August 27, 2012...............11:27 a.m. E-mail From Mission President

Hello

Some of you have not been receiving my emails. We are sorry but hope all parents get this one.

Missionaries from the Mobile and Pensacola zones are here in Tallahassee and will stay in the church next to the mission home. Fort Walton Missionaries will go to the Crestview Building. The Dothan, Tally and Tifton missionaries will remain in their apartments.

I’ve been coordinating our response with the support of our area seventy, FM (building) specialist, weather specialist, and stake presidents. We feel like all missionaries are safe with our present plan.

The hurricane is presently aimed at New Orleans but could still change directions and land as far east as Destin, thus, we’ve removed all missionaries from potential danger.

The missionaries are having a GREAT time! Local members here in Tally are lining up to feed these refugees. They might gain weight as a result of such Christian behavior. We are working to coordinate members in Crestview helping to feed those.

We know you have some anxiety at home but rest assured that missionary safety is our highest priority and we won’t take any chances. However, continue to pray for us.

We not only have the best missionaries in the church…….we have the best and most supportive parents. Thank you!!

President Jensen

August 26, 2012...........4:46 p.m. E-mail from Mission President

Hi Parents,                    

The storm is taking a westerly route so at this time the Tifton and Tallahassee zone look to be out of the hurricane zone. The Dothan zone looks to be uneventful as well. However these zones will still get heavy rain.

The target area is now from Destin to Baton Rouge. My main concern is getting our Mobile zone missionaries trapped in Mobile because there is a tunnel and bridge that leads out of the city going east. Thus, I’ve just called them and ask them to evacuate tonight, just to be on the safe side. They will go to Crestview and stay in the church there.

The Panama City, Fort Walton and Pensacola zones will still be affected but there is still plenty of time to have them move as evacuation routes are good.

Our options are much better now because half of our mission is out of the storm path. Previously, it looked like the entire mission was hurricane territory.

Again, we will do all possible to keep your missionary safe.

Hope all is well where you are.

President Jensen

The hurricane just went awry, so it will miss us. No hammer and nails this time. haha, we will continue to do our missionary work in the pouring rain. At least there won't be high winds! The work is in a steady progression. We have had a slow week, but it's alright, there can't always be perfect weeks! I do have three, but I can't trust the post office anymore. I'll have to send it via European swallows. Apparently they are good at taking things long distances....;) I will send it sometime, I'm not for sure when, because it seems that weeks go by like days, and it is easy to put things off. I didn't write in my journal for a week, and I thought it had only been two days! It's weird that school started again, now there aren't kids roaming the streets like there used to be. Now we have to coordinate more with appointments, especially with families! I have seen my first brown recluse spider, it was stationary and I walked away, we were weed eating and it was near the grass. I have an awesome picture of this huge banana spider. It was just smaller than my opened hand. The lady didn't even know it was in her front yard! Thanks for the Ipod as well.

Yesterday we had our baptism! I was lucky enough to baptize him. It was real good. Afterwards he told me, with a big smile on his face. "I feel real good!" It was a neat experience, being my first time to perform the ordinance. I was praying hard to make sure everything went right, and that I wouldn't mess up! The pants were extra long, but that's alright. I didn't have anytime to get them seamed. Thank you so much for the pants again!

There also was another special experience we had. We visited a lady who had to go to the hospital a couple days ago, but couldn't get in, so sunday we went again to give her a blessing. She was real appreciative, and also made sure to ask if we could help with her lawn, which is an actual blessing, because her husband wouldn't let anyone do it, thinking we were doing it to convert him. As we were walking to our car, someone told us to freeze. Drue was there with his step dad and we walked over and talked with them. They were there because his mother was in the ER with chest pains, possibly a heart attack. They said there was no positive signs of it, which was good, but she needed a blessing. We walked in, and went to the curtain enclosed room where she was sitting on the bed, her face red with pain and tears in her eyes. We talked, and joked for a short while, trying to make the situation less tense. My companion then began with the anointing, and during that I was praying hard that I would have the spirit enough to end her pain. I let Heavenly Father know that I was going to bless her with relief to her pain, that she really needed it, and that I will follow the spirit for the rest. As I placed my hands on her head, she stopped me, because another wave of pain came, and she needed pressure on the front of her shoulder. After that passed I continued and said it. When I closed, she looked up at me and I could see the relief in her expression. She said the pain had passed! The redness of her face changed to her natural color, and she was very grateful. We learned that she is still at the hospital, the nurses are having her take heart medicine, but I do know from that experience, that priesthood blessings do work. That even though I was super nervous about giving one at a time of crisis, that I received help, and was able to be led by the spirit!

It's good to hear from you, and I hope that all continues to go well! Love y"all!

Hurricane Update

 Hey, just checkin in with y'all. There is going to be a Hurricane going through the south, but since I'm so far north I don't think we have much to worry about. The folks around here say it's going to turn into a tropical storm by the time it gets to us. Our mission is taking precautions and making sure we are all alright. Just letting y'all know. I might or might not be able to email monday, but we'll see. It's going to be interesting going through a hurricane... And don't worry, I won't do anything stupid! :)

Hey, sorry, I think I'm a size 38... but don't justify my size by dad's, he has been doing Insanity so he is losing weight as I'm gaining! Thanks for the package, I just barely got it, and haven't looked in it yet, but I look forward to it! The memory card wasn't stolen, I just believe some missionaries wanted to see the pictures I had in there! I'll do some investigating....? The NBA is getting weird....I won't know anybody on our team when I get back! But I'm glad CJ is gone. :) Anyway, I found that I need the baptismal pants, our investigator asked me to baptize him this weekend! Well, it was more along the lines of a coin toss... Hopefully these other pair fit perfectly! He has been doing great, he's done with the first set of lessons, and has given up lots of things for good. He is going to have a hard week!

Nothing too serious has been happening, the area continues to improve, and we just need to stay busy. This past week has been slower, but we still had good numbers. It is very interesting thinking about my position out here. There is so much hanging on us. We could choose to be very disobedient and do whatever we wanted, or be lazy and just stay inside where it's cool, but instead we choose to be out and stay busy. It's pretty neat to think how much we actually control out here. We had a lesson with a family who hasn't been to church in many months, and they committed to do it every week. I don't know if my patience is wearing thin or if I am not scared of tense situations anymore, but I am finding myself confronting them about it and finding out the real reason why they aren't showing. I found myself telling a man that if he believes that our church is true that nothing should be able to stop him, that even though the other church is more "fun" that he knows to come to our church. I could see the guilt on him, but I needed to make sure he knew what he was doing. I find that sometimes we are too scared to lay down the line. Especially in those make or break situations. I have found myself justifying lazy acts and I get on myself for doing that. But if I learn anything out here, it's how to be stern and direct when it comes to those times when wrong is happening and it is being justified. Our President just sent an email saying that things in these times are being more black and white. The good is becoming more good, and the bad is getting more grossly wicked. What's awesome about our new investigator is he is choosing the good part. He doesn't ask what he can't do, he asks what he needs to do, he is very inspiring. He came a long way to be where he's at now. In fact, he told us many stories about bar fights last night. His wife told us many times how she can't believe how he has changed. Her mother doubted his change, saying she will come to our church if he successfully gives up smoking and drinking. God truly prepares people he needs in his cause. This man is going to be a great influence in the church.

We have been working hard, we are trying to get the members involved so that it continues to progress. Continue to be a good influence on that Catholic lady, when the time comes don't be afraid to invite her to learn from the missionaries, and always bear your testimony! And if she refuses, don't be afraid to knock over some more cactus's! :) Just joking, don't do that!

Tell Jameson marriage first, and if he is still unsure, fast, pray, date, and marriage again! :) Love you guys and I'll talk to you next week!

August 13, 2012

Cade is right, I stole his charger when I didn't need it, I will probably send it back, if I can find a way. I do have an Ipod, but not one full of gospel music. I have Jameson's old ipod, and it has good wholesome music on it, it would be nice to have the other one too though! :) I don't know of anything I need right now, probably a new pair of baptismal pants... mine are real tight...:) And while you are at it, a couple pairs of dri-lux G's would be great too! My size has increased to 40 I believe. And thanks for the info on foods, it IS super hard to avoid fried food, but I can take off the skins and it will be fine. I have cut down on consumption and slowly dropped, but nothing significant. I do not believe I will make it back down to where I was at. No problem though.

Everything is going good, we did have a rough week this week, nobody was home and we didn't get as many lessons as we wished, but these days are to be expected. We will continue in our work! I have noticed blessings, and also things I personally need to work on that I've been ignorant about, but I've woken up and am dealing with it! Another two weeks and we will have another baptism! No problems so far, he only has to give up smoking and they'll be good, and he is one determined man. Also, we were talking with them yesterday and they said that his wife's mom said to them that if he gave up smoking and drinking that they would attend our church also! I think she was just showing her lack of support, but I know when he quits that he will hold her up to it! It will be great!

The extreme summer temperatures are coming to an end, halfway through it! Now the football teams are starting to practice down here, many people are excited! It's weird to think that I left right after football season, now it's starting up again. Question, will I be back in time to enter in the church ball league? That is what I'm missing most out here! Every P-day we play basketball and I'm working on my dribbling, although my shots are way off. Tell the guys they better watch out! Also that I grew 5 inches, just to scare them...:) not really though.

I feel I'm at the climax of this area. I know the ward real well, I can get around without directions from my companion, and now I know the main people we need to focus on. Now just creative ways to get known, and get in doors! That will be the fun part.

I finally got the letter! Thank you for the pictures! When I got it someone already opened it, it has been through three pairs of missionaries though, I know nothing has been taken. They did a horrible job taping it back up again so I know it wasn't the post office! :) No worries though.

Love you guys and I'll email y'all next week!

August 6, 2012

Well, first of all, Brandon is shaving his brother's head, because it's haircut time. His brother ran away because he didn't want it cut. That's why he was bringing him back. (Notice he looks both ways before crossing the street!) It was luck, one out of 100 pictures, that I was able to get that bolt. I had a video, but I erased it on accident... Every time we go to Bishop's house, there is a looming storm coming in. Usually they come at night, it's real cool to see.

This week has been really good. We were able to do well, and have picked up the area quite a bit. There is still much work to do to get it rolling. We have two people real close to baptism. One wants to take the lessons slow, and another is getting baptised in three weeks! One we are working with right now is doing super well. He is the most golden investigator I have ever seen, and probably will ever see! Every time we go and have a lesson, he doesn't have a problem with what is taught, and is willing to do anything he needs to do to get baptised! He used to smoke a pack and a half a day, and also drink but is giving it up. Yesterday was his first day giving it up! We all fasted for it, now we need to see how he's doing! He is super prepared, and God is helping him with everything! The cool thing is that he knows it too! He told us his story, and he went from getting paid 100,000 dollars a year, and having a big home, a nice boat, and a jacked-up four wheeled truck, not to mention his small pack of goats! He lost all of that, he was laid off, and had to move to a less expensive place. He was cheated out of his home, and sold his toys for much less than what they were worth. He even lost his 800 dollar wedding band playing with dogs. He went through everything, but I know that God has a much higher purpose for him. He is respectful, honest, and hard working, VERY hard working! He is doing everything right, and God gives him little signs to show that he is on the right path. Yesterday he showed us something real funny. I took a picture of it. The night before Fast Sunday, preparing their meal before fasting, he cut a potato in half and noticed something funny, and shocking. The grooves on the inside of the potato were in the shape of a cross! God has a sense of humor! We are very much looking forward to getting him baptized, and giving him a calling, then working on his parents next!

We are being very blessed out here. The most frustrating thing right now is working with less-actives, but God will find a way for them. Our mission president is pushing us to be Book of Mormon scholars and so we have been working hard on that. Those stacks of paper are scripture mastery cards. He challenged us to memorize all of them and more that aren't in those stacks. I'm on 21 memorized right now. There is a missionary who memorized 200 scriptures! He is way cool also, not a huge nerd. Another missionary has memorized the first three chapters of the book.... I don't feel pressed to do that, but I'm working hard with what I got.

Our fridge is full of left-overs, so we don't have to buy any food this week. I have found that the biggest challenge is to keep my weight down... Now I understand what you and Dad go through! I have managed to keep my weight at 225, and am trying hard to lose some. Luckily it isn't all fat! So don't tell all of the relief society that I'm getting chubby down here!

I love you guys and I'll talk with y'all next week!