Hola mis Amigos!

Esta Semana, tenemos dos bautismos!! :D

It really was amazing to see both Fernando and Isabella enter the waters of Baptism and join the Tampa Cinco Barrio (Tampa 5 Ward). They are both such amazing people and will continue to grow so much as they continue to put their faith in Christ! It has been a spectacular week, and I hope that this week is just as Spiritually filling. 

We have seen miracles this week in more ways than I can count, but Fernando's baptism truly was a miracle. Elders Cantu and Mendoza contacted him almost a year ago and taught him numerous times, but he never felt ready to be baptized. We started teaching him after taking Sister Huber's promise at our District Meeting to heart, and following up on those who had been to church before, but had not been baptized. I don't know what changed for Fernando this time, but he progressed readily and willingly, and upon receiving an answer to be baptized, he was ready to act. Our mission truly is a time where we are sent to be Christ's hands in other peoples lives and help them follow after Him. Also, yesterday, I taught the Gospel Principles class in our ward, and that was a miracle to me. Before my mission, I don't know that I would have been able to say that a young 19 year old girl could teach people about the life of Christ in a language other than her native tongue, after only a month of learning how to speak it. I know now, however, that God truly works miracles according to our faith and devotion.

The keys to Missionary work are: Patience, Humility, and Diligence. 

If we have these three things, everything else will fall into place!

My testimony has been stretched a lot since arriving in Tampa - I have been stretched a lot - but with that stretching, it has grown. There are so many things I could say to people about this Gospel, but I know it is by small and simple truths that God's children are persuaded to repent and come unto Christ. He truly has done, and will do, so much for me while I am here, and I am so grateful to be able to look to Him as my Savior and Example. I only wish to emulate Him in all that I do, and I feel that as I continue to be obedient, I will someday. 

Some Spiritual Study things I have really enjoyed this week, are:

3 Nephi 17 - Read this with the Character of Christ in mind.

Proverbs 13:10 ; 15:10; and 28:25 - About Humility

The General Women's Conference! 

- We should strive to emulate the Savior, in everything we do! "More Holiness Give Me"

- Look up the Memories and Commitments we were given by Henry B. Eyring!

- Remember that we are ALL children of God.

I love you all! Si se puede! (:

Con amor,

Hermana Jensen

Pictures From the Past Few Weeks!

Sandals, Aloe Vera Drinks, Bagels and Uturn Signals! Isn't Florida awesome??!

Weekly Update #6 (03.15.16 - 03.21.16)

Hola mis Amigos! (:

I wanted to start my letter this week by stressing the importance of being exactly obedient. Already, I have seen the difference that exact obedience can make in even the smallest instances and I know that the small improvements we make each day with following the rules better helps us become better missionaries. Although I have not had problems with the desire to be obedient, it is difficult to fall into a new routine, however, as I strive to live the mission rules with exactness, I have been blessed. As I read in 1 Nephi today, a key to receiving inspiration from God is our obedience to the Commandments, because it shows our love, humility, and faith in following Him. 

Miracles this week have been occurring on a daily basis as those we teach keep their commitments and decide to follow Christ, but one instance in specific really opened my eyes to the gifts of the Spirit. We were planning on teaching an individual who spoke Burmese this week, and prayed beforehand to be able to speak to her in a way that she could feel the Spirit and believe that the message we shared was true. The woman we were visiting was not home, but her mother invited us in and called her grandson inside, who began to translate everything we were saying. We said a prayer with them and started teaching the Restoration. She understood what we were saying by how it made her feel and what her grandson was able to translate and although she did not out rightly say that she would like to meet with us again, my testimony was strengthened. I was able to see that the Gifts of the Spirit are not just for Missionaries. God works through all his children, and although this boy was young, he knew enough English to translate our simple testimonies into something his grandmother could understand. It was amazing!

Also, we are having two baptisms this week!! I will be sending pictures next week! We really are so excited for both of these wonderful children of God and their desire to follow Christ! One is a young girl who is part of a part-member family (the dad is a member and the mom is not), and the other a man that has been taught by MANY missionaries, but it just goes to show that God knows all His sheep! He knows us by name and He knows our needs, even the smallest little things. He has been helping me everyday and I know that He knows my needs before I even tell him. I have been learning how to teach the last two lessons this week and have been teaching the first three with my Companion, and it is REALLY HARD. Sometimes I wonder why I signed up for this whole speaking a different language thing, but I always remember that it is because I love my Savior and I am willing to sacrifice this time of my life to bring others to the knowledge that He has sacrificed so much for them, out of love. That's really what this Easter season is all about! I know that as long as I keep my eyes on Christ, I can be apart of His miracles! (Matthew 14)

Some other Scriptures This Week:

Alma 38:8-15, Alma 56, Alma 5, Moroni 10:8 - Book of Mormon

James 1, Matthew 14 - The Bible

PMG Ch. 7 Humility - Preach My Gospel

I would like to close with my testimony that I know I have been sent here to Tampa to learn, grow, and help others come unto Christ. Although I am new and don't always feel confident when I try to speak Spanish, I know that as I put my trust in my Savior, He helps me remember the words I need to deliver the message that these people need. In learning how to speak Spanish, I have learned how to condense what I say to get to the point faster and help people recognize the Spirit as the true teacher. It truly is a work and a wonder that God has on this Earth and I am grateful to be an instrument in His hands at this time! 

Con amor siempre,

Hermana Jensen

Weekly Update #5 (03.08.16 - 03.14.16)

Hola mis amigos! (:

This week was Faith Promotion week for our Zone, a challenge to increase our Faith in Jesus Christ and as part of it, we had daily commitments to keep and things to study. I would like to report that as Hermana Gibson and I studied and kept our commitments, we were able to see Miracles occur! Seriously. I know that it was because of our desire to be exactly obedient to the challenge, that our week was blessed with the Miracles we witnessed! 

We were able to teach a referral from the Bishop, and set up a return appointment for this week; help our investigators make and keep commitments concerning baptism for this month; and strengthen our Faith in Christ throughout our pursuit. It was amazing and humbling to be in each lesson and understand how our investigators had been exercising their own faith and what was coming to pass because of our combined faith. 

One particular instance I would like discuss was our lesson with an investigator last night. He was an old investigator, who had attended church a few times, but had not been keeping commitments and had dropped out of the teaching pool because of the inability to contact him. As part of a challenge from another Sister, we contacted him again and began teaching him. He came to church this past Sunday (03.06.16) and we hadn't gotten a chance to meet with him since, until last night. We were puzzled as to how to help him, because he hadn't brought up any concerns besides wanting to receive an answer. We decided that we would ask him to be baptized and see if that would bring up ways in which we could help ease his mind. After saying a prayer and sharing Mosiah 2:41 with him, I told him that one of the commandments we are to keep is being baptized. I then asked what he thought about being baptized on March 29th. He responded that it would probably not work, because he had to work that Tuesday. This was not the answer we were expecting! When Sister Gibson asked if he would like to be baptized the first Saturday of April, he said he would have already moved to a city about 25 minutes away. We asked him what he thought about being baptized before the 29th, on the 19th or the 26th, and to make a long story short, he agreed to be baptized on the 26th. He said that he had received an answer while attending church the prior Sunday, and that he was ready to be baptized because of it! Before the lesson, we had prayed for a miracle, and earlier we had promised him that if he went to church, he would receive an answer! 

As missionaries, we truly represent Christ here on the Earth and that we have the opportunity to bring the blessings of miracles into people's lives as they strive to live the gospel. God work's miracles according to our faith. When we do our part, He will not let us down. I have been studying and learning so much Spanish, and God has been blessing our investigators for it. Our companionship is working great, Hermana Gibson has been helping me to learn so much about this work - things Spanish related, and things not - and I know that as we continue to trust together in the Lord our efforts will be rewarded. I'm excited to keep learning and watch the Miracles of God come to pass!

I wanted to share that their is a new video being put out by the church and it is worth the watch! the link is below:

Easter Video - https://www.mormon.org/easter?cid=HP_SU_3-13-2016_dMIS_fSPC_xLIDyL1-A_

If you are a member of the Church reading this, please, before you watch the video, and after, pray for inspiration of who needs to hear its message. It is one that many have heard, but some need to be reminded of. Please, take the chance and just open your mouth. As you do, God will fill it, as He does with those who act in faith!

If you are not a member of the Church reading this, please, watch this video! It has a wonderful message about Christ's sacrifice for us, and it won't take up more than 5 minutes of your day. It really is worth the watch, and I'm not just saying that because I'm a Missionary! (:

I love you all! Thank you for the continued support and love!!

ALSO, 

CONGRATS to Raine Morris on her Mission Call!!! :D I'm so excited for her and for the people of South Carolina! They are getting a wonderful Sister there! 

Lastly, some awesome talks and Scriptures this week!

Vietnam Diary - May 1971 New Era

Reflections of a Missionary to Great Britain - Sept 1971 Ensign

Are you a Member Missionary? - April 1976 General Conference

Doctrine and Covenants 135 - This addresses the martyrdom of Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum, from the viewpoint of Elder John Taylor

Hebrews 11 and Ether 12 - Both testify of the power of Faith through examples of the Prophets! 

Love,

Hermana Jensen

Weekly Report #4 (03.01.16 - 03.07.16)

Hola mis amigos!

This week has been great! We started off on the right foot, by running into my Mission President while I was speaking in Spanish to some other Missionaries (literally, I was the one speaking when he walked up). It was pretty funny, because he said we sounded like a bunch Hispanics and we all laughed because I don't sound anything like that, maybe one of these days I will send a video of me speaking Spanish... ;) Anyways, he told Elder Mendoza to test me, and he asked me to say the First Vision in Spanish, so I did. And it was awesome! Definitely the most nervous I've been while saying it though! I didn't think I would be able to do it, to be honest! 

This week our Obedience has brought Miracles! We were challenged to have 5 investigators at church this week, and told that if invited them to church each day we saw them throughout the week, and stopped by Saturday night to make sure rides were secured and there wasn't anything holding them back, our investigators would come! We did exactly as we were told, and we had 5 investigators at church! We almost had 7, but they got on the wrong bus! Next week though, they will know how to get to the church, and a member offered to give them a ride to ensure their arrival! It was amazing to see how the Lord will bless us, as we trust in him, and I can't wait to see how our investigators are blessed this week! 

Lastly, because yesterday was Fast and Testimony Meeting, I had the opportunity to prepare to share my testimony in Spanish, and it went better than I thought! It was a very simple testimony, and I had it all written out in front of me, but I was able to have the Spirit with me as I spoke, and I know our investigators felt it:

"Buenos Dias Hermanos y Hermanas! Quiero compartir con ustedes mi testimonio que yo se que esta iglesia es verdadera. Yo se que Jose Smith vio a Padre Celestial y a Jesucristo. Yo se que Jose Smith fue llamado a ser un profeta de Dios y que por medio de el, Cristo restauro su Evangelio y su iglesia en la tierra. El Espiritu ha testificado de estas cosas, en mi corazon, cuando yo he leido el Libro de Mormon y he orado a Diso para ayuda. Yo se que si venimos a Cristo por medio de la fe, el arrepentimiento, el bautismo, la recepcion del don del Espiritu Santo, y el perserverar hasta el fin, Dios nos bendecira y podremos vivir con Dios otra vez. Yo se que Cristo ha sacrificado para mi, y para ustedes y por causa de lo que Cristo ha hecho para mi, yo he venido aqui, a la Florida, para ayudar a otros aceptar su sacrificio en sus vidas. Les dejo este testimonio en el nombre de Jesucristo, Amen"

 I want you to know that I know the Lord is blessing me to fulfill this calling and that I want to do everything I can to have His spirit with me at all times. I know that I am not in this alone and that "no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing." I had a good discussion with Hermana Gibson about how we truly have been called of God to do those things we do, and that He won't leave us alone to do them. I know that as I continue to focus on my calling and act in faith, the Lord will bless me with the ability to bring others to Christ. 

As we exercise faith in Christ, He will bless us! Ether 12 and Hebrews 11 are my scriptures of the week, for sure!

I love you all!!!

Con amor,

Hermana Jensen