So here on left bank it was a strange week filled with meetings. We had a conference for all new missionaries, we had district meeting we had church meetings etc. As a result of all these meetings we didnt have as much time to go finding(Contacting(AKA Walking until you find someone to talk to)). So my legs are not as shot. I am less tired this week, so that is good. We are eating very well, because food is cheap. (It is 25 Greeven to a dollar). Our district is awesome, We have Sister Bonsova, sister Rice, Elder mcleary(Who I went on exchanges with this week.), Elder Biesinger, And elder bunker and myself. We all work very hard, but right now, we are just not getting new investigators. We are going to continue to press forward in faith, and use all our resources and tactics. That means we are going to walk around the city as many times as it takes for someone to take pitty on us and take some lessons. ME and elder bunker have a few potential investigators. The hard thing here is showing people why they need the gospel in their life. One of our potential investiagotors is named Alex. He is about our age and loves soccer and speaks fairly good english. The problem:his faith is a more "Inner" Faith. He does not usually want to talk about the gospel, or Jesus christ, we dont even know what he believes. But he comes and plays pingpong with us on thursday nights, so one day he will come with a question, and that is when we can show him why he needs our message.HE is really promising though. That arabic dude I was talking about blew us off after we finally found an arabic book of mormon. We went to give it to him, and he just never showed up. Elder Biesinger and Elder McCleary have it even tuffer than us. They could really use some prayers. That conference I was talking about was cool, I learned alot, and Sister Sullivan fed us so it was a very good experience, I will sit through any conference all day here if it means I am getting fed!
MOst spiritual/cool thing this week: So on Saturday we did this thing called a companion exchange, so Elder McCleary was my trainer from friday night to saturday night, I slept at their apartment, Biesinger was Elder Bunkers comp. for that same time. So Elder mccleary and I Woke up on Saturday, got ready as usual, and then began studies. They have no potential investigators, so we didnt have anyone to study for. So we studied the role of the book of mormon in conversion and how to use it. We practiced how we would give a book of mormon out several times. After studies we went contacting. We gave out 2 Books of mormon in 40 minutes(That is a good number of books to give out in like half a week here). And then we were out of Books of mormon to give, as well as the 2 Restoration pamphelets we gave. So we turned around and went back home to get more books. Throughout the rest of the day we gave out 2 more books of mormon. It was so cool to see how God guided our study to the book of mormon becasue he knew we would use it that day. It was awesome. 4 Books of mormon in a day is awesome! We also taught 2 street lessons with 2 of those books, but other than that it was a long day. We ate really well, pictures are still stupid, so Ill send them to my mom and then she can send them out to you all if you want them! That is it for this week. Elder Jorgensen
Jax,
First off, I am sooooo sorry about your card not working!!!! It should work now. If it doesn't then let me know asap and I'll go into the bank again. Please tell me you at least have a jacket or have been able to borrow something. Sister Sullivan told me that you haven't tried your card and bought a coat for "exact obedience" She was very proud of you and said you will receive miracles and blessings. I am proud too...but feel terrible that I made you freeze:( Sorry!
We are all doing ok. It has been really strange for me to feel like I can't fix your problems for you. It's an adjustment. I have thought a lot about your last email talking about how Heavenly Father could love all his children and have things be so bad. It reminded me a lot of a talk by Elder Renlund the new general authority.
~~On Tuesday, September 29, Elder Renlund received a completely unexpected call from the Office of the First Presidency and was asked to come to the North Board Room in the Church Administration Building. “I didn’t know where the North Board Room was,” he laughed. He was welcomed there by President Thomas S. Monson and his two counselors. What followed was a very brief meeting in which President Monson said, “Brother Renlund, we extend to you the call to serve as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.”
Elder Renlund immediately found himself without words. Says the former physician, “Wherever the sweet spot is between apoplectic and catatonic, that’s where I was.” He humbly accepted the assignment and, after a few minutes, found himself back in his office, where “I closed the door and fell to my knees.”
The reaction of his wife, Ruth Lybbert Renlund, who he married in 1977, was a source of great strength to him. “She was all in. When I called her, her life changed too.” In the hours that followed, they prayed together and received a witness that “God directed this course.”
This was not the first time that a calling had changed the direction of their lives. “When I was called as a general authority and asked to serve in the Africa Southeast Area presidency, she made the greater sacrifice.” Ruth Renlund left her place as the president of her law firm and positions on several prominent boards to serve with him in Africa. “We were sent there and tutored by the Saints about what really matters.”
Elder Renlund tells of a Sunday meeting in Central Congo when he asked the members repeatedly what challenges they were facing, as he wanted to offer help. After the third time “an old gentleman stood in the back of the room and said, ‘Elder Renlund, how can we have any challenges? We have the gospel of Jesus Christ.’” Elder Renlund’s deep love of the people is evident in his emotion as he tells this story. “When I grow up, I want to be like these Kananga Saints, who pray for food every day, are grateful every day for food, who are grateful for their families. They have nothing, but they have everything.”~~~
I know you are going to see things that are really hard, but keep your faith. You are bringing the gospel of Jesus Christ to these people and if they don't accept it, you are planting seeds for the future. There is hope in life. I watched a documentary on Ukraine of the revolution. It really made me love the people of Ukraine. They are so patriotic to Ukraine, and have so much hope for their futures. It was awesome for me to see, and also a harsh reality of the government. We have it so good here in America!
We are all doing pretty good. We could use your prayers though. I'm still working out the system for Jordy in school, but Jacob is doing better so that is good. Coleman bought a 50 year old car...I can't remember what kind...some classic that he wants to rebuild. Colette is just glad it's not a girlfriend. I saw Sarah this week, she has the package but hasn't opened it. Stacey got the message about the shirt. Stacey got put in the RS presidency as the secretary and I am on the homemaking committee with Robin...so it will be more fun to be with them again.
I am almost finished with my book, so I am excited about that. I am talking with Cedar Fort Publishing so that would be awesome if I actually get it published.
I am really proud of you for serving your mission and for doing so well. I will always support and love you no matter what, but you make that job really easy with your choices. I love you and really miss you. I miss having you around to talk with and hang out with. I miss you being able to talk with Josh about his disrespecting me too. It was a real help to me.
I am really worried about you. I need to know you are doing ok and that you are happy. I want you to be happy and like your comp. Sister Sullivan is awesome with emailing pictures and updates and doing the blog. I have really relied on her emails this week. I was struggling on Monday worrying so much about you and then the next day I got an email from her that said you were happy overtime she sees you and that I should really be proud of you. She said being a missionary looks really good on you. It brought so much peace.
I know you can do this. keep working hard and being obedient. You amaze me and I'm proud to be your mom. I love you so much.
Questions-
1. Are you happy? What is your favorite thing about being a missionary?
2. Let me know asap if you got a coat!!!
3. How is the language coming? Do you understand people? Is it totally different than the MTC?
4. What is the most spiritual experience you have had?
5. Have you bonded with any of the new guys in those trainings? Who?
6. What does your average day look like? How cold is it? How much have you been outside?
7. Do you have any investigators you are working with?
8. How big is the branch you are in?
Well, I love you. I will continue to try to get mail delivered!!!! This week it should work. I continue to pray for you and the people of Ukraine. I love you so much!
Mom
Yes I am happy, and my favorite part of being a missionary is not having to worry about anything that doesnt have to do with the gospel! I have that coat we packed, I am fine, we are getting one today. The language is a lot harder than youd think, I understand enough to know whats going on, and elder bunker says that my grammer is perfect(Which is a miracle). I just need to build vocab. There are no new guys that I didnt already know, but like there is only 40ish of us so we are all pals. We wake up, eat breakfest, get dressed, study for 3 hours, eat lunch, and study for 1 more hour, and then we contact(walk) for 4 hours, eat dinner, then contact again for 3 hours, come home, daily planning, sleep. That is the average day, sometimes we have a lesson instead of contacting. We are out side for like 7-8 hours a day. We have 3-4, but we are struggling to find new ones, and our current ones are struggling with the baptismal commitment. Our branch is pretty big, lots of kids, they always run up and give us hugs, its adorable. My most spiritual experience is hard to pin down but I will write about a miricale in The group email. By mom Love you so much!
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