Dec. 21, 2015

Querida Familia,

No, I haven't received the packages yet, but we have our Christmas party tomorrow so I will check then. I have to say, Jacob's winter safety tips absolutely made my Christmas season! Only problem is that there aren't any bears rattlesnakes or icicles out here for me to worry about. But I will try to spread the word! This week was super fun and we killed a tlacuache at some random guys house the other day. It was pretty brutal. I took a video but it's too long to send, so I'll send pictures. We don't have any set plans for Christmas yet because we're whitewashing the area, but we might need to call in the morning time around 8. When we work it out with one of the members, I'll have them text you the details.

So like I said last week, I am often very surprised by what happens on the mission. I found out last Monday night that I was actually being transferred again and that Elder Angles was staying in Colegio Sur. I am now serving in a small town called Penitas just outside of La Joya. My companion's name is Elder Faris, and he's a musical genius on the guitar! Our apartment is about 1 mile away from the border of Mexico and It's super fun here! It reminds me a lot of Kanab just without mountains. The Pop. is about 4,000 people and casi todo es en espanol! My first Spanish area of the mission! So far I've been able to keep up pretty well with the language. I still speak pretty slowly and don't understand all the people I talk to perfectly; but I can carry on a conversation pretty decently. In fact, our ward is pretty small and they didn't have a Gospel Principles teacher this last Sunday, so Elder Faris and I taught the lesson all in Spanish. That went really smoothly and it was fun to have a lesson with our investigators in the church. There is a different Spirit teaching in the church from teaching in the homes.

I'm sad to have left Elder Angles, but I learned a lot from the time I had with him and I think the Lord is blessing me with this time to develop the attributes he taught me for myself. We are living in a 4 man apartment for the first time, and I like it a lot. There is always a fun spirit in the house with two companionships. Luckily all the Elders in our house are great missionaries so we don't really have any arguments. We're all working hard and loving the mission. I've felt the spirit very strongly throughout this week and I am learning to love God. As I learn more about Him and His nature, I feel the desire to be obedient and become more like Him. He is becoming my best friend and a real Father in my eyes. I can't tell you how many times I've felt the Spirit come and warm my heart throughout the day as I just walk around or ride my bike pondering on different scriptures. The hand of God in everyone's life is undeniable, but sometimes we blind ourselves to it.

I love reading and learning about the gospel and this week specifically about the Millenium. in 2 Nephi chapter 30 near the end it describes how life will be when the Lord returns. It will be a time of great peace because v.15 "the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea." As I imagine the world as it will be, I am filled with hope and excitement. I know as long as I do my best to fulfill my calling, I will become clean enough to live at that time with Him when all things shall be revealed.

I love the people here, it is a very different culture from even McAllen just 20 minutes away. I'm pretty much the only guerro en the whole city except Elder Johnson the Greenie in our apartment. The people here are very humble and they take conversations about God very seriously. They are very respectful and loving people, and I love being around them. Many live in very humble circumstances which makes me sad, but I know the power of the gospel to help people improve the quality of their lives. I just try to have a more eternal perspective and it helps me to be happy.

All I can really say is that life is great. Just learn and keep the commandments and everything will be alright. As long as I maintain my relationship with God and strive to be worthy before Him, I don't need to worry about anything or anyone around me. I love you all a lot, and hope you can feel the love God has for all of you this Christmas. Have a great week and a Merry Christmas!!

Love,
El Elder Jenson