Called To Serve...in Houston, Texas: Happy St Patrick's Day: March 17, 2014: "Sometimes people aren't home. And sometimes their homes aren't there."

Hola familia!

Let me explain the quote from the subject title...One day this week, we wanted to visit the Herarra family (less active)..We drove onto their street and then found their address..The only problem was...their house was no longer there! Ah..I wish I had taken a picture for y'All...But when we pulled up the driveway...there was an empty plot of land..We were hysterical!

Anyways...Cady is getting baptized this Saturday! We're so excited and Hermana Gutierrez is coming down for it wahoooo!!

We did lots of "seed planting" this week...On monday night, we found a new trailer park to knock on and the last house was my favorite..A black woman opened the door and let us in..In the living room was an older woman that was bedridden..her mother..My word, this woman was a hoot! Have y'All ever seen the Princess and the Frog? Well this woman was her in the flesh! She had a thick Louisiana accent, zero teeth, a lip packed with chew and Albert Einstein hair..She said, "Ohhh we luhh to hear da good word! tell us some more!"

Have I ever expressed my love for the south? Everyone loves Jesus and goes to church! Now we just have to get them to this church! :)

On Tuesday night, we went contacting in a grocery store..They had super clearanced huge teddy bears left over from Valentines Day... Seeing that we couldn't get Hermana Hosking a present for her birthday, Hermana Fletcher and I split the cost and bought it for her..Hosking has had a huge teddy bear since she was eight but she didn't bring him on the mission because who wants to show up to the mission home (MTC) with a massive bear in their arms? Her bear was named Cuddles so we named this one...Puddles...I wish y'All could have seen how happy she was! She almost started to cry! Who knew that such a simple act could bring so much joy?

Puddles and Hermana Hoskings

Hermana Hosking's mom sent her a birthday cake in the mail!!! yum!! this is her and elder nymeyer

Another fun moment..We were in a grocery store and we saw a couple clearly not speaking english..But it didn't sound like spanish..Hermana Hosking walked up to them and said, "Ustedes hablan ingles?" Their faces looked so confused and they said, "What?"...Hosking said, "Oh...we thought you were speaking spanish..Where are you from?" The man responded, "Armenia...." Have a nice day sir!!!

Friday night was so much fun! We seemed out of ideas as to where to go...I pulled into Victor Lopez's trailer park...And had a idea, lets have a movie night! All of the kids ran up to the car and I asked, "Do y'All wanna watch a movie?" They squealed with delight and said, "YES!!!" We scrambled to get a projector, laptop, popcorn, blankets..etc..We got it all set up by 8 and watched, "Joseph Smith: Prophet of the Restoration". The kids LOVED it!

MOVIE NIGHT! some of the kiddos and my companions..

I love these kids!

appearance...it got cold so...i threw on this random brazil sweatshirt!

Saturday night..ohhh I don't really want to remember it but it's worth writing about..We dropped our beloved Horacio Rodriguez. His progression stopped and he kept saying that he understood everything we taught but he refused to read and pray..(beware of pride)...so we told him, "When you read and pray and receive your answer, call us..Then we'll come back." He wasn't at church the next day...But that night, we were all so broken, we went into the church for a moment to pray..As Hermana Hosking prayed, I felt a tiny portion of what the Savior felt when he bore everything for me..I've found that in my hardest moments on my mission, that is when I am closest to the Savior.

I know that He lives. And I know that He loves us. This is His work and I'm so grateful that I get to be His hands in Houston.

Victor came to church yesterday and payed his tithing! Miracle! We're taking him and Hermano Policarpo to the temple this week! It will be their first time EVER going! Ah!

I know this was a short email but those were some of the "juicy" details that happened this week! I love you all so much and I know that this is the true church!

I know that my Redeemer lives!