September Morn

September 2, 2013

Dear Family,

Another great week!

So this week we spent a lot of time preparing for the mission tour with Elder Hamula. It was such a pleasure to have him here in our mission again. He is amazing! I love the way he teaches us, it's so clear and edifying to everyone. There were two zones of the mission that did not get to attend the meeting. Unfortunately it was only about a 3 hour meeting so it wasn't really worth it to bring in 35 missionaries from 4-6 hours away for a meeting that was less than half the driving time, let alone finding a place for them to stay the night before. I felt bad for them though because it was a great meeting. The day before the whole mission meeting we had Elder Hamula preside at our mission leadership counsil (MLC). Usually every set of zone leaders and sister leaders stands and gives an accounting for their zone that month. This time however, Elder Hamula only wanted the assistants to give a 20 minute accounting for the whole mission. That was scary... but it all worked out really well. After the mission conference Elder Hamula had to head straight to the airport but he had planned to spend a personal 15 minutes with me and Elder Haeata to compliment us but this didn't happen because of the hurry but he had President Lew tell us how impressed he was, so that was a nice "reward" for all the stress of the week :) 

Also, yesterday we had our second recent convert fireside as the Australia Sydney South Mission. It went REALLY well. It was fathers day here in Australia so the attendance wasn't as much as we hoped for but it was still a really good turnout. Probably had like 60 or 70 people there. Sister Lew took about 35 minutes and shared her conversion story, it is incredible the experiences she went through in Hong Kong so that she could be baptized. There were a few people in the congregation that couldn't stop crying. One cool thing is that we had our own investigator there as well. I think that's the first time the assistants have ever had their own investigator at the recent convert fireside. It was Gabby, the one I've been emailing about lately. I think it was a really good experience for her. Something funny, the night before, we realized we had no refreshments for after the fireside so we went to the store and got like $45 worth of cookies and stuff. It's good to have the refreshments because after the meeting the members and investigators can mingle and stuff which is really helpful. Well, we drove all the way to the chapel where we were having the fireside which is about 40 minute drive and realized we forgot ALL the refreshments.. luckily some other missionaries were able to pick them up and bring them later hahah we were about to be devastated!

Anyway, this week should be nice and busy. We have to do our transfer planning. Last transfer, 2 people went home and we gained 30. This transfer 2 people are going home and we are gaining 37, then next transfer we lose 4 and gain 54. We have to buy and furnish 4 houses this week and then another probably 15 houses in the next 6 weeks.  I don't know how we will do it but we need the Lord help DESPERATELY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! unless he wants his servants to be homeless... well, he was homeless when he was here so I guess that could answer the question haha.  Nah I think he wants his servants to have a place to sleep and bathe. We might just have to do it Africa style, get the bucket! Love you all and hope you have a great week too! The church is true!!

Love, Elder Thompson

PS Have you been to the temple lately? I have :) Ya just gotta go!