Bye Bye Bora Bora

Elder Jenkins has returned to Tahiti.  I took a plane this morning and ohhh that was hard to say goodbye.  Bora will always have a piece of my heart.  This week we had so much fun with our amis, cause I knew I was gonna get transferred. So we didn't waste any time!  

I'm gonna miss all the people so much!  Some of the nicest folks in the world.  

Now I'm in Mahina at Tahiti, The Papenoo ward!  I'm super stoked.  I'm serving with Elder Sorenson from Logan Utah, he's been out for nine months.  Its gonna be awesome.

I'll let you all know how its going next week!  But it looks like were gonna have some awesome fun here.  Also I have a car!! First time on the mission. 

all the loves

Elder Jenkins

Bora Bora

Some pictures that a nice Tahitian lady sent to Mom:)

dengue it! - Bora Bora

I got sick haha. I believe it is le dengue. I dunno how you say that in English,
all I know is that it hurts.  

In other news, this week we did splits and I took Elder Tetuaraa into our sector.
He thought it was great cause he got to be on bike.  Normally he's in a car.
So he just did lots of wheelies.  Tahitians are very good at wheelies.  

We had a fun day of work and then the evening some members took us
to the hotel to eat!  So fancy!  

Something hard I've had to realize on the mission is that sometimes, some people
just need a little more time to fully accept the gospel.  Even if you give all you
can towards someone, sometimes you just gotta let God take the wheel and wait
it out.  For example, a family I taught in Tahaa over a year ago just got baptized
last saturday!  But I know that by our prayers and our fasts and our faith, God will
work miracles in our lives, and in the lives of the people we love. 

I love you guys!

Elder Jenkins

Great Week - Bora Bora

We went to the motu! (little paradise island)  It was so fun.  It was for a priesthood activity.  We did games, ate tahitian food, and hung out with the awesome people.  While we were there, we found a house.  And in this house lives one of our old amis Vai'a!  She had moved out of our sector which was a bummer, and had apparently been living on the motu! So we decided to take the opportunity to teach her and her boyfriend with the mission councilor and the area seventy who were also present.  Such a fun experience.  It's cool to see how God helps everything come together so nicely.  

Heavenly Father really does have a plan for all of us.  Jesus traced the path which leads us to happiness, and I believe that God has individual paths for each one of us.  He loves us so so much, He gives us the best chance to succeed.  Even if we don't see it, we just gotta trust Him.  

I love giving blessings.  I know that the priesthood is the power of God, and it is used to bless the lives of His children.  Don't be afraid to ask for a priesthood blessing if you're ever in need of healing and comfort.

ATL

Elder Jenkins

BONJOUR

This week was awful.  Just kidding, it was great!

We taught a lesson in English!  So cool so we had a bit of time free and so we went up some private neighborhood even though normally thats not usually the best idea but something told us to go.  Then at the first house we yelled at (yes we dont knock on doors in this mission we scream at them) a lady who looked french came out with her baby and said she was busy but that we could pass another day.  So two days later we go to her house again and she says "Hi". And so we ask her if she speaks english and she said yes.  So we were pretty stoked but then as she opened the gate she says, and I quote "I will give you exactly ten minutes of my time.  Then I have other things to do." Needless to say we were very scared.  Then she kindly grabs us some water, sits us down on her porch and starts asking some really good questions!  She is from New Zealand.  We talked about prayer, faith, missions, families, and so many great gospel subjects, and when we finally looked at the time, we had been there for 50 mins!! She started talking to her baby and said "when they showed up mommy didn't want to let them in! And now mommy doesn't want them to leave!" SO AWESOME!!!  It's so interesting that she liked our discussion so much cause she had very little interest when we showed up at her house.  The gospel is there, ready to bless our lives as soon as we are ready to let it through our door. GIVE IT A CHANCE! 

I've been realizing a lot this week that we should never judge people.  About anything.  Their life, habits, addictions, attitude, appearance, etc.  Cause without fail there is a reason that that person does the things they do.  And usually it's because they've had some hard trials.  So, we should try to be more like Jesus by not condemning our brothers and sisters that make disagreeable choices, but by loving them even more. Hate the sin, love the sinner.  

Also, another baptism this week!  Yay!

ALL THE LOVES!

Elder Jenkins

Le Pieu de Bora Bora!!

Iaorana! 

This week was wonderful!  We had some fun, worked, biked, loved, lived, studied, taught, and life is good :)

So this week the stake of bora bora was created! So awesome! Its combined from three islands.  Maupiti, bora, and Tahaa- where I served a year ago!! Its cool cause back in Tahaa they were telling us to work hard so the stake could be created.  And now its finally happened!  

There was an awesome dance/ talent show friday, a fireside saturday and the stake creation sunday. And since our chapel is too small it all happened under a giant tent in downtown bora!

Our ami Veena got to bare testimony at the fireside and it was so awesome! I feel like I'm her parent and am just so proud seeing her up on the stand for the first time!  

Spiritual thought!  God's work is moving and we are all invited to be a part of it.  The GA who came down from SL explained that even if we live in paradise, we still need to work.  I know that Jesus Christ lives and that he is accomplishing miracles through humble people every day.  If we pray and ask to be a part of His work He will make us into what He needs us to be.  

We hiked up into the mountain to see if anyone lived up some creepy dark trail and at the top we found some ancient sacrificing grounds and our buddy Teiva showed us their "taro" farm.  Taro is super yummy.  Its like a purple or green potato that is sweet.

I'm sorry I don't take more pictures! 

Another week in Bora

This week was gr8!  Wow aren’t I clever.  

We had a marriage this week for some of our amis! So fun. Marriage is such a great thing.  Helping families be happy forever since forever ago. 

We went on a hike to see cannons today! Neat!

I had a cool experience during a split this week. We saw a canadian tourist couple while walking to our faatamaaraa (dinner) and we introduced ourselves and the wife started getting mad. She went off a little bit about polygamy and asked us why that's acceptable and how many wives we were planning on having hahaha! But we were able to answer her questions, teaching a little about the restoration and she ended up apologizing and it was nice. But I kept thinking about them for some reason cause I didn't give them any engagement haha so I prayed to run into them again. Then the next day we were at the marriage of our amis and lo and behold we see the couple in a nearby shop!  And so I gave them a pass along card and explained a little more and I hope they'll find the missionaries one day in canada! @jopetejp

Transfers are next week, we'll see if I stay in bora.  

ALL THE LOVES!

Moses supposes his toeses are roses

We were sad to hear the news that we couldn't wear flip flops anymore, especially when I have an injured toe (that refuses to heal) but were then pleased to hear that Jesus sandals are still okay hahaha.  Apparently it's because our mission presidents wife just loves how missionaries look in Jesus sandals hahaha!  The Fox's are great people.

This week was cool, not a whole ton of news.  I'm starting to feel the reality of going home in a few months but I won't let it get to me!  I am going to miss Polynesia so much. 

I really just want to help our investigators make a change in their lives.  They've already made so much progress but sometimes life is difficult.  PRAY FOR THESE PEOPLE I LOVE THEM SO MUCH!

Things at Bora are great.  It's pretty strange to be living with only Americans, in fact all 6 of the elders on Bora are from the US.  In some ways it's fun but I do miss the french/ tahitian/ mauri etc influences. 

I know I say it like every week, but man am I grateful for the Savior and His Gospel.  It just makes everyone so happy.  I wish I was a better person/ missionary, and I still have so so many faults and things I need to work on but I know that thanks to repentance and faith I can keep getting better.  That's the beauty of the Gospel.  We can leave behind us ALL of our stupid mistakes and bad qualities and life just gets better and better.  And if we mess up, WE CAN TRY AGAIN!!  God will never give up on us.  Just keep trying and I promise things work out.  It's usually after our biggest trials that the biggest blessings come rushing around the corner.

I love all you guys so much and I can't wait to see you all.  Sometimes I think about how great it will be to see you and give you all a big hug.  And then I remember I need to get back to work haha.

ALL THE LOVES!!

Elder Jenkins

HAPPY EASTER AND CONFERENCE

This week was so so great.

The work is amazing out here in bora bora and everyone is so cool! Seriously such good friends everywhere you go.

Conference was crazy!!!! So many changes happening. I am in favor of all.  This just shows even more that Christ really is running this church and He isn't sleeping! He's working day and night to help us find joy!

I loved so many talks from conference.  Uchtdorfs might be my favorite.  The prophet talked a lot about how we NEED to learn how to receive personal revelation from the holy ghost or the world will take us where we dont want to go.  I am so grateful for the spirit and the gospel principals which help me make the best decisions. 

Something that really touched me was the phrase "there is no one more on our side than Jesus Christ"  It is true that He will judge us at the last day but He is rooting for us even more than we are to make it!! Its hard to understand the Saviors love, but He sure loves us.  And I love and am grateful for Him. 

Everyone go watch the because of Him video

Easter is such a wonderful time to remember why we are here and what God needs us to do.  LOVE OTHERS!!! There is nothing more important than loving others like Christ did.  "Judge not, that ye be not judged"  "love thy neighbor as thyself"  "love those who hate you".  the teachings of Jesus are truly unparalleled.

ALL THE LOVES

Elder Jenkins

tour de l'isle - Bora Bora

iaorana tatou!

I love Bora so so much.  It is so pretty!  We did a tour de l'isle (biked around the island) and it was so fun! except one of our colleagues got a flat tire haha so I took a nap on the grass next to the ocean.  My mission is so hard.

We never get to use technology but one family that I love has an iPad and we showed them a few videos of the church on it and it was so great.  I miss videos! We watched the because of Him video and I tear up literally every single time.  IL VIT!

We had one investigator who was having relationship problems and we aren't really ordained to talk about that stuff but we do talk about Christ. So we read together in 3 Nephi 12 and Jesus teaches us how to have a good happy wholesome relationship. I love the book of Mormon.  I dont read it enough.  IT IS TRUE!!  Following the teachings of Jesus Christ is the number 1 way to be happy.  My mission has shown me that so clearly. I am so grateful for the church and gospel.  I am grateful for my Heavenly Father who loves me and I know that if I follow Him everything will work out fine.  Every trial has a blessing at the end.  STAY FAITHFUL!

All the loves

Elder Jenkins

5 months - Bora Bora

No group email from Elder Ethan this week, but here are some bits from my letter:

So emails are on an iPad so idk how to do this help. I am good and am with elder Irvine who went to Alta.

I miss you guys all so much! It’s weird. Home seems so close. Like I can totally imagine going to Owens play. I have 5 months what the heck. 

We baptisés a kid Saturday and there was a rainbow yay.  We have so much work. We teach like at least 5 lessons a day. Wednesday we have 8. There is no breathe time. A bunch of Mormons from Provo came to church and after they saw us on our bikes and cheered us on and I felt so famous. 

I love you!  Elder Ethan

transfers!!! - Bora Bora

This week was so great!! I seriously love all these people so much.  It's so fun once you become real friends with your investigators and all the members it just feels like you have a giant tahitian family.  

Im staying in my wonderful ward of Faanui but my comp is leaving to the sector next door.  My new comp arrives wednesday.

We were supposed to do a hike today but Im sick and that is fiu. 

We had an awesome activity with the ward and played volleyball and footsal and it was great.  

I love missions because by teaching the gospel it allows you to understand the gospel so much deeper.    I love teaching repentance because repentance is great hahaha.  Alma 34 32.  

I love you all!!!  Have a great week!!

Elder Jenkins

hi! - Bora Bora

Im sorry literally no time cause we have family night

now!

I LOVE YOU ALL THE CHURCH IS TRUE!

Elder Jenkins

SICK DUDE! - Bora Bora

Everyone got sick this week. BUT NOT ME WOOHOO!!!

BUT four out of the six elders were out for several days so I got to do lots of splits and go in the car!! Man I LOVE THE CAR!  So less tiring than les bicyclettes.  

We did a hike today!  It's finally good weather yay!!  

Spiritual thought!!! I invite you all to be very grateful in your prayers and to pray lots for other people.  I have found that I am happiest when I pray often, say thanks more than please, and focus my blessings on those who need them. Prayers are so neat!  #alldayeveryday

All the loves

Elder Jenkins

- Bora Bora

RAIN CAN'T STOP ME

Bora Baby

Hike with Moearii! (feat. Elder Ward)

Rain! - Bora Bora

Good thing I like rain because wowzers.  E UA! (its raining)

The work is good.  Life is good.  Not much news this week.  

Spiritually, life is awesome.  The older I get out here the happier I seem to be.  Because I realize more and more every day that I am a child of God and that thinking of and loving others makes you happy. 

all the loves

Elder Jenkins

Rain rain go away - Bora Bora

So ever since my new comp showed up it's rained every day.  Which makes things difficult when we have to hike mountains through mud in flip flops to get to our lessons haha.

We've been going non stop on finding and teaching and the Lord is blessing us so much! I seriously love this work so much.  

You are all children of a Heavenly Father and you all have an amazing potential! Have faith in Christ and believe in yourself and you can accomplish great things.  God wants us to multiply our talents so that we can bless others. So go learn something new this week and then use that new talent to do something nice for someone you know.  

I LOVE YOU ALL!

Elder Jenkins