The real reason for Christmas

My first sunset in Akpakpa.  We're on the third floor of a real

apartment building (it's weird being in a building in stead of a

house), so we get some good views!

Hello all.  With this Christmas season approaching and it being the last in my current full-time service to the Lord, I have spent a good amount of time this past week pondering on the Lord and Savior whom I serve and whose name I wear every day.  With some experiences this week, I have been pushed to spend more time pondering on three specific subjects: Christmas, the Plan of Salvation, and the Second Coming.  I will begin with one experience that has become dear to my heart.

In my new area/branch, there is an older gentleman by the name of Joël (pronounced like Noël but with a J).  He's in his 60s, and he is quite the lively fellow!  I love his enthusiasm and his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.  During my first visit to his house I spotted a small keyboard piano (slightly dusty), sitting in the corner.  I asked if I could pull it out, and he accepted.  I played a couple Christmas hymns, and he, his sister, and his nieces were all very happy!  Then Joël, in his youthfully old(er) age says, "It's a good thing that you've come Elder, but you're gonna teach me that!!!"  haha he's an awesome guy.

Last Sunday at church we had a new investigator come.  Immediately after sacrament meeting (the first hour), Joël was right by his side, and they engaged in giddy conversation, as if they had found each other after being separated for years.  Joël also taught Sunday School and bore a powerful testimony at the end.  I honestly love this guy and I've only know him for a week!

Then, this past Thursday, we visited his house again to meet with an investigator.  Joël had been sitting in the front room but got up to go to his bed when we walked it, obviously lacking the strength to hold himself properly.  His niece told us that he had fallen quite sick, but that it wasn't the first time.  We decided to go visit him briefly to see what help we could bring.  We chatted only briefly (very unusual for him and me) because he was having difficulty even talking.  We suggested a Priesthood Blessing if he wanted, but he simply asked us to "come back tomorrow."  So we left him and taught the lesson that we had come to teach.

The next day, Friday, we walked up at about 3:00, and as we approached their door, his younger niece was outside.  When we got close enough to speak, she simply said, "my uncle just died."  Slightly stupefied, we stepped into the house to see his older niece crying in the doorway and his sister showing no apparent emotion sitting on the couch. There were about 5 people crowded around the door to his bedroom.  Out of respect and health precaution (Ebola), I decided it best not to approach his room. According to his younger niece, he had died just 5 minutes before our arrival.  We shared a few comforting words with those in grief, left a few Plan of Salvation brochures, and were out the door for our other appointments.  We only had one appointment that evening due to choir rehearsals for the missionary Christmas party on the 23rd, but the whole rest of the evening was spent pondering on the Plan of Salvation, and where Joël fit in all of it at that point.

The Plan of Salvation has been given to us, God's spirit children, through His chosen prophets to provide us guidance and hope as we traverse this mortal life.  Thanks to the Plan of Salvation, we know where we were before we came to this life: in the presence of God as spirits where we learned and prepared for this life.  We know why we are here: to prepare to meet God in completing certain prescribed acts and in leading a good life. And, most importantly for this situation, we know where we go after death.  I spent much time thinking about what is going on in the world after this, the Spirit World.  We know that it is a place of rest and paradise for the righteous and a place of lamentation for the evil.  However, we know that the marvelous work which is happening among the children of men at this time is also being carried out among the disembodied spirits. Those who did not have the chance to accept the pure and living gospel of Jesus Christ on this earth have the chance to accept it there, and we know that there are many who have not even heard the name of Jesus Christ on this earth, "and there is no other way neither no other name given under heaven by which man may be saved in the kingdom of God" (2 Nephi 31:21).

In the three following days, the sorrow and tears have been turned into happiness and smiles as testimonies have been borne and strengthened concerning the Plan of Salvation.  Hope and love truly are the message of Jesus Christ.  The whole Akpakpa branch has come behind this already strong family.  Their are so many strong and faithful people in this branch.  The new converts have the blessing to be in a branch with people who have been members of this Church since it came to Benin a little over 10 years ago.  But honestly, these members have shown such great faith in these past days.  Many times my mind has been drawn to the world of the Savior Himself, "I have not seen so great faith, no, not in Israel" (Luke 7:9).  These people, according to the world, would have no reason to believe in God.  The world would say, "If there was a God, He most certainly has not blessed them with material things."  And that's true.  But they believe fiercely in Him. And they have been so, so blessed with the peace, comfort, and patience that the Holy Ghost brings to those who are faithful to him. Because of these faithful saints, I have been strengthened and encouraged again to go forth with even more strength, courage, and zeal to bring forth the promises of the Lord to his children.

As I have been pondering on the Plan of Salvation and this situation, I have been led to think of the hope and peace that are spoken to our soul through the Holy Ghost.  This hope that was introduced to the world through the Savior, the promised Messiah, even Jesus Christ. How significant must His birth--that miraculous birth--have been for the hopeful and humble children of Israel in that day.  This birth introduced hope and peace into "a fallen world."  I can't imagine having been there.  As I listen to the many Christmas songs and carols, I think of those who were actually there.  One that dearly touches my heart is "Little Drummer Boy" by Josh Groban.  I imagine myself as this "little drummer boy": I don't have much to give Him, I actually have very little, but, what I do have, I am willing to give with my all.  How I long to be able to see and feel His holy presence, but as the forgotten carol goes, "the magic in the air makes it seem as if I had been there."

I had planned to share my feelings about the Second Coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, but due to time and length, it seems that I must reserve that for another time.

I love you all so much.  May we all enjoy this special Christmas season no matter where we are.  May we remember the real reason of Christmas--this special time to remember our Savior that was born unto us to redeem us and to give us HOPE.

Avec amour,

Elder Jenkins

Just in front of the Church building in Gbèdjromédé.

Thought these clouds were pretty cool.  I took this yesterday

evening at Choir rehearsal

My new study area!

A loving, kind Heavenly Father watching over

Dear friends and family,

This has been a rather special week.  I think it’s safe to say that I’ve tasted of the highest of highs and the lowest of lows this past week.  All of my experiences have enlightened my mind and opened my eyes.

There are forces all around us.  Many forces are physical and surround us at different times.  There’s the wind, the sun, the light, the dark, hunger, thirst, sleep, etc.  Most of these forces are easy to see and feel, and they are accepted by the whole human race.  However, there are forces around us that we don’t see.  Man through the ages has tried to reason through certain experiences.  The truth is that there are really only two forces acting on us that are not apparent in the current scientific realm: God and Satan.

I can personally testify that these forces act upon us at every moment of every day.  We do not see them, and many times, we do not even know that we feel them, but they are there.  Even though we may not be aware or may choose to ignore these forces, they are very aware of us.

Satan knows our divine potential.  He knows what we are capable of. Most of all, he knows what God has given us.  His work and his glory are to destroy us and drag us down to endless misery and woe.  He wants all of us to be miserable like he is, hence the phrase “misery loves company.”  Satan concentrates all of his forces on us to trip us up, to stop us, to prevent us from pushing forward.  Satan would have us give up, get angry, and curse God.  Satan would have us forfeit our eternal reward for instant gratification.  Satan, the father of all lies, would have us abuse the sacred gifts that God has given us. Satan is evil, and he is real.

But that is not the only side in this fight.  We have a loving Heavenly Father who has given us everything that we need to succeed. His work and His glory is our immortality and our eternal life.  He seeks for everything that is good in us.  He understands us and knows us perfectly.  He would have us come unto Him, so that He may help us. Our Heavenly Father, even Almighty God himself, who has all power throughout the entire universe, is on our side.  Every single person on earth is a child of God.  There is not one of us who is not a child of God.  For that reason, He is very aware of what we do at every moment, and He stands ready to lift us up when we fall, to strengthen us when we need His help, and to comfort us when we feel all is lost.  God would have us obey so that we may learn.  God would have us learn so that we can progress.  God would have us progress even unto perfection, so that we might become like Him.  THAT is His work and His glory.

I am a personal witness of this war that is raging all around us.  I have felt Satan’s power.  It is power enough to destroy us, if we left him.  I have felt God’s power and there is no sweeter feeling.  It is power enough to save and deliver us, if we let Him.  Elder Jeffery
R. Holland once told us that the final score has already been posted on the scoreboard.  We know who is going to win, and it is going to be a landslide!  The only confusing fact is that we’re all still trying to decide which team’s jersey we’re going to wear!

This week, I have been a special witness of God’s love and power for us, His children.  Here in Benin and Togo in West Africa, I have met many people who have next to nothing as far as personal possessions. Some have let this worry take over their lives and crowd their thoughts and push them further and further down.  Some, however, have accepted God’s love for them and have put their trust in Him, with a hope that this world is NOTHING next to our reward that is waiting for us.  One of these very special people is named Clémence.

Clémence has been talking with Elder Sahue and I for about a month now.  Her house is the farthest house away in our area, and it takes a great effort to get there.  However, her faith and diligence have given us the strength to make it out there several times during the week.

Clémence was baptized this past Saturday.  It was a great service, and she bore a heart-warming testimony afterwards.  However, Sunday morning came and she was not at Church to be confirmed a member and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost (see Acts 19:1-6).  I called her with 5 minutes to go before Church started, and she told me that she
had given birth the evening before right after her baptism!!!

We had asked her a couple of weeks ago if she was pregnant, and she told us that the doctors had just told her that it was an infection. With that in mind, we were pretty confused after that.  So, right after church, Elder Sahue called and asked if it was a boy or a girl, and she said “It’s a boy!”  We were super surprised and shared that with President Kazotti.

After choir practice at 4 o’clock, President Kazotti and his wife took us out to Akogbato, where Clémence lives, and another family joined us out there.  We walked into the “clinic” (a room divided into two by a piece of plywood), and we found her with her older sister and older brother!  And there was the new baby boy!!!!!!!

Elder Sahue and I with Clémence and her newborn son!

He's so cute!!!!

We got everything situated with her.  Afterwards, pondering about it, I realized how much of a miracle this was.  It is impossible for me to put this in words, and my weakness in words is starting to show, but I pray that you feel the significance of this event in even just a fraction of how I have.

Clémence, in the eyes of the world, is not a grand person.  She is humble and lowly in heart.  She is not a super-star, and there are not even very many people that know she exists.  However, she, along with all of us, has a loving, kind Heavenly Father that is watching over her at every second.  He has manifested himself in this very special experience, and he has shown that Clémence is as important to Him as any other person on this earth.  I have been so blessed to be able to witness this event take place.

This has been but one of the miracles that I have witness in my full-time service for the Lord, and I wish that you all could witness what I witness.  It is the sweetest feeling to know that there is someone, more powerful than all, looking out after us.

This is His work.  This is His will.  This is His Church.  I pray that all of you who read this today gain a testimony of these things.  This is His message to the entire world today.

I love you all, and I hope you have a great week, seeking out the miracles of our Heavenly Father all around you.
 

Avec amour,
Elder Jenkins

Made some pizza this week!  And yes, I ate my salad out of a pan.

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 Golden Investigator and King Lamoni's father.

Elder Dagrou and I with Frère Christophe (19) and la petite Soeur Karol (9), 08/24/13

Bonsoir mes amis!

The weeks just keep flying by!  As always, this has been another great one!  To start off, last Saturday we had 2 baptisms (the first two in the new building)!  First was la petite Soeur Karol, whose father was baptized in April and is now serving in the branch Sunday School Presidency.  Second was Christophe.

Christophe is the epitome of a golden investigator.  He is 19 years old, and we found him about a month ago by OVB (Ouvrir Votre Bouche, pretty much door-to-door).  The first lesson went well, but he was a little shy, but he was glad to have us back a second time.  By the third lesson, he was reading everything we gave him to read and then teaching us about everything that he read.  He soon began accompanying us to other appointments that were after his.  One day, after we taught the end of the Plan of Salvation, or God's Plan for us (something that is hard for most people to understand) we had an appointment with a recent convert named Samuel.  He had a question about the end of the Plan of Salvation, and Christophe commenced to respond to his question, even giving examples!  What?!  I've never seen anyone who has learned so quickly.  I've formed a great relationship with him that is going to continue for years and years after I leave Togo.  The only problem for Christophe is that he is a student at the University of Kara, the big city up in the north that is 3 hours away.  The church has not yet arrived there yet because French isn't quite as profound there, but he'll be coming back to Lomé every few months, and I'm not worried about him.  He's already strong enough to do well on his own, and he has just about every resource he needs.

We taught Gabriel again this week, the former Prime Minister.  I swear it's like teaching King Lamoni's father.  If you don't know who that is, get a Book of Mormon and look up Alma Chapter 22.  Not sure what page it is in English; but it's an amazing story of missionary work.  Anyways, with Gabriel, the lessons on the commandments went like this:  "Oh, it's a commandment of God to not smoke?  Well I've been trying for a while, now I have a reason.  Next one!  Oh, it's a commandment of God to worship Him all day Sunday, not just at church?  Not a problem, I love listening to the hymns anyways.  Next one!  No problem giving back 10% to God, it's a commandment!"  His baptism is this Saturday, and I'm very excited for that.  He's definitely prepared to become a member of Christ's Church restored on the earth.

Well, that's about this week.  Things are going great here!  I love and miss you all!

Avec amour,

Elder Jenkins

On top of the church building after the baptism on Saturday,  08/24/13