Hey everyone,
It has been a crazy week and I'm not sure what to say or what to start, but I guess I'll start with transfers. We got transfer calls this Saturdayand I will finally be leaving Delano. I will be heading to Buena Vista Ward in South Bakersfield. That is probably where I will finish my mission, since I only have two transfers left. My companion will be Elder Swindler. He has been out for one more transfer than me so guess what?! I will be sending him home! I am going to have to ask President what is up because that will be my fourth kill during my mission. Its okay though. I really like being with companions who are going home. Most of the time they are trying to go out with a bang and give it all they've got so I hope that's the case. If anything, I just hope he isn't too trunky! That will make me trunky! I am excited to go to Buena Vista Ward. I was secretly kind of hoping to get transferred. I have been here in Delano for six months and I was up for a change. So when I got the call telling me I was leaving, I was excited. Then later in the day we were out walking around and we bumped into Erika, an old investigator that Elder Tapia and I used to teach when I first got here. We talked for a little bit and I realized that I know so many people in this town. While it'll be nice to go somewhere new, I know it will be hard to leave. I have put so much into this area and I know I am going to miss this place a lot. It will be bittersweet and harder than I thought to leave this place behind. I will definitely be leaving a piece of my heart in Delano.
We have had a busy week. We have spent a lot of time in McFarland. This Saturday we had a lesson with Adan and Vanessa and they are doing awesome. When we got there the had cooked for us and we had dinner and a lesson. They had the movie McFarland on and asked if we wanted to watch it. Although we declined, it was so tempting. I'm really going to miss them. They are always so good to us. They mean a lot to me.
And then of course there is Jeremy and Anderson. Those little guys feel like my brothers at this point. They are awesome. We joke around and they remind me a lot of my brothers back home. We met up with them this week a few times and had some really good lessons with them. I'm going miss those kids, but I know all will be good with them. They are now going to scouts at the church every week and they come to church with their grandparents. It was so sad to say goodbye today. I gave them each a tie for them to wear on Sundays. I will never forget those two.
Eliceo is doing great! He is reading the Book of Mormon, he is coming to church, and he is really excited about baptism. He's on fire. It was really fun because this week we had exchanges with the English Elders and I got to teach by myself. We reading scriptures and Eliceo was trying to make Elder Puyogao learn Spanish. He was making him read parts of the Book of Mormon and repeat what he said in Spanish. It was super funny. I'm going to miss that guy.
This Sunday was awesome! We saw so many people come to church. Anderson and Jeremy showed up with their grandparents. Adan and Vanessa surprised us and came with their three year old Jacob. We have invited them every week, but this week they finally came and it was awesome to have them with us at church. Then last of all, Francisco and Josefina came. We were teaching them earlier this transfer and they were doing great until they moved suddenly and we could not find them. Their phone was no longer in service and we thought we would never find them again. Then they showed up to church out of nowhere with their two kids. They gave us their new address and told us to come by. It meant so much to have so many people come to church for my last Sunday in the Delano ward.
I have loved it here so much. Delano took a little longer for me to warm up to with the heat and all of that biking we did, but I really do love it here. I know this town really well. There are so many people that it has been really hard to say goodbye to. I'm sad and yet my heart is so full. Although I will miss Delano and McFarland, I am looking forward to Buena Vista Ward. It is an all Spanish ward and most Spanish speaking missionaries want to go there. The members are said to be awesome and the work is supposed awesome. I am so excited that I get to serve there for the holidays and probably end my mission there. It is going to be sweeeeet! Okay I have to go. We've still got goodbyes to say and things to pack. Love you all! Have a wonderful week and take good care.
Much Love,
Elder Chad Thompson
It has been a crazy week and I'm not sure what to say or what to start, but I guess I'll start with transfers. We got transfer calls this Saturdayand I will finally be leaving Delano. I will be heading to Buena Vista Ward in South Bakersfield. That is probably where I will finish my mission, since I only have two transfers left. My companion will be Elder Swindler. He has been out for one more transfer than me so guess what?! I will be sending him home! I am going to have to ask President what is up because that will be my fourth kill during my mission. Its okay though. I really like being with companions who are going home. Most of the time they are trying to go out with a bang and give it all they've got so I hope that's the case. If anything, I just hope he isn't too trunky! That will make me trunky! I am excited to go to Buena Vista Ward. I was secretly kind of hoping to get transferred. I have been here in Delano for six months and I was up for a change. So when I got the call telling me I was leaving, I was excited. Then later in the day we were out walking around and we bumped into Erika, an old investigator that Elder Tapia and I used to teach when I first got here. We talked for a little bit and I realized that I know so many people in this town. While it'll be nice to go somewhere new, I know it will be hard to leave. I have put so much into this area and I know I am going to miss this place a lot. It will be bittersweet and harder than I thought to leave this place behind. I will definitely be leaving a piece of my heart in Delano.
We have had a busy week. We have spent a lot of time in McFarland. This Saturday we had a lesson with Adan and Vanessa and they are doing awesome. When we got there the had cooked for us and we had dinner and a lesson. They had the movie McFarland on and asked if we wanted to watch it. Although we declined, it was so tempting. I'm really going to miss them. They are always so good to us. They mean a lot to me.
And then of course there is Jeremy and Anderson. Those little guys feel like my brothers at this point. They are awesome. We joke around and they remind me a lot of my brothers back home. We met up with them this week a few times and had some really good lessons with them. I'm going miss those kids, but I know all will be good with them. They are now going to scouts at the church every week and they come to church with their grandparents. It was so sad to say goodbye today. I gave them each a tie for them to wear on Sundays. I will never forget those two.
Eliceo is doing great! He is reading the Book of Mormon, he is coming to church, and he is really excited about baptism. He's on fire. It was really fun because this week we had exchanges with the English Elders and I got to teach by myself. We reading scriptures and Eliceo was trying to make Elder Puyogao learn Spanish. He was making him read parts of the Book of Mormon and repeat what he said in Spanish. It was super funny. I'm going to miss that guy.
This Sunday was awesome! We saw so many people come to church. Anderson and Jeremy showed up with their grandparents. Adan and Vanessa surprised us and came with their three year old Jacob. We have invited them every week, but this week they finally came and it was awesome to have them with us at church. Then last of all, Francisco and Josefina came. We were teaching them earlier this transfer and they were doing great until they moved suddenly and we could not find them. Their phone was no longer in service and we thought we would never find them again. Then they showed up to church out of nowhere with their two kids. They gave us their new address and told us to come by. It meant so much to have so many people come to church for my last Sunday in the Delano ward.
I have loved it here so much. Delano took a little longer for me to warm up to with the heat and all of that biking we did, but I really do love it here. I know this town really well. There are so many people that it has been really hard to say goodbye to. I'm sad and yet my heart is so full. Although I will miss Delano and McFarland, I am looking forward to Buena Vista Ward. It is an all Spanish ward and most Spanish speaking missionaries want to go there. The members are said to be awesome and the work is supposed awesome. I am so excited that I get to serve there for the holidays and probably end my mission there. It is going to be sweeeeet! Okay I have to go. We've still got goodbyes to say and things to pack. Love you all! Have a wonderful week and take good care.
Much Love,
Elder Chad Thompson