Family,
I'm not sure what time I will be calling but I will discuss that with my companion. I am looking for the nativity. I actually have Elder Landsaw looking for me in Atlanta. But it's like last year, the right one hasn't come about yet, I prayed that i would find one though.
So my new companion is Elder James Stringfellow. He is from Farmington, and he knows Tyler and Jared. He is a sharp kid; He will end up being a great missionary. We have had a good week. It’s been great to just have one companion again, but having two really throws you off. We share an apartment with another companionship and because I’m used to more than just one other guy, I keep expecting them to come with us. Anyway, since there are two sets of missionaries in our Branch now we split our area and they took some of the people we were working with. But we are teaching a lady named Bonnie, she has a baptismal date for Dec 30th. She has to quit smoking, but she really wants to get God into her life. She has had a pretty tough life, but she is really determined to make her life better so we are excited to be working with her. We worked real hard this week and have seen some great miracles, and successes. I'm grateful for that, because E. Stringfellow is so new, I really want him to see some good things and have opportunities to grow. I'm excited to be training, I feel like at this time in my mission training will be perfect for me so that I can get back to the basics. I think I will learn a lot from this. My most important desire is that I am able to help set a good tone for E. Stringfellow's mission. Dad, did you ever train a new missionary? And what are your suggestions on how to do a good job?
Anyway we are doing awesome, Christmas season is great. The 12 days of Christmas is going well, our gifts aren't really that cool but it’s the thought that counts right. Plus we don’t really have time to make everything perfect. I love you all a ton, Merry Christmas and I can’t wait to talk to you!!
Elder Hendrix
Julie,
Wow you’re like the next Shakespeare! I thought your rhyme was very clever. It was very true too, and I think it is so cool that you already know so much about the Gospel. I liked it very much. I had a dream about you last night. I came home from my mission and you were the first person I hugged, oh ya a "Julie Hug"! We were crying and stuff. I think that's how I want it to be when I really come home; you first! I really miss you too, and I can’t wait to talk to you. Keep being good! Love ya
Elder Hendrix
Monday, December 19, 2011
Monday, December 12, 2011
December 12, 2011
Family,
The baptisms went great, with one of the girls i baptized we had to do it 3 times. I felt so bad, because it was all my fault. She seemed really nervous after the 2nd one and I was worried that I ruined her experience. Other than that all went well. Yesterday they all showed up late for church, so we did the confirmations between the first and 2nd talks in sacrament meeting. They are such great kids. We do have transfers this week and I will be staying in Thomaston and be getting a brand new missionary, a greenie. I’m pretty excited to train, I hope he comes pre-trained. That’s sweet you looked up Thomaston on Google earth, if you find the big white church which is just south west of the main town square, look a little more southwest and you will see a little community of condominiums that is where we live. Thanks so much for the 12 days of Christmas, I’m stoked to do that, and I am looking for a nativity, but it isn’t looking promising, don’t worry I’ll get you one though. I just want to say something to you all about an experience I had this week. There is a guy in our branch who is handicapped in some way and is really an odd guy, but he has a great heart. I don’t think throughout his whole life anyone has made him feel like he matters. He has only been a member for like 4 years, but has been less active for most of that time. We worked with him for a while and all we did was love him and be his friend, and he came for 4 weeks in a row. Then out of nowhere he stopped coming, we asked him why and he said "maybe I don't belong", the thought came to my mind, "how can someone feel like they don’t belong in Gods church". It broke my heart, and ticked me off. He has felt out of place his whole life (even in his family), and we aren’t even making him feel comfortable in the Church of Jesus Christ. He told us that on Tuesday and we could tell that he wasn’t coming back to church this week, but on Saturday we ran into him and took him out to lunch with us, bought him a burger and spent probably 40 min with him. So he came to church on Sunday. But at church on Sunday, I watched with my own eyes him be treated like he didn't matter to anyone. I honestly don't even want to invite the guy back to church now. Anyway I don't mean to be negative, but I just hope that we never treat people like that in our family, even if they are weird, or dirty, or awkward. I hope that we treat people with love always, and even seek out opportunities to serve people who are spiritually and emotionally starving, which really just means that they are starved for love, this is where true happiness comes from. Mom I loved the last paragraph of your e-mail about serving God, its Mosiah 2:17 then follow that up with Mosiah 2:41. We find joy in this life by serving others. Anyway I love you all, please love those people who the world finds it hard to Love. I love you all (your all not hard to love).
Elder Hendrix
The baptisms went great, with one of the girls i baptized we had to do it 3 times. I felt so bad, because it was all my fault. She seemed really nervous after the 2nd one and I was worried that I ruined her experience. Other than that all went well. Yesterday they all showed up late for church, so we did the confirmations between the first and 2nd talks in sacrament meeting. They are such great kids. We do have transfers this week and I will be staying in Thomaston and be getting a brand new missionary, a greenie. I’m pretty excited to train, I hope he comes pre-trained. That’s sweet you looked up Thomaston on Google earth, if you find the big white church which is just south west of the main town square, look a little more southwest and you will see a little community of condominiums that is where we live. Thanks so much for the 12 days of Christmas, I’m stoked to do that, and I am looking for a nativity, but it isn’t looking promising, don’t worry I’ll get you one though. I just want to say something to you all about an experience I had this week. There is a guy in our branch who is handicapped in some way and is really an odd guy, but he has a great heart. I don’t think throughout his whole life anyone has made him feel like he matters. He has only been a member for like 4 years, but has been less active for most of that time. We worked with him for a while and all we did was love him and be his friend, and he came for 4 weeks in a row. Then out of nowhere he stopped coming, we asked him why and he said "maybe I don't belong", the thought came to my mind, "how can someone feel like they don’t belong in Gods church". It broke my heart, and ticked me off. He has felt out of place his whole life (even in his family), and we aren’t even making him feel comfortable in the Church of Jesus Christ. He told us that on Tuesday and we could tell that he wasn’t coming back to church this week, but on Saturday we ran into him and took him out to lunch with us, bought him a burger and spent probably 40 min with him. So he came to church on Sunday. But at church on Sunday, I watched with my own eyes him be treated like he didn't matter to anyone. I honestly don't even want to invite the guy back to church now. Anyway I don't mean to be negative, but I just hope that we never treat people like that in our family, even if they are weird, or dirty, or awkward. I hope that we treat people with love always, and even seek out opportunities to serve people who are spiritually and emotionally starving, which really just means that they are starved for love, this is where true happiness comes from. Mom I loved the last paragraph of your e-mail about serving God, its Mosiah 2:17 then follow that up with Mosiah 2:41. We find joy in this life by serving others. Anyway I love you all, please love those people who the world finds it hard to Love. I love you all (your all not hard to love).
Elder Hendrix
Monday, December 5, 2011
December 5, 2011
Family,
Ok mom thanks for the reminder, remind me each week i really want to get a nativity for you ok! Wow y'alls weather sounds harsh, it almost doesn’t make me miss home. Our weather is great, it has hovered around 60 the for the past week, it got cold for like 3 days. I’ll pray for Darren, don’t stress too much though, he'll get it done. That quote is awesome, thanks. We saw the Christmas devotional, it was awesome it made me think about how important it is to proclaim his name especially at this time of the year.
Mom I want to try and do the 12 days of Christmas for some people, so I was wondering if you could give me some ideas or even an example cuz your pretty creative, and also I want to give them some good gifts so if you could send me some money so I could buy some stuff like 50-100 bucks, I think I need to start by next Monday, thanks. Also could you send me the Oct 2011 conference CDs. Also a reminder, nobody send me candy, I’m serious! Also I don’t want any presents, Letters are great and some pictures too.
We are excited for this weekend! There are 4 kids getting baptized on Saturday, they are such awesome kids, they are hard to teach, but it’s been fun. So the story has been going on for the past 3 months. Our very first day we specifically prayed that we would be able to find a new investigator and a Less-active member that we could find and bring to church. We looked over the ward roster and felt impressed about a few, one being the Bailey family. Well we were both new so we didn’t know what to do so we looked at a map and saw some names and just hopped on our bikes and went along. The second person we ever talked to in Thomaston, was walking down the sidewalk we contacted him and asked if we could give him a card, he said "No", most people don’t say no. Then after a few awkward moments of silence he said "I’m already a member of your church". His name was Kelcey Bailey, he’s 30, he said we could come by and visit him a few days later. We had two great lessons with him that week, but our next lesson, we showed up and he wasn’t there, but his mom Darlene Bailey, was there so she invited us in. We started talking about coming to church, reading scriptures and how by doing that she would be able to deal with all of the challenges and burdens that she had to bear. And at one point I looked up and she was just crying quietly, when we both noticed we sat there in complete silence for a solid 2-3 min, while she cried, we testified of the power of church attendance, prayer and scripture study. She and Kelcey came to church that next week and she has been there every week since. One day she asked us to teach her 4 grandkids (two of them are Kelceys daughters), so that’s how we found them. But the real tender mercy from the Lord to me was yesterday during testimony meeting, as soon as it was opened up for testimonies, Sis Bailey got right up and bore her testimony. She talked about how before she started coming back to church she had 3 people in her immediate family in Jail, including her husband. But she testified that since she has been back at church, she can deal with the challenges and struggles that she has and she feels peace in her life. It really hit home to me for 2 reasons. First I know that living the gospel has truly made my life better, but I admit that I have often wondered and doubted that maybe it is a figment of my imagination, maybe it only works for me and not others, but her testimony was a testimony builder for me, that the simple principles we teach: Prayer, scripture study, and church attendance are so true. Second, lately I have been wondering if we are really doing a good job of building up the church, our only real progressing investigators are ages 8-12, but that was a selfish and prideful, subjective, really really poor attitude and I saw that our work is blessing many. I felt humbled last night as I pondered on her testimony, and the blessing that I have had to be a part of her experience of "coming unto Christ". I love you all, Mom please send me the stuff for 12 days of Christmas, especially your ideas I have none. Bye Elder Hendrix
Julie,
You are so awesome, I can’t wait to talk to you this Christmas!!! Bye buddy.
Ok mom thanks for the reminder, remind me each week i really want to get a nativity for you ok! Wow y'alls weather sounds harsh, it almost doesn’t make me miss home. Our weather is great, it has hovered around 60 the for the past week, it got cold for like 3 days. I’ll pray for Darren, don’t stress too much though, he'll get it done. That quote is awesome, thanks. We saw the Christmas devotional, it was awesome it made me think about how important it is to proclaim his name especially at this time of the year.
Mom I want to try and do the 12 days of Christmas for some people, so I was wondering if you could give me some ideas or even an example cuz your pretty creative, and also I want to give them some good gifts so if you could send me some money so I could buy some stuff like 50-100 bucks, I think I need to start by next Monday, thanks. Also could you send me the Oct 2011 conference CDs. Also a reminder, nobody send me candy, I’m serious! Also I don’t want any presents, Letters are great and some pictures too.
We are excited for this weekend! There are 4 kids getting baptized on Saturday, they are such awesome kids, they are hard to teach, but it’s been fun. So the story has been going on for the past 3 months. Our very first day we specifically prayed that we would be able to find a new investigator and a Less-active member that we could find and bring to church. We looked over the ward roster and felt impressed about a few, one being the Bailey family. Well we were both new so we didn’t know what to do so we looked at a map and saw some names and just hopped on our bikes and went along. The second person we ever talked to in Thomaston, was walking down the sidewalk we contacted him and asked if we could give him a card, he said "No", most people don’t say no. Then after a few awkward moments of silence he said "I’m already a member of your church". His name was Kelcey Bailey, he’s 30, he said we could come by and visit him a few days later. We had two great lessons with him that week, but our next lesson, we showed up and he wasn’t there, but his mom Darlene Bailey, was there so she invited us in. We started talking about coming to church, reading scriptures and how by doing that she would be able to deal with all of the challenges and burdens that she had to bear. And at one point I looked up and she was just crying quietly, when we both noticed we sat there in complete silence for a solid 2-3 min, while she cried, we testified of the power of church attendance, prayer and scripture study. She and Kelcey came to church that next week and she has been there every week since. One day she asked us to teach her 4 grandkids (two of them are Kelceys daughters), so that’s how we found them. But the real tender mercy from the Lord to me was yesterday during testimony meeting, as soon as it was opened up for testimonies, Sis Bailey got right up and bore her testimony. She talked about how before she started coming back to church she had 3 people in her immediate family in Jail, including her husband. But she testified that since she has been back at church, she can deal with the challenges and struggles that she has and she feels peace in her life. It really hit home to me for 2 reasons. First I know that living the gospel has truly made my life better, but I admit that I have often wondered and doubted that maybe it is a figment of my imagination, maybe it only works for me and not others, but her testimony was a testimony builder for me, that the simple principles we teach: Prayer, scripture study, and church attendance are so true. Second, lately I have been wondering if we are really doing a good job of building up the church, our only real progressing investigators are ages 8-12, but that was a selfish and prideful, subjective, really really poor attitude and I saw that our work is blessing many. I felt humbled last night as I pondered on her testimony, and the blessing that I have had to be a part of her experience of "coming unto Christ". I love you all, Mom please send me the stuff for 12 days of Christmas, especially your ideas I have none. Bye Elder Hendrix
Julie,
You are so awesome, I can’t wait to talk to you this Christmas!!! Bye buddy.
Saturday, December 3, 2011
November 28, 2011
Family,
Mom your awesome! I think it’s ok that you let Darren go snowboarding, it’s for me too. We had a good week, we worked real hard and things are going pretty good. I can’t believe the transfer is more than half over, and we are almost in December. Almost 2012 i can hardly believe it. We had a good thanksgiving, lot of turkey, i love turkey. We are teaching this lady, April, she is such a tender spirit. She suffers from depression pretty bad, and doesn't have many good people around her. She used to be taught by some sisters in another branch and she was changing her life, but then she moved and lost contact with the church. She is awesome to teach because she has a great desire to change her life, but the tough thing is that she doesn’t know how to or think that she really can. I love teaching people the gospel, it is truly a charity building experience. You have to want the best for them, and then you just are able to teach them what they need to hear. Nothing is better than being able to teach someone exactly what the Lord wants them to hear. I hope that i will try to find ways to do that for the rest of my life, it’s great to see people bring themselves in line with the gospel. Well i love you all, it’s great to hear from you, share your love with everyone. I love y'all!!!
Elder Hendrix
Mom your awesome! I think it’s ok that you let Darren go snowboarding, it’s for me too. We had a good week, we worked real hard and things are going pretty good. I can’t believe the transfer is more than half over, and we are almost in December. Almost 2012 i can hardly believe it. We had a good thanksgiving, lot of turkey, i love turkey. We are teaching this lady, April, she is such a tender spirit. She suffers from depression pretty bad, and doesn't have many good people around her. She used to be taught by some sisters in another branch and she was changing her life, but then she moved and lost contact with the church. She is awesome to teach because she has a great desire to change her life, but the tough thing is that she doesn’t know how to or think that she really can. I love teaching people the gospel, it is truly a charity building experience. You have to want the best for them, and then you just are able to teach them what they need to hear. Nothing is better than being able to teach someone exactly what the Lord wants them to hear. I hope that i will try to find ways to do that for the rest of my life, it’s great to see people bring themselves in line with the gospel. Well i love you all, it’s great to hear from you, share your love with everyone. I love y'all!!!
Elder Hendrix
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