Great Week

This week was indeed great. We have seen some great things happening and a lot of really cool moments. Also, it was my last week of church here in tamatave. I am so very grateful for all of the cool people and places that I have met and seen here. Now for the weekly update.

So do you remember my guy Aristad and his wife? Well the week after I told you about him he went on vacation and wasn't planning on getting back until after I was long gone. I was very sad when we found that out. Then, on Tuesday I was going over the area with Elder Van Zyl, just making sure that he knew everyone and where they lived and all of that fun jazz, and we felt like we should go check on him. We hadn't been back in a couple of weeks, but we went by anyways. It turns out, he had just gotten home that same day. He had been trying to call us, but he had somehow typed our number in wrong to his phone. Anyways, he was super excited to see us, we were able to teach him, and he has agreed to get baptized!!

So I have been studying a lot this week about weaknesses and most especially about overcoming them. We all have weaknesses, some more than others and some bigger than others, but we all have them. For me personally, in my own prideful self, I have always been hesitant to admit to mine, and even more so to ask for help with them. I guess I have allways just assumed that I could figure it out on my own. This week I have learned that that's not the point. Our Heavenly Father doesn't give us weaknesses so that we can man up and power through them on our own. I love the way Paul explains it to the Corrinthians in 2 Corrinthians 12:

5 Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.

9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

The Lord gives us our infirmities (weaknesses) that we might be humble. There are weaknesses that we as mortals cannot overcome on our own. He has, however, promised us help. He has promised that if we will come unto him in our weaknesses he will make us strong, stronger than we could ever become on our own (Ether 12:27). Therefore I, like Paul, joy in my infirmities, for I know that when we are in our weakest moments, if we will lean on Him, He will make us strong. Strong enough to withstand any heartache, to weather every storm. I am so very thankful for The Savior and His grace in my life.

Love you all so much, so grateful for all of your support,

Elder Jensen

Scripture of the week: All those mentioned above.

Cool Panorama with Elder Van Zyl

Morning Beach Soccer Crew

Ocean Sunrise

Me and Mah Boy Elder Van Zyl

Zone Activities at Foul Pointe (That's a coconut)

Elder Ulrich, my MTC comp/current Zone Leader

Life is Great

Dear everyone,

This week was another one for the record books. No, we didn't set any records, to be honest it was a little rough for work, but I wouldn't trade the things that I've learned for the whole world.

The one bright spot work wise was a new family we found, Aristad and Rina. We tracked in to them late at night, at that time when you start getting dirty looks from people and everyone starts yelling or locking their doors. Aristad met us at the door and let us right in. He is a very faithful and smart guy, but confessed to us that he hadn't been to church for a few months. I asked if missionaries had ever taught him before, and he said no, but he told us how he already has a "Mormon Bible". We asked him to get it, and he came out with one of the oldest and most worn Book of Mormons that I have ever seen. I instantly recognized it as one of the very first Malagasy copies ever released, clear back in 2004. It had no references and no topical guide at the back, which made it really thin. Anyways, the lesson went great, he seems very prepared and loves to learn, and so hopefully we will be able to see him progress and move forward over the next couple of weeks.

Other than that, in studies this week I started reading from the Pearl of Great Price. First, in chapter 1, Moses sees the Savior Jesus Christ. He is taken up and beholds the glory of the Lord, and when they conversation was over he fell to the earth and said of the experience "Now, for this cause I know that man is nothing, which thing I never had supposed." Later, after the devil had tempted him, The Lord again appeared and showed him this world, yea the whole earth and everything in it. He saw mountains and rivers, forests and oceans, and all that the Lord had created here. He and the Lord spoke for a moment about it all, the beauty and the power of all the Lord had created, and then the Lord said something to Moses which hit me just a little harder this time.

For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.

I thought about that for a long time. I thought about the eternal life of man. I thought of our Heavenly Father's plan for us, and the wonderful potential we each have to become like Him. As He says here, mankind is and always will be the greatest. All of the mountains and the oceans, the tempests and the great storms, all of the power and majesty of all that He has created is nothing compared to the potential of a single soul. We are His greatest creation, and He loves us more than we could ever understand. I am so grateful for this opportunity to come here to earth, to learn and to grow. I am especially grateful for the Atonement of our Savior that enables us to return to him again. Love you all so much

Elder Jensen

Scripture of the week: Moses 1:39

Just Another Day in Paradise- July 24, 2017

Dear Family,

This week was great. A lot of our investigators have been going on vacation lately since their school just got out, and most of them won't be back until after I am home, but hey, that just gave us time to find even more cool people!!!

Some of my favorite people that we have found this week were Dino and Clemondine. They are siblings, Dino is 20 and Clemondine is 14. They are living here in Tamatave going to school, but their parents are about 100 kilometers away. They are both super smart, but they live in a really small house and are kind of just scraping by. Dino is actually in his second year of medical school. Like I said, really smart. We went to visit a less active bebe (bay bay) (grandma), and she wasn't home, but the neighbor's door was open so we went and talked to them and they let us right in! I guess Dino has been coming to our English class for a while now and even already has a book of Mormon that he's been reading, even though he has never taken the missionary lessons. They weren't able to come to church this week, but they have accepted to be baptized! They are progressing very well and I am super excited for them.

That's all I have to say this week, I'm kind of short on time, love you all so much,

Elder Jensen

Scripture of the Week: Ether 12:4