[editors note: this is his first email following the terrorist activity in Paris, arriving 3 days after the attacks. In prior emails he's sent pictures of and discussed the refugees coming through the train stations he uses very commonly. We are so grateful that despite the proximity to these tragic events his heart has been filled with love rather than anger.]
Please read the following.
Allow me to combine Matthew chapter 5 and Luke chapter 6:
Despite the sad events of Friday, this has been one of the most successful weeks of my mission! We taught a lot more lessons than normal due to people kindly letting us in to talk when we brought them homemade cookies (Elder Jenkins' idea) :) we had a soirée familiale (family home evening) with the miracle family that I talked about before. That went really well, I'm learning a really valuable in being your amis' friend before being their teacher. It's not about the numbers, people! It's about truly helping people to come unto Christ. As you can see above, the things Christ taught are what guide us on the path to perfection. It's a commandment, which means that He provides a way for us to get there! If you don't know what that way is, ask the missionaries! They should be able to explain it :)
On Wednesday night we stayed in the English Elders' apartment because we were getting up super early on Thursday to get to Chambéry for district meeting. It was a great meeting despite the tiredness and we got kebab afterward, so all was well :) that afternoon we were on a bus and taught the basic beliefs of our religion to a man from Kenya who is almost certain to look up the missionaries in Kenya any day now, since he was just in Geneva for two weeks. He was cool :D
On Friday I was on exchange with the Zone Leaders in Geneva, they were working on transfer recommendations but that evening we got to go see some amis and less-actives, it was really awesome and I learned how to be a better missionary and better teacher :)
Saturday and Sunday we had stake conference! It was suuuuper awesome! Elder Holmer, an area seventy, spoke at both sessions and gave us amazing counsel :) I encourage you all to go look up the talk "The Balm of Gilead" by Boyd K. Packer. You won't regret it!
Je vous aime! Dieu vous aime! Il aime tout le monde!
Un pécheur qui continue d'essayer,
Elder Jensen
Please read the following.
Allow me to combine Matthew chapter 5 and Luke chapter 6:
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
- But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
- And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloak forbid not to take thy coat also.
- Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again.
- That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
- For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them.
- And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same.
- And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.
- But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.
- Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:
- Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
Despite the sad events of Friday, this has been one of the most successful weeks of my mission! We taught a lot more lessons than normal due to people kindly letting us in to talk when we brought them homemade cookies (Elder Jenkins' idea) :) we had a soirée familiale (family home evening) with the miracle family that I talked about before. That went really well, I'm learning a really valuable in being your amis' friend before being their teacher. It's not about the numbers, people! It's about truly helping people to come unto Christ. As you can see above, the things Christ taught are what guide us on the path to perfection. It's a commandment, which means that He provides a way for us to get there! If you don't know what that way is, ask the missionaries! They should be able to explain it :)
On Wednesday night we stayed in the English Elders' apartment because we were getting up super early on Thursday to get to Chambéry for district meeting. It was a great meeting despite the tiredness and we got kebab afterward, so all was well :) that afternoon we were on a bus and taught the basic beliefs of our religion to a man from Kenya who is almost certain to look up the missionaries in Kenya any day now, since he was just in Geneva for two weeks. He was cool :D
On Friday I was on exchange with the Zone Leaders in Geneva, they were working on transfer recommendations but that evening we got to go see some amis and less-actives, it was really awesome and I learned how to be a better missionary and better teacher :)
Saturday and Sunday we had stake conference! It was suuuuper awesome! Elder Holmer, an area seventy, spoke at both sessions and gave us amazing counsel :) I encourage you all to go look up the talk "The Balm of Gilead" by Boyd K. Packer. You won't regret it!
Je vous aime! Dieu vous aime! Il aime tout le monde!
Un pécheur qui continue d'essayer,
Elder Jensen
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