Today was awesome! I got lot's of emails from Jordon and the first pictures he has sent to us!

Mondays are going to be great!

First picture I got since he left. This was before he left to New Jersey. This was his District. Looks great. I think Mondays are going to take on a whole new meaning! Wahoo!!

 This was his first e-mail. Gracie had sent him one cause she was missing him.

I love you Gracie!!!

 MY birthday was amazing!! I loved it... I didn't tell my companion Elder Hintze till the night before and it was an accident, it slipped out kinda. He asked when I was turning nineteen and I said tomorrow and he was like really, your now just telling me!! We went to PEC Sunday morning and I met the bishopric and the secretary. I got asked to say the opening prayer in sacrament and then the first counselor said "and wish Elder Hennen a happy birthday". When he said that the Hoveys 17 yr old daughter looked at her mom that was sitting next to me and I was pretty sure she was mouthing "make him a cake?" Low and behold after the best dinner ever she pulled out an orange and yellow double layer cake!! We taught them the restoration and committed them to read the 1st vision! WE have taught at least 12 investigators not really any are willing to put any effort, we are trying but they need to be more willing. We went and talked with a long time investigator his name is Tom and the missionaries have been teaching him since August and they never told him to come to church so he was focused on just reading the scriptures. My companion came 6 weeks ago to this area and told him he needed to go to church but he couldn't understand why, so for six weeks he taught him and told him he needed to go, but he wouldn't. Finally Saturday we went and basically went and asked him what do you expect from us when we come to teach? He told us what he wanted and then he told us "I am trying to get over the last hill"  and that was attending church.Well I just this feeling that I needed to be bold and upfront, while I was sitting there listening to him and the impression I was getting was I remembered what my coach said to me my sophomore year of volleyball, " I am going to tell you what you need to do, it might sound harsh but you'll understand why." So that's what I said to Tom, "Tom you have to come to church otherwise these words are just words without meaning, without purpose. Its my first time going to this ward and it'll be your first time going to this church. It'll be different for you and a little for me but together we can do this and have a great time." There was a pause for a minute and we could feel the spirit so strong and I looked at my companion with the look of "are you feeling this" and he gave me the look "yes I am" at the same time we both looked at Tom and Tom said "what time is church, and which one is it at?" Elder Hintze said, " its at 10, at the north branch church." Tom, "I'll be there." Sunday at 10 Tom was there. He loved it, he was crying during the hymns and said he would be back next week. Brother Jones this older black gentleman came up to me, Elder Hintze and Tom and started talking with Tom. He then told me and Elder Hintze he wanted to come Saturday to Toms place while we teach and I got the feeling that Saturday I should extend the invitation to be baptized so we will see what happens. We have another investigator tonight and we will see how the invitation to be baptized goes since we invite them to do so within the first lesson!

I should be getting a coat today if we do get snowed in its getting bad out here but I love it!! Every day is a new challenge and my companion helps me through it but the challenges are hard not physically, its mainly my brain is moving faster then I am talking cause of excitement. 

Oh and did you get my ipod? 

Love you all,

Elder Hennen

 Other short e-mails that followed...

 *2 new investigators, 2 new baptisms Pray for Tom Pobloveds and Robert Good that they will be receptive to the spirit and the teachings. Almost 1/24th of the way done!!!

 

*Big storm coming about to have a little fun!!!:) Love the snow, when they say its going to snow the members, they mean what they say!! Last year they got 4 feet of snow, they think next week we might get that again!!! I'm pumped!!!!!

 

 *Got my coat!!! -  Just in time too from all the blizzard warnings.

*LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

 

My Companion and the Spanish Sisters in our district put together a surprise b-day party with the YSA group!

 This is Jordon's first companion, Elder Hintze.

The Man The Myth The legend Comedian Rony Scott Moses !!!!

Jordon told me Moses was in his ward. This is Moses.

Funny kid.

Also, today marks 20 days gone and...

 completion of the first column on our chart. Wahoo!!!

 

Look who is 19!!

Happy Birthday to this missionary. He is a great example of pressing forward and never giving up. We are so blessed to have him as our son and grateful for the young man he is. I hope he has a great day!— with Elder Hennen.

• Yeah! Happy Birthday
• 

   Happy birthday bud!
• 

   Happy Birthday, Elder! I sent him an e-mail
• 

   Happy birthday Elder! What a great picture!
• 

   happy birthday elder hennen you rock we ar all beyond proud of you
• 

   Happy Late Birthday!!
• 

   Happy Birthday, Elder Hennen!!
• 

  what a handsome young man!

  Could not let the day go by without celebrating Jordon's birthday.

  

  
  

  

   It was perfect, Dan came for dinner. I made Jordon's favorite treat, brownies with PB and chocolate frosting. MMMMMMMM!

Just got off the phone with Elder Hennen! Whoot whoot! 

All the kids came running in and I put in on speaker.

Kids were super excited to say "hi, love ya, and miss ya."

He sounded good and is doing good. Super excited to get to NJ and get to work. 

Here is to a Fabulous Monday!!!

Took off 10:19 AM and should land around 2:30 our time, 4:30 New Jersey time.

Have a safe flight Elder Hennen. (I can track his flight online, pretty cool)

Time passes....

We got another e-mail in the evening letting us know he arrived safely.

I am in New Jersey right now, I left this morning at 4:30 am and we got to the airport at like 7:45. We got on a bus to go to the train station, then to the green tracks and then to the airport. Got to the airport and sat there for 2:30 hours, we started boarding at 9:30. Got to Jersey, worst flight ever cause I was awake the entire time . We got here and we combined with the older missionaries and we got new companions for the night. Well we started singing Called to Serve, the minute we started the second verse all of them scattered and we had to follow them. We ran everywhere trying to find someone to talk to! We found Jackie and I gave her one of my Books of Mormon and I had my markings in it and then we went and talked to Michael and it felt so real in the sense that I seriously new him like recognizing him from somewhere. Gave him a Book of Mormon and got his contact stuff and he is willing to see the missionaries! Love you, I'm safe and I'll message u next week!!
Love Elder Hennen 

This was his email to me Friday. Hahaha! It came in 6 different e-mails.

Love you!!!!!!! Oh and I miss you all!!!!

Mom

hi

miss you

love you

love you tons!!!!

This next one was his real email to all of us.

Hennen Family!!!

Hey it has been an interesting week!!! Sunday we went on a walk to the temple as a district and took lots of pictures unfortunately for me I don't have one:)!! Monday came and we got an investigator to teach and we have realized that we need to learn to love our investigators and teach by the spirit!! This week I learned that the Holy Ghost is not just a comforter and a teacher but a purifier. I also learned to have the  Holy Ghost with us is like a thumbs up from God saying we are worthy to be in his presence! We were talking to our investigator about the Apostasy and he asked what happened to those that weren't able to receive the gospel of Christ? Well I was at a loss for words and then the craziest thing happened... I got this feeling and thought that wasn't mine come into my had "family search"... so without thinking I said "family history. That's how we give them the gospel, we look for ancestors that need the saving ordinances and we go do baptisms for the dead and we give them the opportunity to save them!!

We can always do it for whoever we find! They are not lost. Wednesday I went to the insta care to see what was going on with my ear and it was the weirdest thing to be outside of the MTC, it didn't feel right. The doc said with the pain that was happening, it's fluid build up behind my eardrum. She gave me prescriptions for ear drops and pills for it! If your talking about the package with my coat then yes I got it and I got a letter from Grandma Hennen as well! Oh and I am sending my ipod home and I need you to put some uplifting spiritual music on it. If it's instrumental that's great but I also want Alex Boye, Mormon Tabernacle, and Come Thou Fount by the tabernacle choir! I'm sending that today so I don't know if it will get to you tomorrow or Monday but when you do get put that on there and also please check my bank account I have been buying things for my mission like a pocket protector, books, and other stuff like that, that I need. Love you guys and can't wait to get the kids emails!!! Next week 

Love your son,

 Elder Hennen

The spirit is real here!!!!

Oh and I almost forgot Tuesday night Russel M. Nelson came to talk to us at the devotional and it was so amazing! I was in the choir with the entire district and it was the most amazing experience ever. Our Sunday devotional I learned "to mind the gap" which means the time from one lesson to the next. We need to give them (investigators) challenges that will keep them in action so the spirit can act and teach them what they need to learn. Well gots to go pack wish me luck!! Love you dad and mom!!! Oh and I saw Austin the day I got here by the way!!!

Oh and the food sucks, I have gained ten pounds and I am going to gag if the next thing I eat is plastic tasting.

Ahhhhhh! We got a call Wednesday night from a pharmacy. Jordon was there on the other end and boy were my emotions all over. What! What? Why? They needed insurance information to feel a prescription. He had an ear infection. Poor guy has had it rough this winter. I hope this is the last of it for him. It was exciting and and worrisome and kind of funny too. I told Rob to tell the lady on the phone to tell Jordon hello from us but he was to unsure if that would be OK.  :-/

Also today Rob picked up Jordons Mission Plaque in Provo. Looks great!!!!

Super proud of our boy!!! Love him.

This is our Missionary count up and count down.

It has been one week since Jordon entered the MTC. 

Only 103 weeks left!

This was exciting and unexpected til next week. We love you Elder Hennen!!!!
In this it talks about Elder Harmon, he is a friend from school.



Hey guys its Elder Hennen:}

 Hey guys its amazing here!!! The spirit is in abundance here, it is so amazing to see and feel how the holy ghost is teaching us! My companion Elder Thomson is an amazing elder, he has so much to offer and is so in the zone its amazing!! Yesterday we got the opportunity to meet some non-Mormons (our teachers) and got to know them and find out how we could connect with them, our first Investigators name is Patricio our second is Val, they both came in contact with the missionaries and wanted to learn more so me and Elder Thomson discussed what we should talk about and we felt that the plan of salvation was the best way to start! We did our personal study on certain things and then we had companionship study, we discussed what we learned and we came up with an amazing lesson. Later that night we got to meet with the branch president and his counselors and their wives. Our zone had to answer a couple questions so they could get to know us better. We answered the questions and they began interviewing us to see who would be zone leader, district leader, and other positions that they have. As we waited to go into the interviews with his councilors we got to teach the rest of the zone certain topics that the Branch President told us to study on and give a brief lesson on them! I got called out to the interview while Elder Thomson taught that lesson. Once those were all done he gave us another assignment to teach, this time it was out of the missionary hand book, we got the topic on "your companion" what the role is of you and your companion, going threw that I realized how important it is to always be in pairs. In D&C 42:6 it says, "Ye shall go forth in the power of my spirit, preaching my gospel, two by two, in my name, lifting up your voices as with the sound of a trump, declaring my word like unto angels of God." After all these were taught the Branch President and his counselors let us go and take a break while they went and discussed about the callings. We got done with the break and they called us in and the Branch President started talking and said, "we have some callings we want to give out and I'll get started, for the first one we would like Elder Hennen for you to be the District Leader, Elder (Preston) Harmon to be the other district leader...). The minute he called my name me and Elder Harmon both looked at each other and nodded then he called his name and we looked at each other with the biggest grins on our faces and nodded again! It is truly remarkable how the spirit works!! I love this gospel, I know that this church is true and I know that through the atonement all can be saved! 

   I love my district, we all have very unique ways of looking at different situations. Extending everyone's understanding 7 fold. The others that are in my district are, Elder Adolf, Elder Larson, Sister Follmer, Sister Egan, Sister Mckonkie and Sister Kelso, she is going to New Mexico everyone else is going to New Jersey. I love you guys so much and have not worried about you guys cause I know the Lord will do with you what he wants and will help you when he sees fit!! I'll talk to you next week!

Sincerely Elder Hennen,

P.S. If you want to write, send me mail or anything go onto dearelder.com

 The day has arrived but first he must tie his tie. 

With the help of his little brother of course.

 Here we have it the eldredge knot.

Looking sharp (hair not so much ;-) )

Loaded up for two years.

Gotta tell Gunner goodbye too. He was just full of noises. 

On our way...

 Some wicked shadows...

 All loaded up for the last time...

We had to stop at Kneaders for our last meal together. Yummiest breakfast ever!!!

Grandma Peggy joined us for breakfast and was saying her goodbyes.

We had enough time to stop at Grandpa and Grandma Hennens since it is right by the MTC.

Provo Temple was the next stop for pictures and boy did we take pictures. 

It was a beautiful, warm , perfect day!

So sunny it was hard to catch all eyes open.

Fun random shots. "time to kill".

Kameron and Gracie posed with each other in almost every shot.

Lots of families there doing the same thing with their missionaries. 

So a sweet mom came over to take our picture.

He insisted on doing one more selfie. 

Love this kid!

 They were having fun creating poses for pictures. 

It was kind of funny to watch them.

Best shot of the day!

He was proud of this one.

 Goodbyes at the Temple cause we were not sure if kids 

could get out once we got to the MTC.

 However we had 2 1/2 mins to say goodbye so we all got out.

 The Elder you can see in the back ground kindly waiting, Kenadie gave him a big long hug from behind thinking it was Jordon. She was so into the hug she couldn't hear us telling her it wasn't Jordon. Finally after 30 seconds, which is really long in that awkward situation she let go and looked up. Ha ha, she was SO embarrassed. What a funny story for her.

This is when I lost it. He reassured me and said, "I will be OK."