Hey everyone,
I hope all is well. The trio life is still going great. We are having an awesome time and getting a lot of work done. The time is flying with these guys. This week went by really fast because we have had a lot going on.
This Saturday Martha got baptized. It was really cool to see her finally be able to take that step. I definitely have a testimony that when we try to do good things in life, Satan tries to do whatever he can to get in our way. That was definitely the case with Martha. She had a lot of obstacles keep popping up. She was finally supposed to get baptized last week, but then she got sick and we had to postpone her date. Thenthis Saturday, everything was going great. Everything was set and ready to go. The programs were made, the church was set up, and Martha was excited. Then around lunch time we started getting phone calls from different members who had important roles in the baptismal service telling us that they weren't going to be able to come. The icing on the cake came around dinner time, when the member who was going to perform the baptism called to cancel because he had gotten sick. So we were scrambling all day to make sure everything was going to work out. But when 7:00 came around and it was time for the service, everything turned out great. The service ended up being so nice and it was a really sweet experience for Martha. I was so nervous because she asked me to do the baptism after Hermano Jimenez canceled. Of course said yes, but I had never actually performed a baptism before. I must have repeated the words a thousand times in my head and I was super nervous, but it ended up going just fine. It was a really incredible experience too. I am so happy for her and her choice to be baptized. There really hasn't been any better feeling than that; to see people make the decision to come closer to Christ. I don't think I've ever felt anything more satisfying.
We had a zone training meeting this week. We have it once a month and about halfway through the meeting, I realized that would be my last ZTM of my mission. It was so strange to realize I wouldn't get to do this again. I am now experiencing all of my lasts. It is really weird. I can't believe I am down to four more weeks as a missionary. I feel like this is all I really know how to do anymore! This has been my life for the past two years and I love it. I was thinking back to the very beginning of my mission, literally the moment I said adios to my family. I was chilling in the airport terminal waiting for my plane. I remember looking back at the escalator that I had just come down and seriously considering turning back and running to catch my family before they left. It was the hardest thing I've ever had to do, but it has been a decision that has given me so much. Since that time I have been blessed to meet so many amazing people, to love them, to learn another language, to be able to share my testimony of Jesus Christ and to learn how to trust and love my Savior more than ever before. Deciding to keep going and get on that plane was the best decision I've ever made.
So the end draws near, but it still isn't over. I have a month left and a lot to do. We are teaching a lot of great people and I am excited to find more. I am loving it here in Buena Vista. I am serving with a few of my favorite missionaries. Life is good and Buena Vista rocks!
I hope you all have a great week and are enjoying the holiday season. I love and miss you all. Take good care.
Much Love,
Elder Chad Thompson
I hope all is well. The trio life is still going great. We are having an awesome time and getting a lot of work done. The time is flying with these guys. This week went by really fast because we have had a lot going on.
This Saturday Martha got baptized. It was really cool to see her finally be able to take that step. I definitely have a testimony that when we try to do good things in life, Satan tries to do whatever he can to get in our way. That was definitely the case with Martha. She had a lot of obstacles keep popping up. She was finally supposed to get baptized last week, but then she got sick and we had to postpone her date. Thenthis Saturday, everything was going great. Everything was set and ready to go. The programs were made, the church was set up, and Martha was excited. Then around lunch time we started getting phone calls from different members who had important roles in the baptismal service telling us that they weren't going to be able to come. The icing on the cake came around dinner time, when the member who was going to perform the baptism called to cancel because he had gotten sick. So we were scrambling all day to make sure everything was going to work out. But when 7:00 came around and it was time for the service, everything turned out great. The service ended up being so nice and it was a really sweet experience for Martha. I was so nervous because she asked me to do the baptism after Hermano Jimenez canceled. Of course said yes, but I had never actually performed a baptism before. I must have repeated the words a thousand times in my head and I was super nervous, but it ended up going just fine. It was a really incredible experience too. I am so happy for her and her choice to be baptized. There really hasn't been any better feeling than that; to see people make the decision to come closer to Christ. I don't think I've ever felt anything more satisfying.
We had a zone training meeting this week. We have it once a month and about halfway through the meeting, I realized that would be my last ZTM of my mission. It was so strange to realize I wouldn't get to do this again. I am now experiencing all of my lasts. It is really weird. I can't believe I am down to four more weeks as a missionary. I feel like this is all I really know how to do anymore! This has been my life for the past two years and I love it. I was thinking back to the very beginning of my mission, literally the moment I said adios to my family. I was chilling in the airport terminal waiting for my plane. I remember looking back at the escalator that I had just come down and seriously considering turning back and running to catch my family before they left. It was the hardest thing I've ever had to do, but it has been a decision that has given me so much. Since that time I have been blessed to meet so many amazing people, to love them, to learn another language, to be able to share my testimony of Jesus Christ and to learn how to trust and love my Savior more than ever before. Deciding to keep going and get on that plane was the best decision I've ever made.
So the end draws near, but it still isn't over. I have a month left and a lot to do. We are teaching a lot of great people and I am excited to find more. I am loving it here in Buena Vista. I am serving with a few of my favorite missionaries. Life is good and Buena Vista rocks!
I hope you all have a great week and are enjoying the holiday season. I love and miss you all. Take good care.
Much Love,
Elder Chad Thompson