10 Invetigators! WOW!

• Elder Nixon has changed so much since the MTC. We get along really well, have fun, and work hard also. We will just play with people in the street to make them smile. I was the only one that would do that before. It is way better to have someone to help me. Elder Nixon is my District Leader. So I was demoted. Just kidding, no big deal. I'm glad I'm not Senior Companion. It was hard work. HAHAHA I also started going to the gym with Elder Nixon every morning. I was starting to get so fat. I'm losing weight already. I'm also going to look ripped I will send you pictures in six weeks.
• On Sunday we had 10 investigators at church. That is so many!! The most I have ever had before that was like 4. 10! WOW!! It was awesome. One of which was this sweet family that Elder Talk and I met. They read the Book of Mormon every day. We are going to set them this week for baptism. I'm so excited for them. We saw them last night and they love us. They were so happy to see us at their door. It was kind of a surprise visit. It was amazing. I love making people smile.
• Here is some news that makes me sad and I don't know what to do. Bala Krishna was confirmed on Sunday and it was amazing. Then on Monday he called us and told us that his principal had terminated his Studies. He is from a little village like 100 km away so he couldn't stay in Visak. He had to go to his village. The reason they terminated his studies is because he wasn't paying his fees. I'm really sad because there is no church in his village, and he doesn't have enough money to finish his studies here in Visak so he can't go to church and become the great member I know he can be. I'm really sad and I feel like I condemned him. Like now he can't keep the covenants that he made. I feel really bad and don't know what to do. I feel personally responsible for him. I'm very sad right now.
• P.S. I guess I'm a little more inspired than I thought when it comes to college basketball. Most of the ones I missed I should have followed my gut. Oh well, there is always next year.

Looking Into the New Testement

• Elder Talk got transferred. He is going to Kakinada. He isn't very excited. It is a village, so he isn't happy about that. My new Companion is Elder Nixon. He was my district leader in the MTC, so it should be fun. He is coming tomorrow. Fun.
• We got some sweet new investigators the last couple of weeks I'm excited for them. We are planning to set two families for baptism this week. We'll see how it works out. We also set another guy last week. Things are looking up. We are making some progress so, that's exciting. :)
• Well, this week I studied Acts a lot. I never really studied the New Testament that well so I thought I would do it now. It is pretty sweet. There is a lot of stuff that I didn't realize was there. A lot about the organization of the church back then and how they ordained and appointed exactly how they do it now. I think it's awesome.

More Photos

Not sure what they are upt to here.

Somewhere in Visak

I think they are at the Zoo.

It's Always Better to be Happy!

• I don't know why, but I am really happy now. Actually all the time. Even when things suck I seem to stay happy. I think its because I love being a Missionary. That could be it. ;) Also, I don't think it is really worth it to be sad or discouraged. I don't have enough time. I'm running out of time so fast. I don't know what to do. I feel like there is so much to do but not enough time. I need to prioritize. I think that is how you spell it. I just feel busy all the time, but I love it so much. I don't know what Iam going to do when I get home. I might go crazy. Or maybe you will have some project for me. ( Did he really just say that?) Actually I don't really doubt it. :)
• This week i studied a lot about happiness and where it comes from. Who has it and how we get it. I concluded that a mission just makes a person happy if they are there for the right reason. That makes me happy. :)
• Anyway enough with the spiritual ramblings of Elder Jenks....I had squid curry and shark curry. Yeah crazy. It was so good. I am starting to crave Indian food. I never ever ever thought that would happen, but it did. Oh well. That just means I will miss it more when I go home. I think Iwill learn how to make all these things then I wont miss them because I can make them. :) Well, and that only took 6 months! MM

P-Day Adventures

Today we went to Bora Caves. It is this big cave out in the middle of nowhere. It was cool, but not so awesome. We didn't really expect it to be so we weren't disappointed. I will send you some pictures next week. My camera died so it isn't really possible. Anyway. On the way up we had to drive over this big mountain. So we were in this bus and people are crazy drivers here; you have no idea. We were driving and the road is like winding almost 180 degree turns sometimes. The guy is cruising up this thing. I'm surprised we didn't tip over. I swear we were on two wheels for half the trip; its nuts. Also, there were these monkeys that were playing in the trees near the entrance of the cave and Elder Neilsen ,one of the couple missionaries, was carrying a bag with fruit and a sandwich in it and the monkeys started eyeing his bag so we were kind of nervous. Then the monkey I guess couldn't resist having this fruit and sandwich. I guess it was really hungry and it just charged and grabbed his bag and ripped a hole in it. It was crazy I was a little scared for him, but Elder Neilsen took care of himself. It was funny after it happened.

I am pretty sure this is not THE monkey, but a monkey just the same. MM

Bala Krishna

Well, this week was interesting. We finally got it through Bala Krishna's head what he needs to do. He finally understands I think, so he is getting baptized on March 8th. YAY!!!! I'm positive this one will go through. I'm excited for him. :) We met Bala Krishna the first day I went proselyting in Visak. We have been teaching him for a LOOOOOONNNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGG time. We even stopped teaching him at one point, for like two weeks, then he started coming to church. So we started again. We have given him 6 dates to be baptized and they all fell through. I think this one will work out though. I just have this feeling. Then on Sunday they split the branch. :) so now there are three branches in Visak. My area stayed pretty much the same, but I lost 2 square blocks. Guess what though, Bala Krishna lives in those two square blocks so he now is in second branch. I was kinda sad at first, but then I grew up a little and realized that it doesn't matter where he gets baptized just as long as it happens. So I'm happy. I hope he gets friends in the other branch. I'm sure he will. I will send you pictures in a couple of weeks. :)

Next letter -
Bala Krishna is being baptized this Sunday. (March 8th) The missionaries that were supposed to teach him now got sick, so we had to do everything. That's OK though, I was happy. He is the first person I have met first and taught all the way to baptism. I'm so excited for him. He is a little upset he isn't in 1st branch. He will get over it though. The last thing he said to me the last time we met "Make me in 1st branch." People think I have all power or something. I don't get it. Its funny though. Ill send you pictures next week. :)

Words from Elder Tyler

I'm sitting here with one of the Assistants, Elder Tyler rght now, these are his words, " Elder Jenks is an amazing Elder, he is a good leader. He is very intelligent, and a diligent worker. Some day an amazing leader in the mission. I bear these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen."

Well, how about that? We will see. MM