Happy New Year

Happy New Year!   January 6, 2014

 2014 already?!  Last March I was entering the MTC.  I feel like this has been the fastest year of my life!  New Year’s Eve was way chill.  We stayed inside our little apartment that night and watched church movies.  There were fireworks going off on both sides of our house and really loud music.  The next morning there was hardly anybody outside.  I'm sure everyone was way super hung-over.   

This last week was really great!  We finally got someone on date for baptism and were really excited to plan a baptism this week.  She is the sister of a member and she is really progressing well.  She is 13 years old and kind of timid, but I think she is warming up to us.  Sunday, she wasn't at church and her brother said that she doesn't want to be baptized so soon.  This concern in non-members always confuses me.  It's like, "here's the blessing...what are ya waiting for?"  Luckily, we will have a Sister training leader here tomorrow to help us out.   

The highlight of this week was teaching Dalila and Anne.  Dalila is the mom of a young man in the branch and Anne is the young man's cousin.  Anne and Dalila are both middle aged women that have had exposure to the church already but are just now gaining more interest.  We met Anne when she showed up to a relief society activity called "amigo doce" or "sweet friend".  It's like a secret Santa gift exchange but you give each other sweet treats.  All the women enjoyed the activity and before it started we took Anne on a tour of the new chapel.  She liked it a lot.  Then we marked a time to return and teach.   

With Dalila, we pretty much just showed up at her house one day and started teaching her.  She liked it and the next visit, Dalila and Anne wanted to be taught together.  We unfolded to them the plan of salvation and eternal families.  They paid close attention to every word and the spirit was really strong.  We taught the importance of marriage and the law of chastity and invited them to get married to their husbands.  Then we talked about the Book of Mormon and I was surprised to see that Anne already had one.  I said "Anne, who gave you a book of Mormon?"  And she told us that she picked it up on her own at the church the day of the activity.  She said, "Sisters...I don't like to read, but every time I open this book my desire and will to read grows stronger and stronger."   

Yesterday we met with Anne after church to talk about how the conversion about marriage went with her husband.  She said she was really nervous, but his heart was open to it.  The only problem is he wants to wait a YEAR!  She said that her 6 year old daughter loves the church and last Sunday was crying because they didn't go.  She said her 6 year old had the following conversion with her dad:

Anne's daughter: "Dad, you need to marry my mom"

Anne's "husband": "Why do you want me to marry your mom?"

Anne's daughter: "Because if you don't marry my mom, I can't become like the girl missionaries that are teaching her someday"

When Anne recounted that story I wanted to cry!  Even a 6 year old that has been to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints ONE time recognizes the truth.  She knows that she will progress better in the gospel with a family united.  I'm so grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ.  I'm grateful for the Spirit and its power in conversion.  I'm grateful for members that give us referrals.  I'm convinced that this work cannot exist without member referrals!!  All our work right now is because of member help.  I'm grateful for the power of the Book of Mormon.  This church is true.  I know it.  Let's invite the New Year in with a strengthened desire to help others come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel.  I love you all.  Happy New Year!  2014 will be the best year of my life!

Love,

Sister Jensen

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

Merry Christmas and New Chapel

Merry Christmas!

Feliz Natal!

It sure doesn't feel like Christmas here.  I think this will be the first Christmas I will be sweating in the hot sun since I was born!  I'm used to my Michigan Christmases!!!  But it will be a good Christmas :)  We are going to spend Christmas with Irmã Rose and I'm excited because she is planning a big Christmas feast!  Also I get to skype you all!  That will be the best part!

This week was so good!  We had a Zone Conference with President and Sister Klein and during the conference we took a break to visit a zoo.  So the zoo was pretty lame, but it is all that Boa Vista has to offer.  The cool part was getting to play with a jaguar.  Actually, only the Elders petted the jaguar because he didn't like the sisters. I was nervous and President Klein said that the jaguar didn't like me because he could smell my fear!

I have ever better news: our new chapel was finally dedicated!!!  It is so so beautiful and it was an emotional day for many members that have waited for years to have a nice meeting house.  16 years to be exact.  I know that Heavenly Father has a timing for everything and He really wants Boa Vista to grow.  I don't know if I've already told you this before, but Boa Vista is the only Brazilian capital that is still a district, not a stake.  Wow, right?  That knowledge leaves me feeling even more grateful for the privilege and opportunity to serve here.  I know that this new chapel will bring many miracles!  And I'm grateful to be the missionary to witness so many wonderful changes here in preparation for the work to accelerate even more.

I also made the decision this week to do personal progress again, but in Portuguese!  I hope to finish in 9 months before I come home.  Mom I want you and Alli to do it with me!  You don't have to do as fast as me, but you can write to me about your experiences (because a lot of personal progress has to do with talking to someone about your experience) and we can even do some experiences together!  After reading a little bit today about the Personal Progress program I realized, oh my gosh this is so great!  Everything in the program helps young women keep a temple focused mind and helps them prepare to be good wives and mothers.  I think when I was in the young women's program I thought personal progress was optional, but I did it anyways because I wanted to.  Of course we have our agency, but I don't view this program as "optional" today.  Personal Progress is a great opportunity to become better and strengthen our testimonies of Jesus Christ.  It helps us develop habits of scripture study and prayer. We SHOULD complete personal progress.  It is not only for young women of the church, but for ALL women!  And for women above the age 18, we can complete personal progress to help others also complete personal progress.  So Alli and mom, are ya with me?

This week we've been sharing the message of Christ's birth with the members here in Bos Vista.  I especially love the account in Luke 2 with the shepherds that received "good tidings of great joy" from an angel of the Lord.  And after they received those good tidings, Luke records:

 15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

 16 And they came with ^ahaste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

I love the shepards reaction to the good news.  They did not say, "First let's take a nap" or "How about tomorrow we see the Savior".  The shepards did not wait, but the left their flocks imediately and went "with haste".  They said to one another "let us go NOW".  Today the good news we have is the gospel of Jesus Christ.  His life and atoning sacrifice was the greatest gift ever given.  This Christmas season let us be like the angel sharing good tidings of great joy with our neighbors.  Let us work and share and serve with haste and enthusiasum like the shepards!  

17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

 18 And all they that heard it ^awondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

People will wonder at the things you tell them about the gospel.  About the unique message we share about the Restoration of the gospel.  About eternal families.  About priesthood blessings.  As members of the church we are the ONLY people that have the gospel in it's fulness.  I think the greatest gift of all that we can share this holiday season and in the year to come is to share the gospel.  We need to be examples.  Seek opportunities to serve.  And when we do, others will feel the love of Christ.  They will want to know Him because they know us and in turn we will be blessed.  And we do not want to delay those blessings.

I know that this church is true.  I cannot deny the feeling in my heart.  Truly the Holy Ghost testifies of truth even when we already know.  I love that.  I finished the Book of Mormon again on the mission and to be honest I felt silly kneeling in prayer to fulfill Moroni's promise again because I already knew it was true.  But we should never cease to seek spiritual confirmations, even when we know.  I love the Book of Mormon.  I love how it compliments the Bible.  I love my Heavenly Father and I'm grateful for how merciful He has been with me in my life.  I'm grateful for one Christmas as a missionary.  There is no greater job in the world!  I'm grateful for my Savior Jesus Christ.

I love you all!  Have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Com Amor e carinho,

Sister Hayley Jensen

I am my own convert

I feel like this week I have been a witness of a lot of little miracles.  Finding those who have had great former afiliations with the church, showing up to a reference's door right in the nic of time and having the ability to explain the gospel clearly and simply.  I feel very blessed and very humbled in knowing that I cannot do this alone.  That Heavenly Father is working right along side us.

 

This week we finished teaching the son of a recent convert of the church.  His name is Natan and he is 14 years old.  When we started teaching him, he didn't have much knowledge of anything related to religion.  But in the course of 2 weeks he has really progressed well.  Yesterday his dad baptized him.  He wasn't baptized before because he was living in the another state called Pará.  What was even more special is that his dad baptized him on the same date he himself was baptized last year.  His dad is a man that really experienced great changes because of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  It was a priveledge to be the missionary that taught his son.  When we told him this week that this was his final lesson before baptism he was really upset, "You guys won't come back to teach me more?"  Natan still is a little embarrassed to pray, but during the closing prayer of our final lesson he said, "And bless the Sisters that they will never stop teaching me".  I thought that was really sweet.  Although he has the support of his family and he has been integrated well with the young men, our presence in his life still mattered to him.

 

This week we've encountered a lot of people ready to Bible bash.  Man, I hate Bible bashing.  I've gotten to be much more familiar with the Bible throughout my mission which makes it a lot more tempting to prove people the false doctrine they are preaching, but really the best thing to do is just bear powerful testimony.  We went to go visit Solange our recent convert and her friend was with her so obviously was started teaching the Restoration.  It was all good until another women showed up at the First Vision and just wanted to fight.  For a while I tried to help her understand until I realized her heart was just too hard.  Sister Acevedo and I managed to cut in with our testimonies and before they could say more I asked to offer a prayer.  After we left we realized we left Solange in a den of lions!  So I deviced a plan to pour out all the water in my water bottle and go and ask Solage to fill it.  This worked really well and as we talked with Solange it was like talking with a different person.  Nothing they had said shaked her faith in what we taught and I know it is because of the gift of the Holy Ghost.  When we live worthy of his companionship, we cannot be shaken.

 

I'm so grateful for the gift of the Holy Ghost in my life.  He has been a comforter and a friend.  He has guided me and my decisions and he is still testifying to me of the truth.  If anyone has been truely converted as a result of my mission, I would have to say that the convert is me.  I know with a surety that the Church is true.  I love my Savior Jesus Christ. 

 

Love you all,

 

Sister Jensen

"Come Mais Sísteres!"

The food here makes me want to cry somedays. Sometimes because it is so dang good and other days because they make me eat too much.  In our branch here it's become a joke to say "Eat more sisters!  Ya'll walk a lot!"  But really we know that they are not joking...ya HAVE to eat more.  Sister Acevedo and I were on bed rest for a day because of how awful we felt.  One day last week  Irmã made us fish and it was sooo good!  But I was struggling to separate the meat from the bones.  She was really concerned for me so she started taking out bones for me.  Then I accidently swallowed a tiny bone and she really became concerned...she said, "I knew we should have made chicken.  You Americans don't know how to cut fish huh Sister?"  After that Sister Acevedo started to cut my fish for me.  I felt like such a child but I just had to laugh because I thought it was so funny.  "Don´t worry Sister, next time I will make chicken".

It's also been kind of rainy this week which always leaves the dirt on the roads really slippery.  You already know where this is going...I slipped!  TWICE!  The first time was in front of a Restaurant full of people and of course they are already staring at me because I'm different.  It was a humbling experience.  I was like "Sister Acevedo!  I can't even walk away in secret to hide my identity...every knows the white american missionary in Boa Vista!"  I'm having a lot of fun serving with Sister Acevedo.  She is a really good missionary and her personality is easy going and fun.  We are working really well together.

Yesterday we were asked to give talks in sacrament meeting.  She only had to give a 5 mintue talk and I had to give a 10 minute talk!  It was my very first talk in sacrament meeting here in Brazil, but I was surprisely calm.  I even went over my time...oops!  I'm not sure our members understood everything we said, but we understood each other so I think we´re safe.

This week we taught a family that needs to get married.  The week before we taught them the Law of Chastity and invited them to get married.  This week we followed up and the wife wants to get married, but the husband was reluctant.  We taught them the Law of Chastity again with baptism in mind and told them they can only be baptized after marriage.  Then it all clicked and they asked us, "So right now we are living in sin?"  Sister Acevedo and I replied in unison, "yes".  It was strange being so bold, but I realize that we have to be bold when it comes to the gospel of Jesus Christ.  And as a representative of Jesus Christ, it is my responsibility to cry repentance to this people.  After all this, he still wasn't sure about marriage.  So I said, "Well, then I don't think we can come back and teach you anymore.  We are only here to teach those with a lot of faith who are willing to obey God's commandments and be baptized."  That did it.  We are now planning a wedding!  It will take some time for them to save money, but we told them the members would help with the reception to make it really special.  They were really happy.  And I was really happy!  After we left Sister Acevedo said, "Wow we really do have power and authority in our calling!  Two really young girls from different countries convinced a young poor couple to be married...in broken portuguese!"  Seriously, this is true.  Either these people are nuts or we have been called of God to do this work.           

I feel so blessed to be a part of the work of Salvation.  There is no better work to be involved in and no greater priviledge.  Remember that people are watching us.  We need to be examples above all else.  And we in return will receive blessings.  I really like what Jeffery R. Holland said in respect to blessings:

Some blessings come soon, some come late, and some don’t come until heaven; but for those who embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ, they come.

I know that the church is true.  I know the Savior lives and is very much involved in this work.  I know people are being baptized today because of the Spirit they feel.  Jeffery R. Holland also said:

People do not join the Church because of what they know. They join because of what they feel, what they see and want spiritually. Our spirit of testimony and happiness in that regard will come through to others if we let it. As the Lord said to Alma and the sons of Mosiah, “Go forth … that ye may show forth good examples unto them in me, and I will make an instrument of thee in my hands unto the salvation of many souls.” ⁵

Let us pray that we can be instruments in the hands of the Lord.  I know that as we do this, we will be so much more satisfied with our lives.  His plans for us are always better than our own.  I love you all.  Have a happy week!

Sister Hayley Jensen

Boa Vista PARA SEMPRE!

Oi!

 

Guess what?!  I'm staying in Boa Vista!!!!  That's right!  I will spend a third of my mission in Boa Vista, but that is okay because I love this place.  It's really grown on me and I feel really close with the members here.  I also can't believe that I will reach my 9 month mark.  Wow the mission goes by way too fast.  I think the only problem I have these days is not having enough time to do all that I want to do! 

First haircut in Brazil
He offered to do highlights but she said she can wait to have
Katie Machala do them.

 

This week we had the confirmation of Solange and João.  It was so special!  Afterwards João bore testimony and was in tears at the pulpet.  I can't believe I had a part in helping teach this 64 year old man about his Savior Jesus Christ.  He bore testimony that during his life he had visited many different churches, but the day we showed up at his door he felt something different.  He knew our church was true!  I sat in the congregation like a proud mother.  I don't know how the explain the feeling.  It's like a little taste of what Heavenly Father must feel when we are doing something good.

 

We also baptized a 17 year old girl Juliana.  At first I wasn't sure if she had real intent because the Sister she was living with really wanted her to be baptized, so I asked her, "Why do you want to be baptized?" and she said "Because I want to feel clean from my sins."  From the tears on her face yesterday as she came up out of the water I could tell she felt relief.  The gospel is beautiful and because of it we can be clean.  We can be happy.  I am a witness of that.  So grateful for what our Savior did for us.  I know the church is true.  I could not be happier in doing what I am doing!  Love you all so much!  Live the gospel and you WILL be happy.  It's simple. 

 

Until next week (already out of time...)

 

Sister Hayley Jensen

Happy Thanksgiving! (almost)

Yummy fruit!

This week has been a highlight week on my mission for sooo many reasons!  Reason number one...we received news that our new chapel will be ready next transfer!  I'm so excited!  I don't want to speak too soon, but I think I will be here next transfer.  Sister Acevedo has one more transfer of training and I think President Klein will keep us together.  I really hope so because I'm loving it here in Boa Vista!  It's dang hard sometimes, but I feel like Boa Vista is my little home now.  We also have a new Branch President and he is super excited and has a lot of great ideas to help accelerate the work here.

Everything in missionary work nowadays is all about working with members.  If the prophet said it, I know it's important so I've been working really hard to have good experiences with our members and finding people.  Our efforts this week are really paying off!  All 4 of our solid investigators have close contact and friendships with members!  One man named João is neighbors with a family in our Branch.  He lives with his sister in a bairro far from us.  After lunch one day we taught him and his sister.  Thanks to our member, the sister already knew a lot about the church and during the lesson everyone was teaching each other.  It was a really awesome experience.  Before we could even invite him he said, "I would like to come to church on sunday".  I thought, Freak!  I love working with members!  Our very own investigator invited himself to church!  He was there and he really liked it.  We are going to walk to his house wednesday morning to teach more and mark a baptismal date.  His house is far away, but I can't help but think it will be worth it.  Really, it's an act of faith...and a good workout. :)

Hayley and Sister Acevedo

We are also teaching a women named Solange.  She is so solid!  She has a friend in Fortaleza Brasil that is a member of the church and Solange has always wanted to learn more.  I met her over 2 months ago with Sister Crane when we were trying to make visits one night in an apartment complex.  That night, everything was going wrong.  Nobody was home, nobody wanted to talk to us and just as we were leaving we met Solange.  At first I thought she invited us back because she liked that we were Americans, but now I can see a real thirst for knowledge in her.  When Sister Acevedo and I returned for the first time to try and teach her, she was absorbing every word.  She was at church 2 sundays ago and really loved conference.  Yesterday we marked an official date for baptism and taught the commandments.  The hardest commandment to teach was tithing.  She told us that right now she is trying to recover from a financial crisis.  There are many things she once had, that she is living without and I think it's been hard for her.  She said, "Oh sister...I think I can live tithing every once in a while.  It's not the 10 percent, but the desire of our hearts and I dont think I can because I'm still recooperating".  At that moment I took confidence in the promise in Malachi 3:10.  I told her that she cannot deny herself the blessings that come from tithing and I promised her that she would recover much faster if she would live this commandment.  I then shared a story about you mom when you were deciding whether or not to pay tithing when you and dad were poor newlyweds, and the blessing you got from paying it.  That little story helped a lot!  The spirit was there to testify this truth and she accepted to live it.  Her baptism will be Sunday after church.

Finally this week, we were teaching a friend of our recent convert Simone.  Her friend's name is Loraina.  At first, Loraina didn't want to be taught because our church was too far away, but we continued.  Monday last week we had just left the home of an ex-investigator and I was feeling a bit frustrated and really discouraged because he decided over night that he didn't want to be baptized.  After that lesson we taught Loraina.  It was rough!  She wasn't understanding us very well, but she was paying real close attention.  She especially liked the part of the Plan of Salvation when we explain the Celestial Kingdom.  After reading the little part of the pamphlet I asked, "Where would you like to live one day?"  And of course she replied the celestial kingdom!  I told her that was a place we can go through baptism and invited her to be baptized.  She was still hesitant to accept the invitation so we asked her to pray and asked Heavenly Father.  About 15 seconds into the prayer she stopped.  At first I thought she was embarrassed or forgot how to pray, but then she looked at me and her eyes were full of tears.  Then I felt it too.  The most powerful presence of the Spirit I have felt on my mission so far and I could not stop myself from crying.  After the prayer we explain the feeling and invited her to be baptized again.  She accepted!  The only sad part of this story is we havent been able to talk to her since.  Everyone else has been talking for her and so we are really hoping we can talk with her this week.

I have so much more to write about this week!!!!  And so little time.  I want you all to know that I know these things are true.  I have seen miracles this week.  I'm seeing miracles with members!  I'm feeling the Spirit giving me the support to do this work and I cannot deny that this is the work of the Lord.  

I want to leave you with a funny scripture I found this morning during my personal study.  In Luke 10:8 Christ is talking to His seventies about how they should go about preaching in various cities and I thought this verse was funny:

8 And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you

Christ commanded that His missionaries need to eat all the food set before them!  It's in the New Testament.  I promise you that I'm doing that too.  One day this week we ate 3 lunches due to some confusion with our lunch calendar.  I wanted to cry I was so FULL!  But at least the food is super good.  Anyways, on that note, have a Happy Thanksgiving!  Even though I won't have thanksgiving this year, I can promise you that I will be eating just as much if not more here in Brazil.  Love ya'll!

Sister Jensen