Elder Henry H. Thompson: 10/9/17 First week in CASRM and it's on fire... literally.

Elder Henry Thompson
1225 Linford Lane Apt. D3
Dixon, CA 95620

*Dixon is about 70 miles east of Santa Rosa. All CASRM missionaries are safe and the Mission Home and Mission office narrowly escaped the path of the fire. Entire neighborhoods are incinerated and so many Santa Rosa residents have nothing left. Hank is anxious to help but for now, he will stay in Dixon so that Santa Rosa isn't overwhelmed with volunteers taking up the resources that the residents need most.
Hey everyone!! This past week was a crazy one! We woke up around 3am in Provo and then took a shuttle to Frontrunner to Trax to get to the airport. We got on the plane to Oakland and I was able to get a much needed hour long nap. We then got to meet President Wright and his wife. They're the greatest people. Such an answer to my prayers. Pray for them though, as they were evacuated from the mission home because of all of the wildfires in Sonoma and Napa valleys. California needs to get a grip. Anyway, my trainer is Elder Siebach from Dover, Deleware. He is great. An obedient and hardworking missionary who is also human. I'm really grateful for him. We don't have very many investigators who will talk to us still so we've been doing a lot of finding. Good thing I missed the 120 degree heat during the summer! It's been a pretty good temperature most of the time. There are a lot of palm trees and pine trees here, it's a weird mix. Also, people here don't consider this "northern California" this is just California. Up near Oregon is actual "norCal". The ward and people here are super nice. They offer to help us with lessons and service! What great people. It's interesting to think that this is home now. I have to say though, its a pretty good one so far. Our apartment is nice and we've met some great people so we're pretty blessed.

Yesterday though we had a cool experience, we tracted an entire apartment complex and out of about 50 doors knocked, 5 people answered. Of those 5 people, three spoke no english and one wasn't interested in the slightest. But that 1 person out of 50 was willing to talk to us. His name is Rudolfo and he invited us to come back and talk with him! Major success! That's about it for now, we're just working hard and being tired all the time which I've heard never goes away. It's alright though, I'm getting external strength that I didn't know that I had. I've been blessed so much in my life and now it's time for me to give a little back. Let me know what's happening in life! I hope all is well. Also, shoutout to Kennedy Mcdonald for heading out this week! You'll be great!

Love you all!

Elder Thompson