Mission Week 82, Fontana Week 5, "she asked us when we could program a date so that they can be baptized!"

This Sunday Laura (Investigator) ran up to me and had a huge smile on her face. She said that she wants to get baptized! We also were able to talk with Alma (Her mom) after the meetings and she asked us when we could program a date so that they can be baptized! So that was pretty awesome! They have been progressing super fast.

The week sort of blew by!

Have a great week!
Elder Horton

MILLONARIOS (Pro Soccer team from Colombia)

Mission Week 81, Fontana Week 4, "Agency is a gift that God has given..."

Agency is a gift that God has given to man to be able to learn and progress in this life. I've been thinking a lot about that this week. I've learned that I need to think more before I make decisions. Something that we must always ask ourselves is, "Will this help in my progression in becoming more like my Heavenly Father?" That is after all why we are here. For example, one day there was a young man that was too lazy to get up to go to seminary. What are the affects of not going to seminary? What are the blessings that this young man is losing? The knowledge that he is missing out on? Maybe later that day he could've applied that day's class to give counsel to a friend going through a hard time. Maybe he could've shared a comment in class that would've helped the life of one of his classmates with doubts.

Many doors are shut and many blessings are lost when we don't make the right decisions (Whether they be blessings in your life, or you being the instrument to bless the lives of others). But we don't realize it. If we truly realized all of the wonderful many blessings (Whether they be blessings in our lives or blessings of peace and joy that came from being able to bless the life of someone else) that come pouring into our lives as we study the scriptures, do our daily prayers, go to church each Sunday, attend seminary and institute classes, and much more, I know we would discipline ourselves much more, and fulfill with what the Lord has commanded us. We must learn how to become Agents and choose the RIGHT decisions in our lives that will help us progress to our Celestial goal. I would invite all of us to think about what we are doing right now in our lives, and to ask "Am I on the path to reach my celestial goal?" Learn to master the decisions you take and don't let the natural man take over. 

"A submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father." - Mosiah 3:19

Love you all!!

-Elder Horton  

Mission Week 80, Fontana Week 3, "we need to see our investigators in white..."

This week was our zone conference with our Mission President. Something that I loved from the conference was focusing on recent converts. There are a lot of recent converts that go less-active quickly. Our Mission President told us that we need to see our investigators in white, but not just standing in the baptismal font, but in the temple being sealed for time and all eternity. That should always be our goal, because after all that is the purpose for why we are here preaching this gospel!

During the zone conference Sister Valladares (President's wife) reminded me about my Birthday. She gave me a bag full of candy!

During the week we looked for old teaching records in our area book, and we came across Emy Hernandez. She seems pretty cool. Her brother Xavier also was able to listen to us. He's in the Army though and had to travel. I love finding people that are really receptive in our area book. It's full of names of people that had been listening to the missionaries. Sometimes it doesn't have the reason why the missionaries stopped teaching a certain person. Those are the people that I love to look for. Emy simply told us that the missionaries hadn't passed by for a long time. This Sunday she's made plans to come to church with us.

On Sunday we had a lesson with Alma Martinez and her daughter Laura. They are ready to be baptized, but they want to be as ready as ready can be. We haven't been able to put a baptismal date simply because we can't meet with them very often. They only have time on Sunday's. This Sunday, they asked us a whole bunch of questions. They asked what a Family night was, they also asked for a Come-Follow me Booklet so they can start studying it! They are so engaged when they came to church each Sunday. They love to participate during the classes.

Brazil and Peru played in the championship game for the American world Cup. Peru ended up losing 1-3. My companion was bummed out big time. Elder Moya is a huge soccer fan.

Other than that I learned how to make a new Dessert called Arroz con leche. In English it's Rice Pudding!

Hope that your weeks are as wonderful as you!

-Elder Horton

Mission Week 79, Fontana Week 2, "...you just gotta put your head down, focus up and start trudging up that mountain."

I had the chance to participate in the MTC activity this week. Each time a new group comes into the MTC here in Colombia, the missionaries get the chance to know the missionary life. They split up amongst us missionaries here in the field for one day and we gave them a little taste of the life of a missionary. The two missionaries that came with me were Elder Reque from Bolivia and Elder Alvarado from Ecuador. They both worked really hard throughout the day. It was funny to see how they acted being outside for the first time preaching the gospel. They were like WOW were outside! after being in the MTC for a couple of weeks, every time you get the opportunity to go outside it's like you're getting to know a whole new world. So you just want to go see everything! They were really excited! It reminded me of when I was there because I was acting the exact same way. At the end of the day with them we were able to teach a new family. We taught them the Restoration. There names are Mirleydis, Jairo, and Salomé (Daughter of Mirleydis). It's a little beautiful family. Mirleydis told us that she wants to learn the truth and she wants to receive blessings for her family. Something funny that she told us right off the bat getting to know her is that she's living in free union. We were happy to see that she knows that it's not ok that their not married. Mirleydis came to church this Sunday with her daughter holding her Book of Mormon in her hands. She had a huge smile on her face as we starting walking to the church building. After the lesson these two missionaries walked out with so much energy! They want to get out in the field and start teaching people! It mad me happy to see them so pumped up. They taught this family very well. It was a great experience being with these two young missionaries for their first day in the field.

For P-Day we headed up to Mount. Monserrate. This time we decided to take the stairs. There are two ways to get up the mountain. One way is by the little cart that gives you a ride all the way up and takes you back down, but you have to pay money for that. Second is walking up the never ending stair pathway. So we decided to take the second option. It was really fun, but we were tired after that hike! I felt like Po (the Panda) when he looked up at the stairs leading up to the Kung-Fu Palace. There were also like 4 to 5 year olds going up this thing. I was impressed! Everyone that goes up is huffing and puffing until they reach the top. There is a spiritual side to this. After seeing all the stairs at one time it kind of overwhelmed me, but As I put my head down and focused on each step and started trudging up the mountain I soon found myself halfway to the top. Then in no time I was there. Sometimes we see obstacles in life that look way bigger than we can overcome. But you just gotta put your head down focus up, and start trudging up that mountain, because at some point you're going to reach the top!

Love you all!
Elder Horton

Impressions of Fontana:
1. It rains a lot here (Go figure)
2. Everyone goes to the parks here during the day with their families. (Perfect contacting opportunities!)
3. If you want to buy something from the store and you're in your house and feeling lazy, you can call people that will go and buy what you need and deliver it personally to your house and there's no charge for the delivery. Literally anything! Eggs, milk, oatmeal, candy, etc...

Elder Reque and Elder Alvarado

My comp Elder Moya

Starting our way up the Stairs!

View from Mount Monserrate

View from our house (13th Floor)

The building that we live in

Mission Week 78, Fontana Week 1, "Always love the service that you're giving."

Arriving to my new area here I'm taking off. I'm ready to baptize converts . A family that we are teaching named the Moscoso Family is preparing to be baptized. They were supposed to be baptized last week but they had vacation plans. This next week we are planning on baptizing the family. It's a family of four. Harry (dad), Yolima (mom), Logan (son), and Isabela (daughter). Harry is a member that was less-active for a long time, but came back to church and now desires that his wife and kids be members of the church. It's going to be really cool because he's going to baptize each one of them.

My new companion isn't from Argentina. I assumed that because of his last name, but turns out that he's from Lima, Peru. He's my fourth companion from Lima! There are a lot of Peruvians in this mission.

I've learned a lot this week about the word Diligence. Throughout a good majority of my mission I had always thought of working diligently as just pushing through constantly. I went through and read in Preach My Gospel Chapter 6 and read a little bit about what Diligence is. What I learned is that it's being motivated and energetic to serve in the missionary field. To always have that attitude to get things done, and to love the service that you're giving. Sometimes in the mission field for me I have felt unmotivated just from the constant routine that we have. Something that brought back a lot of motivation was being able to participate in a sealing in the temple today. I've never been in the sealing rooms in the temple. There was a recent convert that came down to get sealed to his wife for time and all eternity. It got me Trunky and at the same time so pumped up to go look for families that need this knowledge of the gospel in their lives. I witnessed the blessings of temple marriage. There are so many families without this knowledge, but we're going to go find them!

Love you guys!
Elder Horton

Impressions of Fontana:
1. Dominos Pizza is everywhere
2. There are a lot of gated off Neighborhoods (we can't go in to contact people)
3.  Right now the American cup is going on. All of the South American countries are playing in a big tournament. The people here are going nuts because Colombia is up 3-0!

Family that got sealed today! 

Mission Week 77, Duitama Week 11, "Transfers are In...I'm heading to a place called Suba in Bogota!"

Astrid and Angie came to church this Sunday! We had a really cool experience with Astrid. Her 4 year old daughter was sick and throwing up a lot. We taught Astrid about the Priesthood healing power and we were able to give her daughter a blessing of health. The next day we called Astrid and she sounded very happy. Her daughters sickness was completely gone and she was running around and all happy again. The priesthood power is real and can help bless lives! She had an interview this past week for a new job opportunity. We are hoping and praying that if it be the will of the Lord that she gets this new Job!

This week blew right by. On Sunday a member Invited us to eat lunch with him up at his ranch that he owns. We went WAYYYYYY up in the mountains. He owns a program called "Fundacion Moroni" It's a juvenile prison. He has a jail in his backyard. He helps them to become better people. He also has his own farm up there!

Transfers are in! I'm heading out of Duitama. I'll be going to Bogotà in a place called Suba as a District Leader. My new Companions name is Elder Mayo from Argentina. I'm going to miss Boyacà, It`s been a a great privilege to serve out here. I got my Ruana before heading out though. It's like a poncho but for the cold. It's what marks you as a true Boyàco!

Love you guys!
Elder Horton

Mission Week 75-76, Duitama Week 9-10, "I love to read the Book of Mormon!"

Astrid and Angie! We are really trying all that we can to help them to get baptized. They want to be baptized but a lot of trials starting popping up in their lives. They had to travel to Barbosa for the past couple of weeks for emergencies. Astrid is trying to find a new Job. She told us during one of the lessons that she doesn't feel worthy to be baptized yet because of her job. She drives cargo of wine and sells it. After teaching her about the principle of prayer and scripture study she decided to try it out. Shortly after she got an interview for a new job opportunity, we've been praying for her and we'll see how it goes. I think it's funny how the trials came packed on when she made the decision to start changing her life. Even though these hard things are going on right now she has such great faith.

As for the rest of the week we've been working with some new families. We're hoping to see them progress in the coming days.

I love to read the Book of Mormon! The stories of the book teach us how to bring more blessings into our lives. I've been focusing a lot on how I can apply the stories of the Book of Mormon to the lives of our investigators. It invites the spirit quit fast when you can relate a Book of Mormon story to maybe a trial thats going on in someones life. I would Invite everyone of you to do so. As you read in the Book of Mormon think of friend that is passing through a hard or special time in their life and share that part/story with them!

Love you guys!
Elder Horton

Impressions of Duitama:
1. If you Moo at any cow out here they will Moo back.
2. The kids here always scream things out you in English and love to run up and talk to you.