Learning and Growing

​Dear Family & Friends, Well, it's been a week of learning and growing! Last Monday, we all took a trip to the Warwick Castle as a district. It was so cool! The grounds are huge and they had a lot of activities set up around the castle. We got to walk inside and they had it all set up as if it was still being lived in, with wax people everywhere too! Outside of the castle they had a few shows like a falconry show, and a demonstration of the largest working catapult. We ran into a few americans and our ears were burning from their accents! Haha. I'm really sorry if I come home and it takes me a little while to adjust to how you all sound. Haha. Anyways, it was a really good experience. After P-day, we had a dinner appointment and then we had to drive to Westcotes for an exchange. I spent the day with Sister Roscher. She is from Dallas, Texas! I was trying to remember some of the areas where Jake served but the only one I could remember was the really dodgy one, Oakcliffe. Haha but she knew where it was and just laughed when I told her the story of Jake getting sprayed in the face with mace. Well, we did some finding together and we were able to teach a lesson of the street which was really cool! We also had a lesson with David and Steve, after which we had dinner, evaluated and then drove back to Westcotes. The next day we were supposed too have three lessons, but thay all flogged, so we filled the time with more finding and also we were able to do some service for the Bishop and his family. They had asked us a couple weeks ago to paint their shed so we got to do that. We only had a bit of time for dinner and then had to rush to Ward Coordination. Sister Gardner did some driving practice in the car park afterwards because she was scheduled to take her driving test on Thursday morning. Thursday we had to wake up aound five fifty to make it on time for the driving test. And of all places, she was signed up to take her test in Beeston, my first area! It was so weird being back there again! Here test was scheduled for 8:10 and it went flawlessly, she passed! So the good news is I can leave the area now! We rushed back after that to make it to our district meeting at 10:30. It went really well. We learned about the spirit and how we can't do anything in missionary work without it. We had district lunch after, and then drove to Chelmsley Wood for exchange. I came back to the area with Sister Reidhead.We did some finding for a bit and then had a Dinner appointment. It was with a family that we haven't had a DA with yet so we were really excited! They have 2 boys and 1 girl so it almost felt like being at home again! AFter the DA, we went back to the chapel for a baptism of the elders. We also got to teach a lesson to Steve! He's doing really well and keeping all his committments! Well Friday, we did more finding in the morning and then exchange back around two thirty. It was crazy getting back because we still had to fill out the progress record at the library and it was Edison's birthday so we printed him off some pictures of us together and put them in a frame. He took us out to dinner that night for his birthday (We thought we should be the ones paying, but he said it was chinese tradition and he wanted to do it!) haha. So we went to a chinese restaurant called Han Dynasty. I must say, i'm getting very good at using chopsticks! Saturday morning we got to go visit Sarah. She's doing a bit better than she was last week but she describes it as "spiritual whirlwinds". She has so much support though so I know she will be okay. AFter Sarah we came back to the flat to do our weekly planning and lunch and then went finding for the night. We also got to meet with John! He had just gotten back from the temple trip and was just glowing with joy! He told us that he got to do 20 baptisms and he can't wait to go back and do more. Sunday was a wonderful day! We were blessed to have 4 people at church, one of which was Bryan! It was his first time there and he LOVED it. He told us after how he was really impressed how all the young people were involved. We will try to set him on a baptismal date again this week as he won't make his first one. But please keep him in your prayers! He just needs to get that witness from the BOM and then he'll be ready to go. Well, this is the last week of the transfer! We will have zone conference tomorrow and then only one more exchange and the baptism on friday night. It should be a really good week! I would really encourage you all to make a goal this week for how you can improve your relationship with your Heavenly Father, and then do it. I made a goal last week to try to have vocal prayers every day and it has really made a difference. I feel close to my Father in Heaven and I really can feel the spirit directing me to align my will with His. That is the purpose of prayer and what a blessing it is that we can communicate with our Father anytime we want! I love the atonement and the opportunity that it gives us change and be better every day. I love you all and wish you a blessed week! XOXOXO Sister Jensen