Just how important is the family to God?

Hey folks!  It's been a great week out here.  Many, MANY lessons learned.  It's incredible how the Lord keeps them coming.  All we have to do is be humble enough to receive them and to submit ourselves to His timetable.

This week I feel impressed to share more about my thoughts from District Conference and the lessons that have followed since.

Like I said, many of the messages from District Conference were focused on blessings of the family and temple.  Like I said again, I have really felt the Lord preparing me to return home and receive these blessings for myself.  There are a couple of instances that really testify of this to me.

First, I had a bit of extra time one day this week, so I decided to listen to the April 2015 General Conference.  Again, I felt that every single message was directed towards me.  One that I loved was by Elder Andersen of the 70 talking about dancing without music versus dancing with music and how that applies in our daily lives. Many times, missionaries get so focused on the steps of the dance that they forget to listen to the music.  I've been really focusing on hearing the music (the Spirit) before even listening to this talk, but this was a great reinforcement.

Ok, back on subject.  There were many talks given on the family.  One that particularly struck me was Sister Burton's.  Yes, I'm not currently married, but I consider the mission a perfect time to prepare to work with someone in that setting.  During her talk, I reflected back on the lessons that the Lord has taught me over the past 23 months and how these lessons are preparing me for the future.  I still have much learning and much preparation before I get married, but the essential lessons I'm learning now will be priceless when the time comes.  Isn't it wonderful how Heavenly Father looks after us?  He's willing to do everything for us that we need and then some, and all we have to do is be patient and diligent and studious.

The second experience happened at Church on Sunday.  I taught the Gospel Principles class during the 2nd hour on the purpose of our life here on Earth.  Two weeks ago, we talked about the Fall of Adam and Eve and its necessity and its effects on us.  This week, coupled a bit with explaining the Atonement of Jesus Christ as an anitdote of the Fall, we talked a lot about why we're here and what we need to do.  Many answers were shared, including, to gain experience, to prepare for Eternal Life, to follow the footsteps of Jesus Christ and His Gospel, to gain knowledge, and finally, (shared by Bruno who is scheduled to be baptised on the 16th of May) to be married.  A few months ago I taught a class on marriage because we have several couples that need to be married before they can be baptised.

We spent several minutes talking about this (I bore my testimony on how the Lord has been preparing me to be married because I'm going home soon, which brought a few giggles) and testifying of its truthfulness.  Then, one of our investigators rases her hand.  She doesn't talk much at Church as it was her third week, including District Conference.  We have been teaching her for quite some time now, and were almost close to dropping her before she came to Church the first time.  We haven't seen her for almost a month because of some changes that she's had, but she stills comes to Church.  She has three kids (two in her native country with her parents) all with different men.  We've been hitting hard on the family from the beginning, but she seemed almost indifferent about it.  But I haven't given up hope on it, knowing the power of the family.

Finally, Sunday.  She raised her hand asking if she could testify.  A bit curious, I obliged.  She started by explaining that this was her third week at church.  She has noticed how much we talk about family and its eternal potential, especially at conference.  She said based on that and the Book of Mormon, she has really FELT that this is the truth.  She's visited many other churches, but she said that she's never felt about one like she has here.  She then asked how she could be baptized, and my jaw almost dropped from its hinges.  I explained that we have dates for the 16th and 23rd May, but that we'd talk with her during the week.

Oh how great is the Lord!  It is truly through that Holy Spirit that people are converted.  All reason and doubt fall in the face of faith and the power of the Holy Ghost.  I am confident that the Lord is preparing a way for this sister to stabilize her family life and prepare for eternity.

I add my own testimony of the family.  I know that the family is ordained of God.  Marriage is not merely a tradition of men but an ordinance sent from God, an eternal pact and blessing.  I know that the Lord has also restored the sealing keys to the Prophet Joseph Smith in order to bless His children from all eras.  I know that each one of us, if we are to receive a fulness of joy, must enter into this eternal covenant of marriage.

Just how important is the family to God?  So important that it is the central focus of His work and glory, and thus the focal point of all of Satan's vicious attacks.  I testify that as we seek to better understand and respect (or prepare to respect) our marital vows, we will be endowed with protection from on high.

I love you all, and I hope you all have an outstanding week.

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.

Precious Moments

My apologies this week: there were three power outages while we were at the cyber this past Monday.  Since I didn't have a chance to write home, I am writing today with my Mission President's approval.

So what I wanted to write about this week was to share a few special moments.  These moments I have started to document as "Precious Moments," moments when I have been so touched by the Spirit and when I have felt as if heaven is drawing nearer to me.

The first moment was a marriage on Wednesday.  The Aïbatin sister missionaries (in our district) have been working with several couples in preparation for marriage.  Finally, two couples have been able to get everything in order for their marriage and then baptism.  So Wednesday the office elders picked us up in the mission van and we went to get the rest of the crew (the couples and family plus the sisters).  It was pretty packed, but we made it.  Luckily the sisters had asked me to bring my guitar so that we could all sing "Love at Home" together, so I got automatic shotgun.

The mission van

Elder Oliverson at the wheel

The District

The marriage itself was fun.  The mayor of Akassato (a little bit north of Cotonou--the marriages up there are far cheaper than in Cotonou) is quite the poet, which made for some good laughs.  But a precious moment for me was singing "Love at Home" at the end of the ceremony.  Another testimony for me that God lives and that He truly gives us families for a reason.  It is only through these families that we can reach the highest level of exaltation, which is why families are so important in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Here are the two couples with the mayor-poet on the right

The couple that was baptized on Saturday

The ring (I'm kinda proud of this picture.  It actually turned out ok even though I had a terrible angle)

The peanut gallery

The wedding party (courtesy of Elder Oliverson)

The couple who was baptized on Saturday (courtesy of Elder Oliverson)

The second moment was on Friday.  I had the opportunity to do the baptism interviews for one of the couples (the other couple was traveling and will be baptized in the coming week).  The husband and the wife are already soooooo solid in their testimonies of the truth.  They know that Christ had established something on this earth, that it was lost, and that it was restored by God and Jesus Christ through Joseph Smith.  They are so happy together, and they understand the gospel already very well.

But what touched me the most about this couple was how they know.  It was not through reason or research.  Yes, both of these practices helped them to gain a testimony, but what planted their testimony firmly in them is that they FELT that it is true.  When both of them explained this to me independently, I, again, FELT the same thing that they did.  Even though I come from halfway around the world, my testimony is the same as theirs.  Even though we might have acquired this testimony in different ways, it is the same.  Oneness has always been godliness, and this new, young married couple has joined in that oneness in their own special and precious way.

The third moment was their baptism on Saturday.  The baptism was in the afternoon due to the Mormon Helping Hands activity in the morning.  It was so nice to see two people so ready to enter into a covenant with God through the special ordinance of baptism.  President Morin came to the baptism as it was the first in the Aïbatin building.  His welcome message was focused on the family and its importance in life and in eternity.

The baptism on Saturday

I am very excited for this couple and the future that they have in front of them.  I never had the chance to teach them, but through the events of this past week, we have grown a relationship together, and I have been so happy and blessed to have shared a bit of their own path to eternal life with them.

The Mormon Helping Hands activity this past Saturday went very, very well.  In contrast from last year, everyone was engaged at almost every moment, and it was amazing how quickly the task got done.  We were done in just about an hour!  There was a Yovo-owned pastry place right in front of where we were working, so as we were waiting for the bus to come back and get us, Elder Hawkins, Silvas, Hanks and I all got some REAL cake/ éclairs!!!  It was quite delicious.  Not too expensive either.

My job was just to dump sand wherever they told me

Charging my load

This was the hardest part.  They started laying sand right next to the mounds instead of starting on the outside, so I had to roll over tons of sand in order to get to where I needed to go.  The problem was that the tire was completely broken.  Not just flat, but broken. In half.  So it did almost nothing.  Especially on sand.  But at least it was a good workout (which I haven't had in a while)!

In action

This little girl was so cute in that vest that was way too big for her!

 The whole group at our activity

Elder Silvas trying to get a sandwich.  Elder Kunz, Hawkins, and I were all dying laughing because he was just standing there with his hand up.  He eventually succeeded.

Anyways, that's been my past week.  It's been a great one, and the Lord is really blessing us!  I'm so happy to be in Fidjrossè right now, and I believe next week should bring some exciting news!

Thank you for all of your prayers.  They really do make a difference.  With a few other experiences this past week, I have truly felt the Lord's love, grace, and protection that He so graciously provides for His servants.

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

Avec amour,
Elder Jenkins

I played keeper for the first half and got score on three times.  The first was a 1-on-1 in the opening couple minutes.  The second was an own goal (*hmm hmm* Elder Oliverson).  The third was my fault because I had completely forgotten to set the wall on a set piece (that happens when you only play three times a year).  I then played second half at forward.

Our team from the soccer match this morning.  We got killed by the members, it wasn't even funny. But they sure thought it was hahaha