Well, hero!
How’s everyone doin? Mom . . . I’m still not going to type with
proper grammar . . . It’s too much work.
I have an hour on here so I’ll fill ya in on as much as I can think
of!!!
Tuesday was a very weird day ‘cause
I was the only Elder in my District leavin’.
So, I woke up, finished packing, and just kinda wandered aimlessly
around the CTM . . . Haha . . . It was weird not havin’ a Companion or
anything. But, I left there at
8:30am! I went straight to the airport
with two other Elders (one from Uruguay and one from Sao Paulo) and got on the
plane. I also met one other Elder there
who was headed to Maceio, but he never even went to the CTM ‘cause of VISA
issues. He learned some Portuguese at
the MTC in Provo, but was then sent to Louisiana Spanish speaking . . . He was
kinda lost with the Portuguese, but I know he will learn quickly.
On the way here, I gave away a Book
of Mormon on the plane. The gal I gave
it to seemed super interested . . . She read the whole introduction and then
started prayin’ about it right there!
Haha . . . It was a pretty cool experience, and fun, too! So, then we arrived in Maceio and President
Gonzaga and his wife were there with their Assistants (Elder Langlois was
there!) to pick us up. We went to the
Mission Home and ate and all that good stuff . . . Except I felt kinda like
Katniss . . . They are giving you all this super nice stuff but underneath it
all . . . You know you’re about to die . . .Hahaha . . . Totally different
world out here than the picture we got at their home! But, it was really cool to get comfortable in
the area and to get to know them and everything.
So . . . I have my first
Companion! Not FIRST, but you know what
I mean . . . His name is Elder Rodrigues and he’s from Rio Grande do Sul. He speaks ssssssuuuuuper limited English and
lots of Portuguese . . . Thanks, Heavenly Father? Haha . . . It’s a blessing though. I am learning really fast from him. He has only been out for about four months,
but he’s my Trainer! Pretty cool stuff!
The first week here was pretty
insane. The first day, we walked onto
the street and Elder Rodrigues said, “Agora, vamos andar muito” which means,
“Now, we are going to walk a lot”. Haha
. . . He was not lying! I was
dying! Two months of sittin’ around and
gaining weight will get to ya, but it felt reeeeeeeally good to finally get out
and work. So it began!
I can’t give ya the play-by-play, so
I’ll give ya the overall . . . We were supposed to have a Baptism on Saturday
for Gabriela, whose entire family are members, but she smoked again this week
so she wasn’t ready. We have one family,
Gilbena and Cicera, who have two little boys.
The boys are members who my Companion recently baptized, but the parents
aren’t married. So, this week . . . We
are having a wedding! Haha . . . How
cool is that? They are getting’ married
so that they can be baptized J So pumped! And excited for them!
There is another girl named Deborah
who is ready to be baptized but has been on vacation so I’ve only met her
once. We also found another family of
four. The little girl, Gabby, is three
and the boy, Simon, is seven (eight next month J)
and the parents are Ana and Monoel. They
seemed really interested and really cool.
We taught the first lesson and they committed to pray and be baptized
and all that good stuff. Pretty
cool! I feel good about them.
Honestly, though, a ton of stuff
here are just lessons here and there . . . Knockin’ doors and explaining . . .
Getting turned down, or getting asked in . . . All in a day’s work, right? It’s been good, though. The people here are really ready for our
message.
Sheesh! I didn’t say where I am! Haha . . . Sorry! The city I am in is Sao Miguel! Pretty poor area . . .But cool and
GORGEOUS! We are surrounded by green
hills and open space. After being in the
CTM for two months . . . This is perfect . . . Exactly what I wanted. We have four missionaries in our District – Me
and Elder Rodrigues and Elders Deen and Izquierda. Elder Deen is from Sacramento and Elder Izquierda is the Elder from
Uruguay. Both are really cool guys. So, our area of Sao Miguel is kinda divided
by a big mountain. Whenever we need to
go to the other side, we will cross over the mountain on a random dirt trail .
. . Haha . . . It’s really cool. Way
different than being in Gilroy, for sure!
Crappy / cool part . . . We live on a huge hill. Good news . . . We have a gorgeous view of
the entire city! Bad news . . . Of
course, we have to walk to our house up that hill every day – not cool. But it’s worth it once we are at the top!
This week has been a roller
coaster. Some things can lift you up and
make you so happy and other things can bring you tumbling straight down. Those “down” moments are the moments in which
I’m really having to learn the most.
Because if I’m not happy, I start thinkin’ about home and wondering why
I’m here and thinking of how much more comfortable I COULD be. But those “up” moments, those moments when I
remember why I am here and what I am doing, those are the good moments J
I’m learning a lot about trusting in the Lord and knowing that He will
lift me up. And I know that is how it
needs to be for the next twenty-two months!
Doin’ work, son! I love it
here. It’s beautiful and I am learning
SOOOOO much.
Well, other than that, I could type
forever on specifics but I won’t . . . Haha . . . Too much. I love you all so much and I hope everything
is going GREAT! You are always in my
prayers and I know that the Lord is helping, protecting, and blessing you
all. I love you all!!!!!!!!!!!!!! J
Love, Elder Jensen
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