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

"Speak, Listen and Love"

Well.  I'm at a loss.  I have 10 minutes to write this.  Here we go.

This week has been as interesting as ever.  I came down with some sort of illness that I have no idea where it came from.  It hit pretty hard on Thursday and I was bedridden on Friday.  Pretty much, I'm not sick, but I feel sick, and I've completely lost my appetite.  I never thought that I would serve myself the portions that I do now.  But that might just be a good thing.  I'm starting to feel slightly better, and at least I've had the energy to go out since Saturday.

My companion and I have had a couple communication errors this past week.  Nothing real, real major, but still there's been a lack of unity.  Things kinda escalated Saturday night, and I was at a loss.  Once again, I found myself feeling "like a plastic bag, drifting through the wind, wanting to start again."  I felt suspended in the air (like the seminary video from 2 Nephi 2 for opposition in all things), having no way to go up, down, right, or left.  I then was reminded of an article from the Febraury 2014 Ensign entitled "Speak, Listen and Love" that I will forever keep in my archives.  After reading this article, I assessed our relationship and found that, yes, we were trying to go on to the personal level, but there was a severe lack of validation.  On Sunday, after Church, I explained what I had studied.  I also explained to him that I had pondered and much better understood his point of view, and I tried really hard to validate in showing how I understood.  He understood that, and then returned the favor in a like manner.  

Since this moment, our communication has improved.  It's not yet perfect, not even very good, but it's improving.  Our superficial communication level has increased as well as our personal, but it's our validation on all levels that has seen the greatest growth.

Sorry, I feel like this is rather informational, but like I said, I'm out of time.  This has been another testimony to me that the mission is our personal preparation for marriage, and my companion and I have both sensed that this past week.  That was another thing that brought us together: focusing on what we have in common.  Anyway, have a wonderful week, and I pray that I will have a bit more time next week to share more of my experiences.

Avec amour,

Elder Jenkins

"I will be a light unto them forever"

I'm sure I've said this probably over 1000 times during my mission, but where does the time go?  I swear weeks are no longer seven days long.  Nevertheless, this week has been filled with success and gratitude.

As I stated last week, my companion (Elder Affri) and I have really been trying to increase our personal efforts in finding people to teach.  This last week, we have seen a bit of improvement.  However, we have seen almost a quadruple uptake in the results.  We have felt the Lord's hand guiding us to those that we need to speak with, many in very unpredictable circumstances.  Every single day this past week we received contacts from members and/or people calling to us on the street asking us what we do.  It has been fascinating for me to see how the Lord is presenting us more and more of His children.

During my personal study, I came across a verse of scripture that impressed me deeply with our current situation.  I found this in 2 Nephi 10:14, which reads,

"for I, the Lord, the king of heaven, will be their king, and I will be a light unto them forever, that hear my words."

As I reflected upon that, I realized that I had seen this in practice this week in very powerful ways!  I think that I have mentioned this previously, but we have two couples right now that are struggling to find their way to marriage.  Because of this, I was given the opportunity to teach the Gospel Principles class (the Sunday School class for investigators and recent converts) about the covenant of eternal marriage.  Before getting to the concept of eternal marriage, we talked about how marriage, even civil marriage, is a commandment of God and not just a tradition among men (basically, God has given us the commandment to multiply and replenish the earth, and He has also commanded us to use the sacred powers of procreation within the bonds of marriage.  Summarized, it's a commandment to be married and to have children).

I taught this in the plainest way that I could, and it was well understood by all in attendance, especially those trying to find a way to be married in their current situation.  We answered a couple questions and then continued with the lesson.  As we were finishing up the lesson, the Holy Ghost was very tangible in the class, testifying to everyone of us of the truth of this principle.  At the end, everyone agreed firmly that we all need and want to respect this commandment.

After this class, the branch president called our two couples into his office separately and then called Elder Affri and I in afterward.  During our conversation, he explained how he is very happy for these two couples and that the branch is willing to do whatever is needed to help them get married.  There is a collective marriage coming up, and he said that he would follow up on the date and that we would prepare for that date for these two couples.

As I pondered on this today, I realized that we had heard the Lord's voice, as Jacob says in 2 Nephi 10.  We heard it, listened to it, and understood it.  Because of that, He was our light to begin to really progress along this path.  At the end of the three hours of Church on Sunday, both couples were lit up in excitement for how close they are getting to marriage!

The Lord is always firm in his promises.  Studying the Book of Mormon one more time has helped me learn that so much better.  I have looked for that more carefully in my daily life, and I have seen it.  As He said in D&C 82:10, "I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say."  We are striving to keep His commandments and abide by His laws, and He always keeps His promises.  Always!

It's a very exciting time to be in Akpakpa right now!!!

Avec amour,

Elder Jenkins

A storm that came through this past week.  The dark contrasting against the light was quite majestic as it filled the whole sky.

Sunrise this morning, 03.02.15

I finally saw this kids shirt after the second hour at Church on Sunday, 03.01.15

The poor guy doesn't even know what it signifies!!!  but at least it's not the worst of that sort of case.

Defending truth more boldly and more politely

Well folks, it's been another week.  I have greatly felt of the Lord's love for me and all of His children.  This love brightens even the darkest of nights and will fill up any life that is willing to receive it.

I first felt of God's love this past Tuesday at Zone Conference.  'Twas an especially good conference, filled with inspiration.  The first segment was two security agents/ directors for the Africa West area of the Church.  They filled us in on emergency protocol and everyday safety.  It was interesting for me as presidential elections will be happening in a few weeks in Togo and things could potentially heat up.

At one point of time, I heard the Lord's voice speaking to me, which is why I felt as if I were filled with His love.  President Morin felt inspired to watch President Uchtdorf's talk from the New Mission President Seminar this past year, for which President and Sister Morin were both present.

President Uchtdorf started out explaing the sacrament and testifying of it to us.  It was good and edifying and all, but it didn't seem to be the central message of his talk to me.  I took note, but was even more intrigued as to how he would use that.  He then went on explaining how we follow the Savior's example, an essential element to this work.  One of the most important examples in this work is to fear God more than we fear men.  We should fear God before man in our obdience to God's commandments and missionary rules.  We should fear God more than man in opening our mouths unceasingly in proclaiming His restored gospel.  We should fear God more than man in defending truth and righteousness.  We should fear God before man in building up His Kingdom here on earth and preparing the way for the Savior's Second Coming.

Also, I felt God's voice speaking comfort to me as President Uchtdorf related the story of a stalwart young missionary that served in England.  He explained how this missionary was a force for good in his mission as he never backed down from what he knew and believed to be true, yet he always sought to be a peacemaker and an encourager.  He then added that this young missionary was never once an assistant to the president nor was he ever a zone leader, but he was a trainer, and his influence for good was felt throughout the whole mission and in every ward and area that he served in.  I felt the Lord's voice comforting me and letting me know that I'm giving it all that I have and that I'm exactly where He would like me to be now--improving!

After this conference, my companion and I both decided that we needed to increase our efforts of speaking with everyone around us, "not fearing what man can do, for [He is] with [us]" (D&C 30:11).  As we have done this, we have found more investigators.  However, we have also invited more persecution with a wider audience.  But we have accepted and go forth with the Lord's promise that He is with us, which fills us with His strength to continue carrying out His work in HIs way.

May we all go about our week defending truth more boldly and more politely.  The Lord has promised us, and so do I, that if we defend truth with all our might and love all men with all our differences, we will not be deceived nor confounded before men.

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

Avec amour,

Elder Jenkins

Becoming like our Heavenly Father ...

Wow.  I honestly have never seen time go so quickly.  The weeks now seem like nothing at all.  As time has been lessening for my full-time service as a missionary, I have been pondering on what the Lord wants me to learn most before I return.  He has showed this in a powerful way.

A little under three weeks ago, I was affected by an emergency transfer.  My companion, who had less than a week in the mission field, had to return home due to passport issues.  That same day, I received Elder Affri as my new companion, who is from Ivory Coast and has been out for over 16 months.  At first, I was a bit worried about having a companion with so much time out on a mission.  But this abrupt change soon became one of the greatest blessings of my mission.

In our area, we have several investigators who have a myriad of individual problems.  I wouldn't say that we have a TON of investigators, but we have enough to where we're not stressed.  So, in seeking ways to improve our area, Elder Affri suggested several great ideas that I had not even thought of.  In carrying them out this week, we have seen so much progress.  Each of the investigators that have marriage obstacles to overcome are taking conscious steps to show their faith and overcome those obstacles.  One of them even invited us over to his house this morning to workout with him!  I think that was a huge step with him.

Our workout room this morning.  That's one of our investigators.  He's awesome!

Doin' some work. 

Goodness gracious it's been a long time...

All-in-all, I think the Lord's message has been very clear to me: I need to learn to be humble.  I have much studying to get done and even more practice and effort to put in, but I am so grateful for a loving Father who cares enough for me to show me what I can do to become more like Him.  And that's it really.  That's why we're here on this earth: to grow line upon line and precept upon precept to become more like Him.  We cannot be perfect in this life, but we can get as close to it as we are willing to go, and how much more we will be advantaged in the next life as we will be continuing in our growth there as well.

I testify that our Heavenly Father loves us and watches over us.  It isn't easy, but He will always show us what we must do to become like Him.  Through His Son's Atonement, we can improve little by little, drawing closer and closer to perfection everyday.

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

Avec amour,

Elder Jenkins

So we took on the project of cleaning the rest of the window nettings this week, and I decided to have a bit of fun with it before we got to work.

This is what we call a doghouse here.  That way, the dogs won't get hot!

A view from the branch building.

Mission prep and Uncle "James" from New York

with "James from New York" aka Uncle Shaka

This has been a very interesting week!  First off, there were emergency transfers!!!  My new companion had some passports issues, so he had to go back to Congo.  Hopefully he will be coming back next month.  Please keep him in your prayers.  I am now working with Elder Affri, a friend of mine out here that I've known for quite some time.

with Elder Affri

I received what I would say was one of the top five best surprises of my life this week; did NOT see it coming from anywhere.  Here's the story:

So on Saturday I got a call around 6 in the evening from a US number, but I didn't recognize the area code.  I answered it and was not too astonished to hear an African accent on the other side.  He asked if it was the Mormon missionaries, and I confirmed.  He asked if it was Elder Jenkins, and I confirmed again.  He handed me to his driver to explain where we were.

About 5-10 minutes later, I was greeted by an African-American man.  As he got out of the car and walked towards us, I had one thought in my head, "Gee! that guy looks an awful like my uncle, Shaka."  I even told my companion that he looked like my uncle.  We chatted a bit, and then he invited to take us out to dinner.  I suggested a restaurant in our area, and he gladly accepted, so I directed the driver to get us there.

In the car, I asked him a bit of who he is, since we had already talked about me.  He had introduced himself as James from New York.  He had a bit of business to do in Benin, and he said that his wife always reminds him to seek out the missionaries in his travels and to treat them well.  I remember his one comment aside from that," Wow, there sure are a lot of motorbikes here."

So we get to the restaurant and take our seats.  I asked the waitor if they accept cards or not.  I think there might be like 20 businesses in this area that accepts cards (other than banks) and this was not one of them.  In waiting for his driver to come in, James said he wanted to take a picture with us.  I asked him if he would send it in an email to my mom, but he said that a text would be better.  Feeling a bit awkward giving my mom's number to a complete stranger, I tried to lean over to see if he was entering the number correctly.  As I leaned over, he started to hide his phone from me, which I found a bit weird.  Anyways, the driver came in after that so they went to the bank to get money out.

While he was away, I told my companion again that he looked so much like my uncle, but based on the facts that he had presented me, I had no reason to believe that thought.

He came back from the bank, and as we were trying to decide what to eat, we started talking about his family.  He said, "here, let me show you a picture of my family!" He looks up a picture on his phone and shows it to my companion.  He starts to tilt his phone towards me and then BAAAAAAAAAAAAAMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! lighting quick reactions: I see my two cousins, and I'm hitting him saying "I KNEW IT! I KNEW IT! I KNEW IT!"  Hahahahahahahaha what a laugh we had together.  I swear it was more than five minutes before we actually calmed down.  Goodness gracious it's like it was just a dream.

At dinner with Uncle Shaka and Elder Affri

After that, we ordered, and I made sure to buy an extra expensive (relatively) ice cream because I would probably not do it again for four months!  We had an excellent meal together and many excellent laughs.  We got a couple phone calls from family members, but I was like, "No.  Four months.  We'll talk in four months."

We finished the evening right on time and he took us home where we met the other two missionaries in my apartment and took some last pictures before saying our last goodbye for a few months.

The Lord is so great.  I had actually prayed specifically a few hours before that I be more in-tune to His mighty hand in my life.  Little did I know that He would show it forth in such a way!

During dinner, we were able to talk a little but about family.  I have two cousins that will most likely be in the mission field in this next year.  I would like to just address a few words to them and to all who are preparing to go on missions in the future.

My counsel, if I only have one to give, is to actively prepare now.  No matter how distant your mission is, seek after the necessary testimony, knowledge, and diligence required to be a missionary.  Search for an active and living testimony of the truth.  Learn how to build your faith.  Learn to repent quickly and wholly.  Seek to understand your covenants that you have with the Lord.  Seek to recognize and be worthy of the Holy Ghost.

Study the scriptures daily with purpose and with prayer.  Follow the inspiration of the Holy Ghost in your studies.  Go on splits with the full-time missionaries.  Ponder about and write down any questions that you would like to ask a current or former full-time missionary, then ask them.  Seek to establish now a solid relationship with our Heavenly Father.  Memorize scriptures that touch and strengthen you.  Be a witness of the Lord Jesus Christ in your current situation.  Build up the courage now to talk with your family, friends, and even strangers about the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.

In writing this, a favorite scripture comes to mind: D&C 130:18-19.  We are promised that whatever intelligence we gain in this life, it will rise with us in the resurrection, and we will have advantage because of this intelligence.  It is the same with the mission.  There will be many surprises once you get out into the field, but you will have so much more advantage if you actively prepare for mission service well before you even start to fill out the paper work.

I testify to you that this is the Lord's work.  You will very soon be among the Lord's chosen servants.  You will be serving on the front lines of the Lord's army.  As you seek to actively prepare yourselves for your missionary service, I promise you that you will feel of the Lord's approval.  When you get to the field, you will have the faith and the strength to rely on the Lord amidst the many trials.  You will truly become an instrument in the Lord's hands (Alma 29:9).

I love you all so much.  Have a wonderful week.  For those in Jacksonville, please don't be afraid to share the real Book of Mormon this week!

Avec amour,

Elder Jenkins

Baptism of Agossi 31 january 2015.  We got some great support from the primary!

Reunion with Elder Bile after 9 months apart!!! 

With Elder Ndibu 

City art from this past week.  Taken from the bridge.

The moving truck (for Precious and her family).  It took 6 long loads!!!

Views of the city

Views of the city

The grand marché, Tokpa