Semken Ramblings 9.29.13

To Family and Friends,

      We now have another couple who have been assigned to the country of Togo.  In essence they replaced the Leavitts who returned home at the end of June.  They are the Christensen's from Yarrington, Nevada.  This is some 80 miles from Reno in a beautiful valley.  President and Sister Weed know them from their temple worker experience. He is a second generation as a pharmacist.  Both of them worked in the store together.  Their son is taking their place as the third generation of owning the town pharmacy.  He served in the same mission in France that President Weed did but not at the same time.  She also speaks French.  As a pharmacist they know a lot about how to treat various illnesses.  Already that skill has been a nice blessing to the mission.  

     They have a very nice story about their calling as temple workers.  It is their story to tell.

     Yesterday, the first baptism at the Cococodji Branch was held.  As you recall from prior ramblings this area was opened in February.  They started with 47 people coming to church.  Today they have about 125 and 8 more were added yesterday.  The branch President had  the privilege of baptizing his son first.  Then 4 elders had the blessing of baptizing at total of 7 others.  It was drizzling.  It took Francine & I and two elders about 11/2 hours to travel the muddy roads the 12 miles to the building.  It was raining and it would be similar to a driving in a snow storm (not a whiteout) in Utah.  The drivers here did not know how to drive in it.  Cars, SUVs and semi-trucks were stuck and broken down.  Some because they went in water to deep and they didn't know what to do.  You keep moving.  I took the lead and a few followed me through.  The rest stopped and waited for the storm to pass and the water to drain.   The French and African Elders that were with us said,  "this is an adventurer". Their were about 35-40 people their to witness this first baptism event.  

     I took another way back to Cotonou.  There wasn't much traffic but the road was in poor condition because of the rain.  Another adventure the Elders said.  

      Today at church the Priesthood and Relief Society met together.  The lesson was taught by President Modeste, the 1st counselor in the District Presidency and a master teacher.  I have also previously written about him.  We sat with Sophia, our convert baptism.  At the time I didn't know two other people who were sitting next to her.  The lesson was about the Priesthood, in the home and family.  It started with a 6 or 7 minute video with Elder Oaks.  President Modeste then gave a wonderful discourse as he always does.  He had good and proper discussion.  Now, remember about 1/2 of the people in attendance (this is at Fidjrosse Branch), have been members for less than one year.  Many only a few months.  They asked what to us were simple questions.  Who can hold the priesthood?  Why can't women hold the priesthood? What about when no priesthood is in the home? Then their were some questions that were from the more experienced members.  Sophia answered the question as an expert about the woman's role and the priesthood.  When we started to teach her she was surprised and questioned the role of women in the church.  We took two or three weeks of instruction on this issue.  She understands this as if she had been a member all of her life. President Modeste handled all of the questions perfectly as well as explaining the blessings of the Priesthood.  

     Following the lesson I was introduced to the two sisters, a mother and 11 year old daughter, sitting next to Sophia.  They are her sister and niece.  I turned around to visit for a moment or two with others.  We still can communicate even though we don't speak French.  I then turned around and saw Sophia's sister visiting with President Modeste.  I called him over and to bring Sophia's sister as well.  I then introduced President to Sophia and told him that he was speaking with Sophia's sister. Since the time Sophia and Sam were taking the lessons, Sophia and Sam have been under a microscope.  More on this at another time.  Today was the first time that Sophia's sister had come to church.  She has not had any lessons.  President Modeste told me that he had been visiting with Sophia's sister and she said that she wanted the Priesthood in her home.  Naturally we had the elders set an appointment to teach today at four.  As I am writing this she and her daughter are taking their first lesson.  That little bit should give you something to ponder about.  It does me!

     This past week the office elders informed me that they would have a baptism this week.  I was surprised since they baptized last week and hadn't mentioned anyone being ready to be baptized this week.  They had been teaching a young lady for 2 or 3 months who was moving to New Guinea and would not be baptized since the church does not have any presence there.  At the beginning of the week she announced that she really wanted to be baptized regardless of the lack of the church in New Guinea.  The elders called the mission president and told him the circumstances and  said that she could be baptized if that was her wish.  I told the elders that they won't know what happened to her for 20 years when we read about her perhaps being the first member of the church in that country and what a great person she is.  You see, the Lord plants seeds in many places in various ways his wonders to perform.  

     Other thoughts, whom the Lord calls he qualifies.  I have been wondering about my lack of language skills in French.  I have other lessons to learn as well.  I recognize that once we have mastered or nearly mastered something that then the Lord will give us another challenge or calls to our mind some other virtue that needs working on.  He doesn't have us work on everything at one time.  Of course that would be an impossible task.  Well this mission is giving me plenty of opportunity to discover virtues and other challenges to improve upon.  What a great thing to discover; how to improve my character and abilities and meeting various challenges and trials.  Time and patience and observation frequently solve the various challenges. This is a great place to be.  

     The missionaries are learning great lessons of life.  They are wonderful and doing well.

           Elder Semken

Helicopter, skydiving and pictures . . .

It's still crazy to me how the weeks fly by, yet only 17 weeks ago I was still at home!

It's getting a little bit harder to think of things to write about, not because we aren't doing anything, but just because from my end, everything looks almost the same.  Good news from this past month is that I am finally learning how to live in Africa.  With Elder Edwards in the home and with the diet/ budget that I created at the beginning of the month, I'm no longer exhausted of food and money at the end of the month!

Another crazy thing, our secteur is right next to the airport, so we always have airplanes flying over the apartment.  However, this week, there wer a helicopter flying around most of the days.  We didn't really know why, until Friday.  The helicopter was hovering over the airport, and my companion was a little suspicious because he saw a lot with the paratroopers during the war in Côte d'Ivoire.  All of the sudden we saw parachutes opening up!  In total there were about 8!  Well, that was random!  Anyways, about an hour later we were about to teach some members when we saw the helicopter again!  This time, I felt comfortable taking pictures as we weren't in the street.  It reminded me a lot of Kaleb, and made me miss home a little bit, but it was still fun to see how some people reacted to it hahaha.

Parachute!

Well, that's about it this week!  Not too many stories, but I'll try to think of some good ones for next week.  I love and miss you all so much, but I know that I am on the Lord's errand and doing His work, which brings me comfort and drive every single day.

Avec amour,
Elder Jenkins



It got so hot this week; we had to wear our hats!



Soeur Gilbette's dog had puppies!!! They're ADORABLE.

Making pate rouge, one of my favorites!



With the Eastmonds before they left for Benin!  We got a new couple, the Christensens from Reno, Nevada!

Made some fried rice this week!  It was delicious!

Edith and Incredible Faith . . .

Welp! One more week in the past!  It's been a great week, but not too much has happened.  We did have a baptism on Saturday, and it went great!  Her name is Edith, and she's about 27 years old.  She's a single mom, like many her age here.  However, the great thing about Edith is that she has been graciously welcomed into branch!  It's so nice to see her so comfortable with everyone around her even though she's only been to church 4 or 5 times.  It's been great seeing everyone reach out to her to make her feel important and welcome.

This past week we had many transfers, with 12 missionaries leaving.  Many branchess that had 4 or even 6 missionaries before now only have 2.  In fact, the only branch that has 4 in Togo is Hedzranawoé, I believe.  Anyways, we said goodbye to Elder Mundu this past week as he went home to Congo!  His replacement as Zone Leader was Elder Edwards from San Diego!  It's been very nice having another American in the apartment, and especially one that has been here for a while and really knows how to live in Africa.

So a story/principle that I want to share this week happened on Tuesday.  We had a lesson with some members that need a little bit of strengthening from the missionaries every week.  We were talking about faith, so we used the story of the Brother of Jared from the Book of Ether in the Book of Mormon.  The Brother of Jared had been commanded to build several boats.  However, he didn't know what to do for light because he couldn't put in windows in or else they would sink and obviously they can't light a fire in a wooden, enclosed boat.  He then went up the mountain and found 16 stones (2 for each boat).  After this, he prayed with incredible faith to the Lord to come touch the stones to light them so that they could provide light.  As the stones began to light up, he actually saw the hand of the Lord touch the stones to light them so that they could have light in the boats.

As we were recounting this story, Elder Dagrou explained how this applies to us.  He said that when we have a set plan in our life, we need to have an incredible faith when we ask God to help us, knowing that He will.  When we have this faith, we will see the hand of the Lord "touching the stones" in our life to help us carry out our plans.  It is when we have an inspired plan laid out before the Lord with the faith that He will help us, followed by taking action in this plan that we can see how the Lord helps us everyday in the direction of our lives.  I have seen this many times in my life, especially here in Africa as a missionary.  As we create a plan for everyday with the faith that the Lord will help and guide us, the Lord does, in reality, guide us to do His will, even if it isn't what we had planned.

Every single day, I am so grateful for this opportunity to serve the Lord 24/7.  My time is currently short here in Africa, but I know that I have much ahead of me.  It is truly the mission that prepares us to live the rest of our life with purpose.

I love and miss you all, and may the Lord bless you all with your righteous endeavors in the week to come!

Avec amour,

Elder Jenkins

The Lord works from the inside out . . .

Another week gone, and a whole bunch of new experiences as always!  In all honesty, I don't have terribly much to share from this past week.  

Last night, we had a pretty good mangez-vous.  The first course was a salad with cabbage, tomatoes, onions, hard-boiled eggs, some form of meat (I've learned to just not ask if I don't know) and many other delicious things!  I downed it so fast that I was given a second helping!  The second course was just rice, sauce rouge (which is pretty dang spicy, Elder Buxton and I were both sweating after that plate), and chicken, all very delicious.  The third course was fried potato slices (kinda like french fries) with a sauce of tomatoes, onions, canned peas, and a type of not-so-spicy pima.  All of that topped off with Orange Fanta.  It was delicious!

I will say that I've done quite a bit of studying in the scriptures and words of the modern-day prophets, and it has been very spiritually uplifting.  In everything I've read and studied, I've gotten some sort of message, whether a little obliquely or completely outright, of the two things that are most important to me personally.  First is the sacrifices required and the blessings promised with obedience.  Many times, I have seen a witness that while it is impossible for us now to be perfect, it is possible to be perfectly obedient.  This is something that has strengthened me so much.  Several times I've had peers and collegues tell me that it is impossible, yet, all of my mentors and people that I look up to have stressed it as the most important principle to exercise as a missionary.  While there are many things that I cannot control, I can be perfectly obedient in the things that I can control.  Really, I've learned that the mission teaches you things that are essential for life that would be very hard to learn otherwise, and that has made it worth it in itself.

The second principle that I have found in my studies is the power of Christ's atoning sacrifice.  This is something that is essential for life here on earth and for eternal salvation in the life after this.  Christ's Atonement provides us a way to find a remission of our sins even on the earth and a way to lighten our burdens that seem to be weighing us down.  There is a quote that I would like to share from my personal study this morning that really touched me.

"The Lord works from the inside out.  The world works from the outside in.  The world would take people out of the slums.  Christ takes the slums out of the people, and then they take themselves out of the slums.  The world would mold man by changing his environment.  Christ changes men, who then change their environment.  The world would shape human behavior, but Christ can change human nature."

President Ezra Taft Benson, who died in 1994, shared this in 1985.  It is amazing for me to see how that applies so specifically for me even all these years later.  This statement is true, there's is no way to doubt it or disprove it.  It is true, and I am a witness to that.  I have seen this change come within myself even though I have been powerless to change my environment.  I still have so much to learn, but it's been amazing what can happen when we truly apply the principles of Christ's redeeming and loving sacrifice.  It is through His example that we can reach our highest potential, something that I have seen in both Christophe and Gabriel the past couple of weeks.  As they have been introduced to the true doctrine of Christ, they have both realized who they can become and how big of an impact they can make in people's lives, both here on this earth and eternally.  

I am so grateful for this opportunity that our Heavenly Father has given me to come and serve him full time for two years.  My time here is truly sacred as it has been set apart by God himself.  The more I have served with all my might, the more I have seen how this work is driven directly by a divine influence, which is why it is so important for missionaries to be exactly obedient.  It is only through obedience to God's laws that we can truly reach our full potential, something that I have really come to know here with my time in the mission.

I love and miss you all so much!  Until next week!

Avec amour,

Elder Jenkins

Semken Ramblings 9.7.13

 I think that I have mentioned that I have a bird who likes to sing to me outside my window each morning at 6:30 am.  It brings me great joy to hear this bird.  I don't  know what kind of bird it is because I have yet to see it.  It sings for about 15 minutes.  It doesn't wake me up because by the time it starts I have been up for an hour or so.  Its sounds are so different than the rat race of life in Cotonou.  It is melodic.  It is peaceful.  A far cry from the motos and cars that are always honking. 

 

Hello to all of you;  it has been sometime since I last wrote and not because we haven't been doing much.  Our days are filled with new events on a very regular basis.  Just when we think we have seen or heard everything something happens which causes me to take pause and examine what I think may have occurred.  

    This past while I have noticed how the people speak so positively and unashamedly they about the gospel of Jesus Christ and His ministry.  They seem to recognize, at least those who are somewhat tuned into finding the purpose of life, the great power that comes from living the precepts of the gospel.  They announce that it is God who provides whatever it is they have; their families, their food, their home.  They hold in great reverence the power of the priesthood and know that the authority is here on the earth again.  As they learn the gospel they learn that love is the most divine of all the attributes of God.  They are patient, yet anxious.  They have few of the many distractions of life that we have in the States.  They also know that there are many more blessing that await them.  Once baptized they immediately begin to prepare to go to the temple.  They do baptisms for the dead.  They do a lot of family history work.  Then after one year they can enter into the other covenants of temple and receive great blessing in this life and in the life yet to come.  They tell me that the gospel has great power.  

     The missionaries continue to teach the converts for some time about these other blessings.  They recognize that have just entered onto the path of exaltation by exercising faith, repenting and being baptized. 

      There are great challenges for each of these people.  There is sickness, unemployment, lack of basic things we take for granted like clean water and electricity and sewage disposal.  Then lack of good education and providing food is a daily challenge.  Then there are the challenges of society which are described in the Book of Mormon.  

     There have been some tender moments that I have observed which made me wonder why I haven't paid attention to these emotions that our missionaries face.  We have four new sisters that have recently entered the mission field. Not the new ones from this week.  Sister Semken and I inspect the missionary apartments for cleanliness, to take cleaning supplies and the Ensign (the Liahona), new cups, plates, and such.  We are so pleased to see them.  And they us.  The first question asked is : do you have any mail for me.  The apartment that is the neatest and cleanest get taken to lunch.  Certainly nothing extravagant.  Well the competition is keen.  The difference is now down to doing something extra special.  For example the missionaries have a fans to keep them cool during the day and at night the fan is placed directly on the missionary.  I notice that there was like a "rust" or "dirt build up on the cages and the blades.  I suggested that they clean them off so the air could flow better and the dirt wouldn't get into their throats.  Well this past week I noticed in one apartment how clean the fans were.  They told me they took the fans completely apart and washed every fan.  WoW.  The apartments are so clean that we now have 6, 7, or 8 that score nearly 100% on cleanliness.  Well, back to the sisters.  The sisters apartments the first month were not too good.  Then the next month one of the sister's apartment would be rated as 5 star hotel.  It was immaculate, spotless, under the beds, the furniture, the dishes, the refrigerator was as clean as any you would see in the best restaurants.  We immediately informed them they were the winner.  One very gracious sister went into the kitchen all excited and told the sister in the kitchen that they had won that day.  They came out of the kitchen jumping and dancing.  The other sister's joined in.  It was as if it were a double Christmas.  

     Shortly after I asked the sisters about home.  Three of the four had been members for 15 years.  There families were members for longer periods of time.  The other sister had been a member of the church for only two years.  I asked if the first time they attended the temple was when the entered the MTC.  Yes, was the answer.  I asked about their parents.  Not one had been to the temple; to far away, no money.  The long time member sister had other sibling who have served missions.  I asked one sister, the gracious, mature sister about her mother.  She said she was a very gracious and wonderful mother, so loving, kind, charitable.  

     A few days later they were in the mission home to get their visas.  The one sister I have been speaking about took a sister who was crying out on the porch.  I just watched.  They came back in and nothing more was said.  The next day we took these two sisters to see the doctor.  The doctor couldn't find anything wrong with the tiny sister.  She (the doctor) then said to her: do you miss your family?  She just started sobbing and crying.  She was homesick; she missed her family so very much.  This was the first time she had been away from home.  The doctor, not a member, then said; you have been called a mission for your God for 18 months, you must have faith that He will help you serve your 18 months.  Please come and visit me in a week .  The doctor then reported to us that maybe she could call home and visit.  She needs a mother's touch.  I reported that to the President.  He was out of town at the time.  But, said that he and Sister Weed would go and visit her.  Which they did and allowed her to call home.  So far, so good.

     But, you see, I had missed the tender emotions that one can have.  i hadn't even suspected that the elders and sisters would miss home so much that they would be homesick.

    There have been two other events over the past month that caused me to explore tender feelings. Which, I admit, I have.  Jesus the Christ, His Misson is all about life!

   I wish I could write and speak as the prophets, like power and the still small voice.  I quote from President David O McKay:  The literal resurrection is from the grave was a reality . "The spirit of man passes triumphantly through the portals of death into everlasting life is one of the glorious message given by Christ, our Redeemer.  To him this earthly career is but a day and its closing but the setting of life's sun.  Death, but a sleep , is followed by a glorious awakening in the morning of an eternal realm."

     I wept when I read those lines.  For I know that it is true.  I testify that it is true.  

     Now there are missionaries in our mission as in all of the other missions who have loved ones that have passed the portals of death into everlasting life.  They have very tender hearts now having been touched by the loss of a loved one.  They too are able to testify about the sacredness of life and the great blessings of life and that through the Atonement and resurrection great blessing are yet to come.   They have emotions that are near the surface.  They develop great maturity.  They learn that though their loved ones are not as to this world but that they, the loved ones, are still a part of their life; and that the missionary is still a part of the loved one's life who is but asleep as to the mortal body. 

    Another tender moment came when two couples who desired to be baptized had  to be married.  I have written about the traditions of fathers about marriage and the difficulty in being able to.  The missionaries came to me and asked what can we do. (I was putting them to a test). I told them to ask President Lionel (a new branch president).  He told them he didn't know what to do.  We can't use church funds for such purposes.  A week later I received a call asking if I could take 18 of them to be married.  I said yes.  It is done by the justice of the peace.  Following the wedding as I dropped the elders off; I asked how did you or they get the money for them to be wedded?  The elder said, the missionaries in the zone each gave money enough so they could be married.  Can you imagine? From the meager funds of the missionaries they offered a sacrifice for the benefit of someone else, for their eternal welfare.  The missionaries may not know nor realize this, but they also did this unto the Savior and to their eternal welfare.

    So there are many unwritten and unknown acts of faith and tender moments of mercy.  That is why you have sent your sons and daughters on missions.  You too are blessed.  All of you.  I thank all who help in anyway, the reward is the same.

     I wish all of you well.  

              Elder Semken

The Prime Minister's baptism and football in Africa



Gabriel's baptism.  Left to right: Elder Dagrou, Président Laurent (of Doumassesse, who gave us the contact), Gabriel, me, and Pres. Sam (the 2nd counselor of our branch)



Well, after this week, I will be done with all formal types of training as a missionary!  Of course we're always learning, but I'll still now be a full-fledged missionary! It's amazing to see what's behind me now, and I'm very excited for what's ahead!  This past Saturday we had our baptism of KODJO Gabriel, the former Prime Minister!  He's already shared his tesimony many times in front of many people, but then, speaking in front of people isn't really a problem for him.  But he has definitely become more comfortable with us, so we've seen the fun side of him more, which is a blast!

This morning, we had an activity.  Every month we have one (it's always soccer which I don't mind), but every 3 months they really make a big deal about it.  We tried to get it at the stadium today, but it wasn't possible, so we got the next best thing.  It was a sand/ dirt field, but there were lines down and nets in the goals.  So every 3 months, we make a big deal about it and have the missionaries against the members.  Today, we had two missionary teams and one member team.  We decided to do three matches so that every team could play each other.  My team was in the first match, against the members.  When I say that we make a big deal about it, I mean we make a big deal about it.  We had a head ref, two line refs, and even a fourth ref!  Matching uniforms with numbers, proper substitutions, just about everything.  It was pretty legit.

Anyways, first game.  Elder Mundu, the team captain, put me in as attaquant milieu (striker).  OK. Sure. So I go to that position.  It was a pretty good match.  In the first half, the other team laid a pretty nice goal into the upper 90 against Elder Layton, our keeper.  During the second half, we were on the attack more, and I got a decent amout of action, even one shot on goal.  However, as time was winding down, something needed to happed to equalize.  We were destroying possession, but not coming up with goals.  Finally, we got a set piece about 30 meters out.  The shot was blocked by the wall, and then Elder Dagrou, my companion, took a nice shot that rebounded off the post.  There was only one defender between me and the ball and the goal, and when he attempted to clear it, he whiffed.  Then it was only me, the ball, the keeper, and the goal.  The keeper was playing WAY left, so it was an easy tap from 3 meters out for a GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

After that, the Africans really started to respect me more.  My companion said he was very proud of me and was surprised that I could actually play.

Well, that's this week!  Today has been way fun, but exhausting!  Until next week!

Avec amour,
Elder Jenkins



At the apartment before the game in my new ManU jersey and shorts.



my new cleats

Random pic during the game today.  We were forced to wear Chelsea uniforms; I reluctantly switched out of  my new ManU one.

Elder Layton's incredible game winning save during penalties.

Celebrating the score!  My favorite part of the picture is the dejected look of the guy in the red to my left.

Celebrating our first win of the day.

Still celebrating our first win of the day.

Team picure

(borrowed from Elder Layton)

(borrowed from Elder Layton)

(borrowed from Elder Layton)

me with my new uke

(Note from Mom - Labor Day we have gathered in Colorado Springs for Parents Weekend for the last five years.  This morning the 4 of us were eating breakfast in Manitou Springs and each emailing back and forth with Elder Jenkins in Africa and it was almost like he was there with us - it was a great family breakfast together!)

Family breakfast in Manitou Springs