Entering the promised land - Málaga week 1

Hi Friends and Family

IM FINALLY HERE! When I opened up my mission call a year and 4 months ago (WHHHHAAAATTTT¿?¿?¿?¿) and read the word Malaga Spain I feel like I instantly fell in love with this place, even though I wasn’t even here. Then when I arrived to Malaga, I had to leave almost instantly and travel across Spain to my first area. Coming back here after so much time is almost surreal, and I have found very quickly that my love for Malaga didn’t die despite the distance or time. This city is amazing, the people are so nice, usually rejecting us with at least a smile, and the missionaries here are the best in the world!! 

Elder Tenorio, my companion, is a BOSS. Its so crazy to see how much we have both grown and changed since we met 10 months ago. He is from Peru, but lived in Madrid before coming on the mission. He is teaching me so much! For instance, I always thought that I had to work really hard, explain everything super well, and then ask nicely to be able to visit someone in their home. Elder Tenorio just says, Hi we are sharing a message about Jesus Christ…where do you live?...and the people answer him! I was so surprised, and even more surprised when it worked for me too. He is teaching me so much and helping me become a better missionary.

I love living with 3 other missionaries again…other than the fact that the clean house lasts about 5 seconds before it looks like a bull ran through our kitchen…The house is full of laughter and we just decided that it was appropriate to sing Christmas songs for morning studies, a decision that Im sure our neighbors enjoy just as much as we do. 

I don’t know how big of news this is on a world wide scale, but a couple of days ago there was a terrorist attack in Paris. It has been absolutely heart wrenching to hear the horrific damage that it caused, but I have seen a change in the people as their hearts have been turned to the hope for a better world that comes to those who keep their belief firm in God. We have seen hearts softened to the message of the plan of happiness that God has for us, which includes redemption from death and the truths of eternal family relationships, and I am so grateful for the privilege of preaching this message every day. Surely, those who were affected by this disaster deserve a place in our prayers of peace and comfort. 

I hope that you all have a great week and I look forward to being able to share with you all next week the miracles of the missionary work!

Con amor y cariño 

Elder Jenkins

Week 41: bye bye torremolinos

Helo everyone!

Sorry this email is going to have to be short, but I just wanted to
let you all know a little about the week!

I just can't catch a break with transfers! Ever since my first 12
weeks, I have had a change every single 6 weeks! So I didn't expect to
be leaving, especially after just one transfer of training, but sure
enough my time in torremolinos has come to an end. Luckily, I'll be
going from here about 30 minutes to the actual city of Malaga! I'll be
going back to living in a house with 4 missionaries, just like when I
started the mission, and I'll be with elder Tenorio, who actually was
living there when I started the mission! I'll also be with elder
Adcock there, who I met before the mission at byu! It's funny because
people always asked if we thought we would meet in the mission a lot,
and we always said it was really unlikely...we have seen each other
monthly since we got here and now we will live together haha. I'm sad
to be leaving, but excited to have new responsibilities and get to
know new people. I know that the Lord has work for me to do there and
I'm excited to try and fulfill His expectations.

Sorry this one has been short, I promise a more experience filled and
dedicated letter next week for all of you, especially telling
everything about my new area. I love you all and hope that you have a
great week!

Love,

Elder Jenkins

Week 40: El Halloween

Hey everyone!

My first Spanish Halloween experience was pretty interesting. I was
not very excited about having to compete with all the little kids for
knocking doors, but hoped that maybe we would be able to score some
candy for the night. Unfortunately, I found that trick or treating is
not nearly as big of a tradition here as it is In the US. Most people
won't even open their doors here if the kids knock them!

It's hard to believe that it has already been 6 weeks since I started
the journey of training with elder Miller. It has been amazing to
watch him grow. At the end of this week, we will find out if I will be
blessed by the people of torremolinos for another 4 weeks, or if I
will begin a journey elsewhere. I'm hoping to be able to stay! There's
just so much more to do.

As far as funny stories or experiences, I'm lacking this week, but I
did eat rabbit for the first time. There is a story that my brother
has from his mission in Portugal about  eating rabbit and accidentally
picking out the head. Lucky for him, he was able to pass it off to the
head of the house; however, I was kind of hoping that I would get the
head so that I could have a similar story that ended with me eating
it....unfortunately, they had already eaten the head before we got
there, but they did have a "hígado" with my name on it, and it was
delicious (I'll let all those who are curious look it up for
themselves).

Thank you all for the prayers and support! I hope you have a great week!

Con amor y cariño

Elder Jenkins