Elder Thompson: Veracruz, Mexico/ Bakersfield, California Missions: week 24: a spanish Book of Mormon

This is for my mom...since the last time she asked for a tag picture

I sent one of the back of my tag!

Well we had transfers this week, me and Elder Leocadio are staying here in Lerdo another transfer. One of the other Elders in the area left and now Elder Garcia is with Elder Bradshaw. He's from Texas (yay for another English speaker!) and Elder Garcia was his trainer, so a father and son are back together.

This week was a little tough. We found out that one of our investigators who has been progressing isn't married so that is a little sad. We're trying to find people but it's been a little tough here. We've also been teaching a family that we found a couple of weeks ago. The parents aren't married, but they've got a son we can continue to teach and baptize.

Also this week I finished the Book of Mormon in Spanish! I'm pretty pumped about that. I just want you all to know it's true. Nephi, Lehi, Alma, Helaman, Mormon, Moroni, and every other person in it really lived and they all wrote their experiences for us. Above all, I know Jesus Christ lived, died, and lived again for us. He is our Savior and loves us all.

--Elder Thompson

Bits and pieces from family phone calls:

A little more info on our investigator...he is actually married...to someone he has been separated from for 12 years. He is living with his girlfriend now. Divorce here is really expensive, so he has never been able to afford it. We're sad about the situation, but it's more common here than you would think.

Our branch here has around 800 members, but we only get 60-80 that come on Sundays. Many of the members have been inactive for years, and their idea of what can/cannot happen in the church is a little out there sometimes. But there are also some really good people that are doing really good things.

We did have a family invite us for lunch and dinner Christmas day, and a birthday party for their daughter, so we'll be well taken care of!