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