Wednesday night dinners in Sunnyside

 Every Wednesday the McAnelly's fed Elder Thompson and his companion when they were serving in Sunnyside. They are a wonderful couple who are originally from the Sacramento area. It was fun to get a picture of Josh almost every Wednesday.

Wind of Change 10/19/21

 

This week was the last one of the transfer and it went really well. Elder Wiley and I had a good week finding and teaching people and grinding out work. We had the opportunity to give a blessing to Ken at one point and also got to make some new friends to add to our teaching pool. We also heavily strengthened our relationship with those we have already been teaching.

 

Saturday was super hectic. With President Richards, no one is ever sure what will happen at transfers, and this one was no exception. We had a member baptism where we met a couple nonmembers that the members invited. Pearland had a non-member baptism for Judy and we got to talk to our district for the last time. Afterward, we were emailed our transfer news right before our lesson with a new friend Robert. It was a really cool lesson. Robert asked me a deep doctrine question, and I answered quickly and simply. He said that he had been asking that question since before I was born, and all the educated preachers and ministers couldn't give an answer no where near as good or sufficient as I had. That night, Elders from another mission said there was an investigator who needed help moving, so we went with the Pearland Elders to help them move. They only spoke Spanish, so it was slightly difficult communicating, and after "arguing" for a few mins with them after, we finally accepted some money to go and buy McDonald's for dinner.

 

Our transfer news itself was shocking to us. We found out our area was being whitewashed by some Sister missionaries. We felt like a massive gust of wind just swooped in and blew away all our connections and progress that we've built the last six weeks. Pres. and Sister Richards have emphasized the word trust with us, and said no matter where we get sent or what happens, we have to trust in the Lord to make sure everything goes well. Elder Wiley and I had to clean and pack Sunday morning, then take the sacrament at church, and leave immediately afterward to make it to transfers. We didn't really have a chance to say goodbye to anyone or sort things out with the area, it all just seemed to happen in an instant.

 

The new area I'm in is called Shadowcreek. My new apartment is on the other side of the 288, about 10 mins from my old one. We even have permission to go into my old area for the Walmart and other shopping cause its much closer. I'm still living in Pearland, but we're in a whole new district and zone. Elder Zabel is my new comp, he came out to the mission the same time as me and we were companions the first day at Hermann Park and handed out Book of Mormons. He's been with the same comp in the same area for the past 2 transfers. My new district is fun, the only other missionary I know fairly well is Hna Swapp, who was in my district my first transfer. They Elder Johnson came out with Elder Zabel and I, and then I need to get to know Elder Nawahine, Elder Mortenson, Elder Romney, and Hna Tuttle a bit better.

 

I'm excited for the new area and new companion and for all the great things that'll happen here.

 

-Elder Thompson