Hey Hey Hey!! & I'm Staying

Two weeks of letters.  I got pictures of the Pumpkin Carving Contest from S.  They looked like they had so much fun!  I also talked to a Sister Daly who goes to church in the same building as him.  She saw his picture on the facebook page for CA Fresno missionaries.  She said he is well fed and happy!!

Still loving the work!  He loves the people :)  and he is staying another 6 weeks in Madera!  This will make his 6th transfer there.  He loves it tho, they are his family!!  Hope you enjoy his letters

Pumpkin Carving Contest

The Results!!  He wasn't quite finished with his :)

A knife for an eye ;)

Messing around in the car

Elder Ordonez got a balloon last monday at zone activity

We got to paint a room for a member this weekend for service

 I know you said you send me some Jesus Sandals, and I'm excited for them.
But check these out!! Sorry my feet are so white

Last district meeting of the transfer

Oct. 12th

Hey Hey Hey!

So I heard that some pieces of my mission are with the family?? Or at least meeting everyone? That's awesome!! It's so awesome to see people that I loved here in the mission with my family in Utah. I'm excited that Charlie is in Utah! Hopefully he stays by the time I come back, and I hope he's doing well with finding work and everything he needs. That's so crazy to me to think about that!! Who ever knew those things would have happened. I hope he's been a blessing to you all! He's definitely been a big blessing to me. As well as the others. Elder Nye, Sister Gomez, man I'm pretty jealous of ya'll! Hanging out with my mission people!

So it's been a very very busy week! Nothing but busy busy busy. Lot's of work to be done still but we can do it. I'll give you all the updates on the mish. So M. is still doing really well, and we're actually able to help him even a little bit more now! The reason is is that he told us that he's been smoking 8 cigarettes a day, but that's good because now we know what to help him with primarily. I knew he smoked but I didn't know he smoked that much. President was with us and he expressed such a sincere love for him! I'm so grateful he was there because he always seems to bring such a great spirit when he teaches with us. We told him that he can do quit! He's already come so far from where he was spiritually, and he can do anything through Christ and his Atonement. We're meeting up with him tonight and he's going to start step 1 :) I'm excited for him. As for R. she's been doing everything she needs to accept being able to come to church because of her job. Therefore, because she wasn't able to come this week, we'll have to move her baptism date back a week depending on what happens. We're still in October so she has a couple weeks. We just have to trust in the Lord that he'll provide... Let's see, The C. Family. They're coming along here and there. I know they feel something different and they were put in our paths for a reason. We're seeing them tonight and we will see how things go today. I believe they understand why were there, but the Dad has a logical stance on things. He loves the concept of families but I think he's missing the spiritual part. Only the Holy Ghost can help a person to know these things. As for now we're seeking to continue helping him have spiritual experiences. To convert him a little bit more... I think that's all the families. OH! We got word from H. that he might be getting his marriage license from the states here in about a month, sometime in November! We'll see what happens.

U. is doing great! I know he's already been baptized but he's going to receive the priesthood soon. He's going to be an awesome priesthood holder! I know that's going to be such a big blessing to him and his family. He said something this past Sunday that really stuck out to me. When the priesthood was doing their businesses they had mentioned something about going to the temple, and he asked why they were doing that. I told him that they were simply going to do work for the dead and that he could do family history and temple work for his ancestors. I told him that we'd teach him, but then realizing that I have hardly any experience if not any experience with family history! So I'm going to repent so I can teach him. I'd love to do it, but I'm not quite sure where to start. So yes even some missionaries don't know how to do Family History Work! But what better place to learn than the mission.

So transfers are coming this weekend. I'm not sure what's going to happen but I have a feeling that Elder Guereca and Elder Ordonez are going to leave to a different area and E. Guereca will finish with E. Ordonez, and I'll get a different companion. I'm not sure how long the Lord plans on keeping me here. If I stay the next transfer it will be going on 6 transfers! Madera just can't get enough of me! I love this place so much and the people I've met but you never know. Transfers can be distracting at times but wow they just fly! Soooo... Pray that I'll stay! I'd love to stay!

That's all folks! I love everyone of ya and look forward to hearing from you soon. I'm sure there were many things that should have mentioned but to many good things to count. But know that I love you all!

Love your son

Awesome pictures by the way! I miss you all and hope you had a great time! I'll send ya some pics


Elder Horrocks




Oct. 19th

Yup I am staying in Madera and this will be my 6th transfer being here as a ZL as well! I feel like I've been here for only 6 days. It goes by super quick! I kind of figured that that's what was going to happen because Elder Guereca now has one transfer left and normally missionaries are not Zone Leaders their last transfers. He was a ZL for about 9 transfers I think, which is like a whole year. He's going to go to a place called Winton which is about 45 minutes up north from Madera. He's going to finish training Elder Ordonez. I loved those two so much and it's such a bummer to see them come and go already!! I wanted to finish training with Elder Guereca but the Lord needed them both elsewhere. My new comp is Elder Benites, and he is a missionary who just finished being a former assistant of the President. He's from Murray Utah. He's only got 2 transfers left. What's cool about him is that we're already really good friends and he was good friends with a few of my roommates from college. Small world huh? We're going to have a blast! The work is setting up awesome and so he's gonna have a great start with me :)

Our area is doing really good. One thing that made me a little sad this week was that M. left yesterday for Mexico :( we were doing so great with him too. He was working on quitting smoking and it was such a blessing to see him grow in his desire to follow Jesus Christ. As I mentioned before his unstable job was giving him a hard time and he was getting really tired of having work one week and not having any for another. He couldn't take it anymore and so he came to us last Friday or Saturday and told us he's going to leave to Tijuana Mexico in 2 weeks because he has a stable job there. Next thing we know he was gone Sunday morning and we didn't get an opportunity to talk to him or say goodbye. He promised us he'd keep going to church and meeting with the missionaries, which I trust he will. But wow shame on him! He said he wants to come back here to get baptized but we'll see if it happens.

We have these awesome investigators and potentials still. One of them being R. The only thing that's holding her back is her work hours. Man what's with us and having investigators and their work hours?? Haha it seems to be the big obstacle of Madera. If she wasn't working on Sundays she'd be baptized in a heartbeat! For the rest of the work right now the work here in Madera is find find find. And the solid people are only going to happen through the members. We're going to go see U.'s Mom and sister tonight and they're going to be feeding us dinner tonight, and we're having a pumpkin carving contest with them too. So pray that they'll be receptive and willing to listen to us. It'd be so awesome to see all of that family join into the church. I can already envision it!

Not anything big has really happened this week other than transfers and work work work. I really love the pictures and videos and looks like you all had a fun week! Everyone looks all grown up and I still can't believe how much has changed back home since a year and a few months ago. I miss every single one of you.

I got the video of the field goal and I was so heartbroken to see it!!! You think that a mission would make you forget those butterfly feelings when a game is on the line, but they still exist. It made me feel like I was back in high school. There's still times where I wish I could go back and play. Man what a heart breaker though!! Go tear up Carbon next week! I know they will. Tell Wes that he's an animal! He's got a proud big brother. Nice plays and highlights!

I gots to go but I'll be hearing from you soon. Have a great week and I love ya!


Elder Horrocks

Helllooooo Familia & How's things on the home front??

Two more weeks of letters.  He was super sick from eating bad chicken and missed out on a lot that week but he is back to his normal self now!  Poor kid :(  Those sort of things set his momma into a panic!!  Thanks to the Hill family and to Lupe for helping him out, getting him medicine and helping him get well!

I'm super grateful and so was he that he was healthy by that weekend in order to go to U.'s baptism :):)  He says that it was amazing and the spirit was strong!  He is going to make a great member.  His wife has already been baptized along with most of her family.  They are all amazing people and I am so glad that he has been blessed to have them be a part of his life!

He also got to do some translating for a dental event of some kind.  It sounds like it was HUGE and that they got to use their language skills :)  It seems like he's had opportunities do something new each week and he's learned from each of them!  Even if it's translating for someone that they are about to have 5 teeth pulled!  Hahaha!  I guess the morrill of that story is... be grateful you can still taste your food??  Even if you can't chew it ;)

This week I was able to finally meet and hangout with Charlie!  YAY!!  He was so much fun!!  He drove with me to Weston's football game in Morgan and even put up with my crazy bipolar-ness during the game (he described me as the coaches daughter, the little blonde girl, on Return of the Titans. hahaha!!  Pretty accurate!  I get pretty into the games).  I got to know him even better and I am even more grateful for his influence in my sons life!!  On Saturday he came over for a birthday party at my in-laws home and he brough with him Paul (Alex also taught him), Kevin Nye (Alex's MTC companion and also his companion in the field. They were together for a total of 6 months), and Camila Gomez (a sister he served with in Lindsay).  I can't even tell you how fun it was to visit with the people who have been spending the last year with Alex!!!  They told me how much they loved and respected him and they also told me that he is still "Breaking the Ice" (a story for another time, hahaha)!!  Let's just put it this way... My baby has not changed at all!!  He's just grown ;)  Well he's grown spiritually anyway!!  LOL.  I'm so happy I got to meet them!  I can't wait to meet the rest of the people who I have adopted into my heart and family soon also.  Thank you to everyone of you who have been there for, taught, and loved my son :) <3

Charlie and I at Weston's game :)

Hanging out at the birthday party.  Just missing Paul :(

U.'s baptism

Our exchanges coming back from Yosemite

I forgot to mention that I went on exchanges with Elder Winterton and we got to work cows for one of his investigators, fun service! He's got a little bit of poop on his shirt

The big building where we worked

Me and another Elder from our zone

Our group at the Dental Care service

Sept. 28th

Helllooooo Familia

Monday through Thursday.... SICK! That is all hahaha as a lot of you know I ate a really bad chicken from the fridge Sunday that afternoon after Stake Conference. As time passed by I was feeling totally normal, until later on that night. When we were getting ready for bed I started to get really cold and hot and a fever started to develop. That whole night I didn't really sleep and I thought that by Monday evening it would have all gone away, but that didn't happen. The next day was even worse! I won't give you all the details but I'm just so grateful for the family that was able to take care of me that day. They're the Hill family from the English ward here in Madera and they were such a great help! I kind of felt bad for them haha. That day was bad because I missed out on Zone Conference and we had Elder Arnold from the Quorum of the 70 come and visit us. I heard he said some amazing things and that there was so many great teachings to be implemented in our lives and in our mission. I'm kind of catching up on what had been said so... little by little. Future advice to siblings, cousins, and whoever else preparing for a mission; DO NOT eat 2 week old food on your mission!! No matter how hungry you are just wait! When you eat bad food you miss out on important stuff! There, that's my advice haha... I'm feeling a lot better now. I really don't know what I was thinking to eat that chicken. I just got a call from the doctor today after doing some tests in the quest lab last Friday and he said that I'm good to go, and there's no salmonella or anything in my system. Thank goodness :)

Though I was sick the first few days this week ended really well! U. was baptized this Saturday and it was my favorite baptism thus far. The highlight of it all was his testimony at the end of his baptism! Even though President Clark baptized him and I saw Elder Quintana there and many other great stuff, his testimony was the best! We invited him to do it and we knew he'd second guess it but he did an awesome job! In his testimony he talked about the example that S. (his wife) and L. (his daughter) had been to him. It all started with S.'s little acts of faith and her prayers and then U. saw that and it touched him. I think that's what originally got him to listen to the missionaries. It was the example of his family. He then talked about how he wanted to live with S. and his little family forever and then he started to cry. The spirit that came from him was incredible! He then went on to say that he's at peace knowing that he'll be with God and his family again. It was such a sincere testimony! His mom and sister were there at the baptism and they were crying too. They could see that U. had done something amazing in his life. I know 100 percent that they felt the spirit from U.'s testimony... And so it's moments like those when you can witness someone sincerely turn their life around and see God transform them into the person he wants them to be. It's moments like those that make a mission totally worth it. Each day I feel that the only true motive worth living and serving for is love for Jesus Christ. And I know that Jesus Christ helped U. every step of the way and made great things happen for U. because of his faithfulness.

Well our work in Madera is doing awesome! We still have M. and actually President came out with my companions while I was sick to teach him, and they set a date for the 24th of October. Sweet!! And M. is pretty firm on it too. I guess his smoking is not as bad as he made it sound but he still has his temptations every once in awhile. He wants to get baptized and then move back to Mexico and so he's on track thus far. He's a big miracle! And continues to be as he puts forth his part. Our other investigators are still there but not as solid, still working with D. and H. We actually found a new investigator named R. She's been ready forever now! We have a date with her for the 17th of October. She got so excited when we invited her to be baptized! So the work is great. It feels like people are prepared left and right to receive the gospel.

Is Charlie the best or what??? Man I miss him so much! That's awesome that Kace got to see him. His story is something else right?? I'm really excited for you guys to get to see him.  I actually texted him the other day asking him if he was in Lindsey when I went to a baptism down there 2 Sundays ago and he texted me back saying he was in Utah. He told me that he was meeting up with you next week or something? So hopefully you do!

Sorry about Weston. I'll keep him in my prayers and thoughts. He's a tough kid and if he takes care of himself and behaves he'll be alright. Congrats to Mar!! Still kicking butt in V-ball. Anyways I gotta go. Time is up!  I love ya'll!!

Love
Elder Horrocks

p.s. I had some 20 dollar nike sandals that I gave away and I'm wondering if I could get another pair from back home? But let me know for sure. Oh and also an Elder in my district wants to know if you can send me the sheet music for a song called "All of me" and it's by the Piano Guys. He wants to learn the song!

Oct. 5th

How's things on the home front??

So this week was awesome! The weeks just keep flying by and I can't believe it's already October. It seems like yesterday actually when I first got to Madera I was watching General Conference here 6 months ago in April. General Conferences in the mission are the best! I have one more left in the mission and the rest I'll be watching somewhere else :( it's crazy and hard to believe!! 

Well how was everyone's week?? Ours was really good. We had some pretty cool stuff going on for us out here in Fresno. This past Friday we went to a Dental Care Just Serve project. If anyone knows what just serve projects are it's a program that the church is having members and missionaries participate to get the church's name out there. Anyways, so we went to a big one in Fresno. We did things like interpret and translate, help people  to registrate for a visit with the dentists. The service project was in this ginormous building! Kind of like the building where they would do the big mountain jam basketball tournaments for the b-ball team in Salt Lake. As for me I had the opportunity of interpreting and translating for people before going into their actual procedures with the dentists. They'd tell the dentist what was wrong and I'd repeat it back and well, you know how translating goes! It was neat! I've never translated before except for church talks. I was really nervous going in! After about an hour or so I had learned a lot of dentist words and so by the end it got easier. We were being asked as interpreters to be here and there and everywhere for help! The majority of the people that came were hispanic. What was really funny is that a lot of these dentists were saying that they've never had so many people come in for extractions. I had to translate for one guy that had to have 5 extractions!! 5 teeth being pulled! And when we told the hispanics that that's what they had to do they just took it as nothing and said, "Okay".... I was thinking "wow you're cool with getting 5 teeth pulled?? Alright!"  There wasn't much complaints haha. They eventually had to shut down the extraction section because there was too many. It tuckered me out running back and forth like that, but I had fun doing it!

Let's see... How about General Conference?? Probably my favorite thus far I've watched!! I had lots of questions going in and it's true that when you go in with questions that answers will always come. It just increased my testimony that these prophets and apostles are inspired and called of God. I think my favorite of them all.... man I don't know if I have a favorite of them all haha, they were all so good! I think the message I got from it though is that we are all in this together and that we need to be an example of the believers and a light to the world. These trying times in the world just keep getting crazier and crazier and the voice of that great and spacious building that mocks today is a little bit different than what it was a year or 10 or 20 years ago. I thought it was the voice making fun of the saints because of the manner in which they live. Rather the voice today is an attack towards our beliefs and faith. The voice is more disintegrating and competes for our identity of who we are. A lot of people are losing their faith because they listen to them and it's sad to see. The counsel of President Uchdorf's is one that I'll always remember, which is to SIMPLIFY! Many over complicate their experience in the church rather than follow the plain and precious truths which God has set up for us. It'll take eternity to understand the fullest of the gospel, so we have to be careful. We'll never fall away if we study, ponder, pray, and keep the commandments. Simple right?? And we'll always be happy and have fulfilling experiences in the church. I think 2 Nephi 28:30 sums it all up :) 

Our investigators are doing great! M. is a little bit stressed because of his work. They're not giving him much to do and kind of look at him as "less". So he's going through a hard time with that. He doesn't like sitting around the house haha. We visited him last night and we gave him a blessing and he felt lots better. Dang I wish he would have watched conference! It would have opened up his mind so much. He lives with members and so you'd think they'd be watching it right? Unfortunately they didn't! His date is still set for the 24th... We have a girl named R. set for the 17th but I'm not sure if she'll be ready by that time. She really wants to be baptized! But work is holding her back. We get a lot of investigators with work being an obstacle. She works on Sundays. But if God helped U. with his work hours, he can do it with R.!... I don't have a lot more time to email because we're going to a zone activity but just know that the rest of those we are teaching are doing so well. We have great things ahead in October. I wish I could comment of the events that happened back home, but I can't so I love every single one of you! I hope you have an awesome week.

Love Elder Horrocks