This week in Santa Cruz was wet. It rained so much this week, we got drenched, and our clothes never dry, but I love it. This week was filled with miracles and with great things. I loved them.

This week, we worked so hard. We wanted to fill the chapel, as yesterday was the last Sunday of the transfer. We passed by less actives'  houses and we called people. We did everything we could. We  got to church on Sunday, at 8 in the morning for the Ward Council, then we went out to find people to go to church. We passed by some houses in hopes they would to go together. Every house we went to, they weren't there or they were getting ready. So, we went to the last house and we went to church with a less active family, the Limpias family. We got to church, just as it was getting started. It was super full. We were so happy. I thought, ¨wow, this is so great¨ but I realized that there was still people missing. 

We start singing the sacrament hymn, a group of people came. We start passing the sacrament (there are only 2 active deacons in the ward so sometimes we help.) as I was passing the sacrament, I glance outside the door - our chapel is 2 separate buildings 1. the chapel  and then the other building all the classrooms - I noticed more people coming. We finished passing. Opened the door. those people sat down somehow (not many seats left) and then 10 minutes later more people came. It was such a miracle... the biggest church attendence that I have had in my entire mission - 165 in the Sacrament meeting (when we got here the usual was like 112) It was so great!!

That is the biggest miracle that happened this week. I loved it so much. 

We have rescued the family Duran.. 3 sisters... Martha, Paola y Cinthia. They are all serving in the Primary Presidency. Maybe it was slow but the Lord has shown us miracles here in Guaracal. 

I am doing really great. I am happy and healthy and just enjoying the time here. 

Thanks for everything.

I love you all so much!

Until next week.

-Elder Jensen

Hey everyone. I hope everything is doing really well. I am doing really well.

This week was good. I felt humbled today. I felt the love of our Father in Heaven in my life as yesterday my companion and I and the other missionaries in barrio Guaracal we were able to see miracles in the ward.

A recent convert was called to be Young Men´s President, a rescued less active, Martha Duran, was called to be Primary President- her sister, another rescued sister, Cinthia Duran, to be her first counselor. A less active family, Saulo and Fanny Ortiz, who had been inactive and had been talking bad about the ward to other members, came to church yesterday as a family. they had their interview with the Bishop and they told him that they want to come back to church and go to the temple.
The wife of the new member that got called to be Young Men´s President, Osman Chavez, came to church after a long time of always failing the sisters Baldridge and Ariza.

I am just humbled, as we do all we can do, and then the Lord does the rest. It is great to be a missionary in this time.

In my personal study, I finished the 4 gospels and started reading the book of Acts. I am completely convinced that if we pray with faith and we live righteously, we too will be able to see miracles in our lives- God never stopped being a God of Miracles. I have seen that in my mission.

I love this gospel. And I love you all. I know the Lord lives. and I know He loves us. I know that if we pray we can have more faith, and we can become more like Christ wants us to be.

I love you all so much. Sorry there isn't much this letter, but more next week.
Bye!

Good Week

Hi there, I hope you are doing really well. I am doing really well.

Well, here in Santa Cruz, another week has passed. It was a strange week, because some days were super cold and others were hot. The weather is a bit strange here, but I love it, so all is well.

This week, we were able to see miracles in the mission. With a sister that we have been teaching for a while now, Ana Alcantara and her two daughters, usually we have an appointment with her Monday nights, with a member. We passed by on Thursday and she said, that she was so surprised to see us, because that day, she prayed to know what church is the truth, and then we showed up. She said she felt something telling her that that was her answer. I felt so honored to be a servant of the Lord and be able to help this sister. She wants to be baptized, but she doesn't have the support of her husband but we are working with her and we are praying that we can talk to the husband.

Yesterday, was a good day, well, really this whole week, but I liked yesterday. The morning was cold, which means that a lot of people stay in bed sleeping, including the active members. So, we got to church, there werent many people there. The meeting started. I just loved it. More and more people trickled in...investigators, less actives, active families. And every time people entered the room, I just felt love and I just felt so happy for them. Honestly, I love this ward, Guaracal. They are the best. Tons of people gave wonderful testimonies and I felt so good in that ward, even though it was cold outside, the chapel was full and we felt the spirit.

After, at night, we had a special meeting for all of the recent converts, and rescued less actives. The stake president, President Enrique, spoke and called on 3 people to bear their testimonies. All 3 of them were from Barrio Guaracal. Martha Duran, who we are rescuing, her sister Cinthia Duran, the other elders are visiting her. And a recient convert, Osman Chavez, who yesterday got called to be Young Mens President. I am so grateful for these people who are trying so hard to live the gospel.

I know the Lord loves us, and that we can be together forever with Him and our Heavenly Father. I know this thanks to the scriptures. I can feel the Lord´s love for us and I know He lives. I know it with all that I am. I know I am not perfect, but I will keep on trying to give Him my entire heart. I love Him.

And I love you all. Thank you so much for your love, prayers, and your support. I love you so much.

Until next week,
Elder Jensen

Hello all you people out there! 

Thanks for reading my blog and for sending my emails and love and support. I know you love me. And I love you. I know the Lord will protect you all.

Family and friends, 

This week was good. We were able to work with the word to go and search for members and help update the ward directory with names and telephone numbers. it was good to help the ward. We feel like we are helping and being more united with the ward.

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY! Tomorrow is mothers day here in Bolivia so, mom, another happy mothers day!

I am super happy with my companion. His name is Elder Jerez, from Argentina. He is just a fun guy and we get along really well.

This week, I was able to finish the Book of Mormon again. I was reading and studying of how I can be more humble, and I was able to find a lot of new answers. I know as we come closer to Christ, he helps us become more like him. 

Since I was focused on finishing the Book of Mormon, I had set aside my reading of the New Testament, and now that I have finished with that goal, my new goal is read and learn more of the Savior as I read the New Testament. I am learning more and seeing more that I ever had before. I love it, as Christ taught, he kind of taught in code, those that wanted to hear and learn, they would understand, I am now understanding more as I constantly strive to be closer to Him. 

I love the people here. I have prayed so hard to love them, and I truly believe that the Lord has helped me finally love the Bolivian people. They make me laugh. They make me sad when they dont do what they said they would do, but I havent yet lost hope in them. They are a good people, and I know we will find more people that want to progress.

That is it for this week. I love you all very much and I hope that you are all happy. If you aren't happy, come closer to Christ. I know He will help you truly be happy!

I forgot to tell you, once more winter has come to Santa Cruz. It is humid and so cold. The winds are super strong. But, thankfully in my house, we have a/c so we cranked up the heat and sat underneath it. 
So, here is a picture of 4 of us in the morning huddling together on an extra matress in the house, trying to get warm. haha. 

-Elder Jensen

Another Week

Hey there everyone! I am here in an internet cafe writing you this day and I am super happy. This week was good. My companion and I were able to get a lot done to help the ward and to get things going in my area. Plus, the Lord showed us that He will help us in the work. 

On Tuesday, we had to go to the eye doctor because my companion is blind... well, less blind than I am, but still blind. We look like two goons with coke bottle glasses, but it was good that we went to the eye doctor because I was able to buy some new contact lenses which made me super happy. 

Wednesday, we had a training conference with President Willard and all the District Leaders and Zone Leaders in the city.    It was good. We learned a lot about how we need to do things the Lord´s way so as to have the spirit and to be able to do the things that He wants, since it is His work and His glory. 

We had a couple of great things happen that I would call miracles. We had like 3 or 4 people come up to us and ask us, ¨Elders, will you teach me the lessons?¨ something that, in my mission, has never happened. I know that the Lord is helping us with his work in his time, we just have to be humble and patient and the blessings will come. 

I want to share with you all something our Ward Mission Leader taught us. He is great. Our ward mission leader´s name is Hans Raldes. He knows a lot of doctrine and is constantly reading Liahonas or the Book of Mormon. He taught us a bit about the happiness and how to be happy. We told us, ¨the secret to happiness is obedience. If we obey God, we will be happy always. Only those who obey God are happy, no one else. There is no other way to be happy¨ 

I know that is true. I know that God wants us to be happy and that he gave us the way to find true happiness. The gospel of Jesus Christ is the way to happiness and obedience is part of it. 

I love you so much my family. You are so important to me and I hope you all have the best week of your lives this week. 

Until next monday, 

Elder Jensen

Todo Bigote!

Well, there it went, the last phone call home. It was great to be able to skype you all and actually have a good camera and internet connection. I hope you all had a good time talking to me and a Happy Mother´s Day to you mom and to Brooke!

Well, like you all heard, I got a new companion. He is Elder Jerez. He is from Argentina. He has a year in the mission. We get a long great. I am super happy to have him here in Guaracal.

Everything with me is going really well. I am happy and healthy and just doing really well, working in the Lord´s vineyard. Like they say here, ¨todo bigote (all is mustache)¨ or ¨todo esta chalinga (all is super good)¨

I know that the Lord has so much prepared for us. He wants us to be happy and to follow his path to be happy. I love this gospel and I love the opportunity that I have to share this gospel with others.

Yesterday, we passed by the house of a less active. We started talking with him, but I just kept feeling like there was something on his mind, or there was something there. I just paused, and just asked the question that was in my mind, ¨are you happy?¨ He started to cry and told us that he wasnt. We shared with him the way to be happy is to follow Christ. To be humble, to do the little things like pray and read the scriptures and, then we can be happy. I know that to be true.

I love you my family. You are all great and make me so happy. I just couldnt stop laughing or smiling yesterday, because you are all just great people. I am so thankful that we can be an eternal family. I love you so much.

So, last night, after talking with you all, we sat there with the Stake President, while the other elders spoke with their families. President Enrique is from Argentina, and just like sister Tatiana showed you, we started to ¨Matear¨ or drink Mate. Mate is an herb, and is super common in Argentina and in other countries, but mostly there. They put the herb in the poro, and then put in sugar and hot water. Before, I had never liked it very much, but when he made it, it is so good. I think it was because he put lime in it. And now I want to buy my own poro (the cup). I will bring some to the states if I can. He explained to me, that to share with someone Mate, it is a form of true friendship and trust, since one cup is passed around, they drink all the mate and then the cup is refilled with water and given to another person to drink. It was interesting to learn about another custom and culture of a people. 
They also gave us pancito (bread) and palta (avacado) to eat. It was a good experience to be in the house of the Enrique family. They are great, strong members of the church.

Until next week, 

Elder Jensen.

Cinco de Mayo

Feliz Cinco de Mayo a todos! I dont know why we think 5 de mayo is some kind of holiday when none of the Latins think it is a special day, but oh well, we are just like that. Or maybe it is just special in a certain country or something like that. 

My week was great. This week, we changed a couple things around, namely we changed our pension to a member of our ward, Yuri Chavez and his wife Silvia. They are great and they make great food. He is from here, and she is from Peru, so they make good food that isnt just the same as always. I am happy about that. 

We are continuing forward trying to work harder and more united with the ward members, we still are not super united like the prophet and President Willard want, but we are trying. We are seeing progress, the most notable in the church assistance, more and more people are coming, which is great. But, still the progress in other areas of the work still isnt where it should be... Like members presenting their friends, or coming with us to teach investigators. But, little by little. 

This week, we had a powerful lesson with a less active. Martha Duran, her son that was recently baptized, Andres and her sister, Paula Duran, a returned missionary, but also less active. We taught them about the atonement of Jesus Christ, combined with our purpose on Earth and we also talked about repentence and faith. The spirit was so strong as we testified and taught about the Lord´s sacrifice and how we can use the power of the Atonement to return to live with God again. I really felt so good and I felt renewed understanding of our purpose on Earth and how we can become closer to Christ, through the power of the atonement. 

I am continually learning about the importance of humility and patience and charity. These are things that I have never been good as but, through daily study and prayer, I have been able to come closer to Christ, and thereby, I have, at some degree been able to become more patient, more humble, more charitable and more dependant on Christ. I am still not perfect, I never will be, but I know that as we come closer to Christ, our character changes. In Mosiah 3:19 it teaches us, that as we learn and strive to follow Christ, our nature changes... it isnt coincidence or anything, we literally become Saints, or disciples of Jesus Christ. he helps us as we strive to be like him. I just want to be like Him and to help others as well come unto Him- whether I be a missionary or a member of the Church, I have the responsibility to share and to bring others to Christ. Through my example, it is possible. 

I love you all so much. I know Christ lives. I love Him and I know He loves me. I will call you, dad, today to make sure Skype works, and then I will call you on Sunday at like 3 your time. If I can'
t get through, dont worry, I will get ahold of you some how. Haha. 

Please be safe. Be happy. Smile. Pray for missionary opportunities. 

I love you so much. 

I cant wait to talk to you!

-Elder Jensen