Operation: Save Elder Jenkins

What's popping gang? 

     I understand some of you will have questions regarding my title for my email. Let me ease your mind and sum up my explanation by inviting you to join my Google picture drive attached at the bottom. 

     I love Borger. My heart is full of nothing but love and gratitude. I have an absolute hunger for the work like I've never had it before. I have worked my butt off just these past 2 days and have seen some incredible manifestations of God so far already. I'm on a no nonsense, no distractions, nothing but serving mode. I've been just on cloud 9 these past few days and I love it. I have honestly been praying about extending my mission another transfer just to help this area grow and flourish. I noticed that I kind of let my focus get off course in Hobbs as I was way too comfortable with that area. I developed habits of being a little careless at times and just kind of going through the motions near the end of last transfer. Don't get me wrong I definitely worked hard, but i wasnt pushing myself to my full potential and I definitely noticed where I was lacking and maybe performing differently. I'm so happy to have a last kick of doing the work, having the boost of new found motivation, and a full understanding of my purpose as a missionary and why I'm out here. I'm ready to go out with one last bang and truly push myself to the absolute limits. I know why I'm here. I know my relationship with God and how he speaks to me. I know the doctrine like the back of my hand and I have full confidence that what I am teaching is the complete and absolute truth. I will not let one person not hear my testimony in Borger. I want to leave a legacy of finishing strong and showing what true discipline and focus can do. I've left lots of different legacies and impressions on the mission for multiple different reasons, but this last one matters most to me. How did you finish? How did you let your mission change you? I've been thinking about that everyday. 

     We got to Amarillo around 5pm Texas time, and were given absolutely no information about our area at all. Elder Harris and I are both new to Borger and I was pulled aside by my mission president, and he told me that they sent both of us here to revive the area and rebuild member trust due to lack of effort and work from multiple missionaries who have served here so that was about the only information I had about where I was going. We were given our car keys and we took off about an hour away to our area, not even knowing where our apartment is and we didn't even have a way of contacting or calling anyone. We decided to get some dinner and put our heads together on how we're going to approach this area and just like that we just started working. No house, no number, just blind hope and a prayer.  Eventually the Zone Leaders came to our rescue and gave us a sim card and told us where we live and also dropped off some house warming gifts so that was nice. We invited 2 people to church who never ended up coming, and already hit our goal of finding 4 people this week. (which was just 2 days) so that was an eventful first impression and experience into our new area, but I can tell I'm going to absolutely love it here, I already do. As for my companion, he's definitely a quirky guy, but I can get along with anyone and he's willing to work hard so to me that's all that matters. He's a really good kid and I'm glad he's the one to kill me. He's also insane at guitar and can sing better than anyone I know, so stay tuned for a song we are writing together. This will be his second missionary he's killed so he's also a murderer. 

     In case you are tone deaf and somehow still question my feelings about this area, let me just tell you that I got spiritual confirmation that I need to be here. So clear. More clear than I have ever gotten it from another area that I prayed about. I know the Lord needs me here. I know someone needs me here and dang it I'm gonna find them, I don't care how many doors I have to beat down. I love the scenery of the area here. I immediately felt a difference of the spirit while serving in Texas than I did while serving in New Mexico. My body which has been having some pretty painful problems that was conflicting with the work, has recieved strength, and im able to completely forget myself and go to work. I have no more distractions other than myself and all I have to do is work and stay focused on Jesus Christ. I'm so grateful to be here in Borger. I'm so grateful to use everything I have learned one last time. This is going to be the best transfer. 

     Thanks for reading all of that if you did. It's safe to say that I'm back, in full. I love that I don't recognize who I was before the mission and I've been able to see real progress, even just from Hobbs. God is good and his gospel is true! Love yall, stay cute! 

-Elder Guss 

116 Brierwood St, Borger, TX 79007 #79 

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