Brazil!!!!!!!!‏ December 15, 2014

Hey Everyone!

I am finally in Brazil and I just love it! It has been pretty easy to adjust culturally except for one thing. They don´t flush toilet paper here. That´s right. they don´t flush it. They put it in a trash can next to the toilet. Super weird and pretty gross if you ask me. Oh well, if that´s the only thing, then I guess it´s not too bad. I live in Ribeirão Preto--in the city. We live and work in the richest part of the city, so don´t worry mom. I am safe. Our area is called Irajá A (I think). Our area is a lot like New Jersey in the way that people act. Not many baptisms. A lot of the reason is because we are in a super rich, and therefor not very humble area, and everyone works a lot.

My companion is Sister Beserra, an absolutely amazing Brasilleira! She is from the northeast of Brazil. I can't remember the name of her city, but it´s in the Natal mission. Super cool. She is hillarious, and I feel so blessed to have her. She doesn´t speak any English, but we are learning. It is pretty fun. We live with two other sisters, Sister Anderson (brand new from MTC American) and Sister Sena (from north Brazil in the Manaus mission). They are so great! 

I am understanding Portuguese pretty well. My companion tells everyone that I understand practically everything, which is true, but then they go crazy and talk and talk and talk. It´s okay though. I am still definitely not comfortable talking yet, but I can when I need to. Everyone here just loves it when they find out that I am american. It´s super funny though when I talk because I don´t sound like an american. I actually have a Spanish accent. No joke. Everyone asks me if I speak Spanish because I sound like it when I talk, which is super confusing when they find out that I am american. It´s super fun though. 

It is super duper humid here. Not super hot, but humid for sure. And, my feet are super swollen because of the heat, humidity, walking, and all that. It will go away soon, but for now, it is a little uncomfortable. The food here is pretty good too. Members feed us every day, and I cannot even begin to tell you how many times I have heard "Sister, come mais!" They are always telling us to eat more.

Sei que o evangelho é verdadeiro e que Deus nos ajuda com todas as coisas. Nós precisamos a ajuda dele, e Ele sempre respondeu nossas orações.

I love you all soo much!

Sister Beserra and I at our apartment before church

My companion and I in the rainy street here in Brazil

Me in the rainy street in Brazil

Sister Anderson and I (other American) in the rainy street in Brazil

I don´t know how well you can tell, but my feet are completely covered!

The other silly sisters in our apartment: Sister Anderson and Sister Sena

President and Sister Brum with Sister Jensen

Sister Jensen and Sister Beserra

1 Week and Counting...‏December 1, 2014

Oi familia e amigos!

I can't believe that it is already my last week here in New Jersey. In exactly a week from today, I will be flying to Brazil. That is just unbelievable! I get more and more excited each day to be there in Brazil, but each and every day here, I love the people more. I am really going to miss the ward members as well as all of our investigators and other people that we have met. One of the coolest things about New Jersey is the cultural diversity. There are people from EVERYWHERE here and I just love it! I have gotten to meet so many wonderful people, and I am so sad to leave all of them. I do know that it will be okay though because it is all in the Lord's hands.

I have gotten to go on two super fun exchanges this past week (one of them I am on today) because this is Sister Paight's last transfer in her mission. I have been with, for both exchanges, Sister Kloppell and Sister Harvey. They are so absolutely amazing, and I have loved seeing their love for the people here and their dedication.

Our mission has just started to put a huge emphasis on bringing back less active priesthood holders. What a blessing this has been! There is a wonderful less active family that we are working with right now that we love so much! The Jimenez family has become one of our biggest miracles. As we visit this family, we have seen them go through so many different trials, but their faith in the Savior, Jesus Christ is amazing. They have been such a strength to me as I see their desire to follow the gospel with all their might. I promise that the gospel changes lives. It has already begun to change theirs as they come back into activity in the church. They are just one example of this that I have seen here.

I love you all and am excited to email you very soon from the hot, humid Brazil.

Com Amor,

Sister Jensen

ps. the picture I attached is of Sister Harvey, Sister Kloppell, and I together on exchange. We are all wearing wigs--I promise none of us really look like that normally.

Here is the senior couple that just went home from our ward, 

the Fullmers and Sister Paight and I on Sunday

New Jersey cool car at the church

One of our best investigators in New Jersey. She is my favorite!

 Her name is Mauryse and she is from Haiti!

In New Jersey!