Elder Henry H. Thompson: Waffles First, Basketball Later

What's going on SLC and beyond?!

Here's the story behind the title: we woke up early to play basketball with my favorite assistants, Elder Dixon and Elder Nelson. Seminary was going on while we were playing in the gym and they were having waffles so at the end of seminary, they invited us to eat some waffles. When Sister Simpson came in the gym to invite us for waffles, I asked her how much time we had before the waffles were ready. Her response was, "waffles first; basketball later." So we had some good waffles.

In other news, I no longer feel like a real missionary now that we can call home each week. It's going to be weird for sure but I know the parents are going to appreciate it and it'll be nice to be able to communicate better with family! I guess it's just a big change. I'll see how it goes! We spent like 30 minutes freaking out and talking about it on Friday. All of the missionaries in our zone were freaking out as well.

So now for the tough part of the week, Barbara pretty much dropped us.... she said she wants some time to read on her own and we have "done our job" with her. I know that God has a plan for her and maybe it isn't her time right now but eventually it will be. You hear about stories like this all of the time - when people are so close but just don't get there - but it's a lot different when it's someone you've taught so much and you have developed a close relationship with.

Grace also dropped us again and said that she doesn't think the Book of Mormon is for her. That made me pretty sad..... just because I know the Book of Mormon is for her! It's given to us to give us hope and happiness through these hard times.

And I can't remember if I ever talked about the Pastor and his family who let us in to read the Bible with them. We went back to see them and he said he would be willing to talk with us. Hopefully he doesn't just want to bash with us but if he has real intent and a sincere heart, then it'll all work out!

We found 9 people this week who said we could come teach them! That's more than we have found in a long time! It feels pretty good. So along with the hard parts of the week, with people dropping us, we still found others! God's plan always moves forward!

Elder Taylor can't figure out how to ring a doorbell properly, haha. He accidentally double-rang 2 different doorbells on the same court! I tell him he will get it one day if he practices hard enough.

Shoutouts for the week:

The Davis family for the waterproofing spray for my coat and also for the stew and donuts and my favorite pink frosted cookies
The Norton family for the best cookie-brittle stuff ever
Mtn. Dew voltage
Moses for roasting Satan using the phrase: "who art thou?"
The family from Nairobi I met yesterday and made me think of Austin. Sorry I didn't get a picture with them. I'll go back.

The best news of the week was the text I got from Cinthya, who I baptized a year ago in Fortuna, saying that she and her husband were finishing their temple prep classes and were going to Idaho soon to receive their endowments and to get sealed!!!! Music to a missionary's ears. Especially for me because she was the first person I baptized and I gained such a special relationship with them. It makes me so happy to hear they are still progressing in the gospel!! Even through all of the hard times, stuff like this makes the tough times worth it!!

The Song of the Week is "Welcome To Paradise" by Green Day. Shout out to Tommy J!!

Much love to you all,

Love Elder Thompson