importance of the Book of Mormon. Well that's not what we talked about at all. For the first ten minutes or so he was just asking us questions about our missions and about the MTC. When we finally started to go into the lesson he stopped us after a few minutes and apologetically said "girls I've actually got to go in a few minutes to be at another lesson." So I asked if we could each at least share our favorite scripture with him. Sister Freeman shared hers after mine, reciting 1 Nephi 3:7 from memory. After she finished, and ended with "save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them" Oleksandr immediately asked "How? How does he prepare a way?" And from there we went into how to recognize the spirit! It was such a great little mini lesson and by the end he told us that he really admired that we knew and could trust that God was there and that he wanted that for himself. The spirit was definitely there and it was such a great lesson!! Meeting with him has helped my confidence as a missionary grow, and my testimony of the gospel as well.

Backing up to Sunday though, Sister Freeman and I taught relief society and I guess I've been spoiled with my gospel principles class because holy cow it was SILENT. The sisters from my district answered questions and would talk, as well as towards the end the other sisters from our zone were talking more, but other than that, the sisters joining us were no help. I was told it was still a good lesson. We went over 1 Nephi chapter 13, and used that to talk about the apostasy and Restoration. It is such an amazing chapter! As I was reading it I realized I never really understood that chapter but it talks all about the Bible and how the Book of Mormon will come about and my mind was blown and HOW DID I MISS THAT BEFORE?? (it went to caps there but I think it was appropriate)

Another amazing thing- D. Todd Christofferson came and spoke for our Tuesday evening Devotional! (also quick side note, his cousin is our branch president in the MTC...i didn't realize they were actually related till after the devotional and he said something..) Sister Christofferson also spoke, she had a lot to say about charity and keeping faith. Elder Christofferson spoke about the history of the Book of Mormon and reminded us all of what hardship the early saints went through to bring it about. Towards the end of his talk he something that really struck me, "the Book of Mormon is the most powerful written testimony in existence today." It reminded me how important it is to just get your investigators to read, and how as long as they just open the book, the spirit will begin to work within them.

Some fun things this week-

I have realized my addiction to cereal. I find myself craving cereal quite a bit. No not the healthy "life" cereal that Sister Freeman so lovingly suggests. (This is ironic because she drinks coke at breakfast almost every day.) No but I keep craving the normal kinds like frosted flakes, honey nut cheerios, and OH'S. Sadly, the MTC knockoff cereal brands have nothing comparable to Oh's.

The other sisters in my district and I used to play soccer during exercise time, but we have now graduated to foursquare and we get QUITE competitive.

Thats all for this week, I love hearing from you all, take care!<3

Love,
Sister Jensen<3

The Adventure Begins...

Hello all!

I am here and in the Missionary Training Center!! It has been a crazy week! Last Wednesday Breanna Dropped me off at the MTC and I got to officially put on my tag(: They keep us pretty busy, we basically go to class, eat, and go back to class. The food has done a number on my insides but I'm still alive. Sister Freeman is my companion, and she is from Virginia, the Washington DC area. There are two other sets of sisters in my district, three of which are going to the Michigan Lancaster mission, the other will join Sister Freeman and I in Pocatello Idaho. We have five elders in our district, one trio and another set of elders. The lonesome two are joining the other sisters in Lancaster, and the trio will be coming with us to Pocatello.

I had the wonderful blessing of kicking off my time in the MTC with General Conference! It was FANTASTIC! We did have to sit in plastic chairs for much longer than I would wish on anyone, but it was still great. My favorite was Ronald A. Rasband's talk, he spoke all about just how specific and particular all of our lives are. His and Elder Holland's talk hit me right in the heart. God definitely knows what we need and when we need it. I hope you all had a chance to listen to a few talks, and if you didn't, I encourage you to go listen to theirs at least.

I have already gotten to teach investigators though! People come to the MTC to help give missionaries practice teaching lessons, and they wont tell us if they're a member or an actual investigator so you have to treat everyone like the real deal. We get to teach two ladies, Makenna,and Linda. It's been fun teaching them both(: So far we've taught them both twice, our first time being Monday. We'll have our last lesson with them both on Saturday and then switch to new investigators. They're both very sweet and have tons of questions which is great(:

Another fun thing, there's an MTC choir! We have devotionals every Sunday and Tuesday night and there's a brief choir rehearsal before each, and then afterwards we get to sing at some point during the devotional. It's a huge choir because basically half of the MTC shows up to sing, but it's great! This last Tuesday we sang an arrangement of "More Holiness Give Me", in which the sopranos had a fun high part at the end...which definitely sounded awful the first time we tried it but we got it eventually!

It's been a busy week but definitely a fun one. I can testify of the love Heavenly Father has for all of us and have only become firmer in my testimony of the gospel. I know I'm supposed to be out here on a mission and I can't wait to get to Pocatello. I love you all!!

Love,
Sister Jensen