The Slaughterhouse

 Hey everybody it's labor day so looks lik a short email on my end. Here is what I did last week.

1. Killed a pig and gutted it.

2. Converted an ex convict (That was more the Spirit but I got to watch.)

3. Said goodbye to a bunch of missionaries that I grew up in the mission with :(

4. Watched a couple get sealed in the temple. Unfortunately a few hours after the sealing the mother had a miscarriage. Saddest thing ever

5. Found out Elder Moss is getting transfered out to Eau Claire and Elder Hardy will be back with me. Really bittersweet moment because Elder Moss and I had such great success together and so I'm pretty sad he's leaving but Elder Hardy is one of my best friends because we served out in Eau Claire so I'm glad to be back serving with him   #FeelingTorn hahaha

 

Love you all and have a good week.

I Don't Know If I Have Ever Felt So Much Love For A Complete Stranger

 That's right everybody. I finally get to go to the temple this week after like a 9 month absence. I am pumpeddd!!!!! But even better is that this week, I am not going for the usual but get to witness the sealing of a family that Elder Moss and I have been teaching for the past 4 months. They were less active and all of a sudden in just 4 short months, the father became the 2nd counselor in the branch, the wife is in primary, and their daughter was baptized. They are probably one of the favorite families on my whole mission and I can't wait for this Saturday. Also T is the dad's brother and he is returning to activity and is preparing for the melchezidek priesthood in a few months and J our recent convert just got called to be the Secratary in young womens which is awesome. So to wrap it up, things are pretty much as sweet as the Utes crushing Alabama in the Sugar Bowl.

     This past week Elder Moss and I saw many miracles and one in particular built my testimony of fasting a lot. The Spanish Elders that live near us were struggling to find people to teach and were having a hard time so I decided to do a fast with them that things would begin to improve. Elder Moss was out on exchanges at the time and one of the Karen missionaries was with me. But anyways during the exchange we ended up finding a young man named Jose on the street and set up an appointment the next day and at the time I didn't really think anything about it. But then the next day when we went back we met the coolest Spanish family who is so prepared to hear the gospel. The mom was raised Catholic and it was the first time she had prayed without reciting words and the Spirit was so strong even though she was speaking in Spanish and I had no idea what she said in her prayer, I know the Lord answered her. The Spanish missionaries are now teaching them. God really does answer when we fast.

      This second miracle was a little bit of a sadder note but still really cool. A family in our branch has a father that has cancer and they called us over to give him a priesthood blessing. Before the blessing we asked them to share some of their favorite memories about their dad. The oldest daughter shared a story that I will never forget. She said, " I remember when I was around 11 years old living in Laos and we were running away from the soldiers and guards who were trying to kill us. There was about 100 of us in the group and my dad was the leader. Many of the younger people in the group would often go hungry and my dad would give them his food and go days without eating. I remember watching him eat the grass that would grow because he was so hungry and there was nothing left to eat. My dad led us through the hardest things anyone could imagine and he never complained once. If that's not a true father, then I don't know what is." Her father was never a member of the church and still hasn't accepted the gospel, but before I said the prayer for them, I looked over at the man, who was skinny to the bone and looked frailer than anyone I've ever seen, I felt in my heart that he was one of the most Christlike people I had ever met. I learned a really good lesson that day.        

        Yes, this is the true church, and yes you do need the ordinances performed by the priesthood, but the more important thing is that we are Christlike. I don't know if I have ever felt so much love for a complete stranger but I will be grateful forever the example that he set for me that day.

       Hope we all strive to do something a little more Christlike today.

                                           

 

                                                                   Elder Muaj Zoo

"Nobody Disrespects My Elders!"

     This week was another fun one. Luckily everything ended up working out with T and he had a super great testimony at his baptism. He had done some things that he wasn't super proud of while serving in the army and he talked about all the forgiveness that he felt from Jesus and it was really spiritual stuff. It was pretty funny though because he is super afraid to talk in front of people so after he finished Elder Moss and I were joking with him because he's not afraid to get shot at but he doesn't like speaking in front of like 30 people. Pretty strange.

      Our investigator V that we have been teaching for the past four months finally had a break through this past week which was really neet. We toulk him to President's Fireside which is a meeting where recent converts from all over Minnesota come and share there conversion stories. While he was there he said he felt the Spirit so strong and said he felt like he had finally found his home. Also he told us that a few days before a bunch of his friends were bagging on us saying that we were lieing to him and apparently he started yelling at them and then said, "Nobody disrespects my Elders," and then walked off. So awesome. We had a less active that drove us down to the meeting and after we dropped V off the less active named C and us had the coolest talk.

     C is one of my favorite guys in the whole branch and we sometimes go over to his house in the mornings to work out with him. It has been really hard for him these past couple months because his family was trying to force him to do a Hmong wedding (basically where you get really drunk, pay a dowry to the wife's family, and then bow to them for an hour) but he stood up to them and did the American way. They all got so mad at him and the wife's  family doesn't respect him anymore and it has been hard on his wife. But as we were sitting in the car he just talked about that even though he hasn't been able to make it to church that he still knows this is true and that there is nothing his family can do to take that away. I was so pumped when I heard him say that. It is cool to see the Hmong people when even though everything in the world is against them, they rise above all of it and do what's right. Hopefully C can keep going and come back.

     And dad, as for my studies this last week. I think the thing that stuck out to me the most was patience. I've felt that one of the most important things for me to learn on my mission is to be patient. I guess the work really kind of takes care of itself most of the time but we need to be patient on the Lord and wait for things to be done in His time not ours. I love President Monsen's talk, "Patience-A Heavenly Virtue"

      But that's all for now and I'm glad Sun Valley was fun. Tell Libby that I think her bucket list is super awesome, especially the part about paying for someone in the drivethru. But TTFN and have a great week.

 

        -Muaj Zoo

    

Pictures: Elder Moss and I were on a nighttime stroll and decided to get this awesome picture.

Things Are Still Going Well Out in The 651

 Things are still going well out in the 651. Elder Moss and I are plugging away and we will be staying together for another transfer which is cool because we have been doing really well together. Also it is looking like him and I should be together for the next two transfers after this one which is exciting because we set some goals right when we got together that we are both working towards.

         Our investigator J got married this past Thursday which was way cool. She is still preparing for August 2nd. Last night we had a funny experience because she randomly gave me a birthday present like 2 weeks early. When I opened it, first I pulled out a tie and I was way pumped. Then I pulled out a baking set with an oven mit, a few wash cloths. and some hot pads, and I was so confused. I asked her why and she told me that I told her that I liked to bake one of the first times that we met her. I couldn't help but laugh because I was totally kidding but we are planning to bake some cakes with her and take them to some of the grandmas in the branch so that we can teach her about service so it looks like they will come in handy. It has been one of the most interesting things to teach her because before we had met with her she basically had no knowledge of God at all. During the beginning stages of meeting with her it was so weird because she understood all of the lessons really well and she was keeping all of her commitments but she was still struggling to put all of her faith in God. It was neat to see her gain a relationship with someone she really knew nothing about through prayer. Defintely showed me how important it is to make sure we don't just have grocery list prayers but really a conversation with Heavenly Father.

        This Sunday we had a super cool miracle. There is a family in the Frogtown area that has been taught since pretty much the beginnig of my mission but they never really made to much progress. The mom is really traditional but luckily her and her husband have been arguing lately and it made her want to come to church. I probably had the biggest smile ever when I saw her and all of her kids walking into the church. Elder Moss and I haven't met with them for awhile but we are going back this Tuesday to share something. I always love teaching families. It is for sure the hardest but most rewarding experience I have had when you teach a family because everyone has all these different concerns but to bring them all together and follow Jesus Christ can be tricky but I'm excited.

       Have an awesome week and tell uncle kent he looks like a prospector guy that I taught out in Wisconsin.

                                                            -Elder Henrie

Hmong People Rule!

       If your wondering why that's the title of my letter, it is for two reasons, #1. Is that one of my favorite people on my mission finally got baptized this past Saturday, and #2 Somebody stole my wallet which had my temple reccomend in it :'(  Worth at least 500 billion. So yeah dad don't worry I am still being obedient and did not spend like 500 bucks onhobbytron.com

       This week was really spiritual and I feel like I learned so much. The baptism of M was so amazing and he bore the coolest testimony. He has come to church for almost a year and read all the way up to Moroni before his dad would let him be baptized. He is such a good example to the whole branch and they all look up to him a ton. When he bore his testimony he cried the whole time and he talked about how grateful he was for Jesus Christ in his life and how happy he was that he could stand in front of God and tell Him that he is clean. It was really neat.

       After the baptism we had a slide show with pictures of all the people that were baptized this year and last year and had a few of the recent converts share their conversion story. It was something I will probably never forget and it was so neat to hear their side of the story. I never knew how annoyed our investigators were by us but they all said that in the end it was worth it.

       Miracle of the week was defintely a white dude named J that Elder Moss and I found. We were stopping by a less active who wasn't home and as we were walking back to our car there was a man filling up his car with a gas can and so we walked over to talk to him. Right when we walked up he had the biggest smile on his face. We didn't really have to say anything before he opened up and just started telling his whole life story to us. He had been in the military for over 20 years and had been over seas for more than 10. He had just recently left his church because in his own words,"I'm sick of all the big screens and people passing out and speaking gibberish. Seems like more of a concert than worshipping God to me." He then told us how his wife was addicted to drugs and that he had tried to commit suicide twice in the past week but had failed. After he said that he just paused and no one said anything. The Sprit came so strong and we told him how much God loved him and that we share a message that Christ's church has been brought back. He perked right up after that. He didn't have much more time so we handed him a Restoration pamphlet. As we were walking away we asked if there was anything else we could do for him and I will never forget what he said. He raised the pamphlet in his hand and with a smile/tears on his face said, "No boys, this is all I'll ever need." It was an amazing experience that I don't think I could forget if I tried.

        So yeah things are still steezy in St. Peezy and I hope all of you have an awesome week!

 

   Elder Muaj Zoo

 

P.S. Dad I am glad you got better but I have to say I kind of knew you would. I was reminded of the blessing President Castleton gave to me when I was set apart that my family would be taken care of and sure enough, the Lord never breaks His promise.

P.P.S. Mom I really don't need anything for my birthday I promise. If anything just pray for a girl named J because she has a baptismal date set for August 2nd and I think that is the best present I could ever get.

Pictures are of M at his baptism and of me and the Elders at J-4. Look at the number on 2014. I laughed so hard. Hmong people rule!

Cool/Super Miracles

   Elder Moss and I have had some really cool/super weird miracles happen to us this week. First the power steering went out on our car and so we have been on bikes for about a week now. Turns out God has a great sense of humor and decided to let it pour raindrops the size of baseballs for three days strait. It turned out to be a pretty sweet blessing though because God led us to some amazing people.

      During our nightly planning on Thursday we had this feeling that we needed to bike like five miles north and see this one random lady named V who a member had given us and address and number too but we had never been able to contact her. Both of us just looked at each other and started laughing because we knew it was going to pour the whole way there. As we get to the house their are no cars there and when we knock on the door nobody answered. As we are walking back to our bikes we see a van pull up and a woman of around 40 gets out with the biggest smile on her face. We help carry the groceries in and than sat down outside under some trees to get to know her more (didn't have the rule of 3). The first question that we asked was, "What is the most difficult part of being a single mother of 6 kids?" The tears began to flow. She opened up her story to us and we could both feel her pain. Without teaching any part of the Restoration we then told her ,"V the way to be healed of the pains that you are feeling and the stress that comes from being a single mother is through baptism." The Spirit filled us all and you could see in her face. We then asked her if she would be baptized and she responded without hesitation. We then went on to teach one of the most Spirit filled Restoration lessons I have had on my mission. It truly was God's hand in each of the three of our lives that led us to that miracle. We can't wait to continue working with this great family. Her kids are so cool and they are all so prepared.

     The second miracle we had was with a young couple named T&J. T is a member and J is not. They were culturally married about a year ago and T just started coming back to church and brought J. Elder Moss and I had a lesson planned with them at 8 last night but at seven we felt that we needed to go stop by a set of Elders appartment (which is pretty weird because 6-9 is the best time to be out) but we went anyways. When we got there Elder J opened the door and he asked "What are you doing here?" We then answered, "Same question." They told us that they had both just had a really hard week and that they just didn't feel like they could go and and work so we decided to go on a one hour exchange and I took Elder J to teach T&J and Elder Moss took the other Elder to go tracting. Before the lesson I didn't tell Elder J anything about what we were going to teach or anything about our investigators. We get in there and to make a long story short they are both now planning to be married on the 26th of July and J will be baptized on August 2nd. It was so great to see the Elder's face when we walked out of that lesson. He had a smile from ear to ear. I truly felt like God had allowed Elder Moss and I to be instruments in His hands to help these two Elders out. The best feeling ever. Have a super good week. Bye.

   -Elder Henrie

A Little More Power in Missionary Prayers

     Elder Moss and I have have another rainy week in Minnesota but luckily the weather didn't slow us down. My favorite thing that people say is, "wow why are you out in the rain you are going to get sick. You should find someplace dry." We have found some really cool people this week though and we are way excited with their progress. Probably the most exciting that happened this week is the progress that we have seen in the young man K. I have been able to teach him for a total of about six months on my mission and the growth in him is so cool to see. He has such a strong testimony of the Book of Mormon and of this church. He has a dat for July 12th and he told me that he wants to see me at the farewell for his mission in four years time. I told him I plan on staying anyways so I don't know how I could.

      Our investigator V the one that slept out in the streets and got out of jail, he was quite the rollercoaster this week. We told him that he had to wait six months for baptism (he has 4 left to wait) before he could get baptized because of his probation. He took it pretty hard and then told us that he was going to get baptized in a different church because he just can't wait for baptism. To make a long story short Elder Moss and I basically told him, "No you're not." For some reason he responded really well. I think it was because the Spirit let him know that if he gets baptized in another church it really won't do any good.

      Elder Moss and I had a super neat miracle last night around 8:15 that really sticks out to me on my mission. The younger brother of the 2nd counselor in the bishopric is a less active young man that has begun coming back to church with his non-member culturally married wife named J. They had come to church about 3 times before we were able to meet with them and when we did the Spirit was so strong. This was what you call a silver platter lesson. A lesson in a member home with an investigator that had already been talking about baptism and joining the church. Probably couldn't have been set up any better. The only problem was is that she had been rooted in her Shaman belief for about 20 years before we got there. As we were teaching the restoration my companion and I focused on teaching simply and bearing testimony of the Savior. Towards the end of the lesson it came time for me to bear testimony before we would invite her to baptism and I felt something in my heart say, "It's not what you say, I am the teacher here, keep it simple." So I told J this, "The Book of Mormon is the word of God, Joseph Smith is a prophet, and this is God's church." I felt the Spirit bear witness that what I had said was true and the smile and excitement that lit up her face told me that she had felt it too. My companion then invited her to be baptized and I think she was waiting for it the whole time because she said yes almost before he could finish. It was so cool to see how such a simple testimony can bring the Spirit as long as you are trying your best to follow it's promptings. That would be my advice for this week. Always listen for the Spirit. I'm pretty sure if I could listen to the Spirit all the time, I'd be Ammon status by now.

        Anyways love you all and I will pray that you get feeling better dad. I know that God answers prayers and I think that there might even be a little more power in missionary prayers so I'm sure you'll be just fine.

                      Elder Muaj Zoo

P.S. Shoutout to Chandler Webb. It was his birthday this last week so please keep his family in your prayers.\

P.P.S. Grammy I haven't gotten your package yet but you are so awesome. Tell Cole and JP happy birthday for me. And happy 37th birthday to you :) (it's 37 right?)

Dear Dad

 Dear Dad,

       As far as fathers go I'd have to say you're number one. There are few men in this world who could have raised me the way that you did. In the Hmong culture it is somewhat of the norm to marry, divorce, and repeat. Often they have multiple wives at a time or they have had so many children they honestly can't remember. It has really opened my eyes to the amazing father that you were and the leader of our family. This morning I came across a really interesting story in my study that made me think of you. It talks about a man with a son who was born with retnal blastoma (probably spelled that wrong) and so he needed surgery on his eyes not to go blind. The father and his wife and their whole ward holds a fast that the young boy will be able to keep his eyesight and they give him a priesthood blessing that he will be able to see. After the surgery the doctor comes out and tells the parents that the boy has multiple tumors in his left eye which will require more sugery and also the right eye has been completely lost. The man, frustrated, walks outside and begins to complain to God that he has done everything he could to follow the commandments, he is worthy to hold the Melchezidec Priesthood, and he had received revelation that this doctor was the right one for his son, how could God have let this happen. Then a distinct voice comes into the mans head which says "Kevin, he is my son too." The man then realizes that this was God's will not his. After six years of surgery and several near death experiences the young boy recovered and was able to serve a mission. This story was about three years old so I don't know if Aunt Ruthanne and Uncle Scott were his president, but the boy served in Spain.

       The reason this story made me think of you because you have always raised me to Make and Keep Sacred Covenants. And that no matter what happens we continue to follow the will of the Lord, and in the end all things will be for our benefit. Definitely a powerful lesson that I will never forget. Thanks dad.

       The area and the branch, even the whole mission is really thriving right now. Yesterday we held a mission fast to show gratitude for the many blessings that we received and Elder Moss and I were able to find many miracles. One of the recent converts in our ward decided to bring his little brother named R to church yesterday but the cool part was that he and the young man named K who we have been teaching for about 6 months, really hit it off. They became best friends instantly. After church we went to the Mission President's fireside with the two boys and our ward mission leader and during the ride over, we taugt R the restoration, word of wisdom, and the law of chastity and he committed to live all of them. We told R to continue to think about if baptism was right for him during the fireside.

      This was the last fireside before President C goes home and it was defintely a very spiritual one. All of the converts who shared their conversion stories focused on the pain that was healed through the Atonement and as President C got up he told the Restoration story and bore an awesome testimony on it. After his testimony all of the full time missionaries in the room, which was about 90 stood up and sang that one song(don't remember the name) about being like the Army of Helaman. The Spirit was so strong. After the fireside we asked R how he felt and he told us that he knew it was true. He told us how he felt the Spirit and that he was happier than he had ever been in his life. It truly was a miracle that a young man in five hours can go from not knowing anything about the gospel, to gaining a testimony of Joseph Smith, the Book of Mormon and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Super Cool.

      I hope all of you are doing well and that Moose and James don't tear the place apart. Also Libby good job at bearing your testimony in sacrament meeting. I'm glad that you are happy that I am happy, because that makes me happy too.

                                    Elder Henrie

Also Mom thanks so much for sending a package. If you haven't sent it yet, the one thing I really want is a onesy garment suit. I've heard they're sublime. Short sleeve, short leg, and not thermal. Thanks :)

I Am Very Passionate About This

Nyob Zoo mi cov kwv tij. What's up. It sounds like things in Spain were super cool. It sounds like Uncle Scott and Aunt Ruthanne are doing awesome leading their missionaries to be dilligent and obedient. There is no better kind of missionary in my opinion. This past week was probably one of the coolest weeks ever. I don't know what is going on in St.Paul but the Spirit is defintely being poured out on the people here. When Elder Moss and I got back into the branch we saw that things had really gone downhill. We had lost around 30 members and honestly there was just a bad spirit in the branch and everyone just seemed down. We had an experience a few days ago that after it happened, we just looked at each other and said, "We are changing this." Ever since then I don't know if I have ever been more bold with people in my life. These are not the exact words that Elder Moss and I used but it went something like this while speaking with investigators and less actives, "This is the church of Christ, there is no other church on this earth that is true... pause... you can find out know or at the day when your standing in front of God but it would probably be good for you to read the book of Mormon pray about it, and ask God if Joseph Smith was a prophet." After we said this to people they would say what makes you so sure, then Elder Moss and I would say, we have a witness from the Holy Spirit of God that this is true, it doesn't matter what our neighbors, what the church on the corner of the street, or what some completely false internet site says because God already told us that this is true. Then usually they sit there for a minute and say well I can't see it so I don't believe it, then Elder Moss and I will proceed to hold up the Book of Mormon and say nothing. It is so sad when people will not open there eyes and see the evidence of their faith. I don't know if you can tell but I am very passionate about this and we have actually had some really cool miracles. We had a young girl of about 15 walk up to us in sacrament and she handed us the Book of Mormon we let her borrow (she has her own) and she said I read Moroni chapter 10. I have prayed about it, and I know that it is true, I'm sorry I ever doubted. That was a very great moment, it's times like that which really just put the biggest smile on your face.

      The area is going great. From the recent exchange with Elder Hicken and Elder Alpert (the assistants) my sights have been raised so much higher. Elder Moss and I have been very bold in word of wisdom lessons this week and the result was 4 successful word of wisdom lessons and over 75$ of sin literally flushed down the toilet.(pictures to follow) B is one of our recent date sets and is progressing very well. He and his fiance will be getting married this upcoming Saturday. So exciting. Also a 25 year old man named V has now been clean for over a week and is a date set for June 14th. He is changing is life completely around. He found a job, is working to buy a car, and is even applying for college. The change in his life is remarkable. He just got out of prison for some pretty bad stuff but he is not on probation or parole which makes him good to go. Also the young boy K is set up for June 7th so please pray for him with all your heart. I finally learned his whole life's story the other day and I wanted to cry. I don't know if I've met someone with a sadder life. But when he said "I know that following the commandments of God makes me happy and I know that this is the Church of God." I understood that there is such great hope for this young man.

       That's about all for this week but I love you all so much. Keep the faith and don't forget to do one act of missionary work this week. That's where the true joy is.

 Love Elder Henrie

Picture #1 box of cigarette filters $9.43 One pound bag of tobacco $23.99 Dumping it down the toilet... Priceless

Picture #2 Guess you shouldn't try and pour it all out at once. And yes that is a cigarette tucked behind my ear for swag not for smoking

Picture #3 The whole haul

I Am Loving It

      I am finally back in the Hmong branch (the same one I started in,) and I am loving it. The members here are so awesome. Elder Moss has been out on his mission for 19 months and so both of us have spent a lot of time working for these people so it is nice to be back together. Mom to answer your questions: We will probably skype around 5 on Sunday night. Sorry that it will be so late for all of you being in Spain and whatnot. Also we ran out of money last week because we made food for a bunch of investigators but don't worry I'm back on track. Dad: we speak some english but now that I am back in the branch I would say mostly Hmong. I'm defintely not fluent in Hmong yet but I feel really comfortable speaking it. I got to translate this last fast sunday and it was super fun.
      We had a pretty crazy week because of all the changes that have happened. When Elder Moss and I came back they combined two areas into one so now we have a ton of investigators and members which is awesome. At church on Sunday we had one of the wildest things happen that has happened on my mission. One of our recent converts PJ decided to get married to this guy named B on like Wednesday and he came to church sunday but is completely into old culture (shaman stuff.) After the first hour they got into an argument and they were calling the wedding off. (Oh I forgot to mention they had only known each other for 5 days before they were engaged. That's just how Hmong people work.) So B starts balling and Elder Moss and I took him into a room in the church and it was just the 3 of us. We talked for a little bit and then told him that we would give him some time alone to pray. He had only prayed once before in his whole life. But when he walked out of the room you could feel the Spirit so strong. It was awesome to see his face. Needless to say the wedding is back on. I didn't know marriage counselor was in my job description but it's cool I guess.
    One of the coolest investigators that I have taught on my mission the boy named K (I don't know if that gives you much detail but he was the one who had a bad home life and was around 13. Also he had to walk around a sleep in parks when he was younger. During my first transfer in Frogtown he got lost and then nobody could find him.) is now found!!!!!!!!!!! Elder Moss and I stopped by his house and he was there and we found him. It was so cool to see him again and he is doing awesome. Since I saw him the first couple times he has read through the whole book of mormon and is even halfway through the index because he didn't see the words THE END after Moroni. Before we even found him he was praying for a date for baptism and set his own date for June 1st. So Pumped to find this kid. He is the most prepared person I have ever met and I can't wait to continue to see the change that comes into his life through the gospel.
     That's all for this week and congrats to JW. Good luck to Tanner and huge shoutout to Mitch. Love you all. Talk to you on Sunday. Bye

I Love This Kid a Ton

 Sorry mom about the horribly short email last week. But in my defense I was so sick I really just sat up on my chair typed that and then laid back down on the grown in the library and puked into a garbage can that I was holding. There really was nothing more that I could write. The best way that I think I can describe the sickness that I had was probably a man cold mixed in with a little bit of the black plague with a sprinkle of absolutely horrible pnuemonia. Nothing for the faint of heart I can assure you. The good news is I am back to skinnier than I was before my mission since I lost a solid 15 pounds. No worries mom we are planning on going to an asian buffet today so I should be able to gain about half of that back by 2:00 this afternoon.

     The other big news this week is that I am getting transfered to Frogtown. I went from the ghetto part of St.Paul to THE GHETTO part of St.Paul and I am actually way excited. I am pretty sad about leaving Eastside because their are so many cool people here and there are so many investigators and less actives that I am going to miss but my new companion will be Elder Meyer and he is an absolute stud as a missionary. He has been out for about 1 year and a half and is really hitting his prime so I am excited to see how that goes.

       So now for the miracle of the week. His name is investigator K and he is probably my favorite person in the whole entire world. When he told me his life's story I almost started crying (I know I am a wuss) because he really has had one of the hardest lives I have ever heard. His mom kicked him out of the house so he went to go live with his dad who is an alcoholic and addicted to some pretty heavy drugs. Also his grandma and her boyfriend live there and they are doing shaman stuff just about every weekend which is pretty hard on him. When his mom kicked him out of his house he had to walk around and sleep in parks and he started hallucinating because of lack of food and sleep (he said he was just daydreaming but by the way he described it I'm pretty sure he was hallucinating) but he said it was summer so at least he wasn't to cold. He is only 13 and is like the smartest kid ever though. He built his own computer and does way good in school. His dad and grandparents only speak hmong but he can't speak it so he doesn't even talk to them at all.

     Anyways so that is his background. We found him one day tracting and honestly when he opened the door I thought to myself, oh boy this will be a tuff one. He looked so sad and was shy but he let us in. We taught him the restoration and it went ok. Towards the end of the lesson he said something to me that I will probably never forget, "I like the way that you guys smile, it makes me happy and I haven't been happy for a really long time." It showed me how important it is to smile and be happy so that your investigators can feel your testimony. After that we invited him to pray to ask if Heavenly Father is there and the strongest spirit came into the room. After the prayer he paused and said, "What is happening, my body is getting all warm and I feel super light. I feel like I could run a marathon. What is this?" We then explained to him very clearly that Heavenly Father just told him that He is there and that He loves him. I have never seen a 13 year old boy smile like that after we told him that. It truly was a modern day miracle and I will never forget that day. He is planning to be baptized on March 1 and has already completely changed. At first in our lessons we couldn't get him to say a word now all he does is laugh and talk so much it is hard to teach him anything but I don't even care because he really has changed so much and I love this kid a ton.

     I hope that after I leave Eastside he will continue to progress and be able to become a member of this church and come unto Christ. Things are going really well here now and I am feeling so much better. Honestly I haven't felt this good so far on my mission and I feel like really good things are about to happen. After having been stuck in my bed for 2 days all I want to do is run around with a giant microphone yelling that the Church of Jesus Christ is back and you can have eternal salvation through the Savior and His Atonement. I didn't because I don't want to end up being one of those old guys who walks around with a sign and everyone thinks is crazy but I thought about it.

      Love you all and I hope you are all doing super well.

                            Love Elder Henrie

The boy K

 Me eating with a less active couple and we are eating some super spicy pho. It doesn't even phase them its so sad.

P.S. Mom and Dad you should both buy a picture of Christ and hang it up in our home. I have noticed more than ever on my mish how much Satan tries to destroy families and the only way to stay strong is Christ. I want you guys to send me a picture of it hanging up in our home next week. You'll be blessed I promise.

P.P.S. Tanner I'll believe that extra 30 pounds of muscle when I see it. Also we are having a benching competition right when I get back and I still have my badge on. There is no way that you will beat me when I've got missionary power.

P.P.P.S. Tell Libby thank you so much for her letter that she sent me on Christmas and tell her when I get back from my mission maybe me and her can buy a german sheppard together. Also tell her I hope that her dog she has right now is doing well and that I think it's really cool.