LOVED CONFERENCE!!!!!

Elder Houston's email:

April 8, 2013

 

hey family!!!

   wow what a conference!! there were so many awesome talks!! its been such an amazing weekend with conference and the weather here so beautiful the trees are starting to bloom! so much of Gods beautiful creations all around us.

    so first off we got transfer calls on saturday !..... im dying in lebanon haha elder godfrey is getting transferred and im getting elder babb. im sad to see elder godfrey go. he was a great guy even tho we didnt always get along. we really grew close over the time together. im little scared to get elder babb though too haha. one thing i have learned on my mission is you cant always trust everything you hear about some one, no preconceived judgments, but i have heard that he is not the best obedient missionary and that scares me. we all know what happen last time i heard that. :/ but i know the potential that pres shumway wants to see in him. he will become the next district leader when i leave and its my duty now to help him meet that goal by that time. i hope i can help him see his potential and want to reach it and am a good example for him. he is a really out going crazy and funny elder so im excited!:)

   my district also was way changed too. my area was moved into, get this, my first ever district!! haha my first area i came out in, mt grove west planes and houston missouri!! so awesome!! it was a revelation come true!! 

   when i was in my first area right before i got transferred, i had this crazy thought that i would be back at the end of my mission to see everyone i first came out to teach. i took it as i would just be transferred back to mt grove and houston my last transfer. well as my mission went on, i totally forgot about it. until i got the call that i would be the dl for those areas now. i now will be going on exchanges to my first area and fullfill that revelation i received and make sure those people that were not ready at that time for the fullness of the gospel would not be prepared and from the bad past events that happened in that area cause them to slip through the cracks. i knew that there was a reason. i remember that area so well still :) and names of people that i taught. its so exciting !! a great way to start this last transfer off. 

    wow.... so many wonderful talks about missionary work and member missionary work in conference. its got our ward pumped ! and me too!!! i especially liked, i think it was in priesthood session, i cant remember who but they said, " and you return missionaries, find your missionary tags, dont put them on," haha, " but put them somewhere where you can see them. you are needed now more then ever." im totally doing that. those talks where answers to my prayers of what i should do when i get home to not forget all that i have learned and how i can stay close to the Spirit and the Lord.

   im so excited for all that i have learned and all that i can continue to learn and grow and find and have new ways to try and be more obedient to what the servants of the Lord have ask of me. like even down to making a garden haha ...mom i have acquired some new knowledge and skills in the garden so now i can try and help you :) haha notice how i said try haha... i might not have the green thumb like ya. i still not sure if its hereditary ha.

     i defiantly am still not the most obedient person by far, but i love trying to be better now that i know just like pres Uctchdorf, haha (i know that not spelled right sorry), said in conference. ...we are like a toddlers learning to walk. we try and try but we undoubtedly fall but our Love and Merciful Father in Heaven does not shun or scowled us for it. He is so  happy and wants us to get back up again and try try try. and as we turn to the Lord for help He will help us get better and better and better :). i love the church so much i kinda want to try and find a job that revolves around the church like work for them or something. that way i will always have it on my mind i need the constant reminders im bad at remembering ha.

   well i got to go oh and thank you mom soooo much for telling me about brother waddups calling, that made my entire week already. i love them so much. i will forever remember the wonderful people that i have been so privileged to meet. i might forget their names but they will always find place in my memories and heart. he is such an awesome dude. that was an answer to my prayers, so thank you so much for telling me.

     he makes me love everyone of Gods sons and daughters we are all in this together and need to help each other out to forgive faults and let go of pride even when we think it not our fault. only then will we have happiness to know we did all we could to get ALL our brothers and sister back to Him. thats what our Savior did for us he forgave us all for all we did to Him, every drop of blood ever pain and sorrow that He had to suffer for us so we could just choose to be happy we have to ask for and allow forgiveness to all. i hope that i can do all i can to be forgiving of all the pain and wrong i have done to others and i will probably continue to unintentionally hurt others and i pray that i can always be forgiven so i must also forgive. D&C 64:9-11 we are required to forgive all and need to ask it as well or we cant be forgiven. wow i pray i can right all the wrongs i caused its going to be a life time goal but itll be worth it, i know it :) i love you all so much !!!! and pray all is still going well. tell jessica i said hey!!! and congrats!! as well as taylor when he gets home on may 1st! tell them i love em and give a em a hug for meee.

 well talk to you later!

love,

 elder houston