Elder Thompson: Veracruz, Mexico/ Bakersfield, California Missions: week 50: light

Elder Robison and me!

Hey everyone-

This week has honestly all blended together so much. Something about being stuck inside makes everything just feel the same. Here are some odd things that stand out.

We got to listen to the area president, ElderPearson, and it was crazy. He spoke about light. There's a scripture in D&C that talks about the light of God being truth. Then he said we receive truth from obedience. He also talked about things to do to become more converted and a better missionary. Something cool I learned is that the church can only reach about 30% of the world's population through traditional missionary work, but 80% of the world has access to a smartphone. The Church has wanted to use more technology in missionary work, and Covid has been a way to push technology out to the missionaries.

We also are starting to have restrictions lifted and now we can visit people if we're invited. The changes also mean we can meet as a district and we got to do a short sacrament meeting which was cool. We've finally started finding people and are having more lessons which is great. I don't even know how many phone calls we've made, so lessons are a great change of pace.

Today we also had a district activity and we played volleyball at a park. As we were playing a guy came up to us and wanted to share a message about Jesus. We accepted and then told him we were missionaries. We all ended up talking to the guy for almost an hour. We answered some questions about the church and we shared our beliefs with him. He told us some of his own and in the end we gave him a book of Mormon. It was pretty hectic since there were 8 missionaries, so only 3 or 4 of us really talked. After we invited him to read it, I shared Moroni's promise and it was awesome.

Something cool Elder Pearson shared was D&C 50:23-25.

It says;

23 And that which doth not edify is not of God, and is darkness.

24 That which is of God is light; and he that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day.

25 And again, verily I say unto you, and I say it that you may know the truth, that you may chase darkness from among you;

I love this. As we become more obedient, and gain more of God's light. We can chase away darkness. It was something really powerful that stuck with me.

That's all for now, maybe more will happen this week.

--Elder Thompson

bits & pieces from family phone calls:

At the park today, there were squirrels...so many squirrels...I quit counting at 50!

One of the sisters put her hand down a squirrel hole and was all excited because she touched one...we elders are pretty sure she'll get rabies from that adventure.

We're going to try doing more cooking this week because we're getting a little tired of grab and go dinners.

The homesickness is easing up especially with the restrictions being a little less.

Pray for us to find people ready to hear the gospel!