The 7'8" Humble Missionary

Email from 1/10/19:


OH BOYYY!!! THE MTC IS SOON TO BE IN THE PAST FOR ME!!!! I leave Monday morning at 10:15 to head to Sacramento and all I can say is I am very excited. The MTC has taught me so much. I love my District and my Zone. Oh yeah I am District Leader for the last week I am here, so that is dope. 

We taught our friend Nate last week. We don't call them investigators anymore. We refer them as our friends. Nate was a great guy. We taught him and everything was going really well. We taught him about the Holy Ghost and we taught him about Jesus Christ. He grew so much during the time we taught him and we ended up getting a baptismal date set for him. I am really excited for him!

This week we are teaching a girl named Jocelyn and she is improving very well. I can really see her faith growing. We set a baptismal date for her too!. She is so cool! She has a really strong in spirit and loves her life. I wish we could stick around for them but that's alright.

I have changed so much since I've been in the MTC and I am so ready to teach the people of Sacramento. 

Now to my subject of my email...

On Sunday we had a devotional, and the manager of every MTC throughout the world came and spoke and showed us pictures of every MTC. IT WAS SO COOL!!!! He showed pictures of missionaries before they started their mission and then the after they returned home. It was so crazy to see how much they changed just by the pictures. Brother Mills, the guy speaking, shared a story about this one elder from the Philippines. He was 7'8" and when he entered the MTC he couldn't fit on the beds. The MTC President offered to connect two beds together, but the missionary said, "President don't worry about doing that. I will sleep on the floor." The MTC President was surprised and responded saying its not a big deal we can do it. The missionary once again responded and said, "That's okay president, I don't remember the last time I had a bed." The missionary had huge feet (he had size 23) and wore these sandals that were worn down. The president offered to order shoes the missionary so he can be comfortable while walking around, but the missionary said, "It's okay president. I can't remember the last time I had shoes."

The moral of the story is that he was grateful what he had. There are times in our life where we are not grateful for what we have. There are times where also judge those who don't have much. Anyway, that devotional was so good It made me feel ready to leave!

I love you all!!!! Thanks for the support just want to leave with my testimony..

I know this gospel is sooooooo true. The power of prayer is so real. I have witnessed first hand here and all I can say is the Holy Ghost works in beautiful ways. I love our Savior Jesus Christ and his atoning sacrifice He did for all of us. Because of Him, we are all able to live with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ again. I know missionary work helps change lives. I know it guides people to enduring to the end. I am grateful for Joseph Smith for what he went through so we could have this gospel. I love my family so much and the love and support they give to me. I know this to be true and I say these in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

The MTC Life!

Elder Houghton is enjoying his time in the MTC! He loves his district and instructors and is having a lot of great experiences. 

Here's some excerpts from his emails on 1/3/19:

Elder Houghton looking out at a foggy day in the MTC

Group email:

Hey everyone!

This week was DOPE!!! Classes are going great! Learned about faith and repentance a lot this week. My mom sent me robe and i can say, It  is great. Going to the temple today so I am excited for that! I have studying the book of enos and I want everyone to read it. I feel like anyone can relate to him. So I challenge you to read it. I love this gospel I love the Spirit here at the MTC. I love everything about this gospel. Its so amazing ive learned so much more about this gospel. Also make sure everyone prays cause prayer is an amazing thing. If you are struggling then get down and prayer i have a short story I wrote the other night in class which I felt strongly to right it down in class when we were talking about Christ so here it is!

(Your name), I know you have sinned, I know you felt guilt. I've noticed. But because of me you are forgiven. - Jesus

"Jesus how can I know I've been forgiven. I feel nothing. I feel lost and scared. Alone..."- (you)

"(Your name)I know you would sin I know you would mess up. I know you will be lost and scared. I felt your pain and sorrows I felt every little thing that you messed up on. I bled through every pour. I cried for you. I felt all your sins and burdens. So you can have a second chance. So you can feel joy. So you can feel happiness when you are sad and even when you are happy."- Jesus

"Jesus but why? Why would you do that for me? Why would you do that for anyone? -( you)

"Because I love you....." - Jesus 

Anyways love you all!! Remember to pray! Thanks for all the love and support

Excerpt from his mom's email:

Our friend (the first presidency doesn't want us calling them investigators anymore) is doing good. Last week got him to commit to being baptized so now we just leave it to the missionaries who are around our area to baptize them cause we don't have a font...On Tuesday we had a devotional and President Callister, the president of the General Sunday School spoke and it was such a great talk. One of the biggest things I got out his talk was if you are taking notes in Sunday School, Priesthood or Relief Society or just a talk, do not take notes right away. Wait and listen to the spirit, and just wait to write down what you felt. He also said to say a short prayer before each class so you can invite the spirit. It was really amazing!! 

His MTC Zone

Celebrating New Year's

                                             

                                                        Looks like they decorated for New Year's

One advantage of being from Provo and attending the Provo MTC is you run into friends! Elder Houghton with Tristan Torgerson.

He also ran into his good friend, Emma Mercer who works in the mailroom. 

His mission shirt

Infamous MTC food

First P-day Email -- Life is Good

Email from Elder Houghton 12/27/19:

MTC 12/27/18

"Hey guys!! The mission life is great!!! This week has been crazy! Adjusting to it was quite overwhelming, but I am doing fine now! My district is the best and my comp. is freaking hilarious! I get a long with him very well. We don't get to go to the temple today because the temple is closed so hopefully we can go to the temple before I depart. 

Oh also MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! Christmas was so amazing here!! Elder Bednar came and spoke on Christmas which was pretty dope. He gave a great talk. That's all I can say because it was so amazing haha!! Then that night.... Oh boy.... David Archuleta came and it was quite beautiful. He sang so good I cried myself to sleep that night.

Every night now we role play. My comp D&D and got a us into this thing where we act out a problem and the problem we are acting out is a zombie apocalypse.. Haha we are nerds. But you know its FUN!! 

Anyway, nothing much has been going on -- just classes and classes. The Spirit is so strong and I love this place so much. My comp Elder Wells and I have teaching this guy named R and when we first met him he was so scared to believe if the gospel is true so our first lesson me and my comp were planning it. We were planning it for about an hour, but we both had no idea what we were gonna teach him. Then me and my comp both had a prompting at the same time to not plan anything and listen to the Spirit. So we did, and then the lesson went so great and we got his feed back and he started getting closer to believing. 

The lesson we had yesterday, we talked about Jesus Christ and it went Sooo good. The Spirit was so strong. I love this gospel! It is the best! I love Jesus Christ and what he did for us. It's crazy to think that he felt so much pain for us so we can live with him and Heavenly Father and our families, anyways the gospel is true!! 

I love you guys thanks for all the love and support. 

Elder Houghton"

Elder Houghton and Elder Wells

Elder Houghton's MTC District

In his room

Some things don't change!

Elder Houghton by the famous MTC map! (I really hope he has another picture with his eyes open! Haha!)

Christmas Skype Call

Elder Houghton got to Skype us today for Christmas. Yay! It was a different Christmas without him here but we were so happy to get to see him and talk with him. He is loving life in the MTC! We got to meet his companion, Elder Wells. It's so great to hear that Max has such a great first companion! Max said that everyone in his District is awesome and he loves all his teachers. He's working hard and learning a lot. He's had the opportunity to teach investigators already. He is extremely happy and because of that, we are too! He got to visit with his brothers and sisters and little niece, Harper, who was a little confused as to why the tv was talking to her! (haha!) It was so great and we can't wait to hear more of his experiences as he continues to serve. We love you, Elder Houghton!!!!

And So The Journey Begins...

Well, today is the day. Max (Elder Houghton) entered the MTC to begin his two-year mission. Oh, what an emotional day! It is such a hard thing to say goodbye but I can't explain how happy we all are with Max's decision to serve. He will be missed here but we know there are amazing experiences awaiting him as he serves in the California Sacramento Mission.

We started the day off with his brothers and sisters (all except Jake who couldn't make it from Colorado) gathered together for a breakfast at home.

One last picture before leaving home.

We then drove over to the Provo Temple to hang out until it was time to go to the MTC. We took some pictures with our favorite missionary...

Then it was time to go...

We said our goodbyes with some tears and big hugs...

And off he went.

Then about an hour after we got home, we received this cute picture from our friends who work at the MTC (Thank you Melanie and Gerb!) with a message that he is excited to begin! 

First picture with his badge 

We also received an email from Max around the same time:  

"Hey guys! just want to let you know that i'm doing good! i already love it so much...the minute i got all situated i felt good this. I love it already. I think I will be able to email before christmas. My P-Days are going to be on Thursdays but I won't email tomorrow. Anyways,  love you guys so much!! 

Love,

Elder Houghton"

And so the journey begins... 

It's Official...He's now Elder Houghton

Max was set apart as a missionary tonight in our home by our stake president, President Gagon.  It was a beautiful night.  The whole stake presidency came (President Gagon, President Moore, and President Maw) along with Max's grandparents and brothers and sisters.

He was set apart by President Gagon with President Moore, President Maw, Max's dad (Lee Houghton), Max's Grandfathers (Harold Peterson and Dennis Houghton), and Max's brothers (Scott Houghton and Cole Houghton) assisting. So, it is now official. He is a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Tomorrow he enters the Missionary Training Center (MTC) and begins his two-year mission. It is such a bittersweet experience. We all know he is doing what he needs to do and going where he needs to be but we will sure miss him at home! You will do a great job Elder Houghton!

Farewell Recap

This is Elder Houghton's Mom. Max (Elder Houghton) gave the best talk on the Love of Christ today in church. It was seriously one of the best mission farewell talks I've ever heard! It was on the perfect subject for him to speak on because Max is a great example of Christlike love. It was a beautiful talk and he had many people come to see him. There were extended family members, old family friends, friends from work, and friends from our old ward. It was like a big reunion! It was so great to see the love and support shown towards Max! Some came over to the house afterwards to visit some more with Max and it was just such a wonderful day! He is going to be such a great missionary!!!

Here's some pictures from his farewell: (If you have any pictures, let me know. I didn't get very many!)