Hey everyone!

So...this email might be a little short. I don't have much time today but I want to let y'all know how this week went.

Well..it went good! see ya'll later have a great week!

....haha psych! Okay sooo this week, man I'm fumbling over my words. I really don't know where to start can y'all tell?

Basically it was a normal week out here in the field. Sister Bailey was sick a couple of days and then we went out to work. Emily is coming along great!! She loved our lesson we had with her. The branch is really moving along with missionary work it's nice to see changes happening. But this week we had interviews on Valentines day and best interviews yet for me personally. But gosh y'all I'm kinda speechless this week. I hope y'all have a great week. Know the work is still moving forward and I love you!! I know this gospel is true without a doubt in my heart!!

Love always

Sister Jenkins

Oh Bogie Town--

Sooo lets get up to date on all that's happening here in my favorite Bogalusa.  This week was crazy, I love Sister Bailey!  She's a rock solid missionary and we work hard together.

Basically the biggest event that happened this week was the amazing word of wisdom lesson we had.

Basically what happened was we went back to visit Ms. Emily who we've been teaching for awhile.  Sister Mygrant, Baker, and I all taught her the Restoration a couple of weeks back and she had tears just flowing from her eyes because she could feel the spirit so strongly and knew it was true.  Unfortunately Emily can't read but she wants to change her life around badly.  Sister Bailey and I have gone back a couple of times to see her and wow.  Basically the 1st lesson we had with her, we asked her if she knew how to even really pray.  We always ask people to pray about our message to find out if it's true (which I testify that it is).  One thing that we constantly seem to miss sometimes is whether or not the person actually knows how to pray.  Finally in the middle of the lesson (we were talking about how to feel the spirit) we ask, "Ms. Emily do you even know how to pray?"  She told us no.  We then taught her how to pray, it was the most heart felt prayer I've ever heard.  After we grabbed her hand and told her what a wonderful and sincere prayer she just prayed.  Then we asked if she believed that Heavenly Father could help her stop smoking.  She nodded yes and then we set up an apt for a "Stop Smoking Workshop" for next time we come over. 

Two days later it was the workshop.  It went really well, probably the best "Stop Smoking Workshop" I've ever been able to help teach.  The spirit was there extremely strong.  Right in the middle of teaching, Ms. Emily pulls out one of her cigarette boxed and begins to take the plastic wrap off of it.  Sister Bailey and I were almost upset because we thought that she was pulling out a stick to smoke.  But nope, that wasn't the case at all!  Ms. Emily took all of the cigarettes in that box, put them all in her hand and crushed them (broke them in half) right in front of us.  She did that with both of her boxes and got rid of ever ash tray and lighter in the house.  We were amazed!! We didn't even tell her to do that...I mean it wasn't even that part of the lesson she just naturally did it.  That's how big of desire she has to change.  We also told her not to drink coffee or alcohol while she is in the process of quitting--she gladly said, "Okay, but y'all take my coffee pot away from me or else I'll be tempted."  Are you kidding me!?  Um...we'll gladly take your coffee pot, crushed cigars, and ash trays away from you.  It was the best Word of Wisdom lesson to witness ever!  Right before we left we said a prayer and I took a min to recognize the spirit ( I do this a lot just to keep me in check).  The spirit was strong and in her home.   The moment all of that was being taken out the spirit gradually got stronger.  Emily's countenance was already changing.  

 President Monson said, "We need to keep in mind that people can change. They can put behind them bad habits. They can repent from transgressions. They can bear the priesthood worthily. And they can serve the Lord diligently.” Emily's desire to quit is strong but her faith in God is stronger.  I know that people can change.  Even when it seems like there is no hope at all for others to change I know and testify they can.  I am witnessing that daily out here, it's through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ that we can become as he is and "Purging out our iniquities and sanctifying ourselves." D & C 43:11

That night things got a little crazy, it honestly makes me laugh because this night is proof that missionaries literally would do anything for their investigators.  Because Ms. Emily can't read we told her we had The Book of Mormon of CD for her to listen to.  Sister Bailey had a Walkman and some headphones that she never uses anymore.  She was just going to give them to Ms. Emily so she could listen.  When we gave it to her, that night Ms. Emily called saying that it doesn't work.  We went to check and sure enough it wasn't working!!  The CD player wouldn't play anything that is MP3....bah!! This was such a bummer because Emily desperately wanted to listen to The Book of Mormon. 

We frantically drove to our house to see if there was another CD or something that would work, but nothing would play.  That's when we realized we needed something (a mini DVD player) to play MP3.  Well, those little buggers are expensive!! But we went to Wal-Mart just to see and hope that maybe there would be a sale.  There wasn't (go figure), and while we were seriously debating whether or not to get one, Krystal came in with her family!  "Sisters, what are you doing?!"  We explained, she then put her hand to her forehead, "Girls...just get a cheap DVD player that's like 20 bucks and that would play MP3 too."  Um...yeah why did we not think of that?  So we found one and split it and got it for Ms. Emily (she didn't have one).  We show up at her house and exclaimed, "Well, we didn't have another Walkman or mini dvd player but we magically had this random DVD player!"  Yeah okay maybe that wasn't all truth but hey it made her day and she could listen to The Book of Mormon.  So her sons set up the DVD player and we put in the CD...it worked!!! All that effort and it worked!!  We sat and listened to 1 Nephi chpt 1 with her and her boys.  All she could do was cry, the spirit was so strong and she was thankful, she told us she could understand everything that was being said (she even repeated it to us) and that she knew it was true.  So, therefore by the end of the night everything was worth it!!  Sister Bailey said, "I didn't realize how far away from other missionaries we were until I realized no one could help us tonight but ourselves."  Yep, that's my area and I love it.  This "abandonment" has been the best thing.  Granted yes it's been difficult at times, but it literally has just been Heavenly Father and me.  Which is how it should be.  These people are our number one and we not nothing more then for them to draw closer to Christ and taste the truth of this restored gospel.  Nothing in this world will bring us more happiness then this gospel.  This is truly the church that Christ established when he was on the earth and when people come to know that its the sweetest thing to witness.   I love being a missionary I love losing myself in this work and "just being here" this is where my mind and my heart needs to be and I finally get it.  I am more devoted to Jesus Christ then I ever have been and that grows daily.  My devotion grows deeper which brings me happiness.  I hope y'alls week has been grand.  Keep reading your scriptures and praying.  It's the small acts of obedience that save our souls and bring us eternal life.  It's those small acts that help us to endure to the end which help us keep the biggest covenants of all.  "And if you keep my commandments and endure to the end you shall have eternal life, which gift is the greatest gift of all the gifts of God."  D & C 14:7

Stay Strong and know I love you always.

Love Sister Jenkins

 

 

Hello! It's a cloudy day here in Bogie town but it's okay:) We had a pretty solid week minus a few setbacks.

Monday all we heard about was how the South was going to get hit with a winter storm. Which is very true Georgia was hit hard but the news was that we were going to get slammed with snow as well. Because of this transfer day was postponed till Thursday, kind of a surprise to all of us but we rolled with the punches. The other advice we were getting was to stay inside all day Tuesday because southern people don't know how to drive when there is ice on the roads, nobody wanted us to get into trouble aka car crash. I mean at first I was a little resentful to this advice but when you think about it, it makes sense. The south has no snow plows, they don't even sell winter stuff in stores, etc...So it made sense that we were to stay indoors. Practically the entire mission stayed in doors--so we tried to be productive inside. That night we get a knock on our door from one of the officers that we eat with. He said that we need to stay indoors Wednesday because the "snow" is going to melt and freeze again. Not going to lie...it was a bummer to hear that because well all day Tuesday we could not believe we were staying inside for such a whimpy storm. But, it is what it is, we stayed inside Wednesday and it was basically and ice storm. That night we get a call from the ZL's saying that we needed to get all of our stuff together because the roads were supposed to be really bad in the morning so we needed to leave that night to Hattiesburg. We would stay the night at the Hattiesburg sisters apartment, so that was that and we were off. I managed to put together a brand new bike rack and hook it up to the car. I felt so accomplished!! I mean we have no other missionaries around us at all and usually I'd just call the Elders for help but nope, not this time I was on my own. The bike rack even stayed on the entire ride down to Hattiesburg it was safe and secured I felt all powerful that I put it all together with no help.

That night also Sister Baker got a call saying that she wasn't going to Arkansas anymore....she is now going to Minden Mississippi which was a surprise to all of us. Officer Tyson brought us a huge thing of tacos for the road. He was a bit worried that we were driving there but whatever I was ready to drive and go. The roads really weren't that bad. But when we entered Hattiesburg man there was snow on the ground!! I was so surprised! We actually saw snow instead of all ice. Not going to lie I loved Hattiesburg and I didn't realize at how much I loved it until I was back driving down the streets like old times. We went and saw Mama JuJu and her face lightened up when we walked in. It was a surprise to her and it was soo good to see her. I love that woman so much truly another one of my southern mom's. Staying in my old apartment was weird. It was a different feeling not being a steward for the area anymore. Actually it was really hard, I missed the area and the ward. I slept on the couch that night listening to all the cars drive past (just like old times) and haha all I could do was cry!! I missed it....and wow the people. It's weird going from the middle of nowhere to the place you opened and fell in love with. Not to mention it was "social hub" so I really missed it. But hey I eventually fell asleep accepting the fact it's not my area anymore, and thought all about Bogie town and how I have fallen in love with this area. I would cry just as much or harder if I ever came back to this town realizing I was no longer the steward. But, it's a blessing because currently I am still here with an awesome companion Sister Bailey (were kinda gonna rock this transfer).

That morning I said peace out to Baker and Mygrant and I really am going to miss those two sisters. We had so much fun together and so much work was done. When Sister Bailey showed up (she almost took the T-van to Gulf Port that would've been bad), but I was so happy to see her. I even saw my friend Sister Zemp. It was a reunion to remember I love that girl we basically almost fell over when we ran to hug each other.

So the work was back to normal after we drove back to Bogie Town. Friday we worked hard. We had an apt every hour that day and we were out with Sister Jones most of the day visiting a lot of people. It's crazy because that morning we had a meeting were we would go over the entire ward roster--we ran across a name that had moved but nobody knew were she lived anymore. So, I prayed and thought, "Heavenly Father I really hope that one day we can find this woman." That day we decided to tract a street that we had never planned on tracting. We found this woman!! We tracted right into her and it was honestly a miracle. We both knew there was a reason we were tracting that road but weren't sure why. Well, the reason hit us right in the face when we found this woman and she wants us to come back so we can help her get back to church. Coincidence? psh there are no coincidences in missionary work. We told Sister Jones and she couldn't believe it! Truly a miracle of Heavenly Father and all we could do was thank him when we got in the car.

Saturday morning we really wanted to contact a referral that Sister Jones gave to us. The only thing is we couldn't find that house at all. We drove up and down the same street over and over, we even got out and knocked on most of the doors. We still couldn't find it. But, there was this family outside raking a lot of leaves and they were noticing us driving up and down looking like creepers. So I felt bad for creepin, I rolled down the window and asked the woman if she knew the people we were trying to find. "That's my cousin!" she said. Well, again coincidence? heck no! She is even related to Sister Jones, so we talked with her about the restoration and apparently years back before they moved the Elders were going over to their house teaching them. She invited us back and bam that was that. Solid lesson, solid find, and we were satisfied. The rest of the work was good the rest of the day but that was really the biggest find.

Overall it was a great week. The Willis family fed us last night and it went really good--I love that family. They remind me of my own family. Mom, Dad, and three girls:) Sister Bailey is a great missionary she's been out for 15 months and this is the area where she will die (in missionary terms dying means go home). We have done so much work all ready and we are both considered "old" out here. We both are on the exact same page regarding the work that needs to be done in this area and I couldn't have been more blessed. This is exactly what I was praying for!

This week I was reading in Mark 14 and 15 and in Mark 14 it's where Christ suffers in the Garden of Gethsemane. The question "Could not thou watch one hour?" rings in my mind. If I ever feel discouraged or not being exactly obedient I think of that question but I reword it to fit the moment I'm struggling. "Could you not get up on time for me, it's a simple thing I asked can't you do that much to show me you love me?" Just things like that so now I have even more motivation to be exactly obedient for my Savior Jesus Christ. Because he saved my soul, the least I can do is be obedient. I keep thinking of the words found in D & C 43:11 "Purge ye out the iniquity which is among you; sanctify yourselves before me." Sanctifying ourselves for Christ is truly what we are all learning in our mortal existence as we prepare to meet God. I love this gospel. I love my Savior, Jesus Christ. I love being able to work with him to find the elect, gather together is lost sheep, and I love being apart of this great Hastening of the work. Y'all have a great week!! Stay warm and safe and never give up Jesus Christ has been there before.

Love Always Sister Jenkins