CHRISTMAS CONFERENCE

Sister Houston was able to attend a Christmas Conference in the Kirtland Temple with her mission President and the other missionaries from her district!! We were asked as a family to send a Christmas letter from home so the missionaries would be able to open them up at the Conference!! She has truly been touched by the Christmas spirit this year!!

Winter Wonderland brrrrr!!!
Beautiful Kirtland Temple

Sister Houston and Sister Lee

Lots of Snow!!!

and this is just the beginning!!

Sister Houston's email

December 8, 2010

Well hello again my wonderful family!
It sounds like everyone had a nice fun filled week full of lots of yummy food, late nights, and lots and lots of laughter i'm sure!!! Im jealous!!! Sunday there were two baby blessings in the Solon Ward and so yes my mind was on home and cute baby Claire! I so happy the family was able to make it and that everyone had a good time! Oh and fun fact about the Solon Ward....there is a member of the seventy!!! He isn't there every week. His name is....Elder Seldon. Cool huh? Also another fun fact....a few months back Extreme Makeover was here and remodeled a home in my area! Its suppose to air i believe in December so you'll have to keep an eye out for it!
Anyways....its snowing. Its been snowing for THREE days non stop. I didnt know the sky could produce so much snow in so little time. In fact, on Monday we had to stay in doors ALL day because of how bad the storm was!!!! Its been crazy!! and cold.....We were so worried that we weren't going to be able to make it to our Christmas Mission Conference yesterday but thankfully everything worked out. We left extra early.
Oh my goodness!! Christmas Conference was such an awesome awesome experience!! It was held in the Kirtland Temple and in preparation, President asked us all to come fasting. To start the conference off, the sacrament was prepared and we were all able to partake of it! The spirit was there so strongly. Such a neat experience to be able to do that in such a sacred building where Jesus Christ himself appeared. I probably wont ever get that opportunity again. After the sacrament, we heard from different speakers. Then we all split off into groups to gather in the four corners of the temple where everyone was given the chance to share there testimony. We then drove down the street to the Kirtland Stake Center, had a delicious feast, took a group picture (bad thing about being short is that you are ALWAYS in the front, ALWAYS) and then gathered in the chapel. Ok so the experience so far had been quite fabulous but to top off all this amazingness they concluded the conference by passing out our Christmas Letters from our families!!!! Made the day even that much better!!! Thanks for being so proud of me and for loving me as much as you all do! Thank you for all the sacrifices you are all making so that I can have this experience!
I know I definitely don't fully comprehend the honor it is to serve in such a sacred, historic place but I did leave this conference with a greater love and appreciation for the opportunity given to me to serve here in Kirtland. It renewed and strengthened my desire to be a missionary for the Lord and increased the love I have for the wonderful family that I've been blessed with! Im excited and look forward for whats ahead of me.
Im doing great family! Working hard to share the gospel! I'm excited for you Mitchell to have this experience. You wont ever regret it so keep working hard to get your self out there!!
Well I love you all so very very much. Im so excited to talk to you on Christmas!!! Only a couple weeks away!! Yay!
I hope everyone has a great week!!

Love,
Sister Houston

A beautiful quote sent from Sister Houston:
"May this area become a great gathering place for Thy people from over the earth. May they come here, walk about with reverence and memories, feel the power of Thy Holy Spirit, and grow in faith and testimony concerning Thy work and Thy kingdom. May it be a place of spiritual refreshment, where hearts and minds will be touched by the power of the Holy Ghost to lead them to knowledge of Thee and their Redeemer, Thy Beloved Son. May it be a place where the stranger will be touched by Thy Spirit and come to know something of the wondrous workings of Thy cause and kingdom. May men and women from over the earth experience here a sure and solemn witness of the divine calling of the Prophet Joseph smith and of the divinity of Thy work established through him."
--Gordon B. Hinckley, Historic Kirtland Dedicatory Prayer, May 18, 2003

PICTURES!!!!

Tori finally set a bunch of pictures home!! The Fall pictures are beautiful! This is one thing Tori is excited to see, "Real Season's" Don't think winter will be her favorite one!!

Fall in Ohio

Just in case she forgets her name!!

Sister Stewart and Sister Houston making friends with a tree??

This Sister Houston's first baptism in Norwalk Ohio
This is Jocelyn and Sister Stewart

Jocelyn and Sister Eversen on her Baptism Day!

TRANSFER TO SOLON

This email is a good explanation of where she is now serving and what she will be doing for the next six weeks!! She has another super funny story to tell!! Funny Girl!!! gotta love her!!

Sister Houston's email
December 1, 2010

Hi my wonderful family!!!
It feels like its been forever since I've emailed you. Really its only been a week and a day but still......its been quite a forever long week and a day. Lets see where do i begin....
Well transfers were Wednesday. I am now serving in Solon with Sista Lee! Yup thats right Sista Lee! How do I describe my Sista Lee....she is from Louisiana, has big, beautiful, long curly, dark brown hair, extra long finger nails and....has a little Louisiana Sass to her. She's been out since February of last year so almost a year and was actually companions with Sister Everson in the MTC! We live in a big beautiful home with the Norton family! Brother and Sister Norton have six kids, all grown and away except their youngest Rachel. She is 17, a senior in high school, and working on going on a mission when the time arrives of course. She's amazing and quite cute too mitch heehee. Its been fun living in a members home.
Our area is about an hour away from Kirtland so we get to go in for full days at the Kirtland Sites two times a week, Mondays and Thursdays and then on Tuesday mornings we go for a training meeting with all the K-Land Sisters. There are still tours going on, not alot though. They also have the Christmas Nativity Exhibit out. The entire visitor center is full of nativities from all over the world. Monday was my first day back. Sister Lee and I only gave one tour of the Historic Sites, helped direct people through the nativities, and then made phone calls the rest of the time. Kirtland gives me anxiety family!!!! I really wonder why Heavenly Father wanted me to serve in a visitor center with all these people and be on the phones calling people????? I'll let ya know when I find out :)
Anyways, well thanksgiving didn't turn out to be a relaxing day as I hoped but it was fun. We had a yummy big breakfast with the Nortons and another set of Sisters who serve close to our area and are in the same ward as us, Sister Schwanke and Morrell. So after pumpkin pancakes with carmel, banana, nut syrup we headed to Kirtland to play games with the K-Land sisters. After we had a nice yummy big Thanksgiving lunch with all the thanksgiving deliciousness even dessert of course. Then...yes i'm not done....we headed back to our area a couple hours later to have a Thanksgiving dinner with a family in the ward all jam pack with some more thanksgiving deliciousness even dessert...MORE dessert. It was a crazy day and by the end of the night my tummy felt like it was going to explode! They definitely take good care of the missionaries out here!!!
I'm excited to be serving in Solon. Its a huge area consisting with a few cities surrounding solon. Basically we have the really rich people and then the not so rich people which has a huge population of blacks. Its a lot different then my first two areas thats for sure but Im excited to see whats ahead for me. Right now the area is pretty dead. We are working with Brenda and Lakeisha who have been investigating the church for years...there what we call "internigators." Other than that we are just trying to find!!!! My first experience tracting was pretty eventful actually! We met a reverend...a lady reverend. She invited us in, had us listen to some gospel music, sang to us and right before we left she asked if we could pray with her. lol so funny. So Me, Sister Lee, the Reverend and one of her daughters all held hands and prayed. Like those hallelujah prayers. The daughter next to me kept grunting and saying "YES YES"!! It was crazy!!!!
Well I better get going family! I love you so much!! I will keep you all updated on whats happening! Im glad to hear everyone had a good thanksgiving! I can't wait until I can talk to you all on chirstmas!

Love, Sister Houston

PS My p-days are now Wednesdays and send my mail to the Kirtland Visitor Center address: 7800 Kirtland Chardon Rd
Kirtland, OH 44094

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Well of course i have gotten so far behind that i don't know where to begin and end!!! Dang it!!
In the next couple days i hope to get caught up!! So please bare with me!! thanks
Tori was transfered the day before Thanksgiving! She is now serving in Solon which is about an hour from Kirtland! So she will be serving at the Sites again a couple days a week!!

Sister Houston's email
November 23, 2010

Hi family!!!

Well......where do i even begin. Its been quite an eventful week. Jocelyn is out of the hospital and doing better. We finally were able to teach her last Saturday and she came to church on Sunday. She looks alot better. I guess this all happened because the many many medicines she had been taking for both her physical and mental problems caused her body to just kind of shut down in a way....Sad. She was hearing voices again but all is well. They went away....hopefully...

We also were able to teach Bob again. Twice actually. Our second appointment with him was crazy!!!! We brought Sister Billiard along this time....another talkaholic unfortunately. How can people talk so much????? Its definately a talent thats for sure!!! Bob decided to invite a "friend" to come over as well.....a female "friend". heehee who knew Bob was dating??? Well it turned out that Sister Billiard and this female "friend" of Bob's, Mary Kay, knew each other! Sister Billiard has been around Norwalk for quite some time. She grew up here, graduated high school (same year as Bob even just different states) and adventually moved back with Brother Billiard at some point to raise their two kids. Mary Kay has been working at the local Walmart for a long long time and apparently Brother and Sister Billiard have been crossing paths with her for years!!! Anyways...the fellowship from Sister Billiard was awesome and she was able to share her conversion story with them. It was just really hard at times to take control of the conversation....heehee
Last night we were able to meet with Bob again this time with Brother and Sister Perdue. It went well! We talked about how God is his Father and that he can grow closer to him through prayer. He is so open to everything and even said he would work on having personal prayers. The next step will be to get him to be comfortable praying with us!!! Im excited for Bob!!!
Unfortunately I wont be around to see where it will go with him.....yes sad sad news. Im getting transferred :(
Im really sad to leave Norwalk especially to leave Sister Everson. I only got to serve with her for 6 weeks!! No fair!!!! She will actually be training a brand new missionary!!!! So that means my time as a full proselyting missionary is over.....back to Kirtland. Im so scared!!!!!! Its going to be like my first day all over again!!! Man!!!
Well thats kind of my week in a nut shell....sorry i don't have alot of time today. We were only given from 10-12 to email, pack and clean and then tomorrow is transfers. Thursday we have a all day Thanksgiving P-day....not sure where I will be spending it but Im sure there will be lots of yummy food and hopefully time to write letters and sleep.....i need some sleep.....:)
I love you family!!!!! I hope you all have a fabulous thanksgiving!!! I will be thinking about you!!!

Love,
Sister Houston

Sister Houston's email
November 16, 2010

Hello family!
What an eventful day for you guys yesterday!!!!! Mitchell you got your blessing!!!!! YES!!!!! Dang I wish I could of been there! I so happy for you. Seriously my blessing is what keeps me going and working hard. I love it! I wouldn't been where I am at in my life with out it. I cant wait for you to get it back so you can read it over again. Ahhhh i so happy :) I hope it was a great experience for you and the family!!!And how awesome to be able to be apart of the ground breaking for the Gilbert Temple! So cool!! Im loving Arizona more and more. Its a huge blessing to be able to be in a state where you have multiple temples close by. Plus its nice and warm there :) heehee Is there one more being build after this one??? I know they finished the Gila Valley right before I left but I thought there was three...maybe not. I hope so!!! I love temples!!! I can't wait to go back!!!!So I glad you got to talk with Bro. Showalter yesterday!!! What a turd. He wasn't suppose to tell ya i get discouraged. Thanks for being proud of me! This is one of the hardest most difficult things I will do in this life and its a huge blessing to have a family behind me giving me all the support I need! Thank you!! Thanks for calling him! Did I ever tell you both him and his wife Glenda lived in Arizona? Maybe he told you. So cool huh? Well I hope all is well with the family! I love you guys! Christmas is just around the corner. Crazy!! I wonder if I will stay in Norwalk for one more transfer after this or if I will go back to Kirtland for the holidays???? Hmmmmm.....I'll find out next week! We have from 10-12 to email on Tuesday and pack for those who are getting transferred and then on Thursday being Thanksgiving we will have an ALL DAY P-day!!! Awesome! So you'll find out Tuesday whats happening to me!!
Over all its been a good week. Im not to sure if Im ready for the snow! They say its coming soon!!! Alrighty well I love you all very much!!!!! Hope everyone has a great week!!!!
Love, Sister Houston

6 MONTHS!!!!

WOW!!! really 6 months already?? doesn't seem possible!! somedays it feels like Tori just left and others it seems forever since i saw her smiling face waking up in the mornings eating her cream of wheat!! Oh she will need lots of hot cereal this winter!! I highlighted Tori's little lesson in her email this week! She always seems to know just what to say each week to make me stop and think about what life is all about!! Enjoy!!!

Sister Houston email
Nov 8, 2010

Hello wonderful family,
Its me again. I realized just a few days ago when Sister Everson asked me how long I've been on my mission that on November 12th I will have been out for 6 months!!!! Can you believe it? I already a quarter of the way done. Kind of scary to think about! I keep asking my self what I have accomplished so far.....hopefully Im accomplishing something even if its hard for me to see it! Time is going by faster than I thought. I think the winter will slow it down a little. I have a feeling its going to be a long one. Its been freezing and they say it got really cold this year earlier then normal!! On Friday it tried to snow, just flurried though. Nothing stuck to the ground and this week its suppose to be in the 60s so I will get to enjoy a little more warmth before the long winter hits. Yay! On Sunday the time changed so now I am only two hours ahead of you instead of three! I have to say it was definitely nice to sleep in an extra hour! Anyways over all its been a good week.
On Tuesday we got a text from Jocelyn's mom saying that she was admitted to the hospital. Not good I know. I guess when Dayle went in to check on Jocelyn that morning she was having a hard time breathing and was really weak. She was taken to the ER and they admitted her with possible pneumonia. She was then life flighted to the Cleveland Clinic where she usually goes to get all her medical things done for her health problems. Jocelyn was scheduled to get surgery this week to get a pacemaker out of her stomach that was causing her problems. They think possibly that she has an infection of some kind or its the medication she is taking. I dont know alot of details. I just keep hearing bits and pieces from different people. She is now in a different health clinic in Cleveland somewhere getting treated. I guess she is not only health wise unstable but she isn't doing to good mentally either. I know she was on medication for severe depression but other than that I don't know much. We talked to Dayle on Thursday and she said she is doing ok. We havent heard anything since. I am very grateful for the wards involvement in all of this and that Dayles heart is opening up alot! Maybe something good will come out of it. Anyways thats the latest with Jocelyn. Keep her in your prayers.
As for everything else...
Donny cancelled his appointment again this week. He text us and said something came up with his daughter and he would give us a call later. We still havent heard anything. Its heart breaking to watch someone that is so prepared not progress!! Sister Everson and I had to come home a say a heart felt prayer to Heavenly Father for strength and support. It was good to feel the spirit and to be reminded that he has a plan for everything. Donny will be ready on the Lords time. For now we'll just give him his space.
Im learning a lot about love these days; Love for Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, Love for family, Love for all people. Do you realize that it all started with love? The plan of our Heavenly Father revolves around his love for us and the way we choose to live our life here all depends on our love for him and for Jesus Christ. Its neat to think about huh....
I'm lucky to have you guys! I love and miss you all very much!
Thanks for letting me know about my grandmas. Im glad to here they are doing better and will keep them in my prayers.
I hope everything is going well for you guys back home. Sorry I haven't written anyone lately. I can't seem to find the time these days. Mitch you not going crazy promise....I bad and havent written you back yet BUT I will today!
I glad you got my pictures! and thanks for looking for warmer clothes for me! I definitely will need warmer things! I have zero time to look for anything so i really do appreciate all your help! Can't wait for thermals!

I love you guys and can't wait until next week to write again!!

Lots of Love,
Sister Houston

P.S. SEND ME PICTURES!!!!!!!!!!!
mom - yes you can send me the Nov Ensign. I would love that!! Thanks for you letters this week!

WINTER~~Ready or Not?

Well it appears that WINTER is arriving in Norwalk Ohio! I am so thankful for Bro and Sis Showalters for taking Tori shopping for a warm coat!! They were so sweet to spend there day helping a poor freezing Arizona girl to find a warm coat!! i have been looking for warmer things to send Tori these last couple of weeks so hopefully she will come home with all her toes and fingers next year!!
I am also hoping to get some fall pictures soon from her!! Enjoy her email this week she has some great stories to tell!!

Sister Houston's email
Nov 1, 2010

Hi family!

Emailing during the afternoon, a little different then usually i know but the Showalters took Sister Everson and I out shopping for a winter coat! We just got back into town. I found one!! Its a long down coat. I honestly had know idea what to look for in a coat so it was good I had them and Sister Everson to help me. It was expensive :( not really sure how much but they wouldn't let me even pay for half. I am thinking about sending them a thank you card with a gift card to go out to eat or something....not sure. I want to do something to thank them! Any ideas?????? Maybe you could call and say hello even!! I think they would love that! Bro. Showalter is the ward misson leader. He is so great! He's always coming out teaching with us and his wife Glenda, she isn't a member but i love her so much!!! She is the best baker ever too. Made us pumpkin cookies that were to die for. Yeah I definately ate 3!!! A couple months ago she was making homemade apple pies. I told her I've never had a homemade apple pie before and of course she sent one home with sister stewart and I! It was delicious!!!
Anyways then after coat shopping i went and bought a few warmer sweater shirts. I can't find any skirts any where!!! Im going to need warmer skirts. I will keep looking. She said what kept her warm was her layers under her clothing. She would get wool socks, silk socks or even wool tights and then have thermals. I hate to ask for you to send me more things since you just sent me a nice big halloween package. Thank you for it!!! I loved everything!!!! I definately needed some warmer pj's and those shirts will be perfect for layering!!!

Anyways on to my week......It was a good week, crazy as usually but good. I rolled my ankle tracting by the way. Everything always happens when we are tracting....old man in undies, getting yelled at by old ladies, dog chasing us, trip and fall in the middle of the day for all to see.....heehee. There are leaves everywhere and we were walking up to a porch to knock on someones door, no one answers so we start walking away. There were a bunch of leaves covering a step so not really paying attention i missed the step and kind of rolled my ankle in a weird way falling flat on my face. We thought it was pretty funny! Thankfully all i did was bruise it. Its been a little swollen the last couple days but its going down fine. Dang leaves!!!! Lets just say I watch my step very carfully now.

I was so excited about telling you all about Jocelyn last week that I failed to mention that Sister Everson and I got pulled over!! Funny story actually.

Well, Sister Stewart and I tracted into Donny a couple weeks before the transfer ended. He is 21 years old single guy but has two kids, Madison she is 4 and then his son Anthony who is 2. He grew up going to church with his Grandma. Fell away for a little while but found his way back to church a few years ago.
Sister Stewart and I met with him a two times before she left. The lessons went awesome! He just gets it. He understands the purpose of the Book of Mormon, a need for a prophet and that it will require him to actually act and do something if he really wants to know if this is all true!!
Well things kind of went haywire after that of course. The week that sister everson got here, so almost 3 weeks ago, he cancelled his appointment. He said that after our last lesson with him that night before he went to bed he read the book of mormon and prayed about it and then the next day everything in his life just kind of fell apart. So Last week we stopped by again, set up another appointment for the next day and then got a text the day of the appointment that he just wasn't feeling up for it because he was fighting with his kids mother. AHHHHHH!!!!
We decided we needed to do something nice for him to show that we didn't just want to teach him but that we cared!!
On our way back from an appointment, it was about 8:30pm we hurry and run into a Walgreens to pick up somethings. Start driving to Donny's to drop it off and we realize we need tape, it wont work with out tape! Ok so yeah we are suppose to be in at 9:00 but we decide its ok we'll just hurry run home grab the tape we'll just be a few minutes late home. So we drive home get the tape and start driving back to Donny's. Well we were in such a hurry that we failed to see a stop sign....oops. A cop pulls us over. Lucky us we only get a warning. We are cracking up by this point because we know we are suppose to be inside by now. Its what we get for being disobedient! heehee eventually we drop the card off at donny's and head home.
We stopped by and met with Donny yesterday. We have another appointment with him on Thursday so hopefully it goes through. It always seems to happen this way. When we start getting close to doing something that will change our life the adversary does everything he can to get us to pull away from it.
There is even a family in the ward who was baptized a little over a year ago that we are working with and helping get to the temple. They are so close SO CLOSE but everything just seems to keep going wrong from financial things to medical things!
I don't really know why this happens. We just have to endure through them having faith that everything will work out for our benefit and that Heavenly Father will bless us. My heart breaks when you see someone so close and fall away :(

Well I better go. Things are going good here in Norwalk. Just trying to find those elect!! I don't think I will have time to write letters this week I will try to though. Last week I decided to catch up on my journal writing so that is way no one got letters. sorry!! Next week I will do better.

I love you family! Miss you a ton! WRITE ME!!!!

Love,
Sister Houston

"JOCELYN'S STORY"

Oh what a special day for Sister Houston, Sister Everson and Jocelyn!! I have been posting Tori's emails about Jocelyn for the last month or so!! soooo the baptism fianally came and of course what a beautiful story and experience!! We are all so happy for Jocelyn to find the Gospel and be able to find joy in knowing that her Heavenly Father loves her and will watch over her always!!
Hope everyone enjoys "Jocelyn's Story" Keep her in your prayers!!

Email from Sister Houston
October 25, 2010

Hello family,
Where do I even begin.....

Lets start with Jocelyn.

On the 29th of August, a Sunday, Jocelyn and her mom Dalye first met Bishop Reel at the church in Sandusky. Bishop isn't normally there that late in the day but he was performing a wedding ceremony for a partmember (less active) couple, Bro. Jenkins and his wife. There were guest arriving at the same time Jocelyn and Dayle did so naturally Bishop Reel figured they were there for the wedding. Some how they ended up talking with Bishop. When Jocelyn asked how to be converted to the church he realized she was not in fact there for the wedding. Im not to sure how Jocelyn first came in contact with the church. All thats been said is that her Therapist advised her to find God. She did research on the internet, bought books from Borders Bookstore including "Mormonism for Dummies" and found the church buildings address in the phone book. Jocelyn's dad is Catholic and she grew up going to a Catholic High School. Apparently the Catholic church is always open and someone is always there so they just assumed the same for our church and decided to drop by. Good thing the Jenkins decided to get married that day, at that time. Coincidence? I think not.
What first drew Jocelyn to come to the church, I dont know. She asked Bishop that first time she met him questions about the temple and eternal families, even mentioned the 13th Article of Faith were all things she believed. Bishop had told the Elders and that night we had a member dinner with them. Thats were we first heard about Jocelyn!!
That next Friday, we met Jocelyn and Dayle for the first time. She was still very weak and had only been up walking for a couple weeks. Jocelyn has been really sick for the last 2 or 3 years. Im not to sure everything her sickness entails. Her muscles are always moving, somethings wrong with her veins, has alot of issues with her stomach and somewhere in there she has Gastroproesis, whatever that is. She had went to college studying to be a doctor and was working as a certified nursing aid. Whatever this is she's always had it but her freshmen year of college it got really bad to were she was throwing up at least 15 times a day! This sickness effective everything of Jocelyn! Her mom even said her personality isnt even the same as it use to be. She suffers from depression, psychological issues and has a really hard time remembering things.
Anyways, we taught her for over a month. Every week we saw her she was getting stronger and healthier! She still has alot of health issues but you couldn't believe how much healthier this girl has got from the first time we met her. Even her personalty started to show more and you couldn't believe the testimony this girl has! She doesn't know everything but you know that she knows the church is true. It was the most amazing experience to watch her testimony grow from when we first met her until today and being able to recognize what really qualified someone for baptism.
It was a beautiful baptism! We got to met her Dad and sister for the first time too. Her dad didn't really talk much but he was there and her family supports her 100%!!
Sunday was her confirmation. This was the one thing she was most excited about! She always would say "I can't wait to get the Holy Ghost"!!!!! Her dad and sister were not there Sunday but her mom was. She sat behind us the entire time crying!!!!! AHHHHH!!! You know she has felt the spirit!! I just want to teach her!!! Someday she will be a member i know it!!!

It was a happy week family! This is what makes all the hard days worth it! I love the gospel. I know it is true. I've grown to love the scriptures especially the Book of Mormon! Im grateful for them and the peace they bring to our lives. Make sure you are reading them everyday! Im so grateful for prayer and know Heavenly Father really does know our desires and will bless us with whatever we need. I love the priesthood!!! Its amazing and I know its the power of God! I got a blessing this last Saturday just for strength and comfort and have seen a tremendous amount of difference in these last few days!!! It was weird not having my dad there to do it.

I love you family!!! Miss you guys a ton. I will talk to you soon! and you ALL better write me something this week yes even you dad!!!!!

Love, Sister Houston

Yaaahh Baby CLAIRE!!!!

Okay!! No Sister Houston didn't have a baby!!! But her sister Shalyse had a sweet baby girl on the 15th of October!! poor Tori she so loves babies and was especially sad when she found out that Shalyse was having a girl right after she left on her mission!!! But no worries we will send lots of pictures to Tori and keep baby Claire up to date on her favorite auntie on a mission!! We talk about Tori to her nephew Kael daily! Here are a few pictures of the new baby and happy family!! (of course papa too)

Well now that i am up to date on Tori's Blog i will try to do better!! i am hopeing that everyone is enjoying Sister Houston's mission as much as she is!!

Please drop her a note sometime she loves to hear from everyone!!

Thanks for all your love and support!!

Sister Houston email

October 18, 2010

AHHHHHHH I have a niece!!!!!!!!! Oh my goodness!!!!!! I can't believe she is already here!!! Claire Anne Rogers!!!!! Ahhhhh she is a doll! I can't believe how dark she is and how much hair she has!!!!! Look at her little outfits! So cute!!!! :( I want to be there to love on her!!! Guess Shalyse your just not meant to have short fast labors heehee I sad I missed out on the party at the hospital again! Man I so happy! Im glad everyone is healthy and safe at home! What a blessing!! I can't wait to see more pictures. Send them soon!!!

Well while you've all been enjoying sweet baby Claire, I've been working away here in Norwalk with my new companion! Her name is Sister Everson. She is from San Juan Capistrano, California but had been living in Utah going to school at BYU for the last three years. Her parents actually just recently moved to Scottsdale! Kind of cool. She was one of the sisters I lived with in the Boyntin house on the Kirtland sites during my first transfer and I also saw her all the time at sites. Sister Everson is awesome. She loves music, plays the guitar and basically lives off of cereal heehee kind of like Mitchell. I love serving with her! She's been out for almost 9 months and has served around Kirtland the entire time so I can kind of tell its been hard on her. When your serving at the sites you are always with other sisters even live with other companionships so being just us two she says is kind of weird and with the Holidays coming up I know she is sad because most likely she wont get to be at Kirtland for them. Im doing the best I can to help her have fun....its hard cause you know me. She'll love it eventually I think. She is an amazing missionary. You can just tell her heart is in this for the right reasons and she has so much love for others. I already have learned so much from her!
Sister Stewart went to Ravena which is close to Kirtland so she's serving their again. But yeah anyways, this week we've been working with Jocelyn getting her ready for baptism. Its was a hard week for her. She has Gastroporesis (I think thats what its called not really sure what that is) along with many other health problems. Her stomach has been bothering her lately. She hasn't been able to eat solid foods for a couple years, basically has lived off of pureed food YUM. I guess she has been slowly eating solid foods but it hasn't worked out to well for her. Anyways she found out she has to get surgery in a couple weeks, something to do with her stomach. She was really having a hard time with it so this week she got really depressed to where she started hearing voices in her head....I guess this has happened before. She started doubting if she really wanted to be baptized...not good at all.
She is doing better though. She came to church Sunday and stayed all three hours for the first time. She feels right at home with the ward. They have taken her right under there wing and are doing everything they can to make her feel comfortable.
Saturday is the day!! This week we will meet with her three times to get everything done and ready for her. I'm very excited for her and I'm so glad I get to be here! I will let you know how it goes!
Well thats whats happened this week besides a couple crazy moments tracting. We got yelled at two different days, once by two old ladies and another by some crazy old man! heehee Fall is defiantly here. Its getting pretty cold. Can't believe the holidays are just around the corner! Can't waith to talk with you family!!!!
I love you and miss you so much. Talk to you soon! Give sweet baby claire loves for me!!

Sister Houston

TRANSFER WEEK

Wow this is Tori's 3rd transfer and she gets to stay put in Norwalk for awhile longer!! she is so excited!! she is sad to have Sister Stewart leave but really excited about her new companion! Next week we will see who it will be!!

Sister Houston email
October 12, 2010

Hi family,
Yes I am alot warmer! I did get my coat. Thank you!! It will be perfect for fall! This week has been in the 70's. Perfect weather for me! You just never know with Ohio weather...one week freezing the next not so freezing. I don't really know what to do about clothes. The stores just don't have long, warmer skirts out right now so I guess I'll just wait and try again later. I'll let you know if I need you to send me anything. Thank you for the CD's too and the cute little note books! They are great!

So are you ready to hear about my crazy week???

I don't know if I ever told you but my district consists of 5 sets of missionaries including me and Sister Stewart. One of the sets are sisters which has been awesome because there are not alot of full pros sisters mostly just elders so we got lucky. The sisters who have been in our district are Sister Henry and Sister Pelfrey. Sister Pelfrey has been real sick with severe food allergies. Basically she is allergic to everything from gluten, dairy, meats, eggs, raw fruits and veggies, etc. Poor thing was living off of rice cakes and peanut butter. They have been doing all kinds of tests to figure out whats going on with her body. She could never hold any thing down! She has been out 7 months and has been fighting this for about 5 so her, the mission president, and Heavenly Father of course decided it was time for her to go home and focus on getting things taken care of. Anyways so we get the news Monday night that Sister Henry, Sister Pelfrey's companion, will be coming to stay with us in Norwalk until transfers which is tomorrow by the way! Sister Henry came out at the same time as me. She is awesome and its been so fun being in a triple up with her and Sister Stewart. Kind of crazy but fun at the same time!!
We found 3 new investigators too! We haven't been able to find a new investigator this entire transfer so we were pretty excited to find 3 this week! I'll have to let you know how it goes with them.

But anyways so last night we got the call and guess what???

I GET TO STAY IN NORWALK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sister Stewart is getting transferred. She is so sad to leave the area!! She got really close with alot of the ward members and she might not get to see Joselyn get baptized. I feel bad :(
It's going to be so different.......I'm pretty scared not going to lie. Scared to be here with out her, she just gets people and just connects well with everyone who we have been teaching from less actives to investigators. I just not so good with it :(
We'll just have to see what happens. I am really glad to be staying full pros still.
So tomorrow we'll drive 2 hours to transfer meeting in Kirtland and go from there.

Yesterday we met with Joselyn. Her baptism is in 2 weeks!! And I get to be there!! Yay!!!!

She says to us "its weird i don't know how to explain it but i just don't have any interest in the movies or music i use to watch and listen to and i try really hard everyday to think about what i am doing to see if it is pleasing to Heavenly Father"...yeah seriously she is unreal. She tries to get her hands on every lds church book she can find, finished the Book of Mormon on CD and now is starting to try and read it. With her medical conditions its hard for her to focus but she is doing great!
Of course Satan is always there! Little booger. She has been facing some trails one being that her dad on sunday went to the hospital for chest pain. He is doing fine just has water around his heart i guess. It scared her though. She said to us yesterday she was having doubts about her baptism wondering if it is really what she wants but no worries we were able to help her see it was the adversary and to invite her to keep reading and praying. She is so happy. Im so excited to be able to be a part of her batism.

Anyways I better go....I wont have time I dont think to write any letters because we'll have to clean and do everything to get ready for transfers but I wanted to thank everyone for there letters this week! I loved them even Hunters little note!! heehee I will write next week for sure!

I love you family! I hope everyone is doing well! Write again soon.

Love, sister houston

hhheelllo ffamiillly iittts mmeeee

so you notice the last email of sept she was having some nice Fall-like weather!! haha poor thing!she is in Ohio with a little white sweater!! that not gonna work!! so i packaged up her wool coat and put it in the mail right away!! It will keep her warm until the snow and sleet comes then she will have to get a warmer coat and boots!!
I so love this girl!!! she is an inspiration to me and her family!!

Email from Sister Houston
October 4, 2010

Yup I real cold!! heee hee that was my attempt to chatter in my typing.....i know i a dork

But really I real cold!! My little cream coat isn't doing much for me any more. Its freezing!! Rain plus wind plus 50 degree weather no no no no not fun at all. I've been living in my one long skirt and those black tights you got me mom. Thank you by the way.
The Relief Society President, Sister Morgan, she so funny. She asked me if I had any warmer clothes, i say no and the next Sunday she came to church with a Happy Birthday bag with a couple turtleneck sweaters....even though I dislike turtlenecks very much. They make my neck all claustrophobic and turtley ya know but I'm sure if i freezin my bum off i will wear them. It was kind of her!! She also told me and Sister Stewart to go check out a couple stores too that are suppose to have cheap warm clothes so that's what we are going to do today hint the urgent email i sent right before this. I was hoping someone would be on so I could ask if it was ok if i spent a little money on some warm clothes. I hope it is. I wont buy a snow coat or boots...I'll just see how much they are and then let you know k. I think my coat will due for now! Thank you for sending it!!!! Today I just hope to get warmer skirts and maybe some tights to keep my leggies toasty.
My heart is pretty sad. We've been told that the summer was the hottest and driest its been since the late 1800s so the leaves probably wont turn as drastically as they usually do. Stink huh....
There are a few trees changing here and there but it looks like Arizona leaves, that yellowy brown lookin color. Its been raining the past few days so i still have hope! I'll get to see one more Autumn before I go home and maybe you guys will to if you come pick me up!!

Ahhh I love you family!!! Wasn't General Conference great??? I thought about you all!! I was sad I was missin out on the girls night during priesthood session but I guess I didn't miss anything. Thats a bummer mom but I glad you and rocky had a good dinner at Jack n the Box!!! In two conferences I will join ya k!!

This conference just made me love the gospel so much more. Its hard to explain. My heart and my mind were in the right place and each talk just answered so many of my prayers. Made me so much more grateful for the wonderful family that I have too and the opportunity to be on a mission.
Did you like how President Monson opened the Saturday morning session up with the great responsibility we have to do missionary work???!!!! I thought of you little brothers the entire talk. You better be getting your bums ready to go! The Lord needs you!
Its hard to tell you which one I liked the most because Im pretty sure I loved all of them!! I did appreciate Elder Hollands story of the sacrifice his parents made so that he could go on a mission.
I love you mom and dad!!!! Thank you for letting me have this experience even with money so tight and things happening left and right. I know it was unexpected for me to go and I had zero money to pay for my self but you still were so supportive. You have know idea how grateful I am for you!!! I know that you will be blessed because of it.

Joselyn was even able to come to the Sunday morning session! After we asked her how she liked it and she said "it was awesome!!! I thought it would be just a bunch of boring talks but no it was AWESOME!!!" We invited her to come with questions and concerns on her mind and promised that they would be answered and guess what she said every one of them were!! heehee seriously its like she is already a member of the church! This is rare really and I get to be a part of it!!! She is what they call GOLDEN or what i like to call a GOLDEN EGG! heehee
Oh and by the way we set a baptismal date with her!!!! OCTOBER 23rd!! She is so excited. She so funny. We asked her how she feels and she says to us "pure happiness"!
Now we just teaching her all the required lessons and helping her prepare for her special day!

Can you believe transfers are in a week and a half?? Next Tuesday will be my p-day and by Monday night we should know what is going to happen so I will let you all know!
Well I better go. I love you all so much!!! I hope you are all happy and healthy!!

Love,
Sister Houston


P.S. Remember as you apply the things our inspired leaders shared with us this conference we will be blessed and filled with happiness and peace even when life seems crazy!! We'll know what to do no matter our circumstances!!

Fall is Arriving in Ohio

Ok so of course i am way behind again!! my computer crashed this weekend so i am trying to find and gather stuff ! I thought i save her last set of pictures on a disc but can't find it!! ahwww i mess sometimes!! so i hopefully will get some pictures soon!! i wanted to get her last few emails on her blog because she has been working with an investigator named Joselyn and she is getting baptised and so i wanted her story so everyone can see what a miracle life can be for some people and how our Heavenly Father is looking for these wonderful people and how the missionaries find them!!

September 27, 2010

Good morning family!!

:) I glad you enjoyed the videos of me and Sister Stewart! heehee they were of the end of my first transfer so right before we were sent to Norwalk, then on our way to Norwalk. The one under the stairs was our second day in Norwalk when we had a tornado warning! We found out a couple days later that a tornado did actually touch down some miles away from Norwalk! No tornados since so few! And I not to sure about the potty dance???? hmmm...its been a while since I looked at the videos so I will have to watch them again to see what that potty dance was. lol I glad you got them working (now go hide my computer again heehee). I will do more videos of me, promise. I just don't like the camera but i know you will kick my bum if I don't send something! and I'm pretty fat now so its gross and embarrassing! Its so hard not to gain weight! Everyone loves to feed ya especially dessert and you feel bad to say no! Oh well don't judge :)
Oh and I have been trying to find my other SD card the one with the amish village pictures....i can't find it any where. Did it ever get sent back?? No worries though I had three so I have one to use....just wanted to see if it happens to be back there in Arizona.

Anyways, sheesh Arizona weather sounds a lot like Ohio weather just not as hot of course. We started off last week in the 80's and then climbed up the the 90's but for the last two days its been in the 60's and today its rainy and cold!! They say by the end of October is when it will start getting really cold. The leaves are starting to change! Just a little bit! Its so pretty. I'll take lots of pics so you guys can see what a "real" fall looks like!

Remember Joselyn??? The 23 year old who walked into the church and asked how to be converted?
We taught her another lesson last week. Well I wouldn't really say we are teaching her. Its more like she is teaching her self and we are there to say yes thats true or to further explain something. Last week she pulled out her "Mormonism for Dummies" book all highlighted with questions written out for us to answer. Basically she taught the Plan of Salvation to us and we just added our testimonies! Joselyn says to us with the biggest smile on her face "you know that when you like a boy and you get that excited feeling when he comes around....I feel that way when Im reading and learning" heehee
Can you believe this?? She has been listening to the Book of Mormon on tape because its easier for her. She is already to Mosiah! Her mom Dail is not really interested like I said but we can tell her heart is softening toward it. She is always at the lessons and comes to church with her each week. This last week she asked if me and Sister Stewart would be at Joselyn's baptism (just a side note...we haven't really talked a whole lot about baptism up to this point. Our first time we met them Dail told us to take it slow and that Joeslyn is different and she wont learn as fast as we are use to but yeah I pretty sure Joselyn is progressing faster then any other investigator I've seen around...her mom just doesn't know heehee)
We then started telling them about transfers, which are in 2 weeks by the way, oh and yes tears were shed because we know that one of us will most likely be getting transferred and therefore most likely wont be at the baptism. Dail even shed a few tears her self and Joselyn said "Oh!! then I have to get baptized before you leave" heehee
Yup so thats Joselyn!! She is praying about a date and so are we. Her and her mom came to the Relief Society broadcast on Saturday. She had to leave early because she wasn't feeling to well. She still is really weak from her illness what ever it may be and she is planning on being at conference or watching it on TV. Because of her great enthusiastic excitement for learning about the church I realized how much I take advantage of this great thing that I have!!!! Its an amazing thing to watch the change take place in someones life and how happy they are when they find the truth and recognize more fully the love of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ!

I loved the Relief Society Broadcast!!! Right when it started I had to try really hard to hold back the tears because I was thinking about ya Mom and Shalyse!! It was really different with you not there. We were in the Relief Society room with about 20 other ladies watching it on a TV. I can't wait for conference! Did you know i get to watch 3 conferences while i on my mission?? Crazy!!! I'll be thinking about you cuddle up in your blankets and pjs missin ya like crazy!!

Well family i better go! I love you all very much and miss you a ton! I hope you are all doing well!! Remember the church is true!!

Love,
Sister Houston

Cakes, Dogs and Investigators -- OH MY!!

Tori sent a few pictures home this week so i will get them on as soon as possible!! She is happy and adorable as always!! We love that smiling face!!!
"Service" What missionaries do best!!!

Sister Houston and Sister Stewart showing off there baking skills!! In her email she said she helped a member bake some cakes!! always doing service! what a missionary!

Email from Sister Houston

September 20, 2010

Good morning family!

Sounds like its been a rough week for you all. I got your letter mom about Kael on Tuesday. Scared me to death to hear what happened!!!!! I figured since I didn't get a call from President that everything was going ok so im glad that he is doing better and that everything is healing well. I'll wait to get the letters for more details....hopefully today.

Well another week gone. I can't believe I'm already half way through this transfer. It was a good week though. There is a lady in the ward who bakes cakes for a living. She needed extra hands so Sister Stewart and I got to go over for a few hours to help! Everyone in the house smokes but her so yeah by the time we left my eyes and throat were burning! Yup I'm pretty sure I'm a second hand smoker....nasty nasty nasty! EVERYONE smokes. You'll just be sitting there visiting someone and they wip out a cigarrette right there! Its gross. My poor poor body.

Anyways oh and yesterday we almost died. We were walking back to our car and there was a big dog on a leash. We didn't pay any attention to it of course because its on a leash....duh. Next thing ya know he is charging at us, i mean CHARGING! It was scary!! You should of seen Sister Stewarts face! Classic! I just ran for the street. Guess I need to work on my Charity huh heehee

Anyways I don't think I ever told you about Joselyn.....

A few Sunday's ago there was a wedding being held at the church building in Sandusky. Bishop was there early getting some things done. There were a few of the guests already arriving and in walks Joselyn with her mom, Dail. Bishop greets them thinking they are just there for the wedding but really she came in to find out how she can be converted to our church! Really thats what she asked, Crazy huh!!
She is 23 years old and is recovering from an illness. We aren't really sure exactly what this illness is and she doesn't want to tell us. Before she got sick she was a certified nursing assistant and was going to college with hopes of adventually becoming a doctor. Whatever she has caused her to be in bed for 3 years and just a couple weeks before bishop met her had she been up walking around. Her therapist i guess told her to find god and told her about the mormons. She wonts say anymore than that but she did all kinds of research on the internet about us mormons! hee hee What caught her eye was the 13 Article of Faith and Temples so that is why she set out to find the church building so she could learn more. Her mom isn't really interested but she is always there to support her because of how weak she is. She is so pale and shaky and i guess suffers from depression. Its a strange situation.

We met with her for the first time two weeks ago, answered her questions and taught the first lesson. Last week she was in the hospital but we met with her again on Saturday. The first question she asked was what can I do the get baptized!!! She's been reading a book called the key to conversion and is always either reading or listening to the Book of Mormon on CD. She even went and bought "Mormonism for dummbies" from Borders book store! Heehee
This is so unreal to me! She has already been to church twice now! She said that she is so excited to keep learning and you can tell! Ahhh I so excited! I will keep you updated on her progress!

Well family I better go I have to go fill out a missionary survey before my time is up. I will be sending home pictures this week so look for them. I love you all so much!

Love,
Sister Houston

Oh just a side note.... we told her about kael and his emergency surgery he had!! its really tough to not be able to let her know about emergency things like that!! but all is good with Kael, and we are still glad she is on a mission!!

"Mormonism for Dummies" Really?? what will people think of next!!

This email is one of my favorites: baking cakes, big doggies, and "golden" investigators!!

She is just an awesome missionary!!!

Everyone's A Child of God!!

I love hearing about the investigator stories!! Tori just has the funniest way of telling her stories about them!! Enjoy!! So everyone is a Child of God even red necks!! haha

Email from Sister Houston
September 13, 2010

Hello my wonderful family!
I'm sorry I haven't written a good email home in the last few weeks or haven't had any time to write anyone letters!! How are you all doing??? How is life back home??? It's been forever since I've heard from anyone! I hope you are all doing fabulous. I have the bestest family ever!!!!

Well....I am doing good. The work is great. It's hard at times. This last week especially. The worlds a messed up place! There are quite a few less active members and even investigators who we are teaching and everyone has there individual needs and concerns, everyone is going through something different. I feel like because of my tag and who I represent these people look to us for help and for answers! Its overwhelming for me. I never know what to say or how to help. Knowing me you know I've never been good with people in general so you can imagine how difficult this is. I'm grateful for this experience though. It's helped me see what a follower of Christ is suppose to do, everything that he did when he was here, help and uplift others, serve.....I hope I can learn to love the way he does and make a difference in others lives. That is where I will truly be successful in my calling.
Our one investigator with a baptismal date moved back to Michigan. I don't think I ever told you about Jesse Peterson. He was being taught by the missionaries for quite a while in Michigan, then moved here to Norwalk back in February. The Elders before Sister Stewart and I came were teaching him and then we took over after they were transferred out. Oh Jesse....how do I even describe him. Well he is as red neck as it gets, long greasy hair, one big front tooth, smoker. He was so funny though! At one point we asked him to set a date to stop smoking and he did. So me and sister Stewart would call him everyday to see how he was doing. One time we called him up on the phone and Jesse say "Close your eyes." I am think what the heck why would he ask us to close our eyes he cant see us.....then Jesse say's "What do you see?" Sister Stewart and I look at each other so confused and trying really hard not to laugh. Then Jesse says "Thats how many smokes I had today!" Heehee it was so funny. Kind of shows who Jesse is but yeah he moved back to Michigan. I got a picture with him and one of his daughters so next time I send them home look for it. The work is going good though.I love you family! Miss you all so terribly and I wish you all a good week!
Crazy that its already the middle of September. Yesterday marked me being out 4 months! It's getting kind of chilly here in Ohio. The leaves are barely starting to change. I can't wait to see fall!! Not to sure about winter yet...maybe when i get the chance to go get clothes to keep me warm I will heeheeOh, Dad and Chase I am trying to study the priesthood. I want to understand it more simply....if you have any advice or simple explanations, analogies, etc, send them my way k!!
love,
Sister Houston

"Zone Out"

Ok so i been really really "Zoned Out" Too!!! Just like Sister Houston!!
so i am gonna go back a few emails and try to get back on track!! It might take a few days (or weeks haha) to get this done so hang in there with me!! thanks

Email from Sister Houston:

September 7, 2010

Hello Family,

I'm alive! Yesterday was "Zone Out" P-day! They do it once a year. We got up bright and early and travel out to Hiram, Ohio, about 2 hours away. We had a spiritual message from President and his wife then we were split up into groups to do a bunch of fun missionary games, had some yummy lunch, did relay's and played more games. It was fun. We even did a tour of the Johnson Farm! It was a quick tour so I didn't really get to see much of it or take pictures. I did see the room where Joseph and Emma were sleeping when he was dragged out by the mob....Elder Dalton, one of the senior missionaries gave the tour and when he was telling this story the spirit was so strong! Such a neat experience. I had never heard the story in so much detail. Can you imagine being tarred and feathered, beaten so badly and still having the desire to get up the next morning to share the gospel??? I don't know maybe its just me being in my missionary mode but this to me shows what kind of man Joseph was because that's exactly what he did.I hope I get to go back again!!
Well I didn't get to write any letters and I am emailing on my lunch break so I don't have to much time. Man I miss you guys! I'm so sorry I haven't been able to write you very detailed emails of the experiences I've had in the last few weeks. I can't wait to share them with you! Can you believe that I'm on a mission?? I still forget sometimes what a sacred calling I have, way more then i should. Your mind has to constantly be on this work and others! I'm learning so much about my self and what Heavenly Father is expecting of me but over all I'm doing good. How is everyone back home?? I haven't heard from you guys in a while. Write me!!!I love you family! Thank you for being such great examples for me. Next Monday I promise will be a better email.....I will be sure to share some experiences I've had!
Love you!
Sister Houston

PS I will try to send pictures home next week

Another 6 weeks.....still together!!

Well Sorry i haven't posted for awhile!! (bad mom) Tori and Sister Stewart have survived another transfer and will be staying together in Norwalk!! They are so happy to still be companions in the area!! They are hoping for some great success to happen in the next 6 weeks!! Tori has sent some wonderful emails home!! She is doing good and loving the area and the Ward they are in!! She has been quite busy teaching and trying to activate the less active members in area! We love getting her emails and letters!!
Anyone wanting to send her a note via "snail mail" or email, she would love to hear from you and to know how life is going!! Drop her a line!!

Hopefully we will get some new pictures soon!!!

Here are a some of my favorite emails, from newest to oldest:

August 31, 2010

Hello family,

I finally get to email!!!!

Sorry I wasn't aware that on transfer week some missionaries have to change there p-day to Tuesday instead of Monday so that is why I didn't email you yesterday!

And of course today has been so crazy....p-day is over at 6:00 which is an hour so I have to hurry....
Sister Stewart, me and the two elders we serve with in the ward were invited by an older lady in the ward to go have lunch at her club house...well we didn't realize its a 45 minute drive so we just barely got back. It's beautiful where she lives, right by lake erie.
One of the Elders, Elder Hoggan is going home tomorrow so that is why we decide to go. Kind of wish we didn't because now I don't have time to write any letters and next week I wont either because it's zone p-day i guess....
It's where a few zones get together and play games.....it 3 hours away from Norwalk and we have to be there at 9:00 in the morning so we'll have to leave here by 6:00!! arggg....i so sorry if you guys don't hear from me for a couple weeks. I really really hope we'll have time to at least email.

Anyways....Oh yeah I am staying in Norwalk!!!! YES! Me and Sister Stewart got the call from our zone leaders last night, Elder Hoggan and Elder Fronk. They are the ones who serve in the same ward as us so we see them all the time so of course they had to first lie and say we were both being transferred....dumb elders but we're not. We get to stay together and be here in Norwalk for another six weeks!

Im glad!

Oh I got the package yesterday! Thank you mom and shalyse! I love all my goodies! You guys spoil me way way to much :) Tell grandma thank you too!!

Well I am so sorry I have to go now....makes me sad but I will try to do better next week.

I haven't heard from you guys much lately. I hope everything is going ok back at home! I miss you guys!

Talk to you soon k!

Love,
Sister Houston

By the time i got this last email mom was a little panicky because for the last couple of months she has faithful emailed home on Monday!! so, when no email was there on monday morning, the crazy mom that i am checked all day, every hour and to no avail "no email" But then the next day yah!! we got one and she explained what happend! so next transfer i won't panick as much cause i will know what to expect!! (silly mom)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

August 23, 2010

Hi Family!!

How are you???? I am doing good. These last couple of weeks have flown by! Can you believe I only have a week and a half left in this transfer?!?! Crazy that it's already here. Sunday we should find out if we are staying here in Norwalk or if we will be transferred! Then next Wednesday's the big day! I think they would keep Sister Stewart and me here but I don't really know how long you stay with the same companion. AHHH....transfers stress me out man! Sorry I haven't sent any pictures home. I will send some home next week. There are a few missionaries in our district who will be going home so i'm sure we will be taking pictures so I figure I might as well wait until then. Well bad news......Tuesday on our way back from district meeting we got a call from Mike. He said he's decided that he is going to start going to church with his brother and their family. It hurt my heart so much to hear that!!! Since Sister Stewart was driving I was the one to talk with him. I was so nervous. I had no idea what to say. I asked him if he knows the Book of Mormon is true and he said yes! I then yelled THEN WHAT THE HECK IS THE PROBLEM!!!!!!
heeheehee no i didn't say that...i wanted to and wish i could of!! All I could really do was bear my testimony. He agreed to have us come over the next day but when we did he wasn't home. Its sad and disappointing but it's ok. I'm grateful to be the first one to introduce the Church to him. I know adventually he will accept. I hope soon!!

dang library lady!!!! She is kicking me off because their is someone who wants to use the computer! NO its mine!!

I will try to get back on later so I can email you some more...but if not sorry this is so short. I love you all!

Sister Houston

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August 16, 2010

My week has been ok. We tracted in the pouring ran! It was quite the adventure. I was wearing my colorful cotton skirt so by the end it was completely soaked! It was so funny trying to invite someone to learn about the church and the Book of Mormon having to scream at the top of our lungs so that they could hear us! haahaa Most of the people just laughed and looked at us like we were crazy!! No naked old men in underwear though....thank goodness.

We taught Mike again...he's not doing so hot. Last Sunday, I think I told you, we had a commitment from him to come to church and Saturday he cancelled, said he had errands to run. All throughout the week we tried to get a hold of him. He wouldn't answer the phone or return our phone calls.....pewww....sorry lost my train of thought...I'm sitting in the library by the lady's bathroom and they keeping opening the door....It smells like a smelly butt!!!! gross ok sorry back to Mike.....finally we got a hold of him, taught a great lesson on baptism and by the end he excepted a baptismal date for September 18th. We set another appointment for later in the week but he cancelled because of family issues. We've invited him to come to church, even to come take a tour of the church to get comfortable with the setting but he said no. My heart hurts. This is the worst part about missionary work. He is so confused. He says he knows the Book of Mormon is true but now that his family is inviting him to come to their church with them he doesnt know what to think. His family didn't even care whether he came with them or not until we started showing up! One time we were over sitting on the porch with Mike and his brother comes out and starts pulling weeds! Haahaa it was funny. That was his way of ease dropping i guess. Man Mike the church is true!!!!!! We'll keep working with him though! Not going to give up!

Bless our Sister Missionaries!!!

"SCRIPTURES"

This weeks email from Tori was kinda a sad one!!


Not on her end of course but something she had to hear from home!

One of her cousins Beth Houston was killed in a motorcycle/car accident this week. She was almost 25. She has not been an active member of the church for many years, but we know she was loved by all her family!


It was sad for me to have to tell Tori thru an email. Tori said this is one of her worst fears, to hear about family members passing away while she is on her mission. She said to tell everyone to "stay off motorcycles and don't run red lights!!"


But the wonderful missionary that she is had some wonderful words for all of us to remember, why we are here and that our Heavenly Father is alway there for us even when we have forgotten Him! He loves us all unconditionally!

Here are a few Scriptures from Sister Houston:

" Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." proverbs 3:5-6

"Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest." joshua 1:9

" ...I will go before your face I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up." d&c 84:88

I know that our Heavenly Father loves you all! Trust in him! Know that he is there always!

Lots of love,
Sister Houston

Norwalk

Tori is in a wonderful area in Norwalk Ohio! She seems to be enjoying the members of the Ward and the area. Tori's mission President sent us a map of the cleveland area and all the areas are marked separately so we can see any of the areas that she will be serving in during her mission! It has been fun to be able to see exactly where she she is at!!

Hopefully will get some pictures soon!!

Here is here last email,
she shares a few experiences, so ENJOY!!

August 2, 2010

Hello my wonderful family,

So the mission president sent you guys a map of the area i'm in?? Thats awesome! I had know idea they would do that. Our area is huge but the church out here is not! There are tons of less actives too. Makes me sad but grateful for where I grew up! I'm in the Sandusky Ward which covers both the Elders area and our area but the chapel is in there area so it takes me and Sister Stewart like 25 minutes to get there. Alot of people have to travel 2 and a half hours to get to the Columbus temple and a half hour or so just to get to church! We are so lucky to have the church building and the temple just down the street! I miss the temple :(

I love being here! I wanted to share a few experiences with you!

Our second day here in Norwalk Sister Stewart and I tracted into a guy named Mike Edington. He's single, 33 years old, lives at home with his brother and his wife and their son and daughter. He use to weigh almost 700 pounds and just this last January he got that gastobypass surgery and has been making alot of life style changes. He's lost so much weight that his skin is saggy!! It just hangs off his arms like jello! He grew up a Baptist but stopped going to church years ago. He is very quiet but so nice! When we first met him he liked what we had to say so we asked if he had time for us to teach him more right then so we sat on his front porch and taught him the Restoration. The entire time we were talking to him the spirit was so strong, the strongest I have felt since being out on my mission! To sit there and hear someone read the Book of Mormon for the first time and watch the features on his face change was the most amazing experience!
We set up a return appointment and asked him to pray to know if the things we taught him were true. When we went back for the second appointment we asked if he's been praying and he said "it's weird because i felt a feeling that I cant explain. I just felt at ease." AMAZING!! We have been back to teach Mike 4 times since! It seems to good to be true but things are going good so far and hopefully if things still continue to progress he'll be baptized!

I have seen so many miracles this last week which I am so grateful for. I know that the Lord's hand is in the work and it's so neat to be able to see him work through me and my companion! There is a less active in the ward that lives in our area that Sister Stewart and I have been trying to get a hold of. His phone got disconnected so we called to get another number from his mom and found out he moved back home so he was now in the Elders area. So we called up the Elders to let them know and asked if they could stop by. In there planning the night before they put down this family to stop by and so when Sister Stewart and I called to tell them they were already on there way over there!!
That same day, around 8:30 we had about a half hour to tracted before we could head home. Our second door we knocked on was a part member family that the bishop had know idea lived in the area. They invited us in and we stayed to visit with them for like an hour! Miracles! I love being able to be apart of this! Our Heavenly Father knows us and is guiding our every step and I love to be able to see it out here on my mission!

Ok funny story well more like a distrubing story. Yesterday we were tracting and an old man I mean a REALLY OLD man answered the door in his underwear, JUST his underwear nothing else and they were Whitie Tieties pulled up to his belly button!!!! Disgusting!! He said "oh sorry you caught me at a bad time i was just getting ready to get in the shower!" I was trying so hard not to laugh!!
Ohio people are crazy!!

Thank you for the package mom!! I LOVE the shoes!! They are so cute. Wearing them right now too :) Sister Stewart says thank you. Our feet definately need some pampering! And thanks so much for sending me those talks! Tell Becky thank you for me too! They were perfect!


Well I love you family! Thank you so much for all you do! I hope everything is going great back home!

I'll write soon!

Love,
sister houston

Where is Sister Houston emailing from????

Tori did get her transfer!! She is in Norwalk!! Sounds like a Heavenly place to be!!
Here is Tori's email about her first week (almost a week) in her new area!!


Tori's email:
July 26, 2010

Hello my wonderful family,
I miss you!!

So are you all ready to hear what happen to me???

Wednesday Sister Stewart and I spent all morning packing and cleaning to get ready for transfer meeting at 11:30. Like I said in my last email, we got the call on Sunday that we were both being transferred but no one ever knows where or with who until that morning at the meeting only those who are training are told on Monday which area they will have but not who there companion would be. The new sisters all came in Tuesday and stayed over night at the Mission Presidents house. Then on Wednesday, everyone who got the call that they are being transferred meets over at the stake center where the new missionaries meet their trainer and everyone else finds out where they are going. Since all the ten Sisters who are training knew which area they would have, Sister Stewart and I found out on Monday that Sister Barker (one of the sisters training) would be taking our area, Willowick. Well anyways long story short, I was so nervous because I had know idea what was going to happen to me. I just got comfortable with the area and now I was getting transferred to who knows where and everyone had a pretty good idea that Sister Stewart was going to be transferred out to go to a full proselyting area so I figure we aren't going to be staying together....long story but we knew there where big changes coming because with all the new missionaries coming in there weren't enough areas so we knew that they had to open up a new area, or put a companionship at full sites or full proselyting....anyways hopefully this is making sense.

So we get to transfer meeting, sing a song, a few of those going home bear there testimonies and then the Zone Leaders get up and announce the changes.

"In Norwalk, Sister Stewart and Sister Houston."

Where is Norwalk you ask??

Well family, for at least the next six weeks I am now a full proselyting missionary. Norwalk is about an hour and 45 minutes away from Kirtland. The area is huge!! It covers all of Norwalk and a few cities to the north, east, south and west. So after transfer meeting they give us a GPS and stick us in the car and on our way we go hoping that "Sally the GPS" would get us to our apartment.
We made it though!!
Sister Stewart and I are what you call "white washing" an area which means that two missionaries who have never been in the area come to serve (maybe dad and chase can explain it better).
The Elders before us I guess were not doing so hot one even went home early, we dont know details but yesterday at church the Bishop of the ward told us he had a talk with the Mission President and said there has to be a change and to send over his two best missionaries!! Can you believe they sent me??? Basically we are starting from scratch searching for those who the Lord's preparing and trying to contact the many many less actives who have lost there way. The last few days we tracted a total of 9 hours!! Its hard work but I am so humbled that the Lord would put me here and give me this opportunity out of all the missionaries. I love these people already and want to do all that I can to help them! I am praying really really hard that the Lord will help me become the person I need to be and to have the abilities to teach the gospel as best I can! Its been hard but I can't even explain how many miracles I have seen in the last few days.
The ward is so excited to have sister missionaries! They haven't had sisters for over five years! I even had to give a talk in Sacrament meeting yesterday!!

The second night we were here we even had a tornado warning! Sister Stewart and I were called by the elders and ward mission leader to go camp out in the closet under the stairs! Yes I was freaking out but its ok no tornado just alot of rain and lightning. We only had to stay under there for a little while and then went up stairs to bed! Hopefully no more tornados!!

I love you family! I don't know if any of you wrote me this last week, but I got mom's letter she wrote on the 18th and dads letter too. If you did I hope the Visitor Center forwards over my mail!
Well I will write you letters today so expect them sometime this week. Oh and thank you for finding that talk for me!!! Tell Becky thank you too!!


Love you all,
Sister Houston



OK so thats my girl!! Isn't she amazing? only out 6 weeks and doing full-time proselyting in a new area!! I knew Heavenly Father was gonna bless her! She is amazing! Hopefully she will find those that are looking for the gospel! Sounds like she might need some new shoes soon! :) I know she will miss being in the Kirtland area and being with the sisters there, but hopefully she will get to go back again sometime before she heads home!

Well keep up the good work Sister Stewart and Sister Houston!! We love you!!

Transfer!! Do I Stay or Go??

These will be the last few pictures of the Kirtland area for now!

Tori got a call on Sunday saying she would be transfered on Wed July 21st

Where will she go??

These sister's are trying to spell the word "Kirtland"
Great job girls!!



If Tori gets moved out of the area i know she will surely miss the friendships she has gain in the last 6 weeks!!

This is part of her email she sent expaining the transfers!

July 19, 2010

Hello my wonderful family!

I hope everyone is doing well! I just read your emails Mom and Shalyse and have a huge smile on my face! I love you family! Every story you tell, every advice you give, seriously everything you guys write makes me so happy!! You always have the perfect things to say, everyone of you, in your emails and letters! I wish you knew how much you help me and how much you inspire me to do better and be better!!

This week has been crazy. I think i say that every week but every week is crazy heehee! So I explained last week that transfers are on the 21st, this coming Wednesday, and so schedules have been changed around for the last two weeks because so many sisters are being trained to train the ten new sisters coming in. This week we were at the Kirtland sites for four full days, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and after church on Sunday. Tuesday and Friday we had half day at sites and the rest of the day in our area. Friday was a busy busy day at sites. I wasn't there but I heard that there were about 1800 people who came through and a couple even knew me!! One of the sisters told me on Saturday when I went in to sites that someone from the ward came through asking for me. She couldn't remember his name but she thinks it was a scout master. Do you guys know who it was??? And then that same day Caitlin Owens moms friend came by and left a note for me saying Hi!! She said they told her to look for me here! How fun huh! I'm sad I missed them! It would of been fun to say hi to familiar faces! On Monday night after p-day ended we went to the Emma Festival which is a celebration that the Community of Christ puts on every year to celebrate her birthday. It was held in the Kirtland Temple and the Community of Christ church put on a program all about emma. The sister missionaries were asked to sing a few songs so we got to sit in the choir loft (i think thats what its called) and sing! It was so fun to just sit there and think about everything that took place in the temple and being right where Christ appeared!! I still havent comprehended all that took place here in Kirtland but it is so awesome to be serving in such a sacred place where so many things happened! I can't wait to learn more!
Ok so I am so nervous for transfers. On Sundays before the Wednesday transfer someone will call you and tell you to pack your bags. Not everyone will get a call so if you don't then your basically staying with the same companion and the same area. If you do, you pack up all your things and then go to a transfer meeting on Wednesday where they will tell you where your going and who you'll be with. You could still be with the same companion and the same area you just might be in a different house or even just move into a different room in the same house. So yes guess who got a call last night to pack there bags?? Me and Sister Stewart! I am so nervous because I have know idea what is going to happen. I could change companions, change areas, be called to full sites or full proselyting, or just move down stairs to another room or just another house! Its crazy! and I wont know until Wednesday!!! I didn't fall asleep until like 1:00 this morning and had to be up by 6:00 so i really sorry if this email doesn't make any sense heehee i really tired :) Im going to be packing and cleaning all day today and I wanted to write letters to everyone and send out like 8 birthday cards!! I will let you guys know what happens on Monday though and Im really sorry if I don't get to write letters this week! I have so much to say to you guys too :(

Dad, Happy Birthday!!! I hope you are doing good. I need a letter! You better write me soon!
Mom, Thank you for the box of goodies and pictures!! What a cute family forever plaque and I love the picture of Christ! I hung them above my study desk. Thank you for all the treats and the book and bookmarks!! I have the best mom in the world!!! Sister Hill said thank you too! She loved it!
Ok so sorry this email is so random!!
I have to go now. I love you all. I love this work and know with all my heart this church is true. What an awesome blessing it is to have each other forever and to know all that we know! Keep reading your sciptures and having family prayer. I know that as you seek for the Lord's help in every decision you make he will help you and lead you along the way! You guys help me so much so keep writing!

PS I love all Chase's missionary advice!! Thank you and Dad you should send some too! I need it!

Love you family!
Sister Houston