Week 49 ~ Ciudad Obregon ~ Elder Juarez

Hellos to all

This week was very, very special, I got to see one of "my friends" be baptized, Jorge got baptized on Sunday, and let me tell you that it was an amazing spiritual experience. Jorge asked us, if the Bishop could baptize him, so we set it up. 

After the Bishop baptized Jorge, Jorge wanted to bare his testimony.   Me and my comp. didn't expect much, but it was one of the most eye opening testimonies that I've ever heard in a long time! This is mas o menos what he said...

'' (in tears) I just want to thank everyone of you for allowing me to be here, but more I want to thank my God for opening my eyes and mind! About 2 months ago I would smoke about 2 packs of cigarettes every day, when I was smoking and drinking in the night I would always see Elder Juarez and Elder Horlacher go into their house very tired (there's a store in front of our house where he would sit) and I would think wow, something is different about them... Then one night I had a dream about these 2 elders, I dream't that I was following them, and watching what they were doing, going from house to house with them. I felt like these 2 Elders are true friends of mine, so the night after I dream't that dream, I went and told them what I dream't, and they invited me to the church. And from that day on I haven't had the desire to smoke ever again! I know that this is the True Church! I want to help everybody I can in any way I can, if god calls me I will go! I will come to church every week because I know that it doesn't end after the baptism! NONE of this is lies, it's the TRUE CHURCH! In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.''

More or less that is what he shared! and it truly opened my eyes and all the member's there! I know that God has put me here in this area for a reason, and to learn something, and I feel that I needed to learn from the example of Jorge, because even tho his family doesn't support him in the things he does, he does it with a heart full of faith! He is truly one of my FRIENDS that I made that promise to find in the preexistence when we come to earth.

This letter was sent to my mom from Elder Wahlstrom's mom. It reminded her of my response to the lady that asked me WHY I was in Mexico if I couldn't talk to the people. During my early time in the mission field. It was perfect timing with Jorge's baptism.

But I feel like I FOUND MY FRIEND in Jorge.

We are also still working with Karla, so she can act on her testimony, act and be baptized! She already knows, and has a testimony in Joseph smith and the Book of Mormon and That the church is true! But is still afraid to be baptized!  Please keep her in your prayers, she is special young lady.

Love you all,

Elder Horlacher

Week 48 ~ Ciudad Obregon ~ Elder Juarez

HI FAMILY,
So it finally rained this week!!! Saturday night and Sunday it rained a lot!! and I love the rain!! It makes it cooler and a lot more manageable to walk and be outside, but the work is a lot harder because the people don't want 2 young men that are sopping wet coming into their houses... so we go and visit with the members! But I absolutely love the rain!! This week we had intercambios with the Zone Leaders and I got to be with Elder Flores, which he's a cool guy, he can speak English, and we had some good lessons. One of those lessons was with Karla, our 16 year old investigator, and one of her friends asked us, "if we can marry with someone that's NOT of the same religion", we told her that, "Yes we can" and she replied looking at my comp... "YES, I still have a chance!!" (Reminded me of Dumb and Dumber) haha it got kinda awkward for us after that moment but what can you do...

We had Mexican Independence Day. It was full of celebration. This was what I wore to the festivities!!! Really this was at a member's house that the kids wanted me to put the mask on, so I had to snap some pictures. 

This week we also helped a little girl meet one of her goals and dreams... which was to be baptized in the true church. Her dad baptized her, and when she got baptized she said really loud, "Finally I'm baptized!!" haha this little girl is such a character. But she loves the church!! I mean, I have learned a lot from her, like her willingness to give to the Lord, she asked me if she can pay tithing if she doesn't work, if she can give what she has which is 10 pesos (75 cents). She is a huge example to me!

 Alondra and her father

with me and Elder Juarez

The highlight of my week was when I spoke in Church on Sunday on the Restoration of the Church through Joseph Smith and how it all happened. Like after the first vision Joseph Smith didn't receive any showing or sign, but had a ton of persecution, a test of faith! Then after 3 years Moroni appeared! This whole Restoration of the Church is such an amazing story to me and when sharing it, it's amazing the spirit that is present when we share it. IT'S TRUE and when we share it the people feel it. I love studying everything about the Restoration. 

We have also found another investigator named Oscar, he is very, very interested in the Church. He has a lot of questions that are really good questions. Today we took time out of our p-day to teach him, but it was totally worth it! He is really excited and is willing to study and search for his answer! I am just learning so much in this work! I am learning who I need to be to represent Our lord! Which is a huge responsibility, and he relies on 18 year old boys to fill those shoes... How is it possible?  That he does such an important, perfect work with young boys that are so imperfect... Its amazing! I love The Lord my God for everything he has done for me!! I love all of you and hope all is going great for you all in your lives!! 

I love you all,

Elder Horlacher

Week 47 ~ Ciudad Obregon ~ Elder Juarez

This week has been a great week! We have been preparing the whole week for the rededication of The Mexico Temple. and it was awesome!! It was so powerful and awesome to know that there is one more temple doing work for the dead! And I know that the temples are a sacred place and it truly is the house of the lord. I can't go to the temple in these years but I strongly encourage everybody who is worthy and who is not worthy to get things back in order that you can partake of these blessing that you can receive in the temple, for instances A Eternal Family, Answers from your Heavenly Father and Strength! 

This week we have had the chance to teach Jorge more and more and he is willing to give up the traditions from before to follow Christ!! He really is putting in all his efforts to learn, I am learning a lot from him... haha Like one funny teaching story we had with him is: we were talking with some neighbors when one was not feeling good at all, and her husband asked us to do what we can to help her, so we offered a blessing. She accepted and so I anointed and then my companion started to give the blessing, and Jorge was watching helping us calm the lady down and all, when my companion started I felt another pair of hands on mine and they were Jorge´s hands....I just hurried and told him no... then after the blessing, I explained that we have the priesthood and that he can receive the priesthood after he is baptized! but haha dang... He wants to help and he just wanted to help with the blessing! I think that was cool, funny, and awkward all in the same moment. But it was a good moment.

This week we received Transfers and I am going to stay with Elder Juarez here in Valles another 6 weeks! Its going to be a great transfer! We are planning to have a baptism this Saturday! her name is Alondra! and the week after Jorge and the week after that, Karla!! We are hoping everything goes as planned!! I just want to thank you all foll send picts... hahar everything! love you so much!! Vive Mexico!!! Sept. 16 is the Independence Day here in Mexico, so a lot of parties!!!  I'll send picts... haha

This was the Mexican Indepence Day!!!

Celebration Party

Elder Horlacher

Week 46 ~ Ciudad Obregon ~ Elder Juarez

Hello everyone, 
I have officially completed a year.... and I DO NOT feel like I have been out here for a year, it blows my mind how clearly I can remember when I was dropped off at the MTC, it feels like yesterday!! It's just like Grandpa used to say, "that life goes by with a blink of an eye"..... its so true. We need to enjoy every moment that we live, we need to live in a way that we can please our Heavenly Father everyday!! 

Here are the pictures of the traditional "Burning of the Shirt"

to Celebrate a missionaries YEAR - HALFWAY Mark!!!

 I also celebrated with CRAZY Mexico Colored hair in WalMart

This week has been a good one, we have been visiting and teaching with Jorge and he really Loves the Gospel and is hungry to know more, in fact Sunday he asked me if he could share his testimony of what he knows! and he did!!! haha 
It was soo awesome, I have only had one other investigator do that and that was Lourdes! so cool! He is going to be baptized on September 27th (Grandpa's birthday)! 
We also found a little 10 year old girl that goes to church every week but isn't baptized, she wants to be baptized and her family are members, so we are going to teach this little girl so she can have one of the greatest blessings ever from our heavenly father, The gift of the holy ghost!

I Fasted this week and in my fast I asked for some help and support.  And I can honestly say, that there is power and hidden blessings in the Fast! I received some of the most peaceful and supportive feelings I've felt my whole mission. I know that Heavenly Father loves us and wants to help us in all that we do, but we need to be willing to put in our efforts to receive all the help that God has for us.(D&C 82:10) I love this work and My savior Jesus Chirst so much for what he has done for me, and that I can be forgiven for all of my faults I have, and not only that but that he is more then willing to give me a hug when I stand in need. 

I love Everyone of you and what you've all done for me!! Thanks and my God be with you in everything that you do!! 

Elder Horlacher