Lila didn't write a blog letter this week, but I'll post a few details from her letter to me.
I think backwoods Oklahoma is getting into her subconscience because she told me of a weird "random" dream she had--she dreamed that someone handed her a dead rabbit and asked her to skin it!
I had my own strange dream about Lila. I dreamed that someone had given her a baby to raise! In my dream, she and her companion are tracting and Lila is carrying this cute little baby wearing a fuzzy, hooded snuggly draped over one arm while she is knocking at a door with the other. I chuckled all day! THAT would be Lila--take good care of the baby, but just keep on working!
Back to real life...Lila had a baptism on Saturday! They've been teaching a 28 year old man since November and he has been a joy to teach. He was confirmed a member on Sunday at church and I can only imagine how gratifying that was. :-) Lila says he is "awesome!!!!!"
Apparently, some sisters in the ward are trying to set him up with the single ladies his age. Poor guy. Now they want to get him married!
Next week, Lila has one last baptism planned before she ends her mission on Thursday, March 1st.
She has grown so much and done so much good during her 18 months as a missionary. We are really proud of her.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Monday, February 13, 2012
Chastity and Tithing...that was EASY!
Hello world. Happy Valentine's Day!
This Sunday was wonderful! And the members were giving us lots of holiday treats! :)
But sometimes as a missionary I have felt responsible for the whole ward; well, for all the less-active members and all the other people living in Lawton. And that seems like a huge burden. It is nice to sit in on ward meetings before church and hear how other people are working to help people come unto Christ, and I realize that I am not alone in this task. Because missionaries cannot do it alone!
First, there are just too many people to start with.
Second, we can't be the friend that talks to them all the time and hangs out and shares hobbies with them. But members can be that friend and show love in that way. As a missionary I show love to people by teaching them what God asks of us and by asking them to follow the Savior and do better! Luckily I know while I am accountable for my own choices in how I help these people I'm not expected to bring every single person back to church, even if I feel like that sometimes.
Each week we record who of our investigators and less active members come to church. And we write a list of all those that we are working with who didn't come to church, so we can go out again and try to build their faith. But progress is made, faith is built, people listen to the Spirit and their lives become happier as they shift their focus more and more towards the Savior.
This week we tracted, a lot! And nobody wanted to listen to us. But we keep on going and working with those who are making progress and those that just need a boost to get back into church.
Well, I don't really know what to say because it all blends together and just seems like missionary work. The names, stories and people change, but other than that, it's all the same.
But I will share a funny quote. We have this awesome, solid 28year old we are teaching and he grew up a strong Catholic and is so ready to be baptized. Last week we taught him the Law of Chastity and he didn't have a problem with it at all. And so this week we taught him about Tithing and Fasting and he didn't have a problem with that either and he completely understands and is willing to live it. So during the lesson about tithing he said "This is as easy as the law of Chastity was last week" which made me smile and I was totally laughing (on the inside of course) because that is something you don't hear people say very often.
There is a really sweet, young, less-active couple that we have been trying to help. She is pregnant and due in a month and recently she has been having complications. She has been passing out a lot and the doctors haven't found out the reason yet. We felt like we should call her yesterday and turns out she had been in the E.R. yesterday and was feeling worried and lonely (because her husband was doing mandatory training for the army and had been gone for a week). We talked to her and she didn't sound good at all, so we called the RS president and she and her husband who is 1st counselor in the Elders Quorum presidency helped arrange for a blessing. The blessing went well and I am so glad that we called her because we're pretty sure she wouldn't have called us.
I know the Spirit is working through me to help others and so no matter what happens I know I am doing what I should be.
My testimony is strengthened on a daily basis that this is the Lord's work
Love,
Sister Lila Jenson
This Sunday was wonderful! And the members were giving us lots of holiday treats! :)
But sometimes as a missionary I have felt responsible for the whole ward; well, for all the less-active members and all the other people living in Lawton. And that seems like a huge burden. It is nice to sit in on ward meetings before church and hear how other people are working to help people come unto Christ, and I realize that I am not alone in this task. Because missionaries cannot do it alone!
First, there are just too many people to start with.
Second, we can't be the friend that talks to them all the time and hangs out and shares hobbies with them. But members can be that friend and show love in that way. As a missionary I show love to people by teaching them what God asks of us and by asking them to follow the Savior and do better! Luckily I know while I am accountable for my own choices in how I help these people I'm not expected to bring every single person back to church, even if I feel like that sometimes.
Each week we record who of our investigators and less active members come to church. And we write a list of all those that we are working with who didn't come to church, so we can go out again and try to build their faith. But progress is made, faith is built, people listen to the Spirit and their lives become happier as they shift their focus more and more towards the Savior.
This week we tracted, a lot! And nobody wanted to listen to us. But we keep on going and working with those who are making progress and those that just need a boost to get back into church.
Well, I don't really know what to say because it all blends together and just seems like missionary work. The names, stories and people change, but other than that, it's all the same.
But I will share a funny quote. We have this awesome, solid 28year old we are teaching and he grew up a strong Catholic and is so ready to be baptized. Last week we taught him the Law of Chastity and he didn't have a problem with it at all. And so this week we taught him about Tithing and Fasting and he didn't have a problem with that either and he completely understands and is willing to live it. So during the lesson about tithing he said "This is as easy as the law of Chastity was last week" which made me smile and I was totally laughing (on the inside of course) because that is something you don't hear people say very often.
There is a really sweet, young, less-active couple that we have been trying to help. She is pregnant and due in a month and recently she has been having complications. She has been passing out a lot and the doctors haven't found out the reason yet. We felt like we should call her yesterday and turns out she had been in the E.R. yesterday and was feeling worried and lonely (because her husband was doing mandatory training for the army and had been gone for a week). We talked to her and she didn't sound good at all, so we called the RS president and she and her husband who is 1st counselor in the Elders Quorum presidency helped arrange for a blessing. The blessing went well and I am so glad that we called her because we're pretty sure she wouldn't have called us.
I know the Spirit is working through me to help others and so no matter what happens I know I am doing what I should be.
My testimony is strengthened on a daily basis that this is the Lord's work
Love,
Sister Lila Jenson
Monday, February 6, 2012
Using faith to overcome obstacles!
Hello All!
Wow, time flies.
I love seeing people use their faith to motivate them to action. I am amazed by the motivation of some less active members in our ward to work through sins and obstacles and make it to church. I know God is helping and will help them!
I am so proud of everyone who overcomes challenges through faith. Every person is different but each of us need faith, repentance, covenants, the Holy Ghost and endurance to get us through life and back to God.
Chinese New Year was fun and my companion and I purchased and made some great Asian food. Yum!
Lots of miracles are happening here in Lawton, OK!
Love
Sister Lila Jenson
Wow, time flies.
I love seeing people use their faith to motivate them to action. I am amazed by the motivation of some less active members in our ward to work through sins and obstacles and make it to church. I know God is helping and will help them!
I am so proud of everyone who overcomes challenges through faith. Every person is different but each of us need faith, repentance, covenants, the Holy Ghost and endurance to get us through life and back to God.
Chinese New Year was fun and my companion and I purchased and made some great Asian food. Yum!
Lots of miracles are happening here in Lawton, OK!
Love
Sister Lila Jenson
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| Sister Jenson is an awesome cook! |
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| Sister Holt and Sister Jenson in the sunshine! |
Friday, February 3, 2012
The Letter from Pres. Taylor
Here was the letter dated January 27, 2012 that we received from the mission office with Lila's flight itinerary.
John & Kristen Jenson
456 Palm Drive
Richland, Washington 99352
Dear Brother and Sister Jenson:
We cannot thank you enough for sharing your daughter with the people of the Oklahoma Oklahoma City Mission. Sister Lila Whitney Jenson has represented The Lord and your family extremely well. She has been dedicated to The Lord's work and her Christ-like love has earned her many friends and admirers. You have every right to be especially proud of her service.
[Flight info etc]
Sister Jenson has experienced many growth opportunities tha will form a foundation in Christ upon which she can build for the rest of her life. We return her home with an expression of our deep love and appreciation. She is truly a choice spirit and we will miss her greatly.
Enjoy a wonderful reunion.
Sincerely,
Nolan S. Taylor
Mission President
John & Kristen Jenson
456 Palm Drive
Richland, Washington 99352
Dear Brother and Sister Jenson:
We cannot thank you enough for sharing your daughter with the people of the Oklahoma Oklahoma City Mission. Sister Lila Whitney Jenson has represented The Lord and your family extremely well. She has been dedicated to The Lord's work and her Christ-like love has earned her many friends and admirers. You have every right to be especially proud of her service.
[Flight info etc]
Sister Jenson has experienced many growth opportunities tha will form a foundation in Christ upon which she can build for the rest of her life. We return her home with an expression of our deep love and appreciation. She is truly a choice spirit and we will miss her greatly.
Enjoy a wonderful reunion.
Sincerely,
Nolan S. Taylor
Mission President
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