1st P-Day on the Cape

Monday, 10-25-2010

Wassup Everybody!

I know it’s only been a couple days since my last email but today is my p-day (preparation day) so I get another chance to tell ya how the weekend went. We met President Barlow on Saturday, who gave us good info on those less-active and investigating in the branch. Then we went tracting.

1st Missionary Apartment - Dennis Port.

We first we went just around our apartment in Dennis Port. Yes, it’s the barn-looking building with a “Clean My Roof” sign in front. The door is on the backside of the building. Not much luck around the area. A lot are of the Catholic faith. We did meet a guy named Jim who just moved in and hadn't heard of our church so hopefully we'll get a chance to teach him this week. We then drove a good half hour to Hyannis, where there's been recent success. The neighborhoods are much more active than in Dennis and we got a few people interested in a future lesson.

Sunday we met most of the branch members. They LOVE missionaries! They all were very nice and considerate to us and we can tell they have high expectations for us. The branch mission committee told us of some plans that they have lined up to get us more opportunities to teach, more so with less actives.

Today we were in Hyannis tracting and we met a lady named Patricia, who was of the Bahaii faith (I think I spelt that right...) (Baha’i). I have never heard of it and Elder Crandell knows little of it so it was a good spiritual conversation as we both talked about our faiths. It was amazing how the faiths were somewhat similar. Hopefully she reads the Book of Mormon we gave her.

Yeah the district includes us as well as the Elders in the Cape Cod branch, the Martha's Vineyard branch, and the Plymouth branch. It takes us about an hour and a half drive to District Meeting at the Cape Cod chapel. Most everything is at least a good half hour away. I doubt Elder Crandell knows how to drive in snow so we'll just pray and hope for the best (ha-ha). 

Footsteps in the Sand at a
Cape Cod Beach.



I'll have to check the mail to see if those letters you sent came. You can send them to the mission office or home and they'll forward it to me.

The Cape is a tourist spot during the summer so it is the offseason right now, making it somewhat difficult to find people. It is cool to see the beaches though.

Well I gotta get to my errands. We went tracting this morning since it’s hard to do at night and now we have P-day the rest of the day.

I love you all. I'll check back next week.

Elder Henson

Hello Boston & Massachuetts!

Saturday, 10-23-10

Hey Everybody,
I am finally here on the east coast! It has been a crazy first couple days out here in the field. The last week at the MTC went by so fast. It was somewhat hard to leave my new friends there but I was so excited to get into the field. 

Wednesday me and the other 6 new elders got on our flight to Boston. It was a pretty miserable 4 hour flight, but we landed eventually at the Boston airport. I felt like I was landing in a foreign country! There was so much green around, I thought it was like a dream. We met President Evans and Sister Evans at the airport and were transported out to the mission home in Natick. 

Downtown Boston was pretty sketch. The graffiti on the walls was so legit and there were a lot of old buildings around the area. We drove by Fenway Park, which was awesome! The people here drive way different than anywhere else. We were in some traffic and people are allowed to drive on the shoulder lane as if its another driving lane. Not to mention we almost got hit like twice haha. There are even terms for certain driving maneuvers they do... like the Boston blast, Boston creep, and Boston shadow. 

We got to the mission home and it was pretty nice. Felt like any other home, not really extravagant. Sister Evans made a great dinner for us (which helped because I pretty much hadn't eaten the whole day) and we were given a lot of orientation, along with interviews with the Evans. 

Then came the Transfer Meeting the next morning at the Belmont Chapel, next to the Boston Temple. It's cool how the Moroni towers over the trees. I got to see Elder Chavez and Elder Wright who both were at the Y with me.  My trainer is Elder Crandell. He's been out here 7 1/2 months and is from Mesa, AZ. He is a pretty cool and a funny guy that I've gotten along great with. It looks like we're going to be great friends after this transfer because our area is going to be pretty difficult. 

Map of Cape Cod (click to enlarge)



We are assigned to the Brewster Branch, which has about 30 active members. The area is basically all of Cape Cod, that little elbow down in southeast Massachusetts. Neither of us know the area because Elder Crandell was in Cambridge his first 7 months. Therefore its called "shotgun" training. It was actually Elder Chavez's last area so he told me somewhat of the happenings around here. It is a very big area! The Branch is spread out all across Cape Cod and it takes us probably 30 minutes to get to the church building in Brewster. 

 
After the Transfer Meeting we headed out to Dennis Port where our "not so bad" apartment is. We had dinner at Bro. Corb's home and met him (Elder's Quorum President) and Bro. Arvidson (Branch Mission Leader). Yesterday we had district meeting with the other 6 elders in our district. They are all funny Elders and easily welcomed me in. After that, me and Elder Crandell have just been cleaning up our apartment and making plans for what we're going to do around here. There's really only one progressing investigator, Caroline, who's been going to church frequently and one recent convert, Bethany, who was baptized back in July. I'm excited for what's to come.

Hope everything is going well at home. I was so happy to call you guys the other day. Felt like I was really at home for a little bit. Thanks for the cold weather wear and treats in that package at the mission home. I've been putting those thermals to good use because the wind is just blowing right through me and its already in the mid 50s, not to mention rain since I got here. I'm kinda scared for what weather is to come in the next few weeks. 

My new address is 355 A Main St. Dennis Port, MA 02639. Make sure to get that on my blog so I can get some letters from friends and relatives. My P-day will be on Monday and since I didn't get one this week due to travel, we are checking out the library and other surroundings along with sending this email. So get excited for Mondays mom :).  I'll try to get a photo card adapter so I can send some pics through these emails, or I'll just print and send like at the MTC. Have a great week! 

I love you all and are thinking of you guys each day. Keep me in your prayers as I start this expedition.

Elder Henson

On His Way

Wednesday, 10-20-2010

We were able to hear from Brandon this morning - what a great treat!  We weren't sure when he was flying out, but he called about 8 am our time.  He was at the SLC airport waiting for his non-stop flight to Boston that was leaving at 10am.  It was so great to hear his voice.  He loved his time at the MTC, but he was ready and excited to go. 

Elder Henson was traveling with 6 other Elders - 3 English speaking and 3 Spanish speaking.  We talked for almost 40 min.  The flight is 4 1/2 hrs.  A long day, but at least he will get there in during the daylight hours.  We can't wait to hear of his new adventures and about all of his “firsts” - first companion, apartment, area, meeting the mission president and seeing the area he will be serving in for 2 years.  We can't wait to hear where his first area will be. 

We are so proud of Brandon's desire to serve.  We miss him like crazy!  Please write to him.  He would love it!

Week 2 in the Books!

10-13-2010

Hello Again Everybody!

Well, week 2 is in the books! This week was twice as fast as week 1! I can't believe I'm going to be in Boston next week!!! I'm so excited!

I did see Elder Stover up here a couple times, says he's getting the hang of things. I've met some good new elders last week. One is Elder Franklin who is an amazing dancer.

Yes Bryce, my companion is white J and there are 12 elders in our district. Probably one of the biggest in the MTC, but I don't know.

I sent Clint (Whitney) a letter today congratulating him on his mission call. I'm so excited for him to go to France. What an awesome country!

I didn't get the missionary reference books because I figured I could borrow them from a companion or the apartment in the field. I did get my hymnbook along with the scriptures last week. About the plaque, go ahead and keep Alma 29:1 on there.

"O that I were an angel, and could have the wish of mine heart, that I might go forth and speak with the trump of God, with a voice to shake the earth, and cry repentance unto every people!"

I already got the October Ensign through the Branch for so no need sending me another one. Thanks for trying to spread the word to others to send letters. Hopefully it pays off.  If you’re still using my phone, go ahead and ask some friends on there for their addresses and let me know through DearElder.com . (This has been a great way to send a letter to Brandon while he’s in the MTC.  He receives them either the same day or the next.)

Glad to hear BYU finally won! I did hear the crowd while heading to class and I was so depressed… well at least for 5 minutes. Too bad the Chiefs lost, but I'm sure Austin Collie had something to do with that. That's great Max Hall is finally starting. Hopefully he improves.

I can't think of anything else to send to Boston. Just don't send me anymore goodies till I'm out there because I have a stash already in my room (ha-ha). Thanks for all that!

Hope everything is going well back at home. Did Blake get his B-day card and present, along with the pictures for you guys? I'll be sure to send more as I get to Boston. Thank you for the emails, letters, candy and treats. Like I said last week, letters and packages are gold here! At least my family is coming through with it, unlike my friends (hint hint). (Just kidding)

Anyways my time is running out so I will get back to you guys in Boston. The Church and Book of Mormon are true and I love my missionary experience so far.

I love you all so much and you are always in my thoughts and prayers. Best of luck to you and May God bless you continually.

Elder Brandon Henson

Greetings from the MTC!

10-6-2010

Hey Family,

It is so nice to finally write back to you. I have gotten used to the new life here. The days are gradually getting faster each day, especially P-day today. My P-day is Wednesday but I'll only have one more next week before I fly out.

I've met SO many people from BYU! Both Elders and friends working the MTC dining haha. I did get my new scriptures at a great price thanks to the missionary discount :) .

I have been taking some good pictures but I don't see a memory card slot on these computers so I'll have to manually mail some printed pics and then find a USB to attach more to these emails (bare with me haha).

My companion is a cool guy. His name is Elder Brian Piacitelli (pee ach i tell ee) from Delta, UT. He is in my dorm along with the other companionship going to Boston: Elder Cade Thomas from Logan, UT and Elder Nick Berlin from Taylorsville, UT. They are really great men and we've had some good laughs together so far.

MTC District

General Conference was amazing! I can't believe what I miss when I don't watch Saturday sessions haha. It was just the break I needed from an overwhelming three days. It is getting chilly up here and it has rained the last couple days so haven't worn short sleeve shirts too much.

The food here is just like the Cannon Center, but a little better I guess. I don't know if I'll be able to finish all those goodies you sent me but I did finish off those Krispy Kremes from the Swainstons :).

So far I went to the temple earlier today. What a great time getting to feel the Spirit even more! Later I hope to get some letters done. I can't wait to hear from Clint about his mission call! Feel free to tell other friends of mine (either on my facebook or in the ward) to send me letters. I love hearing from the "outside" as we call it here haha.

The studying has taken some time to get used to but I enjoy reading the scriptures and I'm getting better at teaching the first lesson. Well, that is pretty much all I can think of reporting at this time. Like I said, I'll send some pictures in the next couple days.

I miss & love you guys so much and am praying for you every night. Talk to you soon.

Elder Henson

THIS IS ABOUT YOU



Elder Henson at the Missionary Training Center (MTC) 

Provo, UT - September 2010

“In whatever country you live, however young or inadequate you feel, or however aged or limited you see yourself as being, I tell you, you are individually loved of God, you are central to the meaning of His work, and you are cherished and prayed for by the presiding officers of His Church. The personal value, the sacred splendor of every one of you, is the very reason there is a plan for salvation and exaltation. Contrary to the parlance of the day, this is about you.”

- Elder Jeffery R. Holland
Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles