Transfer and Temple Pictures

Note from Katherine's Mom- Missionaries are assigned to different areas of their mission. Transfers within the mission happen about every 6 weeks but a single missionary typically stays in one area for several months. We were really surprised to hear that Katherine was transferred already. She is just moving to a different apartment and with a new companion but she will stay with the same congregation. Katherine's areas serve Sun Valley, North Hollywood, and Burbank.

Katherine was able to visit the Los Angeles temple. For more information about how LDS temples differ from regular places of worship, and photos from the inside of temples, please see this video:  https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2013-02-1070-temples?lang=en

Hello, all!

The best thing ever happened this week: We got to go to the temple!!!!
I feel that my week is best summed up by a series of pictures. :)

 

Oh, and I'm getting transferred to a new area! See the Hermana in the green shirt with long brown hair? She'll be my new companion. :) I'm excited to get to work with her and learn more!
I love you all! I'm sorry about the short email, but I hope you have a great week!

Love,
Hermana Jensen :)

Encounters with dogs and rain!

Hello, everyone! It's been another wonderful week in the Valley! We've kind of had a lot of adventures this week....

Some highlights of this week include:

-Getting dropped by one of our investigators at a baptism he attended. Ouch. :)

-Managing to catch a referral at the only time she was available, and having a great conversation with her and her family!

-Encountering tons of dogs..... 

-I got to translate for about five minutes at the baptism we attended! All the other Spanish-Speaking missionaries were part of the program, so at one point I was the only one available and had to try my best. :) I didn't do perfectly, but it was fun!

-We found a place called "Super Tortas" and had to check it out. The tortas were indeed super. :)

-Our zone has a goal to invite people to be baptized in the first lesson, even if it's just meeting them in the street. We've actually had several people accept a baptismal invite, even when we just knocked on their door, taught them the message of the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and then asked them to be baptized! God definitely guides this work, and helps us as we do our best to serve Him. :)

-And last but not least, it rained this week!!!!! Yay!!!!! I've missed the rain, and colder weather, and it was so nice to have it be cold and wet for just a few days. :)

I think that's all for now, folks. :) I love you all, I love this gospel, and I love being a missionary! I know that this church is true, and I know that Joseph Smith is a prophet. I know that he translated the Book of Mormon through the power of God, and that The Book of Mormon is the word of God given to lead us and guide us in these Latter Days. I know that Jesus Christ lives, and He loves each and every one of us. :)

I love you all! Have a great week! :)

Love,

Hermana Jensen :)

A Week of Firsts!

Hello again!

We had another week of working hard, and studying, and trying to find the people whom God has prepared to hear the gospel. It's been a really good one!

We had a zone training this week on planning sessions, and how we really can be led by the Spirit as we plan for the next day. This is God's work, after all, and He will guide us if we let Him. :) So my companion and I have been trying to pray for guidance and invite the spirit into our planning sessions each night, and we've been able to see how the Spirit helps us to know what we should do. :) That's something wonderful to experience. :)

I've had some exciting "firsts" to share with you all this week:

-First zone training meeting! As mentioned above, I learned a lot!

-First time ordering food in Spanish! It was lots of fun. :) We stopped at this little taco place, and got to speak to everyone in Spanish, and the food was delicious!

-First time trying papusas! They're a Salvadorean dish, and everyone loves them.... me included. :) I'll try to send pictures in a minute. :)

-First time being offered alcohol! We were eating dinner with an investigator, and he meant well, but we haven't discussed the Word of Wisdom yet. :) Don't worry though, he also had soda for us. :)

All in all, it's been a great week. :) I've really been able to see how Heavenly Father loves all of His children. :) He truly is our Father, and He loves us and knows us, each of us, individually. :) He has a plan for all of us, so even when things don't make sense, we can trust Him, and rely on Him, and He will help us to be happy. :) 

I love you all, and I'm so grateful for your support and prayers. :) Keep being amazing!

I love you!!!

Love, 

Hermana Katherine Jensen :)

Papusas!

Exchanges and a Talk

Hello, all! This week has been another great one in the San Fernando Valley!

So this week, we went on exchanges with the Sister Training Leaders. Basically, we switched companions for a day, and I got to go teach in English! It was amazing, and I learned so much about following the Spirit and listening for the guidance of Heavenly Father. This is His work, and He helps us with every step of it. :)

I also got to give a talk in church this week! In Spanish! Yeah, that was a little scary.... But even though I didn't speak perfectly, I hope people were able to understand what I said and feel the Spirit. Everyone there was really nice about it, and really patient with me. :) They're a wonderful group of people, and I'm so grateful to be here!

So yesterday, we had a picnic with our ward for memorial day. The missionaries all showed up 15 minutes early to set up tables.... and then we waited an hour and a half for everyone to get there, and get the food organized, and then start. :) But once we did, it was a lot of fun! A couple of people who weren't members of our church came, and the ward was amazing at talking with them and making them feel welcome. :) We played games, and ate a ton of food, and it was so fun!

That's about everything for this week... I love you all, and I'm so grateful to be here on a mission! I know that this church is true, and I know that Heavenly Father loves His children. And it's our job to help them come back to Him. :)

I'm praying for you, and I love you! Have a great week!

Love, 

Hermana Jensen :)