February 4, 2013

This week was pretty stellar. We started out on Tuesday with a reunion with Elder Russell M Nelson. It was super sweet. We listened to him talk for about an hour but only the missionaries that were within 1 hour of the temple got to come. So I had the opportunity to go and listen to Elder Nelson. It was kind of weird-- I thought “heck if they are going to send and apostle down there has got to be a better reason that to talk to 500 missionaries for 30 minutes” and then the next day we heard that they announced the closing of the Bennamedito de Las Americas. So that explains a little better what happened. They said that lots of people cried and whined and I'm sure some people will go inactive over it. I have seen dumber reasons to go inactive but we close down a school that teaches hundreds to teach thousands that's just being practical and smart. I don't know anybody that was directly affected by it here but in my other area there were a lot of people that were affected by it. The school’s not in my area it’s in another mission but still pretty close. Elder Nelson talked to us about Jacob and how the whole world would be blessed through his name and how we are that blessing in these days. It was kind of funny because he started talking about how Rachel died (I think it was Rachel-- I need to study a little better the Old Testament) and how she died during child birth and then Doctor Nelson started talking about how he thought she died of a rupture of the birth canal, but he said. "In my opinion as Doctor Nelson I think she died of a birth canal rupture." but the translator didn’t understand and said "como doctina de elder nelson ella murió...." that means as Nelson’s doctrine she died..." everyone started laughing and laughing and Elder Nelson kind of got mad because he understands a little bit of Spanish.  I guess the translator thought Elder Nelson was going to make up his own doctrine. I don't know if you understood that. It’s probably something that you had to be there to understand. That was pretty funny and also I saw some old friends from the MTC all the buddies that were in my district in the MTC were there at the meeting-- well almost all of them.  I saw a few and it was pretty cool. Also some members from San Felipe came to visit me. I guess the elders told them there was a mission reunion and figured I would be there so I got to see them which was pretty cool.

This week was pretty killer. On Saturday we had a fast together with Paulino and Sandra so that they could figure out what to do with their family situation.  I think I already wrote about them. But she doesn't want to get married to him and he wants to get baptized but can’t because he’s not married to her. She is a member and has been for a long time and has had callings and everything but never got married. She has 15 years living with him. I don't know how you can live with someone, and not be married and still be the young women counselor but that's just how it goes some times. Anyway we had 7 people at church this week, but they were invited by some lady that got baptized in Houston, Texas but doesn't like the church here in Mexico. This week she came and brought her whole family. It was pretty cool. 

I know mom wants me to talk about the people that we are teaching. She has told me that a lot but we have a list of 50, and I don't even know how to start plus it would be really boring talking about the mundane lives of the people I teach.  Not that I don't care about them I do care about them but hearing about who knows who that lived in Brazil was kind of boring for me when Landon was out. I don't want to put you guys through the same. But don't worry if something really cool happens I will tell you about it, but for right now out of the 50 that we started teaching about 20 have come back. 

We are not baptizing very much we are trying to get the ward animated and get them to give us references but it hasn't been that great so far. Everyone asks us why there hasn't been any baptisms and we always tell them that's because you haven't invited your friend to church. I don't know. Landon always says that references are super great and I don't doubt it but it seems that the whole mission is struggling with them same problem finding people to teach.

Anyway the work goes on.

Elder Hendricks

 

 

 

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