Tres Cosas

So if you didn't already know, Hispanics are very open and blunt people. I got a few odd compliments this week and hope they brighten your day like they did mine:

1. I have old lady/Harry Potter shoes

2. I dress like the ladies in the Joseph Smith movie

3. My eyes are much prettier than an investigator's son's girlfriend

     We have a pet cat now. He/she climbs up on our second story balcony everyday and sits in the huge flower pot we have for some unknown reason. Hermana F won't let me take him/her inside...    

     So no baptism this week... We were very sad but it turns out (name withheld) had a lot of doubts and such that we didn't know about. We went over the day of the baptism after receiving a text the night before that she didn't feel ready. We talked with her for a long time about becoming like God, baptisms for the dead, and not having to know everything before you are baptized. One of my favorite things we shared was that when she receives the gift of the Holy Ghost after baptism, she will able to learn very fast. Now the spirit can be with her for short periods of time, but when she gets set apart she can feel it always. On my mission I have grown a great testimony of that. I learn things so much faster now. I understand the scriptures so much better than I ever have before. I know that this is because I am much more conscious of having the spirit now. I definitely know when it leaves. We have a new date for her set this coming Saturday. It feels better now like it's her goal. She is more sure and more excited.

     The Houston temple is amazing! So pretty. We took (name withheld) to a temple tour yesterday afternoon. We explained a lot of what happens in the temple and why it is so sacred. She is so excited to be baptized so she can do baptisms for the dead. She kept saying that she was feeling the spirit really strongly like she never has before. I'm so stoked for her baptism I can't wait. I was thinking this week about how lucky I am to have this gospel in my life. I'm only 19 and I have the truths of the temple, the spirit, baptism, and so much more. It really is a beautiful thing.

I love and miss you all and hope your Spanish is better than mine...

Con amor, Hermana Jorgensen

                                                  McKenna knows I love a good sunset

People like to watch me eat

WARNING! This email is not for those weak in heart... or stomach...


This Saturday I almost died. It's fine really. So the other morning I woke up with the plague (flu) and threw up out of both my mouth and my nose... sorry it was graphic. But it's true! My companion was also dying so at least we were in it together! A family in our ward fed us tacos the night before. They were delicious the first time, but the second time not so much...


We have a lot of characters in our ward...Yesterday bishop told us that a brother in our ward has been ending his prayers in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. He told us to go fix it. So we did. The other day we had a dinner appointment with a sister in our ward and right when we finished eating she said, "I have the diarrhea!" So we left. I've found that many Hispanics will invite us over for dinner and then watch us eat. Some of them won't even sit down...


So this week we taught Grisel. Grisel is an Atheist that used to study with the Jehova's Witnesses. She's very intense. She really loves science so we talked about evolution for a long while. She's very passionate about the subject. She kind of yelled at us and the member we brought for about 45 minutes. I finally worked up the courage to speak and bore my testimony to her. I said I didn't know a lot about Spanish, evolution, or a ton about the bible, but I know God lives. I know this because I've felt it in my heart. Something science can't do. She warmed up to us though. She is quite a cool lady. Cuban too.


I realized this week, don't ask me why it took so long, that I have this power and this gift. God has called me here. He knows I can do this. I have the power and will of God on my side. With that I can do all things! Everyone needs the knowledge of the Atonement. No matter what circumstance they are in, they need it and I have the power to share that with them. Take advantage of the Atonement. Many of us have the knowledge and it isn't fair to others that don't if we do not share our light and knowledge.

Until next Lunes, Hermana Jorgensen

Hey Y'all

"Wish I was back in Texas. The oceans no place for a squirrel!"

Dropped into Houston on Wednesday morning! The mission president and his family are awesome! My trainer's name is Hermana F. She's from UT! She's a very patient lady and her Spanish intimidates me because frankly mine sucks at the moment. No worries. One day I will be able to communicate.

     

So we have a baptism date for the 14th! I am so excited! Her name is R and she's so cute! She beat us to church on Sunday and picked up another member that needed a ride! She's the greatest. Also we were knocking doors the other day and a family invited us in. They're way Catholic but they like talking to us about religion and whatnot. They couldn't believe that We leave our family for a year and a half and all that jazz. I just told them that sometimes I can't believe it either haha. We placed a Book of Mormon with them and We have a third appointment tomorrow!

     

Yesterday we went to the W's for Sunday dinner. They bought KFC. Hey I'm not complaining it was so good! My companion said we should teach them about the Sabbath day next time. I just laughed. Their family is so freaking cute. Also the other day we were knocking doors and as we were walking by a house there was a lady screaming at her daughter. Her daughter had a chair that she was swinging toward the windshield. Her mom told her not to do it because it was the daughter's car and she would have done all that work to buy it for nothing. Never heard the F word so many times in my life. Then she broke the window.... It was an odd chain of events.

     

Even though I can barely communicate I always can feel the spirit in the lessons. I've had so many cool experiences because of the Spirit and it's only been a week! We shared Mosiah 24 a lot this week. It's about Alma and his people being burdened by so much and not being able to pray out loud. The Lord hears their prayers though. Even in their hearts. Because they asked for strength instead of a change of circumstance, the Lord strengthened them to bear up their burdens with ease. These people that we are teaching have gone through so much. We kind of have to be a marriage counselor, a lawyer, and so much more. When they understand that the Lord will strengthen them miracles happen. I've seen it.

Con amor, Hermana Jorgensen

(just  a side note, the first line of the email that's in quotes, is a song from SpongeBob. I just didn't want anyone thinking McKenna is schizophrenic)

                                                   

                                                      So they figured out how to empty the lint trap!

                                      McKenna was so happy to discover a Bahama Bucks in Houston. 

                                                  It looks like she's still sticking with Blue Raspberry