TRANSFERS!!!

Hello Family and Friends!!! 

NOTE: [Next month Jackie's mission will be named the Arkansas Bentonville Mission. Same mission boundaries, but the mission home will be moving to Bentonville and they will have a new mission president.]

I guess there must be something in the water or something cause we had 3 members in the ward take a fall - all in 3 different towns and all in 3 different places. Not even the same age and all 3 of them ended up in the hospital. Talk about crazy!!! They all have great stories to tell!!!! (Don't worry, they are all good and healing just fine!)

This week we met a man named _____. I met him last transfer, he came up to me one day while I was talking to his friend. He asked me "Does your church bring you peace and happiness in your life?" We of course told him "IT SURE DOES!!" He then told us he wanted to meet with us and wanted to learn more! We finally got to meet with him on Tuesday. ____ has been through SO much in life, due to bad choices and the bad hands that life dealt has out to him. 

He is just a very sad, lonely man, who wants his family back in his life. He is an alcoholic and doesn't know how to stop and wants to get his family back. Through the spirit I think we were able to help him and give him some kind of comfort. I know that the gospel can heal all wounds! No matter who you are or what you have done. It can help, if you let it in your life. I look forward on helping ____ make changes and help him see that Heavenly Father loves him. 

Transfer calls came! I know you all will never guess on where I'll be going. So I'll just tell you. I will be....STAYING!!! Yep! I will be here in ________ for another round!! That will mean that I have been in _______ for 7 1/2 months!!! WOOT! I'm excited to be here for another transfer!! It means I get to be with the people I love for even longer!!! I will also have Sister H. as my companion for another transfer.

Funny story, everyone here thought I would for sure leave ________ cause I have been here for so long, which is to be expected. On Sunday, when I told everyone that I will be here for another 6 weeks, there was a lot of happiness to be had. 

One of the Islander members that I have been working with a LOT on helping reactivating some of the Islanders. He and his family have been teaching me the language and learning the culture. When he found out that I was staying, he hugged me!!! I wasn't sure what to do....awkward, yet very heartwarming. He then told me "Now we can do even more work together!! We will find you even more people to teach!" He then told me that because I don't force the religion on the Islanders and that I listen to them and that I try to learn the language it really helped and made a lot of them come back because of it. 

Well, that's all I got for this week. LOVE TO YOU ALL!!

SISTER ELKINS

Year Mark, Squirrels, 3 Investigators, New Record!

It's been a year now since I've been out on my mission. I can't even began to describe what this last year has been like. I would say that it's been pretty exciting and adventures. One crazy ride for sure! But one of the experiences of my life. 

When I look back on how I used to be when I first came out, down to now - I can't help but laugh. I was never the kind of person to boldly testify. I didn't have the words or ability to say what the truth of this gospel deserves. In the end, that never mattered in the end. 

The Lord didn't want me to be this amazing speaker or have this way with words. All the Lord wanted of me was a simple thing. A worthy heart and willing hands. He says if I make the choice to serve Him, He will help me find my voice.

 

I know without a doubt in my mind I was called to serve in the Oklahoma Tulsa Mission for a reason. I refused to fail the Lord in any way. Heavenly Father has given me all that I have. I put my trust in Him. He knows the yearning of my heart. I couldn't or can't keep this gospel of Christ to myself. I want to share this amazing message with everyone that would listen to me.

How can I keep it to myself when I know that it will lift someone else. I've seen this gospel lift hands that hang down in sorrow. Or strengthening someone's knee's that bend in despair. Or how it can reach out to those who have hopeless hearts and don't even know of the Savors love for them. I've seen this gospel change people's lives for the better. It has given them meaning to their lives. 

I'm a witness of Heavenly Father's miracles and his mercy towards everyone. I know what I've seen in the last year has made me a be a totally different person. I know I will never be the same again. Because I know that when I put my trust in the Lord, the truth of the gospel begins to speak from my heart. This gospel moves me till I can't be still. 

Because I know that my Savor walks with me daily. Only through the Savior has guided me through the darkness and was the light to bring me out. I have felt His arms encircle me with love. I'm so grateful that Heavenly Father loved me enough to offer His only Son. 

This week has been so amazing!!!! I don't think I can describe all that has happened this week!!! We got 3 new investigators!!! They are so amazing!!!! The first two, we just showed up at there door and told them who we are. Once they heard that we where missionaries who talk about Christ, they wanted us to meet with them!!! Their names are Maria and Peterina. Such amazing people!! They are so prepared!!!

We had 5 investigators show up on Sunday for church. They loved it!!!! One of them was their first time to church. She only spoke Spanish and didn't know English. She still got up in Relief Society and shared this powerful testimony. I had chills from it!!! She was so amazing!! 

We hit the record this week of getting a lot of lessons. Things are going so good here in Anderson!!! I can't even began to describe it to you how amazing Anderson is!!! I love it!!! 

Funny story, Friday I had to go to the doctors for a health issue. The doctor just so happened to be a stake president. While we where meeting with him, we went from talking about my health issue down to him sharing his conversion story with us! He just shared his testimony. He was crying and such a sweet spirit about him. Sometimes as missionaries, people just want to share their stories with you and want to share the spirit with you too. Even when you are being examined.....It's one way to share your testimony!! 

So, we have some investigators and lots of potentials who have been wanting to play tether-ball with us. They are all Korean. I thought of a way to make this into a object lesson. (With lots of help form the Holy Ghost). The ball was Satan and we have to punch him to win the game. It worked really well. If you lost, then you had to repent because it was as if Satan got a hold of you. We gave them repentance stories, where they had to tell us how they would repent from something. It worked out really well. We had the neighborhood kids all into it, and they loved to see the Sister Missionaries playing tether-ball in a skirt!!! These kids have pretty much seen us do just about anything in a skirt. They once saw us help them garden in our skirts and bare-feet. (We didn't want to get our shoes dirty, so we took them off). It was tons of fun! They aren't to sure what to think of us sometimes.... 

Saturday, we went with the new Relief Society president to find some less actives. It was rainy and a bit chilly...We knocked on this house that none of us know to much about. When they opened the door and saw us out in the rain with no umbrella. They quickly invited us in.

We must have looked pretty pitiful, for them to invite us in so fast. We got to talk with them and showed them the Because He Lives video. (Which everyone needs to watch it and share with EVERYONE THEY KNOW!!!!) They loved the video and where very touched by it. They loved us and wanted us to come back again!!!! Heavenly Father knows what he is doing by having it rain that day! Everything lead up to that moment for us to meet with this family and to remind them how amazing the church is!!! 

Things are going soooo good here!!! I just love it here and wish I can convey to you all how amazing Heavenly Father is!!!!! I just love being a missionary!!!!!  

Love to all,

Sister Elkins

Tomatoes, Ankle-bracelets and the Cops

Hi Family and Friends,

I'm going to be lame and state that I'm lacking on emailing you all. I'll need to work on that. This week has been kind of busy and kind of not at the same time, lots of going on in the missionary world. In other words this email will be short, so try not to kill me over it!! *Dodges tomatoes* I will repent next week!

This week Sister Streadbeck and I, had to instruct a district meeting. As soon as we got up there, in walks in our mission President and his wife!!  I'll be honest...we didn't exactly plan out our instruction. We got busy doing other things, we planned to just go up there and wing it. Now we are going to be winging it with our mission president there!!! AAAHH!!!

I think that's when the spirit did a face palm to the forehead. He knew we needed help on this one. Otherwise we are going to look like idiots in front of the mission president. The spirit came to the rescue and saved our bacon. Our instruction went really good and I think we pulled it off. Lesson learned. Always be prepared and plan out your instructions!! You never know who will show up!!!! After our district meeting, President Shumway and Sister Shumway took us out for lunch!! We had pizza!!! My favorite!!!! 

Sister Elkins and Sister Streabeck

We had exchanges this week. I went to Bentonville, AR and Sister Streadbeck stayed here in Anderson. I love going on exchanges!! More so when you get to leave your area and see how other areas are done. It was fun and interesting experience.

I was with the Sister Training Leader and a member. We went to see one of their less-actives that they never met before. All they knew that one of the sons who was 18 and had some issues with the law...kind of liked murdered someone or something. Not too sure on the details on that. I didn't ask. All we knew was that the son had a monitored ankle bracelet on. We knocked on this sketched out house. The family was there and they were super nice!! They let us in and we got to know them.

It was so heartbreaking to see the mom on oxygen and smoking at the same time!! You think when you’re on oxygen it's time to quit smoking!! Not keep going on!!

Then things got fun, when in the middle of the lesson we hear a loud knock at the door. It was the police!!! Everyone got panicked a bit...or a lot. The cop asked for our member that was with us!!

They went outside, and my sister training leader and I, had no clue what to do. We weren't expecting the member with us to have the cops show up for! We went outside and it just turned out that the member parked in front of the stop sign. WHEW!!! No biggie.

He just wanted her to move her car! Here I was thinking something more exciting was going to happen!! 

Only on exchanges do we have cops show up in the middle of a lesson!! Exchanges never go as planned and they never go right. 

Well, I love you all and ya'all take care!!!

Sister Jackie Elkins

I Can Do All Things Through Christ

Dear Family And Friends,

What amazing week this has been!!! This week during district meeting, a lady came in and asked us to help her tie a quilt. We of course, said "YES!!" We had 10 missionaries and 4 of them are sisters learn how to tie two huge quilts that are going to be donated to a hospital for children. I found it rather hilarious to see these Elders tackling tying a quilt. It's a sight you just don't see every day. I got pictures, that will come soon...

This week we had Ward Conference. Meaning we had tons of meetings to go to this week. Thursday, the stake council came out to team up with our ward council and do visits with the members of the ward. We where paired up with the Stake Primary President. The Stake Primary President is named Sister Allred. She's a return Sister missionary and more than excited to pretend that she was a missionary again. 

She is hilarious!! We took her to meet a less active family. The only one's that where there was the 13 year old boy and his 20 something year old cousin. While we where meeting with the young boy and talking to him. We (as in Sister Cooper and I) where so focused on talking to the 13 year old boy, that we totally missed what was going on around us. What we missed (and I'm grateful for) was while we where talking, the boy's cousin had came out of the shower completely naked and was walking around the hallway. Sadly, poor Sister Allred saw the boy's naked cousin!!! I think she about had a heart attack. Luckily, we had no clue what happened until after we left the lesson. Never a dull moment when you go out with the missionaries. lol 

Saturday, I got the chance to go and see Lj's baptism in Miami!! I was so excited to be there and see him be baptized. The best thing ever!! I can't began to describe it. I'm so happy for him and that he made this choice. I can't wait until he get's the chance to go to the temple!! He will love it!!! Amazing things are just waiting for Lj. 

I found a hidden meaning in the scripture "I can do all things (Imperfectly) through Christ who strengthens me (perfectly)." I thought that I came on a mission to do things right and to invite people to come unto Christ. But I forget that it is okay to mess up, and to learn and grow in uncomfortable ways. 

I am imperfect and I need help to be perfect. I can't do things on my own. No matter how hard I try. I just can't do it. This week my challenges have been different and molding me to be a better person.  At one point this week, I reached a point of "How can I do this?" Then I knelt in prayer, asking Heavenly Father for help. I felt during that prayer that I was strengthened and felt that everything was going to be okay. That I wasn't alone. I never was.

I needed to rely on the Lord. I may be imperfect all of the time, but Christ is there helping me every step of the way. He knows me and wants to help me. He knows how to help each of us PERFECTLY. It's something I tend to forget sometimes. That Christ is right there helping me. 

I know that this Church is true. I know that this gospel can bless others and be a source of strength to them. I'm so grateful that I have a loving Savior and loves me in all my weaknesses. I look forward to more opportunities of growing and becoming that better person that Christ want's me to be.        

Love to all!

Sister Jacquelyn Elkins

Moving, Goats, Zone Goal, Hives, Oh My!

Dear Friends and Family,

It's been another exciting week. It's never a dull moment when you’re around me to began with. Sorry, that you are left with dull lives while I'm away. Maybe this will let you know how awesome and exciting I am. Just a little reminder of what an awesome person I am.

We found out last Tuesday, that we had to move out of our apartment, to a place that is bigger and better functioning. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. :) Our place new place is wonderful!! It's on a tri duplex. Has more storage place and bigger place. We love it and we look forward to making it more homey. 

                                                                      Here's our new address. I expect letters from everyone!! lol

2209 N Elm Street

Miami, Ok 74354

This week we got to meet a "scary" goat. We took our new member Rachel out to visit a less active. When we got there out came this cute little goat that came charging at Sister Bagby. I did what companions do when they see a goat charging at their companion. I laughed. For whatever reason, Sister Bagby was not a fan of that. She tried hiding behind me. I now became the human goat shield. I now had both Rachel, and Sister Bagby, hiding behind me, while I was supposed to be protecting them from the "Scary" goat. The goats eventually let us teach to these little girls about Christ. I now want a goat. :)

This week our Zone had a set a goal of getting 100% member present lessons. That's just 20 lessons with along with church members there with us, when we go out and teach people. At first it seemed impossible. We took it to the Lord and with help from the wonderful members of Miami, we reached our goal. We got 22 members present. The ending results were that as a zone we taught 195 lessons, with the average of 94.1% member present lessons! WOOT! It took LOTS and LOTS of work. Very stressful. We are so happy that our hard work paid off!

I can't even begin to describe all of the miracles we saw this week. I know that the Lord will be there to help us accomplish our goals and if we keep him involved then we can do anything. If it matters to us, then it will matter to him.

I had an interesting thing happen to me on Saturday night at the Ward Christmas party. I had broken out in hives and rashes. On my face, neck, shoulders, I looked beautiful covered in rashes and hives. I knew I was having allergic reaction to something. I have a few ideas on what it could be. Sunday, the hives and gotten worse. I was taken to urgent care and given a steroid shot. 

On the bright side, I looked somewhat better and not such a scary sight any more. I will soon be normal, like I said, never a dull moment with me. I'll be always doing something interesting. I miss you all and hope you all have a wonderful Christmas. :)    

Much love,

Sister Elkins

Exchanges, Camels and Baptisms

Dear fellow tabernacle of clay mold beings (Moroni 9:6, Mosiah 3:5),
 

Greetings from the land of Miami, Oklahoma. My excursion this week has been more than magnificent! We had exchanges this week, I stayed here in Miami, while Sister Bagby went to Joplin. I was with Sister Goody for the exchange. I guess Sister Goody has been knocked on the head by the crazy fairy or something. Because during our delight-some exchange, she said she was going to recommend that I train! I will then be put on a list of names that our Mission President will go over when we get new missionaries. I know that it's not missionary-like to dislike being a trainer and I should WANT to train someone. Sadly, I haven't formulated the desire to want to train.

I believe training is like raising a baby. Expect it's more like someone handing you a 19 something year old and say "Here raise this to all of this to the level of expectations of a missionary". But you only have 6 or 12 weeks to do it!

Then after that training is over, you will ALWAYS be remembered for how that missionary turned out! If they are bad,  they will ask "Who was your trainer?" There's this saying in the mission, that if a missionary isn't doing the things they are supposed to its cause of the trainer. Bad trainer equals bad missionary for however long they serve. 

Of course, this could be all said for being a good trainer too. I just don't think I'm ready for that kind of responsibility. I guess we will see what happens. Good thing that there is no new sister missionaries coming out until maybe in January. 

This week we got invited to another Church’s Christmas festivities. I think you could call it that...basically it's a church that put on this HUGE reenactment of Christ's birth - Just a lot more intense and interesting.

We showed up, and I was ready to experience whatever came at me. First, you get paired into a group of about 10 people or so. Then they take you to their chapel. There, people are rocking out on the stage,                            with drums, guitars, and dancers. While you are watching the performance, you then are taken outside to a tent, where people then say a prayer over you.

Then a man appears who's dressed in robes of Christ's time. He says he's our "Father" that we must travel to Bethlehem to pay the tax. Mind you it was dark out, and I'm now following a man who says he's my "father". We went along these trails where we met other actors who are also headed to Bethlehem to pay the tax.

We even met someone who had camel. I did the only logical thing to do and went up to the camel. I started petting it. It's not very often that you see a camel in Oklahoma! While I was petting the camel Roman soldiers came on horses. They started yelling and saying all kinds of things. For those of who know me well, you'll know that I don't do well when crazy things happen. I just started laughing and not sure what else to do when people dressed as Roman soldiers start yelling at you. I kind of stood out by laughing.

Then we finally got to see the manger scene. All of it was fun. I knew that we stood out with our name tags that said that we are from a different church. I didn't care though. I was so hoping that someone would ask me questions. Nothing. Maybe next time...

Sunday, the most wonderful thing happened! Rachel got baptized!! I wish I could describe to you how wonderful that baptism was! Rachel was beyond excited about getting baptized. She's been counting down for this day to come.

The spirit was so strong from the moment we sang the opening song. Nothing even happened yet, and people already had tears in their eyes!  It was so intense! The room was full of the spirit, I know everyone was feeling it. I know that those who came to baptism, they came to show their love for Rachel. She has became a part of the ward long before she got baptized. How could you not love Rachel! She's so easy to love and her humor. She always gets me going. Then the big moment came. As Rachel stepped into that water, I became overwhelmed with the spirit. I was overflowing with love, joy, and happiness for Rachel. I wanted to jump up and down. Or give her the biggest hug ever! When she came out of that water, she was totally glowing. I knew she was happy. I know that Heavenly Father is proud of Rachel too. What I was feeling is not even a million times as strong as what Heavenly Father feels for Rachel. 

I'm so grateful to be here on my mission. I'm so blessed to have the gospel in my life and to share it with others. My heart has so much love for everyone. Sometimes I think I might burst with this amount of love I have for everyone. I love my Mission!!!!!!!! 

Baby It's Cold Outside!

Dear Family and Friends!

WOAH DOGIES!! It's cold out side!!! If you were here with me right now, you would be bundled up and looking like an Eskimo right now. Not saying that I personally looking like an Eskimo... it's considered unprofessional. BUT if I could I would dress up as an Eskimo!! They got the right idea on how to stay warm. 

This time of year, I think will be the only time I wish I was an Elder!! It's not all that fun to wear dresses in the winter time all day, every day. Good thing it's going to warm up in a day or two! Back to the 70's weather.

This week, we went around and shared a Thanksgiving message to everyone we could possibly think of. We went and visited less actives, members, investigators, and anyone that would listen to us really.

 I loved sharing the message of Thanksgiving. In Alma describes it best. It says "Worship God, in whatsoever place ye may be in, in spirit, and in truth; and that ye live in Thanksgiving daily, for the many mercies and blessings which he doth bestow upon you." (Alma 34:38) There are so MANY blessings that I'm thankful for. I can't even name them all. I will say this though, I am so deeply grateful for the chance to be on my mission at this time. To be around so many wonderful people. I'm so grateful for the gospel in my life. I'm so grateful for the atonement and my Savior for all that he has done for me.

Then we had a wonderful lesson with Kendra where we made home made pizza and eggnog! It was so good!! Afterwards we did a 1,000 piece puzzle of Christ together. It was a lot of fun. While we where there, Kendra wanted to do this book of Mormon challenge with us. The challenge is you finish the Book of Mormon in 25 days! Starting on December 1, and you'll be finished on Christmas day!! That's only 22 pages a day! No big deal! So, I started today reading my 22 pages. I look forward to doing this Challenge with Kendra and a few others. :) 

Thanksgiving day was awesome! We are not supposed to teach on Thanksgiving day, and to basically take it easy and be with other people. Our first meal of the day was with Bishop Compton and 20 of students from the college. Who were all from the Bahamas. Needless to say it was a bit crowded and made things interesting. It was still fun and we always have fun when we are will Bishop's family. Then we had Thanksgiving with the Chamba family. They fed us some good food too! They fried their turkey and it tasted sooooo good!!!!

Then we started planning the baptism for Rachel!! She will be getting baptized next week!! I'm so excited for her and the chance to be there with her. She will also be doing the Book of Mormon challenge with us. So many good things are going on for Rachel. She is so amazing and has became a dear friend. I'm so blessed to have her in my life!

I want all of you to know that I love you and miss you. I hope you all have a wonderful day and know that TOMORROW IS MY BIRTHDAY!!! I'll be 22 once again! ;) No one needs to know how hold I'll really be. I can't imagine a better way to spend my birthday than serving the Lord. My birthday will be full of epicness and awesomeness all thrown in one day!! WOOT!!! WOOT!! 

Much love,

Sister Elkins