Hey everyone,
I hope all is going well. This week has been really good. On Thursday we had our first lesson with Rustum, the husband of Amerika. I met and taught him once last year while I was serving in the Wasco Ward. It was really cool to see him again. We went to their house for dinner on Thursday and when I shook his hand he said, "Hey, I know you from somewhere". It was really great to meet up with him again. Last year after we taught him, he took the lessons for a couple more weeks and then stopped. I know the Elders who taught him and they are really nice guys, but according to Rustum's wife, they were a little pushy and he got uncomfortable and stopped taking the lessons. This time around we are taking things a little slower. So we had dinner with Amerika, Rustum, and two of Rustum's cousins and then afterwards we shared a message about the Plan of Salvation. We had a great evening. Rustum is working construction in Bakersfield for now, but he is training to be a boxer. I'm not surprised either, the dude is huge! Rustum and Amerika got married last summer and they are expecting a baby pretty soon so we thought that sharing something about the Plan of Salvation and how families can be together forever would be a good idea. They really liked it, especially Rustum's cousins. We had a nice lesson and they asked a lot of really good questions. Rustum also came to church with his wife this week, which was so great. He is just a great guy who wants the best for his family. I like him alot and I'm glad we get to visit him.
Things are going really well with Adriana and her son Adrian. They are so awesome. On Tuesday we went to their house for service. We helped Adriana clear out her patio and move a bunch of their old stuff to storage. Adrian was there too and he helped us out. Adrian is a cool kid. He loves video games. When we come over he is usually playing his PS4. He also loves sports and reminds me of my brothers. When we go over we talk about baseball a lot and he fills me in on what is going on in the NBA playoff. He has given me a lot of Dodgers stuff like a mini bat and a Dodgers baseball. He is a good kid and he is really kind to his mom. He is almost 15 and anytime his mom tells him to do anything, he stops what he is doing and helps her out. I admire that a lot in a kid that age. Sometimes it is hard to listen to your parents. A lot of times I would whine and drag my feet if I was asked to do something, but not Adrian. He is a really good example. So we did service for them for about two hours. It was pretty hot the whole time, and their pool was torturing me! Adrian tried to push me into the pool and he almost succeeded, but I got my balance back. I had to explain to him that we can't swim. :( After service, Adriana made us dinner and we shared a message with Adrian and Adriana. We gave Adrian a Book of Mormon and he says he will start to read it. We also met Adriana's husband. He is a super nice guy. He is a cross country coach for the high school. That whole family is awesome. Adriana is a member of the Church but is not active. Her son and husband aren't members, but they treat us like family. When Adriana found out that we only get to Skype home twice a year, she immediately invited us over to Skype at our house. She said that if her son were on a mission, she would miss him so much and would want someone to do the same for him.
So on Mother's Day we went back over to their house to Skype our families. I am always counting down the days until I get to Skype my family, so it was so great to be able to see them all again. I was so happy to see my family and even be able to Facetime a little bit with my older brothers. It was sweet to see my little nephew Jerry and see how big he is already. Being away from home, sometimes I worry about how the family is doing. It was great to see everyone and see for myself that everything is good. I have been gone for 16 months and sometimes I worry, but I know that the Lord is taking care of my family. I love them so much and I know He does too. Seeing them really reminded me how much I miss them. It can be a little bit of a bummer knowing that so much is going on without you. It blows my mind that Drew is graduating and heading to college and Luke is moving on to high school. What keeps me out here, is knowing that there are people here that I can help. I am happy to be sharing the gospel with these good people in Cali. I really miss home and the fam, but this is where I want to be and this is exactly what I want to be doing. I am excited to see my family in 8 months, but I am really happy to be out here serving my mission. The next time I see them it will be for Christmas and I'll almost be on my way home. It is crazy to see how fast time flies!
Well I hope you all had a great Mother's Day and that you spoiled your moms and wives. I am doing great out here in Delano. I miss and love y'all! Take good care.
Much Love,
Elder Chad Thompson
I hope all is going well. This week has been really good. On Thursday we had our first lesson with Rustum, the husband of Amerika. I met and taught him once last year while I was serving in the Wasco Ward. It was really cool to see him again. We went to their house for dinner on Thursday and when I shook his hand he said, "Hey, I know you from somewhere". It was really great to meet up with him again. Last year after we taught him, he took the lessons for a couple more weeks and then stopped. I know the Elders who taught him and they are really nice guys, but according to Rustum's wife, they were a little pushy and he got uncomfortable and stopped taking the lessons. This time around we are taking things a little slower. So we had dinner with Amerika, Rustum, and two of Rustum's cousins and then afterwards we shared a message about the Plan of Salvation. We had a great evening. Rustum is working construction in Bakersfield for now, but he is training to be a boxer. I'm not surprised either, the dude is huge! Rustum and Amerika got married last summer and they are expecting a baby pretty soon so we thought that sharing something about the Plan of Salvation and how families can be together forever would be a good idea. They really liked it, especially Rustum's cousins. We had a nice lesson and they asked a lot of really good questions. Rustum also came to church with his wife this week, which was so great. He is just a great guy who wants the best for his family. I like him alot and I'm glad we get to visit him.
Things are going really well with Adriana and her son Adrian. They are so awesome. On Tuesday we went to their house for service. We helped Adriana clear out her patio and move a bunch of their old stuff to storage. Adrian was there too and he helped us out. Adrian is a cool kid. He loves video games. When we come over he is usually playing his PS4. He also loves sports and reminds me of my brothers. When we go over we talk about baseball a lot and he fills me in on what is going on in the NBA playoff. He has given me a lot of Dodgers stuff like a mini bat and a Dodgers baseball. He is a good kid and he is really kind to his mom. He is almost 15 and anytime his mom tells him to do anything, he stops what he is doing and helps her out. I admire that a lot in a kid that age. Sometimes it is hard to listen to your parents. A lot of times I would whine and drag my feet if I was asked to do something, but not Adrian. He is a really good example. So we did service for them for about two hours. It was pretty hot the whole time, and their pool was torturing me! Adrian tried to push me into the pool and he almost succeeded, but I got my balance back. I had to explain to him that we can't swim. :( After service, Adriana made us dinner and we shared a message with Adrian and Adriana. We gave Adrian a Book of Mormon and he says he will start to read it. We also met Adriana's husband. He is a super nice guy. He is a cross country coach for the high school. That whole family is awesome. Adriana is a member of the Church but is not active. Her son and husband aren't members, but they treat us like family. When Adriana found out that we only get to Skype home twice a year, she immediately invited us over to Skype at our house. She said that if her son were on a mission, she would miss him so much and would want someone to do the same for him.
So on Mother's Day we went back over to their house to Skype our families. I am always counting down the days until I get to Skype my family, so it was so great to be able to see them all again. I was so happy to see my family and even be able to Facetime a little bit with my older brothers. It was sweet to see my little nephew Jerry and see how big he is already. Being away from home, sometimes I worry about how the family is doing. It was great to see everyone and see for myself that everything is good. I have been gone for 16 months and sometimes I worry, but I know that the Lord is taking care of my family. I love them so much and I know He does too. Seeing them really reminded me how much I miss them. It can be a little bit of a bummer knowing that so much is going on without you. It blows my mind that Drew is graduating and heading to college and Luke is moving on to high school. What keeps me out here, is knowing that there are people here that I can help. I am happy to be sharing the gospel with these good people in Cali. I really miss home and the fam, but this is where I want to be and this is exactly what I want to be doing. I am excited to see my family in 8 months, but I am really happy to be out here serving my mission. The next time I see them it will be for Christmas and I'll almost be on my way home. It is crazy to see how fast time flies!
Well I hope you all had a great Mother's Day and that you spoiled your moms and wives. I am doing great out here in Delano. I miss and love y'all! Take good care.
Much Love,
Elder Chad Thompson