Look Closer at Their Hearts

Hey everyone!
So this week..well, it was a really good week.  A lot happened.  But, I honestly don't really know where to start or what to say.  I feel like this email is going to take a lot okay you gotta let the peeps know whats going on.  Sooo now that I just talked myself into it, here goes the email.

Monday...by the way I get super made fun of by the Elders that I type basically Monday through Sunday but I don't care.  My family and friends gotta know what's going on. 
Soo lets start with Monday:  PDAY!!  I love pday--if people ever ask me what my favorite part about missionary work is I'll say all the spiritual stuff.  But, not going to lie sometimes, okay a lot of times Pday goes through my mind.  So we played tennis with Bailee today and made a pretty legit lunch.  But, we had an awesome lesson with a Glady's Knight referral.  We scheduled to be back this upcoming week so we'll see how this goes.  The Storr family fed us tonight and their little boy gave the cutest answer to, "What does the Holy Ghost feel like to you?"  He replied, "Baptized!"  It was adorable and he is right.  The Holy Ghost helps us feel clean and forgiven when we repent.  It's soo true--way to answer. 

Tuesday we went out with Mattie and ran into a couple of less actives that are totally willing to let us come back. It was cold this day!! Like..what the heck cold in the South at this time of year?  My feet were supper cold.  We walked into a memebers home in the middle of visiting all these people.  Sister Saunders had some peanuts and ovaltine.  It looked suuper good and all I wanted to do was drink some ovaltine and eat peanuts but I knew we couldn't.  We had to be off and working, which is exactly what we did. 
We tracted this trailer park today and we knew there was a reason to be there we just weren't sure what that reason was.  So with faith, we kept going and door after door no one was answering or no one was willing to talk to us.  But, we saw these people sitting outside smoking and we felt prompted to walk over and talk to them.  At first we were suppper hesitant but, we decided to get up our courage and go over to talk to them.  When we went over, they let us teach them the restoration.  Then the woman said that she was pregnant and really wanted to stop smoking.  We offer a stop smoking workshop!! So it was perfect.  It literally is a miracle that we ran into her and started to talk to her.  She's really worried about her baby mostly because it's a miracle she's able to have one.  Right before her stop smoking workshop on Friday we knew that someone needed to be with us as we taught her.  But, no one was coming to our minds.  We had to go to Wally World to get the stuff for her workshop.  Well, I lost an item of significant importance.   So we had to rush back to the apartment to find it.  45 min later we found it, which I don't understand why because I looked where we found it underneath the chair in our car about 5 times.  But at this moment we found it.  So, we go back to Wally World and Sister Saunders is parked right across from us.  Was this a sign??  So, we asked her what she was doing at one and she said, "nothing."  Then she told us she would love to come help with the workshop!  Can you say prayer answered or what?

I really don't want to go through the rest of the days, but I did learn from a member the importance of fellow shipping in this church.  Seriously y'all we need each other for support and love.  Like, lets be honest if all of us didn't have at least one friend, going to church would be really hard.  We met a wonderful lady who all she wants is someone to love her for her mistakes.  Yes, Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father love her for who she is.

 Aren't we as members supposed to act as Christ word and stand as his witness at all times and in all things and in all places? Mosiah 18:9-10.  If we are to stand as witness's of him then we should be friends with those that need a friend.  Let us all open our eyes to those people who seem so independent that they don't need anyone.  I think too often that we always remember those who "seem" to not have any friends.  But, do we become friends with those that we are jealous of?  Are we friends with those that we are intimidated by? Despite what a person looks like or what they seem to have, look closer at their hearts.  I know a lot of woman especially that seem to have the world.  They "seem" to have everything and more.  Yet do they receive love from others? Don't over look these wonderful people who have struggles just like everyone else.  "Don't judge me because I sin differently then you."  It isn't right to judge.  I get that we all have these feelings of insecurity and like we aren't good enough to be someones friend.  But, you are!  You just have to try and if they don't accept it that's their choice.  So...that's what I have to say about that.  Just love people gosh dang it! No matter how they look, no matter how rich or how poor they are, no matter what we should love one another as Jesus loved us.  Besides...the 2nd coming is on it's way.  So why do we let our stupid insecurities, emotional weaknesses, pride, and all the natural man feelings that we feel get in the way?  You are a child of God gosh dang it!! You are loved beyond comprehension.  Your plan is not someone else's plan so get over yourself and love.  But, in the end we all want to go to the same place and live with the same God.  I think we are all a little to easily offended sometimes.  Offense, contention...doesn't matter!  The only thing that matters is the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Understand?  Good. I don't really know who this rant was to..maybe it was to myself I don't know.  I just know how much happier we'd all be if there was more love then envy and jealousy.

This visit seriously made me feel all these things I just stated.  I guess I just had to let it out. 
The Elders pulled a ridiculous prank on us this week.  They told us that one of the Elders (Elder Loftin) was apostate.  Which didn't make sense because he is a great missionary.  So Sister Brown and I freaked out because they were making Elder Loftin sound like this awful missionary!  NO correction...Elder Loftin even made himself seem that way.  But, he's not I can't believe we believed them.  Like, I was literally trying to see in my mind when he's been an apostate missionary but their was nothing.  But, then my mind like made myself believe that their were signs of his disobedience....but there was none!!  We believed them though.  Like Elder Jones would tell us he has movies and swims etc.  It made Sister Brown cry!! Then Elder Loftin claimed he had movies!! I started to almost cry..but I was too mad to cry.  I was ready to blow up and get mad, I kind of did.  That just isn't acceptable. 
We then realized it was all a prank, a pretty mean prank.  So for the record the Elders are obedient missionaries!  They were just freaking us out Elder Jones is a funny guy that makes jokes, and Loftin is just a tall guy that loves cats I mean earlier that night we saw a cat take a nap on his shoes.  Soooo how could they even be bad?  They aren't!!  There's that humors joke for the week.

So, I hope y'all had as good of a week as I did.  The Glass girls graduated!! We went to their house for lunch and I felt like this was Heavenly Fathers way of letting me see my little Sister Graduate.  Bailee reminds me a lot of Kayla...so Kayla I know it's not the day of graduation yet.  But, I am SOOO proud of you babe!!! 
I love y'all.
Have a fantastic week.
Love always Sister Jenkins

A Poem to Mom

There is a Woman I Love and Know

There is a woman I love and know

Who gave me all and watched me grow.

She tickled my arm and sang me to sleep most nights.

And magically healed my mosquito bites.

She watched me on my three wheel trike

Then pushed me on my two wheel bike.

This woman was always there.

Every dance, soccer, piano, and tennis practice she took me to with care.

Not a game missed, nor a recital unseen.

My silent hero got everything on screen.

This woman taught me the gospel is true.

 My Savior is someone she always knew

From the time I was young to the time I am now, 

Mom was my example and always showed me how.

Precious prayers were always said,

On our knees, right by a bed.

Walking quietly out of the room after saying goodnight,

and making sure we were just right.

Softly saying while shutting the door,

"I love you Mom." "I love you more."

Now here I am away from the woman I love and know.

Bringing others unto Christ and watching them grow.

Because of her love and example I am here today.

Thank you Mom for always showing me the way.

-Sister Celeste Jenkins

Mississsippi Jackson Mission

My Mother is beautiful!

My parents together are my hero's but this is a mothers day post:)

Life Lines

So, I had this dream that I saw my family yesterday.  Oh wait!  I did:)  It was the best, I could talk to them all day.  This week went by really fast and I'm surprised.  It's like when you don't want time to go by fast it continues to go by fast.  Then when you want time to speed up, it goes slower?  How does that work?  Oh well whatever the case time won't be an issue in Heaven so I'm just going to enjoy every moment I have left in the field. 

Monday we had some members of the ward take us to Wally World and help us find things to put into our house.  These people are saints.  Literally I love them and couldn't thank them enough on the car ride home.  I seriously made the world to me! There are so many wonderful examples in the mission field especially members that take care of their missionaries.  I remember when we first got to Hattiesburg the Bishops wife helped us out so much.  I will always be thankful for these Christ-like people who give their time and money to helping the Lord.  As my trainer always said, "The members are our life lines."  I completely agree.  They are 100 percent our life lines regarding everything.  I really hope that one day I can be able to help out the missionaries as much as I have been helped out on my mission.

Tuesday was good-it's just been non-stop busy and I love it.  Literally this is such an amazing area.  It's literally been such a blessing to be able to open this area for sisters.  It's been our biking week, so obviously we've been on bikes all week.  Remember that time I told the Elders in Hattiesburg we could just car share?  Well, it totally helped prepare me for this area.  Biking wasn't that bad!  I mean the first day we didn't know where we were at half the time.  Which is totally typical so we just went with the flow.  Which I don't know if that was a good thing or not.  Everyone that we planned to see wasn't home.  So there was some I guess confusion as to where we were.  We had back up plans to everything and we ended up biking into the Elders area.  Not a bad thing though because we ended up finding them a potential investigator...go sisters.  But, Brother Adams saw us biking, "Hey you two Mormons! aren't you in the wrong area?" Oh hey haha umm yes we are...we just thought we'd bike at least 15 in the hot sun and humidity.  All to end up getting the Elders some investigators oh and to get lost like three times and have to bike back and forth back and forth.   He was so nice haha he saw that we were totally lost and let us use his GPS!!  It was a blessing to run into him.  Oh haha funny story so there was this one time we were driving last week and Sister Brown said at a major intersection, "haha can you imagine Elders biking across this highway?  I bet people laugh at them."  Well, guess who happened to cross that same intersection this day?  Oh two "Mormon Chick" missionaries in skirts with bright red faces.  Needless to say, we saw some awesome returning members.  So all of it was worth it.  We even got some sweet tan lines.  I personally love the watch and tom tan lines.  Icy Hot was well used at the end of today:)

Wednesday! District meeting.  Hmmm well, not going to lie it was one of the more awkward district meetings.  Thank Heavens I didn't have to drive to Shreveport this week.  Last week still kinda scared me.  But, it was just awkward! Like I can't explain it.  But, I totally became a Sister Missionary officially today ya'll. Because Sister Brown and I decided to make lunch for our little district.  Sister Brown made this pasta (it was all healthy cause the elders are health nuts) it was really good.  Then I made this spinach, strawberry, madrian oranges, cranberry, and the best part...homemade honey roasted pecans! Yeah, I didn't even use a recipe y'all I just made them. The Elders all thought they we're good...like they were eating these pecans like they were candy. One of them wants me to make him a whole bag of these so that he can snack on them.  Of course I will!! I actually made something that Elders will just eat.  I didn't buy it...(cause that's what I'd normally do if I was making lunch) but I made it.:)  I even forgot dressing and they said the salad was so good it didn't need a dressing.  Psh I felt awesome.  So it was a pretty legit lunch, all homemade which makes me an official Sister Missionary.  Thank Heavens I passed that test before I came home. Today Bailey came out with us:)  It was a good time.  Sister Brown had a "potential investigator" call and ask to date her.  Most awkward conversation, apparently it wasn't the gospel that got his attention.  My comp is beautiful y'all but she was very polite and mature in the way she turned him down.  We had an awesome lesson with Blake again and he committed to baptism!! Bailey is going to be a solid missionary someday--seriously she was pulling out scriptures I didn't even know before my mission.  But, the spirit was super strong during the lesson.  We also saw the Nelsons:)  Their and active family and I just love them.

Wow, I'm writing a novel today.  But, hey keep reading:) Thursday lets see, Sister Brown and I had to bike to the library to write our talks for Sunday.  Then we got caught in a rainstorm.  It was awesome!  I freakin love the rain, especially the rain in the south.  The rain in Utah just...isn't the same.   But, we had a legit lesson at the Saunders home!! Seriously this ward is the best.  They do so much missionary work on their own and make sure that the missionaries are in their homes teaching these people they are talking with.  We taught two people in their home.  It was kinda a jumbled lesson.  Sister Brown and I lead the lesson, and the Elders got our backs.  Even with the four of our teaching it was still great.  

Friday we did a lot of service, painting dressers and helping the ward with their "garage sale" at the stake center. We weekly planned today and we had legit stuff to plan for!! So we basically did that for about four hours.  

Saturday we went on exchanges.  I was on bikes and Sister Brown was riding with Sister Giddins.  Sister Cottrell and I saw a lot of people.  We tracted for a couple of hours and tried a few returning members.  Even though we didn't get a lot of lessons in, it was still a successful day because we were non-stop working.  I mean it was tiny moments that we kept finding opportunities to teach or serve.  For example, a man was looking for something down the street.  I said, "What you looking for sir?"  He replied that his dog was missing and she ran down the road.  I asked what kind of dog and immediately took off.  I didn't mean to like bike as fast as I was haha but I was determined to find this dog this old man needed help.  Well, at the end of the street we found her.  Then I chased her back home on my bike, because she wouldn't come to me.  But, since the south doesn't have sidewalks...I was bookin it on my bike across everyone's lawns chasing this dog.  Point is...the dog made it safely home:)  The man was extremely grateful.  

Sunday I was speaking in church.  I chose to speak on the conference talk "Oh how we need each other" By Bonnie Oscarson who is the young woman's general president. I wanted to make my talk a mix of this talk and mothers day.  So I wrote a poem for my mother Saturday night. The poem will be in a different post.  But, basically I talked to my family!!  It was a great great day.  I love them soo much.  The Glass family is awesome for letting us always come over.  They help the missionaries out so much.  

Anyways y'all it was such a great week.  Like, I am so happy. I haven't felt this happy for such a long time on my mission.  I mean I've always been happy, but I'm so much more.  I think the better I become as a missionary the happier I am.  Granted it means my heart hurts for everyone that I come to love that doesn't accept the gospel even more.  But, that's just part of the deal.  I pray for these wonderful people with all my heart every night/morning.  Nothing is more important then our brothers and sisters.  We all need each other.  We can't do it alone.  "Love one another as I have loved you."  John 13:34  This is literally the most important time on earth.  What a blessing it is to be able to be a member of the one true church on earth.  Christ lives and he WILL come again.  I know it.  Lets all continue to love and prepare each other for it.

I love you always.  

Love Sister Jenkins

Opening of Stonewall

Hey y'all!!
Oh what a week.  Opening is well crazy.  I feel so much more prepared opening this area then I ever did Hattiesburg.  Maybe that's because I know somewhat more of what I am doing.  Even though moving into our apartment hasn't been a very smooth transition, we've been able to get a lot of work done based on the circumstances. The Glass family let us live with them for a week and a half while we waited to hear back from the apartments. Well, Thursday we got the news that we would officially be moving in on Friday.  Wahoo!
Lets start with major events yeah?  Well, Monday we went tracting.  I have such a strong testimony of tracting on pday.  It's almost like every time we do go tracting on Monday we always find new investigators and people to teach.  This area is a whole lot different then Bogalusa is.  Wow, like people I think the over passes on the highways are pretty.  The Elders, when they split the area gave us the "richer"area.  Which is totally different the Hattiesburg!! We got the poorer area, which was great.  I loved our area there...the area now is more hmmm intimidating?  I get nervous knocking on the doors!  But, we've tracted enough this week that I'm more used to the houses now.  Anyways 1st day in a rich area, okay I stretched a little, took a deep breath, said a huge prayer that someone would accept our message, and knocked.  It seemed we weren't having any success, I just know though that no effort is wasted.  Well, we knocked on this door and a guy answered.  Apparently it wasn't his house, but he told us to come back the next day.  We walked away and as we were near the end of the street, this guy (we'll call him Fred) came running down the street saying, "Sisters, I know the Mormon missionaries and I feel bad for not inviting you in.  I should ha've even though it's not my house.  But, the guy that owns it needs Jesus."  We walked back with him and they fed us dinner and we talked.  It was very...very...interesting haha wow.  I have no words to even explain all that happened.  Just know I felt like I was in a hotel in vegas??  Haha I don't even know how to explain it!! I mean the woman of the house was telling us about her children and everything.  We asked where her children were and she said, "Oh they're out back swimming with their tutor!  She's tanning." Oh yeah...welcome to my life people.  But, on the bright side we did get to teach them a legit lesson.  Then the man of the house said, "Y'all can come back anytime.  I will feed you and you can teach us."  So there you have it.  We gave him a Book of Mormon, he said he'd read it and we were welcome back.
We did service this week for a man who owns a cat sanctuary.  Literally he has soooo many cats!!!  He calls the cat place "Fort Catamo" y'all it's online...look him up!  But, all the cats slightly hmm made me never want to have a cat?  But, hey I respect all that the guy did.  It reminded me of being a little girl and walking all around our land meowing and trying to save the cats I found (sorry Mom). Wednesday we went out to meet some people and boy did we. That's all I have to say about that one.
Thursday was Gladys Knight!  Wahoo!! I got to see her twice during my mission.  The one here in Shreveport was jam packed!  But, it was still just as great.  That woman has a way to reach all of these people's hearts.  I just love how sincere and powerful her choir is when they sing.  Seriously people, and then when she gets up to bear her testimony the spirit is super strong and you just know what she is saying is true.  After Gladys we went out to eat with Gwen and Sister Saunders.  I know that the Lord truly does put us in the right place at the right time.  We were able to help our server out that night.  Apparently she is a member but needed to know that the Lord loves her and is looking out for her. 
Friday we basically spent the entire day moving ourselves into our new apartment.  Woohooo.  It was actually really good.  The deans took us out for pizza after.  But, I am so thankful for all the members here.  They seriously are taking such good care of us.  They are the ones who are making our apartment ready for the missionaries.  Honestly it's such a blessing to be apart of this church.  The relief society is truly the greatest women's organization in the world.  Thanks to a lot of help our apartment has the things it needs.   All I have is a thankful heart and a willing hand to go out and work. 
Saturday was a good day.  We had to wake up early because we were apart of a service project called "Paint Your Heart Out" It was a lot of fun honestly.  We painted this house (our ward) and it took from 7-12p.m. Then, we had interviews at 2:30 so we all had to race home and get the paint out of our hair and head to interviews.  I love interviews!! Seriously I love being able to visit with President McDonough.  He helps me look at missionary work in a better way each time.  Then after interviews we were off again. Lets just say I was freakin out.  Like, I had to drive all through Shreveport (the main part) and the traffic was bad, I was panicking.  Plus it didn't help that Elder Jones (since we car share and are allowed to drive to interview and district meetings together only) was telling me what a horrible driver I was in the back.  I told them both it was a bad idea to let me drive.  But, no one listened to me.  So I was stuck as the driver freakin out.  Those who know me know I slightly have a hard time driving in a ton of traffic.  But, we all lived thankfully.  We went to dinner for the Paint your Heart Out event.  There was a ton of people and loads of Crawfish.  Welcome to the south y'all.
Sunday...May 4th...I just have to say this cause it's really funny, "May the forth be with you." hahahaha oh my when I heard that I went around all day saying that. 
Anyways y'all, it was a good week as usual!! I love the mission.  My companion Sister Brown is awesome and we are working really hard together.  Please remember how much the Lord loves you.  Never forget that who you are IS enough.  He loves us more then we could ever comprehend.  I am thankful I am here.  I will continue to work hard and remain focused.  The church is without a doubt the true church on earth.  It's Jesus Christ's Church restored let us all continue to endure and remain faithful to the truths we know in our hearts. 
Know I love y'all!
Love always Sister Jenkins