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