Missionary Pumpkins!

We had an exciting district meeting this week, carving pumpkins! All the missionaries were super creative! This one says "Tiene Fe?" (Got Faith?)

This one has the familiar CTR logo (Choose the Right) only in Spanish it's HLJ (Haz Lo Justo).

Can you read this one? It says Mormon.org.

Finally, one of the missionaries promised $5 to anyone who could carve a recognizable "First Vision" on a pumpkin. The First Vision is the experience Joseph Smith had as a 14 year old boy, where God the Father and Jesus Christ appeared to him. They called him to be a prophet and eventually organize Christ's church on the earth. Well we took on the challenge - I did the drawing and Sister Oxley was the master carver. Here's the masterpiece!

This week, Conchis Mares got baptized! Doesn't she look happy?! Conchis is a great example of faith and closeness to the Spirit. She is such a sweetheart and I love her!

We made cupcakes for the baptism with our friend, Erika. And she made us pancakes!

We got to bring two adorable little missionaries to an appointment with us! This is Sister Jacqueline and Sister Jocelyn. They had so much fun coming out to our appointment! They even wanted to carry our bags, to be like real missionaries! :) Aren't they cute?!

Have a wonderful week everyone!

"Rojo, Amarillo, y Azul!"

This Sunday was the Primary Program, where all the children, age 4-12, put on the program for sacrament meeting. Those kids sang, recited scriptures, and shared their testimonies. They are so stinking cute! I had the best seat in the house: at the piano. Since I was up on the stand, I was surrounded by adorable children, eager to share the lines they'd memorized. Some were terrified of the microphone and some couldn't get enough of it. It hit me how these children, from such a young age, are learning to be active contributors in moving the kingdom of God forward. Every one of us, whether we're 4, 45, or 94, has something we can give to the Lord.

The Good News and Bad News

The enabling power of the atonement is real! In other words, Christ can give us the strength to conquer any struggle and to become better than we, on our own, could be. Do you want to know how I know this? Because there is an incredible woman named Maria, who started smoking when she was twelve. She has tried to quit many times over the last 30 years, and finally, in the last few weeks, she has been able to leave the habit behind forever. She and her lovely daughter, Michelle, were baptized this Saturday. We are so happy for them!

Now let's give credit where credit is due. Can we have a round of applause for Eric Jurado!

One day Eric opened his front door and wandered out into the street just as we were walking by. We knocked on the nearest door to try and find his mother and that's when we met Maria. The Lord works in mysterious ways; sometimes he sends an angel to carefully and gently lead a two year old out into the middle of the road.

So I have good news and bad news. The good news is that you get to hear another six weeks worth of stories from out here in Horizon. The bad news is that Sister Silva won't be here for them. :( That's right. Transfer calls came in and she'll be headed back to New Mexico. Despite having to go our separate ways, we move forward with faith, knowing that "great is the work which [we have] undertaken." I sure will miss her,  but I know that the Lord needs Sister Silva's "voice of a trump" in a different area. 

Have a wonderful week!

The Lovely Leti

Let me tell you about one of my favorite people! Her name is Leti. She is so friendly and has a heart of gold! She comes to church with her sisters and loves to be there. She is in her thirties or so but has a heatlh condition that gives her a very childlike mind. In her mind, she is maybe 3-5 years old. When Christ said that we should all become as little children, I think of Leti. She is humble, kind, and loving to everyone. She is so much like the Savior.

This last week, Sister Silva and I were practicing in the chapel for the musical number when Leti heard the music and poked her head in. When she saw Sister Silva singing, she grinned her huge, happy grin, yelled "Hermanas!", threw out her arms and ran up the aisle in the chapel for a big hug! It was the most wonderful moment! I can't help thinking that, when we meet on the other side and she's got a resurrected and perfected body, the reunion will be something like that.

The Road Less Traveled By

This is a wonderful week! You know why? Because we got to go to the temple yesterday! Here in El Paso, the nearest temple is just 20 minutes away in Juarez, Mexico. But the Church doesn't let missionaries cross the border for safety reasons, so we got to drive 4 hours up to Albuquerque. We left at 5:30 a.m. but it was well worth it! The temple is the House of the Lord, and there is a Spirit in the temple that you cannot feel anywhere else. When was the last time you visited the temple? You should go again this week!

I feel like, no matter how long I stay in Horizon, there are always new places to explore. I learned from my Grandpa to take scenic shortcuts whenever possible. This week, one of those scenic shortcuts was just too beautiful to pass up stopping for a couple pictures.

A few weeks back, Sister Adams and Sister Pipkin started singing scriptures to the tune of hymns in order to memorize them more easily. It is so much fun! Did you know that with a little fanangaling, you can sing Doctrine and Covenants Section 4 to the tune of "Called to Serve" in Spanish? 

Well this week I've been working on memorizing one of my favorite scriptures, Moroni 7:48. It says that as we strive and pray for charity, we will become more like the Savior:

"Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen."

Hope you all have a great week!