The law of the Sabbath is a sacred and an inspired commandment

Hello all!  Sorry, We're pretty late again today.  It's been a very busy day of Immigration, visiting Elder Kunz before he leaves/getting my hair cut, souvenir window shopping, and buying all of the ingredients for my Halloween chili this week!!!  So I'l try to just cut straight to my point this week.

This week, like every week of my mission, I have noticed something very interesting.  I noticed that no matter how my week goes, my attitude towards the week in general is decided on Sunday.  More specifically, I will say that it is decided based on Sunday.  This past week started off very well but was diving kinda hard towards the end of the week.  I noticed on Saturday night and then Sunday morning that I wasn't just feeling right.  I said a prayer before going to Church that I would be able to turn myself around and have a good day.  Church was okay, but I just felt so exhausted during all of it that it wasn't my best one.  We got home and ate, and I was again able to pray for the strength necessary to go about the Lord's work in the Lord's way.

We went out in faith Sunday afternoon, and it was an EXCELLENT afternoon.  We had a great lesson with an investigator that has started to fall, so we got him back on track and taught him how to plan so that he doesn't waste time and fall into temptation.  He was really excited to put it into action!  We then went to a lesson that was a potential debator, but it actually turned out very well!  After getting to know him and his views in a previous lesson, we were able to present the gospel to him to show that we actually have many of the same beliefs, and we used that to introduce the Book of Mormon, and he was very curious.  At the end of the night, we finished with a visit to a member of the Aïbatin branch that works as a security guard in our area.  He has decided to stay in the guest room of the family he works for (our American/ Mauritanian friends!), and we found that there were already 6 members there to support and feed him, including the Branch President!  Just another example of the Christ-like love that drives Christ's living Church forward.

We got back to the apartment, and I thought, "Wow.  That was an AWESOME day!  Actually, it's been a pretty good week!!!"  I looked back on that feeling that I had, and realized that, once again, my week had been decided by how I spent my Sunday, or rather, the Sabbath day, which I thought was pretty significant.

The Sabbath day was instituted in the world's history in remembrance of the day of rest which the Lord took and as a day to worship Him and rest from our daily labors.  Among ancient Israel, this day was vigorously observed on the seventh day of the week, Saturday.  This continued up until Christ's life.  Jesus Christ himself perfectly observed the Sabbath as the Seventh day of the week.  However, after his death and resurrection (which resurrection occurred on a Sunday), the Sabbath was progressively changed to Sunday, the first day of the week, in commemoration of the Savior's resurrection.  This continued up until the time of the Great Apostasy. Today, in the fulness of times, the Lord has decreed--as He is the Master of the Sabbath--through revelation that the Sabbath should be observed on Sunday.  To this day, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints observes the Sabbath day on Sunday, as direct by the Master Himself.

Apart from myself, I have seen the blessings of this sacred commandment among the poverty of West Africa.  There is a great difference between the blessings and spiritual foundation of those who observe this commandment and those who do not.  In fact, this is so with all of the commandments.  Those who truly understand the gospel of Jesus Christ here know that this is their only hope.  Materially, they have almost nothing.  It can easily be depressing.  But the knowledge of the gospel of Jesus Christ brings blessings that lift these people up.  It is an incredible burden that they have been called to carry, and some do it with considerable ease because of their faithfulness to the Lord and His commandments.  It has been said by inspired Church and Mission leaders, "The commandments (and especially the law of Tithing) are the key to being rich in West Africa."  I agree.  In obeying with a willing heart, these people can be lifted out of their burdens and be placed in a position to lift others.  It is truly amazing and there is surely no other way than the Lord's way.

I know that the law of the Sabbath is a sacred and an inspired commandment.  I know that in observing this commandment, we will be led to be closer to our Savior Jesus Christ and our Father in Heaven.  The promise made in Doctrine and Covenants 59:9 is true.  In respecting the Sabbath day, we will be kept more unspotted from the world and its practices.

I invite all of us to live with more conscious intent on the Sabbath day: to consecrate this day to God, to abstain from our daily labors and activities that do not actively bring us closer to Christ, and to take time with our family to strengthen our relationships.  I invite all of us to come unto Christ through this sacred commandment.

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

Avec amour,

Elder Jenkins

PS: Transfers were this past week, and I'll be staying in Fidjrossè for another 6 weeks (which I had planned on since I'm training)!  At the end of this transfer, I'll have spent 7 months in Fidjrossè, the most that I will have done in any area of my mission, since I'll have 5 1/2 months after that!

Note from Mom:  I received these pictures from Sister Christensen in the office on Wednesday morning with a note that Elder Jenkins had asked her to send them to me.  With him having to be in the office several days this week for immigration, he was able to see the Elders leaving for home as well as the ones come in.   

With Elders Hawkins, Seidl, and Kunz before they head back to the States (with Elder Izekor as well)

One last photo with Elder Kunz before he heads home.  (Notice the nice haircuts they gave each other)

Welcoming his good friend Elder Imoukheude back after he had to go home to deal with a medical issue.

I am so blessed to be here in Togo and Baguida

Elder Kunz tied Elder Seidl and I together

Hey everyone!

Well, where to start this week!  It's been an amazing week!  I want to start off this week by saying how blessed I am to be here in Togo and in Baguida at such an important time of the history of the Church here!  This past Sunday the whole District Presidency came to split the Baguida Branch off from the Ablogamé Branch.  The Spirit was 100% there in the meeting.  For me, I could not help but feel the joy the was so contagious in the room, and I also could not help but feel God's love for each and every member and their efforts that they have given and continue to give to help the branch grow at such an amazing rate.  The District Presidency also announced that next Sunday at District Conference, the first stake in Togo will be created!!!  What a blessing that is!  It is honestly a miracle, and like I said, I am so grateful and so blessed to have the opportunity to watch the Church grow over here in this small country in West Africa.  After the meetings on Sunday, I was just soooo happy!  Oh!  I forgot to mention that Ghana was finally able to send a piano over this week for the Ablogamé Branch, so I got to play on Sunday!

Honestly, as I've been thinking on how the Church is growing here, I cannot help but notice that only the true Church of Jesus Christ and God could show that kind of progression.  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the only church on the whole earth that contains the fullness of the truth, because it is the same church that Jesus Christ himself established while He was on the earth (see Luke 6:11-12, Matthew 10:1, Luke 10:1, Ephesians 4:11, Matthew 16:15-19).  This is one of my favorite things about the mission: being able to show people in the Bible how Christ organized His Church on earth.  This is also a major component of my testimony that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is truly the Church of Jesus Christ restored on earth in the Latter days because it has exactly the same organization and exactly the same power and authority as described in Matthew chapter 16 verses 18 and 19.

Other than that, it's been a great week!  We celebrated Thanksgiving with the apartment!  But it was actually on Black Friday hahaha.  When we went to the store to buy steak Wednesday night, they were closed! So we just went on Thursday and we ate on Friday so the meat had time to marinate.  Anyways, Thanksgiving meal was delicious!  We had steak with a little bit of a make shift marinade (barbecue sauce, water, onions, salt, pepper, and some herbs), but they turned out delicious!  I also made some macaroni salad, nothing special and a usual here in Africa.  Then, the difference maker of the whole meal, MASHED POTATOES AND GRAVY. You would all be surprised how different it is making mashed potatoes in Africa, but the hand of the Lord truly guided me in making them, because I had no idea what I was doing when I started.  While at the store Thursday night, I was thinking about what I needed, and I saw this little box of cream by the butter, and I thought, "Yes, I need that."  While mashing the potatoes with a spatula, I put some cream, butter, and salt in and mixed it with a whisk.  Elder Kunz and I were both dying as we watched it begin to look and smell like mashed potatoes from home.  I was amazed.  Honestly had no idea what I was doing.  Then, all of the sudden I had the thought to make gravy.  I've never been the biggest fan of gravy, and as such have never really paid attention of how to make it.  But, guided by the Lord, I put the steak marinade in the pan and added some of the flour that I had just happened to buy earlier that week.  Again Elder Kunz and I were absolutely amazed at the outcome.  Now, I know mashed potatoes and gravy may not be so difficult for all of those "cooks" out there, but I'm no cook.  All I have to say is thanks Mom for all of the times you said that you needed me to help you in the kitchen, and my testimony was strengthened of when prophets have said that the Holy Ghost will bring anything to your remembrance when needed.  All of this together with a Root Beer was DELICIOUS!!!!!!  All of us were stuffed afterwards, so I consider the deed of introducing Thanksgiving to Africans well done.

Makin steak!

Thanksgiving Dinner

Then, Saturday, we had another baptism!  It was for Frère Dodji's wife.  Frère Dodji was baptized last Saturday, so he was very happy to have the opportunity to assist at his wife's baptism, too!  One of the things about Baguida is that it's waaaaaay far and expensive from everything like this, so we try to have only one baptismal date per month.  The next one we have scheduled is the 21st of December, and we already have many committed for that and many more that could easily be ready for this date.  One thing that I've found is that the people is Baguida are far more humble and open to the gospel than the people I was dealing with in the city in my last area.  That along with the fact that the members and recent converts give us soooooo many contacts is really the blessing about this area.  I'm so excited, grateful, and blessed for the opportunity to be here right now.


Finally, today was a pretty lazy P-day for me, so Elder Kunz and I decided to do a bit of adventuring around 10ish.  So at our house here (which is about to be the church in 2 weeks as well), we have a mango tree.  So naturally (I mean, why not?  I don't have swimming holding me back now) we decided to climb it.  Not exactly the biggest risk because its not exactly terribly tall, but we felt like we were living life on the edge.  Got some really good inspirational videos.  Then, continuing with this daring spirit, we decided to climb all over the house, and I found it's like a giant jungle gym.  It was a blast!  Found a way up to the roof without a ladder for New Years to watch fireworks.  Anyways, that's about all we did adventurously today.

Climbin the mango tree

Well, that's it this week!  I hope that everyone is doing well and enjoying the holiday season!  Not quite the same out here, and sometimes it hurts a bit to know that my family is all together at this time of year, but knowing that I'm on the Lord's errand brings me the comfort and drive to continue working with honor.

I love each of you so much!  Have a great week!

Avec amour,
Elder Jenkins

Heavenly Father hears and answers prayers!

Wow!  What a crazy past few days it has been!  It started on Thursday when we had interviews with President Weed, who is the father figure for all 104 of the missionaries in Benin and Togo.  He takes care of any of our needs, and he is also here to counsel and guide us.  Also, he is in charge of all missionary work in the 2 countries.  I love President Weed very much, and given my situation for the past couple of weeks, he gave me some great counsel of how to deal with it myself.

Then, every Friday morning we have our weekly planning session where we set out a basic plan of what we are going to do and who we are going to teach the following week.  Throughout most of the session, my companion was not showing me very much respect at all.  While I was still disappointed, I didn't get mad or angry like I usually would when someone disrespects me.  In fact, I let it go, and just turned to the Lord and asked for help with loving my companion.  The immediate answer was to just give service.  Serve, serve, and serve some more.  I started applying this, and I was amazed to see how much happier I was myself!  Though my companion really hadn't changed, I was so much happier with the situation.

The second answer to my prayer came Saturday night with a call from the assistants to the President, two missionaries assigned to help President Weed fulfill his responsibilities.  Elder Poll is the American assistant, and I have already established a good relationship with him.  He told me that there are a lot of emergency transfers of missionaries between Togo and Benin because of missionaries who are returning home or missionaries whose visas have expired.  Anyways, I received the news that my companion is being transferred!  That means that as of Wednesday I'll have a new companion!  Instead of changing me to deal with a companion who wouldn't changed, the Lord just sent me a new companion, which I found quite humorous.  After that, I think I was a little happier than I should have been, but it's helped the past few days get by.

Another thing with the transfer is that they'e combining my area with the neighboring area, so my day tomorrow will be spent learning the new area so that I can teach both areas to my new companion.  It's quite a bit of responsibility, but I know I can do it with the Lord's help.  If there's one thing I've learned from being a missionary, it's that the Lord takes care of his servants.

Anyways, that's all I have time for today, but I hope all is going well over there in the States, and happy 4th of July everyone!  Elder Seidl and I celebrated with Elder Poll (the Assistants stayed at our apartment that night) by having pizza delivered.

I love and miss you all so much, and I wish I could share every experience with you all!

Avec amour,

Elder Jenkins