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 :)
