Kill or Be Killed

This week was absolutely wonderful. So much goodness. With it being Elder Vickers last week, members were trying to do as many things with us as possible. Which is awesome.

A family took us to get pumpkins, for example. So we went back to Highland Orchards to pick our own pumpkins! It was a struggle, I'm used to choosing them after they've been picked, but having to break the stem and carry that thing out of the jungle - all in missionary attire - made for quite the day. It was loads of fun!

 

Walcotts taking us to get pumpkins!

 

 

Philadelphia Temple, and PPM!

Then, later this week, I got my mission ring! I was really excited to see how it would turn out. I'm loving the onyx, even though the jeweler tried to talk me out of it. Yay for giant mission rings on little spidery fingers!

This Saturday was the best day of the week. We had Nathanael's baptism! He asked me to baptize and confirm him, so that was really special. We are really glad some of his family was able to make it, and that he can set the example for them by being baptized. It was a really special service (and a wonderful last weekend for Elder Vickers).

Sunday was bueno, Elder Vickers spoke in Sacrament meeting, and then members just had us at their homes for the rest of the day (so much food!) and so he was able to say goodbye to most everyone. It's just been a great week, filled with so much fun and so much love from the members.

I dropped Elder Vickers off this morning, and am now with Elder Watt for the day, before getting my actual companion tomorrow morning. It seems in Downingtown, it's either kill or be killed, since the elder that I replaced went home from here as well.

  

Saying goodbye to Elder Vickers

 

Saying goodbye to Elder Cooley

 

Hermana Ballard leaving the district

 

Saying goodbye to Sisters Beames and Elder Vickers

 

Mission "mom"

 

Random Marilyn Monroe statue in Kennett Square

Love,
Elder Horne

PS look out Downingtown, these missionaries mean business!

Aloha!

Busy, busy, busy. 

Wow.

I have not felt such urgency, or so pressed for time as I do right now. It's been a combination of Elder Vickers leaving, lots of meetings and events, and working very closely and diligently with 2 investigators who are getting baptized this week (stay tuned, seriously)

In terms of photographic memory, here are some of the random things that I have stored

 

 

So, we have been raging World War 8 (legged) against these nasty monster spiders these past few weeks. We have this one just chilling outside our apartment. He's hideous. At least we don't have things as bad as the sisters, every night when I talk to them they'll be trying to kill at least 2 of these suckers who have managed to sneak their way into their bedroom. 

 

 

Here is a beautiful representation of the District (and zone leaders) artfully done by the Downingtown Sisters

We also celebrated TJs Bday this week. I don't think the next one is for at least a month, we will see when He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named turns 1. 

Then there was the ward party, the Luau. As always, the sisters have the good, posed pictures with people, and I'm just left with the random ones I took at the beginning. Hopefully I'll be able to nab some of theirs, but if not, here are some pictures of the luau. 

We are busy, happy, and loving it out here. I am putting Elder Vickers to hard work for his last week! We are booked. Which is awesome. And busy. And great. Life is fabulous. 

Love,

Elder Horne

Meetings for days...

This week was really great, albeit extremely long. Thursday - Sunday consisted primarily of meetings. Wonderful meetings! But meetings nonetheless...

Thursday: mission tour with Elder Wilford W Andersen of the Second Quorum of the Seventy. It was incredible. We heard from Sister Anderson, President Anderson, Sister Andersen, and Elder Andersen (it got confusing). Elder and Sister Andersen are wonderful. Sister Andersen focused on enduring to the end with enthusiasm. She exhorted us to, "never trade your challenges for anything," since they show us who we are and remind us of where we are headed. Elder Andersen spoke about desire; cultivating knowledge in our minds and in our hearts, to ultimately lead us in the direction of the Savior. He also focused in how we can teach so others can do the same. 

Friday: district meeting. We had an activity, where two missionaries were blind folded and had to navigate through a maze, collecting items along the way. They were guided by two other missionaries, who had to stay a significant distance away. One group however, was allowed a guide, someone to walk through the maze with them, direct them, and keep them headed in the right direction. The lesson was that as missionaries we teach others how to make it to eternal life, but the influence of members is invaluable, because they show people how to. The likelihood of them making it to the end increases exponentially. 

Saturday, and Sunday: stake conference. Stake conference was great! We were able to have some investigators come (can I get a woot woot?!), which was awesome because we could introduce them to President and Sister Anderson. The speakers were great, the musical numbers were great; it was wonderful. Funny story: we got there early so we could have good seats, but we were still too far away to see the music that the organist was playing. One of the investigators that came loves music, and used to play the organ at their old church, so they were curious as to what songs the organist was playing. That's when my handy dandy camera came in extra handy dandy! If you would have looked over you would have seen me using the zoom on my camera as makeshift binoculars, reading off the names of the songs she would play. Good times. Oh, and this was the prelude music by the way, don't worry, I wasn't whipping out my camera during the meeting. 

I would also be remiss if I didn't recognize the birthday of my oldest plant. Tenzin turned 1 year old this week, I threw him a nice little hoo-rah. 

Also, after much delay, I was able to procure the pictures of the apple/pear/peach pickin's. 

 

 

 

 

 

This is like, the saddest picture of my life. These cute little pigs are just loving up on me,

we are having a brilliant time. Then, Steven comes along with his bacon shirt...

Love,

Elder Horne

 

PS here is the zone, we are lovely

 

 

Blogged Down

This week has just been crazy. We've just been so busy with different things, that it's throwing me off. Let me just review our whirlwind of a week. 

On Wednesday we were busy with exchanges. Then on Thursday we had to drive an hour to Broomall for zone training, then we had interviews with President Anderson, then planning, then driving home, eating dinner, and driving back to Broomall for the night. Because the next morning (Friday), Elder Vickers went to the Washington D.C. temple with the departing missionaries, and I was working in Broomall with another elder. We drove home Friday night. Saturday we had some meetings, and service. Then Fast Sunday. 

This whole week got away from us. We were all over the place, with this that and the other thing going on. Despite so many things going on, this week seemed to go so slow. September is just a very busy month. Especially with Elder Vickers going home, there is even more things happening. 

At least Elder Vickers took a good picture for me at the temple 

Later this week we are having a "mission tour," Elder Wilford Andersen of the Seventy is coming to talk to us. I'm really excited, although that will involve more juggling, and more running around like a chicken with its head cut off. 

Speaking of chickens:

The black one hated me... It would keep ruffling it's feathers and getting all noisy-like. So, naturally, I had to pick it up. Man, that thing was not happy. Nope. When they were smaller they were a lot more friendly, now they are getting all independent and sassy and grown up. They must be in their teenage phase...

I hope you had a great week, and will have an even better one this week! Be prepared for mission tour notes next week. 

Love,
Elder Horne

PS lightning storms, sunsets, and rainbows make a great combo. (I couldn't get any pictures with the lightning going off in the background, which is lame, because there was lots of it)

Of Mice and Fruit

Hello, this week has just blended together in my mind. Here are some of the fun things that stick out, or are at least recent enough to remember. 

First thing. Highland Orchards. It's a 'pick it yourself' place, and so we had a ton of fun picking different fruits! I also had some goats try to eat my hair, so that was pretty cool too. We picked apples, peaches, and pears. The peaches are so good, we couldn't (can't) stop eating them. 

 

 

 

This donkeys name was literally Eeyore. He almost bit me...

 

 

Trying to be 6ft tall... 

 Williamsons! Leading the whole party.

The Sisters took most of the pictures, so you'll probably -hopefully- see a lot more next week, ones that actually have people in them. 

Second: we found some baby mice. There were two of them in a box of sticks. Now, when we found the bunnies, those things were terrified out of their minds so they just sat there. These little guys on the other hand, were all sorts of active. It made it rather difficult to try to take a selfie with them, because they were running and jumping all over the place. Kids these days...

 

Lastly, we had fish and chips with salt and vinegar this week with a British family. The fish and the fries were extremely American, but the experience was a lot of fun, and the family is fantastic. It was a smashing evening. The traditional meal is fish and chips with smashed peas. We had normal peas because they don't really like them smashed. I don't know if this is common among Brits, but they would add mayonnaise and then mix everything together. So, eating the fish, chips, peas, and mayo all at once. I felt cultured enough with the salt and vinegar, and wasn't bold enough to try eating it that way. 

Sorry, this week went by in such a blur. I fear this upcoming one will turn out quite the same, we are going to be busy busy busy. Elder Vickers gets to go to the temple with the other departing missionaries this week, so that's exciting! While I'll be floating around who knows where. It's going to be an exciting week!

Love,

Elder Horne