TRAVEL DAY & I AM HERE SAFE

Travel day….Blake was traveling with 9 other Elders. They left the MTC @ 4:30-ish am. He got checked in, rounded everyone up,went to the gate area, and then called us around 6:20 am. It was great talking to Blake on the phone today. we caught him up on the happenings at home and with family. He filled us in on more details of the MTC and what he learned while there and how much his testimony of Jesus Christ had grown. He loved the MTC and is so ready to now go live what he has learned.

So, I’m here safe! And I am so stoked to be here. President and Sister Wallis are amazing! We had a testimony meeting this evening and wow, it was great. Well tomorrow around 2:30-3ish I will be with my new Companion! I am really looking forward to it! We're pretty much having a sleep-over with all the new Elders in Raleigh. There are 10 of us, and 7 of us are in the same distict as the MTC haha.

It was great talking to you guys this morning and hearing your voices. Man tomorrow around 5 pm I'll probably be out there preaching the truth. Sister Wallis is an amazing cook; I'm staring at a cake right now that is amazing!!!!! No offence mom. haha It's probably because I've been in the MTC for three weeks! Ü

The Elders in the area are funny haha, they crack a lot of jokes, and the airport we flew into is very nice! Well I love you two SO SO much, and I am so thankful to be out here as a Disciple of Christ! I miss you guys, and I Love you with all my heart.

-Elder Henricksen

THANKS FOR THE CARE PACKAGES & MISC MTC PICS

Yes the Pulvers sent me a care package including Charleston Chews and a bag of Reese’s . Thanks you guys! Aunt Cheryl & Uncle Ben sent a BIG box with homemade Caramel Pop Corn, YUMMY haha. Yes I shared...
I'll call you as planned from the airport before we board.

Here are a few more MTC pictures to share before I leave in two days.



Each time you call one of the Elders by something else...well push-up time


Playng in the snow...Elder Huff & Price







Collage of District and Sisters in Zone Blake’s Zone.

TEMPLE, SUPERMAN, TIE EXCHANGE, MTC MAP

You guessed it…Laundry time once again. Blake’s care package with homemade Oreo’s seemed to be a big hit. (mission accomplished) also included was his new CTR ring he ordered before he left home; and yes it was “SICK"
Alright....Travel plans are all set for Monday January 26th. I’m so stoke, we have 5 days left here in the MTC!! It has been great here the past week!! We have been studying a lot and getting down the lessons, were just finishing up lesson 2 (plan of salvation) and getting to lesson 3 before we leave! so to answer that question we have been studying preach my gospel a lot to get our lesson plans down and understand more the doctrine that is being taught, and I love how well I am understanding it ha-ha. It’s amazing what you can learn with the spirit getting your back for sure!! Last night Elder John B Dickson from the 70’s spoke at the devotional. The spirit here is so CRAZY!!! I love it, if you just invite the spirit in with you it's like automatic response that it will be with you I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!

The food isn’t that bad here, we have a lot of chicken stuff ha-ha so it’s alright to eat, and every other Friday they switch between pizza and teryaki stix. Gym time is only 50 mins, so I usually run a mile on the track, then play some v-ball with a lot of people, its way fun!

P-days consist of waking up and getting breakfast, then chill till laundry time, then go up to the room and study till lunch then we go to the temple! We went last p-day! WOW the temple down here is TIGHT!! The rooms are amazing! And just being there with the other elders is GREAT! I’m pumped to go today!! And today we get some newbie missionaries to be apart of our Zone, because the rest of the elders in our zone just left for their mission today!! It was sad, but they were really tight elders.
Well I am so STOKED for the rest of today and to visit the temple and see the new missionary’s ha-ha!! I miss you guys and love you so so so so so so SOOOOOOOO much!! I’m so happy that I choose to do this and follow Ryans and dads example :) I love you guys and miss you!!
Love,
Elder (breezy) Henricksen !!!!!
Provo Temple
It's a plane, it's a missionary, it's Superman Blake!
The Tie Exchange, the elder holding the bag has Blake's tie around his shoulders (I think I like his better)The Famous MTC World Map, pointing to North Carolina

FIRST EMAIL HOME

Hey family!!! 1.14.09

How are things going over there 45 mins north?? Things are going well here, just doing some laundry ...I just hope I’m doing it right ha-ha. But man I wont lie the first couple days were rough here, I was getting kind of homesick, but its ok now, I felt great comfort from the gospel, its was great not going to lie. So last night for our devotional Elder Jeffrey R. Holland came and spoke. WOW it was so amazing, after that talk there is no way I will be homesick again or even come close to thinking it!! Because we are called to be true Disciples of Christ, and our calling is not just to preach the gospel, we are saving peoples lives, and there is no better calling than that!

The food here is not that bad, we have a lot of stuff to do with chicken but it’s ok. Yesterday we had hot dogs, so you can imagine how happy I was around lunch ha-ha.

My companion is Elder Brian Spencer, he is actually from Sandy Utah, and to sum it up he is the complete opposite of me ha-ha. But its ok he is a great guy!

But it is great here I can’t even begin to explain to the spirit that is felt here on a daily basis! It really has changed my life and the way I look at my mission and being out here to serve! We have one classroom that we are in the whole 3 weeks so we get tired of it easily ha-ha, our teachers are 2 returned missionaries Brother Lords and Weaver, they are way cool people and know what they are talking about. I am so pumped to get out there and save peoples lives!!!

I love this gospel and everything about it, I miss and love you guys with all my heart and sucks to say but I’m not homesick anymore, and thanks for the Cinnamon rolls all the elders in my district say thank you and they love you!!!! Well I’ll talk to you next p-day!! I love you guys! I’m lovin it and doing very AMAZING!!!!

Much love,
Elder HenricksenI guess this is how Blake does Laundry in the MTC ha-ha
This is more like it...emailing loved ones while waiting for laundry to wash and dry
Blake's District and Inst.Brother Weaver is next to Blake

Blake and Inst. Brother Lords

FIRST LETTER HOME

Here it is….Blake’s 1st letter from the MTC; written the night of his 1st day in the MTC. It is short enough that I will include his whole letter.

You learn so much the 1st day it blows your mind, where everything is and such. My district is tight though, some chill Elders. My companion is Elder Spencer from Sandy, UT. He is into music, Technology, that sort of stuff but a really cool Elder. …….But I know for sure this is where I belong! It is a great feeling here! I Love It! Tomorrow is supposed to be so long. But oh well! Well I don’t know what else to say but this is SICK!!!! (that is the highest form of “good”)
I love you guys with all my heart, Miss you
~Elder Henricksen
You guessed it, my bunk for three weeks!
Looking pretty organized
My Companion Elder Spencer

ENTERING THE MISSIONARY TRAINING CENTER (MTC)

As we approached the MTC parking lot I had a Déjà vu moment of precisely 8 ½ years ago when we delivered Ryan to the MTC 8/7/00. We got the luggage out and traipsed across the street, mind you I was fighting back the tears, because I was NOT going to be the one to lose it. Blake was so excited for his new adventure and was filled with enthusiasm to go forward and take it all ON and this gave me a reassuring boost of courage. We took the token “MTC sign” picture and were then directed where to drop off Blake's luggage. We went back to the front of the building where Blake went in the official, “NEW MISSIONARYS ENTER HERE”, MTC entrance. Blake went in one door and we went another. I'll catch you on the other side.



Once inside the MTC Blake picked up his information packet; Room assignment/key, meal card, “official” Missionary name badge, booklet w/map explaining services available and times, standards booklet including companionships, dress and grooming, meeting and class times, and other general information. And most important to me (he-he) Blake’s mailing address card.


I had the PRIVELDGE/HONOR of placing Blake’s Official Missionary name badge on his suit pocket where he will honorably wear this for the next two years as he is a representative of THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTERDAY SAINTS.


We then had about 10 minutes to visit, take pictures, and then we went into the Chapel for Instruction, meeting the MTC President, watched a short yet very moving video clip of what our Missionary will be doing the next few weeks and then………we all sang “CALLED TO SERVE”, disclaimer; I have yet to make it through this song without tearing up, in fact as I write this, I am tearing up! Well I confess, I started the tear fest, then Gina, and it spread from there. Then came the time to say our goodbyes’…..we were instructed not to drag this process out but “rip the bandage off” so-to-speak. I think by this time I had already gone through my little tissue packet. The Missionary’s were instructed “to go through this door and the families out the other door.” So Blake mustard up his strength, headed towards the door, turned around and gave us a double peace-out sign and that was that! I think anyone who has sent a son and or daughter on a mission will concur with me… this experience is heart wrenching yet ever-so-sweet. I truly would not want him anywhere else or doing anything else but giving two years of his life in the service of his elder brother Jesus Christ.

MTC DAY

On MTC Day I fixed Blake one of his favorite breakfast items, that he has actually perfected, Swedish Pancakes. I think he has made these for just about all his friends.
Ryan & Jill, and Gina & Nate met at the house and we loaded up Blake belongings for the next two years. We all drove to Provo together in Ryan and Jill's Expedition. We went to our when-in-Provo-must-eat-at- restaurant -Brick Oven for lunch. Great food and even better company!

Our server put together a special “missionary packet” together for Blake a few of their famous sucker and a few huge cookies. He was all grins.
We have a standing tradition while at the Brick Oven the kids always have to try to open the now sealed shut pizza oven door. Now off the MTC (Mission Training Center.)

LAST SUPPER, SETTING APART, AND THE PACKING MIRACLE

The time actually went very fast with Grandpa Karl’s passing, Funeral, Thanksgiving, bowling, Jordan Temple event, bowling, Christmas, Blake’s Mission talk/open-house, New Year, bowling, Dates, gatherings , did I mention bowling?, Blake’s last super @ home, and Setting apart, January 7th came way too fast for Ron and me.

For Blake’s “last supper” at home he requested grandpa Ken’s famous Marinated BBQ Flank Steak, my homemade sourdough bread, orange jello w/mandarin oranges, baked beans and broccoli. And yes we even broke out the ‘You Are Special Today” plate for this event.


We all went over to the church, were Blake's Uncle Ben and Aunt Cherly met us for Blake's setting apart as an offical Missionary.


During the prep time we had a “Blake’s Mission Corner” in the rec room where all of Blake’s items were accumulating until the night before, when we were wondering how will this all fit in one suitcase and backpack. Between Blake and Ron, they made it happen. Yes my friend, miracles do happen.