Sister Houston's email:
August 29, 2011
Hey family,
How are you all today??
Sister Gamble and I are doing great. We have had quite an eventful week. I have a story i want to tell you! Its a good one i promise :)
On Wednesday we spent the day in Garrettsville. Its a tiny town. Right in the middle is a strip of old looking stores and restaurants. We ate dinner there at Subway...yum...then went out to sit in our car to make phone calls and read our book of mormon. Well...there was a bench right in front of our car. I noticed a young man sitting there. He had wild crazy hair! I had the thought to go talk to him but felt it was a little to awkward so i ignored the thought. Selfish me. Our plans after dinner were to contact people around the area so when our dinner hour ended we headed down the street to park in the grocery store parking lot. Off we went and in the far distance i noticed the young man walking into Dairy Queen. We contacted around the area for a good 20 minutes or so. As we were rounding the corner heading back towards Subway again i saw the raggedy young man....again!!! I thought "ok ok ok fine! Obviously Heavenly Father wants us to talk to him." We were at a four way stop. He was across the street so we headed after him. He was walking to fast so I called after him...yes not something i particularly like to do...but he was nice and stopped to talk to us. This raggedy young man's name is Collin. He is 19 years old and this day happened to be his first day in town. He just moved from Columbia, South Carolina. We ended up talking to Collin for 45 minutes. He met missionaries in Columbia a couple years back. I think he maybe only met with them once or twice. He doesn't remember much of what they taught but says he remembers the feeling he had about it all was "surreal". Oh my Collin has been through a lot in his life. Part of the reason for moving to Ohio was because a gang was after him. At one point he started getting into religion and praying to God but then got involved in some mischief and was put in jail. He stopped praying after that. Now Collin just believes in spirituality, no Godly being and that Christ was a good man who walk to face of the earth. I never prayed so hard in my life!! Sister Gamble and I both tried our hardest to follow the spirit. I think I felt a little piece of what Heavenly Father feels for all his children. It was overwhelming. Collin agreed to come to church on Sunday. We even set up a ride for him but he ended up saying no to the ride. He preferred walking.
Well...church went on....during the middle of Relief Society Sister Watson came behind us and whispered "collins hear" WHAT!!!!! Yeah! he came to church!! He missed it all but he still came! Apparently he went the wrong way, was about to give up but then noticed pioneer trail which is where the church is so he kept on walking. Bro and Sister Watson, who were going to be the ones to pick him up, were sitting out in the hall when he walked in. Bro Watson our newly called ward mission learder is even from South Carolina! It All worked out perfectly. Collin ended up going home for lunch with the Watson family and plans on coming to church next sunday. I don't know what will all come out of this but im so grateful for this experience. I wanted to share it will you! everyday i am continually reminded how aware God and Jesus Christ are of each one of us! Collin may not know this just yet. Some day he will. I know he felt the love of the members. Its that sense of love that softens peoples hearts!
I know my savior lives and that this is his work. I will be forever grateful for this opportunity to serve him!
I hope you all enjoy the story :)
Have a fabulous week and dont forget to write me pretty please. I love you!!!!!!
Love,
Sister Houston
Sunday, October 2, 2011
I FEEL HIS LOVE WRAPPED AROUND US
hello everyone.....so sorry i have gotten behind on Tori's blog again.....but life is moving way to fast these days!!! I am sure i wont be getting any new pictures before she heads home so i hope that you will still enjoy her emails.
Sister Houston's email
August 22, 2011
Hello again!!
I can't believe how fast this transfer is going. It needs to slow down.....wwwaayyy down!!!!
What a week!
Sister Gamble and I did A LOT of walking. To be exact....over 10 hours! Crazy huh. I haven't done that much tracting since being in Norwalk. We are dedicating our selves to this work and to the Lord! We want so badly to find those he is preparing. There are definitely better ways to find people to teach then tracting. We've also been prayerfully seeking ways to work with the ward members too. Heavenly Father has blessing us with strength, with joy, peace and comfort. Even though times can be tough! I feel his love wrapped around us. We had an awesome experience on Saturday.
Saturday was a wide open day, no lessons not even member meals. By the end of the day we tracted over 3 and a half hours. The night before in our goals, Sister Gamble and I set to teach one lesson and make that lesson a new investigator. When dinner came along at 5:00 we still hadn't found anyone to teach and our legs were pretty tired im not going to lie. We tried to talk to as many people as we could! We truly were doing our best. After dinner we said a prayer together that we would be able to find someone to teach.
Well, our very last stop-by was to a man named Ted. We met Ted last Saturday and he said we could stop by to give him a book of mormon. Oh my goodness!!!! It was so cool. He had just pulled in from work! We taught Ted the message of the Restoration right there in his drive way. I could feel Heavenly Father providing us with the words to say. Its the best feeling ever to know that God is aware of us all and that we are not alone in this work. Its his work!!
Then, yesterday at church Becca, Jim's girlfriend came up to us and told us some fabulous news about him! He's been really busy with football and getting ready with school but he's still reading the Book of Mormon. She said that after he read 2 Nephi 4 where Lehi dies that he felt this yearning to want to be on the straight and narrow path!!!! He wants to be baptized!!!!! Oh it was the best news ever! Now...i don't know when this baptism will be but to know that he knows that this is good, that its right, is just perfect.
I know this Gospel is true, that heavenly father is our loving father in heaven, that jesus christ is the savior and redeemer of the world!
I love you family! Always remember to pray. Your Father in Heaven wants to hear from you. He wants you to know of his great and perfect love for you. He can only do that if you come to him. He is there. Christ is there. What a wonderful thing to know.
Have a fabulous week and don't forget to write me pretty pretty please.
LOVE,
Sister Houston
Sister Gamble and I took a tour at the Johnson Home on Friday. It was a non-member couple. They have lived in Ohio all there life and often drove past the Home but never made the time to stop in! It was an older couple. They seemed to really like it. My favorite part was at the end
Sister Houston's email
August 22, 2011
Hello again!!
I can't believe how fast this transfer is going. It needs to slow down.....wwwaayyy down!!!!
What a week!
Sister Gamble and I did A LOT of walking. To be exact....over 10 hours! Crazy huh. I haven't done that much tracting since being in Norwalk. We are dedicating our selves to this work and to the Lord! We want so badly to find those he is preparing. There are definitely better ways to find people to teach then tracting. We've also been prayerfully seeking ways to work with the ward members too. Heavenly Father has blessing us with strength, with joy, peace and comfort. Even though times can be tough! I feel his love wrapped around us. We had an awesome experience on Saturday.
Saturday was a wide open day, no lessons not even member meals. By the end of the day we tracted over 3 and a half hours. The night before in our goals, Sister Gamble and I set to teach one lesson and make that lesson a new investigator. When dinner came along at 5:00 we still hadn't found anyone to teach and our legs were pretty tired im not going to lie. We tried to talk to as many people as we could! We truly were doing our best. After dinner we said a prayer together that we would be able to find someone to teach.
Well, our very last stop-by was to a man named Ted. We met Ted last Saturday and he said we could stop by to give him a book of mormon. Oh my goodness!!!! It was so cool. He had just pulled in from work! We taught Ted the message of the Restoration right there in his drive way. I could feel Heavenly Father providing us with the words to say. Its the best feeling ever to know that God is aware of us all and that we are not alone in this work. Its his work!!
Then, yesterday at church Becca, Jim's girlfriend came up to us and told us some fabulous news about him! He's been really busy with football and getting ready with school but he's still reading the Book of Mormon. She said that after he read 2 Nephi 4 where Lehi dies that he felt this yearning to want to be on the straight and narrow path!!!! He wants to be baptized!!!!! Oh it was the best news ever! Now...i don't know when this baptism will be but to know that he knows that this is good, that its right, is just perfect.
I know this Gospel is true, that heavenly father is our loving father in heaven, that jesus christ is the savior and redeemer of the world!
I love you family! Always remember to pray. Your Father in Heaven wants to hear from you. He wants you to know of his great and perfect love for you. He can only do that if you come to him. He is there. Christ is there. What a wonderful thing to know.
Have a fabulous week and don't forget to write me pretty pretty please.
LOVE,
Sister Houston
Sister Gamble and I took a tour at the Johnson Home on Friday. It was a non-member couple. They have lived in Ohio all there life and often drove past the Home but never made the time to stop in! It was an older couple. They seemed to really like it. My favorite part was at the end
Sunday, August 21, 2011
OUR ETERNAL DESTINY IS TO FOLLOW CHRIST
Sister Houston's email:
August 15, 2011
HELLO!!
How are you??
I sure do love all of you soooooooooo much.
Your perfect. God knew i would need you in my life!! Thanks for everything you always do for me.
I'm doing great!! Oh my what a challenging week though.
It seems that these Ohioans have become very very rude in the last couple weeks. What a struggle its been to get people to even talk to us and then to be nice when they do choose to talk to us. Oh my goodness what a struggle we have had!!
BUT, in all the struggle and hardships so many good things have come out of this week.
We had our last lesson with Jim on Thursday before he headed off to college. I think I told you last week that we've been having a hard time knowing how to help him recognize the Holy Ghost. Well....through A LOT of prayer and study, God prepared us in the ways we needed to be so we could help Jim. The spirit was there as we all, including the members present, shared scriptures, personal experience and testimony with him. His countenance changed by the end of the lesson. I knew he understood better. I knew that even though he doesn't understand everything, that good feeling was keeping him motivated to want to learn more and to want to make changes in his life. He is building Faith in Jesus Christ and becoming converted through the power of the spirit even though he might not recognize it fully just yet. God's love is the greatest thing we can ever feel in this life!!!! Jim is such a great kid! We had dinner with the members and him right after the lesson. While they were preparing it, Sister Gamble and I got to know him better and asked about his family. Then we invited him to ask his mom if she would learn about the Gospel and his face lite up! Gosh this Gospel is the greatest thing ever! It will change their lives! Hopefully his mom will be open :)
Now he is off at college and in the Elders hands. Hopefully we will see him again soon! He'll be back to visit once football slows down.
We also had a great experience that strengthened my testimony of the power of the Book of Mormon. There is a lady in the ward named Sylvia Barker. Sister Barker has had a very very rough life. She joined the church in 1988, was active for a while and then fell away. She's been active now for a couple years and went through the Temple a little less then a year ago. Sister Barker lives by her self in a scary neighborhood, has no car or job, and her family is not very supportive. She has been searching for a job for a really really long time. Sister Gamble and I had the great opportunity to go do service for her and have dinner. She was telling us how she is feeling so down and just doesn't understand why Heavenly Father wont help her out. She feels she's doing everything she can. Well...we shared a message about the book of mormon and felt prompted to ask her how she gained a testimony of it. She did what Moroni invites us to do...read, ponder the message and ask God if its true. An overwhelming feeling came over her and she knew! We felt prompted to re-invite her to do Moroni's invitation and promised if she did she would find the answer she needs. Yesterday at church she came up to us so happy and said she did it! She felt comforted by the Holy Ghost and was reassured that God's aware of her and loves her! Amazing huh? The Book of Mormon is true.
I love my life. I'm so blessed. God's aware of us and wants us to know of his great love! This life is a time to prepare ourselves for eternity. Our eternal destiny depends on our willingness to follow Jesus Christ! We are here to become perfected through His Atonement. I love that I've had this opportunity to share this with Ohio because as I've done so I've come to know for a surety the truthfulness of this gospel. It makes me happy to serve others. It makes me happy to know that all the unfair things of life can be made right through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. My testimony was strengthened this week.
I love you and hope you all have a fabulous week!!!!
LOVE,
Sister Houston
August 15, 2011
HELLO!!
How are you??
I sure do love all of you soooooooooo much.
Your perfect. God knew i would need you in my life!! Thanks for everything you always do for me.
I'm doing great!! Oh my what a challenging week though.
It seems that these Ohioans have become very very rude in the last couple weeks. What a struggle its been to get people to even talk to us and then to be nice when they do choose to talk to us. Oh my goodness what a struggle we have had!!
BUT, in all the struggle and hardships so many good things have come out of this week.
We had our last lesson with Jim on Thursday before he headed off to college. I think I told you last week that we've been having a hard time knowing how to help him recognize the Holy Ghost. Well....through A LOT of prayer and study, God prepared us in the ways we needed to be so we could help Jim. The spirit was there as we all, including the members present, shared scriptures, personal experience and testimony with him. His countenance changed by the end of the lesson. I knew he understood better. I knew that even though he doesn't understand everything, that good feeling was keeping him motivated to want to learn more and to want to make changes in his life. He is building Faith in Jesus Christ and becoming converted through the power of the spirit even though he might not recognize it fully just yet. God's love is the greatest thing we can ever feel in this life!!!! Jim is such a great kid! We had dinner with the members and him right after the lesson. While they were preparing it, Sister Gamble and I got to know him better and asked about his family. Then we invited him to ask his mom if she would learn about the Gospel and his face lite up! Gosh this Gospel is the greatest thing ever! It will change their lives! Hopefully his mom will be open :)
Now he is off at college and in the Elders hands. Hopefully we will see him again soon! He'll be back to visit once football slows down.
We also had a great experience that strengthened my testimony of the power of the Book of Mormon. There is a lady in the ward named Sylvia Barker. Sister Barker has had a very very rough life. She joined the church in 1988, was active for a while and then fell away. She's been active now for a couple years and went through the Temple a little less then a year ago. Sister Barker lives by her self in a scary neighborhood, has no car or job, and her family is not very supportive. She has been searching for a job for a really really long time. Sister Gamble and I had the great opportunity to go do service for her and have dinner. She was telling us how she is feeling so down and just doesn't understand why Heavenly Father wont help her out. She feels she's doing everything she can. Well...we shared a message about the book of mormon and felt prompted to ask her how she gained a testimony of it. She did what Moroni invites us to do...read, ponder the message and ask God if its true. An overwhelming feeling came over her and she knew! We felt prompted to re-invite her to do Moroni's invitation and promised if she did she would find the answer she needs. Yesterday at church she came up to us so happy and said she did it! She felt comforted by the Holy Ghost and was reassured that God's aware of her and loves her! Amazing huh? The Book of Mormon is true.
I love my life. I'm so blessed. God's aware of us and wants us to know of his great love! This life is a time to prepare ourselves for eternity. Our eternal destiny depends on our willingness to follow Jesus Christ! We are here to become perfected through His Atonement. I love that I've had this opportunity to share this with Ohio because as I've done so I've come to know for a surety the truthfulness of this gospel. It makes me happy to serve others. It makes me happy to know that all the unfair things of life can be made right through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. My testimony was strengthened this week.
I love you and hope you all have a fabulous week!!!!
LOVE,
Sister Houston
MY NEW BABY......SISTER GAMBLE
Sister Morrell
goodbye to Sister Morrell.....Tori will miss you!!! good luck in your new area!!
Tori had a camera problem about this time!! It decided it wanted a drink of orange juice....not such a good idea!!!! bad camera....so i had to find a camera and get it sent to her as soon as possible. i am not sure when she will be able to send more pictures! soon we hope!!
Tori kept her new companion alive the first week....can't wait to hear more! Hopefully Tori will help her out if she ends up with two different shoes on ....since that is her area of expertice!! hee hee
Sister Houston's email:
August 8, 2011
hi family!
I've survived my first week as a trainer! Woohoo!!!!!!
Sister Gamble is still living as well. She seems pretty happy too. Thats a good sign right :)
What an amazing person Sister Gamble is! I've only known her a week and I already love her so much. She has a powerful testimony and such a sincere desire to do everything she can to be her best so that the Lord can use her to bless others. Im grateful for her example. She's from Farmington, Utah and is the baby of the family, has two older sisters and two older brothers.
Its been a good week. Im not to stressed. I remember my first transfer on the mission and how flustered i was and how inadequate i felt....remember my shoes!! :)
My heart is soooo full. I feel closer to Heavenly Father. I've been trying my hardest to help Sister Gamble stay unflustered and adjust to mission life. Although....it might make me feel better if she walks out of the house with two different shoes hee hee just kidding no no no i dont want that.
We've had great teaching experience. Sister Morrell and I met with Jim last tuesday. We finally set a baptismal date with him!!! September 18th!!! Sister Gamble and I met with him again last night. We taught the first part of the plan of salvation and answered questions he had. Jims still on fire with the book of mormon, continuing to pray, coming to church and last night he went to another fireside. The struggle im having is helping Jim recognize answers to his prayers and the blessings he's receiving, helping him recognize the spirit. Im not quite sure how to do it. He's expressed how he feels good after praying and reading, but he's not recognizing that as an answer. Yesterday at the end of the lesson I asked how he's feeling about baptism, how his prayers were going. He said he wasn't really sure. Sister Gamble and I shared Gal 5:22 with him...."the fruits of the spirit are joy, love, peace, goodness". As Sister Gamble testified of how these feelings he has are of the God the spirit came flooding into the room. You could see his countenance change! I love these experiences. It always reminds me why im out here. I pray Jim will continue enduring and eventually he will understand. We have one more meeting with him and then he's off to Wooster College on Friday. Its only about an hour away so Im sure he'll be around.
Well i better get going! I loved Mitchell's email. Thanks for sending it to me. You can learn so much about the gospel and about Christ by the example of others. Always remember your blessings!!
Thanks for everything and for all your prayers! I feel the power of them everyday! Have a great week.
LOVE,
Sister Houston
PS Hunter enjoy your first day of school!!!!!!! I love you!!
TRAINING THE TRAINER......
Sister Houston's email:
August 2, 2011
Hey family,
Its been a very eventful and excited week for me. Sister Gamble is flying to Ohio as we speak! She will be my new companion as of tomorrow :)
Im sad to see Sister Morrell go. She is the most amazing person EVER! I've learned a lot from her. I've learned a lot from each on of my companions. They've all helped me come to understand my purpose!!
Last Tuesday i had a trainers meeting at the mission home. Oh my how awkward i felt being the only sister among 12 elders and President basically all day. Sister Morrell went to another area and Sister Sorensen was busy working around the house. ha i felt silly. It was a fabulous meeting despite feeling silly. What stuck with me was how each one of my comanions helped me to get to this point where the Lord could entrust me with the sacred responsiblity.
Im excited to meet Sister Gamble tomorrow. Nervous of course but very excited. I received a priesthood blessing from Elder Edman yesterday. He's the Site Director for the Historical Sites. I know the priesthood is the power of God. The same power used to create the heavens and the earth!! Im grateful to know i have access to it. It brings me so much comfort and peace. Thanks Dad for allowing us to grow up in a home with the priesthood!!
Missionary work is the best family! There is a lot to learn about my purpose still. The more I understanding, the greater my gratitude is for this opportunity. Heavenly Father is helping me see that my purpose as a missionary is the same purpose i should carry with me through out my life. Its something i will carry with me into the eternities!!!
Have i told you about Jim yet??
I dont think so.
Jim is our investigator as of two weeks ago. He is awesome! Jim has been coming to church for over a month with his girlfriend and her family. Sister Morrell and I have been keeping an eye on him :) We waited until his girlfriend would invite him to meet with us. It all worked out in the Lords timing. We've met with him a few times now in the members home. He has great questions and has a sincere desire to learn what this is all about. He's already up to 1 Nephi 15 in the Book of Mormon!!!! Yesterday when we called to confirm our appointment for tonight he had so many questions and said that as he's been reading and praying he's felt good. He can see the difference in his day because of these simple small acts of faith. This last weekend he also had an opportunity to go to youth conference. Ah its been such a great experience teaching him and helping him to receive a witness from the spirit that this is all true! That God has a plan for him!
He hads back to college on the 12th of this month but he'll be back to visit some weekends. The missionaries down there will do great in helping him prepare for baptism!
Well i better get going! We have lots to do today to help Sister Morrell get ready for transfers. I love you family! I hope you all have a fabulous week!! Be safe!!
LOVE,
Sister Houston
PS thanks dad and hunter for my letters!!!!!! Im pretty sure I smiled all day yesterday :) its true ask sister morrell
August 2, 2011
Hey family,
Its been a very eventful and excited week for me. Sister Gamble is flying to Ohio as we speak! She will be my new companion as of tomorrow :)
Im sad to see Sister Morrell go. She is the most amazing person EVER! I've learned a lot from her. I've learned a lot from each on of my companions. They've all helped me come to understand my purpose!!
Last Tuesday i had a trainers meeting at the mission home. Oh my how awkward i felt being the only sister among 12 elders and President basically all day. Sister Morrell went to another area and Sister Sorensen was busy working around the house. ha i felt silly. It was a fabulous meeting despite feeling silly. What stuck with me was how each one of my comanions helped me to get to this point where the Lord could entrust me with the sacred responsiblity.
Im excited to meet Sister Gamble tomorrow. Nervous of course but very excited. I received a priesthood blessing from Elder Edman yesterday. He's the Site Director for the Historical Sites. I know the priesthood is the power of God. The same power used to create the heavens and the earth!! Im grateful to know i have access to it. It brings me so much comfort and peace. Thanks Dad for allowing us to grow up in a home with the priesthood!!
Missionary work is the best family! There is a lot to learn about my purpose still. The more I understanding, the greater my gratitude is for this opportunity. Heavenly Father is helping me see that my purpose as a missionary is the same purpose i should carry with me through out my life. Its something i will carry with me into the eternities!!!
Have i told you about Jim yet??
I dont think so.
Jim is our investigator as of two weeks ago. He is awesome! Jim has been coming to church for over a month with his girlfriend and her family. Sister Morrell and I have been keeping an eye on him :) We waited until his girlfriend would invite him to meet with us. It all worked out in the Lords timing. We've met with him a few times now in the members home. He has great questions and has a sincere desire to learn what this is all about. He's already up to 1 Nephi 15 in the Book of Mormon!!!! Yesterday when we called to confirm our appointment for tonight he had so many questions and said that as he's been reading and praying he's felt good. He can see the difference in his day because of these simple small acts of faith. This last weekend he also had an opportunity to go to youth conference. Ah its been such a great experience teaching him and helping him to receive a witness from the spirit that this is all true! That God has a plan for him!
He hads back to college on the 12th of this month but he'll be back to visit some weekends. The missionaries down there will do great in helping him prepare for baptism!
Well i better get going! We have lots to do today to help Sister Morrell get ready for transfers. I love you family! I hope you all have a fabulous week!! Be safe!!
LOVE,
Sister Houston
PS thanks dad and hunter for my letters!!!!!! Im pretty sure I smiled all day yesterday :) its true ask sister morrell
NICE SURPRISES!!!!
Tori had a couple nice surprises this week!! The first was her grandma Alice, Aunt Melanie, and Benjamin stopped by the Kirtland sites on their way home from seeing family. She was so excited to see them! Thanks to Melanie for picking the right day to go to Kirtland. Tori is only there on Tuesdays!! lucky or fate?
The second surprise is that Tori was asked to be a trainer!! yipee!! I really don't think she thought she would do be a trainer! But i am so happy she is having this oportunity to help this new sister missionary feel the strong spirit and love that Tori has for this work! She only has two transfers left!!
Sister Houston's email:
July 25, 2011
Hey family,
Its been quite an eventful week!
Maybe you already know but I had a nice little surprise come to me on Tuesday!!!! Ha K so i was up stairs working on the phones. Sister Gifford, one of the senior couples manning the down stairs called up and asked for another companionship to do a tour. Sister Morrell and I had already had one earlier. Then just a few minutes later she called back up and said "Sister Houston.....can you come down stairs? ......We need to make a change." ummm...ok what does that mean? I obediently and nervously went down stair with Sister Morrell and.... SURPRISE!!!!! I see Aunt Melanie, Grandma Alice and Benjamin sitting on the couch!!!!!! What in the world are you doing here???? Thats literally what i asked hee hee
What a great day! It was so fun to take them on tour even though i was nervous, well more nervous then usual. I think they enjoyed it :) If the Spirit was there it was good right??
Grandma was so cute. When Sister Morrell was doing one of the rooms she stopped and raised her hand and started talking about how her mom raised her in the gospel and what a good thing its been for her life! Man I love my family so much! How excited for Jessica!!! Do you know if she got her mission call yet??? Please let me know as soon as you can. I want to know where she is going. Maybe Kirtland.....
I also have some more news....
Saturday evening we went up to Kirtland to have a dinner with all the senior couples and sister missionaries. It was to celebrate pioneer day. President Sorensen and his wife were there. At the end of the night President pulled me aside and asked if i would except the calling to train......
yup train......
me training......
Transfers are not until next Wednesday. There is only one sister coming out and 10 Elders. It took me awhile to be ok with this. I think I can do this.....hopefully :)
oh man im so nervous but what a great opportunity to help this sister come to understand her purpose as a missionary for the Lord.
Its been a great week. Im sorry this email is so short. I had to write my mission president and it took me forever!!! Now we need to go make bread :) im excited. Sorry that means I probably wont be able to write any letters today but i promise i will do better next week! So if you don't get any letters please forgive me!!!
Family I love you all so much. I hope your doing well. Cant wait to hear how Hunters doing and Dad stop being silly. I cant spell either so i will be able to read your letter i promise!!!
I know this gospel is true. Its so comforting to know that we have a purpose in this life!! I'll leave you with a quote Sister Everson sent me:
"What Does It Feel Like to Remember Your Soul's Task?"
When the deepest part of you becomes engaged in what you're doing, when your activities and actions become gratifying and purposeful, when what you do serves both yourself and others, when you do not tire within but seek the sweet satisfaction of your life and your work...you are doing what you were meant to be doing. The personality that is engaged in the work of its soul is buoyant! It is not burdened with negativity. It does not fear. It experiences purposefulness and meaning. It delights in its work and in others. It is fulfilled and fulfilling!
-Gary Zukav
Always remember who you are as children of God and members of Christ church. Everyone has a purpose to fulfill! it will bring lasting happiness and sweet joy into your life!!! Strive to fulfill it!
LOVE,
Sister HOUSTON
The second surprise is that Tori was asked to be a trainer!! yipee!! I really don't think she thought she would do be a trainer! But i am so happy she is having this oportunity to help this new sister missionary feel the strong spirit and love that Tori has for this work! She only has two transfers left!!
Sister Houston's email:
July 25, 2011
Hey family,
Its been quite an eventful week!
Maybe you already know but I had a nice little surprise come to me on Tuesday!!!! Ha K so i was up stairs working on the phones. Sister Gifford, one of the senior couples manning the down stairs called up and asked for another companionship to do a tour. Sister Morrell and I had already had one earlier. Then just a few minutes later she called back up and said "Sister Houston.....can you come down stairs? ......We need to make a change." ummm...ok what does that mean? I obediently and nervously went down stair with Sister Morrell and.... SURPRISE!!!!! I see Aunt Melanie, Grandma Alice and Benjamin sitting on the couch!!!!!! What in the world are you doing here???? Thats literally what i asked hee hee
What a great day! It was so fun to take them on tour even though i was nervous, well more nervous then usual. I think they enjoyed it :) If the Spirit was there it was good right??
Grandma was so cute. When Sister Morrell was doing one of the rooms she stopped and raised her hand and started talking about how her mom raised her in the gospel and what a good thing its been for her life! Man I love my family so much! How excited for Jessica!!! Do you know if she got her mission call yet??? Please let me know as soon as you can. I want to know where she is going. Maybe Kirtland.....
I also have some more news....
Saturday evening we went up to Kirtland to have a dinner with all the senior couples and sister missionaries. It was to celebrate pioneer day. President Sorensen and his wife were there. At the end of the night President pulled me aside and asked if i would except the calling to train......
yup train......
me training......
Transfers are not until next Wednesday. There is only one sister coming out and 10 Elders. It took me awhile to be ok with this. I think I can do this.....hopefully :)
oh man im so nervous but what a great opportunity to help this sister come to understand her purpose as a missionary for the Lord.
Its been a great week. Im sorry this email is so short. I had to write my mission president and it took me forever!!! Now we need to go make bread :) im excited. Sorry that means I probably wont be able to write any letters today but i promise i will do better next week! So if you don't get any letters please forgive me!!!
Family I love you all so much. I hope your doing well. Cant wait to hear how Hunters doing and Dad stop being silly. I cant spell either so i will be able to read your letter i promise!!!
I know this gospel is true. Its so comforting to know that we have a purpose in this life!! I'll leave you with a quote Sister Everson sent me:
"What Does It Feel Like to Remember Your Soul's Task?"
When the deepest part of you becomes engaged in what you're doing, when your activities and actions become gratifying and purposeful, when what you do serves both yourself and others, when you do not tire within but seek the sweet satisfaction of your life and your work...you are doing what you were meant to be doing. The personality that is engaged in the work of its soul is buoyant! It is not burdened with negativity. It does not fear. It experiences purposefulness and meaning. It delights in its work and in others. It is fulfilled and fulfilling!
-Gary Zukav
Always remember who you are as children of God and members of Christ church. Everyone has a purpose to fulfill! it will bring lasting happiness and sweet joy into your life!!! Strive to fulfill it!
LOVE,
Sister HOUSTON
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