This week was pretty grand if I do say so myself! It really
kinda feels like the winter is over and spring has started, because all the
snow melted and there was even rain this week. This week we had some nice
weather in the 40s which was super nice and I only had to wear like one coat!
so it wasn't the winter wonderland anymore but I am absolutely 110% OK with
that. All the lakes are melting though and that was pretty cool not going to
lie, but they'll probably freeze again in this next week because bam winter is
coming back and it's going to be even colder. The weather here continues to not
know what it's doing :)
This week we had a zone conference that was super
legendary. President Bingham as usual uses some doctrinal fire to scorch our
weak missionary minds into missionary mode and they always make us super
excited to work. This one was completely focused on the savior, and a lot of
the saviors birth too. It definitely blew my mind and I can't wait for the next
one. Seriously this president man is a wizard.
So also at zone conference all the Christmas packages
came for all the missionaries and so elder Buckway and I put them under the
tree and it looked all cute for about a solid two seconds and then elder
Buckway definitely dived in and his presents were all opened about 13 days
before Christmas. I attempted to be more patient. So I lasted about two more
days. I guess I need to apologize to my family right now because Christmas is
definitely already over for us haha. But in our defense it's going to pump us
up to work on Christmas!
So our president allows us to check out other churches if
we have time because I suppose it's a learning experience so if we have time,
we're allowed to go to two different church sessions a month to learn a little
bit about other churches. (as long as it's not during our own of course) In
Chicago ysa we literally never had time, but this week we had some lessons
cancel on Thursday night. So we decided to stop by and go to a session of
church at the legendary kingdom hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Honestly they were really friendly people, and we
definitely heard things like "I'm pretty sure you've knocked on my door
before!" and "you're probably wondering why our ministry is such a
success" and then they filled our arms with all these resources like their
cartoon version of Jesus the Christ (which their Jesus has short hair I'm not sure
why it's important but to them it is) and their version of preach my gospel,
definitely an interesting experience. They taught us that yoga is of the devil
and so is Halloween and the wizard of Oz. But they were very friendly people
haha :) kinda made me wonder what people think when they visit a church of
Jesus Christ of latter day saints? There's definitely a difference.
We had a dinner appointment with some members and they
had 7 kids and it was like a dream come true and a legendary flashback haha it
was so awesome. 6 boys and 1 girl! so a little different than my good old
family but still the memories it was good stuff. I love being in a family ward.
Also at church we were able to share a quick lesson in
the young men's group, (and here they combine all the young men in one class)
it was super great and the young men here are so awesome. We got to talk with a
lot of them after and they're all so cool. Honestly all the youth in this ward
are amazing.
So my subject. We stopped by a potential person to see if
she had read any of the Book of Mormon at all. She came to the door and we were
like "so what did you think of the Book of Mormon?" and she was like
"it just didn't really make sense because Jesus was too white" and I was
a little confused and not gonna lie I thought she was talking about how Jesus
was wearing white in the picture in front of the Book of Mormon where he's
visiting the people of the ancient America's. So Elder Buckway like instantly
gives up and says, "Well if you're ever interested here is our card!"
So I go and give her a card and I was like "Do you
mean Jesus is wearing white?" Because the card I gave her was that same
picture. And she said "No, Jesus is white. Look at the card," and she
kinda laughed like we were idiots and we walked away and Elder Buckway said
it's the black Jesus theory. Apparently a ton of people in northern Illinois
won't listen to us because "our Jesus" is white. So anyways I thought
that was kinda funny especially because I never heard this in Chicago where
it's a melting pot but I hear it in Indiana!? This is a pretty not melting pot
haha. So just a funny story because I don't really know why it matters too much
but many believe that black Jesus is the real deal.
Yesterday, the last day of this week we were able to
teach a person and his friend. We found this guy tracting and he invited his
friend to listen in. Both of them were Christian and while we were teaching
them it just really grew my testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ once more.
These people had sincere questions that I knew the Book of Mormon would be able
to answer! Every time we're able to teach these truths it builds my testimony
of them even stronger. The Book of Mormon is the word of God and it was
translated by Joseph Smith. It is the tool to gather Israel. If you don't have
a testimony of this, then get one! Literally we can know just by asking God. I
know that the book of Mormon has answered my questions.
This week I was able to read 2 Nephi 29 which is the
legendary "A Bible we need no more Bible blablabla" and I was loving
this because as a missionary in Indiana that's pretty much what you hear every
day! It kinda just made me laugh. The Book of Mormon clarifies those truths
that we need to have the fullness of the gospel. It is true! I'm grateful for
it and the Bible. They are the simple answers to a lot of questions we have.
I think that about sums up my week. Thanks for everyone
who sent Christmas stuff yall are legends and it means a lot! Hope everyone has
a fantastic last week before Christmas! :)
Elder Jared Daniel Jensen
Pictures:
1. Christmas time!
2. I attempted to make a Durangos plate with microwave
burritos
3. A priest in the ward who is my homie
4. The Jehovah’s short-haired Jesus
No comments:
Post a Comment