The first week at home has definitely been an adjustment. The first few days were pretty easy what with the fun of having family here to play. Of course, I’ve needed to concentrate to just speak in English and not slip into Spanglish. It was fun to be able to do that with Toby and Michael, though.
I enjoyed being able to speak to the young men in Chardon branch and answer their mission questions. I’m definitely available to encourage all young men to prepare and serve. I also really liked being able to sing “For I Have Seen the Lord” with sisters and “Because He Loves Us” with more family. As we sang and looked out on the audience, I had that missionary love feeling that makes you understand a little bit more the great love our Father has for each of us.
During this week, I’ve practiced the piano, studied, re-introduced myself to a greater variety of music (I missed country!!), applied to be a CNA at the nearby nursing home, and contacted old friends. I loved getting to go to NC branch again and see people, see progress. I liked my second homecoming talk better…I think I felt a little more comfortable with English after a week of being home instead of merely a day. Plus, I had Emily and Jeremy there to make faces at me on the stand. We sure shared a lot of laughs (not actually there in sacrament meeting, though). Tonight, I skipped out on the empty nesters’ FHE to go out with the sisters and teach a couple lessons. It was wonderful. A little weird in English, but I loved it and the people anyway. I can feel the lack of the mantle, though. During this week I also realized I really missed having a companion as I began talking to myself (and told myself to stop it). My body definitely misses the Ecuador weather, so I got a cold in the first two days of being home. Haha I have missed teaching, missed the people, and felt pretty much naked sometimes without my nametag. I’m learning quickly that I should introduce myself as “Christie Sue”, though.
It was an honor to teach the truth and see people put it into effect in their own lives. I love the people of Ecuador. I will forever be touched by the examples, faith and love of our brothers and sisters down there. What a blessing to know the young people with such faith that they would dare to be different, and became the examples for their families. The young man that felt loved for the first time because he learned of his Father in Heaven. The woman that disappointed her family, but did what she knew was right, because she had received an answer from the Lord. The couples, the families that turned their lives around, became united and happy, because of the gospel. The people that realized they still needed to learn so much more, but had the faith to follow promptings of the Spirit, to be baptized. The sister that procrastinated, but did change, finding greater joy and peace than ever before in her life…and then sharing it with all who would hear. And the members that made it happen because they invited friends and family members to learn more. The members that took in the investigators, loving them, inviting them, and leading them as by the hand in the true process of conversion. My people.
I didn’t mention it before (except in the email from a couple weeks ago that didn’t get to anyone and did not actually save to the disc….), but the last weekend I was in Ecuador, Gabi and Lupe were baptized. They are the two daughters of Irlanda that were so excited to be baptized that they asked us, “When can we get baptized?” J Love them. Irlanda saw how simple it was and in her testimony shared that she’d be following their example soon after.
It was such a priceless privilege to serve the Lord for a brief, but wonderful time as a personal representative of Jesus Christ. When people ask me how it was, I tell them the truth. It was amazing, a blessing to my life. It was the most rewarding experience of my life. I went because I felt so blessed to have a knowledge of who I am, the purpose of life, and the possibility of having an eternal family. I return feeling even more blessed and indebted to my Father in Heaven. I know we are His children, away from Him for a time so that we can learn and grow. Through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, we really can fulfill our potential to become like Him. I know Jesus Christ is the Savior and Redeemer of the World. He lives. He knows us and loves us. His Gospel is the formula from our Father for our happiness and success here and forever. It really is the path to happiness; I’ve seen it work in so many lives, as well as my own. It was restored to the earth because a young man had the faith to ask for himself. I know Joseph Smith was a prophet of God. The truth has been restored and it’s wonderful. Shall we not go on in so great a work?
Every member a missionary. Once a missionary, always a missionary.
Still a Sister,
Christie Sue Henrichsen
USAbit: You can flush toilet paper down the toilets here! hahaha
I enjoyed being able to speak to the young men in Chardon branch and answer their mission questions. I’m definitely available to encourage all young men to prepare and serve. I also really liked being able to sing “For I Have Seen the Lord” with sisters and “Because He Loves Us” with more family. As we sang and looked out on the audience, I had that missionary love feeling that makes you understand a little bit more the great love our Father has for each of us.
During this week, I’ve practiced the piano, studied, re-introduced myself to a greater variety of music (I missed country!!), applied to be a CNA at the nearby nursing home, and contacted old friends. I loved getting to go to NC branch again and see people, see progress. I liked my second homecoming talk better…I think I felt a little more comfortable with English after a week of being home instead of merely a day. Plus, I had Emily and Jeremy there to make faces at me on the stand. We sure shared a lot of laughs (not actually there in sacrament meeting, though). Tonight, I skipped out on the empty nesters’ FHE to go out with the sisters and teach a couple lessons. It was wonderful. A little weird in English, but I loved it and the people anyway. I can feel the lack of the mantle, though. During this week I also realized I really missed having a companion as I began talking to myself (and told myself to stop it). My body definitely misses the Ecuador weather, so I got a cold in the first two days of being home. Haha I have missed teaching, missed the people, and felt pretty much naked sometimes without my nametag. I’m learning quickly that I should introduce myself as “Christie Sue”, though.
It was an honor to teach the truth and see people put it into effect in their own lives. I love the people of Ecuador. I will forever be touched by the examples, faith and love of our brothers and sisters down there. What a blessing to know the young people with such faith that they would dare to be different, and became the examples for their families. The young man that felt loved for the first time because he learned of his Father in Heaven. The woman that disappointed her family, but did what she knew was right, because she had received an answer from the Lord. The couples, the families that turned their lives around, became united and happy, because of the gospel. The people that realized they still needed to learn so much more, but had the faith to follow promptings of the Spirit, to be baptized. The sister that procrastinated, but did change, finding greater joy and peace than ever before in her life…and then sharing it with all who would hear. And the members that made it happen because they invited friends and family members to learn more. The members that took in the investigators, loving them, inviting them, and leading them as by the hand in the true process of conversion. My people.
I didn’t mention it before (except in the email from a couple weeks ago that didn’t get to anyone and did not actually save to the disc….), but the last weekend I was in Ecuador, Gabi and Lupe were baptized. They are the two daughters of Irlanda that were so excited to be baptized that they asked us, “When can we get baptized?” J Love them. Irlanda saw how simple it was and in her testimony shared that she’d be following their example soon after.
It was such a priceless privilege to serve the Lord for a brief, but wonderful time as a personal representative of Jesus Christ. When people ask me how it was, I tell them the truth. It was amazing, a blessing to my life. It was the most rewarding experience of my life. I went because I felt so blessed to have a knowledge of who I am, the purpose of life, and the possibility of having an eternal family. I return feeling even more blessed and indebted to my Father in Heaven. I know we are His children, away from Him for a time so that we can learn and grow. Through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, we really can fulfill our potential to become like Him. I know Jesus Christ is the Savior and Redeemer of the World. He lives. He knows us and loves us. His Gospel is the formula from our Father for our happiness and success here and forever. It really is the path to happiness; I’ve seen it work in so many lives, as well as my own. It was restored to the earth because a young man had the faith to ask for himself. I know Joseph Smith was a prophet of God. The truth has been restored and it’s wonderful. Shall we not go on in so great a work?
Every member a missionary. Once a missionary, always a missionary.
Still a Sister,
Christie Sue Henrichsen
USAbit: You can flush toilet paper down the toilets here! hahaha
3 comments:
Hooray for toilets! Hooray for toilet paper! Hooray for using them together in peace and love and harmony! Oh, and also: Hooray for Sue being home!
Welcome home Sue! We sure love you.
Thanks, guys. It's good to be home! Love ya'll!
It's just the layer of ice and snow that makes me want to run back...
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