Valentines Day

The lovely couple

Group Pic.

Jesus es mi Luz

We celebrated our valentines day starting Friday... with a wedding!!! WOOHHOOOOO haha My first wedding of my whole mission... POR FIN. I have always wanted to have one. Laura (Who got married with her husband who is already a member) then got baptised on Saturday. And I know I say this about all my converts... but she's pretty much the coolest. We have seen such an amazing chagne in her over this past month since we've been teaching her. She literally knew NOTHING about God, or religion, and it's been incredible watching her plant her seed of faith, and watching it sprout. Aaaaaaaand a year from now they are for sure going to the temple!! FAMILYYYYYYY


Spent 6 hours in a bus STANDING today going to a Liders conference. My. Mind. And. Body. Are. Dead.


Other than that, this week was just like any other hectic life being a missionary. LOTS of talking with everyone, and doing crazy last minute wedding plans ha It's so much fun


So in church on Sunday, the Ex-President of the branch showed up to church for the first time in 7 years... He stopped coming once he got released for giving out Bishops food storage to everyone. There is such a problem with that here. There are SO many less actives who hate the church liders for taking away their food storage, it's like the feel entitled to recieve constant help from the church, when in reality the program is in place to temporarily help those in need, and help help become self sufficent. It's just such a sad thing, to watch a family that has so much potential, trade their blessing for a pot of pourage... By letting something so small keep them from enjoying the feast of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and becoming clean through his atoning sacrifice


I studied in particular John 14, 15 and 16 this week, which contain a detailed discourse of Jesus that he gave after his Last Supper with his disciples. It truly touched me reading about his lving sacrifice for us, and the need we have to always have the spirit with us, it is obviously made of great importance by the Saviour in his last hours as a mortal being. It touches me beyond belief the great love he has for us. He believes in us! He had so much faith in us that he was willing to "Take of the bitter cup, and shrink" and die for our sins. I will forever be grateful for Him, and the sacred duty and privilege I have to wear his name on my name tag, and for all the wonderful spiritual experiences being a full time missionary has given me. Looking back on my mission, I truly feel... at peace with myself. I feel good about the work I have done and the progress I have made, and that is so important to recognize.


Love you guys so much! Have a great one




Dum Dum Dum Duuuuuuummm Dum Dum Di Duuuuummmm (Wedding march) played by the one and only. Turns out the years of suffering through piano lessons DID end up helping me out on my mission :)

Aguaity

So.... this week we went in search of the indian tribe.


Okay, so we headed off at 9.30 and took an hour and a half bus ride which took us through open plains, and thick jungle, crossing rivers and heards of cattle. We were told by the missionaries that there was a Pueblo... like a group of people who lived in a little town, like REALLY little town called Aguaity. We hopped off the bus with an unbreakable faith that we would find someone that would be willing to progress, with nothing more than a bag full of BOM´s... Feeling completely lost... haha We were the second missionaries ever to reach this city. Trying to communicate with the people there was near impossible, because EVERYBODY speaks pure Guarani. (Which sounds like someone speaking chinese with a bloody nose) hahaha It would be more funny if you could hear it


So I guess it's not really an indian tribe... It's more civilized than I'm making it sound! They live in normalish houses. (Little shacks) and everybody makes adobe brick for a living, and they have motorcycles, and some have cars and stuff. But like... where do you start in a situation like this? We decided to ask around for someone who spoke spanish so we could communicate easier ha And a guy gave us a reference for a lady who lived in a nicer house out side of a soccer field. We went to check it out... And turns out that the lady who lived there was a member of the church!!! hahaha She let us in with open arms, sat us down and made us lunch haha And then told us her story...


So she had dreamed for years of owning her own house... And having lived in this small group of Guarani all her life, she decided the best option for her would be to move to Spain to find a stable job (where she learned spanish) with all her family. In Spain, she met the missionaries and got baptised with her kids, and then moved back to Paraguay 9 years later (She was active for those 9 years) and decided to move back to her Pueblo and build a house. SO she is now inactive and lives a mere 5 miles from a church building (In a neighboring city). Now she just has to go to church again, and she can bring all her fmaily and relatives that live with her :) M I R A C L E


She then left with us to do visits, and bore her testimony and translated for us for all of here neighbors and friends. It's a bummer it's so far away, or else we would go there every day. We can only make it there Fridays, since it's one of the only days the busses go out to this town.


This week we have a wedding!!!!! YEAHHHH the branch president's brother (age 28) is going to get married and his wife (age 16) is going to get baptized!!! I know that it sounds a bit strange, but it's so normal here haha And they already have a kid soooo.... B A U T I S M O


I. Love. The. Mission.


And I love you guys too!


Elder Horton

KAQP

President thinks he's soooo funny always putting me with the short Peruvians! lol

He must be Peruvian

Paraguay

I am in love with this area. I have been having so much fun! haha I have never worked so ahrd in my whole life.


We had ourselves a Zone Training this week, which we were in charge of giving. It went really well. Honestly our Zone is really struggling as far as retention for the new converts go, so we had a discussion about how we can better do that. The spirit was there, and I really feel like it helped out


We have a Burger King like 2 blocks from our house. I still don't understand why they put one here, because it's jsut a small catholic town in the middle of a jungle in Paraguay, but I am not complaining one bit ha


We have been doing divisions all week with the Elders from our Zone, and I had the pleasure to go to an area called 'Arroyos y Esteros' or translated meaning 'Rivers and Streams'. Now THAT is a small town in the middle of nowhere. It's about a 2 hour bus ride area, and literally only potato farmers live there, and everyone speak guarani. Hardly any spanish! But I got to practice my Guarani a bit so that was fun


So me and my comp live with two other Elders, and basically it's a party every night when we get back to the apartment at night. Yeah. We have a hard time getting to bed on time. hahaha


I am just so happy here in the mission... I know what we are doing is the owrk of the Lord, and I feel him guide me from the moment we step out the door every day to new people to teach, and help come closer to Christ. My scripture of the week: D and C 64: 33-34


Love you guys!


Elder Horton

D

This week...


We worked with all we had


We arranged a wedding for an investigator... for the 12th of February!


We didn't have time to look for the tribe


I played soccer in the rain


Gave away a lot of Books of Mormon


Ate fried chicken every day.


Well. That pretty much sums it up! I took pictures, but they will have to wait for next week... The computers here are a bit slow ha I am enjoying every second, the people here are amazing, if a bit catholic. Pretty much our area is known as being pretty hard... But this week proved me that miracles are everywhere to be found, depends on our faith and diligence, that's it. Love you guys!

Ca'acupe in White Wash

So... I got transferred. ha! FINALLY 11 months in my last area. I was ready to move on. And so here I am now... In the city of Ca'acupe, otherwise known as the Sin City of Paraguay, becuase this city is known as the catholic capital of Paraguay. The City of the Churches. It's about 2 and a half hours out of the capital, Asuncion. And to add to it, me and my comp got here in White Wash, where they take out the two missionaries that were there before, and put us new guys in. Neither of us know the area, and to add to it, we are the Zone Leaders here. Despite all of that stressful hard stuff, it has been such. a. blast.

So I boarded a small colorful packed bus, solo, without a cell phone, with my suitcases and no more than the name of the city to get me here. The bus took me through a hilly, canyon jungle and I finally got here, in Caacupe, where the bus dropped me off in the Basilica (is that a word in engish?) It's a small city, with kind of a touristy feel to it. It's set in the middle of two huge hills. I was able to find the house where the missionaries lived by asking around, and finally met my comp, el Elder Gavidia, from Peru. I am training him to be a Zone Leader, he has about one year in the mish. He's a great guy, just always super happy. Our Area were we work in is HUGE. an a map, it reaches about 20 to 25 kilometers in diameter, with a small part here in the city, and the rest takes you through jungle trails, and little communities of people. Lots. Of. Walking.


The branch here has a zone covering 3 cities, and there are 8 missioniaries woring in it to cover it all. It's... known to be a difficult area, Ca'acupe. For example, last year in the branch, there were 100 baptisms, which is a LOT. Buttttt only about 8 of those 100 people are still attending...


Something strange about here in Ca'acupe, is that there a lot of German families here, that immigrate here (I don't have any idea why) and live in secluded farm lands about a 2 hour walk from our house, there are no busses- A few are members, we had a lesson with a man from Germany the other day while contacting... Never thought I would get to do that here ha

But, other than that, I am super happy to ge here. The area is Beautiful... It's so much fun. We have heard rumors from the members and missionaries that there is a tribe of guarani living in our area (Indiginous) jsut to sum up how awesome this place is. We WILL be looking for them this week. I will keep you updated!

Love you guys!



Elder Horton

Visit from Elder Cronin

B

Just to let everyone know, I am felling 100% better, I woke up Tuesday feeling almost normal, and by Wednesday I had absolutely no side effects. Thanks for your prayers on my behalf, I could feel your love all the way here in Paraguay!


This week was filled with so many blessings... First and foremost, one of my comps that finished his mission in May came and visited me with his parents!! (Elder Cronin) haha He surprised me at our house. He was waiting for us with McFurries and amercan stuff... It was so cool to see him again! haha And kind of weird. It was more weird to see and talk to American parents again! hahaha He then went and visited some of our converts the next day... seriously such a cool and spiritual guy. For sure will be kicking it up at USU together


As far as investigators go... it's been tough lately. This week ws the first time we didn't have an investigator in church in like 2 months... But we will be finding all this week new people to teach. Alsooooo this week is Transfers. Will I leave my area? Hmmmmmm... we will ahve to see..


We did divisiones with the asistents this week... haha That was kind of stressful. But I enjoyed it! ha I don't know why, but I truly enjoyed this last Sunday. I really just felt like I had the spirit with me, and had a great study in Luke 15, and Alma 36-39. Some great scriptures!


Love you guys


Elder Horton

A

What a week... The first half was a party, but I spent the last half in bed... sick... again. Let me explain:


So Friday comes, and we had been looking forward to spending it as a district cooking american style wings, with teryaki and buffalo wing sauce for lunch, and then run around all day and play soccer. Aaaaanddddd it was so much fun!! haha The most fun I have had in a while. Seriously, I miss being able to interact with americans, I am now realizing how dry and boring it is being 24/7 with a Peruvian. He's cool... kinda ha But other than the work, we basically have nothing in common ha But after the activity, we started getting ready for our baptism we were going to have the next day, when I just started throwing up... and it continued... all night long and put me in bed all Saturday (Spent out baptism we had in the bathroom.) I am looking surprisingly good in the pic for having been half dead! ha Aaaaaaaand pretty much it's continued until today. I'm not like throwing up anymore, but I have zero desires to eat, therefore making me super tired, which in turn gives me less desires to eat. It's a vicious cycle. For sure going to the hospital tomorrow if it doesn't get better. Also there is something weird growing on my left hand, so they can check that out too. I Love Paraguay. Ha! It doesn't help that it's hotter than heck either


But no worries, because I think I am getting better. I had a little pity party last night, literally my body jsut all hurt from being in bed so long. After I finished complaining, I felt impressioned to pick up the book "Our Heritage", which I didn't set down until I finished it. It humbled me reading about all the trials and difficulties early church members had to go through, and how they were able to endure. Sometimes you just have to suck it up and keep on moving forward. One story, about the Martin Handcart company really stook out to me, when one of the company members said after they had crossed the plains that "They and become aquainted with God through all their afflictions, the price which was a privilege to pay." And boy am I becoming aquainted with my God. My faith could never be brighter that everything will be alright :)


Love you guys! Have a great 2016