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.

Losing the Palace

So things are pretty good this week. The biggest news is that we had investigadores (investigators) in church for the first time as a companionship. It was pretty exciting for us to have that. It means that if these same people go again next week, they can be baptized the proximate domingo (Sunday). The funny thing was with one of them we didn`t do much work, a member brought them. Now the work for us begins as we work to teach her and help her gain a testimony.

This week as a companionship, we did pretty good to study, and one of the things we studied was to teach the people, not to teach the lessons. For me, it was really interesting to talk about the experiences I have had teaching real people. It is interesting to realize just how different every spirit of God really is. Everyone has their propios problemas (own problems), and yet in some ways we are so simple. It always reminds me of the love of God. It is one of the sweetest experiences of my life to be in a lesson and feel like I should share something. Usually it seems a little random and I have to work it a little to get it to fit into the lesson but the result is always worth it. To see a person actually begin to listen (yes, sometimes they don`t), and start to let the word enter their heart.

Something I wrote in my predicad mi evangelio (Preach my Gospel) recently comes to mind. If we can`t show them how it will apply to them, how can we expect them to accept it, much less be changed by it. Because when it comes down to it, the gospel means change. We were sent here to this earth not to return the same, but to return better. The mission sent us a talk last week about how to be a missionary consecrated, not just a good missionary. Something in it caught my attention, that if we just come to the mission and change our behavior, we will return the same subject to the same problems that plagued you then.

For me this was an eye opener. I want to be a good missionary, but more than that I want to grow. I want to return stronger, not the same. I feel like Nephi, I have my temptations and problems that always beset me. I know just how weak I really am. I want to return home a little better. No, scratch that, I want to return home a lot better. I want people to see the difference in my very soul, not just in the fact that I may have grown, or my physical appearance has changed. I really want to change my soul.

The talk continued to talk about how we need to change more than just our behavior. We need to change our very nature. It posed an interesting question, Do you follow the rules because others expect you too? Or do you follow because you WANT to? The way to do this is simple, and in its simplicity is the difficulty. We must submit our will to the Father`s, understanding that although the process may be painful, the results will be worth it. I went on quick divisions con my Lider de Zona hoy (zone leader today) Elder Torres. He told me that in his opinion, people are called as leaders, because the Lord wants to humble them. He wants to show them just how much they need him. 

Sorry for the long rambling spiritual thought, but as you can see, it was the highlight of my week. It general, things are good, I have a slight cold right now (yea, I know, I`m in Honduras!). But my relationship with my companion is really good and I feel like we can do a lot together.

This week we lose the palace..:(. Oh well, the lord asked me what I was willing to do to serve him and I said I`ll go where you want me to go, so I`m going.

Final thought for the week:

Every change I have a scripture theme, which I write on my planner in Spanish and English. This change is a thought from the 2000 stripling It is found in Alma 57:21. It says, "Yea, and they did obey and observe to perform every word of command with exactness yea, and even according to their faith it was done unto them."  This is my goal right now. To have sufficient faith, and the action to back it up, to really invite a miracle to our area.

I love you all, thank you for your prayers!

Elder Henrie

Six Months

So, things were pretty good this week.  We had interviews and we talked about the problems of our area.  We talked about moving us to La Montaña, which would mean that we don´t have this awsome house, but we would be closer to a more promising area.  The president really emphasized working with all your effort.  He had me read the story from Charles G Maiser about Word of Honor, and then had me give my word of honor that I would do my best to ¨make a miracle¨in our area.  I promised that I would.

Sorry if this feels a little hurried, I´m just not sure what to put in this letter for this week.

Training is not as bad as I expected.  The church really has done a good job putting together a training program, so I´m trying to follow that.  The hardest part for me is I want to show my son (trainee) what it means like to have success, and right now thats a little difficult in our area.  But nontheless, I´m going to train a missionary that works, no matter what the numbers are.

This week I spent some time thinking about how we can improve the work here, it helped that we had interviews.  I feel like we are really doing some great things, but that theres always a little more. We are going to be spending this week milking that little more for all its worth!

In general, it has been interesting to talk with Elder Rodriquez and notice the little things that have changed in my own life.  I feel like I´ve learned to depend on the lord a little more, and I look a little more for the little miracles in life.  I´ve learned to appreciate the small succeses, and evaluate even the small failures.  Perhaps one of the most important things is I´ve learned the value of working until the appóinted time is done.  I also think I finally have learned what my mom always tried to teach me about using an Agenda.  I can really see the difference between the days that we plan ahead, and the days that we just kind of go with it.  

It has also been interesting to see how my testimony has grown a little here and there.  I still have doubts, I have them every day.  But I can also look a person in the eyes and promise them blessings if they obey a commandment.  I have really learned to appreciate why the commandments are a ´protection, not a problem.  I have met people that have really messed up their lives, because they decided that something was [not that bad+, or that {everyone does it}.

One of the things that has really been pressed upon my mind is the importance of communication in any relationship.  How if you won´t talk, you will not have success.  You will just circle the dran until in all drys up.  I have seen the difference that little expressions of love can save a relationship.

I have mixed feelings as I get ready to pass the first big hump in the mission, 6 months.  (its on the 24th by the way).  But I have strength in that I know that I am helping people.  I may not be babtizing them, but I am helping them come closer to christ.  I can promise them blessings and I can help them change.

Here´s the testimony that you asked for mom...

I want to bear my testimony that this church is true.  Not because I have seen an angel, or heard a voice, but because I have lived it.  I have seen the people that live in the world, they have their happiness.  But then I look back on my own family, my memories, my own actions, and I can see the difference.  I can see in my life a brightness, a hope for the future, a positiveness that has helped me all my life.  I have a testimony of this gospel because I can see the difference in my own life.  This is my invitation to everyone, to see what we have, and accept the road to a happieness that can last forever.

You probably want to edit that, but when I share my testimony with others, I realize more and more that my testimony is from actions, not from grand experiences.

I hope that you are all doing well, thank you for your support, your prayers, and your examples.

The church is true.  Families can be together forever.  You can be truely, and deeply happy.

Elder Henrie

 Package from home:

 

 

I'm Training!

So that's the biggest news this week, I´m training.  Elder Osmond, who in 6 short weeks became a favorite companion, left to go open an area (cause he´s cool like that) and train as well.

We were pretty sure we were like the least likely people in the Zone to have changes.  I have only been in Tatumbla for a change and a half, and he was only here for 1 change.  I didn´t cry, but I was pretty sad.

We spent our last day together teaching, and finishing all the food that we didn´t want to share with the new guys.  Then I helped him pack  and we arranged a ride for the next day.

The Hermanas had changes too, and they were taken out, with Elders taking their place.  They hadn´t arranged a ride, and were asking us if they could hop in with us in the Bishop´s CAR (tiny, like commuting car).  We told them no, and luckily they found a ride.

We spent a good time talking to people.  We received a big group, and a lot of people were training. We finally got sat down and waited to receive our fate.  

I received Elder Rodriquez, de Ecuador.  He seems pretty cool.  Talking with him reminds me how much different I was 6 months ago.  More insecure, worried, and doubting my own knowledge.  I suppose its good he doesn´t have to learn a language.  We of course visited La Abuela First, with all the new guys.  An Elder Porter (de Gilbert, Arizona) and an Elder Herrarte (de Guatamala, and new as well) came to replace the hermanas.  Abuela was excited to have 4 elders.

Because their house had like no food, they spent dinner with us for the first 2 nights, witch totally cleaned out any real food that we had.  I was a bit miffed, more so because I had to break out my {Gringo Card} for the first time.  I plan to pay myself back with money I receive from the mission (usually I don´t use that much money).  This quinsena was just hard because we did a lot of random activities as a zone.  First, we got gifts for each other, and we also got shirts, (which look pretty cool, although I´m not sure if I have pictures of them).

We went and played futbol as a zone today.  I didn´t play that much, but it was fun.  I got some respect from my Latin comps, but its pretty obvious that I will never play soccer at more than a [for fun] level.

The best part of this week was last night.  Because we had divisions, y the other days were full of meetings, I didn´t get to teach with my new (very new) comp until last night.  We gave a baby a blessing, and we also taught a mildly hard investigator named José de los Santos.  He is just hard because he really likes to bring up scriptures and ask us what we think of them (he did bring up one about false shepherds that come to steal sheep, that was fun!).  The divine inspiration of the Lessons was confirmed to me as all of his questions managed to fit perfectly into El Plan de Salvación.  Even as we continued talking after the actual lesson, I could feel the guidance of God, and we (together) were able to answer all his questions from the bible.  We still are going to have to work to help him receive the Book of Mormon as scripture, but we left him with a desafio a orar, si nuestro mensaje era verdadero.  He is really intelligent, and I think that we can baptize him.

We also found a new family, that we are excited to keep teaching.  The wife really seems interested, but we are going to have to work with the husband to help him respect us.  We ´plan on serving him this week.

Also yesterday, all the youth that are planning on serving missions were called as misioneros del Barrio.  We had a great lesson about the difference between being a believer, and being a disciple by the new Second Counselor, a recently returned missionary.  He is really good, and is really whipping the ward into shape.  It seems that his goal is to make the ward the ward he wanted to have in the mission.  We have planned a lot of activities, the one that excites me is that he put the youth in charge of reteaching the lessons to our recent converts.  He is planning on them doing it, and put them in companionships.  He said that we can help them to prepare, but they need to do it.  I am really excited to see how things turn out!

The verdad (truth), this week is looking really up.  I am still nervous to train, but I can feel the help of God every day.

Elder Henrie