Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Sister Henson-O Happy Day!

Dear Family!
It has been another week of miracles here in Omaha, Nebraska! Hmmm, where to start?! Well, the weather is something to rave about right now. Steady 75-80 degree temps with a slight breeze, perfect. My missionary tan lines are coming alone nicely. OK, now for the really great stuff.
We had Zone Conference this last week and Sister Moore and I gave a training on how to help our investigators become better prepared for their baptismal dates. I was a little nervous about how nervous Sister Moore would be. She is doing great and has come a long way but if she gets nervous, she doesn’t talk. Despite my ability to blab, I didn’t want to have to give a forty minute training by myself. But the Spirit was there and it went really well. Miracle number one.
Next, you remember Justin, the one who is getting baptized on Friday… he brought his new friend, that happens to be a girl, to the FHE activity last Monday. But instead of going to play games with other members, she decided that she wanted to be taught, right then and there! We did not argue of course, and taught her about the Restoration. She is now set for baptism on May 31st and is progressing well. The members have really embraced her and she has already had spiritual experiences to help strengthen her faith. She really needs the healing power of the Atonement and I have seen it begun, it’s just amazing. Miracle number two.
Now, the moment you all didn’t know you were waiting for, and the moment I’ve dreamed of for about a week ;) …… Will, the atheist, is getting baptized! Follow me as I relate the story of his conversion. The Elders in Conestoga, Reynolds and Anderson, met him and Eric in downtown Omaha in a place called Old Market (that is where we go soap-boxing on the weekends). They arranged for us to go teach them the next day with them, kind of a transition lesson. The very first time we taught them was the 7th of May, and almost the entire lesson was a debate on the existence of God. Not so much a heated argument, just a debate. Well, they lost, obviously and wanted us to come back the very next day. It went that way the entire week until this last Thursday the 15th. Eric went out of town so we just started meeting with Will. Now that Eric and Will couldn’t play off of each other for arguments, Will was much softer and willing to keep commitments. This is where Will’s conversion really picked up. Saturday we took Anna and Will to see a baptism and took them on a tour of the Church. That night, Will, Friedo and Dustin (our ward mission leader) all came down to Old Market to soap box! Those three actually handed out pass a long cards while we sang and preached! It was incredible! Sunday we had Friedo, Anna, and Will at all three hours of church and to a Fireside that night where we talked about missionary work. Will and Anna are so excited to be baptized. I’m blown away by the way the Spirit softened and changed these two hearts. It’s interesting to note how different these three have been converted to the Gospel. Heavenly Father knows each of us perfectly and how to touch our hearts. It’s so evident with them. They are so different and have such unique backgrounds. Nothing but the true Gospel of Jesus Christ could be everything to so many different people. It doesn’t work for just some, it’s for all of God’s children. So that’s miracle number three, four, five, really I can’t count that high.
There were also some other highlights at Church. Keith Brown, recent convert, blessed the sacrament and did it right on his first try. I was so proud of him. Matt Young, Keith Brown and Trever Graber were all asked to bare their testimonies in sacrament meeting. The talk given by the high councilor was on testimonies. Matt said his testimony was the peace he’s felt while at Church and reading The Book of Mormon. Trever also said that he knew the Church was true because it embraced him like God’s embraced him. He’s very poetic I’ve come to find. It was just a wonderful day. I love our members.
This is our last full week of the transfer. We’ll find out what’s going on next Wednesday. I really have no idea what is going to happen. I am praying that I will be able to stay, but if not, that the Lord will change my heart so that I’ll be ok to leave. We know at this point that one of us will be leaving, but it really could be either of us. I do have faith that the right thing will happen, I guess I just have to pray to be able to align my will with the will of the Lord.
I’ve had something on my mind the last couple of days. Why was I so blessed to be born into a family that has embraced the Gospel? Why do I have this knowledge when there are so many others that need it? Out of the estimated 27 billion who have lived or live on the earth, why am I blessed to be one of the one million missionaries who have been or are spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ? My only conclusion is that I must have made some kind of bargain with the Lord before this life. I’m not sure what I promised Him but it certainly has helped me to be even more diligent and obedient this week. I often ask people who come to the Trail Center what truth has caused them to do. The Truth caused over a hundred thousand people to sacrifice everything they had, sometimes their lives, to gather to Zion. What will Truth cause you to do?
Thanks for your prayers and love.
Love, Sister Henson


p.s. This message is from Courtney. Everyone who is reading this, go to my mom's blog and watch the video of my grandparents. They are my mom's parents and they live in a small town called Pendleton, OR. It is the funniest thing! So classic.

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