This is Dad, I am just getting Shannon's letter from last week posted. There should be another letter day after tomorrow. So check back. Now, on to the regularly scheduled blog post.
Well I'm going to start this off by saying that next week is Temple p-day and so I won't be sending out anything until next Wednesday :)
Wow...this week...We've been biking again and so my tan is getting tanner. And the great thing about being in the south of the mission is that there is always a breeze from the ocean and so even if it gets hot, the wind is always there to save us. It makes biking in skirts a little challenging sometimes, especially when you're flying down some of the hills that exist in Harbor City/San Pedro but I love it. I'm thinking that I might even bike when I get back to Provo. Shocking, I know.
Oh goodness. There are so many people around me in the family history library up here at the VC...it's getting really hard to concentrate. ok. let me gather my thoughts....
As for our investigators, we were able to teach Txx 3 times this week! His smoking has been up and down, and we really felt prompted to have him pray about his baptismal date. We were able to have a member who speaks Samoan go to a lesson with him and that really helped us to gain a true understanding of where he's at as far as his baptism. When we saw him on Wednesday he hadn't had any cigarettes since Sunday, but he said it was hard. And so we told him that he could just cut back slowly instead of going cold-turkey and he seemed to feel better about everything. So now, we're working with him really trying to help him strengthen his testimony of the Book of Mormon and his faith in Jesus Christ.
We haven't been able to really get ahold of Nxxxx until yesterday, and we set an appointment for tomorrow and so hopefully there will be some good progress there as well.
Sxxxxx and Axxxxxx called the Sisters while I was on exchanges in another area and they had a really great lesson with them about the Restoration. We're planning to review it with them using the scriptures this week. Last night we stopped by and were able to watch some videos together from mormon.org which helped them to see how the Gospel blesses famililies and individuals from all over the world. It's pretty awesome, and if you haven't checked it out lately, here is my shameless plug to do so.
The most exciting thing that happened this week is that I received a call on Wednesday night from the elders who are serving over in Hawthorne telling me that Jxxxx was getting baptized on Saturday!! Yeah! She was one of the people we were working with when the area was closed and I got moved to Harbor City. I was so excited for her. And so, on Saturday Sister Malani and I were able to drive over to Hawthorne and attend her baptism! She asked if I would speak at the service about the Holy Ghost and I was honored. Especially because during the entire 6 weeks that Sister Johansen and I were teaching her the one thing that really kept her going was the presence of the Holy Ghost in her life. From the very first lesson she was able to recognize the Spirit when she was reading the scriptures, praying, and coming to church. And so being able to speak on the Gift of the Holy Ghost that she would be receiving the next day was truly inspired and a great opportunity for me. The Spirit during the service was very strong and very special, and I'll admit, I got a little teary eyed more than once. Being able to attend her baptism was such a testament to me that Heavenly Father is truly aware of all of his children, and that it's never too late to make those promises with Him.
Other than that it hasn't been too eventful here in Harbor City. Like I mentioned earlier, I went on exchanges but it was in a Spanish speaking area. I thought my brain was going to explode. I had such a hard time understanding the people, and an even harder time of being able to express myself. It was frustrating to say the least, but it just filled me with a determination and resolve to set specific language learning goals for myself and to try my best to improve while I'm serving in English. Who knows if the Lord will ever call me to serve in a Spanish-speaking area, but the most important thing is that I stay prepared.
Well, sorry this email is a little scattered, but I've been a little scattered today haha lots of things to do and so little time!
I love you all!
Until next Wednesday!
Sister Hensley
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