We have had some of the most wonderful experiences during the past three weeks. Sorry it has been so long, but the time just slips away! Can't believe we just have 7 more months. WOW!
We finally have been able to have some good gospel related discussions with Ann Cheshire. She always changes the subject when we broach anything "churchy." Well, we finally just asked her about her testimony, her patriarchal blessing, and if she had thought about going to the temple. She originally thought a patriarchal blessing was kind of like a fortune telling experience. Well, we got her straightened out on that and now she is thinking about getting one. The bishop has already talked to her. She was afraid to think about the temple because of not paying tithing. She doesn't pay tithing because she thought she had to tell people how much money she had or didn't have. Well, we got that all worked out pretty much. She has opened up quite a bit about her feelings finally and just needs to pray more and read more. She will make it!
This past Tuesday we had the most wonderful day at the London Temple with Beryl Eden. She is amazing. She really has a great understanding of the temple and all that goes with it. She absolutely loved it and was still in awe on Sunday. We actually stayed over night and went to a second session on Wed. morning. She remembered a lot and had another great experience. She actually told Ann Cheshire at church Sunday that she needed to get herself to the temple. What an amazing lady!
We completed the temple prep classes with Pauline James also and she is going to the temple the end of July. So, we will be able to go again. It looks like we will also be able to go to the Preston Temple in October for the Sealing of a couple who were married in October. She is from here and he was a missionary here. After he went home, she went to the states to visit and they were married. He is waiting for his Visa to come over permanent. But they are being sealed in Oct. when he comes for a visit.
We have prayed and prayed about Matthew Gregory and felt that he just needed time to work through things that were bothering him. It has been about four months since we talked with him when he told us he was comfortable where he was. We tried to call a few times and could never make contact. (I think there was a reason.) Elder Henry had the prompting to call him last Friday. He didn't answer but called back a little later and said that he is ready to come to church and will be there next Sunday.
We are doing activities for the YSA group in Cheltenham every other Tuesday night and then going to their FHE's on Sundays in Gloucester. They are a fun group.
We challenged Gerry Matthews to come to church a couple of weeks ago. He says he is getting close and that we were the first ones to actually invite or challenge him to come to church. We told him that we were afraid we would offend him but he said that there was absolutely nothing that Elder Henry and I could do that would offend him. that made us feel really good. He has such a strong testimony and knowledge of the gospel. He just needs to take that big step back through the church doors.
I am going to Gadfield Elm on Friday to a Stake RS Campout. Just going for the evening with the bishop's wife and Ann Cheshire, but not staying the night. It is a wonderful place to go. I am also still feeding the missionaries just about every week at district or zone meeting. They love the home cooking so much that I always feel bad when I can't do it for some reason. They do love to eat!
Today (P-Day) we took a long ride across the Black Mountains. It was a beautiful drive and at the top you look out and see the beautiful countryside for miles. The hills were full of sheep, the road was very curvy and narrow. It is only one-car width in most places so they have turnout places along the way to pull over and let on-coming cars pass. A little nerve racking to say the least because you don't see the car coming until it is right there! Fun day though.
We are also getting ready to start a second scripture study class in the evening. There have been quite a few people requesting it. Not sure what we will study yet. Looking forward to it though.
Well, we certainly are seeing how the Lord has His hand in this work. So many wonderful people having so many wonderful experiences. How can you not know that God lives and loves us! We are so blessed and pray the Lord's blessing on each of our family and friends. We love you and miss you.
Elder and Sister Henry
Monday, June 27, 2011
Friday, June 3, 2011
Getting Ready for the Temple
We are very excited. Sister Eden is ready to go to the Temple and we have tenitive approval to go with her. We have called the Temple and made arrangements to go on June 21st. We will do a 3:00 PM session. Then we will stay overnight and do a morning session and then come home that afternoon. She is very excited. She is also somewhat worried because she does not know what to expect. Of course we told her a lot of stories while we were giving her the lessons so she would be expecting something crazy......NOT!!!
We also just taught Sister James the Temple Prep classes. She is getting ready to get her recommend. She should go within a month or so. So we will probably go again. There is another Sister who may go before we come home. However her husband is finally showing a little spark so she may wait for him.
The whole European Area has been challenged to fast This Sunday and then invite a Less Active or non-member to church every week in June. The members seem fairly enthused with it. We will see how it goes. Sister James is going with us to challenge Brother Brewer to come. He is the guy we have been working with who hasn't come to church in 45 years except once a few weeks ago he came with us.
The Ward Council has also prayerfully picked 5 names of Less Active to focus the Ward's efforts on. They are to approach them and invite them to meet with the Elders or ourselves so that we can work together to bring them back. This plan has been in place for some time but we are just now getting it being done right.
Sister Henry continues to cook lunch for the District almost every week. She loves doing it and they love to eat it. She does a variety of things but they really love her sloppy joes. This week she did sandwiches and potato salad and her special Brownies. Everything was gone. We had the District, The Zone Leaders and the AP's there. 16 all together.
The Thursday night YSA is not meeting any more so we are not going to Cheltenham on Thursday nights. They have asked us to go on Sundays and Tuesdays when we can. We will see.
Enough for today.
Bye to all.
Elder and Sister Henry
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