Baldwin Village Week 02

wow. wow. wow. What a week it has been.

Seriously, sometimes when I look back over my journal of what has happened over the past few days I just stare in disbelief. It's truly amazing and crazy all at the same time. I honestly don't know how missionaries do it - but we do!

Let's see...where to start...MARKUS WAS BAPTISED ON SATURDAY!!!!!!! 

YEAH!!! Sister Deskins and I were able to go and attend that. I participated in the service by giving the missionary moment with Sister Snyder. The Spirit was so strong, and Markus just had the biggest smile on his face the entire time. Partly because he was happy, and partly because he was really, really nervous! haha Once again, the most special part of the whole service was when he bore his testimony after the baptism. He talked about how he knows that this is God's true church, restored to the earth and how the Book of Mormon is true - and how he knows all of this because he has prayed, asked God, and received his answer. Wow. I may have gotten a little teary there for a second but I quickly wiped it away and smiled a huge happy smile :) it was an awesome evening. Which was followed by and ADVENTURE to be sure.

So, because I am new to the area, I don't really know which highways to take to get back home. I know whether I'm going north or south, but when it comes to the eastbound or westbound freeways I have no idea - I never had to deal with them down in my last areas. So, as we were coming home from Markus' baptism at about 8pm, we approached I-10 and I asked whether we took 10 west or 10 east. She said west, towards Santa Monica. Well......that was incorrect. We drove through this tunnel and things started looking unfamiliar and the next thing you know, we're driving right down ocean avenue next to the Santa Monica Pier! Ah! We knew we went the wrong way so we started to look for ways to turn around and go back the way we came. WELL wouldn't you know, all of the traffic lights very distinctly told us we couldn't make a u-turn, so I decided to just turn left down a street then turn around and come back out before we got too far away. It wasn't a street I turned down, but the entrance to a VERY exclusive private club. With security and valets, like the kind you see in movies/people magazine. So, we just smiled and pulled up to the giant security/bouncer guy and asked him for directions. He was very nice and told us how to get back home, and we made it safe and sound in the end. Hahaha seriously I wish I had a better sense of direction....I'm learning but sometimes it just gets me in trouble!

Another wonderful thing is that I was able to go to another baptism on Saturday for a man that I taught way back in North Torrance named Dan. Dan, had a very frustrating case.  He had a testimony, but he just needed to do something about it! We had, sad to say, given up hope and moved on. AND YET here he was being baptized yesterday! And let me tell you - he looked like a changed man and just looked as happy as a lark. It was a very special baptism for me, and for Sister Johansen who was also there (we taught him together) Another wonderful thing about this baptism was that the person who baptized him is a man named Allan.  He is very close to our hearts. He's an older man and is a has learning challenges.  While I served in North Torrance we worked with him to read the Book of Mormon daily and to feel comfortable and confident enough to bless the sacrament. Just before I left North Torrance, he blessed the sacrament! He was able to finish reading the Book of Mormon for the 1st time just after I left, and actually understood a lot of it! Yesterday he baptized Dan! WOW!! The Gospel is wonderful and truly blesses lives. 

I'm really starting to love my new area. We're pretty close to the visitor's center and the people in the ward are loving and giving.  Once you get to know them they start to open up to you and trust you. I also really love the people we are currently teaching. Derrick, our baptism from last week got confirmed on Sunday, and he was so ready to administer the Sacrament! Oh, my heart just broke when I saw the look on his face as they said he had to wait until next week.  He would have to be ordained to the Aaronic Priesthood and that could not happen until after the Sacrament this week. He's so excited for the Gospel it's amazing!!

Well, time is short but I love you all!! Hope to hear from you soon!!

Sister Hensley

Baldwin Village Week 1

Well, as you can see by my subject - I was transferred! I'm now way up north, near the temple is a place called Baldwin Village. (I put a link to a Google map of her mission in the header of this post...Dad) 

 

It's pretty...different...than Harbor City. Well, a lot different than Harbor City. For one thing, we are up near the visitor's center and so we teach lessons there sometimes.  We spend part of our P-day there and we do our email and everything. It's kind of strange because I have been using the public library my whole mission. Also, since we are near the VC (Visitor Center) we are near all of the VC sisters, which means I am in a zone/district with a lot of sister missionaries! This is cool, but kind of bizarre at the same time. 

 

And my new companion is....drum roll. . . SISTER DESKINS!!!! She was my companion in the MTC.  Yeah?! It's pretty crazy, isn't it? I just can't seem to get away from any of my companions haha (maybe that means that Sister Snyder and I will be reunited one day too...) But it's been an adjustment. I know I will grow to love all of the people there, and it will become my new home. The Lord definitely needs me here, or else he wouldn't have moved me. One must have faith!

 

Good news, we had a baptism yesterday! yeah! His name is Dxxxxxx and he's 14 and super solid. 

He really loves the Gospel and the Church. I'm still getting to know him, but in the two lessons that we've had together he has such a fire for the Gospel. He calls for his own rides to church, and when he can't find one - he takes the bus. He also keeps a notebook by his Book of Mormon and writes in it while he is reading, this is a really good thing to do.  He is at scouts every week. His mother and sister are investigating too and so hopefully soon they will all be baptized and able to support each other in the Gospel. It was a really great experience for me, even though I'd only been in the area for about 4 days. It's always wonderful to see people making those covenants with Heavenly Father.

 

On another baptism note, Sister Snyder called me this week and told me that Markus is being baptised this Saturday at 6pm!! Yeah!! So I received permission from President Baker to attend. It's very exciting for me. Words just cannot describe...

 

Writing on the Monday after transfers in a new area is really difficult because my week has just been a blur...holy cow...

 

Size 7?

Something cool that we were able to do is that we got to participate in a special service project as a zone on Saturday. There's a giant religious organization here called "The Fame" and they have a really good relationship with our church. Every year they host a back to school free giveaway where they give shoes, backpacks, school supplies, etc. to school aged children in the LA area. 

Some missionaries have a snack of 4 honey buns and a candy bar.

I don't know how you qualify or what to do it, but it's pretty awesome. So us missionaries were invited to participate - not only was it service, but it was PR too! Haha (in fact...you may see us on lds.org sometime...that's the rumor anyway). We helped out with the shoe giveaway - and these were NICE shoes! Vans, ecko unlimited, sketchers, everything pretty much. It was very well organized and they had it all worked out. My job was to hand the appropriate shoes to the runners who were fitting the shoes on the kids. My sizes were 7 & 7.5. It was pretty cool. There are pictures! yay!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Well, that's about all I can think of. Please keep me in your prayers so that I can adjust to this new area...

 

love you all!

Sister Hensley

Harbor City Week 19

Why hello world!

First of all, I want to thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers this week. I've really been able to feel it and it's been such a blessing. Not only for me as a missionary, but for the people that we are currently teaching. The Lord has just been opening up the windows of heaven and blessing us all over the place. It's quite refreshing :) Even when we feel like we are having a bad day, the Lord still finds a way to bless us an make it all better. I'm so grateful that He knows more than I do!

**On that note, transfers are this week and subsequently only He knows where I will be. SO we shall see! I really am not ready to leave Harbor City....

Let's see, what to say to update y'all on this week...let's start with the not so happy, and then move on to the happy :) On Saturday morning Tina Love passed away. If you remember, her daughter, Mxxx, was baptized in May. Tina had been battling some pretty nasty cancer stuff all year, and about 3 weeks ago she was given 2 days to live. And she made it 3 more weeks :) Apparently the cancer had gotten into her brain and she had some delusions and then a panic attack and then she died. We were able to go over and see her and Mxxx 2 weeks ago and she didn't look too good, but she was happy to see us. She even asked me how my mom was doing/feeling (I was able to sympathize with her plight a little bit because of what I've gone through with my mother, and she always asked about how she was doing. She was so amazing) I'm so grateful for the plan of salvation and that she is free of pain and suffering and the she is happy in the Spirit World. Her funeral is this Saturday and I think that Sister Snyder and I will be helping with it. 

Now for some better news.

Also - Lxx IS BACK!!!!!! AND HE CAME TO CHURCH!!!! AND HE'S HAPPY!!!!! And we've had lessons with him, did service in his new garden out back, and even went with him and Axxx to the ward potluck dinner. it's great to see him - I feel like he's the same Lxx that he was right after he got baptized. He goes to support groups/classes at Kiser everyday and now we are trying to help him get back into the habit of reading his scriptures every day, since he didn't take his Book of Mormon with him to rehab :( But he's doing really good at the moment, and so that was a total blessing.

Another great thing is that we are working with a woman now named Mxxxxx. She's from El Salvador, and so she was taking the lessons from the Spanish speaking Elders who cover our area, but her sons don't really speak Spanish. And so she decided that she wanted to take the lessons in English so her sons would learn too.  She also wanted them to understand when they all come to church together. She is amazing. When we asked her about baptism and how she was feeling about what they Elders had been teaching.  She said she had a dream, and from this dream she knows that "God wants [her] to be a Mormon" :D She reads and prays and is just one of the happiest people I have ever met. She told us the other day that she met a lady who was having a hard time, and she talked to her about Christ, and then got her information and is going to call her to see what time she and the missionaries can come over and teach her! She's already a missionary! She's preparing to be baptized on the 1st of September. Woohoo! See what blessings that lord has had in store for us lately?

And lastly, Mxxxxx. Wow, what a week for him! Last week he was struggling to know if he should join the Church.  He has been blessed this week. We had a lesson with him in which we all sat down and talked with him about everything. Basically at the end we told him to choose a date and to pray about it, and that he and Heavenly Father could work out the best time for him to be baptized. And the date he chose was/is September 1st as well. BUT when we saw him at church yesterday he told us that it might be sooner - he will let us know. AND that he wants/is planning on serving a mission, and wanted to know how long he has to wait after his baptism in order to be able to go. Pretty amazing, huh? The ward has also been AWESOME in reaching out to him and making him feel like no matter what the situation is like at home, he has a home at the church. He still is having problems/troubles, but the Lord is helping him have the strength to overcome. What miracles.

I love you all, and hope to hear from you soon!

Much love,

Hermana Hensley

Harbor City Week 18

Why hello everyone!

Happy to report that my arms/injuries are doing much better! I'm now out of the brace and ace bandage and my knees are almost completely healed (a little red and some scabs, but nothing compared to what it was a few weeks ago). I'm just working on stretching my arm/wrist so that one day I will be able to rotate it all around...which I have yet to be able to do without pain....*sigh* as my Doctor said today, "Your body will heal when it heals, and it doesn't care what you say about it!" haha funny stuff

This week has been a good one! Sister Snyder is an amazing missionary and I am truly blessed to have her as my companion. She works hard, is aware of her surroundings and the people around her and - she loves to do service! Our missionary handbook says that we should look for worthwhile opportunities to serve members, nonmembers, and those in our community once a week. And this is the first transfer that I've really been able to do that! Now, we mostly weed gardens but hey! It's a skill/activity that I've come to actually enjoy. Hopefully that sticks when I come home from my mission, and I'll actually grow fruits and vegetables like I want to :) And I hear that the family has a little garden in the backyard where our deck used to be...looks like I'll get to continue using my weeding skills after all!

While it has been good, it's been emotionally draining. Especially over the weekend - but I feel like we've come out on top because we are on the Lord's side. On Thursday we received a call from one of our less-active members that we had been working with. She had many questions and concerns, most of which were coming from anti-mormon websites that her mother directed her too. Try as we might to testify to her and encourage her to pray and look back at her past experiences, her mind was already set when she called us. However, we set an appointment for the next day hoping that we could have some time to pray and study to know exactly what Heavenly Father wanted us to say to her. Well, after studies we both were in a stupor of thought as to what to do and then she called and canceled on us. She then told us that she wants nothing more to do with the church, doesn't want to see us anymore and that she thinks the whole religion is a hoax. We just testified to her of what we knew to be true, encouraged her to pray and told her that we (and heavenly father) were saddened by her decision but respected her agency. And that was the last of that. The whole experience really shook me, and quite frankly made me a little angry - to think that people could be so bent on destroying a people who really only are trying to follow Christ. But then, as I've reflected back it has just become a testimony to me of how true the church is, because of how hard Satan is working to destroy it. I feel so blessed to have the testimony that I have, and to have had this experience. 

Then, the next day we have a lesson with our investigator, Mxxxxx, who is going to be baptized on the 11th of August. The lesson was on tithing. He already knew most of it because we had the lesson on it in Gospel Principles just a week or so before that. Everything seemed fine in the lesson - we had it at a members house, they bore great and sincere testimony about tithing and how even though it's hard and requires a lot of faith it has blessed their lives, and Markus agreed. However, about 30 minutes after we left he texted us.  He wanted to know what happens to us if we don't pay it, we were shocked. Mxxxxx has one of the most solid testimonies that I have seen in someone that I teach, and we just couldn't believe it. However, we called him and talked about it and he seemed at peace. He knew that it would be a struggle, and that it would take a lot of faith (especially the first time) but that if he prayed and trusted the Lord, it all would be alright. So we were feeling pretty good. Then the next day, when we asked him to confirm a time for his baptism he wouldn't because he said he still needed to think about some things. He's facing a lot of opposition from his family and he feels like when he gets baptized, he is going to loose everything. We sent him some scriptures to help and encouraged him, and we are going to be seeing him tonight and so hopefully we can really follow the Spirit and be able to know how best to help him, and if he's truly ready to be baptized this weekend. We know that he is, but the decision is up to him :) As our ward mission leader said, "don't let the fear of temporal things stop you from doing eternal things. The temporal things we can take care of, but if you forfeit spiritual blessings the only person who can help is you" 

Well, that's all from Harbor City this week! My love to you all!!

Sister Hensley

 

This is me learning a bit of sign language from a couple of Elders on a mission to the deaf.

 

Harbor City Week 16

Hola!

Happy to say that my wounds are recovering slowly but surely, and pretty soon I'll be able to walk around without a limp and only wear an ace bandage around my wrist instead of a brace.

I'm pointing and frowning
because i got posole broth
all down my white shirt while we
were on exchanges because
of my wrist brace and
not being used to eating with it yet
haha

The Lord is helping me to heal quickly and I know that all of the prayers and well-wishes helped too :) Thank you so much for all of your love and concern...I can definitely feel it all the way here in LA

This week has been a crazy one as well, however we finally got our new license plates and so we are back in business with the car! I can't drive though until I have more mobility in my wrist, according to President Baker! This came about because of a rather funny story actually....involving me driving and a bloody nose.

So, I was driving and everything was going fine. I figured I could drive with the brace on because I could hold the steering wheel with both hands and all was well. As we were driving I reached up to scratch my nose, the next thing I know, I have blood dripping down my face. Bloody nose time! And so, I grabbed my nose with my good hand leaving my crippled wrist to do the driving/pull over so that my companion could drive.  Come to find out, I couldn't really turn the wheel to the right with the brace on.  My companion had to grab the wheel and steer us into the Target parking lot where we switch up.  We finish driving to our appointment. Where, when they opened the door I just ran into our bathroom to take care of my nose. Seriously. Sometimes I feel like I am falling apart! Haha

Surprise, I cut my hair!! A whole 10 inches are GONE! You will be able to see in the pictures I sent from our multi-zone BBQ today. I really like it, it's cute and lot lighter/cooler. But, I miss my hair...oh well. It will be all nice and long by the time I get home anyway :)

Sister Snyder and Hensley. True to the faith we will ever stand.

As for our investigators, Mxxxxx asked if we could move his baptismal date to the 11th of August because he was work on the 4th, we agreed and he's progressing still really well. The members here have been really reaching out to him. He's been invited to have the lessons at their homes, they sit with him at church, and it seems like he is talking to so many people after church we never get to see him.  Oh, how he enjoys services :) it's a very wonderful thing to see the ward working together with the missionaries to move the Lord's work forward.

Sister Johansen and Hensley. 
Forever friends bound by service.
I don't know the lurking Elder. Dad

Another miracle is that we are now teaching Txx's niece, Pxx. She sat in on a few lessons when we were teaching Txx before his baptism.  She had even asked us for a copy of the Book of Mormon once, but we thought it was just so she could follow along. Now, she is asking us more and more questions, goes to YW activities, comes to church, and wants us to teach her so that she can learn as well :) It's just a testament to me to see how when one person decides to enter the waters of baptism, it doesn't just affect them, but it affects their whole family and generations to come. Txx sets a wonderful example for her and they even read from the Book of Mormon together sometimes during the week. It's been such a blessing to see the Gospel strengthening their family. The ripple affect - it's true!!

We are also teaching a man named Cxxxx now. He's an interesting character, comes from a military background and we are still learning how to read and understand him. But I am confident that as we follow the Spirit and listen we will be able to discern his needs and true motivations as we continue to teach him. He came to church this week for the first time and said that he had an extremely positive experience, more so than he had when he attended LDS church services 10 or so years ago :) So he's off to a pretty great start. We will see how things continue with him, and with the help of the ward, I think his life is going to change for the better. 

Well, that's about all for this week! I love you all - and thanks again for your kind thoughts and prayers over the last week <3

Sister Hensley

It all started with a license plate

WARNING: This message contains graphic images not suitable for children.

Well, this email probably won't be horribly long because it hurts to type....and I'll tell you why.

 

It all started with a license plate.

 

Which was stolen on Thursday off of the back of our Corolla while parked in our space at the apartment complex. We called the mission office reported it stolen. We are still waiting for our new plates...but in the meantime we couldn't drive our car because, well, the registration is gone and that would be illegal.

 

It was all good because we had our bikes and the weather has been rather nice so we were prepared and ready. The only problem was that the next day we had to go to a bunch of missionary meetings and needed a car. So, we carpooled with some elders, stuck our bikes on the back of their car and eventually they dropped us off right by our 1st appointment. That went well.

Then it happened

I was biking, in the lead, headed to our next appointment. I was coming down one of the main roads here and was on the asphalt because the sidewalk was pretty uneven. Towards the bottom of this GIANT hill, the sidewalk started to even out so I decided to get out of the street. Then - WHAM - the next thing I know I'm on the ground, bleeding profusely and can't move my left wrist. Sister Snyder was right behind me, but luckily didn't wreck or run me over, and helped pull my bike off and me and get me over onto the sidewalk. Apparently there was a giant crack in the road where they had laid a cable and my front tire went into it, my back tired fishtailed behind me, and i went flying into the air. By now, I'm in shock but not crying because I literally have no idea what happened (my companion had to fill me in) Then the pain started. We called our district leaders, they came over to pick us and the bikes up and take us back to the apartment.  We reported the accident to the mission president's wife.  She takes care of things like this and got me in to see a doctor.  I couldn't move my wrist without being in extreme pain.  While we waited to know where to go, me being the makeup artist I HAD to take pictures.... 

Anyway. So, to make a long story short, the elders gave me a blessing, I went to urgent care and got x-rayed (no fractures or breaks, just deep soft tissue damage) they sterilized my wounds and sent me on my way 

I have to wear a wrist brace for 1 week, and then just be careful with it after that and I have to keep my knees clean so they can heal. Well, I've never had such deep woundage before, and so we called some of our recent converts, a couple who both work for the hospital in the ER.  Once at their house we learned they specialize in wound care, how convenient.  After church Sunday they cleaned and bandaged me up properly.

Now my knees look like mummies. I'm banged up, bruised and sore, but I'm alright. Heavenly Father really protected me. The doctors all said that I'm extremely lucky it could have been much worse. The Lord is good :) And, on the bright side, when the AP's (Assistants to the President) heard that I crashed my bike and we didn't have a car, they pulled some strings and got approval for us to us to borrow a car from another set of missionaries until we get plates on ours. How nice, huh?? We were worried about how we would get to our appointments there for a while. Because I can't walk horribly far/fast without being in pain...but the Lord always provides a way!

Ok. I guess I lied about this email not being long. I'm mostly typing with my right hand, so it's slower than usual but I guess I'm still long-winded, even when I'm slow :)

 

On a brighter note - our investigators/recent converts are doing great!!! Txx is going to be interviewed to receive the Aaronic priesthood next week, Mxxxxx came to church on Sunday even though we had to cancel our lesson Friday b/c I wrecked my bike and was in Urgent Care, And he is still on track to be baptized on the 4th of August! Ahh he's so excited, and prepared. Seriously we sit in lessons with him and I just want to throw in the towel and tell him, you teach me - he's great.

 

Another small miracle was that Nxxxx and her 3 year old son Bxxxx FINALLY came to church after a month or so of invitations, and we found some great new people that we are working with.

Even when life gives you a crappy week - the Lord still finds a way to bless you and make it all better :)

 

Now, I'm going to write president and take some Advil :)

Love y'all!!!

Sister Hensley

Harbor City Week 14

I love it here in Harbor City, and that the Lord is SO good to us when we are obedient! The blessing have been pouring out from heaven lately in this area. It's a testimony to me that the Lord is preparing people everywhere to accept His Gospel.

There were many miracles this week, one of which is my companion. Sister Snyder is wonderful, hardworking, patient and excited to do the work. It's a blessing to be her companion.

Sister Hensley and Sister Snyder

This week our investigator, Txx, was baptized.

It's the first person on my mission that I have taught from the very beginning who had decided to join the church. Needless to say, I got a little emotional at the service, but not too bad :) He asked me if I would sing "The Lord is My Shepherd" since it's his favorite scripture and he heard me sing with another Elder at another baptism. Oh man was I nervous! Let me tell you. But, Sister Snyder said that it sounded beautiful so I'm just going to trust her on that one. The most special part of the baptismal service for me was that Txx shared his testimony. His English was broken, his words got a little jumbled up, but the Spirit was definitely there. Throughout the testimony he kept saying, "wow" and how grateful he was to Heavenly Father and to us the missionaries for coming to teach him. He also shared that he couldn't wait to partake of the sacrament on Sunday, because before he was baptized he never took it (by his own choice) and now he knows what it means to him and so he was looking forward to it. Yet another testimony to me of how, when we are truly converted, nothing will stand in the way between us and the covenants that we make to our Heavenly Father. Then, on Sunday, he was confirmed and received the gift of the Holy Ghost by our Bishop. Txx walked into the chapel wearing a white shirt, tie and dress pants for the first time and my heart just leaped for joy to see him there. I could serve a thousand missions off of the spiritual high that I received that day. The Lord is just absolutely wonderful.

We also had some amazing experiences with Mxxxxx this week - the highlight being when we went to the visitor's center.

I love anytime that we get to go and be on the temple grounds and feel of the Spirit there. You don't have to go inside to know that it truly is the House of the Lord. We decided to go there and take a tour of the temple grounds because during one of our lessons this past week he told us that he's always seen the LA temple, but has never been there. However, one of the reasons that he is most excited about getting baptized is that one day he will be able to go inside the temple and feel of the spirit of the Lord. Amazing, right? So, we went with Mxxxxx and toured the temple grounds. Then we went inside the VC (Visitor's Center) and watched the movie "Joseph Smith: Prophet of the Restoration" and talked about how we wouldn't be able to have the ordinances of the temple if the Gospel hadn't been restored. Oh man, was my testimony strengthened that day. You know, I've seen that movie many times, but as we were sitting there with Mxxxxx it really hit me how grateful I am for the restored gospel. How grateful I am that I have a loving Heavenly Father who loves me SO much, that he called a prophet in these latter-days to establish His church and provide us with everything that we need to know in order to be able to gain eternal life and salvation. And how grateful I am for my Savior, Jesus Christ, because without him, there wouldn't be anything to restore in the first place. It's wonderful how the Spirit can touch our hearts from time to time, even when we are least expecting it. Mxxxxx had a wonderful time and he told us how he just "feels at home" whenever he comes to church, reads from the Book of Mormon, and prays. Ah! the Lord is so good.

I love you all! and am running short on time. But the Gospel is true!!!

Hope to hear from you all soon,

Sister Hensley