Week 25

Well, this week has been stressful to say the least.

Monday, was the last P-Day with Elder Valdez (my trainer) before he
went home. We ate at Fogo de Chao then we
went around the town and took some pictures of Kansas City. We
finished off at the church with a little basketball before we said bye
for what would be the last time. We planned on seeing each other that
night at the Historic Liberty Jail where we were both going to take
investigators/recent-converts on a tour, but during the tour Elder
Valdez called and said that his grandma had passed away and that he
wouldn't make it, he was going.home the next morning, he would have
gone home Friday anyways, so it was just like 3 days early. But that
was rough to say goodbye over the phone like that, especially when we
planned on seeing each other one last time Thursday. 

Tuesday we did our Mormon.org time then walked to the Liberty
Jail to get our journals from the sisters who had signed them. After
the jail we went and tried to visit a few people and had dinner with the
A. family -  who are awesome. Well, we were supposed to get our transfer
calls that night, but our Zone Leaders text us and told us that we
weren't going to get them until Wednesday morning.

Wednesday, man it was suspenseful!!! Usually on Tuesday, leadership
calls go out - that is where the mission president calls people who
will be put into new leadership assignments in the upcoming transfer -
so you have an idea of what's going to happen because of the calls.
This transfer nobody got them so we had no idea what was going to
happen. So, we sat most of the morning just waiting for the transfer
call and it finally came at around 9:30ish... Going into the call I
thought I might be leaving because I had been in Lib 2 for 3 transfers
and my comp had been there for 1, but I STAYED and Elder Child's is
going to the Overland Park 1 ward! I am going to be in the Liberty 2
ward for the first about 6 months of my mission, and I am training a
new missionary here which is really comforting since I know the area.
Well the rest of the day we went and said bye to people.

Thursday was transfers and I got my companion. His name is Elder
Anderson, he is from Eagle Mountain, Utah. We got his stuff loaded up
and then Papa Birch (he's an older member from the Lib 1 Ward that we
do service for and he is like a dad to the missionaries) he took us
and the Lib 1 elders (now elders Amosa from West Jordan and Wininger
from Gilbert Arizona) out to eat at Red Robin. After lunch we got
home, Elder Anderson unpacked and rested. We went and set up his IPad
at the church. Then had dinner at the K. family's - they are an AMAZING
family in the Ward. After dinner we had correlation at the Historic
Liberty Jail.

Friday we did our studies, which with my hour of language study, the
extra hour for the 12 week program, which is a program to help
missionaries adjust to doing the missionary things in the first 12
weeks of the mission, and lunch, we leave the house at around 1. So we
tried a few people out, then did our weekly planning at the church.
After the weekly planning we set up some chairs for a ward party -
we set up 70 chairs, then visited with
a member and they drove us to dinner. After dinner the member drove us
to the church for the activity.

Saturday we did some service at a thrift store near our house with
the Liberty 1 that went a little longer than expected so we had to
rush home and change, the rush to dinner. After dinner we went around
trying out some potentials and got a few referrals from people who
weren't interested!

Sunday we did studies then went to church. Sacrament was about how
the gospel brings hope and peace. Sunday school was about the Sabbath
and we went with the priests quorum but we didn't have time for a
lesson really. After we had dinner we visited with a
member. After that, we taught a young man in the Ward a youth lesson.

This week was a little stressful, but my new companion and I get along
great, and I am looking forward to this transfer! I love you all, have
a great week!
 Elder Hinrichsen

Week 24

This week has been a bit stressful, not gonna lie.

Tuesday we visited a group of people. We weren't really able to have
too much success but we did find out that A.G. moved into our
ward behind a member. So even though his family isn't members, they
live right behind some AWESOME ones! Then later that day we did what
we were asked to do in a training by Elder Clarke of the 70 and that
was took flowers and ties to our Bishop and Ward Mission Leader and
their wives, flowers for the wives and ties for the men.

Wednesday, we visited to with a part member family. The husband who
isn't the member works at Buffalo Wild Wings and he had some ribs
cooking that he had gotten from work, as in they were uncooked and his
work gave them to him to take home. So we sat around eating ribs with
them, it was pretty cool. We also shared a thought about our potential
in this life. We had dinner with the P. family and we were able to have a
lesson with them too so that was nice.

Thursday, we had lunch with a few other missionaries, our zone leaders
and the missionaries that serve in the Ward next to us in Liberty,
because one of our zone leaders and a missionary in the Ward next to
us served by each other earlier and wanted to see one another. Then we
had district meeting, we just had the two departing missionaries give
trainings on whatever they wanted to, it seemed like there was no
better people to train than those who were leaving. After District a
meeting, we had an appointment fall through but it was almost time for
our dinner so we went to dinner. Then we visited a less active member
and finished with correlation at the Historic Liberty Jail.

Friday, we actually had a young man from Kearney join us for a mini
mission and he was with us until Sunday night, so from Friday Morning until Sunday night. That day we had an appointment fall
through then we went around street contacting most of the day. We were
able to contact a few people, and talk with a man who the sisters
dropped and address some of his questions, so that was cool. Well
that's when it happened... We got a text from our Zone Leaders telling
everyone in the zone to text them if they get a trainers call, which
basically is the AP's calling you to tell you that you are a
"potential" trainer, potential because some kids don't come out from
the MTC... I hadn't even thought about training, but then... I got a
call to be a potential trainer. So yea, basically I was freaking out
all Friday, because with this call, I am basically definitely leaving
my first area, which is really sad because this Ward has been
AMAZING!!! Plus I will have to train a missionary in a new area,
possibly even open up a new area. Well anyways, we had dinner with an
awesome less active family that night, that's basically the end of
Friday.

Saturday morning I had to go to a trainers meeting. I learned that
there are a lot more sisters than elders coming out this transfer and
there is only 1 Spanish elder coming out to replace the like  6-7 that
are leaving, oh and there are 3 Spanish missionaries training and only
1 Spanish Elder to be trained, so this will be interesting to see who
gets to train him. Well the meeting was INTENSE! It was a bunch of
people who feel they are super ready for the challenge and then, well,
ME!! So, basically I just decided to just need to do my best, because
if I shoot for the expectations they have I feel overwhelmed, but if I
just think to do my best that's when I feel better and like I can do
this. Well I got to see Elder Valdez! So that was awesome! After
the meeting we went and ate at a delicious Mexican restaurant followed
by visiting a few people then we had dinner at Cicis pizza with a
member, it's still not that good lol.,but after that we tried out a
few more people.


Sunday, we did studies then had church. Church was good, sacrament
about Fathers, Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there!!, Sunday
School was about the Sacrament, for Priesthood the Relief Society made
some treats so the men stood around and talked for most of the time.
After church we visited with two less active members and actually set
up,a dinner appointment for this week with one! We had dinner with a
super cool family and had a youth lesson with their son before the
meal which was really nice! And that night our mini missionary's mom
came and picked him up.

 

This upcoming week will be hectic with transfers coming up. I hope everyone else will have a joyful week! haha As for me, it looks like I will be heading out of Liberty 2nd ward, which is heartbreaking for me because I LOVE THIS WARD. But there are other people out there for me to love! Anyways, have a good week!

Elder Hinrichsen

Week 23

This week was nice!

Tuesday we went on splits with the Zone Leaders, I got to go to

Riverview, which has downtown Kansas City, Missouri in it so I will

send some pics later from the library. I was there with Elder Elwood,

He is one of my best friends on the mission. He is from AZ and going to

MIT after the mission. This was actually my 2nd exchange with him - he

is super cool and he goes home with Elder Valdez in like a week and a

half. Anyways, the exchange went well and we had a ton of fun together!

Elder Elwood and Elder Hinrichsen 

Wednesday was my first district training!! The APs attended so that was a

little scary lol. There were 3 trainings given. The

1st training was about boldness, the 2nd was about charity, and the

3rd was about courage.  I gave the last training and talked about how, as

missionaries, we have to allow our faith in the Lord to drive us past

the fear of men. I basically based my entire training off of a quote

from John Wayne, "courage is being scared to death but saddling up

anyways."  That quote has really helped me out because I thought that

by being afraid meant I was failing, but it is a natural thing to be afraid.

We just have to allow our faith - not our fear - to control us. That is, I

believe, one of the biggest things that a mission teaches. After

district meeting, we basically had a normal day

Thursday, we were able to get a lesson in with an investigator who we

haven't met with in a while. It was really nice to meet with her. Her

husband is a less active member and we hope we can get him back to

church and her baptized so we will see how that goes! The rest of the

day we tried to visit with less actives. We didn't really have a lot of

success, but its whatever. Then that night we had correlation at the

jail.

Friday, we got a call from the Elders Quorum President because he

needed help shoveling rocks so we went and helped him with that -

it took a little while. After, we were able to visit a few less active

member's. That night we helped a less active family move a few things

into a uhaul then they fed us dinner. They actually are going to feed

us every friday from now on because they love having us over!

Saturday, we did some service for a member by helping him power wash

his deck and a fence he has around his pool. He had also signed up to

feed us dinner so they fed us at like 2 (lol) then we talked with them

for a little, went home and changed, visited a few people, and the

Elders in Liberty 1st ward texted us that they didnt have dinner and

we didn't because we were fed at lunch time lol, so we went to eat at

Red Robbin, "yummmm" that was meant to be more for the red robbin jingle

than saying yum, but it was good too.

Sunday, we had stake conference. It was really cool. The stake

president, President Cato, announced that they are going to bring the

pageant back next year and after talking with the members we learned that it has

been gone for about 15 years now and is a big event in Independence.

It talks about the history of the saints in these areas. Other than

that, there was a sweet polynesian choir that sang, and some good

talks by the 2nd counselor in the mission presidency, President Medina

and his wife, the temple president, President Hardy and his wife<--

she told the story about President Hardy falling and hitting his head

and nearly dying which was incredible, and then the Stake Presidency

spoke, it was a good meeting, I also got to see Elder Valdez! The rest

of the day we spent visiting members and less actives.

that was my week! hope everyone is doing well! have a great week!

   Elder Hinrichsen

Kansas City

Week 22

Well, this week we walked... And everyday started off with some rain
then would be sunny for the rest of the day so, "humidity" (I believe) is
the best subject for this letter.

Tuesday. we picked an area in our ward and tried to visit as many
people in the area as we could. Walk weeks are weird to try to adjust
to because you go from going from house to house in minutes to going
between houses in, at times, an hour or so. So, that really slows down
the work I feel like. But that night we had dinner with a family we
really love. Then we had a lesson with A.G. who got the
priesthood last Sunday, not yesterday but the last Sunday in May.

Wednesday, we did our Mormon.org time then we walked around another
area in our ward. We weren't really able to talk to too many people,
which was sad but we didn't let it stop us. We had dinner with the
P. family that night then a lesson with them... Man I feel like that
family was divinely prepared, they are doing so great! They have been
to the temple for baptisms and are planning on going at least once a
month! I mean... WOW, some of us think that attending the temple is a
burden, but this family absolutely loves it, the first time they went
K. said it was "like walking into heaven." What a great way to
describe it! Man, after going regularly before the mission to having
gone once out here is tough! I really hope you guys are able to go regularly.

Thursday was a little weird. We helped the Liberty 1 elders with some
service, we had to move like an industrial sized freezer downstairs...
That thing was heavy! Then we thought we would have time for lunch
afterward. It we had to go to a meeting on Independence about the IPad
training we had Friday. So, we rushed home from service to go to
Independence and in the process left our phone in the car of the
member who we did service for! We went to our meeting in Indy and
got ahold of the elders who had the phone to bring it by after we got
back. After our meeting we were able to get our phone, and let the
family who was dropping off dinner know that we would be ready for
them. After that we rushed to try and visit someone before going to
correlation at the jail, and we had a storm right behind us the entire
time so we basically had to speed walk like three miles to the jail
with a storm at our backs lol

Friday, we had a zone training about the IPads and the rules that we
have with them. Right now we don't have Facebook but we can can check
our emails every day, hint hint, but can't reply, it's main use right
now is for studying and helping us teach lessons. The training was for
a few hours and I gave my first training on how we can help each other
obey the rules, I only did it for my district because for one part we
broke up into districts. I was told I would have like 15-20 minutes
but the other district ended early so I had like 5 so I am not sure
how it went because I basically had to cut almost everything out.
After the meeting we went and ate at a Chinese place, then the Zone
Leaders drove us back to Liberty to a members house whom we talked
with for a little, then we had to once again, speed walk to our
dinner, so yes, we ate, then like an hour we ate again... It was a but
much lol luckily those members gave us a ride home!

Saturday there was supposed to be a farmers market on the square in
Liberty. But it was raining in the morning so we didnt know if it was
going to happen. So we went to visit a few people then the sun came
out so we decided to go see if the farmers market was there but it was
an art show, people had little stations set up with there art to sell,
we were able to talk to a few people and we saw some really cool are,
I think I just love the pictures of nature more than anything. Then we
went and we did service for a member, and finally we didn't have a
dinner so we went with another set of elders that didn't have dinner
to eat out. This was the day I got the most sun burned.

Sunday we had ward correlation and AC wasn't working so I was
basically sweating through the entire meeting lol. But church was
good. No weird testimonies, Sunday school was about the gifts of the
spirit, we went with the Priests and the lesson was the new Mormon
message "Lift" it made me think of Dads mom because it's about a woman
with Mulitple Sclerosis who the neighborhood men help get into bed
every night, it's a great video! Then after church our ward had a
break the fast, after which we went and gave a blessing to a sick
young man who is feeling doing good today!

This week has been long and tiring! We have really struggled to find
people to teach and are working really hard, but we will keep giving
our best! Hope everyone has a great week
  Elder Hinrichsen

Week 21

This week was good.

 

Tuesday we had to email because the Libraries were closed, after that we went to lunch with a bunch of missionaries which was really fun! then, because we were running low on miles, we went to a certain area in our ward and just walked around and talked to as many people as we could. later that day we had a new member lesson with A.G. and a lesson with a young man in our ward.

 

Wednesday I actually did my first baptism interview! it was for an 11 year old boy, he was very shy but by just being really friendly I was able to have a conversation about his favorite wrestlers after the interview, it was great! then, again because we were short on miles, we walked around another area in our ward and just talked to people out on the street, man you would think that the more you do it the easier it gets,  and it kind of does, but not really lol every time I approach someone I still get those nerves and fear of getting sworn at! but it is going away slowly.

 

Thursday. was our all mission conference. it was really good! we had elder Clark from the 70 come down and it wasn't about ipads as much as it was about being morally responsible for the things that we do on them. but it was the last training to missionaries that he would give as a 70, so it was interesting because he gave us a lot of advice for life after the mission and how to raise a family, stuff like that, it was like he was giving us the information that he thought was most important for us to know at this time. it was really cool. then we went around visiting a few people in our ward, attempting to meet a few less active families but we weren't able to contact any of them, too bad. After dinner, we taught a young man in our ward and finished with correlation at the liberty jail.

 

Friday. we did our weekly planning since Thursday we had the conference and we wanted to do some missionary work. then we walked around attempting to visit people and, since we didn't have dinner and neither did the other missionaries in the wards that border ours, we all went to eat together. then we went to visit a young man who lives in the farthest point of our area and we has saved our miles to visit, and when we showed up, his grandparents in his house said, "oh, we forgot to tell you, hes not here" that was a little frustrating! but whatever

 

Saturday, we had interviews with the President, the interview was fine, afterwards we went to meet with an investigator we are working with, he is an older man with some health problems so he is in a rehab place for a stroke he recently had, but after the meeting with him we went and walked around another area in our ward before dinner. After dinner we started walking to visit someone when a less active member whom we had visited earlier this week pulled over and offered us a ride! that was really nice!

 

Sundays are great! church was really nice and because it was a 5th sunday the combined class was watching the Face to Face interview with David A Bednar and his wife, because it is so long we didn't really have a Gospel Principles lesson, but the David A Bednar interview is really a great thing to watch!! After church we had dinner and then we visited a member who has been out of town since Elder Childs came.

 

It was a good week, we struggled to find people, but as we continue to work hard, the Lord blesses us with more than we deserve! Hope everyone has a great week!

  

   Elder Hinrichsen