Week 65: Becoming a Saint Through the Blood of Christ

 Happy late Easter to everyone! I hope you all were able to meditate on the Savior and His life, teachings, sacrifice, death, and resurrection!


Pday last week we went to the mall and pulled money and did compras. Afterwards E Lopez got permission to go to the downtown to buy a new string for his guitar. We then walked to an area where we could get on the bus and ran into the office elders on the way so we just merged in with them. I'm good at cracking jokes with them.

On Tuesday we were worrying because Nayeli's mom Maria wasn't responding to us (like usual) when we tried to confirm our lesson with them. We needed to have that lesson if we wanted to have her baptism that week. We got there with hermano Juan but apparently they were leaving to go help someone in Cimbal, but she told us that her day off is actually Monday now -_-. That and she said that Nayeli wanted to wait to be baptized, so that fell. We'll see what we can do, but this'll be better to help her understand what she needs to because I had the impression on Sunday that she was not ready. Now we'll have time to help her understand that this is the true church, because our goal isn't baptism. It's conversion. Also on Tuesday we rode back from San Francisco on the bus. Apparently while we were in the bus 2 people were shot and killed at the area we normally wait for the bus. I didn't see anything, but while walking back from the pension we saw a bunch of people and police cars around that area. But the next day it was all clear. A little weird, but don't worry, I'm fine.

I thought we were going to have zone council this week but I was informed that had been pushed back to next week so I had to prepare a district council quickly. I ended up filming a quick little video of an assignment game show type thing to give assignments for the council. I'm such a funny guy. Everyone liked it, except the Jardines elders never even watched it -_- But on Wednesday we had the meeting and it went well. It was also the last district council for Elder Salazar and Hermana Edwards.

On Wednesday Elder Lopez got sick so we ended up spending a lot of the day in the apartment. Man it sucks having to cancel lessons. But I was able to do a bunch of calls in the meantime. Our pensionista sent her grandson, Nicolas, with our food because Elder Lopez couldn't leave, so we ate in the apartment. He was still a little sick the rest of the week but we didn't want to lose anymore time so we got out and worked. Thursday all of our lessons canceled so we spent the whole day doing contacts and attempting contacts. Just a day in the life of a missionary. 

On Saturday I felt a prompting that we should pass by our friend Nina. I think I've already talked a little about her, but she's an older lady who has some health problems. She loves to listen to us but whenever we invited her to church she always said she didn't want to be "a dry leaf in the wind," which is what her old pastor said describing people who go to multiple churches looking for truth. But after she went on an extended vacation to Cajamarca she came back and we've been having lessons with her again. She watched conference, although it was in her house. She had some health problems on Thursday so our lesson with her canceled that day. But on Saturday I felt prompted to pass by, even though she was probably still recovering like she said. But we passed and she let us in and we shared a short message. She was doing a lot better. We invited her to church again and this time with some assurance that we would walk with her she agreed! And sure enough she came with us on Sunday. I'm still not perfect at this, but listen to the spirit, no matter how weird or unusual it seems, or even if there are serious doubts. 9/10 times you'll be right.

Sunday was Easter!!! It was great thinking more about the Savior this week and being able to testify of Him as an ordained representative of Him. As I said we had Nina come, as well as Nayeli and Cirilo. We are trying so hard to get Elis to come to church, it's literally the only commitment she's missing. She watched conference, but she still needs to get to the chapel. She has to travel by bus to get there so it's hard and the member we've been asking to help her doesn't seem to be helping so we'll have to change that around or find another way. With prayer and diligence I know she'll come, because she has the desire. We had a special little devotional that started a little earlier than our normal Sunday devotionals, because President showed us another episode of The Chosen! Afterwards we got transfer news and nothing is changing. We're both staying. I'm excited yo be staying another transfer here! This transfer is going to be a little bit longer, 7 weeks, so we'll see how it goes.

I know things don't always work out and the mission can be tough sometimes, but we're out here to do what the Lord wants and put off the natural man and become a saint through His atonement. I'm still working on both of those, but I know the mission is helping me do it, through trial, error, and small corrections and adjustments. We're not weak if we have problems or go through trials or even if things don't go our way. It doesn't mean we lack faith. Just keep going and don't give up, because our Savior didn't give up. Even when the pain and agony, sweat and blood, and the remptation to stop were so strong, Jesus pushed forward. His love for us was greater than any other force that was pressing on Him during His atonement. The very thought of Him doing all that is enough to get rid of any temptation or desire to quit. After all, He did it to give us the chances and opportunities we have now. Let's become saints through His blood by putting off the natural man, and show to the world that we are His servants, because we are just like Him. 

Have an amazing week!

Elder Jensen

1. Last photo of Distrito Huanchaco
2. Hermana Mercedes and her familia
3. Taking a selfie while swatting a mosquito
4. Hermano Julio y Hermana Teresa
5. A little friend I found on my wall
6. Perú 🇵🇪 
7. By the rio seco









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