Personal Conversion

Every week passes by faster and faster.  I can't believe that it is monday again!  This week was a good one.  We had an exchange with some Sisters in our zone and it was really fun to work in a different area.  Afterwards we bought pizza and icecream.  One thing I learned on the mission is that you can't survive running around constantly stressed out.  I felt like I started my mission really stressed and worried all the time, running from one appointment to the next.  This transfer with Sister Freitas has taught me that we need moments to sit down, laugh, and eat icecream.  The mission is a lot more enjoyable and it takes away contention that can drive away the spirit.

This week we took Michel to the temple to take pictures.  We walked around the garden and showed him the lodge facilities to the right of the temple.  He loved it.  He was taking pictures at every angle of the temple.  We sat down with him to show him our recommend and what it means to us to have a temple recommend.  Then, a newly wed couple came out of the temple.  He turned to us and said, "I want to be the next".  There is nothing more he wants than an eternal family.

Yesterday I gave a talk in church and asked Michel if I could use his testimony.  It is very powerful.  I will try and translate a part of it:

"After passing through many sufferings and thinking about a purpose in my life, two missionaries appeared in my house.  Sister Jensen and Sister Freitas started to talk about the Book of Mormon and scriptures and was a skeptic of what they were teaching.  I didn't give much importance to it all, but when they continued teaching about baptism my life began to change.  I learned that baptism meant death and rebirth to a new life.  That all that was morally incorrect I could leave in the past.  After my baptism I felt new and I know that it was the happiest day of my life.  I read the Book of Mormon and prayed to Heavenly Father and I felt that everything is true.  What I felt was undescribable.  I felt something hopeful and a comforting warmness.  An imense happiness.  I am on the path of righteousness to become a better person.  What is more important is that I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the true church."

Nothing beats the testimony of someone you taught on the mission.  After church on Sunday Michel received the Aaronic Priesthood and next month he will receive the Melquisedeque Priesthood.

Truely the Spirit has a huge role in missionary work.  The Spirit is what motivates us to become converted by living the gospel of Jesus Christ.  And conversion is a process we live constantly, even after our baptism.  This sunday I spoke in sacrament meeting about personal conversion and I used a quote by Elder Howard W. Hunter, 

“What does the Atonement have to do with missionary work? Any time we

experience the blessings of the Atonement in our lives, we cannot help but have a concern for the welfare of others. … A great indicator of one’s personal conversion is the desire to share the gospel with others.”

Are we really converted?  If we are helping the missionaries share the gospel, then we truely are converted.  When we love the Savior Jesus Christ, we will help in this work. Our blessings of eternity depend on it.  Like President George Albert Smith said, 

“We will attain our exaltation in the Celestial Kingdom only on the condition that we share with our Father’s other children the blessings ofthe Gospel of Jesus Christ and observe the commandments that will enrich our lives here and hereafter”

 I love this gospel.  I'm so grateful for the blessing it is to sit front row and watch the conversion of others.  Heavenly Father loves His children.  Trust that He will answer your prayers and that when you invite your friends to read the Book of Mormon and pray, the Spirit will touch their hearts.  3 Nephi 7:21

I love you all!  Have a great week!

Sister Jensen

Source of Joy

Drenched by the rain

It has been another wonderful week!  My greatest source of joy has been because of our investigator Michel.  He is progressing so well and so fast.  Last Monday we had a FHE with a family in the ward and Michel.  Michel shared his testimony with them about how he was converted.  He talked about the Book of Mormon and his prayer.  He said that when we had found him, he was depressed and uninterested in God, but when he prayed, he felt something.  He felt light, happiness and hope.  He couldn't explain the feeling, but we all understood.  In the same FHE the head of the household gave him 2 ties and Michel was really excited.  He likes wearing his church clothes because I think it makes him feel special.  We planned to take him to the temple this next Saturday to walk around and take pictures.  He asked if he could wear his church clothes. :)

Yesterday we went to visit him after church and when we arrive he was watching last October's conference in English (he speaks English fluently).  We are so impressed with him.  He then started showing us pictures of all the temples in the world because now he is obessed with temples.  He made us swear to him that we would return to watch his sealing one day.  This week he will receive the Preisthood and we don't want to delay much longer to teach his family because they really like the changes they are seeing in Michel.  His cousin and her family are going to a church called Restoration.  Funny huh?  It is a huge church that many go to.  When people tell me that they go to the church Restoration, I love saying "Oh perfect!  We have a message about that!"

Downpour

The other highlight of my week was the baptism of William.  He is the son of our investigator Jacqueline that we have been teaching for centuries!  When we went over there Saturday  to confirm plans with William, Sister Freitas and I were worried that many people wouldn't be able to watch the baptism.  Everyone is traveling because of the holiday.  When we got to their house, Jacqueline was really torn apart because of many things.  She has been through so much in her life and the trials never seem to stop.  She has a strong desire to be baptized but needs to repent and get married first.  It's hard to see her struggle.  A friend of hers sent some anti-Mormon material and told her not to let William get baptized.  But of course, she cannot deny the way she feels.  The spirit is stronger then any anti-mormon youtube garbage.  She said, "Even though I'm getting trial after trial, I cannot give up because I feel like I'm so close to my blessing".  I've learned so much with my investigators.  Jacqueline is a woman with a lot of faith and hope for the future.  Sister Freitas and I both felt that we should not cancel the baptism and reschedule for the next day, so we baptized him that night.

It was a beautiful baptism.  Few people showed up, but the few that did gave a lot of support.  Jacqueline was taking pictures at every frame of Jesus in the chapel.  Their only request was that I make cookies that I had been promising them.  While the tank was filling I whipped up some cookies and William was interviewed.  It was a really special moment.  After his baptism, William told us that he was nervous because he was feeling different.  He said, "I feel light."  We explained the feeling to him and he started to cry.  The next day he was confirmed and that afternoon he went out with us to teach his friends.

I'm amazed everyday by the miracles I see.  I know that because of the gospel of Jesus Christ we can experience true happiness.  In this world, everything is short term.  Everything dies, but those that live in the next life will live because of Christ.  Because of His sacrifice for us and because He overcame death.  I love this new video:

http://easter.mormon.org/?cid=HPTU041514694

Christ lives!  He loves us and He is real.  I love Him.

Sister Jensen

Feliz Páscoa!

It's been another awesome week here!  I love my area so much!  It has been getting better and better every week here.  This transfer we are working really hard to bring less actives back to activity and to retain those we've already baptized.  Our Mission Presdient has asked for 50% of our time to be spent doing work like this.  Amazingly enough, this is something we have already been doing.  I love working with less actives and recent converts.  They bring me the most joy because they are the members that are repenting and changing the most!  And always always always, we some how manage to find someone that needs to bebaptized when we do this kind of work.  It's incredible.

This week we were able to baptize Michel!  He was our athiest investigator that turned into a Mormon.  That is a mission first!  He has progressed so much the past 3 weeks.  I truely believe that he was athiest only because he hadn't found the true church yet.  He loves church because he feels good there.  He loves the hymns and enjoys the reverence. (Most churches here are super loud with bands and yelling).  He is really interested in having an eternal family one day.  His baptism was really special.  He brought his cousin with him to watch the baptism.  Right before the meeting started we noticed a dead cockroach in the font.  Ew!  We tried to descretly close the font doors to fish him out before Michel could see.  It was kind of funny because the RM that was going to baptized though it was a fish.

The next day Michel came to church in the standard white shirt and slacks and he brought his family with him.  It was a testimony meeting and the spirit was strong.  Many investigators were there to listen.  Michel was confirmed and so was Luis Fernando.  Luis Fernando is learning portuguese really quickly because he is reading the Book of Mormon in Portuguese.  This week we taught him about the priesthood and I told him that if he prepares well, he could baptize his family when they arrive from Colombia.  His face lit up and he was so excited!  It's amazing the number of people that don't know their  own potential.  I'm grateful that Heavenly Father has used me to help people understand who they can become.

I really love my mission.  I learn something new everyday.  Sometimes from the scriptures, other times from investigators and sometimes members teach me something new.  I love what one member said this week to us.  He said, "After your mission, just when you think Heavenly Father has forgotten you, another blessing comes.  You dedicated 18 months to 2 years to serve Him.  That is not something that Heavenly Father forgets."  I know that is true!  I'm so grateful for my Savior Jesus Christ.  I'm grateful that He lives!  He overcame death so that we could too.  But more importantly, He overcame spiritual death.  A blessing that is conditional acording to our obedience and application of the Atonement.  I hope that this Easter season we can remember more clearly what He taught us.  I hope we can remember that He is real and really loves us.  I know this is true.  I love His true and LIVING church.  Have a Happy Easter!

Love,

Sister Jensen

I'm staying one more transfer!

Looks like I'm staying in the area!  I'm happy that I've spent a good amount of time in every area.  It is easier to get to know the people and get some good work done.  Sister Freitas will continue as my comp and we will have to perform 4 exchanges during the transfer.  I'm really excited!

This week we baptized our investigator Luis Fernando.  He arrived in Brasil only 10 days ago.  He is Colombian and his son Fernando was already baptized 4 months ago.  There family is sending every member one by one because they don't have money to come all at once.  They had to leave because of some difficulties in the part of the country where they were living.  Luis Fernando has an excellent knowledge of the scriptures and listens very carefully to understand all we teach.  My little bit of Spanish has helped during our lessons.  Maybe that will be the next language I learn.  Last week he started reading the Book of Mormon on the tablet because the text is much larger and he has bad vision.  In one day he sat and read until 1 Nephi 8 in Portuguese and started telling us about Lehi's vision.  He said, "I've never read this book, it's really good!"  He also told us how he had requested missionaries from our church to visit him in Colombia, but they never got there.  It is amazing how Heavenly Father prepares His children to hear the gospel at the right time and in the right place!  Right now Luis is sufficiently humble and was ready to accept baptism.  

His baptism was really special.  It was funny also because he is short, but a little chubby.  When the bishop baptized him the water flew out of the font and hit the viewers in the splash zone!  It was a little scary though because President was there also and he got mad at the Elders for filling the font so high.  Afterwards we cake with the members and Luis felt really special.  His coutenance changed and he seemed a lot happier.  I LOVE baptism!

Our other investigator is a miracle also.  His name is Michel and it is kind of weird how we found him.  We were actually teaching his sister Monica, but he demonstrated more interest so we started focusing more on him.  His first experience with the church was a Talent Show ward activity.  Then he came to church the following Sunday and again this Saturday and Sunday to watch conference.  He watched all 4 sessions of Conference!  I have never been so impressed.  He spent the night at a friend's close to the chapel so that he could return the next day.  The day before conference he accepted baptism.  During conference he asked us what we would teach in the next visit and we said, "Well, we were planning on teaching about God´s plan for us" then he replied, "No, you are going to talk about my baptism".  He is a miracle because the day we met him he didn't even believe in God.  Something changed in him.  He started to read and pray.  The members embraced him.  He felt good and accepted.  He will be baptized this week.

Finally, a family that I've been teaching for 2 transfers finally decided to get married!  They are planning a wedding in 2 months so Sister Freitas and I will be on top of this entire month to get the wedding papers in as fast as possible.  It has been a miracle!

I loved this past General Conference.  I'll be honest, there were many things I wasn't able to understand.  The way the apostles talk is a lot more formal than everyday words I hear here.  I will have to read the talks in the ensign.  But I do know that the things they said are true.  I could feel it.  My questions that I prepared were answered.  I have a renewed desire to change even more on the mission and live worthily of the blessings of the Atonement.  As I've studied the Atonement all week long I've learned many new things about the character of Christ.  He truely is the Son of God.  I know that He lives and loves us.  He is real and He still speaks with His servants.  The heavens have not been closed to our people in the last days.  We need Him more now than ever.

I also learned that one thing I need to do even more is strengthen my love for the scriptures.  I heard a story this week about an Elder that served in our mission that spoke with one of the indians that live here.  He started conversing with him in a way that reminds us of the story of Ammon and King Lamoni.  The Elder started by asking, "Do you believe in the Great Spirit?"  And the indian replied, "Yes.  Our fathers believed in two Great Spirits that cleansed the Earth.  They were very good.  One of the Spirits visited our fathers in this land."  This left the Elder a little emtional because it was a testimony to him that the Book of Mormon is true.  He replied, "That's correct.  And this book tells the story of your people and about the visit of that Great Spirit".  The Indian could not read, but he accepted the Book of Mormon and held it closely to him.

I know that the Book of Mormon is true.  It contains a record of the visit of Jesus Christ.  It is said to contain a "fulness of the gospel" because  it speaks of Christ and His Atonement more than any other book.  I love these people.  There is a history here and every once and a while I can't help but feel their ancestors directing me to those who are prepared.  The church is true.

I love ya!  Have a great week!

Sister Jensen

Marriage and Baptism

My computer is failing me today so it will be a short one.  I've had a really great week here!  We finally finished our last exchange of the transfer!  The Sisters forgot to get more mattresses so we put 2 mattresses together and slept all 4 very close.  Today we went to Centro and I bought new sandals because my chacos finally bit the dust.  While we were there, I heard someone laugh really loud and it sounded like Sister Prater.  Turns out that it was Sister Prater!  She looks so Brazilian!  Seriously, everything she was wearing today she bought in Brazil.  She is so funny.

Erika's wedding and baptism week!

This week we were able to witness the marriage and baptism of Erika!  She has been taught by Sister missionaries for almost a year now and finally she was married and baptized this week.  It was really special.  Although the marriage was civil, I could feel the spirit because she was finally keeping this important commandment.  There were many non-members there too that stuck around to watch her baptism.  During the meeting I kept thinking, "Wow, there are soooo many non-members here...we need to teach something!"  Then the idea came to teach the Restoration while she changed her clothes.  Sister Freitas liked the idea so we grabbed the pamphlet and started teaching.  A few people were obviously not interested, but others listen very carefully.  The Spirit was very strong as I recited the First Vision and I knew everyone was feeling it.  It is one of those sacred moments on the mission when you know that you are teaching with power and authority.

As I studied Preach My Gospel this week I learned something interesting about my calling.  I learned that I received my authority when I was set apart, but I earn my power when I serve my mission diligently and obediently.  This really touched me and motivated me to work even harder.

I'm so excited for General Conference this week!  We should all make the effort to listen to Conference with spiritual ears and with questions we want answered.  As I've done this on the mission, Heavenly Father has not failed me.  I always receive my answer.  The leaders of the church were called of God and they will teach us with power and authority.  We will be motivated to change, and we will change.

I love you all.  Have a great conference week!

Sister Jensen

In the Strength of the Lord

Dirty hard working feet!

It was another good week here in Manaus!  I had the privilege to travel this week and perform 2 exchanges with other Sisters in the mission.  I learned a lot and it left me very tired.  I remembered this week a little quote my mom sent me about the Atonement.  It is from a talk by Elder Bednar titled, "The Atonement and the Journey of Mortality".

"I suspect that many Church members are much more familiar with the nature of the redeeming and cleansing power of the Atonement than they are with the strengthening and enabling power. It is one thing to know that Jesus Christ came to earth to die for us—that is fundamental and foundational to the doctrine of Christ. But we also need to appreciate that the Lord desires, through His Atonement and by the power of the Holy Ghost, to live in us—not only to direct us but also to empower us."

"Nephi is an example of one who knew, understood, and relied upon the enabling power of the Savior. Recall that the sons of Lehi had returned to Jerusalem to enlist Ishmael and his household in their cause. Laman and others in the party traveling with Nephi from Jerusalem back to the wilderness rebelled, and Nephi exhorted his brethren to have faith in the Lord. It was at this point in their journey that Nephi’s brothers bound him with cords and planned his destruction. Please note Nephi’s prayer: “O Lord, according to my faith which is in thee, wilt thou deliver me from the hands of my brethren; yea, even give me strength that I may burst these bands with which I am bound” (1 Nephi 7:17; emphasis added).

Weird looking, but good tasting hairy fruit

Do you know what I likely would have prayed for if I had been tied up by my brothers? “Please get me out of this mess NOW!” It is especially interesting to me that Nephi did not pray to have his circumstances changed. Rather, he prayed for the strength to change his circumstances. And I believe he prayed in this manner precisely because he knew, understood, and had experienced the enabling power of the Atonement.

I do not think the bands with which Nephi was bound just magically fell from his hands and wrists. Rather, I suspect he was blessed with both persistence and personal strength beyond his natural capacity, that he then “in the strength of the Lord” (Mosiah 9:17) worked and twisted and tugged on the cords, and ultimately and literally was enabled to break the bands.

The implication of this episode for each of us is straightforward. As you and I come to understand and employ the enabling power of the Atonement in our personal lives, we will pray and seek for strength to change our circumstances rather than praying for our circumstances to be changed. We will become agents who act rather than objects that are acted upon (see 2 Nephi 2:14)."

I know that was a long quote, but it really impacted me this week.  When I was exhausted each morning, I thought to myself, "All I have to do is get on my knees at 6:30"  As I did this, I received strength to do everything that I needed to.  I'm grateful for the enabling power of the Atonement.  All we need is a little faith to get on our knees in order to receive that power instead of waiting for the power to come.  We need to ask for it.

Hayle and Sister Freitas

This also inspired me to fast this week with my companion.  As we fasted, worked!  That is not an easy thing to do here either because we are constantly climbing hills and walking long distances.  Today we continued our fast and while we were shopping it started to rain.  And when it rains here, it pours!  Literally.  We waited for the rain to stop in a small hair product store.  I began talking with the two young adults working there and they expressed interest in what we were doing.  After a little chat about the gospel I thought, "what the heck, let's teach them the Restoration right here right now".  It was an excellent lesson.  They asked many questions and listened carefully.  I felt that I was teaching with real power and authority.  The Spirit was strong and I invited the
m to be baptized.  They both accepted!  We walked away feeling super good about the way we spent our p day.  Even though p day is our time to prepare, I just can't pass an opportunity to teach.

Our investigator Marcos unfortunately wasn't baptized this week.  He still has some problems to work through.  I'm happy though because he still has the desire to be baptized.  This week I called him and asked him about his progress with coffee.  He was so excited to tell me that he didn't drink coffee all day!  Sister Freitas told me that it was better that I called him because my reaction of excitement is always more dramatic. :)

I'm so happy with the things I'm learning on the mission.  It has been a huge blessing in my life.  With only 6 months  feel the urgency more than ever to find, teach and baptize.  To bring my souls unto repentance!  There doesn't exist greater joy!

I love you!  Have a good week and be thinking of questions you want answered during this next general conference.

Love,

Sister Jensen

Don't forget to laugh!

Bom Dia!

Winter in Manaus is ending because everyday we are getting less and less rain!  I never thought I would miss the rain like I do right now.  It's freaking hot!  

This week was tiring, but really awesome.  We had a leadership meeting with President Klein and a division with the Sisters in our zone.  I learned a lot and witnessed a lot of miracles.  One miracle this week was with a man we found on the street named Marcos.  He works as a Moto Taxi and called us over to come talk to him.  Honestly, I thought to myself,  "Not again".  Because this week we have received a lot of unwanted attention from men.  On one hand we can laugh because some of them are crazy, but on the other hand it leaves me feeling sad.  Unfortunately not everyone will take our work seriously.  Mostly, because they don't understand.  So we started talking with Marcos and I was surprised that his first question was about baptism!  We talked a little, but we had to leave quickly for another appointment.  When we returned yesterday he was at home!  We taught him the gospel of Jesus Christ and he just wanted to hear about baptism.  At the end of the lesson, we didn't even need to invite him.  He said, "I know that I want to be baptized in your church.  I don't know why I'm making this decision now becaue many churches have already invited me to be baptized, but I feel that I should be baptized in this church".  It is amazing to me how the Spirit works within us.  He was feeling the Spirit, but could not explain it.  I know Heavenly Father prepared Marcos a long time to receive the restored gospel.  He is suficiently humble and willing to obey.  He will be baptized Sunday!

Another miracle was with our recent convert Lucas.  He is only 11 years old.  This Sunday he caught a bus and came to church by himself because his grandparents weren't feeling good.  What 11 year old does that?  I don't know 17 year olds that do that!  He comes from a really humble family and still doesn't have good sunday clothes.  My goal is to see him in a white shirt and tie before I get transfered because by the end of the year he will be passing the sacrament.  I like to imagine him being a great missionary some day!

Finally, this week we taught a less active and her sister Cristiane.  Cristiane lost her husband in a car accident 4 months ago and it is still really hard for her.  We started teaching the Plan of Salvation but realized this lesson was not right for her in that moment.  We then started talking about the Atonement.  At the end of the lesson, I felt impressed to share my experience when I was saying goodbye to my family in the airport.  Just before I entered, my mom called my name one more time.  The last thing she said to me was, "Hayley, don't forget to laugh".  She knew that I was about to leave for a good long time and that I was going to experience hard things.  Is it possible that it was the same experience with our Heavenly Father?  Just before we passed the veil of forgiveness, is it possible that he said, "Don't forget to laugh", "Don't forget to follow my Son", "Don't forget to be an example to your siblings", "Don't forget to come home to me."  

He gave is only perfect Son to die for us, to suffer like no other so that we could have eternal life.  I think then it is simple to do as He ask in the scriptures, to offer a sacrifice of a broken heart and a contrite spirit.  To repent and be baptized so that we can return to His presence.  It is simple.  I love the simplicity of the gospel.  I love the time I've had to share this message with others.  I'm sweaty, exhausted, a little achy, but I've never been happier.  And I have never forgotten to laugh.

I love you all soooo much!  Have a great week and don't forget to laugh!

Sister Jensen