Rain

 Apparently we are supposed to have a massive tropical storm hit us this week. We have already seen missionaries have to be evacuated and some without power, but we ourselves have gotten maybe a few sprinklings here and there through the day. We are currently stuck in our apartments until we get further direction from President Richards. We are almost certain we are safe from anything too wild, but the Eagle Scout that I am also agrees to "Be Prepared" for anything that may come our way.

My new district is awesome, we welcomed two new greenies straight out of the MTC and a new STL. It's pretty funny to me seeing how...immature? Innocent? Ignorant? some of the other missionaries are (they way we like to talk about them is just how pure and wholesome they are haha) A lot of them are coming right out of high school, so its bizarre for me who's had basically two years of college have to work alongside recent high school graduates. More than half of my district weren't even alive during 9/11 and I happen to be the oldest missionary in the group. Super whack as I'm also one of the more inexperienced ones. No matter the circumstance, we are all so excited for doing the work and I can see the immense amount of faith we all have to go about and help others to come into Christ. 

We taught an amazing family this week, the Collins, about prophets and the BoM, as well as a little bit about Joseph Smith. They shocked us because we had gone in with a lesson prepared thinking they hadn't heard of either of them yet, but they asked us right after we prayed if they'd be able to find a BoM at the library, so we gave them copies. They then told us they loved seeing one of the many Restoration videos a while back and thought it was truly amazing how Joseph Smith was able to see Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father and recieve revelation from them. They are super amazing and we love meeting with them. It was definitely a miracle for us to meet such prepared people who were willing to let God prevail in their lives.

I thought that before my mission I was pretty much ready for anything that would be thrown at me and I could handle it, but that is surely not the case. On exchanges with Elder Godderidge, he asked me about some crazy questions people ask and the wild gospel topics they love to dive into. It really showed me how much I do not know and how much more there is to learn. However, I know God has a purpose for each of us, and knows us perfectly. I know Heavenly Father sees my strong testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and my strong desire to share it with others, even if it is still not very elaborately or eloquently constructed. 

I'm very excited for the very interesting, exciting, turbulent, bumpy, and amazing road ahead that I know I will continually recieve blessings for traveling. 

-Elder Thompson

P.S. Don't give Elder Wiley a hard time, he's a great companion and I don't believe he has any sort of connection or love for the Utes, he's just got some of their gear since he lives in the state. I'm super excited BYU was finally able to pull of a win, and a little sad I didn't get to witness it myself. Go Cougs!