Happy Holidays...happy holidays

Happy Holidays...happy holidays
November 27,2017

Unfortunately, Thanksgiving has yet to make it to brazil. So no annual day of feasting and Thanking for us (sadly). But Black Friday is definitely here and going strong. It's like a weeklong celebration of capitalism and the financial survival of the fittest. Good fun!

This week was an adventure of onibus. We cover the area of Caucaia. which is really big. But we also teach references in literally any area nearby without missionaries. which is a lot. This week, we were in a nearby area, Icarai. and another city, Pecem. Which was quite a trip, almost an hour by bus. But it is cool. Because we only go if it's someone or a family that is really prepared to receive the gospel. So we spend a lot of time teaching these families that have a desire to learn instead of trying to run into them on the street.

Fun things that happened this week. 

- I played the piano for the primary program which was probably the hardest venue I can imagine because very few children have the ability to keep time. So you spend the entire program trying to decide if you follow the conductor or the kids. It was all good though. I just kinda chilled somewhere in the middle.

-We're baptizing a family of 4, the Familia Almeida (if all goes well) this weekend. They're really awesome full of great questions (and some really interesting ones about the reformed lds church in the USA) which are fun to answer. Also, they’re from Sao Paulo so they’re a lot easier to understand than most of the people in Ceara hahah.

-We had a ton of people in the sacrament meeting this week. 14 investigators! It was really cool to see so many people wanting to hear the gospel.

Love you guys! Happy Holidays (I found the use of the word holiday appropriate because it means "holy days" and that’s what this time of year is all about!)!

Elder Jensen

Mom: I don't have any "needs" per se except water. because it keeps going out in our apartment. So we haven’t really been able to shower this week. so maybe you could send some from maple valley?? Just kidding haha. Really, I don’t need anything right now. One of those instant stain remover pens would be really useful though. Chocolate? Nutella? haha really anything.

Dad: I'm doing alright in everything related to heath. I don’t know if I can use the water filter because the problem with the water here is the salt content. Apparently it gives you kidney stones the first time you drink it. Not that i believe it haha. But I’m still afraid. Our ward/branch/group is helpful; at least a select few members. We have 2 families that we eat at everyday haha which is too bad. occasionally other families help out too.

I would like a picture of our family thougghhhhh  if you could please send that!!

Love you guys good luck with running!!!

It's already been another week??

It's already been another week??

November 20, 2017

Hellooo alll!

This week really flew by haha. We've been going crazy over here, trying to get everywhere we need to at once. We have a contact we’ve been teaching outside of our area, in a place called Icarai, I think that’s how its spelled. It's what it sounds like at any rate. The Almeida family. And they’re honestly so awesome. That have these fantastic Questions and really think about what we say and then ask if they don’t understand. It's so much fun to teach them. They also made it to church on Sunday which was awesome too. Because usually on Sunday, they prepare everything for the next week for their cake making business, but they made the decision to come to church and they really enjoyed it which was cool too. 

Other Fun stories...

I ate a dish called panelada which is basically everything you shouldn’t eat from an animal. Look up images and recipes hahahahahaha. It was.... an adventure to say the least. 

Also! we didn’t get our bi weekly money last P-day. So we lived on about 5$ in American money for half the week. Which made finding drinking water a real trick. Oh the things you learn to do haha. 

I also got to give a talk on missionary work (which is really important, make sure you help the missionaries out in your area they need it hahaha), Played the piano for 2 sacrament meeting and was asked to play for the primary program next week!! All without any sort of preparation!! It's been good fun. I think that everyone is just so overjoyed that we have a pianist in our ala that they don’t care that I really can't play most hymns the first time through. It definitely could be worse haha. I’m honestly okay with it because I get to play the piano at least once a week. It's a nice guarantee. 

They’re also changing a lot of the mission rules. So I may actually get to go running!! Also, Play soccer. Fun stuff like that. Our mission president is really trying to put the responsibility back on us to use our time wisely and stay safe, physically and spiritually. 

That was about it for this week!

Love you all!!!

Elder Jensen

First, I took care of Spotify haha. A I realized that about a week into the mtc and forgot to ask you to cancel. Also, BYU and Tyler day that’s soo cool. But I got permission to cancel it here. So Its all good. Christmas haha. Nutella??? Baking powder it doesn’t exist here and I want pancakes!!! A decent water bottle haha. Pens!! a thumbdrive loaded with church music haha. Really any article of clothing. That’s about it haha. I love you and good luck with your calling!!!!!!!!!. 

Hey mom!! I'm about to get kicked off my computer. But yes its definitely taken care of (referring to his Spotify Account)! And if I get kicked off before i get to respond to everyone in our family, let them know I love getting their notes and that I definitely read them even if I don’t respond!

2 months officially

2 months officially

November 13, 2017

Helllo all!!

It's crazy to think that I’ve been in the southern hemisphere for officially 2 months now haha. 

This week was pretty crazy haha. Lots and lots of contacting. We've been having a tough time finding anyone that wants to actually hear the gospel. There’s a lot of people that stop and talk with you (everyone here is suuuuuppppeeeer open and friendly about eveerrrryyything haha) but a lot less people who will listen to what you have to say, follow up on invitations, show up at church, accept another lesson. So it’s been tough. We found a couple people this last week who seemed really interested but then totally blew us off when we showed up for our next visit. So it’s been tough. 

 Fun things that happened this week. We had a Zone conference which was really cool. It talked a lot about purpose and having a goal, or a purpose for every action in your life. There were two questions that they asked. First, what are the things that you are doing that you need to stop to accomplish your goal? and second, what are you not doing that you need to start doing to accomplish your purpose? Having a purpose is so important in this life, especially in this time because its soooo easy to get sidetracked by whatever little thing. But when we stick to our purpose, life is so much more fulfilling and we accomplish amazing things

Love you all!!

Baptism from the first week. Gilson.

Baptism from the second week. Jorge and Sonnia.

Elder Jensen

And now there are 2 of us....

And now there are 2 of us...
November 6, 2017

Hello Family and Friends!!

So, to start off this week, Elder Sanhueza got emergency transferred this Tuesday which was definitely a surprise. We got a call at 9:50 at night telling us that there would be a taxi at our apartment the next morning at 9 am. SO that was sad and a little shocking. and a little weird cause I’d already gotten pretty used to being in a trio. It was also a blessing though because ElderAlmeida started taking a little more time to explain what in the world was going on hahaha.

I promised I’d try to write more of a coherent email so here goes. Our apartment is a 2-story condo with two bedrooms and 3 bathrooms. It’s a little sad cause one of the bedrooms is completely unused. I never expected to have the most space in my life when I went on my mission haha. Also, hammocks are huge here and I recommend everyone install a couple hooks in every room of their house so you can throw up a hammock in time of need.

We had another baptism this week, Jorge and Sonnia. It was super crazy because 2 days before the baptism, Jorge told us that he had a problem with smoking. So we gave him a blessing and told him he would be able to stop completely before his baptism which he did so that was really cool and powerful.

This weekend we hád stake conference which was fun.  A lot of bus riding and such. Did I mention the busses are terrifying?????

Aaaaaannnnnd, i was going to include pictures but I left my câmera at our house hahaha. Sooooo that’s about it for this week!!

I love you Guys!!

Elder Jensen

PS about my address, all letters just get sent to the mission office of Fortaleza. Just send any letters there with my name on it and they give it to my district leaders and they distribute them.

Heelllllooooo!

My feet and shoes are doing just fine right now haha. The only thing I want or need are more of those G2 pens, the 05 ones hahahaha.

They don’t sell them in Brazil. It’s just me and Elder Almeida in our área which is really tough cause its really big and we go and teach lessons in this place called Iparana too so that’s been fun lots of walking and ônibus haha.

love you Lots!!

ELder Jensen

ALso!! Everyone wants a Picture of our Family hahahaha Can you please send one? Also baking powder haha just kidding about that. They dont have any here though....

First (almost) week in Fortaleza!!

First (almost) week in Fortaleza!!

October 30, 2017

Hello Everybody!!

What a crazy week haha.

I'll start with the last couple days in the CTM. Never mind scratch that. I totally don't remember anything that happened. SO i'll start with us flying out. We flew. On a Plane. Which is a lot less exciting on paper ( or screen) but it was cool to get out of the CTM and be off. 

We got to the mission home and met President Chamberlain and his wife, Sister Chamberlain. They're super Great. The only real bummer is that its against mission rules to leave our houses without missionary clothing. So no running for two years I guess :(  Its all good though. We walk about 10 miles every day. That's just a rough estimate though haha. 

I'm in an area called Caucaia. I think that's the spelling hah. It's the largest area in the mission. We do lots of walking and lots of bus riding. They only thing more terrifying than almost being hit by a Brazilian bus is riding in one hahah. HONESTLY THOUGH ITS TERRIFYING. 

We have quite a few investigators I honestly don't know how many cause I still don't speak Portuguese. Its kinda been a guessing game but its fun and I'm loving it. A little about my companions. First of all we are in a trio. Elder Almeida is my trainer officially. He's been out for a year and 8 months and he's really awesome. Hes Brazilian. my other companion is Elder Sanhueza from Chile. It's funny because sometimes well speak Spanish and elder Almeida wont get it hahaha. Hes super great too though. Loves the Lumineers and was absolutely blown away when i played Ophelia on the piano lol. 

I did get to the play the piano this week in sacrament meeting which was super fun. AND We had a baptism on Sunday too. and I GOT TO DO it HAHAHA IN PORTUGUESE which was cool,and super special. His Name is Gilson and he's super awesome. I'd only met him once but he asked me to do it so that was cool.

I feel bad cause I'm super frazzled and I'm pretty sure this email was totally incoherent. I'll be sure to have something a little more cohesive prepared next weeks haha. I was going to send some pictures but my computer keeps freaking so I'll try again next week haha. Love you guys!!

With much sweat haha

Elder Jensen.

Made it Alive!!

October 24, 2017
Made it Alive!!

Hey Family!! They gave us a little time to email just to let you guys know that we are still alive and safely in the land of Fortaleza!!

Love you guys!!

Elder Jensen

Como se diz "bigwigs" ????

October 11, 2017
Como se diz "bigwigs"????

Hello Family and Friends!!

One month already?? What?/ This week started off with a bang with the arrival of new Brazilians. That was pretty chill until about 2 in the morning on Thursday when one of them began screaming like he was having a Vietnam flash back. No one said anything the next morning though, and it hasn't happened since so I'm hoping it was a one time thing. Hearing about Josh sleep walking made me laugh. I'd bet they'd be good friends.

I got asked to play for a CTM conference on Sunday which was pretty good. Its pretty tough because I don't really have any time to practice but its been going okay so that's good.

We had fast Sunday which was pretty typical except this one elder known for his lengthy prayers smashed all previous records with a twelve minute prayer (we timed him haha). They usually sit around seven minutes but this prayer blew them all out of the water. We were all quite impressed (except his companions because they have to stick around for about 15 minutes longer than everyone else).

We had a visit from the international director of MTC's and he gave a devotional last night (more on that in a moment cause it was really good). He kept using American slang though and my district and I could hardly keep it together thinking of the translators in the back translating "bigwigs" and "dinking around". Hence, the title. He talked a lot about staying on target and remembering why we are here. Which was a little of a slap in the face for our district as we spent about half an hour recreating the phantom menace on our white board. 

Funny story, Does anyone remember Spencer Gurr? he went to Neely with me, I don't think I've seen him since 6th grade. Anyway, he showed up at the CTM yesterday which was just a little wild. Small world haha.

Any way, I love you all, I've been doing great, thriving on beans and rice!!

Elder Jensen 

Week 3

October 4, 2017
Week 3

Where to start with this week hahah. It started off normal haha. Saturday morning we went proselyting on one of the busiest streets of São paulo. Elder Neilson and I ended up making a contact with an English teacher. She didn't really seem to want to hear much about the gospel though. She offered to teach us better Portugese HAHA. Its only been three weeks what can I say? We also ran into a dude who was completely naked except a moving blanket he had (kinda) wrapped around his waist. He was super friendly though (drugs tend to do that). Also, he had no information so we couldn't get him as a contact

 

Then we had conference which was really great. I really enjoyed Uchtdorfs talk from the priesthood session. It was a really powerful message about Light and Dark and how by coming to Christ we can over come the dark. 

In between sessions, I ended up giving my floor haircuts LOL. Some of them actually looked decent (like mine(yes I cut my own hair)) Others, like my companion's, got started by a Brazilian. So we ended up shaving my companions head. He pulls it off though. Although the Brazilians decided he looks like the spider baby from toy story. And they rub it for good luck HAHA.

Our classroom stated shaking like crazy yesterday. we were certain it was an earth quake except no one else felt it so maybe my whole district is hallucinating. Also we've had power outages off and on which have added a great deal of excitement to every day. 

The Brazilians ins our room all left (which was actually really sad) and we get new roommates today. 

So, funny story. Our physical activity has been reduced even further. Its been raining for the past few days and they're afraid we will slip playing volleyball and basket ball. so we all stand in the rain watching two people play ping-pong. Its slightly reminiscent of yard time in federal prison. JK It's not as bad as it sounds. 

Finally, we got a new sister in our district. She was from Provo and she had visa issues. I feel bad for all the Provo missionaries because they have no Brazilians to teach them all the famous memes of Brazil HAHA.

Still fed on rice and beans,

Elder Jensen

Sorry about the lack of detail My companion is Elder Nielson. He's from Utah. He plays basketball and volleyball. Hes really chill. He also plays the piano so its not too difficult to convince him to join me haha. I don't know where i put the inverter rip. I thought it was on the kitchen counter.... I love you guys so much!!!!

Week 2

September 27, 2007

Week 2

HELLO FAMILY AND EVERYONE! 

Week 2 flew by wow hahah!

Notable occurances:

 I got asked to play true to the faith for the choir 10 minutes beforehand which was pretty rough but oh well haha. You couldnt really hear it overe the sound of 300 Brazillians hahaha.

The brazillians in our room chose this week to stay up till 1 in the morning (multiple times) which was also pretty rough .    

Portuguese is both moving way too fast and wy too slowly. Its been tough trying to keep up with our "investigators" and their portuguese but painfully slow with the rest of the gringos haha (im sure the brazillians dont appreciate that most of my portugese is just spanish hahahhahah oooppps...)

Apparently the reason we cant jump while playing volleyball is because a kid had a compound frature while playing basketball on his lower leg. who knew right? Still pretty lame though. (its hardenough to play volleyball as it is hahah. All of the brazillian elders on our floor have taken to screaming "no pular elderes!!" at like 10 at night (which may or may not be designated as quiet time hahah. 

The food is still beans and rice. Except breakfast. then its ham and cheese sandwiches. whixh kinda got old in about a week. the rolls are always good though so i just load up on those. 

There were a couple super cool spiritual experiences after the devotionals in our district meetings. Nothing really profound but very testimony building. 

ANyway, i love you guys! I wish i could say more (there are so many crazy storries) but im already getting kicked out.

Elder Jensen

Week One!!

September 20, 2017
Week One!!

Haha what an adventure.  It's been a crazy week with lots of beans and rice, potuguses and... drug searches?? Yep the department of homeland security saw my inhalers and ended up tearing apart my bag to fing out if I was smuggling drugs. (I wasnt haha) It's honestly been pretty awesome here, except when they try to cook American food (like pizza tonight). Then it's just scary hahaha. We went to the temple today which was super cool. Sao paulo is a really beautiful city. Also huge. Things I've learned while I'm here so far. Portugese is not SpaNISH WITH A  goofy accent. hahahaha oops.  Its actually helped alot. Though. Having a bunch of brasillians on your floor helps, and you learn a lot except most of what you learn is not helpful for missionaries. For example memes. and insults. Aww yes good times. I havent played the piano yet but i was asked to for next week. My companion is great.  my whole district is super awesome. I ran into an elder that was in my district last year for camp heleman. Hes going to forteleza too. Also, small wolrd, an elder Christensen from Gilbert AZ. I've been reading everything and i love it all. I only have 45 minutesa to email and the keyboard is weird so im probably going to get cut off :( but i Love you all! good luck with the house, cello, piano, trade show and everything else! 

Elder Jensen

There were a couple other funny things that happened. YOu cant jump during volleybaLL? Also, no using your tag as a kazoo. The Brazillians alos know everythinmg about america but we know nothing about Brazil pop culture oooops! nah its just a little awkward. Also all the jello is the consitency of snot. which is kinda disconcerting, but it definetly could be worse.  Im actually a little afraid ill put on a couple pounds cause 45 minutes of jumpless volleyball doesnt quite cut it for me HA!

Glad i caught this one> Love you guys!

I'm Alive

September 12, 2017
I'm Alive


Hey Family! 

I made it to the MTC alive!It was a little bit rough at the begining (what with the 4 hour delay and all hahaha) but it turned out okay.

It's all been kind of a blur to be honest but I'm super excited and really ready to get going.

I love you all!

Elder Jensen (sounds weird sying that still haha)

I almost forgot Pday is wednesday so i"ll talk to you then