Hey everyone. Thanks for the emails, and everything.
I got my Christmas Package that you sent for my companion this week too
mom. Since I had already given him presents, I just kept it all for me. I
think with the addition of some Zebra Pens, I now have about 20 pens. You
probably can stop sending those. Haha! Also, with another tie, I
can now easily go a whole transfer without wearing a tie more than once.
Pretty impressive eh? Once I run out of room on my tie hangers (wow,
that sounds nerdy) I will then start weeding out the ugly ones. The joys
of being on a mission... The Reese's Pieces were also nice and lasted 2
days! Will Power!!! Haha! I am so good. Haha!
This week was a really good week, and there were some great
things that happened. Nothing huge like thousands of baptisms, or even
one baptism, all in all, it was a good week.
I'm not sure if I explained Zone Training to you, but it's
sort of like Zone Conference, except President and Sister Miles aren't there.
It's taught mostly by the Zone Leader's and we have it once a month.
It was really good, and it's always so fun to meet up with the
missionaries. I even met an 18 year old Elder. Which was weird. I
didn't think it would make a huge difference, but he seemed so little.
That, or I am just old now. Maybe both. In any case it was
really good, and we talked about the usual things, how we can do better
missionary work and what not. I don't really know how much you guys care
to hear about that, but if you really want to know you can ask I suppose.
Afterwards we also had District Meeting where a member of the High
Council came and talked to us. It was really good because he was pretty honest
about things that we can be doing, and because he knows all of our areas pretty
well he helped us to think of ways to serve the wards better, and how we can
become a bigger part of the ward. We
are working REALLY on becoming more part of the ward, and we
have seen a lot of good things that have come from it too. And it can
only keep getting better. For example, this week we have 5 eating appointments!
I hope you can appreciate how many that is. Before I came here, the
most I would have in a week was 3. But we get tons more here.
On Wednesday, we went to visit O in the hospital again,
only to find out that she was released on Monday. That was awkward,
although I am not going to miss the maternity clinic at all. I'm not sure
what's weirder, walking in with another guy who is dressed similar to you and
having all the nurses give you weird looks, or all of the creepy pictures
there.
On Thursday, it snowed a lot. And there was snow
everywhere. Which probably sounds really stupid because I am sure that at
home you guys have a lot more than we do, but for weak folk here, it was a lot.
We were excited because we thought we could help people shovel and take
care of the snow, but they weren't too keen on that idea, so we ended up
shovelling for a member family who we wanted to visit, but wasn't home, and
then tried our luck talking to people on the street, and doing a little bit of
dooring. Nobody was too interested.
On Sunday, we had a really good day. It had rained
freezing rain all night, and all morning and so at 8:30 (church begins at 9:00)
the decision was made to cancel church because the roads were so bad. I
have never in my life seen something so icy. It was insane! They
thought it would be safer if nobody was out driving, so everyone phoned each
other and let each other know. Except we didn't find out until we were
already on the bus (which was somehow still driving. I would not want to
be a bus driver. It slid for got 5 meters before he stopped at the
bus stop. I don't know why it seemed like a good idea to get in the bus,
but it ran with no problems or anything.) and about 5 minutes from the church.
So we decided that we would go to church and wait around in case anyone
showed up, then we could let them know it was cancelled. So at around
9:05, nobody was there, and then all of a sudden two families showed up (so
that made 14 people with us included), then another one (19 people), then a member
and her non-member fiance (21 people now), so one of the Sisters was like
'well, he came all the way here, let's have church. I have the Sunday
School lesson, so I can do that. Do we have any talks?' I had the second
talk, and another brother had the closing talk. (Which we actually didn't
have to give. Thank you Mother Nature!!! Prayers are truly answered!)
Then a member of the Stake Presidency and one of his daughters came to
wait at the church to tell people it was cancelled, but when he heard that we
were going to do it anyways he decided to stay (23 people), and then three more
people ended up coming (26 people in total. Strange because we usually
have 100+, but it's still bigger than some of the branches in the Stake).
So, we cracked open the emergency bread supply (which was a box of
crackers. Crunchiest, and best tasting Sacrament ever.) and then had a
little Sacrament Meeting and then had Sunday School where we talked about the
Restoration. It was such a neat experience. And I forgot my camera
to take a picture of it... Bummer. But I will get a picture from a member.
It was just one of the simple moments where I really felt 'the church is
true'. I have had so many of those on my mission. And they don't usually
come from the big experiences, usually the small and simple things. It
was great. After church, President H
invited us over for lunch. It was awesome. They are one of the
coolest families. He is from Utah, and is one of the funniest people I
have met on my mission. Then, as if that wasn't
enough, we went to Johanns for supper. Awesome. It was a great
Sunday. And a good end to a good week.
Things are good. I am so happy to be here, and since I
don't think I say it enough, I want you to know that I really love my mission.
I love you guys so much. Have a great week, and a good flight home
mom and dad. Suckers.
--
Sincerely,
Elder Thompson
