Hey everyone!
I hope you all had a great week. Mine was really good, but super hot! I'm at the point where as soon as I step out of the car, I start sweatin'. It is pretty rough. Yesterday got to 105. The best part is that we spent most of the day outside in the sun and most of the people we are teaching don't have air conditioning. So I have really been cherishing the time we get in the car with the AC. Other than the heat, this week has been pretty awesome. On Saturday, one of the twelve Apostles of the church came to visit the mission. For those of you who don't know, our church is set up the same way as Christ's church was when He was on the Earth. We have twelve Apostles and a Prophet too. The Apostle who came to visit was Elder Nelson. We were able to shake his hand before he gave the coolest talk. He talked a lot about remembering who we are. On our name tags that we wear everyday it says the name of the church. I'm in a Spanish speaking mission, so mine says, "La Iglesia de Jesucristo de los Santos de los Ultimos Dias". He reminded us that everyday we are wearing Christ's name on our chest and that we are His representatives. Three members of the Seventy were there and they gave really cool talks as well. The meeting was in Lancaster, which is about two hours away. It took most of the day to go to the meeting, but it was worth it.
Friday we went to visit Jose and Jesus, but only Jose was home. So we taught him a little bit. We usually have to plan really small lessons, because he ends up having tons of questions. He is a super curious guy. But at the end of the lesson, he told us he wants to be baptized. That really took me by surprise. I remember when we first met Jose and Jesus, they told us that they really didn't believe in God. It has been so incredible for me to see that change. Yesterday we went to visit some investigators who live right next to Jose and Jesus, but they weren't home. We were walking to the car, and Jesus came running out to talk to us. It was perfect, he invited us in and we had a really good lesson with him. We had a member, Brother Payne, with us and he helped a lot. Their Dad is not really big on religion or believing in God, so I think it was really cool to have Brother Payne there. He was really good with him. I am so grateful we got to meet those two. Before we left, Jesus said, "I'm not going to lie, I have seen my life getting a lot better since I've started talking with you guys." A lot of times out here on my mission, it's hard. Things don't always go the way I would like, but that was really cool to hear. It was one of those moments when I just felt like I was doing my part. We had some other good lessons with Angela and Frankie. We got a new Bishop! He is a really cool guy. And the pranks in the apartment keep getting better. Well, I have to go. I hope you all have a great week. I miss everyone a lot, but I am having a great time in Cali.
Much Love,
Elder Chad Thompson
I hope you all had a great week. Mine was really good, but super hot! I'm at the point where as soon as I step out of the car, I start sweatin'. It is pretty rough. Yesterday got to 105. The best part is that we spent most of the day outside in the sun and most of the people we are teaching don't have air conditioning. So I have really been cherishing the time we get in the car with the AC. Other than the heat, this week has been pretty awesome. On Saturday, one of the twelve Apostles of the church came to visit the mission. For those of you who don't know, our church is set up the same way as Christ's church was when He was on the Earth. We have twelve Apostles and a Prophet too. The Apostle who came to visit was Elder Nelson. We were able to shake his hand before he gave the coolest talk. He talked a lot about remembering who we are. On our name tags that we wear everyday it says the name of the church. I'm in a Spanish speaking mission, so mine says, "La Iglesia de Jesucristo de los Santos de los Ultimos Dias". He reminded us that everyday we are wearing Christ's name on our chest and that we are His representatives. Three members of the Seventy were there and they gave really cool talks as well. The meeting was in Lancaster, which is about two hours away. It took most of the day to go to the meeting, but it was worth it.
Friday we went to visit Jose and Jesus, but only Jose was home. So we taught him a little bit. We usually have to plan really small lessons, because he ends up having tons of questions. He is a super curious guy. But at the end of the lesson, he told us he wants to be baptized. That really took me by surprise. I remember when we first met Jose and Jesus, they told us that they really didn't believe in God. It has been so incredible for me to see that change. Yesterday we went to visit some investigators who live right next to Jose and Jesus, but they weren't home. We were walking to the car, and Jesus came running out to talk to us. It was perfect, he invited us in and we had a really good lesson with him. We had a member, Brother Payne, with us and he helped a lot. Their Dad is not really big on religion or believing in God, so I think it was really cool to have Brother Payne there. He was really good with him. I am so grateful we got to meet those two. Before we left, Jesus said, "I'm not going to lie, I have seen my life getting a lot better since I've started talking with you guys." A lot of times out here on my mission, it's hard. Things don't always go the way I would like, but that was really cool to hear. It was one of those moments when I just felt like I was doing my part. We had some other good lessons with Angela and Frankie. We got a new Bishop! He is a really cool guy. And the pranks in the apartment keep getting better. Well, I have to go. I hope you all have a great week. I miss everyone a lot, but I am having a great time in Cali.
Much Love,
Elder Chad Thompson