"I've Never been in such a dark room with sister missionaries before.." -Me

We are Emailing in the dark family History center wit the sisters and another pair of Elders and i said that quote as we sat down aaaaand made things super awkward... I was embarrassed haha i was thinking out loud.... 

ANYWAYS, We had a pretty good week in our Albany North Area! we walked a lot (as usual), saw alot of crazies and beer cans!! haha Other than that we helped with many service opportunities this week. The first at city hall where we did a lot of weeding and met a typical Italian Guido! haha Then we helped out with the Soup kitchen. FUNNY STORY! 

So during the Prepping period of the meal, We decided to venture out of the smoking kitchen and upstairs into this massive protestant chapel to ease our curiosity. when we got up there we saw this glass container, and within it laid an old wood covered Cohoes Bible from the 1700's. we were so in awe we put our hands on the glass when... The Fire Alarm went off! Of coarse we jumped and with our adrenaline pumping we ran down the stairs. As we reached the bottom the whole kitchen had ran TO THE STAIRS... so we awkwardly stared at each other for a couple seconds when someone yells "Grab the fans!" So we all proceeded to grab fans, because the smoke had gotten up to the fire alarms up stairs at just the Right time! haha We ended up switching off all the breakers to get it to shut off! hahaha I thought it was hilarious.

We had a a great 4th of July! We helped a member pull some nasty weeds and KILLER VINES! Then had an amazing BBQ for Lunch, Then after that we changed and went to another BBQ with the Elders Quorum President. Where all the New move in families were invited to! It was so much fun! It was like a home away from home. I am so thankful for this ward!:)

Earlier in the week on a thursday, Elder Davis and I had been walking around in Cohoes trying Potentials and Former Investigators, as well as updating our records in the hottest day (as well as the most humid day) Thus far this summer. We came upon a potential Inv. Whose address was wrong so we decided to head up the other end of the street. Where we saw an older lady smoking on her porch., And as we walked by sweating like 2 cats in a microwave she said "Could you boys use some water?" I didnt even hesitate, I said "Ofcoarse we would love some!" Soon after we begin to tell her our purpose as missionaries and how this gospel can bless her life. She then proceeded to tell us how that day had been the worse day of her life. And she was debating to take her own life right before we got there. She took this as a sign and we taught her the Restoration. Then she began to pray, and the spirit was so strong. We set her with a baptismal date in August. 

I know the Lord knows all of us Personally. And is always aware of our trails and tribulations. He will ALWAYS help us in our Hour of need, if we Always put our unwavering faith in him. I know this to be true!

I pray we will all help others to come to this conclusion as well.

I love you all. God bless!!:)

Elder Jepsen

Double DIPPED!

Deb's Baptism 

Hey You's Guy's!

Well We had a typical crazy/weird week! haha 

No joke...Every appointment we had this last week fell through or bailed... It was just one of those weeks I guess. And it just happened to be the week I went on exchange with my District leader. hahaha But, No worries! I hunted them ALL down and either had a lesson with them or Rescheduled with them. (it all happened for a reason though) We can't take no for an answer. It's their Eternal salvation!:) 

Besides that we saw a good share of really weird stuff, like we usually do. And it has been raining ALL THE TIME! It is constantly cloudy and somber here. Even when it rains we are  out walking and trying to help people. I think I kind of got Elder Neus sick by walking in all that rain.... He was out for the count all day Wednesday! But eventually he became better and we  went back to poundin the pavement.

Being out here in the same area for almost 6 months is beginning to take its toll. Lately I had been feeling really burned out and tired. Everyone keeps giving me grief about how I am being transferred and leaving Massena... Which doesn't help! haha But I am so grateful to be able to be here for that long! I have met people I never would have met. And created friendships that will last a lifetime. I have helped change this area to help further the work here. I have been able to do things I never thought I would be doing! I have learned so much here!

I really started thinking about that Saturday at the Baptism. And Let me tell ya, it will be a memory I will never forget! 

In the beginning it was so stressful. We get to the chapel and look at the water and it is SUPER dirty and FREEZING COLD! So we finally clean it out, and we get a call and our Pianist canceled at the last minute! So we had to find a piano player.... we didn't.... haha Elder Duckworth had to and he hadn't played in years! 

Then when I was Baptizing Debbie I said her Maiden name and not her Other name.... UGH! haha super Embarrasing. I was so Nervous i Spaced out! I couldn't remember anything I said! it was all just a big BLUR! haha Soooo... She had to be "double dipped". And ooooh did people love teasing me about it. hahaha 

But it all worked out and it was amazing! There were so many people there, I was so happy. The spirit was definitely there.

You watch these people grow as you first meet them, then you teach them and become so close and finally help them enter into the waters of Baptism. It is such an amazing feeling!

The confirmation is the Icing on the cake! Elder Neus confirmed her a member and Did such an amazing job. That sacrament meeting was probably the Best fast and testimony meeting I have been to yet on my mission. 

This next week we have our Transfer calls. I am very very anxious to hear what is going to happen up here.
OH AND MOTHERS DAY!! We get to finally call and skype our families! I am so excited.

I hope you all have an amazing week! And always try to go out of your way to say "hello" or introduce yourself to people in your ward. FELLOWSHIP is soooooo key in the church and helps out the missionaries a TON!!!

Love ya all! Happy cinco de mayo......

"keep NY ....normal...." haha

-Elder Jepsen

P.s The Baptism pic!! That's Deb in the middle. And "mother neus" haha

Bipolar days in Massena-and Easter

So much has happened this past week, but first..
Good News! IT'S WARMING UP!! we are so excited! We don't have to wear coats or hats or Thermals! But now there is mud.... EVERYWHERE. Some days it will be really warm, then freezing and raining just like that. Ugh just like the people the weather is so Bipolar! haha We have been riding bikes everywhere and we get mud ALL over.. haha It's hard to maintain a clean cut appearance when you have mud all over the back of your head...but I digress.

Elder Neus and I had the Opportunity to go down to Potsdam with the Huffs, Our awesome senior couple up here, to eat at one of our Investigators restaurants he works at in S.U.N.Y Potsdam (state university of New York). While we were there I got to tour their Archaeology Dept. and it was super SUPER cool! haha it got me pretty pumped for college!

After that, the Huffs asked if we had ever been to Canada and we said... "Nooo..." so they took us! haha There is an Island on the Reservation that is technically Canada. So we went to CANADA! Elder Neus and I were super excited. I don't know why but we were... AND we saw a Drug Boss's house up there! and I'm pretty sure a drug deal too... so that was crazy!

And if you were wondering what ever happened to that lady we helped with cleaning her house... Yeah nothing too amazing. I asked her when we could come and tell her about that pamphlet we left her, and she said, "Oh my week is pretty crazy" so the i asked her, well is there anything we can do for ya? Lo and Behold she said "oh i have a closet that could really use some cleaning out..." I was just about to back hand that lady when Elder Neus said SURE we would love to! So hesitantly, we cleaned that dang Closet. LET ME TELL YOU right now. NEVER! clean out another persons closet. But, if you really want to know somebodies secrets.. by all means. YUCK! haha But.. we did get an appointment from it so it did pay off... haha.

The last couple days have been somewhat of a struggle for us up here though... Now that the weather is warming up all the Jerks are coming out and making our lives up here... frustrating haha. People Looove to honk and swear at us as we walk by. It kind of took a toll on us for a little bit there. But we read a scripture Sunday morning in D&C 24:15 that seemed to boost our confidence. It reads:

" And in whatsoever place ye shall ^aenter, and they receive you not in my name, ye shall leave a cursing instead of a blessing, by casting off the ^bdust of your feet against them as a testimony, and cleansing your feet by the 

wayside." Kind of harsh, I know, but its the truth. haha

As representatives of Jesus Christ, we are here to share his gospel and do what he would do. HE knows all of us and Loves all of us. "As I have loved you, love one another". It may be hard to "love everyone" but if we strive to do so, the Lord will continue to bless you. This Sunday gives us an overall reminder of the importance of the Savior. And his role in everything we do. Just as it says in everyones "favorite scripture" John 3;16,17
 16 ¶For ^aGod so ^bloved the ^cworld, that he ^dgave his ^eonly begotten ^fSon, that whosoever ^gbelieveth in him should not perish, but have ^heverlasting ⁱlife.
 17 For God ^asent not his Son into the world to ^bcondemn the world; but that the world through him might be ^csaved.
Christ is central in Gods plan. Through him everything is possible, I know that.

I pray you all have an amazing Easter Sunday and remember the True meaning of Easter!

And Be happy!:)

-Elder Jepsen

p.s. The first picture is of a 39 Ford that is this SUPER SICK! the guy who owns it is a WW2 bomber. and the funniest old guy I've ever met.

 39 Ford that is this SUPER SICK!

The second picture is of Elder Neus and I with a member named Brother Stevens in our District haha he's so weird haha