Thursday, September 13, 2012

A chance to learn and grow and help others . . .


Family!

Well . . . This week definitely had its ups and downs.  Definitely lots of learning goin’ on here!  Really not tons of people who wanted to hear our message or just didn’t like us at all . . . Haha . . . Buuuuuut . . . We met this family that lives in, I don’t know how to describe it.  It’s a little house with one light bulb, a bed, a tiiiiiiny couch and a drawer.  It’s probably smaller than my room back home.  Super sad and super humbling.  Anyway, turns out this little family of four has tons of problems.  Junior, the Dad there, has problems with basically every drug you can think of, every addictive substance that pops into your head is what he has used.  He has this strong desire to change his life, but with addictions like that, changing is a whole new story, ya know?  It’s really a sad thing . . . And when we returned there a few days ago, we learned that he had been imprisoned because of drugs . . . Suuuuuper sad.  No one that has only lived in the United States can understand how complete spoiled we reeeeeeeally are.

I had a couple run-ins with language problems this week . . . When people are super rude and don’t wanna listen.  Three ladies just laughed their heads off ‘cause they couldn’t understand me.  Yea, I wasn’t happy to say the least . . . But!  Luckily, I’m not very good at stayin’ down, so I was fine after about ten minutes  J

Adriana and Wesliane . . . #dropped . . . They aren’t going to be baptized.  We went there to visit them just to confirm that they were comin’ to Church and . . . nope.  Adriana just kept sayin’, “If I feel the desire, I will go.”  Someone doesn’t quite understand sacrifice and the importance of Church.  She believes everything we have taught all that.  She has a testimony and everything you could hope for, but isn’t gonna pull through all the way.  And, of course, Wesliane is her daughter, so she’s not gonna be baptized either.  I’m still hopin’ and prayin’ for a miracle for them, but it’s not lookin’ good  L

So ya know, we have all of these challenges for a reason.  I’ve been prayin’ a lot lately for the opportunity to learn and grow.  It’s just . . . These opportunities are basically never easy or fun!  Haha!  But I totally brought it upon myself by asking for these chances.  I think that’s why I can keep such a positive attitude when things get rough.  ‘Cause I know that this is all part of progressing and becoming the best person I can be.  That’s what this life is about, right?!?!  A chance to learn and a chance to grow to help others  J

The Lord really blessed us on Sunday (the very end of the week, of course) by giving us a new investigator.  Michelle is a friend of a less active member.  We got them both to come to Church and they LOVED it.  Patience really does work if you practice it, I guess!  Really helped us end the week on a happy note!

Transfers are this week, but everything in our District will be stayin’ the same.  I think because of the 12-week training program.  Sometimes the President will end it early, but it won’t be happenin’ for us!  So, at least six more weeks here in Sao Miguel, which is no problem if this is where I need to be!

Well . . . I love you all so much!  It was a kind of rough week, but just know that I can feel all your prayers pullin’ me along.  The Lord is right beside me in every step I take and everything is great ! I promise!  Be good!  Be safe!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love, Elder Jensen



No comments:

Post a Comment