Reunited at Last!

August 7, 2015

Our parents went to pick up Gabe!  They are excited to spend some time touring his areas with him!

 Happy Parents!!!

Saying goodbye to Elder Caldwell

Time is Up!!! Mission Complete!

August 6, 2015

"...Well done, thou good and faithful servant..."

                                                     

Missionaries on their way to the Mission Home to spend their last night there!  

  

Tour de Deutschland

July 27, 2015

"Hey Fam,

Just got back biking from Singen to Radolfzell on Bodensee, we ate some amazing ice cream there and then headed back to Singen.  It was beautiful!!  It's right there on the lake.  My knee felt amazing as well.  Both me and my companion's bikes broke twice though, got to love the cheap bikes we bought!

This last week was good.  I forgot to mention last Sunday I got to give a talk in Church, guess when I found out?  When I was sitting at the sacrament table about ready to prepare the sacrament.  Ha!  And I gave it right after the sacrament was passed.  Got to love that!

We met with Charles a lot this last week, he is such a cool man.  His stories are so neat to hear.  As far as the rest of the week.  We were in Zürich for our meeting with Pres. Blaser and we stayed the night at the ZLs in Zürich.  Their apartment is so nice, two floors and it is known as the palace - the biggest in the Mission.  That was fun!

The next day I had an austausch here in Singen.  It went okay, we had fun together and got some work done.  We didn't have much time for finding.  Our neighbor asked us to fix his TV, he can't speak that great of German so we went to read the manual and help him with it. That was a first on my mission.

We also visited Frederich in the hospital, he had an operation.  The nurse was pretty mean to us at first, telling us to leave.  But after being nice to her she warmed up and even started asking us some questions.  That was cool.

This next week is already full, we literally have more than one thing everyday.  Consider it gone, it will fly by!  We have a tausch up in Offenburg and Freiburg this week too with some eating appointments and lessons filled in between.

My final week on my mission...hasn't hit me all.  

I hope you all have a great week, 

Love Elder Jensen"

Adventures

July 20, 2015

"Hey Fam,

Sorry for the short email, we were just at Sigmaringen with the Lees.  It was a blast and really beautiful.  I love the Lees and I love Germany, not just the mission but actual Germany!  I don't know if I'm ready to come home yet...

This last week we met with a lot of our investigators, had awesome spiritual lessons - especially with Charles.  It's crazy to see how much he's changed.  He's gone through the repentance and is so excited for his baptism.  He's keeping all the commandments, loves the Gospel, has read soo much of the Book of Mormon and expresses his love and appreciation for it.  Please pray for him, we sadly won't be here for his baptism but that's okay.  It's been an honor to see him change this much!

We have had a great week.  We had zone training last week, it just hasn't hit me yet.  This next week is going to sneak by as well.  We have something planned every day.

Love you and have a great week!

Love, Elder Jensen"

Light Speed

July 13, 2015

"Hey Family,

Meine Gute!  How am I writing emails again..last week flew by.  I don't even know where it went!  We only had two full working days in Singen!  Last Monday as you know, we went with the Lee's to the Alps in Switzerland.  Oh it was beautiful!!!  We got to go hiking in them as well, really neat experience.  I didn't want to show Mom the pictures or videos until I get home because we hold on to a chain or wire while walking through the peaks of the Alps, the air is so thin!

Anyways this last week, we had a tausch with the Assistants here in Singen on Tuesday.  They came for Distrikt meeting.  I love our Assistants, my good friend Elder Dewey and Elder Ridd from the Woodlands - I've known him his whole mission.  We entered Austria together and left it together to be Zoneleaders.  I tausched with him.  They are both great missionaries.  The next morning we had to wake up at 5 to take a bus to some members in a small dorf or village so they could take us to the temple.  Well we took the wrong bus and crazy story we got there late and the members had left, so we ended up getting a ride with the Lee's to the temple.  We got to be there with Benji and Colea as they went through for the first time.

The next day we left for MLC.  It was great, I got many answers and really really enjoyed this one.  We got up in the morning and jogged down to where they have Oktoberfest to play some ball with a bunch of the other Zone leaders across the mission.  I've made many many great friends out here!

We ended up coming back on Saturday morning, we had an ausstellung in Überlingen.  Benji was a little sad too because Colea left on her mission on Friday.  

We also had some great lessons, this week flew by full of traveling and lessons in between.  We were able to still meet with just about everyone.  Charles has such a strong desire to be baptized and is progressing really well!  At church we had 5 investigators there, we taught the class.  After church was crazy, I was all over the place having members tell me to come here and go there...got to love serving in areas for 5 transfers.  The trust with the members and the connection is amazing!  It was a great week, time is flying by.  We are trying to help our Zone out, it's stressful sometimes.

Anyways, today we are going to Hohentwiel, this will be my third time there.

Love you all,

Love Elder Jensen"

Hiking in the Alps

 Säntis - mountain in Switzerland

On top of the world

 visiting the Temple

Goals in Action

July 6, 2015

"Hey Fam,

What a great week!  We were able to find 7 new investigators, some more solid than others.  We also had 6 people at church.  We had some great lessons with Charles and a few other of our friends, and a couple eating appointments.  Charles has his past but he is completely changing his life around.  We set a date with him to be baptized on the 25th of July.  He is so excited but it's a goal still!  We have a great feeling and a lot of faith with him.  He came to a taufe yesterday at the church and he asked all these questions.

This next week is going to fly by, MLC in München, temple trip on Wednesday... it's going to be good!  I love you all!

Love, Elder Jensen"

Hanging out with the Sisters, Elders, the Lee's and Doris

Celebrating the 4th of July 

Real Quick Note and Cuckoo Clocks

June 29, 2015

"Hey fam,

Sorry for a quick note, we were just in Triberg.  Man it is beautiful!  The biggest cuckoo clock in the world, as well as the tallest waterfall in Germany.  Cuckoo clocks everywhere to buy!  We ate at a little cafe with the Lee's.  Next Monday we are going with the Lee's to Santis. It's a mountain range in the Swiss.

This last week was a good week.  We had a finding day in bad säckingen - found a couple people and saw one of the oldest bridges in Europe. It connects Germany and Switzerland.  We didn't even know it was that old or went into Switzerland, we just walked underneath it and talked to people then next thing we know we are in Switzerland.  We knew by seeing the border patrol sign as well as a swiss chocolate shop right by the river.  

We also met with Charles a couple times this week.  He told us his life story.  What a story.  He has been through a lot, and is coming "home."  It has been really cool to see how much he is accepting the gospel, pray for him!  We also met with some other cool people this week.

This last Sunday was branch conference and we got a new branch president - Präs. Schmidt.  He will be good.

I love you all!

Love Elder Jensen"

P-Day in Triberg with the Lee's

The Final Count Down

June 22, 2015

"Hallo family!

So I'm trying to write an email right now from my iPad and it's the hardest thing ever, still not used to it.  So part of my emails will be different for these last few emails.  I've read a few talks and thought a lot about 'the gifts of the mission.'  

This week we had a good week here in Singen.  We have two Germans in our zone serving in Schaffhausen down in the Schweiz, and we had a tausch with them this last week.  They've been having a harder time finding people so to say.  So we spent some time down there finding on the streets.  It is a beautiful old city on the Rhein river.  I ended up working here in Singen with one of our German Elders and he kind of kept telling me that finding isn't a big success..I was hoping and saying a prayer in my heart that we would find someone cool together and we did!!  We found a cool lady and got all her info and will meet later this week!

This week we also had zone training with President and his wife.  They gave out the iPads to everyone else in the mission.  I got to hangout with my good old pal Elder Plumb who has been serving in the office this last transfer. 

Other than that we met some super cool people.  We had some great lessons with Blessing and Erwin this week.  We tried to commit Blessing to be baptized on the 25 of July, she said no...which is great!  Because it shows she cares, she explained to us how it's a huge decision that she wants to feel sure.  We said we understood and will continue to meet and asked her to continue to pray.  Pray for her, that she will understand her answer.  

Then Church, oh church, so Chris and Faith (some of our new converts) brought a couple friends to church, one being Charles!  Charles is legit!  Church was a great experience, there was a baby blessing from one of the investigators/now members who the Sisters baptized a couple months ago.  Charles really liked church.  He said he felt the spirit, especially as he took the sacrament.  I was translating so I didn't get to sit next to any of them sadly.  We met with Charles this morning at Chris and Faith's place, Faith had her famous African fish spaghetti that is so spicy.  It burns and they just throw a whole fish in there, fish head bones, scales and everything.  After taking 30 or so minutes to eat all that (all four of us shared one huge plate) and watching Chris eat all our fish heads, we had a great spiritual lesson with Charles.  Faith has already gave him a Book of Mormon.  By the way, Charles is from Kenya, he gave me a sweet kenya bracelet today. Pray for him.  He just called me on the bus on the way here to the Lee's saying he hope he wasn't a hastle this morning and how he is changing his life around.  He mentioned my first name (that I briefly told him on Sunday) and he said how it's an angels name, that could possible help him.  

Love you all!"

LG

Elder Jensen"  

Geschenke!!

June 15, 2015

"What up Fam?

So this last week was like Christmas...a few highlights - a suit, bikes, eating table, iPads, and memories.

I'll take you through the main events, I tried writing on my new iPad, but no wifi, so I'm copying my drafts from my mail on my iPad haha.

We had MLC this last week, the main purpose was we were getting iPads (a week or so before the rest of the mission to test them out). They were very practical.  Friday morning before eating breakfast at the hastle and going to MLC, 4 of us Elders walked from the hastle to Teriesenwiese - where they hold Oktoberfest (just empty cement property when it's not going on), and we found a swing set to do some P90X.  At MLC we got our iPads and had a little training on them, got them all set up.  They are filtered like crazy from the Church, which is good!  We also found out that Elder Caldwell and I will most likely be staying together this last transfer in Singen, then we will "kill each other on the mission" and they will most likely shut down this Zone.  At first I had mixed feelings, but I prayed about it and I think we are going to see a lot of miracles!  We set some goals and Elder Caldwell wants to get a baptism before he ends his mission, so we decided that we will be having a baptismal service here in Singen on July 25th.  With whom, we don't know yet? If it is someone we are already meeting with now or someone we will find on the streets like Br. Luu.  We will give our all to do it!  I'm excited and Elder Caldwell is way pumped, pray for miracles and blessings.

Next, we bought bikes, we've wanted bikes because it takes 30 minutes to walk to the Church and bahnhof.  Sometimes the buses don't run so we got them!  Not the best bikes but they will do.  We are taking them to Eduards today to have him fix them up while we talk.  I also bought a suit last P-day in Konstanz for sale, it's my "return suit!"

We are teaching a couple people right now, they like to meet with us but their progress is slower.  Moses comes from the Eastern part of Africa, I can see the potential he has.  The other is a mom, Blessing.  She has been here in Germany for 9 or so years.  She actually lived in Pforzheim for a while.  She is working and has a 6 year old son, Sebastian.  She came to church and said she'd come next week.  We had a little scare with her boy Sebastian thinking he was a monkey, but it ended up being okay.  We will be meeting with her later in the week and hope all goes well.

Last I had to talk in church yesterday, I used my new iPad and the topic was Jesus Christus unser Erlöser.  I wrote down a couple scriptures and bullet points and gave the talk for 10 minutes.  Eduard came to church as well!

This next week we will be traveling to kreuzlingen where Presdent will meet our Zone and distribute the iPads and take them through a small training.  We also have a tausch in Schaffhausen.

After reading a talk today, I'm excited to start making a list of all the talents, blessings and gifts I have been blessed with from my mission...and reflect on them.  That is another story for another time.  Love you all and have a great week!

"There is no returned missionary for whom it is too late to consider the lessons obtained through faithful service and to apply them more diligently.  As we do so, we will feel the influence of the spirit more fully in our lives, our families will be strengthened, and we will draw closer to our Savior and Father in Heaven.  In a previous General Conference, Elder L. Tom Perry extended this invitation: 'I call on you returned missionaries to rededicate yourselves, to become reinfused with the desire and spirit of missionary service.  I call on you to look the part and to be the part, and to act the part of a servant of our Father in Heaven..I want to promise you there are great blessings in store for you if continue to press forward with the zeal you once possessed as a full-time missionary'" - The Opportunity of a Lifetime

As a result of that sacrifice, we return from our missions with our own gifts: The gift of faith.  The gift of testimony.  The gift of understanding the role of the Spirit.  The gift of daily gospel study.  The gift of having served our Savior.  Gifts carefully packaged in worn scriptures, tattered red copies of Preach My Gospel, missionary journals and grateful hearts.

Elder Jensen"

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

Im laufe der zeit

April 20, 2015

"Hallo Family,

Well I have no clue how much time I have left on my mission or how long I have been on my mission even.  One of my brother-in-laws gave me that advice right before I came out "never count the days."  So I haven't my whole mission!  Of course it's weird seeing my friends coming home from their missions, I wish we could ALL just stay out and then all at once step off that flugzeug.  But zum glück I still have time on my clock as a full time worker in the vineyard of the Lord!  And I honestly doubt everyday more and more that there could be a more prettier part of the Lord's vineyard to work in than my mission!

This last week flew by, starting to feel like I say that every week.  We had zone training on Tuesday, which seemed to go good.  I urged people to remember how important it is to be yourself on the mission.  Too many missionaries trying to be somewhere they are not, or stressing about expectations to meet that they make by viewing other missionaries or stories.  That's when it becomes hard to enjoy your mission and I think that's when your mission is the hardest.  I shared a quote that I have tried using while on my mission, "Become a Better You, but still be YOU."  That night we went to Zürich for our meeting with the Stake President, Pres. Blaser.  I sure appreciate him and all that he does for the Church, I've learned to appreciate church callings a lot more on my mission and witness how much time and efforts they give to the Lord.  Zürich's a pretty city, expensive city.  I always laugh when I buy McDonalds or Burger King after our meeting on the way back to the train station and it costs 18 franks for a little meal.  On the way back Sister Smiley and I talked about Markus and Alexa and Augsburg.  She is the new Sister Training leader!  

Wednesday we had Branch council, where we planned for the Invitation month of June.

Then on Saturday we had interviews and training with President.  In between all those set meetings we were able to still meet with people and teach them.  Eduard's baptism date is now the 23rd of May.  He comes to all three hours of Church in his suit with Br. Luu and Schw. Wiest.  He has become great friends with a lot of the members and has become quite involved.  He and Br. Luu are a part of the choir and he helps another member with family history.

Other than that just everyday missionary life - running from one bus to the other, going to meetings, meeting with people in between meetings, having first lessons with people we find in earlier weeks, and walking the streets of the inner city and talking with everyone about the Gospel!  We have to remember that this mission is still a "finding mission."  The key is to find out what the Lord wants and follow every little prompting.

This next week we travel to München on Friday for a special meeting!  Oh and tonight we are going to play pool with the YSA and eat all you can eat ribs.  We have three young single adults in our ward and all three are going on missions.  Elder Meilsøe and I became really good friends with all three.  We always made sure to let them know how awesome the mission can be!

Love Elder Jensen"

 Gabe's Zone

Jeffrey - a member friend

Goodbyes bring Hallos

April 13, 2015

"GUTEN TAG FAM!

So I will keep this email short and packed with information.  We have Zone training tomorrow, not even a week into the transfer and we got new Sister training leaders.  Busy!  

So the week...Monday was Easter Monday here.  We traveled to the Trenchs with Benji (GML), his wife, daughter and Andreas.  We ate some amazing salmon!   Andreas has a lot of potential and the ball is in his court.

Tuesday we spent at distrikt meeting with various lessons.  Had a little bit of an awkward situation at the YSA institute!

On Wednesday it was abmeld for Elder Meilsøe in the city, then we had a lesson with Eduard at lunch.  After that we all went to Schw. Wiest with Br. Luu too and had a lesson there with dinner.  When we were done there we came home and packed up Elder Meilsøe..his final night on the mission, it was weird!

On Thursday, said goodbye to Elder Meilsøe in the morning at Bahnhof, then drove off to Stuttgart where Elder Caldwell would be coming in later that day from Austria.  While a bunch of us were waiting for other missionaries/new companions, we went finding around Stuttgart. I got to go finding with Elder Griffey, my 'golden!'  Together we saw a lot of success, found 6 people or so in just a couple hours.  Also while I was in Stuttgart Elder Meilsøe called me from München to say our final goodbyes, that was cool!  Later that day Elder Caldwell got in and we headed back to Singen.

The rest of the week went good.  We were able to see a lot of success and work hard.  Non stop going!  Br. Luu and Eduard have become best friends and have helped each other.  Eduard got Br. Luu to come to church on Sunday after he slept in from a late night.  After church we all had an amazing lesson together with Benji there, and we set a date with Eduard for the 16th of May.  We took pictures together outside in our suits.  Got to love those two!

The work will get going even more.  Elder Caldwell is a great missionary, a little more quiet but we work good together.

Hope you have a great week!

Love Elder Jensen"

Elder Caldwell

Eduard and Br. Luu

Because He Lives!

April 6, 2015

"Hey Fam,

Sorry I have to keep this email short this week.  My Z's and Y's are going to be mixed up, I'm writing from an English laptop this week.  So this morning we gave the Lee's car back because we had it last week.  Elder Meilsøe has his license and we visited some random dorfs with the car.  We had a street display in Uberlingen, the little town on the Bodensee.  It was rainy but Elder Meilsøe and I had fun with it, we were dancing in the rain while our GML sung songs, and we handed out candy and 'Because He Lives' cards to everyone.  We even drew some pictures and wrote some church messages with chalk.  

Some of the little dorfs we got to see while we were using the car were beautiful!  One of them came down this hill and we could see the Alps in the background with Bodensee also in the background, and green fields and small barns.  We drove through some Swiss villages as well.

We will have to watch General Conference again, the internet connection was pretty bad.  We listened on the radio to the last session.  We had two investigators come - Andreas and Eduard.  Eduard is a deep thinker, but they both seemed to enjoy it.  Br. Luu was there for all the sessions!!  He got a hair cut as well and looks sharp!

So Elder Meilsøe goes home this Thursday...my new companion will be Elder Caldwell.  I don't know him but I think we go home at the same time now because I'm staying a little bit longer.  

I apologize I don't have much time this week, we have been trying to track some Elders down and "help" them out you could say.  The work is going fine.  I loved General Conference (from what I got to hear) and I sure learned a lot from it.  I loved the Priesthood session, one of the best sessions I've been too.  I went in with 3 questions and found answers to all of them.

I love you all and I'll let you know about my new companion once I get him.

Elder Jensen"

Swiss village

Through the Vineyards

March 23, 2015

"What up Fam!

I am writing you today from Basel, it's outside the Zone, but we had to make a quick trip.  It's pretty here!  This last week was good, as always.

Monday we ended our P-day short to go visit some people and teach some people.  

This last week we had a tausch, I stayed here in Singen and worked with the DL here.  We went to the Bodensee in the evening thinking there would be lots of people to talk to because the weather was so nice - I was wrong, there was no one sadly.

We also met with Br. Luu this week and had some good lessons with him.  We eat at this one members every week with him.  He is making progress and making good friends in the Branch.

We also met with this one fam, the Seamon family.  They live in Ludwigshafen on Bodensee and have a house that looks over all of Bodensee and you can see the Alps too in the distance.  The husband is German and the wife is from Peru and they have two kids.  We played with the kids and shared a spiritual thought and ate dinner.  They want their kids to grow up strong in a Christian faith.  We will meet with them again next week.  It's a lot of fun to teach a family and doesn't happen much at all here sadly.
The highlight of this week though was going back to Offenburg!  The couple in Offenburg is going home in a week and they know this all you can eat schnitzle restaurant there (three hours away).  They invited us to come eat with them for their last time - also for my birthday! So nice of them.  Well we get to Offenburg, Elder Howarth and I (ending another tausch), and the other Elders found out we were going to eat with this couple, so they all ended up getting invited to come eat as well!  We had to take the bus out to the most random village where this restaurant is, but the bus decides to stop a whole bus stop short for no reason..so we had to get off and jog to the next village.  Up a hill and down through these huge vineyards on a little dirt road, it was probably close to 3 miles.  Haha, it was so fun, all us Elders jogging together!  Luckily we didn't have to jog the whole way, Elder Meilsøe asked this older man working in the vineyards if he could give us a ride in his work truck.  He said No, but then 10 minutes later down the road he comes and tells us to get in!  I rode in front with him and everyone else hopped in back.  We had a nice conversation as we drove along.  Anyways we made it to the restaurant and it was really good!!  So much Schnitzle!  After dinner we ride a bus back to Offenburg but it was pretty late so we ended up crashing at the Elders apartment and then got up early the next morning to head back to Singen.  
The life of a missionary is fun, stressful sometimes, but fun!  

Much love,
Elder Jensen"

Tender Mercies & Miracles

March 16, 2015

"Hey Fam,

What a week, this last week was good!  Monday we spent with Markus & Alexa on Bodensee, we went to this little island that is gorgeous in the summer.  A lot of plants and trees were still in winter mode but it was still pretty.  Sure love those guys.

Tuesday was great, we had Zone training here in Singen.  It went good, we had it in German and it was fun!  I did the last part talking about 'Living up to your Potential' in English so EVERYONE could understand - especially the younger missionaries.  This mission is hard but we can always give more!  That night we traveled to Zürich for a meeting with our Stake President, it was a really good meeting and I love Zürich!  I gave one of our Sister missionaries a blessing because she was dealing with some news from home.  I was humbled and of course honored.

The next day, Wednesday, we did a little tausch in Schwenningen.  I worked with Elder Hancey.  We just went finding in innenstadt for a hour and half, but we say so many miracles.  We talked with everyone!!  We taught a lesson together on the street and got another two peoples numbers and information.

We found a new investigator this week, Edward.  He's really cool.  I'll let you know more about him as we meet with him again.

The ward and missionaries were so nice to me on my birthday.  I got birthday cards and gifts from various members.  Birthday texts from various missionaries in the Zone, and then a few members had us over on Sunday for birthday meals.

Br. Luu also finally got confirmed on Sunday, just 2 weeks later (after his baptism)!!!

Sunday was another tender mercy.  We were going to a little village for a member appointment and went early to go by some people we pulled out of the area book.  The first person we were stopping by was an older woman named Doris, she met with the missionaries many years ago.  Well we got there and her name was on the Klingle and everything, we klingled it, no answer.  But a man got there around the same time of us and we asked him if he knew Doris.  He said yes with a grin on his face and then unlocked the door and invited us in.  We walked inside and there were papers everywhere, mail and newspapers laying on the floor..the house was a mess.  We follow him into a main room where a single bed lay on the ground.  He sits on the bed then looks up to us and says, "Doris ist meine Frau" (Doris is my wife) then a short pause with some sniffing, "aber jetzt bin ich win witwo" (but now I am a widow).  Turns out that Doris just passed away and by the looks of it, not that long ago.  This man was still heart broken and devastated.  We followed him around the house and said how we want to help, he was grateful.  He recognized us and said how he remembered two young men visiting his wife many years ago, and the Book.  He went into the other room and pulled out the Book of Mormon.  We talked more and he showed us some letters from friends and family while crying off and on.  Elder Meilsøe then shared a scripture from the Book of Mormon about Christ and he teared up.  We told him to continue on and I promised him he would see his wife again and he just cried.  Elder Meilsøe said a prayer and he just kept crying through the prayer.  We made an appointment and said how we will return and talk more about how he can see his wife again.  He thanked us and thanked us again as we were walking out for giving him courage.  It was such a tender mercy that we won't forget...was what we were not expecting.

That's the glory of being a missionary, you literally never know what the next hour, next minute, next phone call awaits.  It could change your life, you could change someone elses.  It's all time highs, it's all time lows, it's stress to the test, it's comfort from above.  It's a mission and it's great!

I love you all and thanks for the birthday wishes!

Love, Elder Jensen"

Bondensee with Markus & Alexis

    

Br. Luu got confirmed on Sunday

Family Input

March 9, 2015

"Hey Fam,

So sorry, I don't have a lot of time.  Markus and Alexis are here and want to take us to the Bodensee so we're going with them!

This week was hectic, one place to the next literally.  We had MLC in München for two days, which was really good!  Elder Dewey and Elder Packer are in my group - they are the AP's so it's fun, ha.  Then coming home to Singen and traveling to Stake Konferenz in the Swiss.  Sunday we were there all day.  This week we even helped people move in our suits, because they picked us up from the Bahnhoff. It was a really busy week, but we didn't get to do a lot of missionary work here in Singen sadly because we were running around everywhere.  

Br. Luu rode with us on the bus on Sunday to Stake Konferenz (the branch rents a bus to go to conference in Switzerland).  President and Sister Kohler were both there and gave a little talk - Sister Kohler gave hers in German, very impressive!

On top of all that, the last two days we have been planning Zone training for this Tuesday. 

Other than that, I wanted to let you know and you can tell me what you think...the big news is I need to decide on my release date.

Somehow half the missionaries in our group were given an extra transfer and that's why you haven't received something in the mail saying I would be home on such and such date.  I need to be able to tell President what I want to do when he asks me, I've been praying a lot about it.  I would love to stay, you all know that!  But then it leaves me not much time home before school starts..

Anyways, I wish I had more time to write because I had a lot of cool studies this week, and things I found in the scriptures that I would love to share.

Love you all,

Love Elder Jensen"

Manifold Indeed

March 2, 2015

Luke 18:29-30

29.  And he said unto them, verily I say unto you, there is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren (sisters), or wife (friends), or children (nieces and nephews), for the kingdom of God's sake

30.  Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting.

*If you read the footnotes, D&C 104 tells us how "Manifold" means: to be blessed with a multiplicity of blessings

"Well I can give testimony to this scripture.  I read this scripture this morning during studies and it really stuck out to me.  It was just a reflecting moment of how truly blessed I've been on my mission despite different trials and ups and downs.

This week was a roller coaster week as well.  Tuesday Br. Luu sent me some long text saying how he wasn't ready for the taufe and was unsure.  Then he called and told us the same thing.  We didn't talk to him much on the phone, we wanted to see him in person and talk to him.  He came with us to an eating appointment at a members house who we had used as a joint teach before.  They have a connection both from the Asian area.  She told him her conversion story and it sealed the deal, Br. Luu was sure and positive that he was ready for his taufe!

The week went on, we used Br. Luu as a joint teach before his taufe with another investigator of ours.  Br. Luu was amazing!  He taught the Gospel of Christ so clear, it all made sense.  He was even answering some of the questions.  We were very impressed!

The day before Br. Luu's taufe he was really sick and it snowed a lot.  But it all worked out and the taufe went smooth!  We had 3 investigators there.  After the taufe and Br. Luu got changed, our investigator Andreas was waiting for him to ask how he felt.  Br. Luu was telling him how he felt lighter, how the past is truly behind him.  Then he told him it's a feeling he can't explain and how he must experience it himself!  So cool!!

Sunday Br. Luu was again really sick and was not able to come to church to get confirmed, so with Stake Conference next week he will have to wait 2 weeks now.

This week flew by like the others, the new transfer began and we welcomed in the new missionaries.  A few of the areas in our zone got shut down so our Zone is even smaller.  BUT we have 3 of our 5 baptisms now, and 7 more dates!  This next week is going to once again fly by.  We have MLC in München on Thursday and Friday.  Saturday and Sunday we will be in the Schweiz for Pfhal Konferenz.  Crazy crazy week like always.

I have also come to the conclusion that I will live on a lake, it is so beautiful!  I've been on the lake a couple times this week and all the houses we were at had the prettiest views of the lake and hills in the back ground.  The little villages on the lake are so beautiful too, old old German houses and cobble stoned streets, steep hills with the houses built up the hill.  Hard to explain but it is truly cool!  Have a great week and much love!

Love Elder Jensen"

Br. Luu's Taufe

Gabe, GML - Benji, Br. Luu, and Elder Meilsøe