February 27, 2012

Family,                                                                                                           

  Hey hey, we are doing good here in GA. Let me just tell you, the weather here is so so nice, I don’t think (with the exception of 4 or 5 days) it has got below 50 degrees. We went to a ward members business party on Saturday and it was an outside party at night and we were fine in our suits. I’m telling you snow and 0 degrees is overrated, though I do miss snowboarding. Anyway, I am curious I feel like my e-mails are not that interesting, what would you all like to hear about. Mom that other Journal you told me about, send that one too. Thanks. 

  So we have been pretty busy again. We have gone on like 5 exchanges in the last 2 weeks, so time has flown by, out transfer is over next Wednesday, this transfer has gone by faster than any other on my mission.  It has been a tough transfer for me. I have tried to do so many different things that I haven’t really ever tried before and I'm not doing a very good job of it. I’m learning, and that is good but it’s like we have been treading water for the last 4 weeks. We haven’t really found many new people to teach, and most of the people we have found have not been making any progress. We just had one guy (the guy from panama), who without a doubt knew that we were teaching him truth and that he needed to read and pray about the Book of Mormon, dropped us. There were some family issues going on, we think his wife didn’t want us to teach him. It is sad because he had been prepared for sure, but agency is agency and we each have to choose for ourselves. A lot of our other families that we were working with are kinda falling off. It’s sad, and just frustrating (that we have to watch people choose to be less happy). In other words our area has been suffering, in part becuase we need to go to the Lord and ask him where he wants us to go, and also because we are really focused on helping missionaries develop skills too. But we are teaching a family, the Hatch family. Dad is a member; Mom is an inactive Catholic, and 3 of the sweetest little kiddies. Anyway, things are going pretty well with Sis Hatch has felt that what we are teaching is good and she has felt the spirit, but she hasn't been reading the Book of Mormon very consistently yet. And she needs to so that she can have that spiritual witness that every member of the church needs, that the Book of Mormon is true, to remain active forever.  Speaking of the Book of Mormon, it is so stinking true!  I was reading it last night and it just teaches so clearly the doctrine of Christ. I know that a person cannot come to a true and complete testimony of the Savior until they accept the divinity of the Book of Mormon. You know something I have learned about on my mission is that the sacrament is, A TIME FOR REVELATION. So on Sunday I was thinking about how our work was going and how I didn't feel like I was doing good enough and that I needed to work harder and how I was weak and how I felt inadequate, and how I struggle to be an effective missionary because of my weaknesses and sins and I, I, I, I. It was all about me, and the Lord simple taught me that great principle "if any man will save his life shall lose it, but he who loses his life for my sake shall find it". It has been a re-occurring theme throughout my mission, and it is amazing what change can happen, immediately after our attitude switches from me, me, me; to selfless service to others. I know that I am engaged in the work of God the Father; I know the I teach the Only true way, and happiness and goodness come, only, through the Grace of Christ. I love you all, thanks for being so awesome!! Yall have no idea how often I think about my family, and how wonderful you are, and I’m inspired to be a better person... thank you!

Elder Hendrix

February 13, 2012

Family,
Everything is going great. We had a crazy week, we are really busy but not with actually teaching. We have a million things to do its all good though. We didn't teach a lot this week but we did start teaching a great great guy we have taught him 2 times already and each lesson is so spiritual, he has really been prepared. His name is Bro. L, he is from Panama, when we first talked with him he told us about the only mormon he ever knew, it was a missionary in panama, named Micheal. This missionary made a very big impression on Bro. L and he has never forgot him, I guess that missionary use to teach his family when he was a teenager probably 35 years ago. But he was very interested in the book of mormon, and always wondered about the "Great white, bearded God" the ancient aztecs talked about. He said he would be baptized when he recieves his answer. So it has been fun teaching him. I will send some pictures and we dont do to much exciting on p-day. Today we are going to an army museum on the base. I love you all and thank you so much for your support and love and prayers.

Elder Hendrix

Thanks to our Soldiers!

Family,
Everything is going so well. We don’t have a ton of people to teach right now, so we had a week of just going out trying to find people who are being prepared. We are really busy with lots of other stuff too so we had a pretty hectic week and things will just be more and more hectic through the rest of our transfer. We had a great Sunday, all three of the part member families that we are teaching came to church and had good experiences, we are excited and confident that they will be baptized soon. Because our ward boundaries cover Ft. Benning, one of us goes to a branch on the base for all of the Soldiers in basic training. So I went this week it was cool to see the guys blessing and passing the sacrament all dressed in their camo. I just went around and shook all of their hands and talked with them, many of them were returned missionaries. It was fun, there was about 100 soldiers all of them were really young kids. But I felt sort of low in their presence. During the sacrament there was a spirit there that felt different than the normal sacrament meeting. I don’t know how to explain it, but I thought about how pleased God must be for their service. And how good their service was to us all, and how courageous they are to become a member of the US Army. Then after church, they had a baptism and one soldier baptized his friend. There were some other soldiers that were there and it was cool to see their brotherhood, it’s pretty similar to the brotherhood we have out here on our missions, with those that we serve with. But still it felt different knowing that they are being trained to put their lives on the line, I don’t have to worry about that. It was an eye opening experience and I can’t wait to go back. The work is going well. We had a missionary meeting this week and there were 18 of us in the meeting with President Satterfield. At the end we were able have a testimony meeting. I witnessed young men with many weaknesses get up and bear there testimony about how their mission experience has brought them closer to God, and felt the spirit and knew that is what it is all about: developing a relationship with God, there is no greater knowledge we can have. And missions do that to young men no doubt this is Gods work. I love you all so much, thanks for your examples of devotion!

Elder Hendrix

Columbus, GA

Family,
Well the Lord did not answer my prayers this week, at least according to my will. I got transferred I am now in Columbus GA, in the Flat Rock ward. My companion is Elder Wiberg, He's from Utah and he has been out on his mission for just about 18 months. He’s solid, very obedient and really really smart. He's like a math genius or something; I think I’m going to learn a lot from him, I already have. We have a great ward they are pretty helpful with missionary work. Columbus is home town to Fort Benning, it’s the Army’s main base for training basic infantry and Rangers, so most of the ward is military which is good and bad. It’s good because they are young families and they have a lot of friends that are still trying to find out what they believe, so they are open. It’s bad because people only live in the area for no more than about 3 years, lots of people moving in and out. We don’t have a ton of people we are working with right now, but we have some really solid ones. We are teaching the H family, the Dad hasn’t been to church since he was 16, he knows it’s true and wants to get back into church with his wife; His wife is really interested she grew up catholic. We are working with another family, the S family. She is a member, he is not and he is very religious and spiritual, but doesn't have a ton of knowledge. But he is really interested in the Book of Mormon. There is another guy, St... who wants to join the church and has been coming every week for 2 months now. He just got out of Prison so he can’t be baptized for a while, but he is awesome, a complete change has been made in his life I guess. Other than that I don’t know much. Just grateful for a new opportunity, and I love the Gospel. I love you all. Do more missionary work!

Elder Hendrix

finally another letter!

Family,
I’m alive, sorry about last week, it was a holiday and the Library was closed so we couldn’t e-mail. A couple quick things, I need a new journal. I know you’re surprised I actually write in my journal. Also
President Satterfield wants us to read "Increase in learning" by Elder Bednar. Thanks. Oh ya first of all, how come I didn’t get any updates on the worldly things that I shouldn't care about, like how my Niners
were in the NFC championship? I already knew we have a good brother in the Branch who keeps me up to date.
That is awesome Miles is going to France. I wonder if the temple will be finished while he is there. That will be a tough mission. Mom do you remember the Hanekamps from my first area, he was the bishop.
His son is in the Paris Mission, so tell Miles to look for him. Garrett gets home in a few weeks right?
We had a stellar week. It was accompanied by some serious fears about leaving this area, I feel like I will be transferred. I love this place and the people we have worked with and brought to church and the Kids we baptized, and the people we are working with right now. We find out today what happens, but with all of that said I know that the Lord Knows much better than I do, where I need to be! We are teaching
some awesome people. One couple who are not married yet, but are engaged are doing so well reading the Book of Mormon and they have felt that it is true. They are just awesome people, they love us and
we love them. They didn’t come to church yesterday so we are a little worried about that. His name is Q and hers is K, they have 3 little ones and one on the way. They are good people really looking to change their lives, and they are feeling the spirit more and more in their lives. It is so fun to teach people with open hearts.
We also started teaching a 9 year old girl named Ashlyn (anyone named Ashlyn is way awesome). Her dad has been a member his whole life but hasn’t been active for most of his life (His parents are like the most solid members in the Branch) His wife, Ashlyn’s step mom, just recently got baptized, so the family has been coming back to church the past probably 9 months. We have been working with them since I came here. They are super awesome and are some of my favorite people I’ve met on my mission, it’s been very awesome to see the family doing so well. Ashlyn’s dad is going to baptize her and he is now coming out with us to teach people. Good stuff. Also I told you about a man in our branch who isn’t treated very well because he is kinda weird, well he still is coming out to church, in fact he said the opening prayer in sacrament meeting! I know that that opportunity meant the WORLD to him! His prayer was so good so heartfelt and so Him. I was in the foyer and didn’t know he had been asked to pray, when I heard his voice and his prayer I really did get emotional, I love that man and all that serving him has taught me. Anyway I hope I get to stay here. We just got a new branch presidency and a new Branch mission leader the last two Sundays, and I know that the work here is going to explode!! I bet this branch will be a ward in the next 5 years. Our new Branch President is so so so awesome! The work is moving great I love you all so much, you’re the best!

Elder Hendrix

Short and Sweet

Family,
Sorry no time, we are doing great, the Lord is pouring out his spirit upon us so much, it’s great. Fasting is the real deal. The scriptures are soo cool. and the church is truly the Church of Jesus Christ!!!!

E Hendrix

Happy New Year!

Family,
Happy New Year. I think that now since its 2012 missionary work is going to get really interesting with all of the hype around the world ending in December. It was way fun to talk to yall on Christmas. My new year’s resolution is to read from the scriptures more, especially from the Book of Mormon. Mom you’re awesome, love your new year’s resolution. Sounds like everyone had a good holiday season and the future is looking pretty exciting. We had a good week. We had a ton of appointments with people who are really progressing and who we were really excited to teach this week, but almost everyone fell through, but we kept a good attitude and continued to work hard and we were able to find new people to teach and met some of our goals that we were really wanting to achieve. My testimony was strengthened this week for sure. I have especially been thinking about how we learn gospel truths through the spirit and not by being convinced or by our own wisdom. And if we put our trust in God we will be supported in our trials. We felt that it was a trial that all of the people who really needed our message were canceling our appointments but we trusted that God was in it and he provided means for us to accomplish his purposes and find strength. My companion is awesome; he is wise beyond his days as a missionary. I love being a missionary and I love the Lord, he is truly with us always. I love you all keep up the Great work!!

Elder Hendrix