Cameron's Group E-mail:

This week was good. I had a split with the zone leaders for the last time for my training. Only 3 more weeks of being a trainee. Everything here is going good. I am hoping that we will have a baptism next Sunday. His name is Mateus and is 12 years old. Starting tomorrow I will be teaching English in the church. I will do this Tuesdays and Thursdays. It is my hope to get non-members into the church. Everyone is interested in English. Carla a recent convert is helping a lot and telling people about it so hopefully it is a good turn out and we can contact people and be able to teach them. If you look at these pictures they are when we ran out of drinking water Saturday and it was to late to call and get more. We couldn't buy it on Sunday. So we bought 5 Cokes and a Guarana to make it until Monday. Then we had to buy pizza too. The other picture is an investigator. It was her 15th birthday so we went to her party for a minute to wish her a Happy Birthday!! I hope that you all have a good safe week.

Elder Jensen

Cam: Hello mom, I'm here. How was your week?

Mom: It was an usual week.  Pretty rough... How was your week and that kid you met at the church activity that wanted to possibly get baptized? Have you seen or read anything about "Light of the World" the church is promoting for December? We are going to Ogden to see the Christmas lights on Wednesday for YM and YW.  I took Halle and Ashtyn up to Powder Mountain Saturday.  It was a pain to drive up at 3:00 and help them get passes, leave, and then turn around a go get them at 8:30 but I want her to have it so she can just be able to go when the bus starts.  It seems as though I can never get things accomplished but my family is the greatest accomplishment and sometimes I forget that...  I'm working on that. 

Cam: Good!  Hopefully we will baptize him this Sunday. I am starting to teach an English class Tuesday and Thursday to get non-members to get excited to come to the church to learn English and then hopefully they will want to learn about the church. It's also for whatever members want to come too. I am pretty excited about this. Carla has helped a lot in telling people about it. I am really excited.  I haven't seen the "Light of the World" yet.  It sounds awesome.  That will be fun for the yw and ym.  That is also fun Halle went snowboarding. I am sure she was glad you took her to do that. 

Mom; What a great opportunity to teach them.  You will do awesome! It's dang cold here, like too cold.  If there was snow on the ground it would be ok but only the mountains have snow.  Griswald (AKA dad)put up the Christmas lights.  Grandpa John made his rocking horse and wants to send you a picture.

Cam: Ha! Oh Griswald....  That's so good that Grandpa does that.  I would like to see a picture of it. I got a bunch of letters this week. 

Mom:  How are you doing this week Cam? I am glad you got a bunch of mail!

Cam: I am doing ok.  I am still struggling mom and I am trying really hard not to.

Mom: It isn't going to be easy and I hate that you are struggling.  Remember everyone you talked to said they struggled too and it really took about six months.  You wouldn't be happy here Cam.  Even talking to others that have come home. They say it's like they were lost!  You need to let the thought of home and what you are missing go.  I know that's a lot harder than it sounds.  You can do this! Turn to Heavenly Father and give all of yourself to him.  Set small milestones, like talking at Christmas and then set another thing to look forward to after that and so on. Those people love you and need  you too much.  I LOVE you and I have faith

Cam: o.k.

Mom: You don't need to just say ok.  I am your mom and you can talk to me.  I do know you well enough to know you want to be there and not here and you want this accomplishment in life.  You will get to a point that you will not want to come home.  You are normal and tons of people feel this way.  You are tough and you are my son and I love you more than you will every possibly know. Your sisters have asked about your email so if you haven't yet they are missing you.

Cam:  Thanks.  President Gomes wants to talk on the  phone to me about Elder Neves coming to live with you guys.  I don't know why but I hope it is good. I don't think he will be working in the offices.

Mom: I hope we can help him too. I can't imagine not having family or anywhere to go.  I'll keep him and you in my prayers. I LOVE you and thank you for being the kind boy you are. 

Cam: I love you too.

Mom: Cam, hang in there and pray a lot.  I will too!

Cam;  I gotta go.  I will talk to you soon.  I love you!

Mom:  Talk to you soon.  Remember your mother loves you!

*Before Cam left Tyson told us not to say goodbye but to say, "talk to you soon".  Cameron and I have kept that going in our e-mails.

Also, today was so good to e-mail Cam but it brings fears and worries to this mom.  I was feeling a little down and out.  I drove in the driveway and a cute non-member neighbor was walking and flagged me down.  She handed me something real quick like and then backed away from the car.  I looked down to find a large amount of money in my hands.  She said I want you to make sure your son gets this to help him out.  We have watched him grow into such a fine young man and we are proud of what he is doing (they had given him $ before he left also).  I couldn't even talk.  I got all choked up and tried to tell her thank you and Merry Christmas.  I think she too felt my emotion.  It wasn't the money... It was a non-member friend is supporting my son on his mission because of the boy he is and the women she is. What a wonderful lady. How Christ like she is to overlook what religion he is but that he is out serving the lord.   Wow!  This had such a positive impact on me and I hope that one day I can be better at overlooking minute things and see more of the good in people.  Examples are great! 

Pray for Cameron this week and all those that he will come in contact with.  The gospel is true...  I testify if you have a testimony and faith that there will still be trials and struggles but our savior is there to lighten our burdens.  This week has been a humbling week for me. My husband mentioned that it was emotionally draining.  That it was, but the blessings surrounding us were so evident to me this week.  I am thankful for my family and all that I have.