Hurt 7/21/22

 This week was pretty solid, nothing but great experiences.

 

On Wednesday we went to the Texas A&M Galveston satellite campus after lunch, which was pretty cool. The backstory of its creation is that there was a canal being dug out, and all the dirt was piled up into an island, and they decided to put a small school on top of it. We also got to have a member dinner that evening with our investigator Russell there as well.

Friday morning we went to a methodist church and helped them with their food truck service. All the Elders in the zone were there and our job was to load up cars and trucks that came in with prepared boxes of food. That was a lot of fun doing.

 

Basketball Saturday was fun for the most part. I did, however, make the mistake of playing a little too rough and intense and ended up hurting my back really bad. That costly choice put me out of commission for a day or two. We did manage to get some contacts and lessons in back at the apartment while I was wincing through the pain.

 

For Pday, we finally got the chance to fully stock our cupboards and fridge, and I got my haircut after going without one the past couple of months or so. We went to Denny's with the Clear Lake district missionaries since the Sisters wanted to introduce us to their friend Phillip who worked there and they were planning on passing off to us. That evening at FHE we played dodgeball, and I don't know what sort of magical athletic juice I had drunk earlier that day, but I somehow managed to annihilate everyone and carry my team to victory multiple times. At one point, it was me against 7 people and somehow, without bringing any of my teammates back, managed to win. That was an experience and a half.

 

I'm so glad the ways I've been able to see the Lord's hand in my life the last couple weeks and I'm

so excited to bring that same attitude with me to our temple trip in the near future.

 -Elder Thompson

Teen Age Riot 7/14/2022

 This week was jam-packed with so many wonderful things, hence why it's taken me so long to remember to get an email out.

 

Our first day of the week was zone conference, which was a blast. We didn't know this beforehand, but the Friendswood and League City stakes had planned on their youth who were interested in missionary work join us there as well. It made for a really fun learning experience for them and us as well. Zone conference was also another great time to catch up with all the great missionaries I've served around in the past.

 

After zone conference, we got to talk to my old friend Guy at Montag's in Pearland, since zone conference was at my old church building. In the evening, we met with our member friend Matt who even showed off some of his firearms. Overall, it was a solid day. 

 

Wednesday we got to go to fruity party island again as a district, which is always a treat. We  also got to meet amd have dinner with Joel, who is a recent YSA convert who was assistant mayor of Alvin and is now a city councilman. 

 

Thursday we taught our member friend Josh who also handed me a pair of losses in chess after the lesson. Thursday nights we also go with our nonmembers to institute in Friendswood which is pretty awesome.

 

Friday we did a lot of finding whether at parks or apartment complexes, but we did have the chance to teach our friend Chucho, who relatively recently got out of prison and is on track to be baptized.

 

Saturday's highlight was of course basketball in the morning, it's always a ton of fun and a great way to connect with the nonmembers we meet and try to teach.

 

Sunday we got the chance to speak in church on missionary work, but my companion and I chose to specifically focus on love, share, and invite. Every other week we have mission prep where we teach alongside our ward mission leader and the Clear Lake Sisters. There is a lot bigger group there than i ever remember being with the few times I went to mission prep.

 

For P-Day, we went to a bbq place for lunch off of seawall, which is the beach on Galveston Island. We then walked around and went to stores in an area on Galveston called The Strand. The FHE activity that night was a group scavenger hunt around the church building which our group won.

 

One talk coincidentally that we used quite a bit with members this week was "But We Heeded Them Not" by David A. Bednar. It's so difficult as a missionary not to listen to outside voices that mock us, cause us to question, or deter us from our missionary purpose. In the south especially, so many people believe we aren't true disciples of Christ and want us to stop what we are doing, to repent and turn away, and to change our course. In the talk, he mentions how he noticed valiant and faithful members had strong testimonies that were personal and deep-rooted, that they had a personal connection to the gospel and Savior. We must build our foundation on Christ and continually strengthen our testimonies. I know that as we remember the covenants we've made and strive to keep them, the Lord will help us to hold fast to the iron rod and remain steadfast on the covenant path.

 

-Elder Thompson

...And Justice for All 7/7/2022

 The week leading up to independence day has been a wild, crazy, hectic, wonderful week. It felt like our schedule was basically like a fireworks display.

 

We spent our first couple days of the week trying to get stuff for our apartment and trying to get moved. No matter how many times we've tried contacting the office, our dryer is still broken from the day we got here so hopefully, that's resolved soon.

 

In this area, we get to have dinner not only with our branch members but members of the stakes we cover as well so we get to be fed fairly frequently. There's a member of the Texas City branch who owns a taqueria on Galveston Island, so we also get free food there after our district councils on Wednesdays. 

 

Thursday I was on exchanges with Elders Zabel and Long in Texas City and it was quite fun. Texas City is definitely interesting. There is a whole lotta nothing out there aside from the oil refineries and trailer homes scattered about. The people there are also for the most part redneck trailer trash, which made the experiences we had all the more enjoyable. 

 

Saturday mornings we play basketball with our ward members and investigators which is a lot of fun. The zone leaders joined us this week and it was a blast playing full-court games again.

 

Fast Sundays are always followed by a linger longer in the YSA so that gave us a chance to talk to our branch members and for me to meet everyone. We also got the chance that night to eat even more amazing food at a member's home.

 

For the 4th of July, we went to the pancake breakfast put on by the League City stake. We then went as the elders in our district to play disc golf down in Texas City. Later that evening, we went for a bit to a ward get-together. Sadly, we have to be in early as missionaries so we didn't get much of a chance to experience fireworks. 

 

This week has been wild, but there is so much potential for work here and so many fun things to do. I know the Lord has a hand in the work and that many blessings will come as we continue to press on

 

-Elder Thompson

Too Much, Too Young, Too Fast 6/29/2022

 Transfers happened and crazy things have been happening around the mission.

 

Peter fed us and a bunch of other missionaries in our district at the mission office while lesson-offs were going on so we got to say hi to some missionaries. He said it was because we wouldn't get the chance to have a good Father's Day dinner. We also got the opportunity to attend mutual and interact with the youth. 

 

The Yeates fed us an awesome Japanese dinner on Thursday and we had one final lesson with Remi as well. 

 

We did a lot of transfer cleaning on Friday after we taught Sis. Lauritzen and Rebecca as well as a new guy at their place named Mark. Elder Rowe and other Elder Thompson were in the area and stopped by to say hi for a bit. 

 

Saturday was wild. We taught our member friend Trevor, then biked 30 mins to a lesson just to find out they actually lived outside our area. We then had to bike back to go to dinner with the Roskophs. After dinner we got transfer news and found out we both were leaving the area. 

 

Our last day in the area we said goodbye to people at church, then had dinner with the Boyces and taught Sis. Cagle one last time. 

 

At transfers we went to In N Out then said goodbyes and headed out to our areas. I'm now over the Armand Bayou YSA Branch, which is in the League City zone but its boundaries are both the League City and Friendswood stakes. My comp is Elder Van Wagoner, who trained my previous comp and is only my second companion of many to be from Utah. I'm excited to work in a new area and be close to the coast and NASA, but I'm extra grateful for having a car again.

 

I'm looking forward to all the great work that's gonna roll forth swiftly and strongly.

 

-Elder Thompson

Father of Mine 6/22/2022

 The week leading up to Father's Day was mostly uneventful.

 

Most of the week we were trying to find and contact people either over the phone or by knocking on their door, luckily we did find a couple new people to teach.

 

Over the weekend, most of our plans fell through, minus a single-member meal and helping a nonmember family move. I do remember having to dispose of a dead frog in the member's house though.

 

Father's Day was solid, we got some of the leftover cookies after church which was fantastic. We also got to interact with the youth preparing for missions in the near future.

 

The last P-Day of the transfer was nice too. We went to the Vietnamese Buddhist temple again which is always...interesting. We also went to Costco as a district for some odd reason, which is a place I haven't been to in ages.

 

I'm grateful for everything my Father in Heaven has done for me, including giving me an amazing earthly father who has been a wonderful example and friend to me and helped me get to where I am today in a multitude of ways. I love you Dad!

 

-Elder Thompson

Times Like These 6/16/2022

 We had Remi's baptism on Saturday! It's these kinda moments we live for as missionaries it is so wonderful to be a key part of someone's spiritual journey.

 

Earlier in the week, we got to go through another round of interviews with President Richards, and he often gives great advice for us and our areas.

 

We mainly focused our efforts in the week on preparing Remi for baptism and scheduling lessons with our investigators. 

 

Saturday was Remi's baptism and it was amazing. Bro. Olatoye did struggle a bit getting her under the water and well it ended up taking him like 5 tries to get it right. Sunday I got to confirm her a member of the church and give her the gift of the Holy Ghost which was so special and an amazing spiritual experience. 

 

Our area is doing so well right now and we're excited to continue working with those we are around.

 

-Elder Thompson

I'm So Sick 6-8-2022

 This past week has been basically nothing since we have both gotten covid and were stuck inside.

 

Elder Byrge came and joined us in quarantine one day since he had come down with covid as well.

 

Elder DeCarlo came with his parents to visit the mission, and they stopped by our apartment and church to say hi and talk to us and the members.

 

Other than that, pretty lame week so this next week will surely be better.

 

-Elder Thompson

Facebook post from Sister Debby Richards 6/13/22

 President Kyle McKay and Sister Jennifer McKay visited the THSM on May 24-26, 2022. It was an incredible three days packed with powerful training. Each day we gathered 1/3 of the mission while the other 2/3 tuned in via zoom. We loved Sister McKay’s counsel and direct instruction to learn the language of the Spirit and Elder McKay’s powerful command of the Spirit as he taught from the scriptures and from history all without reading anything. President Richards and I also taught each day. We feel energized and excited about all that we learned. Some of the key takeaways were:

**How we "represent" Jesus matters. We "present him again" in the way we groom ourselves, how we dress, how we act and what we say.

**We are helping God with his work. It's "take a child to work day," and we get to be part of it! We get to see that Father's work in action.

**Being disciplined (more of a disciple) is greater than being motivated.

**Every day, be "united" with your companion in "mighty prayer" like the disciples were in 3 Nephi 27:1, fasting from sin by "hungering and thirsting after righteousness" (D&C 59:13)

**Make our message enticing. You make your message enticing, engaging, and interesting by the words you choose and the way you deliver it, like Elder Holland. Say what moves you. Say it with feeling. Practice.

We learned so so much more. This just scratches the surface. At the end of our experience Elder McKay said, "If you've had a spiritual experience, you can never be the same. God expects us to change." In our mission, we love a growth mindset!! We never stop improving!!! We are truly so grateful to be serving as disciples of Jesus Christ!!!

Down with the Sickness 5/31/2022

 I got Covid-19.

 

Well, this week would've been a positive highlight from my mission of not for the past couple of days.

 

This week was our mission tour where Elder and Sister McKay got to come and observe the mission. They also got to speak to us every morning Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. On Wednesday we got to see them in person, and they even decided to sit down and have lunch with us and our district. It was a pretty great experience and we all learned how to effectively and efficiently work to see our results increase.

 

Tuesday we decided we'd go to mutual for the first time since we have unbaptized youth that attend. Long story short, their adoption papers just need sorting out so we just wanted to build a relationship with them. We learned how to draw a little bit with the deacons and teachers then played dodgeball and basketball with the priests.

 

On Thursday, we had a fantastic lunch again with Peter Martinez. This time we were joined by the Eldridge Park Sisters. He does a really good job encouraging us to make good decisions after the mission and learn to love and support those we are teaching. 

 

On Friday, after another lesson with the Olatoyes, Bro. Stuckey took us to get Baskin-Robbins and I had a headache like no other. I woke up the day totally sick and have been outta commission since. I got tested for covid and found out I'm positive, so we'll be stuck here quarantining until Thursday morning. Luckily, we did get Elder Unga and Elder Longman from Jones Creek to help give me a blessing and a quick trip to Walmart.

 

It's been a wild week for sure but it'll just be another short and small memory as a part of my whole mission experience.

 

-Elder Thompson

Blue Collar Man 5/24/2022

Its been a long grindy week. We're working our tails off out biking in the heat and knocling doors, but the days have all been worth it.

 

As we've been around the neighborhoods, we've had some awesome opportunities to talk to a lot of active and inactive member families which has been a blessing to us and im sure to them as well. We've also gotten to see alot more BoMs being handed out. 

 

Nothing too much else has really happened to take note of but its been the small and simple things that have helped us to find gratitude and be happy with where we are. 

 

-Elder Thompson 

Family Tradition 5/18/22

 Nothing too interesting happened this week but I'd say it was pretty solid overall.

 

After a long zoom meeting with our bishop and mission president and a member immigrant from Nigeria, we got the go-ahead to baptize Remi, so now she is on date. She was really excited to hear things worked out. We learned as well that the traditional wedding of families in Nigeria is still valid even though it gets really confusing for families that are trying to move to the U.S.

 

The rest of our time we've been doing a lot of biking and tracting out in the hot sun. It's really tiring but it most definitely worthwhile work and I've continually seen the blessings that come from serving the Lord.

 

-Elder Thompson

Mother 5/12/22

 This week definitely had its ups and downs. It made for a weird week for sure. May the 4th was this week too so may the force be with y'all as well.

 

We had a lesson with our friend Tabitha on Tuesday. She really liked what we taught her about the Plan of Salvation and the Book of Mormon, we can definitely see her progress in the future. 

 

Wednesday really threw us off track. We got a text from our bishop saying the Olatoyes are legally divorced, meaning we can't quite baptize Remi yet. It caused a whole mess of confusion and uncertainty when we tried explaining things to them, but they still remain ultra faithful and are ready to do whatever they need to get Remi baptized asap. 

 

That night I went on exchanges with Elder Stoddard to Pecan Grove, and the next day after district council we ended up spending way too long helping the Sisters in Eldridge Park do service for a lady. We helped cut palm leaves off, paint some stairs, and detail her garden decorations. It wasn't anything I'd ever think I'd help with.

 

On Friday Bro. Martinez from the Eldridge Park ward brought us a bunch of food and sat down at our outdoor lounge to discuss how we are in a fantastic place as missionaries and our futures will be bright and blessed. It was super nice and he wanted our moms to know that along with a heaping pile of barbeque we also had some carrots to be healthy. 

 

We got to help Bro. Boyce on Saturday with yard work. He chopped down a tree and we did the cleanup by bundling the sticks and raking leaves. We also got to see Bro. Harris again who we try and see every week as well as visit our friend Robert. We were exhausted by the end of the day being out in the hot sun working and biking. 

 

Sunday was Mother's Day and I got to lead the primary children singing in Sacrament meeting. There weren't a lot of kids, so I'm sure the congregation got to hear some of my horrendous vocals as well. I also got to lead singing time in Primary which was a blast. It's definitely something I never thought I'd do on my mission, maybe ever so I'm glad I got that chance. We then both got to help the children make some flowers for their mothers. 

 

To cap it all off, for our final p-day this transfer we went bowling as a district, so it was a great end to a turbulent week.

 

I want to end with my testimony of how much my mother has helped me get to where I am, and has helped me learn so much about the gospel and Jesus Christ. I'm grateful for her and everything she has done for me, even if I seem uncaring most of the time haha. I love you mom!

 

-Elder Thompson

Peace of Mind 5-4-22

 This week we did a ton of biking and going out to find people, and although it was tiresome, we found satisfaction in putting forth effort even with minimal results.

 

We had interviews with President Richards this week, and as much as i wanted to point out all the bad about the area, he did a good job encouraging me and my comp and thanking us for the hard work, so i didnt get the chance to remember everything I had to be upset about. Interviews are always a great way to make us feel like we're doing a great job and get advice on how to excel.

 

I'm not sure if im allowed to complain about this, but members have been giving us way too much food. Our goal as missionaries is to sit down and have a nice meal to get to know the members, then share a message to bring in the Spirit, then offer service or the ability to teach anyone they know. Our members our awesome, so much so that they all want to come by at some point to drop us off a meal. Its nice and all and appreciated, but our fridge gets overstocked and we can share a message with any of them. I know I shouldn't complain, this is spoiled missionary problems. I'm sure im gonna get transfered to an area without member support at all.

 

This week we did actually get to meet a few new people whether outside biking or inside over the phone, and we're excited to hopefully teach them in the near future.

 

My comp and I got to relax a little and have the pressure taken off of us when our friend Remi showed up to church this Sunday. That means that she will be able to be baptized on Saturday! It was all dependent on whether or not she was able to come to church. We also got to practice leading and singing with the primary kids at church for Mothers Day next week.

 

I'm grateful for all the opportunities and blessings Heavenly Father has given us as we've devoted our time to him and I know as we all put in effort to serve him we can reap the rewards of heaven.

 

-Elder Thompson

 

P.S. I couldn't get an amazing picture since we were in a car, but this is what my dream car would pretty much look like. I love all the sick cars and paint jobs here.

Monster 4/26/2022

 It was a kinda hectic week, and we did in fact witness some real-life monsters at one point.

 

Tuesday was wack. We taught our friend for a couple hours which turned into a Bible Bash, but then he decided to take us out to lunch afterward which was pretty unexpected.

 

On Thursday, we the mission got a live virtual tour of the sacred grove historical site which was super cool. We ended up having our district council at Cullinan park outside which was pretty cool since we just virtual visited a special forest and then got to be outside in a nearby forest. Elder Amrine and I went to the lake inside the park and looked around. We saw lots of birds, fish, turtles, snakes, and massive alligators. I don't think my pictures really convey how cool it was to have gators swim up to the deck and be right near your feet just chilling. There were some pretty massive ones too.

 

A couple of times throughout the week, members have had to bail us out and pick us and our bikes up since we constantly got flats. The roads here aren't biker friendly at all but we're staying positive and pushing harder.

 

Sunday we got to meet with a few members and even give a blessing to round out the week on a high note. P-day was extra awesome because we got to go to In N Out then I had a blast playing all sorts of fun guitars at the nearby guitar center.

 

It was a solid week and this upcoming one looks to be quite good as well. Keep looking towards Christ and having faith in Him.

 

-Elder Thompson