I almost cried when I said what I'm thankful for . . .

Heyyyyy, yo!

Thank you for all of your nice updates again! I really hope you guys had a great Thanksgiving and wedding time!

That’s crazy that Aaliyah could recognize that picture! My li’l genius! I love ‘er to death . . . If you didn’t know that already!

I haven’t received your package yet, but I really, really, really hope I get it this week! I’m prayin’! Haha! Not really, but I sure hope it comes!

I’ll be ashamed if Brad doesn’t come to the CCM here. He should if he’s serving in Cenetral America. And, that’s ggggreat about Brett, too! I can’t send him a DearElder, but if you can get me his “myldsmail” e-mail address, I’ll write to him sometime soon!

I’m very excited to hear how Dylan’s basketball game goes this week as a Varsity man! I wish him the very, very, very best . . . As always . . .

My li’l updates . . .

Yes, my Companion leaves me a week from today, which I am not very happy about. He is very excited to go home and he has told me some things that have made me very happy. Well, we haven’t had a lot of success as far as baptisms go here, but he’s told me these things . . . He told the whole District that this has been the most spiritual change he’s had in his whooooole mission because of the high goals we set and how hard we have tried to achieve them. We have been very happy together because we know when to have fun and when to just work hard, work hard, work hard and still stay happy. He also says that his thoughts have changed for the better while we have been companions. So, even though this change has been tough with baptisms, we are still very happy with what we have accomplished. My companion has been a very good missionary with success, so I’m very happy with the things he has said of our companionship. He’s a good guy and a really good friend. It’ll be sad when he goes . . .

So, yea, changes are comin’ up a week from today. I’m really hopin’ I don’t leave my area. I feel like success is just around the corner and I wanna be here for Christmas and all ‘cause there is a great family to be with. I’ve gotta be with a great family for Christmas ‘cause that’s just how it is at home!

For Thanksgiving, I got to celebrate! I got invited to a dinner with two other Elders in another area. It was a really tasty dinner. The Mom and Dad were Mission Presidents a few years ago. It was a really good opportunity. I almost cried when I was sayin’ what I am thankful for . . . LOL . . . But I talk more about what I said on my voice recorder. It was awesome to celebrate Thanksgiving, though, ‘cause it’s such a big important time at home.

This week has been very, very tiring. We had service three times this week! And two of the three were really, really hard! We had to move a huge chest of drawers and I was holding it above my head for dear life. I suppppper sore the next day! Then, the next service was moving huuuuuuge bags of dirt up and down a hill to dump them in the lake. We had to throw ‘em over our backs and carry ‘em. I did about 10 bags and I was wasted that night! I had very sore legs and shoulders the rest of the week! Then, our third service was at Metro Norte (like the mall, really). There, we shined shoes for free! While one person was shining shoes, the companion shared a message. It was a great activity, though, with a lot of success. I really enjoyed shining other people’s shoes . . . LOL . . .

I need to know somethin’ . . . What is the quote most famous for Dallas, Dylan and Tom? I need one for each of them. You’ve gotta send me the answer next Monday! Please!

I talked with Elder Larsen about how you could to other moms in the mission. He says there is a website but he isn’t sure what it is, so he gave me his mom’s e-mail to give to you. That way, you can talk to her! Her name is Amy Larsen, mother of my buddy, Taylor. Let me know how it goes. Oh, and yea . . . Let me know what happens when you talk to the mom from Lehi, too.

The other story I forgot to tell you guys . . . A few weeks ago, I saw my old CCM teacher in Stake Conference (Hermano Culcue). It was great to see him again, but when he was about to leave, he asked if I could give him a blessing of comfort and what not. He said he was going through tough times. So, I gave him a blessing. The next day, he e-mailed me and said that I spoke about a lot of things that are mentioned in his Patriarchial Blessing and that I gave the same advice! Pretty dog on cool, huh? I LOVE HAVIN’ THIS THING CALLED THE PRIESTHOOD! LOL . . .

Anyway, those are my updates! I sure love you guys billions! Less than a month and I get to hear your voices! Be safe! Love you all!

Elder Jensen

"I'm a soldier out here in the Mission field!"

Heyyyyy yo!

Okay . . . I’m not sure how you can talk to the Missionary Moms, but I know there is a way. So, I will call Elder Larsen and get the answer form him this week.

That’s so sad about David and his Mom and brother. I really, really like that family. I hurt for him for sure just like I know you do. That’s so sad . . .

Great to hear that Adam is getting’ his paper done, though! And crazy to hear about Rachel! Wowzers! Welp, growin’ up starts very soon for her!

I wanted to give you a bunch of info again this week, but not way too much happened . . .

First funny story, though . . . I got a DearElder form a lady named Leslie Smith. She told me that I don’t know her, but that her son is going to serve in this Mission, so she wanted to get some information from you, mother. . . Wanna know the crazy part, though? She’s from Lehi! So, it’s possible that I’ve met her son when I was with McKay or something! That’s where the Livingstons are livin’, right? Weird, right? But you should call her! Lemme know what she says!

That’s crazy that they have found a city bigger than Los Angeles under a hill here in Guatemala! It’s just more proof that the Book of Mormon is true! It’s pretty cool to get to live in this area, though . . . Not gonna lie. I can’t wait until after the mission, though, when the whole family can go with me to visit placed!

I finished the Book of Mormon again. I was on my knees prayin’ and prayin’ again to try to receive an answer to know that the Book of Mormon is true. Well, it took me time to realize, but I did receive an answer . . . I already knew it was true! I didn’t really have to ask again! LOL! But, yea, I’m in Dueteronomy right now in the Bible; and I’m in like Section 30 of the Doctrine and Covenants. I just finished the Pearl of Great Price again.

When does Brad Scherck enter the MTC? He will end up in the CCM after three weeks in the MTC, won’t he? I’d like to try to go visit him if he’s going to be there.

This week I got to go on Divisions with Elder Primo in my Area. He is a pretty cool cat from Peru and has one more change than I do in the Mission. It’s always good to go on Divisions ‘cause I really learn a lot from the style of every Elder . . . The good and the bad, of course! But it was a solid day with him.

Ummm . . . We painted a house as service this week. Woo hoo! Fun! LOL . . . Not really . . . And the lady whose house we painted didn’t even come to Church on Sunday, so it was in vain! LOL . . . Just kidding, just kidding . . . She was sick . . .

Ummmm . . . This week, I ate a TON of pupusas. Have you guys had them before? I don’t think we had them in the States. Ahhhh . . .They are soooooo good, though! You guys gotta look ‘em up and make some . . .

Church kinda let me down this Sunday. A lot of investigators didn’t come, but I have to remember how good last week was . . . And we had two new investigators in the Church this Sunday, so we still did okay. Now we will see if the members come through this next Sunday. I’m really hopin’ we strike gold! If we don’t, I’ll just keep tryin! I’m a soldier out here in the Mission field now! Really, thanks to Dad again . . . Keep challengin’ me!

This morning, I went to the Dentist ‘cause my permanent retainer was starting to come off. It’s a clinic that the Church started. Guess what, though? I was the first patient EVER! LOL! Kinda fun, huh? The doctor said I should give you his blogspot address, ‘cause I’m gonna be a star on it . . . LOL . . . He said it should be up within the week. The address is wayneandsusanne.blogspot.com . . . LOL . . . Lemme know how it looks!

Well, sorry I didn’t have a bunch to write this week! I hope all is well back home, though! Thanks for everything . . . All the support and love and all! And, I’m waitin’ on the package very anxiously!

Love you guys billions! Keep sendin’ me DearElders . . . Hahaha!

We had eight investigators at Church on Sunday!

Heyyyyy yo!

Man! Four days sure is a lot better than seven! You’re dog-on right, mother

I’m excited for the package! I’ll make sure to read your instructions on it first, though . . . Don’t trip, home girl . . . Thank you!

You could send a DVD like the one Skye mentioned. I’d like to watch it. I’m sure I could find somewhere to do that! And, if I cry, it’s all good! I’d only watch it one time per year!

How cool that SJCC won the tourney! Their team should be really, really good this year. A part of me is for sure sad that I can’t be out there playing with a team that I was with last year. Especially since they’re so good and two of my best friends and a bunch of really, really good buddies are on the team! Kind of a bummer for sure . . . But, that’s cool that they beat the defending State Champs!

Very nice on Gilroy beating Hollister! I don’t think that rivalry will ever die down. Maybe a li’l with Christopher High, but not a bunch.

That’s crazy that Brad is about to enter the MTC! And Brett, too! Wow! All of a sudden, Gilroy has a good number of missionaries out, huh? I hope Adam Betita already left on his mission or something and that’s why he isn’t responding to Stacie. Who knows, though!

Thank you for all of your updates right thurr . . .

Okay . . . Now “all about me” time . . .

I was wondering . . . Do you think you should delete all of the pictures that are on the memory cards I sent home to you? You could just put the pictures on CDs. I don’t want you to have to keep buying memory cards. I think it would be smarter if you deleted them all off my memory card after you make a CD or save ‘em on the computer or something. Could you also make sure you put pictures and videos from home on the memory cards I send home, too, though?

Las week I was sad that I couldn’t write to Dad and all, but that’s the price of keepin’ the rules every week! I’m the only one out of like ten last week that only had to pay the one hour internet fee. Everyone else had to pay extra! I’m trying to be good! I’m tryin’! I’m tryin’!

Hey, mother . . . Do you talk with other moms that have sons in my Mission? I’m just wondering. If you do, that’s cool! Elder Snell told me that his mom asked him if I had talked to him in a while . . . Haha . . . Just kinda random . . . Then Elder Larsen’s mom told Elder Larsen that she wants to meet me. LOL . . . Who knows what’s going on . . .

Hey, what size shirts does everyone back at home wear? All eight of you . . .

I had divisions again with Elder Lopez this week. I guess he’s been havin’ some trouble in his area, so my Companion (being District Leader) wanted to go to his Area to talk to members and see what’s goin’ on and all. So, I had Elder Lopez, the 25 year old from San Marcos, Guatemala, with me in my area again. We started divisions after lunch and had seven lessons that day! Wow! I made that kid work! It was fun, though. I like being the leader . . . You guys know me! I like to do things at my pace. And my pace here in the Mission is tough stuff, home boy!

One of our investigators had a question . . . She went to school in the States until she was a Junior. She finished her Sophomore year, but didn’t complete her Junior and Senior year because she had to go live in Guatemala. She was wondering, though . . . Can you go to a junior college if you haven’t graduated from High School? I don’t know if you know or if you can find the answer for me . . .

This past week, or past four days, I should say, we had a lesson and my Companion and I were already sittin’ down about to start the lesson with four people when one other girl came downstairs to join us. She shook my hand like normal and then went in for the kiss on the check (that’s all normal for everyone here . . . Minus missionaries . . . We don’t have any female contact except for shaking the hand). I had no idea what do to! LOL! We hit cheeks really, really hard . . . LOL . . . And I’m pretty sure I turned really red, although no one said anything. I know my face looked shocked, though, and the brother in the room was laughin’ a li’l. LOL . . . It was kinda funny. She didn’t do it to my Companion, though . . . She just wanted the white chocolate . . .

Grandpa and Grandma are so lucky that they got to visit the Charlots! How is Javin? I really miss my basketball buddies! Basketball has been my life since I was seven and now I can’t play at all! It’s tough, no doubt . . .

Yesterday was our Stake Conference. It’s really cool here! I guess this new Stake Conference just started here in Guatemala. General Authorities do it over the television like General Conference and it’s only for Guatemala. Pretty cool, huh? So, first we got to hear from Whitney Clayton ( of the Seventy, I believe). He’s a white guy, but he spoke Spanish. Then we heard from a lady in the Primary Presidency. She spoke through a translator. Then, Spencer V. Jones (of the Presidency of the Seventy) spoke in Spanish. And then, to top it off, we got to hear from Elder Packer! I love that guy! It will be so sad when it’s his time to go . . . We got to listen to him through a translator, too. I missed hearin’ his real voice, but it was a really cool Stake Conference. It was in our Ward building and it was packedddddddddd! My Companion and I didn’t get to listen to much of the first two talks because we were tryin’ to get everyone seated! The other really cool thing is that we had eight investigators in the Church this Sunday! And, six of them were first timers! That’s sooooo much better than what we have had in the Church here in Atlantida!

Well, it’s only been four days since I was able to write last, so my e-mail isn’t as long this week. I’m sorry! Thank you for everything, though! I can’t wait for the package! I sure love you guys! You know it! Love you!

I'm trying to be more humble and meek

Hey, Dad!

Sorry I didn’t have time to write to you last week, but here I am now! Thank you for all of you help with all my questions . . . That’s what I wanted to say first! Here I go answering your questions!

Everything is goin’ great here! I really just continue to grow . . . It’s really cool, actually. My Companion is doing great! He only has three weeks left on his Mission. I can only imagine being in his shoes right now. He and I have been working rrrrrrrrreally hard, though, so it leaves a good taste in our mouths even when we don’t have a bunch of success. Usually, at least . . . Some days just aren’t our best. Our Area is doin’ really good, though, too, and investigators are gettin’ sooooo much closer to Baptism! I feel like we could get one in the next three weeks . . . We’ll see, though!

And, of course, my testimony is growing . . . Little by little for sure. But it’s growin’ and growin’. I know it because my mind is changing on worldly things . . . It’s really weird, actually . . .

My first eight weeks, the most investigators we had in the Church was four . . . I presented the plan you gave me to my Companion. When I first read your letter, I really couldn’t believe it. And, I was a li’l mad when you said I didn’t have faith . . . But you were so right and I really tried to improve in that! Two weeks ago, my Companion and I started announcing a date for everyone to bring an investigator to Church on the 29th of this month. We are really trying to get it done! We had eight in Church yesterday, though, and it was awesome! I just hope we can keep growin’ in the investigator number. We actually had thirteen committed to comin’, so we continue to improve, I hope!

I really, really wanna thank you, Dad, for your help and caring. I’m really trying to be more humble and meek and take advice better. I feel like the challenge you gave me really helped me grow. I love you so much and you mean the world to me! I hope everything is well back home and that you are able to find peace and joy in your busy schedule. Thank you for all you do. I never told you enough. I love you, though, Dad!

Guess who gave a 16 minute talk in Spanish?

Heyyyyy! Express how sorry I am for last week! I’m so, so sorry! And, Dallas, I’m sorry!!!!!!!!!!!! Really . . . I’m so, so, so, sosososososososososo sorry! I really can’t express it . . .

Okay . . . I’ll answer your questions first. I’ll also try to answer the ones I can remember from last week, too .. .

I love, love, love the sports updates you give me. All of you! I can’t get enough of sports updates to be honest. You can send even more updates if you want! They make me so happy! Please keep ‘em comin’ always!

I’m soooo, soooo happy that you got my memory card and letters. I was gettin’ so worried about it. I don’t think I will send a memory card again in a letter . . .

The people don’t really celebrate Halloween in Guatemala. You can celebrate if you want . . . LOL . . . People get dressed up but there is for sure no trick-or-treating. I think it’s the same with Thanksgiving. You can celebrate if you want, but most people won’t. I don’t think they will get dressed up fancy on Thanksgiving or anything either . . .

I got the video you sent me, but I haven’t been able to watch it. I’ll try to figure it out if I have time at the end of my hour today, though . . .

For Christmas . . . Things I need and want are . . . CDs, the Nixon watch we already talked about, Muddy Buddies, ties (if you were able to find good ones), a lot, lot, lot of pictures and maybe money if anything else, but I’m good either way. I just figure I have two years of my life to buy things from Guatemala so a li’l extra money could never hurt! I’m also sending you guys a package but not until the first or second week of December, so it will be late! I’m sorry!

Okay . . . My stories, homies . . .

I’m soooooooooooooooooooooo sorry ‘bout last week’s e-mail . . .

Can you guys make sure that you send me every Clippers box score when you send DearElders? I really wanna see what happens every game . . .

I’ve been out for over five months! And in no time I’ll be at six months and 25% of my mission will be done! I think when I have seven or eight months under my belt, though, I will start to sound like I’m not new in the Mission, so I’m still waitin’ on that . . .

I was gonna ask you how you thought I could get in touch with Elder Sorenson (the guy who I sent a letter to and it got returned to you and then you sent it to Argentina for me), but I finally got a letter from him this past week, so I was super happy!

A new scripture for Dad and Dallas . . . You guys should be able to say what is said in this scripture. It is Leviticus 13, verses 40 and 41.

As for my reading, I am in Numbers, 3rd Nephi, almost done with the Pearl of Great price again and starting the Doctrine and Covenants again. I love reading!

This week, I had divisions with Elder Castro. He has been out in the mission field for 21 months. He is half Latino and is from Utah. He is a super cool guy and we get along really, really well. Like AJ habing and me (me and him have become really close) . . . LOL . . . I felt like I learned a lot from him as an Elder, though, like I do from being with every other Elder! He was a cool guy, though!

Do you guys receive the Liahona at home? I don’t know if they are stressin’ the importance of it back home, but they are really stressin’ it here. You guys should make sure you have that at home . . .

Hey, I’m the only gringo in my District! That’s cool! LOL . . . But I don’t feel awkward at all . . . Usually . . . LOL . . . But it’s a cool experience!

Guess what?!?!? Guess who gave a sixteen minute talk in Spanish this last Sunday?!?!? It was ya boy, Elder Jensen! I prepared the talk for two weeks (in which I got to receive help and revelation on how to do it and, of course, God answered my prayers). I was soooo, soooo, soooo nervous when it was finally my turn to talk, but I was greatly blessed. Of course, I had a big outline ready, but I hardly had to look down, you guys! I was lookin’ people dead in the eyes like the whole time! How cool, huh? I’ve been out for only five months and I can do that! I’ve been blessed with so much help! Oh! And, my talk was on Fasting and Fast Offerings, too . . . Kind of a hard first Spanish Talk subject . . .

When I was with Elder Castro, we were talkin’ into the voice recorder and we tried to listen to what we recorded. That’s how I found out that the tape didn’t work . . . LOL . . . So I had been talkin’ into that for a while, but it’s all good . . . I actually recorded my talk for you guys on a good tape and all. That will be part of your Christmas gift though! Sorry you’ll have to wait!

On Tuesday, we had a really, really cool Conference. We had it with the Central and South Missions. Elder Costa (a member of the Presidency of the Seventy) and Elder Clark (Area President) spoke to us. Elder Clark’s Counselors were also there along with three Mission Presidents! That’s a lot of power up on the stand, huh????? Four General Authorities and three Mission Presidents! I learned a lot and I got to see a lot of friends from the CCM who are serving in other Missions, so it was a really cool experience . . .

Then, on Wednesday, we had interviews with the President. Mine went just fine. It was solid. We just talked and he asked me how my scripture study is going . . . LOL . . . I was able to tell him that I’ve already read the Book of Mormon, New Testament, that I’m in Numbers and that I’ve read the Doctrine and Covenants and Pearl of Great Price. And I’m almost done with the Book of Mormon again! Hahaha! Cool, huh? All that in less than five months!

We got to go to the Temple this morning. It was all in Spanish, but I feel like I’m learnin’ a lot more in the Temple now and I had a really good experience . . .

I got a DearElder from you, Mom, and you told me about how you were practicing the letter “D” with Aaliyah and that she looked up at you and said, “I love Derek” with a big smile. I almost started crying! No joke! LOL! I get to hear stories every week about things she says about me, but that one really got me! Who knows why??? But I sure love that girl . . .

Well, those are all of my updates for the week! Thanks so much for everything and please forgive me for last week!

Hey, I’ll talk to you guys in like four days now! Holler!

I sure love you billions!

My testimony of fasting grew from my experience!

Hey!

Well . . . I’m pretty mad right now! Ughhhhh . . . LOL!

I wrote a huge e-mail to you guys and the computer decided to be retarded and delete it! So, I just can’t write it all again, nor do I have the time to do so . . . But thanks for your e-mail! And for all of your stories!

The only thing you really need to know from this week is that I fasted with my Companion and we fasted to find an eternal family. Well, the second door that we knocked on during this fast let us come in! It’s just a husband and wife, but they are married and that’s usually a huge problem here. They have a lot of faith and just haven’t chosen a religion. And, they really like us! How cool that Heavenly Father can bless us that fast in response to our prayers! Especially when we’re fasting! My testimony of fasting for sure grew from that experience!

Thanks for everything! I’ll talk to you guys next week! Love you a billion ! A billion! Sorry again for this short e-mail!