That's CRAZy! Let's do it!

From 28 December 2015

Christmas Stockings. . .Bosquez, 24 December 2015

Dearest Everyone,

MERRY CHRISTMAS!! (AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!)

I trust you´ve all felt the Christmas spirit this month, and that you´re feeling it still as you head back to normal life.  It´s been an interesting week to be in Mexico, where we still get into the 70´s every day, and Santa Claus doesn´t come on the 24th, the wise men come on the 6th of January.  One thing that is the same, however, are the lights.  I LOVE Christmas lights and it brings joy to my heart to see them strung up to and fro about the neighborhoods, temples, and trees here.  Truly, Christmas IS about light.  It´s about the light of Christ, and it´s about the Light of the World that was born just 2015 years ago.  I´m so grateful to be able to know His story, and remember it every single day of the year.

So now, I want to explain my title a bit.  You see, there is a talk, which I have heard about and not actually read, about a missionary who, when he was on his mission, thought about things that he would never even consider doing as a missionary, and then he decided to do them.  These things might include preaching on a street corner, contacting an atheist, and who knows what else!  Well, sometimes Hermana Bracamonte and I try to apply a similar technique, and then we see miracles that come when we put our faith and our courage to work, and we try to work "outside the box".  Anyway, I have a testimony that Heavenly Father works miracles.  The missionary program alone is a miracle.  I mean, can you imagine when it started out and someone stood up and presented a simple idea of sending people out to teach the gospel, and then at the conclusion of his presentation he said "oh and by the way, I think we should send the 18 and 19 year-olds".  Logically, the program shouldn´t work, but because it is guided by the Lord, it does! (see Isaiah 55 "The Lord´s ways are higher than your ways").  

Anyway, Mexico continues to be an adventure, and Hermana Bracamonte and I are learning LOTS from our experiences here in Bosques.  We (and our mission president and his wife) send our love your way, and hope that you will all have a happy, alcohol-free new year!

Lots of love,

Hermana Houghton

A picture from Hermana Bracamonte. . .a happy Marta on Christmas day!

Christ's purpose in coming to earth (an event we celebrate on Christmas) is to allow us to return to live with our Heavenly Father as families.   One of the most exciting parts of Christmas for families of missionaries is the opportunity to skype with their far-away missionary.  Thus, for just a few minutes on Christmas, our family was "together"-- a fitting reminder of the joyful and wonderful blessing of Christ!  

Look at those smiles!