Querida Familia,
Happy Baptism Jordan! I love you buddy and I'm glad it went well! What good news about Cristian too, I hope everything goes well for them! I almost started crying as I read that, it made me very happy. I've prayed for you guys a lot throughout the mission, so I'm super happy to hear how well your all doing.
So I totally met David Archuleta yesterday. He just decided to pop into the English ward for a friends baby blessing so I saw him in the hall, shook his hand, and talked to him for like 30 seconds. I guess I can never wash that hand again. President Maluenda was also there, so that ward was definitely the place to be!
I have done a lot of learning and a lot of humbling this week. It's funny how easy it is to get prideful. Not necessarily that you think you're better than others, but in comparing yourself to others. I've felt the spirit a lot this week and felt the lack of several times as well. It's been a little bit of a roller-coaster. Elder Madsen and I are doing well. We had a silly fight this week and I got pretty upset with him. I was slow to forgive for a few hours and i realized that that is the quickest way to lose the spirit. He who withholds forgiveness is guilty of the greater sin. I felt super bad then apologized and everything's good now. We are kind of funny ducks. We're not always super loving, but we always forgive each other so that's pretty cool. We're working on some things together and overall it's been pretty fun. He's a very good guy and does a lot of deep thinking.
This week we're organizing a family night for the ward to try to boost the unity and help the members trust us a little more. We have super awesome members here and they've been very willing to jump in and help. Everyone here is very giving and most of them love the missionaries too which is great! We've enjoyed a lot of different types of Mexican food, so needless to say it's been a good week for me! I absolutely love Mexican Food.
Something that a little bird whispered in my ear during sacrament meeting this week was that I need to be more willing to participate in meetings. Sometimes I get shy and nervous to speak up and try new things in front of other people, especially in a new zone, but I've begun to realize how selfish that is. The leaders are doing their very best to help us have animo and success in the work and I imagine it makes it really hard on them when there's not much participation. It will take some humbling, but that's what I'm gonna work on.
I've been reading in the new testament this week in the book of Matthew and Mark and I have to say it's been an amazing experience. I've never really seriously read the bible much before the mission, and I love learning about the Life of Jesus Christ as depicted by the 4 Gospels. It's very poetic to read and I find myself amazed learning of the Character of Christ in how he reacts in many different situations. I am in awe at all the things he went through prior to his Crucifixion. Immediately after taking upon himself all the sins, sorrows, sicknesses, and pains of the entire human race in the garden of Gethsemane, He is betrayed and taken prisoner. Not only that, all of his friends and apostles scatter leaving him utterly alone to face the wrath of mankind. He is prosecuted unjustly and then tortured and killed. All of the while he had the power to release himself from this great bondage. But what did he do? He suffered it all with Godly patience. He voluntarily did that all without complaint or worry for himself because of his supreme love towards us. And what are we? Unworthy creatures even lower than the dust as King Benjamin puts it in the last discourse he gave during his reign. We have done nothing to deserve that love, and Christ never owed us anything. But still he chose the dark path so that we could walk in light. I am so eternally grateful to call myself a disciple of Him and for the opportunity I have to learn to follow Him each new day. What a fantastic plan we're all a part of. I love you guys very much and I'm very grateful to be a part of your family. Have a great week!
Con mucho amor,
El Elder Jenson
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