This week was good.

We did a buch of plain old work.  I know it sounds kind of boring, but it makes the week go really fast.

This week are changes.  They will advise us tomorrow if one of us leaves.  I don`t know what I want.  I am happy with whatever the Lord gives me.

The funny story for this week is what happened with one of our Ïnvestigadores.  We worked really hard and got her to go to church.  Her name is Elizabeth.  All was fine, she`s kind of an older lady, so a member brought her.  A member of the ward took care of making sure she felt welcome.  All perfect.

Then, in the third hour, the bishop asked us if we were teaching her.  I said yes.  He then showed me her babtisimal record.  She was baptized in 1991.  She was pretty embarrased.  She said she had forgotten (she is a little old) that she had been baptized.  She had already comitted to be babtized on the 25th.  It made me lauph.  It then turned into a bueatiful experience because she told us that Jesus had sent us to remind her of who she was.  We changed her goal to be baptized to one of going to the temple.  She said yes.  Things are good.

I am happy, there is not a lot that I can say.

Elder Henrie

Estoy Feliz

I am so happy.  Conference was a great spiritual boost.  I loved every session.  I loved how they made some changes so that it was focused on doctrine.

I had some good impressions.  I loved every talk.  The strangest impression was during President Monson´s talk in the priesthood session.  I felt like I should read D & C 88. So on Sunday Morning I read it.  As I read, I felt like God was giving me his perspective on what he wants me to be.  I felt like my goals and my desires were put into check and I saw where I was, and where I will be one day.  It was a beautiful experience.

I really enjoyed Elder Holland`s talk as well.  It reminded me of all those great days rock climbing.  I realized that the importance of knowing the Fall is because it makes the Atonement what it is.  I thought of it again as I came to Danli to write today.

We managed to have 4 people there.  For 1 lady it was the first time.  She is a little Old, and said she didn`t remember much, but she remembered how she felt.  She said she felt peace.  The spirit is so simple and so bueatiful.

I am grateful for the knowledge and strength I have from the gospel.  I am grateful for parents who always `put me first, even if I didn`t want too.

Thank you for your prayers.

Elder Henrie

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