Comin' around the corner

June 8, 2015

"Hello Family!

What a relief that planning my schooling is out of the way and I don't need to make any thoughts about it or let it distract me from now on until the 'afterlife' (after my mission)!  That is a relief indeed.

This last week went well.

I tausched up in Offenburg and Lahr with Elder Monson.  Elder Monson was in my first distrikt with me as DL, he was a golden and him and Elder Griffey (my golden) were good friends.  He is now a distrikt leader so we got to tausch together.  We visited their distrikt meeting and he did a good job, put lots of thought into it.  His distrikt has the Hatches from Cedar and the Sister training leaders - Sister Mehr and Sister Earnshaw.  Sister Mehr was also in my distrikt and came in the same time Elder Griffey did.

Lahr, Offenburg and Freiburg are all pretty, right in the middle of Schwarzwald.  My allergies sadly went crazy but I got them under control now with some German stuff.  It makes me kind of tired though..

We met a cool young family this last week, Daniel and Irrena and their two daughters.  Long story short, we met Irrena two weeks ago on the street, she comes from Romania.  We ended up talking for awhile and then she ended up giving us her number, we finally got an appointment last week.  Her husband was born here in Germany.  He is cool and is on the search.  He has met with JW's and Baptists beforehand but had the feeling that there was more.  He believes that there is only one TRUE church out there and is on the search for this church.  He has already read a lot of anti church things on line I believe because he didn't know what to expect when we showed up and asked us the original questions (about no smoking, no drinking, 5 wives...ect...)  We didn't really teach him much this time just let him know that he can find the truth and will if he continues searching.  We let him know we'd love to share our messages that could help him find this truth.  So this next Wednesday we will teach the Restoration at their home.  Pray that all goes well.  He needs this, their young family does.   I think once they see how family centered and friendly the church  and gospel are, their interest will spark.  Just enough to continue hearing us, then put in to the test and get the answer they are looking for!

We were in the Schweiz on Tuesday.  I really enjoy Präs. Blaser, our Stake President, he's a great man with a powerful testimony.  This week we have MLC in München, us ZL's are getting iPads, I'm trying to get excited for them.   Not this coming saturday but the next is transfer calls, where I'll find out if I will die here IN Singen with Elder Caldwell or go somewhere else.  Anything could happen.
This last fast Sunday was also great!  Eduard came to church, talked with him and he's been busy.  There were some great testimonies!  I also bore mine.  We went to a members and had a typical lunch - wurst and german potato salad.  I also started my 40 day purification fast.  It's where I start it with a fast and make a list of 10 or so things that I want to stop or control, to become more purified in the work. I've wanted to do this my whole mission but for some reason have never got around to it, but I thought that the stress of schooling is over for now it would be a perfect time to get rid of all distractions.  To become completely purified and sanctified in the work.  You can try looking it up, it's by Elder Maxwell I believe.  I love you all and hope you have a great week.

LG
Elder Jensen"

Working with Wet Clay

May 25, 2015

"Hello Family,

What a week...I'll keep this email fairly short, but it was a stressful week here in Singen to say the least.  We have had the hardest time being able to contact people and have contact with people, then add fallen out appointments all over the place - and promised investigators not looking so promising.  But that's how the mission is, changes everyday.

Sadly we have had no contact with Eduard this last week.  

Our African family has also been really busy, we didn't meet with them until Sunday evening and Benji came a long.  It went well with them, they weren't in Church on Sunday though.  I sure love them, everyone notices they are a special family.

Other than that we met with Frau Hiller.  We've met with her a couple times.  She is really nice, but she worries too much!  She came to church though and seemed to enjoy it!  We will be meeting with her again on Tuesday.

We also met with all our Neubekehrts this last week.  I don't think I've ever told you guys about Frederich, he got baptized about a year ago and is so funny.  I'll have to tell you more about him later.  We also met with Stanley and he fed us some African food - good old intestine.  I must say I have gotten really good at sneaking food into my bag and disposing it after ;)

The highlight of the week was last night.  We met with Erwin, who we've been meeting with lately.  He's been coming every week to church as well!  He's known about the church for a couple years now, we know he knows the church is true!  Anyways we had him and Br. Luu there and we had a great lesson about the Book of Mormon.  Then Erwin brought his guitar and Br. Luu brought his indian wood flute pipes, and they played "this little light of mine" and some other songs while Benji and us all sang a long.  Br. Luu has a real talent, like really gifted.  I didn't know about it until this week.  He loves music and can just listen to a song once and then play it on the piano or his flute, it's crazy!!!

I have gained a lot of respect for President Frank (our Branch President), I have learned a lot from him by his actions and love for the people.  Lots of respect.

Other than that and the stressful week, it was a learning week.  Had some really really cool personal spiritual experiences this last week. Love you all

Love Elder Jensen"

Hola la Familie

May 18, 2015

"Hey Family,

So on the streets I try to speak spanish...it only lasts 3 sentences then I don't know what to say, but everyone who speaks Spanish that we talk to is really nice.  There is not a lot of Spanish speakers here, I can pretty much count them all with my two hands.

This week was great!  To tell you the truth, I can't really remember all that happened, the days literally just blur all together now on the mission.  Life on the mission for me is completely normal - I mean I can't imagine anything else.  I wake up at 6:20 a.m., get a good work out in, eat breakfast and get ready around 7, and then start studying the scriptures or listen to old general conference talks/devotionals.  At 8 o'clock personal study begins, 9 o'clock companionship study - read handbook - practice a few teaching situations - plan appointments and commitments, 10 o'clock is 30 minutes of language study, 10:30 take bus into the inner city and spend 2 hours talking to everyone!!! After that we eat lunch and then from 2:00 to 8 or 9 p.m. meet with people, teach people, go by visiting people, find people...then plan for the next day.  10:30 at night is companion prayer and personal prayer --fall asleep and wake up the next day and repeat!  Throw in some random adventures and surprises through out the day and you have a mission!

This last week I got to tausch with Elder Dewey here in Singen!  We had a great tausch and were able to meet and teach 4 people in our time together!  Elder Dewey is still a great friend of mine, it was a lot of fun!  We have both grown a lot on the mission but we are still the same us.

Transfer calls are this week, we print them out so we don't get the calls - we make the phone calls.  It's a lot better!  I hated waiting for the calls - so much agony!  I will be staying another transfer here in Singen, it's a 5 week transfer.  After the 5 weeks are up, my group goes home...it's so weird and can't even picture it.

Eduard has got a second job now, saving up money for a trip he wants to take.  He is a hard worker and I sure like him a lot.  He won't be baptized this Saturday.  We were only able to meet once this last week because of his new work schedule.  He's doubting himself a little now.  The members are doing a good job at befriending him.

This last Sunday our 'family' came to church.  I was on translating duty with the microphone so I couldn't sit next to them.  I'm sure it's different than what they are used too, but I hope they enjoyed it.  We will see them on Wednesday.  I am praying and hoping they see the truth and feel the truth in our message!  On Sunday we had a choir from Switzerland visit our Branch.  It was really good!  We had 3 investigators there as well.

Tonight we are going running with someone we found the other week, then eating all you can eat ribs with the young single adults and Eduard.  Right now we are going to catch a bus to go visit Stein am Rhein, only driven through it a couple of times but it looks beautiful! Love you all and hope you have a great week!

LG

Elder Jensen"

 More beautiful scenery

with Sister Smiley

Elder Jensen, Elder Caldwell, "Oma," Sister Smith and Sister Priest

Mother's Day - The Final Call Home!

May 10, 2015

** Gabe's 4th and FINAL phone call/skype Home!  The countdown is on!!! **

The Final Call

May 4, 2015

"Hey Fam,

This week flew by!!  The last couple weeks of this transfer will go by just as fast!  Every week we have either a leadership meeting or MLC in München and tausches.  It's so much fun being able to travel so much and work with so many different people, but sometimes it can get difficult  being so long away from our own area.  It's important that we set the standard for the Zone and Mission, Elder Kearon told us a few MLC's ago - we have to set the example beyond average or even beyond sufficiant!

So this week we helped a member move just about all day on Wednesday, then on Thursday we had a tausch with the Offenburg Elders, I stayed here in Singen with Elder Hadfield.  On Friday we had a baptism of a youth in our Branch then that night we had the 'dance night' and we helped set up for that.  Saturday we got to go to the Temple!  That's right the Lee's took us to the Temple in Bern, my first time in almost 2 years.  Man I missed it so much!  

Alright the main things to talk about...

Tausch:

Our tausch..first time it happened to me here in Singen, we had 3 appointments fall through, but we still made it productive and went dooring a little and talked to people on the streets.  We were able to find some people.  We met with Br. Luu as well and talked about our goal of him getting the Priesthood so that he can baptize Eduard.  Afterwards we met with Eduard and the gang later that night and read in the Book of Mormon together.  Elder Hadfield asked me a lot of questions as we worked together.  We had some good conversations, I love the opportunities to work and teach other missionaries through actually working with them on tausch!

Eduard:

Eduard is one of my good friends, great friends.  I love him and we get a long really well.  We have a great relationship , but know that when we come to a lesson, it's "business."  He listens to what we have to teach and applies it.  He's made so much progress the last three weeks.  He has become great friends with a lot of the members, and the members enjoy him.  All the youth as well.  Br. Luu also loves him, they are best friends and always together.  

Br. Luu:

Br. Luu hurt his wrist this last week biking.  He is as happy as ever, loves all kids.  He brings little bonbons to Church and is in charge of opening and closing the doors during Sacrament meeting, and he gives all the little kids candy as they come in haha.

Temple:

Wow, that's all I can say!  I love the Temple and have been temple trunky through out my mission.  It was great to be able to go, the Lee's are amazing!  The session was in English as well, the new video is great - so much emotion.  You can learn a lot there, and I had some deeper questions come through my head through out the session (I'm excited to study them out more after the mission).  

This next week we have a tausch with MLC on the  weekend.  I mean the time goes by so fast!  When you enjoy it is when it goes by the fastest.  I love you all and hope you have a great week, see you all on Sunday - Mother's day face time!  Pray we can continue to find some new solid people.

Love Elder Jensen"

                   Moving Help

      

                                                                                                                        Br. Luu and his hurt wrists

lesson with the "gang"

 Bern Temple visit with the Lee's

some of the beautiful surrounding scenery

Never Settle (Notes from Elder Jensen)

These are some of Gabe's notes he took from their meeting with Elder Bednar.  We wanted to share because he has some great insights and words of wisdom!

"Be ye therefore Perfect, even as your Father which is in Heaven is Perfect." (Math. 5:48) 

*see also 3 Nephi 12:48

"Now for the longest time I always thought that this scripture meant that we must strive to be Perfect, without flaw or sin, which is still to a point true.  We should always strive to be perfectly clean, but it is still impossible here on this world (Romans 3:23).  The other day Elder Bednar said something and it 'clicked' - of course it is still clicking because it is a continual process.  But he pointed out how there is a difference between "Perfect without Error" and "Perfect in Becoming Complete."  This scripture is asking us to strive to become 'complete' or 'fully developed' or reaching the potential that our Father in Heaven sees and wants of us..and that is POSSIBLE here on this world.  In the end we will all come short of the Glory of God and will rely on the Atonement from our Savior to save us -- but what we should do and are actually commanded to do, is to become a little better every day, become "more complete" in the course of time, gain experiences each and every day.  The potential within us is incomprehensible.  It doesn't happen overnight, it's a giant work of progress - here a little, there a little.  SO above all we must NEVER SETTLE, continue moving forward.  "Wherefore, continue in patience until ye are perfected" (D&C 67:13).  We must constantly be striving to become a better us, day in and day out - always strive to become more complete. Repentance is a continual process with this, look where you can become better (doesn't always have to be where you've done wrong or made a mistake, but simply where you can improve) make a change, then DO IT continually!  Like I've quoted so often "The Gospel of Jesus Christ is a plan that shows us how to become what our Heavenly Father desires us to become" (Elder Oaks).  Does that mean to become successful?  Yes.  I think our Father in Heaven wants us to become successful in all that we do - in his Gospel as well as in this Life (they should go hand in hand).  Becoming successful however does not mean becoming 'rich' and receiving 'praise from man,' don't forget the Lord said, "For a mans life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth" (Luke 12:15).  Always remember also, unto our own strength we are weak, we are nothing..but in God's strength, we can do ALL things (Alma 26:12).  So I plea for myself that I will never settle for who I am or who I am becoming.  That doesn't mean I will be negative, unthankful, ungrateful, self-centered, over do things (Mosiah 4:27), or caught up in 'perfection' BUT that I will continue in patience day in and day out, always trying to be a little better, do a little more, striving to become more fully complete.  Becoming what I can become, reaching the potential the Lord and my Heavenly Father see in me."

*Here are some quotes I have found from talks I have read throughout my mission that go with these thoughts:

"We must expect that it will take the help of God and TIME to polish us for Eternal Life, to live with our Father." (Pres. Eyring)

"If you don't raise the bar, how will you ever know your potential?" (Elder Perry)

"When selfless service eliminates selfish striving, the Power of God brings to pass his Purpose" (Pres. Monson)

"Do your duty, that is best, leave unto the Lord the rest" (Pres. Monson)

"With every step we take folllowing the Son of God, we may be reminded that we are not perfect yet..." (Pres. Uchtdorf) 

"Serving God and our fellowmen will challenge us and transform us into something greater than we ever thought possible" (Pres. Uchtdorf)

"We show our Love for the Savior by doing the many small acts of faith, devotion and kindness to others, that define our character" (Pres. Faust)

Elder Bednar's meeting

Never Settle

April 27, 2015

"Hallo Family...what a week!!!

First off, wow, Elder Bednar!  So on Saturday the whole mission met in Munich to listen to Elder Bednar, Pres. Teixeira (European President) and Elder Allen (in charge of the Mission Forces of the Church).  I'm so blessed.  I was on the front row and right by where Elder Bednar and them walk in, every time Elder Allen walked in or left the room he would give me a gut check haha.  But the meeting went for 6 hours and it flew by!!  It was an open conversation with Elder Bednar pretty much.  He asked a question and we talked about it as a mission.  It honestly was over before we knew it.  He has so much wisdom, was quoting scriptures and articles back and forth, and just brought the Spirit so strong.  Hearing talks from him are a special treat but just seeing him lead our conversation and give insights was amazing!  I have the most respect for all the General Authorities of the Church.  (A reason of why they came was because the mission is getting ipads, but the meeting wasn't really about the ipads). 

Now what I love about Bednar is he always starts out telling us to not take so many notes and just listen to the Spirit and write down thoughts that come to our head (revelation).  He also greeted us in German, he served in this mission and actually spent some of his mission in good ol' Augsburg.  That place is special I'm telling you, that is where my LIFE changed, not just mission.  Here at this meeting I also got to see everyone in my group who is still out, so that was cool!  Lots of new missionaries that none of us know really, but they know us.

On the way to the meeting in Munich there were a lot of missionaries traveling on the train.  I sat on the end of a big group of them so I was outside of a lot of the conversation.  There was a lady who was looking at all of us (we kind of stand out), so I leaned over to her and started a conversation with her.  This conversation ended up lasting the whole 2 hours!!!  It was amazing, I ended up teaching her the fundamentals of our religion - the gospel of Christ and how we are the restored Church here on the world today!  She was interested.  She said she saw all the missionaries and the funny name tags with everyones first name "Elder" and tried looking the Church's name up on the internet but her phone wasn't working.  She said that we 'stood' out not just because of our suits and ties, but that we had a special glow to us, as if a type of happiness was reflecting off of us!  Turns out this lady is a pretty big judge in Stuttgart!  It doesn't happen very often that people show interest.  We even talked a little bit about career paths and she told me a little bit about her life.  We gave each other our information, I told her I would like to talk more about what I do as a missionary and what not and she said PLEASE do.  She'd like to ask some questions and would gladly talk!

What a week!  Anyways, other than that, Eduard is continuing to make progress.  A lot of progress this last week actually.  We also had quite a few people come to Church!

I don't know how many times I've said this on my mission, but I've been blessed.  I've never got trunky at all on my mission.  For most of all my mission my mind as well as heart have been in the 'mission zone' and the purpose!  I've been able to literally give myself to the mission so to say.  Elder Bednar brought me right back up to this spiritual high, being caught up in this higher purpose.

I love you all!

Love, Elder Jensen"

 Elder Dewey, Elder Jensen and Elder Oviatt reunited!

       Hiking on P-Day