With courage I will face - Catamarca

Hey! and Happy New Year everyone!

Everyone be sure to give 2018 the sendoff it deserves by listening to the best song to come out this year, (and the best song of all time), Me and Michael by MGMT. Also start off 2019 right by listening to Me and Michael by MGMT. And might as well make it a daily habit. Just saying.

This week was pretty good, a lot of anticipation to know about transfers coming up! Elder Farfal is going to go to Cordoba, to be in the Mission Office as the Pensionero! Exciting stuff. I'll be staying in Catamarca for at least one more transfer, and the old Secretary of the mission, Elder Bingham, will be my new companion! I'm really excited, I've gotten to know him a little bit already from the times I've traveled to Cordoba, he seems like a really good guy, and a hard worker. Elder Farfal leaves Tuesday night, and Elder Bingham gets here Wednesday morning. Im stoked.

We've been teaching a girl in a partial-member family, and she's progressed faster than anyone I've taught before. After her first sacrament meeting, she said that she already knew that this was the true church. And she has a baptismal date for this week! So if all goes well you'll get some pics next week!

Love and miss you all, hope you had a great 2018, and that 2019 will be even better! (Which it will be if you listen to Me and Michael. Just saying...)

Flameo, hotman,

Elder Jenkins

Every challenge along the way - Catamarca

Merry Late Christmas everyone! I hope everyone's holidays were spectacular!

Pics for this week include:

Our trip last P day to Pirquitas, an awesome lake, with cool rocks, and a nice dog. 

Emptying the dirty baptismal font by hand because the machine didnt work.

Farfal's small foot in my chacos.

The baptism of Lucia!!! We've been teaching her since I got to the field, and she finally joined the rest of her family in the church! It was really awesome, and she's progressed so much in loving the scriptures and the gospel. Her baptism was really great.

A picture of me with an old man, we visited an old person home, and this guy couldn't talk, so I don't know his name, but we conversed between my less than perfect spanish and his hand signals. It was really nice. We sang to them too.

Christmas Eve with Lucia's family, they're the sweetest.

Christmas morning with the zone! we spent christmas all together, because the rest of the country was busy sleeping.

Real quick I just wanted to add a spiritual thought, because I forget to add them in my emails a lot of the time. During the Christmas season, its a great time to remember our Savior, but we should remember Him all the time! His life was entirely dedicated to every one of us, and His sacrifice for us is the most selfless act in history. After being out here on a mission for this time, I've loved coming closer to the Savior and learning more about His life and love for us. So everyone, remember that Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father love each and every one of you personally, I testify of that.

I love you all, and I'll talk to you next year!

Elder Jenkins

The power that's inside - Catamarca

Hello!

Short week highlights:

We started teaching a really awesome family. Some of the fam are members, others aren't but they're all really awesome and interested.

I got bit by a parrot named Panchita.

A random guy stopped Elder Farfal and I on the street, handed us cien pesos (its not a lot in USD but it's a decent amount for us) and said to go buy ice cream, then walked away before we could say anything.

We went to a lake far away from the city, it was a super pretty hike, and a stray dog followed us the whole trail, it was epic.

There's not much else to report this week, but everything is really great, we got some rain this week so hopefully Christmas won't be too hot. Wish you all the best.

The sun is a deadly laser,

Elder Jenkins

Each to understand - Catamarca

Wow what a week. 

SO first off, I had to go to Cordoba this week to do paperwork so I don't get kicked out of the country, I left Tuesday night. To go to Cordoba, its a 5.5 hour bus ride starting at midnight. So I left tuesday, got there wednesday morning, and when I arrived, they told me that I actually have to do the paperwork on Friday, and the only place to do it is in Cordoba. So I chilled in the mission office that day, then Wednesday night I went on the same midnight bus back to Catamarca.

Elder Farfal had to do his paperwork Thursday, so for my day in Catamarca, my temporary comp was Elder Larsen, a gringo with even less time in the mission than me. So our Spanish game was a bit lacking. The day went really well though, we found some good people we can teach. Then Thursday night, again, midnight bus to Cordoba. 

This time, on Friday, I actually did have my paperwork to do. It was really awesome because I got to see the guys from my district in the CCM, including my old comp and best buddy in the mission Elder Kotter. Que capo. Spent the rest of Friday working in Villa Belgrano, then, yet again, midnight bus back to Catamarca. For those keeping count at home, thats four consecutive nights with 5 and a half hours of sleep riding in a shaky bus. It was awesome though, great story, great to see the people I haven't seen in forever.  

The rest of our week was pretty regular, just regular working, but I MADE CREPES today and we ate them with Dulce de Leche and Bananas and it was delicious. Also, Lucia, a girl we're teaching, is progressing really well.

Christmas time is awesome, I'm definitely being guided by the spirit, and I get help from the Lord when I'm exhausted from the heat and traveling and walking. Everything is awesome.  I miss stuff from home, but no part of me wants to go or be home. its weird. Like its all just excitement for when I can do it after the mission, no part is wanting to leave what I'm doing now. 

Thanks everyone for the prayers and support, I love you and I'll see you soon. LIGHT THE WORLD.

That is an interesting response,

Elder Jenkins

PS Also I wanted to mention that since Elder Farfal needed to go to Cordoba on Thursday, and me on Wednesday and Friday, that meant that we couldn't travel together, so for those 3 days and 4 nights I traveled solo, and I didn't see my Padre. Que triste. that's all.  

Crepes!

Guys from my CCM District

With Elder Kotter

Searching far and wide - Catamarca

Another KILLER week here in Catamarca, I tell you what.

To start off, we didn't pay our electricity bill because we thought the office was paying it, so they shut off our power, but we got it figured out. pic of Elder Farfal included.

This week it actually rained, and it rained hard, it was super awesome, cuz its HOT ALWAYS HERE. we thoroghly enjoyed the moisture. You people in winter are lucky.

One night this week we had to sprint 3 blocks at the end of the day in our missionary clothes to the fruit store to buy bananas before it closed. they were tasty.

Three other highlights from this week (pictures included):

We bought a lomopizza, its like a giant hamburger with better meat and eggs and ham and goodness in the middle, and the top bun is a pizza. We were celebrating Elder Farfal reaching 8 months in his mission.

This week we traveled to Nueva Coneta, and while theres no way to be sure, we were told that we were the first official Church missionaries to ever visit that pueblito. so cool. We had empanadas with a family, and took some awesome pics on their bike. The pueblito was so calm and nice, and everyone looked at us really weird cuz they had never seen people like us before haha, especially me with my blonde hair.

This Sunday was another rough one, we made pancakes at the house of someone we're teaching so they would get up for church, but they never got up, so we talked with her sister, ate, and left for church so we wouldnt be late. Then our other people also couldnt make it, which put us down, similar to last week. We kept having faith though, praying that the Lord would help them, and then yesterday, we ran into one of them! It's really hard to find him, cuz his work schedule is really irregular, and he doesnt have a cell phone. But we talked to him, and got it all figured out and he's gonna be baptized this Saturday! Another small miracle from the Lord.

Love you all see ya soon

What do you think about the stars in the sky?

Elder Jenkins

I will travel across the land - Catamarca

This week, wow.

So the earlier part of the week was pretty unexciting, just teaching lessons, trying to find new people, and it was transfers last week, so we met the three new greenies in Catamarca, Elders Larsen, Houghton, and Olivera. They all seem great.

I'm starting to realize that I need to start eating better (cuz believe it or not I'm starting to get quite plump around the belly) and its good news because our stove finally started working after almost 2 months of not working, so we can start cooking some nice healthy stuff to eat, instead of buying hot dogs and alfajores all the time.

K now here's the story of the worst and best parts of my week, back to back. It started on Sunday, we had 5 people we were hoping would come to church this week, and that they would all keep progressing. The morning of, one slept in, one didn't answer, and the other three have been acting really strange lately, and not answering us, or have been too busy to talk, including Sunday morning, when the kids told us that the mom had gone out shopping and wouldn't be back to go to church. We were super bummed, especially about the family, because we love them so much, and they've been progressing so well up to this point, we'd be so sad if they stopped listening to us, but that was the way it was starting to seem.

After church, and the whole rest of the day, and the next morning, I was constantly praying that the people we were teaching would keep progressing and listening to the Gospel, and that we would be able to find the people the Lord had prepared for us to teach (with the fear that we would lose the family.) 

We left the pension yesterday, still a little bummed, but with faith that the Lord would answer our prayers to find more people as we went clapping gates (you clap outside the gates of houses most of the time instead of knocking on their doors.) Before we had walked even 4 blocks, before clapping at any houses, a man walking past us stopped us and said "Elders!" We started talking to him, and he only responded in really good English. He told us that he listened to the Elders a long time ago. He was super friendly and said that he lived nearby, and we could stop by to share a message and drink mate together. The whole time I was caught off guard, first of all because he was speaking English almost fluently, and also because the Lord had answered our prayer so fast and fully.

Elder Farfal and I were stoked out of our minds, and spent a while looking for more people, with little success, but it was okay because we already knew the Lord had answered our prayers. We were close to the family's house so we decided to stop by, and I was preparing myself for the worst, that she would tell us that she wasn't interested anymore, because that's what we were expecting after the last few visits. Instead, she answered the door, invited us in like normal, and we had a great conversation and taught her about the Word of Wisdom. We were stoked again, and right before we finished the lesson, her friend showed up at her house. We all started talking about religion and different things, and her friend brought up that her boyfriend passed away recently, and wished she knew where he was right now. Elder Farfal and I instantly recognized another blessed opportunity from the Lord, and taught her the Plan of Salvation, which she accepted very well, along with a baptismal date the same day as the family. 

I honestly can't describe how amazing yesterday was. This was the first time in my life that the Lord has answered my prayers so quickly and fully. There's no way that coincidentally after praying our hardest we would have one of our most successful days so far, with two amazing new people that are so interested. I know that the Lord hears and answers prayers, and that you can pray to Him with the problems and concerns of your heart, if you ask in faith, you will receive an answer and blessings that you need. He is ready and willing to give, just ask in faith.

Sorry this is so long, I just needed to share this awesome experience with you all. Talk to you next week.

The Law has entered the game,

Elder Jenkins

To train them is my cause - Catamarca

Wowza this week was awesome! Honestly probably my favorite of the mission so far! (I'm gonna send pictures of everything through a Google drive folder with comments on each picture, let me know if it works well, or if I should send them a different way)

So first off, this week our Zona Catamarca returned to Córdoba for Zone Conference. Since everyone's gonna be busy during December, this conference was Christmas themed, which got me hyped. We saw a whole bunch of missionaries from other zones, heard some awesome messages from the assistants and the president and his wife, ate some dank food, and performed skits that we prepared (I got a video of the best part.) We hit the town for a little bit afterwards because none of us had really explored Córdoba much, cuz we live 6 hours away.

Definite highlight of this week was a baptism! It was really cool, his family was really excited, I was nervous about messing up in Spanish, and the water wouldn't fill all the way (and Lil guy is super tiny) so I baptized him on my knees. It was de diez. We had some cake afterwards to celebrate. I felt so happy the whole time for him.

Since we were in the Christmas vibe after conference, and we are starting a new transfer, we decided to switch around the whole pension and decorate for Navidad. The pension definitely feels a lot more alive, and now we can study where we have an air machine so we don't have to be roasted alive while we're trying to feel the Spirit. 

Last week we went to a farm, pics included.

We were being driven around by a member, and after we taught a family with him, he was driving us home, and we were going past the home of one of the families we're teaching and we decided to visit them and walk the 35-40 minutes home instead of get driven home, but it was awesome. I love visiting that family because they are all so humble, and have so much faith. I spent a lot of the time talking about my pictures, and teaching a short lesson with Elder Farfal. I felt the Spirit super strong the whole time, and afterwards, Elder Farfal told me that she was really surprised about how fast my Spanish has progressed. Made me feel real good, and I know it's the gift of tongues and the Spirit that have helped me grow in the language, and I'm really grateful. 

Speaking of grateful, Thanksgiving and Christmas are coming up, so make sure you think of things and people you're grateful for, and express your gratitude to Heavenly Father. We all have so many blessings, and Heavenly Father loves when we show gratitude for those things. Also, a great way to show gratitude is to serve others. I gave a talk in church this week about serving like Christ, and "abounding in good works." Look for ways to serve these next few weeks.

It's dangerous to go alone, take this,

Elder Jenkins

To catch them is my real test - Catamarca

I don't have much to say this week, sorry everyone.

BUT do something this week that puts a song in your heart. It's easy to have a song stuck in your head (for example, I heard Tainted Love on the radio over a month ago, and Blue Monday has been stuck in my head ever since, I know that doesn't make sense but it's true.) Do something that you love and put a song in your heart, it could be eating, going into the mountains, or sharing the Gospel. Whatever it is, do it. 

This Saturday, we're gonna have a baptism for an 8 year old of a family that's kinda less active but on the borderline, so I get to perform the baptism which is awesome, even though it doesn't count for the mission numbers, but that doesn't matter, it's all about the salvation of another soul. 

K I really don't have much to say at all, this week we went to a farm and saw some cool animals, it was fun. See you all soon.

I fight for my friends,

Elder Jenkins

Like no one ever was - Catamarca

Hey wazzzzzzzzup I forgot my notebook with all the stuff I wanted to email, so this email might be a little bit shorter, and next week might be a novel. Who knows.

Anyways this week was great as usual, more working and more learning. I figured I should tell you guys a little bit about the people we're teaching right now. My favorite fam is a woman and her kids.  She's 25 and has I think 4 kids. We've been teaching her and she's so receptive to everything, and loves the Church. Her son is planning on getting baptized with her later this month! She has another son that's 11, and he is in a wheelchair with some physical and mental handicaps, but he's so funny and such a great kid. We've been figuring out with the bishop whether or not he needs the ordinance of baptism, because of his disabilities, and right now it's looking like he will be baptized as well, because he wants to with his family. How sweet. 

We're also teaching a guy who's around 30 years old. He's way receptive also, working on giving up alcohol and drugs. He came to church with us and really enjoyed it, so we're hoping he follows through with his baptismal date later this month as well! We also are teaching a 19 year old with a little girl and another child on the way. Her sister and mom are members already, and that family is honestly the greatest. They help out the missionaries so much and have been the most kind to me ever since I came to Catamarca. She has a baptismal date for later this month as well, and she's made a lot of progress recently in wanting to come to church and read scriptures. 

Those are our main progressing people we're teaching so if you could pray for them that they'll continue to accept the truths of the Gospel and be baptized that would be awesome! Because God answers prayers. He really does. If you're in need of something, God and Jesus Christ are standing ready to help us, we just need to demonstrate faith first. Read Ether 12:12, it's one of my favorites. That whole chapter is amazing. 

Love you all, not much else to report this week, stay sweet

Elder Jenkins

I wanna be the very best - Catamarca

Hey. It's me.

I

This week was extraordinary, as all weeks here are, which I guess makes extraordinary just ordinary. Hm. ANYWAYS some things about Argentina so you can picture it better are that there are dogs absolutely everywhere, most of them are ugly. Also if you don't know what mate is, its basically boiling barn juice, but it's actually pretty good once you have enough of it. Everything is pretty dirty, but thats ok, you just gotta accept it. On Sunday a little kid yelled at me and siad "Go back to your city, Yankee!" but I'm sure he was just messing around.

Halloween is tomorrow, everyone send me pictures of your costumes and I'll judge whose is the best.

So here's by spiritual thought/video game reference for the week, and it wont make complete sense to everyone, but its a lot better than the Elebits analogy I was going to use. So basically, life is like playing Painkiller by Judas Priest on Expert Mode Guitar on Rockband 2. Every note that comes is a choice you have to make in life. Sometimes, it feels like you have a hold on things, but other times, it's a guitar solo and you make a lot of mistakes. Overall, it's really tough, and after a lot of mistakes, you'll end up failing. HOWEVER. The Savior is like our bandmate that never misses any notes, he makes the right choice always. As you hit notes correctly, you build up "Overdrive" to help you in the song, so the Savior always has his Overdrive saved up. But, he doesn't use the Overdrive on himself to get more points, he uses it on you when you fail out of the song so you can keep playing like you never made any mistake. And at the end of the song, the scoreboard will say that you have 100%, because the Savior helped you get there. The Savior is always there ready to forgive and help us with our difficulties and temptations and sins, we just need to let him join our band and rely and trust in him and his power.

Hope that wasn't too much of a stretch, but I just had that thought earlier this week. I love and miss you guys, and I'll see you soon!

ATL

Elder Jenkins

A pretty view from the other missionaries' apartment

Our small lizard friend we found in our bathroom.  I forgot to name him at the time, but now I'm going to call him Kenny

POETRY