Navidad en Mexico

Lunes:

Today we went to the city center with Elder Gomez and Elder Trendler. We first went to the best panadero in Puebla and got some superbueno pan. Also, it was a good day to go because all of the stalls were open today. I was able to find a cool sweater, carved eagle whistle, and a cool top. That night we had a good lesson with Carmen and her grandaughter, Diana, about the Book of Mormon and getting answers.

Martes:

Today we ended studies earlier to go with an investigator that works in our area. Her name is Elizabeth and she run a superbueno tomale and atole stand. We tried to rekindle her faith and get her to commit to reading the Book of Mormon every day. Later that day we had to go to the area of the Hermanas to do the baptismal interview of their investigator. While Elder Clawson was interviewing her we got to watch Mormon messages on their TV. The Hermana´s investigator is worthy to have her baptism next week.

Miercoles:

Finally had a opportunity to teach Rafa again. We mainly talked about destroying his habit of smoking. We told him to brush his teeth after every meal and we were going to call him everynight (He has not answered our nightly calls yet 26/12). We also went to one of our recent converts named Osmar, who wants to go on his mission. We tried to help him prepare to ask his Dad (not a member). We also had the opportunity to teach the menos activo familia of Salvador y Alma. Elder Clawson shared his testimony and vision of what they could become if they start going to church again. It was super powerful.

Jueves:

We had another lesson with Carmen and Diana today. We started out talking about the Book of Mormon and if they had done their assigned reading. The granddaughter, Diana had and Carmen hadnt. We then asked Diana how she felt during the reading and she said she felt really good. We then asked them both if they would like to be baptised and Carmen went off listing reasons why she could not get baptised, but while she was going of Diana said Sí. We still have to see if Dianas mom will let her get baptised, but we hope she can.

Viernes:

Today we got attacked about Jose Smith. We went to a cita with an old couple and while we were talking their daughter came out to talk or more accurately argue with us. She just basically came out of the gate saying there is nothing in the Bible that says anything of Jose Smith. Nothing from Genesis a Apocalypses. I tried showing her Ezequiel 37:15 a 17 and she just stared at me and said it doesnt convince me. After more arguing we finally shared Santiago 1:5 and said the only way that she could know for herself is if she asked God. We then bore our testimonies and left ending the discussion.

Sabado:

We had a lesson with Arietna today. She has gone to Church 3 times and could get baptised very soon, but we need to teach her all of the lessons first. We talked about the Restoration in the home of a member and extended the baptismal invitation for next week. She is willing to get baptised but she says she needs to talk to her mom first, but we are hopeful that the spirit can help increase her desire to get baptised.

Domingo:

We opened all the presents from the package loved every single one. Thank you mom that was awesome!! Alma and her kids came to church today and they look like they enjoyed themselves. Then we went to Osmar´s house to eat and call my family. It was kind of weird more than anything, but nice to see everyone again.

I love and pray for you all

Elder Thompson

First Blisters on Feet

Thanks you so much for the package everybody. It is so cool all of the stuff that you guys were able to send. Uncle John that is a sick Nacho Libre. I couldnt stop laughing at it and remembering the movie. My companion and I have always joked that that movie is the second most true movie on the world (the first being the first vision of course). We got Luchadors (My favorite name so far is Sexi Maravia), We got Catholics, and We even have his bike/motorcycle/cart thing here. It is hiliarious to see the similarities. Again thank you everybody that contributed to the package!!!

Lunes:

Today was our zone activity. The elders got together super early so we could play soccer with Elder Tehuitzel, who was transfering to a different zone. We played soccer for two hours and got super burnt and super sore. After we played games like charades, king of the chair, and told a story in different accents. My personal favorite was when Elder Cruz had to act like Donald Trump. He ran between hugging my companion (an american) and being angry at Elder Laguna. Later that day we tried to teach a less active Hermana english to help her with her classes. I think we made some good progress.

Martes:

Today almost all of our appointments fell. We walked from pueblo to pueblo trying to get a lesson with somebody and everybody was busy. We had another cita with a member that night to go talk to a less active member and we were meeting at a bus stop. However, when we got there he just started walking towards a pueblo that is about 20 min away by bus. That was a hard walk, luckily we didnt walk all the way to the pueblo. It was the first time I have every had blisters. However, we were able to find the less active member and set a solid apointment with her later on in the week.

Miercoles:

We had interchanges with the zone leaders, Elder Castro and Elder Laguna, today and this was the first time I have been leading were we were going, lessons, and talking with people. All of our citas fell, but we were able to contact alot of people and set new ones. It was good to see where I am at without Elder Clawson alwys there to help me.

Jueves:

Elder Castro took me to a little pueblo in our area that we have never visited before. We got 6 new investigators from that pueblo. One thing that I learned from Elder Castro is that we can always share a little lesson no matter how small the amount of time the investigators have. After we ended interchanges, we went to the ward activity for Christmas. It was supposed to start at 6 but apparently that means start setting up until 7:30. It was amazing to see 3 menos activo members participate in the activity. Jorge Pacheko basically helped with every part of the activity, the familia picaso was a part of the nativity play, and Salvador and Alma, who never show up to anything, came and had a blast.

Viernes:

We were able to have another lesson with our recent convert Georgina. We taught her about the Spirit and it was super powerful to have her husband bear testimony about the power of the Spirit. We were also able to have another lesson with Olga and her family. They are super prepared all they need to do is pray to get an answer and I am sure they will want to be baptised.

Sabado:

We were going to a cita with our Recent Converts Rosa and Wendy and bumped into Aguileo. It is super sad to see him time after time completely drunk. We honestly have no idea how to help him with his problem. We want to have a lesson with him but he is always drunk we come to to teach. Please pray for him and if you have any advice we would be glad to have it.

Domingo:

We finally got one of our investigators to church. Luis has always struggled getting to church, but he was finally able to come. It was amazing to see how welcoming and loving all of the members were towards him. I especially loved our Ward Mission Leader because he went around introducing Luis to everyone, and during class he kept Luis's kids calm and peaceful. I am super grateful for all of our Members. 

Late Night Run

 

Lunes:

After our time to relax on P day, we went to a contact a reference named Olga. She lives in a pueblo named Chautla. In this pueblo everything seems to be at the top of these two hills so we had a great workout that day searching all over for her house. After we finally found her and started talking about why she wanted to talk to us. She wants to find more knowledge about God and know how to help her family better. It is amazing how alike all of us are as children of God. Everyone wishes to know more, help more, and become more. Sadly we one got to teach a short lesson, but we were able to share the Book of Mormon with her and hopefully she will have a desire to learn and pray about it. We had to leave early from the lesson because we had a Family Home Evening that night as well. For some reason we could not flag down a combi that night so we had to run two miles to San Pedro to make it to the Family Home Evening on time. Luckily it was late at night so there were not to many people to shout ¡Corre Gueros!

Martes:

Today we had our first lesson with Ignacio, who we met across the street from some of our other investigators. Ignacio is an ancient catholic man, who likes to talk (Like alot of the people here lol) He is a supér nice guy and funny too. When we could get in a few words we were able to share a quick message about the Book of Mormon. We are hoping to have a full lesson of the Restoration with him next time.

Miercoles:

One of our recent converts, named Wendy, had her baby shower today. We were able to get our Ward Mission leaders family to attend the party as well. It was fun to relax and eat cake and Jello with these members. At the end of the party they sang Happy Birthday to the unborn baby in Español and then we had to sing in English. I dont know if this is a custom here or what but I thought it was funny.

Jueves:

Not much happened today. We had some super great tacos with the Truhillos for lunch. All of our appointments fell so we basically contacted all day.

Viernes:

Today we had another lesson with Mario and Martha. We decided to go back to the basics with them because of their focus in deep doctrine of the Testigos de Jehovah. We read the Visitation of Christ to the Americas to help strengthen their desire to gain a testimony of the Book of Mormon. The spirit was super strong until Mario drove us of course by talking about the second coming. The conversation turned to discussing what the Book of Revelation meant. Please pray for them to gain a desire to READ and PRAY to know if the Book of Mormon is true. If they do this then all this deep doctrine stuff does not matter.

Sabado:

We had a lesson with Dinorah and Osmar, who were baptised by Elder Clawson and his old companion before I came. We decided to recover the Restoration again to hopefully give her a desire to go to church. She has a very strong testimony of the church so the lesson was very powerful. Something that Elder Clawson has told me is no matter what reading the First Vision will always bring the spirit and know that this is absolutely true.

Domingo:

We were able to attend the Christmas devotional with Dinorah´s son Osmar.

I loved all of the music and especially the talk that Elder Eyrings talk about finding peace during Christmas. Attending the Church Devotional and doing some of the ideas of service from Illumina el Munda have really made me come to apreciate my savior and all that he has sacrificed for me.