How Grateful I Am

Hello all!
I just wanted to take a minute to try to express the gratitude that I have felt this past weeks. This week has been one of the hardest that i have yet faced. I have been overwhelmed by the love and support I have felt from my family and friends in this difficult time. I have been comforted in knowing that He is so mindful and watchful. Always close never far. I have faith in His plan and I know that me getting sick is not a surprise to Him its a surprise to me. One of my favorite scriptures throughout my mission has been D&C 84:88 "and whoso receiveth you, there I will be also, for i will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angel round about you, to bear you up." It was always a great comfort to read those words and know that no matter where I was in the Philippines and what kind of a day He was never far from me. I have witnessed this as I've been sick and have come home.  I have been overwhelmed by the love and support He has given me through His Heavenly messengers. I know that He puts people in our lives for a reason. We were not put on this earth to walk alone. We are surrounded by His love. One of my favorite quotes by Thomas S. Monson goes like this...
"“Though the storm clouds may gather, though the rains may pour down upon us, our knowledge of the gospel and our love of our Heavenly Father and of our Savior will comfort and sustain us and bring joy to our hearts as we walk uprightly and keep the commandments.There will be nothing in this world that can defeat us. My beloved brothers and sisters, fear not. Be of good cheer. The future is as bright as your faith.”
I know this to be true. I am so gratefully for our loving Heavenly Father and the opportunity to serve Him in the Philippines. It has brought more joy and happiness than I could have ever imagined. I don't know what my future holds but I do know that His hand is guiding the way. Let us all move forward in faith and trust in His plan. Thank you again for all of your love, support and prayers!

Medical Update: I am getting a CT scan tomorrow of my lungs and am meeting with a Pulmonologist Monday. We are eager to receive some answers and get me healthy once more!

I am recommending a medical release....

Dear Friends and Family of Sister Jenkins...

Thank you for your many prayers on Sister Jenkins' behalf, putting her name on the prayer roll at Temples throughout the world and sending your love & good wishes for a speedy recovery from a month long illness that has racked her respiratory system.  We are blessed and grateful for all the love and care Kylee has received in the Urdaneta Mission and the Manila Missionary Recover Center (MRC). While the medical staff at the MRC have been wonderful, Elder/Dr. Arner has as a last resort made the difficult decision to return Sister Jenkins' home for advanced pulmonary care and healing.

In his letter to us this morning, he said....

"If Sister Jenkins were my daughter or granddaughter

I would absolutely want her to

return home at this point. 

I am hoping that this will be easily correctable

and that she will likewise recover quickly. 

In that case, she will be

WELCOME

to return to the Urdaneta mission....

Sister Jenkins is indeed saddened by this decision....

She has done every single thing

she has been asked to do

and we have pretty well

exhausted our resources in the field. 

I want to tell you what a

wonderful missionary she is. 

She is absolutely great. 

If everyone serving had her faith,

testimony and determination,

the work would go forward

with greater speed and success. 

She had done everything she can. 

She has never once asked to go home. 

That decision was entirely mine. 

Now she needs to get better, and then,

if it is her desire to do so,

 she may return again. 

She has blessed the lives of many people

here in the Philippines."

 

We spoke to Sister Jenkins' tonight as she said good-bye to her beloved Urdaneta mission, President & Sister Deyro and her brothers & sisters in the Philippines.  Hearing her voice and witnessing her chronic cough testified to us that Heavenly Father knows and loves her.  Elder Arner's difficult decision is right.  It is clear after hearing her tonight, she needs advanced pulmonary care and further testing in America.  We will pick her up at the Boise airport Wednesday, August 19th, at 2:30 pm...my head is spinning trying to think of all her favorite comforts to surround her with... #1 pumpkin cookies...#2 Uncle Guy's sure all remedy (OJ & Sprite)... #3 Kristie Dorsey's chicken noodle soup...and, #4 Green Chili Chicken Enchiladas (when she's up to that one).

 

Sister Jenkins' loves being a missionary.

She loves the Philippines.

She loves the Filipino people.

She loves her Urdaneta mission.

She loves her companions.

She loves the culture, the food and Tagalog.

Please pray for her quick recovery!!!

 

I leave you with a thought from one of Sister Jenkins' favorite books,

"The Peter Potential"...

 

"Thou Art The Christ,

The Son of the Living God."

- Matthew 16:16

 

"There will be a point in this journey

where you will have to leave neutral ground. 

That moment will require you to

GIVE HIM YOUR HEART...ALL OF IT.

 

He is the Christ.

Let Him guide your life.

Counsel with Him.

Ask for His input.

Allow Him to change you.

Trust that He will make

you something more."

 

Our hearts are heavy and eyes flowing with tears.

Sister Jenkins' is leaving "neutral ground"

and she is letting Him guide her life

and allowing Him to change her.

We know He lives and He dearly loves all His children.

There is peace & comfort with Dr. Arner's decision.

She is our spiritual giant.

And, she trusts in the Lord and His plan.

 

BLESS YOU ALL.

 

Godspeed, Sister Jenkins!

 

 

 

 

 





Angels are around me always....

Sister Jenkins and her MRC companion Sister Wilde...
life long friends!!!

 

I love this...
"ENTER TO HEAL GO FORTH TO SERVE"

 

NOTE FROM MOM: 

Last Wednesday, August 12th, we received word from Elder Arner, an Area Medical Adviser in the Philippines that Sister Jenkins' had been transferred from her Urdaneta Mission to the Manila Missionary Recovery Center (MRC).  About three weeks ago, she developed an upper respiratory infection which resulted in a chronic cough that is not responding to any form of treatment. 

 

PLEASE pray for Sister Jenkins

that she will heal soon.

Include the physicians and medical staff

in your prayers that

they will find the cause

of her health challenges. 

 

There is great comfort knowing Sister Jenkins' is in the Missionary Recover Center as it is the only one in the Church (worldwide).  It is a very pleasant residential facility across the street from the Manila Temple and on the same campus as the MTC.  It is not a hospital, but rather a place where missionaries can be evaluated and obtain more advanced assessments.  The MRC is supervised by two excellent experienced nurses and the Area Medical Adviser/Doctor who have access to St. Luke's Medical Center about 5 km from the MRC which is the premier hospital and health care center in the country. 

 

Elder Arner reported that Sister Jenkins is in "wonderful spirits, smiling and happy and truly a delight to be around.  She will brighten everyone's day here.  Sister Jenkins' radiates the joy of her work and loves being involved in teaching the Gospel here." 

 

In Sister Jenkins' words....

"I know the only person this sickness is a surprise to is ME. 

Heavenly Father has known and does know. 

He is so mindful.

 I know He cares just as much about the instrument

as He does about the work. 

I know angels are around me always! 

I trust Him." 

 

We love our Sister Jenkins!

She is strong, trusting and in His hands.

She is a spiritual giant.

XO

 



Come unto Jesus from ev'ry nation...."Come to me"

This week flew by!

It feels like it was just P-day yesterday!

This week we had a ton of fun doing the Lord's work.  Tuesday we had FHE (family home evening)/Happy Birthday at the 1st counselor's house.  It was way fun and one of our investigators came too.  Wednesday one of our investigators was making dinner when we came over so we asked what she was cooking, and....it was crickets & frogs!  Masarap!  Haha jokelang!  We worked with a recent convert that is preparing for a mission and it was so great to hear her testimony.  She is awesome!  Sunday was AMAZING!

We really tried to extend a lot of invitations this week to less active members and investigators too.  It is hard for one to act on their faith without the invitation to do so.  This Sunday it was great to see new and old faces at church.  The first Sunday we had 43 people attend church and yesterday there was 73.  It really helped strengthen my testimony about extending the invitation and acting on our faith.  I am so grateful for a loving Heavenly Father and His beautiful plan he has for each of His children.  I am grateful that it is never too late for us to come unto Him.  His arms are always extended.  His love is always there.

I've been reminded and comforted this week

by the hymn,

 

 

"Come Unto Jesus"

Come unto Jesus, ye heavy laden,
Careworn and fainting, by sin oppressed.
He'll safely guide you unto that haven
Where all who trust him may rest.

 

Come unto Jesus; He'll ever heed you,
Though in the darkness you've gone astray.
His love will find you and gently lead you
From darkest night into day.

 

Come unto Jesus; He'll surely hear you,
If you in meekness plead for his love.
Oh, know you not that angels are near you
From brightest mansions above?

 

Come unto Jesus from ev'ry nation,
From ev'ry land and isle of the sea.
Unto the high and lowly in station,
Ever he calls, "Come to me."

 

Matthew 11:28-30

28 ¶Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

 

2 Nephi 26:33

33 For none of these iniquities come of the Lord; for he doeth that which is good among the children of men; and he doeth nothing save it be plain unto the children of men; and he inviteth them all to come unto him and partake of his goodness; and he denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female; and he remembereth the heathen; and all are alike unto God, both Jew and Gentile.

 

Love you!

Sister Jenkins

 

My heart is about to burst...
LOVE LOVE LOVE the sweet little girl
and our sister missionaries!

This was dinner for a Filipino family...crickets & frogs!

 

Kind of a hilarious yet morbid picture of me. 
A less active member we were visiting owns a
funeral home and she was so nice and insisted
we take this photo.  FILIPINO HUMOR!!!