Subzero Baby

Good morning everyone and happy Monday! This week was pretty awesome, if I do say so myself. To start let's just say I learned some valuable lessons this week. #1. It gets cold in some parts of the world, really cold. #2. Some people believe that the Sabbath is on Saturday. #3. All work usually stops when it gets super super cold -- except missionary work! This week it got to the negatives, but not too low, just like - 6 but this next week on Wednesday its going to be insane like the high is - 20!! #wishusluck

So this week on Tuesday we were going tracting and it was raining, yeah that's no biggie right, sometimes it rains! In fact I was super happy that it just wasn't snow! But guess what, apparently when it's only 7 degrees outside the rain freezes as soon as it touches the ground! Next thing I know it the whole neighborhood we're in is like some giant ice skating rink! So I was walking like normal and then a;lsidjfpoiaejfoipqjwe there I go I'm on the ground. Elder Jensen is laughing because I biffed it, I'm laughing because I biffed it, and it didn't hurt because I had so many layers on that it just felt like I fell on a pillow or something!

Anyway, it was all fun and games until I was walking, slipped, biffed it, and naturally my foot swings up and nails elder Jensen's leg, trips him too, he biffs it. So we're both on the ground like "what just happened, hopefully nobody saw us except I kinda wish somebody was filming us because that would make a funny fail video" so we walk up to the next house and instead of the house we knocked on their neighbor opened the door. "Are you OK?!"...... Great.... Someone did see us! So we offered them what we offered everybody. She just told us we're nuts and that we're probably going to get hurt. So after that we walked much cautiously although I'm very sure that ice skates would've been a great option for that day. 

With this cold weather we were in a place called Cedar Lake where they have a big lake called Cedar Lake. The lake was completely frozen over. Like 4 inches thick ice too. So when Elder Jensen and I were walking past it we had to go get on the lake and take a picture because how cool is this super frozen lake! So we did just that and it was super gnarly. Apparently once the ice gets 7 inches thick on the lake they do ice races where they have motorcycles and trucks out on the lake which is super crazy that the frozen lake can hold that much weight. 

So Indiana is the winter wonderland again, but also it's so cold that instead of "walking in a winter wonderland" it's like "walking in a polar vortex of death." But there is lots of snow and ice again and it kinda looks like inside of a snow globe again! Something we've been doing with the cold is knocking with a golf ball instead of with our knuckles because when you have fat gloves on knocking on the door sounds like you’re throwing a pillow at the door. So we are adapting to the cold. 

So since I get to teach district council now, I make the whole district role play on my boy Austin whose face is on my water bottle. Elder Condie shout out to you for being so willing to let these Indiana missionaries practice teaching to your face. But it's really fun and I've enjoyed it a lot. It's definitely way cooler than district leader in the MTC because all you did there was get mail and I don't even know how to get the mail anyways! 

So last of all, one of the people we're teaching is a 7th day Adventist. He invited us to his church, so why not!? We went with him and it's on a Saturday because they believe the Sabbath is on the Saturday. It was so classic like your average Christian church except like the only difference is it's on Saturday. The people there though are all super nice and really open-minded actually so we probably got some new teaching opportunities from this haha. However one really old lady was trying to convert me and gave me a book about "why Sabbath is on Saturday". Honestly that's like all they have to offer! Like who cares what day it's on as long as you dedicate a day to the lord! We don't know if it was even Sunday when Jesus gave the sacrament to the people so haha I don't really know why it's so important but she gave me the book and I gave her a book of Mormon so this should be interesting. They were great people. 

Seeing other churches has been really eye opening and being in this area has strengthened my testimony quite a bit. Most people in this area are content with the way they live, they don't want change. But also they don't really even see what their church has to offer them. All these churches out there, how do we know which ones true? Most people just stick to the one they're raised in. But every once in a while you'll find those people out there who are seeking for the church that it speaks of in the Bible. Because the Bible says that there's just one. And when we follow the example of the prophet Joseph and ask God, we will find his church. I'm grateful to be a part of it. I'm grateful for all it has to offer me in my life and for others, because it has the priesthood authority and even a way we can know, the Book of Mormon! There is no other church out there that has as much to offer as this one. I'm grateful for the opportunity we each have to all have our own conversion story, and to all find out for ourselves, because that's how God is. If he's like a heavenly father than he'd want you to learn for yourself like a regular parent would. 

This church is true! I love Indiana! I hope everyone has a great week and stay warm! (Except for you St. George people you don't even know haha) 

-Elder Jared D. Jensen

Pics

1. In memory of Tanner, Trevor and Tracen. 

2. Hebron the promised land

3. Austin peeking out on the snowy road

4. I'm Jack Frost

5. The frozen lake

6. Elder JensenX2

7. My new life