My Week Flew By

Family,
Mom, My week flew by as well! These last few weeks have just been a blur! We traveled around the mission again, but this time we were all sick and we had to get up super early and it was just non-stop all week, just like last week. But it was so good. It was great to be with all of the missionaries, it was great to be with President and Sister Snow, and it was great to feel the support of the spirit not only spiritually but physically as well. Driving to each meeting it was near impossible to stay awake, and I was coughing up a lung (we all felt the same). But when we went into our meetings, those feelings were suppressed and we had energy, we were able to teach with power and really help everyone (especially ourselves) make some connections with the Holy Ghost and how we can help the Lord more in his work. These next few weeks are going to be even more busy. This week we will be setting up transfers a couple weeks early and we will be getting prepared for President Hardings' arrival on Saturday. (we are going to the temple this week too, I'm so excited i haven't been since last summer) The Snows are leaving Saturday afternoon, and we will be picking up President Harding at the Airport and its go time from there. Then the next week we will be spending time with him, helping him to get to know the mission and finalizing transfers. Then Sister Harding, her 24 year old daughter and 8 year old son will be arriving, so we will be helping them move in and welcoming them. The next week will be transfers, which will be a wild week, followed by taking the Harding's around the mission so that they can meet everyone. On top of all of that we will be trying to be working in our own area, and working with other missionaries in their areas. So I'm pretty sure i wont even have time to think about home or anything like that, and my mission will be over before i even realize it. I am excited to come home, but to think that my mission will actually be over... wow. Out here you always are looking forward to the things that are in the future, new areas, new companions etc. Because they all represent great opportunities, and to think that they are almost over is sad in a lot of ways. Yesterday we had stake conference and a recently returned missionary talked and it made me ponder what i have learned on my mission. I think the central theme of what i have learned, and what it seems most of my experiences have taught me, is The Worth of Each Soul. I would define the worth of a should like this: That the creator of this universe and all of the complex systems that govern it. The maker of EVERYTHING, is totally concerned with our lives every moment of every day. He knows us, and His most important task is to guide us to happiness and eternal life, were we can have all that He has. That is true doctrine!!!!!!!! He is a real being, and we are really his children! It is our duty, and our delight, to serve, lift, help, encourage, bless and Love his children. We should act just as he does in our relations with our brothers and sisters. I love you all so much! Pleas pray for Elder Forbush and I this week, we will need it. Hopefully the bottom doesn't fall out on this mission with Pres. Snow leaves. I just don't want to screw it up!! ;)

Elder Hendrix

Julie,
Hey there Bud! How are you doing? Mom says you are playing volleyball and having fun with it, do you like it a lot? Do you like your team? How is school, what are you learning about? What did you learn in church? Are you helpful to Mom? Will you give her a big hug and a Kiss for me please. I just was wondering how you were doing, you are so awesome! Be good ya crazy little pill!

Elder Hendrix

Grandpa Hendrix,

Hey Grandpa! I hear that you have been staying in Idaho. I'm surprised that you haven't gone crazy yet being away from the Ranch! I don't think that place could keep running without you there. I think about you a lot, and all of the great times we had out at the Ranch together. I loved be able to go feed the fish with you and be able to hear all of your awesome stories. In fact let me tell you an awesome story. The other day I was with another missionary (not my companion) for the day and He was having a very hard day. I knew that he was and I kinda new why. So before we got together I prayed really hard that the Lord would help me to know how I could help him. The scripture in D&C 121 came to my mind, but not the one a priesthood holder usually thinks of when it comes to helping people. I thought of the part that said "[use] sharpness, when moved upon by the spirit". So as him and I talked, I listened (i know that you know the importance of listening) and then felt the spirit prompt me to use sharpness. But i was afraid, because I didn't want to make him mad, before this week he and I had been frustrated with each other before, so I was nervous. But I followed the spirit and used sharpness and he was thrown back and sat there and thought for a long time. We talked for the next couple hours and by the end of the day he was thanking me for being strait-forward with him. Its funny because we are closer friends now. The scriptures are so inspirational, and the spirit is so awesome. I often wonder what it would have been like to see you as the stake president there in Fallon, and how you tried to help the people. I'm sure that I would learn a ton from watching your example! Grandpa you are the best, I pray for you that you wont feel lonely, if you ever do, you just think of you and me driving around the ranch, talking about the good ol' days! I love you Grandpa, you keep up the Good work. Cant wait to see you!

Preparation is Power

Family,         

Well it sure has been a good week, but also a very busy week. We Traveled around the mission with the Snow's and did some training, while President did Interviews with all of the missionaries. I learned so much!! The spirit was in every meeting, and I just have to tell you that God is in this work. We talk about how God prepares non-members' hearts, but he prepares missionaries hearts too. What application I have gained so far from these meetings is how vital it is for us to be prepared. Each training went exactly like it was suppose to, the spirit was there, and each missionary left with something the spirit had told them to do and they were filled with inspiration to do it. And as Elder Forbush and I talked about it yesterday we realized that it was so easy for some reason, usually its hard for us to be that effective (cuz we are weak). But we came to realize that it didn't have to do with what we knew or what we did in the meeting, it was all because of the preparation and plan that we had established for the training. As we planned the meeting we felt very inspired and the Lord told us why/how/what we needed to do in these trainings, so really it was his plan that we learned from him by revelation, and then we were obedient to that plan and he was able to do his work through us. President Monson said "Preparation is Power", and that is a true principle. Ya know God didn't just say "hey, we have spirits and we need a place to put them, so lets throw together an earth were they can hopefully figure out how to become like me". No he created it spiritually before he created it physically. In fact he called a council (or in other words, a revelatory process), and we all talked and learned and made some decisions. Preparations were made before any action was taken. We should all learn to set goals and make plans to fulfill what the Lord requires of us, "Preach My Gospel" teaches us that. Preach My Gospel was actually the focus of our training this last week, and man I tell you what: when grandpa and grandma workman invited us to study that as families, they didn't just do that cuz it was a "pretty good idea", that was a divine Idea. That book was written by Prophets, and it will draw each of us closer to Christ, in fact that is its purpose, to draw the missionary to Christ, so that they can know how to draw others to Him. If you have been having poor gospel study, use that as a guide and I promise it will have a powerful influence on the spirit of your studies. We will be doing the same training this next week, so it should be great! We found out that President Harding comes on the 22nd of this month, we are excited. But we are going to miss President and Sister Snow. We have grown to love them very deeply. They are great people, I have learned so much from them. They have cause miracles to happen in my life, and in this mission because they have faith in Jesus Christ! OOh read, NO STUDY, the talk by E. Christofferson in the Sept 2012 ensign, pg 53. That is not a suggestion that is a command! Its so good. I love you all so much and hope you have a wonderful week. Thank you for all of your letters, packages, and prayers. I feel your love all the way in Georgia!

Elder Hendrix

Preach My Gospel!!

Family,

Well how is everyone doing? We are doing just fine. All is well. Ya know I just don’t really know what to write. I know that we have been busy this week, but nothing too exciting. We are having wonderful times and Elder Forbush and I are leaning so much. This next week we are going to be traveling around the mission doing some training about Preach My Gospel that we are pretty excited for. We will be doing the same training like 20 times. We also found out that Pres Harding will be coming on the 22nd of Sept. We are excited, but most of all we are sad to Lose President and Sister Snow, they are so Awesome! I love you all the Gospel is True and the Church is True.

Elder Hendrix

The Gospel is so simple

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

Book of Mormon is the most spirit filled book we can read!

Mom,

I love you sorry i didn’t write last week and I only have a minute to write this week. But yes things have been crazy!!! We are changing so much with this new transfer and we have to engineer all of the transfers and changes. We have had a great time. That is pretty funny that Fisher and Jakob Parker came over to see you. I love those two guys. Don’t be worried i only sent him a short e-mail of some pictures.

WOW! it is exciting to hear about the Robisons! Isn't missionary work just awesome!!! Mom the spirit is so great. It is so real. I have felt it more consistently in my life and with more power the past couple of months than i think i ever have. To have that gift it is so simple, just keep the commandments, do what is right, and the spirit is promised to be with you. That takes faith because doing what is right is not always easy, that is why we are saved by faith. I love you so much. I know that this is the Lords Church, and that the book of Mormon is the truest most spirit filled book we can read. The Doctrine of Christ is the way to salvation and it is so profound. I know that My Heavenly Father and Mother sent me to be with you and Dad, I know that for sure!!! I love you so much keep being an example to all. Invite over a family from the ward for dinner this week!

Elder Hendrix

PS: make sure i get d-bos e-mail i have been meaning to e-mail him but i just always have a lack of time. also I will be sending a bike for a missionary who is going home this week (Elder Burke) to the shop. He will come to pick it up in like 3 weeks. I will give him your number and he will call you. I think it comes UPS. Also a while ago you asked me about a birthday present, and anyway i just heard from a bird that Targhee has some pretty cheep student passes. if you need any student info from me, just let me know. It could also work as a Christmas present :)

DO what the spirit prompts!

Family,

Where is D-bo going to college!? Well it was a good week. Lots of work to do, we are super excited for this next week. I tell you what I have been learning some powerful principles of the Gospel lately, i wish i had time to tell you all about them. Ill just have to unload when i get home. The Gospel is so true, the church is so true, and Heavenly Father is so True. He loves us! Please STUDY your scriptures! Please pray that God will show you what to DO as you read. Please DO what his spirit prompts you to do. If you do I promise that the spirit will be more abundant in your life! I love you all so much!! Keep serving your fellow man, look for someone to help each week, even if they are active in church. Pray for Elder Forbush and I we have a very important week ahead of us. I love you!

Elder Hendrix

Importance of "the word"

Family,         

Hey there we had a great week, very busy. We are really working hard to get things going in our area. We don't have any investigators right now, but the members in our ward are really trying to help out a lot and we have been able to teach more this week than i have been able to do in a long time. Teaching is the best no doubt, there is not a better experience, on a mission, than teaching under the influence of the spirit, well actually there is: when the person you teach acts on the message that you shared with them, and they feel the spirit on their own. We had a great lesson with Evan this last week. His life has been pretty crazy, he has just had bad thing after bad thing happen to him. It has discouraged him and made him lose his focus on the simple and important things. We were able to finally sit down and teach him. We have been learning a lot about faith from president Snow and so we recognized that lack of Faith was his real issue. So we had a powerful lesson on Faith. Then yesterday he was so focused in church. He was taking notes like he did before he was baptized and he just had an awesome attitude. You could see and feel the difference in him. This last week I have had some great studies. I have learned a lot about the importance of the "word", it is the beginning to every miracle it seems. The scriptures bring the spirit into our lives, and having the spirit should be our main focus of the day for sure.

Mom i got the package, we don't have an Elder Wright in our mission, are you sure that is the right name. The weather is super hot and muggy!! Well I love you all so much! Share the Gospel, with you kids especially, and with your friends, even if they are members!

Elder Hendrix