The Hmong People Here Truly Have Become My Family

Sup Yall-

     It is almost Christmasssss!!!!!!!! This is so crazy. I cant believe that it is finally here. It seems like I've only been in Minnesota for a day the next thing you know you wake up and you've been a missionary for almost 4 months. I can honestly say that this has been by far the best Christmas season of my entire life for a couple of reasons. 1.People are off work and that is really convienent when you are a missionary. 2. All of the Hmong people are making somewhat american food which is actually a pretty huge blessing to my stomach.(Hmong food is really good but when you eat nothing but super spicy peppers for a month strait it's nice to have a little break.) 3. I have finally come to understand the Spirit of Christmas. I thought that before I left on my mission I understood what Christmas was about but now that the only purpose of my whole life is to help others be happy, I feel like I understand it quite a bit better.

     It really isn't about what you have, it's what you give. When I was in the MTC I'll be honest I wasn't really looking forward to any of the holidays because I thought that they would be a little sad. But I don't know if I have ever been happier in my life. My companion and I had the chance to visit a less active couple in their late 30's a few days ago and they are now some of my favorite people on the earth. My companion and I were getting to know them and they told us how they had been pregnant with a girl a few years ago but the wife had a miscarriage. They have not been to church for a really long time and they have since forgotten most of the doctrine. After telling us that the baby had died they both looked so sad and just broken. They have been going to a Catholic church and apparently they thought that since the baby hadn't been baptized then it was damned.(I was a little confused because they said it hadn't been born yet but I guess they felt that it needed to be baptized.) I have never seen a person's eyes be filled with the Light of Christ before that day. When my companion and I told them that because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ their baby is now in paradise and is happier than any of us could ever imagine, I truly saw the Light of Christ fill their eyes. It was amazing. And that is what Christmas is all about. It is not about food, presents, or staying warm inside by a fire. It's all about biking in the cold, shoveling snow with your bare hands, or changing a flat tire in the mud so that someone else can be happy. As you see the eyes of someone brighten and you know that you have helped them feel the love of God in their life, I can promise that their is no greater Christmas present than that.

     In my mission presidents letter he wrote to us and told us that he said it might be hard for us because we aren't with our families. I thought about that for a second and then I realized that all of us are family. The Hmong people here truly have become my family (don't worry mom your still #1 :)) Even though I don't understand like half of what they say and they probably think I'm super weird because worms stuffed with ramen noodles isn't my favorite food, they really are my family now. I'm realizing how big of a blessing it is to serve a mission. What better opportunity is there in the world to be happy can we have then to serve and help our family be happy for two years.

     Anyways thats all for now and I hope you all have a very merry Christmas. Also I'm glad you all enjoyed the news thing that was super fun.

      Love Elder Henrie

Also Fam I will Skype around 12:00 Minnesota time. I have no idea how it works or what your number is but I'm sure the Spirit will guide me. :) haha jk ill call you guys before and figure it out. Love ya