Elder Jepsen - Opening Our Hearts to the Spirit

This will probably be my last email before I leave for the US. Soon I'll be in the Provo Utah Missionary Training Center (MTC). Although I feel like I've learned a lot already I know I have a long way to go. I have a firm belief in God and I enjoy reading the scriptures but I have a lot to learn about being a missionary and I'm so very much looking forward to the next step in my experience. 

The single biggest thing I have learned is that ultimately I need to not get in the way of people experiencing the whisperings of the Spirit for themselves. I can tell them about it, I can share my experiences of learning from or through the Spirit or I can ask people to read about it but they all have to choose and open their hearts to the Spirit. Anyone who decides to humble themselves  before God by accepting Jesus the Christ as their mediator and Savior and seeking the directions of Holy Ghost in their lives are already well on their way to find the peace and balance in their lives that I try to teach through the gospel. It's not us the missionaries, who are teaching these people but rather the Spirit. I suppose our task is more to facilitate. 

It's been an unusual situation to serve as a missionary here in Aalborg where years ago my sister served a mini-mission that turned into so much more than a mini-mission before she was done. I hope she's not drowning in books and studies these days and has enough time to still take a little time out for herself with her birthday coming up. Back then we didn't know many people anywhere in Denmark having all just arrived to the country. I now know many of the other youths in the church here and it's a strange feeling suddenly being a missionary with all my friends around. It actually seems that I have an unusually large concentration of friends here in Aalborg.

It has been very strange to whitewash yet another area (we call it a whitewash when two missionaries are moved into an area at the same time). Like all the other missionaries in this mission, Elder Harms has been to the MTC, I haven't but we've both been in the field for the same time and somehow that raises the expectations to me a little. I now have to carry my share of responsibilities, occasionally take the lead and there is a great deal to be learned from that experience. I am however, enjoying it very much. 

We are not the only Elders in Aalborg and that makes everything a little easier, as we sometimes split off and work with other Elders here. They know their way around town a little more and that's a lot of help as neither Elder Harms or I know much about the area.

Being all new in the area, we don't have anyone to teach yet but that should soon change. We have met with many good people and there is lots of good potential for teaching.

Being on a mission and teaching the gospel is a great experience and I am grateful to be here. If you had not made the choices to open your hearts to Spirit in your lives and given me a direction and an example to follow, my situation might have been quite different at this point and I might have been without this experience. Instead, I have the example of you and my sister and brothers to follow. Thank you. 

Love you,

Elder Jepsen

Elder Jepsen: Mission Entry 104 - This is it--I am on a Mission!

I am on a mission and this is the best Christmas present I could wish for. But, there is another and not quite so common potential in Christmas presents:  When my family fist came to Denmark, I was very young and my parents had spent a lot of money on airfares and freight for us to come here. We didn't have much and this was the year when Christmas presents took on a whole new meaning to us all. Dad came up with a plan, shared it with us and we all agreed that it was a good thing. We were celebrating Christmas and all presents were to be to the Saviour, just like the wise men brought their presents to Jesus. Dad proceeded to give us examples of what kind of presents our Savior might appreciate. My sister suggested that all secretly bring a straw and place it in a little basket, representing the crib where Jesus would lay every time we had given our Lord Jesus a present that we thought would please Him. Throughout the month of December we all saw this crib slowly fill with straw and when it was time for Christmas it was as full as it could be. It was our best Christmas ever and by time Christmas came around, Dad had fashioned a special letter as if it came from Jesus, thanking us all for the many gifts and that He was very grateful that we had spent this Christmas thinking of Him, by serving His brothers and sisters. In return we received a small little porcelain platter marking the year, so that we would all remember Him and this Christmas, always.


This year I am the recipient of my personal gift from the Saviour and I couldn't be any happier. I am actually on a mission and I have looked forward to this time for as long as I remember. Because of US-visa problems I am still here in Denmark, no more than a half an hour from where I used to work and live but I am a real missionary on a real mission. A mission anywhere is still a mission and eventually "Elder Jepsen goes to Washington."


Although my trip to the mission field consisted of hopping on a local bus for a couple of blocks--I still feel plagued by jet-lag and have felt a constant need for sleep since the first day here. On the upside, I have no problem falling asleep at the end of the day. Starting a mission is hectic, demanding and hard work. This is why you didn't hear from me last week, sorry.

It's now fifteen days since I was set apart as an Elder, my trainer's name is Elder Tolman and I really enjoy working with him. We were both moved here to Frederiksberg at the same time and we're both new to this area. I love being a missionary and thanks to the Lord and Elder Tolman I already feel like I have been doing this all my life.

We are in the Frederiksberg area and congregation, the Mission office is in our area and we share an apartment and area with the Assistants to the President. We also have a married missionary couple in the area and two Sister missionaries.


Because we are close to both the mission office and the Temple, there is always a lot happening here and with the population density so high in our area, there is always lots of people to meet and teach. We have been spending much of our time teaching people in the streets and knocking on doors.


Yesterday, I had my first real teaching appointment. It actually came as a surprise to me when we were invited inside but it was very pleasant surprise. They were very friendly people, there was a welcoming and pleasant Spirit there and we taught them about the Book of Mormon. I am looking forward to meeting with these people again. I so enjoy being a missionary and I can hardly wait for tomorrow, next week, next month and next year--this is all I had hoped for it to be. I am happy and grateful to be here and be a part of this mission.

It's not easy to begin an area where we both have moved in on the same day. Fortunately, Elder Tolman has experience in being a good missionary and that's a good place to start.

I hope you are all doing well and  may you all have a Merry Christmas!

Elder Jepsen

The Denmark Copenhagen Mission

President Jens H Andersen and Sister Susanne D C Andersen  

In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, missionary work naturally becomes a significant factor as the members want others to share in what has brought about changes in their own lives, for the better. According to 2010 statistics the church had 14,131,467 members around the world and included in that number was 52,483 missionaries distributed in 340 missions around the world. A great portion of those numbers can be attributed to missionaries serving on missions.


The Denmark Copenhagen Mission traces its humble beginning back to when Denmark in 1849 was allowed religious freedom. Missionary work officially began on June 14 1850, when Erastus Snow arrived and began serving as Denmark's first missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.


Less than two months after the arrival of Erastus Snow the first 15 people were baptized on August 12 in Oresund (the strait separating Denmark and Sweden). The first congregation was established September 15 that same year with approximately 50 members.


Peter O. Hansen had already begun translating the Book of Mormon in Nauvoo before departing for Denmark, allowing the completion and publishing already in 1851. Known as "Mormons Bog," this was the first translation from English to a foreign language of the Book of Mormon .


As missionary work spread through Denmark, persecution increased. The church was not understood or appreciated by all, in Aalborg a mob vandalized a hall where the members were meeting in 1851. Soon members began to emigrate, the first left January 31, 1852. Of the 26.000 people who were converted during this period, 13.984 converts immigrated to the United States by 1930. 


Today the Denmark Copenhagen Mission serves the areas of Denmark, Iceland, Greenland and the Faroe Islands. Most of the currently 72 (Dec 2011) missionaries are in the ares of Denmark and Iceland. Occasionally missionaries get to visit or are stationed on Greenland and the Faroe Islands.

The Denmark Copenhagen Mission President Jens Hjarup Andersen and Sister Susanne Duus Christensen Andersen, of the Allerod Ward, Copenhagen Denmark Stake, began their mission back in 2010 and will be serving until 2013. Their family includes five children.

President Andersen was born in Helleruplund, Denmark, to Poul Borge and Kirsten Hjarup Andersen. He has in the past served as a Stake President, Stake Young Men President, Bishop and Counselor, Stake Mission President, Ward Mission Leader, missionary in the England Bristol Mission and as Coordinator in the Church Educational System.


Sister Andersen was born in in Helleruplund, Denmark  to Karl Johan Duus and Elisabeth Conradsen Christensen. She has in the past served as a Relief Society President's Counselor, Young Women President and Counselor, Primary president's Counselor and Young Women's  President's counsellor.


Sources:
Denmark Copenhagen Mission
Translation Division, Copenhagen Denmark
Deseret News Church Almanac
http://www.mormon.dk/
http://newsroom.lds.org/
http://lds.org/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missionary_(LDS_Church)

Temperatures and Climate in Denmark

Denmark from satellite view

Denmark's is geographically located in the temperate zone allowing mild winters, with mean temperatures in January and February of 0.0 °C and cool summers, with a mean temperature in August of 15.7 °C. The highest temperature recorded in Denmark since 1874 happened on August 10, 1975, when the temperature climbed to 36.4 °C (97.52 °F). The lowest temperature ever recorded in Denmark happened on January 8, 1982, when the temperature dropped to -31.2 °C (-25.96 °F ).


Denmark has an average of 121 days per year with precipitation, receiving an average total of 712 mm per year; Autumn is the wettest season and Spring the driest. The driest Spring ever recorded in Denmark happened in 1974 with a mere 46 mm of precipitation and the wettest Autumn was 1967 with 327 mm of precipitation.  The most precipitation ever recorded over a 24 hour period was 168.9 mm on July 8-9 1931. 


Due to the North Sea coastline the western part of Denmark usually gets the most wind (called a bit of fresh air by the locals there). The highest wind speed on land was recorded on Dec 3 1999 with 137 km/h (85.13 mph) wind speed averages and gusts of 185 km/h (114.95 mph). On the same day at sea (an oil-platform in the North Sea located at 55°30' N 05°00' E) the average wind speeds reached 185 km/h (114.95 mph) with gusts of 213 km/h (132.35 mph).


Because of Denmark's northern location (Denmark shares latitude with the Alaskan panhandle), there's a great deal of difference between the length of a day, depending on the season. There are short days during the winter with sunrise coming around 8:45 AM and sunset 3:45 PM and long summer days with sunrise at 4:30 AM and sunset at 10 PM. Summer days will seem even shorter as the light stays long after sunset and lights the sky long before sunrise. Winter days will accordingly seem even shorter. 


Christmas (Danish: jul), is celebrated on Christmas Eve, 24 December. The celebration for the longest day is known in Denmark as Skt. Hans Aften (St. John's evening). Celebrations of Midsummer have taken place since pre-Christian times. 


Sources for the data used:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denmark
http://www.dmi.dk/dmi/index/
http://www.dmi.dk/dmi/index/danmark/meteorologiske_ekstremer_i_danmark.htm

Flag of Denmark "Dannebrog" and the Danish Coat of Arms

Flag of Denmark "Dannebrog" by Per Palmkvist Knudsen

The legend states the origin of the flag to the Battle of Lyndanisse, also known as the Battle of Valdemar (Danish: "Volmerslaget"), near Lyndanisse (Tallinn) in Estonia, on June 15, 1219.


The battle was going badly, and defeat seemed imminent. But then, right when the Danes were about to give up, the flag fell from heaven. Grasping the flag before it could ever touch the ground, the king took it in his hand, and proudly waved it in front of his discouraged troops, giving them hope, and leading them to victory.


The myth is clear. The flag, Dannebrog, was given to the Danes from God himself, and from that day forward, it was the flag of Denmark, and the Danish kings.

Dannebrog falling from the sky during the Battle of Lyndanisse, June 15, 1219. Painted by Christian August Lorentzen in 1809. Original located at Statens Museum for Kunst, Denmark

No historical record supports this legend. The first record of the legend dates from more than 300 years after the campaign, and the first record connects the legend to a much smaller battle, though still in Estonia; the battle of Fellin (Viljandi) in 1208. Though no historical support exists for the flag story in the Fellin battle either, it is not difficult to understand how a small and unknown place is replaced with the much grander battle of Reval from the Estonia campaign of King Valdemar II.


This story originates from two written sources from the early 16th century:

The first is found in Christiern Pedersen's "Danske Krønike", which is a sequel to Saxo’s Gesta Danorum, written 1520 – 23. It is not mentioned in connection to the campaign of King Valdemar II in Estonia, but in connection with a campaign in Russia. He also mentions that this flag, falling from the sky during the Russian campaign of King Valdemar II, is the very same flag that King Eric of Pomerania took with him when he left the country in 1440 after being deposed as King.


The second source is the writing of the Franciscan monk Petrus Olai (Peder Olsen) of Roskilde, from 1527. This record describes a battle in 1208 near a place called "Felin" during the Estonia campaign of King Valdemar II. The Danes were all but defeated when a lamb-skin banner depicting a white cross falls from the sky and miraculously leads to a Danish victory. In another record by Petrus Olai called "Danmarks Tolv Herligheder" (Twelve Splendours of Denmark), in splendour number nine, the same story is re-told almost to the word; however, a paragraph has been inserted correcting the year to 1219.


Whether or not these records describe a truly old oral story in existence at that time, or a 16th century invented story, is not currently determined.


Some historians believe that the story by Petrus Olai refers to a source from the first half of the 15th century, making this the oldest reference to the falling flag.


It is believed that the name of the capital of Estonia, Tallinn, came into existence after the battle. It is derived from "Taani linn", meaning "Danish town" in Estonian. (According to Wikipedia)

The Danish Coat of Arms - First documented in the 1190s, modified 1819

Map of Denmark

Denmark

This is where I have lived most of my life and where I will begin my mission while I await my visa to be processed. 

By the time this post goes on the blog, I will serving somewhere on this map as a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and I'll let you know where, when I can. 

The next couple of years I will be where my mission takes me. I have looked forward to this for a long time and I know there will be difficult moments up ahead but I want to give it my all and make every minute count, because two years will pass quickly but the memories have to last and lift, for me and hopefully for those I meet along the way.

If you click on the map and save it you can see it in full size and the location names will be legible.

Video from Ximena and Lee's Wedding

Our wonderful daughter-law Brittany just sent me a beautiful tear-jerker of of a video from when the New Jepsen couple were exiting the Copenhagen Denmark Temple after the completion of their sealing ordinance.

I truly enjoyed this video and if you have been following his mails when he was still Elder Jepsen only a few months back, I can only recommend that you watch it. The great photography and excellent editing combined with and absolutely perfect soundtrack tells the story well. I was moved!



Ximana becomes a Jepsen: Ximena and Lee's Wedding Day from Brittany Watson on Vimeo.


A have also included a little reminder to help us all remember the blessings of the temple:

Elder Jepsen (released) now Lee Jepsen - NEWS as of April 20th 2011 05:45 PM

At Elder Jepsen's last transfer and release, he was allowed a new companion of his choice!

We have really enjoyed having you all there with us through this experience and just like you've shared in the many joys of having a son on mission, we thought you might want to share in some of the news happening to our returned missionary.


Twenty-one days after his return to Denmark, Lee (you knew him as Elder Jepsen for most of the blog) is now busily preparing for his next big mission in life. As of today, April 20th 2011 at 05:45 PM Lee is engaged to Ximena Peredo (a wonderful and sweet girl from Spain) to be married. We all have a lot to be grateful for and are HAPPY for them both.


We were both privileged with front-row seating to the event: Having alerted us all by taking a deep look into Ximena's eyes from a humble kneeling position, Lee popped the famous question--all while Ximena patiently let him finish with a beautiful face that already said it all. Then, with a smile we will never forget, she replied with a "Yes, I will marry you."

XL Happyness - Ximena & Lee

Minnesota Minneapolis Mission Update

May 13, 2009 (while serving in the Copenhagen Denmark Mission)
The Mission Dept. in Frankfurt dealing with visa processing just received two approvals for cases that were submitted by SLC in early March. They expect an approval for Elder Jepsen (Lee) to come through by the end of this month since his latest and revised application was submitted early in April. In their estimation he should be able to make the new MTC entry date of June 16, 2009. They are pretty sure of this and will have the package sent to the Mission office directly in due time with revised instructions.




Blog reader's comment:

August 27, 2010

I wanted to let you know that Elder Jepsen is one of my most favorite companions. It was a huge blessing being able to serve with him, and I'm very glad he was my companion at the end of my mission. Elder Jepsen's patience, love, and kindness were greatly appreciated. He is a diligent, positive, and hard working missionary. Thank you for raising him and preparing  him to go on his mission. I could tell he loved you guys.

As for me and what I'm up to now that I'm home... I'm planning on going to BYU-Idaho next month. I've dated a little bit (but no one serious), dried apricots from the tree in our yard, played with my little brothers and my nice and nephew, counted people in sacrament meeting (I'm the singles ward statistical clerk), gone to family reunions, got a Utah Learners Permit, still bike everywhere (including Provo Canyon for fun and exercise) and love going to Institute.

Tell Elder Jepsen Hi for me.

Love,
Caleb Noffsinger

January 14, 2011

I just returned from my mission in Minneapolis. I was in the MTC with Elder Jepsen, I think I met him his first day there. I only served near him once in the field though, the transfer he trained an Elder from Finland. He is an extraordinary missionary, and is well respected and loved by his fellow missionaries and by the people of Minnesota. Thanks so much for sending him on a mission, he was a great example to me.

-Martha Harper

NEWS UPDATE - Jan 15, 2011 (while serving in the Minnesota Minneapolis Mission)
Elder Jepsen (scheduled to return home on March 30, 2011) transferred to a new area and his new mailing address is:

Elder Jepsen

18 Walnut St. #205

Farmington, MN, 55024 
USA

Elder Jepsen - "Places To Go and People to See"

... and Elder Jepsen is off to the big adventure ahead, with places to go, people to see, testimonies to be built and shared, memories to be made and work to be done.

Elder Jepsen - Change of plans...

What do you mean, a change of plans--they have changed their minds?

They don't want me in Minneapolis... and I am going to Siberia instead after the MTC?

They must be kidding, right--oh, they are? Whew!

Elders Jepsen - Second Generation

Here they are:

Paul, (Elder Jepsen II, emeritus) and Elder Jepsen III once again ready at the airport escalator.

Elder Jepsen - My brother Paul is sooo coool!

My Danish Mission President allowed for my brother Paul to come and say goodbye at the airport. Paul is so cool, thinking of every detail (he knows what a growing young man needs, DANISH CANDY, HARIBO, PIRATOS).

I wonder how long it will be before I see that stuff again?

Now FOR THE BIG decision, do I pack it in my luggage and have a piece every month for the rest of my mission or... do I pack it in my carry-on luggage and EAT IT ALL before I get to Salt Lake City?

I have to make a quick decision and get this stuff out of sight. I am in a public area and the guy behind me is already eyeing my candy. This could quickly get very scary.

Elder Jepsen - Young men with a purpose and a plan

... and here they are, Elder Jepsen and the Mission Office Elders "Putting their shoulders to wheel" as once again a mission is about begin.

Elder Jepsen - Who are those handsome guys?

With a big adventure about to begin the kids in the airport are sensing the adventure brewing... and who are those handsome guys, really?

They must be off to something important and exciting, I am sure.

... and Elder Jepsen is OFF TO THE AIRPORT!

Well, the big moment has come and big changes are coming with it. Don't get scared now.

All seated, strapped in and ready for the "Mission Office Airport Express."

Elder Jepsen - Mission Entry 019 - Last Week in the Copenhagen Denmark Mission

I don't have much to tell this time around. Life is all goood in good old Fredericia, but there is not a lot of time to get the last bit of work done. Time does fly and I had hoped to accomplish so much more.

I hope you all are well at home. I love you all! Soon I'll be the one to fly, I'm going to the MTC! Woooooohoooooo!

I happened to see the blog, great! Thank you for all the work you do on that blog, it could seem that an unexpected record of my mission is developing from my correspondance. That is so cool, kudos to you Dad! I should send more pictures ;)

Our mission president has allowed Paul and Jen to come say goodbye at the Copenhagen Airport.

Take care! Love y'all!

Elder Jepsen

Elder Jepsen - Mission Entry 018

Oh, do I have exciting news for you. Well... guess where I just got my last transfer to???

I didn't see this coming or find it easy to comprehend. I sincerely thought that I would stay in Alleroed Ward until my departure for the MTC. Life (maybe especially mission transfers) just can't be predicted by mere mortals. My last two small weeks as a Danish missionary would be spent in... Fredericia. Surprise!

View Larger Map

For those that do not know this. We (my family and I) used to live in Fredericia. We would go for walks and sometimes bring our barbeque out on Trelde Klint (top right corner of map) and had a lot of walks in the Trelde Forest.

With my brother Eric visiting his old friend Rasmus (in our old home town, Fredericia) for the week-end, we were actually both in the same town and that's just a bit crazy...

After the shock settled and I began to come to my senses late Friday evening I began to see the sense in this transfer. Of all the places I could have gone if I didn't stay in Allerød, the Lord chose to send me to Fredericia. I think I have some purpose here yet unknown to me. But I have very little time and I have to move fast if I have to accomplish something, start something or stir a heart. I feel strongly that there is something here that is specifically my task, important for me to get done. I have some things in mind, but I need to submit myself to a lot of prayer to be led by the Spirit in this area. I already know that this is the place that I have to be. It feels right but I also feel that this is going to be a special experience.

The Lord has much in store for me, and I know he's preparing me for something. I just wish I knew what (I might have to ask Him more specifically). I guess that all I can do is have faith and prepare for when He is ready to tell me. I was told the other day that I had a huge amount of faith, by my companion. He said it in the context of that I know that the Lord has a plan with all of us, and that I trust in his wisdom in His plan with me.

Whatever I encounter, I know that the Lord is there, somewhere behind the stage, calling the cues and pulling the strings giving me a fair chance for making good choices. I have given this a lot of thought and I do believe this. I know that my Father in heaven loves me and that he has prepared this for me. I know that it will work out, because He is walking beside me all the way, and if He can be bothered with little me then I can walk the extra mile as long as He is by my side.

Time flies, when I get to the MTC I will have been a missionary for four months already, going on five. When I finally get to Minnesota I will be celebrating my six month mark just a month after I arrive. Woohoo! Haha, life is great!

I have to head off. We have stuff to do and people to see. I love you all!

Next week will be my last email before I enter the MTC! (I'll have that letter off to the Bishop within the next couple days. With the days just whipping by it's hard to find time, even to write ín my journal) I know it's important, and I should work harder on getting in done. If you see the Bishop, would please just update him and confirm if all is in running order? There isn't much I can say or do otherwise. If there anything else that my other mission sends me just forward it or show it to the Bishop. I can't do much from where I am. Thanks for all that you've done so far.

Love you all!

Ældste Jepsen

Elder Jepsen - Real Missionary Food (NOT)

Look Mom, we don't just eat "Kraft Dinner" we eat healthy food. . .

Ooops. . .

Well, we will try to be healthy tomorrow.

Elder Jepsen - Seriously Silly Seriousness

I am terribly aware that I in my photos only have been depicting the moments of silly, goofy fun and intend to do my best to correct the matter.

When we actively pursue the good cause of missionary work there is no time or place for pictures and that is as it should be. In the remaining time we try to fit in as much fun as possible between cleaning the apartment, doing the laundry and cleaning behind our ears. Such an intense focus on documenting our silly moments could give cause to the misconception that silly, goofy fun is all we do. This is not so and I will seriously make an attempt at rectifying the matter of imbalance.

The following should give evidence that we not only can be very much serious even in the best of company (that is one of Denmark's past kings behind us, even he removed his hat and that is serious). My companion has for the purpose of illustrating the point transmogrified into a cast lion symbolising our serious, noble and unwavering dedication).

To further show that we indeed do serious missionary work and in a most unbiased fashion try to share our message with all, we have included one of our more quiet and less responsive teaching moments.

It doesn't look like much but she was the only one of our teaching moments that had no objections to being photographed in a teaching situation (well truth be told, she is the only one we asked if she would mind have her picture taken).

PS: On a more serious note, Edmund Burke once said that "All that is essential for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."

So let's stop this silliness and all seriously do something and do our best at doing so, even with all the odds against us.