December 30, 2013

You forwarded this message on 12/30/2013 9:57 PM.
Hey Family
   It was awesome to be able to talk to the family on Christmas, It was kinda wired because I do still love you guys but it wasn't as emotional  like the first time I talk to you on the phone.
 Well that's no fun to hear that Sunny has to leave our place. Who is John and Holly? Well I guess say bye to Sunny to me.
 
 This week has been a pretty good week for Elder Carter and I,

   Elder Jones and I went on a exchange the other day and it was great. We were both able to do some great missionary work and find a couple potentials for there area and then just had fun talking about small towns, sports, Brandon and friends that we both know. Elder Jones is an awesome District Leader but I still have to get back at him for throwing me under the bus at The Haskel's house on Christmas day. Right before we left to go and visit other people he told Brother Haskel that would love to speak on Sunday. :) So I gave a talk on Sunday on goal setting.
   Other then that the weeks has just been filed with tracking, stop byes, less actives and more appointments :)

Well Love you Family :) Have a very happy new years I will try to stay out of the Bars this New Years.
   Love Elder Jenson    

December 23, 2013

 Hey Family this week has been a great week in the Warren area. We had Zone Conference on Tuesday and it went great, we were able to learn how to us the new teaching (the pamphlets) more insight and how we can go deeper into it then just asking them what they see in the picture.



      Elder Carter and I have been doing great, We've just been working with the investigators that we do have and also less actives, which is has been a great experience and a funny one. One of the family's that we have been working with is an husband and a wife that live down in Detroit on 7 mile, which is not the best place. But anyways we took Bishop Lund with us to an apartment we had. It went great but during the lessons we heard a mouse and Elder Carter saw the mouse running across the kitchen floor. The family was a referral that we we received a couple weeks ago, nice couple (40's) So it's been very interesting this week with work with this family. Will take a lot of time but will hopefully baptism sometime in the future. The couple does have a good heart and want to change.
      Elder Carter and I have been working with this member that just moved into the area this week. She reminds me a lot of Linda (mom's sister, that we moved a lot), I've been able to work on understanding people, working on not judging, also patience with them.
   Yesterday was a great day, The Warren ward did a surprise party for me after church which was really cool! Also President Gerber called me up in the morning and wished me an Happy Birthday which is cool to see.
    Over all the week has been great!
 Love you Family, Have a Merry Christmas!! :)
         Hope to hear from you Christmas day!

Love Elder Jenson

December 16, 2013

 Well to move on, this week has been another good week, Elder Carter and I were able to teach 20 lessons this week but only really one family is progressing. Eloise (40's) and Shawn (40's) are doing great, Shawn came with us to a baptism that the other Warren Elders had, and it was good to see that he can't wait for that day and how he will make any change in his life to make it, . Bishop Lund was able to talk to Shawn about helping them get everything and using the church.
 Terrell and Lorenda are doing great, We've missed them the last couple of Sunday's at church because of this nasty weather that is getting Terrell and Lorenda sick, We see them about twice a week and just hope that we don't get sick just being there. Last Thursday was Terrell's Birthday.  Other then that much has not been going on, just the same tracing, finding, teaching and the missionary conference.
  So how is the ward doing, I was reading a letter I got last Christmas time from Casey Glover and just want to know how he and his family doing. Haha does the Glover Family have home teacher's yet. Tell them thanks for all they have done for me, being able to have a great Family to teach each month.
  One thing if I can say, just encourage the ward to do there home teaching and how important it is to know the Family they have. Since I've been out I have been able see that the home teaching really all over the world is not the best but each time you see your family it brings them happens and less likely to go less active depending how long they have been in the church which might be different in Utah because it's Utah. I've been happy to say that I've never missed a month really (probably have) not going home teaching.
    We are able to Skype and we do have somewhere to do it, but I'm not sure if I want to Skype. Just the Phone call because I know it will be harder for me. I will think it over this week and let you know next Monday. :)
  Well Love You Family and hope you have a great week this week! :)

December 9, 2013

Like always thanks for the update!

   Well this week in the mission has been a wonderful week for Elder Carter and I, we were able to teach 18 lessons this week which is great also were able to find a couple new investigators. Over the month or so We've been working with Eloise and Shawn, they both told us that they will be getting baptized in January but we don't have a date for them because they first need to get married. We've taught all the lessons just really now baptism but we will still be seeing them twice a week or so. :)
    Terrell and Lorenda are doing amazing, They wont able to make it out to church yesterday because they both were sick, but we are planning to see them a couple times this week. Terrell's birthday is this Thursday so we will be going over there to teach and have a party with him haha.
One of the most funniest thing happen yesterday on the phone when I was talking to Lorenda, so I called them yesterday after church telling them we missed them at church and hope things are going good. Also was seeing when would it be a good time we could see them this week. In all that Lorenda thought I said I love them, which I do but I did not say that. So Lorenda said we love you too Elder Jenson. I laughed inside because I did not say that but I just played it cool and said "yep" kinda funny.
      So I've been reading Jesus The Christ and also the New Testaments. First The New Testaments because President and Sister Gerber asked us the read the Gospels which I love and Second Jesus The Christ to help me keep focus and not worry about things that I can't really control until after the mission just because I'm a missionary. I've read Jesus The Christ once on the mission about 6 or so months ago and it's so cool to get different insights with reading Jesus The Christ and also The Gospels which I've read a couple times over the mission.
     On Saturday the Warren Elders about an hour before correlation went to a Christmas festival they had in the Warren City Hall which was way cool. They had donkeys, sheep, camel and other fun stuff so that was cool to go see. Then we just went the Brother Ellison's house (Ward Mission Leader ) to have correlation.      
   This week has been a really fun and good week for Elder Carter and I. We are planning to keep it up! :)

December 2, 2013

Broke the Streak :)
 
  Hey family it's great to know that you guess are doing great! This week has been a slow week in The Warren West area, we've been able to get in contact with one or two less actives. Elder Carter and I are planning to see them later this week down in Detroit. The other day we went down to Detroit around 5:30pm and it started to get dark. We saw the less active sister we were going down to see walking down the street. We did not really see her because it was dark, but like I always do I say hi to them when we ride by. So I said hi, she said "you looking for me" and we said yep. She said that I recognized Elder Jenson Voice. So that was pretty cool. We walk with Bridget. J (LA) down to the market to get some food and Bridget just was telling us to never come down to Detroit in the night time. We also shared a little message on the way back from the market. I have lot's of nick-names in the mission (Batman, Ali Baba (off of Aladdin, member in the ward from middle east calls me that, still have not found why), and just got a new one from Bridget. J haha she calls be little Jesus because in her words "I'm not scared going down to Detroit at night time and you act like you own the ghettos" something on that line so that was funny but I do know don't go down to Detroit at night unless you have a set appointment especially at this time of year of the season.
    Thanksgiving day went great :) Went over to Frank. L  Ellison's (Ward Mission Leader and Relief society pres) had a great dinner, then went up to The Mayo's (stake ward missionary's called to serve in the Warren Ward) house that night up in Bloomfield Hills. It was really fun and very very nice dinner. The Mayo's have invited there friends  and missionary's over each year over the past 15yrs. One cool thing is that to get your pie after Thanksgiving dinner you have to come with an act or something to do, to show to everyone at dinner. I just did "God has perfect timing, never early, never late. It takes a little patience and a lot of faith. But it's always worth the wait". then shared a little message with the spirit I guess if you would say that. Did not want it to be a powerful message but did make some people cry and feel the spirit which is cool because I was not heading to that.
   Other then that had an amazing fun week, got transfer calls the other day and Elder Carter and I are staying together which is kinda socking but it's way cool because he is a great Elder. Haha has help me to understand Derek a lot better probably I would say the same personality. :)



   Well Love you family, keep up the missionary work and the normal stuff :)
 Love Elder Jenson the Older

Nov 25, 2013

Family and Friends :)

              This week has been one of the best week in the mission filed I've had, I've been able to learn a lot just over this week!
 
 Monday- On Monday like usually we go over to Ann's and hang out with the family, share a message then have some dinner. We found out that Anna took a calling to be an visiting teach which will be great for her :)
 
Tuesday- On Tuesday we were able to teach a great lesson to Shawn (LA) and Eloise (I) about The Proclamation To The Family and a little about the Book Of Mormon which is always great!! :) Also we were able to see Amir we see him each Tuesday and just share a message about Jesus or a Mormon Message. We also saw Sis. Ware (Member) just shared a message and give her comfort. Then later that night we felt like we should stop by Terrell and Lorenda. We  did and Terrell was having an hard time that day so we were able to talk about what was going on in his day. We were also to answer some of Lorenda's questions.

Wednesday- On Wednesday, we had apartment inspection but we did not have it because the crappy phone service we have with Sprint. So the Senior couple that was coming to inspect the apartment gave us a call to let us know they were at the apartment but we did not get the call only the voice mail like a half an hour later. So we never did have inspection :( But I do know that the apartment does look dang good with the cleaning of Elder Carter and I! ha
  Later that day we stopped by a less active family and we able to teach the son Jaelen (14) about how reading The Book Of Mormon is very important then just shared the story about Alma the Younger :) Then stopped just by Eloise and Shawn to see how they are doing with praying and scripture study. Then went to a Bible study!

Thursday- Did weekly planning, Mormon.org then went and tracted  :) Then took Eloise and Shawn later that night to the I'm Mormon Devotional that the mission does each month. Then after that talk to couple missionary then talk to this one friend that was there and the family.
 

 Friday- On Friday  we had an specialized training with only two Districts (20 or so missionary's) 9-4pm. We learned how to teach really simple from the pamphlets. We are starting to tech now just from using the picture in the pamphlets then asking the investigator what they see in the picture then explaining it to them. :) I love the new way of teaching because it's a lot easier for me because it lets me not have to worry if they are not understanding me because I just simple have to explain the picture in a couple words, testify then move to the next page. Love it!

Oh yeah told President that I know Brother Perry Montoya, so he took a picture of me and sent it to Brother Montoya and put in the text "recognize the face"
 
Saturday- Went on exchanges with the Zone Leader (Elder Burfess) he is an amazing missionary that helped me a lot on Saturday when we did go contacting and tracting! I told Elder Burfess I like tracting and contacting but I feel like I'm wasting my time because people don't understand me.  Elder Burfess told me just talk to everyone and the Lord will give the message through the  spirit even if they don't hear or understand me. Also it shows God that you do care! :)
      P.S- got some more sweet insights from study the other day :)   "how does God Take This"

           Alma 7:11-12 ....... 2 Nephi 2:25-27


      Well Love you family keep up the hard work with sports and everything else! Oh yeah transfers this week :) hope I can keep the streak up :) 3 transfers in an area !

    Sorry Dad President Gerber dos not remember you but he says hi and Thanks

Nov 18, 2013

Thanks for the update :) It's always great to hear the family is doing great. Tell Jacob nice work on the hunter safety test. Tell Jaxon that I got his email and I also do miss him very much! Tell Savanah to keep up the good work in sports. Tell Derek that he should make some cookies for me. Jordan keep it up with just being a happy little camper
   Well this week has been a very positive week for Elder Carter and I. We've been able to see Terrell and Lorenda and they are both doing great. Still make big changes in there life and they are both happy about it. We are planning to see them Wednesday, and Friday this week! They are an amazing people. Lorenda and Terrell are planning to get married Jan 1, 2014!     Yesterday we were able to have an investigator come to church, named Melvurn. Elder Carter and I have been teaching him over the last month or so. He is a great man that is looking for really just any good gospel. On Saturday we were able to teach Melvurn about the Holy Ghost and how it works, It was a great lessons. Also Elder Carter and I went tracing the other night and we were both able to see the blessing from it when it's only 7 pm and everyone else thinks 10 pm or later because it gets dark at 6 pm.
     On Thursday, we went over to Anna Burlingame's (LA) to teach her son James (21) about baptism and never did get around to it because of my finger. Anna knew about it and I did not think it was a big deal thought the swelling would go away in a day or two. Anna look at it and told me that I should go get it looked at so we went to the urgent care. The urgent care was not the best because they were workers and also the Dr. swearing. I was waiting in a room about 30min until he came and looked at my finger. While I was hearing everyone complaining and swearing I was just thinking how I'm great full that I have the gospel and I live it. I don't have to worry about really people to judge me because whatever they might judge me about is either good or they just don't like me. Haha also learned that just for a Doctor to poke my finger and tell me it will be fine and take some free prescriptions it coast $70 :/ no fun!
    Over the week I've been able move couple of family's. I've been able to think just how great full it is that my parents have the money to have food, take care of 5 kids, 2 missionary's and still be able to pay the bill's and keep an house. I've been able to see through out the mission how the gospel does effect people in big ways on both ends if they don't follow the commandments that they made at baptism or if they do keep enduring to the end, how much it does bless there life!
        Oh yeah while today in my study time I was able to read about Limhi (Mosiah Ch.21-22) and about his people and I was looking at my planner that has a quote that Savy gave to me about 6 months ago. "God has perfect timing never early, never late. It takes a little patience and a lot of faith. But it's always worth the wait". I've been able to relate that its so true in that scripture's and just in our daily life's
     
        Love you family!! Love Elder Jenson :)   Side Note of what I read today in Mosiah
                                                                            chapter 21 Hardship 6-8
                                                                                                 12-16 learning experience
                                                                                            Chapter 22: 9-16 blessing from the Lord
                                    "God has perfect timing never early, never late. It takes a little patience and a lot of faith. But it's always worth the wait"