Elder Jepsen - Mission Entry 65 - I Just Love Being a Missionary!

I was assigned a new companion this week and he is awesome! His name is Elder Kenneth Lutes and we get along really well together.

We've already experienced a lot of miracles together and we've been truly blessed. Last Saturday, we dropped by a woman that we had briefly met before. We were teaching her about the Restoration when in comes her niece and says "Mormons!" after which we cheerfully reply "Yup. And we're in your house, ain't that something?" She replied in excitement that she actually was a member that had been less active for a long time. I felt like yelling out "Surprise!" but we hadn't really arranged this, we were just teaching the gospel like we always do (not expecting a "Teach-one-bring-two-to-Church-deal)". Blessings come when you least expect it!

Another very similar incident happened out of nowhere. A family we had been working with brought one of their friends to church, he goes home tells his family and suddenly we are now teaching one more family. Like I have said before: Blessings... well, there's no telling when or where!

I just love being a missionary!

We chose to bicycle to Zone Conference in perhaps NOT one our more inspired moments. We were already well underway and committed, when it began pouring with farmers blessings. We are not farmers and didn't really need this at this particular time. Arriving at Zone-Conference, we looked like a pair of drowned mice or wet dogs (your choice), drenched to the bone, everybody looking at us amazed and bewildered that we had biked the whole way... in pouring rain! Soon we were the heroes (felt more like fools, but... ) of the day. Somehow everybody thought that we were pretty cool after that. Even our Mission President was impressed.

All is good and we are well. I hope everything works out for you all at home! I pray for you all the time! I love you!

Elder Jepsen

Elder Jepsen - Mission Entry 64 - Seeing Good Changes in Peoples Lives Feels Great!

Wow!! Transfer calls were this morning, and were they a surprise! I'll have to explain things a little bit to build up the suspense: When I was transferred to this area I served with Elder Noffsinger for two transfers... and I sent him home. Then I worked with Elder Harbor for one transfer, and he will be going home in two days.

"Elder, we're going to have you do it again", is what President Howell told me today.

I'll be sending Elder Lutes home at the end of this coming transfer. I laughed so hard when President told me what was going to happen. This transfer is going to be tough as I have to once again try to dodge any and all "trunkiness" while still remaining effective. I'm actually looking forward to it as I know that I'm once again going to learn a lot!

We're teaching some wonderful families. They work hard at adapting to living the gospel and it's amazing to see their progress as they continue to impress me. I feels good to see the great changes in their lives.

Well, I love you all and I wish you the best (maybe your car problems was a blessing in disguise... a big and convincing disguise at that).

Elder Jepsen

Elder Jepsen - Mission Entry 63 - Blessings and Joys of Missionary Work

We are continuing to work a lot with our favorite family. A really awesome highlight from last week: Two of our new baptisms bore their testimonies in church! It was GREAT! (fast Sunday was this Sunday as we have Stake Conference next weekend) Their testimonies were so pure and delightful, it was a pleasure to hear! Their whole family was so proud of them they spontaneously clapped (kinda unexpected, but the whole thing was so honest and pure from the heart).

I don't quite know how to express the feelings that I experience when I see good people discovering God in their lives. It has no equal and feels good on so many levels but, I just don't know superlatives big enough--I love being a missionary.

I'm really sorry to hear about Jennifer's accident. I really hope that things work out for her... How old is Clara getting these days? Somebody asked me about my age and I answered twenty-one--wait, twenty-two--wow, I'm old and then they just laughed at me.

I'm also really sorry to hear about our car and I hope that you will be able to find some solution to your transportation. As for my transportation, it's also having some troubles and and I've been fixing and tweaking quite consistently. I've noticed that I always seem to have small traces of grease somewhere on my person now. Not that I give it much thought, I'm really grateful that I'm in this particular mission. Minneapolis is probably the most "biking" city in the States! another reason to why I'm supposed to be here:) I just love biking!!

My companion is going home next week, he's prepped and sent a lot of his stuff home.

Now that I know that I'll be getting a new companion I'm once again left in suspense? Ah, the uncertainties of missionary life.

Well, I love y'all and I pray that you'll find a solution to the the whole automobile thing...

Elder Jepsen