#weekly

Hola todo mi familia y mis amigos. Como estan?

It's been quite the... dry week. I feel that to be the trend with missionaries this past week. We're all just out here doing the Lord's work, however hard it may be. 

However there is one big thing that happened in the field. If you have already read another missionary's email, I apologize for the repetition. 

We had a Worlwide missionary broadcast from Salt Lake city. It was sort of a "sit-in" on a meeting for the executive missionary council. They spent a good hour talking about how we can more successfully fulfill our purpose "teach repentance, baptize converts". It was very good and I took plenty of notes. But that's not what was the most exciting part. They changed the missionary schedule! Now don't go crazy... The changes aren't drastic. We still wake up at 6:30, workout and do studies. However after personal study and everything is over at 10am, we are instructed to go out into the field and predicar el evangelio. Instead of Language and Companion study being 2 hours more in the morning, we are asked to do them in the day when we have time. I find that it works best with me and my companion around Lunchtime. They shortened Lunch and companion study to 30 minutes each. This gives us a lot more time in the field. We still come back to our houses at 9pm and get ready for bed. They are now allowing us to go to bed an hour earlier, at 9:30! What an inspired revelation from the apostles! They realize some missionaries need more sleep than others (AKA me).

Also... I gave myself a haircut this week. I found some blades and all the attachments under our bathroom sink, left by some elder who went home. Well, they're mine now! I stood in front of the mirror in what is now my bathroom, and cut my own hair. I did a pretty good job, I must say! Not a disaster! It doesn't look much different from what I had before, since I was a little hesitant and learning, haha. But yes, Elder Horton cut his own hair.

Another thing I learned. I must be very articulate when telling my name to new people. On two seperate occasions now, one has asked me my name, to which I responded "Elder Horton" in my best spanish accent so they could understand. They responded back with "Elder Joto??" and for my Spanish-speaking friends out there... I hope you are laughing.

As for our investigators, not much has happened. We scheduled a church tour with Russel and Digna on Friday. Me and Elder Keeler showed up early to clean the church and tidy it up a little. Little did we know, that due to the rains last Sunday, the church had flooded in certain parts. We had hired a company to come and clean it up, and they were there doing there thing with loud fans, and vacuums. Entonces, we went to Russel and Digna's house and had a good lesson.  They informed us they were in a bit of a bad emotional state, due to Digna's brother being shot and killed in Honduras. He was a pastor, and I know it will be well with him in the end. But they were very sad and they are working  to earn enough money to bring their family from Honduras to here. The conditions over there are bad. Pray for them!

Welll... I think that's it. Thanks for all your prayers! Have a great week!

--

Elder Horton

Pictures:

Car fun

Car fun

Chinese New Year

The fresh cut

#Loco

Hello Friends and family~~ I hope all is well with the snow, or rain, or sun. Wherever you are...

This week for Elder Horton and Elder Keeler was great! Finally, we begin to see a few fruits of our labors. Since the transfer started 3 weeks ago we have been working so hard, going by former investigators and Less-actives to help conversion. This last week, we decided we were getting a little bored of that and tried some other forms of finding people, including referrals. We have seen the fruits of our labors in forms of new investigators, more lessons taught, and a general happy spiritual feeling among ourselves.

However, the biggest event of this week is what was #Loco. We recieved a call from our Zone Leaders Saturday morning. We were aware of some Elders moving in the apartment next to ours, but the ZL's informed us we would be moving as well. So.. with a few more calls to clear up things, we began packing our clothes and food to take to our next apartment. The only bad thing about this move is our new apartment is 10 minutes outside of our area so we have to make that 10 minute trip 2-4 times a day! Other than that, all is well. The new apartment has 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. I get my own bathroom but we as missionaries need to sleep in the same room. So, the other bedroom is our study room.

Leaving behind my old apartment meant leaving behind the queen bed I was sleeping in, and the washer/dryer there. Back to paying for laundry again.

Let's see... our investigators Russel and Digna are doing well. We were able to meet with Digna this week while Russell was out of the house. We committed Digna to a baptismal date! She's progressing much faster than Russell is. He has too many doubts about the church and we will have to wait a bit longer until we can get him baptized. Meanwhile, Digna soaks up everything we teach her!

We found a nice lady named Silvia this week, who seems to be in her mid 20's. We only taught her a few points but she was a bit distracted. We will visit her later!

We also have talked with a 17 year old guy in high school named Jacob. We will meet him this week and see if he's interested in learning from us.

hmmm.. que otro... I ate some good food this week including frijoles.. They're good! We don't get fed as much in this new area by members as I did in Whittier, but that's okay because it gives me a chance to control what I eat to not get fat. Lol

aaaanyways I hope all of you have a fantastic week!

--

Elder Horton

Pictures:

weekly planning, where I found a selfie stick

We are now in the cambodians old apartment. This says "the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day saints" apparently

waiting to e-mail!

#spiritslap

Hello family and friends! I hope all is well with the snow, or sun... depending on where you are.

I will jump right into it this week, since I am at a little lack for time.

This Saturday we had a special mission conference. This almost never happens, but the whole entire mission came together into one church. We had a few special visitors to address us. First, we had Elder Ghent from the quorum of the 70. Then, Elder Halstrom of the presidency of the 70. Then, we had JEFFERY R HOLLAND visit our mission and address us in the conference!! Thus, the title "spirit slap". He is always such a powerful speaker. I almost enjoyed getting yelled at by him! He gave a very good message, talking a lot about return missionaries, and how sad it is when return missionaries go less-active. He kinda "threw down". He told us if we ever go inactive or less active after our mission and we see him walking down the street, that we better cross the street so he doesn't have to talk to us. Yeah... He's awesome.

Likewise, I got to shake his hand!! He requested to shake all of our hands. He asked us our name and where we are from. Later when he addressed us, He informed us that he interviewed all of us when he shook our hand. He said "I didn't care about your name or where you're from or any of that. I asked those things so I had plenty of time to look into your eyes. I wanted to stare into your soul."

And boy, did he stare into my soul.

Other than that, there was getting ramped up for the mission conference.

Elder Keeler and I continue to go along Former investigators, hoping that they might still have interest enough to continue to talk with us. We get a lot of no's, which is discouraging. I think we will have to try some other methods of finding people! We also have a lot of less-actives in our area. We are going to work with them to get them back to church!

Yes, this new area provides a lot of opportunities to work hard. The question is, will I? I know that if I, and all of you, work hard in my work and your lives, we are promised great blessings in Doctrine and Covenants Chapter 4.

May God bless you all for your continued faith in Christ. Continue to pray to the father in the name of the son. Continue to pay your tithes, continue to read your scriptures, and for heavens sake hold on to that iron Rod. God loves you and he wants you to talk to him.

With all love,

Elder Horton

Found a selfie stick in my apartment

Washer and Dryer - don't have to pay anymore!

My desk - it's neat for a missionary!

My workout area

#freakincarraso

HELLO FAMILY and FRIENDS! I hope and pray all continues to be well back in Utah and wherever else all you weirdos are.

As I indicated in my last e-mail, I have been transferred to Long Beach in the branch Ximeno. In my area is the beach, signal hill (for those of you who know what that is), and just a little bit of ghetto. But when I think of Long Beach, this is what I imagined. I'm in paradise!

My new companion is Elder Keeler. He's from st. George, he sings, and we get along just fine! I love that i'm no longer in training and that I get to make decisions as a companion now.

As for the title, a very general saying amongst missionaries here from what I have seen is "freakin carraso!" a quick Spanish lesson... You can add "ita/ito" or "asa/aso" to basically anything to make it sound smaller/gentler or bigger/more astounding. Thus, when a very nice car is seen, carro turns into carraso! the freakin added for emphasis. So, next time you guys see a ferrari in Utah, think of me and say "freakin carraso!"

I'm settling in very well here. We have one investigator who we teach regularly, who is Russel and his wife Digna. They have an autistic 16 year old Israel. I have only taught them once, so I will keep you all updated with them. As for the rest of our time, we spend it trying to find more investigators through visiting former investigators to see if maybe, just maybe it is their time to hear the gospel again.

I like to search for things to make the work fun. The other day as I got out of the car, 2 little black kids asked me "hey, you from church?" to which I responded yes. I then proceeded to pass the ball for them while they took on the roles of recievers and defenders. It was a lot of fun and those little things make my day. I love to plant little seeds like that and place a good image of missionaries in the minds of kids.

Well, other than that this week hasn't been much! I thank you all for being awesome and keeping the faith. This is my 132nd day in the mission, but who's counting? HA! I'm about 1/6th done with my mission, but who's counting? HA! Just kidding, I'm having the time of my life out here. I love you all.

Love,

--

Elder Horton

Pictures: (finally!!!)

Elder Ramirez and I's last picture

example of a freakin carraso

Voss water I got from a less active!

The new squad

Where I ate lunch today...

Me and Sergio last time we saw each other

#2transfersdown

Hello everyone! I hope you all passed a great New Years and partied a bunch! I, as a missionary, did not party. I went to bed strictly at 10:30 (maybe not exactly ;))

So I don't have much time today! Because yesterday was New Years day, today is a holiday and all the libraries are closed. So, the whole Zone is trying to email in the family history center in the stake center with 9 computers. I will keep this brief

the biggest news of all! Transfer facts came in last night, and I'm being transferred! I am going to Long Beach East zone, to the branch named Ximeno.  I am going to dearly miss the missionaries and the members in the Whittier zone, and the La Esparanza ward. But likewise I'm eager to move on, get a new companion, and learn even more. I am told my new companion is named Elder Keeler, and that he's awesome. That's all I know, and I will for sure keep you all updated next week!

I don't have pictures today, sorry! I didn't have too many pictures to begin with.

Once again, I thank you all for the love you show me daily and the prayers you offer in my behalf. 

I think that's all. Sorry for the short email. Keep going in the faith. I hope you all have made new year's resolutions to increase your faith daily. I know I have.

"The Lord is my light, then why should I fear?"

PS - pictures stolen from another Elder's mom ;)

#timetogo

Hello everyone! I hope you all had a good Christmas!

This week, regretfully, I do not have much time. This is the absolute worst week to not have time because I have so much to talk about.

Well first off, my birthday went well, and so did the solo. We actually didn't have a member of the 70 there to see me perform, so it took a little pressure off my shoulders, also, there were other performers too. There were a couple groups of singers, a violinist, and another soloist who performed. Nevertheless, I thought my performance went very well! I sung La Primera Navidad (the first noel) and I only messed up on the words once. Not to worry, everyone messed up a little bit at one point and no one was expecting a picture perfect performance.

Christmas went well, too. Of course, every missionary got the opportunity to skype home. 4 missionaries were invited to my bishop's home to skype, and as you can imagine that put a little strain on their wifi. So I could see and hear my family plenty well, but they struggled to see and hear me. But of course, I didn't care. I love the opportunities that I have to email and see my family and friends. I love you all and thank you for the support you send me each week.

Also on Christmas we had the district over to eat waffles and open presents before Church. It was very funny, because we have 2 Elders who go home in a week, one elder who has been out for a year, and 3 Elders who only have 4 months in the mission. All the new Elders got lots of presents and money, and the 2 Elders who are about to go home got nothing from their families because they are going to get their presents when they go home :)

That's all I have in this short time period but I wanted to just say one more thing: Christmas time is time to be around families. That was my favorite aspect of Christmas, is getting to be around my extended family. I want all of you to enjoy that time, because you don't know how long it will be until you see them again. Don't skip the opportunity to say "I love you", don't skip the opportunity to give your loved ones a hug. I love all of you and wish you stay safe in this rainy/snowy winter we are having.

Con Amor, 

Elder Horton

MTC comps with our Christmas ties

Zoomed about 100X to get this picture!

We took a hike

My face-smashed-in birthday cake

#whenit'schristmas

My Companion - Elder Ramirez

Christmas tree with all the presents

PS - From Mom - We had a nice video call with Ryan on Christmas Day.  They are allowed to call home on Christmas and Mother's Day.  He looked and sounded so good.  He did admit that it made him a little homesick.  There is wisdom in only letting the Missionaries call twice a year.  It allows them to focus on the work they are there to do and lose themselves in service.  We miss him like crazy and there may have been a tear or two shed on Christmas Day - from both sides of the camera, but he is doing great and we couldn't be more proud of him!

#Christmas

Hello family and friends!

As you are all aware, Christmas time is upon us. Though it is 6 days away, (yes I'm counting) my next p-day wont be until the 26th so now is the time I wish you Feliz Navidad!

This week seemed to go by quickly, as they all seem to do these days. However, that can be a good thing when you're looking forward to something such as Christmas.

Our Zone Conference is this Thursday, and that means my solo is Thursday as well. We have made yet another change as to what I am singing! I'm now singing La Primera Navidad (The First Noel) transposed into a lower key. We've worked long and hard on this, and I hope I don't choke!

We had a large rainstorm pass through Thursday. Unluckily, that was the day me and Elder Ramirez were going to go around and visit some referrals. Little did we know, Elder Ramirez had a hole in the bottom of his shoe and so for the first 5 minutes of walking in the rain it was fun. Fun Fact about Elder Ramirez: When he gets mad, he really gets mad. So, for the next hour of walking around it was constant complaining about his soaking foot and how no one was answering their door and whatever else... Nevertheless it was fun to use my umbrella for the first time in 10 weeks.

We continue to visit Sergio this week. However, his wife is a hardcore Christian, and twice now she has tried to Bible bash with us. Of course, we don't bash but we have a nice discussion so we can keep the spirit there. Both these times I've felt unprepared on that subject so it gives me a good incentive to study well. 

The Medina family is, as my companion puts it, "a waste of time". Time after time we visit them, and time after time they tell us they will attend church. Yesterday, we called them an hour before church and they told us they were coming. We stopped by their house 15 minutes before church to find them still in their pajamas. They will come to ward activities which gives me hope every time. But we get let down so often. Tomorrow we will have a scheduled appointment and we are going to "throw down" on them. Many missionaries know what this is. If you want to know how we throw down, go read chapter 6 of Jacob in the Book of Mormon and i'm sure you can imagine how it goes.

And of course, we had the ward Christmas party Saturday night! It's always a pleasure to sit down and talk with all the ward members and just simply have a good time. They had a pinata, as every good party should. I will include pictures.

Well I happen to be short on time. We still have a lot to accomplish today, including a hike and playing soccer! So, I wish you all a Merry Christmas. While you open your presents, be sure to keep in mind the meaning of CHRISTmas. Love you all!

Elder Horton

pictures:

The Elfders

Walking in the rain

Cool picture I took

Cool picutre I took

my watch...