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 ;)
Elder Andrew James Thompson
Monday, January 5, 2015
Starting the New Year off without Voice Messaging it looks like...(WEEK 25) 1/5/15
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)
A week of Heavenly Guidance! (WEEK 22) 12/15/14
I absolutey love this calling! Although I think I might de trying to use this eyboard (it doesnt lie me very much) *poke* *ERROR ERROR* 
So what are the plans for christmas?
Im so excited for that day!
*sigh* gotta love christmas!
This week has been absolutely fantastic! First we had the oppurtunity to lsten to Elder Nelsen from the quorum of the twelve and some members of the seventy. The inspiration from those men was absolutely amazing. Three hours of pure inspration. Elder Nelsen even said that what was said in this meeting was written in heaven as scripture specifically for our mission. So much of what was sad has completely changed my life. For here and after the mission as well.
I testify that Christ lves, and for those who obey wth exactness, will be promsed with success in all aspects of life, and eventually will recieve the gift of eternal life as families. May we as brothers and sisters and children of an all powerful god obey with exactness. So that we may obtain eternal exaltation in the Kingdom of God!
The spirit has been very powerful this past week. Helping us find concourses of people who have been prepared by the lord. Ill share two of the examples.
Francisco.
We were walking by one day and just had a suttle mpression to contact him. We did so, and t turns out he has a daughter with cancer and would like to listen. We went and visited them for the first time yesterday and taught the restoration of the Gospel. Him and his family appeared awestruck and we didnt really understand why. But as we were leavng his house he followed us out. Told us that he had found a book of mormon about a month ago, but didnt know where it came from. Then said, with the holy ghost very strongly pressing on our hearts, that there is no such thing as a coincidence. And is now preparing to be baptized next month.
María
Frdiay night we were going about normally, but couldnt fnd ANYONE in their houses. So we moved on to Old Investigators to start contacting. I was looking for the street Volcan Mistic, but couldnt find it anywhere on the map. So I fgured it was a spelling error, and we went to the street Volcan Misti looking for the number 419. we found that the street ended at 400. So we crossed the street, thinking it was still Volcan Misti. Where we found 419 and knocked. María came out excited to see us and invited us in . she Told us that she had found a BoM and was reading it everyday, several times a day. When we returned the next day, i found that the old investigator that we were looking for was someone completely diferent and we still ended up at her house. Her street being Ramon Garces. She also explained that the day we found her she had been praying for someone to guide her on what to do. To which she felt strongly the missionaries would come, so she started to clean the house and told her daughter to prepare for the missionaries to come that day. She then said another prayer asking again for us to come. When she said Amen. We knocked on the door.
There is no such thing as coincidence! Its an amazing feeling to take part in experiences such as these. Im grateful that the lord has guided us to people like these and many more.
God lives my friends!
Love you all tons!
Elder Thompson IV
Re: Monday=Final #1 (WEEK 21) 12/8/14
Dear Mom,
Claro que sí! Ofcourse I´ll keep you in my prayers! I´m excited for you mom! I know you´ll rock the examines!!
I´ll admit its kind of hard at times to be patient with my companion. Seeing that he clogs the toilet everytime he uses it and has broken the plungers... lol.... Nah all is well! Its been hard everynow and then to keep the patience, but I´ve been having lots of great experiences with this missionary. Im grateful to have him as a companion. Someone who knows how to hear the spirit and strives just as hard to be completely obedient.Hey mom you should check out christmas.mormon.org and share it all over the internet! Its incredibly awesome!
Elder Flores, I AM HIS FATHER... (WEEK 20) 12/1/14
Ok I know that was a bad joke..
eeehhhh
esta bien!
So I am back into Arquitectura 1! The areas have been divided and I stayed in number 1 and Alvarez in number 2. Both of us called to be trainers!
How awesome is that!?
Its actually a lot harder then I was thinking... the first days turning out to be the hardest days that Ive experienced in the mission. BUT, with a whole lot of praying and help from Elder Alvarez, I`ve been able to climb back up to where I was mentally. All I need to do is put my trust in the lord! Because I was called here for something and so we`ll make the best of it!
Elder Florez is actually a great guy! Its a bit funny sometimes to listen to a new missionary, with a new excitement and an innocence that only being new can bring. He`s from qeretero (I have no Idea how to spell that) and is excited to get to work! We`ve been working really hard to find lots of new people to teach and the lordhas been blessing us a lot these past couple days! I`m extremely blessed to have a companion who knows how to listen to the spirit and act accordingly. I can only imagine what he`ll be like in a few months!
Speaking of months, isnt it weird that I almost have 6 months in the mission? Im already a quarter of the way done! They werent kidding when they said time is a valuable thing!
How was everyones Thanksgiving??
I actually forgot that it was a holiday until the sunday after haha but its all good! I believe we ate a very 'festive' pizza. With a whole lot of pig leg and mushrooms! (actually quite delicious)
I`m grateful for this chance to be here down in the mission and grateful for the oppurtunity to train a wonderful new missionary. I know if the Lord can trust me with this charge, I must do everything in my power to help him grow! I`m grateful for the atonement in my life, that although I`m a sinner and do sin in my wish, I can kneel before my maker and make things right by laying it all out on the table. I know if we can humble ourselves before him at all times we can always have the promised blessings of his spirits and improve little by little until the last and perfect day. When we stand before our God. I`m grateful for that love and assurance that only he can bring.
and more im grateful for you all and love you very much!
GOD SPEED!
Elder Thompson IV
PS. how was your thanksgiving? (or is it thanksgivings?) (ugh english... ;)... lol)
GIVE THANKS! (WEEK 19) 11/24/14
Things are going great down here in Mexico! We had changes again this week and I have exciting news!!!
*drumroll*
i´m a dad!!!!
My new companion is Elder Flores! He´s from quretero (I have no idea how to spell it)
Im going to be his trainer!
They opened up arquitectura 2 again and Elder Alvarez is going to be in that area with a new missionary also!
I feel incredibly blessed with this oppurtunity!
Alright we dont have much time to write, but love ya tons and will write more next week!
Love ya!
Elder Thompson
Time is a valuable thing! (WEEK 18) 11/17/14
The lord is workly strongly here in Arquitectura. I´m truly amazed everyday as I see time and time again the Lord working in the lives of these people as they draw more close to him and in the lives of me and my companion. I´m truly grateful to be here down in Mexico called of the lord to bring to pass his work. Every day has been a new personal challenge, but its been significantly rewarding as long as I accept my weaknesses and trust in the strength of the Lord.
This last week was zone conferance and as usual, president Wagner taught very powerfully as we learned more about our role as missionaries. We had the assignment to memorize the lesson plans from lessons 1-3 in PMG and were tested during the conferance. The first moments of memorizing the lessons were painfully slow and taking up all the precios study time. A Little frustrated I continued to memorize. During the process I was learning that the spirit in lessons was guiding us to say line for line what was written in those lesson plans. Which brought the spirit more powerfully and I recognized it as a cool tool that was fun to use at times. But the president made me realize that its much more than that. We need to base all the lessons off of those lesson plans. Everything thats there is pure doctrine that is needed to be understanded. Its written in the same book that we need to teach from these, which was written by the prophet. In any time throughout the world, if the people didnt listen to the prophets they were destroyed. For those of us who know the truth of the góspel of christ know that his second coming is nigh on hand. The time is now to prepare our oil, and to reach out and prepare our brothers and sisters. The doctrine thats written in preach my góspel is what we should be teaching to others, especially in our families.
That being said its absolutely essential that we follow the guidance of the spirit in sharing these doctrines. It will help us apply directly to those we teach and guide. And not all will accept what is said, but that warning voice needs to be raised.
As brothers and sisters we need to reach out and help those who are lost and havent found their way.
We have two baptisms coming up very soon. They were two investigators from the other missionaries when we took up this área as our own. The both of them were very far in the lessons but very far in their testimonies for baptism. But by the hand of the Lord I´ve seen the miracles of the spirit touching hearts. Erika is incredibly strong. At first was very timid and took 20 seconds to respond to a question, she now responds boldly to what she knows to be true. Knowing seis going to be baptized, only she fears rejection of her family. Today shes gone to talk to them to let them know she´ll be baptised.
The other is Pedro. He´s been keeping everysingle commitment since the beginning but hasn´t had that testimony. We´ve been helping him to grow that testimony, but still he hasnt felt like he was prepared and has been struggling a lot in his marriage. By accident we ended up late to one of our appointments with him and his wife and for the first time found his kids carlos and yameli. we started to teach them and learned that Carlos is agnostic. So since then we´ve been helping Carlos to understand that their is a God and he loves each of us unconditionally. Which in turn has greatly strengthened their family bond. Leading them together as a family to make these eternal covenants with our father in heaven.
One of our investigators died this past week. We found out the day of and went to the catholic church to pay our respects. When we arrived I felt sad that my brother had past through this life without the chance to know more of the savior, which sadness was increased significantly as his wife and daughters arrived. WAiling a cry of sadness like I´ve never experienced. With the thought that they would never see him again, which is the most sad thought I have ever experienced. Everyone in tears I said a silent prayer to hopefully ease their pain, I asked to please open their knowledge to that of our savior to help ease that deep pain. Immediately an enormous feeling of peace entered my heart and I knew then and there that the lord would take care of things.
The day before we visited them to see if we could help in anything. The father had been in extreme pain for the past couple months that just increased with time. So we sang a hymn to them and normally we asked in the prayers that he could recover, but this time I felt I should ask if they could enjoy these last moments together with peace as a family. After which he looked to be in peace and gave us a smile and thumbs up as if all would be well. He then passed the next morning.
After we left the viewing that day I felt so spiritually and physically exhausted. The lord has something incredible planned for that family and I´m so grateful the lord lou}ves us enough to provide us with a way to conquer death to live as families for all the eternities.
This really is the most rewarding experience that I can be a part of right now in my life. Reminds me of D&C 18:15-16
Love you all tons and talk to you later!
Elder Thompson
P.S. Erika has a pet Wolf named Rasha... yes Wolf! awesome!
Lovin' The Work! (WEEK 17) 11/10/14
Things have been going great here down in Guadalajara!
I´ve been seeing time and time again the hand of the lord working in the lives of these people down here. Like this last weekend, when one of my investigators died.
oh darn!!!
sorry guys!
the cyber is shutting down and we need to leave....
Ill tell the story next week when we have time!
Love you all!
Elder Thompson IV
*******************************************************************************************
Mom,
Time to Write! (WEEK 16) 11/3/14
Alright so I finally have time to write to you guys!!!
hmmmm.
.
The work with the ward has been significantly improved. Working very closely with the ward council in order to support and uplift. With their approval we´ve been changing the ward mission plan, which has been helping everyone to be more excited. Then when we have the lessons its almost always guided by the spirit and the members have been a huge blessing for us on that part! Sharing experiences and testimonies to support these amazing people that we´re teaching. Which all in all helps the whole attitude of the ward to increase!
Still not sure but its very likely that they´ll put more missionaries in the ward again, however talking to ward council they only want to have 2 missionaries in the ward, the reason being we´ve been working hard and now the membersdont think of the ward split in two, having to work with two different companionships. So we´ll see what happens!
We were about to have two baptisms this past week, but some things came up during the lesson and we felt they werent completely prepared, to which the investigators agreed. All was going well until the family of Mari came in to "visit" them and they convinced her to not be baptised, to which her husband Santos followed as well. So right now we have stopped teaching them, but I don´t feel its over, only that they need some time to think avout all this. During this time the bishop will be working very closely with them. I have faith that things will work out!
So our tremendous progression had really slown down this week and I could not figure out why. Wednesday this week we had divisions and the zone leader Elder Nuñez came and joined us both. We had a pretty good day with spirit in the lessons and lots of excitement. Before he left however, he left me with the assignment to read D&C 121:34-46. I read it and at first I felt offended that he would think that I would need to read these things. I then realized that that was my problem. Those feelings were there because of the pride I had, and it was that pride that was slowing the process of the work. Ofcourse I was thankful for all the things the lord was doing, but the thoughts were coming of "look how good our numbers are!" and lots of boasting on different levels. I´m thankful for that call to repentance! Because after I had repented we hit the ground running, with the hand of the lord incredibly strong throughout that day. Totaling in 12 new investigators not including their families! Now that is motivation to fight off pride!
Little Boys' birthdays... (WEEK 15) 10/27/14
Sorry guys this time it was my fault with the time!
********************************************************************* Mom,
So weird! GAVINS 15!!!
I fell asleep at the house because we didnt have water to clean...
Whoops!
Maybe next week!!!
Just need to know that these past couple weeks have been absolutey amazing! 100% filled with the spirit. Losing ourselves more and more in the work!
ok love you all!
Elder Thompson IV
********************************************************************* Mom,
So weird! GAVINS 15!!!
I couldnt play the video on this computer right now but maybe next week I can look at it! :D
Icecream cake sounds pretty good right about now haha, our desert here is strictly jello haha ;)
I`m happy that you guys have been doing good! and I always love to hear how much gavin is flourishing!
alma... sigh.... I really hope he learns from his mistakes.... I`ve known him my whole life and he has an extreme amount of potential that sadly he is choosing to ignore for the time being. I will make sure to keep him in my prayers because only god knows the best way to help him. Let me know if there is anything I can do on my end.
The work is amaizing down here! We`ve been better at organizing our time and filtering out those that dont want to hear in order to use the best of our time! We did not have those baptisms this last week, We were about to go and do it when we felt prompted to talk to them about it especifically and we feel they arent exactly ready for baptism. The other missionaries missed vital parts of building their testimonies and so we`re going to continue teaching and the baptism will be this week or next! :) And I really want to send pictures but right now my camera isnt working haha... Someone tried to help me "fix it" with out asking and now I cant upload any pictures... So we`ll see how that goes!
But the lord has been blessing us incredibly! I absolutely love everything down here, my companion, the area, the ward and much more! We`ve litteraly been instruments in the lords hands, with every leccion filled with the spirit!
Love ya!
Elder THompson IV
BEST WEEK OF THE MISSION! (WEEK 14) 10/21/14
I don´t have time to write this week because we had the chance to go the temple this morning (which was awesome) BUT..... Just know that this week is the best one so far!
Always trust in the spirit and stay strong in your testimonies!
Love everyone and stay strong!
Elder Thompson IV
P.S. I promise to write next week haha
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