Monday, February 20, 2017

Elder Jensen,

I am writing this on Sunday before you e-mail.  Tyson and Shad are coming out in an hour.  I went to church, had a Valentine steak dinner for dad and the girls (I've tried all week and everyone's life is always too busy to sit down altogether), took a nap, and then worked on your blog.

Yesterday Halle, Ashtyn, and I left at 7:45 for a volleyball tournament in SLC and we got home at 7:45.  That was one long day.  Halle did great but the outcome for her team wasn't the best. That's o.k. maybe next time.  Nicole was there and we chatted a lot.  She is a good friend and you can count on her to give good advice.  The girls and I plan to go see her new place and see her apartment sometime. 

I am so proud of you and from the knowledge I have your mission will help you lead a family and help you to have GOD be #1.  I love you Cam and I hope you know the confidence and faith I have in you.  I love hearing about the relationships you make and those that want the gospel in their lives.  My challenge to you is to include more of your testimony, relationships, or spiritual experiences in what you share.  If you actually put those things in words you will feel it more and others will get the opportunity to grow from you. 

Cameron finished his papers, went to the doctor, dentist, and today was meeting with his bishop.  Then, there will be the stake president.  He has deleted all social media off his phone, reads his scriptures all the time, and put his availability for May 30th!  I think graduation is the 24th... Cam said he will be in school mode still and won't be just hanging out with the buds and girls.  He also saw how hard the holidays etc. were for you and he wants to try and be a little more into it before they hit.  I love watching these boys make these choices.  I am really proud you have been an example to them.

I text dad a few days ago and said something along the line of everything is crazy in life except my hubby, son, and girls.  Dad responded by asking, what else is there? Besides my faith there isn't a whole lot.  You guys are my everything.  I have tried to be the best mom and do everything I could for you kiddos but I hope you know how much you mean to me. Out of everything in life being a wife and a mother has been my greatest feat.  It is hard, I'm not going to lie.  So prepare yourself with all the preparation you can to have a family.  It is the best Cam.  You are the best and I love you.

It's been 6 months!  YAY! 1/4 of the way done...  I can't wait to see your cute face again on Mother's Day and we talk  at home about coming to Brazil just like it was a cruise except better!  We get to hug you!

I love you.  Let me know when you're ready to e-mail...

Cam:  Hi mom, I'm here.

Mom:  Hey son.  How are you doing this week?

Cam:  I am doing o.k.  It was a pretty busy week for us. 

Mom: What happened this week that kept you so busy?

Cam:  We marked 3 baptisms this week.  I hope they all happen though.

Mom:  Tell me their names, ages, and more about them.

Cam:  There is Reijune and Ariele that are a mom and daughter.  The dad of Reijuni will be baptized but he has to get married but can't do that until May.  He will marry with a member.  Daniel is like 15 but he just doesn't really care.  He already passed the interview and stuff with the old missionaries but never got baptized.  

Mom: It sounds like he really needs to have a spiritual experience.  I think you should pray for guidance on what to do.  Which I'm sure you've done.  Maybe you've done more than you think too.

Cam: We have prayed but it won't hurt to do it more.

Mom:  Shad and Tyson came out last night.  It was so good to see them.  I got caught up on life with them.  They filled me in on Preston too.  I gave Kassie, Tyson's number so he could give her advice on apartments and she text him.  He worked that day but maybe one day they can meet.  Do you think they would get along?

Cam:  Oh Kassie...  I don't know, probably. Ha!

Mom: I sent you pictures of all the water and floods.  It is so crazy.  They had let Cutler Dam go and it was bad already before that.  We finally have the crawl space under control but the homes out in Tremonton are in big trouble.  Oh, Jaxie is going to start his papers soon.

Cam:  That is sad about the water. I am so proud of Jaxon!  He will be an awesome missionary.

Mom:  I only have two more weeks left with Cameron, Bayleigh, and Josiah.  I will sure miss them.  So did you get grammy's, Marge's, your shirt and hat, and Valentine's packages?

Cam:  Yes, I got all those packages and thank you.  I didn't get the package with my suit coat in it yet.

Mom:  Dad didn't send that package with the 5 day shipping so I figured you hadn't.  It will be there the next time.  I hope...

Cam:  Let me know when you are sending the letter for my friend letters to Becky.  I want to write something specific for it.

Mom:  Ok, write it this week and take a picture of it to send to me next Monday. Luke keeps checking his mailbox since he wrote you a letter, so if you get some time.  It was fun to get together with the missionary moms.  Kort has a Huntsman kid in the fraternity he is in.  He is a return missionary.  Kort really likes him and says it's his favorite return missionary.  

Cam:  That's good he has a friend like that.  Natan thinks you hate him because you didn't return his e-mail.

Mom: I never got his e-mail.  You should know me better than that. I wouldn't ignore him.

Cam:  I told him you probably didn't get it.

Mom: What is his e-mail address and I'll get right on it.  Cam in your pictures your so happy. Don't forget us but for a short time let us go.  I promise you we will be here praying for you! Let the spirit and the joy take over!!! I can't believe how dry it is there.  I wish we could send some buckets to you.  How did the homemade cookies Annie made survive?

Cam:  I love you mom and thank you.  The cookies were good. Natan's e-mail is vitor.santos@myldsmail.net  it's Vitor Felipe Neves Santos

Mom: Dad told me you told him you were having belly problems.  If you are only eating rice, beans, pasta etc. that will bind you up.  Drink 100+ ounces of water a day, especially with that heat.  Add a lot more fruits and veggies!  Also, there are some over the counter medicines.  We may have sent some with you.  Please don't not tell me things.  I worry regardless.  Let me help you if I can. Annie will be driving a day after we e-mail next.  I am excited for her to be in Laurels with me. Sister Hindberg called to get pictures from you. She can't pull them up.  I will get them to her.  She looks forward to your e-mails and is very proud of you. 

Cam: It's crazy Annie will be driving.  I sure like the Hindbergs and miss them too.  

Mom: Oh Cam, I'm so happy you have the gospel and that it's #1 in your life.  In my prayers I tell Heavenly Father that I know I've not been perfect at things but to please help me make sure my kids have the gospel for their future and eternity and my daughter/son-in-laws and grandchildren.

Cam:  Thank you. I love you. I have to go now.  I hope you have a good week.  I love you!

Mom:  I love you!  You are the best and I am proud of you!



GROUP E-MAIL

Hello Everyone,

I hope that you are all good!  This week was good.  We had a conference and due to my area being far away we left the night before and stayed at another mission house.  It was in my old area in Colina. So, I got to see a few people for a minute and it was great!  The conference was good.  We learned a lot of things that we can do to help people receive the true gospel.  It was also great to see all the other missionaries!  Working wise this week was good. We marked 3 people for baptisms for this Saturday.  We have Reijune and Ariele which is a mom and a daughter.  Then, Daniel who is 15.  He has problems with his desire. The old missionaries almost baptized him but he didn't end up being baptized so hopefully we can baptize him.  It rained today so that is great.  There is a big lack of water.  This city here hasn't had water in 2 months.  People have to get water from trucks or wells and carry it back to their homes by buckets.  So, that is a big struggle here.  So, it is great when we get rain! I hope you guys all have a good week and are safe.


Playing Dominoes with Karla and her mom in Colina Ward

After lunch we went to this area that has a bunch of fruit trees.  It's super dry though...

We are playing soccer with the branch again.

Monday, February 13, 2017

Mom: This Saturday and the past week have been filled with worry! We have been pumping water out of the crawl space and the sump pump broke... then we had about an inch + in the basement! The LDS Ward and other churches met to do sand bags. Dad's just went to help Tauni. Her front lawn is a pond! All that snow was sooo great but then it rained and they had to let Cutler Dam go. They said the release would fill bear lake, Willard Bay, whatever reservoirs and Lake Powell in one day😳! Holy stink we have water!

Cam: Holy cow this is crazy!

Mom: Good morning! Ya, the pump is still pumping... it's a nightmare. How's the new place?

Cam: It is o.k. My companion is good, he is funny. Then, there is a young man, Junior who will leave on his mission this year and is just waiting on his call. He goes with us almost everyday. There are a group of  4 girls and they say they love the church. But, their parents won't let them be baptized. I also think that they just like elders.

Mom: I think your probably right. But, I guess if you can bring the gospel to them that works. They had a farewell yesterday in Colina Ward. 

Cam: No,  a lady died that I knew. It was in her sleep. I think that is what it was.

Mom: Was she old or young? I'm sorry. What was wrong with her?

Cam: She was like 40-50 and it was in her sleep. They think  it was something with her heart.

Mom: I thought it said something about Elder Sanchez. I'm going to the Jazz game with dad tonight. 

Cam: Oh, I don't know it could be. Where did you see it?

Mom: I saw it on Instagram.  

Cam: Ha! Ha!  That kid is hilarious...  

Mom: He looks hilarious.  What members have had you to dinner?  Briar e-mailed us last week.

Cam: We don't have very many members have us to lunch here.  There aren't many members.  Some people do it several times per month.  There is one guy who he and  his wife are returning members and they have invited us to dinner about 3 times already.  They are about 25.  He is pretty crazy but they are good!

Mom:  He is coming back to the church? What's his and his wives names? So, what do you eat?

Cam: Their names are Quietero and Samara.  They have two kids.  They are 1 and about 4. There is a thing here called Couscous.  

Mom:  What is Couscous?  

Cam:  It is a food.  You need to look it up on the internet.  They only have it in the North part of Brazil.  It isn't the best.  It is really sorta plain.

Mom: Do they eat it a lot?  What is your house like? Rank it out of all 3 places you have had.

Cam: It is ok.  I have a video of it.  I will send it to you.  It is in the middle.  Yes, they eat Couscous a lot.

https://drive.google.com/a/myldsmail.net/file/d/0B1VEhDiDwayhVHNxTWNZTXhFblk/view?usp=sharing

Mom: I love you!  Did you get packages or is that tomorrow?

Cam: I will see Wednesday when I go to the offices. 

Mom: What do you like most about Perez?

Cam: He is just really cool and we get along good. 

Mom: Who is your favorite family to visit?

Cam:  I like to visit Junior.

Mom:  Do you have a washer and dryer?

Cam: We have a washer but no one in Brazil has a dryer, we use a clothes line.

Mom:  What day does Brother Christoffersen come?

Cam:  He comes on March 11th.  I have to go mom.  Have a good week.  I love you!

Mom:  I love you son!




 you see it.

Hello Everyone,

I am here in an area called Viçosa.  It is a smaller town, that has some farm land and little hills not mountains like Utah. It is a little less then 2 hours from the big city Maceió. My companion is Elder Perez from El Salvador. He is good. He has 1 month more than me in the mission. We get along good. We have some investigators but all 4 of the their moms won't let them be baptized. So, we have some work to do there.  Then, we have another investigator that will get married in May then he will baptized.  We have 2 weeks until the big holiday here. It is called carnival which is crazy like Mardi Gras in Louisiana. We play soccer every Monday with our branch and I am getting better. Today I straight dominated them. I told them to start calling me Neymar. I was scoring all over them Brazilians. 

photos 

This is the trail we take to get to a members house. 

These pictures are in front of our house.

 I woke up to rain at 2 in the morning and a horse in front of our house. 

SNAIL MAIL  1/22/17

Dear Mom,

Hi mom, how are you doing?  I am o.k.  Today is 5 months of the mission.  Which is crazy!  Nothing really special happened.  We just went to church then taught a little.  None of  our investigators went to church so that sucks.  Luis's girlfriend/wife left and hasn't come back for 4 days.  She was way drunk when she left so he has been worried about that!  Tomorrow is p-day and we are going to a river with a bunch of young men so that should be fun.  I like them a lot so that'll be fun!  It will be cool to see.  It is  forest valley to the river so it will be pretty!  I am excited to talk to you guys tomorrow!  How is school and your students?  How is the River Ward?  What has happened in the ward?  How are the missionaries there? This week was fine! We just worked and taught.  Our house here is nice.  The bishop of the other ward lives next to us.  Then, another member lives above us. There are 4 missionaries in our house.  Me, another American (he is from St. George and is nerdy), and then 2 more Brazilians.  Our house is in another area so we have to walk to get to our area which kind of sucks and gets old.  I love and miss you!!

Elder Jensen

February 6, 2017

GROUP E-MAIL

Hello Everyone,

So this week was an interesting one. To start things off, on Monday night the assistant to the president called and said that there was an emergency early transfer.  He told me that I was being transferred. The reason was that there was a problem with the sisters in one area and a guy was stalking them.  He was showing up at their house and waiting in front for them at night. So, they were moved and I was put there with Elder Perez to solve the problem. The area is Viçosa it is out of Maceio. It has some little mountains and more farm land. It is not a ward here it is a branch. So far it is o.k.  I do not  have much to base it on yet. This week we just got to know the members and this coming week we will begin teaching. Here it is still hot, hot, hot. It is sad to hear the patriots won the super bowl again. But, great to hear that Dak Prescott from the Cowboys won rookie of the year. GO COWBOYS!! Super Bowl 2018!!

Gostavo a young man in the Tabulerio Ward

         My new area my companion Elder Perez from El Salvador

My new area Vicosa

           

Elder Jensen and mom's e-mail

Cam:  Hello, I am here.

Mom: Good morning! You're earlier today!!! Yay!

Cam: Yep, I was transferred last Tuesday on an emergency transfer. There was a guy stalking the sisters so they were moved and I was brought here.  I am in Vicosa with Elder Perez from El Salvador.

Mom: Really?  Maybe that's why I couldn't shake that feeling all week!  I wasn't really worried anymore than normal but I just couldn't stop thinking of you and that there was something happening. So tell me how it is there and how your companion is.

Cam: My companion is cool and I am thankful for that.  I don't like it here like my old ward.  It was sad saying bye to Genilson and his family.  His mom hugged me and told me how much they loved me and that I am their favorite.  They were like my family mom.  Genilson and I cried.  He told me I was his best friend and how he will miss me.  Then, they gave me a Maceio hat to remember them.

Mom: Oh Cam!  I knew you would love the people!  So did the big guy! Imagine me crying now... Remember you didn't want to leave Colina?!?!  This is obviously a struggle you are going to go through .  You truly love and care about people!  Remember we get to meet them! What about Luis and Christina?

Cam: Christina cried and asked me to come back for her baptism. I will ask my president to go back there since he cut me to resolve a problem. Luis was really sad too.

Mom: That's a good idea!  Remember though that you love each place you serve and are sad to leave. You will go where he wants you to go. Has Elder Perez always been a member?  What is his family like?

Cam: I know. I'll go back there. Elder Perez was baptized when he was 9 with his parents.

Mom: Does he have brothers and sisters?  What do you think of my snowmobile trip?

Cam: He has two brothers that are 14 and 4.  Your trip sounds fun.

Mom: Is there anyone there that you have started teaching or that is interested?

Cam: Not yet... I have a favor to ask you.  Can you send my suit coat today and is it to expensive to have it here in a week?

Mom: Have you got Grammy's, Grandma Marge's or Dad's package yet?  I don't want to send your coat if you're not going to get it..

Cam: I don't know because I don't go to the office like I use to.  I will be there Tuesday and that's why I want my suit coat sent priority.

Mom;  It is going to be like Christmas again when you go to the mission home and get all those packages. You have four packages that have been sent with the 5-7 day.  I will send your suit coat too.
It is like 45 degrees now and there has been rain.  With the hot temperature and rain the snow won't last long . What is your apartment like?  Is this apartment and town nicer or close to the same as your other area?.

Cam: I think it is poorer. Can you send my suit coat then?  I want it for March when Elder  Todd D. Christoffersen is coming.

dMom:  We need to see if dad can if you want it sent today.  I'm sure he will!  I love  you very much and I think I had  mother's intuition this week.   I didn't know of the transfers this week but I do know that I was worried about you,  What is a food you're really enjoying?
;
Cam:  I like the fruit maracja and there is a really good maracja mousee.

Mom:  Can you write my students something in Spanish?

Cam:  oi aula de senhora jensen. como vocês estão. eu estou bem aqui em brasil, aprendendo português. Natan and Neves  

I love you mom.  Have a good week. I do love you!

Mom: I love you Cameron L Jensen.  Have a good week.  Love you!