Zone Conference and the Voodoo Market

with Elders Peterson and Kunz - Love these guys!

Bonsoir mes amis!  I'm writing a bit late today because we had some pretty crazy adventures today!  Anyways, it's been a great week, and  I'll start with the big news that's come in!

So this past Saturday, we got our transfer calls from the Assistants, and the missionaries in Baguida all received some big news!  Elder Rasolo (my companion) and Elder Kunz (the other American in the apartment) are both being transferred to Benin!  That means Elder Dih and I will be staying in the apartment together.  However, we found out that we will both be training!!!  My new companion (and I was made aware that this could change) that has been assigned to work with me is Elder Dakouri from Côte d'Ivoire!  Elder Dih will be training a new French missionary, which also means that I will be the only English speaking missionary in the apartment!  AND, I have also been called to serve as District Leader!  Wow.  Peeps weren't lyin when they said it was gonna be a big transfer.  Well, I honestly don't know what to say.  I'm humbled by the jump that I have to make from junior companion to trainer and DL.  I know the Lord will support me in my weaknesses so that I may fulfill my duties and pray that I can remain a humble servant of the Lord and all those around me.

On top of all that, we had Zone Conference last Friday, and it was amazing!  The Spirit that accompanied the conference with Elder Clayton and Elder Vinson transferred right on over to our Zone Conference.  

All of the birthdays at Zone Conference!  It was different having
it at Souza instead of Kégué, but I still loved it!

Oh!  Side note: the Assistants worked with us on Thursday and stayed with us over night.  As we were driving over to Souza-Netimé, a policeman blew his whistle and pointed at us, but didn't pursue us so we kept on going.  Then, a minute later, he was on his high-tech moto blaring his siren behind us.  One thing about Togo is that ALL of the taxis have at least 7 people in them, in cars for 5. (We do it at least once a week.  It was pretty uncomfortable at first, but I'm used to it now.)  So we thought we thought, like normal, we'd be fine with 6 of us.  Well, Benin plates in Togo + 3 white people in the car = yeaahh.  Well, we got to the conference in time despite that little delay.

Anyways, the conference was phenomenal.  Everything felt like it was directed at me, and my testimony was once again strengthened on how the Spirit can work in each of us individually.  I learned many, many lessons that I am very excited to apply with the new roles that are coming my way soon!  Afterwards, we got a ride back with President and Soeur Weed to Baguida, so transport for the day was FREE!

Yesterday, we had a little visit from President and Soeur Weed at Church, which helped fortify our branch a bit, and we were able to have a good discussion together about the changes being made, which helped me as well.

Finally, today.  Elder Kunz and I spent the whole day at the grand marché again with Elder Peterson and Elder Legbanon (from Benin).  We started by looking for a backpack, a new watch, and a washboard for me, all of which was decently easy.  I brought the backpack down from about 14 dollars (7,000 CFA) to 6 (3,000 CFA) and the watch from 11 dollars (5,500 CFA) to 2 (1,000 CFA).  We then got some charwamas for lunch at Akif's, and as we were finishing eating, this American guy walked in with his French translator.  The first thing that he said to us was, "Oh my goodness.  The Mormons followed me here!"  He then proceeded to take out his camera and film his conversation with each of us asking us where we're from, etc.  He was amazed to find out that the Church is out here, but he was a super nice and friendly.  His French translator was surprisingly friendly as well.  He complimented my accent.

Another view of the grand marché from today!

My new backpack

After lunch we all went to the Voodoo market in Akodessewa.  Since Benin is the Voodoo capital of the world, all of the vendors are Beninese, so Elder Legbanon was in heaven just being able to speak Fon with them.  The market was pretty cool!  They said we had to pay 3,000 CFA for the tour ($6) and an extra 2,000 CFA ($4) to take pictures.  I paid it, and it was worth it.  There was some way cool stuff there, and we got to play with some snakes and see some chameleons.  Elder Legbanon said there's way more things like this that are better in Benin, but it was still good!  I got some good pictures of lots of dried up animals.

SNAKE!  (It's alive)

Monkey!

Dog!

Horse!

Baboon hand/foot!

Turtle!

Well, this week has been another amazing one!  The people out here are amazing, and there are so many who are searching for the truth and who find it in this Church and in this message.  One aspect of the mission that I absolutely love is that I get to testify every single day that I KNOW that this is true, and what is even better is the Spirit that accompanies this message.  My work here is to bring others to Jesus Christ and to help them draw closer to Him every day.  I have been so blessed to be here, and there are too many experiences to share with you to testify of how I know that these things are true.  This Church really is the one message of the whole truth that can be found on the earth today.

I love you all so much.  Have an amazing week!
Avec amour,
Elder Jenkins

First of my two pagne outfits that came on Saturday!

Second one!

With Elder Kunz

Thought these clouds looked pretty cool!

(Note from mom:  Here's the link to the interview with the American Elder Jenkins mentions above: 

HoboTraveler.com Mormons in Lome Togo 

 

Christmas party and shopping

At the Christmas party 12.17.13

Hey everyone!  So I was a bit late getting to write my email today, so I'll try and write quickly!

The work is moving along well here in Baguida!  We have two baptisms scheduled for this Saturday.  We were supposed to have five, however, three of them did not come to Church yesterday for various reasons, so now it's just two.  But we are still extremely grateful for the blessings that the Lord has given us for our work here.  We still have a lot of work to do and continue to improve ourselves.

A glimpse of Church downstairs!

The holidays are coming up here in Africa!  It is definitely different, but it's still the holidays!  I have been hearing a bit of Christmas music in the street (and a lot on my iPod), and noticing how the Christmas Spirit is working its way into me!  It's weird being a missionary in Africa for Christmas.  You just don't get that Christmas feeling by walking around like you do at home, but you can find it if you want to.

the Christmas card that the First Presidency sent us!

Last Tuesday we had a missionary Christmas party here in Togo!  It was a blast!  The first part was an hour and a half of playing games!  We had musical chairs, Pictionary, Chinese football (everyone stands in a circle with your legs spread and you try and hit the ball between someone’s legs with your hands), and President Weed's favorite game: guess the color that I'm thinking of and then I splash water in you face!!!  I don't really understand it, but he loves it hahahaha!

My clutch game winning pictionary of Moses.  It took me 2.24 seconds to draw

Chinese football madness

President Weed's game

We then had our devotional where every District was assigned a scripture and a hymn to describe Christ's birth.  We were given "O, Come All Ye Faithful" which actually sounds good with a guitar, so I looked up the chords and then was able to play it for the devotional and I don't think it was too bad!  At the end of the devotional, President Weed sang us a song with his guitar and he and Sister Weed shared a few thoughts with us.  After that we ate lunch which was African fried rice, some salad, and half of a roasted chicken: literally a roasted chicken just cut if half longwise.  It sure was a blast and a great experience!

Sister Christensen made this delicious goodness for everyone!
IT WAS SO GOOD!

This starbursts package was blessed by God himself.  I couldn't believe
my eyes when I opened it.  THAT is the definition of a "tender mercy."

Other than that this week was normal.  Until today.  I did some Christmas shopping.  To start off, we went to the bookstore (the library in french) and I got a Bible in éwé.  There was an anatomy textbook in French for 100 dollars that really tempted me, but I didn't want to pay that much for it.  Then we went to Superamco, the white supermarket (if you want to find white people, go to Superamco) where I found powdered sugar, vanilla, aluminum foil, and some steak, but they didn't have any bread rollers!  (note from mom:  this is what he calls rolling pins.)  So rolling out the cinnamon roll dough should be interesting, but I can do it.  

We then went and visited a few members around the Grand Marché and I bought two pagne outifts and a drum!  I called Soeur NGuessan to come help me choose, and she brought her husband (who I've only met once because he works in Gabon, but he's home for Christmas) and Koukou, her 10 year-old son!  It was great getting to spend the day with them!  I also called Peter (the Secretary of the Wuiti Branch who is like one of my best friends here that isn't a missionary) because he is a tailor.  Anyways, we went to three different shops throughout the market, and they were all three members (or one soon to be) of the Baguida branch!  It was so cool seeing them at their work.  At President Hervé's (our branch president) shop there are five members that work there and two more came over to visit!  It was so cool to see how they still stick together as members even at work!  

one of the two pagne shops we visited

The view of the Grand Marché from President Hervé's!!  It was pretty cool!

In President Hervé's shop.  There are five people that work there
and they're all members

After we finished shopping, we got a cab home and I had to climb ninja style into my bathroom window upstairs because the other two missionaries locked the staircase door and took the keys.  I got a video, but unfortunately the connection will not allow me to upload it.

So that's our adventures from today!  I hope you all have a very merry Christmas and find the chance to give to others!  If any of you feel sorry for me on Wednesday, please don't.  I'll be in Paradise talking with my family.

I love you all!

Avec amour,

Elder Jenkins

the moon during Harmanttan

(from wikipedia:  The Harmattan is a dry and dusty West African trade wind.
This northeasterly wind blows from the Sahara into the Gulf of Guinea 
between the end of November and the middle of March (winter).
The temperatures can be as low as 3 degrees Celsius.
The name comes from or is related to an Akan cognate.)

I saw this sign this past week and thought it was pretty cool.