Week 7 - July 18, 2016

What a couple of weeks. I am sorry that I couldn't write more last week, I only had a few minutes. My last week in the MTC was the most spiritual of my life. I can't really put it into words- but it was amazing. I am very thankful for it, because it helped me whenever I had doubts this week haha. I am here in El Salvador! Where I woke up this morning to 10 lizards on my floor, where I take an ice cold shower every night, where I taught the Restoration this week as a hen laid eggs in my lap. Where I might just be the happiest I have ever been in my entire life.

This week has been hard, I couldn't have ever estimated how hard it would actually be- but it has also been amazing. I am learning so much about myself, this gospel, and my Savior everyday. I love it. My companion is Hermana Reyes. She has 15 months is the mission and is from the Dominican Republic which means she talks fast. Ridiculously fast. Trying to get out your last words right before death fast. I am getting better at understanding her though, so it is okay. We work well together and are having a lot of fun. I don't think I could ask for a better trainer.

Our area is Ataco. It is a crazy little town up in the mountains, and it is absolutely beautiful. Lots of greenery and a million different colors of houses. When we contact in the street, we just have to ask people for their town name and the color of their house. The members here are super kind and help us with anything we need. Hermana Reyes is just as new to this area as I am, so we have had a lot of fun exploring and trying to figure everything out. There are a lot of inactives here, a lot. But the members who are active are so strong! It is amazing. The first week we have visited a lot of inactives, my Spanish was so simple the first few days that I could only really bear my testimony. But, one of the families that we visited I absolutely loved. We cried while talking about the gospel and as I bore my testimony, even the father started crying, it was wild. They were at church again yesterday- and I feel very fortunate to be where I am and meeting these people.

Fun fact about the Spanish Language.. Pecado is sin and Pescado is fish. Isn't that cute? I guess my first 3 days in lessons I was saying that Jesus Christ died for all of our fish. My companion found it so amusing that she didn't feel the need to tell me. Haha, eventually I realized what I was saying and I will never make that mistake again.

Two of our investigators were at church yesterday which was wonderful since we only met them this week. They need to get married, but they said they would most likely in the next two weeks which is exciting. 

So my report for this week is good, its great! I am being stretched and challenged in ways that I am not always sure I can handle, but I am getting through it. I love this Gospel and I love that I have the opportunity to be here in Ataco. I know that my Savior lives and that He is here with me- every step I take. Thank you for your support and love. No one is running to the font this week, but it is probably just because they are all fishing;)

Loves,

Hermana Houston