I am so sore!

Well hello family,
I just got done with the adventure of my life.  I think I know now all
of the back part of Tupiza.  I just wanted to go to the Devils Door
but no the Elders wanted to go forward.  We had our guide who was a
member and he took us on a route that was crazy.  I have never climbed
and jumped in my whole life.  Everyone has battle wounds but my
companion.  I think we will also be very sore for tomorrow.  I had a
bunch written down an hour ago and waited an hour for the computer to
let me into myldsmail but then we just shut off and came to a
different internet.  Now I have no idea what I wrote.  I am sure that
it was a good letter.  My mind is fried.  Well all I can say is that I
can't believe how everything is changing.  Karissa sent me photos of
Caison and I cant believe how big he is and what a stud.  Then there
is Mik and she does not look like the person I knew before the
mission.  This week was good.  It wasn't our best week.  We were
struggling a bit because no one was in their house or didn't have time
to meet with us this week.  We did have a great lesson with 
Hermana Sandra and she has a baptismal date.  With the Hermana Rosi, I
don't know how her family is.  We passed by but they are on vacation.
We will pass by there house this week and see if we can talk to them.
Oh I am tired.  Well lets see I really don't remember......oh we had
conference here in Bolivia.  We got to listen to members of the 70,
one of the persons in the Primary presidency and Elder Holland.  It
was of course via satellite.  Elder Holland said that if we ever need a
safe haven in this troubled world we have three places where we should
go, our homes, church and the Temple.  It was a really good talk.
Ummmm  my companion is doing great.  We are still getting along really
well.  Life is great remember the church is true and that I love you!
Jenna

Transfers

Well my family this week was just as good.  We met our goals without a problem.  Now we just need to higher them and make it more exciting.  We met some really great families this week.  It was transfers this week and I am still with my comp which is good.  It is the next transfer I am worried about.  I hope I finish here but the way President Dyer likes it I will probably leave for my last transfer.  Well this week met a great family.  Family Salines, they have never attended a church.  Well I lied their dad is Catholic but he says I was there for my parents.   We put a baptism date for the 31st.  The bad news is, is they are moving this week to another part of town which means that they will be taught by the Elders.  Oh well it is the Lords work and what is important is that they get baptized.  Tuesday we had a barbecue in the church with the ward members for Carnival.  That way the kids could play in somewhere safe.  It was fun, I avoided getting wet until the end and one of the people came up behind me when I was telling someone good bye and with a bucket full of water got me.  How rude but oh well.  We had fun.  We started English class once more.  We have had a lot of people walk in the church and ask how much it was.  Truth be told I don't have anything much to say this week.  Life is good here and we are working really hard.  The only difficult thing is that the people aren't progressing as fast as we would like them to.  We just need to keep them in our prayers and help them move along.  Oh and about the photo.  Hermana Dyer has her own computer in her house so it is safe to send photos, and another thing it takes years to send photos from these computers so I don't think you will be getting any.  I will try to send some but we shall see.  I hope you all have a good week and will share the gospel with everyone you see.  Take the example of Grandma Nielsen.  Well I love you all, and the CHURCH IS TRUE

Jenna

I Don't Mean to Brag or Anything...

But I must say I did have a fantastic week and I don't care who knows about it. 

I just feel really happy all the time with my companion and I love it.  She is such a great person, and an awesome teacher.  I am very blessed to have her as my comp.  This week started off ruff.  We were trying to find people to teach and it just seemed that nothing we tried worked.  Well that was Monday and Tuesday got a little better.  We ran into an old investigator that I taught with Hermana Arone the Hermana Monica (well she stopped us on the street, I didn't notice her) and she asked when were we going to come by and visit, so we made an appointment to visit her on Wed.  We also met a woman Rosi and she told us that she only believed in the Bible and we had to teach her a little fast because she didn't have much time, and we made an appointment for Wed with her also.   Our day ended up a little chapi.  We only taught one lesson and our spirits were down but we were so excited for Wed because we had citas.  Wed was a fantastic day.  We first went to Monica, lets just say that she is awesome.  She has all the desire to learn about the gospel, and she even asked how she could get her children baptized into the church.  We told her we would love to teach her children also but we would also like to see her baptized into the church and we put a date for the 17 of March.  Then we went and taught Rosi, no lie we were a little nervous because boy oh boy did she know her bible, but Hermana Mercado and I prepared a great lesson to teach her and we had our secret weapon........The Holy Ghost.  The lesson went great but she was still hesitant to accept another book.  My companion was talking to her and I said a prayer in my heart, after my companion was done talking I told her that we would really like for her to have the Book of Mormon and read it.  It got really silent for a min and you could feel the spirit working with her.  We waited and waited for the answer and she just kept looking at it.  In the end she accepted!  We left her a part to read and she promised she would read it.  Man alive we left that house I think floating in the air.  We honestly didn't think that she was going to accept the book.  The day ended great because we taught more lessons and met new investigators.  That night when we were doing our planning we were making our daily goals.  I told my comp we could do better than today so lets put our goals high and if we have faith we will make them she was a doubting tom but she said ok.  What happens the next day is almost none of our appointments were there, and it seemed no one was in their house or wanted to listen.  So what happens is that Hermana Mercado was feeling a little down.  I asked her what is wrong and she said well Hermana no one wants to listen, what are we going to do.  She was tired of walking all day, and just tired.  I looked at her and I said Hermana I want to share a scripture with you.  So she just starts laughing and I had the handy dandy book of Mormon in my hand and read to her from Ether 12.  After that I asked her what we needed and she said fe, I told her I cant hear you, what do we need and she said again fe.  I think we were shouting a little to loud in the street.  Then I said no hermana we just need to remember that we have fe and that we were women of fe.  So then I asked what are we going to do, and she said keep knocking on doors!  And that my friends is exactly what we did and you know what.....we met all of our goals for the day.  Just goes to show you what a little faith can do.  Ah this week was amazing and I know that this week will be even more amazing.  Friday, Sat and Sunday were hard days and we had to be inside all day.  Its CARNIVAL!!!!!!  That is right the holiday where they worship the devil.  They danced those three days and with permission we were able to go and watch a little bit of the parade.  Though it was a bad idea because during carnival they just throw water and spray at each other.  So what happens is.........look its a GRINGA get her!!!  Oh joy and it doesn't help when you are with the Elders because they are like yeah get the Hermanas get the Hermanas.  Though after we had to be in our house and today and tomorrow we cant go teach lessons because everyone is getting drunk and having parties.  We also have to eat our meals really early.  Though tomorrow we are going to the church because there will be an activity with water there and it is better to go to that then just sit in your house all day.  We are working a heck of a lot with the members.  We are doing a lot of activities because if we want to see success in our area and in the Branch we have to receive the support from the members, so our plan is to strengthen them and get them to come out with us so they can see how important this work really is.  Life is great and I am so blessed to be out here.  Though I am sad because my best friend Hermana Flores from the MTC went home this week.  She went home early because they found a lump on her lung.  Shoot dang you should call her she is really awesome.  Well life is great and I love you all.  Remember to help the missionaries in every opportunity.  Remember that an example is the best way to show that you are a member of the church and not just your words.  Have a great week.  Oh how is Shay doing?  Is it still a boy?  If so Jay after Jenna is a great name for a boy.  Well I love you all lots (I think I said that already but it is still true)

Jenna

PS THE BOOK OF MORMON IS AWESOME!

Hi

Hello my family,

Lets see the best thing that I ate this week.........um I don't know.  I had a few good things.  First we had a little hamburger meat with french fries and rice with a little flavor flav that was good.  Then my comp and I ate 3 hot dogs with Pringles and Coca Cola for dinner one night and that was also very good.  This week wasn't that great for great food.  I don't know how far I walk but I walk a lot.  My area isn't that big but it is in two different parts.  So if we don't plan our day very well we end up just walking a heck of a lot more than what is needed.  My shoes will make it till the end of my mission.  I tell them every day that they only have a little time left and that they can do it.  My black shoes are ripping up top but I will go see a member and he can fix it up for me.  Well no lie this week was a little stinky.  We went to Tarija for the conference.  I will be honest and say that I don't like the conferences.  To me they are a little bit too long.  Two days away from Tupiza is a lot.  Wed was the conference and then Thur we had interviews with the President and because no one wanted to work with us we all ended up just sitting around all day in the church like lost ducks.  I don't know Tarija so they wouldn't let me go out and knock on doors.  They didn't want me to get lost.  I don't know if they think I am 5 or what but hey ya paso.  I ended up getting a bad stomach ache for the ride home.  I just slept the whole time and then I woke up to hear NOOOO NOOO NOOO, Casi casi casi.  Yep I guess we almost died.  Its a good thing that I just sleep through everything.  Now the Elders are going to talk to the President and say it is to dangerous for us to travel on the road and they want us to go to Sucre now.  I guess we will see what will happen.  This week Hermana Fransisca did not get baptized.  We didn't get ahold of her until we were in Tarija.  We called and she said that she was excited for her baptism.  We called on Thursday to remind her that we had an appt with her on Friday.  She said no worries I will be there waiting.  Well it comes to Friday and guess who isn't there.  We called again and she said she was en el Campo and wouldn't be back until Sunday.  WHAT we were so confused.  Everything seemed fine and we asked what happened and she said she forgot.  Something is obviously going on and we just need to figure it out.  We have two great new investigators Julieta and Noé.  They are really great and Noé has already read all of 3rd Nefi.  We left them 3 Nefi 11 to read together and he just went ahead and wanted to read from the beginning of the book.  Oh and Cade he is 10 so if he can read it so can you :),  Life is good here, I keep thinking of Mckord though a lot.  There is a new song that they keep playing that is from Brazil.  I just keep thinking poor Mckord if I hear it on every corner he is probably hearing it a lot more than me.  I have no idea what the song is called and I wont try and spell the letters because I only know two words of the song.  My comp is doing great, I think she will be training after our time together.  President said that I wont be in the same area for long.  That means after the next transfer I have a transfer. Which stinks because it will be my last transfer in the mission.  Oh well he is an inspired man and knows what is right.  Well this work is great.  The Lord Loves us.  Have a fantastic week.

Jenna

Hey Hey Hey

Family,

 Well this week has come and gone so fast I cant even believe it.  Just before I know it I will be home with all of you and you cant look forward to my weekly letters.  Oh my goodness I am not going to lie I am getting scared to come home.  AHHHH I wont think about it, I will just work my butt off down here.  Lets see Pops thanks for doing the application for me for EFY did you mention I will be a RM.  They like them more, though I am sure you did everything.  I don't want to travel to Provo, Logan or SLC every day so you did just fine.  I am taller than my companion, not by much but I am taller.  I will miss that about down here.  I have to bend down to kiss everyone, and they always remark on how tall I am.  Then I say that I am one of the shortest in my family and they just get their eyes all big and say are you serious.  Then I explain that my 12 year old little brother right now is probably taller than me and then just look impressed.  Lets see this week was a crazy week.  Hermana Mercado and I were doing visits with our investigators and we finished one early.  We had a feeling to visit an inactive member and see how she was doing.  Now whenever I went to this member's house she was never there.  When we met her in the street we made an appointment and she was never there when we returned.  I am not going to lie I doubted a little and thought I don't know why we are doing this she wont be there.  We knocked on her door and one of her sons answered the door.  We asked if his mom was there and he said no but she is at his grandmas house.  His grandma lives about 4 doors down so we walk over there to see if she is there.  We knocked on the door and what do we see in the window to the left....someone doing the quick peek to see who it was.  Then we see it again 2 min later in the window to the right.  I had low doubts almost ready to say yeah lets go, they wont answer.  Then right then her little girl answered the door and told us to wait a min.  Her mom then came to the door and we started just talking to her in the door.  She then invited us in which is a miracle in itself.  We talked to her and found out that she is going through some really hard times and that her son fell from the top of the stairs outside.  He now has blood clots in his head and she is having a hard time.  We talked to her and taught her some gospel principles like to pray because she wasn't doing that.  We then were able to get a hold of the President of the Branch and us, him and the Elders went back to give her little boy a blessing and we talked more about the Church.  Sometimes I think the Lord lets these things to happen to let the people know they need to come back to the church.  I then thought about all the inactives that I have met throughout my mission and you know what they sure the heck are not a happy people and always have problems.  I then made a pack that never in my life, for any reason will I miss a day of church or go inactive.  Now I know there are circumstances where people cant attend church but they should do everything.  Which means also we need to do our part and visit those people and bring them back into the church.  Shoot I just sounded really preachy sorry.  I am really enjoying working with the Hermana Mercado.  She is great and I am learning a lot from her.  I hope that I will die here and be her comp for 3 transfers but the way President Dyer does things is that he sends missionaries to a new area for their last transfer in the mission.  Oh well I guess we will see. This week we are going to Tarija for a conference on Tuesday night and wont be back till Friday morning.  I am not excited.  I don't like being away from Tupiza for a long time because we cant visit the people here, oh well it is necessary.  We are supposed to have a baptism of the Hermana Fransisca (pancha) this week but she didn't come to church on Sunday.  She has attended since I can remember so it isnt a problem but the problem is, is that we had an appointment with her yesterday and as we went we saw that she was crossing the street to talk to someone.  We waited and then saw she was waving down a taxi.  We then ran across the street to talk to her and she told us not to look at her and she started crying.  She then hurried up and got in the taxi and left.  We are really worried about her.  We are supposed to go to lunch at her house today and cook something from La Paz.  We will talk to her then and see how she is doing.  My comp asked if I think she was drinking and I said no I don't think so but lets think positive and hope that something else happened.  We also talked to her daughter Hermana Gualberta who is our pensenista and she said that her mom disappeared all day and she hasn't even seen her.  Ah shoot I just hope everything is ok with Hermana pancha.  Well other than that life is great here.  We are working hard, and are seeing the fruits of our labors.  Have a fantastic week everyone and be sure to attend church this sunday.  You will receive your food for the week. 

Jenna  

Hi everyone

Well well well family here I am on the Internet writing to you all. I
will start with the questions because they are easy to answer. First
I will start with Seminary. The youth should attend seminary. For
example, to be a seminary teacher is to receive a calling in the
church. Someone from the ward or branch receive the call to teach for
just them. Well we don't have a teacher in our Branch so no one goes.
When there is seminary it is like at 6-6:30 in the morning and then
they have a night one also about the same time. Hermana Mercado does
not speak English but she is learning because it will be good in her
career. My favorite Tupiza food is I don't know. Hermana Gualberta
always makes something that I like and one day we will be making it
with her. I also really like Salchipapas, it is so easy you can make
it at home. It is just hot dogs and french fries. You cut up your
hot dog and you cut your potatoes like french fries and fry them. Oh
I also like it with Fried Bananas. I don't know why but I really enjoy
it. Lets see discussions in a week, it depends on the week. For
example this week we taught 17. Sometimes it is more and sometimes it
is less but we always work just as hard. We are always using the
spirit to contact people. We couldn't contact them and have them feel
something different if we didn't have the spirit. When we are not
teaching people my companion and I talk about the things we like and
don't like and we also talk about Bolivia, since this is where she is
from. She is going to teach me the dances of Bolivia in our house.
She will also be cooking food from La Paz so that way I can try. Lets
see Spiritual experiences, there are always a lot but I will tell you
about one. We were knocking on doors in one area and I had plans to
go one way to knock on doors but I always look around and see how I
feel. I had a feeling that we should go in the opposite direction. I
told my comp lets go this way and we started walking and my eye caught
a door and I had an impression to knock on it. We knocked on it and
we met the Hermana Daisy. We talked to her and found out that her
daughter died a few months ago and that she was having problems in the
home. We talked to her and she said I wish I could invite you in but
I cant right now but could you come back and talk. We set up an
appointment and went back. She was there and we were able to teach
her and talk to her. She now has a baptism date for March. She is a
great person but has a lot of problems. I hope that she will
progress. We also finally met with Hermana Fransisca the mama de our
pensenista. She has always met with the missionaries but has never
gotten baptized. She has been attending church for the past two
months but when we want to set up an appointment she always said no.
Well this week she said yes. We met with her, taught her, and now she
will be baptized next week. She is so funny and we are always joking
around. Life is good here. It is so good to be back in Tupiza and
not in Cochabamba. I cant believe that I will be leaving this place
in so short of time. I am going to be so sad it isn't funny. My
companion Hermana Mercado is great. She is such a sweet heart. I am
lucky to have her as a companion. Now it is another week and I am
ready to work and meet more great people. Thanks for the support back
home. Man I love this work and this gospel it changes so many peoples
lives for the better. Also remember to say your prayers. Love you all
Jenna

Hey Hey Hey

Dear Family,

I can say this week that I did absolutely nothing. I traveled Monday night to go to Tarija. We left at 8:30 and got there at 3:30 and because none of the Hermanas wanted to come pick me up at 3:30 in the morning I got to sleep in the hotel by myself. It was one of the weirdest experiences of my life. I don't know what I will do when I come home and don't have my companion with me. I woke up at 6 because I thought my shower was running and it sounded like there was a man in it. I was having a panic attack and was ready to go get the Elders but then I thought better and said I will check my bathroom first to see if there really is a man. Turns out that when someone is showering upstairs it sure sounds like they are in your bathroom. I couldn't go to sleep after that so I just got ready for the day. We were in Cochabamba a 12 on Tuesday and I just got to the airport in time to see Hna Ortega go home. She was a sweet heart. Then I spent the afternoon in immigrations, then working with Hermana Yardley. I had a sleep over with her and her companion. It was so great to see her. Then on Wed we had a training then met our new comps. My new comp is.........HERMANA MERCADO. She is 25 years old and is from La Paz. She has been a member for 8 years. She just got done with college and finished as an Electrical Engeneer. She is really smart and she is AMAZING. I am so excited to work with her. We then had plans to fly to Tarija on Thursday and then hop on the bus that night for Tupiza but the people in Tarija got angry and no one could go into Tarija or leave Tarija. So we spent another day in Cochabamba. We knocked on doors and then I took my comp and Hna Mendoza out for ice cream. I got the snickers ice cream and it was oh so good. Then we met the Elders and went to dinner. Then they told us to be ready by 8 on Friday to fly out. Turns out the people were still angry and there were no flights. So they say the missionaries going to Tupiza can go in Bus. They got us bus tickets and when they did that the strike stopped but since they bought us bus tickets they couldn't cancel. On Friday night we traveled at 8:30 for Potosi, we got to Potosi at 7:15, ate some breakfast and then hopped on a bus for Tupiza at 8. We got to Tupiza at 2 in the afternoon. We were so tired. I hate traveling in bus. The important thing is that we are now in Tupiza. We are so excited to work. We are going to work hard and we are going to see some success. Man I love this work. Sometimes its hard but it is so worth it in the end. Remember to always choose the right and help the missionaries. Today we are going to a barbeque that the Branch is putting on. We are going to eat some special kind of meat. Oh I keep forgetting. Tell Mik that I eat Llama meat here all the time. My pensenista loves it and loves cooking it for us. It is really good, I enjoy it. Well I love you all lots. Have a fantastic week. Oh and Shay, Jenna is such a good name for a little girl. Think about it and I think you would really like it.
Jenna