No more Brick buildings

		April 27, 2011

Well another week has yet again flown by! Its crazy how fast it all goes these days. As you may or may not have heard I'm headed to Sweden on Sunday! Can you say CRAZY! I'm so excited nervous and all around ahh! (thats the only way to describe it) We have to meet at the travel office at the MTC at 5 am on sunday then our flight leaves from SLC for JFK at 8:50 am we will get there at 3:31 and leave from there at 6:50 for Stockholm and arrive there 9:35 am! Wow thats going to be a fun day! We have mixed feelings about sitting together or not. We kinda want to do some contacting and such! It's weird but I feel it too. We have decided that we are going to say Hello to everyone we walk passed until then and of course on the plane. It will be interesting.

I can't email pictures home until i'm in sweden but I certainly will once there :) I love getting pictures, they really help :) thank you!

I have recieved both stephs package and the one from David and Megan, thank you guys so much for all of the support! I certainly didnt expect anything like that but I loved it! Thank you!

Our last two devotionals were AWESOME! We had Elder Richard G. Scott last week and then Yesterday guess who we had?!! :) My Favorite! any guesses? Elder Dallin H. Oaks! :) I was so excited! Sister Vistaunet and I sang in the choir and Sister DeTinne-Cassel sat super close. He talked of the three challenges we must do. We must Change- work hard all day, be diligent and repentant. We must Achieve- we must learn a new language, learn missionary skills, teach by the spirt and learn lots. We must also Become- We must make these things that we must learn, change and achieve and make them apart of our lives. I invite you all to look at your life and see where you can apply these three principles and "make that change" a lyric from somewhere. Not important but :) Willl you all please do that? I know that when you do you will be able to have the spirit with you more fully and be able to decern what you can do to become closer to Christ. My testimony of this gospel has grown expontentially since being here and I hope that we can all keep our testimonies growing that way. i know that it won't just come and that we have to nourish it with the scriptures every day and every sunday by going to church and being active. The Lord will help those who first help themselves. We are blessed after all we can do. Have you done all that you can do?

This MTC experience has been great, I've learned so much, developed friendships that I never thought I would, I've felt the strength of prayer and been strengthened by those prayers given by all of you. Thank you so much for your love and support! Next email comes from sweden :) I'm excited and nervous, more on the nervous end. I keep reminding myself four days is practically a work week, I can get alot done in a work week :) but my companions are AWESOME and ready to go! I love you all so much Keep the support coming as this shall be interesting- and tough!

Love

Systeritos!

Getting Close to Flying off to Sweden!

Here are three emails from the last three weeks.  Look for more pics soon! =) Happy Easter!!

Email received on
Apr 6, 2011

Vanner! (Friends!)

I'm super excited to write this week but yet again this silly timer thing gets in the way lol. Its nerve wracking but I will write anyway! :) Wasn't General Conference amazing!!! I thought it would be a relaxed sort of day at the MTC but I felt the spirit so strong it was overwhelming most of the day! I even napped while the sun was up before dinner for like 10 minutes lol! What talk spoke to you? I think the main points I got from General Confrence was that we need to do a lot more service, to love everyone no matter what and to serve even more. Its exactly what Christ did through out his life. His purpose was to serve, as should ours be. We talked a lot throughout our class time and such about our purpose and how it pertains to life during the mission as well as after the mission. We need to serve everyone everyday as much as we can, that is one sure way we can bring them to know more of Christ by exemplifying that in our own lives.

Another thing I learned this week was about the importance of the Holy Ghost. Without the Holy Ghost you cannot and won't teach. We had some contention in our companionship while we were planning for our investigator and we couldn't even plan with the spirit until we discussed what was going on and figured out how to fix it. The Holy Ghost is amazing. You should all study the table in PMG about the Holy Ghost and how to recognize it in your own lives. Its helped me so much to do that throughout this experience! Will you please study the Holy Ghost and strive to serve others more fervently? There are so many blessings Heavenly Father wants to give us but if we do not as and strive for them he cannot give them to us. So ask! That means all of you should pray! I want you all, everyone! The whole 6 people this goes to to Pray for Help from Heavenly Father for whatever it is that you are going through. He is there and well strengthen you as longs as you come unto him and ask! Will you please pray? It won't hurt and will infact help tremendously as I have seen it work throughout my life and it continues to amaze me how much Prayer helps.

Anyway, did you get to see the inbetweener thing on The MTC? Oh my goodness if not you missed out! Definitely look for it its called An Army of Faith: Inside the MTC by KSL I believe But I think I'm in the choir shot at the end! :) Lol Its exactly what we do everyday! So watch it and you'll know! I loved it

How was Disneyland Family? Did you take pictures for me? :) How is Gma? How is she feeling about things? I miss her dearly and want to write her a letter. Should I just send it to Mom? I'm not sure I may just do that! lol random thought!

I'm so thankful for this opportunity I've been given to serve as an instrument to Heavenly Father and To help others come unto Christ. Its an amazing situation to be here and sing with all of the other missionaries here! The sprit carried when we all (2,000) of us sing Called to Serve is absolutely something to be felt. I love it. I'm so thankful for the knowledge that we have been given through the Lord's Prophets passed and present! They most defintely know how to lead and guide us on the Earth today! No matter the circumstance the answers can be found in General Confrence addresses or even other addresses. I loved attending General Confrence with my Companions and talking with them afterwards. I hope that you all have an opportunity to share what you learned from confrence with someone! :) You can always send them to me! I'd love to share my notes. Ill get them copied and sent out here today or Friday! I miss you all so much Thank you for your letters and your support! You are all in my prayers and we as missionaries pray so much! The Power of prayer is amazing and defintiely a force to be experimented with! What's stopping you from praying? Think about it? He is our Loving Heavenly Father and wants you to pray! I want you to pray! I promise that peace and hope come from praying with a sincere heart! please Pray

I love you all!

Love

Syster Juker



Email Received Apr 13, 2011

Min Familj och Vannerar!
The MTC experience flies by, i've mentioned it before but there is seriously a time warp thing you get into while here. Time goes by so fast and each day speeds up a little. Its crazy but I love it. Today has been awesome, we had our service day change last week so now we do service on P-day, but we love it way more. The lady who was in charge of us before really was grumpy and being there at 630 am myself didn't make for very happy communication on either of our parts. We now wake up and do laundry at 630 eat and do personliga studier while our clothes are washing then continue after we change it. I have loved today, so far its the best way of doing things, seeing as we haven't done the same schedule on pday since arriving here.

Speaking of arriving here!!! I'm so excited to know that Syster Blackham will be here .I've already talked to my komrater so that we can tala (talk) and contakt (contact) her pa Svenska iday (in swedish today) I just hope we get to see eachother. Both my komrater know someone or can find someone in common with almost anyone we talk to. Its pretty awesome. Yesterday we were studying before tuesday devotional and Syster Vistaunets family drove by and she got to see them it was pretty awesome but she definitely started tearing up it was cute. I gave her a hug.

The tough times are behind us as a companionship I think. we have worked out our bugs and are working on fine tuning our teaching machine. The last couple days we have really realized that having the spirit is ESSENTIAL in life. No matter what you are doing! You must be worthy and willing to act as the Holy Ghost prompts you!

Tuesday devotional was awesome as President Ronald A. Rasband came and spoke to oss on just that. He gave us three things to do so that we are living worthy always of the Holy Ghost! 1) Bridle your passions, just as a bridle works on a horse we must be always aware and obedient to the Lord's counsel via scriptures, GENERAL CONFERENCE!, and the Holy Ghost. We must keep our passions in check so that they do not interfere with what the Lord has in store for us. 2) We must Garnish our thoughts- Don't allow your mind to wander always think of virutious things and it will add beauty and delight to your actions just as a garnish on a perfectly plated meal. 3) We must ASK! Yup again I hit the prayer button! You just need to do it, sincerely and full heartedly. No matter what is going on YOU ARE STRENGTHENED THROUGH PRAYER! I so have a testimony of that. Recently we came to realize that we have disunity in our district. One of our Elders really doesn't like Syster DeTinne-Cassel or I and he likes to talk about oss. I really had a hard time not confronting him. Before the devotional we sang as prelude "Did you think to pray?" can you say reality stick! Yup I knew what I had to do, since praying I've been able to let it go and just be kind- you know the cliche Kill them with kindness? Yup thats me :)

Another thought but this was brought to you by yours truely. I've been doing the activities in Preach My Gospel, one was talking of the Holy Ghost and then the thought came to mind, obviously not mine but the Holy Ghost. We must be as microphones not as CD's. A CD cannot play anything but what has been recorded onto it. We can't teach like that we have to know for ourselves and teach through the Spirit as he guides us! Its amazing what the spirit can do when we just open our mouths. I had a great experience in our zone teach where I just started pieceing together sentences in swedish and I knew what to say through the spirit It was awesome.

So my challenge this week is to strive to live more worthy of the Holy Ghost. Note: With each challenge the previous challenge remains. So keep up the service and the prayers. I know that you will be strengthened and that Heavenly Father will bless you even when you don't really recognize it!

I love you all! Keep up the good work and support! I love the letters and dearelders! :) they make me happy! almost as happy as when one of our investigators accepted a baptismal date :) lol

Love

Syster Juker

Email Received Apr 20, 2011

Oi Oi Oi! Elva dagen innian vi ga til Sverige!

I'm super excited about it but I'm nervous as well. ;)

Well I got lots of news! Tmrw we are getting our flight plans to go to Sweden! I can't even fathom it at this point. Its like around the corner and I have not yet mastered Swedish. lol Like I would have anyways :Pj But Its been awesome. We have all grown so much. I think I just recently realized that my companions are my friends. Its weird to think about but at first I was super hesitant to be myself around them but now they have caught on to my sense of humor and my sayings. I love hearing Sister Vistaunet saying "That maketh me Laugh!" My companions are awesome. We had rough spots but we have all really opened up to each other so its way good!



Thanks Mom and Dad for the packages :) The bunnies were way cute :) expect pictures soon. The hole punches and grass got everywhere but it was part of the adventure! Thank you all for thinking of me and writing me and praying for me. I feel the strength coming from everyone and Its much appriciated.



We just finished service in 1M (that's where the Luke lady works) She kept staring at me while we were hookeying the hall. I just smiled and waved. She then came out and told me how much I look like Mom when she was a teenager. I don't even know how we are related but I told her thank you because Mom is beautiful :)



Last Nights devotional was AMAZING! Elder Richard G. Scott came and talked to us. He is amazing. He spoke on the importance of many different aspects of our lives regarding the gospel. He stressed the importance of going to the temple with our families. :) We gotta work on that one! I know we can all do it! He spoke about the importance of keeping track of what we hear, see, and feel while we study the scriptures and recording those impressions. Sort of in reference to his quote in PMG that is from him, though he never mentioned it. He talked to us about Enos and how our prayers need to be much more earnest and sincere. We will be blessed as we come unto God through Christ in prayer and always pour out our hearts. I think of the conversations I have with my close friends and my parents sometimes and then compare that to my prayers. I think that its just that important if not more, that we treat our relationship with our Heavenly Father as we would our own close friend. He is our Loving Father, he WANTS to hear from us He is begging us to just get ON OUR KNEES and PRAY! Its so important. Before coming on this mission I had a testimony of prayer. I felt Heavenly Father listening as I prayed with my full heart. I know that he listens and that sometimes the answers don't come the way we want them to or they take time but thats the thing, we have all the time we need. He is in charge of this life and he already has a plan laid out for us. If we come unto him he will show us the way and light our path. anyway Systeritos rambles again :)



To continue Elder Scott answered all of my questions throughout his talk. With the approaching departure date coming closer I realize the need to learn as much as possible as fast as possible and retain it all. Pretty much a big not going to happen, especially with Swedish. Its been a worry because I have a testimony but if i can't communicate it whats the point. Ya know? Well while he was speaking he kinda went off his notes and asked us who of all of us were learning a language. We raised our hands to show him and he gave us an apostalic blessing for the gift of tongues. One of the Elders going to Norway is close family friends with Elder Scott so he got to have dinner and talk with him. He also has gone and driven Elder Scott different places. This event wasn't something that normally goes on. He was impressed by the spirit to do it and I am thankful. He said that it will be a help and support and that we stil have to study but it will be easier because we even more have the Lord on our side.



This weekend is Easter weekend. We found a great video, Mormon Messages on Christ. President Monson bears testimony of Christ at the end. I challenge you all to find that video because I can't link it on hear and remember and FOCUS ON CHRIST THIS EASTER. He is the central part to our life on Earth. He is the only way we can return to live as families forever in God's presence. I'm so thankful that he did all that He did do for me and for everyone. My heart is full whenever I think of him and the Testimony I have been blessed with. Will you please EVERYONE watch that video?



I love you all!

Ill respond letters today and get them sent!

Love Syster Juker

E-mail # 3 From the MTC

From: Jennifer Juker <jennifer.juker@myldsmail.net>
Date: Wed, Mar 30, 2011 at 9:27 AM
Subject: A month!

Hej manniskorna!

Its been a month but it barely seems like a day. I love the work and the study time is awesome. I had my second RPM yesterday with Brother Harris. It was pretty cool. I've made connection with all of my teachers but not him. So It was nice to just have a conversation about how things were going and how the teachers were doing and how we all can improve. Its an interesting concept this telling everyone about your problems. I'm not all that hip to it but I'm working on it. Especially during companionship inventory and RPMs. lol

This past Sunday was amazing! It was a spiritual feast! No matter what meeting I was in the spirit was strong and so many notes were taken. I am very excited to share my notes with everyone but a little hesitant to send them anywhere. I may just make copies and send those that way instead of the book. lol ramble sorry. Mission Conference is on fast Sundays, we had wonderful speakers and the spirit was strong. MTC President Brown went through with us the atonement and all that Christ went through after having atoned for our sins in Gethsemane. IT was awesome! that was just one of the talks. Ill send copies to mom and she can send them to you guys they are just awesome!!!! We got challenges left and right to improve ourselves and all that jazz. I'm super excited for this next month and all the things I can focus on.

This week we have had so much planned everyday its been awesome we have 5 investigators we teach throughout the week 2 which are our teachers and the rest are missionaries here. We met a Syster who is going to be leaving next week for temple square but she is from Sweden so we have set up a few times where she will teach us in English and we will teach her is Svenska. Next week will be our first TRC completely in Svenska! I'm super nervous but oh so excited as well.

Sherry Dew gave a talk here in the MTC a while ago and we saw it Sunday night. It is what really hit me that day. She spoke about the importance of heeding the counsel from the prophets. She gave examples and dealt deeply with how what we focus on becomes what we look for and part of our lives. It was awesome. Try and find it if not ill send  notes :) I'm still a note taker. lol She gives the parable of the Gorilla! Its awesome. My challenge to you all this week is to heed the counsel of the prophets and to keep a straight focus on what really matters most. The Family and the Gospel. Be the best you can be and you will be blessed no matter how hard it is. Just keep improving!

I love you all! You are all in my prayers, keep doing as the Lord would do in EVERY situation! You never know who is watching you and how you will effect the way they live their lives!

Love,

Syster Juker!

Syster Juker's 2nd emailfrom the Provo MTC

 From: Jennifer Juker <jennifer.juker@myldsmail.net>

Date: March 23, 2011

Friends!!! :)

The MTC is great. I know Elder Juker wrote that all the time but its so true! This week was a bit of a struggle. I had a rough time with the language and felt that I would learn things and then the next day wouldnt remember a thing. But then it was brought to my attention that I've been here 3 weeks today, and I can do so much already. We just have to really rely on the Lord and the Holy Ghost to get us through things. If we are doing all that we can do he will make up the difference. Thats what the atonement is for. No matter how down in the dumps we feel, the Savior has been there too. Alma 7:11-13 has really helped me when times are tough. A lot of people think of the Atonement as just for sin and when we fall short. I'm so thankful that it is there for that reason but even more so when I'm feeling down. I mean. You guys know me, I've never been one to do much on the ways of major sin. So in that regards I'm still learning but I know that through this scripture Christ suffered for everything that makes us upset or makes us feel uneasy. We just need to take it upon ourselves to realize that we need Him in our lives and come unto him and he will give us rest. I know that I need that rest in my life or else I might die. lol

A few times this week I've been thinking on how I can be a better missionary but then it hit me to read a letter I got from Elder Juker. He said that by himself he is a horrible missionary. But thankfully God is there to let him be one and Christ is there with the Holy Ghost to help him be a great missionary and tool. This week I've really realized how much missionaries rely on the spirit. Its crazy to think that people everywhere let young men and women in their homes to teach them. It has to be through the spirit or else it wouldn't make any sense. We must show we care and be real with people. We have to make connections that will last and help people to realize that they need the gospel in their lives. No matter the situation everyone needs Christ. We cannot obtain eternal life with God and Jesus Christ without him. There is a call for missionary work. We must answer it at home, in our own lives as well as here in the mission field. We are ALL God's children and he definitely wants us all back with him one day. Will you please try to do this in all you do? I know that if you do, the Lord will bless you and you will be able to feel for yourself the truthfulness of this Gospel!

I hope that everything is going on well back at home. I really miss you all! I think I've lost half my brain capacity and can't remember addresses. So If you have some that I need send them my way. I really need Dad's address and email. I can't remember it and don't have a way to get it besides in a letter or dearelder.

Letters from home and around the world really keep me going. Please keep it up. I love you all so much thank you for your love and support! You guys rock! Keep it up.

Love Syster Juker

Syster J2 March 23

Friends!!! :)

The MTC is great. I know Elder Juker wrote that all the time but its so true! This week was a bit of a struggle. I had a rough time with the language and felt that I would learn things and then the next day wouldn't remember a thing. But then it was brought to my attention that I've been here 3 weeks today, and I can do so much already. We just have to really rely on the Lord and the Holy Ghost to get us through things. If we are doing all that we can do he will make up the difference. Thats what the atonement is for. No matter how down in the dumps we feel, the Savior has been there too. Alma 7:11-13 has really helped me when times are tough. A lot of people think of the Atonement as just for sin and when we fall short. I'm so thankful that it is there for that reason but even more so when I'm feeling down. I mean. You guys know me, I've never been one to do much on the ways of major sin. So in that regards I'm still learning but I know that through this scripture Christ suffered for everything that makes us upset or makes us feel uneasy. We just need to take it upon ourselves to realize that we need Him in our lives and come unto him and he will give us rest. I know that I need that rest in my life or else I might die. lol

A few times this week I've been thinking on how I can be a better missionary but then it hit me to read a letter I got from Elder Juker. He said that by himself he is a horrible missionary. But thankfully God is there to let him be one and Christ is there with the Holy Ghost to help him be a great missionary and tool. This week I've really realized how much missionaries rely on the spirit. Its crazy to think that people everywhere let young men and women in their homes to teach them. It has to be through the spirit or else it wouldn't make any sense. We must show we care and be real with people. We have to make connections that will last and help people to realize that they need the gospel in their lives. No matter the situation everyone needs Christ. We cannot obtain eternal life with God and Jesus Christ without him. There is a call for missionary work. We must answer it at home, in our own lives as well as here in the mission field. We are ALL God's children and he definitely wants us all back with him one day. Will you please try to do this in all you do? I know that if you do, the Lord will bless you and you will be able to feel for yourself the truthfulness of this Gospel!

I hope that everything is going on well back at home. I really miss you all! I think I've lost half my brain capacity and can't remember addresses. So If you have some that I need send them my way. I really need Dad's address and email. I can't remember it and don't have a way to get it besides in a letter or dearelder.

Letters from home and around the world really keep me going. Please keep it up. I love you all so much thank you for your love and support! You guys rock! Keep it up.

Love Syster Juker

Syster J2 - from the MTC

This is Syster Jennifer Juker's first email home.  I (mommaitos) will be updating her blog with her weekly emails, pics she sends and anything else that comes to mind!  She will be at the Provo Missionary Training Center (MTC) for a couple of months, then it's on to Sweden!! YAY  Well - here goes.

From: Jennifer Juker <jennifer.juker@myldsmail.net>
Date: Wed, Mar 16, 2011 at 12:41 PM
Subject: Re: HI!
To: Nancy Juker <njuker@gmail.com>

Hey Everybody,

 

Oh my goodness I'm in love with the MTC! The spirit here is just as Elder Juker has said. Last week on p-day we were in the Laundry room doing our email stuff while the laundry was going. But I couldn't remember my login for myldsmail so i couldn't even check mine. Then I tried so many times it locked me out and asked for my membership number so this time I came prepared! Its crazy this time limit thing. lol I just wish I could type as things came to mind, like the words would just appear. Anyway side notes :)

 

The MTC is in like a time warp thing. Its been two weeks and It just feels like one gigantic day. We wake up and do all the same things over and over again. But I'm still in love it just doesn't matter here. So far I'm not sure what you all know. So here goes, I have two companions Sister DeTinne-Cassel and Sister Vistaunet! They are lovely. They both talk often and a lot so I'm having to jump way out of my comfort zone when we are in the TRC and such. But I certainly love them. I struggled for a bit but after a few girl nights of talking we have all warmed up pretty well. We get along really well now. I'm really having to work on my communications skills seeing as we have all grown up so differently. But The Lord definitely knew what He was doing when he put us three together. We have all agreed that that is true. :)

 

Sister Vistaunet and I sing in the MTC Choir when we can. So far we sang a song called "Behold the Wounds in Jesus' Hands" that was yesterday before devotional. It is a great song and you should all look up the lyrics and really think about the sacrifice that God made by sending Christ for us and the love that Christ has for us, even when we are stupid and don't do exactly as we should. :) Devotionals are on Sunday and Tuesday nights they are absolutely my favorite. I'm not so much a fan of P-day just because I have so much to do on top of laundry and studying. But I love it all the same.

 

I completely understand why Elder Juker just wrote everything in one long sentence, paragraph thing. Its a stressful thing writing these emails. lol I miss you all lots. Thank you so much for the dearelders and the letters and everything. Especially the prayers. They are what keeps me going all of them actually :). Oh Mom and Dad the Apple pie was so good you'll hear and see that in the letter I'm sending off today. Pictures are included there. I'm not sure on the rule about uploading pictures as you go on here but I definitely want pictures out there. Also on Facebook people might add me. Like my companions family and such add them if you will and tag them in any pictures you upload. lol They definitely want the word out on facebook. Which I think is silly but oh well.

 

I'm so sucked into this work its crazy. I love the personal and companionship study. We all do. The spirit here is awesome. Oh Svenska! Oh how it is my weak point. i love studying and I love trying to figure out the new language and all that jazz but sometimes it just makes me blah. Sister D.C is way good. She studied linguistics and knows Spanish and Arabic so she asks questions way above all of our heads. most of the time I follow to a point then ask a simpler question for myself. :)

 

After devotional we have a district meeting with our Branch Presidency member or president. Last night was with Bro and Sis Mangus. They are awesome. We went through our notes and talked about our companions. Each having to say something nice about our companions. It was pretty funny because we did that the night before last as District inventory. but after everyone. the six Swedish Missionaries and the four Norway missionaries said stuff. Brother Mangus looked at me and said "The strong and silent one right" It really made me laugh. I'm trying really hard to not be the quiet one. But as you all well know its me. Id rather not speak if i feel nothing is to be said. But I'm working hard.

 

Also when we were working on learning Joseph Smith History 1:16-17 we spoke of The First Vision and all that it entails. It really made me realize the importance of prayer. Even when Satan does his best to make us feel not worthy or keep us from doing what we know is true and right. No matter what you have to me sure to use the power of prayer in all that you do. That is the way you will make it through trials in this life. I know that prayer is real and that if you think you are just talking to a wall you are wrong. Prayer is such a vital part of my testimony and I really realize now how very important it is for us to pray always with real intent and act on the promptings of the holy ghost.

 

Oh I figured something out while here. We use the entire Godhead when we pray. We pray in the name of the Father, we close with his son Jesus Christ and then we listen to the feelings and promptings of the Holy Ghost to know what to do with what we have been given and such. 

 

The Gift of tongues is real and I'm so thankful for the Testimony I have of this gospel and the knowledge I've been able to share with my companions and district. I'm thankful for all of you guys back at home and the love and support you have given me. It's a huge comfort to know you are all praying for me. You are all in my prayers.

 

Jag alskar du alla

Syster Juker :)