No Change

So, this was an interesting week.  We had changes, but our area didn`t change.  I am finishing the training of Elder Rodriquez.  However I did recieve two from my group.  Elder Smith (de Lehi, not the one that WAS here, from Bountiful), and Elder Christiansen (not sure where he is from).

We came down to recieve changes at the house of the other Elders.  Elder Porter and Elder Herrarte.  They told us to be there at 6, so we got there about 6:20.  They didn`t answer our yells, so I decided to throw rocks (like Elder Porter always did when we didn`t answer the door).  Long story short, I hit a window (a very small one) and it broke.  Turns out they weren`t even there, they went to visit Abuela.  Please don`t worry anyone, I`ve already talked with the owner and he said it will cost like 30 Limpirias (or 1.50$) to fix.  The other Elders took pictures, that I need to get.

That was the crazy story, the rest of the week was just working.  We got to meet all the new people on Thursday.  All the people from my group are in the same District, so every district meeting is now like a group reunion.  The sad thing is that it is almost guaranteed that I will go this next change (I have a lot of time here, and I`m training, the combination makes it almost sure, but no one knows with changes), so I won`t be able to disfrutarlo.  

Friday, we went to the Mountain and we got to teach a REALLY drunk guy.  Luckilly all the drunk guys in Tatumbla are really tranquilo (calm), just a little crazy.  With this guy he said a bunch of wierd stuff.  His wife asked him if he wanted to put on a shirt and he said ¨No, asi muriò Jesucristo en el cruz¨ (This is how Jesus Christ died on the cross).  

We also invited him to church and he started going of on one of the common excuses that people here use.  They cite the scripture in 1 Corinthians that says that everyone is a temple of God, and say it doesn`t matter what church we belong to because we all have our ¨path¨.  Its really a bunch of papas (potatoes, or in this sense, crap), but people say it to us all the time.  The way this guy said it was just funny.  He said something like ¨Dice la Palabra que todos de nosotros son iglesias.  Mire, no nesacito ir a iglesia porque soy mi iglesia.  Cuando estoy aqui sentado, estoy en mi iglesia.¨ (It says in the Word (or the bible) that we are all churches.  Look, I don`t need to go to church because I am my church.  When I am sitting here, I am in my church).  It was just funny.  

It made for a fun day, and we have been quoting him ever sense to brighten up any bad moment.

Saturday we just worked visiting people, and Sunday it was about the same.  We are hopefully going to have a babtism this week if we can find her and fill out the registro.  We also have a Noche de Hogar hoy a las 5, so we have to return early from P-day to prepare for that.  

For me this week, just with all the excuses and false doctrines I have heard, I was thinking a lot about how Satan is really smart.  He takes gospel truths, and he adds a lie, so that if the people accept the truth, they get a lie with it.  He uses this as a wedge, and drives people away from God until they don`t know where they are, but they don`t know how they got there either.

I was also thinking about something that President Packer said, that the fasted way to change behavior is to teach doctrine, or in my own words, pure truth.  It is interesting that when you teach truth, and bear your testimony of that truth, it cannot be denied.  People can offer excuses or try to attack you, but they cannot deny the truth.  In the end, they only have two options, to accept the truth, or try to hide from it, under a cover of justification.

I know that a testimony has power, never forget that.  When it comes down to it, it doesn`t matter how much scriptural backround we can give that makes our church true (though we have a lot), it comes down to we have a testimony of Joseph Smith and the Restauracion.  We obey a lot of commandments because we believe that he and his successors are prophets from God.  We obey by faith, but like Jesus once said, Blessed are they who have not seen, yet have believed.

I love you and I feel your prayers.  I know I have seen protection from the Lord, or the guidance to avoid dangerous situations.  Please continue strong, and know that every day I am trying to do the same.

Elder Henrie

Interesting Week

Things were, to say the least, interesting this week.

Monday, we had P´day, normal stuff, and a Noche de Hogar (family home evening).

Tuesday we had a capacitacion con los APs (a training with the APs).  They talked about studying and how it helps us prepare spiritually to teach.  We also had a testimony meeting as a zone, which was cool.  Afterward we went out to lunch, and People gave me their extra food, so I was good.  Then we waited like 2 hours for a bus to Tatumbla (I am 90% sure that the one we were going to catch just didn´t come).  

Wednesday we went to La Montaña and we handed out invitations for the activity we did on Saturday, and we had a Noche de Hogar.  Elder P was feeling sick.  We didn´t think a lot of it, we just left him there with his companion (we were in the Palace together).

Then, at 12:43 AM, he threw a pillow at my head to wake me up and told me he needed to go to the Hospital, that he had severe stomach pain (like REALLY severe).  I know I had help staying calm as I called the nurse to confirm.  She told me in resumen (summary), to call President, and get him to the Hospital.  So I woke our comps, and told Elder H to call President, while I called a family in the ward.  I believe I said something like ´´Hey, can you do us a favor?  We need to go to the Hospital, like NOW´´.  Just to explain, in Honduras, I am pretty sure there is no such thing as an ambulance (maybe, but I have only seen things called ¨private¨ ambulances), so they were essentially our only hope.  Luckilly, they were dispuesto (willing) to wake up and come pick us up.  

We drove to the Honduras Medical Center, which luckilly is like the best Hospital in Honduras (meaning it looks and feels like an American Hospital, unlike some other ¨hospitals´).  I had the joy of checking Elder P. in as they began to check him out.  Then we got to sit there, as he lay there in great pain.  Gracias a Dios (Thank God) it was only a bacterial infection, but it had me worried for a minute.

We missed Reunion de Zona (Zone meeting) on Thursday, but I think everyone can understand.  I got very little sleep.  They gave Elder Porter an antibiotic and something for the pain and he was good.  He is still good gracias a Dios.

Thursday and Friday I spent a good deal of time in the house with Elder P on Doctor´s orders.  I studied, slept, and lounged (I hate being stuck in the house!).

Saturday, we moved (por fin! (finally)) to a house that is a lot higher on the Mountain.  It's not as big, but we no longer have to pay ridiculous amounts to travel to the mountain.  They also remodeled the house for us (yes it was the green one you saw pictures of a couple of weeks ago), so it is quite nice now.

But in general, things are good!  I can officially say I have taken someone to the hospital in the Mission.  Sounds like it only every happens once, so now I´m safe!

Last thing I wanted to tell, on Sunday I had my longest lesson EVER with 2 testigos de Jehova (Jehovas Witneses).  It was 2.5 HOURS.  They had a lot of questions, and sadly, I don´t know if they accepted anything.  I did learn that they don´t believe in the premortal life, and that the soul can die (not like we believe, like literally ceases to exist) if we do big sins.  For me it was a little sad to miss the premortal life.  To believe that one day, God decided to make a world, and put people on it.  It misses the entire fact that we chose and were prepared to come here, so that we could obtain knowledge and progress spiritually.  I think we will teach them again, but we need to set a firm time limit, 2.5 hours was LONG.  What was good about it was that we managed to keep a spirit of peace, there was not a lot of bible bashing.  I also learned they don´t believe that anyone can see God, which is also kind of sad  You can never know your father.

For me, it was a testimony of Modern Revelation, even though they insisted that I not use the Book of Mormon, it was interesting to see how questions that are so contested could be answered if you turn to other scripture.  I invited them to read it and they said some longwinded speech on essentially what it says in 1 Nephi.  A bible, a bible, we have a bible, we don´t need any more bible!

For me, it was an interesting experience as they tried to shake my testimony, and to not feel shaken.  It testified to me of the veracidad of the church, and that it really is centered and founded in Christ.  I remember in Helaman 5 when he says to found your testimony in Christ, so that when the devil comes in his power, you are unmoved.

The church is true, Joseph Smith was called as a prophet of God, and nothing that others do can change the truth.  

I love you all, thank you for your support, your letters, and your prayers.

Elder Henrie

Pretty Awsome Week

I'm not sure who is in the picture with Graig but it looks like they are making pancakes.

So things were pretty awesome this week.  In terms of, not a lot of stuff happened.  

I know it kind of sounds a little opposite, but for me its cool because it meant we did a lot of TEACHING.  There is a quote in PMG that the secret of the work is the work.  I can´t remember where...but its good.  I really felt like this week we did the work of the LORD, more than just the work of two jovenes (youth).  

I think I would call Saturday the best day.  On Friday we were still deciding to which part of our area we wanted to go.  To explain, we have La Montaña that is really far, and the part I usually call Abajo (below).  We usually choose one of the two areas to work in every day, because it would be hard to work in both.  So Friday night we decided to go to La Montaña.  We got up, and got going (like we always do when we go up there).  We spent a little time talking with members, but the best part for me was when we went to visit a new investigator that we found on Tuesday.  We had a great lesson with them, and then bajared (went down in spanglish) to teach another great lesson.  I was so full of the spirit afterward, and I was happy.  I think my companion thought I was a little crazy with how animated I was greeting people as we walked down to a meeting with the 2nd counselor.  

Sunday, we had record numbers in church (I think), which was AWESOME.  We sadly didn´t have any investigators en iglesia (church)(I think, there may have been one, but long story...), but I felt responsible for helping the People from the Mountain come.

I remember telling my companion that I felt like Ammon when he is talking about their success in their mission.  Aaron tells him he is bragging, and Ammon talks about how he is glorying in God. For me that's how the weekend was, seeing how spirit guided plans can really move the work of the Lord.

I also am almost positive we can have the first baptism in this Area this month.  We are working with a lot of great people, and though its difficult, the Lord has chosen people in every area!

It was a good week.

Sorry for those who wanted something crazy, something strange, this week was just work, but a good work.

I love you all!  Thank you for your love, your prayers, and your support!

Adios de Honduras! (Goodbye from Honduras)

Elder Henrie

I thought this picture summed up this positive letter well.

TEMPLE!

That was the biggest news of the week.  I finally got to go to the Honduras Tegucigalpa Temple!  I don´t think I realized how awesome the temple really was until I couldn´t go for 5 months!

Because Elder Smith (from my group) and I were the first people ready, we got to do all the initiatories for the missionaries in our zone.  That was pretty cool!  It was good to remember all the promises that you receive.

The session itself was (as always) beautiful.  We got to see the new movie (which I LOVED).  The temple here only has 40 seats.  With 22 missionaries (and a few random women), we filled it to the brim.

For me the best part was entering the Celestial room.  I don´t know what I was expecting, but I think I thought to have some incredible spiritual experience.  Instead, I just felt peace.  I mean pure peace.  For me it was spiritual because as a missionary I have been tan preocupado (REALLY worried) and stressed.  Training as well gave me more stress, and I feel like I was on the stress train for the last few months.  To enter the room and feel like all of that was taken away was marvelous.  It convinced me that the first thing I want to do when I get home (yes I know, that's a long ways away) is to go to the temple (Probably Salt Lake, it would be cool to see a live session).  I could really feel the presence of the Lord and I felt a whole lot better leaving.  I still can remember that peace, and it really helps.

Afterward, I passed by the distribution center to pick up a copy of the Joseph Smith movie.  I also bought a small Predicad mi Evangelio because I was tired of carrying the Grande.  I took a LOT of pictures, and we took a Zone picture (I will get someone to forward me that, I decided I didn´t want to add my camera to the 20 already in the mix).

On Friday I passed another milestone in the mission, I went to immigration to receive my residency!  I don´t have pictures, but don´t worry, its extremly boring.  You basically sit and wait in a large DMV, until one of the 2 (yes TWO) booths is open.  Then you run to try to be the first one there.  While we were there, one of the ladies decided to LEAVE (apparently that's totally ok during normal hours), so we were down to 1 booth for a bit.  It was a bit racking on the nerves.

What made it better was that everyone from my group was there.  We told our worst stories, our best stories, and made predictions on who will be the first ZL (Zone Leader).  We also just talked, which was one of the best parts.  It was a good day.

Sunday we had one of the 2 investigators return to church.  We probably won´t baptize her this week because we still need to complete all of the lessons.  But she seems pretty Pilas (literally translated, this means fonts.  In the mission language, it means ready to be babtized.  We say this to describe a golden investigator).

Training is good.

Thank you for your prayers!  I love you!

Adios!

Elder Henrie

I think this is pretty typical for where they walk everyday.

Questions (These are the things us mothers worry about...)

Q. You mentioned you are moving from the "palace" and then I saw pictures on dropbox of what looks like a cement house with a sheet metal roof with a big tall fence with a locked gate.  Is that where you are moving?

A. Yes.  That is actually a very nice house.  And technically even our palace is a cement house with a ceramic roof with a big tall fence and a locked gate. Everything is made of cement here.

Q. You will get mattresses for those bed frames, right? (See below)

A. We will not be using those bed frames.  The mission provides very nice beds.  I will send a picture of the Blankets next week.

Q.  Does your new house have running water? or a kitchen?  

A. Running water is (thankfully) one of the requirements for a house for missionaries.  You might not have a shower, but you can at least turn on the sink!

It does have a room that I will call the kitchen, but sadly, I´m losing the oven.  Back to the little burners that normal missionaries have :(

The kitchen in the "palace" Looks like he made lasagna with ketchup :)

Q. Is your new house up in the mountains?  Will you be cold at night?  Do you need to buy a (some) blanket(s)?

A. So our new house is higher up, but not quite on the mountains.  I would call it in them though.

Yes, I will be cold, thankfully.  I like the Honduras cold, its very fresco (fresh).

About a year ago the mission mandó (sent) special blankets for our area.  This is what we call our Wolf pelts (I believe I have mentioned them before).

Q.  Are you sick?  

A. I have a very slight cold, I am however very much on the mend.

Q.  What have you been doing for service lately?

A. I climbed an orange tree yesterday to collect a bag of oranges for an investigator.

Q. How are your feet?  If they are well, what advice do you have for other missionaries for keeping them that way?

A. Really good.  I don´t know if I have good luck or I have a nasty surprise coming, but my feet are good.  I would highly recommend making sure the shoes you buy are meant for walking, more than just looking nice.  Wash your feet specifically every time you shower.

Q.  Are you using your shoe dryer? Your sensi sandals?

A. Here not much, because we are on a hill, the rain runs down and I don´t get my feet wet.  It sounds like its Choluteca that you get the rain up to your knees.  I will probably eventually experience that.  I use my sensi sandals every day.  I usually get home, pull off my shoes and socks, and put those guys on.  They are really comfortable.  I also use them in the shower.