Exchanges!!!!!

After years of being called a vampire, Katherine proves she can tan in the California sun.

Hello, all! This week, we had exchanges, and it was really great to be able to learn from more experienced missionaries. We had some amazing lessons, and felt the Spirit so powerfully. :)

We also had zone conference, and it was so great! I learned a lot from President and Sister Henrie; they're amazing. :) I think the biggest thing I took away from the meeting is that God is helping us with this work. We need to do all that we can, and go forward with faith, and trust in Him. But if we do all of that, He will guide us, and strengthen us, and help us to know what to do, where to go, and what to say. He is so aware of all of His children. :) He loves us. :)

Studying at Zone Conference

We also got to do a service project with Operation Gratitude! It's an incredible program, and I encourage you all to check it out. :) (see pictures below)

I know that God loves each one of you, and He is aware of you. :) I love you all, and I'll talk with you more next week! :)

Katherine's new apartment came with little potted plants.

The Holy Spirit

Note from Katherine's Mom: Katherine had a great 4th of July. She and her companion celebrated with tacos and ice cream. She says that's about as crazy as missionaries get. She also helped the local women's organization make tamales! She says she will teach me how so I don't have to buy them from little kids selling them out of a wagon anymore. :)

food from her favorite taco place

We haven't heard much about her day to day life but this week she had a pretty intense situation. She had someone call the missionaries because they were hurting and contemplating suicide. Here's an excerpt from a letter she wrote me:

We give our number to potential investigators, so they can call us if they want to learn more. But a couple nights ago, we got a call from someone who had talked with missionaries before, and had severe depression, and was contemplating suicide. He told us that he wanted to end his life, and we didn't really know what to do, but we talked with him, and called President Henrie (the mission President), and sent him the number of a suicide hotline. It was very intense. But hopefully it will all be okay. I feel good about how we handled it, though. :) 

*If you are struggling, please reach out to someone. There are people who care about you and want to help. Here is the number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255 (en espanol: 1-888-628-9454).

I'm so grateful that Katherine is taking this time to serve and share God's love with others. It's great to hear how much she cares for the people in her area. Thank you to everyone who has helped her so far with this journey. She really feels your support.

Here is this week's letter:

Hello, all! This week has been crazy, and I don't have a lot of time, but I wanted to testify to you that God is in the details of this work. He leads us and guides us through His Holy Spirit, and helps us to find the people He has prepared to learn more.

Every night, we take time to plan for the next day. We say a prayer on our knees, and then get up and do our best to plan activities that will help the people in our area to come closer to Jesus Christ. And as we do our best to listen to the Spirit, God tells us where we need to go, who we need to contact, and what we need to do. I have seen so many miracles, so many times that we stopped by someone's house just at the right time, and so many people who are ready and seeking the truth of God.

He loves them so much. He guides us to them so that they can be happier, which is what He wants for all of us. I testify that happiness is found by relying on Jesus Christ and coming unto Him. And I promise that, as you do so, God will lead you to where you need to be. :) I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Hermana Katherine Jensen

New Area, Adventures, and Temple Trip #2

Hello again!

It's been a great week here! I love my new companion, and she works super hard, and we've been able to do so much this week! We're in the same ward that I used to be in, which is perfect, because I love the members here so much. :)

This week has been full of adventures, and miracles of finding people and helping people who are ready to hear the gospel. But are you ready for the most incredible one?

Yesterday, one of our investigators came to church with 3 of her kids. We went to the youth class with her daughter, so she sat with a member during Relief Society (When the women of the ward meet together). When we asked her about the class afterwards, she said she loved it! They had talked about temples, and what an amazing blessing they are, and she was so excited that she asked them for the address of the temple.

And then-- as crazy as it sounds-- she invited us to go visit the temple visitor center that afternoon! We found a ride, and got permission, and drove outside of the mission to the temple!!!

The Spirit is so strong at the temple. :) The missionaries there were amazing! We did a tour, and everyone was really touched by the spirit and by the message of God's love for us. He truly has given us temples so that we can be with our families forever. :) It was amazing to see them come to understand that, and have that desire to be sealed as a family, to be together for always. :)

I testify that God loves each of you, and He knows each of you individually. He loves you perfectly, and, just like our parents here on Earth, He wants so much for you to be happy. :) And that's why I'm here, sharing this message of happiness, love, and hope. :) I hope and pray that I can help some of His children to come unto Him. :)

I love you all! I hope you all have a great week! :)

Love,
Hermana Jensen :)

Katherine is growing out her hair again so she can pull it back in the heat. It got up to 120 degrees!

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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 :)