Change is Real

I just want to express how much I LOVE my mission. Everyone always says "it is the best 18 months" and it is true...you have to experience it to know. Serving the Lord and the Chilean people the last year and a half has been the hardest thing I have ever done by far, but oh so rewarding! I have experienced so many miracles; been able to be an instrument in god's hands. I have watched many people change their lives, leave behind bad habits, addictions and temptations in order to follow Christ. The blessings are so grand, BUT the biggest change by far has been in me. Oh how the gospel has really entered and clung to my heart. The gospel has become a part of who I am. I have learned to pick myself up when I fall, to trust in Christ when He carries me, because I cannot do it on my own. Wow. The Atonement is real. Christ lives. His grace is inifinite. I am so grateful for Christ's sacrifice. I may not know him perfectly still, but I am working on that and I will continue working on it all of my life because eternal life comes thru knowing God and Christ. Through Christ, every one of us can change if we so desire. We can turn back to god. This morning I was studying about the Restoration and wow, every time I think of this Work, it blows my mind. the gospel is so amazing. God's Plan is so perfect, He is integrated into every single part of all of our life. I know Jose Smith was a prophet of god, I know he received the same Priesthood Keys that Christ gave to his apostles. This is the Church of Christ!!! 

I know Christ lives. I will forever treasure my mission as a sacred time and hold those memories dear. 

Now that hermana Farner has returned home, I am in a trio with hermana Wagner y hermana McQuinn. It is going to be a crazy week.. 

See ya later

lots of love and hugs

Hermana Thompson

It's a crazy ride

So yeah dad, when they took us out of Ochagavìa, they moved us to a new house too. We now live close to the Plaza de Maipù in Pajaritos. Ya, so my companion, hermana Farner, heads home this friday... wow, I am going to miss her! I am so grateful for the life long friends I have made here in the mission. I will forever be grateful to God for the people that have been put in my path. 

Anyway, I want to throw in a little testimony that God has a perfect Plan! He is so merciful, his timing is perfect, and His love for every single one of us is immeasurable. 

lots of love 

Hermana Thompson

ps: mom, I finished the book of mormon this last week!

I know

This week started off by going to the temple. such an awesome experience as always. I just sat in the celestial room talking with God and telling him all about my mission. The biggest blessing I have received from the temple is peace. I felt so much peace in my heart. I know when we dedicate ourselves to something and give it our all, we will feel content with our work even if it wasn't perfect cause let's face it none of us are perfect. The temple is the biggest fuente (source) for peace in this life. I am so grateful for the many opportunities I have had to attend here in Santiago. 

Yesterday for testimony meeting a little girl got up with her dad (looked so much like Lucy, my heart broke a little) and she just gave the simplest, sweetest little testimony. She is said "I Know that god and jesus love me." During Family Home Evening, I was just so happy I wanted to cry and my dad told me that that is the holy ghost. The gospel is SO simple that even a child can understand. God is our father and he loves us. The center of the gospel is jesus christ and his sacrifice for us. The Spirit testifies of the truth and we feel happy. I want to share my simple testimony that I know God loves me. I know that Christ is my Savior. I know they live and through the scriptures I may get to know them better. 

Happy Birthday to my BIG little brother this week!! hitting the big 20. Ceñebrate hard by breaking mission records. lessgo!! 

Happy Anniversary to mom and dad! Thank you for your love for one another and for us kids :) and to grandma and big papa on 51 years...long time! So awesome.

I know families are eternal if we but live the gospel of jesus christ. :)

My work defines my faith

Hermana Thompson 

Mission travels

I am still just traveling the mission. There is nothing like this calling... haha it is such an adventure and an experience but I do love it because I know it was inspired from God. He does not ever make a mistake. He is a perfect being and has a PERFECT plan. Every trial is a building block and a step closer to becoming like Him. I feel like I am in the refiners fire right now. God is like" you have learned so much in the mission and now let's see how you do putting in to action, take this challenge"...let's go!

So this week I went back to Primo de Rivera for a couple of days. I feel like I am learning a lot more from the girls than they are for me, but I guess that is how it always seems. I am just there to get them excited about the work and help them keep the vision of President: 1. baptize  2. raise the attendance of members at church 

3. take personal responsibility. 

I know these letters are getting lame. I am sorry but it is hard not having my own sector and my own people to share with you. But I love this work of Salvation. Give it your all even after the work is finished.

I know God is my father and he loves me. I have really been able to grasp that here in the mission. I am grateful for repentance and the changes I am able to make in my life if I am only willing. Repentance is turning back to god, we live in a fallen state but we need to do good continually. 

I am grateful for a living prophet :)

xoxo

Hermana Thompson from Chile Santiago BEST

Switch up

Happy Birthday Shout-Out to Lisa, Jenny, and  Porter!!!

Surprise! Special Changes...Hermana Farner and I are now traveling hermanas! So this week we took a trip to the coast and did divisiones with Hermana Dominguez and Hermana Heeb. This change entails that we no longer have a sector.  We live with 2 other hermana capactiadoras in Maipù, but we pretty much are bunking at the hermanas' pensions we visit. It is definitely an adventure, but I feel blessed knowing that THIS IS GODS PLAN.

God sometimes sends us curveballs we do not expect, but the important lesson is trusting in Him with a good attitude. Lo mejor no va a ser fácil para nada pero estoy orando mucho a saber exactamente lo que el señor quiere que hagamos con este cambio (at best it's not be easy but I am praying a lot to know exactly what The Lord wants us to do with this change). Like I have said before, God is more worried about our growth than our comfort so here we go...last change of the mission! Embrace the things god throws at you, I know everything happens for a reason. Here is to serving the Lord and doing it His way.

Continue adelante (forward). Put your life in God's hands. Turn it all over to him and I promise, you will be lead.

lots of love

Hermana Thompson

Sushi, elevator, y hot chocolate!

Die hard

WEEK 1! Let's do this thing. I love changes. so much excitement! Hermana Farner and I are dying together in Ochagavìa and guess what...we got a bishop!!!! We had stake conference last sunday and they called a bishop and changed the ward boundaries which means we have partly a new sector!! So unbelievably excited. Work Work. It is the only thing that helps us progress and learn. I am not stopping!

Ah. I love the mission work. We had a lot of success this week finding news. Miracles are coming to pass in Ochagavìa, we found a news, se llama Sara. She is 24 years old and let us in so casually, accepted everything and read all of her homework!! What?!  She understands really well and has great questions, she will be getting baptized the 6 of June. A last minute miracle sunday night at 8:30, a girl named Francisca who actually lived in the states for studies. She is super awesome and ready to accept the gospel. She was looking to join a church, looking for that light of Christ...hey, we got the Truth right here for ya! So awesome. 

We have no time today, sorry it is so short, but I am doing really well and stoked to be here serving the Lord.

"Happy Birthday" shout out to Nicole S, Mimi, and Amber...birthday party!! woop woop

Sending lots of love, especially to the Thompson side of my family. I am so grateful for our eternal family. WE will be reunited with grandma Fran on the other side.

Hna Thompson

"selfie" with the hermanas y President's hija; zona Ochagavìa; we be crazy

christ lives

Well, the mission office let me know they officially bought my plane ticket home... ahh. Seriously, I am learning to enjoy every minute because man does time go fast!! 

This week we met with quite a few investigadores tenemos: Rosalìa, Gloria, Mauricio y Sylvia, Julio, y Nice. They are all super bueno. My comp and I were studying in chapter 9 de PMG and if the people seriously have an interest you will know through how they listen. All of these investigadores we have are solid! They truly listen with their hearts. I know angels are preparing their hearts. Alma13:24. Julio is so awesome! He is 94 but accepted a fecha for the 16 of May! He is reading and praying, though it is a little hard because his wife is 97 and is sick.They both have a couple of years on their belts, but they prove it is never too late to come to Christ. They are truly so special. We are in a pretty religious area because it is very poor so people have a lot of faith in God. 

Miracle! Last week we found an inactiva se llama Aldey and she came to church yesterday!! We went outside and here she comes walking towards us with the biggest smile on her face. She is adorable, she is 27 and has been inactive for about 7 years. The last time we were with her she expressed her deep desire to have a baby and I have been praying for her future family and then she calls us to tell us she's pregnant! haha God is good :)

We went to a funeral at the church on Tuesday, it was for the son of the ex-bishop, he was 18 years old. It was really sad to see so many of the people there anguished because they do not have a knowledge of the gospel and eternal families. We were able to sing a lot of hymns and the hymn "I know that my Redeemer Lives" took on a whole new meaning for me. Because Christ overcame death, every single one of us will too. It is such a grand gift from god. Seriously, I cannot express the love I have for my Savior and my gratitude for all of the sacrifices He made for me. 

Oh Cole! We found some haitianos that we are teaching and they speak french... they spoke a little and I could pick up some of the words but, wow, the accent... eek! 

What are the evidences of 'your' Faith will you leave behind?

Christ lives. 

les quiero,

Hermana Thompson

Zone Leader Conference

Slow Down Time...

I wish I had the secret to slowing down time... every week goes by faster and faster. 

Happy Birthday to Jackie-boy this coming up week!! The Big 8

This week we were able to go to the temple again. I was sitting in the temple praying and kind of talking to God.. pretty normal stuff and bueno. I was looking for a confirmation and I just opened up doctrina y convenios and read section 6:22-23. He is so aware of every single one of us and every thought we have. It was really cool because I was in the celestial room and I seriously felt like God spoke to me (it was weird though cause it was in spanish) tu eres mi hija (you are my daughter). I know that we are all children of God. The hymn 'soy un hijo de dios' (I am a Child of God) has really taken on a different meeting for me. He IS my father and I know he loves me and he wants to bless me...he is beyond patient with me. He is perfect in every good attribute: kind, patient, loving, compassionate, funny. 

I can not express how much I love the mission :) 

The work is coming along. I am not going to lie it is not easy by any means, it is really hard. I have to push myself every single day to go farther than the day before.

This always happens with us, but last night all our our citas (appointments) fell thru so we went to contact a street and happened upon a family that has listened to missionaries before...AND they are married!!! That is really hard to find here in Chile. T They are really awesome :) 8:40pm miracles. They also have a son who is living in Santa Barbara right now.- 

I am doing really well, I love my sector, I love my companion, I love my calling. 

We have been finding some awesome prepared people! 

Just doing God's Will and following His plan, not ours

love from Chile

Hermana Thompson

Temple Trip & can you believe a Bag Store made us "bag" our bags?! haha

Prayer invites the Spirit

Happy Birthday Big Papa!! Your princess loves you :) 

Happy birthday to Jack Nielson! whoop...15!

Congratulations Ellé and Jordan on your twin boys, can't wait to meet them!!

Question: Do you want to be happy? Would you do anything to find that happiness? There is an easy solution actually, love and live the gospel principles. Always look at life with a positive view. When the world seems to be pushing against you, remember who is helping to pull you along... Christ and His angels.

Satan is always on the attack, even more so when we are doing what we are supposed to be doing. Hermana Farner and I are testigos (witnesses) of it this week. We went to the Temple on Tuesday morning (oh by the way new temple video is awesome!) We felt so uplifted and ready to take on the world. haha Seriously though, we received a lot of revelation and spent a good time reflecting. The rest of the week... one trial after another and we just could not seem to accomplish anything we did... ah. Then one night we kneeled down and asked God to have satan leave us alone, next morning everything seemed to have blown over. We were able to see that rainbow shining as it always does after a storm. We can resist Satan!

I know God is watching out for us, I know it because I have felt his power every single day. The key to His help is prayer, it seriously does wonders. I have really come to appreciate the sacred time I have to talk with God. As a missionary, I think I pray about 20 times a day and I value every single prayer. I love talking with God :) such an awesome gift. 

Charity... expect the best from everyone, but give them the benefit of the doubt.

Right now we are doing a lot of looking for 'news'  and we are still managing to find inactives. I think we are magnets to inactives haha. We did have a miracle yesterday though. We decided to knock a street and the first house we knocked, we found a lady crying se llama Viv... we were able to teach her the Restoration and help her find some peace through prayer...bringing it back to prayer;) 

I know that my Savior lives. I know that through Him I can receive grace to be better than I was yesterday. Through Him I can be healed, I can be cleansed, and I can change. 

D&C 132:24 to have eternal life, we need to know God and Christ...oooh! We have to study and pray to know them!

have a great week!

Hermana Thompson

I thought I would include her personal email to us this week...some really good insight!

Wow. It was a difficult week. seriously satan was attacking like no other. I have learned to be patient in my afflictions. It is so hard, but I have seen how the lord has been able to help me put a smile on my face and figure things out in my head. It's kind of freaking me out that this amazing adventure is coming to the last chapters. It is hard cause you are excited to finish the book but then it is over... with the mission, you can't go back and relive it. So, I have really developed the ability to enjoy every minute. The application to the atonement is prayer. I seriously love the atonement and being able to TALk to god. It's not just a voicemail, it is seriously a conversation. I am doing great, I love my mission. :) Still working hard to see fruits through baptism, assistance, and people going to the temple. We killed (dropped) many of our investigadores so we are looking... pray for us to help find the indicated people please. Dad I am in a ward, but it's not too small... the biggest attendance we have had since I have been here was 106. Thanks for all you do, I love you so much!!

He lives...we live

Let's just say conference is better than christmas! holy cow. I was wiped out after all of the spiritual inspiration I received. I loved loved loved the talk about Grace by Pres. Uchtdorf. my comp and I have been focusing a lot on the grace of christ, it just seemed that everything we have been focusing on and studying was talked about in conference, including the Fall. crazy Spirit. 

I had a lot of questions that God answered through his servants. As my time comes to a close on the mission I have been doing a lot of reflecting on what I have learned and how I have changed. This conference really helped me reflect and focus on the little things that continue to help in my conversion. We can never stop doing the little basics. Sometimes they may seem pointless but the basics are the links that hold our anchor secure in Christ. Without the chain, the anchor is not secured to anything. 

I loved all of the talks to be honest, but Holland's also really touched my heart. It seriously brought me to tears. I know Christ is our older brother, His hands are ready to catch us when we have no hope and feel we are going to fall. We cannot lose hope, we can not give up...Christ is here with us. When we stumble, we have to get back up, dust ourselves off, and try again. That is what "Grace" is, the opportunity to try again and again, no matter how many times we mess up. Christ already paid, He paid it ALL... for every single one of us. But it all starts with a desire to follow Christ and then builds on following the principles of the gospel. And then we need to truly understand the atonement so we may keep growing and progressing to become more like Christ. 

Our future is as bright as our faith! So, is your faith dim? If so... change it. Find the light in the distance and do everything in your power to move towards it even when you lose sight, keep moving in the right direction. 

I could talk for hours about what I learned and all the notes I took, but now that we have been spiritually uplifted and have received revelation for our lives are we going to go back doing the same things, expecting different results? No! It doesn't work that way. We have to develop a plan for how we are going to change, and what we are going to work on. I love this gospel because it always allows growth and accepts failure because at least if signifies that we are trying. Do not ever plateau, we are here on earth to progress and move forward. 

That is my advice :) haha Sorry, missionary mode always. I am still with Hermana Farner :) I think we are going to die together ojalá porfaaaa (I hope so...please). bueno the sector is going well, searching for a lot of new... trying to get the menos activos a permanecer (less actives to stay). Yo amo mi llamamiento, es lo mejor que hay de verdad. (I love my calling, it's the best there is...that is the truth) ahh :) 

I hope you all has the time to reflect on christ and to think of what it means to you that Christ LIVES. 

love from Chile

Hermana Thompson

spirituality Uplifts

I feel so blessed to be a missionary, to represent Christ. Seriously every day is such a spiritual uplift. I learned a lot this week, so I am going to do a bunch of points...no màs. 

We do not know how much good we really can do. Focus on recognizing the difference we make on other people's lives every day.

We are creatures of action... we were not created to be acted upon. We ALWAYS have control, whether we do so or not is up to us. Take action, change it if you don't like something.

We cannot compare ourselves to one another in this life because we all have had different pasts and will have different futures. We are to help one another progress on the path back to our Heavenly Home.

Weaknesses and sins are different, but through the atonement we have the ability to overcome them both. (Ether 12:27) I am really trying to be humble and praying to recognize my weakness so I may be a better disciple.

As Easter is coming up, I have done a lot of reflecting on Christ's life. The church came out with this video, I don't know how it is in English. but in Spanish it is called "gracias a que èl vive" (Because He lives)...absolutely amazing! The video helped me realize that 1.  We are NEVER alone 2. Because Christ overcame death and atoned for ALL of our sins, our sufferings, we too can overcome ALL of them. He suffered so He knows our pain, in Him we have hope and strength. We can lean on Him as we strive to keep moving forward in difficult times. Christ loves us. He overcome this life and we too will overcome death one day. But how we live in our 'perfect' body depends on how we live right now. The decisions we make today, tomorrow, and so will determine how comfortable we will 'be' in that perfected body. 

Christ is amazing, because of Him we can not only be saved by Grace, but we can be changed by Grace. He atoned for each one of us so that when we mess up, we may try again and again and again. THAT is the hope and beauty of the Atonement. I know that Christ lives. He is changing me every day. I have really come to know Him because I understand a little better his sacrifice, that is they key to knowing Christ. Knowing and accepting what He did for me personally; not just for the world, but for ME. Thanks that He lives, I can keep fighting every day to change and improve...I love that! I can be transformed by grace and I can be helped along the way. I cannot begin to express the love I have for Christ or all the feelings and thoughts I have about the Atonement. Christ lives. I can feel Him. He is close. 

This week Hermana Farner and I focused a lot on Christ's grace. 

Mom, I hope you really focus every lesson in young women on the Atonement, it is what everyone needs to understand. Seriously, if a person understands the Atonement they will understand the rest of the gospel. Look for the 'Talk' Brad Wilcox gave July 12 2011 on "Grace"...absolutely amazing. Another 'Talk' to read is in the Ensign April 2015 issue called "It is not a sin to be Weak", so good.

Happy Birthday to Lorna ;) Happy Birthday to Nick! Happy Birthday to Beebe! 

Keep going strong. You have the biggest power source behind you. Trust in that power to climb the mountain in front of you.

lots of love

chao

Hermana Thompson

feeling a little artsy!

Back in El Conquistador for the day...miss mi hija and these 2 crazies 

Ochagavìa life! Wishing we had a car...

Santa Lucia (small hill in the centre of Santiago)

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Miracle Mile

Happy Birthday Uncle Bones!

Thank you Mimi for the birthday card :)

Daddy, thanks for the necklace and the card, you are the best! I am wearing the necklace backwards so no one knows my names starts with a "K". haha  

Another awesome week here in Ochagavìa. I have been learning and growing so much. There is nothing better than witnessing yourself overcome weaknesses. I have really been focusing on the things I can personally change so I may better help others make changes in their own lives. As we change, we take one step closer to Salvation. That is what we are all here for...to prepare ourselves to live with God again. Alma 34:32

"P" is progressing well. She came to the Relief Society activity with her mom and sister on Saturday and had a blast. Yesterday we attended a fireside given by President with her. We think she needs a little more comprension (understanding) though before she will be ready for baptism...she has the desire  :)

I am absolutely loving doing divisiones (divisions/exchanges). It is so awesome to serve with some many different hermanas (sister missionaries). There are so many awesome hermanas here in the mission. 

Read the talk by Elder Ballard from last Conference called "Stay in the Boat". Inspiring! I even drew a picture in my study journal this morning :)

2 Nefi 2:8 Pascua (Easter) is coming up so get prepared!

Lots of Love

Hermana Thompson

Sorry for not sending pictures but it is pretty ghetto here in this area and I am afraid of plugging in my camera to the computer and losing my photos...so sorry!!

I am a Mormon Missionary

Welcome home Brittany!! That went by so fast... I can't believe it!

Happy Birthday to Brandon Cruz, Daniella, Jordan, and Eric this upcoming week!!

AND of course a Happy Happy Birthday to DAD!! I hope you have an awesome day! Thanks for being the best daddy ever :)

Week of miracles! Okay, let's be honest every week is full of miracles, but this week blew me away. God is so amazing. He is doing so much work here in Ochagavìa. We had a jovèn se llama (young one named) "H" come to church for the first time in years. I seriously shed a couple of  tears when I saw him come in the chapel with his button-up shirt on. We have been working hard with him. We had an awesome lesson this saturday about the expiacion (atonement). wow. His face totally changed during the lesson when we talked about the healing and forgiving power of the atonement. I LOVE teaching everyone about the sacrifice of Christ and what it means for every single one of us. It is something so special, and it applies to every one...offers the hope we need to continue on. Needless to say we had an awesome "GAME DAY" yesterday. We had 13 menos activos (less actives) at church and 3 of them for the first time in YEARS. 

Oh, I forget to mention "P", she is the daughter of an inactiva (inactive) that we went to visit on Saturday, the mom wanted her daughter to go to clases de ingles (english class) so she came out to talk with us...ended up sharing with us, came to clases de ingles, then to church, and also a baptism yesterday!!! We are going by today to put a baptism date with her for this sunday!! miracles exist. God prepares people. 

We saw Meet the Mormons!! oh. my. gosh. I got teary eyed, it is so powerful! It inspired me so much to change the world through MY personal family. I love being a mormon. It makes me proud. Stand for truth and righteousness. 

I want to testify of the power we have to help those we see in need on the street. One of our menos activos (less actives) was at a park with her kid and saw these 2 little boys smoking... she went over to talk to them and find out what was up. Long story short, they are brothers, 12 years old and 6. Their step-dad is an inactive member...anyway, she invited them to the clases de ingles that we do on saturdays. They showed up and they even came to church on sunday by themselves and in white shirts. It is wonderful to see how much this member cares about these boys in such a short period of time. She has such a desire to help them reach their bright future. She seriously inspires me...she has so much love for everyone. True disciple of christ. 

There is nothing better than being a missionary. In dedicating all of your time to serving the Lord and helping your brothers and sisters find the truth and feel joy in their lives.  It is really eternal joy. 

I love being a part of this work. LETS GOOOO

dyc 123:17 

Hermana Thompson

God Listens

Happy belated Birthday to Ellè and Morgan and Happy Birthday to Kyle, Liv and Jess. I will celebrate here in Chile for you guys :) For birthdays here, you get your face shoved in cake. :)

A big "Thank You" to my awesome aunts and Uncles for the package, I was so giddy when I received it. I can feel the LOVE across the miles! 

A week of craziness. We did a couple of divisiones this last week so my mind has been running in many different directions. We have to be very organized and on top of everything to keep our sector alive, but the Lord is merciful. Seriously, he has blessed us so much, we had 11 menos activos at church again and 2  attend for the first time. A lot of progress has been made, now we are hungry for baptism!!!! This work is awesome. God is preparing people here in Ochagavìa. 

We also did divisiones in the elders' sectors this week to help find nuevos, flaite !! 

Mom, like your story, God is aware of us and it is through little medios (means) that he does miracles. We have seen many little miracles, things that fall through so that others can fall together. God is not silent; look around and you will see his love. Well, got no time, but I love you all lots!!

Thanks to San Ramon 1st ward for the valentine's day card, I feel the love ;)

Hermana Thompson

I'm sitting next to my dad's Mission President! Elder y Hermana Gonzalez

mi y hemana Farner

Walk with the angels

I love Ochagavìa!! God has so many miracles waiting for us. Seriously, I am so stoked to be here, we have a whole lot of work to do; especially with our calling as sister training leaders. We are getting really good at using our time effectively. We seriously do not have any minute to waste. It is such a challenge. I can feel God pushing us to learn and grow. We had 4 in-actives come to church yesterday that have not been in years... and I mean years! haha. 

SO this last week we started cleaning through el Rescate (the rescue book) to see if we could find inactivos that were ready to feel the spirit y tenían ganas a regresar (eager to return). We happened to find Pedro...golden, future bishop lol. Well, he came yesterday and told a member he is never again going to miss a sunday. so happy!!! :)

We did our first divisiones or splits as hermana lideres capacitadoras (sister training leaders). I feel as though I will be learning way more from the hermanas than they will from me... lol but hermana Farner and I came up with a theme...mi misión es mi siòn (my mission is my Zion). We are really focusing on unifying each companionship & strengthening their faith in God's work and in Christ's Atonement. We are also focusing on being obedient with exactness. Like my mom says, if you aren't 5 minutes early you are late. We should always try to be more obedient than we need to be. Don't ever try to push the line, that is quite frankly when we fall...and the fall may be bad. 

I am learning so much from hermana Farner, she is a BOSS. Seriously maquina (a machine):) 

Spiritual Thought. When Christ was in the garden of Gethsamane, He suffered for EVERY single one of us. But more than that, He saw our faces, He understood everything we would pass through in this life. Knowing the pain and affliction, He CHOSE to suffer so He could walk with us. We are not alone. Christ loves us. He knows us personally. He suffered first. 

I know I am not alone in this work, I can feel angels here working along with us. The ancestors of the people we are teaching are preparing their hearts. I love this so much. I am never going home. Sorry fam :)

forever Hermana Thompson

My dad's Mission President, Elder González y his wife

I love Chile, birthdays, & my chilean friends!

A new chapter

Gracias a todos por (thanks to everyone for) the birthday shout outs! I really appreciate it. I know it isn't easy to email hahaha, time is so short, but I really appreciate the notes. 

Shout out to Crew bug for your baptism this Saturday! I want you to know that I will be thinking about you on this special day. 

Okay.. so it's true, my time in El Conquistador came to an end. It was hard a despedirme de todos (to say goodbye to everyone), they are seriously my family. I have shared a lot with all of them, cried together, laughed together, felt the spirit and grew together, but I know God has a plan for everyone of us. He places us in the paths of others so that we may help one another on this crazy road to return to Him. 

Now I am in Ochagavía with Hermana Farner from Washington. She is super awesome! Seriously, we are so ready to work hard. We are now in cargada de 23 misioneras (in charge of 23 Sister Missionaries)... woah. We have a ton of work to do with our sector and to help the other hermanas (sisters) out. I am super stoked, seriously, I love serving people so much. It just feels so good to help others and to truly listen to them. 

So this last week...wow. Well, Emily got baptized!! She is such an adorable 9 year old girl. She is the daughter of a menos activa (less active), she is super capa (cute/cool). She answered the baptism questions like a boss. Seriously, she knows the 10 commandments by memory and is memorizing the Articles of Faith. Her brother Josè received the sacerdocio (Priesthood) on Sunday too! So awesome. I feel content leaving El Conquistador knowing I was an instrument in the Lord's hands to bring people unto Him. I love the work of Salvation!! 

I am so pumped to continue working here in Chile. The people are so special. I want to end this email with my testimony: I know this is Christ's work. I know He lives. He is leading this church. It is His Church. We are the soldiers on earth fighting for the good, but we need to be dedicated to the war we are in; we cannot have one foot on the field and one foot off...we have to be ALL in. We have to do all we can to protect ourselves and to protect those around us who are fighting along with us. God needs us to give everything we have. He needs us to be strong, to be faithful. This is true... 

I love my Savior and I am eternally grateful and in debt to Him.

Happy Birthday to the best mom in the world!! You are awesome :)

Hermana Thompson

Big Day!

Received this from Hermana Thompson today:

Hey, so I got transferred and I am now an Hermana Leader so we were in a meeting pretty much all day so I will write my "mass" email tomorrow. I am in Ochagavía with Hermana Farner, she has been like my bff since the start of the mission. We were totally freaking out when they called us. Thanks so much for the package Mom, you are awesome!! Your little post it notes made me cry!! Love you guys too! Please tell everyone "thanks" for the birthday wishes...not enough time to reply to all! 

the love of God

Primero quiero expresar mi amor por mi Salvador... (First I want to express my love for the Savior) de verdad esta valentines day pensé mucho en el amor él tiene para mi y estoy tan agradecida por el sacrificio de amor que hizo para mi y cada uno de nosotros. me ha dado todo el apoyo, el entendimiento, el consuelo, èl es fiel, amoroso, y mi mejor amigo. due un dìa especial para mi para recordar todo el amor de èl (really, this Valentines Day I have thought a lot about the love the Savior has for me, and I am grateful for His loving sacrifice for each one of us.  He has given me strength, understanding, comfort; He is faithful, loving, and my best friend.  It was a very special day for me to remember His love)

Dad, you can't get trunky on me!!! But this week was kind of a wake up call as we had our 1 año almuerzo en la casa de la misiòn... (one year luncheon at the mission home) Ah, I thought that day would never come. It feels like life seems to go so slow, and then we blink and we don't know how we got to where we are. It blows my mind. But I am so excited for the months I still have in the mission. I am sad to be leaving this sector, it has become my home and the people have become my family, seriously. Mom, Dad, I am planning to come back here in a year...just a heads up :) 

Anyway! We are seeing a lot of progress in this sector, everything is really falling into place. We are finding quite a few nuevos, people are really receptive despite the calor (heat). We have a fecha (baptismal date)  this saturday for emily. La hija de una menos active (she is the daughter of a less active). She is really excited. :) She knows that baptism is a requirement to enter into el reino celestial (celestial kingdom). It is so awesome to hear about prayer experiences. I have seen it so many times in my mission, people pray and they feel something in their hearts and then the spirit starts working in them to help them feel the truth of the gospel. I know this is the only true gospel;  other churches, yes, have part of the truth but only the church of jesus christ has all of the truth. 

Carla y Cesar are progressing well :9 Cesar shared his testimony in priesthood and someone told us that he told everyone that he knows this church is true! music to a missionaries ears :) seriously, I love this family so much. ah! 

Bueno... right now it is summer so everyone is on vacation, but yesterday the stake president asked "what would happen if God went on vacation?"  An interesting concept... haha I know I would be so lost if he went on vacation for an hour! 

Happy Birthday Tate!!

Saludos de Chile

(loads of love)

Hermana Thompson

Side note: Hey, guess what Dad?! Elder y Hermana Gonzalez (Rick's Mission President) vinieron a tener una conferncia con nuestra mision(they came to have a conference with our mission) y guess what, I totally got a picture with them! The hermana was bragging to me about you and how hard of a worker you were and what faith. She told me you were one of their gran misioneros y es muy orgullosa de ti (great missionaries and is very proud of you). She gave me about 5 hugs on your behalf. She even called me out in front of everyone and said how special it was to be there, it was really awesome :) I have a picture with them just like you have with them!  

1 year luncheon at Presidente's home

The Love of God

Happy Valentines Day! I hope everyone has a little bit of time to focus on the love of Christ. Moroni 7:47 comparta este amor con los demás eso es la caridad, compartir el amor de nuestro Salvador y Padre Celestial. Yo sé que cada uno de nosotros somos hijs de Dios y él nos ama tanto que envió su hijo que podemos tener la vida eterna. (share this love with others, it is charity, sharing the love of our Savior & Heavenly Father. I know that each of us is a child of God and He loves us so much He sent His Son that was may have eternal life.)

Bueno... okay. ¿qué paso esta semana? (what happened this week?) Every Monday I have to think hard about what to write haha So many things happen every day, it is difficult to include everything in an hour. But let's see... 

So I kinda have a lot of time in this sector... more than 6 months, so I pretty much know it backwards, forwards, and side to side. I know my neighbors here better than I did at home lol. anyway, so I know a lot of people and sometimes it's hard because I feel like I have talked to everyone, knocked every door... but as president says it is time to knock the windows. so we went exploring. it's kind of hard to explain, but we found these houses behind houses... incredible! I don't know how I missed there were houses behind this BIG wall en el sector. There are like 6 or 7 houses on this terreno (ground). I can't explain the houses but they are different than every other house in our sector, they are really humble homes. anyway, the first house we knocked on, they let us in. Turns out there is a family with 9 kids living here! ah. Gold. 2 of the daughters are 20 and 22 and accepted fechas (dates) for the 7 of march! amazing. 

This same day we found a man in another house and his name is Claudio. We started this new thing in our mission of handing out a card with christ ton it hat says "sígueme" and the other side has a picture of baptism so people really understand our purpose as missionaries. So when we contacted him with the card, he got teary eyed and said that he has really been missing the spiritual things in his life. He let us in and began to weep saying that we were angels sent to his home to bring him what he needs. He was so receptive to the message of the restoration. I know this is the true gospel. The Spirit is real and will touch the hearts of people in need. He is so awesome!! I love being a missionary and bringing the world Christ's true gospel. 

Stand in holy places, do not let people pull you down, have courage to walk away when you can feel that the Spirit is not present. A lot of times I feel like we feel the devil for the things he is capable of but muchas veces olvidamos que Dios es aun más poderoso (often forget that God is even more powerful). We should fear God and the judgement that WILL take place rather than the devil at THIS moment because of temptation. 

Look up and around and enjoy the beauty of this wonderful creation from a wonderful father

At the end of every day we need to ask, "what did I do today to follow Christ?" What do I need to change so that I am not following a different path. When it all comes down to it, what is most important is if we chose to dedicate our day to following Christ or did we get caught up in the world. 

lots of love and hugs and kisses this week 

Hermana T

Zone Olimpo

Happy Valentine's Day