Liquid Sunshine

Dear Family & Friends! Well I am currently writing you at the moment in the family history center of our church, basically drenched from head to toe. Haha. It has been raining every day for like the past two weeks! Fun stuff. Our chapel in Lichfield was closed this Sunday because kids have been climbing on the roof and there are many broken tiles so rain has been getting inside. It made for a little adventure though! We had sacrament meeting in Sutton Coldfield. There were five sets of missionaries there! It was so funny. Anyways, it looks like it'll be raining for the rest of forever here! Haha nah, it's not bad if you're well equipped. So this week was pretty slow for missionary work. We had exchanges with our sister training leaders from Monday night to Tuesday night. I was with Sister Sassenus (she's from Belgium) and it was SO great. We had an Alma and Amulek moment, preaching to the multitudes. Haha. We were doing finding on the University campus and we walked past this group of about six guys. We were like, "should we talk to them or not?" We decided to go back and talk to them. We walked up and asked if we could share a card with them? about 4/6 were interested and stayed and talked with us while the others walked away. They agreed to meet with us again! It was SO cool. I was so nervous to talk to them but it was interesting how the ones that were interested stayed and the ones that weren't just walked away. It really taught me that you just have to place your faith in the Saviour and not be afraid and then miracles will happen! The next day, Sister Bertha and I met up with them again and taught them the Plan of Salvation! They really liked it and hopefully we'll be meeting with them again soon. Also, good News!! Jade passed her baptismal interview! So she will be baptised this Saturday! So exciting!!! We are so proud of her. On Thursday we had District meeting at the Sutton building and then interviews with President afterwards. It was SO good. Elder Alejandre taught about Christlike attributes. At the end he had us all talk about a Christlike attribute that our companion is really good at. The spirit was so strong in the room as we all talked about our companions. Something that Sister Bertha is really strong in is her faith. While i'm more the type to be cynical, she always gives people the benefit of the doubt and has so much faith in others. I truly believe that the Lord inspires our President to put us with the people who will help us the most. Transfers are coming up on the 30th of October and i'm so sad about the thought of being split from Sister Bertha. We really get along so well and have a great time together while working hard. But I suppose all good things have to come to an end and that everything is in the Lord's timing. I'm excited for the challenges that lie ahead in the future! I wanted to share with you something that President sent out this week in our email. Dear Elders and Sisters, A farmer’s son once watched with great compassion as a tiny chick stirred within its shell. Slowly the bird made a small crack in the egg, its tiny beak just poking through. And then, weary from its efforts, the bird paused to rest. Thinking he would help, the young boy pried open the shell with his thumbs, pulling away fragments of the shell until the bird was free. But in his eagerness to make life easier for the young bird, he sealed its fate: Without strength built from pecking open its own shell, the bird could not survive. Obstacles are a part of missions, but most of us don’t realize what a vital part they are, building in us the traits we need to succeed in our missionary service and for life. We often see difficulties and failures as doors that have slammed, opportunities we’ve lost, when in fact these trials can be tremendous gifts. Look at the everyday people around us who overcome setbacks—a missionary who lost a father, mother, sister or brother who diligently finishes the mission, a single mother who puts herself through nursing school and later helps all her children through college and missions, a man who takes on an extra job to support his family, including his missionary, during tough economic times. These are people who refuse to be beaten; they persevere through the storms and use challenges as a catapult. Every bird in flight is an example to us of this same perseverance. Each one had to break through its shell, one chip at a time, determined to live, determined to fly. The shell was an obstacle but also the very tool that built strength and tenacity. Those who understand this truth refuse to let bumps in the road define their entire mission. If we resolve never to give up, then our obstacles, instead of becoming final verdicts, can launch us to greater heights. As the Lord said, if we are to be His disciples, we must continue in His word. (John 8:31) The Lord has and will continue to bless you, His missionaries, in remarkable ways because of your faithfulness and perseverance. With much love, President Rasmussen I just absolutely loved that analogy and I see that it is so true. There have been so many challenges on my mission but it is amazing to look back on them and realize how they were just tools that were strengthening me. So many people that we talk to each day tell us how they can't believe in God because of all the bad things that happen in the world. But when we have an eternal perspective, we realize that the hard things are gifts to make us stronger. No opportunity is lost if we use it to grow. No trial is too hard to bear. This week during my personal study I was pondering on the atonement. I've been studying a lot about grace and what it really means. So many times I've heard people say how Christ makes up the difference, when in reality he makes ALL the difference. He didn't just suffer and atone for that little bit that we CAN'T do on our own. He suffered for even the part that we CAN do on our own. But why would He do that? Why would He choose to suffer for the part when we may not need him? I believe (now this is just Sister Jensen's doctrine), that He chose - He didn't have to - but he chose to suffer for everything so that during those moments when we DON'T need him, we can choose to let Him take our yoke upon Him. We can choose to join our strengths with His. When we do this, our the tiny portion of our strength is multiplied and we are able to do all things! He suffered all things for Him so even when it's easy, it can be easier! It is so amazing to know that He loves us SO much. We love Him because He first loved us. I know that He is there for us at all times. I hope that we can take advantage of His atonement in our lives and call upon His power every day. I love you all so much! Thank you for your constant prayers of love and support. I want you to know that I do feel the strength of your prayers every day. With all my love, Sister Jensen