Pictures from Christmas Conference

 

This Christmas Day 12/28/2021

 This week has been amazing. It's such a wonderful experience getting to be a missionary and share the gospel of Jesus Christ with others during the Christmas season.

Our time was spent mainly visiting a lot of people for a short period of time and sharing messages with them. People gave us gifts but what I liked getting from them more was tasks and service opportunities. There were a lot of ways for us to help people out leading up to Christmas.

Christmas eve was super busy, we taught 5 people and visited some members before ending our night with a member meal then a mission zoom call.

Christmas was one of the more stressful days on the mission but also one of the most fun. We promised so many members we'd pay them a visit we were scrambling a bit to get everywhere, but in the end it was worth it to spread some Christmas spirit. 

I look forward to the new year and an increase in the opportunities we have to share the gospel with others.

-Elder Thompson

Wizards in Winter 12/21/2021

 Last Monday was a really interesting PDay. We started the morning by going to a Hindu temple in our zone, where we all walked around barefoot and the Elders had to all wear skirts inside. Afterwards we went as a district to a Parisian cafe which was right next to Sugar Land city hall. Being in that area of our zone and seeing other cultural spots we didn't get to visit reminded me just how diverse Houston is and all the different people that gather to live in this area.

We got to teach out friend Raymond, who loves the Book of Mormon and our church, and we're hoping that he'll continue to progress and come closer to Christ.

I went again to the Spanish area on exchanges with Elder Anderson. He's only been out for a transfer longer than us, and his Spanish isn't the best, so it was kinda funny at times talking to a member who didn't know any English. We ended up having her kids translate for us since neither of us could really understand anything.

We did a district Spanish class this week so everyone, especially us English Elders, could try and learn how to have simple conversations over the phone and in-person. That was pretty fun but I don't think I learned enough to apply any of it.

We met a new family who has been taught in the past by other missionaries over zoom, and we're starting that back up again. The kids shared how they've felt peace and joy listening to us talk of Christ and we're excited to see them progress more in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

I'm excited for the reminder of the Christmas season and for the opportunity to help people learn more of and rejoice in Christ. Merry Christmas y'all!

-Elder Thompson