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 !!!"

Not So Little White Envelope...

"You are hereby called to serve as a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You are assigned to labor in the Chile Santiago North Mission... You should report to the Provo Missionary Training Center on Wednesday, August 26, 2009. You will prepare to preach the gospel in the Spanish Language..."


On Friday, May 1, 2009, I received my not so little white envelope that I've been anticipating for 2 weeks now (since the final submission of my mission papers). It is impossible for me to convey both the feelings I had when I saw the envelope addressed to Elder Todd Stephen Hendrickson, I knew that would happen but the thought of it is so much different than the reality, as well as reading the call. My mom has been hoping that I didn't go foreign but after much convincing by myself, my brother, and my dad she has slowly warmed up to the idea.

It is still impossible for me at this point to even begin to describe my feelings, but I know that my call was inspired and I hope that I will do well in the field.

Over the next four months as I prepare to enter the field I will be doing my best to keep this blog updated with anything new. Once I enter the field my family will be updating to keep everyone informed of how I'm doing in the field.