December 30, 2013 ~ Week 23

Hello everyone!

So as you know, this week was Christmas! As a result we didn't really get much of anything done...It was sad. No one was ever home, or wanted us to come over. We went to a member in our ward, but not in our area's Christmas Eve party... it was a polish Catholic Christmas eve party. That means they didn't have any meat, besides fish. So we had tuna spaghetti, creamed cod, and those potato ravioli things that I don't remember what they are called. But it was weird to say the least. It was also weird because our whole group was there... because everyone is related. So it was basically just like church. I did get to sit on Santa's lap, and I even got a present from him! It was a little cosmetic bag with a bunch of skin care items. (Sorry the picture is blurry.)

It was so awesome and loving of the family that invited us because we had no plans and they invited us over last second.  That was super awesome of them. I felt very loved. Then we went home and went to bed! On Christmas, I woke up and made pancakes for me and Turpin. Then Elders Reese, Hanshew, Fawcett, and Winegardner came over and we opened presents. I definitely felt the most love! :P Thanks for all the love that came my way! I'll be writing all you that sent me presents a letter later today, and if I happen to miss you, it's because I was dumb and didn't write down all the addresses from everyone before I threw away the boxes so I will have to get some addresses from my mom and write you next week! But after that we played games, then I called home, which was awesome. Then I had a nap, then had Spaghetti for dinner! Yay! Then me and Elder Turpin just played games for the rest of the night. It was a good Christmas.

 I bought a pair of Basketball shoes with some of the money that people sent me for my Birthday and can I just say that that is so out of character for me. I don't know if any of you remember, but I HATED basketball before... I still do a little bit. But I'm decent at it, and we play a lot. So I figured I would not break my ankles and buy a decent pair of shoes. So that's fun and stuff!

Not much else happened this week. We had a short lesson with Jason and Dennise on Thursday. We taught them the Gospel, and they would be so good, if they would just go to church! Dang. Oh well. We'll keep at 'em. Anyways, Love you all! Merry Christmas!

Love,

-Elder Jorgensen

Merry Christmas from Pres. & Sis. Anderson

Can you find Elder Jorgensen? 

 {Top picture, 3rd from the right, on the bottom}

Merry Christmas!!!

Merry Christmas!  Today was incredible and emotional, and quite frankly..... magical.  Before I share some of the things we talked about, I have to tell you how excited I was ALL morning.  It actually began last night as I was laying in bed.  I was so giddy with excitement that I had the hardest time falling asleep, much like when I was a kid waiting for Christmas morning.  From the moment I woke up, I had butterflies.   It was surreal for me.  TODAY I was going to talk to my baby...I could hardly contain my excitement! We enjoyed family prayer together, took the traditional "top of the stairs photos," opened our presents, ate a tummy breakfast, and then proceeded to WAIT for the call.  

At 11:27 am, the phone rang.  I jumped up and RAN to the phone.  Hello?  "Merry Christmas Mom."  It has been 154 days since I heard my sweet boy's voice and my heart completely melted.   As I listened to his sweet tender voice, PURE joy filled my soul.  I LOVE that boy so much.

We enjoyed the next hour visiting about life in Upper Darby and Scranton and missionary life in general.  I had my list of questions right there so as too ALWAYS know what to ask next.  :)

Did you know Elder Jorgensen:

1.  shops at Wal-mart?

2.  does his laundry downstairs in the house where he lives?

3.  walks everywhere?

4.  plays Magic on his P-day?

5. plays a lot of basketball?  In fact he bought BASKETBALL SHOES??

6.  had NO plans for Christmas dinner?  He was going to make Mac & Cheese?  (Sad, huh?)

7.   LOVED all the packages he got for Christmas?

8.  LOVED the 20ish boxes of Jello I sent the very BEST?

8.   got a knife pulled on him in Philly and talked the "crazy" guy out of stabbing him??

9.  is in a ward with 600 members but only 150ish are active?

10.  exercises sometimes in the morning?

11.  LOVES his mission and couldn't think of anywhere else he would rather be?

12.  gets along with his companion pretty well?

13.  left his butcher paper family hanging up all over his Upper Darby place for other missionaries to enjoy?

14.  lives in the Pocono Mountains?

15. told his baby sister that ANY boy that wants to date her has to email Cody to ask for permission??He was NOT kidding either.

16.  wanted us to experience the "ghetto" life so he sent home Christmas gifts from a "ghetto" store?

17.  does not like LONG garments.  They hang to his knees.  ;)

18.  can go to the Washington DC temple if a convert they baptize goes?

19.  FINALLY found his camera cord so we should be getting some pictures soon?
20.  has no CENTRAL HEAT in his house?  They use radiators.
21.  prefers city life (complete with the crazies) over country quiet life?

22.  misses EVERYONE and wants everyone to have a very Merry Christmas?

At one point, 38 minutes into our call, his phone died.  NO!!!!!  That can't be how this call was going to end.  Elder Jorgensen quickly called back and said that he lost the signal on his phone.  PHEW!!!!

We continued for about 20 more minutes and then he announced, that his time was about up.  At that point, we were about to have family prayer together when 2 of OUR cordless phones died.   ARE YOU KIDDING ME?  Fortunately, we were also using a regular corded phone so we didn't lose the connection completely.  We all ran upstairs and individually said our good-byes.  I wish I could say I kept it together but as soon as I saw Elder Jorgensen's sweet sister say good-bye with tears streaming down her face, I lost it.  I told him I was trying to be brave but I just couldn't do it.  I told him how I loved him and how very proud I was of him.  I told him that I missed him every single moment of every day and that he is ALWAYS in my heart and my prayers.  He told me that he loved me and that was it.  As I hung up the phone, the flood gates opened and I fell to my knees and thanked my Father in Heaven for blessing our family with such a great kid.  Then Scott and I hugged for a few minutes and everyone went about their day....me with a slightly broken heart again but so very grateful for the gift of hearing Elder Jorgensen's sweet voice on this BEAUTIFUL Christmas Day.

Remind me why we do this again???

Oh, yes I remember....

Because THAT'S what we do.

Couldn't of thought of a more appropriate gift for the Savior on this beautiful

 Christmas Day than to give Him my son for 2 years.

December 23, 2013 ~ Week 22

Merry Christmas!

Hello everyone! So this week... It's been pretty good. One thing about being companions with the district leader is that we go on exchanges a ton! So I was on exchange for most of the week, and to be honest, I don't really remember much of what we did on those days... We did do quite a bit of tracting, so that was fun. Thursday we had our zone Christmas conference, so we drove down in the East Elders car to the Nazareth chapel and we had it there! We watched "Ephraim's Rescue," which by the way is super super good, and I highly encourage everyone watch it. Then there was a talent show... I didn't do anything in it because I'm boring. :) But it was super fun! They brought all of our Christmas presents to it, and Elder Jones in the office likes to pick on me because my mom loves me. :P Which I'm totally fine with. He would make me kneel down and beg for each present I got in front of everyone.  It would have been funnier if it was someone other than me, but I'm me and it was totally fine. So that was great!

 We had church as a ward yesterday rather than in the groups, and can I just say, that we have the most awesome ward leaders ever. They are the most legit ever.  They do so much to make sure that the ward and it's members are taken care of. We watched "Joy to the World" in Sunday School, and that was the first time I ever watched it. It was definitely nothing like I would have expected. It was funny. So then Elder Turpin called home yesterday cause his family was all in town for that day only, (He got permission) So far I have no plans for Christmas besides calling home, but that's the best part right? I'll make sure that Christmas feels like Christmas no matter what happens!  Thursday we are going to the Rieder, Oustrich, Jones, "After Christmas Party." Everyone in our ward is related, so it's pretty much a group Christmas party. I will send some pictures next week when I find my cord. Today for P-day I am going to go buy a pair of Basketball shoes with the money my Grandma and Grandad sent me for my birthday. We are at the library right now, then taking the bus to the Dickson City mall! FUN stuff!  Well everyone...Thank you for your prayers and being awesome! 

During these last few days before Christmas, let us remember:

"Christmas is the spirit of giving without a thought of getting. It is happiness because we see joy in people. It is forgetting self and finding time for others. It is discarding the meaningless and stressing the true values. It is peace because we have found peace in the Savior’s teachings. It is the time we realize most deeply that the more love is expended, the more there is of it for others." —Thomas S Monson

Love you all!

~Elder Jorgensen

December 16, 2013 ~ Week 21

Hello Everyone,
So I'm in my new area.  I am now serving in the Scranton Ward. But, in this ward they decided to break the ward off into a bunch of different 'twigs' because the ward is so spread out. So there are 6 different 'twigs' and each one has a different set of missionaries. I'm serving in the Taylor 'twig' which consists of 3 cities: Taylor, Moosic, and Old Forge. We live on the top floor of a members home. It's pretty nice....the house is more than 100 years old. This place feels like we're in the middle of nowhere. Like honestly it feels like a small town in Utah. Imagine like Nephi or Beaver. 

We only had 2 lessons this week.  THAT is where this area is as far as gators but we will leave it better than when I got here. We are teaching a part member family so that's nice.  We don't have a car, so we have to get rides if we need to go pretty much anywhere. We went to church yesterday, and there were only about 25ish people there. We have church in the group leaders archery shop. It was weird and he (Brother Jones) had me talk for like 10 minutes to fill the time. It is really weird here. There's really not much to do here besides just tracting so that is weird. I never went tracting in my last area so it's a new experience. All in all, that is all that's going on with me! We didn't get much done this week.   I love you all.

~Elder Jorgensen

December 9, 2013 ~ Week 20

Dear Everyone,

So first off, THANK YOU to everyone who sent me Happy Birthday messages! There were 40 of them, but sadly I don't have time to respond to all of them today.  Thank you all for those! They made me happy. 

Now many of you know already, but I am being transferred. I will know Tuesday where I am going. Upper Darby has been fun and all, but I'm ready for something new. I really don't have much to say this week.  Next week I will have a lot more stuff to say though! 

Oh! One thing, We totally taught Santa at Wendy's. No success, but we planted some seeds! I have attached a picture. These past couple days have mostly just been goodbyes and stuff like that.  Please forgive me for this poor letter, but I have birthday stuff to go do! :)  Love you all.

~ Elder Jorgensen

December 2, 2013 ~ Week 19

Hello hello hello! 
Everyone! I have important news to announce! So remember how I'm fat now? I weighed myself the other day for the first time since coming out... and..... I weigh the exact same weight as I did when I came out. Funny right? I totally figured I weighed like 160 lbs. But I do not. So do not worry about me coming home and being all obese and disgusting and eww.... It is not happening! I promise! Since we are on the subject of obesity, however, I do have some announcements to make....

This past Thursday, was a funny day. Apparently it was a day where the mission president doesn't want us to go out proselyting. Strange right? What's even stranger is that early in the morning Elder Pitt and Brown showed up at our apartment and told us that we were going to go play football.... Now you could imagine my confusion. It wasn't P-Day... It was cold outside... Exercise is for fat people.....Nothing was making sense, but I decided to just roll with it. We jogged up West Chester Pike to a park up in Mormonville. Now you could understand my amazement as the entire Elders quorum was there to greet us! Now I was puzzled. I sat there, thought about it, and could not come up to a logical conclusion, so as I do whenever I can't come up with a logical conclusion, I made my own! You see, as I was sleeping Wednesday night, I must have rolled over funny and pinched a nerve in my brain that caused my whole entire understanding of the world to be changed. I also came to the conclusion that I must have just slept for several days. It was really Sunday you see! We were at church in Elders quorum! We weren't at a park. Football was just an analogy or something like that. Who knows? But I decided to just go with it, and hopefully sooner or later my reasoning would return to the way it should be. We played football for a while, then we had chocolate milk and Krispy Kreme doughnuts. A pleasant enough surprise for an Elders quorum lesson. Following our football game (For some reason everyone was calling it a turkey bowl) we headed back to our apartment to shower and change. 

We then headed to church to do some online proselyting! We got a call from Chrislin. He asked us what we were doing and told us to come to his house, and his mother would feed us. So off we went! I'll tell you this, they are from Haiti... They stuffed us. Haitian Turkey, and rice, and mac N' Cheese, purple potato salad, the works! Not your typical meal... But It was delicious! So fun! 

Then we went over to the Colts house as we usually do on Thursday nights. We walked in, and it was just warm and happy. They were all dressed up for some reason, and the table had a nice table cloth over it. There was tons of food sitting in the corner, and them being the Mexicans they are, wouldn't let us stop eating. But it was alright! There was something special about it, all their family was there as well. The room really was full of so much love. That was the part of the day where I started to realize, maybe this day wasn't just another day. It was a day for love, and family, and warmth, and full bellies. I liked this day. I wish it could have happened more often. We left the Colt's home after singing hymn 219 with them. So much happy!!!

 Then we went over to see Donko and his family! (The family from Lao) As we were walking (I was bringing a bowl of blue jello to contribute) we ran into Donko! We found out his nephew was in the hospital and all his family was there with him. So we walked Donko to the hospital. (About a 40 minute walk... wasn't bad.) Donko wasn't in the best mind set, and he made it seem like L-smith (The nephew) was dying. He said that he was in a coma and all sorts of bad things. We kept Donko calm though, and we taught him a bit. We got to the hospital, and it was just food poisoning. But seeing their family, gathered around L-Smith, was touching. They were so grateful that he was alright... that nothing was wrong. There was so much love in that room. It made me think about the past day, and what was important. The love I felt throughout the day, from the Elders quorum playing football, to Donko being worried about his nephew, was all centered around FAMILY. 

There is no greater love and happiness that can exist on this earth than that which can be found in families. Whether it be your church family, your quorum family, your extended family, your immediate family, or just you and your cat, family is the most important and sacred gift our Heavenly Father has given to us. I'm so grateful I get to spend the rest of eternity with the family I have, and the family I will one day have. So in honor of this amazing day I had, and the love that was felt therein, I, Elder Jorgensen, hereby declare that the 4th Thursday of every November be named FamilyLoveFoodDay. A day where we give thanks for the love that we have in our families, and eat lots of food. Now I'm pretty sure my brain got fixed after that night, so that's all good. Felicity and Cynthia are doing alright. They are taking it step by step, but I have the utmost faith that they will gain that testimony. I can see it happening. Slowly but surely. I'm so grateful. I love all of you! 'Til next week!

-Elder Jorgensen.

November 25, 2013 ~ Week 18

So hello. Hello everyone! This week has been fantastic! 

Tuesday I went on exchange with the zone leaders, the one I was with, I will not say his name...He desperately needs a chill pill. He seriously stressed me out so bad.  I don't claim to be perfect, and I know that there are so many things that I need to be better at, but there are so many missionaries that work themselves to death, and they stress themselves out and burn out. I DO want to work as hard as I can, but I have limits. I'm stressed enough without only spending 15 minutes a day to eat. CrAzY! But I got over it! 

So this week we had an awesome new investigator named Felicity. She is ACTUALLY investigating the church. She isn't someone we are TRYING to teach, she actually wants to know. It is so nice. She has questions, she READS the scriptures we give her. So nice! Love it! She is progressing nicely. We taught her the Restoration, and she accepted it mostly.  She had some questions and we brought her a French Book of Mormon. So excited. Cynthia is doing alright.   We've been reading with her, and she is doing so much better. Francis, Felicity, and Cynthia all came to church on Sunday, and then they all came to the baptism right afterwards, so that was super great. We'll see how they loved it soon. 

So for Thanksgiving we are basically having Thanksgiving around the world.  We are eating at the Colts house and then we are eating at a less active families house from Lao. So that will be fun. In the morning we are playing football. #TurkeyBowl   The Monday after Thanksgiving we are going to King of Prussia mall..... look it up.   It should be fun. 

Gotta go. Love you all.

~Elder Jorgensen

Oh, P.S. I am a boss at raking leaves. In like 30 minutes, I raked 13 bags of leaves at the ice skating rink.   Then we got Wendy's. Wendy's is our HAPPY place. Whenever you go into Wendy's you forget you are in the awful awful place that is Philly. It is a good place. I will talk to you all next week!

November 18, 2013 ~ Week 17

Hey Everyone,
I'm almost out of time so this will have to be quick...

So this week has been pretty great. We started the week off and we had 9 member presents planned. I was super excited, but then a bunch fell through and we only had 5. Sometimes It feels like when we put the most work into it we get the least results, but 5 is still great! I think it's the standard of excellence so that's good. This week we did have a referral we got from Elder Bufford. The guy was in a shelter, but we managed to find him. We talked to the people there and they let us have a room to talk to him in. He went around and gathered a bunch of other people living in the shelter to come listen, and because of that we now have 4 people that want to be baptized. That was a super humbling experience. I loved it.   Cynthia didn't get baptized this week. She really wants to be baptized, she just isn't ready yet. So we will see how she does!

One other experience we had this last week was with Bobsie. She is an older lady that the Holloways found. They came teaching with us and it was hard because she would always interrupt, not because she was being rude but just because she wanted to talk. She was open to us teaching her, but it was hard.  We are seeing her again and we will be better though! So that's this week!

 All is well in Zion! I'm doing super great, and got to run! Love you all!

~Elder Jorgensen

{Note from mom....I received an email from the mission home requesting that all CHRISTMAS PACKAGES being sent to Elder Jorgensen, go through the Mission Home.  They also would also like them there by December 6th so that they can be sure everything is delivered.  Transfers are on December 10th.  Meeting that deadline will assure that  Elder Jorgensen receives your package at the time his zone's packages are delivered.  So...if you are planning on sending Elder Jorgensen something for Christmas, send it to the following address.  Thanks!}

Elder Cody Jorgensen

Pennsylvania Philadelphia Mission 

721 Paxon Hollow Road Suite B

Broomall, PA 19008

Be sure to write:  MERRY CHRISTMAS on the outside so they know it's for Christmas.  ;)

ALSO...FYI....Elder Jorgensen's birthday is December 9th.  I am sure he would LOVE a "Happy Birthday" email/message from YOU.  ;)

This Momma's Prayers Were Answered

• Dear Brother and Sister Jorgensen,
• My name is Sister S and my husband and I have had the privilege of getting to know your Elder Jorgensen. It has been such a blessing to have him in our home and serving our little Philadelphia 4th ward. With that said, I wanted to thank you for being great parents and having the courage to raise your children the best you know how. Your hard work, many tears, sleepless nights, and prayers to Heavenly Father has such sweet pay out. Every time your son mentions mom or home, the unconditional love his family has for him shines through. I see the great strength and support that is to your Elder Jorgensen and how it enables him to be a better servant of the Lord. We had the Upper Darby elders (Elder Jorgensen) and the West Philly elders over tonight for “brinner.” It was a little extra fun from the normal especially throwing in the spiritual message Elder Jorgensen gave. It was a new rendition of Dr. Seuss’s “Green Eggs and Ham” that I had never heard of before. You’ll have to ask him about it. I want you to know when the missionaries come into my home I always try to feed them like I would hope someone would feed my son. So know Momma Jorgensen, there is another momma out there looking out for your baby. He looks good, carries the spirit with him, you can be proud. We have a nine month old baby boy. It is only our hope and prayer that he can grow up to be a missionary like any of the four young elders we had at our dinner table tonight. As a parent it’s a crazy experience to bring your first baby home from the hospital, little alone imagining sending them off on their mission. Life, family, and being a parent is a beautiful thing when encompassed in the gospel. Thank you for being good examples. We have not lived in Philadelphia long. Actually the first time we met Elder Jorgensen was the day he helped us move into our row home here. Wow, we’re we grateful to see the missionaries that day! Just a few things I think of when I think of your Elder Jorgensen. Eats a lot, and whenever possible lots of gravy, and cool whip. Grinning from ear to ear and saying the word “magical” when he was handed an Oreo shake. Always a light heart and positive outlook on any day. A strong testimony of the gospel and always a willing hand to serve. Following the rules. A great sense of humor, and always a good story. Sharing spiritual thoughts, church books, Pumpkin chocolate chip cookie recipes, or CDs like Gospel Cowgirl and Star Child. Most importantly, thanks again for being great parents and raising such a fine young man. “For they had been taught…they did not doubt and their mothers knew it.” I hope you didn’t mind my abrupt drop in and sporadicalness of my letter. Have a good night! Love, Bro. and Sis. S

November 11, 2013 ~ Week 16

ATTENTION EVERYONE! MY NAME IS ELDER JORGENSEN. I AM A MISSIONARY FOR THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS, SERVING IN THE PHILADELPHIA PENNSYLVANIA MISSION. I LOVE THE GOSPEL. It is perfect, it is sincere, it is a gospel of love, and I love being able to spend every single second of every single day sharing it with those around me. 

The past week has been trying, as my own weaknesses and imperfections shined brightly. I could never do enough, but that is a lie. All that is expected, all that is required is that I do all I can. After I do all that I can, the Lord fills in the rest. People still have the choice to accept what the spirit teaches through me, but as long as I can feel the spirit testifying through me, it doesn't matter what happens. I've done my job. But this past week has been pretty meh. We had a lot of appointments fall through, but we got a few new good investigators, so that is good. Cynthia didn't come to church though so I'm a little bit nervous to see if she will be ready for next week. Who knows? I have faith. 

It is getting colder here, and I love it. I hate when it's hot and muggy. Philly is always crazy and it's always sad to see the quality of lives people are living that don't have the gospel. It really does make such a huge difference in the lives and happiness of people. I apologize for the shortness of this letter.

~Elder Jorgensen

{Short but sweet BUT I got a picture.  It's a good day!}

November 4, 2013 ~ Week 15

Hey... 

I just typed week 13 into the subject bar... that is like... month 4........ weird. {It's actually been 15 weeks since he left.  That's where the month 4 comes from.}

So I have my new companion! His name is Elder Steven Haskell. He is from South Jordan! He only has 2 transfers left on his mission so chances are I'm going to kill him. (Be his last companion)  I'm SUPER excited to be working with him, and he is a super cool/chill Elder.

It's awesome how much the work here has picked up. It's a big responsibility though with how much responsibility is put on me taking over the area. This week I have made basically every single decision about everything and it is a very humbling experience indeed. I've received all the more resolve to work harder because of it!

So how things are going in our area: Cynthia is doing so super good. She is 100% going to be ready for her date on the 17th! Everyone that has been praying for her.  THANK YOU!  The Colts are still solid and going strong. I am forever getting fatter and lazier. Due only to my laziness, all I have eaten this week is pancakes, cereal, french toast sticks, frozen burritos, and quesadillas... But I am going to the store today... And I am going to buy real food. YES REAL FOOD. That way I will slow my conversion to fat personness. {Not sure what that means.}

So My mom sent me a picture of me at 7 peaks before my mission. Did any of you know me back then? Yeah, I always figured I was arrogant as none other back then, but did you see my chest? I did not have enough pride in that thing. Shortly after seeing the picture I went in the bathroom, looked in the mirror, then decided it really is best that missionaries never go swimming or are NEVER in a situation where they have their shirt off because I would probably be mocked and laughed at. Now this really isn't that important. I'm just trying to make my letter somewhat entertaining.

I got my 100th Day package from my mom.  I LOVED the book of 100 pictures.  I loved it SO much! It was honestly the best thing ever. It made me kind of sad though.  Don't get me wrong,  I loved the pictures so much. So so much, and loved seeing all my friends, but it also just a little bit made me realize how few of them I talk to anymore. I wish I could get an email from them, or something. Some acknowledgment that they even know I'm still alive. Oh well. I am happy because my mom is great, my sister is great, my brother is great, and my dad is great, and my BEST FRIEND IS GETTING BAPTIZED!  I LOVE BRANDI SO MUCH!

Well, that's it for this week.  It is insane to me how fast my first 100 days has gone.  I love the work and I am so happy to be here.

-Elder Jorgensen

{Note from mom....THANK YOU to those of you who take the time to write to Elder Jorgensen.  I know he is very grateful.  It makes my heart sad to think he thinks his friends have forgotten him. I know you haven't...I got 100 pictures from his peeps who love him.  ;)  PLEASE, if you have a minute, just drop him a quick note and let him know you are thinking about him.  THANKS!}

100th Day....HIP HIP HOORAY!

100 Days ago today, I said "Good-Bye" to my baby boy for 2 whole years. I cannot believe how incredibly hard it has been, but at the same time how fast these past 100 days have flown by...TRULY a tender mercy from a very loving Heavenly Father. Here's to hoping the next 630 days goes JUST as fast. 

Happy 100th Day!

I LOVE YOU Elder Jorgensen... to the MOON and BACK!

***I never posted MTC pictures so here they are.  My head was in a haze that day.  I spent most the previous night crying and secretly laying in his bed watching him sleep.  What would I do without him for 2 years?  We didn't even take a family picture before he left.  DANG IT!

MTC- Mother's Torture Curb  ;)  The whole "drop off" literally was MAYBE 2 minutes.  The sweet Host Missionaries had the trunk open before we even had a chance to get out of the car.  It was such a whirlwind 2 minutes.  We never even got a picture hugging him.  

 And just like that....he was off to serve the Lord.  NEVER did he look back.  Head Up.  Eyes Forward.  Determined.  Focused. Committed. READY!

Return with Honor Elder Jorgensen!

October 28, 2013 ~ Week 14

Hey everyone!

Today is kind of a rushed day because we are going to Center City to go shopping/sight seeing because Elder Kitsell and Elder Hopkins are both being transferred.  We are also going to the mall today.  I'm probably going to buy a board game or something to play, because we have to be in our apartment by 5 PM on Halloween.  So because that is happening I need to hurry...

This week has been pretty good. I am not being transferred, but like I said, Elder Hopkins is. Transfer meeting is tomorrow morning. Elder Pitt in West Philly is training....that means my new companion will be the district leader. Which I'm nervous for because I really really really really really really really really really really really really want my next companion to be a great, hardworking, obedient missionary.  {I know that the Lord will give me the companion I need.}

We recommitted Cynthia to a baptismal date on Nov 17th, and I'm pretty sure she will be ready by then. I'm so excited for her! Besides that, we are teaching a less active member's father tomorrow which is super exciting!

 I am running short on time, but thanks for all the prayers and letters. I love you all dearly!

~Elder Jorgensen

Sunday Dinner

There are so many times that I stop and really miss my boy.  Sunday dinner is the worst.  

October 21, 2013 ~Week 13

"Hey there everyone!
So this week has been awesome and exciting! Firstly I will begin with Thursday. So me and Elder Pitt went on exchange over in West Philly. Exchanges with Elder Pitt are my favorite because we work crazy hard during them, and we always see awesome miracles. This Thursday was especially full of miracles. We had one lesson scheduled for the day, but we called the person in the morning and we ended up having to cancel the appointment. So Elder Pitt made the decision to go visit a media referral that they had been attempting to contact for several weeks, but were unable to talk to, and was about to drop. So we head out...miss the bus. Wait 20 minutes for the next bus. Then we end up getting off at the wrong stop. Then as we are walking down the street we hear, "HEY ELDER JORGENSEN"! We found the source of the call, and lo and behold, it is Nathan sitting on his balcony, literally two houses over from the media referral. Now I don't remember if I've told you much about Nathan but he is someone Elder Hopkins and I met several weeks before outside the church, and we've had a couple meetings with him at the church. He's going through some very hard times right now and after me and Elder Pitt went in to talk to him we learned that that previous night he had knelt down and prayed for a sign from God that He would help Nathan in his trials. Then we also learned that Nathan was supposed to be at work, but that he was running super late. Nathan told us that we were his sign from God. It truly is amazing that as long as we are obedient and working hard, our Heavenly Father always places us exactly where He wants us to be to do the work we have been placed here to do for Him. Later that day, Elder Pitt and I got very lost. We ended up in the middle of a forest, hiking along a trail that our map said led to a road we needed to get to. Sadly, we had to turn around. I took pictures though! It was exciting! We saw horses in the middle of West Philly!

Horses in West Philly!

Lost in the Forest...{I think they need the Liahona.}

                             

{Elder Pitt}

                                                                      

{Random picture of Elder Jorgensen and Elder Hopkins}

Another awesome experience was that on Sunday the Colts got baptized! I was so excited for them, and it was so cool to see how happy their dad was to do it. Families really are the most important thing in the world, and the gospel helps them be closer together than they ever could be, and I'm so grateful for that. Being on a mission is the best! I love you all!"

{The Colts, Elder Hopkins, & Elder Jorgensen}

~Elder Jorgensen

P.S Transfers are this upcoming week, and there is a good chance that I will be moving.  I won't know until Friday. But I spent all this morning responding to all the letters I have accumulated so I'm dropping them in the mail today, but if anyone sends me anything this week, send it to the mission office so I can be sure to get it if I leave.

Elder Cody Scott Jorgensen

721 Paxon Hollow Road  Suite B 

BROOMALL, PENNSYLVANIA 19008-3423 

UNITED STATES

{Note from mom....now THAT'S my boy!  LOVE that he sent so many pictures this week.  He finally figured out Dropbox and he unloaded his camera.  There were a lot of MTC pictures that I will post later.  THANKS for supporting Elder Jorgensen.  I KNOW that it helps and sustains him.}

This Week's Blogstalking Find

Not exactly sure the nature of this picture but I am guessing that this is a WELCOME to Elder Kitsell...
Their new district leader.

October 15, 2013 ~ Week 12

"Hey everyone!

So first off, I would like to begin this letter with a disclaimer, I am bouncing off the walls hyper right now. I don't know why. I just am. So yeah... This week.... Has Been AWESOME!  We had milkshake madness. By we, I mean Elder Pitt and I while we were on exchange. It has been cold and rainy this whole week. I have been writing this email for seriously 20 minutes... So that is how I am doing today. During milkshake madness I made cookie dough and put it in the milkshakes. Milkshake madness is an awesome tradition we have. I like milkshake madness. 

During this week we found out that Cynthia's work schedule changed so she works on Sundays. We had to postpone her baptismal date. She still wants to be baptized though. She's progressing really nicely. The Colts are getting baptized this Sunday, so that is awesome!  It has been super fun to go around in the rain this week. Francis was at church this week! She's the 70 year old Liberian lady. It was funny because Sister Bim (Awesome Nigerian lady) just grabbed Francis and took her around with her to all the classes. It was so great! 

The scripture I have been thinking the most about this week has been Moses 1:39:

'For behold, this is my work and my glory- to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.'

It really has so many deep amazing meanings when you actually think about it. It reaffirms everything that the gospel is. I love it so much. 

Well, I have got to go. I have now spent an hour on this email... Sorry for my struggles.

~Elder Jorgensen

P.S.  Attached are some fat person pictures.

{Note from Mom....I have NO idea what has possessed this boy of mine.  Talk about random thoughts this week.  And where are the pictureS???  This is the only one he sent me.  LOVE that boy but his letter is a little cRaZy this week.  I think it is hilarious that in my letter, he asked me to send him some wrestling pictures of him so everyone could see that he used to be skinny.  My reply....I'll send you some pictures when YOU send me some pictures so everyone could see that you are alive!  HA!  On a serious note.  I am truly happy and content to get ANY kind of letter from my missionary.  I know there are a couple missionary moms out there who would have given anything to get a letter from their missionary this P-Day.  LOTS of love and thoughts and prayers for the family of Elders Page and Elder Kunz.  "Well done, thou good and faithful servants!"}

October 7, 2013 ~ Week 11

"Hello everyone!

This has been my 9th week in the mission field, although it feels like it's been 10,000 weeks. It also feels like it's been 1 week. Did you know there are 103,245 billion squirrels in Philly. Yes. I know. That is a lot of squirrels. I like the squirrels because they run around hopping like bunnies. I like bunnies. I wish there were more bunnies here. I'll settle for the squirrels though. This week has been very, very, very long. 

Monday we went down to Center City to see all the sights and stuff. To be honest, I was cranky. That stuff just isn't appealing to me. I would rather do other things on P-Day... like take a nap... or eat... Have I mentioned how fat I'm getting? There is something called the PPM plague. Rapid weight gain. It's very possible I've either caught it, or am catching it. The rest of the week has been pretty standard. 

One super great thing, was that I was able to go on exchange with Elder Kitsell, (District Leader) for Thursday-Friday. I was super excited because we were staying in my area and we had 4 lessons planned. I was also super excited because I learned a whole bunch with Elder Kitsell because I was able to make a ton of mistakes. It really is so nice to be able to fail every once in a while. The next day (Friday) we had 3 lessons planned, and they all fell through, except for one... with Rammond... He's a less active we found a while ago. He's been inactive for like 20 years and he came up and talked to us. He's been through some very hard times, and in Philly that often means drugs are involved. It's so sad to see how he can't even have a conversation with us that makes any sense. We talked about how the matrix is involved with Michaelangelo and that's why he needs to read his scriptures. We also talked about how his friend was attempting to turn him into something else, and how he could stop her by bringing her to conference. Yeah... That's how it goes. The rest of that day was a mess. But I became more fully committed to my missionary work by actually working. It was so nice. Me and Elder Kitsell get along really well. He says I'm a younger version of him, and I say he's a more feminine version of me. :P

Conference was great. We were at the church basically all day. We went out to eat in between. I absolutely loved how much better it was to watch conference as a missionary. {Elder Dube's talk was my favorite.   He's from Nigeria. That's how lots of people here talk.}  I can't wait to go re read all the talks and remember what they all actually talked about. I'm doing fantastic in other words. Love you all!"

-Elder Jorgensen