Sister Jensen arrived at Redlands California Mission today

Below with the group entering the mission today and with President and Sister Van Cott

On Tue, May 10, 2016 at 4:20 PM, Anna Jensen <jensen.anna@myldsmail.net> wrote:

Hey Ya'll,

Unfortunately I don't have a whole lot of time to write today /: MTC schedule is very strict. (:

I honestly can't remember how my week has been. It has been all mushed together haha. 

On Sunday, I taught the Relief Society lesson on Baptism and The Holy Ghost. I was more nervous about that than teaching investigators! But I guess it went well, that's is what everyone has said anyways(: 

My district, group of missionaries that I spend 99% of my time with, is the last district in my church branch. The others have all left to their missions. It was so sad to see all of them leave. you truly become like family to these people! They have such strong testimonies and we shared them last night. It was definitely a tear jerker moment. But good news is we get 18. yes 18! new missionaries tomorrow. and 8 of them are sister missionaries! It is going to be so great to be able to help them (: 

The food here is pretty bad. :p There are so many rumors going around. Especially the orange juice. I guess there is something wrong with it but I drink it every morning and I am still alive (: haha But I miss Dr Pepper! The don't have caffeinated soda ;P figures. haha

We got some small storms rolling through. I loved seeing the rain! Funny story. Try to imgaine this one or else it won't be very funny. My companion, Sister Porter and I were heading back to our classroom from our residents room, and it started to hail. I told her, "Ready to run??" I bolt our the door, with my arms covering my head. These were painful hail! I turn around to see if she was behind me and she WAS NOT! So I ran back to the door and see her just stand on the other side. haha I was a bit annoyed but I can't stay mad at her for long. She insisted she needed her umbrella. I was such a mean companion, I was mocking her :P she forgave me. But once we headed back after getting her umbrella, it stopped. haha Gosh it was so funny. She absolutely hates rain!! I absolutely love it!!

I can't wait to get to California. I fly out bright and early next Tuesday Morning!! 

Well Hopefully I will have some better stories to tell ya when I get to California (:

I read such a good scripture during studies today that is so powerful. 

Alma 7:22-24

22 And now my beloved brethren, I have said these things unto you that I might awaken you to a sense of your duty to God, that ye may walk blameless before him, that ye may walk after the holy order of God, after which ye have been received.

23 And now I would that ye should be humble, and be submissive and gentle; easy to be entreated; full of patience and long-suffering; being temperate in all things; being diligent in keeping the commandments of God at all times; asking for whatsoever things ye stand in need, both spiritual and temporal; always returning thanks unto God for whatsoever things ye do receive.

 24 And see that ye have faith, hope, and charity, and then ye will always abound in good works.

Apply this scruipture to all that you do. Your Father in Heaven has a plan for us all and LOVES YOU more than You could know! If we follow in Jesus Christ example, we will be blessed. He will guide you and help you in your trials and happiness. I love my savior, Jesus Christ, so much. I am thankful for his Atonement for me and you. I am so thankful for the gospel in my life. It has truly blessed my life. I hope you will find the time to read the scriptures. Just a little bit is enough. I know if you start or continue to read, you will know how much you mean to you Heavenly Father.

I love you guys so much! 

Sister Jensen

Pictures:

one of the Elders has size shoe 17! See how small my feet loook????

The window turns into a mirror at night!!!

The seflie is of us saying goodbye to two of the best missionaries! They are so great(:

Anna's email from the MTC

May 3, 2016

Happy Tuesday everyone!

I am here at the Missionary Training Center in Provo Utah. I do not know where to start!

I love it. The group of other missionaries that I am learning with are so great! We had 7 Sisters but then 3 of them left this morning so now it is just 4 of us girls (: Girl power!

My companion, one who I serve and learn with here at the MTC 24/7, is Sister Natalie Porter. She is the sweetest little thing ever! She is from Lehi, Utah. She is very quiet but when she speaks is it so profound and alot of times funny. I am really luck to have her. Unfortunately for her, she has me :p 

I can't believe I have been here for a week now. It has gone by so fast but so slow at the same. I am learning so much I can't even tell ya'll all of it. We have about 6 hours of class time, 45 minutes for meals, and then the rest is all STUDY STUDY STUDY. It is crazy but I am holding on! 

I have learned so much about my faith, testimony and Jesus Christ than I have ever in my life. I am so excited to teach God's Children. We have 2 "investigators," we don't for sure if they are real investigators but it gives us an opportunity to learn how to teach real people. One is so sweet. She wants to learn more about what our purpose her on Earth is. So Sister Porter and I taught her about the plan of salvation. The other is tough lady. She is struggling with knowing if people care for her, and she doesn't really want to learn about what we want to teach her but We are able to be there and love her.

Well, I surely love all of you. And Thank you for your support. I will attact pictures soon (:

Love Sister Jensen

PS Mom post this to the blog(:

Farewell Talk

For those who did not make it to my talk, I wanted to share it with ya'll.
Note, I did not share all of these thoughts I had wrote down.

( Passing of the sacrament took twice as long a normal so my time had to be cut short :p )

ENOJY!

Farewell Talk—

Atonement of Jesus Christ; prepared for mission

This month’s topic is about the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I would like to share with you my preparation to serve a mission by using his atonement.

Dallin H. Oaks said, “We understand that the Atonement of Jesus Christ gives us the opportunity to overcome the spiritual death that results from sin and, through making and keeping sacred covenant, to have the blessings of eternal life.”

[ What is ‘The Atonement’?

The word ‘atone’ means “to make amends,” or “to pay for.” ‘Ment’ simply means the action of something. Preach My Gospel defines it very well. It says,

“To atone is to suffer the penalty for an act of sin, thereby removing the effects of sin from the repentant sinners and allowing them to be reconciled to God.”

Who to made the Atonement?

Jesus Christ. He was the only one capable of making a perfect Atonement for all mankind.

What did happen or what did he do to make the Atonement?

He suffered for our sins in Gethsemane by feeling every pain and suffering by which he bled from every pore; what many know is he died on the cross. ]

The atonement is not there for show. We need to USE it. This is a time for us to take advantage of something without being criticized for it. Because taking advantage of someone else for your own benefit in this day is not looked upon as a positive thing. This IS a positive thing.

Jesus Christ was the only one capable of carrying out the Atonement for all of us. He loved his father AND us so much that he sacrificed himself for our sins, past, present and future. Our responsibility is to fully repent, follow the commandments and obey His gospel. What do we get in return? Not that we NEED a return, but he still gives us a gift. A beautiful gift of eternal life.

(#1) John 3:16-17

            “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

            For God sent not his son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”

I’m a story teller so enjoy my mission story. I want to tell you my Mission story of how I decided to serve a mission:

When President Monson announced the age change for able, and worthy, young men and woman now, 18 and 19 years old, to serve full-time mission for the Lord and Jesus Christ, I honestly, don’t remember my feelings about it. I’ve always thought, “what a great blessing. I think it would be very beneficial for the church, God’s children, and the missionaries that decide to serve!”

 I would get asked if I would serve. Well I was only 15/16 at the time! I didn’t even know what I wanted to do as a career let alone make this important decision. Through the years, myself and my family experienced our ups and downs, like most. But to me, I felt like it was the end of the world. I might as well just lay down in bed and never wake up again. I didn’t care what happened with church. Sure, I enjoyed going. I didn’t not believe what I was taught.

I never took upon myself to find out if it were true.

·       I wanted to know something.

·       I wanted to feel something

·       I wanted a testimony

·       I asked those questions “Where’d I come from? Why am I here? Where am I going?”

A very dear friend of mine, Shane, and his family, helped me learn of the great blessings that come from being active in the church and attentive in the gospel. The first time I met his family was a Monday night when they were doing family home evening! Something that my family rarely, close to never did. Whenever I would visit them in their home, we would have family prayer before I left. He was one of the big impacts in my life that brought me back to Heavenly Father’s true, restored church! My testimony grew immensely. I came to know for myself of the great blessing to follow Jesus Christ and take advantage of his Atonement that he made for me! I learned that I wasn’t alone. I had a constant companion, friend, and still have, of the spirit, the Holy Ghost, Jesus Christ. To get me through these harsh times of the world.

Jesus Christ picked me up when I was down and near broken. I read his words of faith, love and strength to trudge through the struggle. His atonement was the biggest influence in bringing me back to his true gospel. Although, I am still learning about it today!

So clearly, a mission was not in the picture. I would kindly, say no to those that asked. Being only 15/16, I would comment, “well maybe when I get closer to age 19, I will decide for sure then.” That is a key comment people! Remember that I said that. [haha] Hint, prompting number one! Though I ignored it.

Why should you use the atonement??

It’s like a security blanket, or what I like to call a baby blanket. In times of sadness, anger, or sorrow, depression, or anxiety. Our brother, Jesus Christ, knows EXACTLY how we are feeling. He has felt it, every bit of it. Just feel him wrap his arms around you to hold you up!

(#2) Mosiah 3:7

            “And lo, he shall suffer temptations, and pain of body, hunger, thirst, and fatigue, even more than man can suffer, except it be unto death; for behold, blood cometh from every pore, so great shall be his anguish for the wickedness and the abominations of his people.”

As I have prepared for my mission, I have read and studied Preach My Gospel like it is another set of scriptures. Well I guess you can say it’s a study guide for the scriptures. I recommend you to study it too. Even if you aren’t preparing for a mission. It is a great tool to better understand the gospel principles, to become better disciples of Christ, and most importantly to know how to use the gospel, the atonement, in our daily life’s.

It tells us why we rely on the atonement. “As we rely on the Atonement of Jesus Christ, He can help us endure our trials, sicknesses, and pain. We can be filled with joy, peace, and consolation. All that is unfair about life can be made right through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.”

It has taken me these past few years to understand why I should use the atonement. Honestly, I still am! I feel like an investigator trying to truly understand this most important blessing that was given to us by our loving heavenly Father! For example, I took advantage of Jesus Christ’s atonement while preparing and writing this very talk! The agony and anxiety that I get speaking in front of people. The perfectionist in me that wants this talk to be the best one I give. To make sure I teach ya’ll of the greatest, most valuable blessing we receive by living as a Latter-day Saint. Jesus Christ felt all of that with me!

In the book of Alma, Amulek testifies of the sole purpose of Christ’s atonement. He says,

(#3) Alma 34:8-10

            9 “For it is expedient that an atonement should be made; for according to the great plan of the Eternal God…”

Why would God want to sacrifice his only begotten son?? That’s not love, is it?

He loved us so that he did exactly that! Can you think of anyone else who would sacrifice anything for you and to have eternal life? I know he loved his Son, Jesus Christ, so much that he gave him to us! It was in God’s plan! One key concept that I still learn, is to TRUST in God’s plan. Heck, serving a mission was NOT in my plan! [haha] I had prepped to attend BYU Idaho. I got to Rexburg in one piece! [I used the atonement during that whole process!] I was studying nursing. My dream is to be a nurse in pediatrics.

Yeah, things weren’t going as I wanted! I was failing 2 of my 5 classes I had. I was struggling financially. I was failing at making friends. It was a tough first semester of college. Heavenly Father knew all of this. Jesus felt my sadness and pain. Heavenly Father had decided to show me my new path in life.

“Through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, each of us can become clean and the burden of our rebellion will be lifted.”

One of my favorite Apostles was Elder Richard G. Scott. He gave a talk that perfectly explains the use of the atonement with sin.

[Read Elder Scott’s talk] -->  Click here to read!

(A.)       Giving into temptation is never justified. But asking for forgivness, fully repenting, and using the Atonement in the process, can strengthen us, and bless us more than we could ever know.

(B.)  So, Yeah. We don’t fight in today’s war of bloodshed like these people were. We have been blessed of those people that are standing up for us. I am blessed to have a brother, Matthew, to have served in the Air Force. But, think of your own weapons of burdens. Your own tribulations that could be pulling you away from Christ. And continue to hear what Elder Scott has to say.

I feel in my generation of youth and young adults, Satan finds his way to pry into our lives and get us at just the right moments for us to give into sin and temptation. I see it within my close circle of friends. I see in my family. I’ve seen it within myself. There are too many times that I have given in to temptations. At the moment, it seems totally okay. “There is no harm.” “I’ll be fine.” Until the end and we see and go through the consequence. The lesson I learned was to turn to Heavenly Father and Jesus in prayer, pick myself up and turn it all over to my Father in Heaven to guide me to the better path. Use Jesus’s atonement to give me strength to get through the hard times!

Elder Scott perfectly gives some steps to strength yourself against temptation.

[Read the end of talk]

While I was at school, I went through many trials dealing with my worrying, my anxiety, and many depressed moments. It was when I finally turned it all over to Heavenly Father to help me. I needed to really learn how to use the Atonement at this time.

It was a normal Sabbath Sunday. All my roommates but one was out of town. But we went about our day like normal. The lesson in relief society was kind of boring. Sorry, sometimes they can be! But I am thankful that it was boring.  I was reading my scriptures, trying to understand what I was reading. I read D&C 6:5-6 over and over, trying to figure out what it meant.

It says,

            5 “Therefore, if you will ask of me you shall receive;…”
I WAS ASKING..!!

            “…if you will knock it shall be opened unto you.”

I WAS BANGING!

            6 “Now, as you have asked, behold, I say unto you, keep my commandments, and seek to bring forth and establish the cause of Zion.”

Right then and there, I was prompted to serve a mission. I was struck by a bolt of lightning. It was not what I was expecting to hear but it was what He needed me to hear.

The rest of church, I just prayed for confirmation. I could not deny this. I went home, crying my eyes out to my best friend, Haley. Finally called my Mom and told her.  I thought the more people I told, the harder it would be to back out! Called my dad and told him.

Something that he told me made it so much clearer that serving a mission is what I truly needed to do to be okay! My so wonderful, loving father told me,

“You know? The lessons today were about missionary work. I thought to myself that you would really love to serve a mission.”

I can’t describe to you how strong the spirit was!  I’ll let you in on a secret. I cry when I feel the spirit. Oh and I sleep! It’s true, the spirit puts me to sleep. I was CRYING and I slept darn good that night!

I didn’t mention, this all happened 6 days before I turned 19! Remember what I said earlier. Yeah, he had this planned from the very beginning. Since that moment He guided me to prepare for a mission when I didn’t even realize it. I went through trials and tribulation. Learned about the atonement and the plan he has. And learned to trust him!

While going through the process of submitting my papers and waiting for my call, I was in a very depressed time. I had left BYU Idaho, where I grew to love as a second home! I wasn’t saving enough for my mission. I had started to doubt whether serving a mission was truly the right path! Even though I knew it the whole time filling out my papers. My sweet sister, in New York counseled me to pray and to read my scriptures since I hadn’t done so in a while. Know, that my sister is not active in the church, so for her to say this to me meant so much to me! I knew I needed to turn my sorrows over to Jesus Christ and use his atonement to get through this bump.

Then the next day I checked the mail and lo and behold, my mission call was in there!! I was so gosh darn excited ((: I told my entire family so they would get onto skype for when I opened it.

Reading the words,

“Dear Sister Jensen,” was the moment I was reassured to serve a mission.

I have been blessed with the gospel in my life. I am so thankful for Jesus Christ and his Atonement. I am thankful for my family! Even through the moments I would really like to be an only child. I love each one of you. You are my ward family! I thank you now for the support you have and will give me as I serve my mission. It’s been a blessing to get to know many of you. All of you and these times have helped me strengthen my testimony. I have always prayed for a testimony, and I have one. Now, I get to share it with God’s children of Redlands California!

I am not perfect, and I know. I try really hard to be the best Child of God I can be. I pray that I will be the best missionary that I am called to be! I am so excited to head to California. I can’t even tell you. Although I will miss my family and friends so much, I know that I and them will be blessed for me serving The Lord.

I bear my testimony that I know Jesus Christ atoned for each one of our sins. That God so loved the earth that he gave his only son. Joseph Smith was a true prophet and died for the church as he restored it in God’s name. California was the last place I wanted to go! He knew that too! But he needs me there, and I know that is exactly where I need to go. I am so grateful to serve God’s children of Redlands.

Farewell Sunday

It is the night before my farewell talk....
And I am kind of freaking out. [hah hah] I have been feeling so ready and excited to serve a mission ever since I made the choice and decison to! But now it is all coming so real.

NOW THE NERVES ARE SETTING IN. eeekkk!
I am currently sitting in my dark room. It's 9:30 and I had planned to be getting to bed early but that's not happening.

Serving a mission? Me? I would have never imagined. But I am! And I am darn proud of it.  During 186th Annual General Conference that the church holds twice a year, to hear guidance and counsel from our beloved Prophets and Apostles, President Monson spoke about choices.

Choose the right or to choose the wrong?

What great question to ask in this today's world!


"The choices we make determine our destiny."
Where do you want to be 10 years from now? Where do you want to be at the end of the week?? The choice you make this moment answers that!But how can we make such a choice on our own? I know personally, that making decisions are tough! I am probably the most indecisive person you would ever meet!
"...a real faith, the kind of faith which will sustain us and will bolster our desire to choose the right. Without such faith, we go nowhere. With it, we can accomplish our goals."
My favorite quote from President Monson,
"if we choose Christ, we will have made the correct choice."

I chose Christ. I chose to have faith in myself and in Christ that my choice was the right choice.

I chose Christ to be my destiny. 

"Through God's Eyes"

My favorite thing to do on days like this, sunny, no work or no to do list, is to sit and listen to general authority talks. This is one has been a recent favorite.

Since I chose to serve a mission, I have been learning so much about doing things through Christ. In the past, I have always done what he wants me to do, on my time. But now I realize that it's so important to do what he wants on his time! The blessings are greater that way.

My mission is really going to show the great works that He wants done through me. Elder Renlund shared a comment his brother told him, that I really liked. He said,  “You need to know that the Lord hasn’t called you because of anything you have done. In your case, it is probably in spite of what you have done. The Lord has called you for what He needs to do through you, and that will happen only if you do it His way.”

I believe that it is so important to serve others, to serve the Lord the way he would want you to do. Not the way you would. Because He knows all! He knows the best way for you.
I know with everything I have that his path to a happy life is the only path. I challenge you to help those around you with a full heart and Christlike love.

Opening the Call. . .

First off, I am not a writer. So bear with me (:

I thought it would be fun to post stories, experiences, my emails that I send home weekly, photos, and all the fun stuff that I will experience on my mission on a blog. What a easy way to share my testimony and gospel with my friends and family?! (Starting April 27th, my wonderful Momma will be posting!)

Deciding to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was probably the easiest decision I could make. But it came as a surprise as I was not preparing or planning to do so! I was at school, attending Brigham Young University in Idaho. I was having a BLAST! Then, it dawned on me that all these hardships that I was going through wasn't a punishment, it was a blessing... a sign. I felt prompted by my Father in heaven that I needed to serve a mission. All of these negative feelings would be lightened by his love if I served him in the most powerful way. Put a skirt on, clip that black missionary tag on and walk those streets telling his children about the blessing it is to have Him in their life.

So I jumped on it! I couldn't say no, although I wanted to say no till the day I died. I called my parents. I called my bishop. I started filling those missionary papers out. The process was long and draining. I was getting discouraged and was thinking twice about this decision I made. I mean, if something went wrong, it would be really difficult to go back to the way things were. All these trails with filling the papers out brought me closer to Heavenly Father. I learned to turn everything over to him and let him take care of it (:

Fast forward to just a few nights ago. March 14th, I opened the mailbox, saw that envelope with Sister Anna Jensen written on it, and I screamed for joy. I really did. The school kids walking home from school stared with concern.

I was so happy. I had the biggest smile on my face. My cheeks started to hurt. I texted my family. Arranging Skype with everyone in different states is quite complicated, people! haha Technology does not always help to your benefit in important situations.

The moment was finally there for me to open that envelope and find out where He wants me for the next 18 months.

Dear Sister Jensen:

You are hearby called to serve as a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You are assigned to labor in the California Redlands Mission. 

Reporting April 27th, 2016.

I am so excited for this new journey I am taking. I know that it was I need to be doing at this time. I have faith in my Father in Heaven that he will bless me and my family. Serving the Lord is a true blessing. I am thankful for the gospel in my life.

Yours truly,

Sister Jensen

Redland California Temple

Redland California Valley