HERMANA RACHEL JENSON

HERMANA RACHEL JENSON

Monday, February 29, 2016

Don't let me near your sink...



Familia!! Another great and happy week in the service of The Lord! 


Wow this week was for sure filled with adventures and miracles! 
But to start out, at the beginning of the week we were having some sink problems.. Haha seems that this always is my problem, the sink, but someone came to fix it.. at this moment we didn't have water and so he undid the tubes and then realized that he didn't have all the right parts and he would need to return the next morning. So it was all normal until super early in the morning Hna. Mijangos woke up to the sound of rain... but of course it wasn't rain... it was that the water and it had come back on we thought he hadn't shut the water off or anything so we just had water spewing out of a hole in the wall at a million miles an hour in our kitchen!!!! We had pretty much a pool in our kitchen! So we started filling up all the containers that we had to hold water when we didn't have anymore and when all the others filled up we didn't know what to do.. so we started cleaning everything in the house until he got to the house to shut the water off to fix it. It turns out there were more holes in the pipe so the have to break out the wall!! So for the time being we are without water! :)) Haha just one of the many adventures this week! 

I ate chicken feet

There was a centipede in my shower

I completed with 6 meses!!

I had to do something for my visa this week so we had to go to the capital and we slept in the mission home, and ate pizza!! :)) 

Celebrated dia de independencia here!! 27 de febrero! 


We had a conference of zones this week and Wow I learned so much! I learned how to be a better missionary and help these people in Ocoa grow their testimonies!! 

We found a family of 5 this last week and we came back to visit them and they had followed up with al their commitments and  read everything we left them and are more excited and animated for the Gospel!!! We are so stoked! They really are everything you want as a missionary! 

We saw so many miracles this week and I saw more in abundance the Lords hand in my life and the life of all these people here in Ocoa! :)) 

Don't forget to read your scriptures and say your prayers as a FAMILY!! 
I love you family! Never forget it! 

HERMANA JENSON


One embarrassing moment that I had this week! Oh gosh... so we were contacting this family.. and I asked the dad what his name was and he said "bienvenidos" and I said "oh muchísimo gracias, pero cual es su nombre". And he said "bienvenidos"... and my companion just died  laughing, beinvenidos in spanish.. means "welcome"!! and I thought he was telling us "welcome to our house"..so I said thank you and asked him what his name was again... but no, it really was his name.. hahahaha!!!        I don't know if this is really funny but to us it was!!
HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!! 




Street sign says 27 de Febrero.. which is Independence Day!! :))

My mom and I and hermana Mijangos at the conference of zones! 

I made crepes for my housemates!! THEIR FIRST TIME!! !HAHA wow imagine yourself.. a life without crepes! :( 


Cards from my housemates!! :))) 6 MESES!! WOOT WOOT! 

This is a food that a member made for us! its platanos with mango yuca.. papas.. fish.. and avacado.. onions.. and peppers! hahah with chocolate milk! 

Rudy.. he is 12 years old and my bff!!! He reminds me exactly of my nephew Corbin! We are always joking around!! 

This is Eliahi! Haha she calls me her mom! She always says exactly what I say and helps us read the scriptures with her mom.. who is an investigator! :)) 


This is the member family where we ate... the boys love us and were showing us around their yard.. hahah the turtles name is Gracie! :)) 


And this is the hole in the wall that we had water spewing out of!! 

Monday, February 22, 2016

PIGGIES AND MOUNTAINS!!! (6 months out)


My dear family and friends! Como estan todos?? 

As you guys can probably tell from by my title it was a really good week!! :)) 

It seems as if so much happened this week that I can't remember any of it! But I'm going to try my best! :) 

Okay so some things I forgot to tell you guys about Ocoa... 
I'm dying of freezing cold.. in comparison to the capital, its like a totally different world! I sleep in sweats. 
Also to help paint a picture.. its like a little pit stop, hick town.. but Dominican style! This week I saw a kid washing his horse like a car. 
everyone here has motorcycles... hardly ever we see cars.. I'm constantly reminded of how much Colin would love this place!!! And if they need to transport anything.. its by motorcycles... for example: a bed, 6 people, 50 chickens,! They use donkeys to walk the streets and sell food! :)) 

We live right next to a farm harvest place, and so we buy fresh fruit and vegetables.. I have fruit smoothies every morning for breakfast!

This week we had a district conference and got to travel to Bani, super sprititual!

This coming week we have a conference with all the missionaries!

We went exploring with a member to a new area of our area.. and Wow.. when I say exploring.. I mean HIKING AND CLIMBING! I felt like I shouldn't be in a skirt.. but I forgot my camera so next week I will send  pics! :) Sorry mom! But we hiked this mountain, crossed 2 rivers hopping rocks.. and finally made it to a little pueblo of houses and tons of farm animals!! And BABY PIGS!! We helped them shave some coconut and shared about the gospel with everyone of their houses and have a couple days until we come back and visit this little city in the mountains! There is great potential and a special spirit up there! 

My president sent me this, this week and I wanted to share it with you guys... 

We are climbing mountains but it is important to remember that we are not doing it alone. Jesus Christ has climbed many mountains; the mountain in the desert where he was tempted by Satan, the mountain where he delivered the “Sermon on the Mount” to his disciples, the mount of transfiguration where he received power and the mount of Calvary where he gave his life. As always his message is “Follow me”.
He knows that we have challenges but we have a “Companion” with a lot of climbing experience. He will help you and comfort you. Make him part of your daily climb.

This week I have felt the Lords hand and love in abundance in my life, always remember that we are never alone.. and that He has been there before, He knows, and He lives! 

Have a good week!! Love you all!!

Remember to Read and Pray!! AND GO TO CHURCH! 

Hermana Jenson

This is Yuca... I missed La Yuca (the city) just a little.. no but really this stuff is amazing!:)) 

We had a blind makeover!!

You cant really see mine cause the makeup was white.. but please note that hermana Alas looks like Mulan! :)) I love these girls so much! We have some great fun here!

Wednesday, February 17, 2016

NEW AREA AND STILL SO HAPPY



FAMILIA!!! Wow I know I say every week is the best!! But really that's how it is! :)))  I just have to say that I love Ocoa, with all of my heart! It is just another testament to me that my Father in Heaven is aware of me. I feel like this place was created for me! Haha I'm coming back to live here! :) so to explain a little bit about where I am and how I got here..

So I had an hour bus ride to the chapel in Bani, then Hna. Mijangos showed up to get me! Wow how happy was that moment to hug her and see her again, it was a grand reunion! :) Then we took another 30 minute taxi to a guagua (bus) station and waited there then took another little guagua with my bags strapped to the back, and 20 people in a little 10 person bus thing, through the middle of nowhere! And up and up and up these mountains!! It is BEAUTIFUL!! It felt so good to have some fresh air and be out of the capital for a little! :) I am definitely in the south.. haha there are cows, goats, chickens, PIGS, and any other animal you can think of just around..!! haha 

I am the only american in the house I live in and wow.. I am forgetting how to speak in English..its a good thing and a bad thing! haha

So really we are just a tiny little city up in the mountains! Then there are other little tiny gatherings of houses that are around the city.. that is all our area to contact. We have one area... that is an hour away walking, on these little dirt paths through the trees, past cows and goats! Haha it's the best! Super different than the capital, but just as great if not better! )

We have seen so many miracles already here in Ocoa, but I want to share one! :) So on Wednesday night we were on our way back from the pueblo Las Flores (that is an hour away) and we were contacting a few people and then it was time to go home but we both had the strongest impression to stop at this house (just one more house) so we stopped and knocked on the door.. and the lady at the door answered with her little boy and invited us in. we didn't have a lot of time so we explained who we were and what message we have and that it could bless her life. She told us that she had visited the church before, but moved, and wants to visit it again... so we invited her to church casually and said a prayer and left... then a few days past and it was Sunday... we are in a branch here, and there are only about 50 people who attend, so we were waiting at the door and then it was time to start so we sat down and a few minutes passed.. and the same lady walked in all dressed nicely with her little boy!! Wow... I don't think you can ever understand the joy when you see someone walk into the church! :))) Hna, mijangos turned to me with her face so happy and was like SHE CAME!!!! So we sat with her and taught her how to use the hymn book and we felt the spirit in the meeting! :) Later she told us that we should visit her mother too! :)) We are going to visit them both tomorrow! :)) the Lord works in mysterious ways but as we learn to listen to the spirit and follow those promptings, the more The Lord will trust in us and give us more promptings! :)) I know that this church is true and perfect!! Our Savior lives  and loves every single one of his children! !:))) 


Pasen buena semana todos!!!

Con mucho amor


Hermana Jenson!!

This is my escritorio.. where I do all my studying! 

My compa and I. We climbed a mountain in Bani for p-day.. I am dying.. super sore.!! Haha but it was worth it!! 

This is part of my new zone! 

And these are my new housemates hermana Ventocilla from Peru, and hermana Alas from El Salvador! :)) They are the best!! We have so much fun!

This is the stuff that one member gave us .. her name is Isabel.. and she is just a little old lady that is alone in her house and she just kept leaving to her kitchen and coming back with stuff for us to take home. We had to carry all this stuff for like 4 lecciones! haha a carton of milk, nuts, popcorn, and a bunch of stuff from her garden to make natural tea! haha 


Me making natural tea in our house from the stuff that Isabel gave us! Haha leaves of guanabana... and I don't know what the other stuff is called! haha I made my companion try it and she almost threw up.. so it looks like I need to keep practicing!! :) 


CLASSIC Dominican food right here platanos fritos, and salami con huevos! :) yum yum yum.. haha 

We all wanted to be like hna. Ventocilla with glasses... Thanks family for the glasses for hna. Alas! 

Monday, February 8, 2016

ME VOY..PARA OCOA! (transfer week/so many pics of saying goodbye)

AYE MI MADRE... THIS WEEK HAS BEEN SUPER CRAZY!!

Well.. this week getting ready for transfers... hermana Barrett and I were so convinced that we were going to stay the same, we knew that another hermana in our house would be leaving. So we were helping her get ready.. then Saturday came, the day of the calls for transfers.. DON DON DON. We waited and waited and waited and waited... and waited until 10:15 pm. Finally the phone rang, we ran into the room and the four of us in the house were huddled around the phone (I don't really know if our phones can be called phones but yeah..) and they announced who the other girls were receiving and going. Then they got to me...and I was just thinking in my head.. yeah I'm staying with Hermana Barrett.. then my District leader said ´´herman Jenson, te extrañe alguien de su casa??´´ Do you miss someone from your house!? I was so confused... then hermana Pisconte.. just looks at me and yells HERMANA MIJANGOS!! (she trained herman Pisconte in our house, the hermana from mexico) So then I was even more surprised that I'm going to OCOA!! Its in the south, which is super campo! I wont have cars.. grocery stores.. nada! Hahah but I'll have beaches, mountains, and people! :)) It's the least hot area in our mission, so I'm not too mad..! Hahah, no I have only heard good things about my new area! :)) 

At the same time its been a little sad, because I'm leaving La Yuca and hermana Barrett. We got along so well and were on a roll and found lots of people who were progressing!! This place is amazing with people who I have grown to love. Yesterday we spent all day running around like mad woman saying goodbye.. and wow... no offense family.. but this is a lot harder than it was to say goodbye to you guys! These people have helped me have the testimony I have today and I have been lucky enough to watch them grow in the gospel! :) We have been through a lot..but they will never be forgotten! And hermana Barrett will take care of them! :)) I love LA YUCA! :) 

With that being said... this week we got a new door in our bathroom..and by new door I mean we got one cause there wasn't one before! Hahaha! and we had a noche de hogar(FHE) in the house of president! :)) Ate spaghettis at the house of Arisleyda for the last time! 


I shared my testimony in sacrament meeting because I was leaving. (but I didn't say that I was leaving) And don't you guys worry I still can't share my testimony without crying in sacrament! Hahaha but when I got up there and was talking,  I saw 4 new people walk in 1 is an investigator and 3 menos activos,  It was their first time in church in all my time here... it made me cry even harder, but really was a miracle. I felt so happy to see them there sitting all dressed up nice to sit in the house of the Lord. I felt at that moment so much peace, that this really is the work of the Lord and He will bless us! I was able to see a little bit of the fruits of my labors in my last Sunday here!! 

I TESTIFY THAT HE LIVES AND IS THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD!!! 


LOVE YOU GUYS!! have a good week! 

hermana Jenson!! 

new adventures coming soon from Ocoa!! :)) 

Sorry I don't share very much in my emails.. ha I never know what to share.. my mind is always so jumbled right when I sit down to write!! But know I'm good and happier than ever!! 

Oh I forgot a little miracle that happened this week! :)) So hermana Pisconte and I were on exchanges and we were getting ready to leave and we couldn't find our keys, we tore apart the whole house.. and yeah.. haha it was a mess! Then I was like well obviously we should pray.. (I've heard SO many stories about people who have prayed to find there keys) so I said it in a serious manner like we were going to pray but still a little sarcastic.. and so I hurried and said a prayer with hna Pisconte. And then,.. I went to look again and there they were, just sitting on my desk!! Literally 2 seconds after my prayer! Just a little miracle that reminds us that He is always there for us no matter how big or small! :)) God is Good! :))


These are my jovensitos!! :)))) Haha they play basketball with me and the tall skinny one in grey.. he is a recent convert and my favorite human JOEL!! haha 


This is the family Martinez, members, they always would leave to visit people with us and give us Jugo natural! :))) yum yum

This is Guiermo.. the young mens president and probably the coolest guy I've ever met and has a testimony of GOLD!! He is seriously my favorite person in our ward! :)) Hahah

Familia Bletrey....!!! There are 2 more kids but they were sleeping!! :)) menos activo familia! (less active family)

This is Anna.. the mom of one of our investigators, Alexandar, and she is so cute always giving us treats and jugo! and will yell our names from the other side of the street just to say hi!! :))) 

This is the familia ABREYO!! They are part members and we started teaching one daughter and menos activo brother, and Puchi was just recently baptized this last week! :) They are one of a kind and so funny... super blunt and sarcastic.. reminds me of my family at home! :)))) 

This is Joel!! babychito Joel! :)) Haha my bff here!! And our hand hugs! haah 

YESENIA!!! This by far was the hardest goodbye yet.. love this woman with all of my heart and her family! :)) 


This is Lucia... a lady on the street that always gives us water. We call her eezma (like from emperors new groove) hahah she is a little crazy but is so funny and just talks on and on! But I love her with all my heart.!! 

This is Francisco... the most wise man I've ever met, and sweetest! He is an investigator that just needs a little more time and work with the Lord to be baptized but has THEE strongest testimony! 

Our last spaghettis with Arisleyda.. the best spaghettis in the world!! hahaha we ate this whole plate.. :)

This was our intercambios with hermana Pisconte and in the night we got pica pollo!!! :)))) YUMMM!! 


New area that hermana Barrett and I found!! Haha middle of no where!
We thought it would be a good idea to plan out side on the roof... Hahahaha and now my missionary tan lines are even worse! Hahahahah! Whoops! 

Monday, February 1, 2016

COMPARTIR SU LUZ! (share your light!)



Hola Todos!!!!!!!! :) 

WOW what a week... there seriously is not a dull moment here el la Republica Dominicana! :)) 

First..I completed with 5 months! Wow el tiempo pasó rapidísimo!! I feel like I left yesterday! ... Sorry mom you probably don't feel the same way! haha! 

Second.. this week is transfers..and we don't know, I could leave to  a different area or I could stay here for another transfer... never know! I am just excited for whatever the Lord has in store for me! :) 

THIRD.. funny story for this week we were in a leccion with a family who is awesome!! We can never leave because the father is so interested and has so many questions.. so we were late getting home and they are far away.. so we decided to take a carrito... (taxi-ish) and so we get in and Hna. Barrett looks at me with eyes wider than wide... and tells me ´´mi falda se rompió´´  ´´my skirt ripped´´ and I just start laughing, so if you can imagine I'm just snorting up a storm! There were two men in front and just us two in the back and they kept looking back because all they could hear were my snorts. But still in my head I just thought it was a little rip or something.. NOPE.. her skirt ripped ALL THE WAY UP THE BACK OF HER SKIRT! HAHAH poor girl... so she starts freaking out and it was getting close to our turn to get out. So I tell her to switch me spots so I could stand behind her when we get out, (we switch spots in the carrito and the men start to look at each other like these girls are nutso) then when we get out I spread out my skirt, luckily I had a big skirt on.. and we start to walk to our house.. and she was just taking little skoots.. hahaha and then one of our menos activos (less actives) sees us and tried to come talk to us so we tried pulling it off cool so he wouldn't notice that her skirt was ripped.. haha and finally we made it to the house! Hahah it was just one of the many adventures this week!! :)) 

This week was amazing.. but especially my Sunday yesterday! I love Sundays.. mostly because I get to participate in the sacrament but I was touched by a talk given in our sacrament meeting by a young adult in our ward named Alerkis... he talked about reading the scriptures and prayer, how these things are so simple but really the most important. Sometimes we get caught up in things and forget how simple this gospel really is! And how wonderful! The other thing that he shared that really touched my heart this week was that we are different... we have a light that is different about us as members of the church, it is Special! We are different from the world. it's a good thing to stand out! We need to share the light that we have with every person. The light we have will help us in our way back to our Father in Heaven in this dark dark world! Don't be afraid to share your light with everyone, love the people who don't accept it and keep moving forward. I have a quote like this on the back of my LDM.(BOM) and I am reminded of the light that I am lucky enough to carry and that I need to share it with the world! :)) I encourage each of you to share your light this week with someone! whether it is just saying hi.. helping with groceries..!! SHARE YOUR LIGHT!! :)) THE LIGHT OF CHRIST!! HE LIVES!! 


Guys... this church is so true.. it's as simple as that.. its true! He lives! :))) Use the atonement, read, and pray everyday! I love you all so much!! 

I had some time to read some of your hand written letters to me this week and wow I am SUPER DUPER LUCKY to have family and friends like you guys! I pray for you all!! Thank you!!! 

Hope you all have a great week!! 

con amor 

HERMANA JENSON




These are called chimeys!! They are the best food here! :)) hahah 

This is Puchi...he was baptized this week and is the newest member of our ward.. He is the sweetest most friendly person.. Everyone in town knows who he is.. he was taught by the elders and us as hermana's, and is one of our best friends.. We are also teaching his cousin Andrea! Talk about one happy family!! :)))