How Great He Is (week 41)

"BIG NEWS I am singing a duet in zone conference. Well, there are four of us, but I have a duet part. You all know that singing isn't a huge thing that I love doing, but I guess the mission stretches us in more way than one. We are singing How Great Thou Art. Mostly in Russian. However, I just wanted to share the last verse, which we will be singing in English...

Okay, it doesn't show up on LDS.org, so I actually will not be sharing it with you. BUT LOOK IT UP! 4th verse of the hymn "How Great Thou Art." I love how it talks about the adoration that we will all feel when Christ comes again. Adoration is a very strong word. It's stronger than Love in my book. When you adore someone, you would do literally anything to help them out or to please them.

Rain rain rain and more rain this week. It's really easy to see how people can get down when the weather is like this! But luckily, we are here to scatter some sunshine into their lives! I know I've seen how much a person's demeanor and mood can change after we talk with them about Jesus Christ. It's a really cool calling that I have... Such an honor to be here.

The power and authority of my calling as a missionary came up a lot this week. Promising specific and life-changing blessings to someone is a really scary thing to do. Let me explain...We met a man who wasn't interested in listening to our message. However, when we expressed a desire to help him with any other aspect of life, he readily shared a health problem that he had. He expressed how he has tried "everything" to overcome his struggles. He said that he even prays about it. Now, inside my mind, I was thinking...that's silly...you haven't tried everything if you haven't learned about the gospel! I got a distinct prompting from the spirit that I needed to promise his that if he would learn about and apply our message, he would be completely healed. The next thought that came to mind? Doubt. Doubt that that could actually happen. Fear that if he accepted it wouldn't happen. So, I chickened-out. Completely. Didn't even leave him with an opportunity to learn about the gospel...simply told him that we would be praying for him. Well, I was feeling pretty downtrodden and disappointed about that failure. Maybe even a little worthless as a missionary.

Luckily, the next day was interviews! So after talking that over, Sister Bell and I decided that we would follow counsel from our leaders, and head right back over to this man's house and promise him the blessing as we feel prompted to by the spirit. Sister Bell was so awesome, she totally supported me, and said that we would do it together. Even though, I was pretty scared the whole time. It all worked out in the end. I don't know what will come of it, but I know that it changed how I will be on my mission forever.

Basically, we walked up and knocked. He answered and asked why we would come again. And, I told him that we prayed for him and felt strongly that we should return and tell him that if he learns about the gospel, he will be healed. In the name of Jesus Christ. As representatives of the Lord. And, I read something in PMG that struck me about power and authority. It's on page 11. It goes something like this: "Your calling gives you authority; keeping your covenants gives you power." That really motivated me. Because I did feel power behind my words as I exercised my calling and we stood there together and told him how this gospel could sincerely change his life. I felt like I could literally feel physical, emotional, spiritual, and mental support flowing through my body during that short 2 minute conversation. He reached out and took my by the hand and said "thank you so much." and that's pretty much all that he said. But, I know that he felt the spirit because I could see how much softer his eyes were. I hope that he will remember this experience. He didn't commit to doing anything, but something happened inside of him, I know it.

That feeling of something outside of me, bigger than me, that was literally holding me up and supporting me was Heavenly Father. I testify that He is there and He is so great. When you step out on a limb, and you feel really uncomfortable and scared HE WILL HOLD YOU UP, if you are doing His will. And how do you know His will? You practice! You just go and do what you feel is right. And then you'll realize how the spirit talks to you through a simply game of trial and error. Patience is one of the hardest things to develop., I believe. Because not only do we have to be patient with others, but we have to be patient with ourselves and with God. 

Love you! Don't get sick!

Sister Jenne"

Oh y'all. The irony of that last line. Several of us got sick that week. 

"the van guy" pt 2 (Week 40)

"привет всем! Hello all!

я вас люблю. I love you

Title explanation:

We had a really cool thing happen this week that confirmed my knowledge that I am where I need to be right now in Russian South! I don't know if you remember, but in my 1st or 2nd transfer, Sister Orr and I stuck an articles of faith card on a Russian looking van, and the man called us. He was super excited to get a Book of Mormon and to meet us, and it was such a miracle. He and his fiancee were prepared to hear about the gospel. However, due to the fact that they lived in Puyallup (FAR AWAY) and he was a truck driver, constantly in another state, we had to drop him because he was never in town. But on Friday morning, we get a call from Ivan, and he was at the Provo City Center Temple! He was making a delivery there. He handed the phone to a temple worker, I think Brother Parker, and he told us how excited Ivan was to be there. Honestly, I couldn't 100% understand what Ivan said on the phone after that, but we are planning on calling and following-up sometime this week and see if we can get him to church with his fiancee or a temple walk. The reason that I say that this increases my testimony of where I need to be is because I am the only missionary left who knows who Ivan is. Anyone else would be confused until they looked in the area book for a while. And he actually remembered me! When I answered he said "Is this Jenne?" (they all call me by my last name only...). Also, this phone that we are using has just been sitting in the mission office for 2 transfers. And 2 weeks after I have this phone again, he calls. Any other time and no one would have answered. I don't know, it was just perfect timing!

Something that Sister Bell and I have been working on is trying "new" door approaches. Trying to mix it up, and get out of the regular thing that we always say at doors. I think it is a better way to practice and role-play inspired questions. I also feel pretty strongly about the H2BT points...to use them in the first contact...instead of waiting until the first lesson (they should be one in the same anyways, right?).

I saw something from way back in the MTC this morning and it talked about how when we are being a good missionary and thinking of ourselves, we are obedient; when we are thinking of others and being obedient, we are sacrificing; and when we are aligning our will with God, thinking of others, and being obedient, we are consecrating. That's something that I am working on. Praying to align my will with His. To actually feel His guidance every single day. And, I do! It's incredible. Scriptures and talks and hymns and all things spiritual are bringing me to tears sometimes. Like at least a few times a day. Which is really strange, but not in a bad way! The sacrament is more sweet. Church was very spiritual yesterday. I don't know..I just feel like I am progressing a lot in this area because I am having to stretch and rely on God more than every. There is a difference between being obedient, sacrificing, and being truly consecrated.

"I am a Child of God"--does this phrase ever seem to become every day or maybe even a numb repetition? Something that we don't even keep at the forefront of our minds? Why? Satan's biggest job is to attack our very identity. WHO WE ARE. We all have certain ways that we define ourselves or see ourselves. "When I cling to these identities [the ones we set for ourselves], I'm building my foundation of self-worth on sand. Sure, sometimes they are sand castles, but they never seem to last (and they never seem to be grand enough anyways),. It;'s an unsustainable and unreliable foundation, and frankly it's exhausting. Each of my self-schemas are barraged by threats daily. Each of them, except that I am a child of God." (An article that everyone should read: https://www.lds.org/blog/what-it-really-means-to-be-a-child-of-god)

My favorite part goes like this:

"the identity of a Child of God can never ever be threatened or taken away from me. In fact, it's the only identity I have found that can't."

Misc/Funny things?

This week included...a baptismal font that was too hot and steamed up a whole room, a man who was shaking so hard from the cold that he looked like he was having a seizure (it wasn't even that cold...), turning onto an exit ramp instead of an on ramp..into oncoming traffic, sore muscles, sketchy trailer parks with screeching birds, spilling compost all over the floor, being offered holy water vases and money for our singing by an old babushka, Bishop's hot dog stand, a lesson at NINE IN THE MORNING, rain every day all day except weekly planning...the one day we stay inside almost all day, exchanges, zone sports day, and no Russians at church (not even our members because of the time changes and surgery).

A little Russian for ya:

я знаю что иисус христос-мой спаситель.

Он любит всех людей.

Через его силу, мы можем творить чудеса!

Translation:

I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior.

He loves all people.

Through His strength, we can work miracles!

Okay, honestly that^ took me forever to type, and I don't know if it's all 100% right (grammar/spelling...) So, that's probably the only Russian testimony you're ever going to get from me typed out in an email, so enjoy it this time(:

Loooove,

Sister Jenne"

yet another lovely week (week 39)

"This is going to be a great transfer in Russian South with Sister Bell! I can just feel it!

Sunday (yesterday) was a really great day. When we were planning in the morning, Sister Bell said that we should set a goal of 4 investigators. At first, I thought that would probably be a little too high or unreachable. But, with God, we can do all things. Although, I don't know if I've ever found 4 investigators in one day on my mission. But, I felt like it was possible, and so we committed to that goal.

In church, there was a returned sister missionary who bore her testimony of how when we have faith to miracles, we should just think of them as if they have already happened and have confidence before the Lord in our commitment to a goal or to a miracle, according to his will...of course. (that's another thing I have been learning about...God's will).

Anyways, during language study, I was doing my normal thing and reading out loud from the Book of Mormon and such. But, I felt prompted that I should do something else. So, halfway through the page I stopped and began looking up phrases that I could use on the phone while talking to people. Then I wrote some of them down and decided to practice. So, I was calling formers for a while, and either they weren't answering, or they weren't interested in meeting. Just as I felt like quitting, I called one more person, and he set a return appointment.

My faith increased. We were in the last 30 minutes of our night, running from complex to complex, calling all of the people on the call boxes, and a couple answered and we made a return appointment for tonight with them. So that was 3 out of 4. Then, we had about 15 minutes left before we needed to drive home. We ran over to the neighboring complex and started knocking. No one was answering. But, in the last 5 minutes, a girl answered. She's from Ukraine..probably YSA age. She agreed to a return appointment as well and took a Book of Mormon. President! God directed us to 4 new investigators yesterday. It was so incredible! I love this work, and I know that inspired goals are always attainable, according to God's will.

A poem that I read this week that I love:

"The tumult and the shouting dies.

The captains and the kings depart.

Still stands thine ancient sacrifice,

An humble and a contrite heart.

Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet.

Lest we forget. Lest we forget."

As I was reading this alongside Helaman 5 this week, I was thinking about the importance of remembering.

  

 "Lord surely should come to redeem his people, but that he should not come to redeem them in their sins, but to redeem them from their sins. And he hath power given unto him from the Father to redeem them from their sins because of repentance; therefore he hath sent his angels (all of us!!) to declare the tidings of the conditions of repentance, which bringeth unto the power of the Redeemer, unto the salvation of their souls. My sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.

When we remember who Jesus Christ is...for us personally, and for all other people, we aren't redeemed IN our sins. We are literally redeemed FROM them. They are actually gone. Forgotten. In the moment when we realize this, we feel that feeling of God's love, and his ultimate sacrifice for us. A power comes into our lives, and we feel alive in Christ. We look up and live. But, then life continues on, and that feeling slips from our minds as we get caught up in all of the other aspects of life. We make more mistakes, we aren't perfect. But, each and every time we remember what Christ has done for us, it makes us want to be a better person. And, over time, we realize that wishing to be better won't actually help us to be better. It's through the enabling power of Christ that we actually do begin to gradually become like Him. We cannot fall. We actually CANNOT fall if we are yoked with Christ. It doesn't say "if the devil will send forth his mighty winds," it says "when." but IF we build on the foundation of Christ, we CANNOT fall when the might winds are buffeting us, and knocking down everyone around us.

Sorry for the novel of an email. There is so much more that I could write, if time permitted. But, I will spare you that today. I love and miss each and every one of you! Have a wonderful week.

Love,

Cectpa Jenne"

No pictures this week :(

Hopefully there will be some next week!!

wait... halfway? (week 38)

"Privet from beautiful, rainy Seattle! Oh how the days have been cold and rainy this week. However, I believe that the weather is only going to get better from here! Spring is coming. I couldn't be happier.

"Work Will Will Win While Wishy Washy Wishing Won't"

This has proved to be true...over and over again on my mission! Since I am apparently "old" now... since I am hitting halfway in a couple days, I just thought I would share this quote because it describes basically everything that I have learned here. Basically...if you want something, it's not going to fall into your lap. If your will is aligned with God's will (you want the same thing as God), then you still can't just expect it to fall into your lap. Miracles happen every day, but they happen more often when we get out and work and act and DO something to accomplish what we want. We are here on the earth to act, not to be acted upon.

The biggest news of the week is that I am getting transferred! From what was previously just "the Russian area" to what will now be the "Russian South" area. Sister Christensen will second transfer train Sister Hamon in the "Russian North" area. And...drum roll please... I will be companions with an English speaking sister. I don't know who yet! I never thought this would happen! It's exciting and very nerve-wracking...but I have full confidence in my mission president and this call that he has given me. It will be a fantastic transfer. Our zone, which was previously all Elders except for us, will now have 4 Sister areas! That's wonderful news, as well :) Sister power!

So, there is a section in Preach My Gospel, Chapter 4 called Recognizing the Promptings of the Holy Ghost and a section called Relying on the Spirit. there is also a whole chapter about learning a language (Chapter 7). A connection that I made just this morning during personal study was the connection between learning a new language and learning the language of the spirit. It says:

Consider this:

why must I continually improve my language abilities?

How can I improve my ability to speak and teach in my mission language?

How can I obtain the gift of tongues?

now...think about this...

Why must I continually improve my ability to recognize and rely on the spirit?

How can I improve my ability to do so?

How can I obtain the gift of discernment?

They are so intricately connected. These two chapters could be read side by side. Chapter 7 could be read as instead of "how to learn a mission language"..."how to learn the language of the spirit" Anyone who is struggling with this concept should try asking a few of these questions and finding answers through the scriptures, Preach My Gospel, and prayer.

We met a man yesterday who was sitting on a bench. In the rain. Looking pretty lonely and sad. Turns out, he was lonely and sad. He was having a really hectic week. He told us all of the struggles that were going on in his life. He talked about how much he just wants his life to go back to how it was 2 years ago. We listened, we talked, and then we brought up the Book of Mormon. He wasn't a fan of that idea, and you could tell that he started to fell uncomfortable right away. It's times like this when having a back-up plan is so helpful. Having other things to talk about with people so that they will still be given an opportunity to feel the spirit. He said "I just want to feel safe." well....we can help you with that, sir! We gave him the church address and assured him that he is always welcome...that this is a safe place where no one will judge and everyone takes care of each other. He gripped the pamphlet that we wrote the address on so tightly. We then prayed with him as tears came to his eyes. Seriously, it only takes a little bit of love to help someone have a better week. To possibly even change their life forever! We never know. We might never know if he will go to church or if it will come to anything, but that man felt God's love through us. And it was all because we were willing to listen and then give him resources to help him deal with any problems.

That's all for today,folks. It's such a great time to be alive! We are so blessed with the fullness of the Restored gospel of Jesus Christ and access to all of the blessings that Heavenly Father wants us to have. Remember... "Work Will Will Win While Wishy Washy Wishing Won't"

Love you all! 

Sister Jenne"

с днём валентина! (Week 37)

"translation: Happy Valentine's Day!

A week that starts out with 4 of Sister Juchau's snickerdoodles can never be a bad week! It might have been an interesting week, but it definitely was not a bad one. I don't think it's possible to be a missionary and have a bad week. We got to go to a member's house last Monday and make planner covers for our planners for next transfer (which is next week btw). Transfers are always exciting! It was really relaxing to sit back and do some crafts and get this random taste of relaxation and fun together. It's times like that that I am really able to become great friends with Sister Christensen and Sister Hamon. They are so fantastic. There's something about having one purpose and one mind and working together with the spirit. Speaking of which, the interesting part about this week was something that I talked about last week. The more I feel the  spirit in any given day, the more successful I feel about that day when I kneel down at night to account with Heavenly Father. About halfway through the week, the spirit seemed to dwindle in our apartment and in our companionship. Instead of feeling the spirit of missionary work, there was a spirit of tension and over-sensitivity. It's really easy to focus on the little things that go wrong like not being able to go to a baptism because you less active doesn't show up, or breaking the glove box in your car, or missing a bunch of turns and being late or any number of every day things that happen. It's so easy to dwell on the "bad" things that happen. Or, the "bad" things that people unintentionally say.  It's really easy to get to the point where you see love from someone for 23.5 hours of the day, but there's that 30 minutes where you feel left out or lonely or misunderstood and those are the 30 minutes that you are going to remember. It's hard when you just want to fake it til you make it, not cause contention, not hurt anyone's feelings, and just smile through everything. However, that's not how the Atonement works. We have to let ourselves feel what we are feeling and acknowledge it. That's the only way that He will be able to actually heal the root of the problem so that it can in actuality be healed and not happen again or not happen as often, at least.

Jesus Christ told the Nephites:

"Will ye not return unto me, and repent of your sins, and be converted, that I may heal you? if ye will come unto me, ye shall have eternal life. Mine arm of mercy is extended toward you; and whosoever will come, him will I receive. I am Jesus Christ. The Son of God. I created the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are. Come unto me ye ends of the earth..and be saved."

It's our choice! It's completely up to us! He is ALWAYS there. He doesn't leave. He wants us to come unto him. But isn't that why we are here on earth? To exercise our agency and make mistakes and then realize that we can't fix our own problems or bear our own burdens, but He ALREADY has. Everything has a perfect solution in Christ. It's not going to be easy...we have to suffer along the way a little bit. That's not because God doesn't love us. It's because he DOES love us. Because through Christ we are healed. We have peace. If it was easy then what would we learn? How would we show our commitment to Heavenly Father? He sends us to a neighborhood where He knows that there isn't going to be anyone interested. He doesn't do that for the people that we are going to talk to, He does it for us as missionaries. He leads us there because it gives us the experiences that will help us later in some way. He knows everything. He doesn't send anyone on any type of wild goose chase. I know that everything happens for a reason and according to God's will. And He does nothing save it be for the benefit of His children.

Be proud of me because we did service and trimmed some bushes with some clippers/loppers and they looked pretty darn good when we got done. All those years of clearing out horse-riding trails did me some good, I guess! I'm learning all sorts of life skills that I never thought would come out of my mission.

It was windy, and Sister Hamon was on splits with another sister and so Sister C and I went out and contacted some people. The reason I mention the wind is because my dress was a very light fabric (like, not heavy type of light) and very blowly in the wind type of thing. We were standing on a doorstep and she basically had to talk to this guy alone, trying not to laugh as I held my dress down. I'm just glad that I had a slip and tights on...

All is well in Seattle! We are visiting the space needle and the EMP museum today with our sister training leaders! So excited and we will take a lot of pictures.

Love all of you! Keep killin' it.

-Cectpa Jenne"

No pictures this week, I guess! I'll pester her about that next week. :P

Grateful Hearts See Miracles (Week 36)

"This week we found some great new investigators! A couple from Ukraine welcomed us into their home and we were able to have a fantastic lesson. It wasn't even so much a lesson as just a testimony sharing experience. The spirit was so strong, and we were able to build a real relationship of trust with them. Something that I have truly noticed is the difference in how successful a day feels to me as a missionary and how much I have felt the spirit in that day. It's definitely a direct correlation.

Last night, we had the opportunity to go to an interfaith choir performance. There were all different churches there, Christians and otherwise. All of the songs were amazing and spiritual, but as soon as our choir got up to sing "Come, Come Ye Saints," I almost couldn't focus because the spirit was so strong. Throughout the song, I noticed that people were visibly touched. Moreso than previously in the performance. It was a giant testimony builder for me of just how true this church really is. The spirit is such a great thing.

"Stick to your task, until it sticks to you;

Beginners are many, but enders are few.

Honor, power, place, and praise

Will always come to the one who stays.

Stick to your task, until it sticks to you;

Bend at it, sweat at it, smile at it too;

For out of the bend and the sweat and the smile,

Will come life's victories, after a while.

-Author Unknown

We had ZONE CONFERENCE this week! That's where I heard this little poem up there^ What profound and simple statements! We do have to work hard, and we do need to finish the things that we started, and we do want to look back on something with no regrets. However, as we are bending and sweating and whatnot, we should also be smiling. We can smile because we know that there IS a point to everything. We DO have a purpose in our lives. There IS something to work toward. I don't know if I've already shared this scripture in an email, but here it is: Alma 32:42-43:

42 And because of your diligence and your faith and your patience with the word in nourishing it, that it may take root in you, behold, by and by ye shall pluck the fruit thereof, which is most precious, which is sweet above all that is sweet, and which is white above all that is white, yea, and pure above all that is pure; and ye shall feast upon this fruit even until ye are filled, that ye hunger not, neither shall ye thirst.

 43 Then, my brethren, ye shall reap the rewards of your faith, and your diligence, and patience, and long-suffering, waiting for the tree to bring forth fruit unto you.

Love you all so much! I hope that I am able to help uplift and inspire your week. Sorry for a bit of a scattered/short email this week. All is well here in Seattle. 

Sister Jenne"

Worrying= Mentally Practicing Failure (Week 35)

Oh my goodness y'all! I'm so awful! I have THREE posts to put up for you today. I will try not to get so behind again! Promise!!
"Moral of the title... don't worry! be happy! Practice success! You'll be happier, I promise :D

Sooooo, the center of the UW (university of washington) campus is called "Red Square." AKA one of my new favorite places. Our Sister Training Leaders are over one of the YSA wards on UW campus.Therefore, we got to do exchanges this past week on a college campus! i felt like I was back in school, but at the same time, so far removed from the students there. It's funny how different priorities become over time and in different circumstances. I learned a lot about street contacting and what it's like to talk to 50 people in one day. Something that just doesn't happen in the Russian work. We were walking around after dark on the edge of campus, and there weren't any people around. A pay phone started ringing and I felt an urge to answer it. (I just feel invincible as a missionary or something because I never would have done this before my mission). Anyways, a guy asking for Mike answered the phone, and I let him know that there's no one around, but that we are missionaries and we love to talk to people about Jesus Christ. Turns out, he knew a lot about the LDS church and had a ton of questions. Some of them were really difficult questions that have caused deep divisions within society and politics right now. I am so glad to be able to say that I had concrete answers for each question and I know exactly where I stand and exactly where the spirit tells me i should be for each of these issues, no matter how complicated or difficult. It was such a cool experience, and I just hope that I was able to touch his heart and teach about repentance and how we can all change for the better. No matter what. I know that's true!

Something from my personal study that I loved this week was Alma 50:39. Just in general, the war chapters in Alma are such a great parallel between us and Satan. How Satan works with us is the same way that Amalikiah worked against the Nephites. However, the Nephites were prepared with their building of walls and armor and such and were able to be very successful in defending themselves. In verse 39, it says "...he (Nephihah) was appointed with an oath and sacred ordinance to judge righteously, to keep the peace and the freedom of the people, and to grant unto them the sacred privileges to worship the Lord their God, yea to support and maintain the cause of God all his days..." we know that the cause of God is to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. (Moses 1:39) It reminds me of a quote from David O'McKay:

 "True Christianity is love in action. There is no better way to manifest love for God than to show an unselfish love for your fellow man. This is the spirit of missionary work."

 We are here to support and maintain the cause of God. Which is a cause of Love. What a great work! Being a missionary is pretty cool sometimes.

Obedience: the price

Faith: the power

Spirit: the key

Christ: the reason

Love: the motive

Joy: the reward

Alma 45:6-7: "6 and Alma said unto him, will ye keep my commandments? 7 and he said: yea, I will keep them with all my heart."

That taught me that there are 4 possible responses to this question. No, I will not. Yes, I will keep the commandments..sometimes..., yes, I will keep the commandments always. OR YES, I will keep the commandments ALWAYS WITH ALL OF MY HEART. I invite all of you to consider with answer you are giving in your life. 

The scriptures are cool, especially the Book of Mormon! Love and miss you all! have a wonderful week. Miracles are out there if you look for them :)

-Cectpa Jenne"

Sister Jenne sent SO MANY PICTURES for this week and they make me so happy so here y'all go!!