Family,
What a wonderful learning experience a mission is. The last 2 1/2 months have been full of challenge after challenge, followed by and accompanied with so many blessings. So i guess we had some really bad weather over here, i heard it is the biggest tornado storm in the last 40 years in the united states, many people died and lost much. Please pray for the people and especially the saints in this area. That storm was absolutely scary. I kept waking up in the middle of the night, and the sounds of thunder a few times made me think that there was a tornado right outside our apartment, one time i could feel my heart beating really fast, the storms out west do not compare a bit to the storms I have seen out here. Well yes I'm in a new area and i have a new companion. Elder Sly, from Salem Utah. He is really outgoing and fun, he is a really good missionary! He knows why he is out here and he has a open heart and a willingness to obey the Lords direction. He and I are pretty much opposites, in our styles of teaching and even in personality but we have been blessed through the inspiration of the Lord to come together and strive to understand each other so that we can teach in unity. As i was praying last night, I felt assured by the Holy Spirit that if we are unified we will make differences in the lives of people were teaching, by helping them enter the waters of baptism. I cant even begin to tell you all of the miracles that we have seen in the past week, and great people we have met.
This weekend was truly one i will never forget. Saturday night was the cultural celebration for the temple open house, it was fun to see one of those i never have before, President Monson looked like a kid in a candy shop. Then on Sunday President Monson, accompanied by Elder Ballard, Elder Walter F. Gonzales of the presidency of seventy, Elder William R. Walker of the Seventy, re-dedicated the Atlanta Temple. The spirit was so strong, it was special to here them share there testimony of the temple and my testimony was strengthened in the fact of how the temple is the focus of our worship, everything we do leads to the temple. Because of the Restoration of the Priesthood through Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdry, which i know was real and true, Gods ultimate purpose (to unit his children as one, in his family) can be realized for ALL who have ever, and will ever walk the earth. It was great to hear Pres. Monson pray for the "Lords missionaries", i am one of those. I was deeply touched as we were able to stand and sing with the choir, The Spirit of God. The thought came to me that all over Georgia and the Neighboring states, true latter-day saints were all singing at the same time that powerful hymn that testifies of the restoration. That is a significant thing in this area where the latter-day saints are persecuted still to this day. We are small in number, but we are backed by the power of God. The temple will be such a huge blessing in this area, i can already feel a difference in this place, i cant wait to go. I have to go, i love you all. My last few e-mails have been so crazy that you all are probably wondering what in the heck is going on out here, so ask me some good questions that i could answer, i feel like I'm missing telling you so many important things. I love you all!!!
Elder Hendrix
PS: Those of you who have written me letters and E-mails, sorry I'm taking forever, but your replies are coming.
D-bo,
I had the weirdest thing happen to me today as i was reading moms e-mail. I couldn't help but be excited for you guys taking out Hillcrest, I know crazy huh, they don't lie when they tell you the mission changes people, ha ha. But that is great! Let me know how districts go, send me some baseball pics, let me know how YOU are doing in ball and such. Love you bud, keep working hard and being obedient to your coach and God both will make you a better baseball player.... I Promise!
Julie,
Your just plain Crazy!! How was Disneyland? What was your favorite part? What Disney characters did you see there? Love ya
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