Hello family and freinds!
I hope everyone has been having a great week. It was a fast one here. I can hardly remember what happened this week.
Sunday felt like it was
Friday and
Friday felt like it was
Monday,
the weeks and days just don't match up in my head. It has been really
hot, sun is high in the sky and there aren't any clouds in the sky. The
members have been telling us that this is only the prep of the start of
summer...If this heat is not summer then I can't imagine how hot it is
going to be when summer does hit. Other than that we have had a terrific
week of teaching, finding, contacting, and re-activating less actives.
A
lot of work was done this week and a lot of intersting moments with
people. We met this man name Jeremiah from North Idaho, the first, at
least for me, real country cowboy person I have met in New Zealand. He
was funny, came up to us with a big smile and called us Joseph Smith. It
was funny, this guy was stright up about what he believed and didn't
believe in religion but had respect for us. We were able to talk to him
for a good twenty to thirty minutes about hunting and America. He wasn't
too interested so we didn't want to force gospel topics on him but it
was a great feeling to talk to him. We were able to get his home address
and he told us we could stop by but it would be really hard for us to
catch him, we told him its part of the fun like playing hide and seek.
We
were able to go around to teach Cherie this week with one of the moms
in the wards. Our ward has a lot of single moms that are strong and have
amazing conversion stories or stories of coming back at activity in
church. We brought sister Tamihona out with us and she brought her
tweleve year old boy with her into the lesson. Cheire and her two girls
and little boy were there too. It was good to be able to teach her the
plan of salvation, which goes over the reason for the family and what
our purpose on earth is. She was able to understand and have that
feeling like she knew what that plan was for her and her family. It felt
good to be able to teach her and invite her to continue reading and
praying about the Book of Mormon. Sister Tamihona was able to share her
story about becoming less active and re-activating back into the church.
It was amazing to hear her stroy about how its been five years since
she has been back to church. Now she is going to the temple and has a
purpose and role to play for her kids, teaching them what they need to
learn. It was a great lesson and one to learn from.
This Sunday Elder Hall and I were going through our plans, we were working in the hot weather
on Sunday
and were both talking about how if we were both home we would both be
sleeping in the afternoon after church but since on the mission napping
has to wait. We showed up to one of our potential investigators house
and were able to meet with him, his name is Leo Smith. Leo is 71 years
old and is a Cathloic. He has been meeting with missionaries ever since
back when they used to show up to his house on horses. Leo knows all the
members in our ward, knows a lot of members, and has family that are
members and has been going to church sometimes. Elder Hall and I didn't
know what to teach him. We were able to use a little time we had to come
up with an idea of what to share with him, when Leo returned from the
bathroom we resumed our conversion. We just sat there and listened to
him, we would ask just one question and listened with love on what he
needed to share. From what we heard his sister just recently died, same
with his brother a long time ago and same with his parents. Leo is a
family person and cares for his family, we were able to also find out
just by listening carefully that he didn't know his purpose in life. He
told us a story that he had to go to the hospital because he had a heart
attack, while in the hospital he told us that he dreamed that his mom
told him "no Leo, its not your turn". He thought he was going to die but
he didn't and woke up. Not knowing why it wasn't his time, he has been
wondering and trying to find that answer his whole life. We shared with
him the plan of salvation and how the plan gives us our purpose and what
we need to do while here on earth. He said "well if this is the answer
then I will read and find out because it is something I have been trying
to find even in prayers, but it is still going to be hard to convert me
from Catholic to Mormon". We told him we just wanted to share how we
have found our purpose in this life from the plan of salvation, didn't
ask him to change religion, didn't force it on him all we did was invite
him to find out for himself.
The
ward is doing great, we have been helping bishop with the ward list and
contacting people. We are just a few names from being done and updated
with the list so that we all know who is active and who we need to focus
on. Its been great to be able to work with the leaders and to see how
much help they need and how helping them helps them move onto the next
step in the ward. The ward clerk and us have been updating the list and
have them all printed out and ready for the ward council leaders to have
so they know what they need to work on in their quorums. Its been great
to see that done and over with and seeing the blessing that come
through doing the little things for the members and heveanly father. Its
been a hot, fast, but remarkable week! Can't wait for another one of
hard working.
This week is transfers and we will find out
if I move or stay, I have been here for six months, it might be time for
me to go. Thank you all for the support and help! Wish you all a great
month of January. Tell next time!!
Elder Thorpe
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