隔離

Hello everyone! This was a bit of a crazy week where everything and nothing happened at the same time! Just to give a little intro on what went down:

-Midnight trip to the Emergency Room 👀

-Gotta love some good quarantine

-Big transfer news! Stay tuned 

-Temple trip!

Alrighty, let's get into it, shall we? Hopefully that was enough clickbait for ya! Last Monday we went hiking a bunch, and that night my companion said her leg was hurting a bunch. Our mission president's wife told us to go to the emergency room if it persisted beyond a half hour, which it did. So, at around 10:30 pm we took a field trip to the emergency room, and we came back around midnight. Quite the adventure! 

Tuesday morning my companion wasn't feeling well and took a covid test that came back positive. So, because she had it and I didn't, we had to quarantine separately (she just stayed in her room) which made missionary work kind of difficult...I read a lot of Saints! Good book! Because we were in quarantine, not much is really worth mentioning.

Saturday night we got transfer boards! We found out that both Yao Jiemei and I would be staying, and we would be getting a third sister here and would be in a trio! We were excited. BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE. The next day we were thinking "How do we fit three sisters in this apartment?" We measured everything and just weren't sure. We called the office elders, gave them a virtual tour, and they said they would ask President and get back to us. A few minutes later President calls and asks about it, and just says "Oh okay I'll move the other sister somewhere else." Then he calls back again and says, "Actually Sister Jensen, how would you feel about moving to Jinhua and being in a trio there? You would be an STL" I was like "wait back up" in my head haha. So yeah! Not many people can say they became an STL by default because their apartment was too small, so that's pretty fun! I'm really excited though. I will be companions with Sister Chen and Sister Li! 

Today we are going to the temple as a zone, which is why my P-day was moved :) I'm so excited! 

Spiritual thought for the week: There is a BYU devotional by Elder Holland called "Lessons from Liberty Jail." Highly recommend. One thing I loved from it was that it talked about how anywhere can be a place of revelation and sacred experiences, even the hardest places. Even those that are filled with sorrow and suffering. Liberty Jail was anything but a pure place, but it was where Joseph Smith experienced some of his greatest teaching moments. Every experience can become a redemptive experience if we remain bonded to the Savior. Do not succumb to the fear that the Lord has abandoned you, for in those times, He never has. He weeps with us. And because the Savior of the world descended below all things, we can "come forth triumphant through the air." No matter how hard our struggles are, they would be much, much worse if He hadn't felt them for us. So, hold on. Recognize what your faith and obedience is doing for you, rather than what it is not doing for you. "[His] kindness shall not depart from thee." 

 

Earthquake 🕺

Hello everyone! Hope you had a fantastic week! To start out, yes, we had a few earthquakes this weekend and lots of aftershocks. They were really big in Taidong and Hualian but weren't too bad here, the most that happened was that some of our drawers opened haha. Kind of fun though! In the moment I forgot all my earthquake precautions growing up and was just kind of like "wheeee!" But yeah, not too big here, but it did happen so you can't get mad at my clickbait email title! 

Anyhow, on Monday we had a zoom lesson with some members which was good! Tuesday, we had district council which is always great. Not too much happened the rest of the day that is worth mentioning :) 

Wednesday, we had interviews with President which went well! I always enjoy those. I also passed the Book A Chinese test, but the only reason I passed is cause Elder Mauss gave me a bunch of the answers haha. Otherwise, I would not have. I wanted to set a date to take it in a few weeks to have something to work towards, and my comp was like "how about tomorrow?" and I was like "WHAT” But we got man guo bing so I mean I'm not mad! Later we had a cooking themed English Group which was fun! 

Thursday, we did some service for a lady who is moving, and then we had a member dinner that night which was super fun! I honestly love our members. They are so solid. Even though I can't understand most of what they say haha. 

Friday, we had a zone blitz, which is where our whole zone came and did finding in our area! We also did a little exchange for it and I was with Sister Li. It was actually really fun, and she is super good at street contacting, so we found a new person! 

Saturday was crazy, that morning we played basketball at our chapel, and then had to hurry and come home to change and then bike the opposite direction for a lunch appt, and then go straight all the way back to the chapel for a baptism the elders had (right on time although sweaty and gross), and then we biked all the way to Dan Jiang college for a frisbee activity. Which we forgot the frisbee for, so we were super late. But it's okay cause everyone else was too! It was super fun :) then we went home and had an 8:30 pm personal study. Altogether biked more than 30 km up and down many hills. It was a good time! 

Sunday was good! We spent way too long filming a video :) 

Today was super fun! Jin Jiemei, my last comp, visited for the weekend and we went hiking with her today! She also put together the frisbee activity on Saturday, what a champ :) It was a good time! 

This week was super long and slow at the same time, but it was a pretty good one! Next week our P-day will be changed, just to make you aware :) 

Spiritual thought: In D&C 121 and 122, Joseph Smith is in Liberty Jail. In these sections we see a very vulnerable side of him, a side that suffers and cries out "Oh God, where art thou?" A side we probably will all experience as part of our mortal journey, though maybe not to that extent. At that moment of suffering, God speaks peace to his soul. However, the verse that most recently caught my eye is 122:6 and the things that God says following it. Our Father knows our pains. He knows the full extent of them. He never downplays them and doesn't say "these things...shall be for thy good" in ignorance. He knows because He felt them, and hath "descended below them all." I would like to invite you all to read and ponder about these verses and see what it teaches you about the Atonement of Jesus Christ and how incredibly individual it is. "Oh, it is wonderful, wonderful to me!" 

I wish you all the best and hope you have a great week!

柚子 hats that everyone wears for some reason 🌻

 

大家好！Welcome to another week by none other than, your very own, Sister Janelle Marjorie 江柔安 Jensen! The first. I hope you all had the most lovely week, I know I did! 

Last Monday, after hiking Monkey Mountain, we taught Chen Jiemei and her kids. They are all so cute! Tuesday, we ended up having to run a bunch of errands (因為我的 bike chain kept coming off so I had to get it fixed, etc). That was pretty much it haha.

Wednesday, we had two lessons, one was with Shi Jiemei, a cute little old lady who has gone through a lot recently. It wasn't really a lesson exactly, but now she knows that we do lessons so that's a plus. We also had a lesson with our friend Chen Jiemei (different one, there are about 5 billion people with the last name Chen here. It's so confusing) which was pretty rough, we taught the plan of Salvation but at the end she took our little cutouts and moved them into a circle, so it was like reincarnation. 🤦 

So clearly, we have some things to go over! There were also a few theories she brought up where we were like...mmm so not quite...but I don't know how to address those in English let alone Chinese haha. It's all good though :) Our English group was good! 

Thursday, we helped a lady in our ward move which was fun, and then we had a member zoom lesson later that night!

Friday, we had zone conference! I love zone conference :) It was so good! A lot of it was about how to experience a change of heart and behavior through studying the Savior's doctrine, and there was also a lot of emphasis on the Sacrament and how to help our friends come to church! It was super helpful.

Saturday my friend Chris from Eau Claire got baptized and I got to watch over zoom!!!!! YAY CHRIS WHAT A CHAMP! And I got to see Sister Carter for a sec which was fun! My comp wasn't feeling well that day and had really bad fatigue, so she ended up sleeping for a good portion of the day. Due to this and me just wasting time when I shouldn't have, the day was not very productive. I felt the weight of it when I went to bed that night, that I could have done so much better and knew it. 

But the amazing thing is that through Jesus Christ and His Atonement, we can repent and keep trying to be better. There are going to be times that we wish we could redo, and although we often won't forget our mistakes completely, the Lord promises that He will as we humbly turn to Him and make an effort to be better. Through daily repentance and worthily partaking of the sacrament, we can have the Holy Ghost with us and retain that remission of sins. Our burdens can be lifted. Though on a small scale, I'm glad I experienced this on Saturday to help me trust the Savior's Atonement and motivate me to use this time wisely! 

Sunday was good! There was a ward FHE activity that was like a big Mid-Autumn Festival karaoke party which was an adventure, and then we biked home in the rain again :) Unfortunately it always seems to be on Sundays when I can't wear my rain pants! But we're making memories! 💪 

Spiritual thought for the week: President Boyd K. Packer said, "True doctrine, understood, changes attitudes and behavior. The study of the [doctrine] of the gospel will improve behavior quicker than a study of behavior will improve behavior." Something emphasized at zone conference was that in order to experience the Savior's power in our life, we need to understand it. We cannot be saved in ignorance. Something that my President invited us all to do, and that I would like to reiterate to all of you, is to:

-Write down your personal challenges

-Study related scriptures

-Pray

-Ponder what God would have you do

-Do as the scriptures suggest

-Write down your experience. 

I can promise that if each of you take time to follow these steps and turn to the true doctrine the Lord has given us, you will experience the enabling power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ in your life. You will be carried and have strength sufficient to face your challenges, and over time experience the change of heart that you so desire. Though your problems may not go away, you will feel to "sing the song of Redeeming love." 

I'm so grateful for the support of all of you, particularly those that actually read this! I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is directed by Jesus Christ. It is plan God has for His children to experience the most success and fulfillment possible. If you aren't sure, get on your knees and ask Him. Then act in faith until an answer comes. Because it will. 

I love you all and hope you have a great week! 

 

Typhoon 🌧

大家好! Welcome back to another week in the missionary life of Sister Jensen! As for the email title, don't let it be of concern :) it didn't hit Taiwan directly so we could still leave the apartment, just had really heavy wind and rain for about 3 days. Biking in a typhoon is not all it's cracked up to be. I love showing up to church soaking wet as much as the next person... but there's better ways to go. 

Anyway, this past week wasn't overly eventful. Tuesday we had district council, Wednesday we had a holiday themed English Group (in my defense I just really really want it to be Christmas), and Thursday was boring. Friday we helped a lady in our ward who was moving, which was good! We also had to buy extra food for the oncoming typhoon. 

Saturday, we helped a different lady in our ward who is moving, and we also had a phone call lesson with one of our potentials and make her a new person!!! We also had a lesson with someone I found on Facebook, but it turns out he is already a member and in contact already with missionaries in his area which is extremely awkward haha. It was good though! Sunday a friend we met on Facebook came to church and we made her a new person!! We have been in a bit of a finding drought lately, so it's been good to have this success! 

Today we went hiking at Monkey Mountain. It was super fun and pretty! We unfortunately didn't see any monkeys, but that's all right. I guess. It was super pretty! 

Spiritual thought for the week: Lately I have been nearing the end of the book Jesus the Christ. Fantastic book. Highly recommend. Towards the end one of the greatest points of emphasis is how the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and every point and piece of doctrine therein, has been restored to the earth. It clearly describes how and when each branch of the priesthood of God was restored, as well as the keys to direct each part. To me it clearly emphasizes that this is the RESTORED CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST. It is not Joseph Smith's church, or anyone else's. This is the church of God. A perfect and organized God, who took care to make sure that everything done in the church was done according to His authority and according to His will. Because He cares about His church and about His people. He wants to give us our best chance at success. 

Hope you have a fantastic week! Thanks for those who actually read this, you're champs! 我愛你們！

-江柔安姐妹