August 18th

Hello Familia!

It's been another beautiful week here in Freehold. I think the culture shock has worn off and I have fallen in love with this VERY diverse area. Sometimes I think I am in Alabama, England, 1700's, California...back woods West Virginia, I could keep going, needless to say I love it and am learning lots here.  

I have CONQUERED some major fears this past week

Playing the Championship game of Softball at our all mission activity, AND playing the piano at a members home

Conquering story 1

Last Monday we had a mission wide Softball tournament, everyone in the zone had to play or the team forfeited. I was trying to be discrete and hide, I'm a chicken what can I say. They discovered I was hiding called me out and it turned out to be so much fun! 

Conquering story 2

A member found out that I have a phobia of playing the piano in front of people, sweet sister Rogers told them I could play?  they wouldn't let us leave until I played a hymn and they sang along with me. 

What I've learned- Not to let my fears control me, these aren't crazy things, but they were big to me. The stripling warriors " were exceedingly valiant for courage, and also for strength and activity...they were true at all times in whatsoever thing they were entrusted" Alma 53:20 and hey If the Stripling warriors can do INCREDIBLY hard things...I can face my fears! God will give us the strength we need.

side note (I am still not changing my mind about roller coasters) 

Also I lost the hearing in my left ear again, I woke up in the middle of the night in quite a bit of pain, my left side became swollen and it hurt to talk, no worries. We went to a Dr's and he said I had a double ear infection, he put me on some pills and drops and 5 days later I am good to go. Bless that modern medicine. 

I also left our phone at the soft ball field and we had no way to get it back, we then realized that we had literally no gas, zero, zilch, nada. We rolled into a gas station (here in NJ people pump your gas for you) the Egyptian man spoke no English, I was trying to use hand signals for 5 minutes to communicate we needed a phone to call our phone. It was a mess, BUT our zone leaders saved the day and brought our phone a couple hours later. I wish I could say that won't happen again...but I'm related to my mom. :) 

Dad you wanted to know about our new mission president, President Taggart. It is different. I was expecting more rules, but there are a lot less rules, and our buried word list doesn't exist anymore. He is really into technology and is doing a lot of good for our mission. I am learning new things and grateful to serve with him. 

Our Teaching pool is growing, slowly but it is growing! Sister Rogers is a wonderful companion and I'm learning a bunch from her. Our golden investigator is  a member referral. John is a man of many martial Art (he told us its ART not arts) He teaches and really focuses on having good energy and staying in balance. When his friend told him about the church he felt something different. We met with him outside the church on a bench. (after a little wig out from a giant sikada- look them up they are nasty) We had planned to teach the gospel of Jesus Christ, we only finished faith when we both felt like we should bring up baptism, we asked him to follow the example of Jesus Christ and be baptized and he immediately said YES! There is something special about John, he has a true desire to change he reminds me of Alma "Oh what joy and what marvelous light I did behold" and he is experiencing that. He came to church yesterday. His life is changing and he is feeling the Joy of the gospel more and more everyday. 

I got to give a talk yesterday about Hope and Enduring to the End, I talked about that Havasupai hike....and making it to the oasis, after the face plant. Life is not easy, but our Heavenly Father has a beautiful place prepared for us if we are faithful. The same principle applies to my mission. I have experienced some of my own mission face plants here in good old NJMM, I have felt exhausted and literally no energy, but I have also experienced some of the most beautiful spiritual moments of my life, some of the highest highs and beautiful friendships. This is the greatest calling and I want to be like Paul my last few months and declare "I AM NOT ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST" I know with my whole entire being that this is his gospel and the only way we can be saved, the only way to feel that joy. 

I love this work and am grateful to serve here! 

I love you all! Thank you for your support, love and letters! 

Sending Love from New Jersey

Sister Houghton