Letter Home 4-19-2015

Hello family and Friends!! Sorry about last week..I told my parents that I got a really bad cold flue and was stuck in the flat for about three to four days. What my companion and I got up to in those three to four days was probably a time that changed our lives!! No not really, but we did get a lot of time to catch up and talk about how we could better cook foods. In all we had a great and fantastic week this week!! There was a lot of rain and wind blowing at us while riding our bikes, luckily my companion and I did not get hurt or blown away.

Exciting news for this Thursday! One of our investigators that we have been teaching is finally getting baptized!! He is in the youth and seventeen years old. His name is Peter, my companion told me that he has been teaching him for six months but in those six months Peter has increased his desire to finally take that step in accepting the Savior. I came in this area in the middle of everything and not knowing Peter that well at first. We now have a bond that all brothers have. My companion and I treat him like he is our little brother, he loves being around the members. One things he said is that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is different from other churches because in the church we learn knowledge upon knowledge. The members are excited for him to be baptized this Thursday. He cant wait as well. Over the course of the months, he was a young man that got into trouble, didn't have motivation or goals in life, didn't believe in God very much but now with patience and helping him he has changed those desires of his, has a goal in life, and is now looking for a better future for what he wants. What a journey it has been with him and many more that I can't wait to continue on with him!!  

During the week my companion and I have been looked after without a doubt! Everywhere we would go we were put in the right place in the right time by Heavenly Father. It was all because we had that desire within us to do whatever we could to have opportunities to share the gospel and help those who are in need. I am very humbled to acknowledge that none of these miracles would have happened without seeing the hand of our loving Father and our Savior Jesus Christ in it together to help us succeed. Lets just say that our bikes were not used as much this week because people would give us rides from one appointment to another. We would get done with one appointment and would leave our bikes at the members house for the night. The next morning while walking back to go get our bikes surprisingly one of our members noticed us walking and pulled over to offer us a ride. Then later on we were biking past this man named Leo and we started talking to him. After a little chat he had to leave to go back inside, my companion and I happily said thanks to him for talking to us. As he was leaving my companion noticed that he had a flat tire. Knowing that we had an appointment in an hour and we were not in any distance of a bike shop that would be in walking distance, Leo came out and saw that we were trying to fix our bikes. Noticing that we didn't have any gears on us to fix the tire, he offered to give us a lift to a bike shop that wasn't too far, car distance that is. This was a non member, who used to live in England and who we just met, we happily took his offer and he drove around with us to get a new bike tube. It was an interesting time to spend with him talking about the importance of families. Leo helped us fixed my companions bike, told us some jokes and told us to come over anytime we wanted. My companion and I went away in gratitude for the wonderful generosity and help Leo gave to us. We made it on time to our next appointment.

Later in the week we were able to go to our bishops house to meet with him and ask what else we could do to strengthen the unity in the membership of the ward. He was able to give us some insights that when we seek the leaders help we are also seeking the Saviors help. He told us to go see one of our new members that just moved into the ward, who is a single dad. His name is Sam, he got baptized three years ago, married with his wife in the temple and everything. Sam is going through some trials of his own and lives in a home were all his family members are Catholic and him and his kids are the only members in the church. He was happy to see us show up to support him. The look on his face changed from worried to a relief and comfort. It is amazing that Heavenly Father could use leaders and members as instruments in helping his child feel his love, being there brought comfort and  helping him know that God is aware of him and his situation. We were able to give him a beautiful blessing of comfort. That showed me how it is so important to always be worth as a Priesthood holder.

On Sunday, we had a lesson on Joseph Smith with the Elders quorum. M my companion and I taught the dads. Just seeing and hearing all of their stories showed that even though they are grown ups they too have struggles of their own. One of the members in the class asked this question "How do we keep our roots secured in the ground of the gospel"? We all turned to Helaman 5:12 which talked about living our lives on the foundation of Christ. When we center our lives on the gospel of Jesus Christ, we are more acquainted to Heavenly Father. When we are found not living around the gospel of Jesus Christ we see ourselves lost in confusing times and second guessing our testimonies. This next part is funny! When then brought up the song that we all have learned from primary called "wise men build his house upon a rock and the foolish man build his house on a sand". We sang it with the men. We even did the hand gestures. Yes, I thought I would never see the day of a group of dads singing that song come true, well it did and it happened because we all then felt the spirit of the unity and love we all had for each other! I can say that dads are absolutely funny and still have that kid side in them. 

The work is going great! The members are becoming more involved, we are finding balance in all things in the work, unity, love and in the gospel. I love the work, I love how being surrounded with great influences has strengthened me, I love the good I feeling when taking those small and simple moments to just listen to someone, to uplift them goes a long ways. Thank you all for your letters of support and comfort. Hope all goes well this week! Remember to smile and have fun! 

Elder Thorpe 

 

 

Letter home on Easter

HAPPY EASTER!! What a wonderful week to celebrate our Savior, Jesus Christ and all he did for us. My companion talked and we came up with all the appreciations and blessings that we have received in our lives. I have learned so much in just this week of doing the work. I will try my best just to highlight the most important parts of the week that will hopefully have a principle that you will be able to use. On Sunday we had a fantastic Easter sacrament meeting. Not too many people showed up but those that showed up were meant to be there on that Sunday morning. We had one of our couple missionaries talk about the importance of gaining a testimony. What is a testimony? It is having that firm belief that God is a loving God, Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer of the world, that Joseph Smith was the prophet that restored the proper authority on earth again, the Book of Mormon is the word of God, and that The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Later Saints is Gods kingdom on the earth again. How does one know this? It is by the Holy Ghost that one can gave a divine testimony about all these truths, one must pray with a sincere heart and with "full intent" knowing that Heavenly Father will manifest the truth through enticing of the Holy Ghost. Each of us have had in our life a moment where the Holy Ghost touched our hearts, that moment we should always cherish, but it doesn't just stop there. Just like Alma as he described the truth being as a "seed of truth" in the Book of Mormon, we each need to continue in nourishing that truth that we have had given to us by God himself. In the introduction of the book of Mormon in the last two paragraphs, the invitation is even extended to all of us in three ways. 

One: read

Two: ponder

Three: pray 

If we do those three steps, continue in searching and strengthening that testimony then we wouldn't have to second guess ourselves. It's just like what President Uchkdorf said "doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith". The plan of salvation is the plan that we all knew in the pre-mortal life. As we ponder, read and apply the principles found in the plan of salvation then we will see the gratitude of having that plan. 

My companion and I are full of gratitude for the miracles that we received this week.  We were coming back one day just after visiting one of our members that came out with us. She is a recent convert to the church was able to experience the missionary life getting a glimpse of what happens on the other side of being a member while helping none members out. We had another Nephi experience were we just rode our bikes down an alleyway in the night time, which is probably not a good idea, but while riding, my companion and I ran into a girl name Marianne. We didn't  feel comfortable trying to stop here so we just said hi and bye while continuing on riding our bikes through the alley way. After that she said two wards that caught our attention that made us come to a stop, "hi Elders". We stopped and were surprised because nobody but members calls us elders, usually none members calls us Brothers. She then explained to us that she used to talk with missionaries when she lived in Australia. She told us her feeling that she wanted to get baptised, took all the lessons and loved the church because she was accepted as herself and even though she did not know much she was welcomed and felt loved. While listening to her, my companion and I were lost for words, not knowing what to say, the only words that came out were "really", not very wise words to use but at that time we were shocked. Marianne then expressed that she wanted us to come over and start teaching her again, and that she has been praying ever since she moved to New Zealand to meet up with missionaries again and get in touch with them to continue in searching in the church. Later that week one of the YSA girls came out with us and connected great with her. The conversation ended up talking and sharing all of our insights about the ten commandments. I'm so grateful for Heavenly Father putting us at the right place at the right time. My heart is full of gratitude for the tender mercies that we received. Moments like these I just take a deep breath and give a smile of gratitude and a heartfelt prayer for the blessings of serving him. 

One attribute that I learned about Jesus Christ would have to be the attribute of humility. Being humble in all things, giving credit to Heavenly Father for every miracle that he did, every person that he healed and every heart that he changed, Christ had that perfect humility. While reading the New Testament I have recognized that Jesus Christ would never acknowledge himself. His acknowledgement would be always towards his Father, he wouldn't say "oh yes this was me" rather he was more giving his Father the credit. I have come to love the Savior, as he has changed my life, my views of the gospel, and felt his tender mercies and felt that reassurance of hope that future will be brightly shined before all of us as we continue to give him the credit for the blessing we receive while life here on earth. 

Thank you all and I hope you all have a wonderful week and conference. See you next time. 

Elder Thorpe.