Week 105! The End of a Roller Coaster

Area: Gallatin, MO
Companion: Elder Wolfley & Elder Henrie

 

Monday was just cold... but we met with some ward leaders and got new names of people in the ward to get to know.

Tuesday was a busy day. We drove all over our area, which from south to north is about a 50 minute drive. But that is basically what we did. We had an appointment with a less active member who wants to come back. Then we drove all the way out to McFall again. We stopped to see the man we saw last week. He was there but had forgotten about our appointment. It all worked out though because he let us in and he had his younger cousin staying with him for a few days. We answered questions about who Mormons are and challenged them to read the Book of Mormon. We were also able to stop in Adam-Ondi-Ahmen... because you know, its in our area and it is actually a kinda short cut to get from place to place. 

Wednesday we got a call from a random lady neither of us knew (because we white washed in) asking if “we could help fold at the Jameson Gem”. We had no idea what that meant but we went anyway. Turns out that the Jameson Gem is a little newsletter for a town in our area. So we went to Jameson (which has about 100 people) and the service turned out to be us and 5 older ladies folding the newspaper and putting stamps on it, getting it ready to send in the mail. So we got to listen to old lady drama for 2 ish hours. It was probably one of the best things that has ever happened.

Thursday we had district meeting and then we visited people throughout the day and made some good contacts. Then at the end of the night we met up with the assistants and the Yellow Creek Elders. Elder Duerksen had extended his mission but could only extend for 30 days, so it was his time to return home. His companion, Elder Henrie came to stay with us for the rest of the transfer. Elder Henrie makes my 17th companion! I did it!! (There are only 17 transfers in a mission) E. Henrie actually started his mission in Gallatin and served here for 6 months, so he knows the area and the people better than either of us do.

Friday we had a solid day of contacting people and setting up appointments. We visited a few members who live in a rest home. We had dinner with the Baldwins and taught them spiritual CPR - Church, Prayer, and Reading the Scriptures. I like that acronym because when you feel like you need saving or are starting to spiritually die, just remember to always hold on to CPR.  We ended the night by video conference teaching some of E Henrie's investigators from Yellow Creek. Elder Duerksen, even though he is not a set apart missionary and is in California was still able to join in and it was really cool. We also learned that E Henrie is going to be training a new missionary this next transfer!

Saturday, E Henrie had to go to a meeting for trainers so we all drove down to Kearney and E Wolfley and I stayed and proselyted with E Barlow. I got to see the area where Zion’s camp camped and where the 105 section of the D&C was received. After E Henrie got back we drove up to Adam-Ondi-Ahman (AOA) and had lunch with one of the missionary couples. Then Elder Wheatfill drove us all around AOA, even the restricted parts and showed us a bunch of cool stuff. This definitely is a special place we have been called to serve in.

 

 

Sunday we had church, then did our studies. We tried contacting some people and had another video conference lesson. 

Overall it was a great week. This week is transfers and I will be ending my service as a full time missionary. This has been the best experience and adventure of my life. I would never trade the things I have learned. I have come to know my Savior more and I have solidified my testimony in the restored gospel. I still have much to learn and do and grow into, but I am glad that the Lord helped me start off on the right foot. I can’t wait for my next ride.

I have made many friends out here and my heart goes to all of them, thank you so much for your influence and helping me become who I am today. 

Thank you to all back home who have supported me along the way. I could have never done it without you.

I still want to keep in contact with you, my home email address is kennethjensen10@gmail.com. 

Or just Facebook stalk me. 

Thank you!

Elder Jensen

Week 104!

Area: Gallatin, MO
Companion: Elder Wolfley

This week has been sweet. Sorry I didn’t write an email last week. Christmas was a ton of fun, but we were pretty much running from place to place all day long.

Monday was of course Christmas. We went to a member's house for breakfast and then we watched the kids open their presents. They also got us a few things. Then we went to a part member family’s house for lunch. The wife is from the Philippines, she made sweet spaghetti and this stuff that is kinda like whiteish jello/pudding with corn in it. I thought it was alright, it tasted good it was just a weird consistency. But poor Elder Wolfley couldn’t do it. We were already stuffed and he could only take a few bites. Then later we went to our ward mission leader's house and had dinner and watched Ephriams Rescue. I had never seen it and it touched me deeply.

Tuesday we were at a member's home for dinner. We talked about the Plan of Salvation and the great blessing to know of the gospel. The RM daughter told us to go see one of her friends but the rest of the family said they didn’t know anyone. Then I was asked to say the closing prayer. Right after the prayer, after asking for people to teach, the mother said “during the prayer the name of one of my friends popped into my mind. I think she could be ready.” It was a sweet experience and we are excited to get that moving along.

Wednesday I went on exchanges to the Yellow Creek branch. It is even further into the boons than Gallatin. But it was a lot of fun. We got to teach some people and I got to hang out with Elder Duerksen all day.

Thursday we exchanged back and did weekly planning. We visited a few people but nothing too special.

Friday was fun, we drove all the way around our area. We drove to a town all the way in the corner of our area called McFall. We found a young man in his twenties. We were able to share the message of the restoration with him. He said that we could come back this week and talk about it more with him.

Saturday we got to teach an Amish family. It was awesome and they are really nice people. We also got back in contact with some of our investigators. It was a solid day of work, but not too much to report on.

It was really cold this week, so people haven’t been as inclined to open up their doors. But that is ok.

Missionary work is the best. Thank you so much for all that you guys do! 

 

Elder Jensen

 

 

Week 103

Area: Gallatin, MO
Companion: Elder Wolfley

Christmas Week with Elder Wolfley

Week 102

Area: Gallatin, MO

Companion: Elder Wolfley

This week has gone by pretty fast, but it has been fun.

There is a returning member who lives in the same apartment complex as us. She was raised in the church but not really taught why or how the church works so we have been going over and basically answering her questions and explaining the gospel principles. We will call her Sister Jones.

So Monday we did P-day and ended the night by seeing Sister Jones. We talked about the Godhead, callings in the church, and Christ's ministry.

Tuesday we had a Zone Conference and they made me get up and bear my testimony since it was my last one. It was pretty nice not to have a responsibility to train though. The whole conference was about faith and how to gain “exceedingly great faith”. 

The stake really wants to get missionaries into the family history centers and do some family history on our own. So on Wednesday we went to the church and one of the family history consultants showed us how to find our own names. So we each were finally able to find a few names we can take to the temple! It was awesome and I feel closer to my ancestors.  The rest of the day we were out and about and seemed to be in just the right spot at the right time. We ran into several members who needed our help with something, it was a good day. We also had a great lesson with the Ellingtons. They have a 10, 9, and 8 year old who all have an abundance of energy. It definitely makes our teaching experiences fun.

Thursday was awesome, we got to go help Bro Reeves cut fire wood for his wood burning stove. It took a good part of the day but was a ton of fun. He ran the chainsaw but kept getting calls on his phone, so while he was on the phone we just went to town and broke down the trees with our hands... not the most effective way but it worked. The Reeves live right on Adam-Ondi-Ahman so after service we stoped in and looked around a little. It is a pretty amazing place and it is incredible to think of what happened and what will happen here.

 

After dinner we had a teaching appointment with the Baldwins. They are on date to be baptized and are slowly moving towards it. They are progressing really well though. It is a lot of fun to teach them. Later we saw Sister Jones, she had been reading in Genesis and had all sorts of questions. It was pretty fun to talk about.
 

Friday we had some technical stuff to figure out on our IPads and then we had two senior couples inspect our apartment and then take us to the Mexican place in town. Later we called a family to ask if we could set up a time to come share a message. The Brother said well if you come right now you can share a message and have dinner. So we hopped right on that one. It was a good way to end the night.

Saturday we did our weekly planning and spent some time trying to set up our facebook accounts. We had another really good lesson with the Ellingtons. We took a white board to help the kids draw out the plan of salvation. It started well, but then the kid who drew the Garden of Eden got really into it and took up the rest of the white board with the garden. It was pretty funny but a good time. The kids want to be baptized and the boyfriend seems to want to join as well.

Sunday the topic of sacrament meeting was the light of Christ. It was really cool to hear other peoples views on it. After church we visited a few people and had dinner and then ended the night by talking to Sister Jones again.

Overall it was a really good week. I am loving it out here in Gallatin. The work is moving forward.  

Thank you all so much. It is great to hear from you, Merry Christmas! 🎄

Elder Jensen

Kansas City Temple Trip - Platte City and Far West Zones

 

 

Week 101

Area: Gallatin, MO

Companion: Elder Wolfley

This week was so amazing. Things are really starting to get going here in Gallatin and we are so excited.

Mon was awesome. We went fishing at a member's pond and we built ourselves a little fire and roasted hotdogs. Man, it definitely is not the city.

Tuesday we met with the Baldwins, a part member family. The wife and kids are active but the husband is not a member. They had been working with them for a while, but they had their next door neighbor over and we were able to have a short spiritual lesson and ask for a return appointment. They offered to feed us dinner later this week.

Wednesday we helped out at a food pantry run by the Seventh Day Adventists, it was pretty cool and fun. We went on exchanges so we had to drive about an hour to meet the other elders half way, eat lunch, then drive an hour back to our area. But we were able to meet with a few members and get to know the ward a little bit more. I wish my IPad would take better pictures of the stars. The skies at night time are amazing. I will try to use my actual camera and see if I can get a picture for next week.

Thursday we had Zone Training and then interviews with President Love.

 

 

We met with an active couple who have inactive children and unbaptized grandchildren... so we went and met those people and they want us to come back and teach the lessons!! It was perfect.  We also started teaching another part member family, the Ellingtons. The wife joined the church a few years ago and now has a new boyfriend and 3 kids who are not baptized, but would like to be. :)

Friday we met with the Baldwins again and their neighbor, LaWanda. We had a very spiritual lesson with them about the doctrine of Christ and they both committed to be baptized at the beginning of January.

Saturday we spent most of the day getting in contact with a few potential investigators and meeting with members. We were supposed to meet with the Ellingtons. It was a very good day and I feel like we are getting to know the ward better and building those relationships.

Sunday - Church was really good, it was all about tithing. Elder Wolfley and I got to teach a mission prep class. It was way fun to answer questions they had and then to help them teach the restoration to each other. We were able to see more members and have another lesson with the Baldwins. We read 2 Nephi 31 with them.

I love it out here in Gallatin, it’s been a crazy ride so far but it has been fun. Thank you for all your support and prayers. Keep going strong, the Lord Loves you.

 

Elder Jensen

Our new car... I like it.

Week 100!!

Area: Raytown & Gallatin

Companion: Elder Martinez & Elder Wolfley

Alright this week has been crazy, but it has been awesome!

Mon - was a solid P-day. Sports, a little shopping and emailing.

Tuesday was pretty fun. We went to a cool restaurant named Jazz. Apparently a member owns the place and so we just had to tip the waiter and we ate for free. It was really awesome.
 

 

While we were there we were called to give a blessing at a hospital which was perfect because the restaurant was literally across the street from the hospital. The Lord never ceases to amaze me. The blessing went very well. Later that night Brother Rogers “kidnapped” us, meaning he knows that we aren't allowed to leave the zone but he wanted to take us to a good restaurant. So he just didn’t tell us where we were going and all of the sudden we ended up in Kansas... but he took us to a place call Cocabolas. It was a pretty nice place but Taco Tuesday meant $2  tacos that are usually like $13. Later he took us to the only WW I museum in the country. We just got to look out over downtown KC, it was beautiful. Shout out to Elder Martinez who sat on the wall at the overlook and all of the sudden a voice over an intercom said “Please no sitting or laying seductively on the wall”. It was pretty great. Then we stopped in and saw Union Station. Also amazing and pretty breath taking.
 

 

Wed - I pretty much packed and said goodbye to some people that I have grown very close to here in Raytown.

Thursday was transfers. I picked up my son (Elder Wolfley) and found out that we are going to GALLATIN Missouri! Adam-Ondi-Ahman is literally in our area. It is a pretty sweet area. Gallatin has about 1,700 people and is by far the biggest town in the area. But we get to drive a TRUCK! I was so happy when I found that out. And I’m glad we did because day 2 we had to drive through a corn field. Elder Wolfley is sweet. He is from Moapa Valley, Nevada likes to hunt and shoot guns.

Fri - We traveled around and got to know some of the members here. 

Saturday - We got to do a lot of service. We helped a few people move, we moved some metal beams, and painted a deck. Then the ward had their Christmas party. It was a lot of fun and they had us be the cupcake judges. 

Sunday was really good. Gallatin has one of the largest chapels in the church. It is kinda funny looking but imagine literally two chapels worth of benches, one put in front of the other. So from the podium to the last row is a solid 150 ft. The ward is awesome though and a surprising amount of members live here. A lot of them have moved from out of state because they had a spiritual impression that led them here.

Being a missionary is awesome and so much fun. This week has been nuts but a blast. #gooutwithabang

Love ya all,

Elder Jensen

 

 

Week 99!

Area: Raytown Ward

Companion: Elder Martinez

 

Hope your turkeys had a good Thanksgiving!

Monday- The Zoo! It was so awesome! I love all the animals, so I'm always torn because I feel like they need to be freed but they're so cute and have life pretty good there. But it was a blast! Personal favorites were the penguins, elephants and cheetahs.

 

Tuesday- Had a couple meetings in the morning then for dinner we hit up a Mexican restaurant with a member and had some fried ice cream.. it was super good. Then we went to more meetings and saw Kim McBroom to finish off the night. He is a good guy but you never know what’s going to happen when you go over.

Wednesday- Helped a member hulk a fridge from one house to another. It was kinda cold, I guess you could say it was pretty "frigid". Then had some stellar district meetings. Later on I got to go to the ASL class since my companion teaches it. It was pretty fun. I really enjoy learning

Thursday- Thanksgiving was awesome as ever. We had a really awesome lunch with the Maupin family. Elder Martinez told them that he was the favorite child in his family and they doubted so they called his mom right then and there and his mom totally supported the statement... I didn’t say whether or not I was the favorite, but we all know 😏

Friday- We hit up a Chinese buffet and guess who was there? The Inde 4th Elders! (Who is one of my past companions) Then right when we were almost done the lady told us someone paid for us! We're not even in Utah! Is this what it's like to serve in Utah? Later that evening we did some baptismal interviews, I got to interview the father of a family and it was so awesome to see someone with a strong testimony like his!

Saturday- Exciting stuff! I got a training call so I’m going to be a Dad my last transfer! Four other elders and I drove up to Liberty, Missouri to the mission home where the mission president and the assistants trained us on how to train. Later that night we went to the Christmas devotional and watched the lighting of the visitor's center. It made for a fun night.

Sunday- We had an amazing breakfast for dinner, it was super good. It was a pretty stellar way to end the week.

It was a really good week, but because of the holiday nobody was home or they didn’t really want to talk to us. So not much happened missionary work wise. Either way it was a fun week. This week is transfers and I am more than likely leaving. I’m sad to leave Raytown but I will go where I am called.

 

Elder Jensen