Adventures in Mexico

 in the rain, and LOVING it :)

Dearest Darlingest Family and Friends,

It´s great to hear that you´re all alive and well, and that you´re all continuing to grow and learn and have exciting experiences without me!  This week has been a week of much work and many miracles.  Here are just a few of them:

Elder Oaks

Miracle 1) We (the mission Ciudad de Mexico, Este) got to see, hand-shake, and listen to a called and inspired prophet and apostle of the Lord (Dallin H. Oaks), who gave us counsel on a variety of topics related to missionary work and this mortal experience.  One special tidbit from our time with him is this "Wisdom is the APPLICATION of doctrine" and in order to be wise, we must truly aply the things that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ have taught us.  Also, we got to sing in a choir for Elder Oaks, and we practiced and performed a truly stirring rendition of "Battle Hymn of the Republic" (or "Himno de la Batalla de la Republica).

 Our Ward Mission Leader, Alexis

Miracle 2) Even though we had to completely miss our studies for a couple of days to practice for and listen to Elder Oaks, we (Hermana Woodard and I) were able successfully to pull off a ward activity and we both spoke in church on Sunday. In spanish, nonetheless!

Miracle 3) Two investigators with whom we have worked A LOT this last cycle and who we had to drop last week called us and said they wanted to be baptized this next Sunday.

Miracle 4) For a variety of circumstances we weren´t able to work very much this week, but by a series of small miracles, we helped several investigators get to church, and we met and exceeded some of our weekly goals as a companionship.

Miracle 5) a woman I contacted almost 3 months ago, along with her entire family got baptized (they live in the area next to us, and we to pass the reference to the Elders there).  The husband had to overcome some serious problems with substance abuse to arrive at the day of his baptism, but HE DID IT!

MIracle 6) We DIDN´T get transfers, and so Hermana Woodard and I get to work together in Olivos at least one more cycle (6 weeks).

That´s a lot of miracles, isn´t it!?  Well, I know there are more coming, because this work functions BECAUSE it is the work of God, and for no other reason.  So if you or anyone you know is passing through trials that seem insurmountable, just remember that our God is a God of miracles, and He will help us in His time.

Be safe and do wonderful things everyeone!

Lots of love,

Hermana Houghton

My dear companion´s reaction to finding
special friends in her mattress last week
--we cleaned it VERY THOROUGHLY.

That´s right kids, we found a TRIPLE banana in the
Tianguies this week--life just keeps getting better and better!

our investigator´s house has a little door-thing.. .it´s fun :)

When I had to chase the rooster in our house!

"YOU are the real miracle of the church"

From 4 April 2016

                                                                GIANT grapefruit.  Tasty!

This week has been crazy, but full of little miracles left and right.  Here are some lovely examples:

Hannía, our 9-year-old investigator who got baptized 3 weeks ago, fell off the map, before getting confirmed a member of the church (this is a BIG problem, because baptism without confirmation is kind-of like washing dishes without rinsing them--it doesn´t work).  We went to her house, and the other people living there said that Hannía´s Mom had left with all the kids on Thursday, and they had no idea where they had gone.  AAAHHH!  Then, in an exciting turn of events, on Friday while my companion was in a meeting, one of the President´s assistants told us that he had found our convert!  Apparently, Hannía and her family showed up to church in another part of the mission this week and informed the missionaries there that she was missing the confirmation.  WE sent all of the records and such right on over, and we´ll be following up with those missionaries in a short while.  MIRACLES.

When we didn´t have water,
we got it out of a hole on the corner!

Our water came back on!  (on Saturday, after 9 days without it)  After taking hot showers and thoroughly cleaning the house, we were feeling A LOT better.

   

General Conference, I LOVE IT.  We invited a TON of people to come to listen to and watch the prophets speak to us, and very few actually came.  But!  One investigator who we´ve recently dropped decided to show up and watch, and the talks during that session were ON-POINT for him.  We will see what he does now, but it was a special little blessing amidst a truly crazy weekend.

Matching with my "Mom" Hermana Chavez

Ok. That´s mostly it for miracles.  Life is lovely, we did divisions twice this week (both times with former-companions of mine--Hermana Chavez and Hermana Saylor), and we´re looking forward to even more exciting adventures this coming week.  

Baptism of Pedro (with a few extra ward members mixed in :) )

OH!  And Pedro got baptized this week!  We were pretty excited for him, and his Dad (Ricardo, another recent convert) got to do the baptism!  

sister Missionaries in Mexico :)

Hermana Woodard and I send lots of love from Mexico to YOU!  Be safe and happy, and do something nice for someone else this week!

Lots of love,

Hermana Houghton

Other missionaries in Mexico
(LOOK AT ALL THOSE GUEROS!)

 "double" BANANA.  That´s right folks,
there were two, fused banans inside :)

when our district made donuts together!

when I burnt a skirt (not mine) to celebrate 9 months!

 Easter :)

Olivos swamp

Olivos sunset