My
beloved family,
Boy today has been a
good week. It went by really quick, but we sure worked hard. I'll guess I'll go
straight to talking about the thing you all want to hear about: my new
companion! His name is Elder Westhoff; he's from Escalante, Utah; he's a true
blue country boy; he loves peanut butter; and he's an awesome worker and
missionary. I'll try to see if I can remember to take a picture with him for
you guys. Basically, I'm extremely grateful for my new companion. I don't want
to bad mouth Elder Duran, but let's just say some of his actions lead to
unfortunate consequences. One of these consequences is that we've been
searching for a new house to live in. Apparently, we were only supposed to live
with the bishop for two weeks while we searched for another house. Oops! That
was news to me. Once we found this out, we immediately moved out into my
district leader's house. That's where we've spent the week. I uploaded a couple
quick pictures of that house and the street around it. Hopefully, that will
give you a bit of a feel of how my area is. Anyways, during the week we've been
searching for a house and we've found one that seems to be perfect and it's
really cheap. We're swinging by today to take a look at it and if it's good
we'll rent it. We're only hoping there's no catch because it seems almost too
good to be true. Either way, we should have our own house by tomorrow. Those
are the big changes that have happened lately.
We've also had some
changes in the work. We've been contacting people on the street and knocking
doors like crazy! We've also been asking EVERYONE for references. It's been
awesome! Boy am I tired at the end of the day though. Elder Westhoff is about a
head taller than me and he likes to walk FAST! The first day was a little
rough, but I've gotten fairly used to it by now. Once we get some new
investigators we should do a little less walking. The cool thing is that
although I'm tired all the time, I'm happy. :) I feel like we're finally doing
the work the way it should be done. I'm trying to learn all I can from my
companion so that I can keep working like this throughout the mission.
However, with all the
work we did, we didn't get a baptism this week. I don't know if I told you guys
but it's actually a mission goal to baptize every week. So far I've been
falling flat with Elder Duran, but I think that will change with Elder
Westhoff. We've got a lot of new people that we're teaching so I'm not worried
about getting baptisms. :)
In other news, we'll
be going to the temple on Wednesday December 5th as a zone. I'm super excited!
I can't wait to be able to visit the temple again. Actually, Elder Duran and I
took our recent convert to the temple before he was baptized. (Not inside, just
in the waiting room.) And it was awesome. I took a couple pictures and put them
on dropbox. In other other news, I receive one of my Christmas packages this
week. I don't know if it was the first or second of the two, but it had soap
and deodorant. I guess you guys just think I stink or something! How rude. ;) I
love all the packages I receive as well as all the letters from Grandma and
Grandpa Wortham, Although, I receive the letters about two weeks later than
they are written. For example, today I received letters from the 17th, 18th,
and 25th of November.
I also really love it
when I receive e-mails from everybody. Even when they're just short little
things, it's nice to hear from you all. I like hearing about what's going on
back home. It's awesome that everyone is staying in good shape and exercising
at home. I'm certainly getting my own exercise with my new companion! So far I
always receive your e-mails, we usually don't write until at least after ten
o'clock so don't worry about it too much. I would love to receive a picture of
the family around the Christmas tree. Be sure to take lot's of pictures of
Christmas and send them to me! I have one other request as well. Can you send
me either the New Era or Liahona that has the General Conference talks from
October 2012 in English? I don't even have them over here in Spanish yet, but
either way I like them better in English. That reminds me... I got the chance
to see the First Presidency's Christmas Devotional yesterday. It was too short!
We got to see it in English and I LOVED it! When it ended I was like "...What?!
There has to be more!" I hope you all got the chance to see it. Also, I'm
extremely thankful that Grandpa Max is doing okay. I was praying for him all
week and I'll continue praying for his swift recovery.
During this Christmas
season I just want to stress the importance of family and service. Ever since I
left for my mission, it's hit me really hard just how important my family is to
me. Sometimes we let dumb things get in the way of spending time with the ones
we love. I know I did. I challenge you all to take the time to be a blessing to
those around you, especially your family. Small acts of kindness here and there
can go a long way. I know that we're a close family, but one thing that I've
been regretting is not spending more time with all of you. Take the
opportunities you have to give service to one another. Help Dad with the yard
work or help Mom to cook. Make your brother's bed or slip a little note of
appreciation into their backpack. I don't know why this just popped into my
head just now, but I distinctly remember hopping out of bed early in the
morning to say goodbye to Dad as he left for work when I was younger. At the
very least, I always tried to wave goodbye from my bedroom window. I'm not sure
why, but I felt that I should share that experience. I just really wanted Dad
to know that I loved him. I think that small and simple acts like that can go a
long way. I don't know if Dad remembers that or not, but I hope that it
brightened his days when I did that. To show our family that we love them we
don't have to do something huge. I testify that if we show them our love in
small ways every day, that more and more love with be cultivated within the
family.
I love you with all my
heart and hope that you'll take the time to be a blessing to someone this
Christmas season. Not only then, but always. I'm thankful for the opportunity
to show my love to our Savior through my missionary service. I can't wait to
get back home and see you all again, but until then I'll work as hard as I can
for the Lord. I testify that this is the true Church of Jesus Christ. I know
that Joseph Smith was a prophet called of God to restore Christ's Gospel to the
earth. I know that Thomas S. Monson, his counselors, and the twelve apostles
are all called of God. The Church is true!
With all the love I
possess,
-Elder Sean Horrocks
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