Photos from Madeira and Alverca

 

 

 

Ingrown Toenail

Well, these are the lovely picure of when I got my ingrown toenail on my mission. I didn't tell anyone because I didn't want anyone to get worried, but my toenail is all better now and doesn't hurt at all. It was worth it because I have been struggling with the ingrown toenail for a long time. But all is well in Zion. Love, Elder Spencer Jensen

 

9-10-12

Dear Family, Well, We had transfers again today. I will be staying here in Alverca as zoneleader for my last transfer with an Elder Harvey. And my other comp will be going to the mission office. This week was a very busy week. We had to go to Lisbon about everyday and we had meetings with President and the stake president and then we had a mission conference. It was amazing, we had Elder Rasband from the Presidency of the Seventy and also Elder Richards, Elder Rocha and Elder Teixeira from the Seventy and also Bishop Causé from the Presiding Bishopric. It was a very spiritual experience and we learned a lot from them. We as the Lisbon zone leaders had to organize everything for the meeting but it was very cool. We learned a lot about missionary work and it was amazing how Elder Rasband followed revelation even during the meeting. We had a question and answer session with them about missionary work. Love, Elder Spencer Jensen

9-3-12

Dear Family, This week is going to be very busy for us. We have mission council tomorrow and then Saturday a bunch of General Authorities will be visiting Portugal and they are going to have a private conference with the missionaries and we have to clean the chapel that it will be in because it is part of my zone. But it will be very cool and then on Sunday there will be a big conference with two stakes and one distict. it will be a very busy week. We have been teaching a family that we found and they are very cool. We had a lesson with them last night and they were very open to the message and they have a lot of potenital and they have been to church before. But I would like to see them baptized before I go home. But other than that we only have a few weak investigators, but I am trying to do my very best and use all the knowledge that I have gained to help the people in Alverca. We had a vbery interwsting experience this week. We had to go to another area all of a sudden to do a baptismal interview. So, we were getting onto the subway and this man starts talking to us and asks us how to get to a certain place,l which just so happens was the place that we were going to. So, we talked to him and found out that he already knew the Church and stuff like that and that he was from Vila Real. So, I got suspicious because he kept asking about the sisters and I remembered that there was a stalker from Vila Real and liked the sisters. So, he told us that on Sunday he would visit the ward where certain sisters were in my zone and that he had a surprise then we said we would be there too and he got real nervous and started to ask a lot of questions. So, we told the sisters after we got off and then we called President and he told us to go to their church on Sunday and that he had already talked to this man before and that they had worked out a deal where he wasn´t allowed to talk to the sisters and if he was interested in the Church he needed to talk to the stake president in Porto. So, my comp and I went there and he was there and we made sure he didn´t talk to the sisters too much and then after the meetings and what not we took him aside and told him that he wasn´t allowed to talk to or go to any ward in Portugal where there are sisters and that he needed to leave and go back to Vila Real and we told him we talked to our mission presdient and he got really aggitated and told us that we had ruined everything and that it was all our fault and that he didn't go there to do anything wrong. And then he just got up and left. It was pretty funny. And by the way, this guy is about as tall as Mom and skinnier than Ali haha. But he somehow got our number and called us later and told us that we had ruined everything for him. But it was a funny story and the sisters were grateful that we had saved their lives haha. Love, Elder Spencer Jensen

8-6-12

Dear Family, Well, I got transferred to the mainland again. Now, I am zone leader of the Lisbon zone and my area is called Alverca. It is a very cool area and has a lot of people. I am getting used to walking and it has cause a couple blisters but nothing that I can't handle haha. My new comp is from Brazil, his name is Elder Costa. He is cool and only has nine months in the mission and he has a lot of fire to work. It will be good to help him and to also learn from him. Today we had mission council and Elder Teixeira, the Area President, came and gave us a training. He taught us about the power we can get from our calling and how being a good leader and a good missionary is learning to repent very quickly haha. And he also spoke about how we should focus on finding and baptizing families and that is what will help the Church grow in Portugal. I will have to write a letter with all that I have learned lately with President Fluckiger. He is an amazing teacher and has a huge knowledge of the Gospel. He has taught us a lot about the process of conversion and how that works. But things here are going great and I am going to put my best into the last few months that I have here in Alverca. Thanks for all you guys do for me. Love, Elder Spencer Jensen

7-30-12

Dear Family, So, this week was better than most. We marked a man named Sidónio for baptism. He is very cool and we found him sitting on his front steps one day and we decided to talk to him. We left him a Book of Mormon and he liked it a lot and he has a very strong testimony of its truthfulness. But he will be baptized this weekend, it will be very cool. Also, we have found a new neighborhood and it is very cool. All the people there love us and know who we are. Whenever we go there a ton of little kids run up to us and give us high fives and they all know our names haha it is very funny. It will be sad when I have to leave because of all the friendships that I have made here. But the Work is the part that I love the most. I have learned a lot since I have been out here, but I guess the most important thing I have learned is that the Book of Mormon really is true. With the reading and praying and seeing the effect it has on others, it has to be true. Thanks for everything. Love, Elder Spencer Jensen

7-17-12

Dear Family, This week was a pretty good week. We didn't aptize but we found a man that is very elect. His name is José. He is a very humble man and he is 73 years old I think. We were preaying for who we could baptize this weekend and I had the feeling that we would find the person taht day. But we decided on another person. Then that same day we were knocking doors in a neighborhood taht we just found and he let us into his house and we said a prayer with him and marked an appointment to come back the next day. So, we came back and taught the Restoration and asked him if he wanted to be baptized like Christ was and he said he would like that very much. It was a very cool experience and he came to Chruch and he loved it too and when we took him home from church we asked him if he wanted to be baptized this weekend and he said yes. It really was a miracle, he is a very humble man and knows a lot about the Bible eventhough he doesn´t have very much education. Yesterday we had zone conference and Pres Fluckiger came and we did a division with him afterwards and he came to a lesson with José and José said that he would like tobe like Jospeh Smith haha He is really prepared by the Lord to accept the Gospel. I will tell you all about his baptism. Thanks for all that you guys do for me. Love, Elder Spencer Jensen

7-9-12 Baptism of Maria José

Dear Family, Well, I will tell you about our baptism last week. We prayed at the beggining of the week of who should be baptized, and we felt this woman named Maria José. She and her husband have been investigators for a long time, almost two years, but no one had ever gotten them baptized. So, we go there and we teach and we invite them to pray about the Church to know itf it is true and if they needed to be baptized. So, we set up another appoinment and went back and they had prayed, but the husband António said he prayed and got an answer that he was already baptized and that he wouldn´t do it again, then he just walked out of the house and left. So, we talked to Maria josé and she had prayed too, but she had felt that the Church was true, and eventhough it would cause conflicts in home and she didn´t know how she would religiously educate her two daughters, she felt like she needed to be baptized. So, we came back and she passed the baptismal interview and she was baptized. It was amazing, we marked her for baptism on a Friday and she was baptized on Sunday. It is amazing how the Spirit works to touch people´s hearts and prepare them for the Gospel. It was amazing to be apart of that process and see the great faith that she in Christ to make all of theose changes in her life. And yesterday I gave her the Gift of the Holy Ghost, my first time, and it was very cool. The Spirit was so strong. I thank you guys for all that you so for me and for all the support. I love and miss you guys a lot. Love, Elder Spencer Jensen

6-25-12

Dear Family, Well, things here on Madeira are cool. The Lord blessed us with many miracles. We felt to passby this less active and we went to his house and his neighbor came out and asked if we knew a person in a picture she had. Turns out it was a photo of an elder who had served there and then we started to talk to her and her kids and they had already gone to church in the past. So, we left and then prayed and we felt her son Leo should be baptized. Well, we went back and tried to talk with her but she didn't want to so we talked and prayed with Leo and he felt he should be baptized too, but when we talked to the mom, she didn't want him to be baptized again because he already was as a baby. Well, we tried to pray with her but she wouldn't and she pretty much told us to never come back, which is really sad because Leo wanted to be baptized so bad because he felt like it was the right thing for him to do. but we aren't going to give up that easily haha. But other than that just a bunch of little miracles happened. Thanks for all that you guys do for me and for all the support. Love, Elder Spencer Jensen

6-11-12

Dear Family, We have been working really hard here on Madeira, sorry it´s taken so long to write but here are some photos. We found a really cool family. Their names are Alexandre and Carla. They have a newborn baby named Alexia. So, we taught them a little and they accepted the invite to be baptized when they feel that the Church is true. So, we went back and taught the Restoration to them and the extended family. The lesson was going really good and then all of a sudden in the middle of the lesson they lost interest and the Spirit went away. So, we ended the lesson and marked a return appointment. So, we show up at Carla´s house and she and her cousin were there and they said that they would never set foot in our church. We were a little surprised to say the least. So, we asked them why not. Well, they are neighbors with a less active family that is absolutely crazy. They were the cause of a big division here on Madeira. So, luckily the Spirit touched Carla and her cousin and we just explained that every church has bad people and that they aren´t following the example of Christ and that they haven´t gone to church in 5 years, and then we taught the Restoration again and they really liked it and they were really interested. So, they said they would come to church. But they ended up not showing up because they got lost and couldn´t find the chapel and then gave up and went back home. I was so mad/frustrated haha. We also have been getting to be good friends with some guys in a ghetto haha. We have thrown them into a religious tizzy and all they do know is talk about what we said about religiona nd God. It is really funny. Also, in every ghetto we have little kids that love to come and talk to the Elders and hear about Jesus. It´s amazing how little kids can be so much more open to the Gospel, but their parents are usually closed. But they are funny and always happy. Thanks for all that you guys do for me and I love and miss you all. Love, Elder Spencer Jensen

6-4-12

Dear Family, Things here are great. Madeira is very beautiful and I am having a blast. This week we taught a few new investigators but nobody is really progressing. We taught this woman named Maria Inês, she is very cool but has a really hard life. She has a problem with the muscle in her leg so it hurts for her to walk. Also, a few years ago her husband was murdered, so now she is raising her two kids alone. We found her because she was walking in the street was carrying a few bags and she looked like she was in pain. So, we offered to take her bags and we helped her to her house. Our zone is having tons of problems. One companioship wasn´t talking to eachother, but we fixed that one. Also, another missionary is having a hard time and wants to go home. The thing is he is being a little selfish and blaming it all on his companion and not taking any responsibility. So, we tried to talk to him once but he didn´t say anything, so we are still going to try to help him. And the others companionships are a little lazy haha. But we are trying to help them improve. Thanks for all that you guys do for me and for all the prayers and love. I hope all is well there. Love, Elder Spencer Jensen

Baptisms of Mariana, Jonathan and Alanã 5-7-12

Well, we had an awesome but stressful week. We finally baptized this transfer. We baptized Alanã, Jonathan and Mariana. They are really strong and have such good testimonies. They went up during sacrament meeting and bore their testimonies. But it was a fight with Jonathan and Mariana, they had so many problems this week and they prayed a lot and overcame their problems and they will be married this week. We went to the town hall to get them married and the lady there was in a bad mood and so they weren´t able to get married this week. So, we had to get everything ready for them to stay with others until the wedding. It will suck not being able to see them get married. It was a very cool week and I will tell you more about it when we talk. And we got transfer calls, I will be going to Madeira Islands as zone leader. I am pretty excited and it will be a lot of fun. My comp will be Elder Packard, I think he is from Texas and has one more transfer to me. You can send letters to the mission office. Rua Jorge Barradas Nº14C 1500-370 Lisboa

4-16-12

Dear Family,
Well, I hope that all is well back at home. This week was a good week. We have been teaching a few cool people. We are still teaching Job, he wants to go to Church and be baptized so bad, but he can´t get work off to go. it is a really frustrating situation, because he has to ahve work to support himself and his family back in Mozambique. So, he can´t just quit, but he might have to, so we have been praying so taht we can know what to do. But he is really coll and has a desire to change and be a better person. Also, we have been teaching this couple named Jonaton and Marianna. They are really cool and funny. We have taught them a few times and it is cool to see how their curiosity has turned into a real desire to learn about the Church. The only problem is they live together and aren´t married, so tonight we are going to teach the law of chastity. But they have come to church and even watched two sessions of general conference at the church with us. Also, we have taught a man named Abel, but he is kinda running away from us and been going to another church haha, but he is homeless and lives in an abandoned house. And he is an alcoholic and we think/know that he does drugs. So, we are trying to find out what to do to help him. We also have been teaching a few people from Guinea Bissau. They are way cool and one of them, a girl named Alanan, came to church and wants to learn more about repentence and baptism. They are way cool, but they have been stressed out lately because a civil war has broken out in their country and they are worried about their family there. But those are the main people that we are teaching. I love and miss you guys so much.
Love,
Elder Spencer Jensen

4-2-12

Some photos of Coimbra.

Baptism of Alda 3-12-12

Dear Family,
Well, this week was a pretty good one. We baptized a woman named Alda. She has know the Church for a really long time, about 20 years but was never baptized because her family is really Catholic and hates the Church. But she has known that the Church was true for a really long time and has had a testimony. She is Brazilian and she came to us one night when we were having a dinner with her and some members, by the way everyone thought she was a member, but less active. So she comes to us and tells us that she wants to be baptized. Well, a week later she was. It was a really spiritual baptismal service. And now she is baptized!!! She will be a really strong member in the future. Also, we are teaching this girl named Margarida, whose mom is a less active and has come to church a couple times, we are going to try to baptize her this weekend. But it is really cool to see, because all of the baptisms that we have had here in Coimbra have been member references. It shows how powerful the influence that members have and how much they can do to help the work. Well, thanks for all you guys do for me and for all the support.
Love,
Elder Spencer Jensen

Baptism of Wilson 2-27-12

Dear Family,
This week was a pretty good week. We baptized a man named Wilson from São Tomé (He is the black guy) .  He has been investigating the Church for abour 6 months but was never baptized.  He never had a testimony of the Book of Mormon or Joseph Smith.  But he said the prayer in the baptism that we had and then after our bishop calls us over to the stand and tells us that Wilson is going to be baptized.  So, we talked with Wilson that Monday and told him that he needed to gain a testimony of the Book of Mormon to be a strong member and to be baptized.  So, we left some parts for him to read.  Then we didn´t have any contact with him until Wednesday and we asked over the phone how he was and if he had read and prayed and he said yes and that he felt good.  So, we marked the appointment for the interview and waited.  Well, the day of the interview he didn´t show up until almost 11 pm at the chapel.  But he passed the interview and on Saturday he was baptized.  He bore his testimony and said that he had wasted a lot of time and blessings because of not getting baptized. So, this week was full of miracles and we saw a lot of cool stuff happen. I love and miss all of you so much. Thanks for all that you guys do for me.
Love,
Elder Spencer Jensen

2-20-12 Baptism of Bárbara, João and Vitor

Dear Family,
This week I was moved to a new area. I am in a city called Coimbra, it is very pretty and has one of the oldest universities in Europe. I am serving with Elder Galbraith from Suger City, ID. It has been a lot of fun and we have lots of work here to do. This week we found tons of new and interesting people to teach. We baptized these three kids this week. They are siblings and their mom was bpatized 30 years ago but went inactive and my comp and his old comp knocked her door and she let them in and they started teaching the kids and baptized them. They are cool and funny. It was fun to help them get baptized this week. But not much else happened. Thanks for everything.
Love,
Elder Spencer Jensen

Elder Spencer Jensen
Travessa Clinica Santa Isabela Nº 3, 1B
Coimbra
3030 Coimbra
Portugal

2-13-12

Dear Everyone,

Well, we got transfer calls today and I will be tranferred outta the area that I am in and I will go to an area called Coimbra. I will be a zone leader there with an elder named Elder Galbraith. it will be way cool. Oh and funny fact about Coimbra, it is the city the JK Rowley got her idea for Hogwarts because she lied in Portugal, and the students in Portugal wear the robes that the kdis in Hogwarts wear. I still don´t know my new address but when I do I will tell you.

Love,

Elder Spencer Jensen

2-6-12

Hello Everyone,
Well, I hope everyone had an awesome week. My week was ok, not the best. We worked really hard to get this girl Stefani to be baptized this week, but she left with her godmother and didn't come back for the weekend, so that put an end to her baptism this week haha. But we will keep working to help her. Also, we had stake conference and it was a satelite transmission from SLC, Elder D. Todd Christopherson and President Uchtdorf spoke. They were both really good talks and I wish we had investigators there to hear Apostles speak. But Pres. Uchtdorf gave three things that will help a person strengthen their testimony.
1. Always have a valid Temple Recommend.
2. Read the scriptures daily.
3. Pray Daily.
He said that these three things will always help to strengthen a persons testimony of the Restored Gospel. A few weeks ago I gave a talk in sacrament meeting about being an example to those not of the Church. I read a scripture in the Book of Mormon that I like a lot it is Alma 4:8-11,19
8 For they saw and beheld with great sorrow that the people of the church began to be lifted up in the pride of their eyes, and to set their hearts upon riches and upon the vain things of the world, that they began to be scornful, one towards another, and they began to persecute those that did not believe according to their own will and pleasure.

9 And thus, in this eighth year of the reign of the judges, there began to be great contentions among the people of the church; yea, there were envyings, and strife, and malice, and persecutions, and pride, even to exceed the pride of those who did not belong to the church of God.

10 And thus ended the eighth year of the reign of the judges; and the wickedness of the church was a great stumbling-block to those who did not belong to the church; and thus the church began to fail in its progress.

11 And it came to pass in the commencement of the ninth year, Alma saw the wickedness of the church, and he saw also that theexample of the church began to lead those who were unbelievers on from one piece of iniquity to another, thus bringing on the destruction of the people.

19 And this he did that he himself might go forth among his people, or among the people of Nephi, that he might preach theword of God unto them, to stir them up in remembrance of their duty, and that he might pull down, by the word of God, all the pride and craftiness and all the contentions which were among his people, seeing no way that he might reclaim them save it were in bearing down in pure testimony against them.

So, in verse 19 it says something very important, they had forgotten their duties as members of the Church of God, that is why Alma had to remind them. So, if we are forgetting some of our duties as members, like going to Church, helping others, going to the Temple or anything like that, then we have the possibility of falling into transgression and leading others away from the truth also. So, my challenge is for everyone to choose one thing they have been neglecting and improve upon it.

Well, that is my little sermon, I hope all is well with you guys.

Love,

Elder Spencer Jensen

1-30-12 Baptism of Maria Jesus aka Nelly

Dear Family,
Well, this week was a very hectic week. We were getting Nelly ready for baptism but we also felt that this other girl should be baptized too. She had already made it to the date of her baptism in the past but the day of her mom said no. So, we went to her house and talked to her and she wants to be baptized but you have to be 18 to choose for yourself. So, she talked to her mom and her mom said no because she is Catholic. So, we decided to go talk to her and she said no and we kinda got into an argument her and I haha, but we smoothed it over but she wouldn't sign the form, so that girl wasn't baptized. But the good news is Nelly was baptized and confirmed and also we got Mena and Diogo confirmed too. So, it was a good week. Nelly was excited to be baptized. She had gone to Church for two years in Cape Verde but the Sisters there said she wasn't ready and wouldn't baptize her, so we did. It was a very cool experience and she chose me to baptize her. So, this week was a pretty good week and we did a lot of work.
Thanks for all the help and support that you guys are. I love and miss you all.
Love,
Elder Spencer Jensen

1-23-12 Baptism of Diogo and Filomena

Dear Family,
How are things going? Sorry, I have been slacking on letters, but I will be sending some today. Things here this week were pretty good. First of all we baptized Mena and Diogo!!! It was way cool but it was a fought til the very end with Diogo´s mom, but she finally realized that it was for the best of Diogo. It was way cool and I am glad that I got to help them. So, Mena had a stroke and it paralized the left side of her body a little bit, so when we were baptizing her her leg kept coming outta the water. And it turns out that she has a fear of water and whenever her head would get near the water she would panic. And she isn´t the smallest woman in the world and I had to baptize her. So after three tries the fourth one was the winner and all of her went into the water haha. It was pretty funny and she will have a funny story to tell. This week was just spent helping them get ready for baptism and teaching them the things they need to know. And we have a woman named Nelly marked for next weekend, so pray for her. But things here are good. Thanks for all you guys do for me and the support.
Love,
Elder Spencer Jensen

1-16-11 Baptism of Ivanilson (Jaúl)

Dear Family,
So, here´s the story for this week. We had that investigator named Jaúl that was supposed to be baptized this weekend. Well, we found out that he had to go back to Cape Verde to wait for his surgery. But what we didn´t find out until last Wednesday, was that he would be going back to Cape Verde on Saturday morning! Well, this caused some problems because he wanted to be baptized before he went back to Cape Verde. So, we went down to the Cape Verde Consulate and talked to them. And in the meantime we had everything planned out for him to be baptized that night, which was Thursday night. And we had called President Torgan and he said that if the bishop said that it was ok then he could be baptized that night, but Pres. Torgan was a little nervous and just didn´t feel right about it because it seemed so out of the blue. So, Jaúl talked to the people about the flight he had back home, which would leave at 9 am the next day. So, he talked to them for a long time and then he came out and guess what happened. THEY GAVE HIM ONE MORE WEEK TO STAY HERE IN PORTUGAL!!! So, he could be baptized normally on Saturday like we had planned. So, that was an awesome miracle that Heavenly Father gave to us. And on Saturady Jaúl was baptized and on Sunday he was confirmed!
Also, this next coming week we will be having two more baptisms. Mena and a little boy named Diogo. So, a lot of good things are happening here.
Thanks for all you guys do for me and I love and miss you a lot.
Elder Spencer Jensen

1-9-12

Dear Family,
So, I will tell a few stories that happened to us this week. So, on Saturday we were waiting at the bus stop to go up to this one neighborhood that is known for drugs and stuff like that, but we needed to talk to a former investigator. So, we were waiting and this man in his 30´s walks up and just stares at me for like 3 seconds, which kinds weirded me out. Then, he walked away and leaned against the wall and kept looking at me. So, the he asks me why am I here. Well, I told him that I am here to preach about the Church of Jesus Christ. And then he asks me, "Are you happy?" and I said yes that I am. But he said that I didn´t look happy but I said I was and I asked if we could leave our card with him and he said no, so I started to walk back to where I was, and he said stop and asked me to come back, so I did. Then he asked, "Why are you happy? Because I can´t find happiness in my life." and I said because I know that I have a Heavenly Father that loves in in spite of all my weaknesses and imperfections and that He is always there to help me. So, he explained that he was going to go up to that neighborhood to buy drugs t try to find happiness and that all he did was just waste money and time on women, alcohol and drugs trying to find happiness. So, then we explained that those things don´t bring happiness, they bring temporary satisfaction and leave you worse than when you started. And the only way to find real happiness is throught the Savior. He then said that once he was happy and he read the Bible and knew it from cover to cover but then something happened where he fell into a hola and couldn´t get out. So, we said that we would like to talk to him again but he wouldn´t give us his number but that he would give us a call, which he won´t because satan will do whatever it takes so that he doesn´t call us. But it was a cool and a sad moment.
Also, we have this woman named Mena from Cape Verde too. And we found her because we went over to a less active´s house and she told us that we should go over ther because Mena was looking for the truth and would be baptized if she found the truth. So, she is about late 40 and is a Seventh-Day Adventist, but she has been going to their church for over 7 years and hasn´t ever been baptized in their church. But she is really nice but quiet. So, we talked to her a couple times and she is looking for the true Church of God. And so, we taught her about the Book of Mormon and read it with her and explained it to her so she could understand, because before with the other elders she wasn´t understanding the Book of Mormon. So, we leave something for her to read and to pray about it. So, we come back and she had read it and she really liked it and understood it and prayed and felt good about it. So, we talked some more and then we ended and asked if she had any questions. She said that she didn´t understand why the Sabbath day was moved from Saturday to Sunday. So, Elder Brito explains because it is in memory of the Ressurection of the Savior and that happened on a Sunday. And he explained it really well, and then she said, "Wow! I have never had any one explain it to me in that way and that is the only way that has has ever made sense to me. Not even the minister and the 7thday church could answer." So, then we asked if she would like to come to church with us on Sunday and see how the Church of Christ is and she said that she would like that very much. And she came to church and she said that she liked it a lot and we are going to go back and mark her for baptism.
One more story. So, we were walking around last night and we found a kid of a less active and we started talking to him and told him to show us where he lives because we wanted to talk to his mom, so he showed us. Well, on the way there we were talking and it turns out that he is 9 years old but not baptized and we asked if he wanted to be baptized and he said yes. So, we went to his house and talked to his mom and said she needs to come back to church and that we wanted permission to teach her son so that he could be baptized. And she said that would be fine haha.
We, have seen many, many miracles this week and the Lord has been blessing us by finding those that are ready to be baptized.
Well, thanks for all you guys do for me. I love and miss you.
Elder Spencer Jensen