Thanks be unto God for His Unspeakable Gift

12-1-14

This week has been a good one! It's been really full (like how I was on Thanksgiving).  Hermana Juarez and I were invited to attend MLC (Missionary Leadership Council) on Wednesday. MLC is the meeting that Sister Training Leaders (STLs) and Zone Leaders have with the Mission President, so we were surprised to be invited to it.  We were the only sisters there that weren't STLs (although there were other elders there that weren't Zone Leaders). But Brother Gonzalez and Brother Craig Hill were there from the Church Headquarters Missionary Department were there and gave us a really great training.  I learned so much and was so grateful that we had been invited.  We talked to President Mullen afterwards and he told us that the reason we were invited was because we're the future leaders of the mission and he wanted us to receive this training so we can share it with those we'll be leading in the future. Yikes. That's a little bit intimidating.  But it also gives me a desire to work harder and better myself so that I can be worthy of leadership position. 

And then on Thursday we had a great Thanksgiving! We ate at the home of la familia Esteves. They had a lot of family and friends over, as well as the other missionaries, so it was really nice. And the food was great! It was pretty typical Thanksgiving food, except for a couple dishes which were super yummy as well.  And afterward we went to the stake center and played volleyball and soccer with the other missionaries in our zone.  IT WAS SO FUN.  I miss playing sports. So it was nice to have an opportunity to play for a while and work off some of that turkey.  I was grateful for that.  I'm also so grateful for my wonderful family who has given me so much love and support.  I'm grateful for the opportunity I have to be serving as a missionary in the Spanish language.  I'm thankful for every single person I've been able to meet as a missionary and the relationships I've been able to build.  And more than anything, I'm thankful for our Savior and his Atonement.

                   

2 Corinthians 9:15... "Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift." 

That scripture sums up perfectly this week and this holiday season.  I'm so grateful for our loving Heavenly Father and the gift he has given us of his first-born son, who suffered all of our pains and afflictions and faults so that we can not only find peace in this life, but return to live with Him in the next life. 

For those of you who haven't seen it, the church has put out a new 3-minute video called "He is the Gift" (http://christmas.mormon.org/) to help us remember what Christmas is all about.  I love the invitations it presents. Discover the Gift.  Embrace the Gift.  Share the Gift.  I invite all of you to discover and embrace the gift that our Heavenly Father has given us.  Utilize the Atonement and it's strengthening powers in your own life and share that joy that you've felt with your friends and neighbors.  If you do this, you'll truly find reason to give thanks to God. 

I love you all and hope you have a great week! 

Con mucho amor, 

Hermana Horne 

There is Power in Prayer

11-17-14

So miracle of the week... 

Last night we stopped by an investigator's house because she didn't come to church, so we wanted to see what had happened. Her husband answered the door and talked for us a little bit.  That was miracle #1 because if he's home he usually just stays in his room studying or something, but most times he's not home when we visit.  While we were talking at the door he said that he has faith, but he just feels like something was missing. What a perfect opening for us (that was miracle #2)! So we testified that he could find that peace that he was missing through the church of Jesus Christ because we have the fullness of the gospel. When we said that he opened the door and told us to come in for a little bit (MIRACLE #3!)! We were kind of shocked, but obviously stoked. We were able to have a REALLY GOOD lesson with him, and answer a lot of his questions and doubts.  We had a member with us and she was AWESOME.  Telling about her experiences and her testifying really brought the Spirit.  By the end of the lesson he said that he wanted to see if what we had to say was what he was looking for/ could help him, and he set up a time to meet with us later this week.  It was SO GREAT. 

After that lesson we had two people that we were thinking about visiting, but it was getting late and we didn't know which one we should go to.  We prayed to know where we should go and both felt like we should go visit a family nearby.  When we got there the parents weren't there (and they're who we usually talk to) but the teenage son opened the door.  We ended talking to him about the power of prayer right on the doorstep.  He had never prayed before but we taught him how and told him about how great it is.  We ended up saying a prayer with him right there and he agreed to pray before he went to bed that night.  It was super good and I know that God had directed us to exactly where we needed to be at that time. 

That's about all I have time for this week, but I have a testimony of the presence of God in our lives.  He guides and directs us to where we need to be and what we should do in our lives.  All we need to do is ask Him. Prayer is a powerful thing, and I think too often we take it for granted.  The prayers that we say with a sincere heart and real intent are not the prayers that we're most likely to get an answer to, but they're the prayers that we're more likely to RECOGNIZE the answer to. Take advantage of the ability we have to pray to our Heavenly Father! He's there for us and he hears and answers our prayers.  I know it.

I love you all! Have a great week! 

Con mucho amor, 

Hermana Horne 

Double the Work to Do!

11-10-14

This week and last have been great! We got transfer calls 2 Saturdays ago.  We were totally expecting that Hna.Juarez would leave Lake Elsinore and I would stay, because that's usually what happens when training is over.  But we found out that we would be staying together! Which is crazy! We didn't really understand it, but then we found out our ward, which covers the entire stake's boundaries, was only going to have 2 companionships of missionaries, instead of 3, like it's previously had.  So Hna.Juarez and I took over a ton of the Elders' area, so we have a lot more work to do! It's awesome! And it turned out to be a really good thing that we stayed together, because it's almost like we got doubled-in to the Elders' area, plus we have our own area to cover.  But we have some really great investigators and a lot of work to do, which I love.  So things are going well! 

And what's really cool is that even though Hna.Juarez was my trainer, I don't feel like I'm being trained anymore (my training ended November 2). I mean, I'm definitely still learning a lot from her, but it's different.  And she feels the same.  She doesn't feel like she's training me anymore.  It's almost like the "mantle" or training has been lifted.  It's really cool. 

Our district leader has encouraged us to visit every one of the members in our area this transfer.  We have most the members of the ward in our area so that's a lot of people to visit.  But I'm really enjoying it! I'm loving getting to know the members better, and we've visited several in-active families that I had never met before.  They were really cool.  We just need to figure out how we can help them come back. But I'm glad he encouraged us to get to know the members.  I love it, and members are definitely the key to this work. 

I love you! I hope you have an awesome week! 

Con mucho amor,

Hermana Horne 

Halloween - Missionary Style!

11-3-14

Our Halloween activity was actually super fun.  Normally we're not supposed to have activities with the elders, but on Halloween we were allowed to.  So we all got together at the stake center at 6:00 and watched "The Best 2 Years".  It was so fun!! Watching that movie was super fun. I had been wanting to watch it but I figured I'd have to wait until after my mission to do it.  Surprise! Got to watch it before that! It was super good.  We pulled all the couches from the foyers into the gym so it was comfy.  And we had lots of candy and some yummy cookies there too. Then the elders played soccer afterwards and we watched/ hung out in the hallway (because we can't play with them).  But it was super fun! 

So I've been out in the field for 12 weeks now and on my mission for 4 months as of yesterday! But the first 12 weeks of the field are "training" so I've officially finished training! So that's exciting.  We got transfer calls on Saturday night (where you find out who your new companion is and where you'll be serving).  USUALLY your trainer leaves you after the 12 weeks.  But we found out that Hna.Juarez and I will be staying together.  We were really shocked.  That's super uncommon. It's pretty uncommon for any companionship to stay together more than 2 transfers (3 months) but after this coming one, Hna.Juarez and I will have been together for 3 transfers (4 and a half months).  So this will be interesting! We just both kind of feel like we don't know what to do as far as work goes in this area, so we're hoping to start fresh and try out different things.  We'll see how it goes. We kind of had to adjust to the idea that we'd be staying together, in the same place for another transfer, but we pretty much have now, so it's all good!

We try to speak spanish to each other, but it's hard.  We both just default to english (even though she's half guatemalen), and we forget to try.  But that's something that we're working on. 

But yesterday was super cool. A sister missionary that served in this area a year ago and went home last transfer came back to visit for the weekend.  I had met her once before and it was fun having her here to get to know her a little better.  She came out with us last night and it was super fun.  We went to see and part member family who she had baptized their son, and worked hard on their niece.  It was SO COOL seeing them all together again.  It was such a sweet reunion.  The WHOLE FAMILY (which is two families living in one house) was so excited to see her.  It was like a hero's welcome.  They really love her.  And she really loves them.  It was awesome. I need to work on getting to know the members better like that! 

Anyways, things are good here!  And I love being a missionary!

Te quiero mucho,
Hermana Horne

Pumpkins and Palm Trees

                                                                 The Petting Zoo...

Ward Halloween Party...

McKayla & Clarissa

10-27-14

Sooo our mission president, President Mullen, is super fit.  We just finished doing a Crossfit activity that he lead and he kicked butt.  Like I'm going to be so sore tomorrow/ I'm baffled that he's probably in better shape than half of us missionaries. haha

Anyways, this week has been super fun! 

I'm sending tons of pictures, which will hopefully makes up for not writing very much. 

But last Monday we went to a little dairy in Wildomar and had fun petting the animals there and enjoying the beautiful weather. P-days are so nice:) 

We also had our ward Halloween Party on Saturday night.  It was so fun seeing everyone dressed up. And Hermana Juarez and I were asked to be the costume judges, so I loved that. 

But part of the reason why this week was so fun is because we worked REALLY hard.  I always feel better about the weeks and days when I know I've done my very best. That's how I want to feel at the end of my mission.  I want to know that I worked my hardest to further this work. So that's what I'll do! 

So Grandma and Grandpa Horne got their mission call to the West Indies!! I am SO excited for them! The West Indies seems like it would be such a cool mission! They're such good examples of serving selflessly. I'm so excited to hear about all their experiences out there.  

Missions are awesome.  I feel so blessed to be a part of the hastening of the Lord's work. 

I've definitely recognized the His hand in the things we do.  Especially, in regards to my Spanish.  I've been praying more fervently for the ability to be able to communicate with the people we teach and I've definitely noticed a difference.  My Spanish has definitely gotten better, and I know it's because of how sincerely I've been praying for it.

Anyways, sending all my love! Enjoy Halloween for me:) 

Con mucho amor, 

Hermana Horne 

Redlands Temple

Be Not Weary in Well-Doing

10/20/14

So this week Elder Evans, from the Quorum of the Seventy and the head of the Missionary Dept., came to talk to our mission.  It was awesome! We met for a couple of hours, but it didn't feel like that.  It went by so quickly.  He gave us a lot of good advice and, man, was the Spirit strong there.  At one point in the meeting he was gave us advice on finding.  He told us one of the best ways to improve finding new investigators is by not just talking TO people, but it's by talking WITH people.  Listen to them sincerely, teach based on what they've said, and then ask for referrals based on the things they've said.  At the end of talking about this, he walked into the aisle, looked me directly in the eye, and said "I promise if you do these things, you'll have more people to teach." And he promised a couple of other things too, but it was really powerful.  I felt like he was staring into my soul and promising it directly to me.  Which he was! Because we've tried our hardest to implement what he said and we got 7 referrals this week! Some of them are for places other than here, but still, it's pretty awesome seeing how inspired what he said was.  

The entire meeting was full of great stuff and I wish I could include it all, but just know it was awesome.  I know our church leaders are inspired and lead by God.  

I don't have a lot of time to write more today, but I want to include the scripture D&C 64:33.  It says:

"Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work.  And out of SMALL THINGS proceedeth that which is great." 

I love that.  It's such a great scripture in relation to missionary work.  At times, it feels like we're not making a whole lot of progress, but in reality, that's not true.  ALL of our efforts, even the ones that don't seem to be showing a lot of fruit right away, work to make GREAT things happen.  I know that to be true.  And this scripture doesn't just apply to missionary work.  It applies to every good thing we do in life.  The small and simple efforts, the small things we do for other people all work to bring about bigger results. 

Sending lots of love from sunny California! 

Con mucho amor, 

Hermana Horne 

Milagros are Real!

10/13/14

This week has been great! So many miracles have occurred! 

God has definitely put us in the right place at the right time.  I don't even know what to write about, there have been so many good experiences. And it has been a CRAZY week.  We taught 27 lessons this week, which was crazy.  Yesterday we had an appointment every hour from 2 to 8, on top of church and studies. We didn't have lunch and had a 15 minute dinner.  It was insane.  But somehow we survived it.  And we had a ton of great, super spiritual lessons that day.  And we brought members to our lessons which made them so much better.  We try to get members to as many lessons as possible, but these lessons were GREAT with the members.  

Anyways, to try to cover the great things this week here's my top ten:

1. Finding David (I was in a parking lot and prayed that God would lead me to who needed what I had to say, and I was led to David.  We've taught him twice.  God DEFINITELY sent us to him) 

[David's story is included at the end of this post.]

2.  Alejandro the investigator... he's the bomb. 

3.  We went to the Redlands temple last week! It was so awesome! 

4.  Sav's mission call!!!! To Boise, Idaho! I'm so stoked for her. Incredible future missionary:)

5. Our recent convert, Roxana, is an INCREDIBLE missionary.  We were eating lunch with her and an investigator in between conference session.  We got up from the table, came back, and she was telling him all about why the gospel was so great and how much it changed her life.  He has issues with tithing so then she basically taught the tithing lesson.  It was awesome.  

6.  Met and had a great lesson with Jacquline, who is SO spiritual and SO sweet!

7.  Left a great blessing with Jacquline's son, Byron and his gf,Yolanda.

8.  Carlos (member) got a ride to a lesson with us! That was seriously a miracle.  We REALLY wanted him there, but he doesn't have a car and we can't drive him.  But we prayed for a miracle and it happened.  And it was a great lesson! He could be an MTC teacher (and his picture is in La Palabra de Sabaduria pamphlet that we teach with so he's basically a celebrity).

9. Mario (investigator) is keeping commitments! 

10. SO MANY ANSWERS TO PRAYERS THIS WEEK!

Love you all!   Con mucho amor, 

Hermana Horne 

[David's Story]  We were OYMing (just like talking to people we saw) in the parking lot of Stater Brothers. I only needed to talk to one more person (because as a companionship we talk to 20 ppl a day). And I had ended up by the door of Stater Bros.  I thought I saw people coming out so I prayed to Heavenly Father to send the person that needed to hear what I had to say out the door.  I waited and waited and no one came. I looked up across the parking lot and saw a man standing by his car with the door open.  He had been there earlier but I hadn't talked to him.  But since he was still there and he was the ONLY other person in the parking lot, I went to talk to him.  I asked him if he had faith in Jesus Christ and he said not anymore.  So I asked him what had happened that made him loose his faith.  We got to talking and apparently his wife left him for another man (although they still live in the same house), he lost his job, he might lose his kids, and his wife was helping him with his papers (he's from Mexico) but that's probably not going to happen anymore.  I told him how dad lost his job and how having faith in Christ and knowing that God was looking out for us really helped us through hard times.  I also testified about the power of prayer.  That in the moments when I felt the most alone, that's when I prayed the hardest, and that's when I felt God's presence in my life. That got to him.  He agreed to have us come by and talk to him.  Then Hermana Juarez came up and testified of prayer as well, and we committed him to try praying. 

I called him two days later and he had prayed and he said it helped calm him down.  So I told him that was the Holy Ghost.  And we've met with him twice since then.  Our last lesson with him was last night, in an awesome member's home and it was great.  The member mentioned how God places people in our path when the timing is right, when we need it.  David said he knew that was true and pointed at me and said "And it's all her fault." I'm SO glad I went up to talk to him.  I was originally just not going to.  But God didn't send anyone out the Staters Bros. door (which is weird because it looked like people were going to come out), and I was led to David.  He knows what he's doing up there. So that was really cool.  And our lessons with him have been great.  He's still trying to find his faith, but he's willing to try, which is the first step.  

Llena Espiritualmente (Spiritually Full)

10/6/14

Okay first and foremost, General Conference was the bomb.  I loved all of it! I feel so spiritually full! 

I have so many favorite talks, but the one on my mind right now is the talk given by Elder Bednar on Sunday afternoon.  He spoke directly to nonmembers and invited them to "Come and See." Come and see why members have such a desire to share the gospel.  Come and see all the blessings that it can bring.  It was so good.  And recognizing all the blessing and happiness that this gospel, this church, has brought to my life and wanting to share those blessings with others is exactly the reason why I decided to serve a mission.  And that's exactly why we try to invite everyone we talk to to "Come and See." 

Anyways, this week was great. 

We picked up some investigators and had a lot of cool experiences this week.  One experience we had on Friday night was pretty interesting.  We were going to teach someone who has already been taught by the missionaries before, but they dropped them for a little while.  So we decided we might try to pick them back up.  We knew they had been taught the Restoration before and were planning on talking about prophets and General Conference, not really the Restoration so much.  But right before we went into their house we both got the feeling that we might end up teaching the Restoration, so we grabbed a pamphlet for it.  We went in and talked to the mom, Teresa, for a while.  She wasn't feeling very well, so we talked to her about the priesthood and priesthood blessings. The conversation didn't even start heading towards talking about the Restoration.  Halfway through the lesson her neighbor came to the door.  He was going to come back later but saw that we were missionaries and said "I want to see what's going on here." He sat in the kitchen and talked to her husband for the rest of our chat with the Teresa, but when we invited them to pray with us he jumped up with a bunch of accusatory comments about how our belief in Jesus Christ isn't the same.  We both testified of how we know that Jesus Christ is our Savior and the testimony we have of him.  That quieted him on that subject, but he had a bunch of other problems with the church (basically just looking for a way to prove us wrong) and we answered each one of them either with testimony or scripture.  And we ended up teaching the Restoration and giving him the pamphlet we had brought.  We finished the conversation with him still being a little confrontational, but it was cool that we had ended up teaching the Restoration when our original lesson had not got that way. And it was really powerful to me, because I was able to feel the Spirit so strongly and there was not one question or comment he had that we didn't have an answer for.  While it's never fun to have someone attack your belief, this experience was definitely a testament to me that this church IS true.  We were guided and directed by the spirit and teaching the principles he asked about just confirmed to me the truth of them. 

That was just one of many faith-building experiences this week.  

Con mucho amor, 

Hermana Horne 

Picante

9/29/14

Big news this week: I ate a chili pepper.  For those that know me well, you know that I don't do spicy well.  So this was a big deal for me. I was feeling brave.  Even Hermana Juarez told me I was crazy for doing it.  But she also told me it'd make my Spanish better.  I'm still waiting for that part to come true though... But it was PICANTE (spicy)!  Like killer spicy.  I felt like I literally had flames sitting on my tongue.  I chugged so much milk, but it didn't do much.  But eventually my tongue just  started going numb...  So that was an experience. 

Embarrassing moment of the week: So we had dinner last night with a great family in our ward.  We got to the door and I did the super cliche knock that's like *Dun-nun-nuh-nuh...nuhh-nuhh* (you know what I mean, right?). Their son-in-law opened up the door really quickly and was like "You didn't." Hermana Juarez just pointed to me.  He was like "You didn't really just do that."  I thought he was saying that because it's super cliche or something, so I was kind of confused.  But then he was like, "That's really bad." I asked why and apparently when you do that in Hispanic culture it's like a series of bad words.  I had no idea. I was pretty embarrassed. So that was that. 

Other than that, we're still working hard to find new investigators.  And having fun along the way (we fed a horse on the side of the road one day and have found some pretty good overlooks of the valley). 

Yesterday, though, a family walked into Sacrament Meeting like halfway through and they looked a little familiar, but we didn't know from where.  We went up and talked to them afterwards and apparently we had talked to them like a month ago in the park and invited them to church! We set up an appointment to see them this Thursday and want to come to church again.  So that was sweet! BUT, we share the ward with two sets of elders and when we looked up the family's address we found out that they're in the Elder's area.  So that's a bummer, but the Elders are great so they'll be good to teach them! And it's awesome that they came! Especially since it's been like a month since we last talked to them.  And we had only talked to them for like 5 minutes.  So we're excited about that.  

Anyways, everything else is pretty good here! The weather's getting nicer.  We even wore sweaters to church yesterday, which is a big deal because for most of the time I've been here it's been between 95 and 110 degrees.  So we're loving this weather.

And we can definitely see the hand of God in our lives.  He's always supporting, guiding and protecting us.  Being a missionary is cool. 

Con mucho amor, 

Hermana Horne 

Consider the Lilies

9/22/14

This week we've been doing lots of finding! We've met a couple people with potential, so we'll see how they turn out! 

But one thing we've been trying to learn more about is Family History.  We know this will be a great missionary tool, and have already met some people who are interested in it, so we want to start getting into it.  But as we've been trying to learn more, I've had the opportunity to read some stories from my ancestors.  I am so inspired by them.  Several of them lived during the time of Joseph Smith and had personal contact with him, and it is so cool hearing their stories and testimonies of him.  Hearing their stories strengthens my own personal testimony that he was a true prophet of God. 

I'm also so inspired by the faith of many of my ancestors.  Florence Tate Horne wrote of her mother (Anne Marie Godfredson Hansen) that she knows that "God's choicest blessings are often poured out to those who are sorely tried."  I love that.  It's so true.  God's waiting to give the best blessing to those that endure and make it through those rough trials. 

Also, I was reading Ann Cannon's history, who is like my great grandmother time 5 or 6.  I remember hearing stories of her as I was growing up, but I was able to find a personal history that she wrote and read that.  Her experiences in Nauvoo during the time of Joseph Smith are so cool.  And wrote about the conversion of her family when she was little, as well.  She talked a little about her dad. George Cannon who had said about the Book of Mormon, "A bad man could not write it and a good man dared not unless he was inspired."  Such a good quote! And so true.  I loved that so much that I shared it with Hermana Juarez.  When I did, she was so surprised.  She said she had grown up hearing that quote.  Like apparently it's pretty famous? So that's cool.  

Families are cool.  And so is family history work. I'm loving learning more about my family.  It's pretty tight. 

Also, earlier this week, we stopped at the end of a street to figure out where the house we were trying to get to was.  While we were stopped I got out and found this cool bush of flowers.  The sun was setting right then, so the view of these flowers and the clouds was so pretty, especially since there were no building in the way of the view. It made me think of the scripture St. Luke 12:27-31, "Consider the Lilies," which is what this blog is titled after. The scripture talks about how God takes care of the lilies of the field, and he will take care of us the same.  It's such a good scripture, and I know it's true.  The Lord is looking out for us.  Each and every one of us.  And He wants the best for us.  He knows what he's doing up there, and I have a testimony that he gives us the experiences we need in order to help us in the future. 

Sending lots of love,

Hermana Horne

Best doughnut ever!  At the ward activity at Lake Elsinore.

Lake Elsinore ward activity

With Daniella at the Lake Elsinore ward activity.

"Driving to Dora's house is like an African Safari!"

California is on fire. Literally. And figuratively.

9/15/14

There was a big fire in Corona, just north of us, a couple days ago and there was so much smoke and ash in the air.  There were points when it looked like it was lightly snowing because of all the ash. And the work is on fire here as well! We had two baptisms in less than a week (Roxana and Ruben).  We had Ruben's baptism on Saturday, which was awesome! And he was confirmed at church yesterday.  After church yesterday he was SO happy! It's so incredible seeing how happy the gospel can make you and the joy that it brings. It truly is a gospel of happiness. 

In other news, I was reading this month's Ensign last night and there is an article in it by Elder Robert C. Gay entitled "Your Journey of Giving." It's a stellar article soooo everyone should read it.  Here's the link so you have no excuses not to: https://www.lds.org/ensign/2014/09/your-journey-of-giving?lang=eng 

In it he talked a little bit about an address that Mother Teresa gave at Harvard in which she said, "Everyone- not just some fortunate few in the audience that day but even those in the poorest regions of the world with little to their names- has something to give, if nothing more than sacrifice and pure love for others."

I LOVE that.  We have no excuse for not giving to others.  And the easiest way to give is by showing love to others! One of the best ways to show that love is by sharing the gospel with them, since the gospel really does bring so much joy.  We are fortunate enough to have this message of happiness, don't we want others to be able to have it too? And you don't have to serve a full-time mission to share the gospel! Missionaries are dependent on members. Talk to your friends and neighbors! 

But there are so many other ways to show that love as well, so we need to be actively seeking opportunities to give of ourselves. And through that service and giving, we'll find joy. 

Anyways, I'm loving it out here more and more each day.  

Sending love from the state that's always on fire, 

Hermana Horne 

Rueben's Baptism - the first person McKayla committed to baptism

and taught all the way through!

Lake Elsinore

Lake Elsinore

Hermana Juarez and Hermana Horne in Lake Elsinore, CA

The Things of Most Worth

9/8/14

McKayla's First Baptism! Roxana, and all the missionaries who helped teach her.

Roxana's Baptism - w Hermana Juarez and Hermana Horne!

Roxana's Baptism

McKayla's cool red mission car!

Exchanges with Hermana Durlong.

Thinking of Mom staring at the same great moon.  Awww :)

9/8/14

AHHHH! Roxana got baptized last night! Ah it was the greatest thing! She had been pretty sick all week but she told us Saturday night that nothing was going to stop her from getting baptized. She is awesome.  She was so happy at her baptism. We could tell she was a little nervous, though, but as soon as she came up from the water she had a HUGE smile on her face. Oh it was great. What a good feeling.  

Right before her baptism I had been studying my scriptures and I came across D&C 15:6 which says, "And now, behold, I say unto you, the thing which will be of most worth unto you will be to declare repentance unto this people, that you may bring souls unto me, that you may rest with them in the kingdom of my Father. Amen." What a good scripture.  I love it.  And let me tell you, IT IS SO WORTH IT. All of it... being away from family and friends, the exhaustion, crazy days, all of it is so worth it, just to be able to see the joy the gospel brings to people's lives. I'm so glad I'm here.

We have another investigator, Ruben who is set to get baptized next Saturday, so they announced his baptism at church yesterday. The Stake President was there and spoke at the end, and during his talk he spoke directly to Ruben and told him how great his decision to be baptized was and that he he'll be able to go to the temple someday soon (which is something that Ruben has already asked if he could do... he's so awesome).  Ruben doesn't show a ton of emotion, but when the Stake President was saying that he looked so happy.  It was awesome.  We're so excited for him. 

On a different note, we were at our investigator, Mario's, house the other day and I commented on how I really liked a painting on one of his cabinets.  He said he had done it himself and took us out to the garage and showed us another one and I was basically gawking at it, so he told me I could take it. I was so stoked! He sells these, and granted, it's more of a hobby for him, but still it was super nice of him. So now we have an original Mario Medrano in our room! 

Another cool thing happened earlier this week.  We were talking to people in a parking lot (because we don't go tracting, so this is kind of a substitute for that) and I went up and started talking to a guy who was sitting in his car.  At first he was very non-receptive.  He said he didn't believe in organized religion.  His faith in Christ was just between him and God, which I totally respect. So normally I would have just given him our card and told him to give us a call if he needed anything or knew anyone who would be interested.  But I felt like I shouldn't do that, I needed to talk to him a little more.  So with talking to him I found out that he hated that ministers and pastors get paid for what they do with the offering money that the congregation donates.  I told him about how our church is 100% service paid.  No one gets paid for what they do.  He really liked that. A little bit later he asked me what the difference was between the Bible and the Book of Mormon.  So I told him about it and that in the Bible it says "other sheep I have which are not of this fold" (John 10:16). He agreed and said that it totally makes sense that Jesus wouldn't just visit SOME people on the Earth, he'd want to teach the rest of them too.  So he agreed to have the missionaries come over and talk to him more.  It won't be us teaching him, because he was English-speaking, but it was a really cool experience.  His heart was softened right before my eyes, within a matter of minutes.  It was awesome.

So it's been a good week! I hope everyone at home is doing well:) 

Con todo mi corazon,

Hermana Horne

"It's true. It has to be. It just makes sense."

9/1/14

This week was super good! On Monday night one of our investigators, Roxana, told us she wants to get baptized as soon as possible! She had been waiting on some other things to happen before she could get baptized, but she said some sincere prayers and things worked out, so now she's getting baptized THIS SUNDAY! We are stoked! She is so great, and so ready for this! 

Also, we have two other investigators, Ruben and Enoc, who are both set to get baptized the 14th of this month. It is so awesome! All of our investigators are really great.

Earlier this week I asked Ruben if he thinks the Book of Mormon is true and that Joseph Smith is a prophet and his response was great.  He said, "It has to be.  It just makes sense."  So simple, but SO TRUE.  This gospel, it's teachings, the Book of Mormon all just MAKE SO MUCH SENSE. So why wouldn't it be true? I know it is, and that's why I love what I'm doing out here so much. 

Anyway, this was another short email, but things are good here! I love it more and more every day. One thing that I've really come to love while being out here is reading the Book of Mormon, because I've started to really pay attention to the stories in it.  They're so great and so interesting! So my advice to all those reading this email is to not just read the Book of Mormon to read, but read it to understand and to enjoy the stories.  I promise you will get so much more out of it, and you'll really enjoy it! 

Con mucho amor, 

Hermana Horne

17 Points

8/25/14

So this week was pretty good! I love our investigators! One of them, Ruben, pulled out a list he had made while he was reading the Book of Mormon that had all the people who he had read about so far (like Lehi, Nephi, Laman, Lemuel) and what they had done.  Then he asked us to read some of it with him so that he could be sure he was understanding it all.  He is so great! 

Then another one of our investigators, Roxanna, hasn't been baptized yet (only because she's waiting on her boyfriend to get baptized too) but she asked us the other day if she was allowed to pay tithing, even if she wasn't baptized yet.  And then she paid it on Sunday! Her faith is incredible, I love her.  Another one of our investigators I can tell feels that our church is true, but I think he's afraid to REALLY find out because he knows when he does, he'll have to make some lifestyle changes.  But he's great. Very spiritual. 

And all the recent converts are incredible as well.  The people here are so awesome!  Sorry for the short email this week.  But the church is true! There is not a doubt in my mind.  This is 100% the true church of Jesus Christ on the earth today.  The only church with the power and authority of God by way of the priesthood.  I'm so grateful to be a part of it, and so grateful for the knowledge and blessings it has brought to my life.  

Yesterday, Hermana Juarez and I were listening to a talk called "17 Points of the True Church" by someone named Floyd, or something like that. GOOGLE IT. If he mentions taking a class from Einstein in it, you'll know you've found the right talk. It's incredible.  He wasn't a member, but him and his friends searched the scriptures and found 17 points that would make up the true church of Christ.  They went to many different churches and none of them had all these points.... Until he came across the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  It has EVERY SINGLE POINT.  So obviously, he was converted.  THIS CHURCH IS TRUE. I love it. 

Anyways, have a great week! 

Mucho amor,

Hermana Horne

Here is the story McKayla was talking about:

Story:  Seventeen Points of the True Church

by Floyd Weston

A remarkable story about finding the true church.

     I had an experience as a young man that I shall never forget. At college one day, some friends and I heard that Albert Einstein, the great scientist, was speaking to a faculty group. We attended the lecture and enjoyed his remarks very much. However, I didn't comprehend everything he said, but I did understand his concluding remark.

     He said, "Gentlemen, the deeper that I delve into the sciences of this universe, the more clearly I believe that one God or force or influence has organized all of it for our discovery."

     We walked quietly back to the dormitory and commenced discussing religion. There were five of us. Four of us belonged to different religions, and one was a professed atheist. One of the group was a brilliant fellow named Jim. He had a photographic mind. He could take a book, read the words on a page, close the book, and recite verbatim what he had read.

     When we started to discuss religion as a result of having heard Dr. Einstein’s remarks, Jim when to the drawer of the dormitory and he took out a Bible.  Then he went into the hallway where he found a large chalkboard and maneuvered it into our room. Next, he took the Bible and went through it page by page. He was convinced that our Heavenly Father was and Is a just God. He was convinced that in some of the 800 or so different beliefs and sects listed in the almanac that one represented the truth and the whole truth. He took a page of the Bible at a time and went to work on this chalkboard. It took him almost eight weeks; he had both sides of the chalkboard filled. Then he asked a secretary to come in, write down the Information, summarize it, and type it on a five-by-seven card. He gave each of us a card and presented a plan to us.  He said, "I have taken from the Bible all the evidences I could locate that would help a person identify the true Church.  I'm convinced that Jesus Christ was sent here to organize his Church, and I believe that it is somewhere on the earth today."

       So every Wednesday night and every Sunday, we went out looking for this Church. We visited the various churches, but none of them had what we were searching for. Some of the points that Jim had written down on our cards were that the true church would accept the scriptures, it would not have a paid ministry; it would have the proper authority from God; and it would claim to be the true church.

          Not long after receiving the card, I decided to check out of school and train to become a paratrooper. While I was train­ing, I had a wonderful experience I will share with you. I kept my five-by-seven card in my footlocker. On Sundays, I would occasionally attend one of the Protestant churches. As I would ride the bus to the outskirts of town to attend the church meetings, I noticed a group of fellows on board that I recognized as being in my class of paratrooper trainees. They would get off and go into a little brownstone church. They were a tremendous group.  I never saw any of them with a cigarette in his mouth.  I never heard a foul or obscene word or suggestive story from any of them. As I looked over their records, I noticed that they were all from the West. They were always laughing, having a tremendous time, and everyone liked them. 

        They had one young fellow, a little short farm boy from Utah, who seemed to be their leader.  I was talking with him one day just as he was preparing to jump from their plane.  There had been a rather serious accident that morning with one of the trainees and I asked this farm boy how he felt about it.

"Oh, I don't mind," he said. "I know the answers to the three questions."

I thought, What's he talking about? I said, "What ques­tions?"

And he said, "Unless you can answer three questions before you leave the earth, in great measure you have wasted your life."

About that time, the red light came on, and the little buzzer started sounding. I had to get ready to send him on his jump. All the time, I was wondering what on earth he was talking about.

The next evening I found out where he lived. As I walked into the barracks, he saw me coming and passed the word around. He was shining his boots. I walked up and said, "Hey, listen."

And he said, "What is it, Sarge?"

I said, "Tell me, what are these three questions?"

"Oh, don't you know? Well, number one, where did you come from before you came to earth?"

I thought, How silly can you be!

"Number two, why are you here? And number three, where are you going after you leave here?"

I said, "Anyone can answer. Wait a minute. I don't know. I don't know!"

     Subsequently, I had other conversations with this young man and his companions. I had my five-by-seven card, and I asked them all the questions. As I progressed down through all the classifications of the true church, my heart beat hard­er. The church described by these men agreed with every sin­gle point on the card. I came to know for a surety that they were teaching me the truth and I joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

A while later, I went through California on a furlough.  The Church was having a conference at a stake center.  As I walked in, I saw an Air Force captain.  I looked again.   It was Jim.  He said, “What are you doing here?”

         I said, “Well, this is my church too!"

     The thing I want to tell you is that all four of us who were left (one was killed in the war) armed with our five-by-seven cards found the same church. There might be some who would call this coincidental, but I know it wasn't.

     While I was investigating the church, the young trainees pointed out from the scriptures that there would be another record that would be joined with the Bible. They showed me this other record.

     I learned that gaining an understanding of the gospel was not a problem, only a process. The trainees said, "Don't take our word for it," when they handed me the new record, The Book of Mormon. They showed me a verse of scripture I will never forget: "And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true. and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost" (Moron] 10:4).

     This impressed me. I didn't have to take anybody's word for it.  I asked, and I received an answer.  I know that this is the Church of Jesus Christ.  I testify to you that the gospel is here upon the earth.  I was looking for a church that had apostles, teachers, deacons and prophets. I found it. There's only one Church on the earth that has a Quorum of Twelve Apostles and that follows the Bible.  I bear you my testimony that it is the truth and will bring you joy and that you will be able to bring this joy to other men. If you accept this truth, your entire family and posterity will rise up and call you blessed. I bear my testimony to you in the name of Jesus Christ Amen.

The Seventeen Points of the true Church written on the 3X5 cards are listed below.

1. Will recognize the Holy Trinity as separate Persons.

        A. Will Know the identity of God (Father), Jesus Christ (Son) and the Holy Ghost (Spirit).

  B. Jesus Christ will be recognized as Head of the Church.

2. Will accept the Holy Bible in its entirety of which some parts of the record are missing.

3. Will contain the same offices.

A. Twelve apostles are mandatory.

B. Prophets, teachers, elders, evangelists, bishops, deacons, high priests, saints.

4. Officers will be "Called of God."

A.    College degree or license insufficient.

B.    Royal Priesthood.

C.    Can be married.

5. Will have an unpaid Ministry.

6. Members will be workers in the Church. Women included in activities.

7. Baptism will be mandatory.

A.      Probably by immersion.

B.    Must be authorized.

8. Will believe in the Virgin Birth.

9. Will believe in literal resurrection.

10. Will honor Sunday as the Sabbath.

11. Will receive continuous revelation.

12. Will be payer of tithes.

13. Will partake of the Sacrament of the Lord.

14. Will believe in immortality and a heaven and a hell.

15. Will have miraculous occurrences, healings, visions, tongues, prophecies.

16. Will teach that Jesus Christ will come again.

17. Will be persecuted for beliefs.     

Source:  Weston, Floyd, Seventeen Evidences of the True Church, audio tape by Covenant Communications, Inc., American Fork, Utah, 1996