Don't be afraid to make mistakes! Put yourselves out on the line!

Hello all.  It's been a week full of learning here in Benin.  And I have absolutely loved it.  My testimony of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and of His grace has been greatly strengthened.

Going throughout this past week has not exactly been easy.  It wasn't discouraging, but it certainly wasn't easy.  But as I have learned, these are the best moments of life.  Yes, humility is required in great abundance, and it is very difficult for some of us to show this kind of humility.  But I have better understood the Lord's grace as I meditated on how far I've come to see again where I need to go.

As I thought about my time here, I thought of all the mistakes I've made and how I thought, at the time, that I would regret all of these mistakes for the rest of my life.  Then I realized that now, I do not regret a single one!  Why? Because I gave it my all!  I put in, at that time, everything that I had, even if it seemed nothing at all.

This past week, I have made several mistakes.  Not that I'm a bad person or that I'm not trying, but I am an imperfect being.  However, much different from earlier in my mission, I was not at all discouraged!  Why? Because I have spent a lot more time studying and meditating on the Savior's Atonement.  He has granted me a greater understanding of the hope and light of His gospel.

Pondering on all of these things yesterday, I was quite impressed with the mission experience.  Yes, it's one great life lesson, and yes, we get to change people's lives, but there is something much, much more.  The Lord has given us a very special place to learn and to make mistakes.  That's when it hit me: I'm supposed to make mistakes!  I'm supposed to give it everything I have and fall short!  I'm supposed to push myself past my boundaries!  Thinking upon this even in this very moment has brought a poem quoted by Elder Vinson last year (originally by Elder Holland):

"Come to the edge," He said, "Come to the edge."

"I can't," I said, "I can't"

"Come to the edge," He said, "Come to the edge"

I did.

He pushed me.

I flew.

So if I have counsel to those young and old seeking to serve missions, don't be afraid to make mistakes!  Put yourselves out on the line!  Open your heart to everyone, without fear!  Give it everything you've got even if you've got nothing!  We're most likely never going to see these people again in our mortal lives.  The Lord gives us this opportunity of trial and error to prepare us for our future lives when the stakes will be much higher. Yes, it might seem like we're falling at first when we come to the edge and He pushes us, but soon we will see His promise fulfilled that "He shall bear [us] up as on eagles' wings."

I have made the firm decision that as I finish my time here on my mission, I will put myself as far out there as I can.  I will make as many mistakes as necessary so that I can grow, knowing that if I give it everything that I can, the Lord will make up the difference.  I'm not saying that I won't try to improve; in fact, improvement is exactly what I'm seeking!  But I have gained a firm testimony that the more we put ourselves on the line humbly, the more we will see the Lord's hand in our lives.

There is no limit to His power!  There is no limit to His reach!  There is no limit to how long or how much we are allowed to use!  So why worry about our own lack of strength when His grace is sufficient.  His Atonement is infinite!  His grace is infinite!

In beginning to live in this manner, I have felt the peace in His gospel.  Even when turmoil surrounds me, His grace and His peace are sufficient for me.  Living this way is truly a joyous experience.  

I testify that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ stands at each one of our personal doors.  He knocks.  He awaits for us to open the door and invite Him into our lives.  And when we do, He will push us farther than we have ever gone, but with it, He will open us new beginnings and beautiful views on life.  We will find true happiness and joy.  We will gain spiritual confidence before God.  We will change to become like Him.  And I share this with you in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Avec amour,

Elder Jenkins

One of my all-time favorite African meals, foutou banane with peanut sauce!!!  SOOOO GOOOD!!!!!!!!!! 

Found this on my box of Frosties (european frosted flakes).  it's a free entry to several parks in Great Britain and Ireland.  Including the National Aquatic Centre in Dublin.  What are the chances?!  I'm planning on giving it to Elder Lynch so that he can actually use it! 

Elder Wittig and I improvised to make an apple pie today.  It was amazing!!!  and it only cost 8 dollars (roughly)!!!!!

"Bear Up Their Burdens with Ease"

Wow.  Time Flies.  Ain't no doubt about it.  This week has flown by.  But thankfully, in the whirlwind of time that was this week, I learned and saw in practice a very important principle.

My thoughts this week have turned towards Elder Bednar's April 2014 General Conference talk entitled "Bear Up Their Burdens With Ease."  I didn't have a chance to really study the talk until this morning, but I have listened to it a couple times this week and have tried to live the principles that are taught by Elder Bednar.  I will relate two experiences that I have had this week that have illustrated this in three different ways.

First, on Thursday, we had to go to the farthest neighborhood of our area.  It generally takes us over an hour of straight walking to get there.  The sun decided to really come out that day, too, so I was slightly dreading having to go out.  Thinking of the talk I had just listened to, I prayed that our burden would be made light.  Stepping out under the sun in faith and equiped with my new hat, we made our way to Akogbato.  We picked a member up at the branch as we had to visit a few single sisters and needed an adult male with us. "[African missionaries] sang as they walked and walked and walked and walked and walked..." Then, "We're already here?!"  We looked at our watches, and it had only taken 40 minutes!!  Almost stupefied we went about our visits.

On the way back, I was again slightly dreading the walk back, but with a renewed faith in the principle of lightened burdens, we again set out in faith.  The difference this time was that my legs were already exhausted.  After about 10 minutes of walking, the first counselor of our branch, who speaks English and very limited French, pulled up and said, "Hey!  I had just come to visit Bona [one of our investigators], but he said he's at the Church building.  Hop on in I'll take you guys back!!!"  I got in the car with a heart full of gratitude.

Second, on Saturday we were working with Frère Kazotti, the former Branch President.  We finished a couple of lessons and then had one of our appointments canceled last minute.  We called all of our back-ups, but no one was there.  We finally decided to just go to the Branch building and see, but there was no one there again.  We spent a few minutes there just wondering what to do.  Frère Kazotti shared something that had touched him from his personal study a few days before.  Just sitting there, I was starting to get a bit stressed because I don't like just sitting somewhere doing nothing as a missionary.  So I suggested that we go inside and offer up a quick prayer for direction.  As Frère Kazotti offered the prayer, the thought that came to my mind was just to go to the street corner and await further direction.  So we did.

As we were standing on the corner, Elder Nkanza and Frère Kazotti were bouncing off ideas, but I just didn't feel right about any of them.  We called a couple more people, but there was still nothing.  I still had the same feeling to just wait.  Finally, after about 2 or 3 minutes, a taxi-moto pulled up with a guy.  The guy on the back hopped off and exclaimed, in English, "OH MY GOSH! I've been looking for you guys!!  Where is the church in this area?" 

We asked which church, and he said, "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints!"

"Are you a member?"

"Yeah!  I was baptized about a year ago in Nigeria!"

"Okay, well, the church building is just right here.  Would you like to check it out real quick?"

"Of course!!!"

So yeah.  I was slightly shocked but more relieved.  After we showed him the building a bit, he promised that he would be there Sunday, and sure enough, he was there even before us Sunday Morning!  His name is Victor.

In studying "Bear Up Their Burdens With Ease," I was specifically marked by Elder Bednar's allusion to covenants.  Sacred covenants kept and made with the Lord truly are essential to the Plan of Happiness.  The word for covenant in French is "alliance."  The base of this word is "lier" the verb which means bind or tie.  With this background, I thought of covenants as cords that actually bind us to the Savior which allows Him to pull us through situations when we ourselves don't have the strength to do it, as long as we are faithful and true to these covenants.  The more covenants we make with the Lord, the stronger this bind becomes and the more we feel His presence and His yoke.

The first principle that I felt is well described by Elder Bednar with the story of the people of Alma in the Book of Mormon.  This people had several burdens literally placed upon their backs and were forbidden to pray aloud.  They continued to pray in their hearts, and the Lord heard them.  He promised that He would make their burdens light.  What happened next was not that the burden was taken away, but the scriptures tell us that "the Lord did strengthen them." (see Mosiah 24:13-16)  I felt this principle as we made our way to Akogbato.  The distance didn't change nor did the sun go away (there were a few small, but friendly clouds on the way), but the Lord gave us the strength to persevere, and we felt that our burden was made light.

The second principle is the principle of tender mercies, which I have not ceased to feel during my 17 months on my mission.  The Lord knew that the task ahead was extremely difficult, so He sent someone our way to help us carry our burden.

The third principle was the Lord giving us patience and direction.  The time that we had to wait with nothing to do was a trial for me.  I don't like not having anything to do.  But He first gave me direction as to what we should do and then the patience to accept His timing.  What I felt as a result of this was joy.  The sweet joy that comes through the Spirit testifying of God, the Father, and of His Son, Jesus Christ, and of Their eternal and infinite love for us.

I testify of the Lord Jesus Christ's atoning sacrifice.  I have felt but a mere particle of its power.  I have felt my burdens made light through my faith in Him and my covenants that bind me to Him.  I know that He loves each of us individually and perfectly.  I invite all of us to seek to feel His love more in our daily lives.

Again, if you have not had the opportunity to contract a sacred covenant with the Lord through his prescribed ordinances--the first of which being baptism by one holding the proper Priesthood authority--I invite you to do so.  I promise you that you will feel His strengthening power as you traverse the various trials of your life.  You will feel those covenants pull you through the toughest times of you life.  You will feel them pull you towards, and eventually to, Eternal Life.

If you have had the opportunity to contract certain sacred covenants, I invite you to stay true to these covenants.  If you have strayed, the way back lies, as always, upon the principles of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and repentance.  It may be hard, but I promise you that it will be so much more worth it.  We cannot imagine the joy that we will feel at the last day if we contract and remain faithful to these covenants with our Lord and Savior.

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

Avec amour,

Elder Jenkins

I love my Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ

Well, my dear friends, this has been one week my current English vocabulary cannot even begin to find an adjective to describe.  So rather than try to find an adjective, I will, in recounting an ongoing experience from this past week, bear my testimony of the Plan of Salvation.

This past Tuesday, as we were home for lunch, I noticed that Elder Bile was moving a bit slow.  As the time to go back out approached, he sat on his bed holding his head in his hands.  For those of who you don't know him, and I'm pretty sure that means every single one of you reading this, Elder Bile is a VERY loud and outgoing person.  He makes me look VERY calm, that plus all my time here has calmed me.  Anyways, I honestly have never seen Elder Bile like this.  He is always the one to bring the noise and energy level up ten notches.  He had told me earlier that morning that he was feeling really tired, so I was not terribly surprised that he was struggling to get going. 

However, as I passed by his bed, I had the distinct feeling that I need to just sit down with him and put my arm around him.  As I did that, I started to have the feeling that there was something more than fatigue going on.  After a few seconds, he finally pulled his hands away from his face.  I asked him if everything was okay.  He replied, with tears in his eyes, "Yeah, everything will be fine." "What is it?" I asked.  He didn't reply, so I asked again.  After a few moments of silence, he stated, "Yesterday [last Monday, the 7th], one of my friends gave me some family news.  Because I don't have any contact with my family, it was him that had to pass me the message. He told me that my sister died this past week."  After that, both of us just cried together for a few minutes.  Once we calmed a bit down, I explained that he needed to call President Weed and let him know, and that while he talked with President Weed, I would inform Elder Dih and Elder Donadier (the other other missionaries in our apartment).  He agreed, and I dialed President Weed and explained briefly the situation and then passed the phone to Elder Bile.

After barely being able to choke out words to explain to Elder Dih and Elder Donadier, Elder Bile came back out to join us.  We went into the great room and spent some time together as a District.  After a few minutes of counsel and prayer, Elder Bile said that he was ready to go out, so we went and got ready.

We were able to get out the door and in the middle of our first appointment, President Dieudonné, President Weed's first counselor, called to say that he was on his way out to Baguida to meet with us.  Just as we were finishing our first lesson, he called to say that he had arrived, so we went out to the main road to meet him and then head back to the apartment.  We had a quick meeting of counsel and strength with him and one of the counselors of the Stake Presidency and then they took us to our next appointment.  Overall, we finished the day fine and I was very pleased with Elder Bile's efforts to overcome the grief and sorrow and put himself to work.  Yes, it was a bit slow, but he did a fantastic job.

Wednesday, I did a split with Elder Dih.  It had been planned weeks before, but I thought it was best to keep it so that Elder Donadier and Elder Bile could have some time together.  In the MTC, they had been companions and countless times, according to them, Elder Bile was there to put his arm around Elder Donadier's shoulder whenever he got homesick and thought that he couldn't go on.  Then, this past Wednesday, the tables were turned, and Elder Donadier was 100% there for Elder Bile in his time of need. After we finished daily planning at the end of the day, Elder Bile shared a bit from their day, and I was so impressed.  He really had put himself to work that day, and it showed.

The rest of this week has been filled with ups and downs.  There have been some moments where I have been so proud of Elder Bile and his efforts to work through the sorrow.  Other times, I struggled to known what to do or say to help comfort him.

However, one thing I do know, and I know that Elder Bile knows as well, is that death is not the end of his sister's story, nor any person that has ever lived on this earth.  Thanks to the scriptures, we know about something that we call the Plan of Salvation.  This plan is God's plan for each one of us, His children.  Well, my dear friends, this has been one week my current English vocabulary cannot even begin to find an adjective to describe.  So rather than try to find an adjective, I will, in recounting an ongoing experience from this past week, bear my testimony of the Plan of Salvation.

This past Tuesday, as we were home for lunch, I noticed that Elder Bile was moving a bit slow.  As the time to go back out approached, he sat on his bed holding his head in his hands.  For those of who you don't know him, and I'm pretty sure that means every single one of you reading this, Elder Bile is a VERY loud and outgoing person.  He makes me look VERY calm, that plus all my time here has calmed me.  Anyways, I honestly have never seen Elder Bile like this.  He is always the one to bring the noise and energy level up ten notches.  He had told me earlier that morning that he was feeling really tired, so I was not terribly surprised that he was struggling to get going.

However, as I passed by his bed, I had the distinct feeling that I need to just sit down with him and put my arm around him.  As I did that, I started to have the feeling that there was something more than fatigue going on.  After a few seconds, he finally pulled his hands away from his face.  I asked him if everything was okay.  He replied, with tears in his eyes, "Yeah, everything will be fine." "What is it?" I asked.  He didn't reply, so I asked again.  After a few moments of silence, he stated, "Yesterday [last Monday, the 7th], one of my friends gave me some family news.  Because I don't have any contact with my family, it was him that had to pass me the message. He told me that my sister died this past week."  After that, both of us just cried together for a few minutes.  Once we calmed a bit down, I explained that he needed to call President Weed and let him know, and that while he talked with President Weed, I would inform Elder Dih and Elder Donadier (the other other missionaries in our apartment).  He agreed, and I dialed President Weed and explained briefly the situation and then passed the phone to Elder Bile.

After barely being able to choke out words to explain to Elder Dih and Elder Donadier, Elder Bile came back out to join us.  We went into the great room and spent some time together as a District.  After a few minutes of counsel and prayer, Elder Bile said that he was ready to go out, so we went and got ready.

We were able to get out the door and in the middle of our first appointment, President Dieudonné, President Weed's first counselor, called to say that he was on his way out to Baguida to meet with us.  Just as we were finishing our first lesson, he called to say that he had arrived, so we went out to the main road to meet him and then head back to the apartment.  We had a quick meeting of counsel and strength with him and one of the counselors of the Stake Presidency and then they took us to our next appointment.  Overall, we finished the day fine and I was very pleased with Elder Bile's efforts to overcome the grief and sorrow and put himself to work.  Yes, it was a bit slow, but he did a fantastic job.

Wednesday, I did a split with Elder Dih.  It had been planned weeks before, but I thought it was best to keep it so that Elder Donadier and Elder Bile could have some time together.  In the MTC, they had been companions and countless times, according to them, Elder Bile was there to put his arm around Elder Donadier's shoulder whenever he got homesick and thought that he couldn't go on.  Then, this past Wednesday, the tables were turned, and Elder Donadier was 100% there for Elder Bile in his time of need.  After we finished daily planning at the end of the day, Elder Bile shared a bit from their day, and I was so impressed.  He really had put himself to work that day, and it showed.

The rest of this week has been filled with ups and downs.  There have been some moments where I have been so proud of Elder Bile and his efforts to work through the sorrow.  Other times, I struggled to known what to do or say to help comfort him.

However, one thing I do know, and I know that Elder Bile knows as well, is that death is not the end of his sister's story, nor any person that has ever lived on this earth.  Thanks to the scriptures, we know about something that we call the Plan of Salvation.  This plan is God's plan for each one of us, His children.  It responds to three essential questions: Where do we come from? Why are we here? And where are we going?  These questions are posed in very general and VERY eternal terms.  They can be rephrased as: Where were we before birth?  What is our goal in life on this earth? And where will we go after death?

I know that this life is not the end.  As I once heard a servant of the Lord state, think of this like as a piece of string.  Then, think of a rope extending from both ends of the string,in both directions forever; this is Eternity.  Our life, compared to eternity, is like that piece of string tied the middle of the rope.  Once we zoom out far enough, it's like we can't even see it, but we know that it's there and there are many, many things that we learn from it.

I know that the gospel is being preached at this moment among those in the Spirit World who await the Resurrection and who never knew the fullness gospel of Jesus Christ (see 1 Peter 3:18-20 and 1 Peter 4:6, as well as Alma 40:11-14), including Elder Bile's sister.  I know that, as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive, for time and all eternity (see 1 Corinthians 15:20-22).

This is the season of Easter, the time where we celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.  He is risen.  He has overcome death and, through His merits, we, too, can overcome physical death. His death and resurrection marked the end of blood sacrifice of the lamb.  Now, all the He asks of us is a "broken heart and a contrite spirit" (see 3 Nephi 9:19-22).  If we do what he asks us to do - including having faith, repenting of our sins, being baptized by one holding the authority of God, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end - we will inherit Eternal Life, the greatest of all the gifts of God (see 2 Nephi 31:19-20 as well as D&C 14:10 and Moses 1:39).

I know that my Redeemer lives.  He lived, died, and lived again for all of us.  The sacrifice that He offered for us in Gethsemane and later on Golgotha is beyond our comprehension.  Yes, having nails tearing through His skin must have been excruciating beyond conscious belief, but something that we can never understand in this mortal existence is the pain that He felt as he prayed to the Father in the Garden of Gethsemane, pleading, "If it be Thy will, take this bitter cup from me"  (see Matthew 26:36-46).  Through this sacrifice, He overcame the fall of Adam, opening to us the heavens and the kingdom of God.

I know that this Church is the one true Church of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  He is at the head of this Church and leads it through a prophet, seer, and revelator named Thomas S. Monson.  This truly is a Living Gospel.  Through this Church, we have the fullness of the gospel, which is once more throughout the entire earth.  I love this Church and I love this gospel, but much more so, I love my Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ.

May we all take this next week to ponder upon the Lord's sacrifice in preparation for the celebration of His Resurrection next week.  May we all be filled with joy and gratitude in His Spirit as we reflect upon all that he has so freely given us.

I love you all.  Have a great week.

Elder Jenkins 

Baby pigeons on Thursday, 10 April, one day after hatching.  Elder Bile's expression after seeing the hatched babies, "The Lord takes and the Lord gives!"

Baby pigeons today, Monday, April 14

Elder Kunz's papaya trees

Bearing fruit!

With Gilchrist and his pet mouse

Nice Shirt!

uhhhh..... Yeah, Africa

Very possibly my favorite little African kid.  He is soooooooo funny!  His name is Escar.

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