Ether 12:12 - February 24, 2020

Hello Family and Friends,

How's everyone been doing! It's been a great week with lots of miracles. The beginning to the week was a little slow, but we are definitely starting the see the Lord place people in our paths. 

We also had a massive miracle this week! So we have been praying that we will be guided to find were the Latinos are. Becasue there are so many here in Lancaster, but we were just wanting to be guided to a group of Latinos! And we got our answer. We found an apartment complex with 65 Hispanic families! It has been soooooo awesome! We have been knocking like crazy! Had some pretty fun stories, but have also found an amazing family of four and have a potential of teaching a family of 7 this next week! The Lord is truly blessing us!

I have also seen my testimony grow of simply just talking to everyone Spanish or English. We were walking and we just started talking to this one dude, and he turned out to be super super elect! He has a wife and 4 kids and he was all over our message about Eternal Familes! He is super awesome!

So we've been seeing the Lord truly beginning to magnify our efforts. And I have a true testimony of patience and waiting on the Lord's time, because the first week or so here was so tough, because we just didn't know what to do! But nevertheless we went out and worked to find the elect, and the lord has blessed us according to our faith! 

Funnies: 

1. We are still getting asked for directions and being thanked for patrolling the streets and keeping this area safe. And the best is you definitely know who's doing suspicious stuff because when we turn down an alley with our flashing bike lights and yellow vests so many people scram! It's pretty funny! But we are going to make the most of this situation and start giving people directions to the church building or say we patrol these streets for God or other things. But it's been pretty funny!

2. I knocked on one door and let's just say the short Mexican man who opened it wasn't too happy! He started going off on how he was apart of another church and everything and then slammed the door. My companion and I just started busting up laughing after that!

3. We were riding our bikes and I asked some dude how he was doing, and he turned around and said "I am doing all right and have a gun on me if that's alright with you officer." I just said yes and biked away! 

I hope everyone has a blessed week and know that God loves you and he has a plan for you!

Elder Jorgensen 

Pics:

1,2,3: When your car is in the shop and you still have to buy groceries, so you get creative with zip ties, a crate, and your bike!

For the last time, I'm not a cop - February 18, 2020

Hello Family and Friends,

How is everyone doing. I'm just chilling up here in Lancaster having a grand ole time! We went shopping today and there were definitely a lot of bonnets and sun hats. Saw a horse and buggy and parking spots specifically for horses, but it's such a fun time. Definitely a lot different than downtown B'more, but I'm loving it. There are a lot more small towns that are really fun to go into! 

But this week has been a little difficult at times, because we just opened up this new area and we are the first missionaries here, but we've seen a lot of miracles. Like yesterday we went out to this small town right next to the Susquehanna river and we were looking for people to contact. We were walking and this little kid called out, are y'all church people, because I need to get baptized. He said that his parents get home around 5 every day and that we should stop by and teach them all. We also ran into this dude and started talking and he told us that he used to be taught by missionaries in San Antonio and he asked when we were going to come by and teach him again! We also knocked into this one house and the man who opened up just let us right in. It turns out that he requested a bible 2 years ago and a book of Mormon a year ago and no missionaries went over. He asked for the direction of our church and asked when we could stop by again, because he has friends that want to hear the word!

So this week has been really difficult, but the Lord knows each and everyone of us individually and he knows what is best for us! 

My favorite scripture from this week has been Ether 12:6, "6 And now, I, Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning these things; I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith."

Fun times:

1. So since there are no bus systems, we are blessed with a car and BIKES! And ohh baby are we having a fun time or what. The best part is we get to wear these bright yellow vests. And we get the weirdest looks but it is so funny. We also got asked for directions so many times and I had to tell so many people that I'm not a cop, but I'm a missionary. And when they hear that they are pretty quick to leave.

2. Also it has been below freezing almost every day with the feel of like 12-14 degrees, so biking in that has been really really fun!

3. I got mistaken twice for being from Mexico, so that's been really uplifting! 

4. I've been told at least 10 times that Catholics and Mormons are like oil and vinegar, they don't mix. 

Elder Jorgensen 

Pics:

1. Roll Tide

2. The Hot Dogs!!!

3. The vests!

4. Me and Elder Rodriguez!!!!

5. Me and Elder Casey

6. Living the car life

Living a Katwyk paradise - February 10,2020

Dear My Beloveds,

We've got some news! I'm going to Amish Country!!!! Well not super Amish, just the west side of Lancaster, which I've heard is just a smaller version of Baltimore. So I am super excited. I am going to be doubled in with Elder Ruesch. We were in the MTC together, so we're both pretty new and are ready to absolutely kill it, so it's going to be so much fun! And the best part is this is a brand new area. So we are opening it up! So so so excited!!

Also something I learned this week is that there is absolutely no way God does not have a sense of humor! This past week I've been studying about faith and how to truly walk by faith as a missionary and how to be more in tune with the spirit, so I can truly let the Lord guide his work!

  

So this past Saturday I made the decision to truly go by faith and let the Lord guide his work. And I had the faith that we were going to find a lot of people that day, because we had 3 super solid lessons at the night time. 

But I believe God truly wanted to see if I would walk by faith, because every single one of our lessons fell through that night. But that didn't discourage us and it just made us pray even more and we were truly guided by the spirit that night!

We then came back to the apartment to await for Transfer Boards and again I feel the Lord wanted to test my faith, because I found out that I am leaving Baltimore, getting doubled in, opening up a whole new area, and being senior companion. But you know, its going to be such a fun time and I know it's the Lord's work and there's definitely a reason I need to go at this time! 

The scripture for this transfer will be Proverbs 3:5-6

" Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."

TRUST IN THEE, NOT ME!

Funnies:

1. We came back to the apartment one night and like 20 minutes after we got home the fire alarm in the whole building went off. So we had to book it out of our apartment and we went to the front porch and had a nice chat with all of our neighbors. Turns out it wasn't real and someone just probably pulled the alarm, but it was really fun!

2. I've got a love and hate relationship with the buses. But I am really going to miss them when I leave! This past week we were contacting someone on the street, and we look up and see the police helicopter with the spot light close to us, which is no biggie because we see that every day. But then it started to circle by us and was shining its light on the other side of the street. We then look over and 2 cop cars had pulled a bus over, and then out of all directions like 6 more cop cars came flying in and surrounded the bus. They then took like 5 people off the bus and threw them in the back of the police cars and everyone drove off. BCPD coming to the rescue!

3. I never have to worry about buying toothpaste again! We stopped by an extremely less active family, and they just let us in. As we were leaving they were so happy we stopped by, they gave us like 3 packs of Oreo's and then she ran downstairs and came up with 4 tubes of toothpaste! She literally just gave us whatever she could! Such a blessed woman. And don't worry the toothpaste wasn't expired! Hahaha

4. I was on exchanges and we were supposed to meet someone at the church but they were super late, so my companion for the day really wanted Domino's. So we went and bought a pizza, but as they were making it we get a text saying they are ready at the church. So we may or may not have said that we were going to be late because we were in a lesson, but it's all good. We weren't too late, and we got a free pizza because they messed up on one. So we each got our own pizza! Pretty sweet!

It's been a great week! And catch y'all next week with my horse and buggie and my brother Jebidiah! 

Elder Jorgensen

Pics: 

1     Exchange fun!

2-3  When your apartment burns down

4     The trio 2.0

Aww rats! - February 3, 2020

Hello Beloveds,

How has everyone's week been? It's booming here in Baltimore and the days are going by quicker and quicker because we are so packed each day!

In my small time being a missionary I can definitely see that the Lord gives us miracles each and every day! Every single day there are miracles, all we have to do is just open our eyes and recognize them! This week we had 2 big ones that I want to share with y'all.

1. So ever since I got here we have been teaching this couple and they both have a super strong desire to be married. My second lesson with them, the girlfriend had a dream that she was going to be baptized in white in the baptismal font of our church! 

So they are super super elect people, they just have a couple of things they need to get in order before they can get baptized, and it has been really hard on them, because they know what they have to do, they just can't get the paperwork and other things that are needed. 

But we called our Mission President to talk about what we can do to help them and he said he will think about it. In the mean time we had a lesson with the couple and promised them that if they would exercise their faith they would receive miracles. They both came to church the next Sunday, showing their faith, and then the miracle happened.

We get a call from our mission President the following Tuesday and he says that he has been praying and pondering about their situation and he feels like now is their time to be baptized. So he told us to get their information and he will talk to the mission president in Honduras and try to find a lawyer so he can help them! We shared this with the couple and they now have a new found desire to start keeping all the commitments we extend and hopefully they will be able to be baptized this next transfer!

2. We have been really focusing on making daily goals of people we can find. One day this week we had a super set lesson with this one lady who told us to come over and then made sure we were coming! So we thought that we could find 6 that day, because we knw there were a lot of people in that house. But we go at 8:15 because that's when she told us to, and she wasn't there. So we had 45 minutes left in the night and still had to find 6 people. So we look to the house to the right and there was a little Latino girl waving to us through the window and we knew we needed to knock that door. So we said a prayer to confirm our prompting and as soon as we said amen this huge car pulled up and people starting getting out and going into that house. We were able to catch one of them and we got invited in to share a message. There were 5 people in the house, but one left before we could share a message, but it was super powerful and the spirit was super strong and we have another appointment with them next Saturday! 8:30 miracles baby!

Funny Moments:

1. One of my companions has been here for 5 weeks now and still has yet to see a rat. And he's been wanting to so bad, and this week he got his wish. Just a little bit closer than we would've liked.

We were walking home one day and heard some noise coming from a trashcan. I thought nothing of it and then right before we got to the trashcan a fat rat darted right out of there and ran right in between my legs! But there was another in the can so my companion pulled out his phone and started recording and finally the other rat scampered out of the can and we got it on video! Love the rats!

2. Two fights almost broke out on the bus this week! The first one was super early in the morning at like 7:30am, so I don't know why they were so feisty, but it could've been really bad. Good thing it was the stop for one of them, because they were going to throw hands on the bus. 

The second one was a wheelchair getting on a bus and so they had to clear one front section and so people were moving and it was an already crowded bus, but there was one mom who was sitting on the other side with her baby and her stroller, and she couldn't move. But one guy was heckling her for not moving. But the wheelchair got on the bus and all was good, but the guy was was still heckling the mom. And then he said something and they whole bus went, "Oooooo!" And then the mom stood up and took her earrings off and was literally going to punch him. But the bus driver stopped the bus and told the man that it was his stop. So the man was being a jerk and was slowly making his way off and was standing by the edge not getting off, so another guy came from behind and literally shoved him off the bus! The man went flying! #ilovemarylandbuses

3. We were walking to a lesson and this lady comes out of nowhere booking it shouting, "Hey white pilgrims how's it going!" She then walked with us to our next appointment talking faster than an auctioneer. And talking about whatever came from her mind. I don't know what kind of drug she took, but she's an example of why I say no to drugs. But it made me laugh so hard!

This week has been flying by, but it has been such a blast. It's crazy that we only have one more full week of this transfer and we find out transfer boards this Saturday night! We're praying for a fourth in Baltimore! 

Elder Jorgensen

Pics:

1. Watch out big time rush. There's a new boy band in town. The B'more Boys 

2. Best bumper sticker ever!

3. Forks up

Just look, miracles are all around - January 27, 2020

Dear Friends and Family,

What a blessing you get to hear from me two times in one week! Hahaha! 

I hope everyone is doing well, Baltimore is getting a little colder, but one hard thing is there are less people on the streets to talk to, but it also means there is less crime. So you win some and you lose some.

These past couple days we have seen some true miracles. 

About 6 weeks ago while I was still with Elder Casey, we were taking a bus and some random man came up to me and asked if I had a card for our church. I have him one with our number and address and before I could get his information, he got off the bus. I thought nothing about it and haven't heard from him since. 

UNTIL this past Saturday. We get a call Saturday night from a random number saying he had our card and he's coming to church tomorrow. At this point we had no clue who this mystery man was, and then on Sunday he actually came, and it was the man I met on the bus 6 weeks ago. 

Turns out that he is from the Dominican Republic so we were able to introduce him to some other Domicans in the branch. And the craziest thing is he was baptized when he was 8, and has been a inactive for a little bit and has been wanting to return, so it was a legit miracle we ran into him.  

The next one started with a street contact. Last Sunday we were walking to a dinner appointment and on our way we usually see some Hispanics, but they are mostly all drunk. And when they are drunk they will not stop talking so we've learned how to properly swerve them. 

But we saw a mom with her 2 kids, but they were on the other side of a busy street and so I blew it off like it was nothing. But I felt like I really needed to talk to her. So it felt almost like we were tracking her down, we had to play frogger almost and thank goodness to messed up crosswalk we were able to talk to her. She was rushing so we only got her number and have her a card and she said shes free on Sundays.

So fast forward to yesterday we were able to have lesson with her and it turns out they are a cute little family of 4 who live like 3 minutes away from us! We had such an amazing lesson with two members which was really helpful! Towards the end of the lesson, one of the members asked her about the day we met. She said that she had a really stressful day and she was actually lost when we ran into her. She saw us and took a card from us, but wasn't too interested because her family is a mixture of die hard Catholics, Jehovah's Witnesses, and Evangelicals. But after we left her son turned to her and said, "Mom I don't know why, but I really feel like we need to hear their message." After that she said she felt the same thing and she was so looking forward to meeting with us and it was such a cool lesson! The spirit was definitely there!

Funny Stories:

1. We went on a exchange this past week so I was with one of my zone leaders and Elder White, the one who is still being trained. But we were walking and this man who was drunk out of his man came up to us and it was so funny! And the drunk man would only talk to Elder White, and Elder White's eyes were getting so big. And then the drunk man pretended to be a dragon and "breathed fire all over" Elder White. We then decided to jump in and help him out and walked away. WELCOME TO BALTIMORE! hahaha

2. We were waiting for a bus and this random man came up and started talking to us. It turns out that he was also a Jorgensen and he served in Alabama! Pretty cool connection!

This week has gone by pretty quick, but it's been really good and really spiritual filled. 

I hope everyone has a great week and I love you all!

Elder Jorgensen 

Pics:

1. He was looking clean with his slicked back hair so we had to post up!

2. The East Spanish zone