Feliz Navidad!

Happy Birthday Christopher Durand!!!!!!!!!! 15. Say what?! get ready for that permit

Epic Christmas. This past week was spent just soaking up the spirit that comes around this time of year. I have really come to appreciate Christmas and the opportunity we have to share some christmas cheer with all. It is such a special time of year to talk about Christ and THE WONDERFUL BIRTH OF OUR SAVIOR. Christmas is a little more on the "low down" here in Chile, super tranquillo. On the 24th,  we had dinner with Familia Pereira in the Ward. We had Shirley temples :) yum... We got home at 10. took a nap, woke up at 11:59 to open up our christmas presents from Santa Claus :) Hermana Gonzalez and I really enjoyed the time. Thanks to everyone who sent me a Little Something. You guys are awesome!! :) Christmas Morning we made a big old American breakfast haha. I read the account of Jesús birth in Lucas 2. Christmas this year really strengthened my testimony of my Savior and the importance of the work I am doing on God's behalf here. I am not just wasting my time in a different country, although I am now a chilena...what I love about being here is teaching the people about christ, the hope of the atonement. The purpose of this celebration, Christ is our savior. My purpose as a missionary is to invite others to come unto christ but that means I must be there with Christ or else I couldn't invite them to "come". I have really come to know my savior and to walk with him through trials that I face in life. I have a strong testimony that he lives today. He is our constant friend. He will not leave our side, it is us as that nos alejamos de él (distance ourselves from him). 

So this week we saw some christmas miracles! On tuesday we found a nuevo through ël es la Dádiva (He is the Gift). We were touching doors and the second door tocamos, slió una mujer se llama Silvia (we knocked, there was a lady named Silvia). We entered and with the usb we showed her and 2 granddaughters the video and they loved it! obviously it's awesome :) It is so cool to see the inspiración that was put into this short little video, it is shown with so much power and spirit that everyone we show it to wants to share it with everyone so they can remember why we celebrate la navidad. The World seems to have forgotten, but we must never forget la primer regalo (the first gift)... Jesucristo, nuestro Salvador, Redentor, y hermano que nació en un pesebre muchos años atrás (Jesus Christ, our savior, Redeemer, and brother that was born in a manger many years before). 

We were able to put a fecha with the son of V (Conversa reciente)(recent convert), he has 9 for the 11 of january. He kind of gets bored easily so we are coming up with some neat and interesting ways to teach him lol. But he is interested and understands the importance of baptism. It is a command from God and we cannot return to him with out baptism by immersion by someone that holds the proper authority.

This week we had quite a few opportunities to bless homes. I am so grateful for the sacerdocio (priesthood) that was restored through José Smith. Seriously, I am ubelievably grateful for this power that exists on earth today. I am grateful for the worthy men that hold this authority to act in the name of God. 

On saturday we had an awesome Ward family home evening. Every organization participated from the primary all the way to ysa. We had a menos ativa (less active) show up with 2 of her kids. We have tried many times to teach her but she is always busy, it was a miracle to see her in la capilla (the chapel)! My jaw about dropped...Christmas :)

Her daughter Emily has 9 years and is not baptized so today we have a cita (appointment) with them to start teaching her and put a fecha so she can enter into a convenio con dios (covenant with God) :) So many miracles agh. 

M came to church for the first time!!! She has had so much opposition that has been placed in her path every sunday. She has so much desire to progress and come back to church but she knows that it only comes with effort and action. She had to go the the doctor for her hand yesterday but she said "No, I need to go to church first, I have to make the decisión today or I will never make it". ahhh. I can't even express the love I feel for her. Last saturday we went and said a prayer with her that her daughter could find a house to live in with her husband and daughter...on monday they got the house! God is amazing. So we went yesterday with the bishop to bless the house and put a date to do a FHE this sunday with all of the family! M y G and 3 of their kids and their grandkids. This family is going to make it to the temple. 

I believe in miracles. I believe in God. I KNOW that Christ is my savior. 

I hope you all have a great New Year!!

2014 has been the best year ever in serving the Lord. Here is to 2015 and even more time to dedícate to my creator.

Hermana Thompson

Christ is the reason for singing

So this week was packed. Wednesday we had interviews with Presidente. Thursday was the misión christmas activity. Friday, Saturday and Sunday we had the Musical Presentation for Christmas. wow.

Let's see if I can sum up this week in an email...

We were in such a rush all week. We had to leave the house on friday at 4:30 and we still weren't sure exactly how we were going to do splits, it was just crazy stressful but at like 4:10 we entered an investigator's house, carol y Mari. I WAS SO STRESSED AND we needed to make a few phone calls with the ZL and some hermanas in Maipú so I entered the home not really focused (bad.) Well, we had a little small talk, asked if they read the BoM, and then we popped in our pen drive to watch "He is the gift". It was a quick 2 minutes, but it moved Carol to tears... a humbling experience for me in helping redirect myself and focus my mind back to Christ and my investigator AND NOT what was going to happen in 10 minutes. I think we get so caught up in everything being perfect that we miss moments like this to feel the spirit and allow it to touch our hearts. It was a really tender moment as she expressed her feelings about the video. Afterwards, she gave such a heartfelt prayer, pleading our father to help those in need at this time and that we may all remember the true meaning of christmas.

Christmas miracles! We took like 2 steps onto a street and then stopped, and then went to the next street over...I didn't think anything of it, but we were just walking and nearly to the end of the street when we hear "mission eras" (by the way, I love being a missionary... it makes me happy:)) We flipped around quickly to see 2 women with a guagua coming out of a house. As it turns out they are members and wanted a blessing on their house. So we left and returned with Hermano Pereira. I love being an instrument in God's hands and being guided by the Spirit. It is so cool! It was awesome to talk with them and hear their story. P and her cousin Eli live in the house with a baby. They have been members for quite some time, but lost sight of the eternal perspective.

I know Christ was born in a manger in Bethlahem, I know he was a miraculous birth. Last week, I watched bible videos of the nacimiento (birth) of christ. WOW. http://www.mormonchannel.org/bible-videos

The choir was really good! We sang with angels. I love christmas songs, It brings the Spirit so strong! agh. We are planning to go caroling door to door :) haha that should be fun!

¡Feliz Navidad!

#sharethegift

Hermana Thompson

oh christmas Time

Pues, cada semana (each week) is so packed. But I can't even tell you how much I love christmas time on the mission, it is so awesome. If you have not taken the time to see "he is the gift" yet, you need to. We have been sharing the video with everyone and I pretty much have it memorized haha. Christ is the first and perfect gift. Every human being is blessed by this first gift. This week I have been really reflecting on what this gift actually 'means' to me and how I can utilize the gift better in my life. I love being able to take time in reflect and just think. I have really learned how to think and act. 

Make this season's focus all on Christ. Read the story of Christ in the Bible, and look for all of the references of the birth of Christ in the Book of Mormon. He is the reason for the time of year; He is the reason to celebrate and be joyful. 

Well, this week we found Carol and Mari, mom and daughter. The daughter has 11 years. I don't know if it is just me, but all of the 11/12 year olds look way bigger than my Carsyn Rae. haha. I want you to stay my little rae rae;)  Mari is super interested, it was awesome. She read her homework and everything. I just love this time of year because as missionaries, all we do is testify of Christ and people are more willing to listen about christ during the holidays. 

Happy Birthday to Talia, the big 8! ready for your baptism?! :) It is such an important step in your life. Literally, it is the entrance to eternal life. I love it! That is what we do as missionaries, help people along the path to eternal life. 

We are still trying to figure out skype... no place here have cameras sooooo.... yeah idk. we are working on it. (I'll send one Fed Ex if I have to!) 

This week we have our Mission Christmas Party and then I am participating in the "mission christmas choir". 

I love the work. 

"Today is the day to prepare to meet God."

xoxo

Hermana Thompson

anda con el señor

Hey Hey Hey! 

How is everything going at home? Are you getting ready for christmas? I sure am! I don't ever want the people to lose this christmas spirit, seriously it is so awesome! I love being a missionary all the time obviously, but espically during this time when people are mas receptive to hear about the birth of our Savior. 

My comp is from Las Vegas, her name is Hermana Gonzalez...is super adorable and great :) so much ganas a trabajar (desire to work). She even already speaks spanish, I scored big time! I am just teaching her the chilean talk haha ¿cachi? She seriously came prepared and ready to do the Lord's work. I am not even training her hahaha. Seriously though, she is awesome. I am really grateful to have her as my daughter :) hehe 

Well, this week was a little rough with the work. I am so grateful for our agency but sometimes I just wish we could take it away haha. It is so sad to see people condemn themselves...these last couple of weeks we have seen quite a few victims of satan, it pretty much breaks my heart. But I KNOW God is preparing the hearts of people to accept the Restored Gospel. I am really strengtening my faith and trust in the Lord, I am turning it all over to Him. Every little milagro (miracle) is a success. I am ready to see milagros this week! We are working hard and giving it all. I love "greenie" (lds lingo: new missionary) power, we hit the ground running! :) 

We are sharing "He is the Gift" with everyone! It is such a powerful video...super short but really helps you reflect on the meaning of christmas and why we even celebrate the holiday. Think in terms of "christ mas"... What will be your gift to the Lord this christmas? The cool thing about gifts for the Lord is that we always receive something in return. God blesses us for every esfuerzo (effort) we make. I know He loves each and every one of us. He is aware of us. I love the gospel so much! I am so grateful for my Savior Jesucristo and for my Father in Heaven who sacrificed his son for me and for you. Follow in the steps of Christ. Be a disciple of Christ.

Mom, I love the "25 days closer to Christ" advent calendar you made for me. You are so clever! I love the spirit that it brings to my mornings. Everyday, it is exactly what I need to hear. 

Dad, presidente said we may skype the 24th, 25th, 26th, o 27th...when do you want to hook us all up?

I love you. Always work on developing the attributes of christ, it will bless your life!

Hermana T

mi hija

Preggo

Well, I am training!! I literally have no time to write whatsoever, so this will be short.

The Big news is that 'Plan Piloto' is no longer a piloto, it's the plan for all of sudamerica sur! And they are thinking about making it the Plan for the church worldwide, so awesome!! It is the esfuerzo (effort) that we, missionaries, made with el señor. tan bakán. estoy tan agradecida a ser parte de esta maravillosa obra (i am so thankful to be a part of this wonderful work). 

Well, the church is doing this initiative (initiative) thing... i dont know if you guys have heard of it, but it is called "he is the gift". look it up on youtube, it is so awesome!! As christmas is right around the corner, I want to ask you this: "What will you be giving to our Savior and King this Christmas?

Do NOT EVER lose faith in our Heavenly Father.

The atonement provides mending for EVERYTHING that is broken or torn! 

I want to testify of the power of the Book of Mormon, it has changed my life. If we will just take the time to read and mediate on the words written our lives, we will be so blessed!

Happy Birthday Lucy!

xoxoxox 

Hermana Thompson

I love the Holidays! Thanksgiving dinner & Christmas package

reunited with my companions & friends!