This letter was summing up two weeks in a row. He's had such great experiences and times is flying for him! I'm not going to lie. I MISS HIM SOOOOO MUCH RIGHT NOW!! Not just because it's Christmas but it's also almost his birthday! It's so weird not having him here and no presents under the tree for him. He told the people there about our Christmas Idol tradition and it hit me hard that he's not here :( It's not going to be the same without his goofiness. Tickets for the mixed emotional roller coaster please??? ;) Because I've also never been more proud of my boy!!
I'll be getting a letter from him tomorrow. I'm sure he'll be sending Christmas love to everyone. I'll try to get it posted before the holiday :) He'll also be Skyping us on Christmas day!! CAN YOU SAY E.X.C.I.T.E.D.????? I cry every time I think about it :) I'll be setting up my Skype account tonight so I can be ready and waiting!! WHOOP WHOOP!! Love and Miss him! Merry Christmas!
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| Party after the Sister's baptism |
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| Christmas Party |
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| Packages Galore!!! I think you've sent me enough?? All the other missionaries are getting jealous of me over here! |
Summing up two weeks before
So first off I'm real sorry I couldn't email on Thursday, we were at the temple and we got back in time but next thing we knew we had some other errands to run that pertained to missionary work. So we came and emailed real quick for about 15 mins or so and then headed out. I'm not sure how well I'll remember these past couple weeks that have flown by but I'll try my hardest to remember.
Our investigators are doing really good! I've noticed more and more each day that success doesn't come measured off of how ever many baptisms you get, it's about following the guidance of the spirit everyday. We're always seeking to find the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost. Heavenly Father's SECOND greatest gift he has ever given us is the Holy Ghost. I've never realized so much, up until my mission, why it's so important that we have it. When we do this, THEN we baptize. This next up coming Sunday on the 21st we have two baptisms. Remember Angela? The random person we talked to on the street and invited her to church? She's being baptized along with her son! It's kind of cool how it turned out. She's always so appreciative of the love that we express towards her. We're also hoping to have at least one more on the same day and that's Mar. She just needs her parents permission and then she's golden. The next following Sunday on the 28th we have a guy named J., he told us yesterday that his answer was "yes" :) His wife, J., is already a member but is less active. She's getting back into the swing of things and is coming to church again. She supports J. every step of the way so we're fortunate to have her... N. D. is another investigator who should have been baptized a long long long time ago!! Her parents have been members for like 10 years now, and she still hasn't been baptized? She came and did a church tour with us just to kind of get a feel of the church again, because she's been to church before. Ever since then she's just been so much more open to us. I think in the past we've tried to force things on her but really what she needed was a little slower pace, and that we are friends a long the way. She's been more open to that kind of approach and she came to church yesterday and dinner with us at a members house. She's doing awesome! It's possible, at least from how open she's been with us, that she'll want to be baptized on the 28th... Je. will also be baptized on the 28th but she's a little iffy. We're kind of unsure about her but we'll see how she keeps progressing.
All of our other investigators are progressing but don't have any baptism dates yet, but they will one day!! Hopefully... Some of these come less actives and recent converts too. Something our mission president has advised us is to always work with the less actives and recent converts, not necessarily take the responsibilities of the home teachers or any of the other active members for them, but to simply "teach" the less actives and recent converts. We don't invite them to Church, we don't start new member lessons for them (unless nobody is assigned to do it) we just "teach" them. Or help them to know what it feels like to have the spirit in their lives. We're always teachers and that's how we find these other people. Less actives and recent converts just seem to always have a friend who has interest in the church. So we ask them for referrals and It makes finding people TEN times easier.... The other people are J. V., and M. J. V. we found through a member referral. He's pretty cool! His family is huge! We've taught them 2 or 3 times but are still kind of in their Catholic traditions. M. had a dream about the temple, and he continues having dreams. His dream of the temple was described like he was in front of the temple with a big water font, and a member telling him "Come, come M., this is where you need to be." Hahaha I thought it was sweet! But I don't think he quite understands it yet, even though it's a very blunt dream. Sometimes I just want to say "BE BAPTIZED! *cough cough". None the less, we're still working with him and helping him connect his dreams together... M. and T. are still around but they've kind of lost the recognition of why were actually there to teach them. So we see them maybe twice a week rather than everyday. T. hasn't made up her decision of leaving M. as far as we know. S. and J. have kind of fallen off the planet too. They're always constantly having to go do drug tests and programs in Porterville, so they're hardly ever home. All the others we haven't seen much either... It's like the Lord has given us a whole new set of people for Christmas. Of course because it's getting close to the end of the year, and we're SOOO close to reaching 1,000 baptisms we've sacrificed a lot, we've fasted a lot, prayed a lot, and so the Lord blesses us as we do so.
Saturday the 13th was a HUUUGEEE Christmas party in Lindsay!! Some members were saying that's the most they've ever had come to the party. I think there's somewhere between 150 to 200 Tamales there? DANGGG! I think only 8 members cooked all of those too. And we had a Christmas program for the kids, a lot of our investigators came. I think that's what got J. to decide yes to baptism. Just the atmosphere and the people were welcoming and kind, it was a really good party. I could of had pictures but I didn't have my camera on me. Elder Moody did though so he'll send me some and I'll send them to you.
Christmas really is the best during the mission! I love it! It's so cool to see the true meaning of Christmas every where I go. This month has been an experience for me that's helped me to appreciate the atonement more. I've seen it work on me here, and then in turn work on the people that we teach. I've had to "give" more of a portion of me to others, and then Heavenly Father blesses me and I receive more. I really have missed home during these times of the year, but I've become so much closer to our Savior and his gospel always seems to amaze me...
As far as Christmas and what we're doing. I believe on Christmas eve we have to be in early at like 6 o clock at night. And then Christmas day we have talking to our families at a members home. We have a member that will let us skype, so we'll be skyping if that answers your questions :) I'm not sure what time, but I believe it will be around 9 or 10? So 10 or 11 in Utah. It doesn't really matter to me who's there and who isn't. I want family to be there for sure at least. Like Grandma, Guy and Carm, Joe and Wendy, who ever else is visting Roosevelt from our Fam or cousins, aunts, uncles, just all of them. As far as friends I guess Stephen and Haydo and Digger, just... WHOEVER haha. I asked President how long I could skype between you and Dad and he said about 25 to 30 mins each. So you for 25-30 and Dad for 25-30. (You're going to have to tell Dad that because I forgot to mention that to him)
I'm glad to hear that everything at home is good with the family. Sounds like Christmas will be sweet! Last night at my dinner we went around the room sharing a thing/tradition we always did for Christmas, I told them we do Karaoke so I'm definitely going to miss that!! I'm sorry to hear everyone's sick :/ at least J.T. and Charleigh, hope they get feeling better.
Mar and West kicking some trash in sports as usual. Hope basketball season is going good for them. Work hard! Tell West and Mar both to keep it up
Well that's all I've got familia. I hope I answered all of your questions. I got little time but if there's anything else that you need to ask let me know next Monday. I appreciate hearing letters from back home. I love and miss you all. Pray for our investigators that they'll come closer to Christ.
Feliz Navidad
Love Elder Horrocks
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