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