New Transfers 2.3.15 (WEEK 29)

Alright so sorry that I couldnt write you guys yesterday, we spent the whole day traveling!

**flashback to sunday**

So we were just going through the normal routine of planning at the end of the day Elder Flores and I when suddenly

*ring ring*  *ring ring*

* I answer the phone*

Elder Derbez "We have news for you two... You have special transfers."

*silence*

Elder Flores "wait.. what?" "We still have two weeks until transfers"

Elder Derbez" You two have special transfers and Elder Rodriguez will be your new companion Elder Flores. Hes coming from Acaponeta and Elder Thompson you´ll be companions with Elder Ponce. And your new assignment is Branch president."

*quiet suspense*

**Normal time**

Yeah so yesterday we had special transfers. I´m now here in Acaponeta, Santiago. As branch president over the branch here. Theres only two missionaries in the mission as branch president and the other is also my district leader and was the assistant to the president. President called me in and told me that he had been praying and looking for hours and finally had the confirmation that I should be called here. 

So now Elder Flores is finishing his training with Elder Rodriguez and Im here with Elder Ponce. He´s a really great missionary. Again I have another companion who has 20 months in the mission (I always get the companions who have almost finished haha) He´s from Vera Cruz and has 2 little sisters. Im really excited to get working with him (hes my first councilor in the presidency) and we´ll see how things get going as President! 

I still dont have a camera and we´ll see if I can find a decent one here in Acaponeta. my area is one of the biggest, the farthest, and hottest  area in the entire mission! It took about 10 hours traveling to arrive here but I can already say that I love it! And Im so excited to get to work!

Love you all tons and Ill write again this next week! (I didnt have time for voice recording this week) And I dont have time for personal emails either but love you all!

Con muchisimo amor

Elder Thompson IV

Last pic of these two companions together before Elder Thompson's special Transfer! 2/2/15

Elder Flores sent this pic in his email to his sister.  So sad to see his friend Elder Thompson go! 2/2/15

1.26.15 (WEEK 28)

Click here for Message!!!

Dear Mom,
     Thanks mom! I really enjoyed hearing your voice yet again! Ok so Im writing after listening to it all so we`ll see how well I do in writing back! 

I love you tons and I really dont mind that you have long recordings, I love to hear them :)

Things are going great down here in Mexico! (although I think the dogs are possessed or something  [but seriously we`ve had like three diferent dog attacks this week, one bit my companion but with protection of the lord it didnt penetrate his skin] It shows that prayer is a VERY powerful tool, its like a spiritual shield that often also extends to physical protection!) 

We have had lots of great experiences here with our investigators. One of our investigators of the family Saucedo that we thought wasnt very interested had a complete change of heart and is reading and praying everysingle day and has been hanging out with tons of the JAS (single adults) in our ward. He hasnt assisted church because of his changing schedule in work, but I believe that he`ll be the next to be baptised in this ward. I always love to see his family and see how they are progressing. Because Hermana Soledad is also growing incredibly. Please keep that family in your prayers that they might overcome their trials that they`re going through right now that they may come out stronger and closer to the lord.

We`ve had about 80% of the people this week cancel their appointments last minute, but I find that as long as we keep ourselves focused on the lord we can always keep our heads held high and excited to continue forward. The other day we worked as hard as we could and we felt great, when we got home we finished planning and I sat down on the couch and was outcold for several hours until I moved over to my bed to sleep more like a rock lol. But I love to keep myself focused on the lord and just look for ways to serve my companion and others that surround us. 

Ive found that as Ive been learning to let my barriers go away and to truly humble myself and look for ways that I can change that the spirit has been more present in my day to day life. Bringing a hope and firmness in testimony like I havent felt in 2 months. 

I feel like that I could have been a better trainer to Elder Flores but Im going to do my ebst to treat every moment as a learning experience. To help him get the best out of these last 3 weeks of training as he can. Its like what it says in 2nd Nephi "For we are saved by grace after all that we can do" I just need to do the best I can and leave it all in the hands of the lord!

ok love you tons mom! And I loved the other emails as well! (I like the plack by the way ;) although I have about 50 pounds more there haha! and way to go with the weight loss! We`re like twins!! ;) Ive gone from size 40 to size 30-32 lol!)

Love ya!!!

Elder THompson IV

This is the plaque that hangs in our Ward house!!! We are so proud of our Missionary!

1.19.15 (WEEK 27)

Click Here for Message!!!

1.12.15 (WEEK 26)

Click here to listen to Elder Thompson's voice message for week 26!!!

I sent my voice recording in reply to the email from last week, but some have asked for a shipping address. So the address of the mission office is:

Volcan Vesuvio #5106

Colonia: El Colli

45070 Zapopan, Jalisco

Mexico

Love you all tons and will respond to some personal emails! Although I dont have full time this week to write!

Love ya!

Elder Thompson IV

Starting the New Year off without Voice Messaging it looks like...(WEEK 25) 1/5/15

ok so problem It wont let me send the voice recording for this week! I think the program is too big in order to send to you guys!

Know that I love you tons and things are going. Elder Alvarez went home today and it was almost the same feeling as watching my three other brothers leave on their missions. Knowing that its something fantastic and part of life, still miss him a lot and truly think of him as another brother. Im excited to see him again and he lives very close to Cancun and so I have a great excuse to visit him after ;)

We had a baptism this week which was fantastic!

Pedro Correa is his name! Straight from behind plaza independencia! 

Hes been an investigator from the day I started down here in Mexico and Ive real grown to love him as a friend. Then this last week he finally took the decision to be baptized which was an incredibly strong spiritual experience! I was the one who confirmed him a member and it was surprisingly more strong. And we also had several investigators there who are now even more excited to continue on this path because they could feel the peace that camewith the spirit.

Sorry I couldnt send the voice recording! Ill make it a bit smaller next time so I can send it to you guys!

Love ya tons!

Elder Thompson IV

Click here for Andrew's Voice Message!

My First Voice Recording!!! (WEEK 24) 12/29/14

Elder Thompson got permission to send voice messages back and forth to us so here it is!  The very first one!  We were ECSTATIC to hear his voice again since Christmas!

WOW! (WEEK 23) 12/22/15

Happy half graduation! ;D thats so awesome mom! Way to go! How did you go on your exams?

The time is flying by soooo fast! Pretty soon Ill have a baby sister as well! I shall call her squishy when she comes!

Things are going great here with Elder Flores. We`ve seen times very difficult, but even more days have been fantastic!

Im excited to talk to you guys too! Love you tons and Ill see you in a couple days! ;)

Love

Elder Thompson

P.S. I still havent bought the camera, Ive been looking at different places for the best deals but Im pretty sure Ive found one, just I have to wait one week, because some guys broke in and robbed all the cords and memory chips. (why not the cameras? lol)