The only choice we have is to keep going

Hello family and friends!  It's so good to be at another P-day writing to all of you.  Well this email is going to seem negative, but I promise i'm happy being a missionary here in India!!  So this week I just want to be honest.  We had a very, very tough week.  We were not able to find any new people to teach, I battled getting myself out of the apartment and I have just struggled.  The pollution is really picking up now too, so we have had sore throats, colds and bad coughs... Hopefully we can get masks from the mission office soon so we dont die!!!  Well I really don't have any updates on investigators or teaching moments because they have been scarce.  I never thought I would experience a lack of  success this bad, but hey I guess it is all part of the journey and i'm supposed to learn something through this.  The highlight of my week was playing basketball on Saturday night with a group of single adults outside of decathlon near Ansal plaza.  We watched them for 5 min and then they asked if we wanted to play.  Well us feeling like we are on the Lords side and can do anything, even beat a bunch of kids balling, said heck yah!   We ended up playing for an hour, lost 21-4 and it was just the most fun I have had so far on my mission.  Everyone was taking videos of these white boys dressed in white shirts and ties balling in India!  We ended up getting lots of numbers and passing out english flyers to all who were watching.  They are all in the sisters area, so hopefully the sisters get lots of new people to teach.   I guess what I learned this week is even when i'm not having success in my area or in my work I can help other missionaries out so they can be successful!  Well i'm alive and  loving my mission here in India! Im growing, learning, failing and then learning from the failures!  I love you all so much and sorry this weeks email is not as good as past ones.  I pray for all of you daily and  love all of you!!  Like the title of my email... Through life the only choice we have is to keep going!  Smile through the pain, struggles and challenges with your eyes on the Lord and you will be ok!! Byeee from India! IM STILL SMILING AND HAPPY!!! :)

Spiritual message:  Perfection is in Christ, not ourselves, or the perfectionism of the world! 

This is the 5th encouragement we get from our campfire of faith that Elder Gong talked about.  I love this because it is so true!! Perfection is not for this life and will be for the next life.  This however, does not give us an excuse to dumb down our standards or to not do all we can do while we are on this earth!  I want to share two scriptures that go so perfectly together.  They tell us what we must do when we realize that perfection is in Christ!  

The first scripture is Moroni 10:32--We must come unto him, deny all ungodliness, have faith and continue to look towards him.  After we come unto him we are not perfect right away though.  What we do after we come unto him is what will eventually make us perfect... as 2 Nephi 31:20 says,  "Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope,  and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life". 

I know that as we do these two things, not just one or the other, but both of them we will eventually realize at the judgment day that we have become perfect like our Savior Jesus Christ!! I am so grateful for these scriptures and the peace it brings to me as well as the purpose it gives to me in my life!  Im so grateful for this church and for the scriptures!  I pray that all of you will study these scriptures and apply them in your lives.  It has changed me and I know it can do the same for you.    

Highlights: 

-Played a game of 21(basketball) at decathlon and we got our butts kicked

- Celebrated Dolly's birthday.  A member in our ward

- Met spider man! ( a little kid dressed as him) 

- Finding in Lodhi garden this week( no success finding, but the stuff around us was cool)

"Dare to stand alone"

Hello everybody!!! Its is so good to be at another pday writing to all of you!  This week was full of studies, finding, more studies and more finding. We had wonderful moments finding, and actually were able to find some people that at least wanted to hear what we had to say.  I enjoyed walking around this week cause me and Wolcott found a wealthier part of one of our areas and it was fun to see all these big homes and nice cars.  It felt like I was back in America for a little bit... really weird!  We are going to go finding there more often. We pray that we will start to see the fruits of our labors and see some success!  We are happy, still positive and love being here!!  We received a small blessing this week by getting an appointment with the Motilal family in our ward.  Both brother and sister Motilal are returned missionaries and they understand what we are going through.  They fed us lots of rice, dahl and chicken and it was incredible... the only bad thing is I gained back the 5 pounds I lost last week... Who cares!! Indian food is the best and the Motilal's are the best.  We are grateful for their kindness and having us over to their home. 

This week was a celebration called "Dashami".  I don't know what it means or what it celebrates, but this last week and for the next we will get a nice firework show every night!  We took lots of pics and videos of all of these people marching through the streets, banging drums, riding horses, dancing, and partying.  It is so fun to experience the culture here...India is amazing!  Well that is really all for this week.  

I hope and pray you all have a week full of love, service, joy, happiness, spiritual experiences and success!! Elder Jorgensen prays for you all daily!!!

Spiritual thought:  

I am going to say less and let you watch a video instead of reading my spiritual novels!! This week I have been listening to a Mormon message by President Monson.  Let me just say that I love his voice.  Every time I hear it I get the chills and smile, laugh or try to act like i'm speaking what he is saying haha.  He quotes one thing that I want to share and then you can watch the video:)  He says Dare to be a Mormon, but i'm going to change it to the real name of our church!! President Monson says, "Dare to be a member of the Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints, Dare to stand alone, Dare to have a purpose firm, Dare to make it known"!    

As you watch this video have the question in your mind...Do I have the courage right now to choose God and Stand alone in the midst of friends, family and teammates (for those who play sports)  I can testify and promise that as we choose God, stay morally clean and decide now to not give in to the temptations of the world... but STAND OUT by choosing God, we will be blessed.  "We are never alone when we stand with our Father in Heaven"!! 

https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2012-05-005-dare-to-stand-alone?lang=eng

Highlights: 

- Saw 20 bikes in a row... all BOOTED

- Dashami parade went right outside our apartment

- Celebrated Sister Govinderaj's 1 year mark

- Fire work stand exploded in central market!! 

Pictures:

Please don't mind my India haircut... It is just bad!!! 

1. Random pile of Gods on the street so people can worship

2. Me and Elder Wolcott

3. Sis Govinderaj's 1 year celebration

4. We love cake! 

5. Me playing the piano very grumpy

6. POPCORN!!

7. My breakfast this week? 

8. A video of me playing the piano... New song I learned! 

"Believe, Love, Do"

Hello family and friends yet again!! Well this week I am full of gratitude in my heart and mind for the love of my Savior I was able to feel this week through general conference.  It honestly is the only thing I really want to talk about in my weekly today.  First I will just quickly update you on my week of missionary work.  We were able to meet with sister veronica and that was it.  She fed us all kinds of food cause that's what she loves to do every time that we come over:)  I don't complain because its the best food ever... not this crap street food that gets me sick all the time.  We just stopped by for 30 min and talked to her, asked here how everything was and just tried to show that we truly care for her and her family.  She noticed and expressed gratitude that we are visiting her and teaching her!  No new investigators again, and that is always discouraging, but after conference it just boosted our spirits right back up!  Please pray for me and Elder Wolcott that we will start to see success from the hard work that we are doing.   

Well conference was just very special for me!! Me and Elder Wolcott made sure we stopped by 24/7( The maverick of Utah) and got necessary drinks and snacks for conference.  There was a special excitement for conference this year and we made sure we ran with it! All the missionaries gathered in the Lajpat chapel with some of the members and we watched both sessions on Saturday and Sunday! The messages that were shared and the topics that were brought up were incredible... especially Dallin H. Oaks!! "Hi im Dallin H. Oaks"( Mic Drop) haha.  After conference I was given a strong desire and energy to study all the talks. I have printed out every talk and I'm adding to the notes that I already took! I didnt have much success this week (missionary work wise), but the words of a prophet and his apostles have given me a desire to study their words and print them on my heart!! This will help me be more successful which is what I want.  That is pretty much the update for the week.  Im loving being with Elder Wolcott. We have grown close and are really creating a great friendship!  I am grateful for my mission and for the things I'm learning!  I love all of you so much and  want you to know i pray for you daily!  I hope you have an amazing week!!! 

Spiritual message: 

First I want you all to know that with all the energy in my heart and firmness in my voice... I KNOW THAT RUSSEL M. NELSON IS A PROPHET OF GOD! The announcements made at conference could not have been made by man, and by President Nelson himself.  They were made by God, through a true and worthy Man of God and Prophet of God.  I love my prophet with all my heart and know that all the words that he shared with us are true.  We need to confide in his words, have faith in them and act upon them!! As we do so we will be able to stay on the covenant path and have true happiness and joy. 

Second, Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf said something that stood out to me and hit me hard.  He said that we have to "Believe, Love, Do".   This seems so simple, but it is so true.  This phrase applies to literally all things in our lives.  Our wants, our needs, our challenges, trials, pains and dreams!!  If we first BELIEVE sincerely, then with faith we can have success, get through trials and challenges, fulfill dreams and have our needs met.  We then must LOVE.  We have to have sincere love for our Savior, our families, our friends, our enemies, ourselves and most importantly our Heavenly Father.  This love will give us energy... a special kind of fire given to us by the Holy Ghost and a desire to act.  The last thing is we must DO.  When we receive this fire we must get up and work for the things we want!  With the Saviors help as we DO we will be blessed, taken care of, lifted up, healed and be able to make accomplishments in our lives that will keep us on the covenant path and prepare us for eternal life.  I promise that as we apply this simple phrase to our lives we will become true disciples of Jesus Christ and we will be happy, blessed, healed, made clean and put on the covenant path!! Decide now whom you will serve, and always remember that "today is the perfect day to change".  This is my testimony with boldness, firmness and love to you all.  In the name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.  

Highlights: 

-The only Highlight i want to share is... General Conference!! It was truly amazing and inspiring

/Elder Jorgensen

Conference Snacks

Conference talks

We can't just TASTE the Gospel... WE have to DIGEST it!

Hello family and friends!!! We are at yet another P-day... so crazy!!! Well this week was not a lot different... except we were all healthy and we were able to get out of the apartment and go finding!  That felt really nice to walk and talk to people.  We were not able to find new investigators which was frustrating, but we had great conversations and were able to see the spirit guide us, protect us and bless us! I don't get too frustrated or stressed over not having a lot of success. It is a part of the journey of a mission, but the spirit always seems to allow at least one thing to happen that just strengthens our testimonies and boosts our morale!! I love those moments and always forget the struggles and lack of success! This week we were able to visit our investigator Sister Veronica and she is doing great!  She still says she is not going to get baptized until her mother and father are better. We are trying to just be patient and not force her to make a decision right now... please keep her in your prayers!  We were also able to be guided by the spirit to certain members this week that were struggling.  We were able to give some blessings and share some messages that really strengthened them in their time of pain and suffering! I was able to use my priesthood to bless them and those are always spiritual moments!! 

Well the big highlight of the week was the Stake Cricket Tournament!  The stake rented out a huge stadium and we played cricket and had lunch and it was amazing!  The activity really brought the stake together and it was really cool to learn how to play cricket.  We also brought along with us an american football and tossed that around.  Nothing like bringing American sports to India!!  Well that was my week really! I am working hard and loving it and I cant wait to serve for the next 18 months!  I hope you all have an amazing week and I will continue to pray for all of you! 

Spiritual message:  

My spiritual message today is really short;)  One of the recent converts in our ward said something that stood out to me and that is why it is the title of my weekly email!  He said, "You cannot just taste the gospel... you have to Digest it".  I thought WOW that is such a true and powerful statement.  We cannot just smell, touch, or look at the gospel... I have heard this a lot and I was always told you have to taste it and then you have to digest it and now i'm thinking... What comes next after Digesting it.. you have to Fart!! This will spread it right? Now I have a good reason to fart in front of people in India hahah!!  Sorry that was childish, but I thought i'd try to get a little funny this week.  Anyways back to my thought...I thought about a protein bar when i heard this quote.  I can't eat one bite of the protein bar and expect to get all the protein out of it to fuel me when i workout or play in a soccer game.  I have to eat the whole thing before the game and digest it and let it spread to my muscles before I play.  Family and friends!!! That is what we must do with the gospel.  We must "digest" it fully and let it spread throughout our whole bodies.  We must prepare for things before hand in order to have success and have spiritual energy to defend ourselves against Satan and his army! This digestion of the gospel will also give us a desire to spread it and share it to all we meet and talk too. Digest the gospel, PLEASE!! Study it, pray about it, ponder the things you read, ask questions when you don't understand something and repeat this process as much as you can.  When you do this you will truly understand the gospel, you will have strength and energy to defend yourself against Satan and you will have a strong desire to live righteously and share the gospel with everyone! I want to leave you with my testimony that i know this church is true and i know that Jesus Christ is your Savior and Redeemer and will always be there for you as long as you do what "3 Nephi 18: 20" (READ IT) tells you to do!  In the Name of Jesus Christ,  Amen.

/Elder Jorgensen

Highlights: 

- Stake Cricket Tournament

- Got tan this week

- President came out with a new Mission Schedule

- Made some bomb apple, cinnamon and brown sugar oatmeal!

- Riding Elephants again this pday:)  

1. Picture with a random dude with no fingers 

2. Feeding Wolcott on my 6 month celebration

3. Chili's with Wolcott

4. Cricket stadium 

5. In honor of my best friend Brooke who is serving in TEXAS

6 months!!

Well its crazy to say this... but I have hit my 6 month mark on my mission.  Its really going fast, and I hope it slows down a little because I love India! Ive realized that 2 years is really short and I need to make sure im doing all that I can to serve my Heavenly Father while I am here.  This week was really, really slow.  Elder Wolcott was sick and has an infected sore on his leg.  We spent most of the week at doctors trying to get him better.  All the doctors want here is our money... and we learned that after the 3rd visit haha! On Saturday we were able to get a doctor that knew what he was doing and he fixed Elder Wolcott!  He has been approved to get out and walk, so you better believe that is what we are going to do this next week!

We spent most of our week inside and that was not too exciting.  I was able to read a lot, and watch the Restoration video probably 7 times!!  We were not able to meet with anyone, but we talked to a couple members over the phone and were able to have a good conversation with one of our investigators, Sister Veronica.  Please keep her in your prayers!  Well that really is all for the week!  I honestly felt like a dad the whole week. I had to run all over to get food and medicine, then make people food and give lots of blessings. It was definitely a good experience and one that I needed to have!  I now understand my dads frustration when we would go out to eat as a family and each person wanted to eat at a different restaurant.  He would run to 3 or 4 restaurants to get everyone food... I experienced that this week dad and I wanted you to know that!!! Well I love you all so much and hope you have an amazing week!! You are always in my prayers!! 

Spiritual thought: 

    "Adversity and challenges often bring Unity" 

This week we had a couple Elders who were sick in our apartment.  They couldn't get out and move.  We had to do some exchanges and make a lot of trips to the store to get food and other things for them.  Our apartment has grown closer together because of this experience.  I was able to have a full day running around serving and getting stuff for those that were sick, as well as making sure they were ok and comfortable and it was the best experience!  I learned that true happiness really does come from serving others and forgetting about yourself.  My challenge for all of you is to look for ways you can forget about yourself and serve someone and make their burdens a little lighter! 

Highlights: 

- Mission Fireside!  Theme;  "Ye shall build my kingdom". 

- Inside a lot.... got to read a lot and strengthen my knowledge of the BOM

- Went from doctor to doctor for Wolcott... they all just want our money ha

1. Elder Wolcott is an artist

2. Put a back cover on my preach my gospel

3. A road by our apartment 

4. My Favorite snack baby!

5. Elder Wolcott teaching English Class

*No pictures of me this week!! sorry ladies!!*