JANUARY 08, 2018

“WE EAT ENOUGH RICE TO FEED CHINA”  Quote from Hermana Jensen

Hello allllll my buds,

​We have decided that our life in a car share area is basically ​a bad game of The Amazing Race. This is pretty much how it goes: We load up the bikes every morning and then get in the car with the other sisters to get dropped off in a random area that is semi close to where we need to go and then we have to find our way there through the little knowledge that we have gathered from the three weeks we've been in this area. We have gotten lost way too many times to count but have seen way too many miracles to write down. Every day is an adventure. Not going to lie though, last night after we were about 15 miles into our bike ride to get to an appointment, all I want to do was lay on the grass on the side of the road. But hey, at least I don't feel as guilty when I eat an entire plate of Cuban rice and beans.

We are seriously working with just the most amazing families right now. Seriously like 4 families who are just SO cool. I just love them all. My testimony of how the gospel blesses families has grown so much. Just to be able to see it "work" in them. It’s incredible. We taught this family from Uruguay how to pray together as a family and they have just changed ever since. We also are working with this adorable family from Buenos Aires and this hilarious family from Mexico that are just so cool. The lord is blessing our area so much. Our Venezuelan family finally came to church and it was so perfect!! Roseangeli loved it so much and right after Relief society she went over to help with the food and everything. Oh, she is just so cute.

It got really really really cold this past week. We felt like such boss missionaries on our bikes when it was pouring down rain and everything. We met this really awesome Haitian woman who was so worried about us that she gave us some ginger and cinnamon to make this ”Haitian potion' that is supposed to make you not sick. It worked!!

We met this guy who I will seriously never forget. He was awfully rude but such a blessing in disguise. We taught him about the Book of Mormon and challenged him to pray about it to know if it was true and we came back to check and see how everything went. When we got there, we started out just so nice and telling us about all that he learned, etc, so we were like okay sweet. We asked him if he prayed about it and that's kinda were it all turned south. Somehow, he started yelling at us about how he doesn't need to pray about anything and all the churches are wrong and how we are wasting our time because everyone in this world is wicked, etc. I felt this overwhelming sense to just bare my testimony to him. I don't feel like I've ever testified more or shared pure testimony with anyone before in my mission. It was incredible. It showed me just how much I knew and how much this meant to me. 

I just want you all to know that God is real. That this world is crazy, and that’s why Jesus Christ himself came here thousands of years ago to help us navigate it. Without him we would be completely lost. I know that he didn’t just come down here to guide us but to save us. He died for our sins and for our pains, every single thing that has ever hurt us or confused us or caused us sorrow, he died for that. I know that is the only way we can ever experience true joy. This church is directed by our Heavenly Father and blesses his children. 

 Many times this week I have just been humbled by Gods willingness to send a 19 year old girl to such a beautiful place as Florida to bring His message to this people. This work is real. The gospel of Jesus Christ changes hearts and lives. I am so thankful for this opportunity. 

You guys are so incredible. Seriously, I just love you so much. Thank you for you love and support, I hope to one day be able to pay it back to you. I pray for you constantly. Have a great week.