Today
was our Preparation Day instead of the usual Monday since we are preparing for
the arrival of two general authorities from the seventy visiting our mission
this upcoming week. These past few days haven't been super eventful but there
is definitely some stuff worth mentioning.
Tuesday
was the day I finally managed to get a hold of a guitar tuner and some picks.
It's so nice and relaxing to play the guitar in the very few spare moments in
the day. It makes where I'm at feel just ever so slightly more like home.
On Thursday,
for whatever reason, we ended up going to the McDonalds in Walmart twice for
food, and the first time we ran into two Elder companionships in the zone next
to us and the second time we ran into the sister missionaries in their zone as
well. I'm sure they'll think we're either the best missionaries ever for doing
contacting at Walmart for a long while or just complete wackos who eat at
McDonalds too much. I'm sure both are very true.
Today
was a nice and much needed break from our hectic schedule. I'm learning that
everyone in our district is pretty competitive and eager to play sports
together, so I was able to use that and now have everyone on board to play
basketball every P Day. That's just another way I can make where I'm at feel a
bit more like home.
We
had some really good lessons this week with our investigators and some that
frustrated and confused us for quite a while. The work here is definitely
going, both in a good and and, sometimes, bad direction. We are continually
preparing everyone for baptism, whether they have dates set or not, and are
also trying our best to find new people to teach and bring unto Christ. There
have been the occasional dead day where things just don't seem to happen but we
are determined to keep those occasions minimal.
I
have recently been reading quite a few conference talks during some free time
and ones that have stuck out to me have been about having faith and hope.
There's a great section from a talk entitled "Brightness of Hope" by
Neal A. Maxwell from the October 1994 General Conference. In this section,
Elder Maxwell says "Only the acceptance of the revelations of God can
bring both direction and correction and, in turn, bring a “brightness of hope”
(2 Ne. 31:20). Real hope does not automatically “spring eternal” unless it is
connected with eternal things! “What is it that ye shall hope for?” Moroni
wrote. “Behold I say unto you that ye shall have hope through the atonement of
Christ” (Moro. 7:41; see also Alma 27:28). From this triumphal act, resulting
in the eventual resurrection of all mankind, so many lesser hopes derive their
significance!"
I
know that the more we learn of Christ and His Atonement, the easier it will be
to have that hope and faith in Him. With that developed hope, we can go about
having brighter countenances and greater faith and courage to face trials in
this world. I know that a reliance on the Savior can benefit each and everyone
one of us. I'll leave with my testimony of the Savior and His Atonement in His
name, Jesus Christ, Amen
-Elder
Thompson
P.S.
I hope these emails are gonna be reaching y'all somehow some way. I've gotten
in contact with a couple of y'all and have been grateful for everything that's
been sent to me and can hopefully eventually hear from all y'all at some point.
It's so good to read your letters and hear about the great experiences you are having on your mission and that you are helping others want to play basketball. That is such a great activity that I know you have loved all your life and it helps you become closer to those around you by having some fun and activity together. I am so glad that you have been able to return to your mission and help others return to the church and others to learn of the teachings of Jesus Christ and the opportunity that we have to repent and live our lives so that we can be worthy to live with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ again.
ReplyDeleteLove you,
Grandma Irving