Missionary Miracles!

Beautiful African sunset in my area.

Hello all!  I'm sure you all hear this so often from other missionaries, but this week has been filled with missionary miracles!

The first was with Luc and Vicky.  Luc and Vicky (as I have previously described) are an amazing young couple.  However, their trial before baptism has been the payment of the dowry so that they can legally be married.  This past week they went up to their village to visit Vicky's parents to sort all of this out before their baptism, which was scheduled for this past Saturday the 25th.  However, their parents were not willing to sign the document allowing them to be married from a legal standpoint. 

We went over to their house the following evening and they were definitely discouraged.  We shared Ether 12:6 with a message on the trial of our faith and how EVERY person in this Church can testify of the trial of their faith that they have had in their life, many right before their baptism.  They seemed very comforted and relieved even.  When they came to church on Sunday, it was clear that their faith had been strengthened by this experience and the Spirit that they have felt in the truthfulness of this message.  Now is not their time but, when it comes, I have no  doubts that they will be ready.

Another miracle this week: Friday night as we were walking back from our branch mission leader's house and Elder Kunz and I decided to take a different route just to see if it would be quicker, or at least that's what we thought at the time.  We ended up getting a little bit lost (couldn't help but realize how crazy it would have seemed to us before the mission to be lost at night in the middle of nowhere in Africa hahaha).  As our area is outside of the city, there's was only sand, lots of palm trees, a few roads, and lots of stars that we could see.  OK, so there were houses and some people too, but still, we were a bit lost.  We both felt the impression that we should just keep walking, and so we did.  Eventually, after about 15 minutes, Elder Kunz finally recognized where we were because we had gone clear east into his area instead of going south to the main road!

We found our way again back to the apartment.  It took us about 10 more minutes to get back, but we found it with no problem once Elder Kunz found the way.  Finally, as we were just getting back to the apartment, we heard this voice behind us shouting a winded "Hey guys!" (in English)  We looked back to see this Shaquille O'Neal-type looking dude.  He's  a big guy.  He explained to us how he had seen us a little ways back and had run to catch up to us.  He talked for quite a while (all in flawless English, not even very African sounding) giving us his story.  Turns out his wife is Nigerian (one reason why he speaks English so well.  The other reason is that he was adopted by an Australian family while he was young).  His wife was baptized several years ago into our Church.  They attended our Church while they were living in Benin, but stopped because of some politics that offended them.  They have been searching for the Church here in Togo for a couple years, but haven't found it because it just came to Baguida 2 months ago.

He continued for some time telling us about his family (his wife and three girls) and how he has spent his life as an unattached missionary.  He just goes all over West Africa preaching, and I think he does a little bit of consulting work all over West Africa as well.  Anyways, they are really struggling right now because not too long ago they lost their youngest daughter because of heart problems, and lost almost all of their money as well due to hospital bills.  He then asked if we could help him out a bit with food.  "I'm not a beggar," he explained, "but we honestly just do not have anything in the house that we can eat right now.  PLEASE, just help me with tonight and I know that God will provide for tomorrow."  He explained that the Australian family sends him some money every month because he is struggling so much right now but, as it is the end of the month, they are all spent out.  Thankfully, Elder Kunz and I had a loaf of bread that we were able to give him, and he was more than gracious.  (He showed us some pictures of him and his family, so it seemed more legit, but it also just felt right helping him, like it was all real and would be alright).

We then left him with a brochure in English and he asked if we could come by the next morning.  We only had one appointment the next morning before lunch, so I told him it would be very possible.

Long story short, we made it over to his house the next morning, but it was only his wife and three daughters that were home.  However, they were expecting us and welcomed us in graciously.  The wife was very warm with us because she knows who we are, but the little girls took a little bit to warm up to us.  Anyways, I got to chatting with the wife for a while before Anthony, her husband, got home.  She is SUCH a nice lady, and she loves the Church.  She said that she was so, so happy to receive the news that the Church is here in Togo from her husband the night before.  Anthony finally got home and we talked with the whole family a bit before leaving them with a prayer.

Then, next morning, Sunday, Anthony showed up to church with their three daughters!  Unfortunately their mom wasn't able to make it.  They loved it, and the three girls were SO friendly with me!  They all made little flower bouquet's from our garden!  I forgot to mention that they all speak English in the home, but the girls know French and éwé enough to do fine in Togo.

Some Primary girls made me bouquets from our garden!

 

I had to display them in my room.

As I reflected upon this afterwards, I realized how much of a miracle this event was.  Every single part depended on our timing on Friday night.  If we hadn't passed Anthony at that specific time, none of this would have happened.  There are no coincidences in this world, only miracles.

Everything is going amazing out here in Baguida!  The Spirit is strong and very present out here, and all you have to do is ask.

I love you all so much.  Have a great week!

Avec amour,
Elder Jenkins

Pulling the German Pancake out of the oven.

Cutting the German Pancake.

German Pancake with apple sauce and powdered sugar!  One of my favorites.

Making some fajitas!

Overgrown soccer field next to the general high school in my area.

Thought this was pretty cool looking.

Semken's Ramblings 1.21.14

21 January 2014

Good morning to you,

    The mission is once again very busy as always.   President Weed will finish interviewing every missionary on Thursday.   He interviews every missionary about every six weeks and has frequent contact with them throughout the month.   So he and Sister Weed are very well aware of the missionaries situation temporally and spiritually.   Every missionary will have his/her ups and downs throughout the month.   Most of the time the missionaries are pretty even.   Once in a while there are things that seem to be bigger than life.  Give a day or two and things are back to normal.  For instance, I have a landlord who is may not be as nice as our other landlords.   He lives in another village 1/2 of the time, which is not unusual.  We spend more time with him trying to solve problems.  He seems to be difficult to live deal with.  Just before a major holiday on a Friday and another holiday on Monday he has left to travel to his other home.  On Friday afternoon the missionaries water was turned off by the water company for non-payment.  The water nor electricity company are suppose to turn anything off on a holiday.  So the missionaries were without water for 4 days.   We do own our water tank on the top of the building.  And the missionaries should have been able to get water.  But the door to the roof was locked and they had no access to the tank.   Results, no water.  So the missionaries went across the road and paid for water that they put in 5 gallon containers and carried up the water three floors every day for 4 days.  When I found out about it on Friday night, I offered to pick them up and bring them to to our apartment for showers.  They thought it was a nuisance and continued to carry the water.  Now how would you like that!  I visited with the elders following their ordeal, they said it was extremely difficult and was one of the hardest things they had to do.   The stairs are uneven and a new elder tripped and fell, hurt his back.   I think on Elder Maxwell's talk on "patience" and wonder what they learned and what I learned.   All is well.  I hope it doesn't happen again.  By the way the President was at their apartment when the water was out and the electricity went off as well; which is a usual occurrence in our mission.  The president seems to be where the challenges are and is well aware of them.  The Lord knows how he is tempering each of us.  There was a book written several years ago by Elder Dyer, as I recall, called The Refiner's Fire, or something like that. 

    Another example,  last Friday we went to the Post Office.   We received about 15 Christmas packages and 25-50 letters and cards.   We go to the post office 2 or 3 times a week.  They had been stored for some time.  This is not unusual.  They told us that there had been some kind of security breach which caused the delay.  Some of the packages were mailed 19 Nov and 23 of Nov and up to 21 of December.   This is why we suggest DHL or FEDEX and not USPS.  Some of the packages, letters will be delivered to Togo today.  Some packages that the missionaries are expecting still have not arrived.  Those with letters and packages were very pleased.

     I noticed a trend this month of January.   It is only 2/3 of the way through the month and missionaries are short of money.   I wonder if they got caught up in the Holiday season spending more than they should have.   They will be fine, they do know how to manage.  

     As I have said, the missionaries have lived many more wonderful days and have many more stories to tell.   I leave the stories for them to tell and most of the details are for them as well to share in their own way and time.  This is true of the no water in the apartment for 4 days.

    The new mission president for our mission was announced recently.  He and his wife are from Quebec Canada.  Both speak French.  I understand that she is a nurse.  I don't know much about him yet.  The picture is just being put together.  The new mission presidents go to Provo for four days.  His name is Pierre-Paul Morin. He begins 1 July 2014.

      We hope that all of you are well.  Our thoughts and concerns are for your well being as well as the missionaries.

        Elder Semken

Conversion unto the Lord

Mountains to climb!

Hey everyone!  So the internet connection today has been one of the worst that I’ve had in my time in Africa.  I was planning on writing to lots and lots of people today, but it might just have to wait until next week.

So I just wanted to share my testimony this week that Heavenly Father really does answer prayers.  Last week, when I wrote home, I had been going through a bit of a rough patch.  I just wasn’t feeling the Spirit of this work like I have before and I know I can.  I have been continuing to do my best to remain faithful and loyal to my God, but I just got overwhelmed with the fact that I have to be patient with myself and that I can’t master every commandment at the moment all at once.  Conversion to the Lord takes time, but this was a principle that I was just unwilling to accept or that I just didn’t understand at the time. However, after much prayer and meditation this past week, Heavenly Father truly opened the windows of heaven to pour out blessings and understanding to me.  Yes, I still have not mastered the principle of personal patience, but God has given me many instances this past week that have let me know that He is still there and that He has not forgotten me.

So in my personal study this week, I was reading 3 Nephi in the Book of Mormon.  On Friday and Saturday specifically, I studied chapters 15 and 16 respectively. While I was reading these chapters, the Lord blessed me with understanding just as I had prayed.  My whole life I have known what the “Gathering of Israel” means, and I know that this is what I am doing now, but after reading these two chapters, including many, many cross references throughout the Book of Mormon, the Bible, and the Doctrine and Covenants, I really began to understand specific events and meanings represented as symbolism in the scriptures, especially in Isaiah.  Every scripture that I looked up had a unique meaning and explanation, many of which led me to have more questions that were answered as I searched more scriptures.

Needless to say, these two experiences left me so happy.  Enveloped in the Lord’s light, both Friday and Saturday were amazing days. Everywhere I went I just felt God’s love surrounding me.  Saturday was especially good with the baptism.  We had three baptisms (Bella, Bruno, and Kossi).  Bella and Bruno are sister and brother, and Kossi is Bruno’s friend that lives just down the street.  All three of them, while only being in their teenage years, have already made some great changes in their lives thanks to the Restored Gospel.  At the baptism there were about 20 baptisms, as we had a collective baptism for several missionaries in Togo.  The Anfamé Zone Leaders were able baptize two families of six people each, as well as several missionaries with one or two baptisms.  It was a great service as well!  The Spirit was there and it was amazing to see so many people enter into covenant with God.

From the baptismal service.  It was packed in there!

Our baptismal service on Saturday, 1/18/14.  From left to right: Elder
Rasolonantenaina, Kossi, Bella, Bruno, me, Abel (member)

Haha yeah we decided to have fun with some of the pictures.

Another one from the baptism.

As I have reflected on these two days, I have seen the goodness of God reflected in my life.  I am such an imperfect being.  In every moment of my life, I need to seek the Lord’s help, because without Him I am nothing.  Trying to fix things by ourselves in this life will only lead to sadness and confusion, if not in this life then definitely in the future.  The mission has already changed me greatly.  I am on the life-long path of conversion to the Lord and His Gospel, but I have so much to learn and to perfect.  Patience truly is a virtue and a Christlike attribute, and I pray everyday that I can have more patience with myself and with those around me.

As for the work here in Baguida, Togo, it is progressing well.  As previously stated, we had three baptisms this past week that successfully took place.  We have others that are progressing towards baptism, especially those that are finding solutions with their problems with the dowery.  I am very hopefully that Luc and Vicky can get everything sorted out so that they able to be baptized on Saturday the 25th because they are very ready for it.  Other than that, we have some that are struggling with keeping commitments, namely coming to church and praying, and prayers in their behalf would be greatly appreciated.  There are many good people here, but the church is still small and the Gospel still relatively unknown.  Ours is the task to take this light to the whole world, but just as this light takes time to grow in ourselves, it takes times to grow throughout the world. However, the Lord is hastening His work like never before and I am so grateful to have the opportunity to be a true servant and an instrument in His hands.

I love you all so much, and I pray that we may all search to feel God’s love in our lives.

Avec amour,
Elder Jenkins

A man was working with us on Sunday and was complaining
that his feet were hurting as we were walking to a mangez-vous.
So I just picked him up and put him on my back.
However, when we tried to take pictures, he got so ashamed himself and
wouldn't show his face!!!  Hahaha made for some good laughs.

Couldn't even get him to show himself while walking

 

 

 

 

Someone finally tried pulling his face, but he was sooo resistent.
Made for many laughs hahahaha.

Typical African stove.  Filled with charcoal and they just put the
pots directly on the charcoal.  Luckily in our apartments we have gas stoves.

The game we played after dinner Sunday evening.  We did it
tournament style, and I did 11 in the untimed preliminary, 10 in the
one minute quarter-final, 8 in the 30 second semi-final, and then I
won with 9 in the one-minute final!!!  Elder Kunz was my competition
in the final, and just lost with 8, even though he got 12 in the
untimed prelim.

7 months in Africa - Amazing!

 

Shortest door I've ever had to walk through in my adult life.

Well, my friends, the time is passing.  Tomorrow, the 14th of January, marks 7 months in Africa.  Amazing (and somehow sad) how the time passes on the mission, but I still have much in front of me!  Which means many improvements to make, and many, many more memories to create.  

I am so grateful for the time that the Lord has granted me to serve Him in the fulness and the truthfulness of His work.  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is truly the Lord's Church and the Kingdom of God on earth today.  I am amazed, proud, happy, and humbled at the same time to say that I have a knowledge of these things and that I am a member of this Church.  The Lord has truly blessed me with a knowledge of these things, which is why I have left my home/family/studies to serve Him wherever and however he wants me to.  You may think I'm crazy, confused, or just weird, but I know that these things are true.

This week has been a bit slower.  I think there's still a bit of post-holiday depression that's following us around, but it's starting to pick back up again.  It also didn't help that we had two baptisms set up on Saturday were not able to happen for various reasons, but we've already made progress in getting things lined up so they should be good to go this week! Other than that, we have many promising candidates for baptism that we're very excited for.  And what's better is that each one of them have so many family/friends who have already come in contact with the Church through them that are interested!  We are hoping and praying that these people will have the faith to act on the things that we ask them to do to help them increase their faith and testimony.

We have a few investigators that are progressing well.  Two of our best right now are a couple, Luc and Vicky.  They are a very young couple with a baby girl, and they are absolutely AMAZING!!!  They were a contact given to us by Frère Foly, who is the Church Building Manager/Coordinator for all of Togo.  Every lesson they are so attentive and even take notes!  They don't hesitate to pray, and they love keeping their commitments.  We have been teaching them for three weeks now, and every single week they have come to church. Now that they are more experienced they are more comfortable, especially when Fr. Foly came this week to take care of the baby so that they could focus during the last two hours of church.  They are progressing so well.  African law requires that they pay an expensive dowry before they can be married and so we can't baptize them yet.  We (along with Frère Foly) have counseled them to pray and to talk with the Branch President and with their parents to see if they can't work something out so that they can receive the blessings of baptism.  Your prayers will always help, especially to provide a miracle for this amazing family.

The work is still progressing very well, even though we've had some trials.  But trials are what make us grow and mature, and I am very grateful for the trials that I have had and will continue to have that have made me a better person.

I love you all so much, and I hope you all have a wonderful and happy week!

Avec amour,

Elder Jenkins

 

Crazy African cow herding in Africa!  (Taken from the couple's
car heading home after the baptismal service).

 

Elder Kunz's Papaya trees!!!  Those things were a foot tall when I got here a month and a half ago!  Pretty soon, they'll be bearing fruit!

 

A good look of the Harmattan haze in this picture.

Puppy!!!!!  Adorable.

We had a mangez-vous at President Kevin's house (1st counselor of the Branch) on Wednesday.  It got pretty crazy!  Those cans are empty!

 

Happy New Year from Baguida!

Happy New Year!  2014 is here!!!  That's so crazy!  Just so you know, Baguida partied it up pretty hard.  Not that I would know anything about it (President called and asked that we be inside by 6 pm for safety reasons), but Elder Kunz and I did get a trip to the restaurant in on the 31st before heading inside.

However, the 1st was a fun day!  We had a bit of a lazy morning after not being able to fall asleep until early in the morning due to fireworks.  But at about 10:30, we made it to Philippe's house (the branch 2nd counselor) to party.  We were welcomed by sodas and lots of music.  After a few minutes, the food was ready and we had some fufu gnam with eggplant sauce and beef.  DELICIOUS!!!!  It's amazing what a few months in mission can do.  Before I probably would have hated that, but now it's SOOOOOO good.  

 

Lunch!

This is how we do it!

Helping out a bit after eating.

 After that we danced and were just enjoying life before heading to the beach at about 1:30.  The beach was deserted, so we just chilled, took some pictures, and had a randomly started push-up contest.  HAHA.  After that we went to the sports complex that I've walked by a couple times just to check it out.  It was pretty cool inside.  Saw a pool for the second time since I've been in Africa, but this time people were actually using it.  And the soccer field has grass!!!  It looks pretty nice!  Enjoyed the view from the stadium.

 

Who said missionaries can't go swimming?  Haha just kiddin', I didn't.

The soccer stadium.

 

View of East Lomé from the stadium

After hitting up the sports complex, some wanted to go to a beach about 10 minutes away, but Elder Kunz and I were exhausted so we just went home.  There's a white family across the street that let off some big colorful fireworks that Elder Kunz and I are used to, so we enjoyed that!

Other than that, this week has been good!  We got a surprise visit from the Zone Leaders on Friday morning, so it was fun to study with Elder Dagrou again!  They also came to work through our Weekly Planning with us as well.  After that, I made some steak, mashed potatoes, and green beans for lunch!  Elder Rybin (the Zone Leader), Elder Kunz and I were all very happy and satisfied.

Not terribly much this week, I'm sorry!  Just ran out of time at the cyber today!  I'll write more next week!  I love you all!

Avec amour,

Elder Jenkins

Semken's Ramblings 1.5.14

5 January 2014

Happy New Year,

      The missionaries were kept busy during the holiday season.   The mission has a very nice Christmas activity.   It started at 10 am and is schedule to end at 2 pm.   The activity in Togo was a week before Christmas and in Benin the day before Christmas.  They start out by playing 6 games.  The missionaries are divided into 3 groups and then depending on the game are broken into small groups.   I asked them if they enjoyed the games and all of them said yes.  Games such as pictionary and musical chairs.   There are some competitive characteristics that demonstrated.  Even the sisters are very competitive.  Following the games a there is a nice dinner and then the Christmas program.   The program is put on by the missionaries.  Each apartment or two apartments in some cases sing a song and include a scriptural reading.   The mission president gives a Christmas story presentation as well as sings.   He is a very talented musician.   The accompanied himself with his guitar while singing.

       The missionaries are then presented with a gift.   As they start to head back to their apartments they linger to visit with one another.  

       The Christmas season is also filled with many member dinners for the missionaries.

      New Year's frequently includes dinner with members as well.  Some missionaries get together and cook a pig and eat it.   This year we have a Tahitian who could help. 

     The new year has begun with Zone Conferences and Missionary interviews.  The general theme setting goals.  Later this month we will have visits by two different groups of general authorities.  These include the area presidency and other area seventies.   I think there may be one from the US.  For one of the meetings Elder Vinson is having the missionaries complete a questionnaire.  It includes questions of evaluation as to where the missionary thinks he was about 6 months ago and then where he is today.   Such as,  are you reading the Book of Mormon everyday or somedays, companion study, personal study, etc.   He is also requested that the missionaries read 3 or 4 assigned conference talks in preparation for the training.

      This past December we had very few medical issues.   The few that we had were very minor.

       Missionaries frequently lose weight as they adjust to their new diet.  The weight is generally muscle, since they don't get any real exercise.   They do a lot of walking but little lifting, nor running, etc.

      We are now experiencing the dry season.  This is the time when the high atmospheric trade winds bring the sand (microscopic dust) from the Sahara desert.   Many people wear the surgical masks to minimize the amount of dust that gets into their lungs.  As far as I can tell there isn't anything to worry about. I suppose if exposed for years it could have some negative effect.  For more than a year now we have been in what is considered a drought.  The other day when we were driving along a very sandy beach road there were tow or 3 vehicles who were stuck in the sand.  One small car was buried past his wheel hub.  Motos were having to get off and push through the bad spots. If I were driving the mission van it may have gotten stuck.  Our trucks are very good, but I have used 4 wheel drive 2 or 3 times.

     The missionary work is steady.  One great challenge that we have seen here is the inability for the members to visit one another, like home teaching and visiting teaching.  The missionaries are asked to go and re-teach their converts following their baptism.  The missionaries build very positive long-term relationships with their new friends.  All of us could put into action of fellowshipping in our own neighborhood, etc.   Developing the depth in leadership and teaching skills requires a lot of time and effort.  The members are doing well.   We have missionaries playing the keyboard for sacrament meeting.   Thank goodness for mothers who had their sons learn to play.  The African missionaries do not play musical instruments.   

    I mention that your sons are very firm in their testimony.  They have a great deal to learn and are glad they have the opportunity to learn to pray, study and testify.  We are very proud of them.

     There is always some new experience for them nearly every day.

              Elder Semken