Two people on date for baptism????

Service with the YSA Elders

Hello Everyone!

    Yes, you heard me right, we put TWO people on date for baptism this week! I feel so pumped! Both are set for January, and both are subject to change, as always, but both are committed to being baptized.

So, for this one, I am going to backtrack to Monday again, because I had an experience that day that I did not expect to have. So, that morning, Joan called us and said that she was in need of help. So, after we got all of our shopping and laundry out of the way, we went over to see what we could do. She took us on a shopping trip to get things she needed. First, we went to Costco, which was weird because I haven't been in one of those since my first transfer (now that was an experience.) After that, we took two of her rugs to the laundromat to get washed, and left them there while we went to Wal-Mart to got the rest of her stuff on the list. Gosh, I love Joan. She is your typical grandma-lady, but with sarcasm x1000. After we helped her out, we went on with our normal Preparation Day activities(basketball, email, relaxing with other missionaries, etc.).

So, on to Tuesday. We talked with Robert Hall that day, and he really got into Helaman Chapter 5 (You know, the one with the strong foundation in Christ, lots of rings of fire, and a whole lot of converted Lamenites. If you have no idea what I am talking about, that is ok. If you want to know about it, click on the link here:

-----> https://www.lds.org/scriptures /bofm/hel/5?lang=eng

Or, shoot me an email, and I would love to talk about it!)

   Anyway, Robert had never read through that though, and he really liked it! He even prayed to have a Baptismal date, which is good, because he has been on date before (he has been investigating the church for 20ish years) but we are hoping that this shows improvement.

After that, we helped Sister Riismaa set up for a Relief Society party, and then went off to do a bit of finding, but that mostly was just walking around in the cold, and knocking on a lot of empty houses. So, we ended up going back to the church to do some Area Book stuff, and we saw Celeste at the party, and she was having a fantastic time with the rest of the Sisters in the ward, which was awesome! She is really integrating into to ward well. Then we had MCM (missionary correlation meeting) for the first time in forever (name that movie!) which was great! Brother Heimiller had gotten back from a cruise, but he is going on another one at the end of the month, so there will be a gap there as well. He needs it though, because his job stresses him out a ton, so a break is much needed.

Wednesday and Thursday, I was in confinement. Elder Figgins got food poisoning (he drank spoiled almond milk), and we had to stay in until he felt good enough to get out. So, Wednesday, I banged my head against a wall and made a new hole. Not really, but, I put on a suit and I Video Called into District Meeting, which was super cool! I am so grateful for technology! After that, I took off the suit and wore a sweater and a Lava Lava for the rest of the day.

Oh, and man, the YSA Elders kept me sane! They came over Wednesday to just talk to us, and they made us cookies! Then Thursday afternoon, they picked us up, and took us to do some service for a ward member, which I really needed because I was getting sick of my apartment. We also met a potential investigator there, but we are waiting to see if that goes anywhere.

Friday, YSA picked us up and took us out to do some service at Feed My Starving Children, which was super fun. Then we went back to do anther long and grueling session of Weekly Planning. That took us into dinner, which a member picked us up for. He also dropped us off at our next appointment, which didn't end up happening. So, we ended up walking back towards our home for the next hour and a half. Luckily, abut 30 minutes from our house (walking), we were walking in front of the high school, and we look over and see Brother Schneidau, and he sees us, and offered a ride. We nearly cried. We took that, and crashed when we got back.

Saturday, we did a bunch of stop-by's in the morning and afternoon, mingled with some finding, but nothing to report there. We ended up going back to the church to gather our thoughts, and as we were walking out, we ran into Brother Winders, who was there to set up for his daughter's birthday party later that evening. Being the experienced party decorators that we were, we offered our help, after we came back from a lesson.

That lesson, was with Joan, and it was awesome! We taught her about the Plan of Salvation, and she loved it, and was asking a ton of excellent questions throughout the lesson. And at the end of that lesson, we invited her to be baptized, and she accepted! She is currently on date for January 6th, so mark your calendars! Then we went back and helped with setting up the party, and we stuck around for it because they asked us to, and we hadn't eaten dinner yet. It was fun!

Sunday was a most excellent day! So first, was obviously church, and we had a wonderful time in Sacrament Meeting, and teaching about honesty in Gospel Principles. Third hour was hit with a twist. Instead of going to help the Young Men like we usually do, the YSA branch President had asked us to help out with a little Christmas Program that they were doing in their Sacrament Meeting (it was kind of like a Primary Program). We narrated it and read a bunch of scriptures, and then they had a YSA (for those of you who don't know, YSA stands for Young Single Adult. I keep throwing around the term, and I keep forgetting that I have to explain some things) form a Choir and they sang a bunch of songs. It was cool!

After that was studies and finding, which again, was basically nothing there. Then it was an excellent dinner with the Bohman's (who will be hosting us for our phone calls home. I am so excited!) and then to a fantastic lesson with Celeste and Meka. Man, Celeste is asking a ton of fantastic questions, and Meka is too! It is awesome! We taught Meka the last lesson this time, and shout out to the Bateman's for being there and helping out so much! At the end of the lesson, we extend the baptismal invitation, and she accepted as well! It is super exciting. She is on date for the 13th of January. We now use have to keep working with her and Joan, and we can have two baptisms next month if all goes well.

   Well, that is about all for me. Thank you all so much for all of your support and prayers! I know that they are what is working miracles our here! I hope that y'all have a most excellent week, and stay awesome wherever you are!

Elder Jensen



This is what the parking lot looked like after we left the church on Monday. All the snow is gone now though, and it is just cold here.

Sister Jones gave each of us a stuffed animal in payment for helping her. This is what I got.

I FOUND SOMETHING TO ORGANIZE AL MY WRITING STUFF, AND IT MAKES MY DESK LOOK SO MUCH CLEANER!!! I AM SO HAPPY!!!

We found a swing that we fit in.

Now this is a sight that I have not seen for a long time. (Like, way back when we did play group in Juneau)

Elder Figgins and I teamed up with Elder Taggert and Elder Nelson to help Sister Jones move a bunch of boxes up to her apartment. As missionaries, we have our hearts set on serving others because we love the feeling that we get from it, and we love that we get to help make things easier for other people!

We teamed up with the YSA Elders once again to be a tender mercy to those in need of food. We all went and did some service at Feed My Starving Children, and we had a great time there. We hope that those kids who get this food will be better fed by it, and we pray that their lives will be able to improve.

All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.”—Matthew 7:12. So, I decided that I would make a most excellent dinner of Chicken and Rice for my companion, who has been bedridden all day due to illness. A nice home cooked meal is exactly what I would look forward to when I am down sick, and I know that it will brighten up his day a little. Get better soon Elder Figgins!

"[I was] naked, and ye clothed me."--Mathew 25:36. So, we found time today to go out and drop off some cloths to donate that we didn't need, and we pray that they end up with someone who needs them more.

Elder Figgins and I have our differences sometimes, but let me tell you he is one heck of an Elder. So, I decided to show my appreciation through the form of Cookies, and attacking his wall with positive attributes that he has.