Thanksgiving week

Monday- We had some fun over at the chapel playing some volleyball! The real fun started after pday when we got to got to the Matamua's house to have dinner and a lesson with the Rondo family! The Rondos got interviewed for baptism as well that night! They passed and were super excited about being baptized! 

Tuesday- I was gone at MLC for the most part of the day! It was good to get to discuss the missionary work with the other ZL's, STL's and President and Sister Back. I got to see a lot of my good buddies there too so that is always a bonus! After I got back we went on splits with some guys from the ward and visited two families which went really good! Its been good getting to know the members better! 

Wednesday- We did some service in the morning for a lady that the elders used to do service for back in the day! We got to pull some bricks out of the ground and we just did a little bit of yardwork! It was bloody hot that day though and the flies here in the summer are the worst thing I have ever experienced in my life haha they just fly on your face and they do not leave you alone!! After that we went and changed and got ready to go and visit a less active family! They were super nice and they seem ready to come back so we will see how things go! The dad is an RM so he is pretty solid! After that we went and set up for the Rondo's baptism! The baptism went solid and even though I haven't known them that long, it was super cool to witness their baptism! There was 3 of them that got dunked, the mom, dad and the daughter! The two other kids aren't old enough for baptism yet but they go to primary! After the baptism we had a good munch and mingle with the ward :) 

Thursday- We got a  call from bro Latu for some service so we went to his house and helped to paint his son's bedroom, and he fed us some lunch as a reward! After we finished there I went on tradeoffs with Elder Ballard, who is the other zone leader, so we could go and prepare for ZTM the next day! After we finished that he and I went to a dinner appojntment at the Ah Mu's house! They are an awesome family and they had the best food ever!! I am going to put some weight on in this ward haha! 

Friday- ZTM was this day and man it went pretty good! I got to train on using our time wisely and being diligent! I really enjoy giving trainings! After the meeting we went and had some lunch at a Pizza Hut buffet which was solid! After that we did our weekly planning and then we went over to the chapel to help and set up for the big stake activity the next day called "The Spirit of Christmas." We did that for the rest of the night and then a member shouted us some maccas which was pretty sweet. Did I mention that I might gain weight here?

Saturday- We met with the Archers in the morning and we shared a good message with them! After that we went to go and finish setting up for the activity and then we stayed and helped out the whole day! After the activity we cleaned up and then we went and got some dinner! After that we went to get our lesson plan ready for the YSA class we were teaching the next day.

Sunday- We taught the YSA class about the Atonement and we had a really spiritual experience with that! During Sacrament meeting the Rondo's got confirmed and I got to confirm Brother Rondo which was an honor! After church we saw a less active member which was kinda awkward because it was like talking to a statue that could answer questions hahaha but it was all good! After that we went to the Bishop's house and had a massive feed and then we got to discuss the missionary work with him and also share a message with him and his family! 

Matthew 5:14, "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid."

I encourage you all the Light the World this Christmas season by doing one kind act of service every day from December 1st- December 25th! Got to LDS.org to learn more about how we can #LIGHTtheWORLD! Love you all!! 

Elder Jenson

pics from conf

cuuuuute...

He didn't tell me who this was.... so your guess is as good as mine.

definitely shouldn't take up painting as a career.

woah...look at that floating head.

what a sight for sore eyes.

cuteies.

setting up for some activity

marriage...

lookin' good!

they are excited for christmas...check out those ties.

Dunkin' day for Brendon

Man the week flew by and boy was it a good week!

Tuesday- After emails we went and did some shopping and then we went to the chapel to play sports with the zone! We just played some volleyball which was good though because I haven't played it in ages! Then that night we went on splits with one of the members in the ward and we only managed to see one person because no one else was home haha. After splits we went to the Agoo's house to schedule an appointment with them and to share a little message with them!

Wednesday-  We started our morning off by doing some tracting which went really good! Then we went and followed up on some potentials after lunch. After that we met with Amanda who is one of our investigators and she was good, she just has a problem with smoking and drinking so we are working on that with her! Then we went to get to know some members after that and we met the Latu's and then we went to the Paulo's house and we showed up right when they were having dinner so they invited us to stay haha MIRACLES!! It was a mean feed! I think I might gain weight here with all the Polynesian families in the ward haha!

Thursday- We tracted in the most ghetto part of our area which was really fun haha! We met a lot of weird people and I think half of the people we met were on drugs but all goods because we found some people that were good! We found a less active lady who wants to come back to church so that was a cool miracle! After tracting we did 1/2 of our weekly planning, and then we went to MCM. After that I got to go and meet the Bishop real quick and also the Matamua family! After that we tried some less actives but had no luck so we just went and had dinner. Then we went to see the Agoo's again and they fed us... so I had two dinners haha! Then we got to share a message with them.

Friday- We had DTM which went really good! We cleaned up the chapel afterwards and then we went to meet with Amanda but she cancelled on us. So we went to KFC and Elder Laga'aia shouted for us! It was awesome haha but it was like 35 degrees this day so we went tracting after lunch and boy did the KFC weigh us down! Me and my comp were just dripping in sweat for the 2 hours of tracting! I am pretty sure I sweat off my lunch haha! It was funny talking to people at their doors because our sweat was dripping off onto the ground and people were like "man you guys look hot!" I was thinking to myself, hmm how could ya tell?? hahaha but a lot of people gave us water and so that was sweet! We got a lot of potentials too so it was good! After that we went to visit some less actives but we had no luck so we just finished our weekly planning and had some dinner.

Saturday- We went to follow up with some potentials in the morning with no luck haha one guy was an atheist and he just wanted to bash so we tried to end the conversation and leave but he wouldn't let it happen so in the middle of all the rubbish he was saying, I just said have a good day and walked off. I was sick of listening to the guy and nothing we said got through to him so it was a waste of time to stay there any longer haha. He got me pretty pissed off though! After that we got to see the Archers who are a less active family and it was a good visit! We got to go down to Dapto after that for Brendon's baptism! He was so happy to be getting baptized and it was such a good program! I got to see Bro Tiananga and also Robert & Nicola again which was awesome! It was good to see Elder Foa'i again too haha his arm is healing up nice! After that we went and had dinner and read the Book of Mormon with the Newland family! They were really cool and the son was funny as!

Sunday- We had ward council in the morning before church which was good! Then we had Church at 1 which is awesome as a missionary haha! We got to teach the Rondo family during one of the classes and they are getting baptized this Wednesday which is awesome! They are a really cool family and they are solid! After church we made the baptismal program and then we went and took over some sheet music to the Matamuas! They invited us in for a feed but we had a dinner appointment an hour later so we had to decline haha but we said we will take a rain check! After that we went to the Pikula family's home for some dinner! They are a solid family and they are so dedicated to helping us with the missionary work so I am stoked to work with them!

“Brothers and sisters, all the Lord expects of us is to try, but you have to really try!”

-Gordon B. Hinckley

I love this quote because it is so true!! As long as we are truly trying our best then the Lord is going to be happy with us and we can know that we truly are good enough, and that our sins are forgiven! I know that this quote is true! I have felt the power of the Atonement in my life and also the love that the Savior has for me and I am so grateful for it! :) Have a good week!

Elder Jenson

I have no idea who these other Elders are except for the one in the middle haha Cam didn't say.

Ghetto part of Australia... 

Livin' in a gansta's paradise

his new area. 

Where they've been sleeping.. the room on the right is Cams ;) 

Hangin' out in the living room...

dis cutie...

nice glasses bro..

Brendon's baptism

and another.

BYEEEE Dapto

Hey so I got transferred out of Dapto and I am now in Macarthur ward which is like 45 minutes north of Dapto haha it is pretty ghetto here and it is a tougher area so we will see how things go! I am with Elder Schwalger who is from Samoa so I am on my second Samoan companion haha which is pretty sweet! I am in the same flat as one of my old comps Elder Laga'aia which is way fun! Well here is a recap of the last few days!

Thursday- We spent a lot of the day letting Elder Foa'i rest but we did get to go and have a dinner appointment with the Tina'o family that night which was good! During the day we got to email a little since Elder Foai hadn't had his pday yet and then we did a little bit of grocery shopping!

Friday- We had DTM like usual which was really good! After DTM we had to go and get some xrays for my comp and after that we had a district lunch with everyone at the chapel! Then I went with Elder Scofield to our appointment with Brendon and we taught him about the commandments which went solid! He is getting baptized on the 19th of November and I will get to go back for it which will be sweet! I am the one who gets to baptize him too! Then after that we went and did some service for the Lim family and we had dinner at the Roach's after that! Everything was really good there and it was sad it was my last meal there haha! 

Saturday- We had a busy as day! We had painting at Robert and Nicola's in the morning and I went with Elder Densley to that. Then we went and grabbed a few things from the shops before we went to a baptism for a 8 year old kid in the ward! After that I went to a dinner appointment with Elder Scofield but the members forgot about it which was cool with us haha we just went and got some ice cream instead! 

Sunday- It was my final day in Dapto which was sad! I had to say bye to everyone at church and then after church we had a little farewell party at Sister Tyson's place which was really nice! Then after that we went and got the transfer details from the computer. Once we got all that we went to the Tiananga's house for dinner and to say bye to them! It was sad to say bye to them I really loved that family! Then I went home and packed all my stuff! 

Monday- I had to travel to my new area and then get unpacked! Once I was unpacked we went and did some tracting which went alright we found two potentials! After that we went and met the ward mission leader and he is a pretty good guy! Then we went to give a blessing to a member in the ward! 

It is weird to be in a new area but I know that this is where the Lord needs me! I am ready to testify to the people here in this area and share the gospel with them! I love this work and I know that this Church is true! I love you all have a good week! :)

Elder Jenson

This should really be on the cover of the Ensign

District

The Roaches 

UFC 96

well… I guess they are a little excited for Christmas

Maybe too excited

Rob and Nicola

Sister Tyson

The Tianangas

He doesn't really have THAT much stuff….

Peace n' blessings

Sayin' his goodbyes

His new roomies… look who's back? 

City boyz

Man it has been a long time since I typed up my weekly report haha so this could be a long one! We are finally back from Elder Foai's surgery and it went all good!

Monday- We had a normal P day we just emailed and went and balled it up in Wollongong with a bunch of missionaries! After P day we had no money on our cards still so we weren't able to buy groceries so we just called the Masimas and they had us over for a mean feed! We had maccas, KFC, and Dominoes! It was the perfect way to end the day haha!

Tuesday- We went to follow up on Jim in the morning and we were able to leave him with a Book of Mormon to start reading! After that we went and mowed the Archie's lawns for them which just made a huge cloud of dust hahaha I was blowing dirt out of my nose the whole day! After that we finally were able to go and get some groceries for the flat which was good! Then we went and did service for Jared and we helped them get their yard all in order so that went good for us!

Wednesday- It was busy this day! We went and had MCM in the morning at the chapel which was good! After that we went and saw Brendon! He is getting baptized on the 19th of this month! We committed him to live the word of wisdom and he is progressing really well! Then we went straight to see Byron and man he is so good! He was just so happy to see us and I have got to tell you guys how big of a miracle Byron is. He was on the street for like 15 years before we met him. He was on drugs and just living a crazy life! His mom told us that they had tried to get him to go to a church before and he never really liked it but with us it is different! She said that for him to get baptized was a huge thing for him to do! She was thanking us so much for all that us and the church has done for him. I wanted to just cry when I was hearing all of this! Byron has changed into such an amazing person and it was all through the Savior! I felt so much gratitude this day towards my Father in Heaven for allowing me to have the opportunity to work with Byron!! After his lesson we went to FHE then we had the Amazing race for mutual that night which we got to help out at which was fun!

Thursday-We had song practice in the morning which went pretty good.. well we suck but it was fun still hahaha! Then after that we had some lunch and headed to Jared's house to do some more service! We got to help gather steel into a pile for him which was good! After that we just went and did our weekly planning and had some din din!

Friday- I was on tradeoffs with Elder Scofield after DTM so we got to go and do some tracting together which was fun! Then we went and saw Keiran to try and get him prepped to come to church! After that we went and had a lesson with Robert and Nicola where we just read the Book of Mormon with them!

Saturday- We had another day full of service! We went and helped to paint at Robert and Nicola's which was fun! They fed us a mean feed just before we started our fast so that was really nice! After we finished there we went to Byron's to help him move some bricks haha it was good to work along side him! Then we went home and did some finding for an hour to finish the day!

Sunday- Brendon came to church again which was solid! Church was really good I got to bare my testimony which was so awesome I love getting to testify to people :) After Church we went and ended our fast which felt so good! After that we just went out and visited a bunch of less actives and took the sacrament to a few! Then we travelled up to Mortdale to spend the night at the Ap's flat for Foai's surgery the next day!

Monday- We took Foa'i up to the hospital for his surgery and we drove back to Mortdale after that for p day. I got to spend P day with the Mortdale zone which was way fun! I got to see some old friends and what not! We did a massive hike for our activity and we didn't bring water hahaha we were begging people for any extra water they had while we were hiking! It was a beautiful view though to see all the beaches and what not! It was just super hot that day! Then when we came back I got to go on trade offs with the Mortdale Elders and we went to a dinner appointment at a members house which was solid!

Tuesday- I ended up with Elder Harvey this day! He is serving in Sutherland right now but he is in a trio so President sent him with me for the day! he is a solid dude from New Zealand! We came out together actually so it was cool to see him again! We went up to the hospital to visit Foai that day and we just kept him company for most of the day! Then we came back down to Sutherland and I was able to see Rolf (my recent convert) and also the Liehrs and Kendricks! It was so good to see some of members of the ward there! I found out that Rolf goes through the temple on December the 7th so I will get to go there to be his escort hopefully! :)

Wednesday- Foa'i finally got out of the hospital so we travelled back to Dapto and we just let him rest for the day! So I got to catch up on some studies, work out, do laundry and just get my stuff in order haha!

I got to talk to President Back this week and he told me that I am leaving Dapto at the end of the transfer this next Monday! So I am sad to be leaving but I am grateful for the 6 months I got to spend here! It was a blessing to be able to work with the people here and I look forward to coming back in a couple of weeks when Nicola and Brendon get baptized! My companion is doing all good he is going to have a 6 month recovery but he is good to stay on the mission luckily! Keep him in your prayers please! I am going to miss Foa'i we were together for like 4 months and he has truly become a brother to me! I know that we have made a friendship that will last a life time! All is well though, the church is true and I love this Gospel! I will be talking to all of you next week from a new area we'll see where I end up! Love you all! :)

Elder Jenson

PICTURES COMING SOON... my computer is being lame. SORRY

cowboy up

Monday- We had some good pday fun with playing basketball with a bunch of elders and some random guys up in Wollongong! After basketball we drove to a sick view which you could see the whole Wollongong area and even part of our area! Then we went home and changed and headed to Keiran's house for dinner and a lesson with him and his mom.

Tuesday- I thought this day was going to suck to be honest but it turned out really good! We started the day off with a little bit of tracting but we had not luck really. Then we we went and visited Klaus and we basically just taught his wife who is a Catholic and it went really good! After that we went and saw Brendon and read the Book of Mormon with him! He is on date for baptism and is progressing really well! Then we went and had a lesson with Paul Souris and his family about faith and trusting in God! After them we stopped in on the Sa's and showed them a good Mormon message about overcoming trials. We had a lot of success with teaching that day which is rare and we were grateful!

Wednesday- We had some song practice in the morning for our Christmas carols we're singing at old folks homes during Christmas. I don't know if I will even be here for Christmas but just in case they wanted us all there haha! After that we went and did some tracting with the other Elders in a neighbourhood and we got to teach a guy about the Restoration at the door but he is one of those guys who is agnostic about everything! When we finished that  we went and tried to follow up on a potential but they said they weren't interested anymore haha so we tracted for ages in the heat with no success! After that we went and had some dinner before splits and then for splits we went and saw Jared with one of the members from the ward!

Thursday-  We followed up on a potential in the morning and he had no food or anything in his house because he hadn't received his money from the government yet and I felt bad for the guy so we went and bought him a few groceries to help him get through the week and his dog also because it was skinny as! He was a genuine guy and I didn't feel like he was too dodgy or anything like that so that's good haha! Then we went and saw Sister Fisher which was good because she always loves our visits to her! Then we went and did service for Jared plus we got to have some dinner with him! After dinner we shared "Hope of God's Light" with him and it was solid!

Friday- We drove up to Mittagong for a change for our DTM and it was good other than the drive up there is through this windy road so we were all getting car sick haha it sucked! The meeting was good and doing tracting up there after was tough too because people wouldn't give us the time of day while we were at their door so that was annoying but it was all good because we tried our best! Then we drove home and did a little bit more tracting and people were rude once again hahaha then we went and did our weekly planning and had dinner!

Saturday- We took the bus to go and do service for the Sa's which was good we just did some weeding for them. Then we went and helped out the Souris family with moving some big rugs! After that we went and walked to go and see Brother Mackie which was good haha man that guy can talk your ear off! It was hard to get a word in but it was good to see him! Then we went home and had dinner!

Sunday-  Brendon came to church!! It was so good to have him there with Byron and Robert & Nicola! It was a full house! Nicola got word that she will be able to be re baptized this next month and Robert is going to be the one baptizing her!! It is such an awesome miracle! :) After church we had a soup and sandwich mingle thing which was awesome! Then we went and did some tracting near the chapel, we found one potential that we will go back to in a couple of weeks when he will be back from going out of town. Then we went to Robert and Nicola's house to watch the 4th Floor, Last Door talk with them from conference. After that on the way home we met a drunk guy at the train station who we had a funny conversation with haha luckily he was nice though!

I have learned a lot this week about how God allows people their agency. It is tough to accept sometimes as missionaries because we just want everyone to listen to this wonderful message of hope and peace that we have to share with the world! As tough as it is for God to see his children reject the truth and make bad choices, he will not force them to hear this message. That goes against His whole plan for us in allowing us our freedom to choose. I am grateful for agency and even though it sucks when people reject us, I know that if no one wants to hear our message, it is not because I didn't try hard enough! I know God lives and he loves every single one of us! He rejoices when we do what is right and he mourns when we got through hard times or make bad choices. I have felt his matchless love during my mission and I am grateful for Him and for all that he does for me! I love you all have a good week! :)

Elder Jenson

oh look Bekah joined in for a selfie...

nice hat, idiot

hahaha where did he come from?

what a guy.

da boyz

Don't worry the Aussies like to get an early start on the holidays too.... 

halloweenie

Monday- we only had a 1/2 pday that was pretty good! We just did emailing and got our shopping done and then we went and did some tracting! After tracting we went and taught Kieran about the priesthood because he was getting ordained an Elder this Sunday! The lesson went good and we found a good potential while we were leaving his house haha so we will see how that goes! Then I had to take a train with Elder Bradley to Mortdale for Tradeoffs with the Ap's! We got there late and so we just planned for our day and then went to bed!

Tuesday- I was on trade offs with Elder Murphy who is from England! He is the man and we had a good day working together! We went to follow up on a potential who was Muslim and we tried to teach her but her husband wouldn't allow it. Then we went and did some tracting! After that we had lunch and then went right out to do some street contacting. We don't do too much street contacting in Dapto because there isn't really any good places to do it haha so I was rusty at first but then I just jumped into it and I wasn't scared! I was talking to everyone and just stopping people on the road and even walking with people while they just kept going haha it was fun as! Then after that we went and did some more tracting before our appointment and it was good! Then after our appointment we had, Elder Bradley and I went back to Dapto via train which was good! I learned heaps from the tradeoff and I was so stoked to just use it all in my area!

Wednesday- We had MCM in the morning followed by some lunch! Then we went and saw Sister Fisher who we haven't seen in awhile and it was a really good visit! After that we went and did some tracting and we found some potentials which was a blessing so we will follow up on them this week! Then we went and saw Klaus which was pretty good! Then we went to splits and we tried to visit a less active member but he was not home so we went home after that and had dinner!

Thursday- Had a good morning of doing some service for a potential we found! Then on the drive home we saw an old lady mowing her lawn so we stopped and told her we would mow it for her so we did! Then we went home and had some lunch and got changed to do some tracting! After tracting we did service for Jared and also had some dinner with him and his wife! The funny part of service was Elder Foa'i fell into this nasty creek with sewage water in it hahahaha I was laughing so hard! Then we went home and did language study for my soa!

Friday- Had ZTM which was really good! I trained on fortifying ourselves against temptation and the whole meeting was really good! After the meeting we had zone pday where we went to the park and grilled up some bangers (sausages) and had a nice lunch with everyone and we got to play some games with the zone! Then that night we had a lesson with Robert and Nicola where we just watched the Testaments movie with them and they loved it! They are both doing so good and they are progressing heaps!

Saturday- We did a little bit of finding in the morning and then we travelled up to Campbelltown for stake conference! We had Elder Leota of the area presidency there and it was awesome to hear his training and all the other talks that were given! That night we got to stay in some other Elder's flat and it was so fun because Elder Iino was in that flat! It was good to see him again!

Sunday- We went to Stake conference in the morning and it was packed! We sat way in the back right behind a young couple who had the two cutest kids and I couldn't stop watching the kids and playing with them haha! All of us elders who were sitting behind them were all just day dreaming about marriage hahaha the fact that someone was giving a talk on the temple didn't help either haha! Other than that though Stake conference was really solid! It was good to hear from the temple president and his wife and also from President Back! When we got home from Stake conference we went to follow up on a potential and she wasn't home so we went and saw Keiran and then we did our weekly planning finally!

"Faith is a strong conviction about something we believe—a conviction so strong that it moves us to do things that we otherwise might not do. Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see"

My mission has helped me gain a solid faith in the Lord Jesus Christ! I know that he lives and that he loves us! I have felt the power of His Atonement and the change it has wrought in my life. I have become converted to Him and His Gospel through my mission and I can say without a doubt that I KNOW the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the one and only true church on the Earth today. I have gained this faith by praying, studying the Gospel, going to church, and living the Gospel! It is the little things that help us to increase our faith and turn our belief into a sure knowledge. Love you all have a good week!

Elder Jenson