Shave Everyday November

Good Mormon Everyone! (little joke)

It's been another really good week here in Roseburg. It has finally started to cool down to what you would imagine the weather in Oregon in November would be like. It's really nice to walk out the door and not feel like I'm going to die of heat exhaustion.

We were able to have one of our recent converts, Amanda, go to the temple to do baptisms for the dead. While she was there she had the work done for her father, who passed away about three years ago. She sent us a text that said, "I felt my Dad's spirit at his baptism and confirmation. I know my father is ok now. He is in spirit paradise. I finally have closure and now I'm not the only one in my family [who has accepted the Gospel]."  Isn't that just THE COOLEST THING YOU'VE EVER HEARD!? It's been an awesome experience seeing Amanda be such a diligent follower of Christ. We're going to have a lesson with Amanda and her mother, who isn't a member, on Wednesday. Hopefully Amanda can have her mother join her and her father! :)

We also had the amazing opportunity to have our Zone Conference and Stake Conference be in the same weekend. Not only that, but we were able to have Elder Marcus B. Nash of the First Quorum of the Seventy preside at both conferences. He is such an amazing speaker and he really spoke to me in my calling as a missionary.  The adult session of conference was one of the most spiritual meetings I've ever had. Elder Nash talked a lot about how the Savior would be a missionary if he were serving where I am. He also had a question and answer session, which I highly recommend to anyone who can pick the mind of a General Authority.  One of the things Elder Nash talked about that I really loved was that if we keep our perspective on what we know - who we are, why we're here, and what our eternal potential is - then we can combat any adversity that may come. As beautifully put by President Uchtdorf, "Doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith".

There is nothing that may cross our path that our knowledge of the Gospel can't overcome, wether it's affliction, sin, trials, or opposition to who we are and what we believe. The strength that comes with our eternal perspective of this life is the only sure foundation from which we can't fall. We have to grow our testimony of the Gospel. Elder Nash explained that the best way to do that is through consistency in living the Gospel. From the simple application of living Gospel standards daily, reading our scriptures, saying our prayers, and keeping our covenants, can we truly grow our conversion to the Gospel. We have to be more than just a Latter-day Saint on Sunday mornings. We have to constantly be looking for ways to increase our faith and understanding because that's what will be the true source of our strength. As Matthew 24:35 says, "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away." Our Heavenly Father's plan for us is the greatest knowledge that we have in this life, and while the world will change in morals, values, the perception of what is good and what is evil, we will always know what God has in store for us if we abide by his words.

That was by far the highlight of the week. Other than that we didn't do a whole lot. We met a few people that we'll hopefully have the opportunity to start teaching, and had some great lessons with others. Oh and this cat followed us around a neighborhood for awhile, which was fun.

Elder Carter and I are doing really well here. Thank you for all the prayers and support. Sorry I didn't take too many pictures this week. I'll try to do better.

Love,
Elder Jensen

Twinning with Elder Holman

Roseburg Sunset

Live from P-Day

Cross One Career Off the List

Let me just start by saying that I will never be a real estate agent. The majority of our week was spent trying to get all the logistics worked out to move one of our recent converts, Kathy. Now I don't know too much about homeownership, but I know that you DO NOT put in your 30 days notice for moving out until you have another place set up. I guess Kathy didn't get that. It's been the most stressful week of my life, trying to get her not to be homeless.

There is a spiritual connection though. We told Kathy that she could fast and pray that things would work out as we try to make them happen. She said that she gained a testimony of God answering prayers because we were able to work out all the impossible details (like getting a queen sized box spring and mattress up a tiny flight of stairs with two 90 degree angles) and get her all moved in on Halloween night.  That was a trial of faith right there!

Halloween was super fun. We had our ward's Trunk-or-Treat. We invited some of our investigators to attend, and they actually did! Elder Carter and I went as each other which was pretty hilarious.

We concluded Halloween night with a pizza party and jam session, complete with board games (after appropriate studying of talks, of course). It was awesome!

We had difficulty getting with our investigators this week, but we were able to have good lessons with them once we found them. We've really been trying hard to get as much work done as possible so that we can have those people to teach. It's been slowly starting to get busier. I have faith that it'll start getting up there.

Stay strong, be happy and read 1 Nephi 19:22-23 

Love,

Elder Jensen

My pumpkin this year (I made do)

Watch out tweakers

Country Roads, Critters and a Confirmation

Hey there!

It's been another good week here in Roseburg. Not a whole lot has happened, but we did have a lot of cool experiences. 

We started off the week by biking out into the middle of the woods trying to find someone that missionaries had met in the past. You know you are out in the boonies when your asphalt road turns into gravel and then dirt. It's not fun to bike on that. We did end up finding the guy and he said he wanted to meet with us, which is awesome.

On a less fun note...every Wednesday we eat dinner with the same family. Now this family doesn't have the most desirable of living conditions. I'm talking an old shack with flies everywhere, random debris all around, vines growing thorough the walls and the whole shebang. This Wednesday was the worst so far when a few fun little mice started running all over my feet. Needless to say I'm not excited to go back.

On Friday we drove up to Eugene for a very nice Specialized Training. We learned how to feel the Spirit better, how to magnify our callings, and how we have to choose this day whom we will serve. It was a great reminder, and really put into perspective why we are out here and how important it is to remember who we represent. We read the First Presidency message from February 1977 titled Choose Ye This Day, which talked about how there can't be any fence sitting in the battle between good and evil; no neutral countries, no putting your hands up and walking away. We must choose who we're going to align our wills with, and we know which side is going to win, so why would we choose the losing side? We also went and got Chipotle afterward - which was sadly one of the best meals I've had while I've been out here.

To finish the week out, yesterday we had the confirmation for David. Elder Carter was the one to perform the ordinance and it was very special to see David become a full fledged member of the Church. He looked so excited and happy to be there, which really spoke to me telling me David knew that what he was doing was right. He's going to be such an awesome member. I'm so excited for him.

That's about all she wrote for this week. Tune in next time.

This email was made possible by viewers like you. Thank you! ;)

Love,
Elder Jensen

Rainbow Family Bus

Inside the Van

Chicken with Sprinkles (yes, I'm an adult)

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Big Hills

Graduation

Hey there!

Before I get too crazy with the events of the week...we had transfer calls this weekend and both Elder Carter and I will be staying in Roseburg. Looks like I'm going to see this place around Halloween. I'm a little scared for that.

This week we were able to get in contact with several of our potential investigators so our teaching pool is going to be larger for this next transfer which is going to be nice.  We were also able to meet with Kyle again for the first time in like a month. He's not on date for baptism at the moment but we're hoping that he'll pop back up there soon.

Speaking of baptisms, David was baptized this week! It was an incredibly spiritual experience and I felt very honored and humbled that David wanted me to perform the baptism. Seeing his desire to come unto Christ and change from the person he was before has been one of the coolest experiences of my mission so far.

Great news! I finally finished the 12 week training program. I'm not a Greenie anymore! Wahoo!!!

I feel so official

Other fun happenings this week included going on exchanges to Sutherlin with Elder Flemming, making Raspberry-Banana-Kiwi (Rasbankwi) smoothies, investigating a fire while on exchanges with Elder Myers, and playing with cats.  Overall it was a pretty good week and I'm excited for the next few weeks to come here in good old Roseburg!

Me and my new friend Bernadette

On a sad note, my main man Elder Myers isn't going to spend his last transfer here in Roseburg. He's being shipped up to Veneta where he'll die off. I'm pretty bummed, but we're going to be successful businessmen after the mission so it'll all be ok.

Bye Myers

The Roseburg Ward 4

We're going to go get haircuts and groceries, and then do laundry later today. It costs $2 a load and I hate that. But, I'll wash stuff, I guess, if I have to.

Love to you all.
Elder Jensen

Elder Zilles (MTC Comp) is leaving me for the coast and I'm very upset about it 

Community support for Umpqua Community College 

POTUS

My Fellow Americans,

Hey howdy hey! Another week has since passed here in the good old city of Roseburg Oregon, and what a week it's been. Things have really started to look up.

In light of recent events at the Umpqua Community College the president decided to visit. Let me tell you, the people of Douglas County do NOT like President Obama. At all. You hear of Oregon and think that it's a very liberal state, which up north it is. But down here, people like their guns.

We actually were driving down then road when Marine 1 landed at the Roseburg Airport. We pulled over and got some pretty good footage. I was literally in the same town as the president, wait, scratch that, I was 200 yards from the president. It was pretty cool.

President in Roserburg

Now more things pertaining to actual missionary work. One of our investigators, David, is getting baptized on Saturday the 17th!!!! I'm so excited. He's been really showing his desire to learn and grow. He even quit one of his jobs so that he didn't have to work on Sunday. It's going to be a great service and an awesome way to finish out the transfer.

We also have been doing sooooooo muuuuuuuuch tracking and searching for people to teach. And you know what? It's working. It's been really awesome to see our faith fulfilled in our work.

Sunday we had a fireside from the Stake Presidency about the shootings. It was a really comforting place to be and I felt the love of the Savior and the Spirit very strongly.

On a less missionary note, this week I gave Elder Carter a haircut. I don't think I did too bad. I feel like a full and accomplished missionary now!!

Heck YES University of Utah Football!!!!  I can't tell you how good it feels to smugly rub the fact that we're undefeated in the Pac 12 into all the Duck fans faces. It's super rad.

This last transfer flew by. I'm not sure where it is that I'm going to be next. Honestly it could go either way - I could stay and finish training Elder Carter, but I could see myself leaving as well.  We'll have to wait and see.

Love and miss you all and can't wait to hear from your soon.

Love,
Elder Jensen

Double rainbow over Roseburg

Roseburg Shooting - Missionary Thoughts

I have been in Roseburg since July 30. My initial impression was that it was a small and quiet town; very humble and deeply rooted in their community and each other. It's a town that's rather peculiar, but with an interesting charm and character. Over the past few months, I've come to love these people. I've taught them, learned from them, served them, and gained a great appreciation for them, their spirits and their love for each other. It's because of this that I can't believe what has happened.

Every time a tragedy like this occurs, especially form the direct choices of another, there are thoughts of "How can this happen? Not here! Why here?" This has never been truer than in Roseburg. The Umpqua Community College, with a student body of less than my high school, nestled near middle-of-nowhere Oregon, suffered the loss of 9 innocent lives, with many more injured. No one is unaffected. It's at times like these the age old question surfaces: Why do bad things happen to good people?

1 Nephi 11:17 "And I said unto him: I know that he loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things"

I'm not here to try and say why tragedies like this happen. I'm not trying to provide a psych evaluation of what drives a person to do something like this. This isn't a conversation of "pro guns" or "anti guns". This is an instance of someone making a choice with consequences, which we are now facing. With that considered, how are we to face them?

To my friends in Roseburg, back home, or anywhere reading this message, I don't know much but I do know two things; God loves all His children, and that Christ knows everything that we are going through. These are two simple truths that are almost taken for granted, but the power and comfort behind them is incredible. From the account of Nephi above, it's ok that we don't understand everything. It's ok to have questions and to struggle and have these pains. Because God loves us, He allowed for the ultimate comfort: the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

Alma 7:11-12  "And he shall go forth suffering pains and affliction and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people. And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities"

Christ took upon him everything. Every pain, every temptation, every sickness, every trial. Whether it's large or small, He's felt it. He's felt the pain of this community. He's felt and suffered through every loss of innocent life, every tear shed at the realization of a tragedy, and every confused and frustrated thought of "Why me?" "Why Here?" and Why Now?"

And He did all of this so He could know how to help us. He descended to the lowest form of humanity in order to lift us back up and save us from the pains we are burdened with. He knows everything we are going through.  Every. Last. Bit.

Roseburg is not alone. Never feel like you are either. Anyone who is in pain, struggling and feeling like there is no one out there who can help; know that I love you, but more importantly our Heavenly Father and His son Jesus Christ love you more than we can understand. And it's through that love that all things are possible. 

Umpqua Strong

What a crazy week this has been. I'm sure that by now you know exactly what happened at the college here. Just know that I was safe and all the other missionaries and ward members were too.  It's amazing to know that after such a terrible tragedy, we can hear the words of the prophet and his apostles to give us comfort and peace. With all that being said, this week has been incredibly difficult but also so SO spiritually fulfilling.

We've had some struggles this week. We have an investigator who was supposed to be baptized on the 10th but looks like he might not get baptized at all. Some investigating families are on the verge of falling apart. One of our a recent converts just doesn't understand anything about the Gospel. Another recent convert keeps getting her home broken into and taken advantage of, but can't move. And, we have a ward that doesn't seem to care about missionary work (the other Elders had a baptism last Friday and none of the bishopric showed up and didn't announce it in church or anything). Top that stuff off with a horrific tragedy that put this small community in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons and you can see why this week has been so challenging and hard.  I've spent many long nights on my knees to know what I can do to help, and what I'm doing or not doing that is making things so difficult.

Thank goodness for General Conference! Really, what a blessing it is to be able to hear the words of men and women called of God for us today. I have a firm testimony and conviction that the prophet, apostles and all the other church leaders are called to bear witness of Jesus Christ's restored Gospel on earth.

My favorite addresses were from Elder Dallin H. Oaks, Elder James B. Martino, Sister Neill F. Marriott and Elder Allen D. Haynie. From these speakers I really, truly gained a greater understanding of the love that Christ has for us, and just how amazing and beautiful the Atonement is in our lives. I also loved the new apostles testimonies, especially Elder Renlund's. They are going to be amazing servants of the Lord. I enjoyed all the speakers of course but I loved the themes of women in the church, prophets and apostles being called of God, the Atonement, and personal growth and conversion. This conference was just what I needed. I took like 10 pages of notes! I really felt my desire and eagerness for spreading the Gospel increase. Even though this week has, in short, really sucked, I'm looking forward to the weeks ahead and the work I get to do.

We also ate a fancy restaurant this week. I had lobster scampi. It was amazing. I miss actual good cuisine.

Love you all so much. Talk to you soon!

Elder Jensen

We love Amazon Pantry!!