11/07/11
Relatives!
WHAT UP??!
This past week has been awesome, not as much work got done because people keep cancelling, but the appointments we did have went really well! There is a guy we've started teaching. He goes to a Christian church, and his pastors have been telling him some ridiculous things. But we bore our testimony of the Book of Mormon and he said that he would read it because, "If it can help you, then I believe that it can help me too."
He's got a lot of strange views that we've got to talk to him about, but he's sweet. He also speaks 8 different languages.
Anyway, the work has still been at least moving forward. Getting closer to having baptismal dates, but still hasn't been the right time. This week I hope that they will be ready to set a date. That'd be awesome, not just because it would be a baptism, but because just getting to know these people I can really see how the Gospel can truly make their life better. One of them we just taught the Plan of Salvation. He is taking it all really well, we just have to simplify it and define things. He finally started actually reading the Book of Mormon this week, so he is now officially progressing! The others are a married couple and they waved over the missionaries after he got back from the hospital, because he decided he needs God in his life. Every time we are there he tells us that he feels the things that we teach him are true, and loves it. His wife is a little quiet, and said that it will take her longer to accept things, but she said she is still willing to learn. Lastly there is an ex-minister, who realized something was missing in the Baptist church. He believes that the Book of Mormon is true, Joseph did in fact restore this gospel, and that this church is true. All he needs to do is stop smoking. We committed him to praying and picking a date that he wants to quit smoking, as well as being baptized. If you guys could help pray for these people that would be much appreciated. (To those who don't see the names, just investigators in general).
I learned this week how important it is to focus on the good in life, and look for the blessings of God. One of our in-active members says that she has been praying for 8 years and hasn't gotten a single answer from God. As she was telling us about her life, how none of her children/grand kids love her, and was crying, her grandson was running out to play football, stopped, hugged her, and then continued out the door. She was shocked! We told her THAT was an answer. She then remembered a time she was crying and she randomly got a text from her grandson saying "Grandma, I'm crying right now, but I just want you to know that I am thankful for what you do for me, and I love you." She has been so focused on the bad in her life that when good things come along, she pushes them aside and forgets. If we want to be happy in this life, we can't allow ourselves to focus on bad things. Even the smallest happy moment we need to cherish, because it is one more piece to build us up.
Well family, I love you very much and keep being coolio.
Love,
Elder Jorgensen
Alma 7:23
And now I would that ye should be humble, and be submissive and gentle; easy to be entreated; full of patience and long suffering; being temperate in all things; being diligent in keeping the commandments of God at all times; asking for whatsoever things ye stand in need, both spiritual and temporal; always returning thanks unto God for whatsoever things ye do receive.
Oh! We also did an exchange, so Elder Pehlam (one of the Zone Leaders) was my companion for a day. That was the day we met one of our investigators. We also met a guy who thought that nobody should have pictures of what they think Jesus looks like, because "In the Bible Jesus is covered in Jewels and Rubies." But yea, that day was sweet, but glad to be back with Elder Skousen.
11/16/11
Sorry I didn't email on Monday!
Things got all mixed up and we wound up with no time, but here I am!
So first things first, I have an idea. Each week, I think it would be awesome if ALL OF YOU told me something you learned from scripture study. I will each week as well, but I just think it would be sweet. Pray beforehand as well, so that you can receive personal revelation.
Also, I haven't had time to write in my journal since like week 3, so I am going to count these letters as journal entries until I find more time.
With letters home, it probably doesn't take as long as you think, just because it is really hard for me to find time to write them, and when I have them done, I have forgotten to send them out. I will try to do better.
____
I'll go over the best parts of each day over the past week:
MONDAY Nov. 7th: We had zone dodge ball for 4.5 hours, because one of the Elder's would be going home next transfer (which was the 14th).
TUESDAY: Pretty much normal day.
WEDNESDAY: Blitz with the Spanish Elders!!! We found a potential investigator at our first door. He is from Africa. We taught the first lesson to him, and he said he would read as much of the Book of Mormon as he could before we visited him next, and he seemed genuinely interested. Later that night we went out with the Ward Missionaries to visit Less-Active members. We went to our sister investigator’s house, and taught her a lesson based off of the General Relief Society talk about the Forget-Me-Not Flower. Look it up, it’s pretty sweet! Although I didn't get much of a chance to speak in that lesson that talk was the perfect thing I had been searching for to share with one of the people we are teaching!
THURSDAY: CRAZY DAY!!! My planner was overfilled, so much so that lunch was a backup plan if an appointment fell through. The best part of the day was when we taught a newly re-activated member. He has been struggling with smoking, but said that he hasn't smoked for two weeks, and the urges haven't been that bad because God has been helping him. However, he keeps a cigarette in his garage just in case. I told him that God has been helping him, but with that help, we are not meant to test how much he will give us by keeping that temptation around. He looked at me, got up, and left the room! I thought I had upset him, but then he came back in the room with the cigarette, tore it up, and threw it in the fire saying, "See, now I'm done for sure." Frackin awesome!!!
FRIDAY: (On exchanges with Hartly Park) pretty much all our appointments fell through. Crazy miracle day though! I'll tell you more in a letter, but long story short- beans, timing, a transient who got on the wrong bus, and Spiritual promptings, led to an accidental service, saving a batch of chili, and meeting an inactive member who will be at church on Sunday and is going to start meeting with missionaries.
Dinner was awesome, because I realized that the people who were feeding us where a less-active family we were going to try and visit! We set up an appointment to meet with them, and they are such great/funny people. Also, another inactive family ALL SAT DOWN IN THE SAME ROOM TOGETHER FOR A LESSON!!! This is the first time we've actually gotten them all together since my first week here. And I'd only met the parents. Their daughter committed to being baptized, so we are going to be working with her and hopefully having a baptism within the next couple weeks!
SATURDAY: We went with the Tongan Elders to help do service for a family; prepping the walls for painting. We did some tracting, and found some Potentials. Again, all our appointments fell through.
SUNDAY: One of our inactive families came to church!!! It was so awesome, and the people in the ward went up and talked with them and were very welcoming. It was SWEEEEET. Did a lot of personal study, and visited some people, who changed their minds about listening to us. Oh well, still an awesome day.
____
Alrighty so what I learned in study this week is that personal revelation is KEY!!! That is what the scriptures are meant for; not just to be a history book, but to help us understand the things we need to be doing, as well as help us in any situation. For example, I felt the need to write, "Love everyone no matter what, and be humble before Heavenly Father" in my planner, just because of things that had happened in lessons that day, but I didn't know why I wrote it for sure. The next morning in study, that is what all the chapters I read were talking about! I found a lot of things that not only helped me, but that I felt could really help those we are teaching. I know that the scriptures are inspired, and truly contain the words of God. If not, we might as well be reading an A.P. history book. We really need to understand the importance of it in our lives, and USE IT ALWAYS. Too many times out here people commit to reading and don't do it, and then when we read what was assigned, they say, "Oh, I really needed to hear that." And yet STILL THEY DON"T READ!!! It makes me sad and upset because they see what it can do, but are unwilling to take the time to do it.
I love you all, and hope all is well. Keep being super cool, and I can't wait to hear from ya!!!
LOVE YOU!!!!
Elder Joshua Jorgensen
11/21/11
SUP!
This past week was pretty awesome! The first part of the week every lesson we had planned actually happened, and we set some good commitments with the people. The second half of the week everyone kept cancelling, but all of our backup plans worked out, so we now have 4 new people to teach! Pretty excited.
I'm not sure what all to talk about in this letter, but I'll start off with the craziness of Portland. Apparently there is a big protest going on, but no one is sure what it is for anymore. It started as something to do with government, but then just became this mass hobo gathering. Not sure what it is, but that shows how ridiculous it gets; a bunch of people wasting their time to stand around for no other reason but someone told them to.
I also got mooned by some people, and a 7 year old kid on the street ran up, head-butted me, punched me, swore at me, and then ran off. I thought he was going to break his face on my back, because I didn't budge but his feet came off the ground. It's been a random week haha.
Thanksgiving is coming up!!! Pretty excited, one of the members is having us over, and they are partying all day. Not sure what we are going to do for the whole day, but definitely going to eat well. I love how willing the people are to help us out. When the dinner calendar gets passed around, people actually argue over who gets what days to feed us. We almost always have a ride to places, and they are willing to come help with lessons if need be.
Alma 34:38: That you contend no more against the Holy Ghost, but that ye receive it, and take upon you the name of Christ; that ye humble yourselves even to the dust, and worship God, in whatsoever place ye may be in, in spirit and in truth; and that ye may live in THANKSGIVING daily, for the many mercies and blessings which He doth bestow upon you.
I am indeed thankful for all that God has given me, from my family, to this mission, as well as all those others he puts in my life to help me learn and grow. It is so important to LISTEN to the Holy Ghost as well. For example, a couple days ago we were about to head to a lesson and we decided we should take another way, because we always go the same way. As we were walking, a man from the Tongan Ward walked up to us, introduced himself, and gave us twenty bucks for food. We were running low on money, and this helped out so much. Heavenly Father knows our needs; we just need to be willing to listen to what he tells us to do.
I only have 5 weeks left until the next transfer, meaning that Elder Skousen will be moving to a new area. Crazy! It's going to be sad, but I'm excited to see who my next companion will be. Hopefully he is awesome, because there are a few who just sit around and never want to do anything.
How've studies been going? Learn anything new this week? Hope so, because the scriptures are super! Well I guess that’s all for today, but I'll talk to you again next Monday. Love you all and hope you’re having a grandtastic time!
LOOOOOOOOOOOVE,
Elder Joshua B. Jorgensen
11/28/11
HHHHola!
SO this past week everyone was cancelling again. We only were able to teach 2 people I believe. TIME TO STEP IT UP!!!
I've been trying to do a lot more study, and have gone from Jacob to Alma in like 3 days marking referencing and all that fun stuff. I love the things that can be learned when the Spirit is present. I've been having a hard time focusing, so that is why I kicked up how much study I do, because when I have nothing to do, my mind wanders and I can't focus on promptings/impressions from the Spirit, and it has really made me upset with myself after a lesson (there have been a few while being here where I end up giving little if even any input). But this week lots of study, prayer, fasting, and so on has really helped and I loved every minute. I just wish we could have had MORE LESSONS!!!
I also realized that I need to manage money better. We ran out way to early this month because of the P-Day activities (leading us to eat out as well). I also had to buy some more pants, because my favorite jeans tore and the zipper broke, so I may be sending those hope to see if there is a way to replace the zipper/patch the hole.
All that aside, THANKSGIVING WAS SWEET!!! We went to a members house, expecting to be eating turkey broth and breadsticks (last time we ate with them it was tomato soup with nothing else haha. However, it was delicious soup) but they had a ridiculously awesome ham, turkey, pies, cheese, hot chocolate, and all that good stuff. Then we pretty much entertained the kids all day so that the parents could spend time with their visiting friends. Oh! And we did a Turkey Bowl earlier in the rain, so Skousen got covered in mud. I just took pictures and watched, it was pretty intense.
HOW WAS THANKSGIVING FOR YOU??
There is a lady we are working with who is continuously depressed about her life and won't give happiness a chance. It has been really hard because no matter what we say, testimony we bear, and how much WE as the missionaries feel the Spirit, remembering that the Spirit is brought unto them, not into. So they have to be willing to soften their hearts and let it in. We have another lesson with her today, and feel like this lesson will do some good for her. Praying hard! She is in-active by the way, not an investigator. Elder C. Scott Grow came and visited the mission, and said that more than half of our efforts should be put towards less/in active members, because by bringing them back, it will cause others who are not members to be interested.
Then there is the one who has a baptismal date set for Christmas Eve. We had another lesson with him, and challenged him to stop smoking by the 3rd, and he accepted. Hopefully he follows through; he has done most everything else we've asked him. I have faith that he can do it, he just needs to humble himself and let the Lord help him.
I've been sad about one of our inactive families, because we haven’t met with them in like 4 weeks. They keep cancelling. We aren't giving up on them, and will keep trying and praying. I really believe that if we can start meeting with them again, there will be progress in their home.
Another of our investigators has been doing better and says that he will be baptized if we want him to. That being said, we only want him to if he has that desire for himself. He is very loyal and willing to do what we ask, we just need to help him see that this is a very great and wonderful thing. We are meeting with him tonight as well, and have some good plans. I am excited to see how the Spirit will help in this lesson.
We gave another one of our investigators his book, but have yet to schedule an appointment with him. His sister still seems interested; she just needs to find out her schedule. They are really awesome people, and are willing to listen to and do the things we say. I love how that when we tell them something, at first they have a hard time with it, but when we re say it and bear testimony, they know that it can be true, and do have that desire to know. I look forward to seeing their progress.
Oh and our less active family! So we haven't had a lesson with them for about a week, but their daughter has the desire to be baptized and to learn. They are great people and have a lot of goals; it is just the getting started part they are having trouble with.
Again, I love that we are told to love everyone, because I truly do. Everyone I have met and talked with has been such a blessing and growing experience for me.
Alrighty, on to what I've learned this week. So in those books I read, there is a lot about repentance, judgment, war, and so on. What stood out to me the most was being an example to others. For example, Abinadi, when he was brought before the king. The priests were saying they were teaching the Law of Moses, and Abinadi comes back with "If ye teach the law of Moses why do ye not keep it?" and starts to call them out on all the stuff they do. While he is teaching them and saying the things that God has commanded and that should be done, Alma, one of the king’s priests believes him and ends up leading a great people and organizing the Church of God. All throughout those many chapters it talks about how the kings where prideful as well as the priests, and put themselves above everyone, but when the kings were done away with and the people wanted a king, they were told not to have one. It talks about the corrupting effect power can have on people. It talks about keeping people at an equal and serving one another. I love how when Alma the younger is Chief Judge, all the people of the Church of God have more riches and prosperity than those who are vain. Through all this I realized how much I do need to step it up, and be the best example I can be. In my Patriarchal Blessing, it says that I need to be the best example of a disciple of Christ as I can, and that it will show to my family, friends, and future children, making them strong as well. My goal is that for the next two years, Elder will be my first name. I want to become the missionary God wants me to be, and I have to make some changes to get there, but I know it will be worth it. I love this gospel and all that I have learned so far here in Oregon, and I can't wait to look back and see how far I've come as well as those who God has prepared for me to help.
Again, I encourage you all to email me each week and tell me what you learned from study. It can be as simple as expounding on a verse that stood out to you. But I encourage it to be not just something you read, but something that really can bless your life and help you.
I love you all and am thankful for all that you do for me. Hope all is well, and that you get something out of what I have said today. You are wonderful!!!
Love ya!
Elder Jorgensen
12/05/11
Hello there! Whatcha up to?
Alrighty so here's the low down on what’s up. First off, I'm trying to be better at 100% obedience, but it is hard!!! I did a lot of fasting, praying, scripture study, and found a lot of things that really helped me to focus on the work. However, I am definitely not there yet, and for that I apologize. We have been doing pretty dang good though the past couple weeks, and its sweet. We had a district meeting last Wednesday and where supposed to be talking about recognizing the Holy Ghost, but two of the Elders got hung up on obedience to the Missionary Handbook, and said, “they’re just guidelines, and it’s not like we are sinning to break them." My companion proceeded to tell them that in the front of the book it specifically says that when we signed up for the mission, we promised that we would obey all the rules and standards, and that the Prophet himself asks it. It also says that disobedience means you are accountable to the Lord and your mission president. Anyways, this led to a big argument because the people were trying to find a way out of feeling guilty; the Spirit was gone and everyone was upset. Because I was prompted, I got up and bore my testimony. By the time I was done, I knew that the Spirit was back. Everyone else one by one bored their testimony, and then we were able to proceed with the rest of the lesson.
I do know that I am not perfect, and I still have a lot to work on, but I am doing what I can to be where I need to be. In my Patriarchal Blessing it says that I need to be the best example of a Latter-Day Saint that I can be, and that people will come to the gospel just by being around me. There are more things in my blessing that say what I can become, and I have made it a goal to become the Missionary that not only I know I can be, but what God wants and expects me to be.
With our investigators things are kind of in a weird place. The one, who has the baptism on the 24th, hasn't shown up to church in 3 weeks. However, he told us that he has stopped smoking and seems like he still wants baptism to happen. We've had a hard time trying to catch another investigator and his sister home, but we have met someone new at their house each time we try to see them, and they all seem willing to listen. There is an old lady who seems excited to hear about the Gospel, she just has health problems that cause her to keep cancelling. However, we have an appointment this week to take her to the church and give her a tour, as well as teach her. I'm pretty excited. One thing she said that really stood out to me was; "You boys always smile so good. I don't know what it is, but whatever makes you so happy, I want some of that." She's awesome. The other day I tracted into a lady who has had missionaries come by before, but her husband hasn't been home, so they weren't able to sit down with her. This time, she got our number from us, set up a time, and kept calling to make sure everything was still good. I felt bad, because on the day that we were going to teach her, President Morby called and had us go to the hospital to give a man a blessing. When we rescheduled, she ended up having to go in to work. But she still seems excited to talk with us, so hopefully we can get something set up.
How was thanksgiving? I haven't received emails from y'all in a long time! Haha
I got letters from Jake and McKenna in the middle of a really rough week, and I have to say it was truly a tender mercy of the Lord. Things were just not going well, and I was seeking answers I couldn't find, but those letters turned the week around and made me look up again.
Hmmmmm what else to say..... not sure what to do about Christmas, I will try to find something cool, it’s just hard with no money, so I may just find ridiculous cards or something, especially since all the interesting things in Oregon are ridiculously expensive. So if stuff comes after Christmas, I'm sorry, I just need more time to search around.
But yea, I would love to hear from you all, emails get to me the fastest and I like hearing from you each week.
Hope all is well and I love you a bunch,
Elder Jorgensen
12/12/11
Alrighty time to throw down!
Nah just kiddin, but here's this nicely worded letter for ya.
SOooooooo, everything’s been good! We've been doing a lot of looking over the people we teach, and are about to do some drop-lessons because some just aren't progressing. Hopefully it will help them understand the importance of the message, and moving forward. But we do have some sweet news! So the baptism for the 24th is still a go, and will be at 11am. Our other investigator finally said he wants to be baptized and so we are going to be setting a date with him tonight. Our inactive family’s daughter still wants to get baptized, and we finally met with her again, and the family said they are going to start reading a chapter a night so that they can actually make some progress. I hope they keep their word, as we are going to be following up with them. We just picked up 2 new investigators, one is going to be taught by us and the Sister missionaries and the other used to be an investigator, but got in an argument with the last missionaries and they had to drop her, so we'll see what happens this time. I am excited to see where the work will go this week, and will be doing a lot of contacting to get track down the others we haven't seen in a while.
As for the question on my obedience, it's the morning schedule. But we are doing much better. Just a couple other small things, but even the small things matter, and that's why I've made it a goal for 100% obedience. It’s pretty sweet/hard, but it’s easier to be obedient than to pick and choose which rules to follow.
In two weeks Elder Skousen will be moved! BAH!!!!! Kinda freaking out, but excited to get to know my next comp.
Alrighty, this one may be a bit short, but I will try to write letters today (Still got a little bit of stomach flu, so while everyone plays dodge ball I'm going to write), and send them off tomorrow. But it is time for WHAT I LEARNED:
So I've been reading in Alma (started reading the B.O.M. in the M.T.C., and am now here), and it’s pretty sweet. In Alma 7:23, I thought it was interested that it said "asking for whatsoever things ye stand in need, both spiritual and temporal." When I read this, I was trying something new, where when I prayed, I would only give thanks, so that I could focus on all the things that God has blessed me with. However, Quickly I realized, that even in personal prayers, missionary work was always so in my mind that I couldn't do only that, and when I read this scripture, I realized that I need as much help from God as I can get, and should always be making sure I am doing the work through prayer as well. With asking I shall refer to D&C 88:64-65
"Whatsoever ye ask the Father in my name it shall be given unto you, that is expedient for you; and if ye ask anything that is not expedient for you, it shall turn unto your condemnation."
Asking for which is needful. Nuff said.
Just a short thought that that helped me to better focus my prayers. Also, when we had a lesson with one of our investigators, one of the Sister missionaries was explaining prayer and said,
"Talk to God like he is your father, your friend. I feel very comfortable when I talk to him and even sometimes say Dear God, What's up?"
No no no no no..... no. Sacred language of prayer. It is stressed in the scriptures about being humble and submissive before God, and using the language of prayer, and not everyday language.
But yea, just loving prayer and treating it with respect because it is the sacred way we converse with our Heavenly Father; the Creator of Worlds.
Love you all, Hope your good, write to ya'll soon and be HAPPY!!!! P.S, be on the computer Dad or someone so that I can email back and forth about the Christmas call (In two weeks!!!!!)
Love ya!
Elder Jorgensen
