Hasta la fuego!

Temple with Hna. Carlson                                            Temple Sunset  

1/26/15

This last week was the last week of the transfer! It was a good one! Hna.Carlson and I have had a lot of fun together, while still working super hard. And we've seen TONS of blessings.  We know those blessings have come because of our obedience.  We've tried our hardest to be exactly obedient this transfer and it's paid off.

So highlights...

-Awesome news... We have an investigator, Rodrigo, who has been investigating for a while, but he wanted to wait for his wife to come up from Mexico before he got baptized.  He didn't want her to come up and him have completely changed on her.  Well she came up last week (only for a short visit) and came to church.  Then, later that week we had a lesson with her. I was really nervous, because, at church, she had made it very clear to us that she's Catholic.  But the lesson went REALLY well.  She agreed to read the BOM and gave us her address so missionaries can come visit her in Mexico.  Then we talked to Rodrigo's aunt (who's a member) on Sunday and she told us that Rodrigo's wife, Diana, is really interested in learning more.  She sees that the church is making Rodrigo really happy, and she wants to know more about it, so she's planning on finding the church that's close by her.  Rodrigo's aunt was crying while she was telling us this because she was so happy.  AH we are so excited. 

- We got to go to the temple this week! The temple is always the best.  It was such a nice escape from the stresses of missionary work (although we've been blessed with not being tooo stressed this transfer). As we were leaving there was the most beautiful sunset.  It was so perfect.  California has had some really rad sunsets lately. It just makes you appreciate God's creations even more! 

- Our district (Hna.Carlson and I and Elders Perez, Anderson, Aguilar, and Beck) did a skit for the Primary Sharing Time this last Sunday.  We did a skit of the story of Alma the younger and related ito how, even though he was a sinner, God still showed his love for him.  It was super fun and the kids loved it.  Plus we had costumes that were so tight. 

- Cesar and Moses were confirmed! Woohoo! 

- So, when we were in the CCM, Hna.Carlson started saying "Hasta la fuego" instead of "hasta luego", because she didn't know any Spanish and that's just what she thought people were saying when they said goodbye.  So we've had a good time joking about that this whole transfer.  And now it's time to say "Hasta la fuego" to Hermana Carlson! She's headed to Jurupa and I'm going to take over this area. But I found out that my new companion will be Hna.Bowen! I'm so excited! She's so cool.  I was hoping I'd be able to serve with her one day, but I knew she didn't have a lot of time left on the mission so I didn't know if it would happen... Lucky me! I got her for her last transfer in the mission.  I'm stoked.  It'll be a good transfer! 

Sending love, 

Hermana Horne 

Pictures of Perris . . .

That's fresh!

Most Awesome Zone Ever!

1-19-15

This week was the bomb.  The highlight was for sure the baptism we had! Cesar and Moses, two boys we've been working with a LOT, got baptized! And it was the most spiritual baptism EVER.  Ah it was so good.  I can't put into words the spirit that we felt there, but it was definitely there.  When Cesar, who's ten, came up out of the water he said, "That's fresh!" It was the cutest. And while they were changing, their mom, Sonia (who's not a member), bore her testimony about how even though she's not a member, she's going to be soon. Because she can just FEEL that this church is true. And I know that everyone else who was there could feel it too. It was so great.

And then the Primary President, Young Men's President, and Obispo gave little talks welcoming them to the ward.  And it was all so good, because Sonia talked about how she doesn't have a lot of family here, but they all let her know that this ward is their family now and that they're here for them. So so good. 

After the service Sonia gave me the most heartfelt hug and thanked me for everything.  Ah seeing how much people change and how much joy this gospel brings into their lives is what makes this all so worth it. It makes me so so happy. 

The church is true.  The joy that comes from it is real. I can testify of that. The joy that comes from serving a mission and helping others come unto to Christ is inexplicable. 

I love you all! I love this gospel! 

Con mucho amor, 

Hermana Horne 

                         Cesar and Moses' Baptism                                 

Paco's Baptism

One Led to Another

Excerpt from McKayla's 1/12/15 email to mom:

We went to a recent convert's house where we were meeting with her son, Miguel, who's not a member.  He doesn't believe in God AT ALL.  So our lesson consisted of a lot of listening to the Spirit and asking questions based on that.  In the end, it didn't sum up to much, but I testified to him that even if he doesn't know God, God knows him and loves him and is looking out for him, no matter what.  The Spirit was definitely there but he was very closed off to it.  

But after the lesson the recent convert, Esther, was like "There's a girl here who's friend is on a mission.  I'll go get her so you can talk to her." So the girl came out and talked to us.  Her name's Jessica.  Her best friend Jenny is a convert to the church and is serving a mission in Mexico.  It's been super hard for Jessica since Jenny left because she's had one trial after another and Jenny was her support system. She's just lost her grandma, who was like a mom to her, and a lot of other people in her life aren't really supportive, and she can't eat.  She wants to but she's never hungry.  When she tries to eat, she usually throws it up. But she tries.  We had a REALLY good talk with her, shared scriptures and testified of how we know that she can find some peace in her life through the gospel.  She was SO open and really appreciative, and she agreed to meet with us another time.  So even though the lesson with Miguel didn't really go anywhere, it led to us finding Jessica.  It was really cool. 

We're also teaching Cesar and Moses (12 and 10 years old).  They're set to get baptized next week, but we just don't know if they SHOULD get baptized next week [because their parents are not joining].  We've been praying a lot about it though. We'll figure it out. But most of the elders have said we should just baptize them.  But we'll end up doing what we think the Lord wants.  Although sometimes it's hard to tell what He wants.

But next Sunday (on the same day that Cesar and Moses' baptism is scheduled for), one of my old investigators from Lake Elsinore is getting baptized.  I was invited back to that baptism, but I don't know if I'll be able to go if we have a baptism here.  But I'm stoked he's getting baptized regardless! He's so ready.

And besides Cesar and Moses, we have 4 other investigators who have accepted a baptismal date for sometime in February. So that's exciting! I think some of them still don't fully understand what it means/ the covenant they'll be making, but we'll help them with that.  But I'm excited! There's a lot of work to do in this area! 

Con tanto amor, 

Hermana Horne 

Snowballs in SoCal

1/5/15

So on New Year's Eve we had a snowball fight. No big deal. Except, yes... VERY BIG DEAL.  It snowed here in Southern California! There was a lot of snow in Lake Elsinore (my last area), which is super close to here, and there was snow at a lot of the member's houses.  So there was snow in our area, but unfortunately, we didn't get any around our house.  But they got snow down by the stake center and we went there for New Year's Eve. Hermana Carlson and I were driving home and when I saw the snow I whipped around and pulled over because I was so excited. We got out and took pictures and then the elders, who had been driving past and saw us, came running up yelling "SNOOOOW!" So we broke into a snowball fight. It was SO fun. What a great way to end 2014.

So we've had a lot of REAAAALLY cold days here, but don't worry, California is back to the norm today, with a sunny 75 degrees. 

But the highlight of this week was Paco's (Francisco) baptism! He's an investigator that Hermana Juarez and I started teaching in Lake Elsinore, and he invited us back for his baptism. It was so good! We are so happy for him and the covenant he made.  It was also so fun to go back to Lake Elsinore.  I loved seeing all the members again.   Jesus, a cute old man who some sisters before us baptized into the ward was so fun to see.  He's a recent convert so Hermana Juarez and I visited him a lot while we were in Elsinore.  When we saw him he told us that he came to the baptism because he heard we might be there and he missed us.  He brought us each an orange from his tree (he used to always give us different things from his trees when we went over to his house).  It was so cute. But it was a good night! 

Paco's baptism, and a lot of the work we've been doing this week, has made me reflect on the covenants that I made when I was baptized, and the covenants that we're helping others to make.  We're promising the take on the name of Jesus Christ, always remember him, and keep the commandments.  And in return, God promises to give us a remission of our sins and His spirit to be with us.  But the covenant is contingent on OUR PART. We need to hold up our part of the bargain in order to get the blessings.  And it's a covenant that we're making, so it's a big deal. It's salvation that we're talking about.  This week, I'd like to invite you all, family and friends, to think about the covenant you were made when you were baptized (and if you haven't made that covenant yet- think about it! It's the bomb!) and really strive to LIVE IT. 

Sending lots of love from a climately-confused, currently sunny Califorinia, 

Hermana Horne 

Feliz Navidad, Prospero Ano y Felicidad

12/29/14

So Christmas was the bomb.  I absolutely love Christmas as a missionary. On Christmas Eve we had a big devotional with a third of the missionaries in our mission when people did musical numbers and Christmas scriptures were read.  It was really nice and the spirit was so strong there.  I loved it. We also ate there and had a good time visiting with other missionaries. 

Then we went from there to a dinner at a member's house.  It was so good and we love these members so it was a good time.  But we had one more dinner after that. Tamales. They were good, but we were STUFFED.  It was a battle to finish them, for sure.  But it was still nice to be with the members.

  

We also had a zone activity that night where we played volleyball and hung out, so it was super fun.  

On our way home we dropped off some Christmas presents at an investigator's house and ran.  Somehow they knew it was us and sent us a nice text saying thank you.  That was probably one of the best parts of all the Christmas shenanigans. They really don't have a lot and getting the text from the mom made us feel so good. We could tell how grateful she was.  It feels so much better to give than to get.  There's true joy that comes from giving.  I hope that you all were able to feel same joy this Christmas season, and that you'll continue to give during this coming new year. I know that you'll be able to feel the happiness that comes from it. 

I also got to Skype the family on Christmas day.  That was so great! It was so nice to be able to see everyone and talk for a little bit, even though the time flew by.  But I feel so lucky that I have such an awesome family.

New Area - Perris, CA

12/22/14

The new area is good.  It was SUPER stressful at first because we have a HUGE area and only a certain amount of allotted miles, so we have to be really wise about where we drive.  Plus I didn't know the area at all and Hna.Carlson didn't know it super well.  So it was stressful, but we've been keeping our miles in check and I'm getting to know the area better.  Plus, the GPS is our best friend (Hna.Juarez let us borrow hers for the transfer). 

But I love one of the families we're teaching  here. I've actually only ever had lessons with the two boys, Moses (10) and Cesar (12).  I've met the parents, but they haven't sat down with us yet (although Hna. Carlson said they usually do).  But we've been told that the parents are druggies and it's pretty apparent that at least the mom has used some hard stuff, which is really sad.  But the boys are so cute and so sweet.  But the saddest thing happened the other day.  We went over to their house on Saturday night to invite them to the ward Christmas party and the boys said that their parents hadn't been home all day.  They woke up that morning and they weren't there. Their dad had left his phone at home and the mom wasn't answering her phone. We left a note for the parents and a member came and took the boys to the party, which was really good.  They got a good meal (Moses told me all he had eaten that dad was nachos and beans that a neighbor had brought over), then their was a Santa who gave out presents to EVERY ONE of the kids there.  It was AWESOME.  So they each got a present (although the present Cesar got was for a little kid, but he was able to trade it for something a little better). And Moses loved his gift. So that was good for them.  Then we went over to their house Sunday morning and their parents STILL weren't there.  The man who lives in the house behind them rode his bike down the street and picked them up some food and then a member picked them up for church again.  Hna.Carlson and I had no idea what to do about the situation.  Like their parents were just GONE.  We talked to the bishop and he told us to check on them later that day and if the parents were still gone to give him a call.  When we went back to their house Sunday afternoon their parents were finally home. They had gone up to Riverside and the car had broken down or something and the phone wasn't working.  So it was super sad.  At church, when we were sitting in the chapel, Moses told me he was glad he was there.  It felt like the vents were sucking up the saddness about his parents.  Ah I almost started crying. But they're back now so we're happy about that.