Mission Week 66, Duitama Week 1, "The hope that Jesus Christ brings us is that we DON'T need to be ALONE."

My first week here in Duitama was great! Although it's basically the same thing with lots of cows, rain, and cold weather. The ward here is helping the Missionary work progress rapidly. I've never seen a ward with so many young men and young woman willing to serve. There are lots of Young men and woman preparing themselves to go and missions and they want to come accompany us to teaching visits with investigators. They also love to play basketball! This has to be the first ward that I've been in that likes another sport other than soccer!  We live in an apartment on the 9th floor of the building. When I first got here we had to take the stairs up 9 flights with my bags because the elevator wasn't working haha that was rough. The elevator here is almost always broken, so my legs are going to be ripped when I leave Duitama. We also live right down the street from the chapel. In almost every one of my areas in my mission I've always lived pretty dang close to each church building which has been really nice.

My new companion's name is Elder Tarazona. He's from Peru. He's also apart of my group from when we were in the MTC!

The ZL's of Duitama (Elder Horton and Elder Tarazona)

Other than that we've been going to work looking for people that are ready to be baptized! We found a really great guy yesterday. His name is Hever and he is from Venezuela. He came to Colombia by himself. The lesson with him was really special. When we started the lesson he talk to us about some trials that are going on in his life. He is looking for peace and happiness. I was so happy when we were able to tell him that you're in the right place! We shared with him a message about the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Some of our Favorite scriptures that we like to share are in Alma 7:11-12. It helped Hever to understand that he's not alone. As he read these verses he paused and tears started to form in his eyes. The spirit was so strong. He wants to learn more about us and what it is that we teach. He felt a peace that I think he hasn't felt in a long time. We well continue teaching him and see how he progresses!

The atonement of Jesus Christ is what I was thinking about a lot this week. There are so many people in the world with trials that are very very hard to handle alone. But the sad part is that there are many people that think they have to take it on alone. The hope that Jesus Christ brings us is that we DON'T need to be ALONE. He understands what we need. Let him be in your life and recognize him as your Savior. Alma the younger was a great example of how to realize that Jesus Christ is our Savior and how to change the misery that one has to joy and happiness. In Alma 36:17-21 Alma is there in the depths of misery ready to perish, but he remembers the teachings of his father about the coming of a Savior and as he concentrates his mind on that alone, he cry's out in his mind for the Lord to have mercy on him, to save him. As he does so the misery and pain that he felt changes immediately and literally immediately to a Joy that he had never before felt in his life. I want to invite each and every one of us to focus our thoughts this week on the fact that A savior was born, he came, he lived, and died for each and every one of us. I promise you that as your thoughts are more focused on the Savior that you will feel this joy that maybe you've never felt before in your life. Try to grow closer to the Lord each and every day and you will see a great change on the outlook that you have on life. You will have greater optimism and that light will shine and touch others.

I hope that you all remember that God loves you so much. No trial, nor sickness, or doubt is greater than him!

Please enjoy this photo of a braided horse.

Have a great week!
Elder Horton

Ever seen a Braided Horse...now you have...enjoy!