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

Oh Mensch!

February 23, 2015

"Well what a week.  We stayed busy and it was a fun week.  First off I'll get the negative out of the way since it's on my mind.  I won't go in to detail but the pastor of a Frei-Evangelisch Church called me and said how we need to stop meeting with one of our investigators.  A little confused but we will still pray for them and who knows what will happen.  They were seriously golden though.
As far as here in Singen, we almost reached our goal with 18 lessons!  We've worked so hard.  Br. Luu is so prepared, he has shown me that it's possible to find someone, teach them and baptize them all in one transfer.  Our GML (Benji) will baptize Br. Luu.  A little about his story...it was really snowing on the streets in innen stadt one P-day night during work hours.  He was one of the only ones out on the street.  We stopped and talked to him of course.  We set up an appointment at the Church a couple days later, and he showed up!  We gave him a tour, taught the first lesson and set a baptismal date...and it has gone pretty smooth ever since.  We've tried to have different members at every lesson too.  He is such a deep thinker and a funny guy!
As for the rest of the week, I had the most spicy curry wurst on Saturday.  I was like shaking and sweating and almost getting light-headed! They had options 1-6 on spicy-ness and Europe's food usually isn't too spicy - so I got a lot of the 4 and a little of the 5 thinking naja it won't be that bad.  After just 2 bites I was sweating but I didn't want to waste their precious sauce.  Elder Meilsøe got number 3 so I made him try mine and he almost started crying! Man oh man, that was a little fun we had this week.  Everyday a new adventure, that's our motto!
Much love and hope you have a great week.  Please pray for Br. Luu and that we can find some more golden people!

Love Elder Jensen"