Dear
Family,
This week was
great, it went by really fast! It honestly kind of scares me how fast time is
passing me by. But I am just grateful to Heavenly Father for the time that I've
had on my mission and the time that I have left. I have met so many precious
sons and daughters of God, and I have been blessed with the opportunity to help
them on their journey home to Him. It really does make me excited thinking
about the time I have left and the people I have yet to love and serve.
C.'s baptism went
off without a hitch! Friday was kind of a crazy day. In the morning, we were in
Middleton, Idaho because we stayed the night after my temple trip (which I will
write about momentarily). We drove the two hours home to Baker, then a couple
of hours after that we drove an hour to Halfway for a couple of lessons. We
taught an investigator, whose grandma is a member, along with one of her friends.
Then we also taught another one of our rock solid investigators there. She has
a great desire to be baptized, and told us just how much learning about the Plan
of Salvation touched her. After our lesson, we headed back to Baker for dinner
then went to the baptism. I love baptisms, but I am also really happy when they
are over. I just get so stressed before and during them. Especially when I have
to play the piano, like I did at C.’s baptism. I played the prelude music and
forgot to get pictures with him before he was baptized. But it’s really no big
deal, I am just happy it went through and he felt so good about it. Then he
received the Gift of the Holy Ghost yesterday and bore his testimony. That is
the third time I've had a recent convert bear their testimony soon after their
baptism. I feel like I have been really blessed to teach solid people, which is
exactly what I wanted before the mission. I didn't necessarily want tons of
baptisms, I just wanted to find and teach people who would be truly converted.
And I feel like I've found them so far :)
I went on my halfway
temple trip on Thursday! It is weird that I did that because I just got here on
the mission a couple weeks ago. No complaining though, because it was the
temple. We drove down that morning and I went and had lunch with Sister
Shurtleff in her area in Nampa :) It is always the best to see her. We met at
the mission office with the rest of the missionaries who were going. Only two
other sisters went with me, they are both Spanish speaking. President and
Sister Sorensen took us in their car, which was fun.
Sister Sorensen kept on
telling us how obsessed she is now with cows and farming, showing us pictures
of Oreo cows and being really excited about it. President was just rolling his
eyes the whole time, it was pretty entertaining. Within no time we were at the
temple! We took some pictures then went inside.
I can't describe what it was
like being back in the Lord's house after such a long absence. It was just the
most peaceful and wonderful feeling. We had a chapel session with one of the
counselors and his wife, and it was good to hear from them. They made me think
of grandma and grandpa, and all the hours that they have spent serving in the
temple. The session was good, and then of course the Celestial Room was my
favorite part. I just spent my time pondering and praying and reading the
scriptures. Eventually, most everyone in our group filtered out. I thought to
my, "Please, can't I just stay a little longer?" It is pretty
customary for the missionaries to take a question to the temple seeking
answers. I didn't really have a specific question, but I just wanted to know
what I lacked yet. I wanted to know how I could make this second half of my
mission the best it can be. Well, as I had this thought of staying a little bit
longer, my mind went to Christ when He was visiting His lost sheep in the
Americas:
3 Nephi Chapter 17
1 Behold, now it
came to pass that when Jesus had spoken these words he looked round about again
on the multitude, and he said unto them: Behold, my time is at hand.
2 I perceive that
ye are weak, that ye cannot understand all my words which I am commanded of the
Father to speak unto you at this time.
3 Therefore, go ye
unto your homes, and ponder upon the things which I have said, and ask of the
Father, in my name, that ye may understand, and prepare your minds for the
morrow, and I come unto you again.
4 But now I go unto
the Father, and also to show myself unto the lost tribes of Israel, for they
are not lost unto the Father, for he knoweth whither he hath taken them.
5 And it came to
pass that when Jesus had thus spoken, he cast his eyes round about again on the
multitude, and beheld they were in tears, and did look steadfastly upon him as
if they would ask him to tarry a little longer with them.
6 And he said unto
them: Behold, my bowels are filled with compassion towards you.
As I thought of
this beautiful image, the Savior looking upon the people, seeing their tears,
perceiving their desire for Him to stay, and having great compassion for them,
I knew that it was the Savior Himself that I have to look to in my service. I
need to study Him, His life, His teachings, His attributes. I need to serve Him
and His children. I need to bring people to Him, help them receive the healing,
cleansing, and changing power of His atonement. And I need to represent Him in
all that I do and say. I am so grateful for this opportunity to go to the
temple, and now I look forward to participating in the Meridian Temple open
house and dedication. I love my mission, I love the gospel, and I love the
Savior, Jesus Christ.
Love,
Sister Jensen
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