Let Us All Press On!

FAMILY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  FRIENDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   OTHER PEOPLE WHO I DONT KNOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

How are you guys?  Doin’ good?  Always fly?  That’s what I‘m talkin’ about.

Elder Jung and I at the airport.
President Gonzaga didn't like the glasses we found  :-(

This week was good!  It was my last week that had lots of work inside of it.  We basically had every single day to be able to work other than Tuesday.  This week has been to prove my endurance.  Basically everything I was doing was setting up for things after I leave, so I had to really focus on not being selfish.  It was actually very difficult because I was super tired.  We walked SO MUCH this week!!!!  We had days where everything was all planned out and everything fell through so we ended up walking a great deal more than we had planned.  But it’s all good  =)

   

It was also raining men out here this week . . . Literally.  Not literally.  But it rained SO MUCH.  I haven’t seen this much rain my whole Mission.  This whole week was just . . . Rain.  It was exhausting!  And, of course, I’m too stubborn to buy an umbrella at this point so we basically just got soaking wet.  No sun for a few days sucks the energy out of you too.  Funny how much I complain about the sun here and when it finally goes away and . . . I’m beggin’ for it to come back!

   

This week we followed up on Bruno who is the grandson of a member, Clarice.  He is set for this week, we believe, but we had trouble meeting up with him more than once or twice last week so we aren’t sure.  Same situation with his cousin, Yara.  But we have faith it will happen!

   

We taught a kid named Adson as well that was almost Baptized a few months back but his mom didn’t let him.  Apparently now she will let him, so we will see what happens.  He was all set to go to church but for some reason didn’t show up.  We aren’t sure why.

   

Two of the kids we Baptized, Noemy and Marcos, have a brother who didn’t want to be Baptized with them just because he thinks he has to leave everything behind and change completely.  BUT the President of our Relief Society has been working a ton with him and he started rethinking it this week.  We are trying to get him in the water this Saturday with Bruno, Yara and Adson.  Pray lots for them!

   

We also had one man at church name Alisson.  He loved it and felt really good.  It would appear that his biggest problem at the moment is going to be The Word of Wisdom.  He said he would obey it if he knew it was really a commandment from God.  So we told him to know that the Word of Wisdom is true, he needs to read the Book of Mormon (which he hasn’t been doing) and know that it is the word of God.  He said he will read, so I will be sure to fill you all in  =)

   

This last week is going to be lots of craziness!  I only really have two days this week to work - Wednesday and Thursday.  Tuesday is Leadership Council.  Friday is stuff for Transfers.  Saturday is the Baptism and the Ward is going to do something for me to say goodbye.  Sunday is church and then I come straight to Farol to do more stuff for Transfers and . . . That’s it  =(

   

God be with you 'til we meet again!  I LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love, Elder Dylan Miles Jensen

That Awkward Moment When . . .

Waiting for the font to fill

Your Bishop sings EXACTLY like Will Ferrell doing Robert Goulet on SNL!  WHAAAAAA!?!??!

Family!

Man, this week was really good.  Elder Wigginton and I were totally wiped out . . . Our area has a lot more hills than my last . . . Every area.  So we are kind of tired of that.  Plus we are working like crazy these days!  Gotta get stuff done!

Let’s get down to the nitty gritty (Nacho Libre accent).  We had three Baptisms this week!  Noemy (I spelled her name wrong last week), Marcos and Yago.  Our Bishop was super happy that we had Baptisms . . .That Ward has had four Baptisms in the last six months or so . . . That doesn’t really make any sense at all but it happened!  It seems like our Ward is more worried about reactivating people than anything else.  But any Baptisms that come along the way they are in to help.

 

Baptism! Noemy, Yago, Marcos

This was our first Sunday at our own chapel.  Man . . . Our Ward is extremely small!  Bishop was not lying to when he said that we need to treat and take care of our Ward like a baby . . . We had an attendance of probably between 30 and 45 . . . And most of the members we have are very new and inexperienced . . . Just to give you an idea - Our lunch for that day gave us money for lunch DURING church.  Hahahahahaha!!!!  So . . . We ate bread and cheese for lunch!  And an apple.  And an orange.  It was a really tasty lunch.

Baptism of Noemy, Yago, and Marcos

Bishop also asked me and Elder Wigginton to speak at church on Sunday.  I gave a fifteen minute talk on "Joy In Sharing the Gospel With Heavenly Father's Children".  I still can’t believe how easy it is to give fifteen minute talks now . . .  I wrote out some ideas on a small piece of paper and used like half of them.  I think I looked at that paper like three times . . . Hhaha.  Sometimes the words just come out really easily . . . .I got very blessed in not getting way too nervous to speak in public.  It was very fun!

We met a 22 year old named Alisson this week.  We were actually searching for a less-active when we found him.  He recently broke up with his girlfriend and is living alone now.  He is SUPER interested and was SET to go to church but . . . Slept in -________- That was a total bummer!!!!!  But we are going to go back this week and see what’s up.  We have only taught him the Restoration with The Book of Mormon up until now this week. 

I called some old friends from my Ward in Aracaju this last week to see how they are . . . One family that helped us a ton while we were there recently fell away from the church and started going to another . . . They live a little bit farther away than most members and rarely received visits from other members.  When I was there they started going through some very difficult situations with their family members.  It took a while but they DID fall away and they DID start going to another church that they say is "the true church" and that "God revealed it" to them. 

I would just like to bear my testimony of the importance of TRUE home teachers and TRUE members of the Church of Jesus Christ.  That family fell away from the church NOT because of belief, but because they were tired.  They say this new church they are attending relieved them.  We all know that because our church is true, we will be attacked and persecuted our whole lives.  We will go through difficulties that others will not.  That makes us different.  They found rest in the other church because the enemy no longer was worried about them.  They fell away because they did not have strong support from the other members.  They can say whatever they want, but they fell away because their spirits were tired and no one helped.

We don’t comprehend very well the importance of supporting one another.  We are the Church of Jesus Christ.  We are in this together.  We have to help each other!  We have to love each other!  How much more can we give to help others?  I am positive we can still give much more.  How many people fell away from the Gospel because they were tired?  Very, very many.  Who comes into mind thinking about these things?  Make a goal!  Help that person!

I love you all so much.  I hope we can always serve one another with the love that Jesus has for us.

 

Love, Elder Dylan Miles Jensen

 I got to go to Antares today to say good-bye to some people.
This is Anderson, Tayná and Amon =)

CANADÁ!!!

You know you’re on a Mission when . . . You go to a Churrascaria and eat a 45 buck lunch and then walk a mile and a half back to your house because you don’t want to pay for the bus.

Family!

Today, we decided to eat lunch at a Churrascaria because Elder Wigginton had never eaten there.  SO GOOD.  But my wallet still hurts . . . Its’ a good thing I had extra!  He looked so dang happy.  Every time someone came by offering the next meat he just got this huge smile on his face . . . Hahaha.  LUNCH WAS SO GOOD!
 

View from Apartment in Canada

 

 

This week was good!  Canadá is a pretty cool area.  SUPER poor but cool.  We live right on a hill in front of the ocean.  We aren’t super close to the water, but we can see the better part of the city and the super green ocean water.  Seriously.  I have never seen water this green in my life.  It’s incredible.  I’m just happy I don’t work in the area that has the beach because it is a ton of tourism and rich people.    

Our Ward seems super excited.  Our Bishop had complained to our Mission President a little while back that he needed more Baptisms in the Ward . . . Which I think is funny because I got sent here in response to the complaint, but I really don’t Baptize very much.  Anyways, we had a meeting with our Bishop and some other Ward leaders yesterday and we drew out a bunch of plans.  Bishop says our Ward is "Like a baby".  Most of the members are super young and their testimonies are still a little shaky.  It’s much different working here than in our last area because the members have very little experience.  BUT desire is all we need to start!  We can work with that!

Our Relief Society President, Lucia, helped us out a TON this week.  She gave us a ton of referrals and showed the whole area to us.  She showed us three kids that she has been taking to church . . .  João Vitor, Marcos and Noemir.  They are all very young so we are happy that Lucia is helping them because they wouldn’t really have a chance to get Baptized without her.  They would have no way of getting to church and their parents don’t want anything to do with the church . . . These three are marked for this week so wish us luck!

This weekend was Stake Conference for us.  Elder Cruz, an Area Seventy, came and talked which was LEGIT.  He was SUPER funny and excited.  We got lucky because we heard from Elder Grau a few weeks back and then we got transferred to a Zone that got another Area Authority!  Man, they are amazing.  I always leave feeling so much more excited.  Elder Cruz said something I LOVED - "It’s better to do what the Lord asked than to not do it and feel remorse for the rest of your life".  He said that is terms of young men serving a Mission.  I loved it because he was really blunt that serving a Mission isn’t just an idea or a thought, but an EXTREMELY important COMMANDMENT.  Elder Cruz left it very obvious for us that serving a Mission really isn’t an option . . . You have to do it!

 

All in all, the week was good!  We are still getting used to the area and all that but I’m confident that it will all start rolling along nicely.  This was the first week in a loooong time that we didn’t have an investigator at church and that was utterly frustrating.  I don’t like that feeling.  We can do better.

I LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!!!!!!! Until next week!

Love, Elder Dylan Miles Jensen



These cookies were a total lie.
They were nothing like what they said
they would be!  Come on!

 

If the moon were made of cream cheese... Would ya eat it?

Whuddup, yall!!!!!

Wowzers.  This week was a blessing!  Rough!  But a blessing  =)

We started off the week going to Arapiraca which is an inland city.  We did splits there with the Zone Leaders which was super fun.  I think I already said this in the past but splits are what make me most nervous on the Mission.  I always get really stressed and want to do well so that I can be a good example and really help out the other Missionary.  I always work my faith a lot more on those days . . . Made me wonder why I don’t do that more often to be totally honest . . . We wait until the tough moments to really exercise our faith.  How lame is that!?!?!? 

I also forgot our keys on that Split . . . Our keys to our house, the office and the other house in Farol . . . So I had to call a guy to open up our door and make new keys for us.  The dude just used a hair clip to open the door and then made the key.  Making a copy of the key is like 4 Reais . . . Ya know how much he charged???  60 REAIS.  WHAT.  I was so frustrated because that is a total rip-off.  He can only charge that because he knows how to do it and other people don’t.  Normally, I would get a reimbursment from the church, but I already had an emergency fund and I didn’t see why the church should have to pay for my mistake . . . But, dang!  60 REAIS!  Come on!

Other than that this week was extremely fast again.  Friday, we came to the Office to check out the Transfers.  Once again . . . We tried to guess Transfers and we just never even get CLOSE!  BUT . . . Elder Wigginton and I were transferred together to an area called Canadá.  I’m pretty dang sad to leave Aeroclube . . . Aeroclube is probably the best Ward that I passed in on my whole Mission and I was really hoping that I would finish up there.  Canadá is supposed to be a very poor area and other than that I don’t know much . . . Haha.  I only know that the Lord said I have to go there, so I’m goin’!  Only four weeks there . . . Nuts.  Scary too.

Saying good-bye to Members in Aeroclube

We had a lot of cool miracles this week with new investigators.  All of our Baptisms from last week were confirmed as well which was a huge blessing  =)  I was feeling pretty lazy after Friday because I knew that I was going to leave the area, but I knew we had to work hard up until the end as well.  Happy to say in the end of it all that we left two Baptisms all ready for this Saturday for the next Missionaries that are going there.  That was a really good feeling . . . Just to know that the next Missionaries can be a little less stressed by knowing that the area is already ready for them and that they have investigators already.  I hope we find the same thing in Canadá!!!!

I would fill you all in on the new investigators but seeing as I won’t be following up much on them anymore I don’t think it would make much sense!

This week is Transfers and that means . . . LUNCH AT PRESIDENTS HOUSE!!!!!!!!!  WOO HOO!!!!!!  I love seeing all the newbies get here . . . It’s my favorite part of the Transfer now (Other than Baptisms).  Some Americans are going to get here in two weeks too which means . . . ANOTHER LUNCH AT PRESIDENTS HOUSE!!!!!!!!!!!  YES!!!!!  #DoubleWIn

The church is true! I LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 
Love, Elder Dylan Miles Jensen

 

Whuddup!!!!!

Quote of the week:  "I don’t have a girlfriend.  I just know a girl who would be really mad if she heard me say that." - Elder Wigginton

How’s it goin’ everybody!?!?!  Man, this week was SUUUUPER fast.  Extremely fast.  I’ll give y’all the summary really quick.
 
Monday we went to Farol and ran around to finish stuff up for our Leadership Council.  We managed to get everything done but, as always, we got back to the house a little behind.  I feel like I never have time to do everything that I need to do now a days!
 
Tuesday was our Leadership Council.  It was weird because President wasn’t there, but it was still good!  We gave a huge training on faith and enduring.  Our Mission had a good month so our biggest worry was that they would relax and stop working as hard.  We totally used the part of Star Wars where Luke tries to lift up the X-Wing and couldn’t because he didn’t believe and then Yoda totally burns him.  It was awesome.  Everyone wanted the video afterwards . . . Hhahahaha.
 
That afternoon, we headed off to Aracaju to go on splits with the Zone Leaders there.  Awesome splits and really great to be able to see how other people work and help them out.  Funny that they were nervous to have us there . . . I’m just a kid too!  I also ate Açaí two times while I was there because . . . It is the best food in the world.
 
Thursday morning, I had to wake up at 4:20 to be able to get the bus.  We got there on time but the other ZLs that were with Elder Wigginton were behind.  We thought our bus left 6:30, so the plan was to get there at 6 to be sure everything went alright.  Well they got there at like 6:15 and then we discovered that our bus LEFT at 6:15 -_______-  That’s why you always need to be EARLY to stuff!!!!  So we had to change our bus to 12:30 . . . We just sat around that whole day basically . . . Haha.

Friday was our ONLY day to work.  So we just did everything we could to follow up on Lucas, Samara and Wedja.
 
Saturday!  General Conference!  AWESOME.  I miss watching in English because I miss hearing the tones of their voice.  It’s pretty hard for me to focus in Portuguese because their mouths don’t match up and they talk with zero emotion . . . But all in all it was good.  I loved the talk (Don’t remember who) that talked about "Selective Obedience".  SO TRUE.  We do that a lot . . . Haha.  And the other talk that he said, "This is how I am".  SO TRUE TOO!  We just have to change.  Loved it, loved it, loved it.
 
Between the first and second sessions on Saturday we Baptized Wedja, Samara and Lucas.  Super fun!  I loved it!  Saturday was perfect.

Baptism of Lucas, Wedja, and Samara  :-)

 
Sunday also was amazing.  General Conference is always the best.
 
Soooo . . . I don’t know if you all realized but they announced it in the Conference.  President Gonzaga was called to be an Area Seventy!!!!  He didn’t even tell us he was going . . . Haha.  We just found out when they said his name.  All the Missionaries went nuts!!!  My head almost exploded I was so dang excited!  There were a bunch of Missionaries at the conference that got to see him which made me pretty jealous. But apparently he has to go out there AT LEAST every April now soooo . . . I will get to see him and Sister still!  YES!  My new goal is to get married in April so that they can be there!  Hahahahha
 
Great week!  Next week is gonna be nuts too!  LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!!!

Love, Elder Dylan Miles Jensen

You gotta put your behind in the past!

Ranielly's Baptism

Whuddup, family!!!!!!

Well, well, well . . .  This week!  First off . . . Ranielly was Baptized!!!  WOO HOO!!!!!!  The Baptism started about an hour and a half late because people here are kinda . . . Slow to arrive.  But the important part is that the Baptism DID happen!  Her husband, Rafael, Baptized her as well which was really cool.  I think that they were both extremely nervous so it was super fun  =)

Wedja . . . Well, she got super sick  =(  So she wasn’t Baptized.  "Ya hear that!?  Bears!  Now ya put the whole station in jeopardy!"  That was a total bummer, but she says she is going to be Baptized this next week between the General Conference sessions on Saturday!

A girl named Samara (I don’t remember if I talked about her last week?) also went to church again!  She has nothing stopping her up until now.  The only thing that is being difficult is that the woman that takes her to church with her isn’t obeying the rules of which Ward she is supposed to go to.  So Samara is being a little difficult with wanting to go to the other Ward.  This week she went to our Ward half of the time and to the other Ward the other half -____-  Almoooooost.  She will understand.  It’s the member that is causing the problem.  If the member told her what’s up, all of this would be extremely simple!

We also starting teaching a kid named Lucas this week.  We also had gone to the other Ward for two weeks but the Missionaries there passed the referral to us.  Lucas lives with his Grandma and is starting to make some bad decisions with friends and stuff like that.  Basically . . . If he gets Baptized and stays strong it could save his life because the kid is headed in a reeeeeally bad direction.  He is only 14 and already started smoking and all that stuff . . . He WANTS to be Baptized.  I just hope that he also learns to make new friends, which he has already started doing at church.  The hardest thing for him is going to be leaving past relationships in the past so that he can have better influences.  Pray lots for him!  Him and Samara are both marked to be Baptized with Wedja this Saturday  =)

This week we had to do quite a bit of planning for Leadership Council tomorrow . . . We are going to talk a lot about the Atonement and enduring when things get difficult.  Our Mission had a good month this month and we saw some serious progress.  Our fear is that the Missionaries are going to relax after having done well.  So we hope we can help with that tomorrow.  President isn’t going to be at our Meeting so . . . I’m presiding tomorrow!  Hahaha!  That’s gonna be funny to me I think.

Really though, I’m so grateful for the Atonement.  What more could I do that the Savior paid the price for me to be able to do?  I’m trying to make that the theme of the end of my Mission . . . I want to finish really strong.   

This next week is going to be SUPER fast.  We have a meeting tomorrow and then we are going to travel to Aracaju.  Wednesday we are going to do divisions with Aracaju North and Aracaju South.  I’m going to stay in the north and Elder Wigginton is going to stay in the South.  Then on Thursday we have to get the bus at 6:30 AM (DANG IT!).  We get back to Maceió that afternoon and then the rest of the day is following up on our investigators and Baptismal Interviews on Friday.  Then Saturday is General Conference and the Baptism, the Sunday is General Conference.  We are excited!

I love you all!!!! Be good, be safe! 

Love, Elder Dylan Miles Jensen

     

Nature . . . Goulet . . .

We have been quoting Saturday Night Live a looooot in our house these days. Specifically Robert Goulet...

How’s it goin’ y’all!?!?!?

Dang this week was super exhausting.  Elder Wigginton and I were both wiped out by the time Sunday came around.  It was an interesting week too though.  I always remember in basketball when dad would say, "Trying your hardest isn’t enough.  You have to have stats.”  I try to use that out here.  There is always something that can be done.  If you aren’t doing well, it’s because you have to change something.  So we decided to change our tactics!  We had been doing lots of contacts and what not and it just wasn’t going right . . . So this last week we tried really hard to work with the members and dang!  It went really well!  We got like 11 referrals last week and marked Baptisms of the majority of them.  Unfortunately, not everyone showed up to church but that always happens . . . Haha. 

     

Raielly went to church with her husband Rafael on Sunday.  Bishop also taught a lesson with us on Saturday night with them which was awesome.  I love our Bishop.  He is an absolute NUT and he works suuuuper hard.  He had an interview with Rafael right after church to tell Rafael that he needs to step up, help his wife be Baptized this Saturday and that he needs to be worthy to Baptize her.  LOVED IT.  When we taught them last night, Rafael was all over it.  He cleaned up the house and kept tellin’ her all kinds of stuff to encourage her.  Anyways, she is all set for this Saturday  =D

     

Wedja also went to church this week and is all set for this Saturday.  There really isn’t anything too complicated with her.  She is totally ready and obeys all the commandments already.  She was just a blessing from Heaven . . .

When I was in Tabuleiro, there was a woman there who helped us Baptize seven people in a month . . . Anyway, she moved to our area so we started working with her and taught a girl close to where she lives.  Her name is Samara and she is 17.  Super chill and relaxed and is lovin’ everything up until now.  She is marked for April 5^th, which is General Conference but we will get it all sorted out.  Maybe we will have to do it on the 4th.  But the important thing is that it will happen!

     

We are here in the office right now and there is a girl that is a member that works here . . . Basically I am totally not ready to date.  She is venting about like everything in her life and I feel really bad because I just . . . Don’t care that bad . . . Hahahaha.  It’s like all these super little things about fights in her life . . . Come on!  I’m tryin’ to write to my family!!!!  Oh well.  Life goes on.

     

This next week is gonna be really nuts again but I’m excited  =)  I love you all!!!!!!!!!!  Be good, be safe!!!!!  LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!

Love, Elder Dylan Miles Jensen

Happy St. Patricks Day!

Goooooood Afternoon, errrrbody!

How’s it goin!?!?!?  Man, this week was pretty dang tiring but, once again, passed wayyyy too fast.  We actually were’nt able to get too much done this week . . . Haha . . . Things just weren’t going like we wanted them to go!!!  Every commitment we had fell through for about two or three days straight . . . Hahaha.  But being with Elder Wigginton makes everything fine because he is super chill and positive so it was good.  We DID have a few miracles though!!!! 

   

The first was a woman named Ranielly.  We had a terrible day and at the last moment she called us over to talk.  People generally don’t ASK us to talk to them so I was slightly weirded out at first . . . Haha.  Anyways, we found out that she has already been to church a lot but in another ward.  She is married (LEGALLY) to a less-active that almost went on a Mission a few years ago buuuut . . . They had a baby soooo that didn’t go as planned.  When they moved here to our area they stopped going to church and the husband, Rafael, started drinking and smoking  =(  It was interesting because Ranielly recognizes completely that her family is worse now that they don’t go to church.  She realizes that they were happier when they went to church together and learned about the principles of the Gospel.  So we marked her Baptism for the 29th!  It’s lookin’ good!  They didn’t go to church because it was Stake Conference with an Area Seventy and they didn’t want to go to another part of the city . . . Haha. But they said they will go this next Sunday  =)

   

The other miracle was a woman named Cristina who was a member from another ward.  She moved here as well a few months ago and stopped going to church.  She called us over and asked where the church was and what not aaaand she has a daughter that was never Baptized!  Woo hoo!  Her daughter’s name is Wedja and her baptism is set for the 29th as well.  Wedja got some weird eye infection this last week so she didn’t go to Stake Conference with Cristina BUT they both went to Cristina's original ward.  So that was for sure a miracle as well!

   

Aaaaaand Alvaro and Renata . . . I almost blew up yesterday after our lesson with them.  They both went to Stake Conference which was great but they are driving me NUTS.  We taught them a lesson yesterday and they both know that the church is true and that they need to be Baptized they just . . . Aren’t doing it.  For no reason at all.  They are just afraid to really decide.  Alvaro totally wants to.  Renata does too but not as much as him.  I am POSITIVE that if one of them had said "I’m going" the other was going to say the same thing.  But they are both super scared to take the initiative.  Renata said "I felt a peace so strong come over me the other day when we said a prayer together that I almost cried.  And I felt that same thing today at Conference.  But I need an answer from God still."  DUDE.  COME ON. SERIOUSLY!?!?!?  She has already received soooo many answers!!!!!!!!  They said they are going to pray about it but I don’t know what else they expect . . . od is only going to do what they can’t do for themselves.  Now they have to decide. 

     

Aaaaanyways!  IN ALL it was a good week with lots of miracles and we are excited to get at it again this next week  =)  I LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!!!!

Love, Elder Dylan Miles Jensen

A Week of Miracles!!!!!

The Staff  =)

Whuddddduuuuuup!?!?!?!?

I sure hope all you guys are doin’ great!  I miss you tons!  I miss March Madness even more . . . But I still miss you guys  =D 

     

This week went by way too fast like always!  Monday was all getting ready for transfers and then Tuesday was transfers.  So we got to get all the greenies from the airport and eat at the Mission Home and all that good stuff.  There’s a guy from Maceió that just left for his Mission and met all these missionaries in the CTM in São Paulo . . . He talked a bunch of crap about our Mission and everyone got here thinking they were going to get shot at, robbed and never Baptize.  I WAS SO MAD.  If you want to ruin your mission go for it.  But don’t ruin other peoples’ missions.  If you don’t have faith then let yourself suffer, but don’t make others suffer.  I WAS SOOOOOO MAD!!!!!!!!  Especially because I know that kid.  Anyways, don’t talk about people or places.  It doesn’t help anyone or anything . . . It just helps me lose more hair!

     

Baptism of Poliane and Poliana with Edna  =)

Tuesday, Edna, a less-active, called out of nowhere and said that her daughters, Poliane and Poliana, wanted to be BAPTIZED!!!  That was suuuuuch a huge miracle!  I was beyond excited.  Things just clicked for Edna last Sunday and she got super excited again and that’s that!  Poliane and Poliana were Baptized on Saturday night  =)

   

We found out that David isn’t married legally this last week  =(  He only has a União Estável ( I don’t know what that word is in English) but it basically just means a division of all possessions.  The problem is that it can be for ANYONE.  So the Church doesn’t recognize it as a legal marriage . . . So he might take a while longer for him to be Baptized because of that one.  He also didn’t go to church on Sunday and we don’t know what happened there . . . So the situation with David is very . . . "Mais ou Menos"! 

         

A couple that we taught a few times (MARRIES LEGALLY HALLELUJAH) went to church this week as well!  They are already really close to getting’ Baptized.  Generally they go to one of my old wards, Antares, because Renata (the wife) likes that ward more and has more friends there.  But because of the distance it sounds like Alavaro (The husband) is wanting to start going to the right ward.  So pray lots for them.  They are kind of our gold right now.

       

We weren’t able to meet too many people this week because of lack of time . . . Like always.  But we pray lots to have miracles and Baptize weekly.  I’ve never done it BUT it is the goal!  But working with Elder Wigginton is sooooo much fun. I think his sense of humor is really close to mine so we get along really well.  It’s nice to serve with Californians  =)

       

I SURE LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!!!!!  Be good, be safe, write lots!  LOVE YOU!!!!!!!

Love, Elder Dylan Miles Jensen

SO TREAT HER RIGHT, TREAT HER RIGHT!!!!

Elders Jensen and Pires
He is from Cabo Verde! An island off the coast of Africa.

Howdy Hey!!!!

How’s it goooooin!?!?!? 

     

Man.  I’m not gonna lie.  This week was kinda a tough one.  Seemed like we could just not get it goin for the life of us!!!!  We were workin and all that good stuff but we just weren’t meeting any of the right people.  Honestly, I take blame for that one.  I was pretty dang stressed out this week with life.  Lots of stuff to think about with the mission and all the missionaries and how we are going to fix some problems.  We just aren’t Baptizing as much as we can and it’s frustrating.  Actually, we had a meeting with President about our next Leadership Council which usually goes on for a while talking about ideas and stuff.  He just looked at us and said . . . "Baptize.  That’s the topic".  So I am actually pretty excited!!  I love specific stuff so I know it will be good. 

       

Elder Jensen, Me, Aristoteles, Val & Elder Rodrigues

I am learning to handle different difficult situations.  I think that that is something I am going to need after the Mission.  Being able to handle lots of stuff at the same time.  But at the same time, I recognize that I need to improve A LOT on this.  I got really stressed out and I think I lost a little bit of focus so we didn’t receive as many blessings as we could have . . . Just gotta keep ya head up!

     

David didn’t go to church because his daughter got sick  =(  But he seems like is progressing a loooooot!  He is even seems less hesitant about Baptism.  We have him set to be Baptized this week, but we don’t know what’s up with coffee and some other commandments so . . . Pray lots for him!

       

This week . . . W’s mom didn’t allow him to be Baptized and we found out that J didn’t want to be Baptized . . . This week all the youth on our whole Mission are in another city for EFY.  Our Bishop is super legit and invited J and S to go to EFY but the dad wouldn’t let them go . . . S wouldn’t even talk to us after all that stuff . . . #MADEMEANGRY  

This week I had a division with Elder Harris and we taught a less-active kid.  His mom just kept complaining about how he wasn’t going to church anymore and all that good stuff . . . But she didn’t want anything to do with anything . . . For real?  How are you going to tell your kid he needs to do something and you don’t do it yourself? Basically, I ended up telling the kid that I was happy he was Baptized and can be saved. 

We got to go to São Miguel and see the famile that we Baptized!!!
Gilbeno, Cicera, Kayke and Juninho =)

Earlier that day, I went with Elder Harris to teach a guy that has already gone to church quite a few times but didn’t want to be Baptized because of his girlfriend that lives in another city.  I don’t know how, but we went there to teach him and the words came out of my mouth super naturally and the guy finally decided to get Baptized on the 8th!  He said, "No, I’m not gonna tell my girlfriend.  It’s better to just lie so that I can be Baptized".  Errrrrr . . . Keep the bigger commandment?  Anyway, I felt really good that I was able to help them out in their area  =)  It’s always good to be used as a blessing for other people!!!

           

Elder Rodrigues goes home this week  =(  I freaking love this kid.  I feel like we are way better friends now than when he trained me.  I think that we have both changed and grown a ton since that time so it was a huge blessing to be able to serve with him again.  Gonna miss him!  But I’m excited for him as well  =)  

Elders Jensen and Jung
The paper says, "Follow your leader"
We just kinda like to act weird, that's all . . .

Anyways!  This week had its trials but . . . Trials are good  =)  They make us better.  I learned this week to stay focused and always lead by example.  I learned that if we do what the Lord asks first, all other things fall right into place  =)

         

I LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Be good, be safe, write lots! LOVE YOU!

Love, Elder Dylan Miles Jensen

Whuddup!!!!!

Zone Conference

Goooood morning, everybody  =)

You all are gonna hate me but . . . I really don’t have too terribly much to fill ya in on this week!  This week was all Zone Conferences.  Monday morning we went to Aracaju; Tuesday we had Conference there.  We came back to Maceió on Wednesday morning and passed by the house real quick to change clothes and take a shower and stuff and then we headed straight back to Farol.  We spent the whole day in the office on Wednesday and then slept in Farol.  Thursday and Friday were Zone Conferences as well . . . These were my last Zone Conferences!  Normally they are every other transfer so I thought I would still have one more . . . But I discovered that the next one will be eight days after I get home  =(  So I gave my last testimony in the three meetings we had.  That was pretty dang depressing but I’ve still got about three months, so I think I will survive  =) 

     

The Conferences all went well.  Our first one, naturally, was the roughest but after that it was super easy and natural.  Once you get the rhythm down, it’s all a lot easier.  All in all, the Conferences were fun and it was awesome to be able to see every single Missionary  =)

     

Jonatan was . . . !  ALMOST Baptized . . . Dang it!  It was all set to go but then his boss called up out of nowhere and said he had to work.  #FreakinSatan!  Anyway, he is excited to be Baptized this Saturday  =)  We really didn’t have much time to follow up on people this week seeing as we only had Saturday and Sunday to work . . . MAYBE we will Baptize a kid named William this week but I don’t know yet.  His family is less-active and we are trying to get them back.  So pray lots for him =)

       

That’s about all I got this week unfortunately.  Sorry!  I LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!!!!!!!

Love, Elder Dylan Miles Jensen

Whaddduuuuppppp????

Goodnight!  Boa noite!  Buenas noites!!!!

How’s it goin, y’all???  How’s life?  Let me try to fill you in on my week real quick . . . 

First things first . . . Aristoteles was Baptized on Saturday!!!!  YES!  That was a really good experience and a very special meeting.  His family was less-active for awhile because they move a lot.  His dad, Val, works for Petrobras which is a gasoline company that BASICALLY controls Brasil . . . Haha.  They didn’t ever do anything TOO bad it sounds like, they just kinda stopped going when they moved.  But Val just got called as the Young Men President and he seems super excited.  His wife, Rita, is actually pretty chill.  Just really nice to see families going to church together  =)  Getting’ ready to go to the Celestial Kingdom and live together and what not . . . Doesn’t get much better than that!!!

We had a lot of time in the area this week which was a HUGE blessing.  I love working in the office because it’s a super new experience and in a weird way I kinda like being lost.  Makes things more exciting.  But I need to learn to improve my attitude when we have to stay in the office for long lengths of time.  My happiness comes from being out there and talking and walking and getting to know people so when I have to sit in front of a computer for a few hours my grumpy side comes out.  I for sure need to get better on that and I’m sure I will.  I only recognized this yesterday so I am excited to try to get better soon  =)
       
We had a Division this week and I stuck with Elder Saavedra.  He is from Argentina . . . HE IS SO WEIRD.  So, naturally, we get a long great . . . Haha!  I already served in the same Zone as him.  I was nervous because I don’t know our Area all too well . . . We have worked in our area very little up until now, so it was pretty interesting but at the end of the day I still had all of vital organs and both arms.  I’d say that that is success!  We also met like six people and marked four Baptisms that day which was amazing.  Divisions are what make me most nervous on my Mission because I really want to be a good example for the Elder that I am supposed to be helping.  So luckily the day went well  =)
        
We met a really cool guy named David this week who is actually our neighbor . . . Haha.  He was in the Navy but messed up his spine really bad building some stuff and can’t work anymore.  He is only 24 so he just really needs someone to talk to.  He always a reeeeeally bad impression about our church too cuz his family is from a church (no names mentioned) that absolutely HATES "The Mormons".  So we are slowly helpin’ him out.  It’s incredible though how much the enemy works to make people feel.  This week his 2 year old daughter fell on her head and had to go to the hospital and then the next day (Saturday night) he had some weird spinal attack and had to go to the hospital . . .  So he wasn’t able to go to church.  Keep him and his family in your prayers.  SUPER special family!!!  We are gonna crush the serpent’s head!!!
         
We are reactivating a girl named Fabíola as well and her sister, Paula.  Their brother, William, showed up to church with them which was a HUGE miracle.  We are also teaching their friend Vitória who went to church on Sunday  =)  We are also working with two girls named Poliane and Poliana.  They are twins and their mom is a less-active.  But the mom is super . . . The twins went to church but we aren’t sure exactly what we are going to do yet because they are only 12 and we can’t take them to church every Sunday like we did.  So we will see!  Simone, the girl who was Baptized two weeks ago, also has a brother named Jonatan who went to church so we are trying to Baptize him this Saturday.  It’s gonna be rough because this week is ALLLLLL Zone Conferences . . . So we don’t’ have any time until Saturday to follow up on him. . . . Pray lots for us!  We are trying really hard to Baptize weekly to be great examples for our Mission.  The other leaders out here are generally young so we are trying to get people more focused on marking Baptisms and of course . . . BAPTIZING!!!  Nothing too new  =)
          
Today I am in Aracaju again and we stay until Wednesday morning.  Tuesday is Zone Conference for Sergipe and Thursday and Friday are Zone Conferences for Alagoas . . . So it’s gonna be a crazy week!!!!
         
That’s all I got!  I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Be good, be safe, write lots!  LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!

Love, Elder Dylan Miles Jensen

Helloooooooo!!!!

Whuddup!!!

  

Me and my Dad

Alright this week was the weirdest week of my Mission for sure in terms of scheduling.  I will try my best to fill ya in.

     

Sunday, we slept in the Secretaries’ house in Farol.  We drove to Aracaju on Monday morning and cleaned up the church there and got everything all set up.  Then we slept in Grageru 2.  We woke up the next day and had our Leadership Meeting!  I was honestly pretty dang nervous to do the training we had, but it ended up going really well (I think!!!).  I really want to do a good job as Assistant and make a difference which kinda makes me stress out.  It was the same thing in other positions as well until I felt more comfortable and more confident . . . I’m sure I will get better! (I Hope!!!!)

       

We slept in Grageru 2 again that night and then went back to Maceió on Wednesday morning.  We ate in Farol and finished the Mission e-mail and finished up the numbers from the previous week which took a few hours.  We had to clean up that chapel there as well so we ended up getting back to the house in Farol at like 11:30 which was terrible, but worth it.  

Thursday was the same Meeting as Tuesday just with other people.  I felt like it went better the second time around.  I felt a little bit more comfortable  =)  That night . . . I GOT TO SLEEP IN MY OWN BED.  Oh, so nice.  I have so much respect for people who travel a lot now . . . Haha.

     

At the Airport with the newbies  =)

Friday, we got to work in our own area and Saturday as well.  Unfortunately, we lost a lot of time trying to close up Simones Baptism which . . . HAPPENED!!!  Simone was Baptized!!!  That was super legit to see and she seemed very happy.  Unfortunately, we weren’t able to find many new investigators because our time was so little . . . It’s pretty frustrating to finish the week with numbers that are so low, but I guess I will just have to be very, very, VERY efficient with the little time that I have.  It’s a good lesson to learn.

         

For this next Saturday, Aristotele’s is going to be Baptized  =)  It’s already all set up.  His dad is going to Baptize him and all that good stuff  =)

     

Elder Rodrigues said something this week that helped me out a little bit with all the tiredness and craziness.  He said that being Assistant has helped him to learn to love serving others.  Basically, everything we do is to make sure that the other Missionaries are good to go and are doing their best.  It’s not very easy to sacrifice so much of my own time for other people.  It’s something that I’m really not used to doing.  But I can see how important it is and why God expects it of us.  Service is literally giving up your time for other people.  I always knew that, but maybe I never had really LIVED that until now.  I think I am just starting right now.  But it’s a good lesson to learn  =)

     

That’s about all I got!!  I LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!!!!  Be good, be safe, write lots!!  TCHAU!!!!!!!

Love, Elder Dylan Miles Jensen

Sister Gonzaga, Elder Leonan, Elder Jung, Elder Rodrigues, ME, Presidente Gonzaga

Whew!!!!!

“Our greatest fear is not that we are incompetent, but that we are more powerful than we can possibly imagine”

Family!!!

     

A ten year old girl quoted Coach Carter (I know it’s not JUST Coach Carter) with that quote in our Fast Sunday meeting . . . I almost died of happiness.  Super legit!!!

    

Well, this week was, once again, extremely insane.  We always think that we are going to have more time and then we realize that we have something else that we have to get done . . . It’s stressful but gives a pretty good challenge for sure!  Monday night, Tuesday and most of Wednesday were all spent in the office finishing up our trainings for Leadership Council this week.  We are actually in Aracaju right now and we are going to sleep in my old Zone, Aracaju Sul . . . I MISS THIS ZONE SO MUCH.  I finally understand what it is going to be like after the Mission to feel trunky for my Mission . . . I learned so much here so it’s weird to come back and remember all of the experiences.  We will be here until tomorrow night.  We get back to Maceió tomorrow pretty late and then we work in the office again on Wednesday to finish up some graphs and other trainings . . . It’s sooooo different working this way. I’m still not used to it at all.  We have to Baptize more than anyone with less time . . . Lots of prayer!!

      

This week we met a lot of really cool and interesting people but when it came down to Sunday . . . Almost no one showed up to church . . . Aristoteles, our Baptism for this last week, wasn’t Baptized because he and his family had traveled here to Aracaju and didn’t get home in time . . . That was frustrating because his parents knew all about it and didn’t really talk to anyone about their travel plans.  He is still a Baptism, we just hope we can meet up with them soon and get everything organized.

      

We actually had two people that went to church that are Adventists.  They are really cool.  It just makes me sad because they know that what we say is true.  We even show it to them from every angle.  They simply won’t pray to really search for an answer.  They admitted that.  They are scared to have to change religion.  People are actually pretty funny.  Doing what God wants only goes until it’s something that they don’t want to do.  I think a lot of do that a lot.  We are so so so so so so willing to do God’s will when it is our will, but the moment that God’s will doesn’t match up with our will, Gods will doesn’t seem so interesting anymore . . . Freakin’ free agency.  I hate it, but I love it  (Ab Ripper X quote).

       

All in all, we are a little disappointed with our own area this week but we know things will get better.  A girl named Simone is planning on bein’ Baptized this Saturday.  She is the friend of a member and ward missionary.  Super legit and has permission from her parents.  Just gotta obey the commandments and do what is right!  Pray lots for her and Aristoteles!!

       

It’s really awesome being able to work in the office.  We got to travel here to Aracaju with President and Sister Gonzaga this morning as well.  I have learned sooooo much in just two weeks about all kinds of doctrine and principles.  One of the things I am coming to love learning about most is church organization.  It’s soooo cool to see how everything has to work inside of a Mission to set up groups and new wards and branches and stakes and all that.  ‘Im lovin’ it  =)

     

That’s all I’ve got for now.  I LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Be good, be safe, write lots!!!!

Love, Elder Dylan Miles Jensen

A BIG TURN!!!

Baptism of Ednaldo and Cleide  =)

That awkward moment when . . . You get called to be the new Assistant.

Hey!!!!

No, but for real . . . It was super awkward . . . Hahaha.  Well, for those of you who did not hear already, I got called to be the new Assistant to the President!!!  It's pretty dang different, but good at the same time.  Lots of stuff to get used to.  Lots of graphs and numbers and meetings.  BUT I guess it will be a good way for me to get used to technology again before I get home . . . Hahaha.

     

Summary of last week:  I got the call that I was transferred so I packed up all my stuff on Monday and we had transfers on Tuesday.  I actually really didn’t know if it would be me because when I got there, there were a ton of Zone Leaders that had been transferred.  I actually was extremely nervous and said many prayers to try to keep calm . . . Haha.  Transfers always stress me out way too much.  Well, President announced that I would be the Assistant with my trainer, Elder Rodrigues, and that we would be working in Aeroclube with is LITERALLY on the side of Tabuleiro.  I was actually kinda mad . . . Hahahaha . . . Cuz the Assistants were my neighbors already . . . Basically, I had to pack up EVERYTHING and clean EVERYTHING and take EVERYTHING to the meeting in Farol just to get sent to my neighbor’s house . . . Hahaha.  Oh well.  Life goes on.

     

Then we got to go to the airport to get the newbies which was super weird because I felt like I was the person arriving like yesterday.  The new Elders look at us like we are the best people in the world . . . It’s really weird . . . Haha . . . Cuz I don’t feel like I’m very good at all this!!!  We stayed at the Mission Home a lot of the day eating and then took all the Missionaries to their areas.  The next day, we had a meeting with them and their trainers which was cool.  I love Air Conditioning.  I LOVE IT.  IT’S SO HOT HERE.

       

Ednaldo, Elder Jensen, Cleide and Odlande  =)

After that, we had to set up all the graphs for the Zone Leaders and plan out our Leadership Meeting with President.  Just being able to chill and talk to President and Sister Gonzaga is awesome.  I even asked Sister for a tour of the house cuz I always wanted to see the second floor.  Basically, I felt like I was watching Cribs - Mormon Edition.  But our Meeting with President was the best.  We just sat there for three hours and planned out meetings and he explained all the situations in the Stakes and what his plans are and all that good stuff.  It’s weird being Assistant cuz your view of the Mission is waaaayyyyyy bigger.  You have to see everything and understand everything.  You have to know every problem.

         

It’s actually slightly stressful.  Lots of weight put on your shoulders.  This month we are going to lose about two weeks with meetings.  We lose every Monday night and the whole day on Tuesday.  We have to call all the Zone Leaders a few times during the week to follow up with them and see how they are doing which is fun but stressful too.  I find myself asking more for the wisdom of Solomon these days cuz there are some situations that I just don’t know what to do.  Following up on one Zone is a lot but following up on maany Zones is just a buttload of information . . . Haha.

       

BUT we do have time to work in our area still.  I will answer some of Moms questions here cuz it will help a little bit. 

1 - Daily responsibilities: BAPTIZE and help other Missionaries to BAPTIZE by following up on their numbers and being sure that every number has a name.  Also thinking out our Trainings.

2 - Daily schedule:  Kinda depends on the day!  Some days in the office.  Other days in the field.

3 - When President travels we will usually go with him.  But when he has to got to Lagarto (Which is a District so he has to preside), we stay here and leave that to him. He also doesn’t go there too much because there is a Missionary couple there that takes care of things.  They are getting ready to become a Stake in Lagarto and divide with Aracaju South and Aracaju North.

4 - I live in the exact same place, just a house over . . . Haha.  The secretaries live in Farol, so it’s just me and my companion in our house.

5 - Luckily, we still proselyte quite a bit  =)  Just more pressure cuz we have to be an example for our Mission.

6 - We NEVER eat at the Mission Home . . . Haha . . . Only when the new Missionaries get here.  President is really strict on making sure that the Staff doesn’t get any special treatment and that everyone is equal which I think is freakin’ legit.

     

Alright that’s about all I got for now.  Giant e-mail . . . Haha . . .  Life is good!  I LOVE YOU ALL!!!  We have a Baptism this week for a kid named Aristotles so wish us luck and pray for us!!!!

Love, Elder Dylan Miles Jensen

Jane, Elder Jensen and Levi