Hi Everyone,
This week has been cool, we have found some great new people. We got a referral from the English Elders up in Oildale. Oildale is a little ways out of our area, but there aren't any Spanish speaking missionaries up there so every time they find somebody who speaks Spanish, they just let us know so that we can go up and visit them. So the lady's name is Lourdes and we didn't get to talk much the first time we met, but when we went back to share something she really opened up and we had a great lesson. She told us that she is having a hard time with certain members of her family and that she doesn't feel like she has much of a purpose. She has a seven year old son who she really wants to take care of and raise well. So we shared our message with her and it went well. She was taking notes and asking questions the whole time. She really has a strong desire to come to church and figure things out and make a better life for her son. Christ never really has been a part of her life, but she is excited to change that. That is one of the coolest things about being a missionary. You meet a lot of people who don't believe in Jesus Christ. It is the most amazing thing to see people come to accept Him as their own personal Savior. That is what we are starting to see with Lourdes. She is starting to understand how much He loves her. I am excited to see where things go with her.
Every other Thursday we have a soccer night at the church. Members of the ward are invited and they can bring friends, and we bring people we are teaching too. There are these two really cool kids, Joselin and Jefferson. We have been trying to teach them for a while now. They are the brother and sister of Jonathon Lopez, a 19 year old kid in the ward who was just recently baptized. So we invited them to come to soccer and we were excited when they showed up. They were both really good at soccer and we had such a great time. After it was over and they were getting ready to leave, they came up to Elder Morales and me and told us to call Jonathon to set up a visit so that we can share a lesson. I was pretty pumped. They were taught in the past with Jonathon, but they were super busy with work and school. I am so excited to work with them.
I should get going though, we are about to head out to go play soccer with the District. I am doing well, missionary life is good! I miss you all and I am hoping everyone is enjoying fall. It is still pretty much summer here. Have a great week!
Much Love,
Elder Chad Thompson