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

Another month gone already 11/11/13

Another month gone......will someone care to share the secret of getting time to slow down? Gosh I'm with Elder Allen it is going by too fast. I hope you all had a great week this week. I love getting all of your letters and emails. They benefit me a lot more than you realize. Thank you.

    So this week was an outstanding week! We had 3 people at church, investigators. And another 3 people return from less activity! Yes you heard me right. The investigators that came to church were as follows: Theo, Sister Harrison, and Joseph Grant. Theo of course is probably the most elect guy I know and have met. So here is what happened with him this week. So last week he came to church and right after church he received a job that he desperately needed to support his family. Not only that but he didn't stop doing the things God has commanded he continued. We were supposed to go see him Tuesday. We called Shawn (a member who is fellow shipping Theo) to see if he wanted to come with us to the lesson, this was his response. "Na mon, he ain't going to be at the lesson." (us) "Why not!?! What happened?" "Institute is tonight, we are headed there now." All I could do was sit in wonderment and awe and shake my head.....wow. We will continue the story. Thursdaywe went to see him again. This time we got to see him. We talked, and found out that the chapter we had left with him to read he had read it twice. He had several questions but he didn't want us to answer them. Sounds kinda weird huh? Well he wanted to solve the questions by himself with the Lord. So he started reading from the beginning. Sick. Saturday we went to see him again. It was pouring, pretty badly. We stopped at his house (rain won't stop us). He was outside washing his cloths. He invited us in, and after a careful evaluation we decided to help him wash his cloths, (yes, by hand) in the pouring rain. :) It was a wonderful expierence. We got to talk to him about everything, meaning his back round and hobbies and stuff. This guy has quit the story, I will have to share it another time though. Theo often calls us his best friends. I can't describe the feeling of love I have for that man. I have gotten the chance to sit and watch God work miracles in his life! Not only that but it was a miracle that we met him. (This is cool, I was just thinking about this the other day) So my first or second week out here Elder Mathewson had this impression to go to a Sisters house. She wasn't home because there was a funeral. Well I just stopped this lady on the street and we ended up getting her information. We taught this lady a couple of times. She wasn't really progressing but we felt impressed to continue to teach her. We decided that we should bring Sister Wright to the next lesson. Well when we got over there to teach her she wasn't home. Sister Wright being awesome talked to Theo who is staying there. And well you know most of the story from there. I still can't believe it. If everything goes according to plan we should have 3 baptisms before I talk to you all next.

   Well Sunday was a great day. I played 29, 190 and 284. Yesterday I got a glimpse of how much God has changed me and made me stronger. I played better than I ever have before in my life. It was such a blessing. I am so thankful for what God does in my everyday life. 

   So there is something important I need to tell all of you. I won't be emailing any of you for the next 40 days. I will write letters, in fact there are some on the way now. This is because I am looking to consecrate my work even further than it is. I will be going on a 40 fast, so to speak. So don't feel bad if you don't receive an email in the next month. I will explain myself more after I am finished. Mom yes I can do this according to the rules. I have spend many days now contemplating this very thing. I am not doing this to get away from anything. I am doing this so that I can simply rely solely on the Lord for my strength. He will provide a way and the strength I need, and you need. Don't worry it won't be a long time.

   Dad, thank you for your kind email! I did get the packages! They were and are wonderful it was a huge boost to my day.....my week.....no more like my month. Thank you! One thing though.....I need more talks I am almost finished. Sorry like I said I am going through material really fast. Not only that I am retaining the things I read. Look at my blessing, that is why. Also, I was reading in D and C 132 verse 26. There are 5 saving ordinances. But there should be 6 steps for you. 1. baptism 2. receive the holy ghost 3. priesthood 4. endowments 5. marriage. 6. being sealed my the holy spirit of promise. The sixth step is, according to our old mission president, president Hendricks (he was a temple president) is preformed by the Savior himself. You will receive a call from the Prophet when that is to happen, to come to the temple. So in short work for that assured exaltation. (What are your thoughts on that? and on D and C 132 verse 26?)

   Mom thank you too for your kindness. I really do love you and the time you took out of your schedule for me to help me out. Thank you. I hope that you will be okay for the next little while. Guess what!? You'll speak to me after I am done with my fast, so be of good cheer. 

   Carter, I am glad to hear that you are having a better time at school. The friend thing, I would suggest to put yourself in situations where you can get to know other people. Sit by someone new, learn to be social. You are a stud! I am excited and grateful to get emails from you every week.

   Joshua bro. I love that snowman! I made me laugh pretty good. Way to be! Hmmmmm....so the snow has already fallen. Well continue to run. You have much more equipment in the house to continue your training than I have out here. Like in my pictures I only have bands and cinder blocks. I would recomend you use the ladder everyday. So keep it up, just a little bit everyday.

    Nikayle, I love you princess. You are awesome. I didn't hear from you or Mom this week but I am sure it is because you are just having a blast!! How did softball end up? How is Mr. J? I sure loved him as a teacher he is great.

    Siri!!!!!! How are you beautiful? I miss you! How is school? What about gymnastics? Are you having fun without me? I am sure you are! Remember you are a daughter of God live accordingly. I love you.

    Brixen, little one, guess what?!........Nothing. hahaha aw I miss those times! I hope you are finding joy at home while Siri is gone. So do you and Mom play much? What do you do? How was Halloween? Did you get a lot of candy? Any way know that God loves you. You are his daughter. I love you too.

    I know that this letter is a lot longer than I have been writing but I think you can figure out why I made it a little bit longer. The Lord is very merciful to all. His grace is sufficient for all of us. He paid our debt, and we must show our appreciation by living all of his commandments. For that will determine weather we choose to stay with Jesus and Heavenly Father in the Celestial world or if we choose to leave and stay in a lower kingdom. I know that he lives. God is present now more than ever before, in our lives. We must take a moment to ponder and thank him for all that he does for us. I know more assuredly now than ever before that the Book of Mormon is true. It is true and I will stand as a witness of that until I die. When I go before God at the judgement bar, I want to be able to say that I proclaimed his gospel to the best of my ability. I love you all very much and I miss you all very much, two years may seem like a long time, but the more I am out here the more I realize that it is just time. It will pass, very quickly. Two years is not enough time for me, or any of us for that matter, to complete all that God has given us to do. So don't waste a moment. For those of you who are struggling to find the faith to do the things that God commands, you can lean on my testimony until you gain a testimony of your own. This is the only true church, but don't believe me. Ask Heavenly Father and see for yourself. He will answer, if you act in faith. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Elder Henderson

November is gone! 11-4-13

Another month gone......will someone care to share the secret of getting time to slow down? Gosh I'm with Elder Allen - it is going by too fast. I hope you all had a great week this week. I love getting all of your letters and emails. They benefit me a lot more than you realize. Thank you.

    

So this week was an outstanding week! We had 3 people at church, investigators. And another 3 people return from less activity! Yes you heard me right. The investigators that came to church were as follows: Theo, Sister Harrison, and Joseph Grant. Theo of course is probably the most elect guy I know and have met. So here is what happened with him this week. So last week he came to church and right after church he received a job that he desperately needed to support his family. Not only that but he didn't stop doing the things God has commanded he continued. We were supposed to go see him Tuesday. We called Shawn (a member who is fellow shipping Theo) to see if he wanted to come with us to the lesson, this was his response. "Na mon, he ain't going to be at the lesson." (us) "Why not!?! What happened?" "Institute is tonight, we are headed there now." All I could do was sit in wonderment and awe and shake my head.....wow. We will continue the story. Thursday we went to see him again. This time we got to see him. We talked, and found out that the chapter we had left with him to read he had read it twice. He had several questions but he didn't want us to answer them. Sounds kinda weird huh? Well he wanted to solve the questions by himself with the Lord. So he started reading from the beginning. Sick. Saturday we went to see him again. It was pouring, pretty badly. We stopped at his house (rain won't stop us). He was outside washing his cloths. He invited us in, and after a careful evaluation we decided to help him wash his cloths, (yes, by hand) in the pouring rain. :) It was a wonderful expierence. We got to talk to him about everything, meaning his background and hobbies and stuff. This guy has quite the story, I will have to share it another time though. Theo often calls us his best friends. I can't describe the feeling of love I have for that man. I have gotten the chance to sit and watch God work miracles in his life! 

Not only that but it was a miracle that we met him. (This is cool, I was just thinking about this the other day) So my first or second week out here Elder Mathewson had this impression to go to a Sisters house. She wasn't home because there was a funeral. Well I just stopped this lady on the street and we ended up getting her information. We taught this lady a couple of times. She wasn't really progressing but we felt impressed to continue to teach her. We decided that we should bring Sister Wright to the next lesson. Well when we got over there to teach her she wasn't home. Sister Wright, being awesome, talked to Theo who is staying there. And well you know most of the story from there. I still can't believe it. If everything goes according to plan we should have 3 baptisms before I talk to you all next.

  

Well Sunday was a great day. I played 29, 190 and 284. Yesterday I got a glimpse of how much God has changed me and made me stronger. I played better than I ever have before in my life. It was such a blessing. I am so thankful for what God does in my everyday life. 

   

So there is something important I need to tell all of you. I won't be emailing any of you for the next 40 days. I will write letters, in fact there are some on the way now. This is because I am looking to consecrate my work even further than it is. I will be going on a 40 fast, so to speak. So don't feel bad if you don't receive an email in the next month. I will explain myself more after I am finished. Mom, yes I can do this according to the rules. I have spent many days now contemplating this very thing. I am not doing this to get away from anything. I am doing this so that I can simply rely solely on the Lord for my strength. He will provide a way and the strength I need, and you need. Don't worry it won't be a long time.

  

Dad, thank you for your kind email! I did get the packages! They were and are wonderful it was a huge boost to my day.....my week.....no more like my month. Thank you! One thing though.....I need more talks I am almost finished. Sorry like I said I am going through material really fast. Not only that I am retaining the things I read. Look at my blessing, that is why. Also, I was reading in D and C 132 verse 26. There are 5 saving ordinances. But there should be 6 steps for you. 1. baptism 2. receive the holy ghost 3. priesthood 4. endowments 5. marriage. 6. being sealed my the holy spirit of promise. The sixth step is, according to our old mission president, president Hendricks (he was a temple president) is preformed by the Savior himself. You will receive a call from the Prophet when that is to happen, to come to the temple. So in short work for that assured exaltation. (What are your thoughts on that? and on D and C 132 verse 26?)

   

Mom thank you too for your kindness. I really do love you and the time you took out of your schedule for me to help me out. Thank you. I hope that you will be okay for the next little while. Guess what!? You'll speak to me after I am done with my fast, so be of good cheer. 

   

Carter, I am glad to hear that you are having a better time at school. The friend thing, I would suggest to put yourself in situations where you can get to know other people. Sit by someone new, learn to be social. You are a stud! I am excited and grateful to get emails from you every week.

   

Joshua bro. I love that snowman! It made me laugh pretty good. Way to be! Hmmmmm....so the snow has already fallen. Well continue to run. You have much more equipment in the house to continue your training than I have out here. Like in my pictures I only have bands and cinder blocks. I would recomend you use the ladder everyday. So keep it up, just a little bit everyday.

    

Nikayle, I love you princess. You are awesome. I didn't hear from you or Mom this week but I am sure it is because you are just having a blast!! How did softball end up? How is Mr. J? I sure loved him as a teacher he is great.

    

Siri!!!!!! How are you beautiful? I miss you! How is school? What about gymnastics? Are you having fun without me? I am sure you are! Remember you are a daughter of God - live accordingly. I love you.

    

Brixen, little one, guess what?!........Nothing. hahaha aw I miss those times! I hope you are finding joy at home while Siri is gone. So do you and Mom play much? What do you do? How was Halloween? Did you get a lot of candy? Any way know that God loves you. You are his daughter. I love you too.

    

I know that this letter is a lot longer than I have been writing but I think you can figure out why I made it a little bit longer. The Lord is very merciful to all. His grace is sufficient for all of us. He paid our debt, and we must show our appreciation by living all of his commandments. For that will determine whether we choose to stay with Jesus and Heavenly Father in the Celestial world or if we choose to leave and stay in a lower kingdom. I know that he lives. God is present now more than ever before, in our lives. We must take a moment to ponder and thank him for all that he does for us. I know more assuredly now than ever before that the Book of Mormon is true. It is true and I will stand as a witness of that until I die. When I go before God at the judgement bar, I want to be able to say that I proclaimed his gospel to the best of my ability. I love you all very much and I miss you all very much, two years may seem like a long time, but the more I am out here the more I realize that it is just time. It will pass, very quickly. Two years is not enough time for me, or any of us for that matter, to complete all that God has given us to do. So don't waste a moment. For those of you who are struggling to find the faith to do the things that God commands, you can lean on my testimony until you gain a testimony of your own. This is the only true church, but don't believe me. Ask Heavenly Father and see for yourself. He will answer, if you act in faith. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Elder Henderson

My Favorite Week So Far 10/28/13

Well another week has flown by.....would any of you please tell the time to slow down? It would be nice. So to give you a little taste of Jamaica. It is sunny everyday. Some days it will rain a little bit. The people here are so kind and loving. The food here is fantastic, I love it to death. I enjoy the sun rises and sun sets they are probably the most beautiful ones I have ever seen especially the sun rises...........OH YEAH i FORGOT IT'S STILL 90+ DEGREES!!!!! AAAAhhhhhhh where is winter?!? I just love to sweat everyday all day no matter what I am doing, even in the cold shower I sweat. Oh well there must be a price paid for so much beauty.

   So this week was probably my most favorite week so far here in the mission field. We have 3 investigators come to church, 4 Less actives come, and my boy Jean-Dee McCalla gave his farewell talk. It was awesome. I also got the chance to play the hymns again. I hope I am getting better....even if I mess up quite a bit. For example, I was playing hymn 27 and during the third verse my mind wondered on me. That is never good. I started thinking about, who knows what, and before I realized it I stopped playing completely. I quickly evaluated the dire situation, and started playing again.....wrong part of the song.....oh no.....I just started playing from the start and it happened to be where everyone was. haha Small mercy from God, but it was fun. 

    To tell you a little more about our investigators. I will start with Theo aka Alfredo Wilson. (He was one who came to church). Theo absolutly loved church. He described it "I felt welcome, completely welcome. I don't do well with crouds but I was okay there.....I felt overjoyed like if you place a glass of water underneath the tap and it over flows..." So awesome!!! During church he got an answer to his prayers, multiple actually. When we first talked with Theo he told us on how he was engaged and was struggling to find a job. He had a sincere desire to simply provide. He explained further saying that he had been cast out from his family and that he had been out of work for a really long time. You could just tell how humble this man was. He told us of many nights he spent on his knees praying for help and strength. Well at church during priesthood quorum a man stood up and said, "is anyone looking for a job? I need to hire someone effective immediately..." Can you imagine his joy? I can't but I could see it. He had a smile from ear to ear as he went up to talk to the man after church. Awesome. Later we went to see him to follow up on how church was and have a lesson. He was still smiling. He said "How do I keep this feeling?" We said "Be baptized." "I have to be baptized then. When can I be baptized?" What!?!?! I was just like wow. God has prepared this man so much it's amazing. I sure hope that he continues down this road, it will bring him many more blessings than a job. He is only scratching the surface.

    You know before this experience we had to drop a lot of investigators because they were not keeping their commitments. For example, Cindy said to us "I won't come unless I have fare for the taxi" I explained to her how I run the distance every week and how my 95 year old grandfather walked to church with me several times when I was younger. She said that it didn't matter that God understands that we sin......Hey doesn't that sound familiar? Try 2 Nephi 28 (I think verse 7-9) Gosh I didn't realize that that scripture would come to pass so literately. In this instance anyway (Dad don't worry I know there are many more meanings to that scripture). It is just amazing how stupid people are. They constantly want better and beg for it but they wont help themselves. Too bad I can't help if you won't help yourself. 

    Dad I am sending you a letter with some of my thoughts on the things I am studying. I don't have time to really digest your whole email so I am hoping that you can teach me as we write back and forth. I just wish I could get up with you and study every morning. Mom I got 2 of the packages the other one is in the office. Thank you so much!!! I couldn't stop smiling...even to talk. I loved the whole thing. Tell grandma thank you too.

    Tell the Swinson's that I got their letters as well and that I loved them. I really liked the talk about refinement. Any talks that people like I would love to read them. I love reading them.

    Well that's all for now. Or that I can think of. So, take care all. I love each one of you. I look up to each one of you. You are my heros. Nikayle keep up the good solid work. Your awesome! Siri, Sorry to hear you were sick but I am glad you are better. Continue to enjoy school. Brixen of course I will love you decorations!!! I love all of your drawings......sssshhhhh I'll let you in on a secret. You drawings always make a tear come to my eye because of your thoughtfulness. You are one bright light in this dark night of turmoil. I love you.

Elder Henderson

This is how I work out.... the hard way!

A frog we found.

What should we name him?