Week #26 &27

Hey y'all! I hope this week has been good to each of you. Happy New Year!! The transfer is done and it's crazy, I can't believe how fast this is going. It keeps speeding up and I don't know what to do haha. I got my transfer info, and I will be staying in my same area with Elder Moen, AND we will have a 3rd missionary serve with us, Elder DeMott. We're three-packing! I'm stoked for this transfer with Elders Moen and DeMott, they are both hard workers and fun to be around so it will be a lot of fun this transfer! I apologize for leaving y'all hanging last week, as most of you know I've been going through some health issues and last week I was focusing on handling that and seeking advice from my loved ones because we still don't know what is going on. So I apologize! BUT I have some good news to report. I wore a portable Event Monitor that monitors my heart rate for a week, and this past Wednesday turned it in and did a few more tests. I did a stress test and had to walk pretty fast on a treadmill (I guess I was training for an Olympic sport cause rumor has it that speed walking is a sport now haha) but it also showed me how out of shape I was. Then I had an ultrasound done on my heart, and that was it. I returned on that Friday to go over the results, and the doctor said that my heart was perfect, there was nothing wrong and said everything looked great and healthy for someone my age, so there we go! It's not my heart. But I'm still going through the same pains and difficulties, so the doctor is referring me to a lung doctor next week to see if they can find out what's going on. But I'm all good, I'm relieved it's not my heart, and now we are making progress! 

I hit my 6 month mark this past Friday and as tradition holds, burned a tie! It's crazy how fast this has gone for me. Even with my recent health issues, it still has been flying by.  I guess time really does fly when you're having fun.

I was able to return to my last area in North Las Vegas Saturday and attend the baptism of Jason, Bert, Julian, and Atheina, some awesome kiddos I was able to teach while up there last transfer. It was great to see them again. The Spirit was very strong and very present at this baptism and it was great to see these wonderful children of God enter the waters of baptism.

This week, my spiritual thought comes from 2 Corinthians 12. My dad sent me this scripture this past week as I have been going through my health trials. It is verses 7-10 and it reads:

7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.

8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.

9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

This is Paul speaking. Paul asked the Lord 3 times to remove his physical weakness, and Lord would not. Paul was very strong, and was persistent in asking the Lord for help. Later in Corinthians, Paul bore his testimony as to why the Lord wouldn't take away his weakness. With that weakness, Paul was compelled to humble himself, and knew he had to fully rely 100% on the Lord and His grace. This scripture really meant something to me. As we go through the trials of life, we must FULLY rely on the Savior. As we do so, He will bless us with His strength, which His strength. I know this to be true Brothers and Sisters. As we turn to the Lord in our triumph and our infirmities, He will be with us and bless us with strength beyond what we are capable of alone. I know our Savior Jesus Christ lives. The gospel is restored on the earth today, and was done so through the Prophet Joseph Smith. The Book Of Mormon is the word of God. It goes hand in hand with the Bible, and all together brings us the fullness of the Gospel. I know families can and will be eternal, and I thank the Lord every day for blessing me with my beautiful family, a family who I will be privileged to be with forever. That is the greatest blessing I could ever ask for. I say these things in the name of our Beloved Savior, Jesus Christ, amen.

I love y'all so much! Thank you for all you do and for the example and light you are to me. I hope this week is wonderful and the Lord blesses you all with His hand. Until next week!

Elder Houssian

Pic with me and the kiddos (besides Bert, he's 15 haha)

Tie Burning!