Wowzers!!!!!!!

Aaaaaaand . . . We are off!!!!

Well, let’s just get down to the nitty gritty, shall we?  So, last Tuesday we headed to Maceió for transfers.  Of course I was suuuuper anxious.  Where am I going?  Who will be my new companion?  All that good stuff . . . Sooooooo. I don’t know how to say this in an interesting way, so I will just say it . . . Haha!  WELL . . . I am officially TRAINING!  Do not know who decided that that was a good idea . . . I just ended my training last week and now I am supposed to train someone else!?  And we are opening an area.  We are in Maceió in a ward called Bebedouro.  The ward originally had only two Elders but they just changed it to four.  So we split the area and all that good stuff with Elders Hemingway and Barbosa.  And the elders before us had basically done nothing so we just knocked A LOT of doors . . . Hahaha.  Opening an area . . . Remind me to never do that again!  

My companion’s name is Elder Pereira and he is from Belém.  I believe it is the northern part of Brazil.  He is . . . Small, haha, but really cool.  ALSO . . . Little fun fact . . . He is 26 years old.  Yep. I’m training a man who is 7 years older than me.  When people say that God has a sense of humor . . . They mean it!  I was so beyond nervous to start training and to be in a brand new area for the first time.  Just a lot of changes that I have never been through before.  Once again, the Lord is putting me in positions to make me learn FAST.  Slightly terrifying but good in an eternal perspective I suppose!

Our ward is awesome!  And . . . Get this . . . Our Bishop is the brother of my last Bishop!  Haha!  Bbut WAY different.  This guy looooves to work.  We had a meeting with the Ward leadership last night and we have tooooons of plans for this Ward and how we are going to get more members and reactive the less actives.  This area has tons of less actives so a lot of our work will be with them.  We even are making a calendar of members who will go with us to lessons and all that.  GOSH!  I was ready to explode with excitement.  It’s SO nice to have a ward that reeeeeally wants to make changes!  That wants to improve and progress!

I learned a lot this last week about the importance of the Ward and of friends in the Ward.  It truly does make ALL the difference to have strong members who want to help.  We can knock 200 doors and get 1 person to Church.  But if we get references or members with ideas, just one reference or idea will come to Church.  That kind of work is so much more productive and efficient!!!!!

It’s funny how the Lord works . . . Especially on the mission.  The moment you start feeling really comfortable with something, He just switches it up on you.  #Progress!  At first this was really annoying to me.  But it’s made me realize and remember more about the Pride Cycle in the Book of Mormon.  We receive blessings and remember God but we become arrogant and ignorant after a time period of really great success.  So then the Lord has to bring us back to earth and humble us.  Make us feel a little uncomfortable.  Make us remember just HOW we receive blessings.  I think sometimes I get really lazy with prayers and really trying to feel the Spirit.  So this transfer for me is really good.  I am remembering once again just how I can have success.  By conversing with the Lord and allowing His ideas to become mine, I am so lost.  But when I trust in the Lord, that He is going to guide me, everything goes super smoothly.  It’s just when everything goes smoothly for a while, I get a little cocky.  I think I’ve got it all down and that this mission is ALL ME.  And . . . It’s just not.  This last week really taught me that.  Rough week but I’m sooooo happy I can learn lessons like that! Progress is hard, but it feels SO good afterwards!!!!!!!   #ProgressIsStinkyButSmellsNiceAsWell

The language is also really coming along.  I say that because I can hold conversations on the phone now and that has been almost impossible for me in the past.  SO LEGIT.  The Gift of Tongues really does work!  Shout out to Derek right there.  Thanks, brah.

Well other than all that, ya know, just . . . Yep!  Haha!  I dont really have much else to say.  Our area is gorgeous and we work every day right by a huge lake and we get to watch the sunset if we time it just right.  We live literally on the top floor of the Bishop’s house which is going to be GREAT when it comes to food!  I had my first REAL dinner here the other night and I was in Heaven.  Haha!  We eat fine during the day, but at night it’s just kind of whatever we have left over from lunch or what we bought that day.  Needless to say, I was extremely excited =)

I love you all so much!!!!  Be good, be safe!  And do keep writing.  My area is pretty close to the office now so there is a chance I will get mail faster.  Keep writing please!  The Church is true.  If you don’t know it, pray about it!  Really, really try to know. When God sees you have the desire to know, He will tell you.  But first you gotta try =)  I LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love, Elder Dylan Miles Jensen

And to his Momma . . .

I cannot BELIEVE that 50% of new Missionary Applications were from girls!  Gosh!  That’s going to be crazy.  We are going to have waaaaaay more Sisters in a few months.  I’ll bet these people applying are going to have to wait foreeeeever to get their calls with how many applications are going in . . . That’s crazy!  The Lord has some big plans!!!!

All the instructions for the Christmas box . . . Got it.  Totally going to open everything the first day though =)

Everything is great here, Ma!  Kind of a rough week but this next one is going to be reeeeeally good.  I can’t believe I have five months of the mission.  And next month I’ll be a fourth of the way through!  I feel like when I hit January time is just going to FLY!  It’s already fast right now.  But everyone says that after six months it just zoooooms!!!  Excited!!!

I love you so much!!!!!  Keep sending me fun photos to put into my photo album will ya?  Love you Momma.  You have no idea how much you prepared me for this mission.  Yesterday some guy just wanted to be loud and obnoxious with us in the street.  I think he kept expecting me to argue and I just kept thinking about you . . . Haha.  When people want to argue about stupid stuff I just let them talk.  When they want to act like adults and talk maturely about what we believe, I talk.  But arguing . . . Not how I roll.  Can’t teach that way!  And I know I learned that from you =)  I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

PARABÉNS GIANTS!!!!!!

And thanks Mom . . . I get dizzy sometimes when the Spirit gets really strong I don’t know why . . .  Like when we giving a blessing out at Ashley’s house, or when I had my interview with President Merrell . . . I can’t explain it, but it just happened again.  I don’t know what God has planned for me here, but I think you are right.  I think something big is going to happen.  Love you, Ma =)

Notice!!!!

TRANSFERS!!!!!!!

I will be transferred this week!  Kind of nervous because it is my first one, but also really, really excited.  It will be awesome to get out and witness a new area with new people.  I will know where I am headed tomorrow!  Elder Denna is also out of here, but that wasn’t a surprise.  He has been here for six months now, so we all knew this transfer would be it for him here.  Sad ‘cause that guy is one of my best friends now, but, hey!  Gotta continue the work, right?  J

Landon Creer... Parabéns!!!!!!!!!!!!! Missão Brasil... Bem-Vindo meu amigo você vai desfrutar a missão mais que qualquer outra coisa em sua vida! Eu te amo!!!!!!

Naiane was baptized this week!  She was so happy and was crying like crazy!  She felt really nervous . . . I think she had the same feeling I had the first time going to the Temple.  And then, the next day, I had the opportunity to confirm her as well.  Man . . . Passing the Gift of the Holy Ghost . . . That was incredible!!!!!!!  It was my first time so, of course, I was nervous but . . . WOW!!!!  Absolutely incredible  J  And, of course, then she cried some more.  I think you and Naiane would get along great, Momma  J

Jackie’s Mom had said she could decide for herself what she wanted to do.  She seemed super chill when we met her and she was talking about agency and what not.  But when Jackie asked her to sign the paper, she wouldn’t sign it  L  So, Jackie couldn’t be baptized with Naiane, which is a total bummer.  But, I know with every fiber of my being that she WILL be baptized someday.  She was so beyond sad that she couldn’t be.  But, I know she will be!  And I can’t wait for that day!  J

Well . . . Next time I talk to y’all, I will be somewhere else!  I LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!!  The Church is true!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love, Elder Jensen

Pictures!!!!!!!!

 Diga Não As Drogas!!!

(Say No to Drugs)

Elders Jensen, Rodrigues, Denna & Izquierdo 

 Elder Rodrigues, Fabricia, Elder Jensen, Ebison, Edison

 Elders Rodrigues and Jensen

 Fabricia, Elder Jensen, Ebison

Legal  :-)

Bad news = I ran into a car

This week . . .

We were SO close to baptizing Naiane!  She was going to be but . . . It just didn’t quite work out.  As for Jackeline . . . WE GET TO MEET HER MOM TONIGHT!!!!!  I don’t know what y’all are doing back home, but keep it up!  Such a HUGE answer to prayers.  I am beyond excited to meet her and help her understand more about what we believe.  I truly believe Jackie and Naiane are going to be baptized this Saturday  J  I can feel it!  Thank you all so much for your prayers and fasting!!!!!

Other than that, the week wasn’t anything TOO exhilarating.  One day, it was raining and my umbrella was blocking my vision because the wind was in front of us aaaaaand . . . I may or may not have run into a car.  Bad news = I ran into a car.  Good news = I’m basically the Hulk and Elder Del Castillo said that I bent the license plate.  I didn’t see it because I walked away as quickly as possible.  Buuuuuut . . . Yea . . . I’m super strong like that.

Elder Denna and Elder Ezquierdo had two baptisms this week, so of course I am super happy for them.  Except Marina . . . One of the girls is a “snake”.  A “snake” is a girl that tries to tempt missionaries or . . . ya know.  She’s always looking at me and Elder Denna super weird and I just cringe and feel extremely uncomfortable . . . #SuperAwkward  #DangBraziliansLoveUsAmericanDudes

We managed to meet a few solid investigators this week, but nothing that I can say is “for sure” yet.  As time goes on and we know more about them, I will fill you in  J  We taught a lady and invited her to Church.  She said she would go and we asked if we could walk with her.  She basically said, “You don’t trust me?  If I say I’m going to go, I’m going to go!”  Yeah . . . She didn’t go . . .

Well, besides that, really not too much to report!  This week really picked up and working with Elder Del Castillo is awesome even though he is super OCD with everything having to be perfectly clean and in place . . . It’s weird but, hey!  Good guy!

I love you all a ton!!!!!  Please keep writing.  I love hearing from all of you.  I especially want to hear from all of the youth who are deciding to go on Missions!  GO!  But write me first!!!! 

I LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love, Elder Jensen

Yes, YOU! Go on a Mission!

Bom Dia!

SOMEONE TELL ME THAT ANGELA MERRELL IS GOING ON A MISSION THIS INSTANT.  Holy 19!!!!!!!!!!  I was blown away!!!  We were sittin’ in Conference and President Monson was talking and before he even said anything everything got really quiet and peaceful.  I had been getting stuff out of my bag and all of a sudden I just felt that feeling and looked up to hear the announcement that it is 18 for boys and 19 for girls!  The boys part was cool but the girls?  MY GOSH!  The first person I thought of was Angela.  I reeeeeally hope she has a desire to go!!!  Please let me know!  It was prettty funny right after though.  It basically means that all guys on missions right now aren’t going to have ANYONE to marry when we get home!  Hahahaha . . . Like every Elder was saying this exact same thing.

But, really, Conference was absolutely INCREDIBLE.  I think it may have been the first time that I ever really truly stuck to watching all the way through.  Why didn’t anyone ever tell me that the words of the Prophet and Apostles are so dang swaggy!?  They had a room for English speakers, of course, so I went to that room.  I could understand in Portuguese, but i didn’t want to miss anything.  Eonference is only two times a year, so i couldn’t let anything slip.  I don’t have my notes with me but Elder Holland . . . He never ceases to amaze me.  I don’t know what else to say.  You all know what I mean. There was also a talk in Priesthood session (the name is passing my mind) about being men.  I don’t know how to explain it and do it justice so . . . Go look it up.  Super awesome =)  And, of course, all of President Uchtdorf’s talks . . . That guy just rocks my socks.

     

Well . . . As you all know, this last week was my first week with Elder del Castillo.  He is super smart and also very OCD with some things.  Haha . . . For instance, he uses four shavers every day.  One for his neck, one for his moustache, one for the other parts of his face and, the fourth one, I have yet to figure out.  He’s always up by 5:30am (#insane) to shower for like 30-45 minutes.  He is a mysterious, mysterious man.  But, if things like that are my biggest worry about him, I suppose I don’t have much to worry about at all!

This week was pretty slow and super short.  We only had three days to work because of a baptism for Elders Denna and Izquierdo and General Conference.  We are in Maceió right now and got to watch Conference here . . .

Jacqualine and Naiane . . . Nope  L  The adversary is doing everything he can to stop them.  Their families are hating on the like crazy.  Jackie is scared to talk to her Mom and Naiane didn’t want to be baptized because of her family arguing with her.  It’s interesting how when they were investigating other churches, it was never a problem with their families.  Bu, the moment they started investigating our Church, the world exploded.  #proofthatthechurchistrue . . . Their families think we are a cult and that we are manipulating them.  Yes . . . I was trained for years in the arts of manipulation and lies.  All those years of Kingdom Hearts and PlayStation taught me how to be a masterful teacher and liar who can fool absolutely anyone . . . Obviously, that’s exactly why I am here.  That’s exactly why I left behind my entire life for two years . . .To lie to people . . .

So, we made a goal with them . . . By Tuesday, they need to have a date that we can visit their families.  I see no other way to change the families’ minds other than showing them that all we do is teach about Christ.  We just need them to know that we are normal human beings with a great message.  I’ve been praying a lot that this works out.  Jackie and Naiane are BEYOND prepared.  The Lord has put them in this spot for a reason.  I don’t know for sure when they will be baptized, but I know that it will happen someday.  Maybe I won’t be here . . . But in two years when I get home and look on FaceBook to see pictures of their baptisms, I am going to cry my eyes out with joy.  I LOVE THESE GIRLS!  They are absolutely incredible and their desires are amazing.  I’m hoping that our goal works and that I can baptize them.  Pray lots for them!!!!!

Elder Denna and I did splits this week, too.  As we were knocking on doors, we came across five women and we explained who we were.  They then proceeded to explain that they are missionaries for the Betel church.  A little awkward, but it’s all good!  They invited us in to pray, so we entered, closed our eyes, and crossed our arms and BOOOOOOM!!!!!!!!!!!  The whole world exploded!  All five women started yelling and screaming their prayers with their hands in the air.  Ohhhhhhhh my gosh.  I couldn’t stop laughing!  I was cryyyyyying!  And then I looked over at Elder Denna and he was doing the exact same thing . . . Hahaha . . . Which made me die even more!  I was so glad that the women had their eyes closed because they would have haaaaaated us!  Ohhhhh . . . Such a priceless moment!

I’ve got a good feeling about this upcoming week.  I’ve got some ideas of where we are going to work and I feel like the success is really going to come through this week.  I’m really excited to get back to São Miguel and start workin’ again.  This weekend has been great, but it’s really time to get back to work!!!!

Well, I love you all so much!  Thanks for all of your support.  And YOU . . . Yes, YOU!  If you are a young man of 18 years or a young woman of 19, GO ON A MISSION.  We truly are in the last days, the Lord needs the greatest army he can gain.  GO!  Start your papers now!!!  Can’t wait to hear from you all!  Write me lots!!!!!  I LOVE YOU ALL!!!!

Love,

Elder Jensen

#confused

Hi, family!

This last week had its ups and downs without a DOUBT . . . We had one day where eeeeeeverything was fallin’ right into place!  Perfect day with everything . . . And then we had two days following that just . . . Stunk . . . Haha.  Nothing.  No one kept commitments, people weren’t showin’ up and people didn’t want to hear the message.  Rough two days!  We even talked with this kid who is a Jehovah’s Witness.  All he wanted to do was prove that God and Christ are two different people . . . Ummmm . . . Yea . . . We already established that we believe that as well, remember?  But, nope.  He kept wanting to argue and prove it . . . Hahaha . . . Pretty funny.  Also, a little frustrated with people who say things like, “I’m searching for God so much in my life.  I haven’t found the right path yet, and I know that He will show it to me if I have faith.  I just know the right path is out there somewhere.”  Bam . . . You’re so ready for this Gospel!  So you start talking to them and ask if they want to hear aaaaaaand . . . They say, “No, I don’t want to hear it right now”.  What?!?!?!  #confused  J  On the flip side, Heavenly Father has blessed me with an amazing ability to stay positive.  So, life goes on!

Jaqueline and Naiane are progressing AWESOMELY.  Naiane is for sure going to baptized this week . . . 100% . . . Jackie . . . She will be baptized if she gets permission from her parents.  They are not very receptive and she is afraid to ask about baptism.  So, please pray a TON for her.  She rrrrrrrreeeeeeally needs the prayers!  They are so legit and ready!!!!!!!

We met two people this week named Francisco and Adriane.  Suuuuuper legit couple who live together, have two daughters, buuuuut . . . Don’t want to be married.  Adriane wants to, but Francisco . . . It’s so sad.  It’s like they have no real confidence in their relationship.  They both understand that being married means being truly TOGETHER and it’s like they are afraid of that.  Almost as if they know they aren’t going to make it . . . It’s super depressing.  So please . . . Pray lots for them!

Well, the reason I am writing late today is because . . . Drum roll . . . Emergency transfer!  But I didn’t leave São Miguel.  Elder Rodrigues left for somewhere in Sergipe.  No one really knows why . . . It’s kinda sad ‘cause I learned a ton from him and we were reeeeeeally good buddies.  But it’s time to keep goin’!  Pretty excited really  J  My new companion’s name is Elder Del Castillo and he is from Bolivia.  SUPER legit as well.  I’ve gotten really lucky with companions so far.  He’s super nice and laid back and the Spirit is really strong around him!  We just visited the super market, though, and DANG!  I guess the dude loves to cook!  Skinniest guy ever, but . . . Oh, boy!  Looks like he can eat like nobody’s business! 

Haha . . . So, yea!  That was the week!  New companion . . . Time to learn more and progress more and help these people change their lives!!!!!  #mormonswag

I love you all!  Be good!  Be safe!!!!!! 

Love, Elder Jensen

Families are Forever :-)

Oi!

Well . . . Really not toooo much this week, but I’ll let ya know about the important things I can remember!

I’ve learned a ton this past week about the importance of families.  Jackie and Naiane, two of our investigators that are absolutely AWESOME (they even made us a cake last night and I almost cried of sheer joy J), have a lot of problems with family.  Neither of their families want them talking to us.  For Naiane, it’s not a big deal because she is 20, but for Jackie, it’s a problem because she is only 16.  And, we have to have consent from the parents to speak with minors . . . They are increeeeeedible and both really need this Gospel to help them.  It’s what they are searching for and I know that without a doubt in my mind.

Another story about the importance of families, stronger story really . . . Is about a woman named Jessica.  It’s a really sad thing here . . . When a husband has a wife, it’s normal for him to leave his family and go live with another woman or family, even states away.  It’s one of the most depressing things I’ve ever seen.  Jessica is “married” (I really don’t know what to call it) to this guy called Sandro who really has a different wife and family in some other state.  The saddest part is, and the part I reeeeeeally don’t understand, that she absolutely hates this guy.  After he left, she was talkin’ to us about how ignorant he is and how much she doesn’t like him.  She was crying her eyes out.  We don’t really understand why she stays with him . . .But there must be some reason.

All I know is it really made me see how important it is to have love at home.  How important it is that we love our spouses (for those of us with one) and our children, and our brothers, and sisters, and just everyone.  That we have such a POWERFUL influence on those in our home because we really are a unit and a team.  We live together and do everything.  Every action we take has an impact on someone else.  This is why Heavenly Father gave us families – To help the other improve and feel more happiness and joy during our times together or not together – That we absolutely ALWAYS have each others’ backs.  Friends come and go, but our families are OUR FAMILIES.  We only get one.  If you only had one computer for your whole life, how would you treat it?  You would do everything you could do keep it in perfect shape.  It’s the same thing and waaaaayyyyy more with families.  We only get one.  And not just for this life . . .But for ETERNITY!  So, we have to do everything we can to stick together and help one another  J  THAT is when we will feel truuuuuuuly happy  J

Well . . . I sure do love you all!  No baptisms this week, but things are lookin’ up.  Investigators are poppin’ out of no where and reeeeeeeeally are answers to all of your prayers!  We have four weeks to close ‘em up and get ‘em baptized!  Maybe more if I stay here, but we will see!  Everything’s great!  Life is fantastic!  I think about you all every day!  But I’m so happy to be able to bring this joy that I have at home to others.  Because everyone needs it!  J  I LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!

Love, Elder Jensen