This week was fantastic and then more fantastic.

I just can´t describe how fantastic it was.

First of all.  My companion and I didn't have changes.  It means that I was with my last companion for 4.5 months (Elder Parker) and that was weird, and now it will happen again.

We are actually stoked.  We are working with a lot of people that are beginning to progress a lot and neither of us wanted to leave. We work well together and we laugh together.  It is a good combination.

We had a surprise baptism last week.  The primary president came up to us and was like:

This little girl isn't baptized, and yet her and her mom are active members.  Baptize her.

We already knew the family, they had told us they were waiting because they wanted a family member to do the baptism. The only member of the family who has the priesthood lives far away and said it was better that she get baptized.  So, we did it.

Thursday my heart was with Jessica as she flew home.  It was weird thinking about it and seeing the pictures today.  It makes it seem more real.  I really have been in Honduras for the last 18 months.

That's the other news.  I officially have 18 months in the mission.  Its weird.  Very weird.  I have gotten very touchy about my time.  I don´t really tell many people how much time I actually have.  I try to keep my mind where I am right now.

I am still loving my area. I love feeling like I am progressing spiritually and physically with a companion that I love working with.  It is all fantastic.

Oh,  I finally received the package from the ward for Christmas.  I quickly finished the homemade toffees and am working through the other goodies.  I made sure to share, and this time I am controlling my sugar addiction a little better.

Thank you to all the families that helped put it together.  I especially loved the pictures from the kids. Its nice to know I am loved by so many people.

I hope you all are great there in UTAH.  Take care of yourselves.

I went to the temple this week.  They advised us with security Monday last week at like 9pm, and we left at 4;30 the next morning.  TOTALLY WORTH waking up at 3.

I loved it.

God blesses us so much here on this tiny planet called earth.  One of the biggest blessings is a family.

I love you all.  Thank you for your prayers.

Elder Henrie

Lots to be Grateful for

Its kind of wierd being at the point in my mission where I have to begin go think about how to end it.  I am sitting next to Elder Johnson (my Zone Leader) stressing about BYU in the fall.

In 5 days I fufill 18 months in the mission.

In 3 days Jessica will be home.

Things are very strange right now.

I still tell people that I still have a lot of time left.  I am trying not to make it reality yet.  I have a fear of [dying[, or just stopping to work because you are ready to be home.  I am working really hard so that doesnt happen.

Elder Johnson also gave me a really good suggestion, that thinking about it, reminds me of President Uctdorf.  He told me to find the small things every day and be grateful for them.  So thats what I do.  When I have a good lesson, I remember it.  When I meet a pleasant person, I remember them.  This Country has so many options to choose from for bueatiful things.

It is still normal that people will say hello to total strangers.

If you get into the house and they are making, food, they will share with you.

People have a belief in God that goes to their core.  It is common as a farewell to say [God Bless you[.

I am so grateful that I still have the opportunity to be here 6 months more.  I will love every second of it, working just as hard as I did in the beginning, only a lot more intelligent.

Thank you for all of you who support me with your prayers and your love.  Trust me, there a moments when I feel it.

I love you guys.

Elder Henrie

Find Out for Yourself

Redecorating?

So this week was pretty good.  We were pretty busy and we had interviews.

I got my temple reccomend.  I learned that the mission president is only authorized to give you one until 3 months after your mission.  I have to get a new one before October.

I also asked him to fill out the ecclesiastical endorsement for BYU.  President made it very clear to me that I am almost done and that this is the best time to work my but off.  I will work on that.

The mission this month is focusing on the importance of the Book of Mormon.  The talks and classes given have reminded me of the power of this marvelous book.  It is what makes us different, and is one of the biggest things that an investigator needs to accept if they will be babtized.  When they accept it, it is like Dominos.  If the Book of Mormon is true, Joseph Smith is a prophet, and today the church is the authorized church of Jesus Christ in the world.  That is why it is so attacked, and so cherished.  This is what we help people to understand.

The best part is that we don´t try to convince you.  We bear testimony and we ask you to act for yourself.

I love you guys and hope you all have a fantastic week.  

Elder Henrie

Definition of Discipline

So this week was kind of boring and also important.

While I was exercising this week (one of my goals for the new year).  The spirit taught me something.  Discipline isn´t a gift (at least not totally).  It is the personal decision to use your agency to control yourself.  It is totally overcoming the flesh and becoming the force behind your own life.  As Lehi described it, there are things that act, and things that are acted upon.  Moral discipline is always acting.

I had a really good week this week, but today I just feel like the time is racing form me.

Sorry, I forgot my camera today, so no pictures, but I will try to subirlas despues (upload later).

This week I broke down and bought speakers.  I will hide them this time.  I found a good deal and it plays usb and microsd.  It also has a control.  Its pretty cool.  I made sure to choose a model that I can continue to use after the mission.

This week the zone went to the temple, but we couldn´t because my companion had lost his recommend.  The president said he would interview him this week and that we can go with another zone.  I am excited to go, I haven´t gone in a year.

This week will be amazing.  I just know it.  

Elder Henrie

2015: 2 skype calls. 4 interviews. 4 Zone conferences. 5 companions. 4 areas.

Oh the weird markers of the time.

I officially have 53 letters to President from the year 2014.  My complete year in the mission is officially over.

That´s really strange...

I feel good about this year.  It is wierd to think about the experiences.  It feels like a different world.  I grew so much and yet I made so many mistakes.

I suppose thats the point of life, repentance, change, progress.

The next week I will have to start writing 2015 on my journals, checks, and letters.  Its a little weird.

This year feels sureal, like it didn´t happen, like a dream.  Yet the Physical evidences are all around me.

I had 2 skype calls.  4 interviews. 4 Zone conferences. 5 companions. 4 areas. Played the violin in 4 concerts.

I have that feeling of regret, and yet excitement for the new year.

Time seems to be slipping through my fingers.  Weeks pass in the time that days passed before.  The time hasn't changed, but I have.

I don´t know if I could explain in words what has happened this year.  Parts of me have disappeared, others have developed.  I think the change is for the better, but we will have to wait and see.

I have come to a knowledge of this gospel. Not only that it is true, but that it is complete.  That this is the rock on which we must build, because when we build there, we cannot fall. We may not see God in the way we see other people, but at the same time, his influence is unmistakable.  He is there, on the other side of a thin curtain that prevents us from seeing us.  He cries with us and lauphs with us,  if we could only break the veil, we would see how close he is.  He has not abandoned our tiny planet to the wrath of a desolate universe.  He has promised that things will get worse, but they will also get better.  He will support us every step of the way.

I love you, and I hope you know it.  Thank you for all the small sacrifices you have done to get me and keep me here.  I know I was a hard rock, but you guys chiseled me down, and helped me become what I am now.  Thank you for that.

I hope you guys have a great new years!

Elder Henrie

Bonus:

I asked Elder Henrie what he is looking forward to in 2015 and this is his list:

BYU.

Starting over as a new person.

Being organized.

Dating.

Finding the other half of my orange. 

Finishing my mission.

Hugging my family.

A lot more...

Merry Christmas everyone!

So, I am really happy right now.

This last week has just been so full of stuff.  We had 3 concerts with the group I was playing in.  They were really beautiful.

I really enjoyed going to the Mission Christmas party.  I liked the gifts that people sent to all the missionaries from the United states.

We were really busy this week doing a lot of stuff that wasn´t teaching people.  The husband of one of our investigators died, so we went to his funeral.  Because her son is on a mission (he´s the only member in his family), she asked us to be there the entire time.  We attended the Cathloc mass that they did in his honor.  It was interesting and yet sad to see what it lacked.  I shared with her that everyone will rresurrect and it was a slightly different take then seeing Christ on the cross.

I realized how marvelous it is to have a knowledge of what will happen.  We don't understand perfectly, but we do understand that we will see each other again.

Sunday we had to go early to the ZL´s house so we could go to the Christmas Party early Monday.  I spent most of the time playing ping pong.  President Bowler shared some great messages, and got everyone excited to go and work.

Yesterday we did our last concert in the Main Park of Danli.  I hope that we showed a lot of people that [The Mormons[ are really christians.  The program focused on that.  They always started with the He is the Gift video.

I know that Christ lived and died.  But he also ressurected.  He promised that everyone will live again, and those that obey, will be with their families forever in a state of never ending happiness.  My testimony is not perfect, but I stand with Nephi in that [I know that God loves his children[.  For that reason he sent us here and gives us his gospel.  So that we understand what happens to us here, and we have a hope for the future.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Elder Henrie

Today we did a gift exchange among our zone.  I bought Hermana Cook (From California) a christmas mug, a stuffed lion, and colored pens.

Sharing the Gift

First of all. I love you mom, for everything you do and have done for me. I have been realizing lately again how blessed I am to have a stable family where my home was a safe and spiritual place. The church is true, even just for that.

 This week has been kind of crazy. There were changes, but I didn´t have changes. Elder Olivares and I are together for another change. We are really excited about that.

 I finished all the candy that Dan Wilson sent me about Monday. I was kind of in a sugar coma, but it was great. Give him and his wife all my thanks. The picture of Christ is in my house now, on the wall.

Things are great here in Paraiso and Danli. The musical group that I am in is preparing hard for our big concert in La Casa de la Cultura here in Danli. It is a small stage, but it is going to knock the people out of their seats! We will do a bigger concert Sunday in the Stake Center.

This week my companion and I worked really well. It is nice to look back at a week, and although you may not have had all the results you wanted, you know you worked hard to make the goals. I am constantly working to be better. I am really feeling blessed for the holidays here.

The inicitive of the church is really great. We use it to contact. We invite them to remember Christ in christmas and we ask when we can come a talk about it. We usually share a scripture from the bible, and then from the Book of Mormon. It opens doors and gets people talking and asking questions. We talked with a lady named Sandra yesterday that was at first a little wierded out when we started to share from the Book of Mormon, but she became more interested as we explained it. We have another appointment to talk more about Joseph Smith and the restoration this week. I am loving every minute of my work here.

 We are busy, and I am learning to open my mouth like never before. We are seeing the blessings of that all the time now. There really are people that want to listen, you just have to talk to them to find out.

I love you guys and I appreciate you a lot!

Have a good week!

Elder Henrie