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

Bonjour from Bénin!

The new apartment: Elder Merrill (from Utah), Elder Gomun (from Ivory Coast), Elder Izekor (from Nigeria, who I'm replacing, he's going to the office), me, and Elder Sahue (from Ivory Coast) 05.12.14

Bonjour from Bénin!  Well, I got a transfer call last Wednesday, and today they moved me to Bénin!  So, here I am!  My new area is Fidjrossé, and I am with Elder Sahue from Ivory Coast.  The new perks of my area? Well, I can walk out the door of the cyber right now and see the beach.  We can see the beach from our apartment, too.  The cyber is really nice and really quick.  Our apartment has really good natural light as well.

Other than that, I'm not really sure what my area is like.  I've actually only been here for like two hours, so I haven't been able to touch too much here.  But the ride today was fantastic.  Many great views of the coast of Togo and Bénin.  In total is was about 4 hours.  But it went by quick.  Especially the Togo side.  It was weird to go through customs again on the border, considering that the last time that I did that was at the very beginning of my mission.

With Elder Peterson in the van 05.12.14

Togo palm trees 05.12.14

The beach near the border was BEAUTIFUL!!!!!  I didn't know that beaches like that exist here! 05.12.14

Another shot of the beach 05.12.14

This past week has been great.  After receiving the transfer call on Wednesday, I was able to get a few good-byes in before leaving today.  Church was interesting as they had been remodeling and weren't even close to finishing on Sunday, so it felt even more informal than usual, but the spirit was still there.  I was able to bear my testimony as well.  The Baguida branch is a very special branch, and they have grown very close to my heart.

One last picture with Peter from the Wuiti branch before he leaves for his mission next week!

I crouched down to take a picture with a few of the Primary kids on Sunday, and then they attacked me!  05.11.14

The work in progress. 05.11.14

           My old room is now yellow! 05.11.14

Well, I don't have terribly much to add this week.  This work has brought many, many experiences into my life that I could never have dreamed of.  I love this work and I love this mission.  I am very excited again for the things that I will be able to learn with my new companion.  Every companion teaches us very valuable lessons that will help us with the rest of our lives.

Enjoy a wonderful week.  My week will be spent with learning my new area and getting situated, so hopefully next week I'll have more stories!

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

Avec amour,
Elder Jenkins

Celebrating my birthday with a few members! 05.05.14

From the baptism of PATAKA.  He's an awesome man that has progressed so well.  His brother will be baptized next Saturday, but unfortunately I am now in a different country. 05.10.14

Elder Stagg sent this picture of Elder Jenkins right after the baptism on 05.10.14 (note from Mom - this came just as we were walking out of a baptism here in Florida - at the same time I was speaking at a baptism in Florida, Elder Jenkins was playing the piano and performing a baptism in Africa - sure makes the distance apart seem a lot smaller)

Feeding my new camel friend!

He's super nice!!!!!

Ok, maybe even TOO nice!

How close to the line?

Eating Djekoumé at Folly's

Hello all.  This past week has been full of trials as well as blessings.  I think it will be enough to say that it has been a roller coaster-type week.  After coming down with the flu on Wednesday and having it affect me throughout the rest of the week in varying degrees, and then with Zone Conference on Friday and General Conference on Sunday, I was left physically and emotionally exhausted yesterday (Sunday) night.

Zone Conference was amazing.  It was my favorite one so far.  My favorite lesson was Sister Weed's.  She started by explaining that the Ebola fever has NOT been reported in Togo or Benin.  In fact, it has only been found in Gabon and I believe Liberia (not terribly sure that the countries are right), which are very far from us.  She said that the missionaries in the countries affected are staying, so we have nothing to fear.  In the past 20 years, there have been 2,000 reported cases of which 1,500 were fatal.  It's hard to get, but it kills.

After that happy note, she explained the story of three truck drivers all seeking employment.  The question posed to the three drivers was how they would cross the ridge of a mountain on a very dangerous road, one side of which dropped directly off to a 200-foot cliff.  The first said that he could get 6 inches from the edge no sweat.  The second said that he could do 3, no hesitation.  The third said that he could stay as far away from the edge as was humanly possible.  She then asked, "Who do you think got the job?"

The reaction of half the missionaries kind of made me chuckle.  All of the Americans have heard the story before and so we all just kept quiet to let others participate.  However, there were many nationalities that had never before heard this story and were left a bit dumbfounded.  When the answer was finally shared, she drew a line down the whiteboard and wrote "good" on one side and "evil" on the other.  She then drew two "X"s, one just on the good side of the line and the other on the edge of the whiteboard, on the good side.  She asked which person would be more likely to endure to the end.  This time, everyone in the room understood clearly and gave the clear answer.

She then turned the lesson into almost and "up-in-your-face, fire-in-your-eyes, football-coach caliber" lesson along the lines of Elder Holland's Priesthood Session talk in the October 2011 General Conference.  However, it wasn't exactly the same caliber because she doesn't quite have the same voice as Elder Holland, but it was still piercing.  She explained that it is not good enough to see how close we can get to the line between good and evil, because then we start to slowly cross the line until we fall into things that we can't get out of by ourselves.

We need to to stay as far away from the line as possible.  It is then that we become true disciples of Christ.  It is there that we become converted to the gospel.  It is in the Lord's camp that we find protection against the evils in the world instead of help to get out of things that we shouldn't have gotten into.

It was a great lesson on obedience for all of us.
 

President and Sister Weed said that we will be having one last round of Interviews and Zone Conferences in June before they return home on July 1st!  That seems so weird!

Anyways, that about sums up my week.  My birthday was nothing special, but I thank you all for my birthday wishes.  I look forward to eating the delicious cake that my mom sent me to make tonight at family home evening. 

Smoothing the batter

Most important step of the whole process.

Out of the baking dish.

Starting the icing.

After icing.

Final product

Elder Bile's birthday present that he gave me

I love you all.  Have a great week, and don't just let the time pass by.

Avec amour,
Elder Jenkins

Elder Kongolo pulled this out this week.  I laughed.  I was tempted to ask him if he's ever worked at Best Buy, but he has not idea what it is!!!

 I thought these looked so cool.  The picture doesn't capture them really.

I was really tempted to buy these.

Are you willing to sacrifice being more effective for being united?

Oh! I completely forgot to describe our service project this week!
Our neighbor's brick oven broke, so Elder Bile and I decided to go
help the mason rebuild it on Wednesday!  4.16.14

Moving 200 bricks was a workout!  Goodness I'm out of shape!

This was the easy part for us!

Well, I don't want to sound like a broken record, but it really amazes me how the time flies.  Honestly this past week has flown by again.  I don't have terribly much time today, but I just wanted to share a quick lesson that I have learned from this past week.  It has already changed my vision of everything so much.

So, just to begin, as missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints we work in companionships of two.  We spend ALL of our time with our companion.  From when we wake up at 6 am and go to bed at 10 pm, we are always together, except in the bathroom of course. We also sleep in the same room, so we're still together from 10 pm to 6 am.  As with all relationships, this much togetherness can lead to some discord and sometimes it takes a bit of time to talk together and work it out. Well, sure enough, this arrived for Elder Bile and me.

As I sought counsel from our leaders to help us resolve the problem, the response came in the form of a question.  "Are you willing to sacrifice being more effective for being united?"  This simple question changed my whole perspective on the current situation.  In fact, it realigned all of my priorities in the work in which I am engaged.  Not only in this work, but in the rest of my life as well.

As I've reflected on this question, it's turned out a bit like this. If we are united, we will have quality in our relationship and work. If we are effective, we may have lots of useless quantity that may be nothing but hollowness.  If we are both united and effective, we will have quality quantity.  However, when it comes down to it, unity is more important than anything else.

The more that I've thought about it as well, the more that I see that it applies to every relationship that I will have in my life, most importantly with my own spouse and family in the future.  I have been very grateful for this new knowledge and vision that God has given me, and it has been just another testimony for me that it is through trials that we grow, through "Mountains to Climb" that we reach higher.

Anyways, today, we had the Lomé Stake Easter Soccer Tournament.  I am exhausted and sunburned, but it was a blast.  Our missionary team ended up in the final where we lost 1-0.

after my pre-match warmups

Just before the starting whistle

from our first round game

another from our first round game

I switched to attacker for our semifinal game.  Someone was tired, but still wanted to play, so we switched.  We also had to switch our jerseys due to previous color conflicts. 

from the semi final

another from the semi final

Our team picture from this morning 4.21.14

I love you all and wish a very inspiring week!

Avec amour,

Elder Jenkins

 

Pigeons grow super fast!  This was one week from hatching day!  4.16.14

Easter sunrise.  There was a church that decided to do a fanfare
parade by our house at 5:20, so I was able to go up on the roof and
get good pictures.

Zoomed out

Thought these clouds were cool!

The staining process.  Foster Clark's is kind of like Crystal Light, but different

Yeah, brown eggs don't work too well with staining

After shelling and staining again

Easter breakfast!  4.20.14

YUM!

The Primary's Easter presents!

Inside 4.20.14

Hahaha I don't really have a caption for this.  BON VOYAGE!

I made chicken noodle soup this week!  Elder Donadier LOVED it!  He
asks for it all the time now.  PLUS, one of the stores had CAPRI
SUNS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Haha not really sure what this means.  It's painted on the wall of
one of our investigator's house.  the translation is: "You want or you
don't want?"