Another Great Week

Dear Family & Friends, Well, it has been another great week! I know that Heavenly Father is aware of each of us and I have felt the prayers of so many people this week!!! The week started out not so good as I was coming down with a cold. I guess the English weather finally got to me! I had to break down this week and buy a brolly, (umbrella). Needless to say, we weren't able to work at 100% but we still did our best! I am amazed at how Heavenly Father still uses us when we may think we can't or when we thing we can't go any farther. Those first steps of faith really are the most difficult ones to take but we are blessed as we call upon the Lord's strength and take those steps. I noticed that it was difficult to muster the strength just to get out the door, but I can honestly say that I was bolstered up with strength from a source not my own. I want to thank each of you for your constant prayers because I REALLY felt those this week. I have heard people say that after they've experienced a tragedy in their life and I must admit I was somewhat cynical about it... thinking, how is it that you can feel the prayers of others? But I can say that the power of prayer is very real- just as real as the power of the devil. It is a great gift that our father and heaven has given us. This week we had the great opportunity to teach Roy Burbridge. Sister Bertha and I fasted last Sunday that he would accept the invitation to be baptised and that his heart would be softened. On Wednesday, we went to their house. We were a bit concerned about teaching him with his wife, because she is a member and can be really pushy and take over the lesson at times. But it all worked out so that she had to finish cooking the meal so we were left to talk with Roy on our own. Normally the first lesson we would teach the Restoration, but we were impressed to teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We talked to him about the principles of the gospel-faith, repentance, baptism, gift of the holy ghost, and enduring to the end. The spirit was so strong and he was very receptive. When it came to the subject of baptism, we asked him, "Roy, when you find these things to be true, will you follow th example of Jesus Christ and be baptised by someone holding the priesthood authourity of God?" He paused for a few moments... and said, "Yes, I will." We asked him if he would committ to November 30th, but then he said he wouldn't commit to a date. We asked him why and he told us that he has a fear of being immersed in water. Well, we tried to testify to him that God would make a way for him to be baptised, but he still wouldn't budge. We asked him to pray about a date to commit to and we would follow-up next time. Well, it was still a MAJOR victory and we both left feeling so happy. Roy is definitely progressing in the right direction! Please pray that his heart will soften and he will overcome his fear of water. (He is 82 years old, so the physical act of baptism scares him as well. If you have any advice about the subject, it would be much appreciated!!) Another miracle this week happened when we knocked on a LA's door. Her name is Leila Russell. She is about 28 and has 2 kids out of wedlock. Her family is very strong in the gospel but they live in America right now. She had her first daughter, Rosie when she was only 17 and rosie has been baptised and comes to youth every week. Well, we've knocked on her door before but she has never been in. So we decided to try again and she was home! It turned out that her little boy had taken a fall at school that day and had potentially broken his nose so she was home with him. Normally she wouldn't be in until later because she works so it was a miracle that she was home that day. We got to know her and shared a spiritual thought with her. Now, the highlight of the week was Jade's baptism!!! It was all a little hectic (as most baptisms are!) but it worked out in the end. Jade's uncle, mom, stepdad and nan were all there to witness it. She looked absolutely beautiful in white and was so excited. She really is an amazing girl! One of the Young Women spoke and then a young women leader spoke as well. The Young Women sang, "Walk tall, you're a daughter" which I accompanied. The whole service was lovely. Then on Sunday, she was given confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints! My heart was so full during that sacrament meeting and I knew that Heavenly Father was so proud of her decision. Also! Malcolm, who we've been working with for these past two transfers, came to church yesterday for the first time!! And Roy came as well!!! It was so good. In gospel principles, we talked about Eternal Families. I must admit that at the end of the lesson I was feeling pretty home-sick (not in the way that I want to come home but just that I wished I could give my family a big hug and tell them how much I love them.) So Mom, Dad, Jake, Kayla, and Brayden, I am sending you a virtual hug right now!!!! ...... I hope you got it :) I love you all SO much. As I sat in that lesson, I pondered on the many memories we have had over the years as a family. I remember Mom always yelling, "Script-ies!!" at 6:30 am every morning and how we would fumble down the stairs with our blankies and fight over who got to sit on the heater. I don't really remember much of what we read but those memories will be with me forever as a testimony to me that my parents knew it was important for us to read the scriptures together as a family. Another memory that came to my mind during the class was when we were in Oregon on family vacation with grandma and grandpa Jensen. We all had the opportunity to go to the temple together and do baptisms for the dead. What a special experience it was for me to be baptised by my older brother, Jake. There is nothing that can be used to describe the feeling of being inside the temple as a family. Now Brayden, this is a shout out to you! ---- Pretty soon YOU will be going through the temple for your own endowment and we will have the opportunity to be together as a family in the temple! Prepare for that time right now and do not let ANYTHING get in the way. This is of most importance. I didn't realize it at the time how incredible this opportunity is but I am realizing it more and more. As a missionary you don't get to go to the temple unless you live close to one and receieve permission from your mission president. I definitely took it for granted, being able to go whenever I wanted. And I miss the temple so bad now. But I look forward to the time when I will be able to go again. I know that it is where we can be sealed forever with our families and where we can gain strength to serve. I have felt that strength come to me as I have kept my covenants and would encourage everyone to remember those covenants they have made- whether in the temple, or just your baptismal covenants. There is power that comes as we keep our covenants. I love all of you SO much and I'm grateful for all you do! Please keep Roy and Malcolm in your prayers. Have a fantastic week! Love, Sister Jensen