Sister Heather Sue

Hello beautiful Idahoan family!  (6/17/13)

I can't believe I can say that now! (All those years of teasing the Idaho family are going to come back to haunt me) ;) But welcome to Idaho! From the pictures it looked like it was a LONG couple of days. I'm so grateful for the neighbors/friends/family that helped ya'll move! We are so very blessed.

I am now serving in the beautiful area of Caldwell New Jersey! It is beautiful! I'm in a trio with cute Sister's Dotson and Dorneles. Sister Dotson is from Enoch Utah (she jokes that now she's gone it will probably get translated...made me laugh for a good five minutes. Oh mission humor) we came out on the same day, she has bright red hair and has a huge caring heart. Sister Dorneles is from the Amazon and has the cutest accent. She's a Sister Training Leader so I learn soo much from her. She informed us she was going to feed us Brazilian food. She fed us rice, beans and... dinosaur chicken nuggets. We have so much fun together.

 

 

We have basically been tripled into the area. We started out with maybe one investigator. It's a huge area and SOO different from my last area. Not as many cultures...but a ton of Jersians. One lives below us named "Vincent" his arms are bigger than my thighs.
I'm pretty sure he works on his GTL daily. (Jersey Shore). I think he might have even been on the show....but don't quote me on that. ;)

We had a special training for all the greenies in the mission with President Jeppson and all the more experienced missionaries. It was MTC on steroids. We role played, and role played......AND role played for two days straight. Literally amazing, and also spiritually exhausting. One role play I was so flustered I didn't know how to help the investigator, or what to say. I was on the verge of tears the mediator told me to just testify and that Heavenly Father would put words in my mouth. I said a prayer for help and we started off again, A calm came over me and I knew exactly what to say and how to say it. I was crying and learned a powerful lesson. Our testimonies are our STRONGEST weapon, It's ok that we don't know everything. Just testify :) 

Our first day together we had planned to work with a member and help invite her neighbor to listen to us. We had some time to kill so we were street contacting and ran into MaryAnn, the very lady we were going to talk to later. She told us she was busy and didn't want to talk with us...oh boy. The last thing we want is to have the members confidence smashed. We didn't know what to do. I said a prayer and felt that we should still plan on going with the member to talk with MaryAnne. We got the member and walked over to MaryAnne's apartment. (my heart was beating so fast) At first she was upset, but when we offered to help her clean her home she broke down in tears. She explained to us that she is going to court to find out if she is getting kicked out of her home. We said a prayer with her, I was trying to know how to help her and in the middle of the prayer I could feel the Book of Mormon almost pulsing in my hands. I almost forgot to give her that book (It was a wake up call from the spirit) We gave her the Book of Mormon and scheduled a time to see her again soon. When we went to see her again she told us that she has been reading and finds so much peace in the book! (hallelujah chorus was going off in my head) We fasted and prayed for her yesterday. Her court date is Wednesday, we are going to see her tomorrow and Wednesday to hear the news. 

There's a lot of work to do here But it's good work, Tracking get's me so excited that I have been running after people on the street, waving my pass a-long cards :) The gospel of Jesus Christ is for EVERYONE and WILL help everyone! Helaman 6:3 so Let's rejoice together! someday they will accept the message!

Shout out to my Dad! You are such a great example to me! Thanks for teaching me how to live the gospel. I often wonder if you are Nephi in 21st century form, Thank you for never complaining and "Going and Doing" Thank you for being patient with all my phobias...including dogs, cats and roller coasters. Maybe one day I will be brave...Thank you for all the family home evening lessons and heart to hearts we had. I remember almost all of them, even if I was in a bad mood at the time. I am so blessed to have you as my dad! I love you! Happy 22nd Fathers Day! ;) 

I love you all soo much! Thanks for the pictures and the update on the move. Only 16 more left!! 

Mucho Love!

Sister Houghton

My New address is 25 Ozone Ave, Cedar Grove NJ 07009