I am posting two letters at once. I would normally do one at a time but So much has happened over the last couple weeks that I figured I better post them both at the same time!
Really good things are happening for Al :) As you're going to read in his second letter he was transferred. I found out before he sent his letter that he was being transferred because Brother Garcia sent me a message on facebook telling me they had found out the day before and he relayed a conversation that he had with Alex the night before. I don't think he'll mind if I share what he said. It touched my heart to hear the wonderful things he said about my son and to hear the things my son said to him also... "We learned yesterday that Alex will be transferring to Madera. I sat down to talk to him yesterday after a baptism. I told him what a great job he did in our area. That how I appreciated his diligence and perseverance to learn a new language and to try his best. I told him he was a miracle. His eyes got teary eyed and he told me how much he appreciated my comments. I expressed your love for him. How I knew how much you cared about him. He told me to tell you that he loves you and that even though he is not that expressive, he truly loves you. It was a pleasure to have your son here in our area- if only for a short time." Tulare is so blessed to have such a wonderful and loving leader in their area! Alex has learned so many life lessons from his example. It makes me sad YET AGAIN that he is leaving an area that he loves so much but I'm very grateful he was blessed to learn from such inspired people!! Soooooo! He got transferred but what I didn't know was that he was made a Zone Leader!! He is also with Elder Nye (his companion from the MTC who is also from Heber). He was very excited to serve with him again! I have NO idea what Zone Leader will entail but I know he'll do an amazing job!
He also sent a few pictures and I found a picture of him on the California Fresno Mission Blog giving a training. It was funny because at first glance I thought it was him, but then as I looked again I wasn't sure. I finally decided it was him (but still kind of unsure). Later that day I showed it to my mom who had the exact same reaction I did. She said "YES that's him!" and then a couple seconds later said "Wait! Show me the picture again! Is that him?? That HAS to be him! I THINK it's him!?!??" I laughed because I felt the same way. I discovered if I zoomed in and didn't look at how broad his shoulders looked or how thick is neck is getting I could see my teenage sons face again! HOLY COW HE'S GROWING UP! Most of the people I showed it to thought it was his dad at first. So that also confirmed to me that it had to be him! Alex says he's fat but really he's just turning into a man and filling out! His shoulders and body are broader than when he left. He looks like a strong young man! CRAZY! Charlie (from Lindsay) also sent me a picture the night of the baptism. He just looks so grown up to me!
I won't say much more. His letters speak for themselves. Enjoy!
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| The picture for the Mission Blog. Alex is in the top right corner. What do you think??? |
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| Alex with the Garcia Family |
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| Picture Charlie sent |
3/16/15
From struggles to blessings
Hola Familia! I would say that the title describes this week to T! So even though it's only been 5 days since I've written you all there's been a lot of ups and downs. But thankfully there was more ups than downs :). We've just had business like no other and have been struggling to get into people's homes. But thankfully God is good, and gives us success in his own due time.
We did not baptize the V. Family this week. It was probably best that way too, because we thought they were prepared but they were not. Their baptism will be this upcoming Sunday on the 22nd instead. The reason they weren't prepared is because they just want to be absolutely sure that they should be baptized now. Actually last night Elder Corona and I went to teach them and felt prompted to watch the restoration video with them. As we watched the video and reached the part where Joseph read James 1:5 I felt the spirit giving me confirmation that they were going to receive an answer tonight to their prayers, and I knew that they would. I could just tell as I looked at them after watching it. After the video the mom commented that she basically received an answer that it was true and that she should be baptized, but that she was going to ask Heavenly Father in prayer personally. There's no doubt in my mind they'll be baptized, whether it be this week or the week after who knows but they'll be baptized... Tony is doing great still! He came to church which was awesome to see! We were supposed to give him some pants and a white shirt and we totally forgot!! I felt soooo bad! So he was waiting at his house 10-15 mins into church and finally texted and asked "Where's my ropas?? And where are you guys??" (Ropas means clothes in spanish). So we left the church, got the clothes and ran to his house. He's doing good as far as the word of wisdom. He is a little hard on himself but he's up for anything still.
Yesterday at church we were blessed with the opportunity to give a blessing to a non-member named O. She is actually A. C.'s (a LA) cousin. We started teaching A. C. a few weeks ago and since then she's been back in church and brought O. with her. Unfortunately A. C. didn't come to church yesterday, but O. did! That shows great faith on her part. She asked us to give her a blessing after sacrament and we gladly offered to do so. She wanted a blessing of comfort and health as she was going through some issues having to go back to the hospital. I'm not sure exactly why, but she needed it. So we gave her the blessing and she started to cry. I knew then that she knew she would be alright and that God was with her and told her that where she needed to be was in the church. She could feel the spirit there strongly. As of right now, we are planning on going to her home with A. C. one of these days to teach her the gospel. She is one super solid potential investigator! She practically already is.
What's funny is that yesterday we actually had another potential from A. C. We went to her house to drop off some food that was given to us from a YSA party. She wasn't home but she was at another friends home so we called and asked if we could come to her friends home and drop it off there. After we dropped it off and everything there was a friend that didn't live there that asked what the difference is between our church and all the other churches. A. C. steps in and briefly explains the difference, and it was almost like she was bearing her testimony to her friend. She talked about the spirit, the BOM, the authority, etc. and her friends mind just became lightened and she was sincere from her questions. She was an honest seeker :). She said that she didn't feel worthy to come and look into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, but we insisted. We plan on seeing her sometime this week now hopefully. But it was like God led us there :)
So I'm sure you're all familiar from my past letters with the U. Family, but they are going through some rough times, even to an extent of possible divorce :( so if you could keep them in your prayers that would be great! The father has just fallen away a little bit, but it has turned into something bigger because of it. Satan is attacking the family and we really need them to stay strong. They're one of the best members in the spanish group, especially the mother. They've been great in assisting in member/missionary work, and it would be hard to see them go.
I love and miss baseball! Sounds like the boys got Juab though? That's awesome! Same with Marleigh for volleyball and softball. They're both stud muffins and I wish them the best. I'll be cheering for them here in Cali... And Justin too! I really feel like the Lord has blessed my family just from being out on the mission. I'm keeping him in my prayers as well.
I'm kind of sad to hear that you're selling the house ha ha danget you just got a lawn!! Well let me know anything else that happens with that. It'll be weird coming home to a different house :)
Congrats to KY! He'll be awesome roaming through the streets of Detroit! He'll do great, let him know if I can help with questions that he'll have in any way. I'd love to help
I love ya Family. My time is up!
Elder Horrocks
P.S. did you already send the iron rod? Let me know.
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| Talent show picture |
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| Elder Corona, I and Mini Missionary |
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| Temple after mission conference |
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| V. Baptism |
3/23/15
District Leader to Zone Leader, Elder Ballard's visit, and the V. Baptism
Well the heading says it all! It's already the end of the transfers and to be honest I'm kind of nervous to be a Zone Leader but excited at the same time. AND you'll never get this.... My companion this next transfer is ELDER NYE!!!!! My MTC companion!!! We're both Zone leaders together who ever would have thought that?? That makes me pretty excited. Elder Corona will now be the District Leader here in Tulare and I will go up to a place called Medera which is actually Elder Corona's area before Tulare. It's in the Fresno West boundaries so I'm not to far from the mission home itself. I'm really excited to see what the Lord has in store these next few transfers. Funny story actually... Elder Corona had to go up to Fresno last Monday for choir practice before the mission conference. I saw Elder Nye there and we talked and caught up on some things and we came across the subject of being companions again. Like "what if this" and "what if that" kind of stuff. Then by the time transfer calls comes around and what does it say? "Elder Horrocks will be going to Fresno West in Medera with Elder Nye." WHOAAAAA!! That's probably one of the craziest things that happened on my mission. I guess the Lord was listening on our conversation :)
Elder Ballard's visit was awesome! He truly is an inspired Apostle from God. Elder Hallstrom from the Seventy was there as well and he commented that having an apostle visit you could be one of the best and most important days of our lives. I believed him! He really said some things that the mission really needed. He talked a lot about talking to more people in general because our teaching pools have been really low in the mission. He basically told us this, "If you wanna teach more, you gotta talk more!". He said that talking to at least 10 people a day will get us where we need to be. But sometimes just simply talking to random people isn't always easy, but that's why we have Preach my Gospel. Talking to people is something I've been able to do in the past, but it's a hard skill to keep. I've struggled to build the courage to go talk to more people but if the counsel is coming from an apostle of the Lord then you might as well go and do it right? I had the opportunity to shake Elder Ballard's hand, didn't get any pictures but I got to meet him. He's pretty short which kind of surprised me! I thought he was taller and bigger, but he is definitely big in spirit!
Our work this week in the field was pretty good! Busy busy busy which is good. Yesterday the Father of the V. family was baptized! The son wasn't because he was sick so his is postponed till next week, and the Mother is waiting to have a greater assurance of baptism. My mindset is still the same for them. I don't doubt they won't be baptized, they will! I'm a little sad to not witness the other two being baptized but I know their lives will be blessed forever for doing it. The baptism was.... well... it could have been better :) I can't explain all of it through email, but some of the things that happened throughout the baptism was pretty hilarious. When I come home you'll have to remind me to tell you the story about the V. baptism. Cause wow it's funny!... Our other investigators are doing well too. We set a date for baptism with A. C.'s cousin and she's been coming to church for the last couple weeks now, so she's doing great! T. didn't come to church so we have to move his baptism date to next week, but he's doing pretty good, we haven't talked to him in a while. Tulare in general is moving up in things! I'm sad to not see it become a branch soon, but Elder Corona will see it happening. I think he'll be staying until summer comes around
I'm glad to hear that everything at home is going good! Sports sounds pretty good as usual. Sorry to hear about the loss to Carbon, but they're gonna do good this season if they'll keep at it. Mar is going pretty good from what I hear as well. I'm glad they're both doing good!
That's cool you saw me on the blog giving a training, and I guess I'm happy you say I'm becoming a man now. Was I not a man before?? Haha what you all trying to say?? I know I'm getting bigger... I'm about 175 right now and getting fatter. If the members keep feeding me the way they are I'll probably be 200 by the end of my mission.
My time is cut short but I love you all! Know that I keep you in my prayers and are always in my thoughts. I love and miss you much!
Elder Horrocks
