Miracles at the End of the Year! 12/30/13

Dear peoples that I love and care about. How was your Christmas? I bet it wasn't as fun as mine, especially when Brixen told me that she has a new My Little Pony! HA beat that! But truly I do hope you all enjoyed your break so far, and the precious special time with you families. They are a great blessing in all of our lives.

   Well a couple of really cool things happened this week. About Monday Elder Norman and I were out and our lesson dropped. I had the distinct impression to go talk to a man who I have know for quit a while out here. I have known him because he always calls me over to talk to me when I finish my running in the morning. I have always brought up the gospel (so has Elder Nelson, the AP right now) and he didn't want anything to do with it. Well as we went over that night he invited us onto his pourch. We sat and small talked for a minute then very expertly went into our discussion, starting with a prayer ( you know that was the spirit because I couldn't have done it that expertly on my own......even though I might be pretty good). As we started he held up his and and asked us to stop. My faith wavered for a small moment. He got up and went inside with out another word. Only to appear back in the door way just a few seconds later, with a pen and a piece of paper. He sat down  and asked us to continue. He then wrote down everything that we said. He took very specific notes on everything. WOW! Once finished he asked us to come back and talk with his whole family. Without even extending the commitment to come to church he said he would be there Sunday with his family and he was!!!!! He quickly accepted the commitment to be baptized and said that his family would be too on that day. We later came to find out that his family were debating whether or not to go to the Baptist's church or to come to ours and our appearance that night he took as a sign from God. I am still is sheer awe. I told Elder Nelson and he had me repeat myself because he didn't believe it at first either, that's how hard hearted this man was. Key word was! We can all change and God is working on us daily! Just trust him he knows best.

   Well to complete the story to date: Sunday came around, I was on trade off, but as I walked into the church for the meeting after ours. And here came out the Cambell family just glowing.......They loved church a whole heap according to several of the members, myself, and what my comp said. More than that, we had 3 others come! Making our progressing investigators for the week at 4!!!! Not only that, we also had 5 less actives back! Just between Elder Norman and I!! It was a nice change. Miracles don't usually come all at once but as a process just like the sunrise, little by little. So yesterday was a blast just for that simple fact alone. At the end of church though Elder Humphries and I were sitting around while someone was signing his journal. ( transfer calls he is leaving but I am the same for at least one more transfer) I went up and played t he piano. Well here came three sisters from the branch. Bam! They thrusted some music in front of me they wanted to sing. It took me off guard but they were nice so I played. They sang and sang and sang some more! What is even weirder they sounded really good. It surprised me but I was just happy to be playing the piano. I love that instrument so much I can not even begin to describe my feelings. Maybe I'll learn to play the guitar while I am out here as well. hmmmmm.....what do you all think about that one?? We will see.

   Well I will send some pics here soon so I hope you all like them. Again thanks for all the letters, emails, cards, packages and love you all send. It help a lot more than you know. Most of them are perfectly timed right when I am feeling down. How you all do it I do not know but I am sure grateful you have a gift for that kind of stuff. So, thank you.

    Aunt Carolyn in Kentucky: Thank you for all your thoughtful letters. Thank you for the cash too. It really helps and I can't say thank you in the way I feel. Your words are always a boost and whether you know it or not, sometimes they have answers to questions I have been searching for. So thank you again! You are awesome. Hopefully one day I can thank you in person like this kind of stuff should be done. I love you. 

    Have a good week! I hope you all enjoy New Year's Eve. I sure will in 88 degree whether. But I love and care about every single one of you. I pray very very hard for each one of you every night. Thank you for all you do and who you are. You are all and example to me and my heros. I love you all.

 Elder Henderson

No Snow for Christmas 12/23/13

Well another week has come and passed us by in the twinkling of an eye.
Weird......I still feel like it has been just a couple of days since seeing you all. I think that that is mostly because there is zero change out here. A nice blessing from God.

   

This week was a lot of fun! Elder Norman and I have done a lot of work considering that we had two less days of work than normal, with the mission dinner and the big Christmas Devotional. (Do any of you know an Elder Cornish?? He spoke.) Any way we combined the whole mission and we got over a 1000 people in attendance. Pretty cool huh. The place was jammed packed. So it was cool.

  

 I can't really think of any cool stories this week. It went by too fast. I can't even remember what I did on Friday.......hmmmmmm that needs fixing. But yeah. Sunday was a little bit of a disappointment. We had 10 people this week.......ug so much work we do for what? But I played  really well on the piano. I love playing that thing!!! I have gotten really good, the Lord has really blessed me. You know sometimes it is very hard to see if you have progressed at all. I always wonder if I am progressing. If God is happy with the effort that I have given so far. Hmmmmm......I guess I will just have to wait to find out. 

    

Christmas down here is NOT Christmas. There are almost zero lights. There is not Christmas music. And most importantly there is NO SNOW! Yes for those of you that don't know I really do miss the snow. Anyway, Merry Christmas though because I know that it is Christmas back at home!!! 

Remember a couple of things this season. First, you Lord and Savior was born. That's the whole reason that we celebrate Christmas. Not for Santa, although that would be cool! Christ did what he did because he loved each one of you. So this Christmas what can you do to show him you love him. Second, Christmas gifts are really cool but, the most meaningful gifts come from the heart and take time. The gifts I remember the most are the times that my parents took time just to hang with me. So What can you do this season to spend some more time with those you love. For this is truly what Christmas is all about! I know that our Saviour lives. He cares and he will do all he can to get you to come back to him. The question remains will you take his out stretched hand? I know that this is the only true church. I know this with every fiber of my soul. And I know that the Book of Mormon is truly the word of my God. This is where my testimony started, so if you want more faith, spiritual strength, whatever read, ponder, pray. I know that book is true. I know it and I can not deny it. I love you all. Until we meet again keep the faith,

Elder Henderson

Disapointing Week 12/16/13

Well just another week closer to Christmas. I just can't wait to see all of your faces. I am so excited I can't stand it!!!! Any way, this week was well disappointing. Yesterday we had 19 people at church........we have over 200 members. I guess it is the Christmas season so they are probably all with family. But we did have one investigator there with 4 less actives back!!! Yes score for the white man! I had the privilege of giving a talk on missionary work. I just love to give talks because I learn so much in the process! I also got the chance to play again in sacrament. Well I guess you could say that it's my calling but yeah.....Anyway let's just say that Christmas songs are probably the hardest songs to learn/sight read. I never would have expected that. But I have learned so much from playing every week! Mom that music you sent me is sick!!!! I have learn just about three songs of it and it sounds amazing! I can't wait to share it with you when I come home.

   Well this week was a little bit slower seeing that we had 3 back to back to back drop out days. Mostly because of the rain. It rained quite a bit this week. That reminds me! We were sitting with a less active on Tuesday when the rain started to pour. It got so loud that we couldn't hear what the other was saying so we just sat for a while. (It usually passes over with in an hour) But as we sat a lightning strike hit the ground not even 50 feet away! I could literately taste the electricity in the air. It was the loudest thunder I have ever heard! I couldn't hear for a minute or so.........sssssooooooooo awesome! Gosh I love the weather here sometimes!

   Well we did a lot of service this week in an attempt to gain more trust from the members and help them to do more missionary work. We picked out three members that were the strongest ward missionaries and we started there. Well it turned out pretty good. I feel like it really motivated them to trust us and help us with the work. But we got a couple of sweet pictures of us 20 some odd feet in the air chopping branches with a machete. But yeah there isn't a lot to tell. 

    I miss you all very much and I love to get all of your emails! They are just the boost I need to continue into another week. So thank you. Enjoy the coming week and the coming break! Enjoy the snow and I'll enjoy the 88 degree weather. 

   Elder Nathan Allen, Elder Gregg Allen, and Sister Tiffiney Henderson I love hearing your stories it makes me smile to know that I am apart of such an awesome family!! Keep up the good work! I pray for all of you every single day. No regrets leave it all on the field. 

    Take care everyone! Until next week.

Elder Henderson

Sunrise in Spanish Town

Service with a machette

Painting with the McCallas

Elders Henderson and Norman

40 day email fast done!! 12-9-13

Well with this last week goes my 40 day fast. I have so much to report but I don't think I will have time to report it all, too much has happened. I am also so very grateful to all of you for all your kind letters. Thank you, I hope you all received mine with out delay. 

    I guess I better start with what I learned and experienced. First and for most I realized exactly how much I depend on my family. They give me hope and courage to go on. I can't really explain the feelings that I have for you all. Even though I did miss talking to you all I did learn that the Savior always comes through. There were times when I was depressed and very low but, as I spoke to my God he spoke back. He gave me strength, courage, and a glimmer of hope. Even if I remember nothing else about this trial/experience I will remember the conversations that I had with Heavenly Father, yes conversations. He really does respond, and sometimes he responds with more than just a feeling. It was at those times of extreme anguish that I was pushed to my limit, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and physically. I learned more about who I am in those 40 days than I have in the last 5 years of my life. Trust me I do not want to do that again but the lessons learned are the most valuable lessons I have learned in my life. Even if you younger ones (and older ones) don't have a testimony that he responds, I promise you he does. You just aren't looking hard enough. If you are in a trial now I invite you to pray. Something so simple but, it has more power than you know, much more power. 

   Well to give an update on the investigators here in Spanish Town. Sister Harrison was baptised three weeks ago. Theo is supposed to be baptized in two weeks. Sister Shaw was supposed to be baptized this week but that will have to be pushed back. Joseph Grant is supposed to be baptized next week. We also have picked up Brother Harrison, Romy, Rohan, Isaac, Andre, Kemar, Brother Morris, Immaneul, Mark Lee, Dwane, Devon, and Kino. Plus some others but those are the ones we are focusing on right now. (Dad your prayers have been answered, all males). The branch here is really flourishing, in fact we had the church camera crew come here yesterday and take footage of sacrament meeting. They are doing a documentary of the growth of the church in Jamaica. Guess what else?! Elder Norman and I have a part in the film. Something like 10 seconds long, but still that's 10 seconds right??!!? So keep an eye out for that. Anyway, we had a really cool experience Saturday.

   We watched the Restoration (full version). As we watched the Spirit filled the room stronger and stronger with that familiar charity and compassion. I think I could taste it it was so strong actually. As the movie progressed people off the street came walking into the meeting until we had people standing outside because there wasn't enough room in Sister Harrison's house. People we didn't even know. It was because the Spirit was pouring out of the house and into the street. Once the video finished we stood. As I bore my testimony of the truth the Spirit took it to the peoples hearts. I watched as grown men cried. It was the most powerful testimony I have ever uttered. Elder Norman did the same. After his powerful testimony Sister Harrison bore her's (we didn't even ask her too). I watched as new people who I have never seen before spoke to themselves that this was true. We concluded with a prayer and all of them asked us to come back and that they would be at church tomorrow. I could not believe it. The Lord really does have his hand in our work.

    There are so many other experiences that I have had here that are similar but I don't have the time to write them or share them. I am just pleased to be a tool in the Lord's hands and I am watching as he is bringing forth a stake here in Jamaica. I just wonder sometimes on why people wont decided quicker to be baptized. I don't understand why I am not catching hypothermia because I am in the font all day. Gosh! But that being said I have watched as my area has grown. President has straight out told me that our area is the model area. That blew my mind because there is still so much more we still need to happen here. Oh well back to the grind stone. 

   Well Christmas is coming so very soon. I can't wait to talk to you momma, daddy, kids. I hope that you are all having a wonderful Christmas season. How's the snow? Is is sosooooooooo cold? Guess What!?! Nothing (brixen) No I am still at 88 degrees. Yeah I miss the snow. Oh well.

   So I have a question for all who read this, but especially Dad. Why did the prophets pray to Jesus in the old testimate and in the Book of Mormon? (Alma 36; Lehi does it too; it is all over) I have come to the conclusion that is must do something with the Atonement but I don't have the time to study it out. (too many investigators) So Dad you are a scholar with the Old Testimate why do they do that? So that's my thought today. Anyway, I love you all. Amber Welcome home. I hope this all finds you in good health. 

Your missionary in Jamaica,

Elder Henderson

Elder Norman (new companion), Elder Henderson, Elder Matthewson

Scott, Rachel, Elder Norman

Drinking from a coconut

The Jamaican sky

Beauty of Spanish Town

Banana Tree

Beauty of Spanish Town - Jamaican Apple Tree