Keep It Clean! Or, One Man's Trash...

Friends!

It was definitely a week here in California. It's still in the 80s every day but somehow the trees still know when to lose their leaves. So that's a cool thing. 

This morning, we went fishing as a zone down in one of the most wealthy areas I've ever seen, Tiburon, California, a small peninsula inside the San Francisco Bay. There we saw the Richmond Bridge and the sun rise over Oakland. It was a great time and Elder Pearson even caught a fish! That is always a highlight.

This week was pretty trash, honestly.  Because transfers came and went and they are opening up a new Elder area in Petaluma. Elder Pearson and I were tasked with cleaning the old Elders' apartment down there so it would be fit for the new missionaries to come into it. Well, I'll just say that 3/4 of those old missionaries were going home so they wrecked the place and left so much gross stuff everywhere.  It took us 2 whole days to get it in decent condition. Then, Thursday was planning day which is always a rough one -  usually it's on Friday but we had MLC on Friday so we had to plan on Thursday. We were able to do some missionary work on Saturday though and also went to the ward Trunk or Treat. It was fun and a family that we are teaching showed up!  That's a win! 

Others are doing well.  I'll update you more on people next week, most of them have been out of town or we haven't been able to contact them this week. We did meet a wonderful woman, Terry, who knows and loves the Book of Mormon already and was just waiting for us to come by! That is a tender mercy. We will be meeting with her again very soon. 

The Song of the Week  is "Jump" by Van Halen. That one is for the Justices. Love you guys! 

Happy Birthday shouts out to Troy, Izzy, Aunt Jeni and Sarah Jane.  Also, a big Foothill 7th high five to Ashley Petersen who leaves for the Barcelona Spain Mission this week! 

"Brethren (and sisters), shall we not go on in so great a cause?  Go forward and not backward. Courage brethren (and sisters); and on, on to the victory" (Joseph Smith Jr.)  The Lord's army is going strong and we intend to keep going until the purposes of God are accomplished. 

I love you all! Scare somebody for me this week. Happy Halloween!

Love, Elder Thompson 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SwYN7mTi6HM 

Van Halen - Jump

Familiar Faces and Amazing Grace!

'Sup my dudes?' as they say here in the Bay. Hope it's been a good week for all of y'all! It was for me!

I went on 2 exchanges this week, one of them was 1 day and another one was for 2 days, so I wasn't in my area from Monday night until Friday morning. It was a long time being away but the exchanges were good, I got to practice my Spanish, and not just the bad words that I've heard out here! I also went down to San Rafael for 2 days and it is crazy busy down there! It's like a real city which is weird because I haven't been in one of those on my mission.  I was with Elder Ward, a new missionary this transfer. His trainer hasn't been doing quite the best job training him so I took the reigns and showed him how it's done! We took a table down to the middle of central San Rafael and stocked it with supplies and just went to TOWN. We were contacting people left and right, stopping them right in their tracks and offering the best message ever given! Some people listened, 2 even invited us to come teach them more, and in true bay area fashion, some were pretty angry, haha. But it was fun and it was a good growing experience for me and also Elder Ward.  I came to know even more not fear anyone. You just gotta take the angry people with a grain of salt,  I actually think those people are hilarious. Gotta love Californians. 

San Rafael views - everyone lives behind big gates up in the hills.

I finally got back to my area on Friday and we did planning. We also got signed up to help out with a service. We helped set up a walking event to end Alzheimers. I honestly thought that we were going to be walking miles WITH people who have Alzheimers but to my relief, it was just FOR people who have Alzheimers. We didn't do the walk, we just set up booths, tables, and chairs and got to share a little bit of what we do as missionaries. Luckily those elderly people didn't have to walk for miles. 

On Saturday, we attended a baptism and then had a wonderful lesson with an awesome family. The wife, Anissa, had read all of 1st Nephi and was now on 2nd Nephi! She says that she feels it's true whenever she is reading it. That is a fact! The husband, Brandon, is going to be listening to the Book of Mormon while he drives for his work. They are super solid and we love going over to teach them! They have 2 of the cutest little girls who also enjoy talking with us when we come over. We are praying for them a lot! 

That night, we had dinner with Yanping, a recent convert from when I first got here. She moved here from China some years ago in search of God. She found Him in exactly the right place! Well, her husband, Jun, is like a master artist, he is also not a member yet. A few weeks back we asked if we could pay him to carve us some bears out of wood. He said he would do it for free! On Saturday we got them and they are incredible! It took him 20 hours each to do them and the detail is immaculate! The pictures dont really do it justice but it's one of the greatest gifts I've been given out here. It's really special to me. 

Oh man, Sunday was THE DAY. We went down to San Rafael for Stake Conference and it was super great! The talks were awesome and I got to sit with President Meservy's boys. Micah, the one who calls me Elder Efron and now got his mom to do it too, gave me a few Chilean coins and drew me a picture of a rocket landing on the moon. He is obsessed with rockets and space. It's pretty cool! He can name like any rocket, pretty much. I'll keep both the coins and the pictures. As we were sitting with them in the very back, I saw some people walk into the gym where I was sitting and it REALLY looked like Ian Chisholm followed by a girl who REALLY looked like Annie Chisholm. Turns out, it was! I saw them then they saw me and we were all shocked.  I ran over and I hugged Ian since it was the first time I'd seen him in over 2 years. Their whole family was in the City for vacation and were trying to go to a ward there but it had changed the time they were going to meet. So on their way up to Muir Woods in Mill Valley, they found the next closest ward to come to, which happened to be San Rafael!! We talked a lot and man it was just so crazy and great to see them! I'm sure my mom was very happy to get some pictures of me as well. 

But, there was something amazing going on behind me as I was talking to the Chisholms; remember Grace - the college student who found us while we were sitting outside of the church? Well about 2 weeks ago she told us that she wanted to take a break from lessons to see if this is actually for her and if it's true and real. We sadly said alright but made her promise to read the whole Book of Mormon by the end of the year, President Nelson's challenge. She agreed. On Saturday night, we felt like we should invite her to come to Stake Conference even though it's quite a drive down to San Rafael from Rohnert Park, especially in delightful California traffic. She said she would come and we got her a ride with the Stake President's wife, Sister Gibson. She came up to Elder Pearson after it was over and told him that she wants to be baptized!!!!!! What great news!! So Sunday was fantastic and we are going to help Grace get baptized! Such a tender mercy. 

I am staying another transfer here in Rohnert Park with Elder Pearson since we are doing a great job! I'm excited because I love Elder Pearson,we work hard and get along well together. 

The Song of the Week is "Coloring" by Kevin Garrett. The first song that I heard from him! Go check it out, it's wonderful! 

Thank you for all of the love and support. A big shoutout to Thomas Justice in Colombia!  I love that man. 

Have a great week everyone! 

Much love,

Elder Thompson  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvqmdqxIsQM  Coloring  Kevin Garrett

Killer Day for Kenya

Hey all!

This week was so great!  I was reminded once again of who I have been called by and who backs me up during this great work, that is Jesus Christ!

I went on exchanges with the APs so I got to be companions with my MTC companion, Elder Hutchinson, because he is in a trio with the APs.  We literally RAN from door to door and the urgency of the message was present!  It was super fun!

A great situation that happened this week is we had a few minutes until we had to go to dinner so we decided to go visit a part-member family.  On our way there, some random lady pulled out of a parking lot right in front of me, cutting me off and forcing me to hit the brakes hard.  If you knew me and had driven with me before the mission, you know that I didn't really appreciate that. But I kept my cool and avoided an accident.  As we got to the house where we were headed, someone we've been teaching but haven't seen for about a month came right out of the very house we were going to try and see.  We talked to her outside and caught up on what's going on with her.  We will be able to meet with her again soon!  I stopped to think about that situation later that night.  Being cut off by the person on our way over made it so the timing was just right to cross paths with someone we needed to see.  This shows me how much the hand of God is in our lives.  He will guide us and help things fall into place so that good things can be accomplished.  And while we might not know why things are going the way that they do, we can always be assured that as we do the right things, it will always go the Lord's way. 

Another wonderful day was Saturday because Kenya was baptized!! After about a year of being taught, she finally felt she was ready to be baptized so we went for it!!  It was such a beautiful thing to witness.  The Spirit was palpable and Kenya was so happy!  

After the baptism , Elder Pearson caught a big lizard that had gotten into the church.  We named him Kyle, he pooped on Elder Pearson, and I had a good laugh.  We set Kyle free but we both secretly wanted to keep him.

I also finished reading the Book of Mormon this past week.  I've been studying it hard this year and my book is overflowing with notes, quotes, and insights.  I started it in January and am just barely finishing so it's taken a long time!  I have received multiple witnesses of its truthfulness and divinity.  I have never felt more uplifited than I have now since I've gotten to know and love the Book of Mormon better.  It is true. Joseph Smith was a prophet.  The Book of Mormon brings happiness and answers any questions we might have.  I love that book!

The Song of The Week is "Killer Queen" by Queen.  Such a good one!  I miss that song and so many others but this work is more important and I can wait!   Also, I heard that Ritt Momney came out with a new song so go check it out!!  
I love you all.
Have a great week!
Love, Elder Thompson

Makeover for Elder Pearson

Success!

P Day mini golf

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZBtPf7FOoM  Killer Queen  Queen

General Conference For The Win

What's up everyone?

I seriously can't believe that it is October still and that General Conference has passed already. It was honestly one of my favorites! I'll talk about that a little later but let's get down to business. 

On Wednesday we had a lesson with Grace and also the APs came because they are the YSA missionaries. The Spirit was super strong during the lesson and we just went down the line, each of us speaking straight doctrine. I think she knows it's true, she is just really worried about how her family is really not cool with it. We are going to help out with that this Wednesday as well. During the lesson, she shared Moroni 10:3-5 with US! She said it was one of her favorites and one that she reads a lot when she is feeling discouraged. She has a ton of scriptures marked in her Book of Mormon. She is really serious about finding the truth, I love it! It is no coincidence that she found us a few weeks ago. Heavenly Father puts us in situations to either teach people the gospel or to learn more of the gospel ourselves. 

She, as well as Scott and Janet, watched Conference and said that they loved it! Scott and Janet are some other people we are teaching. We tracted into Scott and he invited us right back. He had actually kept the commitments that we left with him to read the Book of Mormon. He always tells us where he is and what he thinks about it so far! We went to their house in between sessions of Conference and we told them about it. They wanted us to show them how to watch it because, "you don't get to hear from a Prophet too often!" That made me happy. 

As for me with General Conference this one was so great!  I felt the Spirit strongly and felt as though the messages were directed towards me and more importantly, directed towards the people we are teaching who were watching. I loved hearing the counsel from Prophets and Apostles of God. I think one of my favorite parts was hearing the people shout for joy in the Conference Center when each new temple was announced. Yuba City is pretty close to me. I think it's in the next mission over but that is still so cool. Everyone pray every day for the  next 6 months for a Santa Rosa temple. 

I stand with Elder David A. Bednar when I say the Lord is hastening His work and He is doing so now. Everyone read the Book of Mormon this week. Even if it is one verse per day. It was given so that people in our day can have more happiness and hope in a world that seems so far away from good. It's true, I've studied it deeply and I've seen the blessings which can come from it.

The Song of the Week is "This Is It" by Michael Jackson.  Another good one! 

Everyone take care this week and make sure to continue studying the talks given in Conference!

Much love,

Elder Thompson

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_SLU3m6uCA  This Is It   Michael Jackson

Seeing Miracles This Week!!

Hello all,

This week has been one of the more crazy weeks in the mission field and it was great!
 I'll start off with a few highlights (or weird or funny things):

- having an older, large, and naked lady yell at us from her window after her husband politely closed the door. She told us to never come back to that apartment complex, so you know I had to go back the next day. We actually saw her again, this time clothed, thankfully. Her attitude had not changed though. 

- helping a guy break into his own car. He locked his keys in his trunk and so we went home and got a metal hanger and used it to break in. It was great fun. 

- finding $20 on the ground - don't worry, I'll pay it forward.

- eating a fig for the first time.

- hitting our goal of finding 6 new people this week and getting 2 new ones to church!!!! (I'll tell a few stories about them in a second)

- capturing a tiny spider during weekly planning, giving it an equally tiny piece of the Big League Chew that I brought, and finding out that spiders love Big League Chew. RIP Steve. 

- the Primary Program

- the free-for-all book table at church yesterday where I got an old red-leather copy of Jesus The Christ and The Articles of Faith by James E. Talmage and where Elder Pearson got lucky and found a complete set of the old missionary reference library complete with the discourses of Brigham Young, among other cool old books.

 

Now, I'll give you 2 miracle stories and then I'll let you get out of here:

Grace: we were trying to do some online work because we are pioneers in this whole technology thing and nobody really knows how to use it. Elder Pearson HATES being inside, he can't do it for more than like 20 minutes before he goes insane haha.  So we decided to do our online work outside of the church and pulled a few chairs outside. While out there, a college-aged girl came up to us and introduced herself as Grace. She had investigated the church last year down in SoCal but her parents forbade her getting baptized and joining. Then she moved up here for college and while she was on her run past the church, she saw us sitting outside and felt the Spirit prompt her to come talk to us. (WHAT?!?!) So she did. While talking to her, she told us that she had actually brought her Book of Mormon WITH her to college. She said she can't help but feel drawn to it. Tender Mercies. She came to church yesterday and stayed for the whole thing, even the Linger Longer at the end! 

Andi: Okay, so shoutout to Kennedy/Sister McDonald for teaching me the ways of Facebook. I was taking her advice this week online by adding anyone I could find who lives in Rohnert Park and whoever adds me back, I message. (we were actually doing this when Grace found us) but someone actually messaged me back and we had a great conversation about eternal families and the Book of Mormon. She even accepted the invitation for us to come by and give her a copy!! We are going back to teach her again this coming Friday. So Facebook can actually work you guys! I hope to find more people in this way. It was great! 

Well that's about it everyone, I literally only took one picture this week so I'm sorry for being a scrub. I'll do better. But this week was awesome! We saw these and so many more miracles. On top of that, I'm almost done with the Book of Mormon. I'm in Ether right now and I've been marking it up like crazy. I started it in January so it's taken a while. That book is true and powerful. 

I love you all! Go watch General Conference this weekend! I promise you will find answers to any question that you might have! 

Song of the Week is "Keep Me" by Khalid.  Love that one.

Love, 

Elder Thompson 

Knows how to make a mom's day!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfpWDPkKw_Q  Keep Me  Khalid