MIRACLES IN CANETE!

Whats up guys, hope everything is going great!! Sorry I didnt write a email last week and this email is getting sent late (perdoname eldercitos de MPLS). But this week was amazing and let me send some highlights

- Walter got put on a baptismal date after having a powerful lesson about temples and the power of sealings. He wants to live with his wife forever and he knows now that baptism is the first step in that goal (his wife was baptized 3 weeks ago) 

- Adrian got put on date also, hes 20 years old and super dope. Hes been struggling for 3 years about failing and the fear of failing and not being worthy after baptism so its taken 3 years but he finally accepted a date, and he has talked about the desire of becoming a elder 

- We have a baptism this sunday for our friend Chantal!! And we are very excited for her 

- I had exchanges with Elder Lopez and they were amazing. Lemme give you some fun facts about him:

1) Hes from Brazil (shout out my dad, Tosh, Jake and any other missionaries that have served them or are serving there) 

2) He loves Formula 1 racing and competed before the mission and wants to be a professional 

3) He has really really good english and he learned it from the video game War Thunder 

But the exchanges went great, hes a super good lighthearted elder and loves to work, we were laughing the whole time and saw great miracles together

But overall this week was really good and I loved a lot of it, and i am very thankful for these opportunities ive been given as a missionary and the chance to be a instrument in the Lords hands 

Spiritual Thought:

Alma 26: 11

11 But Ammon said unto him: I do not boast in my own strength, nor in my own wisdom; but behold, my joy is full, yea, my heart is brim with joy, and I will rejoice in my God.

I love this verse because im learning not to have joy in my success but to have joy in my God and the success he is giving me. If it were up to God my mission could be super easy and I could find prepared people everyday but no its not like that. We have to put in our efforts and study, pray, fast, be diligent, be obedient and then the miracles will come, and then I dont boast that I have these miracles but I praise God for giving me these miracles because they are impossible to describe sometimes. Like with Walter for example we have our final prayer after a lesson and out of no where he asked to be baptized, and to me the prayer wasn't anything crazy, but to him something changed and thats because of God and his doing. So all this success and miracles ive been seeing arent mine. They are God's.

I hope yall enjoyed the email and i also hope yall have an amazing week filled with the spirit of the Lord!!! Love you guys 

Here are the google photos:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/7d6U7GWNwS1UVbVS8

EARTHQUAKES!

I saw your guys text on messenger about the earthquake and yes it was bad and we felt it here in Cañete, people starting freaking out. Especially the missionaries in Ayacucho because its somewhat close to where the missionaries serve. The belen elders (where i last served) felt it pretty strong. But now there are guesses (even thought you can really guess an earthquake) that there will be 4 spots for the next earthquakes and they will have magnitudes of 8+. 3 of the spots are in Lima and the last one is in Cañete . So pray everything goes good and that the 8 magnitude earthquake doesnt actually happen in Cañete. But we found this stuff out pretty fast because every member texted us asking if we were ok but i just dont tell yall so you dont worry nor talk to Presdient asking if we are ok . But as of right now we are all good here in the hood. Im actually on exchanges with a Brazilian elder right now who knows English from War Thunder, loves F1 (wants to go pro) and is from São Paulo and today was an awesome day, hes a super wholesome, hardworking and funny elder and we saw miracles today. This actually actually knows Brazilian stuff like opah (whatever dad always says) and his favorite food is Feojiada (I think thats how you spell it, its whatever dad really loves that I sent a photo of one time). I actually really wanna be comps with a Brazilian, they seem super fun. But today was awesome and it was a much needed day. Also huge miracle, the guy we had a lesson with when uncle Bryant came just accepted a baptismal date for September 6th!!!!!! Im so freaking excited and so grateful. But yah theres my whole yap session. We are gonna try and get some food tonight (so I might need help)  and I hope yall have a great night. We also had zone counsel today and it was great, I also got a new fat tie from a trade with Elder Lagon (hes the elder from the Phillipines) and thats what im wearing. But yah theres the baptismal date, a family home evening and the zone counsel

UNCLE BRYANT VISITS PERU!

 Written by mom:

While Bryant was in Peru for work, he decided that instead of site seeing with his colleagues he would drive 2.5 hours to go see Eli on his mission. They got special permission from the mission president and Bryant spent the day with Eli and his new companion Elder Burtenshaw. They went on visits together, rode in a mototaxi, combi, Bryant took them out to lunch - he told Eli he wanted to take them to some place nice and Eli took him to a "nice place", but Bryant meant much nicer - ha ha! Bryant gave Eli lots of hugs for me, held his bear paw for me and told Eli that I wanted to punch him in the face - cause that's what I always say to him cause he so cute and I love him so much! Bryant brought him peanutbutter and peanut m&ms! When Bryant was saying goodbye he gave him one last hug for me, one last hug for himself and then Eli asked for one more hug! I know it meant the WORLD to Eli to have him there. Bryant said Eli said that it was so surreal for the first hour that Bryant was actually there. 

We told the kids on Sunday that Jared's cancer was back and we only told them because Jared was given a blessing and was told in that that we needed to share it with the kids so we could have spiritual experiences together and grow together. We chose Sunday to share it with them because we knew that Eli would take it the hardest because he is a gentle soul and that if he needed some peace and comfort...Bryant would be there 3 days later and could help him. Bryant and Eli found some time together in the day where they could talk alone in their apartment and Eli cried to him a bit and asked for a blessing. Bryant blessed him with comfort and also told him how proud Heavenly Father was of him for all that he is doing. 

Here is a text that Bryant sent to the Jensen family group chat: Eli sends his love! He is doing SO good. I told him how VERY impressed I am with his work, and how proud we all are of him - how I hope my kids are as consecrated and as joyful as he is on their mission. 

Bryant was also so impressed with how Happy Eli is, how much he can find joy there, isn't stressed out there, he can go with the flow and how good of a missionary he is and when he teaches lessons he is loving and straight to the point. Bryant got to go with him to teach Walter and said Walter was close to getting baptized. Eli cares about reaching the goals of the mission but cares about the people more. 

I cried every time Bryant would text us a new picture or text today. I am missing Eli something fierce today now. Today will be a day that Eli will forever remember on his mission for the rest of his life! 

TRANSFERS!

 Transfers came here today!! I got a new comp named Elder Burtenshaw and I dont know how much about him, just that he has a little less time than me and that hes American . Im gonna miss Elder Adams though he has been a great comp and i have learned so many things from him, and he is gonna be with second my kid Elder Trujillo which is awesome. This transfer was great and met some amazing people and learned a lot. I would say the most I have learned this transfer is the importance of humility and sharing Christ like attributes with others. Nothing too much happened this week, we put a baptismal date for the 29th which is amazing and we are receiving a lot of referrals from members!!

Spiritual Thought: Alma 29: 15-16

15 Behold, they have labored exceedingly, and have brought forth much fruit; and how great shall be their reward!

16 Now, when I think of the success of these my brethren my soul is carried away, even to the separation of it from the body, as it were, so great is my joy.

Summary: Work hard and you will see the rewards

I love you all and hope you have an amazing week  

Heres the google photos:

 https://photos.app.goo.gl/7d6U7GWNwS1UVbVS8

EMAIL TO PRESIDENT AND SISTER BYERS!

Hi! 

We are so sorry to bother you but just wanted to give you a heads up. 

Jared (Eli’s dad) was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2023. It was pretty bad and a very long year with surgery and several months of radiation. Eli took it the hardest of all the kids. He is very sensitive and worries about people. 

6 months ago it looked as if the cancer was coming back and a couple of weeks ago and another follow up appointment the doctors confirmed it was. It is VERY, VERY small currently. 

We aren’t doing anything about it right now and were not planning on saying anything to our kids. 

Jared received a priesthood blessing and in it, it talked about how we needed to share this with our kids and it would be a way for our family to grow closer and a spiritual experience for our family. 

We have been thinking when to do it and we decided with Jared’s brother coming to visit Eli for a day this week that tomorrow, Sunday 8/9 would be a good day to tell our kids. We thought this way if Eli was stressed or worried about it, his uncle would be there to give him a big hug and assure him we are good and nothing to worry about, he could even possibly give him a priesthood blessing of comfort. 

We just wanted to give you a heads up in case you see something different in Eli or whatever. We are really hoping life carry’s on as usual and this email will end up being a waste of your time reading it 

Thank you for all you do for the missionaries! Eli sure does love you both and loves his mission. It’s amazing to see his testimony grow and his love for our Savior and the sweet people of Peru. 

Love,

Carol and Jared Jensen 

________________________________________________

Sister Jensen,

President and I are grateful that you let us know what is going on. That will help us support Elder Jensen better. You are in our thoughts and prayers and will be extra mindful of Elder Jensen to make sure he is doing all right.

What a blessing to have his uncle visiting at the same time for that little added bit of extra support. Please keep us informed if you feel we can help in any way.

With love,

Hermana Byers