Week 3: Birthday in INDIA!!

Namaste everybody!!   Another week in India.   Another week of constant sweating, eating crazy foods, and smelling some pretty nasty things!!  I love it though!!  I continue to learn, grow, and strengthen my testimony while being out on a mission. This week we had a lot of appointments cancelled, and we really could not find any new investigators. Its hard some days cause we go and walk for miles and work our butts off, and we are not finding a lot. There are some days that we don't even want to go out, but usually those are the days... that if we get out we have an experience that strengthens us!   I haven't talked about our one investigator a lot, so I'm going to give a small update on GAURAV!!  He is 25 and has been an investigator since January.  He is always working, and lately he has missed appointments and church. We have taught him all the lessons, and he just needs to have a baptismal interview.  He is super smart, and has a very strong testimony.   He also has a very big desire to change, and do what the Lord wants him to do. Tonight I am going to invite him to be baptized on July 9th and we are hoping he is ready to take this big, very important step in his life.   Please keep him in your prayers this week!  He needs them!   This week was a pretty normal week, and nothing to exciting happened. I have slowly learned that we can't control much of the future, but we can live in the moment each day and make the most of the day that we live in!   Its all about the attitude we choose to have, and the choices we choose to make in the moment that we are in!  

SO I had my 19th birthday in India and I want to share a thought about my experience!  For the first time in my life I had a birthday away from home, without family, without friends, and without it being about me.  I taught lessons, taught an English class, and taught investigators that through Jesus Christ they can be happy and feel peace and direction in there life. It was such a humbling experience for me, and it taught me a pretty important lesson in my eyes.  I learned on my birthday that it doesn't matter how many gifts you get, how much of the day is about you, or how nice of a restaurant you go and eat at (Tsunami) haha.  What matters most is the people that you are surrounded with, and the way that you make them feel!  This was my favorite birthday because I've learned how to love, serve, and not be focused on me even on my birthday!!  I love being a missionary in India, and I love serving those around me and giving them a taste of the peace and joy I have felt by being a part of this church!! 

Well, I want you to know that I love you all and I pray for you every week!  Quick birthday shout out to my wonderful Aunt Megan, My Daughter Brooke:) , and my favorite Mushroom... Elder Caleb Reese.   I love you all so much and hope you each had a wonderful birthday!!  Well I am out of time for this week.  I am so grateful for all of you and the impact that you have all made on my life!!  I love being a missionary and I love my savior Jesus Christ!  

/Elder Jorgensen

Highlights from the week:  

-Watched the Argentina vs Croatia game

-Ate with my hands for the first time

-Had my birthday in INDIA

-Found out that IHOP opens in 1 week :) 

-EVERY FREAKING DAY!!! 

 

 

Week 2 in India

The elders quorum presidents son and I have the same calculator watch!!

Hello family and friends!! This week was another crazy, exciting, hard, and fun week. We did not teach a lot of lessons, or find new investigators.  We have literally walked all over our area trying to find new people and it just is not happening.  We met with some members, and shared some messages with them, and we met with a couple investigators.  Those times were really good this week, and we got a couple dinner appointments and return appointments from those.  The dinner appointments are what made me happy because I am sick of eating oatmeal for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I am definitely living in a third world country, and some of the food here either makes you sick, or it is just flat out nasty.  The main thing i loved about this week was being able to have a lot of time to read the Book of Mormon, and read some books my mom sent me.  I love reading now, and I am learning lots of good things about testimonies, and about the Book of Mormon.   I am alive and doing really good actually.  I am still trying to learn how to remember names, get around my area, get used to the food, and get used to the language.   Not a lot happened this week, so I'm just going to keep it short.   

Highlights from the week: 

-One of our investigators some how has the FBI'S number and he decided to call them and leave a message about how he is grateful the US is safe, and that Donald Trump is President.  

- Went to T.G.I.F for Cleverleys year mark celebration.   I got the biggest burger:) 

-Ate oatmeal for breakfast, lunch and dinner on Saturday

-Just being in INDIA is the highlight of the week!  It is so fun!! 

- Saw an all white Lamborghini  

I want to share a little section out of a book I have been reading this week.  The book is called "How do I know if I know", by John Bytheway. 

In his book he says.  "Interestingly, the savior told us that it wasn't enough to bask in our own light.  Our dimmer switch isn't intended only for personal use.  Its nice to shine, but we've been called to shine forth.  Jesus taught:    Ye are the light of the world.  A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.  Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your father which is in heaven".  As i'm sure you know, you don't have to wait until your mission to let your light shine.  wherever you go you radiate what you are.  You cannot hide it, just like you cannot hide a "city on a hill".  Wether you open your mouth or not, you are a walking evidence of the truthfulness. the fruits, and the light of the gospel.   LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE!!! You have more light than you think.  Be confident and be bold!!! 

I love you all so much, and miss you all like crazy, but if there is one thing that I know...Missions are amazing and totally worth it.  Yes its hard, and there are days that I just want to give up and quit... There are days where I eat oatmeal for breakfast lunch and dinner.  Days where I walk for 9 hours straight and don't get one investigator.  Days where I miss home, and think about all the things I am missing.  Days where I feel alone.  Days where I feel depressed... but I am still alive.  I am going to keep pushing and going until my two years are up.  Sometimes you just have to smile though all the struggles you go thru.  I love my savior Jesus Christ, I love my family, I love my friends, and I love my mission!!   I hope everyone has a great week, and enjoys there summer!!

 With much love,

 Elder Jorgensen 

1. Burning of the white shirt for Cleverleys year mark,  while listening to our National Anthem

2. Picture in Mahipalpur

3. Picture with me and my future car

4. Me and Elder Cleverley at Vedontas... best restaurant in Delhi

5. Typical street in Delhi 

Week 1 in INDIA: Adventure of a Lifetime!!

Hello family and friends!!!  I made it to India safe, and let me just say... I am on an adventure of a lifetime!  I love it here already.  I am definitely in a third world country, but it isn't as bad as I thought it would be. My first week has been full of walking, seeing things I never thought I would see, and doing things I never thought I would do.  I will share some of those things in just a minute.  My trainer is Elder Cleverly, and he is from Boise, Idaho.  He is amazing, and we have connected so well already... it is going to be a very, very good first transfer, and we already have lots of things planned and lots of missionary goals made to get to work and be successful.  We are in the main part of New Delhi called Munirka. There are 4 other missionaries in our area, and  they are all in our ward!! Our ward is the best, and we have about 100 members every week on Sunday.  I honestly cant remember anyones names cause they are in Hindi... which i'm convinced is the hardest language to read, understand and learn.   Luckily one rule for the mission is that everything must be in English because there is a big push to get everyone speaking English in the ward!  That is why me and Elder Cleverly are the ward English teachers on Sunday.  We also teach a free English class of about 50 people every Tuesday... that has been a super fun experience.  Its all been amazing so far.  I'm just trying to have a super positive, happy, optimistic attitude and live in the moment in each day!   It is so hot, and it smells so bad everyday, but you just have to smile through all of that and the Lord will give you experiences that will change your life.   I am slowly seeing that already!! I just want you all to know that I'm alive and doing really well, and I love being a missionary for my Savior Jesus Christ!!  Missions are the greatest blessing if you let them be.  

There are honestly so many things I could share and talk about, but the one thing I want to share before I have to go is something I heard from a man in sacrament meeting this Sunday.  He gave a great talk and towards the end he said something that really stuck out to me.  He said, "Brothers and Sisters the trials and challenges you go through are opportunities and gifts.  Learn from them, and make them make you a better person... a stronger person".   WE should all try to take the challenges and trials we go through and have the mindset that they are gifts and opportunities!  I promise as you do this you will grown and learn faster then you ever thought you could!  i have seen it in my life already, and I love it:)  I can testify that this church is true, and there is nothing the Lord gives us, or puts us through that isn't for our good!  I love being a missionary, and I love my Savior Jesus Christ!!  I love the struggles and the hard times because that is when I learn and grow the most.  Also my wonderful, amazing and beautiful mother shared this quote with me this week,  "Sometimes what is good isn't easy".  I love this quote and it is so true!!!   I want you all to work hard for the good things in your life cause that is what it will take to get them... hard work!!! 

Highlights of the week: 

- Dinner on June 8th... No bake cookies and Thumbs up(soda similar to coke)

- Saturday:  Visited the Delhi mall, and had Chili's for lunch... yes India has a CHILI'S!!! 

- Saw so many cows walking the street​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​s

-  My first bus ride:  50 plus ppl shoved onto one bus.  

- Pretty much everything this week was a highlight!!! 

So my area Munirka is really close to the mission office.  This means that if anyone was thinking about sending packages of food, treats, or candy(if I am going to survive here I will need them) send them in the next month or 2 before I get transferred to an area not so close to the mission office.   I can get my packages super fast where I am at right now:)  just thought I would share that haha.  Here is my mission address:  Third floor, f 48 Poorvi marg, Vasant Vihar New Delhi, 110057 India 

I love you all so much, and pray for you everyday!  I can also feel the love, support and prayers from all of you.  Thank you for everything and i hope everyone has an amazing week and summer!!   Always remember that the Lord loves you all no matter what:)  Don't forget that!!   

❤/ ELDER JORGENSEN

Pictures:  

  -- Street in Munirka

  -- Lunch at Chili's 

  -- No bake cookies and thumbs up for dinner on saturday

  -- Another street

  -- Outside of Mcdonalds

  -- 2 random locals wanted to take a picture with me haha... so we did

  -- Cow walking the streets.  I was about 2 feet from it.  

  -- My room in our apartment

HE MADE IT!!! Sis. Hodges the mission presidents wife sent these pics of Elder Jorgensen and 2 other Elders in the airport in India.  He landed safely after 18 hrs of travel... tired but so thankful he got there safe and so are we!!!!  He will send an update on Pday.  WE LOVE YOU ELDER J!!

Mom Jorgensen

On his way!!!

**Hi this is Elder Jorgensen's Mom!!  He didn't have time for a weekly update due to packing and getting to the mission home.  He flies out to India tomorrow so there will be an update as soon as we hear from him!!! He is so thankful for all of your love and support and is excited (as well as a bit anxious) for this new mission experience to begin. He has come to love serving in the Riverside Mission and will truly miss it.  He was able to meet some wonderful families from the Fruitvale Ward who welcomed him and took such good care of him while he was there for a short time!!  No matter where you go in the world you can feel at home because of the Gospel of Christ and a ward family!!  Elder Jorgensen told me today the people he met in Riverside will always hold a special place in his heart...so Thank You for that!!  Now he gets the opportunity to love and serve more of Gods children a world away...India here he comes!!!

Love
Mom Jorgensen