I'm Back

Howdy yall! 


      I didn't write late this time! This week has been a very productive week and I've enjoyed being busy and working hard. We had exchanges on Tuesday and I got to leave my area after 3 transfers finally, and that was super refreshing. We got back and just put our shoulder to the wheel and grinded hard. We taught jazmin this week and also got her interviewed to be baptized, and she passed! She will be baptized and confirmed next weekend so stay tuned for that. We did a lot of service this week as well. We helped with the usual food bank and we also helped members with yard work and even rebuilding an entire fence. We met with Tarissa this week, and everytime we see her it's very interesting. This time she came bearing gifts! She made us all crosses with colors based on our characteristics and personalities, whatever that means. But that was very nice of her. Overall we were always on our feet and doing the lords work! 


     So I wasn't in my area for some of the lessons that we had this week unfortunately, but Austin (the guy we met at the coffee shop) was taught this week and I'm sure my companions did a great job there. Bradie was also taught that same day and I'm sure that lesson was good too, but I can't really say much about them because I wasn't there for them. Naomi unfortunately wasn't able to meet this week but she said that she's been loving the book of Mormon and begging her mom to take her to church, so hopefully we can get that issue resolved soon as well. We offered rides but the mom declined because Naomi is 15 and doesn't want old people (that's all our branch has) to pick her daughter up, which makes sense in my mind but still unfortunate. But we're still trying and staying faithful that things will work out in their own time. 


     I've also realized this week that I could be doing a lot better. I've had lots of mental battles on my mission, more than I have ever had in my life. I feel that there's always some added unnecessary pressure from people and from myself. People expect us to crank out all these numbers and regrow the church and it's hard because at times it feels like thats all they care about, is the numbers, and make us feel like machines instead of people. And the constant comparison and feeling of needing to be better is also something that I haven't dealt with before, but sometimes comes up. It's hard when everyone has their own expectations of what a missionary is to them and they hold you to that super unrealistic standard, and make it feel that I am never the "perfect" missionary for them. I know I'm not perfect. I let God know everyday that I messed up here or messed up there, and I'm a huge work in progress. But I also know where I need to improve and I know I have areas where I can do better, as do all of us. I think sometimes people expect us (missionaries) to be perfect and are disappointed when we aren't, but no one is. This week I'm going to try to focus more on my goals and growth as a person and also as a disciple of Jesus christ. I want to invest more into my mission so I can get more out of it as well and I know it will pay off in the end. I just know that that internal struggle that I sometimes have Is from Satan and I gotta push through and come out on top, but it's a very real thing that I know a lot of missionaries are struggling with. They are constantly beating themselves up over the smallest things because we have a long list of "rules" to follow, and they are exhausted trying their hardest to stay straight and narrow. So go easy on the missionaries who already know where they can improve! 


      I also wanted to encourage you to read the book of Mormon as much as you can. I don't care if you just finished it or you feel that you've read it enough times already. Don't shut the door on your spiritual blessings! Everytime you read it, you learn something new which is pretty cool. But there's a reason we have this book so don't take it for granted. Our stake has been 1 of 5 stakes in the world, chosen to all read the book of Mormon by a certain date, and share our testimonies of the book of Mormon via video recording from church media people. Spoiler alert; these testimonies might be broadcasted during conference, so if you see me on the big screen thats why. But there's a huge push for the book of Mormon lately, and I think something big is coming so best dust it off and get prepared. 


    Anyways yall, it's been a pretty good week! I hope yall have a good one and I love yall so much! Talk to yall later, peace! 


- elder jenkins 


Pics: 
1: tarissas cross
2: other crosses from tarissa 
3: service 
4: putting hitches on cars 



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