Still Good

Dearest Friends and Family,

INPORTANT UPDATE: I do not have coronavirus

The work is moving forward. This week was absolutely beautiful, with sunshine and not too much wind. It truly felt like summer, especially with all the kids home from school. 

We get regular updates concerning the effects of COVID-19 on our particular mission through a live-stream from the mission home. It is a mission wide conference, and as districts we are able to message in questions, since there are a lot of things in flux and thus there are innumerable questions to be asked. Technology is truly a blessing at this time! As of now we are no longer able to tract. We can still teach and visit people by appointment though, which I know is a blessing. We can also teach via video chat, and we are brainstorming other ways to use technology effectively. We are still able to hold baptismal services, but there can only be 10 people in attendance (others can join in over a live video call). People we are teaching are able to "attend church" by taking the sacrament at members homes. Elders who have served for 21 months will be going home, which has been really hard for many of them. We will be losing almost all of the leadership in the mission within the next 2 transfers. Some missionaries with physical or mental illness will also be sent home, so everything is a little crazy right now. We will find out who is going home next week. We all bought a 2 week food storage, which was pretty fun. I bought lots of canned soup, since there weren't very many other options. 

Yesterday we were able to partake of the sacrament with the other members of our district. It was unique to experience the sacrament with only 6 other people, and I realized how much of a privilege it is to be able to partake of the bread and water. We had a good discussion about Jacob 5-7 following the sacrament, which was really fun as a group of missionaries. 

Ed accepted a day for baptism! Yay! We also had a really good lesson with Ronny Dale Bogle this week. HE IS GOING TO PRAY ABOUT A DAY FOR BAPTISM! He knows so much about the gospel of Jesus Christ, and once he takes the leap of faith and decides to be all in, he will be a powerful force for good within the church. 

"The standard of truth has been erected. No unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished and the great Jehovah shall say the work is done" (Joseph Smith 1842). This virus will not stop His work. The adversary works in chaos and fear. Allow your faith in Jesus Christ to overcome the fear that has struck the world, and share that faith with those around you. God is at the helm. Trust Him!

Love,

Sister Jensen