Hey Ya'll!!

So this week seemed to go by really fast. There was a lot that was done and I learned so much. Monday last week was absolutly crazy. Our district planned on going to Vicksburg Historical National Park. It was so much fun! I love history and I was thinking at how much mom would have loved the place. Since we didn't have all the time in the world we basically took as many pictures as we could haha. But the place is unique and there is so much history here in Mississippi. Anyways while we are in the park it starts to down pour! I was drenched from head to toe within a min. We all ran inside the musuem that we were next to and I went and dried myself off in the bathroom. When I came out--it was hailing. The hail was about the size of half of a small ice cube. To me that was huge hail--we don't get hail like that in Utah. Well after the ten min down our and rain storm, we finished up the park and went back to Clinton. We had a dinner appt with the K... family at five and we got ready as fast as we could. Right when we get there they open up their Freezer and asked us if we saw the hail. We were all like of course it was big!! But we weren't in Clinton we were in Vicksburg. Then they pulled out baseball size hail!! Then that's when everything clicked. They showed us all the dents in their cars etc. The hail was huge--I was thankful that we weren't in Clinton when it happened because I know that it would have cracked our windsheild. The rest of the day everywhere we drove there was cars driving around with cracked windows-and these weren't just baby dents or holes in the windshield either. Basically all of Clinton needs new windshields and roof repairs. Walmart closed down for a long time because they had to fix the roof. It was crazy people got hurt and had to go to the hospital etc. I know the lord blessed us monday and kept us safe. Knowing me I probably would've gone out in the rain...stuck out my tongue only to have a baseball size piece of hail knock me out. It was suppose to hail like that yesterday but thankfully it didn't:)

Well on Friday I was able to attend my first Zone Conference. I loved it, I wrote down as much as I could and I was spiritually uplifted the entire weekend. Pres. McDonough is amazing--I listen and grasp to all of his words. He talked about Spiritual Resiliancy or as he likes to call it Spiritual Grit. Meaning even though we have had a rough day we should forget about it and press forward with faith. As a Zone we brought up people that had this Spiritual Grit in the Book of Mormon. My favorite example was Alma chapter 8. Alma was rejected over and over--yet he still was faithful and pressed forward. I also love the example of our dear prophet Joseph Smith in Chapter 122 of D&C. He had the spiritual grit to press forward with the work after being in Liberty Jail . There are soo many examples of prophets and people in both the Bible and Book of Mormon who had the spiritual grit to carry on. I thought to myself that if they can do it--I can surley have the spiritual grit to carry on in my mission after a rough day as can we all with our life missions. People may not accept the word--but Heavenly Father has a plan and someday they will accept this gospel. As bad as I want these people to be apart of the restored gospel now, I know that it's all in God's timing and not mine. I am so serve and invite others, its all I can do. I love it out here, I realize more and more each day that I am supposed to be here.

We had a Sisters conference as well--and Sister McDonough made me cry! She said that she prays we never loose our flame and our passion about this gospel. It was great to be able to meet with all the Sisters--we all are only doing the best we can, and we want to serve our Heavenly father with all of our hearts because he has given us so much.

Elder Milligan was able to give a talk yesterday in church--He started to make me cry!! Gosh I dunno what it is in my eyes this week...but all I do is cry! Not because I'm sad but because I have been so touched by different people this week. Anyways he started bearing his testimoney on how all we can do is serve. I looked at him as he was speaking on service and being so sweet and sincere about it I just thought of what a blessing it is to truly be a full time missionary. Elder Milligan is a great example to me, he's been in the mission awhile and watching a seasoned missionary bear his testimoney on the love of service touched me. It made me think how can I serve better? There is so much to learn and so much to do and I know I can always do better.

Yesterday Sister B. . . .. threw a March Madness Birthday bash. There are a ton of March Birthday's out here in Clinton! So three different families and the 4 of us Clinton Missionaries got together to celebrate. It was fun--I love it here and I am so thankful for everyone in Clinton. People touch my soul everyday and I know that there is power in my calling as a missionary. I love it--I love Mississippi and I can't thank Heavenly Father enough for all he has given me. Stay strong and Close to the Lord everyone. I love you all. The work is pressing forward--the Lord's hand is in everything!

Love Sister Jenkins

Hail in Mississippi!

Planking!

Joined in dancing with the ladies on the road!

Me the new "Molly Pitcher!"

Hey Everyone!!

Things down in the south are going great:) This week has been a really busy week even though all of Clinton went away for spring break we still managed to stay busy! We definatly had some interesting tracting experiences this week. On Tuesday we were able to go out and visit a member in our ward sister K----. She is the cutest lady and we were able to help her return and reorder some scriptures. It was fun--I felt right at home helping her.

Thursday was the interesting tracting day. Things were going good--just the usual not interested I'm good. We met a couple of people that we might be able to see again but we will see what happens this week. Anyways here's the first story. We knocked on this door and this guy answers, he's tall and looked like he had just woken up from a nap. The sun was in his face soo he looked even more annoyed that we even knocked on his door. Sister Mapu says, "Oh I'm sorry did we wake you?" He said, "No, but I know what ya'll are up to and I'm not interested." I asked, "What exactly do you think we are up to sir?" Then he points to the sky...."You all need to have your mind more open like star trek..beleiving in one god is just dumb there is more then one god." Um....yeah haha weird! Anyways then we ask, "Really more then one god, hmmm god's of what?" He says, "Ya'll just need to be the God of your own world." Then Sister Mapu shouted...I will be one day! haha then he slammed that door shut! We both walked away thinking um...what a weirdo, did that really just happen? Haha we were laughing so hard.

Then consequently his next door neighbor happend to be equally as weird! Actually he made me really mad. The last two weeks I have been wondering how much would you do for what you believe and know is true? Well....I feel as if I answered my own question when this guy answered the door. He had a giant gold buck tooth and really creepy long finger nails. He barley cracks the door and says, "I already know who ya'll are and I don't want anythig to do with you mormons." Smiling we both asked why. Then he starts bashing our church..."Ya'll have false doctorine and its of the devil and that book is the devil it's self. Ya'll take your false doctorine and leave." He kept talking bad about our church and we couldn't even get a word in. I could feel the anger inside me build up and I felt like one of those cartoon characters with steam coming out of my ears. I couldn't take it anymore, then without thinking I did the "what a representative of Jesus Christ shouldn't do move." I walked away and said in a loud voice, "Well I'll see you in heaven!" Mapu just stood at the door (she is so good) smiling. Then he yelled back, "If you make it there!" That just ticked me off! Then I realized what I was doing! I looked back soo angry inside and realized Mapu was doing the Christ like thing and I wasn't--I hesitantly walked back up to the pourch just in time to hear her briefly bearing her testimony while that man kept bashing what she was saying. Then he said something awful about the Book of Mormon again. The last thing I said was, " I will never ever deny the truth that is in this book, I love it with all my heart sir." Then he slammed the door shut and my heart was still pounding at how upset I was. Walking away I realized at how much I love the Book of Mormon and how much I really know that it is true. I would do anything for this gospel, I would do anything for my Savior, and I would do anything when it comes to defending his Church and the Book of Mormon. However, what I learned was that even though we feel so extremely upset on the inside, we can't let anyone see that. We are to invite...if they don't accept the invitation that is their choice. As representatives of Jesus Christ we are always to do the Christ like thing--it was extremely hard for me that day to do that with the words he was saying. Sister Mapu kept laughing and told me to take a deep breath in--thank heavens this mans next door neighbor made up for everything I was feeling. This door was awesome! They were asking questions about the Book of Mormon and we were able to give 2 of them away to both the daughter and the father. It was amazing and I could feel the spirit again.

The next day came--the most interesting part that happened was we walk up to this lady sweeping her garage out. We went up to her and introduced ourselves. She said that she wasn't interested because she already knew all that we believe and it's not the same as her. Well of course we asked what she knows about our church. She said (while she backs away), "Well I know ya'll believe in a god on earth that established your church and I just don't think that's right. I'm a Christian and I believe in Jesus Christ." Umm....yeah we def had to clarify. "Actually Mam, we know your not interested but we would just like to clarify with you on what we really believe. We believe in the same Jesus Christ as you do. In fact he is the head of our church. There is no earthy god that established our church. The man that people think we worship is Joseph Smith--He's a prophet not a god and we do not worship him. He restored Jesus Christs church back to the earth." She was stumped. Then she asked about the Book of Mormon. We explained and then she nodded and we told her that next time someone asks about what the Mormons believe or says that we believe in a god on earth today, she is to explain to them that she talked to Mormon Missionaries herself and they told her directly what we believe. She agreed, and then we said our peace and have a good day.

I just can't believe some of the things people think or have heard about us "Mormons". It honestly makes me laugh--some people act like we are evil and they are afraid to even shake our hands. Yeah it's funny. After some tracting experiences Sister Mapu and I get back into the car and eat chocolate to calm ourselves haha.

Anyways this week has really been a great week. Yesterday Sister Mapu and I were able to go to the Jackson Branch and sing a duet while I played. They have church in an office building because there is no ward in Jackson! It's crazy but it is a blast going to visit that ward. After visiting the branch a member in our ward had a birthday party for her daughter, me, and Elder Green. It was fun--I felt right at home. I love Clinton and I love the members.

I have been able to bear my testimoney with all my heart to a lot of people. I know this gospel is true and I know I am out here for a reason! I love the Book of Mormon with all of my heart and soul--I love the Bible as well and I know they both work hand in hand together. I am learning so much each and everyday and I really love the people of Mississippi with all of my heart. The people here are good Christian people they are kind and loving. Some just don't understand what we believe and we are hear to clarify and help them draw closer to Jesus Christ. I hope all is well! I am SO excited for General Conference that is coming up-being able to listen to the only Prophet on earth called of God is amazing. Ya'll have a great week. 2 Nephi 33:10 "And if ye shall believe in Christ ye will believe in these words, for they are the words of Christ." Keep up the work and enjoy the beautiful spring weather!

I love you!

Love Always Sister Jenkins

Me and the Flowers ya'al sent me for my birthday!

                                        

At lunch with an awesome family!  Love them so much!

Setting up for a wedding reception--a fellow Utahan:)

Elder Milligan had a cupcake war!

With one of my favorite ladies. 

With some of the children in Jackson.

With the Branch President's wife.

Love this little girl so much--Miss Sheelah

Sheelah loves ninja turtles!  So fun!

Hello Everyone!!

It was a great week in the mission field and I am so thankful for all the birthday wishes! It was a great week and I loved every second. Its awesome too because I am the first Sister ever in the MJM to have a 21st birthday!! Age change is history in the making. But the Bday was great.

On Tuesday we were able to do some service for a Memember in the ward and when we arrived at her house her neighbor was out talking to her and we gave a BOM to him. Well he was very interested he has never ever met Mormons before and he wanted to know what we were all about. We taught him the restoration and it went great! He kept saying, "Man what are ya'll doing to me? Now I'm going to go home and throw away all my beer cause ya'll picked me." We kept telling him it's the spirit he is feeling and we didn't pick him Heavenly Father did. He was determined to read the BOM and I pray he does we meet him again this week for lesson 2! We were able to see Sister Barlow again:) I love that woman we sang to her mother and had lunch with her. She is the cutest lady and has such a sweet spirit about her.

Wednesday--our district went to Margaritjas to eat for lunch....no one told me but apparently they smack a pie in your face for your birthday!! All of a sudden people were singing to me and then someone wips pie stuff on my face...I looke over like, "what the heck?" Then Mapu decided that wasn't a good enough of a pie in the face so she grabbed the pie and smashed it in my face!! Yep lunch was great Wednesday haha I love the Missionaries I am serving with.

Thursday we were able to give a lesson to L. .and discover by the end of the lesson that she had baby chicken in her house! Mapu freaked out haha she has never held a chicken before so she had to get a picture! They were so cute--We love going to visit with L. . . you can see her faith growing and I pray that we meet with her again this week. Not only did we get to see Lorie Thursday but we also got to see and teach C. . . as well!! I love C. . .  I know that even after the Mission she is going to be a dear friend to me. She has such a kind heart and she loves God with everything she has. She goes to college and lives in this "mini house" alone. It's the cutest thing!! We got to her house and she had cooked us up some apple crisp. We sat at her little counter and had fun talking before the lesson. Well during the lesson she was taking notes! It was amazing she had really great questions too. She calls us her Sista Sista's haha it's hillarious--we love going to visit and teach C. . .!

Then Saturday the big 21 was amazing! I really like Poly food haha so Mapu made spam, rice, and eggs for the morning!! Just so you know...I will know how to cook rice and make all these things for my children they are soo good!! I promise--don't judge till you've tried. Then she decorated our study room it was adorable! Made my day--Then not only that but I get a great phone call from Sister O. . . and she said that my bday package came!! I was so excited we got ready as fast as we could and went to pick it up! The package was perfect and I couldn't be more blessed. I loved my Quilt, Dress, and Scriptures!! it was all perfect!! The quilt was amazing!! Made the other missionaries jealous haha but Sister Mapu was so happy to get the Katherine Nelson CD! We didn't even see it until I was cleaning up down stairs and going through the box and lo behold there is one more adorable present wrapped. I loved how the presents were wrapped! It made my bday that more special:) THANK YOU for all you do!! I was reading in Alma 24: 7-10 the Anti-Nephi-Lehi's thanks their great god over and over again. That's how I felt all day--I kept thanking Heavenly Father for blessing me with everybody in my life. I love you all so much and I am so thankful--I called my birthday my thank day because I was so overwhemled with gratitude it was ridiculous!

We went to go visit D. . .C. . . .--she lives in this beautiful huge house!! It reminds me of a movie. Her husband is the stake patriarch and she doesn't come to church a lot because she can't make it out of the house sometimes. But anyways while we were visiting her I had to go to the bathroom....yep so I did..then the moment I get in there (in this huge house..i'm already amazed and slightly spooked out) the power in the house goes out!! Then I hear her yell it's not your fault--Mapu came rushing down the hall and I darted out of the bathroom as fast as I could haha I was so spooked out!! It was really funny. But it was fun just to sit down and talk with her. She needs visits. She told us about how her and Doc met apparently he knew he loved her when he was a sophmore in high school.. and they were high school sweethearts!! To this day he looks at her like she is the world and it made me just about cry and I couldn't stop smiling. They say that she is his ears and he is her eyes. I loved it--its a precious relationship they have and it's something I hope to have someday. After the C. . . . house we went to the O. . . .house to have the party!! It was fun--she made this rice casserole that Mom always makes, mom's rolls, and mom's chocolate cake! It was perfect haha everyone was looking at the casserol weird at first and wondered why I liked it. Then when they tasted it everyone was going back for seconds and everyone had like four rolls it was great! The cake was the best...Even Elder Green (who apparently doesn't like chocolate) admitted he liked the cake. They sang to me all three vs of our family Birthday song and I was so happy! Elder Milligan had to write down the vs. on a napkin so no one would forget. The three little girls in this family make me smile and brighten my day. They have a baby brother too--but just watching this family brought home to me and it was a huge blessing. I can't thank my Heavenly Father enough for sending me here. I am so thankful for the chance I have to be here and I know without a doubt that Mississippi was the perfect place for me to get called to. It was a perfect birthday and I was able to celebrate it with amazing people that I know I will always be friends with.

It's starting to warm up a bit and I can tell! I'm really nervous for summer and all the bugs....people talk about Cockroach's all the time...and I was actually going to see one for the first time the other day while we were visiting someone but Mapu killed it before I had the chance! I'm already really creeped out by the little buggers...and I know I will scream the day I see one crawl over my shoe or something. They are creepy! I'll get used to it I'm hoping. I'm also trying to get used to spicy foods haha on my taco the other day I thought I was amazing when I put a package of hot sauce all over it....then Mapu had me taste hers....yep my mouth was on fire! I just am not a big fan of really spicy foods--but I am getting used to it.

I love my new scriptures!! It's amazing I can open the Bible and BOM at the same time and compare, find, cross reference, all at once! I love it! I spent a long time just marking my favorite scriptures in them last night and I just want you to know at how much I love the Book of Mormon!! Its amazing---it's true and there is no doubt in my mind about it. I love the prophets in the BOM and I know they wrote everything by their own hand and that it is all truth!! God's plan is perfect and the doctorine of Jesus Christ is plain and precious. I love this gospel with all my heart---If you are truley converted you will never fall away!! Alma 23:6 "As many of the Lamanites as believed in their preachings, and were converted unto the Lord, never did fall away." I love it--I am so thankful for my Savior Jesus Christ and I know through him we can do all things. Thank you all so much for your love and support. Thank you for making this so special to me! Have a great week and good luck!

Sincerely Sister Jenkins