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!