From 8 November 2016
Last week (and the week before that, and this week) we have been going on a LOT of adventures, so I apologize for the lack of information/responses to emails. Today, I shall repent and give you a full report of what is going on!
This past week, we were a bit swamped by meetings. We had a 5-hour meeting on Thursday, another one on Friday, and then a 3-hour meeting on Saturday. Now, we´re in a fun part called the "go and do" stage. Basically, after being filled up with inspiration and good cheer during all of those amazing meetings, it´s time to go out and apply everything we learned, as we work in our areas as missionaries. It is PRETTY exciting! One thing that we talked about (again... so it´s REALLY important) is using the modern tools of internet and all of the amazing videos, photos, and messages the share the gospel through facebook, twitter, instagram, etc. I really liked one idea (and I´ll share it with you as an invitation) of just looking through your list of friends on facebook and listening closely to the spirit to identify a person or two who you could send a message or a video or just a smile to. It´s miraculously easy, and as we do it, we can learn better how to listen to and follow the promptings of the Holy Ghost. As Nephi explains in 2 Nephi 31 and 32, we ALL have the "tongue of angels" after we are baptized adn confirmed, which means that we can speak the words of Christ (aka share the gospel)! Isn´t that amazing? I think so.
In other news, I am heading into my home-stretch (last cycle) of the mission, which is a bit odd. I still feel as if I just arrived in Mexico! But that´s all okay because we´ve got a WHOLE lot of work to do here in Hidalgo this week, and in the weeks to come, even MORE! Hermana Bracamonte and I really like to work hard, so that is good news, and we are excited! Speaking of Hermana Bracamonte--SHE TURNED 21 THIS WEEK!!! We didn´t actually do anything very special on her birthday (Monday), but today we had a birthday celebration of sorts, and we went ice skating and ate ice cream--YUMMMM!
Last week, we went to the City center and checked out the "day of the dead" celebration with some other hermanas. It was interesting to see a bit of a culture-mix with some people dressed up as skeletons dressed in fancy clothing (traditional day of the dead) and also the people dressed up as pikachu, Elsa, and other more-american-themed things. Anyway, it was really interesting (and there were thousands of people there!), and then we went and found an out-door artisanal market where we shopped around for a bit and then headed back to our areas. It was an ADVENTURE! Also, the week before, we went to the city center and saw a ton of "Alebrijes" (pronounced Al-eh-brie-hays) next to the Angel of Independence (classic Mexico City icon/monument). They are a tradition that began here in Mexico City of weird animals that the artists basically invent and create out of card board and other materials. They were AMAZING. I will send you a couple of those pictures :)
So that is what has been happening! We also have been working with new investigators, we put on a ward activity, and we´ve been working on a project of checking ALL of the less-active memebers in our stake to see who really lives here still, and who does not. It has been quite a project, but we´re finally wrapping it up.
To finish off, here is a special thought from one of the many meetings we have had this last week:
When the work of the Lodr isn´t going forth as it should in the places we live, we need to remember that we are not part of the PROBLEM, but we are certainly part of the SOLUTION. Heavenly Father sends us to where we are with His eternal goals in mind.
Be safe and super-duper happy and do WONDERFUL MARVELOUS things this week! Please!
Love
Hermana Houghton
P.s. I´m just going to invite you all to see my google-drive which has a LOT of pictures from the last few adventures, so if you want to see the physical evidence of all of my adventures, you can check that out :)
