This week was fantastically uneventful. If I were to give you an update of every one of our investigators it would go something like this.
(INVESTIGATOR) has visited with the missionaries for some years now and really has the desire to progress and get baptized. BUT unfortunately he/she has to (Insert one or more of the following)
a) get divorced
b) get married
c) get divorced then get married
d) quit smoking
e) get divorced, married, quit smoking
Ok, don`t get me wrong. I love the people we`re visiting right now. The redundancy of the situations just starts to get to you.
I have a less active Hermana in my ward who we`ve been sent by the bishop to reactivate. She was raised in Brazil so I get to learn a little Portuguese every time I go. I don´t have much hope of communicating with Scott by the time I get home, but it`s fun anyway. Also she loves to cook. We had dinner with her last week. A truly exotic dish for Argentines. Rice and beans. I hadn`t eaten rice and beans since the MTC. It was quite the treat. I never knew something so simple could taste so good. I think of Scott every time I go. We have dinner again tonight which is definitely something to look forward to.
Also, an Hmno in our ward is a war veteran. He somehow was involved in the conflict in Yugoslavia a few years back. Fighting in a place we now know as Croatia. Never thought I`d find a link between Croatia and Argentina, but I got to talk a bit about his experiences. He had a Spanish grammar book to learn Croatian and I studied a bit. Suddenly I was very grateful to just be learning Spanish. So I`ve felt close to both my brothers this week.
Another experience (As I’m short on time this week, and seriously, not a lot has happened in Burzaco) as we were walking, I got chased by my first dog. Mind you chased. Not bitten. That was an experience. We were walking down the street when all of the sudden a big Rottweiler got away from its owners and began bounding toward me. I froze, and then adrenaline kicked in and I started to panic giving it a good chase. I started taking off my backpack in hopes of giving it something to chew on other than my flesh but at that point its owners had already caught detained the mighty beast as I continued running, saved another day. Those dogs are man eaters. I hope to have a better dog story by the end of my mission. but for now that`s all I have. I can only imagine how ridiculous it must look to the average argentine bystander, sitting outside on the porch drinking mate. When an abnormally tall Yankee starts running down the street in a shirt and tie trying to strip off the backpack all this with a Rottweiler trailing close behind. Elder Sanchez was very amused. Every time we see a dog he starts laughing and tells me to watch out.
I love this church. I know it`s true. I never cease to learn things from the Book of Mormon. It really is the keystone of our religion. I`m always impressed to see that the things I read there can apply so specifically to my work.
Monday, March 22, 2010
Monday, March 15, 2010
Here's to the experience
This email is a special email with a dedication. To the good friend coping with the loss of her mother. To the sister fighting for the well being of her premature child. To the Elder on the other side of the world shipped downriver, or forced to train when he just got his feet on the ground. To the cousin who just got his heartbroken for the first time. To life. To death. And to everything in-between.
Here´s to the experience.
I was impressed this week in my personal study of the scriptures, of the exhortations of Christ to his followers to do the things which we had seen him do. It struck me as I had never thought of Christ’s very being as a teaching experience. We always hear that we should read, study, and treasure up. But that study will lead us inevitably to the same point, we must do in order to become.
In the pre-mortal life, we undoubtedly had the capacity to learn and treasure up doctrine. We could learn and progress line upon line and precept upon precept. We lived personally in the presence of our Heavenly parents. Without the veil of forgetfulness clouding our minds we may just have known much more of doctrine and study in that state than we now know in our fallen condition of mortality. What could we not learn then that makes it necessary for us to be here now. The answer is simple. We had to experience.
Without a mortal body of flesh and bones, without suffering or adversity, our concept of being was but a perception. We could learn, but to learn is one thing, to do and to become is another. The lessons we learn here in mortality are entirely different than those learned on the other side of the veil.
Thus, the Savior´s exhortation to not merely hear the words which he spoke, but to do the things that He did characterizes our experience here in the mortal world. Allow me to use the example of the mission to illustrate this principle.
Before the mission, I was excited to go out and serve the Lord. I looked at it as an escape, an adventure to rid myself of the redundancies of everyday life. The questions still persisted. What would the mission be like? Would it be warm or cold in Argentina? Would the language be difficult? How could I prepare to best serve the people? Amidst the stories of returned missionaries and having seen those who went before complete a mission, I could somewhat fathom what it was going to be like. So why was it necessary to pack my bags and ship myself out to Argentina? It was for the experience.
Upon arriving in the mission, I found things that I simply could not have imagined without actually leaving and serving. Some important things I´ve learned have come from the scriptures and from the doctrine. From practicing my teaching and learning the language. But the most important lessons I´ve learned don´t come from the mission on paper. I could read and study "Preach My Gospel" and the scriptures before the mission. The most important lessons have come to me from going, doing, and being a missionary.
Similar was our perception of mortal life from pre-mortality. We undoubtedly had questions. Would it be easy? Would it be hard? What would having a body be like? And then, the hour of our mortality struck midnight and here we are in the dreary world. There are lessons we learn here that we simply couldn´t learn there.
You don´t know what charity means until your mother passes away and your left to support your family. You don´t know what faith means until your child threatens a premature birth, and you have to trust everything to the hands of God. You don´t know what diligence means until you get transferred in the mission or you get called to train early and your expected to work just as hard. You don´t know what love means until you get your heart broken.
Just a few of the things I know some of you are going through. A few of the lessons that life affords us that we could learn there, but must experience here. And in the spirit of this message I exhort all of you to take up your adversity as the cross it forms and not merely hear the invitation of the Savior but DO the things that He did for us. He will bear you up as you seek to follow His paths. As Jeffrey R. Holland said "How could we expect it to be easy for us if it was never ever easy for Him? If you wonder if there´s not an easier way, you should know that someone a lot greater, and a lot grander wondered that same thing a long time ago."
This gospel is not a gospel of listening; it is a gospel of doing, and ultimately becoming. Our afflictions are what define us. What we learn from our experience is what we couldn´t learn before, and ultimately our purpose in this mortal sphere of afflictions.
As a servant of the Lord I testify to you that He lives. He loves us. He exhorts us to follow Him. And that exhortation has never been easy, nor will it ever be. But as we struggle beneath our burdens of care in this world we do not struggle alone. Regardless of your individual circumstance I know that the Lord will bear you up as we learn the lessons that will sanctify us as a refiner’s fire until we ultimately cease to do and begin to become. The school of eternity is here in mortality. May we all endure in the strength of Him who endured all things.
Here´s to the experience
Les amo
Elder Jensen
Here´s to the experience.
I was impressed this week in my personal study of the scriptures, of the exhortations of Christ to his followers to do the things which we had seen him do. It struck me as I had never thought of Christ’s very being as a teaching experience. We always hear that we should read, study, and treasure up. But that study will lead us inevitably to the same point, we must do in order to become.
In the pre-mortal life, we undoubtedly had the capacity to learn and treasure up doctrine. We could learn and progress line upon line and precept upon precept. We lived personally in the presence of our Heavenly parents. Without the veil of forgetfulness clouding our minds we may just have known much more of doctrine and study in that state than we now know in our fallen condition of mortality. What could we not learn then that makes it necessary for us to be here now. The answer is simple. We had to experience.
Without a mortal body of flesh and bones, without suffering or adversity, our concept of being was but a perception. We could learn, but to learn is one thing, to do and to become is another. The lessons we learn here in mortality are entirely different than those learned on the other side of the veil.
Thus, the Savior´s exhortation to not merely hear the words which he spoke, but to do the things that He did characterizes our experience here in the mortal world. Allow me to use the example of the mission to illustrate this principle.
Before the mission, I was excited to go out and serve the Lord. I looked at it as an escape, an adventure to rid myself of the redundancies of everyday life. The questions still persisted. What would the mission be like? Would it be warm or cold in Argentina? Would the language be difficult? How could I prepare to best serve the people? Amidst the stories of returned missionaries and having seen those who went before complete a mission, I could somewhat fathom what it was going to be like. So why was it necessary to pack my bags and ship myself out to Argentina? It was for the experience.
Upon arriving in the mission, I found things that I simply could not have imagined without actually leaving and serving. Some important things I´ve learned have come from the scriptures and from the doctrine. From practicing my teaching and learning the language. But the most important lessons I´ve learned don´t come from the mission on paper. I could read and study "Preach My Gospel" and the scriptures before the mission. The most important lessons have come to me from going, doing, and being a missionary.
Similar was our perception of mortal life from pre-mortality. We undoubtedly had questions. Would it be easy? Would it be hard? What would having a body be like? And then, the hour of our mortality struck midnight and here we are in the dreary world. There are lessons we learn here that we simply couldn´t learn there.
You don´t know what charity means until your mother passes away and your left to support your family. You don´t know what faith means until your child threatens a premature birth, and you have to trust everything to the hands of God. You don´t know what diligence means until you get transferred in the mission or you get called to train early and your expected to work just as hard. You don´t know what love means until you get your heart broken.
Just a few of the things I know some of you are going through. A few of the lessons that life affords us that we could learn there, but must experience here. And in the spirit of this message I exhort all of you to take up your adversity as the cross it forms and not merely hear the invitation of the Savior but DO the things that He did for us. He will bear you up as you seek to follow His paths. As Jeffrey R. Holland said "How could we expect it to be easy for us if it was never ever easy for Him? If you wonder if there´s not an easier way, you should know that someone a lot greater, and a lot grander wondered that same thing a long time ago."
This gospel is not a gospel of listening; it is a gospel of doing, and ultimately becoming. Our afflictions are what define us. What we learn from our experience is what we couldn´t learn before, and ultimately our purpose in this mortal sphere of afflictions.
As a servant of the Lord I testify to you that He lives. He loves us. He exhorts us to follow Him. And that exhortation has never been easy, nor will it ever be. But as we struggle beneath our burdens of care in this world we do not struggle alone. Regardless of your individual circumstance I know that the Lord will bear you up as we learn the lessons that will sanctify us as a refiner’s fire until we ultimately cease to do and begin to become. The school of eternity is here in mortality. May we all endure in the strength of Him who endured all things.
Here´s to the experience
Les amo
Elder Jensen
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
The Lord Watches Over his Servants
Due to changing in myldsmail, my new email address is "stephenj-AT-myldsmail.net. The new myldsmail was overhauled by Google, and now is just like Gmail. It’s actually pretty cool.
First bit of news. As you all know, or at the very least should have figured out, Elder Sanchez´ family survived the Earthquake. As a matter of fact, more than survive, their house was completely preserved. Not even a broken window. The only thing that broke of value in the entire house was the television. Elder Sanchez keeps joking shaking his head with a choked up voice "that was a great TV."
Consider the miracle. He lives in the epicenter of one of the strongest earthquakes of the last century. Also five minutes away from the beach and, by extension, a large tsunami. Somehow the rising waters were routed around his home. He only believed that it was still standing after his family sent pictures. Books fell, along with random decorations around the house, but no damage actually occurred. It’s a miracle.
There are a lot of Chileans in the mission and apparently all of them report similar stories. The Lord always watches over his servants and their families.
Thank you all for the prayers on my companion’s behalf. He’s found the strength to keep working this week, and we’ve seen some miracles in the work as well as a result.
Might I start my email with a comment on how adorable my nephew Payton is. He looks just like a little keebler elf. We’ll see if that lasts in a year and a half.
The work here in Burzaco has been slow moving, but we’ve been able to find new investigators this week through other means. Old investigators and potential investigators that never received follow up appointments have been a great resource for us.
Did I mention how green and beautiful it is here. It’s been very hot the past few days, and I figure as a result, it’s been very cold over there still. If I remember right march was still miserable in Utah. Just wanted to let you know it’s still a warm paradise here in Buenos Aires.
Actually I’ve seen the first signs of the weather change here. Leaves are starting to change colors. Which has me confused in all sorts of ways. I didn’t get to Buenos Aires until September, so I got the full blunt of the Utah Summer, only to jump to the close of the Argentine winter, only to go through spring again, and a Christmas with heat that rivaled the Sahara, only to face what I expect to be spring in March and where I find myself now. Autumn. Autumn is a bizarre sight to see in March and April. Almost as strange as it’s going to be trying to endure winter in July. This southern hemisphere stuff just keeps on getting stranger and stranger.
So news from the work.
Our only investigators right now have little or no potential to be baptized in the coming decade. All of them have strange divorce and marriage cases, which even if they had the desires to solve, with the argentine bureaucracy would take who knows how long to solve. Let’s just say I bet the second coming arrives first.
Our other investigator who actually does have the potential of baptism is Sylvana. A middle aged Argentine woman dependent on the decisions of her husband, who was baptized 25 years back. José. Unfortunately, José hasn’t attended church since his baptism, and is more catholic than the pope himself. In his way of thinking, which I still don’t completely understand, only our church has the authority to give a real baptism, and this said baptism will take out every sin that we’ve ever had or will have. No church attendance required. As such, José is convinced that he has achieved Nirvana by means of the Mormon holy water and now wants the same blessing for his wife, who has little or no preference in the situation and just wants to make her husband happy.
Our other investigator with the potential to baptize brings me to a confession. I now have a girlfriend in Argentina. Her name is Cristina Timache, and is a little over 60 years old. She has an affinity for all things US, which unfortunately includes me. During our first appointment, Elder Sanchez had to use the restroom, and she spent the time trying to convince me to take her back to America with me. I agreed on condition that I could finish my mission first. When I showed her my pictures and she saw the one of Scott holding Camille. She mistook Scott for me and got really angry that I had a girlfriend. When I explained that it was my sister in law, she just got more confused. "So that’s how they are in the states." My broken Spanish prevented me from clarifying the misunderstanding, and Elder Sanchez was laughing so hard that Argentine crackers were spilling out of his nose.
It felt good to laugh after a long week.
So the work in Burzaco is back on track. We had a miracle in finding a family from Chile on Saturday. Elder Sanchez was able to talk to them about his family and the things that were happening in Concepcion right now. They were very open to receiving a message about God, and we’re excited to return next week.
Thank you all for your help and support. I’ve felt your prayers this week.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Earthquake
Things are tough right now.
So Elder Sanchez is from Concepcion Chile, where he lives couldnt possibly be closer to the epicenter of the Earthquake. He hasnt been able to contact anyone. Family, friends, no one. Its very disconcerting.
Which has left us in internet cafes for the past three days all day. Not very much work is happening in Burzaco. Which is justifiable considering the circumstances, but its very difficult to just stand on the sideline and be helpless to help my comp. Probably in some small way Elder Sanchez feels about his family right now.
Theres nothing worse in missionary work than not working. Thats when you get introspective, worried, homesick, frustrated, inadequate, guilty, depressed. Working just solves all the problems. But once the work stops, all of those terrible things come back. Its been a tough weekend in Buenos Aires. Ive resorted to just reading in the BOM, but its almost impossible to concentrate. I get guilty because Im not helping Elder Sanchez, but I dont know what to do. Its a tough situation.
The whole ordeal has made me very grateful for my family and that everyone is safe. Its amazing how fast everything goes into perspective when something like this happens. Family, thats really all there is.
On that note, a special thanks to the Ockeys who wrote me for family night. That letter got to me just in time and made my week. I cant express enough thanks for what a little sacrifice of your time did for me. So thank you.
I really dont know what else to say. Im still not very familiar with the area, and the investigators that we have weve only visited once or twice. Very few actually have the potential to progress and be baptized. Ill be able to give more specific backup of the people and their circumstance later, but as of now, the whitewash is going to take its toll on my emails.
So thank you all for your goodness and kindness. Im greatful your all in safe places in the world. I know the Lord loves us, and has a plan for us. Even though we cant see the reason for the bad things that happen, I know He lives, and always knows better than we do what we need. I love being able to bring this message of peace to a world that really needs it right now. Im sorry about this email, with the earthquake and all the confusion everything here is upside down as well. Ill be sure to write more next week.
Les amo
Elder Jensen
So Elder Sanchez is from Concepcion Chile, where he lives couldnt possibly be closer to the epicenter of the Earthquake. He hasnt been able to contact anyone. Family, friends, no one. Its very disconcerting.
Which has left us in internet cafes for the past three days all day. Not very much work is happening in Burzaco. Which is justifiable considering the circumstances, but its very difficult to just stand on the sideline and be helpless to help my comp. Probably in some small way Elder Sanchez feels about his family right now.
Theres nothing worse in missionary work than not working. Thats when you get introspective, worried, homesick, frustrated, inadequate, guilty, depressed. Working just solves all the problems. But once the work stops, all of those terrible things come back. Its been a tough weekend in Buenos Aires. Ive resorted to just reading in the BOM, but its almost impossible to concentrate. I get guilty because Im not helping Elder Sanchez, but I dont know what to do. Its a tough situation.
The whole ordeal has made me very grateful for my family and that everyone is safe. Its amazing how fast everything goes into perspective when something like this happens. Family, thats really all there is.
On that note, a special thanks to the Ockeys who wrote me for family night. That letter got to me just in time and made my week. I cant express enough thanks for what a little sacrifice of your time did for me. So thank you.
I really dont know what else to say. Im still not very familiar with the area, and the investigators that we have weve only visited once or twice. Very few actually have the potential to progress and be baptized. Ill be able to give more specific backup of the people and their circumstance later, but as of now, the whitewash is going to take its toll on my emails.
So thank you all for your goodness and kindness. Im greatful your all in safe places in the world. I know the Lord loves us, and has a plan for us. Even though we cant see the reason for the bad things that happen, I know He lives, and always knows better than we do what we need. I love being able to bring this message of peace to a world that really needs it right now. Im sorry about this email, with the earthquake and all the confusion everything here is upside down as well. Ill be sure to write more next week.
Les amo
Elder Jensen
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