Wild Side 11/2/2021

 I wanna start off by apologizing to anyone, especially my parents, who's ever had the laborious task of teaching me and other primary kids. It really is the crazy hectic side of church. We had the opportunity to teach with a member the Restoration and the importance of the church to both junior and senior primary, which was a load of fun but also super chaotic. I know understand why some members loathe being called to primary and some cherish it forever.

One day this week, as we were taking a long drive back from the church, Elder Zabel and I felt we should stop by a Pawn Shop to look around. I've never been inside one, and I wasn't interested in buying anything, but we felt we should go anyway. When we got inside, we started talking to this super cool lady, who told us she was a recent convert who had just moved and wanted to get in contact with missionaries again in her new ward and area so she could receive a blessing. It was a neat miracle to experience and helped remind me that the Lord works in mysterious ways.

Throughout the week as we were contacting people in stores, we ran into a member from my old ward and the sisters in my old area, who all told me that my friend and new convert Ken had fallen again and now he's in a care facility. We all hope he's doing alright and we all keep him in our prayers. 

Our ward had a trunk or treat which was OK, but the great part was we had our friend Hope and her three kids show up. We walked around with them and told them about us and our church as well as introduced them to the members of our congregations. She loved all of the members and their kindness and we even got her excited to come to church!

The last exciting thing that happened in our missionary work is we had a pass-off lesson with some Sisters from NC. We had a zoom meeting with our new friend Raymond and the Sisters and we taught him the Restoration. What was really interesting was that I knew one of the Sister's cousin fairly well, and I knew the other one's former companion fairly well, both were connections through my wards and FHE groups at BYUI. It's pretty crazy how small our world actually seems at times and it's always great to know friends of friends.

This week I've learned the difference in my work and success when im either in a cheerful and hopeful mood or if I'm in a discouraged and frustrated mood. Both start at the beginning of the day and what I choose to think or do affects my demeanor and attitude for the rest of the day. I know as we strive to be positive, the Lord will bless us for our positive efforts and willingness to try and do good.

-Elder Thompson

Fun, Fun, Fun 10/26/2021

 

This week actually had some pretty fun and interesting events outside of our usual missionary work. I guess I'll highlight some of the things we did.

 

We had a few dinners this week with members, and a couple times we did something I've never heard of before, we played board and card games with them after eating. It was a great way to connect with the members and we could still share a spiritual message with them afterward. It was a little unorthodox to me but I enjoyed that quite a bit.

 

On Saturday, our stake held a soccer tournament for all the wards. Our district as well as all the Chinese Elders showed up to play. I'm horrible at soccer due to my two left feet and absolutely despise the sport, and luckily I didn't have to substitute for ward members too often. The Chinese ward only had 3 members there so it was mainly comprised of Elders and they ended up winning the tournament. All the missionaries that stuck around got a medal for being in the championship.

 

P-Day was a blast, we did so many things I'd never thought to do. First off, we went to a super sweet second-hand Lego store, and it took all of my self-control and patience I'd learned over the years to not spend any money there. Of course I had to build something with the various pieces they had lying around to choose from, I think I left the store with a headache from trying to keep my hands away from my wallet. After playing a bunch of sports and board games with the district at the church. Elder Mortenson and Romney joined us at our apartment for a nerf war with the guns that had been left at our apartment. All of this stuff I had just never considered doing being out here on a mission but it was all pretty enjoyable.

 

The work here is definitely different. We're trying really hard to develop a good relationship with the ward members and they are trying really hard to find people for us to teach. It's different from my last area where finding and teaching was all focused on our own efforts of visiting older investigators and we didn't have much of a connection with the ward. Missionary work comes in all shapes and forms and I'm continually trusting in the Lord that no matter how we serve we are still able to invite others to come unto Christ.

 

-Elder Thompson

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

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