Jensen Family Updates...Oct. 17, 2021

Hola Mi Hijo,

Wow! We're starting letters to a Missionary again! Very exciting and daunting at the same time! I don't enjoy "writing" so I'm not sure if I'll be 100% great at it, but I am excited to hear the experiences that you'll have, Elder Jensen, while you're out on your mission! I'll try to keep you a little updated on the happenings here and there at home and send family pics or fun info. at times, but I'll always have questions for you to! Haja! (my Spanglish laugh!)

Here's my list of Questions so far... :)

Did you get all your luggage back with you after all those flights?

Who met you at the Airport? 

What's the name of your Mission President & Wife again?

What did you do that first night? (go right to your companion and apartment? or stay in the mission home? Who/what were you waiting for when you called me from the airport?) 

What's your phone status?

What are your rules on email, Zoom, calls, etc?

Who is your companion & where is he from, etc.?

Of course, Where is your first area?

How was your first Sunday?

So far, can you understand 25%, 50%, 75% or 100% of what people say in Spanish? ;)

I think that's all the Q's I'll bombard you with for now! Haja! (Keywords: "for now")

This week after you left has been a busy one, but there have been several times when Dad & I have both thought separately "oh, the dishwasher is full, I need to call Kyle to come unload!" We laugh a little inside, but we're also sad a little inside too! And when we pull up to the house and the blue bug is there, I think "oh, Kyle is home!" These aren't meant to make you sad, but they are little quiet reminders that you are missed! But we know you're out on an important errand rt now, the Lord's errand!! We're excited to hear how things went your first week!! Lots of people have asked after you! We're very proud of your choice to be out there to teach the restored gospel and to serve the people of Mexico!

One thing I'll share from church today is about Laine's Dad's talk (because Idk if Jenelle wrote what Laine said already), but his Dad talked about our "Testimony" and he broke it down into some good points to remember...

The first part in spelling "Testimony" is the word 'test' - gaining our testimony will be a test at times. It won't always be easy, but the blessings will come or the strengthening of our testimony will come from enduring that test!

The 2nd part is "i" - meaning that "I" need to gain my own testimony, I can't borrow or get it from my parent's or sibling's testimony forever, I have to gain it for myself, so it can last me forever! 

Thirdly Bro. Magnusson got creative - he said the next part is "mo" which is short for or slang for "more!" We need to always be feeding our testimony or wanting "more" so that we strengthen it and help it to grow. (I thought of chapter 32 of Alma and the seed of faith - it becomes delicious to us and we want "more" - I like the seed of Faith analogy that Alma gives us. And Faith is an Action Word! Go and Do!)

The fourth part is also creative thinking too - the last "ny" you say phonetically and say "knee" which means get down on your knees and pray to gain or strengthen your testimony. Prayer is how we can communicate to God and how we can receive answers to our "test" so that we can come out with a testimony for ourselves and how we can strengthen it day to day, week to week, etc.

Lastly, I want to share a "testimony" building experience or answer to prayer "moment"...and that was when we had Priesthood blessings the night before Kyle left for Mexico. Dad gave some & Kyle gave some. Kyle was giving me a blessing and while he was starting that, I had thought in my mind "what do I want most comfort for" or "what do I need from a Priesthood blessing rt now?" And one thought that came to mind was "knowing that Kyle will be safe!" and at that particular time, Kyle had paused and was thinking of what to say (I assumed) and then he said in effect that He (Kyle) would be watched over and blessed with safety and that I didn't need to be concerned about that. (I believe it was said in Dad's blessing too.) That was a comfort to me and a testimony I think that Kyle you were "in tune" and listening to God's will for me while giving a Priesthood blessing. It's what I needed to hear! I know also it said something about because of Kyle's obedience he'll be safe and I'm sure there was a part about through our Faith, etc., but the gist was that God knew my concern and he addressed it. So, I'll have faith that Kyle will be kept safe!!

I love you all and pray that you all have a great week and especially pray that Kyle is adjusting well and has had a great first week in the mission field!

OXOX & Smiles too!

<3 Mom

Here's some quick quotes I found about "Testimony" - (I like visuals!)

   

A few good quotes about Faith came up too...

   

I've also included a pic of a tired & sleepy Zerrick because he's been so busy with seminary, school & soccer everyday! The other pics of Kyle leaving and our fiesta at the barn, I think you can see from facebook, rt Kyle? I'll email them if you can't go on facebook every week, but let us know what social media you can do.  

...and No Zerrick has not moved into your room already, but it's not from a lack of him asking, several times! Haja! We did let him do homework in there though. :)