Letter to Mom and Dad January 19th, 2014

Hi Family! Miss you!

This week went by really fast! Wow, where did the time go!?! First it was one day, then one week, and now months, too fast, no good!..hah. I'm still loving it though, to the fullest! I'm healthy as never before but I think I might be allergic to some of the foods down here but I don't know which one, which is no help... all is well though, all is well, still keeping that smile on my face! Sounds like the family is keeping themselves busy for this new year. 

My week was crazy! (in a good way) The ward that I am in right now is just awesome! We had this whole week where my companion and I went out on splits with the members going to see less actives, none members, and families that are in need of help. We came up with a new system to get the ward involved more by having one whole week where we take the High Priests out with us, then the next week the Elders Quorum, then the next the Priest's, Deacons and so on. My companion and I have seen this being really effective because the members not only get to see what we do, but they also participate in the work. President Lekias, the mission president said that this is what we are going to focus on "the work of salvation" were members and missionaries work together.

Going on splits where my companion takes one or two members with him and I take about the same amount with me, has really taught me to be brave and shown me how it would feel like taking the lead. The members love going out with us and have shared their testimonies to the less actives or investigators. It has touched them, the things that just sharing your testimony can do. Working with the members like this really helps those who we are teaching get comfortable with coming to church on Sunday with us. For example, we used brother Latu, our ward mission leader to help Danny and Bionca, our investigators, feel more comfortable being with the members. 

Speaking of Danny and Bionca, my companion and I had a miracle happen to us this Sunday with both of them. About two days ago my companion and I were on splits and my companion took brother Latu with him to go see Danny and Bionca. They had dinner with them and later had a discussion, and Bionca said she and her daughter Jade would be baptized. This was on Thursday, (good news) bad news is we want Danny and Bionca and Jade to be together so Danny and Bionca would need to get married. I don't know much about marriage, but... I'm going to put my trust in the Lord to help us get these two married because he is the one that put them together for a reason.

My companion and I also invited them this Sunday to go to a fireside. They both said yes. Now to come and see this fireside is where all the missionaries bring an investigator with them to hear President Lekias talk and some new converts to the church speak as well. There's also singing and food afterwards. Well, this Sunday we went with Danny and Bionca to the fireside. I was praying really hard that the talks would be something that Danny and Bionca could both take home and use in their daily lives. The things that our Father in Heaven does, I prayed hard all day and my prayers were answered because the meeting was about families and how families are the key in this society today. My mouth dropped open when I heard President Lekias start talking about families. Talk about how the power of prayer really works!!! During the meeting I looked over to see what the expressions on Danny and Bioncas faces were. I could see Bionca crying a little and Danny was really into the talk.

YES YES YES YES!!! Prayer is the best!! This seriously is something we should never give up on and that is praying with real intent and asking for specific details to our Heavenly Father. He is there and waiting for us to ask for guidance. After the fireside we hung around their place and had some pizza. They both said "that talk was really useful and really uplifting". We had a good night and they both loved it. Bionca was telling us that when we told her we were going to a see a fireside she thought there was going to be a group of people gathered around a fire and singing, we all laughed and she was happy it wasn't like that. 

Miracles do happen! My personal lesson this week is that prayer is powerful!!! I never thought prayer was that big of a thing, but boy was I wrong. Like on a scale of one to ten and ten being absolutely right, I would be on a scale of negative one hundred....yes I know sad but..good news I have been praying every morning and night and even during the day! I'm always on my knees praying about the people down in New Zealand and the family back home. I know there are times where we are too tired or just getting back from work or too busy to pray but our Father in Heaven is honestly waiting for us to ask Him. He loves it when we pray to Him because its His way of hearing our voices and the way for Him to reach out to us is by giving us miracles. It's His way of telling us thank you my son or daughter for that sweet prayer you have said to me.

Mom and dad and family, please keep up with your prayers and invite others to pray as well. I have a testimony that prayers can be powerful as long as we set our minds to it, have faith in Him and keep Him updated on our day and how we are feeling. Include in your prayer the peoples names. My mission has really shown me that, I wish I would have taken it more seriously back then but now I know. I love you all and hope your week goes great!! Every single one of you is always in my prayer! Love you and miss you!

Elder Thorpe :)

Recent pictures

 Elder Thorpe and one of his flat mates modeling the fake moustaches Amy sent him for Christmas

 Al and his companion

 They had transfers last week so they got some new flat mates

Letter to Mom and Dad 1-12-14

 

Dear family! 

This week went by fast, unbelievable...things are moving too quick and so many things have happened this week. On Saturday and Sunday we had stake conference and it was amazing!! Our mission President gave a talk on Saturday and had all the missionaries stand in front of the stage looking forward towards the members attending the meeting. He had each of one of us tell our names and where we came from, then after that he had all of us sing "love on another" but in a different way. He had the congregation sing to the missionaries the first verse and then he had the choir and missionaries sing back to the congregation the second verse. It was amazing! The feeling in the room of all the members singing to the missionaries and the missionaries singing to the members was just...amazing! So many people began to cry and yes I did myself as well. President Lekias purpose of all of us singing together was to help each other and share where all the missionaries came from was to show the members to love one another and that we are here because we love them and want to help them out.

This is the time where members and missionaries work together, the Lord is moving his work forward and we all should starting working together as a big family. After that Saturday night meeting everybody left with a big smile and were so happy! Just seeing others, even members smiles makes my day and I love how everybody left with the importance of working together. In their mind is the key to bringing back our lost brothers and sisters. 

The next day was Sunday and all of the missionaries in the Manakau Zone sang to the congregation. No body knew we were going to sing because the member leading us kept it a secret from them, the meeting went great. Everybody talked about one thing and that was "hastening the Lords work". He is moving his work fast and we should all prepare ourselves and work hard to bringing as many of his children back to Him. At the end of everyone's talk the missionaries sang the last song,  it was the EFY melody. All of us missionaries could feel the spirit! The kids in the congregation, families, adults and some of the none members started to cry. We sang that song so that everyone could remember at the end of the meeting the moment the missionaries sang that one special song. It was great! That was my week and it was special.

This week was mostly about bringing members and missionaries to work together because without unity there can be no work to be done.  I have learned that with my companion, we may not agree all of the time on some things but we find a way in our hearts to forget the silly things and work together. It has really changed me and him as well because each day we learn from members and from each other. We are working our hardest to bring our investigator to baptism before the transfer week so we can see all of them progress before one of us gets transferred.

My testimony grows and grows and grows each week, loosing myself in the work and progressing to become like Christ everyday. Love is the key to being successful not only in missionary work but in life as well. We can all surprise that one person by simply showing our love for them. As members of the church that is what we do, we share our love with everyone.  We do this by doing the simplest things in life, giving a simple hi jester or a simply help can change someones attitude and thoughts about the members of The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Later Day Saints. Don't be shy about showing that love towards someone you don't know. I myself have worked my way out of my comfort zone by showing my love towards everyone I see and talk to. I hope everyone is doing well in the family and I think about you all everyday! Miss you tons and love you all! Hope your week goes great! 

Much love, Elder Thorpe