Last emails from the MTC

The final two emails that we received from Scott before leaving to the Germany Berlin Mission.

March 10, 2011

This week has been pretty cool. I can’t really remember why exactly but I am happy, and that’s what matters right? haha.

I got my travel plans yesterday! I actually stop in Detroit then go straight to Netherlands. My flight on the 22 leaves around 11 if I remember correctly.

So I have grown to LOVE Preach My Gospel. It’s so awesome, the more I read from it the more and more I see how the way it tells us to handle investigators and companions are wonderful ways to hand real life. Its so great and has so many good things to apply to life. 

One of the most important things I have been working on and learning more and more about while being out here is how to learn. I used to always think that the best way to learn is to apply what I read to my life so I can be better. I still believe in that for the most part but I have a whole new outlook. We learn best through service.

Another thing that has been pressing on my mind this week has been, "How does being obedient bring us happiness?" I have experienced this in my life, I was asked this though and it really made me think. One of our teachers shared a spiritual thought and it was one of my favorite scriptures. 2 Nephi 5:27. "…and it came to pass that we lived after the manner of happiness." I am going to have this on a board and hanging over my fireplace or something when I have my own house. I always just interpreted this to mean, "make the decision to be happy." I like that. But in class we dug deeper and talked about what decisions we need to make in order to be happy. Commandments are not there to restrict us, they are there to give us freedom.

One thing that really helped me was Leadership Training. We have two every week for district leaders on Sunday and Tuesday and they rock! We have been reading the last couple verses in DC 121 and they are soo awesome and can be applied to every situation we ever have to deal with, whether it be as a parent, or as a companion, or president of anything. It’s such a good chapter and I suggest to study it.

I love you all so much and I am really enjoying hearing all that is happening back at home. Sky and Tate write me haha. I wanna hear about your lives.

A shorter post here. I edited for length and content.

March 17

I had such a good experience this week. I started praying for opportunities and experiences to prepare me for the field. After doing so I started to feel really lonely haha.

D&C 121 verses 39 till the end (I think...) the last like four or five. They are awesome on how to handle confrontation and concern. When you team this up with Preach My Gospel you get and awesome way to help people do what they need to do. You just have to always remember to do it according to God’s will. Pray ALWAYS every minute of everyday. Whenever we feel down, I know Prayer can lift us back up. I also know that what we pray for we will get. I say that not to scare everyone to be careful while praying, but I challenge you to ask for experiences to help make you better. I do it everyday, and it is really hard sometimes. But my joy after is amazing!! I am going to keep doing so and I hope all of you will too, if you haven’t of course.

Love you all!

Elder Henderson

Scott left for Berlin on Tuesday and we all patiently waited for his phone call from the SLC airport. Since his flight was at 11:05 am, we thought we’d hear something by 10:30 at the latest. At about 10:45 he called from someone’s cell phone (thanks kind stranger) just long enough to tell us that he’d call from Detroit since they arrived late. Arg. So the wait continued.

Finally we all sat in the car after Skylar’s baseball practice at Timpview and passed the phone around for some one-on-one time then closed it out on speaker.

We really thought that we’d get a courtesy email once he arrived, but nothing yet. The only proof that he arrived was a post on the mission blog with a couple of pictures of the new missionaries. Better than nothing.

He's just to the left of the pillar in there.

So, the latest address we have is still the mission home. Send letters there if you can and we’ll update as we hear.

Scott Singing some German

Scott surprised us with some pictures on a camera disk and this song that he and his comps sang for us.

The acoustics in that room are something. It's like singin' in a tunnel or something.

Here's a little better resolution on YouTube.

Musings from the MTC

Last month in the MTC! March so far has brought a field trip to get his license renewed, an in-depth companionship inventory (ah, the memories) and 4 shots to get his health up to standards for those wild Germans.

March 3, 2011

So this week has been really good. I have Loved getting all of your letters and reading about everyone’s lives and insights, etc. So keep ‘em coming haha.

So this week has been a big learning experience for me.

After a period of some frustration, I went to a leadership meeting where we talked about Christ-like leaders. He had us think of someone who has had a big impact on my life and how I felt they were a leader to me.

Then we all wrote what it was on the board and then he asked for suggestions of Worldly Leaders. So we got stuff like greedy and what not. Then he asked us how these people made us feel so that we knew that they were concerned about our welfare and how we knew that they only wanted us to do good.

The best way to be a Christ-like leader is to have charity and love, want the best for someone and help them.

One of the elders commented that God is the best leader because he lets us make mistakes and is patient with us. I can’t exactly write how I am feeling about all of it but I need to be patient in every way shape and form.

We just have to slip and learn. So thank you to everyone who let me make STUPID mistakes. Skylar and Tate practice this now, it would be so awesome to understand this now and be ready for the MTC. (note from Skylar and Tate's parents: not practice making STUPID mistakes, but practice learning from hopefully not-so-stupid mistakes)

I learn so much everyday. Today I read the talk "Pride and the Priesthood" by Pres. Uchtdorf and its sooo good. Definitely what I need right now so I am trying to apply that talk to my life right now.

I also read a good one by Todd Christofferson, its called "Reflections on a Consecrated Life." That is an awesome talk. Promise me you will read both of them k? They are sooo great.

I love my mission so much and I can’t believe I leave in less than 3 weeks! It’s gone by so fast.

I also had an awesome experience with my patriarchal blessing. I choose one thing in it I think is interesting and then study it for a while. I have learned sooo much from it. I really really enjoy doing that. I would extend that to you guys. I learn so much when I do it after a prayer and asking for the spirit to teach me. I am SO blessed to have my blessing. There is nothing better. I love you all so much and really am sooo grateful for all the support!

Love Elder Henderson

And, this being Scott’s last week in Provo, feel free to send letters to the mission home in Berlin so he’ll have some mail waiting when he gets there.

Updates from February in the MTC

I think I'm getting the hang of this blogging thing. (As soon as I typed that Melanie quickly pointed out several edits)

Here are a few tidbits from Scott through the month of February.

February 3, 2011

I am doing great just kinda hangin’ out. Now that I am about three weeks in I don’t really know what all to talk about

This last week has been great. German has been coming along really well. I learn new words everyday and am at the very beginning of understanding sentence structure. It’s so fun to be able to communicate and tell jokes and stuff in Deutsch!

One of my teachers and I talked about applying all we learn in class and from out books to real life. Just like applying everything we practice at football practice we have to apply to a game.

That’s one thing I have kind of had to get used to. At home I always had someone to talk to, and have great "life" conversations ya know? Here I don’t really. We are always doing stuff and when we do have time to talk I usually have to be the listener.

An elder here really said something that hit home. He told me about an experience he had and at the end these words echoed in his head-- "Genuine Interest, Divine Love."

We took a ton of pictures; some of the Elders got some cool ones of me doing a backflip in front of the temple. haha suit and all! (note: pics coming to blog someday)

I have really understood that my mission started the day I got here. I’m not teaching real investigators, but we say things the volunteers and our teachers really need to hear sometimes.

Something we should clarify here. There are a couple of edits that we take some liberties with. I’m sure Scott will forgive us.

February 10, 2011

Things here are pretty grand just kinda tryin’ to work on deutsch as much as possible. I don’t really know what all to write.

I got some letters and goodies from some friends, which was very cool. Thanks to all! (note: subtle hint)

I see Jacob Hatch almost every day along with Spencer Shumway. It’s a lot of fun.

We just got back from the temple, which was way sweet. One of the Temple workers I talked to for a little bit gave me some great advice. He told me to write down why I am going on my mission today, while I am excited. So when I get out in the field I can see what I said, and the commitments I want to keep and what not. I think this is great advice because I just need a hard copy reminder of why I am out here and what I know I can accomplish and what this is going to set me up for.

Everyone should read Preach My Gospel from front to back. You don’t have to be a prospective missionary or anything. It is GREAT instruction to live a better life and to help those in need.

I saw brother and sister Jay and Ruth Naylor and the temple last week! They are so awesome.

I saw Sister Dresden today! She tried to give me a huge hug but I snuck my hand in just in time to remind her, haha.

I haven’t seen anyone on my temple walks or anything, which is good.

I really do like getting mail... that would be great. (note: more direct hint)

Oh! I rolled my ankle. It’s broken but I will be ok for my departure date. sorry... (note: this was the only thing he said about it in this email. After a quickly composed letter, a few days later we found out that it was only rolled and wasn’t too bad)

Oh Little Allie wrote me! I love getting her mail! I hope she answers me back too.

I haven’t been able to write back to Mike and Beth, Michael and Marc, tell them sorry and thanks!

Practice having a good attitude. It’s so easy to get mad and down on yourself in here. Practice before you enter so that you can be that much further ahead when you get in here.

This email was a reminder to us to spread out the mail so stuff comes bit by bit throughout the week rather than putting all of our letters in one mailing. I’ve been gradually going through my mission journals and I was surprised to be reminded how much a good mail day can make your day. Ah, the little things.

February 17, 2011

Ya sorry about last email, I didn’t break my ankle just rolled it. I laughed when I got a letter like 6 hours after from mom asking about it. (note: read the last letter if this makes no sense)

This last Sunday was awesome! We had an amazing devotional. It was actually Shelly Heaton’s dad who gave it. He brought up a whole bunch of VERY recent convert missionaries and asked them questions and stuff. It was so cool. We really got to see how the Lord answers prayers and prepared people to hear the gospel. I enjoyed it.

Then on Tuesday, we had Elder Pearson come and speak to us. He is from the 70, and spoke last General Conference. He and his wife spoke and it was absolutely amazing!!!!! Everything I ever have believed in and then more! It was such a great reminder and such a great meeting for ALL of the missionaries here.

Sister Pearson talked about how if we have a good mission or not all depends on how we look at it and how we want it to be. It’s all about attitude! What my farewell was on. She really just slapped everyone in the face and said that "if you don’t like it, change." It’s our decision to be happy.

I am loving my teachers. One in particular has really been able to relate to me with how practicing German and sports is similar. He also notices when i get frustrated at myself and says that’s how he was. I hope I can speak as well as him after my mission.

 I know that the Lord prepares us for things without us even knowing. Its been so nice to be able to say to myself, "ok the lord is giving me this trial so that I can learn," and then be done whining and moaning about it. It’s so cool in here.

The Priesthood is real. It is the least used tool we have and it is the most powerful. Everyone who reads this, know that the Priesthood is there for you to use and to bless your life with according to God’s will. Don’t ever be afraid to ask for a blessing. God wants us ask him and we will receive.

Write me back! (note: command)

And finally for February…

February 24, 2011

Elder Smith got transferred into another district because another missionary went home. So now it’s just Elder Owen and me.

It’s so cool being able to understand a new language. I love it! Someone should learn so that when I get back we will be able to speak and laugh at the jokes we make in German no one else gets. haha.

I can’t really remember exactly what I wanted to type about today darnit. (note: ever since Christmas in AZ and we kept hearing the boys' cousin, Cruise, say “darnit” it’s been a thing.)

Thanks so much to EVERYONE who is writing me letters. It means a lot. (note: guilt comment)

This last Tuesday we all were expecting an Apostle to be the speaker and we were so sure! And it wasn’t. But it was exactly what we needed to hear. It was Elder Kearon, I don’t know if you guys remember but he gave the talk in Priesthood Session a little while ago about playing without shoes and getting stung by a scorpion. Well, he talked to us about how to be good missionaries. It wasn’t like criticism though. He first was so thankful and shared some stories about his conversion process and it was really cool. Then he just kind of reminded us of what our responsibility is here as Disciples of Christ. It was great.

Then on the Sunday before, we had the first or second counselor speak to us. Except he didn’t speak to us. He and his wife decided to have us sing the whole time and they spoke in between stuff and just made us realize how powerful music is. I LOVED it. They asked missionaries to give the songs they wanted to sing and we all sang them. The spirit was so powerful, and since then I have liked to actually read the song and see what we are singing ya know?

I decided that my two most favorite ones now are "I Need Thee Every Hour" because I do need Him every hour. It’s a really Humbling song, and it keeps me that way. My other is "I Believe in Christ." Because the sister that chose to sing it brought up the point it says. "I believe in Christ so come what may." I love that line so much, it doesn’t matter what is going to happen, I believe in Christ so come what may. He will bless you with everything you need. He cares more than we do.

You already know this about me but my favorite things to read is Psalms.

I saw Elder Saguibo yesterday! So fun to see him!

All of his personal letters are just as upbeat and happy.

Entry number Eins - Getting used to life in the MTC

Elder Henderson has been in the MTC for over six weeks and I've procrastinated this long enough. After regular questions of how Scott is doing from friends and family, here's a short catch-me-up from some blurbs from some of his emails.

As soon as he entered the MTC they sat him down and had him write a short note to us. What a great idea!

January 19, 2011

Hey family!

I’m alive and loving it haha. It’s fun to be with all of the other elders and trying to learn. I will write more... they just said that I am suppose to send you a quick one. Max Forrest was my host after I got inside and stuff. He was catcher for our team. He's going to Spain! Love you guys!

After the first week of flooding his email box with emails, Scott asked us to send hard letters so he could read them as they arrived rather than eating into is 30 minutes a week on the computer.

January 27, 2011

I have a lot to tell you guys! The first couple days went super slow but now they fly by! I have really been able to enjoy reading and studying for long periods of time.

Our district is so freakin’ sweet! My companions are Elder Smith and Elder Owen. Put me in a trio. Elder smith: so awesome, reminds me of a mix between the following: Jeremiah Burr, Nick Nunley, a Brown Bear, and a field mouse... really though. Elder Owen: awesome kid, love his personality when he brings it into the conversations we have. Reminds me kind of Nolan but with a geeky twist and is in the army!

German is coming pretty well! We have the best teachers in the world!

I have definitely been humbled. Everyone said "Scott you’re going to rock!" etc. and I will... eventually haha. I have just grown to learn that you can never be completely prepared for anything.

I have just enjoyed being friendly with everyone and doing my best! and failing.. haha but that’s how i get better! I’m going to keep messing up and keep getting better.

I’m so glad to hear everything is running smoothly at home. (editor’s note… we don’t want to burden him with too many boring details)

I loved mom’s comment about blowing me a kiss from the door haha… made me laugh.

Remember; when you start something finish it! Start small to get some easy satisfaction and slowly grow.

Of course, there's much more in the snail mail letters, but copying and pasting is easier and I think it gives you a very good idea of how Elder D. Scott Henderson is doing in the MTC.