Back at the Office

Family,                                                                                                                        April 10, 2012

  So I’m back with Fisher and Hansen. I enjoyed serving with Montiel, he will always be a good friend.  Quick funny story from this week, Dad will be proud. so the missionaries Montiel and I lived with like to go fishing on p-day. Well, I found a cup of "DMF" worms in the fridge, so I counseled these young men on buying quality worms and advised them to not support the "DMF" company. So I threw the worms out and made a deal with the elder who bought them, he wanted 2 cups of meal worms, so dad will you send me two cups of Meal worms, Thanks.  So not really much happened this week. We were able to teach the family I was telling you about, with the 3 young boys. We had some great lessons with them. I was worried that they would have a tough time being really interested in the lessons, so I prayed pretty hard that I would be able to have the spirit so that they would enjoy and find an interest in learning about the restoration of the gospel, because they really dont have much knowledge about the gospel. Well we went into the lesson and it just went so well. I felt inspired by the spirit, and though the spirit wasn’t like overwhelmingly powerful there was a noticeable spirit of peace and understanding with us. And they started asking great questions and even when I taught them about the fall of the Church of Christ and the eventual apostasy and building up of all of the different churches, they said "they don’t have the authority" and I was blown away because adults don’t usually pick up on that one.  Anyway, they really understood everything and it was so fun to teach them. Then we had another lesson the next day and it went just the same. The lord is merciful to those who seek him earnestly. This past Easter weekend I was touched as I thought about and was taught about the Atonement of Christ and his resurrection.  I was very touched by President Uchtorf's declaration in Priesthood session, that "The Father and The Son are real, they are really there". I felt the spirit testify to me that what he said was true, and that is the Easter season message. I had a great opportunity to study the Atonement for a couple hours yesterday, and discuss it with Elder Hansen, followed up by a great sacrament meeting. My thoughts turned to the suffering of the savior, and his perfect example of doing the will of the Father always! I feel strongly about, and grateful for the restored gospel's atonement teachings. One that Christ, though he was a God, had a life experience just like ours. He had to overcome physical, mental and spiritual challenges. He had to learn, "grace for grace" and he "increased in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man". I was reading Isaiah 53 yesterday. It is a beautiful chapter about life long suffering that he went through. "he was despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows acquainted with grief...the chastisement of our peace was upon him and with his stripes we are healed... by his knowledge he shall justify many.." We learn that because of his suffering the Father "shall be satisfied...because he hath poured out his soul unto death."  Christ did not ever fall into his temptations, but he was pushed to his limit just as we are. Because of his experience, he knows how to lift us up (Alma 7:11-13). He gave everything and so we are expected to also. Our obligation is to act in faith, repent of our sins, and transgressions, be baptized (or partake of the sacrament, serve others and always remember him), receive and follow the spirits promptings, and to endure to the end in following the example of the savior. Why would we not be expected to do all that we can possibly do, when we truly understand his atonement how could we not? The gospel is true and it changes lives. Thank you all for being examples to me of what it means to be Christ like. Mom and Dad thanks for being true followers of Jesus Christ, Yall are the best!!

april 2, 1012

Family,                                                                                                            April 2, 2012

  Wow this weekend was so great. I loved conference, seemed to be just for me. Prayers were answered, lessons were taught and doctrine was understood. Now the Challenging part is applying and living what I have learned. I was immediately touched and felt the spirit during Elder Packers talk on Saturday morning. I really enjoyed E. Koelliker's talk as well. Priesthood session was a session of conference I will never forget and the best session of priesthood for myself. We were taught so much doctrine, every talk focused on the doctrine of the priesthood. Elder Bednars talk hit me so hard, that if I truly have the priesthood I had better be different, not better than everyone, but different! Elder Uchtdorfs talk was so powerful. He was really passionate, and I knew that he knew that the Father and Jesus Christ are real beings and they love us, and I came to have a greater understanding of that principle. Then President Monson’s talk yesterday was full of such good doctrine. If a person lived what he taught, they would literally change their world. Conference was so great, I can’t wait to read those talks again, but  I am happy to say that conference was not the highlight of my weekend! I don’t know if you remember much about Montavius, that I taught an had the privilege of baptizing in Atlanta. He is 18, he grew up in a terrible situation. Stealing and selling drugs to live and pay his families bills and was caught up in gang life. He invited E. Landsaw and I to go with him to get his patriarchal blessing. It was a highlight of my mission, and probably will be a highlight of my life. I am amazed at that young man and the change that has been made in his life. His blessing was amazing!! He is most definitely one of the Noble and Great ones prepared from the foundation of this world.  The spirit was so strong and I know that that patriarch was inspired by

Father in Heaven. Truly D&C 18 has been fulfilled in my life. I have not baptized many people on my mission but the joy that I feel as I see Montavius grow and progress in the Gospel is so great. It is so humbling, God really does know us and love us each so much! If we just listen and obey the promptings of his holy spirit we will do what will make us most happy, that is his will! I can’t wait for you all to meet Montavius one day, though I think Idaho and Utah will be a shock to him, haha.  Is not the Gospel so true!! I love you all.

Elder Hendrix

The gospel gets truer as we get truer to it!

Family,                                                                                                                                 

  Mom I have no idea what "Que Pasa" means. Everyone in the branch that I’m serving in is trying to convince me to learn Spanish, but I’m resisting, I guess I should though, I mean it would be nice to know when I’m in the real world. We had a great week. I think I told you about the family that showed up at church last week. The Mother, Margarita, has 5 kids and she is dead set on joining the church, she is just so awesome!! The kids speak really good English, so what we are going to do is teach mom and the kids separately. I will teach the 3 boys over 8 yrs old and Montiel will teach Margarita. It actually works out great because it would be hard to teach them together, everyone will be able to learn faster this way and I will actually get to teach. This is definitely an answer to my prayers because I have been hoping to get to prepare an investigator for baptism before I go home. I was worried that it wouldn’t happen again. They came to church again this week. We also had an awesome meeting with President Satterfield this week. We were discussing clarifying what the vision of this mission really is. We met for like 4 hours and it was so cool to sit with him talk with him about how he sees missionary work from the Presidents perspective. I grew to love him even more, he truly is one of the most humble men I have ever met. What he wants is for us to learn how to do the right things for the right reasons. He wants us to righteously fulfill our purpose to bring people to Christ through the covenant of baptism. He doesn’t just want us to baptize people, he wants us to help guide them to a relationship with Christ, and to do that we must know how, we must know Christ. He wants us to learn how Christ’s church works and how we can help with that work. It was a great meeting; I learned a lot and love that man. And oh Sis. Satterfield she is such a hard worker, can’t wait for you to meet them. Lastly I went to a baptism in Thomaston on Saturday, it was Ashlyn's baptism, if you can remember her. That was a sweet experience. Some of the Bailey kids came and there mom Sis Baily came and she bore her testimony, and in melted my little heart to know how much that meant to her. The gospel is so true, and it gets truer and truer as we get truer to it. It also makes us happier and happier and realizes how great our God really is. I love you all so much. Keep up the Good work!!!!

Elder Hendrix

Hablo Española (???)

Family,                                                                                               

  Well since its Tues I won’t write much. But there has been a funny development in my mission. There was one brand new missionary who didn’t come from the MTC, but his trainer had a visa-waiter companion, well he got sent off to Argentina, So since we are in a trio (me Fisher and Hansen), and they live in the same apartment complex as us and because the Lord probably thought it would be funny again. I’m serving in a Spanish area again, and I still don’t know anymore Spanish. So I will be here till April 18th, then I will probably be just with Elder Fisher again, ha ha. So my new companion is Elder Montiel, he’s real cool I’ll tell you more next week. Love you guys.

E. Hendrix

keeping busy

Family,                                                                                               

  Well it’s been a crazy week. Pretty much non-stop after transfers. Let’s just say the bed at 10:30 rule hasn't applied to us. We have driven a lot, pretty much around the entire mission. It’s great though, my companions are so so awesome. Elder Hansen is from St. George and has been out on his mission for 18 months. He is just a spiritual giant, kinda like Joe, he's just closer to the Lord than the rest of us. Elder Fisher (from Pocatello) on the other hand is a little more rough around the edges I guess you could say. He likes to have a good time, but he has the biggest heart of all time, he is a great leader because he loves those that he serves and just knows how to get down to their level. So they are a pretty super combo and I’m right in the middle and pretty confused so far.  They are great leaders, very smart and they know the gospel really well, and how to be successful missionaries. They are so much fun to be around, they are always playing pranks on each other and I feel like I am constantly laughing. We also were able to have a meeting with President Satterfield last week, it was so cool. We didn't know exactly what we were going to do at first, but we counseled together, President is so good and leading a council, and we came up with some great things. The spirit was definitely there and it was just a fun experience! Us Three (the 3 amigos) also planned out our entire transfer, because we go on exchanges with all of the Zone Leaders and any other companionship's we can go with. We are going to be so busy this next week it’s not even funny,  pretty much each day of the next 6 weeks is already planned out.  It’s been a wild couple of days and I’m extremely tired. Thanks for the advice mom, you’re the best! To all the family; I love you so so so dang much!

Elder Hendrix

Julie,

  Hey there ya crazy cat! How are you doing? How is school? Who are your friends that you play with now?  Are you excited for summer break? How can I be a good missionary Julie, will you please give me your best advice and maybe a good scripture I could read? How is Darren doing, are you keeping good track of him for me? I love you and think about you a lot and I just think you’re ............. awesome!

Elder Hendrix

The Book of Mormon is stinkin legit!

Family,                                                                                                           

  Hey hey hey, things are going just great. Except that I’m getting transferred. Man I wanted to stay so bad, I love my companion, I love the area. We are working with some great people too, and we were working a lot with the members of our zone on a pretty cool program to help us improve. It is really hard to leave people that you have seen do so well and progressing. It is also difficult to leave great members. There is a specific member in our ward, Bro and Sis Berta, they are from Uruguay, they are some of the best people I have ever met. I hope to keep in touch. Then Sis Hatch, she is going to get baptized by her husband and her son will get baptized too. Hopefully next month. I’m going to go to a YSA ward in Peachtree City/Fayetteville, and be in a trio again as an assistant. I’m excited for the challenge but it is going to be a hard thing for me because I am not a great organizer or administrator, but I guess the Lord wants me to learn.  We will be getting a new mission president in July (Jon R. and Debora Harding).  I might not get to go out and do real missionary work, like finding and teaching every day which will be kind of sad. We should teach a little bit, but our assistants usually don’t teach investigators much. Well I’m out of time. I love you all, pray for me. I will chat at you next week.

Elder Hendrix

PS: The Book of Mormon is so stinkin legit!!