Week 2 - Augusta, GA

Dear Family,

I had a better week this week.  We were able to meet lots of new people that might be good investigators in the coming weeks.  I am not the biggest fan of bigger cities, but there are many opportunities for teaching here that are not found in smaller towns.  People here have their own opinions and are not totally obligated to go to their family church.  I guess what is big here is playing disc golf, so I might be trying that some p-day.  The Augusta Ward is unique from all of the wards I have served in though.  There is more diversity in the congregation being that there is more black people.  It provides the ward with a different culture that is very friendly and not intimidating.  I got to teach Gospel Principles this Sunday, and it was an interesting experience.

I started teaching simply with scripture references and the response I got was a lack of interest.  So I had to get the class really involved in the discussion and say amen after they shared a good experience (kind of like Baptists do).  Sure enough the mood in the room changed entirely.  Everyone was engaged, I would teach something and I would get some “mmhmms”, some “amens”, and some “halleluiahs”.  They weren't loud and it was only every once in a while, but I enjoyed the feedback.  Then I finally got them to start sharing experiences and they started a good discussion.  I also met a couple that was visiting from Utah that knows Grandma and Grandpa Hinrichs.  Small little world we live in. 

Well I hope you all have a great week!  I love you all so much!

Love,

Elder Hinrichs

Week 1 - Augusta, GA

Dear Family,

I have been transferred to Augusta!  I actually knew a few members here through other missionaries and from when I served in Thomson.  Since we white washed the area I wasn't too sure what to expect.  We were left with a messy apartment and a car with no miles.  It looks like we will be biking until the end of the month.  We have been figuring out our area with the help of the zone leader.  So this week was a struggle, but hopefully this next week will be better since we have a feel for the area.  We have done a whole lot of organizing.  I believe that if you start something out the right way and organized, then it is easier to have things go right, than just trying to wing it and expect things to work themselves out.  But I'm alive and doing alright.  I love y'all so much!

Love,

Elder Hinrichs

Elder Hinrichs & Elder Hunsaker in Nashville, GA

 

My new companion Elder Packard in Augusta, GA

The Kitchen Sink Burger at The Huddle House in Nashville, GA

Bro. & Sis. Griffin & Elder Hinrichs

Friends at The Huddle House

Week 28 - Nashville, GA

Dear Family,

I am getting transferred this week!  So yesterday I said all my farewells to all of the members.  Almost everyone told me about one time or another that I helped them or they told me their thanks for the service.  The Stake President was there and he even complimented me for my service.  I never realized how much I had actually done until yesterday when I said goodbye to them all. Then I realized how many people's lives I had been a part of for the last 7 months here.  I have made so many friends, but I know the Lord needs me elsewhere.  I have done my part of what I could.  I found that my role to play in this area was not to baptize, but my role was to repair.  I was to repair the trust of the ward, I was to repair the view of missionary work, I was to repair relationships between missionaries and members, and I was to repair testimonies that had been shattered.  I know that I have done my part and I have done all that I could do. 

I am looking forward to my new area and my new companion with confidence that I will be able to greatly influence my next area for good.  I have had a lot of good memories here in Nashville along with some refining ones.  The Lord has shaped me more in this area than any of my other areas. I look back and see the vast amount of change that has come in the time that I have been here.  It is also odd to think that this next area may very well be my last one for the rest of my mission.  And if the weather cools off, then I know it will be awesome! Thank you all so much for all that you do for me!

Love,

Elder Hinrichs

Bro. Miles & Elder Hinrichs

Elder Hinrichs & Bishop Spikes

Bass Fishing in Nashville

A Giant Cockroach!

Week 27 - Nashville, GA

Dear Family,

Last week of the transfer is this week.  The only thing for sure about transfers is that nothing is for sure.  This week went pretty well.  We had Stake Conference this week and Elder Bluth of the Quorum of the Seventy came and spoke to us. He gave some really good instruction to the members that now is the time to strengthen their faith.  He said we need to give the Sacrament back to the Savior and not to our cell phones.  Which reminded me of an article in the Ensign about how we can observe the Savior for one hour.  In the article it goes over how when Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane he came out and found his apostles sleeping, and He asked them "could ye not watch me for one hour." And that is exactly what the Savior is asking now that we give one hour of one day out of the week completely to Him, and try our best to turn every thought to Him, and leave behind everything else till the end of the Sacrament

Well I hope you all have a great week!  Love you all so much!

Love,

Elder Hinrichs 

Week 26 - Nashville, GA

Dear Family,

I had a better week this week.  We got the car back and it was a nice break for my legs and from this blazing heat.  We were able to go work in the other towns we have been working in, and we were able to contact many of the referrals that we had.  Many of the referrals turned out to be some promising potential investigators that we will be visiting this week.  

Love,

Elder Hinrichs

Elder Hinrichs & Elder Hunsaker