Thomson - Week 11

Dear Family,

I am doing well this week.  The summer heat and humidity are picking up. Some days are starting to get into triple digits.  But I am one of the few missionaries that doesn't mind the humidity.  This week after a lesson I went outside and my back tire was flat.  So we went to Walmart to see if we could get one, but I bought the wrong size.  Also when I looked at my current tube it was totally shredded.  I have used it for the past 7 months.  So I returned the other tube.  Walmart didn't have any in my size, and my other one was beyond repair.  And this was about 9:00 so we had to walk home for 2-3 miles, and for a cherry on top it started pouring.  That wasn't fun.  But the next day we got a ride from a member to go to the Grovetown Walmart and, to my surprise, I got the last tube of that size for my bike, so it was an absolute miracle.  I think I ride about 50ish miles each week.  It varies but we do a lot of peddling around.

Last week we got a lot of meals with members, which was rare, but this week is pretty light.  This is the last week of this transfer and I will find out Saturday if I am leaving of not.  A typical day of tracting in Thomson involves a lot of sweating, very little success, and usually one or two crazy people.  But we have fun doing it!  We had one new investigator until we realized that there was never a time when he was sober and could remember what we taught him, so we are fresh out.

They had Zone Conference in Augusta and we are in the Augusta Zone, but Zone Conference had both Augusta and North Augusta Zones.

I love y'all so much!

Love,

Elder Hinrichs

Thomson - Week 10

Dear Family,

This week went alright.  I learned what knocking doors in the pouring Georgia rain is like.  You get really wet really fast.  This week we had Zone Conference up in Augusta.  President Cottle gave one of the most amazing and most inspired training I have ever heard.  Also I just heard today that there will be an area Seventy that will be coming to our mission August 20th, so it should be exciting!   Unfortunately this week Walter called and dropped us so we have been doing a lot of attempts to find people.  It happens, all a part of being on a mission.  It was Elder Cherry’s birthday yesterday and that was fun because it seemed like everyone sang to him.  That stinks that Matthew broke his ankle.  I hope he gets feeling better soon.  I am super happy to hear that he is being an awesome missionary!  Sounds like he is going to be a great missionary when his time comes!  Thank you so much!

Love,

 

Elder Hinrichs

Thomson - Week 9

Dear Family,

This week was really great!  Germany won the World Cup!  And I totally called it! Also I had some good experiences this week.  We have been in contact with Walter almost every day this week because he is a single older guy, that can't walk too far with his cane, doesn't have a driver’s license, and is always welcoming of us. Unfortunately due to some of his personal circumstances wouldn't come to church again.  His heart is still in the right place, but despite our greatest efforts, the choices still all come down to him.  The sad part is that I bore one of the strongest testimonies I have ever bore in my life to him yesterday after watching the “Lamb of God” with him.  He still wants to be baptized just not at the moment.  I still love him just as Christ does with much patience and humility.

At church we were not expecting anyone to come.  To our surprise though, an investigator we are teaching showed up!  His name is John and he left the church 30 years ago, but is now ready and wanting to come back to church.  When he was in Sunday school with us, we happened to be having a lesson on the Holy Ghost, and he told us of his experience.  John told us of how when he was a member he used to be joyful and the spirit came easy, but since he left the church he has struggled to be able to formulate even a simple prayer.  He said you don't realize the blessing of the Holy Ghost until it is gone from your life entirely.  I felt how special that moment was for him.  We talked to him after and he said that was the first time since he left the church that he felt a prompting and influence of the spirit.  And he said it felt wonderful.  I have very high hopes for John and I know he will be baptized again.

Love,

Elder Hinrichs

Thomson - Week 8

Dear Family,

Thank you so much for the wonderful 4th of July package this week!  My 4th of July was pretty boring.  I am feeling alright.  Basically since it was Friday, it was weekly planning day and they had a lockdown after 6:00.  So, I pretty much stayed inside all day.  We stopped by Walter’s yesterday and he said he is getting cold feet about his baptism.  He still really wants to be baptized because he knows he needs to but he just said right now or at least the next week will not be the time.  I told him to pray about it and give us his absolute answer today, so there is still hope.  This next week should be pretty good for our missionary work because we have a lot of really good plans that will hopefully bring some success.  So hopefully it goes well!  Love you all so much!

Love,

Elder Hinrichs