Nov 22, 2015

Querida familia,

Hola familia! I'm super excited to hear the kid's recital, hope they do great! My advice is to practice hard; That's all I got ;). How are your lessons coming mom? Are you performing in the recital as well? Also for some reason Connor Hille's name has been coming to me a few times this week. Is he on a mission right now? Que lastima Cristian busted the green bean! Oh well, I guess everything has it's time to go. Hey, if you were planning to send a package for Christmas, please include various office supplies like those nice markers from stampin up and some cardstock and things. I'm trying to get more organized, but I don't have a lot to spend on that kind of stuff. If you weren't planning on sending a Christmas package, that's okay, just mail me some nice cardstock paper please!! :) Tambien, thanks for the letters Jacob Jaxon and Jordan! Y'all are awesome artists!

My Address now is:

4105 North 24th Lane apt #9
McAllen,TX
78504

This week was probably one of the best on my mission so far. I got to go for a 3-day exchange over in an area called plantation and met some really cool elders. I've been studying a lot lately and learning especially about the gospel. I learn much from Elder Angles's example and right now we are working on a theory about note-taking. I hope Elder Angles becomes a scientist when he grows up. The world needs his brain! We have been making a lot of changes to stay organized, and we're gonna make this area rock.

I've also been studying music a little bit on the piano we have and that's going well. I'm teaching myself to play improve a little bit and I've noticed how much more productive I am when I control my schedule rather than just play for fun. Planning is very important.

I feel very blessed and even a little chiflado to have the people and investigators that we have. They are such good examples to me and Love them a lot. We are teaching a girl named Vanessa right now. She is an 18 yr old girl and is living the gospel very faithfully. We found her just walking outside of her house, and she has taken to the discussions very well. Everything we've taught her she has faithfully accepted, and she has completed every commitment that we leave with her. She is a courageous example for those around her in her life. She lives in very hard circumstances and has a lot of struggle with family and friends, but still she pushes on with her faith in God. She reminds me of King Lamoni from Alma who, when taught by the missionaries, prays immediately and is willing to give up all his sins to know God. There are very few people who have as great faith as she does. I love going over to visit her and her family. We hope to help her to get baptized near the end of next month; maybe even sooner.

We are also visiting with Louis. He is an amazing old man. He's 69 and has a heart of pure gold. He is fairly poor and lives in humble circumstances, but of what he does have, he gives freely. He is hosting a homeless family right now that is consuming almost all his money, living space, and time. He pretty much gave them his whole house and now lives entirely in a closet spaced room so that they can have more room for their kids. He instantly loves everyone he meets and I feel respected like a king whenever I go over there. I imagine that is how it would feel to have been with Christ when he was on the earth. I love him like my adopted grandpa. He also pursues gospel knowledge voraciously. He has read the bible many times and is finding so much new light and truth through the Book of Mormon. What an amazing book we are blessed to have and so readily accessible. I love reading the Book and I feel so close to Christ as I do. I know that it's true.

I have so many other experiences that I could share but the most prominent in my mind is the ever-present ambiance of love I feel on my mission. I feel love for God, I feel His love for me, I feel love for the other missionaries, I feel love for the ward members, I love our investigators, and I love Christ. I feel so happy knowing that He's forgiven me and continues to forgive me as I repent and come unto Him with full purpose of heart. There is nothing so great as helping someone else feel that forgiveness and abide in the love of the Savior. What an amazing gospel He has given us to share.

Thank you for being the amazing family that you are! I can't wait to see you next month! Happy Thanksgiving!

Con amor,
El Elder Jenson