3/26/2024 Week 11- BAPTISM WEEK!!!!!!!

 This week was really busy, but so many amazing things happened!!

 

Monday we didn't do much given it was pday. We played some card games with our district! And for FHE we played Salem (a really cool game similar to mafia) it was really fun because the killers change throughout the game...of course I won.

 

Tuesday we had a lesson with our friend Colin. He's super cool!! He really loves star wars so I can relate to him pretty easily. And during the lesson we moved his baptismal date to the 23rd of March!! 

 

Wednesday we had Zone Conference which mainly focused on the importance of reverence in all that we do as missionaries and simply as disciples of Christ. It came to back to the idea that reverence not only invites revelation but brings God more fully into our lives by doing what he asks of us. We also had lessons with our friends Damonte and Joshua! They are both solid and Joshua is also getting baptized the 23rd of March!!

 

Thursday was the only day we really got to walk around campus and well we met a few really cool people. We also got to go out to dinner with my favorite uncle (of my uncles named Charley)...anyway it was super fun and the food was good too. That's about it, I also started an exchange with the Spanish Elders again! 

 

Friday was a lot of fun!! All the lessons that were scheduled in the Spanish area had someone who also spoke English so I was able to share brief thoughts with them! Decatur is a great place to be... it's definitely what I thought of Texas was like. 

 

Saturday was Baptism day!!! Our friends Joshua and Colin got baptized! It was a great day for both of them and well the turn out from our ward was awesome. We also had homemade cinnamon rolls after... Sister Jones always makes the best food.

 

Sunday was pretty chill, Joshua and Colin both got confirmed so that was super cool! We didn't much other than that. 

 

Monday for FHE we did a "Color War" which was basically us just throwing chalk at each other for 5 minutes! After that we just ended up hitting the volleyball back at forth.

 

Hope all yall have a GREAT week!!

-Elder Thompson

 

Pictures:

1. A really good pizza place we went to!

2. My favorite relatives (of my relatives that live in Oklahoma!)

3. Mexican thrift stores are cool.

4. From Left to Right

Me, Colin, Joshua, Elder Gulden

5. Another car... 

 

3/18/2024 Week 10- HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL

This week was pretty eventful despite being really short!!

 

Wednesday was our Pday and we got to eat lunch one last time as a district!! The sisters that were leaving decided to start singing a bunch...a lot of High school musical, they even started doing the dances. It gave me flash backs to 8th grade theatre... It also reminded me of my sisters who like to sing all the time. Oh and our apartment flooded in the morning, that story is for another time though...

 

Thursday we drove around a lot and tried to visit some of our inactive friends and those who were previously taught by missionaries. Nobody answered except for one friend who was no longer interested. The fun part of the day was playing volleyball!!

 

Friday was filled with more of the same. We went knocking for a little bit and found a new friend... she didn't answer when we came by again so that's unfortunate.

 

Saturday I got to do an exchange with a couple elders who had a baptism! The first hour I was with them we spent that time looking for a jumpsuit and none of the buildings in the stake seemed to have any... 

Their friend Jose was still able to get baptized so that was awesome. After that we went to Whataburger, it was my first time and it was really good. Still not as good as in n out but pretty close. 

 

Sunday was pretty fun, our friend Colin was able to come to church!! (Our other friends are still out of town for spring break). Our ward also had dinner for the relief society devotional and of course we got the leftovers. It was some really good lasagna 😎.

 

"And now, O my son Helaman, behold, thou art in thy youth, and therefore, I beseech of thee that thou wilt hear my words and learn of me; for I do know that whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials, and their troubles, and their afflictions, and shall be lifted up at the last day"- Alma 36:3

 

Hope yall have a great week 🤘⬇️

-Elder Thompson 

 

Pictures

1. District Lunch

2. Sorry I really need to take more pictures.

 

 

3/13/2024 Week 9- Smells Like Teen Spirit

 This past week has been a little longer because we have transfers this week. It's absolutely crazy how fast my first one went!!

 

Anyway on Monday for FHE we did carpool karaoke which basically meant we drove to a couple destinations while blasting music... in our car we listened to a random mix up of songs. From Nirvana to breakup songs to Amish Paradise. That was a really fun activity, I also didn't realize how random Nirvana's lyrics were until I started singing along.

 

Tuesday we had three more lessons with a few of our progressing friends. The day was packed with district council and other stuff so we weren't able to make to campus all day. 

 

Wednesday we did a lot of walking on campus but because it's the week before spring break no-one wanted to talk to us. We were able to find one new person!!

 

Thursday it rained all day and there's was thunder and lighting every few minutes. And it was loud! We also had a lesson with our friend Colin. We taught him more about the Doctrine of Christ, my companion and I planned on inviting him to be baptized and well I had the prompting to do so after reading 2 Nephi 31 and Colin's response confused both of us. I thought I did something wrong. Anyway Colin is  preparing to be baptized on April 6th!!! Since it was pouring rain we decided to go knock some doors instead of walking on campus and we found a family who is intrested in learning more!

 

Friday was interesting because no one was on campus. We were still able to have a lesson with our friend Damonte!

 

Saturday was an adventure!! We brought in our car for an oil change and well it took a long time and we had a baptism we were going to with one of our friends. We ended up walking 2 1/2 miles to the church building! When we got there our friend said he needed gas. My companion offered to buy him gas so we ran 1/2 a mile to the nearest gas station to meet our friend. I was wearing my boots so that was a fun time... It was all worth it. Our friend was able to make it!!!

 

Sunday was a pretty normal day, a couple of our friends made it to church. Our other friends already left for spring break.

 

Monday was awesome!! So basically our mission did a kahoot on preach my gospel last week and of course my companion and I won! I think we have almost 200 missionaries so thats pretty neat. Our prize was a massive breakfast at the Mission home!!

 

"He that is slothful shall not be counted worthy to stand, and he that learns not his duty and shows himself not approved shall not be counted worthy to stand. Even so. Amen" -D&C 107:100

 

Pictures:

I need to start taking more pictures...

3/4/2024 Week 7- Squirrels

 This week has been pretty normal, we got to meet a lot of new friends!

 

Monday was our pday so we were able to play volleyball with our zone. It sounds like zone pdays are getting canceled next transfer, I'm not excited about that. For FHE we were supposed to do minute to win it games but the person in charge had to work late so it just turned into people doing whatever they wanted. 

 

Tuesday was pretty fun we were able to have a lesson with our friend Kyre and we talked about the doctrine of Christ and the importance of baptism... and well he'll said  always wanted to be baptized! It was a really easy baptism invitation!!

 

Wednesday nothing too exciting happed. We were on campus for almost 4 hours and it was alright. It decided to get "cold" it was in the 40s all day, which was crazy because on Tuesday it was in the mid 80s. 

 

Thursday we were able to go to a wedding reception and it was pretty cool. They were a couple that was technically in our ward but we've only seen them a couple times. I mean going to a wedding on your mission is pretty unlikely so I'll take it.

 

Friday we had lessons with 3 of our friends with baptismal date. Kyre and Damonte are super solid and we think they'll be ready for their dates! 

 

Saturday we were able to drive up to Gainesville which is about 45 minutes away. Anyway on the way back it was pitch black and the GPS was taking us on a bunch of frontage roads...

 

Sunday we had 4 friends come to church which is the most since I got here!! And bonus, it was our friend Kyre's first Sunday and he went up and bore his testimony about Joseph Smith!?!? HE IS GOLDEN!!

 

"For none of these iniquities come of the Lord; for he doeth that which is good among the children of men; and he doeth nothing save it be plain unto the children of men; and he inviteth them all to come unto him and partake of his goodness; and he denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female; and he remembereth the heathen; and all are alike unto God, both Jew and Gentile" 

2 Nephi 26:33

 

Pictures:

1.  A purple car that's not as cool as mine back home...

2. This was a month ago already!

3. Denton is known for squirrels 🍽

     (If you know you know)

4. Sunset in Gainesville

5. Another cool looking car