me voy huehue

February 16th - out of order..

Weell...the time has come ladies and gentleman. sorry if thats not how you spell that...spanish problems. BUT. 

after 8 of the most amazing months of my life. i am leaving HueHue! I have transfers!! My first normal transfer as all of my other transfers have been an emergency...so now that i have a normal one i feel like im in trouble or something haha. BUT dont you worry Im not! 

So i figured I would list 8 things I am going to miss about my home there in Las Flores, HueHuetenango. 

1. Hot Chocolate and bread with Hermana Aura when we were sad or when we were happy (i will also miss her hugs and the calls we always received to make sure we were alive) 

2. Waking up to fireworks and evangelica music at 5 am in the morning. 

3. 3 Hour bus rides squished between people who should shower more regularly

4. Seeing these peoples lives change because of the gospel 

5. The three dogs, scooby and sparky and i forgot the other name, that lived outside of my house and protected us

6. the dog that always hid and then came out to scare me every day by barking like ccrazy 

7. the rock i tripped on every day as i left the house. 

8. The amazing friends and family I have met. Las Flores I have a second family and am so grateful to be part of their lives. it was truly the most special thing in the world. 

I was in the area for awhile. but I was sooo grateful for my time. I watched peoples puppys grow to dogs, watched people begin their pregnancy and then have their little babies, discovered where all the Jehovahs Witnesses and Evangelicas lived, but most importantly I saw the gospel grow in peoples hearts. 

I have a couple of little miracles this week. 

We have a family in our ward, the Molinas. Alma Molina has a husband whose a convert and they havent been able to go to the temple because her husband hasnt been able to stay strong in the church. About a month ago he had a horrible experience with a member and decided to never ever go back to church. He had already not been assisting the church for about 4 months but Alma began to loose hope. We tried everything we could to give him suppor tfrom the ward. We made their family a sign with a couple of things they need to do to be able to go to the temple and be sealed as a family for eternity. It had a picture of the temple and things like going to church every sunday or things like that. I didnt think they would really cherish it or anything and i didn thave the chance to talk to him. As my last sunday in my ward. Who was sitting on the front row with the family?? Alma, her kids, and her husband, Jorge. I wanted to cry of joy! Alma told me later that she will be sending me an invite to the sealing as he his going to follow everything that our poster said. I was so overjoyed to see them as a family in the church!!! It was such a blessing!!! Great way to end my time there!!! 

this week was amazsing. 

Well, changes are tomorrow, so we will see where i go!!!!!

love you all

Hermana Thompson

CAMPING, TRIO LIFE, VOMIT, AND ALIENS

HOLA!

Well...this was the most interesting week of my life. Its a good one so listen up. 

On Tuesday my companion informed me that she saw aliens the night before. Shes been a little sick so Ill accept it for now. now you all remember what it means when someone is really a missionary?? when someone has an accident?? well i promise you it happens to alllllll missionaries. and my comp made fun of me but then it happened to her. KARMA. 

Anyways. My companion, Hermana Romero (the one I was training) ended up going home this week. It was super quick, and president didnt really know what to do so he put me with the hermanas whose area is newxt to mine. I am officially sleeping on a cot made for guatemalans. aka. my feet hang off the end. but im not complaining i will only be here till next week when we have changes and we will see what happens then. 

But, the barrio prado had a ward baptism and asked for our help so we went. This was the first time I was introduced to their ward, and well as everyone was eating some cake after the baptism I puked all over the floor. Well, I can make great first impressions!!! But its all good. This ward gives us a lot of food so im not used to it. Clearly. 

So we are working two areas! Its a little challenging getting to visit everyone because we both have giant areas, but we still had a really great experience with one of my investigadors, libni. Her husband is in jail and she has two kids and has a lot of difficulties. We met her in December and had only talked to her for abut 5 minutes and she told us all of her problems. She just needed t talk. We couldnt find her for about a month but ended up finding her one day. We have been teaching her a lot and she told us she doesnt like telling her problems to anyone, but has received so much peace in her life from our visits that she feels that she can talk to us. We have seen the gospel bring this peace to her life. 

I just finished reading the Book of Mormon again, and I cant deny of how true it is. The way and map for peace in this life is written right there in the Book of Mormon. Its so simple. We need to be obedient to everything. Its hard sometimes, but its worth it. We use the bible adn the book of mormon as one. We have the restored gospel on the earth today and I am so excited to share it with everyone I meet. If we do our part and read and pray, we will be shown the truth. 

I am so grateful taht I have the opportunity to watch people change because of this gospel! Dont be afraid to share it with anyone! Every soul is great in the eyes of God. 

have a great week!!

con mucho amor, 

Hermana Thompson

My new Guatemalan length cot.  Temporary sleeping for a while.

Can't ever say I wasn't here!

I actually got to go swimming.  Checking out the depth of the font.

My Trio companions

Love these guys!

My new digs for a week or so.

NUTELLA AND DEEP DOCTRINE

HOLA
so sometimes as a missionary it sounds nice to just sit in the house and sleep...but  let me tell you all that it is not fun!!! My comp was sick most of the week so we werent able to leave and i was soooooooo bored!!!! I had so much energy..partially because i recieved the amazing package from deana giles and was eating all the candyand nutella this week. whoops. i found many different things one could eat nutella with. it was great. but so worth it. BUT. I did get a lot of time to study and really read the Book of Mormon and some conference talks. 

My favorite talk is the one by President Uchtdorf called Recieving a Testimony of Light and Trusth. https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/10/receiving-a-testimony-of-light-and-truth?lang=eng

He goes on to say that a personal testimony of light and truth is the most valuable thing one can have in this life. I truly testify of that. All fo our actions in life should be to help build our testimonys. Now, a testimony is based on faith. and its hard to believe what we cant see. For example go back into time adn try explaining a microwave or an iphone to the people in ancient europe. Most would ridicule or apply reason or logic for what they dont know. The arent able to see clearly because they had not yet received complete light and truth. Thats exactly how it is with the gospel. We cant really see what is going to happen in the future, but if we have faith we will know. 

Many people think that God doesnt have enough time to answer each one of us, but i testify that he does. He cares about you and he will answer your personal questions in his own way and in his own time. We just need to learn to listen to his voice and declutter our lives. 

God wants you to find your way back to him. but we need to do our part! Thats the hardest part about being a missionary is trying to get the people to do their part. We can preach all we want, but unless they pray to God and ask if im our message is true, they will never know. We need to search the words of God, consider and ponder them and strive to believe, we need to ask Heavenly Father in the Name of Christ is this is the truth, and to really verify that these gospel principals are true we need to live them. Do these things and he promises to show the truth. Use the right instruments to find the truth. instruments of man wont work in this situation. 

Mormon 9 25

and whosoever shall believe in my name, doubting nothing, unto him will i confirm all my words even unto the ends of the earth

This week was full of little miracles. When we could leave, we got to go wtiih Vanessa. She is 17 and wants to find the truth! She is truly praying and I can see her yearn to find more! We also have an investigator named Mary, who is reading and she has the desire to keep reading!! These people are doing their part and the Lord is working with them too. 

If you want to find the truth. Just ask. 

love you all!!!!! 

thanks for all the support!!!

love 

hermana thompson 

I'M A REAL MISSIONARY NOW

 Hola!!!
 So every week is entertaining!! Right now we dont really have anyone progressing and are just trying to find those people who are prepared and waiting for the gospel in their life.

 On Thursday, a lady started yelling at us and telling us we were crazy and that only she was a daughter of god and lots and lots of stuff. It just was really sad. We can only share our testimony and invite them to read the Book fo Mormon to know for themselves. But people are always too quick to judge and dont want to read anything and just want to stay with what they know. We cant know something is true unless we read and act on our faith!!

 We actually found some really great people, but with our luck, they moved away too! haha Its all good though we are learning a lot!

 Well, when i was being trained my companion told me that I wasnt truly a missionary here unless I went to the bathroom in my pants. WEll, long story short. I'm a true missionary now!!! I have no shame to admit it hahaha. I have heard from many Hermanas that this has happened, its just all part of the experience. My companion and I have been sick which is never fun on the mission, but we are all good now!!

 A year ago I opened my mission call from the First Presidency saying that I would be serving here. I didnt even picture where I would be a year ago. I am so beyond greatful for this amazing opportunity and the amazing love I have felt from the people here!!! I am so grateful for the opportunity to serve a mission and I cant wait to see what the Lord has in store for me next!!

Love
Hermana Thompson

Dear Friends and family, it will be clear after reading this that I do not edit Hermana Thompson's letters.  But I thought about it....

Hermana Thompson's Mom

HOLA.. God has a sense of humor

January 19th, 2015

HOLA!!! 

Como estan??? 

Well, this week God had quite a sense of humor!! All of our progressing investigators moved way, include our recent convert Carlos. Luckily he is assisting the church there in Coban and talking to the missionaries, but its sad!  We spent most of our week contacting and trying to find new people to teach! 

I actually love contacting because it makes me feel like I m closer and closer to the people who are ready to hear this gospel. 

It also leads to funnier experiences. I was talking on the phone with a member when this car speeds down the road and slams on his brakes. He quickly backs up, almost hits us and starts yelling helloooo. He was very drunk, but it was pretty funnny. Then we were walking and a drunk man tried to come and touch me. Then another drunk man started yelling at us about someone stealing his wife. Not gonna lie, these were pretty funny experiences.  

We al so had the opportunity to work with a menosavtiva  (less active church member)  Elisa. She is the cutest person I have ever met and has truly realized that there is something missing in her life. She wants to come back to the church, but is embarressed to pray and come back. We should never have fear of the Lord. He is loving and merciful. He loves us and will do anything to help us. I am excited to work with her!! Her spirit is so special!! 

Something I loved studying this week was Helamen 5 12. Well I hope thats the verse. Its about how we need to be built upon the rock of Christ. If our life is built upon Christ, we will have the most joy we will ever have in the mortal life. WE just need to accept him.

Love you ! 

Hermana Thompson 

Some things never change.....lol

January 12th, 2015 - 7 months. Best week of my mission!

Hey all!! 

Can you believe I already have 7 months?? I still feel like a new person!! 

Well this week was just one big miracle!! We spent most of it helping Carlos prepare fo his baptism. We found out that he couldnt come to church the following sunday after his baptism because he was going to Coban to take some exams for the week. We got permission so he could be confirmed on thursday and have his baptism. 

His baptism was truly the most amazing experience! His Mom and stepdad came and really seemed to love it! over 60 members came!!! We had so much support for Carlos and it was just an amazing blessing to be apart of. I had never seen him smile more than after his baptism! He feels like a different person. 

I have never felt such joy from a baptism before. My heart was filled with love and gratitude for our Savior who made this all possible. I understand now how the Sons of Mosiah felt when they helped bring some souls unto Christ. The amazig love and spirit I have felt this week is unreal. 

We talked to Carlos in the afternoon on sunday and he told us he went and founda  Mormon church to go to that morning with his Grandma! He is already sharing this joy with the people he loves. 

He is nineteen years old and the goal is that he will be serving a mission in one short year!!! Pablo will get baptized in April because thats the soonest his Mom will give permission, but there is always a reason!! 

On Thursday during the day we had to go to Xela for a meeting for my comp because she is new. I recieved a letter from my Moms old friend who told me that she was introduced to this church because of my Mom and how grateful she was for my Moms example in her life. Now she has a son serving a mission and one preparing and has the restored gospel in her life. We dont need a missionary badge to change lives, Ive never read a scripture about it. 

I love you all so much. 

The book of mormon is so powerful. Read it. It will change your life. 

love 

Hermana Thompson

CARLOS BAPTISM

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

AN AMAZING BAPTISM!

Wow I cant even begin to explain how amazing my week is!!! 

For new years, its the same as Christmas! We helped a member make tamales and ponche and watched fireworks from every corner at midnight! it was amazing! happy new year! i am truly loving the new year not gonna lie. could not b more grateful! 

Well, about a month ago we were told that a members son and his wife (who isnt a member) is coming up and she wants to get baptized! she was working with the Hermanas in Guate so we just finished it all up and it was amazing to be part of her conversion process! She will be sealed with her husband for the eternity in a year from now. the joy in her face after her baptism was unreal and something I will never forget. 

Miracle number 2 (well we have millions of miracles but these have been the most life changing) 

Our baptism that fell about a month ago, Pablo, fell because his Mom wouldn't give him permission and hes only 13. But they still come to church an everything. His older brother, Carlos is 18 years old and when we first met him he didn't believe in God. Pablo and Carlos are brothers of Carmen, who we were teaching first but who knows where she is now, pablo and carlos never really wanted anything in the beginning but they were always in the room when we taught carmen. Well we gave carlos and pablo a book of mormon and they are both in 2 nephi. We have been teaching Carlos and Pablo and they have just grown so much! Carlos told us that as he was reading he realized that he was like Laman and Lemuel and his heart was closed to God. He decided to pray and ask. He now believes in God and is getting baptized this Thursday!!! Just from reading the Book of Mormon and praying,his heart completely changed from not believing in God to believing in him! such an amazing miracle and im so blessed to be part of this experience!!! It all started from sitting in some puke in a bus and now I have seen the power of the Book of Mormon in someone's life. The Book of Mormon is the most amazing thing i have ever read. Every time I read I am filled with such a joy and I am so happy to see this joy in Carlos and Pablo. 

The Book of Mormon changes lifes every day if we let it. Share this book with the world and let them havethis joy too. 

I have never been so happy to be a missionary!!! 

7 months in my misson is almost complete and Ive been in the same area the whole time but i know why because I have been able to see uch a growth and love in these months. I was just notified that I have 6 more weeks here and I couldnt be happier! 

Share these blessings with the world. 

love always

Hermana Thompson