We have met the kindest people in the darkest storms!

Wow!  This week was AMAZING, can I just say how much I love my area, companion (she is the bomb & so funny) and zone!  I love how much my area kind of, somewhat, if you minus all of the tropical greenery reminds me of home!  I may be a little obsessed with the cows, chickens, cornfields and hay!  Hahaha

So, I have been told by multiply sources I need to send more pictures so this week, I will strive to do better!  There is so much work to be done here in Mapandan.  Sister Antenorcruz and I are striving to really strengthen the branch.  Wednesday, we taught three of our investigators that are youth about the Word of Wisdom and gave them CTR rings to help remind them to "Piliin ang Tama" palagi (always).  I love seeing their eagerness and desire to learn and follow the example of Jesus Christ in their own lives! 

Rainy season is starting and we have LOVED working in the rain!  Haha  There is no rain like Filipino rain!  It humbles me when people open their door to find two half soaked sister missionaries asking to share a message about their Savior with them.  They let us in, listen to His beautiful message amist the rolling thunder and we are able to feel the spirit so strongly!  We have met some of the kindest people on what sometimes seems like the darkest storms! 

We were given a broadcast from Salt Lake City on Sunday and they talked about a common phrase here, "I'll be the one"...sometimes, this takes courage.  It takes courage to "knock" on someone's door, whether that door be a friend who recently lost a loved one or, like me, a potential investigator.  It also takes courage to open it.  I know that we can ALWAYS find the courage to lift, assist, learn, grow and love through HIM!!!

Love,
Sister Jenkins

Always room to do better....

Note from Sister Jenkins' mom...she forgot her weekly update, but sent some heart-warming photos of her new zone plus here are a few of her thoughts...

• My area is sooooo gorgeous!
• I am loving the weather here...it rains a ton and it's so nice, kind of scary at times...
• My kasama is amazing!
• We have been working hard and finding much success, but there is always room to do better.
• We have been getting fed tons here. 
• We gave out the CTR (choose the right) rings this week and the kids loooved them! 
• Elder Roberts & Sister Roberts are in our zone and that's been so fun to have them close by. 
• I am so glad I chose to come here...I love it here so much! 
• It is hard sometimes, but He always assures me through small and simple ways that this is where I am needed right now!
• Bucket shower every night...

I love it here and I LOVE YOU!
Sister Jenkins

Beautiful hands with CTR rings!

My amazing Mangaldan Zone!

Beautiful Sister Jenkins!

Sister Roberts shopping at a market.

Elder & Sister Roberts...they are so fun!

Me & my sweet kasama, Sister Antenorcruz!

Turn it over to Him....

 

This week as has been great!

 

And so busy!

Monday we had dinner at a ward member's house.

Then, Tuesday I said "good-bye" to my wonderful companion, Sister Training Leader, trainer and friend, Sister Navarro!  I am so grateful for all that she has taught me and helped me with the past few months & transfers!

Sister Navarro & Sister Jenkins

 

I spent the next day with Sister Ramirez and we had so much fun!  Wednesday, I found out I was being transferred to a new zone, so that night we packed all of my things up.  On Thursday, I met my new companion, Sister Antenorcruz, and my new zone, Mangaldan Zone!  I love my new companion and our area!

I am excited to have many new adventures and help strengthen our area!  We are surrounded by corn and rice fields and farm animals!  Hahaha...I must say, it kind of reminds me of home (minus the rice fields)! 

I have learned a ton this week, put probably the most important thing is to trust in Him. I know that through Him our burdens truly can be made light!  But first we must turn it over to Him, then move forward with faith.  I would recommend everyone read a talk by Elder Holland, "Remember Lots Wife."  It is SO AMAZING! 

 

The things we can accomplish with His divine help is truly marvelous!

Sister Navarro...My Companion, My Sister Training Leader, My Trainer...MY FRIEND!



Until we meet again...God Speed.
 

From Kylee's Mom...Sister Navarro sent us the sweetest email a couple days after she was released from her mission.  As a mom, it makes me so happy to know Heavenly Father loves them both so much and knew they would be a match made in heaven.  Eternal Companions!  In her email, Sister Navarro shared "It was hard to leave the mission and especially Sister Jenkins. I miss her so much! I always long for her presence and companionship. I know that her next companion is so blessed to have her. By the time I left, I know that she is ready to take the lead in our area and in bringing the gospel into the life of the people in Pangasinan. She has taught me well and has trained me for this another chapter of my life and for that, I am eternally grateful."  

 

We love Sister Navarro so much...she has become a part of our family! 

XXOO Sister Navarro!

 

Sister Jenkins' new zone, MANGALDAN ZONE!

May we strive to see others through His eyes...

This week was great! 

And, so busy! 

We had surprise studies with the sisters and it was so great.  I am always amazed at how much I learn from them.  I love all the sisters so much!  We spent the night in Lingayen with Sister Sauvau and Sister Lapura on Tuesday night then I worked with them while Sister Navarro was at a meeting in Lingayen.  It was the first time I have left our area and worked in someone else's area...it was FUN.  I loved meeting their investigators and I learned a lot!  Thursday, Labrador sisters spent the night and Friday, Sister Ramirez and I were companions while Sister Navarro & Sister Adan were in Urdaneta.  I love her! 

It was pouring rain and we were drenched, but it was great! 

I love the rain here.

We went to Brother and Sister Ferrer on Sunday and Sister Navarro said goodbye, we picked Sineguelas (see below) and had dinner at a members house. 

We missionaries received an email with some different things to remember and ponder.  One was criticizing....I was thinking about this one morning and was reading in Matthew 3.  It talks of Jesus healing on the Sabbath, the Pharisees watched and waited to accuse him and "straightway" plotted against Him.  I was thinking about this in my own life.  Are we uplifting and assisting or waiting for people to fall short of our "expectations?"  Are we too blinded by the beam in our own eyes that we can't see the miracles that take place every day?  Just a thought! 

I really love this example of Jesus Christ. 

 

May we strive to see others through His eyes!

Love,
Sister Jenkins

Note from Kylee's Mom...I had no idea what "Sineguelas" were....

"Sineguelas (Spondias purpurea), also known as the Spanish Plum, is an exotic antioxidant fruit native from the Latin America which was brought and grown in the Philippines back in the 1800s. Today, Sineguelas can be found in several provinces across the Philippines. It is commonly quoted by the Filipino people as the food of the gods.

 

 

His strength is perfect in our weakness....

This week went by SO fast, it was an AMAZING week!

I read a talk by Brad Wilcox titled "Christ's Grace is Sufficient to Cover Us."  I would recommend reading it!  It is super good, I love his insights.  He asks a very good question that has stuck with me this week.

 "Have you been changed by Grace?" 

How true...our purpose is to learn and grow on earth and to try to reach the potential He knows each one of us have.  He goes on to say, "The miracle of the Atonement is not just that we be cleansed and consoled, but that we can be transformed."  I have seen many people truly transformed by the Atonement and His grace and it amazes me the growth we can have through Him in such a short amount of time. 

We were teaching a lesson to an investigator and invited the investigator to come unto Christ and to put their trust in Him.  The investigator kept saying, I just can't commit...it is too hard.  We must understand grace and we must allow it to change us.  Brad Wilcox goes on to say, "When we understand grace, we understand that God is long-suffering, that change is a process....we understand that the blessings of Christ's atonement are continuous and His strength is perfect in our weakness."

I hope that we all can come to understand His grace and the Atonement.  I know that when we do NOTHING it will be too hard and we can truly be changed by Him.

Have a great week!

Love,
Sister Jenkins

 

 

"And as I partook of the fruit...it filled my soul with exceedingly great joy"

This week started off with a wonderful Mother's Day Skype call to my AMAZING pamilya!  I am so grateful for my lovely mother and for all the love & support my family gives me!  I am so grateful they are "in the boat" right along side of me. 

Tuesday, we went to the mission home for zone interviews!  It was great.  The workshops were so inspired and we were able to learn a lot from our amazing leaders.

So, this week thanks to inspired suggestion from President Monahan and also a great friend who happened to give me the same advice, I read 1 Nephi 8.  It is about Lehi's dream about the tree of life.  I love verse 8....Lehi traveled for the space of MANY hours in darkness yet he pressed forward until in verse 12 he partook of the fruit (which could be related to the gospel) and "began to be desirous that his family should partake of it also."  In a very real sense, we have all partaken of the fruit (gospel of Jesus Christ) and I hope that everyone that has would want to share it with our families and friends!  How could we not when it is "desirable above all other fruit?" 

Sometimes the path to discipleship can be hard and dark as Lehi experienced, but if we press forward and as verse 24 says, "press forward through the midst of darkness, clinging to the rod of iron, even until they did come forth and partake of the fruit of the tree." 

I hope we can all heed Lehi's counsel! 
Press forward.
Partake of the gospel.
Share it with others.
And, HOLD fast to the iron rod!

Love,
Sister Jenkins

Beautiful Sister Missionaries

Me with my wonderful zone leaders, district leaders and amazing sister training leader.

Don't just live the gospel of Jesus Christ on Sunday....

WOW, what a week!  This week has been AMAZING as always!  First off, I would like to give a BIG shout out to Hailey & Paige and the Upson family for the super sweet letters and pictures.  I love them!  Letters will be going in the mail next week, so be on the look out!  And, a HUGE thank you to my Aunt Kim, Aunt Jamie, Aunt Candy & Uncle Bill and to Grandma Katie for the letters of love and support.  You guys rock!!!

This week I found a Caraboa and I swear I am not as white as I look.  haha!  (Mom note...I had to look this up to make sure we knew what she was talking about....Filipinos see carabaos as faithful partners in life. The carabao or kalabaw is a water buffalo that is endemic in Southeast Asia. Aside from helping our farmers plow the fields, this animal is our source of transportation, milk for sweets and cooking, meat, raw materials to design furniture, coin and mascot designs, body armor, children’s songs, jokes, and expressions in the vernacular.  We had exchanges with Sister Sauvao and Sister Lapura.  We had fun in the rain!  I LOVE the rain here, it is SO amazing!  I made a Mexican feast for lunch, it was AMAZING.  All the sisters LOVED the HOT salsa...so thank you for all the ingredients, Mom & Dad!  We celebrated Mother's Day and got a sweet picture with a super great ward member.  We love her and ALL the moms out there!

So this week, I was reading "Our Search for Happiness" (which I highly recommend to everyone...church member or not!).  It says, "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is not a Sunday-only kind of thing, it is a way of life."  M. Russell Ballard  WOW, how true is that?  We don't just live the gospel of Jesus Christ on Sunday, we are expected to live it every day of our lives.  That is what HE expects of us.  We expect Father in Heaven to be there for us ALWAYS...whenever we need Him.  And, just like any loving Father, He is always right there beside us waiting for us to call upon Him.  We must live the doctrine He has given us through the Bible and Book of Mormon.  I truly believe that our "search for happiness" ends when we start living the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

I love you!

Sweet letters from the Upson Family...LOVE

 

Companions on Mother's Day...I love Sister Navarro



Mexican Fiesta from Idaho.
 Me & Sister Gotang...Everyone loved the hot salsa!

Me & the Caraboa...

Dancing in the rain during exchanges

 

BEST MOTHER'S DAY