So drink all the water you can!

Hah, it has been so hot this week. I don't even want to know how hot
it is. I just know it is hotter than Oregon summers. It got up to 106
the last two days. The moment I walk of our apartment at 10 a.m I am
already sweating. I am so thankful we have a car though! Poor Elders
have a bike /:

This week has been great! I am in a new are! Bloomington Ward. It
covers corners of a few cities, Fontana, San Bernardino, and Colton.
It's pretty big. They split the Ward boundaries a while ago. Bad and
good.  It's not so bad for us but it seems to be burden for the
members. Our Ward is suppose to be big! But less then half show up
because they want to go to the building closer to their house. Which
is in a way understandable, but following the counsel of our leaders
is so important! They know all! So it's a little frustrating how
selfish some people can be sometimes.

The people are so nice! We like to say hello to everyone we walk bye.
It seems to go into a little conversation. It's great. But many of
them speak Spanish. I don't know any Spanish! So it gets a bit
complicated and awkward trying to explain who we are and what not.
Haha I love the cultural that we see! Very Hispanic. And lots of stray
cats. We saw a house the other day with about 12 or 14 cats! Then
another cat followed us for a few houses, until we got in our car and
left. That was pretty dang cute!

We haven't been teaching much this week. We have a sweet young couple
that we are teaching. Sister Peterson has been teaching them. They
just had a baby girl, so cute! The dad is a less active but has been
wanting to come back to church. Charise, the mom, she loves the
church. She wants to get baptized so bad! They have to get married
first though so we are tying to help prepare for that. That's not e to
rely our purpose, to plan weddings, but if it helps them be happier
and have the desire to come closer to Christ, than we will do
anything. They are so wonderful though! I can't wait to be on this
journey with them.

We met a older man the other day, Emtedeo. I am sure I spelled his
name wrong. He was sitting out on his porch. But he only spoke Spanish
so his granddaughter came out and helped us talk with him. He was so
sweet! He is blind and is unable to walk on his own now. He asked us
to keep him and his family in his prayers. We offered him a prayer
right then. We shook his hands and just held them and out them to his
cheek and thanked us. It broke my heart but warmed it so much too! You
never know the struggles that people may be in. We have to remember to
be humble and ask for help! And be willing to help those that need it.

I was studying this morning, like we always do. And I came across a
quote from one of the Presidents of the church. It says, "Every member
[person; nonmember]... Is a missionary! True Christianity is love in
action. There is no better way to manifest love for God than to show
an unselfish love for your fellow men. This is the spirit of
missionary work."
I love that quote! Many people assume that we are out here trying to
force people into our church and that numbers of baptisms are most
important. But that is false. Our main purpose as missionaries is to
be kind, to love everyone, to serve, and yes, teach and share of
Christ. Because that is what He did. I love serving a mission. It gets
super tough. And when we haven't had a success all day, we have to
remember the tender mercies is that we had. The people that we may
have touched by smiling to them.

Remember to serve on another. Serve your family, your spouse, your
brothers and sisters. Your co workers. Your neighbors. I promise you,
that you and your family will be blessing.

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Love Always,

Sister Jensen

Sister Emerson's hamster, Sebastian.

 People really love cutting their shrubs into animals and shapes! What do you think it is?

How many cats do you see?

I wish we could have pets.....

Too many videos to post to the last post, so here is the second installment for June 20, 2016

So Sister Olsen and I were trying to make lesson videos to share with
members to invite them to talk to their friends about the church. It
took about a hour and these are the bloopers.

HELLO 120 DEGREE WEATHER!!!

Hi Everyone!

I am just going to get the news done and out of the way. I am getting
transferred! I am heading out to Bloomington. I am not quite sure
where that is. Haha I am excited(: new places, new adventures. I am
also getting a new companion! Sister Peterson. Not sure who that is
either (:

Well this week was quite slow, honestly. Nearly all of our
investigators dropped us. Meaning that they don't want us coming to
talk to them anymore. It's sad getting dropped! The families we were
teaching were so great! I know Heavenly Father is preparing them and
they will be able to build their faith gradually (:

Oh my goodness. The story I am about to share is so funny and
disgusting at the same time! More disgusting than funny. So our church
building is in the same parking lot as the temple. Such a blessing! It
is also the stake center. The traffic is quite busy in there.
Unfortunately people don't know how to clean up after themselves. It
is so grossly dirty. Then, it started to smell. We thought it was just
all the stinky diapers. Sister Olsen and I like playing Scooby Doo
mysteries in real life. So we are trying to figure out why it stinks
so bad! Then we finally figured it out. A member from the other ward
was cleaning. Bless his heart. He told us that they discovered 1 dead,
deterarting skunk in the ceiling rafters place area! It was so bad,
that it's fluids was leaking through the ceiling. Then later, they
found 3 dead possums. Not as disgustingly dead but their heads was
falling off. Now it doesn't stink so bad. That was probably the
interesting experience...

Yesterday in relief society, we were talking about True Happiness.
President Howard W. Hunter teaches it really well. He said, "True
kindness brings true greatness [happiness]." What is true happiness?
It is the money in your bank or the clothes in your closet? What about
spending time with your family or going to church? What makes you
happy? Are those things true happiness?
I have learned that I have been stuck in the world way too long! What
truly matters is my family, the Savior and how I can be a better
person in this world! It is so dark and dreary in the world.

Another story, our area includes a couple towns up in the mountains.
Angelus Oaks and Forrest Falls. It is about 10/15 degrees cooler up
here than in the valley. Haha we head up there when it's super hot!
Like on Saturday! It was about 103 degrees in Redlands. And only about
95 in the mountains. Still super hot to me but it's breezy and shady
up there which made it nice. BUT moral of my story is, the amount of
lady bugs up there! Oh my goodness. You would see things flying in the
air, like particles or cotton, but THEY WERE LADY BUGS! It was a cool
site to see. The sad part is that these lady bugs aren't very lady
like. They bite! I got bit, but my a mosquito. I will attach a video
to show you so watch for it (:

Guess how hot it is today. It was 111 degrees by 10:30!!!

I think I have summed up my week now. (:

The church is True.

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Love Always,

Sister Jensen

FORTH OF JULY LEGGINGS!

COOKIES!

Forrest Falls

New way to carry the Truest book of books.

Brother and Sister Hayden! Love them

Redlands

Old Redlands Train Station #1

Old Redlands Train Staition #2

It will make it easier for me to know if y'all got my pictures and videos if you can reply back and let me know you got them. That would help me out so much! Thank you(:

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Love Always,

Sister Jensen

UG, this has been waiting to be posted, I guess I hit the wrong button!!

Sorry this is from two Mondays ago. . .Bad mommy!

Hello my dears,

No worries, no gloom here. except for the weather. People here call May and June this because of the grey overcast that comes in the mornings. They hate it, but I love it!! I am an Oregonian at heart (:

Well this week went by super fast! and you have to forgive me because I am not much of a writer and loose my train of thought often. haha 

Sister Olsen and I are working really hard! We have about 5 investigators we are attemping to teach. I think a few of them are pretty solid and reallly want to hear our message. I am really excited for them (:

Sister Olsen started teaching a lady, Crystal, before I got here and had already set a baptism date with her. But as we continued to teach her the last few lessons, I have come to really love her and her family! She is like a firecracker. She is bright and loud. I love hearing her bear her testimony. She did not have a great life, but she came to know her Savior, Jesus Christ and his atonement. It is so amazing to see how one can go from worse to better in just a few weeks! She is getting baptized on June 4th and I am really excited for her.

My hightlight of my week, was when Sister Olsen and I were walking the neighborhood, heading back to our car and stopped by the convienant store to get a Moutain Dew Slurpee. It was the best thing it the world!

I am really sorry I am not a story teller or have the memory to share the great experiences that I have during the week. haha 

I won't lie, being a missionary is super hard but it is the most rewarding thing that i have ever done. I am really excited to see what The Lord has in store. 

Say your prayers. Read the scriptures and rely on the Lord.

Love Always,

Sister Jensen

June 13, 2016

This life is the time...

 Today at 2:01 PM

Hello!

The subject will make sense soon (: 

It is the season of graduations and parties and fun. I am so proud of my sisters and Mom from graduating from College and high school this last weekend! They are so amazing. 

This last week has been tough getting in with people. With the end of the school year and summer starting, everyone is pretty busy! But we have been doing a bit of house cleaning in the mission work (: 

We are teaching two great young ladies! One is starting college and the other has a little 5 year old. I have come to learn that the best way to teach someone about something you love is to love them and what they love! To be an example of Christ. I am surprised at how many people watch one another. In a none creepy way... haha Everything we do is seen and we have to remember that. We are watched by the little kids that we have in our houses. We are watched by our family and friends!

I was studying the scriptures, like we always do (: and in Alma chapter 34 it tells a little summary about what the story is about. I loved what it said, "This life is the time for men [and women] to prepare to meet God-- work out your salvation with fear before God."

I'm not saying to be scared of God! Of course not. But are you going about your day that God will be able to praise you? 

Okay. enough of lecture. (: 

I love being a missionary. The work is so grand out here and I am just soaking it all in! 

I love ya'll. Sorry I don't have much time for any nice stories. But hopefully i willl get better ones next week!

here are some pictures. 

The sunsets are so beautiful here!

There was a young boy walking his goat!

The Redlands Stake Zone!

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Love Always,

Sister Jensen

June 6 2016

Happy June everyone.

I can't believe it is June already. Where has the time gone? Well it sure isn't the nice 80 degree summer down here! It got up to 108 degrees a few days. I about died. I am so thankful we have a car. (: 

Onto the fun news. We had a baptism on Saturday (: It was so great to be on the other side. I have seen my nieces and nephews be baptized but there is a special feeling seeing some stranger change their entire life for the gospel and Jesus Christ. This wonderful lady, Crystal, is a mom of 4 beautiful kids. But she has not had it easy. Without sharing too many details, I believe in miracles. She has proven the world that you can be sober and happy. I guess that is the best way to put it. ha ha This lady, went to a woman's conference with her sisters (This family is HUGE and they adopted her in), but she felt the spirit so strong she immidetaly wanted us to teach her. This all happened before I came here but Sister Olsen and the previous sister had done wonderful being the speakers of God. The baptism was so special. I cried. I don't cry at things at like very often. Her sisters sang How Great Thou Art so beautifully it sounded like angels. 

I am so happy that I was able to be part of Crystal's new path in life. She has strengthened my faith in Jesus Christ and his atonement for us. 

This morning we went for a "hike." It wasn't much of a hike. more like a little trail walk. haha California has been in a drought for a while now. There are ditches where there is supposed to be rivers and creeks and there are none. I was surprised to see that there was still this water fall that we to go see. God did create a very beautiful place for us to live though. I am amazed of all the beauty we have around us and take advantage of. 

I want to share with you guys, that when times get rough, don't give up. Sometimes I need to take my own advice. The only way we can get through the hard times is to serve others, serve God and do what he has asked us to do. I know that as we read and ponder the scriptures and pray often we will be happier. I forget to do both of those things. But when I remember, I am so much brighter(:

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Love Always,

Sister Jensen