We are alive and well and happy in serving here in this unique mission. We are becoming more acquainted with the missionaries and the members here in our area and we are learning what great people they are. The missionaries are having success in teaching people who want the gospel and we are having baptisms each week in multiple areas. As Spring comes the missionaries at the Church History Sites will begin seeing more people come and they will also see some people want to hear the gospel taught to them.
There are the beginnings of Spring but it is having a hard time showing up here in New York. It has been snowing for several hours, but it has just stopped, but it is cold. The last few days the wind has blown very hard and it has also rained. We do not know how the soil holds as much water as has come in the form of rain and snow since we have been here. There has been as much water fall from the sky in the last month as we get in Utah in an entire year, maybe more. The grass is green and some of the farms have fall grain getting a good start, but the trees have not sprouted leaves; the buds are there and a few of the trees are showing a very little green but not enough to see from a distance of 20 feet.
This past week we have spent quite a bit of time helping with issues related to missionary apartments. We traveled to one apartment, about a 2 hour drive, twice this week. Our GPS (which we have named Molly) took us on a route along many back roads through the rolling hills in the country among the farms. Some of the roads are a bit rough and narrow. On one of the roads, which was narrow and lined with trees, we came around a corner and the road just appeared to end; it was scary enough to me that I slowed way down. It was good I did because the road took a turn to the left and went down a very steep grade for about one fourth mile and then crossed a creek. We live at an elevation of 690 feet in Brockport; along the way to the apartment we went over a hill that was at an elevation of just over 1700 feet, which was high enough that on the way back home we could look off to the North West and see Lake Erie in the distance. Some of the farms are small and some are very large with a lot of farm equipment; tractors, disks, plows, harvesting equipment etc. and also large barns and sheds. The dairy farms have the cows all enclosed in barns; with the capability of opening the sides to allow air in when the weather gets warm.
We are going to President Christianson’s home this evening to meet with the new missionaries arriving in the mission today. They will then be taken to their first area of assignment tomorrow. There are also other missionary transfers taking place tomorrow. We have plans to meet with some of the less active members in the Brockport ward this week and see if we can be helpful in encouraging them to start attending church again, or do something to help them. We just returned from the meeting with President and Sister Christianson where they welcomed four new sister missionaries and one new elder. They are all great young people full of enthusiasm and the spirit. Elder Pratt is the new elder, he was born with both arms missing above the elbow. He led the music for our song, he can put on his own suit coat in smooth movement. He can write with a pen between the ends of the arms; he can carry and open his scriptures and turn the pages; and he has a powerful testimony of the gospel. He has had to prove himself capable of getting the education he has, and he can drive a car just fine. The important thing is the Lord knows him well enough to trust him as a missionary so he is here and will do just fine with the Lord’s help.
We hope you ladies have a great time at the baby shower for Mckinzi on May 7th. Mom made a couple of quilts for the baby before she left so Mckinzi would have them for the baby. We hope all of the grandchildren will stay diligent and complete what is needed for school this year and qualify to graduate or advance to the next grade. We are pleased Bailey received very good grades last term, keep up that good practice. We would like to hear from all of the family and or friends as often as you can make time to send us a short, or long, email or letter. Austin we still have not seen a picture of you and Josie? Jana has set us up to use Skype, so if you would like to use that option call us and we can get on the computer with a better camera and we can communicate with you through Skype.
The other day on April 12th I thought of my wonderful mother. Since that is her birthday, she is 99 years old in earth life reckoning; next year will be 100 years since she was born of goodly parents who loved her, raised her, taught her, and helped her learn the gospel and gain a testimony of its truths so she could be the wonderful mother to her and Dad’s ten children. Mother and Dad taught us just as Lehi and Nephi and other prophets taught their children and nurtured us in the ways of the Lord and helped us gain the testimonies we each have. We now are trying to follow their wonderful example and teach these eternal truths to our children and grandchildren. Heavenly Father’s plan truly is a great and eternal plan that will bring eternal joy to us as eternal families sealed together by priesthood power restored in this last dispensation through the Prophet Joseph Smith and all the prophets and apostles since his day. As Maxine and I have been reading the book “To the Rescue” together we are receiving a reaffirmed testimony on each page that President Monson is the Prophet of the Lord today and commune’s with Him daily and serves with all his heart, might, mind, and strength.
We love each of you and appreciate your faith and prayers for us. We pray for each of you daily and trust you will be blessed in your lives.
Many blessings to all of you, we Love you.
Love,
Elder & Sister Jensen, Mom & Dad, Grandma & Grandpa, Richard & Maxine
thanks for the praise on my grades.:) love ya and miss you guys! by the way happy birthday grandma and happy aniversary to both of you on the 21st. love bailey!
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