Tales from Tampa!

Sister Henderson's mission blog

[ldssisterhenderson]

The Sisters of Zion - Janice Kapp Perry

The sisters of Zion are called to God's labor, We willingly serve Him with spirit and might. We go to the nations with truth everlasting, We teach of the Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ.

We thank thee, O God, for a prophet to guide us, We trust in his words and our purpose is clear. The angels of heaven are walking beside us, We'll share our glad message with all who will hear.

We go forth enlisted with Helaman's Army In numbers much greater than ever before. With power and spirit we'll faithfully witness The heavens have spoken and truth is restored!

[ldssisterhenderson]

Big news (this is Tasha!)

For those who don’t already know…I’m home from my mission. I came home early due to a plethora of health problems. I’d give anything to be healthy enough to be back in the mission field and that’s a fact.

I’m ok…not bad, not great…but I’m hanging in there. Now that I’m home, I’m trying to find a direction for my life.

So far…here’s the plan… -pursue an associates degree in order to stay enrolled in military healthcare -find a job, preferably a white collar job -convince some great man to marry or at least date me :P

Other than that…I’ve got nothing. :/

So yeah. I’m back.

Please text me You wouldn’t believe how boring my life is right now. :P 719-323-0748

Love you all! Even though it’s excruciatingly difficult to be back, I know that this is God’s plan for me. I know that He has a plan for me.

[ldssisterhenderson]

Tasha's 4th email

Hello, everyone!!!

Last week, we had companion exchanges! I went to "Spanish land" with Hermana Finlayson (one of the sister training leaders) while Sister Nebeker stayed here in "English land" with Hermana Rood. I absolutely lovvvvvvvved exchanges! And I looooovvvvvvvve Hermana Finlayson!!!!!! <3 It was fun to work with her, because she taught while I smiled and nodded. I understood everything that was happening, but I wasn't confident enough in my Gospel Spanish to chime in. But it was great. We got to teach 2 lessons and do some service and try to contact referrals/potential gators.

After emails last week, we went on a gator hunt. We saw ONE. And it was a baby. I was kinda disappointed. But we're going on another gator hunt today! :D Hopefully we'll see a huge giant gator! :D attached is a picture of the baby gator, as well as a picture of my district on the gator hunt.

Ok--the subject. so, Brother Thorson's mom is like 80 or 90 but had finally agreed to be baptized, after her son had been working with her! since she's in our area, Sister N and I went over to begin teaching her the lessons officially. But....Sis N and I are in our 20s (aka "babies") and Sis N "asks too many questions", so the Dixons alone began teaching her. but since Elder Hubbard is the district leader, it was his responsibility to conduct the baptismal interview. Ergo...it takes a district to baptize a Thorson. XD Sister Thorson was baptized on Saturday and was welcomed into the ward yesterday. ^-^

Speaking of people who need a whole district's help toward baptism...there's a less-active family in the Elders' area that Sis N and I have been working with as well. Their little girl just turned 8 and chose to be baptized! :D The service was yesterday, right after church. I gave the talk on baptism, Sister N gave the talk on the gift of the Holy Ghost, Elder Putnam baptized her, and Elder Hubbard confirmed her. apparently, it also takes a district to baptize a Breiner! XD I'll send a pic from that baptism to Ethan to put on Facebook/Tumblr/Google+/etc.

Since yesterday was the 5th Sunday, of course we had a combined Priesthood/Relief Society meeting. on... drum-roll please ...MEMBER MISSIONARY WORK!!!!!!!! We were basically in charge of the 3rd hour.

This is what we had planned: Elder Hubbard would descend from the ceiling in a hot air balloon while a member shot off fireworks (since explosives are forbidden us), and the rest of us enter riding upon ostriches, me singing opera. Elder Putnam's ostrich would then take flight as he loudly proclaimed "Do Missionary Work!" and, of course, we'd close with a prayer.

We thought it was an awesome plan. But, due to financial and time issues, we instead testified of the importance of members in the work, using the example of Alma and Amulek. The work in Ammonihah did not go forward until missionary Alma had a member to work with! It was a great program. But we didn't even get to ride the ostriches, and now we have no idea where to put them. bahaha! I'm just joking. :) But that really was our "plan"......sometimes we have a little too much fun as a district. lol

Ok--awesome returning members we have been working with: Boice, Bingham, and Barfield.

Sister Boice is a sweet, fun, Taiwanese sister! She's really straightforward, which makes her so much fun....but it also makes her scared to associate with us fragile americans. :/ we're working with her on that, though! She's been coming to church and reading the Book of Mormon...bishop says she's really progressing! Yay!

Brother Bingham is just the sweetest man ever! He has a lot of anxiety about coming to church...but we've been working with him and he told his wife that he wants to set some goals about church and the Gospel. His wife told us yesterday that she believes our visits are really helping him. ^-^

Brother Barfield is so sweet, too! He was thrown from a horse so he has some brain problems, but he is healthy so we're happy about that. We're not sure why he won't come to church, so we're trying to work with him more. We'll see what happens since we're on bikes this week [and] Sister N's bike is still being fixed.

Frosty waffle cones at Wendy's!! Try them!!! :D

Today is Sister Dixon's birthday! She is SO wonderful!!! After my mission, she wants me to move out to St George and live with them and work there. HAHA she is too funny (:

Well......I think that's all.

I love you all SOOOO much!!!!!!

Love and prayers and blessings, Sister Henderson

[ldssisterhenderson]

Tasha's 3rd email

Hello, my friends! (:

Did anyone watch the broadcast last night? Several Apostles taught the importance of member missionary work...it was amazing! It might be online :)

Also....Elder Perry announced that, over the next few years, new technology including Facebook and iPads will be phased into missionary work!!!! :D http://s.zbee.me/v40 | http://s.zbee.me/25v When you watch...the last story Elder Anderson tells, there's a video clip that President Summerhays is in! :D

I just wanted to let everybody know that (at least right now) I am NOT being excused from misionary work (ie sent home) on medical (aka psychological). I have another appointment with the mission psychiatrist on Thursday, so I don't know for sure yet. But if I have anything to say about it, I will be in the Tampa Florida mission for 16 1/2 more months!!! :D (Fun fact: Sister N and Elder H go home at the same time, me and Elder P. go home at the same time! We have THE best district!!) Some of you know what a big deal this is for me. My compa and I fasted and prayed...and the rest of our district prayed...for now, I'm staying. Yeah buddy!!!

I have to tell you a very very sweet experience that I had last week. I was having a really really tough time, so I asked Elder Hubbard to give me a blessing, which he was happy to do (the Elders are so amazing!). In the blessing, Elder H said that my struggles would go away and my mind would be cleared from things troubling me. Since that blessing, I have been HAPPY. :D

Yes, I have still struggled, still had random crying spells, still occasionally wanted to come home, but I have been happy overall. What a beautiful blessing! I have testimony that miracles still happen, the Priesthood is the authority to act in God's name, and faith precedes healing. Me coming on a mission and staying on a mission is taking the great black dog of depression, the scary tremors of anxiety, and the troublesome obsessions of OCD...and totally conquering each one! (:

We had zone conference last week, and it was amazing! It was our last time meeting with President Summerhays, so it was particularly wonderful. There was an emphasis on overcoming the critical voice of the Adversary. It was way cool! Here's a blurry pic of our zone with President.

President Cusick gets here in just a few days! I'm excited to meet him...how cool that I get to have TWO mission presidents while I serve!!! :D

Funny story: we were tracting when we came upon a house with a sign that read something like "we have a 357 Magnum and nothing worth stealing." hahaha! I was a littttttle skeptical about knocking that door. XD Another funny story: I always talk to Sis N about alligators, because I reallllly want to see one. We were talking about baby alligators one day and I said "I hope he grows up to have a lucrative alligatoring career." hahaha! I crack myself up!

EXCHANGES TOMORROW!!!!!!! I'm going to "Spanish land" with Hermana Finlayson, while Sis N is staying in Gibsonia B with Hermana Rood. Good thing I got a Spanish PMG at the MTC! This will be....interesting.

Oh, so the subject. My journal is literally falling apart! D: I'm not even halfway through it! What the muffins! It's verrrrry well loved haha and I still need to better about writing. Anyway so I have scotch tape basically holding the binding together...this journal will be an adventure to finish before moving on to my new journal from Lori that is NOT falling apart XD I told Sis N that my journal is falling apart and she said it's a good sign! (:

STUDY: I have been studying many different things during personal study. I finished Alma this week and started Helaman. The war chapters are so beautiful. Read those chapters through the lens of the Atonement of Christ. That's how we should read the entire book, but especially those chapters--since they're otherwise hard to get through. Also, study GRACE sometime. And see if you can find "His Grace Is Sufficient"--a talk by Brad Wilcox given at BYU. Grace is a beautiful thing.

Speaking of which! President gave each of us a new Temple recommend holder when we got to the mission. It has an image of missionaries labouring in a field with FLORIDA TAMPA MISSION on it. Now I have about ~1000000003 temple recommend holders. Haha

Sooooo we were on bike this week. Sis N's bike BROKE. So...we were on foot. That was an adventure. I got a couple of blisters. Weird, huh? Also, my blue sparkly Toms broke. There is literally a hole in the sole. Oops...

We went to visit some 'gators (investigators)...we walked up to the door and heard two people arguing with VERY colourful language....we decided we had better not interrupt.

Oh, our ['gators] the Prentices are golden. They totally want the Gospel, [they] just don't know it yet!! I would looooovvvvve to see them dressed in white, ready to be baptized (: [They] called last week and seemed to drop us. Then they called back a few days later to ensure that we knew that we could still come back. So we're not entirely sure what's going on but we're sure hoping for the best. Sis N and Hmna Rood have an appointment with them tomorrow!

Well I'd better get going, Elder Putnam is patiently waiting to use a computer (there's only 3).

Love you ALL!!!!!!! Jesus lives!!!!!! <3

Love, Sister Henderson

P.S. This is Tasha's email from like last week, I forgot to post it :/

[ldssisterhenderson]

Tasha's 2nd email

Hi, everyone!

Ok so bad news... Sue dropped us yesterday :( but it works out because we found a sum total of 8 new investigators this week! We're sad about Sue, but hoipeful for the new 'gators.

Now onto good news!!! :D

I played this piano in Sacrament on Sunday. The organist was there but he wanted me to play. I didn't really understand why but I played lol

Ok...the 8 new 'gators.

Janet and Mike are still considered "new 'gators" since they aren't progressing yet. We haven't been able to visit with them again yet :/

2 of the gators are parents of 4 little boys (all under 7 so they don't count). they are incredible!! when we asked about what they're looking for in a religion, they basically described the Church!!! :D we have our third appointment with them tonight and are hoping to soft-commit them to baptism. They say that they are for sure coming to church next week! :D

The other two are people that we found knocking doors, they're really into their religion but they're letting us talk to them. We knocked doors a LOT this week.

The other 4 are people who were randoly together in one house (two are siblings and we don't know about the other two). I'm not sure if they actually care about learning about the gospel, but they're letting us come back.

We have another former/progressing/new/????? investigator, Grady, who is a "slippery fish" lol he obviously really wants the gospel but his schedule is too crazy for set appointments...so we're trying to work with him.

Otherwise, we have been doing a LOT of trying to visit less actives. Since it's summer, a lot of people are goine...so it's kinda tough. But we are trying to stay busy. And we usually succeed! My feet sorta hurt, but not as much as my calves ;P

I was made the "designated driver" so on the weeks that we have the car (we share with the elders), I am the driver ^-^

My compa and I secretly put up post-it notes for each other telling each other "I love you because..." It's fun and it helps our companionship stay strong. We get along really well, which is a huge blessing!

Oh my golly, I have to tell you about wednesday! We had zone meeting. After meetings like that (inc district meeting), we all go eat together. So we went to this mexican place...ate tons of food. Then we went to a less active's house and they fed us pie...ate tons of food. Then we had a dinner appointment where the member was set on making sure we were fed...ate tons of food. Then we went to another member's house...ate tons of food. Then we had a meeting with our ward mission leader...tried to avoid eatin' tons of food. After that day, we never wanted to see food again XD But we decided to continue eating because we eventually got hungry. Haha :)

Well, that's all I can think of that's been goin' on. Oh! Yesterday the Bishop told us that a less active we have been working with has progressed a lot! Also, we had the highest Sacrament attendance of the year :)

Keep writing! I love you all!

This Church is the truest thing there is on earth. Cling to it and never let go!!! Joseph Smith is a prophet. God lives. This is my simple testimony. Love, Sister Henderson

[ldssisterhenderson]

Some more pictures from Tasha!

[ldssisterhenderson]

First email en masse!

Hello, everyone!!!

So, since we have such a limited amount of time on the computers, I decided to START this email session with a mass email. Good planning, right?! XD

Tampa is HOT and HUMID...what a HUGE change from Idaho!!! I burned a little bit but I am actually mostly tanning. What...?!? :D I already have a tan line from my watch, actually! hahaha So I have been sick with a cold or something like that, but we have been out working anyway. We decided that my body is just freaking out due to the Idaho-Florida move.

I thought that missionary work involved a lot more teaching than it actually does. Mostly, we work with returning members (less actives) and see a lot of doors in our faces. There are a lot of Southern Baptists in the South...ie Florida...so that is difficult. There are also a decent amount of Catholics.

Last week, we met a very interesting woman. She said that she is an angel, the mother of God, the wife of God, and the Holy Spirit. And I think she said that she wrote Revelation. Well that was fun! We did all we could--testify of Christ and try to leave with as little contention as humanly possible. When I bore my testimony, Sister [Nebeker] said that was the loudest she has ever heard me speak. Hahaha!

Oh! My first comp is Sister Nebeker. She is GREAT. I'll send a pic with her. She is from Wendell, ID. She has 4 younger brothers and is the first to serve a mission. Her parents are art and science teachers. She went to BYU before the mission.

Today, the senior sister, Sister Dixon, cut my hair. She's been dying to do so since I got here. So I let her today. She cut off all the dead hair--super damaged from colouring it, stripping it, and relaxing it--and now it curls! And it feels so much lighter and healthier! And she could actually get a comb through it haha. Here are pix of the pile of hair and the new 'do.

We have three investigators right now.

1 is Sue. She grew up Roman Catholic, but doesn't believe in it since she got sick with cancer. She is very receptive to the Gospel message! Her major concern is her family. Her kids threaten to withhold the grandkids from her if she doesn't bend to their will. :'( But she seems to believe what she hears, she's reading the Book of Mormon and praying! We extended the baptismal commitment in our lesson with her last night. She said no, but only because she wants to know for herself...which is awesome! But we're working with her and feel strongly that she'll be baptized on June 29...hopefully! Pray for her please!

The other 2 are Mike and Janet, an older couple. They are sweet. Mike is sick a lot and Janet takes care of him. We left a prayer with them called the Saviour's peace and blessing, and they are allowing us to come back to teach the first lesson! the prayer is a lot like the sisters' version of a Priesthood blessing...it's hard to explain...but it's way cool! I gave my first one yesterday! :D

My district is great! We have a senior couple, the Dixons, from St George AND the elders, Elder Putnam (from Bountiful) and Elder Hubbard (from Malad, ID) AND us, the sisters. The Dixons are AMAZING and we LOVE the elders! The elders are such good boys! District meetings are a BLAST!

This week we were on bikes. I officially HATE bikes. The second time I was on a bike, my skirt and back tire got into a fight. The back tire won. My skirt has a huge hole in it--which I didn't notice for like 2 hours. :P The third time we rode, it was raining hardcore. That was an adventure! Hahaha!

The mission is HARD HARD HARD work. But I'm lovin' it. It helps that my companion is an angel, my district is fantastic, and my district leader is one of the kindest people ever. I called President Summerhays last week and he really encouraged me. I love this! I want to just "forget [my]self and go to work!" like Gordon B Hinckley. :)

Oh! So I said we work a lot with returning members, right? Well we had a bunch of those members at Sacrament meeting this week! YAY YAY YAY! :D The ward is fantastical...so welcoming and helpful! I'm still on a hunt to see a gator. I really want to. :D

This week we get the car...oh baby! :D

I don't know what else to write about... Any questions?

I love you ALL!!!!

Love, Sister Henderson!

Oh PS my preparation day is MONDAY! of course.

[ldssisterhenderson]

Photos Tasha sent back from the mission field.

[ldssisterhenderson]

[ldssisterhenderson]

Tasha's first email from the MTC

"Hi, everyone!!!

The MTC is, wow, so crazy! I still can hardly believe that I am here in the MTC! Every single SECOND is scheduled....wow, crazy. We have 8 elders and 4 sisters in our district...3 of the elders and 1 of the sisters are going to Bangalore, India. The sister going there is the first American sister going to India (she was adopted and her adoptive dad was the Delhi mission president so she's officially from India). Everyone else is going to Tampa with me. The sister going to India is actually my companion. Her name is Sister Jackson. She is realllly short. I say that to tease her because she is right next to me ;) Sister Jackson and I have 2 investigators. Our first investigator is named Joe. He is so sweet and so interested. Last lesson, we commited him to baptism!!! :D :D :D Our other investigator is named Claudia. She is from Madagascar and she is such a sweetheart. Her husband survived a stroke a few years ago and she has a firm belief in God. We taught her about Joseph Smith and she seemed really impressed by my tesitmony. My teachers are Matt Martin and Kimberly Mullen. I especially love Brother Martin, he is an incredible teacher and is so kind.

Everyone....SEND MORE MAIL!!! I love getting "real" mail, like snail mail. Every night, when our district leader hands out the mail, we have implied competitions for who has the most mail. Usually it's the district leader, because he has a girlfriend back home. :P It's weird being in one place 24/7...we spend about 6 hours a day in our classroom.

Oh golly I oinly have 10 minutes left and I still have to email Derek and Amanada D:

The church is true!!!!!!!!!!!!CRAP DANGIT! I'm outta time! Love you!" -Tasha

[ldssisterhenderson]

Some pictures taken just before Tasha went on her mission :)

[ldssisterhenderson]

New Administration :)

Hey, it's Tasha's younger brother, Ethan.

I'll now be posting -on Tasha's behalf- relevant parts of letters/emails Tasha sends home.

I'll also post pictures Tasha sends home, and update the address to the left as needed.

[ldssisterhenderson]

2 more days...

this will be my last post on this blog until my homecoming, in November 2014. all other posts will be orchestrated by my younger brother.

Satan is real. and he's a jerk. as my mission draws closer, he's pulling out all the stops. I've been having fiscal problems, health problems, emotional problems, and--most of all--family problems. perhaps I'm a radical, but I don't think that a week before a missionary leaves, their family should be telling them how mean and dreadful they are and how they need to get their crap together real quick so they aren't a junky missionary. maybe it's just me. it's my opinion that "family" denotes the people who are there for you when no one else is. nonetheless. Satan knows few bounds. he will attack you from every angle. and it's insanely difficult to hang on when he's trying to drag you down. I don't know how many times I told Chandler "I'm not going, I can't do it." but Chandler, being who he is, buoyed me up and encouraged me to turn to the Saviour--who reminded me why/who I was going to serve.

I guess what I'm trying to say is...if you're going through Hell, keep on going, because through is the only way out. I'm going to serve a mission. the powers of Hell can (and may very well) combine against me, but I'm going. Satan will not stop me. I'm going to serve the Lord, who has given me everything. I'm going to serve the people of Tampa/western FL, to teach them the songs of everlasting joy that I have learned in the Gospel.

God provides for those who serve Him. He provided for me in so many ways. (D&C 84:82-84)

I know God loves me and He will help me as long as I obey His words. I am important to my Heavenly Father. and so are you. don't give up.

as of Sunday afternoon, I am a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. my responsibility is to help others come unto Christ. if I can help just one soul back to their Saviour, how great shall be my joy! (D&C 18) and that is my goal. to help even ONE soul.

I know God will help me. I know He is with me. I know He lives.

[ldssisterhenderson]

more mission pictures have been posted! (:

[ldssisterhenderson]

for kicks and giggles! Ü

[ldssisterhenderson]

eek! I just got an email from the MTC presidency!!!

it contained my address for my stay at the Provo MTC!!!

Sister Tasha Lea Henderson MTC Mailbox # 235 FL-TAM 0527 2005 N 900 E Provo, UT 84604-1793

[ldssisterhenderson]

the new rules for emailing while on the mission!