Let's disinfect our behaviors!

October 19, 2020

Hello everyone!  

 

First and foremost I have a new companion! Elder Newman - he is awesome! And not gonna lie, I'm a little scared running the area because that’s what I have to do because I have been in the area longer and know it better.  It's going ok though; I'm surviving! 

Yeah, so it's a lot of introductions with Elder Newman and the ward members.  

 

Also side note, missionaries can't get political, and this is not to sound political. I think Covid is terrible. I'm not saying I agree or disagree with how it’s being handled, but I just think it’s terrible. The book of Psalms says the following: Psalms 139: 22 – “I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.” I hate Covid with a "perfect hatred", I truly do. I can't wait for the day I can burn my masks!!! I pray for those who have lost love ones and those how are at the front lines fighting this virus.  

 

Teaching update: Dan is off date for the 31st. He will probably be baptized sometime in November. He's working on some stuff, but he's doing great. Mike is moving along on a slow path of conversion, and we did service at his house this week like we do every week. Jordan and Malachi are not getting back to us, but we have two referrals line up! So that's exciting!  

 

Well, here’s a spiritual thought because Psalms 139: 22 probably isn't super uplifting. Sticking with the theme of Covid, let's talk about hand sanitizer. In 3 Nephi 11: 29, Christ says, "For verily, verily I say unto you, he that hath the spirit of contention is not of me, but is of the devil, who is the father of contention, and he stirreth up the hearts of men to contend with anger, one with another.”  So as our society is disinfecting every germ, we should also not be spreading hate or contention. We need to sanitize and disinfect our words - especially on social media. I am guilty of this before my mission for sure. When we reactively post things that are controversial on sensitive matters, it will cause contention. President Nelson has asked us to gather Israel, and when we cause any contention, we are scattering Israel.  

 

I invite everyone (including myself after my mission) to only post uplifting things that provide hope and are filled with love. We need to love mercy. As you love mercy and not participate in anything that creates contention, I promise that you will become more like the savior Jesus Christ.  

 

Love you all!  

 

Elder Hedrick 

Transfers!!

 

Your friend Elder Hedrick is.......... staying!!! I'll be in Manhattan for at least another six weeks! My companion will be leaving sadly. My district is being shook up. I have a friend in my district who is going to become a sister training leader and she is will do great! It is crazy that I have been here for 3 months already. I love Manhattan!! 

 

Update on our teaching pool: OUR FRIEND DAN IS ON DATE FOR BAPTISM!!! So he is going to be baptized on the 31st of October! I'm so excited for him! Our friend Malachi is hit or miss, and we will have to pass him off eventually because he's not in our area. Mike...well he's Mike stubborn and Catholic, but I love him. He is a great guy. Also, Jordan is doing well as he's getting his PHD at K State. He is super busy.  

 

This week we have done a lot of Facebook finding and service like yard work. We also have helped at a food bank. It's so much fun!  The people are great there!  

 

Well, everyone please read a conference talk that stood out to you this week. Don't just listen or watch.  Print it out or read it on your phone.  Ponder it in your heart and apply it to your life. Follow the promptings of the Holy Spirit and take action. I promise as you do this, you will become more like Him. To quote Elder Renlund "Don't you love it?" Don't you love becoming more like the Savior?  

 

Love you all! 

 

Elder Hedrick 

Words of a Prophet

Hello everyone! 

Conference weekend!! Loved it so so much! Elder Holland’s talk hit home for me! So did President Nelson's! It was fun watching with other missionaries. The first session we watched with our friend Mike outside of his house. 

Transfers are coming up, and I hope that I stay here in the little apple of Manhattan. I love it here! My district is amazing. Our teaching pool is growing now! We are moving, and I don't want to leave. 

Well, here’s my spiritual thought. Read "Remember Lot's Wife" by Elder Holland in his BYU devotional. It is amazing about not looking back at your painful past. 

Love you all, 

Elder Hedrick

Teaching More

September 28, 2020

Hello everyone!  

 

Another week flew by my eyes. This week was good but then took a sharp turn down stressful alley. So we had Zone Conference, and it was good and super motivating. Then my companion had a District Leader training in Wichita, so I was in Manhattan working the area with another Elder, and that was so stressful.  Yeah, this week has just been crazy, and then I hit a mental wall. But I'll keep going - just a tough past couple of days.  

 

Our teaching pool has grown so much! Our friend Dan is close to baptism although he's not on date quite yet. But he's getting there. We also found a guy named Malachi who is going through a lot right now and is looking for God. And Mike is still Mike - Catholic and very intellectual. Please pray for them all.  

 

I love and miss you all. Here’s my spiritual thought. "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." Isaiah 41: 10.  Trust in God! Enjoy Conference!  

 

Love you all,  

 

Elder Hedrick  

Don't be casting stones

Hello everyone! 

 

Another week has come and gone! I hope you all had an amazing week! We had in-person 24-hour exchanges with our amazing zone leaders! We also started teaching Dan! At our first lesson, I invited him to be baptized, and he said yes! He's not on date quite yet.  Hopefully in October! I'm so excited for him!  Also, Mike he is still learning slowly but surely.  

 

My Aunt Dee sent me these water beads, and I didn't read the instructions so now I made like a billion of them lol. So our kitchen is full of them. Elder Christiansen, my companion, is a good sport lol. Also, I’m excited for Halloween. I swear I buy something new every time we go to Walmart! I got Halloween masks, and I'm so excited to wear!  

 

Spiritual thought time! The world today has this mob mentality for sure. We see something or hear something, and we automatically believe it to be true and jump to conclusions. It makes me think of Jesus teaching about compassion when confronting a woman accused of adultery (John 8:2-11). Because this woman made a mistake, everyone wanted to stone to death! Then Jesus says, "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her." One by one they all drop their rocks and walk away realizing they have no right to judge her for sinning differently than they do. I ask everyone during these times to be as the Savior and be merciful. Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy. Don’t jump to conclusions - be patient and loving, it’s something I have been trying to do.  

 

Love you all,  

 

Elder Hedrick 

I LOVE TO SEE THE TEMPLE!!

 

Hello everyone!  

 

I got to go to the temple this week and see my parents!!! So much fun! It was hard to say goodbye again.  I cried a bit, but during the car ride home my mind was preoccupied with what just happened at the temple. SPIRITUAL HIGH! I honestly loved going with my parents and my mission president and his wife. The Oklahoma City temple is small, but it was amazing. 

 

This week I gave a blessing to a man dying of cancer. In the blessing I felt bad as I told him that he was going to die in a very nice way. I felt bad too that I was basically telling his wife that she'd be a soon widow. I cried so much.  The Spirit definitely directed the blessing - the veil was so thin. I wanted to say he would recover, but that's not what I was prompted to say.  

 

Also our lesson with Mike, our potential member, went well. He is now willing to pray and ask if Joseph Smith is a prophet of God. A HUGE step for him. We read the King Follett sermon with him because he is very intellectual. I just love Mike! We also are doing a ton of Facebook finding, and we've had some little success with it so that's good.  

 

Time for Elder Hedrick’s spiritual thought - in the most recent conference President Nelson asked us to strengthen our ability to receive personal revelation. He states, "I renew my plea for you to do whatever it takes to increase your spiritual capacity to receive personal revelation." Then he later states we cannot survive spiritually without personal revelation! Please open your hearts and minds and prepare for the General Conference!  

 

I love you all!  

 

Elder Hedrick 

The Car door vs My name badge

 

Becky sent these to Zac because he misses our 2 dogs - Oliver and Pearl

Hello everyone!  

 

Another good week in Manhattan, Kansas. We should all have smiles on our faces - Conference is 4 week or so away!  Also, the smile on my face is a little bigger because I get to go to the temple on the 9th and see my parents. I am going to the Oklahoma City temple, and I can't wait!  

 

A couple weeks ago I forgot to tell everyone a funny story.  So I'm getting into the car for church, and I notice my magnetic badge fell off.  We couldn't see it anywhere on the ground or in the car. So we leave for church and close the door. CRACK!  The badge was caught in the plastic lining of the door. Lol RIP, I'm getting a new one soon.  

 

My challenge to you all this week is to read the General Conference talk "How to Obtain Revelation and Inspiration for Your Personal Life" by Elder Richard G Scott. Read it, and then pray and think of ways to invite the Spirit to speak to you during the conference. General conference is a great time to receive answers to our questions!  

 

Love you all,  

 

Elder Hedrick