Why I Love my Brother...

Mom thought I should post this on Benny's blog. I have been a horrible sister, and I haven't written to him in MONTHS. Ben says, "out of sight out of mind." I guess he might be right...

The count down starts....

10. He is super funny.

9. He has to be the best missionary I know (possibly the only, but I wouldn't let the others sway my vote any way...)

8. He voted for Obama (SERIOUSLY Ben!! That made my day. Lucas voted for him too!!).

7. He likes argyle sweaters.

6. He doesn't know how to use the USB devices that our mom sent him (trust me they are the best, I can give you a step by step lesson...)

5. He has gotten my family addicted to Orange Cinnamon Rolls (every Saturday).

4. He is happy to stay in one place: Middletown for Life, BABY (I would suggest you get that tattooed on your bicep, but Mom and Dad freaked about my little clover...who knows what they would say about MFL)!!

3. His neice misses him. Ellie said she wanted to let a balloon go in the sky. I asked her why, and she said this: "Because I miss Benny so much, and I want him to have my balloon."

2. I've asked for an invite to his facebook account and his YouTube account (how would the mission president feel about that strip tease?), and I'm patiently waiting to be accepted (one year, six months-ish)!!

1. The number one reason I love my brother is because he loves me SO much that he will forgive me for being a bad sister, and not writing. He in fact loves me SO much, that he was planning on writing me today, but found that I had written him first...BOO YA!!

Elder Rojo Ojo

I wrote Sister Ellett about Ben and she Replied:

Hello Sister Jesson,

I don't think I like transfers. I hate to see the young missionaries be sent off away from us. I love getting to know them and feel of their spirit. Your son is so dang cute. He bares a powerful testimony. The last two mission conferences he has gone up before his peers and shared his witness of the work he is about. I know that the Middletown ward will really miss him as we will if he gets transfered this week. We have checked his eye, today infact at stake conference it looked pretty good. He says it doesn't hurt much just stays red. But today most all the red was gone and he has been wearing his glasses. He looks great in them.I know that sister Farnsworth has started a blog, but I don't know the site. As soon as I find out I will get it to you. Also we have district meeting up here in Monticello and I'll get a few pics to put on my blog.
Take care,

Love Sister Ellett

Pictures!!

Here are some of the pictures Ben recently sent. Mom, can you expound on some of these? I know the two of them are of his baptisms.

Email from Sassy Pants!

From Ben:

Yeah, I got transferred to the Bronx the worst part ever with gangs, and drug busts. Most missionaries who serve there don't return ALIVE!!!!! JK I am still in Middletown for this last cycle I am a senior companion, and my comp is Elder Wilkason he is from Nevada yeah! I've been sick with a cold, and a bloody looking eye, my eye was really red and irritable I hated it..but yeah I'm all good here. Everyone in my district left me, we had 8 in my district and 3 left, Ito, Mook, and Bishoff, I was really close with Bishoff, and Mook but yeah I'm all good.

From Me:

Hey Benny,
How are you? I'm waiting on pins and needles to hear if you've been transferred and who you will be serving with.

I thanked Sister Ellertt on her blog for being a good home away from home mom, and for mending your suit. She seems like such a sweet woman. To bad your mom isn't that sweet!

Got a new kid at school today he's supposed to be pretty wild. Saw a little of that today but for the most part he was pretty good. We got a time out box installed in our room today. We didn't use it but I'm sure it'll be put into good use with our two wild men!

Lucas has been sick with the flu. He sent you a letter that he wrote while he was home sick! I told him to spray it with Lysol so he wouldn't spread any germs to you but he didn't. Make sure you wash your hands after you read it and don't touch your face until you do! Joni said he was really sick, throwing up all day Sunday. I hate the flu. She said that the doctor said it was a flu like virus and it's nasty.

This week we'll get your sweats mailed to you along with that thing you want from Walmart. I'll probably get a couple at Sam's. Make sure that you go through them and write down who the pictures are of and what is going on and I'll get them posted on your blog. Let me know if there as anything other than the "Red Vines" that you want us send!

Guess I'd better hi yaki.(That's Japanese for go)

I love you, Mom

Crazy Guy

Dad it sounds like Jeremy is doing well I'm glad he is having fun. I am having fun here in New York. Just Monday I had a funny experience I was on a split with Elder Mook an elder that came out with me. We were tracting in one of my areas called Goshen and we knocked on this door. This guy answers and we introduce ourselves and he says, "I know who you are and all I have to say is, "I HATE YOU" and he slams the door! So we were like OK whatever. We go to this next house that's right at the corner of the house with that guy. So we knock on it and this guy answers the door and it is the exact same guy! Elder Mook and I say, "Is your house connected to this one"? He was like, "What do you mean this is my house my twin brother lives next door". " Oh and by the way "I HATE YOU" and he slams the door so we go to the next house knock on the door, and the same guy answers we ask how many houses do you own? He says, "This is my house my triplet brothers live over there, and I hate you so we were like OK whatever, so we left. Well we walk by and we see this opening and this guy running and jumping over the hedge and eats it(fell) and we walk over and Elder Mook said, " You should have listened to us and not played tricks on us, God hates people that do that to us". He said, "And this is why I hate you guys". I thought it was funny.


Labor day we ate at our ward mission leaders house and he is a detective in the city a good one. He was telling us all of his stories, like him being in the narcotics program, and being the guy that goes and buys the drugs and stuff like that. Then he asked us what our dads did and I said like I always do, "My dad feeds ducks" and he started to look at me and Elder Bishoff says, "We think he is in the CIA and then he questions me like what does your dad do? Have you been at his work how long is he away from home? I just said he is never away from home, not like he use to. He used to travel a lot but not anymore. Then he goes deep asking me what you like to do, and he was serious he kept raising his voice when he thought I was getting goofy. So yeah I was scared but he got out of me that you are a salesmen that sales piping(valves duh!) to other countries. I didn't know he was so scary. I think it is dumb there is no SF team (hockey). How well is Salem doing? I think when Tim and I get home we are going to start up SF again, who knows?
well I love you, if mom sends anymore packages I have mission conference this Monday and if she does send a package I want ties. So yeah, and I don't care what else as long as it is not red vines I'm sorry to say I hate that stuff!
Well love you Bye

Run in With the Police!

I had another encounter with the cops again. Elder Ito and I were talking to people on the street on Lake Avenue. Right next to our next appointment. This female cop drives passed us then reverses. She waves for me to come over. So I walk up and she asks, "What are you doing"? I said, "Walking around on this Sabbath talking to people". She glares at me and says, "Quit being a smart a**". "What are you doing"? She said, "Don't f*** around with me, what the He** are you doing"? I looked at her and said, "Don't use that language on the Lords special day, what we are doing is building up the peoples faith in Christ and by the sounds of it you need to go to church and clean your mouth out". I gave her a pamphlet and she "FLIPS" and asks to see our proselyting permits. So I pull mine out, Elder Ito pulls his out. Then she asks for our Licences and the number of whoever dropped us off here (Lake Ave. is right where we live). I gave her Brother Santos number (He is a detective in the city) our ward mission leader. She calls him and I guess he told her to pull out the Middletown law book and to look up some rules, So she did. She hangs up, looks at us writes our names down and said, Sorry for being a jerk". She told us what houses to stay away from.

Letter From a Missionary Couple in NY

I am sister Ellett, my husband and I are serving in New York with your son Elder Jesson. We had district meeting and I took a couple of pictures and told Elder Jesson that I would send then to you. He is a great missionary. He is a lot of fun and doing an awesome job in Middletown. We are in a neighboring town about 30 miles north east of Middletown. We get to see the Elders at District meeting. We really enjoy being with them. Your son went on splits to our area and experienced FHE with us. Just thought you would enjoy some of these pics. Take care, Sister Ellett

Elders: Bishoff, Begonza, Jessen, Gale, Ito, Mook and the Ellett's

Email to Craig from Benny

Everything is good here I've got a story about Ito and stuff, he is leaving this cycle. We have 2 new elders in our apartment they start today they seem cool. I have another cop story that involves me and a female cop and how I made her feel dumb with my spiritual power. I have to hurry I don't know when they will kick me off so yeah I'll write you tonight.
Ben

Letter from Benny

Hey mom,
Everything is good elder Ito still gets on my nerves a little, he likes to annoy members, and offend them. We had one member our elders quorum teacher invite us over to eat. He and his family are from Trinidad, the new generation so they speak English. Elder Ito said they were dumb for not knowing the natural language so he got mad and kicked us out! But I'm still good with brother Goolchran. for the razor I found what I need at Walmart it was 6 bucks for the conditioner, and that was it so I'm OK for now. Hey, I had another cop incident I'll write you and tell you in the letter, and not leave out anything so you won't have to worry and it is way funny. And for the laminating don't worry about it it will be fine. And some update we now have 4 elders in our apartment we are getting elder Bishoff who is returning after her broke his hip awhile back from jumping over a garbage can and elder Bertuza so, yeah
I love ya,
Bye

NEW CAMPANION!

Ben got a new companion today, and he is sad. He said he really liked Elder Talbot. Elder Talbot spoke Spanish, and their area has a lot of Spanish members and contacts. His new companion is Elder Ito and he is from Clinton, Utah, and doesn't speak a word of Spanish. So it has been left up to Ben to really try to pick the language up. I think he wanted to get transferred but I guess he has more to learn there. He said that Elder Talbot's favorite area was Stanford, Connecticut. I guess a lot of richy rich people live in the ward there. He mentioned talk show host Glen Beck and the founder of Jet Blue. He's been gone just over three months, still not going fast for me. He also has strongly suggested I stop harping about his arrest, so........................OK!

More Jail Bird Stories

Ben and Elder Gale got an order to deliver a bible to someone. When they drove to the address it was the Middletown Jail. They went in and asked the receptionist for the person that supposedly ordered it. He wasn't in. They went back on Monday and asked for him again. The receptionist then went into the back room. Ben said that he could hear a heated discussion about church and state. She came back out with an officer. He and Elder Gale were handcuffed. Elder Gale had a mug shot taken, Ben was fingerprinted. They were questioned, then placed in a holding cell for a couple of hours while they waited to be bailed out! I guess the charges against them were for selling religious paraphernalia in a state office. I'm sure it wasn't for sale! A senior missionary couple were sent to bail them out. Ben said he thinks the bail was $1,500.00 a piece. The senior missionary couple took them out to eat, so Ben felt it was all good! I am really mad that the mission president didn't feel the need to call us and let us know what had happened. My sister has a lawyer friend and he is going to try and pull up the arrest and charges. They'd better be glad it wasn't my sister's son that it had happened to, or there would be a law suit! I'm sure someone was playing a practical joke on the officer by sending the missionaries to him. They should have just said it was a misunderstanding and sent them on their way, and told not to come back!

BEN JAIL

Ben and his companion were put in jail Monday for a couple of hours. We are waiting for a letter sometime next week from him, so that we can read more about. From what I know so far I'm a bit irritated!

Ben's Fun Experience!

Ben emailed us on Weds. He's feeling a little homesick because he hasn't gotten any letters from his "FRIENDS"! Wonder how he'd feel if we didn't write!

He said he was going to zone conference on Friday(today). He is having to learn Spanish, so he asked if we'd send him a book on Spanish. There was an old one in the closet, I can't believe I found it, but I went right to it. He needed a new vial because he lost his. I had already bought him a shirt. He always liked shirts with words on them I found one that said "Keep staring, I might do a trick", perfect for him! I bought some teriyaki jerky, and some black licorice, because I'm sure you can't get that in NY! Mailed it overnight cost $77.00 buck-e-toes! It would have gotten there by Weds. for $13.00,but Craig said to go ahead and send it so I did!

He seems to be doing alright, this is the first time I've heard him sound a bit discouraged. They usually get transferred every 6 to 8 weeks, and get a new companion, but he is in the same place with the same companion, Elder Talbot. Elder Talbot is from St. George. Ben said that the branch doesn't like the missionaries, and he isn't feeling to fond of them.(They don't have them for dinner, and they won't refer contacts for them) Guess that is why he is still there, he's got something to learn!

Couple of weeks ago they went to the Orange County Chopper shop. It is in his mission so they went on their P-day. He sent pictures I'll have to learn how to post them or have Katy do it.

He said that he gets to drive, and has about 4 times. He and and Elder Mook(someone he was in the MTC with)were out on a split. Elder Mook had a red dot so he couldn't drive.(Something that had to do with a driving violation that happened back home I suppose)They were on their way to a meal with an investigator. He said out of nowhere it started to rain, thunder and lightening. He said about ten miles up the road they could see a tornado. They got a call from the investigator, and he told them to turn around, a tornado was coming. He said a tree right by them was struck with lightening. They turned around and a bazillion cop cars and fire trucks were heading towards the tornado. He called that a fun experience! He also swears another time during a thunderstorm lightening struck outside. He felt a shock, and his bum is still numb!

Latest Pictures...

I didn't feel like cropping these pictures, but here are the latest photos from Benny. The first two are Ben and his companions reenacting The Matrix. Ben asked if Aaron or Dan had taken Matrix photos...he said, probably not...they're both lame!!

This next photo still cracks me up. If you can't tell, it is a roll with wings. Ben put a scripture passage on the back. Zechariah 5:1 reads: Then I turned, and lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a flying roll.

You think Ben is pretty cool from the first three pictures right? Nope, he's still the same Benny. Here is a classic Ben with Elder Wilson. He said on the back of the picture that Elder Wilson was awesome.

This is Ben engaging in a tie exchange with Elder Palmer.

And last, but not least, here is a picture from the airplane of Ben's destination...New York City!!

Email from June 4th

yeah the funny but sick thing about the flying roll is that there is this place in the wall that is covered by a metal plate we hide the roll there and we left a treasure map so the other missionaries can find it. just tell dan that that is the priesthood which i hold in affect and by the power of faith you can do anything.

there is a bunch of girls that are fancified by me a got a kiss on a cheek by a girl while i was tracting a street haha but thats another story for another time. and no the girls i've been writing havn't writen me since i have been here only girl that has written me is my companions girlfriend but he doesn't know haha.

Ellie is so cute did i tell you i showed my companion a picture of her when she was sitting on lucas lap he said she is evil but cute haha. i found a cute shirt and leather pants for her at a thrift store we help out at i was planning on buying it for her but i knew you wouldn't approve.

yeah i heard tessa got her call New Jersey is an hour away from where i am so we will be neighbors for awhile haha. i won't get in trouble for writing you your in my family i just can't write friends or other missionarys OH i forgot to tell mom that my MTC companion went home and i don't know why. but i will put some pics on a disc and it to ya well i love you and try not to make my blog so mushy tell about all my fun stuff haha

Today's Email

Sis,
i do have a couple memory cards i got one from this kid at the mtc it only holds like 15 pictures and i have some dumb pics of the last day there where we are doing some matrix shots ask Dan or Aaron if they did that, i doubt it because they are lame. but i will try to print some pictures off i went to walmart to print them off and i got to go pick them up today mom is getting mad at me because i don't write her but i told her i will when i get my pictures developed because i don't have any stamps well i have a bunch of 2 cent ones but thats it and like 3 first class ones. yeah we have a baptism this sunday a hispanic man named edwardo he lived up the street from us we don't know who is going to baptize him his brothers a member so we are thinking it is him but we don't know he may choose me so i need to learn how to say the spanish prayer so this should be fun. but for OCC there was a story that a missionary was teaching mikey the first lesson when he was drunk and he commited to be be baptized but we are still waiting for the date.well i love you and have fun i will try and send you some pics
Love Benny

Email from Benny May 21, 2008

hey sis
yeah i was pigging out at the MTC i gained 15 pounds well thats what the scale said at the airport. i am enjoying the mission field we have had our ups and downs our mission president said new york is a high baptizing place i guess the 2 weeks of may we had a 110 baptized and for the month of june we are shooting for 200 and in my mission in middle town we have 10 ready for baptizing on june 15 and elder talbot and i are the only missionaries for middletown so we baptize alot and i'm learning spanish because my companion is the only spanish missionary in our zone so my mission president is having me learn it so i'm excited. yeah the bronx was scary but i have a scarier story ok so this sunday elder talbot and i were tracting this area and we knocked on this door and this HUGE dog ran and smashed the door and his owner opens the door and grabs his dog and before we could say a word he was all PHOTO ID NOW and we just stood there then i said hi we are missionary from the church of Jesus Christ going around spreading joy and he yells PHOTO ID NOW and his dog is snarling and growling and i was thinking if he releases that dog i'm going to kick it and the guy yells again PHOTO ID AND YOUR CULTS NUMBER NOW so my companion gets out a passalong card and about to get his lisence and he looked at me and just shook my head and laughed and he saw us laughing and he's all yelling MOUNTAIN MEADOW MASSACRE MOUNTAIN MEADOW MASSACRE i didn't know what that was so i was like ok whatever and he went back inside and we just laughed. i wish i had that one dog training thing you know like you press a button and it makes a sound so high pitch only a dog can hear it so i could use it and be like sir the power of the priesthood haha but yeah.
i don't think i can see blogs but i got a digital camera so i can send you pictures and videos i think next week we are going to go check out OCC so i will get to see mikey paul and paul jr haha
well i got to go love ya bye
Benny


Mom said I should edit his email, but I think it is fine...it is mainly lacking capital letters and punctuation!! :)

MTC Pictures

Ben and Elder Eager (from Arizona). Elder Eager was Ben's MTC companion.

Ben's MTC roommates. Back row: Elder Muktarov and Elder Ang. Front row: Elder Eager and Ben.

The two above photos are the boys working out...who knew they had to do it in their suits? :P

The two photos above are the reasons excercise is necessary. Ben has had cookies, donuts and candy sent to him, and he eats buffalo wings and fries. Apparently MTC food is a Godsend for him.

Ben wants Mom to hang this beautiful picture on the fridge!!!

So, he's not so sure baptism outside in the snow is really for him.

Just another shot of Elder Eager and Benny.

Email From Ben

Ben said that he is in a town called Middletown. He said it is about 2 hours out of New York, It's country and very pretty he said. His companion is Elder Talbot, and he said that he is pretty cool, so they should have fun. He said as soon as they got there they had to do a thing called"Fearful" and that is where you go out into the busiest part of the city(Bronx)with a bunch of missionaries, and you go street contacting. He said it was kind of scary!

Ben and The Big Apple

Ben should be in New York. I think he was supposed to arrive around 2pm our time. He called us this morning just before 6am and we were able to talk to him for about an hour. He sounded a little nervous. I couldn't help but be teary, I didn't cry or sob, but I was definitely teary. In fact I've had a lump in my throat all day. We won't hear from him again for 7 months, and that's a very long time for me anyway. It was harder telling him good-bye today than it was at the MTC. He said that he heard that the Mission President gave them a Book of Mormon upon arrival and told them that they had to give it to someone before they could come back to the mission home! He was worrying about what to say to someone. My brother Jeff is a pilot for Delta. He was in Atlanta one of Ben's lay overs. He was hoping to meet up with Ben but it didn't happen. He flies into NY it is on his regular route, so he said he'd check up on him every now and then. Hope that works out. He sent some pictures home I'll have to get Katy over to help me post them.

Phun Phone Call!

Yesterday I recieved a call from Sister Reese. She works as a trainer at the MTC. She acts as a invistigator. She said that two young missionaries Elder Jessen and Elder Eager knocked on her door. She said that Ben was clean and pressed. They taught her the restoration of the gospel. She said that she's been doing this for quite awhile and hasn't ever been brought to tears, but this lesson touched her. She said that Ben leaned over, and with his hands on his knees said, "You know what that is?" "It's the spirit." She said he'll do a wonderful job in NY. It was such a great thing for her to call and let us know how he is doing, I miss him!

Ben's MTC Address

We are going to make Ben's blog private so if you want a pass let us know.

The Dreaded MTC

The MTC is such an emotional trip! Mom said she wasn't even going to try to smile for the pictures. That was her sad face, she was trying not to be an "ugly crier".

The fam, Aaron was sick with the flu, so he wasn't able to be there.

Mom putting on Benny's missionary tag.

Doesn't he look a little apprehensive? He is now wearing his name tag with the "dork dot".

I wish we could say this was how we left him...we were all in tears (well except Lucas and Maggie, but I'm sure their fam will have some water works when he leaves on his mission).

Ben will be such a good missionary, there is no place we would rather have him be, but the MTC thing sucks!!

The Last Meal

Before heading over to the MTC, we went to Magelby's for breakfast (the last meal). He endured Ellie climbing all over him one last time.

Temple

Ben went through the temple on April 5th. His temple of choice (well second choice) was Mt. Timpanogas. Grandma Jensen, Carlie and Trent, Aaron, Maggie, Katy (me), and Mom and Dad were able to attend. It is weird to think that he is SO old!! Doesn't he look so old and mature in his pictures? Don't worry he's NOT!!

As per Jessen tradition, a camera was brought to take pictures, yet the memory card was full, and the batteries were low!!

New York, New York City North!!

I'll do the first post of Ben's new blog...I figure this will give him ample time to get used to the blogging lifestyle. We thought this would be a good idea to keep family and friends in the loop, and it would also give Ben a place to jot down some experiences, and receive feedback from all of us...

Ben received his mission call on January 17th. We were all SO excited to find out where he was going. Mom even had the mailman analyze the stamp...he said most likely it would be foreign, but low and behold, it was state-side!! He leaves April 23rd.

We are anxiously awaiting his departure, so we can pick him up!! Anyway, here are some pictures of the unveiling of the next two years of his life...