E-Mail 5/27/13

Jamari is going to be baptized on June 8th.
We have not had many teaching experiences so far. We have found a few potential investigators through having lessons with members, however, we haven't been able to schedule very many lessons. That is our biggest challenge right now - finding people to teach. Apparently President Neider has instructed the missionaries not to tract. I believe most of the baptisms have come through member referrals. This week we have a few appointments scheduled with potential investigators. However, in past weeks, most of our appointments have fallen through. It is a lot of work to find people, and so far our efforts haven't seemed to be paying off. On a positive note, President Neider gave Elder Hearne and I a car a couple of days ago (we were spending the majority of our time biking). Hopefully things will begin to pick up speed soon.
Yes we are teaching Melissa, but I can't remember what I said about her in my letter. We have mainly been joining the Dahl family's scripture reading twice a week with Melissa up until this week. This week we did some yard work for Melissa (she has been sick and she may have cancer and she keeps herself busy - basically she wasn't able to mow her lawn or take care of the yard for a while) and we invited her to start coming to church again (she has a long history of working with the missionaries). She came to church yesterday, which was wonderful.

My schedule is consistently inconsistent. However, here is the basic outline:
Wake up at 6:30 (unless we decide to attend morning sports in which case we get up at 5:40)
Prepare for the day (eat breakfast, shower, etc)
Studies from 8-10 am
The 12 week program at 11 am
Lunch 12 pm
Then we visit members of the ward from 1 - 5 pm (we go off of a less-active and part member family list that the bishopric put together)
Dinner around 5 pm

Then we probably just return to the list until 8:30 - 9 pm
We return home around 9 pm and then plan for the next day (I usually get to bed around 10:30 pm)
(We had really hoped to have more people to teach at this point to fill in our schedule, however, for now we are just going to try and get to know the ward better)

I have found that there are a ton of inactive members in this ward, but the members that attend church regularly are very strong families who are actively engaged in missionary work. We have found that they really have been doing all that they can to help out their missionaries. This will be an easy ward for fellow-shipping investigators and new converts.
We have been fed nearly every night since we have been here (with the exception of the first week or so due to the impression that the last missionaries left). Occasionally members will cancel dinner appointments on us, however, as we have gotten to know the families better, we have found people who are always stepping in to help us out when members cancel. One family invited us over tonight to join their barbecue since our original appointment failed. It is the same family where we skyped from a few weeks ago. Also, there is another family that fed us twice last week that cooked us two of the most delicious meals I have had in a long time (they believed that if they fed us well then their daughter who was also serving a mission would be fed well).

My companion is a lot like Tyler - he wanted to do the same thing the other day - he said that he wanted to catch one of the jack rabbits here and bring it back to the apartment as a pet. I pointed out that we couldn't keep pets and he resolved that he would just catch one and then cook it into a stew. I guess he isn't as friendly as Tyler.
That is funny that you would say "keep being obedient and you will be blessed" because yesterday my companion and I had to teach the Elders quorum lesson and the talk we used was Thomas S Monson's talk "Obedience Brings Blessings" from this last conference.

Life as a Missionary 5/27/13

Jamari is going to be baptized on June 8th. 

We have not had many teaching experiences so far. We have found a few potential investigators through having lessons with members, however, we haven't been able to schedule very many lessons. That is our biggest challenge right now - finding people to teach. Apparently President Neider has instructed the missionaries not to tract. I believe most of the baptisms have come through member referrals. This week we have a few appointments scheduled with potential investigators. However, in past weeks, most of our appointments have fallen through. It is a lot of work to find people, and so far our efforts haven't seemed to be paying off. On a positive note, President Neider gave Elder Hearne and I a car a couple of days ago (we were spending the majority of our time biking). Hopefully things will begin to pick up speed soon. 

Yes we are teaching Melissa, but I can't remember what I said about her in my letter. We have mainly been joining the Dahl family's scripture reading twice a week with Melissa up until this week. This week we did some yard work for Melissa (she has been sick and she may have cancer and she keeps herself busy - basically she wasn't able to mow her lawn or take care of the yard for a while) and we invited her to start coming to church again (she has a long history of working with the missionaries). She came to church yesterday, which was wonderful.

My schedule is consistently inconsistent. However, here is the basic outline:

Wake up at 6:30 (unless we decide to attend morning sports in which case we get up at 5:40)

Prepare for the day (eat breakfast, shower, etc)

Studies from 8-10 am

The 12 week program at 11 am

Lunch 12 pm

Then we visit members of the ward from 1 - 5 pm (we go off of a less-active and part member family list that the bishopric put together)

Dinner around 5 pm

Then we probably just return to the list until 8:30 - 9 pm

We return home around 9 pm and then plan for the next day (I usually get to bed around 10:30 pm)

(We had really hoped to have more people to teach at this point to fill in our schedule, however, for now we are just going to try and get to know the ward better)

We have not been attending ward council, however, we have been attending the beginning of P.E.C. every week.

I have found that there are a ton of inactive members in this ward, but the members that attend church regularly are very strong families who are actively engaged in missionary work. We have found that they really have been doing all that they can to help out their missionaries. This will be an easy ward for fellow-shipping investigators and new converts. 

We have been fed nearly every night since we have been here (with the exception of the first week or so due to the impression that the last missionaries left). Occasionally members will cancel dinner appointments on us, however, as we have gotten to know the families better, we have found people who are always stepping in to help us out when members cancel. One family invited us over tonight to join their barbecue since our original appointment failed. It is the same family where we skyped from a few weeks ago. Also, there is another family that fed us twice last week that cooked us two of the most delicious meals I have had in a long time (they believed that if they fed us well then their daughter who was also serving a mission would be fed well).

My companion is a lot like Tyler - he wanted to do the same thing the other day - he said that he wanted to catch one of the jack rabbits here and bring it back to the apartment as a pet. I pointed out that we couldn't keep pets and he resolved that he would just catch one and then cook it into a stew. I guess he isn't as friendly as Tyler. 

That is funny that you would say "keep being obedient and you will be blessed" because yesterday my companion and I had to teach the Elders quorum lesson and the talk we used was Thomas S Monson's talk "Obedience Brings Blessings" from this last conference.

May 2, 2013 First Letter From Las Vegas

Hello,

I just want to send you a quick letter to tell you about my experiences in the mission field so far.  My last letter was a BIG one so don’t expect all of them to be that informative.  My new companion’s name is Elder Hearne, and he is from Alabama.  Everyone seems to think very highly of him so I am looking forward to the next few months.  I was instructed to do everything that he said, so I certainly nope that everyone is right about him.  Currently we are going through what is called a “double transfer”-which means two Elders moved out of our apartment at the same time that both of us moved in.   The problem is that neither of us are familiar with the area, and the two Elders that moved out completely trashed and raided the apartment (they should have left us with toilet paper, cleaning supplies, food, etc.).  They also left us with only 2 contacts and virtually no information about them.  It appears that they were not exactly “anxiously engaged” in the work.  As a result, the last two days have mainly been cleaning, training, and preparation days for us.  Yesterday we tried finding a grocery store, but the only one that we were able to find was a 99¢).  We were able to find some cereal and milk there and water, but they didn’t have a whole lot of stuff.  It’s kind of hard when neither of us know where anything is.  Apparently the water here isn’t drinkable (unless you want kidney stones).  So we had to find a water filter at Walmart today.  This morning I spent most of the day at a training meeting in Southern Las Vegas (We are in Northern Las Vegas right now).   To get there we had to trade our bikes to the zone leaders so that we could take their car (apparently neither of the zone leaders have their own bikes).  So basically other missionaries have ridden my bike more than I have.  Fortunately our bikes weren’t broken or stolen, and we shouldn’t have to lend them out agin any time soon.  On our first night here, we discovered that there was only one roll of toilet paper in the apartment (between two bathrooms).  My senior companion/trainer, Elder Hearne, decided that we would have to wait until Thursday to buy more toilet paper.  Then somehow in my clumsiness, I dropped the only roll into the toilet.  Wen I told him what I did, he handled it pretty well, so it is pretty clear that he has enough patience to train me.  Hopefully we will be able to figure out where everything is, get in contact with people, and start working soon.

Note 1:  Apparently this is a high baptizing mission-the president said about 1 baptism a week per companionship is possible and to achieve this goal we are supposed to get 1 new investigator a day.  Also, we are supposed to teach 20 lessons a week, so I will be busy.

Note 2:  I will only receive mail on Mondays from now on.

Note 3:  Please send me recipes(Alfredo, chicken spread, etc.)

Note 4:  Also, it would be nice to have a calendar of some kind(can just be one of the free ones that come in the mail).

Note 5:  On Mothers Day I am allowed to Skype you.  Expect me to call sometime after 4p.m. (PST).

~Kyle Jensen~

I am happy to inform you that Elder Jensen arrived in Las Vegas with a smile on his face and a wonderful spirit.

Michael A. Neider, President

NEVADA LAS VEGAS MISSION

I received your pictures.  They were very precious.  Dad’s was especially impressive.  I might have it framed when I return.  One thing that I want to share with Emily and perhaps other students in our ward would be: VALUE SEMINARY! I was a pretty good seminary student when I was in High School, however, there is so much more that I could have gotten out of the experience if I had not been so ignorant and arrogant.  Seminary is the most important class in High School.  It should not be a lesser priority.  I wish that I had seen this my first year and that I had truly studied all 4 sections of the scriptures with diligence.  With the material I’ve learned from Seminary, accompanied by my religion classes at BYU-Idaho, I’ve become the scriptorian in my district.  The sad thing is that I really do’t know the scriptures as well as a missionary should (or any member of the church).  I invite all of you to read the scriptures and study them. I especially encourage you to study the Old and New Testaments.  I have realized that even among fellow missionaries there is a lack of basic understanding of the Old and New Testaments.

I’m grateful that all of you have been praying for me.

Funny Story-One of the sisters in my district prayed that she would have more endorphins in her body do that she could stay awake in class( or some other hormone that regulates the sleep/wake cycle-I can’t remember the endocrine system very well anymore)  Anyways, the next morning our building was under construction so we were moved to a different classroom on the 5th floor of the farthest building on campus.  There have been days when we have climbed up all those stairs 30+ times.  

Moral of the STORY:  Prayers can be dangerous.  

(If your going to pray for me, be careful what you say)

You are all welcome to send me questions if I have not covered everything of interest to you.  Also, I am open to scriptural/doctrinal questions as well.  They could help me prepare to teach others.

Kyle Jensen

April 22, 2013

I apologize that this won’t be much of a letter.  I’ve been incredibly busy and I’m exhausted.  There has been very little time to write, and I’ve struggled just to get to bed before curfew.  But in the few minutes that I have to write you this letter, I just want to tell you that I love you and that I’m grateful for your love and support you have shown me.  I have never been this tired and happy simultaneously.  It’s incredible to experience a companionship with the Holy Ghost that is as powerful and constant as the companionship that exists when in the service of the Lord as a missionary.  Heaven isn’t a life of luxury, it is a lot of work, all that I can physically and spiritually endure.  But I want you to know that I’m doing all right and tell you that I love you.  By the way it may interest you to know that my companion is named Elder Owens, and he is from Alaska.  Also, tonight I was asked to b e District Leader.  I’m not sure what that entails exactly, but I think it just means that I am the mail man for 2 weeks.   Also, I have to start playing  the piano for meetings.   I will tell you more when I get a chance.  For now just know that my blessings (patriarchal & missionary) are being fulfilled. 

Sincerely,

Elder Kyle Jensen

Less Active Member Teaching Experience

This morning Elder Owens and I met with George Peterson.  Initially our discussion was a little empty and it lacked compassion.  It began with Elder Owens and I expressing the fact that we all sin and that we must all repent.  Brother Peterson, being a less active member, expressed his disgust at the way the people from the church judge him and scrutinize on his sins.  I tried to use Alma 7:11-12 to express that Jesus Christ understands everyone’s pain, but the scripture didn’t have the impact that I had intended.  After an exchange of bitterness and hopelessness, I asked George if I could have a moment to ponder the scriptures and search for the message that the Lord would have me share.  At first I looked through some scriptures that I had been studying previously, then I asked George if we could have word of prayer.  I cannot record word for word what I prayed for but it was a sincere and powerful prayer.  Afterwards I turned to D&C 123:3, 7 and D&C 122: 9.  At this point George was in tears and he asked me to share the verse again.  The phrase that stood out to him was “fear not what men can do” and “God shall be with you forever and ever”.  The Holy Ghost shared a message with George that was beyond anything that I could have ever shared with him.  He began to open up and discuss the trials that he had faced and he explained that he realized that he need to to stop worrying about what we think of him and start worrying more about what God thought of him .  He expressed his feelings about his wife that left him and his children that fell away from the church.  But he recognized the power of the Atonement and was able to feel the desire to come unto Christ and endure to the end.  At this point he said that he was ready to hear our message- to which I explained that we weren’t prepared w/a lesson.  But his desire for more led us to a discussion in which Elder Owens opened up and shared a personal story about his family and a connection was created between Elder Owens and George.  George expressed God’s will to Elder Owens and told him to write to his brother about his mission.  He explained to Elder Owen’s how to write the letter and promised him that if he did, Elder Owen’s brother would come unto Christ and be married in the temple.  It was surely revelation, as the spirit was present and the message was truth.  Elder Owen’s heard a similar promise in the priesthood blessing he received in class from Brother Clark.  The first blessing told him of the promise and George told him how to go about bringing that promise forth.  All who were present felt the Holy Ghost and received an outpouring of revelation from God.  It was truly incredible to be an instrument in the Lord’s hands.  And I’m grateful that the Lord prepared me so that I could participate in this even.  I have never felt so much love towards a complete stranger in all my life.  It was truly incredible.

See D&C 84:85

Kyle Jensen

I remember that I wanted to say to George, “forget yourself and come back to the church”-however, I recognized that he already felt that attitude from the members, I felt the Lord’s compassion for him and shared the scripture mentioned above.  The Holy Ghost gave him the impression that he needed to get over his feelings of being-wronged and return to the church.