Oh, know you not that Angels are near you?

My power outage bed... On our balcony... There's lots of wind.

One more week by, and more lessons learned.  This past week was rather special due to District Conference on Saturday and Sunday.  The missionaries were not invited on Saturday, but as I play the piano for the District choir, I was invited to attend with my companion.  There were many members in attendance from Fidjrossè, and it was great to see them all again!

I considered it a great blessing to be able to attend both the Saturday and Sunday meetings as most of the messages (or at least most of what I took from the messages) were focused on the blessings of the temple and the family.  In these last few months, I have really felt the Lord preparing me to return home and continue to progress spiritually, the next step being a temple marriage and my own family.  Let me share a quick story to illustrate this, though it is a bit more on the temporal side rather than spiritual.

In June (or possibly July) 2013, I met a couple--Elder and Sister Findlay-- that were serving a service mission for the Church.  They had come to Togo with a couple a physical therapists and some others.  I had a great time chatting with them, and after I explained that I wanted to be a PA, they said that I could contact them if I ever needed an internship.  I had over 22 months left, so I kinda just put that in the back of my mind, but I still forgot to get their contact information.  That bugged me for a bit, but I knew that I shouldn't worry too much about it then.

Fast forward 22 months to the Cotonou, Benin District Conference, and there are the Findlays driving up!  I recognized them, but didn't have the chance to say hi as I had to go get the piano from Fidjrossè.  After I had gone to get the piano, I didn't have any time to say hi to anyone as I had to get prelude music going with the choir.

After the meeting was over, I was able to seek them out.  I asked Sister Findlay if she remembered me, and after explaining and a bit of reflection, she did vaguely.  She then realized that if we had met in June 2013 that I must be close to the end of my mission.  I responded and we got talking about things I want to do with the end of my mission, plans for my parents to come, etc.  I eventually had to explain to Soeur Morin what we were doing with the piano, and Sister Findlay got pulled aside, so we didn't get to continue on that subject.  I continued saying hi to people that I know that I haven't seen in a while.

After a few minutes, it hit me again why I was so excited to see the Findlays: they would have a way of contacting those physical therapists!  I made my way over to them and explained that I had just remember that.  They remembered those with whom they had come in 2013 and said that they could probably easily find their contact information.  Sister Findlay then asked for my contact and took a picture and said that she would do her best.  She then added, "Isn't it interesting that we end up meeting those who we need to meet?"  That's extremely accurate, and not by any chance or coincidence.

My testimony, yet again, is that we do have a loving Heavenly Father who carefully watches over us and our wellbeing.  He wants us to succeed in every righteous path we take, and He will always send us angels--both seen and unseen--to help us along our way.  My favorite line from one of my favorite hymns ("Come Unto Jesus", Hymns #116) goes, "Oh, know you not that Angels are near you?"  And where do you think these angels come from?  Whose errand are they on?

I promise that as you faithfully seek to press forward steadfastly in the gospel that Heavenly Father will grant you His holy servants to bear you up.  They may come in ways that you never expected or even asked for, but they will always be there.  As the scripture reads, "Draw near unto me, and I will draw near unto thee" (D&C 88:63).  I testify that this is true.  In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Avec amour,

Elder Jenkins

THAT is a photogenic dog.

Yeah, it was DELICIOUS!!!!!!!  Elder Wittig's family sent him the brownies for his birthday.

My companion's party hat.  It's generally not worn this way, but I couldn't resist with it's color.

Yeah...

With Elder Mulumba, one of my favorite people here.

This pretty much describes our relationship.

"A love of God and of all men"

My new companion, Elder Dakouri, from Ivory Coast.

Hello all.  Well, everything with the transfer went well this week.  Elder Dakouri and Elder Koranteng both came over from Togo on Thursday.  Elder Wittig and I had a fun week together waiting for them to come.  I had to do immigration things during the week, so we got to see many other missionary friends together.  He also celebrated his birthday on Friday, so we had pizza and root beer floats and then we made brownies today!  That little beat-up toaster may be the center of much mocking from those few outsiders who see it, but he’s been such a little tender mercy for us.

One last picture with Elder Lynch!  He's home now!

Having these two new missionaries in the apartment has changed the aura a bit, just a bit of fresh air that’s all.  However, the Lord has made it very clear to me what He wants me to learn with these last few weeks.

When I got the transfer call, I was informed that they (the mission leaders) were hoping that I could help lift my new companion.  Then, when I was in the mission office for immigration, President Morin called me in for a brief interview to expound a bit more on why they had said that.  In his words, “Every missionary wants to finish his mission, but we want them all to finish well.”  I left that interview thinking that I was expected to format my new companion.  I was pondering on how I could do this until the day he got here.  With the first day, I was looking brightly towards the future. He’s got a good testimony and shares it openly and often.  He’s excited to be working.

As the days wore on, I started to get slightly worried with the fact that I thought that I was being asked to change him.  Looking towards the future, my vision became quite bleak, blurred even. Then, the Lord sent one of His humble servants a pick-me-up in the form of correction and direction.

As I was preparing for the 3rd hour lesson this Sunday, I got quite excited.  The title “The Power of the Word” had intrigued me from the very first time I read it in January.  There were a few words, like President Benson and many, many others have promised, that struck me as the Lord’s being spoken directly to me.  One part, focused on making the word a greater part of our life, explained how we should seek out the word of God as it is contained in the mouths of God’s chosen modern-day prophets.  I was reminded of this this morning as I sat down to begin my laundry haul.

As I scrubbed and scrubbed and scrubbed, I listened carefully to the words of President Eyring, Brother Callister, President Monson and President Uchtdorf from the October 2014 Conference.  It soon became very, very clear to me what the Lord is expecting of me with my last few weeks, and I think that it can be summed up in one word: LOVE. Not just any love or lust, but true love, or charity.

After I finished, I felt prompted to look in the Joseph Smith manual in the chapter on charity.  I was greatly enlightened by this chapter, and again I soon heard the Lord’s voice speaking to me.  Before anything, we must love.  We must not think that we are more righteous than others, but we must love every one of our fellow man and do everything in our power to help them.  As President George Albert Smith complimented this doctrine, “there is true power in kindness.” He continued to explain how through kindness we can bring others to convert themselves unto the Lord.

So, as I endure to the end of my full-time service of the Lord God, I plan on following Nephi’s counsel on enduring to the end.  In 2 Nephi 31:20, he said, “And ye must press forward, with a perfect brightness of hope, with a love of God and of all men.”

I am very excited for this essential life lesson that the Lord is communicating to me and enabling me to exercise at this time.  I do not think that it is the only lesson that I have left to learn, but it certainly seems to be the most important.  As President Monson said in April 2014, “Love is the very essence of the Gospel.”

I pray that as we continue to endure to the end of our lives and of our various current situations that we do so with “a love of God and of all men.”  I promise that these truly are God’s prophetic words to us His children today.  I so testify because He has made it so blatantly clear to me that I could never say otherwise.  I know that, with love in our hearts, the future will always be bright and clear. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Avec amour,

Elder Jenkins

Legislative elections are next week.  They're getting decently

creative with their campaigns!

LAST ONE FAST ONE

LAST ONE FAST ONE.

That's right folks, it's that time of six weeks again.  And yes, Akpakpa has been hit with the transfer bug.  My companion, Elder Affri, and Elder Mutoke were both transferred out this morning.  I will be working with Elder Dakouri from Ivory Coast and Elder Wittig will be working with Elder Korateng from Ghana.  I'm definitely going to miss Elder Affri and Elder Mutoke, but it's nice having a little change this close to the end.

Well, as I've said so many times in my life during swim practice, "LAST ONE FAST ONE!!!!!!"  Here come the last six weeks.  Whatever you've got left, put it all in, and then some.  Leave nothing left. No regrets.

I apologize again for the length (or lack thereof).  Honestly, I've been trying to work with my iPod to put General Conference on and finally get all of my Christmas music off, but that poor thing is just so old it's almost ripped to shreds.  It's been a kinda stressful and time-consuming ordeal.  The firewire input has been contorted due to all of the numerous falls that it's taken with my iHome.  So, I have to hold the wire in at a funny angle and with much effort so that it doesn't disconnect.  Naturally, it disconnected almost anytime we would try to put music on.  Finally, after about 20 tries, it worked. My blood pressure is quite high, but at least my heart rate has decreased.  Seriously, technology. Who needs it?

Well, on a radically more spiritual note, the work is starting to progress well here in Akpakpa.  Elder Affri was a bit sad to be leaving, but I'm sure he'll find much success in his new area.  I am very grateful for Elder Affri and for ALL of the lessons that I learned with him.  I am very confident that the Lord is preparing me to return home and still find succes with what I'll do in life.  That has also been testified to me through the many inspired messages of General Conference.  I love the Lord.  He is ever watchful over ALL of His many children.  He is so gentle and kind.

I would like to leave you all with a brief testimony of our Heavenly Father.  There is no creature more gentle, more loving, more understanding than our Heavenly Father.  He knows what it's like to have trials and tribulations.  He knows what we go through.  Through His Son's Atonement, He CAN save us and succor us.  He CAN look after us, answer us, encourage us, and one day welcome us with His loving arms.  This is a day that I look forward to with gratitude.  My prayer this week is that we all work to hear His soft, firm voice speaking to us through the words of the prophets, through the whisperings of the Holy Ghost, and through the many tests and trials of our lives.  I promise that you will find Him.  He is ever present.  He loves us more than we can understand.  He knows our weaknesses much, much better than we do, and He knows why we have them.  He wants us to come unto Him.  And there He stands, ever-beckoning.

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

Avec amour,

Elder Jenkins

Easter Testimony

Happy Easter everyone!  Yeah, I might be a bit late, but that's just kinda how life is out here.

This has been a rather special Easter.  I didn't receive any big presents nor eat any substantial amount of chocolate.  I didn't go looking for eggs nor did I hide any.  I didn't get to see any new cool videos, from the Church or elsewhere.  But I did have the amazing and humble opportunity to focus on "what matters most".

For those of us not in General Conference zone, yesterday a fast and testimony Sunday.  I decided to bear my testimony about Easter, rather fitting I think!  As I stood up to the pulpit, I was struck by our celebration of Easter.  Yes, other churches had had their parades and fanfares yesterday.  Most people had large parties and invited lots of people, many churches were overfilled past the doors, and there was lots of loud music being play out in the street.  

And then there were the Latter-day Saints in their quiet building with an abnormally normal Sunday service, not because we don't celebrate Easter or any other holidays, but because, in all reality, we celebrate Easter EVERY Sunday!  That's the whole point of our Sunday worship services.  Yes, we sang all three of the Easter hymns in the French hymnbook, but other than that, the only truly essential part to celebrating Easter was the partaking of the holy Sacrament, or Communion as other call it.  This is the whole point of Easter, to celebrate Christ's infinite and eternal Atonement, including His resurrection from the dead.

I testify, along with all of the prophets ancient and modern, that He lives!  I know that my Redeemer lives!  And yes, what comfort this sweet sentence gives, He lives!  I testify that His infinite love is available to us all, and that we can all receive the fulness of His loves and blessings, but only through His restored gospel.  I testify that as we focus our future Easters and our future Sundays more on the Savior that we will come unto Him and partake of the Bread of Life and of the Living Water.  We will never hunger nor thirst.  We will find Eternal Life.  I invite you, plead you, to come unto Him and accept His Eternal Love.  As the Book of Mormon prophet Nephi said, "There is none other way nor name given under heaven whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God. And now, behold, this is the doctrine of Christ" (2 Nephi 31:21).

I love you all so much. Have an amazing week!

Avec amour,

Elder Jenkins