Alright y'all here goes another email!

This week hmmm well it was amazing!! Go figure? haha Monday we went to go and see the Raines for dinner and I love their house! Defiantly the most "homey" house I've been in since I've been here in Bogie Town. They were wonderful I really felt at home when we were there which I loved.

Tuesday was Sister Mygrants Birthday and well we defiantly celebrated:) I made some german pancakes for breakfast and watched her open her gifts. I'm glad she had a good day. Haha we even found this "super hero" Happy Birthday with Iron Man in the center just sayin y'all. It kinda was a must get.

Wednesday we went to eat dinner with Nanna and she wasn't feeling too well. We felt horrible mostly because we didn't know how to make her feel better. Thankfully when we got there we said a prayer with her and she said, "I'm feeling better already". Then Brother Landrum came by and gave her a priesthood blessing. You know I've been around Elders so long that sometimes I forget the ward members can give blessings too!! Being in Bogie Town there is no Elder missionaries so we rely on our priesthood holders a lot for blessings. I thank them from the bottom of my heart for always being there. That night we taught Book of Mormon class. It's actually a really good sized class!! In Clinton our Book of Mormon class usually fell through because no one really came but out here everyone comes haha I love it!! Everyone is so engaged in the scriptures as we read and I smile really big whenever I am able to witness all of these wonderful people learning about the scriptures with us.

Thursday we were able to teach Stella her first lesson!! She has a baptismal date and we are getting her ready. I love the Welch family haha I'm so weird when we go over to her house! Remember Tawny? Love that girl and miss her but she had this thing where she could Bawk like a chicken. Well, after practice I got it down. I totally did that at the Welch's home and they were all laughing soo hard!! It was funny I love making people laugh.

Friday we had the ward Thanksgiving dinner and well we showed up late. Which was fine the branch was just wondering where their girls were. Well, we were in Slidell at interviews with President. It was great I learn so much from that man every time I'm with him and he loves everyone. Before we were leaving into the interviews one of the AP's looked at Sister McDonough and asked, "I'm sure in marriage you've learned that you can't be selfish." Sister McDonough paused and said, "Well, I do know that President never thinks about himself ever." We all knew that to be true. He is such a wonderful example on how to be "Christ-like". Christ never thought of himself once. His #1 concern was us and our salvation. He died and was resurrected so that we all could live together one day.

The dinner was so fun!! When we finally got there they were all teasing us...but they had three plates ready for us. I love being in a branch!! I honestly have never felt so loved and accepted by anyone. The children were all there too!! Haha I ended up running around playing spies and hide and seek with them...go figure. This branch to me is family and they all are defiantly come as you are. I wish we all could be more like that.

Saturday we went and saw the Gill Family. Their two boys Keith and Alex are going to get baptized on the 21st!!! We are so excited. We are finally being let into their house and she's even feeding us tonight!! Miracles are happening I tell you and I firmly know it is because of our obedience, diligence, and faith with this area.

Sunday was amazing. I wish we could have a primary program every other month or something because the chapel was full!! all the chairs (not benches this is a branch remember)--were almost full. Half of the primary was non-members!! Isn't that amazing?! We have been working with some returning member families and all of them were there to support their children in the program. After the program I have never felt soo loved by children! They all rushed off the "stage" and were hugging us sisters. The program made me cry.....I love children so much. And it's true we must come unto Christ as a little child, completely pure of heart and full of love. Then not only that but Christian who's 14 wants to get baptized as well. He is cousins with Alex and Keith and they all are of youth age. They've been coming to church the last two weeks and have all decided for themselves they want to get baptized! So Alex, Keith, and Christian are getting baptized on the same day. Those three boys have my heart. Christian is amazing...he really does have an interest in this gospel. Yesterday during our lesson he looked at us and said, "sometimes I wonder if God is even there. How can I know if he is there?" His questions are simple and the truth is testified to him in his heart. Then Bro. Korkern started taking the boys around the church and three told them they want to be leaders someday. I was amazed. The parents even stayed all three hours because of these strong faithful young men. They will all be wonderful priesthood holders someday and it's them that's getting their parents back to church.

Next yesterday night we were at Sister Slades house and asked Rayne if she wanted to be baptized. Her answer was yes!! So her baptismal date is set for the 7th and we are getting her ready.

I wanted to cry the entire day...I can't believe the wonderful Miracles that are happening here. There is so much potential with this area and it's all started with the returning members in the branch and their children helping them come back. The heart of the branch to me is the children. The parents who are working on coming back are super supportive of them and their decsions especially the youth deciding to get baptized.

Then while we were tracting yesterday the second door we knock on a lady lets us in. She said, "God has sent you to me. He knows I needed him at this time and you three angles are an answer to my prayers." A lot has been going on in this lady's life and she needs Christ back in her life. By the end of the lesson she said, "I promise you I will read this book and come to church next week. It's what I want." We know she'll be there too. There's a lot going on and she needs Jesus Christs true church restored back on earth to help her life. Then the next door another lady who has a "mormon friend" let us in and was completely interested in coming to church! What is happening!! I am just in awe at the progression this town is making!! My heart is so full of joy and I can't express the gratitude I have in my heart for Heavenly Father making all of this possible and softening the heart of the people.

Not only that but last night "officer Roy" our police man protector called us and invited us over for dinner at the police station! haha so we went and it was so fun! We went through the building took pictures, felt like we were in a movie, and ate with the police men who cooked for us in their kitchen in the police department. We had corn bread, pork chops, spagetti, egg custard pie and they even gave us candy. Haha they are looking after us so much and worry about us. We know that if we go tracting at night we have nearly have of the Bogalusa police on our side if anything happens:)

Man what a week y'all. The lord is changing me, he's changed my life for eternity, and his hands are changing oh so gently this area. There is so much happiness and hope that hasn't been in this area for awhile. Through the branches efforts, our obedience, planning, diligence and faith we will continue to work with the lord in gathering Israel. I love my mission!! Thank you all for your support. I know with out a single doubt this is truly the church of Jesus Christ himself. It's true all of it, I witness it and declare it to everyone I know it's true. We are all children of God and he loves us all equally. Let us continue to work together in helping him with our hands. Let our words and works continue to glorify him.
Y'all have a good week! Happy thanksgiving I love you!!

Love Sister Jenkins 

 

 

Okay soo it was such a good week here in Bogie Town:)

Monday--We went tracting, but it was getting dark really fast, but I knew someone would let us in. And well what do you know! 1st door we knocked on this guy comes out, "Are y'all the Mormon chicks?" Well, I mean yeah we are. "Hey baby, the Mormon Chicks are at our door! Come on in y'all." Then when we started talking came to find out they've heard our message and their names are the Tyson family. Mr. Tyson is a policeman for Bogalusa and apprenetly he used to feed the Elders all the time years ago. They loved us and basically cleaned out their freezer to give us food! They gave us so much food to leave home with I was extremely grateful. Two days later Sister Baker was really sick and had to stay home. That night Sister Mygrant went with a member to teach Book of Mormon class so I could stay with Sister Baker. While Sister Baker and I were in the living room our door bell rings (which freaked me out). But we go to the door and it's officer Tyson!! Haha he was worried about us and was just checking up on us to make sure we were safe. Then he asked if we needed food and he'd go get a pizza for us. Unfortunatly Baker was stomach sick soo no. But he's definatly our little protector!! Just in time too...right when it starts getting dark earlier we have a policeman looking out for us. Thank you for your prayers!

Tuesday--Well...I got sick...it was absolutly freezing and well we came in cause I couldn't handle it anymore!! But on the bright side we still managed to see some people. That night I was up all night with Sister Baker because she had the stomach flu. It was soo sad!! Literally I felt awful but we were up all night. So then come wednesday and Mygrant and I headed off to ZDM in Slidell and Baker stayed with the STL's. So that was good. But Mygrant and I left ZDM early to get in our tracting for the day and we ran into someone that wants to get baptized! But we will see if we can really get in and teach her she wasn't their for our scheduled apointment.

Wednesday the lord blessed us with health and strength because we were all able to get out and do the lords work! We've really been focused on tracting each day, returning members, and member relationships and getting them excited about the work. Well we went to go visit Crystal, I wasn't sure why we were led to there, Nanna took me out there last Sunday but I barely remembered where I was going but I knew we had to go!--We get there and well, Crystal wasn't home. So we went tracting, that's when we met Wanda. She answered the door and said, "The lord knew my heart has been breaking because there are three angles at my door." There's a lot going on in her life right now and she desperatly needed to know the lord was aware of her and her mother. We held hands and prayed it was all meant to be and I know that was the reason why we went in that area even though it was not in our plans.

Thursday we went to see a returning member, I basically gave her the smack down on coming back to church. I think it slightly scared Sister Baker and Mygrant but the spirit was there the entire time and honestly I don't remember a word I said! But I know it made her think and at the end of the lesson she hugged me and told me how much she loved me. There was just so many small miracles that happened this week and I know it's because all three of us are trying out best to be as obeident as we can. Obedience really brings miricales!! Miricales are a result of our faith and dedication to the Lord.

Friday we were able to go and see the Gill family--she has the custest boys ever and I just love them with all my heart. Something that I guess hasn't happened here before was we went into her home and read scriptures with her boys!! Kieth was excited and had his scriptures ready to go--we gave Alex a Book of Mormon and read with them. They love the Sister Missionaries and I know they would get baptized.

Saturday Taylor came to get us all the way from Hattiesburg to take us to Jamara's baptism. I love her so much...she will definatly be a friend to me always. She really cares and loves the missionaries with all she has--Jamara was in the backseat and was nervous for the baptism. But after the baptism Taylor took us out to eat with Sister Hansen and Welch. I really do love them and miss the Hattiesburg area but I do know the lord has called me to Bogalusa and I know there are miracles already happeneing in this area. I do love it. But I am soo thankful for the friendships I have with people there in Hattiesburg. If I ever questioned why I was in Hattiesburg, I look back on the the friendships that are there now and realize I was successful in more ways then one and I thank my Heavenly Father for that.

Sunday was well amazing!!! Crystal brought her 4 children, Alex and Keith, and she even brought Pams children (cause pam has to work). It was amazing!! There were so many members and non members there and Sister Baker said, "I have never seen this many cars in our parking lot." to see all these children who are of the age of baptism taking up an entire row was overwhelming joy. I pray and hope we can conitnue to work with them. We as a companionship want to start working on activity days for them once a week and getting them to church everyweek. Unfortuantly Fannie wasn't there to see the "fruits of her labors" (because all of them are her family) and she was sick:( But we went to see her later on sunday and her eyes just glowed as we told her everything that had happened!--I shared with her D & C 111:1-4 those scriptures help me so much when I feel I am not doing anything as a missionary. But I know as we continue to help the lord without stuttering, he is always pleased with our work.

Man it was such a blessed week!! I love what I do soo much--being able to witness people soften their hearts come back to church, joining the church, and watching the members grow together is such a blessing!! I love what I do--I thank heavenly father for sending me to this area. I really do love my companions they are so strong in this gospel and in all they do. We are working this area hard and aren't going to stop. Now, y'all have a really good week. I sure love you!!

Love Sister Jenkins

 

Well good morning everyone

Okay sooo I'm officially in a new area. Bogalusa Louisiana! I really do love it here. I feel in a way that this area has been prepared for me. I love the people here and I don't know I just love it. It's hard yes, there is so much work to do it's almost overwhelming sometimes. But granted I do love it. I've just been going around meeting the branch this week really. I love it--I've gotten so many hugs and I love you's this week I felt like I was home.

Jamara in Hattiesburg is totally and officially getting baptized! We extended the baptismal invite to her last Sunday and well my companions and I got permission to go see her get baptized! I am soo happy for her.

This week when I first got here I was surprised to see I am living in a house and not an apartment--but the house is great. Lousiana is a different world then Mississippi but it's still the south none the less. The people here are so humble and just trying the best they can. We went to follow up with one of the people that Sister Baker tracted into before I got here. Well when we went to talk with her, we gave her a baptismal date! So we're not sure whats going to happen regarding her quite yet but I yeah....well this is awkward cause I honestly don't really know what to say. But I love this mission!! Y'all have a good week:) There will be more next week I promise!

Hey everyone!!

Okay so this week has been crazy. But it's been such a good week. I am getting transferred to Bogalusa Louisiana. Wahoo! I honestly am excited but I'm yet nervous. This email isn't going to be that long sorry y'all. But in other news we had someone commit to a baptismal date yesterday her name is Jamara and she's twelve. I love this little girl so much...her baptism will be on the 16th. But I'm sad cause I'll be in Bogalusa but there is someone there waiting to hear the greatest good news in the world. But I'm going to miss Hattiesburg, I've learned sooo much here but change is always a good thing. It's a mighty hard thing to swallow sometimes but it's oh so good.

This week was well Halloween. We all had to be inside our apt by 6p.m. so Sister Welch, Hansen and I put out a blanket on the floor and watched the Restoration and The Testaments haha party hard right? I loved it. But then the next day our apt finally got couches!! Sure right before we leave we get a couch but I'm so happy we did. We passed our apt inspection yahoo! We got the golden mop award and well yeah our apts usually pretty clean.

Saturday was the Fall Festival and a LOT of people came it was such a great sight to see. Most of the people we invited came minus a short few. But I was sad because I really am going to miss this area. But today I'm mostly preparing to go. I was able to bear my testimony on Sunday. I bore it on progression and change. I love Jesus Christ so much!! If it weren't for him we wouldn't be able to truly progress. Repentance is such a wonderful thing....it should never be looked down on even thought it might feel like it sometimes. But we have such a wonderful gift that we get to use everyday.

Anyways..the pictures are pretty self explanatory. If y'all want to see them my mom is posting them on the blog like she always does so faithfully. I love you mom!! Thank you for all your support. I'll talk to y'all next week. Keep the faith and walk tall because your a child of god.

Love you always,

Love Sister Jenkins