The Errand of Angels Week 46: Fall Festival and Transfers

Hi Everyone!

I hope you all are well!

This week was one of the fastest of my mission - wow! In fact, that is how the last couple have felt. It's Monday and we're emailing home then all of a sudden it'sSaturday, Sunday, then Monday again. I think they just removed a couple days of the week... 

I sent lots of pictures this week and I hope you enjoy them! We are trying to take more pictures seeing as I only have 7 months left on my mission! :( Wow, time flies. Today is my 11 month mark. 

So, for transfers both Sister Fox and I are staying here in Seffner! We are excited! During November we will have Thanksgiving, Sister Fox's birthday, my 12-month mark and her 9-month mark.  All big celebrations!

Highlights of the Week:

Well, the ultimate highlight of the week was our ward Fall Festival! I was so proud of the members for inviting their friends. Ward activities are so needed to friendshipping and missionary work, especially fun activities like a Fall Festival. We had multiple families invite their friends and many came and had a really good time! And guess what?! Our neighbor came with his family!! That was definitely the highlight of my entire week. We really try to friendship our neighbors (because we are friendly anyways), but also share Christ's message with them and invite them to different things. I am so grateful they came!!

All the sister missionaries in my ward

All the missionaries in my ward

1 Florida Red Ant bite that blisters and scars

Another highlight of the week was with another neighbor. There is a neighbor of ours whose wife has terminal cancer. He walks around our apartment complex a couple laps, then checks on his wife, and walks a couple more. He is so sweet and friendly. Ever since I met him I have been carrying around a Plan of Salvation pamphlet and wanting to share it with him. The opportunity arose this week. We were walking to the gym with our bag of gym goodies (ipod, speakers, a copy of The Book of Mormon, Plan of Salvation pamphlet, my cards for memorizing things while running, etc). And he came up and talked to us. He asked us about what we do and we had a nice chat. THEN... I chickened out of talking to him. Can you believe that?! So we went to the gym... it was closed. So on the way back from the gym I prayed in my head for forgiveness and for the opportunity again to share it with him, and I promised God I would take that opportunity. Because the gym was closed we walked by his place again and he was still out there! A huge tender mercy from God and an answer to prayer. We were able to share the pamphlet with him and talk with him. It was a wonderful opportunity. 

Future sister missionaries

In Sunday School we were talking about family roles. Unfortunately I had zoned out for a second thinking about something else. Then all of a sudden I realized I was zoning out and prayed to be able to pay attention and learn what I needed to learn. The Spirit became so strong for me and I was able to share a beautiful experience about learning from Mom and her example (Dad, I have learned from you as well, the question was just geared towards mothers). I shared about the journal entries that mom sends me and how it has been a tender mercy to even read some of her past ones and see that even when I frustrated her, she never showed it towards me but always was loving and sweet. A man commented then on how he the examples of six righteous mothers were reflected in the room (we had six missionaries in the meeting). I will admit, I teared up. It was a beautiful lesson both in feeling so much gratitude for Mom and Dad, but also in regard to always paying attention to what the Spirit wants to teach you.

SERVICE

Funny of the Week: There was this group of four men that came in to sacrament meeting. My companion and I welcomed them afterwards and they said they were from Nashville. They are from a country band, not with Luke Bryant (he was in Tampa for the weekend), and are touring the area. They are called: Spencer's Own. Good for them for being an example to their children at home for attending church and all three hours when on tour.

Banana Bread from home--gone in one sitting

Invite of the Week: INVITE. Please just simply invite someone this week. I know I ask it a lot, but please do.

ALSO, please pay attention to what God wants you to know. I know its silly, but there is a lot to be learned and that He wants to teach you. You can learn something from every meeting you go to. So please, go with a prayer in your heart.

Have a great day!

Sister Jenkins

The Errand of Angels: Week 45 All Children of God

Hello Everyone!!

My brother and his wife welcomed a new baby into the world this week, Brandt Jenkins. I know that families can be sealed for time and all eternity! He is so sweet.

So, this week was awesome! We worked so hard and had so many tender mercies!! We also had so many... odd... situations. It has been a growing week and one to definitely look back at and laugh at.

Funny of the Week: Well, this week their were a ton! But I will share a simple one... Sister Fox and I were hooking up our bikes to a stop sign and she smacked her head right into the sign. Luckily, she had a helmet on, so it bounced right off. Sadly, this happens to us quite a bit. I am SO grateful for helmets. Except, I also hit my head a good once a week on the car door. Haha. Maybe I should wear a helmet driving...

Highlights of the Week: So MANY!! We met with multiple less actives who were marked by previous missionaries as "not interested" or that they just simply couldn't get in contact with. It's amazing what a simple call or an inspired stop by can do. Many of these less actives are ready to come back. One less active that previously wouldn't let us in, is now coming to church every week with other members, has stopped drinking coffee, and is meeting with us weekly. Its a huge blessing!

We also were blessed with five new investigators! We have a beautiful new family that we are teaching. They have two sons and are loving the lessons. We taught about prayer last week with the Restoration and they were ready to start doing.

We have another two new investigators who are anything but what someone might say is the ideal investigator. They have tattoos, piercings, gauges, dreadlocks... you name it. We found them while visiting a referral. We started talking with them and they loved how friendly we were. They wanted to learn more. They know God has put us in their life. It's been an interesting process with them, but what I have to do is remember to view them in white, because that is their potential and how God views them. It has been so sweet.

Lastly, we have an AMAZING new investigator who was given to us by other missionaries. She is so very much prepared and has been taught so much. The only thing holding her back from baptism right now is smoking, which I have learned, can be a very difficult thing to stop. She wants to though. She is so solid. She basically shouts to the world (not joking) every time we see her that this is Christ's true church, that The Book of Mormon is true, that church blesses your life, that God loves us, that Christ is our Savior... you name it, she shouts it! It is beautiful. She tells all her friends how happy this gospel makes her. She is so awesome.

Another highlight of this week was going with a member family to their neighbors' homes and inviting them to an activity. Some of them are really getting excited about missionary work and realizing that it isn't so scary.

We had an investigator show up at church! We hadn't been able to setup an appointment with him for a couple weeks, but had dropped by and seen him a couple times. He just showed up and it was great. He has some friends in the ward, which is nice.

We met a great potential investigator yesterday that had so many questions for us... it really made me think. We tried to go by the Spirit, and she loved it... we really try to keep lessons to 45 minutes or less, but she just kept talking and asking for almost double that. In all that time, one of the most powerful parts were Sister Fox's and my stories about deciding to go on a mission. She said God was speaking to her in that moment and answering some of her prayers. She wants 30 days to read and study before we meet again, but is okay with us keeping close contact before then. It will be interesting to see what happens with this. I know God leads us to where we need to be and who we need to talk to. She also said I was a "beam of light." She knew that I really believed what I was sharing was true and that I LOVED it. She said that multiple times. It is true. I love Heavenly Father, I love Jesus Christ, I know this message is true. I want to shout it to the world, just like our investigator.

Thought of the Week:I had a great reminder of how important it is to stand in holy places. We had a situation where we chose to leave a situation this week. I firmly know that the adversary is working his hardest on missionaries. It is so important to always be careful to stand in holy places. Many things I see almost daily have never been temptations of mine, but I also know that I need to protect myself and stand in holy places. Luckily as we live worthy of the Holy Ghost, He guides us to know where to go, what to do, and what to say. He will protect us from danger as needed, but we also need to heed His warnings. We want to stay as far away from the line as we can and be facing God in order to stay away from being sucked down to the "gulf of misery and endless woe." (Helaman 5:12) http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/hel/5.12

Invitation of the Week: This week Sister Fox and I taught a lesson about laying down our "weapons of rebellion." Alma 23:7 says:

"For they became a righteous people; they did lay down the weapons of their rebellion, that they did not fight against God any more, neither against any of their brethren."

We decided on our own weapons of rebellion to lay down and never again take up. Will you do the same this week?

Keep up the great work!

Sister Jenkins

The Errand of Angels: Week 44: From the Windows of Heaven

Hi Everyone!

This was a great week filled with tons of tender mercies of the Lord:

I finished The Book of Mormon again. I love this book and know it to be true!! I love studying from it every day!

Had a Mormon.org referral to a motel. We got out of the car and a lady stuck out to me. I was going to talk with her then, but decided to just go to the door first. We went to do the door. No one home. We went straight to talk with the lady. When we approached she asked, "are you looking for me?" Yup, it was our referral. She had gotten kicked out the motel that day. It was a huge tender mercy of the Lord and I am so grateful that Sister Fox and I strive to talk to everyone. She had requested a Book of Mormon. Again, before we could say anything, she asked, "Do you have a Book of Mormon?" We got one out and she just held it. She was so grateful because she had lost hers. She says that it is the only way she gets through. We were then able to have a lesson with her at Subway and buy her a sandwich. She was abused and we were blessed to have information in the car on a abused women's shelter. Huge tender mercy.

We have gotten in contact with so many less actives this week. One right after another and many of them have setup appointments. One woman asked fro a Priesthood blessing. She received it and was just crying. She felt God's love so much. She decided to come to church. And she came... all three hours! And participated. We are going to be teaching her every week. What a tender mercy.

Last night we came home with an extra 20 or so minutes before 9:00, because we didn't want to be in late. We went inside and then came back out to get the GPS to charge (car charger is struggling). Heavenly Father put someone in our path at our apartment complex who was VERY prepared to hear the gospel. We had seen him walking before and always waved and said hi. He came up and talked to us and asked us what we do. We were able to get to know him, have a quick lesson, gave him a Book of Mormon, and offer a peace and blessing prayer right there in our parking lot. Tender mercy. 

We had a lesson with one of our new investigators. She was so excited to have her mom join. She asked if we had a Book of Mormon for her mom. She then highlighted scriptures during the lesson and her mom followed suit. What a great example! Tender mercy.

We decided to bake brownies this week, heart attack people's doors, and really try to do service. This softened hearts and there were lots of teaching opportunities because of this. We are so grateful people like service and chocolate! Tender mercy!

This week we used General Conference notes in many of our lessons. We were so blessed to have some lessons where the Spirit was really there and taught the person what they needed to know. It was beautiful working in unity together as a companionship and with the Spirit. Such a tender mercy.

We had perfect timing with seeing so many people this week. I am just so grateful to be apart of this work. It is truly God's. He will support His missionaries, especially as they are striving for excellence.

I know both the Book of Mormon and the Bible are true :)

I love being a missionary. I absolutely love it. I have so much yet to do and learn until I go home, but I am so exceptionally excited for the process of learning and doing.

Have a wonderful day!!

Sister Jenkins

The Errand of Angels: Week 43 Always be Prepared

Hello Everyone!

I am grateful for all of you. I am grateful to be here on a mission. To hear from modern prophets and apostles over the weekend. And most especially, I am grateful for my family.

I am eternally grateful to Heavenly Father for the blessing we have of being an eternal family. I hope each of you realize the significance of that and strive every day to live up to your covenants to be worthy of that gift or strive to be worthy every day to make those covenants and receive those blessings.

Funny of the week: Well, I didn't share one from last week. We were outside a member's house, dropping her off from teaching with us. There was a cute, green froggie on the grill of our car. I went to grab it and it jumped on my skirt (score! the frog made my life so much easier). I caught it and was holding it. I wanted to show the member (she is a sweet, older woman). I opened my hands just the slightest and the frog jumped right onto my mouth and then jumped away. Yup, I got kissed by a frog. He didn't turn into a prince though. I think its because I still have 8 more months on my mission :)

Weekly Highlights: 

Monday: We were contacting a referral. Initially she had the attitude of "who are you? why are you here? and I'm not interested." Then we just kept on talking, trying to find a common interest. She shared that she the only way she uses the Church is for family history. The conversation then turned from really negative to really positive. She still wasn't interested in Christ's message (it's not ours, its His) when we left, but it was on a bright note.

Tuesday: Missionaries in an old area contacted about getting an address for someone. I couldn't find it anywhere. I prayed, and it was found. I am so grateful for prayer!! Also, we called a bunch of less active members that we previously have had a hard time getting in contact with and all but one answered. We were able to set up appointments and do service from those calls. It was great and such a blessing!

Wednesday: One of our investigators set a baptismal date! We had the lesson on the grass by an intersection. Regardless of the distractions, the Spirit was very strong.

Thursday: Sister Sliger went home today for medical reasons. She will be very, very, very much missed. She was a great missionary and it was such a blessing to serve with her. I am grateful that all worked out with her plane flight and she made it home safely. 

A less active who is very illiterate is now reading The Book of Mormon with the easy reader. Had a great lesson about spiritual fortifications in Alma 50 and in vs. 1 was reminded and assured that after every challenge, discouragement, trial, etc. you can't take a break, you must always be preparing.

Friday: Was able to do service for a wonderful less active. The Relief Society helped as well and she let us share a message with her.

Saturday: Did a peace and blessings prayer with an investigator of another set up of missionaries (long story, lives in our area, but because of family, they teach her). The Spirit touched her very much and she cried. She then had her friend come meet us and set up an appointment for all of us to have a lesson and gave her a copy of The Book of Mormon - her friend saw her joy and was so excited! (Members, take note of this beautiful example of someone who truly knows the blessings this gospel can bring to other's lives).

Sunday: We met with a family that was a referral. They were so receptive and we were able to do peace and blessings with them. I am so excited to teach them. Also, we had a less active family that came and watched conference. I was so grateful for their sacrifice regardless of mid-terms, work, and other things going on. 

Weekly Spiritual Insights:

I was really touched by eternal families this week. Between conference sessions I was able to watch families share their experiences about preparing to go to the temple and be sealed together for time and all eternity. I was so grateful for members of my own family to have taken the steps to also do that this week. Every effort and hard work is worth it to get sealed for time and all eternity. And every effort and hard work is worth it to stay worthy of those covenants and that sealing power. I testify to you that God lives, Jesus is our Savior, that the power and authority of God is again on earth today in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and that power is the only power that can bind families together for the eternities. Temples covenants are essential. I know the gospel of Jesus Christ is truly here to bless families. I am here serving a mission so I can bring that joy and happiness to others. I care for their eternal happiness. I know that happiness can be found on earth and in the eternities through the gospel of Jesus Christ and following Him. Please never be deceived to think that true happiness comes from sin or the things of the world, it does not.

General Conference was amazing and so profound. If you have not taken the time to watch it, please, please do so. You can watch it at http://www.lds.org/general-conference?lang=eng

Invitation:

1. During General Conference, there was a great focus on missionary work and the responsibility of every, single member of the Church to do it. Elder M. Russell Ballard invited every member to reach out to 1 person between now and Christmas and to invite them, share the gospel with them, ask them to meet with the missionaries. He promised that if this was done, MILLIONS would be brought in. I extend that challenge to you. Start NOW. You will be blessed and guided. Pray for the opportunities and they will come.

2. Something that our companionship sometimes does is say a. I love you because.... b. I learned today.... and c. I am willing to.... Will you try this practice in your own family this week. Maybe as part of FHE.

Keep up the wonderful work!! Each of you are so great and I am so happy to have you in my life!

Have a great week!

Sister Jenkins

The Errand of Angels: Week 42 Spiritual High

Hello Everyone!

I hope that you are all well! I have had a very great week with many huge spiritual highs... I find that when the toughest times come that it is always a great opportunity to grow spiritually!

My Companionship

 I have gained a greater testimony of eternal families and the importance of temples because of family events this week and have had the opportunity to share my testimony many times this week. Thank you!

Funny of the week: Well, got to hold a snake this week! One of my companions about died watching it slither up my face. 

Weekly Highlights (Switching Order): I wanted to do something different this week and do "A week in the life," with some of my highlights from each day this week. These are the miracles I have seen:

Monday: Saw Matt (an investigator who wasn't getting back to us) at the store. He set up an appointment and told us why he had distanced himself.

We got permission to play laser tag

Tuesday: Was having a lesson with the non-member wife of a less-active member. The husband had previously chosen to not join our lessons. He joined as we were talking about the Restoration, and gave a strong testimony to her. She is a super solid investigator anyways and is already sharing the gospel with her family and prepping names for the temple. It was great! She invited him to watch General Conference with her :) Powerful to have both of them sharing their testimonies and uplifting each other.

Wednesday: Had an excellent zone conference with Elder Teh (from the Quorum of the 70). Went fasting and praying and seeking inspiration.... received tons!! Also, met with a less active who isn't ready to come back to church, but is allowing her young daughter to come :)

Thursday:  Had a great lesson with Matt and our fellowshipper. He has taken a challenge to read The Book of Mormon for 8-minutes every day for the next 8 -days to help him find out its true. And to pray each day about it. 

Friday: Got a referral from Mormon.org, Robert. He was so receptive! He became a new investigator and wants to be baptized. We were truly blessed! Also, had a lesson with a less active, part-member family who has previously been really hard to setup appointments with. The lesson was great and almost the entire family participated. Found another new investigator while walking to our car after the lesson. I was able to push aside fear and go up and talk with her. She is great!

Saturday: We had time to contact a less active that I have wanted to visit. She lives in a gated community, and her number isn't on the gate to call. We also didn't have her phone number. We went there. The gate was closed. We prayed. Three cars came driving up through the gate. We were able to go in. She was home and  her children had just laid down for naps. We were able to get her phone number and share a powerful message with her. Also, we had the opportunity to meet her husband. Also, saw the mother of a less active that we visited on Friday. She said it was a miracle her daughter has been so receptive to us. Wow, guess we just took that for granted. Such a blessing!

Sunday: Received four referrals from ward members (unheard of for our area!!). I realized that this was something I included in my fast for that day. Plus, it was something that one of my companions had been promised in a priesthood blessing. Also, one of our investigators came to church!! (Two weeks in a row!!). And there was a powerful lesson that helped our companionship in things we were struggling with.

Other blessings throughout the whole week have been that many people have opened up to us about their concerns and have been open to us sharing them. It has been one miracle after another after another.

Weekly Spiritual Insights: It has been a powerful week for insights! Here are a couple:

From Zone Conference:

- What lenses are you wearing? (As you change type of glasses lenses you can see differently... as we change our perspective on situations it can change how we see and the blessings we notice... and our attitude!)

-Get out of the PNC! (Popular 'N Comfortable Flow) and stay in the Excellence Flow (comparing to Finding Nemo... with the EAC and how those in the current really didn't need to work very hard to move forward)

Relief Society Broadcast: (http://www.lds.org/broadcasts/archive/general-relief-society-meeting/2013/09?cid=HPTH091213087&lang=eng)

-Point out all the beauties along the path (find joy in the journey)

-It is important to wait and walk with "the one"... help them along the path and walk with them

-Study and renew baptismal covenants

Church: (http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2008/10/lift-where-you-stand?lang=eng)

-Lift where you stand

-Love is spelled T-I-M-E

-"Make us one, that our burdens may be light"

-Become everyone's best friend

-Stay together with your companion (not just in sight and hearing, but emotionally, spiritually, mentally, with them)

Invitation:

1. Really listen to the words of the sacrament prayer and renew baptismal covenants (Mosiah 18:8-10 http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/mosiah/18.8-10?lang=eng)

2. Prepare for General Conference this weekend by praying about a question or concern that you have, fasting if you feel like you need to, and then opening your heart and mind to the answer this weekend. This is an opportunity to hear from living prophets and apostles!

You are so great!! Have a wonderful week!! Stand as a disciple of Christ this week!!

Sister Jenkins