Week 56-July 1, 2019

Fun in the Sun!

Hey Fam! 

Sorry I am short on time this week but here is a quick miracle we saw! 

On Saturday, we had a lesson cancel so we had 45 minutes and thought what can we do in these 45 minutes to help us find new friends this week? And so we got our phones out and called formers but unfortunately it seemed like no one was answering or interested and so we decided to get chocolate cookies and try a different method. While we were in line, we talked to the girl behind us and turns out she had been to church before, lives in the neighborhood, and was super sweet and open to talking to us. After we both got our food, we asked if she had 5 minutes right then that we could share a message with her about our church. She said sure! We shared with her about God and the Book of Mormon and how she pray to know God is real. I shared Alma 37:37 because it was the scripture I thought of and my companion shared a great personal experience with prayer and all of a sudden she opened up about a fight she had with her father the night before and how this scripture was exactly what she needed to hear to know how to make things right with her father. She also said she would come to church the next day!  It was just an awesome experience to know that the Lord was working through us to bless this lady and her relationship with her earthly father. Everything that day worked out so that we met. God has a plan and put us in line just at the right time to meet her and the Spirit guided our message without us really being super conscious of it.

Have a fantastic week!

Love you all!

Sister Jensen 

Week 55-June 24, 2019

Notification of missionary return

27 June 2019


The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day SaintsTaipei Taiwan Mission    4F, No 24, Lane 183, Chin Hua St., Taipei, Taiwan 10606 Tel: (02)2393- 32

Dear Jensen  Family,

Greetings from Taiwan where your daughter, Lydia Grace Jensen , is serving in the Lord’s vineyard. Currently, your  missionary is scheduled to depart Taipei on 21 Dec 2019 . Even though Sister Jensen is not scheduled to complete hermission for some time, we desire to ensure post-mission plans are in place for her. The purpose of this letter is to help you plan in three major areas.



1. DEPARTURE  DATE: Because of a six week transfer cycle, most missionaries will not return home on the same anniversary day they reported to the MTC, and most return a little thereafter. .

The release from missionary service is performed by  Sister Jensen's Stake President.  Prior to Sister  Jensen 's return, you should schedule a date and time for her Stake President's release interview. It should be scheduled immediately upon her returning home.

2. PARENT'S VISIT: In the Mission President’s Handbook it states,

 “Missionaries should travel directly home from their missions. Any other travel is permitted  only when the missionary is accompanied by at least one of his or her parents or guardian, The  Church discourages parents from picking up their missionary. However, if they do request this  privilege, make sure the parents understand that:

 · Their plans must be based on the departure date established.

 ·  They should not request a change in the departure date to accommodate other travel plans for commitments.

 · They should request this privilege from the Mission President and the Church Travel Office at least three months in advance if they plan to travel home with their missionary. (Six months preferred)

 · They are expected to pay and make own arrangements, including travel, lodging, and meals.”

 · Travel to Mainland China is not available for Taiwan missionaries. Taiwan Missionaries must return to the United States before traveling to China.

The church guidelines also states:

“Returning missionaries and parents should not impose on members, missionaries, or other missions as they travel. Do NOT stay in member or non-member homes and do NOT let them pay for transportation, even if they offer."

 Please do not take advantage of members who love and care for the missionaries in this area. It would be appropriate to take local members to dinner and pay for the dinner.

We request that all family members dress and act in accordance with church standards while visiting Taiwan. This is particularly important since one parent will be a companion at all times. While parents are not expected to dress in missionary attire like a full-time missionary, dress should be modest and meet accepted church standards.

Your missionary is not released until he/she has been interviewed personally by her home Stake President after you return home, so plan activities which allow you to continue to follow all mission rules.

3. EDUCATION PREPARATION: In order to keep missionaries focused on the work of the Lord, we ask that parents handle as much of the admission process as possible. Please fill out as many application forms, financial aid, transcripts, letters of recommendation, etc. as possible. It is recommended that you apply 4-8 months in advance of a semester start at major universities and 1-3 months in advance at community colleges.



Thank you again for sending  Sister  Jensen  to the people of Taiwan, Feel free to communicate with us by e-mail at 2019353@churchofjesuschrist.org or call 886-2-23933285.



Warmest regards,





President Michael L. Peterson

Taiwan Taipei Mission

Week 54- June 17, 2019

Fearless ?

Hey FamBam!

Sorry for the Taylor swift reference but we decided this week that our companionship song is "Fearless" by Taylor Swift because...well... "I don't know how it gets better than this, ...take my hand and drag me headfirst, fearless... with you I'd dance, in a storm in my best dress, fearless." 

This week was pouring rain and we wear dresses every day sooo... we felt it was pretty applicable. ;) Also, I don't know how it gets better than this? The Lord has rained some amazing miracles on us this week mostly in the form of street set ups~ new friends!  So there were a couple times when we literally danced in the rain. This is truly the Lord's work and He is in charge of everything and I am just so grateful to get to watch and be a witness to the miracles He works.

Also, this week I got pulled over by a cop... How do you get pulled over on a bike? Its impossible to speed... I think? I was following all the traffic laws too (which I actually recently learned it is illegal to turn right on red here... oops) But that wasn't why I got pulled over Haha Turns out he just wanted to chat (what?) and ask me where I was from and give me bookmark things with pretty sayings on them. I didn't want to offend him or something because I thought he was gonna give me a ticket, but my companion was way up ahead and it was 9:20 so we had to get home fast so I just invited him to English class and then said bye bye and kinda hesitantly biked away. lol fun times.

We had a lesson with our deaf and mute friend and this time her daughter who can hear and speak helped us translate! It really helps the lesson go a lot smoother than texting and we are super close to getting them both to get baptized together! We also had our recent convert bring a friend to church and she's super cute and wants to keep learning about Jesus Christ. 

Random story: Sister Linford cut my hair today! Last time I got it cut by a Taiwanese salon but it went, well, not so great... so today Sister Linford gave it a shot! 

Well, that's about it from this week. 

We have been trying to memorize this verse in Alma 53:20-21 because we really look up to the stripling warriors and their fearlessness. 

"And they were all young men, and they were exceedingly valiant for courage, and also for strength and activity; but behold, this was not all—they were men who were true at all times in whatsoever thing they were entrusted. Yea, they were men of truth and soberness, for they had been taught to keep the commandments of God and to walk uprightly before him."

I have so many weaknesses and fears and am so far from the perfect or even an effective missionary, but I can testify that as we have faith and trust the Lord, we will be able to see His hand working in our lives. Don't fear because He's got your back.

Have a great week!

Sending hugs and prayers!

Love you all so much!

Sister Jensen 

Sistas 

Scripture study with the young women

Member visit

Awesome new friend Vanessa who ran a marathon yesterday 

Spontaneous lesson in the rain on the road

Hair cut ‍♀️

Face masks and hot chocolate 

Week 53-June 10, 2019

Biying got Baptized! 🎉

Hey FamBam!

This week was AMAZING! 

The biggest miracle was Biying getting baptized! We fasted that everything would go smoothly and apart from a couple small bumps, it did! It was a wonderful baptism and so many members and missionaries came to support her. I felt the Spirit testifying to me that God was proud of her and our efforts and He was welcoming her into the fold with open arms. I love her so much.

Another awesome miracle was Biying bringing a friend to our lesson with her! She is super cute and willing to keep learning more! Also, a young women who hasn't been baptized and her parents are less active came to Biyings baptism and met with us the next day, on her birthday! The young women President came as well and we are super excited to keep helping her come unto Christ and make friends with all the other young women!

We had a great meeting with our new Relief society President and she has set time every Tuesday to go visit returning members with us and she agreed to help set appointments with the people she thinks we should visit!

Poor Sister Linford has been a little sick this week, but as we press forward, the Lord has been raining miracles on us!

I have found that I just basically plan on being wet most of the day due to either rain or sweat or both... We looked at the weather one day and it was like "91 degrees Feels like 109°"  Haha good times ~ we started just eating watermelon for lunch-so yummy!

Sorry I am short on time, but don't forget to pray this week! 

Alma 37:37

37 Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good; yea, when thou liest down at night lie down unto the Lord, that he may watch over you in your sleep; and when thou risest in the morning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God; and if ye do these things, ye shall be lifted up at the last day

Have a fantastic week!

Sending hugs and prayers!

Sister Jensen 

Week 52-June 3, 2019

Hey FamBam!

This week was awesome! On Thursday Sister Yen moved to Zhongli and Sister Linford from Draper, Utah came to join me in Siyuan! She is absolutely awesome and I have learned so much from her already in these first 4 days! She is on her 5th transfer and her Chinese is amazing! 

We got to attend the baptism of a friend I taught in Sanchong Thursday night and then Friday we taught some of our friends, did our weekly planning session, and then Saturday fixed, picked up, and dropped off bikes for Sister Yen and Linford. Sunday was also awesome as Biying passed her baptismal interview and will officially be baptized on Saturday evening! Bishop announced it in sacrament meeting and every one is so excited!  Sunday we also got to attend the Recent convert fireside and I sang in a quartet with Sister Oh and two elders. It was super fun to see Sister Larsen(my mission mom) sing again as well~ this is her last transfer! Wow time flies!

Scripture of the week: D&C 18:10

"Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God."

Remember this week that the Lord knows and loves you! Your soul is worth more than all the diamonds in the world and so is the next person you randomly run into! He loves each and every one of us and as we love each other in that way, we will find more joy than we can imagine!

Love you all!

Sending hugs and prayers!

Sister Jensen 

Sanchong district

Siyuan district

Friends!

Week 51-May 27, 2019

President Ballard!

Hey famBam! 

The highlight of this week was definitely President Ballard coming to Taiwan! He spoke to all us missionaries on Thursday and then afterwards we took a mission picture at the Chiang Keishek Memorial Hall. It was so fun to see all the missionaries together at once and their were a lot of happy reunions! It truly feels like a big family! But even better than seeing all our fellow missionaries was President Ballard. Everything he said was so inspired by the Lord! He impressed upon us the need to be great teachers that can cut through the busy, distracted schedules of those we teach and meet and use the Spirit to stop time for them and make them realize the importance and truthfulness of our message. He also reminded us (me, it felt like) to trust the Lord and let Him do the worrying. This is His work. I know President Ballard and all of our leaders are inspired messengers and servants of the Lord.

Other than that (actually kinda including that haha) it's been a pretty crazy, busy week full of travel, teaching, scheduling, etc! This week I will get a new companion here in siyuan and I will miss Sister Oh and Sister Yen a lot!

Miracle of the week! Yesterday a lady that we met on the MRT and had very little faith she would come to church (because she seemed to just want to sell us makeup) has invited the elders in her area to her house twice to teach her family! So cool! Every soul counts ;)

Scripture of the week:

2 Nephi 27:23

"For behold, I am God; and I am a God of miracles; and I will show unto the world that I am the same yesterday, today, and forever; and I work not among the children of men save it be according to their faith."

Be someone's miracle this week! 

Have a great one!

Love you all!

Sending hugs and prayers!

Sister Jensen 

Week 50-May 20, 2019

Sunny Rain in Sanchong 💦

Hey FamBam!

Another crazy week over here! We had exchanges and learned a lot about how to be a better teacher through asking questions, sharing more personal experiences, and being urgent! I've been pondering the difference between being urgent and being stressed because I often end up doing both. If I am not sufficiently stressed, than I think I'm not being sufficiently obedient and urgent, but I am trying learn how to make haste, but not be rushed. I think the Spirit is really the key. If I can't feel the Spirit, i am unnecessarily stressed, but the Spirit can also motivate me to work harder... so yeah, it's a balance that I'm still figuring out Haha

This week we also got called on to speak in church because the talks ran a little short and I was so nervous, my Chinese was all over the place Haha I was getting encouraging smiles from the Relief society President that told me what I was saying didn't completely make sense so I just decided to sing instead Haha I asked the pianist if she could play Nearer My God to Thee and I pulled up the Chinese lyrics and bam! Spontaneous musical number! The Spirit was super strong so I guess my singing must have been better than my Chinese . 

Subject line story! It was so humid this week that we were biking in the middle of the day, beautiful hot sunshine, and we turn a corner and its raining! What?! Its like the air is just so full of water, one degree cooler and it pours down in droplets! Fun times!

Sorry I am short on time, but have a fantastic week and remember the Lord loves you and rainbows will always come after the rain! 

Sending hugs and prayers!

Sister Jensen 

Sunny rain

Sister Oh hit a year on island!