2 down 102 to go

Dear Elders and Brothers and Sisters and Young and Old,

 

First thing first: P-days are ridiculously busy. All I do is write the whole day, mixed with a little laundry and temple. Anyways, thanks for all the letters everyone! I appreciate it very much. As you returned missionaries all know, letters are my lifeblood. Haha one of the funniest things is having one of your district members getting all riled up because you got five letters in a day and they got one. Of course, I don't enjoy that in the slightest. It's not my fault that I know sso many awesome people.

 

Non-spiritual topics first: Elder Hole and I were being sarcastic the other day about some ridiculous things. For example, we were discussing what an island is. Piece of land surrounded by water right? So then we were asking Elder Davis--the district leader and Elder Hole's comp--what North America is. He said continent. Boy was he wrong. We just couldn't understand how he reached that conclusion. We showed him how it's completely surrounded by water and therefore it must be an island. He was getting so upset haha. "Are you serious? Are you kidding me? North America is a continent!" You really had to have been there haha. Anyways, other non-spiritual stuff. Oh I'm no longer undefeated in basketball. I have 25 wins and 3 losses. I can dunk now! Syck huh? I've done it twice now. Not in game yet, but I've got a couple more chances before departure.

 

Speaking of departure, I leave for the big NZ on Monday the 24th. We take off for San Francisco then have a three hour layover, then we fly with Air New Zealand, leaving Monday night and arriving Wednesday morning around 6 o'clock their time. I will not experience a 25th of January, 2011. It's a sobering thought.... The world is a crazy place, what with its time travel and such. 

 

Spiritual: We taught this one mock investigator named Roseanne. We were teaching her as a district, so each companionship had about ten minutes. Everyone went into different rooms to pray about what should be taught and to beg our Heavenly Father for the Spirit and for guidance. I offered my companionship's prayer. It was seriously one of the most earnest prayers I've ever uttered. And God answered! Like He always does. He allowed all of us to teach powerfully with the Holy Ghost. He taught through us. My companion said afterwards that he couldn't even remember saying some of the stuff he did say, like the Spirit was speaking through him. Before we went to teach Roseanne, and after praying, all of us in the district met together to discuss what she needed. We had all received the answer of the Atonement, that that's what she needs to hear. It was incredible that we all received that same answer, but it does all come from the same God! Anyways, it was a great experience.

 

Haha I just looked at my timer and it said 1:39. Go to that in Moses! Great stuff! Gotta go. Love you all!

 

Love, Zach Jensen 

 

1 Week Down 103 To Go

Elder Jensen is doing great!! Here is a little bit from his email home...

Dear everyone,

First of all, I would like to tell you all that I'm alive. Today, Thursday, is my first P-day and the first day they've allowed us to write.  I really have no time. But that's the way of the MTC. No time for anything. 

So, the first day. The family dropped me off at the curb, the host elder  picked me up, and I was off. No wasted time. I immediately met my district and companion at our class, where I have spent more than half of my time. Then we went to a welcome meeting with all 409 new missionaries. Of course I was chosen to give the prayer. That was nervewracking. Then we had class and nasty MTC food. Trust me, it's gross. I've seen Heather a few times since I've been here. She seems to love it. And I'm growing to like it as well.

So like I said before, tthhere is not enough time in the flippin day! That's why we plan. I've gotten thhee  hang of things more since the first few super long days. Now I'm almost halfway out of this joint. Oh, my companion's name is Elder Keith Hibbard. We work well together. We've mock taught a lot of people and done grreeat. We went to an appointment with this one guy yesterday and asked how to know how much to teach and how to know what to teeach. He helped me figure out how vitally important the Spirit is in discerning the investigator's needs and showing them how important the gospel is their lives. At some moments in our many mock teachings, literally all I  cared about was giving these people the truth, the key to their happiness.

The gospel really does have everything you need in your life, and in everyone's lives. It's amazing the power that the scriptures hold, and how effective Preach My Gospel is. We were lucky enough on Tuesday night to hear Elder Holland speak about missionary work. It was amazing. I don't have time to really  talk about it, but one of the things that I loved was his story about a young missionary in the time of the "discussions" that had the sense to tell a woman who had lost her baby about Moroni 8. He told her where her child is. Because of that, she joined the chuch. That's why it's so important to listen to the Spirit while teaching. And I'm trying as hard as I can to do that.

Basketball is my sport here. I'm undefeated. Haha I'm sorry to stray from the spiritual topics. 13 games and I've never lost. I'm super close to being able to dunk it. I jumped so high one time that I almost kneed a guy in the face. Haha I love it.

There are some great guys in my district. Elder Hole always acts like he's shooting me and throwing grenades at me. We have an ongoing war. Elder Espino is Australian going to NZ.

Love, Elder Zach jensen

Goodbye My Brother

My cute little brother is gone. 2 years and counting until I get to see his goofy smile again. Today was a bitter sweet day for our family. After the setting apart last night we all just sat around and talked, moments that I think we will keep with us until we get to have them again. This morning was a little crazy as mom, dad, and Zach were running around trying to make sure we had everything for him to take and making a few small adjustments, a last minute run to Mr. Macs and weighing the luggage to make sure he didn't go over the limit (although he may have gone over a pound or two, we'll just have to deal with that in three weeks when he hops on a plane for New Zealand!). I got assigned to make breakfast and to Zach's request made Nana's Pancakes. A family tradition we all love. Before leaving to drive down to Provo we all knelt down together to say our last family prayer with all of us together for the next 2 years. It was a scene that I think I will have etched into my memory for a very long time. When arriving in Provo we drove up to the Provo temple and took some of our last pictures together as a family. And then drove down to the MTC. I've never had the experience of going in there before but it was a very cool experience to have. How cool it was to see all of the host missionaries lined up, smiling, waiting to take the newbies into the next adventure of their lives. As we drove in, we had hoped that we would be able to see one of my very best friends Heather Trottier who has been in the MTC for just over a month now. Today was our lucky day as I turned and saw one of my favorite people jumping up and down waving at our car. As we pulled up to the car we all got out, got Zach's luggage out of the back and all gave him our goodbye hugs. I held in the tears better than other members in my family. I love my little brother as I know the rest of my family does. He is going to be an incredibly missionary and will bless the lives of many on the other side of the world. A bitter sweet moment like I said, but how could I be anything but proud as I watched my brother walk away to serve our Heavenly Father for the next 2 years.

Elder Jensen's Setting Apart

Tonight the Jensen family had the awesome opportunity of having the first missionary in the family set apart as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. With just our family, the new Bishop in the ward, our Stake President and one of his counselors we all sat around and shared a brief, but spiritual testimony meeting. It was an emotional time for all of us as we told Zach how much we loved him and knew that what he was doing was truly called of God. Zach has been a great blessing in all our lives and we are going to miss him desperately but we all know that the people in New Zealand need him more than we do. We are so proud of him! He is going to be a great missionary!