Elder Jimmy Henderson: September 2017

Friday, September 29, 2017

Ow. Ow. Ow. Ow. OW.

September 25, 2017

Eusbett [a restaurant] was nice! Just in case anyone was wondering. I have pictures, but they will have to wait until next week because I'm running out of time and pictures here take a long time to upload.

Transfers came this week! Elder Effiong is getting transferred to Obuasi #cityofgold which is essentially on the other side of the mission. My new companion is going to be the only other theatre geek in the whole mission, Elder Whipple! I'm super excited about that! He's from Missouri, I've been in the same zones as him most of my mission and this last transfer he was my zone leader. Now he's been released and he's coming to be my companion for his last transfer before he goes home.

Elder Forrest is also getting transferred. He's going to Konongo (Nkawkaw), to be a zone leader. So with him leaving I'll be the new district leader in the Penkwase district. I'm heading down to Kumasi today for district leader training.

We started going to the gym this week. #hencemysubjectheading It's been a great way of making sure I'm up by 6:30am but man... I'm sore. This is the first time I've lifted since I've come on my mission so... nkakra kakra akoko benim nsuo, I am managing. I figured it would be a good idea since I'm currently skinnier than I've been since I was 16.

Anyway, much love to you all! I hope you all have a wonderful week!

Elder Henderson

Tuesday, September 19, 2017

Zip-a-dee-ay and Heigh-dee-ho!

September 18, 2017

Man! Thank you all so much for the powerful Birthday wishes! It only took 11.5 months of my mission but I'm finally 19. #oneyearolderandwisertoo I know all of you want to know what I did for my birthday so I'll just tell you... I proselyted. But never fear, because tonight I'm going to feast at Eusbett! #feastuponit Eusbett is the hotel here in Sunyani. A few weeks ago we scouted out the restaurant. It has a lot of food that I haven't seen in a very long time so I'm excited.

My birthday was actually very VERY sweet because I had the wonderful privilege of confirming Kelvin. It was a really powerful experience. I was actually worried (and so was he) because he came late and even missed sacrament. We were worried we would have to wait until next week but luckily after the last talk the Branch President called us up and we were able to do it just before the meeting ended. Now we are working on family history with him. #yayforgenealogy

It's interesting because family history is really REALLY difficult to do in west Africa where absolutely no records were kept by anyone until Ghana gained independence from Great Britain. So he's gonna have to do some digging but we are hoping to get his mom involved in helping out with this as a means of introducing her to the gospel. She's a great woman but she has never had any interest in meeting with us or leaving her apostate church. #seedifficulties

Well, I hope you all know how much I love each and every one of you. I love hearing from you guys #andgettingpicturesfromyou and I'm so grateful for the overwhelming support I've been getting from home. I want to make it very clear how much credit my parents deserve for my being here. I love them so much and I'm so grateful for their amazing examples to me. I hope someday to be as powerful as my mother and father. I love you guys.

PS Here is a picture of my birthday banku!

Elder Henderson

Birthday Banku

At Zone Conference with Sister Cosgrave

Tuesday, September 12, 2017

"No unhallowed hand will stop this baptism from happening!"

September 11, 2017

Man, this week was interesting. #veryinteresting

First off I had a boss exchange with Elder Forrest. #forgottotakepictures

But also, Kelvin's baptism!! Which by the way was in jeopardy when we showed up Sunday morning before church to fill up the font and the water pump at the church spoiled. So we had to get in touch with the District president, take our candidates and our baptists AND our Presiding Authority, to the District Center, and do the baptism there. It was sweet in the end. I attached pictures.

We had another hiccup when the other companionship's candidate couldn't get himself all the way under the water. Seriously for the life of him he couldn't do it. Finally after like, 8 tries they were successfully able to immerse him in the water.

Kelvin did it on the first try. #gokelvin

Sorry guy's that is really all I've got this week. Love ya!

Elder Henderson

Sunday, September 10, 2017

IT'S MY MOM'S BIRTHDAY!!!!

September 4, 2017

Today is a very special day friends and family because today my mom turns... not a day over 25.

If you have not had a chance to wish her happy birthday, the day is still young! Therefore I officially dedicate this email to my wonderful mother. And her birthday gift... LOTS OF PICTURES!!! #YAAAYYYYY

This week has been interesting. My companion has a twisted ankle so that is the only real explanation for the pictures below. We've been seeing this mystery nurse woman who apparently has the remedy. What you will see below is my companion in lots and lots of pain. #wedontseeheranymore

We had District Conference this week and it was awesome! All the missionaries #exceptelderguevara in the Sunyani zone participated in the District Choir. It was pretty special #tonedeaf but special. The good thing about it was it really invited the spirit into the meeting.

Mine and Elder Effiong's plan to get 6 investigators at District conference did not go well. We fell victims to the classic case of investigators telling us they were on their way to the district center just to get us off their back. But we did have two investigators show up. Kelvin and Gloria. Both are youth age. Are youth represented this week and honestly our adults kinda failed us. It may be time to clean house. #youthpower

Kelvin remains super powerful and will be getting baptized on this coming Sunday.

Gloria is a neat story. Gloria was a fresh investigator when I got to Sunyani and she had never come to church before. When we met were her last week she confessed to us that she initially didn't believe what we were teaching her at all and hadn't been keeping any commitments. We boldly invited her to just try keeping commitments and reading the Book of Mormon on her own and praying about it, promising that she would feel good about it if she did. We asked her to read King Benjamin's sermon and kinda left it at that.

The next time we met with her she told us that she had been reading and that as she was reading the things in the Book of Mormon were starting to make perfect sense. She said that after she prayed she felt like the book was true. We explained that that was the Spirit and she should remember that feeling because it will continue to teach her.

After District Conference she was really anxious to be baptized. The only problem is that she leaves for boarding school next week, and probably won't be back until Christmas. But she is taking the Book of Mormon with her and has promised to read it every day.

That's all for this week kids! Remember to wish my Mom a Happy Birthday!

Elder Henderson