idk yet - Cosquin

Good week! Last week's was a super long email, so this week will be shorter.

We've been working really hard this week trying to reactivate old members, because apparently there have been some problems in this branch in the past. We had some success and 3 of the people we visited went to church yesterday! We are working hard now to find new people to teach. In reality, we can do both at the same time. We have a list of all the members in the branch, many of which no longer live here or died or don't want anything to do with the church, so as we go about looking for people on the list, if they aren't home or if we need directions, we can ask someone else for the info and start a conversation that can lead into the Gospel! That happened a few times this week.

I'll share more next week! It's really really hot here!

Elder Jenkins

I got sent a few more pics from the baptism

One of my good friends who was in our pension, Elder Turley, got assigned to be Assistant to the President, so he's headed out of Cosquín:( He'll do great. 

We ate ice cream on the roof to celebrate his last night

STIBEN!!! - Cosquin

WHAT. A. GREAT. WEEK.

There are so many things I could tell you about this week, I'll try to tell all the fun stories I can remember. 

First, I was trying to wash my clothes, so I turned the water on, filled a bucket, started washing, all good. BUT when I tried to turn off the water, it just wouldn't stop! I tried taking apart the whole thing but it just wasn't working and started spewing water all over the bathroom and I got all soaked when I was in my coziest pajamas to go sleep. What a shame. I had to change into my less cozy PJs. I'll include a video if I can. A video of the water, not of me changing into my less cozy PJs. A dude came the next day and replaced a part and it was all fine and now works again.

MIRACLE! We were on our way to a cita, and as you all know, we are very focused on finding new people to teach. We were walking by, and there was a dude standing in front of his house. Right as we passed by, he said "can I ask you guys a question? I've always wondered where you guys are from." We told him, and he replied "Oh ok. And what are you doing here?" We told him that we're missionaries, and that we share a message about Christ that blesses people. Without giving us a chance to talk more, he interrupted and said "Well share me a message." We rapidly agreed and shared a message about the Restoration of the Gospel, all the while he was super intent, asked questions, and answered ours. At the end he said "Ya know, I really like this message, I like it a lot more than what lots of other churches say. Ya know what? You guys are good guys, when can you come over again? I'm gonna cook you guys an asado (argentine barbeque)" MIRACLE! We're going over tomorrow to meet with him and talk more about his experience of praying about what we taught him and to talk more about the Book of Mormon. 

LAST AND BEST STORY OF THE WEEK!!! So, in my last area, General Lamadrid, we were teaching a family, baptized the daughter, parents are working to get married, you might remember. WELL the BIG NEWS is that this week the son turned 8! And you all know what that means! AL AGUA, PAPÁ!!! He was very excited, and my old comp Elder Ortega and his comp Elder Hatch have done a great job teaching him all he needs to know. As he got prepared, he said that he really wanted ME to baptize him, even though I already switched areas. I was really excited, so I asked mission president for permission, and he said it was OK, and on Saturday, I got to go back to my old area for the baptism!!! So so so cool. I saw all the members, my old comp, lots of people I've missed! The baptism itself went so well, he was so excited and happy. When I asked him why he was getting baptized he said it was gonna make him, his family, and God happy. One of my favorite experiences of my mission so far.

This email is way too long, I'll stop there, love ya, have a good week!

Elder Jenkins

I spelled all our names and "ELDER" in scrabble letters I found in the apartment. As you can probably guess, there was no letter K 

BAPTISM!!!

The best cake I've ever seen in my life, super tasty too. A kid decapitated me later, then ate my head.

nice tree pic

we went to a rock museum, but I only took a pic of this ivory sculpture, but there were a ton of fossils and gems and stuff, really cool.

WOW - Cosquin

WHAT A GREAT WEEK I TELL YOU WHAT!

K so I'm not gonna lie, coming here with nobody already interested isn't the easiest, BUT. I've learned so much. It's helped me look at every single person as someone with the potential to listen to and progress in the Gospel. I love sharing the Gospel. Especially in a place as pretty as Cosquín.

This week has also been one of the biggest in my personal progression. I've come to understand a lot more about what our purpose in being here on Earth is, and what we need to do to achieve that goal. I got to give a talk my first Sunday here to the branch, and I talked about how God's goal for us is to progress and become like Him. We can only do that by accepting Christ as our Savior, repenting, and making decisions that align our will with His. I've studied a lot about humility, diligence, and the plan of happiness, and I'm hyped up with a fire to complete my duty in the mission and my life. Everyone read the scriptures and get to know your friend and Savior.

Love you

Elder Jenkins

Cool thing in Santa Maria

Elder Vidal and I at the Cosquín River

The view from the roof of the apartment, looking at the Sierras, the peak on the left is called Pan de Azucar

I thought my christmas lights looked cool with my new brick wall

My new agenda, Theme: Power and Authority that comes from Obedience and Loyalty

my organized unorganized desk set up, featuring my plant that I just bought.

bye bye Lamadrid, Hello Cosquin

WOWZA!!! Crazy stuff. As the title indicates, I got transferred! I was so sure that I was going to stay in my old area General Lamadrid for another transfer with my companion, so I didn't even think about saying bye to anyone or packing bags, nothing. Not even in the back of my mind. 

But alas, on Saturday we got the call that I'd be leaving Lamadrid to go to Cosquin! I was in the same zone as Cosquin before, so I've already visited it and it is SO PRETTY. Probably the prettiest place in the mission. Also, they're bumping up the number of missionaries in the area from 2 to 4, so my new companion (Elder Vidal from Chile) and I will be starting from scratch finding people to teach! I'm really really excited.

It was really sad saying goodbye to all the families I know, it felt weird because my 3 months in Lamadrid passed by really fast. Hopefully I'll get the chance to go back and visit sometime. 

I'm sure I'll have a lot to tell next week, but today I don't have too much time because I need to move in all my stuff! Have a great week, talk to you later!

Elder Jenkins

Church open house

Explaining about baptism

Sotelo Family

the zone of Oeste

me cooking asado

The villa kids

the villa futbol field

The Valencia Family

The Irusta family

The temple

a bird

1 Year, Nelson, Slingshot, and AGUA - General La Madrid

Quite the eventful week, if I do say so myself. Ill just tell it all in chronological order.

First, on the 28th, I hit 1 year in the mission. CRAZY ITS GONE BY SO FAST! I met up with Elder Allen who was in the CCM with me, and we both burned shirts to signify the passing of our first year (it was a ripped and dirty shirt, don't worry). Now it's time to make the second year even better!

President Nelson, Elder Cook, and their wives came to Argentina (Buenos Aires), and they spoke to the nation, and the broadcast went to every stake center. I really enjoyed the talks, especially Wendy Nelson's talk on Family history. She challenged us all to find the joy in redeeming the souls of the dead. I also really liked President Nelson's talk, especially because after introducing himself and his topic, he told the translator "Con permiso, quisiera hablar en Español" (with permission, I'd like to speak in Spanish). He gave the rest of his talk in Spanish. I think it was such a blessing for the people of Argentina to hear the prophet's voice speaking their language!

Quick story, I was in the villa, and one of the kids Benja was messing around with a toy gun. Whatever, talked for a bit, moved on. Next day, we go back to the villa, I see Benja a little ways off, he has something in his hands and is saying "don't move! don't move!" I couldn't see well, so I assumed he was playing around with his toy gun that he had the day before, so I played along saying "ah nooooooo don't shoot!" That's when out of nowhere I get hit in the forehead by a rock shot from his SLINGSHOT. It was so unexpected I couldn't be mad. The other kids, instead of showing me sympathy, told me that he was probably just practicing his aim, and wanted to start with something easy like my giant forehead. One girl said "He was probably just trying to make your forehead a bit smaller." Great kids.

Last thing, most exciting, is that one of the kids from the villa got BAPTIZED!!! YAY!!! We've been working with him for this whole transfer, and he finally made it! He was really worried about the interview questions but he passed with flying colors. We had the baptism Saturday morning, His dad and some of his friends came, as well as lots of members. He chose me to perform the ordinance, which was really awesome and special for me. He's a great kid:)

That's all from me for now, this email is way too long. Have a great week!

Elder Jenkins

one year shirt burning

burn baby burn

family and friends at the baptism

futbol on pday

the city from the roof of the 9 de Julio pension

after the baptism