First week in the land down unda wasn't the most fun.... but it got better!

This first week in Australia has been a rough one for Elder Jenson, luckily he's feeling much better and has decided he likes being a missionary and serving in Australia haha. Please keep him and his companions in your prayers! 

Man what a week it has been! Australia is a different place! Flying here was so long and the thought of airplane food makes me sick! hahaha heres the week run down!

Monday- Left the MTC for the airport at 11:30! We Finally flew for San Francisco at 5:30 and it was an easy flight because it was super short! Well thats really all that happened on Monday hahaha

Tuesday- We flew to New Zealand from San Fran! Man do people stare at us a ton! People act like we are aliens but I think that its cool in a weird way! No one really wanted to talk to us in the airports haha they just stare at us and then we say hi to them and they hurry and look away like they're shocked we can see them hahaha. The flight to NZ was cool.... jokes! (Australian slang) The flight was 13 hours but we just slept for like 8 hours of it! The coolest part was the tvs in the headrests...... that we couldn't watch!! hahaha 

Wednesday- We Landed in Sydney from Auckland NZ! We got picked up by the mission president and the other Elders who had been here for awhile! We drove to the Mission office and we met with the President individually and then just all hung around for awhile! Then we had a testimony meeting with all the new missionaries and the trainers! After that we Got assigned to our trainers! My trainer was Elder Kim a 26 year old Korean! My area was Tuggeranong in Canberra area which was 3 hours away from Sydney!

Thursday- This was a tough day for me... I woke up and was experiencing serious separation anxiety. I couldn't stop thinking about everyone at home and everything at home! I honestly hated Australia and was ready to go home. We Talked to a kid at the park named Jordan! We walked him home and taught him the plan of salvation and I was feeling good and not homesick anymore! 

Friday- The anxiety continued! My plan was to email home and tell everyone that I was coming home. My thoughts were consumed by the anxiety that I had. I made up my mind that I would just make it to Monday then fly out of here! My Comp and I went and knocked doors for awhile then we came home because he didn't feel good. We ended up falling asleep at like 5 then we ended up sleeping until like 6 the next morning.. it was nuts. All this time just gave me more time to think about home and what my plan was for when I got there like school, job and etc.

Saturday- We went and did service for the Knight family and they fed us breakfast! The whole time I was still full of anxiety and ready to go home. When we got back to our flat (apartment) I called President Back. I told him I wanted to go home and all the feelings that I had. He talked me down for awhile then he said that we would get me on the phone with my stake president from back at home. I talked to my stake president and told him the same things! He told me how he went through the same thing and that the power of the Atonement is a huge help for this! He told me how we have to experience sadness, pain, and sorrow before the unexplainable joys we feel after! After about an hour later of talking to them I still just was so set on going home that I called my mission president again and said i want to go home. He had his assistants pick me up and bring me to Southerland (sydney area) so that I could be reunited with my MTC comp Elder Yardley and his trainer Elder Smith! He told me that he sent me to a rough area with a foreign comp that was probably too much for me to handle right off the back and i think he was right. I drove to Sydney with the assistants to the president and was brought to my new companionship. I still really hadn't prayed for help or really tried to just serve others to get my mind off things because i was too set on going home.

Sunday- Went to church and my mission president came to the ward we are in. We talked in person and I still was feeling depressed and just so numb and ready to go home. I went through the day and started thinking about the Character of Christ, Turn outwards and serve when the natural man wants to turn inwards. I realized i really hadn't called upon God to help lift this burden and I hadn't used the power of the atonement to give this burden to Christ. I decided that I would try really hard to serve and to continue to pray for strength. Ever  since that moment I haven't felt 100 percent better but it has gradually gotten better as time moved on! We went and rode the train around and talked to people and went to the beach to talk to people and stuff. Doing that i could feel my old fun and happy self come out again and i remembered how much i love sharing the Gospel with everyone! So then i realized that i'm not going home because I will be just fine! Later that day we got fed dinner at the church by islanders and oh my gosh!!!!! It was so good! Chicken, Lamb, Wings, bread, O Tai (islander drink look it up!) I was so full and we got to take all the leftovers!

I love my companions and the area i am in. I don't hate Australia anymore or the mission! I know time will start flying by as I continue to serve others and work hard! I feel like my normal self again and I am so happy to be a missionary! I will still have hard days but through the atonement anything is possible! and having awesome comps make it way easier! Its nice to be with two Utah boys hahaha we call ourselves the triforce! I love ya all heaps!

Heres some cool things about Australian slang. Damn and Hell aren't curse words here haha fat-in-come means like oh thats cool haha and far out is what you say when something is cool too haha its more for the new generation. You can put the word az after anything and it just makes it more dramatic. for instance you would say thats cool! but here you say thats cool-az! Its awesome hahaha well love ya heaps mates! 

Elder Yardley and Cam enjoying their last cafe rio for 2 years.

All the new Elders heading to the Sydney South mission (Elder Ballard, Elder Hunt, Elder Jenson, and Elder Yardley

LOOOOOONG plane ride to Aukland, New Zealand 

View from a parking garage at the airport in Sydney

What's this Elder's name again? Oh yeah.. Elder Yardley 

Flat in Sydney

Cam is in a companionship of 3 Elders. They call themselves the "triforce"

Laterrrr, Provo

Today is the day... 12 days in Provo is waaaaay too long for anybody, so Elder Jenson will be leaving for the land down under today around 5. He has a few layovers, one in San Fransico and one in New Zealand until he arrives to Sydney on the 26th of August.  

 

 

Hello Everyone!

I leave for the land down unda today! This week flew by compared to last week it was crazy! I'm so excited to get out of the MTC! Here's the rundown of what went on this week.

Monday- That was P day and man what a day that was! I was able to do my first batch of laundry ever so go me! It was a good day that I was able to just relax and get some stuff done! Then around 5 we had to get dressed again to go to class but it was awesome because my two teachers here are such awesome guys!

Tuesday- My companion Elder Yardley and I got to teach an investigator named Olivia, and it was kind of a rough lesson for us. We hadn't really had a rough lesson the whole time we had been here so we weren't used to it. We didn't really feel like we brought her closer to Christ which is the main goal of every lesson. We dwelled on it for a little but we just got to the point and said that we'll do better the next day with her! We also had a member of the 70 Elder Echo Hawk who talked to us about exact obedience which is what i'm trying to do everyday and Its tough so it'll be a process but i know with my effort and help from the Lord it will happen.

Wednesday- We taught Olivia again and this time we centered our lesson with her on the first vision and the Book of Mormon. Focusing on the Book of Mormon was awesome! The Spirit was so strong during that lesson and it was so successful! We really brought her closer to Christ! I would invite all of you to read the testimony of Joseph Smith inside the Book of Mormon than to read the last two paragraphs of the introduction page, then read the Book of Mormon from cover to cover and ask God with a sincere heart if it is not true while you read everyday and gain for yourself a testimony or a stronger testimony of the Book of Mormon.

Thursday- My companion and I went to play volleyball with our district and we wore flip flops to the court because it is in the sand, and we had to walk all the way back to our residence to get closed toe shoes because I guess its a safety hazard to walk to the sand court in flip flops... haha we really had to keep our cool haha but once you get over the anger you feel dumb for being mad but you feel good for letting it go. I'm not perfect but i'm trying to be more Christ like everyday!

Friday- We had in field orientation where we learned about contacting in public places, how to use our daily planner, and how baptism is central to our purpose here in the mission field! It was a cool thing but it got long haha and made me tired.

Saturday- We had our last lessons with investigators and it was a sweet experience! We had to say bye to our two teachers, Brother Anderson and Brother Craw! These two guys made the MTC so awesome and they taught me so much!

Sunday- We had usual sacrament service and devotionals which all went good! We had another member of the 70 come and talk to us and he spoke on what we stand for as missionaries and that we need to be strictly obedient.. so I guess its important if they keep talking to us about it haha just kidding I know it is important! I had to say bye to Andrew Olson, and Jake Ulrich last night which was tough but I know we are doing the right thing and serving the Lord. Then we had to say bye to all the Elders who left this morning at 3 am! I became so close with my district so it was hard to say bye. We became good friends with the Elders in the room next to us and it sucked saying bye but a lot of us are from Utah so we will be having a reunion when we get back!

Well thats my week! next time we talk i'll be in Australia! Love ya heaps mates!!

 

I tried to add a few more pictures but I'm new to this blog thing and I can't figure out how to load more than this... so this is all you get for now! Until next week...

Last Class with his teachers at the MTC

Temple walk with Elder Marshman, me, Elder Miller (larry h miller's grandson), Companion Elder Yardley, and Elder Williams

Branch President

Elder Miller (Larry H. Miller's Grandson)

Selfie game is STRONG! Elder Gibson, Cam said he reminds him of Dano, he really loves this guy.

Where in the world is Carmen San Diego..

Had to say goodbye to Andrew Olson today.

Last goodbye with Jake..
 

Week 1 in the MTC

It's about time we hear from Cam, he is doing well and has enjoyed his first week in the MTC. Here's his email from the first week.

Hello everyone! The MTC has been so awesome so far! The first day i met my companion and he is awesome! We have become bestfriends! his name is Elder Yardley and he is from clinton utah and he will be running track at BYU after his mission! Our district has 6 elders and 4 sisters.. half of us are going to sydney australia and the other half are going to micronesia guam! They are all so nice and awesome to be around. The Elders all get along well and it is all laughs and good times all day long and we all work way hard and strengthen each others testimonies and spirits! The food here isn't too bad honestly and its all you can eat so can't complain about that. My companion eats his food faster than me which is the first person i've met who can do that hahaha. Everyday we have classes along with personal studies, companionship studies and district doctrinal studies. We have taught 3 lessons so far. 2 to two different "investegators" and one 40 minute lesson to a member from UVU. The spirit truly guides you while you teach with your companion and while you study. I've never been so prompted by the spirit in my whole life!!! Being a missionary is awesome and I love this work! I fly out next monday and arrive in Australia the 26th pretty crazy that i skip the 25th of august! This work isn't easy but we learned from a talk from Elder Bednar that this mission isn't for us so get over yourselves and I love that! My knowledge of the gospel has already been strengthened so much and It's crazy how much I can already teach in the matter of 5 days! The spiritual message i'll share with you is my favorite thing i learned of the week yesterday. The character of Christ is something we all need to strive to have, that character is to turn outwards when you want to turn inwards. Stop worrying about yourself and overcome the natural man in you that makes you want to focus on yourself. Always look to help others instead of focusing on your own problems and you will be blessed! Feel free to send a dear elder letter from dearelder.com. receiving letters is the best! I'll try to send pictures if i can get them to upload! the church is true!!!!!!! 

Much love,

-Elder Jenson

That hour for P-day went by way too fast! Here are some pictures from this week, thanks for all the support from our family and friends, we couldn't ask for anything more!

Elder Jenson and his district

what a cute little bed... I'm sure it's soooo comfy

He's got huuuungry eyes

tie from Bekah, so handsome.

District of 6 Elders and 4 Sisters

Elder Ham from Timp... Not sure if he knew him before the MTC or if he just met him there, its a mystery.

Temple time with his district

lots of missionaries... Who are they all? We don't know.

such a good photographer...

FRIENDS of cam.. does anybody know who this Elder is? haha cuz we have no idea but cam sure looks happy to see him.

such hard workers.

Look who Elder Jenson ran into again... 

MTC drop off

8/12/2015
The day came faster than we thought! Today we dropped Elder Jenson off at the MTC, we are so excited for him and his journey, but above all Cameron was the most excited he is anxious to get to work! We will be posting weekly updates with pictures and his e-mails.

BYEEEEEE BUDDY, good luck!

Right before entering the MTC

After snapping a few pictures he ran into his good friend Elder Andrew Olson, can you say tender mercy?  

We can't wait to hear from our missionary on Monday. It'll be a long next couple of days not knowing how he's doing or what he's up to! We miss our bubba already, but are so excited for his adventure to start. Elder Jenson would love to hear from all of you, please feel free to send him an e-mail (cameron.jenson@myldsmail.net) and his address for Australia is on the side bar ---> GOOD LUCK, ELDER JENSON, see ya in a quick two!