Thank you Elder and Sister Choi

This week our mission was blessed to have a tour by Elder Yoon Hwan Choi (pronounced "chay") and Sister Bon Kyung Koo Choi.  Elder and Sister Choi are pioneering members from South Korea and Elder Choi is the first Korean member of the First Quorum of the Seventy.  The Choi's arrived on Saturday evening.  They spent Sunday with us at the Olde Oaks Ward, then with the temple president and matron at the Houston Temple, and with the stake presidents/counselors at a mission home fireside.  On Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, Elder Choi conducted training conferences with the missionaries where he taught about the Doctrine of Christ, learning by the Spirit, finding and teaching with power, achieving unity with Christ, and other topics.  In addition to the training session, Elder and Sister Choi attended a special dinner and fireside for Korean saints in the Houston area.  We are so grateful for the counsel, instruction, and guidance we received from them and look forward to implementing their suggestions for our mission.  Moreover, Elder and Sister Choi are very kind, loving and fun people.  We thoroughly enjoyed their visit to the Texas Houston Mission!

College Station / Spring Zone Conference

Kate / West / Cypress Zone Conference

Houston / North / Klein Zone Conference

Elder and Sister Choi with two Korean saints

Relief Society sisters who provided our delicious lunch

Introducing the Chois to some Texas Barbeque

Wonderful Relief Society sisters who made the meal

Clean car awards

Happy Birthday

Singing "Called to Serve" to thank the Relief Society sisters

Elder and Sister Choi

Clean car awards

Happy Birthday

Relief Society sisters who provided our amazing meal

Korean dinner and devotional

Korean dinner and devotional

Elder Choi and President Cue

Elder Holland Comes to Houston

Yesterday, all missionaries from the Houston Texas area had the privilege of hearing Elder Holland speak in the Bering Chapel in Houston (just outside of our mission boundaries). It was a special treat to be in the presence of an Apostle of the Lord.  Before he spoke, he took the time to shake the hands of every missionary.  His counsel was warm and direct and all who attended felt uplifted and inspired.  He challenged the missionaries to live up to the rich tradition of missionary work in the church.  People have sacrificed everything, including their lives, to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ.  He also talked about the importance of preparing ourselves each day to testify of the gospel and encouraged us to "not waste a single minute" of our missions.  We are sorry to only have a few photographs of the event. The ones below are of missionaries before and after the meeting.  Our daughter somehow managed to get a picture with Elder Holland right before he got into his car to leave.  We have also included two pictures of our wonderful sister missionaries that were taken this week at the temple.

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

Elders Thorpe, Bateman, Gray, Hardman, Johnson,
Fisher, Tamanalevu, and Zurligen

Elders Moody, Barton, Chadwick and Ulugia

Elder Holland with Mary

Sisters Schlauder, Cramer, Rodriguez and Fonua

Sisters Schlauder and Fonua

The THM welcomes Elders Segal and Johnson

Yesterday, two missionaries joined the Texas Houston Mission.  Elder Segal, a recent convert from Israel, came a bit later than his MTC group due to some health complications.  Elder Johnson, from Highland Utah, has already served a portion of his mission in Guatemala.  He comes to Texas after recovering from treatments for cancer.  Both have great faith and we admire their perseverance to finish their missions.

Elder Johnson and President Pingree

Elder Johnson inviting someone at the airport to learn about the gospel

Elder Segal and President Pingree in the airport parking lot

Elders Johnson and Segal

Elder Johnson with the Pingrees at the mission office

Elder Segal with the Pingrees at the mission office

Zone Leader Council

On Wednesday, Zone Leader Council was held for the month of August. The training meeting focused on helping missionaries develop exceptional finding skills.  Afterwards, lunch was served at the mission home. 

Welcome Elder Richins and Elder Craig

This week we received two new missionaries.  Both arrived a week later than their group due to injuries incurred while at the MTC.  We are happy they are finally here and know they will be terrific missionaries!  Please see pictures of their arrival below.

Bush International Airport

Lunch at Rudy's Barbeque

Elder McClellan (trainer) with Elder Richins

Elder Fox (trainer) with Elder Craig