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

Thunderstruck 10/11/2021

 Thuderstorms here get MASSIVE. They can last throughout the week and they keep things very interesting. We woke up to an insanely loud boom at about 5:20 this morning and for the next half hour I was occasionally woken up by bright flashes of lightning in the sky. I swear Zeus was seeking revenge on the one who stole his master bolt. (Props to you if you can catch what I'm tryna reference)

This week has been really great for me. We had lesson pass-offs, which was the opportunity for the missionaries in my transfer to teach to other trainers certain lessons and answer curtains questions that are frequently brought up. I had the unique and very daunting task of teaching my mission president, President Richards and one of our Aps, Elder Barrett, all alone. When it was all said and done, I surely made mistakes in my teaching, but since i messed up in front of some of the best missionaries, they gave me great advice and tips on how to effectively teach others.

As a zone, we decided to sanctify ourselves and prepare for Saturday, which was the day we were determined to witness and perform miracles. Our companionship finally got to see some members join our lessons and we also found more people than the goal we had set for ourselves. It was a blessing as we put more faith in Christ and allowed Him to help us see the good around us and experience miracles in our missionary work.

One thing I've been extra grateful for is all the responses I've seen to my social media posts and how wonderful it is to see others invite Christ into their lives. We ended our mission-wide fast from Facebook this week and I've already seen the benefit of learning how to use it to more benefit us and our work centered on our missionary purpose.

I'm so grateful for how close I've been able to grow to Christ and the opportunity I've had to help others to do the same. I'm so excited to continue to serve and teach others for the next couple of years.

-Elder Thompson

Elder Thompson Facebook Post 10/9/2021

 We all are here on the Earth to experience trials and hardships. As we go through difficult experiences, we can always remember to turn toward Christ for guidance and help.

This video was sent to me by my father when I was going through a rough time in my life and didn't know where exactly to go for guidance. He helped me understand through this story and his own testimony that we are all put on this Earth to face challenges, but we are also here to overcome them and become stronger and greater. Our Heavenly Father has a plan for each and everyone of us, and Christ is always there to guide us and walk beside us through the turmoil so that we may become perfected through Him.

What ways have you been able to turn toward Christ in the midst of trials? How have you seen Christ's help on your own life's journey?

#allthingstestifyofChrist

Video Shared:

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day SaintsThe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—Inspiration

February 23  · 

When an experienced runner decides to train for a 100-mile ultramarathon in a hostile desert, he must face the daunting task of doing something that seems impossible.

Like the runner, we on earth must face our own great adventures, traversing a seemingly endless array of life’s peaks and valleys, in our journey back to God. But as we do so, pushing through the darkest trials and obstacles, we gain perspective about why we are here and how to ultimately succeed.

In his 2019 general conference address “Your Great Adventure,” (https://bit.ly/3avDWrc) Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf explains that as “you stay on the path and trust in God, you will eventually find the way to your glorious destiny and back to your heavenly home.”

Elder Thompson Facebook post Oct 8, 2021

 Alma 26:3 Behold, I answer for you; for our brethren, the Lamanites, were in darkness, yea, even in the darkest abyss, but behold, how many of them are brought to behold the marvelous light of God! And this is the blessing which hath been bestowed upon us, that we have been made instruments in the hands of God to bring about this great work.

2 Nephi 22:2 Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid; for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also has become my salvation.

Music has been such an important part of my life. Listening to and playing music are some of my favorite activities. Singing and playing hymns are a great way to feel the Spirit and testify of Jesus Christ. These two Book of Mormon scriptures testify of the ability we each have to share the marvelous light of Christ with others. We can each be made instruments in the hands of God to bring about wonderful and mighty miracles. Like musical instruments, we can share a song with others, we need be in tune to able to ring out melodies for others to hear. As we are in tune with Christ and His gospel, we will be able to play a wonderful song, which is our testimony of our Savior and Redeemer Jesus Christ.

What ways have you been able to share your testimony of Christ with others? What have you done to be in tune with Christ and His Gospel? How have you been made an instrument in the hands of God?

#allthingstestifyofChrist

Paradise City

 

I don't think my idea of a paradise city quite matches up with that of Guns N' Roses. Although I'm sure the grass will be green and we'll all be pretty. Mine is much more like being in the presence of the Lord, surrounded by all of the people I love, enjoying peace and harmony with one another.

 

I got to experience a little bit of that here on Earth when I went to the temple with my zone on Thursday. It was an amazing spiritual experience that I won't soon forget. I was so grateful to have the opportunity to be in the Lord's house for a long while, and rest from my worldly cares and concerns as I focused on coming closer to Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father. It was awesome to be around so many great missionaries that helped the Spirit be felt where we were at and at the same time to feel like I was having a one on one experience with God. I will forever be grateful for the feelings of hope, courage, support, and strength that I gained from my temple experience.

 

General Conference was also a great weekend experience that will help not only me and my fellow full-time missionaries, but everyone to focus on the blessings of covenants and building our faith as we strive to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with others. As a little funny side note, I ended up having to eat 4 square meals from members on Sunday because our scheduling and communication was a bit off. It was not deliciously amazing and enjoyable as it sounds. Also, shout out to my good buddy Elder Madsen, who's got struggles on the complete opposite of the spectrum, going without water and plumbing for long periods in Brazil. I think my problems are just a teeny tiny tad bit more manageable. General Conference definitely helped me capitalize on the feelings I had at the temple and apply them to things I heard and learned and will help me do missionary work a bit differently and hopefully more effectively. Also Rexburg North Temple is gonna be super awesome, I'm so excited there's gonna be another one near BYU-I for me and my friends and family to hopefully attend in the future.

 

Our friend and recent convert Ken scared us earlier this week. As we were headed from his room in his group home out to the main living room, he tried getting out of his seat to grab his bedsheets to make the bed and he fell on the ground! From our inexperienced Eagle Scout assessment, we could tell he wasn't bleeding and no bones were sticking out or outta place, so we told him he was fine and helped him back in his chair. However, his old stubborn man assessment said he needed x-rays and immediate medical attention, so he casually and calmly dialed 911 as we tried talking to him about General Conference. An ambulance came and picked him up, an event that seemed all too normal and common for him and was way too embarrassing for us. No surprise to us, he was released the next day and back home safe and sound, feeling just a little tired and sore. He's doing alright and is still super excited for the temple as well as receiving a Patriarchal Blessing.

 

One last thing of note, Elder Wiley and I discovered that the keyboard in our closet actually does have a battery and works properly, so I've been messing around with it the last week or two. With the electronic beats and samples of the keyboard, a newly cleaned and repaired guitar, and a little bit of vocal and singing practice,  I'm on my way to have created the next big sci-fi pop rock 80's love ballad of the 21st century by the end of my mission.

 

This week overall has been such a blessing, especially after the slow week I had l had last, and I know it's been an answer to my prayers. I know that as we continually ask for blessings, and act on opportunities to produce those blessings for ourselves and others, we can look back and count our many blessings and see that they are numbered even greater than before.

 

-Elder Thompson

 

P.S. Some of the pictures don't need any stories or explanation for them to be enjoyed, I'm sure I'll share some of those stories later on. There should also hopefully be more temple pics coming soon.

 

Dazed and Confused 9/28

 

Pretty much sums it up. That's how I'm feeling at the moment. Dazed from continual exhaustion and stress, confused from the multitude of lessons set up as well as the multitude that fell through.

 

Tuesday we had zone conference and I got to have lunch with our zone and the League City zone, so I got to see Elder Farris again. We continued to talk about covenants and learn more so we could be more prepared for our upcoming temple trip this Thursday.

 

The rest of the week we had a couple of lessons with new and former investigators, but for the most part we were trying to contact people and set up lessons while most of our lessons fell through, which was so tiring and frustrating. Luckily we had enough member meals throughout the week and a great break the fast as a ward on Sunday yo keep us in light spirits.

 

I'd like to echo some great words our friend Ken always has for us. He makes sure that we know "it's all about our hearts and where are hearts are at. It don't mean nothing if our heart isn't in the right place." I know that to be true. I know Heavenly Father sees our efforts and know that in either success or failure if we continue to put diligent effort in with a desire to serve, we will be blessed by Him for those efforts. 

 

-Elder Thompson

Rainier Fog 9/21/2021

 

It turns out that the massive tropical storm that was supposed to come and wreck us didn't actually come close to devastating our area. Maybe a couple trees fell over and some old fences too. What Pearland got was some clouds and a foggy blanket of mist with some decent wind and a couple hours of hard rain. It seemed like just another day's weather in the bay area and I loved it. 

 

For the most part our week was nonstop trying to contact the 50 trillion referrals we have in our area. It seems like everyone and their mother responds to the church's ads in our area, but 1/10 people actually give us some sort of response. It seems like two minutes after someone gives us their name, phone number, address, email address, date of birth, political preference, color of their shirt, social security number, favorite food, etc. and answer a list of questions to gauge their interest, they completely forget about it and lose interest in meeting with us. It's not possible to respond to the ads on accident but it seems that no one remembers taking 10 hours out of the day to input all that information and sign up for a discussion with us. Like I said, there are a ton of people in this situation, no exaggeration there are 200+ like this.

 

One funny experience we had the other day was when we talked to the Peterson's at church. Bro. Peterson is the first counselor in the mission presidency and they love meeting with and feeding all the missionaries. They randomly asked if we wanted a half eaten cake and we could get it from them after church. Turns out, the cake was horrible, and I think Sister Peterson knew that and took pity because she texted us as some point and asked if we wanted to have breakfast with their family and watch general conference with them.

 

I'm living the dream right now and I'm super excited to keep sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with others and continue to be a representative of Christ and share His light with the world.

 

-Elder Thompson