Fun times in the Netherlands

Dear family and friends,
Let me just apologize in advance, this will be a short letter because we are meeting as a zone today for the Turkey Bowl! This means that we have to leave early to travel to Den Bosch, but hopefully it will be fun. Pray that I don't get run over as I try my hand at football! :P
So, some quick highlights from the week: First, I had my first exchange with our sister trainer leader this week! It was fun to have a different companion for a day and to see how she does the same work, but with her own ideas and personality. Missionary work really is for everyone who is willing to go!
On Friday I spent 9 1/2 hours on trains to travel up to Rijswijk to get my residency permit. I was a little stir-crazy by the end of that day, but it was all good because now I'm officially legal to live here! :) That night we also had a movie night with our ward. Not very many people came, but those who did had a great time. We watched "Ephraim's Rescue" and it was very inspiring.
A note about the Netherlands: in more ways that just with the weather, it really is like home. Everything that is stereotypical about Portland is actually true in the Netherlands, with bikes everywhere, recycling everything, etc. In fact, you actually do have to bring your own bag to the grocery store, or else you get to buy one there! For those of you who have seen the Portlandia episode about forgetting your bag, it is a real thing here. And it happened to us this week, haha! Mom, I'll send you a picture about it. :)
A quick spiritual thought for y'all: This week in my studies I somewhat accidentally ended up reading Moses 7, where Enoch is talking with the Lord. He is shown basically the history of the world, and he repeatedly weeps and asks when the earth will rest. I think that as we all look back through history and at the world around us today, we can see why Enoch would be so upset. However, when the whole vision is over and Enoch has seen the 2nd Coming, the Millennium, and the cleansing of the world that goes with it, it says that he "received a fulness of joy." I was just thinking about how it is such a blessing for us to have the Plan of Salvation. Even though we may not see the events of it in a vision, we can still have faith in the perfection of the plan and in the happiness that it will bring us if we are righteous. How wonderful is that!

Well, I must away. But I love you all and have a wonderful week!!

-Zuster Jensen

Forgot my bag :)

Real Dutch windmills! ;)

Life Is Interesting

So, this week has had a couple of weird and challenging moments, but there's been fun times too and overall it's great! Last week on the 11th it was some sort of holiday here. I'm still not sure what exactly they were celebrating, but everyone was dressed up in crazy costumes and there were people everywhere in the centrum of the city! We tried to avoid huge groups of people but it was still very interesting.
We had some adventures with food this week! So the elders that serve in our ward had half a pumpkin that they gave to us, so we tried to make pumpkin chocolate chip cookies out of it. However, we didn't have a recipe so we just guessed at the ingredients and amounts, and the batter doesn't really bake into cookies. However, we discovered that it does make pretty good pancakes, so that was a fun accidental surprise! Also, on Friday some members in the ward took us to this little diner place for a "surprise." Turns out, they sell hamburgers there that are bigger than my head! I had no idea what to do with it. It had like 3 meat patties on it, as well as a bunch of onions, boiled eggs, and some sort of sauce. It was pretty good, but I could only eat able 2/3 of it. :P
Some sad news - last night our bikes were stolen from the train station. :( However, luckily there are a couple of bikes in the apartment that previous missionaries have left which we can fix up and use. It's interesting how something like that makes so much less of a difference while on a mission! We were disappointed of course, but the work goes on. Something like this makes me realize just how important my purpose as a missionary is, and how material things matter so much less somehow when we're working every day for the spiritual welfare of other people. It is such a blessing to be able to feel that difference in my attitude and to be a part of this work!
Speaking of attitude, while I love this gospel and sharing it, most of you probably know that I am not much of a "people person." Contacting is kind of hard for me because we have to initiate conversations with complete strangers and somehow try to figure out how we can help them through sharing what we know in the short couple of minutes or even seconds that we have to talk with them. As my companion and I were talking about this and about having confidence in talking to other people, I said, "so basically we just have to fake it til we make it- but always be genuine." Haha I didn't realize until after I said it what a paradox that is, but it's so true! I genuinely care about the people we are working for and about the message I'm sharing, even when I'm totally faking the confidence or outgoing attitude I have when I'm talking with other people. I think that as I continue with the work those things will become less different, but in the meantime I think that this can totally apply to what I'm doing, and to anything we have to face in life! You can fake any attitude you need - confidence, happiness, etc. - until it becomes real, as long as you always genuinely care about what you're trying to do and the reasons for doing it. Sorry if that was a bit of a confusing thought, but I hope it helps!
Well, I'm out of time for this week but I love you all and am so grateful for you! Have a wonderful week!

-Zuster Jensen

Time Is So Weird

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! :)

-Lots of love,
Zuster Jensen

I'm Here!!

Dear family and friends,
What a week!! The last letter I wrote was from the MTC, and now I'm here in the Netherlands with so much that has happened I don't even know where to start!
The trip was good, definitely a long flight. It was weird to basically have a 36 hour day where I caught a little sleep here a there throughout... strange. I can't tell if I have jet lag or am just tired from working hard, but I guess I'll use the jet lag excuse for as long as I can! ;)
The first night we were here we stayed in a hotel since there was such a large group of us coming from the MTC. President and Sister Robinson are great! They are very down to earth and encouraging. And my trainer is wonderful! Her name is Sister Reeder from Arizona, and she has been so sweet and encouraging as I've adjusted to being in the field. Which, by the way, I'd guess you're all wondering where my first area is! I am serving in Maastricht, which is a beautiful city down south, still in the Netherlands but in this pocket surrounded by Belgium and Germany. There is actually a US air force base located nearby, so my ward is in English and there are several American families in it. Also, since the members live all over in this area, we are technically allowed to leave the mission boundaries for dinner appointments, which was exciting! For Halloween and American family who lives just over the border in Germany invited us to their house for dinner so I've now been in two European countries, and later this week I'll hard a third since I'll be going to do some legality stuff in Belgium! :)
I have met some of our investigators as well as lots of the ward members. Pretty much everyone is so friendly here! The Dutch people are great- either they'll tell you straight out that they don't want to talk to you, you they'll have a friendly conversation about anything. However, the language is a bit tricky. They speak this weird dialect here called Maastrichts, which has some different pronunciation and vocabulary. It makes it that much harder to try to understand people with my limited MTC Dutch! I can usually get the gist of what people are saying, but I have a bit of learning to do before I can understand enough to respond to more than simple questions and statement. It'll come, though!
I'm so sorry I don't have more time, it being my first p-day here there was a lot we had to do today. However, I'll be sure to write a good long letter next week. Until then, know that I love you all and appreciate all of your love and support!

Tot ziens!
-Zuster Jensen

News from the Netherlands! (from Sis. Robinson)

Dear Parents:

Your missionaries have arrived safe and well in the Belgium Netherlands Mission. We are extremely impressed with their attitude, preparation and diligence. They began working in their new area on Wednesday with our finest missionaries as trainers. They will write to you on Monday and I’m sure will fill you in on everything.

They are in for the most unique experience of their life. We are so pleased to have them join us here in the Belgium Netherlands. Thank you for your faith, commitment to the gospel, and sacrifice to send your sons and daughters to serve the Lord. Many blessings are awaiting your missionary, you and your family through their missionary service. We pray for you while they are away, and they are in our prayers at all times.

Of interest, you are welcome to keep up-to-date with the mission at:
http//belgiumnetherlandsmission.blogspot.com

Again, thank you for your sons and daughters.

Veel liefs, Sister Robinson

Safely arrived!

Last week in the MTC!

Dear family and friends,
Well, the MTC has been fun but it's almost time to leave! The visas and flight plans are here and bright and early Monday morning we'll be setting out on our journey to the Netherlands! Time sure flies, but as I look back at my MTC experiences I can see how much I've grown and learned even in just a few weeks. Although it is work, it is confirmed to me every day that this is where I'm supposed to be, and sometimes I can see how the things I am learning and becoming now will bless and benefit my in the future.
I'm afraid this will be a bit of a short email, as I don't have much time and I don't have many events to report. Just the usual classes and teaching and devotionals and singing and studying and learning and helping and all that sort of thing that goes on here! :) My next email will be from the mission field, so I'm sure I'll have a few more things to talk about then!
I would like to share some thoughts I had after last night's devotional, though. The speaker was Elder Godoy, the same who spoke in the last General Conference. He had some great advice about the "formula for a successful missionary" in Alma 26:22, which was to repent, exercise faith, bring forth good works, and pray continually. All of the points were good, but I was especially enlightened when he told us to "make no excuses for a lack of faith." He talked about how often missionaries will hear that certain areas, missions, companions, etc are hard and difficult to work with. However, if we have faith we can also have miracles. His advice reminded me of the story in Mark 9: 23-24, where a man brings his child afflicted by an evil spirit to Jesus. The man's words, "Lord, I believe; help thou my unbelief" always kind of confused me. Did he have faith, or did he not? I think this question was answered for me last night as I compared it to my own life. Sometimes we say we have faith in the Lord, but when we think about the blessings we are promised or the things we are told we can become (especially in Patriarchal blessings), we doubt that we could ever actually accomplish that. We make excuses! But if are willing to have true faith, to trust the Lord to fix our weaknesses, and to believe miracles can happen in a mission, a family, an individual's life or whatever it may be, the Lord is then able to grant us that miracle. So, no more excuses!
Know that I love you all and appreciate your support and encouragement so much. Cant wait to write you from the mission field!

Hi ho, Hi ho, its off to work we go! :D

Love, Zuster Jensen

District and teachers. Leaving for the Netherlands TOMORROW!

MTC week 4!

Dear family and friends,

So I realized last night that my mission is already 1/18 over. Time flies, and I'm sure it will increase in speed as it goes on! I've already learned so much, and although it's crazy to think of the time gone, I'm so glad that I have another 17 months to look forward to!
Last Wednesday we did in fact have a little celebration, since our time in the MTC was half over. That's what the included pictures are- we wanted to have a pinata, but resources are limited in availability when you're in the MTC, so we ended up filling a (clean) trash bag with candy we have been sent from home, decorating it when sharpies and stickers, and then Sister Manning (a sister in my district) went at it with a hairbrush. :) The "party" only lasted a few minutes, but it was fun to have a second to relax, enjoy each other's company, and think about the things we've already learned and the experiences we've shared together. Missions are awesome!
I don't have a whole lot to report as far as events this week- MTC life is pretty much learn, teach, learn, teach, freak out about learning, freak out about teaching, have amazing spiritual experience, learn, teach, etc. :D However, I did want to share my notes from the devotional we had last night because I think they can apply to everyone, not just missionaries.
The devotional was by Larry R Lawrence, of the seventy. He talked about 4 tactics of Satan and how we can resist them. Here are my notes:
Tactic #1: Direct temptation. To fight this we must simply send Satan away and replace him with things of God. It is amazing that we have the power to do that; to say, "Satan, get thee hence," and he must go. As we replace his influence with scriptures, hymns, or other spiritual things, he will have no hold over us.
Tactic #2: Lies and deception. We must remember that Satan has counterfeits for all good things, and they are not always direct opposites. Where God has given us white, Satan gives us black, gray or off-white instead. While this is sometimes hard to recognize, we can always rely on God through the Holy Ghost to find the truth.
Tactic #3: Contention. Often this begins with fault-finding. We must remember that all contention is of the devil, as the scriptures say, and that we must avoid it whenever possible. One interesting thing with this that I hadn't thought of before is that Satan cannot know our thoughts; God is the only one with that privilege. Satan can't know what you're thinking unless you tell him. This is why we're told to not murmur, gossip, or otherwise speak evil of one another. Bite your tongue if necessary, but always let kind words be the ones that come out of your mouth.
Tactic #4: Discouragement. This is a huge one, I think especially for those who are trying their best to live the gospel. We must remember that discouragement is not from God, and that we do not and should not surrender to it. Cheer up even if it's just to spite the devil! ;) The speaker mentioned a talk by Ezra Taft Benson called "Do Not Despair," which gives some awesome practical advice for fighting discouragement. He also shared the quote, "Satan trembles when he sees the weakest saint upon his knees." Prayer is such an amazing privilege; every person on earth can have direct communication with an all-powerful being, who loves each individual more than we can comprehend. Don't take this privilege for granted!
I'm afraid I'm now out of time, but know that I love you all. I appreciate your prayers in my behalf and know that I'm sending them your way as well!

Love, Zuster Jensen

The obligatory "point at your mission" picture :)