Week #89

Hola!

Great week over here in Merced California! We got a lot of good work done! Were able to find some great new families to teach this week! We went back to one lady we taught the restoration to last week and she had read a bit in the Book of Mormon! We went over the introduction and showed her how it fits right into place with the bible! She was amazed and at the end told us how something has been telling her ever since we fist came that she needs to find a new church and the Lord has been telling her to search for more! She exclaimed that us as members of Christ's church just seem to have a glow about us and she now understands why!

We gave a baptismal interlude on Saturday for the other Elders here in Merced who baptized a lady straight from China who spoke almost no English! There was a local member who served a mission in the wars who served in Taiwan so he was able to teach her and do both ordinances in Mandarin! That's a perfect example on something our mission President calls the principal of proximonity which is the Lord prepares the hearts of the people who are in the sphere of influence/areas of members so they will have instant fellowship and friends in the church!

Got to attend the Branch for the first time and it was sweet! A small branch of about 60 actives + whatever the missionaries bring! Our branch presidente is from Chile and is super solid! It was one of the craziest testimony meetings I've been to! The Branch presidente and his coucellor started off, than an Elderly lady, than my companion and I than this man the other Elders invited, not even a member went up and shared a fire testimony! After that like 20 members and another non member got up and gave there testimonies until 35 after it was supposed to end! (According to my companion most testimony meeting you only get like 3 people who go up and about 15 min of silence)!

My favorite scripture from the week comes from 1 Nefi 13:19 And I, Nephi, beheld that the Gentiles that had gone out of captivity were delivered by the power of God out of the hands of all other nations.

In this vision of America Nephi saw God's hand directly in the establishment of Amercia! To prepare the land for the restored gospel! What a privilege it is to live in this land and have the restored gospel in our lives!

Hasta la proxima mis amigos!

Con Amor,

Elder Houssian 

Week #88

Hola!

Great week! Now in Merced, California! A city of about 100,000 people north of Fresno pretty close to Yosemite! My new companion is Elder Murray from Colorado and is a tall Elder (6' 6") and has as well been out a good amount of time! The area is sweet! We cover a Spanish branch but are the only Spanish missionaries in the area so got a lot of work to do!

We found a lot of families to teach this first week here! The branch is actually in a little town 15 min north in Atwater so here in Merced we need some strong new families! We found one walking down the street and saw then outside washing the car! We walked up and introduced ourselves and they invited us back for the next evening! We went and they woke up to come get the door (never happens)! They invited us in and we shared the restoration with them! They loved it and when we invited them to be baptized Bertin the father paused, thought for a second and then told us he felt that was the next step for him and his family and they would get baptized! Solid! 

Every Friday here they play soccer here with the branch and anyone we invite and we got a pretty good group! They are super good and play super hard too! 

My favorite scripture from the week comes from 1 Corinthians 3:6 6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.

In the Lord's vineyard we plant a lot of seeds, sometimes we even water them, but in the end God gives the increase! It is his work and it will roll forth like a stone cut out of a mountain without hands that will soon fill the whole Earth! But to fill whole Earth we must plant seed by seed!

¡Cuidense mis amigos!

Con Amor,

Elder Houssian

Week #87

¡Hola!

What a week! We took a solid trip to Yosemite on Monday! We then were packed with teaching throughout the week and set up some people for baptism! Wednesday was super sweet! Got a call in the middle of a service project and got to Skype in to my brother Kyles wedding! Congrats to him and Lyndsey! 

Thursday we had a fire zone conference with Elder Gangster from the 70 and then Friday a mission leadership council with him! What an experience! There is no doubt in my mind the apostolic keys are here on Earth and guide this work! We got transfer calls and after 7 1/2 Months I will be leaving good ole Fresno! I will be moved to Merced! Super excited but will miss Fresno a lot! Gave my departing testimony and said goodbye to the great people here! Today went to a trampoline park for the first time in a while and broke a tramp, I guess a bit of extra weight goes a long way!

My favorite scripture from the week comes from Moroni 10:29 And God shall show unto you, that that which I have written is true.

Finished the Book of Mormon once again this week and every time I get to the end the confirmation of the Holy Ghost comes and reminds me it is true! And every time I read it seems as if it is a new Book with so much to learn! 

Hasta la próxima!

Con Amor,

Elder Houssian

Week #86

Hola!

Another solid week! The work keeps moving onward!

This week we had some solid teaching appointments! A few of them came to church this week and loved it! The ward is growing and each week more and more are coming!

We helped an amigo of ours move and got to use the brand new mission 2019 Tundra! The family was super grateful and we were to to drive such a smooth ride!

We had two solid exchanges as well with some younger missionaries and one of them was in the rich Gringo area! One thing I love about exchanging with the young missionaries is their fire to try anything! We were in a rich neighborhood and the Elder says let's knock doors, so we did and got a ton of door slams but we ended up finding some awesome people who did listen and invited us back! That taught me that no matter what kind of economic situation the gospel message will ring true to all who listen!

We're headed up to Yosemite today so some pictures will come soon!

My favorite scripture from the week comes from Ether 4:7 And in that day that they shall exercise faith in me, saith the Lord, even as the brother of Jared did, that they may become sanctified in me, then will I manifest unto them the things which the brother of Jared saw, even to the unfolding unto them all my revelations, saith Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of the heavens and of the earth, and all things that in them are.

If we exercise faith like The brother of Jared of Old, the Lord will bit by bit reveal all things unto us! 

Nos vemos mis amigos!

Con Amor,

Elder Houssian 

Week #85

¡Hola!

A great week once again in good ole Fresno! The work continues to progress very well! We got a sweet referral for this man named Chris who was getting taught in Sacramento and is super solid! We sent him a text when we got his referral to set up and a and he responded to us with this "" He is from Coatia and has read almost the whole Book of Mormon! He told us he's tried every other church out there and that we are the last Christians left and the Book of Mormon is America's last hope! Super crazy! We had to hand him off though to the English Elderes sadly because he doesn't speak the Celestial Language.

We had some exchanges this week and we went with the Hmong Elderes! It was pretty sweet because we had the triple threat English, Spanish, and Hmong and taught in all three languages! 

My favorite scripture from the week comes from 3rd Nefi 27:33- Enter ye in at the strait gate; for strait is the gate, and narrow is the way that leads to life, and few there be that find it; but wide is the gate, and broad the way which leads to death, and many there be that travel therein, until the night cometh, wherein no man can work.

The way is straight that's leads to peace, happiness, and eventually eternal life! Let us stay in it!

¡Cuídense Amigos!

Con Amor,

Elder Houssian

Week #84

Hola Hola!

A great week once again here in Fresno! Another nice and busy week! Had 2 great exchanges this week. As well saw lots of progress in the work! 

Saw a few miracles this week! Juan, our friend we are teaching who lives with the RLDS man was just been absorbing everything and reading a lot in the Book of Mormon! From 3 weeks ago to nice we've seen a complete turn around! From not being able to sleep for 4 years to 12 hours+ of sleep everyday within 3 weeks! Nothing could do that but a higher power! A light seems to have just turned on in his life!

We've been teaching the girlfriend of a member and she as well has been progressing a ton! She is a very audio learner and has listen to a bunch of the Book of Mormon! She took a bunch of notes and when we came back recited to us in detail the whole first book of Nefi! Super sweet!

My favorite scripture from the week comes from Helaman 11:23But it came to pass that Nephi and Lehi, and many of their brethren who knew concerning the true points of doctrine, having many revelations daily, therefore they did preach unto the people...

True doctrine can bring revelation into our lives and as we recieve that we have the ability and priveldge to preach the gospel! It all starts as we search the scriptures daily and ponder upon that which we recieve!

Hasta la próxima! 

 

Week #83

Buenas Tardes!

Very good week once again! Packed as well! We had a lot of great lessons throughout the week and saw the work continue to progress! We had missionary leadership council on Friday and Presidente Mackay gave a really good training! On Saturday we got to go to the temple with Mario and he brought 5 of his own family names! While we were helping him I decided to log on my family search and see if their were any names from my family and found 4 to bring as well! Was a super sweet temple trip and the spirit was so strong as we performed the baptisms for his Grandparents and great grandparents on both sides!

On Sunday we had a great turnout at church! We went early in the mornings to meet a member who was going to help bring one of our friends to church and as he was backing up out of no where the drivers side window shattered! (See picture below) We were a bit worried that he would have to cancel but said "vamanos! The lords got work to do!" 

One of less active we have been working with came back and loved it! Our RLDS friend who I mentioned last week asked me if he could give "Gracias a Dios" (bear his testimony) and I said, sure why not! He gave a fire testimony over the Book of Mormon and explained how he felt likes God's light had been out in his life for 19 years but when he picked up the Book of Mormon again for the first time he felt like the light came back on! His friend Juan who we've been teaching used to hear voices and couldn't sleep at night and ever since we've started meeting with him he's been sleeping well again and the voices went away! 

My favorite scripture from the week comes from Helaman 3:29 Yea, we see that whosoever will may lay hold upon the word of God, which is quick and powerful, which shall divide asunder all the cunning and the snares and the wiles of the devil, and lead the man of Christ in a strait and narrow course across that everlasting gulf of misery which is prepared to engulf the wicked—

30 And land their souls, yea, their immortal souls, at the right hand of God in the kingdom of heaven, to sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and with Jacob, and with all our holy fathers, to go no more out.

I live this explanation of the power of the Word of God! I know this is true and can testify of its power! How much time were you able to spend this week in the Book of Mormon? If you haven't had much, the best time to start is now!

Have an excellent week amigos!

Con Amor,

Elder Houssian