Miracles in Tampa

Hola mis amigos!!

I hope everyone is doing well! I was pretty stoked to come home last week and get a package from my wonderful family! They included a book that I have always loved growing up, translated into Spanish and it was fun to read it with my companion, "Tu eres mi mama?" We had a good laugh and I am so grateful my brother thought to send it out to me! 

I also still have not figured out to transfer the pictures from my camera to the computer in any way, so I will have to keep working on it. It might have something to do with the fact that they use the wrong brand of computers here... Not that my dad has any influence on the fact that I prefer HP computers ;)

Anyways, biggest miracle this week was that we asked the newest member of the ward, miss Yolanda, to come with us to a lesson, and she shared her testimony and it was amazing! I have been involved in teaching both of these women during my time here, and I never thought I'd see the day when they were under one roof together testifying of their Savior Jesus Christ and everything he has done for them! Yolanda shared about how she had been given the strength to overcome her trials as she prepared for baptism and the peace that she has felt in her home since her baptism, it was absolutely amazing! It really strengthened my testimony of The Gospel of Jesus Christ and helped me to remember how lucky we are to have the opportunity to bring it to others! 

I have heard from an Angry Bird, that there hasn't been much activity on Facebook since the changing of the guard here in Tampa, and I can promise that this week I will take more pictures so I can send them home, and that I will do my best to encourage the updates to keep happening! 

Something that has kept hitting me this week is how the key to life is really Humility. It effects every aspect of Missionary Work, and every aspect of life in general. If we are not humble bearers of the truth, no one will listen. If the people are not humble enough to listen, they will not change. If they are not humble enough to seek correction, they will not progress. If we are not humble enough to accept Christ's help, it will never come. Just something to think about! 

The Elders also had a baptism last week which was a really great experience! It is always amazing to see someone accept God's love and follow the example of Jesus Christ!

Other than that we are just keeping on out here in Tampa!

Mucho Amor!! (: 

Hermanita Jensen <3

House Upon a Rock

Hola mis amigos! 

So I had all these plans to write something really profound and then read the emails from my sweet sweet family and realized that it was them who had something profound for me! That being said, it did directly connect with the experience I have had this week, and I want to touch on something the Savior taught us, that maybe we haven't all thought enough about.

On Monday night, we were in a Recent Converts home and it started raining, Florida Rain. It wasn't too bad at first, but the lightning started and the thunder clapped, and I looked at my companion and wondered what we were going to do. The windows were shaking and the trees were shaking and I thought for sure we were going to be called to evacuate! When we received a call from the District Leader only moments later, I answered expecting to be told to leave right away - no worries though! They were calling about a referral! During this whole time, this Recent Convert and the loving member that was with us was completely calm. Or, in other words, "The rains came in and the floods came out and the house on the rock stood still."

They had their faith firmly planted in Christ, and because of the the storm didn't phase them. We continued to talk about the Spirit and how we can feel and receive inspiration form God through Him and they didn't bat an eye at the storm. 

Later, on Wednesday, we were reduced to full bike when our car broke down. My companion (upon seeing our car dead) said "Looks like we're using the bikes today!!" And I laughed and said "I guess we are!" We got things together, called the Mission Office and set out on bike! It was a blast! For about 20 minutes, and then it was hard. By day two, I was ready to be back in the car. My companion surprised me though: She thanked me for being so optimistic about it all and for taking it all with ease (not that I really did much besides keep pedaling and teaching people who actually stopped to talk to us). And it made me think again about the above analogy of the rains and the house on the rock. Satan had sent his own storm of stress to try and overcome me. He has done it before, and He has one in the past, but I didn't let Him win that day. I wasn't in an all out panic about missed appointments, or the fact that I smelled bad, or that I was sweating or anything! I was calm and just a little miffed that the car hadn't been fixed yet. I was firm upon my rock. 

Then yesterday, we were talking with a family in the ward about how other families were struggling and their desires to help. They told us about how they had been through similar situations and how they wanted to help because they knew what it was like, and it dawned on me: Their house was firmly set upon the rock of our Redeemer and because of that, they wanted to help others gain their own firm foundation. 

Change can be so hard, especially for someone who has never known Christ, who has never been faced with the storms of the devil, whose house has fallen victim to the floods of this world so many times in their life that hope is an empty phrase. But it isn't impossible. With Christ, we can become anew. With Him as our foundation, we can withstand whatever Satan throws our way, not matter how challenging it may seem. It is no wonder that Christ told us to firmly plant ourselves in Him in order to overcome the world through Him. We can't do this alone, we never have been able to. But through Christ, we can do anything. 

This is the message I've felt inspired to share today, because it has been shared with me. I think it's important to recognize that even houses that have been built upon a rock, will go under construction, and that there are houses being built up every day. It begs the question: "Are we building our house upon the Rock? Or on the Sand?"

Even here in Florida, where everything is sand, people find a way to build upon the Rock. 

I love you all and I hope that you have a wonderful week. Thank you for your prayers, your love, and your support. God knows I need it if I'm to help people in the construction of their lives!

Love 

Hermanita Jensen

"I'm Under Construction"

Hola mis amigos!

This last week, we had a wonderful time teaching one of our investigators, and as we talked with her about the enabling power of the atonement (or everything that we can do because of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ) she said something that inspired me:

"I'm under construction, and I need all the help I can get."

I couldn't get it out of my mind and decided I would write a poem that night. I wanted to share it with you all, because I think every single one of us feels that our lives are "under construction" at times. 

Under Construction
Please excuse the dust,
Don't mind the messy floors.
You said you wanted to come inside,
I opened up the door.

I know it's not what you'd expect,
From somebody like me.
But this is really all I've got,
This is how I be.

You asked for a place to stay,
I'm sure you weren't expecting this.
There isn't even much a bed,
No place for you to rest.

But please understand,
I'm making a heavy transition.
I'm not what I used to be,
I'm under construction.

I've got a lot I need to change,
A lot of things I need to give up.
Things that were keeping me,
From cleaning out my inner cup.

I'd kept the outside nice,
It looked normal, nothing strange about.
But one day I chipped the top,
And it all came spilling out.

Now I've got my rags,
My brooms and mops and all.
Trying to clean out this dirty cup,
And heed my Saviors call.

So please excuse the dust,
Don't mind the messy floors,
I couldn't clean them fast enough,
After you knocked on my door.

Lord please understand,
I can't do this alone.
I'm a mess of broken memories,
Of the temptations to which I'm prone.

I've got such heavy burdens,
Of the future and the past.
The anxiety and stress,
Keep me tied to this mast.

But I'm doing what I can,
With what little I've been given.
To follow in the Saviors way,
And return again to heaven.

I try my best to clean,
A little bit each day.
But no matter how hard I try,
There's more each time I look away.

I need something stronger than soap,
To muck out this nasty cup.
Something stronger than hot water,
To break up everything that's built up.

I've heard of something stronger,
That can put things right again.
Something that will not fail,
If upon it builds a man.

So I'm making quite a bit of dust,
Searching these messy floors.
For my bible and my rock,
To help me open up the door.

I can hear my savior calling,
Begging me to let him in.
Buts it's hard to open up,
I'm under construction.

Help me, teach me, Lead me, guide me,
They're words I know so well.
And it's true that in this dusty home,
I can't see wall to wall.

I need my Saviors grace,
To help rebuild my soul.
And so I'll give him the blueprint,
And let him take control.

Everything I had is yours,
Do with it what you will.
Take my heart and change it Lord.
I'm giving you my will.

-- Hermana Breanna Michele Jensen

(Updated June 25, 2020)

I hope you all have a wonderful week and that this helps someone back home! 

Trust in the Lord, and He will guide you home!

Scriptures:

1 Nephi 13 (Book of Mormon) - If you were ever wondering why it was written, really, read this chapter!

Mormon 7 (Book of Mormon)

Luke 7-26 - I have never noticed how wonderfully written this account is! It exemplifies Christ's compassion and faith so well! By far has the best parables (Luke 15) and I can't say how much I enjoyed reading it this week!

Con mucho amor,

Hermanita Jensen <3

PS

I gave my talk yesterday - here are pictures for all of you who understand Spanish! For those that don't, I will send something next week that is the translation. I'm still working on it though, because I wrote it in Spanish first...

Referencias:

John 21:15-17

Doctrine and Covenants 123:12

Hebrews 11:1

The Responsibilities of Shepherds - James E Faust

Find the Lambs, Feed the Sheep - Gordon B HInckley

Alma 5:26

Luke 15:4-7

Luke 15:11-24

Mosiah 27:14

Ezekial 34:6