Called To Serve...in Houston, Texas: November 17, 2014: It's Cold In Houston!!!

Howdy familia y amigos!

Can I just say, this week was so "cold"!! Alright, I'll admit..I'm like a baby when it comes to the cold. I can handle 110 degrees with 100% humidity but once it hits 50, I'm toast. This past Monday it was a lovely 80 degrees and now...it's 40. So with the temperature drop came the sickness. Hermana Maxwell got sick again and then I got it..So unfortunately, we couldn't work at 100% this week :(...But hey, we're going to make up for it this week!

Among the highlights of this past week, we had our ward Thanksgiving party. Yes, hispanics celebrate thanksgiving just the way we do! The party was soo much fun. When there's food, there has to be music and so after everyone ate, they just got up and started dancing. We missionaries stood awkwardly on the side being like..well...I cannot move like a mexican! But then everyone dragged the missionaries in and started playing fun music that we knew. My word, our elders are hilarious. If only I could send videos through email!

Last night, we taught my dad for the last time..He's going to Wisconsin this week for his hunting trip and won't be back until December 1st (I think). We only read one chapter with him and then talked about making plans for being baptized and just where he's at right now. When we asked what his "timeline" was for being baptized, like when he could see himself getting baptized he said, "I don't know about getting baptized before the year ends..and I want you to be there..and I'd want to do it in the branch and not in Virginia (his work will be there for several months this coming year)...so it could be like next year." WOAH. no. haha...Then I asked, "Well, why do you think you can't get baptized before the year ends?" He said, "I feel like it all depends with how it goes in Wisconsin and how I do there.." We reassured him that he does not have to be perfect in order to be baptized and he quietly agreed. I asked, "So you said last week that the Book of Mormon is true?" "Yes...I might have mentioned that.." this guy kills me..."Do you know what other knowledge comes from knowing that the Book of Mormon is true?" We turned to the last paragraph of the Intro to the BOM where it says, "Those who gain this divine witness from the Holy Spirit will also come to know by the same power that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world, that Joseph Smith is His revelator and prophet in these last days, and that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Lord’s kingdom once again established on the earth, preparatory to the Second Coming of the Messiah."

He understood what it meant...That if the BoM is true, then this church is indeed the same church that Christ had established. It was so cool when he explained it because he basically taught us the Restoration lesson. I asked, "Do you believe that this is Christ's church?" He said, "I'm slowly beginning to see it..How it has the same structure, doctrine, everything.." WAHOOOO.

I don't know why, but I just know that he is going to be baptized when I go home. This is something that I have always hoped for..But to see it actually come to pass..Words can't describe the feeling.

I feel like I say this about every area but I think that this is my favorite ward! There is such a special spirit here..The humblest of saints are truly the happiest. These people don't even have heat in their homes and struggle to put food on the table. But they still walk around with the biggest smiles. Why? Because they have what really matters. A testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

It has been so wonderful to watch the change that has taken place in the ward. When I first came into the area, there wasn't much love towards the missionaries..We never got fed..Which is a rare thing in spanish wards and I didn't know who anyone was. Now, the members and the missionaries are united and doing the work together. The way it should be done. And, we get fed every night...Sometimes twice or three times a day. There is such a difference in the work and ward when the members and missionaries are united..

I know that this is Christ's church.

The thought of going home makes my heart hurt so badly! I love these people soo much! A missionary once said, "The harder you work, the harder it is to leave your mission." This is so true! So for these last two weeks I'm just going to put my shoulder to the wheel and push along! wahooooo!

I love yall! Thank you so much for your prayers and support!

Hermana Emma Seymour