And then there were 2...

Well interesting week this week.. Started out normal, then Wednesday night, we were at home relaxing getting ready for bed when the assistants called.. I immediately knew what was going to happen..  Changes..  yep, the trio has been destroyed..  They sent Elder Gehring to Quito.. Soo now it is me and Elder Molina no mas here in  coca..  2 sectors, 2 missionaries.. idk, kind of a bummer but sometimes it happens..  Not much we can do there.. Apparently a missionary in Otavalo, a zl, tore a tendon and they sent him home 3 weeks early for surgery.. He was going to finish at the end of this change, but he went a little early.. Soo to even that out, they called another missionary in Quito to be a ZL, and they sent Gehring there to cover that spot.. So now, it's just a normal companionship here .. But ya, that's the crazy thing of the week.. it was fun.  Well let's see what else has happened, wellllll,, we started a scouts programs here in coca..  yep, basically that doesn't really exist here in Ecuador.  So we started that as a way to involve the youth and have them bring friends.. We had a huge turn out, like 25 youth came.. We opened it up to boys and girls just to involve everyone..  Hoping we have another huge turn out for the next week.. but ya, that was pretty cool.. Really that's about it for the week.. It's just been super hot these last few days, but that's all part of missionary work..

Well, on the teaching side, we had a few interesting experiences this week.  Bueno, from the Lopez Sanchez family, there's a daughter named Diana.  She's 18, and she has a lot of challenges.  More than anything with the Word of Wisdom.  She's been into to drugs for a  long time and told us that she wanted help.. So we did.. We had 2 awesome lessons with her where she shared a lot of things with us and that she really has desires to change.. She was keeping the commitments and read everyday the BoM.. then after 3 days of bein clean, she fell, but fell hard.. She got back with some friends, and they invited her to do some really strong drugs..  The next day she came to church, but was really weird.  She talked a little with us and told us that we should give up on her.  That there iss no way we can change an addict. Idk, it's just kind of weird.  If you all could help by praying for her that would be appreciated.. Pray that she'll take the help that we're offering and that the members are offering and that she'll keep trying..  She's super awesome and could be a really good member and missionary, but she needs help.. We are going to start up the addiction 12 step program here in the branch..  Hopefully that will help.. But ya, thanks everyone for everything..  Hope you all have a good week..  take care

Elder Jensen

Goal- take pics..       I don't have any.. again, I'll be better next week! chao 

Hello

Hey Everyone
Well, it's been a good week here in coca..  We had a lot of success this week working in a trio in 2 sectors.. With 2 sectors we have a lot of responsibility,  but we've been using our time wisely and we found this week!  It's nice to have some companions with the same views, to work hard and find and all that..  Having a fun  time here and like always, time is flying by..  but, ya, the mission is really fun.

We've been working one day in my sector, and one day in the other sector...  This week, we found people almost everyday..  idk, its pretty cool to see how the Lord really extends his hand forth in this work.  He really is in charge of this work and miracles do exist.. We've been working hard with the Lopez Sanchez family and it's crazy to see how little by little they are progressing towards baptism.. They are such a great family.. We are working with Paulina, another daughter of Luisa who was baptized and is also the mom of cristhian, who has been listening and accepted a date for the 26 of August.. We are really hoping that she can make it to that date.. Also her sister and niece are listening to other missionaries in my district, and they also have a date for August 26.  It's way cool to see all of them making this decision to be baptized..

Well, really this week was just super busy and super hot at the same time.. the rain has stopped and now it's just super hot like AZ, but a little humid still.. lets just say its not that fun to walk around everyday in these conditions, but a veces toca.  Its good.. my companions are fun and we've been getting a long well..  We always work hard and at the same time have fun doing so, so the days are just flying.  But ya, that's about it for the week.. please pray for Paulina and Sylvia ..  Also, we've been using the talk from Elder Joaquin e Costa a lot to share with investigators..  If you are looking for something to share with a friend who may be interested in the church, show them this video, its a great talk and directed to investigators of the church.  Pray for ways to share the gospel this week, and the Lord will give them to you, I can promise you that!

Well thanks everyone for the emails, have a  good week!
Elder Jensen

First Week in a Trio

¿Que más ve?  Welp, it's been a week..  first week working in a trio..  not gonna lie, kind of interesting but also fun..  I think we have a good change ahead of us with a lot of potential to do some good.   

Well, Elder Gehring got in Wednesday in the morning, a little late but then we started the work.  Interesting working in 2 sectors.. we have to trade days off.. One day in my old sector, and the other day in Elder Molinas old sector.. bueno we know that were only gonna be like this for these 6 weeks, so we'll see what happens when changes come, but ya as for now, it's a lot of work to do. But ya, we're excited.  

Welp. This week, we had some cool experiences. We had a really good training conference with Pres Murphy in Lago Agrio with the Zone..  Excited to apply those things.. We talked about how to better prepare our investigators for baptism..  every month we change themes..  Starting with Finding, then Teaching, then Baptizing Converts.. So every 3 months we hit the same subject.. But we have different trainings and stuff.  Really that's all there is to missionary work.. Finding by faith and diligence, Teaching investigators the Gospel of Repentance, and Baptizing converts to establish the Church..  So that's our focus.. the coolest thing was this last month we put a hashtag down in the mission #3pormes  #3formonth.    It was awesome cause in the month of July we had the most baptisms we've had in the whole year that Pres Murphy has been here..  He's really turning this mission around and we're heading in a good direction.. 

But ya, we'll keep working hard here in coca, and we have some people with potential.. Pray for Diana Lopez, she's part of the family we baptized..  She had a lot of probs before, but now has decided to change and wants to follow her family into the waters of baptism.. That was  a huge miracle.,  so we'll be working with her a ton in these weeks..  ya, that's about it for my week. 

Enjoy the last couple days of summer break and then school.. haha, but ya,

Hope you're all doing well, entonces tengan una buena semana, y cuidense

Elder Jensen

 

no fotos.. porque me olvide...  a veces toca vecis

 

Photos from Ecuador Quito North Facebook Page

Zone Conference and Interviews in the Oriente

July 26, 2017

 

 

 

Mega Baptism

Well, good last week of the changes.. first off, we had 4 baptisms this Saturday!   It was a miracle.. 2 of them had their interviews a few days late and one of the hna had to do a phone interview with president, but they all passed and it was a "mega baptism" as one hno in the branch said.. Awesome day really and all 4 of the people shared really great testimonies, I know they'll be strong members here in the church.. 

But ya, other than the baptisms the week is finally over and now we're starting the next change.  Should be a fun one.. my new comps.. yes I said comps  they are Elder Molina and Elder Gehring.. Well, Elder Molina was already here in the orient last change.. What happened was he was in the other sector and I was in my sector.. Both of our companions finished the mission and went home.. President has decided to morph the 2 sectors now for only 1  change, and we're receiving Elder Gehring.  (he was in my group, should be fun).  Welp, now we have a super huge sector..  But resident wants us to treat it like 2 separate sectors still..  Soo it'll be an interesting change.. Hoping to find a lot of new people and work hard..  Right now the investigator pool is real low..  Not many people with potential, but we'll see how this week goes..  ya, well that's my week..  Today just hanging with Elder Molina and waiting for Elder Gehring to arrive form the coast.. long trip!  Ya pues, have a great week everyone and enjoy the last of your summer break.. school ya mismo!

Elder Jensen

Que Mas Ve

Hey everyone!

Well, there goes another week. I've said this before, but wow the mission is way fast..  Ya mismo un año!  Welp, this is the last of the change, and just say I'm excited..   not gonna go into details, butt hey ready for changes..  but ya, fun times in the orient!

Its been a way fast change here, and hey this week is gonna be awesome! 3 baptisms!!!!! 2 of the Lopez Sanchez family are gonna be baptized and hey that's actually just the best feeling ever, finding someone and starting with them and then seeing them make it to this goal! Alot of the baptisms that I've participated in have been people that have listened to missionaries long before me, and hey just gotta say its exciting! Cristian, the young 15 year old is super pilas!!! As they say here.. haha.. He's a really cool kid, with a lot of desires to learn.  He wants to be a missionary and really has been a good example to his family.  Gonna be a good week.  well, that's about it. 

Well like I said this week had been kind of rough, just with a lot of stuff..  And yesterday at church in the last hour, the elders quorum class had an inspired message.  Just what I needed to hear.. I came in like half way cause I had some things to do and as I walked in they handed me a little paper strip that said "olvidéte de ti mismo y ponte a trabajar" which means " forget yourself and get to work"  which is what Pres Hinckleys dad told him when he was on his mission I believe.  But hey, that just made me think.  Doesn't matter what's happening, a lot of things depends on me. What I've learned in the mish is that its not easy, life isn't easy either, but we can overcome our difficulties as we trust in God and do our part.  We can make it through any trial and we forget ourselves and work, or serve others , we're really just going to feel good and forget the troubles in our lives.  Soo that's my goal as I finish the week off..

Welp, thanks everyone for the emails, hope you all have a good week.

ya pues, cuidaránse vecinitos

Elder Jensen

fotos Welp, an investigator we have is military, so he took us to the choppers... haha and then me with Elder Molina, who is in my district again, on exchanges and on the big bridge of coca over the river.. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hello

Hey everyone, how sit goin??

Welp, that was a nice fast week!  Really fast, but it's been good.  Well, what's happened..  well I got back from Quito and then we had a normal week..  

Mission council was cool. I learned a lot of good stuff that should help us to find more people and prepare them for baptism.  Fun day there. But also a little sad, cause I said bye to a lot of good friends that I've made here in the mission.. It's crazy how fast time has gone here..  Almost a year out, and wow, crazy to think about that.  Well, ya, fun week.  To top it off, we had a baptism here in coca, so that was really cool.  She's one that was basically ready when I got here, but fun to participate in that.. the family that I found my first week here, has come to church every single week!!  They're gonna be baptized the last week of this change, the 22nd of July.. They're super ready and its way awesome to see how the Lord prepares people and puts them in our way as missionaries.. Miracles in the work of the Lord happen.  Well that's about it for the week.

Today for pday, we went on a jungle excursion.. just the 6 missionaries here and a member who knows the jungle.. it was fun, we like walked in there with machetes and just walked like 2 hours deep into the jungle, and then found our way out after that!  Fun experience, ate some ants and some weird plants and stuff,.. It was like crazy bear grylls stuff.. haha but ya really fun time.

I'll send some pics of that, but ya, have a good week everyone,

cuidaránse vecinitos !

Elder Jensen

 

 

 

 

Photos from Ecuador Quito North Mission Facebook Page

 

Mission Council

July 4, 2017

 

 

Happy Bday Murica

Well, Happy Bday America!!  Hope you're all having a good week and that you'll have a good 4th of July tmrw! ..  I'll be in Quito for the mission council soo hope there's something cool to celebrate there..  but yaa, it's been another week in the jungle, and it rained a lot!!  It was kinda tough but hey it wasn't hot!  That's a plus.

It's really cool to see people progress here.  We continue to have a lot of people coming to church and progressing towards baptism.  The Lopez Sanchez family are progressing really fast. They have now come 2 times, and one hna 3, and are reading and praying and really understanding!  Hoping to help them make it to their date this month! 22 de July.  We also have some other people progressing.  hna mayra and her son alexis also have a date for the same day 22 de July.  And they also have a lot of potential!  It's way cool to see people accept the message and apply it into their lives.. It really can change lives.   This Saturday, we're going to have a baptism.  hna Estefani overcame her little problem and passed her interview and is gonna get baptized!  I mean I didn't do much she was already ready when I got here.. we just taught like 2 lessons, but it's always cool to participate in baptisms..  Really special to see someone choose to make this covenant change.. This hna has made a lot of changes in her life.. She was an emo before, and dressed really immodestly, had a lot of piercings and a lot of other things, and now she has completely changed!  Really this gospel works miracles, and really I have seen the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ work in the lives of many people.  It's powerful.  Like Pres Packer once said, the Atonement leaves no scars what it fixes, simply fixes. I know that if we do our part, and really repent, try to make the necessary changes in our lives, our Saviors sacrifice will clean us.  Probably my favorite conference talk is the one from Elder Renlund, Oct 2016, repentance a joyful choice..  Read it, and take in account what he says. It's the truth!  Well that's a little spiritual thought for you guys!   Love you all, hope you all are having a good summer.  Also, thans for the bday wishes!  Gonna spend my day in a bus..  going to Quito, but hope there's something fun to do.. haha well love you guys.

cuidaranse vecis

Elder Jensen