Another Letter through MissionTies from Brazil today:

Dear Family
So to answer your question; the Temple session was in English and a lot of the Temple workers spoke English, so going to the Temple was a breeze. Except, if I wanted, I could have had a headset that had the translation in Portuguese. Some more new things: if you are sending me a letter soon, send it to my mission home in Joao Pessoa. I have not lost any more weight since the first 12 lbs so far. When I got here, I was surprised to see how heavy I was.

Did I ever tell you about my room-mates? Well, if I didn't here it is. For the first four days, my companion and I had a certain type of barrier with the language our roommates only spoke Portuguese. The barrier was very difficult to get passed. Well. one night we prayed together and the Brazilian roommate in the prayer asked for the gift of tongues. After the prayer we all sat down and next thing you know, our roommates started to speak English Perfectly. My companion and I started to go crazy because of the gigantic language barrier and the roommates being able to speak English all along oh, what a humbling experience!!

Well, in the CTM the scheduling is very self-motivating and relaxed. I actually don't like it, because it is so hard to have all this time and not be pushed like in the Prove MTC. I guess I just like having the specific teaching style in Prove. However, being immersed in the language a lot more than Prove is VERY nice. My Portuguese is coming along pretty well, but sometimes it is hard to fathom that I am leaving and will be in the field in two weeks!! I think that I am ready in the sense that I can teach myself a lot more Portuguese and be ok in the field.

Some other new things - I received the package, but had to pay the tariff tax, but that's ok. Oh, and some day this week I will have to go to the Police Station to do my finger prints. All except 3 in my district have already done so.

The other day, I memorized the first vision in Portuguese and the Missionary Purpose in Portuguese. Right now, I am finishing the whole lesson of what the Book of Mormon is and why it is important.
Some other things I have recently learned is that Joao Pessoa in the summer is a constant 95 - 118 degrees, so lucky me!! I guess I will be black when I get back. Oh, another thing is that the toilet paper is already separated into perfectly cut squares and Mr. Cheney's cookies are way better than any American cookie I have ever had. Hmmm....I guess it's a good thing I know how to keep a level head because here it can be stressful, but for me it is so hard to worry about really everything, like I do get a little nervous, but it's like I can just set it aside so easily. I find it kind of weird, but it's just who I am.

It is so hard to write because, with time constraints I have written this letter over a four day period. Sometimes it is hard to remember things. We are on our way to Sao Paolo Temple today, but to get there, you have to travel though the city. Campinas Temple is on the freeway and not that many people are on that particular freeway. The last time we went to the Temple it took us over three hours to get there  (that was the day the driver went to both Temples). The traffic in Sao Paolo is horrible; I would rather be driving in Seattle.

The average money we receive is $120 reals every two weeks, so plenty of money for everything I need. I do love the weather here, I don't know about Joao Pessoa. It's funny to see that almost every car here is a Chevy Aveo. I also heard that each companionship has a DVD in their apartment, so if you could sent me the P90x that would be great!!  If people also want to send me letters, they can at:

Elder Adam Jensen
Brazil Joao Pessoa Mission
Rua Deputado Jose Mariz, 515
Tambauzinho
58042 - 020 Joao Pessoa - PB
Brazil.

(please also include your email address)

You would really like Brazil a lot, I know you guys would. I miss you all and it won't take long before I am back home.  I LOVE YOU!!

elder jensen

(oh, I promise that my next letter will be more meaningful)

Learning to teach 5 year old's...

Things are going very good, and I'm happy that I am learning what I am learning. The way you spelled João Pessoa Jwamm) is how you pronouce it,  just not so much emphasis on the mmmmmmm's at the end. Oh and don't worry about sending me the pillow cases, in my next email letter thing it explains the package and if I need anything, so dont worry. The food here is good, but I just don't eat as much as I can. I chose to cut back, especially on guarana (loaded with caffeine!)

 

Well some other new things is that this whole time our teachers have been saying that simplifying is best with lessons, but they finally just went over yesterday that we should simplify. It's so we can be teaching five year olds.(like I mean we all have been doing that, but they probably should of said that on the first week -  silly teachers)

 

Hmmm, some other things is that I need to get out of the CTM. I feel very bad for the 9 or 12 week people (with Elder Willard).  6 weeks is doing all right though,  the days are blending together. I don't pay attention to the date anymore, just what day of the week it is and I only do that because we have a schedule, that is kind of a silly schedule because we all need to learn grammer more and conjugations, but they don't do it enough ha. oh well, all is well. 

 

So, I was reading the other day, and I just kept reading about agency and how it is an amazing gift from God, which it is, but from all those scriptures, I dont know why they try to teach us so many different things that pertains to our purpose,  like I mean I understand what the purpose is and it's great, but when you read the Book of Mormon, the most things that I get is to humble yourselves and repent. The choices we make is what dipicts our salvation,  with the right choices in mind, and to act accordingly to what you know to be right, and right in the Lords eyes, then EVERYTHING will all work out, and it will all be the best decisions you will have ever made in life. So I guess what I am saying is that when I read about agency, we all need to just understand what an amazing gift that is, and use it to our advantage, if it means we can be in Gods presence once more.

 

Some other new things,  I'm very happy with everything back home, and I'm sorry, but I don't really worry about home lol. I like hearing about it, but once I leave the computer I never really think about it at all until the next time I'm on the computer - sorry lol!! 

 

Well I am excited that soon I get to leave. I leave in exactly two weeks today. I don't know what time I will leave, but I think I email you that Monday before I leave. Most likely you will have a picture of me in João Pessoa! 

 

I hope to hear from multiple people, and if you could make my physical address known.

 

Well I love you all and I know the Lord is looking over everyone back home,  it so nice to know how loving he is, it is amazing!!!

love,

elder adam "your favorite and best son" jensen

CTM or MTC?

Thank you a lot for the letter, “MissionTies” will be a lot easier to do emails and letters. I ask only about the one email because someone actually watches us when we email in the CTM of Brazil, kind of makes me irritated because there really is not that many people who need to get on. Well the MTC is great. I wasn’t lying about that, and teaching investigators, I mean fake which seem real investigators is a lot of fun. I just got my investigator Carlos to commit to baptism hahaha. He cried a little in the lesson. I love that guy. Hmmm, I forgot what the CTM stands for, just MTC but switched around.  The language is getting easier, but understanding a normal speed person is very difficult especially if we watch a video.

I do want to share two videos that I find amazing, the first video is "Men’s hearts shall fail them" and the other is "the red coat" it's on Mormon messages and the Mormon channel on lds.com. I cried at both of them

I went to the Campinas Temple today; this was for the second time so far since I have been here.  The São Paulo Temple is closed still, except the bus driver went to both because he was not that smart lol. I saw the funniest thing today: they have some radio towers disguised as trees, but the funny thing is that there taller than all the trees around it, and it’s a tree not even known to Brazil. It’s an Evergreen tree.

No, the food is actually pretty good. I like it a lot and I have already lost 10 pounds in a week and a half. (Like 4.5 kg. it sucks trying to change my whole entire measuring system. but oh well, it will come)  WORTH IT!!   I saw the photo and the barn looked pretty cool, and I hope that family is doing good.

I look back on my life as I wish I could have done a lot of things differently, but I know without those things, I couldn’t have been shaped into the person I am now. I can see so much more clearly of the person I am supposed to be, and to continue to be. I love this gospel, and I love having the Spirit with me at all times. Being here and knowing why I'm here, and knowing what type of person I will ultimately be like because of this, warms my heart like you couldn't believe.

This is the right path to choose, and I hope I can show to every single person I come across of how important this is.

I love you with all my heart you guys!

With love,

Elder Jensen

PS: oh and I'm super happy that me and Nic get to go to the same college hahaahaaahahahha!

pps: The package is not here on this fine Tuesday, but I have received all of your letters. Oh and now I have to write back to the 40 emails Mom decides to send me. Mom that was way too many clippings of hearts inside the letter!

Ppps: Sean I really liked your letter, and every time you write to me I can see how much you are growing as a person, my brother and as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

Life at the MTC...Brazil CTM

Ok so it would be best to just write one email now because here at the CTM they have someone watch you just so you don't go over time. I understand why they do it, so no big deal. 

If you wanted to know, the package has not come yet, but it should be here soon. The only reason they ask not to send packages is because a lot of packages get sent late, and they come here when the missionary is gone, but, as long as I'm still here then I'm gonna get get it.

Ok well I'm doing really good, and the food is awesome for the most part. Some of it is not too good, but I think that is because of just what they serve. A lot of Brazilians say the food at the CTM is not like the food out in Brazil. 

Well,  other than that I am doing very good. The weather is actually not too bad, and the only time it is horrible is when you come back from gym and you can't stop sweating for a good 45 minutes.

Some things that are new....I taught in TRC,  that's when they tape you teaching. My companion and I sucked at it lol. When we teach our teacher, by what we are learning, everything goes awesome, but TRC kicked our butts. But then again our teachers are probably the perfect investigators. one of our teachers is named irmão Leo (irmão means brother) and he is Italian but grew up in Brazil, so if you can picture a mix between the two and see that person smiling all of the time and seems to never have any other emotion than happy, that is what irmão Leo is. I love that guy!

But back to teaching, I usually give my testimony in Portugese every single time I teach, but its hard to take it that seriously when it is your teacher, but yesterday, man, my companion and I took it as serious as we could and I can't even describe how much the Spirit was there, and how great I felt bearing my testimony. I almost started to cry as I was saying it. I'm so happy that I'm on my mission teaching about the gospel and have such a strong testimony that it is true!!

Hmmm... some other things is that I'm happy for Nic, and it was obvious that Grease would do great. and I know Nic does great in everything that has to do something with school, except it is a weird feeling to know that Nic is going to make it far in life. I hope Gavin is doing great, and getting closer to marriage haha, but seriously!   Well Mom and Dad, I love you a lot and Mom I hope your health is doing much better, and if you are feeling down spiritually because of your health, like you don't know why it is happening, then here is a message. "no one can know of spiritual things without the power of prayer." and Dad I love reading your emails, because its kind of funny how we can basically laugh about some stupid people in this world, but why write it, if at the end your just going to say don't worry about everything I just wrote,  you dork!

I really hope the Carlile family remember that they will all see each other again though.

My time here has been good, and I know why I am here, and I'm happy that I know what I am doing is the best thing for me. I truly love each and every one of you.

love,

Elder Adam Jensen

p.s. oh and Sean thank you so much for the email. I thought it was hilarious. I love you too with all of   my heart. and maybe metaphorically I will be thrown in a lions den hahaha

love

Elder Adam Jensen

Elder Adam Jensen
2/2012 - 2/2014
Brazil Joao Pessoa Mission
Brazil MTC
Rua Padre Antonio D'Angelo,121
Casa Verde 02516-040
Sao Paulo, SP
BRAZIL

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/João_Pessoa

Your Missionary has arrived!

Dear Parents,
We are happy to send the good news that your missionary has arrived safely at the Brazil MTC. What a great joy and privilege it is to greet each missionary as they come through the front door of the MTC for the first time. We promise to take good care of your missionary.
They now have companions and are settled into their rooms. They are assigned to a district with capable and caring instructors for language and lesson study. The branch presidents and their wives, will soon give them a second greeting. These couples are rewarded in their callings through the love they always develop as they embrace and watch over the missionaries.
The MTC has a full time live-in physician to care for their health needs. He is assisted by his able wife. We are also happy to report that the Cafeteria food is abundant and very good.
Your missionary will be able to e-mail home on Preparation Day after a morning at the Temple. This will be either Tuesday or Wednesday, depending on individual assignments.
Your very important young person is about to make an eternal difference in the lives of others. We hope you will be encouraged and comforted by this quote by President Lorenzo Snow: “ There is no mortal man that is as interested in the success of an elder when he is preaching the Gospel as is the Lord who sent him to preach to the people who are the Lord's children".
Please accept our love,
President Ralph Degn and Sister Mary Ann Degn

ADDITIONAL information . . .
DO not send packages to the Brazil Missionary Training Center. All packages must be sent directly to the mission where your missionary will be serving not the MTC. If you have already mailed a package to the Brazil MTC and it arrives after your missionary has left for the field, please understand that the package can not be forwarded to his or her mission and will be returned to you.

WE Strongly eNCOURAGE SENDING HAND WRITTEN LETTERS. Please write your missionary´s first and last name. Your missionary will provide you with his district and box number. Also, please DO NOT SEND ANYTHING BY FEDEX, DHL, UPS, or other private carriers. The cost to get this type of correspondence is exorbitant.

Leaving for BRAZIL!

I leave for Brazil tomorrow morning after breakfast, March 6th. I was here for two days and then four of us in our disctrict went to the travel office to pick up our itinerary. It's crazy how fast it went, I guess I was just super lucky. My district has seven people in it, but starting ttomorrow after breakfast, there will only be three left. Howard is one of those three that will be staying. I'm happy that I was lucky and got my visa so quickly. Howard has not yet recieved his.

Life at the MTC.

I am doing wonderful, and yes I have been extremely busy! It is absolutely rewarding, because from Wednesday to Saturday, I am able to pray, introduce myself, testify, and express my emotions in Portuguese. I started to memorize the purpose, and really understand why my mission will be so important to our Heavenly Father.

So hmmm... some other things to tell you is that we had a fireside last night and Alex Boye the soloist tabernacle choir singer spoke. He was hilarious and super spiritual. He is actually now one of the people who helped me understand more about my purpose in being here. Oh and this morning I went to the temple, which was awesome! Just to get out and walk to the temple is good enough, but to go inside as well is an even bigger bonus!!

I know that my mission will be everything I need it to be and everything I want it to be. I know that I will teach those families and those families will teach other people, and everytime that legacy keeps going on, I will always be brought up, because it is me who is doing the Lords work, and it is me who was lead by the spirit, so I can meet with that family and bring so many more people unto the Lord. This is my job and my duty to make sure that with every investigator after the ones that I teach, that they may grow and have that faith to help others grow. I'm so happy that I am here and understanding my purpose. I have left a lot behind, but nothing will compare to what I will bring to those people. Those people will be everything to me, and i know through them, that my mission will be worth every minute.

So this passed week has been hard, but it has been a lot of fun, especially with Howard (Elder Willard). Believe or not I am actually his companion and we were both very surprised on the first day to see that. On the first day there was no settling in at all, it was straight to classes. I'm enjoying learning Portuguese, it feels like I have been trying to learn the language for months, but within four days I have been able to pray, bear my testimony, introduce myself, and express my feelings towards an investigator within four days. The power of God and Christ work in miracles.

The food that I have been eating is your typical American food. whether it be turkey with gravy and mashed potatoes to burgers and fries. I'm eating descent food, that won't make me starve, but I'm pretty sure the MTC is making a lot of money off the vending machines because we eat dinner at 4:30, so everyone in the apartment complex gets a lot of things when 9:30 roles around. I find it pretty funny, but I do it as well. eating at 4:30 is not that much fun. A typical day starts out as us waking up at 6:30, and classes and food schedule and gym until 9:30 at night so that we can return to our residence halls to do whatever. Yep 16 hour days and you don't return to your bedroom till 9:40pm, which is hard at times because learning a language and feeling the Spirit all the time can really make you want that bed a lot!

"A little story. If you have a do not disturb sign on your door, then the maid will not clean the room. If you ask the maid why she didn't clean the room she will say because you put the do not disturb sign on the door. If the Lord is the maid, and you put that do not disturb sign on the door, then he can not let you feel and see the blessings and spirit around you. Do not let that do not disturb sign ever go up on the door. The lord is there, so let him do his job that he so much loves to do for you."

Love Elder Adam Jensen

p.s. I have taught 3 times in Portuguese now and it's scary and rewarding at the same time!!

I'm leaving on a jet plane...don't know when I'll be back again! (two years really)!

Saying goodbyes and meeting new faces and some I've known forever.
Howard and I at the airport with Brother and Sister Willard - our before and after shot's of our mission.

We arrived early, VERY early at Seatac airport as the flight was leaving for Provo at 7:15am, family in tow, we meet other families who are also off to Provo, one family in particular The Willard's!!

So we have a before our mission shot and will post pictures and letters as my Mom gets them...on our way to Love, Serve and Share in the Lord's work for two years!!

Tears, tissues and lots of goodbyes...!

The evening of February 28th, 2012...

Being set apart by President Southworth, with the family in tow, along with Bishop and Sister Tilley at the Stake Center!