1 Month Down

Hey family!

Ah, what a wonderful week it has been! I sure love the mission and I'm learning new things every day. This week I got to witness my first baptism in the mission- the baptism of Robert. It was so amazing! Sister Lewis and I sung "How Great Thou Art" and the spirit was so strong. Robert was baptized by Elder Lapi. (Sidenote- Elder Lapi is SOLID. He is a convert from Albania and he really just "gets" the gospel. He takes his responsibilites so seriously and he really knows how to channel the priesthood and his faith). After the baptism, He told us that before the baptism, he knelt down with Robert and prayed. They prayed that an angel would be there for the baptism. And he didn't really give me any details, but as he told me this, his eyes started to fill with tears and he basically said that it was an incredible experience. I am once again reminded that there is so much more to this life that we can't explain and that there really are angels among us that are cheering us on.  It is also a testimony to me that we have so much power! Especially those of you with the priesthood, you really can work mighty miracles. It's all about calling upon your faith learning how to channel it. I love that about the gospel.  Anyways, I took pictures but forgot to take my camera with me today so I will have to send them to you next week. It was such an incredible experience. I was reminded of my own baptism day and the covenants that I made that day. Robert was just so happy and was glowing. On Sunday, he received the gift of the Holy Ghost, and he came to church in a nice suit and tie! Ah, it just made me so happy. In a way, I felt bad because I felt like I was seeing all the good that came from so many other sisters before me. I really didn't even teach him but what is so cool is that every missionary gets to play a part in the investigator's lives. We all do our part in moving the work forward. I can't wait to hear about what the ward is doing to increase the work. I have realized as I've been on my mission that I did NOTHING while I was home!!! I think it's easy to slip into the mindset of being an example is good enough. But it's not! It is not enough! We are in a war right now, a war for the souls of our brothers and sisters and it is not enough to just be a good example. We need to take the side of the offensive and do more than that! We have mouths to speak and that's all that it takes. All we must do is open our mouths and share what makes us happy. I don't want to look back on this life when I no longer have my body and wish that I could only speak. Can you imagine what it would be like to be a spirit, witnessing this battle, and wanting so badly to just have a mouth to speak, and then watching all these wonderful members of the church who don't use their capabilities? If there is anything I have learned so far, it is that we need to be much more actively engaged in spreading the gospel. Offer to go on splits with the missionaries, or even to just go teaching with them. The ward family we have in Eagle, Idaho is SO blessed. I never even realized it. We have so many solid members with solid testimonies and so many talents. We need to be better at fellowshipping others. I wanted to share an idea that you might use in our ward. We have the piece of paper for dinner appointments with the missionaries in our ward, and there is a little box next to the day called a "+1". It basically means that the members can check the box if they are okay with the missionaries bringing an investigator to the dinner appointment. This can be super helpful to the missionaries and the members! It provides an opportunity for the investigator to get the know and befriend the members and for the members to get to know the investigator, which in turn makes the members more excited about missionary work! I don't know if we already do this but I think it is a brilliant idea. :) Okay, I'm off my soapbox now.

Unfortunately, we weren't able to meet with Elaine this week. Dang, I think Satan really doesn't want us to meet with her. She wasn't home when we went for the appointment but we left her a BOM and a note. We called her back though and we have an appointment with her this week. So pray that it will actually happen this time! I feel really good about Elaine. Matt is doing well! He came to the baptism and I hope he kind of got to feel the spirit that was there. We will be teaching him this week again. We are also teaching Ryan, who is another chinese guy. We taught him the plan of Salvation and challenged him to read the BOM and pray. With the chinese people, it's a whole different culture. It's weird because they really have no religious foundation. They don't know much about Christ or even God. So we usually start off with the Plan of Salvation because the Restoration is really of no importance to them until they can establish a relationship wtih God. We also met with Shirley this week who is certifiably CRAZY. It's so hard to teach her because she just gets side-tracked by everything! BUT. She brought her friend Paul with her this week who is about 50 years old and has been trying out a bunch of churches. He seems completely normal and he has agreed to read the BOM and pray! I feel really good about Paul but I know the WoW will be a bit of a stumbling block as he told us he loves his cigarettes and his beer. Haha.

Well, I am doing really well! My energy level is fabulous. I think it helps a lot being on a schedule. Most days I actually wake up before the alarm clock goes off and kinda force myself to go back to sleep. Haha. Dad, Elder Monibidor didn't tell me he emailed you! I'm happy to hear that though. He will be coming home on April 9th. CRAZY.  There is little sign of spring here... I think it is supposed to snow this week :/ Ugh. I hate it. Haha, yeah well Beeston really isn't the most impressive area. It's pretty ghetto actually. Sister Lewis said I would have to go more south to get to the pretty part of England or to Wales. But there is a place called Wallaton Hall (not sure if that's how you spell it) here. It's the building where Batman was filmed. I think it's only about 15 minutes away from where I live so maybe on one of these P-days we will check it out. I don't think that any of the missionaries live with members. The houses here are TINY. Seriously, everyone lives in these houses that are just squished together. I feel so spoiled now thinking about Eagle, Idaho. Yeah, so I don't even think it would be possible for missionaries to live with members. Our flat is really nice though. We could probably fit 2 more sisters in with us. The food is great. It's mostly the traditional chicken or pot roast with vegetables and potatoes. They eat SO many potatoes here!!! Our ward mission leader, Brother Thomas, jokes with me about potatoes cuz I'm from Idaho and I tell him that I eat way more potatoes here than I ever did at home. Oh, and everyone here is big into dessert. At every DA (dinner appointment), i've been to, there is always dessert. Haha. I'm trying to figure out how I'm going not gain 20 pounds while I'm out here. From all the sisters I've talked to, 20 pounds is the average amount of weight gain. Haha. I have been asked to speak in Sacrament meeting on Easter Sunday, about how we can overcome the obstacle of sin. I am so excited actually, which is weird because usually I dread speaking in church, but this is like the best topic ever. I love the atonement. My companion and I are also putting on an easter fireside on easter sunday at 6:00 pm. It's going to be mostly music with narrations. I'm playing the piano for like 3 of the songs and then I think I'm singing 2 songs. We made invitations and we are giving two to each member in the ward- (one for themselves, and one to give to a nonmember friend). It is going to be epic.

Well family, I love you all so much!!! Keep doing what's right and try to be a little better today than you were yesterday.

Love,

Sister Jensen