Week 6, The Legend Begins (My First Area)

Wow. That's really the only word that comes to mind when I try to describe this past week. I don't think I have ever been more filled with gratitude for all the things I have been blessed with as I have as I explored my first area and met those who I know were prepared for me to meet. It is amazing to be on the front lines of this gospel and see how it affects the lives of people all around the world. I love this work and I am so grateful to be a part of it.

Alright, I'll cut to the stuff you guys really all care about. Leaving the MTC was a lot more emotional than I imagined. Although I loved being there, I was always excited and looking forward to the field. However, I really reflected on all of the amazing spiritual experiences I had there and the things I learned and realized that I would really miss the MTC.

The train ride to Malaga was astounding. The more I have been able to explore and see Spain, the more I fall in love with it. It was pretty surreal to think of what was going to lie ahead of me at that moment. We got off of the train and the mission president was waiting for us with open arms and a box of doughnuts. It was there that he called off the names of those who would have to spend the night in the mission home because their first area was too far away. My name was on the list...

We put our bigger bags in lockers at the train station and while we were walking to the church where we would all rendezvous, one of the elders who was actually leaving the next day and escorting us asked who wanted to teach a lesson today. Of course, my Jenkins muscle reflex took over and my hand shot up, so 15 minutes after arriving in the field I was in a lesson, with a real person, speaking real Spanish...I couldn't believe what was happening. The rest of the day was just super suspenseful, especially when everyone else got their trainers and found out their areas, because all those who were staying the night had to wait to get their trainers later. But alas the time came once we got to the mission home.

AND NOW THE TIME YOU HAVE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR.......

I, Elder Jenkins, have been assigned to labor in the... Cartagena barrio 3 mission, with Elder Whetten as my trainer! A little about Cartagena. Cartagena is a town on the eastern coast of Spain in the area of Murcia. Its a super touristy town and so during the summer apparently you just see really nice sports cars driving around. The population grows like 86,000 people during the summer months. Not only is it one of the most beautiful cities on the planet, but it is one of the oldest as well. My area isn't really in Cartagena however. Elder Whetten and I actually have a car, which I will be driving in a couple of weeks, so we have a pretty big area to cover. Most of our work is done in a town called San Pedro, which is the second most beautiful place on the planet besides Cartagena. We can see both the Mediterranean sea, and a little tiny sea called the Mar Menor. Side note, not only do we have a car, but I actually have my own phone...for some odd reason...

thespainmalagamission.blogspot.com

Elder Whetten is such an awesome companion and trainer. I will actually be his last companion in the field before he goes home, which in the mission is called dying. He is a great example to me of what a missionary should be- hard working, willing to serve, and he loves the people so much. I know I am going to learn so much from him and I already have.

The ward we are in is outstanding. This week, we actually had an area 70 come and speak. We have an eating cita probably 5 times a week and the members are like chomping at the bit to come out with us. There is even a bus that goes around and picks up investigators before church every Sunday, which by the way is at 5 o'clock at night. Above all else, the people are so loving and caring and when I stood up in front of them to bear my testimony in my broken Spanish, I could feel the spirit testifying to me of their love for this gospel, for the missionary work, and for me individually.

My first week as a missionary has been amazing. I know I'm getting really spoiled right now, but i figured I might as well just enjoy it while it lasts. I love everything about being here and I knew right when I stepped off the bus, after an 8 hour bus ride across Spain, that this is exactly where the Lord wants me. I don't have any time to tell any super amazing awesome mission stories yet, but I promise Ill have one for you all next week. I do see miracles every single day however, but that doesn't surprise me. This is the Lord's work, and when we put in the work, miracles will happen.

I hope all of you are doing well, wherever you are. I can't believe week 7 of the mission is already gone. The time truly does fly by. I wish you all the best and hope to hear from you all about how things are going. In closing, I am so thankful to be serving among these people here. I get to see the building of the Lord's kingdom everyday, and I testify that it's happening faster than ever.

Love, Elder Jenkins

Things I learned This Week

1. Don't work to write your own legacy. Be an instrument in His hands and he will write it for you

2. God loves you. If you understand that, you will understand everything, even when you don't understand

3. If a south American woman is cooking and you come to the door, she will hold out her hand and expect you to shake her wrist

4. Always get debriefed before you teach a lesson, or you might invite a recent convert to be baptized

5. SPAIN HAS CHICKEN NUGGETS AT THE SUPERMARKET, so my parents won't have to worry about me surviving.

Me and my companions in Malaga

People I taught my first lesson to in the mission field.

Overlooking Malaga

Top of a mountain that overlooks Malaga

My companion who I taught my first lesson with in Malaga