Expecto Patronum

Yay fall going into winter! We've been gearing up, warming up, and sograteful that we have car. It could start getting into the 30s thisweek (kill me) but I'm a little more optimistic about it than most missionaries. Granted, we have a lot from Southern California, and they aren't a huge fan of this cold. If it would just stay around 50-55 degrees year round, I'd be perfectly content with that.

 

#randomphoto

I'm not sure if it's this initial onset of cold - if winter is starting to creep into my bones - but something has been causing an increase in lethargy. Actually, multiple things have been, but we will blame it on the weather. Or dementors. Ya, it's probably dementors. Blast. Well, either way, I'm refusing to let it be a cold/flu/fever that could be slowing me down. Because we all know I won't let that happen.

The Lord has been good to us though. Although I might be slowing down a little, maybe getting a refuel, the work is going faster and stronger than ever. So that's been such a blessing. People just keep coming to us, and we keep being led to people who are prepared. I think the Lord just really trusts us to know what to do, and how to help these people. Because it surely isn't us doing the work, we just try to stay on top of everything that the Boss gives us. It definitely takes a lot of work, but it's different when you see it as work divinely appointed and endowed, rather than your own personal work.

I'm not even sure if I'm making any sense. Blame it on the grey.

We had some great times this week though! We had dinner with our favourite English family, love them, and it is always such a smashing time there. So obviously we take pictures, because we need pictures.

Anyways, I hope that everyone is doing well, doing fantastic, that you are staying above the weather and all that jazz.

Keep on keepin' on.

Elder Horne

PS Happy Halloween!

Fall in Liberia

Hey.

It's sweater weather.

Officially the holiday celebrations, hot cocoa overdoses, clumpy sweaters, and pure joy is beginning to break forth. And also the colds, and flu, and weird illnesses. But let's talk about the goodness. So, we volunteer in a thrift store every week (Habitat for Humanity), and we just started breaking out all the Christmas merchandise: christmas trees, ornaments, weird/creepy decorations, you name it. GOLDMINE. I've refrained from purchasing the entire store, only because I am waiting to see where I will be for Christmas, because I doubt it will be here. Immediately when I get to my next area though, we're going shopping. 

Happiness. But there is also the accompanying sickness that the cold brings... Our district meetings have become almost a sort of district hospital. Everyone comes in with their unusual symptoms, and we all prescribe different things, and nobody is really sure what's going on.

Don't worry, I'm still healthy. I refuse to be sick. It's not going to happen. #stayingalive

Anyway

Liberians.

So, we have been teaching some more Liberians than usual. Like, almost everyone we are teaching is Liberian... And they are absolutely the best. And they have been coming to us! 

I don't know what it is about them, they just love the gospel so much, and are so committed. Sometimes a little too committed, but you can never be too committed to the gospel, right? For example: we were teaching a guy about service, and he told us that he was going to quit his job, so he could do whatever he could to serve (clean, mow people's lawns, visit everyone, come teaching with us, help people move, make meals for people, etc.). Which was awesome! We just had to explain that he was able to do more service by keeping his job, so he could continue to support his children, and his family, and be stable himself. Then he can do all those other things, once he has his own family taken care of. So, things like that. 

Anyway, the people that we are teaching are awesome. They love Christ, they love the gospel, and they are willing to do anything, seriously anything, to show Him how much they love Him. They are so prepared, and it has been such a blessing for me to be able to teach these people! A strong testimony of individuals focused on what matters most, and having the faith to move mountains. 

Love,
Elder Horne

PS an awesome member family from one of Elder Prestwich's previous areas came down and took us out to eat, so that was nice. 

 

 

Wild Week. Best Week.

This week was wild, and random, but oh so good. Seriously. Best week ever.

 

Let's start with the beginning.

Elder Prestwich loves golf. Brother Carr (who oversees the temple site) loves golf. Elder Horne has never golfed. So we went golfing! They suggested I didn't play, due to my inexperience, so I was privileged enough to ride around in the golf cart and snap lots of pictures. It was the most beautiful fall day, and the course was nice, so I was content. Throw in some Bach and a Starbucks caramel apple spice: heaven. I didn't have either of those things, but just imagine.

 

 

 

 

 

All this most lovely fall weather has rekindled my hot chocolate/apple cider/herbal tea obsession. I drink at least one large cup of hot chocolate every morning (and night) accompanied with some cider or tea throughout the day. And when I remember, we listen to Bach.

 

This wonderfulness has only made me slightly more loopy than usual, as you can see in the glasses adventure that we had the other day. When you've been weekly planning for a long time, and you are really tired, some things are just really funny. For example:

 

OK, now for the two most awesomest things that happened this week.

 

First: Meet the Mormons. #feels. Feels, my friends. So many (but not as many as will be coming later). I absolutely loved this movie. So stinking good, SO stinking good. We watched it before it was released in theaters so that we could understand what people would be telling us about it. And also so that we could want to tell EVERYONE to go watch it. 6 Mormon individuals and their lives. The Candy Bomber. Nuff said. Seriously, I couldn't handle his story. Too good.

So go and watch it, or find it, or do something. Because that is one awesome movie. Church documentary level: celestial.

Second (and lastly): Jim's baptism. #ALLthefeels. Seriously all the feels. It was like, so many. Sister Johnstone and I sung his favorite him - It Is Well With My Soul - and they had family there, and he was just a happy mess, and it was absolutely the most wonderful thing ever. Oh my goodness I love this old man. Being here from Day 1, all the way back in May, has been such a blessing. Sweetest baptismal service.

 

And also probably the craziest day of Jim's life... Because a couple hours later he had a seizure, broke his ankle, and won't be able to work for at least 6 months. And even though that was a whirlwind and extremely crazy, all things considered, we consider it a blessing. Because one of the greatest challenges we faced with him was getting work off on Sunday. Not a challenge anymore! So, Sunday was just... Everything. Everything happened on Sunday.

 

All things taken into account: best week ever.

 

Love,
Elder Horne

Come, Listen

Ok, let's talk about transfers first, get that out of the way, and then we can just dive into General Conference.

So. Transfers! Well, first, I had to say goodbye to my favoritest Elder Kitsell, who will quote Mean Girls and She's the Man with me any day, sending him back to England. It was cool, his parents came out to visit the States with him before they fly back, so I got to meet them too. I've promised that I would fly out to England, he just has to meet me wherever I end up landing. 

But, more relevant news, my new companion! Elder Prestwich! He's from Provo, UT. Plays water polo, and is awesome. He goes home in February (seriously, I always get them on the tail end... kill or be killed), so he'll most likely stay here until he goes home. We are pretty excited to serve together, he reminds me a lot of Elder Wilcock. 

 

 

Now: General Conference! GC! LDSconf! GConf! So much conf! It was amazing, and revelatory, and mind blowing, as always. I just wish I had an entire day to review the talks, review my notes, condense/clarify messages, and set goals and make plans. That's what PDAY was intended for, right? 

Some of my favorite quotes and messages:

- "God cares about you." (President Dieter F Uchtdorf)

- "Try to force a smile, and look heavenward." (Elder Jörg Klebingat)

- "If you do your part, it will come, and it will be glorious," (President Dieter F Uchtdorf)

- "I may not be my brothers keeper, but I am my brothers brother." (Elder Jeffrey R Holland)

- "Faithfully caring for the poor and needy is a reflection of spiritual maturity." (Bishop Dean M Davies)

- "Wherever we go, our priesthood goes with us." (President Thomas S Monson)

- "Sometimes we may be awkward." (Elder David A Bednar)

And that's only a few. One of my absolute favorite things about conference, is that we can watch/listen/read it again! And again! Or, for those who might not have seen it, watch it! That's my invitation to everyone. Come, listen to a prophets voice. 

Love,
Elder Horne