SC Warrior 2014 Missionaries Coming Home (Part 1)

 Joe Empey-France

Lauren Mitchell-Peru

 Kylee Martin-Chile 

 Will Durante-Peru

Bowman Loo-Guadalajara, Mexico

 Jake Rider-Guadalajara, Mexico

Tyson Brough-Guadalajara, Mexico

Weston Esplin-Japan

Week 85~ Guamuchil, Sinaloa ~ Elder Sanchez TRANSFER DAY

Today was transfers, I am staying in Guamuchil with Elder Sanchez, but I was released from District Leader and Elder O'Driscoll was called. He is going to be a great District Leader.
This week we were really excited to start it off! We had a great start, we started very strong, having members come with us to visit our investigators and everything, but then something happened to our investigators, haha they disappeared (the joys of missionary work). But we were very happy that they came with us anyway. Well we have been teaching Elizabeth and Miriam for about 2 weeks now and we are already down to the last lesson because they read and study what we leave them, they have shown the true desire to know if it is true or not!  We have been teaching them the commandments and we talked about the word of wisdom, and the only problem they have is coffee, but they said, "ok that's going to be hard, I've been addicted since I was 10 years old but i will do it!!" They remind me a lot of the scripture in 1 nefi 3.7! It's so cool to see them progress in their testimonies! I am so proud of them each time and seeing their trust in us and their love of the Gospel growing. They weren't able to come to church this past Sunday, but they did all they could so that they could have come, but Satan didn't let them out of their work! But they always tell us, "God will make things possible for us to be able to go, I know he will!" They have been a great example for me in the Faith that they have. 

We have also been helping a less active come back to church, his name is Everardo. He has been kind of shy with coming to church because its been awhile, but we have been helping him, and we have been reading the Book of Mormon with him.  And after one time, we were explaining what we read, and he told us, "my desire to do the things correctly is growing, and I am going to go to church, EVERY WEEK!! and he kept his promise, he came to church alone and early (which is very hard here in Mexico, people arriving early). He is a champ! I love seeing these people grasp the Gospel and see it changing their lives. 

We have been playing Sports as a District every Monday, and its been pretty fun! Today we played soccer and rugby. And today our Bishop came to play with us and he knows how to play a lot of soccer! But he didn't know how to play Rugby. So I taught him how, and he started liking it, and right when he said, "this is fun", he fell on the cement and got roughed up... it was rough.. haha but he is alright now! 

I just want to say I know God prepares people for us to meet and teach! We just need to look for them through all the hardships that come. We need to preservier them and keep pushing forward, take it all, to be able to get to the Celestial glory! I Love this Gospel of Jesus Christ! I love that my testimony continues to grow through teaching these investigators. Each one teaches me something new. They think I'm in Mexico to teach them, but really I'm learning so much from them. I love all of you! Have a safe week!

Elder Horlacher

 District meeting before Transfers

Week 84~ Guamuchil, Sinaloa ~ Elder Sanchez

So this week we have a few new investigators that are awesome, their names are Elizabeth and Miriam! They are sisters that are looking for the Truth! They have been listening to us and they are reading the Book of Mormon, to know if its TRUE! When we were sharing the lesson of the restoration they started asking us questions like, "I'm worried about my dad, because he never knew the gospel, whats going to happen to him?!" I was so excited, I wanted to share all my knowledge right then about the Plan of Salvation! but we need to teach in the manner of the Lord, so I bore my testimony and I prepared them to learn and gain a testimony instead of just an answer. But we returned and they told us the Plan of Salvation from back to front, and they told us that they received the answer to their question!! Its really fun teaching them because they want to learn!!  It's so incredible when the Lord leads us to investigators like these sisters who are like sponges and soaking up everything we are teaching them and hanging on every word. 

Well I also forgot to update you all about Luis, well Luis is loving the church, he gave his first talk last week!! He talked about the Aaronic Priesthood! he did a great job, it didn't even look like he was nervous!! and last week he received the priesthood and he blessed for the first time the sacraments! It was so cool to see him do these things!! Progressing in the gospel! I felt like a proud parent again. I LOVE THAT FEELING. I can only imagine what our Heavenly Father feels like. 

Well NOBODY came to church, but we are still very animated for this week because we have a lot of investigators that are progressing in their testimonies! 

Well I love you all, have a great week!

Elder Horlacher

Week 83~ Guamuchil, Sinaloa ~ Elder Sanchez

This week was one of the coolest lessons learned. I learned to work hard until the end, it's something that I have always heard in sports, "play hard, 4th quarter is where it matters!" I am totally in the 4th quarter and I am digging deep. This week we had nothing going for us, we didn't have bikes, it was HOT, and we weren't finding anyone. I was a little frustrated with the week when my zone leaders well told me some words, then the next morning they called me again but they really helped me the second call, they gave me the hope to turn the week around, and we went out and worked! We worked and worked and worked hard. I saw a guy sitting down in his door way texting and we were talking with someone else when I felt like I need to go talk with him. So after we finished talking with this person, I went right over to him and asked him how he is and if we could share a message about Jesus Christ and he SMILED and accepted the invitation!! He invited his wife to listen to us and we learned that he has had some problems with unity in his marriage and that he wants to be closer to God. He has 3 children and one is 9, other 6, and other 3! They really loved the doctrine of  eternal family! That is one of the many things that I know to be true, and I bare my testimony to everyone that the Gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored and thanks to that we can be together as FAMILIES FOREVER! That gives me such comfort knowing that I belong to a family that is eternal and that one day when I get married my family will be eternal. 

We had one investigator come to church, her name is Nadia, she is a girl from "the Family of Girls" we are teaching, she is progressing, but something is on her mind because she told us something when she was leaving the church on Sunday, like something happened or she had an experience! We have an appointment this Friday with her so we will see whats going on! 

Well I love you all!! Have a great week, til next Monday! que Dios les bediga!

Elder Horlacher

 I bent Elder Allen's bike, I have this issue here in Mexico,

I'm too big for these bikes.

Here is me and my companion at church.

My Mother's Day SKYPE Call

Navy came over to see me and say HI!!!

Uncle Clay's family came over

 Grandma wanted a kiss on the cheek!!!

 Uncle Andy & Aunty Tia's Family 

Our family!!! I can't wait till I am really in the family pictures!!!

Kissing my mom on Mother's Day

Cambria trying to kiss my cheek!!

Week 82~ Guamuchil, Sinaloa ~ Elder Sanchez

So this week we had some good fun! haha We had intercambios with the zone leaders and I was with Elder Marin, he is a good leader, he taught me a lot, he's the type of guy that isn't afraid to show his love for people and that's what I love most about him. He tells people how he feels and they can feel the spirit and his love. 

We also had the Baptism of Luis, his dad baptized him and he loved it! He had to be baptized 3 times, but all was wonderful. His dad did a good job. He is a good guy and he is talking, maybe joking about a mission... who knows! haha 

But the 2nd highlight was talking to you guys! I just want to say that I loved the time we had to talk! I love you guys so much, and your all growing so big!! 

Well we didn't have very much success with finding new people, but we did have someone in church, but she told us she felt peace and tranquility but nothing else, and she isn't going to be baptized.. haha but shes a good person! She is Episcopalian. Well sorry its so short but I love you all! Have a good week! 

Elder Horlacher

This picture was taken by another Elder of us playing Soccer. Me and Elder O'Driscoll.

Look at this beautiful Soccer Field

 They have gorgeous sunsets here in Mexico.

Week 81~ Guamuchil, Sinaloa ~ Elder Sanchez

So this week went very, very slow... I don't know if its because we are very excited to talk with you guys or the fact that its starting to get very hot here! But the week went very slow. But after all it was a good week, we were focusing a lot on Luis because his baptismal date is for Saturday. So we talked to him about that and he was doubting about if he would be baptized Saturday, so we started asking why and whats the problem? he answered that he feels good and knows that its true but he is scared of failing after his baptism, so we explained that the Holy Ghost will be there to bless him in his life in the way he lives, the choices he makes, and the friends he will make also. After that we asked if he would baptize on Saturday and he said he would be working so we put the date as Friday and he said YES!! haha he is a great kid! His dad is going to baptize him, (his dad is a recent convert!)  

So we didn't find the family of the girls this week, and they didn't come to church either, neither did Hugo. But we are going to find them and help them in their needs! I do know that the 17yr old girl is doing a beauty pageant and it ends on Monday, so we might be able to catch up with them after that. 

Also this week we have encountered a lot of atheist, but these atheist want to know if God exists, they are 2 sisters that we just began teaching this week and they literally don't have very much faith because she wants to know how every thing works scientifically. So we are just teaching things very basic with them, like prayer and the holy ghost, so they can develop a relationship with God! But they are seeing little things, like one sister told us that she always runs the people off that bring the word of god, but with us she didn't and she thinks there's a reason for it! Well I Know there's a reason, This is the True gospel of Jesus Christ!! There are angels preparing the hearts of men to hear our message! I am really enjoying my time on my mission! Love you all and I want to wish a "HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY" to all the moms in the world, especially to MY loving, 2000 stripling WARRIOR type of mom that I HAVE! I have learned a lot from the things she has taught me, showed me, and gave me in my life! I miss kissing your cheek mom, and I miss you yelling my name, "TREV--OR!" I miss hearing your laugh, but mostly I miss your hugs.  I Love You Mom!! See you all soon! 

Elder Horlacher

 My companion and I, check out those waffles!!!!