Fiesta ng Bayan.

Dear Family and friends, 

This last week we had a baptism! Sister K.C. We were so excited for her to be baptized with two of her siblings in Bayto. Earlier when I was here we baptized two of her other siblings, so now all of her siblings have accepted the gospel except the oldest sibling. The amazing thing is that they live in different places, but they still all received the gospel. Some of them live with their grandma here in Masinloc and some live with their dad in Bayto or Santa Cruz. We are so happy for her. She already has friends and is doing great! Her mother died a couple years ago that is why some of them live with their grandma. Their mother was a member. Her cousins also live with her. Their mother also died. Her cousins were baptized with the two other of her siblings before. He will be receiving the priesthood! We are so excited for him. Well at least I am. His name is J :). J.C, and I am so excited for him. I hope he serves a mission. He is only 12, but he looks older because he is tall.

This week was also the Fiesta of the Bayan here. So it looks a lot like Cherry Festival. There are food stands, clothes stands, rides like the farris wheel and octopus, and banners everywhere. It is really quite festive. We got invited to lunch at one of our investigators houses. After we got outside, our landlord who just got in from Canada, invited us in for lunch at his house. So not only were we going to eat two lunches, but he insisted on us going for round two. It was very good Filipino food. It included a dish in which they cook blood.. It was okay, it had kind of a bitter taste. Then we went to our investigators house. We were supposed to teach a lesson before, but they were busy entertaining their guests in and out of the house. They served us inside. We were the only ones inside and we ate on china... That was a first for me in a long time. Usually only plastic plates. It was very fancy and delicious! Afterwards they all wanted pictures with me. It was great! They invited us back for Christmas. NO complaints here, but I also hope to be able to teach them a lesson as well sometime before Christmas. They are nice people and would do well to hear the gospel. I will send a picture of them and all our fun next week because we can't hook up a usb in this computer shop. Viruses. There were people EVERYWHERE. It reminding me of Cherry Festival. No wonder it doesn't feel like Christmas to me. It is WAY too much like summer. 

Then we went and taught lessons. One to the C family and they fed us this delicious Filipino dessert that is made out of macaroni, fruit cocktail and other delicious ingredients.. It was so nummy. Later we caught a victory bus with Kristil and her phone went off. Neen, it was Paramore. I can't remember the title, but it reminded me of you. 

So this week has been a lot of fun for us. We have been working hard and exploring our areas. We had many new investigators. The people here are really friendly, caring, and loving people. I am glad I was sent to the Philippines on my mission. The people are great! I love it here. I know that it is worth the sacrifice to be here on my mission. I know that I was sent here to help this people. I miss home sometimes, but I love my work. Thank you all for your love and support. More pics next time!

Love, 

Sister Jensen

Happy Birthday Sister H! (and more)

With Sister P at the beach. 

"One of my investigators is creative! She wrote me this whole letter backwards. I had to read it in the mirror! It may have been the single hardest letters I've ever tried to read." 

Sister H's birthday, with the Elbos and the Elders. Pancit for long life! 

Sister C. and I. 

Tacloban Missionaries

Dear Family and friends,

Well, this week has been Cray cray. We had a lot to do and not a whole lot of time to do it. We had Zone conference with President Q. It was on obedience. It is usually the topic, so it must be something we all need to work on. There are even little things we can to better each day to be more obedient. Then we had interviews with President and apartment checks. Thank goodness we passed, but of course we take care of our palace of an apartment because we want to keep it! Who wouldn't want to live in the the Belair of apartments here in the mission?President told me my companion spoke well of me... I would hope so hahaha.

 I also learned we are receiving fifteen of the Tacloban missionaries in our mission. I saw their picture today and as far as I can tell and there are only two sisters. At our zone conference President Q. had one elder that's parents live in Tacloban stand up. They don't know about his parents. There is no electricity in Tacloban and many people died. President talked about his courage to continue serving his mission  even though he doesn't know where his family is and if their okay. He stood there and wiped tears away with his black hanky as President spoke. The Filipino people are dedicated to this work. We are getting two of the Tacloban Elders in our area, well, we think. We aren't sure exactly yet, but they put in bunks in the Elders apartment. We hope they will feel at home and be able to overcome their traumatic experience. Two of the Tacloban sisters had to force a hole in the ceiling of their apartment and climb into it to escape the water. They all survived. All of the missionaries because they are blessed of the Lord.

We also had district conference. All their meetings here they try to speak in English. The second councilor to President Q. spoke. The Church here is still baby like so there are branches and districts and President Q. is over it all. The second councilor was HILARIOUS! I loved his talks. He made me laugh. He talked about Abraham and Isaac. He said that we know that the angel that appeared to Abraham wasn't Filipino because he would have been late. Patay! Isaac would have been dead. That made me laugh because I think all the latter day saints have that problem of being on time. And it is true for all of us. It is particularly hard to be on time here though because you rely on others for transportation and you never know if there is going to be a bus or not when you need it. They aren't really scheduled. It can be very hard. We have waited hours for buses before. 

President E., the district President that lives here in Masinloc, also talked about the importance of not working on Sunday. He owns a school supply store here in Masinloc and the day that they have the most kita or profit is on a Sunday. Because of his wife they are not open on Sunday now. All the other people in town think he is crazy for it, but they aren't open on Sunday. His example caused one of our investigators, Sister G.N., to talk to her husband about devoting Sunday to the Lord instead of working. It was great! Sister N. is Scheduled to be baptized this coming Saturday. Her husband has started to read the Book of Mormon and is slowly but surely coming closer to Christ. We have lots of people that are preparing themselves for baptism in December and we are so excited for them! I know that atonement of Jesus Christ is a wonderful thing and it is beautiful when we let it work in our lives.

Love you all! Stay Strong and follow God!

Sister Jensen

Zone Conference 

Pilipinas!

Sister Jensen's first email from the Philippines:

Helllloooo Everyone!

Wow! This week has been so crazy. To make a long story short I have a native  Filipino as my companion. Our area is Masinloc and we have two other sisters living with us. Before the Elders lived in our apartment and I have learned that Elders are the same everywhere. Therefore the apartment was nothing short of scary looking when I got there... There is a couple here and the Sister helped us clean our house up and it was much better after that. We have a shower and a toilet, so I am happy. I have ridden in a tricycle many times, a jeepney just today, and a bus. There is rice for every meal and the Filipinos eat with a spoon in place of a knife. I think I have mastered the spoon technique. The members here are nothing short of inspiring. The Branch President lives up a hill that has lots of trash scattered everywhere. His house has a dirt floor. He is a fisherman and goes out fishing at night. His two youngest girls are named Janine (different spelling, but hey) and Jasmine, so it's just like home! They are very cute. They hold my hands when we go to lessons with their mom. The Branch President and his wife have both spent WHOLE days helping us find people to talk to and introducing us to members and less active members. I know they make many sacrifices for the gospel and I am touched by their obedience and perseverance. They have so little but they give so much. The other day we hiked behind his hill to get to some people. It was just like hiking in Idaho... Except more green! I loved it. People sometimes say things about mosquitoes, but in my opinion they are nothing like Idaho mosquitoes. I have only been bit twice. In Idaho I would have had all the blood sucked out of me. Everyone stares at me here and all the little girls think I look like barbie. It is a little weird, but it brings more people to our lessons because most of them start with the nanay (usually grandma) and the little girls see me and they go tell there mom that barbie is in their house. I think I look nothing like barbie, but they do. The other day we had a lesson with a lady whose husband is a rice farmer. She lives in a little hut next to the field. Yesterday we ate like queens at Sister K's house. She is our neighbor and she is very kind. She made us our first couple of meals here. Last night she made us spaghetti (Yay!) and we had a fruit salad. I had guava and papaya! They are not how I imagined they would taste, but I love fruit! I love it here! the people are all nice. Yesterday we basically took all of the mutual group with us visiting members and  less actives. We went to one of the boy's home who blessed our sacrament. It was a simple home. I came to find out that his mom is not a member and his dad, I never even saw. HIs dedication to the church inspires me. I know it would be so hard to be the only member in the states, but here with so little in the first place it must be a great sacrifice. The youth are so willing to help out, more so than at home I think and yet they have so little. Many of them want to be missionaries. They are definitely pioneers in my eyes. I don't talk much here because I am still learning, but I am beginning to understand more and more and my companion includes me more and more. Hopefully I will be fluent in no time, but until then, I am just happy to be here and serving the Lord in what way I can. I am trying very hard and  I am learning lots. Yes, it is hot here. Yes it is rainy. It is the rainy season and whoever said Filipinos didn't use umbrellas lied. They use them for rain and sun. There are racks outside of stores for them. They are obsessed with being white like Americans are with being tan. The food is great. I like it a lot! The other day my companion made teraki chicken, but it wasn't called that. I loved it. Overall it is great to be here. I love you all!

Mahal Kita!

Sister Jensen

The long plane ride to the Philippines.

Just after arriving in the Philippines. (Jasmine looks a LITTLE tired haha).

Sister Jensen's first sunday in the branch in Masinloc

Mom asked Jasmine if these pictures were taken in church, to which Jasmine replied, "Yes, the branch president wanted pictures so I took them. It was so weird because we do not do that in the US hahaha."

"This Is my companion Sister J. and also they boys and girls that went with us to visit people."

Sister Jensen's first missionary roommates in the Philippines.

Sister C.

An email from one of Jasmine's MTC teachers:

GRABE!!! Namimiss ko kayo ngayon kahit nasa Utah pa kayo. You haven't even left the state, but I know I won't see you all again for a long time!! (And you won't see this until your first P-day in the field!!!) 

Pero sobrang masaya ako para sa inyo. I know you will perform miracles for the people in the Philippines. I can sense it in your countenances, the way you teach, and the way you sing! Salamat talaga para sa card na ibinigay kayo sa akin at maraming salamat for the song. i wish i had recorded it!! it was very touching. i looked up the song online, but it's not the same as when you all sang it.

Thank you for being Christ-centered missionaries. Alam ko na mahal kayo ni Heavenly Father and that He will take care of you if you give your heart and will to Him. We read this in Sunday School and I wanted to share....

D&C 101

35 And all they who suffer ^apersecution for my name, and endure in faith, though they are called to lay down their lives for my^bsake yet shall they partake of all this glory.

 36 Wherefore, ^afear not even unto death; for in this world your joy is not full, but in me your ^bjoy is full.

 37 Therefore, care not for the body, neither the life of the body; but care for the ^asoul, and for the life of the soul.

 38 And ^aseek the face of the Lord always, that in ^bpatience ye may possess your souls, and ye shall have eternal life.

I know His promised blessings are true and real, and that only through Christ and His gospel can we receive a fullness of joy and return to live with our Heavenly Father.

Mahal ko po kayo. Ingat po kayo!!!

Sister C.

MTC week 6

Kumusta pamilya at mga kaibigan!

I've added a couple of you this week to my big e-mail to everyone. I hope you don't mind. Next week I will have wonderful things to tell you about the Philippines. This week I just have a funny fact. In the Philippines there is in F in the alphabet, but if they use F they usually mix it up with the P. So they say Pilipino not Filipino and when they mix it up apparently a common one is fart instead of part. Hey, it's the truth. Just laugh about it because you know it is funny :). Anyways, this week I got to host the new missionaries! Which means I got to welcome all the new missionaries at the MTC, and settle them into there apartments, and get them their stuff, and take them to their classes so they didn't get lost. It was great! A lot of fun, even though I only got to host one person, it was still amazing. She was from Utah and she is going to Chicago where she used to live! Crazy huh? Her parents felt at ease leaving her because they knew she would be in a place that she knew with lots of friends. She was super nice and I know she will be great! It was sad to see people say goodbye to their kids for 2 or 1 1/2 years, but it was fun to help them. One Polynesian sister had two cars filled with family hahaha. It was great! I love the Polynesian people! On Saturday we have a devotional (which is like a talk) from Jolene Alphin. She has compiled hundreds of pioneer stories! She was a historical consultant for Ephraim's rescue and 17 Miracles. She talked about the pioneer men that just got back from missions  and went back to help the struggling handcart companies. The people spoke of them as if they were angels. It was so much fun to learn about the pioneers! Their stories are inspiring and always cause me to want to be a better person. So I am so excited to be going to the Philippines this week! I am so ready to serve the people there. I am ready to feel Christ's love for them! I leave in two days!! Wahoo! Today is my last day for mail at the MTC. Well, Mahal Kita! Salamat sa panalangin! Take care! Write you soon!

Love,

Sister Jensen (Jasmine)

Kumusta! (MTC week 4)

Kamusta pamilya at mga kaibigan!

It is good to hear from all of you. I would like to tell you all thank you for your prayers. I am learning a lot and I think the language is coming along. I still have a long ways to go, but I am thankful for all the support and love. This last Sunday we had Brother and Sister Hackey talk to us. Sister Dianne Hackey is a scriptorean that just retired from BYU. She met the prophet when she was young and it scared her. She said she felt like he could see right through her and from that point on she wanted the kind of person that could look the prophet in the eye, so she did her homework and became a scriptorean. She was hilarious! Brother Hackey talked about riding a horse they had named Bimbo and his mother telling him to do something and he got upset. He went inside and threw one of his spurs somewhere. After a while he decided he wanted to go ride his horse again, but he couldn't find his spur. He looked and looked. He prayed and immediately afterwards found it underneath the bed right by where he was kneeling and right where he had looked several times. This story reminded me of home.  He also told us that the Lord cannot drive a parked car. We have to be willing to take action to recieve revelation in our life. We cannot pray about something half-heartedly not expecting an answer or to not be willing to act on that answer, or no answer will come to us. We have to be ready and willing to do what the Lord asks of us. Both of them were funny people. Then on Tuesday We had another devotional By Mytris Kendrick and L. Lionel Kendrick an Emeritus General Authority. He spoke with power. I could feel that he was an appostle of the Lord. He said that in the morning we can ask one of two questions: "What am I doing today" or "How am I ever going to get it all done today." He said that these two questions will tell whether or not we are serving the Lord or just serving time. The second one is how we can determine if we are serving the Lord. Then he talked about prayer and personal revelation. He said that God reveals himself to those that are ready.  He said, " Heavenly Father never uses a flood light when a flashlight is acceptable" and that is the way it is with personal revelation. He gently prompts us and if we are not ready for it he waits for us to come seeking it. He said that "Revelation comes to the heart and mind. It comes as thoughts and feelings. If you have both you know that it is personal revelation." I never thought about personal revelation in that way, an dso I found that very interesting.  At the end of his talk he blessed all of us missionaries. I could feel the power of that blessing. He blessed us to have the spririt, help us master the languages we are learning, and to have a fond remembrand of the truth. I have already seen the power of that blessing in my life. Well, it has been great here! The MTC is a wonderful place. I have learned so much already. My companion and I had a couple of wonderful lessons this week. Just yesterday we didn't teach our investigators any of the messages we had prepared for them, but because of the Lord we were able to answer their needs and teach them accordingly. I know I could not have done it without him because, I am weak in the language, but as I put my trust more and more in the Lord and seek to learn the language as best as I can, I know he blesses me. He wants his children to feel his love and I am just the mouth piece. There are times of discouragement and doubt, and I know that I might feel overwhelmed when I get there, but I am looking forward to it and relying on the Lord. Thank you  all for your support and love!

Binasbasan po ang ebanhelyo ng mga pamilya! The Gospel blesses families!

Mahal Kita!

Sister Jensen (Jasmine)

Feeling like a flight attendant in TALL.