Week #44

Hola familia!

Very good week! Saw some miracles and great progress in the work! Monday we had a family home evening with our investigators in a members home and it was really solid! The spirit was there strong especially after the kids sang "Families can be together forever"! We also had Zone Conference this week and afterwards I went on exchanges in the Gringo area with a Samoan Elder named Elder Lavatai! We met this less active who moved here from Vietnam and had an awesome lesson with her! She felt the spirit so strong and at the end she said "I give you food" and gave us a huge box of fruit snacks and pop-tarts! We've also had some awesome lessons with some less actives of the branch to prepare them for the temple trip in June and the spirit of Elijah really touched some of them!

Saturday a less active Hermano from the branch called us up and told us he wanted to make us tacos so we went over and he brought out like 10 bottles of hot sauce and had us try them all! He had one with ghost peppers that my companion ate but I didn't dare touch! Afterwards he told us we had to teach his friends so he called them up and set up some times for this week to teach his friends! Overall, we've been keeping very busy and teaching a ton!

My favorite scripture from this week comes from Mosiah 5: 2 And they all cried with one voice, saying: Yea, we believe all the words which thou hast spoken unto us; and also, we know of their surety and truth, because of the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent, which has wrought a mighty change in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually.

This is right after King Benjamin finished his speech and the spirit came upon all the people and brought upon them a "Mighty Change" in their hearts! Just like them, we to can have this change come into our lives from the spirit! And it doesn't just have to be a one time event either but when we partake of the sacrament each week we have that promise that we will have that spirit! What a promise!

Take care mis amigos and have a great week!

Con Amor,

Elder Houssian

1.Matagringos

2. Los 3 Amigos

3. No se

Week #43

Hola Hola!

Excellent week this week! Lot's of big progress in the work! two of the families we have been teaching and have been taught for a LONG time finally accepted baptismal dates and both seem pretty solid for the end of June! They also came to church again with the whole family! 

We also found some new people to teach and two (twins) of them our students in our English classes! In our classes we use the Book of Mormon stories readers to practice pronunciation and so when we taught him the first vision and the background of the Book of Mormon they already knew it! 

We continue to have to bike a lot which I like (for now) and the work continues to progress! 

This week in my studies I was reading in Mosiah and my favorite scripture came from Mosiah 3:20-  20 And moreover, I say unto you, that the time shall come when the knowledge of a Savior shall spread throughout every nation, kindred, tongue, and people. 

This is the good news we bring to everyone that we have a savior who can help us in all moments and aspects of our lives! Through Christs Atonement we can truly find the Joy and Peace that so many are searching for!

Have a solid week!

Con Amor,

Elder Houssian

Lo siento, olvide sacar photos otra vez! Por la proxima vez! 

Week #42

Buenas Tades!

Very good week again here in Kerman and happy Mother's day to all you Mothers!

It's been quite the busy week! Tuesday Presidente Mackay came and taught one of our investigators with us who is sooooo close to baptism! We also found this cool new man to teach who loved the message of the restoration! We went back to teach him again Saturday and he said he was busy so we asked if we could help with anything and he told us he needed his yard mowed so I quickly grabbed the mower, mowed the yard while Elder Dodge cleaned a bunch of stuff, then he said "Well I guess I'm not busy now" so we taught him about the Book of Mormon and Christs coming to the Americas! 

We've had a lot of windy days lately which is good because it cools it down but then is rough on the bikes and allergies. Saturday night when we got home after a long day and lot's of really good teaching visits, I went to finish writing my talk but realized my phone was gone (I'd been typing it on their) so we texted our investigators and no responses. In the morning we went to look for it and found it at our investigators house! While we were they we decided to invite them to church and the came! The whole family of 5! Elder Dodge and I gave talks and Although Elder Dodge has only spoke Spanish for 7 weeks gave an excellent talk with basically no mistakes! 

In my studies this week I've been reading in Jacob, Enos, Jarom, and Omni, some really good chapters and my favorite scripture comes from 23 And it came to pass that peace and the love of God was restored again among the people; and they searched the scriptures,

This week we've seen so many people and families that are in really rough condition and need the peace of the gospel. But yet they refuse to do the simple things like read and pray everyday and go to church every week. The peace and blessings the gospel brings were a bit hard to see before, but as I've been here on the mission I've learned how invaluable the gospel really is and how it is the only way to found true lasting peace and happiness in life!

Well, take care mis amigos! 

Con Amor

Elder Houssian

Sólo tengo esta photo cerca de Freno, pero más vendrá por la próxima semana!

week #41

Hola!

Quite the crazy week this week! 

Monday we had an excellent Posoli dinner and lesson with some investigators! Tuesday Elder Okolowitz left and two of the other trainers came into Kerman with me for 2 days! We kept super busy and have been teaching a lot of people! We also got to attend the temple Wednesday! Great session! We then got our new companions Thursday! My new companion named Elder Dodge! He's a super solid Elder from Indiana who just got here from the MTC! 

Our investigators have shown a lot of progress! Veronica committed to baptism just needs a date now and a lot of the other investigators are reading the Book of Mormon and coming to church! We also found some great new families to teach and got some solid tacos from the Cinco de Mayo!

My favorite scripture from this week is from Jacob 5:72  72 And it came to pass that the servants did go and labor with their mights; and the Lord of the vineyard labored also with them; and they did obey the commandments of the Lord of the vineyard in all things.

When we work in the lords vineyard he is with us working beside us! These are the last days before the lords coming and we are his laborers preparing the way for his coming!

Take care and have a solid week!

Con Amor,

Elder Houssian

Trainer Email

It is with great pleasure I am writing to inform you that Elder Houssian has been called to serve as a Trainer in the California Fresno Mission.  We deem this to be the most important leadership calling in this mission because of the significant and lasting effect it will have on a newly arrived missionary to our mission.  Consequently, under inspiration from the Lord, we choose our trainers before we select any other leadership positions each transfer.  Only the most prepared, diligent, obedient, humble, and best teachers are called to this position in order that our new missionaries become powerful missionaries and Trainers themselves in as short a time as possible.  This calling has an initial 12-week (two-transfers) assignment during which Trainers remain with their newly arrived missionary companion.

I must share with you that when Trainers met their Trainee Companions for the first time this past week, there was an incredible confirmation of the Spirit that they are called to be together and the area they are assigned to has been chosen by the Lord as well.  Attached is a picture of Elder Houssian and his Trainee, Elder Dodge.  As they consecrate and dedicate themselves to missionary service, they will be led to those who are prepared to receive the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Elder Houssian and his companion are blessing our lives, the lives of these new missionaries, and the lives of members and non-members in their areas; and hopefully, you will feel blessed by their service as well.

It is difficult for me to adequately express my sincere appreciation for Elder Houssian.  Thank you for supporting and loving him with your prayers, love and sacrifice.  As he consecrates himself in the calling to be an ambassador of the Lord Jesus Christ, he is becoming a true disciple of Him whom he has been called to serve.  It is nearly impossible to replicate the spiritual growth experienced on a mission and its lasting effects lay the foundation for their next best two or four, or ten or fifty-years as he becomes a husband, father, and servant in the Lord's kingdom.

With much love and appreciation,

President and Sister Mackay

California Fresno Mission​

Week #40

Buenas Tardes!

Super good week this week! We saw a lot of progress in the work! Some of the investigators we have who've been investigating for a LONG finally are ready to get baptized so lot's of good stuff coming up this next transfer! I also got called to TRAIN!!! I'll be receiving a new missionary from the CCM this Thursday! Elder Okolowitz is getting moved into my old area of Porterville! He's been a super solid companion! 

This week we also help a family paint there house! They had us paint the ceiling too which took some time and tired arms! We also helped with the Sisters baptism this Saturday and gave a talk there. Our recent convert Aida is still on fire! We helped her get a temple recommend and got her an lds.org account and on family search! She already has over 10 names to bring to the temple but searching mexican family lines is like finding a needle in a haystack!

Overall lot's of stuff coming up this next week! My favorite scripture of the week comes from Jacob 4:14 ... Wherefore, because of their blindness, which blindness came by looking beyond the mark, they must needs fall;... Many members look beyond the mark which leads them into blind paths. The mark is Christ! His gospel is plain and simple and if truly understand it and live it we will grow to become like him! 

Have a great week! 

Con Amor,

Elder Houssian