I'm Here!!!! & The First Week :)

I'm posting his letter from the day he got there and this weeks letter at the same time.  He's really enjoying it!!  I also subscribed to an email group of moms who have missionaries in Fresno and there are quite a few moms with missionaries in Porterville also :) It's exciting to have others to talk to who have sons right there too!!  One mother has family only 20 min away and said they are willing to help if anything is needed :)  YAY!!  They also have such fun and cool ideas for them.  Who knew??  One of the moms said that her son had funny dog stories to tell also.  I'll have to find out what the deal is with the dogs ;)...  One more thing I can't even IMAGINE what Al is going to look like with his hair parted!! lol. Cool story tho! ENJOY!!

Last Wednesday's letter:

I am here and I absolutely love it. I got here at the mission home and they had me go to straight to work. They had me working me Elder Garcia, and we went and contacted people on the streets for a couple hours, it was awesome! (we almost got chased by a dog it was awesome) He said I did pretty good for a first time, I love being able to do this work here now, and everybody is so welcoming.

Well I only have 5 minutes so love you all! Hasta Luego

Elder Horrocks

Monday's Letter:

The First Week

Well All I can say is that I am sooooo happy to finally be in Fresno! It has been pretty different from the MTC. The first night we got here I met Pres. Gelwix and he is awesome! He is an inspired man and makes me want to work hard out here. Everybody is so welcoming and loving here in this mission. Everywhere we go and talk to we tell them we love them. Its awkward at first but that's how we develop Christlike attributes. It's a super obedient mission out here as well. And a funny story is in our mission, we have to part our hair. So I am going to be parting my hair for the next 2 years. But there's a reason for it... Elder L. Tom Perry came to this mission and said, "If you will part your hair you will get twice as many baptisms." Well hey, if he says so then we do it. It also symbolizes that we "part ourselves from the world"

My Area is beautiful! It's called Porterville and it's about an 1 hour to 1 and a 1/2 from Fresno. But yeah I did get chased by a dog. It was scary because I've never been in that situation before. My new companion is Elder Tesimale. He is from Virginia and he is Samoan. He is a great trainer and is so in tune with the spirit and thankfully knows Spanish really well. I thought I knew a lot of Spanish, but no I still have a ways to go. I can still teach and stuff but it's different talking to real people and trying to hold a conversation. But really I can see myself improving already. My purpose right now is to always remember my purpose, because you can easily distracted in the field. But faith in the Lord always helps with that.

One Investigator we are teaching right now, name is Martin. He's awesome! He seems to really want to change and be a better person in life is what he says. So were trying to help him repent and quit smoking so he can be baptized by October 27th. Other than him we've talked with lots of people on the streets. That's a majority of what we do is go talk to people on the streets and bless their families with a prayer or share a scripture or anything. We call them Harvest Blessings.

It was great to hear all of you guys on Wednesday!! I loved it! I wish I would of had a little more time but there will be another time again. You guys all sounded so happy! I especially loved listening to J.T. say "cococo" haha but now your gonna have to teach him to say Fresno... I will keep praying for you guys. JT's sickness, Justin's trial, Weston, Marleigh, Mom, Charliegh, Grandma everybody back home. Tell Justin that he's okay. We all have trials, but we chose to come to earth to face challenges. The Lord said it wouldn't be easy but he said it would be worth it. And tell him I love him too.

Keep those stories coming because I love hearing from all you guys. Haha sounds like everything back home is crazy as always. But that's good I guess. But this is all I have to write because not a lot has happened yet except just preaching the Gospel and meeting new people :) Well I love you all. And God bless!

Elder Horrocks

P.S. if you could, send me that pull up bar that's in my room if Weston's not using it please, I fear that i will get fat haha so if you could send that. that'd be great

P.S.S WATCH GENERAL CONFERENCE!! There's much to learn from the Prophets this coming week!


Alex's addresses are permanently on the side of the blog but I'll put it here also.  The address is the same for written letters and packages.
 Elder Alex Horrocks
California Fresno Mission

1814 N Echo Ave

Fresno, CA

93704