week 101: so many miles

 

some REALLY good pizza!

Hey everyone, this week flew by! 

We hit 20,000 miles in our car because we have to drive so much. When I got here it was about 11,000 so I've driven over 9000 miles in the last 4 months. Things are going great. Logan is coming up on his baptism and he is so ready! Last time we met with him he was talking about how when you do what is right, the Holy Ghost is with you and then when you sin he leaves, but you can repent and he'll come back. It's so cool to see how much he's growing. Then on Sunday he brought his friend to church and we're going to start teaching him as well. His name is Jesse. We had to also give talks. That was a lot of fun. It was about missionary work. The apostles and first presidency came out with these new principles for sharing the gospel. The principles are called Love, Share, Invite. You should all look it up it's super cool. 

Only two weeks left, which means two more lessons. 

My mission taught me that Gospel brings lasting happiness. The gospel of Jesus Christ works! It brings true joy. As we follow it, the gospel brings light into our lives. That light chases away darkness. There is peace that comes from striving to live the gospel. Christ's atonement was a free gift and the gospel is how we can accept and use it. 

--Elder Thompson 

Elder Funk is pretty awesome!

tag picture for my mom

and I found my mom's FAVORITE word!

week 100: lesson 4

I don't know how I'll talk to my mom when I get back without using filters!

Hey everyone! 

   This week was pretty cool. Honestly it was the same as basically every other week. It got pretty cold and we ended up having to use our space heaters for a couple of days. I don't really know what else to say. I don't have a whole lot of time to write because we went up to Mammoth for P-Day which meant like 200 miles of driving. It was exhausting but always good to spend time with the other elders. 

So yeah... On to lesson 4

Lesson 4: There is real power with prayer. Prayer has been such an important aspect of my mission. I've depended on it almost daily. I have received so many answers. God is our loving Heavenly Father and as our Father, He hears and answers every prayer according to His will and timing. Prayer is also about learning God's will for us. Revelation comes as we seek it. 

--Elder Thompson

bits and pieces from family phone calls:

I'm reading the Book of Mormon backwards...started with the last chapter of Moroni. As I read, I take notes about how different people became converted to Christ. It's been a totally different perspective and I'm learning so much. I'm all the way to Mosiah!

The temps went from 90 to 50 overnight and man, we were cold!

see...space heater out

week 99: raising our vision

 

Lone Pine Zone

Okay, this week I actually have things to talk about! 

     We had zone conference last Friday. It was the best! We talked a lot about raising our vision from finding people to teach to eternal life. Now that will be our focus, not just baptism, not just the temple, but helping people receive eternal life through Jesus Christ and His gospel. It was an amazing Zone Conference and one I wish I had at the beginning of my mission. We also talked about how we can help others share the gospel and it's through something in the church handbook called Love, Share, Invite. We love people, then we share the gospel in normal and natural ways. Simple things like sending a scripture, a video, or just talking about it more. Then we invite people. I really liked it because it's something I can keep doing when I go home. We also had interviews and I'm going to really miss having those. We put Logan back on date for June 12th, which sadly means I will be watching over zoom, but that's okay, it isn't really about me. I'm super excited for him. 

Okay, I'm on the third lesson I learned on my mission. 

Lesson 3: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is Christ's church on the earth today. In the scriptures it says the "only true and living church" and to me that doesn't mean all other churches are entirely false or evil, but that this church is the only one with all the truth that has been revealed. It also means to me that this is the only church authorized to receive revelation. Russell M Nelson is the Lord's prophet here on the earth, and following his counsel will lead us all to Christ, through whom we can be saved. We have the priesthood of God, I've experienced it's power throughout my mission and I have had the privilege of using it to help others receive the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I don't have all the answers about the church, but I do know that it's true, and it is Christ's, and that's all that really matters. 

--Elder Thompson 

bits and pieces from family phone calls:

Time is flying....but really. 2 years has gone way too fast.

It was good to have a busier week and I am so happy for Logan!

Jace and I are making all kinds of plans for when I'm back, so if you're wondering, I'm gonna be pretty busy!

For pday, we visited a Japanese Internment camp memorial 

called the Manzanar Facility.

It was interesting but also sad.

week 98: lesson 2

 

pday basketball

Hey Everyone, 

    Another week has gone by, and we had some pretty cool stuff happen. We got to go up to Bishop and do some service for a food bank and that was tons of fun. We also got in contact with a self referral and it turns out she's our Relief Society President's granddaughter. Now we're working on setting up an appointment with them. I've got about a month left so I've really got to make it count. So last week I shared the first lesson my mission taught me, and now it's on to number 2.

Lesson 2: The Book of Mormon is the word of God. I've been reading it more than ever in my life and it has taught me so much. I've read it 2 times in Spanish, and now I'm on my 4th time reading it in English. I've learned so much each time and felt it's power. If by some miracle, Joseph Smith could have written the book, he could not have created the Spirit that comes with it. The Spirit that I feel when I read the Book of Mormon could only come from God. Because I know the Book of Mormon is true I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God. 

--Elder Thompson 

bits and pieces from family phone calls:

My mom wanted pictures...so I took pictures of all the important things in my apartment!

I also sent an epic Mother's Day picture!

see? epic.

the apartment lamp

this one really sucks

house keys

our little casa

carpeted bathroom....kind of gross

my toast this morning

the toaster

last one of our house

week 97: lesson 1

 

Lone Pine...I think Lone Peak would be jealous

Hey everyone,

     This week went pretty well. We taught a few people and had exchanges with the Zone Leaders. Exchanges was a ton of fun. I was with Elder Nordquist and since we're both going home soon we talked a bit about how we're getting ready, and how we're making sure we keep working till the end. We had a really cool and powerful lesson with someone they're teaching. Today for our district activity we drove up to a lake. The road ended up being closed so we hiked up it. That sucked! It was pretty high up and super steep. Definitely got a good workout in. After we went to a park and played some volleyball. That's about it for the week. I've only got five left and I've decided to share with you all 6 lessons I've learned on my mission. I'll do one a week. 

    Lesson 1-> Heavenly Father has a plan for all of us. I've seen this plan in action throughout the last two years for me. His plan took me to Mexico for 9 months where I met so many wonderful people and learned so much. It then took me back home for two months where I was able to grow closer to my family and in the end it brought me here to Bakersfield. I've loved the 11 months I've spent here and I'm looking forward to the last month and a half I've got left. This plan brought me some of my lowest moments and gave me the chance to grow my relationship with my Savior in ways I never could have if everything worked the way I planned it to. I planned on serving my mission in Veracruz for 2 years, and while I'm sure I would have loved it so much, the Lord has given me something that was far better for me. Heavenly Father's plan is real. It doesn't always make sense, and sometimes seems to be moving backwards, but as someone once said "sometimes the moments that make the most sense happen when everything else doesn't" (bonus points if you know who said it). Looking back, I still don't know all the reasons the last two years went the way it did, but I know that what's happened to me wasn't the Lord's backup plan, it was always the plan. In spite of all the craziness some of the stuff that makes the most sense has happened during these last two years. I know the Lord has a plan for each one of you. To sum it all up, I can never thank the Lord enough for allowing me to serve a mission during the Covid-19 pandemic. It has changed and shaped my life for the better. 

--Elder Thompson

Went for a hike with my district for pday...

South Lake did not disappoint even though the road was closed

and we had to hike for a mile before getting to the trail.