WEEK 67 - November 27, 2017 (Laoag, Philippines)

Hello Everybody,

Well everybody here was a little sad earlier because Miss Philippines didn't make the top 5 in the Miss Universe Pageant. We were getting haircuts and everybody seemed to be pretty focused on the TV. As well as the guy cutting my hair... so the haircut didn't turn out too well. Good thing Miss USA didn't take the 5th spot or the barber probably would've taken it out on me. The good news is Elder Basa didn't get transferred!! haha We couldn't believe it. He has been here as AP for 9 months, and now he will finish his mission here with us, so we are real excited about that. It will be a fun Christmas!

APs and Office Elders with President & Sister Andrada

So this last week was a really busy one. As you know, on Monday we traveled to Cagayan and had Zone conference. Then on Thursday and Friday we had the other two Zone conferences to finish off the cycle. On Thursday, President helped us celebrate Thanksgiving by taking us out to dinner. Unfortunately, there was no turkey, stuffing, or any of Grandma's famous Ham Sauce. But we did enjoy a nice meal. President really helped us enjoy the week by taking us out to dinner plenty of times. So we are very thankful for that.

Back in one of his old areas for Zone Conference.

with Elder Wineberg (MTC companion) and 

Elder Mortenson (in the MTC together & friend from Alpine, UT)

So we have something coming up next week that we are really excited for. We will be putting up a stage at Centro Plaza of Laoag and be putting on a "Light the World" program. Us missionaries will be performing some songs, the Mayor will be giving a speech, its gonna be a good time, and a really good missionary opportunity. At one of the zone conferences last week,  the office elders and us APs sang a nice little song, so we were asked to prepare a song for this event on Dec. 5th. It's gonna happen in Centro Laoag, so there should be a lot of people. As for the people we have been teaching, they are still doing well. We weren't able to really work at all this last week, so we are in need of a nice week of work. But they are still reading the Book of Mormon, and as long as that is happening, they will progress. 

The other day I realized and felt something that hopefully I can remember all the time throughout my life and that is the satisfying, happy feeling of being obedient to the Lord. Everything seems to work out better when we are simply obedient to His commandment and as we try to obey His words as well as the counsel of the Brethren. By doing so we can feel a satisfying feeling that we are doing the right thing and doing what the Lord wants. 

Sorry this isn't the best email. We were busy with transfer stuff earlier today and then it took me 20 minutes to log onto my email. Love you all, talk to ya next week!

-Elder Jenkins

WEEK 66 - November 22, 2017 (Laoag, Philippines)

Hello Everybody!

Another full, busy week down! Hopefully you are getting used to me sometimes writing on Monday, sometimes on Wednesday. So much business. This last week was a busy one, but it gets busier and crazier next week!

This last week we had 2 more sets of exchanges with some Zone Leaders, so we got a lot of work done again in our area. Our work paid off on Sunday when 9 investigators came to church again. The Ward is really getting excited about the missionary work because of all these new investigators that are coming to church. All the Auxiliary leaders are getting involved in teaching and fellowshipping these people, and because of them, we are having success. On Saturday we had the Baptism of Len Len! She has been an investigator for a long time now, so we were excited for her.

The Alejandro family is still progressing real well. They came to church on Sunday again for all 3 hours. The husband wasn't able to make it because if he went, he probably would have got fired from his job. He just started as a Tricycle driver, so he needs to be driving for a certain amount of days before he can go absent. But they both want them and their family to get baptized this December. One of the families that we have been teaching for about 4 months now finally came to church for the first time! We were so excited and they were real happy to finally make it. So we have two progressing families right now that we are working with. The work is going good. 

On Monday morning, we hit the road once again and headed out to Aparri for the Cagayan Zone Conference. We got there and the weather was niceee. Wasn't too hot and was nice and windy. Made me miss working in Aparri a bit haha. We did have time to stop by the house of one of my old investigators. They couldn't believe it when they saw me. They were screaming and laughing saying they thought that I went home. Was a fun quick reunion. The Zone Conference went good. We gave our training well and then got to hear a lot from President about what they talked about at their Mission President Seminar last week. Weird to think this was my 3rd time driving out for the Cagayan Zone Con. Time is going fast. 

So we have started our preparation for this Christmas here in Laoag. Like last time, we will have a fun day of activities and Christmas "Party" with the whole mission and then the next day we will have our Mission Conference. While preparing, we got to see this years "Light the World" video. I was touched by this video. Many times in the video, it shows Christ reaching His arm out to other sand helping them up off the ground. As I watched this, I realized that I want to try harder to be more Christlike by helping and lifting others up. Not only the people I am teaching, but my fellow missionaries here in the mission.  As I have been trying to do this, I have really gotten into the Christmas spirit of service to others. My parents have always told me since I was a little boy that giving gifts is a lot better that receiving them. And it is so true. Lifting others up and helping them feels a lot better than opening up any gift. Service to others and reflecting on the life that Christ lived, and what He did really changes the way you look at Christmas. I am so grateful for the gift that Christ gives to all of us, and so grateful for the example he set for all! I know, it's a little early for a Christmas testimony, but I guess I'm just a bit excited for this Christmas.

Love you all so much! Talk to ya next week.

-Elder Jenkins

Light the World link (this is from 2017... 2018 will be release the day after Thanksgiving... unless you are serving in the Philippines & get a sneak peak):  

https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/light-the-world-25-days-of-service?lang=eng 

WEEK 65 - November 13, 2017 (Laoag, Philippines)

Hello Everybody,

Well, it has only been 4 days since the last time I wrote, so I don't have too much to update you all on. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday we were able to focus full on the work in our area which was nice. It really seems right now that things are going really, really good in our area. We have tons of progressing investigators and have been experiencing a lot of success in the work. Yesterday we had 9 investigators attend Sacrament Meeting. One of them is named Len Len, she will be baptized this Saturday. We are really looking forward to December and baptizing a lot right before Christmas. 

The Family that we have been teaching came to church again last week. Actually a really cool experience. Last Sunday, E.Holmes, Basa and I fasted together for that family, because the thing that was keeping them from getting baptized is that they are not yet married. After we fasted for them, we went to teach them at their house. They then opened up to us and told us that the reason they haven't gotten married yet is because Mhylez (wife) was married before to a different person. And here in the Philippines it costs a ton in order to get your marriage annulled, so her and her current husband haven't been able to get married yet because they don't have that kind of money. Her and her current "husband" have been together for 9 years now. We found out that in a special case like that, they don't need to get married before baptism. They were so happy when they heard that and said they want to be baptized on Dec 9. So they and their kids are progressing real well.

Everything has really just been working out in our work. We have found a few people that told us they want to go to church before we are even able to teach them. One lady was just touched by our testimony about the Plan of Salvation when we opened our mouth and talked to her. The Lord is giving us such success. We are so grateful. 

So this next week is going to be really really busy. We will be driving out to Cagayan on Monday, having Zone Conference on Tuesday, and driving back Tuesday night. Hopefully on Wednesday I will have a few minutes to email you, but that will also be our only opportunity to work in our area because Thursday we have a Zone Conference in Batac and Vigan, and then Friday we have  the Laoag Zone Conference. Saturday we have Stake Conference and then transfer texts that night.  So if I don't get to email, just know that that's why haha.  

Love you all, have a great week! :)

Elder Jenkins

-don't have any pics for you this week sorry :(  I'll take some this week!

WEEK 64 - November 10, 2017 (Laoag, Philippines)

Hello Everybody!!

Well after a couple rainy days over the weekend, I was hoping it would start to cool down and the Philippines "winter" would kick in. But, that didn't happen and it has been blazing hot these past couple days. So I'm just sweating more and getting skinnier haha, but I'm lovin' life!

wishing for "winter" weather

So to update you on what happened on Nov 1, I actually still don't know what happened. All I know is that everybody was at the Cemetery, and I mean everybody... I was on exchanges with the zone leaders that day, and we walked up and down the streets, trying to find people to teach or even a person just to talk to. Nothing. I wanted to go to the cemetery to see what everyone was up to, but it's out of our area, so we weren't able to go. So yea, I still have no idea what everybody does at the cemetery on Nov. 1.  But it must be a good time, because everyone attends. 

This week was filled with exchanges with the Zone Leaders. We had some Zone Leaders come in from Batac, Ballesteros and Santa Ana to do some exchanges with us. It's really a sacrifice for some of these missionaries to come in and do exchanges, because for example, Santa Ana ZLs have to take a 10 hour bus ride into Laoag, and then after our exchanges take a 10 hour bus ride back to their area. So we really try to do our best to show them a good example of how missionary work should be going on in their zone, and try to give them some ideas on what they need to do to improve in their area. I really enjoy these exchanges though. I learn a lot from these other elders and have definitely enjoyed getting to know these leaders really well. 

on exchanges with Elder Petty

On Monday we had our monthly MLC (mission leadership council), and us APs did our monthly reporting on the KIs. This last month we once again reaching 100+ baptisms, so that makes 2 months straight. We also talked about Christmas Conference and planned a little for what is gonna be happening. On Dec. 21 all the missionaries in the whole mission will be coming in and celebrating Christmas, then having a Conference. We are excited for that next month. 

polka-dot sisters & matching tie elders with Sister Andrada

large, medium, and small :)

As of our investigators, we had 7 at Sacrament Meeting last Sunday... should've been 10+, but it rained pretty hard, so some investigators weren't able to make it. Our family that we found last month is still progressing and we are looking forward to a lot of success in December and November.

I have really enjoyed the Spirit I have felt this last week while teaching. This past month I have really seen a change in the way I teach, and have seen the investigators understand the message a lot better. And no doubt it's because of the Spirit that gives authority and power to my words when I am speaking. It is just so satisfying when after the lesson, the person fully understood what you were teaching. I am sooo thankful for the guidance that I am given in this work and the help that the Savior gives me every single day. 

Love you all, have a nice week :)

-Elder Jenkins