Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Dearest Family and Friends,

Merry Christmas! I hope you each had a good week, and that you took some time to ponder the significance of Christ's birth. We had the opportunity to do lots of caroling and to meet with lots of members this week! I was fed some of the most delicious shrimp, and steak, and ham I've ever had, making me more than happy to be serving in a family ward. It has been a blessing to represent the Savior at this special time of year! 

This week our zone did a blitz, and I led my area with Sister Walker and Sister Langford. We met some cool people! We went by a referral but no one answered so we went by a random door and met Cyndell. She was super excited to tell us that her brother is an ordinance worker in our temple! He is a recent convert to the church. She said we could come back and share more with her. As we were walking to our car, we met Jose. He said his family was moving in this weekend and that we could come back and share our message with his whole family. He asked why there are so many churches and how he can know what is true. We can't wait to teach him! We also met a guy named Clarence. When we first knocked, he started talking to us through his doorbell which is usually NOT a good sign (so it's a pretty popular thing now for people to have automated doorbells--like a "ring" doorbell--which has a camera and microphone and speaker so they can see and talk to who ever is at the door without opening the door). But then he ended up opening the door! He is really cool and said he and Cari hesitated to open the door because they didn't read what the sisters assigned to them. We reinvited them to read, and said we would come by and read it with them too if they wanted. They said we were welcome back any evening! I am super excited about these people we have met. I think they have a lot of potential, and that the promises of the gospel of Jesus Christ will bless their lives so much. 

We have also faced some opposition this week. Me and two of the other sisters in our apartment have been pretty sick the last four days, sick enough to be stuck in bed. We've been living off saltines and ginger ale. I just want to go out and work! It's so hard to be stuck inside. 

With the new year right around the corner I have been thinking a lot about the things I want to accomplish in 2020. I know that setting goals helps us to become better people. I hope you all will set some goals this week for the new year! 

Love,

Sister Jensen

Pictures:

Look at all those babies! They are all real, and this is definitely not YSA work.

Sister Hofheins wrote a song for Christmas, so she's playing it on the piano.

Christmas morning!

Caroling with the zone

The blitz

Christmas mittens

Good-bye Pasco - Hello Kennewick!

Dearest Friends and Family,

I am over the Rancho Riata and the Ridgeline wards. My companion is Sister Bogle! She arrived from the MTC on Tuesday. She is from North Carolina, and is a convert to the church. She is a wonderful teacher, and her experience being raised in other religions has been such a cool way to connect with people. Our new area has been treating us so well! Ever since Sister Bogle became my companion, every single person has been the most kind person I've ever met--literally every single person we have talked to on the streets or anywhere has been super nice, even if they don't like our message. It's a Christmas miracle.

This area couldn't be more different from Pasco. Our area is huge, and it covers the mansion-filled hills just across the river from my old area. But there is a lot of potential here! There are also tons of new people moving in to the area. Our first two days here we moved two new families in. 

Emily is the daughter of a recent convert. She has sweet blue hair and is a Junior in High School, and I love her a lot already! She made us all dinner yesterday and is a fantastic cook. We shared the first Book of Mormon video with her, and she really liked it! She recognized some of the things that were said from when her brother used to read the Book of Mormon with her. I have a lot of hope for her. Also she has a pet ferret that she let us hold, so that's cool. 

The Walls are a super cute family who were introduced to missionaries by a neighbor friend. When we knocked on their door, they welcomed us right in and made us feel so welcome! We were invited back to a family Christmas party where they fed us and even opened a bottle of sparkling cider for us since they were all drinking. They are so kind to us, but we left before things got crazy. 

We also taught this neat lady named Joan. She has a member friend, so we met at the member's home and the spirit was so strong! She had questions about the afterlife so we discussed the plan of salvation. She said it gave her a lot to think about, and we will meet with her again after Christmas.

My companion ran in to a pole. It only bled a little bit, but I felt so bad. Don't worry, she's okay. Training is off to a great start...

Tender mercy of the week: So my bedding got lost in the transfers. I showed up with no sheets or blankets. BUT a couple days ago (after telling me they didn't think they would find it) they found it! Someone gave me a hedgehog pillowcase for Christmas, so I was happy to have it back. :) I know that Heavenly Father is aware of the tiny little details of our lives, and I am so grateful for it. 

Merry Christmas! I hope that each of you remember your Savior this week. I know that through Him, anything that is unfair or bad about life can be made right. He is the source of all joy and all peace. I am so grateful for Him.

Love,

Sister Jensen

Let's Go Naio!!

Dearest Friends and Family,

How do I sum up one of the greatest weeks of my mission in to one email? Naio-Lynn was baptized on Saturday and the service was perfect! Sister Gibson and I acted as witnesses, meaning we got to memorize the baptismal ordinance in the beautiful language of Pohnpeian. Nothing can compare to the moment after she was baptized. We met her in the back and she was just standing there, dripping wet, with the biggest grin on her face. She was confirmed the following day by our brand new Elders Quorum president. Omar, Jacob, Edgar, and Dia were all there to witness it (along with many others from the branch), and I've never felt so much love for so many people in the same room before. Every person baptized in to the Pasco branch this year was at church!! Brandon (who was baptized in June) was also there, which is huge since he hasn't been around since he was baptized. He said he wants to be involved in the branch again, and he will be such a strength. He looks a little intimidating but has such a kind heart and sweet spirit. Eating lunch with Brandon, Q, Davis, and Edgar after church was super fun, and Brandon said we could teach him a lesson on Tuesday which is a miracle to us. 

This week we had our Christmas zone conference, which was a lot of fun! Part of it was a talent show, which was awesome, and definitely the most entertaining thing I've seen in 10 months. We also read through the Christmas story and sang a bunch of Christmas hymns together. I love the Christmas season, and I feel so blessed to be representing Christ at this time. I love being a missionary! I found out today that I am being transferred to Kennewick to cover two family wards. My new companion is in the MTC and I will be meeting her on Wednesday. I will be doubled in to a brand new area a week before Christmas! I am just a little terrified. I have absolutely loved serving among the young adults of Pasco, and I will miss these good people more than words can express. But I know that the Lord needs me in Kennewick now. And I trust Him. :)

Love,

Sister Jensen

Photos - Our Christmas tree in our apartment, baptism pictures, and some zone pictures.

Christmas Miracles

Dearest family and friends,

Naio is doing so well! We went over the questions for baptism yesterday and she is super solid. When we asked her about tithing she lit up and said "I am so excited to be baptized so I can pay my tithing!!" It was a good reminder that we should be excited to keep Gods commandments because it provides us with opportunities to be blessed. Dia is still progressing, just not quite at the same pace as Naio. She will not be baptized this Saturday but hopefully soon after!

We had lots of good contact with Omar and his friends this week! Volleyball was cancelled so we played ping pong and a game with pool balls called "ugly" instead. We had so much fun they called for a rematch on Saturday, with a lesson in between on Wednesday where we talked about the origin of the Book of Mormon. Fernando in particular seems to be progressing!

Dont forget to #lighttheworld however you can. The suggested acts of service are just that-- suggestions! If there is something that you can't do, think of your own way to serve someone! (This has been on my mind since I can't exactly donate blood...or clean my little brother's bathroom...) This week we were able to help jump someone's car. Another day we were driving home from a lesson and saw a food drive so we stopped in and helped for a bit! There are always ways to serve when you are looking for them. Chase, a member of the branch, had the brilliant idea to make lasagna and invited a less active to come over and eat it. We had a few other members there and ended by watching the Christ Child video and discussing it. You members are so key in missionary work! Your ideas will help bring many to Christ. 

Love,

Sister Jensen

Looks like Tumbleweeds

Dearest Friends and Family,

What an interesting week! I love the Holiday season, but, if I'm honest, it was a bit of a difficult week for missionary work. We had a lot of lessons get cancelled, then rescheduled, then cancelled again. The progress with our people was painfully slow this week between Thanksgiving and finals at the college. BUT, we still saw some miracles and had some fun. 

The night before Thanksgiving we met up with Omar and some of his friends (Miggy, Cyrill, and Fernando) and we all watched the new Christ Child video (a new video of the story of Christ's birth put out by the Church). We had everyone bring pie (since they had mentioned at volleyball that they didn't really have Thanksgiving plans) and we all ate pie together. It was wonderful to be with good friends with good pie talking about our Savior. 

We spent Thanksgiving with two member families in the branch--the DeMilles and the Eppichs. I couldn't have asked for a better Thanksgiving. I am grateful to be serving with such good members.

This week we took a walk along the river and started contacting people about "Light the World", the church's service initiative for the month of December (check out LighttheWorld.org to sign up for daily service prompts). I was reminded of how grateful I am for this beautiful Earth that God has given us to live on. We met some interesting people along the Columbia! We walked past a couple Russian guys and when we asked what they were doing they shouted back, "Looking for gold!" We laughed a little and asked it again. They said, "No, really, we are treasure hunters! It's just a hobby, really, but someday we want to go pro." And they showed us a series of metal detectors and other tools that they were using to find treasure. It was pretty cool, and very unexpected. When we told them about the Christ Child video they got so excited. I was like, "Yeah, it's an awesome video about Christ's birth! It's all in Aramaic--" And the guy said, "I LOVE Aramaic! That's the language that Jesus would have spoken." They were more than happy to take our information and then continued with their treasure hunting. You meet so many interesting people as a missionary!

We received a referral this week for someone named Bryan. We were a bit weary about it because of the information in the referral, but he turned out to be really cool. He said that he was really interested in our service opportunities (so we talked about Light the World) and has invited us back on Wednesday. 

Yesterday we had the opportunity to help do a sacrament service at Avalon, a retirement community within our stake. I will forever have a special place in my heart for the elderly, just as I will for young single adults. The spirit was really sweet, and the love of God was so tangible at that little meeting. 

Please pray for Quirino, Naio, and Dia! We have faced a lot of opposition this week and we have some ground to win back. But I know that faithful prayers bring miracles! I will keep you all updated and let you know the miracles next week. They are all on date to be baptized and have a desire to be closer to Christ, but that doesn't make the journey easy. Family opposition, work, school, addictions, temptations, and numerous other things are doing their best to distract and discourage the hearts of these good people. Your prayers will make a difference!! 

Love,
Sister Jensen 

P.S. We got a tiny skiff of snow but nothing like what hit Utah and Idaho, if anyone was curious. We mostly just have tumbleweeds so far.