Doing What Missionaries Do

This week was full of missionary work.  Elder Silversmith and I had our best week together fulfilling our purpose.  We taught people, we opened the mouth, we did what good missionaries do.

We also did divisions with the Zl´s this week.  It was interesting to see a different perspective on teaching and investigators. I was with Elder Crawford from Costa Rica.  Elder Silversmith went with ELder SMith.

From the investigators, as always some want to progrss and others not. The funny thing is that here if a person doesn´t want to recieve you, they just don´t answer so its quite easy!

This week I randomly found a guy that makes mandolins (instrument similar to the guitar that has the same string arrangement as the violin). I was tempted for a moment, but I doubt it!  We will see if we can teach him later this week.

It is the hottest week of the year here.  The good thing is that I am in Paraiso and that means hotter than normal, but not infierno level.  

I have been cooking a lot lately.  The newest thing my companion taught me to make are omelettes.  I ate about one of those a day.

Things are going great down here.  I love you guys!

Elder Henrie

Enduring Happily to the end

My companion is totally a chef.  Those fish tacos you see there are his work.  I was at his side eating pasta.  I laugh every time that he talks of cooking because he talks about mixing flavors and making it look good.

I talk of how much food I can get for the price.

It has been a blessing because our cocinera moved, so we are cooking a lot more.

All the investigators that we had prepared for this month have come up with problems, so we are helping them develop trust in God and confidence in their decisions.  We did a lot of great work this week.

Being with Elder Silversmith again has reminding me a lot of the fundamentals that they teach in the MTC.  It has been good to remember all of them.  It helps me stay focused on what is my purpose.

I am doing great here in Paraiso, enduring happily to the end.  

Sorry I am writing so little these days.  Its because there isn`t much to write and the time flys.

Know that I am happy.  I am not perfect, but I now understand that those two things don`t go together.  Happy means that you are imperfect but satisfied that every day you try to improve.  Perfect means you have died and are in the celestial kingdom.  Seriously, its the only way.

Thank you for all the support that you have given me.

Elder Henrie

I am so happy right now

It was one of those weeks that I feel like I really fulfilled my purpose as a missionary.  I feel so good and I am very content with my work here.

I am really excited to be here.  I feel like that even as some things don't go how I want, God is opening other doors.

God works in the lives of the people. As you love him and trust in him he answers your prayers.

I am working well with Elder Silversmith. It is great to be with him because he is already adjusted to the mission. He is ready to work and is willing to do so.  

Sorry that I don't have much to write today, its because there wasn't a lot of crazy stuff that happened.  Just a lot of work.

I love you guys and I wish you all the blessings in the world.

ELder Henrie

PS.  Those are small cakes called penquinos we are balancing on our heads.  I was talking about how the gospel is a firm base on which we can base our entire lives.  All finds its place and you can achieve everything.  Our heads are not firm bases. Hermana Cook got the most with 4 balanced for like 2 seconds.

Still in Paradise

I am totally fantastic this week.  We had changes and I stayed in El Paraiso.

I am now with Elder Silversmith.  He is an awsome Elder from New Mexico.  He looks more latino, but is actually Native American.  His ancestors are Navajos.  I`ve already learned a lot from him.  He has a very unique perspective on the world.

I am super pumped to be here for another change.  I feel like all the seeds I have been placing for all this time are all coming to fruit.  I am now the oldest missionary (in terms of number of changes) in Paraiso.  The members know me and I know them.  Things are going great.

Our stake is going to be implementing a new missionary plan where the Ward mission leader has 2 assistents that have the ward divided into ^districts^.  These districts will have a Noche de Hermanamiento every week that they will invite people too.  It is basically an attempt to involve everyone in the MIssionary work but also to create a real ward family.  The idea is that noone loses touch because they know everyone.  They are even asking that they reorganize Home and Visiting teaching companionships to fit the districts.  The idea is to reduce the space and to heighten the friendship.

I personally think its a fantastic idea.  Its like an extension to the advice that Elder Duncan gave the missionaries a couple of months ago.

I am happy.  We have a great zone.  The only sad thing was I lost a couple of Hermanas in my district because one was sick and wasn`t improving.  It was sad to lose them, they were both great hermanas.

We have a great crazy group in Barrio Paraiso now.  There is a lot of energy in the group and everyone is friends.  It is a great start to a great change.

Thank you for your prayers and your love.  I love you too.

Invite a ton of people to General Conference!

ELder Henrie

I am great

That's the only way I can describe how I feel.  I feel fantastic.  I am an imperfect person in the service of God and he still blesses me and loves me.

We all have weaknesses, but God blesses us bountifully.  He doesn´t demand perfection to receive help, he requires a willing heart.

To talk about all my blessings this week would be difficult.  I have seen so much love in the service of God.  God loves me and loves the people I serve.

Know that I am happy and that everything is great!

I went to consejo again this week.  It was good to see old friends and meet new ones.  Elder Caceres and I did divisions, and we had a long talk about everything.

We worked and walked and sweated, and it all felt great.

This week are changes, but we don´t know if we have changes yet, they will tell us tomorrow.  The most probable is that my companion leaves.  He is really great, and the Lord has had him here a long time, but I would guess that the Lord needs him in another place.

Nothing really crazy happened this week, but I felt the love of God in my life.

God never forgets us, he just lets us fall so that we can get up again.

Perfection is not to be the best, it is to be constantly better.

Elder Henrie