The First of the Pictures

The Temple and the Mountains

Provo Utah Temple Sign

The sun was very bright!!!

Me in front of the Temple

Angel Moroni above the Provo Utah Temple

Elder Christensen & I in front of the Provo Temple

Mi Compañero, Elder J. McKade Christensen

Master Jedi Christensen

Behold! The power of the Jedi.

16-September 2009

Querido Familia,

It is P-day of course. I'm going to write this e-mail and send it in letter form, just in case, so you may get this twice (mor like should). I'm also going to send my receipts for you Mom, it all makes sense I promise (and it was typhoid & the second hepatitis A shot). That sucks about Sis. Gilbert, my prayers are definitely in her behalf. I can only get a haircut on Wednesdays (P-day) and they've only got one barber that day, hopefully next week. I would cut my own hair but they say no because it is hard to clean up after. And the bookstore expenses are mostly miscelaneous stuff.

Dad: Good luck on Sunday, I heard you have to translate the talk to español, let me know how that goes. And unfortunately we don´t get to go to BYU for Tuesday morning devotionals, but we do get our own on Tuesday nights. Last night we had...Elder Jeffrey R. Holland! He focused alot on the mission being "real life" and how if we do this mission the right way nothing at home will ever feel "right". Another major focus was that we should use the only weapon we have: OUR WORDS, and should never hesitate to open our mouths. The Spirit all day yesterday was so strong.

Mom: Texas weather sounds nice right now, Utah has been all over the place since last Thursday or so. Everything here is great, time is flying! I wrote Sis. Boyer last week and might again today if I get time. Belli & Beau are silly, I'm sure they think something bad happened to me or something. Goo luck to Ryah with the job & NHS, is Mrs. Weathers still sponsoring? Get Ryah to give my blog address to a few of my favorite teachers (she should know who they are).

Oh yeah! About my companion...His name is Elder Jackson McKade Christensen and he is from Taylorsville, Utah (outside Salt Lake City). He is very athletic and claims to have 5 horns (lol)! He is a convert, baptized at age 15. We get along pretty well (about 99% of the time). We've figured out how to teach really well together, especially with his rock solid testimony & conversion story! He just turned 19 in June and will be serving in Chile Santiago North too.

Today we of course had the opportunity to go to the temple and participate in...sealings. I acted as witness & proxy for sons. It was nice to go back and try to remember some of the experience we had in LA (eventhough it was slightly different circumstances). This has been a really good past couple of days!!!

I want to end with my love for all of you and my testimony of this great work. I know there is no other place in this world, or even universe, that I should or would rather be than to be serving a mission & going about the Lord's work. I love this gospel with all my heart. I know, like Elder Holland, that "This only comes around once...this is real life." I wouldn't trade even the experiences I've had in these first three weeks for all that the world has to offer!!!

I love you all and my prayers are with you always.

With all my heart,

-- "Elder" Todd (Hendrickson)

P.S. Can you please start putting the date on your e-mails, the one on our server is off for some reason?

P.P.S. Elder Holland's message was unique in that he restated, almost word for word, some of the comments our teachers have said over the last couple of days and focused more on when we come home than most of the other devotionals/firesides have.

Just a little gem to think about: John 15:15-16. Try to liken it to the call of "every member a missionary".

MTC Week #2 (or 3 not sure how we count)

Hola Familia,

I got everybodies e-mails and Dear Elders. Mom you were right Dear Elders didn't come until Tuesday either because everything goes through the MTC post office. I'm kinda ticked right now because I typed for 15 minuts earlier (1/2 my time) and it deleted my e-mail because the system randomly kicked me off. Everything at home sounds exciting, with the house coming along and Ryah getting her license (is Gabe jealous yet?). I'm not too sure I'm a fan of her driving MY Honda though! LOL. Looking forward to the packages as they haven't arrived yet.

P-day at the MTC is almost like any other day, super booked and busy. We got to go to the temple this morning (highlight of my week) and last night we had a devotional by Elder Richard G. Hinckley. I'm glad everyone is trying to keep up with me at home and yes it is ok to put the handwritten letters on the blog (just use your discretion as to which ones need to go on). Sorry I didn't e-mail last P-day but I didn't get free time until 6:30 and e-mail shuts off at 6:00.

Another kitten!!! No way, it seems like Dad has bad luck with attracting desperate cases like that or something! Wish I was there to see the reaction he had to this one. Say no to adoption, actually it doesn't matter to me, I'm not there.

So do we still not have news on the new bishopric or has no one let me know yet? I still vote McCabe, I'm sure he appreciates that.

I'm loving the MTC (for the most part). Trying to stay healthy. The Spirit here is so strong!!! Spanish and the Gospel are coming along quite nicely (SURPRISE, Central actually helped...but don't tell them that). I'm growing so much in my testimony of this Gospel and my teaching has dramatically improved since I've been here and especially in the last week.

I know that this is where I'm supposed to be and that this is a great work that we have been set apart to do. I know without a doubt in my mind that this Church is the only true church on the Earth and I love it with all my heart. I know that Jesus Christ lives and loves me.

I love you all and look forward to hearing back from you as well as any missionary experiences that you are having back home. Give my love to all. And pictures are on the way within the next couple of days.

Love y'all,

-- Elder Todd

Farewell Elder Hendrickson

A farewell was put together for Elder Hendrickson on Saturday August 15. A good time was had by all and he got to say goodbye to some of his close friends.

Lots of Lasts...And One First

Wow! I'm finally starting to realize that I'm only 2 & 1/2 weeks from entering the MTC. I've got 2 weeks until I'm set apart and won't see many of the people that I'm so close to now again for over 2 years. The whole start of the mission experience is starting to hit home.

Last night I got to to see some of my closest friends for what will probably be the last time for 2 years. I was able to drive to Longview to share one last night with a few of the YSA that I've gotten the experience to know over the last year (all but one...we go back "a little farther"). One of these friends is getting ready to go back out on his mission within the next couple of weeks because of some previous trials while he was out previously. Another friend is getting ready to go off to school at BYU on the 17th. So, it wasn't really just for me. We were able to go bowling and then out to Gilmer Lake and take a little time to enjoy the scenery and peacefulness (despite the constant murmuring)... It was fun to see everyone again before we all go our separate ways and hopefully we can keep in touch wherever we are.

This past Friday I left my job of the last 3 years (unfortunately I had to close still) and several of the friends that I wouldn't otherwise have. It is wild to think that some of the coworkers that I've grown so close too may never see me again. I've had my last school (in a university setting) for a while, my last day of work, my last free time with some friends... Within the next three weeks I'll have to say goodbye to my family, the rest of my friends, the home I've known for my entire 19 years, the ward I've grown up in, and all of the comforts that I now enjoy.

However, this I do know; I know that I'm am doing what the Lord expects of me at this time in my life. Today in Sunday School we had a lesson on service and had the priveledge to have 6 missionaries in our ward (a couple from the offices, our current senior couple leaving on the 17th, and our new elders), they each shared with us their perspective of a mission and the reasons that they were on a mission. This really got me to thinking about why I'm truly setting aside 2 years of my life to serve a mission. I know I'm doing this because it is expected of me, but it is so much more than that as well. I love this Gospel and see a mission as a great faith and testimony building experience, in this endevour I look forward to having an impact on the lives of those I serve.

So among all of the lasts that I'm currently experiencing, I had a literally once in a lifetime experience. Today I had the opportunity to travel to Henderson and receive my Patriarchal Blessing. I met Brother McAvoy there at 4:00 and was able to sit down with him and talk for a few minutes before receiving the blessing. It was a very spiritual experience and had a impact that I'm finding hard to put into words. Not to make it sound like a burden, but it really opened my eyes to the impact that I could have on those around me. I look forward to being able to ponder on the truths and teachings that it contains as it is truly personal scripture. I encourage anyone who is able who has not received their Patriarachal Blessing to do so.

Just as a final note...this week holds a lot of unknowns. Saturday is my "farewell" get together at the Lufkin Ward Building from 6-8 pm and Sunday I get to give my last talk in my homeward for the next 2 years. It is all coming so very fast! But I wouldn't change it from the world!

Return Trip

So, the countdown continues... I've got less than 1 month of work at Randall Medical Clinic left, my "farewell" is in the works (I'll keep everyone posted on that), and I leave in about a month and a half... Boy time flies!!!

Today I had the opportunity to make my first return trip to the temple since receiving my own endowments. I drove down by myself to the Houston Temple for the three o'clock session that my friend from Cub Scouts was going to be attending to receive his own endowments. I arrived at the temple around two o'clock in plenty of time to get ready and have a little bit of chill time before the session. After changing I was waiting in the upstairs lobby for my friend and his parents, and waiting, and waiting. Turns out that they had gotten there early and had been asked if they were interested in attending the two o'clock session instead, of course they jumped at it. At about a quarter til three I went into the chapel and look around at the hand full of people there. A few minutes later the session coordinator came in and announced that the session would be broadcasted in Spanish and that anybody that would need to hear the session in English would have to have it translated (luckily the only English speakers were out numbered 7 to about 30). I can now say that I have been through my first Spanish endowment session (kinda cheating that I listened in English though).

The session ended at about 5:30 and in the dressing room I ran into my friend and his dad, and then in the lobby I see his mom. She informs me that they knew a member of the temple presidency and had been asked if they wanted to attend the two o'clock and had been sitting in the sealing for a little while (the only reason I ran into them). We then went outside and took pictures on the temple grounds and talked for a little bit and then went our separate ways.

I can definitely say that the Spirit was with me in the temple today and that it is a different experience doing the ordinances for someone else than it is for myself. I challenge each of you who read this that have an opportunity to attend the temple and perform vicarious ordinances to pray that the Spirit of those you are serving is with you and that you may feel of the impact the work you are doing really has and what it means to them.

P.S. Love you Boyer family!!!

The "Next" Big Step...

I know it has been a long time since I last posted, but nothing of real importance has come up in the last couple months. I've gotten my passport, my travel instructions, and had about 6 more interviews since the beginning of May, but other than that the same old work/school routine. Until yesterday...

Yesterday I had the opportunity to go to the Houston Texas Temple and receive my own endowments (careful not to use the phrase "take out"). My parent's, a close friend, and I left at 9:30 in the morning to make it to the temple by 12:30 pm for the preparations for my 2:00 endowment session. Of course we still had to go to distribution for some final "supplies" before my session. The trip proved to be longer than Mom expected as we pulled in to the temple lot at 12:30, putting me arriving at the actual temple at about 12:45. At the front counter one of the workers was there waiting on me (he had almost given up) and ushered my dad and I to where we were supposed to go.


[Naturally, Mom denies the blame for us being late (she was driving 90% of the way), but on the way home we proved it because she didn't drive and we made it back in a little over 2 hours.]

Both of my parents and I, along with two close friends (Angela Jones and Jared Huntsman), were able to go through the 2 o'clock endowment session, with me only causing one hold-up. (Go figure, my first time through and they have to stop the session because of me. We all knew I was slightly messed up anyways!)

The Spirit was so strong in the temple yesterday and I know that there was no other place that I would rather have been. I'm thankful for the close friends and family members who were able to share the sacred experience of going through the temple for the first time with me. I want them to know that I love them and greatly appreciate all they have done to help me get to this point in my life. I'm so greatful for the opportunities that the gospel has given me and look forward to continuing to grow and progress in it for the rest of this life and into the eternities. I'm grateful for the knowledge that I have at this point and for the testimony that I possess.

So far, in regards to putting the feelings I have about my mission into words I've come up with two thoughts: 1) I'm so excited about being given the opportunity to put aside my career, education, and personal life for 2 years to serve the Lord and the people of Chile by sharing my knowledge and love of the gospel with them. 2) I am eternally grateful that the Lord saw fit to give me almost 4 months from the time of my mission call to the time I enter the MTC and I'm also grateful that the brethren are and were inspired enough to understand that that was what I needed. I'm definitely not sure that I could handle all of these emotional experiences in a shorter time frame.


I'll try harder to keep my posts more frequent as I continue my preparations to jump with both feet into the mission field at the end of August.

-- "Hurrah for Israel !!!"