Family,
Well its been a good week. We had our
transfers and everything went just fine. I know its incredible, I
didn't screw anything up. This whole time with Pres. and Sis. Snow
has been such a neat experience! I have learned so much. It is
interesting how the Lord puts the right people into your life at the
right time. I believe he puts us in each situation, with the right
people, with the best opportunity for our growth, always. And all
that we need to do is make sure that we are keeping our covenants. If
we are then we will learn what we need to learn. I have learned
things from each companion that I have had, and as I look back it was
tailored to exactly what I needed. As well I needed to learn from and
serve with Pres. and Sis. Satterfield, to be able to become what the
savior needed me to become. And I have learned things from Pres. and
Sis. Snow that I really need, that I wouldn't have learned with the
Satterfields. I testify that God knows us and will give us the
opportunities that we need to grow to become like He is, as long as
we are keeping our covenants.
I have just learned some great
principles lately about the Gospel and the way the church works
through serving along side the Snow's. First of all, the Lord has a
way of doing things. It is always simple. And it is not hard to find
or do. I don't know why we miss it so often, I have throughout my
mission in many ways, even though I have been being taught them by my
leaders. They are found in the scriptures. Too often we read other
books, even if they are books written about the gospel and gospel
principles, and we fail to study the scriptures. I have also recently
learned how powerful the Missionary Handbook is (its the little "rule
book"). It's not even a rule book, its a handbook for how we do
our work. Just like the Church Handbooks, they are how we do the
Lords work in his church. Often times we are content with doing
things the old way. The way we have always done our work, and we quit
studying to check ourselves and make sure we are doing things as we
should. Usually we go to those book when we have a big problem or
need an answer. But doing it that way (especially with the
scriptures) makes it difficult to live the Doctrine of Christ, and
exercise faith. Which leads me into something else that I have been
learning a lot about. Because to exercise faith, is to act. But to
act we must have good and evil, we must be enticed by the one or the
other (2 Nephi 2). But to know good from evil we must be looking for
the truth, and once we see good, from evil, we must exercise our
faith and lay hold upon every good thing. This pattern is how we
become like our heavenly father, it takes faith, repenting, making
and keeping covenants, obedience to God and His Spirit. The Gospel
is so simple, but so profound.... because its simple!
We started teaching this Girl named
Katie. She was a friend of a member in our ward. She has been coming
for a long time and she was finally invited to learn about the Gospel
so we set up some appointments with her. We had 2 great lessons, the
spirit was so strong as we taught her about the experience Joseph
Smith had as a teenager. It was so awesome, because at the end of the
lessons she said, "I know exactly what I need to do...I need to
find out on my own if this is true". She is really prepared but
also worried about what her family will say and do if she decides to
be baptized. After that lesson we haven't heard from her, but we will
get back in contact with her, but please pray for her to have the
courage and faith to follow the spirit. Love you all your all
awesome!!
Elder Hendrix
Julie,
Hey there buddy! I'm so proud of you
for being a little missionary. Just remember to love everyone, that
is how you do missionary work, be as nice as Jesus wants you to be.
(which is about as nice as mom is). I will send you the recorder, I'm
proud of you and cant wait to see you!
Love you tons crazy cat!
Elder Jeff Hendrix
