¡Queridos amigos míos!
This week has been wild! I will start by saying that I my iPad is having some issues sending emails right now and this may be the only one that makes it home this week. There is really nothing I can do about it, but I will try to include everything that happened!
On Friday we had a Zone Conference and were visited by Elders Foster and Costa of the Seventy and their wives! It was so amazing! I can't explain the spirit that I felt as they each spoke and shared about their own experiences with Missionary work! Sister Costa shared that after returning from her Mission, she had the opportunity to help bring her husband to the waters of baptism, and he shared later that she would have pushed him into the font if she could have! They were really funny and super spiritual. Sister Foster should coach a football team, because she got us all feeling pumped to go back to our areas and share the gospel! It was truly an experience I will never forget! She honestly said all the things EVERYONE needed to hear. She told us not to stop short of the Summit and to NEVER give up on a good thing. It was powerful.
Elder and Sister Costa are from Argentina, so it was cool to be able to speak with them, in Spanish! (: I never thought I would live to see that day, but there it was! This is a picture of my Zone with the Coopers, Fosters, and Costas.
After the Zone Conference, I went on an exchange with some Sisters that actually entered the MTC with me!
Sister Slawson and Gessel were also in my first District out here in Tampa!
We started out at Catfish Country...
...where I ordered...
Gator Nuggets! So, I have officially tried Gator! (Zerrick must have been praying especially hard for me to try some this week ;) It was actually pretty good! It was kind of like a cross between chicken and pork, but chewy. I liked it, but as Sister Gessel put it, "Anything Fried is Fantastic!" After dinner we split up, and I went with Sister Slawson!
We saw miracles and it was especially interesting to me to see how we each applied what we had learned individually from Zone Conference! Sister Slawson and I had some lessons to learn on diligence as we treked up the road in pouring rain to arrive at a neighborhood of some former investigators and less active members. Everyone was home and willing to talk with us! It was such a blessing!
Saturday night we returned home and made sure that all the preparations were in order for, Jacklyn's baptism!
She was baptized Sunday after church (after some CRAZY strings were pulled to get things ready in time) and it was fantastic! Her story is actually really cool. She is friends with a member of the Spanish Branch and he invited her to the Gladys Knight event we had a few months ago. After that she expressed an interest in coming to church more often and has been to church for the past month or so! She started learning with us not long after the Gladys Knight fireside and this week she decided she was ready to be baptized! We got the English ward involved and it was one of the most amazing Baptismal Services I have attended! There were prayers in Spanish, hymns in English, a welcome by the Relief Society and the ward, and her friend's dad Hermano Vasquez, who doesn't speak English, baptized her perfectly, first try! In perfect English! The Spirit was so strong!
So that has been my week! I have heard from my family that a lot of things are happening back in A-town and I want you all to know that I keep you in my prayers and will continue to do so. I know that the Lord will provide a way for us, if we turn to Him for guidance, and I know that He loves us more than we can imagine.
To my Sister who is heading off to College, and to my brother starting Highschool, you are both going to rock it in Texas and at WAHS! Be yourself and have fun! I can't wait to see what it's like there for you! Kyle, keep being awesome! Congrats on the Soccer games and keep playing hard! Don't be afraid to stand up and stand out for your standards and be a light to those around you. Never shy away from being yourself, your best self, and remember that God is with you and that your quorum, team, and classmates are counting on you to do the RIGHT thing, even if it is the HARD thing. Aubri, thank you for your advice and continual love and support! I look forward to hearing about your adventures! ¡Te veré en París Hermanita! I love you both and I send my love!
To my adopted Sister and her family, keep pressing forward with faith. I know things are difficult right now, but God knows you. He knows your heart, your desires, but also what is best for you. He sees more than we can- "He sees the bigger picture" -that's a song that you should definitely look up. "He's my strength when I stand... I am His daughter.." Aubri will know what it is. :-j
To those who have recently had birthdays (and not so recently) I'm sorry that I haven't been able to do more for you! But I love you and I miss you and will be back to celebrate with you soon! ;)
To those who are married now, please send me engagement pictures or something! X)
To all them Missionaries, keep on keeping on! God is with you, whether you are in the field, or taking a break, or have just gotten home from the game. He loves you and will fill your mouth with the Spirit as soon as you decide to open it!
And to all the rest of you, I send my love, and my testimony that God loves you, so much more than you think, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
¡Los amo!
Hermanita Jensen <3
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