Elder Jepsen - Mission Entry 76 - In the presence of something truly great

How I missed you dearly this week! My story begins with Elder Bennet (another Elder in the District) getting a cold which he quickly passed on to Elder Lemonds, who generously shared it with me. You can learn a lot by following others example and so I passed on this opportunity to Elder Guillory. I am not sure what to think and I have yet to find out what can learned from all this. But, we're all a miserable bunch, and that just isn't fun when there isn't a Mom around. I can in my minds ear hear Dad in the background and yes Dad, the family cure of steeped cayenne pepper and garlic was promptly implemented and I am now cured--like usual! It works once you feel sick enough (or desperate enough) to submit to it. It scares any illness right out of you, that fast--just like any nearby friends or neighbors. Elder Guillory doesn't have my luck, he managed to turn our involuntary "District Activity" into a most excellent example of Sinusitis. He clearly has more talents for this than the rest of us but, he is not enjoying himself and is just not doing well. So, I've done my best in helping him get better (might take a few more prayers yet).

While we were all nursing our ills the members here were busy as little bees. A less active but awesome family joined another awesome family for a Family Home Evening and they are going to repeat the success. I hope to be there this time (It's great when a good plan comes together).

Unplanned illness (who plans for illness, anyways?) can obliterate all plans for productivity. Being out of our area for half the week and sick for most of it makes me so disappointed with myself. I had big plans, I really wanted to accomplish something but, I had no way of winning that argument.

This weeks training sessions left lots to think about. The tactics and pedagogy are changed and improved. At first I didn't care much care for the approach but, it works and that helps me get used to it--and now I like it.

With three days of training out of town we had more travel to do than we had alloted miles on our cars. Fortunately our local members helped us out a lot. But, all that driving allowed me a lot of time to reflect on my mission so far. At first I felt quite satisfied with my effort (I have worked hard and done my best), until I saw that I had momentarily left out the most important factor, turning it all into be a rather humbling equation. I realized that for everything I thought I had accomplished, God had been there balancing and fine-tuning the scales while I was busy piling on my little contribution. In all the best times on my mission I have not only relied on God's wisdom as found in the scriptures but, whenever I could I sought His council advice and support in all that I do. Clearly, I can't turn around and take credit for God's blessings in my life and what He has made possible? Everything worthwhile on my mission happened only because the Lord helped me every bit of the way. It was like a big light went on in my heart and I could only cast a very small shadow in it's presence. I felt everything put into proper perspective and it made me feel very small and humbled. Yet, this was a good feeling--I felt in the presence of something truly great.

I love you all! We're off to buy some groceries and like a couple of old folks are we both going to take a much needed nap. Even with prayers and the Family Cure-All I'm in recovering mode and Elder Guillory is still not doing well.

Loves,

Elder Jepsen

Elder Jepsen - Mission Entry 75 - I Felt Like I Had Witnessed a Miracle

It's great news hear that the reception went well and I am so happy for Brittany and Paul (all the best to you two).

I really enjoyed the story about Dad in the Hospital lobby helping that little old lady. I would so very much like to have seen Dad in his motorcycle gear carrying a big full-face helmet all while taking the little old lady's walker out of the Hospital after having first helped her (together with any reasonable excuse or explanation) out of the Hospital in her wheel chair. Dad has always been ready to help wherever needed to the best of his ability. I know his back isn't doing well and that impedes his walking, but to see him "using" a walker all through the Hospital lobby would have been such a laugh. There is just something about Dad isn't there? I sure love you, Dad! :-)

This week has been amazing! Early in the week I had to attend some training sessions at the Mission Office in Bloomington, requiring me to stay overnight in my old area and I met up with my last companion (and first trainee). I had the opportunity to see some of the people I knew from when I was there last. It turned out that they had some questions and concerns and with the help of the Holy Ghost we reviewed the purpose for the Church and our part in it all. I felt like I had witnessed a miracle as they clearly understood much more than the few words coming from me. It is amazing what can be accomplished when working with the Holy Ghost. I found out later that the missionaries in the area had fasted and prayed for these people in concern and worry. I am grateful that the Lord could use me for the job and would allow me there while He did the work.

This new area has its challenges. It's harder than usual to remember places and names, and I am struggling with knowing how to work in such a different environment than I'm used to from working in Minneapolis. But I am determined to do my best. Our President and his assistants have expressed great confidence in the inspiration that prompted him to send me here and told me that he's counting on me. That is a very big responsibility and I hope I can live up to his and the Lord's expectations. While this assignment doesn't appear straight forward and easy, I am quite sure the Lord will give me some directions and tools to work with along the way.

I don't have to much time to write much more. The training took up part of my week but, you know--there is still mail, groceries, laundry. It's not all missionary work, although necessary.

I love y'all, you're amazing!

Elder Jepsen

Elder Jepsen - Mission Entry 74 - New Area, New Town: Same God and Church

My transfer call came and it said: Go North and so I am going North... to Hibbing, a good bit smaller than Minneapolis... and I love it too! The Stake President here actually served his mission in Denmark a number of years ago, so we've been talking "Denmark."

The congregation here is a very pleasant group of people. I look forward to get to know them while serving as a missionary.

My new companion is Elder Carson Guillory. He has a good sense of humor, so chances are that we'll get along great. He's from New Mexico and actually arrived in this mission at the same time as me (except that this was his beginning mission and I had already served a portion of my mission in Denmark as my visa processing was delayed).

My new address is:

Elder Jepsen

1601 E 29th St.

55746 Hibbing MN

USA

So, all is well. There is a different and slower pace here but, God is the same and He's the source of all our blessings and miracles, both on a mission as in life. We met this lady that welcomed us in and she wanted to come to church. We'll be meeting with her this coming week and helping her find her testimony. She explained that her children wanted to start attending church and I can't wait to teach her and her family, help them find a space for God in their lives.

Paul, I'm proud to have you as my big brother. Once again CONGRATULATIONS, when you read this you must already be a married man. Way to go, Paul! Looking forward to meet Brittany, my new sister.

Love y'all

Elder Jepsen

Elder Jepsen - Mission Entry 73 - It's Never Too Late To Find God

Paul, you're quite the brother and example. Here's a GREAT BIG CONGRATULATIONS from me to Brittany and you! I will be one of your new brothers, Brittany--hope you don't mind, I will do my best to be a good brother. I am sure you know you have already made a great impression on me (what missionary could ever resist such an introduction, I don't know). Sorry that I was unable to attend but, you know how it is. I really wanted to be there.

Once again it's transfer time and I got my transfer call. I am going up north,... to Hibbing, Minnesota! It's going to be great! I've really enjoyed the time that I've spent here and have made so many new friends, people that changed their lives and mine too as I saw how much God's word and spirit could help. There are so many people here that I will never forget and I feel fortunate to have witnessed their conversions as I am just here to facilitate the process. I love this.

Time is impossible to hold on to. I feel like I am just beginning to getting the hang of this as I realize that my own mission is very nearly over. Depending on how long I am to stay in this next area, it could be my last area. I better not start getting "trunky," I just don't have the time for that and there is so much work to be done.

Everyone was suspecting my departure as I was already pushing the limits for time, so I got to bear my testimony in Church yesterday. I am going to miss so many people here and I love them so much but, I am also looking forward the adventure of tomorrow, new place, new people, new challenges and new things to learn. I am so grateful for this experience as a missionary, serving God.

We had a baptism this week! This man has been checking out the church for the last thirty years now and decided it is a good thing. I suspect he considered it a good thing before now or he wouldn't have hung around for thirty years. All his friends and family are happy for him, it was a very special experience. It has also been a blessing to see him make this commitment, bringing his family together in sharing this important covenant.

This week we met with our main investigators, Kenny and Vanessa, and they started off our meeting by saying that they had some questions about something that they read in the "Gospel Principles" manual. They commenced to ask about this "Eternal Marriage" thing and what that's all about? I thought "Could I have imagined a more perfect teaching cue, if I tried?" This is not a question commonly asked by the people we teach but, they did ask and God certainly had prepared them for the answer! We proceeded to teach them about God's plan for our families and how they are eternal in nature. It became an absolutely unforgettable and stellar moment, the Spirit of God was very much present and very strong--and YES, I love being a missionary!

Love y'all

Elder Jepsen

Elder Jepsen - Mission Entry 72 - God will come to our aid, if we allow Him.

I received some great words of counsel this week. Thank you, Dad. You are my hero, constantly giving me something to live up to with your example, reminding me of who you are, who I am and who I want to be. Your words meant a lot to me and I truly enjoyed reading them. I don't have coins with me for the library printer, but I'll print it next week and read it through the week when needed. Thank you again.

This week has been absolutely crazy. Almost all of our appointments have worked out to have maximum travel distance between them and we have spent a lot of effort bicycling across town, back and across town, again and again. I really enjoy all the appointments and I wish I could do more but, maybe I should stop telling the Lord how much I like bicycling, I would probably be all trained, top form and ready for a bicycle race about now. But, I do love being a missionary and I am deeply indebted and grateful to be here.

There is a man here that has been thinking about becoming a member of the church, for a while now. His wife is a member, he's sent all four of his kids on missions and they all found good spouses whom they married in the temple. After thoroughly thinking it over and being at the receiving end of his wife's gentle nudging for the last thirty years, he is now getting baptized this week and it is going to be a wonderful experience.

We meet more and more people who wants the church in their lives and understand the process and need of repentance. It is so wonderful to witness and be a part of: One woman and her mother is returning to the church after finally cutting the last strings to an abusive boyfriend who also kept her away from the church. Another couple are also coming to church where she hasn't been since she was a young teenager and he has previously gotten angry with missionaries in the past, but has now forgiven us and is feeling a great change in his heart as a result of following Alma's challenge of planting a seed of faith and nourishing it.

I have now been in this area for a while and chances are that I soon will receive a transfer call (they are doing a new round of calls next week). I have been so blessed and I am so grateful for the privilege of being allowed to serve in this area. I love it here and I have learned so much. I love the people here and I have so many friends here now that I will miss when leaving this area.

Being a missionary is the greatest blessing God could give me. I expected to go on my mission to pay back some of my debt to my Savior and Lord but, I fear that upon my return I will be more heavily indebted to Him than before I left. My frequent feelings of inadequacy in my daily missionary work and ever increasing debt to our Lord has had me worried for a long time. But in my prayers He's let me know that "It's all right I don't really have to pay Him back (which I am grateful for, because it is far more than I would be able). All He wishes for is that I live my life worthy to be called His friend. Recently I was once again struggling with feelings of inadequacy and as I was praying and studying I had this overwhelming feeling come over me. I then felt the words in my heart and mind "You're doing just fine, my child. Don't worry, you're doing just fine." It is just amazing how well the Lord understands us. He really does know and He knows our innermost feelings. God will come to our aid, if we allow Him.

I love you all! I wish I could give y'all hugs, but that'll have to wait a bit. Thank you for being there for me.

Elder Jepsen

Elder Jepsen - Mission Entry 71 - Miracles Happen, again and again!

Miracles happen, again and again! In fact, this whole week has been full of them and it's absolutely amazing! The blessing of witnessing such an abundance of miracles around us makes us want to be better missionaries, in an attempt to live up to all the many blessings around us. But, the harder we work at serving God by trying to be better missionaries, the more He blesses us--again. There is no way of describing the feeling, it is just beyond words but, I like it!

We have been blessed with a total of six scheduled baptisms just this last week. Three of them are new people and the other three have been giving it some thought for a while. There is no easy way to put that feeling into words when you see people changing their lives but, I'm so grateful to see it happen and I am so happy for the people experiencing this for themselves.

Saturday evening we were biking home and met the Spanish speaking Elders. They told us of a less active member they had met up with that hadn't been in church for over a decade, but wanted to come back to church.

When Sunday came around she walked with the help of her crutches and her fiancée Tim, the whole two blocks to church, suffering from both knee and hip problems and the stifling heat that all "enjoy" at the moment. She was able to actually meet with the Bishop as well, almost as soon as she arrived. She was so grateful to come back to church, and it was amazing for us to witness. We went over later to administer a blessing for her knee operation on this Tuesday.

May God be with you, always!

Elder Jepsen

Elder Jepsen - Mission Entry 70 - Help the Lord's children and He helps you!

This first week of working with Elder Happonen has been amazing. He too was drafted by the military before being able to serve on a mission. Dad, I know you have a great deal of respect for the past history of the Finnish military and Elder Happonen fully lives up to their reputation. He is hardworking, has learned and knows discipline; He is a great example to me and I really enjoy working with him.

We have been working very hard and have been busy being the best missionaries we can be and the Lord must have found our effort acceptable, because we have experienced a lot of miracles. This week, we have seen so many RPRT's (Right Place, Right Time) and how can you be in the right place at the right time if you don't consult your taskmaster, the Lord, to be when and where He wants you to be?

One day we were out and about and we came across a church member, carrying home some groceries. They seemed a heavy burden for her and we like to help where we can, so we did. We had a nice visit with her and a little boy accompanying her on the way to her house.

Later that week we went to Taco Bell for a quick bite before we hurried on in our schedule and we met the same little boy from earlier, except this time he was with his family; He's an outgoing, clever little kid, so he immediately introduced us. Soon we were having a wonderful conversation about the gospel and naturally we set up an appointment to come and teach their family this week. I just love missionary work--in so many ways! The Lord keeps teaching me faster than I can teach anybody else.

Love y'all

Elder Jepsen