It has been another good week in Delano. We have been really busy again and so time has been flying by. I cannot believe that there are only two weeks left in this transfer. We decided to be on bike the whole week, except for the one day that we go to Richgrove and it was great. The heat this week was killer though, so that was a little bit of a downer. Other than that, we have been able to find a lot of people and stay busy.
This week we got a chance to teach Jeremy, Anderson and Jamie. They are all kids whose parents are members, but less active. We have been teaching them for a while, trying to get them to come to church. They are great kids, but sometimes it's hard to keep them focused. hahaha They had mentioned to us that their soccer ball had popped, so the other day we went over there with a soccer ball. We told them that we would play soccer with them for a little while if they could focus for the lesson and they agreed. They were perfect for the whole lesson! They asked questions, they listened, and they understood everything we taught. I guess they really wanted to play soccer! So, after that we played soccer for a little bit in their front yard. They are really cool kids and fun to teach.
This week we also found the Beltran family. They are such a great family. The mother is a member of the church, but she has not been to a church service in fourteen years. So we visited with them and they have had a rough couple of months. In January, their 13-year-old son passed away. It was really sudden. I think he had some kind of a heart condition. They have been having a really hard time with that loss. Every night they go and visit his grave at the cemetery. They miss him so much. It was really sad when we walked into their house and saw all of the pictures of their son on the wall. My heart really went out to them. They are so sad but are trying to keep it together. When we finally got the chance to sit down and visit with them, we shared a message about God's plan for us. We told them that this life is not the end and how our families can be together forever. It was a lesson that really meant so much to them. It was easy to tell how much they wanted to have that for their family. It was a strong genuine desire. I felt so lucky to be there with them and share that message. We even had fun with them too. I really like this family so much.
The rest of the week went great. We found some other people and had some great lessons with Jose. He is down to five cigarettes a day and is on track to quit soon. I am so happy for him. This Sunday was awesome. A lot of the people we are teaching came to church. Jose came, as well as Jeremy and Jamie. The Beltran family came too! That was really cool to see, especially with the mother who has not been in fourteen years. It has been a great week and it was sweet to see so many people make it out to church on Sunday. I was so grateful they all came.
I am doing well and loving Delano. I am having good times with Elder Myers and the other Elders here in Delano. I hope I get to stick around for another transfer. Y'all take good care and enjoy the end of your summer!
Much Love,
Elder Chad Patrick Thompson