Monday, December 30, 2013

Last letter of 2013

This week feels like a blur!   I know I did a lot of things, but I'm having a hard time remembering because it all went by so fast!  First of all, I loved Christmas.  Mostly because I got to talk with you all.  It was so good to see your faces!  Irmã Rose said "Nobody in this family is ugly" haha.  They had a lot of fun seeing the snow there too.  These people have never seen or felt snow in their lives!  They were so amazed.  To be honest, I'm grateful for a break from the snow this year. 
This week it was hard to get a lot of work done because we spent a lot of time in the new chapel to help with the open house.  The people in this area are beginning to notice that the chapel is functioning, but they want to attend our services at night.  Last night we watched the Christmas Devotional by the First Presidency and as we were leaving the chapel a family pulled up and asked, "When do you have your services here?  We are looking for a church to join".  Umm...how often does that happen?!  Never!  We convinced them to come in for a church tour and a convert couple in the branch bore testimony at the end by the baptismal font.  It was super awesome.  But although it was a great tour, they want a church to attend at night.  Everyone has church services at night here.
This week we also had a lot of miracles working with members.  Every time we have a Conference or Zone Training here they are always training us on working with the members.  I'm doing my very best to fulfill this counsel because I know its origin is our Prophet.  So really its origin is Jesus Christ.  As I've focused in on accomplishing this this week, I've found that we had a whole lot more investigators at church as well as less actives and recent converts.  Sister Acevedo and I didn't know what to do with ourselves this Sunday because our chapel was flooding with new faces!!!  We now have a lot of follow-ups to do this week.  I'm really looking forward to it!
This week my heart has been especially full of gratitude.  Every Christmas I find myself remembering Christmases of the past and this year especially I realized how blessed I've been.  Especially since I began serving here I've been so so grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ.  I'm so grateful I was raised with the gospel in my home.  I'm grateful for parents that love me.  I'm grateful for those who have helped me on the mission.  You know who you are and you are in my prayers.  Thank you for your help.  Most of all, I'm thankful for my Savior Jesus Christ.  Despite all the ugliness and sadness in the world, the gospel of Jesus Christ is here in its fullness and it is changing lives one by one.  I know it, because I'm witnessing it.
I love you all.  I want to leave you with the words of our prophet Thomas S. Monson in which he speaks of gratitude:
"My brothers and sisters, do we remember to give thanks for the blessings we receive? Sincerely giving thanks not only helps us recognize our blessings, but it also unlocks the doors of heaven and helps us feel God’s love."
And I can promise you that we don´t want to miss an opportunity to feel His love.
Have a Happy New Year!

Com Amor,
Sister Jensen

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