Members, members, members........ members
Well, this week started off with a great day of everything getting cancelled on us. We were blessed to find out before we paid the taxi fee and decided to get some other things done for the day instead, one of which was finishing the Annual History Report for the Junction Branch. We were planning on doing this later for 30 minutes to an hour but thanks to beautiful internet, it took 2-2.5 hours. At that point we were thankful that our day cancelled so we were able to finish the report and send it in before the deadline!
Now Wednesday we did not have very many lessons scheduled so we decided to go visit an area we have not been to before. The biggest reason we have not been that way was because almost no taxis drive that route. So that meant an hour walk for us there, and an hour back. Of course a lot of the walking was stopping to talk to people and actually have people talking to us, so it was not bad at all. We actually had a car stop right in the middle of the road, open the gate of the house next to us and told us to come in and pray for his blind friend inside. It was a little weird but we never shy away from an opportunity where someone wants us to serve, haha.
Now Thursday and Friday were absolutely INSANE days!! Thursday we had planned to go riding with the 2nd counselor of the Branch. He was going to take us around to visit and find out where members in the area lived, because we had no idea. If you haven't heard, directions are not the same here in Jamaica. So he took us around and we were able to have three short lessons with three inactive homes and Brother Powell, the 2nd counselor, was just on fire! Elder Knight and I have never seen him so passionate about the church and the need for the gospel in one's life! It was a really good day. Then Friday we got to meet with our friend Kirk Burke again, and it was so awesome!! His nephew was able to join our lesson with him, then he joined us as we taught a niece of his down the street, and then his neighbors just a little farther down. Every lesson he bore his unwavering testimony of the love of God and the joy the church brings him. Then as we walked to the next lesson or back to his home, he was just glowing! Haha I kid you not, he was probably the happiest man I have ever seen. Even with all of the struggles he has right now he still loves the gospel and the joy it brings to his life.
Saturday we got to do some service! Don't worry, it was not with a machete sadly... We went to the Collins, an amazing family in our ward, and we tilled some earth for a garden of theirs and then wacked some weeds with a weedwacker (weedeater). Man, did that feel like home! After, we talked with Brother Collins, the 1st counselor in the Branch Presidency, about the progression of the people we were teaching and some other people Brother Collins thought we should visit.
Sunday was pretty much church, meetings, and studies at home, but we did schedule 4 lessons for the afternoon with a member at each one!!! It was going to be so great but sadly everyone but one cancelled. The one lesson we had was with our friend Bella who we actually put on date for baptism for the 26th!! Now the only thing we have to work on is getting her to church, which she seems really ready to try and do.
Monday today was my first time playing football here in Jamaica and it was actually really fun. I am still bad at it, even more so here it seems, but it was fun haha! We had one guy named Ryan, who lived next to the grass field and he played with us Elders for a bit. By the way, football is soccer haha.
Oh I also forgot to say that when we went to the Powell's home, we got to talk with Sister Powell who said that she used to teach the missionaries how to cook rice and peas and she said that she would teach us in these next weeks!! I am so excited and I actually asked if she could teach us how to make manish water. I believe I spelled that right, but I will keep it a secret of what manish water is and y'all will just have to find out in another weekly email, hopefully soon!!!
I want to thank those who have been reaching out that I may not have been getting back to the best. I promise I read everything, but it is a little hard some weeks to get to a computer or have much time on the phone. God loves you all! Our Savior, Jesus Christ, loves you all! And I love you all!
Have another great week!
Elder Jensen
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