ahhh.... one year!!

Okay, seriously. Where does the time go?! AHH. Time honestly is such a weird thing on a mission. I feel like I've only been out for umm... maybe 4 months max! (Probably different for my mom, haha 💕) 

This week was AWESOME. Just like every week (: Eric, in my previous area, got baptized Saturday. I have never seen someone so happy to enter into the waters of baptism! The service was thee best baptism I've ever been to! It was so fun to go back to Franconia!! The members would say, "Hey!" & then would realize that I no longer served there & would say, "HEY!! How are you? Oh my goodness!!....." haha it was so funny! That ward has my heart, but so does Quantico. 

Embarrassing moment #1: This week we had Zone Conference, which was awesome! Like always. We trained on finding people. But an elder asked us to show him & tell the story of the district motto... which is embarrassing to show & tell in front of a lot of missionaries. We avoided the question & eventually ended up having to show it. It's called the "fly & dive" with extreme hand & arm motion. But when one comp does it to the other you HAVE to go talk to that person. Haha it was a good laugh. 

Embarrassing moment #2: we had a return appt. with a new investigator at a park. We thought this girl on the bench was her. She was on the phone so we asked if we could talk to her, gave her a hug, joked how she is always on the phone, asked if we could sit, followed up to see if she read the pamphlet we gave to her yesterday... She said she never even met us yesterday. Hahaha wow. Oops. I couldn't stop laughing after that while Sister Winward pulls herself together & teaches. But we set up an appt. with her the next day & it was a powerful lesson! Everything happens for a reason!! 

Something we have been pushing with all our members is the power that comes from The Book of Mormon & especially reading it EVERY SINGLE DAY FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE. 

President Monson in this past general conference said: 

My dear associates in the work of the Lord, I implore each of us to prayerfully study and ponder the Book of Mormon each day. As we do so, we will be in a position to hear the voice of the Spirit, to resist temptation, to overcome doubt and fear, and to receive heaven’s help in our lives. I so testify with all my heart in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Aren't those POWERFUL promises!! Don't you want those blessings? I sure do! I want you all to know that The Book of Mormon has changed my life & has become the keystone of my life. I LOVE the BOM with ALL my heart. I am a completely different person because of the role that the BOM has played in my life. I KNOW it's true & I can't deny it one bit. 

Love you all!! Sorry for the long email (: have a good week!! 

xoxo, sister jensen 

Pics:

Chalk Plan of Salvation artwork w/ the Woodbridge sisters on exchanges! 😄 

Dinner @ The Owens 👍 

ERIC!!! 💗 

this work brings pure JOY

JOY JOY JOY!! This transfer our mission is working on JOY & HAPPINESS! & I have seen this fulfilled so many times this week. So the weather outside is getting miserably hot, but that's okay because we just sweat it out & cry inside😂   like one person gave us paper towels to dry off our sweat...too much info? My bad. 💕 So my new companion is Sister Winward from Mapleton, UT! (Utah again, surprise!)  Super super cute & so good for me. 

We have had the time of our lives!! Last night was probably one of the best night of my life. We have a goal as a mission to talk to 20 people a day street contacting. 10 each. & we have been achieving it so far, but yesterday we had leadership meetings with the stake all night, so we had like 10 minutes to make up our slack. So we looked crazy I swear. We were running to catch up to people (we would walk when they looked, haha) and we got 6 in like 10 minutes but needed to leave to head to a members real quick before heading in for the night... So we took a leap of faith pleading with the Lord to place 4 people in our path that we could talk to. So we see 3 kids, I slam on the brakes, we say a 2 second prayer, & talk to them. Mission almost accomplished. We still needed one more.... we hop in our car & there is a person on the side of the road, I pull up & Sister Winward gives him a pamphlet we chat for a sec. The joy that came from meeting out goal was AMAZING!!! 

& then wait.... it gets better....then we get a call from the Franconia Sisters  (Sister Winward & I both at one point being Franconia sisters) that an investigator IS GETTING BAPTIZED SATURDAY!!!!!!!! WAHOOOO (the kid that had to wait 6 months for his mom's permission) & that ended our night with the best news I've been waiting for for 6 months!!! 

So this week I've seen as I've worked harder to become a better missionary & disciple of the Lord, the Lord has picked up my slack. I have truly came to learn as we GIVE OUR ALL, the Lord will MAKE UP THE REST. Isn't that AMAZING? Aww this gospel blows my mind. I love this work more then anything I've done in my life. I've completely changed in this past year & it's all because the Lord has taken me further then I would've ever imagined.  As i was bearing my testimony at the end of the stake mission prep class we taught last night I almost burst into tears for the LOVE I have for being a missionary. I LOVE THIS WORK!!! 💗💗

wahoo, so my rants over now, but know I love you all. Thanks for everything!! Hope your having a fun summer 🍉 

xoxo, sister jensen

June 19, 2017

Pics:

-Sister Winward 💗 

-Jolly Green Giant much? Awkward pic 😂 

-We cover a town called Triangle, hehe

-My cute cactus that sister roberts left for me to care for 💕 

🌊🐳🌊

Heyyyyy! Well first things first, transfers are here... Sister Roberts is leaving me:( but Sister Winward is coming here to Quantico! She actually is serving in my old ward right now so looks like we can talk Franconia! 💕 

 

One day we doorbell ditched groceries on our investigator's door & kinda failed. (Haha surprise) we put the stuff down & knocked, drove around awhile & it was still there...so we knocked again, drove, & still no answer. So we go to knock a third time & as we are walking up, the door starts to open & I turn & book it! Sis. R follows so we jump in our car barely breathing because we are laughing so hard & get a call from our investigator. Haha she asks what we are doing, we said, "Just chillin'" She died laughing saying, "You don't think I don't notice you in those dresses?" It made her whole day. She broke down into tears of how good God is to her & how much she loves & appreciates us. It was so awesome. She is going through so so much right now, like meeting with her everything we just cry, so hearing her say that was amazing. GOD IS SO GOOD. 

 

Friday Sister Roberts had an investigator get baptized, so us & our fav senior couple went up to Ashburn. They took us to Subway & in walks President Huntsman!! So we got to all sit & eat together. It's always so fun to talk to President!

 

 Then Saturday JULES WAS BAPTIZED!!!! BEST. DAY. EVER. When we & Brother Nixon were filling up the font it wouldn't stay plugged. So Bro. Nixon had to Jimmy rig it, haha so funny! But then later it stayed, so we were able to take out the lid & rock, haha. Bro. Nixon works for the FBI, & I got to hold his badge, super cool! (At least I thought it was) 😄 but anyways, the baptism was so so good!! Jules bore a POWERFUL testimony! We were so proud of him. The Huntsmans showed up too which was so sweet of them in their crazy busy schedule. Then comes his conformation time in Sacrament meeting & Jules wasn't there (Just a little stressed at this time) & as they start announcing it Jules walks in....oh wow that was a relief! 😂 

 

Jules was found by handing him a card in Wal-Mart & him referring himself, so there is never effort wasted. I love the section in Preach My Gospel, NO EFFORT IS WASTED. Wither we are part of the gospel or not it is so applicable to us all. So keep going strong everybody because it will pay off!! 

 

I love you all!! Talk to you later 💕 

 

xoxo, sister jensen

Pics:

Exchanges with the one & only Sister Dutton 💕 

Walks with Monica 😍

Marines joining us for our walk 😂 

Sis. D. & i found another cool Potomac River dock!

Weaves are everywhere, haha 

Hehe people's signs! 

Laid down & 3 seconds later I was out... oops. Good thing it was lunch time 😂 

JULES BAPTISM 💕💕💕💕💕

Gung Ho for Quantico!

Hola! Como Estas? This week I was occasionally Hermana Jensen! It was so fun!! I went on exchanges & blitzs with our Spanish speaking sisters. Problem is though I felt like after I could speak fluent Spanish. After I would give my Español spill then I would like go to say more & couldn't... haha I laughed at myself a lot. But a lot, no all of the discussions I would just stand there & would laugh with when they did, awkward? Maybe. 😂 talking about me? Uhh at one point they were, haha! One said I look intelligent to learn Spanish in 2 hours. Haha ya uhh good luck! 💕 love them. 

One early early morning we attended seminary to make them waffles for their last day. I would have to say that Sister Roberts, Bishop, & I have mad waffle cooking skills! The power kept turning off though & we didn't realize, so when we figured it out, we were in business. 

 Shout out to missionaries with out a car! We had our monthly car fast Satuday & it was so much fun! I don't think I could do it everyday, but once in awhile is fun! We got a good tan & good stories from it. We met this guy that said, "Hey are yall LDS?" We were thinking heck yes!! Sweet. Then he says, "Hope to see you in heaven." Oh that took a turn. So he walked with us for a long while telling us anti stuff.... but he spit us some good raps & we recorded it, so now that's one of our prized possessions. 

Lately I have been thinking a lot about the sacrament & covenants (promises with God) in general. I have come to understand the importance of the sacrament more on my mission, which I am more then grateful for. I will never fully understand it, but I am grateful to be able to partake of it until then. President Huntsman & I were discussing this in interviews & he talked about how one of the best moments is seeing your convert come up out of the waters of baptism. & that pure, perfect moment right after. He said that's how all of us are after we partake of the sacrament. That hit me hard!! We all are cleansed just like our baptism day EVERY WEEK. I am so grateful for our Savior & His atonement which makes us become clean & easier to strive to become like him. So this week you all should try & focus on the importance of the sacrament. I have noticed I have been a lot happier as I have made the Sacrament a major priority. Being baptized was thee best decision I have ever made & I know we can relive that moment every Sunday! 💗 

Te Amo hehe 

xoxo, sister jensen 

Pics:

The Rollins family & their pet turtle 🐢 

The typical sister missionary lunch spot, yumm. 

Exchanges w/ the same bag! Who wore it better? 

Included this pic because either makes me so happy! 

ICE CREAM TRUCK!! Yay. Best night ever. 

Our cute little town of Dumfries! (P.S. it's not dumb fries, haha. I made that mistake) 

Our little river walk this morning. 

Just forget the E is missing 😂 

"I want you to never go back to Utah!"

Hey, hi, hello, hola! What a fun week we've had here in the East. (: 

This week we did a lot of moving for a lady, her two kids, & her mom. They are from the Ivory Coast! The grandma only speaks French so we got to use a little bit of our French that we have picked up from people (: probably super rough! Haha. But the grandma was wishing us that our dreams come true, that we marry the man of our dreams, & that if she is still alive she will attend our weddings. That's how thankful these people are for little acts of service. They are amazing!! Ahh I LOVE these people. 

Our investigator is still doing good! He is preparing to join the army & still so excited for his baptism (& so are we!!), June 10th. (: Funny line #1: "Sister Jensen, what did you eat? Did you eat my cookies?" Geez. No! He sure likes when we make him cookies...spoiled. Haha  (: Funny line #2: "You want me to read? I want you to never go back to Utah!!" Haha we get a kick out of him all the time. 😂 

We met a lady on the street named..... ALMA!! She had NO idea where her name came from. Her mom said she say it in a baby book. We were able to tell her all about the Almas in the Book of Mormon. She was SO excited & said she will read the book! We were definitely led to her that afternoon. Also met kiddo named Malachi. So we told him all about his name. Explaining scripture names is so fun! 

Sister Roberts & I have met a lot of good good people this week. Everyone around us talks about how wicked the world is getting (& we don't even know, thanks to our missionary bubble haha) but it is also getting more valiant people! There are so many good people in this world & I am blessed to meet a lot of them here in Quantico. When I tell people we are meeting lots of good people right here in their neighborhoods they are full of comfort. I'm so grateful that the families in this church raise kids with good standards. It truly affects the world around them. Be the good in the world right? 

Love you all. Thanks for the prayers. Praying for y'all. 💕 

xoxo, sister jensen 

Pics:

Exchanges with Sister Marlow. Ft. The Potomac River & Maryland. 

District dinosaur party. (p.s. had super good chocolate cake that made my day!)

Outfits from Afghanistan! 

Lesson on the curb. 💗 

Heart attacked a senior couple 💗💗 

Chillin' lake side. 

Blitz w/ Sister ketch! 

Pretty VA  (: 

EVERYDAY. 365.

Hellllllloooooo fam & friends (: AHH i love the chance I have to be a missionary! Every week is amazing & full of amazing experiences. Quantico is amazing as ever & Sister Roberts is great! So many fun times over there in the WDCSM. 💕

This week i have been thinking of the importance of living the gospel EVERYDAY. One of our investigators took the ASVAB (the test to enter the military) & didn't pass. After studying for the test & studying his scriptures & praying harder then ever he took it again & DOUBLED his score!! He had to take a confirmation test to show that he really did pass it & then he did even better that time too!! He is from Africa & I can't even imagine taking this test in your second language. He told us before he took it the 2nd time he read The Book of Mormon early in the morning before heading out. He bore his testimony of his love of the Book of Mormon & how it has been such a blessing in his life. Which made everything worth it to hear an investigator bear a powerful testimony of the Book of Mormon ((: ahh I love the BOM. I KNOW it is true. 

That is how my life has been too especially on a mission the little we give God takes that & multiplies it times ten. When you are called to be a missionary the first presidency promises you that "more happiness awaits you then you've ever imagined." I'm pretty sure that promise is fulfilled because of how we live the gospel/commandments EVERYDAY. Lots of blessings come from our effort. Pretty cool right? Ahh God is so good. Read & pray EVERYDAY & I can promise you, you will see the blessings that God is giving you more fully!! 

We had zone conference this week & President Huntsman said, "Heavenly Father uses difficulty to prepare you to do difficult things." So keep your chin up everybody! Life is thee greatest ((: missions are my favorite. No where else I would rather be. 💗 

Thank you everybody for all the love. REMEMBER GOD & I LOVE YOU. 

xoxo, sister jensen 

Pics:

District Book of Mormon stories pic. 

The Quantico ward braclet crew. 

Meet my new friend. 

Exchanges with the Bristow Sisters (Sister Hodgson so awesome!! 💗)

The National Museum of the Marine Corp. Ya!! 

This American Flag was the exact flag flown on Iwo Jima!! So cool. I love this place!! 

National Quantico Cemetary💗 

God has PERFECT timing.

Hello all my favorite people!! Hope everyone had a good Mothers Day💕 

This week we have seen God's hand & timing in everything. We have an investigator getting baptized June 10th! He wasn't too sure if President Monson was a prophet of God or not, so after a lot of prayer he told us he knows he is!! Ahh it was a moment I will never forget. The pure joy that came out of Sister Roberts & I should've been recorded (; He is from Cameroon, Africa & calls me his beautiful dancer haha! Love it.

One day we got to WiFi & our area book on our tablets was crashing. Stuff we have never seen before, so after fixing it for awhile we were ready to get outside. Frustrated walking out the door we ran into a previous investigator who was on date for baptism & fell off the face of the earth! So we were able to talk her & get an update & will soon go over to visit. Coincidence? I think not. God's timing is perfect. 

I truly have gained a strong testimony on my mission of God's timing. I know that he keeps his promises & they will come in HIS time. He knows everything & sees everything, so why not trust him in his timing for us? I know it can be frustrating at times, but stick to the gospel & it will be alright in the end. Your life may not be what you planned or expected right now, but it God's plan for you & His timing is PERFECT. 

Love you all. Have a good week! 💗

xoxo, sister jensen 

Pics:

RAIN (our normal weather report right now) 

Our investigator!! 

Our Mothers day flowers. Thanks to the Elders for home making them 😂

Fun fact about our relationship: we followed each other on instagram before the mish. 💕 

Excitement for the work is an understatement😂 

Sis. Roberts year mark!! 

The things we get sent with to deliver from members to members. Love this place. 💕