hope! - Papeete

Hello family!

This week was pretty alright haha! I was sick and woke up one morning to my neck cracking and then I couldn't move it so that was fun.  But it's all good now!

We went to TWO marriages this week! I had only been to like one of those in my whole pre mission life!  And then two in a week! Neato batman! One of the guys getting married is getting baptized this week woohoo!

Sometimes I feel super discouraged cause I'm not perfect.  I watched the Thomas S Monson movie and that's what started my guilt cause that man has only done service and good things I highly recommend everyone watch it. BUT!  I was comforted by 2 Nephi 31:20.  One of the only times Heavenly Father himself talks to us in the scriptures and it's so warm and happy feeling.  THERE IS HOPE! Read it and ponder :)

I love you all!!

Elder Jenkins

MIRACLES! - Papeete

This week was so cool!

We continue to have a great time sweatin in up in the tropics, teaching our brothas and sistas of the islands, and the Lord just keeps blessing us!

The miracle I would like to share this week is about one of our our amis.  So we found him because he is the brother of a lady in the ward and somehow has never taken missionary lessons.  He works at a little island hotel, and has to leave for three weeks at a time, then comes back for a week.  So it's pretty brutal to get a hold of him. But when we found him, God let the ocean be a little too rough for the boat to go back to the hotel/island, so we got to have him for about 2 weeks to teach him the restored gospel.  And we invited him to stop smoking.

Then he went back to work and we weren't expecting to hear from him for another 3/4 weeks. 

BUT THEN he came back way sooner than we thought and we kept teaching him and invited him to church.  

We wanted to fix a date for him to be baptized, but we didn't know how that was possible with his crazy work, since the dates for the boat kept changing.  And for about 2 weeks, when he should've gone back, he stayed!  

So last Friday we had the revelation.  We think God is keeping him on Tahiti cause he needs to be baptized NOW!

So saturday morning we go to his house as a surprise visit. We chatted a little about the gospel and how much joy we feel from the forgiveness of sins.  

Then we asked him "Will you be baptized today."

He paused, a little shocked, then smiled and said "oui".  

WOOHOO!!!!  I was so happy I almost cried. 

Sooo we hurried up and filled the baptismal font and he was baptized later that day and now is clean and so happy and has the Holy Ghost with him and has stopped smoking.

I am just so grateful for this mission! to be able to see the changes in the lives of people that I love so much and how much joy the gospel brings them!  

I know this church is true and it is run by Jesus Christ.  He prepares the way, we just have to follow.  Be confident and never be scared to invite or make the right choice.  CAUSE HEAVENLY FATHER WILL BLESS YOU!!!

All the loves

Elder Jenkins

life is great

This week was great!  Every week is great.  I love my mission and I love this gospel!

Not a lot of time this week, but just know that God really is there and He loves you.  He will never give up on you, even if we sometimes give up on Him.  Jesus is our Savior and by following Him we may have joy.  So go follow Jesus and be happy!

ATLELDERJENKINS

transfers! - Papeete

Transfers this week! I said goodbye to Elder Coxhead my new zealand son, and I am now with Elder Opuu from Tahiti! And now I only live with 1 other american so hopefully we'll be speaking a lot more French!

The Gospel makes us happier than anything else in life and that is a fact.  And the gospel revolves around Christ.  And Christ's character is one that is never selfish.  I invite you all to think only of others this week.  Pray for them, do nice things for them.  And you will see great changes in your life.

ATL

Elder Jenkins