5/27/24 Week 20- Small Towns and Hour Drives

 his week has gone by so fast...all the days have been starting to blend together.

Monday was a lot fun!! Like last week we played baseball except this time it wasn't muddy. We also had 6 people again which is very interesting, but it was still fun regardless. For FHE we ended up playing some cards while the rest of the ward watched Princess Bride. 

Tuesday was district council, its always interesting being there's only 6 of us. But I like our district a lot. Other than that we taught the institute class again. It's too bad there's four of us teaching it, I would love to teach it all myself, but hey that's alright.

Wednesday we had interview with President John. I love him so much!!! We did a walking interview this time which was really cool. After lunch we decided to drive to a small town about an hour northwest and do some finding there and well we made 3 new friends!! It's crazy how much God can magnify our efforts!! Ok and the drive there was so beautiful.  AND I found a really cool old wooden plane at an antique store that I had to get. 

Thursday we had lessons with our friends Michael and Tyler! They are so awesome. Michael is getting baptized the 8th and Tyler volunteered to play the violin for it!!! We also prepared for our last institute class which was fun and I'm gonna miss teaching the class :( That's about it, other than volleyball. 

Friday we had a really cool lesson with our new friend Keathon! The rest of the day we drove to Nocona (another hour away) and knocked one of the apartments there and taught some really cool lesson with people we just met!! Southern hospitality is so real, I love it!! 

Saturday was a pretty normal day we just drove around to a bunch of contacts. We also stopped by an elementary school fair and bought some lemonade!! 

Sunday was a lot different than most Sundays. We had church like normal but there were some tornados that hit the night before so we went out and helped. It was so awesome to see that amount of people that gather together to help out during natural disasters!!! 

"God Shall Wipe Away All Tears"  By Elder Evan A. Schmutz Of the Seventy

I invite y'all to reason this talk!!!

Have a great week,

Elder Thompson 🪚

Pictures:

1. Baseball

2. Cats are cool

3. Elder Hansen caught Lacking 

4. Random Antique store 

5. We have one of these back home... reminds me of Fall, ifykyk

6. The cool plane I halfway restored already

5/20/24 Week 19- Mudball!!!

 Monday was probably my favorite pday I've had so far on the mission! We played baseball with my district and we'll the diamond was a little muddy...It was a lot of fun! I mean I hit a couple dingers which always makes it better. I also haven't played catch in a while so I loved that!! That night we had a sports night at the park and I got play pickleball with the chicken from last week and we beat the sisters of course.

Tuesday we had district council like usual, it was Sister Jones birthday so it was a party!! Other than that we prepared for our institute class that night. The class went super well!! It was 4 missionaries teaching in 60 minutes so we didn't have to do much! I also made the treats that went along with the class!!

Wednesday we didn't have much, we did have a lesson with our friend Ananta!! He's super cool and knowledgeable about the gospel! We also had a lesson with Michael our new friend... well he's ON DATE TO BE BAPTIZED JUNE 1st!!! what's super cool is he came to Sacrament meeting on fast Sunday and everyone started welcoming Michael over the pulpit during their testimonies!!  Institute class that night was actually different this time. It is now on the teachings of President Nelson!!! Such a great class, I'm so excited for what's to come!

Thursday was BAPTISM DAYYYY! Alex our friend who's been for just over 6 months was baptized! That was the best part of the day. We also went to some apartments and tried out best but that's alright, ALEX GOT BAPTIZED!! We also had volleyball afterwards. Did I mention, ALEX GOT BAPTIZED?!?!

Friday was a lot of fun too! We planned our institute class again... this time about what the 4 standard works. We also got to go out and play some family fued and the square!! We had a lesson with our friend Michael and ended the day with game night!

Saturday was a pretty normal day, we did get to have lunch with our Mission president which was the best. Afterward he went so deep into the meanings behind the things that happened before Adam and Eve were cast out of the garden of eden. So mind-blowing!! We also got to drive an hour west to visit an inactive member... he didn't answer but we were able to meet up with his super cool neighbors! We also played more family feud that evening and went to Coco Shrimp for dinner as well!!!

Sunday Alex got confirmed! And well we also had a linger longer after church. Let me just say that what I made for it was super tender and everyone loved it! I made miniature burger-style cake/brownies! See pictures!! It took all week to make them but it was worth it!

"And thus God breaketh the bands of death, having gained the victory over death; giving the Son power to make intercession for the children of men" -Mosiah 15:8

Have a great week yall!!!

Elder Thompson 

Pictures:

1. Muddy Baseball

2. Pt 2

3. Alex's baptism 

4. Alex pulled up on a Harley!?!?

5. New shades 😎 

6. I found a cyber truck 

7. Mini Donkeys!!!

8 & 9. Dessert Burgers 

5/6/24 Week 17- Master Builder 🪚

 Monday was a pretty fun day!! We went fishing first thing and I actually caught my first fish! I mean it was only a small blue gill but I'll take it. We also did a lot of antiquing, there's a really cool store here that's jam packed of stuff. That's basically all we did for pday, that night we played family feud for FHE which was awesome, I mean I lost by 6 points but that's alright.

Tuesday was a pretty normal day but we did have district council and taco tuesday which is always enjoyable. We had tacos that tasted like the ones from Sam's club Taco Kits!!! That's about it for Tuesday, we also had institute that night. And a lesson with our friend Alex who is on date for the 16th! 

Wednesday was Zone Conference!! This time was really good, we focused on becoming Master Finders. I mean our Mission President showed us a clip of Percy Jackson so of course it was good. He also referenced the Savior as a Master Builder... At the end the senior couple serving in the temple construction site told us all about the building process which I absolutely loved (you know how I am 😁 ) that satisfied my carpenter mind a little bit. They also got us Costa Vida for lunch!!

Thursday it was raining so we couldn't go on campus but we drove around and contacted people who have been previously taught. Crazy miracle is that we accidentally ran into someone who referred themself and we already had his number!! We also had volleyball and well that was really great!

Friday was a normal day until right after lunch when we were playing "scrappy ball" and Elder Hansen broke his phone... Anyway that meant we spent that rest of that afternoon driving around trying to find a phone with him and well no luck. We got to help a member hang a TV which is always enjoyable.

Saturday we got the opportunity to serve at the local homeless shelter. I got to do the dishes the whole time which was actually super fun. It gave me flash backs to working at Popeyes but that's alright :( I love serving people, that's been my favorite part of my mission so far! We also had the opportunity to go to a Barbecue with 10 or so members and have a great time!

Sunday was a pretty normal day. We had church which is always the best part of the week. We also got to walk around the square for a bit which was fun. We watched the Young Adult devotional with Elder Godoy and had nachos!! 

Have a great week yall!!!

"According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise master builder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon" 

-1 Corinthians 3:10

Pictures:

1. Baking some cookies

2. Elder Hansen

3. My first fish

4. Homeless Shelter Elder Hansen

5. Fishing 

4/29/24 Week 16- JESUS JEOPORDY

 Monday was awesome!! I mean it was my birthday so that was cool. But what we did was so much fun. We played games with my district for a while before we went fishing. My comp bought me a rod and reel and showed me how to fish. We didn't catch anything but that's alright... It was still enjoyable. For lunch, we had In N Out of course. And then I destroyed Sister Arkell at ping pong. But yeah that was a really fun pday!! Oh and for FHE we planted some bonsai trees! 

Tuesday was so much fun!! We had institute class like usual. We decided to change up our finding approach on campus. Instead of walking in circles the whole day, we set up a board with "questions of the soul" we talked to a lot of people that day! We've been trying to be more creative with what we do on campus! 

Wednesday was a lot of fun as well! We created a "Jesus Jeopardy" and instead of just choosing the questions they wanted, they had to throw a dart at the board to choose. So many people stopped to play! It was a really exciting way to find and meet new people. We also had institute that night which is always enjoyable!! 

Thursday was a little slower of a day because it was raining. We didn't have any time on campus to do any fun games. We did start making our next game... We were also able to have lessons with our new members Colin and Joshua!! And we had volleyball as well which was super fun like always!!

Friday was a lot of fun!! We went to the Denton Square and walked around asking people questions. Basically we make a "faith feud" game and we are doing the surveys ourselves which is another really cool opportunity to meet people!! We ran into a couple inactive members which is amazing!

Saturday was really cool. We went to the Denton Square and just talked to a lot of people by asking them to fill out our survey for "faith feud". Its been a lot of fun so far this transfer and I can't wait to see what else we do!! We also checked out the fair that was happening on our apartment street, I found a really cool shirt. And we ran into a member from Houston!!!

Sunday we did a lot of walking around the square, we met so many cool people!! We also had lessons with our new friends Nick and Alex. Both lessons were so cool. Alex had been taught before but he is a private military contractor so sometimes he just randomly disappears. The spirit was so strong, and well we invited him to be baptized and he said yes!!! Anyway that was Sunday!

"And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him... And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" Matthew 3:16-17

Have a great week yall!!

-Elder Thompson 

Pictures:

1. Birthday Breakfast

2. Star Wars pinball 

3. Sir Lance-a-lot the turtle 

4. Denton Town Hall 

5. DISTRICT COUNCIL

6. JESUS JEOPARDY!!!!

7. Caught Lacking

8. I made Lucky Charms cookies!!

9. YeeYee

10. "If I beat you, you get baptized" 😂

4/22/24 Week 15- Greenie Exchange

 This short week has been really fun and super crazy with all the miracles that happened! 

Wednesday we didn't do much, we had a breakfast with our district! We had crepes which were really good!! And then we also had a night institute class.

Thursday was transfer day! It's crazy how smooth it went, I was expecting it to be more chaotic. Whats crazy is we don't find out who our new companion is until we get to the church... Anyway my new companion is Elder Hansen!!! He's literally the best.

Friday was pretty hectic, we had our afternoon institute class and then afterwards we made a really cool poster that we're going to start using on campus. Let's just say that the last two transfers I was bored out of my mind walking in circles and well it wasn't that effective. We have some really fun ideas that should spice up our finding. 

Saturday was really cool because I got to do an exchange with a missionary who got here 2 days ago. We decided it was a good idea to drive an hr west to visit one of our inactive members. When we got there of course he didn't answer :( Before we left we decided to knock on the house across the street. That was definitely the Holy Ghost prompting us to do that! And what do you know, the guy we met has been around missionaries before and his wife was a member!! He was a really sweet guy and super cool. It's crazy the people you run into!

Sunday we had church and our friend Colin blessed the sacrament and he was fantastic!! He is super solid and I can't wait to see what he becomes. Anyway we also helped a new member in our ward move in, he's also the new Ward Mission Leader assistant. That evening we had the chance to go to what we call a "why I believe" musical fireside. The spirit was so strong!! We also were able to bring our friend named Alex who hasn't been taught for a while and he really enjoyed it!

That's it for me but I hope y'all have a totally tubular week!!!

"And he hath power given unto him from the Father to redeem them from their sins because of repentance; therefore he hath sent his angels to declare the tidings of the conditions of repentance, which bringeth unto the power of the Redeemer, unto the salvation of their souls" -Helaman 5:11

Pictures:

1. Elder Hansen and I!

2. District from last transfer

3. Baptism from last week!

4. Baker mode activated ✅️

5. District again

4/17/24 Week 14- Total Eclipse of the Heart

 This week started out in darkness... literally!

And also it's the end of my second transfer already?!?!

Monday was super fun, the solar eclipse happened and were were in the path of totality so we got to see how cool it was. We watched it as a zone at one of the church buildings just outside our are and there were a lot of people who traveled from Utah. And for FHE that night we went to a really cool nature reserve/trail. It got dark half way through so that was fun. I mean it was us the sisters and 4 guys from our ward so it was a lot of fun. 

Tuesday we didn't do much, our friend Damonte had his baptismal interview and he brought a friend with him. So we got to talk his friend RJ and introduce him to the Gospel! The rest of the day was great.

Wednesday was pretty busy, we had our interviews with President John and he's awesome! He even decided to shine all of our shoes!! That must if the afternoon because people were taking a long time in interviews. That night we had institute which is always fun!

Thursday was freaking awesome! We went to the temple with our Friend Colin to do proxy baptisms. He loved it, it just sucks that the temple will be closed starting Monday until the end of the semester. And of course the only way we could celebrate, we went to In n Out afterward!! Volleyball was fun as well, we had a lot of new people come this week.

Friday was also really great!! The biggest thing that happened was that our friend Damonte got baptized!!!! It was a really cool experience and he even brought 2 of his friends to watch. His friend RJ is wants to get baptized now, he says he just needs time to prepare. Afterwards we got Little Ceasers (Shoutout: Tyson Lockwood) to celebrate. Then we went to the game night at we played Uno no mercy. It was a hectic game, but I one in one turn. 🙃

Saturday was slower than the rest of the week. We did go to texas roadhouse for lunch! I never thought they had those in texas... Anyway the rest of the day was pretty chill just visited some people and had a lesson with one of our friends.

Sunday, Damonte was able to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost!! He is so elect! That really all we did Sunday... I mean the APs visited us but that's a whole other deal :(

We also were fed by a member which I'd rare! He treated us really well by smoking beef ribs for us!!

Monday was a pretty laid back day, nothing much happed. For FHE we tye-dyed some shirts which was fun!

Tuesday was also pretty chill as well. Just our two institute classes and a lesson with our recent convert Joshua!

I hope y'all have a great week!!

-Elder Thompson 

Pictures:

1. The Eclipse 

2. The moment before I win Scum

3. Zone watch Party 

4. FHE hike!

5. This photo of my sister is to good not to share...

6. Ward Volleyball!!

7. I was bored so I made this cake 

8. Left to Right 

Me, Damonte, Omanze (He's from the Sacramento area too!), Elder Gulden 

4/8/24 Week 13- "if you don't give an acceptable talk, you can be banned"

 This week was pretty cool figuratively not literally :(

Monday was really fun because we had our once a transfer zone pday. Let's just say I played volleyball for almost 3.5 hours. I was so tired and exhausted at the end of it. That night for FHE we had an Easter egg hunt for April fools day...I don't even know why. Oh and also there was a tornado warning and the sirens went off during FHE that was fun... Nothing happened from it so that cool.

Tuesday was a pretty normal day we had taco tuesday at the institute and we met a few people on campus. That's about it

Wednesday was also a uneventful day besides our institute class that we had that night. We were reading in leviticus and specifically the rituals that were preformed by the high priests on the day of passover. It's really cool to see all the parallels and foreshadows that point directly to Christ

Thursday we had a super cool lesson with our new friend Donovan. We found him on campus last week and gave him a Ɓook of Mormon and we asked him if anything stuck out to him when we met up. He said that the first picture of Jesus in the ƁOM was cool to him because he had the same picture in the back of his phone... his mom gave it to him sometime during covid. It's crazy because it was one of the pass along cards we give out to people and he didn't know that until we pointed it out to him!! So many miracles can come from just talking to everyone!!!

Friday was alright too, we had quite a cool walking around campus talking to people about general conference and inviting them to it. We went to Braums for dinner and of course I got the Bag of Burgers again. One of these days I'll be able to eat all five burgers in one sitting... we also had a game night and we played Secret Hitler, I was Hitler twice. I lost both times but of course that's because I totally couldn't not let Hitler win as a missionary and chose to loose both times. Just kidding.

Saturday was conference and let me just tell you, when you're a missionary, at least in my experience it's so much better!! David A Bednars talk was probably my favorite from that day. I just really like when people bring up the importance of having a firm Fondation on the rock of Christ! Also President Holland's talk was really good!!

Sunday was really enjoyable as well. All the talks were super good! I enjoyed Elder Renlunds talk about the doctrine of Christ and comparing it to a kayaking trip. As a missionary we teach the Doctrine of Christ a lottt so it's cool to see it taught in that way! Overall I just liked all the focus that was put on temple covenants and going to the temple regularly!!

I hope yall have a good week!!

-Elder Thompson 

"Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good; yea, when thou liest down at night lie down unto the Lord, that he may watch over you in your sleep; and when thou risest in the morning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God; and if ye do these things, ye shall be lifted up at the last day" Alma 37:37

Pictures:

1. Part of FHE was "finger" painting.

2. Listen to scooby doo!

3. Elephants are cool.

4/1/24 Week 12- Holy Week!!

Tuesday was pretty chill. It was our temple pday so we got to go do a session in the Dallas temple! It's always cool to drive to Dallas because it's outside our mission... we also had dinner at a really cool Mexican place! 

Wednesday was a lotttt of walking, I think we ended up doing like 4 hours on UNTs campus that day. There was also an Easter focused testimony event at the institute building that night. There was probably like 60 people there!! It was a great experience.

Thursday was much of the same as Wednesday. We had a lesson with Colin who recently got baptized and with our friend Damonte who's on date for April 12th!

We also went to a really cool burger place called Burger Time Machine... it was super good!! And then we had volleyball which was fun as always. 

Friday we had another special institute class focused on the resurrection. We also had a service project at the local homeless shelter/food Bank. My companion and I and Korbin (a guy from our ward) were tasked with laundry which just meant we switched the loads and sat around for 30 minutes waiting for them to be finished. We had dinner at a placed called Rooster which was really good!

Saturday there wasn't much we did. I mean we tried visiting some inactive friends and invite them to church, but no one answered 🙃 . That's about it. Oh we also had grilled shrimp for dinner... that was realllly good.

Sunday was awesome!! Easter is always a great day being able to focus on Christ's atonement. Something really cool is that Colin who got baptized last week brought his non-member parents to church!! He also received Aaronic priesthood so that was so cool that his parents were there for that!

Anyway, I just want to share a brief testimony with yall that I know Jesus Christ lives and that because he was resurrected we can all be as well. I also know that similar to 3 Nephi chapter 11, Christ will tend to each of us and cares for us individually. I love the Savior and Heavenly Father and am so glad they have a plan for me!

"14 Arise and come forth unto me, that ye may thrust your hands into my side, and also that ye may feel the prints of the nails in my hands and in my feet, that ye may know that I am the God of Israel, and the God of the whole earth, and have been slain for the sins of the world. 

15 And it came to pass that the multitude went forth, and thrust their hands into his side, and did feel the prints of the nails in his hands and in his feet; and this they did do, going forth one by one until they had all gone forth, and did see with their eyes and did feel with their hands, and did know of a surety and did bear record, that it was he, of whom it was written by the prophets, that should come" - 3 Nephi 11: 14-15

Pictures:

1. Burger from burger time machine 

2. Laundry Duty (btw Korbin is 6'8)

3. Really cool BBQ place 

4. The shortbread I made for our linger longer... the sister missionaries liked them (the only opinions that matter)