April Showers 2

Mom and Dad, 

It's been obviously another awesome week on the mission. This Wednesday will be my 3 month mark and it doesn't feel like I've been here more than 3 weeks! I can't believe how fast time is going by. I only have 1 year and 9 months left. but I don't like to look at it that way. I like to think that no matter how far into the mission I get, I'll always have 2 whole years left.

Some information about missionary things. We all went to the beach last week and buried each other in sand. It was super fun! I've only been to the beach like 3 times in my life! When I was stuck in the sand, they starting tickling me and I couldn't move so all I could do was sit there and scream..... that stunk! We also got to see our first Netball game. It's like a weird version of basketball that is like mixed with ultimate frisby.. All the girls play it here. and the hoop they throw the ball through doesn't even have a net! ????? hahaha oh well. One of the little kids that just got home from New Zealand saw us with the American football and asked where we got it. We told him from America and he asked us if we were born there and we said yes, and then he was really confused then said.. "Wait, I thought you guys were from Afghanistan?" hahahahahahahahahah oh man........ that was funny. What a goofball. 

Some information about missionary work. I love the missionary work the best. Early last week we had a special training by Elder Pearson of the seventy. It was really really really really really intense. It pumped us up spiritually but at the same time was like a 7 hour rebuking. Oh man it was crazy. I learned a lot to say the least. That'll change my life. After that our week started off really well with teaching lessons, but then we had a lot of cancellations later on in the week so it ended up being a pretty normal week numbers wise. President Simmons has instructed us that we are to make the effort to get at least 2 hours of finding in every day. For finding we can either do tracting or GQ'ing which stands for general questioning, thats when we just go out on the streets and talk to everyone. and we can also go around and contact people who are potential investigators. Sometimes finding can be really fruitfull and at other times not. We tract a lot of really huge rich houses, it is just crazy insane how fancy they are. It's awesome! I think we have knocked on a couple castle doors. It is our belief however, that if we do our 2 hours of finding every day. It works as "miracle insurance". So even if the doors we knock on don't end up working out, since we were obedient, we qualify for miracles else where. Like in member referrals, or a lesson will go really well or something like that. So it all works out :) We haven't followed up on the lady we met while getting the car towed because we referred her other elders. but I don't think it would hurt to give her a call and see how things are going. That's a great idea! I'll do that today. Thanks Dad! 

We did get to watch General Conference last week. It was way awesome! I think my favorite talks were the one by Boyd K. Packer about the little children, The rescue for Real Growth, by Richard C. Edgley. and the one about Natually and Normally sharing the gospel by David F. Evans. 

Sounds like you are all having a fun, happy, productive time at home! I love you all and miss you! I look forward to seeing the pictures and videos of whats going on back in Zion! 

I never forget to keep you guys in my prayers. Keep your eyes single to the glory of God. Because thats all that matters! 

Love Elder Thompson!

He is Risen

Dear Mom and Dad, 

It's been a really good week! Kinda slow though because of General Conference and having our car break down! When we went to go on exchanges with the Assistants to the president, Elder Lyman and I left in their car to go do our thing and Elder Russell and Elder Whalley went to our car. We got a call from them a few minutes later saying that the car wouldn't start, so they just stayed and talked to everyone that was on the street. The next morning at about 7:30am when we were having the car towed, this lady's car was boxed in by us and the tow truck so I went and talked to her, while Elder Russell steered the car onto the flat bed. She was really friendly and had never seen missionaries before or know who mormons were. I quickly taught her what we do and handed her a card we have which has four questions on it. I explained to her that we help people find the answers to the questions on the card. I asked her which one stood out most to her and she got a little emotional and replied 'where do we go after this life?". She then explained that 6 months prior, her baby boy was killed in a car accident and she was really troubled whether or not he was ok. The spirit was strong. I bore my testimony of what I know to be true about life after death and the plan for our salvation. I told her our story about Tanner, and then told her that just as I know I'll get to meet my brother one day, she has the ability of one day being together with her son again. Forever.  I could tell that she had been comforted and I asked her if we could teach her more another time and she was very open to it. She lived out of our area so I referred her to another companionship and have yet to hear how it went after that. When I finished talking to her we went and hopped in the tow truck to head to the dealership to get the car fixed. They said they would have the car done by about 5pm. Later that day after we had walked all the way to an appointment. it was about 4pm and we noticed that we have a new voice message on our phone that came at about 10 am. Our car was done. and we had walked around on a hot day for nothing! hahaha turns out that when they got the car it worked perfectly for them and they discovered that our Corolla had experienced a malfunction that only 3 other cars of it's model had ever had. It was about a one in 10,000 chance and once it happens, as far as they know, the car should never have it happen again. That dealership never worked on a car with the problem before and toyota doesn't have a solution for it yet. 1 in 10,000 chance. and it happened in perfect time to find this woman who needed the comfort and healing powers of the atonement, the restoration of the gospel, and the holy ghost. We would normally not be out of the flat this early. if it weren't for the car getting towed. We would have missed her. and ultimately nothing was wrong with the car. These are the kind of miracles that we experience every single day. When you devote all your time to service, your eyes are opened to all sorts of things in which the Lord's hand is very prominent. I'm so thankful for this opportunity. 

Tomorrow, we have another conference thing in which Elder Pearson, the area Authority is coming to speak and lead a training thing. I'm really excited about that. Our family that left to new zealand just got back yesterday and so we went to visit them last night real quick but we are going to pick up right where we left off! Those kids are cute as, i need to get a picture with them! They were so excited to see us last night but they were all really tired from all the travel! 

Looks like it's been an awesome week for the family! Time is just going by so fast! I love to hear what's going on every week! About bishop's daughter, I'm not sure who that is.. she lived after getting run over by a car twice?? that's a miracle! I haven't heard anything about mother's day yet, when is it? I'll let you know if we skype for it.

For my birthday I went and got an Aussie rule's football, football. and we have been kicking and throwing and punching it almost everywhere we go. Today we are probably going to go kick it around on Brookvale Oval where the Manly Sea Eagles play. their stadium is just a public park so anyone can just go run around in it if they want. It's awesome! Some people also gave us some sweet aboriginal stuff. A wooden snake and a genuine dot painting! It was pretty sweet. 

I look forward to next week! Thanks so much for all of your sacrifices. I love you both and thank you for all your prayers. Make next week another spirit filled fun week! The church is true! 

Love, Elder Thompsom

Happy Birthday

Dear Mom and Dad and Family and Friends,

I love the picture of my birthday cake!! It cracks me up with the digital frosting put on there! hahaha I loved my birthday present too!! I wear my shirt ALL the time and I didn't blow up my tooth brush charger this time. My mouth feels squeeky clean again!! They don't have an Easter roo.. which is too bad. Lot's of chocolate though! They had friday, saturday, sunday, and today as a public holiday. They really take good friday seriously.  Elder Russell and I went to send off a package at the post office in the mall and it was a ghost town. Felt like we were in the movie I am Legend! 

I can't believe how fast Lydia is growing! I can barely picture her as anything but a newborn and now she is starting to look like a Johansen/Thompson alot! She and Grant are so cute!  I've seen posters all over for the hunger games movie but haven't heard a lot about it though. I REALLY want to see that new battleship movie with Leam Neeson in it!! THAT LOOKS AWESOME!!! It is on like every single bus I see! You say that your job would be good for a dog to have but I'm thinking more along the lines of a parrot! They can talk. The other day I put some bread out on the porch for birds to eat and a lorikeet flew up which is kinda like a parrot. They are really pretty birds vibrant green red blue and yellow. I was watching it eat and it looked up at me and squaked "Hello!" hahahahaha I couldn't believe it!! And neither should you, because thats just a joke... I wish it happened though! 

Things are going well with the people investigating the church. Lot's of miracles have been happening or are now pending. Lot's of the miracles happened on exchanges so I'm not really sure whats going on with all of them. This was a pretty short week because I had a two day long training that I went to near the temple.  Our guy named Deacon with the baptismal date gets home this weekend from new zealand so we are looking forward to that! There are at least 2 others that will hopefully get baptised by the end of May! I'm just so stoked! 

My birthday was yesterday here, but today for you! I couldn't really get anyting yesterday because it was sunday but I DID get myself a George Foreman grill last week :) it's going everywhere with me! Today I will probably go get something good to eat. Some members are taking us out for dinner! I didn't even realize that Tia and I would be having birthdays at the exact same time! That's awesome! Happy birthday Sis!!

Speaking of the Yardleys. Tell Tyrell that I am still waiting for a wedding Invitation please!! Thats awesome that Tyler got called to Detroit! Same misson as President Reed's son Steve!! I wonder if they will get to be companions! Elder Russell and I have probably about 3 more weeks together. After that I should be taking over the Manly Area. There is speculation that I will be training... we'll see what happens though. 

Ya know.. if you somehow were able to vacuum seal that Easter feast you could probably send some to me :) hahaha that sounds sooooooooo good!  I love my misson plaque! Looks awesome! Is that one hanging in the 25th ward or the 8th ward? or both? Hopefully the Jazz do good! If not, I'm still a Jazz fann for life!! 

So good to hear from everyone! Sounds like things are going awesome and fun at home! Keep it up! Good to hear from you too Kannon! How is school going? Still cant believe you took so many credits! Thats gotta be hectic! Oh! you should send me the picture of the hole in your hand! Elder Russell wants to see it! 

Anyway, Love you all! Have a happy Easter!

April Showers

Mom and Dad, 

I can't wait to watch conference!! I have never been so excited to watch it and receive new counsel from our prophet, aspostles, and other authorities! I just love president Monson. I got the DVD about his life called on the Lrds errand for $2 when I went to the distribution center after the temple. Going to the Temple was awesome. I wish we could go every week!! It just pumps you up! I also got the churches latest Almanac for free which has heaps of awesome information about the church, it's people and statistics. 

We do have a loud air con unit that is good white noise which helps me sleep but we don't really use it anymore because it is cooling down now. The dryer is a pretty good white noise though so maybe I'll try that! Put me to sleep just like when I was a baby!

Lot's of miracles have been happening. While I was on exchanges, Elder Fornaro and I were at the chapel while the baptismal font was filling up for an 8 yr old's baptism and I looked outside and saw this girl maybe earlys 20's walking past and felt all of a sudden a prompting that she needed to be talked to. I was in the building though and so I couldn't get out there in time to talk to her as she was almost out of my sight so I just kinda forgot about it. A few minutes later I looked out the front doors and saw a faint reflection off the glass door and who was just outside talking to a member?  It was that girl! Turns out, a member just simply waved to her and then she came walking over and said she was new to the area and had been wondering what time our church services were at. I believe that she had been prepared to receive the gospel and that the Lord had reached out to her. I think she came to church yesterday. I'll have to check. She would have gone to the other ward. 

This week in the Manly area we had 4 new investigators. 2 of them are a Professional Rugby player and his girlfriend. Can you believe that?? He is really cool! It's a good thing I'm not familiar with all their pro athletes and stuff or else I would probably be star struck. I think we might be allowed to go to one of his games too :) His name is George Rose and he plays for the Manly Sea Eagles. he is really big! hahaha His girlfriend is really awesome too. They are so humble. We taught them the Plan of Salvation and they understood and accepted very well. 

That's good to hear that you got treatment for your knee before things got too bad. Hopefully it doesn't affect you too bad in the future! I'll look forward to hearing about how is it healing. Make sure you get a blessing! 

I'm excited for my birthday next week! It'll be easter so people are proabably going to give me heaps of chocolate! I can't wait! Too bad I won't get to watch conference on my birthday though :( I think my package has come already, I got a card to redeem it at the post office. We went to go pick it up that day but the card said to pick it up after 4:30 but the office closed at 5. We made it to the post office on time.. wrong post office.. hurried to the next post office on time.. wrong post office.. had a few minutes to get to the post office that we knew for sure was it (because someone finally gave us the address) but there was a guy who we helped change a flat tire.. so we didn't make it to the post office on time but we got to be in the right place at the right time. That's a miracle! I'm going to go pick it up today. I can't decide if I want to wait until my birthday to open it though.. Today I am going to the mission office for special training that goes all the way until tomorrow. Elder Russell isn't going to the training so he'll be in a different area. I'm pretty excited to learn! I love being on a mission! It's super fun! Have a great Easter weekend next week! I love you Mom and Dad and everyone who reads this! 

Love, Elder Thompson