Final Missionary Moment - Puerto Rico San Juan & Dominican Republic Santo Domingo West

Good morning all! 

Its that time. 

Ive server how 2 years and a little over a month actively serving the lord full time. But apparently they won't have me any more haha 

 My flight home is this coming Saturday in the evening :) ill sene over the flight thing so that no one gets upset with me but I am very happy to see you all again! 

 Because I had extended my mission, im supposed to hace more than a month being home already but that just seemed too early for me.  Even now it feels like I had just left but as I reflect more and more I really have been away for a very long time 😂.. 

 As I reflect on that concept I continue to confirm to myself of how well I've been able to devote all my talents, abilities, strengths, and time to the most important cause happening right now, the gathering of Israel. 

I'm also not naive about the future as I find a mission to be more of a world training. I've been practing and making lifelong habbits to make me a more devoted disciple of Jesus Christ, a more prepared husband and father of that same caliber. 

 I've never felt so much joy as I've completely submitted my life to Him. For this reason, I will continue to do so. 

The prophet has said, "All our efforts to minister to each other, proclaim the gospel, perfect the Saints, and redeem the dead converge in the holy temple." 

 If I leave anyone with anything it's how important the temple is. The prophet has asked us many many times to focus on the temple more than ever before! I invite each of you to do everything you can to qualify and enter in those sacred places. It is the house of the Lord. Please find a bishop of the church and ask him how you can prepare to receive blessings from on high to prepare yourself for the second coming of the Lord. 

 Loosing or even forgetting that which we receive in the house of the Lord can be nothing of greater consequence, absolutely nothing. I exhort all of you and your families to either go and stay, or come and see. 

"Hablamo' ahorita" translates to we'll talk in a bit.. in Dominican culture, "a bit", is no respecter of time... it could mean a couple minutes but can also refer to hours depending on the setting and context but I assure all of you that I'll be home in a bit :) 

I love you all and miss you all and hope that these emails have brought understanding, joy, and hope into your lives! 

 Elder Jorgensen 

Also, this is the email I received from his mission president:

09 Dec 2023  

 

Dear Jorgensen Family, 

Elder Kaydon Jorgensen will soon be fulfilling an honorable mission in the Dominican Republic Santo Domingo West Mission. I express gratitude on behalf of those he taught, the missionaries, and the leadership of the Church. Additionally, thank you to all those who helped to prepare him to serve a full-time mission for the Lord.  As a family, you can be very proud of the missionary service that your son has faithfully performed.  Elder Jorgensen taught the gospel of Jesus Christ to many people and helped to strengthen the testimonies of many others. He gained and expressed great love for the people here and for our Savior Jesus Christ and developed many other Christlike attributes, including faith, patience, and diligence.

Sister Hernandez and I had the opportunity to work with Elder Jorgensen and for us it was a great pleasure.  We love him and will certainly miss having him with us here in the mission.  

During his mission, Elder Jorgensen inspired and helped many other missionaries through his service in the different assignments he received.  Elder Jorgensen experienced great spiritual growth during his mission and we know that he will continue to give dedicated service for the rest of his life. We trust the Lord will always bless him for the selfless service given here in the mission field.  

With love and appreciation,

 

Hector David Hernandez 

Mission President

 

8 Big Sleeps

This Buddha Boy of mine comes home in EIGHT big sleeps!

He wants Sushi Monster that night, so we'll grab him from the airport and then go feed everyone!

I cannot wait to squeeze him.

Missions are such a strange thing.

They go by SO slow while you're in the two years, but when it's time for them to come home - it feels so quick.

Isis sent me this picture.

Jackson works long hours and then comes home and is the most attentive daddy and husband.

His girls adore him.

She sent me these, too.

Can you even?!

Kehlani is potty training.

She is doing SO good and last night, she pooped in the potty!!!!!

We had to FaceTime about that one!

Then, she made Papa take the phone outside to show her the Christmas lights.

Hendrix is rolling over!

So is Hudson.

We get this squish overnight tomorrow night.

Wish us luck!

It's been a busy time.

I feel like ALL the time is busy time!

It's the season we're in - grown kids, grand kids, kids at home with sports and homework and all the things...

But, I'm endlessly grateful.

 

Burke's Holiday Work Party

I got dressed up and all did up two out of three days.

That is amazing.

I've met my quota for the year!

It was the Ed Kenley Holiday party.

It's always a fun time.

This year, we got to bring Porter along.

He works in the Quick Lube lane and is doing so great there.

Riley, here, is basically one of our kids too.

He is a salesman there and we've not legally adopted him as our own.

He brought a date this year, but I still had to have him in our pictures!

We are grateful for Burke's employment there.

His brother also works there.

Mrs. K is affectionately known to Burke and Sid as, "Mama K."

She and Burke's mama were close friends.

Burke misses his mama every day and Mama K is a huge blessing in his life!

Yummy, yummy food.

Great company.

A fun band.

It was a good night.

Mama is exhausted!

 

Date Night & Food

Each year, Burke and I go on a holiday date with his friends Eric and Marlena.

They are quite fancy.

I am quite not fancy. 😎

But, I got fancied.

I hate that I didn't get a picture of Burke and I.

I am terrible about taking pictures of us.

We went to the Capital Grille, in downtown Salt Lake City.

It reminded me quickly why I don't like cities.

But we enjoyed it.

This was our appetizer.

It was incredible.

Lobster tail, crab, huge shrimp tails, and oysters.

I had the sea bass and Burke had a filet.

Delicious.

Cooper is almost always in my bed with me when I go lay down for the night.

We watch sports and do his homework normally.

Or he talks about his girlfriend.

Or being a 14 year old.

My big boys used to do this with me.

I hope it never stops.

He had to complete his ninth grade foods class meal.

He made chicken alfredo ziti with fresh mozarella.

It was delicious.

 

 

Four Months & Six Months

We had a busy, busy weekend - per usual.

We went to Jackson and Isis's new apartment on Sunday to visit.

Little Delilah June Bug is six months old!

She is the sweetest babe.

So happy.

So chill.

So sweet.

As per usual, again, she loves her papa.

Before we went to their apartment in American Fork, we had some Waffle Love with Rian and Tyler and the kiddos.

Hendrix Muffin Man is four months old!

He is so smiley.

He loves to suck on fingers (those darn teeth!).

He is just content as long as his tummy is full.

I didn't get any pictures of brunch because I was busy loving on Aria and Hendrix. 😞

Kehlani Girl is potty training!

She did so good while we were there!

So proud of this little lady.

We had Hudson Tough Guy on Saturday.

He had his shots on Friday and was a little feverish and sore on Saturday.

So it was a snuggle kind of day.

This baby LOVES his uncles!

He was still happy and smiley, just needed cuddles.

We are just so blessed.

 

Missionary Moment - Puerto Rico San Juan & Dominican Republic Santo Domingo West

 Good morning all! 

 This week was low-key kinda stressful. We didnt do tons more than normal we just kept ourselves very busy trying to bring everything together so that when Im gone the next elders have an easier time working here :) 

 Oh btw I'm leaving 

 I was gonna joke about how I'm putting in my two weeks but I already put in my two weeks notice last Saturday haha 

 This week and next week will be such busy weeks making goals and plans for all that we want to accomplish before they fire me haha because if it weren't for that two week notice I'd stay here forever but it sounds like some of you need a little of me in your lives... don't worry about that because I still need lots of all of you in mine! 

 I remeber more than 2 years ago I had been working at Cold Stone trying to make enough mokey to be here today and well I can't remember the day I put in my two weeks then but I remember reminded the new owners that I had done so previously hahaha.. she must've thought I was really excited to go but even then I didn't want to stop working. Now it feels just a little different... these days I don't want to stop changing. Not just myself but all those around me. 

Luckily however, the mission is different from Cold Stone in many ways in that the mission has given exactly what I've needed to comtinue to change after this time. And how grateful I am to Heavenly Father for the mercy He has shown me. 

 Have a great week! 

 I love you all!! 

 Elder Jorgensen 

 

Top Ten & Six Months

This little man turned six months old yesterday.

I FaceTimed with him last night... right after his mommy put him to bed.

He wasn't quite asleep, so she took her phone into his room with Gigi on it.
We talked and laughed and laughed and laughed.

He was quite excited to see Gigi... and Uncle Ryker!

Mia texted me right after we hung up and said that he went right to sleep after we hung up.

Sweet, sweet boy.

Cooper's speed and agility coach, Tyson, posted this yesterday.

We are so proud of Coop.

He works hard at speed and agility.

Also, we got an email from his Robotics teacher.

Coop and his friends are dum dum 14 year olds sometimes.

Wednesday was one of those days.

Let's just say he'll be going in early on Wednesdays for a bit, doing a little school service.

Oh, the joy of boys!