HUZZAH! P-day miracles!

Ohmygoshohmygoshohmygosh so much to say right now, and I'm shaking a little bit from adrenaline because I just had the best experience about 10 minutes ago and I'm not over it yet. Whoo, gotta calm down....

First of all, my companion is FANTASTIC, and she's another great addition to my collection of international companions! So along with Finland, England/Australia, America, and Canada, I now have a companion from SPAIN! Sister De Ruvo is from a town near Milan, and is very clear she is NOT from the south hahaha. Her English is great, her dad served a mission in Utah so she's been speaking it her whole life, but I still get to laugh at her- I mean help her occasionally. She thinks I'm crazy though, one of her first questions to me was if I really commit people to be baptized in the first lesson. I told her "Every time!" and she gave me a devastated look. She keeps saying she has an Italian mindset and hates 90% of what I do, but she's a good sport and does it anyways. She is a great teacher, the Lord is keeping me in my place because she's been out a week and English is her second language, but she teaches better than me. Fact. It's gonna be a good transfer!

Best story of her so far: I told her to just tear something and she asked what tear meant. So I said, "you know, rip, cut" and mimed tearing something. And she said : "Oh, you mean like 'It's tearing up my heart when I'm with you!'" I died laughing, from now on I'm just going to sing NSync and Backstreet Boys whenever she needs to know a word.

Okay, here's my AWESOME experience I just had. We've been fighting all day to get on a computer at the library, because we have to go home and clean (ugh, more explanation about that later!) So we've come to the library 3 times and all of them have been taken, so we went and did something else and came back. So the 3rd time we went to ask about reserving computers, and I'm seriously unhappy at this point because I'm realizing I'm not writing any letters today, so we're standing in line for the desk and I say something to Sister De Ruvo and just call her Sister. So the man behind me laughs and asks if she's really my sister, so I explain how we're missionaries and that's our title. So he asks what denomination, we say the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, he asks if we have another name and I'm like uh oh...Yes, the mormons. Sure enough, he gives us that "oh you have lots of wives" look and goes quiet. But then he asks if we believe we all have the potential to have the same divinity as Christ. I'm super surprised, it's not a normal question I get asked in a library, so we start talking about the plan of salvation and how our purpose in coming to Earth is to eventually become like God. We finally reserved computers for half an hour later, he asks the front desk his question, and all 3 of us sit down. He came to the library to check out a book about the physiology of spirituality, so he tells us how people now think someone's crazy if the say they have a vision so he's studying the science behind spiritual experience, then he asks what we believe about prophets. So we teach him about how God always calls prophets and about the great apostasy after Christ's death and about Joseph Smith having a vision and being called to be a prophet. Coolest moment- as I was reciting the first vision from memory he started grinning at me, and when I finished he said "That really means alot to you. I can see it in your face." So I bore my testimony of how much it means to me to know God loves me enough to still call prophets, and I just beamed at him the rest of the conversation. We taught him the restoration and the plan of salvation in 30 minutes, we're going to see him on Thursday and he's coming to church on Sunday. HUZZAH! P-day miracles! I'm seriously so happy, I need a nap.

Thank you for all the birthday wishes, Mom that email of everyone that wrote on my facebook almost made me cry I was so happy. Yesterday I didn't say a word to anyone, Sister De Ruvo almost killed me when Sister Scott (my mission president's wife) called and wished me a happy birthday because I hadn't reminded her. (I told her but like 3 days before) But it's just awkward to tell a bunch of people you don't know that they should be treating you special (even though they should) especially since I'm training, so all the attention right now is on Sister De Ruvo so extra awkward. Anyways, it was still a good day but I REALLY appreciated all the birthday wishes today. I love everyone :) Best part though is definitely cory- "She's going to kill me!" Yes, I am.

I'm already in LOVE with Woodstock. It reminds me alot of Owen Sound, but it's a little bigger of a town and a smaller congregation. The branch here is amazing though, and they've never had sister missionaries here (at least not in anyone's memory) so we're extra loved.There were no investigators when we cam in, but we were immediately given some amazing referals. One is the fiancee of a less active who asked the bishop a few weeks ago if it was possible he could be baptized, and the Bishop said he needed to wait for some missionaries. Another is a man who came to church on Sunday with a friend who told us he's just been looking for more in his life and searching different churches. We've also had a few former investigators that we've contacted who said we can come by, so the work is taking off fast! This week is going to be really exciting. It's also fun here because my favorite zone leader, Elder Bean, is my zone leader again, so I plan to have this zone wrapped around my finger by the end of this transfer. Win!

Yeah it seems like white washing and replacing Elders is the theme of my mission, it is a little crazy that's all I've ever done but I don't think that's a sign of my abilities as a missionary. President Scott really likes to white wash it seems, half of the trainers this transfer are also white washing and there were probably like 25 of us. And he white washed at least 10 areas the transfer before too! So while I'm a little unusual to have done it so often, it's not too far above the norm.

The apartment here was an adventure though....It should be the nicest apartment ever, it has a balcony, a pool and jacuzzi (which would be awesome if we could use), a weight room (again, awesome if only it was open early enough), underground parking, a giant living room- sweet apartment! But, it's also had Elders living here for 50+ years. And the last set of missionaries that were here had an emergency where one went home and so the just pulled the missionaries out, so it's been sitting untouched for a month. There were dirty dishes in the sink, hair in the drains, broken glass in the kitchen and balcony....It was foul! We opened the door and Sister De Ruvo almost went home haha we had to SCRUB the bathroom with bleach that night before bed in order to shower or use the bathroom. And someone had hung a picture of President Gordan B. Hinkley right in front of the toliet so he stared at you- that was taken down fast. So we've been sterelizing it slowly over the week during meal times, and today we're shampooing the carpet. Ugh.

Unfortunately I have no time for pictures, but next week I'll send you some of my Italian baby and the dreadful apartment. Love you all, thanks again for all the mail! I'm write some real letters to people soon, I promise. Mom I haven't goten my packages yet, I must have just missed them at the office, but the ZLs are going to the office next week so I'll get them then. Thank you for trying though. Talk to you all later!

Crazy Night!

So, transfer calls....Not what we expected!

We made that unfortunate mistake of high fiving ourselves for surviving calls, because we'd gotten texts from our whole zone so we knew they had finished the calls for this area. (Shoulda learned last time with Sister Casner!) But just as we were saying we were amazed the Lord was letting us stay together because we're aLOT crazy, we got a call. We'd forgotten training calls always come later.

So, I am going to Woodstock! I'll be white wash training, and Sister Williams is training here in Bowmanville! So needless to say, NOT a very sleepful night and a CRAZY rushed day!
It was really cool though because there was one point in the day where Sister Williams and I prayed together before heading out the apartment to work and Sister Williams told me she felt a feeling of peace come over here about transfer calls, and I had been thinking the exact same thing- I was at total peace. (Honestly, I thought that was the Spirit preparing me to stay another transfer so I wouldn't start to feel overwhelmed by serving in one place for almost 8 months.) But we were both so calm and comforted. And then we both got calls to train, which neither of us expected- I was pretty sure I was going to be a junior companion again because I felt the Lord needed to retrain me a bit lol! But that feeling hasn't left, I'm so excited to go to this new area and see what the Lord has planned for me. I know He always prepares us for any calling he gives, and when we accept He prepares the way for us to fulfill and magnify it!

This week I had one of the best miracles of my mission, I'm really sad to leave Bowmanville THIS WEEK of all weeks! We dropped by a former investigator of Sister Casner and I's, Adam and Tasha, last weekend and Adam answered. He was friendly and said we could come back next weekend but I was totally braced to never be able to catch them because we hadn't for 4 months! But we went by on Saturday and caught them just as we were about to leave for a bike ride, but they immediately invited us to the backyard to talk and put their ride off. They agreed to come to church, but on Sunday they didn't show up so we dropped by again last night and once again they invited us in. Turns out they didn't have gas money to go but they asked us to share a lesson before we left so we sat down and read Alma 32 about faith with them. It was just amazing to me because I have prayed for this family ever since we stopped teaching them, that some day they'd be ready and we'd be able to see them again, because the only reason we dropped them was they fell off the map and we could never catch them. So I'm so grateful the Lord heard me and let me see them start being taught again before I left. But I'm so jealous I'm leaving Bowmanville with 2 of my favorite families in the WORLD being taught by Sister Williams! Bah! Whatever, I'll catch up with them in the Spirit World eventually.

So, I'll write to you in a week and tell you about all the AMAZING things that are happening in Woodstock! And send you pics of my growing mission family- I have a grandbaby already! Adorable! Love you all, hope you're having another fantastic week. Mom, hope you and your favorite daughter Dakota continue to get good bonding time together. Talk to you soon!

Good Monday!

Good Monday! (I dunno what time of the day you actually read this...)

Okay, firstly, transfers- we get calls on Sunday night and leave early Tuesday morning if we're going. So I dunno, your call if you want to send it or not. Depends on how long it usually takes. If you want to play it safe and send it to the mission office, I can tell anyone from the district who does get transferred to grab it for me if I don't get transferred. If you want to risk it, I can have Sister Williams pass it along the zone leaders if I'm transferred and miss it. But I think packages usually get here fairly quickly.

Thanks for the pictures! Nik's wedding looks gorgeous, where was the reception? Where are they living now? Soups weird that he's married.... I'm glad everyone survived travel and such. Bummer Mel couldn't go, but probably best. I definitely made a few trips I shouldn't have and it always ended up hurting later, so well done showing some self restraint!

It's been a GRAND old week for B-ville, ON! Miracles are abounding :) We have 3 new investigators- Holly, the niece of the people we live with; Noah, the 9 year old of a less active family in the ward that loves sister Williams and I; and Tracy, Brian's wife! So we're teaching his entire family now, though it's hit and miss with them- basically whoever is home when we come sits in. But that was the first time his wife really sat in and listened, and agreed to be there when we came back. And his mother-in-law came to church and told us she thinks this is what she needs, and agreed to a baptismal date for September 30th after. She's still hesitant, but she's making alot of progress and LOVED church. We're thrilled at the image of that whole family being sealed in the temple in a year :)

Holly also came to church, she's really interested on explanations and actually understanding why we do and believe what we do, so it was fun explaining things to her. In one of our lessons this week we explained about how Christ died not just for our sins, but for everything we go through in this life so he can understand and succor us. She isn't sure if she believes in Christ or if it's just a nice story, but she was fascinated by that and said she's never heard Christ died to understand us. She kept saying how beautiful it was. I love seeing the fresh perspective from people who learn something for the first time- it IS really beautiful what the Atonement means and does for us!

I had the best conversation this week with Jeff, our recent convert. He likes to tell us all his conversations with his friends and warn us about the things that might make it hard for us as missionaries to teach people- he genuinely is concerned we don't know people will find it weird or hard to have to give up coffee lol. But he was talking about how one of his friends who he knows from one of his old churches he attended and he asked Jeff if we think our church is better than other churches. He said he wasn't sure what to say. He told us he didn't think less of other churches but he knew that we were the only church with the Book of Mormon and so no other church had the understanding and knowledge we did. Then he said he realized everyone has to eventually take a stand on what they believe, that they are backed up to a wall of faith (practically quoted Preach my Gospel!) and there's no room for fence sitting with the Book of Mormon. So he told his friend our church wasn't better but it did know more and was the only true church. I was beaming, it was so cool to hear that from someone who 3 months ago threw away the first Book of Mormon he was offered. He tells us all the time how now that he knows what the Book of Mormon offers he can't cut it out of his beliefs- he always goes back to 2 Ne phi 2 and how the teachings about how Adam and Eve had to fall is lost from the Bible (and he''s been to alot of churches and is well researched). Reminds me of Jeffery Holland (so jealous you got to hear him Erin!) talking about how anyone who leaves this church must do so by crawling under, over, or around the Book of Mormon, and how it is what Jesus Christ himself was said to be- a stumbling block to those who don't want to believe. Jeff has an amazing testimony, he's such a faith builder to me that the Book of Mormon is true and is the only full record of Christ's gospel. He came with us to teach Brian last week and told him the more he read the Book of Mormon the more things in the Bible would connect and it's holes would be filled. I love how much my investigators teach me!

Also, cherry on top, Sister Williams and I graded for our first stripe in Jui Jitsu! I probably could have done that after my second week, but we finally did it. Since we don't own a gi or belt Brother Lafrance, aka Henshi, put the stripe on the pull ties for Sister William's pants. Sadly my pants had nothing, so I just got a hand shake. He said if he has any extra belts in the dojo he'll give us one, or I may break down and buy one. But I now feel like I've gone 6 months without it, I probably shouldn't get one now. The point is I'm, officially lethal and prepared to serve in downtown Toronto!

Love you all! Thanks in advance for the box if it comes this week, and I'll see you on the other side of transfer calls!

Sister Jensen

baptism baptism baptism dance!

Surprise!

We had holidays yesterday, but zone conference isn't until Thursday so we're in the clear. So thank you for not procrastinating writing me :)

Glad to hear everyone is surviving the various changes going on. Mom, if you want something awesome to do, look into Jui Jitsu. Sister Williams and I are finally going to grade this week and get our first stripe (our sensi is delighted, we're his favorite students.) So we can do JUI JITSU TOGETHER NEXT SUMMER! Fantastic!

It was a FANTASTIC WEEK! Brian was baptized on Sunday and his whole family came, it was really special. We're going to begin teaching his daughter this week, she came down at the end of one of his lessons last week with her copy of the Book of Mormon (which I didn't even know she had snagged from her dad!) and it had a bookmark sticking out of it. So I asked if she'd started reading it, was able to share Moroni's promise about reading and praying about the Book of Mormon to know if it's true, and set up a time to come back to see her. So between that and her being able to see her dad be baptized we're hoping to see her be baptized by the end of the month. HUZZAH FOR ISRAEL!

We also had a great miracle yesterday. I was having a rough day, I was exhausted to the point of feeling sick and was really whiny about it since normally it would be p-day and I could take a little nap but thanks to the great holiday of labor day I had an appointment every hour and no nap time. So I was dragging my feet internally but trying really hard to still work my hardest. Half way through the day we had a meeting with Holly, the niece of the family whose basement we live in. Ironically she was not a referral, we OYMed her on the street. But we had the best lesson with her! And why? Because that morning for training we'd started studying teaching skills, for the week 11 plan. We watched a district video we'd watched about 10 times and did not want to watch at all, but we obediently watched and role played and learned a ton. Then we applied it to Holly, had such a powerful lesson which included our upstairs neighbor crying about her testimony (this woman does not ever show emotion btw) and Holly committing to baptism September 23. HUZZAH HUZZAH HUZZAH! So after that I had to do a bit of repenting for murmuring, because if we'd had p-day that day we still would have met with her but wouldn't have had the hour of training, therefore wouldn't have had such a powerful lesson. I left there full of the spirit with my headache gone and a magical new wave of energy. The Lord is good, even when we barely have any faith in him.

I'm all excited to have a spiritual overload this week though, we have zone training tomorrow (a new monthly meeting we're asked to have by the first presidency in which the zone leaders pump us full of their knowledge) and zone conference the following day (where the APs and President Scott will pump us full of all of their knowledge). Always a bitter sweet experience where I walking away full of the spirit but aware of how far I have to go as a missionary. But miracle ought to be flowing this week with such a great combo of meetings!

I got Nik's wedding announcement this week, cute! Def send me pics from the wedding, I'm a little weirded out by the number of people I'll be related to when I get home that I've never met so the more details the better. (Good thing none of my siblings are getting married or I'd freak, please prevent any elopements or quickie weddings. Lookin' at you Joe.)

Pictures of the week:

Brian's baptism!

His wife, mother-in-law, 2 daughters, and future son-in-law came.

Me and Brian with this hilarious eagle statue he tried to force me to take as a gift.

I finally convinced him that it would be far too large to carry around with me for the next year in a suitcase, and just a picture would suffice. Afterwards he belted out "God bless America" for me.
Have I mentioned Brian is hilarious?