April 28, 2014

Hello from the BE-UATIFUL East Coast,

This week has been incredible....besides accidentally getting locked out of the apartment for an hour or two, we almost tried to shimmy up the drain pipe and climb the roof to get in....and then leaving my name tag...and then losing the phone, I'm starting to think forgetting things really could be hereditary? But besides all of that it really has been incredible. God is guiding us. There is no other way to explain it, we have been uplifted, encouraged and strengthened.

We found a family! A whole family. They are all looking for peace and direction in life; it was a powerful visit for us. From the moment we walked through the door the spirit was guiding us to know what to say, we talked about our purpose in life and the way to get back to our Heavenly Father. The 17 year old son told us that he felt something special and that this is what his family NEEDS right now. (And forever :)) when we got back our car we started hugging/crying and said a prayer to Heavenly Father for that tender mercy. The spirit guides this work.

We were tracting in an apartment complex, with little success minus James- the Christ loving rapper who performed for us :) we were getting ready to leave, but both felt we should try one more door and we found Tami, a less-active that wasn't on our ward list. She said she has been wanting to come back to church but needed a sign, and turns out her mother who is also a less active is someone Sister Andrus and I tried to see 3 times last week. The spirit has been prompting and guiding us to find this family. It is a huge tender mercy.

Pat is doing great, and is getting baptized this Sunday, we call it "Maythe4thbewithyou", it will be after Stake conference and she is so excited. She is still undergoing some heavy cancer treatments and we would love and appreciate prayers in her behalf. She is one of the most loving and determined people I know, she can barely walk but is always at church with a huge smile on her face. She is incredible.

This is dear Pat at the Lasagna Dinner our ward hosted. All the missionaries got to bid on dessert and you better believe I went for the cookie/brownie :) pure heaven

This last week I have come to feel the Scripture in D&C 84:88 to be true " 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" We are never alone. Even when it’s hard. And it does get really hard, we always have that promise. HE will not leave us comfortless. We will be guided. We WILL be directed, this is HIS work. I'm grateful to be a part of it. 

I love you. Thank you for your love and support and letters and hugs..(the spiritual type) I love this work! Let’s share this JOY.

Sending love from the Garden State

Sister Heather Sue Houghton

April 22, 2014

Happy Spring! 

I love spring. There is something special in the air....more people are out and about AND the flowers have been blooming here in the lovely Garden State. This past week, we found some golden people contacting, ran up and down the street testifying of the resurrected Christ, (Happy Easter!) was almost kissed by an old Italian man (it was a close call) Bobby a street contact told me he loved me.....(yes I was VERY awkward about that) ran over another Sister missionaries foot..... in a car. She was ok, but has a car tire imprint now on her foot. I feel horrible about it. AND I shook hands with an Apostle of the Lord. 

We celebrated my year mark (I can't believe it...) on walking day. We walked to Pats home and had been praying long and hard for what to teach her, we both felt STRONGLY to teach the Word of Wisdom. Right when we sat down Pat said "Sisters, I need to show you something" She pulled out a magazine and started to read to us about the benefits for living a healthy life, eating right and avoiding some foods and harmful things. She told us she needed to be healthier but wasn't really sure how....well Sister Andrus and I just smiled at each other and then went into the Word of Wisdom. Heavenly Father knew what Pat needed at that very second. 

Easter Sunday we were fed by an amazing family in the ward, I love this area and feel very blessed to be here. 

L. Tom Perry came to our mission yesterday (his wife is President Jeppson’s cousin, he set them up :) ) It was incredible to be taught at the feet of an apostle, he spoke on the order of the Apostleship and the priesthood. What I learned is that God is the same yesterday today and forever and ORDER is a part of God, a way to grow and learn. His church is the exact same blue print as when Christ was on the earth. It was a powerful experience for all of the missionaries there. He opened it up to questions at the end; one elder asked "What does it mean when you say you are a special Witness of Jesus Christ?" He said that when called as a General Authority you must give your life to the Lord, and become a special witness to the World that He lives.  Then he stopped and said "There are things that are so special and sacred I can't repeat....at this time, BUT I am a special witness of Him" We all shook his hand and I was touched by how much love he has for everyone he met. It was a special meeting.  

Studying the atonement this week I've come to understand that it is BECAUSE Christ was resurrected He has healing power.  The scriptures describe it as "Healing in his wings" we can be fully and completely healed because of his power and the mercy he has for us. 

I'm grateful to be here. Every day is a challenge, an opportunity and a blessing! 2 Nephi 27:26

Sending love from New Jersey

Sister Houghton

Sister Concepcion. Love her. She is an amazing woman.  She fed us yesterday. :) 

April 14, 2014

Dearest Family....

Hello from the East Coast!
 

First thank you for your prayers we are feeling them.....It's been beautiful weather, a beautiful week and we have a BEAUTIFUL message. we have been praying and working with every ounce of energy that we have.

The young women are on FIRE here, we went with them to find a less-active family...the family let us ALL in. There was 20 bodies crammed into one little room (non-member friends included) Everyone was talking and hugging and laughing. I forgot what it was like to be in young women's...love it. when we shared the message everyone was silent.... and the spirit was strong, 2 of their friends are now either an investigator or super close. We are comin' for you :)

Our cute Investigator Pat is ALSO on Fire. She showed up to church, its a painful process for her to walk, but she came, with a cane and slow shuffled steps AND the Brightest purples sneakers I have ever seen in my life. The other ward had a baptism and she said this is an old fashioned baptism like they do in the new testament. That's because it is the SAME. the EXACT same as our savior was baptized Pat. She got really smiley after that. She kept telling people that she was going to be a member...my heart might explode with so much love for her. She is incredible and has a heart of gold. (her date is may 4th...may the fourth be with you :)...she's is a star wars fan) I got to speak in Sacrament meeting on the apostasy and Restoration and Pat gave me a thumbs up and some really big smiles. Isn't she the greatest? I might have introduced myself as " Hi I'm Sister Houghton...I know its hard pronounced like Santa Clause Ho-Ho-Houghton" it just came out, sometimes I have no control over this mouth, but now the ward members call me Sister Ho-Ho-Houghton :) Sister Andrus sang "Come thou Font of Every Blessing" She sings like an angel literally. She is amazing.

Sister Ho-ho-Houghton!

 I can't even describe the love for the members, the investigators and the area. I have only been here 2 weeks and I think my heart might explode. It is incredible here. We have been praying and searching and working and working to find prepared people. It is a slow process but it is coming along, this area is building up and I am so grateful for all the tender mercies and love we have felt. I KNOW that a lot of it has to do with your prayers and your fasting. Thank you. Thank you for helping the missionary work grow in this beautiful part of the Lords Vineyard. I feel like the people of Alma by the waters of Mormon when they said "How BEAUTIFUL are they to the eyes of them who there came to the knowledge of their Redeemer; yea, and how blessed are they, for they shall to sing his praise forever" (Mosiah 18:30).

This is the WAY. I'm grateful for this knowledge. Time to give EVERYTHING I have to him. Time is flying to fast. I love you all! Go spread the good news!

Sending love from Beautiful Scotch Plains New Jersey

Sister Heather Sue Houghton

 

P.S I held a bunny at a members home! Happy Easter!

The bunnies! soo cute and cuddly!  My new companion Sister Andrus

 

April 7, 2014

Hi Ya Family!

 
Well another transfer has come and gone and I'm in........SCOTCH PLAINS! With the beautiful and hilarious Sister Andrus! She is a powerhouse and I'm grateful to be with her! She is from Sandy Utah and has been out 6 weeks. I just LOVE her. This area is unlike any I've been in before, everything is ...well on the higher end. Its absolutely gorgeous and I'm already lov'n it :)
 

I think I might carry around a get-your-companion sick bug. Poor Sister Andrus has been pretty sick the past week and feeling pretty miserable, I could not remember what to do for coughs I was racking my brain, I kept trying to give her random types of food/herbal teas to help. Gained a new respect for the moms out in the world. Poor Sister Andrus was so patient with me trying to help her and through it all super positive. She's just great. :)

We were able to watch conference and boy, was it incredible! I think my heart about fell apart watching President Packer bear his (final?) testimony of the divinity of our Savior Jesus Christ. I grabbed onto Sister Andrus's hand and started to cry, I don't know the apostles personally but it feels like they are a huge part of my life. I'm not sure if this is the end for President Packer but I am grateful for all he has done for this work, and his testimony. It was powerful.
 

Sunday morning during companionship study I told Sister Andrus that I REALLY wanted to improve and work on follow-up. Make the Investigators/everyone else more accountable... :) and ka-pow Elder Ballard had an amazing uplifting talk on follow-up. Heavenly Father answers our prayers, in ways that we sometimes don't even know. Did you receive any answers to your prayers this conference?

 This area is new for Sisters. We are looking, searching and praying to find people to teach. We have sweet Pat who is planning on being baptized next month, if you could include her in your prayers we would be so grateful. She has suffered from cancer and is praying for the strength to be baptized on that day.

Thank you for all of your love and support! I'm very blessed to have all of you in my life! Keep up the incredible work and find someone to share your testimony with.

My last zone of sisters :) on Pday

 

I LOVE YOU

Sending love from New Jersey

Sister Heather Sue Houghton

 

 

March 31, 2014

Hello Familia,

I'm getting transferred, ha It's becoming a little of a joke out here because I've never stayed in an area longer than 2 transfers. this is what I had prayed for before my mission, I'm grateful for all that I've experienced and all the places I've seen but I never imagined how hard transfers could be. Maybe bitter-sweet is a better word for it. Especially this transfer, I am getting released as a Sister Training Leader and the love I have for the Sisters is hard to describe, the LOVE for the people here even harder, and the love for my companion. Whew! I can't even talk about it without tearing up. I blame it on my emotional female side. But I'm excited for the opportunity I have to meet my new companeria! I'm follow-up training her, which means she's been out for 6 weeks. And I'm so excited to LEARN from her faith and hard work, there is something really special about fresh new missionaries.

Uncle Duane and Aunt Elizabeth.  It was so wonderful to meet them.
They are truly wonderful people.

A group of the older women in the ward.

They are all hilarious and ride in a big mini van to church together. 

Contacting brings miracles!  Plain and simple. Chris (who we contacted in the parking lot) is getting baptized in a couple of weeks!...I accidentlly lost his number to give to the Sisters so they could teach  him....you know losing things run in the family. But I kept feeling prompted to tell the Sisters about him and to go to his home and SEE him. Last week I FINALLY did, the Sisters visited him..... he is getting baptized next month and came to church yesterday! It is a huge miracle. I'm incredibly GRATEFUL for the spirit’s guidance in ALL parts of this, finding....remembering to give him to the Sisters (my bad) the sisters teaching him and the way he felt at church. The spirit is part of every single facet of this work.  He told us he had been praying for God to direct him to know where to go in life, and feels like the holes in his life are being filled! This is a gospel of fulfillment, of Happiness and the way back.

Chris

We were driving in the rain yesterday and saw this man walking with an umbrella; we pulled over, rolled down the window and shared a message with him. He said he was looking for the truth! It was a special experience to testify through the window about Gods plan for him.  Heavenly Father has MANY prepared here, and we are discovering that more and more as we exercise our faith and open our mouths. I'm grateful beyond words for this restored gospel....the ONLY way back. Nephi puts it perfectly to his family "Now behold my beloved brethren, (and Sistas) THIS IS THE WAY; and there is none other way" (2 Nephi 31:21) I KNOW that this is the only way back. THE  ONLY way to ETERNAL happiness. I’m so grateful for this gospel! I love it with my whole heart!

I love all of you! Hope you've had an incredible little spring break and you are preparing for conference! What is your question you want to take into Conference this year?

Sending love from somewhere in Joisey

Sister Houghton

March 24, 2014

Hello family!

Time is flying and the work is Roll-in forward! We have been pushing so hard to CONTACT, I really truly love contacting, you honestly never know what you’re going to say, there is a special thrill with opening your mouth and hearing words spill out. It’s simply exhausting-- and EXHILLERATING. I have learned that we can't succeed without failing first, and we might be rejected 20 times... OK sometimes WAY more than that before we find someone who wants to hear this message. 

On Saturday Sister Bair and I were searching for some less-actives on the bay and decided to knock the street, door after door, nothing. (best 2 years quote?)  We headed back to the car but both felt we should try ONE more door. This last house is where we found Tara, a beautiful Christian woman who is looking for more answers and peace. Miracle! We moved to another area and started to contact and knock with not very much success, it was getting late and time to go back to the apartment but felt strongly that ONE more person needed to hear our message, we spotted Damien taking out the trash.  We ran after him (literally...in a non creepy way?)...from the second we started talking the spirit came flooding in and prompted us to share the Restoration...the WHOLE Restoration!? In a contact that is something that is hard to do, but we kept feeling nudged, when we got to the first vision, he said that this was the answer he was looking for, he had been praying earlier that day to know what church to join. On my mission I can think of some very special moments, and this was one of them. We were about to go home, but because we wanted to try ONE more Heavenly Father had someone prepared for us. We never know who is ready. "Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid; for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also has become my salvation." 2 Nephi 22:2.

We got bikes! cruised like a mile and I almost crashed 4 times...

you know how I am ha but they will be used more when it stops snowing

I'm so grateful for all of the experience I've had so far, life changing experiences and the people I've met. Mostly I've learned the importance of turning to our Savior Jesus Christ. He KNOWS our needs, He KNOWS our desires. He KNOWS US!

Thank you for all of your support and encouragement! I love this work!

Sending love from Joisey

Sister Houghton

P.S Loved hearing everyone's voices on the recorder. Tell everyone I love them dearly! Uncle Curtis- I am on Snookie alert, haven't met her yet....she will be baptized :)

I love you all!

Cutest little girl, she wants to be a missionary