Transfers - I am still here in Sousa!

27 June 2012

 Hey I am here!

Ok so what happened this past week....?

 

First, we went to a boy’s house named Tiago that we had already baptized because he hasn’t been coming to church and we wanted to know why. When we arrived he was being very nice to his drunken mother and washing her feet like a foot bath. When we first got there the mother starting talking to us about if she dies then her son will be here all alone and things like that as if she is going to die soon. She is talking like this because it is obvious she does drugs, but both of them started to cry while we were over there. Then we had to calm them down and keep saying stay strong in all the things they do with the gospel in their lives. After calming them down we gave them both blessings, actually my companion said all the words because I can’t yet.

Anyway, when we left I was both happy and mad at the same time. I was happy because we were able to give blessings and God is always there to speak with us through blessings, but I was very mad because if the Mom wasn’t selfish she wouldn’t take drugs and try to be healthy. If she did that then she wouldn’t say things like she is going to leave her son in this world and things like that. All she has to do is focus on her son’s life, the Gospel and maybe things would be better for her....ahhhh!!!!

Oh and Maria went to church, she had an amazing time and I was so excited that she came. She said that church was different, but she felt the spirit and she was so happy she went. She said that she is going to go again and that she wants to feed us this Friday. What blessings from this woman!! She is still going to wait until her daughter arrives in Sousa to be baptized. We told her that the next time we come over we want to teach her husband because everyone needs salvation. Anyway, that’s about the week for me that have to do with Missionary work. We did also meet some other people that were not strong at all, but they were willing to hear our message and ask some questions, but made it clear by the end that they don’t believe in revelation. Kind of sad but that is the biggest problem with missionary work it is the belief of Joseph Smith and revelation.

So this past month the sisters here had 6 baptisms. I was very jealous of them; especially because they have an amazing area and they have a couple out in their area that literally know everybody and they give amazing references! It’s all good though. I am happy for them. Oh and transfers were this week....Elder Dacio left from Sousa and same with a Sister whose name is Sister Sousa. It’s kind of ironic she served in Sousa. Anyway, they left and Sister Chagas became a trainer for Sousa and she will have her new companion next week because her companion right now is in the hospital in São Paulo recovering from being sick. It’s kind of strange, but all will be well!!

Hmmm, we also received a new guy in our apartment but I don’t know what his name is yet, well actually I don’t know how to spell it.

The mail though, I will receive next week in the beginning of the week but I don’t know which day yet. It’s all good over here though...Oh and I don’t need any bedding lol.

I really am doing really well!

I love you a lot

love

elder adam jensen

Snug as a bug (let's hope not)

June 18th, 2012

Hello Everyone!

President and Sister Hall came last week to give the ward a fireside about covenants because a lot of people are taking a temple trip today. It was great as they also came by with some letters. I received 5 letters, all from "mission ties". So, I received the ones that are everything we have talked about, and I also received the recipes. So far this month I have received the two big envelopes and those next 5 letters. That's all, but I hope that July I will receive the rest, I never thought that getting mail and packages would lift my spirits so much, so if anyone else wants to write to me here is my addresss again:  (Adam only gets mail once a month and it takes roughly 3-4 weeks to get from the States to him also)

Elder Adam Jensen

Joao Pessoa Mission

Rua Deputado Jose Mariz #515

Tambauzinho 58042 - 020

Joao Pessoa

P.B. Brazil.

I'm looking forward to hearing from everyone back home!!

Oh, before President and Sister Hall came, my bed broke and my pillow was flat. My bed broke because the side metal bars were cheap and they bent in half, so if you can imagine it my bed was kind of like a hammock, and since my pillow was flat my neck started to hurt. This went on for about 3 days...no good pillow and no actual bed frame!! But when the President came they both told us to throw away anything old that no one was using. So we did!! We cleaned house!  Sister Hall bought me a new bed and a new table for studying and a new fan!! She is so awesome!  It's not really a bed frame, its just the box underneath the mattress, but right now I have the nicest things for sleeping. Oh,

and on top of that I bought a nasa foam pillow, that too is awesome and I love sleeping with it!!!

So I sent two letters last week, but they shouldn't get to you for like another 2-3 weeks, because the lady at the post office was dumb and I asked one of them to be express and she did both of them as simple. Simple takes about a month. Anyway, one of them is a post card and the other is for Sean. I think Sean will like it. This week or next I am going to send another letter. This next letter will have my SD card and a picture and a video of me. I hope you will really enjoy my next letter and I think I will try to really make sure that the person at the post office puts it as express!

This past week.....I had -  hey sorry about earlier.  The guy who owns the LAN house turned off the internet so he could go to lunch. Really stupid I know but here I am again trying to write. Some things I forgot to say in the other first email....I heard a band called "lower lights". I like them a lot, especially because they sing songs that I know and they are appropriate songs. So if anyone else knows of them can you get some of their songs on a flashdrive for me?? Oh well thats about it I think for this week due to the interruption of my internet emailing. I will probably remember more to say after I am done writing......oh wait....can you ask Nic if he knows what "house sharing" is on itunes. If it means that I could get my appropriate music from home using this sharing folders then I would like him to go on to my itunes and turn on the home sharing thing. I think he will understand. If not, then maybe someone else can help him.

Anyways, I love you again and I still can't wait until July 1st so I can receive more letters lol.

love,

elder adam jensen

Mail at last!

June 11^th, 2012

Hello Everyone!

Ok, well, in the mail, I received two big envelopes. Inside the envelopes there was the candy poster thing, pictures, a pair of insoles, floss, Listerine paper thing, the anti-itch (triple anitbiotic cream, moleskin, and I think that is about it. I never received the recipes, but that is ok. I will receive more in July. Anyways, I am very happy I received that much!! Thank you so much for doing this. I appreciate it a lot. Not a big problem and the chocolate was still good,  just had to stick it in the fridge for a little bit.  The other Missionaries said they have a candy that tastes just like big hunks down here. I don’t remember what it is called though. I know that I didn’t receive a couple of things, but all is well in the end. I know I will eventually get it. Oh but with the SD card, you'll have to send it before the 14th if you want it to get here on the 1st of July, and express mail. Mail takes so long, but I am happy every beginning of the month. Mail just brightens everything up. Oh and since the SD card doesn’t fit your camera, I think it will fit mine because my SD card is a little smaller than the normal one. Oh and something random....the words you wrote on the envelopes should read “eu amo jesus cristo" or "jesus cristo é meu redentor." I know you worked really hard, to get them here on time and I thank you so much for that, but it’s just the mail system. It’s all good in the end because I will eventually receive it. I did only receive one pair of insoles, they are amazing, and seem to be lasting longer than the last ones already lol. (except my feet stink more with insoles.)  Oh well not my problem lol. It’s summer, and there is nothing really bad happening. I am good. Everyone else is doing good. All of us are being so blessed, everything is good, and it becomes a lot easier to focus on the good.

Well, the families that we have are in the opposite sides of our area, so we have to really choose which day we go and see each one. So far, the new families are two. there is one I think I already mentioned that is a good family, and the father is receptive, so that means that rest of the family will be. Kind of odd how it works here, but that’s how it is. If the dad goes, then the rest of the family goes as well. anyways, they are very good. The other new family is an older woman who is named Maria, and her husband whom I cannot remember his name, his name is hard to spell and say. Oh well, they are good and they seem to be very welcoming to us. Maria has a very good testimony of prayer and told us she wants to read the Book of Mormon. Oh but Iamandas dad, I don’t know what he does. maybe construction, but it is still very hard to get him when he is home.

This weekend was the dedication of the Minause Temple. I don’t know how to spell the city in Minaus, close enough. On Saturday we watched the celebration at the chapel from Minnaus. Saturday was for everyone to watch, so we had some of our investigators there, and on Sunday was the dedication. I enjoyed the dedication a lot because no one under 12 could watch, so that meant no kids running around the Chapel during the session. It was in English with translation after President Uchtdorf spoke. It was pretty cool. I never realized it was such a big celebration for temple dedications, but when a country is bigger than the United States and only has 6 temples, it’s a very big deal!! That is basically all that happened this week. the celebration, inviting people to it, and then the dedication.

Every day I bear my testimony, and it becomes stronger and easier to say. I actually enjoy it a lot to say my testimony, it is helping more than I think. Maybe more than the investigators! Anyways, I love you a lot and I can’t wait until July to receive more mail :)

Hey well, I have to go now. I love you a lot and I am happy you are doing so much for me. I am sorry you miss me. I miss you too and I know it will be a happy day when I return. I love you again and I will talk to you next Monday

love

elder adam jensen

Confirmations galore!

Hello everyone!

The week has been good. On Tuesday last week all the missionaries from three zones went to Campina Grande, it’s about 5 hours away, but it was a conference thing and we heard from President Marzigadi. I don’t know how to spell his name, but he is the 1st counselor for the area presidency of Brazil. He spoke on a lot of things but it was all in Portuguese, so I really don’t remember much. I remember that he spoke a lot about how we need to try and make sure that our investigators have desire, because without it then there really is no point.

Also this week I asked Iamanda's mom to be baptized, and she said no, but she said no because she wants her husband to come to church first. So we have to really put in a lot of effort to teach the husband and make sure he comes to church, and if we do this then two more baptisms this month it will be awesome and I think we can do it, but the husband works so much. we will do it though!! Oh and we met a new family that is a reference from the sisters because we now have an actual area we work in, and this family is awesome. They already believe in some things and they have already said they will come to church this upcoming Sunday. We are teaching this family today, and I hope everything goes very well. they seem like an awesome family. In the family it’s a grandma, mother, father, and son, and a baby. So hopefully.....!

It sounds like everything back home is awesome. and I would love that video of the dogs! The dogs and cats here just walk around and no one owns them, but maybe at one time people did.

I live off of 60 bucks in Amercan money for every 15 days. It’s becoming easier, but I still have the urge to spend it all right away!  If you look at Google Earth, a place near mine...hmmm, look at the Hospital Santa Terezinha, which is about 4 miles north east of the place on the map.

All is well. The Church still moves on and keeps growing. If you ever think things back home are ever going bad with the church then I will just say things about here and you might think differently. Oh and on this last Sunday me and the other Missionaries - Elders confirmed I think 5 people on Sunday. It was awesome, but man I don’t think I will ever be able to do it again, maybe nearer the end of my mission. There is no place to exchange money from US dollars to Reales. So I wouldn’t be able to use American dollars. Thank you for the prayers. I know that I am being so blessed here, and you back home. I have to go now, but I love you and everyone back home. I am so happy to hear all of your blessings back home and I hope they continue to come.

with a lot of love

elder adam jensen