March Madness

Hey everyone! Shoutout to California for the beautiful weather this week... 70 and sunny every day! 

I'll give you some highlights because it's easier to put my thoughts together in that format:

• I hit 18 months as a missionary. It's crazy how fast it's gone by and how much I've loved every second. Here's to the next 6! 
• I got to drive the mission Chevy Silverado and I felt really good driving it! 
• We are trying to be more like Ammon and serve people whenever he saw a need.  We did service for my Mission President and he really appreciated it.  Unrelated note: President Meservy told me he was going to watch Murder Mountain, the documentary.  I served in the place it was filmed. It was pretty wild, actually. 
• Remember Elder Pickett's cousin in Coffey Park who we helped move? Well, we started teaching them the gospel yesterday!! It was super surprising when she said yes to our asking if we could share the gospel with them! 
• The Guizar family came to YM/YW and also to Pi night on 3/14! They liked all of it! I'm happy about that. We found out some of their concerns this week, one of them being why do we need the BoM? I was able to testify of my favorite thing to teach about: the Book of Mormon! They must've liked what I said because they agreed to read for 20 minutes each day as a family. 
• Freda came to church again and loved it. She loves what we teach her and but just doesn't want to give up the title of being Lutheran.  We will help her to know that taking on the name of Christ is where it's at! 
• I gave a talk in church this week about the importance of knowing the doctrine of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Everyone liked it! My friend Ali helped me write it. She has a pastoral degree (I think that's what it is called) and has read the Bible like 21 times cover to cover so she knows her doctrine as well. She also made the best pies at pi night on 3/14.
• We sang a song at a baptism! It wasn't the greatest because we didn't practice but it went okay. 
• We found 14 people to teach this week, a personal record for me!  Two of those people we found were Luther and Paige. They have 3 kids together and are so awesome. We found them when we were knocking an apartment complex and we talked to them over their back fence and then helped them make a small playground for their kids while we were teaching them. They are super interested! Luther is from Liberia and has seen some things for sure. He showed me yesterday his gunshot entrance and exit wounds as well as where he got stabbed in the stomach. This man was wild! He is super cool though and wants his kids to grow up with God. We are going over again next week! 

That's about all I can remember! Molly has a birthday this week so say happy birthday to her! Also shoutout to my guy Blake Kelso for getting married last week! 

The Song of the Week is a throw back to a couple of years ago, "Slip" by Elliot Moss. That one is really good. 

I'm loving my mission and loving Northern California. I think it's the most beautiful place ever. We are headed to Bodega Bay today.

The Church is true, and so is the Book of Mormon... I love reading that book. If you haven't read it in a while or you haven't read it at all, do it.  It's the best! 

Much love to all of you!

Elder Thompson 

Service for President! That helmet was squeezing my head in ways I can't describe

Found one of my old companion's shoes in an apartment in Santa Rosa! 

Got my haircut last week... shoutout to Liz at Great Clips 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMzjbyZhM5U  "Slip" Elliot Moss

Rising From The Ashes

What's up everyone! Here we are again on another Monday.  

This week was a lot of preparation for Zone Conference as well as a ton of service we were asked to do. It was fun, but it took up most of our week. 

The service we did was helping people take stuff to their cars and lifting heavy things at this huge kids sale at the Santa Rosa fairgrounds. It was in a pavilion full of baby and kids items: strollers, cribs, clothes, toys, food, anything you can think of. Thousands of parents came to this sale and it was our job to help them. It took up most of Wednesday and Thursday but it was good. I even got to see some members from Rohnert Park up here! 

Which reminds me, Yanping, who I baptized last year when I first got to Rohnert Park, spoke in stake conference yesterday in San Rafael. Some members down there told me it was a wonderful talk, which I believe. I think it's probably the greatest feeling to know that someone you helped into the church is still active and really progressing in the gospel. You can just see how much it changes people for the better. 

In between service and preparing for Zone Conference, we met Tim. Now Tim is not a member of the church but his wife is, and she doesn't really come.... but Tim brings his kids with him to church almost every week. The previous missionaries had to stop teaching him because he and his wife aren't technically married yet living together. But he is super solid! They are actually getting married soon and Tim told us that he wants to be baptized still. He started the Book of Mormon over again and is making changes in his life to prepare to be baptized. I'm excited to see what happens with him and his family. 

We also met another great family who had met with missionaries before, but had never tried asking if the Book of Mormon was true. So we invited them to read it and pray about it and they said they would! I know that if they do it with a sincere heart, they will get their answer. 

Santa Rosa Zone

Other than that, we helped Elder Pickett's relatives move into their house in Coffey Park. If you remember from 2017, it was one of the parts of Santa Rosa that was absolutely destroyed in the fires. I got to learn a lot more of their experience with the fires. I remember driving through Santa Rosa before the fires and seeing how beautiful it was and then a month later coming back and everything was burnt to the ground. Where neighborhoods used to be, you could see out forever over all of the ash with only chimneys still standing. But as I went through Coffey Park again this past week, I got to see the wonderful resilience of all the people who live there. Many houses are rebuilt and people are living there again. When you drive into the neighborhood, there is a big banner that says "Rising from the Ashes," and that's exactly what's happening! It's truly a sight to see. I'm grateful I got to be here for the fires, as terrible as they were for so many people, it was wonderful to see everyone coming together to help one another out. #SonomaStrong 

Coffey Park - Rising From The Ashes.

The Song of the Week is "Black Dog" by Led Zeppelin, in honor of Murphy's birthday.  Also Happy Birthday to Jack and Tanner this week. Love you guys. 

Today we are going to have a barbecue at the Mission President's house so that should be fun! I'm still loving it out here in Santa Rosa. California is a pretty cool place to be. I'm lucky! 

P Day BBQ 

BBQ at Meservy's

Santa Rosa vineyard

Have a great week! 

Love,

Elder Thompson 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBuub4Xe1mw  Black Dog  Led Zeppelin

Taco Bell and Chocolate

New address: 3840 Martina Avenue 
                       Apt. 103 
                       Santa Rosa, CA 95407
New email (but the old one will still work too): thompson.henry@missionary.org

Hey,  so I guess I need to update all of you on the past 2 weeks since I didn't write much last week. 

My last Sunday in Rohnert Park, our Bishop had me bear my testimony. I was pretty sad to be leaving since Rohnert Park is such a great place with equally great people and ward. I had been there for so long that it was basically my home ward at that point! But there's a plan for me and for the people in Santa Rosa and meeting everyone there at church yesterday was fun! 

Before I left Rohnert Park, we went around and said goodbye to some of the members.  Transfers were on Monday instead of Tuesday which cut us an extra day short so I didn't get to see everyone I wanted to.  I'll for sure visit after my mission. We also had a BBQ with our ward mission leader and Branden and Anissa were there! It was a good time. He cooked some juicy pork! 

I'm now in a trio with Elder Larson, who came out one transfer after me, and Elder Pickett, who just finished being trained by Elder Jones and Elder Larson. Good times with them. Everyone here in the ward makes fun of me for spending the last 9 months of my mission in one area only to get transferred 5 minutes away to the next ward up.... No complaints here! 

We had a lesson with a recent convert named Sandra who was preparing to go to the temple this past Saturday. She said that the adversary had been working on her hard and she was having a rough week. We taught her it wasn't unusual and it only means that she is about to do something  God wants her to do. Satan always opposes the things of God and makes it hard to do them.   She went to the temple and loved it. She said being in the Celestial room was one of the best things ever, I think it is too. We told her about Joseph Smith,  when he was praying and Satan was trying to stop him, as well as when Moses came down from talking with God and Satan tried to get Moses to worship him instead of God.  I love it when Moses just says, "Who art thou?" 

Similar opposition came to us after that solid lesson when outside of the complex, a very drunk man took all of the cookies that Sandra gave us when I only offered him one.... Then he just proceeded to speak gibberish and left.  I don't think I'll be getting over that any time soon. 

We taught another sweet lesson this week to a woman named Freda who is about 80 years old and loves coming to church and the people at church. She says she feels like she doesn't quite know enough to get baptized but she wants to keep learning. Fine by me! We taught her about recognizing the Holy Ghost whenever truth is being heard, taught, or felt. It always feels good, peaceful, and edifying. That's how we know and can tell the difference between truth and almost-truth. Freda is praying about baptism this week so I'm hoping to have some great news for you in the future. 

We had MLC and are gearing up for Zone Conference this week.  The first few weeks of a transfer are always jam packed.

Last but not least, we had a dinner with some members this week and one of the members' mom is 99 years old! That's insane! She loves the missionaries and wants us to call her "Grandma". haha so I guess I have a California Grandma now.  I asked what her secret was to living for so long and she told me it's Taco Bell and chocolate. So there you have it, endure to the end!

The Song of the Week is Want You Back by the Jackson 5. a solid classic! 

Happy Birthday to Grandpa Mick this week!!

Have a great week! 

Much love, 

Elder Thompson

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3Q80mk7bxE  Want You Back  Jackson 5

Swimming To Santa Rosa

What's up everyone?!

So here's the deal, I don't have much time to email because we had transfers today instead of tomorrow. Imma getting transferred to Santa Rosa!  Exciting stuff! I'm pretty excited to get a new area but also nervous because Rohnert Park is my home now. But it'll be okay because God knows the plan and will make what needs to happen, happen. 

I'll write more next week but until then, the Song of the Week is Pinball Wizard by The Who. Love that one! Have a great week!

Much love,

Elder Thompson 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4AKbUm8GrbM  Pinball Wizard  The Who

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 

Elders Brinkerhoff and Djahanbani

San Rafael

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOcrKFiB_ts Welcome To Paradise  Green Day

Keystones Til Kingdom Come

What's happening friends and family? 

First off shout out to my parents for their 27th wedding anniversary this week. They are a pretty good pair, I would say. 

I'll do this in dash-form just to make it better and because I like when other people do it too. 

-Started the week off right with exchanges with Elder Nelson, my greatest friend since Day One of the mission and also my current AP. We had a baller time and did some good work. His biggest goal in life is to trick out a van so that he can live in it for a few years and just go on adventures. That sounds pretty sick to me so catch me in a Ford Sportmobile in a few years! 

-We had a wonderful lesson with Barbara where we gave her what she asked for, which was the differences between her beliefs now and the beliefs of the Church of Jesus Christ. Turns out, she is basically already a member. She believes God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost to be 3 separate beings as well as that God should have modern day Prophets.  We taught her a little more about baptism and I'm really hoping that her heart will soften up a little more to accept the message. 

-Getting out of the car while trying to go see someone and getting the feeling that we should talk to the guy across the street at the park throwing a ball to his dogs. The guy we went to see wasn't home so we walked across the street to the park and talked to the guy. He wasn't interested but as we were walking away saw some other people on the sidewalk we could talk to. We ended up meeting Diane there, who talked to us for like 40 minutes. We introduced the Restoration and she was asking us where church was and what time. She showed up on Sunday as well and loved it! I've made it my goal this transfer to recognize and follow the small promptings but I realize  it's hard to recognize the small promptings because they just feel like regular thoughts.  But as you follow the ones that lead you to do good, you can come to know where each thought comes from and recognize which ones are from God. 

-Interviews with President Meservy, always a great experience. 

-Gaining a greater testimony of the power of fasting. 

-Having a wonderful lesson with Branden (Anissa was sick) and really got deep with him and found out his true needs. We talked about the power of prayer and how to become a "pray-er" when you really aren't one. I think it was a really effective lesson. Talking about baptism, he said "I'm down if Anissa is down." haha he is a great guy. I really hope to see their family join the church. 

-Doing the Missionary Moment during a baptism in Petaluma and talking about the power of the Book of Mormon using a life sized version of what is in preach my gospel. The Keystone is the part of the arch that holds everything else together, without it, everything falls. The Book of Mormon is the keystone of our religion. Every truth that we testify of eventually goes back to whether or not the Book of Mormon is true. If it isn't, then the whole church falls along with our claim to prophets, revelation, and the priesthood. But if it is, which I know it is, then this is God's church once again brought back to the earth and we are lead by a true, living prophet who receives inspiration from God as to what we need. I think that's a pretty cool thing. 

The song of the week is "Till Kingdom Come" by Coldplay. 

Have a great week!

Love

-Elder Thompson 

pics:

  Mine and Elder Taylor's pictures are next to each other in the mission office, meant to be!

 

                            I found something even better than a van, adventure bus! 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yo49REpQCwA Til Kingdom Come  Coldplay

No Soliciting

Hey again everyone,

This week was pretty wild really, we had some good success even though we faced several unpleasant people, but that's all part of life! 

We were knocking in a little community this past week and this guy opened up the door and was cool at first. Then he yelled and had some choice words for us.  So we started to walk away but then he opened his door and told us that he was calling the police.   

The next day, we were knocking in a trailer park and we had gone pretty far without anyone trying to kick us out. But then a guy in a golf cart said we were soliciting and needed to leave.  We left.  I was pretty upset because we let the guy win but I realized that Christ himself went through similar persecution. Everything He did was good but the people still rejected Him and treated Him badly. So there's a cool analogy, take it or leave it. 

Yesterday was interesting because it was raining SUPER hard plus it was Fast Sunday and it was Superbowl Sunday so everybody was either preparing for a party or away at a party.  Elder Taylor and I decided to try our luck and get into a gated community of apartments that missionaries had not been able to get into yet.  We slipped in the open gate after a car went in and BAM! we were in. We spent about the next 4 hours knocking on about 260 doors in the complex and as expected, most people weren't home. A lot of people asked us how we got inside and we just told em we walked in. We only had a few people get mad at us  and also we had some nice people tell us we could come back! But nobody kicked us out! It was super cold so I was wearing my church pants with sweats over them with rain pants over those and also a big coat and sweater to keep warm. The apartment buildings were covered and we had to run up and down 6 flights of stairs per building. It was fun though because we were running out of time before dinner so Elder Taylor and I were each knocking a door at the same time and we would just talk to whichever one answered. One of the times, one guy closed the door right as the door across the hall answered so we just flipped around and talked to her! Pretty good stuff. 

Barbara is still doing well, we invited her to read The Book of Mormon from a new perspective, to learn more about Jesus Christ. She came to dinner with us at a member's house last night and it was really great! Mom, you would be proud, I played and sang them a song. Barbara was very mad that I didn't tell her I could do that haha! 

We met some other good people this week and taught some others but nothing really new. Being a missionary is still great! I'll let you know when the cops actually show up to something. Now that will be a story. 

The Song Of The Week is Ice Cream Paint Job, by Dorrough. That was a good mobbing song with the boys! 

 

much love,

Elder Thompson