Sister Henson- I hate transfers week!

Dear Family,
 I want to tell you about an experience we had this Saturday.
There was a baptism in the Cold Springs ward that we
wanted to get some investigators to attend.  Cold Springs
is the other singles ward in Omaha so we work closely
with those Sisters and we know the other members
and investigators pretty well. A young man, Wulu,
was getting baptized.  He is from Liberia,
Africa and has been in the US for 6 months.  I
remember hearing about him when the Sisters first started
meeting with him.  They talked about his desire to
learn but the fact that he didn’t speak or read English
was a problem.  The only language he spoke was his
tribal language.  They tried teaching him English but his
progression was slow.  But he would always come to
church and all of the activities.  Two weeks ago he went
to Kansas City to visit his sister and while
there had a great spiritual experience.  When he returned,
he called the Sisters and told them that he wanted to be
baptized.  From the moment they set a date for his baptism,
the Holy Ghost was “wrought upon him.”  By the time of his
baptism, he had a clear understanding of the Gospel,
the commandments, the Restoration, the Plan of Salvation,
and was speaking nearly clear English and
could read from the Book of Mormon like never before.
It was absolutely incredible to see the Spirit
teaching him.  What a great example this was to me
that the Spirit is the Teacher.  That He teaches
and testifies of any truth. That when we have and show
real intent, the Lord certainly prepares a way for
us to accomplish the thing that He has commanded us.
It is a commandment to be baptized.  And the Lord did
not want Wulu to be baptized without understanding
the covenant he would be entering into.  His
testimony is probably the most sincere I’ve ever heard.
It was a powerful experience.  I was so grateful
that we were able to get a young man named Antonio
to the baptism.  Before the baptism started we
were talking to Antonio about his past church and he
told us that he had never been baptized in it.
When asked why, he simply said that it just didn’t
feel right at the time.  After the baptism I asked
him what he thought.  He said, “I liked it, but
I felt a weird feeling (motioning to his heart)
right before Wulu went into the water.”  I asked
him if he knew what that was.  He kind of smiled and
said, “Probably the Holy Spirit.”  I then asked him
what he thought it was trying to tell him, he answered,
"Ha… that I’m next!”  We kind of laughed but I
told him that we could arrange that. His only obstacle
will be his very devout mother.  She will have
a cow when she finds out.  Thankfully, the Lord
will provide a way over that as well.
We are also experiencing a unique challenge/situation.
One of our investigators, Kim, was not really
progressing.  She would allow us to come teach her,
she would read what we left her in the Book of Mormon
but she wouldn’t come to Church.  This last week
she started calling us every night.
Her boyfriend who lives in North Dakota was really
sick and I believe she was seeking the comfort of
the Spirit by calling us.  Anyway, she ended up leaving
for N. Dakota on Thursday because Michael had been
put into the ICU.  Saturday night we got
a call that he had passed away.  I know that nothing is
coincidence.  That we are a part of Kim’s
life right now for a reason; I hope
it is to help her receive the Gospel so she can
be comforted by the knowledge of the Plan of
Salvation.  Please pray for her.I was reminded
again this week that the emotions of a mission
are quite a roller coaster.  I’m grateful
for the Gospel and the stability that it gives
me. For the tools also that it provides to
help me keep sanity despite the world. I ache
for those who don’t have it. Friday night
for the fourth, we went to a ward BBQ
then went downtown to soapbox.  As we sang a mix of
patriotic songs and hymns, I saw all
sorts of people walking by.  You could see
the emptiness in so many eyes, the
longing their Spirits have of the Gospel,
especially for the Gift of the Holy Ghost.
You can almost see their spirits pleading for it.
It just breaks my heart to see so many daughters
and sons of God who don’t know who they are.
I wish I could tell them and that they
would listen and understand.  Thankfully, the
Lord has blessed us with some incredible people
to teach right now.  I’m praying that I won’t get
transferred this week.  I know, I’m getting
selfish by wanting to stay here,
but I can’t bear to leave it yet.  President
almost hinted at interviews that
I might stay, so I’m crossing my fingers.
There will be so many changes
already; I doubt I’ll go far. Either way,
the Lord knows that I trust Him
and that I’ll go where He wants me to go.
I have complete faith in that.
Well, tune in next week, Tuesday, to see what happens!
I love you all.  The Gospel is not only
true, it is everything.
Love, Sister Henson