Aprendizaje de Elder Ochoa

Hna Merrell and I at the monument Salvador del Mundo (the back side)

Hola, buenas dìas, familia y amigos!!!

This week we went to a GREAT multi-zone conference with Elder Ochoa (a member of the Central America Area Presidency), our mission president and his wife. Hna Merrell and I received so many new ideas to put into practice in Cojutepeque. Personally, I learned a ton that will help me be more converted to the Gospel of Jesus Christ as well. We talked a lot about the Atonement (the sacrifice Jesus Christ performed for every single person on earth), a lot about diligence, and a lot about faith.

I left the meeting really buoyed up by the Spirit, and that evening and the following days in Cojutepeque we had some of the best, most spiritual lessons I`ve ever had in the mission. We`re excited to keep going strong this week, despite a sad phone call when one of our most `golden` investigators suddenly told us he doesn`t want us to come teach him anymore. We will respect his wishes, trusting him to God, and continue in our ever-going search for the people God has prepared for us to teach.

I love being a missionary. I`ve learned so much about myself, and about the Savior, in the time I`ve been here in El Salvador. I know I`ll continue learning a lot throughout my whole life, because I`m only just beginning to understand how much I still don`t understand. I don`t understand God`s perfect love. He loves His children even when we make terrible mistakes, or do awful things to one another. He sees us as works in progress, and He will give us every possible chance to change our lives and draw closer to Him.

God is real. I know He is there. He continues to work miracles in our daily lives. His Son Jesus Christ is actively directing my mission, and this Church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The fulness of His gospel, as well as His divine authority, are found only here. I invite you to learn more, and ask God for yourself. If you really desire to know and do His will, He will be more than happy to give you the answers you seek. I`ve seen it happen not only in my life, but time and time again with my brothers and sisters in El Salvador. Just ask Him.

In what ways have you seen God`s hand touch your life this week?

Con mucho amor,

Hermana Henrie

Making pancakes for dinner last night

Hna Garcìa and Hna Cano were also at migraciòn! Our thumbs are blue because they take fingerprints. :)

We asked permission to take photos in front of the government immigration building.

In front of the statue Salvador del Mundo (the front side)

Bendiciones

My new companion, Hna Merrell! We took this foto in the mission president´s house because we had another conferencia de hermanas this past week. It was GREAT.

Dear family and friends,

Wow, have I been blessed this week. Top of the list is the following news:

THE LAST MEMBER OF THE ROMERO FAMILY IS GETTING BAPTIZED!!!!!!!!!

To remind you, the Romero family is from Apopa. I had the privilege of teaching them, and seeing Hna Rosa and her daughter Hna Celina enter the waters of baptism. While we were together for a conferencia de hermanas misioneras this week, Hna Infanzon told me Rosa´s husband Ismael has accepted a baptismal date, too. (Mom, prepare yourself now, because we will be attending a temple sealing in El Salvador in approximately September 2015!) I love this family dearly. I am grateful beyond words for the privilege to have been one of their missionaries. They are making important steps that are bringing them closer to God, and qualifying them to return to our heavenly home.

This news renewed my determination to share this beautiful, restored Gospel with everyone I come in contact with. Stay strong, family. It is hard sometimes to make consistent correct choices, but with our Savior Jesus Christ on our side, it is very possible. And when we make mistakes, because nobody is perfect (last of all me), He gives us hope for forgiveness.

I love being a missionary because it´s so easy to remember what life is all about. I remember that before the mission, all the tasks I had to do every day often distracted me. But I now understand that true strength to press forward comes when we remember who we are: children of a loving God. Every time we sin, it´s because we´ve forgotten that divine nature. I promise the only way we can find true peace and lasting happiness in this crazy world is by holding tightly to the values and teachings of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

I love you all! Take care!

Hna Henrie

Rainstorm in Cojutepeque, there was hail too, we helped bail out the house we were in. Fun stuff! :D

Cambios in Cojutepeque

Notice the subject of the email is NOT `Cambios FROM Cojutepeque.` Read on.

Dear family and friends!

I can hardly believe another week has passed and it`s Monday again. I`m sitting here in Ilobasco (we`re having another activity as a zone) writing you all with a brand new companion sitting by my side. Hna Abadillo was transferred out of Cojutepeque on Wednesday (she wound up in my first area, Montecristo 2!) and I am now with an hermana I knew from the CCM... Hna Merrell! She was in Graig`s district in the CCM, so I don`t know if I`ve mentioned her before. Maybe he has. She`s 21, from Idaho, and I`m really excited to be working with her. In less than a week, she`s transformed the area by upping our finding efforts a lot. We feel really blessed because, although several important teaching appointments fell through this week, we found more very prepared people. It`s funny how a new companion helps you see your old, familiar area with new eyes. I know she`s going to help me reach my potential in some ways that I was lacking a bit, and I feel I have some things I can teach her as well, so we`re going to be a great team!

News from investigadores: Edwin finished the entire first book of Nephi and is starting Second Nephi. He wasn`t able to come to church yesterday but has committed to attend a church activity on Friday and also the church meetings this coming Sunday.

One of our most positive new investigadores from this week is a young woman in her twenties named Graciela. She has several friends who are members of the Church and says she has noticed something different about them. She was on the edge of her seat when Hna Merrell asked if she wanted to know what`s different about her LDS friends. We explained that after we`re baptized we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, and this gift helps us live good, clean lives as we strive to follow the Savior Jesus Christ. She accepted a baptismal invitation and will prepare for a date in September. She was really excited to start reading the Book of Mormon.

Also, our investigator Gilberto, jr., is all set for his baptism at the end of this month! His testimony has grown so much since the first time I met him six weeks ago. It`s incredible. It`s come from his efforts to read the Book of Mormon every day, from praying every day, and from attending church faithfully every Sunday. While I was studying for him the other day, I came across a part of Preach My Gospel that I LOVED. It was basically a testimony that as we each strive to keep our baptismal covenants and live the Gospel of Jesus Christ in our lives, we grow in our understanding of Christ`s Atonement, which gives us faith, hope and happiness even during the trials of life.

The Church is true! It is directed by Jesus Christ Himself, through a modern prophet. It contains the fulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Its teachings are pure and divine, because they were restored by God.

I love you,
Hna Henrie

I am a happy missionary :)

Last p day with Hna Abadillo

Dear family and friends,

We had a great finding week. Last week when Hna Abadillo and I were on splits (meaning we worked with members in different sides of our area, her in Concepciòn and me in San Nicolàs) she found an incredible new investigador and I got to meet him this week. His name is Edwin, and in less than 24 hours after we gave him a copy of the Book of Mormon he had read all the introductory pages (which include an explanation of what the book is, where it came from, what it`s about and who wrote it) and the first two chapters of Nephi. He is very interested in the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ and wants to be baptized when he receives a confirmation from the Holy Spirit that this Church really is the true Church of Jesus Christ here on earth.

During this same week we also met two new, young families who were also very impressed by the message of the Restoration. We are focusing on working with the members to help these new investigators realize that ´Mormons´ (the correct name is Latter day Saints) are normal people just like them, and to learn more about the Church.

I love being a missionary. I love the people of El Salvador. I love all my companions, current and past. I`m so grateful for the privilege God has granted me to serve Him here, full time. As Hna Boren often says, God is good. :) He truly is guiding every one of our lives so that we have every possible opportunity to grow, to find peace in this life and to have eternal happiness in the next.

I know that what I teach every day is true, because I feel the Spirit testifying to me of its truthfulness every time I teach. Let us carry on in faith!

Con mucho amor,
Hna Henrie