Transfer 5 in full swing: Sister Horning

Hello hello! its been too long.. the last week i didnt have time to write an update email.. the week before i wrote a long beautiful email- and i got kicked off the website, then the time on the computer ran out. ugh- so i wasnt able to send that.. ha. SOO illl hurry this week.. Well. this is the 5th of 13 transfers.. and im STILLL here in Winnipeg YSA ward! IM serving another transfer with SIster Price- I LOVE her. and I LOVE it all. by the end of this transfer i will be here for 7 months! YIKES. so- i gave a talk in church 2 sundays ago.. I told the 'journey' of my first triathlon. i was compairing it to life and trials.. so lets just picture this for a minute.. here are a few of the details to this race. 1. i had never swam more than 4 total laps in my entire life. 2. i hadnt ran but 1or 2 5ks before this race. 3. i didnt prepare- not even an ounce! and 4. this was my first time using a road bike (the gears are different than a mountain bike). SO here i am ready for the race! I was ssoo pumped! I had the goal to NOT stop running, biking or swimming the entire race. i just wanted to finish. so there i was in the water- with hundreds of other ladies.. the whistle blows and we take off.. women are literally swimming over me and others to get to the front- they dont intentially drown me- but they do. This is a trial caused by someone elses actions. Good thing i have a wetsuit on- i am able to stay above the water a lot better than if i didnt have it on (blessing from Heaven). so i learned to stay back a bit and get out of their way.. the water was chilly and the wind was blowing pretty hard! it was held in a lake and its half mile swim. im not gonig to lie- im a terrible swimmer! so i started with the breaststroke then couldnt do it so i just did the back float the rest of the way! haha. so i finish the 'swim' ahha float, and then get on the bike and take off.. of course everyone else has been gone for a WHILE so im on the road myself- which i like.. i start and all of the sudden the chain falls off the bike! oohh no.. a trial that happens just because its life.. i couldnt prevent it nor could i 'blame' someone else for this happeneing... so i put the chain on and continue onwards.. the chain ends up falling off another 2 or 3 times.. so- i learn the gears and the chain stops falling off.. IM set! actually-theres a HUGE hill. i kept seeing people get off their bikes and walk them up the hill. i remembered my goal (swim, bike and run the WHOLE way).. so i just sit my keester down and pedal my lil legs for all their worth. it was hard- but i had to pedal slowly, be steady and be focused on my goal.. i was LAUGHING and smiling the WHOLE time just thinking of how fun yet hard this was.. i just kept thinking about the goal.. i make it through the 18 mile bike ride and start on the course for the 5 k run.. i figured it would be pretty easy- running was my best sport out of the three so i thought it would be a breeze.. not. it was a rough and unkempt trail that had bushes, rocks, mounds and everything else on it! so i start running and there are people all over.. there wasnt any sign or anything at least that i saw, that would show you if you were gonig the right way- so i just ran by faith and followed those whom seemed like veterans and like they knew the course.. along the way they had people with water and these energy gel things.. so they were helping give me the energy i need to continue on.. i could see ambulances picking people up that had not been able to complete the race. i saw cars picking up others that had taken them selves out of the race.. never once was there anyone that told anyone to stop- that they were doing a terrible joba dn they couldnt compete anymore.. people had to WANT to quit.. then as i was running to the finish line- there were people lined up cheering me on.. i didnt know a soul there! they all were still cheering me- telling me to push and keep going.. the last part of the run was at an incline and it would have been easy to walk it- but i remembered my goal. i pushed my hardest and gave it my all. when i hit the finish line it was the BEST feeling of my life! noone knew what i felt.. noone i knew saw me cross the line.. i knew though. i knew what trials i went through. i knew how hard it was. i knew there were things i could have trained adn prepared for- done better.. i knew there were people and obsticles in my way that tried to slow me down. i knew how it felt to overcome them.. well.. i compared this to life.. we ALL have trials and obsticles.. ones that we cause, others that others cause and some that just come from us being mortal and living life! i know that we can overcome them! we all came to this earth to suceed! we all came with a goal and purpose in mind.. when times get hard we can easily forget that goal, but we NEED to rememebr it! remember that Heavenly Father will neever tell us we are disqualified' or tell us to give up! WE take ourselves out of 'the race'.. sssooo we just need to hold on, stay strong and remember to turn to the lord for help in those hard times.. be positive! we are cared for and loved!@ we need to remember who we are, where we came from, why were here and how to get back!@ we are here for such a short time.. but when we get to the end- we will find so much joy when we know we did what was right and we gave it our all! i do have to go! but i love you ALL and truly keep you all in my prayers. please keep our investigators and the people here in yours. the Gospel is TRUE and we need to find those that are ready- have their hearts softened and minds open to received the gifts from God. kNOw that you are loved and that you have a father in Heaven who wants to help you! TURN TO HIM! be humble and ask for strenght. dont ask your trials to be taken away or minimized.. ask for the strength! thats when you learn and grow! i love you! thank you for all you do!!!
Love SIster Horning

2010 New Year Message!

Hello Hello 2010 here you are! Well this update from the North has to be short.. but hopefully just as sweet.. We had a week of helping opportunities! i love it. We were driving to an appointment and wed gone the wrong way, so we had to turn around- we saw a van in the middle of the lane stopped- teh man, Yosif, couldnt get his car to start- so S. Price and i park and RUN (in our buddled clothes and skirts), to his van and help him push it to the side lane out of traffic... he was so greatful! he said hed been there over 10 minutes and didnt know what to do! bless his heart! the Lord allows us to help others when we are open to find those opportunities! NEXT we were able to volunteer at the nursing home here.. I LOVE the residents! they are hilarious- ive met some of my new best friends there.. There is a lady Dorthy- shes a HOOT.. she strolls around and just CRACKS jokes and hilarious comments.. were pals for sure.. we are going there weekly for a few hours to chat it up with the residents- i think we enjoy it more than they do! haha.. THEN we were contacting for a minute and ran into Chris.. we noticed he was moving or something, so we asked to help- he said "yeah if you can help clean the place".. so we told him of course thats what we were wanting to do! he and his sister and their friend had to be out of their home by 12 on new years eve and were frantically cleaning and moving their stuff out.. we came in and helped clean- hopefullly it was of SOME help.. they said they noticed missionaries like us before and hadnt talked to them.. but knew who they were.. so it was really good to be able to be of service to a few opeople.. i LOVE knowing that im just out here to serve.. just here to help others- no matter what they need thats what we do! what a blessing and opportunity! i love it.. THere are a few things ive really learned and that have hit me so hard this last week.. ONE.. there was a testimony by someone in our ward and they talked about people putting up walls- thinking that they are protecting themselves from others when in actuallity they are just isolating themselves and making yourself lonely and singled out.. we should be OPEN and let everyone in- this is when we find true love and friendship and TRUE happiness in others! i love that..
Something i was also thinking about was obeying the commandments. It says so many times in the scriptures- "if you love me keep my commandments".. I was thinking this morning what that meant.. of course we love Christ and our Heavenly Father.. why would they ask/say that!? but then i got to thinking.. who do i TRULY love.. my parents.. a few select friends.. and why do i love them.. what doesw it mean to love them.. what makes them different than other people i care about? well here are a few reasons and attributes about the people i love.. i have a HIGH respect for them. i want to be like them. i TRUST them and what they say. I want to be around them and know more about them.. This is how we should view Heavenly Father and Christ. If we truly love them- we will trust them and what they say. we will listen to them- OBEY them. i think of a young brother/sister and a sibling that is just a few years older than them. the older one can ask the younger to do anything- get me a drink, give me your candy, go in the wishing well and get out money (sorry Breaann for being bad!).. and they will do it. they dont ask- they just do it because they look up to the sibling.. they love them and KNOW (if the older sib is not naughty) that the older sibling has their best interest. We need to "be submissive as a child" and listen. Heavenly Father loves us all so much and he always wants whats best for us..He KNOWs whats best for us- we just need to trust in Him. bah.. anyways.. i better go. BISHOP and WARD- how are you donig as to brining people to church and ativities? i hope you are all inviting others to come closer to Christ! k. i love you all and thank you all so much for all your love and support!
Take care! love you!
Sister HorningN

Christmas with Crystal!

Christmastime is RIGHT around the corner! i love it! i love the feeling that is in the air! Everyone is more open to hear about the Savior and to learn of His life. I love so much the songs of the Saviors birth! aahh.. i love it. we had a Christmas singing thing at the church yesterday and we had different churches come to sing at the stake center- it was beautiful and deffinately brought the spirit! we sang 2 peices and it was pretty good if i do say so myself! As i was there listening to members of another religion sing- i thought to myself.. WOW, i am on a MISSION for the church. I am representing Christ in all i do.. what a calling! I love it. anyhow. there was a little girl age 6 and her brother age 8, she sang and he played the violin to The Primary 'Nativity song". it was the most tender thing ever. I my eyes welled up with tears as i heard her sweet little voice sing of the Saviors birth.. a child so small, so young and sweet being taught about He who made everything possible.. i love it! *sigh*.. ive been learning SO much recently! the Lord is blessing me and this area so much! Ive been really learning how to set goals and how to be a better person. Im really working on being dignified and the Lord helps me keep that in mind with the things i say and with each of my actions.. it really helps keeping our goals and what we can become in mind! I read Alma 26 and ALma 29 today in studies and really loved the love and dedication Alma and Ammon have to the lord and to the gospel. i love that they dont boast in themselves, but of the Lord.. how they were so excited and filled iwth so much joy to see their friends, families and the people around them accept and act on the gospel! what ablessing that would be! i love it! please read those chapters and PONDER them!
Since its Christmastime, lets really think about the blessing in our lives and the reason WHY we celebrate this WoNDERFUL holiday! lets make sure we give to others.. not only gifts, but our time and our love! what a greater gift- there is none that we can give! I love how the Lord works- he makes the best things in life FREE.. free to those who want to partake of them.. he wants us to be happy and feel loved.. all we have to do is follow Him! follow His example! i love it!.

So i dont have a lot of time.. BUT here are so random things going on here.. 1. Emily Frame- im sorry im a terrible friend.. i need to write you TODAY and send it out TODAY. but dont worry. i still love you!
2. the weather here has been COLD. its average is about -30 daily.. it was -42 last night :/ ssoo cold.. but we bundle warm. oh man. if you only saw the clothes i wear.. i have this HUGE knit wool sweater that loooks like old grandpa carpet, a HUGE black skirt that looks like towel material, 2 scarves, HUGE coat HUGE boots and 2 sweaters under the carpet one.. oh yeah i looked GOOD. my companion just laughs at me! haha. i had to get gear from the thift stores so its all mis matched but super warm- the days we dont have appointments- that is my outfit! ahha.. it keeps me warm thats all i care about.. its so funny though to see me! haha. i seriously look like the kid off a christmas story! if you havent seen it, you need to. OH so we went out contacting last night and i wore my glasses, NOT a good idea- yeah they frosted over and i had to SCRAPE the frost off.. hahah.. and we walked for about 20 minutes and just after that small amount of time there was frost in our hair, frozen boogers, and white frost eyelashes.. haha. dont worry- we took pictures.. its ridiculous though. I LOVE IT!
sister Price is so great! we work so well together! i love her so much! the lords really blessed me! shes a great example! we are going to see success for sure here and i will learn so much from her! shes fearless!
k i better go. thank you so much for all of your help, love and support! i truly appreciate it! i wish i could send letters and pictures to everyone everyweek.. but ill probably get carpaltunnel if i attempt that.. so ill be safe and email- teehhhee..
i know that God lives. I know that the atonements real and that we can be healed and bettered through it. i know that the book of mormon is TRUE.. every word in it is true. i know that Joseph smith was a prophet and gave his life so we could have a better life though the gospel. i know that the lord loves all of us and will answer our prayerS!
i know im where the lord needs me to be. i know that people will be blessed for my efforts when they obey the commandments of the Lord. I love you!
take care- love sister Horning

Letter from c gail Dec07,2009

What is going on? How come its December already and I truned 23 yesterday!?! seriously time is FLYING by so fast- its outrageous! anyhow.. Its only snowed a bit and not a ton of it has stayed- you can still see the ground! AND i dont have to get boots yet- i can still wear my shoes! haha. so thats good! its was -20 (plus wind chill) out today and in another part of the mission, colder than that! yikes.. but its alright.. im SLOWLY getting used to it! bah. so I love the mission SO much. this is truly one of the top 3 BEST descisions i have made thus far in my life.. Everyday that passes i find myself having a greater love and understanding for the Gospel, Christs atonement and the purpose of life! i love it! i know the book of Mormon is TRUE. i know Joseph Smith is a true prophet and that with his 3rd grade education he could NOT have been able to "write" the book of mormon, just translate it with no other power than the Lords hand.. I know that we will find the greatest happiness EVER through our families and the gospel of jesus Christ. I know that the Lord loves all of us so mucha nd he will NEVER give up on us! I know the church will be spread to all nations and everyone will get the wonderful chance of hearing and learing about our dear Savior Christ and His eternal Atonement! I know that This is the best time of year! TO rejoice and to be with family, friends- remembering our Dear Saviors Birth! what a blessing! i was listening to the Christmas devotional last night and i love the names they refer to- they shall call Him WONDERFUL, PRINCE OF PEACE, KING OF KING, LORD OF LORDS.. i seriuosly tear up thinking about how great and humble Christ is and was.. i love love love the phrase "every knee shall bow, every tounge confess that Christ has come as Lord and king!" i love that. how true. Christ has done so much for us. we are only made whole through HIM! i love in the Bible in Mark chp. 5- it talks about the woman with an issue of blood. she had medical condition where she bled for 12 years straight (the number 12 is whole, complete- total.. 12 apostles ect).. theres a lot in the history and background to this story- people thought her to be "unclean" and whatever eslse anyhow.. she tried SO hard looking for a "cure" here on earth.. then she sees Christ and knows she just needs touch his coat for her to be made whole.. and she is once she does!! just like us.. we just need to "touch" a bit of Christ for us to be made whole! there is no other place we will find a greater PURE happiness.. only through our Savior Jesus Christ. I love that! I hope you all think about the TRUE meaning of Christmas.. people try to distract us with gifts and glitz.. but really.. family and the true meaning of Christmas is what its all about..
SO i was thinking about the gospel in the world and how it will be so exciting for the WHOLE world to hear about Christ! i love it! lets all SPREAD THE WORLD! we have so many blessings- lets share what we haev and give to those in need- nbt only the needy in physical things- but those that NEED the gospel- that are " kept from the truth because they know not where to find it" somewhere in D&c
Read Mosiah 4 it talks about giving to those in need. i love it!

BAH i need to go.. but here are a few crazy things from this week.
1. i have a bigger and fatter lip because i got hit in the face today by a ball!
2. Alexandra got baptized and confirmed!! AND bore her testimony on sunday- it was SOO beautiful!
3. alexandra and edward got engaged TODAY- and took me to sushi for my birthday! YUM
4. Stef is taking me to dinner for my birthday- tonight
5. i had a cake (from Stef- love her spank her butt)- and s. sullivan and i put matches on it due to there being NO candles
6. WE GOT TRANSFER CALLS 2 DAYS EARLY!!!! im staying in YSA!! and s. sullivan is getting transfered.. my new companion is sister Price.. i am SSSOO excited! i heard shes super intense and really really hard worker! I am so excited! this area is going to BOOM! i love it- ps her x comp told me she once knocked on a cars window as they were backing up and started to teach them from there! hahaha.. crazy. i LOVE it. and im so excited to learn from her!
7. theres still grass on the ground- even though its freezing!
k i gotta go! il ove you all so much! i will let you know dad when i receive your gift~! thank you so much!
you are all in my prayers! i love love love you!
take care and ill write to you next week!
OH and mom or Celeste- i dont know if this will be too much to ask.. but in the boxes i put at celestes house- theres a box that says snowboard gear or coat or hoodie or something.. and one wiht my snbowboard jacket.. and a BIG white zip up hoodie.. if you know where they are, would you send them to me? if not thats ok! i wanted them for the fall/spring time when its too cold for a sweater.. but i can make due and./or find something else if needs be! DONT go through stuff if its too much trouble!!! k love you! write me!
sister horning

What the heck it's almost December!!

What is going on.. seriously. the time is FLYING. anyhow.. this email will be "flying" because we have a baptism to get to soon! yikes.. well.. story goes.. ALEXANDRA IS GETTING BAPTIZED! well actuallly not until the 5th.. but im still excited- the interview went perfect! so this week has been insane.. this morning i woke up to do laundy and in my Gs only bag i found something odd.. hhmm.. HOT PINK G-Units (apostate i know). I dont know what happened.. but i washed a pair a few nights ago and then they were a bit wet and but them with the others.. what in the world. i didnt know it would dye all my stuff pinK!!! what the.. so i had to throw out FOUR pairs of underclothes!! SO sad.. so yes. thats what i would like for christmas! haha.. the cotton ones.. anyways.. sad day.. but then this week i saw a guy walking out of his home- he was wearing a sweater, beard, BIG green doc martin type boots, and SKIN TIGHT flesh colored thermals- that look like tights... so weird.. and he was wearing a HUGE grin.. he was just LOVING life.. so of course i snapped a shot- but its blurry:( boo. anyhow.
That was exciting.. so some folks asked me what i want for christmas.. sorry i have to make this email short- i have a baptism in 2 minutes!
but i want (if anything.. if nothing then please dont stress it! i stil love you!)
Terriaky beef jerky
uniball jetstream pens (the dont freeze in the winter! so i can write!)
post it notes- all colors, shapes and sizes
warm thick tights- solid colors or argyle -sp
Raffaello Candies.
and that it no time goota go. love you! sister horning

Comments from the COLD by Sister Horning!

Hello Hello!!! Seriously.. WHERE is time going? i dont even know.. Its already Monday again! AND the middle of November! what in the WORLD!! well- Life is going well! i love love love the mission so much! here are a FEW updates- Alexandra is getting baptized Dec. 5th- yes, the day before my birthday!! i wanted to have it on my birthday, but its a Sunday- so i settled for the day before! I am SSOO excited for her! she is a miracle! shes the one that met with us and told us she was atheist and that she ONLy came to church to support her member boyfriend.. we have been working with her over the last 2 months or so and she has progressed SSOO much! we had a meeting with her and the day was going TERRIBLE up to that point.. well not so terrible! I received a package from my WONDERFUL homeward filled with outterwear goods! they are ssoo sweet- thanks Chelse, Bishop and ward! so that really made my day wonderful.. but before then was bad. i mean really bad. Sister Sullivan and I got into a HUGE argument and it was just really bad (but it turned out well in the end).. so we were just calming down and trying to invite the spirit when Alexandra walks in- tells us she needs to tell us something before we begin teaching.. "I want to get baptized" she calmly states!! YES!!! so that made our night/day for SURE! WHAT a blessing! shes SSOO excited to get baptised and take the steps to come closer to Christ.. AH.. i love the Gospel! hhmm.. once again- nothing too great or out of the "norm" has happend here recently.. WELL.. except that we had 4 people to church on Sunday and we had 15 lessons with members/return appointments- which is both way better than we usually do! so we can see this area grown and progress. i love it so much! the Lord really does bless us. we havent worked ANY harder this week- yet the Lord has been preparing people! sssoo good. OH- we met Kelci- shes a LOVElY young lady who plays volley ball for team Canada- so if Canada goes to the Olymics for Vball- she will be one of the ones playing! IN-tense.. shes a member and ssoo cute and ultra sweet! i love her! we have been talking a lot with the members about missionary work and inviting their friends.. i hope you are all being wonderful missionaries and inviting others to come closer to Christ! Members HoNESTLY make the biggest difference in peoples lives!
Well. i better go now.. I love you all! thanks again for everything you have done! please keep me updated wtih pictures, letters and emails! Erica- ill send you a CD with pictures thus far on my mission- please add some on here so people can see them- ONLYif you have time.. thank you for all you do!
love you!
Love sSister Horning