Hot Hot Hot

So this week has been really hot. At least for this area, and the humidity has been pretty bad too. I think the worst was when we got inside and I took off my backpack and I just had too dark lines where my backpack straps were from sweat (and I'm sure you didnt want to hear that, sorry haha). The nice thing about it was that people would invite us inside or give us waterbottles, so we were able to talk to more people.

 

We have been tracting a lot, just to find more people while the weather is still nice, because we're not going to be tracting as much in the winter time. It's a lot of fun, I like tracting just because we get to meet a lot of people that way. We met these awesome people this week. They were outside smoking and drinking beers and were kind of just eyeing us, but we went and talked to them and they were really friendly. I was surprise how well I got along with them, after about 20 minutes we were talking to them like we'd known them forever, like family friends. One of the guys actually roomed with a Mormon while he was at college, and they're really interested so hopefully we'll be able to help them strengthen their faith in Christ and progress in the gospel. I consider those people one of the tender mercies of the Lord. After working all day in the hot sun to find some great people.

 

Sister Beames sent us some Hi-Chews back from Idaho, and needless to say I devoured them. She's awesome.

 

 

Here is proof that it was actually really hot, and the humidity made me feel like I was about to die.

 

 

SOME of the waterbottles we got in one day, haha.

 

 

Love you guys!!

Elder Horne

 

Here's a little analogy Matt included in a letter to Mom.

...this morning during 30 min exercise i was thinking about exercise (thats about as far is it gets haha) and how when we work muscles, we push them to their fullest extent, because we know thats how they'll grow, and then once they're stronger we work them harder than before. I realized that we're kind of like muscles that God is working. People think that once they finish one trial then all the other ones will be easy, but we don't work a muscle and then lessen the weight. That we are given trials to help us grow, and then onced we've learned and grown then we get another one to help us continue. There was a scripture in the bible that I liked, that says "we glory in tribulations, for tribulations teach us patience" or something like that. And I was just like, wow. We really should glory in our trials, because no matter the trial, overcoming it with faith helps us become more Christlike. I saw a quote that basically said that will all the things we dislike, if we didn't have them we wouldn't learn to become like Christ. Like if we didn't work with a cranky lady, or didn't have to wake up early, or didnt have blah blah blah, then we wouldn't learn patience, we wouldn't learn diligence, we wouldn't learn to beome more like Christ. So there is my 30 minute exercise shpeel

7/15/13

This week has been really busy, but really great at the same time. We're just about to head off to an Asian market because Elder Tan has been dying to go there, Im going to have him teach more some Mandarin, but Im sure I will just look like a fool haha.

The teaching has been going great, we are working a LOT with the members and the ward to help them do missionary work. We know they all want to, but the actually doing is the complicated part, so we've been going to see them and helping a lot with that. Its great working with members they are so powerful in missionary work.

Here are a bunch of pictures though because I know thats what you guys like to see!

So Elder Madsen and Elder Kitsell are our companionship bffs, and I'm really sad this picture is blurry, but you can kind of tell how awesome they are despite that.

This week I got Allison's package, and I'm still laughing about it. There were some awesome mustache stickers, dinosaurs, star wars mad libs and more. The greatest thing though was this shirt. It is legendary and I'm overly obsessed with it. Be jealous of our awesome friendship.

So we went to Johnny D's again, and I think that's the biggest source of my weight gain, because these slices of pizza are huge and it's not good haha. Why do they have to be so delicious???

So this is a cool family, we love them. It was her birthday yesterday, and we had amazing food. It was the same as the Crab Pot, for those who have been there, we were so happy she invited us over for dinner. Anyways, they're awesome and we love them.

I hope you guys are doing great!
Love and miss you

Elder Horne

Every Member a Missionary!

BOOO, this apparently failed to send :P here you go for last week. (7/8/13)

 

This past week has been awesome! I was really excited for the 4th of July since we're so close to Philly and there is a lot of historical things out here; until we learned that fireworks are illegal and we wouldnt be seeing any :(. The casinos apparently had some cool shows, but we were too far away from Atlantic City. I love the 4th of July though, and am so grateful for the freedoms that we have in this country. Holidays are awesome for missionary work just because everyone is home and in a really good mood so we were able to talk to a lot of people.

The reasoning for titling this "Every Member a Missionary" is because we had an AMAZING experience this week with members doing misisonary work. We had this guy contact us through Mormon.org, and we soon learned that it was because he knew a mormon guy and was curious. He works with Brother Ikner in our ward for the Coast Guard, and once we told the Ikners about it they leaped on the missionary opportunity. They have been inviting him into their homes for FHE and for lessons, and have been helping him get to know people in the ward, and everything we would ever want the members to do, but without being asked! He has been able to progress so much, and its because of the wonderful missionaries the Ikners have been.

The Lord is hastening his work, and it's going to be through members. I believe the increase of missionaries will be to help the members do missionary work, and to keep up with the missionary work that the members are doing. It's miraculous how much of a difference that members make in the work, and how important their role is.

This week has been awesome, I never want to leave this area! Haha

Love and miss you guys,

Elder Horne

PS this is one of the more ghetto apartment complexes we like to visit, The Gates, but the other day someone vandalized the sign. I couldnt help but laugh and get a picture haha.

 

New Mission President

It's already been one transfer (6 weeks) since I've been in the mission, it's crazy! I feel like it's going by so fast, and I want to take advantage of every moment. This transfer was pretty exciting though. I stayed with Elder Tan, but Elder DeLeon and Sister Beames left, so now we have Elder Spain and Sister DeSpain (they're names are uncanningly similiar, we still get them mixed up). It was really sad when Sister Beames had to go home, hopefully she'll be able to get her medical issues worked out and be back in the field soon, we're all still praying for her to get better.

It's been a great week, and now I'm 19! I kept forgetting it was my birthday because nothing changed haha. I opened some packages early in the morning, but the rest of the day was normal. With Elder Spain being 18 I'm no longer the youngest in the mission age wise, but I'm still the youngest in mission length. My birthday was really good though, I got a bowtie and some truly wonderful Harry Potter figurines (I don't know what else to call them).

I've never tied a bowtie before so cut me some slack, I tried to follow the instructions though and I think this is how it is supposed to look. Thank you Shane and Lisa for sending me that, along with the polar bear (which I still haven't gotten used to yet, haha)!

 

These pretty much made my whole life, they are the most wonderful little harry potter things that I've ever seen. I'm so thankful for them, they're awesome!

 On Saturday we were able to go to Philly and meet President and Sister Anderson!! It was a great experience, made more so by all the public transportation we had to take to get there. We took the bus, then the train, then the subway. It was a long ride but the whole district (eight missionaries) travelled together so it was a lot of fun.

So on the subway Elder Tan found this Chinese guy, and they were just chatting in Mandarin the whole time, and Elder Jenkins could not handle it, he was cracking up the whole time. He thought it was so crazy that Elder Tan could speak Mandarin, he was breathless; and then he kept laughing, mainly because I was laughing at him for being so surprised/taken aback haha.

Meeting with President and Sister Anderson was great. They're awesome and so golden, the Spirit was so strong at our meeting, they have great desires to serve and are so humble. I love them, they're going to be awesome. Plus it was cool because President Anderson announced that we might be getting tablets in the near future, hopefully ipads but he isn't sure, which would be so cool! Our zone, Cherry Hill South, was able to get a picture with him afterwards.

And being my first time riding on a train, I had to get a picture. It wasn't as exciting as I was expecting, but then again my expectations were along the lines of: Europe, intense chase scene, free food, and rescuing the love of my life. Without all of that though it was still pretty fun, haha. 

 

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Anyways, I love being a missionary and I love and miss you guys. The work is progressing and I'm so grateful to be apart of it. We're meeting with some awesome people, and hopefully everything will work out great!!

Love,

Elder Horne

Summer Lovin'

Sorry I don't have a lot of time to write today either. Things have been going great here, the people are awesome, sometimes I think I love them too much for my own good, and I'm starting to realize how Heavenly Father feels about us when we don't do the right thing even though we know we should. 

This week has been really hot, and the humidity doesn't help. I keep forgetting to put on sunscreen so I've been burning, but it hasn't been super bad yet haha. I love it here, and am starting to talk like I'm from Jersey, and it's scary! The other day I asked Elder Tan to turn the oven on to "three fitty," I'm starting to change my f's into t's, AH! And I'm starting to say "wuter" instead of "water," I'm a mess. 

It's great though, I love serving, and love being a missionary. There's no greater calling than spreading the gospel, and from the broadcast, that's something that all members are responsible for, not just missionaries.

I love you guys and hope you're loving summer. Hope everything is great and will talk to you next week (hopefully I'll have more time)

Love,

Elder Horne

Picture Time!

Hey guys!

Sorry I don't have a lot of time to write this week, so I'm going to send pictures instead, but I'm guessing that's what you all want to see anyway haha.

So Elder Tan is still getting used to my limitless amount of love for animals. 

I saw this turtle in the street, and pulled over so I could get a picture with him. 

Charlie Jr apparently didn't love me as much as I loved him.

 

 

We had zone conference this week. It was great, but it was the last time I'll see 

President and Sister Schaefermeyer before they leave. I love them. 

It was POURING at the zoo, but it was still a lot of fun, even though most
of the animals were hiding.

Summer Storms

This week was awesome, we had a couple tropical storms! They're different than rainstorms back home because it's still really hot, but it's POURING rain. We've been trying to stay dry but there is only so much we can do, good thing I like the rain.

It's been a busy week though, and a busy P-day today, so I don't have a lot of time to write. We went to the zoo today and it was pouring rain, hopefully I can send some pictures next week. We were able to meet a lot of great people and have a lot of great lessons.

We went on exchanges this week, I was with Elder De Leon, and it was really great and a lot different than being with Elder Tan. It was a nice change to have for a little, but I'm glad to be back with Elder Tan. Elder De Leon leaves in a couple weeks so I'm glad I was able to work with him before he left.

I've found a Yogurtland!! Haha, Elder Tan isn't as sold on frozen yogurt as I am, but every time we go in I make sure I talk to people so we're not taking a break, and we've met some great new investigators that way. I know the Lord is preparing people, and it's miraculous seeing how he places them in our way.

Highlight of the week, Elder Ronald Rasband of the Presidency of the Seventy came and spoke to us! We drove to Newark, Delaware, and it was great being able to see all the other missionaries I know. I sat by Elder Blake Billings who was in my ward/dorm at school! It was great getting to talk with him a bit. I wish I could talk more about the things that Elder Rasband told us, but I would encourage you to read his May 2012 talk*, I think it's during a Sunday session, and I can't remember what it's called, sorry.

This week was great though, and I'm loving the work and the rain.

Miss and love you all, the gospel is true!!

Elder Horne

*Note from Taryn: This may be the link to Elder Rasband's Talk