Sooo this week went by fast I feel. Here in the mission they always say that the days are long but the weeks are so fast! I would have to agree. It seems like just a day ago I was emailing y'all. Anyways what an interesting week--Tuesday was awesome though. We went to lunch with our bishops wife and she took us to a cute Mexican restaurant called Mamma Alma's. While we were at mamma Alma's we got a phone call from Mamma Alma herself!! She came to church a couple of weeks ago and well during her phone call she said that she wants to get baptized! We were all like stunned for a min. We were of course screaming on the inside but he had to remain calm. That night we went over to her house--we got permission from the AP's to go to Petal cause that's where she lives. But yeah...when we went over she cooked for us!! She was adorable and accepted her baptismal date. She said that she wants her family to be apart of this church and she kept saying, "When I'm mormon" it was great. But she has a beautiful family and they all work so hard. She has my respect and her story is amazing. We had a great time talking about the gospel and eating her from scratch food. She cooked us this fish...like I'm pretty sure I or Welchy ate the fish head. But hey we enjoyed it (sorta) but she is a fantastic cook! She also was talking about how she wants her daughters to be like us serving God. The whole night just seemed unreal. I kept thinking is this really happening? But we will see where things go the lord truly does have a plan for each of us. I believe everyone who accepts the gospel and is baptized it was planned out for them perfectly and the timing couldn't have been better.

Wednesday...well I mean it was my sweet Dad's birthday!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! it was also Taylor's birthday here too. So to celebrate we all went to starbucks...you know the mormon bar haha where we get hot chocolate and such. It was fun all of us girls were happy. The Elders were slightly jealous we had a Hot coco party without them. But honestly I'd probably be jealous too. Wednesday we also spent a lot of the day helping Sister Gunn move, then we were able to finally teach a potential investigator Iesha the restoration.

Thursdays are always crazy to me. Especially when we faithfully observe Thirsty Thursday--Well...lets here this story...we walked everywhere today. We weren't having to much luck at the doors in all honesty. But we kept "trekin" along. It was about time to go but we wanted to try one more house. Well...hmmm this house had a ton of people outside of it. Mostly high schoolers, and well needless to say we taught them all the restoration and on the side of the road had a huge prayer circle!! There was at least 12 of them and they got the Dad of the house to come out and he told me to offer the prayer. I was nervous!! We were by this busy road and well I kinda had to yell while I prayed but I was thankful to do it. Picture it....what would you do if you saw a huge group of people holding hands while praying as you drove past them? haha only in the south! But seriously what would you do...you better say a prayer in your heart or something.

Friday we were able to teach a member referral at their house. Her name was Tiffani and honestly she had some amazing questions! I hope and pray we answered them all pretty clearly. Then we went around inviting people to the November festival that's happening this Saturday for our ward and petal ward yahoo!

Saturday we went on exchanges and it was really good--I always love to spice things up a bit. I was able to go with Sister Smith and we had a good time-most of the day was service but we needed service hours for the week.

Overall the week was good--I love it cause this whole mission has just changed my course of thinking. God will never ever be out of my life!! He will be in every decision after I have chosen and he will always direct my paths. I am so thankful for the gospel because I feel so much peace. If there is one thing I know...he truly does hear every word we pray. He knows. Ask and we shall receive if it is of God. I know that my redeemer lives without a doubt. He is my Savior and through his grace and mercy (the atonement) we can one day live in exhalation with Christ and Heavenly Father. The Holy Ghost is the greatest gift to have if we listen he allows us to speak with power and authority. I have to constantly remind myself to listen....if I listen the words come and I always know what to say. I am so thankful for so many things. I love you all so much. Keep enduring to the end! Phillipians 4:13

Love Sister Jenkins

"God be with you till we meet again:)"

Dear family and friends

Okay so this week hmm well a lot has happend!

Monday we ate at the Hintons house they are awesome:) We went tracting and ran into a lot of interesting people go figure though right? But at the Hintons we had carmel apples which were soo good! I was so happy I wanted to make them but Sister Hinton had them. Not only that but I am super excited because we get to help them decorate their tree soon!

Later in the week we went to see Sister Gunn--she's moving soon so we were able to help her pack. Well she lives in this little apt. complex and there is a previous investigator that lives there too. We no longer see him due to well reasons ha. But basically we had to go see a less active member right after Sis. Gunn. On the way over to Sister. Starks apt we saw our old investigator coming out of the main office building!...we started running haha we looked like spies but hey we made it to her apt. But the whole story is kinda funny. Not scary at all just funny cause we didn't want to talk to him so we were avoiding (yeah we are missionaries I know don't judge people.)

On Friday we saw Miss D and carved some pumpkins---that was fun. Before the pumpkin carving we were reading the Book of Mormon and we started talking about the story of Nephi going back to Jerusalem to receive the plates. In the middle of reading and teaching, Miss D says, "Can I just say one thing? I am so grateful for y'all. I feel so blessed that the lord has blessed me to meet y'all and I look forward every week to your visits. I love y'all soo much!" I basically started crying at that point because I love that made my day! Anyways after Miss D we started tracting. Well while we were tracting I was just walking calmly and all of a sudden Sister Hansen yells and says "dead cat!" I yelled a little;) and started running in the road! It freaked me out and I didn't even realize i was almost going to step on it. It was def a panic attack. But hey we went to the next door and they weren't interested I mean my mind was back on the work soo life was good:) That night was a relief. Taylor fed us and that girl can cook! I am like wow...I made some noodles this week and poured like chicken dumpling soup over them? Yeah I'm fantastic my poor husband. I am learning though.

Saturday was the day all of our apts went through!! It was ridiculous--but it's missionary work gotta love it:) I do sooo much--but luckily one of our potentials let us in. Her Christmas decorations are already up she is so cute and just needs love. She took us through her house and on the back pourch she says, "My best friend told me to never let y'all in again because your a cult. But I don't care what she says, I love y'all and I know you'd never hurt me." It was slightly an awkward moment for all of us but we just hugged her and reminded her that the Mormons are not a cult at all in any way whatsoever. But she told us when we come back she's going to have even more Christmas decorations up. She's such a sweetheart. Last time she even said she might come to church...progress yahoo:) That night the Fitzgeralds fed us and I just love that family so much. Bro. Fitzgerald is an awesome ward mission leader he really cares about the missionaries so much and he's always missionary minded. Their little girl is getting baptized tonight!

Sunday to me was the best this week. It was ward conference so there was a very happy spirit in the air. I love this ward so much! I feel at home whenever Sunday comes around and I love the relationship we have with each of the members. The "Catch the Wave" spirit is really all over this ward now. People are sincerely trying to help with missionary work and I love it. They are all such good examples to me and I honestly will be very sad when I have to leave this area. Ward conference was great though after we had a ward pot luck dinner. The sister made cookies:) But it was soo good I love southern food there are only but a couple things that I am not too fond of but there's a lot that I love. Tori is amazing---faithfully every week she brings her little sister, and this week she brought her little brother! We were all so happy to see them. She is going to be a great mom someday. After church we went and sang songs to Belle and Nelle (they are cute little widows who are twins). They love it when we sing even if we don't sound good they call us their angles and blessing.

Over all it was a wonderful week. Despite the hard times there is always so much more good to say about each and everyday. I KNOW this is Jesus Christs church. There is not a doubt in my mind. I KNOW the Book of Mormon is true and knowing is far more then simply believing in it. Walking by faith in my Savior Jesus Christ is what I do daily. I love him far more then words can explain. I am so thankful for the love and support I am always feeling. I am so thankful that the lord sent me to the best mission in the world:) The Jackson Mississippi Mission is the perfect mission for me. I love y'all. Hang in there and "PRAY to infinity and beyond!"

Shout out to my amazing father!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY on the 23rd Dad:) I love you more then I can express.

Love always

Sister Jenkins

 

 

 

Hey Y'all!

Sooo the mission is awesome. Stressful week but hey we managed to do all that we set goals for. There were a couple of instances this week where we were like, "Heavenly Father what is the point of this?" I understand now. A really cool experience happened. We were tracting down this street and literally we had a couple doors slammed in our face. Typical right? Well when we were all three asking what is the point of tracting this street our prayers were answered. Also keep in mind all of our plans fell through but we managed to stay busy all day but we were trying hard not to let discouragement get to us. I also prayed that at least one person would let us in at the beginning of the day. Well come to the end of the day and someone did let us in! I was so happy! It was crazy cause when they answered I was like yeah well there not going to let us in. But then the guy that answered took us all by surprise. He yelled at his girlfriend and told her that people were here to see her. She came to the door and said, "Please come in, I want to listen." So we were able to teach them the restoration. The man was slightly argumentative but she was sincerely listening. It was great. My prayers were answered, we have a new investigator, and there was complete purpose in tracting that specific street.

But anyways this email is going to seem short...well it's cause it is haha. But listen I know that there is a reason and a purpose for everything. I am really learning how to just trust god with everything that I have. This is his work and his glory. It's his spirit that testifies to people truth we just deliver the message. The Hattiesburg ward is jumping on board with missionary work and I am extremely impressed and look up to the examples I get to see in my life out here everyday. Just know that he does hear every word. He knows the deepest desires of our hearts and I can testify to that. I love Ether 12 by the way...I read that chapter this morning and seriously it's one of my favorite chapters to read in the Book of Mormon. Faith, hope, and Charity....if we have faith in Christ we can move mtns, do anything!! Man does my faith have a ways to go. I have a deep love for this gospel. I'm learning so much everyday and I couldn't ask for more. As tough as the works gets it all works out in the end.

Have a good week Y'all I apologize for the short email. More to come next week. 

 

 

Okay so this week in the mission field goes as follows

Tuesday the miracle that happened was we were able to part members home. The awesome thing about this home is that missionaries haven't been able to get into the doors for years. We were able to meet his wife and daughters. It was awesome the wife really really loved Sister Hansen. She called her Chickadee haha. That night we went to Sister Mclains house for dinner. She taught us how to make a roast and it was sooo good! We had Dessert before dinner haha nothing like bluebell ice cream.

Then on Thursday we were able to visit and meed a lot of people. One neat experience that happened though is we had an apt with a potential we met in wally world. She seemed super interested when we first ran into her--however the apt fell through. But on the bright side we went back to the car to fill out a Book Of Mormon aka putting our testimony in it. When we went back, there was a different lady sitting on her porch chair. You could just feel that something wasn't right in her life so we went up to her. We came to find out she had no way to get home and she doesn't like the people she is currently living with. We were able to let her know that God really does love and care for her. We then were able to say a prayer with her then leave her a Book Of Mormon as well. We promised in the blessing that she would feel happier and a ride would eventually come that would get her home. We haven't been able to get back into contact with her but I do know that, the blessing brought her a very high sense of peace.

The next day Thursday obviously..that was kind of a dumb explanation. But anyways, we were able to finish up some service of a member in our ward. I feel bad for her house! It has cobb webbs all over it and her foundation to her house is going rotten. I just wanted to solve all of her problems right then and there, but haha as a missionary well I'm limited. Correction even as a person I am limited. But I do know I can love one another as Jesus loves me. So we cleaned her room helped her out a bit and I know she was very thankful for it. Sometimes I don't know why people don't ask us to do service for them more often. I mean...hello!! We are the missionaries all we do is serve others. We look for service opportunities constantly and we just want to help. As Elder Nielson says, "Ask the missionaries they can help you!" We really can and we want to help you.

On Friday a member who has been a less active for several years (we actually tracted into him) had us over to meet his wife who is not a member. They fed us and we had a really good time. They talked about how their home was ruined by the tornado that happened in February. Man the affects of that tornado affected a lot of people down here and it makes my heart sad. But spending dinner with them was a blessing. Earlier that day we were able to see Miss Jerry again!! When we walked in she immediately asked for help. She needed us to go get cases of water that she bought in preparation for the hurricane...ummm well a hurricane yep not what we expected to hear. But honestly it wasn't even a big deal. Seriously it was just a light storm and we slept right through it. I love Miss Jerry though, every time we are over she says, "you know the drill!" and she goes to her kitchen and cleans out her cubboards for food to give to us. She is such a sweetheart and has so much faith in our savior Jesus Christ.

Saturday, well what more to say Conference was wonderful!! I loved the speakers. I can't believe it's already been 6 months since the last conference. But after we went tracting and we ran into this college house that was full of drunk college boys haha. Umm...well they were scientists too, needless to say we left that place quickly.

Sunday conference was great too. I loved the messages go figure. But okay so that night Aunt Lu-Lu fed us and had a non-member over. I love seeing the ward members excited about missionary work!! I mean heck we kinda all heard a lot of talks about missionary work sooo we all should be anxiously engaged in this work. Missionary work takes everyone! Not just the missionaries and I am so thankful for this ward in helping us and giving us some amazing referrals. Speaking of referrals we got one from President Silas (our previous Bishop), her last name was Jenkins so I was pretty excited. We went to her apt and wow what a special person. She truly is an amazing example of faith and the spirit in her home was very strong. She talked of how she is a dreamer and how she has been writing down every dream she has had for several years now. I was amazed. I don't feel that my dreams are great enough to write down haha but I do know that the lord can answer us through dreams. So now..I have pencil and paper by my bedside, I mean you never know.

My heart is full and my testimony burns right now. I just am so thankful to be here as a full time missionary. I love the lord my god with all my heart. I am grateful for Jesus Christ and I know that his grace is sufficient for all. I love the enabling power of the atonement and I am striving to really feel it in my daily life. There are so many things to be worked on especially our Christ-like attributes. However, my problem is I need to have patience when it comes to developing them! I guess I should focus on patience first then huh? Anyways I know this is Jesus Christs church without a doubt! The testimonies shared during conference were powerful. What a great weekend. I love y'all so much!! Kayla happy post birthday! Love you boo!

Love Sister J

Hey everyone!!

Sooo guess what Tori has been Baptized!!! Man what a wonderful feeling I have in my heart at the moment. There is so much to be thankful for in this life. I can't believe I lived a life at home where i was putting Heavenly Father out of my life I mean he was always there...but wow....I was sure not as close to him as I am not. I am thankful for so many things at the moment. Being able to see Tori be baptized by her sweet grandpa was a blessing. I just can't thank my heavenly father enough for all that he has given me. He really has blessed me with so many things including a new beginning at life. The more I'm out here the more I realize is 1 life is fair because of the blessings we receive after our trials a good friend taught me that and 2 everything goes back to the atonement a friend of mine would always say that but now I'm really starting to see how true it is. Everything really does go back to the atonement. Especially our progression when we use the atonement daily we progress because we have a mighty change of heart. Well, progressing is something I never plan on not doing. I want to always be progressing, changing, and devoting myself to my Heavenly father for all he has given me. His grace really is sufficient for all.

Anyways, we got a new companion!! I don't think I told this in my letter last week haha but her name is Sister Hansen. She's brand new into the field and she is awesome. She is from Utah and was adopted into a Utah family 5 years ago which is when she joined the church. She's originally from Africa. I love her! Sometimes she says these one-liners that just make Sister Welch and I laugh and laugh. She even announced over the pulpit Sunday as she was bearing her testimony that she loves her companions even if they are crazy. Haha wow...well okay so Welch and I have a bit of fun while we work hard. But hey there is nothing wrong with that and Sister Hansen loves it.

We got her a bike and were able to observe Thirsty Thursday--As we were tracting we ran into the sweetest lady named Evilinee. She is lonely but she defiantly listened to what we said about the restoration. Hopefully we will able to teach her and she will progress. So last Sunday we had five investigators at church. It was really cool!! We tried to follow up with them all this last week but no one was home or answered us. But hey were going to keep trying!--hopefully this week we will be able to follow up with one of the ward members who already has a friendship with one of them. I love the ward here I really do. My love for this ward grows every single day. They are becoming a missionary minded ward!! It's awesome! I love our ward mission leader he really is doing all he can already to make sure that we are hitting 20 + lessons a week.

Anyways--I was able to witness a lot this week. Saturday was Tori's baptism and before the baptism we went to help sister Brackman with her house--we've been praying for service opportunities and we were sure able to find them this week. Sad but true Tiffanie and Edwin are now moved back to Georgia:( I love that couple--but all of us went over to help them move out of there house. I love doing service. The thought was coming across my mind this week while I was sitting on my bed right after lunch. I was trying to muster up all my energy to get back out there and serve!! But my mind couldn't stop wandering about the future. Which is never good--so I said a prayer in my heart. The answer I got was, "don't sit and stew go and do." Really though...when we are working, moving, serving, loving, etc we clearly have no time to be selfish and worry about ourselves. Instead we are progressing moving forward and acting as Christ would and we are happier! Stewing does nothing for us....instead of wishing for a future we much go and make our future. Anyways I learned a lot this week. But now...I always think don't sit and stew go and do! The lords time is precious and there is so much to be done in this gospel we have to help him!

I know that this church is true and I know that the work is hastening! Let us all be apart of it. I love y'all stay strong this week.

Love Sister J P.s. shout out to Kayla Happy 18th Bday Boo!! Enjoy this week:)