Goodbye Calgary...

 Heavenly Father knows His children....

So this morning we got our transfer calls... it looks like I will be leaving the beautiful city of Calgary behind for the next portion of my mission and heading down to Southern Alberta!!!! I am not going to lie, I am very sad to be leaving behind those that I have grown to love SOOOO much here in the North East. I never thought that I would serve here and I have loved it so much, I also never thought I would go South, and yet here I go. I am going to miss seeing all of the Less-Actives that I have grown to love, all of the investigators that I have gotten to grow so close to, as well as the members and Sister Kendrick. It has been so special being able to be apart of the growth that happens on the first 3 months of the mission. I am so proud of her and all that she has accomplished, and I know that she will be amazing the rest of her mission, as well as the rest of the time she is in the East. There are actually quite a few of us leaving the EAST, 10 out of the 20 in the Zone will be leaving and we will only be gaining 8 to replace due to a couple of switches in area boundaries, but Sister Kendrick will be staying. So the South of Alberta consists of places like Lethbridge, Cardston, Jaffrey, British Columbia, Raymond and Medicine Hat... so really I could be anywhere but in the city of Calgary.

Other highlights of the week!!!!

This is Morgan. She is my 13 year old investigator that we have been teaching since November. She has not missed a week of church since she started coming, and has now introduced us to 3 of her friends, whom we are currently teaching.

We love her. Also on Sunday, Sister Kendrick and I played a musical number in church!!! I can't believe that I have been out almost 9 months and this is my first musical number in church, but not my first time playing (I usually end up playing the Organ and Piano a lot once they find out I can play). We played A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief on the Violin and piano and I am very grateful to Heavenly Father for allowing the spirit to be there so strongly. We had a less-active who was there text us after church and tell us that he hasn't felt the spirit so strongly in church for a long time!!!!

This is Kirsten... Sorry that it is sideways. She holds a very dear place in my heart. I love her very much and have enjoyed being able to work with her. I pray for her and hope that one day I will be able to see her enter into the waters of Baptism.

We went to the Temple!!!!! Sorry it is kind of a blurry picture, but it was also pouring rain here Thursday-Saturday. I really enjoyed the time that I had in the temple, and I am really happy that I have been able to attend the Calgary temple 4 times since I have been on my mission, when I should have only been able to go 3 times. This upcoming transfer is the last transfer for President Nicholas and we will be getting a new mission president (President Miles) soon. It has been so nice serving in Calgary, and I am very grateful that I got to start my mission here.

Because yesterday was a normal work day, the Elder's put on a zone breakfast before District Meetings. It consisted of Eggs, Bacon, Pancakes, and French toast. It was kind of cool because Sister Kendrick and I as well as the Sister Training Leaders were the only sisters and the Elder's wouldn't let us help. I have really enjoyed the district that I am in right now. Elder Campbell (who I served with down in the Foothills (not pictured) is our District Leader and he does a very good job at helping us. I have learned so much about the gospel since I have been here and am grateful for the testimony that I have. Again this area will be dearly missed. I love you all and hope that you have had a great week so far. Remember that the Lord does know us and that he know exactly what we are capable of. Ether 2 (consisting on my favorite Book of Mormon scriptures):7 states... "And the Lord would not suffer that they should stop beyond the sea in the wilderness, but he would that they should come forth even unto the land of promise, which was choice above all other lands, which the Lord God had preserved for a righteous people." I know that the Lord has a plan for each of you. Sometimes that plan might be out of our comfort zone. Sometimes it might require us to learn a new skill or even become a different person, but he always has a plan and has ways to help you become who you need to be. Don't become comfortable with where you are at... but remember to ask "What can I do for you today, and What more can I do?" I love you all so much... I will let you know next week where I end up!!

Love Sister Kelliann Jensen

Birthday, Mother's Day, and a Great Missionary Week

Hello Everybody!!!

This week was such and amazing week!!!! I couldn't have asked for a better week considering it was my birthday on Monday (Pday), Mother's Day on Sunday (SKYPE CALLS), AND we had an awesome week teaching and seeing both investigators and less-active members!!! I really rather enjoyed all of it. Starting off on monday we had Pday including yummy Fish tacos with the Sister Training Leaders!! We then went to Pday and threw a party for the Elders in the Zone that had a birthday in the past transfer. We had cake-in-a-mugs, muffins, and a Pinata. After that we ended up going to dinner with one of Bishop Diaz's family. They took us out to a Chinese Buffet for my birthday. After all of the fun and celebrations on Pday, we went and say one of our new less-actives and the most awesome week started after that. This week started a new goal that our mission has. Consistently for the past month we have only had around 30 people on date to be baptized but 100 progressing investigators. Our mission president is inviting up to pray everyday at 1 pm about what we call the #MayNifty50... BY the end of the month we wish to have 50 people on Date and I can tell you that the Lord provides and progresses His work. This week we got to see every single investigator that I have ever taught in the area plus all of the Less-Actives that we wished to see. We had the first lesson with just about all of them and committed 5 of our investigators to be baptized. They don't have a date yet, but one of the investigators we are teaching, Christina is now on date for June 20th!!!!! I am so grateful the the hand in the Lord in our work this week. I know that it is only through the Lord that we can truly change and become better, and it is so amazing being able to teach all of the wonderful people in this area.

I have been a little sad lately because as the transfer comes to an end, we have so much going on and I have a feeling that I will only be in this area for the rest of the transfer. I love Prairie Winds so much. The members are amazing, the people that we teach are great and so humble and the less-actives are sweet. I love the diversity of the area and the people that we see everyday. How many times do you get to see a Sikh parade as you are driving to an appointment with someone from South Sudan... I love it so much but I know that the Lord has a plan for all of us and that He has a plan for this area. On Sunday at church, our Relief Society President was released and as she bore her testimony, she told about some of the boys in her choir class who are so obsessed with making sure that the chairs are straight that they often stay behind until they area. She had to go back several times and tell them that although it is important for the chairs to be straight that it is even more important to stay with the group. She then said that it is like that with us. Even when we don't feel like our job is done there will always be someone else to come and straighten the Chairs. I have learned so much as a trainer, with Sister Kendrick, in this Area, and from the people that I work with every day. From the ups and downs I am so grateful to Heavenly Father for His love and the experiences that He gives me that help me to become more like him. I hope that everyone is having a great week and I pray that you will recognize the hand of the Lord in your life this week and always. I love you all so much and am so sorry if you ever feel like I don't give enough information on the area, the people, the work or simply how I am doing. I realized on Sunday talking to Mom and Dad that I am not the best at giving updates... unless I am talking to you face to face. HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY TO ALL OF YOU MOM'S!!! I LOVE YOU!!

Pictures...

One of our investigator's son's telling us they have prayed about the Book of Mormon. (Facebook is awesome for follow up!!!)

Sister Willicome got me Tulips!!

May the Fourth....er Faith be with you!

Hello Family and Friends!!!

Thank you all so much for the birthday wishes!!! I don't really know what to say except that I am grateful to my Heavenly Father for giving me soo many people in my life and letting me feel of their love from miles away!!! I also don't really know what to say about being 20 either... I don't feel any different... but maybe that will come with time!!

This week has been really good. We had many beautiful days and then lots of windy days too.... I am not a big fan of wind but hey all is well. Some exciting things for this week!!! I got so into the Book of Mormon this week that I ended up reading like 15 pages of Mosiah in an hour... I hardly ever do that but I am grateful because now ever morning I am more excited than ever to get up in the morning and read... especially when I can see the Hand of the Lord helping me as I read to find answers for the people that I teach that day!! I know truly that the Lord prepares us in all aspects of our lives, changing our hearts little by little and bringing us closer to Him, I am also grateful that I get to be a part of it!!!

Anyway the Big Topic of study this week has been Change!!!!! And let me tell you I have learned sooo much!! Especially about the change that our Father in Heaven helps us make and the change that we are helping our investigators make. It all started off with Tuesday morning District Meeting. Hopefully I can send you some pictures soon, but I will start off by saying Tuesday is the day that I ate a bug. So we went into District meeting with the topic of helping our investigators change and Elder Campbell our district leader pulls out jars. One jar contains bits of bugs that have been roasted and would be mixed with peanut butter, one contained roasted meal worms, one contained roasted crickets and the last one contained live meal worms. He goes on to explain the health benefits of the bugs and the statistics of bugs already eaten throughout the year. Going through the same steps that we try to take with our investigators that they might have the desire to try to change and feel the fruits of the gospel. We were then given the opportunity to try them if we wished, just like we do with our investigators. I originally wasn't going to do any of them... but that is just say that all 4 were tried by everyone in our district, excluding Sister Kendrick. Unfortunately bugs don't have the same fruits that the gospel does, but it was still fun and really kicked off me week of learning about change.

On Wednesday we had Zone Conference. No one of my biggest sets backs is that when I start to change or recognize my faults, I tend to overwhelm myself and not be able to really work towards my goals because I am trying to do all of them at once. However as I studies Jacob Chapter 5 in preparation for Zone Conference, I learned by the spirit that through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, we will be changed little by little according to the will of Heavenly Father. This means that as long as we are trying to follow our Savior and have a desire to change, God will help us to know what we need to change, when, and how. I have seen this on my mission especially when I want to be better at something but just can't seem to get it right. As I pray and ask for help, I have looked back and seen that as I put things in Heavenly Father's hands I am changed according to His will, at His time. And boy I am grateful for that. So whenever you are feeling glum read Jacob 5:65 "65 And as they begin to grow ye shall clear away the branches which bring forth bitter fruit, according to the strength of the good and the size thereof; and ye shall not clear away the bad thereof all at once, lest the roots thereof should be too strong for the graft, and the graft thereof shall perish, and I lose the trees of my vineyard.". The Lord knows our strengths and our weaknesses!!!

These too experiences have really allowed me to focus on my purpose as a missionary and on the lessons that I teach. I am now more into answering questions and teaching and overcoming concerns. And I am very grateful for that!!!

Thank you again for all of the Birthday wishes!! Keep praying and know that I love you!! Also, to all of you mothers out there... HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!!

Love, Sister Kelliann Jensen