Phenix City, AL - Week 8

Dear Family,

I am so excited for Christmas this year!  I have felt the spirit and the promptings of the spirit more recently than any time in my life.  My heart is filled with joy as I get every opportunity to share my testimony about the Savior and His birth.  I can't wait to see you all on Christmas and see how you all are doing.  I know I have changed a lot in the six months that you last saw me.  My testimony and my spirit has grown because of all that I have been through, and I know you all must have grown as well.  

Elder Duran and I are doing great together!  We have been seeing some awesome things happen in our area!  Like on Saturday we both felt like we should return to our apartment early around dinner time.  It was a strange impression but we trusted in it.  In the parking lot near our apartment complex we saw two men trying to move some furniture on their own.  We parked our bikes and offered our assistance.  They said we were sent from God because they really needed some help due to the well built and heavy furniture.  When we got everything inside, they couldn't thank us enough. The woman that was actually moving into the apartment said she had been meeting with the missionaries before she moved here.  It was divine inspiration and I can't even express to you the special feeling you get when you are used as a tool in the Lord's hands, becoming an answer to someone's silent prayers, and know you did the Lord's will.

I love you all and I thank you for all the presents, love, and support you all give me!  Have a wonderful Christmas!

Love,

Elder Hinrichs

Phenix City, AL - Week 7

Dear Family,

My new companions name is Elder Duran from Arizona.  He and I get along awesome!  There were only three new missionaries that were coming in this transfer.  I felt so thankful for the privilege that I was trusted enough to be training one of three new missionaries.  I couldn't express enough gratitude to Heavenly Father, especially after I got to know Elder Duran.  He and I like the same stuff and we get along great, and he came out as prepared as one can get before a mission.

We had our Christmas Mission Party two days ago in Macon.  It was awesome seeing and feeling the spiritual side of Christmas!  President Cottle read Christmas stories, we sang fun Christmas songs, some missionaries acted out the nativity scene, we even had a member of the Quorum of the Seventy come speak!  And for a small moment I felt like a child again remembering the first time I felt the spirit of Christmas in my life.  Then I realized this is my last Christmas in the mission field because I will be home this time next year.  It only seems like a month ago I was in the MTC celebrating Christmas looking at the next two years of missionary service ahead.  Now it is that time of year again and time only seems to be going quicker.  Thank you all so much love y'all!

 

Love,

Elder Hinrichs

 

 

Our District

Elder Duran & Elder Hinrichs

Phenix City, AL - Week 6

Dear Family,
I will give you the much anticipated news that you have been waiting for: I will remain in Phenix City for another transfer, and I will be training a new missionary!  I am excited to be given the opportunity to train for the fourth transfer in a row!  I love new missionaries because they are so willing to work!

The weather has been good and we have been sharing the new "He is the Gift" with everyone.  I really hope you all have watched it because it is powerful every time I watch it.  I will be excited to hear about your stories when you pass out those pass along cards that I told you about in the Ensign.  We have been teaching a few people here and there but nothing too solid.  I think this transfer I will see more success.  We ride our bikes maybe 10 miles a day.  We try to keep biking to a minimum because of the big hills here in Phenix City.  The members are really awesome and they said they were going to make a missionary Christmas care package for us!  

As for the gun story, Elder Porchatis was surprised it happened but it was almost so surreal to our minds that we just didn't know how to react.  When the time is right, I will tell you all of other cool spiritual stories that I have.  But I can't ever forget the calm that I felt, and having a defining moment where I could clearly identify the Holy Ghost without a doubt in my mind.

I love y'all so much and I hope you can share the Christmas spirit this season!

Love,
Elder Hinrichs

Phenix City, AL - Week 5

Dear Family,

Thank you so much for the package!  Thank you for being so supportive of me!  Thank you for your love!  And THANK YOU for raising me in this gospel!  I cannot express my gratitude enough to y'all!  I am glad to hear your Thanksgiving went well!

 

My Thanksgiving didn't go that well this year.  I don't know if it was something I ate, but on the day of Thanksgiving I woke up feeling a little sick to my stomach.  So I didn't get to eat all that much.  We also had another Thanksgiving dinner at the Howells on Friday and I was still sick for that, so I barely ate one small plate of food.  And I am still feeling a little sick.  But hopefully next year will go better.  It just made me that much more thankful for Thanksgiving back home.  You just can't beat a mother’s cooking.  But I am so thankful for the family that I have been given!  Love y'all so much!

 

Love,

 

Elder Hinrichs

Tornado Warning 11-23-2014

Severe Storm in Phenix City