August 29, 2011

Family,

   Well I’m just really in a good mood. Our last week was great and I’ll tell you about it in a second. But to mom’s questions: Ask that Elder where he is from and what ward he’s in, tell him I’m in Atlanta, in the Atlanta ward. It has been getting cooler in the mornings and evenings, it’s not as humid lately, but it was 100 on Saturday.  We haven’t felt the Hurricane at all.  Zone stuff doesn’t really interfere with our teaching or work at all. I did send pictures; i put them in the mail on Friday i think.  I love your question about teaching mom. We don’t have a ton of investigators that we are actively teaching, some days we may only teach 1-2 lessons, but really that’s our fault, we just need to take more opportunities, and be more effective in our use of time. But teaching is by far my favorite aspect of missionary work. There really is nothing like sitting down with someone and focusing on what God wants them to know, and being able to deliver that message to them in a way that they understand it, or in a way that it affects their feelings.  If it’s a good spiritual lesson it is a very intense experience, but it feels so good to teach by the spirit. You should invite the missionaries to come over and teach you the first Lesson, make sure Julie and Darren are there, I’m sure the missionaries will do it.  And it’s always interesting and challenging (in a good way) to learn how to teach with your companion, because we all teach differently. Sometimes it takes a while but sometimes it works right from the beginning, with Wunderli we had the same teaching style and it worked out well, Sly and I though, were all over the place at first but we really were able to figure things out, so teaching is really awesome, i love it. We have some great people that we are teaching and that is why I was so excited about this past week. First of all, the young Kid that we are teaching that grew up on the streets is getting baptized today, and he asked me to baptize him so I am really excited and feel it a special privilege for sure. I love that kid so much, i have learned more about the Love of God by seeing his journey than i have with any other experience in my life. It is comforting to see how much God is a part of our lives and how much he wants us to have what we truly desire.  His story is amazing but it’s because he was willing to "go and do".  We also got a referral from Mormon.org (that website has boosted missionary work in an absolutely ridiculous way since they changed it up last January, go visit it, it allows each one of us to do missionary work.). But it’s a young couple, who used to go to church in Samoa, and they are living here trying to find some work and they have been eating up everything that we have taught them. They are going to be baptized on Sept 11, and they are super excited for it, and they are such funny people. I feel like we have laughed more that we have taught with them.   We also had Elder Clarke of the 70 come to our Zone Conference this last week, he really gave us some good instruction, it excited me. I felt like his instruction was tailored specifically for me, he is a really intense guy!  I love the mission, it’s such a great experience, I’m so glad to hear of all the missionaries in our ward right now.  By the way how is Y'alls missionary work going, i mean everyone in my family. I sure hope that your mindful everyday of missionary opportunities, easy for me to say but it is really important. With all of the commotion in the world right now, people need to see how calm we as faithful followers of Jesus Christ are in the future. I love you all so much, Send pictures sorry I’m so slow, hey mom send me a new card for my camera will ya, I’ll send more pics from tonight. I love ya all.

Elder Hendrix

Julie,

   Hey there fella, sorry I haven’t written to you forever, i was glad to hear from you. Are you starting 3rd Grade? You’re getting old, i remember my third grade teacher, Mr. Hansen he was cool, ask Brice about him cuz he was in my class in 3rd grade.  Don’t worry hurricane Irene is far away. I haven’t recorded anything yet, sorry i will now though i loved listening to what you had to say on it, I’ll send it back, do i need to send the whole thing back or just the Tape?  Tell Joneichae and Jaden hello for me, and tell Joneichae that she is Crazy, like you!   I love cookie monsters club, i think you should send me something yall make, ok.  I love the Articles of faith; do you know why Joseph Smith wrote those down? that’s you homework for this week, ask Dad why and tell me in your next e-mail.  Don’t have any boyfriends they are just trouble. Tell Darren that you love him every day, and also tell him to write me an e-mail too. I love you i can’t believe you’re so old, almost 9....wow....and you’re still a big crazy face!!