My Farewell to Guatemala (I am really going to miss the people and Guatemala) - February 25, 2013

Time to say goodbye! But guess what Mama I'm coming home! Your Sundays will be very different from now on. What are you going to do with your extra time now Sundays? I will definitely miss your emails and your dearelders, but I will really enjoy being able to talk with you in person. That is sad that Grandpa's brother passed away. That would be very difficult to go from 15 brothers and sisters to now only 3. I hope he is doing well. I hope your cold goes away. I am just about over my cough and runny nose. I have been able to sleep at night without coughing all night. That is cool that the missionaries passed by. I think it would be very crazy to never have seen snow and then go to Utah and see a lot. It would be a very different change. 58 new missions, Wow! That is a lot. The church is really growing. Especially in Guatemala. They will now have 6 missions here. Saturday was a good two year mark, I enjoyed it. Crazy to thing that two years have gone by already. Wow, a lot really has happened in 2 years. It will be interesting to see what happens in the next two years. I know a lot will happen in my life in the next 2 years. I’m so excited to see everyone when I get home. I know a lot of friends and people at the hospital are excited to see me. It will be so awesome. Of course when I am about to come home it snows again and gets cold hahaha. I’m glad that Scott really loves his snow blower but I’m not sure how I feel about having lots of snowfall because of it. I was fine this last week until yesterday. It was a strange and hard Sunday. It hit me that that was my last Sunday in Rio Blanco. I was asked to speak for my farewell talk. I spoke of the Atonement and how it has changed my life and I have seen it change the lives of people here. I spoke of a talk by Elder Holland that says missionary work is not easy because salvation is not easy. How the atonement can help in missionary work. It was a really good talk I gave. Afterwards during the last hymn I got a little emotional (I’m not going to say if I cried or not but it was hard) thinking of all the wonderful people here and how much I love them. President Nelton spoke about me at the end of the meeting. He said how I am a great person and a great missionary and they will miss me and wish me the best of luck. Then in the gospel principles class my recent convert started to cry and said how much I have helped him and how much he will miss me. That was so hard. I want to know how our phone plan is with international calls. I would like to call him at least once a month to motivate him and see how he is doing, I will pay extra to do it. In priesthood class the President talked about me too. He said wonderful things and made me feel so loved and amazing. We ate lunch with a member that we are teaching her husband. He came to church again yesterday mainly to hear me speak. He is progressing and reading so much of the Book of Mormon. During lunch we were talking about how much her husband has changed and talking about my time here. She started to cry also and said that to her I’m like one of her sons. The members are very sad to see me go. Many have cried and I think many more will tomorrow. I really made a difference here. I love them with all my heart and want to maintain contact with them forever and come and visit this year. They all speak so kind of me and think I have a wonderful mom and family. President Maravilla said the district President here spoke highly of me and President agreed. I feel good. Tomorrow will be a very hard day for me. Saying goodbye to so many wonderful friends. It will be very strange not seeing them every week. Well Mom the time has come to say goodbye to our last email. I have more to tell you but it will be better in person. I love you and am very very excited to see you in 3 days. I love you so much. Be safe, be healthy, be happy, and be prepared to receive a big hug and kiss when I get there. With all the love of my heart, your baby boy, Elder Jensen Cox

Converts are Amazing - February 18, 2013

Cause I’m leavin on a jet plane! Happy Valentine’s Day Mom, I love you! March 17 is a great day to talk. That will be exciting. I’m excited to see people from my ward. They are amazing. On March 3 there is a fireside by Elder Bednar that I want to listen to. That will be wonderful to see all the family and friends and have them over to the house. I imagine it is strange sending the last dear elder. I think it will be very strange sending the last email next week. I do not look forward to looking for a car again but I hope I find a good deal. No news on the package but President knows and his wife is looking into it. Hope they find something before I go. I would like to go Saturday and visit the family in Provo. I have some special things for them. Joey is struggling but I think he is doing better. I keep writing him and I know he will do amazing there. I can’t imagine learning the language. It is very different. I am lucky because Spanish has things similar to English so it is not too hard. I really can’t believe that I only have this week and a couple days left, crazy! It feels weird. I have learned so much in my mission. One of the things that is the biggest for me is the value of family. I have been blessed with a loving family and I have so much more love and appreciation for them. We will spend more time together. I love you Mom! Last Sunday my convert received the Aaronic priesthood. We went to visit him this last week and I asked if he has any questions. He asked where are the prayers for the Sacrament. I showed him Moroni and he read it and said he was asked to bless the bread on Sunday. He started memorizing the prayer. I was so proud of him for his dedication. Sunday he blessed the bread and I was so proud and happy for him. He is a great guy. Now I pray that his wife will receive the gospel. I love that family and want to come visit them this year since I’m not studying. I have met some very special people here and I plan on maintaining lifelong friendships with them. It has been a little harder lately working with my new comp. We don’t fight but I need a little more motivation from him, I need his help. I talked with President in interviews that it is a bit tough and President said keep trying. He told me I have character. He knows how to really make me feel good about myself. So this week I’m going to try all I can to motivate him and work hard. I think the plane flights are going to be the longest hours of my life. When I get off that plane I’m going to give you such a big hug. It will be an incredible day. Thank you for all you have done for me these last two years. You are the best mom ever and I don’t know how I got so lucky to have you. Until the last email next week stay happy, be healthy, and know I love you so much.

Love J

Our Bus Was Hit by a Car - February 11, 2013

Oh Mom I absolutely love your letter. This week was not too bad. We had a meeting in Reu. So I think I told you that the day I go home only one missionary is coming to the mission so there is no change meeting this day. Well President got a message that we will be getting 9 missionaries that have visa problems this next week. So there are unexpected change meeting next week. Crazy how plans change. Next month the mission will get more than 60 missionaries. That will be super crazy. When we came back from Reu it was such a long day of travel. In the bus when we were almost home the bus that we all rented was hit by a car. It wasn't super bad and I’m perfectly fine but another Elder hit his head and cut his eyebrow. We went with him to the hospital to get stitches. Because we went there we missed the last bus to Rio Blanco at 7:30pm. We stayed in San Marcos and left the next day. I was so glad to finally be back home and in my own bed, especially after a long day of travel. It made me think of the 28th. It is going to be such a long day of travel but I will be glad to be back home and finally sleep in my own bed. I still have my own bed, right? hahah. The week was not too bad. We walked again to Chorjale and I was so tired. I have heard lots of comments recently from members that I have been one of the best missionaries in Rio Blanco and a wonderful person. I feel so special. That is my desire that I make a difference here and that they don’t forget me. I think I’m helping many people in Rio Blanco. That would be cool if you wrote Mason's brother. I think he would love that. Also you should tell Mason's mom to join Missionary Moms if she has not. Thanks for the meds. I will tell her that she can take that and it will not affect her baby. I’m glad Lois loved the card and that is so sweet she cried. I would absolutely love to go to the temple with Lois. We could make it a monthly thing or if she can more times a month. That is good that Grandma Davis got her card. I also sent a letter today to Grandmas friend that works with her so hope that gets there quickly. Maybe Grandma was not confused but maybe that was revelation that you and Scott will be going on a mission soon, hahahah. I love your story about the missionaries at Subway. That is so kind of you to buy them lunch. Very incredible too that the guy only charged $4. I love when people are nice to the Elders and do something nice. I’m so grateful for all the food and all the wonderful things people do for the missionaries. I pray and know they will be blessed for that. I want Jentry at my homecoming and if she is available I think it would be way cool to see here when I get home. We will have to plan things. I would love to see Jennifer there too. We have lots of catching up to do. I am so excited to see all my friends and family. I have showed Corinne’s Christmas card of the family and it is so incredible. I show it to everybody and the kids are so cute and big. I call them "mis angelitos" which is kinda funny because here angelito is what they call marshmallows. That would be super incredible to see Galen. I am going to plan some trips to BYU to see him and Escobedo and a couple others. I hope that Bishop gets back to you soon about release info. That is so cool that people from Mountain View remembered me. I try to leave good impressions wherever I go. Your new job is a huge blessing and you had to be there with the things passing in your life. I have received many blessings. More than anything I am so blessed with my incredible family. I love them and will spend so much time with them. You are the best Mom. I am trying to work to the end but I will say the 28^th is going to be one of the best days of my life because I will be with my family again and give them a huge hug. Love you Mom and can’t wait to talk to you soon. AHHH, only two weeks! NOT trunky hahaha.

Love Son

 

Travel Plans - Home in 24 Days! - February 4, 2013

MMMMOOOOMMMM! I opened my email today and saw the travel plans. I’m so excited! The only bad thing is that we are going to be in Reu on the 27th doing very little and then I have a 3:30 hr layover in LA. That is going to be some of the longest hours I think. Elder Fernandez is from Peru. He has 21 months and will probably end in Rio Blanco. We are adjusting to each other. I sent President an email about the package but I think tomorrow when we go to Reu for a meeting I’m going to talk to him in person. Especially now that I saw all the amazing stuff from you and David. I am super sad to not get all that amazing food and more sad for the oil container, SUPERMAN Lego, and tie. :( I wanted to send a video of the shortcut but it is too big for email. You will have to see it. Baby Jensen is very cute and his little sister too. I will try to put them in my suitcase hehehe. I really want to come visit and see him as he grows. I would love to see Nana and Grandpa and any other family that wants to be there when I get home. I want my bro David to be there too.  I don’t know how that works with the Stake President, but tell them and see if I can get released that night. I can’t think of which foods. Anything you cook or prepare will be incredible. I’m excited to spend the day with you March 1. An Xbox party with Tyson sounds so amazing I have been ready for 2 years hahah. I like the comment about hiking, very glad I’m not hiking to UT yikes. I am not super excited about the snow. Nor thinking about finding a job and walking to work in the snow. You had some long days starting at 4:30. Tell Jenner I think he could set that up for me hahah, that would be pretty fun and I would enjoy that. He is doing DJ work, that sounds interesting. I’m glad Corinne’s family got their card. Did Great Grandma get hers? I got a card from Corinne and her family. I love their letters. My little angels are getting so big. I can’t believe how big my Kembree and Ivie are. They all look so cute. I can’t wait to see them and hug them. I’m super excited to see my new cousins too. I have heard incredible things about them. I got an email from Mason. He said his brother is on a mission. Guess where he went? The Philippines! He said it is really hard because it is very hot, there is no running water, and lots of bugs. I imagine the missionary life there is different from your tourist visits. But that is so cool. Mason is living in SLC and is excited to see me again. I was reading the Old Testament this week and I am now in Psalms 106. I know I can finish before I finish my mission. Yesterday I shared my last testimony in Fast Sunday here. I heard some amazing testimonies. After we went to visit a member that had surgery and could not come. We went to give him the sacrament but someone else gave it to him. I also had the thought of visiting the wife of our branch president. She is pregnant and sick and can’t leave the house. I thought about it but did not go until later in the afternoon. We had a good talk and she asked about the sacrament. She said she prayed in the morning that she could receive it. I got that impression for a reason. It is incredible how we can be blessings to others. I do feel bad though that it was later and we did not go as soon as I thought about it when we left the church. It helped me know that I need to follow all impressions the first time that I receive them so I will not miss opportunities to be a blessing to someone else. His wife has a question for you or for Aunt Connie. She is having an irritation and her whole body itches. She wants to know what she can take to stop the itching and something that will be ok taking pregnant that won’t hurt the baby. Will you ask Connie what she can take and let me know? Thanks Mom. I’m so excited to see you and the family. I love you Mom so much and am so blessed to have you as family. Take care, be healthy, be safe, be happy. I am excited for your email next week. Con todo mi cariño,

Tu hijo

 I almost fell off this bridge

 Baby Jensen Mateo Lopez

 River fun

 Ahhh refreshing melted snowman

The baptism of Romulo

 A sweet beenie I was using

 Sunday sunset

 Another river

 Romulo's amazing family

The Shortcut

Hiking down the nice easy part of the shortcut

 We survived and made it to the river

 The trees in the background are where we came down