The First 100 Days! (plus a cousin and a miracle)

July 24, 2017

The First 100 Days! (plus a cousin and a miracle)

Off to work!!

Hello Everyone!

Yes, I have finished another transfer, and have concluded my first 12 weeks out in the field. That means that I am no longer being trained! Hooray for that! So, for the week, I started it off with another exchange with Elder Kish again, only we worked in my area this time instead of his. Not a whole lot happened on that exchange though. Just a couple of stop-by's to see if people were around and if they wanted us to teach them.

After that exchange ended, Elder Faimalo and I went and ate dinner with one of the cooler families in the ward, the Weislers, and I finally got my first Chicago style dinner, and it was most fantastic! And they are such a cool family to be around. I honestly felt like I was at home with them.

The day after that, Elder Faimalo and I had a great time. We went to a District lunch to Wendy's because someone in our District was leaving this transfer, and that is where he wanted to go. And that evening, we got 3 new investigators, Riba, Isabel, and Annie. They are such a cool family. We helped them move into their apartment about 2 weeks ago with the Spanish Elders, and they wanted to learn more about our church. So we went over there, and really just started out getting to know them. That was lots for fun. We laughed and talked story for awhile and (I say this when I find people that I really like, if you can't tell)I really felt like I was at home with them. We did teach them a little, and basically just told them our purpose as missionaries and why we are meeting with them. We also did a little bit of the Restoration, and we are going to finish that up next time we go over there.

Restore this week was fun. The head manager offered both of us a job, and we had to explain that we are not allowed to have jobs while we were out here on our mission, but if we ran into someone who needed a job, we would send them his way (which we did on Sunday!). But, it just goes to show that if you put in the effort, people will recognize that.

Right after that, we started a finding exchange with the Zone Leaders. They were just in the area with us helping us to find new investigators . I was with Elder Hadlock again, and I had a great time working with him. He is just a funny guy and is a really hard worker. I want to be able to contact as good as he can. All I need to do is practice. But, we found two new investigators with him (really only one because the second one that we found is leaving back to her country soon) and the first one actually speaks Russian, which is pretty cool! If only I remembered enough to carry on a conversation. But luckily, we had a Russian Book of Mormon and a couple of pamphlets around the apartment, so we are going to get those to her next week.

And on Saturday, Elder Faimalo moved a bunch of heavy stuff with some other members for one of our older members. We may have accidentally put a hole in her wall in the process, but thankfully Brother Rosa had a patch kit on him. We finished that today with a bunch of the youth, and we had fun with that. After the Saturday part though, we tried to find people, but everyone was inside their homes because it was just disgustingly hot and humid outside. That got us down a little, but our spirits were lifted at the Ward picnic later.

We basically hung out with the Sebring's, a young couple that is super chill and fun to hang around. We shot some hoops with them for a bit, then we got a game going with a couple other people. Man, I will say this now, do NOT play basketball in jeans when it is in the upper 90's and stupid humid. I was dead so fast, I called in another person to take my spot so I could get something to drink. It was fun though.

Church was pretty good. We thought we were going to have a bunch of investigators at church, but nobody showed (again...) but oh well. I was happy that I got to be there. We actually did see a couple of less-active families there, so that was awesome!

And so, to the big news. It is the end of the transfer, so where will I be going next? Well, the answer is....I WILL BE STAYING IN NAPERVILLE 4TH WARD FOR A THIRD TRANSFER, AND I WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH ELDER FAIMALO!!!! I am super excited that I have been blessed to stay in this wonderful area, and I am ready to get someone baptized this transfer. And you know what, even if no one does, then that is alright. I am just going to make sure that I am working hard enough to bring someone to that point, even if it happens after I leave. I do not care if I don't bring anyone to the waters of baptism really. All I want to do is strengthen the faith of all around me and help them come closer to Christ. Anyway, that is about it for this week. I hope that y'all are having a good time wherever you are!

Elder Jensen

PS: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PACKAGE!!!! IT HAS MADE ME SO HAPPY!!!! Funny story, that shirt you put in there, only 5 minutes before I opened the box, I ripped the pocket off the shirt I was wearing. Tender mercies are everywhere!!! And the food was most excellent! I still have a few things (which is a miracle in itself) but I will finish them of soon.

Alright, so the questions.

1. What is your favorite thing about your mission so far?

I think this week has been one of my favorites, since we have found so many new investigators. I also really liked moving into my new apartment. I am loving that place so much. Also, Elder Faimalo has been great (if not a little too chill at times), but he always finds happiness in the work.

2. What is a goal you have set for yourself as a missionary this week?

A goal I have set for this week is to really get down on my contacts. I just need to break down the wall of fear of rejection in front of me. Almost everyone has that fear, so I just need to put on the big boy pants and find those who will accept.

3. What is the best home cooked meal you have been served in a member's home?

I think the best home cooked meal I have had so far was also this week at the Harrison home, where they had a most excellent curry on rice with homemade bread sticks (they were the first family to make us rice, and I was super happy about that).

4. Do you have an investigator we can pray for by name?

Well, I would say pray for all of my investigators, but I suppose the ones who need it are Brock and Marie(muree) and older engaged couple that needs some guidance and comfort, and Riba, Isabel, and Annie, that they will continue to want to learn from us and not lose the drive to want to learn. That is about all for now I suppose.