Dear family and friends,
Time really is so weird. It feels like forever ago and yet only a minute ago that I was writing my last letter, sitting in the MTC, or even leaving home. Weird! However, it's all good. The days are so full here that I'm never bored! We have a few investigators that we're working with, all at different stages along the way to membership, and several potential investigators that we can hopefully be teaching regularly soon!
As far as events go this week, I went to Brussels last Thursday! That was exciting, especially since we stopped over in Liege and had to get tickets but the machines were confusing and no one would speak anything but French to us... but I can now say from experience that Belgian waffles are indeed delicious! :) I also had my first district meeting in the area. It's a bit of a change from my MTC district which was mostly sisters- this district has mostly elders- but everyone is so friendly and committed to the work. There's this older Dutch man named Harry who joins our district meetings too. I think he might be a ward missionary or something, although maybe not... he just loves the missionaries so much so he joins our meetings and wears his own tag and everything. :)
Sister Reeder is still wonderful, although I discovered something super funny - she is fascinated by moss! Haha coming from the northwest this is highly amusing, since we have it everywhere. However, she is from Arizona and so when we went on a small hike last p-day she kept feeling and looking at the moss on the trees and rocks and stuff... haha. :) She has been a great companion and we work very well together, so that has been a wonderful blessing so far!
I have now met more of the members in our ward as well. They are so great! Everyone in this ward is very supportive of each other and willing to help us with investigators, dinner appointments, etc. I hope that I get to stay here for a couple transfers so that I can really get to know everyone. And this city is so beautiful! There are these old churches that are right where the sun sets each evening as we ride home across this big bridge over the river, and the steeples look so beautiful in the sunset... I just love it.
So I know I've only been in the field for a couple of weeks, but I've been thinking this week about what kind of member I want to be after my mission. I've always been strong in the church, but I don't think I ever really thought about working with the missionaries. I don't know that I ever even really knew truly what they did! I mean, I knew they taught people and stuff, but I never realized just how much thought and work they put into each individual. Along with that, I never realized just how much the members can help with missionary work. I would encourage all of you, wherever you are, to talk to the missionaries in your ward; ask them how it's going, what you can do for them, etc. Look around each week at church and, if there's an unfamiliar face, talk to them and make them feel welcome. Don't be afraid to talk to friends about what you believe and invite them to activities. Create a mormon.org profile- you never know who might become interested because of your individual story and testimony! In D&C 18 it talks about how the worth of souls is great in the sight of God, and also how your joy is great if you bring those souls unto God. That joy is not reserved for full-time missionaries only! There is so much joy for everyone who helps anyone to come even a little closer to God, and I know that Christ and His gospel is ultimately what everyone needs. Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world, the Redeemer of every single person in it, whether they recognize it or not. Share the happiness you have with others and it will be returned and increased to you! :)
Time really is so weird. It feels like forever ago and yet only a minute ago that I was writing my last letter, sitting in the MTC, or even leaving home. Weird! However, it's all good. The days are so full here that I'm never bored! We have a few investigators that we're working with, all at different stages along the way to membership, and several potential investigators that we can hopefully be teaching regularly soon!
As far as events go this week, I went to Brussels last Thursday! That was exciting, especially since we stopped over in Liege and had to get tickets but the machines were confusing and no one would speak anything but French to us... but I can now say from experience that Belgian waffles are indeed delicious! :) I also had my first district meeting in the area. It's a bit of a change from my MTC district which was mostly sisters- this district has mostly elders- but everyone is so friendly and committed to the work. There's this older Dutch man named Harry who joins our district meetings too. I think he might be a ward missionary or something, although maybe not... he just loves the missionaries so much so he joins our meetings and wears his own tag and everything. :)
Sister Reeder is still wonderful, although I discovered something super funny - she is fascinated by moss! Haha coming from the northwest this is highly amusing, since we have it everywhere. However, she is from Arizona and so when we went on a small hike last p-day she kept feeling and looking at the moss on the trees and rocks and stuff... haha. :) She has been a great companion and we work very well together, so that has been a wonderful blessing so far!
I have now met more of the members in our ward as well. They are so great! Everyone in this ward is very supportive of each other and willing to help us with investigators, dinner appointments, etc. I hope that I get to stay here for a couple transfers so that I can really get to know everyone. And this city is so beautiful! There are these old churches that are right where the sun sets each evening as we ride home across this big bridge over the river, and the steeples look so beautiful in the sunset... I just love it.
So I know I've only been in the field for a couple of weeks, but I've been thinking this week about what kind of member I want to be after my mission. I've always been strong in the church, but I don't think I ever really thought about working with the missionaries. I don't know that I ever even really knew truly what they did! I mean, I knew they taught people and stuff, but I never realized just how much thought and work they put into each individual. Along with that, I never realized just how much the members can help with missionary work. I would encourage all of you, wherever you are, to talk to the missionaries in your ward; ask them how it's going, what you can do for them, etc. Look around each week at church and, if there's an unfamiliar face, talk to them and make them feel welcome. Don't be afraid to talk to friends about what you believe and invite them to activities. Create a mormon.org profile- you never know who might become interested because of your individual story and testimony! In D&C 18 it talks about how the worth of souls is great in the sight of God, and also how your joy is great if you bring those souls unto God. That joy is not reserved for full-time missionaries only! There is so much joy for everyone who helps anyone to come even a little closer to God, and I know that Christ and His gospel is ultimately what everyone needs. Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world, the Redeemer of every single person in it, whether they recognize it or not. Share the happiness you have with others and it will be returned and increased to you! :)
-Lots of love,
Zuster Jensen
Zuster Jensen
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