A few weeks of catch up to do with news from Scott. This first email was titled DISNEYLAND!:
April 25, 2011
This week has been Great! Our baptismal date is not going to happen because she had to go out of town but she really seems excited and wants to get baptized. I believe her as not to many Germans lie about their feelings it seems like. Especially towards us haha.
I got the Easter Package! Thanks so much I loved it. We have eaten like kings this week with all of the candy we have received from the ward and packages haha it’s great. So you’re probably wondering why I titled this Email Disneyland. Well Easter here really was like Disneyland. It lasts from Friday to Monday. And lots of people come to Bautzen on vacation because they have this cool Catholic tradition with guys on horses. Anyway, when we walked out of the house yesterday there was a TON of people.
Then we walked over to the big church because we wanted to contact and talk about Easter etc. Good opportunity right? The shops were out and selling ice cream, cool German churros, Döners, Everything. The whole City felt like Disneyland for a good while last night. Talking to people went well, people just wanted to enjoy their Easter mostly though so we would give them a pass along card and wish them a happy Easter. I learned that over 50% of referrals come from the media. Isn’t that cool? At least it does something good for us right?
Oh before I forget. There is a weird transfer thingy that’s happening in our mission now, So, I am now scheduled to be home on January 2 2013. So yeah..
This week we went on splits with another companionship. I was with the District Leader named Elder Ryser. He is from Switzerland and he is a pretty awesome guy. He knows German and English really well so that wasn’t a problem. He made us lunch and it consisted of 500 grams of spaghetti, 500 meat, 500 water in the sauce. It was a lot of food. I’m so happy we have bikes. I ride like Lance Armstrong trying to burn calories. Also workouts in the morning help a lot. I’m enjoying it.
The Temple was cool. It’s a long walk from the Temple in Freiberg so that was rough, tell you why in a sec. The session was in Hungarian, and we all had translators and stuff. It was really cool and I got something way cool out of it. After the temple we had to make it to the train pretty quick but the sisters said that there was no chance we could and that they were taking another one in an hour or something. We all decided to prove here wrong and ran all the way there in our suits and with our bags etc. It was probably a good 2 miles or so... I dunno it was a good 35-minute walk there. But it was also 30 degrees Celsius so it was HOT. Not cool but we made the train!
Elder McCann and I were in comp study this morning and we were talking about how we become better through goals and stuff. He said that sister Pimental said something really cool a while ago and it was something like this. "Goals are stars to guide us, not sticks to beat us with." I love it. We are heading towards this goal and the point is not to, not make it and get angry so we can do better next time. It is to be continually progressing and working and looking back and saying "man look how far we have come." I think its good to remember because we set goals every day and some of them are nowhere near reached at the end of the day sometimes. Not all the time but sometimes. When this happens we just got to look back and see what we did and how it went and how beneficial it was, along with what we can change however that’s not the focus of why we sent goals.
This week was solid. I’m loving Germany and I can’t believe how fast time has gone.
Love you all and hope All is well!
Elder Henderson
May 2, 2011
Hello from Bautzen!
How are the States? Blake Henderson is one cute little baby I must say. Thanks so much for sending those pictures Bryce. I’m just going to run through some cool things and then I will share some cool experiences I had this week.
First off I went on an exchange with and Elder named Elder Rückauer in Dresden. That was pretty cool. He is a German and is going to go home in 12 weeks. So two transfers. It was really, really cool. Dresden is large and the churches there are so freakin sweet.
The one thing I loved about the churches was that they were like different colors some of them. Like black, green, red, yellow, It was just sweet. He showed me an amazing talk by Jack R. Christianson called "The Mortal Christ." I suggest everyone reads that and then pass it on because it was great. (ed note: Couldn't find the talk anywhere, so here is a link to the talk on CD)
One thing that this elder I went on the tausch or split with that he said was that he wished that he was were I am when he was first out. I felt really, really good about that and I can only think of two reasons for that. I am not scared to talk to people and try. That has helped the most with learning German. He said talking to people was just scary for him so I’m glad that’s not the case for me. The other is just the Lord’s help. No chance I could be doing this without him. It’s made easy because of him. I’m the one who decides that it is fun :)
Yesterday I had a funny experience. I can understand German, however we were at a member’s house and we were eating and there were like four mouths going at once and I couldn’t pick out words. The food was AMAZING and I ate a lot. So I put myself in the corner and just looked at everyone talking and stuff and saw me sitting there just eating like a king, really not worrying about anything haha. It was so great, and the food was soooo good.
So at the Beginning of the week we went to teach this one lady we door contacted. She is way nice. We went in there after praying a lot and stuff. It was weird at first but after Praying I could just feel the spirit fill the room. We taught about Joseph Smith and the Restoration mostly but it was the first lesson stuff too. The spirit was so strong and I loved it. I could feel the truthfulness of everything and it really instilled my testimony of the Restoration. I bore testimony a lot and every time it was this amazing feeling. I love bearing testimony now it is the single greatest tool we can use that we produce ya know.
The scriptures are from God the prophets are from God. Our testimonies are from God but we have to grow it. It’s so cool to me and I am so thankful for the opportunity to bear testimony every day to so many different people. It is such a blessing and has built my testimony soooo much. That’s the only way to grow a testimony is to use it. Ah my favorite thing ever.
Yesterday in church we had fast and testimony meeting and it was awesome. I had so many thoughts and whatnot that came from the spirit. Such as no matter who we are and what we are doing, somebody is watching us and looking for us to be an example. What a Great opportunity that is. If everyone took advantage of it the world would be such an amazing place!
Another was that, sometimes we don’t feel like we can do what God expects of us. I am telling you right now that that is so not true. I have experienced that first hand and I know you don’t have to be a missionary in order to receive help and strength. There are so many scriptures that tell us he will provide the way. Why do we sometimes not believe that? It’s hard. However I know that it is true. He has promised and Has to keep it. He cannot lie then he ceases to be God.
I was sitting in sacrament meeting and thinking, "man I’m tired, and we have a whole day ahead of us after this meeting.." I wasn’t too sure how I was feeling about that but then I remembered the Hymn, "I Believe In Christ." There is a line in there that says "I believe in Christ so come what may." How astounding is that! Anything can happen as long as we believe in Christ. I know growing up I thought more about scriptural prophets and stories and whatnot.
I wish I would have focused more on Christ’s words such as in 3 Nephi and the Gospels. It’s hard to believe that all will be ok and exercise faith I think for me because I don’t focus on building my testimony on Christ. He is our savior and redeemer. He is the way and the light we can return to our father in heaven.
This talk I mentioned earlier is amazing and is a good springboard to start building faith in Christ, I know it helped me and I know it will help you. I really know that Christ lives and he loves us. He watches over us and he will reveal all things to us when we have faith and when we ask. I challenge you all to really try to strengthen your testimony of Christ because I know that it is the best most righteous seed we can plant and will help us the most. Family, I believe in Christ, so come what may.
Love you all so much
Elder Henderson
May 9, 2011
Well how is the family, family?
This last week has been so good. We started off with a lot of appointments and then the week slowly fizzled till we had nothing! That hadn’t ever happened before but it was so good. We were outside the whole time, talking to a lot of people. We even had the opportunity to go to another city nearby called Seitchen. It’s tiny! But it was so cool. We made one appointment there so that was positive.
These days though of no appointments are hard though. We were tired at the end of the day just from walking from contact to contact and stuff. It was nice to crash but better to wake up. I started just getting up as fast as I can so I don’t roll around with the snooze. It’s so nice, right when it goes off I turn it off and get upright, pray, and then go and start my workouts. Very good way to start the day.
We also made two other appointments in Bischofswerda which is very good because then it’s that much easier for investigators to come to church. So we have been praying that they will all go through. We need new investigators. Praying that it will be good!
Earlier this week I noticed something very important. I noticed that I was just going along and doing what Elder McCann was doing the whole time. Which was stupid. Being a brand new missionary here it’s kind of scary and I would keep tight. But this week I noticed that I wanted to do stuff that Elder McCann wasn’t, like just once we walked by someone and I was waiting for him to talk and then we just didn’t. I was kind of bugged because that’s not like him. But I decided that I need to be Elder Henderson ya know? Not my senior comp. I am called here to be me and I really am so excited to do that. I can only help when I try to be Elder Henderson and do what I think the Lord wants me to do here.
Since then we have talked to everyone and I feel like the work has really picked up. Since I have been me and confident with it speaking German instead of just him and then me still brand new ya know? I’m getting the hang of it and I love it!!
Real quick do we have a good sugar cookie recipe? Or a pizza dough recipe? both!?
It’s so weird here. So I guess there aren’t any rules about people peeing outside. So we just walk and see people in bushes everywhere. It’s funny. I don’t know if that’s because every bathroom you have to pay for or what but that’s just a funny tidbit from Germany.
I also bought a football. So much fun!! We eat a little faster and take the last 10 minutes or so of mittagspause to play catch. It rocks.
Oh so listen to this, so many of the German kids here think they are so freakin sweet. We get so many people yelling crap at us and them laughing and normally we have just walked away. However… I don’t really like just walking away haha. It’s a little bit of a pride thing probably but really listen.
Those kids that act up and try to say something funny to get a reaction are doing that for a reason and a lot of them have no clue who they are and where they are going. So we started talking to the people that yell junk at us. They are all so scared though. All talk and can’t do anything when we talk to them, they just stutter over their words or run away. We are smart about the yellers we choose to talk to because a lot of them are drunk.
But yesterday there were these three that were like 20 feet away (that’s like scary for these people, they normally have to be in a car or other side of the street) and they started yelling stuff at us while we were talking to this nice old couple. I finished talking and we started marching towards them and they turned and started walking. Elder McCann and I decided we weren’t going to talk to them unless they started shooting their mouths again. They whispered to each other and walked to an apartment building right next to us and we just kept walking. Then we passed and then they started walking again! They were just trying to avoid us. I think it’s so funny. I hope to have some appointments made by doing this. We just have to always remember to do it out of charity and not anger... speaking of that.
This week it’s been so cool, there have been a couple people I have just not really been able to handle this week and I could not have done it if it wasn’t for the Lord. Every time it has happened I just pray for charity and to love this person. It helps so much and I am calm, patient, and sincere. It is so awesome that it works like that. The only thing we have to do is ask for that help with real intent and we will receive it! Makes me smile.
One thing that I would like some help with is. What is a good way to talk to help the people who are happy and loving life? There should be a way the gospel can be appealing to them too right now right? Or maybe that’s just got to take patience for God to humble them. It’s so hard though because anyone that has had anything bad happen to them they don’t say I need help I’m going to turn to God. They say how come this happened? If there were a God he wouldn’t let this happen. Then after we explain that whole thing, People are still to bitter and prideful to accept or try what we have. We like to think that it was just preparing them for the next time they talk with missionaries and I think that is an ok thing to remember. But what do you think?
I don’t really have too much more to say but I love you ALL! We went to play sports today with the other elders and sisters and my body is going to be feeling it tomorrow. I am going to try my back flip and make sure I can still do it. Letcha know how that goes.
Love you all and Happy Late Mothers day!! To all the mothers in our Family!
All My Love
Elder Henderson
In one of our packages we sent a USB drive with some short video clips from home that included some friends saying hi, a friend’s mission opening (Jacob’s) and some greetings from the fam.
May 16, 2011
Dear Family!
So I freaking loved the usb drive with everyone talking! It was so fun to watch and see. Thanks so much for doing that. I have started my videos again and don’t know how often I will send them but I will eventually.
Just running down the list:
It was so funny last week after I emailed. There was a lady getting on the train with her dog. Dogs are allowed almost anywhere here its kind of weird. Anyway her hands were full and stepped onto the train and this dog wouldn’t come. So she just pulled on the leash and he fell off the platform! Little little dog. I jumped up to help but then she just reeled him in and set him down hahah! It was making a sad coughing noise the rest of the time though haha... everyone was laughing for a little it was great. Felt bad for the dog though..
This week we have really been making sure we talk to youth we see walking around. We don’t talk to them to long though because we feel like its a little.. sketchy I guess? But we just tell them what we are doing and bear testimony and then give them our card with our phone number and internet address on it. I really hope we start to see them be more open to it and want to learn more and believe in a god.
That’s crazy about Chad I would still love to get the Naylor’s address...
I have a couple recipes of things I might enjoy getting. Such as, Peanut butter balls... mom made them sometimes when we were little I think…? Loved em. Banana bread? Always solid! Any others that you think I would make.
I don’t have all the time in the world because I watched all of those videos and stuff. Really thanks again. But one thing that I remembered or was taught again this last week was to really always try to be your very best. No exceptions, and to treat everybody with love.
We were talking to this girl just giving her a card real quick and then she had a ton of questions we started to answer. Then a group of drunk guys came up. We said bye to the girl and these guys just started going off. I was at first like hey we can maybe make an appointment; they need the gospel more than anyone. Then one started talking about praying on the toilet and receiving an answer.
Elder McCann is smart and has experience so he just lets them go off and then normally walks away when they are done talking because they follow you if you just leave. But after I heard him talking like that I was kind of upset. I just started walking away and said tschuss kind of loud just like ending the conversation you know. One of the drunk guys followed us and called me back so I walked back to him ready to take a lugey right in my face or something. He just started going off with stuff like "is that what Christ teaches you?"
I was angry but said "no you are just being disrespectful and I’m not going to put up with it." It was stupid of me to walk away like that. I just need to remember, no matter how bad my German is I should never substitute anger for anything.
I was so stupid to do that. I should have just said have a nice day like a normal person and walked away. They were drunk but they are still people. I need to stick up for righteousness always. I did that. I also need to treat people with respect; I don’t really feel like I did that. I know I did and continue to make it bigger of a deal than it really is.
That was just something that happened this week. I am trying to be more Christ like and a better missionary and person everyday. It’s amazing the simple lessons I learn over and over again just because I need them so badly. It’s awesome. I’m loving it.
I love you all so much and hope all is great at home!!
Love Elder Henderson
That brings everything current and then a message from this morning.
May 23, 2011
Dear Family,
Things here in Germany are great! We are loving it. We made some awesome German food for mittagspause today. I will attach some pictures. (ed note: which he forgot to attach)
Mom I got your envelope Last Monday I think it was! Thanks a lot Elder McCann and I are making pizza Thursday and I’m so excited. I freakin love making food. It’s just satisfying to make something and then eat it and see how awesome it tastes.
This week we had a lesson from the mission president about obedience and faith. It was SO good. How can we ever exercise faith? Exercise obedience! We test out what we are promised. It is that simple! I love it. When ever we feel like we need more faith we just need to be obedient or more obedient. Easy I think.
Another thing he talked about was the difference between Blind Obedience and Faithful Obedience. I thought this was a good point. We do what people say and exercise obedience however we sometimes don’t know why? This is what some people would call blind obedience and it’s hard to do sometimes. Faithful obedience is when we trust the source or the person the direction is coming from and then going and doing.
President’s point was that every type of commandment, rule, law, etc, etc, falls into faithful obedience. It’s true. I personally think it just matters about our personal attitude. It was a really good tema.
Oh! So there is a family in our ward and their son served his mission in Ireland and his mission president was Brother Greer! In our ward!!! I will send a pic of him and me. His name is Daniel Lognar and is such a cool guy. It was fun to have that connection with him. We ate at their house Sunday.
My German is coming along more and more. I am loving learning it. I go in cycles, probably just like the pride cycle. I am going to try not to do that haha. Its so fun to learn words everyday, and try grammar and get it right and all! Love it.
Well, I love you all and I always love getting recipes haha. Feel free to send me some. Preferably very simple very yummy ones.
All my love, (sorry I cant think of much else to write...)
Elder Henderson
So, if you didn’t see that last request feel free to send him some easy yummy recipes. He’s in Bautzen at least three more weeks. His comp has been there about six months, so Scott may be sticking around longer still. Until now, I hadn't realized how close he was to Poland and The Czech Republic.
We really appreciate all of the support from Scott’s friends and family. I know he does too.
And the one pic he attached...
This week we had the opportunity to go on a hike in the sächsiche schweiz and it was so cool! So sick.
