Jared is Home!!

Jared is home from his mission! It was just three days after Jase's wedding (March 17th) that we learned that the Church would be sending missionaries home early due to Covid-19. We then received an e-mail saying that Jared would be coming home May 27th (three months early). His original date was August 19th. I had mixed feelings about this! I was excited at the prospect of getting to see him in just over two months, but also sad that his mission was being cut short.

Later on the church started sending home missionaries in droves! All foreign missionaries immediately came home (many to be re-assigned to missions in the states a couple of months later). Everyone in Jared's original MTC group got sent home except for him. We wondered if this was because Jared was serving as Assistant to the President at the time. All of Jared's friends also started returning home. If they had served 18 months or longer (which I think was the case with all of his friends) then they were given an honorable release and were home to stay. Other missionaries who had served less than 18 months would be home temporarily and then reassigned to a mission within the states. So at 21 months Jared actually ended up serving longer than most of the other missionaries. He was grateful that he could stay as long as he did.

Jared was such an awesome missionary! I loved receiving his letters each week and always felt so inspired by them! There were so many changes that happened during Jared's mission (Rick points out some of them in the MISSIONARY VIDEO he made for him). Jared still received his call through the mail in a big white envelope -- now missionaries open their calls online on their device. Instead of being nick-named "The Mormons," we are now are to refer to the church by it's official title only, "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints."

February 15, 2019 the church sent out an official letter explaining that missionaries could now call, text, or Skype home on P-days. In the past missionaries could only e-mail and were only allowed to call or Skype on Mother's Day and Christmas. This was a HUGE change! I wasn't sure how I felt about this change at first -- it definitely took some getting used to, but I learned to love it! I felt SO connected with Jared throughout his mission because there was such open communication with him. Then Covid-19 and the resulting quarantine hit the past couple of months and that severely impacted the way missionaries did their missionary work! No more knocking doors -- most missionaries were quarantined to their apartment most of the time. Missionary work was done through social media such as Facebook and lessons were taught through video calls. Amazingly enough the work still continued to progress! As Joseph Smith stated in the Standard of Truth: "...the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly and independent..."

Now back to today...we spent yesterday and today cleaning the house, preparing food, making posters, buying balloons, preparing Jared's room (he is sharing with Josh -- good thing Jase got married just in time so that Jared had a room to come home to, ha ha!) Rick didn't want to leave too early to go to the airport because only the first hour of parking is free and then you have to pay. He originally planned on leaving at 12:45. I told him that was cutting it too close since Jared was flying in at 1:12 and it was a 25 minute drive, so we decided to leave around 12:20 instead.

Good thing we left earlier! Jared's flight was 25 minutes early! We can't fit our whole family in one car and so we drove two separate cars, actually three cars since Jase and Ellen were meeting us there. I rode with Jaiden (she drove to get driving hours) and Rick took the three youngest. Rick and the kids arrived about five minutes before we did. We were just walking into the airport when I heard Rick cheering and looked up to see Jared walking off the plane! We had barely made it just in time! Whew! I was so grateful that we left early! I would have felt so awful if he had walked off the plane and no one was there to greet him! Jared and Ellen arrived just a couple of minutes later as we were taking turns hugging Jared!

He looked great! Jared told us that he gained 30 pounds on his mission! His legs definitely look bigger and more muscular -- must have been all that time on a bike! Rick videotaped him "running" across the finish line! With all of our missionaries Rick has come up with some silly chant and then had a piece of crepe paper representing the finish line that the kids held up while the missionary ran through it. I don't think he had a chant for Janika, but he did have the finish line. Of course Jared did his serious "runner" pose just as Josh had predicted and then he ran dramatically in slow motion as we all cheered for him. He is such a nut -- boy have we missed him!

We came home (we had hung up his mission state flag and also the missionary sign that Jared had made for Jase in Digital Graphics that said "Welcome Home Elder Jensen" with a big picture of the Book of Mormon." Jenna also made a little sign for him and we had balloons hanging up.) We ate Papa Murphy's pizzas for lunch, including a Chicago Deep-Dish style pizza in honor of Jared. Then Jared gave us a really awesome lesson. Rick had Janika and Jase teach a special family lesson after their missions also. Jared said that he had remembered Jase giving his lesson and that it had really impacted him and he wanted to do the same. In fact he asked if he could give the lesson as soon as he got home, before he was released.

He taught about the apostasy and restoration and shared some really neat personal experiences about when he first received his testimony of the Book of Mormon and of the gospel. He said that he only read the Book of Mormon four times on his mission because he really wanted to delve deeply into it and study it instead of just reading it. He said when he finished the first time he prayed really hard to know if it was true. Finally, after much prayer, he had a vivid memory pop into his mind. It was when he went to his first EFY when he was 14 years old. He said that the first couple of days he really had an attitude and thought everything was dumb and that he was "too cool" for all of activities. Then some things happened that changed his attitude and he ended up having a great experience. He said that during a testimony meeting with his company he felt the spirit so strong -- it was literally a "burning in his bosom."

He acknowledged that we don't always feel an actual burning in the bosom when we feel the spirit, but he said that time he did. It impacted him so much. He said that he didn't share his testimony -- he didn't even want to move because he didn't want to lose that feeling. That really changed things for him. So when he prayed about the Book of Mormon this time he remembered that experience and he knew that he already had a testimony and already knew that the Book of Mormon was true. He said there were many times during his mission when things were "brought to his remembrance" and he felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude for his Savior, for the gospel, and for his family. Jared also emphasized the importance of writing things down when we felt the spirit and received personal revelation. We really felt the spirit during his lesson and both Rick and I got a little emotional. In fact Rick was really weepy on and off the rest of the day.

After the lesson Jaiden went to her rehearsal for dance concert that is coming up this weekend. Jared and Rick had a neat discussion and then we took naps while Jared unpacked and visited with Josh. He was excited to ride his unicycle again and got out his juggling supplies!

Then Rick and I took Jared to the Stake President's house for him to be released. President Nadauld  visited with Jared alone for a while and then called us in. He had Jared share some feelings and experiences from his mission and gave him some advice. He asked Jared what his morning routine was (getting up early, exercising, and studying the scriptures) and his first piece of advice to Jared was to continue this morning routine and not let those things slide. He said in following up with missionaries who had been home for a little while he could definitely tell the difference between those who had kept up these important habits and those who hadn't. His next advice was to study the scriptures (which is included in the morning routine). He also admonished him to pay his tithing and asked Jared why he thought that was so important and they shared a discussion about that. He finished with "always having a current temple recommend." At the end of the meeting he had Jared share his testimony. The meeting was really neat and the spirit was definitely present! I am so grateful that Jared could strengthen his testimony through serving a mission and then share that light with his family! 

Signing Off...

This grand last week of mission life was one to remember for sure!

We had our usual busy quarantine life of lots of video lessons and FB finding! It was a good time.

Super cool experience we had this last transfer was finding a family in a miraculous way due to quarantine. I think I already shared this, but we were at a little Caesars and contacted a teenage girl working there. We always contact workers and Little Caesars because it's incredibly easy because I can relate to them from having worked there. We ended up calling this girl and got her family to join us. Yesterday during our lesson with this family we taught the plan of salvation (over video) and some members joined us for the call. During the closing prayer the mom started crying because she wanted to know what happened to her friend that had passed away. It was a glorious thing to be able to teach them about the spirit world and the fact that all people will have the chance to either accept or reject the Savior’s gospel. This family accepted a baptismal invite when quarantine is over at the end of the lesson. It was awesome!! 

I never thought I'd be finishing off my mission in the middle of a virus and I never thought I'd be finishing it 3 months early. There is one thought I did have though! That I would remember my mission by how I finished it! So we finished strong! And that's how I feel! GREAT! It’s been some legendary years and some experiences I've had I would never give up for anything!

Honestly my heart is very full at this time! I thank God for each day he's allowed me to live and to serve him. I have a lot I feel I'd like to say but cannot express over typing and email. I'll try my best. 

The Lord reveals himself to us in many ways, but one way he has revealed his existence to me is through spiritually defining experiences. I have had so many on the mission. I've also had several before my mission. Time and time again when turning to my father in heaven for an answer he's turned me back to experiences I've already had. I have a testimony that the spirit really does bring things to our remembrance. I have a testimony of miracles. I know the Lord's hand is involved in this great work. I know he calls every missionary to where they are supposed to be at. I'm grateful for the relationships I've created out here. I've created some lifelong friends. The gospel of Jesus Christ can make those friendships last even longer than life and I'm extremely grateful for that.

In this church we take so many things for granted! Bits of truth and knowledge that people are missing. We don't understand we take it for granted until we see the gratitude in the eyes of those who have been looking for this their entire life. I have seen this in my mission and it makes my heart burst with joy for what I have. I know that Jesus Christ was sent here to teach us and be the example of how to return home. I know that his atoning sacrifice was the greatest act of love from our father in heaven, and that through it we can be forgiven of our sins through repentance and resurrected from our mortal body. 

I am filled with hope because of Him! I'm grateful for my family, I'm grateful for their example. They display many attributes of the Savior and teach me how to become more like him. I'm grateful for the chance to have served with this divine calling. It is unlike any other and has changed my life. I have a lot more to say, but you know me I'm not really a big typer or writer. Give me a call and maybe I'll be able to share just a small percentage of how I feel! 

Well after Wednesday it'll just be Jared but until then, with love and appreciation, 

- Elder Jensen 

Pictures 

Elder Young’s birthday!

Made almost the entire zone call to sing to him!

A sneak peak of our newest video... Stay tuned 

Elder Young and I were attempting to make one of those spy movie torture scenes haha

District pics 

Blessings

Another Blessed week of missionary work! I will have to keep it short this week because it seems like every day is kinda starting to be the same thing -- wake up, go running, eat breakfast, study, find and teach all day, go to sleep. (Sometimes challenge Elder Young to a game of Jenga before we go to bed. This man is so good!)

We had a major blessing this week; we're now allowed to hold district councils in person! We just need to keep social distancing and it's limited to a group of ten, but that's about the biggest a district will get! We're not supposed to shake hands or hug or anything but every time I see my Spanish boy Elder Vargas I have to say I'd rather die than not give him a hug haha, I should probably repent but hey, he's my boy!

We sneakily contacted a guy in a grocery store and got his phone number so that was pretty sickkkk!

We are just blessed to see another day, another week, another year, and just blessed! This is my last full week to hit the work hard! So we decided to set some extra lofty goals! I AM EXCITED!

Elder Jensen

Sorry for all my jumping pics, it's like the coolest pose I can think of these days! Also check out this sick barn!! 

Meeting Other People in Real Life! YES!

This was yet another legendary week! I mean how can it not be when you're with the legendary Elder Young?! Seriously this guy is the best, I'm pretty sure we discovered this week that we're related somehow through Polygamy somewhere down the path so that's pretty funny! No wonder he's like a brother to me! We love jamming to David Archuleta's new song "I will go and do," what a good one!! (I'm sorry though because in a few weeks it could very well turn into "I can only imagine by David Guetta") but for now this one will be the song haha 

Since we are still living the dream life as much as a missionary could in quarantine, we had our zone conference over zoom this week. It was a good time, President and Sister Shumway would probably be translated if they didn't have so many foolish missionaries constantly dragging them down haha. They taught us some valuable lessons about revelation etc. It was a good time! Then Elder Young and I got to give our training which was one of those hype up Trainings that's like "come on we got this let's have some exceedingly great faith!" Anyways we talked a lot about how we gotta do all we can in our valuable time we have as missionaries and how the Lord loves our efforts! And President liked our training so we got to give it again to the entire mission over a zoom call later in the week! It was super cool!! We used to do stuff like that when I was in the office so that was fun to do it here again in Freeport!

Also this week we got permission and were able to set up this service project for our zone at this food Bank in Rockford! So it was the first time I've actually met pretty much everyone from the zone in person haha. It was so legendary!! We had to wear masks which again I don't get what's all the hype with the masks these days but everyone is still wearing them! I've never actually seen a trend that's so intense to the point that they make you wear them just to go out in public?! They must be a pretty big deal or something! Anyways our zone is probably the coolest zone I've ever served in. I don't think I've ever had this much love for a group of missionaries in my mission. They are so faithful! Some legendary friends for sure!! 

So usually we hit up the church to do some Facebook messaging. This week we hit the grind hard and found 5 new people to teach through it. It's been pretty sick! Anyways we were there one day and a member came and was like, "Hey Elders so I went to KFC and 'accidentally' got too much so here are two full meals for you." Well, so much for 3 weeks to sexy finish strong and fit Elder Jensen super program! So in sadness and pain we began to eat this fast food when another member calls and says:

"Hello, it is my birthday and I want to celebrate it by dropping off a treat to you." Well rest in peace our fitness super program because this so called "treat" was stinking McDonald's!! So we had KFC and McDonald's and my very arteries were clogged as we went home that night to some healthy crockpot chicken we had prepared which now became left overs haha. These members are so fun lol but I think sometimes we gotta avoid them for the sake of remaining healthy. Freeport members are a whole bunch of fun though it's crazy that I'll have served in this area and probably will finish without ever officially meeting them. 

Anyways I'm going to close this one off because I'm about to get my hair cut done by the missionary who knows how to do it and got permission from Pres to be the "travel haircut guy" (because everywhere is closed) hey my people I'm going to hop off that plane with a President Nelson haircut probably so that'll be an adventure! Stay blessed this fine week!! 

Elder Jensen 

The Hood in the Middle of No Where

This week was another pretty good one!

I got my departing interview with President done which was pretty cool! It's pretty weird to be hearing President the entire mission be hyping you up to be on your mission and find the elect and work diligently and then go into this last interview and he now is hyping you up to go home and your like "no please I don't want to!" haha. It went well and it was pretty much what I had expected - are you going to keep reading your scriptures, praying, being a disciple? If I talk to you in 5 years will you still be doing it! ABSOLUTELY! that's some good stuff right there I gotta keep with me!

We continued to hit the Facebook grind and found some more new people which was sick! How cool is it that we can still teach people without never meeting them in person! "you live in Freeport, I live in Freeport, even though it might look I'm from Utah I'm not in Utah I promise."

There was one guy this week though who said he wanted a physical copy so we went and dropped on off to him. We're allowed to drop them off if they want one but just not go inside. So it was pretty cool to see a person we are teaching face to face. And even better - he lived on the east side of Freeport which we learned is the hood of Freeport! There were surprisingly a ton of abandoned houses and we were like the only white people outside! It felt like I was in Englewood again! God bless the Southside sounds like a lot of the homies left and found themselves here in the exact same situation as they were there haha.

Had some legendary lessons this week, getting some member involvement over video call and it's been awesome! I can't wait for these people to be able to meet each other in person!

Elder Young is like my favorite person on this planet I love this dude he's such a homie and we have such a good time. He's the type of homie that when we go to bed we're always just talking and laughing and telling each other stories and it's such a blast. Being in quarantine with one person creates the life long homies!

Hope everyone has an incredible week!

Elder Jensen

Member present Sunday lesson!

My boy Elder Vargas 

Inspired question - uninspired answer

Famous crockpot recipes 

Card tower 

The Elders: Inspired by the Quarantine, The Office, and Surf's Up

Click HERE to see the Elders new video: The Elders!! (https://youtu.be/lWPEo3e6Nus)

Running Out Subject Lines and Weeks

Happy blessed Monday! It's been another grand week! We have seen a ton of miracles this week and it's been probably one of the best weeks since quarantine began! Each week seems to be getting better and better and more and more possible for the Lord's work to move forward!

First off usually on Mondays we go to the other elder's place to do some laundry and in my morning run I was pondering on the thought of what we could do for a video! So we discussed it as a companionship and then with the other elders and filmed it last pday! It was pretty fun to make, never thought I'd be doing the silly little video editing I did for easy A high-school projects but here we are doing it once again to attempt to share the gospel! So it was pretty fun to make and kind of explains what missionaries do and how some of them are just a little special when they're being trained. It was a good time!

Also something they're now doing is like a page for each zone. It's something they've done for all the missions in the states so don't be surprised if you get invited to like "Church of Jesus Christ in___" basically these pages are run by the missionaries in the area and all the members are involved we try to post stuff that makes people comment and then we try to message them personally and set up a lesson. So pretty cool, what we've been doing still is just friending literally EVERYONE who has anything to do with Freeport (so if you look at my friends list these days you'll find a lot of interesting people haha) and then we message them. We got two new people this week from doing that who both live close by us!

Super cool miracle is we went to little Caesars one night (no surprises there) and this girl who was working there showed us a pass along card she kept from some past missionaries. She said she wanted to meet with us. We called her up and asked if her family was with her and now we found a whole new family to teach! And we got a member present lesson with them today with another family in the ward which is kind of how we're counting church right now! ALWAYS ask if there is anybody else in the house who want to listen haha. That's what the Nigerians taught us.

It's crazy that we're starting to find as many people in this quarantine as we were back during my days on the streets of the city! We've friended so many people that people in the grocery stores see us and say "Hey you guys friended me on Facebook! What are you doing?" Haha never thought it would be working this way but it is! Also stores are so depressing because every time we go shopping it feels like we're either in the middle of a world pandemic, or face masks are just some sort of gnarly new trend. I'm just going to pretend it's the latter.

Quarantine is interesting, but our companionship, zone, and mission have decided to show it who is boss. WE are the master of our attitudes, and so we decided we might as well have a good time! If not, then I'm afraid I haven't learned a thing on my mission. But I want to become a disciple, and these wonderful people around me are helping me do that. I am grateful for them!

Hope everyone has a blessed week and not a stressed week!

Elder Jensen 

Our ghetto balcony 

Little sneak peak of our video 

Morning miracle 

Pizza 

Legendary sunset