The Spirit was SO STRONG!!!!!!!!!!

Elder Houghton is healthy and happily working hard to spread the Gospel.  

Here's a summary of the email we received today 1/21/13...

January is the beginning of the summer season in Panama.  When looking up the forecast for this week, the highs were in the high 90's and the lows were in the high 70's!   He said, "It's pretty dang hot here!!!!!  Summer is here and it's ridiculous!!!!!!! But, it's all good!!!!!" (I love how he always keeps a positive attitude!)

Elder Christofferson from the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles came to speak to the missionaries.  There were also four members of the Seventy there also (Elder Duncan, Elder Amado, and two others but he couldn't remember their names off the top of his head).  He said that Elder Christofferson said that when he left Salt Lake it was -10 degrees and that he doesn't want to go back because it's so warm there! He said that it was "SUPER cool" to meet him and that he gave a great talk about their callings as missionaries.  Elder Houghton said, "He said that the biggest difference between missionaries and the Apostles is that the Apostles travel all over the world and the missionaries go to one place and then stay there...He said that we have the same purpose--to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  It was pretty sweet!!!!!!!" He was also impressed that Elder Christofferson translated his own talk and spoke in Spanish! He said that at the end of his talk he said, "Elderes y hermanas, yo se que Jesuscristo vive. You se." (Translated: "Elders and Sisters, I know that Christ lives. I know.") He said, "When he said that, the Spirit was SO STRONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was a SUPER cool experience!!!!!!"

He had an interview with President Ward last week.  

**Photo from http://panamamission2010-2013.blogspot.com/**
This is his district at the interviews he had with President Ward.
Good to see him eating his veggies!  He looks good -- even when he's smiling funny!

He is really excited because President Ward said that his next companion will be latin.  It might not be this change but probably the next.  Not that he's not enjoying working with Elder Daw, but he is excited to have a latin companion so his Spanish will improve. 

He is really excited to find out he's getting a new cousin!  He also met his Aunt Coni's neighbor who is also serving a mission in Panama.  He said that he was also really excited because next week he will be going to his cocinera's (the lady that cooks for him) farm to do some service so "that should be pretty sweet!!!!"  

He says, "I love and miss you all SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Thank you so much for all your love and support!  

He is doing well and tries not to get frustrated.  

He's working hard and teaching a lot but is having a hard time getting people to come to church.

Please keep him and those he is teaching in your prayers!