May 19, 2014

Hello beautiful family,

WOW. CONGRATULATIONS TO TODD, on Graduating AND on getting your call to NEW YORK!! what? We will have served in the same state! God works in mysterious ways and I cried reading your call, I'm so excited to be able to serve with you for a few months. Hurrah for Israel Brother!

This week we went from teaching a Baptist, to an Evangelist  to lots Catholics, a Born Again, a Jew, and even a Muslim. I love New Jersey. We walked and walked and ran into a lot of Spanish people, which is pretty rare in this area. Every time we contacted one I would think to myself I should have paid more attention in Spanish Class.... but thanks to some previous companions and exchanges in Spanish areas we can successfully contact someone in Spanish and get the message across, well sort of :) Our very last contact last night was in Spanish to a man by the name of Louis, at first he told us he was a "MORMUN" then he told us he was still an "investigator" in Peru but had moved here and couldn't find the church. We testified that the EL Libro de Mormon is verdidero (The Book of Mormon is true) and he said Si! He left so happy he had found the true church in america, and we walked away saying a prayer of gratitude, Heavenly Father had been preparing us ALL week to help us remember and practice our Spanish so we could effectively communicate with Louis. Heavenly Father always helps us accomplish what we need to do. 

Church was incredible, Marie was able to come while Sister Andrus was giving a talk (which was so great) she kept saying "Amen" and giving her thumbs up, I simply love her. AND Donna and Katie came to church, AND so did Bill. It was a very busy Sunday and I am so grateful for the ward here. The members are incredible and always supporting us, introducing themselves to the investigators and simply so loving. 

This past week has been a new experience for contacting. I have felt like the group of people pressing forward to the Tree of Life, while the people in the Great and Spacious building are pointing fingers and mocking us. We have been laughed at, hollered at, fingers pointed at, but we KEEP smiling and pressing forward. I feel so blessed to be here serving a mission at this time. There are many prepared. We just need to keep pressing forward and we will find the ones who are ready. So very blessed to be here. I love this gospel and I love this calling. Thank you for your love and support!. 

Sending love from New Joisey

Sister Houghton