Penelope

I wish I could be this funny. She kills me!

Sister Henson-The Gospel Blesses Families

(Message from the blog author-
I am getting really sick of posting Meagan's letters and am sooo happy to say that she is coming home on November 14th. 10:00a.m. MST. Man, I have missed her so much. I hope my postings are being read and are not in vain. Holler back.)


Hey family!
It’s been an interesting/amazing week! Just when I got a point where I thought I was perfect ;) the Lord clearly showed me my weaknesses. Ok, not perfect, but I thought I had this missionary thing figured out. Then He humbled me and showed me where He wanted me to improve. Just as I did so, the blessings flowed, poured even. You should remember the Grote (pronounced grow-tee) family. We invited them to a baptism on Saturday. The baptism was for Jennifer and Jessica Huynh, a mother and daughter that I found and taught back in Winter Quarters. It was so great to see them make that sacred covenant with Heavenly Father and have the Grote’s there to see it. It was a beautiful service. There was this sweet little family who got up to sing “I am a Child of God.” Their little boy, Porter, who is probably 5 years old, was so sweet that it brought tears to your eyes. I felt the Spirit so strongly and it made his mom get so emotional she couldn’t sing. I felt the great love that our Heavenly Father has for us. The Grote family felt the Spirit there too. Victoria, 4, was crying and said to her mom, “I can’t get my eyes to stop watering.” Shellaine asked, “Is it because you know that they will be with Jesus now?” Victoria nodded her head yes. Shellaine said she loved everything about the baptism. How simple it was and the Spirit that was there. On the way home, I sat in the backseat of their fifteen seat passenger van with Bailey and Robert and Sister Smith sat one row up with Alexa (all of the kids who are of age). We started asking them about how they felt about it and the conversation went like this:
“Have you been thinking about baptism Bailey?”
“Yeah.”
“Do you feel like you’re ready?”
“Yeah, I do.”
“Should we start planning it for November 1st?”
“Uh, yeah, that sounds good.”
So I turned to Robert and had a nearly identical conversation with him. Then Sister Smith asked Alexa the same thing but she seemed a little hesitant. I turned to Bailey and Robert and told them that as soon as we got home, to go up and tell their Mom that they were ready to be baptized. As we all filed out, I caught Shellaine's face just as Bailey said, “Mom, I want to get baptized on November 1st!” “Yeah, me too!” piped in Robert. Once Alexa heard that, she expressed her desire as well. Shellaine’s jaw dropped and a look of joy came over her face. She told us later that she had been trying to decide if she felt ready and as soon as she heard her kids say that, she knew that she was ready and that it was right! The whole family is so excited. Ben, the dad, got the Priesthood last week so he will be able to baptize them! I stand amazed at this family. I continue to wait to see when they are going to have an issue or concern. We’ve taught them everything now, and they excitedly accepted everything that we taught. They have applied all of the principles of the Gospel that they weren’t living yet, which were few. I’ve waited, prepared and prayed to be able to teach a family like this my entire mission. I feel like it’s the best going away present the Lord could give me. He knows that leaving here will be the hardest thing I ever have to do, and He found a way to ease that. Just another way I know that He knows and loves me. I love the tender mercies of the Lord.
We also were able on Saturday, to help a less active member, Brother Ruiz to do some service. He often volunteers to do these mini home makeovers for veterans in Omaha. We invited some other missionaries to help and we painted all morning! (Thanks Mom for letting me help you paint, I was the only missionary there who had any experience!) But I’m glad that you’ve almost finished the house ;) Brother Ruiz has the biggest heart. He has a desire to get back to church and has asked us to teach him the lessons as a refresher. He committed to coming to Church for the next fast Sunday so that will be a great blessing.
We were able to serve in the Trail Center this weekend for the first time this transfer, and what a good time to go. I came out of the gallery at the end of a tour and ran right smack into Sister Beck, you know, the General Relief Society President! I was standing there with some recent converts from Missouri and they got to meet her as well. The woman thanked Sister Beck for her addresses, telling her that she had watched many of them. Sister Beck responded, “Thank your Heavenly Father.” I liked that. She is an amazing woman and you could feel the Spirit radiating from her. She was in town to speak at an Adult Singles Conference.
I’ll share one more quick story then I’ve got to run. Last week, Sister Smith got a letter from a lady in her ward and she stuck a $20 in there, said to take her companion out to lunch. One day, we were having a rough morning and decided to treat ourselves. It took us forever to pick a place to go, but we ended up in this little smoothie shop that does wraps and sandwiches. We ate a nice little lunch and then we felt “inspired” to get a cookie to go. As we walked up to the counter to get one, the girl working in the back had to come up to help us because the normal cashier was gone. She saw our tags and asked us about it. We taught her a very brief apostasy/restoration and she was interested! She gave us her information and we have started teaching her, her name is Kayla. She is so open and sweet. I found it interesting to see a series of small promptings that lead us to her.
Well, thanks for your prayers and support. Keep them coming!
Love, Sister Henson

p.s. Please excuse any terrible spelling or grammar errors, I had to write this really quickly. Plus, I haven't been in school for a long time, it's not my fault!

Sister Henson-Here comes Winter!

Hello family!

So, Nebraska only rains on Monday. It’s another seemingly gloomy day here, but the work is going so well, the weather has lost its effect. Despite the cold, the Spirit is warming (cheesy!) But really, I can’t believe how the Lord has blessed us.
Let me tell you about my favorite Grote family. We taught the oldest kids, Bailey, Robert and Alexa the Plan of Salvation on Tuesday and it went really great. They asked the perfect questions that helped us know that they really understood it. It was almost a textbook MTC lesson. However, we were still trying to find a way to connect with Bailey; everything seemed to hinge on her. The Lord provided the opportunity to build trust and friendship in an unusual way. She had her homecoming dance this weekend and Sister Smith offered to do her hair in an up-do and I offered to do her make-up. She seemed really excited but was still trying to act cool and casual about it. After we got her all dolled up for the dance, she was just beaming! She couldn’t stop thanking us. When the family came to church yesterday, she seemed so much more relaxed. She started to make friends with and talk to the girls in the ward. Ben was ordained to the office of a Priest as well and the family went in to watch. Bailey said it was “really cool.” He is now ready to baptize the family. We are going to teach the kids about the Gospel of Jesus Christ tomorrow night and invite them to set a date! They are so ready. When Sister Smith was doing Bailey’s hair, I talked with the parents. I was asking them questions about why Shellaine wouldn’t let Ben keep going to church when they first got married. (Remember, he had been baptized just before they got married.) She said that she thinks that God had to prepare her a little better so that she would be able to recognize all the good things about this Church and the truth it taught. I found it incredible that she was able to see that herself. I’m humbled that the Lord has allowed me to teach them.
Joelle is also doing so well. She has lived a hard life and is still trying to overcome the consequences of some past decisions. She is so strong, independent and is building a great faith in the Lord. She is so quick to recognize the blessings that Heavenly Father is giving her and she knows that He is confirming to her that what she is doing is right. It has strengthened my testimony of keeping the commandments because Heavenly Father is so quick to bless her. She came to all three hours of church yesterday and was just enveloped by the amazing Relief Society Sisters in the ward. I love Papillion.
Vicki had a scary week but it turned out to be a blessing in disguise. She has been working on quitting smoking and she prayed last week that God would give her a desire to quit. Well, He did. She started having really bad chest pains and after a couple of days, she finally went to the doctor and they found that she has been experiencing a series of small heart attacks. One of her arteries was 100% blocked. They cleared it out and left a couple of stints (sp?). They told her that she has to quit smoking and she now has a desire to! I know, be careful what you pray for right?!
We took the Empey family to the Trail Center on Friday and had a great time with them. Cheryl didn’t come. I think she is nervous about the changes that this is bringing to her family. She doesn’t seem ready to change. We’re praying that her heart will be softened. The kids are great though. Bryce is excited to come to Church next week. I love that the ten year old is the most progressing and is bringing his older siblings along. I think the other kids will come as well.
Sister Smith is doing great. I just love her. I took her tracting for the first time this last week and she did great. It’s always a really humbling experience and she handled it well. So many missionaries come out with the idea that all we do is tract. I am not that kind of missionary, there is a better way! Anyway, we are having a great time doing the work. I haven’t had this much fun with the work in a long time. She is heaven sent.
The Bishop told me yesterday that I couldn’t leave until they found another Sister Henson to replace me, because they replaced the last Sister Smith with another Sister Smith. So unless someone knows another Sister Henson, I might be here for a while. I’ve got to obey the direction given by my Priesthood leaders… sorry!
I’ve got to run again, thanks for your prayers and support. I love you!
Love, Sister Henson

by the way..

this is what our baby will look like

Workin' for the other side

Taliban Toben

Frick

I swear everyone around me is freakin prego!.... I'm feelin' that crazy coming back..
(see previous post)

Sister Henson-Extending 1 more year!

Hello family!

It’s that time again, can you believe it?! So, another incredible week, of course.
I hope you don’t expect any less from Papillion.
Monday night the Hall family invited the Grote family to their home
for FHE, it was great. The Grote’s are like sponges, absorbing every
temporal and spiritual counsel given by the Church and it’s members.
I love it. The three oldest kids, who are baptismal age, are now really
involved with the lessons and are all reading out of the Book of Mormon.
The family came to visit us at the Trail Center on Saturday and had a
great time. They are progressing well. Shellaine, the Mom,went to
the Relief Society Broadcast and loved it. Since we were in the
Trail Center we couldn’t watch it with her. She went with some of the
Sisters inthe ward. Everything that was talked about was perfect for
her, many of you probably felt the same way, amazing how that works!
As you listen to the leaders of the Church, you can’t help but gain a
greater testimony that they are truly called of God. I just love Sister Beck,
she is such a powerful speaker, and so bold. But at the same time, you can
feel the love that she has for the Lord, and for the great women of this
Church. I want to be her when I grow up! Back to the Grote’s, they loved
Church as well. Elizabeth, 5, told her mom that she thought this was
“the best church we’ve ever gone to!” Their hearts are open so the Lord
has been able to prepare them to receive this beautiful gospel.
This week has also provided me with another opportunity to serve a
young single adult. We met Michelle, Marcus and Jeff towards the beginning
of the transfer. They live in the same apartment complex as Joelle. Jeff is
the one that told us he hadn’t been baptized and was excited when we told
him that it’s what we do, remember him? Well, we turned them over to the
singles ward Sisters and they began teaching them. Marcus and Michelle have
been together for like 5 years, and he didn’t seem very interested, so I was
a little worried about that. Well, last week, he broke up with Michelle and
kicked her out. They have been on and off for a while but this seems like
it will be the final one. I was worried about her so I called her and she
cried and cried to me on the phone. The more she told me about her relationship,
the more I was amazed. We all know I have not had the best of luck in dating,
and I was ableto relate to her really well. I was at that moment, grateful for
the trials Ihad gone through. That now I would be able to help one of my sisters
to find the healing power of the Atonement. I can’t imagine going through
something like that without the Gospel. It was the only way I was able to find
forgiveness and peace again. I have often seen during my mission how past
experiences have shaped me to be a specific instrument in the Lord’s hands.
We took Michelle to Church on Sunday at the singles ward. Luckily, that ward meets
at 9am, and ours at 2pm, so we could attend the entire block of meetings.
Yes, six hours of church, I loved it! (I have to say that, I’m a missionary,ha)
Also this week we had a two day blitz training in place of interviews.
It was incredible! We learned how to really fine tune our planning, studying,
and teaching skills. I told President that I wish they had done this transfers
ago;I will barely have time to repent and apply it all. Just when I think
thatI’ve got this whole missionary thing figured out, the Lord shows me a
new area to improve. He is good at keeping me humble, and that’s quite a job.
So,consider this my official announcement of extension. I will not be coming
home for another year! I also told President that they could only send me
home if they can find me. I’ll become like Alma in chapter 45:18-19 “And when
Sister Henson had done this she departed out of the land of Papillion,
as if to go into the land of Omaha. And it came to pass that she was never
heard of more; as to her death or burial we know not of. Behold, this we know,
that she was a righteous women and was lifted up by the Spirit, or buried by
the hand of the Lord, even as Moses.
But behold, the scriptures saith the Lord took Moses unto himself; and we
suppose that he has also received Sister Henson in the spirit, unto himself;
therefore,for this cause we know nothing concerning her death and burial.”
And it doesn’t sound like they really looked too hard for him. So, that’s my plan.
We’ll see how it goes.
Oh yes, I did want to update you on one more thing.
Do you remember Rui Cao and Hengwei Zong, the Chinese men that we were teaching
in Winter Quarters? Well, it turns out they were married, so they were turned
over to the Conestoga Branch. Anyway, they were baptized on Saturday! They will
be in the country for another five or six months and then they will be going
back to China. The Stake President, President Bartlett said that they will be
in constant, direct communication with the Area Authority for China to help them
when they getthere. They are already talking to them about receiving the
Melchizedek Priesthood. Talk about modern day pioneers! They will be able to
take thefullness of the Gospel back to China and prepare the way for missionaries
there someday! Amazing. Remember those names! This work continues to amaze me.
I am also running out of adjectives. The thesaurus on Microsoft word has some
other options, but they sound a little silly. Mind-blowing, astonishing, astounding,
pick your favorite. Either way,I’m sure you get the point. The Lord’s work is
so beyond me, it’s so beyond this life. I’ve probably heard Moses 1:39 about 15
times in the last week. There’s got to be more to this scripture that I currently
understand. But His work and His glory is our immortality and eternal life.
Being a small,small part of that work has brought me a small, small taste of the glory
He enjoys. The fullness of joy that He has and is trying to offer to all
those will accept and obey. I love this work! I'm so excited to hear from the Lords
chosen servants this weekend! I love to hear the words of modern day revelation
as it flows from the Prophet and Apostles! Enjoy it! Not everyone has it!

Love, Sister Henson