Crack addict to Bishop

This week was quite good. J was baptized!!! There was a little bit of drama surrounding the whole event. He is going back to Mexico next week so we weren't sure if he should be baptized or if he should find the missionaries there. So we finally just went through with it and he was baptized on Friday night. He was confirmed AND received the Priesthood on Sunday. We have an appointment to go and do baptisms for the dead on Wednesday :) He is progressing so fast and I'm convinced he will be a great force in missionary work in the future. He also says he's a "toastmaster." In Mexico they have this 4 month class you can take and you have to speak confidently in front of an audience and if you complete the class you get a certificate indicating that you are indeed a toastmaster. I don't fully understand but it's quite entertaining watching him give his testimony. 

     

So we went over to J's house. We found her my first day in the mission. We've been trying to get in with her for a long time but she's never there. So we go over and hear yelling inside. We knocked on the door anyway and her husband answered and told us she is really sick. We asked if we could share something with them. We shared a brief scripture and ended in a prayer. It was a testimony to me that the Lord knows all of us and if we are worthy of having the Holy Ghost with us, He will guide us to bless others in their times of need. They notice too. They are always commenting on how we stop by at the perfect time. #spirit

     

So R's husband loved church last week! He saw us walking down their street and stopped us to talk. He said he "really liked that church thing." He's coming again next week! Frick yeah. He can see something different in R now that she has the Gift of the Holy Ghost. Having that with us is so important because other people can see our example and will have the desire to change for good. 

      

We had temple tours again this week. We brought 11 less actives with us. Each time we bring someone to the temple with us they can feel the spirit. Even on the temple grounds. The temple has binding powers. We can be with those we love for time and all eternity. They all feel that when they learn about it. The temple is so important and I feel so blessed to have the ability to enter into it. We can receive answers to all of life's questions when we enter. The peace we can obtain from temple attendance is unworldly. I love my Heavenly Father and I know He loves me. He gave His son so that I can one day return to Him. 

Con amor, Hermana Jorgensen

p.s. Oh I almost forgot! I'm done training! Hermana F is getting transferred and I am taking over the area... We'll see how that goes...

Cleaning the baptismal font

Freakin' Cubans

 "The day I found out that my bank account accumulates money in my sleep was the best day of my life." -Hermana F

    

So if you don't already know, Texans are ridiculous drivers. They other night we were driving back to our apartment from Katy. Everyone was going 10mph under the speed limit. I am convinced that a zombie apocalypse is starting. Seriously I was very concerned. 

     

So this week we went to the beautiful Houston temple and did Baptisms for the dead. We took Y and R. They are our most recent converts. Y was baptized and confirmed for her mom. It was one of the most spiritual experiences I've ever had. They looked so pretty in white. They get to enter the temple and make more covenants in a little less than a year and I'll be here! I'm crossing my fingers that I'll be close enough to go! Sooo goood. 

     

This Sunday R's husband came to church! I never thought I would sit next to a drug addict during sacrament meeting! It was awesome. He really liked it and even wore a tie :) S also came to church! He is a less active member that we've been teaching for quite some time. This was the first time he has been back to church in 10 years. 10 years! It was bomb. Also J, getting baptized on Friday, brought his friend from Mexico. She loved it as well. Oh contentness... 

     

So on Sunday night we were knocking around a neighborhood and met a guy named S. The only bad thing is that he is from Cuba. Fun fact: they are SO hard to understand. He invited us in and we kind of got the vibe that he wanted to Bible bash. We agreed with a good amount of what he was saying. I think that surprised him a little. We had the opportunity to teach him about Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. So many people that we come into contact with think we are trying to replace the Bible. This is the beauty of the Book of Mormon: It further testifies of the teachings held within the Bible. It is another witness of Jesus Christ our Savior. It was translated through the authority of God by Joseph Smith. He was only a vessel to complete God's will, but had a divine responsibilty. His worthiness and calling have brought us the full truth. I am so grateful for the opportunity I have each day to testify of Joseph Smith. It has given me a stronger testimony of God's love. 

    

Lastly I just want to mention how grateful I am for my family. Talking to you guys yesterday was the best thing ever. Your encouragement and prayers strengthen me everyday. I have really missed all of your easy-going attitudes. Sadly, that has been hard to come by here. But that's okay. I am so grateful for my Mom and for the example she has given me. Happy Mother's day! 

Con amor, Hermana Jorgensen

 McKenna says it is very common to see jalapeño plants growing on everyones front porch

 Herman F had a little accident with her chair. I'm so happy to see that they are coloring in the coloring books I sent them!

Kamikaze Kittens

After we went running the other morning, I went out on the balcony because it was 5054528552 degrees in our apartment. I saw two tiny baby kittens in the corner and yelled for Hermana F to come and look. They got scared and started trying to get away, but Hermana F caught one. We don't even know where the other one went... So it started freaking out and scratching her so she put it down. It jumped off of our 2 story balcony. Just lept right off. I really wish I had a picture of our faces in that moment. It would have been quite hilarious. I was kind of afraid to look down because the thud was pretty loud. No worries though. It ran off and we're pretty sure it is okay. Freaking Kamikaze kittens.

     

We are trying to visit a less active family in the ward. They finally answered the door and the dad said we could come back a few days later. Well that day came so we went over and knocked. His 16 year old daughter answered. We asked if her parents were home. (After looking behind her) "Nope, it's just me and my sister and my brother is upstairs." Then we asked her when her parents might get home. "Probably in 3 or 4 hours." We told her that was fine and we would try to visit tomorrow. Her little sister, probably 4 years old, runs up to the door, "Mom is here too!" "MOOOOM come here!" The older girl rolled her eyes and shut the door. Oh mylanta I love little kids. 

     

Guess what??? You'll never guess. I'll just tell you. J IS GETTING BAPTIZED. Yep. He'll be dunked in just 11 days from now. He's the guy from English class. We started teaching him and I felt like it was a good time so I popped the question. He was hesitant because he is currently in a 10 year process of mastering all of the 10 commandments. One per year. He finally understood he could do two good things at once and accepted! We teach him 3 or 4 times a week. He even fasted this week :) We only have one problem. His visa expires this month so he has to go back to Mexico. No worries though. He's getting baptized before he leaves and is coming back to Houston after he gets another visa. It will be bueno. He's about my height. Quite a little man. 

     

R has been MIA all week! We have no idea what happened. Everything was just fine and all of a sudden she fell off the face of the earth. We think her crack addict husband is the problem. The other day we were driving by and he was standing outside of their house in the middle of the street in a daze... 

     

So we've been trying to contact a lady forever. She had a baptismal date and interview and everything in November but then she wasn't taught after that. We finally got ahold of her on the phone. She told us she didn't want to become a Mormon or be our friend... This was about a month and a half ago. So this week a member of our bishopric asked us to visit her at least one more time. We went over and her husband answered the door. She was at work but he said a few of his neighbors speak Spanish. We went and knocked on a few doors. A lady answered and told us her mom is also LDS as well as some other members of her family. She invited us in and we started teaching her about Jesus Christ. I was able to share my testimony of Christ and of the Atonement. It was an amazing lesson and we're going back this week! It was all way good but got a little weird when she started breast feeding her child... 

    

All is well in H town. 

Con amor, Hermana Jorgensen

McKenna says this is a typical Texas home so she wanted her picture taken in front of it. She also wanted me to point out that the reason she is standing so awkwardly is because she refuses to be one of those dorky missionaries who do "thumbs up" in every picture. She evidently thinks this is a better option