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