Hey Y'all

I LOVED watching conference this week!!  I knew that Alex was doing the exact same thing at the exact same time and I felt like Fievel in An American Tale when he's looking at the moon singing "Somewhere Out There". ha ha ha!  I know I'm a weirdo but that's how I felt!!  ...It literally gave me comfort to know that we were doing the same thing.  I felt like he could have been sitting next to me on the couch and I loved it!!!  He had another great week :):)  GEEZ I LOVE HIM!!!

 

Hey Y'all

This week was full of blessings and miracles! It's been pretty crazy with the work down here in Porterville. When I wrote you last week I actually had the opportunity to go on my first companionship exchange, because Elder Tesimale had to go to a training meeting in Fresno. So it was me and an Elder named Elder Hill, he's pretty cool and works really hard. When I was with him I had to speak a lot more English to him rather than Spanish. We went back and forth in our assigned areas teaching lots of different people. It's very rare when an Elder shows up in a mission, and has to go on a transfer after being out in the field for a week. So it was definitely a different experience!

The main highlight of our week was conference. Wow!! It was amazing to hear their messages! They emphasized a lot on the Atonement and on rising up and coming unto to Christ. When I would take notes I heard in almost every talk that would quote Jesus Christ, "Come unto me, for I am meek and lowly in heart." One of the biggest things our  whole mission is doing is trying to apply the Atonement into our lives as missionaries. We have loved it so much because of the blessings it brings! Anything in life that is unfair can be made fair through the Atonement of Christ. Everything can become better through the Atonement of Christ. One of my favorite talks was given by Adrian Ochoa, and he said, "When your testimony is questioned, or you need spiritual strength... Look up." and so I have been doing that or trying to apply that to myself so I can be a better missionary. But of course everything we learn in conference we can apply to our lives!

Yeah we part our hair out here :) it actually doesn't look that bad, because everybody wears it haha. But yes we are super obedient out here and we honor our mission traditions. But I'm not sure how long ago the promise of parting the hair was given. I just know that Elder L. Tom Perry gave it. I can't send pictures of my parted hair yet because I don't have a USB chord. But I'll send some as soon as I can!

Martin is doing good! We are trying to help him quit smoking still but he needs to come to church before he can be baptized as well. We invited him to Conference but unfortunately he wasn't able to show. Ha we invited lots of our investigators to come to conference or church but we haven't had much luck yet. But we still got to keep our heads up and strive for the best, and most importantly have faith! That's what runs this mission is baptisms and faith... Oh but we did get another person to commit to baptism in the first lesson!! That was awesome!

I'm glad to hear you have met two mothers of two elders that I have already met out here :) Elder Barney actually said that you emailed his mom. And Elder Connor Wright is our district leader and he lives in the same apartment complex as us. We are pretty good buddies :) He's played baseball and played at Orem High School, so we get along really well. I've met lots of Elders who I've already become great friends with.

I was so happy to hear about the Mexico City MTC!! It felt like I was looking at my old home. Mexico City MTC was one of the best things that's happened to me. I've met President Carlos Pratt there, who's the president of the MTC. And I think I listened to Elder Velenzuela while I was down there too, but I'm not quite sure.

Sounds like all is well back home :) I love hearing about good news and about how everybody's doing. Sorry to hear about football, but I know they're working hard and trying to be a better team. And I know Weston is tearing it up, he always does. Tell him to keep it up, and to continue to be a leader and a example to the team. Haha J.T. still sounds like J.T. :) I love hearing his stories. It sounds like Marleigh's team beat Uintah! Tell Marleigh that I told her she would beat them! Charleigh... It's crazy to hear how fast she is growing! It'll be different seeing here later. And I'm really happy to hear that you and Justin are applying the teachings of the prophets and apostles to your lives :) There will be so many blessings, temporal and spiritual, that will be poured from heaven from obeying the law of tithing as Elder Bednar said.

Welp... Conference is great. And I love you guys. And I am truly grateful to be serving here in Fresno! I will write you more next week, I hope I got everything in this letter. There were probably more but we are just so super busy that I can't remember all that goes on. But I love you all, and I will talk to you soon :)

Love Elder Horrocks

P.S. I haven't got the packages yet but I'm sure they are at the mission home. I'll probably get them in a week or so... Also the prophets said that Members in missionary work is important, so if you ever have the opportunity be willing to help a missionary :) President Monson said, "May we all be found doing the work of the Lord."