Im leaving Lajpat

Well this week was just crazy!!! First, in honor of Thanksgiving, I want to say how very thankful I am for all of you and I love you all!!!! I have been surrounded by so many amazing, beautiful and bright people.  All of you have made my life so special and fun and I'm so grateful for that.  Well, I want to just update you on transfers and tell you my new assignment and that will be all for this week.  

I have been assigned to Janakpuri West. It is a home group that is part of the Dwarka ward. Me and my wonderful new companion, Elder Nelli will be taking over the home group.  This was a curve ball for me cause I thought i would be staying in Lajpat, but i'm grateful for this change and opportunity.  The home group is very different than a normal ward.  We meet for an hour and a half on Sunday.  We take the sacrament and then we have a gospel principles class. We meet in a rented out building and there are about 25 members who attend.  Our whole goal is to turn it into a branch in the next 3-4 months!! We have a lot of work ahead of us and we are excited to do this. The hardest part right now is travel.  We spend lots of time and money on traveling, so we have to really plan well so no more eating out for me... that means I am going to lose the 20 pounds that I have gained here in India!  Well this last week was a blur and now I am in a totally new area! That is gonna be all for the week.  I am sorry this is so short, but most of you never read the whole thing so I think it will be ok!!!  Next weeks email will be more detailed and fun!  I hope you all have a great week!  I love you all:) Things are super busy and stressful over here in India, but i'm happy to be here and love serving the Lord!!! It is the greatest thing I could have chosen to do in my life so far!! 

Less than 30 days till Christmas!!! Can't wait to see the Jorgensen clan and their beautiful faces!!! 

Spiritual message:  

I just want to share a little experience for my message this week!  So with transfers happening and hearing that I was leaving, I was sad that i would not be able to continue teaching Jothi and Krishen.  I knelt down that night and said probably the most serious sincere prayer and asked my Heavenly Father if it was possible for me to continue to teach them...I asked to make that possible.  I moved out and left to my new area!  Friday night I got a call and it was Jothi.  She was asking how i was doing and just saying hi.  She asked where I had been transferred to and when she heard that I said Janakpuri west she got really happy! She then went on to tell me that her and Krishen were moving to Uttam Nagar east... which is in our area!!! I still get to teach them:)  I wanna just say that true faith with prayer will unleash miracles!! I'm so grateful for prayer and the many times I get to communicate with my Heavenly Father and ask for blessings!  It's amazing to see those blessings happen because of faith!  The church is true people and this gospel is beautiful and perfect!  I love it! 

Highlights:

- I am now over the Janakpuri home group with Elder Nelli

- Getting a new apartment on December 1st

- Went to Ihop on Wednesday:) 

- Nelli is my new Companion!! He is great! 

Pictures: 

Happy Thanksgiving From India!!

Hello family and friends yet again!! Since I cant email each of you individually and say Happy Thanksgiving I thought i'd take the time to say it in my group email!! Well this week was a great one!  We were able to teach Jothi and Krishen the whole entire week!  We taught the Word of Wisdom and they committed to follow it.  Jothi said that she was worried she couldn't do it, and Krishen turned to her and said, " We can pray and ask for strength"!  That was a really cool experience.  We taught them the Plan of Salvation and after 2 days they understood it and had no doubts that it was true and from God.  Their faith, understanding and desire to learn amazes me.  They understand that they can be helped as they apply the Gospel of Jesus Christ in their lives.  I would ask that you please pray for them as we continue to work with them and progress to baptism.  They need faithful prayers from all you beautiful people back at home.   

Well this week was mostly Zone Conference and teaching Jothi and Krishen.  For Zone conference it was just a small group because the missionaries who havent been to the temple are at the temple right now!  We learned lots, got our spiritual battery recharged and had some dang good Indian food thanks to Sister Paul!!  We battled some sickness (the pollution is awful) and we have been preparing for this weeks mission activity... Turkey bowl for Thanksgiving.  Elder Wolcott has been teaching me plays and I will be playing quarterback. I've worked really hard for this moment and hope that I don't choke like Tanner Magnum.  Post game highlights and interviews will be posted next week!  Well as you can tell i'm having fun, working hard and really loving being a missionary here in India.  It is beyond hard and there are lots of challenges everyday, but ive learned that it doesn't matter what we go through but how we decide to react, work, and learn from those experiences.  I want you all to know that its so hard to explain India because its just different... EVERYTHING is different and its very hard to put into words.  I want you all to know im so grateful for you and the impact you have had on my life.  I hope you have lots of fun with your families and eat a lot of turkey for me!! I pray that you will go out of your way to show them how grateful you are for them and not just say it.  Elder Jorgensen is praying for you all! Have the best week ever:) 

Spiritual Thought: 

As children of a loving Heavenly Father we need to give thanks for all he has given to us!  For Zone Conference President taught about the creation and he shared 4 bullet points and the last was to be thankful and appreciate  Heavenly Father.  How do we show appreciation? D&C 59: 21.  We acknowledge him in all things and keep his commandments. Obviously we can pray and say the words Thank you, but as we understand him, his creations and his love for us all we must do more than say, we must act to show Thanks.

The song, "My Heavenly Father loves me" in the Childrens song book comes to my mind.  It says,

Whenever I hear the song of a bird Or look at the blue, blue sky,  

Whenever I feel the rain on my face Or the wind as it rushes by,  

Whenever I touch a velvet rose Or walk by a lilac tree,  

I’m glad that I live in this beautiful world Heav’nly Father created for me.   

He gave me my eyes that I might see The color of butterfly wings.  

He gave me my ears that I might hear The magical sound of things.  

He gave me my life, my mind, my heart: I thank him rev’rently 

For all his creations, of which I’m a part. 

Yes, I know Heav’nly Father loves me".  

Let us all make sure we are showing our Heavenly Father gratitude in both word and our actions!  I am beyond grateful for my Heavenly Father and for all he has done for me.  All his creations and all his love he shows through Jesus Christ, The Gospel, Prophets and much more!! 

Highlights: 

- Zone conference( half of the zone not there cause they are on there temple trip)

- Taught Jothi and Krishen everyday this week.  

- got Vasant Vihar momo's after Zone conference

- Changed our areas around within Lajpat!  Our area is smaller now! 

Pictures: 

1. Some parade that was going on after church outside our apartment! 

2. Elder Nielsen cooking mashed potatoes

3. Our Investigators, Jothi and Krishen!! 

4. My bomb Plan Of salvation( simple lesson) I drew up for Jothi and Krishen

5. Post Turkey Bowl picture!!! 

--

/Elder Jorgensen

 

The Atonement of Jesus Christ is for "ALL" things

Hello Family and friends!!  This week was so amazing and made me love missionary work even more!! First we were able to celebrate DIWALI!! This made up for missing the fourth of July.  I have never seen and heard so many fireworks go off in my entire life.  The government even banned them and everyone was just like who cares we are doing it anyways! We were able to buy kurtas and wear them at night at the apartment.  We listened to hymns and EFY music and just danced in our kurtas! That was fun and we looked dang good!!!  As a side note... just for fun I was able to eat at Chilis again and that always is a good thing.  This time my burger was not raw and so I did not get sick.  We were able to go to the Chilis in Vasant Vihar, so I was able to see my old area and that was really weird. Time is really going fast, and i'm kinda wanting it to slow down.  Well lots happened this week.  We have 2 progressing investigators right now.  There names are Jothi Bala and Krishen kumar!  They are a married couple living in Delhi right now.  We received them last Sunday and starting teaching them right away.  We taught them everyday this week and had some amazing spiritual experiences together.  It was so awesome to see all of the discouragement, disappointment and lack of success go away so quickly!! Hard work really does pay off and I just experienced that for myself!!  Well to finish the week off I ate goat feet and I just really don't wanna explain it or describe it... it was nasty!! Well that is about it for the week. We are seeing miracles and continuing to work hard!  I love missionary work. I love India and I love all of you so much!! I hope you have an amazing week!!! 

Sorry this week is so short!!!!!!! 

Spiritual message: Using the Atonement of Jesus Christ to forgive others

So this week we were inside more because of Diwali.  President gave us certain things we had to do while being inside longer, and one of those things was to write a talk on, Using the Atonement of Jesus Christ to forgive others". Here are some things I learned while writing this talk.   First The Atonement of Jesus Christ covers our infirmities( Alma 7: 11-12).  Infirmities means weaknesses or imperfections!  Forgiving is an imperfection or weakness for lots, so remember the atonement covers that!  Second, In Mathew 6: 14-15 Jesus continues his sermon on the mount by saying that we need to forgive men their trespasses and then we will be forgiven of ours!  We need to remember that Jesus Christ is the perfect source, perfect example and his atonement is perfect! Perfect meaning; Never failing!! Why do we not use it more when all he has done for us will never fail.  I know that as we apply this in our lives we will feel peace, healing and the love our Savior has for us!   

Highlights: 

- Taught Jothi Bala and Krishen Kumar everyday this week! 

- Chilis for Lunch with Wolcott 

- Celebrated Diwali with Kurtas and fire work watching!! 

- Ate goat Feet... so nasty!!

Pictures: 

1. Salt lake city temple socks on Pday! 

2. Pink Kurta on Diwali

3. Chilis!!!!!!

4. Random couple doing Yoga at Lodhi Garden

5. This is where they filmed the Hunger Games lol.  

 

"There is Light at the end of the tunnel"

Well family and friends...the hard work, the struggles, the disappointment, discouragement, and all that we have been through the last transfer and a half are slowly starting to pay off.  This week we were able to get 4 new investigators and teach 3 lessons!  These experiences gave me so much excitement!  I found myself leaving the church celebrating like i'd scored a game winning goal in the state cup finals!!!  I have learned by experience that our Savior is always watching out for us, and he will always allow us to see success after the "trial of our Faith"!  It was a testimony building experience that has given me hope, peace and an understanding that as I keep trying, keep fighting he will always allow me to have the victory!!  Well some fun things happened this week.  We celebrated birthdays, smashed cake in peoples faces and went out and ate at some pretty dang good Indian restaurants!! Hyderabad chicken biriyani is the best food ever!!  Also, I was able to play soccer with a group of young men in my area and that was just what I needed this week!  I ran like I was back at Snow College... played like I was at Snow, knocked some people to the ground (picked them back up and said i'm so sorry haha) and kept playing for the next 2 hours!  I did all of this with my tag and white shirt on and it was just the greatest experience this week.  I can't believe I can now say that i've played soccer in India...a dream come true! We had stake conference as well. That was so amazing to see the whole stake come together to listen to the leaders of our stake and mission speak to us!  The messages that were shared were from God and I felt the spirit during every single one, especially President Hansens! He said, "There is no burden too heavy that He cannot carry.  Give it to Him.  Turn it over to Him".  It hit me hard and made me feel the love that my Savior Jesus Christ has for me and all of you!!! Well lots happened this week and it was a big roller coaster of good and bad, but overall I am so happy no matter what!  Im in India serving the Lord and doing his work.  When you are doing that it doesn't matter what happens you can always smile and be happy:)  

Well I love all of you so much and so happy to have each and every one of you in my life!! You all are Gods gift to me and i'm very grateful for that!  I pray for you all daily!  I hope you have the best week ever. I Love you all!! 

Spiritual Message: 

I had created a spiritual message on something and then while sitting here in the cyber the spirit told me to share something different.  Forgive me if its not a good message or if it doesn't make sense i'm literally typing as the spirit speaks to me!  So my weekly is titled, "There is light at the end of the tunnel" because the last transfer I have had no success. I have felt like I've been walking in a dark tunnel for the last 8 weeks.  I had times when I thought I will never have success, I will never get out of this, or will I be able to keep going!  Should I just quit?! Well I didn't quit and so grateful I didn't.  The end of this week we got 4 new investigators, taught 3 lessons and had someone come to stake conference.  We found the light that comes from staying on the covenant path, keeping our trust and faith in our Savior Jesus Christ!  In this life we will have trials, struggles and failure... but that doesn't mean its always gonna be that way!  Our Savior will always give us the victory!  He will always show us success after the "trial of our faith" (Either 12:6).  Im so grateful for this knowledge and the peace that comes from the Gospel of Jesus Christ!  Please notice the word will.  Will does not mean it might happen, or there is a chance he will help you but maybe not.  Will means that it is going to happen!  There is 100% surety that he will catch us when we fall, lift us when we are weak and give us success after a long time of no success!!  The Saviors love and atonement give us life insurance for eternity, but never use this as an excuse to not work hard, to be lazy, to sin more, or to stay down or have a bad attitude! Remember the scripture I shared last week!! We must Press forward( 2 Nephi 30: 21) and keep on pushing through life with him! It is not possible to do it without Him!!  Always remember and be strengthened by the knowledge that we are never alone when we stand with our Father In Heaven! "There is always light at the end of the tunnel"!   

Highlights: 

-Stake Conference!! 

-4 new Investigators

- Played soccer at Lodhi garden with a bunch of young men!  In my Church clothes:) 

- Used American football as a finding tool.  Threw the good ole pig skin in Lodhi garden with Elder Wolcott

1. District picture after stake conference!! 

2. Celebrating Sister Govintharajas Birthday!!! 

3. Me enjoying a little piece of Heaven!  (Chocolate cookie dough cheesecake)

4. Chillin outside our shop where we get bread, eggs and other essentials!  We call it "Grandpas shop" 

5. I have to put a towel over my desk cause the A/C is right above it and it leaks:)  Gotta love India!