Week 4  One word: SCRIPTURES!

[Parent note: Rachel speaking Georgian. A whole 38 seconds of  pure heaven. She told me I had to state that she knows she messed up on a part, but its good enough. I have watched it at least a dozen times since yesterday. Whenever I need my fix, I have this. She's darling.] 

გამარჯობა ოჯახი და მეგობრები,

I can't believe it is already Wednesday, talk about a fast week! I will go through each day like usual, although this week nothing too crazy happened. Wednesday was normal; wake up, email, temple, and night class. I got a package from my companion's mom which was super sweet. The Kohn’s sent me a package as well, so if you are reading this, THANK YOU! The pumpkin bread was great, I shared it with all the girls in my zone. Thursday was interesting, I had TRC that day and I did it alone-alone. Meaning my teacher, Sister Reese, left for a medical reason a little bit before it started, so I didn't really have anyone at TRC with me. [Parent note: remember TRC is when you teach a pretend investigator who speaks your language. Usually volunteers in the area. Usually a companion group does this, however Rachel has no one so she will do this with either teacher, Sister Reese or Bro Muir] However, even though I was all alone, TRC went great! I still had no idea all what they we’re saying, but I remembered what I needed to say. PROGRESS! I didn't have a break in-between TRCs, like usual, just went right next door and did my lesson again. Hopefully tomorrow my next TRC goes just as well. Friday wasn't really that interesting I had a sub that morning since Sister Reese wasn't feeling well still. The sub served in Russia and she talked about how she got arrested on her mission, quite a funny story actually. Saturday I played 4 square with my companion’s district. I saw a dog and about died. [Parent note, Rachel loves dogs] I think I freaked my companions out, Oh well. Class was interesting, after I taught my lesson, Brother Muir proceeded to tell me that I can no longer bring any more notes to lessons. The only thing I can bring is a word book and my verb packet, that is it. Before I had every sentence planned in my notes, and now I just got to go with it. Also I teach everyday now, because my teachers are trying to get me used to making up lessons really fast, so that's.... nice. [Parent note, Rachel sarcasm] Basically if a sentence takes me 5 minutes to incorporate it in a lesson, then it takes me 5 minutes. They want me to go through the process of making a sentence on the spot since it is a little bit more complicated than English and if I get used to making sentences on the fly than I will really improve. That I will say is true. It is just a struggle. My teachers say that I am really good with grammar and I usually get all the sentences right when I write them down. So they believe if they have me do it this way my language will “sky rocket”. The thing is grammar is like a math formula, super easy, however remembering all of it on the spot and saying it verbally is a whole different ball game. There is so many ways to conjugate, so many subject charts, and object marker charts...it's insane. Georgia, why? We will see how this goes....

Companions, Sister Johnson and Sister Burrap

Armenia Sisters

Armenia/Russian sisters

Then Sunday, my favorite day of the week! Seriously, Sundays are like a breath of fresh air. You are just so spiritually uplifted all day, its soooooo nice. My companions were called as the new sister training leaders during sacrament! I hung out with my district all day since you are technically supposed to be with your district that day. I waved goodbye to the companions (which by the way it is so hard to say in English now. I automatically say "my companions" in Georgian) and joined the Armenian sisters. My district is pretty dang awesome though, not to brag but like....it's ჭეშმარიტი [translation: true]. We took a picture with the zone that day since so many of them left Monday to Russia and the Ukraine. Hopefully they are all doing well. And then Monday and Tuesday morning happened......I was not feeling oh to well those days. I don't know how to describe it, I just felt...meh I guess. Lessons didn't go well and I felt a little overwhelmed. Georgian is a little complicated at times. There are days when I read Georgian and I am like "Wow words!" And other days the words just revert back to being squiggles. My companions also had a rough time on Monday, and we didn't know what is was to be quite honest with you. Tuesday morning was  worse I think for me. I did some service and class went okay. I learned some grammar, and I almost cried in class. It wasn't that I wasn't getting it, although sometimes I think oh great more things to know and so little time to learn them. I do feel that I have been stagnant recently because I can't remember a lot of the grammar I’ve learned as well as words I needed to have memorized. Sometimes is just all gets jumbled together. Like I said, sooooo many subject marker charts and that's only one step in the 7 step process of making a conjugated verb. However after class, the day really improved. I was with the Armenian sisters since my companions had a workshop. I just stayed with the Armenian sisters the rest of the day since we had district devotional review that night it worked out great. I played basketball with the district which was really fun. And that brings us to today. Not too bad of a week. Today is Halloween and me and my companions are dressing up like each other. So I will be a Russian missionary for half the day. I will take pictures, but you probably won't see it until next week. I made a video of me saying the Missionary’s Purpose in Georgian, so you guys can have a taste of what it sounds like. Hopefully that sends. [Parent note: it didn’t send we had to download it from her portal. She did want me to state that she knows she messed a little...for those of us that speak Georgian, LOL!] 

Zone Sisters. Consists of Russian, Ukraine, Armenia and of course 1 Georgian Sister.

The Whole Zone. So many left this past Monday for Russia, Ukraine and Armenia

I want to end on a spiritual note before I close this week's email. One word: SCRIPTURES! Do you know how cool the scriptures are? I can't believe it took me this long to realize this!  I LOVE foot notes they are soooooo cool. I just go down the rabbit hole and BOOM! Knowledge! Talk about an epiphany. I have been studying humility and diligence these past few week and the two have really helped me with being a better missionary. For me I really need to work on diligence. I think sometimes I am stuck between being compelled and being anxiously engaged in my mission. My mission, at first wasn’t really something I necessarily wanted to do. The main reason I went was because in my heart Heavenly Father was like, "yeah Rachel, I'm gonna need you to go on a mission." So getting fully over some of those feelings is sometimes a little tough. I am really starting to love my mission, so my compulsion is starting to switch to being anxiously engaged, it’s just a slow process sometimes. Some days I'm like "Heck yes I am missionary!" and other days I'm like "Oh yeah I'm missionary".  It's confusing at times, but the scriptures have really helped me through all of this. I need to continue to be patient and keep doing what I am doing, putting my all into it, and I know the Lord will help me with the rest. 

  

     That basically was my week, I teach every day this week besides Sunday of course. So kinda of a busy week, hopefully my lessons continue to get better. I am doing good, so nothing super crazy to worry about. Until next week!

-და ჯენსენი

Week 3  BAM! The spirit

ძვირპასო ოჯახი და მეგობრები,

 [Parent note: translates to Dear Family & Friends]

 I am going to try and shorten my email a little this week, because last time it took me way too long.... and I have a lesson to plan today. So less detail this time. I will go through each day though, like I did last time. The beginning of this week a lot happened. Wednesday after emailing and everything else I taught a lesson. That night getting ready for bed I was called over the intercom to come to the front desk. As me and my companions knew we had to look presentable, as in had to wear church clothes to the front desk (there is a rule about that), we put church clothes over our pajamas and went out. The picture of me and companions posing goofy with weird outfits is what we looked like. I had just got out of the shower. Luckily, I was only called to the front desk for a package. [Parent note: I had sent Rachel a package to help celebrate her first week in the MTC, she was just then getting it. It took almost to 2 weeks to get Utah from California, UGH!]  That night I also had to plan a lesson for Thursday morning's class, but because of the package fiasco and the journaling I had to do, it was already 10:30. I told myself that I needed to be obedient and go to bed and work on the lesson tomorrow morning. We usually have time, and I get ready real fast. Then Thursday morning happened. Let’s just say everything was working against me making this lesson. My companion set the alarm clock to 6:30.....PM, so we all woke up at 7:13 am. So we quickly got ready, went to breakfast, and then to class. My lesson was sooooo bad. I basically just read straight out of the handbook and that was it.......I am so glad that's over. I had physical therapy that day, which is a nice break and a massage is always amazing. Then I had TRC that night, and let me tell you that was an experience. TRC is basically teaching a lesson to a member that speaks your language, the one you are learning. When I walked in and the brother started talking in Georgian, I think it was in that moment it finally hit me. Oh gosh I'm on my mission, and I have to speak that language somehow. My first TRC person was Jake and it was OK. However, he wouldn't let me use the Book of Mormon, which was.......nice. My current teacher thought it was OK to use the BOM in my lesson, so that was why I had references in the first place. But when I went in and said we were using the Book of Mormon he refused. So there went half of my lesson. I managed without it, but I basically about died in that instance. He said that he wanted missionaries to learn how to not use the Book of Mormon, because there isn't one translated in Georgian yet, Brother Muir I guess thought otherwise. Wonderful first time, right? Then my second person was Charity. She was super nice. She used to be a Georgian MTC teacher, and she used a lot of her old teacher tactics on me. At one point during the lesson she talked how this was her anniversary of coming home from her mission 3 years ago, and I, of course, said I understood (very little but I got the gist of it), and you want to know what she did next? She asked me to repeat her answer in Georgian. Basically she wanted me to explain her answer to make sure I knew what she said....... uh yah! Died on the spot as well. Oh how I can't wait for a companion that speaks my language, so that we can at least be confused together. They both said it was amazing I knew this much on the second week, but all the other missionaries got the same complement, so I feel like they were just saying that. At least they didn't say I sucked, so I will take it. 

PJs + church clothes = dressed appropriate to go to front desk before bed.

Russian District Soccer Saturday

Friday wasn't too eventful. I asked for homework during class, which was a first. I wanted sentences to translate so that I could get used to applying the grammar. The grammar for the most part makes sense (besides what I just learned because I'm still get a little confused between active and passive sentences at times), the hard part is applying it on the spot and remembering all the cases, the conjugations, and rules. Oh you know how I said last week there was 120 ways to conjugate one verb? I lied,... there is 128 and I do have to learn ALL of them. Luckily a lot of them are similar, so once I know a good solid half I’ll understand the rest, at least that's what Brother Muir said. During exercise time we did volleyball, which has become a norm. Volleyball is with the Russian district. I have picked up some Russian now that I am around them so much. My companions are part of that district. What was cool about exercise time that day was that Sister Johnson lost her key coming back from exercise as she rolled down the hill. So all of us (me, Sister Johnson, and Sister Burrup) went looking for this key in the grass. We said a pray and almost a minute later a district came asking if they could help. So that whole district and us lined up between two trees and walked down the hill, each looking at our designated hill spot to look for the key. I found the key! It was a really cool experience that showed the power of prayer. Saturday is “Soccer Saturday” and the elders go insane over this day. The whole zone played each other, just the elders, of course, since the sister can't play with them. The teams consisted of like 30 people, so it was like 30 against thirty. The sisters which was like 8 people played soccer against each other. It was fun. Lots of slipping since the grass was slightly frosted over. That night I had a sub for class. She served in the Ukraine and spoke Ukrainian. Super nice. I taught her Georgian grammar, so that was fun. Sunday I taught relief society with my companions. Sooo much easier than teaching in Georgian. That night we watched "Missions are Forever" by Elder Holland and it was amazing. I read the talk before but hearing it was a different experience. It made me change my view on the mission. It isn't just a break in time where I serve and then go back to my normal life. It is a life changing experience for both me and others. We should rejoice in the fact we are doing his work. So I made a challenge with myself. Every morning and night I say the missionary purpose, in Georgian of course, as well as to always wear my missionary tag. I get a very short period of time where I literally get to wear Christ's name on my chest, so I'm going to milk every last minute. I wear it constantly and the only time I take it off is when I am changing or showering. That's right I sleep with it! 

Classroom perspective and study materials. 

Monday was good. Class was great and I learned something in that class that I need to keep in mind not only here, but in Georgia. I'll get into that later. That day I met a senior couple who are are going to Iraq. They are the only missionaries in the whole mission. They have no resources to learn the language, they are only in the MTC for a week, and will have sacrament meeting in their apartment in the field to only 17 members. I thought I had a weird mission! Never complaining again. Tuesday I taught a lesson. My lesson plan was almost all in English, so I basically was using what I memorized and trying to speak what I know in Georgian. It went well, not amazing, but it was lot better. For Devotional an apostle came, Elder Soares. He gave an amazing talk, but that is a given since he is an apostle. But what I took the most out of that whole experience was the spirit he brought into the room. All he did was walk in the room and BAM! The spirit. It is truly inspiring.

This week was great, with of course an occasional emotional roller coaster here and there. But the good completely out-weighs the bad. During Monday’s class we talked about the Book of Mormon. I find that I have been struggling with this because how are we supposed to teach others about the Book of Mormon, when for some they can't even read it. In the past I’ve been told that for missionaries the goal is to give a book of Mormon to people because that it is essential to their conversion. But, what about the Georgian people? Some can read Russian and English, but not super well so they can't get everything out of the Book of Mormon, but at least they can read it. But, what about the people that can only read Georgian. Brother Muir said something during class that changed my outlook on this. For us Georgian missionaries we really have to teach like the Savior did, more than anyone else. We have to bring our A game, meaning the spirit we bring is critical to their conversion. Christ didn't have a Book of Mormon, but he converted thousands of people. Now we aren't Christ, but if we strive to teach more like him and bring the spirit into lessons like him, then we can convert, maybe not thousands, but a good handful. This is not to take away from the importance of the Book of Mormon, but for us Georgian missionaries who might teach those that can't read the Book of Mormon, we have to think like this. We have to get them far enough to where they are willing to wait for the Book of Mormon, because once that Book of Mormon comes out their conversion will sky rocket. This reminded me of the spirit that Elder Soares brought to the devotional just from walking into the room. I want that! To have the spirit so strong that you can't even deny that it's there. To the Georgians that can read some Russian or English, it is a little easier for them, since just reading the Book Mormon (even if they don't understand it completely) the spirit is still evident. To those that can't they will have to rely on the spirit from just learning about the Book of Mormon and the testimonies of other until that wonderful day when we get the Book of Mormon in Georgian. This mission is one of the very few, if not the only mission, that does not have a Book of Mormon translated in the language yet. Hopefully it doesn't stay that way for too long. 

That basically was the week. I have a lot going on in the next few days. TRC is tomorrow, soooo not ready....but I'm planning and working on it today. I am doing great! Till next week!

-და ჯენსენი

Finally a solo picture of Rachel pointing to Georgia. Solo is fitting...

Sister Johnson, Sister Burrap (Russian Sisters) and Sister Jensen

Week 2  Progress

Rachel wrote this! I'd say, progress.

What a better week. The week passed by so fast, I can't believe it is Wednesday already. I'll go through each day like I did last time. Wednesday I went to the temple and did a sealing session for the first time, it was awesome. I may or may have not started to fall asleep during one of them...........Thursday I taught my second lesson all in Georgian and it was A LOT better than my last lesson. It still wasn't amazing, but I actually knew what I was saying this time and remembered the lesson material. We learned numbers during that class. Brother Muir proceeded to then make me go up and down the stairs counting to 100 in Georgian. Each step I took represented a number, so 100 steps. It was a long counting session, let's just say. Numbers in Georgian go in 20's, unlike English, French, and I think Spanish where they go by 10's. Thursday I had a study-skills class. At the MTC they offer a two class program where they teach you how to better study the scriptures, so I signed up for it. I have to make my lessons really by myself, so I thought that if I knew the scriptures better it would help me with that. It was a good class. Proceeding afterwards I went straight to physical therapy. It was different. They started me with a hot pack on my back, then gave me a back massage (which was amazing), taught me some exercises, and I ended the whole thing with electric pads (I think that’s what they called them). Basically they put electric pads on my back that would stimulate my back? It felt really like a tingling massage. When they first told me that we were going to do some electric therapy at the end of the session, I definitely panicked a little bit, no lie, but it was fine.

That night I had class with Sister Reese and I got really frustrated. Not at Sister Reese, but at the little knowledge I have of the Georgian language. We were doing some teaching role plays, and I had to only use the Georgian I knew, which was very much limited. I wanted to say all these things, but I just couldn't because I didn't know Georgian. Let's just say I wasn't too optimistic of the lesson that I would then have to teach Friday. With some help from Sister Reese, as we did a "companion study" session, that lesson was planned and I taught it Friday morning. That lesson was decent I definitely knew what I was saying, but not so much of what Brother Muir was saying. He asked me what priesthood was, but I had no idea what he said. We played some good old charades, with me being very much confused for like 2 minutes. Glad that is over. After class I had a workshop for newer missionaries. They gave me the wrong room number, luckily with some other people. My companions had dropped me off, because they didn't have a workshop, and said they would come back later to pick me up when the workshop ended. However, when they left, me and the Korean branch (only the elders) realized they gave us the wrong room (I said hello in Korean to them, by the way). We went to the scheduling office got the right room number and I went with those elders to the real location. Yeah to being a solo missionary! After the workshop I went with the Armenian sisters who dropped me back off at the wrong location so that I could meet up with my companions. Luckily I found them.

That night for class I traveled with Sister Reese to the Armenian classroom to do a combined role play session, all in English. We learned about getting to know someone and how to gear your lesson to their needs. We then, by companionship, would teach an "investigator" (Sister Reese is pretending) using the tools we had just learned. I did have a companion for this and I actually did well! I did most of the talking, probably because I am so used to answering everything. But I knew what to say and I feel that the spirit was present, so yah! Then Saturday we didn't really do anything that exciting beside class and stuff. I played volleyball with my companion's district, the Russians. I spend most of the time with the Russian district and not really my own district. Two of the elders in the Russian district are suuuuuper tall. One is 7'1 and the other 6'8. Literally, when they kneel they are still taller than me, and I’m standing! Sunday was great. I finally was able to draw which was sooo nice [parent note, Rachel loves to draw for those that don’t know, it’s her passion in life].  My companions performed during sacrament. Sister Johnson played the piano and Sister Burrap sang with another Russian missionary. They were amazing. 

Armenia Sisters

Rachel obviously did NOT draw these...but she commented on how cute there!

Sacrament meeting at the MTC is very interesting. The prayers and most of the sacrament talks are in different languages. As missionaries if you are assigned to pray or give a talk (which is only like 3-5 minutes long) we have to say them in the language we are learning. The rest of it is in English because that is what the Branch President and his councilors speak. I was with my district the rest of the day. I was able to “fangirl” with one of the Armenian missionaries, as we both are into art and Japanese stuff, so we randomly say Japanese words and we both understand. SO that's awesome! The rest of the day was meetings. I've noticed I am able to comment more in them, which is something I am not very used it. I guess I'm so used to having to comment on everything, that now I have so much to say. Talk about progress. That night we watched the restoration video, and I really gained a new insight of the Book of Mormon. I knew the history of course, but seeing it played out on the screen gives you a whole different experience. I cried, (just like dad) when I felt the spirit. I especially cried because there was so much that went into the Book of Mormon and so much truth behind it, yet there are people on my mission who will not be able to read it because it hasn’t been translated fully yet in Georgian. This saddens me.

 Monday we did more role plays and I'm really improving. I had another workshop for new missionaries on technology and I went with the Armenian sisters for that. I didn't like this workshop and I'll tell you why. First, we are not a technology mission, especially Georgia because a lot of people don't have smart phones or many devices. Second, it mainly showed me what little resources I had for Georgian. There is literally almost nothing in Georgian. The LDS.org site has like five tabs, with very little things inside them in Georgian. We don't have a Book of Mormon app, nor is the mormon.org translated in Georgian, and the gospel library app has the exact same things as the tools in LDS.org. We don't even have any of the scriptures translated in Georgian on the gospel library app. If you go the lds.org or gospel library app, click on language and find: ქართული you will see what I mean. Very discouraging. Played volleyball with the Russian district after that. The night class I had, I finally memorized all of the first vision in Georgian! Well the first 2/3rds of it I have down, the ending is getting there. It's memorized, but when I say it out loud it's very choppy. Still working on it. Oh! I almost forgot. When I was leaving the workshop, a missionary opened the door for some girls to come in and left it open for us (me and the Armenian missionaries). I didn't really notice and went through the other one. I still wanted to say thank you so I turned to him and seeing the Japanese badge instantly said thank you in Japanese. It wasn't till I looked up that I realized that he was an actual native Japanese missionary. Like from Japan, and Japanese is his first language thing. He said you’re welcome in Japanese and went on his merry way with the rest of the Japanese missionaries. So I finally spoke Japanese to a real Japanese person! [Parent note, Rachel has a thing for Japan and the Japanese culture and began learning the language at age 16]. Although proceeding afterwards I wanted to like hide in corner.😬

Tuesday I had service, I swept the bathrooms, cleaned the shower drains, and wiped off the water fountains all at around 6:30 in the morning. Morning class was good, learned a lot of grammar. Fun fact that I learned during this week; to conjugate a Georgian verb you have to go through 7 STEPS! Take the infinitive then apply this formula: preverb +subject marker +mystery space + root +ending+subject marker. You will leave certain parts of the formula out depending upon if its series 1A, 1B, 2, or 3 (tenses) as well as if it’s in the first, second, third, or fourth conjugation. The mystery space has literally no pattern whatsoever, you just have to memorize it to the verb, so that's.....uh nice. There is 120 ways you conjugate a verb. Not joking, one hundred and twenty ways you can conjugate a verb. Like Georgia why?! Luckily I only have to learn to conjugate about 10 out of the 120. Brother Muir said in class that a lot of the grammar stuff I am picking up really quickly; quickly enough that he taught me some things that he wouldn’t teach missionaries usually until the 4th week. Although I understand the grammar and stuff I still have to apply it in normal conversation, which will “come with time” as Brother Muir said. Before class ended we moved classrooms, I was kicked out of my classroom and moved to a new one. Brother Muir got a text from his boss literally eight minutes before class ended saying that our class will be in another room. Fun stuff man. I included a picture of the new classroom (the one with the Georgian flag and a dark blue wall). That night something interesting happened, but honestly made my night. One of the sister missionaries over in Georgia at the moment has a brother at the MTC. I guess all the Georgian missionaries already know who I am and that I am coming, as well as that I am a solo missionary here at the MTC. This sister told her brother to find me and take a picture with me. So this elder and his companion asked both the Armenian and the Russian district where they might find a Sister Jensen serving in Georgia. They found me before devotional. He said hello in Georgian first, which instantly got my attention, because like no one knows Georgian and then he explained the situation. His sister was the only sister missionary when she was at the MTC, but at least had 2 elders going to Georgia with her and that it was hard for her, so she totally feels for me being the only missionary period. He and his companion are learning some dialect of Chinese, it looked like a mix between English and Chinese. We took a picture together so he can send it to his sister. So I'm famous! Woot Woot! Like no joke, I’ve had a few people stop by my classroom and say "so you’re the Georgian missionary." It's kind of weird. And here we are today. I have a lesson tonight, a lesson tomorrow, and a TRC [Teaching Resource Center] tomorrow night. TRC is where you teach members a lesson who speaks your language, so that will be interesting, as I am doing that alone, as always. A lot to prepare so little time. Hopefully things go well, you'll hear about those next week. Overall a good week besides the fact I'm fighting off a cold. The Russian district all got sick, and as I am with them a lot, so I also got sick. Luckily it came in waves, the throat first, the congestion second, and hopefully I don't get a fever. We will see.

I have really seen the miracle of looking outwards and not focusing on yourself as I wrote about in my previous letter. They weren't lying when the said service really can help you with your own problems. With the mindset that I'm here to learn for some else, and being diligent in that, I have seen a lot of miracles this week. At least smaller ones. All the role playing and lessons I prepare for I'm not fearful of, still nervous, but that fear is gone. I am able to answer questions to things I never thought I would ever be able to answer. I felt the spirit more. I'm understanding the language a whole lot better. I'm still making mistakes, but I least know that the mistakes I make now are for the benefit of someone else in the future. That really has kept me going. I'm like super happy all the time, with the occasional roller coaster of emotions, but it is definitely out weighted by the happiness I feel. I'm soaking this all in now because I know that in the mission it's going to get a lot harder. So I'll cherish the sweet moments now and worry later. Until next time!

-და ჯენსენი (Sister Jensen)

Rachel representing her favorite School Board candidate in the MTC!

(Parent note: Senior Missionary, Sister Donovan, pictured in the bottom photo, in the pink short sleeved sweater, we have been in contact with since Rachel was called to Georgia. A few days after Rachel left for the MTC I got an email from her expressing her excitement, along with all the missionaries, that Rachel is one step closer to joining them in Georgia. I shared with her a little about Rachel's first week. She let me know that Rachel's MTC experience will be very unique, her mission will be unique. She said Sister Jensen might feel and actually be a little on her own in the MTC, but rest assured she will  not be in Georiga. She will feel part of a very close knit group of 15 special missionaries in Georgia.  Sister Donovan contacted some of the parents of current missionaries in Georiga and asked if they would reach out to me and share some of the experiences they have had  with their child being on a mission in Georgia. Next thing I know I was receiving several emails from mother's of missionaries with pictures and all. One mother shared these two photos below. I then shared the photos and some of the words that were written in the emails in my weekly email with Rachel . She was so touched and said it "made my day"!

Service Project

Zone Conference with President and Sister Brostrom. 

Week 1 - Entering the Provo MTC

Rachel's companions. Sister Burrap and Sister Johnson. They are going to Russia

Dear Family,

This week was a roller coaster. I'll try to go through each day in this email and hopefully it’s not too much. Just so you guys know, all the way up until 6:00 pm on P-day's (preparation days) I can write back to you, so we can do a little back and forth. So I woke up early, 5:30 am, to wash clothes and write emails, so you guys will get this email early and then I can write you again later.  I'll answer anything around 4 my time.

Anyways the first day at the MTC, “that time of the month” came. That was great, because who doesn't want to be emotional on top of all the super emotional and mentally draining stuff throughout the week. Good stuff man (ugh)!  Wednesday was just the get-to-know-you stuff and understanding missionary life. My companions, Sister Johnson and Sister Burrap, are Russian missionaries who have been here for about 3 weeks now, and for the first few days I wasn't with them. I had temporary Spanish missionaries for the first few days to go through all the newbie stuff. First day of class was interesting....So I have two teachers Sister Reese, (who you guys know from my pre-MTC mission training), and Brother Muir. Brother Muir was the first one I met.  He walked in on the first day and for the first five minutes spoke purely in Georgian, which was........confusing. Oh, I found out I am the 26th Georgian sister missionary! Thursday was another full day, again I had temporary companions and often transferred between people. What’s confusing is that my companions are in the same zone as me, but not my same district. My district is with the Armenian missionaries but I don't see them as often since I am with my companions (going to Russia) and their district more often.  During General Conference I was with my district more since my companions sang in the MTC choir that performed at General Conference, and since they were gone for the weekend I was with my district. General Conference was awesome, of course. Monday it was back to class and even more learning, a lot of memorizing and stuff like that. And then Brother Muir was like, so tomorrow (Tuesday) you are going to teach! So that night I had to frantically make a lesson WITHOUT USING THE BOOK OF MORMON and teach this "investigator"(my teacher) a full lesson in Georgian. The beginning was good, the prayer was OK, and then it just went horrible. Let’s just say I am glad that day is over. Tuesday I got a good work out in. A good chunk of the first week I didn't have exercise time so the time I did exercise, I went at it. Some good old stress relieving Tabatas and some cross-fit exercises. I have been trying to eat pretty healthy and I think I'm doing ok so that’s good. Today we go to the temple, and I have class later in the day. You would be surprised just how busy it is on P-days. Oh, and there is an MTC cat, she just wanders around. She's super cute and likes to be pet.  Her name ranges between each zone from Bathsheba, Sister Mittens, Stella, etc. Sadly no dogs, but I deal with it. I talked to the Korean missionaries, French missionaries, and especially the Japanese missionaries all in their language, some better than others, so that's cool.

Ok now on to the not-so-fun stuff, the emotional part of this whole week. The first part of the week I struggled a lot, but not in the ways you would think. Yes I struggled with the language, but that wasn't what gave me a hard time. Yes I struggled with waking up, but that wasn't what gave me a hard time. Surprisingly I haven't missed my phone too much.  I do however miss all the dog videos I used to watch all the time.  What I struggled a lot with was being a solo missionary and being fully shown all my weaknesses, which I already was insecure about. It's hard looking at not only my district, but others who get to talk about their classes and speak their languages with one another. They have a set companion who can help them during the times they need to practice the language as well as make lessons; I however do not. I am a solo missionary who has no one in my class, and companions who, although are amazing and so sweet, don't speak the language I'm learning. And to top it all off we have a bookcase full of BOM in different languages where different districts will try to put their BOM in their language in the middle; I however cannot. It's a stupid thing to think about I know, but on top of already feeling pretty isolated as it is, for some reason not having a BOM in Georgian just threw me over the edge. In the future we will do TRC's which is basically teaching someone who speaks the language (not your teacher), and give lessons to them with your companion; I (again) will do that alone. Just me and the other person. For the first half of the week me and Heavenly Father had some pretty long conversations.  Let’s just say, my sheets were definitely stained with tears every night. I kept thinking, "wouldn't it have been better if I went to Japan, I know some of the language and I understand the culture. Wouldn't it have been better if I was called to Korea, I know some of the language and I understand the culture”.  Or even, “wouldn't it have been better if I was called to France, I know some of the language and I understand the culture.”  I could be surrounded by people who speak the language and just do so much better right?" I just kept asking Heavenly Father, “You got help me with this because I'm not doing so well.”  It wasn't until I was just sitting waiting for General Conference to start when I was thinking over these things, when in my head I just had this feeling, "But I called you to Georgia". Talk about being humbled on the spot. But that left me dealing with my weaknesses. Being in a class where you have to answer every question and the pace relies on you leaves you with some pretty negative thoughts sometimes. In normal class people don't really focus on one person, leaving people to get by (which was what I was us to because I was fine learning on my own).  But it’s just me and the teacher, so the class truly is focused on one person (me).  If I gave a weird answer or I didn't know what to say it was pretty evident since I'm the only student, and as a perfectionist I don't like making mistakes. So with every lesson, it was like “yeah, yet another thing I got to work on". I already kinda suck at the language and now I can't even teach (since what I learned in mission prep was just bring the BOM out and now I can't even do that). Sunday night we watched a talk given by Elder Bednar entitled “Character of Christ”.  I would completely suggest you listen to it if you can (look on Youtube). He talked about faith and how to embody characteristics of Christ, and in so doing you can fully be converted and truly endure to the end. He talked about something that struck me that really changed my whole attitude about what I was facing. He basically said stop thinking about yourself, this mission isn't for you. The whole point of a mission is to bring others unto Christ, and during that time you will change.  But if you have that the mindset "the mission is meant to change me" then you won't. It's when you look outward, not inward when the miracles begin. Even if you feel inadequate, with the mindset “this is not about me, but for the Lord”, he is able to truly work through you and that mighty change can begin. Hopefully that made sense, it does in my head at least.  It's kind of hard to articulate it in writing. After that I felt so much better.  There is still sometimes where I look at others and those past feelings slightly surface again, but I remind myself of this phrase, "But I called you to Georgia, to serve the Georgian people" and I always feel better. So right now I'm doing pretty good mentally with some small mental roller coasters during the day, but that’s normal.

On to the physical stuff. Sorry to scare you guys on Tuesday [parent note, we got a call from the MTC that Rachel’s back was hurting].   I’m totally fine, just some back pain. I had this problem before I came to the MTC (it started my junior year), but not as strong and definitely not as frequent. When I sit down for too long my right mid-section on my back starts to ache and just gets worse with the longer I sit. Now that I sit most of the day, it’s gotten a lot worse. I went to the doctors to figure out if my scoliosis was causing that or maybe part of my back is weaker than other areas. I have a physical therapy appointment on Thursday, so that’s fun. Again, SORRY to scare you.

With that that's basically my week in a nut shell, so much happened that if feels like it’s been a full month, it’s crazy. I'm doing good, just taking it a day at a time. I have never prayed so much in my life, but I also have never felt the spirit this much in my life ever before. Until next week!

Sister Jensen

(or Da Jenseni in Georgian{in Georgian you have to put vowels at the end of names})

Rachel's name tag. Notice the white sticker on the bottom of her tag "Solo"
It was marked solo because she is the only missionary in the MTC going to Georgia at this point.
She is training "solo".

This is her district, all going to Armenia of the Armenia/Georgia Mission.
Except Rachel. She is pointing to Georgia.

Classroom, where all the magic is going to happen.

Outside MTC Health Center

Waiting room Health Center.

 Rachel in her room...probably really early in the morning.

Rachel's companions pointing to Russia on the map.

Saying Good-bye

Saying good-bye is never easy. We all knew what was in store, having gone through this with Alec a couple of years ago. We all tried to hold it together for as long as we could...and we did until the end. It was time for you to go through security, and that meant it was time to hug and say our good-byes. Seeing you hug Amy for the last time opened the flood gates for me. You two have become so close and I knew how much she would miss you. And vise a versa. And then there is dad, you have always held a very special spot in your dad's heart and I knew this would be an emotional good-bye for him. He is so proud of you and so excited for you to have this experience. As for me, I will miss hearing your voice and seeing your sweet face. Such a special person and daughter you are. What a blessing you have been to us and joy to have you as a daughter. Now it was time to share you with the people of Georgia. I will think and prayer for you everyday, all day. So much love Sister Jensen.