"A true disciple loves to forgive"

Hello family and friends! It is so good to be sitting down yet again on another Monday typing up another weekly update for all of you!! This week was crazy, but I was able to learn so much from it and strengthen my testimony because of it.  Monday through Thursday was a blur for me and I honestly can't remember everything that happened.  Friday I was told that My companion (Epuri) and AP Mekala are going on an assignment to open up a new area.  I am now AP Reiss's companion and acting AP for the rest of the transfer most likely.  This is when all the craziness begins.  We are now over two areas... Vasant Vihar and Munirka, so we have a lot of work to do, and a lot of members and investigators to teach and visit.  To top the week off I got to confirm two of the AP'S investigators as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of latter day saints and that was by far the most spiritual and amazing experience I have ever had in my life.  I am so blessed to be in India right now, and I am so grateful the Lord has trusted me and put faith in me to do what I am doing. 

I want to update you all on my investigators real fast.  Solomon has now come to church twice and has been approved by president to get baptized on August 5th!  He has been progressing so much and he loves taking the lessons.  He has a great testimony of Joseph Smith and he is very excited to get baptized before he has to go back to Liberia.  Gaurav is still trying to figure things out with work.  He has been taught all the lessons, and is so ready to be baptized.  We are going to teach him about how there is opposition in all things and tell him that if he makes this choice and gets baptized that everything else in his life will work out.  I would love it if you all could throw these two in your prays this week, and fast for them this up coming fast Sunday!!!  Thanks! 

Fast spiritual message...I gave a talk Sunday on forgiveness and I based it all on my Grandmas wonderful quote she sent me this last week.  Grandma J said. "Feelings are much like waves.  We cant stop them from coming, but we can choose which one to surf".  I love this quote.  When we are stuck in a situation where we have negative feelings towards someone or we are finding it hard to forgive... ride the happy waves!   We are 100% in control of the feelings we choose to have towards someone.   When we focus on Christ, and really know that every one is a child of God, and that they are our brothers and sisters it will make it easy to forgive.  "A True Disciple Loves To Forgive".  As we are on our path to becoming true disciples we must forive and it is my challenge to all of you to forgive more and choose to "surf" the positive waves.  I love being a missionary and I love being a member of this church.  I have a testimony that Jesus Christ knows all of us personally and he has a plan for each of us.  We must continue with faith and obedience to him in order to receive the blessings he has in store for us.  

/Elder Jorgensen

Highlights: 

-Saw a Donkey outside our Apartment

-Almost got attacked by a dog

-Confirmed two Investigators

-Carried a mattress on my head from the mission home to my apartment 

 

 

TRANSFERS: Week 7

Well this week was just full of change!!!! I am staying in Munirka, but Cleverley and Barber are going to Mumbai!! It was super sad to see both of them go, but I know that the Lord needs both of them in Mumbai.  My knew companion is Elder Epuri from Hyderabad.  He is very different from Cleverley and he is Indian. I am definitely going to learn a lot more about patience and making sure I stand up for myself and what I know is right.  We had a lot going on this week with transfers and things were super busy and crazy.  I'll quickly update you on two of our investigators.  First Gaurav... We finally met him on Sunday at 8.  We ended up teaching him for two hours.  Our ward mission leader and the Pecks, our office couple, sat in and helped us teach and they bore their testimonies.  The spirit was strong and most of the lesson was in Hindi.  Gaurav is back on date for August 19th so please pray for him!!! The second investigator is Solomon.  He is from Liberia and he is our strongest investigator right now.  On Sunday he came to all three hours of church and stayed for the 4 baptisms we had after church.  He keeps telling us "I want to get baptized".  After the baptism we taught him about the sabbath day and about the sacrament and I invited him to be baptized on August 5th... He said YES!! HE is a super strong and smart man, and is going to be a very strong leader for the church!  I am so grateful I was able to find him!  I love being a missionary and love being here in India.  It is the hardest thing I have done, but i'm slowly realizing that it is going to be the most rewarding thing I've done!!  That is my update for the week, and now out of time...I love you all and hope you have a great week!!!! 

Spiritual thought:

This Sunday I had the opportunity to teach Elders Quorum.  I taught on ministering, and how we become true ministers as we focus on the needs of others.  I wanna share a part of my lesson that is very important!!!  "Often times we think that we must do these huge big things to be a good minister. The Savior ministered in big ways, the Atonement and the Resurrection, but he also ministered in small ways through small acts!  He smiled at people, he walked with, talked with, taught, encouraged, made time for, fed, forgave and listened to every single person he saw. Its by the simple acts that we become great ministers. It is by sacrifice as well.  All the things the Savior did took sacrifice.  If we truly want to become like  the Savior and minister well we must sacrifice"!   Like it says in the first line and the fourth verse of the hymn Praise to the man... "SACRIFICE BRINGS FOURTH THE BLESSINGS OF HEAVEN"  Become like the Savior and do the small things!  I promise that as you do this you will be blessed with peace and happiness and you will be guided by the spirit in these moments.  I know that my Savior lives and I am trying to be like him everyday!  I challenge all of you to do the same! This is my testimony!  I love all of you with all my heart and pray for you everyday!  

/Elder Jorgensen

Highlights: 

- Our District had 4 baptisms on Sunday! 

- Had a massive shake at TGIF with AP Reiss

- Had my first Indian style Big-mac from McDonalds... just average

- Sister Pecks chocolate chip cookies 

- Being in India 

- New sister came in from Australia, Sister Watts!  She is awesome! 

teaching English class

Ward members

​

Smile through the pain

Hello family and friends!! The weeks are starting to go by super fast, and I sometimes feel like I dont have enough time to write and give you all updates.  This week was super, super hard.  Im not going to try to sugar coat it... It just sucked.  We have not heard from Gaurav in a week and that has been super hard.  He is so ready, and he has a very strong desire to be baptized.  He just cant get work off, and he thinks that God is doing this to him.  He needs some prayers sent his way, so please keep his name in your prayers.  We got a referral from other missionaries in our zone about a man named Solomon from Nigeria.  We met him on Saturday and he is actually the greatest person I've met so far on my mission.  He understood what we were teaching and he asked so many good questions that kept us on our feet.  I loved this experience, and wish every investigator could be like him haha!  He is great!  That pretty much sums up the missionary part of the week...The frustration from the week built up bad on Thursday and so God gave us a MASSIVE rain storm.  Me and Elder Cleverley were the only ones to go out in it, and it was the best decision ever.  All the stress and frustration was gone just like that as we walked and ran around like kids in two feet of water in the middle of the road.   I learned something from this experience and that is what I want to share for my little spiritual message I do every week... but first let me talk about one more thing that happened...We got to watch the WORLD CUP!  That was just amazing... I got to watch the world cup in India while being a missionary... hahaha!  We had an appointment with a less active and we kinda mentioned that the world cup was on and she turned it on and fed us and let us watch it!!!

Ok back to the rain storm.  WE had a terrible week.   WE prayed that God would help us out.   God answered our prayers with a rain storm!!  We knew it was the answer to our prayers and so we went outside.  God does not always answer prayers how we want.  I wanted all the pain and frustration to be taken away with a baptism, or with a dinner appointment, or with something just amazing... Well that will not always happen, but GOD WILL ALWAYS ANSWER OUR PRAYERS.  He may give us a rain storm, or he may give us something amazing... it doesnt matter what it is... he will always answer!  I love my Savior Jesus Christ and I am so grateful for him and his love that he shows to me and every one of his children!  I love being a missionary and I love being in India... even on the crappy days!!!   Well that is all I have time for this week!! I love you all and hope you have an amazing week!  Keep going! Keep having faith in the Lord and he will always help you!! LOVE YOU ALL! 

/Elder Jorgensen

Oh quick shout out to my Incredible cousin Quinn!  He has served the Lord so well and has finished his mission!  I am so proud of you Quinn and the man you have become!  You are a living example to me of what a great missionary is.  I love you and cant wait to see you again.  

Bearing one another's Burdens

Hello Family and Friends!!  I do not have a lot of time this week, so my update will be very short!! It was another slow week.  We did not find any new investigators but we worked really hard and tried to. We visited lots of members though and we attended the AP's baptism... that was hard because Gaurav should have been baptized on that day, but he didn't show up.  We have not been able to get in contact with him for 3 days now... super, super frustrating.  All you can do though is smile through the pain, be patient and keep going. The Lord has a plan for everyone and I know he has one for Gaurav!!!  We focused on strengthening each others testimonies this week so we spent a lot of time reading the Book of Mormon, talking to each other, and spending time at the church so I can learn Onward Christian Soldiers.  Grandpa Karren I will learn that song and play it for you when I come home!!! Well I hope you all had a great 4th of July!  If I have learned one thing since being in India it is that America is the greatest country ever!!! Well that is all I have time for this week!  I love you all so much, and hope you are all doing great!!! 

I want to share a quick thought... I was in the mission office this week reading a magazine and it was talking about bearing one anothers burdens!  There was a quote that said, "We may not be able to alter or change the journey, but we can make sure that they do not walk it alone".  As members of this church we have a responsibility to make sure that we are helping our families, friends, loved ones, and ward members during there trials and challenges.  Most of the time we can't alter the journey because its in Gods plan for that person, but we can make sure that they do not walk alone through it.  I have loved doing this even while I have been struggling myself.  When i forget about myself, and help others with their trials It always ends up helping me get through mine!  I love being a missionary and I love this church!!  It is so true and it has blessed my life.

Highlights:  

- I gave a kid a fidget spinner on the street... drove past him 20 min later and he was trying to eat the fidget spinner haha!

- Celebrated the Fourth of July and got... CHILIS!!! 

- Gave two blessings this week
- Played Cricket on pday

Week 4 in India

Hello family and friends! I'm going to keep 
this week short cause we are celebrating the 4th of July early!  So we are going to head out to get some burgers and fries!!  We did not find any new investigators this week... and Gaurav postponed his baptism literally the day that he was supposed to get baptized. That was super frustrating, but as a missionary I've learned that 1. we cannot force anyone and 2. its all on the Lords time.  I have no doubt that this is all part of the Lords plan for Gaurav.  I would just ask that you keep him in your prayers again this week!!  This week was a little slow, and not a lot happened.  It rained 3 days and then was just hot the rest of the week.  I experienced lots of new things, and was able to teach some pretty awesome lessons to some members and investigators.  I love it here!  I love auto rides, I love teaching the gospel and I love being a missionary.  It has been so fun, and I am learning so much!!  

Highlights: 

-New Mission President arrived.  President Hansen.

-Got my first haircut in India... totally botched!!

-Had cereal without milk all week:) not fun.  

-Had 3 rain storms this week... didnt stay inside for any of them

-Put our investigator Ravender on date for August 11th

Thought of the week... I read Mosiah 23:7 this week. The people wanted to make Alma King in this chapter, but he was not made king!  An important lesson of how we do not need to have one person above the rest.  We are all equal, and are all important to the Lord!!  Just because I am serving a mission does not make me better than those who are not. Just because President Nelson is our prophet doesnt make him better than everyone else.  Heavenly Father has a plan for all of his children, and each one of his children is of equal importance to him!  I want you all to know that I love you all so much, and grateful for the examples you are to me. I love my savior Jesus Christ, and I love being here in India! I hope you all have a wonderful week!  

/Elder Jorgensen 

India Gate

we wore USA jerseys to celebrate the 4th of July!

Cleverleys nice haircut

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

I'M GOING TO INDIA!!

Well the big news has come!! Friday during Multi-Zones President and Sister Hammon pulled me out of the chapel real fast and said "You're going to India my friend".  I was shocked!!! I will be flying out to India on June 5th, and I could not be more excited for this amazing experience and opportunity that my loving Heavenly Father has given me!  Well i received this news like at the start of the week, and I could not focus at all the rest of the week.  We didn't have much success finding new investigators this week, and a lot of people cancelled on us... that is typical here in Hemet.  Rita and Jesus were kicked out of their house, and they are not in our area anymore... that was super sad because they were wanting to get baptized and they really loved Elder Steed and I.  We are still going strong with Brother Lawson and he has changed so much!!! The spirit has been so strong this week, and I am ready to go to India. That is all I have this week. I have started to pack, and say my goodbyes to the families I have really come to love here in California.  I promise next weeks weekly will be a lot better than this one:)

Funny story: I was biking to dinner on Thursday, and we were on Sanderson waiting at a light.   A bunch of teenagers rolled there window down and flipped me off....  They said some other things, but I feel like I shouldn't say them... I'll tell those who wanna know when I get home!  I just laughed... cause if I was at home, and not a missionary I would have reacted and said stuff back, but I looked down at my name tag and just looked back up and smiled with my sexy bike helmet on.  It was a really good learning experience.  

Spiritual thought:  I want to leave you with a quote that my Dad shared with me last pday... I truly love this quote, and I love my dad.  I am so grateful for him and all that he has done for me and my family.  He is the hardest worker, best example, most humble priesthood holder, loving father and husband, and the greatest roll model... I LOVE YOU DAD!   Here is what he said... "You see the trick to life is not about how much you make or what you acquire or how comfortable you feel.  Life is all about how well you come to know yourself (and i like to add your savior), your divine origins and how good you do in getting yourself to learn and progress and become something greater than you are today".  Amen Dad!  

Well Big shutout to Nate for finishing his Sophomore year, Megan for finishing her Junior year and Dawson and Abel for graduating!!  I love all of you and I am so proud of all the things you guys have accomplished and will accomplish.  I've been blessed and feel so lucky to have the people I have in my life. I love all of you so much, and hope you have the best first week of summer!!!!    Till next week...   

    -Elder Jorgensen

-Mirror picture of... me ha

- We had the Jindras for dinner on saturday... the Warriors game was on... 

- Selfie during service at the community pantry 

- Big lemon and Elder Steed 

- Exchanges with Elder Overman 

- imo Hawaii... a really good fast food place in Hemet 

-  Saw a dodge Viper and Elder steed